On the Implementation of IP Video Surveillance Systems

Research breakthroughs in areas like the Integrated Circuits technology, Digital Signal Processing and the growing implications of the convergence of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) based on the Internet Protocol has in turn had a great effect on the trends in the video surveillance industry and market. With the rising spate of crime and security challenges all over the world, there is a very urgent need for comprehensive security and surveillance solutions to augment human resources and efforts. The traditional CCTV systems which are analog based are now being replaced by Internet Protocol (IP) cameras or network video surveillance systems due to the growing availability of faster and cheap broadband internet access. There is continuous activity in the industry as manufacturing companies introduce products with better functionalities to survive in the keenly competitive market. The implications of the implementation of network cameras are numerous to companies, business enterprises, government corporations and even individuals. This paper therefore focuses on reviewing past, present and future trends in the IP video surveillance world as regards to technology and market developments with the aim of recommending it as a tool for optimum efficiency for security agencie

Implementation of a Wireless Bank Surveillance System with a Nomadic Monitoring Unit

Most countries of the world are experiencing a rising spate of crime and security challenges. Specifically, the banking sector is seriously imperilled by the menace of armed bandits as recent robbery incidents are targeted mainly at banks. Most security agencies are incapacitated due to the absence of efficient means for intelligence gathering. To this end, this paper reports the implementation of a Wireless Nomadic Bank Surveillance System which comprises of three intelligent sub-units namely the asset tracking unit, the panic button unit and the IP surveillance unit. The asset tracking unit is an assembly of an embedded system together with a programmed hybrid GPS/GSM module. The panic button system is also an embedded system that operates with a GSM module. The IP surveillance unit is used to remotely monitor the banking hall through covert IP cameras placed in the banking hall. All of the three sub-units are monitored and controlled by a nomadic system which is a mini computer system specially assembled for this purpose. The system is used to query the bag and money tracker for the present location. The Google earth software installed on the nomadic system is used to map the received longitude and latitude format to the actual position. To serve as a redundancy to the panic button system, a web application is developed using PHP, JavaScript and MySQL for managing the video feeds and forwarding SMS alert messages to security agencies saved in the database in case of a robbery

A Conceptual Semi-Humanoid Wireless Robotic Lecturer for Distance Learning (DL)

Information and Communications Technology is causing a worldwide revolution in virtually all fields of human endeavor. The education sector is not left out as the delivery of course content is no longer limited to the traditional teacher-student classroom interaction but also via electronic media. This paper presents a novel approach to e-Learning by leveraging on advancements in Machine-to-Machine communications (M2M), Internet-of-Things (IoT) and robotics technologies to design and construct a semihumanoid class teaching robot that aids teachers, lecturers and other educational personnel in communicating effectively with the students irrespective of their location and the distance using a plastic mannequin. The implementation of the system is achieved through hardware (mannequin) and software designs. The authors successfully developed a plastic mannequin with embedded electronics systems to work as a telepresence lecturer, allowing the elimination of time and distance between a professional remote educator and the students. The device was tested and compared with existing remote teaching technologies such as teleconferencing, telepresence with tablet screens and found to be more reliable, cheaper, and easy to use than the existing ones. The paper therefore concludes that the semi-humanoid robotic lecturer is a disruptive innovation in the world of Distance Education Learning (DEL)

Image Fusion for Intraoperative Control of Axis in Long Bone Fracture Treatment

Abstract : Background: : The incidence of malalignment after long bone fracture fixation is reported to be between 0 and 37%. Modern fracture treatment strives towards closed reduction and minimally invasive fracture fixation, thus not exposing the fracture itself. Hence, the occurrence of malalignment might even be higher than previously reported and quite frequently even necessitate secondary operations. Minimally invasive techniques rely heavily on intraoperative fluoroscopy. However, fluoroscopic images have small cross-sections and consequently limit intraoperative visualization of the limb to individual segments only. Under these circumstances, correct alignment of fragments in long bone fractures is often compromised. Methods: : We present a new software prototype using an absolute reference panel to concatenate two or more discontinuous fluoroscopic images into one single panoramic picture. The reference panel is placed on the operating table under the limb to be examined. Prior to digital picture fusion, the software applies non-linear distortion, picture scaling and de-rotation algorithms to the fluoroscopic images. Results: : The presented software runs on a notebook and processes images generated by a commercially available mobile C-arm within seconds. The reliability of alignment in the panorama picture is found to be numerically adequate and the technique appropriate for clinical use. Conclusion: : This method aims to improve the intraoperative visualization in minimally invasive osteosynthesis and therefore diminish malalignments in long bone fracture treatmen

A CT Database for Research, Development and Education: Concept and Potential

Both in radiology and in surgery, numerous applications are emerging that enable 3D visualization of data from various imaging modalities. In clinical practice, the patient's images are analyzed on work stations in the Radiology Department. For specific preclinical and educational applications, however, data from single patients are insufficient. Instead, similar scans from a number of individuals within a collective must be compiled. The definition of standardized acquisition procedures and archiving formats are prerequisite for subsequent analysis of multiple data sets. Focusing on bone morphology, we describe our concept of a computer database of 3D human bone models obtained from computed tomography (CT) scans. We further discuss and illustrate deployment areas ranging from prosthesis design, over virtual operation simulation up to 3D anatomy atlases. The database of 3D bone models described in this work, created and maintained by the AO Development Institute, may be accessible to research institutes on reques

XNMT: The eXtensible Neural Machine Translation Toolkit

This paper describes XNMT, the eXtensible Neural Machine Translation toolkit. XNMT distin- guishes itself from other open-source NMT toolkits by its focus on modular code design, with the purpose of enabling fast iteration in research and replicable, reliable results. In this paper we describe the design of XNMT and its experiment configuration system, and demonstrate its utility on the tasks of machine translation, speech recognition, and multi-tasked machine translation/parsing. XNMT is available open-source at https://github.com/neulab/xnmtComment: To be presented at AMTA 2018 Open Source Software Showcas

Patient-Specific Three-Dimensional Composite Bone Models for Teaching and Operation Planning

Background: Orthopedic trauma care relies on two-dimensional radiograms both before and during the operation. Understanding the three-dimensional nature of complex fractures on plain radiograms is challenging. Modern fluoroscopes can acquire three-dimensional volume datasets even during an operation, but the device limitations constrain the acquired volume to a cube of only 12-cm edge. However, viewing the surrounding intact structures is important to comprehend the fracture in its context. We suggest merging a fluoroscope's volume scan into a generic bone model to form a composite full-length 3D bone model. Methods: Materials consisted of one cadaver bone and 20 three-dimensional surface models of human femora. Radiograms and computed tomography scans were taken before and after applying a controlled fracture to the bone. A 3D scan of the fracture was acquired using a mobile fluoroscope (Siemens Siremobil). The fracture was fitted into the generic bone models by rigid registration using a modified least-squares algorithm. Registration precision was determined and a clinical appraisal of the composite models obtained. Results: Twenty composite bone models were generated. Average registration precision was 2.0mm (range 1.6 to 2.6). Average processing time on a laptop computer was 35s (range 20 to 55). Comparing synthesized radiograms with the actual radiograms of the fractured bone yielded clinically satisfactory results. Conclusion: A three-dimensional full-length representation of a fractured bone can reliably be synthesized from a short scan of the patient's fracture and a generic bone model. This patient-specific model can subsequently be used for teaching, surgical operation planning, and intraoperative visualization purpose

Exposure to secondhand smoke and cognitive impairment in non-smokers: national cross sectional study with cotinine measurement

Objective To examine the association between a biomarker of exposure to secondhand smoke (salivary cotinine concentration) and cognitive impairment

Passive Pneumatic Stabilization Device for Assisting in Reduction of Femoral Shaft Fractures

During treatment of femoral shaft fractures, not only the actual fracture reduction but also the retention of the achieved reduction is essential. Substantial forces may apply to the bone fragments, due to multidirectional muscular contraction. Furthermore, forces from manipulation of one bone fragment may be transferred over the soft tissues onto the other fragments, thus hindering accurate fracture reduction. Once a sufficient reduction has been achieved, this position must be retained whilst definitive internal fixation is performed. Conventional methods comprise mounting patients on a traction table and applying manual distraction or employing special distraction devices, such as the AO distractor device. These approaches, however, only insufficiently stabilize both main fragments. For example, on the traction table the proximal femoral fragment can pivot around the hip joint thus complicating precise reduction. A novel pneumatic stabilization device to assist surgeons during operative procedures is described. This passive holding device "Passhold” connects to one main fragment through a minimally invasive bone interface and statically locks the fragment's position. Thereafter, only the other main fragment is manipulated to achieve reduction. Mutual interference of the reciprocal fragment positions, due to soft-tissue force transfer during manipulation, is avoided. The authors examined the stability of the novel retention device on a test rig and proved its functionality under sterile settings using cadaver tests. It is concluded that this device largely facilitates the operative procedure in femoral shaft fractures, is sufficiently stable and ergonomically suitable for intraoperative deploymen

Application of single cell transcriptomics to kinetoplastid research

Kinetoplastid parasites are responsible for both human and animal diseases across the globe where they have a great impact on health and economic well-being. Many species and life cycle stages are difficult to study due to limitations in isolation and culture, as well as to their existence as heterogeneous populations in hosts and vectors. Single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) has the capacity to overcome many of these difficulties, and can be leveraged to disentangle heterogeneous populations, highlight genes crucial for propagation through the life cycle, and enable detailed analysis of host–parasite interactions. Here, we provide a review of studies that have applied scRNA-seq to protozoan parasites so far. In addition, we provide an overview of sample preparation and technology choice considerations when planning scRNA-seq experiments, as well as challenges faced when analysing the large amounts of data generated. Finally, we highlight areas of kinetoplastid research that could benefit from scRNA-seq technologies