127 research outputs found
Phenomenological model for a novel melt-freeze phase of sliding bilayers
Simulations show that sliding bilayers of colloidal particles can exhibit a
new phase, the ``melt-freeze'' phase, where the layers stochastically alternate
between solidlike and liquidlike states. We introduce a mean field
phenomenological model with two order parameters to understand the interplay of
two adjacent layers while the system is in this remarkable phase. Predictions
from our numerical simulations of a system in the melt-freeze phase include the
tendency of two adjacent layers to be in opposite states (solid and liquid) and
the difference between the fluctuation of the order parameter in one layer
while the other layer is in the same phase compared to the fluctuation while
the other layer is in the opposite phase. We expect this behavior to be seen in
future simulations and experiments.Comment: 6 Pages, 6 figure
Mechanism for nonequilibrium symmetry breaking and pattern formation in magnetic films
Magnetic thin films exhibit a strong variation in properties depending on
their degree of disorder. Recent coherent x-ray speckle experiments on magnetic
films have measured the loss of correlation between configurations at opposite
fields and at the same field, upon repeated field cycling. We perform finite
temperature numerical simulations on these systems that provide a comprehensive
explanation for the experimental results. The simulations demonstrate, in
accordance with experiments, that the memory of configurations increases with
film disorder. We find that non-trivial microscopic differences exist between
the zero field spin configuration obtained by starting from a large positive
field and the zero field configuration starting at a large negative field. This
seemingly paradoxical beahvior is due to the nature of the vector spin dynamics
and is also seen in the experiments. For low disorder, there is an instability
which causes the spontaneous growth of line-like domains at a critical field,
also in accord with experiments. It is this unstable growth, which is highly
sensitive to thermal noise, that is responsible for the small correlation
between patterns under repeated cycling. The domain patterns, hysteresis loops,
and memory properties of our simulated systems match remarkably well with the
real experimental systems.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures Added comparison of results with
cond-mat/0412461 and some more discussio
Non-equilibrium work fluctuations for oscillators in non-Markovian baths
We study work fluctuation theorems for oscillators in non-Markovian heat
baths. By calculating the work distribution function for a harmonic oscillator
with motion described by the generalized Langevin equation, the Jarzynski
equality (JE), transient fluctuation theorem (TFT), and Crooks' theorem (CT)
are shown to be exact. In addition to this derivation, numerical simulations of
anharmonic oscillators indicate that the validity of these nonequilibrium
theorems do not depend on the memory of the bath. We find that the JE and the
CT are valid under many oscillator potentials and driving forces whereas the
TFT fails when the driving force is asymmetric in time and the potential is
asymmetric in position.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Local Temperature and Universal Heat Conduction in FPU chains
It is shown numerically that for Fermi Pasta Ulam (FPU) chains with
alternating masses and heat baths at slightly different temperatures at the
ends, the local temperature (LT) on small scales behaves paradoxically in
steady state. This expands the long established problem of equilibration of FPU
chains. A well-behaved LT appears to be achieved for equal mass chains; the
thermal conductivity is shown to diverge with chain length N as N^(1/3),
relevant for the much debated question of the universality of one dimensional
heat conduction. The reason why earlier simulations have obtained
systematically higher exponents is explained.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, revised published versio
Universality of One-Dimensional Heat Conductivity
We show analytically that the heat conductivity of oscillator chains diverges
with system size N as N^{1/3}, which is the same as for one-dimensional fluids.
For long cylinders, we use the hydrodynamic equations for a crystal in one
dimension. This is appropriate for stiff systems such as nanotubes, where the
eventual crossover to a fluid only sets in at unrealistically large N. Despite
the extra equation compared to a fluid, the scaling of the heat conductivity is
unchanged. For strictly one-dimensional chains, we show that the dynamic
equations are those of a fluid at all length scales even if the static order
extends to very large N. The discrepancy between our results and numerical
simulations on Fermi-Pasta-Ulam chains is discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Hysteresis multicycles in nanomagnet arrays
We predict two new physical effects in arrays of single-domain nanomagnets by
performing simulations using a realistic model Hamiltonian and physical
parameters. First, we find hysteretic multicycles for such nanomagnets. The
simulation uses continuous spin dynamics through the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert
(LLG) equation. In some regions of parameter space, the probability of finding
a multicycle is as high as ~0.6. We find that systems with larger and more
anisotropic nanomagnets tend to display more multicycles. This result
demonstrates the importance of disorder and frustration for multicycle
behavior. We also show that there is a fundamental difference between the more
realistic vector LLG equation and scalar models of hysteresis, such as Ising
models. In the latter case, spin and external field inversion symmetry is
obeyed but in the former it is destroyed by the dynamics, with important
experimental implications.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Maize in Vietnam: Production Systems, Constraints, and Research Priorities
Crop Production/Industries,
Repeated Influenza Vaccination Boosts and Maintains H1N1pdm09 Neuraminidase Antibody Titers
Antibodies to influenza surface protein neuraminidase (NA) have been found to reduce disease severity and may be an independent correlate of protection. Despite this, current influenza vaccines have no regulatory requirements for the quality or quantity of the NA antigen and are not optimized for induction of NA-specific antibodies. Here we investigate the induction and durability of NA-specific antibody titers after pandemic AS03-adjuvanted monovalent H1N1 vaccination and subsequent annual vaccination in health care workers in a five-year longitudinal study. NA-specific antibodies were measured by endpoint ELISA and functional antibodies measured by enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) and plaque reduction naturalisation assay. We found robust induction of NA inhibition (NAI) titers with a 53% seroconversion rate (>4-fold) after pandemic vaccination in 2009. Furthermore, the endpoint and NAI geometric mean titers persisted above pre-vaccination levels up to five years after vaccination in HCWs that only received the pandemic vaccine, which demonstrates considerable durability. Vaccination with non-adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccines (TIV) in subsequent influenza seasons 2010/2011 – 2013/2014 further boosted NA-specific antibody responses. We found that each subsequent vaccination increased durable endpoint titers and contributed to maintaining the durability of functional antibody titers. Although the trivalent influenza vaccines boosted NA-specific antibodies, the magnitude of fold-increase at day 21 declined with repeated vaccination, particularly for functional antibody titers. High levels of pre-existing antibodies were associated with lower fold-induction in repeatedly vaccinated HCWs. In summary, our results show that durable NA-specific antibody responses can be induced by an adjuvanted influenza vaccine, which can be maintained and further boosted by TIVs. Although NA-specific antibody responses are boosted by annual influenza vaccines, high pre-existing titers may negatively affect the magnitude of fold-increase in repeatedly vaccinated individuals. Our results support continued development and standardization of the NA antigen to supplement current influenza vaccines and reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality.publishedVersio
Safety, Immunogenicity, Efficacy and Effectiveness of Inactivated Influenza Vaccines in Healthy Pregnant Women and Children Under 5 Years: An Evidence-Based Clinical Review
Annual influenza vaccination is often recommended for pregnant women and young children to reduce the risk of severe influenza. However, most studies investigating the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy or effectiveness of influenza vaccines are conducted in healthy adults. In this evidence-based clinical review, we provide an update on the safety profile, immunogenicity, and efficacy/effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) in healthy pregnant women and children <5 years old. Six electronic databases were searched until May 27, 2021. We identified 3,731 articles, of which 93 met the eligibility criteria and were included. The IIVs were generally well tolerated in pregnant women and young children, with low frequencies of adverse events following IIV administration; however, continuous vaccine safety monitoring systems are necessary to detect rare adverse events. IIVs generated good antibody responses, and the seroprotection rates after IIVs were moderate to high in pregnant women (range = 65%–96%) and young children (range = 50%–100%), varying between the different influenza types/subtypes and seasons. Studies show vaccine efficacy/effectiveness values of 50%–70% in pregnant women and 20%–90% in young children against lab-confirmed influenza, although the efficacy/effectiveness depended on the study design, host factors, vaccine type, manufacturing practices, and the antigenic match/mismatch between the influenza vaccine strains and the circulating strains. Current evidence suggests that the benefits of IIVs far outweigh the potential risks and that IIVs should be recommended for pregnant women and young children.publishedVersio
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