Sentiment Recognition in Egocentric Photostreams

Lifelogging is a process of collecting rich source of information about daily life of people. In this paper, we introduce the problem of sentiment analysis in egocentric events focusing on the moments that compose the images recalling positive, neutral or negative feelings to the observer. We propose a method for the classification of the sentiments in egocentric pictures based on global and semantic image features extracted by Convolutional Neural Networks. We carried out experiments on an egocentric dataset, which we organized in 3 classes on the basis of the sentiment that is recalled to the user (positive, negative or neutral)

Situation selection for the regulation of emotion responses: Non-meaningful choice options retain partial physiological regulatory impact.

Situation selection consists in choosing an upcoming emotional situation in order to regulate emotions. It was found to be a strategy with powerful effects on emotional negative experience and physiological arousal. Situation selection is supposed to be efficient through the empowering effect of choice itself. In the present study, we wanted to replicate results on Situation selection efficiency and explore its limits by examining the implications of a non-meaningful choice procedure preceding the emotional trigger, expecting that even this non-meaningful choice would be regulatory. Sixty-one participants (40 females, mean age 21.4 years) were presented with emotional pictures, either with no particular instruction (no regulation) or with the task to make a choice between two options. This task was either a classical Situation selection task, with the label corresponding to the image that could be later seen (Word Situation selection), or non-meaningful options (Non-word Situation selection). The effect of Situation selection for negative experience was replicated. Effects on physiological arousal showed reduced heart rate and respiratory rate at the end of the viewing period, particularly for positive viewing. In negative viewing, Non-word Situation selection did not reduce negative experience, but did reinforce the calming effect of Situation selection on heart and respiratory rate. These results confirm Situation selection as a valid emotion regulation strategy, particularly regarding physiological arousal. Significant understanding of the options seems to constitute a strategic part of the regulation on the full spectrum of emotion responses but is not mandatory if only some specific physiological responses are targeted

The regulatory effect of choice in Situation Selection reduces experiential, exocrine and respiratory arousal for negative emotional stimulations

Abstract Situation selection is a seldom studied emotion regulation strategy that entails choosing an upcoming emotional situation. Two mechanisms may drive its regulatory effect on emotional responses. One relates to the evaluation of the chosen option, people generally selecting the most positive. The other one implies that having the choice regarding the upcoming emotional situation is already regulatory, independently of what we choose. This research aimed at investigating this latter hypothesis. In a within-subject design, we compared emotional responses of 65 participants when they viewed negative and positive images they could select (use of Situation selection) vs. when they were imposed the exact same images (Situation selection not used). Results show that having the choice in negative contexts decreased negative experience, skin conductance, and respiration reactivity, while enhancing expressivity and cardiovascular reactivity. In positive contexts, choosing generally reinforced the image calming effect. Thus, contrary to other strategies that are efficient for negative but usually impair positive reactions (e.g., distraction), Situation selection may be used widely to reduce negative experience, while avoiding depletion of positive responses. This is particularly notable in emotion experience. Remarkably, these effects are not driven by the content of the situations, but by the act of choosing itself

Entrepreneurial Passion: Sources and Sustenance

Entrepreneurial passion helps coordinate cognition and behavior of entrepreneurs, providing the fire that fuels innovation, persistence, and ultimate success. But where does entrepreneurial passion come from? Using a phenomenological approach, we conduct a qualitative study of 80 entrepreneurs and analyze their oral histories to explore the sources of entrepreneurial passion, as experienced by entrepreneurs. Our discovery process in the interviews suggests six major sources of entrepreneurial passion: passion for building/developing the venture, passion for people, passion for the product or service, passion for inventing, passion for competition, and passion for a social cause

Monotherapy in serious hospital-acquired infections: a clinical trial of ceftazidime versus imipenem/cilastatin

The clinical and bacteriological efficacy and safety of the antibiotics ceftazidime or imipenem/cilastatin in seriously ill patients with nosocomial infections were compared in a prospective, open, evaluator-blind, multicentre comparative trial. The study was performed in 26 European centres, the majority being intensive care units. Subjects were randomized to receive either ceftazidime 2 g bid or imipenem cilastatin 0·5 g qid given for at least five days after stratification for pneumonia, septicaemia or urinary tract infection (UTI). Three hundred and ninety-three patients with serious nosocomial infections (254 with pneumonia; 91 with septicaemia and 48 UTI were treated between February 1988 and January 1990 and their clinical and bacteriological response to antibiotic treatment assessed. There were no significant differences between ceftazidime and imipenem/cilastatin in clinical efficacy. The failure rates in evaluable patients were 22 and 26% in pneumonia, 23 and 19% in septicaemia and 0 and 5% respectively in those with UTI. Overall there was no significant difference between the two antibiotics for bacteriological response in the three infection strata. However, in patients with pneumonia ceftazidime was significantly more effective than imipenem/cilastatin in clearing patients of Pseudomonas spp.: 3/17 and 11/19 patients respectively had persistent growth of Pseudomonas spp. post-treatment (P = 0·004), and in one ceftazidime failure resistance emerged compared to six imipenem/cilastatin failures in which resistance emerged. Few drug-related adverse events were recorded in either treatment group. Monotherapy with either ceftazidime (2 g bid) or imipenem/cilastatin (0·5 g qid) is safe and effective and could be considered as an alternative to combination therapy for the treatment of serious hospital-acquired infection

Wavelength calibration of the JWST-MIRI medium resolution spectrometer

We present the wavelength and spectral resolution characterisation of the Integral Field Unit (IFU) Medium Resolution Spectrometer for the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), to fly onboard the James Webb Space Telescope in 2014. We use data collected using the Verification Model of the instrument and develop an empirical method to calibrate properties such as wavelength range and resolving power in a portion of the spectrometer's full spectral range (5-28 microns). We test our results against optical models to verify the system requirements and combine them with a study of the fringing pattern in the instrument's detector to provide a more accurate calibration. We show that MIRI's IFU spectrometer will be able to produce spectra with a resolving power above R=2800 in the wavelength range 6.46-7.70 microns, and that the unresolved spectral lines are well fitted by a Gaussian profile.Comment: 12 pages, submitted to SPIE Proceedings vol. 7731, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wav

Trade-off between constitutive and inducible resistance against herbivores is only partially explained by gene expression and glucosinolate production.

The hypothesis that constitutive and inducible plant resistance against herbivores should trade-off because they use the same resources and impose costs to plant fitness has been postulated for a long time. Negative correlations between modes of deployment of resistance and defences have been observed across and within species in common garden experiments. It was therefore tested whether that pattern of resistance across genotypes follows a similar variation in patterns of gene expression and chemical defence production. Using the genetically tractable model Arabidopsis thaliana and different modes of induction, including the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis, the specialist herbivore Pieris brassicae, and jasmonate application, constitutive and inducibility of resistance was measured across seven A. thaliana accessions that were previously selected based on constitutive levels of defence gene expression. According to theory, it was found that modes of resistance traded-off among accessions, particularly against S. littoralis, in which accessions investing in high constitutive resistance did not increase it substantially after attack and vice-versa. Accordingly, the average expression of eight genes involved in glucosinolate production negatively predicted larval growth across the seven accessions. Glucosinolate production and genes related to defence induction on healthy and herbivore-damaged plants were measured next. Surprisingly, only a partial correlation between glucosinolate production, gene expression, and the herbivore resistance results was found. These results suggest that the defence outcome of plants against herbivores goes beyond individual molecules or genes but stands on a complex network of interactions

Jasmonate Precursor Biosynthetic Enzymes LOX3 and LOX4 Control Wound-Response Growth Restriction.

Wound-response plant growth restriction requires the synthesis of potent mediators called jasmonates (JAs). Four 13-lipoxygenases (13-LOXs) produce JA precursors in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves, but the 13-LOXs responsible for growth restriction have not yet been identified. Through loss-of-function genetic analyses, we identified LOX3 and LOX4 as the principal 13-LOXs responsible for vegetative growth restriction after repetitive wounding. Additional genetic studies were carried out in the gain-of-function fatty acid oxygenation 2 (fou2) mutant that, even when undamaged, shows JA-dependent leaf growth restriction. The fou2 lox3 lox4 triple mutant suppressed the fou2 JA-dependent growth phenotype, confirming that LOX3 and LOX4 function in leaf growth restriction. The fou2 mutation affects the TWO PORE CHANNEL1 (TPC1) ion channel. Additional genetic approaches based on this gene were used to further investigate LOX3 function in relation to leaf growth. To activate LOX3-dependent JA production in unwounded plants, we employed hyperactive TPC1 variants. Expression of the TPC1ΔCa <sub> i </sub> variant in phloem companion cells caused strongly reduced rosette growth in the absence of wounding. Summarizing, in parallel to their established roles in male reproductive development in Arabidopsis, LOX3 and LOX4 control leaf growth rates after wounding. The process of wound-response growth restriction can be recapitulated in unwounded plants when the LOX3 pathway is activated genetically using a hyperactive vacuolar cation channel

Characterisation of the impact response of energetic materials: Observation of a low-level reaction in 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105)

Time resolved and integrated diagnostics including high speed photography, mass and optical spectroscopy, and optical-radiometry used to study impact response of high explosives in far more detail than possible with conventional sensitiveness tests.The authors wish to acknowledge the funding and provision of samples for this research by AWE plc.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the Royal Society of Chemistry via http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C6RA03096

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Binding Protein In Human Serum Determines The Tumor Necrosis Factor Response Of Monocytes To LPS

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) and CD14 represent key elements in monocyte activation by LPS. The mean concentration of LBP was 18.1 µg/mL in normal serum and 40-60 µg/mL in serum of patients with septic shock, independent of the fact that patients had gram-negative or other infections. Ten percent normal serum presented large concentrations of LPS (in the microgram range) to monocytes. Only when diluted 1:100 was LBP in plasma a limiting factor for monocyte activation, as measured by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release. When LBP was depleted from serum with anti-LBP antibodies, the resulting serum did not support TNF release of monocytes upon LPS challenge. In conclusion, monocyte activation resulting in TNF secretion was related to LBP, which is abundantly present in normal serum, and elevated two to three times in patients with septic shoc