Temporal Point Of View Research Articles

Implementation of a constant‐time dynamic storage allocator

AbstractThis paper describes the design criteria and implementation details of a dynamic storage allocator for real‐time systems. The main requirements that have to be considered when designing a new allocator are concerned with temporal and spatial constraints. The proposed algorithm, called TLSF (two‐level segregated fit), has an asymptotic constant cost, O(1), maintaining a fast response time (less than 200 processor instructions on a x86 processor) and a low level of memory usage (low fragmentation). TLSF uses two levels of segregated lists to arrange free memory blocks and an incomplete search policy. This policy is implemented with word‐size bitmaps and logical processor instructions. Therefore, TLSF can be categorized as a good‐fit allocator. The incomplete search policy is shown also to be a good policy in terms of fragmentation. The fragmentation caused by TLSF is slightly smaller (better) than that caused by best fit (which is one of the best allocators regarding memory fragmentation). In order to evaluate the proposed allocator, three analyses are presented in this paper. The first one is based on worst‐case scenarios. The second one provides a detailed consideration of the execution cost of the internal operations of the allocator and its fragmentation. The third analysis is a comparison with other well‐known allocators from the temporal (number of cycles and processor instructions) and spatial (fragmentation) points of view. In order to compare them, a task model has been presented. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SAKURA-Viewer: Intelligent Order History Viewer Based on Two-Viewpoint Architecture

We propose a new intelligent order history viewer applied to consolidating and visualizing data. SAKURA-viewer is a highly effective tool, as: 1) it visualizes both the semantic viewpoint and the temporal viewpoint of patient records simultaneously; 2) it promotes awareness of contextual information among the daily data; and 3) it implements patient-centric data entry methods. This viewer contributes to decrease the user's workload in an order entry system. This viewer is now incorporated into an order entry system being run on an experimental basis. We describe the evaluation of this system using results of a user satisfaction survey, analysis of information consolidation within the database, and analysis of the frequency of use of data entry methods.

Technology assessment in a complex world

Originally, the Technology Assessment (TA) concept was aimed at developing a scientifically based and research-oriented consultancy, analysing current and potential societal impacts of technological innovations. In the opinion of the authors, this basic concept, based on the principles of research, assessment and advice, has still not become outdated. However, the further differentiation of scientific and technological 'progress' results in problems that change the relation of the intended goals of technology and the unintended consequences. This change cannot only be assessed as cognitive phenomenon but increasingly manifests itself as a societal problem. In this paper, the authors will show how selected TA concepts concentrate on individual aspects such as potential of technology for innovation, design of technological processes or an explicit assessment of technology development. However, they support a TA concept with a stronger focus on (re)considering and reflecting on the unintended side effects from a factual, social and temporal point of view.

Cued Speech Gesture Recognition: A First Prototype Based on Early Reduction

Cued Speech is a specific linguistic code for hearing-impaired people. It is based on both lip reading and manual gestures. In the context of THIMP (Telephony for the Hearing-IMpaired Project), we work on automatic cued speech translation. In this paper, we only address the problem of automatic cued speech manual gesture recognition. Such a gesture recognition issue is really common from a theoretical point of view, but we approach it with respect to its particularities in order to derive an original method. This method is essentially built around a bioinspired method called early reduction. Prior to a complete analysis of each image of a sequence, the early reduction process automatically extracts a restricted number of key images which summarize the whole sequence. Only the key images are studied from a temporal point of view with lighter computation than the complete sequence.

De la biodiversité à la diversité : les biodiversités au regard des territoires

Biodiversity has become a subject of major interest since twenty years, giving rise to scientifc works, international conferences and discussions. Fears concerning the decline of life diversity take a strong place in the current environmental stakes. Without denying the reasons that justify such a concern, this paper focuse on the territorial aspects of the topic. The naturalist approach seems partly inadequate to deal with the matter in a spatial and temporal point of view. Taking in account "natural” and social areas enable to demonstrate the relativity of the matter and the diversity of cases. This paper consider biodiversity partly as a result of social history and thus, as a temporal process with period of decline alternating with period of expansion.

ASTRAL V2.2: A new version to better assess post-accidental situations

Should an important release of radionuclides occur in the environment, one would quickly have to assess radionuclide concentration in media and foodstuff, deduce the potential exposition of concerned populations to the radiations, predict the evolution of the situation and propose different scenarios of managing the contaminated zones. To achieve this, the ASTRAL code was created, which can be used by a relatively large group of people composing crisis centres or making predictive impact studies. The starting point of the assessments is the ground deposit of radionuclides: the atmospheric dispersion phase and the cloud exposure are not taken into account here. The calculations achieved concern time evolution of radionuclide concentration in compartments of the agricultural and forest food chain as well as assessment of doses due to external and internal exposure. These values are compared to regulation limits and/or intervention levels. Different simulations of contaminated zones management can be led by applying counter-measures, dispositions meant to reduce the accident's impact on environment and populations. The seventy radionuclides taken into account in the present version are some of those met in case of accidents or during the exploitation of a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). They relate to 37 elements: Ag, Am, Ba, Br, Cd, Ce, Cl, Cm, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, I, Ir, La, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Np, Pm, Pr, Pu, Rb, Rh, Ru, Sb, Sm, Sn, Sr, Tc, Te, Y, Zn, Zr. On a temporal point of view, the predictions extend to 3 years after the deposition. The internet technology chosen for this version offers important advantages: the spreading and maintenance of the tool are very easy, the code may be installed on a portable computer, the access to results is much quicker, the interface is very user friendly, so that no training is needed to perform calculations. As for any radioecological tool, a large number of parameters intervene in the calculations. All parameters can be modified, even though different user profiles grant different rights in handling them.

Le temps pour comprendre la violence de guerre: l'exemple de l'Afrique

Abstract This article examines the violence of war from a temporal point of view, looking at various contemporary conflicts from a long-term perspective involving three kinds of time: “historical” time, “traditional” time and “mythical” time. It thus provides some elements that help explain the length of these conflicts, but also their deeper nature. In particular, it casts douht on the appropriateness of the term “ethnic war”, which has been used to characterize some of them. The hypothetical model presented here focuses on Africa, but it could also he applied to conflict zones in other parts of the world.

Mineralization Characteristics and Structural Controls of Hydrothermal Deposits in the Gyeongsang Basin, South Korea

Abstract. Hydrothermal deposits in the Gyeongsang Basin show the genetic relationship with igneous activity from Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary in the spatial and temporal viewpoints. Many hydrothermal Au‐Ag‐Cu‐Pb‐Zn and clay deposits are dominantly distributed within the Gyeongsang Basin. The Gyeongsang Basin is divided into seven metallogenic provinces by spatial distribution. The age ranges of igneous activity and mineralization are 140∼40 Ma and 100∼40 Ma, respectively, and the most dominant age ranges of the both activities are from 90 Ma (Coniacian) to 50 Ma (Eocene). The age consistency between igneous activity and mineralization suggests that this age range is the climactic period of the hydrothermal activity of the Gyeongsang Basin. The metallogenic epochs in the Gyeongsang Basin are divided into three epochs of 100∼80 Ma (western part of the Gyeongsang Basin), 80∼60 Ma (central part of the Gyeongsang Basin), and 60∼40 Ma (eastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin). The mineralization and igneous activity tend to become young eastward in the Gyeongsang Basin.NNW‐SSE mineralized veins from 100 to 80 Ma in the western part of the Gyeongsang Basin are interpreted as the control of the parallel tensional fissures caused by NNW‐SSE compressional stress. NW‐SE mineralized veins from 80 to 60 Ma in the central part of the Gyeongsang Basin seem to have been formed under the same stress as that of the Gaeum and Yangsan Fault Systems. Namely, NW‐SE tensional stress is associated with a conjugate set of fracturing of the WNW‐ESE Gaeum Fault System and NNE‐SSW Yangsan Fault System. Also NE‐SW mineralized veins from 60 to 40 Ma in the eastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin seem to be controlled by the NE‐SW fractures. The fractures are related with NE‐SW compressional stress and are developed as secondary fractures within the dextral strike slip Yangsan Fault System.

Temps, espaces et corps à la retraite : des paradoxes à penser

Feminine ageing is a doubly devalued field of scientific study, but it raises more and more questions because of its paradoxical character. « Aged » women accumulate a certain nombre of handicaps that can become advantages. Analysis of the paradoxes of feminine ageing from temporal, spatial and corporel points of view elucidates the evolution of gender conceptions and how they are affected by the ageing process.

Williams on Ethics, Knowledge, and Reflection

The author begins with an outline of Bernard William's moral philosophy, within which he locates William's notorious doctrine that reflection can destroy ethical knowledge. He then gives a partial defence of this doctrine, exploiting an analogy between ethical judgements and tensed judgements. The basic idea is that what the passage of time does for the latter, reflection can do for the former: namely, prevent the re-adoption of an abandoned point of view (an ethical point of view in the one case, a temporal point of view in the other). In the final section the author says a little about how reflection might do this.

Processes of conceptualization in language production: language-specific perspectives and event construal

Differences in how verbal tasks are solved by speakers of different languages are often attributed to specific cultural and stylistic traditions. In contrast to this position we argue that differences in the organization of information in texts are rooted in structural contrasts between languages. This claim is based on production data from speakers of English, German, and Algerian Arabic which include retellings of a silent film and verbalizations of short video clips. The domains of analysis are patterns of event formation and temporal viewpoint. The data obtained from speakers of the three languages show contrasts with respect to three aspects of information organization: (a) speakers segment the flow of information as presented in the visual input on the basis of different criteria, (b) they systematically select different components when representing a given event in language and (c) they establish different temporal perspectives when anchoring and linking events in discourse. In this paper, we argue that the contrasts observed in selecting and structuring information can be generalized by assuming language contrasts at the level of abstract principles of perspective taking. These principles are in turn rooted in language-specific patterns of grammaticization. 1. The problem There is general agreement as to the fundamental components which are constitutive for the language production apparatus. Conceptualization, formulation and articulation, this three-partitive model — Levelt’s blueprint for the speaker (1989), has been the referential frame for most of the work on language production. Following several years of intensive research in the field of language production, insights have been gained into the two components that involve linguistic structures: the formulator

A ten years survey of longitudinal zonation and temporal changes of macrobenthic communities in the Rhône River, downstream from lake Geneva (Switzerland)

The macrobenthic fauna of the Rhone River below Lake Geneva was studied between 1983 and 1993 to describe patterns of longitudinal and temporal community changes. Sampling was based upon the use of artificial substrates in 11 stations. The confluence with the Arve (an alpine tributary) is the first source of faunal discontinuity, both in terms of species and feeding group composition. The Verbois hydropower plant is the second longitudinal disruption. From a temporal point of view, the construction of the Seujet hydropower plant was a major source of faunal fluctuation. After this event, and until the end of the study, lenitophilous taxa increased to the detriment of rheophilous taxa.

Memory kernels and effective Hamiltonians from time-dependent methods. II. Vibrational predissociation

The overlapping resonance regime is studied from a temporal viewpoint for a model vibrational predissociation in the framework of the Feshbach partitioning method. The memory kernels that are related by Fourier transformation to the energy dependent effective Hamiltonians are computed by wave packet propagation. The characteristic time τmemory of the memory kernel is compared with the time scale of the dynamics in the bound subspace. An approximate expression for τmemory is derived. τmemory depends on the bound-free couplings on a wide energy range. It is shown that the nonoscillatory shape of these couplings as a function of the dissociation energy is a typical feature of the vibrational predissociation.

The Idea of Social Time in Norbert Elias

This article reviews the relevance of Norbert Elias's contribution to the study of social time, concentrating on how the theme of time is currently at the core of social theory. Elias's definition of time enables us to understand that dominant time, which varies historically according to different kinds of society, expresses the need for an organization of work and reflects above all each society's privileged values. Social time always results from a choice; it is therefore qualitative even when, for instance, it has been formulated in strictly quantitative and mathematical terms. But time is also a norm, perhaps the most pervasive among social norms. If one adopts a temporal viewpoint, it becomes easier to rid oneself of the conceptual dichotomies - nature and culture, individual and society - which constitute the main dilemma that contemporary sociological thought has inherited from its `founding fathers'. Furthermore, the time discipline to which people willingly submit indicates the level of self-restraint, the taming of impulse, and therefore the level of `civilization' they have reached.

A temporal account of the limited processing capacity

A temporal account of the mental capacities for processing information may not be relevant in a context where the goal is to search for storage capacity expressed in chunks. However, if mental capacity and information processing is the question, the time issue can be rehabilitated. A very different temporal viewpoint on capacity limit is proposed in this commentary.

Temporal and spatial use of stranded wrack by the macrofauna of a tropical sandy beach

During two field studies the macrofauna associated with wrack stranded on a tropical sandy shore was analysed. During the first period all animals present in small wrack deposits were randomly collected with cores. During the second field study active animals were sampled in larger wrack deposits for an entire lunar period, and tube traps were used. After a comparison between the two studies, only the data from the tube traps were examined from a temporal and spatial point of view. The aim of the present work was to gain information on how, when and where wrack was colonised by invertebrates, keeping in mind cyclical aspects such as lunar, diel and tidal phases. Predatory taxa, such as Staphylinoidea and the amphipods Talorchestia martensii, were most abundant, whereas Diptera larvae and Tenebrionidae were scarce. Successional changes of beach wrack colonisation were evident throughout a semi-lunar period, with molluscs invading wrack during the first days of deposition and histerids during the last ones. Strictly nocturnal or diurnal surface-active species were found to be active in the wrack during both the day and the night. The analysis of the tidal component of species activity in the wrack showed that some species moved at ebbing tide, and others moved at rising tide. Differences were found also in the mean hours of tidal activity, calculated separately during day and night periods. The study of the zonation of each species showed that in some cases wrack deposits were closely followed by the fauna as their position changed during the semi-lunar phase. In other cases differences occurred between species zonation during day and night periods and tidal phases. Cluster analysis indicates that most species exploit the wrack in different ways (as refuges and/or feeding site), both in space and in time.

An orphic journey to the disorient: Salman Rushdie's The ground beneath her feet

This article argues that Salman Rushdie's The Ground Beneath Her Feet is not so much a planetary novel as a creative passage to America. It aims to study how the author connects East and West by using the concept of metamorphosis to explain the mutation of identity after the end of empires. It explores the novel's theme of disorientation from personal, spatial, temporal, ideological and representational points of view and concludes that the disconcertingly filmic mode in which it is written bears witness to Rushdie's belief in the capacity of the cinema to save the novel from its fin de siècle crisis.

A Day in the Life the Synchronisation of Everyday Life in the Netherlands: 1975 versus 1995

According to a wide variety of authors, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation and change in the structure of modern Western economy and society. Most authors situate the starting point of this transformation process somewhere in the middle of the seventies. The goal of this article is to portray from a temporal point of view the impact of this process for the Netherlands, that is, to analyze on an aggregate level the consequences of the spread of more flexible, decentralised forms of labour process and work organisation, and/or of the erosion of traditional habits and customs, for the temporal structure of everyday life. For that purpose, national time-budget data of 1995 are confronted with comparable data of 1975.

Feeding competition between two goby species, Pomatoschistus lozanoi (de Buen) and P. minutus (Pallas), in a macrotidal saltmarsh

Two transient goby species ( Pomatoschistus minutus and P. lozanoi) occurred in saltmarshes of the macrotidal Mont-Saint-Michel bay. They colonised the tidal creeks during each spring tide throughout the study conducted in 1997. P. minutus swallowed a least 4 % of its body weight. Its diet was dominated by the most abundant resident amphipod of the saltmarshes, Orchestia gammarellus. P. lozanoi ingested less food during their stay in the creek (2.4 % of its body weight). O. gammarallus also occurred in its diet, but mysids were the main food items both during flood and ebb. In addition to this trophic segregation, a temporal segregation was observed. In fact, P. minutus stayed longer than P. lozanoi in the saltmarsh; it colonised creeks first and returned to coastal waters the last. These two predatory and sympatric species have a different trophic behaviour that limits interspecific competition both from the trophic and temporal point of view.

Task level specification and formal verification of robotics control systems: State of the art and case study

This paper addresses the problem of specification and formal verification of complex applications in advanced robotics systems. In the first part, the need for such studies is presented, and the state of the art in the field is given, ranging from computer science to robotics. Then, the key features used in the paper are presented. They are called the robot task and the robot procedure respectively and allow us to specify in a structured way all the elements of robot controllers from the continuous and discrete time specification to implementation aspects. They are both integrated in the ORCCAD design environment. In the following, verification issues are described in depth, from the logical and temporal point of view. They are illustrated by a real example of automatic vehicle driving, in which various properties are proved and abstract views are built. The conclusion gives an evaluation of the obtained results, expresses some requirements and draws guidelines for the future. The interest of hybrid system models is particularly emphasized.