86 research outputs found
An Extended Network Model with a Packages Diffusion Process
The dynamics of a packages diffusion process within a selforganized network
is analytically studied by means of an extended % -spin facilitated kinetic
Ising model (Fredrickson-Andersen model) using a Fock-space representation for
the master equation. To map the three component system (active, passive and
packages cells) onto a lattice we apply two types of second quantized
operators. The active cells correspond to mobile states whereas the passive
cells correspond to immobile states of the Fredrickson-Andersen model. An
inherent cooperativity is included assuming that the local dynamics and
subsequently the local mobilities are restricted by the occupation of
neighboring cells. Depending on a temperature-like parameter
(interconnectivity) the diffusive process of the packages (information) can be
almost stopped, thus we get a well separation of the time regimes and a
quasi-localization for the intermediate range at low temperatures.Comment: 13 pages and 1 figur
The Study of Shocks in Three-States Driven-Diffusive Systems: A Matrix Product Approach
We study the shock structures in three-states one-dimensional
driven-diffusive systems with nearest neighbors interactions using a matrix
product formalism. We consider the cases in which the stationary probability
distribution function of the system can be written in terms of superposition of
product shock measures. We show that only three families of three-states
systems have this property. In each case the shock performs a random walk
provided that some constraints are fulfilled. We calculate the diffusion
coefficient and drift velocity of shock for each family.Comment: 15 pages, Accepted for publication in Journal of Statistical
Mechanics: Theory and Experiment (JSTAT
Exact Shock Profile for the ASEP with Sublattice-Parallel Update
We analytically study the one-dimensional Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process
(ASEP) with open boundaries under sublattice-parallel updating scheme. We
investigate the stationary state properties of this model conditioned on
finding a given particle number in the system. Recent numerical investigations
have shown that the model possesses three different phases in this case. Using
a matrix product method we calculate both exact canonical partition function
and also density profiles of the particles in each phase. Application of the
Yang-Lee theory reveals that the model undergoes two second-order phase
transitions at critical points. These results confirm the correctness of our
previous numerical studies.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Journal of Physics
Frozen shuffle update for an asymmetric exclusion process on a ring
We introduce a new rule of motion for a totally asymmetric exclusion process
(TASEP) representing pedestrian traffic on a lattice. Its characteristic
feature is that the positions of the pedestrians, modeled as hard-core
particles, are updated in a fixed predefined order, determined by a phase
attached to each of them. We investigate this model analytically and by Monte
Carlo simulation on a one-dimensional lattice with periodic boundary
conditions. At a critical value of the particle density a transition occurs
from a phase with `free flow' to one with `jammed flow'. We are able to
analytically predict the current-density diagram for the infinite system and to
find the scaling function that describes the finite size rounding at the
transition point.Comment: 16 page
Relaxation time in a non-conserving driven-diffusive system with parallel dynamics
We introduce a two-state non-conserving driven-diffusive system in
one-dimension under a discrete-time updating scheme. We show that the
steady-state of the system can be obtained using a matrix product approach. On
the other hand, the steady-state of the system can be expressed in terms of a
linear superposition Bernoulli shock measures with random walk dynamics. The
dynamics of a shock position is studied in detail. The spectrum of the transfer
matrix and the relaxation times to the steady-state have also been studied in
the large-system-size limit.Comment: 10 page
Infrared and Raman spectra of LiV2O5 single crystals
The phonon dynamics of LiV2O5 single crystals is studied using infrared and
Raman spectroscopy techniques. The infrared-active phonon frequencies and
dielectric constants are obtained by oscillator fitting procedure of the
reflectivity data measured at room temperature. The Raman scattering spectra
are measured at room temperature and at T=10 K in all nonequivalent polarized
configurations. The assignment of the phonons is done by comparing the infrared
and Raman spectra of LiV2O5 and NaV2O5. The factor-group-analysis of the LiV2O5
crystal symmetry and of its constituent layers is performed to explain the
symmetry properties of the observed modes. We concluded that layer symmetry
dominates in the vibrational properties of this compound.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Microscopic structure of travelling wave solutions in a class of stochastic interacting particle systems
We obtain exact travelling wave solutions for three families of stochastic
one-dimensional nonequilibrium lattice models with open boundaries. These
solutions describe the diffusive motion and microscopic structure of (i) of
shocks in the partially asymmetric exclusion process with open boundaries, (ii)
of a lattice Fisher wave in a reaction-diffusion system, and (iii) of a domain
wall in non-equilibrium Glauber-Kawasaki dynamics with magnetization current.
For each of these systems we define a microscopic shock position and calculate
the exact hopping rates of the travelling wave in terms of the transition rates
of the microscopic model. In the steady state a reversal of the bias of the
travelling wave marks a first-order non-equilibrium phase transition, analogous
to the Zel'dovich theory of kinetics of first-order transitions. The stationary
distributions of the exclusion process with shocks can be described in
terms of -dimensional representations of matrix product states.Comment: 27 page
Risk-adapted targeted intraoperative radiotherapy versus whole-breast radiotherapy for breast cancer: 5-year results for local control and overall survival from the TARGIT-A randomised trial
BACKGROUND: The TARGIT-A trial compared risk-adapted radiotherapy using single-dose targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT) versus fractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for breast cancer. We report 5-year results for local recurrence and the first analysis of overall survival.
METHODS: TARGIT-A was a randomised, non-inferiority trial. Women aged 45 years and older with invasive ductal carcinoma were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive TARGIT or whole-breast EBRT, with blocks stratified by centre and by timing of delivery of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy: randomisation occurred either before lumpectomy (prepathology stratum, TARGIT concurrent with lumpectomy) or after lumpectomy (postpathology stratum, TARGIT given subsequently by reopening the wound). Patients in the TARGIT group received supplemental EBRT (excluding a boost) if unforeseen adverse features were detected on final pathology, thus radiotherapy was risk-adapted. The primary outcome was absolute difference in local recurrence in the conserved breast, with a prespecified non-inferiority margin of 2·5% at 5 years; prespecified analyses included outcomes as per timing of randomisation in relation to lumpectomy. Secondary outcomes included complications and mortality. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00983684.
FINDINGS: Patients were enrolled at 33 centres in 11 countries, between March 24, 2000, and June 25, 2012. 1721 patients were randomised to TARGIT and 1730 to EBRT. Supplemental EBRT after TARGIT was necessary in 15·2% [239 of 1571] of patients who received TARGIT (21·6% prepathology, 3·6% postpathology). 3451 patients had a median follow-up of 2 years and 5 months (IQR 12–52 months), 2020 of 4 years, and 1222 of 5 years. The 5-year risk for local recurrence in the conserved breast was 3·3% (95% CI 2·1–5·1) for TARGIT versus 1·3% (0·7–2·5) for EBRT (p=0·042). TARGIT concurrently with lumpectomy (prepathology, n=2298) had much the same results as EBRT: 2·1% (1·1–4·2) versus 1·1% (0·5–2·5; p=0·31). With delayed TARGIT (postpathology, n=1153) the between-group difference was larger than 2·5% (TARGIT 5·4% [3·0–9·7] vs EBRT 1·7% [0·6–4·9]; p=0·069). Overall, breast cancer mortality was much the same between groups (2·6% [1·5–4·3] for TARGIT vs 1·9% [1·1–3·2] for EBRT; p=0·56) but there were significantly fewer non-breast-cancer deaths with TARGIT (1·4% [0·8–2·5] vs 3·5% [2·3–5·2]; p=0·0086), attributable to fewer deaths from cardiovascular causes and other cancers. Overall mortality was 3·9% (2·7–5·8) for TARGIT versus 5·3% (3·9–7·3) for EBRT (p=0·099). Wound-related complications were much the same between groups but grade 3 or 4 skin complications were significantly reduced with TARGIT (four of 1720 vs 13 of 1731, p=0·029).
INTERPRETATION: TARGIT concurrent with lumpectomy within a risk-adapted approach should be considered as an option for eligible patients with breast cancer carefully selected as per the TARGIT-A trial protocol, as an alternative to postoperative EBRT.
FUNDING: University College London Hospitals (UCLH)/UCL Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, UCLH Charities, National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme, Ninewells Cancer Campaign, National Health and Medical Research Council, and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Job stress and job satisfaction of physicians, radiographers, nurses and physicists working in radiotherapy: a multicenter analysis by the DEGRO Quality of Life Work Group
Background Ongoing changes in cancer care cause an increase in the complexity of cases which is characterized by modern treatment techniques and a higher demand for patient information about the underlying disease and therapeutic options. At the same time, the restructuring of health services and reduced funding have led to the downsizing of hospital care services. These trends strongly influence the workplace environment and are a potential source of stress and burnout among professionals working in radiotherapy. Methods and patients A postal survey was sent to members of the workgroup "Quality of Life" which is part of DEGRO (German Society for Radiooncology). Thus far, 11 departments have answered the survey. 406 (76.1%) out of 534 cancer care workers (23% physicians, 35% radiographers, 31% nurses, 11% physicists) from 8 university hospitals and 3 general hospitals completed the FBAS form (Stress Questionnaire of Physicians and Nurses; 42 items, 7 scales), and a self-designed questionnaire regarding work situation and one question on global job satisfaction. Furthermore, the participants could make voluntary suggestions about how to improve their situation. Results Nurses and physicians showed the highest level of job stress (total score 2.2 and 2.1). The greatest source of job stress (physicians, nurses and radiographers) stemmed from structural conditions (e.g. underpayment, ringing of the telephone) a "stress by compassion" (e.g. "long suffering of patients", "patients will be kept alive using all available resources against the conviction of staff"). In multivariate analyses professional group (p < 0.001), working night shifts (p = 0.001), age group (p = 0.012) and free time compensation (p = 0.024) gained significance for total FBAS score. Global job satisfaction was 4.1 on a 9-point scale (from 1 – very satisfied to 9 – not satisfied). Comparing the total stress scores of the hospitals and job groups we found significant differences in nurses (p = 0.005) and physicists (p = 0.042) and a borderline significance in physicians (p = 0.052). In multivariate analyses "professional group" (p = 0.006) and "vocational experience" (p = 0.036) were associated with job satisfaction (cancer care workers with < 2 years of vocational experience having a higher global job satisfaction). The total FBAS score correlated with job satisfaction (Spearman-Rho = 0.40; p < 0.001). Conclusion Current workplace environments have a negative impact on stress levels and the satisfaction of radiotherapy staff. Identification and removal of the above-mentioned critical points requires various changes which should lead to the reduction of stress
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