Unitary Equivalence of Quantum Walks

A simple coined quantum walk in one dimension can be characterized by a $SU(2)$ operator with three parameters which represents the coin toss. However, different such coin toss operators lead to equivalent dynamics of the quantum walker. In this manuscript we present the unitary equivalence classes of quantum walks and show that all the nonequivalent quantum walks can be distinguished by a single parameter. Moreover, we argue that the electric quantum walks are equivalent to quantum walks with time dependent coin toss operator

Identification of protein-based materials in Cultural Heritage: immunodetection of paint binders

This PhD thesis aims to investigate the identification of proteinaceous materials in particular used in paintings and artworks by immunodetection and other complimentary methodologies. The thesis is divided into two parts. The first part (chapters 1-3) goes in depth on the detection of proteins with ELISA and its optimization with silica nanoparticles. The second (chapters 4- 5) investigates the development of paint model replicas to imitate real artworks with proteinaceous binders, application of other complimentary techniques to detect proteins and the comparison with ELISA on real artworks. In particular, chapter 1 focuses the use of proteins in artworks and bibliographical literature on the particular use of ELISA as a method for detection and investigates the different complimentary techniques such as stratigraphy, Naphthalene Blue black and Pyrolysis GC-MS and how they have been applied in the past to detect proteins in artworks and the use of standard markers for characterization with chromatography. Chapter 2 provides an in-depth case study of ELISA based immunoassays to detect proteins from previously developed paint models. Chapter 3 investigates the optimisation of ELISA with silica nanoparticles for protein detection. Chapter 4 illustrates the development of paint model replicas with the use of heritage materials and proteinaceous binders and their characterization to detect proteins with Pyrolysis GC-MS. Chapter 5 portrays four case studies from the samples obtained at the Perpignan museum in France and their characterization with stratigraphy, Pyrolysis GC-MS and ELISA while comparing the results of protein detection between the latter two; Resumo: Identificação de materiais à base de proteínas no Património Cultural: Imunodetecção de ligantes de tintas Este projeto visa investigar a identificação de materiais proteicos, nomeadamente utilizados em pinturas e obras de arte pora imunodetecção e outras metodologias complementares. A tese está dividida em duas partes. A primeira parte (capítulos 1-3) desenvolve de forma detalhada a deteção de proteínas com ELISA e a sua otimização com nanopartículas de sílica. A segunda parte (capítulos 4-6) investiga o desenvolvimento de réplicas de modelos de pintura que mimetizam obras reais, com diferentes ligandos proteicos, e utilizam-se diversas técnicas complementares para detetar proteínas. Faz-se ainda uma comparação com a deteção por ELISA em obras de arte reais. Em particular, o capítulo 1 centra-se na utilização de proteínas em obras de arte e literatura bibliográfica sobre a utilização particular da ELISA como método de deteção. O capítulo 2 fornece um estudo aprofundado de caso de imunoensaios baseados em ELISA para detetar proteínas de modelos de pintura previamente desenvolvidos. O Capítulo 3 investiga a otimização da ELISA com nanopartículas de sílica para deteção de proteínas. O capítulo 4 investiga as diferentes técnicas complementares, tais como a estratigrafia, a naftalina azul e a pirólise GC-MS e como foram aplicadas no passado para detetar proteínas em obras de arte e a utilização de marcadores padrão para caracterização com cromatografia. O Capítulo 5 ilustra o desenvolvimento de réplicas de modelos de pintura com a utilização de materiais patrimoniais e aglutinantes proteicos e a sua caracterização para detetar proteínas com Pirólise GC-MS. O capítulo 6 retrata quatro estudos de caso das amostras obtidas no museu de Perpignan em França e a caracterização com estratigrafia, Pirólise GCMS e ELISA, comparando os resultados da deteção de proteínas entre os dois últimos

The effect of vitamin D on haemoglobin, patient assessed disease activity and endoscopic assessment in ulcerative colitis patients with anaemia

Background: Anemia has a dramatic impact on patient's quality of life, yet anemia in patients with UC is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Hepcidin has been identified to be a central regulator of iron absorption from the intestines and of plasma iron levels. In this study we evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on haemoglobin levels, patient assessed disease activity and endoscopic assessment in ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: In this prospective, open-labeled, parallel-group, randomized, comparative clinical study, we assigned newly diagnosed cases of UC with haemoglobin levels between 8-11 gm/dL to receive either standard therapy for 12 weeks or to receive oral 4000IU vitamin D3 along with standard therapy for 12 weeks. Results: Data from 60 patients were analyzed after 12 weeks. Supplementation with vitamin D3 significantly raised haemoglobin level in treatment group from (9.09±0.20) (Mean ± SEM) at baseline to 9.62±0.22 (Mean ± SEM) at 12 weeks. On assessment of abdominal pain with NRS scale at the end of treatment at 12 weeks the reduction in NRS score was to 3.47±0.29 in group I and to 2.23±0.21 in group II (p=0.0012) which was highly significant. There was also a statistically significant reduction in the Likert scale at the end of 4, 8 and 12 weeks in both groups. At week 12, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in improving the endoscopy score. Conclusions: Daily high dose vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in ameliorating UC symptoms like abdominal pain and has a positive effect on haemoglobin levels

Entanglement generation in spatially separated systems using quantum walk

We present a novel scheme to generate entanglement between two spatially separated systems. The scheme makes use of spatial entanglement generated by a single-particle quantum walk which is used to entangle two spatially separated, not necessarily correlated, systems. This scheme can be used to entangle any two systems which can interact with the spatial modes entangled during the quantum walk evolution. A notable feature is that we can control the quantum walk dynamics and its ability to localize leads to a substantial control and improvement in the entanglement output.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Analgesic Activity of some 1-Phenyl-3-aryl-5- (4-(butanoloxy) phenyl) 1H-pyrazoles

A series of analgesic activity of synthesised 1 -Phenyl-3-aryl- 5-(4-(butanoloxy) phenyl) 1H-pyrazoles were synthesized from chalcones and screened for their in vitro analgesic activity. Chalcones i.e.,1-aryl-3- (4-hydroxyphenyl) prop-2-en-1-ones, 1 on reaction with phenyl hydrazine in presence of acetic acid and few drops of hydrochloric acid furnished the corresponding 1-phenyl-3-aryl-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazoles 2 which on further reaction with 4-chloroalkanol yielded the title compounds 3. These compounds were characterized by CHN analyses, IR, mass and 1H NMR spectral data. All the novel synthesised 1-Phenyl-3-aryl-5-(4-(butanoloxy) phenyl) 1H-pyrazoles were evaluated pharmacologically for their analgesic activity and the title synthesised compounds exhibited significant results as compared to standard drug

Paradigm Shift in Etiology of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed in Emergency Department

Acute upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleed is an emergency requiring immediate intervention. Recent data have shown peptic ulcer disease (PUD) to be the commonest cause of UGI bleed. We aimed to evaluate all patients with UGI bleed reporting in the emergency department. A cross-sectional, observational study from a tertiary care center; evaluated all patients with UGI bleed presenting to the outpatient and emergency departments between December 2017 and December 2018. A total of 356 patients with UGI bleed were enlisted for diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. Variceal bleed was present in 231 (65%) [cir-rhosis 217 (61%) vs noncirrhotic 14 (4%)] patients, nonvariceal bleed was present in 93 (26%) [cirrhosis 22(6%) vs noncirrhotic 71(20%)] patients, and no cause was determined in 32 (9%) patients. Among cirrhotic patients, alcoholic liver disease (n = 172) was the most common, followed by cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 32), and cirrhosis related to Hepatitis B (n =7) and hepatitis C virus (n =22), and AIH (n = 6). Among variceal noncirrhotic causes, noncirrhotic portal hypertension was present in 14 patients. In the noncirrhotic, nonvariceal group, causes of UGI bleed included esophagitis (n = 26), erosive gastritis (n = 9), and Mallory Weiss Tear (n = 7), followed by PUD (n = 23), carcinoma stomach (n = 3), carcinoma esophagus (n = 2), and duodenal polyp (n= 1). Nonvariceal cirrhotic patients had portal hypertensive gastropathy (n = 8), PUD (n = 5), duodenal erosions (n = 1), esophagitis (n= 7), and antral varix (n = 1). Interestingly, even in the nonvariceal group, alcohol was the underlying cause of UGI bleed in majority of the patients with esophagitis and erosive gastritis. Alcohol was the commonest cause of UGI bleed in majority of the cases with or without chronic liver disease, followed by PUD in small numbers in the emergency department