Point-like inclusion interactions in tubular membranes

We analytically study membrane mediated interactions between inclusions embedded in a tubular membrane. We model inclusions as constraints coupled to the curvature tensor of the membrane tube. First, as special test cases, we analyze the interaction between ring and rod shaped inclusions. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we further show how point-like inclusions interact to form linear aggregates. Our results reveal that depending on the hard-core radius of the inclusions, they arrange into either lines or rings to globally minimize the curvature energy of the membrane.Comment: 5 + 4 pages, 4 + 3 figure

Improving oncolytic viral therapy for glioma

Vandertop, W.P. [Promotor]Dirven, C.M.F. [Promotor]Lamfers, M.L.M. [Copromotor]Beusechem, V.W. van [Copromotor

Factors that Influence Persistence of Biology Majors at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

To promote diversity within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, we must identify factors that influence or hinder historically underrepresented minority (URM) students’ persistence to degrees in STEM. We documented potential factors that influence students’ persistence in an undergraduate biology program and created a 14-item, Likert-scale instrument. We recruited 137 undergraduate biology majors at a Hispanic-serving institution in Texas to report which factors they found influential in their decision to remain enrolled in their degree programs. We used a modified social cognitive career theory model of career choice to guide interpretation of the reported influences and identify patterns in responses. We documented three highly influential factors for all students: personal motivation, potential learning experiences, and job opportunities with the job opportunities showing a significant difference (P=0.036) between White and URM student groups. We also found a trend (P=0.056) indicating White students were more influenced by role models and mentors than URM students. Our findings suggest that personal motivation and potential job opportunities are the most influential factors driving students to seek educational opportunities that could lead to STEM careers. However, access to a diverse pool of role models also has the potential to provide positive impacts on student persistence in STEM

Omschakelen naar biologisch, iets voor u?

Wat komt er kijken bij omschakelen van gangbare naar biologische boomteelt. Wat betekent biologische bomen en planten kweken in de praktijk en waar kun je terecht als er vragen rijzen. In dit Biokennis bericht wordt ingegaan op de biologische uitgangspunten, de certificering, de onkruidbestrijding en bemesting, de milieuaspecten, de marktontwikkeling en de bedrijfsnetwerken en belangenbehartiging van boomkwekerijen

Giant suppression of the Drude conductivity due to quantum interference in disordered two-dimensional systems

Temperature and magnetic field dependences of the conductivity in heavily doped, strongly disordered two-dimensional quantum well structures GaAs/In$_x$Ga$_{1-x}$As/GaAs are investigated within wide conductivity and temperature ranges. Role of the interference in the electron transport is studied in the regimes when the phase breaking length $L_\phi$ crosses over the localization length $\xi\sim l\exp{(\pi k_Fl/2)}$ with lowering temperature, where $k_F$ and $l$ are the Fermi quasimomentum and mean free path, respectively. It has been shown that all the experimental data can be understood within framework of simple model of the conductivity over delocalized states. This model differs from the conventional model of the weak localization developed for $k_Fl\gg 1$ and $L_\phi\ll\xi$ by one point: the value of the quantum interference contribution to the conductivity is restricted not only by the phase breaking length $L_\phi$ but by the localization length $\xi$ as well. We show that just the quantity $(\tau_\phi^\ast)^{-1}=\tau_\phi^{-1}+\tau_\xi^{-1}$ rather than $\tau_\phi^{-1}$, where $\tau_\phi\propto T^{-1}$ is the dephasing time and $\tau_\xi\sim\tau\exp(\pi k_F l)$, is responsible for the temperature and magnetic field dependences of the conductivity over the wide range of temperature and disorder strength down to the conductivity of order $10^{-2} e^2/h$.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figure

The many shapes of medieval Chinese plays : How texts are transformed to meet the needs of actors, spectators, censors, and readers

When Voltaire's L'Orphelin de la Chine (1755) is mentioned nowadays in general histories of Western theater, it is not because of its eminent literary qualities, even though, like practically everything by Voltaire, the play is written with wit and flair. It is rather mentioned for its influence on one particular aspect of performance: costume. L'Orphelin de la Chine was in its own day an extremely popular play that was performed, in French and in translation, all over Europe by actors and actresses in "authentic costume." Until well into the eighteenth century, actors in tragedy performed all plays in a limited set of costumes, but in L'Orphelin de la Chine they tried to dress as Chinese--to the best of their knowledge. As with every change in performance practice, this daring innovation had its detractors at the time. One Dutch observer noted that the heavily perspiring performers of the Dutch version of Voltaire's tragedy in their oriental draperies looked more like "Armenian merchants" than anything Chinese (Hartnoll 1968:158-59, Worp 1908:268).Issue title: Performance Literature II

Active particle dynamics beyond the jamming density

Many biological systems form colonies at high density. Passive granular systems will be jammed at such densities, yet for the survival of biological systems it is crucial that they are dynamic. We construct a phase diagram for a system of active particles interacting via Vicsek alignment, and vary the density, self-propulsion force, and orientational noise. We find that the system exhibits four different phases, characterized by transitions in the effective diffusion constant and in the orientational order parameter. Our simulations show that there exists an optimal noise such that particles require a minimal force to unjam, allowing for rearrangements.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure