Distilled Collections from Textual Image Queries

We present a distillation algorithm which operates on a large, unstructured, and noisy collection of internet images returned from an online object query. We introduce the notion of a distilled set, which is a clean, coherent, and structured subset of inlier images. In addition, the object of interest is properly segmented out throughout the distilled set. Our approach is unsupervised, built on a novel clustering scheme, and solves the distillation and object segmentation problems simultaneously. In essence, instead of distilling the collection of images, we distill a collection of loosely cutout foreground “shapes”, which may or may not contain the queried object. Our key observation, which motivated our clustering scheme, is that outlier shapes are expected to be random in nature, whereas, inlier shapes, which do tightly enclose the object of interest, tend to be well supported by similar shapes captured in similar views. We analyze the commonalities among candidate foreground segments, without aiming to analyze their semantics, but simply by clustering similar shapes and considering only the most significant clusters representing non‐trivial shapes. We show that when tuned conservatively, our distillation algorithm is able to extract a near perfect subset of true inliers. Furthermore, we show that our technique scales well in the sense that the precision rate remains high, as the collection grows. We demonstrate the utility of our distillation results with a number of interesting graphics applications.     

Fusing distributional and experiential information for measuring semantic relatedness

Models of semantic relatedness have usually focused on language-based distributional information without taking into account “experiential data” concerning the embodied sensorial source of the represented concepts. In this paper, we present an integrative cognitive model of semantic relatedness. The model – semantic family resemblance – uses a variation of the co-product as a mathematical structure that guides the fusion of distributional and experiential information. Our algorithm provides superior results in a set expansion task and a significant correlation with two benchmarks of human rated word-pair similarity datasets.     

Improving trust modeling through the limit of advisor network size and use of referrals

This paper explores potential improvements to the trust modeling of agents in multi-agent systems when a social network of advisors is employed as part of the trust modeling, and in particular, examines means of optimizing the number of advisors that should be maintained in the social network. We propose three such improvements, two directly relating to the limit of advisor network size by either setting a maximum size for a buyer’s advisor network or setting a minimum trustworthiness threshold for agents to be accepted into that advisor network, and a third which uses an advisor referral system in combination with one of the first two network-limiting techniques. We provide experimental results in defence of our approach for two distinct trust modeling systems, and show how these optimizations can improve, sometimes significantly, the accuracy of different trust models (in the context of electronic marketplaces). We believe that the proposed techniques will be very useful for trust researchers seeking to improve the accuracy of their own trust models by setting the size and composition of advisor networks.     

Hardware Technologies for High-Performance Data-Intensive Computing

Data-intensive problems challenge conventional computing architectures with demanding CPU, memory, and I/O requirements. Experiments with three benchmarks suggest that emerging hardware technologies can significantly boost performance of a wide range of applications by increasing compute cycles and bandwidth and reducing latency.     

A framework for simulating real-time multi-agent systems

In this paper, we describe an implementation of use in demonstrating the effectiveness of architectures for real-time multi-agent systems. The implementation provides a simulation of a simplified RoboCup Search and Rescue environment, with unexpected events, and includes a simulator for both a real-time operating system and a CPU. We present experimental evidence to demonstrate the benefit of the implementation in the context of a particular hybrid architecture for multi-agent systems that allows certain agents to remain fully autonomous, while others are fully controlled by a coordinating agent. In addition, we discuss the value of the implementation for testing any models for the construction of real-time multi-agent systems and include a comparison to related work.

Viscoelastic and rheological behavior of concentrated colloidal suspensions

Molecular approaches are discussed to the density (), viscoeleastic (), and rheological () behavior of the viscosity(,,) of concentrated colloidal suspensions with 0.3 < < 0.6, where, is the volume fraction, the applied frequency, and ; the shear rate. These theories are based on the calculation of the pair distribution functionP ₂(r,,), wherer is the relative position of a pair of colloidal particles. The linear viscoelastic behavior(,,=0) follows from an equation forP ₂(r,,) derived from the Smoluchowski equation for small, generalized to large by introducing the spatial ordering and (cage) diffusion typical for concentrated suspensions. The rheological behavior(,,=0) follows from an equation forP ₂(r,) of a dense hard-sphere fluid derived from the Liouville equation. This leads to a hard-sphere viscosity^hs(,) which yields the colloidal one(,) by the scaling relation(,) ₀=^hs(,) _B, where ₀ is the solvent viscosity. _B is the dilute hard-sphere (Boltzmann ) viscosity and the's are appropriately scaled,(,) and(,) agree well with experiment. A unified theore for(,,) is clearly needed and pursued.Paper presented at the Twelfth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 19–24, 1994. Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

The effect of combined antenatal vitamin K and phenobarbital therapy on umbilical blood coagulation studies in infants less than 34 weeks' gestation

OBJECTIVE: To determine if antenatal vitamin K and phenobarbital therapy affect coagulation studies in umbilical blood at birth, and to provide 95% reference ranges for umbilical blood coagulation parameters in premature gestations. METHODS: Patients at imminent risk for spontaneous or indicated premature delivery less than 34 weeks' gestation were randomized to receive either placebo or vitamin K and phenobarbital. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT), functional coagulation factors, and decarboxylated prothrombin assays were performed on umbilical blood specimens. Decarboxylated prothrombin, also known as "protein induced by vitamin K absence-factor II" or precursor prothrombin, is a sensitive marker for vitamin K deficiency. Standardized values of PT and PTT are reported in seconds and standardized values of factor assays in percentage of normal adult functional activity (mean +/- one standard deviation). RESULTS: Newborns in the placebo and treatment groups had similar umbilical blood PT (12.6 +/- 1.2 versus 12.7 +/- 1.4 seconds), PTT (48.8 +/- 13.4 versus 49.6 +/- 13.8 seconds), and functional activity of factor II (40.3 +/- 12.5 versus 42.0 +/- 12.1%), factor VII (67.0 +/- 20.9 versus 66.8 +/- 18.9%), factor IX (27.4 +/- 12.8 versus 25.8 +/- 8.9%), and factor X (47.0 +/- 12.8 versus 49.2 +/- 11.6%). Newborns in the treatment group were about half as likely as those in the placebo group to have detectable decarboxylated prothrombin levels in umbilical blood at birth (gestational age-adjusted odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.22-1.01; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined maternal therapy with vitamin K and phenobarbital before premature delivery does not affect umbilical blood PT, PTT, or functional activity of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X. However, it is associated with the reduced presence of decarboxylated prothrombin in umbilical blood at birth. There is significant improvement in umbilical blood coagulation tests as gestational age advances from 24 to 34 weeks.     

Renal amyloidosis in a drug abuser

Drug abusers, particularly those who inject drugs s.c. ("skin popping"), may develop amyloidosis. Chronic infections are thought to play a pathogenetic role in this setting. A patient is presented who had a history of "skin popping" cocaine and heroin and developed nephrotic syndrome, with an elevated serum creatinine and a creatinine clearance of 61 mL/min. Renal biopsy demonstrated amyloidosis. Treatment with colchicine was initiated, and proteinuria decreased to near normal levels after 12 months. Concomitant with the decrease in proteinuria, creatinine clearance improved, although a repeat renal biopsy failed to show any significant improvement in amyloid burden. These observations suggest that colchicine may be a useful treatment in reversing the proteinuria of renal amyloidosis associated with drug abuse. Furthermore, clinical improvement may occur before any demonstrable regression in the amyloidosis.