FaceQnet: Quality Assessment for Face Recognition based on Deep Learning

In this paper we develop a Quality Assessment approach for face recognition based on deep learning. The method consists of a Convolutional Neural Network, FaceQnet, that is used to predict the suitability of a specific input image for face recognition purposes. The training of FaceQnet is done using the VGGFace2 database. We employ the BioLab-ICAO framework for labeling the VGGFace2 images with quality information related to their ICAO compliance level. The groundtruth quality labels are obtained using FaceNet to generate comparison scores. We employ the groundtruth data to fine-tune a ResNet-based CNN, making it capable of returning a numerical quality measure for each input image. Finally, we verify if the FaceQnet scores are suitable to predict the expected performance when employing a specific image for face recognition with a COTS face recognition system. Several conclusions can be drawn from this work, most notably: 1) we managed to employ an existing ICAO compliance framework and a pretrained CNN to automatically label data with quality information, 2) we trained FaceQnet for quality estimation by fine-tuning a pre-trained face recognition network (ResNet-50), and 3) we have shown that the predictions from FaceQnet are highly correlated with the face recognition accuracy of a state-of-the-art commercial system not used during development. FaceQnet is publicly available in GitHub.Comment: Preprint version of a paper accepted at ICB 201

Microphone smart device fingerprinting from video recordings

This report aims at summarizing the on-going research activity carried out by DG-JRC in the framework of the institutional project Authors and Victims Identification of Child Abuse on-line, concerning the use of microphone fingerprinting for source device classification. Starting from an exhaustive study of the State of Art regarding the matter, this report describes a feasibility study about the adoption of microphone fingerprinting for source identification of video recordings. A set of operational scenarios have been established in collaboration with EUROPOL law enforcers, according to investigators needs. A critical analysis of the obtained results has demonstrated the feasibility of microphone fingerprinting and it has suggested a set of recommendations, both in terms of usability and future researches in the field.JRC.E.3-Cyber and Digital Citizens' Securit

Choix de localisation et mobilisation des ressources dans la création d'entreprises innovantes.

International audienceLa création d'entreprises innovantes est censée constituer un des moteurs du développement des systèmes locaux d'innovation, mais elle a rarement été étudiée sous l'angle spatial. Les entreprises innovantes tendent-elles à se regrouper dans l'espace ? Comment les fondateurs choisissent-ils leurs lieux d'implantations ? Comment se déploient dans l'espace les ressources mobilisées par les fondateurs ? Cet article fait le point sur ces questions à partir d'un corpus d'histoires de créations d'entreprises constituées sur la base d'entretiens croisés et d'analyse documentaire. L'accent sera en particulier mis sur les choix de localisation et les logiques de mobilisation de ressources dans leur dimension spatiale

Effet de l'anxiété sur l'association entre viande rouge et risque de cancer colorectal : une approche multidisciplinaire

Les études épidémiologiques ont associé avec des niveaux de preuve élevés les consommations de viande rouge (« probable ») et de charcuterie (« convaincant ») au risque de cancer colorectal. Les travaux expérimentaux ont permis d’identifier le fer héminique comme étant un facteur central pour expliquer l’effet cancérigène de la viande rouge et de la charcuterie. Son effet serait expliqué par sa capacité à catalyser la néoformation d’alcénals issus de la peroxydation des lipides au niveau de la lumière colique. D’autre part, il a été montré que le stress psychologique et l’anxiété entrainent une augmentation de la perméabilité de la barrière épithéliale intestinale. Dans cette thèse, nous avons fait l’hypothèse que le stress psychologique et l’anxiété , en raison de leur effet délétère sur la fonction de barrière de l’intestin, pourraient augmenter le risque de cancer colorectal associé à la consommation de viande rouge et charcuterie. Cette hypothèse a été étudiée grâce à une approche multidiscplinaire combinant études épidémiologiques et expérimentales. Une étude épidémiologique sur la cohorte Nutrinet-Santé nous a permis de montrer que le risque de cancer (toutes localisations confondues et colorectal) associé à la consommation de viande rouge et charcuterie était augmenté de manière plus importante chez les participants anxieux que dans la population générale. Des résultats similaires ont été obtenus pour l’association entre le fer héminique provenant de ces viandes et le risque de cancer. Une étude expérimentale menée chez la souris (C57Bl6/J) nous a permis de montrer que le stress de séparation maternelle augmentait la génotoxicité et l’hyperprolifération induites par le fer héminique sur la muqueuse colique. Enfin, des expérimentations menées sur un modèle cellulaire de barrière épithéliale intestinale (Caco-2) nous ont permis de montrer que l’augmentation de perméabilité induite in vitro par des cytokines inflammatoires n’augmentait pas la cyto- et génotoxicité des alcénals. Dans l’ensemble, ces résultats suggèrent que l’effet cancérigène du fer héminique provenant de la consommation de viande rouge et de charcuterie pourrait être augmenté par le stress psychologique et l’anxiété par des mécanismes qui demandent encore à être exploré

Biometric Spoofing: A JRC Case Study in 3D Face Recognition

Based on newly available and affordable off-the-shelf 3D sensing, processing and printing technologies, the JRC has conducted a comprehensive study on the feasibility of spoofing 3D and 2.5D face recognition systems with low-cost self-manufactured models and presents in this report a systematic and rigorous evaluation of the real risk posed by such attacking approach which has been complemented by a test campaign. The work accomplished and presented in this report, covers theories, methodologies, state of the art techniques, evaluation databases and also aims at providing an outlook into the future of this extremely active field of research.JRC.G.6-Digital Citizen Securit

Fighting child sexual abuse: prevention policies for offenders.

Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children constitute major violation of fundamental rights and in particular of children rights to protection and care necessary for their well-being, as it is stated in the UNHCR Convention on the Rights of the Child. A series of Union initiatives and in particular Directive 2011/93/EU on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography aim at supporting actively and on a coordinated way the implementation of prevention and repression policies. The aim of this research is to first map existing prevention programmes in the European Union and at International level, focusing on interventions and treatments for (potential) offenders before any abuse occurs, for convicted offenders in prisons, and for convicted offenders after they leave the prison to fights against recidivism. Preventing campaigns and programs, helplines, circles of aids in the International and European landscape are listed and referenced. The effectiveness of those approaches have not yet be fully demonstrated and presented. Nevertheless, the report also offers preliminary evaluations of the reported initiatives and highlights on the possible best practices. In addition, criteria for more thorough assessment are suggested. Those prevention programmes shall be considered as an important contribution for a resilient and effective approach to fight against child sexual exploitation both in the cyberspace and offline, and to raise main stakeholders’ awareness to the issueJRC.E.3-Cyber and Digital Citizens' Securit

New insights into honey bee (Apis mellifera) pheromone communication. Is the queen mandibular pheromone alone in colony regulation?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In social insects, the queen is essential to the functioning and homeostasis of the colony. This influence has been demonstrated to be mediated through pheromone communication. However, the only social insect for which any queen pheromone has been identified is the honey bee (<it>Apis mellifera</it>) with its well-known queen mandibular pheromone (QMP). Although pleiotropic effects on colony regulation are accredited to the QMP, this pheromone does not trigger the full behavioral and physiological response observed in the presence of the queen, suggesting the presence of additional compounds. We tested the hypothesis of a pheromone redundancy in honey bee queens by comparing the influence of queens with and without mandibular glands on worker behavior and physiology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Demandibulated queens had no detectable (E)-9-oxodec-2-enoic acid (9-ODA), the major compound in QMP, yet they controlled worker behavior (cell construction and queen retinue) and physiology (ovary inhibition) as efficiently as intact queens.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated that the queen uses other pheromones as powerful as QMP to control the colony. It follows that queens appear to have multiple active compounds with similar functions in the colony (pheromone redundancy). Our findings support two hypotheses in the biology of social insects: (1) that multiple semiochemicals with synonymous meaning exist in the honey bee, (2) that this extensive semiochemical vocabulary exists because it confers an evolutionary advantage to the colony.</p

Automatic fingerprint recognition: from children to elderly Ageing and age effects

By courtesy of the Portuguese Government, DG JRC has received a comprehensive set of fingerprint data from individuals aged 0-25 and 65-98. The main purpose of the proposed experiments is to deepen the understanding regarding the physiological development of the fingertip ridge structure over time and its impact on automated fingerprint recognition. The experiments explore three biometric processes in the light of age, ageing and growth effects. These effects are demonstrated and validated. A growth model is also developed and validated. The report concludes with a series of recommendations for enhanced implementation of automated fingerprint recognition system and suggestions for further researches.JRC.E.3-Cyber and Digital Citizens' Securit