3D human pose estimation from depth maps using a deep combination of poses

Many real-world applications require the estimation of human body joints for higher-level tasks as, for example, human behaviour understanding. In recent years, depth sensors have become a popular approach to obtain three-dimensional information. The depth maps generated by these sensors provide information that can be employed to disambiguate the poses observed in two-dimensional images. This work addresses the problem of 3D human pose estimation from depth maps employing a Deep Learning approach. We propose a model, named Deep Depth Pose (DDP), which receives a depth map containing a person and a set of predefined 3D prototype poses and returns the 3D position of the body joints of the person. In particular, DDP is defined as a ConvNet that computes the specific weights needed to linearly combine the prototypes for the given input. We have thoroughly evaluated DDP on the challenging 'ITOP' and 'UBC3V' datasets, which respectively depict realistic and synthetic samples, defining a new state-of-the-art on them.Comment: Accepted for publication at "Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation

The billiard inside an ellipse deformed by the curvature flow

The billiard dynamics inside an ellipse is integrable. It has zero topological entropy, four separatrices in the phase space, and a continuous family of convex caustics: the confocal ellipses. We prove that the curvature flow destroys the integrability, increases the topological entropy, splits the separatrices in a transverse way, and breaks all resonant convex caustics.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Theoretical prediction of the electronic and thermodynamic properties of YN-ZrN solid solutions

In this study, the results of structural parameters, electronic structure, and thermodynamic properties of the ZrxY1-xN solid solutions are presented. The effect of zirconium composition on lattice constant, and bulk modulus shows nonlinear dependence on concentration. Deviations of the lattice constant from Vegard's law and deviations of the bulk modulus from linear concentration dependence were found. Our findings indicate that the ZrxY1-xN solid solutions are metallic for x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75. The calculated excess mixing enthalpy is positive over the entire zirconium composition range. The positive mixing enthalpies for ZrxY1-xN alloys indicate the existence of miscibility gaps and spinodal decompositions. The effect of temperature on the volume, bulk modulus, Debye temperature, and the heat capacity for ZrxY1-xN alloys were analyzed using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. Results show that the heat capacity is slightly sensitive to composition as temperature increases

Effects of scandium composition on the structural, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of SCxY1-x metallic alloys

The aim of this work is to analyse the compositional dependence of the structural, electronic and thermodynamic properties of alloys. Density functional calculations have been carried out to reveal compositional dependence of the structural, electronic and thermodynamic properties of alloys. The lattice constants of the binary compounds are in fairly good agreement with the available experimental data. The variation of calculated lattice constant with scandium concentration is almost linear, and shows a slight deviation from Vegards law. The effect of scandium composition on bulk modulus gives nonlinear dependence on concentration x. A small deviation of the bulk modulus from linear concentration dependence was observed. The metallic nature of binary precursor compounds ScP and YP was confirmed. Our findings indicate that the alloys are metallic for 0.25, 0.5, 0.75. The calculated excess mixing enthalpy is positive over the entire scandium composition range. The positive mixing enthalpies indicate meta-stability of the alloys at high temperatures. The effect of temperature on the volume, bulk modulus, Debye temperature and the heat capacity for alloys were analysed using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. Results show that the heat capacity is slightly sensitive to composition as temperature increases

Modelling tidal stream turbines in a three-dimensional wave-current fully coupled oceanographic model

© 2017 The Author(s) A tidal turbine simulation system is developed based on a three-dimensional oceanographic numerical model. Both the current and turbulent controlling equations are modified to account for impact of tidal turbines on water velocity and turbulence generation and dissipation. High resolution mesh size at the turbine location is assigned in order to capture the details of hydrodynamics due to the turbine operation. The system is tested against comprehensive measurements in a water flume experiment and results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The validation results suggest that the new modelling system is proven to be able to accurately simulate hydrodynamics with the presence of turbines. The developed turbine simulation system is then applied to a series of test cases in which a standalone turbine is deployed. Here, complete velocity profiles and mixing are realized that could not have been produced in a standard two-dimensional treatment. Of particular interest in these cases is an observed accelerated flow near the bed in the wake of the turbine, leading to enhanced bottom shear stress (∼2 N/m 2 corresponding to the critical stress of a range of fine gravel and finer sediment particles)

understanding the roles of cytokines and neutrophil activity and neutrophil apoptosis in the protective versus deleterious inflammatory response in pneumonia

SummaryInflammation is a double-edged sword in the outcome of pneumonia. On the one hand, an effective and timely inflammatory response is required to eliminate the invading respiratory pathogen. On the other, a toxic and prolonged inflammatory response may result in lung injury and poor outcomes, even in those receiving advanced medical care. This review focuses on recent understanding of the dynamics of the cytokine response, neutrophil activity, and responsiveness to cytokines and neutrophil lifespan as major elements of lung inflammation resulting in favorable or poor outcomes in lung infection primarily due to pneumococcus and influenza virus. Although some progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the pneumonia inflammation axis composed of cytokines modulating neutrophil activation and neutrophil apoptosis, important questions remain to be answered. The degree of neutrophil activation, generation of reactive oxygen species, and the release of granule antimicrobial peptides play a key role in microbial pathogen clearance; however, prolonged neutrophil activation may contribute to lung injury and poor outcomes in pneumonia. Molecular markers of the mechanisms regulating neutrophil survival and apoptosis may help in the identification of novel therapeutic targets to modulate inflammation by inducing timely neutrophil apoptosis. A major task is to identify the mechanisms of dysregulation in inflammation leading to toxic responses, thereby targeting a biomarker and enabling timely therapies to modulate inflammation

Three-dimensional modelling of suspended sediment transport in the far wake of tidal stream turbines

A three-dimensional tidal turbine simulation based on an oceanographic numerical model has been tested for suspended sediment calculation, particularly in the wake of a standalone tidal turbine. The results suggest a need for further improvement of the model in order to obtain correct predictions of suspension strength of the wake and suspended sediment concentration under the influence of a turbine (compared to measured data). Due to the wide use of FVCOM in coastal applications where turbines are commonly installed, it proves necessary to address this issue. Two approaches with respect to modifying bed shear stress and turbulent mixing calculations in the presence of a turbine are proposed and tested in this research. Using data collected in the laboratory as reference, the turbulent mixing enhancement approach is shown to be effective. A series of tests are carried out to identify the impact of the turbine on suspended sediment transport in its vicinity. The results suggest that the impact is highly dependent upon the sediment grain size

Transcriptome and proteome mapping in the sheep atria reveal molecular featurets of atrial fibrillation progression.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive cardiac arrhythmia that increases the risk of hospitalization and adverse cardiovascular events. There is a clear demand for more inclusive and large-scale approaches to understand the molecular drivers responsible for AF, as well as the fundamental mechanisms governing the transition from paroxysmal to persistent and permanent forms. In this study, we aimed to create a molecular map of AF and find the distinct molecular programmes underlying cell type-specific atrial remodelling and AF progression. We used a sheep model of long-standing, tachypacing-induced AF, sampled right and left atrial tissue, and isolated cardiomyocytes (CMs) from control, intermediate (transition), and late time points during AF progression, and performed transcriptomic and proteome profiling. We have merged all these layers of information into a meaningful three-component space in which we explored the genes and proteins detected and their common patterns of expression. Our data-driven analysis points at extracellular matrix remodelling, inflammation, ion channel, myofibril structure, mitochondrial complexes, chromatin remodelling, and genes related to neural function, as well as critical regulators of cell proliferation as hallmarks of AF progression. Most important, we prove that these changes occur at early transitional stages of the disease, but not at later stages, and that the left atrium undergoes significantly more profound changes than the right atrium in its expression programme. The pattern of dynamic changes in gene and protein expression replicate the electrical and structural remodelling demonstrated previously in the sheep and in humans, and uncover novel mechanisms potentially relevant for disease treatment. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of AF progression in a large animal model shows that significant changes occur at early stages, and that among others involve previously undescribed increase in mitochondria, changes to the chromatin of atrial CMs, and genes related to neural function and cell proliferation.This work was supported by the Spanish government (BFU2017-84914-P to M.M.; FPI Fellowship to A.A.-F.; FPU Fellowship to R.R.), and in part by grants to J.J. from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (R01 grant HL122352 NIH/NHLBI), the Leducq Foundation (Transatlantic Network of Excellence Program on Structural Alterations in the Myocardium and the Substrate for Cardiac Fibrillation), and the University of Michigan Health System–Peking University Health Science Center Joint Institute for Translational and Clinical Research (UMHS-PUHSC; project: Molecular Mechanisms of Fibrosis and the Progression from Paroxysmal to Persistent Atrial Fibrillation). The CNIC is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the Pro CNIC Foundation and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505).S

Neutrophil Function in Elderly Patients Hospitalized with Community- Acquired Pneumonia

Background: Advanced age is associated with immunosenescence as well as increased risk for poor outcomes during episodes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Data on neutrophil function in hospitalized elderly patients with CAP is lacking. In this study we compared neutrophil function in elderly and non-elderly hospitalized patients with CAP. Methods: Prospective study of healthy controls (HC) and patients hospitalized with CAP nonelderly (NE-CAP) and elderly (E-CAP). Blood samples were obtained on the day of hospitalization. The following neutrophil functional assays were performed: degranulation of secretory vesicles (CD35), degranulation of specific granules (CD66b), phagocytosis, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare differences in neutrophil function. Results: A total of 12 HC, 28 NE-CAP, and 12 E-CAP were evaluated. There were no significant differences between NE-CAP and E-CAP patients in regard to CD35 expression (p=0.465), CD66b expression (p=0.601), phagocytosis (p=0.654), or H2O2 production (p=0.541) Conclusions: We failed to demonstrate any significant difference in neutrophil function in nonelderly versus elderly patients hospitalized with CAP in relation to membrane expression of CD35 and CD66b, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst. Abnormal neutrophil function is unlikely to be an important component of the immunosenescence described in elderly patients with CAP