Typical performance of low-density parity-check codes over general symmetric channels

Typical performance of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes over a general binary-input output-symmetric memoryless channel is investigated using methods of statistical mechanics. Theoretical framework for dealing with general symmetric channels is provided, based on which Gallager and MacKay-Neal codes are studied as examples of LDPC codes. It has been shown that the basic properties of these codes known for particular channels, including the property to potentially saturate Shannon's limit, hold for general symmetric channels. The binary-input additive-white-Gaussian-noise channel and the binary-input Laplace channel are considered as specific channel noise models.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, RevTeX4; an error in reference correcte

Application of two-parameter dynamical replica theory to retrieval dynamics of associative memory with non-monotonic neurons

The two-parameter dynamical replica theory (2-DRT) is applied to investigate retrieval properties of non-monotonic associative memory, a model which lacks thermodynamic potential functions. 2-DRT reproduces dynamical properties of the model quite well, including the capacity and basin of attraction. Superretrieval state is also discussed in the framework of 2-DRT. The local stability condition of the superretrieval state is given, which provides a better estimate of the region in which superretrieval is observed experimentally than the self-consistent signal-to-noise analysis (SCSNA) does.Comment: 16 pages, 19 postscript figure

Tertiary Student Mobility in the European Union (EU) vs. that in Japan

After providing a perspective of global tertiary student migration, we explain the organisation of the student mobility at the higher education (HE) level in the European Union (EU) with the Erasmus, Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programmes and their associated tools, ECTS, Tuning, networking (particularly that in physics), etc. The mobility at Ghent University is given as an example for more detailed implementation. The mobility strategy up to 2020 for the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is then given. Finally, the mobility in Japan is treated in general and in particular using the implementation example of Hokkaido University