iView: a feature clustering framework for suggesting informative views in volume visualization

The unguided visual exploration of volumetric data can be both a challenging and a time-consuming undertaking. Identifying a set of favorable vantage points at which to start exploratory expeditions can greatly reduce this effort and can also ensure that no important structures are being missed. Recent research efforts have focused on entropy-based viewpoint selection criteria that depend on scalar values describing the structures of interest. In contrast, we propose a viewpoint suggestion pipeline that is based on feature-clustering in high-dimensional space. We use gradient/normal variation as a metric to identify interesting local events and then cluster these via k-means to detect important salient composite features. Next, we compute the maximum possible exposure of these composite feature for different viewpoints and calculate a 2D entropy map parameterized in longitude and latitude to point out promising view orientations. Superimposed onto an interactive track-ball interface, users can then directly use this entropy map to quickly navigate to potentially interesting viewpoints where visibility-based transfer functions can be employed to generate volume renderings that minimize occlusions. To give full exploration freedom to the user, the entropy map is updated on the fly whenever a view has been selected, pointing to new and promising but so far unseen view directions. Alternatively, our system can also use a set-cover optimization algorithm to provide a minimal set of views needed to observe all features. The views so generated could then be saved into a list for further inspection or into a gallery for a summary presentation.     

Structure and properties of 4-aminobenzoic acid-modified polyvinyl chloride and functionalized graphite-based membranes

In this effort, series of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and 4-aminobenzoic acid (4ABA)-modified PVC and functional graphite (FG)-based membranes were prepared. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were used to confirm PVC and graphite modification and nanocomposite formation. Scanning electron microscopy depicted homogenously layered morphology of modified PVC nanocomposite. Glass-transition temperature (T_g) of non-modified PVC nanocomposite was 243°C, whereas modified nanocomposite with similar FG loading had T_g of 258°C. Higher filler content furnished better hydrophilic membranes. Efficiency of PVC–4ABA-0.5/FG 0.5 membrane was 100% for removal of Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺. PVC–4ABA-0.5/FG 0.5 membrane with smaller contact angle (30°) is a fine option for water purification.     

Silicon Mitigates Drought Stress in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Through Improving Photosynthetic Pigments,Biochemical and Yield Characters

Silicon - Feeling prone to stress differs with plant production stage, water scarcity near commencement of grain filling phase has a significant reduced grain yield through fewer endosperm and sink...     

Perspectives on Polyvinyl Chloride and Carbon Nanofiller Composite: A Review

This review mainly concentrates on polyvinyl chloride/carbon nanofiller-based composites. The present study focused upon synthetic strategies and relevance of polyvinyl chloride/graphite, polyvinyl chloride/graphene, polyvinyl chloride/graphene oxide, and polyvinyl chloride/carbon nanotube nanocomposite. Among carbon-based reinforcement, graphene oxide nanofiller depicted better dispersion in polyvinyl chloride matrix. The electrical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of these nanocomposites are also discussed. Moreover, future potential of these materials are elucidated. There is relatively little literature available regarding polyvinyl chloride-based nanocomposite. The main aim of this article is to therefore particularize the polyvinyl chloride-based nanocomposites and expose their concealed properties to enable better use of these new materials in different technical fields.     

Binary copolymerizations of 8-methacryloxy-quinoline with methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, styrene and acrylonitrile

8-methacryloxy-quinoline monomer (MAQ) was prepared by the reaction of 8-hydroxyquinoline with either methacryloyl chloride or methacrylic acid in the presence of triethylamine and N, N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, respectively. Its structure was confirmed by IR and 1 H-NMR spectroscopy. Binary copolymerization of this new monomer with methyl acrylate (MA), acrylonitrile (AN) methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene(ST), were performed in Dimethylformamide, using 1 mol% azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator at 65 °C. The copolymer compositions were determined from nitrogen analysis except MAQ-AN with 1 H-NMR. Copolymerization Parameters for each system were calculated by both the Finemen-Ross and Kelen-Tüdös methods. The monomer reactivity ratios for the systems MAQ-MA, MAQ-AN, MAQ-MMA and MAQ-ST were found to be r1?=?0.695?±?0.036, r2?=?0.62?±?0.235; r1?=?0.273?±?0.087, r2?=?0.259?±?0.67; r1?=?0.356?±?0.015, r2?=?1.615?±?0.052 and r1?=?0.097?±?0.003, r2?=?0.339?±?0.027 respectively. The Q and e values for MAQ monomer were found to be 1.62 and 1.40.     

Control design approach for improved voltage stability in microgrid energy storage system

Microsystem Technologies - Nowadays, microgrid energy storage system is in great demand in order to compensate the demand-generation mismatch. In this study a new control design strategy is...