scholarly journals First Step toward Gestural Recognition in Harsh Environments

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 3997
Author(s):  
Omri Alon ◽  
Sharon Rabinovich ◽  
Chana Fyodorov ◽  
Jessica Cauchard
Keyword(s):  
Recognition Accuracy ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Harsh Environments ◽  
Aerial Robots ◽  
Remote Sensors ◽  
First Response ◽  
Gestural Interaction ◽  
Low Visibility ◽  
Thermal Cameras ◽  
Data Points

We are witnessing a rise in the use of ground and aerial robots in first response missions. These robots provide novel opportunities to support first responders and lower the risk to people’s lives. As these robots become increasingly autonomous, researchers are seeking ways to enable natural communication strategies between robots and first responders, such as using gestural interaction. First response work often takes place in harsh environments, which hold unique challenges for gesture sensing and recognition, including in low-visibility environments, making the gestural interaction non-trivial. As such, an adequate choice of sensors and algorithms needs to be made to support gestural recognition in harsh environments. In this work, we compare the performances of three common types of remote sensors, namely RGB, depth, and thermal cameras, using various algorithms, in simulated harsh environments. Our results show 90 to 96% recognition accuracy (respectively with or without smoke) with the use of protective equipment. This work provides future researchers with clear data points to support them in their choice of sensors and algorithms for gestural interaction with robots in harsh environments.

scholarly journals Prediction of coating thickness for polyelectrolyte multilayers via machine learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Varvara Gribova ◽  
Anastasiia Navalikhina ◽  
Oleksandr Lysenko ◽  
Cynthia Calligaro ◽  
Eloïse Lebaudy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Functional Coating ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
First Response ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Time Utilization ◽  
Film Development

AbstractLayer-by-layer (LbL) deposition method of polyelectrolytes is a versatile way of developing functional nanoscale coatings. Even though the mechanisms of LbL film development are well-established, currently there are no predictive models that can link film components with their final properties. The current health crisis has shown the importance of accelerated development of biomedical solutions such as antiviral coatings, and the implementation of machine learning methodologies for coating development can enable achieving this. In this work, using literature data and newly generated experimental results, we first analyzed the relative impact of 23 coating parameters on the coating thickness. Next, a predictive model has been developed using aforementioned parameters and molecular descriptors of polymers from the DeepChem library. Model performance was limited because of insufficient number of data points in the training set, due to the scarce availability of data in the literature. Despite this limitation, we demonstrate, for the first time, utilization of machine learning for prediction of LbL coating properties. It can decrease the time necessary to obtain functional coating with desired properties, as well as decrease experimental costs and enable the fast first response to crisis situations (such as pandemics) where coatings can positively contribute. Besides coating thickness, which was selected as an output value in this study, machine learning approach can be potentially used to predict functional properties of multilayer coatings, e.g. biocompatibility, cell adhesive, antibacterial, antiviral or anti-inflammatory properties.

An Acquisition and Distribution System for Situational Awareness

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Green ◽  
Paul Y. Oh ◽  
Seunghyun Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Edge Detection ◽  
3D Reconstruction ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Mechanism Synthesis ◽  
Aerial Robots ◽  
First Response ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Aerial Platform

In times of disaster acquiring aerial images is challenging. Runways may be crippled thus denying conventional aircraft in the area from taking off. Also the time required to schedule a satellite fly-by may delay first response efforts. Man backpackable aerial robots can be carried close to the disaster site and flown to capture aerial images. This paper integrates mechatronics, intelligent sensing, and mechanism synthesis in a teleoperable kite-mounted camera. Rapidly deployable, transportable by foot, easy to fly and affordable, our system can quickly acquire, process and distribute aerial images. Images mosaicing edge detection, 3D reconstruction and geo-referencing resulting from images acquired by our aerial platform are also presented.

First Responders and Prehospital Care for Road Traffic Injuries in Malawi

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Chokotho ◽  
Wakisa Mulwafu ◽  
Isaac Singini ◽  
Yasin Njalale ◽  
Limbika Maliwichi-Senganimalunje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
First Responders ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Road Traffic Injuries ◽  
First Response ◽  
First Aid Training

AbstractIntroductionRoad traffic collisions are a common cause of injuries and injury-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Basic prehospital care can be the difference between life and death for injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.ProblemThis study examined the challenges associated with current first response practices in Malawi.MethodsIn April 2014, focus groups were conducted in two areas of Malawi: Karonga (in the Northern Region) and Blantyre (in the Southern Region; both are along the M1 highway), and a qualitative synthesis approach was used to identify themes. All governmental and nongovernmental first response organizations identified by key informants were contacted, and a checklist was used to identify the services they offer.ResultsAccess to professional prehospital care in Malawi is almost nonexistent, aside from a few city fire departments and private ambulance services. Rapid transportation to a hospital is usually the primary goal of roadside care because of limited first aid knowledge and a lack of access to basic safety equipment. The key informants recommended: expanding community-based first aid training; emphasizing umunthu (shared humanity) to inspire bystander involvement in roadside care; empowering local leaders to coordinate on-site responses; improving emergency communication systems; equipping traffic police with road safety gear; and expanding access to ambulance services.ConclusionPrehospital care in Malawi would be improved by the creation of a formal network of community leaders, police, commercial drivers, and other lay volunteers who are trained in basic first aid and are equipped to respond to crash sites to provide roadside care to trauma patients and prepare them for safe transport to hospitals.ChokothoL, MulwafuW, SinginiI, NjalaleY, Maliwichi-SenganimalunjeL, JacobsenKH. First responders and prehospital care for road traffic injuries in Malawi. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):14–19.

scholarly journals UK anti-slavery policy at the border: Humanitarian opportunism and the challenge of victim consent to assistance

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 678-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Hadjimatheou ◽  
Jennifer Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Security Policy ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Immigration Control ◽  
Modern Slavery ◽  
First Response ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Shed Light

The UK’s Modern Slavery Strategy, launched in 2014, gives Border Force Officers a key role as anti-slavery first responders, identifying and supporting victims at the border. Yet, while an estimated 94 percent of victims identified in the UK cross UK borders, in 2016 less than 3 percent of victim referrals were made at the border. This article draws on a series of in-depth interviews with a specialized Safeguarding and Anti-Trafficking (SAT) team within the UK Border Force to shed light on this discrepancy. In doing so, it takes forward critical debates about the coherence of humanitarian anti-slavery policy and the consistency of its ambitions with a continued prioritization by governments of security policy and immigration control. The article furthers two key arguments: first, that current policy around anti-slavery first response at the border is grounded in a rationale of ‘humanitarian opportunism’, which states that borders are sites of unique opportunity to identify and assist victims of trafficking, and that Border Force Officers therefore have a humanitarian duty to identify and assist victims; second, that the humanitarian opportunity is in reality far more restricted in practice than the policy rhetoric suggests, a fact that goes some way to explaining the very small numbers of those identified as trafficked and assisted at UK borders. Two key challenges to successful identification and support are identified: the first is EU freedom of movement, which in effect exempts European citizens from vulnerability screening by Border Force Officers; the second is the requirement that Border Force Officers obtain written consent from those identified as trafficked to being labelled a victim of crime before they can be offered support. The article puts forward some suggestions for how these challenges could be addressed for the benefit of those trafficked.

scholarly journals Factors that motivate individuals to volunteer to be dispatched as first responders in the event of a medical emergency: A systematic review protocol

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eithne Heffernan ◽  
Iris Oving ◽  
Tomás Barry ◽  
Viet-Hai Phung ◽  
Aloysius Niroshan Siriwardena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
First Response ◽  
Medical Emergencies ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
Synthesis Methodology

Background: Voluntary First Response is an important component of prehospital care for medical emergencies, particularly cardiac arrest, in many countries. This intervention entails the mobilisation of volunteers, known as Community First Responders (CFRs), by the Emergency Medical Services to respond to medical emergencies in their locality. They include lay responders and/or professional responders (e.g. police officers, fire fighters, and general practitioners). A wide variety of factors are thought to motivate CFRs to join and remain engaged in Voluntary First Response schemes, such as the availability of learning opportunities, recognition, counselling, and leadership. The aim of this review is to develop an in-depth understanding of CFR motivation, including the factors that influence the initial decision to volunteer as a CFR and the factors that sustain involvement in Voluntary First Response over time. Any factors relevant to CFR de-motivation and turnover will also be examined. Methods: This is a protocol for a qualitative systematic review of the factors that influence the motivation of individuals to participate in Voluntary First Response. A systematic search will be carried out on seven electronic databases. Qualitative studies, mixed-methods studies, and any other studies producing data relating to the review question will be eligible for inclusion. Title and abstract screening, as well as full text screening, will be completed independently by two authors. A narrative synthesis, which is an established qualitative synthesis methodology, will be performed. The quality of each of the included studies will be critically appraised. Discussion: The findings of this review will be used to optimise the intervention of Voluntary First Response. Specifically, the results will inform the design and organisation of Voluntary First Response schemes, including their recruitment, training, and psychological support processes. This could benefit a range of stakeholders, including CFRs, paramedics, emergency physicians, patients, and the public.

scholarly journals Volunteer First Responders for Optimizing Management of Mass Casualty Incidents

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eli Yafe ◽  
Blake Byron Walker ◽  
Ofer Amram ◽  
Nadine Schuurman ◽  
Ellen Randall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Distribution ◽  
Response Times ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
First Response ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Trauma Mortality

ABSTRACTObjectiveRapid response to a trauma incident is vital for saving lives. However, in a mass casualty incident (MCI), there may not be enough resources (first responders and equipment) to adequately triage, prepare, and evacuate every injured person. To address this deficit, a Volunteer First Responder (VFR) program was established.MethodsThis paper describes the organizational structure and roles of the VFR program, outlines the geographical distribution of volunteers, and evaluates response times to 3 MCIs for both ambulance services and VFRs in 2000 and 2016.ResultsWhen mapped, the spatial distribution of VFRs and ambulance stations closely and deliberately reflects the population distribution of Israel. We found that VFRs were consistently first to arrive at the scene of an MCI and greatly increased the number of personnel available to assist with MCI management in urban, suburban, and rural settings.ConclusionsThe VFR program provides an important and effective life-saving resource to supplement emergency first response. Given the known importance of rapid response to trauma, VFRs likely contribute to reduced trauma mortality, although further research is needed in order to examine this question specifically. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:287–294)

scholarly journals Factors that motivate individuals to volunteer to be dispatched as first responders in the event of a medical emergency: A systematic review protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Eithne Heffernan ◽  
Iris Oving ◽  
Tomás Barry ◽  
Viet-Hai Phung ◽  
Aloysius Niroshan Siriwardena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
First Response ◽  
Medical Emergencies ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
Synthesis Methodology

Background: Voluntary First Response is an important component of prehospital care for medical emergencies, particularly cardiac arrest, in many countries. This intervention entails the mobilisation of volunteers, known as Community First Responders (CFRs), by the Emergency Medical Services to respond to medical emergencies in their locality. They include lay responders and/or professional responders (e.g. police officers, fire fighters, and general practitioners). A wide variety of factors are thought to motivate CFRs to join and remain engaged in Voluntary First Response schemes, such as the availability of learning opportunities, recognition, counselling, and leadership. The aim of this review is to develop an in-depth understanding of CFR motivation, including the factors that influence the initial decision to volunteer as a CFR and the factors that sustain involvement in Voluntary First Response over time. Any factors relevant to CFR de-motivation and turnover will also be examined. Methods: This is a protocol for a qualitative systematic review of the factors that influence the motivation of individuals to participate in Voluntary First Response. A systematic search will be carried out on seven electronic databases. Qualitative studies, mixed-methods studies, and any other studies producing data relating to the review question will be eligible for inclusion. Title and abstract screening, as well as full text screening, will be completed independently by two authors. A narrative synthesis, which is an established qualitative synthesis methodology, will be performed. The quality of each of the included studies will be critically appraised. Discussion: The findings of this review will be used to optimise the intervention of Voluntary First Response. Specifically, the results will inform the design and organisation of Voluntary First Response schemes, including their recruitment, training, and psychological support processes. This could benefit a range of stakeholders, including CFRs, paramedics, emergency physicians, patients, and the public.

point-Analysis Using the Extrapolation Method in the Analytical Electron microscope

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 430-431
Author(s):  
Zenji Horita ◽  
Ryuzo Nishimachi ◽  
Takeshi Sano ◽  
Minoru Nemoto
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Extrapolation Method ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Absorption Correction ◽  
Point Analysis ◽  
Analytical Electron ◽  
Analytical Electron Microscope ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Identical Composition ◽  
X Ray Absorption

Absorption correction is often required in quantitative x-ray microanalysis of thin specimens using the analytical electron microscope. For such correction, it is convenient to use the extrapolation method[l] because the thickness, density and mass absorption coefficient are not necessary in the method. The characteristic x-ray intensities measured for the analysis are only requirement for the absorption correction. However, to achieve extrapolation, it is imperative to obtain data points more than two at different thicknesses in the identical composition. Thus, the method encounters difficulty in analyzing a region equivalent to beam size or the specimen with uniform thickness. The purpose of this study is to modify the method so that extrapolation becomes feasible in such limited conditions. Applicability of the new form is examined by using a standard sample and then it is applied to quantification of phases in a Ni-Al-W ternary alloy.The earlier equation for the extrapolation method was formulated based on the facts that the magnitude of x-ray absorption increases with increasing thickness and that the intensity of a characteristic x-ray exhibiting negligible absorption in the specimen is used as a measure of thickness.

Influence of the Acoustic Reflex on Vowel Recognition

1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dorman ◽  
Ingrid Cedar ◽  
Maureen Hannley ◽  
Marjorie Leek ◽  
Julie Mapes Lindholm
Keyword(s):  
Auditory System ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Recognition Accuracy ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Stapedial Reflex ◽  
Vowel Recognition ◽  
High Sound

Computer synthesized vowels of 50- and 300-ms duration were presented to normal-hearing listeners at a moderate and high sound pressure level (SPL). Presentation at the high SPL resulted in poor recognition accuracy for vowels of a duration (50 ms) shorter than the latency of the acoustic stapedial reflex. Presentation level had no effect on recognition accuracy for vowels of sufficient duration (300 ms) to elicit the reflex. The poor recognition accuracy for the brief, high intensity vowels was significantly improved when the reflex was preactivated. These results demonstrate the importance of the acoustic reflex in extending the dynamic range of the auditory system for speech recognition.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document