588 research outputs found
SPEAKER VGG CCT: Cross-corpus Speech Emotion Recognition with Speaker Embedding and Vision Transformers
In recent years, Speech Emotion Recognition (SER) has been investigated
mainly transforming the speech signal into spectrograms that are then
classified using Convolutional Neural Networks pretrained on generic images and
fine tuned with spectrograms. In this paper, we start from the general idea
above and develop a new learning solution for SER, which is based on Compact
Convolutional Transformers (CCTs) combined with a speaker embedding. With CCTs,
the learning power of Vision Transformers (ViT) is combined with a diminished
need for large volume of data as made possible by the convolution. This is
important in SER, where large corpora of data are usually not available. The
speaker embedding allows the network to extract an identity representation of
the speaker, which is then integrated by means of a self-attention mechanism
with the features that the CCT extracts from the spectrogram. Overall, the
solution is capable of operating in real-time showing promising results in a
cross-corpus scenario, where training and test datasets are kept separate.
Experiments have been performed on several benchmarks in a cross-corpus setting
as rarely used in the literature, with results that are comparable or superior
to those obtained with state-of-the-art network architectures. Our code is
available at https://github.com/JabuMlDev/Speaker-VGG-CCT
Balanced metrics on Hartogs domains
An n-dimensional strictly pseudoconvex Hartogs domain D_F can be equipped
with a natural Kaehler metric g_F. In this paper we prove that if m_0g_F is
balanced for a given positive integer m_0 then m_0>n and (D_F, g_F) is
holomorphically isometric to an open subset of the n-dimensional complex
hyperbolic space.Comment: 9 page
Soft Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery and Interventions: Advances and Outlook
Since the emergence of soft robotics around two decades ago, research interest in the field has escalated at a pace. It is fuelled by the industry's appreciation of the wide range of soft materials available that can be used to create highly dexterous robots with adaptability characteristics far beyond that which can be achieved with rigid component devices. The ability, inherent in soft robots, to compliantly adapt to the environment, has significantly sparked interest from the surgical robotics community. This article provides an in-depth overview of recent progress and outlines the remaining challenges in the development of soft robotics for minimally invasive surgery
Treatment of Lower-GI Post-Surgical Fistulas With the Over-the-Scope Clip
AbstractPost-surgical colorectal leaks and fistulas are severe complications that dramatically increase morbidity and mortality. Over-the-scope clip (OTSC) application, introduced in clinical practice in 2007, represents an innovative technique to seal the visceral wall for acute and chronic colorectal post-surgical leaks and fistula management. Endoscopic closure of colorectal post-surgical leaks and fistulas with OTSC is a safe technique that accomplishes a high success rate in both acute and chronic cases, including rectovaginal, rectovesical, and colocutaneous fistulas. Overall success rate is higher than 80%, as reported in the literature, in both acute and chronic situations. No OTSC-related complications have been described in the lower gastrointestinal tract so far. This article is part of an expert video encyclopedia
Balanced metrics on Cartan and Cartan-Hartogs domains
This paper consists of two results dealing with balanced metrics (in S.
Donaldson terminology) on nonconpact complex manifolds. In the first one we
describe all balanced metrics on Cartan domains. In the second one we show that
the only Cartan-Hartogs domain which admits a balanced metric is the complex
hyperbolic space. By combining these results with those obtained in [13]
(Kaehler-Einstein submanifolds of the infinite dimensional projective space, to
appear in Mathematische Annalen) we also provide the first example of complete,
Kaehler-Einstein and projectively induced metric g such that is not
balanced for all .Comment: 11 page
A magnetic internal mechanism for precise orientation of the camera in wireless endoluminal applications
Background and study aims: The use of magnetic
fields to control operative devices has been recently
described in endoluminal and transluminal
surgical applications. The exponential decrease of
magnetic field strength with distance has major
implications for precision of the remote control.
We aimed to assess the feasibility and functionality
of a novel wireless miniaturized mechanism,
based on magnetic forces, for precise orientation
of the camera.
Materials and methods: A remotely controllable
endoscopic capsule was developed as proof of
concept. Two intracapsular moveable permanent
magnets allow fine positioning, and an externally
applied magnetic field permits gross movement
and stabilization. Performance was assessed in ex
vivo and in vivo bench tests, using porcine upper
and lower gastrointestinal tracts.
Results: Fine control of capsule navigation and
rotation was achieved in all tests with an external
magnet held steadily about 15 cm from the capsule.
The camera could be rotated in steps of 1.8°.
This was confirmed by ex vivo tests; the mechanism
could adjust the capsule view at 40 different
locations in a gastrointestinal tract phantom
model. Full 360° viewing was possible in the gastric
cavity, while the maximal steering in the colonwas
45° in total. In vivo, a similar performance
was verified, where the mechanism was successfully
operated every 5 cm for 40 cm in the colon,
visually sweeping from side to side of the lumen;
360° views were obtained in the gastric fundus
and body, while antrally the luminal walls prevented
full rotation.
Conclusions: We report the feasibility and effectiveness
of the combined use of external static
magnetic fields and internal actuation to move
small permanent intracapsular magnets to
achieve wirelessly controllable and precise camera
steering. The concept is applicable to capsule
endoscopy as to other instrumentation for laparoscopic,
endoluminal, or transluminal procedures
Actuation and stiffening in fluid-driven soft robots using low-melting-point material
Soft material robots offer a number of advantages
over traditional rigid robots in applications including humanrobot
interaction, rehabilitation and surgery. These robots can
navigate around obstacles, elongate, squeeze through narrow
openings or be squeezed - and they are considered to be
inherently safe. The ability to stiffen compliant soft actuators
has been achieved by embedding various mechanisms that are
generally decoupled from the actuation principle. Miniaturisation
becomes challenging due to space limitations which can
in turn result in diminution of stiffening effects. Here, we
propose to hydraulically actuate soft manipulators with lowmelting-
point material and, at the same time, be able to switch
between a soft and stiff state. Instead of allocating an additional
stiffening chamber within the soft robot, one chamber only is
used for actuation and stiffening. Low Melting Point Alloy is
integrated into the actuation chamber of a single-compartment
soft robotic manipulator and the interfaced robotic syringe
pump. Temperature change is enabled through embedded
nichrome wires. Our experimental results show higher stiffness
factors, from 9-12 opposing the motion of curvature, than
those previously found for jamming mechanisms incorporated
in separate additional chambers, in the range of 2-8 for the
same motion
- …