Supporting the Mobile Querying of Existing Online Semantic Web Data for Context-Aware Applications

[EN] Mobile devices are increasingly multifunctional and personal, providing mobile applications with the necessary user information to achieve personalization. At the same time, detection technologies let such devices find nearby physical entities and thus map the user's environment. By exploiting existing online Semantic Web sources about these detected entities, mobile applications can further improve personalization. SCOUT is a mobile application framework that supports linking physical entities to online semantic data sources. It provides applications with an integrated, query-able view on these sources and the user's environment. The authors developed a tailored data management approach to efficiently access these distributed online semantic sources.Sven Casteleyn is supported by EC Marie Curie grant FP7- PEOPLE-2009-IEF, number 254383.Van Woensel, W.; Casteleyn, S.; Paret, E.; De Troyer, O. (2011). Supporting the Mobile Querying of Existing Online Semantic Web Data for Context-Aware Applications. IEEE Internet Computing. 15(6):32-39. https://doi.org/10.1109/MIC.2011.108323915

A Delphi‑based expert judgment method applied to the validation of a mature Agile framework for Web development projects

The validation of any new methodological proposal demands several real-life implementations. However, organizations are reluctant to invest without the firm guarantee that they will be returned the entire expended amount of money. For this purpose, expert judgment techniques are very useful to provide a less-costly initial validation that, when positive, may encourage organizations to use these new proposals. Therefore, the primary goal of the paper will be to assess how expert judgment techniques based on the Delphi method can be applied to Web Engineering field and, more in particular, to assess the validity of the NDT-Agile framework. NDT-Agile is a framework that combines Agile and Web Engineering techniques to meet Capability Maturity Model Integration development goals. The paper presents a real example of an application of a Delphi-based expert judgment method to assess NDT-Agile framework validity, explaining the design as well as the selection and usage of the different techniques it involves. The application of the method will allow assessing benefits and limitations of use in Web Engineering. As a main conclusion, we will state the utility of the proposed methods to obtain a low-resource initial validation of a certain proposal. Finally, we will identify further lines of research related to the analyzed topics.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2013-46928-C3-3-RMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2015-71938-RED

Transition matrix Monte Carlo method for quantum systems

We propose an efficient method for Monte Carlo simulation of quantum lattice models. Unlike most other quantum Monte Carlo methods, a single run of the proposed method yields the free energy and the entropy with high precision for the whole range of temperature. The method is based on several recent findings in Monte Carlo techniques, such as the loop algorithm and the transition matrix Monte Carlo method. In particular, we derive an exact relation between the DOS and the expectation value of the transition probability for quantum systems, which turns out to be useful in reducing the statistical errors in various estimates.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

The Heisenberg model on the 1/5-depleted square lattice and the CaV4O9 compound

We investigate the ground state structure of the Heisenberg model on the 1/5-depleted square lattice for arbitrary values of the first- and second-neighbor exchange couplings. By using a mean-field Schwinger-boson approach we present a unified description of the rich ground-state diagram, which include the plaquette and dimer resonant-valence-bond phases, an incommensurate phase and other magnetic orders with complex magnetic unit cells. We also discuss some implications of ours results for the experimental realization of this model in the CaV4O9 compound.Comment: 4 pages, Latex, 7 figures included as eps file

Localized spin ordering in Kondo lattice models

Using a non-Abelian density matrix renormalization group method we determine the phase diagram of the Kondo lattice model in one dimension, by directly measuring the magnetization of the ground-state. This allowed us to discover a second ferromagnetic phase missed in previous approaches. The phase transitions are found to be continuous. The spin-spin correlation function is studied in detail, and we determine in which regions the large and small Fermi surfaces dominate. The importance of double-exchange ordering and its competition with Kondo singlet formation is emphasized in understanding the complexity of the model.Comment: Revtex, 4 pages, 4 eps figures embedde

Intermediate temperature dynamics of one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets

We present a general theory for the intermediate temperature (T) properties of Heisenberg antiferromagnets of spin-S ions on p-leg ladders, valid for 2Sp even or odd. Following an earlier proposal for 2Sp even (Damle and Sachdev, cond-mat/9711014), we argue that an integrable, classical, continuum model of a fixed-length, 3-vector applies over an intermediate temperature range; this range becomes very wide for moderate and large values of 2Sp. The coupling constants of the effective model are known exactly in terms of the energy gap above the ground state (for 2Sp even) or a crossover scale (for 2Sp odd). Analytic and numeric results for dynamic and transport properties are obtained, including some exact results for the spin-wave damping. Numerous quantitative predictions for neutron scattering and NMR experiments are made. A general discussion on the nature of T>0 transport in integrable systems is also presented: an exact solution of a toy model proves that diffusion can exist in integrable systems, provided proper care is taken in approaching the thermodynamic limit.Comment: 38 pages, including 12 figure

Enabling the Collaborative Definition of DSMLs

International audienceSoftware development processes are collaborative in nature. Neglecting the key role of end-users leads to software that does not satisfy their needs. This collaboration becomes specially important when creating Domain-Specific Modeling Languages (DSMLs), which are (modeling) languages specifically designed to carry out the tasks of a particular domain. While end-users are actually the experts of the domain for which a DSML is developed, their participation in the DSML specification process is still rather limited nowadays. In this paper we propose a more community-aware language development process by enabling the active participation of all community members (both developers and end-users of the DSML) from the very beginning. Our proposal is based on a DSML itself, called Collaboro, which allows representing change proposals on the DSML design and discussing (and tracing back) possible solutions, comments and decisions arisen during the collaboration

The Principal Genetic Determinants for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in China Involve the HLA Class I Antigen Recognition Groove

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy facilitated by Epstein-Barr Virus infection. Here we resolve the major genetic influences for NPC incidence using a genome-wide association study (GWAS), independent cohort replication, and high-resolution molecular HLA class I gene typing including 4,055 study participants from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guangdong province of southern China. We detect and replicate strong association signals involving SNPs, HLA alleles, and amino acid (aa) variants across the major histocompatibility complex-HLA-A, HLA –B, and HLA -C class I genes (PHLA-A-aa-site-62 = 7.4×10−29; P HLA-B-aa-site-116 = 6.5×10−19; P HLA-C-aa-site-156 = 6.8×10−8 respectively). Over 250 NPC-HLA associated variants within HLA were analyzed in concert to resolve separate and largely independent HLA-A, -B, and -C gene influences. Multivariate logistical regression analysis collapsed significant associations in adjacent genes spanning 500 kb (OR2H1, GABBR1, HLA-F, and HCG9) as proxies for peptide binding motifs carried by HLA- A*11:01. A similar analysis resolved an independent association signal driven by HLA-B*13:01, B*38:02, and B*55:02 alleles together. NPC resistance alleles carrying the strongly associated amino acid variants implicate specific class I peptide recognition motifs in HLA-A and -B peptide binding groove as conferring strong genetic influence on the development of NPC in China

Recent Developments of World-Line Monte Carlo Methods

World-line quantum Monte Carlo methods are reviewed with an emphasis on breakthroughs made in recent years. In particular, three algorithms -- the loop algorithm, the worm algorithm, and the directed-loop algorithm -- for updating world-line configurations are presented in a unified perspective. Detailed descriptions of the algorithms in specific cases are also given.Comment: To appear in Journal of Physical Society of Japa

Extreme genetic fragility of the HIV-1 capsid

Genetic robustness, or fragility, is defined as the ability, or lack thereof, of a biological entity to maintain function in the face of mutations. Viruses that replicate via RNA intermediates exhibit high mutation rates, and robustness should be particularly advantageous to them. The capsid (CA) domain of the HIV-1 Gag protein is under strong pressure to conserve functional roles in viral assembly, maturation, uncoating, and nuclear import. However, CA is also under strong immunological pressure to diversify. Therefore, it would be particularly advantageous for CA to evolve genetic robustness. To measure the genetic robustness of HIV-1 CA, we generated a library of single amino acid substitution mutants, encompassing almost half the residues in CA. Strikingly, we found HIV-1 CA to be the most genetically fragile protein that has been analyzed using such an approach, with 70% of mutations yielding replication-defective viruses. Although CA participates in several steps in HIV-1 replication, analysis of conditionally (temperature sensitive) and constitutively non-viable mutants revealed that the biological basis for its genetic fragility was primarily the need to coordinate the accurate and efficient assembly of mature virions. All mutations that exist in naturally occurring HIV-1 subtype B populations at a frequency >3%, and were also present in the mutant library, had fitness levels that were >40% of WT. However, a substantial fraction of mutations with high fitness did not occur in natural populations, suggesting another form of selection pressure limiting variation in vivo. Additionally, known protective CTL epitopes occurred preferentially in domains of the HIV-1 CA that were even more genetically fragile than HIV-1 CA as a whole. The extreme genetic fragility of HIV-1 CA may be one reason why cell-mediated immune responses to Gag correlate with better prognosis in HIV-1 infection, and suggests that CA is a good target for therapy and vaccination strategies