Random packings of frictionless particles

We conduct numerical simulations of random packings of frictionless particles at T = 0. The packing fraction where the pressure becomes nonzero is the same as the jamming threshold, where the static shear modulus becomes nonzero. The distribution of threshold packing fractions narrows, and its peak approaches random close packing as the system size increases. For packing fractions within the peak, there is no self-averaging, leading to exponential decay of the interparticle force distribution.     

Velocity profiles in repulsive athermal systems under shear

We conduct molecular dynamics simulations of athermal systems undergoing boundary-driven planar shear flow in two and three spatial dimensions. We find that these systems possess nonlinear mean velocity profiles when the velocity u of the shearing wall exceeds a critical value u(c). Above u(c), we also show that the packing fraction and mean-square velocity profiles become spatially dependent with dilation and enhanced velocity fluctuations near the moving boundary. In systems with overdamped dynamics, u(c) is only weakly dependent on packing fraction phi. However, in systems with underdamped dynamics, u(c) is set by the speed of shear waves in the material and tends to zero as phi approaches phi(c), which is near random close packing at small damping. For underdamped systems with phi相似文献   

Identification of archaeal proteins that affect the exosome function in vitro

Background  

The archaeal exosome is formed by a hexameric RNase PH ring and three RNA binding subunits and has been shown to bind and degrade RNA in vitro. Despite extensive studies on the eukaryotic exosome and on the proteins interacting with this complex, little information is yet available on the identification and function of archaeal exosome regulatory factors.     

Reynolds number dependence of the drag coefficient for laminar flow through fine-scale photoetched screens

The laminar steady flow downstream of fine-mesh screens is studied. Instead of woven-wire screens, high-uniformity screens are fabricated by photoetching holes into 50.8 m thick Inconel sheets. The resulting screens have minimum wire widths of 50.8 m and inter-wire separations of 254 m and 318 m for the two screens examined. A flow facility has been constructed for experiments with these screens. Air is passed through the screens at upstream velocities yielding wire width Reynolds numbers from 2 to 35. To determine the drag coefficient, pressure drops across the screens are measured using pressure transducers and manometers. Threedimensional flow simulations are also performed. The computational drag coefficients consistently overpredict the experimental values. However, the computational results exhibit sensitivity to the assumed wire cross section, indicating that detailed knowledge of the wire cross section is essential for unambiguous interpretation of experiments using photoetched screens. Standard semi-empirical drag correlations for woven-wire screens do not predict the present experimental results with consistent accuracy.List of symbols A ₁, A ₂ screen aspect ratios - c _d screen drag coefficient - d woven-wire diameter - D photoetched minimum wire width (spanwise) - f woven-wire screen drag function - M distance between adjacent wires - N spectral-element order - o woven-wire open area fraction - O photoetched open area fraction - _p pressure drop across screen - Re _d woven-wire diameter Reynolds number - Re _D photoetched wire width Reynolds number - U fluid velocity upstream of screen - W photoetched sheet thickness (streamwise) - x, y, z spatial coordinates - fluid density - fluid viscosity     

Elasticity theory of a twisted stack of plates

We present an elastic model of B-form DNA as a stack of thin, rigid plates or base pairs that are not permitted to deform. The symmetry of DNA and the constraint of plate rigidity limit the number of bulk elastic constants contributing to a macroscopic elasticity theory of DNA to four. We derive an effective twist-stretch energy in terms of the macroscopic stretch along and relative excess twist about the DNA molecular axis. In addition to the bulk stretch and twist moduli found previously, we obtain a twist-stretch modulus with the following remarkable properties: 1) it vanishes when the radius of the helical curve following the geometric center of each plate is zero, 2) it vanishes with the elastic constant K₂₃ that couples compression normal to the plates to a shear strain, if the plates are perpendicular to the molecular axis, and 3) it is nonzero if the plates are tilted relative to the molecular axis. This implies that a laminated helical structure carved out of an isotropic elastic medium will not twist in response to a stretching force, but an isotropic material will twist if it is bent into the shape of a helix. Received: 4 July 1997 / Received in final form: 16 October 1997 / Accepted: 21 October 1997     

Jamming transition and new percolation universality classes in particulate systems with attraction

We numerically study the jamming transition in particulate systems with attraction by investigating their mechanical response at zero temperature (T=0). We find three regimes of mechanical behavior separated by two critical transitions--connectivity and rigidity percolation. The transitions belong to different universality classes than their lattice counterparts, due to force balance constraints. We also find that these transitions are unchanged at low temperatures and resemble gelation transitions in experiments on colloidal and silica gels.     

Modulation of humoral immune response to oral BCG vaccination by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro (RDJ) in healthy adults

We hypothesize that the energy strategy of a cell is a key factor for determining how, or if, the immune system interacts with that cell. Cells have a limited number of metabolic states, in part, depending on the type of fuels the cell consumes. Cellular fuels include glucose (carbohydrates), lipids (fats), and proteins. We propose that the cell's ability to switch to, and efficiently use, fat for fuel confers immune privilege. Additionally, because uncoupling proteins are involved in the fat burning process and reportedly in protection from free radicals, we hypothesize that uncoupling proteins play an important role in immune privilege. Thus, changes in metabolism (caused by oxidative stresses, fuel availability, age, hormones, radiation, or drugs) will dictate and initiate changes in immune recognition and in the nature of the immune response. This has profound implications for controlling the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, for preventing graft rejection, and for targeting tumor cells for destruction.