Congruences for critical values of higher derivatives of twisted Hasse-Weil L-functions

Let A be an abelian variety over a number field k and F a finite cyclic extension of k of p-power degree for an odd prime p. Under certain technical hypotheses, we obtain a reinterpretation of the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture (eTNC) for A, F/k and p as an explicit family of p-adic congru- ences involving values of derivatives of the Hasse-Weil L-functions of twists of A, normalised by completely explicit twisted regulators. This reinterpretation makes the eTNC amenable to numerical verification and furthermore leads to explicit predictions which refine well-known conjectures of Mazur and Tate

Ganea and Whitehead definitions for the tangential Lusternik-Schnirelmann category of foliations

This work solves the problem of elaborating Ganea and Whitehead definitions for the tangential category of a foliated manifold. We develop these two notions in the category \Tops of stratified spaces, that are topological spaces $X$ endowed with a partition \cF and compare them to a third invariant defined by using open sets. More precisely, these definitions apply to an element (X,\cF) of \Tops together with a class \cA of subsets of $X$; they are similar to invariants introduced by M. Clapp and D. Puppe. If (X,\cF)\in\Tops, we define a transverse subset as a subspace $A$ of $X$ such that the intersection $S\cap A$ is at most countable for any S\in \cF. Then we define the Whitehead and Ganea LS-categories of the stratified space by taking the infimum along the transverse subsets. When we have a closed manifold, endowed with a $C^1$-foliation, the three previous definitions, with \cA the class of transverse subsets, coincide with the tangential category and are homotopical invariants.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Towards End-to-End Acoustic Localization using Deep Learning: from Audio Signal to Source Position Coordinates

This paper presents a novel approach for indoor acoustic source localization using microphone arrays and based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The proposed solution is, to the best of our knowledge, the first published work in which the CNN is designed to directly estimate the three dimensional position of an acoustic source, using the raw audio signal as the input information avoiding the use of hand crafted audio features. Given the limited amount of available localization data, we propose in this paper a training strategy based on two steps. We first train our network using semi-synthetic data, generated from close talk speech recordings, and where we simulate the time delays and distortion suffered in the signal that propagates from the source to the array of microphones. We then fine tune this network using a small amount of real data. Our experimental results show that this strategy is able to produce networks that significantly improve existing localization methods based on \textit{SRP-PHAT} strategies. In addition, our experiments show that our CNN method exhibits better resistance against varying gender of the speaker and different window sizes compared with the other methods.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, 8 table

Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation in the Separation, Characterization and Application of Wine Particle Matter

Wine particle matter is mainly constituted by wine colloids and wine macromolecules. These wine colloidal and macromolecular compounds are barely studied, possibly due to the difficulty in facing the challenges that their study merits. These compounds are mainly formed by polyphenols, proteins and polysaccharides that come from the grape seeds, skins and pulp and even, to a lesser extent, from the winemaking itself, since many of them are released during the process.These compounds exhibit fundamental properties in relation to the stability of the wine (color, polymerization, haze formation and precipitation) with impact in sensory properties i.e., bitterness, astringency and lastly towards the final quality of the product.However, there is a lack of understanding of the dynamics of the properties of these compounds during distinct stages of the winemaking process and during storage. This could possibly be due to the lack of methodologies that allow the separation and characterization of these colloidal and macromolecular compounds and their properties at their native state.These compounds, especially the phenols that are the major part of the colloidal fraction, are highly reactive and tend to undergo changes. Hence, it is of vital importance to develop methodologies for the characterization of these compounds and their properties, and therefore generate a useful knowledge of the dynamics in which these compounds are involved.This thesis presents a methodology for the separation and characterization of these colloidal and macromolecular compounds using Asymmetrical flow field fractionation coupled with multiple detectors (AF4-UV-MALS-dRI) determining the main macromolecular properties, such as molar mass (MW), hydrodynamic radius (rH), apparent density (ρ ̂), concentration (c) and specific absorptivity (ε) in relation to the processes that occur during vinification.The understanding and monitoring of these properties along with the effects and changes that occur at colloidal and macromolecular level during the production process chain may enable the control and monitoring of these compounds. In addition, knowledge of their different properties will assist decision making in the manufacturing of wine with a desired profile

Improvement of vertical precision in GPS positioning with a GPS-over-fiber configuration and real-time relative hardware delay monitoring

Une des principales limitations du positionnement GPS est que la composante verticale est généralement 2 à 3 fois moins précise que la composante horizontale. Pour des applications de haute précision, il est possible d'atteindre, par méthode GPS en mode relatif, des précisions de l'ordre de quelques millimètres en composante horizontale mais non pas en composante verticale. Cependant, plusieurs applications, telles que l'auscultation de structures d'ingénierie, exigent une précision similaire tant en horizontal qu'en vertical. Par simulations, il a été démontré par (Santerre & Beutler, 1993), qu'il est possible d'améliorer la précision du positionnement vertical en utilisant un récepteur à antennes multiples et un calibrage précis du délai de propagation relatif dans les câbles et circuits électroniques séparant les antennes du récepteur. Cependant, aucune implementation n'avait été faite à ce jour pour prouver le concept. L'objectif principal de ce travail de recherche a donc été de concevoir et d'implémenter un tel système et de démontrer qu'il permet une nette amélioration dans la précision du positionnement vertical. Pour ce faire, le défi principal a été de développer un système permettant simultanément le transport des signaux GPS sur fibres optiques et le calibrage précis du délai de propagation relatif entre ces mêmes fibres en temps réel. Une fois le premier prototype complété et testé, des expériences réalisées sur une poutrelle de calibrage utilisée comme ligne de base de référence démontrent qu'avec le prototype et le système de traitement des données proposé, une nette amélioration dans la précision du positionnement vertical a été observée. Tel que prévu par la théorie et les simulations, une amélioration d'un facteur 2 à 3 a été atteint, permettant ainsi d'obtenir la même précision dans la composante verticale que dans la composante horizontale. Ces résultats, qui représentent une percée importante dans le positionnement GPS de haute précision, permettent ainsi d'envisager le déploiement de ce type de systèmes dans des applications réelles où la même précision dans toutes les composantes tridimensionnelles est essentielle mais n'avait pas pu être atteinte auparavant par positionnement relatif GPS

On the Galois structure of Selmer groups

Let A be an abelian variety defined over a number field k and F a finite Galois extension of k. Let p be a prime number. Then under certain not-too-stringent conditions on A and F, we investigate the explicit Galois structure of the p-primary Selmer group of A over F. We also use the results so obtained to derive new bounds on the growth of the Selmer rank of A over extensions of k

On Mordell–Weil groups and congruences between derivatives of twisted Hasse–Weil L-functions

Let A be an abelian variety defined over a number field k and let F be a finite Galois extension of k. Let p be a prime number. Then under certain not-too-stringent conditions on A and F we compute explicitly the algebraic part of the p-component of the equivariant Tamagawa number of the pair (h1(A/F)(1),Z[Gal(F/k)]). By comparing the result of this computation with the theorem of Gross and Zagier we are able to give the first verification of the p-component of the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture for an abelian variety in the technically most demanding case in which the relevant Mordell–Weil group has strictly positive rank and the relevant field extension is both non-abelian and of degree divisible by p. More generally, our approach leads us to the formulation of certain precise families of conjectural p-adic congruences between the values at s = 1 of derivatives of the Hasse–Weil L-functions associated to twists of A, normalised by a product of explicit equivariant regulators and periods, and to explicit predictions concerning the Galois structure of Tate–Shafarevich groups. In several interesting cases we provide theoretical and numerical evidence in support of these more general predictions

Antifungal Activity and Chemical Constituents of the Essential Oil from Leaves of Nectandra longifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Nees.

“Yellow moena” (Nectandra longifolia: Lauraceae) is a fragrant leaves-possessing plant commonly used for timber purposes. Nevertheless, so far, there is not available information about its chemical composition. Thus, in the present work is described the components of the essential oil from N. longifolia leaves. The oil was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by GC/FID  and GC/MS. Twenty eight compounds were therefore identified. The main components were found to be terpinen-4-ol (53.1%), α-terpinene (6.8%), α-phellandrene (4.5%), and β-pinene (3.8%). The chemical composition of essential oil from N. longifolia leaves was consequently in agreement to that of several neotropical Lauraceae plants. In addition, the oil exhibited good antifungal activity against F. oxysporum through dose-dependent mycelial growth inhibition (using amended media and fumigant assays).“Yellow moena” (Nectandra longifolia: Lauraceae) is a fragrant leaves-possessing plant commonly used for timber purposes. Nevertheless, so far, there is not available information about its chemical composition. Thus, in the present work is described the components of the essential oil from N. longifolia leaves. The oil was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by GC/FID  and GC/MS. Twenty eight compounds were therefore identified. The main components were found to be terpinen-4-ol (53.1%), α-terpinene (6.8%), α-phellandrene (4.5%), and β-pinene (3.8%). The chemical composition of essential oil from N. longifolia leaves was consequently in agreement to that of several neotropical Lauraceae plants. In addition, the oil exhibited good antifungal activity against F. oxysporum through dose-dependent mycelial growth inhibition (using amended media and fumigant assays)

How Do Journalists in Mexico Report on Organised Crime: Representing the facts, Interpretation and Self-Critique

Among the many outcomes of the so-called War on Drugs, Mexico has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalism. Besides killings and kidnappings, journalists are also frequent victims of beatings, arbitrary detentions, and online harassment, as well as many other acts of aggression. Anti-press violence has an evident impact on Mexican journalists’ daily activities, particularly as related to the coverage of organised crime. The endemic risk that news workers constantly face determines how they represent and interpret the stories they report on when it comes to this issue. Thus, this inquiry aims to analyse the practices that reporters and editors implement during the news-making process when covering cartels’ activities. In doing so, this paper draws on a set of in-depth interviews with news workers from Mexico’s main national newspapers, and from all the states where journalists were killed in 2017. The main findings indicate that there is a lack of written norms for the coverage of organised crime, and that reporters refer to criminals with a sense of familiarity. In addition, this study contributes to the understanding of journalists’ decisions in the field when doing their job, especially in dangerous conditions