17 research outputs found
On the analytic continuation of the critical line
We perform a numerical study of the systematic effects involved in the
determination of the critical line at real baryon chemical potential by
analytic continuation from results obtained at imaginary chemical potentials.
We present results obtained in a theory free of the sign problem, three-color
QCD with finite isospin chemical potential, and comment on general features
which could be relevant also to the continuation of the critical line in real
QCD at finite baryon density.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, Contribution to The XXVII International Symposium
on Lattice Field Theory, Beijing, July 25-31, 200
Morphological evidence for telocytes as stromal cells supporting satellite cell activation in eccentric contraction-induced skeletal muscle injury
Analytic continuation of the critical line: suggestions for QCD
We perform a numerical study of the systematic effects involved in the
determination of the critical line at real baryonic chemical potential by
analytic continuation from results obtained at imaginary chemical potentials.
We present results obtained in theories free of the sign problem, such as
two-color QCD with finite baryonic density and three-color QCD with finite
isospin chemical potential, and comment on general features which could be
relevant also to the continuation of the critical line in real QCD at finite
baryonic density.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, 7 tables (revised version accepted by Phys.
Rev. D80, 034501(2009)
Fabrication of elastomeric nanofluidic devices for manipulation of long DNA molecules
We propose a method for the separation of long DNA molecules, based on elastomeric nanochannels with tunable cross section. These nanoconfinement structures can be used to stretch DNA molecules and lower their conformational entropy. The sieving mechanism of entropic recoil, proposed by Cabodi et al. [1], will be implemented using an array of elastomeric nanocheannels. Structures of various dimensions are fabricated taking advantage of replica molding techniques, starting from Focused Ion Beam (FIB) patterned silicon substrates. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and hard-PDMS [2] are used to replicate the features on the silicon mold. After plasma oxidation the nanochannels are sealed using a glass cover slip. A piezoelectric system will be integrated on the device in order to exploit the elastomeric propertis of PDMS, reversibly deform the nanochannels and tune their cross section. This system will allow a dynamic variation of the confinement conditions affecting molecules mobility inside the nanochannels. \ua9 Institute for Computer Science, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2009
Conformations of DNA in Triangular Nanochannels
Despite the widespread use of triangular nanochannels for the manipulation and analysis of DNA, studies on the confining effects induced by these nanofluidic structures on the molecules are still absent. Here, we perform coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations to study the conformations of DNA in nanochannels. The influence of the shape of the nanochannel cross section is examined by comparing the elongation of molecules in triangular, rectangular, and square channels. Furthermore, the conformation of \u3bb-DNA under weak confinement is studied both computationally and experimentally. Good agreement between optical measurements and simulations supports the reliability of the numerical model in predicting the molecule conformation, making it a reliable method to obtain information essential in many applications, such as DNA barcoding
Modulating DNA Translocation by a Controlled Deformation of a PDMS Nanochannel Device
Several strategies have been developed for the control of DNA translocation in nanopores and nanochannels. However, the possibility to reduce the molecule speed is still challenging for applications in the field of single molecule analysis, such as ultra-rapid sequencing. This paper demonstrates the possibility to alter the DNA translocation process through an elastomeric nanochannel device by dynamically changing its cross section. More in detail, nanochannel deformation is induced by a macroscopic mechanical compression of the polymeric device. This nanochannel squeezing allows slowing down the DNA molecule passage inside it. This simple and low cost method is based on the exploitation of the elastomeric nature of the device, can be coupled with different sensing techniques, is applicable in many research fields, such as DNA detection and manipulation, and is promising for further development in sequencing technology
Mechanical squeezing of an elastomeric nanochannel device: numerical simulations and ionic current characterization
Peculiar transport phenomena appear at nanoscale,
since surface effects strongly affect the behaviour of
fluids. Electrostatic and steric interactions, capillary forces
and entropic effects play a key role in the behaviour of
fluids and biomolecules. Since these effects strongly
depend on the size of the nanofluidic system, a careful
characterization of the fluidic environment is necessary.
Moreover, the possibility to dynamically modulate the size
of nanochannels is very appealing in the field of biomolecule
manipulation. Recently, we have developed a lab-onchip
made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). This polymeric
device is based on a tuneable nanochannel able to
dynamically change its dimension in order to fit the
application of interest. In fact, a mechanical compression
applied on the top of the elastomeric device squeezes the
nanochannel, reducing the channel cross section and
allowing a dynamical optimization of the nanostructures. In
this paper, this squeezing process is fully characterized
both numerically and experimentally. This analysis provides
information on the reduction of the nanochannel
dimensions induced by compression as a function of the
work of adhesion and of the stiffness of the materials
composing the device. Moreover, calculations demonstrate
the possibility to predict the change of the nanochannel size and shape induced by the compression. The possibility to
dynamically tune the channel size opens up new opportunities
in biomolecular sensing or sieving and in the study of
new hydrodynamics effects
Stretching of DNA confined in nanochannels with charged walls
There is currently a growing interest in control of stretching of DNA inside nanoconfined regions due to the possibility to analyze and manipulate single biomolecules for applications such as DNA mapping and barcoding, which are based on stretching the DNA in a linear fashion. In the present work, we couple Finite Element Methods and Monte Carlo simulations in order to study the conformation of DNA molecules confined in nanofluidic channels with neutral and charged walls. We find that the electrostatic forces become more and more important when lowering the ionic strength of the solution. The influence of the nanochannel cross section geometry is also studied by evaluating the DNA elongation in square, rectangular, and triangular channels. We demonstrate that coupling electrostatically interacting walls with a triangular geometry is an efficient way to stretch DNA molecules at the scale of hundreds of nanometers. The paper reports experimental observations of \u3bb-DNA molecules in poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanochannels filled with solutions of different ionic strength. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions, confirming the crucial role of the electrostatic repulsion of the constraining walls on the molecule stretching