Development of high temperature extensometric microgrids

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

ZeroEGGS: Zero-shot Example-based Gesture Generation from Speech

We present ZeroEGGS, a neural network framework for speech-driven gesture generation with zero-shot style control by example. This means style can be controlled via only a short example motion clip, even for motion styles unseen during training. Our model uses a Variational framework to learn a style embedding, making it easy to modify style through latent space manipulation or blending and scaling of style embeddings. The probabilistic nature of our framework further enables the generation of a variety of outputs given the input, addressing the stochastic nature of gesture motion. In a series of experiments, we first demonstrate the flexibility and generalizability of our model to new speakers and styles. In a user study, we then show that our model outperforms previous state-of-the-art techniques in naturalness of motion, appropriateness for speech, and style portrayal. Finally, we release a high-quality dataset of full-body gesture motion including fingers, with speech, spanning across 19 different styles. Our code and data are publicly available at https://github.com/ubisoft/ubisoft-laforge-ZeroEGGS .     

Extensions to the repetitive branch and bound algorithm for globally optimal clusterwise regression

A branch and bound strategy is proposed for solving the clusterwise regression problem, extending Brusco's repetitive branch and bound algorithm (RBBA). The resulting strategy relies upon iterative heuristic optimization, new ways of observation sequencing, and branch and bound optimization of a limited number of ending subsets. These three key features lead to significantly faster optimization of the complete set and the strategy has more general applications than only for clusterwise regression. Additionally, an efficient implementation of incremental calculations within the branch and bound search algorithm eliminates most of the redundant ones. Experiments using both real and synthetic data compare the various features of the proposed optimization algorithm and contrasts them against a benchmark mixed logical-quadratic programming formulation optimized by CPLEX. The results indicate that all components of the proposed algorithm provide significant improvements in processing times, and, when combined, generally provide the best performance, significantly outperforming CPLEX.     

An automated georeferencing tool for watershed scale fluvial remote sensing

In recent years, remotely sensed image datasets with ground resolutions below 10 cm have seen widening applications in fluvial sciences with the development of methods for image based measurements of bathymetry, grain sizes and habitat types. However, given that these datasets typically contain hundreds or thousands of images, one of their key limitations is the need to georeference this large volume of imagery. Automated registration of remotely sensed imagery based on pattern matching algorithms has been the focus of much publication in other disciplines and there are now methods capable of automatically registering a newly sensed image to a pre‐existing reference image. Based on such strategies, this paper presents an automated georeferencing tool specifically designed for fluvial remote sensing which uses a simple and well established pattern matching algorithm. This new method allows for very large image databases to be automatically georeferenced without the recourse to ground control points from the field and thus requiring minimal labour. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antioxidative Properties and Ability of Phenolic Compounds of Myrtus communis Leaves to Counteract In Vitro LDL and Phospholipid Aqueous Dispersion Oxidation

Antioxidant activities of Myrtus communis leaf phenolic compounds (McPCs) were investigated on 2,2′‐9‐azino‐bis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS⁺?) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) tests or on oxidation of biological models, human low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and phospholipid aqueous dispersion (l ‐α‐phosphatidylcholine stabilized by bile salts). Two extraction techniques, microwave‐assisted (MAE) and conventional (CE), were used to isolate McPCs, producing similar results of phenolic compound content. ABTS⁺? assay showed clearly that myrtle extracts exhibited a stronger scavenging effect than butylated hydroxyanisole and α‐tocopherol, with a slight advantage for myrtle CE extract. In ORAC assay, the both McPC extracts were similarly less effective than the pure compounds as caffeic acid and myricitrin (myricetin 3‐O‐rhamnoside) but stronger than butylated hydroxytoluene. Moreover, myrtle CE and MAE extracts, and myricitrin were able to inhibit similarly the production of conjugated dienes and to prolong the lag phase (Tlag) during Cu²⁺‐induced LDL oxidation with a dose‐response effect. The cryo‐electron microscopy observations on studied phospholipid dispersion stabilized by bile salts (BS) revealed the presence of bilayer vesicles and micelles. In 2,2′‐azobis (2‐amidinopropane) hydrochloride–induced phospholipid/BS oxidation, myrtle CE and MAE extracts gave similar effects to α‐tocopherol and caffeic acid but myricitrin showed a higher protective effect than myrtle extracts. We showed also that no synergic or additive effect between α‐tocopherol and myrtle extracts or caffeic acid in α‐tocopherol–enriched phospholipid/BS dispersion, but myricitrin showed an additive effect and thus promoted the total antioxidant activity. These data showed that myrtle extract could be used as potential natural antioxidants, food stabilizers, or natural health products.     

Influence of curing on cold mix mechanical performance

Cold mixes are evolutive materials, especially in their early life. Their initial cohesion is low and builds up gradually. The materials characteristics have to be evaluated at different states: fresh, mature, aged. An evaluation method is already available for fresh cold mixes. Ageing issues have been addressed elsewhere and are not dealt with here. Different curing procedures have been assessed and compared. Their goals are: laboratory curing must be related to field curing, the binder film must not be brought to an artificial state, no binder ageing must be caused by curing. Diverse curing sequences have been applied to grave-emulsion and dense wearing course mix. The effects of temperature, relative humidity and time have been evaluated. During each curing span, the mix moisture content has been monitored. The mechanical behaviour has been characterized by compressive strength and stiffness modulus (measured by indirect tensile testing). At the end of the varied curing periods, the bitumen was extracted and characterized. Special care has been taken in selecting the extraction method, to prevent any alteration of the bitumen. To establish a relationship between laboratory and field, the above results have been compared to those obtained on cores taken from similar mixes laid on roads. Finally, a new curing method has been selected and is proposed to road engineers.     

Validation préliminaire du Questionnaire d'activités et d'attitudes à l'égard de la sexualité.

This report presents the preliminary validation of a French version of the Sexual Activities and Attitudes Questionnaire (SAAQ; Noll, Trickett, & Putnam, 2003), shortened and adapted for romantically involved adults. Findings indicate that the 4-factor structure of the original instrument is replicated in the present sample (N = 335) and that the internal consistency of the factors is high (α between .77 and .85). Correlation analyses highlight the relationship between sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors and couple satisfaction. The preliminary validation of the SAAQ is a first step toward the elaboration of a French multidimensional measure of sexual attitudes for adult couples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress in male DUI recidivists

Cortisol is a stress hormone mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and a psychobiological marker of genetic risk for alcoholism and other high-risk behavioural characteristics. In previous work with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) recidivists, we uncovered a significant inverse relationship between the frequency of past DUI convictions and salivary cortisol, whose strength surpassed those observed between DUI frequency and measures of alcohol abuse and other DUI-related characteristics. This finding emerged using a methodology not specifically contrived to test this relationship. The goals of this follow-up study were to (a) examine if a standardized stress-induction protocol would produce a significant inverse relationship between cortisol response and number of DUI offences; and (b) clarify whether HPA axis dysregulation could be linked to particular DUI-related behavioural correlates, such as alcohol use severity, sensation seeking, and antisocial features. Thirty male DUI recidivists were recruited as well as 11 male non-DUI drivers as a comparison group. Results indicated an inverse relationship between DUI frequency and cortisol response (r(39)=-0.36, p=0.021), as well as a lower cortisol response in DUI offenders than the comparison group (F(1,39)=5.71, p=0.022). Finally, for recidivists, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that experience seeking (R(2)=0.23, p=0.008), followed by number of cigarettes smoked daily ((Delta)R(2)=0.12, p=0.031), combined to explain 35% of the variance in cortisol (F(2,29)=7.26, p=0.003). These findings indicate that severe recidivism may have psychobiological underpinnings, and that HPA axis dysregulation appears to be a mechanism common to high-risk behaviours including DUI recidivism, sensation seeking, and cigarette smoking.     

Optimization of hydrolysis of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) heads with Protamex: enhancement of lipid and phospholipid extraction

BACKGROUND: Fish by‐products are not considered as valuable raw materials even if they usually contain valuable components such as lipids. Fish lipids are well known for their nutritional potential and health effects but their extraction remains problematic due to the use of organic solvents. Enzymatic hydrolysis such as the proteolysis of tissues can lead to lipid extraction. RESULTS: Hydrolysis of sardine heads by Protamex was studied (temperature, hydrolysis time and enzyme–substrate ratio) using response surface methodology in order to obtain the highest release of lipids and particularly phospholipids. No relation between the degree of hydrolysis and lipid recovery were depicted; however, optimum conditions for both the release of lipids and phospholipids were found to be similar (29 min, 31 °C with 2.6 g kg^?1 enzyme). Under these hydrolysis conditions, rich lipid and phospholipid fractions (oily and aqueous fractions) can be recovered when time, temperature and enzyme consumption are minimized. Analytical data have revealed that they contain high‐quality lipids, especially ω3 fatty acid. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that proteolysis can be used for high lipid recovery from little‐exploited biomass like fish heads without requiring solvent or thermal treatment. Resulting phospholipids, fatty acids and peptides could be utilized for nutritional or feed purposes. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry