Physical Simulation of Inarticulate Robots

In this note we study the structure and the behavior of inarticulate robots. We introduce a robot that moves by successive revolvings. The robot's structure is analyzed, simulated and discussed in detail

Robust classification via MOM minimization

We present an extension of Vapnik's classical empirical risk minimizer (ERM) where the empirical risk is replaced by a median-of-means (MOM) estimator, the new estimators are called MOM minimizers. While ERM is sensitive to corruption of the dataset for many classical loss functions used in classification, we show that MOM minimizers behave well in theory, in the sense that it achieves Vapnik's (slow) rates of convergence under weak assumptions: data are only required to have a finite second moment and some outliers may also have corrupted the dataset. We propose an algorithm inspired by MOM minimizers. These algorithms can be analyzed using arguments quite similar to those used for Stochastic Block Gradient descent. As a proof of concept, we show how to modify a proof of consistency for a descent algorithm to prove consistency of its MOM version. As MOM algorithms perform a smart subsampling, our procedure can also help to reduce substantially time computations and memory ressources when applied to non linear algorithms. These empirical performances are illustrated on both simulated and real datasets

Synthesis of Attributed Feature Models From Product Descriptions: Foundations

Feature modeling is a widely used formalism to characterize a set of products (also called configurations). As a manual elaboration is a long and arduous task, numerous techniques have been proposed to reverse engineer feature models from various kinds of artefacts. But none of them synthesize feature attributes (or constraints over attributes) despite the practical relevance of attributes for documenting the different values across a range of products. In this report, we develop an algorithm for synthesizing attributed feature models given a set of product descriptions. We present sound, complete, and parametrizable techniques for computing all possible hierarchies, feature groups, placements of feature attributes, domain values, and constraints. We perform a complexity analysis w.r.t. number of features, attributes, configurations, and domain size. We also evaluate the scalability of our synthesis procedure using randomized configuration matrices. This report is a first step that aims to describe the foundations for synthesizing attributed feature models

Directional Dynamics along Arbitrary Curves in Cellular Automata

This paper studies directional dynamics in cellular automata, a formalism previously introduced by the third author. The central idea is to study the dynamical behaviour of a cellular automaton through the conjoint action of its global rule (temporal action) and the shift map (spacial action): qualitative behaviours inherited from topological dynamics (equicontinuity, sensitivity, expansivity) are thus considered along arbitrary curves in space-time. The main contributions of the paper concern equicontinuous dynamics which can be connected to the notion of consequences of a word. We show that there is a cellular automaton with an equicontinuous dynamics along a parabola, but which is sensitive along any linear direction. We also show that real numbers that occur as the slope of a limit linear direction with equicontinuous dynamics in some cellular automaton are exactly the computably enumerable numbers

Constraining short-range spin-dependent forces with polarized 3^3He

We have searched for a short-range spin-dependent interaction using the spin relaxation of hyperpolarized $^3$He. Such a new interaction would be mediated by a hypothetical light scalar boson with \CP-violating couplings to the neutron. The walls of the $^3$He cell would generate a pseudomagnetic field and induce an extra depolarization channel. We did not see any anomalous spin relaxation and we report the limit for interaction ranges $\lambda$ between $1$ and $100~\rm{\mu m}$: $g_sg_p \lambda ^2 \leq 2.6\times 10^{-28}~\mathrm{m^2}\, ( 95~\%\, \mathrm{C.L.})$, where $g_s$($g_p$) are the (pseudo)scalar coupling constant, improving the previous best limit by 1 order of magnitude

Search for a new short-range spin-dependent force with polarized Helium 3

Measuring the depolarization rate of a $^3$He hyperpolarized gas is a sensitive method to probe hypothetical short-range spin-dependent forces. A dedicated experiment is being set up at the Institute Laue Langevin in Grenoble to improve the sensitivity. We presented the status of the experiment at the 10th PATRAS Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs.Comment: Presented at the 10th PATRAS Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISP

Évaluation de la croissance et de l'activité antagoniste de pseudozyma SPP. en conditions in situ

Tableau d’honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2008-2009Dans cette étude, nous avons comparé le potentiel de lutte biologique et le développement de quatre espèces du genre Pseudozyma {P. antárctica, P. flocculosa, P. fusiformata et P. rugulosa), reconnues pour leur production de glycolipides aux propriétés antifongiques in vitro. Pour ce faire, nous avons d'abord généré des transformants GFP et conçu des amorces spécifiques pour chacune des espèces testées. Par la suite, nous avons pu observer ces espèces en conditions naturelles et quantifier leurs populations en temps réel, sur des feuilles saines et infectées par le blanc. Bien que Pseudozyma spp. présentent plusieurs caractéristiques similaires, seulement P. flocculosa a été en mesure de contrôler efficacement le blanc et de croître en sa présence, comme en témoigne l'augmentation constante de sa population, tel qu'observée en qRT-PCR. De tels résultats suggèrent ainsi que la production de glycolipides n'est pas le seul facteur définissant l'activité antagoniste de Pseudozyma spp. en conditions naturelles. De plus, ces résultats soulignent également la nécessité d'avoir recours à des tests in situ pour une juste évaluation du potentiel de lutte biologique d'un champignon ainsi qu'une compréhension exhaustive de son écologie, et ce toujours dans le but d'optimiser l'efficacité d'un agent de lutte biologique potentie

Description of the unsteady flow pattern from peak efficiency to near surge in subsonic centrifugal compressor stage

This paper aims to describe the flow structure modifications when the operating point moves from peak efficiency to near stall condition in a moderate pressure ratio centrifugal compressor stage consisted of a splittered unshrouded impeller and a vaned diffuser. The investigations are based on three-dimensional U-RANS simulation results. The flow is described in the impeller and in the vaned diffuser through time-averaged flow quantities and unsteady fluctuations. Results show that at low mass flow rate, the effects of secondary flow in the impeller are more pronounced, inducing both, high time-averaged values and temporal fluctuations of the flow angle near the shroud at the diffuser inlet, leading to vane suction side boundary layer separation. Pressure waves due to impeller diffuser interaction spread through the vaned diffuser generating unsteadiness which intensifies at near surge condition