A Scalable Two-Level Domain Decomposition Eigensolver for Periodic Schr\"odinger Eigenstates in Anisotropically Expanding Domains

Accelerating iterative eigenvalue algorithms is often achieved by employing a spectral shifting strategy. Unfortunately, improved shifting typically leads to a smaller eigenvalue for the resulting shifted operator, which in turn results in a high condition number of the underlying solution matrix, posing a major challenge for iterative linear solvers. This paper introduces a two-level domain decomposition preconditioner that addresses this issue for the linear Schr\"odinger eigenvalue problem, even in the presence of a vanishing eigenvalue gap in non-uniform, expanding domains. Since the quasi-optimal shift, which is already available as the solution to a spectral cell problem, is required for the eigenvalue solver, it is logical to also use its associated eigenfunction as a generator to construct a coarse space. We analyze the resulting two-level additive Schwarz preconditioner and obtain a condition number bound that is independent of the domain's anisotropy, despite the need for only one basis function per subdomain for the coarse solver. Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate its flexibility and efficiency.Comment: 30 pages, 7 figures, 2 table

Measurement of the plasma levels of antibodies against the polymorphic vaccine candidate apical membrane antigen 1 in a malaria-exposed population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Establishing antibody correlates of protection against malaria in human field studies and clinical trials requires, amongst others, an accurate estimation of antibody levels. For polymorphic antigens such as apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), this may be confounded by the occurrence of a large number of allelic variants in nature.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To test this hypothesis, plasma antibody levels in an age-stratified cohort of naturally exposed children from a malaria-endemic area in Southern Ghana were determined by indirect ELISA. Titres against four single <it>Pf</it>AMA1 alleles were compared with those against three different allele mixtures presumed to have a wider repertoire of epitope specificities. Associations of antibody levels with the incidence of clinical malaria as well as with previous exposure to parasites were also examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Antibody titres against <it>Pf</it>AMA1 alleles generally increased with age/exposure while antibody specificity for <it>Pf</it>AMA1 variants decreased, implying that younger children (≤ 5 years) elicit a more strain-specific antibody response compared to older children. Antibody titre measurements against the FVO and 3D7 AMA1 alleles gave the best titre estimates as these varied least in pair-wise comparisons with titres against all <it>Pf</it>AMA1 allele mixtures. There was no association between antibody levels against any capture antigen and either clinical malaria incidence or parasite density.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The current data shows that levels of naturally acquired antigen-specific antibodies, especially in infants and young children, are dependent on the antigenic allele used for measurement. This may be relevant to the interpretation of antibody titre data from measurements against single <it>Pf</it>AMA1 alleles, especially in studies involving infants and young children who have experienced fewer infections.</p

Parentalité d’accueil en Europe

À partir de la question centrale de la parentalité d’accueil, nous avons souhaité comprendre, confronter, comparer les approches dans les différents pays européens en matière de protection de l’enfance et plus particulièrement en accueil familial. Comment en Europe se déclinent les dispositifs de prise en charge en protection de l’enfance et de la famille ? Quels sont les choix retenus et favorisés ? Quelles sont les politiques familiales et les mesures choisies pour les familles et les enfants ? Nous verrons que l’Europe est riche d’une variété de choix politiques en protection de l’enfance, de mesures de prise en charge allant du placement en institution à celui en famille d’accueil ou en famille élargie, ou d’un statut professionnel à celui de bénévole. Le croisement européen ouvre le dialogue permettant une meilleure compréhension des choix politiques, institutionnels et des pratiques dans les différents pays. L’accueil familial est une réponse possible qui se décline en différentes versions selon les 9 pays étudiés (France, Luxembourg, Suisse, Allemagne, Espagne, Italie, Belgique (Wallonie-Bruxelles et Flandre, Pays-Pas, Angleterre)