An efficient hierarchicaltraversal algorithm for ray tracing

Ray tracing has been shown to be an excellent technique for rendering realistic images. However, it is important to reduce the lengthy computation time resulting from the brute-force nature of the original ray-tracing algorithms. In this paper, two ideas are proposed to speep up the well-known hierarchical subdivision method. First, a new hierarchy traversal scheme is described to reduce the number of raybounding volume intersection tests for secondary rays. Then, a plane-sweep method is proposed to make fewer intersection checks for eye rays. Experiments and discussions are presented to prove the feasibility of our methods.     

New queueing strategies employing service interval-based priority for real-time communications in atm networks

In this paper, we propose queueing strategies employing the service interval-based priority (sip) which can provide delay-bounded, and loss-free services, while maximizing bandwidth utilization in the atm network. We also describe a variation of the sip, the residual service interval-based priority (rsip) which can achieve almost full utilization by assigning priorities dynamically on the basis of the residual service interval. We store the realtime cells belonging to different connections in logically separated queues, and for each queue, we set a parameter called service interval, during which only one cell is allowed to be transmitted. The sip server takes and transmits the head-of-line (hol) cell of the queue which has the smallest service interval, while the rsip server selects the queue with the smallest residual service interval. When there is no eligible real-time cell, it transmits non-real-time cell, thus enabling a maximized bandwidth utilization. Employing the above queueing strategies, we analyze the delay characteristics deterministically with the leaky bucket bounded input traffic and then dimension the optimal service interval. In dimensioning the service interval and buffer space of each real-time service queue, we consider burstiness of traffic in conjunction with delay constraints, so that bandwidth utilization can get maximized. In addition, we consider the issues of protection from malicious users, average bandwidth utilization, and coupling between the delay bound and the bandwidth allocation granularity.     

Theory of gain in quantum-wire lasers grown in V-grooves

Theoretical calculations of gain, refractive index change, differential gain, and threshold current for GaAs-AlGaAs quantum-wire lasers grown in V-shaped grooves are presented. The theoretical model is based on the density-matrix formalism with intraband relaxation, and the subband structure is calculated within the effective bond-orbital model. For the quantum-wire geometry treated, agreement with the observed subband spacings is found. Because of the small overlap of the optical field with the active region for a single quantum wire, lasing threshold is reached only when several subbands are filled     

Analysis of a 2(9) full factorial chemical library

Robotic synthesis is making possible the synthesis of large, systematically designed sets of compounds. We analyze a 512-compound set that is a 2(9) full factorial experimental design using a recursive partitioning algorithm, FIRM, and a high-dimension visualization tool, TempleMVV. These techniques are used to quickly and easily identify the main trends in the data set and also identify unusual observations. We show that analytical and visualization methods can be used synergistically to analyze a large, complex, high-dimensional data set. We also show that a fractional factorial design of 128 compounds would give essentially the same information.     

An efficient numerical approach, for determining the dispersioncharacteristics of dual-mode elliptical-core optical fibers

Based on vectorial formulations which combine the surface integral equation method and the finite-element method, a novel numerical approach is proposed for calculating the dispersion coefficients of dual-mode elliptical-core fibers with arbitrary refractive index profiles. By differentiating the original formulations involving the propagation constant β and the guided mode fields H_x and H_y once and twice with respect to the normalized frequency V, the new formulations for {dβ/dV, dH_x/dV, dH_y/dV} and for {d²β/dV², d² H_x/dV², d²H_y/dV² } are obtained respectively. Once {β, H_x, H_y } is solved through the eigenvalue procedure which dominates the computing time, only a few matrix manipulations are required to obtain {dβ/dV, dH_x/dV, dH_y/dV} and {d²β/dV², d²H_x/dV² , d²H_y/dV²}. Some numerical examples are examined to see the influence of different refractive index distributions with dips on the dispersions of the four nondegenerate LP ₁₁ modes for elliptical-core fibers     

A CMOS differential buffer amplifier with accurate gain andclipping control

A CMOS fully differential buffer amplifier with accurate gain and clipping control is presented. The gain is made variable by controlling the amount of the feedback around the power amplifier by means of an additional gain control loop. A new clipping technique is used to control the clipping level of the amplifier. The amplifier is realized in a 1.2 μm CMOS process with a single 5 V power supply. Measurements confirm the presented techniques     

The inhibition of DMBA-induced carcinogenesis by neoxanthin in hamster buccal pouch

Neoxanthin, a major carotenoid pigment of spinach, is found in the Chloroplast membrane and has an unknown function in plants. Neoxanthin inhibited the production of superoxide anions in an artificial xanthine and xanthine oxidase system and depressed DNA synthesis in methylcholanthrene (MCA)-initiated C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts. in two-stage carcinogenesis experiments, neoxanthin at 0.2 micrograms/0.2 ml inhibited the formation of tumors that were induced sequentially by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in the buccal pouch of Syrian Golden hamsters. To assess the ongoing process of carcinogenesis, the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), required for cell proliferation, was analyzed. Neoxanthin inhibited the activity of ODC when animals were treated with neoxanthin one hour before the application of TPA in two-stage carcinogenesis. However, neoxanthin did not inhibit ODC activity when animals were treated with neoxanthin one hour before the application of DMBA in two-stage carcinogenesis, and there was no subsequent tumor formation. In a short-term anti-initiation experiment, neoxanthin inhibited the covalent binding of isotope-labeled DMBA to DNA by 53%. These results indicate that neoxanthin inhibits the initiation stage and the promotion stage in two-stage carcinogenesis. This suggests that neoxanthin may act as a potential chemopreventive agent.     

Nursing diagnoses and construct validity of pain, self-care deficit and impaired mobility

Construct validity of the concepts of pain, self-care deficit and impaired mobility was examined in a study of 120 medical-surgical patients. Factors derived from a factor analysis of the empirical signs and symptoms were: pain-factor and self-care deficit/impaired mobility-factor. The pain-factor clearly showed discriminant validity by differentiating between those with and without Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)-identified diagnosis of pain. An overlap between the defining characteristics of the diagnoses of self-care deficit and impaired mobility has been suggested in the present sample of patients. Limitations of the study and recommendations for further research are described.