Learning Discriminative Feature Representations for Visual Categorization

Learning discriminative feature representations has attracted a great deal of attention due to its potential value and wide usage in a variety of areas, such as image/video recognition and retrieval, human activities analysis, intelligent surveillance and human-computer interaction. In this thesis we first introduce a new boosted key-frame selection scheme for action recognition. Specifically, we propose to select a subset of key poses for the representation of each action via AdaBoost and a new classifier, namely WLNBNN, is then developed for final classification. The experimental results of the proposed method are 0.6% - 13.2% better than previous work. After that, a domain-adaptive learning approach based on multiobjective genetic programming (MOGP) has been developed for image classification. In this method, a set of primitive 2-D operators are randomly combined to construct feature descriptors through the MOGP evolving and then evaluated by two objective fitness criteria, i.e., the classification error and the tree complexity. Later, the (near-)optimal feature descriptor can be obtained. The proposed approach can achieve 0.9% ∼ 25.9% better performance compared with state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, effective dimensionality reduction algorithms have also been widely used for obtaining better representations. In this thesis, we have proposed a novel linear unsupervised algorithm, termed Discriminative Partition Sparsity Analysis (DPSA), explicitly considering different probabilistic distributions that exist over the data points, simultaneously preserving the natural locality relationship among the data. All these above methods have been systematically evaluated on several public datasets, showing their accurate and robust performance (0.44% - 6.69% better than the previous) for action and image categorization. Targeting efficient image classification , we also introduce a novel unsupervised framework termed evolutionary compact embedding (ECE) which can automatically learn the task-specific binary hash codes. It is regarded as an optimization algorithm which combines the genetic programming (GP) and a boosting trick. The experimental results manifest ECE significantly outperform others by 1.58% - 2.19% for classification tasks. In addition, a supervised framework, bilinear local feature hashing (BLFH), has also been proposed to learn highly discriminative binary codes on the local descriptors for large-scale image similarity search. We address it as a nonconvex optimization problem to seek orthogonal projection matrices for hashing, which can successfully preserve the pairwise similarity between different local features and simultaneously take image-to-class (I2C) distances into consideration. BLFH produces outstanding results (0.017% - 0.149% better) compared to the state-of-the-art hashing techniques

Spacelab Science Results Study

Beginning with OSTA-1 in November 1981 and ending with Neurolab in March 1998, a total of 36 Shuttle missions carried various Spacelab components such as the Spacelab module, pallet, instrument pointing system, or mission peculiar experiment support structure. The experiments carried out during these flights included astrophysics, solar physics, plasma physics, atmospheric science, Earth observations, and a wide range of microgravity experiments in life sciences, biotechnology, materials science, and fluid physics which includes combustion and critical point phenomena. In all, some 764 experiments were conducted by investigators from the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The purpose of this Spacelab Science Results Study is to document the contributions made in each of the major research areas by giving a brief synopsis of the more significant experiments and an extensive list of the publications that were produced. We have also endeavored to show how these results impacted the existing body of knowledge, where they have spawned new fields, and if appropriate, where the knowledge they produced has been applied

Space and Earth Sciences, Computer Systems, and Scientific Data Analysis Support, Volume 1

This Final Progress Report covers the specific technical activities of Hughes STX Corporation for the last contract triannual period of 1 June through 30 Sep. 1993, in support of assigned task activities at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It also provides a brief summary of work throughout the contract period of performance on each active task. Technical activity is presented in Volume 1, while financial and level-of-effort data is presented in Volume 2. Technical support was provided to all Division and Laboratories of Goddard's Space Sciences and Earth Sciences Directorates. Types of support include: scientific programming, systems programming, computer management, mission planning, scientific investigation, data analysis, data processing, data base creation and maintenance, instrumentation development, and management services. Mission and instruments supported include: ROSAT, Astro-D, BBXRT, XTE, AXAF, GRO, COBE, WIND, UIT, SMM, STIS, HEIDI, DE, URAP, CRRES, Voyagers, ISEE, San Marco, LAGEOS, TOPEX/Poseidon, Pioneer-Venus, Galileo, Cassini, Nimbus-7/TOMS, Meteor-3/TOMS, FIFE, BOREAS, TRMM, AVHRR, and Landsat. Accomplishments include: development of computing programs for mission science and data analysis, supercomputer applications support, computer network support, computational upgrades for data archival and analysis centers, end-to-end management for mission data flow, scientific modeling and results in the fields of space and Earth physics, planning and design of GSFC VO DAAC and VO IMS, fabrication, assembly, and testing of mission instrumentation, and design of mission operations center

Reports of Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program, 1990

Abstracts of reports from NASA's Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program are presented. Research is documented in summary form of the work conducted. Each report reflects significant accomplishments within the area of the author's funded grant or contract

Forty-first Lunar and Planetary Science Conference

Special sessions were: A New Moon: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Results ; Water in the Solar System: Incorporation into Primitive Bodies and Evolution ; A New Moon: LCROSS, Chandrayaan, and Chang-E-1 ; Water in the Solar System: Moon ; A New Moon: Spectral Constraints on Lunar Crustal Composition ; Characterizing Near-Earth Objects ; A New Moon: Lunar Volcanism and Impact. This CD-ROM contains the contents, program, abstracts, and author indexes for the 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.by Lunar and Planetary Institute, NASA Johnson Space Centerconference co-chairs, Stephen Mackwell, Lunar and Planetary Institute [and] Eileen Stansbery, NASA Johnson Space Center.PARTIAL CONTENTS: Roughness and Radar Polarimetry of Lunar Polar Craters: Testing for Ice Deposits / B.J. Thomson, P.D. Spudis, D.B.J. Bussey, L. Carter, R.L. Kirk, C. Neish, G. Patterson, R.K. Raney, H. Winters, and the Mini-RF Team--Formation of Jupiter's Atmosphere from a Supernova-Contaminated Molecular Cloud / H.B. Throop--Ancient Lunar Dynamo: Absence of Evidence is Not the Evidence of Absence / S.M. Tikoo, B.P. Weiss, J. Buz, I. Garrick-Bethell, T.L. Grove, and J. Gattaccaea--Dark Dunes in Ka'u Desert (Hawaii) as Terrestrial Analogs to Dark Dunes on Mars / D. Tirsch, R.A. Craddock, and R. Jaumann--Mars Ice Condensation and Density Orbiter / T.N. Titus, T. Prettyman, A. Brown, T.I. Michaels, and A. Colaprete--The Atacama Desert Cave Shredder: A Case for Conduction Thermodynamics / T.N. Titus, J.J. Wynne, D. Ruby, and N. Cabrol

Lunar and Planetary Science 36

Special sessions: Genesis: What We Know, Where We Stand, and the Future, and OMEGA@Mars: New Insights Into Surface Composition. Includes preface, table of contents, program, abstracts and indexes for the 36th LPSC.sponsors Lunar and Planetary Institute, NASA Johnson Space Centerprogram committee, Stephen J. Mackwell, co-chair, Eileen K. Stansbery, co-chair ... [and others] ; compiled by Lunar and Planetary Institute.PARTIAL CONTENTS: Why Small is Beautiful--and How to Detect Another 10 Billion Small Main Belt Asteroids / H. Haack, P.R. Bidstrup, R. Michelsen, A.C. Andersen, and J.L. Jørgensen -- Basalts in Mare Humorum and S.E. Procellarum / T. Hackwill, J.E. Guest, and P.D. Spudis -- Basalts in Mare Serenitatis, Lacus Somniorum, Lacus Mortis and Part of Mare Tranquillitatis / T. Hackwill, J.E. Guest, and P.D. Spudis -- Revised Thorium Abundances for Lunar Red Spots / J.J. Hagerty, D.J. Lawrence, R.C. Elphic, W.C. Feldman, D.T. Vaniman, and B.R. Hawke -- Integrating Global-Scale Mission Datasets, Understanding the Martian Crust / B.C. Hahn, S.M. McLennan, G.J. Taylor, and W.V. Boynton

Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction towards E-shopping in Malaysia

Online shopping or e-shopping has changed the world of business and quite a few people have decided to work with these features. What their primary concerns precisely and the responses from the globalisation are the competency of incorporation while doing their businesses. E-shopping has also increased substantially in Malaysia in recent years. The rapid increase in the e-commerce industry in Malaysia has created the demand to emphasize on how to increase customer satisfaction while operating in the e-retailing environment. It is very important that customers are satisfied with the website, or else, they would not return. Therefore, a crucial fact to look into is that companies must ensure that their customers are satisfied with their purchases that are really essential from the ecommerce’s point of view. With is in mind, this study aimed at investigating customer satisfaction towards e-shopping in Malaysia. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed among students randomly selected from various public and private universities located within Klang valley area. Total 369 questionnaires were returned, out of which 341 questionnaires were found usable for further analysis. Finally, SEM was employed to test the hypotheses. This study found that customer satisfaction towards e-shopping in Malaysia is to a great extent influenced by ease of use, trust, design of the website, online security and e-service quality. Finally, recommendations and future study direction is provided. Keywords: E-shopping, Customer satisfaction, Trust, Online security, E-service quality, Malaysia