bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treaties and Intergovernmental Relations in Australia: Political Implications of the Toonen Case
Authors: Gelber Katharine 
Published: March 2003

This article explores the political implications of the Toonen case for studies of Australian federalism. The case involved a finding by the United Nations Human Rights Committee that Tasmania’s anti‐gay laws breached Australia’s human rights obligations, and the subsequent passing of the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act 1994 (Cth) designed to override sections of Tasmania’s criminal law.The Commonwealth’s use of the external affairs power to ratify international treaties is outlined, and some questions regarding Commonwealth and state responsibilities and areas of concern flowing from treaty ratification are examined. The Privacy Act is discussed, and the character of intergovernmental relations and cooperation in this instance analysed.The case raises the question of whether the Commonwealth’s capacity to use and expand its powers is subject to effective checks and balances, or is limiting or eroding the powers of the states to the extent that the division and sharing of powers no longer represents that of a federal system. The article concludes that Australian federalism is dynamic and flexible, and reaffirms that a differentiation between the process and outcome of intergovernmental relations will enhance our understanding of its machinations.
Ethical and Legal Issues in Xenotransplantation
Authors: Melo Helena , Brandão Cristina , Rego Guilhermina , Nunes Rui 
Published: March 2003

In most western countries, there is a ‘human organ shortage’ with waiting lists for the performance of transplantation. In a recent report of the UNOS Ethics Committee it is stated that there are approximately 31,000 potential recipients on waiting lists, but only one fourth of potential donors gave their specific consent.Xenotransplantation – defined as the transplantation of animal cells, tissues or organs into human beings – is associated with particular ethical dilemmas, namely the problems of efficiency and safety of this medical procedure. The objective of this study is to analyse the ethical dilemmas in xenotransplantation with the background of a personal view of moral life. Also, xenotransplantation will be evaluated as far as the legal regulation of transplantation is concerned. In particular, we will consider patients rights in accordance with existing laws on organ and tissue transplantation, animal research and clinical trials.
Virtual education in universities: a technological imperative
Authors: O'Donoghue John , Singh Gurmak , Dorward Lisa 
Published: March 2003

Many educational journals have debated the issue of the “virtual university”. As technology is improving and evolving, such “virtuality” becomes a reality. The forecasts are that, in the not too distant future, it will be possible for courses to be completed solely by the use of the World Wide Web or Internet. These “virtual classrooms” will take the place of the solid buildings where students currently attend lectures, at set times in set rooms. The information will be gathered at the student's convenience and assignments will be handed in via this medium. There is potentially an advantage for everyone involved, from the reduced building resource costs to the availability of teaching support 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekWhilst many of these studies identify the benefits of technology in education there are dissenting voices from many other quarters. However there are also arguments identifying the disadvantages to the technology based delivery systems proposed. Either way, there are going to be radical changes in the methods which students will use to tackle the workload involved in studying towards a degree. This paper will explore both sides of the argument. The main contention of this paper is that technology undoubtedly will offer many benefits for the learner, however, the pitfalls need careful consideration in the design of the learning environment. This paper uses examples from educational institutions across different cultures.
Faculty and administrative strategies for the effective implementation of distance education
Authors: Milheim William 
Published: March 2003

Over the past several decades, professionals in the field of instructional technology have witnessed a progression of varying “technologies” that can be utilized for the presentation of educational materials to students in a variety of environments. These technologies have included 16mm films, educational filmstrips, 35mm slides, instructional videotapes, computers, and computer‐based instruction, to name a few. While the specific hardware and software varied significantly over time, these systems generally focused on the delivery of educational materials to students within traditional institutions learning through group‐based or individualized instruction.Within the past several years, however, there has been a re‐birth of one type of education—distance education—specifically designed for students who choose to learn at some distance from a formal institution. While there are a variety of options available within this educational format, it typically allows students to study at their own pace, at their own chosen time, and using materials that are specifically designed for learning at a distance from formal teachers, instructors, and classrooms. This type of learning was originally provided primarily through correspondence study (with the written materials sent back and forth between instructor and students), while current materials are generally now provided via computer, video, or the World Wide Web.The purpose of the present article is to describe relevant issues in this field as well as various related strategies which may be utilized by faculty and academic administrators to support the appropriate use of this educational format. The discussion of these strategies is particularly relevant at this time given the increasing availability of many new technologies, the mounting pressure on educational institutions to be cost effective in their delivery of instruction, and the growing interest in providing quality education to students who are not easily able to travel to a traditional campus or school location.
Books: Valuing Human Assets
Authors: Ambler Tim 
Published: March 2003

Books Reviewed in this article:Brian Friedman, James Hatch and David Walker, Delivering on the Promise: How to Attract, Manage and Retain Human CapitalJeffrey Pfeffer, The Human EquationTom Copeland, Tim Koller and Jack Murrin, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies (Revised Edition)Andy Neely, Measuring Business Performance
A Framework for Synchronized Editing of Multiple Curve Representations
Authors: Grimm Cindy , Ayers Matthew 
Published: March 2003

Editing curves and surfaces is difficult in part because their mathematical representations rarely correspond to most people’s idea of a curve or surface. The implementation (and hence, behavior) of most manipulation tools is intertwined with a particular curve or surface representation; this can make reimplementing the tool with a different representation problematic. A system using a single representation must therefore either limit the types of tools available or convert existing tools to work on the system’s representation.In this paper we present a framework for editing curves or surfaces which supports multiple representations and ensures that they stay synchronized. As a proof of concept, we have created a curve editor which contains several tools each of which manipulate one of three different curve representations: polylines, NURBs, and multi‐resolution B‐splines.
Importance Driven Halftoning
Authors: Streit L. , Buchanan J. 
Published: March 2003

Most halftoning techniques have been primarily concerned with achieving an accurate reproduction of local gray‐scale intensities while avoiding the introduction of artifacts. A secondary concern in halftoning has been the preservation of edges in the halftoned image. In this paper, we will introduce a new halftoning technique that utilizes a bandpass pyramid to achieve an accurate reproduction of important attributes in the image. Ink is distributed through the bandpass pyramid primarily according to a user defined importance function. This technique has three main characteristics. First, our technique can produce results similar to many other halftoning techniques by allowing a generic importance function to be specified. If the chosen importance function is average intensity we obtain results similar to traditional halftoning. We also show how the importance function can be changed to highlight areas with high variance. Second, in addition to changing the importance function, the drawing primitives can also be changed. By using line segments instead of single pixels as drawing primitives we illustrate how edge enhancement can be achieved. Third, this technique allows the user to easily limit the number drawing primitives used. This is useful in limited resource rendering.In addition to providing a tailorable halftoning technique our method can easily be adapted to produce two tone non‐photorealistic (NPR) images. We illustrate this by showing how sketched effects can be achieved by aligning the drawing primitives according to different image attributes.
An Open Model for Hypermedia and Its Application to Geographical Information Systems
Authors: Hall W. , Simmons D. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThis paper describes the design and implementation of a multimedia information management environment that is based on an open model for hypermedia. The model, known as Microcosm, is currently implemented in Microsoft Windows and supports many different media types. The open nature of the model and the separation of the links from the data, allows links to be applied across any application running under Windows or the OS/2 version 2 desktop, thus creating a truly integrated environment. One example, which is, discussed in the paper, is the integration of a hypermedia database with a geographical information system. The paper also discusses the application of novel interfaces to dynamic media within a hypermedia system, including the use of moving icons (micons).
SX/Tools ‐ An Open Design Environment for Adaptable Multimedia User Interfaces
Authors: Kühme Thomas , Schneider‐Hufschmidt Matthias 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIn this paper a brief review of user interface management systems (UIMSs) and their advantages is given. Shortcomings of current UIMSs and open requirements imposed by industrial application areas are outlined. Among the most important requirements are uniform design mechanisms independent of interaction media, techniques, and styles as well as a straight forward end‐user adaptability of user interfaces.A new approach to interactive interface construction, called “direct composition”, is introduced. In this approach all interface objects contain the means for their own modification and design and therefore offer consistent interaction techniques for both the construction and usage of user interfaces. Moreover, end‐user adaptability is an inherent feature of direct composition interfaces.The user interface design environment SX/Tools is described to exemplify specific properties of user interface management systems following the principle of direct composition. The impacts of direct composition on user interface design include a uniform interface development process covering tool development, interface development, and “on‐usage” interface adaptation. It is argued that the direct composition approach can overcome many of the problems with traditional UIMSs.
Affine Texture Mapping and Antialiasing Using Integer Arithmetic
Authors: Nehlig P. , Ghazanfarpour D. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractTexture mapping techniques are very useful for generating more realistic images. However, texture compression, generally induced by geometric transformations, is at the origin of aliasing artifacts especially the well‐known “moire” patterns. Two discrete affine texture mapping methods based exclusively on integer arithmetic are presented here. This original approach of discrete affine mapping is adequate for antialiasing in the case of compressed textures.
Composing Hierarchically Structured Images
Authors: Patterson John W. , Cockton Gilbert 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThis paper begins by examining the ‘classical’ raster‐based composition model, establishing its weakness, and developing a new composition algebra based on line drawing. It then examines the role of composition in the Hierarchical Display Model, demonstrates that the forms of composition assumed in this model are inadequate to deal correctly with the interactions of two‐dimensional representations of three‐dimensional objects, and shows that our composition algebra resolves this difficulty. The composition steps required can be packaged with the use of a single attribute which constrains the apparent order of composition. This attribute is associated with the object which is to be taken ‘out of order’, obviating any needsfor layers.
A CAD System for Color Design of a Car
Authors: Oshima Tetsuya , Yuasa Shinji , Sakanoshita Ken‐ichi , Ogata Yoshinori 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe have developed a color CAD system which enables a color designer to evaluate and create body colors of a car on a graphic display and put this system into practical use. The system has three features; generating realistic images comparable to photography to satisfy the car designer's needs, through close analysis of the physical phenomena taking place in the real environment, reproducing the desired colors very accurately on a CRT monitor, through analysis of the CRT colorimetric characteristics of reproducing the specified colors in response to the input signals, and utilizing a parallel computer to generate realistic images at a high speed and to control colors through interactive operation. Application of the CAD system reported here to the field of color design made it possible to fully evaluate and create body colors by means of computer graphics, replacing the conventional method which requires the painting of clay models or prototype cars.
An Efficient Adaptive Algorithm for Constructing the Convex Differences Tree of a Simple Polygon
Authors: Rappoport Ari 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe convex differences tree (CDT) representation of a simple polygon is useful in computer graphics, computer vision, computer aided design and robotics. The root of the tree contains the convex hull of the polygon and there is a child node recursively representing every connectivity component of the set difference between the convex hull and the polygon. We give an O(n log K + K log2 n) time algorithm for constructing the CDT, where n is the number of polygon vertices and K is the number of nodes in the CDT. The algorithm is adaptive to a complexity measure defined on its output while still being worst case efficient. For simply shaped polygons, where K is a constant, the algorithm is linear. In the worst case K = O(n) and the complexity is O(n log2 n). We also give an O(n log n) algorithm which is an application of the recently introduced compact interval tree data structure.
Hidden Surface Elimination on Parallel Processors
Authors: Highfield Julian C. , Bez Helmut E. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWith the wide availability of general purpose parallel computers, there is a need to reconsider hidden surface elimination (HSE) algorithms with respect to parallel implementation. This paper considers MIMD parallel implementations off our common image space HSE algorithms ‐ recursive subdivision, scan line, painter's, and z‐buffer. Their suitability for parallel implementation is investigated and their relative performance in multiprocessor systems is measured using polygonal scene descriptions of between 200 and 2500 polygons. Dependence on the size of scene description is measured and results are extrapolated to larger scene descriptions. It is shown that HSE algorithms may be efficiently parallelised. A distributed z‐buffer is shown to be a fast and efficient method of solving HSE problems using parallel computers.
A Dynamic Gesture Language and Graphical Feedback for Interaction in a 3D User Interface
Authors: Bordegoni Monica , Hemmje Matthias 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIn user interfaces of modern systems, users get the impression of directly interacting with application objects. In 3D based user interfaces, novel input devices, like hand and force input devices, are being introduced. They aim at providing natural ways of interaction. The use of a hand input device allows the recognition of static poses and dynamic gestures performed by a user's hand.This paper describes the use of a hand input device for interacting with a 3D graphical application. A dynamic gesture language, which allows users to teach some hand gestures, is presented. Furthermore, a user interface integrating the recognition of these gestures and providing feedback for them, is introduced. Particular attention has been spent on implementing a tool for easy specification of dynamic gestures, and on strategies for providing graphical feedback to users' interactions. To demonstrate that the introduced 3D user interface features, and the way the system presents graphical feedback, are not restricted to a hand input device, a force input device has also been integrated into the user interface.
Parallel 3D Delaunay Triangulation
Authors: Cignoni P. , Montani C. , Perego R. , Scopigno R. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe paper deals with the parallelization of Delaunay triangulation algorithms, giving more emphasis to pratical issues and implementation than to theoretical complexity. Two parallel implementations are presented. The first one is built on De Wall, an Ed triangulator based on an original interpretation of the divide & conquer paradigm. The second is based on an incremental construction algorithm. The parallelization strategies are presented and evaluated. The target parallel machine is a distributed computing environment, composed of coarse grain processing nodes. Results of first implementations are reported and compared with the performance of the serial versions running on a Unix workstation.
A Paradigm for the Robust Design of Algorithms for Geometric Modeling
Authors: Agrawal Amitabh , Requicha Aristides A. G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractGeometric modelers are becoming faster and more powerful, but they still suffer from reliability problems because of floating point errors. Previous work in the field of robust geometric modeling tends to be problem specific and has proven hard to generalize. The approach described here is a general paradigm for handling the accuracy problem for a large set of geometric algorithms. This approach brings together ideas and techniques from interval arithmetic, constraint management, randomization, and algebraic geometry. It acknowledges that input values have tolerances, that objects within tolerance are equivalent, and that certain geometric singularities must be maintained because they reflect design intent or the laws of geometry. Our approach is systematic, and can be applied almost mechanically to the large domain of problems that can be solved by algorithms using the operations +, −, * and /. The required theory and algorithms have been developed, and the viability of the concepts has been demonstrated by an experimental implementation involving linear half‐spaces in Euclidean 2‐dimensional space. The implementation focuses on algorithms for computing the boundaries of objects defined by Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) trees.
A New Approach to the Construction of Surfaces from Contour Data
Authors: Jones Mark W. , Chen Min 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThis paper presents a new approach to the construction of a surface from a stack of contour slices. Unlike most existing methods, this new approach handles ambiguous conditions consistently without employing an algorithm to establish a correspondence between vertices on one contour and those on the next. It is easy to implement and fast to compute, requiring only basic geometric properties, namely closedness and simplicity, to be available with contour data. The advantages of this new approach have also been demonstrated with solutions to a few classical problems from the literature and some practical problems in medical imaging. It can also be applied to geographical surveying and keyframe animations.
Skylight for Interior Lighting Design
Authors: Dobashi Yoshinori , Kaneda Kazufumi , Nakashima Takanobu , Yamashita Hideo , Nishita Tomoyuki , Tadamura Kastumi 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIt is inevitable for indoor lighting design to render a room lit by natural light, especially for an atelier or an indoor pool where there are many windows. This paper proposes a method for calculating the illuminance due to natural light, i.e. direct sunlight and skylight, passing through transparent planes such as window glass. The proposed method makes it possible to efficiently calculate such illuminance accurately, because it takes into account both non‐uniform luminous intensity distribution of skylight and the distribution of transparency of glass according to incident angles of light. Several examples including the lighting design in an indoor pool, are shown to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method.
Vector Fields: an Interactive Tool for Animation, Modeling and Simulation with Physically Based 3D Particle Systems and Soft Objects
Authors: Hilton Travis L. , Egbert Parris K. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractVectorfields have traditionally been used in computer graphics as a means of visualizing models over time. This paper presents a system which extends the use of vector fields as an interactive tool for physically based three dimensional particle systems and soft objects. The techniques implemented in the system provide the user with new flexibility in animation, modeling and simulation. This paper describes bounded interactive vectorfields and how they can be used to manipulate particle systems and a class of soft objects. Applications to animation, modeling and simulation are also presented.
PREMO ‐ An Initial Approach to a Formal Definition
Authors: DUCE D.A. , DUKE D.J. , ten HAGEN P.J.W. , REYNOLDS G.J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMany descriptions of multimedia programming systems are starting to appear in the literature, but little work has yet been done on how to formally specify and reason about such systems. This paper is a contribution on the use of formal description techniques for the specification of multimedia systems and explores a style in which the Object‐Z notation from the University of Queensland can be used to specify some of the properties and functionality of such systems. The work has been carried out with reference to the role of formal description techniques in the presentation of ISO/IEC International Standards and in particular to the Premo project in ISO/IEC JTCl/SC24.
An All‐integer Algorithm for Drawing Anti‐aliased Straight Lines
Authors: Kui Liu Yong 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAn algorithm for drawing anti‐aliased straight lines based on Bresenharn'sline algorithm is presented in this paper. Only integer calculations are required. Multiplications or divisions are not needed (only simple addition/subtraction and sign testing are used). The algorithm can be used to choose between 2n intermediate grey levels between black and white.