Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generative probabilistic models for object segmentation

One of the long-standing open problems in machine vision has been the task of ‘object segmentation’, in which an image is partitioned into two sets of pixels: those that belong to the object of interest, and those that do not. A closely related task is that of ‘parts-based object segmentation’, where additionally each of the object’s pixels are labelled as belonging to one of several predetermined parts. There is broad agreement that segmentation is coupled to the task of object recognition. Knowledge of the object’s class can lead to more accurate segmentations, and in turn accurate segmentations can be used to obtain higher recognition rates. In this thesis we focus on one side of this relationship: given the object’s class and its bounding box, how accurately can we segment it? Segmentation is challenging primarily due to the huge amount of variability one sees in images of natural scenes. A large number of factors combine in complex ways to generate the pixel intensities that make up any given image. In this work we approach the problem by developing generative probabilistic models of the objects in question. Not only does this allow us to express notions of variability and uncertainty in a principled way, but also to separate the problems of model design and inference. The thesis makes the following contributions: First, we demonstrate an explicit probabilistic model of images of objects based on a latent Gaussian model of shape. This can be learned from images in an unsupervised fashion. Through experiments on a variety of datasets we demonstrate the advantages of explicitly modelling shape variability. We then focus on the task of constructing more accurate models of shape. We present a type of layered probabilistic model that we call a Shape Boltzmann Machine (SBM) for the task of modelling foreground/background (binary) and parts-based (categorical) shapes. We demonstrate that it constitutes the state-of-the-art and characterises a ‘strong’ model of shape, in that samples from the model look realistic and that it generalises to generate samples that differ from training examples. Finally, we demonstrate how the SBM can be used in conjunction with an appearance model to form a fully generative model of images of objects. We show how parts-based object segmentations can be obtained simply by performing probabilistic inference in this joint model. We apply the model to several challenging datasets and find that its performance is comparable to the state-of-the-art.
Las Sociedades No Financieras en España en la Crisis: Rentabilidad, Inversión y Endeudamiento (Spanish Non-Financial Corporations in the Crisis: Profitability, Investment and Leverage)

Spanish Abstract: Este trabajo muestra la evolucion del beneficio, inversion y endeudamiento para el agregado de las sociedades no financieras (SNF) en Espana durante los anos 2006-2013, a partir de la informacion contenida en las cuentas de sociedades no financieras de Contabilidad Nacional (cuenta de resultados), y en las Cuentas Financieras de Banco de Espana (activos y pasivos). En 2007, en la antesala de la crisis, el agregado de las SNF en Espana muestra niveles minimos de beneficios y rentabilidad y niveles maximos de endeudamiento, acumulado durante anos en los que las inversiones en activos operacionales y financieros son muy superiores a los recursos generados internamente. Durante los anos de crisis, el agregado de SNF recupera beneficios y rentabilidad y reduce endeudamiento a traves de aumentos en los margenes (menor peso relativo de gastos de personal en valor anadido), menores gastos financieros e impuestos de sociedades, y severa contraccion de la inversion. En 2013 la rentabilidad de los activos operativos invertidos en Espana alcanza niveles suficientes para anticipar una recuperacion de la inversion compatible con el reequilibrio de la estructura financiera. El trabajo propone un analisis por separado de la rentabilidad de los activos de operaciones, destinados a la produccion y venta en Espana, y de la rentabilidad de los activos financieros vinculados a activos de operaciones en el exterior, para un mejor conocimiento de la contribucion de las SNF en Espana a la economia nacional. English Abstract: This paper shows the time evolution of profitability, capital investment and leverage for the aggregate of Spanish non-financial corporations in the years 2006-2013, from information contained in the National Accounts and Financial Accounts. When the crisis started in 2007 the aggregate of non-financial corporations earned minimum levels of profits and made record investment in capital financed in a great part by issuing debt. During the years of the crisis the corporations increased their profits and internally generated funds while capital investment experienced a continuous decline. Not surprisingly then in 2013 the internally generated funds of Spanish non-financial corporations exceeded dividend payments and capital investment in 35780 millions of Euros. In this year also the ROA of operations in Spain of these corporations reached a value of 8%, which should be enough to compensate the cost of finance and stimulate capital investment. The paper highlights the relevance of calculating the returns from capital assets as used to produce in Spain, separated from the returns from financial investments, which in most cases are the financial counterpart for assets invested in operational activities outside Spain.
Is there evidence for an aerosol indirect effect during the recent aerosol optical depth decline in Europe

[1] Aerosol indirect effects are some of the largest uncertainties of anthropogenic climate change. To estimate the first aerosol indirect radiative effect (or cloud albedo effect), we analyzed global solar irradiance measurements under completely overcast skies during the recent period of aerosol optical depth decline in Europe. Although measurements from 15 Swiss and 8 northern German sites show clear evidence for an aerosol direct radiative effect under cloud-free skies, trends of transmitted solar irradiance (SWtran) under overcast skies are ambiguous. Time series from 1981 to 2005 of SWtran for all overcast conditions show slightly negative, but nonsignificant trends. SWtran under overcast conditions with “thick” clouds (SWtran smaller than the long-term mean) exhibit on average an increasing trend of +0.29 [+0.01 to +0.57] W m−2/decade. The increase of SWtran under “thick” overcast skies, however, is about nine times smaller than the increase under cloud-free skies. Since cirrus clouds are generally excluded from and low-level stratiform clouds are more frequently represented by “thick” overcast skies, the slight increase in SWtran may possibly result from a weak aerosol indirect effect. Alternatively, the increase in SWtran may be due to a decreasing trend in low-level stratiform cloud amount under overcast conditions observed for these sites. We further find that solar irradiance changes caused by decreasing aerosol direct effect and increasing sunshine duration can account for most of the observed increasing all-sky solar radiation trend. This suggests that the first aerosol indirect effect makes little contribution to surface solar radiation changes over Europe.
Evaluation of the psychological status of ventilatory-supported patients with ALS/MND

Many medical professionals feel that a choice of long-term ventilatory support leads to a life of hopeless desperation. We compared the sociodemographic, physical and psychological status of 18 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neurone disease (ALS/MND) patients on ventilatory support for 1 to 120 months with that of 126 nonventilatory-supported ALS/MND patients. Patients filled out a comprehensive data form and completed ten psychological tests. A composite psychological status score was computed, representing a continuum from psychological distress to psychological well-being. Mann-Whitney and χ2 tests were used to compare the two groups. There were no significant differences in sociodemographic makeup, depression, hopelessness, overall quality of life or psychological well-being. However, ventilatory-supported patients had a more internal health locus of control. Many patients on ventilatory support were able to live high quality lives. When ventilatory support is an option, we suggest that medical professionals be supportive of the patient's choices and recognise that a decision for ventilatory support is probably the best predictor of an acceptable quality of life on a ventilator.
SVM-based Transfer of Visual Knowledge Across Robotic Platforms

This paper presents an SVM-based algorithm for the transfer of knowledge across robot platforms aiming to perform the same task. Our method exploits efficiently the transferred knowledge while updating incrementally the internal representation as new information is available. The algorithm is adaptive and tends to privilege new data when building the SV solution. This prevents the old knowledge to nest into the model and eventually become a possible source of misleading information. We tested our approach in the domain of vision-based place recognition. Extensive experiments show that using transferred knowledge clearly pays off in terms of performance and stability of the solution.
Identification and characterization of sea breeze days in northern France using singular value decomposition

Days subject to the development of sea breeze circulations are shown for the months of June and July 2000 in the north of France using an algebraic analysis, the singular value decomposition (SVD). The analysis is performed upon the NOAA‐AVHRR radiometric data (with the surface temperature data from the 22 available stations located in the study area). The geostatistical results show the characteristics of a sea breeze blowing from the English Channel and the North Sea. Meteorological situations with a sea breeze are not the prevailing mode in summer over the northern coast of France, but the sea breeze effect can be shown more than 40 km inland. In addition, the results of the SVD allow one to discriminate different weather systems associated with the thermo‐topographic winds. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society
Identification of Coq11, a New Coenzyme Q Biosynthetic Protein in the CoQ-Synthome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

Background: Yeast synthesizes coenzyme Q via a macromolecular protein complex. Results: The Q biosynthetic complex includes Coq8 and the uncharacterized protein YLR290C; the ylr290cΔ mutant exhibits impaired Q synthesis. Conclusion: YLR290C (Coq11) is a novel protein required for efficient yeast Q biosynthesis. Significance: Discovery and characterization of yeast Coq biosynthetic proteins leads to an improved understanding of coenzyme Q biosynthesis and regulation. Coenzyme Q (Q or ubiquinone) is a redox active lipid composed of a fully substituted benzoquinone ring and a polyisoprenoid tail and is required for mitochondrial electron transport. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Q is synthesized by the products of 11 known genes, COQ1–COQ9, YAH1, and ARH1. The function of some of the Coq proteins remains unknown, and several steps in the Q biosynthetic pathway are not fully characterized. Several of the Coq proteins are associated in a macromolecular complex on the matrix face of the inner mitochondrial membrane, and this complex is required for efficient Q synthesis. Here, we further characterize this complex via immunoblotting and proteomic analysis of tandem affinity-purified tagged Coq proteins. We show that Coq8, a putative kinase required for the stability of the Q biosynthetic complex, is associated with a Coq6-containing complex. Additionally Q6 and late stage Q biosynthetic intermediates were also found to co-purify with the complex. A mitochondrial protein of unknown function, encoded by the YLR290C open reading frame, is also identified as a constituent of the complex and is shown to be required for efficient de novo Q biosynthesis. Given its effect on Q synthesis and its association with the biosynthetic complex, we propose that the open reading frame YLR290C be designated COQ11.
Running head : TS 65 DN BEHAVIORAL BATTERY 1 Adaptation of the Arizona Cognitive Task Battery for use with the Ts 65 Dn Mouse Model 1 ( Mus musculus ) of Down syndrome 2

18 We propose and validate a clear strategy to efficiently and comprehensively characterize 19 neurobehavioral deficits in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. This novel 20 approach uses neurocognitive theory to design and select behavioral tasks that test specific 21 hypotheses concerning the results of Down syndrome. In this manuscript we model in 22 Ts65Dn mice the Arizona Cognitive Task Battery used to study human populations with 23 Down syndrome. We observed specific deficits for spatial memory, impaired long-term 24 memory for visual objects, acquisition and reversal of motor responses, reduced motor 25 dexterity, and impaired adaptive function as measured by nesting and anxiety tasks. The 26 Ts65Dn mice showed intact temporal ordering, novelty detection, and visual object 27 recognition with short delays. These results phenocopy the performance of participants 28 with Down syndrome on the Arizona Cognitive Task Battery. This approach extends the 29 utility of mouse models of Down syndrome by integrating the expertise of clinical 30 neurology and cognitive neuroscience into the mouse behavioral laboratory. Further, by 31 directly emphasizing the reciprocal translation of research between human disease states 32 and the associated mouse models, we demonstrate that it is possible for both groups to 33 mutually inform each others’ research to more efficiently generate hypotheses and elucidate 34 treatment strategies. 35
Analysis and design of feeding structures for microstrip leaky wave antenna

Two methods to excite the microstrip leaky wave antenna are proposed and investigated in this paper. A full-wave spectral domain integral equation method combined with fundamental mode sampling technique is applied to determine the reflection coefficient of the excitation source. Dependence on structural parameters such as line width, overlap length and line spacing is fully analyzed to obtain the optimum excitation for microstrip leaky wave antenna. Also, an experimental setup is performed to check the validity of our numerical results and identify the radiation nature of the microstrip line higher order modes. <<ETX>>
Episodic and simultaneous illitization in oil-bearing Brent Group and Fulmar Formation sandstones from the northern and southern North Sea based on illite K-Ar dating

Size fractions (0.4 and 0.4–1.0 m) of Brent Group sandstones from the northern North Sea contain mostly illite-smectite mixed layers with kaolinite, whereas the same size fractions of Fulmar Formation sandstones from the south-central North Sea consist of illite-smectite mixed layers with minor chlorite. Transmission electron microscope observations show elongated illite laths or agglomerates consisting of small laths when larger individual laths are lacking. The K-Ar data of the fractions less than 0.4 m of Brent Group samples plot on two arrays in a 40Ar/36Ar vs. 40K/36Ar diagram that have isochron characteristics with ages of 76.5 4.2 and 40.0 1.5 Ma, and initial 40Ar/36Ar ratios of 253 16 and 301 18, respectively. For the Fulmar Formation samples, the data points of the fractions less than 0.2 and less than 0.4 m also fit two isochrons with ages of 76.6 1.4 and 47.9 0.5 Ma and initial 40Ar/36Ar ratios of 359 52 and 304 2, respectively. Some of the coarser 0.4–1.0-m fractions also plot on the two isochrons, but most plot above indicating the presence of detrital components more than 0.4 m. The almost identical ages obtained from illite-type crystals of sandstones with different deposition ages that are located about 600 km (373 mi) apart record two simultaneous illitization episodes. These events were not induced by local burial conditions, but are related to episodic pressure and/or temperature increases in the studied reservoirs, probably induced by hydrocarbon injection. This interpretation is indirectly supported by notably different K-Ar illite ages from cores of a nearby reservoir at hydrostatic pressure. Illite is not as well crystallized as expected for potential crystallization temperatures above 160C measured by fluid-inclusion determinations. In both the northern and south-central North Sea, the two illite generations remain unaffected after crystallization despite continued burial, suggesting notably higher crystallization temperatures than those estimated from geothermal gradients. No recent illite crystallization or alteration is recorded in the K-Ar ages, despite a dramatic regional acceleration of the subsidence in the southern North Sea.
The 1891 submarine eruption offshore Pantelleria Island (Sicily Channel, Italy): Identification of the vent and characterization of products and eruptive style

High‐resolution bathymetry and seafloor sampling have been used to characterize the 1891 submarine eruption of the Pantelleria volcanic complex. This submarine eruption has been documented mainly by historical reports, describing basaltic scoria bombs floating on the sea surface (i.e., lava balloons). In this study, the 1891 eruptive vent has been identified as a small cone (volume of ∼700,000 m3) rising ∼90 m from 350 m w.d. , and located within a newly discovered submarine volcanic field covering a wide area offshore from the NW coast of Pantelleria; recently, Kelly et al. (2012) confirmed this location by a multibeam and ROV survey. Pyroclasts from the 1891 eruption crop out directly on the seafloor and are fresh scoria clasts (i.e., small bombs, bomb fragments, and lapilli) and glass ash‐sized grains; both have been characterized in their morphology, textures, and geochemistry. The distinctive vesicularity and crystallization characteristics displayed by the scoriaceous pyroclasts reflect modes of degassing in both syn and posteruptive regimes; these characteristics, along with the distribution of deposits suggest for the strongest eruptive phase of the 1891 eruption a style analogous to Hawaiian fountaining. Glass grains from a buoyant plume were dispersed northward from the vent, up to distances of 1.5 km, redirected by the Levantine Intermediate Water. The identification of the 1891 submarine eruptive vent offshore Pantelleria, as well as the features of erupted pyroclasts improve our knowledge of submarine explosive eruptions that occur at shallow‐intermediate depths and, among these, of the rare eruptions producing lava balloons.
Capability of TMPA products to simulate streamflow in upper Yellow and Yangtze River basins on Tibetan Plateau

Due to the high elevation, complex terrain, severe weather, and inaccessibility, direct meteorological observations do not exist over large portions of the Tibetan Plateau, especially the western part of it. Satellite rainfall estimates have been very important sources for precipitation information, particularly in rain gauge-sparse regions. In this study, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) products 3B42, RTV5V6, and RTV7 were evaluated for their applicability to the upper Yellow and Yangtze River basins on the Tibetan Plateau. Moreover, the capability of the TMPA products to simulate streamflow was also investigated using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) semi-distributed hydrological model. Results show that 3B42 performs better than RTV5V6 and RTV7, based on verification of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) observational precipitation data. RTV5V6 can roughly capture the spatial precipitation pattern but overestimation exists throughout the entire study region. The anticipated improvements of RTV7 relative to RTV5V6 have not been realized in this study. Our results suggest that RTV7 significantly overestimates the precipitation over the two river basins, though it can capture the seasonal cycle features of precipitation. 3B42 shows the best performance in streamflow simulation of the abovementioned satellite products. Although involved in gauge adjustment at a monthly scale, 3B42 is capable of daily streamflow simulation. RTV5V6 and RTV7 have no capability to simulate streamflow in the upper Yellow and Yangtze River basins.
Frequency and Duration of Communication System Outages Resulting From Polarization Mode Dispersion

In this paper, we employ measurements of transponder tolerance to both differential group delay (DGD) and second-order polarization mode dispersion (SOPMD) and of the temporal evolution of DGD and SOPMD in installed transmission systems to predict the influence of PMD on the rate and duration of PMD-induced system outages. An empirical 2-D random-walk model predicts that the outage rate and duration depends solely on the mean fiber DGD. We find that the step size of the random walk is nearly uncorrelated with the instantaneous value of the PMD. We then justify the assumptions of this procedure with a full numerical simulation and employ a biased Markov chain algorithm to generate highly accurate results for system outages where simplified models fail.
Arcs from a Universal Dark-Matter Halo Profile

Navarro, Frenk, \& White have recently found numerically that the density profile of dark-matter halos can be described by a universal two-parameter function over a broad range of halo masses. The profile is singular, approaching the halo center with $\rho\propto r^{-1}$. It had been argued previously that radially distorted, gravitationally lensed images of background sources in galaxy clusters, so-called radial arcs, required a flat core in the cluster density profile. Such radial arcs have so far been detected in two galaxy clusters, in apparent contradiction with a singular density profile. I show here that the profile suggested by Navarro et al. can produce radial arcs despite its central singularity, and describe how the two parameters of the profile can be determined in clusters where radial and tangential arcs are observed. I then apply this analysis to the two clusters where radial arcs were detected. In both cases, the redshifts of the radial arcs are yet unknown, hence definitive conclusions on the profile parameters cannot yet be drawn. Numerically determined values for the parameters of cluster-sized halos can, however, be used to predict the range of the unknown arc redshifts, thus providing a direct observational test for the proposed density profile. A potential difficulty with the profile is that the radial magnification of tangential arcs is large, hence tangential arcs should be thick or their sources should be very thin in the radial direction.
Internet Use and Its Relationship to Loneliness

The association between Robert Weiss's bimodal theory of loneliness and Internet use was examined. The degree of social and emotional loneliness was assessed using the Social and Emotional Loneliness scale. This was compared with self-report measures of Internet use and the breadth of one's network of friends, both online and on a face-to-face basis. Low levels of social and emotional loneliness were both associated with high degrees of face-to-face networks of friends, while high levels of Internet use were associated with low levels of social loneliness and high levels of emotional loneliness. This supports recent research that has found that the Internet can decrease social well-being, even though it is often used as a communication tool.