Galois invariant smoothness basis

This text answers a question raised by Joux and the second author about the computation of discrete logarithms in the multiplicative group of finite fields. Given a finite residue field \bK, one looks for a smoothness basis for \bK^* that is left invariant by automorphisms of \bK. For a broad class of finite fields, we manage to construct models that allow such a smoothness basis. This work aims at accelerating discrete logarithm computations in such fields. We treat the cases of codimension one (the linear sieve) and codimension two (the function field sieve)

The geometry of some parameterizations and encodings

We explore parameterizations by radicals of low genera algebraic curves. We prove that for $q$ a prime power that is large enough and prime to $6$, a fixed positive proportion of all genus 2 curves over the field with $q$ elements can be parameterized by $3$-radicals. This results in the existence of a deterministic encoding into these curves when $q$ is congruent to $2$ modulo $3$. We extend this construction to parameterizations by $\ell$-radicals for small odd integers $\ell$, and make it explicit for $\ell=5$

LES COULISSES DE L'ŒUVRE NET ART

La conception des œuvres d'art pour ordinateur engage différentes contributions, artistiques et informatiques, qui instaurent un morcellement de l'activité créatrice et des modes pluriels de désignation de ce qui fait "œuvre". En amont, l'activité créatrice met en scène une polyphonie énonciative et un travail de négociation permanent confrontant des régimes et logiques d'actions antagonistes. La mise en scène de l'activité de conception associe deux formes d'écriture : l'écriture de l'algorithme de programmation d'une part, et l'écriture de l'idée ou du concept (au sens d'intention) artistique d'autre part. En aval, le dispositif numérique est tour à tour désigné comme "produit" dissocié de l'œuvre comme fragment d'application logicielle ou algorithme informatique, et comme "œuvre" intégrant la part informatique du programme. Enfin, le spectateur est à son tour associé à l'œuvre qu'il actualise en contribuant à son développement par l'altération de l'idée initiale ou par l'apport de matériaux propres. Dès lors, l'œuvre d'art pour Internet ne correspond plus au concept d'objet achevé et localisable, mais s'inscrit davantage comme un processus, un dispositif collectif ouvert et interactif. Cette communication propose à partir d'un dispositif précis (Des_Frags) de souligner les déplacements engendrés par ce partage et cette délégation du processus créatif sur la notion traditionnelle "d'œuvre d'art". Qu'est-ce qui fait "œuvre" dans ce contexte ? Quelles en sont les caractéristiques propres ? Entre avant scène et coulisses, comment est-elle simultanément désignée, perçue et agie

Elliptic periods for finite fields

We construct two new families of basis for finite field extensions. Basis in the first family, the so-called elliptic basis, are not quite normal basis, but they allow very fast Frobenius exponentiation while preserving sparse multiplication formulas. Basis in the second family, the so-called normal elliptic basis are normal basis and allow fast (quasi linear) arithmetic. We prove that all extensions admit models of this kind

OFDR Distributed Temperature and Strain Measurements with Optical Fibre Sensing Cables: Application to Drain Pipeline Monitoring in a Nuclear Power Plant

International audienceThis study deals with the testing of innovative Optical Fibre Sensing (OFS) cables deployed on ducts, with the aim to perform distributed temperature and strain measurements. Such cables contain several optical fibres devoted to be interrogated by Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR). The methodology has first been developed and qualified in laboratory. Then, real tests have been performed on a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) drain system to demonstrate the industrial feasibility of such technology. To do so, two small diameter sensing cables, compatible with distributed temperature and strain measurements, have been qualified and afterwards installed along a sodium drain line at Superphenix NPP (liquid sodium coolant fast breeder reactor in current dismantling). Measurements have been performed during the preheating operation. Recorded data were post-processed according to a semi-empirical model taking into account temperature dependence and thermo-mechanical sensing cable behaviour. Optical fibre distributed temperature measurements were then successfully compared to thermocouple reference measurements, whereas optical sensing cable data were processed to provide distributed strain, then distributed curvature radius, which will enable, after numerical integration, to compute distributed displacement data. The goal is to assess the use of OFS for monitoring both temperature and mechanical strain distribution along a pipe under heat stress

A faster pseudo-primality test

We propose a pseudo-primality test using cyclic extensions of $\mathbb Z/n \mathbb Z$. For every positive integer $k \leq \log n$, this test achieves the security of $k$ Miller-Rabin tests at the cost of $k^{1/2+o(1)}$ Miller-Rabin tests.Comment: Published in Rendiconti del Circolo Matematico di Palermo Journal, Springe

Visualizing Compaction of Polysomes in Bacteria.

International audienceDuring protein synthesis, many translating ribosomes are bound together with an mRNA molecule to form polysomes (or polyribosomes). While the spatial organization of bacterial polysomes has been well studied in vitro, little is known about how they cluster when cellular conditions are highly constrained. To better understand this, we used electron tomography, template matching, and three-dimensional modeling to analyze the supramolecular network of ribosomes after induction of translational pauses. In Escherichia coli, we overexpressed an mRNA carrying a polyproline motif known to induce pausing during translation. When working with a strain lacking transfer-messenger RNA, the principle actor in the "trans-translation" rescuing system, the cells survived the hijacking of the translation machinery but this resulted in a sharp modification of the ribosomal network. The results of our experiments demonstrate that single ribosomes are replaced with large amounts of compacted polysomes. These polysomes are highly organized, principally forming hairpins and dimers of hairpins that stack together. We propose that these spatial arrangements help maintain translation efficiency when the rescue systems are absent or overwhelmed

BIOTEX-biosensing textiles for personalised healthcare management.

Textile-based sensors offer an unobtrusive method of continually monitoring physiological parameters during daily activities. Chemical analysis of body fluids, noninvasively, is a novel and exciting area of personalized wearable healthcare systems. BIOTEX was an EU-funded project that aimed to develop textile sensors to measure physiological parameters and the chemical composition of body fluids, with a particular interest in sweat. A wearable sensing system has been developed that integrates a textile-based fluid handling system for sample collection and transport with a number of sensors including sodium, conductivity, and pH sensors. Sensors for sweat rate, ECG, respiration, and blood oxygenation were also developed. For the first time, it has been possible to monitor a number of physiological parameters together with sweat composition in real time. This has been carried out via a network of wearable sensors distributed around the body of a subject user. This has huge implications for the field of sports and human performance and opens a whole new field of research in the clinical setting