Introduction aux ondelettes

Cette note technique à caractère mathématique est une introduction aux ondelettes, un des outils d'analyse du signal. Son objectif est d'initier le lecteur à la théorie des ondelettes. Elle se découpe en deux parties. La première pose les bases théoriques des ondelettes. La deuxième partie traite des logiciels implémentés pour travailler avec les ondelettes

Space Station Centrifuge: A Requirement for Life Science Research

A centrifuge with the largest diameter that can be accommodated on Space Station Freedom is required to conduct life science research in the microgravity environment of space. (This was one of the findings of a group of life scientists convened at the University of California, Davis, by Ames Research Center.) The centrifuge will be used as a research tool to understand how gravity affects biological processes; to provide an on-orbit one-g control; and to assess the efficacy of using artificial gravity to counteract the deleterious biological effect of space flight. The rationale for the recommendation and examples of using ground-based centrifugation for animal and plant acceleration studies are presented. Included are four appendixes and an extensive bibliography of hypergravity studies

Reflections on Frankfort Rally

Comments on Frankfort rally

Development of primary invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype 1 pneumococci is driven by early increased type I interferon response in the lung

The pneumococcus is the world's foremost respiratory pathogen, but the mechanisms allowing this pathogen to proceed from initial asymptomatic colonization to invasive disease are poorly understood. We have examined the early stages of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) by comparing host transcriptional responses to an invasive strain and a noninvasive strain of serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae in the mouse lung. While the two strains were present in equal numbers in the lung 6 h after intranasal challenge, only the invasive strain (strain 1861) had invaded the pleural cavity at that time point; this correlated with subsequent development of bacteremia in mice challenged with strain 1861 but not the noninvasive strain (strain 1). Progression beyond the lung was associated with stronger induction of the type I interferon (IFN-I) response in the lung at 6 h. Suppression of the IFN-I response through administration of neutralizing antibody to IFNAR1 (the receptor for type I interferons) led to significantly reduced invasion of the pleural cavity by strain 1861 at 6 h postchallenge. Our data suggest that strong induction of the IFN-I response is a key factor in early progression of invasive serotype 1 strain 1861 beyond the lung during development of IPD

Accent in digital humanities and language studies: the case in Hong Kong

This paper argues for the importance of the awareness of “DH accent” and demonstrates with examples in English studies how a localised variation of the curriculum facilitates students’ learning in the classroom and at the curriculum level. This study identifies the problem that studies in digital humanities have focused on the Anglo-American world. We demonstrate with an example in the Hong Kong context that even a curriculum of English language studies requires adaptation for the local needs, such as focus on second language learning and knowledge of contrastive grammar with the local language. To achieve these goals, instructors integrate materials that are tailored for students of language studies, who are typically proficient in humanistic argumentation and concepts but less fluent in digital skills. Use cases in teaching and examples of student projects are shown to illustrate the outcome of learning. The study presents important educational implication and direction for future research and education of the digital humanities

Les instruments économiques au service de l'environnement : une efficacité mal comprise

L'utilisation d'instruments économiques dans les politiques d'environnement est un fait récent. Ce nést qu'à partir des années quatre-vingt que certains gouvernements commencent à écouter la critique que font les économistes de l'approche dominante fondée sur des normes et s'intéressent à leur suggestion d'utiliser, en ces matières comme en d'autres, des signaux-prix. Mais il se trouve que la façon la plus simple de lancer de tels signaux, les écotaxes, se heurte à límpopularité de tout ce qui touche à la fiscalité et que l'autre mode de procéder, les permis d\'émission négociables va devenir, après traduction médiatique en droits à polluer, un symbole de la marchandisation de lénvironnement. Ceci explique que le diagnostic, tôt émis par lÓCDE (1987), de l'implementation gap dont souffrent ces instruments soit toujours d'actualité malgré l'évolution dont témoigne le tableau 1. Les économistes défendent ces outils au nom de l'efficacité, mais peut-être est-ce l'ambiguïté même de ce mot qui provoque les malentendus qui font obstacle à leur plus large utilisation. On essaiera ici de la lever en distinguant trois critères d'évaluation de ces instruments : leur fonction d'incitation pour un coût économique donné, leur coût social ultime, et leur capacité de coordination internationale

An empirical investigation of commercial mortgage-backed securities pricing and the role of the rating agencies

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, September 1996 [first author]; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, February 1997 [second author].Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-70).by Charles Gene Kilgore and Catherine Polleys.S.M