User Interface Abstraction for enabling TV set based Inclusive Access to the Information Society

199 p.

Learning Binary Code Representations for Effective and Efficient Image Retrieval

The size of online image datasets is constantly increasing. Considering an image dataset with millions of images, image retrieval becomes a seemingly intractable problem for exhaustive similarity search algorithms. Hashing methods, which encodes high-dimensional descriptors into compact binary strings, have become very popular because of their high efficiency in search and storage capacity. In the first part, we propose a multimodal retrieval method based on latent feature models. The procedure consists of a nonparametric Bayesian framework for learning underlying semantically meaningful abstract features in a multimodal dataset, a probabilistic retrieval model that allows cross-modal queries and an extension model for relevance feedback. In the second part, we focus on supervised hashing with kernels. We describe a flexible hashing procedure that treats binary codes and pairwise semantic similarity as latent and observed variables, respectively, in a probabilistic model based on Gaussian processes for binary classification. We present a scalable inference algorithm with the sparse pseudo-input Gaussian process (SPGP) model and distributed computing. In the last part, we define an incremental hashing strategy for dynamic databases where new images are added to the databases frequently. The method is based on a two-stage classification framework using binary and multi-class SVMs. The proposed method also enforces balance in binary codes by an imbalance penalty to obtain higher quality binary codes. We learn hash functions by an efficient algorithm where the NP-hard problem of finding optimal binary codes is solved via cyclic coordinate descent and SVMs are trained in a parallelized incremental manner. For modifications like adding images from an unseen class, we propose an incremental procedure for effective and efficient updates to the previous hash functions. Experiments on three large-scale image datasets demonstrate that the incremental strategy is capable of efficiently updating hash functions to the same retrieval performance as hashing from scratch.

Optimizing last mile delivery using public transport with multiagent based control

The majority of research work carried out in the field of Operations-Research uses methods and algorithms to optimize the pick-up and delivery problem. Most studies aim to solve the vehicle routing problem, to accommodate optimum delivery orders, vehicles etc. This paper focuses on green logistics approach, where existing Public Transport infrastructure capability of a city is used for the delivery of small and medium sized packaged goods thus, helping improve the situation of urban congestion and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. It carried out a study to investigate the feasibility of the proposed multi-agent based simulation model, for efficiency of cost, time and energy consumption. Multimodal Dijkstra Shortest Path algorithm and Nested Monte Carlo Search have been employed for a two-phase algorithmic approach used for generation of time based cost matrix. The quality of the tour is dependent on the efficiency of the search algorithm implemented for plan generation and route planning. The results reveal a definite advantage of using Public Transportation over existing delivery approaches in terms of energy efficiency.

Post-menopausal metrorrhagia - an ovarian thecoma presentation

Os tecomas são tumores raros do ovário, do grupo dos tumores dos cordões sexuais, de natureza sólida e frequentemente unilaterais. Têm maior incidência no período pósmenopausa e normalmente são silenciosos. Quando sintomáticos traduzem-se por dor pélvica e metrorragia (condicionada pela habitual natureza produtora de estrogénios do tumor). Podem ser concomitantes a síndrome de Meigs e/ou de Golin-Goltz e associaremse a transformação benigna ou maligna do endométrio. Embora a ecografia possa ser inespecífica neste contexto, uma avaliação multiparamétrica abrangente em ressonância magnética, incluindo por estudo dinâmico e com ponderação em difusão, permite frequentemente orientar de modo favorável a marcha diagnóstica. Apresentamos um caso raro de tecoma do ovário, com espessamento associado do endométrio, avaliado por ecografia ginecológica por vias supra-púbica e transvaginal bem como tomografia computorizada e ressonância magnética, confirmado cirurgicamente. Tratou-se de uma examinada caucasiana de 61 anos de idade, apresentando-se com metrorragia pósmenopáusica, sem outros sintomas nem contexto familiar relevante. Procedeu-se, a este propósito, a uma revisão da literatura focada no diagnóstico multimodal diferencial, apresentação clínica, tratamento e prognóstico destes tumores.

Spójność multimodalnego przekazu reporterskiego w krótkiej relacji telewizyjnej "na żywo"

Wydział Neofilologii

Ruchy gałek ocznych i gesty jako korelaty przetwarzania języka w tłumaczeniu konsekutywnym i symultanicznym

Wydział Anglistyki

O Laboratório Transdisciplinar de Cenografia (LTC) : locus do espaço e desenho da cena no Brasil

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Artes, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Artes, 2016.

Carrier Selection for Multi-commodity Flow Optimization in Cooperative Environments

Part 18: Optimization in Collaborative Networks

Public participation plan 2016 update

The Public Participation Plan provides direction for effective participation in the development of the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) transportation plans and programs. For SCDOT’s stakeholders, the participation plan describes opportunities to participate in identifying the statewide priorities for transportation investments in South Carolina. Two major components of the statewide planning process are the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan and the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan provides long-term guidance for the development of transportation programs and establishes strategies to achieve transportation goals for a 20-year period. The STIP is a short-term program that lists all roads, bridge, and transit projects scheduled for improvement based on available funding over a six-year period.

Robustness in facility location

Facility location concerns the placement of facilities, for various objectives, by use of mathematical models and solution procedures. Almost all facility location models that can be found in literature are based on minimizing costs or maximizing cover, to cover as much demand as possible. These models are quite efficient for finding an optimal location for a new facility for a particular data set, which is considered to be constant and known in advance. In a real world situation, input data like demand and travelling costs are not fixed, nor known in advance. This uncertainty and uncontrollability can lead to unacceptable losses or even bankruptcy. A way of dealing with these factors is robustness modelling. A robust facility location model aims to locate a facility that stays within predefined limits for all expectable circumstances as good as possible. The deviation robustness concept is used as basis to develop a new competitive deviation robustness model. The competition is modelled with a Huff based model, which calculates the market share of the new facility. Robustness in this model is defined as the ability of a facility location to capture a minimum market share, despite variations in demand. A test case is developed by which algorithms can be tested on their ability to solve robust facility location models. Four stochastic optimization algorithms are considered from which Simulated Annealing turned out to be the most appropriate. The test case is slightly modified for a competitive market situation. With the Simulated Annealing algorithm, the developed competitive deviation model is solved, for three considered norms of deviation. At the end, also a grid search is performed to illustrate the landscape of the objective function of the competitive deviation model. The model appears to be multimodal and seems to be challenging for further research.

On multimodality of obnoxious faclity location models

Obnoxious single facility location models are models that have the aim to find the best location for an undesired facility. Undesired is usually expressed in relation to the so-called demand points that represent locations hindered by the facility. Because obnoxious facility location models as a rule are multimodal, the standard techniques of convex analysis used for locating desirable facilities in the plane may be trapped in local optima instead of the desired global optimum. It is assumed that having more optima coincides with being harder to solve. In this thesis the multimodality of obnoxious single facility location models is investigated in order to know which models are challenging problems in facility location problems and which are suitable for site selection. Selected for this are the obnoxious facility models that appear to be most important in literature. These are the maximin model, that maximizes the minimum distance from demand point to the obnoxious facility, the maxisum model, that maximizes the sum of distance from the demand points to the facility and the minisum model, that minimizes the sum of damage of the facility to the demand points. All models are measured with the Euclidean distances and some models also with the rectilinear distance metric. Furthermore a suitable algorithm is selected for testing multimodality. Of the tested algorithms in this thesis, Multistart is most appropriate. A small numerical experiment shows that Maximin models have on average the most optima, of which the model locating an obnoxious linesegment has the most. Maximin models have few optima and are thus not very hard to solve. From the Minisum models, the models that have the most optima are models that take wind into account. In general can be said that the generic models have less optima than the weighted versions. Models that are measured with the rectilinear norm do have more solutions than the same models measured with the Euclidean norm. This can be explained for the maximin models in the numerical example because the shape of the norm coincides with a bound of the feasible area, so not all solutions are different optima. The difference found in number of optima of the Maxisum and Minisum can not be explained by this phenomenon.

ViDRILO: The Visual and Depth Robot Indoor Localization with Objects information dataset

In this article we describe a semantic localization dataset for indoor environments named ViDRILO. The dataset provides five sequences of frames acquired with a mobile robot in two similar office buildings under different lighting conditions. Each frame consists of a point cloud representation of the scene and a perspective image. The frames in the dataset are annotated with the semantic category of the scene, but also with the presence or absence of a list of predefined objects appearing in the scene. In addition to the frames and annotations, the dataset is distributed with a set of tools for its use in both place classification and object recognition tasks. The large number of labeled frames in conjunction with the annotation scheme make this dataset different from existing ones. The ViDRILO dataset is released for use as a benchmark for different problems such as multimodal place classification and object recognition, 3D reconstruction or point cloud data compression.

La Comunicación Organizacional en Entidades Educativas

En la investigación se aborda el tema de la comunicación organizacional en entidades educativas, se desarrolla en el caso de la aplicación de la comunicación organizacional interna entre los directivos y el profesorado, en el marco del incremento de la eficacia de la gestión escolar en el establecimiento educativo, adscrito a las comunas de Pudahuel y La Cisterna. Los principales antecedentes que constituyen parte del contexto educacional a nivel mundial, como en el Sistema Educativo Nacional, se refieren, en primer lugar, a los fenómenos de la globalización, la mundialización, la sociedad de la información y del conocimiento; y, en segundo término, la relevancia de la función comunicativa para el mantenimiento y desarrollo de la organización social, incluida la educativa, junto con las reformas y políticas educativas fijadas por el Ministerio de Educación dirigidas a fortalecer la Educación Pública y a fortalecer la calidad de la educación. El objetivo general del estudio consiste en analizar la aplicación de la comunicación organizacional interna entre los directivos y el profesorado en el marco del incremento de la eficacia de la gestión escolar en el establecimiento educativo, adscrito a las comunas de Pudahuel y de la Cisterna. Para efectos de su implementación, se aplica en calidad de metodología, de acuerdo a Sierra Bravo (1994), un diseño no experimental de tipo seccional exploratorio y descriptivo. También, este estudio se considera de enfoque integrado multimodal o enfoque mixto de acuerdo a Hernández, Fernández-Collado y Baptista (2006), porque comprende el uso conjunto de la perspectiva cuantitativa y cualitativa. Desarrollo teórico: En estas circunstancias en las instituciones educativas se observa, según Villa, Troncoso y Díez (2015:66), que la comunicación desempeña un rol de gran trascendencia, al configurar el fundamento imprescindible para la ejecución de las funciones primordiales de la organización (Terrén, 2004). Siguiendo esta misma línea, se concibe a la comunicación organizacional interna, en palabras de Andrade (2005:17), como el conjunto de acciones realizadas por la entidad organizativa para la generación y mantenimiento de buenas relaciones con y entre sus integrantes, a través del empleo de diversos medios de comunicación destinados a conservarlos informados, unidos y motivados con el fin de aportar con su labor al cumplimiento de los objetivos organizacionales; y, por ello, detenta en calidad de público meta a los colaboradores de la entidad organizativa. Con respecto al contexto planteado sobre la comunicación organizacional interna se valora lo señalado por el Ministerio de Educación (2005: 27) por cuanto concibe a la gestión escolar como la actuación profesional y técnica, dirigida al establecimiento de condiciones tendientes a favorecer el desenvolvimiento de buenas prácticas, por parte de los actores, con relación a las metas institucionales y educacionales compartidas en la organización escolar. También, se piensa concierne a la organización educativa porque Antúnez (2000:15) la concibe desde su significado institucional, siguiendo a García Hoz, como la comunidad constituida mayoritariamente por maestros y estudiantes y aplicada específicamente a la educación. Asimismo, Antúnez cita a Tyler para referenciarla como entidad de tipo administrativo local, dedicada a la instrucción del joven de forma presencial y que generalmente tiene una sola sede. Conclusiones: Acerca del objetivo específico N°1, el ejercicio del arquetipo formal, se puede significar que un 90,2 % de los informantes está de acuerdo y muy de acuerdo con que la comunicación oficial, se usa para informar sobre las actividades a realizar durante el periodo académico en la ejecución del proceso educativo; y, para complementar esta materia, se cita, de la entrevista abierta en profundidad, del informante 2: "Reuniones, de partida, para darte la comunal". Sobre la coordinación del trabajo dirigido al cumplimiento de las metas de la gestión escolar en el establecimiento educativo se destaca, que un 84,2 %, declara estar de acuerdo y muy de acuerdo, con en el funcionamiento diario el participante practica una interrelación profesional con sus superiores y/o subordinados, que propicia la discusión sobre temas relevantes de su establecimiento; y, para agregar a esta línea de pensamiento se cita, de la entrevista abierta en profundidad, al informante 1: "Yo creo que la única que favorece la coordinación del trabajo es la instrucción en nuestro sistema público". Respecto del objetivo específico N°2, la utilización de los medios se puede tener presente, se sirven de reuniones y de circulares pues sus porcentajes oscilan entre el 91% y el 89%. En cambio, con relación a la incidencia de los medios de comunicación organizacional interna en el fortalecimiento de la unión cultural de estos actores, en la gestión escolar del establecimiento educativo se detecta un 89,0 % declara estar de acuerdo y muy de acuerdo, con percibe la existencia de valores institucionales compartidos entre directivos y profesores. Con el fin de contribuir a esta proposición se cita, de la entrevista abierta en profundidad, del informante 1: "Sin duda que establece un vínculo de dependencia y pertenencia al sistema". En cuanto al objetivo específico N°3, los tipos de mensajes de comunicación organizacional interna que se transmiten entre los directivos y el profesorado, se puede especificar que un 89,0 % expresa estar de acuerdo y muy de acuerdo, con los directivos utilizan la comunicación organizacional interna para que los profesores conozcan los objetivos, a concretar con la ejecución de su trabajo. En relación, a un desempeño participativo en los procesos de la gestión escolar en el establecimiento educativo se puede señalar que un 83,4 % opina estar de acuerdo y muy de acuerdo, con las actividades de comunicación efectuadas por los directivos contribuyen a incrementar la participación de los profesores, en las actividades que se desarrollan en el funcionamiento cotidiano. Con el propósito de contribuir a precisar este planteamiento se cita, de la entrevista abierta en profundidad, del informante 1: "Los mejores mensajes son las felicitaciones y el reconocimiento" (p.707); 1: "Las invitaciones a integrar equipos de trabajos con miras a mejorar o con mejoras continuas o asumir un nuevo desafío". Con respecto al objetivo específico N°4, la identificación de algunos rasgos del flujo comunicativo dado entre los directivos y el profesorado se puede expresar que un 85,8 % opina estar de acuerdo y muy de acuerdo con que en su institución educativa se aplican, entre directivos y profesores, estrategias de comunicación organizacional interna. Con la finalidad de coadyuvar a explicitar este enunciado se cita, de la entrevista abierta en profundidad, del informante 1: "Yo creo que el medio que esta…que prima, es el tema del oficio, el oficio ordinario que le llamamos nosotros y en segundo lugar el correo electrónico”. Sobre se posibilita detectar ciertas tendencias en el manejo de la comunicación organizacional interna que propician la eficacia de la gestión escolar en el establecimiento educativo si se tiene en cuenta que la viabilidad radica en la manifestación de un 82,5% de los informantes de acuerdo y muy de acuerdo con que las actividades de comunicación desarrolladas entre directivos y profesores permiten concretar una gestión eficaz del establecimiento educativo; y, en torno a esta contingencia y para suplementarla se cita, de la entrevista abierta en profundidad, al informante 1: "Es instruir, es impartir instrucciones" (p. 710); del 2: "Sí, yo creo que hay mucho a la entrevista a puerta cerrada digamos, ahí los directores operan mucho con la entrevista a puerta cerrada". Bibliografía: Andrade, H. (2005). Comunicación organizacional interna. Proceso, disciplina y técnica. La Coruña, España: Netbiblo. Antúnez, S. (2000). Claves para la Organización de Centros Escolares. Barcelona, España: Horsori. Hernández, R., Fernández-Collado, C., & Baptista, P. (2006). Metodología de la Investigación. México D.F., México: McGrawh-Hill Interamericana Editores S.A. Ministerio de Educación de Chile. (2005). Sistema de Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la gestión Escolar. Calidad en todas las Escuelas y Liceos. Santiago de Chile: Mineduc. Sierra Bravo, R. (1994). Tesis Doctorales y trabajos de Investigación Científica. Madrid, España: Paraninfo S.A. Villa, A., Troncoso, P., & Díez, F. (2015). Estructura latente y fiabilidad de las dimensiones que explican el impacto de los sistemas de gestión de calidad en los centros educativos. Enseñanza, 33(1), 65-82. Datos de la doctoranda Profesora de Historia, geografía y educación cívica, Magíster en Educación con mención en administración educacional, por la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Miembro del Grupo de Estudios de salesianidad (GES). Académica del Instituto Interdisciplinario en Pedagogía y Educación, de la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez. Autora de Organización Escolar: Implicancias de la Comunicación Organizacional. Revista FIDE 2010, Región de O´Higgins.

Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression?

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder (MDD) encompasses several domains, including but not limited to executive function, verbal memory, and attention. Furthermore, cognitive dysfunction is a frequent residual manifestation in depression and may persist during the remitted phase. Cognitive deficits may also impede functional recovery, including workforce performance, in patients with MDD. The overarching aims of this opinion article are to critically evaluate the effects of available antidepressants as well as novel therapeutic targets on neurocognitive dysfunction in MDD.

DISCUSSION: Conventional antidepressant drugs mitigate cognitive dysfunction in some people with MDD. However, a significant proportion of MDD patients continue to experience significant cognitive impairment. Two multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported that vortioxetine, a multimodal antidepressant, has significant precognitive effects in MDD unrelated to mood improvement. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate was shown to alleviate executive dysfunction in an RCT of adults after full or partial remission of MDD. Preliminary evidence also indicates that erythropoietin may alleviate cognitive dysfunction in MDD. Several other novel agents may be repurposed as cognitive enhancers for MDD treatment, including minocycline, insulin, antidiabetic agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, S-adenosyl methionine, acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, melatonin, modafinil, galantamine, scopolamine, N-acetylcysteine, curcumin, statins, and coenzyme Q10. The management of cognitive dysfunction remains an unmet need in the treatment of MDD. However, it is hoped that the development of novel therapeutic targets will contribute to 'cognitive remission', which may aid functional recovery in MDD.

Intercultural engagement through pedagogical practices

Previously, in Victoria, Intercultural Understanding was embedded in the context area of ‘Languages Other than English' and taught by LOTE specialist teachers. Positioned in the new National Curriculum as a ‘General Capability' it will become the shared responsibility of all Australian teachers and so directly impact on them and their pedagogical practices. This prioritizing of Intercultural Understanding acknowledges the role of pedagogical practice in developing national and international social cohesion as well as meeting national economic imperatives (MCEETYA 2008, Banks 2011). The diverse social context of schooling is one in which many students experience negative intercultural experiences (Mansouri et al 2010) and yet it is also a site rich with potential for positive intercultural experiences and development of cosmopolitan dispositions (Noble, 2013 Rizvi 2009; Lo Bianco 2006); particularly ‘vernacular' cosmopolitanism (Robbins, 1998; Turner 2010). Drawing on case studies from two primary schools participating in an ARC-funded national research project, this presentation considers the impact on teachers' attitudes and pedagogies as they reflect on and enact teaching to promote intercultural understanding. With a focus on critical engagement with texts (including student, teacher and community multimodal texts) the teachers design pedagogies to support the three key areas recognising culture and developing respect; Interacting and empathising with others; and reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility (ACARA, 2012). Vicarious, virtual and face-to-face opportunities for enhancement of self-awareness and cultural acknowledgment; experiencing and exploring cultural difference; and for critical reflection on cultural encounters (Bredella, 2003) will be explored. Of interest is teacher and student agency (Fielding, 2001; 2004) in the selection of resources, development of knowledge, critical reflection and approaches to dealing with sensitive issues.