What drives the translocation of stiff chains?

We study the dynamics of the passage of a stiff chain through a pore into a cell containing particles that bind reversibly to it. Using Brownian Molecular Dynamics simulations we investigate the mean-first-passage time as a function of the length of the chain inside, for different concentrations of binding particles. As a consequence of the interactions with these particles, the chain experiences a net force along its length whose calculated value from the simulations accounts for the velocity at which it enters the cell. This force can in turn be obtained from the solution of a generalized diffusion equation incorporating an effective Langmuir adsorption free energy for the chain plus binding particles. These results suggest a role of binding particles in the translocation process which is in general quite different from that of a Brownian ratchet. Furthermore, non-equilibrium effects contribute significantly to the dynamics, \emph{e.g.}, the chain often enters the cell faster than particle binding can be saturated, resulting in a force several times smaller than the equilibrium value.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Multiple integral representation for the trigonometric SOS model with domain wall boundaries

Using the dynamical Yang-Baxter algebra we derive a functional equation for the partition function of the trigonometric SOS model with domain wall boundary conditions. The solution of the equation is given in terms of a multiple contour integral.Comment: 28 pages, v2: comments and references added, typos fixed, to appear in NP

Partition function of the trigonometric SOS model with reflecting end

We compute the partition function of the trigonometric SOS model with one reflecting end and domain wall type boundary conditions. We show that in this case, instead of a sum of determinants obtained by Rosengren for the SOS model on a square lattice without reflection, the partition function can be represented as a single Izergin determinant. This result is crucial for the study of the Bethe vectors of the spin chains with non-diagonal boundary terms.Comment: 13 pages, improved versio

Entropic phase separation of linked beads

We study theoretically a model system of a transient network of microemulsion droplets connected by telechelic polymers and explain recent experimental findings. Despite the absence of any specific interactions between either the droplets or polymer chains, we predict that as the number of polymers per drop is increased, the system undergoes a first order phase separation into a dense, highly connected phase, in equilibrium with dilute droplets, decorated by polymer loops. The phase transition is purely entropic and is driven by the interplay between the translational entropy of the drops and the configurational entropy of the polymer connections between them. Because it is dominated by entropic effects, the phase separation mechanism of the system is extremely robust and does not depend on the particlular physical realization of the network. The discussed model applies as well to other polymer linked particle aggregates, such as nano-particles connected with short DNA linkers

Drinfeld twist and symmetric Bethe vectors of the open XYZ chain with non-diagonal boundary terms

With the help of the Drinfeld twist or factorizing F-matrix for the eight-vertex solid-on-solid (SOS) model, we find that in the F-basis provided by the twist the two sets of pseudo-particle creation operators simultaneously take completely symmetric and polarization free form. This allows us to obtain the explicit and completely symmetric expressions of the two sets of Bethe states of the model.Comment: Latex file, 25 page

The Efficiency of Best-so-far ABC Algorithm Versus Analytical Methods for Schottky Diode Parameters Extraction

In this work, we investigate the forward current-voltage characteristics of p-type Ti/Au/Al0.29Ga0.71As Schottky diode, which were measured over a range of temperatures from 260 to 400 K. The experimental current-voltage characteristics are used to extract the Schottky diode main electrical parameters such as ideality factor, saturation current, height barrier, and series resistance. The parameters extraction has been reached using the best-so-far Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm. ABC is an optimization technique, which is used in finding the best solution from all feasible solutions. The efficiency of this method has been assessed using current-voltage characteristics obtained over wide range of temperatures. The accuracy of the best-so-far ABC algorithm is compared to two well-known analytical methods called Cheung and standard. Extracted diode parameters from different methods show that best results are obtained by the suggested method

A Novel Parameter Identification Approach for C–V–T Characteristics of Multi-Quantum Wells Schottky Diode Using Ant Lion Optimizer

We report the capacitance-voltage (C–V) characteristics of multi quantum wells Schottky diode. This diode is based on Aluminum gallium arsenide, which is highly promising wide band gap semiconductor for applications in high power electronic and optoelectronic devices. The elaboration process and the characterization phase have been carried out at Nottingham University. The C–V characteristics have been measured at different temperature ranging from 20 to 400 K. The barrier height and effective density were than extracted from 1/(C/A)2 plot using heuristic algorithm which called ALO (Ant Lion Optimizer). The accuracy of the extraction method is verified through the gotten results

Basal and LPS-stimulated inflammatory markers and the course of anxiety symptoms

A cross-sectional relationship between low-grade inflammation -characterized by increased blood levels of Creactive protein (CRP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines- and anxiety has been reported, but the potential longitudinal relationship has been less well studied. We aimed to examine whether basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS-)induced levels of inflammatory markers are associated with anxiety symptom severity over the course of nine years. We tested the association between basal and LPS-induced inflammatory markers with anxiety symptoms (measured with the Beck's Anxiety Inventory; BAI, Fear Questionnaire; FQ and Penn's State Worry Questionnaire; PSWQ) at 5 assessment waves over a period up nine years. We used multivariate-adjusted mixed models in up to 2867 participants of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). At baseline, 43.6% of the participants had a current anxiety disorder, of which social phobia (18.5%) was most prevalent. Our results demonstrated that baseline inflammatory markers were significantly associated with several outcomes of anxiety at baseline over nine subsequent years. BAI subscale of somatic (arousal) symptoms of anxiety, and FQ subscale of agoraphobia demonstrated the strongest effects with standardized betacoefficients of up to 0.14. The associations were attenuated by 25%-30% after adjusting for the presence of (comorbid) major depressive disorder (MDD), but remained statistically significant. In conclusion, we found that participants with high levels of inflammatory markers have on average high levels of anxiety consisting of physical arousal and agoraphobia, which tended to persist over a period of nine years, albeit with small effect sizes. These associations were partly driven by co-morbid depression.Stress-related psychiatric disorders across the life spa

Single-cell analysis of peptide expression and electrophysiology of right parietal neurons involved in male copulation behavior of a simultaneous hermaphrodite

Male copulation is a complex behavior that requires coordinated communication between the nervous system and the peripheral reproductive organs involved in mating. In hermaphroditic animals, such as the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis, this complexity increases since the animal can behave both as male and female. The performance of the sexual role as a male is coordinated via a neuronal communication regulated by many peptidergic neurons, clustered in the cerebral and pedal ganglia and dispersed in the pleural and parietal ganglia. By combining single-cell matrix-assisted laser mass spectrometry with retrograde staining and electrophysiology, we analyzed neuropeptide expression of single neurons of the right parietal ganglion and their axonal projections into the penial nerve. Based on the neuropeptide profile of these neurons, we were able to reconstruct a chemical map of the right parietal ganglion revealing a striking correlation with the earlier electrophysiological and neuroanatomical studies. Neurons can be divided into two main groups: (i) neurons that express heptapeptides and (ii) neurons that do not. The neuronal projection of the different neurons into the penial nerve reveals a pattern where (spontaneous) activity is related to branching pattern. This heterogeneity in both neurochemical anatomy and branching pattern of the parietal neurons reflects the complexity of the peptidergic neurotransmission involved in the regulation of male mating behavior in this simultaneous hermaphrodite