Abstract: Colors are obtained and used to shade two-dimensional non-photo realistic images of three-dimensional models. The colors are stored as texels in texture maps. The texels are chosen to shade the images based on their orientation in a scene. The colors may be obtained once, in a pre-rendering process. The colors may then be selected in a run-time process.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitroculture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of smoothing a generalized polygon is disclosed. The method and apparatus identifies a vertex of the generalized polygon with a sharp corner and replaces the sharp corner with a rounding arc. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus draws a circle using said identified vertex as a center of said circle. The embodiment further identifies appropriate intersection points between said circle and said generalized polygon. With said intersection points identified, the embodiment ten formulates line segments between said intersection points and said vertex, and proceeds to replace said sharp corner between said intersection points with said rounding arc. Said rounding arc has said intersection points as its end points and has said formulated line segments as its tangents.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitroculture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lymphoid tissue-specific cell production from hematopoietic progenitor cells in unique, three-dimensional culture devices, in the presence of antigen presenting cells and lymphoreticular stromal cells, and in the absence of exogenously added growth factors. The resulting lymphoid tissue-specific cells may be isolated at any sequential stage of differentiation and further expanded. The lymphoid tissue-specific cells also may be genetically altered at any stage of the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lymphoid tissue-specific cell production from hematopoietic progenitor cells in unique, three-dimensional culture devices, in the presence of lymphoreticular stromal cells and in the absence of exogenously added growth factors. The resulting differentiated progeny. The lymphoid tissue-specific cells may be isolated at any sequential stage of differentiation and further expanded. The lymphoid tissue-specific cells also may be genetically altered at any stage of the process.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitroculture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and devices for the long term, in vitro culture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the absence of exogenously added hematopoietic growth factors, improved methods for the introduction of foreign genetic material into cells of hematopoietic origin, and to apparatus for performing these methods. The hematopoietic progenitor cells are cultured on a three-dimensional porous biomaterial. The three-dimensional porous biomaterial enhances hematopoietic progenitor cell survival and leads to an expansion of progenitor cell numbers and/or functionality, while maintaining progenitor cell pluripotency in the absence of exogenous growth factors. In addition, the three-dimensional porous biomaterial supports high level transduction on cells cultured upon such environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of smoothing a generalized polygon is disclosed. The method and apparatus identifies a vertex of the generalized polygon with a sharp corner and replaces the sharp corner with a rounding arc.

Abstract: The invention involves a method for the in vitro T cell production. A monolayer of non-human primate thymic stromal cells are cocultured in vitro with primate hematopoietic T cell progenitor cells. This results in the differentiation and growth of mature T cells. The T cells may be isolated at any sequential stage of differentiation and further expanded by coculture with a mitogenic agent. The T cells also may be genetically altered at any stage of the process. The effect of agents on the growth and differentiation of T cells may be measured by comparing a coculture containing the agent with a control coculture and comparing the differentiation or growth of the T cells progenitor cells in the test culture with the control culture. Kits and novel populations of T cells are provided.