Approximation/interpolation from spaces of positive definite or conditionally positive definite kernels is an increasingly popular tool for the analysis and synthesis of scattered data and is central to many meshless methods. For a set of N scattered sites, the standard basis for such a space utilizes N globally supported kernels; computing with it is prohibitively expensive for large N . Easil...

MRI is unique in its ability to non-invasively and selectively alter tissue magnetization, and create grid patterns on a soft, deforming body such as the heart muscle. We track motion of myocardial tag lines with energy. minimizing B-spline snakes. Oriented tag templates are first constructed by simulating the MR imaging process. The templates are subsequently correlated with the image data, gi...

This article was supposed to be on `multivariate splines'. An informal survey, taken recently by asking various people in Approximation Theory what they consider to be a `multivariate spline', resulted in the answer that a multivariate spline is a possibly smooth, piecewise polynomial function of several arguments. In particular, the potentially very useful thin-plate spline was thought to belo...

Infinitesimal deformations of a homogeneous and isotropic thick elastic plate have been analyzed by using a meshless local Petrov– Galerkin (MLPG) method and a higher-order shear and normal deformable plate theory (HONSDPT). Radial basis functions (RBF) are employed for constructing trial solutions, while a spline function is used as the weight function over a local subdomain. The present metho...

It has been known for quite some time that materials and structures with small-scale dimensions do not behave in the same manner as their bulk counterparts. This aspect was first observed in thin films where certain defect structures were found to have deleterious effects on the film’s structural integrity and reliability. This became a significant concern because thin films are routinely emplo...

Bismuth and antimony are semimetals with a rhombohedral crystal structure and similar lattice parameters. Bi12xSbx alloys exhibit unusual electronic properties and are of interest for thermoelectric and magnetoelectronic devices. In this paper, we show that Bi12xSbx alloys can be electrodeposited from acidic chloride-based solutions and that a homogenous solid solution is obtained across the en...

We present a simple yet highly efficient method to register range and color images. This method does not rely upon calibration parameters nor does it use visual features analysis. Our assumption is that if the transformation that registers the images is a mathematical function, we can approximate with little number of samples. To this end, thin-plate spline-based interpolations are used in this...

In this paper we address the problem of registering 3D scattered data by the mean of a statistical shape model. This model is built from a training set on which a principal component analysis ( E A ) is applied. A local system of reference is computed for each sample shape of the learning set, what enables to align the training set. PCA then reveals the main modes of deformation of the class of...

Adapted finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) update equations exist for a number of objects that are smaller than the grid step, such as wires and thin slots. In this contribution we provide a technique that automatically generates new FDTD update equations for small objects. Our presentation will be focussed on 2-D-FDTD. We start from the FDTD equations in a fine grid where the time derivative...

In the face recognition problem, one of the most critical sources of variation is facial expression. This paper presents a system to overcome this issue by utilizing facial expression simulations on realistic and animatable face models that are in compliance with MPEG-4 specifications. In our system, firstly, 3D frontal face scans of the users in neutral expression and with closed mouth are tak...