Bayesian semi non-negative matrix factorisation

Non-negative Matrix Factorisation (NMF) has become a standard method for source identification when data, sources and mixing coefficients are constrained to be positive-valued. The method has recently been extended to allow for negative-valued data and sources in the form of Semi-and Convex-NMF. In this paper, we re-elaborate Semi-NMF within a full Bayesian framework. This provides solid foundations for parameter estimation and, importantly, a principled method to address the problem of choosing the most adequate number of sources to describe the observed data. The proposed Bayesian Semi-NMF is preliminarily evaluated here in a real neuro-oncology problem.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Animal, the 21st Century Postmodernist Oliver Twist : a Glimpse of Khaufpur: Dead bodies, poor bodies and "bodies-in-pain"

A comparison between the main characters of Indra Sinha's novel Animal's People and Charles Dickens' Oliver TwistUna comparación entre el protagonista de la novela Animal's People de Indra Sinha y el de la novela de Charles Dickens, Oliver Twis

The question of the evolutive inception of morals in the primatologist Frans de Waal

La búsqueda de unos supuestos orígenes evolutivos de la moral está adquiriendo actualidad gracias al empuje de las neurociencias, reforzado por diversas investigaciones en otros campos. El primatólogo Frans de Waal identifica en nuestros parientes evolutivos ciertos componentes básicos de la moralidad en relación a los problemas de la vida social, destacando los ingredientes emotivos, especialmente el papel del mecanismo empático. Se pretende aquí poner de relieve críticamente las limitaciones de tal planteamiento para la ética.The search for alleged evolutionary origins of morality is acquiring topicality thanks to the drive of the neurosciences, reinforced by diverse investigations in other fields. The primatologist Frans de Waal identifies in our evolutionary relatives certain basic components of morality in relation to the problems of social life, highlighting the emotional elements, especially the role of the empathic mechanism. The aim is to critically highlight the limitations of such an approach to ethics

The Impact of Collective Identity on the relationship between Effectuation and Environmental Hostility

Outgoin

Perspectives in stem cell proteomics

A brief report on the Perspectives in Stem Cell Proteomics Conference, Hinxton, UK, 22-23 March, 2009

Contributions by R Sennett to develop Business Ethics in the New Capitalism context

Este artículo tiene el objetivo de realizar una aproximación crítica al pensamiento de Richard Sennett con la mirada puesta en las aportaciones que su obra puede realizar al desarrollo de la Ética Empresarial. De ahí que el estudio busca reconocer las transformaciones que están produciéndose en el nivel organizativo, y que se traducen en la implementación de nuevas formas de producción y trabajo en el seno de las relaciones capitalistas, aspectos sumamente relevantes para ser capaces de orientar dichas relaciones en un sentido de justicia, prudencia y responsabilidad tal y como se plantea por la Ética Empresarial de corte discursivo.The objective of this article is to conduct a critical study of Richard Sennett’s thinking by focusing on the contributions his work can make to develop Business Ethics. This study aims to recognize the transformations that take place in organizational terms, and are then implemented into new forms of production and work at the heart of capitalist relations, which are extremely important aspects for guiding these relations in justice, prudence and responsibility terms, as it is proposed by discourse business ethics

Classifying malignant brain tumours from 1H-MRS data using Breadth Ensemble Learning

In neuro oncology, the accurate diagnostic identification and characterization of tumours is paramount for determining their prognosis and the adequate course of treatment. This is usually a difficult problem per se, due to the localization of the tumour in an extremely sensitive and difficult to reach organ such as the brain. The clinical analysis of brain tumours often requires the use of non-invasive measurement methods, the most common of which resort to imaging techniques. The discrimination between high-grade malignant tumours of different origin but similar characteristics, such as glioblastomas and metastases, is a particularly difficult problem in this context. This is because imaging techniques are often not sensitive enough and their spectroscopic signal is overall too similar. In spite of this, machine learning techniques, coupled with robust feature selection procedures, have recently made substantial inroads into the problem. In this study, magnetic resonance spectroscopy data from an international, multicentre database were used to discriminate between these two types of malignant brain tumours using ensemble learning techniques, with a focus on the definition of a feature selection method specifically designed for ensembles. This method, Breadth Ensemble Learning, takes advantage of the fact that many of the frequencies of the available spectra convey no relevant information for the discrimination of the tumours. The potential of the proposed method is supported by some of the best results reported to date for this problem.Postprint (author's final draft

Show me your friends: a survey experiment on the effect of coalition signals

Recent studies of coalition-directed voting suggest that what political parties say during a campaign can influence voter perceptions of the likelihood of certain coalitions and that this, in turn, may foster strategic voting in multiparty systems. Here, we expand this argument, and show that pre-election coalition signals also have the potential to influence voter perceptions of the parties themselves. By revealing their coalition preferences, parties provide information on where they stand on the political continuum. We test our argument using a survey experiment run during a regional election campaign in Spain in which we manipulated the coalition signals emitted by two parties: one, a traditional, social-democratic party and, the second, a new, liberal party. Results show how coalition signals can significantly influence the party's position and, ultimately, affect voters' stated probability of voting, especially in the case of the recently founded party

Good practice guide for calibrating a hydrophone "in situ" with a non-omnidirectional source at 10 kHz (26-34)

The aim of this paper is to provide the basis for the calibration of a hydrophonePeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

mTORC2 sustains thermogenesis via Akt-induced glucose uptake and glycolysis in brown adipose tissue

Activation of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been proposed as an anti-obesity treatment. Moreover, cold-induced glucose uptake could normalize blood glucose levels in insulin-resistant patients. It is therefore important to identify novel regulators of NST and cold-induced glucose uptake. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) mediates insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in metabolic tissues, but its role in NST is unknown. We show that mTORC2 is activated in brown adipocytes upon β-adrenergic stimulation. Furthermore, mice lacking mTORC2 specifically in adipose tissue (AdRiKO mice) are hypothermic, display increased sensitivity to cold, and show impaired cold-induced glucose uptake and glycolysis. Restoration of glucose uptake in BAT by overexpression of hexokinase II or activated Akt2 was sufficient to increase body temperature and improve cold tolerance in AdRiKO mice. Thus, mTORC2 in BAT mediates temperature homeostasis via regulation of cold-induced glucose uptake. Our findings demonstrate the importance of glucose metabolism in temperature regulation