Log-based mining techniques applied to Web service composition reengineering

Web service compositions are becoming more and more complex, involving numerous interacting ad-hoc services. These services are often implemented as business processes themselves. By analysing such complex web service compositions one is able to better understand, control and eventually re-design them. Our contribution to this problem is a mining algorithm, based on a statistical technique to discover composite web service patterns from execution logs. Our approach is characterised by a “local” pattern’s discovery that covers partial results through a dynamic programming algorithm. Those locally discovered patterns are then composed iteratively until the composite Web service is discovered. The analysis of the disparities between the discovered model and the initial ad-hoc composite model (delta-analysis) enables initial design gaps to be detected and thus to re-engineer the initial Web service composition.     

Ground state of the time-independent Gross-Pitaevskii equation

We present a suite of programs to determine the ground state of the time-independent Gross-Pitaevskii equation, used in the simulation of Bose-Einstein condensates. The calculation is based on the Optimal Damping Algorithm, ensuring a fast convergence to the true ground state. Versions are given for the one-, two-, and three-dimensional equation, using either a spectral method, well suited for harmonic trapping potentials, or a spatial grid.

Program summary

Program title: GPODACatalogue identifier: ADZN_v1_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADZN_v1_0.htmlProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. IrelandLicensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.htmlNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 5339No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 19 426Distribution format: tar.gzProgramming language: Fortran 90Computer: ANY (Compilers under which the program has been tested: Absoft Pro Fortran, The Portland Group Fortran 90/95 compiler, Intel Fortran Compiler)RAM: From <1 MB in 1D to ∼¹⁰² MB for a large 3D gridClassification: 2.7, 4.9External routines: LAPACK, BLAS, DFFTPACKNature of problem: The order parameter (or wave function) of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is obtained, in a mean field approximation, by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) [F. Dalfovo, S. Giorgini, L.P. Pitaevskii, S. Stringari, Rev. Mod. Phys. 71 (1999) 463]. The GPE is a nonlinear Schrödinger-like equation, including here a confining potential. The stationary state of a BEC is obtained by finding the ground state of the time-independent GPE, i.e., the order parameter that minimizes the energy. In addition to the standard three-dimensional GPE, tight traps can lead to effective two- or even one-dimensional BECs, so the 2D and 1D GPEs are also considered.Solution method: The ground state of the time-independent of the GPE is calculated using the Optimal Damping Algorithm [E. Cancès, C. Le Bris, Int. J. Quantum Chem. 79 (2000) 82]. Two sets of programs are given, using either a spectral representation of the order parameter [C.M. Dion, E. Cancès, Phys. Rev. E 67 (2003) 046706], suitable for a (quasi) harmonic trapping potential, or by discretizing the order parameter on a spatial grid.Running time: From seconds in 1D to a few hours for large 3D grids     

Combining ergonomics, culture and scenario for the design of a cooperation platform

Analyzing the way computer technologies are used is crucial for their development. Such analyses make it possible to evaluate these technologies and enhance their evolution. The present article presents some ideas drawn from the development of a cooperation platform for elementary school children (10–11 years old). On the basis of an obvious ergonomic requirement, we worked on two other dimensions: cultural aspects and the teaching scenario. The goal was to set up observation situations and analyze the conversations produced during those situations, in order to understand what using the platform meant to both the pupils and their teachers.

Using visual cues of contact to improve interactive manipulation of virtual objects in industrial assembly/maintenance simulations

This paper describes a set of visual cues of contact designed to improve the interactive manipulation of virtual objects in industrial assembly/maintenance simulations. These visual cues display information of proximity, contact and effort between virtual objects when the user manipulates a part inside a digital mock-up. The set of visual cues encloses the apparition of glyphs (arrow, disk, or sphere) when the manipulated object is close or in contact with another part of the virtual environment. Light sources can also be added at the level of contact points. A filtering technique is proposed to decrease the number of glyphs displayed at the same time. Various effects--such as change in color, change in size, and deformation of shape- can be applied to the glyphs as a function of proximity with other objects or amplitude of the contact forces. A preliminary evaluation was conducted to gather the subjective preference of a group of participants during the simulation of an automotive assembly operation. The collected questionnaires showed that participants globally appreciated our visual cues of contact. The changes in color appeared to be preferred concerning the display of distances and proximity information. Size changes and deformation effects appeared to be preferred in terms of perception of contact forces between the parts. Last, light sources were selected to focus the attention of the user on the contact areas.     

Détermination du facteur de multiplication M pour un fonctionnement optimal des photodétecteurs à avalanche

The purpose of this paper is relative to the determination of the multiplication factor Mfor an optimum behaviour of the avalanche photodetector. Two types of avalanche photodetector s are compared: a silicon structure n ⁺ πpπp ⁺ Read diode and a GaAlAs heterostructure. Calculating the Noise Equivalent Power (nep)of the whole system, the law S_i(f) =2q I_phoM_x is used, where the parameter x is determined experimentally in both avalanche photodetectors. The exponent x (between 2 and 4) dominates in the nep expression and the ideal nep for the avalanche photodetector system is obtained when x equals 2.     

Analysis of the El Niño Effect on the Discharge of Selected Rivers in the Asia-Pacific Region

Abstract

Discharge records originating from 78 rivers within the Asia-Pacific region are used to assess a possible relationship between a temporal El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Index and regional discharges of rivers. The rivers selected have long monthly discharge series and are geographically distributed throughout the whole region. Analyses of variance are used to identify the sub-regions most teleconnected to the ENSO signal. Composite analyses show the temporal patterns of the relationships between river discharge and the ENSO signal and the possible presence of a time lagged relationship. The analyses show that the rivers of the Oceania-Pacific region are the most affected and that a majority of rivers show a similar temporal pattern, thus allowing the construction of a regional composite streamflow index. The temporal patterns of the identified relationships demonstrate the possibility of forecasting the occurrence of abnormally high or low flows (floods/droughts) months ahead of time.     

Extracting Hidden Context

Concept drift due to hidden changes in context complicates learning in many domains including financial prediction, medical diagnosis, and communication network performance. Existing machine learning approaches to this problem use an incremental learning, on-line paradigm. Batch, off-line learners tend to be ineffective in domains with hidden changes in context as they assume that the training set is homogeneous. An off-line, meta-learning approach for the identification of hidden context is presented. The new approach uses an existing batch learner and the process of contextual clustering to identify stable hidden contexts and the associated context specific, locally stable concepts. The approach is broadly applicable to the extraction of context reflected in time and spatial attributes. Several algorithms for the approach are presented and evaluated. A successful application of the approach to a complex flight simulator control task is also presented.     

电场对Al-Mn-Mg合金的微结构和织构形成的影响

利用透射电子显微镜观察(TEM)和X射线衍射技术(ODFs分析),研究了电场对Al-Mn-Mg合金的回复和再结晶组织演变、再结晶织构的形成和发展的影响.结果表明,电场对再结晶的影响其强度有一个门槛值(3～4 kV/cm),低于此值电场对该合金的再结晶没有明显的影响.强度为4 kV/cm的电场对再结晶形核的影响较大,可抑制Al-Mn-Mg合金的回复和再结晶,促进再结晶立方织构的形成.其主要原因是电场降低了各取向的形变储能,推迟了再结晶进程,抑制储存能小的取向晶核的形成和长大,促进储存能大的S取向晶粒向立方织构择优生长.     

Book reviews

Abstract

When news of the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi circulated through New Delhi on 30 January 1948, Margaret Bourke-White, one of Life magazine's premier photographers, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, then a comparatively unknown French photojournalist, raced to Birla House, where the event occurred. Both understood the journalistic imperative of photographing Gandhi's body. Because of their different philosophical and technical approaches to photography, they responded to the challenge in different ways and produced very different results. This study compares their ideas, approaches, and results. It also offers a case study of one of Cartier-Bresson' s most important news reportages.¹