40,848 research outputs found
First- and second-order phase transitions in Ising models on small world networks, simulations and comparison with an effective field theory
We perform simulations of random Ising models defined over small-world
networks and we check the validity and the level of approximation of a recently
proposed effective field theory. Simulations confirm a rich scenario with the
presence of multicritical points with first- or second-order phase transitions.
In particular, for second-order phase transitions, independent of the dimension
d_0 of the underlying lattice, the exact predictions of the theory in the
paramagnetic regions, such as the location of critical surfaces and correlation
functions, are verified. Quite interestingly, we verify that the
Edwards-Anderson model with d_0=2 is not thermodynamically stable under graph
noise.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl
Trypanosomatids are common and diverse parasites of Drosophila
SUMMARYDrosophila melanogasteris an important model system of immunity and parasite resistance, yet most studies use parasites that do not naturally infect this organism. We have studied trypanosomatids in natural populations to assess the prevalence and diversity of these gut parasites. We collected several species ofDrosophilafrom Europe and surveyed them for trypanosomatids using conserved primers for two genes. We have used the conserved GAPDH sequence to construct a phylogenetic tree and the highly variable spliced leader RNA to assay genetic diversity. All 5 of the species that we examined were infected, and the average prevalence ranged from 1 to 6%. There are several different groups of trypanosomatids, related to other monoxenous Trypanosomatidae. These may represent new trypanosomatid species and were found in different species of EuropeanDrosophilafrom different geographical locations. The detection of a little studied natural pathogen inD. melanogasterand related species provides new opportunities for research into both theDrosophilaimmune response and the evolution of hosts and parasites.</jats:p
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