31 research outputs found
Continuous Intermediate Token Learning with Implicit Motion Manifold for Keyframe Based Motion Interpolation
Deriving sophisticated 3D motions from sparse keyframes is a particularly
challenging problem, due to continuity and exceptionally skeletal precision.
The action features are often derivable accurately from the full series of
keyframes, and thus, leveraging the global context with transformers has been a
promising data-driven embedding approach. However, existing methods are often
with inputs of interpolated intermediate frame for continuity using basic
interpolation methods with keyframes, which result in a trivial local minimum
during training. In this paper, we propose a novel framework to formulate
latent motion manifolds with keyframe-based constraints, from which the
continuous nature of intermediate token representations is considered.
Particularly, our proposed framework consists of two stages for identifying a
latent motion subspace, i.e., a keyframe encoding stage and an intermediate
token generation stage, and a subsequent motion synthesis stage to extrapolate
and compose motion data from manifolds. Through our extensive experiments
conducted on both the LaFAN1 and CMU Mocap datasets, our proposed method
demonstrates both superior interpolation accuracy and high visual similarity to
ground truth motions.Comment: Accepted by CVPR 202
Terrain Diffusion Network: Climatic-Aware Terrain Generation with Geological Sketch Guidance
Sketch-based terrain generation seeks to create realistic landscapes for
virtual environments in various applications such as computer games, animation
and virtual reality. Recently, deep learning based terrain generation has
emerged, notably the ones based on generative adversarial networks (GAN).
However, these methods often struggle to fulfill the requirements of flexible
user control and maintain generative diversity for realistic terrain.
Therefore, we propose a novel diffusion-based method, namely terrain diffusion
network (TDN), which actively incorporates user guidance for enhanced
controllability, taking into account terrain features like rivers, ridges,
basins, and peaks. Instead of adhering to a conventional monolithic denoising
process, which often compromises the fidelity of terrain details or the
alignment with user control, a multi-level denoising scheme is proposed to
generate more realistic terrains by taking into account fine-grained details,
particularly those related to climatic patterns influenced by erosion and
tectonic activities. Specifically, three terrain synthesisers are designed for
structural, intermediate, and fine-grained level denoising purposes, which
allow each synthesiser concentrate on a distinct terrain aspect. Moreover, to
maximise the efficiency of our TDN, we further introduce terrain and sketch
latent spaces for the synthesizers with pre-trained terrain autoencoders.
Comprehensive experiments on a new dataset constructed from NASA Topology
Images clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method, achieving
the state-of-the-art performance. Our code and dataset will be publicly
available
Regulations governing psychologists: An international survey.
This study aimed to examine legal regulations on psychologists worldwide, such as those related to professional status and training models. An online survey was conducted by members of the Global Psychology Alliance and Asia Pacific Psychology Alliance. The survey included information on the legal status of psychologists in 55 countries. Representatives of 28 countries provided their responses, whereas information on the legal status of psychologists in 27 European countries was obtained from research data reported by the European Commission in 2016. We found that 80% of the 55 countries included in this study regulated professions in the field of psychology by law. Regarding the title of the profession, 53% of included countries regulated the general “psychologist” profession. Results pertaining to educational requirements indicated that a master’s degree or higher was required for general psychologists, amounting to an average period of 5.6 years. The professions regulated varied by continent- and country-specific circumstances and needs. This study provides a general overview of the legal status and training models underpinning psychology practice globally, demonstrating that many regions and countries worldwide are moving toward implementing formal regulatory frameworks, which will facilitate the establishment of global regulatory standards. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved
Proliferation of Hydroelectric Dams in the Andean Amazon and Implications for Andes-Amazon Connectivity
Due to rising energy demands and abundant untapped potential, hydropower projects are rapidly increasing in the Neotropics. This is especially true in the wet and rugged Andean Amazon, where regional governments are prioritizing new hydroelectric dams as the centerpiece of long-term energy plans. However, the current planning for hydropower lacks adequate regional and basin-scale assessment of potential ecological impacts. This lack of strategic planning is particularly problematic given the intimate link between the Andes and Amazonian flood plain, together one of the most species rich zones on Earth. We examined the potential ecological impacts, in terms of river connectivity and forest loss, of the planned proliferation of hydroelectric dams across all Andean tributaries of the Amazon River. Considering data on the full portfolios of existing and planned dams, along with data on roads and transmission line systems, we developed a new conceptual framework to estimate the relative impacts of all planned dams. There are plans for 151 new dams greater than 2 MW over the next 20 years, more than a 300% increase. These dams would include five of the six major Andean tributaries of the Amazon. Our ecological impact analysis classified 47% of the potential new dams as high impact and just 19% as low impact. Sixty percent of the dams would cause the first major break in connectivity between protected Andean headwaters and the lowland Amazon. More than 80% would drive deforestation due to new roads, transmission lines, or inundation. We conclude with a discussion of three major policy implications of these findings. 1) There is a critical need for further strategic regional and basin scale evaluation of dams. 2) There is an urgent need for a strategic plan to maintain Andes-Amazon connectivity. 3) Reconsideration of hydropower as a low-impact energy source in the Neotropics
Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon: Threats to Wilderness, Biodiversity, and Indigenous Peoples
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.The western Amazon is the most biologically rich part of the Amazon basin and is home to a great diversity
of indigenous ethnic groups, including some of the world’s last uncontacted peoples living in voluntary isolation. Unlike
the eastern Brazilian Amazon, it is still a largely intact ecosystem. Underlying this landscape are large reserves of oil and
gas, many yet untapped. The growing global demand is leading to unprecedented exploration and development in the
region. Without improved policies, the increasing scope and magnitude of planned extraction means
that environmental and social impacts are likely to intensify. We review the most pressing oil- and gas-related conservation
policy issues confronting the region. These include the need for regional Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments and
the adoption of roadless extraction techniques. We also consider the conflicts where the blocks overlap indigenous peoples’
territories
Farnesol-Induced Apoptosis in Candida albicans Is Mediated by Cdr1-p Extrusion and Depletion of Intracellular Glutathione
Farnesol is a key derivative in the sterol biosynthesis pathway in eukaryotic cells previously identified as a quorum sensing molecule in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Recently, we demonstrated that above threshold concentrations, farnesol is capable of triggering apoptosis in C. albicans. However, the exact mechanism of farnesol cytotoxicity is not fully elucidated. Lipophilic compounds such as farnesol are known to conjugate with glutathione, an antioxidant crucial for cellular detoxification against damaging compounds. Glutathione conjugates act as substrates for ATP-dependent ABC transporters and are extruded from the cell. To that end, this current study was undertaken to validate the hypothesis that farnesol conjugation with intracellular glutathione coupled with Cdr1p-mediated extrusion of glutathione conjugates, results in total glutathione depletion, oxidative stress and ultimately fungal cell death. The combined findings demonstrated a significant decrease in intracellular glutathione levels concomitant with up-regulation of CDR1 and decreased cell viability. However, addition of exogenous reduced glutathione maintained intracellular glutathione levels and enhanced viability. In contrast, farnesol toxicity was decreased in a mutant lacking CDR1, whereas it was increased in a CDR1-overexpressing strain. Further, gene expression studies demonstrated significant up-regulation of the SOD genes, primary enzymes responsible for defense against oxidative stress, with no changes in expression in CDR1. This is the first study describing the involvement of Cdr1p-mediated glutathione efflux as a mechanism preceding the farnesol-induced apoptotic process in C. albicans. Understanding of the mechanisms underlying farnesol-cytotoxicity in C. albicans may lead to the development of this redox-cycling agent as an alternative antifungal agent
Turnover of prolyl hydroxylase and an immunologically related protein in rabbit tissue
The turnover rates of prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically related (cross reacting) protein were examined using labeled leucine as precursor or by measuring the decay of elevated prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein back to basal levels. Prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein were purified from neonatal rabbit skin at various times following the administration of [3H]leucine. Prolyl hydroxylase was purified by affinity chromatography. Immunologically cross-reacting protein was purified by antibody precipitation from the dialyzed 70% (NH4)SO4 supernatants and subsequent electrophoresis on 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gels. The radioactivity of the species isolated, which corresponded to the two major subunits of prolyl hydroxylase, was used in the turnover studies of immunologically cross-reacting protein. The peak incorporation of label into prolyl hydroxylase was found to be 12 h while for immunologically cross-reacting protein this occured within 2 h. The loss of radioactivity from these protein pools denotes an apparent t 1 2 for prolyl hydroxylase of 73 h and a 1 2 for immunologically cross-reacting protein of 53 h. From the specific activity of free skin leucine pools, the effect of reutilization could be corrected and a true t 1 2 for prolyl hydroxylase of 45 h was determined. The t 1 2 values of these proteins were determined by a second method in which prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein in the aorta and liver of adult male rabbits were elevated by daily epinephrine-thyroxine treatment for 12 days. The decline of prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein with termination of treatment in the aorta denotes values of 42 h for enzyme and 53 h for immunologically cross-reacting protein. Calculated enzyme κd values, by both methods, indicate that breakdown of enzyme does not account for tissue immunologically cross-reacting protein. © 1979