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).     

Preparation of nano-sized silicon carbide powder using thermal plasma

Nano-sized silicon carbide (SiC) powder was prepared by thermal plasma process using silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄) and methane (CH₄). The synthesized powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy and particle size analyzer. The powder was dominated by β-SiC including some of α-SiC and free carbon species. The quality of the powder was varied with process conditions such as the molar ratio of H/Si and C/Si, and collecting positions. It was known that the conversion to SiC was mainly affected by the addition of hydrogen gas because it promoted the decomposition and reduction of SiCL. CH₄ was easily decomposed to carbon species for the formation of SiC as well as removal of impure oxygen, but excessive carbon suppressed the formation of crystalline SiC and resulted in the solid carbon contamination. The optimum ratio of H/Si was approx. 26 and that of C/Si was 1.1. For collecting positions, the powder collected at the vessel and filter was preferable to that at the reaction tube. The average size of the powder synthesized was estimated to be below 100 nm and uniform in distribution.     

The hitchhiker’s guide to ubicomp: using techniques from literary and critical theory to reframe scientific agendas

Literary criticism places fictional work in historical, social and psychological contexts to offer insights about the way that texts are produced and consumed. Critical theory offers a range of strategies for analysing what a text says and just as importantly, what it leaves unsaid. Literary analyses of scientific writing can also produce insights about how research agendas are framed and addressed. This paper provides three readings of a seminal ubiquitous computing scenario by Marc Weiser. Three approaches from literary and critical theory are demonstrated in deconstructive, psychoanalytic and feminist readings of the scenario. The deconstructive reading suggests that alongside the vision of convenient and efficient ubiquitous computing is a complex set of fears and anxieties that the text cannot quite subdue. A psychoanalytic reading considers what the scenario is asking us to desire and identifies the dream of surveillance without intrusion. A final feminist reading discusses gender and collapsing distinctions between public and private, office and home, family and work life. None of the readings are suggested as the final truth of what Weiser was “really” saying. Rather they articulate a set of issues and concerns that might frame design agendas differently. The scenario is then re-written in two pastiches that draw on source material with very different visions of ubiquitous computing. The Sal scenario is first rewritten in the style of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In this world, technology is broken, design is poor and users are flawed, fallible and vulnerable. The second rewrites the scenarios in the style of Philip K Dick’s novel Ubik. This scenario serves to highlight what is absent in Weiser’s scenario and indeed most design scenarios: money. The three readings and two pastiches underline the social conflict and struggle more often elided or ignored in the stories told in ubicomp literature. It is argued that literary forms of reading and writing can be useful in both questioning and reframing scientific writing and design agendas.     

Damage Mechanisms and the Mechanical Properties of a Laminated 0/90 Ceramic/Matrix Composite

The tensile properties of a 0/90 laminated CAS matrix composite reinforced with Nicalon fibers have been measured. Some effects of notches have also been explored. Changes in modulus and permanent strain caused by matrix cracking have been measured and compared with available models. For this comparison, independent measurements have been made of the constituent properties and the residual stress. The ultimate tensile strength has also been measured and compared with a global load-sharing model. It is concluded that lower-bound matrix cracking models provide good predictability of the stresses at which various matrix cracking mechanisms first operate. Also, the ultimate tensile strength is found to be consistent with a global load-sharing model, based on the in situ strength properties of the fibers. Conversely, the evolution of matrix cracks at stresses above the lower bound has yet to be adequately modeled. In addition, a need is identified for improved models relating elastic properties and permanent strains to matrix crack spacing.     

Model for the effects of water on the cationic UV-curing of cyclohexyl epoxides

The effect of relative humidity on the photoin-duced curing kinetics of cyclohexyl epoxide and epoxide/polyol coating formulations was investigated in real-time using FTIR spectroscopy. In total, five formulations were used in this study, including a cyclohexyl epoxide without polyol, and four with polyols. The polyol formulations were varied with respect to ratio of epoxide to polyol, and molar functionality of the hydroxyl group. The formulations were exposed to a maximum of seven different relative humidities (6, 16, 20, 30, 51, 62, 75 RH). The curing speed and overall conversion of the epoxy group passed through a maxima for all the formulations. The polyol had an effect on the hydrophilicity of the overall formulation. It was also found that water and polyols had a synergistic effect on the UV-curing kinetics, in effect lowering the relative humidity to achieve a maxima. A model for UV-curing mechanisms at low, medium, and high relative humidity was proposed for both systems with and without the polyols. Part of this work was done at the Polymers and Coatings Dept., North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105. Presented at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, Oct. 30–Nov. 1, 2002, in New Orelans, LA. Dept. of Polymer Engineering, Akron, OH 44325-0301.     

Neutral sterols of sawflies (symphyta): Their relationship to other hymenoptera

To investigate sterol utilization in sawflies, the neutral sterols of four species of sawflies were determined by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and compared to the respective dietary plant material. Cholesterol was the predominant (55–76%) sterol in all species and stages of sawflies examined. Host plants, however, contained primarily sitosterol (50–88%), along with other 24-alkylsterols and only 0.5–5.9% cholesterol, indicating that the sawflies examined are capable of dealkylating the C₂₈ and C₂₉ phytosterols in their diet to cholesterol. Comparative sterol metabolism in Hymenoptera is discussed.     

Evaluating the 1931 CIE color‐matching functions

The use of colorimetry within industry has grown extensively in the last few decades. Central to many of today's instruments is the CIE system, established in 1931. Many have questioned the validity of the assumptions made by Wright¹ and Guild,² some suggesting that the 1931 color‐matching functions are not the best representation of the human visual system's cone responses. A computational analysis was performed using metameric data to evaluate the CIE 1931 color‐matching functions as compared to with other responsivity functions. The underlying assumption was that an optimal set of responsivity functions would yield minimal color‐difference error between pairs of visually matched metamers. The difference of average color differences found in the six chosen sets of responsivity functions was small. The CIE 1931 2° color‐matching functions on average yielded the largest color difference, 4.56 ΔE. The best performance came from the CIE 1964 10° color‐matching functions, which yielded an average color difference of 4.02 ΔE. An optimization was then performed to derive a new set of color‐matching functions that were visually matched using metameric pairs of spectral data. If all pairs were to be optimized to globally minimize the average color difference, it is expected that this would produce an optimal set of responsivity functions. The optimum solution was to use a weighted combination of each set of responsivity functions. The optimized set, called the Shaw and Fairchild responsivity functions, was able to reduce the average color difference to 3.92 ΔE. In the final part of this study a computer‐based simulation of the color differences between the sets of responsivity functions was built. This simulation allowed a user to load a spectral radiance or a spectral reflectance data file and display the tristimulus match predicted by each of the seven sets of responsivity functions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 27, 316–329, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10077     

Embodied Robot versus Virtual Agent: Involvement of Preschool Children in Motor Task Performance

Embodied robots are known to be preferable in most cases to their virtual agents for interaction with and performance by human subjects. This study compared the efficacy of an embodied robot-coacher and its virtual agent in involving preschool children in the performance of playlike motor tasks. The robot or its virtual agent demonstrated movements, asked the children to repeat them, and provided positive feedback on their performance. The difficulty of the motor tasks was increased over the course of the session. Two groups of children were studied, one of them with and the other without previous experience of interaction with the embodied robot. In the experienced group, involvement in motor tasks was successfully induced by both the embodied robot and its virtual agent, but the children interacted less well with the virtual agent than with the embodied robot. Children in the inexperienced group did not interact at all during the experiment with the virtual agent. Because participants in the experiment were preschool children in their natural environment, this study proposes the combined use of an embodied robot and its virtual agent for motor involvement.     

A high-temperature oxidation-resistant Fe-Mn-Al-Si alloy

To develop satisfactory alloys without Cr or Ni for high-temperature application up to 1100C, three alloys based on Fe-10%Al-Si with differing fourth (or fifth) element additions were oxidized in air at 1100°Cfor 24 hr. A low carbon, Fe-30Mn-10Al-Si alloy exhibited excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance. The total weight gain for 24 hr oxidation in air at 1100°C was only 1.03 mg/cm ². After air oxidation for 6 days at 1100°C, no nodule formation or breakthrough oxidation occurred. Post-oxidation SEM and EDAX examination showed that a thin, compact, protective alumina scale formed on the alloy.Visiting Scientist (People's Republic of China).     

Distribution, relative abundance, and prey demand by double-crested cormorants on Manitoulin Island lakes vs. Lake Huron Coast

An aerial distance sampling survey of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) was conducted in the northern region of Lake Huron (North Channel; four largest lakes of Manitoulin Island; South Shore of Manitoulin Is. facing the main body of the lake) to assess the relative distribution, abundance and prey demand by cormorants on inland lake vs. coastal habitat. On a per area basis, the density (approx. 1-2 cormorants ? km^− 2) and prey demand (approx. 1.2 kg ha^− 1) of cormorants in the four inland lakes matched that of the North Channel. The South Shore had approximately half the density and prey demand as the other two areas. Cormorants on the inland lakes of Manitoulin Island represented 13% early in the season and a high of 33% of the total population for this region of Lake Huron later in the summer. Estimating regional distributions of cormorants within the Great Lakes basin is important because mapped nest colonies and nest counts are not representative of the actual distribution of foraging cormorants during and after the nesting season. There are two general conclusions to emerge from this survey. First, aquatic productivity from both Great Lakes coast and inland lakes contributes to trends in population and distribution of cormorants in the northern region of Lake Huron and perhaps elsewhere. Second, inland aquatic ecosystems are important throughout a season for foraging cormorants from the Great Lakes and may become more important as Great Lake productivity trends downward.