Online publication of court records: circumventing the privacy-transparency trade-off

International audienceThe open data movement is leading to the massive publishing of court records online, increasing transparency and accessibility of justice, and to the design of legal technologies building on the wealth of legal data available. However, the sensitive nature of legal decisions also raises important privacy issues. Current practices solve the resulting privacy versus transparency trade-off by combining access control with (manual or semi-manual) text redaction. In this work, we claim that current practices are insufficient for coping with massive access to legal data (restrictive access control policies is detrimental to openness and to utility while text redaction is unable to provide sound privacy protection) and advocate for a in-tegrative approach that could benefit from the latest developments of the privacy-preserving data publishing domain. We present a thorough analysis of the problem and of the current approaches, and propose a straw man multimodal architecture paving the way to a full-fledged privacy-preserving legal data publishing system

Markerless Real Time 3D Modeling for Virtual Reality

Abstract Today, immersive environments mainly use a few 3D positions given by trackers to align the real and virtual worlds. In this paper we present an alternative approach using commodity components to achieve real time marker-less 3D modeling in virtual reality environments. The goal is to compute in real time a 3D shape of the objects and users present in the interaction space without having to equip them with markers. Having full 3D shapes opens new possibilities for full-body interactions and a tight virtual/real world integration. Data acquisition is performed through cameras surrounding the interaction space. A visual hull reconstruction algorithm is parallelized on a PC cluster to compute in real time the 3D shapes of the scene observed. Experimental results using 4 cameras and 20 processors lead to a precise 3D human model built in real time

Volumetric modeling and interactive cutting of deformable bodies

Special Issue on Biomechanical Modelling of Soft Tissue MotionInternational audienceA new approach for the interactive simulation of viscoelastic object cutting is presented. Two synchronized geo- metrical models at different resolutions are used, both derived from medical images. In contrast with most previous approaches, the blade deforms the object, and cutting occurs once a contact pressure threshold is exceeded. Moreover, we achieve interactive simulation rates by embedding a high resolution geometry within a regular grid with arbitrary resolution. This allows to trade off accuracy for speed in the computation of deformations. The input data is a high- resolution volumetric model of the objects. The surface model of the object, used for rendering as well as collision detection and response, is a polygonal level set of the volumetric data. It is embedded in the volume model using barycentric coordinates. Cutting is performed by removing voxels at the fine level, and updating the surface and volume models accordingly. We introduce a new data structure, which we call a Dynamic Branched Grid, in order to preserve the fine level topology at the coarse level. When an element of the coarse volumetric model is cut, it is replaced by a number of superimposed elements with the same size and at the same rest position as the original one. Each new element is assigned a part of material contained in the original one, and the mass and stiffness are recomputed accordingly. The well-known problem of creating small, ill-shaped finite elements while remeshing is thus completely avoided

Marker-less Real Time 3D Modeling for Virtual Reality

International audienceToday, immersive environments mainly use a few 3D positions given by trackers to align the real and virtual worlds. In this paper we present an alternative approach using commodity components to achieve real time marker-less 3D modeling in virtual reality environments. The goal is to compute in real time a 3D shape of the objects and users present in the interaction space without having to equip them with markers. Having full 3D shapes opens new possibilities for full-body interactions and a tight virtual/real world integration. Data acquisition is performed through cameras surrounding the interaction space. A visual hull reconstruction algorithm is parallelized on a PC cluster to compute in real time the 3D shapes of the scene observed. Experimental results using 4 cameras and 20 processors lead to a precise 3D human model built in real time

Abiotic formation of methyl iodide on synthetic birnessite: A mechanistic study

Methyl iodide is a well-known volatile halogenated organic compound that contributes to the iodine content in the troposphere, potentially resulting in damage to the ozone layer. Most methyl iodide sources derive from biological activity in oceans and soils with very few abiotic mechanisms proposed in the literature. In this study we report that synthetic manganese oxide (birnessite δ-MnO2) can catalyze the formation of methyl iodide in the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) and iodide. Methyl iodide formation was only observed at acidic pH (4–5) where iodide is oxidized to iodine and NOM is adsorbed on δ-MnO2. The effect of δ-MnO2, iodide and NOM concentrations, nature of NOM and ionic strength was investigated. High concentrations of methyl iodide were formed in experiments conducted with the model compound pyruvate. The Lewis acid property of δ-MnO2 leads to a polarization of the iodine molecule, and catalyzes the reaction with natural organic matter. As manganese oxides are strong oxidants and are ubiquitous in the environment, this mechanism could significantly contribute to the global atmospheric input of iodine

Photodecomposition of iodinated contrast media and subsequent formation of toxic iodinated moieties during final disinfection with chlorinated oxidants

Large amount of iodinated contrast media (ICM) are found in natural waters (up to µg.L-1 levels) due to their worldwide use in medical imaging and their poor removal by conventional wastewater treatment. Synthetic water samples containing different ICM and natural organic matter (NOM) extracts were subjected to UV254 irradiation followed by the addition of chlorine (HOCl) or chloramine (NH2Cl) to simulate final disinfection. In this study, two new quantum yields were determined for diatrizoic acid (0.071 mol.Einstein-1) and iotalamic acid (0.038 mol.Einstein-1) while values for iopromide (IOP) (0.039 mol.Einstein-1), iopamidol (0.034 mol.Einstein-1) and iohexol (0.041 mol.Einstein-1) were consistent with published data. The photodegradation of IOP led to an increasing release of iodide with increasing UV doses. Iodide is oxidized to hypoiodous acid (HOI) either by HOCl or NH2Cl. In presence of NOM, the addition of oxidant increased the formation of iodinated disinfection by-products (I-DBPs). On one hand, when the concentration of HOCl was increased, the formation of I-DBPs decreased since HOI was converted to iodate. On the other hand, when NH2Cl was used the formation of I-DBPs was constant for all concentration since HOI reacted only with NOM to form I-DBPs. Increasing the NOM concentration has two effects, it decreased the photodegradation of IOP by screening effect but it increased the number of reactive sites available for reaction with HOI.For experiments carried out with HOCl, increasing the NOM concentration led to a lower formation of I-DBPs since less IOP are photodegraded and iodate are formed. For NH2Cl the lower photodegradation of IOP is compensated by the higher amount of NOM reactive sites, therefore, I-DBPs concentrations were constant for all NOM concentrations. 7 different NOM extracts were tested and almost no differences in IOP degradation and I-DBPs formation was observed. Similar behaviour was observed for the 5 ICM tested. Both oxidant poorly degraded the ICM and a higher formation of I-DBPs was observed for the chloramination experiments compared to the chlorination experiment. Results from toxicity testing showed that the photodegradation products of IOP are toxic and confirmed that the formation of I-DBPs leads to higher toxicity. Therefore, for the experiment with HOCl where iodate are formed the toxicity was lower than for the experiments with NH2Cl where a high formation of I-DBPs was observed

Detecting QTLs and putative candidate genes involved in budbreak and flowering time in an apple multiparental population

UMR AGAP - équipe AFEF - Architecture et fonctionnement des espèces fruitièresIn temperate trees, growth resumption in spring time results from chilling and heat requirements, and is an adaptive trait under global warming. Here, the genetic determinism of budbreak and flowering time was deciphered using five related full-sib apple families. Both traits were observed over 3 years and two sites and expressed in calendar and degree-days. Best linear unbiased predictors of genotypic effect or interaction with climatic year were extracted from mixed linear models and used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, performed with an integrated genetic map containing 6849 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), grouped into haplotypes, and with a Bayesian pedigree-based analysis. Four major regions, on linkage group (LG) 7, LG10, LG12, and LG9, the latter being the most stable across families, sites, and years, explained 5.6–21.3% of trait variance. Co-localizations for traits in calendar days or growing degree hours (GDH) suggested common genetic determinism for chilling and heating requirements. Homologs of two major flowering genes, AGL24 and FT, were predicted close to LG9 and LG12 QTLs, respectively, whereas Dormancy Associated MADs-box (DAM) genes were near additional QTLs on LG8 and LG15. This suggests that chilling perception mechanisms could be common among perennial and annual plants. Progenitors with favorable alleles depending on trait and LG were identified and could benefit new breeding strategies for apple adaptation to temperature increase

A Spectroscopic Catalog of the Brightest (J<9) M Dwarfs in the Northern Sky

We present a spectroscopic catalog of the 1,564 brightest (J<9) M dwarf candidates in the northern sky, as selected from the SUPERBLINK proper motion catalog. Observations confirm 1,408 of the candidates to be late-K and M dwarfs with spectral subtypes K7-M6. From the low \mu>40 mas/yr proper motion limit and high level of completeness of the SUPERBLINK catalog in that magnitude range, we estimate that our spectroscopic census most likely includes >90% of all existing, northern-sky M dwarfs with apparent magnitude J<9. Only 682 stars in our sample are listed in the Third Catalog of Nearby Stars (CNS3); most others are relative unknowns and have spectroscopic data presented here for the first time. Spectral subtypes are assigned based on spectral index measurements of CaH and TiO molecular bands. A comparison of spectra from the same stars obtained at different observatories however reveals that spectral band index measurements are dependent on spectral resolution, spectrophotometric calibration, and other instrumental factors. After systematic corrections and a recalibration of the subtype-index relationships, we find that we can consistently and reliably classify all our stars to a half-subtype precision. The use of corrected spectral indices further requires us to recalibrate the \zeta parameter, from which we estimate metallicities +/-0.5dex accuracy in dwarfs of subtypes M2 and earlier, and +/-0.2dex accuracy for later (M3-M5) subtypes. Existing geometric parallax measurements are extracted from the literature for 624 stars, and are used to determine spectroscopic and photometric distances for all the other stars. Our catalog will be most useful to guide the selection of the best M dwarf targets for exoplanet searches, in particular those using high-precision radial velocity measurements.Comment: To appear in the Astronomical Journal. Corrected and updated version. Data table has been expanded to include all J<9 M-dwarf candidates in the nort

Effects of environmental Bisphenol A exposures on germ cell development and Leydig cell function in the human fetal testis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Using an organotypic culture system termed human Fetal Testis Assay (hFeTA) we previously showed that 0.01 μM BPA decreases basal, but not LH-stimulated, testosterone secreted by the first trimester human fetal testis. The present study was conducted to determine the potential for a long-term antiandrogenic effect of BPA using a xenograft model, and also to study the effect of BPA on germ cell development using both the hFETA and xenograft models.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Using the hFeTA system, first trimester testes were cultured for 3 days with 0.01 to 10 μM BPA. For xenografts, adult castrate male nude mice were injected with hCG and grafted with first trimester testes. Host mice received 10 μM BPA (~ 500 μg/kg/day) in their drinking water for 5 weeks. Plasma levels of total and unconjugated BPA were 0.10 μM and 0.038 μM respectively. Mice grafted with second trimester testes received 0.5 and 50 μg/kg/day BPA by oral gavage for 5 weeks.</p><p>Results</p><p>With first trimester human testes, using the hFeTA model, 10 μM BPA increased germ cell apoptosis. In xenografts, germ cell density was also reduced by BPA exposure. Importantly, BPA exposure significantly decreased the percentage of germ cells expressing the pluripotency marker AP-2γ, whilst the percentage of those expressing the pre-spermatogonial marker MAGE-A4 significantly increased. BPA exposure did not affect hCG-stimulated androgen production in first and second trimester xenografts as evaluated by both plasma testosterone level and seminal vesicle weight in host mice.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Exposure to BPA at environmentally relevant concentrations impairs germ cell development in first trimester human fetal testis, whilst gonadotrophin-stimulated testosterone production was unaffected in both first and second trimester testis. Studies using first trimester human fetal testis demonstrate the complementarity of the FeTA and xenograft models for determining the respective short-term and long term effects of environmental exposures.</p></div