A Mutualistic Approach to Morality: The Evolution of Fairness by Partner Choice

What makes humans moral beings? This question can be understood either as a proximate “how” question or as an ultimate “why” question. The “how” question is about the mental and social mechanisms that produce moral judgments and interactions, and has been investigated by psychologists and social scientists. The “why” question is about the fitness consequences that explain why humans have morality, and has been discussed by evolutionary biologists in the context of the evolution of cooperation. Our goal here is to contribute to a fruitful articulation of such proximate and ultimate explanations of human morality. We develop an approach to morality as an adaptation to an environment in which individuals were in competition to be chosen and recruited in mutually advantageous cooperative interactions. In this environment, the best strategy is to treat others with impartiality and to share the costs and benefits of cooperation equally. Those who offer less than others will be left out of cooperation; conversely, those who offer more will be exploited by their partners. In line with this mutualistic approach, the study of a range of economic games involving property rights, collective actions, mutual help and punishment shows that participants\u27 distributions aim at sharing the costs and benefits of interactions in an impartial way. In particular, the distribution of resources is influenced by effort and talent, and the perception of each participant\u27s rights on the resources to be distributed

Multiphysic FEMLAB modelling to evaluate mid-infrared photonic detector performances

National audienceInfrared photo detectors operating in the mid infrared region find application in pollution monitoring, high speed infrared imaging systems and free space telecommunications. Currently the dominant infrared detector technology are based on HgCdTe or InSb photovoltaic devices. Because of their narrow band gap these devices show at room temperature (RT) high dark reverse current and small R0.A product, which significantly restrict the getting of high ambient performances. To reduce the darkness current and increase R0.A product, we suggested studying structures with large band gap energy. The objective of the photo detector structures modelling presented in this paper is double. It allows first to simulate and to estimate the theoretical performances of previously introduced large band gap components. As such we shall calculate, the product R0.A and the quantum efficiency to end in the specific detectivity D*. It is also a support to help in the understanding and in the interpretation of the made photo detectors characterizations

Classification of dwellings into profiles regarding indoor air quality, and identification of indoor air pollution determinant factors

International audienceThis study aims to identify the most relevant variables, among outdoor measures, building characteristics and socioeconomic situation, for predicting indoor air chemical pollution in dwellings. To achieve this, we propose a two-step plan: first, group the dwellings into classes according to the indoor measured concentrations, then use regression tools to express a dwelling's class as a function of the aforementioned variables. In the first step, we use modelbased clustering algorithms in a multivariate Gaussian mixture context; in the second step, we use binary decision trees in a discrimination context. This approach does not handle the pollutants individually, but considers them together as a multidimensional variable that must be summarized by a categorical variable (the dwelling's class)

COOPERATION MECHANISMS FOR MONITORING AGENTS IN SERVICE-ORIENTED ARCHITECTURES

The Service-Oriented Architecture paradigm (SOA), e.g., realized with Web Services technology, enables enterprises to establish cross-organizational, service-based workflows. An important issue is the monitoring of the fulfillment of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) which define the responsibilities between the participants. Recent research has shown that agent technology is a useful approach in this context. Thus, we present ways for agent cooperation on different levels of abstraction. This cooperation aims at monitoring workflows and especially to react to deviations in different scenarios of SLA violations

Design process enabling adaptation in pervasive heterogeneous contexts

International audienceIn the next decades, the growth in population ageing will cause important problems to most industrialized countries. To tackle this issue, Ambient Assistive Living (AAL) systems can reinforce the well-being of elderly people, by providing emergency, autonomy enhancement, and comfort services. These services will postpone the need of a medicalized environment, and will allow the elderly to stay longer at home. However, each elderly has specific needs and a deployment environment of such services is likely unique. Furthermore, the needs evolve over time, and so does the deployment environment of the system. In this paper, we propose the use of a model-based development method, the adaptive medium approach, to enable dynamic adaptation of AAL systems. We also propose improvements to make it more suited to the AAL domain, such as considering heterogeneity and a composition model. The paper includes an evaluation of the prototype implementing the approach, and a comparison with related work

Paraplegia with lumbar artery compression by the diaphragmatic crus

The authors report three cases of transient and recurrent paraplegia due to compression of the second right lumbar artery by the diaphragmatic crus. Circumstances of appearance are suggestive when paraplegia occurs in dorsolumbar hyperlordosis and low cardiac output is an associated hemodynamic risk factor. Selective medullary arteriography is indispensable for diagnosis and can demonstrate three signs: an anterior spinal dorsolumbar artery (artery of Adamkiewicz) that does not descend to the conus medullaris; posterior spinal arteries arising from the second lumbar arteries that vascularize the conus medullaris; existence of a tight stenosis on the second right lumbar artery that is aggravated during dynamic maneuvers. Section of the right diaphragmatic crus and release of the second right lumbar artery from the aorta to the fibrous arcade of the psoas permits definitive cure of symptoms

Cultural Evolution from the Producers’ Standpoint

Standard approaches to cultural evolution focus on the recipients or consumers. This does not take into account the fitness costs incurred in producing the behaviors or artifacts that become cultural, i.e., widespread in a social group. We argue that cultural evolution models should focus on these fitness costs and benefits of cultural production particularly in the domain of “symbolic” culture. In this approach, cultural products can be considered as a part of the extended phenotype of producers, which can affect the fitness of recipients in a positive way (through cooperation) but also in a detrimental way (through manipulation and exploitation). Taking the producers’ perspective may help explain the specific features of many kinds of cultural products