The Cyprus Institute

About: The Cyprus Institute is a other organization based out in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Aerosol & Environmental science. The organization has 418 authors who have published 1252 publications receiving 32586 citations.

Recognition of geometric patterns over 3D models

Abstract: This track of the SHREC 2018 originally aimed at recognizing relief patterns over a set of triangle meshes from laser scan acquisitions of archaeological fragments. This track approaches a lively and very challenging problem that remains open after the end of the track. In this report we discuss the challenges to face to successfully address geometric pattern recognition over surfaces; how the existing techniques can go further in this direction, what is currently missing and what is necessary to be further developed.

Thermal sensation and indices in the urban outdoor hot Mediterranean environment of Cyprus

Abstract: Several thermal indices have been proposed for quantification of various aspects of the thermal environment. Their applicability however is a methodological conundrum. The aim of the present study (part of the Biometeorological Aspect of Thermal environment and Health (BeAT Heat) project) was to assess the outdoor thermal environment using data on thermal sensation. In particular, the study tried to identify the thermal index that best simulates thermal sensation in the temperate and dry Mediterranean climate of Cyprus. Field surveys were conducted in summer 2019 in public urban spaces of five districts in Cyprus. These surveys involved monitoring of micrometeorological conditions and conducting questionnaire-based interviews with pedestrians in order to collect data on actual thermal sensation (ATS), demographics, and physiological and psychological variables. The study participants, using a predefined thermal sensation scale, reported their ATS. Variations of thermal sensation across the participants were studied in relation to the outdoor thermal environment and to physiological factors. ATS was compared with simulated thermal sensation (STS) produced by operationally used thermal indices under matching weather conditions, i.e., Heat Index, Humidex, and Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature. Physiologically Equivalent Temperature was additionally considered. All indices showed low predictability of ATS. The thermal index that performed best to the temperate and dry Mediterranean climate of Cyprus was the Heat Index using an assessment scale modified for the Mediterranean climate.

Periodicity in functional brain networks: Application to scalp EEG from epilepsy patients

Abstract: Seizure detection and prediction studies using scalp- or intracranial-EEG measurements often focus on short-length recordings around the occurrence of the seizure, normally ranging between several seconds and up to a few minutes before and after the event. The underlying assumption in these studies is the presence of a relatively constant EEG activity in the interictal period, that is presumably interrupted by the occurrence of a seizure, at the time the seizure starts or slightly earlier. In this study, we put this assumption under test, by examining long-duration scalp EEG recordings, ranging between 22 and 72 hours, of five patients with epilepsy. For each patient, we construct functional brain networks, by calculating correlations between the scalp electrodes, and examine how these networks vary in time. The results suggest not only that the network varies over time, but it does so in a periodic fashion, with periods ranging between 11 and 25 hours.

Editorial of Special Issue on Human Behaviour Analysis “In-the-Wild”

Abstract: The papers in this special section focus on human face and body image analysis, one of the most researched objects. One of the main reasons behind this popularity lies in the numerous applications of automatic face and body gesture analysis algorithms, that span several fields such as Human-Computer and Human-Robot Interaction (facial expression/body gesture recognition for automatic analysis of affect), medicine and healthcare (detection of emotional and cognitive disorders), as well as biometrics (face recognition, gait recognition). The papers in this section focus on recent efforts towards catalysing progress in automatic analysis of human behaviour in uncontrolled, “in-the-wild” conditions. We summarize research efforts towards the development of research methodologies, database collections and benchmarks, as well as algorithms and systems for machine analysis of human behaviour, focusing on facial expressions, body gestures, speech, as well as various other sensors. We are delighted that the special issue includes authors both from academia as well as the industry.

Odontochronologies in male and female mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) and the development of dental sexual dimorphism.

Abstract: Objectives: We examine how dental sexual dimorphism develops in mandrills, an extremely sexually dimorphic primate. We aimed to (a) establish the chronology of dental development (odontochronology) in male and female mandrills, (b) understand interindividual and intersex variation in odontochronologies, and (c) determine how dental sexual dimorphism is achieved. Materials and Methods: We prepared histological ground sections from the permanent teeth of four female and four male mandrills from the semi‐free ranging colony at the Centre International de Recherches Medicales, Franceville, Gabon. We used the microscopic growth increments in the sections to create odontochronologies. We compared ages at crown initiation, crown formation times (CFT) and crown extension rates (CER) between individuals and sexes to assess interindividual and intersex variation. Results: All mandrill teeth are sexually dimorphic in size. Dental sexual dimorphism in mandrills is achieved via sex differences in the duration of growth (bimaturism) and in growth rates. We also found interindividual and intersex variation in the ages at initiation and completion of crown formation. Discussion: Our results show that the rate of ameloblast differentiation varies between individuals and that selection for both the age at tooth initiation and CER has occurred independently in males and females to ensure that the teeth develop at appropriate times relative to the growth of the sexually dimorphic jaws. They also show that canine dimorphism is achieved through differences in both CER and CFT, unlike extant great apes or Cantius . Given at least three mechanisms for achieving canine dimorphism, we need more information to trace the evolution of this trait in primates.