New Integrable Models from Fusion

Integrable multistate or multiflavor/color models were recently introduced. They are generalizations of models corresponding to the defining representations of the U_q(sl(m)) quantum algebras. Here I show that a similar generalization is possible for all higher dimensional representations. The R-matrices and the Hamiltonians of these models are constructed by fusion. The sl(2) case is treated in some detail and the spin-0 and spin-1 matrices are obtained in explicit forms. This provides in particular a generalization of the Fateev-Zamolodchikov Hamiltonian.Comment: 11 pages, Latex. v2: statement concerning symmetries qualified, 3 minor misprints corrected. J. Phys. A (1999) in pres

Preclinical and Clinical Development of Plant-Made Virus-Like Particle Vaccine against Avian H5N1 Influenza

The recent swine H1N1 influenza outbreak demonstrated that egg-based vaccine manufacturing has an Achille's heel: its inability to provide a large number of doses quickly. Using a novel manufacturing platform based on transient expression of influenza surface glycoproteins in Nicotiana benthamiana, we have recently demonstrated that a candidate Virus-Like Particle (VLP) vaccine can be generated within 3 weeks of release of sequence information. Herein we report that alum-adjuvanted plant-made VLPs containing the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of H5N1 influenza (A/Indonesia/5/05) can induce cross-reactive antibodies in ferrets. Even low doses of this vaccine prevented pathology and reduced viral loads following heterotypic lethal challenge. We further report on safety and immunogenicity from a Phase I clinical study of the plant-made H5 VLP vaccine in healthy adults 18-60 years of age who received 2 doses 21 days apart of 5, 10 or 20 µg of alum-adjuvanted H5 VLP vaccine or placebo (alum). The vaccine was well tolerated at all doses. Adverse events (AE) were mild-to-moderate and self-limited. Pain at the injection site was the most frequent AE, reported in 70% of vaccinated subjects versus 50% of the placebo recipients. No allergic reactions were reported and the plant-made vaccine did not significantly increase the level of naturally occurring serum antibodies to plant-specific sugar moieties. The immunogenicity of the H5 VLP vaccine was evaluated by Hemagglutination-Inhibition (HI), Single Radial Hemolysis (SRH) and MicroNeutralisation (MN). Results from these three assays were highly correlated and showed similar trends across doses. There was a clear dose-response in all measures of immunogenicity and almost 96% of those in the higher dose groups (2 × 10 or 20 µg) mounted detectable MN responses. Evidence of striking cross-protection in ferrets combined with a good safety profile and promising immunogenicity in humans suggest that plant-based VLP vaccines should be further evaluated for use in pre-pandemic or pandemic situations.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00984945

Fermionization and Hubbard Models

We introduce a transformation which allows the fermionization of operators of any one-dimensional spin-chain. This fermionization procedure is independent of any eventual integrable structure and is compatible with it. We illustrate this method on various integrable and non-integrable chains, and deduce some general results. In particular, we fermionize XXC spin-chains and study their symmetries. Fermionic realizations of certain Lie algebras and superalgebras appear naturally as symmetries of some models. We also fermionize recently obtained Hubbard models, and obtain for the first time multispecies analogues of the Hubbard model, in their fermionic form. We comment on the conflict between symmetry enhancement and integrability of these models. Finally, the fermionic versions of the non integrable spin-1 and spin-3/2 Heisenberg chains are obtained.Comment: 24 pages, Latex. Minor typos corrected, one equation adde

Bethe ansatz for the SU(4) extension of the Hubbard Model

We apply the nested algebraic Bethe ansatz method to solve the eigenvalue problem for the SU(4) extension of the Hubbard model. The Hamiltonian is equivalent to the SU(4) graded permutation operator. The graded Yang-Baxter equation and the graded Quantum Inverse Scattering Method are used to obtain the eigenvalue of the SU(4) extension of the Hubbard model.Comment: Latex file, 12 page

Impurity breakdown and terahertz luminescence in n-GaN epilayers under external electric field

We report on the observation and experimental studies of impurity breakdown and terahertz luminescence in n-GaN epilayers under external electric field. The terahertz electroluminescence is observed in a wide range of doping levels (at noncompensated donor density from 4.5×10[sup 16] to 3.4×10[sup 18] cm[sup −3]). Spectra of terahertz luminescence and photoconductivity are studied by means of Fourier transform spectrometry. Distinctive features of the spectra can be assigned to intracenter electron transitions between excited and ground states of silicon and oxygen donors and to hot electron transitions to the donor states.Peer reviewe

Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, using a nitric oxide releasing patch: PATHON

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes Mellitus constitutes one of the most important public health problems due to its high prevalence and enormous social and economic consequences. Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus and constitute the most important cause of non-traumatic amputation of inferior limbs. It is estimated that 15% of the diabetic population will develop an ulcer sometime in their lives. Although novel therapies have been proposed, there is no effective treatment for this pathology. Naturally produced nitric oxide participates in the wound healing process by stimulating the synthesis of collagen, triggering the release of chemotactic cytokines, increasing blood vessels permeability, promoting angiogenic activity, stimulating the release of epidermical growth factors, and by interfering with the bacterial mitochondrial respiratory chain. Topically administered nitric oxide has demonstrated to be effective and safe for the treatment of chronic ulcers secondary to cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, due to their unstable nitric oxide release, the topical donors needed to be applied frequently, diminishing the adherence to the treatment. This difficulty has led to the development of a multilayer polymeric transdermal patch produced by electrospinning technique that guarantees a constant nitric oxide release. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this novel nitric oxide releasing wound dressing for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, including 100 diabetic patients was designed. At the time of enrollment, a complete medical evaluation and laboratory tests will be performed, and those patients who meet the inclusion criteria randomly assigned to one of two groups. Over the course of 90 days group 1 will receive active patches and group 2 placebo patches. The patients will be seen by the research group at least every two weeks until the healing of the ulcer or the end of the treatment. During each visit the healing process of the ulcer, the patient's health status and the presence of adverse events will be assessed. Should the effectiveness of the patches be demonstrated an alternative treatment would then be available to patients.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00428727.</p