MRZ code extraction from visa and passport documents using convolutional neural networks

International Journal on Document Analysis and Recognition (IJDAR) - Detecting and extracting information from the machine-readable zone (MRZ) on passports and visas is becoming increasingly...     

The need and ability to achieve cognitive structuring: Individual differences that moderate the effect of stress on information processing.

The authors examined the hypothesis that the interaction between the need for cognitive structure (NCS) and the ability to achieve cognitive structure (AACS) moderates the effect of stress on information processing. NCS is the preference for using cognitive structuring, as opposed to piecemeal processes, as a means to achieve certainty. AACS is the extent to which individuals are able to apply information processes that are consistent with their levels of NCS. The hypothesis was validated in 4 studies, which showed that stress increased high-AACS participants' use of cognitive structuring if they had high NCS and reduced it if they had low NCS. An opposite effect was found for low-AACS participants. The implications of these results for the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the effect of stress on information processing are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motives for helping behavior: Kibbutz and city children in kindergarten and school.

Studied the motives for helping expressed by 80 children 4–5? and 7–8? yrs of age. Half of each age group were from a kibbutz and half from a city. Half of each group were boys, half girls. Ss were presented with 3 pictures depicting 3 situations in which one child had an opportunity to help. They were asked whether the child in the picture would help and if so, what the child's motive would be for such an action. They were also asked questions regarding motives for helping behavior in general. Three hypotheses were stated: (1) Older Ss would express higher-level motives for helping than younger Ss. (2) Kibbutz Ss would express higher-level motives than city Ss. (3) Girls would express higher-level motives than boys. Only the 1st hypothesis was confirmed. No differences were found between kibbutz and city Ss or between boys and girls. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bearing estimation for a distributed source: modeling, inherentaccuracy limitations and algorithms

The problem of using sensor array measurements to estimate the bearing of a radiating source surrounded by local scatterers is considered. The concept of “partial coherence” is introduced to account for temporal as well as spatial correlation effects often encountered in a Rayleigh fading-type propagation channel formed between a source and sensor array elements. A simple parametric model for temporal channel correlation is presented, yielding an overall spatio-temporal channel model that is more realistic than formerly proposed models (which assume either full or zero temporal channel correlation). Thus, previously proposed “distributed source” models for bearing estimation problems are generalized to a parametric spatio-temporal model for what is called “partially coherently distributed (PCD) sources”. A study of the associated Cramer-Rao Bound (CRB) is undertaken for a simple but illustrative problem formulation. The inherent limitations in bearing estimation accuracy for this spatio-temporal problem are seen to lie between the cases of zero and full temporal correlation, becoming more severe as temporal channel correlation increases. In addition, the associated maximum likelihood estimators for source bearing are proposed, and their performance is compared with that predicted by the CRB     

Tilted cellulose arrangement as a novel mechanism for hygroscopic coiling in the stork's bill awn

The sessile nature of plants demands the development of seed-dispersal mechanisms to establish new growing loci. Dispersal strategies of many species involve drying of the dispersal unit, which induces directed contraction and movement based on changing environmental humidity. The majority of researched hygroscopic dispersal mechanisms are based on a bilayered structure. Here, we investigate the motility of the stork''s bill (Erodium) seeds that relies on the tightening and loosening of a helical awn to propel itself across the surface into a safe germination place. We show that this movement is based on a specialized single layer consisting of a mechanically uniform tissue. A cell wall structure with cellulose microfibrils arranged in an unusually tilted helix causes each cell to spiral. These cells generate a macroscopic coil by spiralling collectively. A simple model made from a thread embedded in an isotropic foam matrix shows that this cellulose arrangement is indeed sufficient to induce the spiralling of the cells.     

Linear programming-based algorithms for the minimum makespan high multiplicity jobshop problem

We study a generalized version of the minimum makespan jobshop problem in which multiple instances of each job are to be processed. The system starts with specified inventory levels in all buffers and finishes with some desired inventory levels of the buffers at the end of the planning horizon. A schedule that minimizes the completion time of all the operations is sought. We develop a polynomial time asymptotic approximation procedure for the problem. That is, the ratio between the value of the delivered solution and the optimal one converge into one, as the multiplicity of the problem increases. Our algorithm uses the solution of the linear relaxation of a time-indexed Mixed-Integer formulation of the problem. In addition, a heuristic method inspired by this approximation algorithm is presented and is numerically shown to out-perform known methods for a large set of standard test problems of moderate job multiplicity.     

FINE: Fisher Information Nonparametric Embedding

We consider the problems of clustering, classification, and visualization of high-dimensional data when no straightforward Euclidean representation exists. In this paper, we propose using the properties of information geometry and statistical manifolds in order to define similarities between data sets using the Fisher information distance. We will show that this metric can be approximated using entirely nonparametric methods, as the parameterization and geometry of the manifold is generally unknown. Furthermore, by using multidimensional scaling methods, we are able to reconstruct the statistical manifold in a low-dimensional Euclidean space; enabling effective learning on the data. As a whole, we refer to our framework as Fisher information nonparametric embedding (FINE) and illustrate its uses on practical problems, including a biomedical application and document classification.     

Bearing estimation for a distributed source of nonconstant modulus ounds and analysis

The paper considers the problem of estimating the bearing of a single, far-field source, surrounded by local scatterers, using passive sensor array measurements. An associated source-bearing estimation problem is formulated, and the Crame/spl acute/r-Rao lower bound is evaluated. In addition, a comprehensive analysis is performed of the maximum likelihood estimates that (due to mismodeling) assume a constant modulus source, and the degradation in performance is quantified as a function of the source's empirical variance. It is shown that, for a limited price in terms of mean square error, the constant modulus maximum likelihood estimator can replace the optimal nonconstant modulus estimator.