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Summary: NATURE MATERIALS | VOL 10 | JUNE 2011 | www.nature.com/naturematerials 415
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clusters into smaller ones occurs, in a tug
of war with molecular motors. Therefore, in
contrast with passive nucleation and growth
in (near) equilibrium systems, the result
here is a steady-state distribution of cluster
sizes. Bausch and co-authors show that this
steady-state regime requires a finely tuned
system at the edge of stability, between
fluidization and permanent network
stability. They also show results from a
simple computer-simulation model that
seems to be able to reproduce the observed
structural patterns and dynamics, including
the need for marginal stability of the
networks. Still, attaining a quantitative and
predictive theoretical understanding for the
observed phenomena remains a challenge
for the future.
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