Physics of epidemics on contact networks with spatial and temporal features

openThe outbreak of an infectious disease transmitted with close contacts does not only depend on the characteristic of the infection, but also on human-to-human contact behavior. This aspect is difficult to capture in physics model of epidemics because human behavior presents complex patterns: heterogeneities, recurrence, and spatial and temporal correlations. Key statistical features of human contact patterns are being uncovered by the increasing efforts to collect contact data in selected cohorts and analyze them. The theory of temporal networks provides a convenient framework to model the measured contact patterns. The aim of this work is to build a generative model of the temporal network of human contacts, where the features of interest can be turned on and off to inspect their relevance in the dynamics of epidemics. In particular, we address how the network features impact the phase transition between epidemic extinction and invasion, the epidemic dynamics at the early stage and the epidemic final outcome.The outbreak of an infectious disease transmitted with close contacts does not only depend on the characteristic of the infection, but also on human-to-human contact behavior. This aspect is difficult to capture in physics model of epidemics because human behavior presents complex patterns: heterogeneities, recurrence, and spatial and temporal correlations. Key statistical features of human contact patterns are being uncovered by the increasing efforts to collect contact data in selected cohorts and analyze them. The theory of temporal networks provides a convenient framework to model the measured contact patterns. The aim of this work is to build a generative model of the temporal network of human contacts, where the features of interest can be turned on and off to inspect their relevance in the dynamics of epidemics. In particular, we address how the network features impact the phase transition between epidemic extinction and invasion, the epidemic dynamics at the early stage and the epidemic final outcome

High blood levels of IL-6 nicely correlate with animal survival in trained C26 bearing mice

Exercise is a beneficial adjunct therapy to maintain or enhance quality of life in cancer patients. Recently, few studies demonstrated a correlation between high concentrations of IL-6 and a poor survival. This depends on the equilibrium between the concentrations of IL-6 and sIL-6R. Exercise induces a beneficial increase in circulating IL-6 (1). Fresh fragments of solid C26 tumor were inoculated in healthy 3 months-old mice (n=230, M=115 and F=115). The experimental procedure were 12 weeks long. During the first 6 weeks, mice were randomly assigned to one of the experimental conditions: sedentary (SED) or progressive training (TRP). After the first 6 weeks, all mice were inoculated with a fresh fragment of tumor. All trained adult mice after the tumor inoculation were randomly assigned to a different training program: low intensity training (TRL), moderate intensity training (TRM) and high intensity training (TRH). Mice run 5 days per week on a Rota-Rod following one of the specific training program (TRP ,TRL, TRM and TRH) (2). After tumor inoculation the mice were daily weighted and tumor size monitored until death. Moreover, 8 mice for each group were sacrificed when cachexia occurred (>9% body weight loss), and blood samples were stored for CBA Enhanced flex set flow-cytometric assays (IL-6 and TNF-alpha). The TRM and TRH training protocol performed by trained adult male mice extend the median survival compared to the sedentary adult mice and trained female mice. Interesting the beneficial effect of exercise seemed to be mediated extending the survival days. Significant high blood levels of IL-6 were recorded among the male trained mice (TRM and TRH) groups in comparison with sedentary adult mice and trained female mice (TRM and TRH). The results suggest that endurance exercise as adjuvant therapy is gender and physical training level specific. This effect seems to be mediated by IL-6 blood levels

Doubly resonant second-harmonic generation of a vortex beam from a bound state in the continuum

Second harmonic generation in nonlinear materials can be greatly enhanced by realizing doubly-resonant cavities with high quality factors. However, fulfilling such doubly resonant condition in photonic crystal (PhC) cavities is a long-standing challenge, because of the difficulty in engineering photonic bandgaps around both frequencies. Here, by implementing a second-harmonic bound state in the continuum (BIC) and confining it with a heterostructure design, we show the first doubly-resonant PhC slab cavity with $2.4\times10^{-2}$ W$^{-1}$ conversion efficiency under continuous wave excitation. We also report the confirmation of highly normal-direction concentrated far-field emission pattern with radial polarization at the second harmonic frequency. These results represent a solid verification of previous theoretical predictions and a cornerstone achievement, not only for nonlinear frequency conversion but also for vortex beam generation and prospective nonclassical sources of radiation.Comment: revtex4-2, 7 pages, 5 figures, conference CLE

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Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer: Environment, Genes and Infections-Is It All?

: The incidence of testicular cancer is steadily increasing over the past several decades in different developed countries. If on one side better diagnosis and treatment have shone a light on this disease, on the other side, differently from other malignant diseases, few risk factors have been identified. The reasons for the increase in testicular cancer are however unknown while risk factors are still poorly understood. Several studies have suggested that exposure to various factors in adolescence as well as in adulthood could be linked to the development of testicular cancer. Nevertheless, the role of environment, infections, and occupational exposure are undoubtedly associated with an increase or a decrease in this risk. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the most recent evidence regarding the risk factors associated with testicular cancer, starting from the most commonly evaluated (cryptorchidism, family history, infections) to the newer identified and hypothesized risk factors

Impact of gas hardening on the population properties of hierarchical black hole mergers in AGN disks

Hierarchical black hole (BH) mergers in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are unique among formation channels of binary black holes (BBHs) because they are likely associated with electromagnetic counterparts and can efficiently lead to the mass growth of BHs. Here, we explore the impact of gas accretion and migration traps on the evolution of BBHs in AGNs. We have developed a new fast semi-analytic model, which allows us to explore the parameter space while capturing the main physical processes involved. We find that effective exchange of energy and angular momentum between the BBH and the surrounding gas (hereafter, gas hardening) during inspiral greatly enhances the efficiency of hierarchical mergers, leading to the formation of intermediate-mass BHs (up to 10.000 solar masses) and triggering spin alignment. Moreover, our models with efficient gas hardening show both an anti-correlation between BBH mass ratio and effective spin, and a correlation between primary BH mass and effective spin. In contrast, if gas hardening is inefficient, the hierarchical merger chain is already truncated after the first two or three generations. We compare the BBH population in AGNs with other dynamical channels as well as isolated binary evolution.Comment: 21 pages, 15 figures, submitted to A&A, comments welcom

Giant endobronchial hamartoma resected by fiberoptic bronchoscopy electrosurgical snaring

Less than 1% of lung neoplasms are represented by benign tumors. Among these, hamartomas are the most common with an incidence between 0.025% and 0.32%. In relation to the localization, hamartomas are divided into intraparenchymal and endobronchial

Comments on: Further studies of Bolivian crocidolite-Part IV: Fibre width, fibre drift and their relation to mesothelioma induction: Preliminary findings, by Ilgren EB, van Orden DR, Lee RJ, Kamiya YM, Hoskins JA

Comments on: Further studies of Bolivian crocidolite-Part IV: Fibre width, fibre drift and their relation to mesothelioma induction: Preliminary findings, by Ilgren EB, van Orden DR, Lee RJ, Kamiya YM, Hoskins JA