3,240 research outputs found
Elementary Derivative Tasks and Neural Net Multiscale Analysis of Tasks
Neural nets are known to be universal approximators. In particular, formal
neurons implementing wavelets have been shown to build nets able to approximate
any multidimensional task. Such very specialized formal neurons may be,
however, difficult to obtain biologically and/or industrially. In this paper we
relax the constraint of a strict ``Fourier analysis'' of tasks. Rather, we use
a finite number of more realistic formal neurons implementing elementary tasks
such as ``window'' or ``Mexican hat'' responses, with adjustable widths. This
is shown to provide a reasonably efficient, practical and robust,
multifrequency analysis. A training algorithm, optimizing the task with respect
to the widths of the responses, reveals two distinct training modes. The first
mode induces some of the formal neurons to become identical, hence promotes
``derivative tasks''. The other mode keeps the formal neurons distinct.Comment: latex neurondlt.tex, 7 files, 6 figures, 9 pages [SPhT-T01/064],
submitted to Phys. Rev.
A comparative study of two formal semantics of the SIGNAL language
International audienceSIGNAL is a part of the synchronous languages family, which are broadly used in the design of safety-critical real-time systems such as avionics, space systems, and nuclear power plants. There exist several semantics for SIGNAL, such as denotational semantics based on traces (called trace semantics), denotational semantics based on tags (called tagged model semantics), operational semantics presented by structural style through an inductive definition of the set of possible transitions, operational semantics defined by synchronous transition systems (STS), etc. However, there is little research about the equivalence between these semantics.In this work, we would like to prove the equivalence between the trace semantics and the tagged model semantics, to get a determined and precise semantics of the SIGNAL language. These two semantics have several different definitions respectively, we select appropriate ones and mechanize them in the Coq platform, the Coq expressions of the abstract syntax of SIGNAL and the two semantics domains, i.e., the trace model and the tagged model, are also given. The distance between these two semantics discourages a direct proof of equivalence. Instead, we transformthem to an intermediate model, which mixes the features of both the trace semantics and the tagged model semantics. Finally, we get a determined and precise semantics of SIGNAL
Mapping the X-Ray Emission Region in a Laser-Plasma Accelerator
The x-ray emission in laser-plasma accelerators can be a powerful tool to
understand the physics of relativistic laser-plasma interaction. It is shown
here that the mapping of betatron x-ray radiation can be obtained from the
x-ray beam profile when an aperture mask is positioned just beyond the end of
the emission region. The influence of the plasma density on the position and
the longitudinal profile of the x-ray emission is investigated and compared to
particle-in-cell simulations. The measurement of the x-ray emission position
and length provides insight on the dynamics of the interaction, including the
electron self-injection region, possible multiple injection, and the role of
the electron beam driven wakefield.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Host-microbe interaction in the gastrointestinal tract
The gastrointestinal tract is a highly complex organ in which multiple dynamic physiological processes are tightly coordinated while interacting with a dense and extremely diverse microbial population. From establishment in early life, through to host-microbe symbiosis in adulthood, the gut microbiota plays a vital role in our development and health. The effect of the microbiota on gut development and physiology is highlighted by anatomical and functional changes in germ-free mice, affecting the gut epithelium, immune system, and enteric nervous system. Microbial colonisation promotes competent innate and acquired mucosal immune systems, epithelial renewal, barrier integrity, and mucosal vascularisation and innervation. Interacting or shared signalling pathways across different physiological systems of the gut could explain how all these changes are coordinated during postnatal colonisation, or after the introduction of microbiota into germ-free models. The application of cell-based in vitro experimental systems and mathematical modelling can shed light on the molecular and signalling pathways which regulate the development and maintenance of homeostasis in the gut and beyond. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Fitting in a complex chi^2 landscape using an optimized hypersurface sampling
Fitting a data set with a parametrized model can be seen geometrically as
finding the global minimum of the chi^2 hypersurface, depending on a set of
parameters {P_i}. This is usually done using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm.
The main drawback of this algorithm is that despite of its fast convergence, it
can get stuck if the parameters are not initialized close to the final
solution. We propose a modification of the Metropolis algorithm introducing a
parameter step tuning that optimizes the sampling of parameter space. The
ability of the parameter tuning algorithm together with simulated annealing to
find the global chi^2 hypersurface minimum, jumping across chi^2{P_i} barriers
when necessary, is demonstrated with synthetic functions and with real data
Hypercontracts
Contract theories have been proposed to formally support distributed and
decentralized system design while ensuring safe system integration. In this
paper we propose hypercontracts, a generic model with a richer structure for
its underlying model of components, subsuming simulation preorders. While this
new model remains generic, it provides a much more elegant and richer algebra
for its key notions of refinement, parallel composition, and quotient, and it
allows inclusion of new operations. On top of these foundations, we propose
conic hypercontracts, which are still generic but come with a finite
description
Model-based fault detection and diagnosis : cases study for vibration monitoring
A signal processing approach is presented for detection and diagnosis of
fatigues or failures in vibrating mechanical systems subject to natural
excitation . Detection and diagnosis is performed while the system being at
work, so that the excitation is usually not observed and may involve
turbulent phenomena . This is a short report of a 10 years project which
involved more than 2 persons per year in mean . The method is illustrated
on the following case studies : offshore structures, and rotating machinery.On présente une approche de traitement du signal pour la détection et le
diagnostic des fatigues ou usures dans des systèmes mĂ©caniques soumis Ă
une excitation naturelle ou ambiante . La détection et le diagnostic sont
réalisés sur le système en fonctionnement habituel, et donc en général
avec une excitation non mesurée et présentant des phénomènes de turbulence . Cet article est un bref rapport sur un projet de recherche
d'environ 10 ans qui a mobilisé plus de 2 personnes par an en moyenne .
La méthode est illustrée sur les deux cas suivants : structures offshore et
turbo-alternateurs (') .
(') Ce travail a été soutenu pendant 7 ans par 4 contrats avec IFREMER
et pendant 4 ans par 2 contrats avec EDF
Inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α regulate p75NTR expression in CNS neurons and astrocytes by distinct cell-type-specific signalling mechanisms
The p75NTR (where NTR is neurotrophin receptor) can mediate many distinct cellular functions, including cell survival and apoptosis, axonal growth and cell proliferation, depending on the cellular context. This multifunctional receptor is widely expressed in the CNS (central nervous system) during development, but its expression is restricted in the adult brain. However, p75NTR is induced by a variety of pathophysiological insults, including seizures, lesions and degenerative disease. We have demonstrated previously that p75NTR is induced by seizures in neurons, where it induces apoptosis, and in astrocytes, where it may regulate proliferation. In the present study, we have investigated whether the inflammatory cytokines IL (interleukin)-1β and TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-α), that are commonly elevated in these pathological conditions, mediate the regulation of p75NTR in neurons and astrocytes. We have further analysed the signal transduction pathways by which these cytokines induce p75NTR expression in the different cell types, specifically investigating the roles of the NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) and p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways. We have demonstrated that both cytokines regulate p75NTR expression; however, the mechanisms governing this regulation are cytokine- and cell-type specific. The distinct mechanisms of cytokine-mediated p75NTR regulation that we demonstrate in the present study may facilitate therapeutic intervention in regulation of this receptor in a cell-selective manner
Interface-aware signal temporal logic
Safety and security are major concerns in the development of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Signal temporal logic (STL) was proposedas a language to specify and monitor the correctness of CPS relativeto formalized requirements. Incorporating STL into a developmentprocess enables designers to automatically monitor and diagnosetraces, compute robustness estimates based on requirements, andperform requirement falsification, leading to productivity gains inverification and validation activities; however, in its current formSTL is agnostic to the input/output classification of signals, andthis negatively impacts the relevance of the analysis results.In this paper we propose to make the interface explicit in theSTL language by introducing input/output signal declarations. Wethen define new measures of input vacuity and output robustnessthat better reflect the nature of the system and the specification in-tent. The resulting framework, which we call interface-aware signaltemporal logic (IA-STL), aids verification and validation activities.We demonstrate the benefits of IA-STL on several CPS analysisactivities: (1) robustness-driven sensitivity analysis, (2) falsificationand (3) fault localization. We describe an implementation of our en-hancement to STL and associated notions of robustness and vacuityin a prototype extension of Breach, a MATLAB®/Simulink®toolboxfor CPS verification and validation. We explore these methodologi-cal improvements and evaluate our results on two examples fromthe automotive domain: a benchmark powertrain control systemand a hydrogen fuel cell system
Context-Aided Variable Elimination for Requirement Engineering
Deriving system-level specifications from component specifications usually
involves the elimination of variables that are not part of the interface of the
top-level system. This paper presents algorithms for eliminating variables from
formulas by computing refinements or relaxations of these formulas in a
context. We discuss a connection between this problem and optimization and give
efficient algorithms to compute refinements and relaxations of linear
inequality constraints
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