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Videoconferencing in the context of 3D virtual environments promises better spatial consistency and mutual awareness for its participants. However, in the absence of IP Multicast and limited upload bandwidth of today's DSL connections, the feasibility of such systems in supporting even a small group of users is in question. This paper presents the design and implementation of an awareness driven 3D videoconferencing application that runs on a peer-to-peer architecture and our own End System Multicast protocol. The paper highlights the unique requirements of multiparty videoconferencing applications and presents a solution that can support 4-10 bandwidth-limited users without the need for IP Multicast capability.

A combined focused industry and company size investigation of the internationalization-performance relationship: The case of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the Swedish wood manufacturing industry,

Humanoid robotics research depends on capable robot platforms, but recently developed advanced platforms are often not available to other research groups, expensive, dangerous to operate, or closed-source. The lack of available platforms forces researchers to work with smaller robots, which have less strict dynamic constraints or with simulations, which lack many real-world effects. We developed NimbRo-OP2X to address this need. At a height of 135 cm our robot is large enough to interact in a human environment. Its low weight of only 19 kg makes the operation of the robot safe and easy, as no special operational equipment is necessary. Our robot is equipped with a fast onboard computer and a GPU to accelerate parallel computations. We extend our already opensource software by a deep-learning based vision system and gait parameter optimisation. The NimbRo-OP2X was evaluated during RoboCup 2018 in Montreál, Canada, where it won all possible awards in the Humanoid AdultSize class.

Relying on the resource-based view and contingency analysis, this study aims to investigate the relationship between firm-level entrepreneurship (FLE) and international performance among Iranian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The environment is considered as a moderating factor which enables us to discuss the results more precisely. To draw a more holistic picture of entrepreneurship in existing companies, both orientation and action are included in the research model. A survey study of 140 SMEs using a partial least squares structural equation modelling analysis demonstrated a negative effect of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on international performance, but a positive impact for corporate entrepreneurship (CE). Environmental dynamism (ED) appeared as an insignificant moderator, while environmental hostility (EH) significantly moderated the effect of EO on international performance. The unexpected results of this study, especially in the case of EO, add new insights on the FLE research of smaller companies. When SMEs are performing in a business network, cooperation becomes the priority, and any type of opportunistic behaviour which harms the trust weakens their collective performance.Résumé Reposant sur l'approche fondée sur les ressources et l'analyse des contingences, cette étude vise à investiguer la relation entre l'entrepreneuriat au niveau de l'entreprise et la performance internationale des PME iraniennes. L'environnement est. J Int Entrep (2018) Summary highlightsContribution: This study contributes to the literature by analysing the simultaneous effects of both entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial action on international performance. It is also performed in a developing country, a context that is widely neglected in the current studies of international entrepreneurship.Research questions/purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial action on the international performance of SMEs, when the moderating impact of environment is considered. Therefore, the research has made inquiries about the relationships between EO and CE on international performance of SMEs and whether they lead to the same international performance consequences in different environmental situations.Theoretical or conceptual framework: On the basis of resource-based view, contingency analysis and reviewing the current literature, we have constructed a theoretical framework which supports and explains the research hypotheses.Data/information: Data for this study was collected from 140 Iranian food and beverage SMEs. A face-to-face approach was applied to filling out the survey questionnaires. This method is recommended as a useful strategy to reduce the risk of low response rates in developing countries such as Iran.Firm-level entrepreneurship and international performance: A... 339Results/findings: We found a negative linkage between entrepreneurial orientation and international performance, but a positive relationship for entreprene...

During the past years, various principal component analysis algorithms have been developed. In this paper, a new approach for local nonlinear principal component analysis is proposed which is applied to capture voice conversion (VC). A new structure of autoassociative neural network is designed which not only performs data partitioning but also extracts nonlinear principal components of the clusters. Performance of the proposed method is evaluated by means of two experiments that illustrate its efficiency; at first, performance of the network is described by means of an artificial dataset and then, the developed method is applied to perform VC.

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Individual and team capabilities are challenged every year by rule changes and the increasing performance of the soccer teams at RoboCup Humanoid League. For RoboCup 2019 in the AdultSize class, the number of players (2 vs. 2 games) and the field dimensions were increased, which demanded for team coordination and robust visual perception and localization modules. In this paper, we present the latest developments that lead team NimbRo to win the soccer tournament, drop-in games, technical challenges and the Best Humanoid Award of the RoboCup Humanoid League 2019 in Sydney. These developments include a deep learning vision system, in-walk kicks, step-based pushrecovery, and team play strategies.