Upper Body Pose Estimation Using Deep Learning for a Virtual Reality Avatar

With the popularity of virtual reality (VR) games and devices, demand is increasing for estimating and displaying user motion in VR applications. Most pose estimation methods for VR avatars exploit inverse kinematics (IK) and online motion capture methods. In contrast to existing approaches, we aim for a stable process with less computation, usable in a small space. Therefore, our strategy has minimum latency for VR device users, from high-performance to low-performance, in multi-user applications over the network. In this study, we estimate the upper body pose of a VR user in real time using a deep learning method. We propose a novel method inspired by a classical regression model and trained with 3D motion capture data. Thus, our design uses a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based architecture from the joint information of motion capture data and modifies the network input and output to obtain input from a head and both hands. After feeding the model with properly normalized inputs, a head-mounted display (HMD), and two controllers, we render the user’s corresponding avatar in VR applications. We used our proposed pose estimation method to build single-user and multi-user applications, measure their performance, conduct a user study, and compare the results with previous methods for VR avatars

Estimation of the size of the iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease outbreak associated with cadaveric dura mater grafts in Korea

OBJECTIVES This study estimated the overall incidence of iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (iCJD) based on dura graft cases in Korea using a mathematical model. METHODS We estimated the number of annual dura grafts performed between 1980 and 1995 by applying the proportion of dura grafts recorded by the Health Insurance Review Agency claim dataset in Korea to the number of nationwide neurosurgery cases. The distribution of the incubation period was assumed to fall under a Weibull distribution with density function or a log-logistic distribution with density function. RESULTS The total number of neurosurgery procedures performed from 1980 to 1995 was estimated to be 263,945, and among those operations, 37% used dura graft products. Between the years of 1980 and 2020, our model predicted that the total number of iCJD cases would be between 14.9 and 33.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.4 to 50.9). Notably, we estimated that the cumulative number of iCJD cases caused by dura grafts between 1980 and 2011 was approximately 13.3 to 27.3 (95% CI, 12.2 to 40.6). CONCLUSIONS Based on our model, we postulate that the incidence of iCJD will sharply decline from 2012 to 2020. However, additional new cases are still expected, which necessitates a strong national surveillance system

MuSe-Personalization 2023: Feature Engineering, Hyperparameter Optimization, and Transformer-Encoder Re-discovery

peer reviewe

Association of inferior division MCA stroke location with populations with atrial fibrillation incidence

Background and Aim: Considering the anatomical features of Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) bifurcation, larger emboli are more likely to enter the inferior division over the superior division. Since emboli of cardiac origin are larger on average than emboli of arterial origin, we hypothesize that the infarcts in temporal and parietal lobes are more likely associated to atrial fibrillation than those in the frontal lobes, therefore occurring more often in populations with higher incidence of atrial fibrillation, such as male (compared to women) and white (compared to black) patients.Methods: We included 197 patients with MCA “temporoparietal predominant” infarcts and 105 with “frontal predominant” infarcts. Variations between stroke location (frontal or temporoparietal), sex, and race were examined via Chi-square test.Results: Male patients were more likely than female patients to be afflicted by temporoparietal strokes versus frontal strokes, while white patients had greater likelihood than black patients to be afflicted by temporoparietal strokes versus frontal strokes. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of atrial fibrillation display more temporoparietal strokes compared to frontal strokes.Conclusion: Temporoparietal MCA ischemic strokes occur more frequently in male and white patients: populations with known increased incidence of atrial fibrillation. In addition, population-specific anatomical characteristics of the MCA bifurcation might favor the larger cardiac emboli to enter the inferior division and cause temporoparietal infarcts. This association can help guide search for the most likely etiology of infarcts

Progress in the Development of Active-Matrix Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Driven by Non-Si Thin-Film Transistors

This paper aims to discuss the key accomplishments and further prospects of active-matrix (AM) quantum-dot (QD) light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) display. We present an overview and state-of-the-art of QLEDs as a frontplane and non-Si-based thin-film transistors (TFTs) as a backplane to meet the requirements for the next-generation displays, such as flexibility, transparency, low power consumption, fast response, high efficiency, and operational reliability. After a brief introduction, we first review the research on non-Si-based TFTs using metal oxides, transition metal dichalcogenides, and semiconducting carbon nanotubes as the driving unit of display devices. Next, QLED technologies are analyzed in terms of the device structure, device engineering, and QD patterning technique to realize high-performance, full-color AM-QLEDs. Lastly, recent research on the monolithic integration of TFT–QLED is examined, which proposes a new perspective on the integrated device. We anticipate that this review will help the readership understand the fundamentals, current state, and issues on TFTs and QLEDs for future AM-QLED displays

Digital 3D Brain MRI Arterial Territories Atlas

Measurement(s) brain arterial territories Technology Type(s) Magnetic Resonance Imaging Factor Type(s) location Sample Characteristic - Organism Homo sapiens Sample Characteristic - Location United States of Americ