9,407 research outputs found
Fluctuations and response of nonequilibrium states
A generalized fluctuation-response relation is found for thermal systems
driven out of equilibrium. Its derivation is independent of many details of the
dynamics, which is only required to be first-order. The result gives a
correction to the equilibrium fluctuation-dissipation theorem, in terms of the
correlation between observable and excess in dynamical activity caused by the
perturbation. Previous approaches to this problem are recovered and extended in
a unifying scheme
Heat bounds and the blowtorch theorem
We study driven systems with possible population inversion and we give
optimal bounds on the relative occupations in terms of released heat. A precise
meaning to Landauer's blowtorch theorem (1975) is obtained stating that
nonequilibrium occupations are essentially modified by kinetic effects. Towards
very low temperatures we apply a Freidlin-Wentzel type analysis for continuous
time Markov jump processes. It leads to a definition of dominant states in
terms of both heat and escape rates.Comment: 11 pages; v2: minor changes, 1 reference adde
A nonequilibrium extension of the Clausius heat theorem
We generalize the Clausius (in)equality to overdamped mesoscopic and
macroscopic diffusions in the presence of nonconservative forces. In contrast
to previous frameworks, we use a decomposition scheme for heat which is based
on an exact variant of the Minimum Entropy Production Principle as obtained
from dynamical fluctuation theory. This new extended heat theorem holds true
for arbitrary driving and does not require assumptions of local or close to
equilibrium. The argument remains exactly intact for diffusing fields where the
fields correspond to macroscopic profiles of interacting particles under
hydrodynamic fluctuations. We also show that the change of Shannon entropy is
related to the antisymmetric part under a modified time-reversal of the
time-integrated entropy flux.Comment: 23 pages; v2: manuscript significantly extende
Use of inadequate data and methodological errors lead to a dramatic overestimation of the water footprint of Jatropha curcas
In their recent article, Gerbens-Leenes et al. (1) calculated the water footprint (WF, the amount of water required to produce 1 GJ of energy) of several bioenergy crops. One of the most remarkable findings of this study was the very high water footprint of this species, which has serious management consequences. 

However, these results are in apparent contrast with recent findings on this species. We present evidence that several errors were made by the authors when calculating the water footprint of jatropha, which has lead to a dramatic overestimation. These errors include weaknesses concerning the data used for the calculation of the water footprint, as well as flaws in the calculation method, as we demonstrate in the letter. Based on peer-reviewed data, we furthermore provide a more correct, still rough, first estimate for the water footprint of this species, which would place it amongst the more water efficient bioenergy crops. 


A quantum version of free energy - irreversible work relations
We give a quantum version of the Jarzynski relation between the distribution
of work done over a certain time-interval on a system and the difference of
equilibrium free energies. The main new ingredient is the identification of
work depending on the quantum history of the system and the proper definition
of various quantum ensembles over which the averages should be made. We also
discuss a number of different regimes that have been considered by other
authors and which are unified in the present set-up. In all cases, and quantum
or classical, it is a general relation between heat and time-reversal that
makes the Jarzynski relation so universally valid
How to achieve sustainable water ecosystems management connecting research, people and policy makers in Europe (AWARE). Deliverable D 1.4: Institutional and policy framework and identification of key policy makers at EU and national levels
Observing classical nucleation theory at work by monitoring phase transitions with molecular precision.
It is widely accepted that many phase transitions do not follow nucleation pathways as envisaged by the classical nucleation theory. Many substances can traverse intermediate states before arriving at the stable phase. The apparent ubiquity of multi-step nucleation has made the inverse question relevant: does multistep nucleation always dominate single-step pathways? Here we provide an explicit example of the classical nucleation mechanism for a system known to exhibit the characteristics of multi-step nucleation. Molecular resolution atomic force microscopy imaging of the two-dimensional nucleation of the protein glucose isomerase demonstrates that the interior of subcritical clusters is in the same state as the crystalline bulk phase. Our data show that despite having all the characteristics typically associated with rich phase behaviour, glucose isomerase 2D crystals are formed classically. These observations illustrate the resurfacing importance of the classical nucleation theory by re-validating some of the key assumptions that have been recently questioned
Depression and sickness behavior are Janus-faced responses to shared inflammatory pathways
It is of considerable translational importance whether depression is a form or a consequence of sickness behavior. Sickness behavior is a behavioral complex induced by infections and immune trauma and mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is an adaptive response that enhances recovery by conserving energy to combat acute inflammation. There are considerable phenomenological similarities between sickness behavior and depression, for example, behavioral inhibition, anorexia and weight loss, and melancholic (anhedonia), physio-somatic (fatigue, hyperalgesia, malaise), anxiety and neurocognitive symptoms. In clinical depression, however, a transition occurs to sensitization of immuno-inflammatory pathways, progressive damage by oxidative and nitrosative stress to lipids, proteins, and DNA, and autoimmune responses directed against self-epitopes. The latter mechanisms are the substrate of a neuroprogressive process, whereby multiple depressive episodes cause neural tissue damage and consequent functional and cognitive sequelae. Thus, shared immuno-inflammatory pathways underpin the physiology of sickness behavior and the pathophysiology of clinical depression explaining their partially overlapping phenomenology. Inflammation may provoke a Janus-faced response with a good, acute side, generating protective inflammation through sickness behavior and a bad, chronic side, for example, clinical depression, a lifelong disorder with positive feedback loops between (neuro)inflammation and (neuro)degenerative processes following less well defined triggers
- …