ICNet for Real-Time Semantic Segmentation on High-Resolution Images

We focus on the challenging task of real-time semantic segmentation in this paper. It finds many practical applications and yet is with fundamental difficulty of reducing a large portion of computation for pixel-wise label inference. We propose an image cascade network (ICNet) that incorporates multi-resolution branches under proper label guidance to address this challenge. We provide in-depth analysis of our framework and introduce the cascade feature fusion unit to quickly achieve high-quality segmentation. Our system yields real-time inference on a single GPU card with decent quality results evaluated on challenging datasets like Cityscapes, CamVid and COCO-Stuff.Comment: ECCV 201

Montecarlo simulation of the role of defects as the melting mechanism

We study in this paper the melting transition of a crystal of fcc structure with the Lennard-Jones potential, by using isobaric-isothermal Monte Carlo simulations. Local and collective updates are sequentially used to optimize the convergence. We show the important role played by defects in the melting mechanism in favor of modern melting theories.Comment: 6 page, 10 figures included. Corrected version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Roto++: Accelerating professional rotoscoping using shape manifolds

Rotoscoping (cutting out different characters/objects/layers in raw video footage) is a ubiquitous task in modern post-production and represents a significant investment in person-hours. In this work, we study the particular task of professional rotoscoping for high-end, live action movies and propose a new framework that works with roto-artists to accelerate the workflow and improve their productivity. Working with the existing keyframing paradigm, our first contribution is the development of a shape model that is updated as artists add successive keyframes. This model is used to improve the output of traditional interpolation and tracking techniques, reducing the number of keyframes that need to be specified by the artist. Our second contribution is to use the same shape model to provide a new interactive tool that allows an artist to reduce the time spent editing each keyframe. The more keyframes that are edited, the better the interactive tool becomes, accelerating the process and making the artist more efficient without compromising their control. Finally, we also provide a new, professionally rotoscoped dataset that enables truly representative, real-world evaluation of rotoscoping methods. We used this dataset to perform a number of experiments, including an expert study with professional roto-artists, to show, quantitatively, the advantages of our approach

Hydroxyapatite based hybrid dental materials with controlled porosity and improved tribological and mechanical properties

Hybrid dental materials were designed with controlled porosity and improved tribological and mechanical properties. These materials are based on hydroxyapatite (HAp) and reinforced with two different types of ceramic particles, alumina and silica, to support the high stresses and the continuous scratching produced during mastication. The agglutinant phase is an alkyd polyester polyurethane with high abrasion resistance that adheres well to surfaces containing OH groups. Porosity of the materials was controlled using sodium acetate powder of specified particle size as a pore former, thereby providing the materials with a morphology that resembles real teeth. The composition, structure and morphology were evaluated through several analytical techniques; results of scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, induced coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and densitometry are reported. The ceramic powders incorporated (HAp, alumina and silica) were a combination of micro-and nanoscale particles; this use of different sized particles improved the packing and consequently the mechanical and tribological properties of the dental materials. Tribological features are explained from results of microscratch testing and abrasion resistance. The elastic modulus from mechanical testing is compared for the entire set of hybrid dental composites developed

Statistical Mechanics of Glass Formation in Molecular Liquids with OTP as an Example

We extend our statistical mechanical theory of the glass transition from examples consisting of point particles to molecular liquids with internal degrees of freedom. As before, the fundamental assertion is that super-cooled liquids are ergodic, although becoming very viscous at lower temperatures, and are therefore describable in principle by statistical mechanics. The theory is based on analyzing the local neighborhoods of each molecule, and a statistical mechanical weight is assigned to every possible local organization. This results in an approximate theory that is in very good agreement with simulations regarding both thermodynamical and dynamical properties

Chitosan–Starch–Keratin composites: Improving thermo-mechanical and degradation properties through chemical modification

The lysozyme test shows an improved in the degradability rate, the weight loss of the films at 21 days is reduced from 73 % for chitosan-starch matrix up to 16 % for the composites with 5wt% of quill; but all films show a biodegradable character depending on keratin type and chemical modification. The outstanding properties related to the addition of treated keratin materials show that these natural composites are a remarkable alternative to potentiat-ing chitosan–starch films with sustainable featuresChitosan–starch polymers are reinforced with different keratin materials obtained from chicken feather. Keratin materials are treated with sodium hydroxide; the modified surfaces are rougher in comparison with untreated surfaces, observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results obtained by Differential Scanning Calorimetry show an increase in the endothermic peak related to water evaporation of the films from 92 °C (matrix) up to 102–114 °C (reinforced composites). Glass transition temperature increases from 126 °C in the polymer matrix up to 170–200 °C for the composites. Additionally, the storage modulus in the composites is enhanced up to 1614 % for the composites with modified ground quill, 2522 % for composites with modified long fiber and 3206 % for the composites with modified short fiber. The lysozyme test shows an improved in the degradability rate, the weight loss of the films at 21 days is reduced from 73 % for chitosan-starch matrix up to 16 % for the composites with 5wt% of quill; but all films show a biodegradable character depending on keratin type and chemical modification. The outstanding properties related to the addition of treated keratin materials show that these natural composites are a remarkable alternative to potentiat-ing chitosan–starch films with sustainable featuresUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de México Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Querétaro Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya Universidad Autónoma de Cd. Juáre