Initial Frame Research Articles

SiamCPN: Visual tracking with the Siamese center-prediction network

Object detection is widely used in object tracking; anchor-free object tracking provides an end-to-end single-object-tracking approach. In this study, we propose a new anchor-free network, the Siamese center-prediction network (SiamCPN). Given the presence of referenced object features in the initial frame, we directly predict the center point and size of the object in subsequent frames in a Siamese-structure network without the need for perframe post-processing operations. Unlike other anchor-free tracking approaches that are based on semantic segmentation and achieve anchor-free tracking by pixel-level prediction, SiamCPN directly obtains all information required for tracking, greatly simplifying the model. A center-prediction sub-network is applied to multiple stages of the backbone to adaptively learn from the experience of different branches of the Siamese net. The model can accurately predict object location, implement appropriate corrections, and regress the size of the target bounding box. Compared to other leading Siamese networks, SiamCPN is simpler, faster, and more efficient as it uses fewer hyperparameters. Experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms other leading Siamese networks on GOT-10K and UAV123 benchmarks, and is comparable to other excellent trackers on LaSOT, VOT2016, and OTB-100 while improving inference speed 1.5 to 2 times.

Inter-layer correlation-based adaptive bit allocation for enhancement layer in scalable high efficiency video coding

To facilitate the diversity of network and end-user devices, bit allocation technology must be combined with scalable high efficiency video coding (SHVC) to achieve continuous bitrate variation. However, to date, the multilayer coding feature in SHVC has not been fully utilized. In this paper, a bit allocation algorithm is proposed for the enhancement layer in SHVC. The algorithm includes two parts: a bit allocation method for the initial frame and another for subsequent frames. The bit allocation method for the initial frame consists of a bit allocation factor model constructed based on investigation of the influence of the initial target bitrate on the overall coding performance. For the bit allocation of the subsequent frames, alternate GOP coding is designed and implemented to fully exploit the inter layer correlation. In addition, an adaptive frame layer bit allocation ratio model is deduced according to the rate distortion optimization theory. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can improve PSNR by 0.44 dB and 0.41 dB under low delay and random-access configurations, respectively, and achieve high bitrate control accuracy. The algorithm also outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms in term of PSNR improvement.

Preparation of a PLGA-coated porous bioactive glass scaffold with improved mechanical properties for bone tissue engineering approaches

The study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of a sol-gel-derived bioactive glass (BG) foam scaffold by poly-lactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coating as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Polyurethane (PU) foam as the initial frame was submerged into a sol-gel-derived BG solution. The heat treatment process was carried out at 450°C to remove the PU foam and 860°C to consolidate the glass and remove the nitrate groups. The prepared BG scaffolds then were submerged into 10 and 15 wt% of PLGA solution. The uncoated BG scaffold was characterized by DTA/TGA, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The PLGA-coated scaffolds were characterized using SEM, and the mean compressive strength of the samples was measured. The DTA/TGA and XRD pattern indicated the removal of all nitrate groups at the temperatures above 700°C and also crystallization of BG after 800°C. The mean compressive strength of 10% and 15% PLGA-coated scaffolds were obtained 1.36±0.39 and 1.95±0.70 MPa, respectively, while the uncoated samples were crushed before the test. The SEM images exhibited that in the coated samples, the BG struts were covered with a PLGA layer and the coated layer was thicker in 15% PLGA samples. The SEM images also revealed that the PLGA coating maintained the structure of the broken struts and prevented them from coming apart. Thus, based on the obtained results, the PLGA coating was successfully toughened the BG scaffold and improved its elasticity. The study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of a sol-gel derived bioactive glass (BG) foam scaffold by Poly-lactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coating as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Based on the results of this study, the PLGA coating can improve the elasticity and relieve the brittleness of sol-gel derived BG scaffold by supporting the fractured struts and prevent the scaffold from coming apart during a compressive strength test. Consequently, based on the obtained results a 15% PLGA-coated sol-gel derived BG scaffold can be considered as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.

Analysis of Facial Movement in Repaired Unilateral Cleft Lip Using Three-Dimensional Motion Capture.

Unilateral cleft lip (UCL) is one of the most common craniofacial deformities. Surgical intervention reconstructs lip and nose anatomy; however, some degree of asymmetry persists after repair. This demonstrates a need for a model for studying and improving outcomes for patients with orofacial clefts. This study's main question was whether there is a significant difference in dynamic facial asymmetry between participants with repaired UCLs and control participants during smiling. Ten pediatric subjects with repaired left UCLs and 12 with no craniofacial diagnoses were recorded performing maximum smiles using a markerless 4D video stereophotogrammetrical system. A facial mesh template containing 884 landmarks was conformed to each initial frame and tracked throughout. Kinetic analysis of smiles was performed by calculating landmark 3D Euclidean distance between frames. Patients with left repaired UCL showed increasing facial asymmetry throughout smiling. Oral commissures, upper, and lower lips demonstrated significantly greater movement on the right side (P < 0.05). Control patients showed facial asymmetry during the first half of smiling, with greater movement on the left side. Displacement difference between right and left was significantly greater at oral commissures and upper lips in patients with repaired ULC compared to control patients. This study provides a highly detailed, quantitative analysis of postoperative UCLs, and help improve outcomes of future repair surgeries.

Bridging Topological Results and Thin-Walled Frame Structures Considering Manufacturability

Abstract Topology optimization has been intensively studied and extensively applied in engineering design. However, the optimized results often take the form of a solid frame structure; hence, it is difficult to apply the topological results in the design of a thin-walled frame structure. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel bridging method to transform the topological results into a lightweight thin-walled frame structure while satisfying the stiffness and manufacturing requirements. First, the optimized topological results are obtained using the classical topology optimization method, which is smoothed to reduce structural complexity. Then, the initial thin-walled frame structure is created by referring to the smoothed topological results, in which the thin-walled cross section is designed according to the mechanical properties and manufacturing requirements. Furthermore, the size and shape of the thin-walled frame structure is optimized to minimize mass with the stiffness and manufacturing constraints. Finally, numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed method can reasonably design an optimized thin-walled frame structure from the topological results.

Attention‐based video object segmentation algorithm

To improve the segmentation performance on videos with large object motion or deformation, a novel scheme is proposed which has two branches. In one branch, the attention mechanism is first utilized to highlight objects-related features. Then, to well consider the temporal coherence of videos, Conv3D is integrated to capture short-term temporal features, and the designed attention residual convolutional long–short-term memory is adopted to capture the long–short-term temporal information of objects under the interference of redundant video frames. Meanwhile, considering the negative effect of background motion, in another branch, the optical flow-based prediction model is introduced to predict objects regions in subsequent video frames with the annotated initial frame. At last, based on the fused results of two branches, the global thresholds and noising area clean method are employed to obtain segmented objects. The experiments on DAVIS2016 and CDnet2014 exhibit the competitive performance of the proposed scheme.

Complementary and competitive framing of driverless cars: framing effects, attitude volatility, or attitude resistance?

AbstractThis study answers two research questions regarding framing theory. First, what happens when frames are challenged? Second, how resistant are the opinions that initial frames induce? 1,006 participants completed an online experiment where they were randomly assigned to first view a blog post with either complementary or competitive framing on driverless cars. Participants also viewed a blog post that challenged the stance of the first blog post. Results revealed that complementary frames polarized opinions, while competitive frames neutralized framing effects. Competitive frames induced more resistant opinions than complementary frames did. Attitude and support were susceptible to new, antagonistic information. This study concludes that framing effects are ephemeral and easily challenged by different information.

Damage-less observation of polymers by electron dose control in scanning electron microscope.

Methodology for quantitative evaluation of electron radiation damage and calculation of tolerable electron dose was developed to achieve damage-less scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of beam-sensitive polymer film. The radiation damage is typically evaluated with visual impressions of SEM images; however, this method may be unreliable because observer's subjectivity may affect the results. Evaluation with quantitative value is crucial to improve reliability. In this study, the radiation damage was evaluated by using normalized correlative coefficient (RNCC) between an initial frame and latter frames of the multiple SEM images that were taken consecutively. Tolerable dose was obtained by defining a threshold point of RNCC where rapid reduction of RNCC started. A SEM image with less damage and acceptable signal-to-noise ratio was obtained by integrating the images from the initial frame to the tolerable frame.

Structural determination of midazolam/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex by an already proposed protocol and molecular docking studies by quantitative analysis

A lot of interest has been seen in computational methods that provide higher degree of accuracy and reliability, in structural determination and intermolecular interaction of different molecular systems. In the present work, atom accurate structure of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and midazolam (MDZ) was determined by a combination of NMR (2D-ROESY) and computational methods (MD) using quantitative approach, as developed and proved to be reliable by us previously. Further, we determined the structure of MDZ/β-CD inclusion complex by using molecular docking studies. Then, the structure obtained by molecular docking studies was compared with the previously developed method by quantitative approach. Parallel results were seen for the structure obtained by our method as well molecular docking approach. This validates the atom accuracy of the structures obtained by both MD and molecular docking. Moreover, both the methods have advantages as well as disadvantages. The advantages of both the methods are that they are less time consuming and cheap. However, main disadvantage of MD is that final structure depends on initial frame and structure obtained from molecular docking depends on dimension of grid box and Cartesian coordinates. Therefore, both methods need to be performed several times to obtain atom accurate and reliable structures.

Object Tracking in Satellite Videos Based on a Lightweight Network

Object tracking is a hot topic in computer vision. The significantly developed satellite video technology makes object tracking in satellite videos possible. In recent years, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based trackers have achieved satisfying performance in the visual object tracking field. However, CNN cannot be directly applied to object tracking in satellite videos due to the following two reasons. First, the feature map size generally decreases as the network layer deepens, which is unsuitable for the small targets in satellite videos. Second, CNN-based trackers commonly need extensive data to train the network parameters, while few labeled satellite videos are available. Therefore, in this paper, we design a lightweight network for the satellite video tracking task. On one hand, the network generates a response map with the same size as the input image and reserves the spatial resolution of targets. On the other hand, the network parameters are transferred from an existing network and trained with the initial annotated frame, thus no extra data are needed. To make a fair comparison between existing trackers, we further propose a simulated benchmark based on the UAV123 dataset according to the imaging characteristics of satellite videos. Experiments are conducted to compare our method with other state-of-the-art trackers on both the simulated benchmark and real satellite videos and experimental results demonstrate the superiority of our proposed algorithm.

Nullspace Property for Optimality of Minimum Frame Angle Under Invertible Linear Operators

Frames with a large minimum angle between any two distinct frame vectors are desirable in many present day applications. For a unit norm frame, the absolute value of the cosine of the minimum frame angle is also known as coherence. Two frames are equivalent if one can be obtained from the other via left action of an invertible linear operator. Frame angles can change under the action of a linear operator. Most of the existing works solve different optimization problems to find an optimal linear operator that maximizes the minimal frame angle (in other words, minimizes the coherence). In the present work, nevertheless, we consider the question: Is it always possible to find an equivalent frame with smaller coherence for a given frame?. In this paper, we derive properties of the initial unit norm frame that can ensure an equivalent frame with strictly larger minimal frame angle compared to the initial one. It turns out that the nullspace property of a certain matrix obtained from the initial frame can guarantee such an equivalent frame. We also present the numerical results that support our theoretical claims.

A New Kalman Filter-Based In-Motion Initial Alignment Method for DVL-Aided Low-Cost SINS

The inertial measurement unit (IMU) biases, DVL lever arm and installation misalignment angles between IMU and doppler velocity log (DVL) have a great influence on in-motion initial alignment for DVL-aided low-cost strap-down inertial navigation system (SINS). A new Kalman filter-based initial alignment method is proposed in this paper. To weaken the effects of IMU biases, DVL lever arm and installation misalignment angles between IMU and DVL, a closed-loop scheme is presented to simultaneous estimate and compensate these parameter errors and the body attitude matrix based on a linear state-space model, which improves the accuracy of vector observations. The constant matrix from initial body frame to initial navigation frame can be determined based on the vector observations by Davenport's q-method. Simulation results illustrate that, for the DVL-aided low-cost SINS, the alignment performance of the proposed initial alignment method is better than that of the compared initial alignment methods.

Correlation filter tracking based on superpixel and multifeature fusion

For the correlation filtering (CF) tracking algorithm is not robust enough and cannot adapt to scale changes, target occlusion (OCC) and other complex interferences. We introduce a CF tracking algorithm based on superpixel and multifeature fusion (CFSMF). First, superpixel segmentation and clustering are performed for the target and its surrounding environment in the initial frame. Then, a target appearance is reconstructed through block segmentation-based overlapping analysis to remove redundant information. On this basis, the histogram of gradient (HOG) and HSI color features of the target sub-block are extracted to interact with their respective position filters. Accordingly, the target position is determined by the weighted fusion of the response values. In the scale prediction stage, we independently train a scale filter with a multiscale pyramid constructed at the estimated target location. The object scale is estimated in terms of the filter response, thereby enabling the tracking algorithm to adapt to the object scale change. Lastly, we introduce an OCC criterion for determining whether to update the model or not. Compared with the classical tracking algorithm kernelized correlation filters (KCF), the proposed algorithm boosts the tracking success rate by 20% and tracking accuracy by 15.9%. Our algorithm in this paper could track the target stably even when the target is occluded and its scale changes.

Triplet Network Template for Siamese Trackers

Siamese network based trackers describe object tracking as a similarity matching problem and these trackers achieve state-of-the-art performance on multiple benchmarks. However, due to the non-update of the appearance template and the change of the object appearance, the tracking drift problem often occurs, especially in the background clutter scene. Effective appearance template update methods can improve tracker performance, but most trackers use simple linear interpolation to update the template or do not update the initial template at all. Through experiments, we find that the channel response of the search region with the adjacent frame appearance template is often better than that with the initial frame appearance template. So we add the results of the previous frame prediction as a new template branch to the Siamese network to form a Triplet network. We applied the Triplet network to the SiamFC and SiamCAR, called TripFC and TripCAR. We tested on four challenging benchmarks (GOT-10K, OTB2013, OTB2015, UAV123). The experiments show that our method is powerful and effective, it can be easily embedded into the Siamese trackers. TripFC has a good effect on solving the problem of tracking drift. If necessary we can publish the code to facilitate research in this area.

Video Surveillance Processing Algorithms utilizing Artificial Intelligent (AI) for Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs)

With the advancement of science and technology, the combination of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and camera surveillance systems (CSS) is currently a promising solution for practical applications related to security and surveillance operations. However, one of the biggest risks and challenges for the UAV-CSS is analysis, process, and transmission data, especially, the limitations of computational capacity, storage and overloading the transmission bandwidth. Regard to conventional methods, almost the data collected from UAVs is processed and transmitted that cost huge energy. A certain amount of data is redundant and not necessary to be processed or transmitted. This paper proposes an efficient algorithm to optimize the transmission and reception of data in UAV-CSS systems, based on the platforms of artificial intelligence (AI) for data processing. The algorithm creates an initial background frame and update to the complete background which is sent to server. It splits the region of interest (moving objects) in the scene and then sends only the changes. This supports the CSS to reduce significantly either data storage or data transmission. In addition, the complexity of the systems could be significantly reduced. The main contributions of the algorithm can be listed as follows;-The developed solution can reduce data transmission significantly.-The solution can empower smart manufacturing via camera surveillance.-Simulation results have validated practical viability of this approach.The experimental method results show that reducing up to 80% of storage capacity and transmission data.

Monitoring and support optimization analysis of surrounding rock pressure and initial supporting stress in deep-buried soft rock tunnel

Attempting at the problems of surrounding rock pressure and initial supporting stress of deep-buried soft rock tunnel, a soft rock highway tunnel project in Northwest China was monitored on-site for surrounding rock deformation, surrounding rock pressure, initial stress and other items.Discuss the deformation laws and stress characteristics of surrounding rock and steel arch at different construction stages, and compare and analyze the deformation control effect of surrounding rock with different initial lining thickness, different initial elastic modulus and different anchor length through numerical simulation.The results show that the excavation stage of the upper step is a stage where the pressure and deformation of the surrounding rock increase rapidly. The steel arch support is mainly compressed, and the average stress can reach more than 50% of the peak value within 5 days. The stress is mostly higher than the measuring point of the lower step. The initial steel frame support of the upper step and the middle step bears a greater load. The excavation of the upper middle step should be "passed quickly and supported in time", and the construction should adopt The “letting first,then resisting” method appropriately increases the reserved deformation of the surrounding rock to relieve the support stress of the primary steel frame. When the deformation of the surrounding rock and the growth rate of the surrounding rock pressure slow down, the secondary lining can be applied in advance. The research results can provide reference and reference for the design and construction of similar tunnel projects.

Monitoring and support optimization analysis of surrounding rock pressure and initial supporting stress in deep-buried soft rock tunnel

Attempting at the problems of surrounding rock pressure and initial supporting stress of deep-buried soft rock tunnel, a soft rock highway tunnel project in Northwest China was monitored on-site for surrounding rock deformation, surrounding rock pressure, initial stress and other items.Discuss the deformation laws and stress characteristics of surrounding rock and steel arch at different construction stages, and compare and analyze the deformation control effect of surrounding rock with different initial lining thickness, different initial elastic modulus and different anchor length through numerical simulation.The results show that the excavation stage of the upper step is a stage where the pressure and deformation of the surrounding rock increase rapidly. The steel arch support is mainly compressed, and the average stress can reach more than 50% of the peak value within 5 days. The stress is mostly higher than the measuring point of the lower step. The initial steel frame support of the upper step and the middle step bears a greater load. The excavation of the upper middle step should be "passed quickly and supported in time", and the construction should adopt The “letting first,then resisting” method appropriately increases the reserved deformation of the surrounding rock to relieve the support stress of the primary steel frame. When the deformation of the surrounding rock and the growth rate of the surrounding rock pressure slow down, the secondary lining can be applied in advance. The research results can provide reference and reference for the design and construction of similar tunnel projects.

Artificial intelligence-based prediction of transfusion in the intensive care unit in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding

ObjectiveGastrointestinal (GI) bleeding commonly requires intensive care unit (ICU) in cases of potentialhaemodynamiccompromise or likely urgent intervention. However, manypatientsadmitted to the ICU stop bleeding and do not require further intervention,...

Técnicas e instrumentos para recoger datos del hecho social educativo

This paper presents reflections about the use of techniques and tools used to collect data from the educational social fact, which is understood as a social fact in its broadest meaning and sense. The research was developed framed in the qualitative paradigm, reason why are used the methods of analysis, synthesis, hermeneutics, holistic and dialectic. This has been done with the purpose of understanding the object of study and enabling a better application of techniques and instruments in the development of contextualized researches in the socio-educational field. It is revealed that despite having several epistemological approaches that guide the construction of knowledge, qualitative research emerges as the only possibility to achieve this purpose, based on the lived experience of the researcher in the reality investigated. Therefore, the nature of the research, the object of study, the initial reference frame, the context in which it is being investigated, the objectives and the methodological design that will govern the research process must be taken into account, in order to select the techniques and instruments of the data compilation in the educational social fact since it is energized by the relationships and interrelationships between human beings. Keywords: educational social facts, techniques, instruments, data.

Ecomation

Ecomation Thomas Lamarre (bio) Definitions of animation tend to oscillate between making something move and bringing something to life.1 Yet what could be more different than striking a billiard ball on a table and bringing that same ball to life? Are these two propositions not worlds apart? Animation brings them into relation, however. The relation between making something move and bringing something to life is thus an ongoing source of perplexity both for producers and critics of animation. Two distinctive ways of dealing with this relation have emerged, implying profoundly different images of thought. According to one line of thinking, movement is always movement of something. Another line of thinking submits that movement is something.2 The first line of thinking takes its cue for making something move from classical mechanics: an action on a body produces a reaction; something or someone imparts movement to a body, usually a figure or character. A figure made of clay or plasticine is pushed into motion. A hand-drawn figure is sketched into motion, position by position. In keeping with Newton's laws, the initial frame of reference for this line of thinking is inertial: an object remains at rest unless some force acts upon it. The first line of thinking has its drama of creation. When movement is considered as force imparting movement to the inert object, a creator inevitably makes an appearance as the animator responsible for imparting the force. The creativity of the animator is thought to lie above all in the act of producing an illusion of life.3 Animation is a matter of imparting a [End Page 179] force to an object, thus bringing it to life. The animator is a demiurge who brings to life. When the goal is bringing something to life, the illusion of life depends on resemblance. A computer brought to life still looks like a computer, but it must also bear some resemblance to life. Resemblance to life usually means resemblance to an animal, almost always the human animal but sometimes non-human animals who differ from human animals in degree, such as mammals. Indeed, resemblance in animation often evokes anthropomorphism. WALL-E (WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, 2008, Played by Ben Buertt), for instance, resembles both a robot or computer and a human animal. Such resemblance is not entirely stable, however. Neither is anthropomorphism. WALL-E might readily morph into some other kind of animal. It is narrative, or more precisely, a set of consistent behaviors organized in relation to a goal, that intervenes to sustain WALL-E's resemblance to both computer and human. For human audiences, sustaining anthropomorphism is arguably what most effectively shores up the illusion of life. The illusion of life demands a certain kind of invisibility on the part of the animator or animators. Animators must not appear in the animation, at least not directly. Like absent causes or invisible forces, they are perceptible only through their effects. They appear partially. Early animation was fond of showing the hand, a part of the creator, which sets the tone for a kind of partial perception of the work of animators.4 Their creative force is perceptible in the figural traces of their performative gestures in the process of applying force to figures, drawing, shaping, bending, turning, angling them, or imparting their facial expressions to characters, or even rotoscoping their own bodies. Creative force is at once perceptible and imperceptible.5 It is in-perceptible. This first way of thinking about movement, precisely because it implies an inertial frame of reference, always entails an initial separation between force and figure.6 Force is applied to the body to make it move; creative force is dexterously applied to inert materials to bring them to life. The animator stands outside their creation, separate from it, even as they dwell in it, inperceptibly. The problematic of this line of thinking is, How does one inhabit separation creatively? Two orientations emerge for the illusion of life. On the one hand, signature styles develop, attesting to the in-perceptibility of the animator or animators. Character animators, for instance, introduce a distinctive style into their rendering of characters. Between action and reaction arises an interval...