33 research outputs found
Mixing rates of particle systems with energy exchange
A fundamental problem of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics is the
derivation of macroscopic transport equations in the hydrodynamic limit. The
rigorous study of such limits requires detailed information about rates of
convergence to equilibrium for finite sized systems. In this paper we consider
the finite lattice , with an energy \EnergyStateI{i} \in
(0,\infty) associated to each site. The energies evolve according to a Markov
jump process with nearest neighbor interaction such that the total energy is
preserved. We prove that for an entire class of such models the spectral gap of
the generator of the Markov process scales as \Order(N^{-2}). Furthermore, we
provide a complete classification of reversible stationary distributions of
product type. We demonstrate that our results apply to models similar to the
billiard lattice model considered in \cite{10297039,10863485}, and hence
provide a first step in the derivation of a macroscopic heat equation for a
microscopic stochastic evolution of mechanical origin
The HyVac4 Subunit Vaccine Efficiently Boosts BCG-Primed Anti-Mycobacterial Protective Immunity
BACKGROUND: The current vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), BCG, has failed to control TB worldwide and the protective efficacy is moreover limited to 10-15 years. A vaccine that could efficiently boost a BCG-induced immune response and thus prolong protective immunity would therefore have a significant impact on the global TB-burden. METHODS/FINDINGS: In the present study we show that the fusion protein HyVac4 (H4), consisting of the mycobacterial antigens Ag85B and TB10.4, given in the adjuvant IC31® or DDA/MPL effectively boosted and prolonged immunity induced by BCG, leading to improved protection against infection with virulent M. tuberculosis (M.tb). Increased protection correlated with an increased percentage of TB10.4 specific IFNγ/TNFα/IL-2 or TNFα/IL-2 producing CD4 T cells at the site of infection. Moreover, this vaccine strategy did not compromise the use of ESAT-6 as an accurate correlate of disease development/vaccine efficacy. Indeed both CD4 and CD8 ESAT-6 specific T cells showed significant correlation with bacterial levels. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: H4-IC31® can efficiently boost BCG-primed immunity leading to an increased protective anti-M.tb immune response dominated by IFNγ/TNFα/IL-2 or TNFα/IL2 producing CD4 T cells. H4 in the CD4 T cell inducing adjuvant IC31® is presently in clinical trials
Diet and body constitution in relation to subgroups of breast cancer defined by tumour grade, proliferation and key cell cycle regulators
BACKGROUND: The general lack of clear associations between diet and breast cancer in epidemiological studies may partly be explained by the fact that breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that may have disparate genetic associations and different aetiological bases. METHOD: A total of 346 incident breast cancers in a prospective cohort of 17,035 women enrolled in the Malmö Diet and Cancer study (Sweden) were subcategorized according to conventional pathology parameters, proliferation and expression of key cell cycle regulators. Subcategories were compared with prediagnostic diet and body measurements using analysis of variance. RESULTS: A large hip circumference and high body mass index were associated with high grade tumours (P = 0.03 and 0.009, respectively), whereas low energy and unadjusted fat intakes were associated with high proliferation (P = 0.03 and 0.004, respectively). Low intakes of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were also associated with high proliferation (P = 0.02, 0.004 and 0.003, respectively). Low energy and unadjusted fat intakes were associated with cyclin D(1 )overexpression (P = 0.02 and 0.007, respectively), whereas cyclin E overexpression was positively correlated with fat intake. Oestrogen receptor status and expression of the tumour suppressor gene p27 were not associated with either diet or body constitution. CONCLUSION: Low energy and low total fat (polyunsaturated fatty acids in particular) intakes, and high body mass index were associated with relatively more malignant breast tumours. Dietary behaviours and body constitution may be associated with specific types of breast cancer defined by conventional pathology parameters and cyclin D(1 )and cyclin E expression. Further studies including healthy control individuals are needed to confirm our results
Statistical Mechanics and the Physics of the Many-Particle Model Systems
The development of methods of quantum statistical mechanics is considered in
light of their applications to quantum solid-state theory. We discuss
fundamental problems of the physics of magnetic materials and the methods of
the quantum theory of magnetism, including the method of two-time temperature
Green's functions, which is widely used in various physical problems of
many-particle systems with interaction. Quantum cooperative effects and
quasiparticle dynamics in the basic microscopic models of quantum theory of
magnetism: the Heisenberg model, the Hubbard model, the Anderson Model, and the
spin-fermion model are considered in the framework of novel
self-consistent-field approximation. We present a comparative analysis of these
models; in particular, we compare their applicability for description of
complex magnetic materials. The concepts of broken symmetry, quantum
protectorate, and quasiaverages are analyzed in the context of quantum theory
of magnetism and theory of superconductivity. The notion of broken symmetry is
presented within the nonequilibrium statistical operator approach developed by
D.N. Zubarev. In the framework of the latter approach we discuss the derivation
of kinetic equations for a system in a thermal bath. Finally, the results of
investigation of the dynamic behavior of a particle in an environment, taking
into account dissipative effects, are presented.Comment: 77 pages, 1 figure, Refs.37