Synchronization of user-generated videos through trajectory correspondence and a refinement procedure

Temporal synchronization of multiple video recordings of the same dynamic event is a critical task in many computer vision applications e.g. novel view synthesis and 3D reconstruction. Typically this information is implied through the time-stamp information embedded in the video streams. User-generated videos shot using consumer grade equipment do not contain this information; hence, there is a need to temporally synchronize signals using the visual information itself. Previous work in this area has either assumed good quality data with relatively simple dynamic content or the availability of precise camera geometry. Our first contribution is a synchronization technique which tries to establish correspondence between feature trajectories across views in a novel way, and specifically targets the kind of complex content found in consumer generated sports recordings, without assuming precise knowledge of fundamental matrices or homographies. We evaluate performance using a number of real video recordings and show that our method is able to synchronize to within 1 sec, which is significantly better than previous approaches. Our second contribution is a robust and unsupervised view-invariant activity recognition descriptor that exploits recurrence plot theory on spatial tiles. The descriptor is individually shown to better characterize the activities from different views under occlusions than state-of-the-art approaches. We combine this descriptor with our proposed synchronization method and show that it can further refine the synchronization index. © 2013 ACM.

Enzymatic activities in constructed wetlands and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) biodegradation

The bioaccumulation of phthalate acid esters (PAEs) from industrial products and their mutagenic action has been suggested to be a potential threat to human health. The effects of the most frequently identified PAE, Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and its biodegradation, were examined by comparison of two small scale plots (SSP) of integrated vertical-flow constructed wetlands. The influent DBP concentration was 9.84 mg l(-1) in the treatment plot and the control plot received no DBP. Soil enzymatic activities of dehydrogenase, catalase, protease, phosphatase, urease, cellulase, beta-glucosidase, were measured in the two SSP after DBP application for 1 month and 2 months, and 1 month after the final application. Both treatment and control had significantly higher enzyme activity in the surface soil than in the subsurface soil (P < 0.001) and greater enzyme activity in the down-flow chamber than in the up-flow chamber (P < 0.05). In the constructed wetlands, DBP enhanced the activities of dehydrogenase, catalase, protease, phosphatase and inhibited the activities of urease, cellulase and beta-glucosidase. However, urease, cellulase, beta-glucosidase activities were restored 1 month following the final DBP addition. Degradation of DBP was greater in the surface soil and was reduced in sterile soil, indicating that this process may be mediated by aerobic microorgansims. DBP degradation fitted a first-order model, and the kinetic equation showed that the rate constant was 0.50 and 0.17 d(-1), the half-life was 1.39 and 4.02 d, and the r(2) was 0.99 and 0.98, in surface and subsurface soil, respectively. These results indicate that constructed wetlands are able to biodegrade organic PA-Es such as DBP. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

UV-sensitive P compounds: Release mechanism, seasonal fluctuation and inhibitory effects on alkaline phosphatase activity in a shallow Chinese freshwater lake (Donghu Lake)

Filtrable phosphorus compounds in a shallow Chinese freshwater lake (Donghu Lake) were fractionated by Sephadex G-25 gel-filtration chromatography. Some portions of those compounds released soluble reactive phosphorus upon irradiation with low dose ultraviolet light. Catalase and a hydroxyl radical scavenger (mannitol) markedly prevented photosensitive phosphorus release. The observed effects may be explained by the action of oxidizing reagents such as hydroxyl radicals, produced in photochemical reactions between UV irradiation and humic substances in the water. There was a strong seasonality in UV-sensitive P (UVSP) release. Michaels constants (K-m) of total alkaline phosphatase in the lake water showed a direct positive relation to UVSP. Plot of K-m against the UVSP/phosphomonoester ratio reveals a strong relationship between the two variables. These results suggest that in some situations UVSP may be a competitive inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase activity in the lake. The competitive inhibition of fractionated UVSP on alkaline phosphatase reagent (Sigma) apparently supports this hypothesis.

First-principles study of UC2 and U2C3

The electronic structure and mechanical properties Of UC2 and U2C3 have been systematically investigated using first-principles calculations by the projector-augmented-wave (PAW) method. Furthermore, in order to describe precisely the strong on-site Coulomb repulsion among the localized U 5f electrons, we adopt the generalized gradient approximation +U formalisms for the exchange-correlation term. We show that our calculated structural parameters and electronic properties for UC2 and U2C3 are in good agreement with the experimental data by choosing an appropriate Hubbard U = 3 eV. As for the chemical bonding nature, the contour plot of charge density and total density of states suggest that UC2 and U2C3 are metallic mainly contributed by the 5f electrons, mixed with significant covalent component resulted from the strong C-C bonds. The present results also illustrate that the metal-carbon (U-C) bonding and the carbon-carbon covalent bonding in U2C3 are somewhat weaker than those in UC2, leading to the weaker thermodynamic stability at high temperature as observed by experiments.

The field emission properties of nonpolar a-plane n-type GaN films grown on nano-patterned sapphire substrates

Si-doped nonpolar a-plane GaN films were grown on nanopatterned sapphire substrates by a low-pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system. The structure, morphology and field emission properties of the sample were studied by means of high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and field emission measurement. The XRD analysis shows that the sample is a nonpolar a-plane (11 (2) over bar0) GaN film. The field emission measurement shows that the nonpolar GaN films exhibit excellent field emission properties with a threshold emission field of as low as 10 V/mu m at a current density of 0.63 mu A/cm(2), and a high field emission current density of 74 mA/cm(2) at an applied field of 24 V/mu m. Moreover, the Fowler-Nordheirn plot of the sample fits a near linear relation. (C) 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Determination of the tilt and twist angles of curved GaN layers by high-resolution x-ray diffraction

The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of an x-ray rocking curve (XRC) has been used as a parameter to determine the tilt and twist angles of GaN layers. Nevertheless, when the thickness of GaN epilayer reaches several microns, the peak broadening due to curvature becomes non-negligible. In this paper, using the (0 0 l), l = 2, 4, 6, XRC to minimize the effects of wafer curvature was studied systematically. Also the method to determine the tilt angle of a curved GaN layer was proposed while the Williamson-Hall plot was unsuitable. It was found that the (0 0 6) XRC-FWHM had a significant advantage for high-quality GaN layers with the radius curvature of r less than 3.5 m. Furthermore, an extrapolating method of gaining a reliable tilt angle has also been proposed, with which the calculated error can be improved by 10% for r < 2 m crystals compared with the (0 0 6) XRC-FWHM. In skew geometry, we have demonstrated that the twist angles deriving from the (2 0 4) XRC-FWHM are in accord with those from the grazing incidence in-plane diffraction (IP-GID) method for significantly curved samples.

A micromachined SiO2/silicon probe for neural signal recordings

The development of an implantable five channel microelectrode array is presented for neural signal recordings. The detailed fabrication process is outlined with four masked used. The SEM images show that the probe shank is 1.2mm long, 100 mu m wide and 30 mu m thick with the recording sites spaced 200 mu m apart for good signal isolation. The plot of the single recording site impedance versus frequency is shown by test in vitro and the ompedence declines with the increasing frequency. Experiment in vivo using this probe is under way.

Study of GaN thin films grown on vicinal SiC (0001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

A detailed study of the characteristics of undoped GaN films, grown on either vicinal or nominal flat SiC (0001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy, has been carried out using photoluminescence and Raman scattering techniques. The I I K photoluminescence spectra of the GaN film grown on the vicinal SiC (0001) substrate show a strong and sharp near-bandgap peak (full width at half maximum (FWHM) similar to 16 meV). This feature contrasts with that of the GaN film grown on the nominal flat SiC (0001) substrate where the I I K photoluminescence spectra exhibit the near-bandgap peak (FWHM similar to 25 meV) and the intensity is approximately seven times weaker than that of the vicinal film sample. The redshift of the near-bandgap peak associated with excitons bound to shallow donors is related to the stress caused by both the lattice mismatch and the thermal expansion coefficient difference between GaN and SiC substrates. The measured thermal activation energy of the shallow donor of 33.4 meV is determined by using an Arrhenius plot of the near-bandgap luminescence versus I IT from the slope of the graph at high temperature. The temperature dependence of the FWHM of the near-bandgap luminescence has also been studied. The Raman scattering measurements from the vicinal film reveal that the E-2 phonon peak is strengthened and the A(1)(LO) phonon peak is shifted towards the low-frequency side with enhanced intensity, in comparison to that from the nominal flat film, suggesting a reduction in the density of defects and a lower free carrier concentration in the vicinal GaN film.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry study of In2O3 thin films

In2O3 films grown by helicon magnetron sputtering with different thicknesses were characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the energy range from 1.5 to 5.0 eV. Aside from one amorphous sample prepared at room substrate temperature, polycrystalline In2O3 films with cubic crystal structure were confirmed for other four samples prepared at the substrate temperature of 450 A degrees C. Excellent SE fittings were realized by applying 1 and/or 2 terms F&B amorphous formulations, building double layered film configuration models, and further taking account of void into the surface layer based on Bruggeman effective medium approximation for thinner films. Spectral dependent refractive indices and extinction coefficients were obtained for five samples. The curve shapes were well interpreted according to the applied dispersion formulas. Almost similar optical band gap values from 3.76 to 3.84 eV were obtained for five samples by Tauc plot calculation using extinction coefficients under the assumption of direct allowed optical transition mode.

补充灌溉及氮磷配施对黄土塬区冬小麦水分利用及产量的影响

采用裂区试验设计,对黄土塬区补充灌溉及氮磷配施条件下麦田土壤水分动态、作物产量及水分利用效率等进行研究。结果表明:1)冬小麦对土壤水分的利用深度随小麦生长发育逐渐加深,在越冬前期和孕穗期分别达1.2和2.2 m土层以下,不同处理土壤含水量在小麦生育前期差异不明显,孕穗后氮磷配施处理的土壤含水量显著低于不施肥处理;2)试验条件下,补充灌溉后同样施肥处理的作物产量与雨养相比,虽有增加但不显著;不论是雨养水平,还是补充灌溉水平,氮磷配施均表现出显著的增产效果,从低氮低磷到高氮高磷,增产幅度在134%到240%之间;3)氮磷配施能显著提高冬小麦水分利用效率,而补充灌溉后水分利用效率降低3%~30%,但未达显著水平;4)不同氮磷配施的增产效应高于补充灌溉,补充灌溉与高氮高磷处理有显著的水肥协同效应,能显著提高作物产量并保持较高的水分利用效率。

长期连续种植苜蓿草地地上部分生物量与土壤水分的空间差异性

基于苜蓿长期连续种植定位试验,研究了不同施肥与采样位置差异对苜蓿草地地上部分生物量和土壤水分的影响。苜蓿长期连续种植19年后,施肥对苜蓿地上部分生物量的影响不显著;试验样地内呈由外及内植株高度逐渐下降、地上部分生物量积累逐渐减小的"生物漏斗"现象,距样地中心位置不同引起的差异远远超过施肥处理引起的差异。中下层土壤水分也呈类似的漏斗状分布。相关分析表明,苜蓿地上部分生物量与1 m以下土壤水分含量呈显著相关,表明在长期连续种植条件下下层土壤水分状况是决定苜蓿草地生长状况的主要因素。

灌溉方式对樱桃番茄产量和品质的影响

研究灌溉方式对樱桃番茄产量和品质的影响,为番茄栽培过程中合理用水提供理论依据。【方法】采用棚室内小区试验,研究6种灌溉方式(Ⅰ.常规沟灌;Ⅱ.交替沟灌;Ⅲ.固定灌溉种植行;Ⅳ.固定灌溉操作行;Ⅴ.前期采用常规沟灌,结果期采用交替沟灌;Ⅵ.前期采用交替沟灌,结果期采用常规沟灌)对樱桃番茄产量与品质的影响。【结果】不同灌溉方式之间樱桃番茄产量与品质特征值达到极显著差异水平,其中处理Ⅰ和Ⅵ的果形指数、单果质量及产量均极显著高于其他4种处理,果形指数分别为1.22和1.21,平均单果质量高达14.28和14.05g;但处理Ⅱ~Ⅳ的果实糖酸比、VC含量、可溶性固形物含量及干物质含量均极显著高于处理Ⅰ、Ⅵ和Ⅴ,只是造成硝酸盐含量轻度积累。【结论】前期采用交替沟灌,而结果期采用常规沟灌,不仅提高了樱桃番茄的产量与品质,而且还有节水的效果,这种灌溉方式可以在番茄生产中加以推广应用。

子午岭林区人工与天然油松林(Pinus tabulaeformis)养分库和碳库特征

为了揭示黄土高原地区人工油松林自然化发育过程中的植物叶片与土壤养分库和碳库的变化规律,采用典型样地法,以子午岭林区天然油松群落为参照,选择了不同立地条件的人工油松林,分别对其土壤的氮库、碳库及植物叶片养分库和碳库进行了分析。结果表明,该区油松针叶C、N、P的含量平均值分别为(499.5±63.75)mg/g、(8.53±0.50)mg/g和(0.94±0.64)mg/g,叶片C含量大小依次为阳坡天然林>阴坡天然林>阴坡人工林>阳坡人工林,阳坡人工林叶片N、P含量显著高于阳坡天然林。不同立地条件下油松林叶片C/N、C/P差异显著,叶片N、P和N/P均达到极显著水平,但是叶片C含量差异不显著。油松叶片C含量与N、P含量均呈极显著负相关,N和P之间的呈显著正相关。不同立地的油松林除40～60cm土层土壤C、N含量无显著差异外,0～20cm和20～40cm两个土层的人工林土壤C、N含量显著高于天然林,同时阳坡人工林土壤C、N含量显著高于阴坡人工林。0～20cm、20～40cm两个土层土壤C含量与N含量均呈极显著正相关,与植物N、P均呈显著正相关。子午岭林区阳坡的人工油松林不仅叶片养分含量较高,而且林地土壤是该区土壤的...

水土保持耕作及施肥对盛花期大豆光合生理的影响

依据陕西安塞田间试验,采用LI-6400便携式光合仪,在自然条件下对黄土丘陵区旱作农田传统翻耕化肥(CF)、翻耕有机肥(CM)、翻耕无肥(CN)、免耕化肥(NF)、免耕有机肥(NM)、免耕无肥(NN)等处理下盛花期大豆叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、水分利用效率及影响因子日变化进行了研究。结果表明:6种不同处理的大豆叶片净光合速率日变化均为双峰曲线,峰值分别在11:30、16:00出现。NM、NF处理对提高大豆净光合速率有明显的促进作用,其中以有机肥(NM)最为显著。气孔导度与蒸腾速率之间达极显著正相关(P<0.01,r=0.9994)。气孔导度日变化也为双峰,峰值分别出现在11:30、16:00。不同处理下,大豆的水分利用效率呈单峰曲线,峰值出现在10:00,低谷出现在13:00以后。其中,NF、NM处理能显著提高大豆盛花期的水分利用效率。相关分析表明:气孔导度、蒸腾速率、叶温、光合有效辐射及基于叶温的蒸汽压亏缺是大豆光合作用的促进因子,而胞间CO_2浓度、空气CO_2浓度、空气相对湿度则为主要的限制因子。CF、NF处理在8:30~10:20和13:00,CM、NN处理在8:30、11:30~13:00、17:...

灌溉方式对黄瓜结果期根系特征与产量的影响

采用小区试验研究了不同灌溉方式对津春4号黄瓜根系特性与产量的影响。结果表明,不同灌水方式之间黄瓜根系的特征值差异达到显著水平,前期交替沟灌结果期常规沟灌处理单株根条数、根长、根体积、根冠比均高于其余五种处理,根系伤流量为19.86 mg/min,根系活力高达0.55 mg/(g.h)。灌水方式对黄瓜单果重的影响不大,前期交替沟灌结果期常规沟灌处理的单株产量显著高于常规沟灌。因此,前期交替沟灌结果期常规沟灌有利于黄瓜根系的发育与产量的提高。