173 research outputs found
Théorie et méthode de Tests des états logiques (TEL), preuve par les tests de logiciels ayant un comportement vectoriel
Programme, logiciel et cycle de vie -- Vérification, validation et tests -- Vérification des différentes phases du cycle de vie -- Transformation de l'énoncé du projet -- Erreurs -- Méthodes de vérification -- Tests -- Théorie des tests -- Tests en pratique -- Trois caractéristiques des programmes -- Théorie et méthode de "tests des états logiques " ou TEL
Introducing knowledge concepts in software process modeling
ABSTRACT: Software process is knowledge intensive. Nevertheless, knowledge concepts are rarely taken into account in software process modeling. This paper presents a new software process modeling approach, which takes into account the various conceptual knowledge required to perform a task. The approach is based on the Software & Systems Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM 2.0). It essentially adds knowledge attributes to existing relationships between roles, tasks and artifacts. Comparison between attributes for a given task provides information on the knowledge-gap between the SPEM elements involved. This information could be used in knowledge oriented project management to evaluate the risk associated to the knowledge gaps. A software tool has been implemented to facilitate the recording of various knowledge concepts while modeling the software process. Example of this approach is presented
DSL4SPM: Domain-specific language for software process modeling
This paper presents a novel formal approach to software process modeling based on the
Software Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM) for the syntactic aspect of a process model and a
domain-specific language (DSL) for the semantic aspect of the model. This approach provides a
conceptual framework for designing processes in a more abstract way and to enable process
implementation on various platforms. A Process-Centered Software Environment (PCSE) called
DSL4SPM (Domain-Specific Language for Software Process Modeling) is a plug-in tool which
satisfies the meta-requirements for Process Modeling Languages (PMLs). The key concept of the
DSL4SPM is the use of a toolbox, containing SPEM elements, to instantiate objects in a graphical
scene. The process model designer links these elements with relations, and defines the values of the
attributes required for both these and the objects, with the aim of arriving at a consolidated view of
the problem. An overview of the advantages of the approach is presented. With it, the process
manager is able to quickly and easily model a process from innovative perspectives, with the aim of
better understanding the risks associated with software development
Modélisation et simulation de processus de biologie moléculaire basée sur les réseaux de Pétri : une revue de littérature
Les réseaux de Pétri sont une technique
de simulation à événements discrets
développée pour la représentation de systÚmes et plus particuliÚrement de
leurs propriétés de concurrence et de synchronisation.
DiffĂ©rentes extensions Ă
la théorie initiale de cette méthode ont
été utilisées pour la modélisation de
processus de biologie moléculaire et de
rĂ©seaux mĂ©taboliques. Il sâagit des
extensions stochastiques, colorées, hybrides et fonctionnelles. Ce document
fait une premiÚre revue des différentes
approches qui ont été employées et des
systÚmes biologiques qui ont été modélisés grùce à celles-ci. De plus, le
contexte dâapplication et les objectif
s de modélisation de chacune sont
discutés
Mesure et analyse des activités collaboratives AD HOC retrouvées au cours d'un processus de génie logiciel
Les processus de génie logiciel
sont de nos jours de plus en plus objets de préoccupations
dans plusieurs organisations qui développent du logiciel. Le but du processus étant
dâaccroĂźtre la prĂ©dictibilitĂ© des Ă©chĂ©anciers, des coĂ»ts ainsi que de la qualitĂ© du logiciel
dĂ©veloppĂ©, les entreprises investissent dĂ©sormais une plus grande quantitĂ© dâargent et
dâeffort afin dâamĂ©liorer continuellement leur processus de dĂ©veloppement de logiciels.
Par ailleurs, beaucoup de chercheurs sâentendent pour dire que la rĂ©ussite de projets
informatiques ne dépend pas seulement de facteurs techniques, mais que certains aspects
humains auraient un impact tout aussi significatif, sinon plus. Parmi ces derniers, le travail
collaboratif au sein dâune Ă©quipe de dĂ©veloppement de logiciels a Ă©tĂ© identifiĂ© par plusieurs
comme ayant un impact majeur sur les chances de succĂšs dâun projet logiciel permettant Ă
une Ă©quipe de partager toute lâinformation nĂ©cessaire en vu de la
cristalliser
en un logiciel
de qualitĂ© qui correspondra aux attentes de lâusager tout en respectant les contraintes de
temps et dâargent. De plus, mĂȘme si une organisation possĂšde un processus de gĂ©nie
logiciel formel et bien dĂ©finit, des recherches empiriques ont dĂ©montrĂ© lâimportance
indĂ©niable que revĂȘtent les activitĂ©s collaboratives ad hoc au cours du dĂ©veloppement dâun
logiciel, importance qui se fait Ă©galement gravement ressentir dans un contexte de
développement distribué. Toutefois, ces derniÚres recherches ont omis de décrire la teneur
de ces activités collaboratives informelles et spontanées laissant de ce fait un vaste champ
de recherche en génie logiciel toujours inexploré.
Ce document prĂ©sente une recherche empirique, entreprise pour lâobtention dâune
maĂźtrise en
génie informatique,
qui
a prĂ©sentement cours dans le cadre dâune Ă©tude de cas
en profondeur dans lâindustrie et qui explore lâaspect du travail collaboratif en gĂ©nie logiciel,
plus spĂ©cifiquement les activitĂ©s collaboratives ad hoc retrouvĂ©es lors dâun processus de
développement de logiciels.
Cette recherche visera donc dans un premier temps à modéliser et caractériser les
activi
tés collaboratives ad hoc retrouvées au
cours dâun processus de gĂ©nie logiciel pour en
connaĂźtre lâimportance, le contenu, de mĂȘme quâen distinguer les activitĂ©s cognitives sous-jacentes impliquĂ©es. Cela constituera dans un deuxiĂšme temps de prĂ©ambule afin de
proposer des améliorations au processus observé dans le cadre de cette étude.
Pour ce faire, la stratĂ©gie de recherche proposĂ©e dans ce document sâappuie sur une
collecte de données provenant
de diverses sources dâinformation disponibles rendant ainsi
possible une triangulation de celles-ci pour en augmenter la validité. Finalement, une
seconde phase Ă cette recherche pourrait ĂȘtre menĂ©e afin de confirmer les hypothĂšses issues des thĂ©ories induites des donnĂ©es empiriques recueillies ou encore, afin dâimplanter
au sein dâune Ă©quipe pilote de nouvelles pratiques au processus observĂ© et visant Ă y
accroĂźtre lâefficacitĂ© sur le plan du travail collaboratif. Une seconde mesure pourrait enfin
avoir lieu afin de ressentir lâimpact des nouvelles pratiques et si
les rĂ©sultats sâavĂšrent
fructueux, elles pourraient par la suite
ĂȘtre appliquĂ©es Ă plus grande Ă©chelle.
Plus de détails sur nos motivations seront
trouvés dans ce document
suivis dâune
discussion sur la méthodologie de recherche employée, incluant nos méthodes de collecte
de donnĂ©es et plaçant Ă©galement une certaine emphase sur les techniques dâanalyse
utilisĂ©es pour dĂ©chiffrer lâimportante quantitĂ© de donnĂ©es amassĂ©es. Finalement, quelques
rĂ©sultats dâune analyse prĂ©liminaire seront
révélés, résultats qui
confirment tant la
pertinence des donnĂ©es que lâimportance du phĂ©nomĂšne observĂ©
A knowledge-based perspective for software process modeling
As the acquisition and sharing of knowledge form the backbone of the software development process, it is important to identify knowledge discrepancies between the process elements. Explicit representation of the knowledge components within a software process model can provide a means to expose these discrepancies. This paper presents an extension of the Software and System Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM), to be used as a new knowledge modeling layer. The approach, which is based on ontologies for knowledge representation, constitutes an explicit method for representing knowledge within process models. A concept matching indicator shows the state of the process model in terms of the concept gaps for each task within the process. This indicator could lead to more informed decision making and better management of the associated risks, in terms of team competency, documentation quality, and the training required to mitigate them
Home on the Range: Factors Explaining Partial Migration of African Buffalo in a Tropical Environment
Partial migration (when only some individuals in a population undertake seasonal migrations) is common in many species and geographical contexts. Despite the development of modern statistical methods for analyzing partial migration, there have been no studies on what influences partial migration in tropical environments. We present research on factors affecting partial migration in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in northeastern Namibia. Our dataset is derived from 32 satellite tracking collars, spans 4 years and contains over 35,000 locations. We used remotely sensed data to quantify various factors that buffalo experience in the dry season when making decisions on whether and how far to migrate, including potential man-made and natural barriers, as well as spatial and temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions. Using an information-theoretic, non-linear regression approach, our analyses showed that buffalo in this area can be divided into 4 migratory classes: migrants, non-migrants, dispersers, and a new class that we call âexpandersâ. Multimodel inference from least-squares regressions of wet season movements showed that environmental conditions (rainfall, fires, woodland cover, vegetation biomass), distance to the nearest barrier (river, fence, cultivated area) and social factors (age, size of herd at capture) were all important in explaining variation in migratory behaviour. The relative contributions of these variables to partial migration have not previously been assessed for ungulates in the tropics. Understanding the factors driving migratory decisions of wildlife will lead to better-informed conservation and land-use decisions in this area
Re-evaluation of blood mercury, lead and cadmium concentrations in the Inuit population of Nunavik (Québec): a cross-sectional study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arctic populations are exposed to mercury, lead and cadmium through their traditional diet. Studies have however shown that cadmium exposure is most often attributable to tobacco smoking. The aim of this study is to examine the trends in mercury, lead and cadmium exposure between 1992 and 2004 in the Inuit population of Nunavik (Northern QuĂ©bec, Canada) using the data obtained from two broad scale health surveys, and to identify sources of exposure in 2004.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2004, 917 adults aged between 18 and 74 were recruited in the 14 communities of Nunavik to participate to a broad scale health survey. Blood samples were collected and analysed for metals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and dietary and life-style characteristics were documented by questionnaires. Results were compared with data obtained in 1992, where 492 people were recruited for a similar survey in the same population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean blood concentration of mercury was 51.2 nmol/L, which represent a 32% decrease (p < 0.001) between 1992 and 2004. Mercury blood concentrations were mainly explained by age (partial r<sup>2 </sup>= 0.20; p < 0.0001), and the most important source of exposure to mercury was marine mammal meat consumption (partial r<sup>2 </sup>= 0.04; p < 0.0001). In 2004, mean blood concentration of lead was 0.19 ÎŒmol/L and showed a 55% decrease since 1992. No strong associations were observed with any dietary source, and lead concentrations were mainly explained by age (partial r<sup>2 </sup>= 0.20.; p < 0.001). Blood cadmium concentrations showed a 22% decrease (p < 0.001) between 1992 and 2004. Once stratified according to tobacco use, means varied between 5.3 nmol/L in never-smokers and 40.4 nmol/L in smokers. Blood cadmium concentrations were mainly associated with tobacco smoking (partial r<sup>2 </sup>= 0.56; p < 0.0001), while consumption of caribou liver and kidney remain a minor source of cadmium exposure among never-smokers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Important decreases in mercury, lead and cadmium exposure were observed. Mercury decrease could be explained by dietary changes and the ban of lead cartridges use likely contributed to the decrease in lead exposure. Blood cadmium concentrations remain high and, underscoring the need for intensive tobacco smoking prevention campaigns in the Nunavik population.</p
Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences
The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & NemĂ©sio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; NemĂ©sio 2009aâb; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported
by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on
18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based
researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016
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