Uniqueness of the thermodynamic limit for driven disordered elastic interfaces

We study the finite size fluctuations at the depinning transition for a one-dimensional elastic interface of size $L$ displacing in a disordered medium of transverse size $M=k L^\zeta$ with periodic boundary conditions, where $\zeta$ is the depinning roughness exponent and $k$ is a finite aspect ratio parameter. We focus on the crossover from the infinitely narrow ($k\to 0$) to the infinitely wide ($k\to \infty$) medium. We find that at the thermodynamic limit both the value of the critical force and the precise behavior of the velocity-force characteristics are {\it unique} and $k$-independent. We also show that the finite size fluctuations of the critical force (bias and variance) as well as the global width of the interface cross over from a power-law to a logarithm as a function of $k$. Our results are relevant for understanding anisotropic size-effects in force-driven and velocity-driven interfaces.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

H2O and Cl in deep crustal melts: the message of melt inclusions in metamorphic rocks

The use of NanoSIMS on primary melt inclusions in partially melted rocks is a powerful approach to clarify the budget of volatiles at depth during crust formation and its reworking. Anatectic melt inclusions are indeed gateways to quantify H2O, halogens and other species (e.g. CO2, N) partitioned into the deep partial melts generated during metamorphism of the continental crust. Here we present new datasets of NanoSIMS measurements of H2O and Cl in preserved melt inclusions from metamorphic rocks with different protoliths – magmatic or sedimentary – which underwent partial melting at different pressure–temperature–fluid conditions. These new datasets are then compared with similar data on natural anatectic melts available in the literature to date. Our study provides novel, precise constraints for the H2O content in natural melts formed at high pressure, a field previously investigated mostly via experiments. We also show that H2O heterogeneities in partial melts at the microscale are common, regardless of the rock protolith. Correlations between H2O contents and P–T values can be identified merging new and old data on anatectic inclusions via NanoSIMS. Overall, the data acquired so far indicate that silicate melt generation in nature always requires H2O, even for the hottest melts found so far (&gt;1000 ∘C). Moreover, in agreement with previous work, preserved glassy inclusions always appear to be poorer in H2O than crystallized ones, regardless of their chemical system and/or P–T conditions of formation. Finally, this study reports the very first NanoSIMS data on Cl (often in amounts &gt;1000 ppm) acquired in situ on natural anatectic melts, showing how anatectic melt inclusions – additionally to magmatic ones – may become a powerful tool to clarify the role of halogens in many geological processes, not only in crustal evolution but also in ore deposit formation.</p

The economics of Theocracy

This paper models theocracy as a regime where the clergy in power retains knowledge of the cost of political production but which is potentially incompetent or corrupt. This is contrasted with a secular regime where government is contracted out to a secular ruler, and hence the church loses the possibility to observe costs and creates for itself a hidden-information agency problem. The church is free to choose between regimes – a make-or-buy choice – and we look for the range of environmental parameters that are most conducive to the superiority of theocracy and therefore to its occurrence and persistence, despite its disabilities. Numerical solution of the model indicates that the optimal environment for a theocracy is likely to be one in which the “bad” (high-cost) state is disastrously bad but the probability of its occurrence is not very high. A broad review of the historical evidence yields some suggestive support to the predictions of the model. Finally, the model is shown to be applicable to the make-or-buy-government choices of other groups, such as organized labor and the military

First order Mott transition at zero temperature in two dimensions: Variational plaquette study

The nature of the metal-insulator Mott transition at zero temperature has been discussed for a number of years. Whether it occurs through a quantum critical point or through a first order transition is expected to profoundly influence the nature of the finite temperature phase diagram. In this paper, we study the zero temperature Mott transition in the two-dimensional Hubbard model on the square lattice with the variational cluster approximation. This takes into account the influence of antiferromagnetic short-range correlations. By contrast to single-site dynamical mean-field theory, the transition turns out to be first order even at zero temperature.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, version 2 with additional results for 8 bath site

L19-IL2 immunocytokine in combination with the anti-syndecan-1 46F2SIP antibody format: A new targeted treatment approach in an ovarian carcinoma model

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fifth most common cancer affecting the female population. At present, different targeted treatment approaches may improve currently employed therapies leading either to the delay of tumor recurrence or to disease stabilization. In this study we show that syndecan-1 (SDC1) and tumor angiogenic-associated B-fibronectin isoform (B-FN) are involved in EOC progression and we describe the prominent role of SDC1 in the vasculogenic mimicry (VM) process. We also investigate a possible employment of L19-IL2, an immunocytokine specific for B-FN, and anti-SDC1 46F2SIP (small immuno protein) antibody in combination therapy in a human ovarian carcinoma model. A tumor growth reduction of 78% was obtained in the 46F2SIP/L19-IL2-treated group compared to the control group. We observed that combined treatment was effective in modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, loss of stemness properties of tumor cells, and in alleviating hypoxia. These effects correlated with reduction of VM structures in tumors from treated mice. Interestingly, the improved pericyte coverage in vascular structures suggested that combined therapy could be efficacious in induction of vessel normalization. These data could pave the way for a possible use of L19-IL2 combined with 46F2SIP antibody as a novel therapeutic strategy in EOC