Rule Of Thumb: Deep derotation for improved fingertip detection

We investigate a novel global orientation regression approach for articulated objects using a deep convolutional neural network. This is integrated with an in-plane image derotation scheme, DeROT, to tackle the problem of per-frame fingertip detection in depth images. The method reduces the complexity of learning in the space of articulated poses which is demonstrated by using two distinct state-of-the-art learning based hand pose estimation methods applied to fingertip detection. Significant classification improvements are shown over the baseline implementation. Our framework involves no tracking, kinematic constraints or explicit prior model of the articulated object in hand. To support our approach we also describe a new pipeline for high accuracy magnetic annotation and labeling of objects imaged by a depth camera.Comment: To be published in proceedings of BMVC 201

Sprawl Leaves its Footprint in Water

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute held a Congressional briefing on water pollution resulting from increased motor vehicle traffic associated with urban sprawl. The briefing featured information from recent studies by the National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) of the U.S. Geological Survey. Their studies show a consistently positive correlation between increases in vehicular traffic associated with urban sprawl and the buildup of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the bottom sediments of 23 lakes and reservoirs in 14 metropolitan areas around the country. NAWQA found that regulations banning or restricting substances such as DDT, lead and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) has resulted in dramatic reductions of their occurrence in sediments, but the buildup of PAHs, which are not regulated, has continued to increase

Initial teacher education for the education and training sector in England: development and change in generic and subject specialist provision

This report reviews the current system of initial teacher education (ITE) for the education and training sector and its development from earlier systems. The report also discusses subject-specialist teaching in the education and training sector, leading to a provisional assessment of the potential of the current ITE system for enhancing subject-specialist pedagogy. The report begins by contextualising the development of ITE from the post-war period to the beginning of the New Labour years, followed by a more detailed discussion of the reforms introduced by Labour governments in 2001 and 2007 and the moves away from regulation introduced by the Conservative–Liberal Democrat Coalition government. The report then discusses the main features of the qualifications framework established following the Lingfield Review of 2011-12. The final part of the report focuses on the development of subject-specialist pedagogy in ITE courses, relating concerns expressed by Ofsted to debates about teacher knowledge and vocational pedagogies. A model for understanding approaches to subject-specialist pedagogy is developed, and applied to consider the potential of the current ITE system for strengthening this area of professional development

Honor Among Christians: The Cultural Key to the Messianic Secret

Title: Honor Among Christians: The Cultural Key to the Messianic Secret. Author: David F. Watson. Publisher: Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. ISBN: 978080069709

Update on Partial-Wave Analysis

Partial-wave analysis is one step in a process connecting experimental measurements to the N* states we are studying. Progress has been made in the area of `model-independent' analysis. However, more model-dependent approaches are needed to cover broader energy ranges. An example of the problems faced by these more ambitious analyses is given.Comment: 6 pages. Talk given at NSTAR2001, University of Mainz, Germany, March 7-10, 2001. To be published by World Scientifi

Localized Induction Hierarchy and Weingarten Systems

We describe a method of constructing Weingarten systems of triply orthogonal coordinates, related to the localized induction equation hierarchy of integrable geometric evolution equationsComment: AMSTeX file (10 pages) with one Postscript graphic; submitted to Physics Letters