Statistical part-based models for object detection in large 3D scans

3D scanning technology has matured to a point where very large scale acquisition of high resolution geometry has become feasible. However, having large quantities of 3D data poses new technical challenges. Many applications of practical use require an understanding of semantics of the acquired geometry. Consequently scene understanding plays a key role for many applications. This thesis is concerned with two core topics: 3D object detection and semantic alignment. We address the problem of efficiently detecting large quantities of objects in 3D scans according to object categories learned from sparse user annotation. Objects are modeled by a collection of smaller sub-parts and a graph structure representing part dependencies. The thesis introduces two novel approaches: A part-based chain structured Markov model and a general part-based full correlation model. Both models come with efficient detection schemes which allow for interactive run-times.Die Technologie für 3-dimensionale bildgebende Verfahren (3D Scans) ist mittlerweile an einem Punkt angelangt, an dem hochaufglöste Geometrie-Modelle für sehr große Szenen erstellbar sind. Große Mengen dreidimensionaler Daten stellen allerdings neue technische Herausforderungen. Viele Anwendungen von praktischem Nutzen erfordern ein semantisches Verständnis der akquirierten Geometrie. Dementsprechend spielt das sogenannte “Szenenverstehen” eine Schlüsselrolle bei vielen Anwendungen. Diese Dissertation beschäftigt sich mit 2 Kernthemen: 3D Objekt-Detektion und semantische (Objekt-) Anordnung. Das Problem hierbei ist, große Mengen von Objekten effizient in 3D Scans zu detektieren, wobei die Objekte aus bestimmten Objektkategorien entstammen, welche mittels gerinfügiger Annotationen durch den Benutzer gelernt werden. Dabei werden Objekte modelliert durch eine Ansammlung kleinerer Teilstücke und einer Graph-Struktur, welche die Abhängigkeiten der Einzelteile repäsentiert. Diese Arbeit stellt zwei neuartige Ansätze vor: Ein Markov-Modell, das aus einer teilebasierten Kettenstruktur besteht und einen generellen Ansatz, der auf einem Modell mit voll korrelierten Einzelteilen beruht. Zu beiden Modellen werden effiziente Detektionsschemata aufgezeigt, die interaktive Laufzeiten ermöglichen

Segmentation-guided Domain Adaptation for Efficient Depth Completion

Complete depth information and efficient estimators have become vital ingredients in scene understanding for automated driving tasks. A major problem for LiDAR-based depth completion is the inefficient utilization of convolutions due to the lack of coherent information as provided by the sparse nature of uncorrelated LiDAR point clouds, which often leads to complex and resource-demanding networks. The problem is reinforced by the expensive aquisition of depth data for supervised training. In this work, we propose an efficient depth completion model based on a vgg05-like CNN architecture and propose a semi-supervised domain adaptation approach to transfer knowledge from synthetic to real world data to improve data-efficiency and reduce the need for a large database. In order to boost spatial coherence, we guide the learning process using segmentations as additional source of information. The efficiency and accuracy of our approach is evaluated on the KITTI dataset. Our approach improves on previous efficient and low parameter state of the art approaches while having a noticeably lower computational footprint

Diagnosis of congenital heart malformations -possibilities for the employment of telepathology

Goal: In a study of 10 autopsy cases with congenital cardiac malformations we investigated whether obtaining a second opinion by means of telepathology could satisfy quality standards for the diagnosis of cardiac malformations and what the advantages and disadvantages of such a procedure might be. Material: The investigatory samples were 10 formalinfixed hearts with complex malformations from 9 fetuses and one newborn on which autopsies had been performed at the Pathological Institute of the Charité Hospital. The requests for a second opinion, which included text and image data, were sent in the form of Microsoft PowerPoint presentations to 5 experts in 4 countries. Per case the number of images that were sent was between 3 and 7. The size of the files was between 439 and 942 kb. The time required for preparation of the cases for sending them to the specialists was between 1 and 2 hours: this encompassed the time for putting the notation on the images, compressing them, creating a file that included both the images and the clinical data and then sending the case file. Results: All 10 cardiac malformations were correctly identified. In 8 of the 10 cases at least one expert had questions. After these questions had been answered and further images had been sent final correct diagnoses were made in all cases. All experts said that the quality of the images was very good. Use of a standardized findings questionnaire, which also included the marking of anatomic structures and of pathological findings in the images, proved useful. Standardized findings forms facilitate orientation during interpretation of the cases and should be used generally to avoid misunderstandings in telepathological communication. Conclusions: In general it is possible to obtain an effective and reliable diagnosis of congenital heart malformations by means of telepathology. It is far quicker to get a second opinion by this means than by conventional means

Integración del diseño en las empresas portuguesas, del sector de la transformación de la Piedra Natural: definición de un perfil

El posicionamiento de las empresas del sector de la piedra natural de Portugal sufre una recesión en los mercados emergentes. El diseño, como actividad integrante de la innovación y de la gestión estratégica empresarial, tiene un papel deteminante en el crecimiento, en la internacionalización y en la competitividad de las empresas. Por esto, mediante encuestas realizadas por internet a las empresas que participaron en la feria PEDRA Batalha, Portugal se ha pretendido evaluar los diferentes aspectos del diseño mejor valorados por ellas, así como identificar el perfil de aquellas que se diferencian específicamente por el diseño. Los resultados obtenidos indican que ninguna de las empresas entrevistadas tiene departamento de I+D+i, incluso las que dicen diferenciarse por el diseño, y además no aprecian la mayoría de las aportaciones que el diseño puede ofrecer a una empresa; sin embargo, valoran expresamente los atributos del material: la resistencia, la textura o el carácter único de éste, siendo la característica que utilizan como estrategia de diferenciación en los mercados. Podemos concluir, por lo tanto, que existe la cultura, la experiencia y un conocimiento técnico muy profundo sobre el material en el sector, pero no existe un modelo que fomente la integración entre la gestión del diseño y los valores de innovación, diferenciación y competitividad, por lo que se pierden continuas oportunidades en la innovación en productos en piedra natural mediante el uso de diseño.Paixao Pereira Mestre Barradas, S.; Hernandis Ortuño, B.; Mazarelo Maciel, K.; Agudo Vicente, B. (2014). Integración del diseño en las empresas portuguesas, del sector de la transformación de la Piedra Natural: definición de un perfil. Innovar. 24(53):5-15. doi:10.15446/innovar.v24n53.43946S515245

Country classifications for a changing world

The distinction between developing and developed countries has long been central to development studies and to debates on development policy. In earlier decades, it was in many respects accurate, and was for many purposes useful. Although the world is still very much divided between rich and poor countries, relationships among countries have changed so much that the developing– developed country distinction has become an obstacle to understanding current problems and opportunities and, even more, to thinking productively about the future. It is time to stop using it. Many alternative ways of categorising countries have been suggested. In recent years in particular, large numbers of organisations have begun annually to rank countries according to a wide variety of criteria: from economic vulnerability, bribe payers, competitiveness, digital access, ease of doing business, food insecurity, governance, and happiness to water poverty and welfare. These do not adequately capture the structural and relational changes that have occurred in our multi-polar world with substantially altered flows of ideas, resources and influence. Focusing on the needs of European policymakers, this paper suggests two axes for classifying countries. The first is the external capacity of states to influence and work with other states. This is captured in the (measureable) concept of ‘anchor countries’ developed by the German Development Institute and beginning to be put into practice in the enlargement from the G8 to the G20. The second is internal state capacity, as shaped by the sources of government income, in particular contrasting tax, aid, and oil. Using sources of public revenue as a way of classifying countries requires more work but would help to steer the development debate toward the key issue of improving the quality of governance and thus strengthening the capacity of poor countries to help themselves. Keywords: development (general); country classification; country ranking; national performance indicators; donor–recipient relationship; taxation; state capacity; anchor countries; future of the world

Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Malformations – Possibilities for the Employment of Telepathology

Goal: In a study of 10 autopsy cases with congenital cardiac malformations we investigated whether obtaining a second opinion by means of telepathology could satisfy quality standards for the diagnosis of cardiac malformations and what the advantages and disadvantages of such a procedure might be. Material: The investigatory samples were 10 formalin‐fixed hearts with complex malformations from 9 fetuses and one newborn on which autopsies had been performed at the Pathological Institute of the Charité Hospital. The requests for a second opinion, which included text and image data, were sent in the form of Microsoft PowerPoint presentations to 5 experts in 4 countries. Per case the number of images that were sent was between 3 and 7. The size of the files was between 439 and 942 kb. The time required for preparation of the cases for sending them to the specialists was between 1 and 2 hours: this encompassed the time for putting the notation on the images, compressing them, creating a file that included both the images and the clinical data and then sending the case file. Results: All 10 cardiac malformations were correctly identified. In 8 of the 10 cases at least one expert had questions. After these questions had been answered and further images had been sent final correct diagnoses were made in all cases. All experts said that the quality of the images was very good. Use of a standardized findings questionnaire, which also included the marking of anatomic structures and of pathological findings in the images, proved useful. Standardized findings forms facilitate orientation during interpretation of the cases and should be used generally to avoid misunderstandings in telepathological communication. Conclusions: In general it is possible to obtain an effective and reliable diagnosis of congenital heart malformations by means of telepathology. It is far quicker to get a second opinion by this means than by conventional means