Background With the development of virtual reality(VR)technology,there is a growing need for customized 3D avatars.However,traditional methods for 3D avatar modeling are either time-consuming or fail to retain the sim...Background With the development of virtual reality(VR)technology,there is a growing need for customized 3D avatars.However,traditional methods for 3D avatar modeling are either time-consuming or fail to retain the similarity to the person being modeled.This study presents a novel framework for generating animatable 3D cartoon faces from a single portrait image.Methods First,we transferred an input real-world portrait to a stylized cartoon image using StyleGAN.We then proposed a two-stage reconstruction method to recover a 3D cartoon face with detailed texture.Our two-stage strategy initially performs coarse estimation based on template models and subsequently refines the model by nonrigid deformation under landmark supervision.Finally,we proposed a semantic-preserving face-rigging method based on manually created templates and deformation transfer.Conclusions Compared with prior arts,the qualitative and quantitative results show that our method achieves better accuracy,aesthetics,and similarity criteria.Furthermore,we demonstrated the capability of the proposed 3D model for real-time facial animation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery,warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions.AIM To explore the effect of static cartoons comb...BACKGROUND Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery,warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions.AIM To explore the effect of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction compliance in preschool-aged children undergoing surgery.METHODS One hundred and sixteen preschool-aged children were selected and assigned to the drug(n=37),intervention(n=40),and control(n=39)groups.All the children received routine preoperative checkups and nursing before being transferred to the preoperative preparation room on the day of the operation.The drug group received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and the intervention group treatment consisting of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments.The control group received no intervention.The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate the children’s anxiety level on the day before surgery(T0),before leaving the preoperative preparation room(T1),when entering the operating room(T2),and at anesthesia induction(T3).Compliance during anesthesia induction(T3)was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist(ICC).Changes in mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),and respiratory rate(RR)were also recorded at each time point.RESULTS The anxiety scores of the three groups increased variously at T1 and T2.At T3,both the drug and intervention groups had similar anxiety scores,both of which were lower than those in the control group.At T1 and T2,MAP,HR,and RR of the three groups increased.The drug and control groups had significantly higher MAP and RR than the intervention group at T2.At T3,the MAP,HR,and RR of the drug group decreased and were significantly lower than those in the control group but were comparable to those in the intervention group.Both the drug and intervention groups had similar ICC scores and duration of anesthesia induction(T3),both of which were higher than those of the control group.CONCLUSION Combining static cartoons with dynamic virtual environments as effective as medication,specifically midazolam,in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in preschool-aged children.This approach also improve their compliance during anesthesia induction and helped maintain their stable vital signs.展开更多
This study looks at the interaction between the process of intersemiosis and resemiosis in multimodality. The importance of both phases is widely acknowledged as part of the meaning making process but many practical s...This study looks at the interaction between the process of intersemiosis and resemiosis in multimodality. The importance of both phases is widely acknowledged as part of the meaning making process but many practical studies focus on the first rather than the second. In particular this study looks at two groups of images about gender relations in Saudi Arabia following the post-2017 reforms of the male guardianship laws. One group are mostly made up of photographs and the second group of cartoons and posters. One important finding is that the latter tend to be less ambiguous in their semiotic structure than the former. In particular, there are instances in the first group where a standard study of intersemiosis indicates low modality but the image may be seen as inherently plausible by many observers. This suggests that while resemiosis can be applied to a single image it may be more appropriate as a tool when applied to an overall news article or set of images. In the same way that not all individual semiotic modes are complementary in how they build meaning, then it is possible for different images to be supportive, contradictory or unclear when studied in isolation.展开更多
This essay is centred on Nigeria＇s Freedom of Information Act, with special interest in its relevance in the country＇s anti-corruption war. The paper reiterates that the law was passed to enable the public to access...This essay is centred on Nigeria＇s Freedom of Information Act, with special interest in its relevance in the country＇s anti-corruption war. The paper reiterates that the law was passed to enable the public to access certain government information, in order to ensure transparency and accountability. The FOI Act aims to make public records and information more freely available and to protect public records and information, in accordance with the public interest and protection of personal privacy. It enables citizens to hold the government accountable in the event of the misappropriation of public funds or failure to deliver public services. It also seeks to protect serving public officers against any adverse consequences from the unauthorized disclosure of certain kinds of official information, and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes. The Act further regulates conflicts between its provisions and those of other legislations. The paper contends that Freedom of Information is a fundamental indicator of economic development and progress, civic engagement and a properly functional democracy in every economy, describing it as a promising start in ensuring good governance and rule of law in Nigeria. The paper stresses the need for vigorous implementation of the FOI Act if the country is to make any significant breakthrough in the enthronement of good governance, transparency and accountability, adding that a strengthened FOI regime will enhance citizens＇ demand for accountability and check corruption in Nigeria.展开更多
The tide of anti-corruption swept across China, anti-corruption within the Party is a top priority. It needs sound legal regulation, but now our country doesn＇ t have a specific law to regulate the Party, leading to ...The tide of anti-corruption swept across China, anti-corruption within the Party is a top priority. It needs sound legal regulation, but now our country doesn＇ t have a specific law to regulate the Party, leading to Party members has not been well constrained about the execution of the power. The author analyzes the necessity of making a Party law from the perspective of curbing corruption, and puts forward some suggestions on strengthening the supervision function of Party law.展开更多
Since the commence of 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee represented by General Secretary Xi Jinping, has attached unprecedented importance to anti corruption constructio...Since the commence of 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee represented by General Secretary Xi Jinping, has attached unprecedented importance to anti corruption construction and has strengthened the investigation degree on the disciplinary offence behaviors of the party member the leading cadres, which kills rampant misbehaviors around the people from the source. State-owned enterprises are the pillar of the national economy, which should respond to call of the country, in a bid to strengthen the construction of honest and integrity, prevent risks, and build a perfect internal control mechanism. Focusing on the state-owned enterprise’s anti-corruption risk prevention mechanism and internal control construction, this paper conducts a research aiming at starting a discussion.展开更多
Visual illustration transformation from real-world to cartoon images is one of the famous and challenging tasks in computer vision.Image-to-image translation from real-world to cartoon domains poses issues such as a l...Visual illustration transformation from real-world to cartoon images is one of the famous and challenging tasks in computer vision.Image-to-image translation from real-world to cartoon domains poses issues such as a lack of paired training samples,lack of good image translation,low feature extraction from the previous domain images,and lack of high-quality image translation from the traditional generator algorithms.To solve the above-mentioned issues,paired independent model,high-quality dataset,Bayesian-based feature extractor,and an improved generator must be proposed.In this study,we propose a high-quality dataset to reduce the effect of paired training samples on the model’s performance.We use a Bayesian Very Deep Convolutional Network(VGG)-based feature extractor to improve the performance of the standard feature extractor because Bayesian inference regu-larizes weights well.The generator from the Cartoon Generative Adversarial Network(GAN)is modified by introducing a depthwise convolution layer and channel attention mechanism to improve the performance of the original generator.We have used the Fréchet inception distance(FID)score and user preference score to evaluate the performance of the model.The FID scores obtained for the generated cartoon and real-world images are 107 and 76 for the TCC style,and 137 and 57 for the Hayao style,respectively.User preference score is also calculated to evaluate the quality of generated images and our proposed model acquired a high preference score compared to other models.We achieved stunning results in producing high-quality cartoon images,demonstrating the proposed model’s effectiveness in transferring style between authentic images and cartoon images.展开更多
文摘Background With the development of virtual reality(VR)technology,there is a growing need for customized 3D avatars.However,traditional methods for 3D avatar modeling are either time-consuming or fail to retain the similarity to the person being modeled.This study presents a novel framework for generating animatable 3D cartoon faces from a single portrait image.Methods First,we transferred an input real-world portrait to a stylized cartoon image using StyleGAN.We then proposed a two-stage reconstruction method to recover a 3D cartoon face with detailed texture.Our two-stage strategy initially performs coarse estimation based on template models and subsequently refines the model by nonrigid deformation under landmark supervision.Finally,we proposed a semantic-preserving face-rigging method based on manually created templates and deformation transfer.Conclusions Compared with prior arts,the qualitative and quantitative results show that our method achieves better accuracy,aesthetics,and similarity criteria.Furthermore,we demonstrated the capability of the proposed 3D model for real-time facial animation.
基金Supported by Hangzhou Medical and Health Technology Project,No.OO20191141。
文摘BACKGROUND Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery,warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions.AIM To explore the effect of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction compliance in preschool-aged children undergoing surgery.METHODS One hundred and sixteen preschool-aged children were selected and assigned to the drug(n=37),intervention(n=40),and control(n=39)groups.All the children received routine preoperative checkups and nursing before being transferred to the preoperative preparation room on the day of the operation.The drug group received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and the intervention group treatment consisting of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments.The control group received no intervention.The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate the children’s anxiety level on the day before surgery(T0),before leaving the preoperative preparation room(T1),when entering the operating room(T2),and at anesthesia induction(T3).Compliance during anesthesia induction(T3)was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist(ICC).Changes in mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),and respiratory rate(RR)were also recorded at each time point.RESULTS The anxiety scores of the three groups increased variously at T1 and T2.At T3,both the drug and intervention groups had similar anxiety scores,both of which were lower than those in the control group.At T1 and T2,MAP,HR,and RR of the three groups increased.The drug and control groups had significantly higher MAP and RR than the intervention group at T2.At T3,the MAP,HR,and RR of the drug group decreased and were significantly lower than those in the control group but were comparable to those in the intervention group.Both the drug and intervention groups had similar ICC scores and duration of anesthesia induction(T3),both of which were higher than those of the control group.CONCLUSION Combining static cartoons with dynamic virtual environments as effective as medication,specifically midazolam,in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in preschool-aged children.This approach also improve their compliance during anesthesia induction and helped maintain their stable vital signs.
文摘This study looks at the interaction between the process of intersemiosis and resemiosis in multimodality. The importance of both phases is widely acknowledged as part of the meaning making process but many practical studies focus on the first rather than the second. In particular this study looks at two groups of images about gender relations in Saudi Arabia following the post-2017 reforms of the male guardianship laws. One group are mostly made up of photographs and the second group of cartoons and posters. One important finding is that the latter tend to be less ambiguous in their semiotic structure than the former. In particular, there are instances in the first group where a standard study of intersemiosis indicates low modality but the image may be seen as inherently plausible by many observers. This suggests that while resemiosis can be applied to a single image it may be more appropriate as a tool when applied to an overall news article or set of images. In the same way that not all individual semiotic modes are complementary in how they build meaning, then it is possible for different images to be supportive, contradictory or unclear when studied in isolation.
文摘This essay is centred on Nigeria＇s Freedom of Information Act, with special interest in its relevance in the country＇s anti-corruption war. The paper reiterates that the law was passed to enable the public to access certain government information, in order to ensure transparency and accountability. The FOI Act aims to make public records and information more freely available and to protect public records and information, in accordance with the public interest and protection of personal privacy. It enables citizens to hold the government accountable in the event of the misappropriation of public funds or failure to deliver public services. It also seeks to protect serving public officers against any adverse consequences from the unauthorized disclosure of certain kinds of official information, and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes. The Act further regulates conflicts between its provisions and those of other legislations. The paper contends that Freedom of Information is a fundamental indicator of economic development and progress, civic engagement and a properly functional democracy in every economy, describing it as a promising start in ensuring good governance and rule of law in Nigeria. The paper stresses the need for vigorous implementation of the FOI Act if the country is to make any significant breakthrough in the enthronement of good governance, transparency and accountability, adding that a strengthened FOI regime will enhance citizens＇ demand for accountability and check corruption in Nigeria.
文摘The tide of anti-corruption swept across China, anti-corruption within the Party is a top priority. It needs sound legal regulation, but now our country doesn＇ t have a specific law to regulate the Party, leading to Party members has not been well constrained about the execution of the power. The author analyzes the necessity of making a Party law from the perspective of curbing corruption, and puts forward some suggestions on strengthening the supervision function of Party law.
文摘Since the commence of 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee represented by General Secretary Xi Jinping, has attached unprecedented importance to anti corruption construction and has strengthened the investigation degree on the disciplinary offence behaviors of the party member the leading cadres, which kills rampant misbehaviors around the people from the source. State-owned enterprises are the pillar of the national economy, which should respond to call of the country, in a bid to strengthen the construction of honest and integrity, prevent risks, and build a perfect internal control mechanism. Focusing on the state-owned enterprise’s anti-corruption risk prevention mechanism and internal control construction, this paper conducts a research aiming at starting a discussion.
文摘Visual illustration transformation from real-world to cartoon images is one of the famous and challenging tasks in computer vision.Image-to-image translation from real-world to cartoon domains poses issues such as a lack of paired training samples,lack of good image translation,low feature extraction from the previous domain images,and lack of high-quality image translation from the traditional generator algorithms.To solve the above-mentioned issues,paired independent model,high-quality dataset,Bayesian-based feature extractor,and an improved generator must be proposed.In this study,we propose a high-quality dataset to reduce the effect of paired training samples on the model’s performance.We use a Bayesian Very Deep Convolutional Network(VGG)-based feature extractor to improve the performance of the standard feature extractor because Bayesian inference regu-larizes weights well.The generator from the Cartoon Generative Adversarial Network(GAN)is modified by introducing a depthwise convolution layer and channel attention mechanism to improve the performance of the original generator.We have used the Fréchet inception distance(FID)score and user preference score to evaluate the performance of the model.The FID scores obtained for the generated cartoon and real-world images are 107 and 76 for the TCC style,and 137 and 57 for the Hayao style,respectively.User preference score is also calculated to evaluate the quality of generated images and our proposed model acquired a high preference score compared to other models.We achieved stunning results in producing high-quality cartoon images,demonstrating the proposed model’s effectiveness in transferring style between authentic images and cartoon images.
