Auto-Annotation Quality Prediction for Semi-Supervised Learning with Ensembles

Auto-annotation by ensemble of models is an efficient method of learning on unlabeled data. Wrong or inaccurate annotations generated by the ensemble may lead to performance degradation of the trained model. To deal with this problem we propose filtering the auto-labeled data using a trained model that predicts the quality of the annotation from the degree of consensus between ensemble models. Using semantic segmentation as an example, we show the advantage of the proposed auto-annotation filtering over training on data contaminated with inaccurate labels. Moreover, our experimental results show that in the case of semantic segmentation, the performance of a state-of-the-art model can be achieved by training it with only a fraction (30$\%$) of the original manually labeled data set, and replacing the rest with the auto-annotated, quality filtered labels.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, 5 table

The enduring influence of death on health: insights from the terror management health model

The terror management health model suggests targeting sources of self-esteem or identity, in conjunction with mortality salience, offers a pathway for health behavior promotion. To date, however, empirical evidence has been limited to single time point studies. Two studies assessed whether similar processes impact behavior over time. In Study 1, mortality salience was paired with exercise (i.e., riding a recumbent bike); two weeks later, individuals primed with mortality reported more exercise than those not primed with death, and this increased fitness-contingent self-esteem and exercise intentions. In Study 2, when smokers visualized a prototypical unhealthy (vs. typical) smoker after mortality salience, they reported more attempts to quit smoking (over three weeks) than participants not primed with mortality. This facilitated continued quit attempts and decreased smoker identification three weeks later. Implications are discussed for a longitudinal process model in which mortality salience catalyzes a reinforcing relationship between behavior and esteem/identity, potentially sustaining health behavior change over time

Digital documentation and visualization of archaeological excavations and finds using 3D scanning technology

[ES] La medición es una acompañante imprescindible en cada yacimiento arqueológico. Tomar medidas sin tocar ó estropear el objeto medido, es una de las ventajas de una documentación tridimensional del lugar entero con la técnica de escaneo láser. La alta precisión y resolución de los sistemas modernos ofrece la posibilidad del registro tridimensional de la geometría con gran exactitud y la documentación de su textura con alta resolución. Comparativamente con las métodos tradicionales el escaneo permite medir al mismo tiempo mucho mas detalles de un objeto. Estos instrumentos de alta tecnología se utilizan normalmente para el control de formación de muros de presa ó para asegurar la calidad geométrico de la construcción de aviones ó motores. Y también supone un gran progreso en el futuro de la arqueología y en la protección del matrimonio cultural de la humanidad.[EN] In 2007 the special research program HiMAT - History of Mining Activities in Tyrol and adjacent areas, focussing on environment and human societies, was established at the University of Innsbruck as an interdisciplinary and international research project, sponsored by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). During late medieval and early modern times, the mining area of Schwaz in Tyrol became famous in Europe, due to the large scale exploitation of copper and silver bearing fahlores, going along with the development of high technologies in the field of mining and metallurgy. In that period, Schwaz was even called “the mother of all mines”. In the area of Schwaz/Brixlegg the main focus of our research project is on early traces of copper mining and metallurgy dating back to the late Bronze Age. Such traces are still preserved, especially in boundary areas of the main ore deposits. On the basis of previous surveys a little valley called “Maukental” was chosen for archaeological investigations, because within this small area the entire copper production process of the late Bronze Age can be studied in detail. During the past two years, the Institute of Archaeology and Surveying and the Geoinformation Unit of the University of Innsbruck worked together in this area. One object of interest was a late Bronze Age ore dressing site situated in a former peat-bog. In this place the advantageous environment preserved fragile wooden structures and artefacts which could be digitally documented in the condition of retrieval.The work is generously supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF Project F3114) in the framework of the Special Research Program History of Mining Activities in the Tyrol and Adjacent Areas (SFB "HiMAT") as well as by the province governments of Tyrol, South Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg, the local authorities of the mining areas concerned, the TransIT foundation and the University of Innsbruck, Austria.Moser, M.; Hye, S.; Goldenberg, G.; Hanke, K.; Kovács, K. (2010). Digital documentation and visualization of archaeological excavations and finds using 3D scanning technology. Virtual Archaeology Review. 1(2):143-147. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2010.4717OJS14314712AKCA, D. et al.: Recording and modeling of cultural heritage objects with coded structured light projection systems. In: 2nd International Conference on Remote Sensing in Archaeology, pp.375-382, Rome, Italy. December 4-7, 2006ALLEN, P. et al: Seeing into the past: creating a 3D modeling pipeline for archaeological visualization In: Proceedings. 2nd International Symposium on 3D Data Processing, Visualization and Transmission, 2004. 3DPVT 2004. ISBN: 0-7695-2223-8 pp. 751- 758CHAPMAN P. et al.: VENUS, Virtual ExploratioN of Underwater Sites. Proceeding of joint event CIPA / VAST / EG /Euro-Med 2006 in Nicosia, Cyprus. In: Ioannides M. et al (eds.) The e-volution of Information Communication Technology in Cultural Heritage. ISBN-10: 963 8046 73 2 ÖGOLDENBERG, G.; HYE, S.; KLAUNZER, M.: KG Zimmermoos, MG Brixlegg, VB Kufstein. Fundberichte Österreich 46, 2008, pp. 649- 650.ENGLISH HERTIAGE 2007: 3D Laser Scanning for Heritage - Advice and guidance to users on laser scanning in archaeology and architecture. Edited and brought to press by David M Jones, English Heritage PublishingHANKE, K.: The photogrammetric contribution to archaeological documentation of prehistory. Proceedings of the ISPRS Congress in Amsterdam. In: International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Vol. XXXIII Part 5 (2000)HANKE, K.: Contribution of Laser Scanning, Photogrammetry and GIS to an Interdisciplinary Special Research Program on the History of Mining Activities (SFB HIMAT) In: The ISPRS International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences Vol. XXXVI - 5/C53 (ISSN 1682-1750) and The CIPA International Archives for Documentation of Cultural Heritage Vol. XXI (2007) (ISSN 0256 - 1840).HANKE, Klaus; MOSER, Michael; GRIMM-PITZINGER, Albert; GOLDENBERG, Gert; TÖCHTERLE, Ulrike (2008): Enhanced potential for the analysis of archaeological finds based on 3D modeling. In: CHEN, Jun; JIANG, Jie; MAAS, Hans-Gerd: The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XXXVII. Part B5. Beijing 2008. ISBN 1682-1750, Verlag ISPRS, Hannover - Istanbul [u.a.], S 187 - 191.REMONDINO, F.; EL-HAKIM, S., 2006: Image-based 3D modelling: a review. Photogrammetric Record, 21(115), pp. 269-291 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-9730.2006.00383.xSABLATNIG, R.; MENARD, C., 1996. "Computer based acquisition of archaeological finds: the first step towards automatic classification", In: 3rd International Symposium on Computing and Archaeology, Rome, Vol. 1, pp. 429-446.KLAUNZER, M.; GOLDENBERG, G.; HYE, S.; TÖCHTERLE, U. .: KG Zimmermoos, MG Brixlegg, VB Kufstein. Fundberichte Österreich 47, 2009 (in press)

Оцінка екологічного стану водосховищ гідроенергетичного призначення на р. Південний Буг за гідрогеологічними показниками

Проаналізовано особливості гідробіологічних угрупувань водосховищ гідроенергетичного призначення р.Південний Буг. Дослідження проведено за такими показниками: видовий склад, кількість, біомаса, трофічні характеристики, індекс сапробності за Пантле-Букком, за Балушкіною (для угрупувань бентосу), індекс видового різноманіття Шеннона окремо за чисельністю та біомасою, індекс Пареле, рибопродуктивність водосховищ

Comparison of Different Strategies for Providing Fecal Microbiota Transplantation to Treat Patients with Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in Two English Hospitals: A Review

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) has emerged as a highly efficacious treatment for difficult cases of refractory and/or recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). There have been many well-conducted randomized controlled trials and thousands of patients reported in case series that describe success rates of approximately 90% following one or more FMT. Although the exact mechanisms of FMT have yet to be fully elucidated, replacement or restoration of a ‘normal’ microbiota (or at least a microbiota resembling those who have never had CDI) appears to have a positive effect on the gut dysbiosis that is thought to exist in these patients. Furthermore, despite being aesthetically unappealing, this ‘ultimate probiotic’ is a particularly attractive solution to a difficult problem that avoids repeated courses of antibiotics. The lack of clarity about the exact mechanism of action and the ‘active ingredient’ of FMT (e.g., individual or communities of bacteria, bacteriophage, or bioactive molecules such as bile acids) has hindered the ability to produce a standardized and well-characterized FMT product. There is no standard method to produce material for FMT, and there are a multitude of factors that can vary between institutions that offer this therapy. Only a few studies have directly compared clinical efficacy in groups of patients who have been treated with FMT prepared differently (e.g., fresh vs. frozen) or administered by different route (e.g., by nasojejunal tube, colonoscopy or by oral administration of encapsulated product). More of these studies should be undertaken to clarify the superiority or otherwise of these variables. This review describes the methods and protocols that two English NHS hospitals independently adopted over the same time period to provide FMT for patients with recurrent CDI. There are several fundamental differences in the methods used, including selection and testing of donors, procedures for preparation and storage of material, and route of administration. These methods are described in detail in this review highlighting differing practice. Despite these significant methodological variations, clinical outcomes in terms of cure rate appear to be remarkably similar for both FMT providers. Although both hospitals have treated only modest numbers of patients, these findings suggest that many of the described differences may not be critical factors in influencing the success of the procedure. As FMT is increasingly being proposed for a number of conditions other than CDI, harmonization of methods and techniques may be more critical to the success of FMT, and thus it will be important to standardize these as far as practically possible

The projected effectiveness of Clostridium difficile vaccination as part of an integrated infection control strategy.

BACKGROUND: Early clinical trials of a Clostridium difficile toxoid vaccine show efficacy in preventing C. difficile infection (CDI). The optimal patient group to target for vaccination programmes remains unexplored. This study performed a model-based evaluation of the effectiveness of different CDI vaccination strategies, within the context of existing infection prevention and control strategies such as antimicrobial stewardship. METHODS: An individual-based transmission model of CDI in a high-risk hospital setting was developed. The model incorporated data on patient movements between the hospital, and catchment populations from the community and long-term care facilities (LTCF), using English national and local level data for model-parameterisation. We evaluated vaccination of: (1) discharged patients who had an CDI-occurrence in the ward; (2) LTCF-residents; (3) Planned elective surgical admissions and (4) All three strategies combined. RESULTS: Without vaccination, 10.9 [Interquartile range: 10.0-11.8] patients per 1000 ward admissions developed CDI, of which 31% were ward-acquired. Immunising all three patient groups resulted in a 43% [42-44], reduction of ward-onset CDI on average. Among the strategies restricting vaccination to one target group, vaccinating elective surgical patients proved most effective (35% [34-36] reduction), but least efficient, requiring 146 [133-162] courses to prevent one ICU-onset case. Immunising LTCF residents was most efficient, requiring just 13 [11-16] courses to prevent one case, but considering this only comprised a small group of our hospital population, it only reduced ICU-onset CDI by 9% [8-11]. Vaccination proved most efficient when ward-based transmission rates and antimicrobial consumption were high. CONCLUSIONS: Strategy success depends on the interaction between hospital and catchment populations, and importantly, consideration of importations of CDI from outside the hospital which we found to substantially impact hospital dynamics. Vaccination may be most desirable in settings or patient groups where levels of broad-spectrum antimicrobial use are high and difficult to reduce

Quantum Cryptography

Quantum cryptography could well be the first application of quantum mechanics at the individual quanta level. The very fast progress in both theory and experiments over the recent years are reviewed, with emphasis on open questions and technological issues.Comment: 55 pages, 32 figures; to appear in Reviews of Modern Physic