Hybrid One-Shot 3D Hand Pose Estimation by Exploiting Uncertainties

Model-based approaches to 3D hand tracking have been shown to perform well in a wide range of scenarios. However, they require initialisation and cannot recover easily from tracking failures that occur due to fast hand motions. Data-driven approaches, on the other hand, can quickly deliver a solution, but the results often suffer from lower accuracy or missing anatomical validity compared to those obtained from model-based approaches. In this work we propose a hybrid approach for hand pose estimation from a single depth image. First, a learned regressor is employed to deliver multiple initial hypotheses for the 3D position of each hand joint. Subsequently, the kinematic parameters of a 3D hand model are found by deliberately exploiting the inherent uncertainty of the inferred joint proposals. This way, the method provides anatomically valid and accurate solutions without requiring manual initialisation or suffering from track losses. Quantitative results on several standard datasets demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art representatives of the model-based, data-driven and hybrid paradigms.Comment: BMVC 2015 (oral); see also http://lrs.icg.tugraz.at/research/hybridhape

Consumers’ Benefit—Risk Perception on Pesticides and Food Safety—A Survey in Greece

Pesticides are widely used to protect agricultural products from pests and diseases. Although a strict regulatory framework exists in the EU, concerns about pesticide residues in food are retained among consumers. This study represents the first large sample (N = 1846) attempt to identify the main predictors influencing Greek consumers’ attitude concerning the benefits—risks ratio of pesticide use. After a principal components analysis and a bivariate logistic regression were performed, it was found that Greek consumers express high concerns from pesticide residues in food regarding their loved ones and their own health. At the same time, however, they recognize to a significant extent beneficial contributions of the use of pesticides to food security and the national economy, as well. Several significant predictors of consumer’s attitude towards benefit—risks perception of pesticide use was identified, concerning personal values, pesticide user status, gender, confidence in controlling and certification procedures, and received information. Our results suggest that efforts for risk communication are needed to address food safety issues targeting the general public

Hylotelephium spectabile, a New Host for Carnation Tortrix Moth (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) and Molecular Characterization in Greece

Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) is a highly polyphagous pest of a wide range of crop and ornamental plants. It is of Mediterranean origin and widespread in European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) region. For the first time, infestations of Hylotelephium spectabile (Boreau) Ohba (syn.: Sedum spectabile Boreau) (Saxifragales, Crassulaceae) ornamental plants by C. pronubana larvae, in private gardens in urban area of Drama, Greece, were found. Species identification was conducted based on morphology of female genitalia. In addition, due to reports on occurrence of cryptic C. pronubana species within Europe, DNA barcoding was carried out to determine the molecular status of the pest. This communication reports a new host of C. pronubana and places the Greek pest population along with European species clade