Factorization of finite temperature graphs in thermal QED

We extend our previous analysis of gauge and Dirac fields in the presence of a chemical potential. We consider an alternate thermal operator which relates in a simple way the Feynman graphs in QED at finite temperature and charge density to those at zero temperature but non-zero chemical potential. Several interesting features of such a factorization are discussed in the context of the thermal photon and fermion self-energies.Comment: 4 page

Thermal Operator and Cutting Rules at Finite Temperature and Chemical Potential

In the context of scalar field theories, both real and complex, we derive the cutting description at finite temperature (with zero/finite chemical potential) from the cutting rules at zero temperature through the action of a simple thermal operator. We give an alternative algebraic proof of the largest time equation which brings out the underlying physics of such a relation. As an application of the cutting description, we calculate the imaginary part of the one loop retarded self-energy at zero/finite temperature and finite chemical potential and show how this description can be used to calculate the dispersion relation as well as the full physical self-energy of thermal particles.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures. Added references, version to appear in Physical Review

Thermal Operator Representation of Finite Temperature Graphs

Using the mixed space representation (t,p) in the context of scalar field theories, we prove in a simple manner that the Feynman graphs at finite temperature are related to the corresponding zero temperature diagrams through a simple thermal operator, both in the imaginary time as well as in the real time formalisms. This result is generalized to the case when there is a nontrivial chemical potential present. Several interesting properties of the thermal operator are also discussed.Comment: 20 pages, seven figure

How far to the West? Archaeology of the Peninsula Maipú’s isthmus (Lake San Martín, Santa Cruz province) in its regional context

El paisaje arqueológico de las cuencas cordilleranas de los lagos San Martín y Tar muestra una importante densidad artefactual en lagunas y médanos del istmo de la península Maipú, ubicada en el borde de bosque en el suroeste del lago San Martín. En las lagunas se observa el aprovechamiento expeditivo de una roca disponible localmente (toba silicificada verde), mientras que los médanos se presentan como espacios equipados, con mayor diversidad artefactual y de materias primas utilizadas. Aquí se presenta la información tecnológica obtenida y se la compara con la recuperada en el sector este del área de estudio (margen sur del lago San Martín y lago Tar), donde la representación de toba silicificada verde es muy baja. Los resultados alcanzados muestran al istmo de la península Maipú como el espacio más occidental redundantemente utilizado, pasible de articular actividades logísticas sobre una base estacional. Así se sustentan diferencias en las formas e intensidad del uso cazador-recolector entre las unidades ecológicas relevadas: estepa y bosque, aportando a la discusión de la hipótesis de marginalidad de los espacios occidentales respecto de los orientales propuesta por L. Borrero (2004). Por último, dichos resultados son puestos en perspectiva con los obtenidos en otras cuencas lacustres cordilleranas circundantes (Belgrano y Argentino).The archaeological landscape of the Tar and San Martín Andean lake basins shows a high artifactual density related with lagoons and sand dunes of the isthmus of Maipú peninsula, which is located southwest of San Martin Lake forest edge. The lagoons exhibit the expedient use of a local available rock (green silicificated toba), while the sand dunes could be seen as an equipped space, with a higher artifactual diversity and evidences of utilized rocks. Technological information is introduced and compared with the one recovered at the east of the study area (south margin of the San Martin lake and Tar lake), where there is a very low proportion of artifacts manufactured in green silicificated toba. The results show the isthmus as the most western space redundantly utilized on a seasonal basis. It is also suggested that it could articulate logistical activities. These data exhibit the differences in the way and the intensity of the space used by hunter gatherer populations between the steppe and the forest. In this way, new information is added to the discussion of the hypothesis proposed by L. Borrero (2004) on the marginality of western spaces in relation with the eastern ones. Finally, the results are put into perspective with those obtained in other near Andean lake basins (Belgrano and Argentino)

Patients' preferences for subcutaneous trastuzumab versus conventional intravenous infusion for the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer: final analysis of 488 patients in the international, randomized, two-cohort PrefHer study

PrefHer revealed compelling and consistent patient preference for subcutaneous (s.c.) trastuzumab, regardless of delivery by single-use injection device or hand-held syringe. s.c. trastuzumab was well-tolerated and safety data, including immunogenicity, were consistent with previous reports. No new safety signals were identified compared with the known intravenous trastuzumab profile in early breast cance

Common variants in Alzheimer’s disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores

Funder: Funder: Fundación bancaria ‘La Caixa’ Number: LCF/PR/PR16/51110003 Funder: Grifols SA Number: LCF/PR/PR16/51110003 Funder: European Union/EFPIA Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Number: 115975 Funder: JPco-fuND FP-829-029 Number: 733051061Genetic discoveries of Alzheimer's disease are the drivers of our understanding, and together with polygenetic risk stratification can contribute towards planning of feasible and efficient preventive and curative clinical trials. We first perform a large genetic association study by merging all available case-control datasets and by-proxy study results (discovery n = 409,435 and validation size n = 58,190). Here, we add six variants associated with Alzheimer's disease risk (near APP, CHRNE, PRKD3/NDUFAF7, PLCG2 and two exonic variants in the SHARPIN gene). Assessment of the polygenic risk score and stratifying by APOE reveal a 4 to 5.5 years difference in median age at onset of Alzheimer's disease patients in APOE ɛ4 carriers. Because of this study, the underlying mechanisms of APP can be studied to refine the amyloid cascade and the polygenic risk score provides a tool to select individuals at high risk of Alzheimer's disease

New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/'proxy' AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele

Common variants in Alzheimer's disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores.

Funder: Funder: Fundación bancaria ‘La Caixa’ Number: LCF/PR/PR16/51110003 Funder: Grifols SA Number: LCF/PR/PR16/51110003 Funder: European Union/EFPIA Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Number: 115975 Funder: JPco-fuND FP-829-029 Number: 733051061Genetic discoveries of Alzheimer's disease are the drivers of our understanding, and together with polygenetic risk stratification can contribute towards planning of feasible and efficient preventive and curative clinical trials. We first perform a large genetic association study by merging all available case-control datasets and by-proxy study results (discovery n = 409,435 and validation size n = 58,190). Here, we add six variants associated with Alzheimer's disease risk (near APP, CHRNE, PRKD3/NDUFAF7, PLCG2 and two exonic variants in the SHARPIN gene). Assessment of the polygenic risk score and stratifying by APOE reveal a 4 to 5.5 years difference in median age at onset of Alzheimer's disease patients in APOE ɛ4 carriers. Because of this study, the underlying mechanisms of APP can be studied to refine the amyloid cascade and the polygenic risk score provides a tool to select individuals at high risk of Alzheimer's disease

Multiancestry analysis of the HLA locus in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases uncovers a shared adaptive immune response mediated by HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes

Across multiancestry groups, we analyzed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) associations in over 176,000 individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) versus controls. We demonstrate that the two diseases share the same protective association at the HLA locus. HLA-specific fine-mapping showed that hierarchical protective effects of HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes best accounted for the association, strongest with HLA-DRB1*04:04 and HLA-DRB1*04:07, and intermediary with HLA-DRB1*04:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:03. The same signal was associated with decreased neurofibrillary tangles in postmortem brains and was associated with reduced tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid and to a lower extent with increased Aβ42. Protective HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes strongly bound the aggregation-prone tau PHF6 sequence, however only when acetylated at a lysine (K311), a common posttranslational modification central to tau aggregation. An HLA-DRB1*04-mediated adaptive immune response decreases PD and AD risks, potentially by acting against tau, offering the possibility of therapeutic avenues