A Detailed Look at Scale and Translation Invariance in a Hierarchical Neural Model of Visual Object Recognition

The HMAX model has recently been proposed by Riesenhuber & Poggio as a hierarchical model of position- and size-invariant object recognition in visual cortex. It has also turned out to model successfully a number of other properties of the ventral visual stream (the visual pathway thought to be crucial for object recognition in cortex), and particularly of (view-tuned) neurons in macaque inferotemporal cortex, the brain area at the top of the ventral stream. The original modeling study only used ``paperclip'' stimuli, as in the corresponding physiology experiment, and did not explore systematically how model units' invariance properties depended on model parameters. In this study, we aimed at a deeper understanding of the inner workings of HMAX and its performance for various parameter settings and ``natural'' stimulus classes. We examined HMAX responses for different stimulus sizes and positions systematically and found a dependence of model units' responses on stimulus position for which a quantitative description is offered. Interestingly, we find that scale invariance properties of hierarchical neural models are not independent of stimulus class, as opposed to translation invariance, even though both are affine transformations within the image plane.

Translation Invariance in Object Recognition, and Its Relation to Other Visual Transformations

Human object recognition is generally considered to tolerate changes of the stimulus position in the visual field. A number of recent studies, however, have cast doubt on the completeness of translation invariance. In a new series of experiments we tried to investigate whether positional specificity of short-term memory is a general property of visual perception. We tested same/different discrimination of computer graphics models that were displayed at the same or at different locations of the visual field, and found complete translation invariance, regardless of the similarity of the animals and irrespective of direction and size of the displacement (Exp. 1 and 2). Decisions were strongly biased towards same decisions if stimuli appeared at a constant location, while after translation subjects displayed a tendency towards different decisions. Even if the spatial order of animal limbs was randomized ("scrambled animals"), no deteriorating effect of shifts in the field of view could be detected (Exp. 3). However, if the influence of single features was reduced (Exp. 4 and 5) small but significant effects of translation could be obtained. Under conditions that do not reveal an influence of translation, rotation in depth strongly interferes with recognition (Exp. 6). Changes of stimulus size did not reduce performance (Exp. 7). Tolerance to these object transformations seems to rely on different brain mechanisms, with translation and scale invariance being achieved in principle, while rotation invariance is not.

Oblique Angle Deposition of Germanium Film on Silicon Substrate

The effect of flux angle, substrate temperature and deposition rate on obliquely deposited germanium (Ge) films has been investigated. By carrying out deposition with the vapor flux inclined at 87° to the substrate normal at substrate temperatures of 250°C or 300°C, it may be possible to obtain isolated Ge nanowires. The Ge nanowires are crystalline as shown by Raman Spectroscopy.

Poly-Si₁₋xGex Film Growth for Ni Germanosilicided Metal Gate

Scaling down of the CMOS technology requires thinner gate dielectric to maintain high performance. However, due to the depletion of poly-Si gate, it is difficult to reduce the gate thickness further especially for sub-65 nm CMOS generation. Fully silicidation metal gate (FUSI) is one of the most promising solutions. Furthermore, FUSI metal gate reduces gate-line sheet resistance, prevents boron penetration to channels, and has good process compatibility with high-k gate dielectric. Poly-SiGe gate technology is another solution because of its enhancement of boron activation and compatibility with the conventional CMOS process. Combination of these two technologies for the formation of fully germanosilicided metal gate makes the approach very attractive. In this paper, the deposition of undoped Poly-Si₁₋xGex (0 < x < 30% ) films onto SiO₂ in a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) system is described. Detailed growth conditions and the characterization of the grown films are presented.

Plasma polymerization of C[subscript 4]F[subscript 8] thin film on high aspect ratio silicon molds

High aspect ratio polymeric micro-patterns are ubiquitous in many fields ranging from sensors, actuators, optics, fluidics and medical. Second generation PDMS molds are replicated against first generation silicon molds created by deep reactive ion etching. In order to ensure successful demolding, the silicon molds are coated with a thin layer of C[subscript 4]F[subscript 8] plasma polymer to reduce the adhesion force. Peel force and demolding status are used to determine if delamination is successful. Response surface method is employed to provide insights on how changes in coil power, passivating time and gas flow conditions affect plasma polymerization of C[subscript 4]F[subscript 8].

Adherencia a criterios de pertinencia de revascularización coronaria del colegio americano de cardiología, servicio de hemodinamia Fundación Cardioinfantil- Bogotá 2011

Titulo: Adherencia a criterios de pertinencia de revascularización coronaria del colegio americano de cardiología 2009, en el servicio de hemodinámica de la fundación cardioinfantil Bogotá 2011. Introducción: La enfermedad cardiovascular es la principal causa de morbimortalidad a nivel mundial, teniendo mayor prevalencia enfermedad coronaria. Existen guías especificas para el manejo de esta enfermedad sin embargo su aplicación se entorpece por factores diversos. Este estudio quiere evaluar la adherencia, en el laboratorio de hemodinamia de la Fundación Cardioinfantil, a las guías de pertinencia de intervencionismo coronario de la ACCF (American college of cardiology foundation). Objetivo General: Evaluar el nivel de adherencia a criterios de pertinencia de revascularización coronaria del colegio americano de cardiología 2009, en el servicio de hemodinámia de la fundación cardioinfantil Bogotá 2011. Métodos: Se revisaron 200 historias clínicas pacientes con diagnóstico de síndrome coronario agudo, llevados a intervención coronaria, según características de pacientes , intervención, y nivel de adherencia se clasifico la intervención como apropiada, incierta e inadecuada . Resultados: De la población analizada, el 71% (n=142) de las intervenciones fueron clasificados como apropiadas, 20% (N=40) como inapropiadas y 8,5% (n=17) como inciertas. Los desenlaces y complicaciones no tuvieron asociación estadísticamente significativa (p> 0,005) con la adherencia a los criterios de pertinencia. Conclusiones: Respecto a la literatura existente el número de intervenciones inapropiadas es mayor en la FCI, comparado con estudios practicados en América Latina y Norte América, sin embargo una adherencia del 80 %, ubica a esta institución en un adecuado nivel de adherencia.

eHandbook title logo source files

Source files (Photoshop .psd) and full sized .png of the eHandbook title logo.

Data Protection Act links to film, slides, quesions; overview notes

Published on Jun 7, 2012 by icocomms This ICO training video helps answer questions about the Data Protection Act, its impact on the working environment and how to handle and protect people's information. (Produced by Central Office of Information, Crown Copyright 2006)

The Phenomenology of the Political: Cavell on Film

A lengthy defense of Cavell on film and politics in response to an article by Joshua Dienstag

Translation of the Decision of the International Court of Justice related to the Case concerning the dispute regarding navigational and related rights (Costa Rica v. Nicaragua) Judgment

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Robin Hood.

Resumen basado en el del autor. Se adjuntan enlaces de interés: http://www.nntec.co.uk/robinhood/, http://www.sherwoodinitiative.co.uk/, http://rodent.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/rh/rhhome.htm y http://us.imdb.com/M/title-substring?title=Robin+Hood&tv=both

Film, TV and music : multi-level photocopiable activities for teenagers.

Este recurso para el profesor contiene actividades que abarcan temas de interés para los jóvenes como el cine, la música y la televisión. Proporciona material didáctico adicional, que puede fotocopiarse, para los niveles elemental, intermedio y avanzado.

Proyecto curricular del área de Inglés : film workshop.

Material publicado por el Departamento de Educación, Universidades e Investigación del Gobierno Vasco. Se trata de materiales curriculares que pretenden servir para la formación del profesorado y que ejemplifican y marcan pautas para el trabajo según los nuevos planteamientos curriculares de la LOGSE. Los que aquí se presentan pretenden aumentar el interés de los alumnos por la lengua y mostrar cómo el mundo del espectáculo puede servir de base para el estudio de la cultura y civilización de otros países. Ofrecen un conjunto de actividades que permiten la realización de un trabajo interdisciplinar, pudiendo implicar a varios seminarios (Historia, Lengua, Filosofía, etc.), y adoptan un enfoque comunicativo, primando la utilización de recursos auténticos: audiovisuales (películas), textos escritos (fuentes de información, literarios, etc.) y musicales (canciones). En resumen, los contenidos del documento pueden enmarcarse: - dentro del área; - dentro de una línea transversal (Educación en Medios de Comunicación Social); y - bajo un planteamiento interdisciplinar.

Cómo limpiarse las gafas : fragmento de una carta : sobre el análisis del film.

Visión de cómo se ha de analizar una película, utilizando distintos instrumentos para comentar cada film. En primer lugar, se describen los distintos tipos de análisis existentes, y después, se exponen varios ejemplos de análisis, con distintos instrumentos cada uno, de manera que respondan a las necesidades que plantee cada film. Además, ha de tenerse en cuenta el ámbito de aplicación de cada procedimiento de análisis.

Lost in translation (perdidos en la traducción) : tutores o mentores que aprenden a participar en discursos competitivos de la práctica educativa.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación. Monografía con el título 'La tarea de enseñar: atraer, formar, retener y desarrollar buen profesorado'