3,457 research outputs found
Fully Quantized Always-on Face Detector Considering Mobile Image Sensors
Despite significant research on lightweight deep neural networks (DNNs)
designed for edge devices, the current face detectors do not fully meet the
requirements for "intelligent" CMOS image sensors (iCISs) integrated with
embedded DNNs. These sensors are essential in various practical applications,
such as energy-efficient mobile phones and surveillance systems with always-on
capabilities. One noteworthy limitation is the absence of suitable face
detectors for the always-on scenario, a crucial aspect of image sensor-level
applications. These detectors must operate directly with sensor RAW data before
the image signal processor (ISP) takes over. This gap poses a significant
challenge in achieving optimal performance in such scenarios. Further research
and development are necessary to bridge this gap and fully leverage the
potential of iCIS applications. In this study, we aim to bridge the gap by
exploring extremely low-bit lightweight face detectors, focusing on the
always-on face detection scenario for mobile image sensor applications. To
achieve this, our proposed model utilizes sensor-aware synthetic RAW inputs,
simulating always-on face detection processed "before" the ISP chain. Our
approach employs ternary (-1, 0, 1) weights for potential implementations in
image sensors, resulting in a relatively simple network architecture with
shallow layers and extremely low-bitwidth. Our method demonstrates reasonable
face detection performance and excellent efficiency in simulation studies,
offering promising possibilities for practical always-on face detectors in
real-world applications.Comment: Accepted to ICCV 2023 Workshop on Low-Bit Quantized Neural Networks
(LBQNN), Ora
Expansion and long-range differentiation of the NKT cell lineage in mice expressing CD1d exclusively on cortical thymocytes
Unlike conventional major histocompatibility complex–restricted T cells, Vα14-Jα18 NKT cell lineage precursors engage in cognate interactions with CD1d-expressing bone marrow–derived cells that are both necessary and sufficient for their thymic selection and differentiation, but the nature and sequence of these interactions remain partially understood. After positive selection mediated by CD1d-expressing cortical thymocytes, the mature NKT cell lineage undergoes a series of changes suggesting antigen priming by a professional antigen-presenting cell, including extensive cell division, acquisition of a memory phenotype, the ability to produce interleukin-4 and interferon-γ, and the expression of a panoply of NK receptors. By using a combined transgenic and chimeric approach to restrict CD1d expression to cortical thymocytes and to prevent expression on other hematopoietic cell types such as dendritic cells, macrophages, or B cells, we found that, to a large extent, expansion and differentiation events could be imparted by a single-cognate interaction with CD1d-expressing cortical thymocytes. These surprising findings suggest that, unlike thymic epithelial cells, cortical thymocytes can provide unexpected, cell type–specific signals leading to lineage expansion and NKT cell differentiation
A dynamic network approach for the study of human phenotypes
The use of networks to integrate different genetic, proteomic, and metabolic
datasets has been proposed as a viable path toward elucidating the origins of
specific diseases. Here we introduce a new phenotypic database summarizing
correlations obtained from the disease history of more than 30 million patients
in a Phenotypic Disease Network (PDN). We present evidence that the structure
of the PDN is relevant to the understanding of illness progression by showing
that (1) patients develop diseases close in the network to those they already
have; (2) the progression of disease along the links of the network is
different for patients of different genders and ethnicities; (3) patients
diagnosed with diseases which are more highly connected in the PDN tend to die
sooner than those affected by less connected diseases; and (4) diseases that
tend to be preceded by others in the PDN tend to be more connected than
diseases that precede other illnesses, and are associated with higher degrees
of mortality. Our findings show that disease progression can be represented and
studied using network methods, offering the potential to enhance our
understanding of the origin and evolution of human diseases. The dataset
introduced here, released concurrently with this publication, represents the
largest relational phenotypic resource publicly available to the research
community.Comment: 28 pages (double space), 6 figure
The specialty choices of graduates from Brighton and Sussex Medical School: a longitudinal cohort study
BACKGROUND
Since 2007 junior doctors in the UK have had to make major career decisions at a point when previously many had not yet chosen a specialty. This study examined when doctors in this new system make specialty choices, which factors influence choices, and whether doctors who choose a specialty they were interested in at medical school are more confident in their choice than those doctors whose interests change post-graduation.
METHODS
Two cohorts of students in their penultimate year at one medical school (n = 227/239) were asked which specialty interested them as a career. Two years later, 210/227 were sent a questionnaire measuring actual specialty chosen, confidence, influence of perceptions of the specialty and experiences on choice, satisfaction with medicine, personality, self-efficacy, and demographics. Medical school and post-graduation choices in the same category were deemed 'stable'. Predictors of stability, and of not having chosen a specialty, were calculated using bootstrapped logistic regression. Differences between specialties on questionnaire factors were analysed.
RESULTS
50% responded (n = 105/277; 44% of the 239 Year 4 students). 65% specialty choices were 'stable'. Factors univariately associated with stability were specialty chosen, having enjoyed the specialty at medical school or since starting work, having first considered the specialty earlier. A regression found doctors who chose psychiatry were more likely to have changed choice than those who chose general practice. Confidence in the choice was not associated with stability. Those who chose general practice valued lifestyle factors. A psychiatry choice was associated with needing a job and using one's intellect to help others. The decision to choose surgical training tended to be made early. Not having applied for specialty training was associated with being lower on agreeableness and conscientiousness.
CONCLUSION
Medical school experiences are important in specialty choice but experiences post-graduation remain significant, particularly in some specialties (psychiatry in our sample). Career guidance is important at medical school and should be continued post-graduation, with senior clinicians supported in advising juniors. Careers advice in the first year post-graduation may be particularly important, especially for specialties which have difficulty recruiting or are poorly represented at medical school
Anointed or appointed? Father–daughter succession within the family business
With the focus on events and outcomes shaping most of the existing family business research
on intra-family succession, the subtleties of the incumbent-successor relationship and the
dynamic nature of succession as a process of becoming is somewhat neglected. In particular,
we have limited understanding of how successor identities are constructed as legitimate
between incumbent and successor during father-daughter succession. This article addresses this
gap in understanding by exploring how the daughter successor engages in identity work with
the father incumbent during the process of succession and the role of father-daughter gendered
relations in shaping her successor identity. Using a two-stage research design strategy, we draw
upon empirical evidence derived from 14 individual and joint semi-structured interviews to
present a narrative analysis of five father-daughter dyads. In so doing, we unveil how the
daughter’s successor identity was co-constructed as legitimate and how father-daughter
gendered relations influenced this process. Although daughters rely on certain father-daughter
relations (preparation, endorsement and osmotic credibility) for legitimacy, they also need to
develop independently from their father in order to heighten their own visibility and establish
credibility
Probing empirical contact networks by simulation of spreading dynamics
Disease, opinions, ideas, gossip, etc. all spread on social networks. How
these networks are connected (the network structure) influences the dynamics of
the spreading processes. By investigating these relationships one gains
understanding both of the spreading itself and the structure and function of
the contact network. In this chapter, we will summarize the recent literature
using simulation of spreading processes on top of empirical contact data. We
will mostly focus on disease simulations on temporal proximity networks --
networks recording who is close to whom, at what time -- but also cover other
types of networks and spreading processes. We analyze 29 empirical networks to
illustrate the methods
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