Science & Mathematics

This thesis address the problem of scaling the generation of plans in real-time to control the behaviors of several millions of Non-Player Characters (NPCs) in video-games and virtual worlds. Search-based action planning, introduced in the game F.E.A.R. in 2005, has an exponential time complexity managing at most several tens of NPCs per frame and with short plans. I carried out a close study of the plans generated in first-person shooters and this study shows that: (1) states are vectors of enumerated values,(2) both initial and final states can be totally defined, (3) actions are both post-unique and unary, (4) plans are totally ordered, and (5) actions occur only once in plans. (1) to (3) satisfy the Simplified Action Structure (SAS) polynomial time planning framework but neither (4) nor (5): I thus present new restrictions satisfying (5) to this SAS planning framework and a new linear-time algorithm satisfying (4). Using experiments involving planning problems modelled from existing commercial video games, I show that my planner outperforms previous SAS planners and that it is indeed capable of building longer plans for several millions of NPCs in real-time.

Dans tous les grands pays industrialisés, la crise économique a eu pour conséquence une dégradation spectaculaire des finances publiques en raison de la chute brutale des recettes fiscales et de la mise en place de plans de relance et de mesures de soutien au système financier. Si aucun des six pays étudiés (France, Allemagne, Espagne, Royaume-Uni, États-Unis et Japon) n’est épargné par ce phénomène, en revanche l’ampleur du creusement du déficit et de la hausse de la dette publique diffère selon les pays. Le Royaume-Uni et l’Espagne sont les pays dont la situation budgétaire se dégraderait le plus. À l’inverse, les finances publiques de l’Allemagne et de la France connaîtraient une évolution moins défavorable. Néanmoins, aucun pays ne retrouverait en 2013 sa situation budgétaire d’avant la crise et la dette publique ne serait pas stabilisée à cet horizon. Mais la bonne politique budgétaire de sortie de crise nécessitera un pilotage macroéconomique qui ne se limitera pas au seul objectif de réduction de l’endettement public. La vitesse de réduction des déficits publics va en effet être déterminante sur la dynamique de croissance et le profil du chômage à moyen terme. Afin d’analyser les stratégies de sortie de crise dans les différents pays, l’étude détaille, à partir des informations budgétaires disponibles, l’évolution des finances publiques à court et moyen termes (horizon 2013) pour chaque pays ainsi que les contributions des différentes composantes au creusement des soldes publics (plans de relance, baisse de l’écart de production, diminution de l’élasticité des recettes fiscales au PIB...).

Scientists, artists and performers have explored the relationship between visuals and sound on numerous occasions, to try and find/define ways to fuse both sensory experiences together. Immersive technologies further amplify the possibilities for multimodal expression in performance contexts. While previous frameworks exist for the design of immersive musical instruments and audio-visual instruments independently, we believe that their combination raises specific concerns, which might prevent the exploration of expressive opportunities. In this article, we define the concept of Extended Reality Audio-Visual Instruments (XRAVI) and propose a framework for their analysis and design, based on the literature on audio-visual and extended reality instruments. We evaluate it through a collaborative autoethnographic work, where an initial shared instrument has been developed and practised following two different approaches: audio-first and visual-first. From it, we derive insights and guidelines for the design of XRAVI.

The logic behind the indirect channel of market discipline presumes that the pricing of bank debt in the secondary market, if accurate, conveys to supervisor and other market participants a reliable signal of bank's financial conditions and default risk. By collecting a unique dataset of spreads, ratings, and accounting measures of bank risk for a sample of large European banking organizations during the 1995—2002 period, we empirically test whether secondary market prices accurately reflect financial conditions of bank issuers. Our results complement the findings obtained by Sironi [Testing for market discipline in the European banking industry: Evidence from subordinated debt issues. Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking 35 (2003) 443-472] on the primary market of bank subordinated debt

Les limites heuristiques du concept d’invariant Célébrés comme une voie royale d’accès aux entités du monde, les invariants présentent du même coup deux limites notables pour la recherche : Ils supposent une stabilité des entités du monde, et s’inscrivent de ce point de vue dans un paradigme positiviste : ce que je dis du monde est le monde. Ils confondent étiquette et objet de l’étiquette, entité du monde telle qu’elle existe en dehors du point de vue des sujets, et objet du monde tel que construit mentalement et discursivement par/pour les sujets.

L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser l’évolution de la géographie de l’emploi en France métropolitaine, en exploitant des données par fonction d’emploi à l’échelle des aires urbaines sur période longue, avec un focus particulier sur les fonctions dites métropolitaines. Nous mobilisons plus précisément les données issues des recensements de 1982, 1990, 1999, 2009 et 2014. Nous retenons la typologie opérée par l’Insee qui agrège les 486 PCS 2003 en 15 fonctions d’emploi, elles-mêmes agrégées en 4 grandes fonctions : fabrication concrète, fonctions métropolitaines, fonctions présentielles et fonctions transversales. Ces données sont exploitées pour trois ensembles d’aires urbaines : l’ensemble des aires urbaines (AU771), les 68 plus grandes aires urbaines (aires de plus de 50 000 emplois, notées AU68), ces mêmes aires urbaines hors aire urbaine de Paris (AU67). Compte-tenu de l’hypertrophie francilienne caractéristique de la géographie française, nous commençons par analyser l’évolution du poids de l’aire urbaine de Paris dans l’économie du pays : nous montrons qu’il recule pour 13 des 15 fonctions d’emploi, les baisses relatives les plus marquées concernant 4 des 5 fonctions métropolitaines. Nous estimons ensuite des lois d’échelle pour nous prononcer sur l’évolution de la hiérarchie urbaine française dans son ensemble. Nous montrons que la hiérarchie urbaine des fonctions métropolitaines est globalement stable sur la période. L’analyse des résultats pour le sous-ensemble des cadres des fonctions métropolitaines, plus hétérogènes, ne permettent pas d’apporter de conclusions sensiblement différentes. Au final, l’hypothèse d’un accroissement du processus de métropolisation paraît devoir être rejetée.

The effect of the exchange interaction on the vibrational properties and on the electron–phonon coupling were investigated in several recent works. In most of the cases, exchange tends to enhance the electron–phonon interaction, although the motivations for such behaviour are not completely understood. Here we consider the class of weakly doped two-dimensional multivalley semiconductors and we demonstrate that a more global picture emerges. In particular we show that in these systems, at low enough doping, even a moderate electron–electron interaction enhances the response to any perturbation inducing a valley polarization. If the valley polarization is due to the electron–phonon coupling, the electron–electron interaction results in an enhancement of the superconducting critical temperature. We demonstrate the applicability of the theory by performing random phase approximation and first principles calculations in transition metal chloronitrides. We find that exchange is responsible for the enhancement of the superconducting critical temperature in Li x ZrNCl and that much larger T c s could be obtained in intercalated HfNCl if the synthesis of cleaner samples could remove the Anderson insulating state competing with superconductivity.

Between 1948 and 1959, several laws were implemented in order to introduce a first coherence in the adult education device. In the same time, a new idea, this of éducation permanente (permanent education) was emerging and getting sense in different social spheres. Before detailing the content, the dissemination then the decline of this idea, we would like to stress the tremendous hope of social transformation that many social actors put in the permanent education project. Through permanent education it was question to take up the challenge of the educative system crisis, to change the pedagogic relation, to “awake”, to open to a richer life... Permanent education, that was for some of these actors the main of 1971 law will, under economical pressure and stakes, be relegated in the background, then progressively forgotten to the benefit of other more narrow and immediate aims

The conservation and new display of the wooden panels of Hesy-ra (Room 27, Egyptian Museum, Cairo), led by IFAO and the Supreme Council of Antiquities, offered fresh insights into these unique artifacts. Previously unnoticed details reveal how these images functioned within a broader architectural and ritual context. The writing set worn by Hesy-ra-unique among elite tombs-suggests a symbolic link to royal power and ceremonies like the sed festival. The article reviews the mastaba (Saqqara 2405), the panels and their niches, Hesy-ra's titles, and the original layout. It argues that the tomb served not only as a celebration of Hesy-ra's identity and cult focus but also as a ritual space where he, bearing royal insignia, was symbolically tied to the king's body and rites.

Future generation networks will entirely deploy virtualization paradigms to enhance performance and capabilities of current cellular networks. In order to achieve the vision of fifth-generation networks, software-defined networking and network function virtualization will be applied not only at the core network but also at the radio access network. That will help to achieve significant reduction in power consumption while increasing energy efficiency, flexibility, and scalability. This article proposes a general mathematical model that can correctly and accurately describe spatial/topological characteristics, power consumption, and latency of Cloud radio access network in future generation networks. Thanks to the development of this novel model based on stochastic geometry, tessellation theory, and random multilayer hypergraphs, we can numerically estimate the overall energy efficiency (in bit per Joule) of Cloud radio access network in 5G (considering either edge or cloud computing), and we can compare that to energy efficiency of legacy radio access network of current 4G cellular networks. Moreover, the analysis includes a preliminary discussion about latency; that shows edge computing to be the best paradigm for 5G radio access network, which can concurrently satisfy energy efficiency and latency requirements.

À la suite du confinement de mars 2020, lié à la pandémie de COVID-19, le dispositif « alerte pharmacie » a été déployé dans toutes les officines de France afin de venir en aide aux victimes de violences conjugales, parfois isolées avec leur agresseur. Les pharmaciens, rarement formés sur le sujet, ont dû se sensibiliser à cette nouvelle mission, dans un contexte de crise sanitaire particulièrement tendu. Ce travail dresse, tout d’abord, un état des lieux de la littérature sur le sujet des violences conjugales. Puis, à travers une enquête qualitative, un retour d’expérience des équipes officinales dans le repérage et l’accompagnement des victimes de violences conjugales a été recueilli sous la forme d’entretiens individuels. Ainsi, onze membres d’équipes officinales et une Présidente d’association d’aide aux victimes ont témoigné de leurs expériences. Les verbatim ont été entièrement retranscrits en vue de l’analyse. Les trois-quarts des interrogés avaient déjà entendu parler du dispositif « alerte pharmacie ». Toutefois, cette enquête a révélé un niveau de connaissances insuffisant de ce dispositif par les interrogés. En effet, ces derniers ont déploré le manque de communication et de formation sur le sujet des violences conjugales. Ils se montrent toutefois ouverts et légitimes pour participer à cette mission de santé publique.

Rhinocypha togeanensis sp. nov. (Figs 9, 71–76, 83) Rhinocypha sp. B. — GÜNTHER (2008a): 49, 86, 89–94. Material studied Holotype ♂ (AG no. Indon 11/1999, JvT 33391). » Indonesia, Sulawesi. To- gian Is., Batudaka, Wakai, Sg. Tanimpo, S 0°26’ S / E 121°52’), 27.08.1999, leg. A. Günther « (in RMNH) [with identification Rhinocypha sp. B] (Fig. 71). Paratypes (11♂ 6♀) Sulawesi Tengah 7♂ 4♀, Togian Is., Batudaka, Wakai, Sungai Tanimpo (0°26’S, 121°52’E), 13–14- -viii-1994, leg. A. Günther & F. Randow (in AGPC); 4♂ 1♀, Togian Is., Batudaka, Wakai, Sungai Tanimpo (0°26’S, 121°52’E), 24–27-viii-1999, leg. A. Günther (in AGPC); 1♀, same data as holotype (in RMNH). Etymology Togeanensis, an adjective based on the type locality Kepulauan Togean (also: Togian Islands). Diagnosis Male with head and pronotum very dark, mandibles entirely black, head with only small sub-quadrangular blue spot on gena and minute creamy spots beside lateral ocelli and on post-ocular lobe; pronotum and mesopreepisternum black; synthorax with irregular narrow blue stripe; opaque brownish black parts, with blue metallic sheen, in hind wing from Rs (some- what more distal at hind margin); abdomen dorsum black; sides with large blue markings, decreasing in size on S6–S8. Males can be distinguished from the R. frontalis -complex by the absence of blue markings on the frons, absence of an ante-humeral stripe, and shape of band on synthorax; from R. monochroa by the fully black mandibles and the absence of a ventral pro- jection along the metapleural suture; from R. phantasma and R. virgulata by a fully black dorsum of the abdomen (no pruinescence or blue rings anteri- orly on segments), from R. flavipoda by the black pronotum, and the white tibiae of mid and hind legs, and from R. pelengensis by the black mandibles, the completely black pronotum, the more extensive opaque patches on the wings and the larger blue spots on the abdomen. Females of R. togeanensis can be recognized by the absence of any pale marks on the pronotum; it is most similar to the female of R. monochroa, with which it shares the extensive black coloration and the markings on syn- thorax and abdomen. However, R. monochroa has large blue spots on the mandibles (small and creamish in R. togeanensis), and usually distinct pale markings on the pronotum (may be obscured in some specimens); the transparent distal part of the fore wing is usually distinctly larger in R. monochroa. Description Male (holotype) [note: the type was previously pinned through the mid- dle of the thorax; some parts bearing diagnostic characters were damaged] (Fig. 71) Head (Fig. 72) — Black, anteriorly weakly lustrous, dorsally velvet black; gena with small, sub-oval blue marking, touching eyes and with short ven- tral projection; minute oblong creamy spots behind lateral ocelli, and about size of ocelli; spots on post-ocular lobe smaller, just discernable. Thorax — Pronotum (Fig. 73) entirely velvet black, without any trace of pale markings. Synthorax (Fig. 74). Mesopreepisternum glossy black. Synthorax dull black with irregular blue band from ventro-posterior corner of mesokatepisternum to ventro-posterior corner of metepimeron; anterior side on metepisternum with narrow black interruption to mesokatepisternum; dor- sal side of band irregular, ventrally running just below metathoracic spira- cle, metakatepisternum black; stripe over metepimeron bent ventrad distal to metakatepisternum, leaving a narrow black border ventrally; irregular dorsal side of stripe without dorso-posteriorly directed projection. Legs (right mid leg missing) — Black, with distal ⁵/₆ of inner sides of tibiae of mid and hind legs white. Wings — Dark brownish black with blue metallic sheen from around the nodus in fore wing, and Ax5 in hind wing to the wing tip; opaque part me- dially extended approximately to level of Ax10 in fore wing, and to fork of Rs in hind wing, but leaving the quadrangle transparent; transparent base of wings enfumed dark brown; pterostigma of fore and hind wings brown. Abdomen (Fig. 75) — Dorsum black; sides with extensive blue markings; marking on segment 1 sub-quadrangular, ventrally somewhat irregular; that on S2 covering most of side and leaving only a small black triangle in ventro-anterior corner; markings on S3–S5 covering sides nearly completely, except the intersegmental annulae; marking on S6 ventrally over full length of segment, dorsally tapered posteriorly; markings on S7–S8 similar to S6, but increasingly smaller; S9 with just a very small pale marking at an- terior margin; S10 and anal appendages black. Measurements [mm] — Hind wing length 22.0, hind wing width 5.5; abdomen (including appendages) 19.0. Female (AG Indon 13/1999, JvT 33392) Head (Fig. 76) — Black; pale parts more extensive than in the male; man- dibles medially with small, oblong creamish spot; gena with creamish, rec- tangular spot touching eye margins, ventrally somewhat extended along eye margin; narrow stripe along eye margin at level of antennae, not connected with marking on gena; dorsum of head velvet black with creamy spots near lateral ocelli and on post-ocular lobe as in male. Thorax — Pronotum black without any pale marks. Synthorax. Mesopreepisternum black. Base colour of synthorax black, semimatt with some metallic sheen; mesepisternum black without markings; mesepimeron with short and narrow cream stripe posteriorly, about the length of this stripe from hind margin; band over metepisternum and met- epimeron narrow, creamy white with some blue tones; band consists anteri- orly of small spot in ventro-posterior corner of mesokatepisternum, continues over metepisternum and metepimeron with short black interruption on suture between mesokatepisternum and metepisternum; ventral and dorsal sides of band subtly irregular, dorsally ending against hind margin halfway metepimeron, ventrally running under metathoracic spiracle, continuing posteriad well from the lower margin of metepimeron, and ending against hind margin. Legs — Black, somewhat shiny. Wings — Very dark. Base of fore wing transparent approximately to level of Arculus, but costal space transparent to level of nodus; tip of fore wing transparent distal to Px24, tip subtly opaque white; hind wing semi-transparent basal to Arculus, strongly enfumed dark brown, rest of wing opaque dark brown, but tip distal to distal side of pterostigma transparent and clear; pterostigma of fore and hind wings with basal half brown, anteriorly nar- rower, distal part opaque white. Abdomen — Dark brown with relatively small pale (cream) markings: S1 with sub-oval spot against hind margin, covering approximately ¼ of segment; S2 and S3 with a short pale stripe close to lower margin of segment, about ⅓ of the segment length; small sub-triangular or sub-oval spots lat- ero-posteriorly on segment; S3–S7 with a minute oblong spot medioante- riorly on each segment; S4–S7 with a short stripe close to lower margin of tergite, length of this stripe about ⅓ of length of segment; S8–S10 black. Measurements Measurements of male specimens [mm] — Hind wing length (n = 5) x= 21.5 (20.5–22.0), hind wing width (n = 5) x= 6.0 (5.5–6.0), abdomen length (in- cluding appendages) (n = 5) x= 18.5 (17.5–19.5). Measurements of female specimens [mm] — Hind wing length (n = 3) x = 23.0 (22.0–24.0), hind wing width (n= 3) x=6.0 (6.0–6.5), abdomen length (including appendages) (n = 3) x= 17.5 (17.5–18.0). Distribution and habitat Known from only one river on the island of Batudaka, one of the Togian Islands (Fig. 83). On Batudaka it was found only on Sungai Tanimpo south of Wakai village (Fig. 14). In 1994 and 1999 the habitat was a fast-flowing shallow stream of about 3–4 m in width within undisturbed evergreen lowland rainforest. Important habitat requirements were apparently large broken logs stand- ing in the water. Above a small waterfall (‘Air terjun Wakai’, 0°26’10.1”S, 121°51’36.1”E) the stream was characterized by small cascades, pools and shallow, but still flowing sections with a bed of gravel. Below the water- fall, the character changed increasingly to a sandy lowland stream. Rhinocypha togeanensis was absent in lower (sandy) reaches of the still fast flow- ing Sungai Tanimpo within disturbed primary forest, secondary forests and plantations.Current Google EarthTM images show that the site has now been largely deforested. Behaviour Detailed observations of the reproductive behaviour were recorded by GÜNTHER (2001, 2008a) on Batudaka (Togian islands) sub » Rhinocypha sp. B«. The behaviour of the males was basically similar to R. frontalis. They maintained small territories around driftwood and twigs lying in the water, but mostly around large logs in the stream. The agonistic display consisted mainly of threat flights with synchronous stroking wing beats. In contrast to R. frontalis, the flight pattern includes an additional vertical component when males alternately or simultaneously ascend and descend while facing each other. Due to the highly visible blue iridescent patches on the hind wings, pairs of fighting males were very conspicuous, their sparkling wing colours visible from some distance. During courtship males led the females into their territories.After mating, the females left the male territories.All recorded oviposition took place unguarded on the large logs well above the water surface. Aggregations of females at these oviposition sites were regularly observed.