Using TREC for cross-comparison between classic IR and ontology-based search models at a Web scale

The construction of standard datasets and benchmarks to evaluate ontology-based search approaches and to compare then against baseline IR models is a major open problem in the semantic technologies community. In this paper we propose a novel evaluation benchmark for ontology-based IR models based on an adaptation of the well-known Cranfield paradigm (Cleverdon, 1967) traditionally used by the IR community. The proposed benchmark comprises: 1) a text document collection, 2) a set of queries and their corresponding document relevance judgments and 3) a set of ontologies and Knowledge Bases covering the query topics. The document collection and the set of queries and judgments are taken from one of the most widely used datasets in the IR community, the TREC Web track. As a use case example we apply the proposed benchmark to compare a real ontology-based search model (Fernandez, et al., 2008) against the best IR systems of TREC 9 and TREC 2001 competitions. A deep analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of this benchmark and a discussion of how it can be used to evaluate other ontology-based search systems is also included at the end of the paper

Recherche de l'économie des ressources naturelles par des études de conception de coeurs de réacteurs à eau et à haut facteur de conversion à combustibles mixtes Thorium / Uranium / Plutonium

Dans le cadre des études neutroniques d'innovation sur les cœurs de Réacteurs à Eau légère Pressurisée (REP) de 3ème génération, la recherche de l'économie des ressources naturelles est fondamentale afin de pérenniser la filière électronucléaire. Cette étude consiste à rechercher l'économie des ressources par la conception de cœurs de réacteurs à hauts facteurs de conversion, s'appuyant sur des combustibles oxydes mixtes à base de thorium / uranium / plutonium, ainsi que d'élaborer des stratégies de multi-recyclage des matières fissiles (plutonium et 233U). La démarche s'est déroulée en quatre étapes. Deux domaines d'étude ont tout d'abord été identifiés, le premier concerne les faibles rapports de modération (RM) et un combustible ThPuO2, le second les RM standards à accrus et un combustible ThUO2. La première voie a conduit à l'étude de Réacteurs Sous-Modérés (RSM) selon les critères de production d'233U accrue et de consommation limitée de plutonium. Deux concepts ont été retenus en particulier, à partir desquels des stratégies de multi-recyclage des matières fissiles ont été élaborées. La production et le recyclage de l'233U exclusivement en RSM limitent l'économie annuelle d'Unat à 30% environ. Il a été mis en évidence que le besoin en plutonium des RSM producteurs d'233U est le facteur limitant. C'est pourquoi un dernier chapitre évalue comment la production d'233U au sein de REP, dès 2020, permet de favoriser la transition vers un cycle symbiotique REP/RSM en relâchant la contrainte sur les inventaires de plutonium. Cette stratégie laisse présager une économie annuelle de l'ordre de 65% d'Unat par rapport à la poursuite du mono-recyclage du MOX en REP.Within the framework of innovative neutronic conception of Pressurized Light Water Reactors (PWR) of 3rd generation, saving of natural resources is of paramount importance for sustainable nuclear energy production. This study consists in the one hand to design high Conversion Reactors exploiting mixed oxide fuels composed of thorium / uranium / plutonium, and in the other hand, to elaborate multirecycling strategies of both plutonium and 233U, in order to maximize natural resources economy. This study has two main objectives: first the design of High Conversion PWR (HCPWR) with mixed oxide fuels composed of thorium / uranium / plutonium, and secondly the setting up of multirecycling strategies of both plutonium and 233U, to better natural resources economy. The approach took place in four stages. Two ways of introducing thorium into PWR have been identified: the first is with low moderator to fuel volume ratios (MR) and ThPuO2 fuel, and the second is with standard or high MR and ThUO2 fuel. The first way led to the design of under-moderated HCPWR following the criteria of high 233U production and low plutonium consumption. This second step came up with two specific concepts, from which multirecycling strategies have been elaborated. The exclusive production and recycling of 233U inside HCPWR limits the annual economy of natural uranium to approximately 30%. It was brought to light that the strong need in plutonium in the HCPWR dedicated to 233U production is the limiting factor. That is why it was eventually proposed to study how the production of 233U within PWR (with standard MR), from 2020. It was shown that the anticipated production of 233U in dedicated PWR relaxes the constraint on plutonium inventories and favours the transition toward a symbiotic reactor fleet composed of both PWR and HCPWR loaded with thorium fuel. This strategy is more adapted and leads to an annual economy of natural uranium of about 65%.SAVOIE-SCD - Bib.électronique (730659901) / SudocGRENOBLE1/INP-Bib.électronique (384210012) / SudocGRENOBLE2/3-Bib.électronique (384219901) / SudocSudocFranceF

The usability of semantic search tools: a review

The goal of semantic search is to improve on traditional search methods by exploiting the semantic metadata. In this paper, we argue that supporting iterative and exploratory search modes is important to the usability of all search systems. We also identify the types of semantic queries the users need to make, the issues concerning the search environment and the problems that are intrinsic to semantic search in particular. We then review the four modes of user interaction in existing semantic search systems, namely keyword-based, form-based, view-based and natural language-based systems. Future development should focus on multimodal search systems, which exploit the advantages of more than one mode of interaction, and on developing the search systems that can search heterogeneous semantic metadata on the open semantic Web

Blind Benchmark Exercise for Spent Nuclear Fuel Decay Heat

The decay heat rate of five spent nuclear fuel assemblies of the pressurized water reactor type were measured by calorimetry at the interim storage for spent nuclear fuel in Sweden. Calculations of the decay heat rate of the five assemblies were performed by 20 organizations using different codes and nuclear data libraries resulting in 31 results for each assembly, spanning most of the current state-of-the-art practice. The calculations were based on a selected subset of information, such as reactor operating history and fuel assembly properties. The relative difference between the measured and average calculated decay heat rate ranged from 0.6% to 3.3% for the five assemblies. The standard deviation of these relative differences ranged from 1.9% to 2.4%

Recherche de l'économie des ressources naturelles par des études de conception de coeurs de réacteurs à eau et à haut facteur de conversion à combustibles mixtes Thorium / Uranium / Plutonium

Within the framework of innovative neutronic conception of Pressurized Light Water Reactors (PWR) of 3rd generation, saving of natural resources is of paramount importance for sustainable nuclear energy production. This study consists in the one hand to design high Conversion Reactors exploiting mixed oxide fuels composed of thorium / uranium / plutonium, and in the other hand, to elaborate multirecycling strategies of both plutonium and 233U, in order to maximize natural resources economy. This study has two main objectives: first the design of High Conversion PWR (HCPWR) with mixed oxide fuels composed of thorium / uranium / plutonium, and secondly the setting up of multirecycling strategies of both plutonium and 233U, to better natural resources economy. The approach took place in four stages. Two ways of introducing thorium into PWR have been identified: the first is with low moderator to fuel volume ratios (MR) and ThPuO2 fuel, and the second is with standard or high MR and ThUO2 fuel. The first way led to the design of under-moderated HCPWR following the criteria of high 233U production and low plutonium consumption. This second step came up with two specific concepts, from which multirecycling strategies have been elaborated. The exclusive production and recycling of 233U inside HCPWR limits the annual economy of natural uranium to approximately 30%. It was brought to light that the strong need in plutonium in the HCPWR dedicated to 233U production is the limiting factor. That is why it was eventually proposed to study how the production of 233U within PWR (with standard MR), from 2020. It was shown that the anticipated production of 233U in dedicated PWR relaxes the constraint on plutonium inventories and favours the transition toward a symbiotic reactor fleet composed of both PWR and HCPWR loaded with thorium fuel. This strategy is more adapted and leads to an annual economy of natural uranium of about 65%.Dans le cadre des études neutroniques d'innovation sur les cœurs de Réacteurs à Eau légère Pressurisée (REP) de 3ème génération, la recherche de l'économie des ressources naturelles est fondamentale afin de pérenniser la filière électronucléaire. Cette étude consiste à rechercher l'économie des ressources par la conception de cœurs de réacteurs à hauts facteurs de conversion, s'appuyant sur des combustibles oxydes mixtes à base de thorium / uranium / plutonium, ainsi que d'élaborer des stratégies de multi-recyclage des matières fissiles (plutonium et 233U). La démarche s'est déroulée en quatre étapes. Deux domaines d'étude ont tout d'abord été identifiés, le premier concerne les faibles rapports de modération (RM) et un combustible ThPuO2, le second les RM standards à accrus et un combustible ThUO2. La première voie a conduit à l'étude de Réacteurs Sous-Modérés (RSM) selon les critères de production d'233U accrue et de consommation limitée de plutonium. Deux concepts ont été retenus en particulier, à partir desquels des stratégies de multi-recyclage des matières fissiles ont été élaborées. La production et le recyclage de l'233U exclusivement en RSM limitent l'économie annuelle d'Unat à 30% environ. Il a été mis en évidence que le besoin en plutonium des RSM producteurs d'233U est le facteur limitant. C'est pourquoi un dernier chapitre évalue comment la production d'233U au sein de REP, dès 2020, permet de favoriser la transition vers un cycle symbiotique REP/RSM en relâchant la contrainte sur les inventaires de plutonium. Cette stratégie laisse présager une économie annuelle de l'ordre de 65% d'Unat par rapport à la poursuite du mono-recyclage du MOX en REP

A search toward natural resources economy, through core designs studies of light Water Reactors with High Conversion Ratio and mixed oxide fuel composed of thorium / uranium / plutonium.

Dans le cadre des études neutroniques d'innovation sur les cœurs de Réacteurs à Eau légère Pressurisée (REP) de 3ème génération, la recherche de l'économie des ressources naturelles est fondamentale afin de pérenniser la filière électronucléaire. Cette étude consiste à rechercher l'économie des ressources par la conception de cœurs de réacteurs à hauts facteurs de conversion, s'appuyant sur des combustibles oxydes mixtes à base de thorium / uranium / plutonium, ainsi que d'élaborer des stratégies de multi-recyclage des matières fissiles (plutonium et 233U). La démarche s'est déroulée en quatre étapes. Deux domaines d'étude ont tout d'abord été identifiés, le premier concerne les faibles rapports de modération (RM) et un combustible ThPuO2, le second les RM standards à accrus et un combustible ThUO2. La première voie a conduit à l'étude de Réacteurs Sous-Modérés (RSM) selon les critères de production d'233U accrue et de consommation limitée de plutonium. Deux concepts ont été retenus en particulier, à partir desquels des stratégies de multi-recyclage des matières fissiles ont été élaborées. La production et le recyclage de l'233U exclusivement en RSM limitent l'économie annuelle d'Unat à 30% environ. Il a été mis en évidence que le besoin en plutonium des RSM producteurs d'233U est le facteur limitant. C'est pourquoi un dernier chapitre évalue comment la production d'233U au sein de REP, dès 2020, permet de favoriser la transition vers un cycle symbiotique REP/RSM en relâchant la contrainte sur les inventaires de plutonium. Cette stratégie laisse présager une économie annuelle de l'ordre de 65% d'Unat par rapport à la poursuite du mono-recyclage du MOX en REP.Within the framework of innovative neutronic conception of Pressurized Light Water Reactors (PWR) of 3rd generation, saving of natural resources is of paramount importance for sustainable nuclear energy production. This study consists in the one hand to design high Conversion Reactors exploiting mixed oxide fuels composed of thorium / uranium / plutonium, and in the other hand, to elaborate multirecycling strategies of both plutonium and 233U, in order to maximize natural resources economy. This study has two main objectives: first the design of High Conversion PWR (HCPWR) with mixed oxide fuels composed of thorium / uranium / plutonium, and secondly the setting up of multirecycling strategies of both plutonium and 233U, to better natural resources economy. The approach took place in four stages. Two ways of introducing thorium into PWR have been identified: the first is with low moderator to fuel volume ratios (MR) and ThPuO2 fuel, and the second is with standard or high MR and ThUO2 fuel. The first way led to the design of under-moderated HCPWR following the criteria of high 233U production and low plutonium consumption. This second step came up with two specific concepts, from which multirecycling strategies have been elaborated. The exclusive production and recycling of 233U inside HCPWR limits the annual economy of natural uranium to approximately 30%. It was brought to light that the strong need in plutonium in the HCPWR dedicated to 233U production is the limiting factor. That is why it was eventually proposed to study how the production of 233U within PWR (with standard MR), from 2020. It was shown that the anticipated production of 233U in dedicated PWR relaxes the constraint on plutonium inventories and favours the transition toward a symbiotic reactor fleet composed of both PWR and HCPWR loaded with thorium fuel. This strategy is more adapted and leads to an annual economy of natural uranium of about 65%

Semantic search meets the Web

While semantic search technologies have been proven to work well in specific domains, they still have to confront two main challenges to scale up to the Web in its entirety. In this work we address this issue with a novel semantic search system that a) provides the user with the capability to query Semantic Web information using natural language, by means of an ontology-based Question Answering (QA) system and b) complements the specific answers retrieved during the QA process with a ranked list of documents from the Web. Our results show that ontology based semantic search capabilities can be used to complement and enhance keyword search technologies

Normes et pratiques de gouvernement

International audienc

Normes et pratiques de gouvernement

International audienc

Are horses sensitive to humans’ emotional state during a leading task?

Prix du meilleur posterInternational audienceBoth humans and animals appear to be sensitive to cues displayed by each other while interacting and adapt their behaviours accordingly. However, very little is still known about the relevant elements that have to be considered when humans interact with horses. Here we investigated whether humans’ emotional state had an impact on horses’ heart rate and level of obedience in a simple leading task. Professionals (6 women, 2 men) and non-professionals (3 women, 3 men) were asked to lead a horse along a given path. Experiment 1 was performed on 8 professionals and 3 horses kept in natural conditions (site A); experiment 2 on 6 non-professionals and 13 horses, of which 5 from the site A and 8 from a riding school (site B). Humans’ and horses’ heart rates were recorded during the interaction. People also reported a posteriori on their positive (e.g. pleasure) and negative (e.g. fear) emotional states (questionnaire). Women reported on more satisfaction and more intense emotions than men (P<0.05). Interestingly, horses’ emotional states might be related to humans’ emotional states in women/horses dyads: heart rates of horses and women were higher in the site A than in the site B (P<0.05). Level of expertise also seems to be at stake in humans’ emotional states: non-professionals had lower heart rates and expressed less negative feelings (i.e. misunderstanding) than professionals (P<0.05). Horses however showed higher heart rates with non-professionals (P<0.001). These results suggest that horses are able to perceive humans’ emotional states. On-going analysis performed on horses’ behaviours will allow us to explore further the relationship between heart rates variations and the valence of the horses’ emotional states. The results reinforce the idea that knowledge of factors which might impact on humans’ emotions should be promoted, as appropriated emotions might be key elements to prevent accidents