Poincar\'e inequality for non euclidean metrics and transportation cost inequalities on Rd\mathbb{R}^d

In this paper, we consider Poincar\'e inequalities for non euclidean metrics on $\mathbb{R}^d$. These inequalities enable us to derive precise dimension free concentration inequalities for product measures. This technique is appropriate for a large scope of concentration rate: between exponential and gaussian and beyond. We give different equivalent functional forms of these Poincar\'e type inequalities in terms of transportation-cost inequalities and infimum convolution inequalities. Workable sufficient conditions are given and a comparison is made with generalized Beckner-Latala-Oleszkiewicz inequalities

Correspondence: When Human Understanding of Fish Invasion is Blurred

Leprieur et al.’s observation that fish invasions are blurred by human activity (Leprieur et al. 2008 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060028) correctly reflected the well established understanding that fish invasion is human mediated (1-4). However, shortcomings in Leprieur et al’s (2008) article stem from confusion between introduction and invasion, a crude analysis of human activity which has lead to a misrepresentation of introduction hotspots and lastly, a misunderstanding of ecological impacts associated with non-native fish introduction

Multiple sets exponential concentration and higher order eigenvalues

On a generic metric measured space, we introduce a notion of improved concentration of measure that takes into account the parallel enlargement of k distinct sets. We show that the k-th eigenvalues of the metric Laplacian gives exponential improved concentration with k sets. On compact Riemannian manifolds, this allows us to recover estimates on the eigenvalues of the Laplace-Beltrami operator in the spirit of an inequality of Chung, Grigory'an and Yau [11]

Current ecological understanding of fungal-like pathogens of fish: what lies beneath?

Despite increasingly sophisticated microbiological techniques, and long after the first discovery of microbes, basic knowledge is still lacking to fully appreciate the ecological importance of microbial parasites in fish. This is likely due to the nature of their habitats as many species of fish suffer from living beneath turbid water away from easy recording. However, fishes represent key ecosystem services for millions of people around the world and the absence of a functional ecological understanding of viruses, prokaryotes, and small eukaryotes in the maintenance of fish populations and of their diversity represents an inherent barrier to aquatic conservation and food security. Among recent emerging infectious diseases responsible for severe population declines in plant and animal taxa, fungal and fungal-like microbes have emerged as significant contributors. Here, we review the current knowledge gaps of fungal and fungal-like parasites and pathogens in fish and put them into an ecological perspective with direct implications for the monitoring of fungal fish pathogens in the wild, their phylogeography as well as their associated ecological impact on fish populations. With increasing fish movement around the world for farming, releases into the wild for sport fishing and human-driven habitat changes, it is expected along with improved environmental monitoring of fungal and fungal-like infections, that the full extent of the impact of these pathogens on wild fish populations will soon emerge as a major threat to freshwater biodiversity

Transport Inequalities. A Survey

This is a survey of recent developments in the area of transport inequalities. We investigate their consequences in terms of concentration and deviation inequalities and sketch their links with other functional inequalities and also large deviation theory.Comment: Proceedings of the conference Inhomogeneous Random Systems 2009; 82 pages

L’autonomie de la recherche scientifique en débats : évaluer l’'impact' social de la science

De nombreux travaux ont montré que les activités scientifiques sont, aujourd’hui plus qu’hier, sujettes à des demandes de justification de leur utilité sociale et économique. Rares sont cependant les enquêtes qui interrogent la façon dont ces injonctions à l’utilité prennent forme dans les dispositifs d’évaluation. Cet article propose d’éclairer la construction d’un critère évaluant les liens entre science et société à l’Agence d’évaluation de la recherche et de l’enseignement supérieur (AERES), en France. Initialement intitulé « impact » de la recherche, ce critère a fait l’objet de controverses entre les membres de la profession académique qui l’ont forgé. Deux facteurs se complètent pour expliquer la polarisation du débat. L’influence disciplinaire oriente la critique ou la défense de l’« impact » comme critère d’évaluation scientifique, mais les effets de position dans l’AERES sont également centraux pour comprendre comment l’évaluation d’activités à la frontière de la science a pu être inscrite comme critère légitime d’évaluation de la recherche.Much research has shown that scientific activities, more now than in the past, are under pressure to justify their social and economic utility. There have, however, been few studies that explore the form that these demands for utility take in the evaluation processes. This article seeks to cast light on the formation of a criterion used to assess the links between science and society at AERES (research and higher education evaluation agency) in France. Initially titled “impact” of research, this criterion has aroused controversy between the members of the academic profession who forged it. Two factors combine in explaining the polarisation of the debate. The influence of academic disciplines affects whether “impact” attracts criticism or support as a criterion of scientific evaluation, but position effects within AERES are also crucial in understanding how the evaluation of activities at the frontiers of science has been able to become a legitimate criterion of research evaluation

Tariff Escalation and Invasive Species Damages

We investigate the interface between trade and invasive species (IS) risk, focusing on the existing tariff escalation in agro-forestry product markets and its implication for IS risk. Tariff escalation in processed agro-forestry products exacerbates the risk of IS by biasing trade flows toward increased trade of primary commodity flows and against processed-product trade. We show that reducing tariff escalation by lowering the tariff on processed goods increases allocative efficiency and reduces the IS externality, a win-win situation. We also identify policy menus for trade reforms involving tariffs on both raw input and processed goods, leading to win-win situations.agro-forestry products; exotic pest; international trade; invasive species; tariff escalation; trade flows