Video-based isolated hand sign language recognition using a deep cascaded model

In this paper, we propose an efficient cascaded model for sign language recognition taking benefit from spatio-temporal hand-based information using deep learning approaches, especially Single Shot Detector (SSD), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), from videos. Our simple yet efficient and accurate model includes two main parts: hand detection and sign recognition. Three types of spatial features, including hand features, Extra Spatial Hand Relation (ESHR) features, and Hand Pose (HP) features, have been fused in the model to feed to LSTM for temporal features extraction. We train SSD model for hand detection using some videos collected from five online sign dictionaries. Our model is evaluated on our proposed dataset (Rastgoo et al., Expert Syst Appl 150: 113336, 2020), including 10’000 sign videos for 100 Persian sign using 10 contributors in 10 different backgrounds, and isoGD dataset. Using the 5-fold cross-validation method, our model outperforms state-of-the-art alternatives in sign language recognition

     

SDAM: a combined stack distance-analytical modeling approach to estimate memory performance in GPUs

The Journal of Supercomputing - Graphics processing units (GPUs) are powerful in performing data-parallel applications. Such applications most often rely on the GPU’s memory hierarchy to...     

Production of calcium nitrate crystals via membrane distillation crystallization using polyvinylidene fluoride/sorbitan trioleate membranes

As an alternative to the energy-intensive evaporation-crystallization method, membrane distillation crystallization (MDC) was applied for the first time to obtain calcium nitrate crystals from its aqueous solution. Calcium nitrate solution was obtained through the reaction between calcium carbonate and nitric acid, and then it was concentrated in the membrane distillation (MD) process and further crystallized. The MD step was conducted using hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/sorbitan trioleate (Span 85) membranes. Span 85 was incorporated into the membrane structure in various concentrations to improve the hydrophobicity of membranes, and the resultant membranes were characterized via different methods. In addition, the resultant calcium nitrate crystals were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The MDC results showed that the optimum amount of Span 85 in the polymeric solution was 4%, which led to the formation of a membrane with higher porosity (67.2%) and water contact angle (95.7°) compared to the neat PVDF membrane. The mentioned membrane exhibited the highest water flux in the MD process compared to the other membranes, and also it produced the highest amount of crystals due to its remarkably better performance in the MD step in terms of feed concentration.     

Design of a Compact Monopole Antenna for UWB Applications

In this paper, a low cost, highly efficient and low profile monopole antenna for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications is presented. A new inverted triangular-shape structure possessing meander lines is designed to achieve a wideband response and high efficiency. To design the proposed structure, three steps are utilized to achieve an UWB response. The bandwidth of the proposed antenna is improved with changing meander lines parameters, miniaturization of the ground width and optimization of the feeding line. The measured and simulated frequency band ranges from 3.2 to 12 GHz, while the radiation patterns are measured at 4, 5.3, 6 and 8 GHz frequency bands. The overall volume of the proposed antenna is 26 × 25 × 1.6 mm3 ; whereas the FR4 material is used as a substrate with a relative permittivity and loss tangent of 4.3 and 0.025, correspondingly. The peak gain of 4 dB is achieved with a radiation efficiency of 80 to 98% for the entire wideband. Design modelling of proposed antenna is performed in ANSYS HFSS 13 software. A decent consistency between the simulated and measured results is accomplished which shows that the proposed antenna is a potential candidate for the UWB applications.     

A CPW-fed wearable antenna at ISM band for biomedical and WBAN applications

Wireless Networks - In this paper, a Mercedes-Benz logo antenna with a metal plate located at an optimized distance from the proposed antenna is introduced as a wearable antenna to operate in the...     

Product formulation for ohmic heating: blanching as a pretreatment method to improve uniformity in heating of solid-liquid food mixtures

ABSTRACT:  The electrical conductivity of food components is critical to ohmic heating. Food components of different electrical conductivities heat at different rates. While equal electrical conductivities of all phases are desirable, real food products may behave differently. In the present study involving chicken chow mein consisting of a sauce and different solid components, celery, water chestnuts, mushrooms, bean sprouts, and chicken, it was observed that the sauce was more conductive than all solid components over the measured temperature range. To improve heating uniformity, a blanching method was developed to increase the ionic content of the solid components. By blanching different solid components in a highly conductive sauce at 100 °C for different lengths of time, it was possible to adjust their conductivity to that of the sauce. Chicken chow mein samples containing blanched particulates were compared with untreated samples with respect to ohmic heating uniformity at 60 Hz up to 140 °C. All components of the treated product containing blanched solids heated more uniformly than untreated product. In sensory tests, 3 different formulations of the blanched product showed good quality attributes and overall acceptability, demonstrating the practical feasibility of the blanching protocol.     

A GDQ approach to thermally nonlinear generalized thermoelasticity of disks

Generalized thermoelasticity response of an annular disk subjected to thermal shock on its inner surface is analyzed in this research. The Lord–Shulman theory, which accounts for one relaxation time in the conventional Fourier law, is used to avoid the infinite speed of thermal wave propagation. Unlike the other available works in which the first law of thermodynamics is linearized, the nonlinearity arising from the temperature change is taken into consideration. The first law of thermodynamics in this case becomes nonlinear and the analysis under such formulation is called thermally nonlinear. Two coupled equations, i.e., the radial displacement wave equation and temperature wave propagation equation are obtained. These equations and the associated boundary conditions are discreted through the generalized differential quadrature method. Solution of the time-dependent system of equations is obtained using the Newmark time marching scheme and the successive Picard method. Numerical results are provided for both thermally linear and thermally nonlinear temperature and radial displacement wave propagations. Parametric studies reveal that at higher temperature levels, thermally nonlinear first law of thermodynamics should be considered instead of thermally linear one. Furthermore, the higher the coupling parameter and/or relaxation time, the higher the divergence of thermally nonlinear-/linear-based results.     

Static and dynamic analysis of an FGM doubly curved panel resting on the Pasternak-type elastic foundation

The static, dynamic, and free vibration analysis of a functionally graded material (FGM) doubly curved panel are investigated analytically in the present paper. The FGM Panel is originated from a rectangular planform and its principle curvatures are considered to be constant. All mechanical properties of the FGM panel are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness according to a power law formulation except Poisson’s ratio, which is kept constant. A Pasternak-type elastic foundation containing damping effects is considered to be in contact with the panel during deformation. The elastic foundation reacts in both compression and tension. Equations of motion are established based on the first order shear deformation and the modified Sanders shell theories. Following the Navier type solution, the established equations are reduced to time-dependent ordinary differential equations. Using the Laplace transform, the time-dependency of the problem is eliminated. The solutions are obtained analytically in the Laplace domain and then are inverted to the time domain following an analytical procedure. Finally, the analytical results are verified with those reported in the literature.     

Production and structural characterisation of dextran from an indigenous strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides BA08 in Whey

In this work, the production of dextran was carried out in whey‐supplemented media using Leuconostoc mesenteroides BA08. Different growth and nutritional parameters were optimised to maximise the dextran production. Batch production in whey‐based media under optimised nutritional and growth conditions yielded a dextran concentration of 17.25 g/L. Structural analysis of the purified polymer by FT‐IR, 1D ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance methodology revealed that polymer was a linear dextran having 93% α‐(1→6) linkage in the main chain. The morphology of the dried dextran and dextran‐producing cells was also studied by scanning electron microscope which showed a granular and porous or weblike structure, respectively. The results obtained showed that the industrial whey supplemented with nutrients such as sucrose, yeast extract and K₂HPO₄ can serve as an ideal growth medium for dextran production. The optimised fermentation and nutritional parameters can be further scaled up to establish the potential for the commercial production of food‐grade dextran from whey as part of a novel cost‐effective and environment‐friendly approach.