Narrow-escape times for diffusion in microdomains with a particle-surface affinity: Mean-field results

We analyze the mean time t_{app} that a randomly moving particle spends in a bounded domain (sphere) before it escapes through a small window in the domain's boundary. A particle is assumed to diffuse freely in the bulk until it approaches the surface of the domain where it becomes weakly adsorbed, and then wanders diffusively along the boundary for a random time until it desorbs back to the bulk, and etc. Using a mean-field approximation, we define t_{app} analytically as a function of the bulk and surface diffusion coefficients, the mean time it spends in the bulk between two consecutive arrivals to the surface and the mean time it wanders on the surface within a single round of the surface diffusion.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, submitted to JC

Lamplighter model of a random copolymer adsorption on a line

We present a model of an AB-diblock random copolymer sequential self-packaging with local quenched interactions on a one-dimensional infinite sticky substrate. It is assumed that the A-A and B-B contacts are favorable, while A-B are not. The position of a newly added monomer is selected in view of the local contact energy minimization. The model demonstrates a self-organization behavior with the nontrivial dependence of the total energy, $E$ (the number of unfavorable contacts), on the number of chain monomers, $N$: $E\sim N^{3/4}$ for quenched random equally probable distribution of A- and B-monomers along the chain. The model is treated by mapping it onto the "lamplighter" random walk and the diffusion-controlled chemical reaction of $X+X\to 0$ type with the subdiffusive motion of reagents.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Statistics of randomly branched polymers in a semi-space

We investigate the statistical properties of a randomly branched 3--functional $N$--link polymer chain without excluded volume, whose one point is fixed at the distance $d$ from the impenetrable surface in a 3--dimensional space. Exactly solving the Dyson-type equation for the partition function $Z(N,d)=N^{-\theta} e^{\gamma N}$ in 3D, we find the "surface" critical exponent $\theta={5/2}$, as well as the density profiles of 3--functional units and of dead ends. Our approach enables to compute also the pairwise correlation function of a randomly branched polymer in a 3D semi-space.Comment: 15 pages 7 figsures; section VII is slightly reorganized, discussion is revise

Gesunder Boden - gesunde Pflanzen

Obwohl viele ältere Biobetriebe kleinere Nährstoffgehalte im Boden aufwiesen, waren diese noch nicht ertragsbegrenzend. Die abnehmenden Nährstoffgehalte im Boden und den Pflanzen zeigen, dass regelmässige Bodenanalysen auf dem Biobetrieb nötig sind. Die Suppressivität der Böden hing nicht direkt von den Biojahren ab. Durch die Gestaltung der Fruchtfolge und den Hofdüngereinsatz lässt sie sich aber steigern. Der Zusammenhang zwischen Bewirtschaftung Bodeneigenschaften und der Suppressivität muss genauer untersucht werden

New alphabet-dependent morphological transition in a random RNA alignment

We study the fraction $f$ of nucleotides involved in the formation of a cactus--like secondary structure of random heteropolymer RNA--like molecules. In the low--temperature limit we study this fraction as a function of the number $c$ of different nucleotide species. We show, that with changing $c$, the secondary structures of random RNAs undergo a morphological transition: $f(c)\to 1$ for $c \le c_{\rm cr}$ as the chain length $n$ goes to infinity, signaling the formation of a virtually "perfect" gapless secondary structure; while $f(c)c_{\rm cr}$, what means that a non-perfect structure with gaps is formed. The strict upper and lower bounds $2 \le c_{\rm cr} \le 4$ are proven, and the numerical evidence for $c_{\rm cr}$ is presented. The relevance of the transition from the evolutional point of view is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures (title is changed, text is essentially reworked), accepted in PR