Semiflexible Chains under Tension

A functional integral formalism is used to derive the extension of a stiff chain subject to an external force. The force versus extension curves are calculated using a meanfield approach in which the hard constraint $u^2(s)=1$ is replaced by a global constraint $= 1$ where $u(s)$ is the tangent vector describing the chain and $s$ is the arc length. The theory ``quantitatively'' reproduces the experimental results for DNA that is subject to a constant force. We also treat the problems of a semiflexible chain in a nematic field. In the limit of weak nematic field strength our treatment reproduces the exact results for chain expansion parallel to the director. When the strength of nematic field is large, a situation in which there are two equivalent minima in the free energy, the intrinsically meanfield approach yields incorrect results for the dependence of the persistence length on the nematic field.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure available upon request, submitted to J. Chem. Phy

Diffusion-limited loop formation of semiflexible polymers: Kramers theory and the intertwined time scales of chain relaxation and closing

We show that Kramers rate theory gives a straightforward, accurate estimate of the closing time $\tau_c$ of a semiflexible polymer that is valid in cases of physical interest. The calculation also reveals how the time scales of chain relaxation and closing are intertwined, illuminating an apparent conflict between two ways of calculating $\tau_c$ in the flexible limit.Comment: Europhys. Lett., 2003 (in press). 8 pages, 3 figures. See also, physics/0101087 for physicist's approach to and the importance of semiflexible polymer looping, in DNA replicatio

Viscosity Dependence of the Folding Rates of Proteins

The viscosity dependence of the folding rates for four sequences (the native state of three sequences is a beta-sheet, while the fourth forms an alpha-helix) is calculated for off-lattice models of proteins. Assuming that the dynamics is given by the Langevin equation we show that the folding rates increase linearly at low viscosities \eta, decrease as 1/\eta at large \eta and have a maximum at intermediate values. The Kramers theory of barrier crossing provides a quantitative fit of the numerical results. By mapping the simulation results to real proteins we estimate that for optimized sequences the time scale for forming a four turn \alpha-helix topology is about 500 nanoseconds, whereas the time scale for forming a beta-sheet topology is about 10 microseconds.Comment: 14 pages, Latex, 3 figures. One figure is also available at http://www.glue.umd.edu/~klimov/seq_I_H.html, to be published in Physical Review Letter

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants used by the Local People in Vellore District, Tamilnadu, India

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in and around Vellore district to study the various medicinal plants used by the people for the treatment of their ailments such as fever, cold, cough, diabetes, jaundice, diarrhoea, rheumatism, snake bite, and headache. The study also covered the methods used in plant extraction, and the dose, duration and mode of application

Transient Thermal Stresses In A Sphere By Local Heating

The problem of transient thermal stresses in a solid, elastic, homogeneous, and isotropic sphere is solved for uniform and nonuniform, local surface heating. The temperature solutions are obtained by using separation of variables and integral transformation. The corresponding thermal stresses are derived by superposing a particular displacement potential function on Boussinesq solutions. Numerical solutions for two particular cases of localized heating of a typical brittle spherical solid have been obtained and presented. The results indicate a tensile stress concentration in the interior of the solid below the heated zone. © 1974 by ASME

Fractal Analysis of Protein Potential Energy Landscapes

The fractal properties of the total potential energy V as a function of time t are studied for a number of systems, including realistic models of proteins (PPT, BPTI and myoglobin). The fractal dimension of V(t), characterized by the exponent \gamma, is almost independent of temperature and increases with time, more slowly the larger the protein. Perhaps the most striking observation of this study is the apparent universality of the fractal dimension, which depends only weakly on the type of molecular system. We explain this behavior by assuming that fractality is caused by a self-generated dynamical noise, a consequence of intermode coupling due to anharmonicity. Global topological features of the potential energy landscape are found to have little effect on the observed fractal behavior.Comment: 17 pages, single spaced, including 12 figure

Magnetic field stabilization system for atomic physics experiments

Atomic physics experiments commonly use millitesla-scale magnetic fields to provide a quantization axis. As atomic transition frequencies depend on the amplitude of this field, many experiments require a stable absolute field. Most setups use electromagnets, which require a power supply stability not usually met by commercially available units. We demonstrate stabilization of a field of 14.6 mT to 4.3 nT rms noise (0.29 ppm), compared to noise of $\gtrsim$ 100 nT without any stabilization. The rms noise is measured using a field-dependent hyperfine transition in a single $^{43}$Ca$^+$ ion held in a Paul trap at the centre of the magnetic field coils. For the $^{43}$Ca$^+$ "atomic clock" qubit transition at 14.6 mT, which depends on the field only in second order, this would yield a projected coherence time of many hours. Our system consists of a feedback loop and a feedforward circuit that control the current through the field coils and could easily be adapted to other field amplitudes, making it suitable for other applications such as neutral atom traps.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure