99 research outputs found
The analysis of facial beauty: an emerging area of research in pattern analysis
Much research presented recently supports the idea that the human perception of attractiveness is data-driven and largely irrespective of the perceiver. This suggests using pattern analysis techniques for beauty analysis. Several scientific papers on this subject are appearing in image processing, computer vision and pattern analysis contexts, or use techniques of these areas. In this paper, we will survey the recent studies on automatic analysis of facial beauty, and discuss research lines and practical application
Targeting and Vaccine Durability Are Key for Population-level Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of a Pox-Protein HIV Vaccine Regimen in South Africa
Background: RV144 is to date the only HIV vaccine trial to demonstrate efficacy, albeit rapidly waning
over time. The HVTN 702 trial is currently evaluating in South Africa a similar vaccine formulation to that
of RV144 for subtype C HIV with additional boosters (pox-protein regimen). Using a detailed stochastic
individual-based network model of disease transmission calibrated to the HIV epidemic, we investigate
population-level impact and maximum cost of an HIV vaccine to remain cost-effective.
Methods: Consistent with the original pox-protein regimen, we model a primary series of five vaccinations
meeting the goal of 50% cumulative efficacy 24 months after the first dose and include twoyearly
boosters that maintain durable efficacy over 10 years. We simulate vaccination programs in
South Africa starting in 2027 under various vaccine targeting and HIV treatment and prevention assumptions.
Results: Our analysis shows that this partially effective vaccine could prevent, at catch-up vaccination
with 60% coverage, up to 941,000 (15.6%) new infections between 2027 and 2047 assuming current
trends of antiretroviral treatment. An impact of up to 697,000 (11.5%) infections prevented could be
achieved by targeting age cohorts of highest incidence. Economic evaluation indicates that, if treatment
scale-up was achieved, vaccination could be cost-effective at a total cost of less than 62 per 10-
year series (cost-effectiveness thresholds of 750).
Conclusions: While a partially effective, rapidly waning vaccine could help to prevent HIV infections, it
will not eliminate HIV as a public health priority in sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccination is expected to be
most effective under targeted delivery to age groups of highest HIV incidence. Awaiting results of trial,
the introduction of vaccination should go in parallel with continued innovation in HIV prevention, including
studies to determine the costs of delivery and feasibility and further research into products with
greater efficacy and durability
Observation of a first candidate in the OPERA experiment in the CNGS beam
The OPERA neutrino detector in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS)
has been designed to perform the first detection of neutrino oscillations in
direct appearance mode through the study of the
channel. The hybrid apparatus consists of an emulsion/lead target complemented
by electronic detectors and it is placed in the high energy long-baseline CERN
to LNGS beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the neutrino source. Runs with CNGS
neutrinos were successfully carried out in 2008 and 2009. After a brief
description of the beam, the experimental setup and the procedures used for the
analysis of the neutrino events, we describe the topology and kinematics of a
first candidate charged-current event satisfying the kinematical
selection criteria. The background calculations and their cross-check are
explained in detail and the significance of the event is assessed.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figure
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traitsâthe morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plantsâdetermine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traitsâalmost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) Conceptual Design Report Volume 2: The Physics Program for DUNE at LBNF
The Physics Program for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at the Fermilab Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) is described
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