Quantum lattice gauge fields and groupoid C*-algebras

We present an operator-algebraic approach to the quantization and reduction of lattice field theories. Our approach uses groupoid C*-algebras to describe the observables and exploits Rieffel induction to implement the quantum gauge symmetries. We introduce direct systems of Hilbert spaces and direct systems of (observable) C*-algebras, and, dually, corresponding inverse systems of configuration spaces and (pair) groupoids. The continuum and thermodynamic limit of the theory can then be described by taking the corresponding limits, thereby keeping the duality between the Hilbert space and observable C*-algebra on the one hand, and the configuration space and the pair groupoid on the other. Since all constructions are equivariant with respect to the gauge group, the reduction procedure applies in the limit as well.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figure

Reflection positivity in higher derivative scalar theories

Reflection positivity constitutes an integral prerequisite in the Osterwalder-Schrader reconstruction theorem which relates quantum field theories defined on Euclidean space to their Lorentzian signature counterparts. In this work we rigorously prove the violation of reflection positivity in a large class of free scalar fields with a rational propagator. This covers in particular higher-derivative theories where the propagator admits a partial fraction decomposition as well as degenerate cases including e.g. p^4 -type propagators.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Differential core pharmacotherapy in bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder and European versus American patients not in a syndromal episode

Assess bipolar disorder subtype and treatment location effects on bipolar disorder core pharmacotherapy. Outpatients not in a syndromal episode referred to the University of Milan and Stanford University Bipolar Disorder Clinics were assessed with SCID for the fourth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mood Disorders, and the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder Affective Disorders Evaluation, respectively. Prevalence and clinical correlates of antidepressant, antipsychotic, and mood stabilizer use, in aggregate and individually, were compared in bipolar I (BDI) versus II (BDII) patients in Milan/Stanford and in Milan versus Stanford patients, stratified by subtype. Milan/Stanford pooled BDI versus BDII patients significantly more often took antipsychotic (69.8 versus 44.8%), mood stabilizers (68.6 versus 57.7%), and valproate (40.1 versus 17.5%), and less often took antidepressants (23.1 versus 55.6%) and lamotrigine (9.9 versus 25.2%). Milan versus Stanford patients (stratified by bipolar disorder subtype) significantly more often took antipsychotic (BDI and BDII), antidepressants (BDII), and valproate (BDII), and less often took lamotrigine (BDI). Research regarding bipolar disorder core pharmacotherapy relationships with bipolar subtype and treatment location is warranted to enhance clinical management

Isomeric ratios in Hg-206

T. Alexander et al.; 5 págs.; 2 figs.; 1 tab.; PACS numbers: 25.70.Mn, 23.35.+g, 27.80.+w; Presented at the Zakopane Conference on Nuclear Physics “Extremes of the Nuclear Landscape”, Zakopane, Poland, August 31–September 7, 2014.206Hg was populated in the fragmentation of an E∕A = 1 GeV 208Pb beam at GSI. It was part of a campaign to study nuclei around 208Pb via relativistic Coulomb excitation. The observation of the known isomeric states confirmed the identification of the fragmentation products. The isomeric decays were also used to prove that the correlations between beam identification detectors and the AGATA γ-ray tracking array worked properly and that the tracking efficiency was independent of the time relative to the prompt flash.Peer Reviewe

New insights on occupational exposure and bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis of two Italian case-control studies.

Purpose: The main risk factor for bladder cancer (BC) is cigarette smoking, but also occupational exposure to carcinogens is relevant, causing about 4-10% of BC. We aimed at investigating the association between BC risk, occupations held in the past and exposure to occupational carcinogens, also assessing whether these associations were influenced by tumor grade. Methods: We pooled data from two Italian case-control studies on male BC, analyzing 893 cases and 978 controls. Occupations were classified using the International Standard Classification of Occupations and exposure to carcinogens was assigned using a validated Job Exposure Matrix. Logistic regression approach was used as well as a semi- Bayesian model, based on a priori information on exposure. Results: A significantly increased BC risk was found for chemical engineering technicians, postmen, and lathe operators, but only for the latter the association remained significant after Bayesian control for type I error. Among carcinogens, cadmium and trichloroethylene were associated with BC. When analyzing data by grade, exposure to these carcinogens was associated with low-grade BC only. Conclusions: Our results suggest that monitoring workplaces to prevent exposure to carcinogenic agents is still an important task, which should be still given adequate importance in public health

Neuropeptide Y as a risk factor for cardiorenal disease and cognitive dysfunction in chronic kidney disease: translational opportunities and challenges

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino-acid peptide member of a family also including peptide YY and pancreatic polypeptide, which are all ligands to Gi/Go coupled receptors. NPY regulates several fundamental biologic functions including appetite/satiety, sex and reproduction, learning and memory, cardiovascular and renal function and immune functions. The mesenteric circulation is a major source of NPY in the blood in man and this peptide is considered a key regulator of gut-brain cross talk. A progressive increase in circulating NPY accompanies the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) toward kidney failure and NPY robustly predicts cardiovascular events in this population. Furthermore, NPY is suspected as a possible player in accelerated cognitive function decline and dementia in patients with CKD and in dialysis patients. In theory, interfering with the NPY system has relevant potential for the treatment of diverse diseases from cardiovascular and renal diseases to diseases of the central nervous system. Pharmaceutical formulations for effective drug delivery and cost, as well as the complexity of diseases potentially addressable by NPY/NPY antagonists, have been a problem until now. This in part explains the slow progress of knowledge about the NPY system in the clinical arena. There is now renewed research interest in the NPY system in psychopharmacology and in pharmacology in general and new studies and a new breed of clinical trials may eventually bring the expected benefits in human health with drugs interfering with this system

Anti-TNF-α treatment for deep endometriosis-associated pain: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is associated with an inflammatory response. Hence infliximab, an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody, might relieve pain. METHODS: A randomized placebo-controlled trial was designed with 21 women with severe pain and a rectovaginal nodule of at least 1 cm. After 1 month of observation, three infusions of infliximab (5 mg/kg) or placebo were given. Surgery was performed 3 months later and follow-up continued for 6 months. The primary end-point was pain (dysmenorrhea, deep dyspareunia and non-menstrual pain) rated at each visit by the clinician and on a daily basis by the patient who in addition scored pain by visual analog pain scale and analgesia intake. Secondary end-points included the volume of the endometriotic nodule, pelvic tenderness and the visual appearance of endometriotic lesions at laparoscopy. RESULTS: Pain severity decreased during the treatment by 30% in both the placebo (P < 0.001) and infliximab groups (P < 0.001). However, no effect of infliximab was observed for any of the outcome measures. After surgery, pain scores decreased in both groups to less than 20% of the initial value. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab appears not to affect pain associated with deep endometriosis. Treatment is associated with an important placebo effect. After surgery, pain decreases to less than 20%. Trials registration number ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00604864