1942508
Interactive video cutout
We present an interactive system for efficiently extracting foreground objects from a video. We extend previous min-cut based image segmentation techniques to the domain of video with four new contributions. We provide a novel painting-based user interface that allows users to easily indicate the foreground object across space and time. We introduce a hierarchical mean-shift preprocess in order to minimize the number of nodes that min-cut must operate on. Within the min-cut we also define new local cost functions to augment the global costs defined in earlier work. Finally, we extend 2D alpha matting methods designed for images to work with 3D video volumes. We demonstrate that our matting approach preserves smoothness across both space and time. Our interactive video cutout system allows users to quickly extract foreground objects from video sequences for use in a variety of applications including compositing onto new backgrounds and NPR cartoon style rendering.
8673951
An iterative optimization approach for unified image segmentation and matting
Separating a foreground object from the background in a static image involves determining both full and partial pixel coverages, also known as extracting a matte. Previous approaches require the input image to be presegmented into three regions: foreground, background and unknown, which are called a trimap. Partial opacity values are then computed only for pixels inside the unknown region. This presegmentation based approach fails for images with large portions of semitransparent foreground where the trimap is difficult to create even manually. In this paper, we combine the segmentation and matting problem together and propose a unified optimization approach based on belief propagation. We iteratively estimate the opacity value for every pixel in the image, based on a small sample of foreground and background pixels marked by the user. Experimental results show that compared with previous approaches, our method is more efficient to extract high quality mattes for foregrounds with significant semitransparent regions
2749844
Image and Video Segmentation by Anisotropic Kernel Mean Shift
Mean shift is a nonparametric estimator of density which has been applied to image and video segmentation. Traditional mean shift based segmentation uses a radially symmetric kernel to estimate local density, which is not optimal in view of the often structured nature of image and more particularly video data. In this paper we present an anisotropic kernel mean shift in which the shape, scale, and orientation of the kernels adapt to the local structure of the image or video. We decompose the anisotropic kernel to provide handles for modifying the segmentation based on simple heuristics. Experimental results show that the anisotropic kernel mean shift outperforms the original mean shift on image and video segmentation in the following aspects: 1) it gets better results on general images and video in a smoothness sense; 2) the segmented results are more consistent with human visual saliency; 3) the algorithm is robust to initial parameters.
33293924
Intelligent Object Extraction Algorithm Based on Foreground/Background Classification
In this paper, we propose an intelligent object extraction algorithm based on foreground/background classification. The proposed algorithm can offer the users more friendly interface for object extraction from image without unnecessary steps. After the interactive steps from user (marking the foreground and background parts), the wanted object is extracted from the background automatically. The proposed algorithm processes the input image by watershed to produce the regions. Then, the regions are labeled after marking parts of regions. We also introduce an implementation of hierarchical queues to store the unlabeled regions. The classification of foreground and background will generate the final image with selected object. In our experimental results, the proposed algorithm provides the output image with high efficiency. The wanted object is generated after user marking the foreground and background parts less than one second. In addition, the application of this work also can be used in image synthesis or object removal in other fields of image processing.
38925274
Dynamic Workflow Modeling and Verification
The dynamic nature of incident command systems and their requirement for high flexibility raise a challenge to the research and implementation of workflows. The significance of applying formal approaches to the modeling and analysis of workflows has been well recognized and several such approaches have been proposed. However, these approaches require users to master considerable knowledge of the particular formalisms, which impacts their application on a larger scale. To address these challenges, we developed an intuitive, yet formal approach to workflow modeling, enactment and validation. In this paper, we further develop a set of theorems to support dynamic modeling, modification and on-the-fly verification of the workflows. A prototype has been implemented to demonstrate the feasibility of the theoretical approach.
31774377
Factors in graphs with odd-cycle property
Abstract We present some conditions for the existence of a ( g , f )-factor or a ( g , f )-parity factor in a graph G with the odd-cycle property that any two odd cycles of G either have a vertex in common or are joined by an edge.
14306866
Differences in gene expression between B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and normal B cells: a meta-analysis of three microarray studies
MOTIVATION
A major focus of current cancer research is to identify genes that can be used as markers for prognosis and diagnosis, and as targets for therapy. Microarray technology has been applied extensively for this purpose, even though it has been reported that the agreement between microarray platforms is poor. A critical question is: how can we best combine the measurements of matched genes across microarray platforms to develop diagnostic and prognostic tools related to the underlying biology?


RESULTS
We introduce a statistical approach within a Bayesian framework to combine the microarray data on matched genes from three investigations of gene expression profiling of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and normal B cells (NBC) using three different microarray platforms, oligonucleotide arrays, cDNA arrays printed on glass slides and cDNA arrays printed on nylon membranes. Using this approach, we identified a number of genes that were consistently differentially expressed between CLL and NBC samples.
14997765
2PSM: an efficient framework for searching video information in a limited-bandwidth environment
Abstract. We present a novel technique, called 2-Phase Service Model, for streaming videos to home users in a limited-bandwidth environment. This scheme first delivers some number of non-adjacent data fragments to the client in Phase 1. The missing fragments are then transmitted in Phase 2 as the client is playing back the video. This approach offers many benefits. The isochronous bandwidth required for Phase 2 can be controlled within the capability of the transport medium. The data fragments received during Phase 1 can be used to provide an excellent preview of the video. They can also be used to facilitate VCR-style operations such as fast-forward and fast-reverse. Systems designed based on this method are less expensive because the fast-forward and fast-reverse versions of the video files are no longer needed. Eliminating these files also improves system performance because mapping between the regular files and their fast-forward and fast-reverse versions is no longer part of the VCR operations. Furthermore, since each client machine handles its own VCR-style interaction, this technique is very scalable. We provide simulation results to show that 2-Phase Service Model is able to handle VCR functions efficiently. We also implement a video player called {\em FRVplayer}. With this prototype, we are able to judge that the visual quality of the previews and VCR-style operations is excellent. These features are essential to many important applications. We discuss the application of FRVplayer in the design of a video management system, called VideoCenter. This system is intended for Internet applications such as digital video libraries.