Directionality-Aware Design of Embroidery Patterns

Embroidery is a long-standing and high-quality approach to making logos and images on textiles. Nowadays, it can also be performed via automated machines that weave threads with high spatial accuracy. A characteristic feature of the appearance of the threads is a high degree of anisotropy. The anisotropic behavior is caused by depositing thin but long strings of thread. As a result, the stitched patterns convey both color and direction. Artists leverage this anisotropic behavior to enhance pure color images with textures, illusions of motion, or depth cues. However, designing colorful embroidery patterns with prescribed directionality is a challenging task, one usually requiring an expert designer. In this work, we propose an interactive algorithm that generates machine-fabricable embroidery patterns from multi-chromatic images equipped with user-specified directionality fields. We cast the problem of finding a stitching pattern into vector theory. To find a suitable stitching pattern, we extract sources and sinks from the divergence field of the vector field extracted from the input and use them to trace streamlines. We further optimize the streamlines to guarantee a smooth and connected stitching pattern. The generated patterns approximate the color distribution constrained by the directionality field. To allow for further artistic control, the trade-off between color match and directionality match can be interactively explored via an intuitive slider. We showcase our approach by fabricating several embroidery paths.     

Local damage to reinforced concrete structures caused by impact of aircraft engine missiles Part 2. Evaluation of test results

Three sets of impact tests, small-, intermediate-, and full-scale tests, have been executed to determine local damage to reinforced concrete structures caused by the impact of aircraft engine missiles. The results of the test program showed that (1) the use of the similarity law is appropriate, (2) suitable empirical formulas exist for predicting the local damage caused by rigid missiles, (3) reduction factors may be used for evaluating the reduction in local damage due to the deformability of the engines, (4) the reinforcement ratio has no effect on local damage, and (5) the test results could be adequately predicted using nonlinear response analysis.     

Genetic interactions between mei-S332 and ord in the control of sister-chromatid cohesion

The Drosophila mei-S332 and ord gene products are essential for proper sister-chromatid cohesion during meiosis in both males and females. We have constructed flies that contain null mutations for both genes. Double-mutant flies are viable and fertile. Therefore, the lack of an essential role for either gene in mitotic cohesion cannot be explained by compensatory activity of the two proteins during mitotic divisions. Analysis of sex chromosome segregation in the double mutant indicates that ord is epistatic to mei-S332. We demonstrate that ord is not required for MEI-S332 protein to localize to meiotic centromeres. Although overexpression of either protein in a wild-type background does not interfere with normal meiotic chromosome segregation, extra ORD+ protein in mei-S332 mutant males enhances nondisjunction at meiosis II. Our results suggest that a balance between the activity of mei-S332 and ord is required for proper regulation of meiotic cohesion and demonstrate that additional proteins must be functioning to ensure mitotic sister-chromatid cohesion.     

Discounting of past outcomes.

Drug use, abuse, and addiction are common behavioral manifestations of impulsiveness. A useful and popular laboratory analogue of impulsiveness is temporal discounting. Temporal discounting refers to the reduction in the present, subjective value of outcomes that are temporally distant in the future. The extensive literature on temporal discounting indicates hyperbolic discounting, the magnitude effect, and the sign effect. It is possible that the same principles may apply to other dimensions of psychological distance, including past temporal distance. The purpose of the present study was to examine the possibility that outcomes in the past are discounted hyperbolically and at a similar rate to outcomes in the future. The magnitude and sign effects were also examined in past discounting. Indifference points of college students were determined from a paper-and-pencil questionnaire of future and past discounting. The results demonstrate that humans discount temporally distant past outcomes similarly to future outcomes. Discounting of the future and past are qualitatively and quantitatively similar; discounting of past outcomes is orderly, hyperbolic, and consistent with most empirical observations from studies of future discounting, including the magnitude and sign effects. The present study indicates that the discounting of past outcomes is a quantifiable phenomenon, and the results are similar to observations from the established future-discounting literature. Past discounting may be of use in the study of drug-dependent and other impulsive populations. Implications of a relationship between future and past discounting are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Moderate drug use and delay discounting: A comparison of heavy, light, and never smokers.

Delay discounting was examined in light smokers (10 or fewer cigarettes per day) and compared with previously published delay discounting data for heavy and never smokers. Participants evaluated several hypothetical outcomes: money gains and loses ($10, $100, and $1,000), health gains and losses (durations of improved and impoverished health subjectively equivalent to $1,000), cigarette gains and losses (amounts subjectively equivalent to $1,000), and potentially real rewards ($10 and $100). Light smokers discounted money significantly more than never smokers, but light smokers did not differ from heavy smokers. The 3 groups did not statistically differ in discounting of health consequences. Similarly, the 2 smoking groups were not found to differ in discounting of cigarettes. Like heavy smokers, light smokers discounted cigarettes significantly more than money and health. Several significant, positive correlations were found between smoking rate and various discounting measures in the heavy smokers but not in the light smokers. Several previous findings were replicated, helping to validate the present results: the sign effect (greater discounting of gains than losses), the magnitude effect (greater discounting of smaller rewards), reliability of discounting measures over time, and the consistency of hypothetical and potentially real rewards. These data suggest that even moderate levels of drug use may be associated with high delay discounting levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Selective inhibition of hepatic collagen accumulation in experimental liver fibrosis in rats by a new prolyl 4-hydroxylase inhibitor

In order to detect and characterize allergen-specific T cells in the airways of atopic asthmatics, we measured proliferation and cytokine production by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) T cells isolated from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p)-sensitive asthmatics and nonatopic control subjects, and compared the results with those generated using peripheral blood (PB) T cells. BAL and PB mononuclear cells were collected 24 h after segmental allergen challenge by fibreoptic bronchoscopy and venepuncture, respectively. T cells purified from BAL and PB were stimulated with autologous, irradiated antigen-presenting cells and D. pteronyssinus extract or a control, nonallergen antigen (M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative [PPD]). IL-5 and IFN-gamma concentrations were measured in culture supernatants by ELISA, and T-cell proliferation by 3H-thymidine uptake. D. pteronyssinus-induced proliferation of T cells derived from both BAL and PB was elevated in asthmatics when compared with control subjects (p < 0.05), whereas PPD-induced proliferation was equivalent in both compartments. In the asthmatics, D. pteronyssinus-induced proliferative responses of equivalent numbers of BAL and PB T cells obtained after allergen challenge were statistically equivalent. Nevertheless, BAL T cells stimulated with D. pteronyssinus produced significantly greater amounts of IL-5 than did PB T cells (p < 0.05). Allergen-induced proliferation and IL-5 production by BAL T cells in the asthmatics after segmental allergen challenge correlated with the percentages of eosinophils in the BAL fluid (p < 0.01). Further, BAL T cells from asthmatic patients produced significantly higher amounts of IL-5 than did the same number of cells from nonatopic control subjects (p < 0.05). We conclude that, in D. pteronyssinus-sensitive asthmatics, allergen-specific T cells can be detected in the bronchial lumen after allergen challenge and that allergen-induced proliferation and IL-5 production by these cells correlates with local eosinophil influx. Although bronchial luminal T cells show an equivalent proliferative response to allergen stimulation as compared with PB T cells, they do produce more IL-5, consistent with the hypothesis that local differentiation or priming of these cells within the bronchial mucosal environment results in upregulation of allergen-induced IL-5 secretion.     

Modelling, quantifying and forecasting the process from projects to the product

Subjective probability estimates can be and have been used for forecasting: (a) the technical success of research, (b) individual product development projects,and (c) the R&D process as a whole—to guide the level and direction of R&D, as well as to check steadily the degree of achievement of corporate objectives, such as sales targets in a long-range plan. Estimation of time and risk horizons for single research topics or entire working areas allows for a better balancing of the research portfolio: this prevents the company from being highly dependent on luck. The paper describes the modelling procedure, which requires computer aid.

The collection of a time series of periodically re-estimated probability profiles is shown to be essential; this clearly indicates the trends in R&D and allows for management action in case of deviation from company targets.

A primary benefit of this method is the attainment of advance indication of success or failure of the R&D program either in total or in some of its parts. A secondary benefit of studying the rate of probality change lies in clarifying individual opinions and resolving disagreements between R&D managers.