Adaptive estimation of linear functionals by model selection

We propose an estimation procedure for linear functionals based on Gaussian model selection techniques. We show that the procedure is adaptive, and we give a non asymptotic oracle inequality for the risk of the selected estimator with respect to the $\mathbb{L}_p$ loss. An application to the problem of estimating a signal or its $r^{th}$ derivative at a given point is developed and minimax rates are proved to hold uniformly over Besov balls. We also apply our non asymptotic oracle inequality to the estimation of the mean of the signal on an interval with length depending on the noise level. Simulations are included to illustrate the performances of the procedure for the estimation of a function at a given point. Our method provides a pointwise adaptive estimator.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-EJS127 the Electronic Journal of Statistics (http://www.i-journals.org/ejs/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

France: High and stable fertility

The current total fertility rate in France is around 1.9 children per woman. This is a relatively high level by current European standards and makes France an outlier, despite the fact that its other demographic trends, especially conjugal behaviour, and social and economic trends are not very different from other Western European countries. France can serve as a counterfactual test case for some of the hypotheses advanced to explain the current low level of fertility in most European countries (delay in fertility, decline in marriage, increased birth control, greater economic uncertainty). France’s fertility level can be partly explained by its active family policy introduced after the Second World War, and adapted in the 1980s to accommodate women’s entry into the labour force. This policy is the result of a battle, fuelled by pro-natalism, between the conservative supporters of family values and the promoters of state-supported individual equality. French family policy thus encompasses a wide range of measures based on varying ideological backgrounds, and it is difficult to classify in comparison to the more precisely focused family policies of other European welfare states. The active family policy seems to have created especially positive attitudes towards two- or three child families in France.childbearing, fertility, France

French family policy: long tradition and diversified measures

In France, the intervention of the state in the private sphere has long been accepted as legitimate. The current French family policy is the result of a compromise between the objectives of raising fertility, providing income support to families and promoting the work-family balance. Thus it includes a wide range of measures based on a variety of ideological standpoints. It combines measures encouraging women's employment with others in favour of large families. Recently, employers have been encouraged to implement family-friendly policies of their own. Since the state family policy is already quite comprehensive, their participation is rather low. This long-term `mix of tools' is likely to be a factor behind the current high fertility in France, but the number and the complexity of family policy measures make it very difficult to quantify their overall effect on fertility.

Replication procedure for grouped Sobol' indices estimation in dependent uncertainty spaces

International audienceThis paper deals with the estimation of grouped Sobol' indices in the case where the dependence inside each group is given by sets of linear ordered constraints. In the framework of independent inputs, the replication method allows to estimate first-order indices with only two designs. Through the use of orthogonal arrays of strength two the replication method can be applied to estimate closed second-order indices. We extend this methodology to estimate first-order and closed second-order grouped Sobol' indices under sets of linear constraints. The construction of the two designs required by the replication method is now based on the simplex geometric structure to handle the constraints within each set. We propose a space filling strategy to construct these designs

Microscale Inhomogeneity of Brain Tissue Distorts Electrical Signal Propagation

Interpretations of local field potentials (LFPs) are typically shaped on an assumption that the brain is a homogenous conductive milieu. However, microscale inhomogeneities including cell bodies, dendritic structures, axonal fiber bundles and blood vessels are unequivocally present and have different conductivities and permittivities than brain extracellular fluid. To determine the extent to which these obstructions affect electrical signal propagation on a microscale, we delivered electrical stimuli intracellularly to individual cells while simultaneously recording the extracellular potentials at different locations in a rat brain slice. As compared with relatively unobstructed paths, signals were attenuated across frequencies when fiber bundles were in between the stimulated cell and the extracellular electrode. Across group of cell bodies, signals were attenuated at low frequencies, but facilitated at high frequencies. These results show that LFPs do not reflect a democratic representation of neuronal contributions, as certain neurons may contribute to the LFP more than others based on the local extracellular environment surrounding them

Class Model Normalization Outperforming Formal Concept Analysis approaches with AOC-posets

International audienceDesigning or reengineering class models in the domain of programming or modeling involves capturing technical and domain concepts , finding the right abstractions and avoiding duplications. Making this last task in a systematic way corresponds to a kind of model nor-malization. Several approaches have been proposed, that all converge towards the use of Formal Concept Analysis (FCA). An extension of FCA to linked data, Relational Concept Analysis (RCA) helped to mine better reusable abstractions. But RCA relies on iteratively building concept lattices, which may cause a combinatorial explosion in the number of the built artifacts. In this paper, we investigate the use of an alternative RCA process, relying on a specific sub-order of the concept lattice (AOC-poset) which preserves the most relevant part of the normal form. We measure, on case studies from Java models extracted from Java code and from UML models, the practical reduction that AOC-posets bring to the normal form of the class model

Localization of Dark Current Random Telegraph Signal sources in pinned photodiode CMOS Image Sensors

This work presents an analysis of Dark Current Random Telegraph Signal (DC-RTS) in CMOS Image Sensors (CIS). The objective is to provide new insight on RTS in modern CIS by determining the localization of DC-RTS centers and the oxide interfaces involved. It is shown that DC-RTS centers are located near the transfer gate. In particular, it is demonstrated that both gate oxide and Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) contribute to this parasitic dark current variation

Les professions règlementées à l'épreuve de l'ubérisation du droit : vers un monde sans avocat ?

International audienceAfter the real estate and transport sector, the regulated legal uberization question is more and more a current issue. The growing of collaborative economy, combined with the legal digitalization, lead the traditional players to wonder about a necessary to make modernizing the lawyer profession. The purpose of this study is to introduce the the law of uberization trend through an economic plan, and to consider the impact, especially on the legal profession, whose monopoly activity is now threatened. The limits of the uberization of law will then be analysed. The legal and ethical rules governing regulated professions are in fact a constraint to the development. However, rather than adopting a defensive reaction, traditional players today tend to take over of the uberization of law. A first approach is to frame it on an ethical level by working directly with the law startups. A second essential to the survival of the profession is to integrate digital within firms and adopt a new management process in order to make the uberization of law a competitive advantage. Transformation and innovation are required to answer the uberization of law.Après le secteur de l'immobilier et du transport, l'ubérisation des professions juridiques réglementées est à l'ordre du jour. L'émergence de l'économie collaborative, alliée à la digitalisation du droit, conduisent les acteurs traditionnels à s'interroger sur une nécessaire adaptation du mode d'exercice de leur profession. L'objet de cette étude est de présenter les spécificités du phénomène d'ubérisation du droit sur le plan économique, et d'en envisager les répercussions, en particulier sur la profession d'avocat, dont le monopole d'activité est désormais menacé. Seront ensuite analysées les limites de l'ubérisation du droit. Les règles juridiques et déontologiques encadrant les professions réglementées constituent en effet un frein au développement du phénomène. Cependant, plutôt que d'adop-ter une réaction exclusivement défensive, les acteurs traditionnels ont aujourd'hui ten-dance à s'approprier l'ubérisation du droit. Une première approche consiste à l'encadrer sur un plan éthique en collaborant directement avec les startups du droit. Une deuxième démarche indispensable à la survie de la profession consiste à intégrer le numérique au sein des cabinets d'avocats et à adopter un nouveau mode de fonctionnement afin de faire de l'ubérisation du droit un avantage concurrentiel. Transformation et innovation sont nécessaires pour résister à l'ubérisation du droit

In-Depth Analysis on Radiation Induced Multi-Level Dark Current Random Telegraph Signal in Silicon Solid State Image Sensors

Radiation-induced phenomena constitute a big concern for image sensors dedicated to space application. Particles(such as protons or electrons) can impact the crystalline structure of the detector and create switches in the dark response. This may be a problem, especially for calibration and so on image quality. This article aims at expressing the method used for switch detection and showing some properties of these Random Telegraph Signals (RTS), concerning, among other things, their amplitudes, discrete levels, and switching times. A first analysis of these results is also given