@article{ZhongWangAdelsbergeretal.2011, author = {Zhong, Qi and Wang, Weinan and Adelsberger, Joseph and Golosova, Anastasia and Koumba, Achille M. Bivigou and Laschewsky, Andr{\´e} and Funari, Sergio S. and Perlich, Jan and Roth, Stephan V. and Papadakis, Christine M. and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Peter}, title = {Collapse transition in thin films of poly(methoxydiethylenglycol acrylate)}, series = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft}, volume = {289}, journal = {Colloid and polymer science : official journal of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft}, number = {5-6}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0303-402X}, doi = {10.1007/s00396-011-2384-1}, pages = {569 -- 581}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The thermal behavior of poly(methoxydiethylenglycol acrylate) (PMDEGA) is studied in thin hydrogel films on solid supports and is compared with the behavior in aqueous solution. The PMDEGA hydrogel film thickness is varied from 2 to 422 nm. Initially, these films are homogenous, as measured with optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray reflectivity, and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). However, they tend to de-wet when stored under ambient conditions. Along the surface normal, no long-ranged correlations between substrate and film surface are detected with GISAXS, due to the high mobility of the polymer at room temperature. The swelling of the hydrogel films as a function of the water vapor pressure and the temperature are probed for saturated water vapor pressures between 2,380 and 3,170 Pa. While the swelling capability is found to increase with water vapor pressure, swelling in dependence on the temperature revealed a collapse phase transition of a lower critical solution temperature type. The transition temperature decreases from 40.6 A degrees C to 36.6 A degrees C with increasing film thickness, but is independent of the thickness for very thin films below a thickness of 40 nm. The observed transition temperature range compares well with the cloud points observed in dilute (0.1 wt.\%) and semi-dilute (5 wt.\%) solution which decrease from 45 A degrees C to 39 A degrees C with increasing concentration.}, language = {en} } @article{ZhirovPikovskijShepelyansky2011, author = {Zhirov, O. V. and Pikovskij, Arkadij and Shepelyansky, Dima L.}, title = {Quantum vacuum of strongly nonlinear lattices}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {83}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {1539-3755}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.83.016202}, pages = {7}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We study the properties of classical and quantum strongly nonlinear chains by means of extensive numerical simulations. Due to strong nonlinearity, the classical dynamics of such chains remains chaotic at arbitrarily low energies. We show that the collective excitations of classical chains are described by sound waves whose decay rate scales algebraically with the wave number with a generic exponent value. The properties of the quantum chains are studied by the quantum Monte Carlo method and it is found that the low-energy excitations are well described by effective phonon modes with the sound velocity dependent on an effective Planck constant. Our results show that at low energies the quantum effects lead to a suppression of chaos and drive the system to a quasi-integrable regime of effective phonon modes.}, language = {en} } @article{ZakrevskyyKopyshevLomadzeetal.2011, author = {Zakrevskyy, Yuriy and Kopyshev, Alexey and Lomadze, Nino and Morozova, Elena and Lysyakova, Liudmila and Kasyanenko, Nina and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {DNA compaction by azobenzene-containing surfactant}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {84}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {1539-3755}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.84.021909}, pages = {9}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We report on the interaction of cationic azobenzene-containing surfactant with DNA investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. The properties of the surfactant can be controlled with light by reversible switching of the azobenzene unit, incorporated into the surfactant tail, between a hydrophobic trans (visible irradiation) and a hydrophilic cis (UV irradiation) configuration. The influence of the trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene on the compaction process of DNA molecules and the role of both isomers in the formation and colloidal stability of DNA-surfactant complexes is discussed. It is shown that the trans isomer plays a major role in the DNA compaction process. The influence of the cis isomer on the DNA coil configuration is rather small. The construction of a phase diagram of the DNA concentration versus surfactant/DNA charge ratio allows distancing between three major phases: colloidally stable and unstable compacted globules, and extended coil conformation. There is a critical concentration of DNA above which the compacted globules can be hindered from aggregation and precipitation by adding an appropriate amount of the surfactant in the trans configuration. This is because of the compensation of hydrophobicity of the globules with an increasing amount of the surfactant. Below the critical DNA concentration, the compacted globules are colloidally stable and can be reversibly transferred with light to an extended coil state.}, language = {en} } @article{ZakharovaKurthsVadivasovaetal.2011, author = {Zakharova, Anna and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Vadivasova, Tatyana and Koseska, Aneta}, title = {Analysing dynamical behavior of cellular networks via stochastic bifurcations}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {6}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {5}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0019696}, pages = {12}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The dynamical structure of genetic networks determines the occurrence of various biological mechanisms, such as cellular differentiation. However, the question of how cellular diversity evolves in relation to the inherent stochasticity and intercellular communication remains still to be understood. Here, we define a concept of stochastic bifurcations suitable to investigate the dynamical structure of genetic networks, and show that under stochastic influence, the expression of given proteins of interest is defined via the probability distribution of the phase variable, representing one of the genes constituting the system. Moreover, we show that under changing stochastic conditions, the probabilities of expressing certain concentration values are different, leading to different functionality of the cells, and thus to differentiation of the cells in the various types.}, language = {en} } @article{WorseckProchaskaMcQuinnetal.2011, author = {Worseck, Gabor and Prochaska, J. Xavier and McQuinn, Matthew and Dall'Aglio, Aldo and Fechner, Cora and Hennawi, Joseph F. and Reimers, Dieter and Richter, Philipp and Wisotzki, Lutz}, title = {The end of Helium Reionization at z similar or equal to 2.7 Inferred from cosmic variance in HST/COS He II Ly alpha Absorption spectra}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters}, volume = {733}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {2041-8205}, doi = {10.1088/2041-8205/733/2/L24}, pages = {6}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We report on the detection of strongly varying intergalactic He II absorption in HST/COS spectra of two z(em) similar or equal to 3 quasars. From our homogeneous analysis of the He II absorption in these and three archival sightlines, we find a marked increase in the mean He II effective optical depth from similar or equal to 1 at z similar or equal to 2.3 to greater than or similar to 5 at z similar or equal to 3.2, but with a large scatter of 2 less than or similar to tau(eff, He II) less than or similar to 5 at 2.7 < z < 3 on scales of similar to 10 proper Mpc. This scatter is primarily due to fluctuations in the He II fraction and the He II-ionizing background, rather than density variations that are probed by the coeval Hi forest. Semianalytic models of He II absorption require a strong decrease in the He II-ionizing background to explain the strong increase of the absorption at z greater than or similar to 2.7, probably indicating He II reionization was incomplete at z(reion) greater than or similar to 2.7. Likewise, recent three-dimensional numerical simulations of He II reionization qualitatively agree with the observed trend only if He II reionization completes at z(reion) similar or equal to 2.7 or even below, as suggested by a large tau(eff, He II) greater than or similar to 3 in two of our five sightlines at z < 2.8. By doubling the sample size at 2.7 less than or similar to z less than or similar to 3, our newly discovered He II sightlines for the first time probe the diversity of the second epoch of reionization when helium became fully ionized.}, language = {en} } @misc{Winkler2011, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Winkler, Michael}, title = {Thinning and turbulence in aqueous films}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-53107}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2011}, abstract = {This thesis covers the topic "Thinning and Turbulence in Aqueous Films". Experimental studies in two-dimensional systems gained an increasing amount of attention during the last decade. Thin liquid films serve as paradigms of atmospheric convection, thermal convection in the Earth's mantle or turbulence in magnetohydrodynamics. Recent research on colloids, interfaces and nanofluids lead to advances in the developtment of micro-mixers (lab-on-a-chip devices). In this project a detailed description of a thin film experiment with focus on the particular surface forces is presented. The impact of turbulence on the thinning of liquid films which are oriented parallel to the gravitational force is studied. An experimental setup was developed which permits the capturing of thin film interference patterns under controlled surface and atmospheric conditions. The measurement setup also serves as a prototype of a mixer on the basis of thermally induced turbulence in liquid thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range. The convection is realized by placing a cooled copper rod in the center of the film. The temperature gradient between the rod and the atmosphere results in a density gradient in the liquid film, so that different buoyancies generate turbulence. In the work at hand the thermally driven convection is characterized by a newly developed algorithm, named Cluster Imaging Velocimetry (CIV). This routine determines the flow relevant vector fields (velocity and deformation). On the basis of these insights the flow in the experiment was investigated with respect to its mixing properties. The mixing characteristics were compared to theoretical models and mixing efficiency of the flow scheme calculated. The gravitationally driven thinning of the liquid film was analyzed under the influence of turbulence. Strong shear forces lead to the generation of ultra-thin domains which consist of Newton black film. Due to the exponential expansion of the thin areas and the efficient mixing, this two-phase flow rapidly turns into the convection of only ultra-thin film. This turbulence driven transition was observed and quantified for the first time. The existence of stable convection in liquid nanofilms was proven for the first time in the context of this work.}, language = {en} } @article{WinkelmannMartinHaseloffetal.2011, author = {Winkelmann, Ricarda and Martin, Maria A. and Haseloff, Monika and Albrecht, Torsten and Bueler, Ed and Khroulev, C. and Levermann, Anders}, title = {The Potsdam parallel ice sheet model (PISM-PIK) - Part 1: Model description}, series = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {5}, journal = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {3}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1994-0416}, doi = {10.5194/tc-5-715-2011}, pages = {715 -- 726}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We present the Potsdam Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM-PIK), developed at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research to be used for simulations of large-scale ice sheet-shelf systems. It is derived from the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (Bueler and Brown, 2009). Velocities are calculated by superposition of two shallow stress balance approximations within the entire ice covered region: the shallow ice approximation (SIA) is dominant in grounded regions and accounts for shear deformation parallel to the geoid. The plug-flow type shallow shelf approximation (SSA) dominates the velocity field in ice shelf regions and serves as a basal sliding velocity in grounded regions. Ice streams can be identified diagnostically as regions with a significant contribution of membrane stresses to the local momentum balance. All lateral boundaries in PISM-PIK are free to evolve, including the grounding line and ice fronts. Ice shelf margins in particular are modeled using Neumann boundary conditions for the SSA equations, reflecting a hydrostatic stress imbalance along the vertical calving face. The ice front position is modeled using a subgrid-scale representation of calving front motion (Albrecht et al., 2011) and a physically-motivated calving law based on horizontal spreading rates. The model is tested in experiments from the Marine Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project (MISMIP). A dynamic equilibrium simulation of Antarctica under present-day conditions is presented in Martin et al. (2011).}, language = {en} } @article{WinkelBenBekhtiDarmstaedteretal.2011, author = {Winkel, B. and Ben Bekhti, Nadya and Darmstaedter, V. and Floeer, L. and Kerp, J. and Richter, Philipp}, title = {The high-velocity cloud complex Galactic center negative as seen by EBHIS and GASS I. Cloud catalog and global properties}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {533}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, number = {18}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {0004-6361}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201117357}, pages = {13}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Using Milky Way data of the new Effelsberg-Bonn HI Survey (EBHIS) and the Galactic All-Sky Survey (GASS), we present a revised picture of the high-velocity cloud (HVC) complex Galactic center negative (GCN). Owing to the higher angular resolution of these surveys compared to previous studies (e.g., the Leiden Dwingeloo Survey), we resolve complex GCN into lots of individual tiny clumps, that mostly have relatively broad line widths of more than 15 km s(-1). We do not detect a diffuse extended counterpart, which is unusual for an HVC complex. In total 243 clumps were identified and parameterized which allows us to statistically analyze the data. Cold-line components (i.e.,Delta upsilon(fwhm) < 7.5 km s(-1)) are found in about 5\% only of the identified cloudlets. Our analysis reveals that complex GCN is likely built up of several subpopulations that do not share a common origin. Furthermore, complex GCN might be a prime example for warm-gas accretion onto the Milky Way, where neutral HI clouds are not stable against interaction with the Milky Way gas halo and become ionized prior to accretion.}, language = {en} } @article{VallerianiZhangNagaretal.2011, author = {Valleriani, Angelo and Zhang, Gong and Nagar, Apoorva and Ignatova, Zoya and Lipowsky, Reinhard}, title = {Length-dependent translation of messenger RNA by ribosomes}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {83}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {1539-3755}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.83.042903}, pages = {4}, year = {2011}, abstract = {A simple measure for the efficiency of protein synthesis by ribosomes is provided by the steady state amount of protein per messenger RNA (mRNA), the so-called translational ratio, which is proportional to the translation rate. Taking the degradation of mRNA into account, we show theoretically that both the translation rate and the translational ratio decrease with increasing mRNA length, in agreement with available experimental data for the prokaryote Escherichia coli. We also show that, compared to prokaryotes, mRNA degradation in eukaryotes leads to a less rapid decrease of the translational ratio. This finding is consistent with the fact that, compared to prokaryotes, eukaryotes tend to have longer proteins.}, language = {en} } @article{TurukinaPikovskij2011, author = {Turukina, L. V. and Pikovskij, Arkadij}, title = {Hyperbolic chaos in a system of resonantly coupled weakly nonlinear oscillators}, series = {Modern physics letters : A, Particles and fields, gravitation, cosmology, nuclear physics}, volume = {375}, journal = {Modern physics letters : A, Particles and fields, gravitation, cosmology, nuclear physics}, number = {11}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0375-9601}, doi = {10.1016/j.physleta.2011.02.017}, pages = {1407 -- 1411}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We show that a hyperbolic chaos can be observed in resonantly coupled oscillators near a Hopf bifurcation, described by normal-form-type equations for complex amplitudes. The simplest example consists of four oscillators, comprising two alternatively activated, due to an external periodic modulation, pairs. In terms of the stroboscopic Poincare map, the phase differences change according to an expanding Bernoulli map that depends on the coupling type. Several examples of hyperbolic chaos for different types of coupling are illustrated numerically.}, language = {en} }