357 research outputs found
Hamiltonian dynamics reveals the existence of quasi-stationary states for long-range systems in contact with a reservoir
We introduce a Hamiltonian dynamics for the description of long-range
interacting systems in contact with a thermal bath (i.e., in the canonical
ensemble). The dynamics confirms statistical mechanics equilibrium predictions
for the Hamiltonian Mean Field model and the equilibrium ensemble equivalence.
We find that long-lasting quasi-stationary states persist in presence of the
interaction with the environment. Our results indicate that quasi-stationary
states are indeed reproducible in real physical experiments.Comment: Title changed, throughout revision of the tex
Prediction of anomalous diffusion and algebraic relaxations for long-range interacting systems, using classical statistical mechanics
We explain the ubiquity and extremely slow evolution of non gaussian
out-of-equilibrium distributions for the Hamiltonian Mean-Field model, by means
of traditional kinetic theory. Deriving the Fokker-Planck equation for a test
particle, one also unambiguously explains and predicts striking slow algebraic
relaxation of the momenta autocorrelation, previously found in numerical
simulations. Finally, angular anomalous diffusion are predicted for a large
class of initial distributions. Non Extensive Statistical Mechanics is shown to
be unnecessary for the interpretation of these phenomena
The role of immune cells, glia and neurons in white and gray matter pathology in multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common causes of chronic neurological disability beginning in early to middle adult life. Multiple sclerosis is idiopathic in nature, yet increasing correlative evidence supports a strong association between one's genetic predisposition, the environment and the immune system. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis have primarily been shown to result from a disruption in the integrity of myelinated tracts within the white matter of the central nervous system. However, recent research has also highlighted the hitherto underappreciated involvement of gray matter in multiple sclerosis disease pathophysiology, which may be especially relevant when considering the accumulation of irreversible damage and progressive disability. This review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the interplay between inflammation, glial/neuronal damage and regeneration throughout the course of multiple sclerosis via the analysis of both white and gray matter lesional pathology. Further, we describe the common pathological mechanisms underlying both relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, and analyze how current (as well as future) treatments may interact and/or interfere with its pathology. Understanding the putative mechanisms that drive disease pathogenesis will be key in helping to develop effective therapeutic strategies to prevent, mitigate, and treat the diverse morbidities associated with multiple sclerosis.The authors thank Dr. Gillian Tannahill and Prof. Alasdair Coles for critically reviewing the article, and Prof. Kenneth J Smith for the illuminating discussions on MS pathophysiology. We acknowledge the contribution of past and present members of Pluchino laboratory, who have contributed to (or inspired) this manuscript.
Research in the author’s laboratory is supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS; RG-4001-A1), the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (FISM; RG 2010/R/31), the Italian Ministry of Health (GR08/7) the European Research Council (ERC) 2010-StG (RG 260511-SEM_SEM), the European Community (EC) 7th Framework Program (FP7/2007–2013; RG 280772-iONE), The Evelyn Trust (RG 69865), The Bascule Charitable Trust (RG 75149), The Great Britain Sakakawa Foundation and a core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. GM was supported by an European Neurological Society (ENS) Training fellowship. LPJ was supported by the Wellcome Trust [RRZA/057 RG79423]. JDB was supported by a NIH-OxCam fellowship.This is the final version of the article. It was first available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.02.00
Collective Charge Fluctuations in Single-Electron Processes on Nano-Networks
Using numerical modeling we study emergence of structure and
structure-related nonlinear conduction properties in the self-assembled
nanoparticle films. Particularly, we show how different nanoparticle networks
emerge within assembly processes with molecular bio-recognition binding. We
then simulate the charge transport under voltage bias via single-electron
tunnelings through the junctions between nanoparticles on such type of
networks. We show how the regular nanoparticle array and topologically
inhomogeneous nanonetworks affect the charge transport. We find long-range
correlations in the time series of charge fluctuation at individual
nanoparticles and of flow along the junctions within the network. These
correlations explain the occurrence of a large nonlinearity in the simulated
and experimentally measured current-voltage characteristics and non-Gaussian
fluctuations of the current at the electrode.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
Analysis of Self-Organized Criticality in the Olami-Feder-Christensen model and in real earthquakes
We perform a new analysis on the dissipative Olami-Feder-Christensen model on
a small world topology considering avalanche size differences. We show that
when criticality appears the Probability Density Functions (PDFs) for the
avalanche size differences at different times have fat tails with a q-Gaussian
shape. This behaviour does not depend on the time interval adopted and is found
also when considering energy differences between real earthquakes. Such a
result can be analytically understood if the sizes (released energies) of the
avalanches (earthquakes) have no correlations. Our findings support the
hypothesis that a self-organized criticality mechanism with long-range
interactions is at the origin of seismic events and indicate that it is not
possible to predict the magnitude of the next earthquake knowing those of the
previous ones.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. New version accepted for publication on PRE Rapid
Communication
Mesenchymal stem cells as promoters, enhancers, and playmakers of the translational regenerative medicine
Since their first isolation and characterization by Friedenstein et al. in 1974, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were proven essential for tissue regeneration and homeostasis. Over the years, thanks to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of MSCs, several approaches with MSC-based therapies have been proposed, in order to treat different human diseases. In this light, MSCs are currently being tested in preclinical in vivo settings as well as in early-stage clinical trials for their ability to modulate immune responses, fostering wound healing and tissue regeneration of various tissue types and organs, including the skin, bone, cartilage, brain, muscle, and tendons
Exploring the thermodynamic limit of Hamiltonian models: convergence to the Vlasov equation
We here discuss the emergence of Quasi Stationary States (QSS), a universal
feature of systems with long-range interactions. With reference to the
Hamiltonian Mean Field (HMF) model, numerical simulations are performed based
on both the original -body setting and the continuum Vlasov model which is
supposed to hold in the thermodynamic limit. A detailed comparison
unambiguously demonstrates that the Vlasov-wave system provides the correct
framework to address the study of QSS. Further, analytical calculations based
on Lynden-Bell's theory of violent relaxation are shown to result in accurate
predictions. Finally, in specific regions of parameters space, Vlasov numerical
solutions are shown to be affected by small scale fluctuations, a finding that
points to the need for novel schemes able to account for particles
correlations.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Incomplete equilibrium in long-range interacting systems
We use a Hamiltonian dynamics to discuss the statistical mechanics of
long-lasting quasi-stationary states particularly relevant for long-range
interacting systems. Despite the presence of an anomalous single-particle
velocity distribution, we find that the Central Limit Theorem implies the
Boltzmann expression in Gibbs' -space. We identify the nonequilibrium
sub-manifold of -space characterizing the anomalous behavior and show
that by restricting the Boltzmann-Gibbs approach to this sub-manifold we obtain
the statistical mechanics of the quasi-stationary states.Comment: Title changed, throughout revision of the tex
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