Grassmann-Gaussian integrals and generalized star products

In quantum scattering on networks there is a non-linear composition rule for on-shell scattering matrices which serves as a replacement for the multiplicative rule of transfer matrices valid in other physical contexts. In this article, we show how this composition rule is obtained using Berezin integration theory with Grassmann variables.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. In memory of Al.B. Zamolodichiko

Commutator Leavitt path algebras

For any field K and directed graph E, we completely describe the elements of the Leavitt path algebra L_K(E) which lie in the commutator subspace [L_K(E),L_K(E)]. We then use this result to classify all Leavitt path algebras L_K(E) that satisfy L_K(E)=[L_K(E),L_K(E)]. We also show that these Leavitt path algebras have the additional (unusual) property that all their Lie ideals are (ring-theoretic) ideals, and construct examples of such rings with various ideal structures.Comment: 24 page

Guidelines for Maritime Spatial Planning in the European Macaronesia: Stakeholder-oriented

Macaronesian Maritime Spatial Planning - MarSPMAMAR-S

GUIDELINES FOR MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING IN THE EUROPEAN MACARONESIA- POLICY-ORIENTED

Macaronesian Maritime Spatial Planning - MarSPMAMAR-S

Surface characterization and surface electronic structure of organic quasi-one-dimensional charge transfer salts

We have thoroughly characterized the surfaces of the organic charge-transfer salts TTF-TCNQ and (TMTSF)2PF6 which are generally acknowledged as prototypical examples of one-dimensional conductors. In particular x-ray induced photoemission spectroscopy turns out to be a valuable non-destructive diagnostic tool. We show that the observation of generic one-dimensional signatures in photoemission spectra of the valence band close to the Fermi level can be strongly affected by surface effects. Especially, great care must be exercised taking evidence for an unusual one-dimensional many-body state exclusively from the observation of a pseudogap.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, v2: minor changes in text and figure labellin

Rendimiento productivo y morfometría intestinal del pollo de engorde sometido a dietas con inclusión de espirulina (Arthrospira platensis)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) on productive performance (WG: weight gain, FI: feed intake, FCR: feed conversion ratio, EPEI: European productive efficiency index) and intestinal morphometry (VL: villus length,  VW: villus width, CD: crypt depth) in broilers. In total, 240 one-day-old male chicks from the Cobb 500 line were used, distributed into four treatments with six replicates of 10 chicks each. The treatments were: T0: base diet without spirulina (control), T1: base diet with 0.25% spirulina, T2: base diet with 0.5% spirulina, T3: base diet with 1% spirulina. A completely randomized block design was used. The effect of increasing levels of spirulina was evaluated by linear and quadratic polynomial orthogonal contrasts. The WG and FI variables showed quadratic trend while FCR and EPEI showed linear trend. The optimal level of spirulina that maximizes weight gain was 0.68% with a predictive value of 3330 g. The increasing levels of spirulina did not affect the morphometric measurements of VL and VW at the level of duodenum, jejunum and ileum; therefore, significant linear responses were obtained in CD and VL/CD in jejunum and in VL/CD in ileum as a response to the increasing levels of spirulina in the diet. It was concluded that the increasing levels of spirulina influence the productive performance under experimental conditions while they were not conclusive for intestinal morphometry in Cobb 500 chicks at 42 days of age.El objetivo del estudio fue determinar el efecto de la espirulina (Arthrospira platensis) sobre el rendimiento productivo (GP: ganancia de peso, CA: conversión alimenticia, ICA: índice de conversión alimenticia, IEPE: índice de eficiencia productiva europeo) y la morfometría intestinal (LV: longitud de vellosidad, AV: ancho de vellosidad, PC: profundidad de cripta y LV/PC: relación longitud de vellosidad/profundidad de cripta) en pollos de engorde. Se emplearon 240 pollos machos de un día de edad de la línea Cobb 500, distribuidos en cuatro tratamientos con seis réplicas de 10 pollos cada uno. Los tratamientos fueron: T0: dieta base sin espirulina (control), T1: dieta base con 0.25% de espirulina, T2: dieta base con 0.5% de espirulina, T3: dieta base con 1% de espirulina. Se empleó un diseño de bloques completamente al azar. El efecto de los niveles crecientes de espirulina se evaluó por contrastes ortogonales polinómicos de tipo lineal y cuadrático. Las variables GP y CA presentaron un comportamiento cuadrático mientras que el ICA e IEPE mostraron un comportamiento lineal. El nivel óptimo de espirulina que maximiza la ganancia de peso fue de 0.68% con un valor predictivo de 3330 g. Los niveles crecientes de espirulina no afectaron las medidas morfométricas de LV y AV a nivel de duodeno, yeyuno e íleon; en tanto, se obtuvieron respuestas lineal significativas en la PC y LV/PC en yeyuno y en LV/PC en íleon como respuesta a los niveles crecientes de espirulina en la dieta. Se concluye que los niveles crecientes de espirulina influyen sobre el rendimiento productivo en condiciones experimentales, mientras que no fueron concluyentes para la morfometría intestinal en pollos Cobb 500 a los 42 días de edad

Multiscale modelling of vascular tumour growth in 3D: the roles of domain size & boundary condition

We investigate a three-dimensional multiscale model of vascular tumour growth, which couples blood flow, angiogenesis, vascular remodelling, nutrient/growth factor transport, movement of, and interactions between, normal and tumour cells, and nutrient-dependent cell cycle dynamics within each cell. In particular, we determine how the domain size, aspect ratio and initial vascular network influence the tumour's growth dynamics and its long-time composition. We establish whether it is possible to extrapolate simulation results obtained for small domains to larger ones, by constructing a large simulation domain from a number of identical subdomains, each subsystem initially comprising two parallel parent vessels, with associated cells and diffusible substances. We find that the subsystem is not representative of the full domain and conclude that, for this initial vessel geometry, interactions between adjacent subsystems contribute to the overall growth dynamics. We then show that extrapolation of results from a small subdomain to a larger domain can only be made if the subdomain is sufficiently large and is initialised with a sufficiently complex vascular network. Motivated by these results, we perform simulations to investigate the tumour's response to therapy and show that the probability of tumour elimination in a larger domain can be extrapolated from simulation results on a smaller domain. Finally, we demonstrate how our model may be combined with experimental data, to predict the spatio-temporal evolution of a vascular tumour

Case Report: Molecular Profiling Facilitates the Diagnosis of a Challenging Case of Lung Cancer With Choriocarcinoma Features

Accurate diagnoses are crucial in determining the most effective treatment across different cancers. In challenging cases, morphology-based traditional pathology methods have important limitations, while molecular profiling can provide valuable information to guide clinical decisions. We present a 35-year female with lung cancer with choriocarcinoma features. Her disease involved the right lower lung, brain, and thoracic lymph nodes. The pathology from brain metastasis was reported as metastatic choriocarcinoma (a germ cell tumor) by local pathologists. She initiated carboplatin and etoposide, a regimen for choriocarcinoma. Subsequently, her case was assessed by pathologists from an academic cancer center, who gave the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with aberrant expression of β-hCG and finally pathologists at our hospital, who gave the diagnosis of poorly differentiated carcinoma with choriocarcinoma features . Genomic profiling detected a KRAS G13R mutation and transcriptomics profiling was suggestive of lung origin. The patient was treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel/ipilimumab/nivolumab followed by consolidation radiation therapy. She had no evidence of progression to date, 16 months after the initial presentation. The molecular profiling could facilitate diagnosing of challenging cancer cases. In addition, chemoimmunotherapy and local consolidation radiation therapy may provide promising therapeutic options for patients with lung cancer exhibiting choriocarcinoma features

Working memory capacity modulates habituation rate: Evidence from a cross-modal auditory distraction paradigm

Habituation of the orienting response is a pivotal part of selective attention, and previous research has related working memory capacity (WMC) to attention control. Against this background, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether individual differences in WMC contribute to habituation rate. The participants categorized visual targets across six blocks of trials. Each target was preceded either by a standard sound or, on rare trials, by a deviant. The magnitude of the deviation effect (i.e., prolonged response time when the deviant was presented) was relatively large in the beginning but attenuated toward the end. There was no relationship between WMC and the deviation effect at the beginning, but there was at the end, and greater WMC was associated with greater habituation. These results indicate that high memory ability increases habituation rate, and they support theories proposing a role for cognitive control in habituation and in some forms of auditory distraction

Mapping the disease-specific LupusQoL to the SF-6D

Purpose To derive a mapping algorithm to predict SF-6D utility scores from the non-preference-based LupusQoL and test the performance of the developed algorithm on a separate independent validation data set. Method LupusQoL and SF-6D data were collected from 320 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) attending routine rheumatology outpatient appointments at seven centres in the UK. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to estimate models of increasing complexity in order to predict individuals’ SF-6D utility scores from their responses to the LupusQoL questionnaire. Model performance was judged on predictive ability through the size and pattern of prediction errors generated. The performance of the selected model was externally validated on an independent data set containing 113 female SLE patients who had again completed both the LupusQoL and SF-36 questionnaires. Results Four of the eight LupusQoL domains (physical health, pain, emotional health, and fatigue) were selected as dependent variables in the final model. Overall model fit was good, with R2 0.7219, MAE 0.0557, and RMSE 0.0706 when applied to the estimation data set, and R2 0.7431, MAE 0.0528, and RMSE 0.0663 when applied to the validation sample. Conclusion This study provides a method by which health state utility values can be estimated from patient responses to the non-preference-based LupusQoL, generalisable beyond the data set upon which it was estimated. Despite concerns over the use of OLS to develop mapping algorithms, we find this method to be suitable in this case due to the normality of the SF-6D data