397 research outputs found
Cooperative Transport of Brownian Particles
We consider the collective motion of finite-sized, overdamped Brownian
particles (e.g., motor proteins) in a periodic potential. Simulations of our
model have revealed a number of novel cooperative transport phenomena,
including (i) the reversal of direction of the net current as the particle
density is increased and (ii) a very strong and complex dependence of the
average velocity on both the size and the average distance of the particles.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Separation quality of a geometric ratchet
We consider an experimentally relevant model of a geometric ratchet in which
particles undergo drift and diffusive motion in a two-dimensional periodic
array of obstacles, and which is used for the continuous separation of
particles subject to different forces. The macroscopic drift velocity and
diffusion tensor are calculated by a Monte-Carlo simulation and by a
master-equation approach, using the correponding microscopic quantities and the
shape of the obstacles as input. We define a measure of separation quality and
investigate its dependence on the applied force and the shape of the obstacles
DNA transport by a micromachined Brownian ratchet device
We have micromachined a silicon-chip device that transports DNA with a
Brownian ratchet that rectifies the Brownian motion of microscopic particles.
Transport properties for a DNA 50mer agree with theoretical predictions, and
the DNA diffusion constant agrees with previous experiments. This type of
micromachine could provide a generic pump or separation component for DNA or
other charged species as part of a microscale lab-on-a-chip. A device with
reduced feature size could produce a size-based separation of DNA molecules,
with applications including the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms.Comment: Latex: 8 pages, 4 figure
Feynman's ratchet and pawl: an exactly solvable model
We introduce a simple, discrete model of Feynman's ratchet and pawl,
operating between two heat reservoirs. We solve exactly for the steady-state
directed motion and heat flows produced, first in the absence and then in the
presence of an external load. We show that the model can act both as a heat
engine and as a refrigerator. We finally investigate the behavior of the system
near equilibrium, and use our model to confirm general predictions based on
linear response theory.Comment: 19 pages + 10 figures; somewhat tighter presentatio
Ratchet Effect in Surface Electromigration: Smoothing Surfaces by an ac Field
We demonstrate that for surfaces that have a nonzero Schwoebel barrier the
application of an ac field parallel to the surface induces a net electro-
migration current that points in the descending step direction. The magnitude
of the current is calculated analytically and compared with Monte Carlo
simulations. Since a downhill current smoothes the surface, our results imply
that the application of ac fields can aid the smoothing process during
annealing and can slow or eliminate the Schwoebel-barrier-induced mound
formation during growth.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX, 4 ps figure
Myiasis in domestic cats: A global review
Myiasis is an infestation caused by larvae of Diptera in humans and other vertebrates. In domestic cats, Felis silvestris catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), four dipteran families have been reported as agents of obligatory and facultative myiasis: Oestridae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae. Among agents of obligatory myiasis, the most frequent genus is Cuterebra Clark (Oestridae) and the most frequent species is Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Calliphoridae). Among the agents of facultative myiasis, the most frequent species is Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Calliphoridae). A survey of myiasis in cats reported in literature shows that the cases are distributed worldwide and linked to the geographical range of the dipteran species. Factors favouring the occurrence of myiasis in cats are prowling in infested areas, poor hygiene conditions due to diseases and/or neglect, and wounds inflicted during territorial or reproductive competition. The aim of the review is to provide an extended survey of literature on myiasis in cats, as general information and possible development of guidelines for veterinarians, entomologists and other researchers interested in the field
Hydrodynamic Coupling of Two Brownian Spheres to a Planar Surface
We describe direct imaging measurements of the collective and relative
diffusion of two colloidal spheres near a flat plate. The bounding surface
modifies the spheres' dynamics, even at separations of tens of radii. This
behavior is captured by a stokeslet analysis of fluid flow driven by the
spheres' and wall's no-slip boundary conditions. In particular, this analysis
reveals surprising asymmetry in the normal modes for pair diffusion near a flat
surface.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Molecular motor that never steps backwards
We investigate the dynamics of a classical particle in a one-dimensional
two-wave potential composed of two periodic potentials, that are
time-independent and of the same amplitude and periodicity. One of the periodic
potentials is externally driven and performs a translational motion with
respect to the other. It is shown that if one of the potentials is of the
ratchet type, translation of the potential in a given direction leads to motion
of the particle in the same direction, whereas translation in the opposite
direction leaves the particle localized at its original location. Moreover,
even if the translation is random, but still has a finite velocity, an
efficient directed transport of the particle occurs.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett. (in print
Toward physical realizations of thermodynamic resource theories
Conventional statistical mechanics describes large systems and averages over
many particles or over many trials. But work, heat, and entropy impact the
small scales that experimentalists can increasingly control, e.g., in
single-molecule experiments. The statistical mechanics of small scales has been
quantified with two toolkits developed in quantum information theory: resource
theories and one-shot information theory. The field has boomed recently, but
the theorems amassed have hardly impacted experiments. Can thermodynamic
resource theories be realized experimentally? Via what steps can we shift the
theory toward physical realizations? Should we care? I present eleven
opportunities in physically realizing thermodynamic resource theories.Comment: Publication information added. Cosmetic change
Behavior of Melanoma Cells in Cell and Organ Cultures: Use of Biomaterials to Activate Cells
It is well known that cell behaviors such as adhesion, proliferation and various synthesis are initiated from transmembrane signals. This study uses biomaterials as primary messengers of the cell activation pathways, and we have analyzed the effects of two biomaterials on highly metastatic tumor cells. B16F10 melanoma cells formed heterogeneous populations whose size varied with cell differentiation. In long-term organ cultures grown comparatively on AN 69 and Cuprophan (a biomembrane known to activate cells), we found that Cuprophan increased both adhesion and proliferation of small melanin-rich cells which represented differentiated melanocyte&. In dissociated cell cultures, the rate of early cell attachment decreased on Cupropban compared to AN 69 and control Thermanox® (Nunc Inc., Naperville, IL). Scanning electron microscopy of melanocytes four hoUl11 after plating out on Cuprophan revealed only cell aggregates, comparable to the 3T3 fibroblasts aggregates previously described. Nevertheless, the production of the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was the same on both materials, in contrast to previous results showing more cAMP in cells on Cuprophan. Therefore, biomaterials appear to be useful tools for investigating as well attachment, growth, differentiation as signal transduction pathways of cancerous cells
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