Improving the Computational Efficiency in Symmetrical Numeric Constraint Satisfaction Problems

Models are used in science and engineering for experimentation, analysis, diagnosis or design. In some cases, they can be considered as numeric constraint satisfaction problems (NCSP). Many models are symmetrical NCSP. The consideration of symmetries ensures that NCSP-solver will find solutions if they exist on a smaller search space. Our work proposes a strategy to perform it. We transform the symmetrical NCSP into a newNCSP by means of addition of symmetry-breaking constraints before the search begins. The specification of a library of possible symmetries for numeric constraints allows an easy choice of these new constraints. The summarized results of the studied cases show the suitability of the symmetry-breaking constraints to improve the solving process of certain types of symmetrical NCSP. Their possible speedup facilitates the application of modelling and solving larger and more realistic problems.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DIP2003-0666-02-

A Topological-Based Method for Allocating Sensors by Using CSP Techniques

Model-based diagnosis enables isolation of faults of a system. The diagnosis process uses a set of sensors (observations) and a model of the system in order to explain a wrong behaviour. In this work, a new approach is proposed with the aim of improving the computational complexity for isolating faults in a system. The key idea is the addition of a set of new sensors which allows the improvement of the diagnosability of the system. The methodology is based on constraint programming and a greedy method for improving the computational complexity of the CSP resolution. Our approach maintains the requirements of the user (detectability, diagnosability,. . .).Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI2003-07146-C02-0

Literatura japonesa y porcelana Kutani: Escenas del Genji Monogatari en el Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares de Sevilla: Japanese literature and Kutani porcelain: Scenes from the Genji Monogatari at the Museum of Arts and Popular Customs of Seville

  Resumen Los numerosos objetos de exportación japoneses llegados a Europa desde la apertura de la era Meiji (1868-1912) propiciaron el fenómeno del Japonismo y el coleccionismo de obras artísticas que hoy forman parte de numerosos museos. Este artículo analiza un conjunto excepcional de veintiuna piezas de porcelana de Kutani (Japón) conservadas en el Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares de Sevilla procedentes de la colección de Joaquín Soria, cuya decoración son distintos episodios del Genji Monogatari, la gran obra clásica de la literatura japonesa, que sigue los diseños del artista de la estampa ukiyo-e Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920). En concreto, las escenas representadas en las cerámicas proceden de la serie Los cincuenta y cuatro capítulos del Genji realizada entre los años 1892 y 1895 en Tokio. Este conjunto de obras muestra que las estampas ukiyo-e de la era Meiji formaron parte de los repertorios decorativos de las porcelanas japonesas, proyectando una imagen de Japón basada en su rica tradición literaria y cultural. Abstract Numerous Japanese export objects arrived in Europe from the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912), giving rise to the phenomenon of Japonisme and the collections of works of art that today form part of several museums. This article analyses an exceptional set of twenty-one pieces of Kutani porcelain (Japan) from the Joaquín Soria collection in the Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares in Seville. These pieces are decorated with different episodes from the Genji Monogatari, the great classic work of Japanese literature, which follows the designs of the ukiyo-e print artist Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920). The scenes depicted on the ceramics derive from the serie Fifty-four Chapters of the Genji, produced between 1892 and 1895 in Tokyo. This group of Kutani pieces shows that Meiji-era ukiyo-e prints formed part of the decorative repertoire of Japanese porcelain, projecting an image of Japan based on its rich literary and cultural tradition. Keywords Japan, Kutani, Porcelain, Genji, Ogata Gekkō

The prion 2018 round tables (I): the structure of PrP Sc

Understanding the structure of PrPSc is without doubt a sine qua non to understand not only PrPSc propagation, but also critical features of that process such as the strain phenomenon and transmission barriers. While elucidation of the PrPSc structure has been full of difficulties, we now have a large amount of structural information that allows us to begin to understand it. This commentary article summarizes a round table that took place within the Prion 2018 meeting held in Santiago de Compostela to discuss the state of the art in this matter. Two alternative models of PrPSc exist: the PIRIBS and the 4-rung β-solenoid models. Both of them have relevant features. The 4-rung β-solenoid model agrees with experimental constraints of brain derived PrPSc obtained from cryo-EM and X-ray fiber diffraction studies. Furthermore, it allows facile accommodation of the bulky glycans that decorate brain-derived PrPSc. On the other hand, the infectious PrP23-144 amyloid exhibits a PIRIBS architecture. Perhaps, both types of structure co-exist.Supported by grants BFU2013-48436-C2-1-P and BFU2017- 86692-P from the Spanish Ministries of Economy and Competitiveness and Science, Innovation and Universities, respectively, to JRR and grant 201600029 from the Alberta Prion Research Institute to HW. This work was also supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIAID (BC) and by the National Institute of Health grants R01 NS045585 (IVB), P01 AI106705 (WKS), R01 NS083687 (WKS) and R01 NS103848 (WKS)S

Lattice dynamics and correlated atomic motion from the atomic pair distribution function

The mean-square relative displacements (MSRD) of atomic pair motions in crystals are studied as a function of pair distance and temperature using the atomic pair distribution function (PDF). The effects of the lattice vibrations on the PDF peak widths are modelled using both a multi-parameter Born von-Karman (BvK) force model and a single-parameter Debye model. These results are compared to experimentally determined PDFs. We find that the near-neighbor atomic motions are strongly correlated, and that the extent of this correlation depends both on the interatomic interactions and crystal structure. These results suggest that proper account of the lattice vibrational effects on the PDF peak width is important in extracting information on static disorder in a disordered system such as an alloy. Good agreement is obtained between the BvK model calculations of PDF peak widths and the experimentally determined peak widths. The Debye model successfully explains the average, though not detailed, natures of the MSRD of atomic pair motion with just one parameter. Also the temperature dependence of the Debye model largely agrees with the BvK model predictions. Therefore, the Debye model provides a simple description of the effects of lattice vibrations on the PDF peak widths.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure

Enhanced In Vivo Activity of Cefditoren in Pre-Immunized Mice against Penicillin-Resistant S. pneumoniae (Serotypes 6B, 19F and 23F) in a Sepsis Model

Background Specific antibodies are likely to be present before S. pneumoniae infection. We explored cefditoren (CDN) total and free values of serum concentrations exceeding the MIC (t>MIC) related to efficacy in a mice sepsis model, and the effect of specific gammaglobulins on in-vitro phagocytosis and in-vivo efficacy. Methodology/Principal Findings We used three pneumococcal isolates (serotype, MIC of CDN): Strain 1 (6B, 1 µg/ml), Strain 2 (19F, 2 µg/ml) and Strain 3 (23F, 4 µg/ml). Hyperimmune serum (HS) was obtained from mice immunized with heat-inactivated strains. In-vitro, phagocytosis by HS diluted 1/10 in presence/absence of sub-inhibitory concentrations was measured by flow cytometry including fluorescent bacteria and a neutrophil cell line. In-vivo dose-ranging experiments with HS (dilutions 1/2–1/16) and CDN (6.25 mg/kg–100 mg/kg tid for 48 h) were performed to determine the minimal protective dilution/dose (highest survival) and the non-protective highest dilution/dose (highest mortality: HS-np dilution and CDN-np dose) over 7 days. Efficacy of CDN-np in animals pre-immunized with HS-np (combined strategy) was explored and blood bacterial clearance determined. The CDN measured protein binding was 86.9%. In-vitro, CDN significantly increased phagocytosis (vs. HS 1/10). In non pre-immunized animals, t>MIC values for CDN of ≈35% (total) and ≈19% (free) were associated with 100% survival. Significant differences in survival were found between HS-np alone (≤20%) or CDN-np alone (≤20%) vs. the combined strategy (90%, 60% and 60% for Stains 1, 2 and 3), with t>MIC (total/free) of 22.8%/14.3%, 26.8%/16.0%, and 22.4%/12.7% for Strains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Prior to the second dose (8 h), median bacterial counts were significantly lower in animals surviving vs. dead at day 7. Conclusions/Significance In mice (CDN protein binding similar to humans) total t>MIC values of ≈35% (≈19% free) were efficacious, with a decrease in the required values in pre-immunized animals. This reinforces that immunoprotection to overcome resistance may provide lifesaving strategies.This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Tedec-Meiji Farma S.A., Madrid, Spain. Tedec-Meiji Farma S.A. had a role in providing reagents, materials and analysis toolsPeer reviewe

Left-right symmetry at LHC and precise 1-loop low energy data

Despite many tests, even the Minimal Manifest Left-Right Symmetric Model (MLRSM) has never been ultimately confirmed or falsified. LHC gives a new possibility to test directly the most conservative version of left-right symmetric models at so far not reachable energy scales. If we take into account precise limits on the model which come from low energy processes, like the muon decay, possible LHC signals are strongly limited through the correlations of parameters among heavy neutrinos, heavy gauge bosons and heavy Higgs particles. To illustrate the situation in the context of LHC, we consider the "golden" process $pp \to e^+ N$. For instance, in a case of degenerate heavy neutrinos and heavy Higgs masses at 15 TeV (in agreement with FCNC bounds) we get $\sigma(pp \to e^+ N)>10$ fb at $\sqrt{s}=14$ TeV which is consistent with muon decay data for a very limited $W_2$ masses in the range (3008 GeV, 3040 GeV). Without restrictions coming from the muon data, $W_2$ masses would be in the range (1.0 TeV, 3.5 TeV). Influence of heavy Higgs particles themselves on the considered LHC process is negligible (the same is true for the light, SM neutral Higgs scalar analog). In the paper decay modes of the right-handed heavy gauge bosons and heavy neutrinos are also discussed. Both scenarios with typical see-saw light-heavy neutrino mixings and the mixings which are independent of heavy neutrino masses are considered. In the second case heavy neutrino decays to the heavy charged gauge bosons not necessarily dominate over decay modes which include only light, SM-like particles.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figs, KL-KS and new ATLAS limits taken into accoun

A compendium and functional characterization of mammalian genes involved in adaptation to Arctic or Antarctic environments

Many mammals are well adapted to surviving in extremely cold environments. These species have likely accumulated genetic changes that help them efficiently cope with low temperatures. It is not known whether the same genes related to cold adaptation in one species would be under selection in another species. The aims of this study therefore were: to create a compendium of mammalian genes related to adaptations to a low temperature environment; to identify genes related to cold tolerance that have been subjected to independent positive selection in several species; to determine promising candidate genes/pathways/organs for further empirical research on cold adaptation in mammals