Using natural versus artificial stimuli to perform calibration for 3D gaze tracking

International audienceThe presented study tests which type of stereoscopic image, natural or artificial, is more adapted to perform efficient and reliable calibration in order to track the gaze of observers in 3D space using classical 2D eye tracker. We measured the horizontal disparities, i.e. the difference between the x coordinates of the two eyes obtained using a 2D eye tracker. This disparity was recorded for each observer and for several target positions he had to fixate. Target positions were equally distributed in the 3D space, some on the screen (with a null disparity), some behind the screen (uncrossed disparity) and others in front of the screen (crossed disparity). We tested different regression models (linear and non linear) to explain either the true disparity or the depth with the measured disparity. Models were tested and compared on their prediction error for new targets at new positions. First of all, we found that we obtained more reliable disparities measures when using natural stereoscopic images rather than artificial. Second, we found that overall a non-linear model was more efficient. Finally, we discuss the fact that our results were observer dependent, with variability's between the observer's behavior when looking at 3D stimuli. Because of this variability, we proposed to compute observer specific model to accurately predict their gaze position when exploring 3D stimuli

Model of Cortical Cell Processing to Estimate Binocular Disparity

International audienceThe starting point of our work are the physiological and psychophysical studies made on 3D vision, we attempt to build a model of stereoscopic vision. Hence, we used 2D Gabor filters to model the simple and complex cells sensitive to horizontal binocular disparity (Barlow 1967, Daugman 1985). Each of these cells has a preferred disparity and is sensitive to spatial frequency and orientation. It has been shown by Prince et al (2002) that the range of preferred disparities depends on the spatial frequency. We designed a bank of filters in which the distribution of preferred disparity follows the same principle. Moreover, since the stereo-threshold was found to be increasing with the magnitude of disparity inside each spatial frequency channel, the disparity distribution is not uniform. We took the energy model of Ohzawa et al (1986) as a basis since it has been demonstrated that it fits well with the disparity sensitive cells response from V1 in front of most of stimuli. We modified the classical model by normalizing the complex binocular response by the monocular complex response. We took different measures to reduce false matches such as a pooling procedure and an orientation averaging already used by Chen and Qian (2004). As already demonstrated for 2D vision, a coarse-to-fine process seems to be the best way to deal with multiple spatial frequency channels for stereoscopic vision (Smallman 1995, Menz and Freeman 2003). The first estimation based on low spatial frequencies determines if the estimation will be refined channels depending on its inclusion in the disparity range of the higher spatial frequency channel

An ontology-based framework for the automated analysis and interpretation of comic books' images

International audienceSince the beginning of the twenty-first century, the cultural industry has been through a massive and historical mutation induced by the rise of digital technologies. The comic books industry keeps looking for the right solution and has not yet produced anything as convincing as the music or movie have. A lot of energy has been spent to transfer printed material to digital supports so far. The specificities of those supports are not always exploited at the best of their capabilities, while they could potentially be used to create new reading conventions. In spite of the needs induced by the large amount of data created since the beginning of the comics history, content indexing has been left behind. It is indeed quite a challenge to index such a composition of textual and visual information. While a growing number of researchers are working on comic books' image analysis from a low-level point of view, only a few are tackling the issue of representing the content at a high semantic level. We propose in this article a framework to handle the content of a comic book, to support the automatic extraction of its visual components and to formalize the semantic of the domain's codes. We tested our framework over two applications: 1) the unsupervised content discovery of comic books' images, 2) its capabilities to handle complex layouts and to produce a respectful browsing experience to the digital comics reader

Gold nanoparticle-pentacene memory-transistors

We demonstrate an organic memory-transistor device based on a pentacene-gold nanoparticles active layer. Gold (Au) nanoparticles are immobilized on the gate dielectric (silicon dioxide) of a pentacene transistor by an amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer. Under the application of writing and erasing pulses on the gate, large threshold voltage shift (22 V) and on/off drain current ratio of ~3E4 are obtained. The hole field-effect mobility of the transistor is similar in the on and off states (less than a factor 2). Charge retention times up to 4500 s are observed. The memory effect is mainly attributed to the Au nanoparticles

Whole-genome, deep pyrosequencing analysis of a duck influenza A virus evolution in swine cells.

We studied the sub-population level evolution of a duck influenza A virus isolate during passage in swine tracheal cells. The complete genomes of the A/mallard/Netherlands/10-Nmkt/1999 strain and its swine cell-passaged descendent were analysed by 454 pyrosequencing with coverage depth ranging from several hundred to several thousand reads at any point. This allowed characterization of defined minority sub-populations of gene segments 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 present in the original isolate. These minority sub-populations ranged between 9.5% (for segment 2) and 46% (for segment 4) of their respective gene segments in the parental stock. They were likely contributed by one or more viruses circulating within the same area, at the same period and in the same or a sympatric host species. The minority sub-populations of segments 3, 4, and 5 became extinct upon viral passage in swine cells, whereas the minority sub-populations of segments 2, 7 and 8 completely replaced their majority counterparts. The swine cell-passaged virus was therefore a three-segment reassortant and also harboured point mutations in segments 3 and 4. The passaged virus was more homogenous than the parental stock, with only 17 minority single nucleotide polymorphisms present above 5% frequency across the whole genome. Though limited here to one sample, this deep sequencing approach highlights the evolutionary versatility of influenza viruses whereby they exploit their genetic diversity, predilection for mixed infection and reassortment to adapt to a new host environmental niche.This work was supported by a grant from DEFRA and HEFCE under the Veterinary Training and Research Initiative to the Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium (VB, LT), BBSRC grants BB/H014306/1 and BB/G00479X/1 (LT), and the French Ministry of Agriculture, INRA and the French Région Midi-Pyrénées (GC, J-LG, VB).This is the accepted version of the original version available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2013.04.03

Genome analysis and genome-wide proteomics of Thermococcus gammatolerans, the most radioresistant organism known amongst the Archaea

The genome sequence of Thermococcus gammatolerans, a radioresistant archaeon, is described; a proteomic analysis reveals that radioresistance may be due to unknown DNA repair enzymes

A novel genomic island harbouring lsa(E) and lnu(B) genes and a defective prophage in a Streptococcus pyogenes isolate resistant to lincosamide, streptogramin A and pleuromutilin antibiotics

A lincosamide-resistant and macrolide-susceptible phenotype has not been described to date in Streptococcus pyogenes [group A streptococcus (GAS)]. The aim of this study was to characterize a GAS isolate susceptible to macrolides but resistant to lincosamide, streptogramin A and pleuromutilin antibiotics. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the microdilution broth method and the resistance phenotype was tested by D-test. The GAS2887HUB isolate was subjected to whole-genome sequencing. The isolate showed a positive Gots' test (clindamycin inactivation). Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the strain was ST10 and emm93, and had five resistance genes [lnu(B), ant(6)-Ia, aph(3')-III, tet(M) and dfrG]. The tet(M) gene was located in a Tn916-like transposon. The lsa(E)-lnu(B)-containing sequence (inserted downstream of the rumA gene) was formed by a 39.6-kb prophage, followed by a gene cluster encoding aminoglycoside-streptothricin resistance [ant(6)Ia-sat4-aph(3')III] and lsa(E)-lnu(B) genes. This structure was not transferred by conjugation. This study identified a new genetic element carrying a determinant of lincosamide resistance in a GAS. Further molecular epidemiological surveys are needed to determine the prevalence of this mechanism of resistance in GAS

Cofilin tunes the nucleotide state of actin filaments and severs at bare and decorated segment boundaries.

International audienceActin-based motility demands the spatial and temporal coordination of numerous regulatory actin-binding proteins (ABPs) [1], many of which bind with affinities that depend on the nucleotide state of actin filament. Cofilin, one of three ABPs that precisely choreograph actin assembly and organization into comet tails that drive motility in vitro [2], binds and stochastically severs aged ADP actin filament segments of de novo growing actin filaments [3]. Deficiencies in methodologies to track in real time the nucleotide state of actin filaments, as well as cofilin severing, limit the molecular understanding of coupling between actin filament chemical and mechanical states and severing. We engineered a fluorescently labeled cofilin that retains actin filament binding and severing activities. Because cofilin binding depends strongly on the actin-bound nucleotide, direct visualization of fluorescent cofilin binding serves as a marker of the actin filament nucleotide state during assembly. Bound cofilin allosterically accelerates P(i) release from unoccupied filament subunits, which shortens the filament ATP/ADP-P(i) cap length by nearly an order of magnitude. Real-time visualization of filament severing indicates that fragmentation scales with and occurs preferentially at boundaries between bare and cofilin-decorated filament segments, thereby controlling the overall filament length, depending on cofilin binding density

Patent Foramen Ovale Closure or Anticoagulation vs. Antiplatelets after Stroke

BACKGROUND Trials of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure to prevent recurrent stroke have been inconclusive. We investigated whether patients with cryptogenic stroke and echocardiographic features representing risk of stroke would benefit from PFO closure or anticoagulation, as compared with antiplatelet therapy. METHODS In a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial, we assigned, in a 1:1:1 ratio, patients 16 to 60 years of age who had had a recent stroke attributed to PFO, with an associated atrial septal aneurysm or large interatrial shunt, to transcatheter PFO closure plus long-term antiplatelet therapy (PFO closure group), antiplatelet therapy alone (antiplatelet-only group), or oral anticoagulation (anticoagulation group) (randomization group 1). Patients with contraindications to anticoagulants or to PFO closure were randomly assigned to the alternative noncontraindicated treatment or to antiplatelet therapy (randomization groups 2 and 3). The primary outcome was occurrence of stroke. The comparison of PFO closure plus antiplatelet therapy with antiplatelet therapy alone was performed with combined data from randomization groups 1 and 2, and the comparison of oral anticoagulation with antiplatelet therapy alone was performed with combined data from randomization groups 1 and 3. RESULTS A total of 663 patients underwent randomization and were followed for a mean (+/- SD) of 5.3 +/- 2.0 years. In the analysis of randomization groups 1 and 2, no stroke occurred among the 238 patients in the PFO closure group, whereas stroke occurred in 14 of the 235 patients in the antiplatelet-only group (hazard ratio, 0.03; 95% confidence interval, 0 to 0.26; P<0.001). Procedural complications from PFO closure occurred in 14 patients (5.9%). The rate of atrial fibrillation was higher in the PFO closure group than in the antiplatelet-only group (4.6% vs. 0.9%, P = 0.02). The number of serious adverse events did not differ significantly between the treatment groups (P = 0.56). In the analysis of randomization groups 1 and 3, stroke occurred in 3 of 187 patients assigned to oral anticoagulants and in 7 of 174 patients assigned to antiplatelet therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS Among patients who had had a recent cryptogenic stroke attributed to PFO with an associated atrial septal aneurysm or large interatrial shunt, the rate of stroke recurrence was lower among those assigned to PFO closure combined with antiplatelet therapy than among those assigned to antiplatelet therapy alone. PFO closure was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation