Attractive target wave patterns in complex networks consisting of excitable nodes

This review describes the investigations of oscillatory complex networks consisting of excitable nodes, focusing on the target wave patterns or say the target wave attractors. A method of dominant phase advanced driving （DPAD） is introduced to reveal the dynamic structures in the networks supporting osciUations, such as the oscillation sources and the main excitation propagation paths from the sources to the whole networks. The target center nodes and their drivers are regarded as the key nodes which can completely determine the corresponding target wave patterns. Therefore, the center （say node A） and its driver （say node B） of a target wave can be used as a label, （A, B）, of the given target pattern. The label can give a clue to conveniently retrieve, suppress, and control the target waves. Statistical investigations, both theoretically from the label analysis and numerically from direct simulations of network dynamics, show that there exist huge numbers of target wave attractors in excitable complex networks if the system size is large, and all these attractors can be labeled and easily controlled based on the information given by the labels. The possible applications of the physical ideas and the mathematical methods about multiplicity and labelability of attractors to memory problems of neural networks are briefly discussed.

Longitudinal instability caused by long driftsin the C-ADS injector-Ⅰ

The period length is usually much larger than the cavity effective length in a low energy superconducting linac.The long drifts between cavities will not only decrease the acceptance of the linac, but also lead to possible instability. The linac will be more sensitive to mismatch and other perturbations. From the longitudinal motion equation, the function which describes the parametric resonance is deduced and the relation between the instability region and the cavity filling factor is discussed. It indicates that if the zero current phase advance per period is kept below 90°, instability driven by parametric resonance will never occur. The space charge effect will enhance the instability, so that a stricter limitation on the phase advance per cell is required. From the numerical simulation results for two different schemes of Injector-Ⅰ of the C-ADS driver linac, one can find that even with just three cells in the unstable region, significant emittance growth can be observed. Further investigations show that it is apt to produce halo particles under resonance, and the machine becomes more sensitive to errors and mismatches. Therefore, it is important to keep all cells in the stable region throughout the linac of very high beam power to minimize beam losses.

Elimination Rate of Serum Lactate is Correlated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progression

Background： Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis （ALS）. We aimed to demonstrate mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS using a lactate stress test and to examine the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction with motor deterioration. Methods： We enrolled 116 patients and observed clinical variables, including the survival state. Results： Patients with a rapid slope of revised ALS functional rating scales （ALSFRS-r） （〉20 U/year） exhibited the slowest elimination rate （median -4.67 × 10^-3 mmol·L ^-1min ^-1, coefficient of variation, 590.15%）, the shortest duration （0.63 ± 0.28 years） and the worst ALSFRS-r （32.59±4.93）. Patients with a moderate slope ofALSFRS-r （1~20 U/year） showed a moderate elimination rate （median -11.33 × 10^-3 mmol·L ^-1min ^-1, coefficient of variation, 309.89%）, duration （1.16± 0.45 years）, and ALSFRS-r （34.83 ± 6.11）. The slower progressing （〈10 U/year group） patients exhibited a rapid elimination rate （median： - 12.00 × 10^-3 mmol·L ^-1min ^-1, coefficient of variation： 143.08%）, longer duration （median： 3 years, coefficient of variation： 193.33%）, and adequate ALSFRS-r values （39.58 ± 9.44）. Advanced-phase ALS patients also showed slower elimination rate （ER, quartiles - 17.33, -5.67, 4.00） and worse ALSFRS-r （34.88 ± 9.27）, while early-phase patients showed a more rapid ER （quartiles -25.17, -11.33, -3.50） and better ALSFRS-r （39.28 ± 7.59）. These differences were statistically significant. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed strong direct associations among ER, ALSFRS-r slope （standard beta = 0.33, P = 0.007）, and forced vital capacity （predict %） （standard beta = -0.458, P = 0.006, adjusted for ALSFRS-r, course and onset region）. However, the data obtained from 3 years of follow-up showed no statistically significant difference in the survival rates between the most rapid and slowest ER groups. Conclusion： There is a potential linear relationship between ER and motor deterioration in ALS. Slower ER might be associated with faster disease progression.