Podosomes, small actin-based adhesion structures, differ from focal adhesions in two aspects: their core structure and their ability to organize into large patterns in osteoclasts. To address the mechanisms underlying these features, we imaged live preosteoclasts expressing green fluorescent protein-actin during their differentiation. We observe that podosomes always form inside or close to podosome groups, which are surrounded by an actin cloud. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching shows that actin turns over in individual podosomes in contrast to cortactin, suggesting a continuous actin polymerization in the podosome core. The observation of podosome assemblies during osteoclast differentiation reveals that they evolve from simple clusters into rings that expand by the continuous formation of new podosomes at their outer ridge and inhibition of podosome formation inside the rings. This self-organization of podosomes into dynamic rings is the mechanism that drives podosomes at the periphery of the cell in large circular patterns. We also show that an additional step of differentiation, requiring microtubule integrity, stabilizes the podosome circles at the cell periphery to form the characteristic podosome belt pattern of mature osteoclasts. These results therefore provide a mechanism for the patterning of podosomes in osteoclasts and reveal a turnover of actin inside the podosome.

The mechanical response of a wet granular layer to imposed shear is studied experimentally at low applied normal stress. The granular material is immersed in water and the shear is applied by sliding a plate resting on the upper surface of the layer. We monitor simultaneously the horizontal and the vertical displacements of the plate to submicron accuracy with millisecond time resolution. The relations between the plate displacement, the dilation of the layer and the measured frictional force are analyzed in detail. When slip begins, the dilation increases exponentially over a slip distance comparable to the particle radius. Surprisingly, we find that the total dilation and the steady state frictional force do not depend on the driving velocity, but do depend linearly on the applied normal stress. The friction also depends linearly on the dilation rate (rather than the dilation itself), and reaches a maximum value during the transient acceleration. We find that the layer can temporarily sustain a shear stress that is in excess of the critical value that will eventually lead to slip. We describe an empirical model that describes much of what we observe. This model differs in some respects from those used previously at stresses 10 6 times larger.

We report a time-resolved study of the dynamics associated with the slow compaction of a granular column submitted to thermal cycles. The column height displays a complex behavior: for a large amplitude of the temperature cycles, the granular column settles continuously, experiencing a small settling at each cycle. By contrast, for a small-enough amplitude, the column exhibits a discontinuous and intermittent activity: successive collapses are separated by quiescent periods whose duration is exponentially distributed. We then discuss potential mechanisms which would account for both the compaction and the transition at finite amplitude.

We experimentally demonstrate that the flow rate of granular material through an aperture is controlled by the exit velocity imposed to the particles and not by the pressure at the base, contrary to what is often assumed in previous works. This result is achieved by studying the discharge process of a dense packing of monosized disks through an orifice. The flow is driven by a conveyor belt. This two-dimensional horizontal setup allows to uncouple pressure and velocity and, therefore, to independently control the velocity at which the disks escape the horizontal silo and the pressure in the vicinity of the aperture. The flow rate is found to be directly proportional to the belt velocity, independent of the amount of disks in the container and, thus, independent of the pressure in the outlet region. In addition, this specific experimental configuration makes it possible to get information on the system dynamics from a single image of the disks that rest on the conveyor belt after the discharge.

Abstract. We study experimentally the main features of wrinkles that form in an initially stretched and flat elastic membrane when subjected to an axi-symmetric traction force at the center. The wavelength and amplitude of the wrinkle pattern are accurately characterized as the membrane tension and the traction forced are varied. We show that wrinkles are the result of a supercritical instability and appear for a welldefined critical traction force that is a function of the membrane tension. Wrinkle length and amplitude increase as the traction force is increased further. By contrast, both quantities decrease as the membrane tension is increased. Calculations based on symmetry arguments and elastic-energy minimization are in good agreement with experiments and provide a simple way to investigate configurations that are difficult to access experimentally. Such problems include wrinkles in elastic nano-films on finite-thickness viscous substrates used in semiconductor technology or in cellular forces detection.

A vertically hanging chain is released from rest and falls due to gravity on a scale pan. We discuss the various experimental and theoretical aspects of this classic problem. Careful time-resolved force measurements allow us to determine the differences between the idealized and its implementation in the laboratory problem. We observe that, in spite of the upward force exerted by the pan on the chain, the free end at the top falls faster than a freely falling body. Because a real chain exhibits a finite minimum radius of curvature, the contact at the bottom results in a tensional force which pulls the falling part downward

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A flat, freely suspended film of smectic-A liquid crystal supports a pressure difference, Dp, across its two free surfaces. The size of its meniscus is about 10 mm, 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the capillary length, and its profile is predicted to be circular, in accordance with our measurement. The measurement of its radius of curvature gives Dp. We nucleate ex nihilo an elementary edge dislocation loop, and from its critical radius and growth dynamics (governed by Dp), we find the line tension ͑ϳ8 3 10 27 dyn͒ and the mobility of an elementary edge dislocation ͑ϳ4 3 10 27 cm 2 s͞g͒. [S0031-9007(97)02572-6]