Scale-invariant localization using quasi-semantic object landmarks

This work presents Object Landmarks, a new type of visual feature designed for visual localization over major changes in distance and scale. An Object Landmark consists of a bounding box $${\mathbf {b}}$$ b defining an object, a descriptor $${\mathbf {q}}$$ q of that object produced by a Convolutional Neural Network, and a set of classical point features within $${\mathbf {b}}$$ b . We evaluate Object Landmarks on visual odometry and place-recognition tasks, and compare them against several modern approaches. We find that Object Landmarks enable superior localization over major scale changes, reducing error by as much as 18% and increasing robustness to failure by as much as 80% versus the state-of-the-art. They allow localization under scale change factors up to 6, where state-of-the-art approaches break down at factors of 3 or more.

Cents versus scale steps: Can we tell the difference between major and minor thirds?

We report an experiment in which participants ( N = 368) were asked to differentiate between major and minor thirds. These intervals could either be formed by diatonic tones from the C major scale (tonal condition) or by a subset of tones from the chromatic scale (atonal condition). We hypothesized that in the tonal condition intervals would be perceived as a function of scale step distances, which we defined as the number of diatonic leaps between two notes of a given music scale. In the atonal condition, we hypothesized that intervals would be perceived as a function of cents. If our hypotheses were supported, we should verify a less accurate performance in the tonal condition, where scale step distances are the same between major and minor thirds. The data corroborated our hypotheses, and we suggest that acoustic measurements of intervallic distances (i.e., frequency ratios and cents) are not optimal when it comes to describing the perceptual quality of intervals in a tonal context. Finally, our research points to the possibility that, in comparison with previous models, scale steps and cents might better capture the notion of global versus local instances of auditory processing.

VALORACIÓN DE INDEPENDENCIA FUNCIONAL EN PACIENTES GERIÁTRICOS.

IntroductionOlder adults usually have physical, psychological, and social changes that affect basic functions due to physiological aging. The objective of this study was to assess the degree of functional independence in geriatric patients and their relationship to age, level of education and time of residence.Patients and MethodsA descriptive, cross-cutting study focused on the assessment of the degree of functional independence under barthel’s index was carried out; made in residents with age ranges between 65-90 years, where an important description of the level of independence in seniors was obtained. The total population (sample) was 110 residents (57 women and 53 men). Results It showed that men have greater independence functionality (43% men vs. 32% women), corroborating this appreciation with a national census statistic performed in 2010. In addition, the results have been analyzed with its correlation and significance of the Residents’ Functional Level outcome regarding to their age, education level, and time in the institution.ConclusionsThe educational level showed a slight correlation with its physical functionality, however, no connection was found between functionality and age, nor institutionalized time. Further studies should be performed on a major scale to support static relevance.

INDOOR MICROCLIMATIC VARIABLES ASSESSMENT BY VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY ON ORIGINAL STRUCTURE OF TROPAEUM TRAIANI MONUMENT, ADAMCLISI

This work attempts to show the usefulness of vibrational spectroscopy (i.e., FTIR and Raman) in the analysis of major components of the original structure materials of a heritage monument (Tropaeum Traiani, Adamclisi). The features of materials and indoor microclimatic variables (i.e., temperature and relative humidity), on the periods of the monitoring campaigns, were considered. As the conservation must make sure about the physicochemical and structural aspects of the materials, assessment of the environmental impact, deterioration processes and characterization of ancient building materials are useful to understand the chemical evolution in the past, predict the various trends in the future, choose the suitable restoration methods to preserve their present state, and even to describe the alteration process of materials and modification through time. The surface of original structure materials used until present seems not to be affected at major scale by the indoor microclimate variables. But even high recorded relative humidity levels promote the occurrence of amorphous calcium carbonate, calcite, aragonite and vaterite highlighted by vibrational spectroscopy data (i.e., FTIR and Raman), as a first effect, the development of biological organism can be enhanced, depending on the characteristics of the substrate. Second, atmospheric pollutants can be dissolved easier in the humidity existing in the porous material, and lastly, if the waterflow inside the stone is not homogeneous, cracks could appear due to differences in permeability.

Settlements, Buildings, and Society of the Erlitou Culture

The Erlitou culture formed the earliest Chinese territorial state by the early part of the second millennium bce. This chapter looks at settlement patterns, building types, and social conditions for the development of a capital site and territorial secondary sites. Erlitou cultural settlements comprise 3 levels with the Erlitou site itself as a first level settlement, level 1, at the top as a capital city. Large-scale rammed earth architectural foundations identify a ruling elite and complex social functions. Based on an analysis of the settlement system and major scale architecture construction, tomb locations, material goods, and resource controls, trade patterns and resource control Erlitou site and its society served as a sophisticated capital complex.

Multisensory action effects facilitate the performance of motor sequences

Research has shown that contingent, distinct action effects have a beneficial influence on motor sequence performance. Previous studies showed the beneficial influence of task-irrelevant action effects from one modality (auditory) on motor sequence performance, compared with no task-irrelevant action effects. The present study investigated the influence of task-irrelevant action effects on motor sequence performance from a multiple-modality perspective. We compared motor sequence performances of participants who received different task-irrelevant action effects in an auditory, visual, or audiovisual condition. In the auditory condition, key presses produced tones of a C-major scale that mapped to keys from left to right in ascending order. In the visual condition, key presses produced rectangles in different locations on the screen that mapped to keys from left to right in ascending order. In the audiovisual condition, both tone and rectangle effects were produced simultaneously by key presses. There were advantages for the audiovisual group in motor sequence initiation and execution. The results implied that, compared with unimodal action effects, action effects from multiple sensory modalities can prime an action faster and strengthen associations between successive actions, leading to faster motor sequence performance.

Intelligent Technique for Automating the Conversion between Major and Minor Melodies

Nowadays, computers are extremely beneficial to music composers. Computer music generation tools are developed for aiding composers in producing satisfying musical pieces. The automation of music composition tasks is a challenging research point, specially to the field of Artificial Intelligence. Converting melodies that are played on a major scale to minor (or vice versa) is interesting to both composers and music listeners. Newly converted melodies of famous songs, either from major to minor or the opposite, are becoming blockbusters on the social media. In this paper we propose an intelligent method for automating the conversion between major and minor melodies using Artificial Intelligence techniques. We run our experiments on melodies in the MIDI format which is a standard music format enabling the communication between computers and various musical devices. We also propose a smart method for musical scale detection for the input melodies. Scale detection is a critical step for correctly converting between major and minor melodies. Additionally, this step is also important as a pre-processing step in various other music retrieval or transformation applications.

Failing in Style

Chapter 5 focuses on the restructuring of the Berlin-based Auergesellschaft, one of the Gilbreths’ first consulting contracts, in which, from 1914 on, they began to implement their consulting method on a major scale. It charts the Gilbreths’ strategic use of sports studies from baseball and fencing to showcase their method to potential customers—which included the German military—and how they eventually acquired a long-term contract with the Auergesellschaft. It describes the installation of a central planning room and a charting department, as well as the implementation of visualization techniques, including route models and flow charts. It analyzes how such visualization devices were used to train workers, while also allowing Gilbreth to give lectures about his system to middle management, thereby legitimizing his consulting model. The failure of the restructuring process shows the gap produced between the aspirations of their method and the reality of their concrete consulting activity, but also the high value that media techniques were given in this process.

A Review on Interaction Effect of Pile under Vertical Compression

The present theories and methods for design of the vertically loaded pile foundations generally provides the overall values of bearing capacity and settlement characteristics for the pile groups. In every design criteria for vertically loaded pile system, there are some factors affecting on major scale such as bearing capacity, Settlement, skin friction etc. This review paper shows that the consequences of vertical load on pile foundation done by various researchers and from their results help in predicting the load–settlement behavior of vertically loaded pile and pile groups. It is observed, when the group efficiency is close to unity, the variation between expected and observed behavior of piles proves to be a positive approach towards the ultimate load. Hence, various researchers have tested and published their laboratory and theoretical values on load-settlement characteristics under the influence of vertical load on pile foundation. This paper illustrates about comparison of various test results and their research gap on consequences of vertically loaded pile foundation.