12,250 research outputs found
Perturbation theory in a pure exchange non-equilibrium economy
We develop a formalism to study linearized perturbations around the
equilibria of a pure exchange economy. With the use of mean field theory
techniques, we derive equations for the flow of products in an economy driven
by heterogeneous preferences and probabilistic interaction between agents. We
are able to show that if the economic agents have static preferences, which are
also homogeneous in any of the steady states, the final wealth distribution is
independent of the dynamics of the non-equilibrium theory. In particular, it is
completely determined in terms of the initial conditions, and it is independent
of the probability, and the network of interaction between agents. We show that
the main effect of the network is to determine the relaxation time via the
usual eigenvalue gap as in random walks on graphs.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Functional stability of HIV-1 envelope trimer affects accessibility to broadly neutralizing antibodies at its apex
ABSTRACT
The trimeric envelope glycoprotein spike (Env) of HIV-1 is the target of vaccine development to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). Env trimer instability and heterogeneity in principle make subunit interfaces inconsistent targets for the immune response. Here, we investigate how functional stability of Env relates to neutralization sensitivity to V2 bnAbs and V3 crown antibodies that engage subunit interfaces upon binding to unliganded Env. Env heterogeneity was inferred when antibodies neutralized a mutant Env with a plateau of less than 100% neutralization. A statistically significant correlation was found between the stability of mutant Envs and the MPN of V2 bnAb, PG9, as well as an inverse correlation between stability of Env and neutralization by V3 crown antibody, 447-52D. A number of Env-stabilizing mutations and V2 bnAb-enhancing mutations were identified in Env, but they did not always overlap, indicating distinct requirements of functional stabilization versus antibody recognition. Blocking complex glycosylation of Env affected V2 bnAb recognition, as previously described, but also notably increased functional stability of Env. This study shows how instability and heterogeneity affect antibody sensitivity of HIV-1 Env, which is relevant to vaccine design involving its dynamic apex.
IMPORTANCE
The Env trimer is the only viral protein on the surface of HIV-1 and is the target of neutralizing antibodies that reduce viral infectivity. Quaternary epitopes at the apex of the spike are recognized by some of the most potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies to date. Being that their glycan-protein hybrid epitopes are at subunit interfaces, the resulting heterogeneity can lead to partial neutralization. Here, we screened for mutations in Env that allowed for complete neutralization by the bnAbs. We found that when mutations outside V2 increased V2 bnAb recognition, they often also increased Env stability-of-function and decreased binding by narrowly neutralizing antibodies to the V3 crown. Three mutations together increased neutralization by V2 bnAb and eliminated binding by V3 crown antibodies. These results may aid the design of immunogens that elicit antibodies to the trimer apex.
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Self-organized Networks of Competing Boolean Agents
A model of Boolean agents competing in a market is presented where each agent
bases his action on information obtained from a small group of other agents.
The agents play a competitive game that rewards those in the minority. After a
long time interval, the poorest player's strategy is changed randomly, and the
process is repeated. Eventually the network evolves to a stationary but
intermittent state where random mutation of the worst strategy can change the
behavior of the entire network, often causing a switch in the dynamics between
attractors of vastly different lengths.Comment: 4 pages, 3 included figures. Some text revision and one new figure
added. To appear in PR
Simulation-based design of a steerable acoustic warning device to increase (H)EV detectability while reducing urban noise pollution
This paper describes the simulation-based design methodology used in the eVADER project for the development of targeted acoustic warning devices for increased detectability of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (HEVs) while, at the same time, reducing urban noise pollution compared to conventional acoustic pedestrian warning systems. A key component of this system is an external warning signal generator capable of projecting the warning signals to a contained area in front of the vehicle where potential at-risk situations are detected. Using acoustic beam forming principles a suitable warning strategy and an initial layout for realizing such a system is defined. Starting from this information, acoustic Finite and Boundary Element models of the transducer array allow assessing more realistically the performance impact of the system integration and of the most critical changes in the acoustic environment in which the signal generator needs to operate
The Presidentâs Powers as Commander-in-Chief Versus Congressâ War Power and Appropriations Power
CII* Absorption in Damped Lyman Alpha Systems: (II) A New Window on the Star Formation History of the Universe
Starting from the SFR per unit physical area, determined for DLAs using the C
II* method, we obtain the SFR per unit comoving volume at 3, and
find that it agrees with that for the Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs). Though the
mass of produced stars indicated by the SFRs is consistent with the current
densities of known stellar populations, the mass of metals produced by =2.5
is 30 times larger than detected in absorption in DLAs. The most likely
solutions to this ``missing metals'' problem is that star formation occurs in
compact bulge regions. We search for evidence of feedback and find no
correlations between the SFR per unit area and N(H I), but possible
correlations between SFR per unit area and low-ion velocity width and SFR per
unit area and metal abundance. We show that (a) the correlation between cooling
rate and dust-to-gas ratio is positive evidence for grain photoelectric
heating, (b) the CMB does not significantly populate the C II excited
fine-structure states, and (c) the ratio of CII* to resonance-line optical
depths is a sensitive probe of the multi-phase structure of the DLA gas. We
address recent arguments that DLAs are comprised only of WNM gas, and show them
to be inconclusive. Despite the rough agreement between SFR per unit comoving
volume for DLAs and LBGs, current evidence indicates these are distinct
populations
Condensation in an Economic Model with Brand Competition
We present a linear agent based model on brand competition. Each agent
belongs to one of the two brands and interacts with its nearest neighbors. In
the process the agent can decide to change to the other brand if the move is
beneficial. The numerical simulations show that the systems always condenses
into a state when all agents belong to a single brand. We study the
condensation times for different parameters of the model and the influence of
different mechanisms to avoid condensation, like anti monopoly rules and brand
fidelity.Comment: Accepted in: International Journal of Modern Physics
A Prototype Model of Stock Exchange
A prototype model of stock market is introduced and studied numerically. In
this self-organized system, we consider only the interaction among traders
without external influences. Agents trade according to their own strategy, to
accumulate his assets by speculating on the price's fluctuations which are
produced by themselves. The model reproduced rather realistic price histories
whose statistical properties are also similar to those observed in real
markets.Comment: LaTex, 4 pages, 4 Encapsulated Postscript figures, uses psfi
Modulation of endoglin expression in islets of langerhans by VEGF reveals a novel regulator of islet endothelial cell function
BACKGROUND: Endoglin/CD105 is an auxiliary receptor for transforming growth factor-ÎČ with established roles in vascular remodelling. It has recently been shown that heterozygous endoglin deficiency in mice decreases insulin secretion in an animal model of obesity, highlighting a potential role for endoglin in the regulation of islet function. We have previously identified two different populations of endoglin expressing cells in human and mouse islets which are: (i) endothelial cells (ECs) and (ii) islet mesenchymal stromal cells. The contribution of islet EC endoglin expression to islet development and sensitivity to VEGF is unknown and is the focus of this study. RESULTS: In vitro culture of mouse islets with VEGF164 for 48Â h increased endoglin mRNA levels above untreated controls but VEGF did not modulate VEGFR2, CD31 or CD34 mRNA expression or islet viability. Removal of EC-endoglin expression in vivo reduced islet EC area but had no apparent effect on islet size or architecture. CONCLUSION: EC-specific endoglin expression in islets is sensitive to VEGF and plays partial roles in driving islet vascular development, however such regulation appears to be distinct to mechanisms required to modulate islet viability and size
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