Branching: the Essence of Constraint Solving

This paper focuses on the branching process for solving any constraint satisfaction problem (CSP). A parametrised schema is proposed that (with suitable instantiations of the parameters) can solve CSP's on both finite and infinite domains. The paper presents a formal specification of the schema and a statement of a number of interesting properties that, subject to certain conditions, are satisfied by any instances of the schema. It is also shown that the operational procedures of many constraint systems including cooperative systems) satisfy these conditions. Moreover, the schema is also used to solve the same CSP in different ways by means of different instantiations of its parameters.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings ERCIM Workshop on Constraints (Prague, June 2001

Neuropathological events in an animal model resembling human fetal post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus

Introduction: In premature newborns, intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) probably trigger the disruption of the neurogenic ventricular zone. Most of the cases with severe IVH develop post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). A mouse model with IVH has been developed to research into the common neuropathological events present in PHH and into possible therapies. Methods: In two-day-old mice, the blood serum from littermates was injected into the ganglionic eminence of one hemisphere or both hemispheres. Fourteen days later, a histopathological analysis was carried out. In the case of injection in one hemisphere, the effects were compared with the contralateral non-injected hemisphere. Results: Mice with IVH developed the following neuropathological effects. The ependyma was found denuded and replaced by reactive astrocytes. A reaction of astrocytes over-expressing aquaporin-4 and of NG2 cells was also found developed in the white matter. Alterations in the neurogenesis were also common in the ventricular zone and in the white matter. Conclusions: The animal model of IVH developed shows similar neuropathological events to other forms of congenital hydrocephalus and can be used to research into therapies for PHH.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. PI15/0619 (ISCIII/FEDER) to AJJ

Pulsed light inactivation of mushroom polyphenol oxidase: a fluorometric and spectrophotometric study

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is one of the most important food enzymes, it is responsible for the browning of many foods. Pulsed light (PL) is a non-thermal method of food preservation that is able to inactivate PPO. The aim of this work was to gain insight into the mechanism of PPO inactivation by PL. To this, the kinetics of PPO inactivation by PL was measured, together with associated changes in tryptophan fluorescence, KI fluorescence quenching and turbidity; and results were analysed by parameter A and phase diagram methods. Enzyme inactivation followed the Weibull model. Tryptophan fluorescence decreased during PL treatment, as well as the parameter A, while Stern-Volmer constants increased and turbidity was constant. The phase diagram showed only two populated states. There was a high correlation between the loss of activity and parameter A. Results indicate that under the experimental conditions, the inactivation of PPO by PL is an all-or-none process where the enzyme progressively unfolds with no evidence of aggregation.Fundación Universitaria San Antonio de CartagenaCiencias de la Alimentació

IPSC differentiation into ependymal progenitors to treat ventricular damage during hydrocephalus

Introduction: During both obstructive congenital hydrocephalus and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus additional pathological events are intimately associated with their ethiology: a) a detrimental inflammatory response; b) severe damage of the underlying periventricular nervous tissue, including white matter, and c). Therapeutic approaches have been directed to overcome a) and b), however recovery of damaged neuroepithelium/ependyma is, in our present, an important therapeutic gap. Methods: Human and mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have been artificially differented into ependymal progenitors. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of iPCS are performed ex vivo and in vivo in the damaged ventricular wall. Their integration and differentiation has been studied by immunohistochemistry and histopathological analysis. Results: Mice and human ependymal progenitors are able to integrate and differentiate into ependyma in damaged ventricular wall. Stage of ependymal differentiation by the time of the injection defined different degrees of integration. Conclusions: IPSC appear to be a good ependymal progenitor source with no ethical controversy associated.RyC 2014-16980 Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Effects of Cyclodextrin Type on Vitamin C, Antioxidant Activity, and Sensory Attributes of a Mandarin Juice Enriched with Pomegranate and Goji Berries

The effects of the addition of cyclodextrins (CDs), β-CD, or HP-β-CD (1%), on the protection of antioxidant compounds of mandarin juices enriched with pomegranate extract and goji berries juice, was studied. Juices were prepared and after their thermal treatment (98 ◦C, 30 s) they were stored at 4 ◦C during 75 d. Vitamin C content, CIE L∗a∗b∗ color, antioxidant capacity, retinol equivalents, and sensory properties were studied. Losses on vitamin C were higher (6%) for juices with β-CD than juices with HP-β-CD. Retinol equivalents degradation was lower (3.4%) in juices with HP-β-cyclodextrins than in those treated with β-CD. Lower losses were observed for the instrumental and sensory color intensity in juices with HP-β-CD addition. Finally, the antioxidant capacity was also higher in juices treated with HP-β-CD. Finally, the overall sensory quality of juices with HP-β-CD was the best one after 30 d of cold storage. Even though β-CD addition did not cause any improvement compared with control juice (without CD addition), the benefits of adding HP-β-CD to this particular juice were shown in almost all parameters under study.Ciencias de la Alimentació

Carex elata All. ssp elata, new for Algarve in the lower Guadiana basin

Carex elata All. ssp elata novedad para el Algarve en la cuenca del rio Guadian

Effect of isolation conditions on structural properties and surface behavior of soy-whey proteins

In this study, the impact of isolation conditions on structural and surface properties at the air/water interface of soy-whey proteins (SWP) was assessed. SWP were obtained by precipitation of soy-whey (at pH 4.5 or 8.0) with acetone or ammonium sulfate. Despite the fact that all SWP samples exhibited similar electrophoretic patterns, they showed different protein content (from 54.2 to 98.2% w/w). When precipitation was performed at pH 4.5, SWP samples evidenced a decrease of protein solubility (SP) and thermal stability, while the precipitation with acetone promoted the enrichment in polysaccharides and minerals. For all samples, intrinsic fluorescence, surface hydrophobicity and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies revealed structural changes correlated to protein unfolding and aggregation processes. However, the surface behavior can be predicted from these studies mainly due to differences in surface hydrophobicity and the differential contribution of insoluble aggregates. The heating of SWP samples enhanced the surface activity, regardless of the pH of the raw material and the isolation method. These results can be useful as a reference research and as a starting point for industrial exploitation of proteins from soy wastewater.Fil: Ingrassia, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Sobral, Pablo Antonio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas; ArgentinaFil: Risso, Patricia Hilda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Palazolo, Gonzalo Gastón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Investigación en Funcionalidad y Tecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Wagner, Jorge Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Investigación en Funcionalidad y Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Las ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias de primer y segundo orden en el análisis del movimiento uniforme

En este momento en el salón de clases se están impartiendo los cursos de ecuaciones diferenciales como una serie de procedimientos los cuales están destinados a resolver propiamente las ecuaciones diferenciales, es decir que el objetivo final de los procedimientos usados en los cursos de ecuaciones diferenciales es obtener la solución general y particular de la ecuación diferencial proporcionando las condiciones iniciales. Tomando como base este contexto se desea realizar una propuesta nueva de enseñanza de las ecuaciones diferenciales de primer y segundo orden en el contexto del movimiento uniforme. La finalidad del trabajo de investigación es el diseño una serie de actividades didácticas de aprendizaje de las ecuaciones diferenciales en el contexto de la física, tomando en cuenta los conocimientos previos, las representaciones, así como las creencias de los alumnos

Preliminary study of the airborne pollen in the atmosphere of Puerto Ayora (Galapagos Islands, Ecuador)

Galapagos is an archipelago of volcanic islands located 972 km west from the continental Ecuador. They were declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve due to their singular environmental value, where a third part of the native plants are endemic to this archipelago (Jaramillo et al., 2011). In spite of the numerous scientific studies carried out in Galapagos, there are not any aerobiological samplings being performed currently. The main objectives of this study were to install a pollen trap for detecting the presence of pollen in the atmosphere of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands) and qualitatively identify the different pollen types detected during the studied period. A Durham (1946) gravimetric pollen trap was modified to turn it into a passive impact pollen trap based on Pla Dalmau (1957) modifications. It was placed on the roof of the Galapagos National School (Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island) at a height of 15m above ground level. The samples were obtained by using silicone fluid as adhesive substance and glycerine gelatine as mounting mean. The pollen grains were counted in a surface of 14 x 48 mm in each sample. The pollen types were identified with the aid of the pollen guide of the Galapagos Island by Jaramillo & Trigo (2011) and the Charles Darwin Foundation pollen bank. Pollen types of endemic plants such as Darwiniothamnus sp., Passiflora foetida var. galapagensis Killip, Justicia galapagana Lindau and Castela galapageia Hook. f. were detected together with those of other native and introduced species. A high diversity of pollen types was detected, reflecting the particular vegetation of the island. This preliminary aerobiological information can be used as precedent for further studies on the pollination of native and introduced species of the Galapagos Islands, as well as for detecting possible allergic diseases in the population.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Análisis de la gestión de la reputación virtual y su efecto en el desempeño financiero hotelero. El efecto de la respuesta a los comentarios de Tripadvisor en la hotelería independiente andaluza

Este trabajo constituye un estudio empírico basado en el análisis de la reputación virtual adquirida por el segmento hotelero independiente de 3 y 4 estrellas andaluz entre 2012 y 2014. El trabajo ha profundizado en el conocimiento de las evidencias que respaldan los análisis de otros estudios similares, refutando muchos de ellos, negando que la acción de dar respuesta a las valoraciones recibidas ejerce un impacto positivo sobre la puntuación obtenida a partir de las críticas recibidas y, ulteriormente, sobre el rendimiento económico.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech