809 research outputs found
Entropic stochastic resonance: the constructive role of the unevenness
We demonstrate the existence of stochastic resonance (SR) in confined systems
arising from entropy variations associated to the presence of irregular
boundaries. When the motion of a Brownian particle is constrained to a region
with uneven boundaries, the presence of a periodic input may give rise to a
peak in the spectral amplification factor and therefore to the appearance of
the SR phenomenon. We have proved that the amplification factor depends on the
shape of the region through which the particle moves and that by adjusting its
characteristic geometric parameters one may optimize the response of the
system. The situation in which the appearance of such entropic stochastic
resonance (ESR) occurs is common for small-scale systems in which confinement
and noise play an prominent role. The novel mechanism found could thus
constitute an important tool for the characterization of these systems and can
put to use for controlling their basic properties.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
Biased diffusion in confined media: Test of the Fick-Jacobs approximation and validity criteria
We study biased, diffusive transport of Brownian particles through narrow,
spatially periodic structures in which the motion is constrained in lateral
directions. The problem is analyzed under the perspective of the Fick-Jacobs
equation which accounts for the effect of the lateral confinement by
introducing an entropic barrier in a one dimensional diffusion. The validity of
this approximation, being based on the assumption of an instantaneous
equilibration of the particle distribution in the cross-section of the
structure, is analyzed by comparing the different time scales that characterize
the problem. A validity criterion is established in terms of the shape of the
structure and of the applied force. It is analytically corroborated and
verified by numerical simulations that the critical value of the force up to
which this description holds true scales as the square of the periodicity of
the structure. The criterion can be visualized by means of a diagram
representing the regions where the Fick-Jacobs description becomes inaccurate
in terms of the scaled force versus the periodicity of the structure.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure
Unifying thermodynamic and kinetic descriptions of single-molecule processes: RNA unfolding under tension
We use mesoscopic non-equilibrium thermodynamics theory to describe RNA
unfolding under tension. The theory introduces reaction coordinates,
characterizing a continuum of states for each bond in the molecule. The
unfolding considered is so slow that one can assume local equilibrium in the
space of the reaction coordinates. In the quasi-stationary limit of high
sequential barriers, our theory yields the master equation of a recently
proposed sequential-step model. Non-linear switching kinetics is found between
open and closed states. Our theory unifies the thermodynamic and kinetic
descriptions and offers a systematic procedure to characterize the dynamics of
the unfolding processComment: 13 pages, 3 figure
Effect of compressibility in bubble formation in closed systems
We analyze the stability of small bubbles in a closed system with fixed volume, temperature, and number of molecules. We show that there exists a minimum stable size of a bubble. Thus there exists a range of densities where no stable bubbles are allowed and the system has a homogeneous density which is lower than the coexistence density of the liquid. This becomes possible due to the finite liquid compressibility. Capillary analysis within the developed"modified bubble" model illustrates that the existence of the minimum bubble size is associated to the compressibility and it is not possible when the liquid is strictly incompressible. This finding is expected to have very important implications in cavitation and boiling
Double Entropic Stochastic Resonance
We demonstrate the appearance of a purely entropic stochastic resonance (ESR)
occurring in a geometrically confined system, where the irregular boundaries
cause entropic barriers. The interplay between a periodic input signal, a
constant bias and intrinsic thermal noise leads to a resonant ESR-phenomenon in
which feeble signals become amplified. This new phenomenon is characterized by
the presence of two peaks in the spectral amplification at corresponding
optimal values of the noise strength. The main peak is associated with the
manifest stochastic resonance synchronization mechanism involving the
inter-well noise-activated dynamics while a second peak relates to a regime of
optimal sensitivity for intra-well dynamics. The nature of ESR, occurring when
the origin of the barrier is entropic rather than energetic, offers new
perspectives for novel investigations and potential applications. ESR by itself
presents yet another case where one constructively can harvest noise in driven
nonequilibrium systems.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures ; Europhys. Lett., in press (2009
Entropic Stochastic Resonance
We present a novel scheme for the appearance of Stochastic Resonance when the
dynamics of a Brownian particle takes place in a confined medium. The presence
of uneven boundaries, giving rise to an entropic contribution to the potential,
may upon application of a periodic driving force result in an increase of the
spectral amplification at an optimum value of the ambient noise level. This
Entropic Stochastic Resonance (ESR), characteristic of small-scale systems, may
constitute a useful mechanism for the manipulation and control of
single-molecules and nano-devices.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
CELL DEATH AND VIABILITY IN MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON
CITONATAplicación de ensayos in vitro para la detección precoz de ficotoxinas en muestras de poblaciones fitoplanctónicas multiespecÃfica
Rose Bengal test: diagnostic yield and use for the rapid diagnosis of human brucellosis in emergency departments in endemic areas
ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to analyse the diagnostic yield of the rose Bengal test for the rapid diagnosis of human brucellosis in an emergency department in an area where the disease is endemic. The study included 711 patients diagnosed initially with brucellosis and 270 controls. Brucellosis patients were divided into three groups: group I, individuals with no regular exposure to or history of brucellosis; group II, individuals exposed repeatedly to Brucella infection; and group III, individuals infected with Brucella who had received appropriate treatment during the previous 12 months. Blood cultures were positive for 445 (62.6%) brucellosis patients, while the remaining 266 (37.4%) patients were diagnosed according to clinical and serological criteria. The overall sensitivity of the rose Bengal test was 92.9%. The specificities for groups I, II and III were 94.3%, 91.7% and 76.9%, respectively, with positive likelihood ratios of 16.5, 10.4 and 4.2, respectively. The diagnostic gain after the performance of the rose Bengal test was good or very good in patients with no previous exposure to Brucella or history of brucellosis, but poor in patients who were exposed repeatedly to Brucella or had a history of brucellosis and a low pre-test probability. Use of the rose Bengal test as the sole technique for the diagnosis of brucellosis in endemic areas should be considered very carefully in the context of patients who are exposed repeatedly to Brucella or have a history of brucellosis
Sharp Aâ‚‚ inequality for haar shift operators
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