Combining shape-from-shading and stereo using Gaussian-Markov random fields

In this paper we present a method of combining stereo and shape-from-shading information, taking account of the local reliability of each shape estimate. Local estimates of disparity and orientation are modelled using Gaussian distributions. A Gaussian-Markov random field is used to represent the disparity-map, taking into account interactions between disparity measurements and surface orientation, and the MAP estimate found using belief propagation. Local estimates of the precision of disparities and surface normals are found and used to control the process so that the most accurate data source is used in each region. We assess the performance of our approach using both synthetic and real stereo pairs, and compare against ground truth

Integrating Stereo with Shape-from-Shading derived Orientation Information

Binocular stereo has been extensively studied for extracting the shape of a scene. The challenge is in matching features between two images of a scene; this is the correspondence problem. Shape from shading (SfS) is another method of extracting shape. This models the interaction of light with the scene surface(s) for a single image. These two methods are very different; stereo uses surface features to deliver a depth-map, SfS uses shading, albedo and lighting information to infer the differential of the depth-map. In this paper we develop a framework for the integration of both depth and orientation information. Dedicated algorithms are used for initial estimates. A Gaussian-Markov random field then represents the depth-map, Gaussian belief propagation is used to approximate the MAP estimate of the depth-map. Integrating information from both stereo correspondences and surface normals allows fine surface details to be estimated

Exploring drivers of within-field crop yield variation using a national precision yield network

1. While abiotic drivers of yields represent important limiting factors to crop productivity, the role of biotic drivers that could be directly managed by farmers (e.g. agri-environment schemes supporting key ecosystem services) remains poorly understood. Precision yield mapping provides an opportunity to understand the factors that limit agricultural yield through the interpretation of high-resolution cropping data. This has the potential to inform future precision agricultural management, such as the targeted application of agrochemicals, promoting increased sustainability in modern agricultural systems. 2. We used precision yield measurements from a network of 1174 fields in England (2006–2020) to identify drivers of within-field yield variation in winter wheat and oilseed rape. Potential drivers included climate, topography and landscape composition and configuration. We then explored relationships between in-field yield patterns and local landscape context, including the presence of features associated with ecosystem benefits. 3. Proximity to the field edge was associated with reduced yields in 85% of wheat and 87% of oilseed fields. This translating to an approximate reduction of 10% in wheat and 18% in oilseed yields lost due to field edge effects. 4. We found evidence that reduced yields at the field edges were associated with biotic features of the surrounding landscape, including the occurrence of semi-natural habitats. Specifically, agri-environment scheme (AES) presence increased the rate at which yields at field edges approach those of the field centres. This suggests that AES occurrence within a landscape (rather than field adjacent) may increase edge effects. However, these trends are unclear and suggest interactions between drivers and the spatial and temporal scale of investigation. 5. Synthesis and applications. While we found evidence of landscape context mitigating against field edge effects, these were counterintuitive. For example, AES at a landscape scale appeared to increase the severity of edge effects. This study highlights a lack of environmental data at sufficiently high spatiotemporal resolution to match that of precision agriculture data. This mismatch is hindering the effective integration of precision agriculture data in an environmental policy and/or management context and potentially leading to unnecessarily poorly informed decisions related to AES deployment. This may limit environmental and economic benefits

A framework for improved predictions of the climate impacts on potential yields of UK winter wheat and its applicability to other UK crops

•Changes in the frequency of extreme weather events related to climate change potentially pose significant challenges to UK agricultural production. There is a need for improved climate change risk assessments to support adaptation strategies and to ensure security of food production in future. •We describe an innovative and practical framework for spatially explicit modelling of climate change impacts on crop yields, based on the UKCP18 climate projections. Our approach allows the integration of relatively simple crop growth models with high spatial and temporal resolution Earth Observation datasets, describing changes in crop growth parameters within year and over the longer term. We focus on modelling winter wheat, a commercially important crop. We evaluate the results of the model against precision yield data collected from 719 fields. We show that the assimilation of leaf area index data from Sentinel-2 satellite observations improves the agreement of the modelled yields with those observed. Our national-scale results indicate that wheat production initially becomes more favourable under climate change across much of the UK with the projected increase in temperature. From 2050 onwards, yields increase northwards, whilst they decline in South East England as the decrease in precipitation offsets the benefits of rising temperature. •Our framework can readily accommodate growth models for other crops and LAI retrievals from other satellite sensors. The ability to explore impacts of crop yields at fine spatial resolutions is an important part of assessing the potential risks of climate change to UK agriculture and of designing more climate resilient agricultural systems

Mapping the ratio of agricultural inputs to yields reveals areas with potentially less sustainable farming

Fertilisers and pesticides are major sources of the environmental harm that results from farming, yet it remains difficult to target reductions in their impacts without compromising food production. We suggest that calculating the ratio of agrochemical inputs to yield can provide an indication of the potential sustainability of farmland, with those areas that have high input relative to yield being considered as less sustainable. Here we design an approach to characterise such Input to Yield Ratios (IYR) for four inputs that can be plausibly linked to environmental impacts: the cumulative risk resulting from pesticide exposure for honeybees and for earthworms, and the amount of nitrogen or phosphorus fertiliser applied per unit area. We capitalise on novel national-scale data to assess IYR for wheat farming across all of England. High-resolution spatial patterns of IYR differed among the four inputs, but hotspots, where all four IYRs were high, were in key agricultural regions not usually characterised as having low suitability for cropping. By scaling the magnitude of each input against crop yield, the IYR does not penalise areas of high yield with higher inputs (important for food production), or areas with low yields but which are achieved with low inputs (important as low impact areas). Instead, the IYR provides a globally applicable framework for evaluating the broad patterns of trade-offs between production and environmental risk, as an indicator of the potential for harm, over large scales. Its use can thus inform targeting to improve agricultural sustainability, or where one might switch to other land uses such as ecosystem restoration

Humoral Autoimmune Responses to the Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Protein Family in Psoriasis

Substantial evidence indicates that psoriasis is a T-lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune disease. However, longstanding data also indicate IgG and complement deposition in upper epidermis of psoriasis plaques. This led us to propose that autoantigen–autoantibody interactions in the skin may also be of pathogenic importance. Here, we have confirmed the presence of IgG in upper lesional epidermis and used high-resolution two-dimensional immunoblotting of extracts from this tissue, and laser desorption mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides, to define a series of epidermal proteins that bind IgG from psoriatic serum. The most prominent of these autoantigens are homologues of the serpin, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), the other autoantigens identified including arginase 1, enolase 1, and keratin 10. Blood levels of IgG autoantibodies that bind to SCCA proteins were significantly higher in psoriasis than healthy controls (P=0.005), but were not detectable in sera from patients with active atopic dermatitis. To our knowledge, SCCA proteins have not previously been described as autoantigenic in animals or humans and form complexes with IgG that are associated with complement deposition. These findings expose potentially pathogenic humoral immunologic events and thus possible therapeutic targets in psoriasis

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS AND GROUP PROCESSES Putting the Brakes on Aggression Toward a Romantic Partner: The Inhibitory Influence of Relationship Commitment

Why do people behave aggressively toward romantic partners, and what can put the brakes on this aggression? Provocation robustly predicts aggression in both intimate and nonintimate relationships. Four methodologically diverse studies tested the hypothesis that provocation severity and relationship commitment interact to predict aggression toward one's romantic partner, with the aggression-promoting effects of provocation diminishing as relationship commitment increases. Across all four studies, commitment to one's romantic relationship inhibited aggression toward one's partner when individuals were severely (but not mildly) provoked. Study 4 tested the hypothesis that this Partner Provocation ϫ Commitment interaction effect would be strong among individuals high in dispositional tendencies toward retaliation but weak (perhaps even nonexistent) among individuals low in such tendencies. Discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding instigating, impelling, and inhibiting processes in the perpetration of aggression toward intimate partners. Keywords: romantic relationships, commitment, aggression, I 3 theory Although romantic relationships often begin with chocolates and roses, eventually thorns are sure to emerge. Indeed, precisely because of the deep interdependence that characterizes these relationships, romantic partners have a particularly pronounced capacity to be infuriating. Whether by flirting with others, criticizing our flaws, thoughtlessly neglecting our needs and desires, or by other omissions and commissions, romantic partners can sometimes provoke angry responses. Such provocation frequently triggers an urge toward retaliation, perhaps even toward aggression. When will provoked people aggress toward their romantic partner, and what might put the brakes on their aggression? In the current investigation, we test the hypothesis that partner provocation increases aggressive tendencies toward one's partner, especially among individuals who are weakly (vs. strongly) committed to their partner. The logic underlying this prediction is that partner provocation frequently triggers an urge toward aggressive retaliation but that relationship commitment helps individuals override this urge. Partner Provocation in Intimate Relationships Although people typically expect that romantic relationships will be rewarding, most individuals experience some amount of conflict with their romantic partner. Indeed, conflict is "an inevitable-though often unanticipated-feature of close relationships. The strong, frequent, and diverse bonds between [romantic partners] set the stage for conflicting interests to surface&quot

Heart rate variability and the relationship between trauma exposure age, and psychopathology in a post-conflict setting

BACKGROUND: Cumulative exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) increases risk for mental distress in conflict-affected settings, but the psychophysiological mechanisms that mediate this dose-response relationship are unknown. We investigated diminished heart rate variability (HRV) - an index of vagus nerve function and a robust predictor of emotion regulation capacity - as a vulnerability marker that potentially mediates the association between PTE exposure, age and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological distress and aggressive behavior, in a community sample from Timor-Leste - a post-conflict country with a history of mass violence. METHOD: Resting state heart rate data was recorded from 45 cases of PTSD, depression and intermittent explosive disorder (IED); and 29 non-case controls. RESULTS: Resting HRV was significantly reduced in the combined case group compared with non-cases (p = .021; Cohen's d = 0.5). A significant mediation effect was also observed, whereby a sequence of increased age, reduced HRV and elevated PTSD symptoms mediated the association between PTE exposure and distress (B = .06, SE = .05, 95% CI = [.00-.217]) and aggression (B = .02, SE = .02, 95% CI = [.0003-.069])). CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate an association between diminished resting HRV and psychopathology. Moreover, age-related HRV reductions emerged as a potential psychophysiological mechanism that underlies enhanced vulnerability to distress and aggression following cumulative PTE exposure

Developing a core outcome set for future infertility research : An international consensus development study

STUDY QUESTION: Can a core outcome set to standardize outcome selection, collection and reporting across future infertility research be developed? SUMMARY ANSWER: A minimum data set, known as a core outcome set, has been developed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews evaluating potential treatments for infertility. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Complex issues, including a failure to consider the perspectives of people with fertility problems when selecting outcomes, variations in outcome definitions and the selective reporting of outcomes on the basis of statistical analysis, make the results of infertility research difficult to interpret. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A three-round Delphi survey (372 participants from 41 countries) and consensus development workshop (30 participants from 27 countries). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Healthcare professionals, researchers and people with fertility problems were brought together in an open and transparent process using formal consensus science methods. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The core outcome set consists of: viable intrauterine pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound (accounting for singleton, twin and higher multiple pregnancy); pregnancy loss (accounting for ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth and termination of pregnancy); live birth; gestational age at delivery; birthweight; neonatal mortality; and major congenital anomaly. Time to pregnancy leading to live birth should be reported when applicable. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: We used consensus development methods which have inherent limitations, including the representativeness of the participant sample, Delphi survey attrition and an arbitrary consensus threshold. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Embedding the core outcome set within RCTs and systematic reviews should ensure the comprehensive selection, collection and reporting of core outcomes. Research funding bodies, the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) statement, and over 80 specialty journals, including the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group, Fertility and Sterility and Human Reproduction, have committed to implementing this core outcome set. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This research was funded by the Catalyst Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand, Auckland Medical Research Fund and Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust. The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study, the collection, management, analysis or interpretation of data, or manuscript preparation. B.W.J.M. is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellowship (GNT1082548). S.B. was supported by University of Auckland Foundation Seelye Travelling Fellowship. S.B. reports being the Editor-in-Chief of Human Reproduction Open and an editor of the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility group. J.L.H.E. reports being the Editor Emeritus of Human Reproduction. J.M.L.K. reports research sponsorship from Ferring and Theramex. R.S.L. reports consultancy fees from Abbvie, Bayer, Ferring, Fractyl, Insud Pharma and Kindex and research sponsorship from Guerbet and Hass Avocado Board. B.W.J.M. reports consultancy fees from Guerbet, iGenomix, Merck, Merck KGaA and ObsEva. C.N. reports being the Co Editor-in-Chief of Fertility and Sterility and Section Editor of the Journal of Urology, research sponsorship from Ferring, and retains a financial interest in NexHand. A.S. reports consultancy fees from Guerbet. E.H.Y.N. reports research sponsorship from Merck. N.L.V. reports consultancy and conference fees from Ferring, Merck and Merck Sharp and Dohme. The remaining authors declare no competing interests in relation to the work presented. All authors have completed the disclosure form