226 research outputs found
Is the development of falciparum malaria in the human host limited by the availability of uninfected erythrocytes?
BACKGROUND: The development and propagation of malaria parasites in their vertebrate host is a complex process in which various host and parasite factors are involved. Sometimes the evolution of parasitaemia seems to be quelled by parasite load. In order to understand the typical dynamics of evolution of parasitaemia, various mathematical models have been developed. The basic premise ingrained in most models is that the availability of uninfected red blood cells (RBC) in which the parasite develops is a limiting factor in the propagation of the parasite population. PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: We would like to propose that except in extreme cases of severe malaria, there is no limitation in the supply of uninfected RBC for the increase of parasite population. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: In this analysis we examine the biological attributes of the parasite-infected RBC such as cytoadherence and rosette formation, and the rheological properties of infected RBC, and evaluate their effects on blood flow and clogging of capillaries. We argue that there should be no restriction in the availability of uninfected RBC in patients. IMPLICATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: There is no justification for the insertion of RBC supply as a factor in mathematical models that describe the evolution of parasitaemia in the infected host. Indeed, more recent models, that have not inserted this factor, successfully describe the evolution of parasitaemia in the infected host
Restoring site percolation on a damaged square lattice
We study how to restore site percolation on a damaged square lattice with
nearest neighbor (N) interactions. Two strategies are suggested for a
density of destroyed sites by a random attack at . In the first one, a
density of new sites are created with longer range interactions, either
next nearest neighbor (N) or next next nearest neighbor (N). In the
second one, new longer range interactions N or N are created for a
fraction of the remaining sites in addition to their N
interactions. In both cases, the values of and are tuned in order to
restore site percolation which then occurs at new percolation thresholds,
respectively , , and . Using Monte Carlo
simulations the values of the pairs , and , are calculated for the whole range . Our schemes are applicable to all regular lattices.Comment: 5 pages, revtex
Finite-Size Scaling in Two-dimensional Continuum Percolation Models
We test the universal finite-size scaling of the cluster mass order parameter
in two-dimensional (2D) isotropic and directed continuum percolation models
below the percolation threshold by computer simulations. We found that the
simulation data in the 2D continuum models obey the same scaling expression of
mass M to sample size L as generally accepted for isotropic lattice problems,
but with a positive sign of the slope in the ln-ln plot of M versus L. Another
interesting aspect of the finite-size 2D models is also suggested by plotting
the normalized mass in 2D continuum and lattice bond percolation models, versus
an effective percolation parameter, independently of the system structure (i.e.
lattice or continuum) and of the possible directions allowed for percolation
(i.e. isotropic or directed) in regions close to the percolation thresholds.
Our study is the first attempt to map the scaling behaviour of the mass for
both lattice and continuum model systems into one curve.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, 2 PostScript figure
Site Percolation and Phase Transitions in Two Dimensions
The properties of the pure-site clusters of spin models, i.e. the clusters
which are obtained by joining nearest-neighbour spins of the same sign, are
here investigated. In the Ising model in two dimensions it is known that such
clusters undergo a percolation transition exactly at the critical point. We
show that this result is valid for a wide class of bidimensional systems
undergoing a continuous magnetization transition. We provide numerical evidence
for discrete as well as for continuous spin models, including SU(N) lattice
gauge theories. The critical percolation exponents do not coincide with the
ones of the thermal transition, but they are the same for models belonging to
the same universality class.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables. Numerical part developed; figures,
references and comments adde
Critical Droplets and Phase Transitions in Two Dimensions
In two space dimensions, the percolation point of the pure-site clusters of
the Ising model coincides with the critical point T_c of the thermal transition
and the percolation exponents belong to a special universality class. By
introducing a bond probability p_B<1, the corresponding site-bond clusters keep
on percolating at T_c and the exponents do not change, until
p_B=p_CK=1-exp(-2J/kT): for this special expression of the bond weight the
critical percolation exponents switch to the 2D Ising universality class. We
show here that the result is valid for a wide class of bidimensional models
with a continuous magnetization transition: there is a critical bond
probability p_c such that, for any p_B>=p_c, the onset of percolation of the
site-bond clusters coincides with the critical point of the thermal transition.
The percolation exponents are the same for p_c<p_B<=1 but, for p_B=p_c, they
suddenly change to the thermal exponents, so that the corresponding clusters
are critical droplets of the phase transition. Our result is based on Monte
Carlo simulations of various systems near criticality.Comment: Final version for publication, minor changes, figures adde
Generalized-ensemble simulations and cluster algorithms
The importance-sampling Monte Carlo algorithm appears to be the universally
optimal solution to the problem of sampling the state space of statistical
mechanical systems according to the relative importance of configurations for
the partition function or thermal averages of interest. While this is true in
terms of its simplicity and universal applicability, the resulting approach
suffers from the presence of temporal correlations of successive samples
naturally implied by the Markov chain underlying the importance-sampling
simulation. In many situations, these autocorrelations are moderate and can be
easily accounted for by an appropriately adapted analysis of simulation data.
They turn out to be a major hurdle, however, in the vicinity of phase
transitions or for systems with complex free-energy landscapes. The critical
slowing down close to continuous transitions is most efficiently reduced by the
application of cluster algorithms, where they are available. For first-order
transitions and disordered systems, on the other hand, macroscopic energy
barriers need to be overcome to prevent dynamic ergodicity breaking. In this
situation, generalized-ensemble techniques such as the multicanonical
simulation method can effect impressive speedups, allowing to sample the full
free-energy landscape. The Potts model features continuous as well as
first-order phase transitions and is thus a prototypic example for studying
phase transitions and new algorithmic approaches. I discuss the possibilities
of bringing together cluster and generalized-ensemble methods to combine the
benefits of both techniques. The resulting algorithm allows for the efficient
estimation of the random-cluster partition function encoding the information of
all Potts models, even with a non-integer number of states, for all
temperatures in a single simulation run per system size.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, proceedings of the 2009 Workshop of the Center
of Simulational Physics, Athens, G
PCN6 Obesity & Cancer are Independently Associated with Increased Comorbid Risk in Distinct 2013 Data Sources: Clalit Israel Emr & United States National Health and Wellness Survey (Nhws)
Nodal domains statistics - a criterion for quantum chaos
We consider the distribution of the (properly normalized) numbers of nodal
domains of wave functions in 2- quantum billiards. We show that these
distributions distinguish clearly between systems with integrable (separable)
or chaotic underlying classical dynamics, and for each case the limiting
distribution is universal (system independent). Thus, a new criterion for
quantum chaos is provided by the statistics of the wave functions, which
complements the well established criterion based on spectral statistics.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, revte
Effects of Lateral Diffusion on the Dynamics of Desorption
The adsorbate dynamics during simultaneous action of desorption and lateral
adsorbate diffusion is studied in a simple lattice-gas model by kinetic Monte
Carlo simulations. It is found that the action of the coverage-conserving
diffusion process during the course of the desorption has two distinct,
competing effects: a general acceleration of the desorption process, and a
coarsening of the adsorbate configuration through Ostwald ripening. The balance
between these two effects is governed by the structure of the adsorbate layer
at the beginning of the desorption process
Precise determination of the bond percolation thresholds and finite-size scaling corrections for the s.c., f.c.c., and b.c.c. lattices
Extensive Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to study bond percolation on
the simple cubic (s.c.), face-centered cubic (f.c.c.), and body-centered cubic
(b.c.c.) lattices, using an epidemic kind of approach. These simulations
provide very precise values of the critical thresholds for each of the
lattices: pc(s.c.) = 0.248 812 6(5), pc(f.c.c.) = 0.120 163 5(10), and
pc(b.c.c.) = 0.180 287 5(10). For p close to pc, the results follow the
expected finite-size and scaling behavior, with values for the Fisher exponent
(2.189(2)), the finite-size correction exponent (0.64(2)), and
the scaling function exponent (0.445(1)) confirmed to be universal.Comment: 16 pgs, 7 figures, LaTeX, to be published in Phys. Rev.
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