GIS Databases: From Multiscale to MultiRepresentation

Cartography is one of the major application areas using geographical databases. Whether it is for the business of producing paper maps for sale, or whether it is for displaying maps on a screen to visualize the result of a query, we need computer systems that know how to represent the same geographical area at different scales. The concept of multiscale database has become popular in the GIS domain as a way to enforce consistency between representations and reduce the global update load. Scaling, however, is just one of the facets that may lead to keeping several representations for the same real-world object. Viewpoint and classification are two major abstracttractions in the design process that also generate multiple representations. This paper investigates the generic issues and solutions to achieve flexible support of multiple representation in a GIS database

A Conceptual View on Trajectories

Analysis of trajectory data is the key to a growing number of applications aiming at global understanding and management of complex phenomena that involve moving objects (e.g. worldwide courier distribution, city traffic management, bird migration monitoring). Current DBMS support for such data is limited to the ability to store and query raw movement (i.e. the spatio-temporal position of an object). This paper explores how conceptual modeling could provide applications with direct support of trajectories (i.e. movement data that is structured into countable semantic units) as a first class concept. A specific concern is to allow enriching trajectories with semantic annotations allowing users to attach semantic data to specific parts of the trajectory. Building on a preliminary requirement analysis and an application example, the paper proposes two modeling approaches, one based on a design pattern, the other based on dedicated data types, and illustrates their differences in terms of implementation in an extended-relational context

MurMur: A Research Agenda on MultipleRepresentations

One of the most publicized goals of modern computer society is to provide flexible access to information for everybody, anywhere, anytime. To make data management systems successful in satisfying user quest for information, an abstractolute requirement is the capability of tailoring the information to the peculiar needs of the targeted user. Unfortunately, this is a domain where current technology fails to support adequate functionality. Basically, existing approaches to such versatility rely on the idea that all possible views of a piece of information can be derived from a single ultimate representation. This may work in a centralized setting, but it is definitely unlikely to provide a sufficient framework in distributed, interoperable environments. This paper presents a research and development project that intends to explore the issue related to representation and management of multiple representations of the same reality. A specific focus of the project is spatio-temporal information and the support of multi-scale geographic databases, where objects are represented at many different resolution levels

Modeling Spatial Data in the MADS Conceptual Model

Despite the well-established benefits of conceptual modeling for application design, current spatio-temporal conceptual models do not cope satisfactorily with designers' requirements. In this paper we first identify the goals of a spatio-temporal conceptual model and then we describe the MADS model along its structural and spatial dimensions. As the modeling concepts are orthogonal, the proposed model achieves both simplicity (as concepts are independent from each other) and expressive power (as concepts may be freely associated). The model, which includes the features of the ODMG standard model for object-oriented systems, has been implemented by translating it into operational models of existing products. Experience gained by modeling a number of applications enabled us to assess the advantages of MADS with respect to traditional entity-relationship modeling. A visual schema editor and a visual query editor are being develope

Lien entre l’engagement des enfants âgés de 4-5 ans dans leurs apprentissages et des profils de la qualité des interactions en centre de la petite enfance

This article aims to identify profiles of the quality of interactions in childcare centres and to relate them to the engagement of children aged 4-5 years in their learning. The quality of the interactions was observed in 15 groups, using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). Then, semi-structured interviews were carried out with the early childhood educators (N = 15). The observation of children’s engagement in their learning was carried out with 108 children (n = 54 girls), using the Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System (inCLASS). The results reveal three profiles of the quality of interactions, one of which stands out in terms of instructional support. However, none of these profiles is associated with children’s engagement in their learning.   Keywords: engagement, learning, Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System, inCLASS, preschool children, childcare centres, quality of interactions, Classroom Assessment Scoring System, CLASSÀ l’aide d’un devis mixte, cet article vise à dégager des profils de la qualité des interactions en centre de la petite enfance (CPE) et à les mettre en relation avec l’engagement des enfants de 4-5 ans dans leurs apprentissages. La qualité des interactions a été observée auprès de 15 groupes, au moyen du Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). Puis, les éducatrices de ces groupes (N = 15) ont participé à des entretiens semi-dirigés. L’observation de l’engagement des enfants dans leurs apprentissages a été effectuée auprès de 108 enfants (n = 54 filles), à partir de l’Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System (inCLASS). Les résultats dévoilent trois profils de la qualité des interactions, dont l’un d’eux se démarque sur le plan du soutien à l’apprentissage. Toutefois, aucun de ces profils n’est associé à l’engagement des enfants dans leurs apprentissages.   Mots-clés : engagement, apprentissages, Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System, inCLASS, enfants de 4-5 ans, centre de la petite enfance, qualité des interactions, Classroom Assessment Scoring System, CLAS

The lack of genetic variation underlying thermal transcriptomic plasticity suggests limited adaptability of the Northern shrimp, Pandalus borealis

Introduction: Genetic variation underlies the populations’ potential to adapt to and persist in a changing environment, while phenotypic plasticity can play a key role in buffering the negative impacts of such change at the individual level. Methods: We investigated the role of genetic variation in the thermal response of the northern shrimp Pandalus borealis, an ectotherm species distributed in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. More specifically, we estimated the proportion transcriptomic responses explained by genetic variance of female shrimp from three origins after 30 days of exposure to three temperature treatments. Results: We characterized the P. borealis transcriptome (170,377 transcripts, of which 27.48% were functionally annotated) and then detected a total of 1,607 and 907 differentially expressed transcripts between temperatures and origins, respectively. Shrimp from different origins displayed high but similar level of transcriptomic plasticity in response to elevated temperatures. Differences in transcript expression among origins were not correlated to population genetic differentiation or diversity but to environmental conditions at origin during sampling. Discussion: The lack of genetic variation explaining thermal plasticity suggests limited adaptability in this species’ response to future environmental changes. These results together with higher mortality observed at the highest temperature indicate that the thermal niche of P. borealis will likely be restricted to higher latitudes in the future. This prediction concurs with current decreases in abundance observed at the southern edge of this species geographical distribution, as it is for other cold-adapted crustaceans. Keywords : phenotypic plasticity ; climate change ; ocean warming ; crustacean ; decapod ; fisheries ; RNA-seq

MADS: un modèle conceptuel pour des applicationsspatio-temporelles

Malgré les bienfaits reconnus de l'approche conceptuelle pour la modélisation d'applications, les modèles conceptuels spatio-temporels existants ne satisfont pas les besoins des concepteurs. Dans cet article nous identifions d'abord les objectifs d'un modèle conceptuel spatio-temporel et ensuite nous présentons le modèle MADS selon trois axes: concepts structu-rels, concepts spatiaux, concepts temporels. L'orthogonalité des concepts permet d'obtenir un modèle à la fois simple (puisque ces concepts sont indépendants) et puissant (puisque les con-cepts peuvent être combinés librement). Le modèle a été implanté et des traductions existent vers d'autres modèles opérationnels. L'article décrit brièvement les réalisations en cours ou prévues pour offrir aux utilisateurs une interface conceptuelle de définition et d'accès aux bases de données spatio-temporelles. Nous donnons également les résultats d'une expérience de mo-délisation qui a permis de vérifier les qualités du modèle