A Unified Simulation Framework for Visual and Behavioral Fidelity in Crowd Analysis

Simulation is a powerful tool to easily generate annotated data, and a highly desirable feature, especially in those domains where learning models need large training datasets. Machine learning and deep learning solutions, have proven to be extremely data-hungry and sometimes, the available real-world data are not sufficient to effectively model the given task. Despite the initial skepticism of a portion of the scientific community, the potential of simulation has been largely confirmed in many application areas, and the recent developments in terms of rendering and virtualization engines, have shown a good ability also in representing complex scenes. This includes environmental factors, such as weather conditions and surface reflectance, as well as human-related events, like human actions and behaviors. We present a human crowd simulator, called UniCrowd, and its associated validation pipeline. We show how the simulator can generate annotated data, suitable for computer vision tasks, in particular for detection and segmentation, as well as the related applications, as crowd counting, human pose estimation, trajectory analysis and prediction, and anomaly detection

On the applicability of JMAK-type models in predicting IN718 microstructural evolution

Nickel-based superalloys are widely used in the aerospace sector for their mechanical properties, which are directly related to the microstructural and physical properties of these materials. JMAK-type models have been applied to this class of superalloys for the prediction of microstructural evolution phenomena such as recrystallisation. However, these models often lack a clear range of applicability. The majority of the successful applications normally address rather idealised processes (relatively slow forging, simple geometry). However, the industrial production environment generally involves complex strain paths and thermal histories. Thus, there arises the question of whether the JMAK-type models can be applied to such cases. This paper’s research focus is to investigate the applicability of JMAK-type models for such processes. To do this, screw press forging of disks was used to validate the in-built JMAK-type model of Inconel 718® available in DEFORMTM. In particular, the applicability of the model was examined using a comparison between the results from simulation and from metallographic analysis. At first, the appropriateness of the JMAK outputs in describing the observed microstructures was investigated and then quantitative results were evaluated. The model’s outputs were found to be insufficient in describing the observed microstructural states and additional parameters were deemed necessary. The model’s predictions ranged from a broadly good match, for which the model could be calibrated with a proposed new methodology, to a qualitative mismatch that highlights the limits of the model’s applicability

Al-Li Alloys – The Analysis of Material Behaviour during Industrial Hot Forging

Al-Li alloys are a promising class of aerospace materials that combine light weight with high strength, comparable to those of steels. In the case of critical components, it is well known that providing the required reliability is impossible without tailoring the output microstructure of the material. This, in turn, requires a clear understanding of the logic behind microstructure formation depending on the total processing history (especially temperature and strain-rate history). However, uniaxial isothermal laboratory tests provide very limited information about the material behaviour. Real forging processes, especially involving complex geometries, sometimes develop quite complicated temperature-strain-rate paths that vary across the deformed part. A proper analysis of the microstructural transformations taking place in the material under these conditions is therefore very important. In this paper, the correlation between the loading history and microstructural transformations was analysed for AA2099 alloy using the hot forging of a disk-shaped component at selected forging temperatures and strain rates. The obtained results were compared to industrial processing maps based on uniaxial tests

Effects of melatonin prolonged-release on both sleep and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: a preliminary evidence

background sleep-related symptoms, especially insomnia, are frequently reported by patients with parkinson's disease (PD) and can markedly affect motor symptoms and impair patients' quality of life. melatonin has been shown to improve sleep in PD patients. this pilot study aimed at evaluating the effects of a 3-month treatment with 2 mg melatonin prolonged-release (PR) on sleep and motor disability in PD patients. materials and methods twelve PD patients under stable antiparkinsonian treatment were enrolled in the study. before treatment (T0), motor dysfunction was assessed with unified parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS-III) and sleep architecture with polysomnography. subjective sleep quality was also assessed through pittsburgh sleep quality Index (PSQI) and daytime somnolence with epworth sleepiness Scale (ESS). patients then started melatonin PR and all measures were repeated at the end of treatment after 3 months (T1). results sleep latency significantly decreased from T0 to T1, but no other significant differences were found in PSG parameters. melatonin PR treatment significantly reduced the ESS scores from T0 to T1, while the PSQI scores presented a trend of improvement from T0 to T1. motor dysfunction was not improved by melatonin PR, although there was a trend in decreasing UPDRS-III. both clinical global improvement and patient clinical global impression documented an improvement in insomnia symptoms at T1. conclusions these findings suggest that melatonin may improve sleep symptoms in PD patients, although further evidence is needed in larger controlled studies to confirm these results and explore the possible direct and indirect influence of sleep improvement on motor dysfunction

An unusual case of bowel obstruction in emergency surgery: The heterotopic mesenteric ossification

The heterotopic mesenteric ossification, also known as myositis ossificans, is a rare form of heterotopic ossification, a metaplastic phenomenon where new bone is formed in the mesenteric base, generally after abdominal trauma (surgical or other). The pathophysiology of heterotopic mesenteric ossification is unknown; clinical presentation is not specific, with vague abdominal symptoms, uncertain radiological findings, and often regular laboratory exams. No consensus exists on the best possible approach, although it might well be both medical and surgical. We reviewed the clinical history of a 28-year-old man with a recent motor vehicle accident who was admitted to our surgical unit with symptoms consistent with a small bowel obstruction; after surgery, a diagnosis of myositis ossificans was surprisingly made

Assessment of Psychometric Characteristics of Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale 2 and Analysis of a Cut-Off Score for Detecting Insomnia in Italian Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Validation Study

introduction: sleep disorders are frequent non-motor symptoms affecting patients with parkinson's disease (PD). Insomnia represents the most common sleep disorder. parkinson's disease Sleep Scale 2 (PDSS-2) is a specific tool to investigate sleep problems in PD. the general sleep disturbances scale (GSDS) was a general scale validated for the Italian population. our goal was to assess the psychometric characteristics of PDSS-2 and the GSDS in this population, calculating a cut-off score for insomnia symptoms by using subitems of PDSS-2. methods: patients admitted at the PD unit of the hospital of rome tor vergata outpatient clinic and those afferent to PD associations were asked to complete PDSS-2 and GSDS to be correlated to identify a cut-off for insomnia symptoms. Items 1,2,3,8,13 of PDSS-2 were used to detect insomnia. an ROC curve to assess a cut-off score for insomnia was determined. a cross-cultural analysis of PD population characteristics was performed. results: In total, 350 PD patients were recruited. cronbach's alpha was high for the total score (0.828 for PDSS-2 and 0.832 for GSDS). a cross-cultural analysis did not show any significant p-value. the ROC curve yielded an AUC of 0.79 (CI: 0.75-0.84). the cut-off value for insomnia disorder based on items 1,2,3,8,13 of PDSS-2 was >10, demonstrating a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 69% in determining the presence of subjective insomnia symptoms in PD. discussion: PDSS-2 is demonstrated to be a valid, specific tool to address sleep disturbances in PD patients. a cut-off score of 10 for items 1,2,3,8,13 was identified for detecting insomnia symptoms in PD patients

Non-motor symptoms burden in motor-fluctuating patients with Parkinson's disease may be alleviated by safinamide: the VALE-SAFI study

parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor symptoms often experienced in concomitance with non-motor symptoms (NMS), such as depression, apathy, pain, sleep disorders, and urinary dysfunction. the present study aimed to explore the effect of safinamide treatment on NMS and quality of life in motor-fluctuating PD patients. VALE-SAFI is an observational single-centre study performed in fluctuating PD patients starting safinamide treatment and followed for 6 months. the effects of safinamide on NMS, sleep, fatigue, depression and pain were assessed through validated sales. changes in the scales from baseline to the 6-month follow-up visit were analysed. 60 PD patients (66.67% males) were enrolled at baseline, and 45 patients completed the 6-month follow-up. PD patients improved motor symptoms at follow-up, with the significant reduction of motor fluctuations. the global score of the NMS Scale significantly decreased between baseline and the follow-up. regarding pain domains, patients reported a significant improvement in discolouration and oedema/swelling. further, a significant improvement was observed from baseline to follow-up in sleep quality measured through the pittsburgh sleep quality Index, while no changes were documented in daytime sleepiness. no differences were found in depression and fatigue between baseline and follow-up. finally, the patient's perception of the impact of PD on functioning and well-being decreased from baseline to follow-up. the present findings confirmed the beneficial effect of safinamide on both motor and non-motor symptoms, also improving the quality of life of PD patients. furthermore, these data support the positive effects of safinamide on pain and mood, as well as on sleep quality and continuity

A New Neurorehabilitative Postsurgery Intervention for Facial Palsy Based on Smile Observation and Hand-Mouth Motor Synergies

Objective. To perform a preliminary test of a new rehabilitation treatment (FIT-SAT), based on mirror mechanisms, for gracile muscles after smile surgery. Method. A pre- and postsurgery longitudinal design was adopted to study the efficacy of FIT-SAT. Four patients with bilateral facial nerve paralysis (Moebius syndrome) were included. They underwent two surgeries with free muscle transfers, one year apart from each other. The side of the face first operated on was rehabilitated with the traditional treatment, while the second side was rehabilitated with FIT-SAT. The FIT-SAT treatment includes video clips of an actor performing a unilateral or a bilateral smile to be imitated (FIT condition). In addition to this, while smiling, the participants close their hand in order to exploit the overlapped cortical motor representation of the hand and the mouth, which may facilitate the synergistic activity of the two effectors during the early phases of recruitment of the transplanted muscles (SAT). The treatment was also aimed at avoiding undesired movements such as teeth grinding. Discussion. Results support FIT-SAT as a viable alternative for smile rehabilitation after free muscle transfer. We propose that the treatment potentiates the effect of smile observation by activating the same neural structures responsible for the execution of the smile and therefore by facilitating its production. Closing of the hand induces cortical recruitment of hand motor neurons, recruiting the transplanted muscles, and reducing the risk of associating other unwanted movements such as teeth clenching to the smile movements