4,043 research outputs found
Representations of Conformal Nets, Universal C*-Algebras and K-Theory
We study the representation theory of a conformal net A on the circle from a
K-theoretical point of view using its universal C*-algebra C*(A). We prove that
if A satisfies the split property then, for every representation \pi of A with
finite statistical dimension, \pi(C*(A)) is weakly closed and hence a finite
direct sum of type I_\infty factors. We define the more manageable locally
normal universal C*-algebra C*_ln(A) as the quotient of C*(A) by its largest
ideal vanishing in all locally normal representations and we investigate its
structure. In particular, if A is completely rational with n sectors, then
C*_ln(A) is a direct sum of n type I_\infty factors. Its ideal K_A of compact
operators has nontrivial K-theory, and we prove that the DHR endomorphisms of
C*(A) with finite statistical dimension act on K_A, giving rise to an action of
the fusion semiring of DHR sectors on K_0(K_A)$. Moreover, we show that this
action corresponds to the regular representation of the associated fusion
algebra.Comment: v2: we added some comments in the introduction and new references.
v3: new authors' addresses, minor corrections. To appear in Commun. Math.
Phys. v4: minor corrections, updated reference
Ci8 short, a novel LPS-induced peptide from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis,modulates responses of the human immune system
The selective modulation of immunity is an emerging concept driven by the vast advances in our understanding
of this crucial host defense system. Invertebrates have raised researchers’ interest as potential sources of new
bioactive molecules owing to their antibacterial, anticancer and immunomodulatory activities. A
LipoPolySaccharide (LPS) challenge in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis generates the transcript, Ci8 short, with cisregulatory
elements in the 3′ UTR region that are essential for shaping innate immune responses. The derived
amino acidic sequence in silico analysis showed specific binding to human Major Histocompatibility Complex
(MHC) Class I and Class II alleles. The role of Ci8 short peptide was investigated in a more evolved immune
system using human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) as in vitro model. The biological activities of
this molecule include the activation of 70 kDa TCR ζ chain Associated Protein kinase (ZAP-70) and T Cell
Receptor (TCR) Vβ oligo clonal selection on CD4+ T lymphocytes as well as increased proliferation and IFN-γ
secretion. Furthermore Ci8 short affects CD4+/CD25high induced regulatory T cells (iTreg) subset selection which
co-expressed the functional markers TGF-β1/Latency Associated Protein (LAP) and CD39/CD73. This paper
describes a new molecule that modulates important responses of the human adaptive immune system
The Roman Bridge: a "double pulley – suture bridges" technique for rotator cuff repair
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With advances in arthroscopic surgery, many techniques have been developed to increase the tendon-bone contact area, reconstituting a more anatomic configuration of the rotator cuff footprint and providing a better environment for tendon healing.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We present an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair technique which uses suture bridges to optimize rotator cuff tendon-footprint contact area and mean pressure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two medial row 5.5-mm Bio-Corkscrew suture anchors (Arthrex, Naples, FL), which are double-loaded with No. 2 FiberWire sutures (Arthrex, Naples, FL), are placed in the medial aspect of the footprint. Two suture limbs from a single suture are both passed through a single point in the rotator cuff. This is performed for both anchors. The medial row sutures are tied using the double pulley technique. A suture limb is retrieved from each of the medial anchors through the lateral portal, and manually tied as a six-throw surgeon's knot over a metal rod. The two free suture limbs are pulled to transport the knot over the top of the tendon bridge. Then the two free suture limbs that were used to pull the knot down are tied. The end of the sutures are cut. The same double pulley technique is repeated for the other two suture limbs from the two medial anchors, but the two free suture limbs are used to produce suture bridges over the tendon, by means of a Pushlock (Arthrex, Naples, FL), placed 1 cm distal to the lateral edge of the footprint.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This technique maximizes the advantages of two techniques. On the one hand, the double pulley technique provides an extremely secure fixation in the medial aspect of the footprint. On the other hand, the suture bridges allow to improve pressurized contact area and mean footprint pressure. In this way, the bony footprint in not compromised by the distal-lateral fixation, and it is thus possible to share the load between fixation points. This maximizes the strength of the repair and provides a barrier preventing penetration of synovial fluid into the healing area of tendon and bone.</p
The fusion algebra of bimodule categories
We establish an algebra-isomorphism between the complexified Grothendieck
ring F of certain bimodule categories over a modular tensor category and the
endomorphism algebra of appropriate morphism spaces of those bimodule
categories. This provides a purely categorical proof of a conjecture by Ostrik
concerning the structure of F.
As a by-product we obtain a concrete expression for the structure constants
of the Grothendieck ring of the bimodule category in terms of endomorphisms of
the tensor unit of the underlying modular tensor category.Comment: 16 page
13q Deletion Syndrome Involving RB1: Characterization of a New Minimal Critical Region for Psychomotor Delay.
Retinoblastoma (RB) is an ocular tumor of the pediatric age caused by biallelic inactivation of the RB1 gene (13q14). About 10% of cases are due to gross-sized molecular deletions. The deletions can involve the surrounding genes delineating a contiguous gene syndrome characterized by RB, developmental anomalies, and peculiar facial dysmorphisms. Overlapping deletions previously found by traditional and/or molecular cytogenetic analysis allowed to define some critical regions for intellectual disability (ID) and multiple congenital anomalies, with key candidate genes. In the present study, using array-CGH, we characterized seven new patients with interstitial 13q deletion involving RB1. Among these cases, three patients with medium or large 13q deletions did not present psychomotor delay. This allowed defining a minimal critical region for ID that excludes the previously suggested candidate genes (HTR2A, NUFIP1, PCDH8, and PCDH17). The region contains 36 genes including NBEA, which emerged as the candidate gene associated with developmental delay. In addition, MAB21L1, DCLK1, EXOSC8, and SPART haploinsufficiency might contribute to the observed impaired neurodevelopmental phenotype. In conclusion, this study adds important novelties to the 13q deletion syndrome, although further studies are needed to better characterize the contribution of different genes and to understand how the haploinsufficiency of this region can determine ID. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Gleam: the GLAST Large Area Telescope Simulation Framework
This paper presents the simulation of the GLAST high energy gamma-ray
telescope. The simulation package, written in C++, is based on the Geant4
toolkit, and it is integrated into a general framework used to process events.
A detailed simulation of the electronic signals inside Silicon detectors has
been provided and it is used for the particle tracking, which is handled by a
dedicated software. A unique repository for the geometrical description of the
detector has been realized using the XML language and a C++ library to access
this information has been designed and implemented.Comment: 10 pages, Late
Plasma and red blood cell pufas in home parenteral nutrition paediatric patients—effects of lipid emulsions
Background: Mixed lipid emulsions (LE) containing fish oil present several advantages compared to the sole soybean oil LE, but little is known about the safety of essential fatty acids (EFA) profile in paediatric patients on long-term Parenteral Nutrition (PN). Aim of the study: to assess glycerophosfolipid polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels on plasma and red blood cell (RBC) membrane of children on long term PN with composite LE containing fish oil (SMOF), and to compare it with a group receiving olive oil LE (Clinoleic®) and to the reference range for age, previously determined on a group of healthy children. Results: A total of 38 patients were enrolled, median age 5.56 (0.9–21.86) years, 15 receiving Clinoleic®, 23 receiving SMOF. Patients on SMOF showed significantly higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), lower levels of arachidonic acid (ARA) and Mead acid (MEAD)/ARA ratio in plasma and RBC compared with patients on Clinoleic® and with healthy children. Triene:tetraene (T:T) ratio of both groups of patients did not differ from that of healthy children-median plasma (MEAD/ARA: 0.01, interquartile rage (IQR) 0.01, p = 0.61 and 0.02, IQR 0.02, p = 0.6 in SMOF and Clinoleic® patients, respectively), and was considerably lower than Holman index (>0.21). SMOF patients showed no statistically significant differences in growth parameters compared with Clinoleic® patients. Patients of both groups showed stiffness class F0-F1 of liver stiffness measure (LSM) 5.6 (IQR 0.85) in SMOF patients and 5.3 (IQR 0.90) in Clinoleic® patients, p = 0.58), indicating absence of liver fibrosis. Conclusions: Fatty acids, measured as concentrations (mg/L), revealed specific PUFA profile of PN patients and could be an accurate method to evaluate nutritional status and eventually to detect essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD). SMOF patients showed significantly higher EPA, DHA and lower ARA concentrations compared to Clinoleic® patients. Both LEs showed similar hepatic evolution and growth
Macro- and megafauna recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea) using different tools
Macro- and megafauna were recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon, located in the southern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) during an oceanographic cruise carried out in May-June 2012 and an experimental fishing survey conducted in November 2013. During the former, 20 benthic samples were taken using a Van Veen grab at depths between 268 and 770 m and four deployments of a baited lander, for approximately 43 hours of video records, were carried out at depths between 443 and 788 m. During the latter, eight longline fishing operations were conducted from 338 m down to 612 m. Eighty-five living benthic and bentho-pelagic species were recorded: 29 Porifera, 1 Cnidaria, 2 Mollusca, 11 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 19 Bryozoa, 3 Echinodermata, and 19 Chordata. Fifty-one species are new records for the Bari Canyon, and 29 species are new records for the Adriatic Sea. Among the Porifera Cerbaris curvispiculifer is a new addition for the Italian sponge fauna. The first confirmed record of living specimens of the bryozoan Crisia tenella longinodata is reported. A total of six Mediterranean endemic species have been identified, four Porifera and two Annelida. The bathymetric range of some species has been extended. New information acquired for deep sea species confirms their importance in the structure of cold-water coral communities. This study has updated knowledge on the biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea, as well as of the Bari Canyon in particular, one of the sites designated as “jewels of the Mediterranean” for which urgent conservation measures are needed
Interplanetary Protons versus Interacting Protons in the 2017 September 10 Solar Eruptive Event
We analyze the relativistic proton emission from the Sun during the eruptive event on 2017 September 10, which
caused a ground-level enhancement (GLE 72) registered by the worldwide network of neutron monitors. Using the
neutron monitor data and interplanetary transport modeling both along and across interplanetary magnetic field
(IMF) lines, we deduce parameters of the proton injection into the interplanetary medium. The inferred injection
profile of the interplanetary protons is compared with the profile of the >100 MeV Îł-ray emission observed by the
Fermi Large Area Telescope, attributed to pion production from the interaction of >300 MeV protons at the Sun.
GLE 72 started with a prompt component that arrived along the IMF lines. This was followed by a more prolonged
enhancement caused by protons arriving at the Earth across the IMF lines from the southwest. The interplanetary
proton event is modeled using two sources—one source at the root of the Earth-connected IMF line and another
source situated near the solar western limb. The maximum phase of the second injection of interplanetary protons
coincides with the maximum phase of the prolonged >100 MeV Îł-ray emission that originated from a small area at
the solar western limb, below the current sheet trailing the associated coronal mass ejection (CME). A possible
common source of interacting protons and interplanetary protons is discussed in terms of proton acceleration at the
CME bow shock versus coronal (re-)acceleration in the wake of the CME
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