pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Efficient time domain threshold for sparse channel estimation in OFDM system

International audienceA novel efficient time domain threshold based sparse channel estimation technique is proposed for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The proposed method aims to realize effective channel estimation without prior knowledge of channel statistics and noise standard deviation within a comparatively wide range of sparsity. Firstly, classical least squares (LS) method is used to get an initial channel impulse response (CIR) estimate. Then, an effective threshold, estimated from the noise coefficients of the initial estimated CIR, is proposed. Finally, the obtained threshold is used to select the most significant taps. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed method achieves better performance in both BER (bit error rate) and NMSE (normalized mean square error) than the compared methods, has good spectral efficiency and moderate computational complexity
Locality sensitive hashing: a comparison of hash function types and querying mechanisms

International audienceIt is well known that high-dimensional nearest-neighbor retrieval is very expensive. Dramatic performance gains are obtained using approximate search schemes, such as the popular Locality-Sensitive Hashing (LSH). Several extensions have been proposed to address the limitations of this algorithm, in particular, by choosing more appropriate hash functions to better partition the vector space. All the proposed extensions, however, rely on a structured quantizer for hashing, poorly fitting real data sets, limiting its performance in practice. In this paper, we compare several families of space hashing functions in a real setup, namely when searching for high-dimensional SIFT descriptors. The comparison of random projections, lattice quantizers, k-means and hierarchical k-means reveal that unstructured quantizer significantly improves the accuracy of LSH, as it closely fits the data in the feature space. We then compare two querying mechanisms introduced in the literature with the one originally proposed in LSH, and discuss their respective merits and limitations
A Quantitative Evaluation of Payroll Tax Subsidies For Low-Wage Workers: An Equilibrium Search Approach

Phelps (1994) presented the case for a low-wage subsidy policy. Since the mid-1990s, France has experimented with this strategy. This paper evaluates the e®ect of this policy on employment and also on output and welfare. We construct an equilibrium search model incorporating wage posting and specific human capital investment, where unemployment and the distribution of both wages and productivity are endogenous. We estimate this model using French data. Numerical simulations show that the prevailing minimum wage allows a high production level to be reached by increasing training investment, even though the optimal minimum wage is lower. We show that payroll tax subsidies enhance welfare more than a reduction in the minimum wage when they are spread over a large range of wages in order to avoid specialization in low productivity jobs
Compromise Based Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization Algorithm for Multidisciplinary Optimization

International audienceMultidisciplinary Design Optimization deals with engineering problems composed of several sub-problems - called disciplines - that can have antagonist goals and thus require to find compromise solutions. Moreover, the sub-problems are often multiobjective optimization problems. In this case, the compromise solutions between the disciplines are often considered as compromises between all objectives of the problem, which may be not relevant in this context. We propose two alternative definitions of the compromise between disciplines. Their implementations within the well-known NSGA-II algorithm are studied and results are discussed
An integral formulation for steady-state elastoplastic contact over a coated half-plane.

A boundary-domain integral equation for a coated half-space (elastically isotropic homogeneous substratum, possibly anisotropic coating layer) is developed. The half-space fundamental solution is used, so that the discretization is limited to the potential contact zone (boundary elements), the potentially plastic part of the substratum and the coating layer (domain integration cells). Steady-state elastoplastic analysis is implemented within this framework, for plane-strain conditions, for solving rolling and/or sliding contact problems, where at the moment the contact load comes from either a purely elastic contact analysis or is of Hertz type. The constitutive integration is of implicit type. In order to improve accuracy and computational efficiency, infinite elements are used. Comparison of numerical results with other sources, when available, is satisfactory. The present formulation is also used to compute the contact pressure for an isotropic (or anisotropic) coating on an isotropic homogeneous half-space indented by an elastic punch
Application and evaluation of LS-PIV technique for the monitoring of river surface velocities in high flow conditions

Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LS-PIV) is used to measure the surface flow velocities in a mountain stream during high flow conditions due to a reservoir release. A complete installation including video acquisition from a mobile elevated viewpoint and artificial flow seeding has been developed and implemented. The LS-PIV method was adapted in order to take into account the specific constraints of these high flow conditions. Using a usual LS-PIV data processing, significant variations of the water surface elevation were taken into consideration in the image rectification. An intensity threshold was applied to focus on artificial tracers without considering stationary waves and sun reflections on the flow surface. A site-specific float coefficient of 0.79 based on measured vertical velocity profiles was used to convert surface velocities into depth-averaged velocities. Comparison between LS-PIV assessments and 2Dh numerical calculations with the code Rubar20 allows verification and extrapolation of LS-PIV data. LS-PIV velocity measurements permit to assess discharges over the whole high flow event in agreement with leaded current-meter measurements performed at a downstream bridge
Improved Photoelectrochemical Performance Of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin Films Prepared By Pulsed Electrodeposition

Solar cells based on polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber layers have yielded the highest conversion efficiency among all the thin-film technologies. CIGS thin-films possess large optical absorption coefficient (≈105 cm-1) and a suitable bandgap of ≈ 1.20 eV for an ideal stoichiometry of CuIn0.7Ga0.3Se2. In the present study, Direct Current (DC) and Pulsed Current (PC) electrodeposition techniques are employed to obtain the near ideal stoichiometric CIGS thin-films on a Mo foil using a two electrode system at a constant potential. Deposited films are annealed at 550 °C under Ar atmosphere. Characterization of the annealed CIGS films is performed using SEM-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemistry to study the morphology, stoichiometry, phase constitution, and the photoelectrochemical response. PC deposition offered suitable manipulation of various parameters, which has helped in obtaining a better quality stoichiometric single phase chalcopyrite structured CIGS thin films with the elimination of unwanted secondary phases like Cu2-xSe. An improved photoelectrochemical performance, characteristic of a p-type semiconductor, is observed for the PC deposited CIGS film
A regulatory domain is required for Foxn4 activity during retinogenesis.

International audienceFoxn4, a member of the N-family forkhead transcription factors, controls fate decision in mouse retina and spinal cord as well as in zebrafish heart. Analysis of Foxn4 amino acid sequence revealed the presence of a region homologous to the activation domain of its close relative Foxn1 in between C-terminal amino acids 402 and 455 of Foxn4 protein. The requirement of Foxn4 putative activation domain remains to be elucidated. Using a gain-of function approach in rat and chick retinal explants, we report that deletion of Foxn4 putative activation domain results in a complete loss of its activity during retinogenesis. Target promoter transcription assay indicates that this domain is critical for Foxn4 transcriptional regulatory properties in vitro. Accordingly, in chick retinal explants, this domain is required for proper regulation of target retinogenic factors expression by Foxn4. Thus, our study demonstrates that the domain between amino acids 402 and 455 is necessary for Foxn4 transcriptional activity both in vitro and in the retina
Geometric Stochastic Resonance

A Brownian particle moving across a porous membrane subject to an oscillating
force exhibits stochastic resonance with properties which strongly depend on
the geometry of the confining cavities on the two sides of the membrane. Such a
manifestation of stochastic resonance requires neither energetic nor entropic
barriers, and can thus be regarded as a purely geometric effect. The magnitude
of this effect is sensitive to the geometry of both the cavities and the pores,
thus leading to distinctive optimal synchronization conditions
Assessment of emerging and innovative techniques considering Best Available Technique’s performances

International audienceFor the past 20 years, the European context has been policy-driven by several directives to reduce pollution, one of the most important for industries being the industrial emissions directive (IED). The IED's objective is to minimise pollution from various industrial sources throughout the European Union. One means of attaining the objective is to implement techniques which have at least the same performance as reference techniques called best available techniques (BAT) given at European level. The study of existing methodologies on performance assessment of proven or emerging techniques has made it apparent that there are none taking into account the 12 criteria proposed by the Annex III of the IED to evaluate technique performances. Even if innovative techniques are not considered by the IED, support to (public or private) researchers in their development in terms of assessment methodology must be proposed. This is what we present in this article. The methodology based on a tree-structured information system (objectives, criteria, indicators) and a qualitative assessment of indicators (environmental, technical, economic and social) is an initial approach to an innovative technique assessment method considering BAT on laboratory or industrial scales. In an aim to adapt the criteria and indicators to a specific process, assessment methodologies must be adaptable. Our method allows for choosing indicators to comply perfectly with the process studied. Only the first level of the tree is fixed. The other branches could be adapted to the case studied. Performance assessment is based on a five-level scale coupled with a simple multi-criteria analysis (MCA) method. Three different applications (sludge valorisation, urban wastewater treatment, soil remediation) were carried out to validate the methodology, two of them are presented. Applications of this methodology show its usefulness in the validation of techniques for specific process and local application of the BAT concept and the performance assessment regarding BAT definition. It can then be used to detect innovative and emerging techniques to be proposed for the reviewing of the European BREF documents
Optimization of operating conditions of a mini fuel cell for the detection of low or high levels of CO in the reformate gas

International audienceA prototype of a miniaturized fuel cell has been studied in order to detect carbon monoxide in hydrogen-rich atmosphere for PEM-FC (Protonic Exchange Membrane fuel - cell) applications. It consists in a home-made Membrane–Electrode — Assembly (MEA) developed by the CEA. Experiments have been carried out on a laboratory testing bench with simulated reformed gases. For low CO concentrations (≤20 ppm), an amperometric mode is suitable but regeneration in air is necessary to obtain a good reversibility of the sensor response. On the contrary, for higher CO concentrations (250 to 4000 ppm), a good reversible response is observed without air regeneration by using a potentiometric or quasi-potentiometric mode. Therefore, this prototype of mini CO sensor seems to be convenient for monitoring reformed gases and ensures the correct operation of a PEM-FC
Learning Discriminative Tree Edit Similarities for Linear Classification - Application to Melody Recognition

International audienceSimilarity functions are a fundamental component of many learning algorithms. When dealing with string or tree-structured data, measures based on the edit distance are widely used, and there exist a few methods for learning them from data. In this context, we recently proposed GESL [3], an approach to string edit similarity learning based on loss minimization which offers theoretical guarantees as to the generalization ability and discriminative power of the learned similarities. In this paper, we argue that GESL, which has been originally dedicated to deal with strings, can be extended to trees and lead to powerful and competitive similarities. We illustrate this claim on a music recognition task, namely melody classification, where each piece is represented as a tree modeling its structure as well as rhythm and pitch information. The results show that GESL outperforms standard as well as probabilistically-learned edit distances, and that it is able to describe consistently the underlying melodic similarity model
Employee ownership: A theoretical and empirical investigation of management entrenchment vs. reward management

International audienceEmployee ownership is often used not only as a reward management tool but also as an entrenchment mechanism. The literature suggests that good managers use employee ownership as a reward management tool, whereas bad managers implement it for entrenchment, thus suggesting the existence of an equilibrium level of employee ownership. The contributions of this paper are both theoretical and empirical. Theoretically, this paper fills a gap in the published research by taking into account both positive and negative outcomes of employee ownership. Our model produces three main conclusions: (i) Low-performing managers use employee ownership as an entrenchment mechanism (ii) that increases the signaling cost of employee ownership for high-performing managers. (iii) We suggest that employee ownership should not be left only to the management's discretion because both types of managers have an incentive to implement employee ownership. Our empirical study investigates how employee ownership affects management tenure. This study takes into account the two main motives for employee ownership examined by the model (i.e., management entrenchment and reward management). We find a positive relationship between employee ownership and management tenure. This result provides new evidence that employee ownership can be used as an entrenchment mechanism
Gelatine as a crustal analogue: Determining elastic properties for modelling magmatic intrusions

International audienceGelatine has often been used as an analogue material to model the propagation of magma-filled fractures in the Earth's brittle and elastic crust. Despite this, there are few studies of the elastic properties of gelatine and how these evolve with time. This important information is required to ensure proper scaling of experiments using gelatine. Gelatine is a viscoelastic material, but at cool temperatures (Tr ~ 5-10 °C) it is in the solid 'gel' state where the elastic behaviour dominates and the viscous component is negligible over short to moderate timescales. We present results from a series of experiments on up to 30 litres of maximum 30 wt.% pigskin gelatine mixtures that document in detail how the elastic properties evolve with time, as a function of the volume used and gel concentration (Cgel). Gelatine's fracture toughness is investigated by measuring the pressure required to propagate a pre-existing crack. In the gel-state, gelatine's Young's modulus can be calculated by measuring the deflection to the free-surface caused by an applied load. The load's geometry can affect the Young's modulus measurement; our results show its diameter needs to be ≲ 10% of both the container diameter and the gelatine thickness (Hgel) for side-wall and base effects to be ignored. Gelatine's Young's modulus increases exponentially with time, reaching a plateau (E∞) after several hours curing. E∞ depends linearly on Cgel, while Tr, Hgel and the gelatine's thermal diffusivity control the time required to reach this value. Gelatine's fracture toughness follows the same relationship as ideal elastic-brittle solids with a calculated surface energy γs = 1.0 ± 0.2 J m− 2. Scaling laws for gelatine as a crustal analogue intruded by magma (dykes or sills) show that mixtures of 2-5 wt.% gelatine cured at ~ 5-10 °C ensure the experiments are geometrically, kinematically and dynamically scaled
DC-SIGN and L-SIGN are high affinity binding receptors for hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2.

International audienceThe hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome codes for highly mannosylated envelope proteins, which are naturally retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. We found that the HCV envelope glycoprotein E2 binds the dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) and the related liver endothelial cell lectin L-SIGN through high-mannose N-glycans. Competing ligands such as mannan and an antibody directed against the carbohydrate recognition domains (CRD) abrogated binding. While no E2 interaction with distant monomeric CRDs on biosensor chips could be detected, binding is observed if CRDs are closely seeded (Kd = 48 nm) and if the CRD is part of the oligomeric-soluble extracellular domain of DC-SIGN (Kd = 30 nm). The highest affinity is seen for plasma membrane-expressed DC-SIGN and L-SIGN (Kd = 3 and 6 nm, respectively). These results indicate that several high-mannose N-glycans in a structurally defined cluster on E2 bind to several subunits of the oligomeric lectin CRD. High affinity interaction of viral glycoproteins with oligomeric lectins might represent a strategy by which HCV targets to and concentrates in the liver and infects dendritic cells
Direct observation of electron thermalization and electron-phonon coupling in photoexcited bismuth

International audienceWe investigate the ultrafast response of the bismuth (111) surface by means of time resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The direct visualization of the electronic structure allows us to gain insights on electron-electron and electron-phonon interaction. Concerning electron-electron interaction , it is found that electron thermalization is fluence dependent and can take as much as several hundreds of femtoseconds at low fluences. This behavior is in qualitative agreement with Landau's theory of Fermi liquids but the data show deviations from the behavior of a common 3D degenerate electron gas. Concerning electron-phonon interaction, our data allows us to directly observe the coupling of individual Bloch state to the coherent A1g mode. It is found that surface states are much less coupled to this mode when compared to bulk states. This is confirmed by ab initio calculations of surface and bulk bismuth
Direct peptide interaction with surface glycosaminoglycans contributes to the cell penetration of maurocalcine.

International audienceMaurocalcine (MCa), initially identified from a Tunisian scorpion venom, defines a new member of the family of cell penetrating peptides by its ability to efficiently cross the plasma membrane. The initiating mechanistic step required for the cell translocation of a cell penetrating peptide implicates its binding onto cell surface components such as membrane lipids and/or heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Here we characterized the interaction of wild-type MCa and MCa K20A, a mutant analogue with reduced cell-penetration efficiency, with heparin (HP) and heparan sulfates (HS) through surface plasma resonance. HP and HS bind both to MCa, indicating that heparan sulfate proteoglycans may represent an important entry route of the peptide. This is confirmed by the fact that (i) both compounds bind with reduced affinity to MCa K20A and (ii) the cell penetration of wild-type or mutant MCa coupled to fluorescent streptavidin is reduced by about 50% in mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell lines lacking either all glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or just HS. Incubating MCa with soluble HS, HP, or chondroitin sulfates also inhibits the cell penetration of MCa-streptavidin complexes. Analyses of the cell distributions of MCa/streptavidin in several Chinese hamster ovary cell lines show that the distribution of the complex coincides with the endosomal marker Lyso-Tracker red and is not affected by the absence of GAGs. The distribution of MCa/streptavidin is not coincident with that of transferrin receptors nor affected by a dominant-negative dynamin 2 K44A mutant, an inhibitor of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. However, entry of the complex is greatly diminished by amiloride, indicating the importance of macropinocytosis in MCa/streptavidin entry. It is concluded that (i) interaction of MCa with GAGs quantitatively improves the cell penetration of MCa, and (ii) GAG-dependent and -independent MCa penetration rely similarly on the macropinocytosis pathway
Trace metal fractionation as a mean to improve on the management of contaminated sediments from runoff water infiltration basins

The management of stormwater sediment is a key issue for local authorities due to their pollution load and important tonnages. In view of reuse, e.g. for embankment, the environmental evaluation of these highly aggregated sediments requires studying trace metals fractionation and mobility. The distribution of trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and their level of lability in three French stormwater sediments was determined using sequential and kinetic extractions (EDTA reagent) associated with mineralogical analysis and SEM observations. Using microanalysis, new data were acquired on the evolution of aggregate state during extractions and on its significant role in trace metals retention. Trace metals were, in particular, observed to be very stable in small aggregates (10-50 µm). The comparison of the two extraction methods pointed out that EDTA extraction was not convenient to evaluate the stable fraction of Cr, Ni and Zn. Moreover, the results were relevant for basins presenting similar trace metals sources, whatever the physicochemical conditions in basins. The results suggest that the management of stormwater sediments could be improve by a better knowledge of metal mobility, as far as chemical extractions could highlight the localisation of the mobile trace metals fraction. Treatment could be therefore avoided or specific treatment could be applied to a reduced volume of sediments
Ultra-Wideband Microwave Imaging of Heterogeneities

International audienceThe technique of time-reversal acoustics was applied to image a bottle filled with saline, using an eight element Vivaldi antenna array with frequency bandwidth 2 to 8 GHz. At these short length scales, a smooth three-dimensional image of the bottle was obtained, with the usual limitations imposed by limited offset and frequency. Time snapshots of the wavefield evolution in reversed time are presented for two real data sets. The first, shows the focusing for the single target of the bottle, while the second demonstrates the principle for two targets