Quantum automorphism groups of connected locally finite graphs and quantizations of discrete groups

We construct for every connected locally finite graph $\Pi$ the quantum automorphism group $\text{QAut}\ \Pi$ as a locally compact quantum group. When $\Pi$ is vertex transitive, we associate to $\Pi$ a new unitary tensor category $\mathcal{C}(\Pi)$ and this is our main tool to construct the Haar functionals on $\text{QAut}\ \Pi$. When $\Pi$ is the Cayley graph of a finitely generated group, this unitary tensor category is the representation category of a compact quantum group whose discrete dual can be viewed as a canonical quantization of the underlying discrete group. We introduce several equivalent definitions of quantum isomorphism of connected locally finite graphs $\Pi$, $\Pi'$ and prove that this implies monoidal equivalence of $\text{QAut}\ \Pi$ and $\text{QAut}\ \Pi'$.Comment: v3: final version to appear in International Mathematics Research Notices. In this final version v3, there are several small changes and also the new proposition 3.4 providing a connection to the quantum isometry groups of arXiv:1002.255

The aesthetics of coupling : an impossible marriage

This paper is about embodied interaction with digital products and systems, and more specific, about its aesthetics. We establish a particular form of aesthetics: the aesthetics of coupling. We start with illustrating them by presenting two design research projects, the rich actions camera and the Experimental Payment Terminal. We discuss the characteristics of the aesthetics, and coin their corner stone concepts, the persistent and the temporal. After that, we present the design process of two conceptual products: a night lamp and a medication dispenser. Both projects demonstrate how to design for the aesthetics of coupling. In a reflection, we position the aesthetics of coupling among several existing perspectives on interaction aesthetics, and elaborate on their significance for the design community. We conclude this paper by highlighting the broad lines of our framework, and by indicating directions for future research

The aesthetics of coupling: An impossible marriage

This paper is about embodied interaction with digital products and systems, and more specific, about its aesthetics. We establish a particular form of aesthetics: the aesthetics of coupling. We start with illustrating them by presenting two design research projects, the rich actions camera and the Experimental Payment Terminal. We discuss the characteristics of the aesthetics, and coin their corner stone concepts, the persistent and the temporal. After that, we present the design process of two conceptual products: a night lamp and a medication dispenser. Both projects demonstrate how to design for the aesthetics of coupling. In a reflection, we position the aesthetics of coupling among several existing perspectives on interaction aesthetics, and elaborate on their significance for the design community. We conclude this paper by highlighting the broad lines of our framework, and by indicating directions for future research

Quantification of Retinal Vessel Myogenic Constriction in Response to Blood Pressure Peaks: Implications for Flicker Light-Induced Dilatation

Flicker-light induced retinal vessel dilatation (FID), a marker of microvascular endothelial function, has been shown to be blunted in sedentary cardiovascular risk patients (SR) as well as healthy physically active individuals (HA). This study aimed to quantify the retinal myogenic response to blood pressure (BP) peaks and its effects on consecutive FID for differentiation of microvascular health.; Ten HA and eleven SR with a previously established restriction of arteriolar FID (aFID) (<2.2%) were invited in order to assess BP-induced myogenic constriction following a standardized handgrip task and a consecutive FID. BP was measured beat-to-beat.; The complete dataset of nine HA (3 female, mean age 65 years) and nine SR (5 female, mean age 61 years) individuals was analyzed. The central retinal arteriolar diameter equivalent (CRAE) was 183 ± 11 μm for HA and 176 ± 20 μm for SR. Initial baseline aFID was 1.6 ± 0.4% in HA and 1.6 ± 0.7% in SR. Systolic (; p; = 0.334) and diastolic (; p; = 0.245) BP increase following the handgrip task was in the range of 20-30% and comparable in both groups. BP increase was followed by a significantly higher arteriolar (-2.9 ± 1.3% vs. -1.3 ± 0.6%,; p; < 0.01) myogenic constriction in HA compared to SR. Moreover, in the consecutive assessment of FID directly after the BP-induced vessel constriction, aFID (4.1 ± 2.0% vs. 1.6 ± 0.9%,; p; < 0.01) was higher in HA compared to SR.; Initial baseline aFID was blunted in HA and SR. Retinal myogenic constriction was impaired in SR compared to HA. The consecutive aFID after BP-induced myogenic constriction recovered in HA but remained blunted in SR. Additional assessment of retinal myogenic constriction needs to be considered to improve CV risk stratification and reduce false-positive findings of endothelial dysfunction in otherwise healthy active individuals.; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03986892 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03986892)

Health problems associated with irritable bowel syndrome: analysis of a primary care registry

Background: Associations between irritable bowel syndrome and other health problems have been described, but comprehensive reports are missing, especially in primary care. Aims: To investigate which health problems are associated with irritable bowel syndrome, how they cluster together and when they are typically diagnosed relative to irritable bowel syndrome. Methods: We used Intego, a general practice registry in Flanders, Belgium. Patients with an irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis (n = 13 701) were matched with controls without gastrointestinal diagnosis and controls with organic gastrointestinal disease. Long-term prevalences of 680 symptoms and diagnoses were compared between patients and controls. Results were summarised using functional enrichment analysis and visualised in a network and we calculated incidence rate ratios in the 10 years before and after the irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis for the network's key components. Results: Various symptoms and infections, but not neoplasms, were enriched in irritable bowel syndrome patients compared to both control groups. We characterised the comorbidities of irritable bowel syndrome as psychosocial health problems, urogenital symptoms and infections, musculoskeletal symptoms and other somatic symptoms. These had a uniform incidence in the years around the irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis, and did not structurally precede or follow irritable bowel syndrome. Conclusions: Irritable bowel syndrome shares long-term associations with psychosocial health problems, urogenital symptoms and infections, musculoskeletal symptoms and other somatic symptoms in primary care. Clinicians are encouraged to take comorbidities into account when diagnosing and managing irritable bowel syndrome, as this may have important treatment implications

Potential pharmacological treatments of prosthetic joint loosening

We are beginning to understand the biological events that lead to aseptic loosening of total joint prostheses. Particles of wear, mostly liberated from the articulating surfaces of implants, are phagocytosed by macrophages and induce the release of inflammatory mediators (such as interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and prostaglandin E2) or cause cell death. These biological responses are thought to cause the bone loss that leads to prosthetic loosening. Drugs that suppress inflammatory mediators are successfully used to treat inflammatory diseases. Certain drugs can also reduce the corrosion of metal wear particles inside macrophages which enhances mediator release or cell death. Here we consider the prospect that these pharmacological treatments may enhance the long-term survival of implants. © 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers