Learning Neural Parametric Head Models

We propose a novel 3D morphable model for complete human heads based on hybrid neural fields. At the core of our model lies a neural parametric representation that disentangles identity and expressions in disjoint latent spaces. To this end, we capture a person's identity in a canonical space as a signed distance field (SDF), and model facial expressions with a neural deformation field. In addition, our representation achieves high-fidelity local detail by introducing an ensemble of local fields centered around facial anchor points. To facilitate generalization, we train our model on a newly-captured dataset of over 3700 head scans from 203 different identities using a custom high-end 3D scanning setup. Our dataset significantly exceeds comparable existing datasets, both with respect to quality and completeness of geometry, averaging around 3.5M mesh faces per scan 1 1 We will publicly release our dataset along with a public benchmark for both neural head avatar construction as well as an evaluation on a hidden test-set for inference-time fitting.. Finally, we demonstrate that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of fitting error and reconstruction quality

Effects of outliers on productivity analyses based on the Farm Accountancy Data Network (EU-FADN - DG AGRI)

<p>The agricultural sector is one of the key industries in the EU. Negotiations about the European Commissions' budget are characterized by a constant struggle for quantity and allocation of agricultural subsidies as national governments try to protect their national agricultural industries. In the presence of productivity differences across countries, reduced transfers may indeed lead to shifts in market shares on commodity markets and to crowding-out effects that are undesired by national governments.</p> <p>A key source of information about farm sector productivity in the EU is the Farm Accountancy Data Network (EU-FADN – DG AGRI), a farm level data set for 25 out of the 27 EU member states. It holds accounting as well as structural information about farms all over Europe. However, these data may contain abnormal observations (outliers) biasing the productivity analyses, which are in turn taken as a basis for policy reforms. In this project non-parametric multivariate outlier identification procedures are applied to detect such observations for country-based subsamples. Consequences of these findings on possible follow-on productivity analyses are outlined.</p

Robust Productivity Analysis: An application to German FADN data

<p>Different sources of bias prevent the consistent estimation of production functions.<br>They can be separated in those coming from the modelling domain (endogeneity,<br>collinearity) and those coming from the data itself, i.e. induced by outliers. In this<br>paper, we propose a practical two-step approach to encounter these issues. First, by<br>decontaminating the data with a multivariate non-parametric outlier detection procedure<br>and second, by consistently estimating the parameters of the production function.<br>We apply this approach to a panel of German field crop data. Results show that the<br>decontaminantion procedure detects univariate and multivariate outliers. We estimate<br>and compare production functions for different subsamples of the data. These include<br>subsamples without any outlier control as well as univariate and multivariate outlier<br>control. In general, the multivariate outlier control delivers more reasonable results<br>with a higher precision in the estimation of some parameters (capital, materials) and<br>seems to mitigate the effects of multicollinearity.<br>Keywords: Outlier detection, Productivity analysis,</p

Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Nerve Stimulation (rPMS) as Adjuvant Therapy Reduces Skeletal Muscle Reflex Activity

BACKGROUND: The reduction of muscle hypertonia and spasticity, as well as an increase in mobility, is an essential prerequisite for the amelioration of physiotherapeutical treatments. Repetitive peripheral magnetic nerve stimulation (rPMS) is a putative adjuvant therapy that improves the mobility of patients, but the underlying mechanism is not entirely clear. METHODS: Thirty-eight participants underwent either an rPMS treatment (N = 19) with a 5 Hz stimulation protocol in the posterior tibial nerve or sham stimulation (N = 19). The stimulation took place over 5 min. The study was conducted in a pre-test post-test design with matched groups. Outcome measures were taken at the baseline and after following intervention. RESULTS: The primary outcome was a significant reduction of the reflex activity of the soleus muscle, triggered by a computer-aided tendon-reflex impact. The pre-post differences of the tendon reflex response activity were −23.7% (P &lt; 0.001) for the treatment group. No significant effects showed in the sham stimulation group. CONCLUSION: Low-frequency magnetic stimulation (5 Hz rPMS) shows a substantial reduction of the tendon reflex amplitude. It seems to be an effective procedure to reduce muscular stiffness, increase mobility, and thus, makes the therapeutic effect of neuro-rehabilitation more effective. For this reason, the 5 Hz rPMS treatment might have the potential to be used as an adjuvant therapy in the rehabilitation of gait and posture control in patients suffering from limited mobility due to spasticity. The effect observed in this study should be investigated conjoined with the presented method in patients with impaired mobility due to spasticity

Different approaches to long-term treatment of aHUS due to MCP mutations: a multicenter analysis

Background!#!Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, life-threatening microangiopathy, frequently causing kidney failure. Inhibition of the terminal complement complex with eculizumab is the only licensed treatment but mostly requires long-term administration and risks severe side effects. The underlying genetic cause of aHUS is thought to influence the severity of initial and recurring episodes, with milder courses in patients with mutations in membrane cofactor protein (MCP).!##!Methods!#!Twenty pediatric cases of aHUS due to isolated heterozygous MCP mutations were reported from 12 German pediatric nephrology centers to describe initial presentation, timing of relapses, treatment, and kidney outcome.!##!Results!#!The median age of onset was 4.6 years, with a female to male ratio of 1:3. Without eculizumab maintenance therapy, 50% (9/18) of the patients experienced a first relapse after a median period of 3.8 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a relapse-free survival of 93% at 1 year. Four patients received eculizumab long-term treatment, while 3 patients received short courses. We could not show a benefit from complement blockade therapy on long term kidney function, independent of short-term or long-term treatment. To prevent 1 relapse with eculizumab, the theoretical number-needed-to-treat (NNT) was 15 for the first year and 3 for the first 5 years after initial presentation.!##!Conclusion!#!Our study shows that heterozygous MCP mutations cause aHUS with a risk of first relapse of about 10% per year, resulting in large NNTs for prevention of relapses with eculizumab. More studies are needed to define an optimal treatment schedule for patients with MCP mutations to minimize the risks of the disease and treatment

An algorithm for calculating exam quality as a basis for performance-based allocation of funds at medical schools

Objective: The amendment of the Medical Licensing Act (ÄAppO) in Germany in 2002 led to the introduction of graded assessments in the clinical part of medical studies. This, in turn, lent new weight to the importance of written tests, even though the minimum requirements for exam quality are sometimes difficult to reach. Introducing exam quality as a criterion for the award of performance-based allocation of funds is expected to steer the attention of faculty members towards more quality and perpetuate higher standards. However, at present there is a lack of suitable algorithms for calculating exam quality.Methods: In the spring of 2014, the students‘ dean commissioned the „core group“ for curricular improvement at the University Medical Center in Rostock to revise the criteria for the allocation of performance-based funds for teaching. In a first approach, we developed an algorithm that was based on the results of the most common type of exam in medical education, multiple choice tests. It included item difficulty and discrimination, reliability as well as the distribution of grades achieved. Results: This algorithm quantitatively describes exam quality of multiple choice exams. However, it can also be applied to exams involving short assay questions and the OSCE. It thus allows for the quantitation of exam quality in the various subjects and – in analogy to impact factors and third party grants – a ranking among faculty. Conclusion: Our algorithm can be applied to all test formats in which item difficulty, the discriminatory power of the individual items, reliability of the exam and the distribution of grades are measured. Even though the content validity of an exam is not considered here, we believe that our algorithm is suitable as a general basis for performance-based allocation of funds

Urinary proteome analysis identifies infants but not older children requiring pyeloplasty.

International audienceOne out of every five children suffering from ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) requires pyeloplasty. This prevalence indicates an urgent necessity to identify high-grade UPJO as early as possible to avoid renal damage. A novel non-invasive proteomic urine test has recently been introduced that is able to detect these patients at an early stage. In the study reported here, we tested this approach to assess its use in our centre and to expand its application to older children. Twenty-seven children (median age 0.4 years, range 0.1-8.8 years) with hydronephrosis who had been scheduled a nuclear diuretic renal scan (DR) to identify urodynamically relevant UPJO were included in our prospective study. Patients with prior surgery of the urinary tract were excluded. The urinary proteome pattern was analysed using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. Of the 27 children, 11 had a relevant UPJO diagnosed by the DR. In 19 children <1 year of age, urinary proteome analysis predicted obstruction with a sensitivity of 83% (5/6) and a specificity of 92% (12/13). However, in older patients, the sensitivity decreased to 20% (1/5) and specificity to 66% (2/3). Based on our results, the proteome pattern established by Decramer and co-workers predicts the need for surgery in infants but not in older children with UPJO