On the construction of a finite Siegel space

In this note we construct a finite analogue of classical Siegel's Space. Our approach is to look at it as a non commutative Poincare's half plane. The finite Siegel Space is described as the space of Lagrangians of a $2n$ dimensional space over a quadratic extension $E$ of a finite base field $F$. The orbits of the action of the symplectic group $Sp(n,F)$ on Lagrangians are described as homogeneous spaces. Also, Siegel's Space is described as the set of anti-involutions of the symplectic group.2

How a General-Purpose Commonsense Ontology can Improve Performance of Learning-Based Image Retrieval

The knowledge representation community has built general-purpose ontologies which contain large amounts of commonsense knowledge over relevant aspects of the world, including useful visual information, e.g.: "a ball is used by a football player", "a tennis player is located at a tennis court". Current state-of-the-art approaches for visual recognition do not exploit these rule-based knowledge sources. Instead, they learn recognition models directly from training examples. In this paper, we study how general-purpose ontologies---specifically, MIT's ConceptNet ontology---can improve the performance of state-of-the-art vision systems. As a testbed, we tackle the problem of sentence-based image retrieval. Our retrieval approach incorporates knowledge from ConceptNet on top of a large pool of object detectors derived from a deep learning technique. In our experiments, we show that ConceptNet can improve performance on a common benchmark dataset. Key to our performance is the use of the ESPGAME dataset to select visually relevant relations from ConceptNet. Consequently, a main conclusion of this work is that general-purpose commonsense ontologies improve performance on visual reasoning tasks when properly filtered to select meaningful visual relations.Comment: Accepted in IJCAI-1

Immunization with surface immunogenic protein induces a decrease of vaginal colonization by group B Streptococcus in an experimental mouse model

The Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in developed countries and an emerging pathogen in adults. A neonatal infection occurs predominantly during the delivery by either inhalation or ingestion of contaminated secretions of the mother’s vagina. Maternal screening by rectovaginal GBS colonization at 35–37 weeks of gestation, with subsequent intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) at the onset of labor, is implemented in some countries to prevent newborn invasive by GBS. Currently, there are not vaccines to prevent the devastating consequences of GBS and a glycoconjugate vaccine is under clinical experimentation (Clinical Trials Phase III). The Surface Immunological Protein (SIP) of GBS is highly immunogenic and conserved between different serotypes of this bacterium. The SIP had been described to induce antibodies type IgG that induces protective immunity in animal model challenged intraperitoneally with GBS. Here we describe the immunization with SIP mixed with an AbISCO-100 adjuvant in mice model challenged to GBS vaginal infection. The vaccine has demonstrated to decrease the GBS colonization in infected mouse. The SIP immunization has also increased the circulating IgA, IgG and IgG2a levels against SIP and antigen-specific circulating levels of IFN- ƴ and IL–2. Moreover, transfer of serum and T cells from a vaccinated animal into a non-immunized animal induced immune protection to the animals from challenged GBS colonization of the vaginal tract. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that a simple and effective vaccine is able to prevent GBS colonization, where cellular immunity plays an important role. To our knowledge, is the first report the SIP-based vaccine reduces the vaginal GBS colonization in an animal model

Application of the liposuction techniques and principles in specific body areas and pathologies

The buttocks have been a symbol of attraction, sexuality and eroticism since ancient times and therefore, they have an important role in defining the posterior body contour. More and more people are talking about and understand the meaning and the role that buttocks play in modeling and physical beauty. The three dimensional gluteoplasty (3-DGP) is an innovative technique that allows us to change volume, shape and firmness, not only in the buttocks but also in the adjacent regions such as the thighs and trochanters, becoming an ideal tool to answer the frequent reasons of consultation of our patients about this particular area of the body: ..

Cross-Sectional Imaging of Nontraumatic Peritoneal and Mesenteric Emergencies

Multiple nontraumatic peritoneal and mesenteric emergencies are encountered at imaging of patients in the emergency department. Peritoneal and mesenteric emergencies are usually detected in patients in the emergency department during evaluation of nonspecific abdominal pain. A high index of suspicion is required for the establishment of early diagnosis and aversion of life-threatening complications in cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis, nontraumatic hemoperitoneum, and peritonitis. A correct diagnosis of omental infarction, mesenteric adenitis, and mesenteric panniculitis helps patients primarily by avoiding unnecessary surgery. In this review article, we illustrate the cross-sectional imaging appearance of various nontraumatic peritoneal and mesenteric emergencies by emphasizing the role of the emergency radiologist in detecting and managing these entities

Communication of the commitment to sustainability and the UN SDGs in the Iberian Foundations

In this paper we analyse the contribution of two Iberian Foundations to the United Nations SDGs (Global Goals). In particular, we studied, the case of Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, from Portugal, and Yuste Foundation, from Spain, between 2016 and 2018. To achieve the main objective, three specific objectives were defined: the first one is to understand if sustainability is present in the Foundations Mission, Vision and Values; the second one is to analyse how the activities developed by each Foundations contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and relate these activities to the SDGs targets; and finally to do a comparative analysis of the results of the two foundations. To reach these objectives, we use the case study method based on the analysis of annual reports and websites of the two Foundations and cross-referenced information about the mission, objectives, values and activities developed since 2016 with the specific targets of Global Goals. This paper show that Iberian Foundations contribute to the sustainable development goals, since its mission fits the SDGs as its activities have a strong social nature and aim at sustainable development in the regions where they operate and beyond. However, we do not find the reporting evidence because the Foundations do not provide sustainability reports, nor do they provide sustainability information in their annual reports and accounts, or on their web sites. The study will present contributions at several levels: literature and practice. It makes contributions to the literature on relationships between sustainability practices and sustainability report; the regulation and institutionalization of sustainability practices and reporting for SDGs. Also, it contributes to a better understanding of the role of Iberian Foundations as partnerships for global goals and their contribution to the effective develop, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels

Theoretical study on the molecular mechanism of the [5 + 2] vs. [4 + 2] cyclization mediated by Lewis acid in the quinone system

[EN] The thermal and Lewis acid (LA) catalyzed cyclizations of quinone 1 involved in the synthesis of Colombiasin A and Elipsaterosin B have been theoretically studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) computational level. B3LYP calculations suggest that the formal endo [4 + 2] cycloadduct allowing the synthesis of Colombiasin A is preferentially formed under thermal conditions, while in the presence of the BF3 LA catalyst the formal [5 + 2] cycloadduct is seen, allowing the synthesis of Elipsaterosin B. The BF3 LA catalyst not only accelerates the nucleophilic attack on the C2 carbon of the quinone framework through a more polar C-C bond formation, but also provokes a different electron density rearrangement along the nucleophilic attack favoring the subsequent C-C bond formation at the C4 carbon with the formation of the formal [5 + 2] cycloadduct. ELF bonding analysis along these cyclizations indicates that the C-C single bond formation takes place in the range of 1.91-2.1 angstrom by C-to-C coupling of two pseudoradical centers. Along the formation of the first C2-C9 single bond, these pseudoradical centers appear at one of the most electrophilic and at one of the most nucleophilic centers of quinone 1, C2 and C9 carbons, respectively. Analysis of the Parr functions suggests that although the most favorable electrophilic/nucleophilic interaction is that involving the C2 carbon of quinone and the C12 carbon of the butadiene framework, the intramolecular nature of the cyclization prevents the corresponding reactive channel.This work was supported by the Post-Doctoral fellow FONDECYT Grant 3130359 and Project ICM-P10-003-F CILIS granted by Fondo de Innovacion para la Competitividad del Ministerio de Economia, Fomento y Turismo, Chile.Soto-Delgado, J.; Sáez-Cases, JA.; Tapia, RA.; Domingo, LR. (2013). Theoretical study on the molecular mechanism of the [5 + 2] vs. [4 + 2] cyclization mediated by Lewis acid in the quinone system. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry. 11(48):8357-8365. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ob41860jS83578365114

Expression of MICA, MICB and NKG2D in human leukemic myelomonocytic and cervical cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cancer cells are known to secrete the stress molecules MICA and MICB that activate cytotoxicity by lymphocytes and NK cells through their NKG2D receptor as a mechanism of immunological defense. This work was undertaken to evaluate if cancer cells can also express this receptor as a possible mechanisms of depletion of MIC molecules and thus interfere with their immune recognition.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Myelomonocytic leukemic (TPH-1 and U-937) and cervical cancer (CALO and INBL) cell lines were evaluated by Western Blot, ELISA, flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry to evaluate their capacity to express and secrete MICA and MICB and to be induced to proliferate by these molecules as well as to express their receptor NKG2D. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA for time course analysis and Student's t-test for comparison between groups. Values were considered significantly different if p < 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>THP-1 and U-937 produce and secrete the stress MICA and MICB as shown by Western Blot of lysed cells and by ELISA of their conditioned media. By Western Blot and flow cytometry we found that these cells also express the receptor NKG2D. When THP-1 and U-937 were cultured with recombinant MICA and MICB they exhibited a dose dependent induction for their proliferation. CALO and INBL also produce MICA and MICB and were induced to proliferate by these stress molecules. By Western Blot, flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry we also found that these cells express NKG2D.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our novel results that tumor cells can simultaneously secrete MIC molecules and express their receptor, and to be induced for proliferation by these stress molecules, and that tumor epithelial cells can also express the NKG2D receptor that was thought to be exclusive of NK and cytotoxic lymphocytes is discussed as a possible mechanism of immunological escape and of tumor growth induction.</p