92 research outputs found
Networks with fourfold connectivity in two dimensions
The elastic properties of planar, C4-symmetric networks under stress and at nonzero temperature are determined by simulation and mean field approximations. Attached at fourfold coordinated junction vertices, the networks are self-avoiding in that their elements (or bonds) may not intersect each other. Two different models are considered for the potential energy of the elements: either Hookeâs law springs or flexible tethers (square well potential). For certain ranges of stress and temperature, the properties of the networks are captured by one of several models: at large tensions, the networks behave like a uniform system of square plaquettes, while at large compressions or high temperatures, they display many characteristics of an ideal gas. Under less severe conditions, mean field models with more general shapes (parallelograms) reproduce many essential features of both networks. Lastly, the spring network expands without limit at a two-dimensional tension equal to the force constant of the spring; however, it does not appear to collapse under compression, except at zero temperature
Dual network model for red blood cell membranes
A two-component network is studied by Monte Carlo simulation to model the lipid/spectrin membrane of red blood cells. The model predicts that the shear modulus decreases rapidly with the maximum length of the model spectrin and should be in the 10-7 J/m2 range for human red blood cells. A simplified model for the isolated spectrin network shows a negative LamĂŠ coefficient λ. Transverse fluctuations of the dual membrane are found to be fluidlike over the range of wavelengths investigated
An Improved Quantum Molecular Dynamics Model and its Applications to Fusion Reaction near Barrier
An improved Quantum Molecular Dynamics model is proposed. By using this
model, the properties of ground state of nuclei from Li to Pb can
be described very well with one set of parameters. The fusion reactions for
Ca+Zr, Ca+Zr and Ca+Zr at energy near
barrier are studied by this model. The experimental data of the fusion cross
sections for Ca+Zr at the energy near barrier can be
reproduced remarkably well without introducing any new parameters. The
mechanism for the enhancement of fusion probability for fusion reactions with
neutron-rich projectile or target is analyzed.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, 3 table
Negative poisson ratio in two-dimensional networks under tension
The elastic properties of two-dimensional networks under tension are studied by the mean-field approximation and Monte Carlo simulation. The networks are characterized by fixed (polymerized) connectivity and either a square-well or a Hookeâs-law interaction among their components. Both self-avoiding and phantom networks are examined. The elastic properties of Hookeâs-law networks at large equilibrium length are found to be well represented by a mean-field model. All the networks investigated show a negative Poisson ratio over a range of tension. At finite tension, the phantom networks exhibit a phase transition to a collapsed state
Dynamic study on fusion reactions for Ca+Zr around Coulomb barrier
By using the updated improved Quantum Molecular Dynamics model in which a
surface-symmetry potential term has been introduced for the first time, the
excitation functions for fusion reactions of Ca+Zr at
energies around the Coulomb barrier have been studied. The experimental data of
the fusion cross sections for Ca+Zr have been reproduced
remarkably well without introducing any new parameters. The fusion cross
sections for the neutron-rich fusion reactions of Ca+Zr around
the Coulomb barrier are predicted to be enhanced compared with a
non-neutron-rich fusion reaction. In order to clarify the mechanism of the
enhancement of the fusion cross sections for neutron-rich nuclear fusions, we
pay a great attention to study the dynamic lowering of the Coulomb barrier
during a neck formation. The isospin effect on the barrier lowering is
investigated. It is interesting that the effect of the projectile and target
nuclear structure on fusion dynamics can be revealed to a certain extent in our
approach. The time evolution of the N/Z ratio at the neck region has been
firstly illustrated. A large enhancement of the N/Z ratio at neck region for
neutron-rich nuclear fusion reactions is found.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures,3 table
Fluctuation spectrum of fluid membranes coupled to an elastic meshwork: jump of the effective surface tension at the mesh size
We identify a class of composite membranes: fluid bilayers coupled to an
elastic meshwork, that are such that the meshwork's energy is a function
\textit{not} of the real microscopic membrane area ,
but of a \textit{smoothed} membrane's area , which corresponds to the
area of the membrane coarse-grained at the mesh size . We show that the
meshwork modifies the membrane tension both below and above the scale
, inducing a tension-jump . The
predictions of our model account for the fluctuation spectrum of red blood
cells membranes coupled to their cytoskeleton. Our results indicate that the
cytoskeleton might be under extensional stress, which would provide a means to
regulate available membrane area. We also predict an observable tension jump
for membranes decorated with polymer "brushes"
Optimized Discretization of Sources Imaged in Heavy-Ion Reactions
We develop the new method of optimized discretization for imaging the
relative source from two particle correlation functions. In this method, the
source resolution depends on the relative particle separation and is adjusted
to available data and their errors. We test the method by restoring assumed pp
sources and then apply the method to pp and IMF data. In reactions below 100
MeV/nucleon, significant portions of the sources extend to large distances (r >
20 fm). The results from the imaging show the inadequacy of common Gaussian
source-parametrizations. We establish a simple relation between the height of
the pp correlation function and the source value at short distances, and
between the height and the proton freeze-out phase-space density.Comment: 36 pages (inc. 9 figures), RevTeX, uses epsf.sty. Submitted to Phys.
Rev.
Dynamics of filaments and membranes in a viscous fluid
Motivated by the motion of biopolymers and membranes in solution, this
article presents a formulation of the equations of motion for curves and
surfaces in a viscous fluid. We focus on geometrical aspects and simple
variational methods for calculating internal stresses and forces, and we derive
the full nonlinear equations of motion. In the case of membranes, we pay
particular attention to the formulation of the equations of hydrodynamics on a
curved, deforming surface. The formalism is illustrated by two simple case
studies: (1) the twirling instability of straight elastic rod rotating in a
viscous fluid, and (2) the pearling and buckling instabilities of a tubular
liposome or polymersome.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figures, to be published in Reviews of Modern Physic
Two-Proton Correlations from 14.6A GeV/c Si+Pb and 11.5A GeV/c Au+Au Central Collisions
Two-proton correlation functions have been measured in Si+Pb collisions at
14.6A GeV/c and Au+Au collisions at 11.5A GeV/c by the E814/E877 collaboration.
Data are compared with predictions of the transport model RQMD and the source
size is inferred from this comparison. Our analysis shows that, for both
reactions, the characteristic size of the system at freeze-out exceeds the size
of the projectile, suggesting that the fireball created in the collision has
expanded. For Au+Au reactions, the observed centrality dependence of the
two-proton correlation function implies that more central collisions lead to a
larger source sizes.Comment: RevTex, 12 pages, 5 figure
Mechanism of Assembly of the Dimanganese-Tyrosyl Radical Cofactor of Class Ib Ribonucleotide Reductase: Enzymatic Generation of Superoxide Is Required for Tyrosine Oxidation via a Mn(III)Mn(IV) Intermediate
Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) utilize radical chemistry to reduce nucleotides to deoxynucleotides in all organisms. In the class Ia and Ib RNRs, this reaction requires a stable tyrosyl radical (Yâ˘) generated by oxidation of a reduced dinuclear metal cluster. The Fe[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y⢠cofactor in the NrdB subunit of the class Ia RNRs can be generated by self-assembly from Fe[superscript II][subscript 2]-NrdB, O[subscript 2], and a reducing equivalent. By contrast, the structurally homologous class Ib enzymes require a Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y⢠cofactor in their NrdF subunit. Mn[superscript II][subscript 2]-NrdF does not react with O[subscript 2], but it binds the reduced form of a conserved flavodoxin-like protein, NrdI[subscript hq], which, in the presence of O[subscript 2], reacts to form the Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y⢠cofactor. Here we investigate the mechanism of assembly of the Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y⢠cofactor in Bacillus subtilis NrdF. Cluster assembly from Mn[superscript II][subscript 2]-NrdF, NrdI[subscript hq], and O[subscript 2] has been studied by stopped flow absorption and rapid freeze quench EPR spectroscopies. The results support a mechanism in which NrdI[subscript hq] reduces O[subscript 2] to O[subscript 2]â˘â (40â48 s[superscript â1], 0.6 mM O[subscript 2]), the O[subscript 2]â˘â channels to and reacts with Mn[superscript II][subscript 2]-NrdF to form a Mn[superscript III]Mn[superscript IV] intermediate (2.2 Âą 0.4 s[superscript â1]), and the Mn[superscript III]Mn[superscript IV] species oxidizes tyrosine to Y⢠(0.08â0.15 s[superscript â1]). Controlled production of O[subscript 2]â˘â by NrdI[subscript hq] during class Ib RNR cofactor assembly both circumvents the unreactivity of the Mn[superscript II][subscript 2] cluster with O[subscript 2] and satisfies the requirement for an âextraâ reducing equivalent in Y⢠generation.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM81393)United States. Dept. of Defense (National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships
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