436 research outputs found
On the dynamical behavior of the ABC model
We consider the ABC dynamics, with equal density of the three species, on the
discrete ring with sites. In this case, the process is reversible with
respect to a Gibbs measure with a mean field interaction that undergoes a
second order phase transition. We analyze the relaxation time of the dynamics
and show that at high temperature it grows at most as while it grows at
least as at low temperature
Quantitative ergodicity for the symmetric exclusion process with stationary initial data
We consider the symmetric exclusion process on the -dimensional lattice
with translational invariant and ergodic initial data. It is then known that as
diverges the distribution of the process at time converges to a
Bernoulli product measure. Assuming a summable decay of correlations of the
initial data, we prove a quantitative version of this convergence by obtaining
an explicit bound on the Ornstein -distance. The proof is based on the
analysis of a two species exclusion process with annihilation
Relaxation times of kinetically constrained spin models with glassy dynamics
We analyze the density and size dependence of the relaxation time for
kinetically constrained spin systems. These have been proposed as models for
strong or fragile glasses and for systems undergoing jamming transitions. For
the one (FA1f) or two (FA2f) spin facilitated Fredrickson-Andersen model at any
density and for the Knight model below the critical density at which
the glass transition occurs, we show that the persistence and the spin-spin
time auto-correlation functions decay exponentially. This excludes the
stretched exponential relaxation which was derived by numerical simulations.
For FA2f in , we also prove a super-Arrhenius scaling of the form
. For FA1f in = we
rigorously prove the power law scalings recently derived in \cite{JMS} while in
we obtain upper and lower bounds consistent with findings therein.
Our results are based on a novel multi-scale approach which allows to analyze
in presence of kinetic constraints and to connect time-scales and
dynamical heterogeneities. The techniques are flexible enough to allow a
variety of constraints and can also be applied to conservative stochastic
lattice gases in presence of kinetic constraints.Comment: 4 page
Dog filariosis in the Lazio region (Central Italy): first report on the presence of Dirofilaria repens
BACKGROUND: Epidemiological investigations were carried out in the Lazio Region to assess the status of canine filariosis and to evaluate the actual risk for veterinary and medical public health. METHODS: Since August 2001 to June 2003, a total of 972 canine blood samples, collected in public kennels and from private owners animals of the 5 Provinces of the Region, were tested. The presence of filarial parasites was evaluated by microscopy and bio-molecular techniques; the species identification was performed by means of the same diagnostic tools. RESULTS: A total of 17/972 (1.75%; 95%CI 1.06%–2.85%) blood samples were parasitized by D. repens,13 out them drawn by dogs resident in the Province of Roma, and 4 in the other provinces. Multivariate analysis was performed in order to evaluate the association between filariosis and risk factors. The origin from coastal territories seems to be a significant risk factor to acquire the infection. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of canine filariosis in the Lazio Region, where D. repens was before reported only in foxes. The risk of human zoonotic infection is stressed, and the absence of other filarial species is discusse
Consanguinity and polygenic diseases: a model for antibody deficiencies
Primary immunodeficiencies represent a heterogeneous group of disorders of the immune system, predisposing to various types of infections. Among them, common variable immunodeficiency is the most common symptomatic antibody deficiency. It includes several different forms characterized by defects in the terminal stage of B lymphocyte differentiation, leading to markedly reduced immunoglobulin serum levels and increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. The clinical phenotype is complex, including autoimmunity, granulomatous inflammation, lymphoproliferative disorders and malignancies. Rare autosomal recessive mutations in a number of single genes have recently been reported. However, the underlying genetic defects remain unknown in the majority of cases. In order to seek new genes responsible for the disease, we studied a consanguineous Italian family through exome sequencing combined with homozygosity mapping. Six missense homozygous variants passed our filtering selection and at least two of them were associated with some aspects of the pathological phenotype. Our data remark the complexity of immune system disorders and emphasize the difficulty to understand the significance of genetic results and their correlation with the disease phenotype
Theophylline as a precision therapy in a young girl with PIK3R1 immunodeficiency
Based on its phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-delta (PI3Kd) inhibitory properties, theophylline was administered to a young girl with activated PI3Kd syndrome (APDS). We report reduced frequency of infections, decreased lymphoproliferation, and noticeable changes in immunophenotype, encouraging further trials with theophylline in children with APDS
The role of immune PSA complex (iXip) in the prediction of prostate cancer
Purpose: To analyse the performance of iXip in the prediction of prostate cancer (PCa) and high-grade PCa. Methods: A consecutive series of men undergoing MRI/FUSION prostate biopsies were enrolled in one centre. Indications for prostate biopsy included abnormal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (PSA>4 ng/ml) and/or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or abnormal MRI. All patients underwent the evaluation of serum PSA-IgM concentration and the iXip ratio was calculated. Accuracy iXip for the prediction of PCa was evaluated using multivariable binary regression analysis and receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves. Results: Overall 160 patients with a median age of 65 (62/73) years were enrolled. Overall, 42% patients were diagnosed with PCa and 75% of them had high-grade cancer (Epstein ≥ 3). Patients with PCa were older and presented higher PSA levels, higher PIRADS scores and lower prostate volumes (PVs). On ROC analysis iXip presented an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.57 in the prediction of PCa and of 0.54 for the prediction of high-grade PCa. Conclusions: In our experience, immune PSA complexes are not predictors of PCa. iXip analysis should not be included in the diagnostic pathway of patients at increased risk of PCa
Non-equilibrium dynamics of spin facilitated glass models
We consider the dynamics of spin facilitated models of glasses in the
non-equilibrium aging regime following a sudden quench from high to low
temperatures. We briefly review known results obtained for the broad class of
kinetically constrained models, and then present new results for the behaviour
of the one-spin facilitated Fredrickson-Andersen and East models in various
spatial dimensions. The time evolution of one-time quantities, such as the
energy density, and the detailed properties of two-time correlation and
response functions are studied using a combination of theoretical approaches,
including exact mappings of master operators and reductions to integrable
quantum spin chains, field theory and renormalization group, and independent
interval and timescale separation methods. The resulting analytical predictions
are confirmed by means of detailed numerical simulations. The models we
consider are characterized by trivial static properties, with no finite
temperature singularities, but they nevertheless display a surprising variety
of dynamic behaviour during aging, which can be directly related to the
existence and growth in time of dynamic lengthscales. Well-behaved
fluctuation-dissipation ratios can be defined for these models, and we study
their properties in detail. We confirm in particular the existence of negative
fluctuation-dissipation ratios for a large number of observables. Our results
suggest that well-defined violations of fluctuation-dissipation relations, of a
purely dynamic origin and unrelated to the thermodynamic concept of effective
temperatures, could in general be present in non-equilibrium glassy materials.Comment: 72 pages, invited contribution to special issue of JSTAT on
"Principles of Dynamics of Nonequilibrium Systems" (Programme at Newton
Institute Cambridge). v2: New data added to Figs. 11, 23, 24, new Fig. 26 on
East model in d=3, minor improvements to tex
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