Authoring Hierarchical Road Networks

We present a procedural method for generating hierarchical road networks connecting cities, towns and villages over large terrains. Our approach relies on an original geometric graph generation algorithm based on a non‐Euclidean metric combined with a path merging algorithm that creates junctions between the different types of roads. Unlike previous work, our method allows high level user control by manipulating the density and the pattern of the network. The geometry of the highways, primary and secondary roads as well as the interchanges and intersections are automatically created from the graph structure by instantiating generic parameterized models.     

Particle-SfT: A Provably-Convergent,Fast Shape-from-Template Algorithm

The Shape-from-Template (SfT) problem is to recover the 3D shape of a deformable object from a single image, given a 3D template and a deformation constraint. We propose Particle-SfT, a new SfT algorithm which handles isometric and non-isometric deformations. We build Particle-SfT upon a particle system guided by deformation and reprojection constraint projections. Reconstruction is achieved by evolving particles to a globally attractive equilibrium, while taking observable external forces such as gravity into account, if any. Particle-SfT may be used to refine an existing initial shape. However, in practice we simply use the template as initial guess. This is because, as opposed to the existing refining methods, Particle-SfT has an extremely wide convergence basin. Particle-SfT is also faster than the existing refining methods. This is because it moves pieces of the shape’s mesh independently to achieve larger step size by optimal constraint projection. We proved its convergence to a fixed-point. We experimented it with synthetic and real data. It has the same accuracy as the best performing isometric method and consistently outperforms all existing elastic methods in almost all cases, while being much faster.     

Experimental study of the fiber orientations in single and multi-ply continuous filament yarns

Abstract

A detailed identification, using X-ray microtomography, of the filament trajectories within twisted single and multi-ply continuous filament yarns is presented in this article, to accurately determine the distributions of orientations of filaments which govern the mechanical behavior of those yarns and the mechanisms of failure. The resolution of the images obtained by means of the X-ray microtomography experimental setup associated to the capabilities of an in-house developed image processing software allowed the reconstruction of the trajectories of almost all filaments within different yarn specimens. Various structural information are derived from these trajectories, dealing in particular with the orientation of individual segments of filaments with respect either to the ply trajectory or to the yarn axis. Compared to orientation distributions provided by different analytical models available in the literature, those resulting from reconstructed trajectories show similar global trends, while providing more details in peripheral regions and regions close to contact zones between plies. Maps of radial and spatial distributions of orientations provide a comprehensive representation of how filaments are oriented within the plies, which gives valuable insight into the inner structural arrangement of fibers which is one of the sources of nonlinearities in the mechanical behavior of filament yarns.     

Lipid Composition and State of Oxidation of Fortified Infant Flours in Low‐Income Countries Are Not Optimal and Strongly Affected by the Time of Storage

Food fortification is widely used to address the public health problem of nutrient deficiencies. This study's purpose is to assess the lipid profile and nutritional quality of 13 fortified infant flours (FI) collected “in the field” in Africa and Asia after different periods of storage. The lipid content, fatty acid profiles, lipophilic vitamin content, and lipid oxidation state (peroxide values, secondary oxidation products) are determined. Mycotoxins and packaging materials are also characterized. The lipid content averages 9.1 ± 3.5 g/100 g. Fatty acid profiles are dominated by linoleic (43.3 ± 8.8%), oleic (29.5 ± 7.4%), and palmitic acid (17.8 ± 6.7%) and result in an average ω6/ω3 ratio of 12.2 ± 5.9 but with high values for some FI. Very high overages in vitamins A, D, and E are observed in products stored for short periods (1–6 months), whereas FI stored for more than 12 months has insufficient vitamin content. Lipid oxidation is acceptable but for six products presenting excessive peroxide values. Most products are contaminated by low amounts of mycotoxins but only two FI do not abide by the regulation. A strong correlation between peroxide values, hexanal content, and time of storage is observed. Practical Applications: The expiration dates for FI commercialized in low‐income countries should be shortened from 36 to 12 months so as to guarantee their nutritional quality of these functional foods and to abide by the fortified infant flour legislation. Indeed, FI quality significantly decreases over time of storage. The use of high barrier packaging materials must be generalized, although it is a necessary criterion but not sufficient to ensure the long‐term stability of FI. Special attention should be given to reduce lipophilic vitamin overages and to improve their lipid profile, especially the ω6/ω3 ratio, which has to be lower than 15.     

Feature based terrain generation using diffusion equation

This paper presents a diffusion method for generating terrains from a set of parameterized curves that characterize the landform features such as ridge lines, riverbeds or cliffs. Our approach provides the user with an intuitive vector‐based feature‐oriented control over the terrain. Different types of constraints (such as elevation, slope angle and roughness) can be attached to the curves so as to define the shape of the terrain. The terrain is generated from the curve representation by using an efficient multigrid diffusion algorithm. The algorithm can be efficiently implemented on the GPU, which allows the user to interactively create a vast variety of landscapes.     

Time-lapse,three-dimensional in situ imaging of ice crystal growth in a colloidal silica suspension

The freezing of colloidal suspensions is encountered in many natural and engineering processes such as the freezing of soils, food engineering and cryobiology. It can also be used as a bio-inspired, versatile and environmentally friendly processing route for porous materials and composites. Yet, it is still a puzzling phenomenon with many unexplained features, owing to the complexity of the system and the space and time scales at which the process should be investigated. This study demonstrates the interest in fast X-ray computed tomography for providing time-lapse, three-dimensional, in situ imaging of ice crystal growth in a colloidal silica suspension. The experimental measurements show that the local increase in colloid concentration does not affect the growth kinetics of the crystals until the colloidal particles become closely packed. For particles much smaller than ice crystals, the concentrated colloidal suspension is equivalent to a simple liquid phase with higher viscosity and a freezing point determined by the concentration of colloidal particles.     

Mechanical properties of nanostructured silicon carbide consolidated by spark plasma sintering

Silicon carbide based materials are foreseen candidates for next generation nuclear applications due to a combination of the following properties: high temperature strength, high thermal conductivity and low nuclear activation. Their main drawback lies in their too low toughness. A promising route to enhance such mechanical properties is to reduce the grain size down to the nanosize range. Enabling a quite low sintering time, the spark plasma sintering technique has been used to process nano size monolithic Silicon carbides with several grain sizes and with or without boron additives. The mechanical properties, including Young modulus, flexural strength and toughness, of these materials have been measured from room temperature to 1300 °C and compared to those of a commercially sintered α-SiC. The results are carefully discussed in correlation with the microstructure. Despite a lower density, the obtained flexural strength and toughness properties of the nano grain silicon carbide are very promising when processed without boron additives. Thus, efforts should be focused on the processing of large size nanograins SiC components by SPS without boron and with high density.     

Bitumen fluxing properties of a new class of sustainable solvents: The isosorbide di-alkyl ethers

The performances of new bio-sourced solvents, the short chain mono- and di-alkyl isosorbide ethers, have been determined and compared to benchmark bitumen fluxes. The influences of fluxes and temperature on the Newtonian viscosity have been assessed. The various fluxes appear to impact also on the visco-elastic behaviour of paving bitumen and dimethyl isosorbide ether (DMI) exhibits good fluxing properties. This bio-sourced solvent has also the property to be fully miscible with water. The bitumen hardness recovery can consequently occur from two different phenomena: evaporation and diffusion from the bitumen to water, making this solvent an appropriate bitumen flux for rainy seasons.     

Influence of fiber optic probe geometry on the applicability of inverse models of tissue reflectance spectroscopy: computational models and experimental measurements

Accurate recovery of tissue optical properties from in vivo spectral measurements is crucial for improving the clinical utility of optical spectroscopic techniques. The performance of inversion algorithms can be optimized for the specific fiber optic probe illumination-collection geometry. A diffusion-theory-based inversion method has been developed for the extraction of tissue optical properties from the shape of normalized tissue diffusion reflectance spectra, specifically tuned for a fiber probe that comprises seven hexagonally close-packed fibers. The central fiber of the probe goes to the spectrometer as the detecting fiber, and the surrounding six outer fibers are connected to the white-light source as illumination fibers. The accuracy of the diffusion-based inversion algorithm has been systematically assessed against Monte Carlo (MC) simulation as a function of probe geometry and tissue optical property combinations. By use of this algorithm, the spectral absorption and scattering coefficients of normal and cancerous tissue are efficiently retrieved. Although there are significant differences between the diffusion approximation and the MC simulation at short source-detector (SD) separations, we show that with our algorithm the tissue optical properties are well retrieved within the SD separation of 0.5-3 mm that is compatible with endoscopic specifications. The presented inversion method is computationally efficient for eventual real-time in vivo tissue diagnostics application.