A polygon mesh, or a 3D mesh, consisting of a collection of vertices, edges, and polygons in three-dimensional space, is the standard way of representing 3D objects. In practice, polygon meshes acquired from the 3D scanning process fail to meet the quality requirements for most practical applications. Mesh defects like holes, duplicate elements, non-manifold elements are introduced during the scanning process, which lowers the quality of the output meshes. In this thesis, we describe a complete mesh-repairing process that fixes all defects within a polygon mesh. This process is divided into two parts: the mesh-cleaning part and the hole-filling part. In the mesh-cleaning part, we describe the ways of repairing different types of mesh defects. In the hole-filling part, we discuss two main hole-filling approaches: the surface-based method and the volumetric. In addition, we present a hybrid algorithm by combining the surface-based approach and the volumetric approach. We compare the meshes created by different hole-filing algorithms and show that the new algorithm is a good alternative to the existing ones. / Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-11 23:45:08.591

Incomplete instrument is an institution in practice quite often used, but which raises a number of issues stemming mainly from its fragmentary legislation. The aim of my work is primarily to explore related issues, to confront conflicting views of theorists, to deal with the mismatch between theory and conclusions of the courts and in a case I find such to add my own opinion in a contentious area. The result should be a comprehensive presentation of incomplete instrument including the benefits and risks which this certainly interesting institute holds. Admissibility of incomplete instrument has been controversial issue for a long time. Especially the business practice established the existence of deeds that are not rightful Bills of Exchange or other securities as they don't contain all the particulars required by law, yet give its owner confidence that, if effort is made, they can be transformed into the proper Bills of Exchange. These documents are called Incomplete instruments. If we search for the essence of incomplete instrument, then it can be relatively easily determined even from its very name of which can be seen that this is a deed containing white spaces intended for later additions. Incomplete instrument is a precursor of future Bills. It is a deliberate deed issued in incomplete form,...

Advancements in three dimensional (3D) technologies are rapidly increasing. Three Dimensional Television (3DTV) aims at creating 3D experience for the home user. Moreover, multiview autostereoscopic displays provide a depth impression without the requirement for any special glasses and can be viewed from multiple locations. One of the key issues in the 3DTV processing chain is the content generation from the available input data format video plus depth and multiview video plus depth. This data allows for the possibility of producing virtual views using depth-image-based rendering. Although depth-image-based rendering is an efficient method, it is known for appearance of artifacts such as cracks, corona and empty regions in rendered images. While several approaches have tackled the problem, reducing the artifacts in rendered images is still an active field of research.   Two problems are addressed in this thesis in order to achieve a better 3D video quality in the context of view rendering: firstly, how to improve the quality of rendered views using a direct approach (i.e. without applying specific processing steps for each artifact), and secondly, how to fill the large missing areas in a visually plausible manner using neighbouring details from around the missing regions. This thesis introduces a new depth-image-based rendering and depth-based texture inpainting in order to address these two problems. The first problem is solved by an edge-aided rendering method that relies on the principles of forward warping and one dimensional interpolation. The other problem is addressed by using the depth-included curvature inpainting method that uses appropriate depth level texture details around disocclusions.   The proposed edge-aided rendering method and depth-included curvature inpainting methods are evaluated and compared with the state-of-the-art methods. The results show an increase in the objective quality and the visual gain over reference methods. The quality gain is encouraging as the edge-aided rendering method omits the specific processing steps to remove the rendering artifacts. Moreover, the results show that large disocclusions can be effectively filled using the depth-included curvature inpainting approach. Overall, the proposed approaches improve the content generation for 3DTV and additionally, for free view point television.

Thesis advisor: John Wing / Presented here is research investigating genes that are involved in the development and maintenance of ciliated nerve endings in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans utilizes a subset of neurons, referred to as ciliated sensory neurons, to sense certain changes in its environment. There are two amphid sensilla (sense organs) that mediate exposure of these ciliated endings to the animal's external environment. Those ciliated endings that penetrate the cuticle are responsible for a myriad of behaviors that range from chemotaxis to osmotic avoidance, but in general function for the reception of environmental cues and stimuli. The intraflagellar transport (IFT) process facilitates the morphogenesis of these ciliated endings, and animals lacking intact ciliated endings may not be able to detect nourishment, hazardous environments, or other worms for mating. Mutant strains used in this study were generated by EMS mutagenesis of wild-type N2 animals and a subsequent screen of those worms displaying significant cilia dysfunction as evidenced by their dye-filling defective (Dyf) phenotype. Cilia-mediated uptake of lipophilic DiI into six pairs of amphid sensory neurons and two pairs of phasmid sensory neurons is expected in wild-type (N2) animals, but in Dyf animals, this dye-filling is disrupted, either through morphological defects, or deleterious mutations in the IFT process. To investigate the morphogenesis of cilia in C. elegans, we analyzed two specific mutant strains, WX737 dyf-3(og022)IV and PK841 dyf-15(pk841)V, that are defective in the uptake of fluorescent dye DiI and abnormal in sensory cilium structure. Through a variety of genetic mapping techniques, we were able to successfully map experimental gene dyf-15(pk841) to an interval of 2.84cM on chromosome V, and identify og022 as an allele of the gene dyf-3. It has been previously shown that dyf-3 expression is detected in 26 chemosensory neurons, including six IL2 neurons, eight pairs of amphid neurons (ASE, ADF, ASG, ASH, ASI, ASJ, ASK and ADL) and two pairs of phasmid neurons (PHA and PHB). Analysis of cilium malformation and the presence of a recognition sequence for the DAF-19 transcription factor suggest that dyf-3 is involved in the intraflagellar transport system complex B. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Biology. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Alternativamente ao preenchimento de falhas, buscou-se neste estudo apresentar uma metodologia para a geração de séries de precipitações mensais médias apenas com os dados observados disponíveis nas estações pluviométricas presentes na área de estudo e seu entorno. Neste caso, para cada época da série, somente os dados disponíveis foram utilizados para o cálculo da precipitação média, assim em cada época admitiu-se que uma combinação diferente de postos pluviométricos fosse utilizada para o seu cálculo. Para isso foi desenvolvida uma ferramenta computacional em ambiente SIG para automatizar todas as etapas do estudo. Os resultados das séries de precipitação mensal média para uma bacia hidrográfica calculados segundo a metodologia alternativa apresentada foram comparados a dois métodos de preenchimento de falhas comumente utilizados nos estudos hidrológicos. Posteriormente foram avaliados os impactos do quantitativo de falhas nas séries. Também foram avaliados os reflexos na aplicação das séries na modelagem chuva-vazão e por fim a metodologia foi aplicada a um caso concreto. Os resultados encontrados e os testes estatísticos apontam resultados satisfatórios e equivalentes nas condições testadas. Verificou-se uma degradação na correlação entre a série gerada a partir dos dados sem falhas e as séries geradas com os dados com as imposições das falhas com o aumento do número de falhas impostas. As séries de vazões médias mensais geradas utilizando-se o modelo mensal SMAP quando da aplicação das séries de precipitação calculadas pela metodologia alternativa também se mostraram equivalentes, segundo os testes estatísticos realizados, às séries geradas de dados de precipitação sem falhas ou com as falhas preenchidas. As diferenças encontradas entre as séries foram pequenas o que se refletiu nos Índices de Nash-Sutcliffe que foram próximos. / In this study, we proposed a methodology for the generation of average monthly rainfall series only with the observed data available in the rainfall stations present in the study area and its surroundings. In this case, for each season of the series only the available data were used for the calculation of the average precipitation, so in each season it was admitted that a different combination of pluviometric stations was used for its calculation. For this, a computational tool was developed with a GIS approach to automate all stages of the study. The results of the average monthly rainfall series for a river basin calculated according to the alternative methodology presented were compared to two methods of filling gaps commonly used in hydrological studies. Subsequently, the impacts of the number of failures in the series were evaluated. We also evaluated the reflexes in the application of the series in the rainfall-flow modeling and finally the methodology was applied to a case study. The results found and the statistical tests show satisfactory and equivalent results under the conditions tested. There was a degradation in the correlation between the series generated from the data without fail and the series generated with the data with the impositions of the failures with the increase of the gaps imposed. The series of monthly average flows generated using the SMAP monthly model when applying the rainfall series calculated by the alternative methodology were also shown to be equivalent, according to the statistical tests carried out, to the series generated of data of precipitation without gaps or with the gaps fulfilled. The differences found between the series were small, which was reflected in the Nash-Sutcliffe Indices that were close.

This thesis focuses on designing and synthesis of novel molecular imaging probes based on non-covalent funtionalisation of pure single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Several synthetic strategies for the supramolecular chemistry functionalisation of SWNTs, cytotoxicity measurements and cellular imaging of supramolecularly functionalised carbon nanotube probes are discussed. Chapter one is a literature review as the thesis Introduction. This describes aspects of the physical and chemical properties, structural importance and synthesis methods of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), also opens the discussion of the different functionalisation methods to enhance the solubility and biocompatibility of SWNTs for biomedical applications. Several approaches for the design of functionalisation SWNTs for molecular imaging reported in the current literature are highlighted. Techniques and facilities for accessing cell imaging ability and behavior of these synthesized molecular imaging probes, including confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) are described briefly. Chapter two explores the synthesis of specifically designed naphthalene diimide (NDI). These molecules are known to form 3 dimensional (3D) helical organic nanotubes through hydrogen bonding. In this work an iodine-tagged NDI was allowed to self-assemble onto the surface of SWNTs. The cavities of the NDI organic nanotubes can accommodate SWNTs strands in their hydrophobic interior as observed high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR TEM). A new hybrid material, NDI@SWNT, was prepared and characterised as dispersed in organic solvents and aqueous media and in the solid state by HR TEM, tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), circular dichroism, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopies (steady-state single and two-photon techniques). These measurements indicate that amino acid-functionalised NDI interacts strongly with SWNTs in dispersions and forms a donor-acceptor complex denoted NDI@SWNT. The interaction of this nanohybrid with cancer cells was explored using fluorescence microscopies. Chapter three describes the synthesis of series of molecular imaging agents based on two cancer targeting peptides (bombesin and RGDfK). Two types of NDIpeptide conjugates (Iodine-tagged NDI-Bombesin and Tryptophan-NDI-RGDfK) were designed and synthesized through EDC-coupling method. New compounds synthesized were characterised by mass spectroscopy and also HPLC. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microcopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy were utilised for investigating cellular behaviors (stability, fluorescence intensity and localization) of these molecular imaging probes. Chapter four describes the synthesis of amphiphilic conjugated thiophenes (dodecathiophene, denoted as T12). In this system, the thiophene backbone structure was chosen as a biocompatible coating for carbon nanotubes as simple molecular mechanics modeling suggested that it would be perfectly fitted to the curvature of SWNTs. T12 showed very good capability for debundling of SWNTs and forming corresponding solution dispersions of T12@SWNTs describes the potential of T12@SWNTs as a stable fluorescent bioimaging nano-probe for tracking cancer cells. Chapter five describes the successful filling of SWNTs with Cu2+ by radiochemistry methods (using 'hot' 64Cu ions anchored onto NaOAc) and also by a 'cold' optimised procedure for excess Cu(OAc)2. Filling with other metal ions was also tested, for example KReO4 and Zr(OAc)4. The filling experiments with Zr(OAc)4 in solution did not prove successful at normal pH but results were promising when pH was adjusted to ca. 2 by adding H2SO4. Any significant leakage of metal ions from open SWNTs was avoided by a simultaneous encapsulation of C70 molecules at the ends of SWNTs. Functionalisation of SWNTs by the supramolecular wrapping the surface of SWNTs in aqueous media with a naturally occurring glucan (β-1,3-1,4-Dglucan, denoted here as β-D-glucan) was also explored. Several boronic acid fluorophores were successfully synthesized and tested for the labeling of β-D-glucan @SWNTs by molecular recognition between boronic acids and this polysaccharide. Their cellular translocation behaviour and fluorescence properties were investigated by confocal fluorescence imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging. Both methods show that localisation in sub-cellular (MCF-7 cells) regions and that the glucan coating significantly enhances the cell membrane translocation of SWNTs. Chapter six reports an efficient and economical strategy of supramolecular complex formulation of thermally reduced graphene. Naphthalene diimide (NDI) was used to form a stable and energy transfer complex which showed efficient quenching and significant red-shift of fluorescence of NDI when adsorbed onto graphene surfaces. The effect of thermally reducing annealing procedure to convert graphene oxides in graphene-nanoflake like materials was investigated. A new hybrid material (denoted here as NDI@TRG) synthesized was characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and fluorescence microscopy in the dispersed phase Chapter seven contains full experimental details for the work described in this thesis. The Appendix contains details of the crystallographic data and supplementary information on cell imaging photos and fluorescence lifetime point decay data for SWNT nanocomposites.

A novel image reconstruction algorithm from edges (image gradients) follows from the Sokhostki-Plemelj Theorem of complex analysis, an elaboration of the standard Cauchy (Singular) Integral. This algorithm demonstrates the use of Singular Integral Equation methods to image processing, extending the more common use of Partial Differential Equations (e.g. based on variants of the Diffusion or Poisson equations). The Cauchy Integral approach has a deep connection to and sheds light on the (linear and non-linear) diffusion equation, the retinex algorithm and energy-based image regularization. It extends the commonly understood local definition of an edge to a global, complex analytic structure - the analytic edge - the contrast weighted kernel of the Cauchy Integral. Superposition of the set of analytic edges provides a "filled-in" image which is the piece-wise analytic image corresponding to the edge (gradient data) supplied. This is a fully parallel operation which avoids the time penalty associated with iterative solutions and thus is compatible with the short time (about 150 milliseconds) that is biologically available for the brain to construct a perceptual image from edge data. Although this algorithm produces an exact reconstruction of a filled-in image from the gradients of that image, slight modifications of it produce images which correspond to perceptual reports of human observers when presented with a wide range of "visual contrast illusion" images.

Foram avaliadas algumas propriedades físico-químicas, como o pH, liberação de íons cálcio, tempo de presa, solubilidade e radiopacidade de 3 cimentos a base do agregado de trióxido mineral, clínquer do cimento Portland e um epóxico experimental. Foram avaliados os cimentos MTA Angelus branco, MTA Bio, cimentos experimentais, MTA fotopolimerizável e Sealepox RP e o Clínquer de cimento Portland acrescido de 20% de óxido de bismuto e 5% de sulfato de cálcio. Para as avaliações do pH e da liberação de íons cálcio foram utilizados tubos de polietileno com 1,0 mm de diâmetro interno e 10,0 mm de comprimento, com apenas uma das extremidades aberta. Esses tubos foram preenchidos com os cimentos e imediatamente imersos em tubos de ensaio contendo 10 mL de água deionizada, onde permaneceram durante todo o período experimental. Realizaram-se avaliações nos períodos de 3, 24, 72 e 168 horas, sempre se renovando a água deionizada ao final de cada período. Os ensaios de tempo de presa, solubilidade e radiopacidade, foram realizados conforme a norma #57 da ADA. Em relação ao tempo de presa, também foi utilizada a agulha de Gilmore de 453,6 g, para a presa final, conforme recomenda a norma #C266-03 da ASTM. Os resultados demonstraram que todos os cimentos apresentaram pH alcalino e liberaram íons cálcio em todos os períodos, com tendência de redução nos períodos finais. Quanto aos tempos de presa, os cimentos MTA Angelus branco e o cimento experimental MTA Bio apresentaram os menores tempos. Já o Clínquer apresentou valores intermediários, e o Sealepox RP, apresentou os tempos mais longos. O cimento MTA fotopolimerizável, por suas características próprias, não foi submetido a esse teste. Em relação ao ensaio de solubilidade, o cimento que mais se aproximou das recomendações da ADA, foi o Sealepox RP, com valores próximos a 1%, enquanto que os cimentos MTA Angelus branco, MTA Bio e o Clínquer acrescido ao radiopacificador e sulfato de cálcio apresentaram valores maiores. O MTA fotopolimerizável apresentou valores menores. Em relação à radiopacidade, a maioria dos cimentos estudados apresentou valores superiores à da dentina, com resultados semelhantes entre si, com exceção do MTA fotopolimerizável, que apresentou valor próximo ao da dentina. / Some properties had been evaluated physicochemical, such as pH, release of calcium ions, setting time, solubility and radiopacity of 3 retrograde filling the base of the aggregate of mineral trioxide, to clínquer of the Portland cement and an experimental epoxy sealer. Experimental cements MTA white Angelus, MTA Bio, light-curing MTA and Sealepox RP and the Clínquer of cement Portland increased of 20% of bismuth oxide and 5% of calcium sulphate had been evaluated. For the evaluations of pH and the release of calcium ions had been used polyethylene pipes with 1,0 mm of internal diameter and 10,0 mm of length, with only one of the extremities open. These pipes had been filled with cements and immediately immersed in pipes of 10 assay I contend mL of distilled water, where they had remained all during the experimental period. Evaluations in the periods of 3, 24, 72 and 168 hours, always if renewing the distilled water to the end of each period. The assays of setting time, solubility and radiopacity, had been carried through in agreement the norm #57 of the ADA. In relation to the setting time, also g was used the needle of Gilmore of 453,6, for the final canine tooth, as it recommends to the norm #C266-03 of the ASTM. The results had demonstrated that all the cements had presented pH alkaline and had liberated calcium ions in all the periods, with trend of reduction in the final periods. How much to the setting time, cements MTA white Angelus and experimental cement MTA Bio had presented the lesser times. Already the Clínquer presented intermediate values, and Sealepox RP, presented the times longest. Light-curing cement MTA, by its proper characteristics, was not submitted to this test. In relation to the solubility assay, the cement that more was come close to the recommendations of the ADA, was Sealepox RP, with next values 1%, whereas cements MTA white Angelus, MTA Bio and the Clínquer increased to the bismuth oxide and calcium sulphate had presented bigger values. The light-curing MTA presented less resulted . In relation to the radiopacity, the majority of studied cements presented more values to the one of the dentine, with similar results between itself, exception of the light-curing MTA, that presented value next to the one to the dentine.

Modern context-aware applications no longer justify their decisions based only on their own information but on the decisions and information of other applications in a similar context.  Acquiring context information of other entities in an distributed system is difficult task when using the current content centric solutions such as DHTs.  This project aims to build a distributed index that provides storage for the so called Presentities solely based on the state of their context information.  Furthermore, the stored Presentities must be efficiently accessible even if only some information of their current context is available. To fulfill these requirements the PAST DHT was extended to support range queries and modified to use points on a space-filling curve as index values. The simulation of the system has shown very good accuracy rates, on average 99%, for range queries by maintaining a logarithmic relationship to the amount of required messages sent in the DHT.  Problems have emerged from the lack of load balancing implemented into the used DHT, but it is still the case that the proposed method of using space-filling curves to build a context centric decentralized index is both sufficient and effective. Keywords: context awareness, indexing, space-flling curves, Hilbert curve,Pastry, PAST

名古屋大学博士学位論文 学位の種類 : 医学博士(論文) 学位授与年月日:平成4年7月20日 宮口和彦氏の博士論文として提出された