Model and implementation of body movement recognition using Support Vector Machines and Finite State Machines with cartesian coordinates input for gesture-based interaction

The growth in the use of gesture-based interaction in video games has highlighted the potential for the use of such interaction method for a wide range of applications. This paper presents the implementation of an enhanced model for gesture recognition as input method for software applications. The model uses Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Finite State Machines (FSM) and the implementation was based on a Kinect R device. The model uses data input based on Cartesian coordinates. The use of Cartesian coordinates enables more flexibility to generalise the use of the model to different applications, when compared to related work encountered in the literature based on accelerometer devices for data input. The results showed that the use of SVM and FSM with Cartesian coordinates as input for gesture-based interaction is very promising. The success rate in gesture recognition was 98%, from a training corpus of 9 sets obtained by recording real users’ gestures. A proof-of-concept implementation of the gesture recognition interaction was performed using the application Google Earth(R). A preliminary acceptance evaluation with users indicated that the interaction with the system via the implementation reported was satisfactory.Facultad de Informátic

OCT assessment of the long-term vascular healing response 5 years after everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold

AbstractBackgroundAlthough recent observations suggest a favorable initial healing process of the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS), little is known regarding long-term healing response.ObjectivesThis study assessed the in vivo vascular healing response using optical coherence tomography (OCT) 5 years after elective first-in-man BVS implantation.MethodsOf the 14 living patients enrolled in the Thoraxcenter Rotterdam cohort of the ABSORB A study, 8 patients underwent invasive follow-up, including OCT, 5 years after implantation. Advanced OCT image analysis included luminal morphometry, assessment of the adluminal signal-rich layer separating the lumen from other plaque components, visual and quantitative tissue characterization, and assessment of side-branch ostia “jailed” at baseline.ResultsIn all patients, BVS struts were integrated in the vessel and were not discernible. Both minimum and mean luminal area increased from 2 to 5 years, whereas lumen eccentricity decreased over time. In most patients, plaques were covered by a signal-rich, low-attenuating layer. Minimum cap thickness over necrotic core was 155 ± 90 μm. One patient showed plaque progression and discontinuity of this layer. Side-branch ostia were preserved with tissue bridge thinning that had developed in the place of side-branch struts, creating a neo-carina.ConclusionsAt long-term BVS follow-up, we observed a favorable tissue response, with late luminal enlargement, side-branch patency, and development of a signal-rich, low-attenuating tissue layer that covered thrombogenic plaque components. The small size of the study and the observation of a different tissue response in 1 patient warrant judicious interpretation of our results and confirmation in larger studies

An Alternative Ethics? Justice and Care as Guiding Principles for Qualitative Research

The dominant conception of social research ethics is centred on deontological and consequentialist principles. In place of this, some qualitative researchers have proposed a very different approach. This appeals to a range of commitments that transform the goal of research as well as framing how it is pursued. This new ethics demands a participatory form of inquiry, one in which the relationship between researchers and researched is equalized. In this paper we examine this alternative approach, focusing in particular on two of the principles that are central to it: justice and care. We argue that there are some significant defects and dangers associated with this new conception of research ethics

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Measurement of the Radiation Energy in the Radio Signal of Extensive Air Showers as a Universal Estimator of Cosmic-Ray Energy

We measure the energy emitted by extensive air showers in the form of radio emission in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. Exploiting the accurate energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we obtain a radiation energy of 15.8 \pm 0.7 (stat) \pm 6.7 (sys) MeV for cosmic rays with an energy of 1 EeV arriving perpendicularly to a geomagnetic field of 0.24 G, scaling quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy. A comparison with predictions from state-of-the-art first-principle calculations shows agreement with our measurement. The radiation energy provides direct access to the calorimetric energy in the electromagnetic cascade of extensive air showers. Comparison with our result thus allows the direct calibration of any cosmic-ray radio detector against the well-established energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Supplemental material in the ancillary file