Nonlocal Myriad Filters for Cauchy Noise Removal

The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, we introduce a generalized myriad filter, which is a method to compute the joint maximum likelihood estimator of the location and the scale parameter of the Cauchy distribution. Estimating only the location parameter is known as myriad filter. We propose an efficient algorithm to compute the generalized myriad filter and prove its convergence. Special cases of this algorithm result in the classical myriad filtering, respective an algorithm for estimating only the scale parameter. Based on an asymptotic analysis, we develop a second, even faster generalized myriad filtering technique. Second, we use our new approaches within a nonlocal, fully unsupervised method to denoise images corrupted by Cauchy noise. Special attention is paid to the determination of similar patches in noisy images. Numerical examples demonstrate the excellent performance of our algorithms which have moreover the advantage to be robust with respect to the parameter choice

Output persistence in human capital-based growth models

This note explores the persistence properties of a class of models proposed by Jones, Manuelli and Siu (2000) where growth stems from purposeful human capital accumulation. In doing so, we adopt Cogley and Nason's (1995) definition of output persistence. The propagation mechanism exhibited by this class of models appears unable to solve the output persistence puzzle.endogenous growth

A novel experimental method for the measurement of the caloric curves of clusters

A novel experimental scheme has been developed in order to measure the heat capacity of mass selected clusters. It is based on controlled sticking of atoms on clusters. This allows one to construct the caloric curve, thus determining the melting temperature and the latent heat of fusion in the case of first-order phase transitions. This method is model-free. It is transferable to many systems since the energy is brought to clusters through sticking collisions. As an example, it has been applied to Na\_90\^+ and Na\_140\^+. Our results are in good agreement with previous measurements

The Challenge of Believability in Video Games: Definitions, Agents Models and Imitation Learning

In this paper, we address the problem of creating believable agents (virtual characters) in video games. We consider only one meaning of believability, ``giving the feeling of being controlled by a player'', and outline the problem of its evaluation. We present several models for agents in games which can produce believable behaviours, both from industry and research. For high level of believability, learning and especially imitation learning seems to be the way to go. We make a quick overview of different approaches to make video games' agents learn from players. To conclude we propose a two-step method to develop new models for believable agents. First we must find the criteria for believability for our application and define an evaluation method. Then the model and the learning algorithm can be designed

Learning a Representation of a Believable Virtual Character's Environment with an Imitation Algorithm

In video games, virtual characters' decision systems often use a simplified representation of the world. To increase both their autonomy and believability we want those characters to be able to learn this representation from human players. We propose to use a model called growing neural gas to learn by imitation the topology of the environment. The implementation of the model, the modifications and the parameters we used are detailed. Then, the quality of the learned representations and their evolution during the learning are studied using different measures. Improvements for the growing neural gas to give more information to the character's model are given in the conclusion

Modeling the Temperature Bias of Power Consumption for Nanometer-Scale CPUs in Application Processors

We introduce and experimentally validate a new macro-level model of the CPU temperature/power relationship within nanometer-scale application processors or system-on-chips. By adopting a holistic view, this model is able to take into account many of the physical effects that occur within such systems. Together with two algorithms described in the paper, our results can be used, for instance by engineers designing power or thermal management units, to cancel the temperature-induced bias on power measurements. This will help them gather temperature-neutral power data while running multiple instance of their benchmarks. Also power requirements and system failure rates can be decreased by controlling the CPU's thermal behavior. Even though it is usually assumed that the temperature/power relationship is exponentially related, there is however a lack of publicly available physical temperature/power measurements to back up this assumption, something our paper corrects. Via measurements on two pertinent platforms sporting nanometer-scale application processors, we show that the power/temperature relationship is indeed very likely exponential over a 20{\deg}C to 85{\deg}C temperature range. Our data suggest that, for application processors operating between 20{\deg}C and 50{\deg}C, a quadratic model is still accurate and a linear approximation is acceptable.Comment: Submitted to SAMOS 2014; International Conference on Embedded Computer Systems: Architectures, Modeling, and Simulation (SAMOS XIV

Le référendum du 20 mai 1972 au Cameroun : analyse de quelques tendances de la doctrine

À l'initiative de M. Ahmadou Ahidjo, alors président de la République du Cameroun, le peuple camerounais s'est prononcé par voie de référendum, le 20 mai 1972, en faveur du passage de l'État fédéral à l'État unitaire. Considéré par la doctrine comme ayant constitué rien moins qu'un « coup d'État civil », ce référendum est, de nos jours, à la base de la principale menace d'implosion du Cameroun. Le premier objectif de cet article est d'effectuer une revue de la littérature relative au référendum de 1972, qui insiste sur les points de rupture et les plages de continuité pouvant s'accuser dans les développements des différents auteurs. Une frange de la doctrine la plus autorisée a conclu que la procédure ayant conduit au référendum de 1972 ne pouvait faire l'objet d'une critique juridique, du simple fait que ce référendum était l'oeuvre d'un pouvoir constituant originaire agissant ex nihilo et non d'un pouvoir constituant dérivé agissant en conformité avec la Constitution fédérale. Réagissant à cette prétention, le deuxième objectif de ce travail sera de montrer que la subite émergence, au sein d'un État, d'un pouvoir originaire agissant ex nihilo et la mise en oeuvre, par ce pouvoir, d'un nouvel ordre juridique n'autorisent guère à conclure que la procédure ayant conduit à la création de ce nouvel ordre juridique n'est pas susceptible de critique juridique. Le troisième objectif de cet article est de montrer, au-delà de la critique juridique de la procédure ayant conduit à la mise en oeuvre du nouvel ordre juridique, que c'est, essentiellement, la force du nouveau pouvoir ayant ainsi émergé, sa puissance sans rivale sur le territoire qu'elle contrôle effectivement qui fonde sa capacité à ériger un ordre juridique valide. Cette dernière observation se fera à travers l'analyse d'un arrêt récent de la Cour suprême du Canada relatif à la souveraineté du Québec, dont on comparera les conclusions avec quelques-unes des thèses les plus importantes relativement au référendum de 1972 au Cameroun.In following the initiative of Mr. Ahmadou Ahidjo, then president of the Republic of Cameroon, the Cameroon people voted by referendum on May 20, 1972 in favour of transforming the State from a Federation to a Unitarian State. Considered by doctrine as being no more than a civilian « coup d'état », this referendum stands today as the main basis threatening the implosion of Cameroon. The primary objective of this paper is to présenta review of the literature pertaining to the 1972 referendum, which emphasizes the breaking points and areas of continuity that various authors may impugn one another in their developments on the subject. One sector pf the most authorized doctrine has concluded that the procedure leading up to the 1972 referendum could not legally be taken to task for the simple fact that the referendum was the work of an original constituent power acting ex nihilo and not a derived constituent power acting on the basis of the Federal Constitution. In reaction to this assumption, the second objective of this paper will be to demonstrate that the sudden emergence from within the State of an original power acting ex nihilo and the implementation by this power of a new legal order does not in any way grant authorization to conclude that the creation of this new legal order is removed from legal criticism. The third objective of this paper is to demonstrate that beyond the legal criticism of the procedure leading up to the implementation of the new legal order, that it is essentially the force of the new power thus emerging, its unchallenged power over the territory that it effectively controlled, that justifies its capacity to found a valid legal order. This last observation will be made by an analysis of a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada pertaining the issue of Québec sovereignty, whose conclusions will be compared with some of the most important theses arising from the 1972 Cameroon referendum