Safety Analysis of Parameterised Networks with Non-Blocking Rendez-Vous

We consider networks of processes that all execute the same finite-state protocol and communicate via a rendez-vous mechanism. When a process requests a rendez-vous, another process can respond to it and they both change their control states accordingly. We focus here on a specific semantics, called non-blocking, where the process requesting a rendez-vous can change its state even if no process can respond to it. In this context, we study the parameterised coverability problem of a configuration, which consists in determining whether there is an initial number of processes and an execution allowing to reach a configuration bigger than a given one. We show that this problem is EXPSPACE-complete and can be solved in polynomial time if the protocol is partitioned into two sets of states, the states from which a process can request a rendez-vous and the ones from which it can answer one. We also prove that the problem of the existence of an execution bringing all the processes in a final state is undecidable in our context. These two problems can be solved in polynomial time with the classical rendez-vous semantics

Exercice de transparence : retour sur le processus de publication dans DD&T

Chaque année, le Comité de rédaction de DD&T fait un bilan des différentes étapes d’accompagnement des auteur(e)s vers la publication de leur article dans la revue, afin de repérer les étapes qui peuvent être améliorées. Pour la première fois, le Comité de rédaction de la revue DD&T profite du dernier numéro de l’année pour rappeler ou faire connaître le travail souterrain et volontaire des membres du Comité de rédaction de la revue, garants de la qualité du processus éditorial. Ce travail, r..

The contribution of serial order short-term memory and long-term learning to reading acquisition : a longitudinal study

There is increasing evidence for an association between both serial order short-term memory (STM) and the long-term learning (LTL) of serial order information and reading abilities. In this developmental study, we examined the hypothesis that STM for serial order supports online grapheme-to-phoneme conversion processes during the initial stages of reading acquisition, whereas the LTL of serial order serves reading abilities at later stages, when reading starts to rely on more stable, long-term orthographic representations. We followed a sample of 116 French-speaking children from first (Time 1 [T1]) grade of primary school through second (Time 2 [T2]) and third (Time 3 [T3]) grade. Their serial order STM and LTL abilities as well as their reading abilities were assessed. Overall, we observed that early reading abilities were only predicted by serial order STM performance, while more advanced reading abilities were predicted by both serial order STM and LTL performance. These results point toward a predictive role of serial order memory performance in reading acquisition and suggest that serial order STM and LTL support reading at different stages of acquisition. We further discuss our findings in the light of advancing knowledge about the relationship between memory and reading

The HDAC inhibitor SAHA does not rescue CFTR membrane expression in Cystic Fibrosis

International audienc

Chikungunya intra-vector dynamics in Aedes albopictus from Lyon (France) upon exposure to a human viremia-like dose range reveals vector barrier’s permissiveness and supports local epidemic potential

Arbovirus emergence and epidemic potential, as approximated by the vectorial capacity formula, depends on host and vector parameters, including the vector’s intrinsic ability to replicate then transmit the pathogen known as vector competence. Vector competence is a complex, time-dependent,quantitative phenotype influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. A combination of experimental andmodelling approaches is required to assess arbovirus intra-vector dynamics and estimate epidemicpotential. In this study, we measured infection, dissemination, and transmission dynamics of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in a field-derived Aedes albopictus population (Lyon, France) after oral exposureto a range of virus doses spanning human viraemia. Statistical modelling indicates rapid and efficientCHIKV progression in the vector mainly due to an absence of a dissemination barrier, with 100% ofthe infected mosquitoes ultimately exhibiting a disseminated infection, regardless of the virus dose.Transmission rate data revealed a time-dependent, but overall weak, transmission barrier, with individuals transmitting as soon as 2 days post-exposure (dpe) and >50% infectious mosquitoes at 6dpe for the highest dose. Based on these experimental intra-vector dynamics data, epidemiologicalsimulations conducted with an agent-based model showed that even at low mosquito biting rates,CHIKV could trigger outbreaks locally. Together, this reveals the epidemic potential of CHIKV upontransmission by Aedes albopictus in mainland Franc

Attention Supports Verbal Short-Term Memory via Competition between Dorsal and Ventral Attention Networks

Interactions between the neural correlates of short-term memory (STM) and attention have been actively studied in the visual STM domain but much less in the verbal STM domain. Here we show that the same attention mechanisms that have been shown to shape the neural networks of visual STM also shape those of verbal STM. Based on previous research in visual STM, we contrasted the involvement of a dorsal attention network centered on the intraparietal sulcus supporting task-related attention and a ventral attention network centered on the temporoparietal junction supporting stimulus-related attention. We observed that, with increasing STM load, the dorsal attention network was activated while the ventral attention network was deactivated, especially during early maintenance. Importantly, activation in the ventral attention network increased in response to task-irrelevant stimuli briefly presented during the maintenance phase of the STM trials but only during low-load STM conditions, which were associated with the lowest levels of activity in the dorsal attention network during encoding and early maintenance. By demonstrating a trade-off between task-related and stimulus-related attention networks during verbal STM, this study highlights the dynamics of attentional processes involved in verbal ST

The chronocultural position of industries with “La Bertonne pieces”

peer reviewedEn este artículo presentamos un estado actual de la cuestión con relación a la posición cronocultural de las denominadas industrias con piezas de La Bertonne en el seno del Paleolítico superior de Europa occidental. Atribuidas, en un primer momento, al Auriñaciense (Leyssalles y Noone 1949), más tarde al Protosolutrense (Arambourou 1970), estas industrias han sido recientemente adscritas al Badeguliense basándose en la asociación de las piezas de La Bertonne a uno de los útiles más evocadores de esta cultura material, la raclette (Lenoir 2000a y b). Esta asociación ha sido en efecto señalada en diferentes niveles del yacimiento de Laugerie-Haute Est (Dordoña. Francia) uno de los cuales arroja una datación de 17040 ± 440 BP (Ly-973; Évin et al. 1976: 80). Esta es la única datación radiocarbónica disponible actualmente para estas industrias. Por otro lado, el empleo de la presión, recientemente reconocido para la obtención de hojitas a partir de piezas de La Bertonne y el retoque de útiles sobre lascas delgadas, junto a la presencia anecdótica de piezas foliáceas son, a nuestro entender, otros tantos elementos que estas industrias comparten con las del Solutrense y que parecen evidenciar la aparición de industrias con piezas de La Bertonne antes del 17000 BP, a caballo entre el Solutrense y el Badeguliense.In this article we present a overview of current knowledge regarding the chronocultural position of industries with La Bertonne pieces within the Western European Upper Paleolithic. Initially attributed to the Aurignacian (Leyssalles and Noone 1949) and then to the Proto-Solutrean (Arambourou 1970), these industries are now attributed to the Badegoulian due to the association of La Bertonne pieces with one of the most typical tools of this material culture, the raclette (Lenoir 2000a and b). This association has indeed been pointed out in several levels at the site of Laugerie-Haute. Est (France, Dordogne), one of which has been dated to 17040 ± 440 BP (Ly-973; Évin et al. 1976: 80). This is the only available radiocarbon date for these industries. In addition, the use of pressure flaking, recently identified for the detachment of bladelets from La Bertonne pieces and to create retouched tools on thin flakes, and the sporadic presence of foliate pieces, are, in our view, elements that these industries share with the Solutrean. They suggest the appearance of La Bertonne industries somewhat earlier than 17000 BP at the transition between the Solutrean and the Badegoulian

The tumoral A genotype of the MGMT rs34180180 single-nucleotide polymorphism in aggressive gliomas is associated with shorter patients' survival

Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. Grade III and IV gliomas harboring wild-type IDH1/2 are the most aggressive. In addition to surgery and radiotherapy, concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) significantly improves overall survival (OS). The methylation status of the O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter is predictive of TMZ response and a prognostic marker of cancer outcome. However, the promoter regions the methylation of which correlates best with survival in aggressive glioma and whether the promoter methylation status predictive value could be refined or improved by other MGMT-associated molecular markers are not precisely known. In a cohort of 87 malignant gliomas treated with radiotherapy and TMZ-based chemotherapy, we retrospectively determined the MGMT promoter methylation status, genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region and quantified MGMT mRNA expression level. Each of these variables was correlated with each other and with the patients' OS. We found that methylation of the CpG sites within MGMT exon 1 best correlated with OS and MGMT expression levels, and confirmed MGMT methylation as a stronger independent prognostic factor compared to MGMT transcription levels. Our main finding is that the presence of only the A allele at the rs34180180 SNP in the tumor was significantly associated with shorter OS, independently of the MGMT methylation status. In conclusion, in the clinic, rs34180180 SNP genotyping could improve the prognostic value of the MGMT promoter methylation assay in patients with aggressive glioma treated with TMZ.ARC -Fondation ARC pour la Recherche sur le Cancer(EML20120904843

The ecological causes of functional distinctiveness in communities

Recent work has shown that evaluating functional trait distinctiveness, the average trait distance of a species to other species in a community offers promising insights into biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem functioning. However, the ecological mechanisms underlying the emergence and persistence of functionally distinct species are poorly understood. Here, we address the issue by considering a heterogeneous fitness landscape whereby functional dimensions encompass peaks representing trait combinations yielding positive population growth rates in a community. We identify four ecological cases contributing to the emergence and persistence of functionally distinct species. First, environmental heterogeneity or alternative phenotypic designs can drive positive population growth of functionally distinct species. Second, sink populations with negative population growth can deviate from local fitness peaks and be functionally distinct. Third, species found at the margin of the fitness landscape can persist but be functionally distinct. Fourth, biotic interactions (positive or negative) can dynamically alter the fitness landscape. We offer examples of these four cases and guidelines to distinguish between them. In addition to these deterministic processes, we explore how stochastic dispersal limitation can yield functional distinctiveness. Our framework offers a novel perspective on the relationship between fitness landscape heterogeneity and the functional composition of ecological assemblages