Orthogonal Array Sampling for Monte Carlo Rendering

We generalize N‐rooks, jittered, and (correlated) multi‐jittered sampling to higher dimensions by importing and improving upon a class of techniques called orthogonal arrays from the statistics literature. Renderers typically combine or “pad” a collection of lower‐dimensional (e.g. 2D and 1D) stratified patterns to form higher‐dimensional samples for integration. This maintains stratification in the original dimension pairs, but looses it for all other dimension pairs. For truly multi‐dimensional integrands like those in rendering, this increases variance and deteriorates its rate of convergence to that of pure random sampling. Care must therefore be taken to assign the primary dimension pairs to the dimensions with most integrand variation, but this complicates implementations. We tackle this problem by developing a collection of practical, in‐place multi‐dimensional sample generation routines that stratify points on all t‐dimensional and 1‐dimensional projections simultaneously. For instance, when t=2, any 2D projection of our samples is a (correlated) multi‐jittered point set. This property not only reduces variance, but also simplifies implementations since sample dimensions can now be assigned to integrand dimensions arbitrarily while maintaining the same level of stratification. Our techniques reduce variance compared to traditional 2D padding approaches like PBRT's (0,2) and Stratified samplers, and provide quality nearly equal to state‐of‐the‐art QMC samplers like Sobol and Halton while avoiding their structured artifacts as commonly seen when using a single sample set to cover an entire image. While in this work we focus on constructing finite sampling point sets, we also discuss potential avenues for extending our work to progressive sequences (more suitable for incremental rendering) in the future.     

DC测量：电压与电流

这解释了为什么电压测量成为长距离应用中较常用的一种方式。例如,如果你想从一个单独的控制室测量通过直流电机的电流,你需要一种将电流测量转换为电压测量的方法。     

Non-self-overlapping Hermite interpolation mapping: a practical solution for structured quadrilateral meshing

This paper addresses the problem of constructing a structured quadrilateral grid inside a given four-sided 2D region by a particular boundary-conforming mapping scheme—Hermite Interpolation Mapping (HIM). When the four given boundary curves are concave and convoluted, all boundary-conform mapping methods suffer from potential self-overlapping problem. Under HIM, the geometry of the grid depends on both the four boundary curves and the tangent vector functions associated with the curves. While the four boundary curves are fixed, the tangent functions in HIM can be varied to suit the need of controlling the characteristics of the mesh inside the given region to prevent self-overlapping. Besides tangent functions, the four twist vectors at the corners of the region can also be adjusted to influence the distribution of the inner grid elements. In our approach, a constrained functional optimization scheme is adopted to adjust the tangent functions and the twist vectors, adaptive to the geometry of the boundary curves, so that the resulting HIM will be free of self-overlapping. The optimization is carried out on the shape control energy that measures the overall mesh quality of the underlying HIM while the self-overlapping is strongly prevented in the form of constraints to the optimization. Experimental results show the promise of the proposed method as a practical and effective solution for structured grid generation.     

A Parallel Algorithm for determining the inverse of a matrix for use in blockcipher encryption/decryption

In the current world that we live in, of rapid growing technology, and especially reliance on the Internet for our daily lively hood (Banking, shopping, entertainment, news), and also with current crimes (Identity-theft, hacking, spyware), computer security is becoming more and more important. By “computer security” we often refer to addressing three important aspects of a computer-related system: Confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Encryption clearly addresses the need for confidentiality of data, both in storage and transmission. However, the use of encryption can be cumbersome and time consuming. It is important to have a fast algorithm to both encrypt and decrypt data as needed. Public key encryption, though secure, is definitely not fast enough to be used for large size data. We introduce a Parallel Algorithm for computation of inverses of matrices modulo n. This is used in conjunction with Block Ciphers and Hill Ciphers in symmetric encryption and decryption of data for transmission on open lines. Experimental studies were done to compare the run-time of this algorithm on parallel machines, to the traditional one. The new algorithm was found to perform much better than the traditional one, and would be useful to use in encryption/decryption of large sensitive data.

Determinants of self‐employment among commuters and non‐commuters

We analyse the determinants of self‐employment and focus on the contextual environment. By distinguishing between commuters and non‐commuters we are able to analyse the influence from the work and home environment, respectively. Our results indicate a significant difference between non‐commuters and commuters in terms of the role of networks for becoming self‐employed. Our results indicate that it is the business networks where people work, rather than where they live that exerts a positive influence on the probability of becoming self‐employed. These effects are further robust over educational and occupational categories.     

Functionalized carbon nanotubes for detecting viral proteins

We investigated the biocompatibility, specificity, and activity of a ligand-receptor-protein system covalently bound to oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as a model proof-of-concept for employing such SWNTs as biosensors. SWNTs were functionalized under ambient conditions with either the Knob protein domain from adenovirus serotype 12 (Ad 12 Knob) or its human cellular receptor, the CAR protein, via diimide-activated amidation. We confirmed the biological activity of Knob protein immobilized on the nanotube surfaces by using its labeled conjugate antibody and evaluated the activity and specificity of bound CAR on SWNTs, first, in the presence of fluorescently labeled Knob, which interacts specifically with CAR, and second, with a negative control protein, YieF, which is not recognized by biologically active CAR proteins. In addition, current-gate voltage (I-V(g)) measurements on a dozen nanotube devices explored the effect of protein binding on the intrinsic electronic properties of the SWNTs, and also demonstrated the devices' high sensitivity in detecting protein activity. All data showed that both Knob and CAR immobilized on SWNT surfaces fully retained their biological activities, suggesting that SWNT-CAR complexes can serve as biosensors for detecting environmental adenoviruses.     

Probing the structure of DNA-carbon nanotube hybrids with molecular dynamics

DNA-carbon nanotube hybrids (DNA-CN) are novel nanoscale materials that consist of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCN) coated with a self-assembled monolayer of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Recent experiments on DNA-CN have shown that this material offers a remarkable set of technologically useful properties such as facilitation of SWCN sorting, chemical sensing, and detection of DNA hybridization. Despite the importance of DNA-CN, a detailed understanding of its microscopic structure and physical properties is lacking. To address this, we have performed classical all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations exploring the self-assembly mechanisms, structure, and energetic properties of this nanomaterial. MD reveals that SWCN induces ssDNA to undergo a spontaneous conformational change that enables the hybrid to self-assemble via the pi-pi stacking interaction between ssDNA bases and SWCN sidewall. ssDNA is observed to spontaneously wrap about SWCN into compact right- or left-handed helices within a few nanoseconds. Helical wrapping is driven by electrostatic and torsional interactions within the sugar-phosphate backbone that result in ssDNA wrapping from the 3' end to the 5' end.     

Crystallographic etching of few-layer graphene

We demonstrate a method by which few-layer graphene samples can be etched along crystallographic axes by thermally activated metallic nanoparticles. The technique results in long (>1 microm) crystallographic edges etched through to the insulating substrate, making the process potentially useful for atomically precise graphene device fabrication. This advance could enable atomically precise construction of integrated circuits from single graphene sheets with a wide range of technological applications.     

Unit-level voluntary turnover rates and customer service quality: Implications of group cohesiveness, newcomer concentration, and size.

Despite substantial growth in the service industry and emerging work on turnover consequences, little research examines how unit-level turnover rates affect essential customer-related outcomes. The authors propose an operational disruption framework to explain why voluntary turnover impairs customers’ service quality perceptions. On the basis of a sample of 75 work units and data from 5,631 employee surveys, 59,602 customer surveys, and organizational records, results indicate that unit-level voluntary turnover rates are negatively related to service quality perceptions. The authors also examine potential boundary conditions related to the disruption framework. Of 3 moderators studied (group cohesiveness, group size, and newcomer concentration), results show that turnover’s negative effects on service quality are more pronounced in larger units and in those with a greater concentration of newcomers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A review of the dietary flavonoid,kaempferol on human health and cancer chemoprevention

Kaempferol is a polyphenol antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables. Many studies have described the beneficial effects of dietary kaempferol in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, especially cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between kaempferol intake and cancer. Kaempferol may help by augmenting the body’s antioxidant defence against free radicals, which promote the development of cancer. At the molecular level, kaempferol has been reported to modulate a number of key elements in cellular signal transduction pathways linked to apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis. Significantly, kaempferol inhibits cancer cell growth and angiogenesis and induces cancer cell apoptosis, but on the other hand, kaempferol appears to preserve normal cell viability, in some cases exerting a protective effect. The aim of this review is to synthesize information concerning the extraction of kaempferol, as well as to provide insights into the molecular basis of its potential chemo-preventative activities, with an emphasis on its ability to control intracellular signaling cascades that regulate the aforementioned processes. Chemoprevention using nanotechnology to improve the bioavailability of kaempferol is also discussed.