Figure-Ground Discrimination: a Combinatorial Optimization Approach

International audienceIn this paper we attack the figure-ground discrimination problem from a combinatorial optimization perspective. In general the solutions proposed in the past solved this problem only partially: either the mathematical model encoding the figure-ground problem was too simple or the optimization methods that were used were not efficient enough or they could not guarantee to find the global minimum of the cost function describing the figure-ground model. The method that we devised and which is described in this paper is tailored around three main contributions. First, we suggest a mathematical model encoding the figure-ground discrimination problem that makes explicit a definition of shape (or figure) based on cocircularity, smoothness, proximity, and contrast. This model consists of building a cost function on the basis of image element interactions. Moreover, this cost function fits the constraints of a interacting spin system which in turn is a well suited physical model to solve hard combinatorial optimization problems. Second, we suggest two combinatorial optimization methods for solving the figure-ground problem, namely (i) mean field annealing which combines mean field approximation theory and annealing and (ii) microcanonical annnealing. Mean field annealing may well be viewed as a deterministic approximation of stochastic methods such as simulated annealing. We describe in detail the theoretical bases of these methods, derive computational models, and provide practical algorithms. Third, we provide a comparison of the efficiency of mean field annealing, simulated annealing, and microcanonical annealing algorithms. Within the framework of such a comparison, the figure-ground problem may well be viewed as a benchmark

Probabilistic Model Checking of the CSMA/CD Protocol Using PRISM and APMC

AbstractCarrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) is the protocol for carrier transmission access in Ethernet networks (international standard IEEE 802.3). On Ethernet, any Network Interface Card (NIC) can try to send a packet in a channel at any time. If another NIC tries to send a packet at the same time, a collision is said to occur and the packets are discarded. The CSMA/CD protocol was designed to avoid this problem, more precisely to allow a NIC to send its packet without collision. This is done by way of a randomized exponential backoff process. In this paper, we analyse the correctness of the CSMA/CD protocol, using techniques from probabilistic model checking and approximate probabilistic model checking. The tools that we use are PRISM and APMC. Moreover, we provide a quantitative analysis of some CSMA/CD properties

DSL-Lab: a Platform to Experiment on Domestic Broadband Internet

This report presents the design and building of DSL-Lab, a platform for distributed computing and peer-to-peer experiments over the domestic broadband Internet. Experimental platforms such as PlanetLab and Grid'5000 are promising methodological approaches for studying distributed systems. However, both platforms focus on high-end services and network deployments on only a restricted part of the Internet, and as such, they do not provide experimental conditions of residential broadband networks. DSL-Lab is composed of 40 low-power and noiseless nodes, which are hosted by participants, using users' xDSL or cable access to the Internet. The objective is twofold: 1) to provide accurate and customized measures of availability, activity and performance in order to characterize and tune the models of such resources~; 2) to provide an experimental platform for new protocols, services and applications, as well as a validation tool for simulators and emulators targeting these systems. In this article, we report on the software infrastructure (security, resources allocation, power management) as well as on the first results and experiments achieved

DSL-Lab: a Low-power Lightweight Platform to Experiment on Domestic Broadband Internet

International audienceThis article presents the design and building of DSL-Lab, a platform to experiment on distributed computing over broadband domestic Internet. Experimental platforms such as PlanetLab and Grid'5000 are promising methodological approaches to study distributed systems. However, both platforms focus on high-end service and network deployments only available on a restricted part of the Internet, leaving aside the possibility for researchers to experiment in conditions close to what is usually available with domestic connection to the Internet. DSL-Lab is a complementary approach to PlanetLab and Grid'5000 to experiment with distributed computing in an environment closer to how Internet appears, when applications are run on end-user PCs. DSL-Lab is a set of 40 low-power and low-noise nodes, which are hosted by participants, using the participants' xDSL or cable access to the Internet. The objective is to provide a validation and experimentation platform for new protocols, services, simulators and emulators for these systems. In this paper, we report on the software design (security, resources allocation, power management) as well as on the first experiments achieved

The IST project MATRICE on MC-CDMA transmission techniques for future Cellular Systems

This paper presents an overview of the European IST project MATRICE (MC-CDMA Transmission Techniques for Integrated Broadband Cellular Systems, IST-2001-3220), describing its tasks, goals and preliminary achievements. The main focus of the MATRICE project is the definition of a new air-interface for future cellular mobile radio systems based on Multicarrier-CDMA modulation techniques and the study of its key building blocks like receiver algorithms and flexible TX components. The nine European partners participating in this project are CEA-LETI (F), France Telecom (F), Instituto de Telecommonicaçõ (P), Mitsubishi Electric ITE-TCL (F), University of Madrid (E), University of Surrey (UK), STMicroelectronics (CH), INSA-IETR (F) and Nokia (D)

Can timber provision from Amazonian production forests be sustainable?

Around 30 Mm3 of sawlogs are extracted annually by selective logging of natural production forests in Amazonia, Earth's most extensive tropical forest. Decisions concerning the management of these production forests will be of major importance for Amazonian forests' fate. To date, no regional assessment of selective logging sustainability supports decision-making. Based on data from 3500 ha of forest inventory plots, our modelling results show that the average periodic harvests of 20 m3 ha−1 will not recover by the end of a standard 30 year cutting cycle. Timber recovery within a cutting cycle is enhanced by commercial acceptance of more species and with the adoption of longer cutting cycles and lower logging intensities. Recovery rates are faster in Western Amazonia than on the Guiana Shield. Our simulations suggest that regardless of cutting cycle duration and logging intensities, selectively logged forests are unlikely to meet timber demands over the long term as timber stocks are predicted to steadily decline. There is thus an urgent need to develop an integrated forest resource management policy that combines active management of production forests with the restoration of degraded and secondary forests for timber production. Without better management, reduced timber harvests and continued timber production declines are unavoidable

E4F1-mediated control of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity is essential for skin homeostasis.

The multifunctional protein E4 transcription factor 1 (E4F1) is an essential regulator of epidermal stem cell (ESC) maintenance. Here, we found that E4F1 transcriptionally regulates a metabolic program involved in pyruvate metabolism that is required to maintain skin homeostasis. E4F1 deficiency in basal keratinocytes resulted in deregulated expression of dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (Dlat), a gene encoding the E2 subunit of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex. Accordingly, E4f1 knock-out (KO) keratinocytes exhibited impaired PDH activity and a redirection of the glycolytic flux toward lactate production. The metabolic reprogramming of E4f1 KO keratinocytes associated with remodeling of their microenvironment and alterations of the basement membrane, led to ESC mislocalization and exhaustion of the ESC pool. ShRNA-mediated depletion of Dlat in primary keratinocytes recapitulated defects observed upon E4f1 inactivation, including increased lactate secretion, enhanced activity of extracellular matrix remodeling enzymes, and impaired clonogenic potential. Altogether, our data reveal a central role for Dlat in the metabolic program regulated by E4F1 in basal keratinocytes and illustrate the importance of PDH activity in skin homeostasis

How Does Circadian Rhythm Impact Salt Sensitivity of Blood Pressure in Mice? A Study in Two Close C57Bl/6 Substrains

Background Mouse transgenesis has provided the unique opportunity to investigate mechanisms underlying sodium kidney reabsorption as well as end organ damage. However, understanding mouse background and the experimental conditions effects on phenotypic readouts of engineered mouse lines such as blood pressure presents a challenge. Despite the ability to generate high sodium and chloride plasma levels during high-salt diet, observed changes in blood pressure are not consistent between wild-type background strains and studies. Methods The present work was designed in an attempt to determine guidelines in the field of saltinduced hypertension by recording continuously blood pressure by telemetry in mice submitted to different sodium and potassium loaded diets and changing experimental conditions in both C57BL/6N and C57BL/6J mice strain (Normal salt vs. Low salt vs. High-salt/normal potassium vs. High salt/low potassium, standard vs. modified light cycle, Non-invasive tail cuff blood pressure vs. telemetry). Results In this study, we have shown that, despite a strong blood pressure (BP) basal difference between C57BL/6N and C57BL/6J mice, High salt/normal potassium diet increases BP and heart rate during the active phase only (dark period) in the same extent in both strains. On the other hand, while potassium level has no effect on salt-induced hypertension in C57BL/6N mice, high-salt/low potassium diet amplifies the effect of the high-salt challenge only in C57BL/6J mice. Indeed, in this condition, salt-induced hypertension can also be detected during light period even though this BP increase is lower compared to the one occurring during the dark period. Finally, from a methodological perspective, light cycle inversion has no effect on this circadian BP phenotype and tail-cuff method is less sensitive than telemetry to detect BP phenotypes due to salt challenges. Conclusions Therefore, to carry investigations on salt-induced hypertension in mice, chronic telemetry and studies in the active phase are essential prerequisites