Cooperative effect of phonons and electronic correlations for superconductivity in cobaltates

We propose that unconventional superconductivity in hydrated sodium cobaltate $Na_xCoO_2$ results from an interplay of electronic correlations and electron-phonon interactions. On the basis of the $t-V$ model plus phonons we found evidences for a) unconventional superconductivity, b) realistic values of $T_c$ and c) the dome shape existing near $x \sim 0.35$. This picture is obtained for $V$ close to the critical Coulomb repulsion $V_c$ which separates the uniform Fermi liquid from $\sqrt{3} \times \sqrt{3}$ CDW ordered phase.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Letter to the editor: autoimmune pathogenic mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The innate immune system may affect the function and survival of motor neurons in ALS by at least three mechanisms. First, there is evidence to suggest that aggregates of mutant SOD1—which is derived from microglial and astroglial cells—activate neighbouring microglia by binding to TLR2, TLR4, and CD14, and subsequently promote neuronal cell death [9]. Second, the release of pro- inflammatory cytokines may drive motor neuron damage. Third, although poorly understood, a mechanism has been suggested on the basis of the functional analysis of microglial cells that express mutant SOD1 [10]. These cells showed impaired overall motility and a reduced capacity to clear neuronal cell debris. Impairment of microglial cell phagocytosis may therefore contribute to the accumulation of further immunostimulatory proteins, including mutant SOD1, chromogranin A, and dsRNA, thereby resulting in disease progression

Dynamical properties of a strongly correlated model for quarter-filled layered organic molecular crystals

The dynamical properties of an extended Hubbard model, which is relevant to quarter-filled layered organic molecular crystals, are analyzed. We have computed the dynamical charge correlation function, spectral density, and optical conductivity using Lanczos diagonalization and large-N techniques. As the ratio of the nearest-neighbour Coulomb repulsion, V, to the hopping integral, t, increases there is a transition from a metallic phase to a charge ordered phase. Dynamical properties close to the ordering transition are found to differ from the ones expected in a conventional metal. Large-N calculations display an enhancement of spectral weight at low frequencies as the system is driven closer to the charge ordering transition in agreement with Lanczos calculations. As V is increased the charge correlation function displays a plasmon-like mode which, for wavevectors close to (pi,pi), increases in amplitude and softens as the charge ordering transition is approached. We propose that inelastic X-ray scattering be used to detect this mode. Large-N calculations predict superconductivity with dxy symmetry close to the ordering transition. We find that this is consistent with Lanczos diagonalization calculations, on lattices of 20 sites, which find that the binding energy of two holes becomes negative close to the charge ordering transition.Comment: 22 pages, 16 eps figures; caption of Fig. 5 correcte

Therapeutic approaches with intravitreal injections in geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration: current drugs and potential molecules

The present review focuses on recent clinical trials that analyze the efficacy of intravitreal therapeutic agents for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), such as neuroprotective drugs, and complement inhibitors, also called immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory agents. A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials published prior to January 2019. Patients affected by dry AMD treated with intravitreal therapeutic agents were included. Changes in the correct visual acuity and reduction in geographic atrophy progression were evaluated. Several new drugs have shown promising results, including those targeting the complement cascade and neuroprotective agents. The potential action of the two groups of drugs is to block complement cascade upregulation of immunomodulating agents, and to prevent the degeneration and apoptosis of ganglion cells for the neuroprotectors, respectively. Our analysis indicates that finding treatments for dry AMD will require continued collaboration among researchers to identify additional molecular targets and to fully interrogate the utility of pluripotent stem cells for personalized therapy

Electroweak 2 -> 2 amplitudes for electron-positron annihilation at TeV energies

The non-radiative scattering amplitudes for electron-positron annihilation into quark and lepton pairs in the TeV energy range are calculated in the double-logarithmic approximation. The expressions for the amplitudes are obtained using infrared evolution equations with different cut-offs for virtual photons and for W and Z bosons, and compared with previous results obtained with an universal cut-off.Comment: Revtex4, 17 pages, 7 figures. Some minor changes made, more refs adde

On the Path Integral Representation for Spin Systems

We propose a classical constrained Hamiltonian theory for the spin. After the Dirac treatment we show that due to the existence of second class constraints the Dirac brackets of the proposed theory represent the commutation relations for the spin. We show that the corresponding partition function, obtained via the Fadeev-Senjanovic procedure, coincides with the one obtained using coherent states. We also evaluate this partition function for the case of a single spin in a magnetic field.Comment: To be published in J.Phys. A: Math. and Gen. Latex file, 12 page

Non-Fermi liquid behavior in nearly charge ordered layered metals

Non-Fermi liquid behavior is shown to occur in two-dimensional metals which are close to a charge ordering transition driven by the Coulomb repulsion. A linear temperature dependence of the scattering rate together with an increase of the electron effective mass occur above T*, a temperature scale much smaller than the Fermi temperature. It is shown that the anomalous temperature dependence of the optical conductivity of the quasi-two-dimensional organic metal alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2MHg(SCN)4, with M=NH4 and Rb, above T*=50-100 K, agrees qualitatively with our predictions for the electronic properties of nearly charge ordered two-dimensional metals.Comment: accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

Dye diffusion during laparoscopic tubal patency tests may suggest a lymphatic contribution to dissemination in endometriosis: A prospective, observational study

Aim Women with adenomyosis are at higher risk of endometriosis recurrence after surgery. This study was to assess if the lymphatic vessel network drained from the uterus to near organs where endometriosis foci lied. Methods A prospective, observational study, Canadian Task Force Classification II-2, was conducted at Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy. 104 white women aged 18–43 years were enrolled consecutively for this study. All patients underwent laparoscopy for endometriosis and a tubal dye test was carried out. Results Evidence of dye dissemination through the uterine wall and outside the uterus was noted in 27 patients (26%) with adenomyosis as it permeated the uterine wall and a clear passage of the dye was shown in the pelvic lymphatic vessels regardless whether the tubes were unobstructed. Histological assessment of the uterine biopsies confirmed adenomyosis. Conclusion Adenomyosis is characterized by ectatic lymphatics that allow the drainage of intrauterine fluids (the dye and, perhaps, menstrual blood) at minimal intrauterine pressure from the uterine cavity though the lymphatic network to extrauterine organs. Certainly, this may not be the only explanation for endometriosis dissemination but the correlation between the routes of the dye drainage and location of endometriosis foci is highly suggestive