Skeleton based action recognition using translation-scale invariant image mapping and multi-scale deep cnn

This paper presents an image classification based approach for skeleton-based video action recognition problem. Firstly, A dataset independent translation-scale invariant image mapping method is proposed, which transformes the skeleton videos to colour images, named skeleton-images. Secondly, A multi-scale deep convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture is proposed which could be built and fine-tuned on the powerful pre-trained CNNs, e.g., AlexNet, VGGNet, ResNet etal.. Even though the skeleton-images are very different from natural images, the fine-tune strategy still works well. At last, we prove that our method could also work well on 2D skeleton video data. We achieve the state-of-the-art results on the popular benchmard datasets e.g. NTU RGB+D, UTD-MHAD, MSRC-12, and G3D. Especially on the largest and challenge NTU RGB+D, UTD-MHAD, and MSRC-12 dataset, our method outperforms other methods by a large margion, which proves the efficacy of the proposed method

Nonlinear responses analysis caused by slant crack in a rotor-bearing system

A finite element model of a slant cracked rotor system attached with two disks is presented. A slant crack model is adopted to simulate time-varying stiffness caused by shaft crack. Two types of bearing force (linear and nonlinear bearing forces) are used for simulating the bearing. This study focuses on the effects of eccentric phase differences of two disks on the nonlinear responses of the rotor-bearing system under steady-state process (constant rotating speed) and run-up process. The results show that for the lateral vibration, the superharmonic resonance phenomenon related to the first bending critical speed can be observed under linear bearing forces; however, it is almost unseeable under nonlinear bearing forces. For the torsional vibration, the superharmonic resonance phenomena related to the first torsional natural frequency appear under linear and nonlinear bearing forces. Large eccentric phase differences of two disks can decrease the rotor vibration and restrain the oil-film instability, and the angular acceleration can restrain the oil-film instability due to the tangential inertia force. Moreover, the large torsional amplitude of the second harmonic frequency can also be identified as a typical feature during run-up

Les élections de village en Chine contemporaine : de nouveaux espaces de légitimité pour le régime ?

Cet article analyse l’impact des élections directes dans les villages sur la légitimité du régime au niveau local en Chine. En utilisant un modèle inspiré de la théorie des systèmes politiques de David Easton, l’article démontre que les élections villageoises dans le district de Lishu, province du Jilin, ont contribué de façon significative à augmenter la stabilité sociale et la qualité de la gouvernance locale, générant ainsi une plus grande légitimité du régime. La « confiance rationnelle » que les paysans ont dans leurs cadres peut ainsi expliquer que la suprématie politique de ces cadres n’ait pas été remise en cause par les élections directes

Village elections in contemporary China New Spaces for Generating Regime Legitimacy? Experiences from Lishu County

This article discusses the impact of direct village elections on regime legitimacy in China’s local government. Applying a model based on David Easton’s political systems theory, it is argued that village elections in Lishu county, Jilin province, have contributed significantly to increased social stability and the quality of local governance, resulting in more regime legitimacy. “Rational trust” on the part of the peasants in their cadres may best explain the observation that the cadres’ political supremacy has not been challenged by direct elections

Rheological models for non-newtonian viscosity of modified asphalt binders and mastics

This paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive experimental work on the viscosity behavior of different modified asphalt binders and mastics, as well as exploring mathematical representations of the results in attempts to predict the viscosity and flow behaviors according to Vinogradov-Malkin and Phillips-Deutsch models. The modified asphalt binders were prepared in the unaged and aged states using styrene-butadienestyrene (SBS), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and crumb rubber (CR); while the hydrated lime (HL) and fly ash (FA) were selected to produce the binder-filler mastics. To widen the study findings, the additives (polymers, rubber, and fillers) were applied at different possible levels of modification. To prepare the aged bituminous materials, the rolling thin-film oven (RTFO) was utilized for the short-term aging, while the pressure aging vessel (PAV) was further used to induce the possible long-term aging of same materials. Binders and binder-filler mastics were tested using a bob and cup geometry. The viscosity behavior was investigated under various effects of testing conditions including ranges of shear rates and temperatures. It was found that the effect of shear rate dominates and therefore the non-Newtonian shear thinning prevails at low temperatures particularly for binders containing high concentrations of additives. Even the base asphalt binder exhibits shear thinning behavior after a certain limit of shear rate. Based on the studied 38 curves, in general, Vinogradov-Malkin and Phillips-Deutsch models were found in a good agreement with the corresponding measurements especially the latter

Macrophage M1 polarization mediated via the IL-6/STAT3 pathway contributes to apical periodontitis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Objective: To investigate the involvement of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway activation in macrophage polarization and bone destruction related to apical periodontitis (AP) stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis. Methodology: Macrophage polarization, IL-6/STAT3 expression, and the presence of P. gingivalis were detected in human AP tissues via RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry staining. Murine bone marrow derived macrophages were isolated and cultured with P. gingivalis W83 in vitro, and levels of macrophage IL-6 expression, STAT3 phosphorylation, and macrophage polarization with or without the selective STAT3 phosphorylation inhibitor Stattic (5 μM) were detected via ELISA, western blotting, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry, respectively. P. gingivalis-induced murine AP models were constructed, and bone destruction and macrophage polarization in the apical region were evaluated. Transwell co-culture systems were used to investigate the effects of macrophages infected with P. gingivalis on osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. Results: P. gingivalis was detected in human AP tissues that highly expressed IL-6/STAT3, and the M1 subtype of macrophages was more abundant in these tissues. P. gingivalis infection induced IL-6 expression, STAT3 phosphorylation, and M1 polarization of macrophages, while 5 μM of Stattic partially abolished these activation effects. Systemic STAT3 blockade via oral administration of Stattic at a dose of 25 mg kg-1 alleviated murine periapical bone resorption and apical infiltration of M1 macrophages induced by P. gingivalis infection in vivo. Furthermore, macrophages infected with P. gingivalis promoted bone destruction via secretion of IL-6, TNF-α, and RANKL, which hinder pre-osteoblast expression of Runx2 and accelerate pre-osteoclast expression of NFAT2. Conclusions:The activation of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway is involved in mediating macrophages M1 polarization in the P. gingivalis induced apical inflammatory context and may also be intimately involved in the bone loss caused by P. gingivalis infection, directing the M1 macrophage infiltration during the progression of AP.&nbsp