We present a practical algorithm for sampling the product of environment map lighting and surface reflectance. Our method builds on wavelet-based importance sampling, but has a number of important advantages over previous methods. Most importantly, we avoid using precomputed reflectance functions by sampling the BRDF on-the-fly. Hence, all types of materials can be handled, including anisotropic and

Cellular replacement therapy has emerged as a novel strategy for the treatment of heart failure. The aim of our study was to determine the fate of injected mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and whole bone marrow (BM) cells in the infarcted heart. MSCs were purified from BM of transgenic mice and characterized using flow cytometry and in vitro differentiation assays. Myocardial infarctions were generat

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease exhibit complex features of cell death reflecting both the primary lesion as well as surrounding interconnected events. Because Bcl-2 family members are intimately involved in cell death processes, the present Study used dopaminergic cultures from control, Bcl-2-overexpressing, or Bax-deficient genetically modified animals to determine the in

This study systematically analyzes platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor expression in six types of common tumors as well as examines associations between PDGF beta-receptor status and clinicopathological characteristics in breast cancer. PDGF receptor expression was determined by immunohistochemistry on tumor tissue microarrays. Breast tumor data were combined with prognostic factors and

Health risks associated with exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) have been shown epidemiologically as well as experimentally, pointing to both respiratory and cardiovascular effects. Lately, wear particles generated from traffic have been recognized to be a major contributing source to the overall particle load, especially in the Nordic countries were studded tires are used. In this work,

With the aim to improve our understanding of the structural basis for protein self-association and aggregation, in particular in relationship to protein refolding and amyloid formation, folding-related processes for human cystatin C have been studied. Using NMR spectroscopy together with chromatographic and electrophoretic methods, a self-association process resulting in dimer formation for protei

We study the problem of estimating the position and orientation of a calibrated camera from an image of a known scene. A common problem in camera pose estimation is the existence of false correspondences between image features and modeled 3D points. Existing techniques Such as RANSAC to handle outliers have no guarantee of optimality. In contrast, we work with a natural extension of the L-infinity

Popular Abstract in Swedish Syftet med den här avhandlingen är att studera några av de problem som är förknippade med implementering av så kallad autentisk bedömning i lärarutbildningen. I den första delen av avhandlingen undersöks, genom en litteraturöversikt, huruvida användningen av bedömningsmatriser kan fungera som ett stöd för ökad tillförlitlighet och trovärdighet vid bedömning av komplexa The aim of this dissertation is to explore some of the problems associated with introducing authentic assessment in teacher education. In the first part of the dissertation the question is investigated, through a literature review, whether the use of scoring rubrics can aid in supporting credible assessment of complex performance, and at the same time support student learning of such complex perfo

The gathering pace of IT innovation has, or ought to have had notable methodological repercussions for the social-science community (and beyond). Where yesterday the researcher could unhurriedly unlock the social-scientific significance of a chosen medium, secure in the knowledge that his or her work would have bearing for many years, by now there is every reason to confront a fear that the prodde

Objective. To delineate a perceived association of estradiol versus estradiol plus norethisterone hormone therapy on the prevalence of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women. Methods. The Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) project covers 10 766 women aged 50-60 years, living in the Lund area, Sweden. Out of this population, 6908 (64%) women completed questionnaires, underwent physical and

We model collisions between pre-main-sequence stars using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics method. Assuming that all collisions lead to simple mergers, we use derived merger cross-sections to calculate the time-scale to make a 50-M-circle dot star by collisions within the core of a stellar cluster as a function of stellar number density. We show that a 50-M-circle dot star may be produced in this

In the present study, the involvement of cytochrome P450 enzyme( s) in the primary metabolism of laquinimod, a new orally active immunomodulator, has been investigated in human liver microsomes. Hydroxylated and dealkylated metabolites were formed. The metabolite formation exhibited single enzyme Michaelis-Menten kinetics with apparent K-M in the range of 0.09 to 1.9 mM and V-max from 22 to 120 pm

Metabolites generated from fuel metabolism in pancreatic beta-cells control exocytosis of insulin, a process which fails in type 2 diabetes. To identify and quantify these metabolites, global and unbiased analysis of cellular metabolism is required. To this end, polar metabolites, extracted from the clonal 832/13 beta-cell line cultured at 2.8 and 16.7 mM glucose for 48 h, were derivatized followe

Bilateral removal of the cerebral cortex was made in cats neonatally. Spontaneous and imposed behaviour was studied while they were growing up and after they had become adult. Special emphasis was put on the utilization of visual cues and on learning. The cats ate, drank and groomed themselves adequately. Adequate maternal and female sexual behaviour was observed. They utilized the visual and hapt

Thin films of different derivatives of fluorinated alkyl phosphoric acids have been deposited from aqueous solutions onto surfaces of oxidized polycrystalline nickel stamps. which are commonly used in several industrial applications of nanoimprint lithography (NIL). The films have been established in order to increase the antiadhesion tendencies at the stamp polymer interface. Thicknesses, chemica

The role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) localized in dendritic spines has become a subject of intense interest because of its potential functions in local protein synthesis and signal transduction. Although it is recognized from electron microscopic studies that not all spines contain ER, little is know of its dynamic regulation or turnover. Here, we report a surprising degree of turnover of ER