CAGD-based computer vision

Journal ArticleAbstract-Three-dimensional model-based computer vision uses geometric models of objects and sensed data to recognize objects in a scene. Likewise, computer aided geometric design (CAGD) systems are used to interactively generate three-dimensional models during the design process. Despite this similarity, there has been a dichotomy between these fields. Recently, the unification of CAGD and vision systems has become the focus of research in the context of manufacturing automation

LF-PPL: A Low-Level First Order Probabilistic Programming Language for Non-Differentiable Models

We develop a new Low-level, First-order Probabilistic Programming Language (LF-PPL) suited for models containing a mix of continuous, discrete, and/or piecewise-continuous variables. The key success of this language and its compilation scheme is in its ability to automatically distinguish parameters the density function is discontinuous with respect to, while further providing runtime checks for boundary crossings. This enables the introduction of new inference engines that are able to exploit gradient information, while remaining efficient for models which are not everywhere differentiable. We demonstrate this ability by incorporating a discontinuous Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (DHMC) inference engine that is able to deliver automated and efficient inference for non-differentiable models. Our system is backed up by a mathematical formalism that ensures that any model expressed in this language has a density with measure zero discontinuities to maintain the validity of the inference engine.Comment: Published in the proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Statistics (AISTATS

Artificial hatching substrate and different time of transfer to startfeeding: Effect on growth and protease activities of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Groups of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) eggs were hatched in a Californian hatching system with and without an astro-turf artificial substrate, and food was presented at four different points in development. Dry weight development and protease activities were studied. Irrespective of time of transfer the astro-turf reared fry were bigger than the flat screen reared fry at the termination of the experiment. In respect of growth the first and the fourth transfers were clearly suboptimal for the fry from both systems

Parallel rendering

Journal ArticleMassively parallel computers have emerged as valuable tools for performing scientific and engineering computations, far outstripping the capabilities of independent workstations in both sheer floating point performance and memory capacity. As the resolution of simulation models increases, graphics algorithms that take advantage of the large memory and parallelism of these architectures are becoming increasingly important. This issue of IEEE Parallel & Distributed Technology highlights some recent work in parallel computer graphics, specifically parallel rendering

Outcomes after paediatric anaesthesia: which ones should have the priority?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the developments within paediatric anaesthesia and describe the various factors that have contributed to the improvements in anaesthesia-related outcomes in children. RECENT FINDINGS During the years substantial improvements in paediatric anaesthesia-related outcomes has derived from safety advances in equipment, drugs, human factor analysis, professional standardization and organization, subspecialty care and regionalization. However, universally agreed outcome measures are lacking. SUMMARY Despite a steadily and significant improvement in paediatric anaesthesia-related outcomes over the years further and future improvements are still necessary in areas such as adverse-event reporting and long-term neurocognitive outcomes with much more focus on patient/family-centred outcomes. Clinical experts and stakeholders should meet and agree on a consensus to identify indicators that could act as outcome measures in future large-scale prospective observational studies and clinical trials. Such an approach will foster benchmarking and continuous quality assessment and improvement at individual, institutional, interinstitutional, regional, national and international levels and facilitate larger scale clinical research. Furthermore, it will attain a high public health importance and will facilitate comparisons between healthcare provision models leading to optimization of perioperative care delivery