We present a study of the influence of different approximation schemes on the convergence rate of volume rendering integral (VRI) numerical approximations. We experimentally evaluate the impact of numerical integration techniques on the rate of convergence to the correct solution of the VRI on a single ray. We report that the discretization of both the inner and outer integrals have influence o...

We propose variable rectilinear interpolation (VRI) as an alternative method for device characterization. Based on a rectilinear structure, this algorithm constructs a mapping with non-uniform nodes placed to maximize informational entropy while meeting the pre-defined error tolerance threshold. In this paper we describe the VRI algorithm and structure; followed by an example in which we charac...

A precision control system that enables a center pivot irrigation system (CP) to precisely supply water in optimal rates relative to the needs of individual areas within fields was developed through a collaboration between the Farmscan group (Perth, Western Australia) and the University of Georgia Precision Farming team at the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NE...

One of the most severe winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) diseases is Fusarium head blight (FHB). It believed that selection for resistance to FHB better in high disease pressure environments, which various methods artificial inoculation are used. The standard spray method be technically demanding and labour intensive. Therefore, scattering Fusarium-infected maize stalks onto trial plots after...

Voluntary action can be studied by giving participants free choice over which task to perform in response to each presented stimulus. In such experiments, performance costs are observed when participants choose to switch tasks from the previous trial. It has been proposed that these costs primarily index the time-consuming operation of top-down control processes that support voluntary action. T...

The reaction path is an important concept of theoretical chemistry. We employ the definition of the Newton trajectory (NT). An NT follows a curve where the gradient is always a pointer to a fixed direction. Usually, a whole family of NTs connects two adjacent stationary points of an index difference of one. We will name such a family a reaction channel. The border between two reaction channels ...

Ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI) is a serious complication of external ventricular drain (EVD) but its natural history is poorly studied. We prospectively tracked the bacteria pathways from skin towards ventricles to identify the infectious process resulting in ventriculostomy-related colonization (VRC), and VRI. We systematically sampled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on a daily basis and co...

BACKGROUND Bronchodilators have been reported to influence regional lung ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which may change regional lung sound distribution. Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a lung imaging system for the assessment of breath sounds. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) on the regional distribution of...