Using BlazePose on Spatial Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks for Action Recognition

The ever-growing available visual data (i.e., uploaded videos and pictures by internet users) has attracted the research community’s attention in the computer vision field. Therefore, finding efficient solutions to extract knowledge from these sources is imperative. Recently, the BlazePose system has been released for skeleton extraction from images oriented to mobile devices. With this skeleton graph representation in place, a Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network can be implemented to predict the action. We hypothesize that just by changing the skeleton input data for a different set of joints that offers more information about the action of interest, it is possible to increase the performance of the Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network for HAR tasks. Hence, in this study, we present the first implementation of the BlazePose skeleton topology upon this architecture for action recognition. Moreover, we propose the Enhanced-BlazePose topology that can achieve better results than its predecessor. Additionally, we propose different skeleton detection thresholds that can improve the accuracy performance even further. We reached a top-1 accuracy performance of 40.1% on the Kinetics dataset. For the NTU-RGB+D dataset, we achieved 87.59% and 92.1% accuracy for Cross-Subject and Cross-View evaluation criteria, respectively

Advanced Guided Whale Optimization Algorithm for Feature Selection in BlazePose Action Recognition

The BlazePose, which models human body skeletons as spatiotemporal graphs, has achieved fantastic performance in skeleton-based action identification. Skeleton extraction from photos for mobile devices has been made possible by the BlazePose system. A Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network (STGCN) can then forecast the actions. The Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network (STGCN) can be improved by simply replacing the skeleton input data with a different set of joints that provide more information about the activity of interest. On the other hand, existing approaches require the user to manually set the graph’s topology and then fix it across all input layers and samples. This research shows how to use the Statistical Fractal Search (SFS)-Guided whale optimization algorithm (GWOA). To get the best solution for the GWOA, we adopt the SFS diffusion algorithm, which uses the random walk with a Gaussian distribution method common to growing systems. Continuous values are transformed into binary to apply to the feature-selection problem in conjunction with the BlazePose skeletal topology and stochastic fractal search to construct a novel implementation of the BlazePose topology for action recognition. In our experiments, we employed the Kinetics and the NTU-RGB+D datasets. The achieved actiona accuracy in the X-View is 93.14% and in the X-Sub is 96.74%. In addition, the proposed model performs better in numerous statistical tests such as the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Wilcoxon signed-rank test, histogram, and times analysis

Integrating sustainability within architectural education in Cairo

Architectural education has great potential to moving the entire in-dustry towards sustainability within buildings and cities. Having the fundamental knowledge to apply the sustainable strategies can help solving different environmental challenges being faced today. Sus-tainability is then recognized as a core topic in architecture and to re-flect this recognition, it is crucial to integrate it into the architectural education curriculum. Many approaches are used to introduce the concept of sustainability into the architectural programs ranging from integrating the concept into existing modules to adding new mod-ules that are entirely dedicated towards this subject. The design stu-dio is the most dominant module in architectural education having the highest credit hours per week; and being a pool within which all subjects dissolve. The studio is characterized by creating a unique learning environment modelled around a problem solving practice. Introducing sustainability into design studio was then found to be a key potential that enable graduate architects to make sustainable de-cisions within their design process rather than handling it separately. Realizing that potential; architectural educational institutions used different approaches in order to include sustainability within their curricula. This paper sheds lights on the education of sustainability within the architectural curricula in a number of Egyptian universities. It dis-cusses the teaching and learning of sustainable design then, identi-fies and analyses different approaches used in integrating the con-cept of sustainability into the curriculum. Follows, a qualitative anal-ysis takes place from semi structured interview conducted to practi-tioners and educators from various universities in order to stand on methods used to integrate sustainability into their architectural cur-ricula. The findings are to develop recommendations that could help discovering the best practices that could enhance the learning experi-ence for integrating sustainability in design studio modules

Spatio-temporal variability of surface air temperature in northeastern Spain

The present thesis examined changes in the annual and seasonal distribution of daily maximum and minimum temperatures for northeastern Spain. A better understanding of the ongoing changes in the temperature means and extremes was the primary objective. Further aims involved the analysis of large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns at different geopotential levels as well as the Mean Sea Level (MSL) pressure based on climate composites analysis and canonical variates in order to quantify the driving forces beyond the observed variability. Finally, this work aimed to assess future climate projections of seasonal temperature and their spatial variations to improve the understanding and prediction of the long-term trends of temperature means and extremes simulations. To achieve all these goals, it was necessary to develop a homogenous dataset with high spatial and temporal resolution. The next few paragraphs answer the main research questions raised during this work

A syntactic and semantic study of modification in the noun phrase in Classical Arabic.

This is a study of modification in CA nominal phrases at the levels of syntax and semantics. It examines the semantic and syntactic basis on which modification is made, its types and features, and the function of focus by word order change. Modification is considered here as an operation performed on the NPs, based on a structural relationship of two linguistic concepts (Head and Modifier). The study makes use of the ideas and concepts put forward by other linguists dealing with modification as a linguistic concept. Apart from the Introduction, the thesis consists of seven chapters. Chapter I deals with Deictics as represented by demonstratives, the definite article and possessive pronouns. Their function as a modifier, their cataphoric, anaphoric and exophoric references are outlined, marking the identity between two units involved in the context. Other functions like generic, specific and aggregate are discussed. Chapter II discusses modification in the NP within relational sentences where it plays an important role in producing this type of sentence. Attention is drawn to the main divisions of relational sentences such as ascriptive, equative, possessive and circumstantial which are the virtual representation of the relationship between attribuand and attributive elements or rather subject and predicate. Again the sentences are analyzed along the axes in which they are predominantly marked by modification as to whether it is obligatory or optional. Chapter III consists of a discussion of the relationships holding between the relative clauses as a subordinate clause and the preceding noun as a subordinating element so that they have different syntactic status. Various semantic and syntactic criteria are given to distinguish their modificatory function. To this end restrictive and non-restrietive types are discussed, and also semantic sub-types where the relative clauses have different contextual functions. Also characteristics distinguishing restrictive and non-restrictive representations are pointed out on the basis of grammatical status and semantic choices. Other features are portrayed; specific and non-specific, attributive and non-attributive and causative relations. Syntactic features are dealt with regarding the forms and the choices which are related to semantic options. In Chapter IV, quantifiers are discussed on three fundamental axes: word class, semantic function and syntactic function. This discussion is devoted to establishing the grounds on which the term quantifier is distinguished from the counterpart numeral. The distinctive features set up in this chapter delineate the structural function of the quantifiers as a class of quantifying modifiers in nominal phrases. This involves four main features; premodifier, postmodifier, variable and invariable. Word order change is a mechanism operated for focus considerations on the transposed element. These structural characteristics are associable with semantic types as in this chapter. Chapter V treats various word classes which function within one syntactic area, the semantic implications are examined so as to show sub-semantic functions of these classes which include centre adjectives, common nouns, relative adjectives and participial adjectives which denote aspectually stative, dynamic, physical, habitual, inceptive etc. The discussion in Chapter VI is centred around the appositive structure where the modificatory relationship is between two equal elements in such a way that the omission of one of them does not affect the grammaticality of the structure. The effect lies only in the structural and semantic representations which will be affected by reducing the members of the structure by one element which represents a structural function and a piece of information. In this chapter, we deal with three types of structures appositives, genitives and fractions since they are structurally and functionally similar. That is to say, they function as determinative with two elements. In Chapter VII, a full treatment is given of the system of cardinals and ordinals. The cardinals can function structurally as premodifiers or as postmodifiers. Structurally, the ordinals are prefixed by the article al and function as postmodifier, except that when the ordinals from (3-10) occur without al- preceding the head noun, they function as premodifiers. For this purpose, tables and structural analysis as well as structural types of relationships are illustrated

High-spatial-resolution probability maps of drought duration and magnitude across Spain

Assessing the probability of occurrence of drought is important for improving current drought assessment, management and mitigation measures, and strategies across Spain. This study employed two well-established drought indices, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), to characterize drought duration and magnitude at different timescales over Spain. In order to map the drought hazard probability, we applied the extreme value theory and tested different thresholds to generate peak-over-threshold (POT) drought duration and magnitude series. Our results demonstrate that the generalized Pareto (GP) distribution performs well in estimating the frequencies of drought magnitude and duration. Specifically, we found a good agreement between the observed and modelled data when using upper percentiles to generate the POT series. Spatially, our estimations suggest a higher probability of extreme drought events in southern and central Spain compared to the northern and eastern regions. Also, our study found spatial differences in drought probability estimations as a function of the selected drought index (i.e. SPI vs. SPEI) and timescale (i.e. 1, 3, 6, and 12 months). Drought hazard probability maps can contribute to the better management of different sectors (e.g. agriculture, water resources management, urban water supply, and tourism) at national, regional, and even local scale in Spain.</p

Mobile Tourism Recommender System for Users to Get a Better Choice of Tour

The system might include a turn-by-turn route highlight to prevent fake preferences that check if the user has taken the course. A larger customer overview with more participants is required to acquire more insightful client feedback. Our ex-amination was designed as a lab experiment to gather initial data straight absent. While making fun of other clients and their system comments, we looked at a few initial objective mixtures. Doing field research with actual clients using our suggested model in real-world situations (such as when looking for a course online to work from home) is crucial. This will help us better understand how effective our approach is. In this article, we developed a creative method for recommending multimodal travel routes. In a client survey with 20 participants, we evaluated the applicability of our cross-breed computation and its usability. The results show that CF, in-formation-based, and well-liked course concepts complement one more successfully than cutting-edge course organizer advances. Thanks to the Google Guides Programming interface, our application can give seven different elective trip options

An assessment of the role of homogenization protocols in the performance of daily temperature series and trends: application to northeastern Spain

Ponencia presentada en: VII Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología: clima, ciudad y ecosistemas, celebrado en Madrid entre el 24 y 26 de noviembre de 2010.This paper details a full protocol applied to develop high resolution daily temperature dataset. Our methodology has been tested from a dataset of 1583 temperature observatories over the NE Spain. The raw dataset was initially tested for internal and external consistency and an algorithm was utilized to reconstruct the daily temperature series for selected candidate observatories. Discontinuities in the reconstructed series were determined by combining the results obtained by three homogeneity tests: the Standard Normal Homogeneity Test (SNHT), the Easterling and Peterson two-phased regression method and the Vincent test. To assess the role of data homogenization, a set of selected tests was applied to the temperature trends and the spatial and frequency properties of the series. Results show significant improvement in the spatial dependence of temperature trends at seasonal and annual scales after application of homogeneity correction. However, frequency statistics of the series evidenced no significant impact of the homogenization procedure. From the temporal and spatial perspectives, the new compiled dataset seems to be outstanding in a variety of meteorological, ecological, hydrological and agricultural research applications at local, regional and continental scales.This work has been supported by the research projects CGL2008-01189/BTE, CGL2006-11619/HID and CGL2008-1083/CLI financed by the Spanish Commission of Science and Technology and FEDER, EUROGEOSS (FP7-ENV-2008-1-226487) and ACQWA (FP7-ENV-2007-1- 212250) financed by the VII Framework Programme of the European Commissio