A human-machine cooperative system for generating sign language animation using thermal image

We propose a new approach aimed at sign language animation by skin region detection on an infrared image. To generate several kinds of animations expressing personality and/or emotion appropriately, conventional systems require many manual operations. However, a promising way to realize a lower workload is to manually refine an animation made automatically with a dynamic image of real motion. In the proposed method, a 3D CG model corresponding to a characteristic posture in sign language is made automatically by pattern recognition on a thermal image, and then a person’s hand in the CG model is set. The hand part is made manually beforehand. If necessary, the model can be replaced manually by a more appropriate model corresponding to training key frames and/or the model can be refined manually. In our experiments, a person experienced in using sign language recognized the Japanese sign language of 71 words expressed as animation with 88.3% accuracy, and three persons experienced in using sign language also recognized the sign language animation representing three emotions (neutral, happy and angry) with 88.9% accuracy. This work was presented in part at the 13th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 31–February 2, 2008     

Direct observation of the intergrown α-phase in β-TmAlB4 via high-resolution electron microscopy

A TmAlB₄ crystal with a ThMoB₄-type (β-type) structure phase related to a hexagonal AlB₂-type structure was studied by electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. A high-resolution image clearly exhibits an intergrown lamellar structure of a YCrB₄-type (α-type) phase in the matrix of the β-type phase in TmAlB₄ crystal. The lamellar structure can be characterized by a tiling of deformed hexagons, which are a common structure unit in the α-type and β-type structures. The intergrown nanostructure is considered to be attributed to the origin of low temperature anomalies in physical properties.     

An organo-metallic polymer used in powder metallurgy: The effect of polycarbosilane in iron-chromium alloy

A new material was developed by introducing an organo-metallic polymer into powder metallurgy. In the uniform mixture of Fe- 13Cr^* alloy powder and polycarbosilane (PC) usingn-hexane, the Fe-13Cr particles were coated with PC. The product of Fe-13Cr + 10wt% PC, obtained by hot-pressing the mixture, was subjected to an oxidation test, high-temperature hardness measurement and a wear resistance test, and found to be superior in all respects to that without the PC addition. The structure was observed by transmission electron microscope and it was found that grains of CrSi₂ and Cr₇ C₃ about 0.1m in size, dispersed uniformly in the Fe-13Cr + 10% PC, contributed to improvement of the mechanical properties. Observation by scanning electron microscope showed some difference in the formation of the oxidation film between Fe-13Cr and Fe-13Cr+10% PC. This new alloy, while adding an organo-metallic polymer to powder metallurgy, has several outstanding features with the possibility of many applications in the future.     

基于眼前节相干光断层扫描成像的核性白内障分类算法

白内障是导致视觉损害和致盲的主要眼病,眼前节光学相干断层成像技术(Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography,AS-OCT)具有非接触、高分辨率、检查快速、客观定量化测量等特点,在临床上已经被广泛应用于眼病的诊断.目前缺乏基于眼前节OCT图像的核性白内障分类研究工作,为此...     

Cardiovascular Characteristics of Zucker Fatty Diabetes Mellitus Rats,an Animal Model for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Zucker fatty diabetes mellitus (ZFDM) rats harboring the missense mutation (fa) in a leptin receptor gene have been recently established as a novel animal model of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we explored changes in cardiovascular dynamics including blood pressure and heart rate (HR) associated with the progression of obesity and T2D, as well as pathological changes in adipose tissue and kidney. There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in ZFDM-Lepr^fa/fa (Homo) compared with ZFDM-Lepr^fa/+ (Hetero) rats, while HR and plasma adrenaline in Homo were significantly lower than Hetero. The mRNA expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in perirenal white adipose tissue (WAT) from Homo was significantly higher than Hetero. Interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) in Homo was degenerated and whitened. The plasma blood urea nitrogen in Homo was significantly higher than Hetero. In summary, we demonstrated for the first time that HR and plasma adrenaline concentration but not SBP in Homo decrease with obesity and T2D. In addition, inflammation occurs in WAT from Homo, while whitening occurs in BAT. Further, renal function is impaired in Homo. In the future, ZFDM rats will be useful for investigating metabolic changes associated with the progression of obesity and T2D.     

Positologica: A Positron ECT Device with a Continuously Rotating Detector Ring

A rotary positron emission computed tomography device is developed for human brain and animal studies. The device utilizes 64 rectangular BGO detectors arranged at unequal spacing on a circular ring. The detector ring is continuously rotated at a constant speed of 60 rpm or less. This single continuous motion of the ring with the detector array provides excellent sampling characteristics and high detector redundancy. The device has a field of view 24 cm in diameter with a slice thickness adjustable from 1 cm to 2 cm. Measured width of system response to a 2 mm diameter line source is 5.8 mm FWHM at the center and less than 9 mm FWHM within a circle 16 cm in diameter. Measured sensitivity including scattered coincidence events is about 17 kcps/pCi/ml for a 20 cm diameter water phantom and 2 cm thick slice.     

Growth of rubella, measles and mumps viruses in rat fetus

The larvae of 12 cestode species of the genus Aploparaksis have been studied. In order to confirm the determination, the definitive hosts, birds, were experimentally infected with 5 species and the intermediate hosts, oligochaetes, with 6 species of cestodes. A great variability was observed in the morphology of tail appendix of cysticercoids belonging to five types of larvae. It is assumed that the polymorphism of larvae of the genus Aploparaksis results from the morphological adaptation to the development under arctic conditions.     

The concept of task versus person orientation in nursing.

To clarify the concept of task versus person orientation in nursing, a factor analysis of 24 personality-and nursing-attitude variables was performed on 160 nurses from long- and short-term treatment settings in psychiatry and general medicine. 3 factors, Leadership Skills, Hostile-Self-Seeking, and Dependent-Exploited sampled behaviors in the interpersonal sphere and particularly traits related to leadership capability. The 4th factor, Impersonal-Orderly, contained many characteristics of the "Authoritarian Personality." An emphasis on the skilled technical aspects of nursing was one of the elements in this factor. In general, the derived factor scores effectively differentiated nurses from the treatment settings in this study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)