In this paper we introduce a new agent-based approach for middleware in mixed mode environments. Mixed mode environments have different dimensions of heterogeneity: devices with widely differing capabilities, different software, and different communication technologies. To deal with these, each node in the network is seen as an independent entity: a device agent. These device agents are abstractions of the network nodes and they offer services corresponding to nodes' capabilities and also use services offered by other agents. Interoperability is achieved through an agent interaction interface. For the description of device types, capabilities and services a predefined but extensible ontology is used. This approach combines and adopts results from the areas of multi agent systems and heterogeneous ad hoc networks.

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The museographic transposition of scientific knowledge leads notably to the preparation of exhibition posters. This is a delicate operation, on account of the constraints imposed by space, language, concepts and the text. These difficulties are even greater in the case of bovine reproduction biotechnologies, such as cloning, where knowledge is not yet stable. This paper deals with the choices made during the phase of museographic transposition. First of all, based on an epistemological approach, a historical analysis of knowledge-building underpins the choice of information to be presented. Language is then selected according to the linguistic analysis of a series of articles which popularize science. Finally, the posters are assessed by samples of potential visitors.

Previous works on popularization of science in magazines were strongly influenced by traditional methods used with scientific discourse, and pictures were only analyzed in terms of efficiency. This paper will focus on the role of imagery portraying science and scientists in Science et Vie and La Recherche, two French magazines. La Recherche uses more complex photographs, requiring more scientific knowledge from the reader, while Science et Vie uses more high-tech pictures. Both styles of picture originate from genuine scientific endeavours and have didactic aims. Science is then integrated into a system of familiar representations shown through stereotyped pictures (test tubes, etc.) revealing the process of science: the labs and their techniques rather than the results. However, La Recherche focuses more on portraying scientists as a group, especially recipients of honorary distinctions. The frequent use of `chalk and blackboard' is one way of dogmatizing scientific knowledge while pictures of scientists in their private lives is a way of popularizing and humanizing science. The scientist remains an archetype of knowledge — yet still as mortal as the layman. But science stays isolated from its economic or political context. In contrast to popular magazines, primary scientific journals never portray scientists, science being enunciated without reference to the enunciator, striving for absolute intellectualization.

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What can we learn from empirical or prescriptive literature on the questions raised by the presence of labels in scientific and technical muséums and exhibitions? This paper first gives a précise définition ofthe word label, followed by aparticular review using a linguistic approach. In our discussion, we hâve made use of a few illustrations taken from the abundant corpus of labels collected during surveys carried out at French exhibitions. We analyze différent typologies of labels and the improvements recommended by specialists on the editing oftheir texts in order to make them more attractive to read.

Abstract. We investigate the interaction of mobile robots, relying on information provided by heterogeneous sensor nodes, to accomplish a mission. Cooperative, adaptive and responsive monitoring in Mixed-Mode Environments (MMEs) raises the need for multi-disciplinary research initiatives. To date, such research initiatives are limited since each discipline focusses on its domain specific simulation or testbed environment. Existing evaluation environments do not respect the interdependencies occurring in MMEs. As a consequence, holistic validation for development, debugging, and performance analysis requires an evaluation tool incorporating multi-disciplinary demands. In the context of MMEs, we discuss existing solutions and highlight the synergetic benefits of a common evaluation tool. Based on this analysis we present the concept of the MM-ulator : a novel architecture for an evaluation tool incorporating the necessary diversity for multi-agent hard-/software-in-the-loop simulation in a modular and scalable way.