Floc size distribution in a stirred suspension.

This paper focuses on the distribution of alumino-humic flocs found in a stirred suspension. Distributions were scaled using the transformation u = d/dL in which d is floc diameter and dL its arithmetic mean value and fitted by a gamma distribution. Flocs were treated as monofractal with solids mass concentration specified by C = A'rhos (d/do)D-3 in which A' is a packing coefficient, rhos the density of the floc solids, D the fractal dimension and do a reference size. It was shown that the overall solids concentration (M) complies with the dependence M proportional to NA'dDL-S(D) in which N is the number of flocs per unit volume and S(D) a distribution moment. Initial estimates of A' and D were obtained from analysis of floc sedimentation behaviour. From knowledge of the base parameters, the calculated value of M did not match the measured M and varied with shear. This was attributed to a kinematic influence on C over and beyond changes associated with the response of dL to shear. Issues of self-similarity were examined and it was concluded that distributions did not display strict self-similarity. Data are provided on the size distribution found in the flocculators of a treatment works at full scale.     

The Berlekamp-Massey Algorithm revisited

We propose a slight modification of the Berlekamp-Massey Algorithm for obtaining the minimal polynomial of a given linearly recurrent sequence. Such a modification enables to explain it in a simpler way and to adapt it to lazy evaluation. partially supported by the Galois Theory and Explicit Methods in Arithmetic Project HPRN-CT-2000-00114 partially supported by the European Union funded project RAAG CT-2001-00271     

Simulation of Facial Muscle Actions Based on Rational Free Form Deformations

This paper describes interactive facilities for simulating abstract muscle actions using Rational Free Form Deformations (RFFD). The particular muscle action is simulated as the displacement of the control points of the control-unit for an RFFD defined on a region of interest. One or several simulated muscle actions constitute a Minimum Perceptible Action (MPA), which is defined as the atomic action unit, similar to Action Unit (AU) of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), to build an expression.     

Interactive sonification to assist children with autism during motor therapeutic interventions

Personal and Ubiquitous Computing - Interactive sonification is an effective tool used to guide individuals when practicing movements. Little research has shown the use of interactive sonification...     

The making of the Xian terra‐cotta soldiers

Abstract

This paper describes the making of a short film on the Xian terra‐cotta soldiers using our integrated HU‐MANOID software. The method of creating and animating the soldiers’ faces is first presented. Then, we show how our approach, based on metaballs and spline surfaces, was used for designing and deforming soldiers’ bodies. For the animation of the bodies, we describe the motion control methods. Clothes for the soldiers are then described as well as horses and decor design. For the rendering, we explained our strategy using parallel machines. Finally, problems of integration are addressed.     

Self adaptive animation based on user perspective

In this paper we present a new character animation technique in which the animation adapts itself based on the change in the user’s perspective, so that when the user moves and their point of viewing the animation changes, then the character animation adapts itself in response to that change. The resulting animation, generated in real-time, is a blend of key animations provided a priori by the animator. The blending is done with the help of efficient dual-quaternion transformation blending. The user’s point of view is tracked using either computer vision techniques or a simple user-controlled input modality, such as mouse-based input. This tracked point of view is then used to suitably select the blend of animations. We show a way to author and use such animations in both virtual as well as augmented reality scenarios and demonstrate that it significantly heightens the sense of presence for the users when they interact with such self adaptive animations of virtual characters.     

An efficient numerical algorithm for the study of time fractional Tricomi and Keldysh type equations

Engineering with Computers - This work addresses a hybrid scheme for the numerical solutions of time fractional Tricomi and Keldysh type equations. In proposed methodology, Haar wavelets are used...     

Experimental analysis of fuel from fish processing industry waste in a diesel engine

In the present work, biofuel derived from industrial fish processing industry waste is used in diesel engines to study its suitability . Biofuel from industry fish waste is produced through catalytic cracking, and its quality has been improved through distillation. A single cylinder 4.5 kW at 1500 rpm was used to find the suitability of biofuel and undistilled biofuel in diesel engine. Experimental results show that the brake thermal efficiency of biofuel and undistilled biofuel is similar. Brake thermal efficiency for diesel, undistilled biofuel and biofuel is 29.98, 32.12 and 32.4%, respectively, at 80% load. Carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen emissions increase with undistilled biofuel compared to biofuel. There is a small reduction in carbon dioxide emission with undistilled biofuel compared to biofuel. Even though the cylinder pressure is high with undistilled biofuel, the intensity of premixed combustion is lower than distilled biofuel. The ignition delay and combustion duration increase with undistilled biofuel. Finally, it is concluded that the fuel derived from fish processing industry waste can be used as a fuel for diesel engine after distillation.     

Motion study of the hip joint in extreme postures

Many causes can be at the origin of hip osteoarthritis (e.g., cam/pincer impingements), but the exact pathogenesis for idiopathic osteoarthritis has not yet been clearly delineated. The aim of the present work is to analyze the consequences of repetitive extreme hip motion on the labrum cartilage. Our hypothesis is that extreme movements can induce excessive labral deformations and lead to early arthritis. To verify this hypothesis, an optical motion capture system is used to estimate the kinematics of patient-specific hip joint, while soft tissue artifacts are reduced with an effective correction method. Subsequently, a physical simulation system is used during motion to compute accurate labral deformations and to assess the global pressure of the labrum, as well as any local pressure excess that may be physiologically damageable. Results show that peak contact pressures occur at extreme hip flexion/abduction and that the pressure distribution corresponds with radiologically observed damage zones in the labrum.