Effective visualization of short routes

In this work we develop a new alternative to conventional maps for visualization of relatively short paths as they are frequently encountered in hotels, resorts or museums. Our approach is based on a warped rendering of a 3D model of the environment such that the visualized path appears to be straight even though it may contain several junctions. This has the advantage that the beholder of the image gains a realistic impression of the surroundings along the way which makes it easy to retrace the route in practice. We give an intuitive method for generation of such images and present results from user studies undertaken to evaluate the benefit of the warped images for orientation in unknown environments.     

Iterative analysis of Markov regenerative models

Conventional algorithms for the steady-state analysis of Markov regenerative models suffer from high computational costs which are caused by densely populated matrices. In this paper, a new algorithm is suggested which avoids computing these matrices explicitly. Instead, a two-stage iteration scheme is used. An extended version of uniformization is applied as a subalgorithm to compute the required transient quantities “on-the fly”. The algorithm is formulated in terms of stochastic Petri nets. A detailed example illustrates the proposed concepts.     

Spherical sample holders to improve the susceptibility measurement of superparamagnetic materials

The design of two custom sample holders with a spherical cavity for commercial vibrating sample magnetometer systems is described. For such cavities, the magnetization M[over ->] and the internal magnetic field H(i)[over ->] of a sample are both homogeneous. Consequently, the material parameter M(H(i)) of a sample can be determined even for liquids and powders with a high magnetic susceptibility.     

Value and limits of μ-CT for nondemineralized bone tissue processing

An experimental approach was performed on 20 giant rabbits to establish the possibilities and limitations of μ-CT for routine processing of nondemineralized bone tissue. Hydroxyapatite (HA) or β-tricalciumphosphate (β-TCP) bead implants or a melange of both, microchambered and solid, were implanted into a standardized and precise defect in the patellar groove. The bone-healing phase was chosen for the histology considering 1 or 2 days, and 2, 3, and 6 weeks. Normal X-ray and μ-CT were applied on all specimens; five specimens in the 6-week stage were additionally processed according to the full range of conventional nondemineralized bone processing methods. μ-CT increased the possibilities of nondemineralized histology with respect to bone morphometry and a complete sequence of sections, thus providing a complete analysis of the bone response. μ-CT was limited in differentiating bone quality, cell analyses, and mineralization stages. The investigation based on normal X-rays is limited to defining integration and excluding the fibrous and bony encapsulation of loose implants. μ-CT allows a 3D evaluation of newly formed bone which is clearly marked against the ceramic implant. It does not allow, however, for the differentiation between woven and lamellar bone, the presentation of the canalicular lacunar system, or on the cell level, revealing canaliculi or details of the mineralization process which can be documented by high-resolution microradiography. Titer dynamics of bone formation remains the domain of polychromatic sequential labeling. The complete sequence of μ-CT slices enhances the possibilities for routine histology, tremendously allowing to the focus on detail histology to topographically well-defined cuts, thus providing more precise conclusions which take into consideration the whole implant.     

Die Mikroflora des Sauerteiges

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Ermittlungen über das Vitaminbedürfnis der an der Sauerteiggdrung beteiligten Milchsäurebakterien der UntergattungenThermobacterium, Streptobacterium andBetabacterium angestellt.Von den überprüften Sauerteigbakterien waren 54 Stämme aus sog. Reinzuchtsauerteigen und 49 Stämme aus Sauerteigen isoliert worden. Alle Sauerteigbakterien erwiesen sich biotin-, vitamin B₆-, vitamin B₁₂-, pyridoxamin- und pyridoxalautotroph. Ohne Ausnahme besteht bei den Sauerteigbakterien ein Bedürfnis an Pantothensäure und Nicotinsäure. Die Bedürftigkeit der Sauerteigbakterien an Folsäure, Vitamin B₂ und Vitamin B₁ ist von Art zu Art wechselnd.Das Vitaminbedürfnis der verschiedenen Gruppen von Sauerteigbakterien steht weitgehend in Übereinstimmung mit dem Bedürfnis der jeweils zum Vergleich herangezogenen Milchsäurebakterien definierter Art. Die Befunde geben somit eine Bestätigung der anhand des Zuckerspektrums vorgenommenen Zuordnung der Sauerteigbakterien zu den ArtenLactobacillus aeidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, L. fareiminis, L. brevis, L. brevis var. lindneri, L. fermentum undL. fructivorans.

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The microflora of sourdoughV. Communication: The vitamin requirement of lactic acid bacteria (Genus lactobacillus Beijerinck) of sourdough starter and sourdough

Summary Research was carried out on the vitamin requirements of lactic acid bacteria of the subgeneraThermobacterium, Streptobacterium andBetabacterium, which have a part in the sourdough fermentation. Of the investigated sourdough bacteria 54 strains were isolated from the Reinzuchtsauer (a starter culture) and 49 strains from sourdough. All sourdough bacteria were biotin-, vitamin B₆-, vitamin B₁₂-, pyridoxamine-and pyridoxal-autotroph. All sourdough bacteria showed a requirement for pantothenic acid and nicotinic acid. The requirement of sourdough bacteria for folic acid, vitamin B₂ and vitamin B₁ varied from species to species. The vitamin requirements of the different species of sourdough bacteria mostly agree with the requirements of reference strains of lactic acid bacteria (ATCC-strains, DSM-strains) with which they were compared. The results are therefore a confirmation for having assigned the sourdough bacteria from their sugar fermentation reactions to the speciesLactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, L. farciminis, L. brevis, L. fermentum, L. fructivorans andL. brevis var. lindneri.

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Nr. 4470 der Veröffentlichungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Getreide- und Kartoffelverarbeitung, Detmold

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Diese Untersuchungen wurden ermöglicht durch eine finanzielle Förderung seitens des Bundesministeriums für Forschung und Technologie im Rahmen des Programmes Biologie und Technik     

Project proposal for the investigation of particle-stabilised emulsions and foams by microgravity experiments

The utilisation of particle-surfactants nanostructures as stabilising agents represents today the technologic and scientific frontier in the stabilisation of liquid films in emulsion and foams. This topic will be addressed by the proposal STEFAN (STabilisation of Emulsions and FoAms by Nanoparticles), proposed by European groups in the framework of the ESA AO-2004 for Life and Physical Sciences and Applied Research projects Similarly to what can be observed for surfactant-stabilised emulsions and foams, microgravity provides ideal conditions for the investigation of the hierarchy of involved objects: interfacial layer, liquid film, dispersed systems foam or emulsion. Microgravity experiments are planned by refurbishing the Experimental Container FASES for the ISS Fluid Science Laboratory and the facility FASTER for the European Drawer Rack, already under development in existing research programmes. Here the scientific guidelines of the project are presented together with examples and preliminary results on the effect of nano-particle-surfactant structures adsorbed at liquid interfaces. First experimental results have been achieved for particle monolayers at the water/air interface and a thermodynamic model was derived to describe the obtained surface pressure-area isotherms.     

Rheological studies with spherically shaped thin liquid films

The present work shows the first experimental and theoretical results for investigations on the rheology of liquid films. The experiments are planned to be performed under microgravity conditions. This environment will allow forming films of different thickness, which is impossible under ground conditions due to drainage. Then the films are forced to harmonic oscillations of the film area so that the film elasticity can be measured as a function of frequency. The presented theoretical model demonstrates the main relationships to be solved under corresponding boundary conditions     

Rendering of multiresolution models with texture

State of the art multiresolution modeling allows to selectively refine a coarse mesh of an object on the visually important parts. In this way it is possible to render the geometry of a given object accurately with a minimum number of triangles. The criteria used in current approaches take care of geometric error and even of shading errors. If however texture mapping is used it is inevitable to control displacements and distortions of the texture during refinements.     

Design for Timing Predictability

A large part of safety-critical embedded systems has to satisfy hard real-time constraints. These need sound methods and tools to derive run-time guarantees that are not only reliable but also precise. The achievable precision highly depends on characteristics of the target architecture, the implementation methods and system layers of the software. Trends in hardware and software design run contrary to predictability. This article describes threats to timing predictability of systems, and proposes design principles that support timing predictability. The ultimate goal is to design performant systems with sharp upper and lower bounds on execution times.     

Improvements in planar feature reconstructions in atom probe tomography

Standard atom probe tomography spatial reconstruction techniques have been reasonably successful in reproducing single crystal datasets. However, artefacts persist in the reconstructions that can be attributed to the incorrect assumption of a spherical evaporation surface. Using simulated and experimental field evaporation, we examine the expected shape of the evaporating surface and propose the use of a variable point projection position to mitigate to some degree these reconstruction artefacts. We show initial results from an implementation of a variable projection position, illustrating the effect on simulated and experimental data, while still maintaining a spherical projection surface. Specimen shapes during evaporation of model structures with interfaces between regions of low- and high-evaporation-field material are presented. Use of two-and three-dimensional projection-point maps in the reconstruction of more complicated datasets is discussed.