pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of local action descriptors for human action classification in the presence of occlusion

This paper examines the impact that the choice of local de-\ud
scriptor has on human action classifier performance in the presence of static occlusion. This question is important when applying human action classification to surveillance video that is noisy, crowded, complex and incomplete. In real-world scenarios, it is natural that a human can be occluded by an object while carrying out different actions. However, it is unclear how the performance of the proposed action descriptors are affected by the associated loss of information. In this paper, we evaluate and compare the classification performance of the state-of-art human local action descriptors in the presence of varying degrees of static occlusion. We consider four different local action descriptors: Trajectory (TRAJ), Histogram of Orientation Gradient (HOG), Histogram of Orientation Flow (HOF) and Motion Boundary Histogram (MBH). These descriptors are combined with a standard bag-of-features representation and a Support Vector Machine classifier for action recognition. We investigate the performance of these descriptors and their possible combinations with respect to varying amounts of artificial occlusion in the KTH action dataset. This preliminary investigation shows that MBH in combination with TRAJ has the best performance in the case of partial occlusion while TRAJ in combination with MBH achieves the best results in the presence of heavy occlusion
Cultural studies meets academic literacies: exploring students resources through symbolic objects

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Teaching in Higher Education on 26 Jun 2008, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13562510802169657.This paper reflects on a first year communication project in a South African engineering foundation programme which attempted to bring a cultural studies perspective to the teaching of academic literacy practices. In the project, students identify everyday objects that have symbolic meanings and examine these in a range of physical, cultural and communicational contexts. These objects are seen as catalysts for enabling student narratives and understandings to emerge. Objects also become a way of exploring notions of culture and cultural practices in the classroom and the tensions between convention and change they often index. This paper focuses on a particular manifestation of this tension, in the form of a moralistic discourse, or a discourse of 'propriety'. The pedagogical implications of this kind of cultural studies project are explored, including the importance of opening up less regulated spaces to allow different competencies to be validated and, crucially, ways of framing and critiquing students' resources in order to harness these constructively
A semantic-based platform for the digital analysis of architectural heritage

This essay focuses on the fields of architectural documentation and digital representation. We present a research paper concerning the development of an information system at the scale of architecture, taking into account the relationships that can be established between the representation of buildings (shape, dimension, state of conservation, hypothetical restitution) and heterogeneous information about various fields (such as the technical, the documentary or still the historical one). The proposed approach aims to organize multiple representations (and associated information) around a semantic description model with the goal of defining a system for the multi-field analysis of buildings
Turbulent boundary layer noise : direct radiation at Mach number 0.5

Boundary layers constitute a fundamental source of aerodynamic noise. A turbulent boundary layer over a plane wall can provide an indirect contribution to the noise by exciting the structure, and a direct noise contribution. The latter part can play a significant role even if its intensity is very low, explaining why it is hardly measured unambiguously. In the present study, the aerodynamic noise generated by a spatially developing turbulent boundary layer is computed directly by solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. This numerical experiment aims at giving some insight into the noise radiation characteristics. The acoustic wavefronts have a large wavelength and are oriented in the direction opposite to the flow. Their amplitude is only 0.7 % of the aerodynamic pressure for a flat-plate flow at Mach 0.5. The particular directivity is mainly explained by convection effects by the mean flow, giving an indication about the compactness of the sources. These vortical events correspond to low-frequencies, and have thus a large life time. They cannot be directly associated with the main structures populating the boundary layer such as hairpin or horseshoe vortices. The analysis of the wall pressure can provide a picture of the flow in the frequency-wavenumber space. The main features of wall pressure beneath a turbulent boundary layer as described in the literature are well reproduced. The acoustic domain, corresponding to supersonic wavenumbers, is detectable but can hardly be separated from the convective ridge at this relatively high speed. This is also due to the low frequencies of sound emission as noted previously
Contact Pressure Measurement System in Cross Wedge Rolling

In the cross wedge rolling process (CWR), plastic deformation is geared by a driving
torque transmitted by friction on die surface. Friction plays a role which has to be further
identified in this metal forming process. The local contact pressure between a cylindrical billet and flat dies seems to be a relevant parameter to characterize the severe contact conditions during the rolling. This paper deals with an experimental measurement technology, which has been designed and implemented on a semi-industrial CWR test bench with plate configuration. This measurement system using pin and piezoelectric sensor is presented, with an analysis of the system operation and design detail. Characterization of systematic error and calibration tests are then explained. Additional tests performed on hot steel preforms allow to check the ability of the contact pressure measurement system to resist under severe operating conditions. Realistic results for varying temperatures are then discussed
Communities, knowledge creation, and information diffusion

NOTICE: this is the pre-print version of a work deposited in arXiv (arXiv:0909.2481v1 [physics.soc-ph]) and submitted to the Journal of Informetrics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in JOURNAL OF INFORMETRICS, [VOL 3, ISSUE 3, (2009)] DOI 10.1016/j.joi.2009.03.00
Inelastic torsional seismic response of nominally symmetric reinforced concrete frame structures: shaking table tests

This paper discusses the torsional response of a scaled reinforced concrete frame structure subjected to several uniaxial shaking table tests. The tested structure is nominally symmetric in the direction of shaking and exhibits torsion attributable to non-uniform yielding of structural components and uncertainties in the building process. Asymmetric behavior is analyzed in terms of displacement, strain in reinforcing bars, energy dissipated at plastic hinges, and damage at section and frame levels. The results show that for low levels of seismic hazard, for which the structure is expected to perform basically within the elastic range, the accidental eccentricity is not a concern for the health of the structure, but it significantly increases the lateral displacement demand in the frames (about 30%) and this might cause significant damage to non-structural components. For high levels of seismic hazard the effects of accidental torsion become less important. These results underline the need to consider accidental eccentricity in evaluating the performance of a structure for very frequent or frequent earthquakes, and suggest that consideration of torsion may be neglected for performance levels associated with rare or very rare earthquakes
Dust effects on PV array performance: in-field observations with non-uniform patterns

This paper presents the impact of non-homogeneous deposits of dust on the performance of a PV array. The observations have been made in a 2-MW PV park in the southeast region of Spain. The results are that inhomogeneous dust leads to more significant consequences than the mere short-circuit current reduction resulting from transmittance losses. In particular, when the affected PV modules are part of a string together with other cleaned (or less dusty) ones, operation voltage losses arise. These voltage losses can be several times larger than the short-circuit ones, leading to power losses that can be much larger than what measurements suggest when the PV modules are considered separately. Significant hot-spot phenomena can also arise leading to cells exhibiting temperature differences of more than 20 degrees and thus representing a threat to the PV modules' lifetime
On the Classification of Diseases

Identifying the necessary and sufficient conditions for individuating and classifying\ud
diseases is a matter of great importance in the fields of law, ethics, epidemiology, and\ud
of course medicine. In this paper I first propose a means of achieving this goal,\ud
ensuring that no two distinct disease-types could correctly be ascribed to the same\ud
disease-token. I then posit a metaphysical ontology of diseases - that is, I give an\ud
account of what a disease is. This is essential to providing the most effective means of\ud
interfering with disease processes.\ud
Following existing work in the philosophy of medicine and epidemiology (primarily\ud
Boorse; Whitbeck; Broadbent), philosophy of biology (LaPorte; Hull), conditional\ud
analyses of causation (JL Mackie; Lewis), and recent literature on dispositional\ud
essentialism (Mumford and Anjum; Bird), I endorse a dispositional conception of\ud
disease whereby (i) diseases are individuated by their causes, and (ii) diseases are\ud
causal processes best seen as simultaneously acting sequences of mutually\ud
manifesting dispositions - this, I claim, follows from the assumption that diseases\ud
should be classified by consideration of both their clinical and pathological effects, and\ud
importantly, events that can lead to the cessation of these symptoms.\u
Strings, branes and the self-dual solutions of Exceptional Field Theory

It has been shown that membranes and fivebranes are wave-like or monopole-like solutions in some higher dimensional theory. Here the picture is completed by combining the wave and monopole solutions into a single solution of Exceptional Field Theory. This solution solves the twisted self-duality constraint. The 1/2 BPS brane spectrum, consisting of fundamental, solitonic and Dirichlet branes and their bound states, in ten- and eleven-dimensional supergravity may all be extracted from this single solution of Exceptional Field Theory. The solution’s properties such as its asymptotic behavior at the core and at infinity are investigated
Standard model effective field theory: integrating out vector-like fermions

We apply the covariant derivative expansion of the Coleman-Weinberg potential to vector-like fermion models, matching the UV theory to the relevant dimension-6 operators in the standard model effective field theory. The γ matrix induced complication in the fermionic covariant derivative expansion is studied in detail, and all the contributing combinations are enumerated. From this analytical result we also provide numerical constraints for a generation of vector-like quarks and vector-like leptons
A note on trans-Planckian tail effects

We study the proposal by Mersini et al. [1] that the observed dark energy might be explained by the back-reaction of the set of tail modes in a theory with a dispersion relation in which the mode frequency decays exponentially in the trans-Planckian regime.  The matter tail modes are frozen out, however they induce metric fluctuations. The energy-momentum tensor with which the tail modes effect the background geometry obtains contributions from both metric and matter fluctuations. We calculate the equation of state induced by the tail modes taking into account the gravitational contribution. We find that, in contrast to the case of frozen super-Hubble cosmological fluctuations, in this case the matter perturbations dominate, and they yield an equation of state which to leading order takes the form of a positive cosmological constant
Bijective transformations of fuzzy implications – An algebraic perspective

Bijective transformations play an important role in generating fuzzy implications from fuzzy implications. In [Representations through a Monoid on the set of Fuzzy Implications, Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 247, 51–67], Vemuri and Jayaram proposed a monoid structure on the set of fuzzy implications, which is denoted by II, and using the largest subgroup SS of this monoid discussed some group actions on the set II. In this context, they obtained a bijective transformation which ultimately led to hitherto unknown representations of the Yager's families of fuzzy implications, viz., f-, g  -implications. This motivates us to consider whether the bijective transformations proposed by Baczyński & Drewniak and Jayaram & Mesiar, in different but purely analytic contexts, also possess any algebraic connotations. In this work, we show that these two bijective transformations can also be seen as being obtained from some group actions of SS on II. Further, we consider the most general bijective transformation that generates fuzzy implications from fuzzy implications and show that it can also be obtained as a composition of group actions of SS on II. Thus this work tries to position such bijective transformations from an algebraic perspective
Synthesis of novel palladium allyl complexes bearing heteroditiopic NHC-S ligands. Kinetic study on the carbene exchange between bis-carbene palladium allyl complexes

We have synthesized several novel palladium allyl and 1,1-dimethylallyl complexes bearing different\ud
heteroditopic NHCeS ligands giving rise to a five-membered chelate ring with the metal center.We were\ud
able to synthesize some homoleptic bis-carbene allyl derivatives by taking advantage of the hemilability\ud
of the thioetheric sulfur. Attempts at preparing mixed bis-carbene complexes bearing two different\ud
heteroditopic carbenes (i.e. NHCeS and NHCePy) simultaneously coordinated to the palladium center\ud
lead to a carbene transmetalation with the formation of a statistically distributed equilibrium mixture of\ud
the two pure homoleptic and of the mixed bis-carbene palladium allyl complexes in solution. In two\ud
different cases the rate of the equilibrium reaction was measured and a mechanistic hypothesis provided.\ud
Finally, we have determined the solid state structures of a complex bearing only one NHCeS heteroditopic\ud
carbene and of the bis-carbene (NHCeS, NHCePy) palladium allyl derivatives
Transmetalation between Au(I) and Sn(IV) complexes. The reaction mechanism in non-coordinating and coordinating polar solvents.

Some novel gold(I) derivatives of the type [LAuCl] (L = DIC, PPh3, NHCs) have been synthesized and characterized.
The products of the transmetalation reaction between these species and tributyl-phenylethynylstannane
have been isolated and characterized. An exhaustive kinetic study on the transmetalation
reaction has also been carried out in CHCl3 and CH3CN. The experimental results were discussed in terms
of the electronic and steric characteristics of the ligands and an interpretation of the peculiar influence of
different solvents on the reaction rates was propose
The 2013 European Seismic Hazard Model: key components and results

The 2013 European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM13) results from a community-based probabilistic seismic hazard assessment supported by the EU-FP7 project “Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe” (SHARE, 2009–2013). The ESHM13 is a consistent seismic hazard model for Europe and Turkey which overcomes the limitation of national borders and includes a through quantification of the uncertainties. It is the first completed regional effort contributing to the “Global Earthquake Model” initiative. It might serve as a reference model for various applications, from earthquake preparedness to earthquake risk mitigation strategies, including the update of the European seismic regulations for building design (Eurocode 8), and thus it is useful for future safety assessment and improvement of private and public buildings. Although its results constitute a reference for Europe, they do not replace the existing national design regulations that are in place for seismic design and construction of buildings. The ESHM13 represents a significant improvement compared to previous efforts as it is based on (1) the compilation of updated and harmonised versions of the databases required for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, (2) the adoption of standard procedures and robust methods, especially for expert elicitation and consensus building among hundreds of European experts, (3) the multi-disciplinary input from all branches of earthquake science and engineering, (4) the direct involvement of the CEN/TC250/SC8 committee in defining output specifications relevant for Eurocode 8 and (5) the accounting for epistemic uncertainties of model components and hazard results. Furthermore, enormous effort was devoted to transparently document and ensure open availability of all data, results and methods through the European Facility for Earthquake Hazard and Risk (www.​efehr.​org)
Safety concept for a mixed criticality on-board software system

This paper presents a safety concept for the on-board software system of the UPMSat-2 experimental satellite. Subsystems with different criticality levels are assigned to different partitions in a partitioned software architecture. The architecture is based on XtratuM, an open-source virtualization kernel, and ORK+, an open-source real-time kernel for high- integrity systems. The safety requirements of the system are analysed, and a safety concept is developed based on the partitioned software architecture. The properties of the implementation resulting from the approach are discussed, and guidelines for future developments are proposed
The cAMP phosphodiesterase-4D7 (PDE4D7) is downregulated in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells and mediates proliferation by compartmentalising cAMP at the plasma membrane of VCaP prostate cancer cells

Background: Isoforms of the PDE4 family of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are expressed in a cell type-dependent manner and contribute to underpinning the paradigm of intracellular cAMP signal compartmentalisation. Here we identify the differential regulation of the PDE4D7 isoform during prostate cancer progression and uncover a role in controlling prostate cancer cell proliferation. Methods: PDE4 transcripts from 19 prostate cancer cell lines and xenografts were quantified by qPCR. PDE4D7 expression was further investigated because of its significant downregulation between androgen-sensitive (AS) and androgen-insensitive (AI) samples. Western blot analysis, PDE activity assay, immunofluorescent staining and cAMP responsive FRET assays were used to investigate the sub-plasma membrane localisation of a population of PDE4D7 in VCaP (AS) and PC3 (AI) cell lines. Disruption of this localisation pattern using dominant-negative protein expression and siRNA knockdown showed that PDE4D7 acts in opposition to proliferative signalling as assessed by electrical impedance-based proliferation assays. Results: Here we identify the differential regulation of the PDE4D7 isoform during prostate cancer progression. PDE4D7 is highly expressed in AS cells and starkly downregulated in AI samples. The significance of this downregulation is underscored by our finding that PDE4D7 contributes a major fraction of cAMP degrading PDE activity tethered at the plasma membrane and that displacement of PDE4D7 from this compartment leads to an increase in the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. PDE4D7 mRNA expression is not, however, directly regulated by the androgen receptor signalling axis despite an overlapping genomic structure with the androgen responsive gene PART1. PDE4D7, which locates to the plasma membrane, acts to supress aberrant non-steroidal growth signals within the prostate or AS metastasis. Conclusions: PDE4D7 expression is significantly downregulated between AS and AI cell phenotypes. This change in expression potentially provides a novel androgen-independent biomarker and manipulation of its activity or its expression may provide therapeutic possibilities and insights into contributory aspects of the complex molecular pathology of prostate cancer
Exact Solutions of a Non-Polynomially Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation

A nonlinear generalisation of Schrodinger's equation had previously been obtained using information-theoretic arguments. The nonlinearities in that equation were of a nonpolynomial form, equivalent to the occurence of higher-derivative nonlinear terms at all orders. Here we construct some exact solutions to that equation in 1+1 dimensions. On the half-line, the solutions resemble exponentially damped Bloch waves even though no external periodic potential is included: the periodicity is induced by the nonpolynomiality. The solutions are nonperturbative as they do not reduce to solutions of the linear theory in the limit that the nonlinearity parameter vanishes. An intriguing feature of the solutions is their infinite degeneracy: for a given energy, there exists a very large arbitrariness in the normalisable wavefunctions. We also consider solutions to a q-deformed version of the nonlinear equation and discuss a natural discretisation implied by the nonpolynomiality. Finally, we contrast the properties of our solutions with other solutions of nonlinear Schrodinger equations in the literature and suggest some possible applications of our results in the domains of low-energy and high-energy physics
Combined investigation of water sorption on $TiO_2$ rutile (1 1 0) single crystal face: XPS vs. periodic DFT

XPS and periodic DFT calculations have been used to investigate water sorption on the TiO2 rutile (1 1 0) face. Two sets of XPS spectra were collected on the TiO2 (1 1 0) single crystal clean and previously exposed to water: the first set with photoelectrons collected in a direction parallel to the normal to the surface; and the second set with the sample tilted by 70°, respectively. This tilting procedure promotes the signals from surface species and reveals that the first hydration layer is strongly coordinated to the surface and also that, despite the fact that the spectra were recorded under ultra-high vacuum, water molecules subsist in upper hydration layers. In addition, periodic DFT calculations were performed to investigate the water adsorption process to determine if molecular and/or dissociative adsorption takes place. The first step of the theoretical part was the optimisation of a dry surface model and then the investigation of water adsorption. The calculated molecular water adsorption energies are consistent with previously published experimental data and it appears that even though it is slightly less stable, the dissociative water sorption can also take place. This assumption was considered, in a second step, on a larger surface model where molecular and dissociated water molecules were adsorbed together with different ratio. It was found that, due to hydrogen bonding stabilisation, molecular and dissociated water molecules can coexist on the surface if the ratio of dissociated water molecules is less than ≈33%. These results are consistent with previous experimental works giving a 10–25% range