Human Gait Recognition from Motion Capture Data in Signature Poses

Most contribution to the field of structure-based human gait recognition has been done through design of extraordinary gait features. Many research groups that address this topic introduce a unique combination of gait features, select a couple of well-known object classiers, and test some variations of their methods on their custom Kinect databases. For a practical system, it is not necessary to invent an ideal gait feature -- there have been many good geometric features designed -- but to smartly process the data there are at our disposal. This work proposes a gait recognition method without design of novel gait features; instead, we suggest an effective and highly efficient way of processing known types of features. Our method extracts a couple of joint angles from two signature poses within a gait cycle to form a gait pattern descriptor, and classifies the query subject by the baseline 1-NN classier. Not only are these poses distinctive enough, they also rarely accommodate motion irregularities that would result in confusion of identities. We experimentally demonstrate that our gait recognition method outperforms other relevant methods in terms of recognition rate and computational complexity. Evaluations were performed on an experimental database that precisely simulates street-level video surveillance environment

Outcomes following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR): An anatomic and device-specific analysis

ObjectiveWe performed a device-specific comparison of long-term outcomes following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) to determine the effect(s) of device type on early and late clinical outcomes. In addition, the impact of performing EVAR both within and outside of specific instructions for use (IFU) for each device was examined.MethodsBetween January 8, 1999 and December 31, 2005, 565 patients underwent EVAR utilizing one of three commercially available stent graft devices. Study outcomes included perioperative (≤30 days) mortality, intraoperative technical complications and need for adjunctive procedures, aneurysm rupture, aneurysm-related mortality, conversion to open repair, reintervention, development and/or resolution of endoleak, device related adverse events (migration, thrombosis, or kinking), and a combined endpoint of any graft-related adverse event (GRAE). Study outcomes were correlated by aneurysm morphology that was within or outside of the recommended device IFU. χ2 and Kaplan Meier methods were used for analysis.ResultsGrafts implanted included 177 Cook Zenith (CZ, 31%), 111 Gore Excluder (GE, 20%), and 277 Medtronic AneuRx (MA, 49%); 39.3% of grafts were placed outside of at least one IFU parameter. Mean follow-up was 30 ± 21 months and was shorter for CZ (20 months CZ vs 35 and 31 months for GE and MA, respectively; P < .001). Overall actuarial 5-year freedom from aneurysm-related death, reintervention, and GRAE was similar among devices. CZ had a lower number of graft migration events (0 CZ vs 1 GE and 9 MA); however, there was no difference between devices on actuarial analysis. Combined GRAE was lowest for CZ (29% CZ, 35% GE, and 43% MA; P = .01). Graft placement outside of IFU was associated with similar 5-year freedom from aneurysm-related death, migration, and reintervention (P > .05), but a lower freedom from GRAE (74% outside IFU vs 86% within IFU; P = .021), likely related to a higher incidence of graft thrombosis (2.3% outside IFU vs 0.3% within IFU; P = .026). The differences in outcome for grafts placed within vs outside IFU were not device-specific.ConclusionEVAR performed with three commercially available devices provided similar clinically relevant outcomes at 5 years, although no graft migration occurred with a suprarenal fixation device. As anticipated, application outside of anatomically specific IFU variables had an incremental negative effect on late results, indicating that adherence to such IFU guidelines is appropriate clinical practice

New stratigraphic scheme for Zechstein rocks in the Pogorzela High (Foresudetic Monocline) and its significance for hydrocarbon exploration

Results of an analysis of new 3D seismic data, obtained from the part of the Wolsztyn High in the Pogorzela High area (SW Poland), allow to test the existing knowledge regarding the geologic framework of the Zechstein rocks in this area. A characteristic arrangement of seismic reflectors within pinched-out Zechstein deposits on slopes of the high shows that they are overlapped in relation to the distinct surface of angular unconformity related to the base of the Zechstein-the Z1'seismic boundary. 3D seismic data seems to show that PZ1 strata are absent in the close vicinity of the Pogorzela High with the lower part of the PZ2 cyclothem also absent across the crest. This suggests that the interpretation of the stratigraphy of Zechstein deposits in the Pogorzela-1 and Pogorzela-2 wells (located on the crest of the high) is, in the light of 3D seismic data, questionable. Probably, the initial stages of the Zechstein transgression did not reach the most elevated part of the high, so that the Carboniferous basement is directly overlain by rocks of the Main Dolomite (Ca2), not by the Zechstein Limestone (Ca1) as was previously thought. The lack of Ca1 strata across the crest of the Pogorzela High opens new exploration perspectives in this interval and explains the apparent negative results of boreholes drilled in 1970s. Presumably it also explains differences in formation of these rocks in comparison with the central and western part of the Wolsztyn High (the Kościan-Nowy Tomyśl area)

Criteria of identification of lithofacies objects as potential hydrocarbon traps in the Main Dolomite (Ca2) strata at the toe-of-slope of carbonate platforms and microplatforms in the central-western Poland

In terms of oil reserves of Poland, the Lubiatów oilfield in the Międzychód area is the second largest after BMB oilfield. The discovery of this structural-lithological trap in a toe-of-slope position in relation to the Main Dolomite (Ca2) carbonate platform opened a new hydrocarbon opportunities in this unit. One of the conditions for trap occurrence in the "Lubiatów-type" deposits of the toe-of-slope zone in relation to Ca2 carbonate platforms and microplatforms is the presence of appropriate reservoir facies. These facies are characterized by occurrence of thick packets of porous Main Dolomite rocks (Ca2 lithosomes) composed mostly of sublittoral, redeposited carbonate sands (packstones, floatstones, sporadic rudstones), deposited below wave-base and resulting from activity of traction and suspension currents and gravity flows. The only method to detect such facies is via high resolution seismic images, preferably from three-dimensional (3D) surveys. Unfortunately, intensive exploration studies carried out in this zone between 2005-2008 did not bring measurable effects, that is discovery of new hydrocarbon deposits. Several boreholes drilled in Ca2 lithosomes found water-bearing horizons only. In several other dry holes, none of the facies assumptions made prior to drilling were confirmed. Comparison of seismic images of area of those dry holes made it posssible to find a geometric criterion for seismic detection of Ca2 lithosomes located at the toe-of-slope of carbonate platforms and microplatforms. This geometric criterion, along with the seismological one, should constitute an important interpretational premise in identifying or excluding areas with potential hydrocarbon traps in the Main Dolomite rocks in the area under study

Hydrocarbon fields in the Zechstein Main Dolomite (Ca2) on the Gorzów Block (NW Poland)

By discoveries of hydrocarbon deposits in the Polish part of the Southern Permian Basin, Western Poland became a key explorational area. The most spectacular discoveries have been done on the Gorzów Block which borders the Fore-Sudetic Monocline from the south and the Szczecin Swell from the north. This is the area where the biggest oil field - Barnówko-Mostno-Buszewo (BMB) - have been discovered and the group of oil and gas deposits Lubiatów-Międzychód-Grotów (LMG). Detailed litho- facies analysis of Main Dolomite carbonates and seismic surveys (mainly 3D) contributed to good recognition of depositional architecture in this part of the Main Dolomite basin. An interesting issue is the relationship of the discovered deposits with carbonate depositional zones and diverse chemical composition of hydrocarbons. Most of deposits is related to carbonate platforms and microplatforms. Less important are platform slopes but basinal zone is and was considered as the area where source rocks occur. Discovery of the Lubiatów oil deposit at the foot of the Grotów Peninsula opened new possibilities in searching for hydrocarbons. Later negative results of drillings in this zone did not affected the fact that there are still explorational hopes for this type of carbonates. Hydrocarbons which can still be discovered in this interval are still not known based on calculations done in the recent years. It seems, that better geochemical recognition and advanced look on diagenetic evolution and depositional architecture will bring about new discoveries in the Main Dolomite interval on the Gorzów Block

Separation and Immobilization of Vanadium from Industrial Fly Ash as an Insoluble Inorganic Pigmen

It has been shown that the precipitation of bismuth orthovanadate from a fly ash leachate is a promising method of vanadium recovery. BiVO4 obtained after appropriate heat treatment can be sold as a pigment. The yield of recovery of solubilised vanadium is equal to 68% and the precipitate is free from nickel impurity. The precipitate is insoluble in the solutions with pH ≥ 3. In more acidic media the solubility of precipitate increases with the decreasing pH. The solubility of the precipitate increases also with the increasing concentration of chloride ions

Nowa metoda syntezy binarnych faz tlenkowych o charakterze półprzewodnikowym w polu mikrofalowym - PbMoO4 i PbWo4

Highly crystalline powders of lead molybdate and tungstate were synthesized by a microwave assisted hydrothermal process in a microwave heated high pressure autoclave. Application of this novel and environmentally friendly technique in the synthesis of these compounds has never been reported before. The influence of a time of synthesis on a crystal structure, morphology and a value of a band gap for both PbMoO4 and PbWO4 was examined. The value of the band gap was determined using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. For lead molybdate the medium value of the band gap equals to ca. 3.2 eV whereas for lead tungstate it oscillates around 4 eV and does not depend on the duration time of the synthesis.Krystaliczne proszki molibdenianu ołowiu i wolframianu ołowiu otrzymano metodą hydrotermalną w polu mikrofalowym za pomocą wysokociśnieniowego autoklawu mikrofalowego. Metodę ta można uznać za przyjazną dla środowiska, jak dotad nie odnotowano jej zastosowania do syntezy wymienionych związków ołowiu. Zbadano wpływ czasu trwania procesu na strukturę krystaliczną, morfologię i szerokość przerwy energetycznej proszków PbWO4 i PbMoO4. Szerokość pasma wzbronionego wyznaczono za pomocą spektroskopii refleksyjnej. Dla molibdenianu ołowiu otrzymane wartości oscylują wokół 3.2 eV, natomiast dla wolframianu ołowiu przerwa energetyczna jest szersza i wynosi ok. 4 eV. Szerokość pasma wzbronionego w obu przypadkach nie zależy od czasu syntezy