Measurements of the instantaneous velocity difference and local velocity with a fiber-optic coupler

New optical arrangements with two single-mode input fibers and a fiber-optic coupler are devised to measure the instantaneous velocity difference and local velocity. The fibers and the coupler are polarization-preserving to guarantee a high signal-to-noise ratio. When the two input fibers are used to collect the scattered light with the same momentum transfer vector but from two spatially separated regions in a flow, the obtained signals interfere when combined via the fiber-optic coupler. The resultant light received by a photomultiplier tube contains a cross-beat frequency proportional to the velocity difference between the two measuring points. If the two input fibers are used to collect the scattered light from a common scattering region but with two different momentum transfer vectors, the resultant light then contains a self-beat frequency proportional to the local velocity at the measuring point. The experiment shows that both the cross-beat and self-beat signals are large and the standard laser Doppler signal processor can be used to measure the velocity difference and local velocity in real time. The new technique will have various applications in the general area of fluid dynamics.Comment: Patent number: 67437 for associated information on the hardware, see http://karman.phyast.pitt.edu/horvath

Pipe network model for scaling of dynamic interfaces in porous media

We present a numerical study on the dynamics of imbibition fronts in porous media using a pipe network model. This model quantitatively reproduces the anomalous scaling behavior found in imbibition experiments [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 52}, 5166 (1995)]. Using simple scaling arguments, we derive a new identity among the scaling exponents in agreement with the experimental results.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, REVTeX, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Anomalous density dependence of static friction in sand

We measured experimentally the static friction force $F_s$ on the surface of a glass rod immersed in dry sand. We observed that $F_s$ is extremely sensitive to the closeness of packing of grains. A linear increase of the grain-density yields to an exponentially increasing friction force. We also report on a novel periodicity of $F_s$ during gradual pulling out of the rod. Our observations demonstrate the central role of grain bridges and arches in the macroscopic properties of granular packings.Comment: plain tex, 6 pages, to appear in Phys.Rev.

Proteins’ fold compactness alters disulfide-bond reducibility by 3 orders of magnitude: a comprehensive kinetic case study on the reduction of different size Trp-cage model proteins

We derived a novel approach to monitor disulfide bond reduction in the vicinity of aromatic cluster(s) by using the near-UV range (266–293 nm) of ECD spectra. By using combined NMR- and ECD-spectroscopy we have determined the 3D-fold characteristics and the associated reduction rate constants (k) of E19_SS – a highly thermostable; disulfide bond reinforced 39-amino acid long Exenatide mimetic – and its N-terminally truncated derivatives at different experimental conditions. Single SS-bond reduction of the E19_SS model (using 18-fold excess of TCEP, pH = 7, 37 °C) takes hours, 20-30 times longer than expected, thus would not reach completion applying the commonly used reduction protocols. We found that structural, steric and electrostatic factors influence the reduction rate, resulting in magnitude differences in reduction halftimes (900 > t½ > 1 min) even for structurally similar, well-folded derivatives of a small model-protein

Taxonomy based on science is necessary for global conservation

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