Multilevel Modeling Paradigm in Profile Definition

Building a UML profile entails defining concepts required to cover a specific domain, and then, using stereotypes to map domain concepts onto UML metaclasses. Capture of domain concepts with an object-oriented language (like UML) may be inappropriate, and may impede the mapping, where more than two modeling levels are required. Use of only classes and objects may introduce accidental complexity into the domain model if other modeling levels (e.g. metatype level) are necessary. In such situations, a multilevel paradigm with deep characterization and deep instantiation is recommended to reduce complexity. However, this paradigm deserves to be further explored, and its value for definition of UML profiles assessed. We therefore propose a solution to put in practice the multi-level paradigm within a standard UML 2.x tool. Our solution involves a semi-automatic process that transforms a model annotated with multi-level characteristics into a profile-based implementation. Such automation lessens the gap between domain model and implementation and ensures consistency. As an example, we have taken an excerpt from the MARTE time profile. We then describe the new design opportunities inherent in our process and show how this process facilitates both domain specification and profile definition

Un profil UML pour la modélisation multiniveau

Publié à TSI -- 29/2010. Ingénierie dirigée par les modèles - pp. 391--419 http://tsi.revuesonline.comBuilding a UML profile is tedious and error-prone. There is no precise methodology to guide the process. Best practices recommend gathering concepts in a technology-independent domain view before implementation. Still, the adequacy of the implementation should be verified. This paper proposes to transform automatically a domain model into a profile-based implementation. To reduce accidental complexity in the domain model and fully benefit from advanced profiling features in the generated profile, our process relies on the multilevel paradigm. The value of this paradigm for the definition of UML profiles is assessed and applied to a subset of the MARTE time model

Surfactant-free CZTS nanoparticles as building blocks for low-cost solar cell absorbers

A process route for the fabrication of solvent-redispersible, surfactant-free Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticles has been designed with the objective to have the benefit of a simple sulfide source which advantageously acts as (i) a complexing agent inhibiting crystallite growth, (ii) a surface additive providing redispersion in low ionic strength polar solvents and (iii) a transient ligand easily replaced by an carbon-free surface additive. This multifunctional use of the sulfide source has been achieved through a fine tuning of((Cu2+)a(Zn2+)b(Sn4+)c(Tu)d(OH?)e)t+, Tu = thiourea) oligomers, leading after temperature polycondensation and S2- exchange to highly concentrated (c > 100 g l-1), stable, ethanolic CZTS dispersions. The good electronic properties and low-defect concentration of the sintered, crack-free CZTSe films resulting from these building blocks was shown by photoluminescence investigation, making these building blocks interesting for low-cost, high-performance CZTSe solar cells

Surfactant-free CZTS nanoparticles as building blocks for low-cost solar cell absorbers

A process route for the fabrication of solvent-redispersible, surfactant-free Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticles has been designed with the objective to have the benefit of a simple sulfide source which advantageously acts as (i) a complexing agent inhibiting crystallite growth, (ii) a surface additive providing redispersion in low ionic strength polar solvents and (iii) a transient ligand easily replaced by an carbon-free surface additive. This multifunctional use of the sulfide source has been achieved through a fine tuning of((Cu2+)a(Zn2+)b(Sn4+)c(Tu)d(OH?)e)t+, Tu = thiourea) oligomers, leading after temperature polycondensation and S2- exchange to highly concentrated (c > 100 g l-1), stable, ethanolic CZTS dispersions. The good electronic properties and low-defect concentration of the sintered, crack-free CZTSe films resulting from these building blocks was shown by photoluminescence investigation, making these building blocks interesting for low-cost, high-performance CZTSe solar cells

Towards Autonomous Object Reconstruction for Visual Search by the Humanoid Robot HRP-2

International audienceThis paper deals with the problem of object reconstruction for visual search by a humanoid robot. Three problems necessary to achieve the behavior autonomously are considered: full-body motion generation according to a camera pose, general object representation for visual recognition and pose estimation, and far-away visual detection of an object. First we deal with the problem of generating full body motion for a HRP-2 humanoid robot to achieve camera pose given by a Next Best View algorithm. We use an optimization based approach including self-collision avoidance. This is made possible by a body to body distance function having a continuous gradient. The second problem has received a lot of attention for several decades, and we present a solution based on 3D vision together with SIFTs descriptor, making use of the information available from the robot. It is shown in this paper that one of the major limitation of this model is the perception distance. Thus a new approach based on a generative object model is presented to cope with more difficult situations. It relies on a local representation which allows handling occlusion as well as large scale and pose variations

SETHI / RAMSES-NG: New performances of the flexible multi-spectral airborne remote sensing research platform

International audienceSETHI is an airborne SAR/GMTI system developed by the French Aerospace Lab. ONERA, and integrating various sensors. In 2016 ONERA invested in upgrade and improvement of all SETHI components. The microwave ones cover from VHF-UHF to X Band, full polarimetric and very high resolution, along track and cross track interferometry and very high precision multi-baseline capacity for interferometry and tomography applications. The optronic sensors offer very high spatial resolution visible images and fine spectral scene analysis in VNIR and SWIR bands. This paper presents the upgrade and new performances of this flexible platform and the qualification campaign results with various sensor configurations

Quelle place pour les adventices dans l’épidémiosurveillance ? Rapport au Comité National d’Epidémiosurveillance

La gestion des adventices est à juste titre considérée comme un frein majeur à l’adoption deméthodes intégrées de conduite des cultures peu dépendantes en produits phytosanitaires.Leur dynamique d’infestation se construisant sur plusieurs saisons culturales du fait du stock desemences dans le sol, les plantes adventices ne peuvent être gérées comme le seraient d’autresravageurs dépendant des seuls paramètres saisonniers pour déclencher leur épidémie. Pourautant notre groupe conclut que l’épidémiosurveillance des adventices peut être utile à unerationalisation des moyens de lutte. Elle peut permettre, sur le pas de temps court, d’optimiseren saison le choix tactique et le timing des interventions de tout ordre ayant un impact sur lesadventices et doit pour cela apparaître clairement dans les Bulletins de Santé du Végétal (BSV).Sa compilation sur plusieurs saisons permettra de mieux saisir l’évolution de la flore et depointer du doigt les facteurs responsables sous-jacents. Ceux-ci constituent autant d’éléments àintégrer dans l’analyse du risque et les préconisations stratégiques qui peuvent en découler. (...

MED12 Alterations in Both Human Benign and Malignant Uterine Soft Tissue Tumors

The relationship between benign uterine leiomyomas and their malignant counterparts, i.e. leiomyosarcomas and smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), is still poorly understood. The idea that a leiomyosarcoma could derive from a leiomyoma is still controversial. Recently MED12 mutations have been reported in uterine leiomyomas. In this study we asked whether such mutations could also be involved in leiomyosarcomas and STUMP oncogenesis. For this purpose we examined 33 uterine mesenchymal tumors by sequencing the hot-spot mutation region of MED12. We determined that MED12 is altered in 66.6% of typical leiomyomas as previously reported but also in 11% of STUMP and 20% of leiomyosarcomas. The mutated allele is predominantly expressed in leiomyomas and STUMP. Interestingly all classical leiomyomas exhibit MED12 protein expression while 40% of atypical leiomyomas, 50% of STUMP and 80% of leiomyosarcomas (among them the two mutated ones) do not express MED12. All these tumors without protein expression exhibit complex genomic profiles. No mutations and no expression loss were identified in an additional series of 38 non-uterine leiomyosarcomas. MED12 mutations are not exclusive to leiomyomas but seem to be specific to uterine malignancies. A previous study has suggested that MED12 mutations in leiomyomas could lead to Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation however our immunohistochemistry results show that there is no association between MED12 status and β-catenin nuclear/cytoplasmic localization. Collectively, our results show that subgroups of benign and malignant tumors share a common genetics. We propose here that MED12 alterations could be implicated in the development of smooth muscle tumor and that its expression could be inhibited in malignant tumors

A polymorphism of EGFR extracellular domain is associated with progression free-survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients receiving cetuximab-based treatment

International audienceBackground: Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), is currently used in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but predictive factors for therapeutic response are lacking. Mutational status of KRAS and EGFR, and EGFR copy number are potential determinants of cetuximab activity.Methods: We analyzed tumor tissues from 32 EGFR-positive mCRC patients receiving cetuximab/irinotecan combination and evaluable for treatment response. EGFR copy number was quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). KRAS exon 1 and EGFR exons coding for extracellular regions were sequenced.Results: Nine patients experienced an objective response (partial response) and 23 were considered as nonresponders (12 with stable disease and 11 with progressive disease). There was no EGFR amplification found, but high polysomy was noted in 2 patients, both of which were cetuximab responders. No EGFR mutations were found but a variant of exon 13 (R521K) was observed in 12 patients, 11 of which achieved objective response or stable disease. Progression-free and overall survivals were significantly better in patients with this EGFR exon 13 variant. KRAS mutations were found in 14 cases. While there was a trend for an increased KRAS mutation frequency in nonresponder patients (12 mutations out of 23, 52%) as compared to responder patients (2 out of 9, 22%), authentic tumor response or long-term disease stabilization was found in KRAS mutated patients.Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that: an increase in EGFR copy number may be associated with cetuximab response but is a rare event in CRC, KRAS mutations are associated with low response rate but do not preclude any cetuximab-based combination efficacy and EGFR exon 13 variant (R521K) may predict for cetuximab benefit