Adaptive Density Estimation on the Circle by Nearly-Tight Frames

This work is concerned with the study of asymptotic properties of nonparametric density estimates in the framework of circular data. The estimation procedure here applied is based on wavelet thresholding methods: the wavelets used are the so-called Mexican needlets, which describe a nearly-tight frame on the circle. We study the asymptotic behaviour of the $L^{2}$-risk function for these estimates, in particular its adaptivity, proving that its rate of convergence is nearly optimal.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figure

Accessible opera : overcoming linguistic and sensorial barriers

The desire to make media available for all has been rapidly accepted and implemented by most European countries. Opera, as one of the many audiovisual representations, also falls under the category of production which needs to be made accessible and this article aims to analyse how opera has gone through a complete transformation to become a cultural event for all, overcoming not only linguistic but also sensorial barriers. The first part of the article analyses the various forms of translation associated with opera and the main challenges they entail. The second presents different systems used to make opera accessible to the sensorially challenged, highlighting their main difficulties. Examples from research carried out at the Barcelona's Liceu opera house are presented to illustrate various modalities, especially audio description. All in all, it is our aim to show how translated-related processes have made it possible to open opera to a wider audience despite some initial reluctance

An exploratory study on interferon beta dose effect in reducing size of enhancing lesions in multiple sclerosis

Sixty-two patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were imaged monthly over a six-month (ie, seven monthly magnetic resonance images [MRI]) natural history period (NHP). Thereafter, patients were randomized to receive 11 or 33 mu g of subcutaneously injected interferon beta 1a (IFN beta-1a) with imaging monthly for nine months and at months 12, 18 and 24 of therapy phase (TP). In the present exploratory post hoc analysis, the authors evaluated IFN beta-1 a dose effect on reducing the size of contrast-enhancing lesions (CELs). MRIs performed at months 0, 3 and 6 of NHP and at months 3, 6, 9, 18 and 24 of TP were analysed. While a significant reduction in mean number of CELs was observed in both treatment groups of patients, the mean total volume and size of CELs was reduced only in patients undergoing therapy with 33 mu g of IFN beta-1a. The latter suggests a significant dose effect exerted by IFN beta-1 a in the evolution of CELs' dimensions during therapy