Multi-modal Social Signal Analysis for Predicting Agreement in Conversation Settings

In this paper we present a non-invasive ambient intelligence framework for the analysis of non-verbal communication applied to conversational settings. In particular, we apply feature extraction techniques to multi-modal audio-RGB-depth data. We compute a set of behavioral indicators that define communicative cues coming from the fields of psychology and observational methodology. We test our methodology over data captured in victim-offender mediation scenarios. Using different state-of-the-art classification approaches, our system achieve upon 75% of recognition predicting agreement among the parts involved in the conversations, using as ground truth the experts opinions

Analyzing thin film morphology by Resonance Raman spectroscopy

Polymeric organic thin film transistors (OFETs) and all-polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells (all-PCS), which are composed of a polymer donor and a polymer acceptor, have attracted considerable attention in the last years. The interest of these polymeric materials present various advantages versus small molecular counterparts, including strong light absorption, excellent mechanical flexibility and durability, and great potential in printing applications due to their great processability. In OFETs and bulk heterojunction solar cells, the morphology and crystallinity control of the neat polymer or blended donor-acceptor polymer films is essential in order to improve device performance. In this communication, we present a Resonance Raman spectroscopy study directed to disentangle the film morphology of a series of all-acceptor and donor acceptor polymers for OFETs and all-PCS applications.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Human Behavior Analysis from Video Data Using Bag-of-Gestures

Human Behavior Analysis in Uncontrolled Environments can be categorized in two main challenges: 1) Feature extraction and 2) Behavior analysis from a set of corporal language vocabulary. In this work, we present our achievements characterizing some simple behaviors from visual data on different real applications and discuss our plan for future work: low level vocabulary definition from bag-of-gesture units and high level modelling and inference of human behaviors

Salary minimum in Chile, discussion and social implications

El salario  o sueldo mínimo generalmente está asociado a una serie de factores relacionados principalmente con la economía de un país, siendo uno de los principales los componentes de la canasta básica (alimentos, transporte, ropa, vivienda, medicamentos, energía, agua y servicios); por lo tanto, se espera que el salario o sueldo mínimo permita a un núcleo familiar más desprotegido socialmente vivir con lo necesario, es decir cubrir sin lujos pero lo suficientemente bien sus necesidades básicas. A pesar del gran desarrollo económico de Chile, y dando énfasis a diferentes políticas públicas, los gobiernos democráticos (post dictadura) aún están al debe en diferentes políticas sociales, como lo son por ejemplo, garantizar accesos básicos a salud, educación, derechos igualitarios para todos los ciudadanos y además contar con un ingreso mínimo que esté acorde a las reales necesidades que presentan los trabajadores, sus familias y la sociedad en su conjunto.The minimum wage is usually associated with a variety of factors, mainly it is related to the country´s economy, being the components of the basic basket the prominent one (food, transportation, clothing, housing, basic medicines, energy, water and services). Therefore; it is expected that the minimum wage allows to a more socially unprotected family lives with the necessary and basic, this is to pay, their basic needs but without luxury. Despite the great economic development of Chile, and giving emphasis to different public polices, the democratic governments (after the dictatorship) are still insufficient in terms of social policies such, as to, guarantee a basic access to health, education, equal rights for all citizens and to have a minimum income according to the real needs of workers their families and society as a whole

GrabCut-Based Human Segmentation in Video Sequences

In this paper, we present a fully-automatic Spatio-Temporal GrabCut human segmentation methodology that combines tracking and segmentation. GrabCut initialization is performed by a HOG-based subject detection, face detection, and skin color model. Spatial information is included by Mean Shift clustering whereas temporal coherence is considered by the historical of Gaussian Mixture Models. Moreover, full face and pose recovery is obtained by combining human segmentation with Active Appearance Models and Conditional Random Fields. Results over public datasets and in a new Human Limb dataset show a robust segmentation and recovery of both face and pose using the presented methodology

PhTX-II a basic myotoxic phospholipase A2 from Porthidium Hyoprora snake venom, pharmacological characterization and amino acid sequence by mass spectrometry

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOA monomeric basic PLA2 (PhTX-II) of 14149.08 Da molecular weight was purified to homogeneity from Porthidium hyoprora venom. Amino acid sequence by in tandem mass spectrometry revealed that PhTX-II belongs to Asp49 PLA2 enzyme class and displays conserved domains as the catalytic network, Ca2+-binding loop and the hydrophobic channel of access to the catalytic site, reflected in the high catalytic activity displayed by the enzyme. Moreover, PhTX-II PLA2 showed an allosteric behavior and its enzymatic activity was dependent on Ca2+. Examination of PhTX-II PLA2 by CD spectroscopy indicated a high content of alpha-helical structures, similar to the known structure of secreted phospholipase IIA group suggesting a similar folding. PhTX-II PLA2 causes neuromuscular blockade in avian neuromuscular preparations with a significant direct action on skeletal muscle function, as well as, induced local edema and myotoxicity, in mice. The treatment of PhTX-II by BPB resulted in complete loss of their catalytic activity that was accompanied by loss of their edematogenic effect. On the other hand, enzymatic activity of PhTX-II contributes to this neuromuscular blockade and local myotoxicity is dependent not only on enzymatic activity. These results show that PhTX-II is a myotoxic Asp49 PLA2 that contributes with toxic actions caused by P. hyoprora venom.A monomeric basic PLA2 (PhTX-II) of 14149.08 da molecular weight was purified to homogeneity from Porthidium hyoprora venom. Amino acid sequence by in tandem mass spectrometry revealed that PhTX-II belongs to Asp49 PLA2 enzyme class and displays conserved domains as the catalytic network, Ca2+-binding loop and the hydrophobic channel of access to the catalytic site, reflected in the high catalytic activity displayed by the enzyme. Moreover, PhTX-II PLA2 showed an allosteric behavior and its enzymatic activity was dependent on Ca2+. Examination of PhTX-II PLA2 by CD spectroscopy indicated a high content of alpha-helical structures, similar to the known structure of secreted phospholipase IIA group suggesting a similar folding. PhTX-II PLA2 causes neuromuscular blockade in avian neuromuscular preparations with a significant direct action on skeletal muscle function, as well as, induced local edema and myotoxicity, in mice. The treatment of PhTX-II by BPB resulted in complete loss of their catalytic activity that was accompanied by loss of their edematogenic effect. On the other hand, enzymatic activity of PhTX-II contributes to this neuromuscular blockade and local myotoxicity is dependent not only on enzymatic activity. These results show that PhTX-II is a myotoxic Asp49 PLA2 that contributes with toxic actions caused by P. hyoprora venom630773097FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2009/51207-

Gesture and Action Recognition by Evolved Dynamic Subgestures

This paper introduces a framework for gesture and action recognition based on the evolution of temporal gesture primitives, or subgestures. Our work is inspired on the principle of producing genetic variations within a population of gesture subsequences, with the goal of obtaining a set of gesture units that enhance the generalization capability of standard gesture recognition approaches. In our context, gesture primitives are evolved over time using dynamic programming and generative models in order to recognize complex actions. In few generations, the proposed subgesture-based representation of actions and gestures outperforms the state of the art results on the MSRDaily3D and MSRAction3D datasets

Improving Quality of Life: Home Care for Chronically Ill and Elderly People

In this chapter, we propose a system especially created for elderly or chronically ill people that are with special needs and poor familiarity with technology. The system combines home monitoring of physiological and emotional states through a set of wearable sensors, user-controlled (automated) home devices, and a central control for integration of the data, in order to provide a safe and friendly environment according to the limited capabilities of the users. The main objective is to create the easy, low-cost automation of a room or house to provide a friendly environment that enhances the psychological condition of immobilized users. In addition, the complete interaction of the components provides an overview of the physical and emotional state of the user, building a behavior pattern that can be supervised by the care giving staff. This approach allows the integration of physiological signals with the patient’s environmental and social context to obtain a complete framework of the emotional states

Triindoles as excellent platforms for organic semiconductors: from crystalline molecules to porous polymers

Organic semiconductors are one of the most promising candidates for next-generation electronics applications. In this sense, triindole-based systems have demonstrated great potential as p-type semiconductors in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs).1 In this project, a mixed experimental and theoretical study of three new crystalline N-trimethyltriindoles endowed with different functionalities at 3, 8 and 13 positions are investigated (Figure 1a), with the main goal of exploring the correlation between the electronic nature of the substituents and their solid-state organization and semiconductor behavior.2 On the other hand, the design and synthesis of covalent organic framework materials (constructed from the union of different covalently linked conjugated platforms) is being deeply investigated in organic electronic.3 Recently, in collaboration with the groups of Dr. Berta Gómez-Lor and Dr. Jose Ignacio Martínez, we have theoretically studied how the structural and the electronic properties of new porous triindole-based polymers (Figure 1b) can be modulated by the (i) modification of the linkage position from para (T2) to meta (T3), (ii) by the insertion of different π-bridges (phenylene or alkyne) between the cores and (iii) by the increment of the number of π-bridges from 3 to 6 units (T2,3).4Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec