Environment-Governed Dynamics in Driven Quantum Systems

We show that the dynamics of a driven quantum system weakly coupled to the environment can exhibit two distinct regimes. While the relaxation basis is usually determined by the system+drive Hamiltonian (system-governed dynamics), we find that under certain conditions it is determined by specific features of the environment, such as, the form of the coupling operator (environment-governed dynamics). We provide an effective coupling parameter describing the transition between the two regimes and discuss how to observe the transition in a superconducting charge pump.Peer reviewe

Electron tunneling into a quantum wire in the Fabry-Perot regime

We study a gated quantum wire contacted to source and drain electrodes in the Fabry-Perot regime. The wire is also coupled to a third terminal (tip), and we allow for an asymmetry of the tip tunneling amplitudes of right and left moving electrons. We analyze configurations where the tip acts as an electron injector or as a voltage-probe, and show that the transport properties of this three-terminal set-up exhibit very rich physical behavior. For a non-interacting wire we find that a tip in the voltage-probe configuration affects the source-drain transport in different ways, namely by suppressing the conductance, by modulating the Fabry-Perot oscillations, and by reducing their visibility. The combined effect of electron electron interaction and finite length of the wire, accounted for by the inhomogeneous Luttinger liquid model, leads to significantly modified predictions as compared to models based on infinite wires. We show that when the tip injects electrons asymmetrically the charge fractionalization induced by interaction cannot be inferred from the asymmetry of the currents flowing in source and drain. Nevertheless interaction effects are visible as oscillations in the non-linear tip-source and tip-drain conductances. Important differences with respect to a two-terminal set-up emerge, suggesting new strategies for the experimental investigation of Luttinger liquid behavior.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figure

Influence of a high‐impact multidimensional rehabilitation program on the gut microbiota of patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative inflammatory condition mediated by autoreactive immune processes. Due to its potential to influence host immunity and gut‐brain communication, the gut microbiota has been suggested to be involved in the onset and progression of MS. To date, there is no definitive cure for MS, and rehabilitation programs are of the utmost importance, especially in the later stages. However, only a few people generally participate due to poor support, knowledge, and motivation, and no information is available on gut microbiota changes. Herein we evaluated the potential of a brief high‐impact multidimensional rehabilitation program (B‐HIPE) in a leisure environment to affect the gut microbiota, mitigate MS symptoms and improve quality of life. B‐HIPE resulted in modulation of the MS‐typical dysbiosis, with reduced levels of pathobionts and the replenishment of beneficial short‐chain fatty acid producers. This partial recovery of a eubiotic profile could help counteract the inflammatory tone typically observed in MS, as supported by reduced circulating lipopolysaccharide levels and decreased populations of pro‐inflammatory lymphocytes. Improved physical performance and fatigue relief were also found. Our findings pave the way for integrating clinical practice with holistic approaches to mitigate MS symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life

Bridging the gap between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and Ménière disease

M\ue9ni\ue8re disease (MD) is a chronic illness of the inner ear that affects a substantial number of patients every year worldwide. Because of a dearth of well-controlled studies, the medical and surgical management of MD remains quite empirical. The main reason is that it is very difficult to investigate patients affected with \u201cCertain MD\u201d due to the post-mortem criterion necessary for this diagnostic grade. The aim of this paper is an attempt to approach MD into the context of the more recent findings about the global brain waste clearance system, to which inner ear is anatomically and functionally connected, in order to build a reasonable model of MD pathogenesis. it seems nowadays reasonable to state that CCSVI may be the anatomical background to develop endolymphatic hydrops in MD, the worldwide accepted pathogenetic mechanism of the disease. The mechanism leading from CCSVI to MD is still debated. Since MD has been correlated mostly to a wide and different diseases and treatments, CCSVI may be considered more than a cause of MD per se, rather the anatomical predisposition to develop the disease. CCSVI may lead to endolymphatic hydrops through a pure \u201chydraulic\u201d mechanism but in the model proposed in this paper CCSVI interplays with the Glymphatic (GS) and Brain Lymphatic System (LS) and MD development is due to a failure of the congenital venous abnormalities: MD develops when vascular and/or glymphatic and/or lymphatic compensation fails