A Survey of Orthogonal Moments for Image Representation: Theory, Implementation, and Evaluation

Image representation is an important topic in computer vision and pattern recognition. It plays a fundamental role in a range of applications toward understanding visual contents. Moment-based image representation has been reported to be effective in satisfying the core conditions of semantic description due to its beneficial mathematical properties, especially geometric invariance and independence. This article presents a comprehensive survey of the orthogonal moments for image representation, covering recent advances in fast/accurate calculation, robustness/invariance optimization, definition extension, and application. We also create a software package for a variety of widely used orthogonal moments and evaluate such methods in a same base. The presented theory analysis, software implementation, and evaluation results can support the community, particularly in developing novel techniques and promoting real-world applications.

Rapid-Erection Backstepping Tracking Control for Electrohydraulic Lifting Mechanisms of Launcher Systems

Uncertainties and disturbances widely exist in electrohydraulic lifting mechanisms of launcher systems, which may worsen the rapid-erection tracking accuracy and even make the system unstable. To deal with the issue, an asymptotic tracking control framework is developed for electrohydraulic lifting mechanisms of launcher systems. Firstly, the dynamic equations and state-space forms of the electrohydraulic lifting mechanism are modeled. Based on the system model, a nonlinear rapid-erection robust controller is constructed to achieve the improvement of the system control performance, in which a nonlinear feedback term is employed to remove the effects of uncertainties and disturbances on tracking performance. Compared to the existing results, the asymptotic tracking stability of the closed-loop system can be assured based on the Lyapunov theory analysis. In the end, the simulation example of an actual electrohydraulic lifting mechanism of the launcher system is done to validate the effectiveness with the proposed controller.

A semiotic cultural psychology theory analysis of the signs ‘We’, ‘Us’, ‘I’ and ‘Me’

Relevant to the emerging field of semiotic cultural psychology theory (SCPT), the present paper considers ‘We’, ‘Us’, ‘I’ and ‘Me’ as semiotic and cultural psychology phenomena. Drawing on the semiotics of Saussure, Peirce, Jakobson, and Cousins, a semiotic dynamic ‘double-dyadic’ model of the signifier and the referent is proposed. For each ‘We’, ‘Us’, ‘I’ and ‘Me’, the COVID-19 global pandemic related cases are used to analyse and illustrate the signifier-referent model. Implications are drawn from the new model for the complex systems entailed in organizing self and culture. Finally, suggestions are made for testing the model.

Altered Functional Network in Infants With Profound Bilateral Congenital Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Graph Theory Analysis

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have suggested that there is a functional reorganization of brain areas in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Recently, graph theory analysis has brought a new understanding of the functional connectome and topological features in central neural system diseases. However, little is known about the functional network topology changes in SNHL patients, especially in infants. In this study, 34 infants with profound bilateral congenital SNHL and 28 infants with normal hearing aged 11–36 months were recruited. No difference was found in small-world parameters and network efficiency parameters. Differences in global and nodal topologic organization, hub distribution, and whole-brain functional connectivity were explored using graph theory analysis. Both normal-hearing infants and SNHL infants exhibited small-world topology. Furthermore, the SNHL group showed a decreased nodal degree in the bilateral thalamus. Six hubs in the SNHL group and seven hubs in the normal-hearing group were identified. The left middle temporal gyrus was a hub only in the SNHL group, while the right parahippocampal gyrus and bilateral temporal pole were hubs only in the normal-hearing group. Functional connectivity between auditory regions and motor regions, between auditory regions and default-mode-network (DMN) regions, and within DMN regions was found to be decreased in the SNHL group. These results indicate a functional reorganization of brain functional networks as a result of hearing loss. This study provides evidence that functional reorganization occurs in the early stage of life in infants with profound bilateral congenital SNHL from the perspective of complex networks.

Analysis of the Queuing System for the Indonesian Islamic Bank (BSI) Bengkulu Branch

The purpose of this study is to determine the average level of customer arrivals and the average service time of customers in the queue. The analytical model used in this study is a multi-channel single-phase queuing theory analysis with a mathematical formula. The queuing process is a process related to the arrival of the customer to a queuing system, then waiting in the queue until the waiter selects the customer according to the service discipline, and finally the customer leaves the queuing system after the service is finished. At Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) KC Bengkulu S. Parman 1 there are 5 tellers provided to serve customers who will make deposits, withdrawals and cash transfers. Queues that occur at the optimal service level can be obtained by the performance of the queuing system with the calculation results, namely, the average number of customers in the queue (nq) 31.88 customers, customers in the total system 33.08 people, the average time in the queue 0, 000767 and the total system time is 0.034097 or 2 minutes. Thus, customers do not take too long to make transactions. With the number of tellers as many as five people, there is a long waiting time for customers (Wq) in the queue, which is 0.02777 hours or 2 minutes and the average number of customers in the queue (Ls) is 2 people..

Niche Theory Analysis of Sustainable Strategic Relationships among MICE Destinations: A Case of New Zealand

This study aimed to analyze the competitive relationship among meetings, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) destinations with reference to the notion of niche businesses in New Zealand; and to explore the existence of cooperative strategies between neighboring destinations. The data were collected from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Reports on the Convention Activity Survey (CAS) in New Zealand. The study contributes towards an innovative and better understanding of the dynamics of sustainable destination competitiveness. It broadens the scope of MICE industry research by exploring new insights on the notion of destination competition and makes a theoretical connection between niche theory and the importance of coopetition. By investigating the case of MICE destinations of four northern central islands in New Zealand, this study provides information on the strategic significance of niche marketing for global destinations preparing for entrance into this market.

Length-dependent motions of SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting RNA pseudoknot and alternative conformations suggest avenues for frameshifting suppression

Conserved SARS-CoV-2 RNA regions of critical biological functions define excellent targets for anti-viral therapeutics against Covid-19 variants. One such region is the frameshifting element (FSE), responsible for correct translation of viral polyproteins. Here, we analyze molecular-dynamics motions of three FSE conformations, discovered by graph-theory analysis, and associated mutants designed by graph-based inverse folding: two distinct 3-stem H-type pseudoknots and a 3-way junction. We find that the prevalent H-type pseudoknot in literature adopts ring-like conformations, which in combination with 5′ end threading could promote ribosomal pausing. An inherent shape switch from “L” to linear that may help trigger the frameshifting is suppressed in our designed mutant. The alternative conformation trajectories suggest a stable intermediate structure with mixed stem interactions of all three conformations, pointing to a possible transition pathway during ribosomal translation. These observations provide new insights into anti-viral strategies and frameshifting mechanisms.