Hierarchically Structured Non-Intrusive Sign Language Recognition

This work presents a hierarchically structured approach at the nonintrusive recognition of sign language from a monocular frontal view. Robustness is achieved through sophisticated localization and tracking methods, including a combined EM/CAMSHIFT overlap resolution procedure and the parallel pursuit of multiple hypotheses about hands position and movement. This allows handling of ambiguities and automatically corrects tracking errors. A biomechanical skeleton model and dynamic motion prediction using Kalman filters represents high level knowledge. Classification is performed by Hidden Markov Models. 152 signs from German sign language were recognized with an accuracy of 97.6%

Our Daily Bread: Wages, Workers, and the Political Economy of the American West

Review of: "Our Daily Bread: Wages, Workers, and the Political Economy of the American West," by Geoff Mann

A High Efficiency Lateral Light Emitting Device on SOI

The infrared light emission of lateral p/sup +/-p-n/sup +/ diodes realized on SIMOX-SOI (separation by implantation of oxygen - silicon on insulator) substrates has been studied. The confinement of the free carriers in one dimension due to the buried oxide was suggested to be a key point to increase the band-to-band recombination probability in silicon light emitters. We found in our devices an external quantum efficiency comparable to previous results presented in the literature. The wavelength range of the emission was found to be 900-1300 nm which is common for indirect band to band recombination in Si. The SOI technology incorporates an insulating layer between the thin single crystal silicon layer and the much thicker substrate. This electrically insulating layer is also a thermal isolator and so self-heating effects are common in devices fabricated on SOI wafers. Investigation of its influence on the light emission and the light distribution in the device has been carried out in our research. In this paper, the characteristics of the device with different active region lengths were investigated and explained quantitatively based on the recombination rate of carriers inside the active area by using the simulation model in Silvaco

Low-power micro-scale CMOS-compatible silicon sensor on a suspended membrane.

In this paper we describe a new, simple and cheap silicon device operating at high temperature at a very low power of a few mW. The essential part of the device is a nano-size conductive link 10-100 nm in size (the so-called antifuse) formed in between two poly-silicon electrodes separated by a thin SiO2 layer. The device can be utilized in chemical sensors or chemical micro-reactors requiring high temperature and very low power consumption e.g. in portable, battery operated systems. As a direct application, we mention a gas sensor (i.e. Pellistor) for hydrocarbons (butane, methane, propane, etc.) based on temperature changes due to the catalytic combustion of hydrocarbons. The power consumed by our device is at about 2% of the power consumed by conventional Pellistors

Visible light emission from reverse-biased silicon nanometer-scale diode-antifuses

Silicon nanometer-scale diodes have been fabricated to emit light in the visible range at low power consumption. Such structures are candidates for emitter elements in Si-based optical interconnect schemes. Spectral measurements of Electroluminescence (EL) on the reverse-biased nanometer-scale diodes brought into breakdown have been carried out over the photon energy range of 1.4-2.8 eV. Previously proposed mechanisms for avalanche emission from conventional silicon p-n junctions are discussed in order to understand the origin of the emission. Also the stability of the diodes has been tested. Results indicate that our nanometer-scale diodes are basically high quality devices. Furthermore due to the nanometer-scale dimensions, very high electrical fields and current densities are possible at low power consumption. This makes these diodes an excellent candidate to be utilized as a light source in Si-based sensors and actuator application

Kognitive und neurostrukturelle Korrelate von CADASIL als Modellerkrankung einer vaskulären Demenz

Das Thema dieser Arbeit ist kognitive Beeinträchtigung nach zerebrovaskulärer Schädigung. Aufgrund der Heterogenität des Krankheitsbildes der „vaskulären kognitiven Beeinträchtigung“ (Vascular Cognitive Impairment, VCI) und der häufigen Komorbidität mit Alzheimerdemenz wird eine monogen vererbte Mikroangiopathie (zerebrale autosomal dominante Angiopathie mit subkortikalen Infarkten und Leukenzephalopathie, CADASIL) als Modellerkrankung einer reinen VCI herangezogen. In der ersten der beiden Publikationen wurde mittels voxelbasiertem Läsions-Symptom-Mapping der Zusammenhang zwischen Läsionen in frontalen subkortikalen Arealen und CADASIL-typischen kognitiven Einschränkungen untersucht. Der stärkste Zusammenhang bestand zwischen kognitiver Bearbeitungsgeschwindigkeit und Läsionen in der anterioren Thalamusstrahlung sowie der Forceps Minor. Eine zusätzliche Regressionsanalyse konnte zeigen, dass nicht das Gesamtausmaß der Schädigung entscheidend ist für spezifische Funktionsbeeinträchtigung, sondern die Läsionslast in den zuvor identifzierten Lokalisationen. In der zweiten Publikation wurde ein Faktor untersucht, der diesen Zusammenhang zwischen Funktion und Struktur moderiert, die Kognitive Reserve. Ein häufig postuliertes Modell der kognitiven Reserve als aktiver Kompensationsmechanismus konnte in den CADASIL-Daten bestätigt werden. Patienten mit höherer Schulbildung (als Operationalisierung kognitiver Reserve) zeigten bei gleichem Ausmaß an Pathologie weniger Beeinträchtigung in Bearbeitungsgeschwindigkeit und Exekutivfunktionen als weniger Gebildete, jedoch nur bei geringem und mittlerem Ausmaß an Pathologie.The subject of this thesis is cognitive impairment following cerebrovascular disease. Due to the heterogenity of „vascular cognitive impairment“ (VCI) and the frequent comorbidity with Alzheimer's Dementia, a monogenous form of microangiopathy (cerebral autosomal dominant angiopathy with subcortical infarcts and leucoencephalopathy, CADASIL) is used as a model of pure VCI.The first publication used voxel-based lesion-symptom-mapping to investigate the relationship between lesions in frontal subcortical tracts and CADASIL-specific cognitive impairment. The strongest correlation was found for cognitive processing speed and lesions in the anterior thalamic radiation as well as the Forceps Minor. An additional regression analysis showed that instead of the total amount of brain damage, lesion load in previously identified locations is significant for specific functional impairment. The second publication explored a factor moderating the relationship between structure and function, namely Cognitive Reserve. A frequently proposed model of cognitive reserve as an active compensation mechanism could be confirmed in the CADASIL population. Patients with higher formal education (as proxy for cognitive reserve) showed less impairment in processing speed and executive function at the same amount of pathology than less educated patients. This difference however was only present for low and medium levels of pathology

The cognitive functioning of dementia patients : an examination of the hierarchic dementia scale, and the impact of cognitive functioning on caregiver burden and desire to institutionalize

Dementia is a chronic condition leading to a decline in independent functioning. The objective of the study was to examine dementia patient cognitive functioning by using the Hierarchic Dementia Scale (HDS), and examine the impact of cognitive functioning on caregiver burden and desire to institutionalize the patient. It was hypothesized that the HDS would be a valid and reliable measure of patient cognitive functioning, would differentiate among profiles of patients, and would be predictive of caregiver burden and desire to institutionalize. The study examined 185 pairs of dementia patients and caregivers. Caregivers were given standardized interviews and patients were evaluated both directly and indirectly. Using Pearson Correlation the HDS was found to be related to established measures of dementia, and to have good internal consistency. Cluster analysis followed by MANOVA produced two and three separate clusters. It is evident that different groups of patients do not perform better or worse on certain subsets of HDS subscales, but rather inter-individual variations are understood in the context of illness duration. Direct multiple regression analysis revealed caregiver health and patient behaviour problems as predicative of burden while cognitive functioning was not ( F (17, 167) 12.25, p < .001). Discriminant function analysis highlighted both caregiver and patient characteristics as important in predicting institutionalization caregiver burden and health were key ({ 2 = 40.51, p < .001). This study demonstrates the utility of the HDS in evaluating patient cognitive functioning and in differentiating among separate clusters of patients. Both caregiver and patient functioning are important in understanding burden and desire to institutionalize

Second hearing recognition of music: The design and administration of a research instrument which examines one aspect of music listening

Listening is the one universal encounter all people have with music. Today the possibility exists of listening to music by itself, for itself, but this accessibility has not resulted in an increase in listening ability nor a closing of the gap between contemporary composers and listeners; consequently listeners need to be assisted to develop their listening skills. Music educators need to understand both the listening process and the composers' expectations. This thesis investigates Recognition (an important area of listening) through a research instrument, the Second Hearing Recognition of Music Test (SHRMT). Its four sub-tests together with a Musical Background Questionnaire (MBQ) were administered in Intermediate Schools. Findings from the SHRMT (using a study of the errors) isolated features of the music which pupils recognised more easily, for example the outline and range of notes of a piece. The pupils identified two parts of the listening process with which they had difficulty - Attention and Memory; teachers identify an additional problem area - Attitude. A review of the general research on these topics has implications for music educators. In terms of their performance and home background the more musically experienced pupils achieved better. The boys' comparative lack of music training outside of the school system evidenced the disadvantaging effects of cultural prejudices. Several New Zealand composers were interviewed to ascertain their ideas on improving listening to contemporary music. The main problems identified by composers were listener attitudes and unfamiliarity with the music and suggestions for improving these were given. The conclusion relates these three approaches of the Thesis (Testing, Review of Research and Interview) to the topic and shows that they speak with a single voice on the question of promoting adequate strategies for listening to music and especially to contemporary compositions