On the Practical use of Variable Elimination in Constraint Optimization Problems: 'Still-life' as a Case Study

Variable elimination is a general technique for constraint processing. It is often discarded because of its high space complexity. However, it can be extremely useful when combined with other techniques. In this paper we study the applicability of variable elimination to the challenging problem of finding still-lifes. We illustrate several alternatives: variable elimination as a stand-alone algorithm, interleaved with search, and as a source of good quality lower bounds. We show that these techniques are the best known option both theoretically and empirically. In our experiments we have been able to solve the n=20 instance, which is far beyond reach with alternative approaches

La Sala del Asno de Oro en el Castillo de San Secondo Parmense

La Sala del Asno de Oro en el palacio de San Secondo fue realizada por el pintor Vincenzo Tamagni y comisionada por Pier María II de Rossi. Representa en sus diecisiete argumentos al fresco las andanzas de Lucio, el asno protagonista de la historia narrada por Apuleyo en su Asno de Oro o las Metamorfosis, allá por el siglo II de nuestra era. Para llevar a cabo el programa iconográfico, se siguió como fuente literaria la obra de Apuleyo, además de un texto, como explicaremos, que fue escrito por el autor conocido como Pseudo-Luciano. Curiosamente, es de notar, que en el programa pictórico no se da cuenta de uno de los argumentos más destacados en el texto de Apuleyo: la fábula de Amor y Psique. En este sentido y para conformar la semántica de estas pinturas hemos realizado una recopilación bibliográfica que sirve para acercarnos al porqué de su realización y su importancia. La Sala supone un auténtico unicum por la temática tan inusual que encierra ya que las vivencias de Lucio-asno no han sido tradicionalmente muy difundidas por las artes. Otro factor importante será las relaciones de este conjunto con el arte gráfico como en ediciones de libros ilustrados y en estampas sueltas que tanto desarrollo tuvieron en este tiempo

The Late Antique basilica of San Martín de Dulantzi (Alegria-Dulantzi, Álava)

En los últimos años una serie de actuaciones arqueológicas en la villa alavesa de Alegría-Dulantzi han sacado a la luz un gran edificio de culto de planta basilical y de importantes dimensiones, en cuyo interior se inhumó un buen número de enterramientos vestidos, algunos de clara filiación norpirenaica. En este trabajo se amplía la información sobre esta edificación haciendo hincapié en su organización litúrgica, en su cementerio asociado, en su programa arquitectónico y en su cronología y evolución histórica.During the last few years, a number of archaeological surveys have been carried out in Alegria-Dulantzi, an ancient town in the province of Álava, Spain. During these surveys, a large place of worship following the lines of a basilica emerged, and within the building a number of burials with the remains of clothing with clear North Pyrenean characteristics. In this paper, additional information about this building is set out, emphasizing its liturgical layout, its associated burials, its architecture, and its chronology and historical evolution

Sigma-2 receptor agonist derivatives of 1-Cyclohexyl-4-[3-(5-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl)propyl]piperazine (PB28) induce cell death via mitochondrial superoxide production and caspase activation in pancreatic cancer

Abstract Background Despite considerable efforts by scientific research, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related mortalities. Sigma-2 receptors, which are overexpressed in several tumors, represent promising targets for triggering selective pancreatic cancer cells death. Methods We selected five differently structured high-affinity sigma-2 ligands (PB28, PB183, PB221, F281 and PB282) to study how they affect the viability of diverse pancreatic cancer cells (human cell lines BxPC3, AsPC1, Mia PaCa-2, and Panc1 and mouse Panc-02, KCKO and KP-02) and how this is reflected in vivo in a tumor model. Results Important cytotoxicity was shown by the compounds in the aggressive Panc02 cells, where cytotoxic activity was caspase-3 independent for four of the five compounds. However, both cytotoxicity and caspase-3 activation involved generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which could be partially reverted by the lipid antioxidant \u3b1-tocopherol, but not by the hydrophilic N-acetylcysteine (NAC) indicating crucial differences in the intracellular sites exposed to oxidative stress induced by sigma-2 receptor ligands. Importantly, all the compounds strongly increased the production of mitochondrial superoxide radicals except for PB282. Despite a poor match between in vitro and the in vivo efficacy, daily treatment of C57BL/6 mice bearing Panc02 tumors resulted in promising effects with PB28 and PB282 which were similar compared to the current standard-of-care chemotherapeutic gemcitabine without showing signs of systemic toxicities. Conclusions Overall, this study identified differential sensitivities of pancreatic cancer cells to structurally diverse sigma-2 receptor ligands. Of note, we identified the mitochondrial superoxide pathway as a previously unrecognized sigma-2 receptor-activated process, which encourages further studies on sigma-2 ligand-mediated cancer cell death for the targeted treatment of pancreatic tumors

Evaluating the effect of aging on interference resolution with time-varying complex networks analysis

In this study we used graph theory analysis to investigate age-related reorganization of functional networks during the active maintenance of information that is interrupted by external interference. Additionally, we sought to investigate network differences before and after averaging network parameters between both maintenance and interference windows. We compared young and older adults by measuring their magnetoencephalographic recordings during an interference-based working memory task restricted to successful recognitions. Data analysis focused on the topology/temporal evolution of functional networks during both the maintenance and interference windows. We observed that: (a) Older adults require higher synchronization between cortical brain sites in order to achieve a successful recognition, (b) The main differences between age groups arise during the interference window, (c) Older adults show reduced ability to reorganize network topology when interference is introduced, and (d) Averaging network parameters leads to a loss of sensitivity to detect age differencesThis work has been supported by the Spanish MINECO under project [FIS2013-41057], as well as Fundación Carolina Doctoral Scholarship Program and Colciencias Doctoral Program 56

Evaluating the effect of aging on interference resolution with time-varying complex networks analysis

In this study we used graph theory analysis to investigate age-related reorganization of functional networks during the active maintenance of information that is interrupted by external interference. Additionally, we sought to investigate network differences before and after averaging network parameters between both maintenance and interference windows. We compared young and older adults by measuring their magnetoencephalographic recordings during an interference-based working memory task restricted to successful recognitions. Data analysis focused on the topology/temporal evolution of functional networks during both the maintenance and interference windows. We observed that: (a) Older adults require higher synchronization between cortical brain sites in order to achieve a successful recognition, (b) The main differences between age groups arise during the interference window, (c) Older adults show reduced ability to reorganize network topology when interference is introduced, and (d) Averaging network parameters leads to a loss of sensitivity to detect age differencesThis work has been supported by the Spanish MINECO under project [FIS2013-41057], as well as Fundación Carolina Doctoral Scholarship Program and Colciencias Doctoral Program 56

Measuring non-market strategies through dictionary development and content analysis. An application to sub-Saharan electrification projects

LAUREA MAGISTRALEQuesta tesi studia l’applicazione dell’analisi del contenuto (AC) alla misurazione delle strategie non-market (SNM) nel settore delle infrastrutture di elettrificazione. Il lavoro parte da una rassegna della lettratura riguardante le SNM, rassegna che evidenzia la difficoltà nel misurare il livello di implementazione di queste ultime, soprattutto se la misurazione interessa numerose compagnie o progetti. Segue una rassegna della letteratura riguardante l'AC, che identifica la ricerca di parole chiave come una possibile metodologia per risolvere le difficoltà di misurazione. La tesi prosegue sviluppando un modello di ricerca di parole chiave volumetrico, per effettuare misurazioni delle SNM. Il modello viene testato su un campione composto da 105 progetti di sviluppo di infrastruttrue di elettrificazione, svolti nell’Africa Sub-Sahariana, nel preiodo 2001-2014. Il modello include 2 procedure per l’identificazione sistematica dei dizionari di parole chiave da utilizzare per l’AC, basati sull’analisi e comparazione di specifici corpus testuali. Il processo di AC ha prodotto misurazioni dell’applicazione di SNM che sono risultate attendibili dai test effettuati. Dall’analisi di queste misurazioni non sono emerse indicazioni che facciano pensare ad un utilizzo combinato delle SNM in questo contesto. La maggior parte dei dizionari di parole chiave elaborati nel corso del lavoro si sono rivelati in grado di individuare i riferimenti alle SNM presenti nel testo.This thesis studies the application of content analysis (CA) to the measurement of non-market strategies (NMS) within the electrification infrastructure sector. The work starts from a review of the literature on NMS, which highlights the presence of issues in NMS implementation measurements, especially if the measurement is performed in multiple contexts (different firms or projects). A further review of the literature identifies the keyword research CA as a possible methodology to address the measurement issues. The thesis develops a volumetric CA framework, to obtain NMS measurement. The framework is then tested on a sample composed of 105 electrical infrastructure development projects, implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa, in the period 2001-2014 by MNS. The framework includes 2 distinct procedures to systematically identify the keywords dictionaries to use in the CA, analyzing and comparing dedicated corpuses of text. The CA process produces measurements of NMS application in the projects under study that, according to performed tests, are reliable. From the analysis of those measurements, it did not emerge evidence that the 2 NMS, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and corporate political action (CPA) are likely implemented together in this sector. Most keywords dictionaries obtained during the work were able to capture the references to NMS within the text analyzed

Cutaneous B and T lymphomas: review of the clinical and histological diagnostic workup and experience in the HUA

[EN] Background. The involvement of the skin in neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders can occur either by an affectation secondary to a systemic neoplasm or by a primary affectation of the skin, which is considered a primary cutaneous lymphoma, a nonHodgkin lymphoma presenting in the skin with no evidence of extracutaneous disease at the time of diagnosis. Clinical and histological diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders is a challenge in dermatopathology. Objective. The aim of this paper is to review a selection of cases of cutaneous lymphoma occurred during the past three years in the Hospital Universitario Araba (HUA), focusing on the clinical and pathological diagnostic workup as a whole, to try to meet the difficulties encountered and compare them with those found in the medical literature and highlight the importance of clinical and histological correlation. Methods. Four cases occurred in the HUA during 2015-2018 were selected and compared through a systematic review of cutaneous lymphoma diagnostic workup in articles published in online medical databases and journals. Results. Each case is exposed and analyzed, emphasizing the time elapsed from the first consultation of the patient to final diagnosis, the number of biopsies that each case required, the inquiries made to external centers to confirm the diagnoses and the intervention of different departments. The information found during the bibliographic review of each case is exposed. Conclusion. Clinical and pathological correlation is crucial and should be materialized in the development of sessions and the organization of interdisciplinary committees, in which the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoma is addressed jointly by the departments involved

Information system for image classification based on frequency curve proximity

With the size digital collections are currently reaching, retrieving the best match of a document from large collections by comparing hundreds of tags is a task that involves considerable algorithm complexity, even more so if the number of tags in the collection is not fixed. For these cases, similarity search appears to be the best retrieval method, but there is a lack of techniques suited for these conditions. This work presents a combination of machine learning algorithms put together to find the most similar object of a given one in a set of pre-processed objects based only on their metadata tags. The algorithm represents objects as character frequency curves and is capable of finding relationships between objects without an apparent association. It can also be parallelized using MapReduce strategies to perform the search. This method can be applied to a wide variety of documents with metadata tags. The case-study used in this work to demonstrate the similarity search technique is that of a collection of image objects in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) containing metadata tags.This work has been done in the context of the project “ASASEC (Advisory System Against Sexual Exploitation of Children)” (HOME/2010/ISEC/AG/043) supported by the European Union with the program “Prevention and fight against crime”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio