Higher Order Barycentric Coordinates

In recent years, a wide range of generalized barycentric coordinates has been suggested. However, all of them lack control over derivatives. We show how the notion of barycentric coordinates can be extended to specify derivatives at control points. This is also known as Hermite interpolation. We introduce a method to modify existing barycentric coordinates to higher order barycentric coordinates and demonstrate, using higher order mean value coordinates, that our method, although conceptually simple and easy to implement, can be used to give easy and intuitive control at interactive frame rates over local space deformations such as rotations.     

Issues in nonlinear stochastic grey box identification

Grey box identification refers to the practice of identifying dynamical systems in model structures exploiting partial prior information. This contribution reviews a method for stochastic grey box identification and surveys experiences and lessons of applying it to a number of industrial processes. Issues to be addressed include advantages and costs of introducing stochastics into the model, the question of what contribution must be expected from the model designer as opposed to what can be formalized in computer algorithms, and an outlook on future plans to resolve present shortcomings.     

Efficient reconstruction from non-uniform point sets

We propose a method for non-uniform reconstruction of 3D scalar data. Typically, radial basis functions, trigonometric polynomials or shift-invariant functions are used in the functional approximation of 3D data. We adopt a variational approach for the reconstruction and rendering of 3D data. The principle idea is based on data fitting via thin-plate splines. An approximation by B-splines offers more compact support for fast reconstruction. We adopt this method for large datasets by introducing a block-based reconstruction approach. This makes the method practical for large datasets. Our reconstruction will be smooth across blocks. We give reconstruction measurements as error estimations based on different parameter settings and also an insight on the computational effort. We show that the block size used in reconstruction has a negligible effect on the reconstruction error. Finally we show rendering results to emphasize the quality of this 3D reconstruction technique.     

Near-Surface Deformation in an Alumina–Silicon Carbide-Whisker Composite due to Surface Machining

Deformation due to two different surface-machining conditions—grinding (126 μm diamond) and polishing (3 μm diamond)—in an uniaxial hot-pressed Al₂O₃–30%-SiC-whisker composite has been investigated. A Warren–Averbach analysis of grazing incidence X-ray diffractometry data shows that the deformation is localized to the very top surface zone. The cell size and the root mean square of the strain show a gradient in the deformed layer. Transmission electron microscopy studies, in cross-sectional view, also show a near-surface deformation zone containing dislocations, twins, and cracks. This is seen for both machining procedures, but the depth of the zone and the degree of deformation, in terms of dislocation density and number of cracks, is much higher in the roughly ground specimen than in the polished one. For comparison, a monolithic Al₂O₃ sample also has been studied after grinding. The deformation zone is very similar to the Al₂O₃–SiC sample with the same grinding condition, but cracks and dislocations are present at a slightly larger depth. The deformation depth for the polished Al₂O₃–SiC sample is ∼50 nm. In the ground Al₂O₃–SiC sample, the deformation depth is 1–1.5 μm and corresponds to the grain size. The deformation zone in the ground monolithic Al₂O₃ sample is 1.5–2 μm deep. The observed grain-boundary cracks are almost parallel to the surface and may originate from nonaccommodated plastic flow between grains.     

Visual comparability of 3D regular sampling and reconstruction

The Body-Centered Cubic (BCC) and Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) lattices have been analytically shown to be more efficient sampling lattices than the traditional Cartesian Cubic (CC) lattice, but there has been no estimate of their visual comparability. Two perceptual studies (each with N = 12 participants) compared the visual quality of images rendered from BCC and FCC lattices to images rendered from the CC lattice. Images were generated from two signals: the commonly used Marschner-Lobb synthetic function and a computed tomography scan of a fish tail. Observers found that BCC and FCC could produce images of comparable visual quality to CC, using 30-35 percent fewer samples. For the images used in our studies, the L(2) error metric shows high correlation with the judgement of human observers. Using the L(2) metric as a proxy, the results of the experiments appear to extend across a wide range of images and parameter choices.     

NKG2C+ NK Cells for Immunotherapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme

In glioblastoma, non-classical human leucocyte antigen E (HLA-E) and HLA-G are frequently overexpressed. HLA-E loaded with peptides derived from HLA class I and from HLA-G contributes to inhibition of natural killer (NK) cells with expression of the inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A. We investigated whether NK cells expressing the activating CD94/NKG2C receptor counterpart were able to exert anti-glioma effects. NKG2C+ subsets were preferentially expanded by a feeder cell line engineered to express an artificial disulfide-stabilized trimeric HLA-E ligand (HLA-E*spG). NK cells expanded by a feeder cell line, which facilitates outgrowth of conventional NKG2A+, and fresh NK cells, were included for comparison. Expansion via the HLA-E*spG feeder cells selectively increased the fraction of NKG2C+ NK cells, which displayed a higher frequency of KIR2DL2/L3/S2 and CD16 when compared to expanded NKG2A+ NK cells. NKG2C+ NK cells exhibited increased cytotoxicity against K562 and KIR:HLA-matched and -mismatched primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells when compared to NKG2A+ NK cells and corresponding fresh NK cells. Cytotoxic responses of NKG2C+ NK cells were even more pronounced when utilizing target cells engineered with HLA-E*spG. These findings support the notion that NKG2C+ NK cells have potential therapeutic value for treating gliomas.     

Sonochemical Activation of Al/Ni Hydrogenation Catalyst

This paper proposes a sonochemical approach to the nanostructuring of Al/Ni catalyst with high content of accessible Ni centers and a high reusability. The surface and bulk composition as well as pore size distribution of this catalyst are controlled synergistically by adjusting the ultrasound intensity in aqueous solution. Sonochemical activation of Al/Ni alloy leads to formation of mesoporous Al/Ni metallic based frameworks with surface area up to 125 m² g^?1, and regular distribution of nickel active center in the porous matrix. One of the opportunities of porous Al/Ni catalyst is that due to a time‐resolved controllable formation of protective oxide layer it can be stored and handled under air in comparison to traditional Raney catalysts which need inert conditions. The Al/Ni catalyst is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron diffraction spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confocal scanning fluorescence microscopy (CSFM), solid‐state NMR experiments, and powder X‐ray diffraction analysis (PXRD). The catalytic activity was investigated for the hydrogenation of acetophenone.     

Study of bulk and grain-boundary conductivity of Ln<Subscript>2+x</Subscript>Hf<Subscript>2−x</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript> (Ln = Sm-Gd; x = 0, 0.096) pyrochlores

The electrical conductivity of new solid electrolytes Eu_2.096Hf_1.904O_6.952 and Gd₂Hf₂O₇ have been compared with those for different pyrochlores including titanates and zirconates Ln_2+xМ_2−xO_7−δ (Ln = Sm-Lu; M = Ti, Zr; x = 0−0.81). Impedance spectroscopy data demonstrate that Eu_2.096Hf_1.904O_6.952 and Gd₂Hf₂O₇ synthesized from mechanically activated oxides have high ionic conductivity, comparable to that of their zirconate analogues. The bulk and grain-boundary components of conductivity in Sm_2.096Hf_1.904O_6.952 (Т_synth = 1600oС), Eu_2.096Hf_1.904O_6.952 and Gd₂Hf₂O₇ (Т_synth = 1670oС) have been determined. The highest bulk conductivity is offered by the disordered pyrochlores prepared at 1600oC and 1670oC: ~1.5 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm for Sm_2.096Hf_1.904O_6.952, 5 × 10⁻³ S/cm for Eu_2.096Hf_1.904O_6.952 and 3 × 10⁻³ S/cm for Gd₂Hf₂O₇ at 780oС, respectively. The conductivity of the fluorite-like phases at the phase boundaries of the Ln_2+xМ_2−xO_7−δ (Ln = Eu, Gd; M = Zr, Hf; x ~ 0.286) solid solutions, as well as that of the high-temperature fluorite-like phases Ln_2+xМ_2−xO_7−δ (Ln = Eu, Gd; M = Zr, Hf; x = 0−0.286), is lower than the conductivity of the disordered pyrochlores Ln_2+xМ_2−xO_7−δ (Ln = Eu, Gd; M = Zr, Hf; x = 0−0.096).