Physical simulation for monocular 3D model based tracking

The problem of model-based object tracking in three dimensions is addressed. Most previous work on tracking assumes simple motion models, and consequently tracking typically fails in a variety of situations. Our insight is that incorporating physics models of object behaviour improves tracking performance in these cases. In particular it allows us to handle tracking in the face of rigid body interactions where there is also occlusion and fast object motion. We show how to incorporate rigid body physics simulation into a particle filter. We present two methods for this based on pose and force noise. The improvements are tested on four videos of a robot pushing an object, and results indicate that our approach performs considerably better than a plain particle filter tracker, with the force noise method producing the best results over the range of test videos

Contested cultures of care: research with and for the plus one community on the plus one experience - evaluation report

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Collaborative Outreach Projec

Synchronization of tunable asymmetric square-wave pulses in delay-coupled optoelectronic oscillators

We consider a model for two delay-coupled optoelectronic oscillators under positive delayed feedback as prototypical to study the conditions for synchronization of asymmetric square-wave oscillations, for which the duty cycle is not half of the period. We show that the scenario arising for positive feedback is much richer than with negative feedback. First, it allows for the coexistence of multiple in- and out-of-phase asymmetric periodic square waves for the same parameter values. Second, it is tunable: The period of all the square-wave periodic pulses can be tuned with the ratio of the delays, and the duty cycle of the asymmetric square waves can be changed with the offset phase while the total period remains constant. Finally, in addition to the multiple in- and out-of-phase periodic square waves, low-frequency periodic asymmetric solutions oscillating in phase may coexist for the same values of the parameters. Our analytical results are in agreement with numerical simulations and bifurcation diagrams obtained by using continuation techniques.This work benefited from the financial support of Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional under Projects No. FIS2012-30634 (INTENSE@COSYP) and No. TEC2012-36335 (TRIPHOP); European Social Fund and Govern de les Illes Balears under programs Grups Competitius and Formació de Personal Investigador; Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique-FNRS (Belgium); and the Belgian Science Policy Office under Grant No. IAP-7/35 “photonics@be.”Peer Reviewe

Tuning the period of square-wave oscillations for delay-coupled optoelectronic systems

We analyze the response of two delay-coupled optoelectronic oscillators. Each oscillator operates under its own delayed feedback. We show that the system can display square-wave periodic solutions that can be synchronized in phase or out of phase depending on the ratio between self- and cross-delay times. Furthermore, we show that multiple periodic synchronized solutions can coexist for the same values of the fixed parameters. As a consequence, it is possible to generate square-wave oscillations with different periods by just changing the initial conditions. © 2014 American Physical Society.We are grateful for financial support from MINECO, Spain and FEDER under Projects No. FIS2007-60327 (FISICOS), No. TEC2009-14101 (DeCoDicA), No. FIS2012-30634 (INTENSE@COSYP), and No. TEC2012-36335 (TRIPHOP); from the EC Project PHOCUS (No. FP7-ICT-2009-C-240763); and from European Social Fund and Comunitat Autònoma de les Illes Balears. T.E. acknowledges support from the FNRS (Belgium). This work benefited from the support of the Belgian Science Policy Office under Grant No. IAP-7/35 “photonics@be”.Peer Reviewe

Screening for Caregiver Role Strain Among Primary Care Providers

Following a diagnosis of terminal illness, more people are electing to remain home for care. The role of the caregiver falls to other family members or paid assistance from outside the home, which can become expensive. As the disease progresses and functional and mental deficits develop, the physical and emotional stressors of providing care can, over time, manifest in changes to the overall health of the caregiver. Even with paid assistance, the financial burden can worsen these stressors further. Early identification of caregiver role strain could allow providers to aid in linking available and appropriate resources that may be of benefit. The purpose of this study is to screen for provider knowledge and screening practices regarding caregiver role strain. The research integrates a descriptive, non-experimental, quantitative design using a convenience sampling of healthcare providers in the southern United States. Data was collected via Google Forms and distributed via social media platforms and provider databases. The researchers concluded that while healthcare providers are knowledgeable regarding caregiver role strain, they are not screening for role strain nor utilizing any screening tools

Cannabinoid Agonists Increase the Interaction between β-Arrestin 2 and ERK1/2 and Upregulate β-Arrestin 2 and 5-HT2A Receptors

We have recently reported that selective cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptor agonists upregulate 5-HT2A receptors by enhancing ERK1/2 signaling in prefrontal cortex (PFCx). Increased activity of cortical 5-HT2A receptors has been associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia. Here we examine the mechanisms involved in this enhanced ERK1/2 activation in rat PFCx and in a neuronal cell model. Sprague-Dawley rats treated with a non-selective cannabinoid agonist (CP55940, 50 μg/kg, 7 days, i.p.) showed enhanced co-immunoprecipitation of β-Arrestin 2 and ERK1/2, enhanced pERK protein levels, and enhanced expression of β-Arrestin 2 mRNA and protein levels in PFCx. In a neuronal cell line, we found that selective CB2 receptor agonists upregulate β-Arrestin 2, an effect that was prevented by selective CB2 receptor antagonist JTE-907 and CB2 shRNA lentiviral particles. Additionally, inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, ERK1/2, and the AP-1 transcription factor also prevented the cannabinoid receptor-induced upregulation of β-Arrestin 2. Our results suggest that sustained activation of CB2 receptors would enhance β-Arrestin 2 expression possibly contributing to its increased interaction with ERK1/2 thereby driving the upregulation of 5-HT2A receptors. The CB2 receptor-mediated upregulation of β-Arrestin 2 would be mediated, at least in part, by an ERK1/2-dependent activation of AP-1. These data could provide the rationale for some of the adverse effects associated with repeated cannabinoid exposure and shed light on some CB2 receptor agonists that could represent an alternative therapeutic because of their minimal effect on serotonergic neurotransmission

Cannabinoid 2 Receptor- and Beta Arrestin 2-Dependent Upregulation of Serotonin 2A Receptors

Recent evidence suggests that cannabinoid receptor agonists may regulate serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor neurotransmission in the brain, although no molecular mechanism has been identified. Here, we present experimental evidence that sustained treatment with a non-selective cannabinoid agonist (CP 55,940) or selective CB2 receptor agonists (JWH 133 or GP 1a) upregulate 5-HT2A receptors in a neuronal cell line. Furthermore, this cannabinoid receptor agonist-induced upregulation of 5-HT2A receptors was prevented in cells stably transfected with either CB2 or β-Arrestin 2 shRNA lentiviral particles. Additionally, inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis also prevented the cannabinoid receptor-induced upregulation of 5-HT2A receptors. Our results indicate that cannabinoid agonists might upregulate 5-HT2A receptors by a mechanism that requires CB2 receptors and β-Arrestin 2 in cells that express both CB2 and 5-HT2A receptors. 5-HT2A receptors have been associated with several physiological functions and neuropsychiatric disorders such as stress response, anxiety & depression and schizophrenia. Therefore, these results might provide a molecular mechanism by which activation of cannabinoid receptors might be relevant to some cognitive and mood disorders in humans

Arctic: Traditional Knowledge, Livelihoods and Community Engagement Setting the Scene

This report sets the scene for exploring further how the JRC could help with mobilising all relevant knowledge to tame climate change (and other environmental change) impacts in the Arctic that affect, not only the Arctic populations, but also many other populations of the planet. In that sense, the report maps communities, livelihoods, institutions and actors in the Arctic. Based on the reviewed academic literature the report offered a thorough discussion about traditional knowledge meanings, and investigates political and policy representations of traditional knowledge in different International and EU documents. Finally, it looked at instances of engagement of the Arctic people in the governance of the Arctic, identifying both institutional and substantial lacunas in mobilising experiential knowledge into governance processes characterised by high complexity and uncertainty.JRC.I.2-Foresight, Behavioural Insights and Design for Polic