Model-free 3D face shape reconstruction from video sequences

In forensic comparison of facial video data, often only the best quality frontal face frames are selected, and hence much video data is ignored. To improve 2D facial comparison for law enforcement and forensic investigation, we introduce a model-free 3D shape reconstruction algorithm based on 2D landmarks. The algorithm uses around 20 landmarks on the face and combines the structure information of multiple frames. Model based 3D reconstruction methods, such as Morphable Models, reconstruct a 3D face shape model that is strongly biased towards the average face. Therefore, we don't use statistical face shape models in our model-free approach. The 3D landmark reconstruction algorithm simultaneously estimates the shape, pose and position of the face, based only on the fact that all images in the sequence are recorded using a single calibrated camera. The algorithm iteratively updates the reconstruction by including new frames, while maintaining the consistency of the reconstruction. We demonstrate the convergence properties of the method reflected in the 2D reprojection error and the 3D error with respect to a ground truth model. We show that the quality of the reconstruction depends on the noise on the landmarks. In a second experiment we show that the method can be used on realistic face shape data with a styrofoam head model

Towards 3D Facial Reconstruction from Uncalibrated CCTV Footage

Facial comparison in 2D is an accepted method in law enforcement and forensic investigation, but pose variations, varying light conditions and low resolution video data can reduce the evidential value of the comparison. Some of these problems might be solved by comparing 3D face models: a face model derived from CCTV camera footage and a reference face model acquired from a suspect. In our case we will assume uncalibrated CCTV footage, because the original camera setup may be destroyed or replaced after the incident, so precise camera information is no longer available. In contrast to other statistical methods, like Morphable Models, we would like to use no additional statistical information at all. Our method is based on a projective reconstruction of landmarks on the face and an auto-calibration step to obtain a 3D face model in a Euclidean space. In our experiment the effect of the number of frames and noise on the landmarks is explored for 3D face reconstruction based on landmarks. An estimation of the 3D face shape can already be obtained using 25 points in 30 frames

Extraterritorial Law-Enforcement: Combating Non-State Actors

This is the text of a lecture, presented by Professor Yoram Dinstein at Tilburg University, outlining some key aspects of international humanitarian law as regards the principle of distinction; the principle of proportionality; direct participation in hostilities; drones; human shields; and private military contractors

Conditions for Sustainable Use: The Case of the Chaguar (Bromelia hieronymi) in a Wichí Community from the Argentine Chaco

This is Chapter 5 of the larger volume, Lessons Learned: Case Studies in Sustainable Use. The chaguar (Bromelia hieronymi) is a plant traditionally used for food and fiber by the Wichí people -- hunter gatherers of the Argentine semi-arid Chaco region. Disagreement over use, sustainability, scarcity and management of the plant exists between the Wichí and other groups, notably technicians and developers. The majority of Wichí families here live off income derived from the sale of crafts that they produce. Crafts are made from Chaco hardwoods, some are made only using chaguar. To harvest the chaguar, women must travel many kilometers into the forest. Therein lies the belief, among technicians and those involved in development projects, that the chaguar is becoming increasingly scarce. An alternative, they suggest, to traveling to the chaguar, would be to cultivate the crop closer to Wichí settlements. The Wichí do not to agree and do not believe that the chaguar is becoming increasingly scarce and therefore contest any need to cultivate the species. Contrary to what economic theory suggests, unrestricted access neither generates any conflict nor contributes to increased scarcity. Sustainability is put at risk only by 'macro' factors, such as a mistaken land tenure policies and ecosystem degradation. At the same time, harvesting and utilizing chaguar is extremely labor-intensive and increases the cost of the end products. What appears to be adaptive for the conservation of the plant is in fact detrimental to the Wichí. This report analyzes several factors -- supply, demand and sustainability -- all of which reveal a remarkable degree of variability and uncertainty

Faculty rewards its students and lecturers at annual prize-giving event

On 14 March, the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria held its annual Teaching and Learning Prize-giving. Recognition was given to students for academic performance during 2018 in a variety of subjects, while academic staff were recognised for outstanding contributions to teaching. The awards are sponsored by the Department of Higher Education and veterinary organisations and industry. The Faculty thanks the following sponsors for their contributions: SA Veterinary Association; SAVA Johannesburg Branch; SA Veterinary Foundation; Mercantile Bank, SA Veterinary Foundation Pet Memorial Fund; Bayer Animal Health; Diag SA; Ramsem; Sanlam; Stride Distributors; Swann-Morton Mediquip; Virbac SA, and Zoetis. The various awards were all handed over by representatives of the sponsors; SAVA was represented by both Dr Charlotte Nkuna, who handed over the awards, and Mr Gert Steyn.Originally published as HTML file, converted to PDF with Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Version 9.0.0.News articles with colour photos about what's happening at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria.ab201

Lessons Learned: Case Studies in Sustainable Use, Conclusion

The conclusion of Lessons Learned: Case Studies in Sustainable Use summarizes the overarching lessons learned from the case studies provided in the volume. 1. Sustainability of uses of renewable natural resources is dependent on the existence of a 'sustainable society'at the local, national and global levels. 2. Successful biological conservation is a function of equity and democracy. 3. To achieve greater sustainability of uses of natural resources will likely require modification of the roles of organizations and government agencies in authority. 4. The current conservation paradigm of Protected Areas (including as applied to the 'biodiversity hotspots'concept) may not be economically viable in many developing countries, simply because the opportunitycosts often exceed the value local people receive from their existence. National and international agencies and organizations realize most of the value from designation of protected areas and 'hotspots'. 5. It is not possible to transpose directly the combination of factors that influence one case to another site, and expect the same impact or result.6. Donor agencies and/or central government policies need to consider management requirements beyond project cycles in order to promote long-term sustainability of resource uses.7. External factors such as war and natural disasters can have an over-riding influence on the sustainability of resource use. 8. Interventions on key resources by external institutions often pressure transformation of local governance systems. The impact of these changes is often overlooked. More specific observations of common features. Furthermore, the conclusion provides lessons related to policy, social processes, institutions, and information

Critical collapse of a massive vector field

We perform numerical simulations of the critical gravitational collapse of a massive vector field. The result is that there are two critical solutions. One is equivalent to the Choptuik critical solution for a massless scalar field. The other is periodic.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Adapted Morris Water Maze protocol to prevent interference from confounding motor deficits on cognitive functioning

Purpose/aim of the study: Cognitive functioning in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) is assumed to be reflected by path length. In this study, the interference of motor deficits, as a confounding factor on cognitive functioning, was assessed by means of a lateralization study with hemicerebellectomized (HCX) mice. This model is characterized by motor deficits restricted to the lesion side, allowing comparison within the model itself (left vs. right), rather than the effect of the manipulation on this measure (experimental vs. control).Materials and methods: Spatial learning was assessed after left or right hemicerebellectomy in adult mice by means of two MWM designs in which the location of the starting positions was altered for one condition in the adapted (Adap) MWM experiment, hypothesizing that motor impairments ipsilateral to the lesion side result in a difference in path length.Results: When the starting positions were equal for both conditions in the traditional (Trad) MWM experiment, path length during the acquisition phase and spatial memory were more affected for the left HCX, while these effects disappeared after mirroring the starting positions in the Adap MWM, implying that motor phenotype and corresponding increase in task difficulty are responsible for the contradictory results in the Trad MWM experiment.Conclusion: The differences found in the latter experiment were circumvented in the adapted MWM protocol, and therefore, excluding the motor deficit as a confounding factor on cognitive MWM parameters

Lessons Learned: Case Studies in Sustainable Use, Preface Page

This preface page of the volume Lessons Learned: Case Studies in Sustainable Use, provides a summary of the book's purpose and structure. Enhancing sustainability requires a multidisciplinary approach. Because there is such diversity in resources, uses, and users, there is no universal formula, yet to promote, or assess, practices in context is essential. Without this capacity approaches to sustainable use will remain superficial and ineffective.The present volume presents six detailed cases of uses of different facets of biological diversity in Africa (East, West and Southern), Central Asia and South America-Latin America;. The objective of the project was to identify 'Lessons Learned' from examples of sustainable use. To address this objective, six cases were selected because they had been implemented for several years and they were being implemented in different regions, thus enhancing the potential for identifying key lessons. Each of the case studies was examined using an 'Analytic Framework for Assessing the Factors that Influence Sustainability of Uses of Wild Living Natural Resources' The Analytic Framework (Annex 1) provided a consistent, systematic approach to the analysis of the cases according to 'domains of issues' considered important in assessing sustainability, including inter alia, ecological processes and functions, economic factors, societal and institutional factors

Differences in brain activity patterns during creative idea generation between eminent and non-eminent thinkers

An influential model of the neural mechanisms of creative thought suggests that creativity is manifested in the joint contributions of the Default Mode Network (DMN; a set of regions in the medial PFC, lateral and medial parietal cortex, and the medial temporal lobes) and the executive networks within the dorsolateral PFC. Several empirical reports have offered support for this model by showing that complex interactions between these brain systems account for individual differences in creative performance. The present study examined whether the engagement of these regions in idea generation is modulated by one\u27s eminence in a creativity-related field. Twenty (n = 20) healthy eminent creators from diverse fields of expertise and a \u27smart\u27 comparison group of sixteen (n = 16) age- and education-matched non-eminent thinkers were administered a creative generation task (an adaptation of the Alternative Uses Task) and a control perceptual task, while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The participants\u27 verbal responses were recorded through a noise-canceling microphone and were later coded for fluency and accuracy. Behavioral and fMRI analyses revealed commonalities between groups, but also distinct patterns of activation in default mode and executive brain regions between the eminent and the non-eminent participants during creative thinking. We interpret these findings in the context of the well-documented contributions of these regions in the generation of creative ideas as modulated, in this study, by participants\u27 creative eminence