508 research outputs found
A mean-field monomer-dimer model with attractive interaction. The exact solution
A mean-field monomer-dimer model which includes an attractive interaction
among both monomers and dimers is introduced and its exact solution rigorously
derived. The Heilmann-Lieb method for the pure hard-core interacting case is
used to compute upper and lower bounds for the pressure. The bounds are shown
to coincide in the thermodynamic limit for a suitable choice of the monomer
density m. The consistency equation characterising m is studied in the phase
space (h, J), where h tunes the monomer potential and J the attractive
potential. The critical point and exponents are computed and show that the
model is in the mean-field ferromagnetic universality class.Comment: 32 pages, 6 figure
Aging and scaling laws in -hydroquinone-clathrate
The dielectric permittivity of the orientational glass
methanol(x=0.73)--hydroquinone-clathrate has been studied as function of
temperature and waiting time using different temperature-time-protocols. We
study aging, rejuvenation and memory effects in the glassy phase and discuss
similarities and differences to aging in spin-glasses. We argue that the
diluted methanol-clathrate, although conceptually close to its magnetic
pendants, takes an intermediate character between a true spin-glass and a pure
random field system
Spatially incoherent modulational instability in a non local medium
We investigate one-dimensional transverse modulational instability in a non
local medium excited with a spatially incoherent source. Employing undoped
nematic liquid crystals in a planar pre-tilted configuration, we investigate
the role of the spectral broadening induced by incoherence in conjunction with
the spatially non local molecular reorientation. The phenomenon is modeled
using the Wigner transform.Comment: 13 pages with 4 figures included. To be published in Laser Physics
Letter
Multiple scaling regimes in simple aging models
We investigate aging in glassy systems based on a simple model, where a point
in configuration space performs thermally activated jumps between the minima of
a random energy landscape. The model allows us to show explicitly a subaging
behavior and multiple scaling regimes for the correlation function. Both the
exponents characterizing the scaling of the different relaxation times with the
waiting time and those characterizing the asymptotic decay of the scaling
functions are obtained analytically by invoking a `partial equilibrium'
concept.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
The Solution of the Deep Boltzmann Machine on the Nishimori Line
The deep Boltzmann machine on the Nishimori line with a finite number of layers is exactly solved by a theorem that expresses its pressure through a finite dimensional variational problem of min–max type. In the absence of magnetic fields the order parameter is shown to exhibit a phase transition whose dependence on the geometry of the system is investigated
An Update on Appendiceal Neuroendocrine Tumors
The mainstay of appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasm (aNEN) treatment is surgery, based on simple appendectomy or right-sided hemicolectomy with lymphadenectomy (RHC). The majority of aNENs are adequately treated with appendectomy, but current guidelines have poor accuracy in terms of selecting patients requiring RHC, especially in aNENs 1–2 cm in size. Simple appendectomy is curative for appendiceal NETs (G1–G2) < 1 cm (if the resection status is R0), whereas RHC with lymph node dissection is recommended in tumors ≥ 2 cm in diameter, based on the high risk of nodal metastases in these cases. The clinical management of aNENs 1–2 cm in size is more controversial because lymph node or distant metastases are uncommon but possible. In our opinion, patients with tumor size > 15 mm or with grading G2 (according to WHO 2010) and/or lympho-vascular invasion should be referred for radicalization with RHC. However, decision-making in these cases should include discussion within a multidisciplinary tumor board at referral centers with the aim of offering each patient a tailored treatment, also considering that relatively young patients with long-life expectancy represent the majority of cases
Aging in KLiTa0: a domain growth interpretation
The aging behaviour of the a.c. susceptibility of randomly substituted
KLiTa0 crystals reveals marked differences with spin-glasses in
that cooling rate effects are very important. The response to temperature steps
(including temperature cycles) was carefully studied. A model based on
thermally activated domain growth accounts for all the experimental results,
provided one allows for a large distribution of pinning energies, in such a way
that `slow' and `fast' domains coexist. Interesting similarities with deeply
supercooled liquids are underlined.Comment: 4 pages. Preprint LPTENS/9820, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Converted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: is there an impact on patient outcome and total cost?
Purpose: Recent studies have reported worse outcomes of converted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (CLDP) with respect to total laparoscopic (TLDP) and open (ODP). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of conversion on patient outcome and on total cost. Methods: Patients requiring a conversion (CLDP) were compared with both TLDP and ODP patients. The relevant patient- and tumour-related variables were collected for each patient. Both intra and postoperative data were extracted. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was carried out to equate the groups compared. Results: Two hundred and five patients underwent DP, 105 (51.2%) ODPs, 81 (39.5%) TLDPs, and 19 (9.3%) CLDPs. After PSM, 19 CLDPs, 38 TLDPs, and 38 ODPs were compared. Patients who underwent CLDP showed a significantly longer operative time (P < 0.001), and an increase in blood loss (P = 0.032) and total cost (P = 0.034) with respect to TLDP, and a significantly longer operative time (P < 0.001), less frequent postoperative morbidity (P = 0.050), and a higher readmission rate (P = 0.035) with respect to ODP. Conclusion: Total laparoscopic pancreatectomy was superior regarding operative findings and total costs with respect to CLDP; ODP showed a higher postoperative morbidity rate and a lower readmission rate with respect to CLDP. However, the reasons for the readmission of patients who underwent CLDP were mainly related to postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) grade B which is usually due to pancreas texture. Thus, the majority of distal pancreatectomies can be started using a minimally invasive approach, performing an early conversion if necessary
Aging and memory effects in beta-hydrochinone-clathrate
The out-of-equilibrium low-frequency complex susceptibility of the
orientational glass methanol(73%)-beta-hydrochinone-clathrate is studied using
temperature-stop protocols in aging experiments . Although the material does
not have a sharp glass transition aging effects including rejuvenation and
memory are found at low temperatures. However, they turn out to be much weaker,
however, than in conventional magnetic spin glasses.Comment: 5 pages RevTeX, 6 eps-figures include
Trial sequential meta-analysis of laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy: is it the time to stop the randomization?
Background: The advantages of LPD compared with OPD remain debatable. The study aimed to compare the laparoscopic (LPD) versus open (OPD) for pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods: A meta-analysis of randomized studies (RCTs) comparing LPD and OPD was made. The results were reported as relative risk (RRs) or mean differences (MDs). The trial sequential analysis was used to test the type I and type II errors defining the required information size (RIS). The primary outcome was mortality, major morbidity, and postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). R1 resection, post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage, delayed gastric emptying, biliary fistula, reoperation, readmission, operative time (OT), lymph nodes harvested, and length of stay (LOS) were also studied. Results: Four RCTs, counting 818 patients, were found. The RRs for mortality, major morbidity, and POPF were 1.16, 1.04, and 0.86, without significant differences. The RISs were 35,672, 16,548, and 8206. To confirm this equivalence, at least 34,854, 15,730, and 7338 should be randomized. OT was significantly longer in LPD than OPD, with an MD of 63.22. The LOS was significantly shorter in LPD than in OPD, with − 1.76 days. The RISs were 1297 and 1273, excluding a false-positive result. No significant differences were observed for the remaining endpoints, and RISs suggested that more than 3000 patients should be randomized to confirm the equivalence. Conclusion: The equivalence of LPD and OPD for mortality, major morbidity, and POPF is affected by type II error. The RISs to demonstrate a superiority of one of the two techniques seem unrealistic to obtain
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