Photo Sequences of Varying Emotion: Optimization with a Valence-Arousal Annotated Dataset

Synthesizing photo products such as photo strips and slideshows using a database of images is a time-consuming and tedious process that requires significant manual work. To overcome this limitation, we developed a method that automatically synthesizes photo sequences based on several design parameters. Our method considers the valence and arousal ratings of images in conjunction with parameters related to both the visual consistency of the synthesized photo sequence and the progression of valence and arousal throughout the photo sequence. Our method encodes valence, arousal, and visual consistency parameters as cost terms into a total cost function while applying a Markov chain Monte Carlo optimization techniques called simulated annealing to synthesize the photo sequence based on user-defined target objectives in a few seconds. As our method was developed for the synthesis of photo sequences using the valence-arousal emotional model, a user study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the synthesized photo sequences in triggering valence-arousal ratings as expected. Our results indicate that the proposed method synthesizes photo sequences in which valence and arousal dimensions are perceived as expected by participants; however, valence may be more appropriately perceived than arousal.

Monte Carlo Optimization of a Combined Image Quality Assessment for Compressed Images Evaluation

In image processing, using compression is very important in various applications, especially those using data quantities in transmission and storing. This importance becomes most required with the evolution of image quantities and the big data systems explosion. The image compression allows reducing the required binary volume of image data by encoding the image for transmission goal or database saving. The principal problem with image compression when reducing its size is the degradation that enters the image. This degradation can affect the quality of use of the compressed image. To evaluate and qualify this quality, we investigate the use of textural combined image quality metrics (TCQ) based on the fusion of full reference structural, textural, and edge evaluation metrics. To optimize this metric, we use the Monte Carlo optimization method. This approach allows us to qualify our compressed images and propose the best metric that evaluates compressed images according to several textural quality aspects.

Monte Carlo Optimization-Based QSAR Study of Some Indole-Based Mcl-1 Inhibitors

Myeloid cell leukemia (Mcl-1) protein, belonging to a large BCL2 family of proteins, is a significant target towards cancer chemotherapy. The over-expression of this protein is also responsible for the development and progression of severe multi-drug resistance in cancer patients. This present study has focused the attention towards unmasking of important structural fingerprints for promoting or hindering Mcl-1 inhibitory activity of some indole-based derivatives by using Monte Carlo optimization-based QSAR approach. Twenty-one robust classification models were generated. The best model (by using SMILES and HSG-based descriptors) was selected, and several important good and bad structural fingerprints for Mcl-1 inhibition were identified. Some of the fingerprints were matching with the earlier study (New J. Chem., 2020, 44, 17494-17506) and some new fingerprints were also generated. The modelling study will help the researchers in the lead optimization of some indole-based Mcl-1 inhibitors in the future.

Analysis of the real number of infected people by COVID-19: A system dynamics approach

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was able to spread quickly in Wuhan and in the province of Hubei due to a lack of experience with this novel virus. Additionally, authories had no proven experience with applying insufficient medical, communication and crisis management tools. For a considerable period of time, the actual number of people infected was unknown. There were great uncertainties regarding the dynamics and spread of the Covid-19 virus infection. In this paper, we develop a system dynamics model for the three connected regions (Wuhan, Hubei excl. Wuhan, China excl. Hubei) to understand the infection and spread dynamics of the virus and provide a more accurate estimate of the number of infected people in Wuhan and discuss the necessity and effectivity of protective measures against this epidemic, such as the quarantines imposed throughout China. We use the statistics of confirmed cases of China excl. Hubei. Also the daily data on travel activity within China was utilized, in order to determine the actual numerical development of the infected people in Wuhan City and Hubei Province. We used a multivariate Monte Carlo optimization to parameterize the model to match the official statistics. In particular, we used the model to calculate the infections, which had already broken out, but were not diagnosed for various reasons.

Modeling the potential impact of indirect transmission on COVID-19 epidemic

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 through direct transmission (person-to-person) has been the focus of most studies on the dynamics of COVID-19. The efficacy of social distancing and mask usage at reducing the risk of direct transmission of COVID-19 has been studied by many researchers. Little or no attention is given to indirect transmission of the virus through shared items, commonly touch surfaces and door handles. The impact of the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on hard surfaces and in the environment, on the dynamics of COVID-19 remain largely unknown. Also, the current increase in the number of cases despite the strict non-pharmaceutical interventions suggests a need to study the indirect transmission of COVID-19 while incorporating testing of infected individuals as a preventive measure. Assessing the impact of indirect transmission of the virus may improve our understanding of the overall dynamics of COVID-19. We developed a novel deterministic susceptible-exposed-infected-removed-virus-death compartmental model to study the impact of indirect transmission pathway on the spread of COVID-19, the sources of infection, and prevention/control. We fitted the model to the cumulative number of confirmed cases at episode date in Toronto, Canada using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo optimization algorithm. We studied the effect of indirect transmission on the epidemic peak, peak time, epidemic final size and the effective reproduction number, based on different initial conditions and at different stages. Our findings revealed an increase in cases with indirect transmission. Our work highlights the importance of implementing additional preventive and control measures involving cleaning of surfaces, fumigation, and disinfection to lower the spread of COVID-19, especially in public areas like the grocery stores, malls and so on. We conclude that indirect transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has a significant effect on the dynamics of COVID-19, and there is need to consider this transmission route for effective mitigation, prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic.