Stable states of perturbed Markov chains

Given an infinitesimal perturbation of a discrete-time finite Markov chain, we seek the states that are stable despite the perturbation, \textit{i.e.} the states whose weights in the stationary distributions can be bounded away from $0$ as the noise fades away. Chemists, economists, and computer scientists have been studying irreducible perturbations built with exponential maps. Under these assumptions, Young proved the existence of and computed the stable states in cubic time. We fully drop these assumptions, generalize Young's technique, and show that stability is decidable as long as $f\in O(g)$ is. Furthermore, if the perturbation maps (and their multiplications) satisfy $f\in O(g)$ or $g\in O(f)$, we prove the existence of and compute the stable states and the metastable dynamics at all time scales where some states vanish. Conversely, if the big-$O$ assumption does not hold, we build a perturbation with these maps and no stable state. Our algorithm also runs in cubic time despite the general assumptions and the additional work. Proving the correctness of the algorithm relies on new or rephrased results in Markov chain theory, and on algebraic abstractions thereof

Are there plasminos in superconductors?

Hot and/or dense, normal-conducting systems of relativistic fermions exhibit a particular collective excitation, the so-called plasmino. We compute the one-loop self-energy, the dispersion relation and the spectral density for fermions interacting via attractive boson exchange. It is shown that plasminos also exist in superconductors.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, revte

Extreme right-wing voting in Western Europe

In this study we explain extreme right-wing voting behaviour in the countries of the European Union and Norway from a micro and macro perspective. Using a multidisciplinary multilevel approach, we take into account individual-level social background characteristics and public opinion alongside country characteristics and characteristics of extreme right-wing parties themselves. By making use of large-scale survey data (N = 49,801) together with country-level statistics and expert survey data, we are able to explain extreme right-wing voting behaviour from this multilevel perspective. Our results show that cross-national differences in support of extreme right-wing parties are particularly due to differences in public opinion on immigration and democracy, the number of non-Western residents in a country and, above all, to party characteristics of the extreme right-wing parties themselves

Root vacuolar sequestration and suberization are prominent responses of Pistacia spp. rootstocks during salinity stress

Understanding the mechanisms of stress tolerance in diverse species is needed to enhance crop performance under conditions such as high salinity. Plant roots, in particular in grafted agricultural crops, can function as a boundary against external stresses in order to maintain plant fitness. However, limited information exists for salinity stress responses of woody species and their rootstocks. Pistachio (Pistacia spp.) is a tree nut crop with relatively high salinity tolerance as well as high genetic heterogeneity. In this study, we used a microscopy-based approach to investigate the cellular and structural responses to salinity stress in the roots of two pistachio rootstocks, Pistacia integerrima (PGI) and a hybrid, P. atlantica x P. integerrima (UCB1). We analyzed root sections via fluorescence microscopy across a developmental gradient, defined by xylem development, for sodium localization and for cellular barrier differentiation via suberin deposition. Our cumulative data suggest that the salinity response in pistachio rootstock species is associated with both vacuolar sodium ion (Na+) sequestration in the root cortex and increased suberin deposition at apoplastic barriers. Furthermore, both vacuolar sequestration and suberin deposition correlate with the root developmental gradient. We observed a higher rate of Na+ vacuolar sequestration and reduced salt-induced leaf damage in UCB1 when compared to P. integerrima. In addition, UCB1 displayed higher basal levels of suberization, in both the exodermis and endodermis, compared to P. integerrima. This difference was enhanced after salinity stress. These cellular characteristics are phenotypes that can be taken into account during screening for sodium-mediated salinity tolerance in woody plant species

Complete analysis of the B-cell response to a protein antigen, from in vivo germinal centre formation to 3-D modelling of affinity maturation

Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin variable region genes occurs within germinal centres (GCs) and is the process responsible for affinity maturation of antibodies during an immune response. Previous studies have focused almost exclusively on the immune response to haptens, which may be unrepresentative of epitopes on protein antigens. In this study, we have exploited a model system that uses transgenic B and CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells specific for hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and a chicken ovalbumin peptide, respectively, to investigate a tightly synchronized immune response to protein antigens of widely differing affinities, thus allowing us to track many facets of the development of an antibody response at the antigen-specific B cell level in an integrated system <i>in</i> <i>vivo</i>. Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin variable genes was analysed in clones of transgenic B cells proliferating in individual GCs in response to HEL or the cross-reactive low-affinity antigen, duck egg lysozyme (DEL). Molecular modelling of the antibody–antigen interface demonstrates that recurring mutations in the antigen-binding site, selected in GCs, enhance interactions of the antibody with DEL. The effects of these mutations on affinity maturation are demonstrated by a shift of transgenic serum antibodies towards higher affinity for DEL in DEL-cOVA immunized mice. The results show that B cells with high affinity antigen receptors can revise their specificity by somatic hypermutation and antigen selection in response to a low-affinity, cross-reactive antigen. These observations shed further light on the nature of the immune response to pathogens and autoimmunity and demonstrate the utility of this novel model for studies of the mechanisms of somatic hypermutation

The force loading rate drives cell mechanosensing through both reinforcement and cytoskeletal softening.

Cell response to force regulates essential processes in health and disease. However, the fundamental mechanical variables that cells sense and respond to remain unclear. Here we show that the rate of force application (loading rate) drives mechanosensing, as predicted by a molecular clutch model. By applying dynamic force regimes to cells through substrate stretching, optical tweezers, and atomic force microscopy, we find that increasing loading rates trigger talin-dependent mechanosensing, leading to adhesion growth and reinforcement, and YAP nuclear localization. However, above a given threshold the actin cytoskeleton softens, decreasing loading rates and preventing reinforcement. By stretching rat lungs in vivo, we show that a similar phenomenon may occur. Our results show that cell sensing of external forces and of passive mechanical parameters (like tissue stiffness) can be understood through the same mechanisms, driven by the properties under force of the mechanosensing molecules involved

CO, CI and CII observations of NGC 7023

We present new data on the photodissociation regions associated with the reflection nebula NGC7023. 13CO(3-2) emission, delineates a molecular cloud containing a cavity largely devoid of molecular gas around this star. Neutral carbon is closely associated with the 13CO emission while ionized carbon is found inside and at the edges of the cavity. The ionized carbon appears to be, at least in part, associated with HI. We have mapped the northern and southern rims in 12CO(6-5) emission and found a good association with the H2 rovibrational emission, though the warm CO gas permeates a larger fraction of the molecular cloud than the vibrationally excited H2. The results are compared with PDR models. We suggest that a second PDR has been created at the surface of the molecular cloud by the scattered radiation from HD 200775. This second PDR produces a layer of atomic carbon at the surface of the sheet, which increases the predicted [C]/[CO] abundance ratio to 10%, close to the observed value.Comment: 34 pages, 8 figure

New sulfonated pyrrole and pyrrole 3-carboxylic acid copolymers membranes via track-etched templates

New copolymers of polypyrrole and poly(3-carboxylic acid pyrrole) have been synthesized via diaphragmatic method using track-etched polycarbonate matrix. The carboxylic acid presence permits to introduce new functionalities such as sulfonate groups. The resulted copolymer membranes with tubules microstructure has been characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Time-of-flight Secondary Ion mass Spectrometry and FTIR. By SEM it was observed that ion-track trajectories present characteristic of crossing. FTIR, XPS and ToF-SIMS proved the attachment of the Taurin molecule to the membrane. The thermal stability study shows that the polypyrrole copolymer membranes have an exceptional stability; decomposition was not observed up to 900°C