480 research outputs found
Translocation of a Single Stranded DNA Through a Conformationally Changing Nanopore
We investigate the translocation of a single stranded DNA through a pore
which fluctuates between two conformations, using coupled master equations. The
probability density function of the first passage times (FPT) of the
translocation process is calculated, displaying a triple, double or mono peaked
behavior, depending on the interconversion rates between the conformations, the
applied electric field, and the initial conditions. The cumulative probability
function of the FPT, in a field-free environment, is shown to have two regimes,
characterized by fast and slow timescales. An analytical expression for the
mean first passage time of the translocation process is derived, and provides,
in addition to the interconversion rates, an extensive characterization of the
translocation process. Relationships to experimental observations are
discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Biophys. J., in pres
Disorder and Funneling Effects on Exciton Migration in Tree-Like Dendrimers
The center-bound excitonic diffusion on dendrimers subjected to several types
of non-homogeneous funneling potentials, is considered. We first study the
mean-first passage time (MFPT) for diffusion in a linear potential with
different types of correlated and uncorrelated random perturbations. Increasing
the funneling force, there is a transition from a phase in which the MFPT grows
exponentially with the number of generations , to one in which it does so
linearly. Overall the disorder slows down the diffusion, but the effect is much
more pronounced in the exponential compared to the linear phase. When the
disorder gives rise to uncorrelated random forces there is, in addition, a
transition as the temperature is lowered. This is a transition from a
high- regime in which all paths contribute to the MFPT to a low- regime
in which only a few of them do. We further explore the funneling within a
realistic non-linear potential for extended dendrimers in which the dependence
of the lowest excitonic energy level on the segment length was derived using
the Time-Dependent Hatree-Fock approximation. Under this potential the MFPT
grows initially linearly with but crosses-over, beyond a molecular-specific
and -dependent optimal size, to an exponential increase. Finally we consider
geometrical disorder in the form of a small concentration of long connections
as in the {\it small world} model. Beyond a critical concentration of
connections the MFPT decreases significantly and it changes to a power-law or
to a logarithmic scaling with , depending on the strength of the funneling
force.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figure
Excitonic Funneling in Extended Dendrimers with Non-Linear and Random Potentials
The mean first passage time (MFPT) for photoexcitations diffusion in a
funneling potential of artificial tree-like light-harvesting antennae
(phenylacetylene dendrimers with generation-dependent segment lengths) is
computed. Effects of the non-linearity of the realistic funneling potential and
slow random solvent fluctuations considerably slow down the center-bound
diffusion beyond a temperature-dependent optimal size. Diffusion on a
disordered Cayley tree with a linear potential is investigated analytically. At
low temperatures we predict a phase in which the MFPT is dominated by a few
paths.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, To be published in Phys. Rev. Let
Spermatic Vein Tumor Thrombus In Renal Cell Carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma has the tendency to form venous thrombi. This may involve the renal veins or the inferior vena cava and may extend cephalad/antegrade into the right atrium. We report a patient with renal cell carcinoma who had an intracaval tumor thrombus that had extended into the right spermatic vein. We believe this to be the first description in English literature of a histologically proven renal cell carcinoma thrombus in the spermatic vein
Single Stranded DNA Translocation Through A Nanopore: A Master Equation Approach
We study voltage driven translocation of a single stranded (ss) DNA through a
membrane channel. Our model, based on a master equation (ME) approach,
investigates the probability density function (pdf) of the translocation times,
and shows that it can be either double or mono-peaked, depending on the system
parameters. We show that the most probable translocation time is proportional
to the polymer length, and inversely proportional to the first or second power
of the voltage, depending on the initial conditions. The model recovers
experimental observations on hetro-polymers when using their properties inside
the pore, such as stiffness and polymer-pore interaction.Comment: 7 pages submitted to PR
The cognitive and emotional effects of cognitive bias modification in interpretations in behaviorally inhibited youth
Cognitive bias modification (CBM) procedures follow from the view that interpretive biases play an important role in the development and maintenance of anxiety. As such, understanding the link between interpretive biases and anxiety in youth at risk for anxiety (e.g., behaviorally inhibited children) could elucidate the mechanisms involved in the development of pediatric anxiety. However, to date, the majority of CBM-I work only studies adult populations. The present article presents the results of a CBM study examining effects of positive interpretive bias modification on mood, stress vulnerability, and threat-related attention bias in a group of behaviorally inhibited children (n = 45). Despite successful modification of interpretive bias in the at-risk youth, minimal effects on stress vulnerability or threat-related attention bias were found. The current findings highlight the need for continued research on cognitive biases in anxiety
Controlling Viral Capsid Assembly with Templating
We develop coarse-grained models that describe the dynamic encapsidation of
functionalized nanoparticles by viral capsid proteins. We find that some forms
of cooperative interactions between protein subunits and nanoparticles can
dramatically enhance rates and robustness of assembly, as compared to the
spontaneous assembly of subunits into empty capsids. For large core-subunit
interactions, subunits adsorb onto core surfaces en masse in a disordered
manner, and then undergo a cooperative rearrangement into an ordered capsid
structure. These assembly pathways are unlike any identified for empty capsid
formation. Our models can be directly applied to recent experiments in which
viral capsid proteins assemble around the functionalized inorganic
nanoparticles [Sun et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci (2007) 104, 1354]. In
addition, we discuss broader implications for understanding the dynamic
encapsidation of single-stranded genomic molecules during viral replication and
for developing multicomponent nanostructured materials.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.
On the joint residence time of N independent two-dimensional Brownian motions
We study the behavior of several joint residence times of N independent
Brownian particles in a disc of radius in two dimensions. We consider: (i)
the time T_N(t) spent by all N particles simultaneously in the disc within the
time interval [0,t]; (ii) the time T_N^{(m)}(t) which at least m out of N
particles spend together in the disc within the time interval [0,t]; and (iii)
the time {\tilde T}_N^{(m)}(t) which exactly m out of N particles spend
together in the disc within the time interval [0,t]. We obtain very simple
exact expressions for the expectations of these three residence times in the
limit t\to\infty.Comment: 8 page
Introduction to the Special Issue: Understanding the role of attentional control in the development of anxiety in childhood, adolescence and across the lifespan
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