Multilingual Information Framework for Handling textual data in Digital Media

This document presents MLIF (Multi Lingual Information Framework), a high-level model for describing multilingual data across a wide range of possible applications in the translation/localization process within several multimedia domains (e.g. broadcasting interactive programs within a multilingual community)

Study of the Coulomb-Higgs transition in the Abelian Higgs Model

The order of the Coulomb-Higgs transition in the U(1)-Higgs model with unfrozen modulus of the scalar field is studied. Large lattices (up to $24^4$ in one case) and high statistics are used. We fix $\beta =1.15$ and explore specially a region of $\lambda$-values where metastability is observed. We study the thermodynamical limit of several observables, in particular, the latent heat, the specific heat, the decrement of the free energy between the maxima and the central minimum of the two-peaked histogram, the Binder cumulant and the displacement of the critical coupling with the lattice size. The results point towards a second order transition for $\lambda \gtrsim 0.005$, while for smaller values of $\lambda$ the strong metastability growing with the lattice size seems to derive from a first order character.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, epsfig, uuencoded gzipped tar file, 4 figures include

Preference incorporation in MOEA/D using an outranking approach with imprecise model parameters

Multi-objective Optimization Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEAs) face numerous challenges when they are used to solve Many-objective Optimization Problems (MaOPs). Decomposition-based strategies, such as MOEA/D, divide an MaOP into multiple single-optimization sub-problems, achieving better diversity and a better approximation of the Pareto front, and dealing with some of the challenges of MaOPs. However, these approaches still require one to solve a multi-criteria selection problem that will allow a Decision-Maker (DM) to choose the final solution. Incorporating preferences may provide results that are closer to the region of interest of a DM. Most of the proposals to integrate preferences in decomposition-based MOEAs prefer progressive articulation over the “a priori” incorporation of preferences. Progressive articulation methods can hardly work without comparable and transitive preferences, and they can significantly increase the cognitive effort required of a DM. On the other hand, the “a priori” strategies do not demand transitive judgements from the DM but require a direct parameter elicitation that usually is subject to imprecision. Outranking approaches have properties that allow them to suitably handle non-transitive preferences, veto conditions, and incomparability, which are typical characteristics of many real DMs. This paper explores how to incorporate DM preferences into MOEA/D using the “a priori” incorporation of preferences, based on interval outranking relations, to handle imprecision when preference parameters are elicited. Several experiments make it possible to analyze the proposal's performance on benchmark problems and to compare the results with the classic MOEA/D without preference incorporation and with a recent, state-of-the-art preference-based decomposition algorithm. In many instances, our results are closer to the Region of Interest, particularly when the number of objectives increases

First Principles Study of Nickel Complex with 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate Ligands as Model Photosensitizers

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have become in one important and promising technology in the photovoltaic field. The ability for a sensitizer to harvest light photons and inject the excited electrons into a photoanode, typically a metal oxide, determines the performance and operation range of the solar cell. Metal complexes with 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate (dmit) ligands, which are an important class of functional materials, have received extensive attention due to their intriguing chemical and physical properties. The electronic and molecular properties of isolated and adsorbed nickel complexes with dmit ligands have been investigated using first principles calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). Adsorption energies of metal complexes supported on the anatase TiO2(101) surface were calculated for three different configurations, linked by sulphur atom of Sthione, Sthiole-Sthiolate, and planar. The most stable adsorption configurations found in this study are the Sthiole-Sthiolate and the planar forms for the nickel complex. TD-DFT molecular calculations reveal that the lowest energy transition in ultraviolet visible near-infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) mainly corresponds to the HOMO-LUMO π–π* excitation for the nickel complex. The effect of the TiO2(101) surface on the absorption spectra of the nickel complex is practically limited to a red shift of about 0.1-0.3 eV. The analysis of the density of states for the dmit/TiO2(101) system shows that the LUMO of the metal complex lies at the edge of the TiO2 conduction band indicating, therefore, that electron injection from the complex excited state into the semiconductor surface is unlikel

An ACO-based Hyper-heuristic for Sequencing Many-objective Evolutionary Algorithms that Consider Different Ways to Incorporate the DM's Preferences

Many-objective optimization is an area of interest common to researchers, professionals, and practitioners because of its real-world implications. Preference incorporation into Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEAs) is one of the current approaches to treat Many-Objective Optimization Problems (MaOPs). Some recent studies have focused on the advantages of embedding preference models based on interval outranking into MOEAs; several models have been proposed to achieve it. Since there are many factors influencing the choice of the best outranking model, there is no clear notion of which is the best model to incorporate the preferences of the decision maker into a particular problem. This paper proposes a hyper-heuristic algorithm—named HyperACO—that searches for the best combination of several interval outranking models embedded into MOEAs to solve MaOPs. HyperACO is able not only to select the most appropriate model but also to combine the already existing models to solve a specific MaOP correctly. The results obtained on the DTLZ and WFG test suites corroborate that HyperACO can hybridize MOEAs with a combined preference model that is suitable to the problem being solved. Performance comparisons with other state-of-the-art MOEAs and tests for statistical significance validate this conclusion

Phase diagram of the (bosonic) Double-Exchange Model

The phase diagram of the simplest approximation to Double-Exchange systems, the bosonic Double-Exchange model with antiferromagnetic super-exchange coupling, is fully worked out by means of Monte Carlo simulations, large-N expansions and Variational Mean-Field calculations. We find a rich phase diagram, with no first-order phase transitions. The most surprising finding is the existence of a segment like ordered phase at low temperature for intermediate AFM coupling which cannot be detected in neutron-scattering experiments. This is signaled by a maximum (a cusp) in the specific heat. Below the phase-transition, only short-range ordering would be found in neutron-scattering. Researchers looking for a Quantum Critical Point in manganites should be wary of this possibility. Finite-Size Scaling estimates of critical exponents are presented, although large scaling corrections are present in the reachable lattice sizes.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figure

Marco conceptual de la ética y la responsabilidad social empresarial: un enfoque antropológico y estratégico

Este artículo proporciona –apoyado sobre el análisis de la literatura reciente sobre la ética empresarial y RSE– un marco conceptual original e integrador, que hace hincapié en la importancia de la fundamentación teórica de la ética basándose en una concepción antropológica adecuada y en la necesidad de establecer las políticas de RSE desde un enfoque estratégico. Ofrece una visión panorámica iluminadora acerca de la relación entre los diferentes conceptos del management que tienen implicaciones directas sobre el diseño e implantación de la ética y la RSE en las organizaciones, incluyendo tópicos como el liderazgo, la cultura empresarial, la teoría de las organizaciones y el gobierno corporativo, entre otros.This article provides, –supported on the analysis of recent literature on business ethics and CSR– an original and integrative conceptual framework that emphasizes the importance of the theoretical foundation of ethics based on an adequate anthropological model and the need to establish CSR policies from a strategic approach. Presents an illuminating overview of the relationship between different concepts of management that have direct implications on the design and implementation of ethics and CSR in organizations, including topics as leadership, corporate culture, organizational theory and corporate governance, among others

Changes in cannabinoid receptor binding and mRNA levels in several brain regions of aged rats

AbstractWe have recently found that cannabinoid receptor binding and gene expression markedly decreased in extrapyramidal structures of aged rats. The present study was designed to analyze the possible existence of similar aging-induced changes in cannabinoid receptor binding and gene expression in brain regions other than extrapyramidal areas, but that also contain a significant population of cannabinoid receptors, such as the cerebellum, hippocampal structures, limbic and hypothalamic nuclei, the cerebral cortex and others. To this end, we analyzed cannabinoid receptor binding, using autoradiography, and cannabinoid receptor mRNA levels, using in situ hybridization, in slide-mounted brain sections obtained from young (3 month old) and aged (>2 year old) rats. Results were as follows. In the cerebellum, aged rats exhibited a marked decrease in cannabinoid receptor binding in the molecular layer (−33.3%), although accompanied by no changes in mRNA levels in the granular layer. In the cerebral cortex, a small, although statistically significant, decrease in binding was found in the deep layer (VI) (−18.3%) of aged rats, whereas no changes were found in the superficial layer (I). As in the case of the cerebellum, mRNA levels did not change in the cerebral cortex layers (II–III and V–VI). The different regions of the Ammon’s horn of the hippocampus exhibited similar cannabinoid receptor binding levels in aged and young rats. Interestingly, mRNA levels decreased in aged rats to a small, but statistically significant, extent (CA1: −26.1%; CA2: −21.6%; CA3: −14.4%). This was also seen in another hippocampal structure, the dentate gyrus (−14.6%), although in this region binding levels increased in aged rats (+28.4%). Two hypothalamic structures, the arcuate nucleus and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, exhibited decreased cannabinoid receptor binding in aged rats (−31.1% and −30.3%, respectively), but this was not seen in the medial preoptic area. This was accompanied by no changes in mRNA levels in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. In the limbic structures, aged rats exhibited similar binding levels to young rats. This was seen in the nucleus accumbens, septum nuclei and basolateral amygdaloid nucleus. However, mRNA levels slightly decreased in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (−13.4%), whereas they were not altered in the septum nuclei. Finally, other brain structures, such as the central gray substance and the brainstem, exhibited similar binding levels in aged and young rats. However, it is important to note that mRNA levels increased significantly (+211.2%) in the brainstem of aged rats, an area where the levels of binding and mRNA were very low in young rats. This marked increase may be related to an increase in the presence of glial elements in this region, as revealed by the increase in the immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein observed in the brainstem of aged rats as compared to young animals. In summary, senescence was associated with changes in cannabinoid receptors in the cerebellum, the cerebral cortex, limbic and hypothalamic structures, the hippocampus and other brain regions. However, the changes observed (i) were not as marked and relevant as those early reported in extrapyramidal areas, and (ii) exhibited regional differences that might be attributed to the different roles played by these receptors in each region. Of particular relevance by their magnitude were the aging-induced decrease in binding found in the cerebellum and the hypothalamus, and the increase in mRNA levels observed in the brainstem. The latter might be related to an increase in the presence of glial cells which might contain cannabinoid receptor mRNA

Highly sensitive molecular diagnosis of prostate cancer using surplus material washed off from biopsy needles

INTRODUCTION: Currently, final diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is based on histopathological analysis of needle biopsies, but this process often bears uncertainties due to small sample size, tumour focality and pathologist’s subjective assessment. METHODS: Prostate cancer diagnostic signatures were generated by applying linear discriminant analysis to microarray and real-time RT–PCR (qRT–PCR) data from normal and tumoural prostate tissue samples. Additionally, after removal of biopsy tissues, material washed off from transrectal biopsy needles was used for molecular profiling and discriminant analysis. RESULTS: Linear discriminant analysis applied to microarray data for a set of 318 genes differentially expressed between non-tumoural and tumoural prostate samples produced 26 gene signatures, which classified the 84 samples used with 100% accuracy. To identify signatures potentially useful for the diagnosis of prostate biopsies, surplus material washed off from routine biopsy needles from 53 patients was used to generate qRT–PCR data for a subset of 11 genes. This analysis identified a six-gene signature that correctly assigned the biopsies as benign or tumoural in 92.6% of the cases, with 88.8% sensitivity and 96.1% specificity. CONCLUSION: Surplus material from prostate needle biopsies can be used for minimal-size gene signature analysis for sensitive and accurate discrimination between non-tumoural and tumoural prostates, without interference with current diagnostic procedures. This approach could be a useful adjunct to current procedures in PCa diagnosis. British Journal of Cancer (2011) 105, 1600–1607. doi:10.1038/bjc.2011.435 www.bjcancer.com Published online 18 October 2011 & 2011 Cancer Research UKMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovacion (PI080274), Fundación Marato TV3, Ministerio de Educacio´n (GEN2001-4856- C13, GEN2001-4865-C13-10 and SAF2005-05109), Ministerio de Sanidad (PI020231), Red Temática de Cáncer of the Instituto Carlos III (ISCIII-RETIC RD06/0020), Xarxa de Bancs de Tumors de Catalunya-ICO (XBTC) and Fundación Ramón Areces.Peer Reviewe