An unsupervised learning approach for tracking mice in an enclosed area

Abstract Background In neuroscience research, mouse models are valuable tools to understand the genetic mechanisms that advance evidence-based discovery. In this context, large-scale studies emphasize the need for automated high-throughput systems providing a reproducible behavioral assessment of mutant mice with only a minimum level of manual intervention. Basic element of such systems is a robust tracking algorithm. However, common tracking algorithms are either limited by too specific model assumptions or have to be trained in an elaborate preprocessing step, which drastically limits their applicability for behavioral analysis. Results We present an unsupervised learning procedure that is basically built as a two-stage process to track mice in an enclosed area using shape matching and deformable segmentation models. The system is validated by comparing the tracking results with previously manually labeled landmarks in three setups with different environment, contrast and lighting conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the system is able to automatically detect non-social and social behavior of interacting mice. The system demonstrates a high level of tracking accuracy and clearly outperforms the MiceProfiler, a recently proposed tracking software, which serves as benchmark for our experiments. Conclusions The proposed method shows promising potential to automate behavioral screening of mice and other animals. Therefore, it could substantially increase the experimental throughput in behavioral assessment automation

Аутсорсинг как современная форма организации бизнеса в нефтегазовой отрасли на примере ОАО «Газпромнефть»

Целью данной работы состоит в оценке эффективности применения аутсорсинга в ПАО «Газпромнефть». Сложности его применения, положительные и отрицательные стороны его применения в структуре организации, потому что аутсорсинг в России используется не так давно и практика его внедрения ещё очень мала. Предметом исследования данной работы является аутсорсинг, а объектом ПАО «Газпромнефть». Для достижения целей работы мне необходимо решить ряд задач: изучить историю применения аутсорсинга в нефтегазовой отрасли; определить основные проблемы внедрения аутсорсинга в данной отрасли; оценить эффективность использования аутсорсинга на примере ПАО. При исследовании проводился анализ деятельности дочерних предприятий ОАО «Газпром нефть», сервисных подразделений и вертикально интегрированных компаний.The aim of this work is to assess the effectiveness of outsourcing in JSC "Gazpromneft". The complexity of its application, positive and negative aspects of its application in the structure of the organization, because outsourcing in Russia has been used recently and the practice of its implementation is still very small. The subject of study of this work is outsourced, and the object of PJSC "Gazprom". To achieve the goals of work I need to solve several tasks: to study the history of outsourcing in the oil and gas industry; to identify the main problems of introduction of outsourcing in the industry; to assess the effectiveness of outsourcing on the example of PJSC. In the study, an analysis of activities of subsidiaries of OAO "Gazprom Neft", service units and vertically integrated companies