scholarly journals APPLICATIONS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL BOX MODELING TO PALEONTOLOGICAL FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 119-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imran A. Rahman ◽  
Stephan Lautenschlager

AbstractFunctional analysis through computer modeling can inform on how extinct organisms moved and fed, allowing us to test long-standing paleobiological hypotheses. Many such studies are based on digital models derived from computed tomography or surface scanning, but these methods are not appropriate for all fossils. Here, we show that box modeling—3-D modeling of complex shapes based on simple objects—can be used to reconstruct the morphology of various fossil specimens. Moreover, the results of computational functional analyses utilizing such models are very similar to those for models derived from tomographic or surface-based techniques. Box modeling is more broadly applicable than alternative methods for digitizing specimens; hence, there is great potential for this approach in paleontological functional analysis. Possible applications include large-scale comparative studies, analyses of hypothetical morphologies, and virtually restoring incomplete/distorted specimens.

2020 ◽  
pp. 38-39
Author(s):  
Paula Arzillo ◽  
Marcus Vinicius Pereira

This theoretical-methodological research aims a final graduation paper in the Architectures and Urbanism bachelor’s degree program, which corresponds to an activity of synthesis and integration of skills developed throughout the course. Therefore, it is proposed to create a Project of an ephemeral architecture, which explores the perception and sensitivity of visitors, through the interactive experiences given by it. The theoretical basis searches architectural practices that relate innovative Technologies, and which materialize through an immersive exhibition, which explores interactivity with the visitors, in order to stimulate human senses – such as touch, smell, taste and hearing. For this, it is taken advantage of organic shape study, relating the concepts of biomimetic design and parametric design in order to demystify complex formulas through computer generated algorithms. The evolution process of the new digital tools brings an approximation of graphical representation with the real world. The complexity of the architectural technical representation, reached a parameter that becomes impossible without the computer software. In this context, parametric architecture is a technique developed from software, which has the ability to perform complex calculations, in a clear and effective way, allowing the creation of complex shapes that allow to expand the creative process until then, limited by technical characteristics. The Project called “Feelings, an immersive experience is made up of six distinct spaces, divides by rooms for temporary exhibitions at the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo. The beginning of the Project route is given by the central octagon, where is thefirst installation that has a large scale, inspired by a spider web materialized through tensioned lycra fabric. The others rooms are based on the shape and characteristics of animals: 1) the Octopus tentacles, which stimulate the human touch, through holes in the Octopus suckers, that invite visitors to find out different textures; 2) butterfly cocoons shapes, containing aromas capsules, which stimulate the sense of smell; 3) silhouettes of marine jellyfish shelter the dripping system of a surprise flavor drop, which awaken the taste buds, sensory receptors of the tongue as sweet, bitter, salty, sours or umami; 4) the chameleon’s scalyskin, due to the ability to change colors, is taken to produce an interactive panel of lights that stimulates the sense of vision; 5) the structure of bird s taken to address the sense of hearing, by hiding speakers with sound effects that change according to the visitors interaction. All the structuring of these models used practices of digital architecture technologies. Finally, this research applies practical solutions based on three-dimensional graphic models for the representation of projects with complex shapes through intensive use of modeling, standing out for uniting concepts such as biomimetics and parametric in favor of the practice of innovative tools and still not so much explored in the Architecture and Urbanism course, promoting future research and expanding the repertoire within the area.


2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace X. Gu ◽  
Isabelle Su ◽  
Shruti Sharma ◽  
Jamie L. Voros ◽  
Zhao Qin ◽  
...  

Optimized for millions of years, natural materials often outperform synthetic materials due to their hierarchical structures and multifunctional abilities. They usually feature a complex architecture that consists of simple building blocks. Indeed, many natural materials such as bone, nacre, hair, and spider silk, have outstanding material properties, making them applicable to engineering applications that may require both mechanical resilience and environmental compatibility. However, such natural materials are very difficult to harvest in bulk, and may be toxic in the way they occur naturally, and therefore, it is critical to use alternative methods to fabricate materials that have material functions similar to material function as their natural counterparts for large-scale applications. Recent progress in additive manufacturing, especially the ability to print multiple materials at upper micrometer resolution, has given researchers an excellent instrument to design and reconstruct natural-inspired materials. The most advanced 3D-printer can now be used to manufacture samples to emulate their geometry and material composition with high fidelity. Its capabilities, in combination with computational modeling, have provided us even more opportunities for designing, optimizing, and testing the function of composite materials, in order to achieve composites of high mechanical resilience and reliability. In this review article, we focus on the advanced material properties of several multifunctional biological materials and discuss how the advanced 3D-printing techniques can be used to mimic their architectures and functions. Lastly, we discuss the limitations of 3D-printing, suggest possible future developments, and discuss applications using bio-inspired materials as a tool in bioengineering and other fields.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haipeng Liu ◽  
Aleksandra Wingert ◽  
Jian'an Wang ◽  
Jucheng Zhang ◽  
Xinhong Wang ◽  
...  

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques are the major cause of coronary artery disease (CAD). Currently, computed tomography (CT) is the most commonly applied imaging technique in the diagnosis of CAD. However, the accurate extraction of coronary plaque geometry from CT images is still challenging.Summary of Review: In this review, we focused on the methods in recent studies on the CT-based coronary plaque extraction. According to the dimension of plaque extraction method, the studies were categorized into two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ones. In each category, the studies were analyzed in terms of data, methods, and evaluation. We summarized the merits and limitations of current methods, as well as the future directions for efficient and accurate extraction of coronary plaques using CT imaging.Conclusion: The methodological innovations are important for more accurate CT-based assessment of coronary plaques in clinical applications. The large-scale studies, de-blooming algorithms, more standardized datasets, and more detailed classification of non-calcified plaques could improve the accuracy of coronary plaque extraction from CT images. More multidimensional geometric parameters can be derived from the 3D geometry of coronary plaques. Additionally, machine learning and automatic 3D reconstruction could improve the efficiency of coronary plaque extraction in future studies.


Author(s):  
H.W. Deckman ◽  
B.F. Flannery ◽  
J.H. Dunsmuir ◽  
K.D' Amico

We have developed a new X-ray microscope which produces complete three dimensional images of samples. The microscope operates by performing X-ray tomography with unprecedented resolution. Tomography is a non-invasive imaging technique that creates maps of the internal structure of samples from measurement of the attenuation of penetrating radiation. As conventionally practiced in medical Computed Tomography (CT), radiologists produce maps of bone and tissue structure in several planar sections that reveal features with 1mm resolution and 1% contrast. Microtomography extends the capability of CT in several ways. First, the resolution which approaches one micron, is one thousand times higher than that of the medical CT. Second, our approach acquires and analyses the data in a panoramic imaging format that directly produces three-dimensional maps in a series of contiguous stacked planes. Typical maps available today consist of three hundred planar sections each containing 512x512 pixels. Finally, and perhaps of most import scientifically, microtomography using a synchrotron X-ray source, allows us to generate maps of individual element.


Author(s):  
Terence J. O'Kane ◽  
Vassili Kitsios ◽  
Mark A. Collier

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