Gutzwiller approximation for indistinguishable interacting Brownian particles on a lattice.

Nonequilibrium Brownian systems can be described using a creation and annihilation operator formalism for classical indistinguishable particles. This formalism has recently been used to derive a many-body master equation for Brownian particles on a lattice with interactions of arbitrary strength and range. One advantage of this formalism is the possibility of using solution methods for analogous many-body quantum systems.

Nonequilibrium master equation for interacting Brownian particles in a deep-well periodic potential.

Employing a creation and annihilation operator formulation, we derive an approximate many-body master equation describing discrete hopping from the more general continuous description of Brownian motion on a deep-well nonequilibrium periodic potential. The many-body master equation describes interactions of arbitrary strength and range arising from a "top-hat" two-body interaction potential. We show that this master equation reduces to the well-known asymmetric simple exclusion process and the zero range process in certain regimes.

Enhanced diffusion and the eigenvalue band structure of Brownian motion in tilted periodic potentials.

We consider enhanced diffusion for Brownian motion on a tilted periodic potential. Expressing the effective diffusion in terms of the eigenvalue band structure, we establish a connection between band gaps in the eigenspectrum and enhanced diffusion. We explain this connection for a simple cosine potential with a linear force and then generalize to more complicated potentials including one-dimensional potentials with multiple frequency components and nonseparable multidimensional potentials.

Thermodynamic uncertainty relations and molecular-scale energy conversion.

The thermodynamic uncertainty relation (TUR) is a universal constraint for nonequilibrium steady states that requires the entropy production rate to be greater than the relative magnitude of current fluctuations. It has potentially important implications for the thermodynamic efficiency of molecular-scale energy conversion in both biological and artificial systems. An alternative multidimensional thermodynamic uncertainty relation (MTUR) has also been proposed.

Reconstructing free-energy landscapes for cyclic molecular motors using full multidimensional or partial one-dimensional dynamic information.

Diffusion on a free-energy landscape is a fundamental framework for describing molecular motors. In the landscape framework, energy conversion between different forms of energy, e.g.

Feasibility of open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation through a transdiaphragmatic approach in dogs.

Objective: To describe and evaluate the feasibility of a transdiaphragmatic (TD) approach for open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OCCPR) as an alternative to a traditional lateral thoracotomy (LT) in a canine cadaver model.

Study Design: Randomized noninferiority ex vivo study.

Animals: Fourteen canine cadavers weighing 17.

Dermoid sinus type VI associated with spina bifida and tethered cord syndrome in a French Bulldog.

A 4-mo-old French bulldog was presented with acute onset pain and reluctance to move. A tubular structure arising in the dorsal thoracic midline and extending from a cutaneous orifice into deeper tissues was palpated on physical examination. Computed tomography with sinography revealed a dermoid sinus associated with spina bifida at the level of T3-T4.

Peripheral arteriovenous fistula manifesting as antebrachial dermatopathy in a cat.

CASE DESCRIPTION A 13-year-old neutered male Abyssinian cat with a 4-month history of right forelimb edema and multifocal crusting lesions at the distal aspect of the antebrachium was referred to a veterinary teaching hospital for evaluation. Extensive hemorrhage from the lesions had been observed after self-grooming, and findings on histologic examination of a skin biopsy sample prior to referral were consistent with atypical dermal hemodynamics and inflammation. CLINICAL FINDINGS Diffuse pitting edema and multifocal, 3- to 4-mm-diameter sanguineous crusting lesions affecting the antebrachium were observed distal to a pulsatile subcutaneous mass in the right elbow joint region that had a palpable thrill and auscultable bruit.

Outcome of secondary intention healing of full thickness lower eyelid defects in dogs.

Objectives: To assess healing of the canine lower eyelid without anatomical reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective case series of three client-owned dogs with lower eyelid defects. These dogs that underwent debridement of lower eyelid wounds that were left to heal by secondary intention were assessed for anatomical, functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Analysing single-molecule trajectories to reconstruct free-energy landscapes of cyclic motor proteins.

Stochastic trajectories measured in single-molecule experiments have provided key insights into the microscopic behaviour of cyclic motor proteins. However, the fundamental free-energy landscapes of motor proteins are currently only able to be determined by computationally intensive numerical methods that do not take advantage of available single-trajectory data. In this paper we present a robust method for analysing single-molecule trajectories of cyclic motor proteins to reconstruct their free-energy landscapes.

Reconstructing free-energy landscapes for nonequilibrium periodic potentials.

We present a method for reconstructing the free-energy landscape of overdamped Brownian motion on a tilted periodic potential. Our approach exploits the periodicity of the system by using the k-space form of the Smoluchowski equation and we employ an iterative approach to determine the nonequilibrium tilt. We reconstruct landscapes for a number of example potentials to show the applicability of the method to both deep and shallow wells and near-to- and far-from-equilibrium regimes.

Self-induced temperature gradients in Brownian dynamics.

Brownian systems often surmount energy barriers by absorbing and emitting heat to and from their local environment. Usually, the temperature gradients created by this heat exchange are assumed to dissipate instantaneously. Here we relax this assumption to consider the case where Brownian dynamics on a time-independent potential can lead to self-induced temperature gradients.

A mild thermomechanical process for the enzymatic conversion of radiata pine into fermentable sugars and lignin.

Background: Conversion of softwoods into sustainable fuels and chemicals is important for parts of the world where softwoods are the dominant forest species. While they have high theoretical sugar yields, softwoods are amongst the most recalcitrant feedstocks for enzymatic processes, typically requiring both more severe pretreatment conditions and higher enzyme doses than needed for other lignocellulosic feedstocks. Although a number of processes have been proposed for converting softwoods into sugars suitable for fuel and chemical production, there is still a need for a high-yielding, industrially scalable and cost-effective conversion route.

Local discretization method for overdamped Brownian motion on a potential with multiple deep wells.

We present a general method for transforming the continuous diffusion equation describing overdamped Brownian motion on a time-independent potential with multiple deep wells to a discrete master equation. The method is based on an expansion in localized basis states of local metastable potentials that match the full potential in the region of each potential well. Unlike previous basis methods for discretizing Brownian motion on a potential, this approach is valid for periodic potentials with varying multiple deep wells per period and can also be applied to nonperiodic systems.

Intrinsic irreversibility limits the efficiency of multidimensional molecular motors.

We consider the efficiency limits of Brownian motors able to extract work from the temperature difference between reservoirs or from external thermodynamic forces. These systems can operate in a variety of modes, including as isothermal engines, heat engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps. We derive analytical results showing that certain classes of multidimensional Brownian motor, including the Smoluchowski-Feynman ratchet, are unable to attain perfect efficiency (Carnot efficiency for heat engines).

Non-communicating gastric duplication cyst in a 10-week-old Labrador Retriever puppy.

Case Report: A 10-week-old male Labrador Retriever puppy was presented for acute onset of vomiting over a 48-h period. Ultrasound examination showed a cystic structure in the area of the pylorus that was impinging on gastric outflow. Surgery was performed to resect this structure.

Tight-binding approach to overdamped Brownian motion on a bichromatic periodic potential.

We present a theoretical treatment of overdamped Brownian motion on a time-independent bichromatic periodic potential with spatially fast- and slow-changing components. In our approach, we generalize the Wannier basis commonly used in the analysis of periodic systems to define a basis of S states that are localized at local minima of the potential. We demonstrate that the S states are orthonormal and complete on the length scale of the periodicity of the fast-changing potential, and we use the S-state basis to transform the continuous Smoluchowski equation for the system to a discrete master equation describing hopping between local minima.

Thermal fluctuation statistics in a molecular motor described by a multidimensional master equation.

We present a theoretical investigation of thermal fluctuation statistics in a molecular motor. Energy transfer in the motor is described using a multidimensional discrete master equation with nearest-neighbor hopping. In this theory, energy transfer leads to statistical correlations between thermal fluctuations in different degrees of freedom.

Energy transfer in a molecular motor in the Kramers regime.

We present a theoretical treatment of energy transfer in a molecular motor described in terms of overdamped Brownian motion on a multidimensional tilted periodic potential. The tilt represents a thermodynamic force driving the system out of equilibrium and, for nonseparable potentials, energy transfer occurs between degrees of freedom. For deep potential wells, the continuous theory transforms to a discrete master equation that is tractable analytically.

Tight-binding approach to overdamped Brownian motion on a multidimensional tilted periodic potential.

We present a theoretical treatment of overdamped Brownian motion on a multidimensional tilted periodic potential that is analogous to the tight-binding model of quantum mechanics. In our approach, we expand the continuous Smoluchowski equation in the localized Wannier states of the periodic potential to derive a discrete master equation. This master equation can be interpreted in terms of hopping within and between Bloch bands, and for weak tilting and long times we show that a single-band description is valid.

Optimizing the enzyme loading and incubation time in enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic substrates.

A mathematical model for costing enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosics is presented. This model is based on three variable parameters describing substrate characteristics and three unit costs for substrate, enzymes and incubation. The model is used to minimize the cost of fermentable sugars, as intermediate products on the route to ethanol or other biorefinery products, by calculating optimized values of enzyme loading and incubation time.

Thermodynamic analysis of a high-yield biochemical process for biofuel production.

This paper presents a thermodynamic analysis of a high-yield biochemical process for biofuel production from lignocelluosic biomass based on a previously proposed process. Unlike the standard biochemical process, which ferments sugar intermediates to ethanol, the process under consideration converts sugars to acetic acid which is esterified and hydrogenated to produce ethanol. This process has a significantly higher yield and produces no carbon dioxide.

Thermodynamic analysis of lignocellulosic biofuel production via a biochemical process: guiding technology selection and research focus.

The aim of this paper is to present an exergy analysis of bioethanol production process from lignocellulosic feedstock via a biochemical process to asses the overall thermodynamic efficiency and identify the main loss processes. The thermodynamic efficiency of the biochemical process was found to be 35% and the major inefficiencies of this process were identified as: the combustion of lignin for process heat and power production and the simultaneous scarification and co-fermentation process accounting for 67% and 27% of the lost exergy, respectively. These results were also compared with a previous analysis of a thermochemical process for producing biofuel.

Scaling laws and technology development strategies for biorefineries and bioenergy plants.

The economies of scale of larger biorefineries or bioenergy plants compete with the diseconomies of scale of transporting geographically distributed biomass to a central location. This results in an optimum plant size that depends on the scaling parameters of the two contributions. This is a fundamental aspect of biorefineries and bioenergy plants and has important consequences for technology development as "bigger is better" is not necessarily true.

Molecular probe of pairing in the BEC-BCS crossover.

We have used optical molecular spectroscopy to probe the many-body state of paired 6Li atoms near a broad Feshbach resonance. The optical probe projects pairs of atoms onto a vibrational level of an excited molecule. The rate of excitation enables a precise measurement of the closed-channel contribution to the paired state.