Dynamic walking features and improved walking performance in multiple sclerosis patients treated with fampridine (4-aminopyridine)

Background: Impaired walking capacity is a frequent confinement in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Patients are affected by limitations in coordination, walking speed and the distance they may cover. Also abnormal dynamic walking patterns have been reported, involving continuous deceleration over time. Fampridine (4-aminopyridine), a potassium channel blocker, may improve walking in MS. The objective of the current study was to comprehensively examine dynamic walking characteristics and improved walking capacity in MS patients treated with fampridine. Methods: A sample of N = 35 MS patients (EDSS median: 4) underwent an electronic walking examination prior to (Time 1), and during treatment with fampridine (Time 2). Patients walked back and forth a distance of 25 ft for a maximum period of 6 min (6-minute 25-foot-walk). Besides the total distance covered, average speed on the 25-foot distance and on turns was determined separately for each test minute, at Time 1 and Time 2. Results: Prior to fampridine administration, 27/35 patients (77 %) were able to complete the entire 6 min of walking, while following the administration, 34/35 patients (97 %) managed to walk for 6 min. In this context, walking distance considerably increased and treatment was associated with faster walking and turning across all six test minutes (range of effect sizes: partial eta squared = .34-.72). Importantly, previously reported deceleration across test minutes was consistently observable at Time 1 and Time 2. Discussion: Fampridine administration is associated with improved walking speed and endurance. Regardless of a treatment effect of fampridine, the previously identified, abnormal dynamic walking feature, i.e. the linear decline in walking speed, may represent a robust feature. Conclusions: The dynamic walking feature might hence be considered as a candidate for a new outcome measure in clinical studies involving interventions other than symptomatic treatment, such as immune-modulating medication. Trial registration: DRKS00009228 (German Clinical Trials Register). Date obtained: 25.08.2015

Cluster approximation solution of a two species annihilation model

A two species reaction-diffusion model, in which particles diffuse on a one-dimensional lattice and annihilate when meeting each other, has been investigated. Mean field equations for general choice of reaction rates have been solved exactly. Cluster mean field approximation of the model is also studied. It is shown that, the general form of large time behavior of one- and two-point functions of the number operators, are determined by the diffusion rates of the two type of species, and is independent of annihilation rates.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Autonomous models solvable through the full interval method

The most general exclusion single species one dimensional reaction-diffusion models with nearest-neighbor interactions which are both autonomous and can be solved exactly through full interval method are introduced. Using a generating function method, the general solution for, $F_n$, the probability that $n$ consecutive sites be full, is obtained. Some other correlation functions of number operators at nonadjacent sites are also explicitly obtained. It is shown that for a special choice of initial conditions some correlation functions of number operators called full intervals remain uncorrelated

Exactly solvable models through the empty interval method

The most general one dimensional reaction-diffusion model with nearest-neighbor interactions, which is exactly-solvable through the empty interval method, has been introduced. Assuming translationally-invariant initial conditions, the probability that $n$ consecutive sites are empty ($E_n$), has been exactly obtained. In the thermodynamic limit, the large-time behavior of the system has also been investigated. Releasing the translational invariance of the initial conditions, the evolution equation for the probability that $n$ consecutive sites, starting from the site $k$, are empty ($E_{k,n}$) is obtained. In the thermodynamic limit, the large time behavior of the system is also considered. Finally, the continuum limit of the model is considered, and the empty-interval probability function is obtained.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX2

Kovacs effect and fluctuation-dissipation relations in 1D kinetically constrained models

Strong and fragile glass relaxation behaviours are obtained simply changing the constraints of the kinetically constrained Ising chain from symmetric to purely asymmetric. We study the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of those two models focusing on the Kovacs effect and the fluctuation--dissipation relations. The Kovacs or memory effect, commonly observed in structural glasses, is present for both constraints but enhanced with the asymmetric ones. Most surprisingly, the related fluctuation-dissipation (FD) relations satisfy the FD theorem in both cases. This result strongly differs from the simple quenching procedure where the asymmetric model presents strong deviations from the FD theorem.Comment: 13 pages and 7 figures. To be published in J. Phys.

Unified Solution of the Expected Maximum of a Random Walk and the Discrete Flux to a Spherical Trap

Two random-walk related problems which have been studied independently in the past, the expected maximum of a random walker in one dimension and the flux to a spherical trap of particles undergoing discrete jumps in three dimensions, are shown to be closely related to each other and are studied using a unified approach as a solution to a Wiener-Hopf problem. For the flux problem, this work shows that a constant c = 0.29795219 which appeared in the context of the boundary extrapolation length, and was previously found only numerically, can be derived explicitly. The same constant enters in higher-order corrections to the expected-maximum asymptotics. As a byproduct, we also prove a new universal result in the context of the flux problem which is an analogue of the Sparre Andersen theorem proved in the context of the random walker's maximum.Comment: Two figs. Accepted for publication, Journal of Statistical Physic

Coherent State path-integral simulation of many particle systems

The coherent state path integral formulation of certain many particle systems allows for their non perturbative study by the techniques of lattice field theory. In this paper we exploit this strategy by simulating the explicit example of the diffusion controlled reaction $A+A\to 0$. Our results are consistent with some renormalization group-based predictions thus clarifying the continuum limit of the action of the problem.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures. Minor corrections. Acknowledgement and reference correcte

Exactly solvable reaction diffusion models on a Cayley tree

The most general reaction-diffusion model on a Cayley tree with nearest-neighbor interactions is introduced, which can be solved exactly through the empty-interval method. The stationary solutions of such models, as well as their dynamics, are discussed. Concerning the dynamics, the spectrum of the evolution Hamiltonian is found and shown to be discrete, hence there is a finite relaxation time in the evolution of the system towards its stationary state.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Models solvable through the empty-interval method

The most general one dimensional reaction-diffusion model with nearest-neighbor interactions solvable through the empty interval method, and without any restriction on the particle-generation from two adjacent empty sites is studied. It is shown that turning on the reactions which generate particles from two adjacent empty sites, results in a gap in the spectrum of the evolution operator (or equivalently a finite relaxation time).Comment: 8 page

Reaction Kinetics of Clustered Impurities

We study the density of clustered immobile reactants in the diffusion-controlled single species annihilation. An initial state in which these impurities occupy a subspace of codimension d' leads to a substantial enhancement of their survival probability. The Smoluchowski rate theory suggests that the codimensionality plays a crucial role in determining the long time behavior. The system undergoes a transition at d'=2. For d'<2, a finite fraction of the impurities survive: ni(t) ~ ni(infinity)+const x log(t)/t^{1/2} for d=2 and ni(t) ~ ni(infinity)+const/t^{1/2} for d>2. Above this critical codimension, d'>=2, the subspace decays indefinitely. At the critical codimension, inverse logarithmic decay occurs, ni(t) ~ log(t)^{-a(d,d')}. Above the critical codimension, the decay is algebraic ni(t) ~ t^{-a(d,d')}. In general, the exponents governing the long time behavior depend on the dimension as well as the codimension.Comment: 10 pages, late