Implicit Decals: Interactive Editing of Repetitive Patterns on Surfaces

Texture mapping is an essential component for creating 3D models and is widely used in both the game and the movie industries. Creating texture maps has always been a complex task and existing methods carefully balance flexibility with ease of use. One difficulty in using texturing is the repeated placement of individual textures over larger areas. In this paper, we propose a method which uses decals to place images onto a model. Our method allows the decals to compete for space and to deform as they are being pushed by other decals. A spherical field function is used to determine the position and the size of each decal and the deformation applied to fit the decals. The decals may span multiple objects with heterogeneous representations. Our method does not require an explicit parametrization of the model. As such, varieties of patterns, including repeated patterns like rocks, tiles and scales can be mapped. We have implemented the method using the GPU where placement, size and orientation of thousands of decals are manipulated in real time.     

Water sorption and cooking time of red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): part I – Effect of freezing and drying conditions on water sorption and cooking time

Water sorption and cooking time of kidney beans were determined. The beans were manually harvested at 19.2 ± 0.1% moisture content and stored at ?20 and ?10 °C for about half a year. The beans were further dried at 30, 40 and 50 °C inside a thin‐layer drier for 7.5 h or under room conditions for 4 week. The freezing storage temperature before the beans were dried did not influence their cooking time and water sorption. The saturated kernel volumes decreased approximately 7% after drying. The beans decreased their sphericity during water sorption and had a larger swelling ratio in the thickness direction than in other directions. Lower initial moisture content, especially with a higher drying temperature, decreased water sorptivity and resulted in higher percentage of uncooked kernels if the beans were not soaked before cooking. However, there was no relationship between initial moisture content and uncooked percentage if the beans were soaked before cooking. High drying temperature resulted in hard‐to‐cook (HTC) phenomenon.     

A portfolio of powertrains for the UK: An energy systems analysis

There has recently been a concerted effort to commence a transition to fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in Europe. A coalition of companies released an influential McKinsey-coordinated report in 2010, which concluded that FCVs are ready for commercial deployment. Public–private H₂Mobility programmes have subsequently been established across Europe to develop business cases for the introduction of FCVs. In this paper, we examine the conclusions of these studies from an energy systems perspective, using the UK as a case study. Other UK energy system studies have identified only a minor role for FCVs, after 2030, but we reconcile these views by showing that the differences are primarily driven by different data assumptions rather than methodological differences. Some energy system models do not start a transition to FCVs until around 2040 as they do not account for the time normally taken for the diffusion of new powertrains. We show that applying dynamic growth constraints to the UK MARKAL energy system model more realistically represents insights from innovation theory. We conclude that the optimum deployment of FCVs, from an energy systems perspective, is broadly in line with the roadmap developed by UK H₂Mobility and that a transition needs to commence soon if FCVs are to become widespread by 2050.     

Interdiffusion study in the Pd–Pt system

Interdiffusion, intrinsic, tracer and impurity diffusion coefficients are calculated in the Pd–Pt system. Interdiffusion coefficients are more or less insensitive to composition change. Activation energy varies in the range of 324–353 kJ/mol. Impurity diffusion coefficients calculated in this study and available tracer diffusion coefficients in pure elements indicate that Pd has higher diffusion rate compared to Pt in pure Pd, whereas, both the elements have similar diffusion rates in Pt. Kirkendall marker experiments indicate that Pd has much higher diffusion rate in Pd3.5at.%Pt compared to Pt.     

Notices

The expected number of maxima and level crossings of a continuous stationary Gaussian process and the discrete process obtained by sampling the continuous one are evaluated and compared. The ratio of these two values as a function of sampling rate for two classes of spectra is calculated. It is shown that the rule of thumb of sampling at twice the Nyquist frequency is a good one.