Subdivision Surface-Based Geometric Modeling System

A method for surface modeling of images to produce realistic images or to provide simulations with accurate surface information is provided. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new subdivision depth computation technique and to an improved label-driven adaptive subdivision technique for use in Catmull-Clark subdivision surface modeling systems. The method comprises computing a subdivision depth to determine the number of recursive subdivisions which may be performed on a control mesh to generate a plurality of finer mesh elements while preserving a predetermined error tolerance, and using the computed subdivision depth to construct an adaptively refined mesh that is substantially similar to the control mesh within the predetermined error tolerance. Limit control surfaces with and without extraordinary vertices may be analysed using the method of the invention. In another aspect, a software program for accomplishing the method of the present invention is provided

2D and 3D Pointing Device Based on a Passive Lights Detection Operation Method Using One Camera

Systems for surface-free pointing and/or command input include a computing device operably linked to an imaging device. The imaging device can be any suitable video recording device including a conventional webcam. At least one pointing/input device is provided including first, second, and third sets of actuable light sources, wherein at least the first and second sets emit differently colored light. The imaging device captures one or more sequential image frames each including a view of a scene including the activated light sources. One or more computer program products calculate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional position and/or a motion and/or an orientation of the pointing/ input device in the captured image frames by identifying a two-dimensional or three-dimensional position of the activated light sources of the first, second, and/or third sets of light sources. Certain activation patterns of light sources are mapped to particular pointing and/or input commands

FUSE Observations of the Dwarf Novae UU Aql, BV Cen, and CH UMa in Quiescence

We report on FUSE spectra of three U Gem-type, long period, dwarf novae, UU Aql, BV Cen and CH UMa taken during their quiescence intervals. We discuss the line identifications in their spectra and attempt to characterize the source(s) of their FUV flux distribution. Archival IUE spectrum of CH UMa and BV Cen in quiescence were identified as having a matching flux level with the FUSE spectra and these were combined with each FUSE spectrum to broaden the wavelength coverage and further constrain model fits. Multi-component synthetic spectral fits from our model grids, consisting of single temperature white dwarfs, two-temperature white dwarfs, accretion disks and white dwarfs plus accretion disks, were applied to the FUSE spectra alone and to the combined FUSE + IUE spectra. We present the results of our model analyses and their implications.Comment: accepted in AJ, 26 pages, 6 tables, 8 figures (5 color, 3 b/w

Constructing parametric quadratic curves

Abstract Constructing a parametric spline curve to pass through a set of data points requires assigning a knot to each data point. In this paper we discuss the construction of parametric quadratic splines and present a method to assign knots to a set of planar data points. The assigned knots are invariant under a ne transformations of the data points, and can be used to construct a parametric quadratic spline which reproduces parametric quadratic polynomials. Results of comparisons of the new method with several known methods are included

Constructing G1 quadratic Bezier curves with arbitrary endpoint tangent vectors

International audienceQuadratic Bézier curves are important geometric entities in many applications. However, it was often ignored by the literature the fact that a single segment of a quadratic Bézier curve may fail to fit arbitrary endpoint unit tangent vectors. The purpose of this paper is to provide a solution to this problem, i.e., constructing G1 quadratic Bézier curves satisfying given endpoint (positions and arbitrary unit tangent vectors) conditions. Examples are given to illustrate the new solution and to perform comparison between the G1 quadratic Bézier cures and other curve schemes such as the composite geometric Hermite curves and the biarcs

First order absolute moment of Meyer-Konig and Zeller operators and their approximation for some absolutely continuous functions

Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China [2010J01012]; National Defense Basic Scientific Research program of China [B1420110155]; Science and Technology Foundation of Xiamen City of China [20083012]A sharp estimate is given for the first order absolute moment of Meyer-Konig and Zeller operators M (n) . This estimate is then used to prove convergence of approximation of a class of absolutely continuous functions by the operators M (n) . The condition considered here is weaker than the condition considered in a previous paper and the rate of convergence we obtain is asymptotically the best possible. (C) 2011 Mathematical Institute Slovak Academy of Science

Far Ultraviolet Observations of the Dwarf Novae SS Aur and RU Peg in Quiescence

We have analyzed the Far Ultraviolet Spectrocopic Explorer (FUSE) spectra of two U Gem-Type dwarf novae, SS Aur and RU Peg, observed 28 days and 60 days (respectively) after their last outburst. In both systems the FUSE spectra (905 - 1182 A) reveal evidence of the underlying accreting white dwarf exposed in the far UV. Our grid of theoretical models yielded a best-fitting photosphere to the FUSE spectra with Teff=31,000K for SS Aur and Teff=49,000K for RU Peg. This work provides two more dwarf nova systems with known white dwarf temperatures above the period gap where few are known. The absence of CIII (1175 A) absorption in SS Aur and the elevation of N above solar suggests the possibility that SS Aur represents an additional accreting white dwarf where the surface C/N ratio derives from CNO processing. For RU Peg, the modeling uncertainties prevent any reliable conclusions about the surface abundances and rotational velocity.Comment: AJ, Oct. 200

Investigation of anterior cingulate cortex gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate-glutamine levels in obsessive-compulsive disorder using magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a relatively common and disabling psychiatric disorder whose pathophysiology is incompletely understood. In this study, we utilized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in an effort to provide a better understanding of the role of brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate in the pathophysiology of OCD. We hypothesized that beyond the separate effects of these neurotransmitter systems, a disruption in the balance between GABA and glutamate could be particularly relevant to OCD. METHODS: We obtained MRS measures of GABA and glutamate concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex from 23 adult patients with OCD and 20 sex- and age-matched healthy community volunteers. Established clinical rating scales were used to assess the severities of OCD, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Statistical analysis involved the assessment of patient-control group differences in the individual measures of GABA and glutamate, as well as in the ratio of the GABA to glutamate measures. Additionally, we explored whether differences in the MRS measures existed between two subgroups of patients formed according to the severity of their OCD symptoms. Finally, we assessed the relations of demographic and clinical variables to the MRS measures. RESULTS: Patients with OCD displayed a higher estimated GABA level and a higher GABA to glutamate ratio than healthy participants, but no significant group differences were observed in the measure of glutamate. The MRS measures did not vary by subgroup and showed no correlations with demographic and clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that GABA abnormalities within the anterior cingulate cortex contribute to the pathophysiology of OCD. The results fail to provide evidence that glutamate abnormalities alone are involved in adult OCD. Yet, it seems that a disruption in the balance between glutamate and GABA neurotransmission may have a particularly important role to play in OCD pathophysiology

Abnormal Dynamic Functional Connectivity Associated With Subcortical Networks in Parkinson’s Disease: A Temporal Variability Perspective

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by dysfunction in distributed functional brain networks. Previous studies have reported abnormal changes in static functional connectivity using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, the dynamic characteristics of brain networks in PD is still poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify the characteristics of dynamic functional connectivity in PD patients at nodal, intra- and inter-subnetwork levels. Resting-state fMRI data of a total of 42 PD patients and 40 normal controls (NCs) were investigated from the perspective of the temporal variability on the connectivity profiles across sliding windows. The results revealed that PD patients had greater nodal variability in precentral and postcentral area (in sensorimotor network, SMN), middle occipital gyrus (in visual network), putamen (in subcortical network) and cerebellum, compared with NCs. Furthermore, at the subnetwork level, PD patients had greater intra-network variability for the subcortical network, salience network and visual network, and distributed changes of inter-network variability across several subnetwork pairs. Specifically, the temporal variability within and between subcortical network and other cortical subnetworks involving SMN, visual, ventral and dorsal attention networks as well as cerebellum was positively associated with the severity of clinical symptoms in PD patients. Additionally, the increased inter-network variability of cerebellum-auditory pair was also correlated with clinical severity of symptoms in PD patients. These observations indicate that temporal variability can detect the distributed abnormalities of dynamic functional network of PD patients at nodal, intra- and inter-subnetwork scales, and may provide new insights into understanding PD