Representations of the q-deformed algebra Uq(iso2)U_q({\rm iso}_2)

An algebra homomorphism $\psi$ from the q-deformed algebra $U_q({\rm iso}_2)$ with generating elements $I$, $T_1$, $T_2$ and defining relations $[I,T_2]_q=T_1$, $[T_1,I]_q=T_2$, $[T_2,T_1]_q=0$ (where $[A,B]_q=q^{1/2}AB-q^{-1/2}BA$) to the extension ${\hat U}_q({\rm m}_2)$ of the Hopf algebra $U_q({\rm m}_2)$ is constructed. The algebra $U_q({\rm iso}_2)$ at $q=1$ leads to the Lie algebra ${\rm iso}_2 \sim {\rm m}_2$ of the group ISO(2) of motions of the Euclidean plane. The Hopf algebra $U_q({\rm m}_2)$ is treated as a Hopf $q$-deformation of the universal enveloping algebra of ${\rm iso}_2$ and is well-known in the literature. Not all irreducible representations of $U_q({\rm m}_2)$ can be extended to representations of the extension ${\hat U}_q({\rm m}_2)$. Composing the homomorphism $\psi$ with irreducible representations of ${\hat U}_q({\rm m}_2)$ we obtain representations of $U_q({\rm iso}_2)$. Not all of these representations of $U_q({\rm iso}_2)$ are irreducible. The reducible representations of $U_q({\rm iso}_2)$ are decomposed into irreducible components. In this way we obtain all irreducible representations of $U_q({\rm iso}_2)$ when $q$ is not a root of unity. A part of these representations turns into irreducible representations of the Lie algebra iso$_2$ when $q\to 1$. Representations of the other part have no classical analogue.Comment: 12 pages, LaTe

Toxoplasma gondii infection in workers occupationally exposed to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables: a case control seroprevalence study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Through a case control seroprevalence study, we sought to determine the association of <it>Toxoplasma gondii </it>infection with occupational exposure to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects, numbering 200, who worked growing or selling fruits and vegetables, and 400 control subjects matched by age, gender, and residence were examined by enzyme immunoassays for the presence of anti-<it>Toxoplasma </it>IgG and IgM antibodies. Socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics from the study subjects were obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 200 fruit and vegetable workers, 15 (7.5%) of whom, and 31 (7.8%) of the 400 controls were positive for anti-<it>Toxoplasma </it>IgG antibodies (<it>P </it>= 0.96). Anti-<it>Toxoplasma </it>IgM antibodies were found in 2 (1%) of the fruit workers and in 11 (2.8%) of the control subjects (<it>P </it>= 0.23). Seroprevalence of <it>Toxoplasma </it>antibodies increased with age (<it>P </it>= 0.0004). In addition, seropositivity to <it>Toxoplasma </it>was associated with ill status (<it>P </it>= 0.04), chronic tonsillitis (<it>P </it>= 0.03), and reflex impairment (<it>P </it>= 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that <it>Toxoplasma </it>infection was associated with consumption of raw meat (OR = 5.77; 95% CI: 1.15-28.79; <it>P </it>= 0.03), unwashed raw fruits (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.11-5.63; <it>P </it>= 0.02), and living in a house with soil floors (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.22-7.88; <it>P </it>= 0.01), whereas <it>Toxoplasma </it>infection was negatively associated with traveling abroad (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.12-0.67; <it>P </it>= 0.005).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first report of seroprevalence and contributing factors for <it>Toxoplasma </it>infection in workers occupationally exposed to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables, and the results may help in the design of optimal preventive measures against <it>Toxoplasma </it>infection especially in female workers at reproductive age.</p

Global shifts, theoretical shifts: changing geographies of religion

10.1177/0309132510362602Progress in Human Geography346755-77

High seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in a subset of Mexican patients with work accidents and low socioeconomic status

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Toxoplasma gondii </it>has been associated with reflex impairment and traffic accidents. It is unknown whether <it>Toxoplasma </it>infection might be associated with work accidents. Therefore, using a case-control seroprevalence study design, 133 patients with a recent work accident and 266 control subjects of the general population from the same region were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays for the presence and levels of anti-<it>Toxoplasma </it>IgG antibodies and anti-<it>Toxoplasma </it>IgM antibodies. Socio-demographic, work, clinical and behavioral characteristics from each worker were obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eleven (8.3%) of 133 patients, and 14 (5.3%) of 266 controls had anti-<it>T. gondii </it>IgG antibodies. Anti-<it>T. gondii </it>IgG levels were higher than 150 IU/ml in 8 (6%) patients and 10 (3.8%) controls. Anti-<it>T. gondii </it>IgM antibodies were found in one (0.8%) of the workers, and in 6 (2.3%) of the controls. No statistically significant differences in the IgG seroprevalences, frequencies of high IgG levels, and IgM seroprevalences among patients and controls were found. In contrast, a low socio-economic level in patients with work accidents was associated with <it>Toxoplasma </it>seropositivity (<it>P </it>= 0.01). Patients with work accidents and low socioeconomic status showed a significantly (OR = 3.38; 95% CI: 0.84-16.06; <it>P </it>= 0.04) higher seroprevalence of <it>T. gondii </it>infection than controls of the same socioeconomic status (15.1% vs. 5%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed a positive association of <it>T. gondii </it>infection with boar meat consumption (OR = 3.04; 95% CI: 1.03-8.94; <it>P </it>= 0.04). In contrast, a negative association between <it>T. gondii </it>infection and national trips (OR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.17-0.96; <it>P </it>= 0.04), sausage consumption (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.68; <it>P </it>= 0.01), and ham consumption (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.05-0.51; <it>P </it>= 0.002) was found.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the study described here seropositivity to <it>T. gondii </it>was associated to work accidents in a subset of patients with low socioeconomic status. This is the first report of an association of <it>T. gondii </it>infection and work accidents. Further studies to confirm our results are needed. Results may help in designing optimal prevention strategies to avoid <it>T. gondii </it>infection.</p

More than smell - COVID-19 is associated with severe impairment of smell, taste, and chemesthesis

Recent anecdotal and scientific reports have provided evidence of a link between COVID-19 and chemosensory impairments such as anosmia. However, these reports have downplayed or failed to distinguish potential effects on taste, ignored chemesthesis, generally lacked quantitative measurements, were mostly restricted to data from single countries. Here, we report the development, implementation and initial results of a multi-lingual, international questionnaire to assess self-reported quantity and quality of perception in three distinct chemosensory modalities (smell, taste, and chemesthesis) before and during COVID-19. In the first 11 days after questionnaire launch, 4039 participants (2913 women, 1118 men, 8 other, ages 19-79) reported a COVID-19 diagnosis either via laboratory tests or clinical assessment. Importantly, smell, taste and chemesthetic function were each significantly reduced compared to their status before the disease. Difference scores (maximum possible change+/-100) revealed a mean reduction of smell (-79.7+/- 28.7, mean+/- SD), taste (-69.0+/- 32.6), and chemesthetic (-37.3+/- 36.2) function during COVID-19. Qualitative changes in olfactory ability (parosmia and phantosmia) were relatively rare and correlated with smell loss. Importantly, perceived nasal obstruction did not account for smell loss. Furthermore, chemosensory impairments were similar between participants in the laboratory test and clinical assessment groups. These results show that COVID-19-associated chemosensory impairment is not limited to smell, but also affects taste and chemesthesis. The multimodal impact of COVID-19 and lack of perceived nasal obstruction suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection may disrupt sensory-neural mechanisms.Additional co-authors: Veronica Pereda-Loth, Shannon B Olsson, Richard C Gerkin, Paloma Rohlfs Domínguez, Javier Albayay, Michael C. Farruggia, Surabhi Bhutani, Alexander W Fjaeldstad, Ritesh Kumar, Anna Menini, Moustafa Bensafi, Mari Sandell, Iordanis Konstantinidis, Antonella Di Pizio, Federica Genovese, Lina Öztürk, Thierry Thomas-Danguin, Johannes Frasnelli, Sanne Boesveldt, Özlem Saatci, Luis R. Saraiva, Cailu Lin, Jérôme Golebiowski, Liang-Dar Hwang, Mehmet Hakan Ozdener, Maria Dolors Guàrdia, Christophe Laudamiel, Marina Ritchie, Jan Havlícek, Denis Pierron, Eugeni Roura, Marta Navarro, Alissa A. Nolden, Juyun Lim, KL Whitcroft, Lauren R. Colquitt, Camille Ferdenzi, Evelyn V. Brindha, Aytug Altundag, Alberto Macchi, Alexia Nunez-Parra, Zara M. Patel, Sébastien Fiorucci, Carl M. Philpott, Barry C. Smith, Johan N Lundström, Carla Mucignat, Jane K. Parker, Mirjam van den Brink, Michael Schmuker, Florian Ph.S Fischmeister, Thomas Heinbockel, Vonnie D.C. Shields, Farhoud Faraji, Enrique Enrique Santamaría, William E.A. Fredborg, Gabriella Morini, Jonas K. Olofsson, Maryam Jalessi, Noam Karni, Anna D'Errico, Rafieh Alizadeh, Robert Pellegrino, Pablo Meyer, Caroline Huart, Ben Chen, Graciela M. Soler, Mohammed K. Alwashahi, Olagunju Abdulrahman, Antje Welge-Lüssen, Pamela Dalton, Jessica Freiherr, Carol H. Yan, Jasper H. B. de Groot, Vera V. Voznessenskaya, Hadar Klein, Jingguo Chen, Masako Okamoto, Elizabeth A. Sell, Preet Bano Singh, Julie Walsh-Messinger, Nicholas S. Archer, Sachiko Koyama, Vincent Deary, Hüseyin Yanik, Samet Albayrak, Lenka Martinec Novákov, Ilja Croijmans, Patricia Portillo Mazal, Shima T. Moein, Eitan Margulis, Coralie Mignot, Sajidxa Mariño, Dejan Georgiev, Pavan K. Kaushik, Bettina Malnic, Hong Wang, Shima Seyed-Allaei, Nur Yoluk, Sara Razzaghi, Jeb M. Justice, Diego Restrepo, Julien W Hsieh, Danielle R. Reed, Thomas Hummel, Steven D Munger, John E Haye