Reviewerly/exHarmony huggingface dataset:
Cross-Resolution Flow Propagation for Foveated Video Super-Resolution

The demand of high-resolution video contents has grown over the years. However, the delivery of high-resolution video is constrained by either computational resources required for rendering or network bandwidth for remote transmission. To remedy this limitation, we leverage the eye trackers found alongside existing augmented and virtual reality headsets. We propose the application of video super-resolution (VSR) technique to fuse low-resolution context with regional high-resolution context for resource-constrained consumption of high-resolution content without perceivable drop in quality. Eye trackers provide us the gaze direction of a user, aiding us in the extraction of the regional high-resolution context. As only pixels that falls within the gaze region can be resolved by the human eye, a large amount of the delivered content is redundant as we can't perceive the difference in quality of the region beyond the observed region. To generate a visually pleasing frame from the fusion of high-resolution region and low-resolution region, we study the capability of a deep neural network of transferring the context of the observed region to other regions (low-resolution) of the current and future frames. We label this task a Foveated Video Super-Resolution (FVSR), as we need to super-resolve the low-resolution regions of current and future frames through the fusion of pixels from the gaze region. We propose Cross-Resolution Flow Propagation (CRFP) for FVSR. We train and evaluate CRFP on REDS dataset on the task of 8x FVSR, i.e. a combination of 8x VSR and the fusion of foveated region. Departing from the conventional evaluation of per frame quality using SSIM or PSNR, we propose the evaluation of past foveated region, measuring the capability of a model to leverage the noise present in eye trackers during FVSR. Code is made available at https://github.com/eugenelet/CRFP.
On the Lower Bound of Minimizing Polyak-Łojasiewicz Functions

Polyak-{\L}ojasiewicz (PL) [Polyak, 1963] condition is a weaker condition than the strong convexity but suffices to ensure a global convergence for the Gradient Descent algorithm. In this paper, we study the lower bound of algorithms using first-order oracles to find an approximate optimal solution. We show that any first-order algorithm requires at least ${\Omega}\left(\frac{L}{\mu}\log\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\right)$ gradient costs to find an $\varepsilon$-approximate optimal solution for a general $L$-smooth function that has an $\mu$-PL constant. This result demonstrates the optimality of the Gradient Descent algorithm to minimize smooth PL functions in the sense that there exists a ``hard'' PL function such that no first-order algorithm can be faster than Gradient Descent when ignoring a numerical constant. In contrast, it is well-known that the momentum technique, e.g. [Nesterov, 2003, chap. 2] can provably accelerate Gradient Descent to ${O}\left(\sqrt{\frac{L}{\hat{\mu}}}\log\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\right)$ gradient costs for functions that are $L$-smooth and $\hat{\mu}$-strongly convex. Therefore, our result distinguishes the hardness of minimizing a smooth PL function and a smooth strongly convex function as the complexity of the former cannot be improved by any polynomial order in general.
Interactive Segmentation of Radiance Fields

Radiance Fields (RF) are popular to represent casually-captured scenes for new view synthesis and several applications beyond it. Mixed reality on personal spaces needs understanding and manipulating scenes represented as RFs, with semantic segmentation of objects as an important step. Prior segmentation efforts show promise but don't scale to complex objects with diverse appearance. We present the ISRF method to interactively segment objects with fine structure and appearance. Nearest neighbor feature matching using distilled semantic features identifies high-confidence seed regions. Bilateral search in a joint spatio-semantic space grows the region to recover accurate segmentation. We show state-of-the-art results of segmenting objects from RFs and compositing them to another scene, changing appearance, etc., and an interactive segmentation tool that others can use. Project Page: https://rahul-goel.github.io/isrf/
Artistry as a necessary component of a teacher's pedagogical professionalism

The article considers the essence of the concept of "pedagogical artistry" as an important component of a teacher's pedagogical skill. That is why the training of pedagogical personnel is so important, as a result of which they must master a high level of professional competence, methodological thinking, general and professional culture, professionally significant personality qualities, and a creative approach to teaching and education.&#x0D; Integrating, these qualities form the teacher's pedagogical skill, which ensures a high level of his professional and pedagogical activity on a reflective basis. The fulfillment of this historic mission in the training of pedagogical personnel, so that students mastered the special art of teaching and educating others and self-learning throughout life, was directed by an outstanding scientist, a well-known specialist in the field of new pedagogical technologies of learning and education, economic theory, philosophy of education, the rector of the Kharkiv National Pedagogical University named after G. S. Skovorody from 1980 to 2020 Ivan Fedorovich Prokopenko. He believed that every teacher should possess a set of personal qualities that ensure a high level of self-organization of a teacher's professional activity. Among these qualities, artistry occupies a special place as one of the important professional components.&#x0D; Summarizing the views of the authors on the definition of this phenomenon, it was concluded that the teacher's pedagogical artistry is a high level of pedagogical activity, which is manifested in the teacher's ability to vividly, emotionally, uniquely convey the educational material, using all his experience, competence and pedagogical technologies.&#x0D; The professional activity of a teacher should include not only friendly communication, harmony of mind and feelings, but also pedagogical mastery at the level of art, which is ensured by a high degree of development of professionally necessary qualities, abilities, skills and, in particular, pedagogical artistry. Therefore, the formation of pedagogical artistry is one of the tasks of training. The result of artistic teaching is the formation of students' motivational and valuable attitude to the content of education. Emotional perception of the material contributes to maintaining sustained attention and interest, deepening the motives of educational cognition, in response to the desire to open up.
Use of network technologies in the practice of educational training and re-training of military doctors

The article defines network technologies that are appropriate to use in the practice of educational training and retraining of military doctors: network technologies for the organization of distance learning, scientific and educational social networks; network technologies supporting the training and retraining of military doctors; digital libraries. It was found that network technology provides a number of new opportunities for creating an open ICT-oriented educational environment for the training and retraining of military doctors. It is specified that the use of network technologies involves compliance with the agreed rules of online behavior: understanding the difference between public online space and personal space; the ability to analyze the meaningful essence of information that is aimed at public distribution, and that is purely personal; ability to critically evaluate information before publication, focus on constructive (positive) "presence" in the network; understanding that any online action can have public feedback; understanding that today the network image is also one's own reputation.
Rationale and selection of voice signal pre-processing space in the authentication system

The article analyzes and investigates directions for improving the quality characteristics of voice authentication systems in various access systems. One of the main ways of improving the quality characteristics of these user authentication systems is related to the use of phase information of the voice signal. The urgent scientific task of researching new procedures for pre-processing the user’s voice signal of the authentication system is being solved. Refinement of pre-processing procedures was carried out, considering the use of phase data of the voice signal. The developed pre-processing procedures make it possible to reduce the impact of random errors in the user’s voice signal registration materials, which also appear due to the influence of external noise. The results are obtained in statistical analysis of simulation results using experimental voice data of the user of the authentication system. The phase space of the voice signal allows you to expand the possibilities of pre-processing due to the use of a priori information about the nature of the phase data change. The presented research results should be used in voice authentication systems, improving speech recognition systems, and solving speaker identification tasks.
Formation of Internet Culture of the future teacher of music art in the educational environment of Higher Education Institution

The issue of "Internet Culture" is considered and the stages of its formation are customary, professional, pedagogical, and ideological. Peculiarities and risks of its functioning in the modern educational environment are determined. The relationship between the Internet and culture is analysed. The conditions and possible directions for the formation of Internet culture of the future teacher of musical art are offered. Positive results of studying the discipline "Innovative pedagogy" are given. Conclusions and proposals on improving the system of training future teachers of music in the educational environment of the Free Economic Zone are substantiated. Two components of Internet culture are substantiated: communicative and operational-technological. The communicative component includes the ability to find the necessary reliable information, to master the means of communication, and knowledge of the ethics of network communication. The operational and technological component consists of the ability to master software products; the ability to work with search engines; the ability to use e-mail; knowledge of the rules of safe use of the Internet, etc. The problems of formation of Internet culture of the future teacher of musical art are outlined: 1) formation of the system of information concepts; 2) the teacher's ability to carry out information activities; 3) readiness of the teacher for constant self-education in the field of Internet technologies and effective use of electronic resources and sources of information; 4) conscious regulation of their own behaviours in the network, moral and legal norms, compliance with network etiquette.
Information technologies in student education

The process of informatization of education as a component of informatization of modern society is not possible without the introduction of new pedagogical information technologies in the education system. The main methods of using the latest information technologies in the educational process of higher education institutions are considered. The traditional method is to teach with fragmentary use of computers to demonstrate illustrative materials, control knowledge, test, and so on. The basis of the non-traditional method is research work in computer laboratories, computational experiments, the formation of analytical reports or databases. The main priorities of the use of IT in the educational process of the State Biotechnological University are: increasing the efficiency of educational and cognitive activities of students; operational control of the level of knowledge, diagnosing errors; self-realization of personality; additional communication opportunities; research work and search for statistical material; free choice of forms and methods of teaching.&#x0D; It is concluded that information technologies in the educational process perform educational, upbringing and research functions. Use of information technology allows to create a fundamentally new information educational sphere. It provides ample opportunities for educational activities, affects the redistribution of functions between its participants, increases motivation, develops independence, provides individualization and differentiation of the educational process, contributes to the modernization of the traditional learning system.
The life in the name of truth, well and beauty

The article is dedicated to the life and work of the outstanding German pedagogue-democrat and humanist Adolf Disterweg, whose 230th anniversary was celebrated in 2020.&#x0D; Diesterweg all life looked after children. He established orphanages and schools for poor children. The principle of nature accordance based of education. Diesterweg are fonder elementary method in German school. As a basis of elementary method is sensual experience of child. The thinking of pupil is accomplishing thanks to elementary learning. The elementary method of learning is developing all inclinations of child in a basis. Diesterweg holds that the main task of education is independent action of pupil and main task of teacher is stimulating Self of pupil. The more independent life the teacher is creating in school the more perfect and more full is school mode of life. To excite, to arouse, to revive are abilities of teacher art. Fascinating and interesting learning are main condition of successful development of pupil. The variety is a basis of fascinating and interesting learning.&#x0D; Adolf Diesterweg built learning in accordance with peculiarities of child's nature. For teacher is necessary to study inner life of child. Very important role in inner life of child plays a feelings and fantasy. The child is thinking by means of feelings and fantasy. Diesterweg was against cramming of educational material. The cramming is turning children to foolish and narrow people. Therefore pupil must to understand education material. The love to clearness and simplicity is very important for teacher. To remember any incomprehensible thesis is harmful for pupil. Diesterweg considered with individuality of pupil. Because every child has their own characteristics and abilities and has the right to original development. Therefore the teacher must to be able to build individual approach to each pupil. Diesterweg was supporter of many-sided development of child. The culture accordance of learning has very important meaning for spiritual development of pupil. The receptivity to noble and beautiful and high are aesthetic culture of personality. Adolf Diesterweg aspired to harmonic combination of culture and nature.
The Teacher for unfortunates and humbles

Johann-Heinrich Pestalozzi are prominent Swiss teacher-humanist and writer and founder of education for poor children. Pestalozzi was been founder of orphanages in Neuhof and Stans and Burgdorf and Yverdon. Pestalozzi are author of elementary method of education. The perceptible experience of child is base of elementary method. The more bright impressions from observation of surrounding world the more intensive is development of child. Therefore education must have impudent form of studies. The visual method is helping to understand essence of objects and appearances of surrounding world. Pestalozzi was excellent writer. Work of author are representing life of poor children in villages. Pestallozzi aspired to help such children. Therefore pedagog was founder of orphanages. Pestalozzi as father taked care about children. He spended last money for subsistence of pupils. Poor children was very grateful to your teacher. Pupils not learned in classroom. They learned among nature. Children immediately apprehended the surrounding world at time walks and journeys. In orphanages pupils learned to work on field and in workshops. Children mastered abilities and habits at the work. Pestalozzi was against one-sided education. Such education is not natural and anti-humane education. All humane inclinations are interacting between ourselves. Therefore comprehensive education is natural education. Pestalozzi aspired to simplicity and clearness in education. Therefore children easily mastered knowledge and teached of others. Elementary method of education helped to raise level of literacy among poor children. Pestalozzi much attention spared for physical development of child. The gymnastics is assisting to mental and aesthetic and moral development of pupil. Maternal education is playing a very important part for harmonic development of child. Mother are natural teacher for child. She with kindness in heart are educating her child. Pestalozzi dedicated to the mother their works. Pedagog developed sense of beauty in children. Pupils studied singing and drawing. Children singed folk songs and drowed nature. Pestalozzi related for children folk tales and legends. Pedagog developed kind and clever and creative personalities. Therefore Pestalozzi's elementary method is very important modern method of education, which necessary to study and develop and inculcate.
Features of distance teaching for technical disciplines

The features of the use of new technologies for distance learning, which potentially increase the possibilities of the educational process, in particular, in the study of technical disciplines, are considered. This problem is relevant at the present time, when the entire system of higher and secondary education is temporarily working in a distance or mixed mode. For distance education, most universities use the Moodle virtual learning environment. Teaching students is carried out using computer technologies and various ways of presenting information: text, graphics, video, soundtrack, animation, that is, what is called "multimedia". In the process of mastering the distance course, the student can perform various types of activities  acquaintance with theoretical material, laboratory and practical work, assignments, compiling a dictionary, communication in forums and chat rooms. Working with a distance course requires in-depth study of the material in the process of independent work. Distance education increases the number of activities for students of various forms of education that cannot be foreseen in the traditional study of the discipline due to the limited classroom hours, which makes it possible to improve the quality of education. Distance education increases the number of activities for students of various forms of education that cannot be foreseen in the traditional study of the discipline due to the limited classroom hours, which makes it possible to improve the quality of education. The distance course can be used for full-time students as the main method of teaching, as it is currently due to quarantine, or as an auxiliary, for example, only for those students who do not attend classes, for in-depth study of the material, for students with disabilities. physical capabilities. The lack of Ukrainian standards for the distance learning system does not allow the creation of materials in a unified learning environment. But each educational institution can, on its own initiative, create distance courses in a particular environment, transfer certain types of classes to distance learning, look for new opportunities and forms of implementation of information and training technologies.
CC-FedAvg: Computationally Customized Federated Averaging

Federated learning (FL) is an emerging paradigm to train model with distributed data from numerous Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It inherently assumes a uniform capacity among participants. However, due to different conditions such as differing energy budgets or executing parallel unrelated tasks, participants have diverse computational resources in practice. Participants with insufficient computation budgets must plan for the use of restricted computational resources appropriately, otherwise they would be unable to complete the entire training procedure, resulting in model performance decline. To address this issue, we propose a strategy for estimating local models without computationally intensive iterations. Based on it, we propose Computationally Customized Federated Averaging (CC-FedAvg), which allows participants to determine whether to perform traditional local training or model estimation in each round based on their current computational budgets. Both theoretical analysis and exhaustive experiments indicate that CC-FedAvg has the same convergence rate and comparable performance as FedAvg without resource constraints. Furthermore, CC-FedAvg can be viewed as a computation-efficient version of FedAvg that retains model performance while considerably lowering computation overhead.
Publishing Efficient On-device Models Increases Adversarial Vulnerability

Recent increases in the computational demands of deep neural networks (DNNs) have sparked interest in efficient deep learning mechanisms, e.g., quantization or pruning. These mechanisms enable the construction of a small, efficient version of commercial-scale models with comparable accuracy, accelerating their deployment to resource-constrained devices. In this paper, we study the security considerations of publishing on-device variants of large-scale models. We first show that an adversary can exploit on-device models to make attacking the large models easier. In evaluations across 19 DNNs, by exploiting the published on-device models as a transfer prior, the adversarial vulnerability of the original commercial-scale models increases by up to 100x. We then show that the vulnerability increases as the similarity between a full-scale and its efficient model increase. Based on the insights, we propose a defense, $similarity$-$unpairing$, that fine-tunes on-device models with the objective of reducing the similarity. We evaluated our defense on all the 19 DNNs and found that it reduces the transferability up to 90% and the number of queries required by a factor of 10-100x. Our results suggest that further research is needed on the security (or even privacy) threats caused by publishing those efficient siblings.
Why adiabatic quantum annealing is unlikely to yield speed-up

We study quantum annealing for combinatorial optimization with Hamiltonian $H = z H_f + H_0$ where $H_f$ is diagonal, $H_0=-|\phi \rangle \langle \phi|$ is the equal superposition state projector and $z$ the annealing parameter. We analytically compute the minimal spectral gap as $\mathcal{O}(1/\sqrt{N})$ with $N$ the total number of states and its location $z_*$. We show that quantum speed-up requires an annealing schedule which demands a precise knowledge of $z_*$, which can be computed only if the density of states of the optimization problem is known. However, in general the density of states is intractable to compute, making quadratic speed-up unfeasible for any practical combinatoric optimization problems. We conjecture that it is likely that this negative result also applies for any other instance independent transverse Hamiltonians such as $H_0 = -\sum_{i=1}^n \sigma_i^x$.
Detection of Active Emergency Vehicles using Per-Frame CNNs and Output Smoothing

While inferring common actor states (such as position or velocity) is an important and well-explored task of the perception system aboard a self-driving vehicle (SDV), it may not always provide sufficient information to the SDV. This is especially true in the case of active emergency vehicles (EVs), where light-based signals also need to be captured to provide a full context. We consider this problem and propose a sequential methodology for the detection of active EVs, using an off-the-shelf CNN model operating at a frame level and a downstream smoother that accounts for the temporal aspect of flashing EV lights. We also explore model improvements through data augmentation and training with additional hard samples.