Distraction detection of lectures in e-learning using machine learning based on human facial features and postural information

Artificial Life and Robotics - While e-learning lectures allow students to learn at their own pace, it is difficult to manage students’ concentration, which prevents them from receiving...     

Superconductivity and Ferromagnetism of the Ru-1232 Compounds in the (Ru1−x Nb x )Sr2(GdCe1.8Sr0.2)Cu2O z System

The Ru-1232 compounds have been synthesized in the (Ru_1?xNb _x )Sr₂(GdCe_1.8Sr_0.2)Cu₂O _z system, and effects of Nb substitution for Ru on superconductivity and ferromagnetism of the Ru-1232 compounds have been investigated. First, X-ray powder diffraction study shows that nearly the single 1232 phase samples can be obtained in the x composition range from 0.0 to 0.3. Then, from the electrical resistivity study, it is found that each of the samples shows resistivity dropping phenomenon at two temperatures of T _c ^l and T _c ^h, which originates from superconductivity of the Ru-1232 phase and the Ru-1222 one, respectively. Both of the starting temperatures are lowering with increasing Nb content x. Lastly, from the magnetic susceptibility study, it is found that superconducting transition temperature T _c is 20 K for the Ru-1232 sample with x = 0.0 and the ferromagnetic transition temperature T _m is about 90 K. This study also shows that both of the values of T _c and T _m become low with increasing x from 0.0 to 0.3.     

Effects of Flexibility on Rocking Impedance of Deeply Embedded Foundation

This paper presents a detailed investigation of the influence on the rocking impedance of flexible sidewalls in embedded foundations. The study focuses on vertical and cylindrical foundations embedded in a homogeneous elastic stratum. In order to anticipate the effects of the flexibility, closed-form formulae for rocking impedance are derived based on three-dimensional wave propagation theory and superposition of both the rocking and flexural movements on a single model by assuming complete bonding conditions between the soil and foundations. A function representing the effect of the flexibility is identified from the closed-form formulae, in terms of the height to radius ratio of the foundations and the ratio of the stiffnesses of the ground and foundations. The rocking impedance for a flexible sidewall differs from those evaluated under the assumption of a rigid sidewall. The applicable range of rocking impedance evaluated under the assumption of a rigid sidewall is assessed, and contours to assist in the estimation of the dynamic response of deeply embedded foundations are presented.     

Recognition of camera-captured low-quality characters using motion blur information

Camera-based character recognition has gained attention with the growing use of camera-equipped portable devices. One of the most challenging problems in recognizing characters with hand-held cameras is that captured images undergo motion blur due to the vibration of the hand. Since it is difficult to remove the motion blur from small characters via image restoration, we propose a recognition method without de-blurring. The proposed method includes a generative learning method in the training step to simulate blurred images by controlling blur parameters. The method consists of two steps. The first step recognizes the blurred characters based on the subspace method, and the second one reclassifies structurally similar characters using blur parameters estimated from the camera motion. We have experimentally proved that the effective use of motion blur improves the recognition accuracy of camera-captured characters.     

Synthesis of two-dimensional IIR digital filters with desired spatial domain specifications and no overflow oscillations

A design technique of two-dimensional (2D) recursive infinite-area impulse response (IIR) digital filters (DFs) which approximates desired spatial-domain specifications and guarantees no overflow oscillations is proposed in this paper. First, it is shown that the balanced approximation is not optimal for l₂ model reduction. From this point of view, a new design technique of 2D separable-denominator (SD) digital filters is studied using reduced-dimensional decomposition and the l₂ model reduction methods based on balanced gains. This result is used as a starting point of a design algorithm for 2D non-separable ND DFs. Second, a design problem of 2D ND DFs is formulated as a nonlinear minimization problem with equality and inequality constraints, and the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno algorithm is applied to solve it. Finally, two examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed design technique.     

Country domain governance: an analysis by data-mining of country domains

Along with protocols, domain names are critical internet resources. To build a safe, secure, and globally ubiquitous internet, all entities responsible for the governance of domains must allocate their lower-level domains with competence and discipline following the basic principle of decentralized governance. The governance and operation of a country code top-level domain is delegated to the governing and operating entity of the relevant country or territory. There are great differences among these entities in domain allocation policy, fees, discipline, and technical competence. The undertaking of governing a global infrastructure requiring high integrity, such as the internet, on the basic principle of decentralized governance is unprecedented. To enable this governance to work well, it is necessary to set up proper objectives for the governance of country domains, and to use highly transparent criteria for a multi-faceted evaluation of how far these objectives have been achieved. This article presents a set of country domain governance indicators which is intended to be used for the construction of a safe and secure ubiquitous global network.     

Synthesis of state machine diagrams from communication diagrams using Petri nets

Service-oriented architecture is an architecture style to build up a large-scale networked system composed of a set of components or functions, each of which is called a service. A problem to construct behavioral models of services from given global interaction specifications, called choreography, is known as the choreography realization problem. The constructed model is still an intermediate model in the process of system developments; the model will be corrected, modified, and enhanced further by designers. Therefore, we also have to consider readability of the constructed model. In this paper, we proposed a method to construct state machine models from choreographies described by a set of communication diagrams using Petri nets. The proposed method will try to use the composite states and the orthogonal regions of UML state machines for the readability.     

Towards a Treatment for Neuroinflammation in Epilepsy: Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist,Anakinra, as a Potential Treatment in Intractable Epilepsy

Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES) is a unique catastrophic epilepsy syndrome, and the development of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is inevitable. Recently, anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), has been increasingly used to treat DRE due to its potent anticonvulsant activity. We here summarized its effects in 38 patients (32 patients with FIRES and six with DRE). Of the 22 patients with FIRES, 16 (73%) had at least short-term seizure control 1 week after starting anakinra, while the remaining six suspected anakinra-refractory cases were male and had poor prognoses. Due to the small sample size, an explanation for anakinra refractoriness was not evident. In all DRE patients, seizures disappeared or improved, and cognitive function improved in five of the six patients following treatment. Patients showed no serious side effects, although drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, cytopenia, and infections were observed. Thus, anakinra has led to a marked improvement in some cases, and functional deficiency of IL-1RA was indicated, supporting a direct mechanism for its therapeutic effect. This review first discusses the effectiveness of anakinra for intractable epileptic syndromes. Anakinra could become a new tool for intractable epilepsy treatment. However, it does not currently have a solid evidence base.     

Design and Hybridization Properties of Acyclic Xeno Nucleic Acid Oligomers

Xeno nucleic acids (XNAs) are analogues of DNA and RNA that have a non-ribose artificial scaffold. XNAs are possible prebiotic genetic carriers as well as alternative genetic systems in artificial life. In addition, XNA oligomers can be used as biological tools. Acyclic XNAs, which do not have cyclic scaffolds, are attractive due to facile their synthesis and remarkably high nuclease resistance. To maximize the performance of XNAs, a negatively charged backbone is preferable to provide sufficient water solubility; however, acyclic XNAs containing polyanionic backbones suffer from high entropy cost upon duplex formation, because of the high flexibility of the acyclic nature. Herein, we review the relationships between the structure and duplex hybridization properties of various acyclic XNA oligomers with polyanion backbones.     

Peeling Behavior and Spalling Resistance of Bonded Bidirectional Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheets

This paper presents the peeling behavior and spalling resistant effect of bidirectional fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets externally bonded to concrete surfaces. Experimental investigations are carried out through a series of newly designed punching-peeling tests. A wide range of variables, such as FRP sheet layers and fiber direction, plate constraint, concrete strength, adhesives, bond length of FRP sheets, diameter of indenter, and types of fibers, are considered in the experimental investigation. Theoretical study is also conducted for the specimens. Interfacial fracture energy is calculated analytically using a membrane-peeling method. It is realized that only two material parameters, i.e., the interfacial fracture energy of the FRP-concrete interface and the tensile stiffness of FRP sheets, are necessary to represent the interfacial spalling resistant behavior. Finally, the theoretical results are validated by comparing with experimental results. Comparison of theoretical to experimental results shows that the proposed theoretical model is satisfactory in reasonably and accurately predicting the peeling behavior and spalling resistant capacity of bidirectional FRP sheets bonded to concrete surface.