Software Architecture Patterns for a Context-Processing Middleware Framework

International audienceUbiquitous applications are characterised by variations of their execution context. Their correct operation requires some continual adaptations based on the observation of their execution context. The design and the implementation of these observation policies is then the cornerstone of any ubiquitous applications. In this article, we propose COSMOS which is a framework for the principled specification and composition of context observation policies. With COSMOS, these policies are decomposed into fine-grained units called \emph{context nodes} implemented as software components. These units perform basic context-related operations (\emph{e.g.}, gathering data from a system or network probe, computing threshold or average values) and are assembled with a set of well-identified architectural design patterns. In this article, COSMOS is motivated and illustrated with an example from the domain of mobile e-commerce applications

Different types of sounds influence gaze differently in videos

This paper presents an analysis of the effect of different types of sounds on visual gaze when a person is looking freely at videos, which would be helpful to predict eye position. In order to test the effect of sound, an audio-visual experiment was designed with two groups of participants, with audio-visual (AV) and visual (V) conditions. By using statistical tools, we analyzed the difference between eye position of participants with AV and V conditions. We observed that the effect of sound is different depending on the kind of sound, and that the classes with human voice (i.e. speech, singer, human noise and singers) have the greatest effect. Furthermore, the results of the distance between sound source and eye position of the group with AV condition, suggested that only particular types of sound attract human eye position to the sound source. Finally, an analysis of the fixation duration between AV and V conditions showed that participants with AV condition move eyes more frequently than those with V condition

COSMOS : composition de noeuds de contexte

National audienceLes applications ubiquitaires évoluent dans une grande diversité de contextes d'utilisation. Or, cette diversité requiert une adaptation continuelle afin de préserver le bon fonctionnement des applications. Dès lors, l'observation du contexte joue un rôle prépondérant. Si les approches actuelles « centrée utilisateur » et « système » ont prouvé leur pertinence dans ce domaine, elles souffrent néanmoins de certaines limitations liées à l'expressivité des compositions des inférences et au passage à l'échelle. Par conséquent, nous proposons de réorganiser les fonctionnalités traditionnelles d'un gestionnaire de contexte de manière systématique en cycles « collecte / interprétation / identification de situations ». Cette approche repose sur la définition du concept de noeuds de contexte composés dans un graphe (hiérarchie avec partage), et l'expression du concept en composant et architecture logicielle pour faciliter la définition et la gestion des politiques de gestion de contexte

L’allégeance : un principe des logiques d’aide à l’insertion professionnelle

Cette étude part de l’hypothèse théorique d’une norme d’allégeance qui interviendrait dans les processus évaluatifs en jeu au sein de la sphère socioprofessionnelle. L’expérimentation menée auprès de conseillers en Missions Locales intègre deux facteurs : l’allégeance et l’internalité. Les résultats montrent que l’allégeance est une variable déterminante dans l’élaboration des pronostics de réinsertion et dans la planification des phases d’aide au retour à l’emploi. On constate également que le discours non allégeant est nettement dévalorisé voire stigmatisé. Par contre, la variable internalité a beaucoup moins de poids dans l’élaboration de ces évaluations. La discussion des résultats pointe deux interrogations. La première porte sur les objectifs sous-jacents des professionnels de l’insertion. La deuxième questionne les relations entre l’allégeance et l’internalité dans l’étude des explications causales.This study is based upon the theoretical hypothesis of an existing norm of allegiance that would play a part in the processes of evaluation within the context of work. The experiment was conducted to show the role played by the norm of allegiance and the norm of internality onto a population of careers advice counsellors. Results showed that the norm of allegiance played a relevant part for the integration into the working world. What should also be taken into account is that the non allegiance aspect is rather demeaning and even denounced whereas the norm of internality counts less for these evaluations. In conclusion, two questions are put forward. First, what are the real objectives of these careers guidance counsellors? Second, what is the exact relation between the two norms

Silicon on Nothing Mems Electromechanical Resonator

The very significant growth of the wireless communication industry has spawned tremendous interest in the development of high performances radio frequencies (RF) components. Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are good candidates to allow reconfigurable RF functions such as filters, oscillators or antennas. This paper will focus on the MEMS electromechanical resonators which show interesting performances to replace SAW filters or quartz reference oscillators, allowing smaller integrated functions with lower power consumption. The resonant frequency depends on the material properties, such as Young's modulus and density, and on the movable mechanical structure dimensions (beam length defined by photolithography). Thus, it is possible to obtain multi frequencies resonators on a wafer. The resonator performance (frequency, quality factor) strongly depends on the environment, like moisture or pressure, which imply the need for a vacuum package. This paper will present first resonator mechanisms and mechanical behaviors followed by state of the art descriptions with applications and specifications overview. Then MEMS resonator developments at STMicroelectronics including FEM analysis, technological developments and characterization are detailed.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/EDA-Publishing

Enabling Context-Aware Web Services: A Middleware Approach for Ubiquitous Environments

In ubiquitous environments, mobile applications should sense and react to environmental changes to provide a better user experience. In order to deal with these concerns, Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) provide a solution allowing applications to interact with the services available in their surroundings. In particular, context-aware Web Services can adapt their behavior considering the user context. However, the limited resources of mobile devices restrict the adaptation degree. Furthermore, the diverse nature of context information makes difficult its retrieval, processing and distribution. To tackle these challenges, we present the CAPPUCINO platform for executing context-aware Web Services in ubiquitous environments. In particular, in this chapter we focus on the middleware part that is built as an autonomic control loop that deals with dynamic adaptation. In this autonomic loop we use FraSCAti, an implementation of the Service Component Architecture (SCA) specification, as the execution kernel for Web Services. The context distribution is achieved with SPACES, a flexible solution based on REST (REpresentational State Transfer ) principles and benefiting from the COSMOS (COntext entitieS coMpositiOn and Sharing ) context manage- ment framework. The application of our platform is illustrated with a mobile commerce application scenario that combines context-aware Web Services and social networks

Expérience de coopération interuniversitaire en travail social : Hongrie-Québec

À partir d'un projet de coopération scientifique entre des professeurs et chercheurs québécois et leurs homologues hongrois, un colloque a eu lieu à Budapest du 2 au 6 juin 1987 et les participants en donnent un compte rendu et présentent une analyse de la situation du service social en Hongrie. L'intérêt de l'expérience hongroise vient de l'omniprésence de l'État dans la sphère des activités de bien-être et du caractère avant-gardiste de certaines politiques familiales

Dinard Herbarium: A Source of Information to Infer Temporal Changes in Seaweed Communities?

International audienc

Alterations to mTORC1 signaling in the skeletal muscle differentially affect whole-body metabolism

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a central node in a network of signaling pathways controlling cell growth and survival. This multiprotein complex integrates external signals and affects different nutrient pathways in various organs. However, it is not clear how alterations of mTORC1 signaling in skeletal muscle affect whole-body metabolism.; We characterized the metabolic phenotype of young and old raptor muscle knock-out (RAmKO) and TSC1 muscle knock-out (TSCmKO) mice, where mTORC1 activity in skeletal muscle is inhibited or constitutively activated, respectively. Ten-week-old RAmKO mice are lean and insulin resistant with increased energy expenditure, and they are resistant to a high-fat diet (HFD). This correlates with an increased expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and a downregulation of genes involved in glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Ten-week-old TSCmKO mice are also lean, glucose intolerant with a decreased activation of protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) targets that regulate glucose transporters in the muscle. The mice are resistant to a HFD and show reduced accumulation of glycogen and lipids in the liver. Both mouse models suffer from a myopathy with age, with reduced fat and lean mass, and both RAmKO and TSCmKO mice develop insulin resistance and increased intramyocellular lipid content.; Our study shows that alterations of mTORC1 signaling in the skeletal muscle differentially affect whole-body metabolism. While both inhibition and constitutive activation of mTORC1 induce leanness and resistance to obesity, changes in the metabolism of muscle and peripheral organs are distinct. These results indicate that a balanced mTORC1 signaling in the muscle is required for proper metabolic homeostasis