Generalized Bayesian inference in a fuzzy context: From theory to a virtual reality application

A generalized Bayesian inference framework in order to embed fuzzy sets and partial probabilistic information is provided. The general framework of reference is that of coherent conditional probabilities, which allows giving a rigorous interpretation of membership function as a conditional probability, regarded as a function of the conditioning event. The inferential problem needs to be studied in situations where the prior can be partial; moreover, membership and prior can be given on different classes of events. This inferential model is applied for the virtual representation of a female avatar.     

Independence and Possibilistic Conditioning

There is not a unique definition of a conditional possibility distribution since the concept of conditioning is complex and many papers have been conducted to define conditioning in a possibilistic framework. In most cases, independence has been also defined and studied by means of a kind of analogy with the probabilistic case. In [2,4], we introduce conditional possibility as a primitive concept by means of a function whose domain is a set of conditional events. In this paper, we define a concept of independence associated with this form of conditional possibility and we show that classical properties required for independence concepts are satisfied.     

Experimental Study of an Adding Interferometer at Millimeter Waves

In order to study an original detection architecture for future cosmology experiments based on wide band adding interferometry, we have tested a single baseline bench instrument based on commercial components. The instrument has been characterized in the laboratory with a wide band power detection setup. A method which allows us to reconstruct the complete transfer function of the interferometer has been developed and validated with measurements. This scheme is useful to propagate the spurious effects of each component till the output of the detector.     

Oxygen evolution on electrodeposited cobalt oxides

This paper concerns the preparation of cobalt oxides through anodic deposition from Co(NO3)2 aqueous solutions on different substrates. The electroformed oxide films exhibit good chemical stability and lower oxygen overvoltages, irrespective of the substrate material. Electrocatalytic properties are investigated through polarisation curves and impedance measurements, while the active surface area is estimated by cyclic voltammetry. Experimental data are analysed in terms of a possible reaction mechanism.     

Lightweight validation of natural language requirements

In this paper, we report on our experiences of using lightweight formal methods for the partial validation of natural language requirements documents. We describe our approach to checking properties of models obtained by shallow parsing of natural language requirements, and apply it to a case study based on part of a NASA specification of the Node Control Software on the International Space Station. The experience reported supports our position that it is feasible and useful to perform automated analysis of requirements expressed in natural language. Indeed, we identified a number of errors in our case study that were also independently discovered and corrected by NASA's Independent Validation and Verification Facility in a subsequent version of the same document, and others that were not discovered. The paper describes the techniques we used, the errors we found and reflects on the lessons learned. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Systematic Analysis of Natural Language Requirements with CIRCE

This paper presents Circe, an environment for the analysis of natural language requirements. Circe is first presented in terms of its architecture, based on a transformational paradigm. Details are then given for the various transformation steps, including (i) a novel technique for parsing natural language requirements, and (ii) an expert system based on modular agents, embodying intensional knowledge about software systems in general. The result of all the transformations is a set of models for the requirements document, for the system described by the requirements, and for the requirements writing process. These models can be inspected, measured, and validated against a given set of criteria. Some of the features of the environment are shown by means of an example. Various stages of requirements analysis are covered, from initial sketches to pseudo-code and UML models.     

In vitro impairment of interleukin-5 production in HLA-B8, DR3-positive individuals implications for immunoglobulin A synthesis dysfunction

Healthy subjects carrying the HLA-B8,DR3 haplotype may show a large number of immune dysfunctions. Concerning T-cell dysfunctions, the most intriguing is a defect of the early phases of T-cell activation, responsible for the impairment of in vitro mitogen-stimulated cytokine production. Regarding B-cell dysfunctions, one the most fascinating topics is the association between this haplotype and IgA deficiency in healthy blood donors. Accordingly, HLA-B8,DR3-positive healthy subjects show significantly lower values of serum IgA than HLA-B8,DR3-negative ones. Because IL-5 is a stimulating factor for the secretion of IgA by committed B cells, we have analyzed the in vitro mitogen-stimulated IL-5 production by MNCs from healthy HLA-B8,DR3-positive individuals to study whether they display an impaired production of IL-5. The results clearly demonstrate that MNCs from HLA-B8,DR3-positive individuals display significant reduction of IL-5 production, suggesting that IgA synthesis dysregulation observed in HLA-B8,DR3-positive subjects could be due to an impairment of IL-5 production.     

COMPCHEM: Progress Towards GEMS a Grid Empowered Molecular Simulator and Beyond

Foundations and structure of the building blocks of GEMS, the ab initio molecular simulator designed for implementation on the EGEE computing Grid, are analyzed. The impact of the computational characteristics of the codes composing its blocks (the calculation of the ab initio potential energy values, the integration of the dynamics equations of the nuclear motion, and the statistical averaging of microscopic information to evaluate the relevant observable properties) on their Grid implementation when using rigorous ab initio quantum methods are discussed. The requests prompted by this approach for new computational developments are also examined by considering the present implementation of the simulator that is specialized in atom diatom reactive exchange processes.     

Synthesis of stable analogues of geranylgeranyl diphosphate possessing a (Z,E,E)-geranylgeranyl side chain, docking analysis, and biological assays for prenyl protein transferase inhibition

Herein, we report the synthesis of novel stable analogues of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), in which the "natural" all-trans geranylgeranyl portion has been replaced by a (Z,E,E)-geranylgeranyl chain. The change in configuration and consequent change in the relative position of the polar portion with the lipophilic side chain did not improve the properties of the E,E,E analogues in their inhibition of geranylgeranyl protein transferase I (GGTase I). However, a significant level of GGTase I inhibition and selectivity for GGTase I over farnesyl transferase (FTase) was maintained the unsubstituted phosphonoacetamidoxy derivative 4 a. This has shed light on the relative importance of the configuration at the C2=C3 double bond among GGPP derivatives. Moreover, the biological activities of all the compounds reported herein, in particular the preferential FTase inhibitory activity shown by compound 6, were in good agreement with the results of docking analysis.