Bayesian Approach for Morphology-Based 2-D Human Motion Capture

This paper presents a novel technique for 2D human motion capture using a single non calibrated camera. The user's five extremities (head, hands and feet) are extracted, labeled and tracked after silhouette segmentation. As they are the minimal number of points that can be used in order to enable whole body gestural interaction, we henceforth refer to these features as crucial points. The crucial point candidates are defined as the local maxima of the geodesic distance with respect to the center of gravity of the actor region that lie on the silhouette boundary. In order to disambiguate the selected crucial points into head, left and right foot and left and right hand classes, we propose a Bayesian framework that combines a MAP approach weighted by a prior model and the intensities of the tracked crucial points. Due to its low computational complexity, the system can run at real-time paces on standard personal computers, with an average error rate range between 2% and 7% in realistic situations, depending on the context and segmentation quality     

Toward integrated product and process life cycle planning—An environmental perspective

Life cycle engineering (LCE) is a key concept for promoting environmentally sustainable practices among manufacturing firms. A major hurdle in the implementation of LCE is the lack of a systematic and strategic method to design or plan an entire product life cycle. To address this issue, this keynote provides a framework for life cycle development and proposes the concept of life cycle planning. This paper aims to provide explicit and systematic methodologies for life cycle planning by reviewing this research area. Practical cases that employ life cycle planning are also illustrated. Finally, some research directions are suggested.     

Thermal aging of silicone oil aromatic polyamide insulation systems

The thermal degradation behavior of silicone oil/aromatic polyamide insulation system was studied. It was found that the flash and fire points decreased due to the formation of low molecular weight by-products of such cyclic siloxane oligomers as D₃, D₄ and D₅. The gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis clarified that the depolymerization of siloxane molecules happened during the thermal aging, resulting in the high- and low- molecular by-products formation. The thermal stability index (TGI) index obtained by the thermogravity (TG) measurements and cyclic oligomer detection could be used for the insulation diagnosis     

Design and control of a heavy material handling manipulator for agricultural robots

In this paper, we propose a manipulation system for agricultural robots that handle heavy materials. The structural systems of a mobile platform and a manipulator are selected and designed after proposing new knowledge about agricultural robots. Also, the control systems for these structural systems are designed in the presence of parametric perturbation and uncertainty while avoiding conservative results. The validity of both the structural and control systems is confirmed by conducting watermelon harvesting experiments in an open field. Furthermore, an explicit design procedure is confirmed for both the structural and control systems and three key design tools are clarified.

The Effects of Synthetic Oligopeptide Derived from Enamel Matrix Derivative on Cell Proliferation and Osteoblastic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) is widely used in periodontal tissue regeneration therapy. However, because the bioactivity of EMD varies from batch to batch, and the use of a synthetic peptide could avoid use from an animal source, a completely synthetic peptide (SP) containing the active component of EMD would be useful. In this study an oligopeptide synthesized derived from EMD was evaluated for whether it contributes to periodontal tissue regeneration. We investigated the effects of the SP on cell proliferation and osteoblast differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are involved in tissue regeneration. MSCs were treated with SP (0 to 1000 ng/mL), to determine the optimal concentration. We examined the effects of SP on cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation indicators such as alkaline phosphatase activity, the production of procollagen type 1 C-peptide and osteocalcin, and on mineralization. Additionally, we investigated the role of extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK) in cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation induced by SP. Our results suggest that SP promotes these processes in human MSCs, and that ERK inhibitors suppress these effects. In conclusion, SP promotes cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of human MSCs, probably through the ERK pathway.     

Risk indicators for harboring periodontal pathogens

Mutations in the Agr locus of Arabidopsis thaliana impair the root gravitropic response. Root growth of agr mutants is moderately resistant to ethylene and to an auxin transport inhibitor. Vertically placed agr roots grow into agar medium containing IAA or naphthalene-1-acetic acid, but not into medium containing 2,4-D. Positional cloning showed that AGR encodes a root-specific member of a novel membrane-protein family with limited homology to bacterial transporters.     

Ion-induced photon spectroscopy of insulators and application to in-situ diagnostics of nanoparticle formation processes

Ion-induced photon emission under heavy-ion bombardment has been studied over an energy range from near-infrared to vacuum-ultraviolet. Time-resolved optical devices with fast-response CCD cameras detected photons from a-SiO₂ under implantation with negative Cu ions of 60 keV, up to a dose rate of 100 μA/cm². The ion-induced photon spectra consisted of sharp line spectra due to isolated atoms of Si, Cu and a broad band of visible light. The line spectra resulted from an ion-induced glow above the surface and indicated pronounced outward transport of Cu atoms to the vacuum. Intensity of the line spectra and the broad band varied non-linearly with dose and dose rate. The in-situ spectroscopy provided diagnostic information of surface- and intra-solid processes associated with nanoparticle formation at high dose rates. The Cu sublimation reflected from presence of a Cu-depleted zone beneath the surface, which is one of the important factors to form a two-dimensional arrangement of nanoparticles.     

Synthetic voices for computers

The two methods described for giving voices to computers recognize the importance of economical storage of speech information and extensive vocabularies, and consequently are based on principles of speech synthesis. The first, formant synthesis, generates connected speech from low-bit-rate representations of spoken words. The second, text synthesis, produces connected speech solely from printed English text. For both methods the machine must contain stored knowledge of fundamental rules of language and acoustic constraints of human speech. Formant synthesis from an input information rate of about 1000 bits per second is demonstrated, as is text synthesis from a rate of about 75 bits per second. To give the reader an opportunity to evaluate some of the results described, a sample recording is available; see Appendix A for details.