Dynamically Slow Processes in Supercooled Water Confined Between Hydrophobic Plates

We study the dynamics of water confined between hydrophobic flat surfaces at low temperature. At different pressures, we observe different behaviors that we understand in terms of the hydrogen bonds dynamics. At high pressure, the formation of the open structure of the hydrogen bond network is inhibited and the surfaces can be rapidly dehydrated by decreasing the temperature. At lower pressure the rapid ordering of the hydrogen bonds generates heterogeneities that are responsible for strong non-exponential behavior of the correlation function, but with no strong increase of the correlation time. At very low pressures, the gradual formation of the hydrogen bond network is responsible for the large increase of the correlation time and, eventually, the dynamical arrest of the system and of the dehydration process.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Modeling international diffusion: Inferential benefits and methodological challenges, with an application to international tax competition

Although scholars recognize that time-series-cross-section data typically correlate across both time and space, they tend to model temporal dependence directly, often by lags of dependent variables, but to address spatial interdependence solely as a nuisance to be “corrected” by FGLS or to which to be “robust” in standard-error estimation (by PCSE). We explore the inferential benefits and methodological challenges of directly modeling international diffusion, one form of spatial dependence. To this end, we first identify two substantive classes of modern comparative-and-international-political-economy (C&IPE) theoretical models—(context-conditional) open-economy comparative political-economy (CPE) models and international political-economy (IPE) models, which imply diffusion (along with predecessors, closed-economy CPE and orthogonal open-economy CPE)—and then we evaluate the relative performance of three estimators—non-spatial OLS, spatial OLS, and spatial 2SLS—for analyzing empirical models corresponding to these two modern alternative theoretical visions from spatially interdependent data. Finally, we offer a substantive application of the spatial 2SLS approach in what we call a spatial error-correction model of international tax competition. -- Obwohl Wissenschaftler wissen, dass Zeitreihenquerschnittsdaten sowohl über die Zeit als auch über den Raum korreliert sind, neigen sie dazu, die zeitliche Abhängigkeit direkt zu modellieren, z. B. durch Zeitabstände der abhängigen Variablen. Die räumliche Abhängigkeit jedoch wird als ein Ärgernis angesehen, welches durch FGLS ‚korrigiert’ wird oder ‚robust’ gemacht wird in Standard- Abweichungs-Schätzungen (durch PCSE). Wir untersuchen methodologische Herausforderungen und die Nutzen für Schlussfolgerungen aus einer direkten Modellierung internationaler Diffusion als einer Form der räumlichen Abhängigkeit. Zu diesem Zweck identifizieren wir zuerst zwei inhaltliche Hauptklassen theoretischer Modelle der modernen ‚Vergleichenden und Internationalen Politischen Ökonomie“, nämlich Modelle der (kontextbezogenen) Vergleichenden Politischen Ökonomie Offener Volkwirtschaften und Modelle der Internationalen Politischen Ökonomie. Diese bilden Diffusion ab, ebenso wie die Vorläufermodelle der Vergleichenden Politischen Ökonomie geschlossener Volkswirtschaften und gegensätzlich offener Volkswirtschaften. Zweitens bewerten wir die relative Performanz von drei Schätzern – nicht-räumliche OLS, räumliche OLS und räumliche 2SLS. Schließlich wenden wir den Ansatz des räumlichen 2SLS in einem von uns so genannten ‚Spatial Error Correction’-Modell des internationalen Steuerwettbewerbs an.International Tax Competition,Panel Models,Policy Diffusion,Political Economy,Spatial Interdependence

Water-like hierarchy of anomalies in a continuous spherical shouldered potential

We investigate by molecular dynamics simulations a continuous isotropic core-softened potential with attractive well in three dimensions, introduced by Franzese [cond-mat/0703681, to appear on Journal of Molecular Liquids], that displays liquid-liquid coexistence with a critical point and water-like density anomaly. Here we find diffusion and structural anomalies. These anomalies occur with the same hierarchy that characterizes water. Yet our analysis shows differences with respect to the water case. Therefore, many of the anomalous features of water could be present in isotropic systems with soft-core attractive potentials, such as colloids or liquid metals, consistent with recent experiments showing polyamorphism in metallic glasses.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figures. to appear in J. Chem. Phy

Cross-Reactivity in Skin Prick Test Results of Members within Pooideae Subfamily

Objective: Molecular similarities of grass pollen antigens have led to the view that cross-reactivity exists within members of the Pooideae subfamily of grasses. This has resulted in testing for only the most antigenically representative member of Pooideae, Timothy grass (Phleum pratense), despite little literature to support the claim that Phleum is the most representative member or that in vitro cross-reactivity correlates with in vivo cross-reactivity. The aim of the study was to determine if patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms and positive skin prick test results to meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) also have positive results to Timothy grass. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care center in middle Missouri. Methods: A retrospective chart review identified patients ≥12 years old with a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis who underwent skin prick testing between March 2016 and July 2018, by using a search with CPT code 95004 (Current Procedural Terminology). Positive skin prick test results were based on wheal produced ≥3 mm than the negative control. Results: After review of 2182 charts, 1587 patients met criteria to test for Phleum and Festuca. In total, 1239 patients had a positive result for Phleum or Festuca. Of these, 479 (38.6%) tested positive for Festuca alone, while 342 (27.6%) and 418 (33.7%) tested positive for Phleum alone and Phleum+Festuca, respectively. Conclusion: Clinical cross-reactivity among Pooideae members may not be as complete as traditionally thought. P pratense may not be the most antigenically representative subfamily member, and other grasses may need to be included in skin prick testing

Liquid Polymorphism and Double Criticality in a Lattice Gas Model

We analyze the possible phase diagrams of a simple model for an associating liquid proposed previously. Our two-dimensional lattice model combines oreintati onal ice-like interactions and \"{}Van der Waals\"{} interactions which may be repulsive, and in this case represent a penalty for distortion of hydrogen bonds in the presence of extra molecules. These interactions can be interpreted in terms of two competing distances, but not necessarily soft-core. We present mean -field calculations and an exhaustive simulation study for different parameters which represent relative strength of the bonding interaction to the energy penalty for its distortion. As this ratio decreases, a smooth disappearance of the doubl e criticality occurs. Possible connections to liquid-liquid transitions of molecul ar liquids are suggested

Network Selection and Path-Dependent Coevolution

Scholars have increasingly become aware that actors’ self-selection into networks (e.g., homophily) is an important determinant of network-tie formation. Such self-selection adds methodological complexity to the empirical evaluation of the effects of network ties on individual behavior. Moreover, the endogenous network formation implies that network-tie structures and actors’ behavior “coevolve” over time. Therefore, in longitudinal network studies, it is very crucial for scholars to understand the nature of coevolutionary dynamics in the data, in order to explain the network-formation and the behavioral-decision-making mechanisms accurately. In this project, we claim that one of the most important aspects of the coevolutionary dynamic is its connection with history dependence. By history dependence, we primarily focus on what Page (2006) defines as “phat” and path dependence. We first establish theoretically that systems with coevolution can easily generate multiple equilibria (i.e., the steady states of the system), using a simple Markov type-interaction model that allows for endogenous tie formation. The potential of multiple equilibria posits an important and very difficult empirical question--how sensitive are equilibrium distributions (over types) to the past states? More simply put, to what extent does history matter? What is at stake in this question is not trivial. If history matters for an equilibrium attained in the society, then we can also analyze the potential policy interventions that could change the path of the social process such that it would lead to a socially optimal equilibrium. As for the empirical strategy, we start with developing a discrete-time Markov model, combining a spatial-logit and p-star model to evaluate the empirical significance of coevolutionary dynamics in the data. The strength of this empirical approach is in its direct connection with the theoretical Markov interaction model, and can provide a foundation for developing statistical tests for history dependence generated by coevolution

Diffusion Anomaly in a three dimensional lattice gas

We investigate the relation between thermodynamic and dynamic properties of an associating lattice gas (ALG) model. The ALG combines a three dimensional lattice gas with particles interacting through a soft core potential and orientational degrees of freedom. From the competition between the directional attractive forces and the soft core potential results two liquid phases, double criticality and density anomaly. We study the mobility of the molecules in this model by calculating the diffusion constant at a constant temperature, $D$. We show that $D$ has a maximum at a density $\rho_{max}$ and a minimum at a density $\rho_{min}<\rho_{max}$. Between these densities the diffusivity differs from the one expected for normal liquids. We also show that in the pressure-temperature phase-diagram the line of extrema in diffusivity is close to the liquid-liquid critical point and it is partially inside the temperature of maximum density (TMD) line

Parity-dependent Kondo effect in ultrasmall metallic grains

We study the Kondo effect in an ultrasmall metallic grain, i.e. small enough to have a discrete energy-level spectrum, by calculating the susceptibility chi of the magnetic impurity. Our quantum Monte Carlo simulations, and analytic solution of a simple model, show that the behavior changes dramatically depending on whether the number of electrons in the grain is even or odd. We suggest that the measurements of chi provide an effective experimental way of probing the grain's number parity.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication on Europhysics Letter

Density anomaly in a competing interactions lattice gas model

We study a very simple model of a short-range attraction and an outer shell repulsion as a test system for demixing phase transition and density anomaly. The phase-diagram is obtained by applying mean field analysis and Monte Carlo simulations to a two dimensional lattice gas with nearest-neighbors attraction and next-nearest-neighbors repulsion (the outer shell). Two liquid phases and density anomaly are found. The coexistence line between these two liquid phases meets a critical line between the fluid and the low density liquid at a tricritical point. The line of maximum density emerges in the vicinity of the tricritical point, close to the demixing transition

Nanoscale Dynamics of Phase Flipping in Water near its Hypothesized Liquid-Liquid Critical Point

Achieving a coherent understanding of the many thermodynamic and dynamic anomalies of water is among the most important unsolved puzzles in physics, chemistry, and biology. One hypothesized explanation imagines the existence of a line of first order phase transitions separating two liquid phases and terminating at a novel "liquid-liquid" critical point in a region of low temperature ($T \approx 250 \rm{K}$) and high pressure ($P \approx 200 \rm{MPa}$). Here we analyze a common model of water, the ST2 model, and find that the entire system flips between liquid states of high and low density. Further, we find that in the critical region crystallites melt on a time scale of nanoseconds. We perform a finite-size scaling analysis that accurately locates both the liquid-liquid coexistence line and its associated liquid-liquid critical point.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure