Gauge invariant derivative expansion of the effective action at finite temperature and density and the scalar field in 2+1 dimensions

A method is presented for the computation of the one-loop effective action at finite temperature and density. The method is based on an expansion in the number of spatial covariant derivatives. It applies to general background field configurations with arbitrary internal symmetry group and space-time dependence. Full invariance under small and large gauge transformations is preserved without assuming stationary or Abelian fields nor fixing the gauge. The method is applied to the computation of the effective action of spin zero particles in 2+1 dimensions at finite temperature and density and in presence of background gauge fields. The calculation is carried out through second order in the number of spatial covariant derivatives. Some limiting cases are worked out.Comment: 34 pages, REVTEX, no figures. Further comments adde

An Integrated TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource to Drive High-Quality Survival Outcome Analytics

For a decade, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program collected clinicopathologic annotation data along with multi-platform molecular profiles of more than 11,000 human tumors across 33 different cancer types. TCGA clinical data contain key features representing the democratized nature of the data collection process. To ensure proper use of this large clinical dataset associated with genomic features, we developed a standardized dataset named the TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource (TCGA-CDR), which includes four major clinical outcome endpoints. In addition to detailing major challenges and statistical limitations encountered during the effort of integrating the acquired clinical data, we present a summary that includes endpoint usage recommendations for each cancer type. These TCGA-CDR findings appear to be consistent with cancer genomics studies independent of the TCGA effort and provide opportunities for investigating cancer biology using clinical correlates at an unprecedented scale. Analysis of clinicopathologic annotations for over 11,000 cancer patients in the TCGA program leads to the generation of TCGA Clinical Data Resource, which provides recommendations of clinical outcome endpoint usage for 33 cancer types

Interplay between edge states and simple bulk defects in graphene nanoribbons

We study the interplay between the edge states and a single impurity in a zigzag graphene nanoribbon. We use tight-binding exact diagonalization techniques, as well as density functional theory calculations to obtain the eigenvalue spectrum, the eigenfunctions, as well the dependence of the local density of states (LDOS) on energy and position. We note that roughly half of the unperturbed eigenstates in the spectrum of the finite-size ribbon hybridize with the impurity state, and the corresponding eigenvalues are shifted with respect to their unperturbed values. The maximum shift and hybridization occur for a state whose energy is inverse proportional to the impurity potential; this energy is that of the impurity peak in the DOS spectrum. We find that the interference between the impurity and the edge gives rise to peculiar modifications of the LDOS of the nanoribbon, in particular to oscillations of the edge LDOS. These effects depend on the size of the system, and decay with the distance between the edge and the impurity.Comment: 10 pages, 15 figures, revtex

Organic Digital Logic and Analog Circuits Fabricated in a Roll-to-Roll Compatible Vacuum-Evaporation Process

We report the fabrication of a range of organic circuits produced by a high-yielding, vacuum-based process compatible with roll-to-roll production. The circuits include inverters, NAND and NOR logic gates, a simple memory element (set-reset latch), and a modified Wilson current mirror circuit. The measured circuit responses are presented together with simulated responses based on a previously reported transistor model of organic transistors produced using our fabrication process. Circuit simulations replicated all the key features of the experimentally observed circuit performance. The logic gates were capable of operating at frequencies in excess of 1 kHz while the current mirror circuit produced currents up to 18 μA

Velocity-space sensitivity of the time-of-flight neutron spectrometer at JET

The velocity-space sensitivities of fast-ion diagnostics are often described by so-called weight functions. Recently, we formulated weight functions showing the velocity-space sensitivity of the often dominant beam-target part of neutron energy spectra. These weight functions for neutron emission spectrometry (NES) are independent of the particular NES diagnostic. Here we apply these NES weight functions to the time-of-flight spectrometer TOFOR at JET. By taking the instrumental response function of TOFOR into account, we calculate time-of-flight NES weight functions that enable us to directly determine the velocity-space sensitivity of a given part of a measured time-of-flight spectrum from TOFOR

On the mechanisms governing gas penetration into a tokamak plasma during a massive gas injection

A new 1D radial fluid code, IMAGINE, is used to simulate the penetration of gas into a tokamak plasma during a massive gas injection (MGI). The main result is that the gas is in general strongly braked as it reaches the plasma, due to mechanisms related to charge exchange and (to a smaller extent) recombination. As a result, only a fraction of the gas penetrates into the plasma. Also, a shock wave is created in the gas which propagates away from the plasma, braking and compressing the incoming gas. Simulation results are quantitatively consistent, at least in terms of orders of magnitude, with experimental data for a D 2 MGI into a JET Ohmic plasma. Simulations of MGI into the background plasma surrounding a runaway electron beam show that if the background electron density is too high, the gas may not penetrate, suggesting a possible explanation for the recent results of Reux et al in JET (2015 Nucl. Fusion 55 093013)

Insights into the use of biomarkers in clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease

Biomarkers have been instrumental in population selection and disease monitoring in clinical trials of recently FDA-approved drugs targeting amyloid-β to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As new therapeutic strategies and biomarker techniques emerge, the importance of biomarkers in drug development is growing exponentially. In this emerging landscape, biomarkers are expected to serve a wide range of contexts of use in clinical trials focusing on AD and related dementias. The joint FDA-NIH BEST (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools) framework provides standardised terminology to facilitate communication among stakeholders in this increasingly complex field. This review explores various applications of biomarkers relevant to AD clinical trials, using the BEST resource as a reference. For simplicity, we predominantly provide contextual characterizations of biomarkers use from the perspective of drugs targeting amyloid-β and tau proteins. However, general definitions and concepts can be extrapolated to other targets

Development and validation of an analytical method by UV spectrophotometry for the quantitative determination of the anti-neoplastic β-lapachone

A β-lapachona é uma ortonaftoquinona natural extraída de plantas da família Bignoniaceae, como o Ipê Roxo (Tabebuia avellanedae Lor), árvore nativa do Brasil, ou sintetizada a partir de seu isômero lapachol. A β-lapachona têm demonstrado uma série de ações farmacológicas incluindo antibacteriana, antifúngica, tripanossomicida, antiviral e antineoplásica. Não há relatos na literatura de um método analítico espectrofotométrico para a quantificação de β-lapachona. Assim, o presente trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de um método simples, econômico, rápido e preciso por espectrofotometria para a quantificação deste fármaco. O método desenvolvido consiste na solubilização da β-lapachona em álcool etílico com posterior diluição no sistema de solventes álcool etílico:água para quantificação em ultravioleta (λ = 256 nm). O método foi validado segundo parâmetros descritos pela International Conference on Harmonization (Q2A/Q2B) e Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) RE 899/03. Os resultados da validação mostram que o método é robusto, linear, sensível, preciso e exato dentro dos parâmetros avaliados.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Simultaneous determination of antiretroviral zidovudine, lamivudine and efavirenz by RP HPLC-DAD

A reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (RP HPLC-DAD) method for simultaneous determination of lamivudine (3TC), zidovudine (AZT), two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and efavirenz (EFV), a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, in tablets is described. The drugs separation was performed on a C18 column (250 x 4,6 mm, 5 μm - Phenomenex®), through a mobile phase drag composed by a binary gradient of acetonitrile and water HPLC grade. The drugs detection was performed at 248 nm, resulting in a 14 min chromatographic run. The samples were prepared by crushing tablets, weighing powder, diluting it by a 10 min sonication and filtrating solution, resulting in samples with final concentration of 20, 40 e 40 μg.mL–1 of 3TC, AZT and EFV, respectively. The method was adequate for quality control purposes and was validated following the ICH guidelines.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

A Prospective Study of Key Correlates for Household Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Background: Randomized controlled trials evaluated monoclonal antibodies for the treatment (Study 2067) and prevention (Study 2069) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Household contacts of the infected index case in Study 2067 were enrolled in Study 2069 and prospectively followed; these cohorts provided a unique opportunity to evaluate correlates of transmission, specifically viral load. Methods: This post hoc analysis was designed to identify and evaluate correlates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, adjusting for potential confounding factors related to source SARS-CoV-2 viral load and risk of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition in this population. Correlates of transmission were evaluated in potential transmission pairs (any infected household member plus susceptible household contact). Results: In total, 943 participants were included. In multivariable regression, 2 potential correlates were determined to have a statistically significant (P <. 05) association with transmission risk. A 10-fold increase in viral load was associated with a 40% increase in odds of transmission; sharing a bedroom with the index participant was associated with a 199% increase in odds of transmission. Conclusions: In this prospective, post hoc analysis that controlled for confounders, the 2 key correlates for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within a household are sharing a bedroom and increased viral load, consistent with increased exposure to the infected individual