108 research outputs found
Exact solution of the one-dimensional deterministic Fixed-Energy Sandpile
In reason of the strongly non-ergodic dynamical behavior, universality
properties of deterministic Fixed-Energy Sandpiles are still an open and
debated issue. We investigate the one-dimensional model, whose microscopical
dynamics can be solved exactly, and provide a deeper understanding of the
origin of the non-ergodicity. By means of exact arguments, we prove the
occurrence of orbits of well-defined periods and their dependence on the
conserved energy density. Further statistical estimates of the size of the
attraction's basins of the different periodic orbits lead to a complete
characterization of the activity vs. energy density phase diagram in the limit
of large system's size.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
On a class of rational matrices and interpolating polynomials related to the discrete Laplace operator
Let \dlap be the discrete Laplace operator acting on functions(or rational matrices) ,where is the two dimensional lattice of size embedded in . Consider a rational matrix , whose inner entries satisfy \dlap\mathcal{H}_{ij}=0. The matrix is thus theclassical finite difference five-points approximation of theLaplace operator in two variables. We give a constructive proofthat is the restriction to of adiscrete harmonic polynomial in two variables for any L>2. Thisresult proves a conjecture formulated in the context ofdeterministic fixed-energy sandpile models in statisticalmechanics
Critical fluctuations in spatial complex networks
An anomalous mean-field solution is known to capture the non trivial phase
diagram of the Ising model in annealed complex networks. Nevertheless the
critical fluctuations in random complex networks remain mean-field. Here we
show that a break-down of this scenario can be obtained when complex networks
are embedded in geometrical spaces. Through the analysis of the Ising model on
annealed spatial networks, we reveal in particular the spectral properties of
networks responsible for critical fluctuations and we generalize the Ginsburg
criterion to complex topologies.Comment: (4 pages, 2 figures
Preventing the Interaction between Coronaviruses Spike Protein and Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2: An In Silico Mechanistic Case Study on Emodin as a Potential Model Compound
Emodin, a widespread natural anthraquinone, has many biological activities including health-protective and adverse effects. Amongst beneficial effects, potential antiviral activity against coronavirus responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2002–2003 has been described associated with the inhibition of the host cells target receptors recognition by the viral Spike protein. However, the inhibition mechanisms have not been fully characterized, hindering the rational use of emodin as a model compound to develop more effective analogues. This work investigates emodin interaction with the Spike protein to provide a mechanistic explanation of such inhibition. A 3D molecular modeling approach consisting of docking simulations, pharmacophoric analysis and molecular dynamics was used. The plausible mechanism is described as an interaction of emodin at the protein–protein interface which destabilizes the viral protein-target receptor complex. This analysis has been extended to the Spike protein of the coronavirus responsible for the current pandemic hypothesizing emodin’s functional conservation. This solid knowledge-based foothold provides a possible mechanistic rationale of the antiviral activity of emodin as a future basis for the potential development of efficient antiviral cognate compounds. Data gaps and future work on emodin-related adverse effects in parallel to its antiviral pharmacology are explored
Non-equilibrium mean-field theories on scale-free networks
Many non-equilibrium processes on scale-free networks present anomalous
critical behavior that is not explained by standard mean-field theories. We
propose a systematic method to derive stochastic equations for mean-field order
parameters that implicitly account for the degree heterogeneity. The method is
used to correctly predict the dynamical critical behavior of some binary spin
models and reaction-diffusion processes. The validity of our non-equilibrium
theory is furtherly supported by showing its relation with the generalized
Landau theory of equilibrium critical phenomena on networks.Comment: 4 pages, no figures, major changes in the structure of the pape
Non-equilibrium phase transition in negotiation dynamics
We introduce a model of negotiation dynamics whose aim is that of mimicking
the mechanisms leading to opinion and convention formation in a population of
individuals. The negotiation process, as opposed to ``herding-like'' or
``bounded confidence'' driven processes, is based on a microscopic dynamics
where memory and feedback play a central role. Our model displays a
non-equilibrium phase transition from an absorbing state in which all agents
reach a consensus to an active stationary state characterized either by
polarization or fragmentation in clusters of agents with different opinions. We
show the exystence of at least two different universality classes, one for the
case with two possible opinions and one for the case with an unlimited number
of opinions. The phase transition is studied analytically and numerically for
various topologies of the agents' interaction network. In both cases the
universality classes do not seem to depend on the specific interaction
topology, the only relevant feature being the total number of different
opinions ever present in the system.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Topology-induced coarsening in language games
We investigate how very large populations are able to reach a global consensus, out of local âmicroscopicâ interaction rules, in the framework of a recently introduced class of models of semiotic dynamics, the so-called naming game. We compare in particular the convergence mechanism for interacting agents embedded in a low-dimensional lattice with respect to the mean-field case. We highlight that in low dimensions consensus is reached through a coarsening process that requires less cognitive effort of the agents, with respect to the mean-field case, but takes longer to complete. In one dimension, the dynamics of the boundaries is mapped onto a truncated Markov process from which we analytically computed the diffusion coefficient. More generally we show that the convergence process requires a memory per agent scaling as N and lasts a time N1+2âd in dimension dâ©œ4 (the upper critical dimension), while in mean field both memory and time scale as N3â2, for a population of N agents. We present analytical and numerical evidence supporting this picture
Network dismantling
We study the network dismantling problem, which consists in determining a
minimal set of vertices whose removal leaves the network broken into connected
components of sub-extensive size. For a large class of random graphs, this
problem is tightly connected to the decycling problem (the removal of vertices
leaving the graph acyclic). Exploiting this connection and recent works on
epidemic spreading we present precise predictions for the minimal size of a
dismantling set in a large random graph with a prescribed (light-tailed) degree
distribution. Building on the statistical mechanics perspective we propose a
three-stage Min-Sum algorithm for efficiently dismantling networks, including
heavy-tailed ones for which the dismantling and decycling problems are not
equivalent. We also provide further insights into the dismantling problem
concluding that it is an intrinsically collective problem and that optimal
dismantling sets cannot be viewed as a collection of individually well
performing nodes.Comment: Source code and data can be found at
https://github.com/abraunst/decycle
Alternaria toxins as casein kinase 2 inhibitors and possible consequences for estrogenicity: a hybrid in silico/in vitro study
Emerging mycotoxins produced by Alternaria spp. were previously reported to exert cytotoxic, genotoxic, but also estrogenic effects in human cells. The involved mechanisms are very complex and not fully elucidated yet. Thus, we followed an in silico target fishing approach to extend knowledge on the possible biological targets underlying the activity of alternariol, taken as the signature compound of Alternaria toxins. Combining ligand-based screening and structure-based modeling, the ubiquitous casein kinase 2 (CK2) was identified as a potential target for the compound. This result was validated in a cell-free in vitro CK2 activity assay, where alternariol inhibited CK2 with an IC50 of 707 nM. As CK2 was recently discussed to influence estrogen receptor (ER) transcription and DNA-binding affinity, we assessed a potential impact on the mRNA levels of ERα or ERÎČ by qRT-PCR and on nuclear localization of the receptors by confocal microscopy, using estrogen-sensitive Ishikawa cells as a model. While AOH did not affect the transcription of ERα or ERÎČ, an increase in nuclear localization of ERα after incubation with 10 ”M AOH was observed. However, this effect might be due to ER binding affinity and therefore estrogenicity of AOH. Furthermore, in silico docking simulation revealed not only AOH, but also a number of other Alternaria toxins as potential inhibitors of CK2, including alternariol monomethyl ether and the perylene quinone derivative altertoxin II (ATX-II). These findings were representatively confirmed in vitro for the perylene quinone derivative altertoxin II, which was found to inhibit the kinase with an IC50 of 5.1 ”M. Taken together, we propose CK2 inhibition as an additional mechanism to consider in future studies for alternariol and several other Alternaria toxins
- âŠ