Spectral analysis of finite-time correlation matrices near equilibrium phase transitions

We study spectral densities for systems on lattices, which, at a phase transition display, power-law spatial correlations. Constructing the spatial correlation matrix we prove that its eigenvalue density shows a power law that can be derived from the spatial correlations. In practice time series are short in the sense that they are either not stationary over long time intervals or not available over long time intervals. Also we usually do not have time series for all variables available. We shall make numerical simulations on a two-dimensional Ising model with the usual Metropolis algorithm as time evolution. Using all spins on a grid with periodic boundary conditions we find a power law, that is, for large grids, compatible with the analytic result. We still find a power law even if we choose a fairly small subset of grid points at random. The exponents of the power laws will be smaller under such circumstances. For very short time series leading to singular correlation matrices we use a recently developed technique to lift the degeneracy at zero in the spectrum and find a significant signature of critical behavior even in this case as compared to high temperature results which tend to those of random matrix models.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Performance of agriculture insurance schemes in India

Risk and Uncertainty,

Divergent mutational processes distinguish hypoxic and normoxic tumours.

Many primary tumours have low levels of molecular oxygen (hypoxia), and hypoxic tumours respond poorly to therapy. Pan-cancer molecular hallmarks of tumour hypoxia remain poorly understood, with limited comprehension of its associations with specific mutational processes, non-coding driver genes and evolutionary features. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we quantify hypoxia in 1188 tumours spanning 27 cancer types. Elevated hypoxia associates with increased mutational load across cancer types, irrespective of underlying mutational class. The proportion of mutations attributed to several mutational signatures of unknown aetiology directly associates with the level of hypoxia, suggesting underlying mutational processes for these signatures. At the gene level, driver mutations in TP53, MYC and PTEN are enriched in hypoxic tumours, and mutations in PTEN interact with hypoxia to direct tumour evolutionary trajectories. Overall, hypoxia plays a critical role in shaping the genomic and evolutionary landscapes of cancer

Trastuzumab induced radiation recall dermatitis: an interesting case

Radiation recall dermatitis (RRD) is the appearance of skin reactions in previously irradiated skin which is triggered by the administration of certain drugs. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are the mainstay of treatment in breast cancer. RRD induced by trastuzumab has been rarely reported in India. This is a case report of a 56-year-old woman presented to the medical oncology outpatient department of our hospital with breast lump, and she was diagnosed to have human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu) positive invasive ductal carcinoma of left breast of stage T2N3cM0. She was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and she underwent modified radical mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. The treating oncologist was planned to start on adjuvant chemotherapy with injection trastuzumab for every four weeks, for 15 cycles. Patient received first dose of injection trastuzumab (450 mg) intravenously in the right (contralateral) arm and developed painful, swollen, erythematous blisters, and maculopapular rashes following the sharp linear borders of her previous radiation fields. She was reviewed by the medical oncologist and diagnosed as a rare case of RRD and treated with topical betamethasone cream. Causality assessment for RRD to trastuzumab was done using Naranjo and WHO-UMC scale and found to be in the category of probable and probable/ likely respectively

Nivolumab-induced immune mediated eczematous dermatitis in patient with carcinoma of buccal mucosa

An elderly man undergoing treatment for carcinoma of left buccal mucosa experienced the appearance of skin lesions on his chest, both upper limbs, and both lower limbs after receiving the first cycle of nivolumab therapy. A biopsy report confirmed that the patient had eczematous dermatitis, which was believed to be induced by nivolumab. Patient received symptomatic treatment with Prednisolone, Clobetasol propionate and Fusidic acid. The Skin lesions improved, and subsequently Framycetin cream was recommended, resulting in no further recurrence of lesion. Clinicians should remain vigilant about development of T-cell activation-related skin disorders when administrating immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as nivolumab

A single compartment simulation model of pharmacokinetics

For better understanding about derivation of various parameters related to pharmacokinetics, this model is developed. Animals or human volunteers are not used in this model but the principles used in pharmacokinetic studies in volunteers are incorporated. There is detailed description about setting of the model and derivation of various parameters step by step. An example is followed to illustrate the calculations involved. Possibilities of further extension of model to derive additional parameters and variations are discussed. The experience indicates that the model serves as a good demonstration to undergraduate students and a meaningful experiment for PG-students for learning and as a practical-examination exercise. The purpose of the article is to widen the use of this simple teaching tool at various centers

Immune effector responses to an excretory-secretory product of Giardia lamblia

The prior immunisation of mice with purified excretory-secretory product (ESP) led to a complete failure of Giardia lamblia colonisation following challenge inoculation of these animals with trophozoites. The prior immunisation of mice with ESP resulted in a significant stimulation of local immunity as evidenced by a significant enhancement of T helper/inducer activity along with a significant increase in immunoglobulin A-bearing cells. Further, the presence of anti-ESP antibodies in the serum of immunised as well as immunised-challenged animals indicated the stimulation of the systemic lymphoid system. This suggests that the ESP is highly immunogenic and it could be one of the major antigens of G. lamblia responsible for protection against the infection