Hand gesture recognition: An overview

Hand gesture recognition has been applied to many fields in recent years, especially in man-machine interaction (MMI) area, which is regarded as a more natural and flexible input. In this paper, an overview of hand gesture recognition research up to date is presented, which includes common stages of hand gesture recognition, common methods and technique of each stage, the state of the recent research and summaries of some successful hand gesture recognition models. 2013 IEEE

Novel receiver for correlated fading multi-antenna physical network coding TWRNs

Physical Network Coding (PNC) has recently been proposed for multi-antenna Two-Way Relay Networks (TWRNs) with independent fading channels because the total network throughput could be significantly improved. However, PNC for multi-antenna TWRNs with correlated fading channels has not been considered yet. This paper thus considers an important class of multi-antenna TWRNs with the following properties: single-antenna source nodes and two-antenna relay; distance between source nodes and the relay is significantly larger than that between antennas of the relay; and channels between source nodes and the relay are correlated. For such a system, we first propose a novel correlation model that facilitates an easy method to create fading channels with certain correlation properties. We then propose an ovelreceiver design for correlated fading TWRNs. Simulation results show that the proposed receiver design provides much better error performance than the well-known Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) algorithm proposed in the literature

Ultra Wideband Noise Channel Measurement using a Vector Network Analyzer

In this paper, we analyze the measurement of ultra wideband (UWB) noise channels in different indoor environments. All measurements are done using a vector network analyzer (VNA) which allows us to measure the noise channel transfer functions. We find that the noise power of the system is decreased by increasing the intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth which leads to an increase in time taken to perform measurements of the channels. Also, we measure the environmental noise power and find that it is slightly affected by fluorescent light sources inside the measurement environments. In addition, we find that the environmental noise is decreased when enclosed in a Faraday cage (steel shed), within an intense multipath measurement environment. As secondary application, we show how a frequency detection device can be used to re-adjust a maladjusted frequency selection on a remote controller for a garage door, in presence of environmental noise power

Measurement of Ultra Wideband Channel Sounding Using a Vector Network Analyzer

In this paper, we analyze the measurement of ultra wideband (UWB) noise channels in different indoor environments. All measurements are done using a vector network analyzer (VNA) which allows us to measure the noise channel transfer functions. We find that the noise power of the system is decreased by increasing the intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth which leads to an increase in time taken to perform measurements of the channels. Also, we measure the environmental noise power and find that it is slightly affected by fluorescent light sources inside the measurement environments. In addition, we find that the environmental noise is decreased when enclosed in a Faraday cage (steel shed), within an intense multipath measurement environment. We found that, the Environmental noise decreases slightly by using the LPDA antenna compared to using the Teardrop and Horn antennas. Our results show that the Horn antenna is less suitable for UWB channel measurements compared to the LPDA directional antennas because of lower S11 (Return Loss) values. While foromnidirectional antennas, the Teardrop antenna is much more suitable than the monocone antennas for UWB measurements (due to lower S11 values) and decreases the Environmental noise power. As secondary application, we show how a frequency detection device can be used to re-adjust a maladjusted frequency selection on a remote controller for a garage door, in presence of environmental noise power

Using SIMCTS framework to model determinants of customer satisfaction: a case in an ISP

In this paper we describe a call center simulation case study that uses real data obtained from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The case study is conducted using SIMCTS (Simulation Modelling and Analysis of Customer Satisfaction Patterns for Telecommunication Service Providers) framework [25]. The applicability of this framework to model ISP business scenario is discussed in detail. The simulation case study reveal that the dimensions of service quality have huge impact on customer satisfaction and also provide valuable insight in to gap analysis of customer perception and expectation. Various key satisfaction variables in relation to call center are modelled using SIMAN simulation language and ARENA simulation software. The simulation case study investigates service quality dimension, technical (or) functional service quality and their role in evaluation of overall satisfaction judgment. The simulation model collects transient performance measures which can be used to make competitive marketing decisions

Ultra Wideband Channel Coefficient Measurements for Detecting Methane Gas in a Multipath Environment

In this paper, an investigation was carried out into the effect of a non-explosive methane gas mixture on various Ultra Wide Band Channel Coefficients. Using simplified apparatus consisting of a rubberized tube (6 mm diameter) connected for significant periods to either a (pressurized) source of mixed Methane and Nitrogen or alternatively to a Nitrogen only source. The tube containing either gas feed was wrapped using two complete turns around a 160mm diameter PVC pipe. Several flows of the mixed gas, containing 2.57% methane, were introduced and flowed through the pipe before being sealed in the tube. Removal of any Methane in the tube was achieved by flushing it with the pure Nitrogen source, initially and in-between samples of the mixed source. A Vector Network Analyser was connected using two identical directional antennas with the wrapped section of tubing placed between the two antennas and the wireless channel coefficients were measured over the Ultra Wide Band frequency span of 0.3GHz to 8GHz. Magnitude differences were taken between the baseline condition (tube flushed out with Nitrogen) and alternatively containing the methane mixture. It was found that consistent and repeatable experiments produced the same trend of differences over the same frequency span. This system based on this approach could thus be used as a simple sensor to detect the ac

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Barbarians at the British Museum: Anglo-Saxon Art, Race and Religion

A critical historiographical overview of art historical approaches to early medieval material culture, with a focus on the British Museum collections and their connections to religion