A quantum isomonodromy equation and its application to N=2 SU(N) gauge theories

We give an explicit differential equation which is expected to determine the instanton partition function in the presence of the full surface operator in N=2 SU(N) gauge theory. The differential equation arises as a quantization of a certain Hamiltonian system of isomonodromy type discovered by Fuji, Suzuki and Tsuda.Comment: 15 pages, v2: typos corrected and references added, v3: discussion, appendix and references adde

Affine sl(N) conformal blocks from N=2 SU(N) gauge theories

Recently Alday and Tachikawa proposed a relation between conformal blocks in a two-dimensional theory with affine sl(2) symmetry and instanton partition functions in four-dimensional conformal N=2 SU(2) quiver gauge theories in the presence of a certain surface operator. In this paper we extend this proposal to a relation between conformal blocks in theories with affine sl(N) symmetry and instanton partition functions in conformal N=2 SU(N) quiver gauge theories in the presence of a surface operator. We also discuss the extension to non-conformal N=2 SU(N) theories.Comment: 40 pages. v2: minor changes and clarification

Exploring attention in vr:Effects of visual and auditory modalities

Attention requires the ability to stay concentrated and alert to stimuli over prolonged periods of time. Virtual reality (VR) can be used in various training situations where attention plays a major role (e.g. system operators). Here, we investigate the effects of visual and auditory stimuli on attention performance in a VR aquarium (Nesplora Aquarium). Participants pay attention to the main fish tank and respond by pressing a button. The stimuli are different species of fish that are delivered either via visual or auditory channels. Thirty-seven participants completed the VR test and paper questionnaires. We found that attention is influenced differently by sensory modalities. Attention performance measured by the reaction time to correct targets and the number of errors of omission were better in the visual condition, while the number of errors of commission were lower in the auditory condition. The human factors’ role in attention tasks is also discussed.</p

3D Gamma-ray and Neutron Mapping in Real-Time with the Localization and Mapping Platform from Unmanned Aerial Systems and Man-Portable Configurations

Nuclear Scene Data Fusion (SDF), implemented in the Localization and Mapping Platform (LAMP) fuses three-dimensional (3D), real-time volumetric reconstructions of radiation sources with contextual information (e.g. LIDAR, camera, etc.) derived from the environment around the detector system. This information, particularly when obtained in real time, may be transformative for applications, including directed search for lost or stolen sources, consequence management after the release of radioactive materials, or contamination avoidance in security-related or emergency response scenarios. 3D reconstructions enabled by SDF localize contamination or hotspots to specific areas or objects, providing higher resolution over larger areas than conventional 2D approaches, and enabling more efficient planning and response, particularly in complex 3D environments. In this work, we present the expansion of these gamma-ray mapping concepts to neutron source localization. Here we integrate LAMP with a custom $Cs_2LiLa(Br,Cl)_6:Ce$ (CLLBC) scintillator detector sensitive to both gamma-rays and neutrons, which we dub Neutron Gamma LAMP (NG-LAMP). NG-LAMP enables simultaneous neutron and gamma-ray mapping with high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. We demonstrate the ability to detect and localize surrogate Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) in real-time and in 3D based on neutron signatures alone, which is critical for the detection of heavily shielded SNM, when gamma-ray signatures are attenuated. In this work, we show for the first time the ability to localize, in 3D and realtime, a neutron source in the presence of a strong gamma-ray source, simultaneous and spectroscopic localization of three gamma-ray sources and a neutron source, and finally the localization of a surrogate SNM source based on neutron signatures alone, where gamma-ray data are consistent with background

Bioactive glass coatings synthesized by “MAPLE” for enhanced performance of medical implants

This work was supported by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, under Romanian National Nucleu Program LAPLAS VI – contract no 16N/2019. M.D., A.C.P. acknowledges the support of the Romanian National Core Program 18N/2019. I.N. acknowledges the support by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN- PN-III-P1-1.1- PD-2021-0598 and PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3178, within PNCDI III. T.T. acknowledges the support by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1- 1.1-PD-2019-1117, within PNCDI III.We deposited thin films from bioglass/antibiotic by the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique onto metallic substrates which mimic the surfaces of medical implants. The deposition was made in a two-step procedure: i) a thin layer of the polymeric material was deposited by MAPLE onto Ti substrates, ii) a second layer consisting of bioglass+antibiotic was applied by MAPLE onto the prior deposited polymeric film

Instanton partition functions in N=2 SU(N) gauge theories with a general surface operator, and their W-algebra duals

We write down an explicit conjecture for the instanton partition functions in 4d N=2 SU(N) gauge theories in the presence of a certain type of surface operator. These surface operators are classified by partitions of N, and for each partition there is an associated partition function. For the partition N=N we recover the Nekrasov formalism, and when N=1+...+1 we reproduce the result of Feigin et. al. For the case N=1+(N-1) our expression is consistent with an alternative formulation in terms of a restricted SU(N)xSU(N) instanton partition function. When N=1+...+1+2 the partition functions can also be obtained perturbatively from certain W-algebras known as quasi-superconformal algebras, in agreement with a recent general proposal.Comment: 20 page

Penicillin allergy assessment pathway versus usual clinical care for primary care patients with a penicillin allergy record in the UK (ALABAMA): an open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial

Background Penicillin allergy labels in medical records are common, often incorrect, and associated with increased antibiotic use and worse health outcomes. We aimed to establish whether a penicillin allergy assessment pathway initiated in primary care could safely improve use of penicillins. Methods ALABAMA was a multicentre, open-label, randomised pragmatic trial with embedded process and cost-effectiveness evaluations. Participants came from 51 UK general practices and testing took place at four UK hospital sites (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust). Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older, provided informed consent, had a record of penicillin allergy or sensitivity in their electronic medical records, had received an antibiotic prescription in the previous 24 months, and were outpatients at the time of recruitment. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by the research team to either a penicillin allergy assessment pathway or usual clinical care, by use of a secure, web-based system. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who received at least one prescription for a penicillin for conditions for which a penicillin is first-line therapy, up to 12 months after random assignment. The original primary outcome was changed on July 12, 2023, from treatment response failure to penicillin prescribing due to slow recruitment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary analysis population was defined as all randomly assigned participants for whom outcome data were available. Safety was assessed in the as-treated population (ie, participants analysed by the intervention they received). The study was registered with ISRCTN, ISRCTN20579216, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04108637, and is completed. Findings Between Sept 17, 2019, and Oct 9, 2023, 1616 participants expressed interest and 823 were enrolled and randomly allocated (411 to the penicillin allergy assessment pathway and 412 to usual clinical care). 401 penicillin allergy assessment pathway and 410 usual clinical care participants were included in the primary analysis. 584 (72%) of 811 patients were female and 227 (28%) were male, the mean age was 55 years (SD 15·6), 786 (97%) of 811 patients were White, and 13 (2%) were non-White. 72 (18%) of 401 participants in the penicillin allergy assessment pathway group and 14 (3%) of 410 participants in the usual clinical care group were prescribed at least one course of a penicillin for a condition for which it was first-line therapy during follow-up (adjusted relative risk 5·27, 95% CI 3·03 to 9·18; adjusted risk difference 14·21%, 9·92 to 18·49). 83 adverse events occurred in 73 participants in the 28 days after allergy testing; one event was severe and probably related to the intervention. In the as-treated population, 27 (7%) of 365 participants who received the penicillin allergy assessment pathway and 34 (8%) of 446 participants who received usual clinical care had at least one serious adverse event during the 1-year follow-up. There were no deaths related to the intervention. Interpretation Our data suggest that the penicillin allergy assessment pathway can increase prescription of narrow-spectrum penicillins with few signals of harm, indicating its potential in antibiotic stewardship. Funding National Institute for Health and Care Research

Component parts of the World Heat Flow Data Collection

Component parts of the World Heat Flow Data Collectio