scholarly journals Biophysical mechanism of ultrafast helical twisting contraction in the giant unicellular ciliate Spirostomum ambiguum

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. X. Xu ◽  
M. S. Bhamla

The biophysical mechanism of cytoskeletal structures has been fundamental to understanding of cellular dynamics. Here, we present a mechanism for the ultrafast contraction exhibited by the unicellular ciliate Spirostomum ambiguum. Powered by a Ca2+ binding myoneme mesh architecture, Spirostomum is able to twist its two ends in the same direction and fully contract to 75% of its body length within five milliseconds, followed by a slow elongation mechanism driven by the uncoiling of the microtubules. To elucidate the principles of this rapid contraction and slow elongation cycle, we used high-speed imaging to examine the same-direction coiling of the two ends of the cell and immunofluorescence techniques to visualize and quantify the structural changes in the myoneme mesh, microtubule arrays, and the cell membrane. Lastly, we provide support for our hypotheses using a simple physical model that captures key features of Spirostomum’s ultrafast twisting contraction.SIGNIFICANCEUltrafast movements are ubiquitous in nature, and some of the most fascinating ultrafast biophysical systems are found on the cellular level. Quantitative studies and models are key to understand the biophysics of these fast movements. In this work, we study Spirostomum’s ultrafast contraction by using high-speed imaging, labeling relevant cytoskeletal structures, and building a physical model to provide a biophysical mechanism especially of the helical same direction twisting of this extremely large single cell organism. Deeper understanding of how single cells can execute extreme shape changes hold potential for advancing basic cell biophysics and also inspire new cellular inspired actuators for engineering applications.

Lab on a Chip ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 3631-3637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Holzner ◽  
Ying Du ◽  
Xiaobao Cao ◽  
Jaebum Choo ◽  
Andrew J. deMello ◽  
...  

In recent years, high-speed imaging has become increasingly effective for the rapid analysis of single cells in flowing environments.


2014 ◽  
Vol 761 ◽  
pp. 261-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice B. Thompson ◽  
Carl R. Tipton ◽  
Anne Juel ◽  
Andrew L. Hazel ◽  
Mark Dowling

AbstractMicrodroplet deposition is a technology that spans applications from tissue engineering to microelectronics. Our new high-speed imaging measurements reveal how sequential linear deposition of overlapping droplets on flat uniform substrates leads to striking non-uniform morphologies for moderate contact angles. We develop a simple physical model, which for the first time captures the post-impact dynamics drop-by-drop: surface-tension drives liquid redistribution, contact-angle hysteresis underlies initial non-uniformity, while viscous effects cause subsequent periodic variations.


Author(s):  
C. O. Jung ◽  
S. J. Krause ◽  
S.R. Wilson

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structures have excellent potential for future use in radiation hardened and high speed integrated circuits. For device fabrication in SOI material a high quality superficial Si layer above a buried oxide layer is required. Recently, Celler et al. reported that post-implantation annealing of oxygen implanted SOI at very high temperatures would eliminate virtually all defects and precipiates in the superficial Si layer. In this work we are reporting on the effect of three different post implantation annealing cycles on the structure of oxygen implanted SOI samples which were implanted under the same conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-210
Author(s):  
Meghashyam Panyam ◽  
Beshah Ayalew ◽  
Timothy Rhyne ◽  
Steve Cron ◽  
John Adcox

ABSTRACT This article presents a novel experimental technique for measuring in-plane deformations and vibration modes of a rotating nonpneumatic tire subjected to obstacle impacts. The tire was mounted on a modified quarter-car test rig, which was built around one of the drums of a 500-horse power chassis dynamometer at Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research. A series of experiments were conducted using a high-speed camera to capture the event of the rotating tire coming into contact with a cleat attached to the surface of the drum. The resulting video was processed using a two-dimensional digital image correlation algorithm to obtain in-plane radial and tangential deformation fields of the tire. The dynamic mode decomposition algorithm was implemented on the deformation fields to extract the dominant frequencies that were excited in the tire upon contact with the cleat. It was observed that the deformations and the modal frequencies estimated using this method were within a reasonable range of expected values. In general, the results indicate that the method used in this study can be a useful tool in measuring in-plane deformations of rolling tires without the need for additional sensors and wiring.


Vestnik MEI ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 82-90
Author(s):  
Dmitriy I. Panfilov ◽  
◽  
Mikhail G. Astashev ◽  
Aleksandr V. Gorchakov ◽  
◽  
...  

The specific features relating to voltage control of power transformers at distribution network transformer substations are considered. An approach to implementing high-speed on-load voltage control of serially produced 10/0.4 kV power transformers by using a solid-state on-load tap changer (SOLTC) is presented. An example of the SOLTC circuit solution on the basis of thyristor switches is given. On-load voltage control algorithms for power transformers equipped with SOLTC that ensure high reliability and high-speed operation are proposed. The SOLTC performance and the operability of the suggested voltage control algorithms were studied by simulation in the Matlab/Simulink environment and by experiments on the SOLTC physical model. The structure and peculiarities of the used simulation Matlab model are described. The SOLTC physical model design and its parameters are presented. The results obtained from the simulating the SOLTC operation on the Matlab model and from the experiments on the SOLTS physical model jointly with a power transformer under different loads and with using different control algorithms are given. An analysis of the experimental study results has shown the soundness of the adopted technical solutions. It has been demonstrated that the use of an SOLTC ensures high-speed voltage control, high efficiency and reliability of its operation, and arcless switching of the power transformer regulating taps without load voltage and current interruption. By using the SOLTC operation algorithms it is possible to perform individual phase voltage regulation in a three-phase 0.4 kV distribution network. The possibility of integrating SOLTC control and diagnostic facilities into the structure of modern digital substations based on the digital interface according to the IEC 61850 standard is noted.


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