Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a region of interest on a digital image of a sidewall of a tyre, the sidewall having one or more embossed and/or engraved markings, is provided. The method comprises generating a histogram of oriented gradients feature map of the digital image, inputting the histogram of oriented gradients feature map into a trained convolutional neural network, wherein said trained convolutional neural network is configured to output a first probability based on the input histogram of oriented gradients feature map that a region of pixels of the digital image contains the embossed and/or engraved markings, and if the first probability is at or above a first predetermined threshold, accepting said region of pixels as said region of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination comprising (a) a sulfonylurea; and (b) at least one of the following components: (i) an insulin modulator, and (ii) an aldosterone antagonist, for instance a combination comprising (a) glibenclamide, or a structural or functional analogue thereof; and (b) at least one of the following components: (i) exenatide, or a structural or functional analogue thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (ii) potassium canrenoate, or a structural or functional analogue thereof. Said combinations are suitable for the treatment of stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders and for treating and/or preventing ischemia and/or reperfusion injury in various vital organs, including the brain and the heart. Further aspects of the invention relate to pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said combinations according to the invention, and methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a region of interest on a digital image of a sidewall of a tyre, the sidewall having one or more embossed and/or engraved markings, is provided. The method comprises generating a histogram of oriented gradients feature map of the digital image, inputting the histogram of oriented gradients feature map into a trained convolutional neural network, wherein said trained convolutional neural network is configured to output a first probability based on the input histogram of oriented gradients feature map that a region of pixels of the digital image contains the embossed and/or engraved markings, and if the first probability is at or above a first predetermined threshold, accepting said region of pixels as said region of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination comprising at least two of the following: (i) an insulin modulator, (ii) an immunosuppressive agent and (iii) an aldosterone antagonist, for instance a combination comprising at least two of (i) exenatide, or a functional derivative or analogue thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (ii) cyclosporine, or a functional derivative or analogue thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (iii) potassium canrenoate, or a functional derivative or analogue thereof. Said combinations are suitable for cardioprotection and for treating and/or preventing ischemia and/or reperfusion injury. Further aspects of the invention relate to pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said combinations according to the invention, and methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination comprising at least two of the following: (i) an insulin modulator, (ii) an immunosuppressive agent and (iii) an aldosterone antagonist, for instance a combination comprising at least two of (i) exenatide, or a functional derivative or analog thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (ii) cyclosporine, or a functional derivative or analog thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (iii) potassium canrenoate, or a functional derivative or analog thereof. Said combinations are suitable for cardioprotection and for treating and/or preventing ischemia and/or reperfusion injury. Further aspects of the invention relate to pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said combinations according to the invention, and methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination comprising at least two of the following: (i) an insulin modulator, (ii) an immunosuppressive agent and (iii) an aldosterone antagonist, for instance a combination comprising at least two of (i) exenatide, or a functional derivative or analogue thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (ii) cyclosporine, or a functional derivative or analogue thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (iii) potassium canrenoate, or a functional derivative or analogue thereof. Said combinations are suitable for cardioprotection and for treating and/or preventing ischemia and/or reperfusion injury. Further aspects of the invention relate to pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said combinations according to the invention, and methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: A smart phone (101) captures an image (113) of a video frame of a movie and sends it to a server (107) for comparison with data stored in a database (112) for determining the title of the movie and identifying the particular video frame in the movie. Another database (110) is interrogated whereby items of merchandise contained in the image of the identified video frame are extracted and displayed on the smartphone along with brand names and a retailer's details. To reduce processing time and the amount of data stored, data relating to only a subset of the total video frames comprising a movie are stored in the database (112). The user may also request to have displayed on the smartphone's screen (102), one of several frames preceding or following the captured frame and request information on items of merchandise displayed in such frames.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for determining the gradients of the surface normals of an object includes a receiving unit, establishing unit, determining unit, and selecting unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive data of three 2D images of the object, wherein each image is taken under illumination from a different direction. The establishing unit is configured to establish which pixels of the image are in shadow such that there is only data available from two images from these pixels. The determining unit is configured to determine a range of possible solutions for the gradient of the surface normal of a shadowed pixel using the data available for the two images. The selecting unit is configured to select a solution for the gradient using the integrability of the gradient field over an area of the object as a constraint and minimizing a cost function.

Abstract: We describe methods of characterizing a set of images to determine their respective illumination, for example for recovering the 3D shape of an illuminated object. The method comprises: inputting a first set of images of the object captured from different positions; determining frontier point data from the images, this defining a plurality of frontier points on the object and for each said frontier point a direction of a normal to the surface of the object at the frontier point, and determining data defining the image capture positions; inputting a second set of images of said object, having substantially the same viewpoint and different illumination conditions; and characterizing the second set of images said frontier point data to determine data comprising object reflectance parameter data (?) and, for each image of said second set, illumination data (L) comprising data defining an illumination direction and illumination intensity for the image.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for determining the gradients of the surface normals of an object includes a receiving unit, establishing unit, determining unit, and selecting unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive data of three 2D images of the object, wherein each image is taken under illumination from a different direction. The establishing unit is configured to establish which pixels of the image are in shadow such that there is only data available from two images from these pixels. The determining unit is configured to determine a range of possible solutions for the gradient of the surface normal of a shadowed pixel using the data available for the two images. The selecting unit is configured to select a solution for the gradient using the integrability of the gradient field over an area of the object as a constraint and minimising a cost function.

Abstract: We describe methods of characterising a set of images to determine their respective illumination, for example for recovering the 3D shape of an illuminated object. The method comprises: inputting a first set of images of the object captured from different positions; determining frontier point data from the images, this defining a plurality of frontier points on the object and for each said frontier point a direction of a normal to the surface of the object at the frontier point, and determining data defining the image capture positions; inputting a second set of images of said object, having substantially the same viewpoint and different illumination conditions; and characterising the second set of images said frontier point data to determine data comprising object reflectance parameter data (?) and, for each image of said second set, illumination data (L) comprising data defining an illumination direction and illumination intensity for the image.