Green function techniques in the treatment of quantum transport at the molecular scale

The theoretical investigation of charge (and spin) transport at nanometer length scales requires the use of advanced and powerful techniques able to deal with the dynamical properties of the relevant physical systems, to explicitly include out-of-equilibrium situations typical for electrical/heat transport as well as to take into account interaction effects in a systematic way. Equilibrium Green function techniques and their extension to non-equilibrium situations via the Keldysh formalism build one of the pillars of current state-of-the-art approaches to quantum transport which have been implemented in both model Hamiltonian formulations and first-principle methodologies. We offer a tutorial overview of the applications of Green functions to deal with some fundamental aspects of charge transport at the nanoscale, mainly focusing on applications to model Hamiltonian formulations.Comment: Tutorial review, LaTeX, 129 pages, 41 figures, 300 references, submitted to Springer series "Lecture Notes in Physics

Challenges to Fragile Democracies in the Americas: Legitimacy and Accountability

February 25, 2000, the University of Texas School of Law hosted an extraordinary gathering to discuss the fragility of democracies in Latin America and the dangers that they face. The event was sponsored by several institutions at the University of Texas: the School of Law, the Institute of Latin American Studies, the Office of the Provost, the College of Liberal Arts Democracy in the Third Millennium Program, and the International Law Society at the School of Law

Challenges to Fragile Democracies in the Americas: Legitimacy and Accountability

February 25, 2000, the University of Texas School of Law hosted an extraordinary gathering to discuss the fragility of democracies in Latin America and the dangers that they face. The event was sponsored by several institutions at the University of Texas: the School of Law, the Institute of Latin American Studies, the Office of the Provost, the College of Liberal Arts Democracy in the Third Millennium Program, and the International Law Society at the School of Law

Eribulin-trastuzumab combination in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: updated results from a Russian observational study

Introduction. The standard of 1st line treatment of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is double blockade with trastuzumab and pertuzumab + taxane, 2nd line – Trastuzumab-emtazine. There are no standards for further treatment, as well as the optimal drug sequence. Expansion of the arsenal of therapeutic possibilities and the use of new combinations will certainly improve the results of treatment of this category of patients and increase their life expectancy. Aim. We sought to describe treatment patterns of eribulin and clinical outcomes of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer treated with eribulin plus trastuzumab combination in academic institutions and community oncology practices across the Russian Federation. Materials and methods. Patients treated with eribulin anytime between Jan, 2014 and Sep, 2019 with a diagnosis of MBC were identified by 23 providers from Russia. Providers retrospectively reviewed the health records and abstracted selected data points into an electronic case report form for each eligible patient. Results. 100 HER2-positive pts received eribulin in combination with trastuzumab. Median age was 55 (31–80) yrs and ECOG status 0–3. 67% pts had visceral metastases. Eribulin was administered as 1st and 2nd line to 23 (23%) pts, 3rd line to 31 (31%) pts, 4th line and later to 46 (46%). Median number of cycles was 5 (2–27). ORR was 12%, SD – 72%, SD > 6 months – 23%, PD – 16%. Clinical efficacy rate achieved in 35%. Median PFS was 5.07 months (95% CI 4.021–6.119). According to the ER-status the response to eribulin and trastuzumab was different. ORR was 18.8%, SD 72.9% in pts with ER-positive MBC (n = 48) and 5.8% and 71.2% respectively in ER-negative MBC (n = 52). Median PFS was 6.97 months (95% CI 3.924–10.016) in pts with ER-positive MBC and 4.67 months (95% CI 3.841–5.499) in ER-negative MBC (р = 0.3). The combination was well tolerated: dose reductions were required in 12% pts, withdrawal due to toxicity in 4% pts. The most common type of toxicity was hematological with neutropenia Gr III-IV in 14 (14%) pts. Peripheral neuropathy Gr III was observed in 5 (5%) pts. No cardiotoxicity was detected. Conclusions. This is the real-life data of clinical outcomes for patients receiving eribulin plus trastuzumab for HER2-positive MBC throughout the Russian Federation. Our experience with eribulin plus trastuzumab demonstrates that this combination may be a potential effective treatment option for HER-2 positive MBC patients

Efeito do cloreto de cálcio na pós-colheita de goiaba Cortibel Calcium chloride application in the post-harvest of guavas Cortibel

O objetivo desse trabalho foi prolongar o período de conservação e manter a qualidade de goiabas (Psidium guajava L.) Cortibel, por meio da aplicação de diferentes concentrações de cloreto de cálcio. Os frutos foram separados em quatro lotes, o controle (sem cálcio) e os tratamentos, que receberam a aplicação de CaCl2 a 1%, 2% e 3% (p/v) por imersão durante 15 minutos para posterior análise de perda de massa fresca, pH, determinação de firmeza, sólidos solúveis totais, acidez total titulável, relação entre sólidos solúveis totais e acidez total titulável, quantidade de clorofilas a e b e carotenóides, teor de ácido ascórbico na casca e na polpa e atividade da pectinametilesterase. A concentração de 1% foi responsável pela menor perda de massa fresca, maior firmeza e menor atividade da pectinametilesterase, demonstrando que o cálcio é importante para conservação do fruto, uma vez que atua na regulação do seu amadurecimento. Essa concentração retardou a perda de coloração e manteve o maior teor de ácido ascórbico na casca sem, contudo, diferir estatisticamente das outras concentrações no teor de sólidos solúveis totais e pH. Além disso, verifica-se que maiores concentrações de cálcio não beneficiam as características pós-colheita de goiaba.<br>The objective of this work was to extend the conservation period and maintain the quality of guavas (Psidium guajava L.) Cortibel, through the application of different concentrations of calcium chloride. The fruits were divided into four lots, the control (without calcium) and treatments, which received the application of CaCl2 to 1%, 2% and 3% (p/v) by immersion for 15 minutes. The parameters evaluated were fresh weight loss, pH, determination of firmness, total soluble solids content, total titratable acidity, ratio total soluble solids and total titratable acidity, amount of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid, ascorbic acid content in the rind and pulp and activity of pectinmethylesterase. The 1% of CaCl2 concentration resulted in less fresh weight loss, keeping the firmness and reduced pectinmethylesterase activity, showing that calcium is important for fruit conservation, since it act in regulating the ripening. This concentration delays the loss of coloration and maintains the higher ascorbic acid content in the rind. However, there were no statistical differences from other CaCl2 concentrations regarding total soluble solids and pH. Moreover, it was verified that higher calcium concentrations do not further improve the post-harvest characteristics in guava