Asynchrony in image analysis: using the luminance-to-response-latency relationship to improve segmentation

We deal with the probiem of segmenting static images, a procedure known to be difficult in the case of very noisy patterns, The proposed approach rests on the transformation of a static image into a data flow in which the first image points to be processed are the brighter ones. This solution, inspired by human perception, in which strong luminances elicit reactions from the visual system before weaker ones, has led to the notion of asynchronous processing. The asynchronous processing of image points has required the design of a specific architecture that exploits time differences in the processing of information. The results otained when very noisy images are segmented demonstrate the strengths of this architecture; they also suggest extensions of the approach to other computer vision problem

Totally disconnected locally compact groups with a linear open subgroup

We describe the global structure of totally disconnected locally compact groups having a linear open compact subgroup. Among the applications, we show that if a non-discrete, compactly generated, topologically simple, totally disconnected locally compact group is locally linear, then it is a simple algebraic group over a local field

The price of silence tradeable noise permits and airports

This paper presents a market design for the management of noise disturbance created by aircraft traffic around large airports. A market for tradable noise permits allows noise generators to compensate harmed residents. We show that the noise permit markets allow the achievement of the planner's optimal allocation of flights provided that she/he does not over-weight the benefit of economic activity compared to the disutility of noise disturbances. The fact that zones are likely to be strategic players does not fundamentally alter this finding. Because of the market auctioneer's information constraints, noise permits are likely to redistribute windfall gains to residents located in non-critical zones. This entices landlords to increase their land/house rents there and to design smaller houses in the long run.

How shall we use the proteomics toolbox for biomarker discovery?

Biomarker discovery for clinical purposes is one of the major areas in which proteomics is used. However, despite considerable effort, the successes have been relatively scarce. In this perspective paper, we try to highlight and analyze the main causes for this limited success, and to suggest alternate strategies, which will avoid them, without eluding the foreseeable weak points of these strategies. Two major strategies are analyzed, namely, the switch from body fluids to cell and tissues for the initial biomarker discovery step or, if body fluids must be analyzed, the implementation of highly selective protein selection strategies

Photo-assisted shot noise in the fractional quantum Hall regime

The effect of an ac perturbation on the shot noise of a fractional quantum Hall fluid is studied at finite temperature. For a normal metal, it is known that the zero-frequency noise derivative exhibits steps as a function of bias voltage. In contrast, at Laughlin fractions, the backscattering noise exhibits evenly spaced singularities, which are reminiscent of tunneling density-of-states singularities for quasiparticles. The spacing is determined by the quasiparticle charge $\nu e$ and the ratio of the dc bias with respect to the drive frequency. Photo-assisted transport can thus be considered as a probe for effective charges of the quantum Hall effect.Comment: Proceeding of the 18th International Conference on Noise and Fluctuations, Salamanca, Spai

Digital Mathematics Libraries: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

The idea of a World digital mathematics library (DML) has been around since the turn of the 21th century. We feel that it is time to make it a reality, starting in a modest way from successful bricks that have already been built, but with an ambitious goal in mind. After a brief historical overview of publishing mathematics, an estimate of the size and a characterisation of the bulk of documents to be included in the DML, we turn to proposing a model for a Reference Digital Mathematics Library--a network of institutions where the digital documents would be physically archived. This pattern based rather on the bottom-up strategy seems to be more practicable and consistent with the digital nature of the DML. After describing the model we summarise what can and should be done in order to accomplish the vision. The current state of some of the local libraries that could contribute to the global views are described with more details

A new instability for finite Prandtl number rotating convection with free-slip boundary conditions

Rolls in finite Prandtl number rotating convection with free-slip top and bottom boundary conditions are shown to be unstable with respect to small angle perturbations for any value of the rotation rate. This instability is driven by the horizontal mean flow whose estimation requires a special singular perturbation analysis