A Survey of the Trends in Facial and Expression Recognition Databases and Methods

Automated facial identification and facial expression recognition have been topics of active research over the past few decades. Facial and expression recognition find applications in human-computer interfaces, subject tracking, real-time security surveillance systems and social networking. Several holistic and geometric methods have been developed to identify faces and expressions using public and local facial image databases. In this work we present the evolution in facial image data sets and the methodologies for facial identification and recognition of expressions such as anger, sadness, happiness, disgust, fear and surprise. We observe that most of the earlier methods for facial and expression recognition aimed at improving the recognition rates for facial feature-based methods using static images. However, the recent methodologies have shifted focus towards robust implementation of facial/expression recognition from large image databases that vary with space (gathered from the internet) and time (video recordings). The evolution trends in databases and methodologies for facial and expression recognition can be useful for assessing the next-generation topics that may have applications in security systems or personal identification systems that involve "Quantitative face" assessments.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, International Journal of Computer Science and Engineering Survey, October, 201

Recent developments in wholesale payments systems

Wholesale payments and settlement systems in G-10 countries have undergone significant change in recent years. Notably, central banks have sought to increase the safety and reliability of these systems. In this article, William R. Emmons describes two approaches that have been pursued. Significant progress has been achieved in strengthening (or "securing") many existing payments system arrangements based on net settlement. In addition, many new gross settlement systems have been created, and existing ones have been improved. The article also explores why private-sector financial institutions often prefer to upgrade and secure existing net settlement systems, despite central bank preferences for the latter.Payment systems ; Electronic funds transfers ; Fedwire ; Risk

Mary\u27s Lamb

A poem

An indicated specular degradation rate for aluminized Mylar surfaces in near-earth orbit from recent photometric observations of the Echo I satellite

Photometric measurements of Echo I satellite on specular degradation of aluminized Mylar surface during orbi

CBO’s growth outlook

Economic forecasting

What’s behind the falling U.S. private savings rate?

Saving and investment

I\u27m (Alas!) A Salami

Many additional palindromes can be found on my website http://www.palindromania.com

Consumer-finance myths and other obstacles to financial literacy

The consumer-finance market for middle and upper-income households in the United States is characterized by a wide range of choices, both in terms of financial-services providers and the specific products and services available.1 Prices generally are determined in competitive markets. Consumer-protection regulation is extensive. Why then is there so much dissatisfaction with the U.S. consumer-finance market, even for prime-quality customers? ; This paper focuses not on inadequate choices, inadequate competition or regulation, but on the difficulty many middle and upper-income households encounter in making good financial decisions—that is, a low average level of financial literacy. Millions of households are unable to make wise financial decisions even when adequate information is available. Low levels of financial skills provide a fertile environment for consumer-finance myths to arise and gain widespread acceptance.Consumer protection ; Education - Economic aspects