596 research outputs found

    Quantum 3j3j-symbols for Uq(sl3)U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_3)

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    We propose an algebraic expression for Uq(sl3)U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_3) quantum 3j3j symbols (quantum Clebsch-Gordan coefficients) appearing in the decomposition of tensor product of symmetric representations. Our compact form will be useful to write the spectral parameter dependent RR-matrix elements for any bi-partite vertex model whose edges carry states of the symmetric representations

    Target Product Profiles for medical tests: a systematic review of current methods

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    Background: A Target Product Profile (TPP) outlines the necessary characteristics of an innovative product to address an unmet clinical need. TPPs could be used to better guide manufacturers in the development of ‘fit for purpose’ tests, thus increasing the likelihood that novel tests will progress from bench to bedside. However, there is currently no guidance on how to produce a TPP specifically for medical tests. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to summarise the methods currently used to develop TPPs for medical tests, the sources used to inform these recommendations and the test characteristics for which targets are made. Database and website searches were conducted in November 2018. TPPs written in English for any medical test were included. Based on an existing framework, test characteristics were clustered into commonly recognised themes. Results: Forty-four TPPs were identified, all of which focused on diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. Three core decision-making phases for developing TPPs were identified: scoping, drafting and consensus-building. Consultations with experts and the literature mostly informed the scoping and drafting of TPPs. All TPPs provided information on unmet clinical need and desirable analytical performance, and the majority specified clinical validity characteristics. Few TPPs described specifications for clinical utility, and none included cost-effectiveness. Conclusions: We have identified a commonly used framework that could be beneficial for anyone interested in drafting a TPP for a medical test. Currently, key outcomes such as utility and cost-effectiveness are largely overlooked within TPPs though and we foresee this as an area for further improvement

    Examining the role of digitalization and technological innovation in promoting sustainable natural resource exploitation

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    In the era of technological advancement, the potential of digitalization and technical innovation to revolutionize sustainable resource exploitation has become a focal point. The promises of reduced environmental impact, heightened efficiency, and improved socio-economic outcomes underscore the transformative power that digitalization holds for resource management. To this extent, the fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy VIsekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR) methods are used to examine challenges and come up with possible solutions for the mining sector in Pakistan to adopt digital transformation. The study identifies several key challenges, sub-challenges, and strategies, giving readers a thorough grasp of digital transformation. These challenges and sub-challenges are evaluated and ranked according to their relative weights using the fuzzy AHP approach. The fuzzy VIKOR method is applied to determine strategies that can help overcome these challenges and promote digitalization and technological innovation in the sustainable exploitation of natural resources. The results of fuzzy AHP show that policy and regulation, infrastructure, and human capital are key challenges. The findings of fuzzy VIKOR indicate that robust policy development, investment in Research and Development (R&D), and leveraging global trends and partnerships are key strategies to overcome the challenges. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, offering new perspectives on integrating digital technology into the natural resource sector to foster sustainable development

    Growth Pattern and Morphological Variation of Labeo calbasu Found in Indus River, Sindh-Pakistan

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    The present work reports the length–weight relationships (LWR) and condition factor relationships for Labeo calbasu collected from Upstream (Matyari) Kotri barrage at, River Indus, Pakistan, because stock assessment helps the fisheries managers to conserve the commercially important fish. Morphological characters of fish as well as Length-weight relationship are an important tool for fishery management. The results of LWR (W= aLb), for L calbasu.  Representing negative allometric growth pattern. LWRs and condition factor relationships were found significantly correlated. A total of 200 and 190 specimens from upstream and downstream were collected, respectively. The assessed values of length-weight correlation and condition factor were calculated as Kn=39.663 (LeCren), and K=11.915 (Fulton) for upstream and Kn=44.066 and K=13.872 for downstream. Length-weight was found with a strong correlation of n= 2.892, a=0.0235 with r2=0.934 for upstream population then the downstream population.  The results of this work would be beneficial for sustainable management as well as fishery managers. 

    CXXC5 as an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide binding protein contributes to estrogen-mediated cellular proliferation.

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    Evidence suggests that the CXXC type zinc finger (ZF-CXXC) protein 5 (CXXC5) is a critical regulator/integrator of various signaling pathways that include the estrogen (E2)-estrogen receptor α (ERα). Due to its ZF-CXXC domain, CXXC5 is considered to be a member of the ZF-CXXC family, which binds to unmethylated CpG dinucleotides of DNA and through enzymatic activities for DNA methylation and/or chromatin modifications generates a chromatin state critical for gene expressions. Structural/functional features of CXXC5 remain largely unknown. CXXC5, suggested as transcription and/or epigenetic factor, participates in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and death. To explore the role of CXXC5 in E2-ERα mediated cellular events, we verified by generating a recombinant protein that CXXC5 is indeed an unmethylated CpG binder. We uncovered that CXXC5, although lacks a transcription activation/repression function, participates in E2-driven cellular proliferation by modulating the expression of distinct and mutual genes also regulated by E2. Furthermore, we found that the overexpression of CXXC5, which correlates with mRNA and protein levels of ERα, associates with poor prognosis in ER-positive breast cancer patients. Thus, CXXC5 as an unmethylated CpG binder contributes to E2-mediated gene expressions that result in the regulation of cellular proliferation and may contribute to ER-positive breast cancer progression

    Effective Wess-Zumino-Witten Action for Edge States of Quantum Hall Systems on Bergman Ball

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    Using a group theory approach, we investigate the basic features of the Landau problem on the Bergman ball {\bf B}^k. This can be done by considering a system of particles living on {\bf B}^k in the presence of an uniform magnetic field B and realizing the ball as the coset space SU(k,1)/U(k). In quantizing the theory on {\bf{B}}^k, we define the wavefunctions as the Wigner \cal{D}-functions satisfying a set of suitable constraints. The corresponding Hamiltonian is mapped in terms of the right translation generators. In the lowest Landau level, we obtain the wavefunctions as the SU(k,1) coherent states. This are used to define the star product, density matrix and excitation potential in higher dimensions. With these ingredients, we construct a generalized effective Wess-Zumino-Witten action for the edge states and discuss their nature.Comment: 19 pages, clarifications and some equations removed, version published in NP

    Ultracompact microinterferometer-based fiber Bragg grating interrogator on a silicon chip

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    We report an interferometer-based multiplexed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) interrogator using silicon photonic technology. The photonic-integrated system includes the grating coupler, active and passive interferometers, interferometers, a 12-channel wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) filter, and Ge photodiodes, all integrated on a 6x8 mm2 silicon chip. The system also includes optical and electric interfaces to a printed board, which is connected to a real-time electronic board that actively performs the phase demodulation processing using a multitone mixing (MTM) technique. The device with active demodulation, which uses thermally-based phase shifters, features a noise figure of σ  =  0.13 pm at a bandwidth of 700 Hz, which corresponds to a dynamic spectral resolution of 4.9 fm/Hz1/2. On the other hand, the passive version of the system, based on a 90º-hybrid coupler, features a noise figure of σ  =  2.55 pm at a bandwidth of 10 kHz, also showing successful detection of a 42 kHz signal when setting the bandwidth to 50 kHz. These results demonstrate the advantage of integrated photonics, which allows the integration of several systems with different demodulation schemes in the same chip and guarantees easy scalability to a higher number of ports without increasing the dimensions or the cost

    Design and rationale of the high-sensitivity Troponin T Rules Out Acute Cardiac Insufficiency Trial

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    BACKGROUND: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a common presentation in the Emergency Department (ED), and most patients are admitted to the hospital. Identification of patients with AHF who have a low risk of adverse events and are suitable for discharge from the ED is difficult, and an objective tool would be useful. METHODS: The highly sensitive Troponin T Rules Out Acute Cardiac Insufficiency Trial (TACIT) will enroll ED patients being treated for AHF. Patients will undergo standard ED evaluation and treatment. High-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) will be drawn at the time of enrollment and 3 hours after the initial draw. The initial hsTnT draw will be no more than 3 hours after initiation of therapy for AHF (vasodilator, loop diuretic, noninvasive ventilation). Treating clinicians will be blinded to hsTnT results. We will assess whether hsTnT, as a single measurement or in series, can accurately predict patients at low risk of short-term adverse events. CONCLUSION: TACIT will explore the value of hsTnT measurements in isolation, or in combination with other markers of disease severity, for the identification of ED patients with AHF who are at low risk of short-term adverse events

    The Glial Regenerative Response to Central Nervous System Injury Is Enabled by Pros-Notch and Pros-NFκB Feedback

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    Organisms are structurally robust, as cells accommodate changes preserving structural integrity and function. The molecular mechanisms underlying structural robustness and plasticity are poorly understood, but can be investigated by probing how cells respond to injury. Injury to the CNS induces proliferation of enwrapping glia, leading to axonal re-enwrapment and partial functional recovery. This glial regenerative response is found across species, and may reflect a common underlying genetic mechanism. Here, we show that injury to the Drosophila larval CNS induces glial proliferation, and we uncover a gene network controlling this response. It consists of the mutual maintenance between the cell cycle inhibitor Prospero (Pros) and the cell cycle activators Notch and NFκB. Together they maintain glia in the brink of dividing, they enable glial proliferation following injury, and subsequently they exert negative feedback on cell division restoring cell cycle arrest. Pros also promotes glial differentiation, resolving vacuolization, enabling debris clearance and axonal enwrapment. Disruption of this gene network prevents repair and induces tumourigenesis. Using wound area measurements across genotypes and time-lapse recordings we show that when glial proliferation and glial differentiation are abolished, both the size of the glial wound and neuropile vacuolization increase. When glial proliferation and differentiation are enabled, glial wound size decreases and injury-induced apoptosis and vacuolization are prevented. The uncovered gene network promotes regeneration of the glial lesion and neuropile repair. In the unharmed animal, it is most likely a homeostatic mechanism for structural robustness. This gene network may be of relevance to mammalian glia to promote repair upon CNS injury or disease
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