Real-Time Interactive Tree Animation.

We present a novel method for posing and animating botanical tree models interactively in real time. Unlike other state of the art methods which tend to produce trees that are overly flexible, bending and deforming as if they were underwater plants, our approach allows for arbitrarily high stiffness while still maintaining real-time frame rates without spurious artifacts, even on quite large trees with over ten thousand branches. This is accomplished by using an articulated rigid body model with as-stiff-as-desired rotational springs in conjunction with our newly proposed simulation technique, which is motivated both by position based dynamics and the typical algorithms for articulated rigid bodies.

Contributions of the professional, public, and private sectors in promoting patient safety.

Patient safety has become a national priority. This article discusses the contributions of the professional, public, and private sectors regarding patient safety. Definitions and detailed examination of the issues surrounding patient safety are presented.