Leveraging Graph Cut’s Energy Function for Context Aware Facial Recognition in Indoor Environments

Context-aware facial recognition regards the recognition of faces in association with their respective environments. This concept is useful for the domestic robot which interacts with humans when performing specific functions in indoor environments. Deep learning models have been relevant in solving facial and place recognition challenges; however, they require the procurement of training images for optimal performance. Pre-trained models have also been offered to reduce training time significantly. Regardless, for classification tasks, custom data must be acquired to ensure that learning models are developed from other pre-trained models. This paper proposes a place recognition model that is inspired by the graph cut energy function, which is specifically designed for image segmentation. Common objects in the considered environment are identified and thereafter they are passed over to a graph cut inspired model for indoor environment classification. Additionally, faces in the considered environment are extracted and recognised. Finally, the developed model can recognise a face together with its environment. The strength of the proposed model lies in its ability to classify indoor environments without the usual training process(es). This approach differs from what is obtained in traditional deep learning models. The classification capability of the developed model was compared to state-of-the-art models and exhibited promising outcomes.     

Personality-targeted persuasive gamified systems: exploring the impact of application domain on the effectiveness of behaviour change strategies

User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction - Persuasive gamified systems for health are interventions that promote behaviour change using various persuasive strategies. While research has shown...     

Real-time small angle X-ray scattering study of two-stage melt crystallization of PEEK

We report a study of dual stage crystallization and subsequent melting of Poly(etherether ketone) (PEEK) and an 80/20 blend with Poly(etherimide) (PEI) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and real-time small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The treatment scheme involves annealing/crystallization at T ₁ followed by annealing/crystallization at T ₂, where either T ₁ < T ₂ or T ₁ > T ₂. The holding time during isothermal melt treatment was varied. DSC studies show there exist two endotherms when T ₁ < T ₂, and three endotherms when T ₁ > T ₂, for both PEEK and PEEK/PEI blend. Dual populations of crystals form during the first stage regardless whether T ₁ < T ₂ or T ₁ > T ₂. In the high-to-low temperature sequence, holding at the second stage causes an additional third population of crystals to grow, creating a third endotherm. As the first stage holding time increases, space available for the growth of additional crystals decreases, and the amount of crystals formed during the second stage decreases. During melting, the average long period increases while the linear stack crystallinity decreases continuously. The average crystal thickness also first increases, as the least perfect, thinnest crystals melt. Eventually, the crystal thickness levels off and begins to decline with increasing temperature. Melting of the thickest, most perfect crystals occurs most probably from the surfaces accounting for the roll-off and decrease in crystal thickness during the final stages of melting.     

Effects of zone drawing on the structure of metallocene polyethylene

The influence of zone drawing on bulk properties and structure of metallocene polyethylene (m‐PE) is reported. Two different m‐PE materials were subjected to tensile stresses above the yield point by zone drawing in the temperature range from 50 to 100°C. Drawn materials were characterized by using small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS, WAXS), molecular retraction, and small‐angle light scattering (SALS). Structural changes were studied as a function of drawing temperature, engineering stress, and draw ratio. WAXS showed strong crystalline orientation in drawn samples, and only the orthorhombic crystal modification was observed. SAXS showed lamellar orientation in drawn samples. At low drawing temperatures of 50 or 60°C, draw ratio increased as a step function of stress. There is a stress barrier, which must be exceeded before high‐draw ratios can be achieved at these temperatures. At drawing temperatures of 70°C or above, the barrier stress is low enough that draw ratio increases nearly linearly as a function of stress. Below the stress barrier, spherulitic structure is observed by small‐angle light scattering (SALS). Elongation occurs via deformation of the interspherulitic amorphous phase. Molecular retraction was low for these samples, indicating mostly plastic deformation of the amorphous material. Above the stress barrier, SALS showed that spherulites are destroyed. Elongation occurs via deformation of the intraspherulitic amorphous phase. Molecular retraction for these samples was high, indicating elastic deformation of the amorphous material. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 3492–3504, 2001