Operational issues and network effects in vaccine markets

One of the most important concerns for managing public health is the prevention of infectious diseases. Although vaccines provide the most effective means for preventing infectious diseases, there are two main reasons why it is often difficult to reach a socially optimal level of vaccine coverage: (i) the emergence of operational issues (such as yield uncertainty) on the supply side, and (ii) the existence of negative network effects on the consumption side. In particular, uncertainties about production yield and vaccine imperfections often make manufacturing some vaccines a risky process and may lead the manufacturer to produce below the socially optimal level. At the same time, negative network effects provide incentives to potential consumers to free ride off the immunity of the vaccinated population. In this research, we consider how a central policy-maker can induce a socially optimal vaccine coverage through the use of incentives to both consumers and the vaccine manufacturer. We consider a monopoly market for an imperfect vaccine; we show that a fixed two-part subsidy is unable to coordinate the market, but derive a two-part menu of subsidies that leads to a socially efficient level of coverage.     

Female Faculty: Why So Few and Why Care?

Despite slow ongoing progress in increasing the representation of women in academia, women remain significantly under-represented at senior levels, in particular in the natural sciences and engineering. Not infrequently, this is downplayed by bringing forth arguments such as inherent biological differences between genders, that current policies are adequate to address the issue, or by deflecting this as being “not my problem” among other examples. In this piece we present scientific evidence that counters these claims, as well as a best-practice example, Genie, from Chalmers University of Technology, where one of the authors is currently employed. We also highlight particular challenges caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, we conclude by proposing some possible solutions to the situation and emphasize that we need to all do our part, to ensure that the next generation of academics experience a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable working environment.     

Magnetic behavior of a nano-disk constrained in an antiferromagnetic substrate

In this work we report a numerical Monte Carlo study of the behavior of a magnetic nano-disk put over an antiferromagnetic substrate. Three approaches were considered for describe the substrate: (1) A stacked antiferromagnetic configuration, (2) an Ising like arrangement and (3) Heisenberg like spins. For the Heisenberg case we still have considered an easy-plane and an easy-axis symmetry of the substrate. The hysteresis loop for the nano-disk is obtained by considering the three cases. The signature of the vortex in the nano-disk appears as small jumps in the hysteresis curve. Exchange bias effects are observed since the substrate has an easy axis symmetry.     

Analysis on First-stage Ignition of n-Heptane at Low Temperatures with a Lumped Skeletal Mechanism

Two-stage ignition exists in the low-temperature combustion process of n-heptane and the first-stage ignition also shows a negative temperature coefficient(NTC) phenomenon. To study key reactions and understand chemical principles affecting the first-stage ignition of n-heptane, a lumped skeletal mechanism with 62 species is obtained based on the detailed NUIGMech1.0 mechanism using the directed relation graph method assisted by sensitivity analysis and isomer lumping. The lumped mechanism shows good performance on ignition delay time under wide conditions. The study revealed that the temperature after the first-stage ignition is higher and a larger amount of fuel is consumed at lower initial temperatures. The temperature at the first-stage ignition is relatively insensitive to the initial temperature. Further sensitivity analysis and reaction path analysis carried out based on the lumped mechanism show that the decomposition of RO₂ to produce alkene and HO₂is the most important reaction to inhibit the first-stage ignitions. The chain branching explosion closely related to the first-stage ignition will be terminated when the rate constant for the RO₂ decomposition is larger than that of the isomerization of RO₂ to produce QOOH. The NTC behavior as well as other characteristics of the first-stage ignition can be rationalized from the competition between these two reactions.     

Signatures of spin-glass freezing in Co/CoO nanospheres and nanodiscs

We present a study of the magnetic properties of Co nanoparticles having a combination of both spherical and disk shapes. The hcp Co nanospheres with an average diameter of 11 nm and nanodiscs of dimensions ∼2.5×15 nm² were prepared by thermal decomposition of di-cobalt octacarbonyl in the presence of an amine surfactant. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were oxidized to grow an antiferromagnetic layer. High resolution transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet (Co/CoO) interface with a 2.2-nm thick CoO shell on the spherical nanoparticles and 0.5 nm thick on nanodiscs. We report the temperature and field dependent DC magnetization, frequency, field, and temperature dependent AC susceptibility, and the radio frequency transverse susceptibility. A low temperature paramagnetic behavior was observed in the DC magnetization at high fields and is assigned to defects in the CoO shell that are not coupled to the antiferromagnetic lattice. Our results support the existence of a low temperature frozen, disordered magnetic state, characterized by a strong exchange coupling between the structurally disordered, spin-glass CoO shell and Co core.     

Au-MgB2-Au纳米结点的负微分电阻效应

运用密度泛函理论结合非平衡格林函数的方法对MgB2直线原子链与两半无限Au（100）电极构成纳米结点的电子输运特性进行了第一性原理计算．在模拟Au-MgB2-Au纳米结点的拉伸过程中,计算了结点在不同距离下的结合能与电导．结果发现结点的Au-B键长为1．90A,B-Mg键长为2．22A时,结合能最大,结构最稳定,此时结点平衡电导为0．51G0（G0=2e^0／h）．通过计算投影态密度发现电子通过结点时主要是通过B、Mg原子的px和py电子轨道形成的π键进行传输的．在-1．5～1．5V的电压范围内,结点的电流-电压近似为线性关系,表现出类似金属的导电性质,而当正负电压高于15V时,电流对称性逐渐减小,即存在负微分电阻效应,从不同电压下透射谱的变化对负微分电阻现象进行了分析与讨论．     

Zn(NCN)单轴的负热膨胀性及机理研究

负热膨胀(NTE)是一种反常的物理现象, 已在合金和框架结构化合物等材料中被观察到, 但NTE材料的种类仍然有限. 本文合成了一种单轴NTE材料Zn(NCN), 该材料在c轴方向及在100~475 K下的热膨胀系数为-3.35×10^?6 K^?1, 而a轴和b轴方向则呈低热膨胀性, 体积具有低的热膨胀系数[6.13×10^?6 K^?1(100~475 K)]. 通过同步辐射X射线衍射、 扩展X射线吸收精细结构和拉曼光谱等方法, 研究了Zn(NCN)的NTE机理. 结果表明, Zn—N键具有明显的横向振动, 一些低频振动模Grüneisen参数为负值. 直接的实验证据表明, N=C=N的横向振动以及准刚性ZnN₄四面体的耦合旋转和扭摆导致了c轴方向的NTE.     

具有增强电荷转移驱动的磺酸基功能化g-C3N4光催化剂的设计合成及应用

随着全球环境问题日益严重以及能源需求的不断增长,人们对高效环境修复与能源转换技术的需求日益增强.以半导体材料为光催化剂,可将可再生的太阳能转化为化学能,有望成为解决人类面临的能源和环境问题的有效途径.其中,开发高效稳定的光催化剂是该技术得以实际应用的关键.近几十年,研究人员开发出多种半导体材料并应用于光催化研究.其中,具有可见光响应的有机非金属光催化剂石墨相氮化碳(g-C₃N₄)因其稳定的分子结构,较小的禁带宽度(~2.7 e V)以及合适的能带结构而备受关注.然而,与大多数半导体光催化剂相似,由于传统g-C₃N₄上的光生电子和空穴极易复合,表面催化活性位点较少,可见光响应范围较窄,使得其催化效率不高.基于g-C₃N₄独特的有机分子结构,通过引入功能化的特定基团以优化g-C₃N₄的电子能带结构,促进载流子传输,拓展可见光响应范围,是提高其光催化效率的有效途径.已有研究表明,在各种功能化官能团中,具有强电负性的含氧基团对g-C₃N₄的Melon单元优化是非常有效的.因此,本文通过g-C₃N₄与氨基磺酸间的简单固相热反应成功合成了磺酸基功能化的g-C₃N₄纳米片(SACN),并实现了同步增强的相互作用.根据固体强酸特性,氨基磺酸可以在热处理的辅助下对g-C₃N₄进行酸刻蚀,从而增加其比表面积以及表面催化活性位点.更重要的是,理论计算与实验表征结果表明,磺酸基团的吸电子诱导效应所产生的电荷驱动力可极大改善g-C₃N₄的电荷转移动力学,有效抑制了它们的再结合.此外,吸电子诱导效应还可促进g-C₃N₄的局域电子再分布,进而降低g-C₃N₄的导带电位,增强光诱导电子的还原能力.光催化性能测试结果表明,SACN-400样品(前驱体中氨基磺酸加入量为400 mg)在光催化分解水制备氢气以及光降解传统污染物领域展现出较好的性能,其在入射光波长为420±15 nm时的产氢表观量子效率为11.03%.综上,本文为设计合成具有较高产氢性能以及污染物降解效率的石墨相氮化碳基光催化剂提供了一种简便有效的策略.     

冰冻人血清中尿酸标准物质复制的定值EI北大核心CSCD

为了满足该标准物质的需求,进行了第二次尿酸血清标准物质的复制。针对复制的尿酸血清标准物质,基于单四极杆质谱的液相色谱-同位素稀释质谱法(LC-IDMS),用乙腈沉淀法去除蛋白质,BEH C18色谱柱和电喷雾离子源负离子模式(ESI^(-)),同位素稀释的单点校准法进行定值、均匀性检验、稳定性检验以及不确定度评定等研究。此定值方法经过CCQM-K109(血清中尿酸分析)国际关键比对进行验证。复制的2种不同浓度水平尿酸(肾病患者和正常人)血清标准物质的定值结果分别为(73.5±1.3)μg/g,(47.5±1.1)μg/g,其均匀性和稳定性评估结果良好。     

Negative refraction and imaging of acoustic waves in a two-dimensional square chiral lattice structure

The negative refraction behavior and imaging effect for acoustic waves in a kind of two-dimensional square chiral lattice structure are studied in this paper. The unit cell of the proposed structure consists of four zigzag arms connected through a thin circular ring at the central part. The relation of the symmetry of the unit cell and the negative refraction phenomenon is investigated. Using the finite element method, we calculate the band structures and the equi-frequency surfaces of the system, and confirm the frequency range where the negative refraction is present. Due to the rotational symmetry of the unit cell, a phase difference is induced to the waves propagating from a point source through the structure to the other side. The phase difference is related to the width of the structure and the frequency of the source, so we can get a tunable deviated imaging. This kind of phenomenon is also demonstrated by the numerical simulation of two Gaussian beams that are symmetrical about the interface normal with the same incident angle, and the different negative refractive indexes are presented. Based on this special performance, a double-functional mirror-symmetrical slab is proposed for realizing acoustic focusing and beam separation.