Sampling U(1) gauge theory using a re-trainable conditional flow-based model

Sampling topological quantities in the Monte Carlo simulation of Lattice Gauge Theory becomes challenging as we approach the continuum limit of the theory. In this work, we introduce a Conditional Normalizing Flow (C-NF) model to sample U(1) gauge theory in two dimensions, aiming to mitigate the impact of topological freezing when dealing with smaller values of the U(1) bare coupling. To train the conditional flow model, we utilize samples generated by Hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC) method, ensuring that the autocorrelation in topological quantities remains low. Subsequently, we employ the trained model to interpolate the coupling parameter to values where training was not performed. We thoroughly examine the quality of the model in this region and generate uncorrelated samples, significantly reducing the occurrence of topological freezing. Furthermore, we propose a re-trainable approach that utilizes the model's own samples to enhance the generalization capability of the conditional model. This method enables sampling for coupling values that are far beyond the initial training region, expanding the applicability of the model

Compliance, efficacy and quality of life for oral morphine versus transdermal fentanyl patch in management of cancer pain

Background: A randomized, open, two-period, crossover study was done on cancer patients requiring strong opioid analgesia (n=104, mean age 63.5, range18-83 years) recruited from State Cancer Institute, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, comparing transdermal fentanyl with oral morphine.Methods: Patients received one treatment for 15 days followed immediately by the other for 15 days.Results: Transdermal fentanyl provided good pain relief and it was also was associated with less constipation when compared to oral morphine(p<0.05). Of those who were able to express a preference, significantly more preferred fentanyl patches.Conclusions: Transdermal fentanyl patch provided good pain relief, equivalent to that provided by oral morphine, required lesser rescue doses, improved quality of life and is associated with less constipation when compared to morphine, and was preferred more by patients.

Scalable Lattice Sampling using Factorized Generative Models

Boltzmann distributions over lattices are pervasive in Computational Physics. Sampling them becomes increasingly difficult with the increase in the number of dimensions, especially near critical regions, e.g., phase transitions or continuum limits. Conditional generative models are emerging as promising tools for sampling in critical regions. When conditioned on the parameters to be varied, they can be efficaciously extended to critical regions without the need for retraining. However, current approaches do not scale well to large lattices. We present a novel approach called Parallelizable Block Metropolis-within-Gibbs (PBMG) for generating samples for any local lattice model. It factorizes the joint distribution of lattice into local parametric kernels, thereby allowing efficient sampling of very large lattices. We optimize the model with reverse Kullback-Leibler divergence (RKLD) to avoid the need for ground truth samples. Since the local distributions are simpler, the model is not affected by mode collapse, which generally occurs while training with RKLD. We validate our approach on the XY model and the Scalar $\phi^4$ theory. PBMG achieves high acceptance rates and the observable statistics estimated from the samples match the ground truth

Immunogenic Modulations Induced by Prospective Anti-Malarial Herbal Extracts in Murine Model

Keeping in view the ever increasing problem of drug resistance and affordability of the antimalarial drugs by the poor mass, herbal medicines can become an important and alternative sustainable strategy for malaria treatment. Aqueous extracts of three Himalayan herbs&#x2015; _Equisetum ravense_, _Artemisia vulgaris_ and _Centella asiatica_, with reported antimalarial property were screened for clinical efficacy against a local strain of _Plasmodium vivax_ antigen in murine model. _E. arvense_ extract was consistent in boosting phagocytic activity, nitric oxide generation, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the peritoneal macrophages. The effectiveness of the rest herbals was discrete. A need for further detailed investigation to evaluate the clinical efficacy of these herbals seems essential

Numerical Comparison of Thermalhydraulic Aspects of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and Subcritical Water-Based Natural Circulation Loop

Application of the supercritical condition in reactor core cooling needs to be properly justified based on the extreme level of parameters involved. Therefore, a numerical study is presented to compare the thermalhydraulic performance of supercritical and single-phase natural circulation loops under low-to-intermediate power levels. Carbon dioxide and water are selected as respective working fluids, operating under an identical set of conditions. Accordingly, a three-dimensional computational model was developed, and solved with an appropriate turbulence model and equations of state. Large asymmetry in velocity and temperature profiles was observed in a single cross section due to local buoyancy effect, which is more prominent for supercritical fluids. Mass flow rate in a supercritical loop increases with power until a maximum is reached, which subsequently corresponds to a rapid deterioration in heat transfer coefficient. That can be identified as the limit of operation for such loops to avoid a high temperature, and therefore, the use of a supercritical loop is suggested only until the appearance of such maxima. Flow-induced heat transfer deterioration can be delayed by increasing system pressure or lowering sink temperature. Bulk temperature level throughout the loop with water as working fluid is higher than supercritical carbon dioxide. This is until the heat transfer deterioration, and hence the use of a single-phase loop is prescribed beyond that limit

Non-linear temperature variation of resistivity in graphene/silicate glass nanocomposite

Graphene/glass nanocomposite was synthesized by gelation of the glass in a solution with dispersed graphene sheets. Electrical transport measurements were carried out on pellets formed by cold pressing of composite powders. Resistivity showed a nonlinear increase as a function of temperature in the range 300–400 K. This has been explained as arising due to the phonon spectra of the glass affecting the movement of electrons in graphene. Raman studies confirmed the presence of phonons in the silicate glass phase. The dielectric relaxation spectra of the composites at different temperatures are consistent with the above mechanism of the electron–glass phonon interaction

Molecular Mechanism of Clinically Oriented Drug Famotidine with the Identified Potential Target of SARS-CoV-2

Due to the current pandemic nature, severity, and rapid spread of COVID-19, there is eminent need to identify potential therapeutics to inhibit the novel coronavirus. In the quest, scientists from the USA had reported that the use of Famotidine in patients was associated with improved clinical outcomes and a reduced risk of intubation or death from COVID-19. However, the exact mode of action, the binding mechanism, and precise COVID-19 molecular target with which Famotidine interacts are yet to be ascertained. Here, 12 different COVID-19 protein targets have been screened against Famotidine employing molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. This reveals, among all the targets, the Papain-like protease (PLpro) as the potential target having the strongest affinity to Famotidine estimated to be of -7.9 kcal/mol with three hydrogen bonds. Tyrosine residue in the 268th position in the binding site seems to be very crucial for the stability of the PLpro-Famotidine complex, giving rise to multiple interactions such as hydrogen bonding as well as π-Sulfur. While the post-molecular dynamics (MD) analyses such as the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) and fluctuation (RMSF), the radius of gyration (Rg), and the principal component analysis (PCA) affirm the stability of the complex providing an insight into the binding mechanism, the identification of a valid target PLpro of SARS-COV-2 for Famotidine would help understand its action, further development, and experimental exploration.</p