The symplectic fermion ribbon quasi-Hopf algebra and the SL(2,Z)-action on its centre

We introduce a family of factorisable ribbon quasi-Hopf algebras $Q(N)$ for $N$ a positive integer: as an algebra, $Q(N)$ is the semidirect product of $\mathbb{C}\mathbb{Z}_2$ with the direct sum of a Grassmann and a Clifford algebra in $2N$ generators. We show that $Rep Q(N)$ is ribbon equivalent to the symplectic fermion category $SF(N)$ that was computed by the third author from conformal blocks of the corresponding logarithmic conformal field theory. The latter category in turn is conjecturally ribbon equivalent to representations of $V_{ev}$, the even part of the symplectic fermion vertex operator super algebra. Using the formalism developed in our previous paper we compute the projective $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$-action on the centre of $Q(N)$ as obtained from Lyubashenko's general theory of mapping class group actions for factorisable finite ribbon categories. This allows us to test a conjectural non-semisimple version of the modular Verlinde formula: we verify that the $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$-action computed from $Q(N)$ agrees projectively with that on pseudo trace functions of $V_{ev}$.Comment: 75pp; typos fixed, references update

Contracted School Food Service: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Political Concerns

Schools have evolved to be providers of education as well as suppliers of ancillary services to the population that they serve. This article examines one of these ancillary services, food service, in order to provide some awareness of the political aspects of the decision-making process in choosing whether or not to contract this service, as well as the pros and cons of the situation

Determination of radioactive contamination in Saghand area

زمینه و هدف: منطقه ساغند محصور به مناطق بافق، بهاباد، طبس و خرانق، در فاصله 190 کیلومتری شمال شرقی شهرستان یزد واقع گردیده و دارای معادن غنی از اورانیوم، آهن و غیره می باشد. وجود مواد رادیواکتیو و امکان تشعشع به افراد ساکن یا شاغل در محدوده معدن و نیز ابهاماتی که در اذهان عمومی مردم منطقه در خصوص افزایش موارد سرطان بوجود آمده و بنا به درخواست مقامات مسئول، تحقیق فوق با هدف تعیین میزان مواد رادیو اکتیو در منابع خاک، گیاه و آب منطقه ساغند انجام گردید. روش بررسی: این تحقیق یک مطالعه توصیفی تحلیلی است که در آن میزان رادیوم 226 (Ra226)، توریم 232 (Tu232)، پتاسیم 40 (K40) و سزیوم 137 (Cs137) در دو محور به فاصله هر 5 کیلومتر یک نمونه تا 50 کیلومتری اندازه گیری گردید. نمونه گیری با روش تصادفی و آزمایشات بر روی آب، گیاه و خاک انجام گردید. نمونه های گیاهی پس از شستشو و آماده سازی، خشک گردیده و بعد از آسیاب به آزمایشگاه انتقال داده شد. نمونه های خاک از عمق 30 سانتیمتری زمین و آب از منابع موجود برداشت گردید. نمونه ها جهت آزمایش به سازمان انرژی اتمی ایران ارسال که آن سازمان با توجه به استانداردهای موجود آزمایشات را با دستگاه آشکارساز ژرمانیوم خالص (High Pure Germanum) و گاما اسپکترومتری انجام داد. اطلاعات با استفاده از آزمون ضریب همبستگی پیرسون تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: نتایج حاصل از این تحقیق نشان می دهد که در نمونه های خاک میزان رادیوم بین 21 الی 45، توریوم بین 21 الی 43، پتاسیم بین 303 الی 505 و سزیوم بین 1/0 الی 12 بکرل در کیلوگرم (Bq/kg) در نوسان بوده است و در گیاهان میزان رادیوم منطقه حداقل 6/0 و حداکثر 8/2، توریوم حداقل 7/1 و حداکثر 3/3، پتاسیم از حداقل 86 و حداکثر 157 و سزیوم از حداقل 4/0 و حداکثر 4/3 بکرل در کیلوگرم متغیر بوده که در هر دو محور نتایج نسبتاً مشابهی اخذ گردیده است. میزان رادیوم در منابع آب منطقه از کمتر از 2 و حداکثر 8 میلی بکرل در لیتر (Bq/kg) بوده است. نتیجه گیری: بر خلاف انتظار و طبق قانون اشعه، میزان مواد رادیو اکتیو با افزایش فاصله کم نشده و تغییرات نیز منظم نبوده است. مقدار مواد رادیو اکتیو در آب نیز بسیار کمتر از میزان استاندارد آن یعنی110 میلی بکرل در لیتر مشاهده گردید. لذا می توان به مردم آن منطقه اطمینان داد که زندگی در آن محدوده از نظر آلودگی آب، خاک و غذا به مواد رادیواکتیو مشکل آفرین نمی باشد

Carbapenems, Linezolid, Teicoplanin utilization evaluation in a large teaching based hospital (Shahid Rajaie Heart Center, Tehran): A quality improvement study

The Aim of this study is to access the number of inappropriate usages of post CABG antibiotics such as, Carbapenems, Teicoplanin and Linezolid in Shahid Rajaie Hospital and to apply antibiotic practice guidelines and strategies to reduce inadequate treatment while determining their impact on patient outcomes. This retrospective study was performed at special wards of Shahid Rajaie Hospital. The program was conducted since March to August 2015. All of the patients which were on Imipenem, Meropenem, Linezolide or Teicoplanin as an empiric treatment or based on culture results were considered in the study. The results of this study indicated that among 136 in-patients who had taken at least one of these antibiotics including Imipenem, Meropenem, Linezolide or Teicoplanin, antimicrobial prescription assumed inappropriate for 63 patients (46.32), The most common reason was incorrect dosage (16.39)and the least one was not being drug of choice(2.4).this inappropriateness was occurred mostly in diagnosis of respiratory infection, skin infection and sepsis. The results of this study demonstrates the need for revision in program of prescribing antibiotics in the direction of using antibiotic practice guidelines especially regarding usage of Teicoplanin and Meropenem in specific complication such as respiratory infection and skin infection. � 2016, Oriental Scientific Publishing Company. All rights reserved

Evaluation of time in therapeutic range (TTR) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation receiving treatment with warfarin in Tehran, Iran: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Anticoagulant control is assessed by Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR). For a given patient, TTR is defined as the duration of time in which the patient�s International Normalized Ratio (INR) values were within a desired range. Aim: To assess TTR in patients receiving treatment with warfarin for non-valvular atrial fibrillation at a referral center for cardiovascular diseases in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Method: Over 6 months, we enrolled eligible patients presenting to Shaheed Rajaie Hospital in Tehran for regular INR testing. Demographic data, medical history, and current medications were determined for all participants. TTR was assessed by the Rosendaal method. Results: A total of 470 patients (mean age 58.0±14.2 years, 60.2 women) underwent 1450 INR measurements. The mean TTR was calculated as 54.9±11.9. Of the sample patients, 37.3 were in the good control category (TTR > 70), 24.6 were in the intermediate category (50 < TTR < 70), and 38.1 were in the poor control category (TTR < 50). The number of current medications above four was a significant predictor of poor control (OR = 2.06; 95 CI, 1.87, 2.23). The mean TTR of the studied patients (54.9) was below the good control range. Conclusion: The quality of anticoagulant therapy with warfarin in Iranian patients is poorer than that reported in European countries. Based on these results, research considering the causes of poor TTR among Iranian patients is recommended. © 2016, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

Effects of Dexmedetomidine on surgical stress responses at patients under CABG

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery with extracorporeal circulation produce changes in the immune system and plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. we hypothesize that Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant , modulates the inflammatory response after CABG. In a prospective, randomized, blind study, 31 patients were assigned to Dexmedetomidine (Dex) group and compared with control group of 30 patients. Dex was administered at a loading dose of 0.5 μg/kg for 10 min , followed by a continuous infusion of 0.5 μg/kg per hour until the completion of CABG with CPB . The endpoints used to assess inflammatory responses to mini - CPB were plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) - � , interleukin (IL - 6 ) and interleukin ( IL - 10) levels. The inflammatory markers (IL - 6 , IL - 10 , TNF - � ) were determined after Dex administration , before CPB and 24 hours after admission to ICU. Biochemical factors including glucose , creatinine , lactate , BUN, AST , ALT , LDH were determined before CPB, immediately after entering the ICU , 24 hr , 48 hr and 72 hr post admission to ICU. Hemodynamic variables were also determined. Dex group was associated with a significant reduction in urea and creatinine. There were no significant differences in glucose, lactate, liver enzymes, LDH , IL - 6, IL - 10 and hemodynamic variables. In contrast, the surgery - induced increase in TNF - � levels in the Dex group was significantly higher compared with the control group

A phase II trial of CHOP chemotherapy followed by yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) for previously untreated elderly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients

Background: A prospective, single-arm, open-label, nonrandomized phase II combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) plus radioimmunotherapy trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety in untreated elderly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Patients and methods: From February 2005 to April 2006, in our institute we treated 20 eligible elderly (age 6560 years) patients with previously untreated DLBCL using a novel regimen consisting of six cycles of CHOP chemotherapy followed 6-10 weeks later by 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan. Results: The overall response rate to the entire treatment regimen was 100%, including 95% complete remission (CR) and 5% partial remission. Four (80%) of the five patients who achieved less than a CR with CHOP improved their remission status after radioimmunotherapy. With a median follow-up of 15 months, the 2-year progression-free survival was estimated to be 75%, with a 2-year overall survival of 95%. The 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan toxicity included grade 653 hematologic toxicity in 12 of 20 patients; the most common grade 653 toxic effects were neutropenia (12 patients) and thrombocytopenia (7 patients). Transfusions of red blood cells and/or platelets were given to one patient. Conclusion: This study has established the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of this regimen for elderly patients with DLBCL

Dose-escalation using intensity-modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer - evaluation of quality of life with and without 18F-choline PET-CT detected simultaneous integrated boost

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In comparison to the conventional whole-prostate dose escalation, an integrated boost to the macroscopic malignant lesion might potentially improve tumor control rates without increasing toxicity. Quality of life after radiotherapy (RT) with vs. without ¹⁸F-choline PET-CT detected simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) was prospectively evaluated in this study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Whole body image acquisition in supine patient position followed 1 h after injection of 178-355MBq ¹⁸F-choline. SIB was defined by a tumor-to-background uptake value ratio > 2 (GTV_PET). A dose of 76Gy was prescribed to the prostate (PTV_prostate) in 2Gy fractions, with or without SIB up to 80Gy. Patients treated with (n = 46) vs. without (n = 21) SIB were surveyed prospectively before (A), at the last day of RT (B) and a median time of two (C) and 19 month (D) after RT to compare QoL changes applying a validated questionnaire (EPIC - expanded prostate cancer index composite).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With a median cut-off standard uptake value (SUV) of 3, a median GTV_PETof 4.0 cm³and PTV_boost(GTV_PETwith margins) of 17.3 cm³was defined. No significant differences were found for patients treated with vs. without SIB regarding urinary and bowel QoL changes at times B, C and D (mean differences ≤3 points for all comparisons). Significantly decreasing acute urinary and bowel score changes (mean changes > 5 points in comparison to baseline level at time A) were found for patients with and without SIB. However, long-term urinary and bowel QoL (time D) did not differ relative to baseline levels - with mean urinary and bowel function score changes < 3 points in both groups (median changes = 0 points). Only sexual function scores decreased significantly (> 5 points) at time D.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Treatment planning with ¹⁸F-choline PET-CT allows a dose escalation to a macroscopic intraprostatic lesion without significantly increasing toxicity.</p

Variational Methods for Biomolecular Modeling

Structure, function and dynamics of many biomolecular systems can be characterized by the energetic variational principle and the corresponding systems of partial differential equations (PDEs). This principle allows us to focus on the identification of essential energetic components, the optimal parametrization of energies, and the efficient computational implementation of energy variation or minimization. Given the fact that complex biomolecular systems are structurally non-uniform and their interactions occur through contact interfaces, their free energies are associated with various interfaces as well, such as solute-solvent interface, molecular binding interface, lipid domain interface, and membrane surfaces. This fact motivates the inclusion of interface geometry, particular its curvatures, to the parametrization of free energies. Applications of such interface geometry based energetic variational principles are illustrated through three concrete topics: the multiscale modeling of biomolecular electrostatics and solvation that includes the curvature energy of the molecular surface, the formation of microdomains on lipid membrane due to the geometric and molecular mechanics at the lipid interface, and the mean curvature driven protein localization on membrane surfaces. By further implicitly representing the interface using a phase field function over the entire domain, one can simulate the dynamics of the interface and the corresponding energy variation by evolving the phase field function, achieving significant reduction of the number of degrees of freedom and computational complexity. Strategies for improving the efficiency of computational implementations and for extending applications to coarse-graining or multiscale molecular simulations are outlined.Comment: 36 page