Automatic and Efficient Human Pose Estimation for Sign Language Videos

We present a fully automatic arm and hand tracker that detects joint positions over continuous sign language video sequences of more than an hour in length. To achieve this, we make contributions in four areas: (i) we show that the overlaid signer can be separated from the background TV broadcast using co-segmentation over all frames with a layered model; (ii) we show that joint positions (shoulders, elbows, wrists) can be predicted per-frame using a random forest regressor given only this segmentation and a colour model; (iii) we show that the random forest can be trained from an existing semi-automatic, but computationally expensive, tracker; and, (iv) introduce an evaluator to assess whether the predicted joint positions are correct for each frame. The method is applied to 20 signing footage videos with changing background, challenging imaging conditions, and for different signers. Our framework outperforms the state-of-the-art long term tracker by Buehler et al. (International Journal of Computer Vision 95:180–197, 2011), does not require the manual annotation of that work, and, after automatic initialisation, performs tracking in real-time. We also achieve superior joint localisation results to those obtained using the pose estimation method of Yang and Ramanan  (Proceedings of the IEEE conference on computer vision and pattern recognition, 2011).     

CLATHRATE HYDRATE FORMATION ENHANCES NEAR-CRITICAL AND SUPERCRITICAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION EQUILIBRIA

Pre-concentration of dilute aqueous solutions by hydrate formation can improve the effective distribution coefficient and selectivity of solvent extraction. Many solvents can serve simultaneously to promote solution concentration by hydrate formation and also to extract non-polar solutes from the resulting concentrated solution. This concept is illustrated for systems with supercritical ethylene and with near-critical liquid carbon dioxide, and its application to conventional solvents is discussed.     

Modification of leather properties by grafting. I. Effect of monomer chain on the physico‐mechanical properties of grafted leather

Although leather has a number of desirable properties such as thermal stability and fire retardancey, in addition to high toughness, it has a few drawbacks such as weight, high water absorption, poor soil and rot resistance, and nonuniformity. If these defects are overcome, leather's usefulness would be further enhanced and its competitive position with respect to synthetics would increase. This study reports the physical and mechanical properties of buffalo leather after chemical graft copolymerization with ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and 2‐ethyl hexyl acrylate using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The optimum conditions for grafting (e.g., monomer and initiator concentrations, temperature and time of grafting, and solvent leather ratio) were extensively investigated. The study achieved outstanding properties for buffalo leather in reduction of water uptake after grafting, especially on using 2‐ethyl hexyl acrylate and butyl acrylate monomers. FT‐IR and solid ¹³C‐NMR for leather before and after grafting confirmed the grafting process.© 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1478–1483, 2003     

Substrate-mediated interactions and intermolecular forces between molecules adsorbed on surfaces

Adsorbate interactions and reactions on metal surfaces have been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy. The manners in which adsorbates perturb the surface electronic structure in their vicinity are discussed. The effects these perturbations have on other molecules are shown to be important in overlayer growth. Interactions of molecules with surface steps are addressed, and each molecule's electron affinity is shown to dictate its adsorption sites at step edges. Standing waves emanating from steps are demonstrated to effect transient molecular adsorption up to 40 A away from the step edge. Halobenzene derivatives are used to demonstrate how the surface is important in aligning reactive intermediates.     

Modeling the large‐strain constitutive behavior of polycarbonate under isothermal and anisothermal conditions

The tensile behavior of polycarbonate was studied at large strains below the glass‐transition temperature. Experiments were carried out at a series of constant temperatures and also under conditions of falling temperatures. The specimens necked with a natural draw ratio of approximately 2, and the study was mainly focused on the necked material. Isothermal experiments revealed an elastic mechanism that initiated beyond the natural draw ratio. A model consisting of an Eyring process and two Gaussian elastic mechanisms was found to be applicable to both the isothermal and anisothermal stress‐relaxation and stress–strain results. The same model also produced reasonable estimates of the stresses generated during the necking process. In addition, a simple relationship between the isothermal and anisothermal stress relaxation was demonstrated. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2105–2116, 2005     

Preparation,characterization, and some physical properties of polypropylene/poly(methyl acrylate)‐grafted glass wool composites

Polypropylene/poly(methyl acrylate)‐grafted glass wool (PMA‐g‐GW) mixes were prepared. The polymerization process was carried out using potassium persulfate (PPS) and PPS/acetone sodium bisulfite (ASBS) as a redox‐pair initiation system at 60 and 70°C. The effect of using PPS or PPS/ASBS on the grafting percent and conversion percent reveals that the conversion percent values on using PPS as an initiator are higher than those of PPS/ASBS, while in the case of grafting, the inverse is true, that is, using PPS as an initiator gives grafting percent values lower than those that can be obtained using PPS/ASBS. The dielectric properties, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of PP loaded with modified glass wool as a function of different types and concentrations of initiators—used in the grafting polymerization process, namely, PPS and the redox initiating system—were also studied. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 723–732, 2003     

Monodisperse polymer/metal composite particles by electroless chemical deposition: Effect of surface functionality of polymer particles

Micron‐sized polymer particles were coated with layers of nickel compounds by plating electrolessly in the presence of aqueous solutions of nickel chloride, sodium hypophosphite, sodium citrate, and ammonium chloride at elevated temperature. The uniform functional polymer particle could be obtained by seeded polymerization. To investigate the effect of surface functionality on the conditions for nickel deposition, the polymer particle was functionalized with the thiol group. From morphological observation, it was found that the mode of nickel deposition was greatly dependent on the surface functionality of the polymer particle. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 420–424, 2003     

Evaluation of Polyester Resin as a New Compatibilizer for SBR/PVC Blends

A polyester (PE) based on the glycolyzed products of PET was prepared and added in different concentrations to a series of SBR/PVC blends. The addition of the polyester showed that all properties of SBR/PVC blends were improved by incorporation of PE. Highest mechanical strength values were obtained at a polyester concentration of 7.5 phr. Thermal analysis as well as dynamic mechanical properties of SBR/PVC blends after the addition of 7.5 and 10 phr polyester indicated one single glass transition temperature. The dielectric losses (?") were analyzed in the frequency domains in the two terms of Fröhlich related to the Maxwell Wagner effect and the orientation of the aggregates caused by the movement of the main chain. The permittivity (?') values were found to increase by increasing the polyester content. This increase was followed by a decrease in the ?" up to a 7.5 phr polyester content after which no pronounced change was noticed.     

冠带层新平台技术

子午线轮胎出现不久，就采用钢丝带束层代替了纤维带束层，这对于实现子午线轮胎提高使用寿命和改善操纵性能的潜能是必要的。     

Thermal and crystallization characteristics of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with poly(oxybenzoate‐p‐trimethylene terephthalate) copolymer

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was blended with two different poly(oxybenzoate‐p‐trimethylene terephthalate) copolymers, designated T28 and T64, with the level of copolymer varying from 1 to 15 wt %. All samples were prepared by solution blending in a 60/40 (by weight) phenol/tetrachloroethane solvent at 50°C. The crystallization behavior of the samples was studied by DSC. The results indicate that both T28 and T64 accelerated the crystallization rate of PET in a manner similar to that of a nucleating agent. The acceleration of PET crystallization rate was most pronounced in the PET/T64 blends with a maximum level at 5 wt % of T64. The melting temperatures for the blends are comparable to that of pure PET. The observed changes in crystallization behavior are explained by the effect of the physical state of the copolyester during PET crystallization as well as the amount of copolymer in the blends. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1599–1606, 2002