On the existence threshold for positive solutions of p-laplacian equations with a concave-convex nonlinearity

We study the following boundary value problem with a concave-convex nonlinearity: \begin{equation*} \left\{ \begin{array}{r c l l} -\Delta_p u & = & \Lambda\,u^{q-1}+ u^{r-1} & \textrm{in }\Omega, \\ u & = & 0 & \textrm{on }\partial\Omega. \end{array}\right. \end{equation*} Here $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ is a bounded domain and $1<q<p<r<p^*$. It is well known that there exists a number $\Lambda_{q,r}>0$ such that the problem admits at least two positive solutions for $0<\Lambda<\Lambda_{q,r}$, at least one positive solution for $\Lambda=\Lambda_{q,r}$, and no positive solution for $\Lambda > \Lambda_{q,r}$. We show that $$\lim_{q \to p} \Lambda_{q,r} = \lambda_1(p),$$ where $\lambda_1(p)$ is the first eigenvalue of the p-laplacian. It is worth noticing that $\lambda_1(p)$ is the threshold for existence/nonexistence of positive solutions to the above problem in the limit case $q=p$

A Speech Recognizer based on Multiclass SVMs with HMM-Guided Segmentation

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is essentially a problem of pattern classification, however, the time dimension of the speech signal has prevented to pose ASR as a simple static classification problem. Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers could provide an appropriate solution, since they are very well adapted to high-dimensional classification problems. Nevertheless, the use of SVMs for ASR is by no means straightforward, mainly because SVM classifiers require an input of fixed-dimension. In this paper we study the use of a HMM-based segmentation as a mean to get the fixed-dimension input vectors required by SVMs, in a problem of isolated-digit recognition. Different configurations for all the parameters involved have been tested. Also, we deal with the problem of multi-class classification (as SVMs are initially binary classifers), studying two of the most popular approaches: 1-vs-all and 1-vs-1

ASPHALT PAVEMENT DESIGN ALTERNATIVES FOR ROADS WITH LOW AND MEDIUM TRAFFIC VOLUMES IN CLAYEY SOILS IN THE CITY OF SINCELEJO

The design of pavements is a work of civil engineers, who seeks provide structures that are resistant to traffic loads and the effects adverse effects of the environment, so that they can be built properly and manage to provide their users with a comfortable and safe experience, at the least possible cost. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to choose a design methodology according to the characteristics of the project and determine as precisely as possible, each of the variables involved in the design, taking into consideration that many of the design methodologies are empirical in nature, which in some way puts try the designer experience. It is for this reason that designs require multiple studies, which are usually costly in financial resources and time. All of the above, many institutions have taken on the task of developing design primers that allow obtain pavement structures based on the input of few parameters and obtain applicable solutions for most projects; however, they must be taken into account the limitations of these primers and their application environment, given the case, that many of them must be calibrated, to certain particular conditions of the project area, with the aim of objective of optimizing resources and guaranteeing lasting works. The objective of this work is to make an asphalt pavement design primer based on the methodology of AASTHO 1993 design, which allows finding a suitable design alternative for projects located in the city of Sincelejo, north of Colombia. For this purpose, it carried out studies of soils in clayey subgrades, which predominate in the town of study and that they classify as CL to obtain their bearing capacity values (CBR). Additionally, various levels of traffic were selected, which can occur and are defined the typical pavement structures. For method design parameters, the typical values expected in the study area were used, which resulted in, a design primer that is made up of twenty transit levels and four pavement structure alternatives, for each case, that satisfy these requests

SVMs for Automatic Speech Recognition: a Survey

Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are, undoubtedly, the most employed core technique for Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR). Nevertheless, we are still far from achieving high-performance ASR systems. Some alternative approaches, most of them based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), were proposed during the late eighties and early nineties. Some of them tackled the ASR problem using predictive ANNs, while others proposed hybrid HMM/ANN systems. However, despite some achievements, nowadays, the preponderance of Markov Models is a fact. During the last decade, however, a new tool appeared in the field of machine learning that has proved to be able to cope with hard classification problems in several fields of application: the Support Vector Machines (SVMs). The SVMs are effective discriminative classifiers with several outstanding characteristics, namely: their solution is that with maximum margin; they are capable to deal with samples of a very higher dimensionality; and their convergence to the minimum of the associated cost function is guaranteed. These characteristics have made SVMs very popular and successful. In this chapter we discuss their strengths and weakness in the ASR context and make a review of the current state-of-the-art techniques. We organize the contributions in two parts: isolated-word recognition and continuous speech recognition. Within the first part we review several techniques to produce the fixed-dimension vectors needed for original SVMs. Afterwards we explore more sophisticated techniques based on the use of kernels capable to deal with sequences of different length. Among them is the DTAK kernel, simple and effective, which rescues an old technique of speech recognition: Dynamic Time Warping (DTW). Within the second part, we describe some recent approaches to tackle more complex tasks like connected digit recognition or continuous speech recognition using SVMs. Finally we draw some conclusions and outline several ongoing lines of research

Effect of RecA inactivation and detoxification systems on the evolution of ciprofloxacin resistance in Escherichia coli

Background Suppression of SOS response and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through detoxification system suppression enhance the activity of fluoroquinolones. Objectives To evaluate the role of both systems in the evolution of resistance to ciprofloxacin in an isogenic model of Escherichia coli. Methods Single-gene deletion mutants of E. coli BW25113 (wild-type) (ΔrecA, ΔkatG, ΔkatE, ΔsodA, ΔsodB), double-gene (ΔrecA-ΔkatG, ΔrecA-ΔkatE, ΔrecA-ΔsodA, ΔrecA-ΔsodB, ΔkatG-ΔkatE, ΔsodB-ΔsodA) and triple-gene (ΔrecA-ΔkatG-ΔkatE) mutants were included. The response to sudden high ciprofloxacin pressure was evaluated by mutant prevention concentration (MPC). The gradual antimicrobial pressure response was evaluated through experimental evolution and antibiotic resistance assays. Results For E. coli BW25113 strain, ΔkatE, ΔsodB and ΔsodB/ΔsodA mutants, MPC values were 0.25 mg/L. The ΔkatG, ΔsodA, ΔkatG/katE and ΔrecA mutants showed 2-fold reductions (0.125 mg/L). The ΔkatG/ΔrecA, ΔkatE/ΔrecA, ΔsodA/ΔrecA, ΔsodB/ΔrecA and ΔkatG/ΔkatE/ΔrecA strains showed 4–8-fold reductions (0.03–0.06 mg/L) relative to the wild-type. Gradual antimicrobial pressure increased growth capacity for ΔsodA and ΔsodB and ΔsodB/ΔsodA mutants (no growth in 4 mg/L) compared with the wild-type (no growth in the range of 0.5–2 mg/L). Accordingly, increased growth was observed with the mutants ΔrecA/ΔkatG (no growth in 2 mg/L), ΔrecA/ΔkatE (no growth in 2 mg/L), ΔrecA/ΔsodA (no growth in 0.06 mg/L), ΔrecA/ΔsodB (no growth in 0.25 mg/L) and ΔrecA/ΔkatG/ΔkatE (no growth in 0.5 mg/L) compared with ΔrecA (no growth in the range of 0.002–0.015 mg/L). Conclusions After RecA inactivation, gradual exposure to ciprofloxacin reduces the evolution of resistance. After suppression of RecA and detoxification systems, sudden high exposure to ciprofloxacin reduces the evolution of resistance in E. coli.Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013-2016 and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (projects and PI17/01501 and PI20-00239)Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI; RD16/0016/0001 and REIPI RD16/ 0016/0009

Very high-energy γ-ray observations of the Crab nebula and other potential sources with the GRAAL experiment

The “γ-ray astronomy at Almeria” (GRAAL) experiment uses 63 heliostat-mirrors with a total mirror area of ≈2500 m2 from the CESA-1 field at the “Plataforma Solar de Almeria” to collect Cherenkov light from air showers. The detector is located in a central solar tower and detects photon-induced showers with an energy threshold of 250±110 GeV and an asymptotic effective detection area of about 15 000 m2. A comparison between the results of detailed Monte-Carlo simulations and data is presented. Data sets taken in the period September 1999–September 2000 in the direction of the Crab pulsar, the active galaxy 3C 454.3, the unidentified γ-ray source 3EG J1835+59 and a “pseudosource” were analyzed for high energy γ-ray emission. Evidence for a γ-ray flux from the Crab pulsar with an integral flux of 2.2±0.4 above threshold and a significance of 4.5σ in a total measuring time of 7 h and 10 min on source was found. No evidence for emission from the other sources was found. Some difficulties with the use of heliostat fields for γ-ray astronomy are pointed out. In particular the effect of field-of-view restricted to the central part of a detected air shower on the lateral distribution and timing properties of Cherenkov light are discussed. Upon restriction the spread of the timing front of proton-induced showers sharply decreases and the reconstructed direction becomes biased towards the pointing direction. This is shown to make efficient γ-hadron separation difficult

The GRAAL Project

26th International Cosmic Ray Conference Salt Lake City, Utah August 17-25,1999The GRAAL Project (Gamma Ray Astronomy at ALmeria) makes use of the CESA-1 heliostat field at the “Plataforma Solar de Almeria” (Spain) as a gamma-ray telescope with an energy threshold of about 100 GeV. Cherenkov light generated by EAS is reflected by the heliostats and collected into photomultipliers (PMTs) with nonimaging secondary optics. Each PMT collects the light reflected by 13 - 18 heliostats of 40 m2 using a Winston cone. After successful tests with two collecting cones, a more advanced setup on a dedicated platform, using four collectors and 63 heliostats (total reflecting area of about 2500 m2 ) is being installed. A description of this setup together with Monte Carlo results about its excellent capabilities in the precise determination of pulse arrival times are presented