A vision-based approach for human hand tracking and gesture recognition.

Hand gesture interface has been becoming an active topic of human-computer interaction (HCI). The utilization of hand gestures in human-computer interface enables human operators to interact with computer environments in a natural and intuitive manner. In particular, bare hand interpretation technique frees users from cumbersome, but typically required devices in communication with computers, thus offering the ease and naturalness in HCI. Meanwhile, virtual assembly (VA) applies virtual reality (VR) techniques in mechanical assembly. It constructs computer tools to help product engineers planning, evaluating, optimizing, and verifying the assembly of mechanical systems without the need of physical objects. However, traditional devices such as keyboards and mice are no longer adequate due to their inefficiency in handling three-dimensional (3D) tasks. Special VR devices, such as data gloves, have been mandatory in VA. This thesis proposes a novel gesture-based interface for the application of VA. It develops a hybrid approach to incorporate an appearance-based hand localization technique with a skin tone filter in support of gesture recognition and hand tracking in the 3D space. With this interface, bare hands become a convenient substitution of special VR devices. Experiment results demonstrate the flexibility and robustness introduced by the proposed method to HCI.Dept. of Computer Science. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2004 .L8. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-03, page: 0883. Adviser: Xiaobu Yuan. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2004

Localized Quantitative Characterization of Chemical Functionalization Effects on Adhesion Properties of SWNT

Chemical modification of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) has been found to be an excellent method to promote SWNT dispersion, and possibly to improve interaction with matrices via covalent bonding. It is thus a quite promising technique to enhance the mechanical properties of SWNT-reinforced nanocomposites. However, the underlying mechanism of SWNT chemical functionalization effects on interfacial strength is not quantitatively understood, limiting their usefulness in the design of nanocomposites. In this work, an atomic force microscopy (AFM-) based adhesive force mapping technique combined with a statistical analysis method were developed and implemented to study adhesive interactions of small SWNT bundles functionalized by amino, epoxide, and hydroperoxide groups as compared to SDS-treated SWNT in controlled environment. Finally, the importance of such localized quantitative measurements in SWNT-reinforced nanocomposites design and fabrication was also discussed

Exceptional capture of methane at low pressure by an iron‐based metal‐organic framework

The selective capture of methane (CH4) at low concentrations and its separation from N2 are extremely challenging owing to the weak host-guest interactions between CH4 molecules and any sorbent material. Here, we report the exceptional adsorption of CH4 at low pressure and efficient separation of CH4/N2 by MFM-300(Fe). MFM-300(Fe) shows a very high uptake for CH4 of 0.85 mmol g−1 at 1 mbar and 298 K and a record CH4/N2 selectivity of 45 for porous solids, representing a new benchmark for CH4 capture and CH4/N2 separation. The excellent separation of CH4/N2 by MFM-300(Fe) has been confirmed by dynamic breakthrough experiments. In situ neutron powder diffraction, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopies, coupled with modelling, reveal a unique and strong binding of CH4 molecules involving Fe-OH···CH4 and C···phenyl ring interactions within the pores of MFM-300(Fe), thus promoting the exceptional adsorption of CH4 at low pressure

Analytical and Statistical Analysis of Wave-Cylinder Interactions

Arrays of closely spaced slender cylindrical-shaped structural elements such as marine risers, TLP tendons, and horizontal pipelines are widely used in many offshore applications. Their response behavior subjected to random waves and current loadings is very complicated and remains an important area for further research. The goal of this research study is two-fold. First it seeks to investigate the possibility of using analytical models as a simple design approach to bound drag force coefficients referred to in design practice, and secondly it pursues a general extremal statistical methodology for the analysis and characterization of industrial-scale model basin test data and field measurements. Initially, this research investigated the Huse-Muren wake flow model that addressed the interaction of a slender vertical cylinder subject to a harmonically oscillatory flow in the drag-dominated force regime. Analysis of their model led to the formulation of a dimensionless drag coefficient correction ratio. Unfortunately, investigation based on published guidelines and measured data indicated that their model seemed to bound the data for a limited range of applications. For the crossflow formulation, new dimensionless parameters were formulated to better illustrate the impact of the transverse current on the drag coefficient correction ratio. A numerical simulation was subsequently performed, and the results were presented and discussed. In the second phase of the research, a statistical methodology was formulated based on the generalized extreme value family of distributions for the characterization of in-line interactions of closely spaced two- and three- deep-water cylinder arrays. The most appropriate block size and the corresponding statistical models were selected by an iterative process that utilized Anderson-Darling test criterion, quantile plots, and histograms. The models were found to fit the data excellently, and the roles of spacings and top tensions on the risk of collision were characterized. An unexpected phenomenon in the observed data was successfully identified. Finally, the flow-induced vibration response behavior of a flexible horizontal cylinder subject to both random waves and constant current conditions was investigated. The measured mid-span displacement was initially analyzed using standard spectral analyses to relate the cylinder’s response behavior to traditional deterministic parameters, whose values illustrated significant scatter. Further analyses were performed using the general statistical methodology, which was observed to provide good to excellent results for the random wave cases and at least moderately good results for the combined random wave and constant current cases

Comments on “primary-ambient extraction using ambient spectrum estimation for immersive spatial audio reproduction”

In the above paper, He et al. propose a primary-ambient extraction method using ambient phase estimation with a sparsity constraint (APES). The primary-ambient extraction problem is formulated as a L1 -norm minimization of the primary component with respect to the phase of the ambient component, based on a stereo signal model they have assumed. Discrete searching (DS) is proposed as the approach for solving the APES in each time-frequency bin, which is computationally complicated and potentially imprecise. This correspondence provides an analytical solution to the APES by exploring the geometric relation between the primary and ambient components in a rotated coordinate

Supporting Data: Effect of various pore fluids on the strength of granite

Laboratory three-point bending experiments are carried out to evaluate the effect of various fluids on the tensile strength of granite. The fluids used to saturate the granite include distilled water, hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), kerosene, and hydraulic oil. Compared to dry granite specimens, water, HCl, NaOH, kerosene, and hydraulic oil reduce the tensile strength of granite by 26%, 37%, 28%, 23%, and 41%, respectively. The test data indicates that aqueous and non-aqueous solutions have a similar effect on reduction of the tensile strength as long as viscosity is similar. Fluid viscosity, on the other hand, has a strong impact on the strength with higher viscosity leading to greater strength reduction. The experiments suggest that chemical fluid-rock interaction plays a minimal role in these experiments where failure occurs within seconds to minutes from the time loading commences. On the other hand, the mechanical influence of the fluid, such as lubrication of grain boundaries and/or local pore pressure generation appears to play a more important role in the determination of the strength of granite

Using a Hybrid Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making Technique to Identify Key Factors Influencing Microblog Users’ Diffusion Behaviors in Emergencies: Evidence from Generations Born after 2000

Recently, some appalling events have attracted wide attention, such as the RYB (Red, Yellow and Blue) child abuse incident, the killing of stewardesses by online car-hailing, and the swine fever epidemic. With the development of mobile Internet, Microblog has accelerated the spread of emergencies. Diffusion behavior is affected by different motivations, and motivation theory declared that internal and external motivations are the direct influencing factors of users’ behavioral intention. Therefore, this study uses a hybrid multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, combining the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and analytical network process (ANP) to identify the key factors influencing user’s diffusion behaviors in emergencies. According to the results of empirical study, perceived usefulness, perceived emotionality, perceived accessibility, information timeliness, and information authoritativeness are identified as the key factors influencing user’s diffusion behaviors. Finally, we propose some managerial suggestions to help stakeholders control online public opinion effectively