Altran

About: Altran is a company organization based out in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Software development & Formal verification. The organization has 488 authors who have published 512 publications receiving 6395 citations.

User Behavior Analysis Using IoT Data

Abstract: While the number of connected objects in the world of Internet of Thing (IoT) is increasing, an efficient and intelligent solution to exploit the huge amount of generated data does not exist Smart homes powered by IoT devises are able to automate and monitor the every day activities of home owners, and improve the life quality especially for elderly and disabled people In this paper, we propose a machine learning based model in order to analyze the IoT data and to provide data-driven services Hence, this will make it possible to extract meaningful information from data and make intelligent decisions in smart environments Then, the proposed model is evaluated using collected data from IoT devices based on different communication protocols

An Ad-Hoc ‘Technology-Driven’ Creativity Method

Abstract: In innovation, many actors look for ways to generate new ideas i.e. to support creativity. In this paper we present a work conducted in a project that is “technology-driven”. A new haptic technology is in search of a context of use. As ergonomists and designers we tried two methodologies to support ideation. The first one is a rather classical creativity session in a ‘focus group’. The second one is ‘technology-driven’ as it is first based on the experience with the prototype. The technology-driven methodology is divided in two steps. In the first one the participants experience the new haptic technology and try to imagine relevant use cases. The second step is another interview occurring a couple of days after the first one, where the participants report if they found any new use case between the two interviews. The conclusions show that both methodologies are very complementary. In the creativity session, the quantity of produced use cases is higher and more ‘out of the box’. In the technology-driven, the ideas of use-case are more aligned with the haptic technology.

NetButler: Voice-Based Edge/Cloud Virtual Assistant for Home Network Management

Abstract: Virtual assistants (VA) are becoming a standard tool in many aspects of our daily lives that require technical support. Voice-based VAs in particular, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, have become common in smart phones and domestic IoT devices (e.g., Google Home, Amazon Echo), replying to user inquiries (e.g., weather forecast) or performing simple services (e.g., play music). Through dedicated interfaces, VAs can be used or extended to support new services, and one particular area typically requiring assistance is the management of home networks. Activating specific features or troubleshooting connectivity problems may be difficult or impossible for users that are not tech-savvy. In this paper we introduce NetButler, a voice-based virtual assistant tailored to support the management of home networks, that leverages a third-party cloud-based voice service (Alexa) and dedicated routines at the home gateway. Offered functionalities are the setup of a guest network and diagnosis of connectivity problems, by quantifying the signal strength of the devices in the local network and performing a throughput test to an external server. We evaluate the user experience with the NetButler system with 8 test users. We report an average of up to 15 s to set up a guest network and between 30 to 60 s to diagnose various problems, and we find overall user satisfaction to be 3.75 in a 1-to-5 scale by means of a after-interaction questionnaire.

Explicit estimates versus numerical bounds for the electrical conductivity of dispersions with dissimilar particle shape and distribution

Abstract: An effective-medium theory for the electrical conductivity of Ohmic dispersions taking explicit account of particle shape and spatial distribution independently is available from the work of Ponte Castaneda and Willis [J Mech Phys Solids 43:1919–1951, 1996]. When both shape and distribution take particular “ellipsoidal” forms, the theory provides analytically explicit estimates. The purpose of the present work is to evaluate the predictive capabilities of these estimates when dispersions exhibit dissimilar particle shape and distribution. To this end, comparisons are made with numerical bounds for coated ellipsoid assemblages computed via the finite element method. It is found that estimates and bounds exhibit good agreement for the entire range of volume fractions, aspect ratios, and conductivity contrasts considered, including those limiting values corresponding to an isotropic distribution of circular cracks. The fact that the explicit estimates lie systematically within the numerical bounds hints at their possible realizability beyond the class of isotropic dispersions.

First off‐time treatment prostate‐specific antigen kinetics predicts survival in intermittent androgen deprivation for prostate cancer

Abstract: BACKGROUND Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time is relying on an exponential kinetic pattern. This pattern has never been validated in the setting of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD). Objective is to analyze the prognostic significance for PCa of recurrent patterns in PSA kinetics in patients undergoing IAD. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on 377 patients treated with IAD. On-treatment period (ONTP) consisted of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist injections combined with oral androgen receptor antagonist. Off-treatment period (OFTP) began when PSA was lower than 4 ng/ml. ONTP resumed when PSA was higher than 20 ng/ml. PSA values of each OFTP were fitted with three basic patterns: exponential (PSA(t) = λ.eαt), linear (PSA(t) = a.t), and power law (PSA(t) = a.tc). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression model analyzed predictive factors for oncologic outcomes. RESULTS Only 45% of the analyzed OFTPs were exponential. Linear and power law PSA kinetics represented 7.5% and 7.7%, respectively. Remaining fraction of analyzed OFTPs (40%) exhibited complex kinetics. Exponential PSA kinetics during the first OFTP was significantly associated with worse oncologic outcome. The estimated 10-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 46% for exponential versus 80% for nonexponential PSA kinetics patterns. The corresponding 10-year probability of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was 69% and 31% for the two patterns, respectively. Limitations include retrospective design and mixed indications for IAD. CONCLUSION PSA kinetic fitted with exponential pattern in approximately half of the OFTPs. First OFTP exponential PSA kinetic was associated with a shorter time to CRPC and worse CSS. Prostate 76:13–21, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.