Reliability in terms of functional properties from the safety-liveness spectrum is an indispensable requirement of low-level operating-system (OS) code. However, with evermore complex and thus less predictable hardware, quantitative and probabilistic guarantees become more and more important. Probabilistic model checking is one technique to automatically obtain these guarantees. First experiences with the automated quantitative analysis of low-level operating-system code confirm the expectation that the naive probabilistic model checking approach rapidly reaches its limits when increasing the numbers of processes. This paper reports on our work-in-progress to tackle the state explosion problem for low-level OS-code caused by the exponential blow-up of the model size when the number of processes grows. We studied the symmetry reduction approach and carried out our experiments with a simple test-and-test-and-set lock case study as a representative example for a wide range of protocols with natural inter-process dependencies and long-run properties. We quickly see a state-space explosion for scenarios where inter-process dependencies are insignificant. However, once inter-process dependencies dominate the picture models with hundred and more processes can be constructed and analysed.

The number of secure data streams a relay-assisted interference channel can support has been an intriguing problem. The problem is not solved even for a fundamental scenario with a single antenna at each transmitter, receiver and relay. In this paper, we study the achievable secure degrees of freedom of instantaneous relay-assisted interference channels with real and complex coefficients. The study of secure degrees of freedom with complex coefficients is not a trivial multiuser extension of the scenarios with real channel coefficients as in the case for the degrees of freedom, due to secrecy constraints. We tackle this challenge by jointly designing the improper transmit signals and widely-linear relay processing strategies.

In this paper, we analyze the four-node relay wiretap channel, where the relay performs amplify-and-forward. There is no direct link between transmitter and receiver available. The transmitter has multiple antennas, which assist in securing the transmission over both phases. In case of full channel state information (CSI), the transmitter can apply information leakage neutralization in order to prevent the eavesdropper from obtaining any information about the signal sent. This gets more challenging, if the transmitter has only an outdated estimate of the channel from the relay to the eavesdropper. For this case, we optimize the worst case secrecy rate by choosing intelligently the beamforming vectors and the power allocation at the transmitter and the relay.

No description available.

Molecular dynamics simulation was used to study ion permeation through different membrane proteins embedded in a lipid bilayer (DMPC) with different saline solutions. The potential of mean force (PMF) for ion transport was obtained by umbrella sampling simulations. A revised MacKerell force field for tryptophan residues was studied using gramicidin A (gA) channel as a test model. The revised force field contribution to the Na+ PMF was consonant with the prediction from the experimental results, but in stark contrast to the prediction of the CHARMM force field, version 22, for the tryptophan side-chain. A new grid-based correction map algorithm by MacKerell group, called CMAP, was introduced into the CHARMM force field, version 31. The CMAP algorithm focused on optimizing phi, psi dihedral parameters for the peptide backbone. The CMAP corrections reduced the excessive translocation barrier. Decomposition demonstrated the reduction in the translocation barrier was due to effects on the K+ PMFH2O rather than on K+ PMFgA. The presence of negatively charged sulfonate group at the entrance and exit of the gA channel affected the depth and the location of the highly occupied sites. The negatively charged sulfonate group produced a strong attraction for the cations in the bulk towards the channel mouth. In the M2 transmembrane domain channel (M2-TMD), three M2-TMD structures were studied, differing only in whether the selectivity-filter (four His37 side-chains) was uncharged, +2 charged, or +3 charged. M2-TMD structural properties were compared with the structural properties of other models extracted from NMR and X-ray studies. The spontaneous cation and anion entry into the charged selectivity-filter was different from that into a neutral selectivity-filter. Cl- ions had a lower free-energy barrier in the selectivity-filter than either Na+ or NH4+ ions through the M2-TMD channel. NH4+ ions had a lower free-energy barrier in the selectivity-filter than Na+ ions. Based on accessible rotamer conformations, a revised conductance mechanism was proposed. In this conductance mechanism, the His37 side-chain functioned as an acceptor and donor group, whereas the Trp41 side-chain functioned as a carrying group.

Les travaux de la thèse portent sur l’impact de la structure des électrolytes hautement concentrés (ÉHC) à base de Lithium Bis[trifluorométhane(sulfonyl)]imide (LITFSI) et d’acétonitrile (ACN) dans les réactions de transfert d’électron et les interactions présentes avec les différentes espèces en jeu. Ces électrolytes sont étudiés comme électrolyte dans les dispositifs de stockage d’énergie (batteries, supercapaciteurs), mais la recherche sur les transferts d’électron dans ces ÉHC est presque inexistante. Les travaux sont présentés en deux volets; dans le premier, nous nous sommes concentrés à assurer de la qualité des ÉHC. Nous avons identifié les principales sources d’eau dans ces électrolytes : la présence d’eau varie selon le fournisseur de sel et le taux d’adsorption d’eau de l’électrolyte. Nous avons aussi analysé les impacts de la quantité d’eau sur les propriétés physicochimiques et la fenêtre de stabilité électrochimique. Une teneur d’eau dans les ÉHC sous 1000 ppm n’affecte pas les propriétés physicochimiques. Cependant, la fenêtre de stabilité électrochimique est affectée par une faible présence d’eau (>200 ppm), particulièrement la stabilité en réduction. Le second volet porte sur l’étude du transfert d’électron du couple Fc+/Fc dissout et adsorbé à l’électrode dans les ÉHC LiTFSI : ACN. Nous avons montré que la cinétique du transfert d’électron varie avec la concentration (dilué vs. hautement concentré) et avec l’état d’oxydation du couple rédox (Fc+ vs Fc). La constante de transfert d’électron est plus élevée avec le Fc+ que le Fc dans les milieux dilués, mais la situation est inversée dans les ÉHC. En complément à l’électrochimie, les études Raman couplées à l’électrochimie ont révélé que cette différence provient de l’environnement chimique qui diffère entre les deux espèces, dues à la charge des deux espèces (Fc+ vs. Fc) aux différentes concentrations de sel. Les travaux de cette thèse sont les premiers à montrer l’électrochimie d’une molécule électroactive couplée avec l’utilisation de méthode spectroscopique pour le couple Fc+/Fc dans les ÉHC. Cette recherche ouvre la porte à l’utilisation de ces méthodes d’analyse pour les ÉHC et montre un grand potentiel pour des applications autre que le stockage d’énergie. Les résultats obtenus sont un premier pas vers la formulation d’ÉHC adaptés aux applications d’électrocatalyse : l’utilisation des interactions électrostatiques présentes à haute concentration pourraient ralentir les réaction secondaires formant des cations ou ralentir la diffusion de cations impliqués dans les réactions de transfert d’électron couplées. / The work of this thesis focuses on the impact of the structure of highly concentrated electrolytes (HCE) based on Lithium Bis[trifluoromethane(sulfonyl)]imide (LITFSI) and acetonitrile (ACN) on the electron transfer reactions and the interactions present with the different species involved. These electrolytes are studied as electrolytes in energy storage devices (batteries, supercapacitors), but research on electron transfers in these HCE is almost non-existent. The work is presented in two parts; in the first part, we focused on ensuring the quality of HCE. We identified the main sources of water in these electrolytes: the presence of water varies depending on the salt supplier and the water adsorption rate of the electrolyte. We also analyzed the impacts of the amount of water on the physicochemical properties and the electrochemical stability window. A water content in HCE below 1000 ppm does not affect the physicochemical properties. However, the electrochemical stability window is affected by low water content (>200 ppm), especially the reduction stability. The second part deals with the study of the electron transfer of the dissolved and adsorbed Fc+/Fc couple at the electrode in LiTFSI: ACN HCE. We have shown that the electron transfer kinetics varies with concentration (dilute vs. highly concentrated) and with the oxidation state of the redox couple (Fc+ vs. Fc). The electron transfer constant is higher with Fc+ than Fc in dilute media, but the situation is reversed in HCE. In addition to electrochemistry, Raman studies coupled with electrochemistry revealed that this difference in electron transfer comes from the chemical environment which differs between the two species, due to the charge of the two species (Fc+ vs. Fc) at different salt concentrations. The work of this thesis is the first to show the electrochemistry of an electroactive molecule coupled with the use of spectroscopic methods for the Fc+/Fc couple in HCE. This research opens the door to the use of these analytical methods for HCE and shows a great potential for applications other than energy storage. The results obtained are a first step towards the formulation of HCE adapted to electrocatalysis applications: the use of electrostatic interactions present at high concentration could slow down the secondary reactions forming cations or slow down the diffusion of cations involved in coupled electron transfer reactions.

The society is becoming more and more dependent on automated solutions. Automation in the transport and logistic sector is accelerating and highly automated trucks, with level four on the SAE scale, are expected to be commercial in the near future. Although it is a common notion that automation leaves humans idle and hence redundant, history proofs the contrary. Technology has always yielded more jobs than it has replaced, though it has resulted in a bigger need for workers to acquire new skills fast. With the development of highly automated trucks, the driver will have the possibility to shift focus from the road during automated driving and hence being able to do other activities. This thesis work has investigated which activities the truck drivers can perform, to create value for the hauliers. It has also investigated what kind of persons that will fit for the changed work tasks. A theoretical study was made where the changing truck industry and humanautomation interaction overall were investigated. Other professions subject to automation in general, and the aerospace and train industry in particular, were also studied in order to forecast how the automation of trucks can affect the role of the driver. An empirical study was made where ten hauliers, four drivers and two pilots were interviewed. Further, a focus group was conducted with six drivers and a survey was sent out to be answered by drivers. The identified value bringing activities were in brief; administrative work, time-saving activities, activities that enhance the drivers' well-being as well as activities of the drivers' own interests. Further, the insights resulted in four personas of potential future truck drivers, which all had different levels of work experience and worked for road carriers that differed in size, from small family business to large international companies. / Samhället blir mer och mer beroende av automatiska system och utvecklingen går snabbt. Inom transportsektorn har utvecklingen av lastbilar med avancerade automatiska funktioner accelererat och lastbilar med nivå fyra på den internationella SAE-skalan beräknas vara ute på marknaden inom en snar framtid. Trots den allmänna uppfattningen om att automatisering av vissa sysslor ersätter människan och lämnar henne sysslolös, så bevisar historien motsatsen. Ny teknik har alltid resulterat i mer jobb än det har ersatt, dock har det ställts högre krav på att människan skall införskaffa sig nya färdigheter snabbt. Genom utvecklingen av lastbilar med avancerade automatiska funktioner så kommer föraren kommer att ha möjligheten att skifta fokus ifrån vägen under automatiserad körning och kommer alltså kunna ägna sig åt annat än att köra. Detta examensarbete har undersökt värdeskapande aktiviteter för åkeriägare, som förare av fjärrbilar kan ägna sig åt under automatiserad körning. Det har också undersökt vilka personer som kommer passa för dem förändrade arbetsuppgifterna. En teoretisk studie genomfördes där den föränderliga lastbilsindustrin samt interaktionen mellan människa och automatisering undersöktes. Vidare undersöktes även andra yrken som påverkats av automatisering, då särskilt tåg- och flygindustrin, för att förutspå hur automatisering av lastbilar kan påverka förarens roll. En empirisk studie genomfördes där tio åkeriägare, fyra förare och två piloter intervjuades. Vidare hölls en fokusgrupp med sex lastbilsförare samt att en enkät skickades ut för att samla in ytterligare uppgifter ifrån lastbilsförare. De identifierade värdeskapande aktiviteterna är i korthet; administrativt arbete, tidssparande aktiviteter, aktiviteter som ökar förarnas välmående samt aktiviteter av förarnas egna intressen. Vidare så resulterade insikterna i fyra persona av potentiella framtida lastbilsförare, som alla hade olika mycket arbetserfarenhet samt arbetade för åkerier som varierade i storlek, ifrån mindre familjeföretag till större internationella företag

In this thesis, we study the following three types of periodic string patterns and some of their variants. Firstly, we consider maximal d-repetitions. These are substrings that are at least 2+d times as long as their minimum period. Secondly, we consider 3-cadences. These are arithmetic subsequence of three equal characters. Lastly, we consider maximal pairs. These are pairs of identical substrings. Maximal d-repetitions and maximal pairs of uncompressed strings are already well-researched. However, no non-trivial upper bound for distinct occurrences of these patterns that take the compressed size of the underlying strings into account were known prior to this research. We provide upper bounds for several variants of these two patterns that depend on the compressed size of the string, the logarithm of the string's length, the highest allowed power and d. These results also lead to upper bounds and new insights for the compacted directed acyclic word graph and the run-length encoded Burrows-Wheeler transform. We prove that cadences with three elements can be efficiently counted in uncompressed strings and can even be efficiently detected on grammar-compressed binary strings. We also show that even slightly more difficult variants of this problem are already NP-hard on compressed strings. Along the way, we extend the underlying geometry of the convolution from rectangles to arbitrary polygons. We also prove that this non-rectangular convolution can still be efficiently computed.:1 Introduction 2 Preliminaries 3 Non-Rectangular Convolution 4 Alphabet Reduction 39 5 Maximal (Sub-)Repetitions 6 Cadences 7 Maximal Pairs A Propositions

This letter presents a low-noise amplifier with a 3 dB-bandwidth, from 55 to 74 GHz, excellent noise performance and low power consumption based on a three-stage common-source topology. For the first time to the authors’ best knowledge, an analytical equation that also considers the gate–drain capacitance is derived for the employed shunt–series transformer feedback input matching network. To enable shunt–series transformer feedback matching without significant gain reduction a highly asymmetric transformer is designed. Furthermore, a compact transformer-implemented T-shaped output matching network is investigated to minimize the required area. To prove these concepts, the circuit has been fabricated in a 22 nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator technology. Thanks to the transformer-based matching, an ultra-compact active footprint of 0.039 mm² is achieved. At a power consumption of 8.4 mW from a 0.41 V supply an average noise figure of 4.8 dB and a peak gain of 14.2 dB has been measured. In- and output matching better than −10 dB over the 19 GHz wide 3 dB-bandwidth are demonstrated.

Cette thèse vise à comprendre et à caractériser l’expérience et le parcours migratoire et socioprofessionnel, ainsi que la dynamique des liens familiaux transnationaux, de couples brésiliens ayant migré à Montréal entre 2004 et 2013 et dont un des membres travaillait au Brésil comme professionnel en ingénierie ou dans le domaine des technologies de l’information et des communications (TIC). Trois raisons ont présidé au choix de ce sujet de recherche : (1) l’importance de la migration des travailleurs hautement qualifiés (THQ) dans le flux des migrations internationales, laquelle est insuffisamment étudiée ; (2) la formation d’une nouvelle vague migratoire de Brésiliens qualifiés arrivés à Montréal à partir du milieu des années 2000 et (3) une volonté de porter un nouveau regard sur la migration des THQ, afin de comprendre leur expérience et cheminement à partir de leur point de vue et de celui de leur famille. La décision de comparer les parcours migratoires des ingénieurs et des professionnels des TIC tient au fait que les ingénieurs font face à davantage d’obstacles socioprofessionnels (liés aux exigences de l’ordre professionnel des ingénieurs) et à une plus difficile reconnaissance des titres de compétence et de l’expérience acquise à l’étranger que les professionnels des technlogies de l’information et des communications (TIC), dont l’expertise est davantage reconnue internationalement et localement. Cette recherche vise à répondre au comment plutôt qu’au pourquoi. Comment devient-on émigrant dans la société de départ ? Comment, comme immigrant, s’adapte-t-on à la société de destination ? Comment s’y insère-t-on socioprofessionnellement ? Comment est maintenu le sentiment familial en dépit de la « tyrannie de la distance » ? Quel est, dans chaque cas, le rôle de l’agentivité des migrants, celui des contraintes et des opportunités, des ressources mobilisées dans la formation et la dynamique des parcours migratoires, professionnels et familiaux. J’ai choisi l’approche des parcours de vie car elle s’est avérée utile au double plan analytique et méthodologique. Sur le plan analytique, elle offre certains concepts, comme ceux de transition et de parcours, qui amènent à analyser la migration comme processus affectant des sphères de la vie des migrants. Sur le plan méthodologique, elle en fournit la méthode des récits de vie comme moyen de saisir, de façon diachronique, l’expérience des participants car les récits de vie aident à reconstruire « par en bas » le jeu des actions, des contraintes et opportunités dans la vie des migrants lors de certains contextes clés de leur existence. Cette approche biographique m’a permis d’identifier quatre transitions de vie significatives dans le parcours migratoire soit l’émigration du pays de départ, l’immigration dans le pays d’arrivée, l’incorporation socioprofessionnelle et la reconfiguration familiale, ce qui entraîne des changements de positions, de statuts ou de rôles dans divers espaces sociaux, professionnels et familiaux. Chacune de ces transitions constitue autant d’épreuves qui obligent à des engagements dans de nouveaux rôles et à des changements de positions sociales dont l’issue dépend autant des capacités stratégiques des migrants, de leur encastrement dans des liens sociaux et de l’ensemble des ressources et capitaux possédés qu’ils réussissent à reconvertir pour faire face aux épreuves rencontrées. J’ai été amenée, dans ce cadre, à identifier une pluralité de profils migratoires et d’incorporation professionnelle et une diversité de modes de gestion de la « tyrannie de la distance », pour continuer à faire famille. La thèse se divise en trois grandes parties, correspondant à chacune des thématiques de cette recherche, soit (1) la migration dans sa dimension émigration (chapitre 2) et immigration (chapitre 3), (2) l’incorporation socioprofessionnelle (chapitres 4 et 5) et (3) la famille transnationale (chapitre 6). Dans la conclusion générale, je rappelle les principaux résultats par rapport aux questionnements initiaux et identifie quelques limites de la recherche. / This thesis aims to understand the migratory experience of Brazilian engineers and information and communications technology (ICT) professionals who migrated to Montreal between 2004 and 2013. It focuses on the dynamics of their socio-professional incorporation and transnational family changes. There were three reasons for choosing this research topic: (1) the importance of highly skilled workers’ (HSW) migration in the flow of international migration, which is insufficiently studied; (2) the arrival of a new migratory wave of skilled Brazilians in Montreal in the mid-2000s; and (3) a willingness to take a different look at HSW migration, in order to understand migrants’ experience and journey from their point of view and the one of their family members. I decided to compare engineers’ and ICT professionals’ migration paths because engineers face supplementary socio-professional barriers (related to the requirements of the engineers’ regulatory body (Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec) and the more difficult recognition of credentials and experience gained abroad faced by these migrants as compared to ICT professionals, whose expertise is more easily recognized internationally and locally. This research aims to answer to questions concerning “how,” rather than “why:” How does one become an emigrant before leaving the sending society? How, having migrated, does one adapt to the receiving society? How does one insert oneself professionally? How is the familyhood maintained despite the “tyranny of distance”? What is the role of the migrant’s agency, which are the constraints and the opportunities, and the resources mobilized in the migratory dynamics and changes concerning both migratory, professional and family changes? I chose the life course approach because it proved to be analytically and methodologically useful. It offers certain concepts, such as transition and pathways, which lead to the analysis of migration as a process affecting different spheres of migrants’ lives. Methodologically, the life history approach allows us to grasp the experience of the participants in a diachronic manner. Life stories help to reconstruct "from below" the dynamics of actions, constraints and opportunities in the lives of migrants in certain key contexts of their existence. This biographical approach allowed me to identify four significant life transitions in the migration pathways: emigration from the country of origin, immigration to the country of arrival, socio-occupational incorporation and family reconfiguration, resulting in changes of position, status or role in social, professional and family spaces. Each of these transitions involves hardships that lead to commitments into new roles and changes in social positions. Their outcome depends as much on migrants' strategic abilities as on their integration into social ties and on assets that they manage to convert to face the hardships encountered. In this context, I was led to identify a plurality of migratory profiles and professional incorporation paths and a variety of modes of management of the tyranny of distance, to continue to make family. The thesis is divided into three main parts, corresponding to each of the themes of this research, namely (1) emigration (chapter 2) and immigration (chapter 3), (2) socio-occupational incorporation (chapters 4 and 5) and (3) the transnational family (chapter 6). In the general conclusion, I recall the main results in relation to the initial research questions and identify some of the limits of the research.