RC-BEVFusion: A Plug-In Module for Radar-Camera Bird's Eye View Feature Fusion

Radars and cameras belong to the most frequently used sensors for advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving research. However, there has been surprisingly little research on radar-camera fusion with neural networks. One of the reasons is a lack of large-scale automotive datasets with radar and unmasked camera data, with the exception of the nuScenes dataset. Another reason is the difficulty of effectively fusing the sparse radar point cloud on the bird's eye view (BEV) plane with the dense images on the perspective plane. The recent trend of camera-based 3D object detection using BEV features has enabled a new type of fusion, which is better suited for radars. In this work, we present RC-BEVFusion, a modular radar-camera fusion network on the BEV plane. We propose BEVFeatureNet, a novel radar encoder branch, and show that it can be incorporated into several state-of-the-art camera-based architectures. We show significant performance gains of up to 28% increase in the nuScenes detection score, which is an important step in radar-camera fusion research. Without tuning our model for the nuScenes benchmark, we achieve the best result among all published methods in the radar-camera fusion category.Comment: GCPR 202

Customer expectations for sustainability in the Swiss insurance market

Climate change is a significant threat, and insurance can provide a significant impulse to provide systemic responses. While several normative frameworks for sustainable business models have been developed, it is still unclear what customers expect and how companies should actually act in their specific business environments. We investigated customer expectations in the context of Swiss retail insurance and found that less than a fifth of customers consider sustainability a very important factor in their next purchase decision, and that core customers in the 35–54 age range are comparatively less concerned about sustainability in general. Customers place most value on social rather than environmental issues. Insurers should improve their efforts in the core business, especially regarding sustainable claims handling, rather than regarding investment management or their own footprint. On the other hand, more than 40% of customers do not feel they know enough to have an opinion about their insurer’s efforts toward sustainability, and there were no significant differences in customer perceptions among the different insurers. These results should have profound implications for communication, business model development, and business transformation efforts for insurers. They also provide important missing detail about customer expectations regarding sustainability in the academic literature

Nachhaltigkeitserwartungen von Versicherungskunden an den Schweizer Versicherungsmarkt

In den letzten Jahren hat die Bedeutung des Themas Nachhaltigkeit bei Schweizer Versicherungsgesellschaften spürbar zugenommen. Der Handlungsdruck kam dabei vor allem von den Investoren, zum Teil auch von den Mitarbeitenden und einer kritischen Öffentlichkeit – zum Beispiel in Form von Nichtregierungsorganisationen oder Klimaaktivistinnen und -aktivisten. In der jüngeren Vergangenheit haben auch Klagen gegen internationale Konzerne bzw. gegen Mitglieder ihrer Verwaltungsorgane dafür gesorgt, dass Nachhaltigkeit zu einem wichtigen Thema auf Stufe Verwaltungsrat und Geschäftsleitung geworden ist. Bei Firmenkunden sehen sich die Versicherungsgesellschaften ebenfalls zunehmend mit der Forderung konfrontiert, nachhaltigkeitsbezogene Risiken in das gesamte Risikomanagement einzubeziehen. Aus der aktuellen Literatur geht jedoch nicht hervor, welche Bedürfnisse und Erwartungen Kunden an Versicherungsgesellschaften im Hinblick auf deren Corporate Responsibility Engagement stellen, was die Versicherungskunden wollen bzw. was ihnen zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit bei Schweizer Versicherungsunternehmen wichtig ist. Diese wichtigen Aspekte wurden bisher nicht branchenspezifisch untersucht. Diese bestehende Lücke nimmt diese Studie auf, indem sie den Versicherungskunden und seine Nachhaltigkeitserwartungen in den Fokus der Untersuchung stellt. Daher stellt sich die Frage, welche Corporate Social-Responsibility (CSR)-Themen und -Kriterien für die Kunden von Versicherungsgesellschaften relevant sind und welche Erwartungen Kundinnen und Kunden an ihre Versicherungsgesellschaft in Bezug auf Nachhaltigkeit stellen. Aus den Antworten dieser übergeordneten Fragen abgeleitet stellen sich für Versicherungsgesellschaften Fragen wie: • Besteht die Gefahr, Privatkunden und -kundinnen zu verlieren, wenn man sich als Versicherungsgesellschaft nicht klar zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit bekennt und entsprechend handelt? Bei welchen Kundensegmenten wäre die Gefahr am grössten? • Kann sich eine Versicherungsgesellschaft mit dem Thema Nachhaltigkeit aus der Sicht der der Privatkundschaft differenzieren und so Neukundinnen und -kunden gewinnen? Wenn ja, welche Themen aus dem sehr breiten Spektrum an möglichen Engagements würden sich dafür am besten eignen? • Kann man für nachhaltige Versicherungen höhere Prämien verlangen? Oder wird im Gegenteil erwartet, dass nachhaltiges Verhalten seitens der Kundschaft durch günstigere Prämien belohnt wird? Die angesprochene Themenvielfalt zeigt sich allein schon an der Agenda 2030 der UN, bei der 17 miteinander verflochtene Nachhaltigkeitsziele bis 2030 erreicht werden sollen. Versicherungen spielen in Bezug auf ihr Geschäftsmodell nicht bei allen durch die Agenda definierten Nachhaltigkeitszielen dieselbe Rolle. Gleichzeitig gewichtet auch die Öffentlichkeit nicht alle Nachhaltigkeitsziele gleich, wobei diese Einschätzung teilweise von aktuellen Ereignissen geprägt und somit über die Zeit veränderlich ist. Trotz der medial stark visiblen Thematik Klimawandel zeigt sich, dass in der Schweiz soziale Themen höher gewichtet werden als ökologische. Die Ergebnisse der Umfrage bei 1461 mehrheitlich aus der Deutschschweiz stammenden Privatkunden zeigen sehr klar, dass derzeit generell das Thema Nachhaltigkeit zu keiner Differenzierung im Versicherungsmarkt für Privatkunden führt. Insgesamt fällt es Privatkunden schwer, Nachhaltigkeit und Versicherung in einen klaren Wirkungszusammenhang zu stellen. Die aktuellen Bemühungen der Versicherungsgesellschaften werden oft nicht wahrgenommen und haben kaum Einfluss auf Kaufentscheide. Es gelingt den einzelnen Versicherungsgesellschaften auch nicht, sich mit dem Thema voneinander zu unterscheiden. Insofern ist die Wirkung im Privatkundenmarkt auf die Dimensionen Kundenbindung, Neukundengewinnung oder Preisprämie noch vernachlässigbar. Die Studie zeigt aber auch, dass auf Ebene einzelner Nachhaltigkeits-Massnahmen durchaus die Möglichkeit besteht, als nachhaltiger wahrgenommen und so auch beim nächsten Kaufentscheid bevorzugt zu werden. Insbesondere im Bereich Schadenabwicklung, aber auch bei Präventionsangeboten ist ein Potenzial zu erkennen. Versicherungsgesellschaften werden sich in Zukunft stärker bemühen müssen, die oft abstrakten Aktivitäten im Bereich Nachhaltigkeit ihren Privatkunden besser erklären zu können

Assessment of Middle Ear Anatomy Teaching Methodologies Using Microscopy versus Endoscopy: A Randomized Comparative Study.

Teaching methodologies for the anatomy of the middle ear have not been investigated greatly due to the middle ear's highly complex structure and hidden location inside of the temporal bone. The aim of this randomized study was to quantitatively compare the suitability of using microscope- and endoscope-based methods for teaching the anatomy of the middle ear. We hypothesize that the endoscopic approach will be more efficient compared to the microscopic approach. To answer the study questions, 33 sixth-year medical students, residents and otorhinolaryngology specialists were randomized either into the endoscopy or the microscopy group. Their anatomical knowledge was assessed using a structured anatomical knowledge test before and after each session. Each participant received tutoring on a human cadaveric specimen using one of the two methods. They then performed a hands-on dissection. After 2-4 weeks, the same educational curriculum was repeated using the other technique. The mean gains in anatomical knowledge for the specialists, residents, and medical students were +19.0%, +34.6%, and +23.4%, respectively. Multivariate analyses identified a statistically significant increase in performance for the endoscopic method compared to the microscopic technique (P < 0.001). For the recall of anatomical structures during dissection, the endoscopic method outperformed the microscopic technique independently of the randomization or the prior training level of the attendees (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the endoscopic approach to middle ear anatomy education is associated to an improved gain in knowledge as compared to the microscopic approach. The participants subjectively preferred the endoscope for educational purposes

Does point of care prothrombin time measurement reduce the transfusion of fresh frozen plasma in patients undergoing major surgery? The POC-OP randomized-controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bleeding is a frequent complication during surgery. The intraoperative administration of blood products, including packed red blood cells, platelets and fresh frozen plasma (FFP), is often live saving. Complications of blood transfusions contribute considerably to perioperative costs and blood product resources are limited. Consequently, strategies to optimize the decision to transfuse are needed.</p> <p>Bleeding during surgery is a dynamic process and may result in major blood loss and coagulopathy due to dilution and consumption. The indication for transfusion should be based on reliable coagulation studies. While hemoglobin levels and platelet counts are available within 15 minutes, standard coagulation studies require one hour. Therefore, the decision to administer FFP has to be made in the absence of any data. Point of care testing of prothrombin time ensures that one major parameter of coagulation is available in the operation theatre within minutes. It is fast, easy to perform, inexpensive and may enable physicians to rationally determine the need for FFP.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The objective of the POC-OP trial is to determine the effectiveness of point of care prothrombin time testing to reduce the administration of FFP. It is a patient and assessor blind, single center randomized controlled parallel group trial in 220 patients aged between 18 and 90 years undergoing major surgery (any type, except cardiac surgery and liver transplantation) with an estimated blood loss during surgery exceeding 20% of the calculated total blood volume or a requirement of FFP according to the judgment of the physicians in charge. Patients are randomized to usual care plus point of care prothrombin time testing or usual care alone without point of care testing. The primary outcome is the relative risk to receive any FFP perioperatively. The inclusion of 110 patients per group will yield more than 80% power to detect a clinically relevant relative risk of 0.60 to receive FFP of the experimental as compared with the control group.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Point of care prothrombin time testing in the operation theatre may reduce the administration of FFP considerably, which in turn may decrease costs and complications usually associated with the administration of blood products.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00656396</p

Characterizing quantum instruments: from non-demolition measurements to quantum error correction

In quantum information processing quantum operations are often processed alongside measurements which result in classical data. Due to the information gain of classical measurement outputs non-unitary dynamical processes can take place on the system, for which common quantum channel descriptions fail to describe the time evolution. Quantum measurements are correctly treated by means of so-called quantum instruments capturing both classical outputs and post-measurement quantum states. Here we present a general recipe to characterize quantum instruments alongside its experimental implementation and analysis. Thereby, the full dynamics of a quantum instrument can be captured, exhibiting details of the quantum dynamics that would be overlooked with common tomography techniques. For illustration, we apply our characterization technique to a quantum instrument used for the detection of qubit loss and leakage, which was recently implemented as a building block in a quantum error correction (QEC) experiment (Nature 585, 207-210 (2020)). Our analysis reveals unexpected and in-depth information about the failure modes of the implementation of the quantum instrument. We then numerically study the implications of these experimental failure modes on QEC performance, when the instrument is employed as a building block in QEC protocols on a logical qubit. Our results highlight the importance of careful characterization and modelling of failure modes in quantum instruments, as compared to simplistic hardware-agnostic phenomenological noise models, which fail to predict the undesired behavior of faulty quantum instruments. The presented methods and results are directly applicable to generic quantum instruments.Comment: 28 pages, 21 figure

Experimental single-setting quantum state tomography

Quantum computers solve ever more complex tasks using steadily growing system sizes. Characterizing these quantum systems is vital, yet becoming increasingly challenging. The gold-standard is quantum state tomography (QST), capable of fully reconstructing a quantum state without prior knowledge. Measurement and classical computing costs, however, increase exponentially in the system size - a bottleneck given the scale of existing and near-term quantum devices. Here, we demonstrate a scalable and practical QST approach that uses a single measurement setting, namely symmetric informationally complete (SIC) positive operator-valued measures (POVM). We implement these nonorthogonal measurements on an ion trap device by utilizing more energy levels in each ion - without ancilla qubits. More precisely, we locally map the SIC POVM to orthogonal states embedded in a higher-dimensional system, which we read out using repeated in-sequence detections, providing full tomographic information in every shot. Combining this SIC tomography with the recently developed randomized measurement toolbox ("classical shadows") proves to be a powerful combination. SIC tomography alleviates the need for choosing measurement settings at random ("derandomization"), while classical shadows enable the estimation of arbitrary polynomial functions of the density matrix orders of magnitudes faster than standard methods. The latter enables in-depth entanglement studies, which we experimentally showcase on a 5-qubit absolutely maximally entangled (AME) state. Moreover, the fact that the full tomography information is available in every shot enables online QST in real time. We demonstrate this on an 8-qubit entangled state, as well as for fast state identification. All in all, these features single out SIC-based classical shadow estimation as a highly scalable and convenient tool for quantum state characterization.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figure