Biophysical Model of the Coupled Mechanisms of Cell Adhesion, Contraction and Spreading

Author(s):  
Franck J. Vernerey

Recent research has shown that cell spreading is highly dependent on the contractility of its cytoskeleton and the mechanical properties of its surrounding environment. This extended abstract introduces a mathematical formulation of cell spreading and contraction that couples the processes of stress fiber formation, protrusion growth through actin polymerization at the cell edge and dynamics of cross-membrane protein (integrins) enabling cell-substrate attachment. The evolving cell’s cytoskeleton is modeled as a mixture of fluid, proteins and filaments that can exchange mass and generate contraction. In particular, besides self-assembling into stress fibers, actin monomers are able to polymerize into an actin meshwork at the cell’s boundary in order to push the membrane forward and generate protrusion. These processes are possible via the development of cell-substrate attachment complexes that arise from the mechano-sensitive equilibrium of membrane proteins, known as integrins. Numerical simulations show that the proposed model is able to capture the dependency of cell spreading and contraction on substrate stiffness and chemistry. The very good agreement between model predictions and experimental observations suggests that mechanics plays a strong role into the coupled mechanisms of contraction, adhesion and spreading of adherent cells.

Author(s):  
Guanghui Fu ◽  
Abhijit Chandra

An analytical model for dishing and step height reduction in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of copper is presented. The model is based on the assumption that at the feature scale, high areas on the wafer experience higher pressure than low areas. The slurry is assumed to be Prestonian. The model delineates how dishing and step height reduction depend on slurry properties (selectivity and Preston’s constants), pad characteristics (stiffness and bending ability), polishing conditions (pressure, relative velocity and overpolishing) and wafer surface geometry (linewidth, pitch and pattern density). Model predictions are in good agreement with existing experimental observations. The present model facilitates understanding of the CMP process at the feature scale. Based on the proposed model, design avenues for decreasing dishing and increasing the speed of step height reduction may be explored through modification of appropriate parameters for slurry, pad and polishing conditions. The proposed model may also be used as a design tool for pattern layout to optimize the performance of the CMP process.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (06) ◽  
pp. 1550077 ◽  
Author(s):  
MINGCHAO LIANG ◽  
JUNHONG WEI ◽  
HONGMEI HAN ◽  
CHENGGUO FU ◽  
JIANJUN LIU

The capillary pressure is one of the crucial parameters in many science and engineering applications such as composite materials, interface science, chemical engineering, oil exploration, etc. The drop/bubble formation and its mechanisms that affect the permeability of porous media have steadily attracted much attention in the past. When a drop/bubble moves from a larger capillary to a smaller one, it is often obstructed by an additional pressure difference caused by the capillary force. In this paper, a comprehensive model is derived for the capillary pressure difference when a drop/bubble flows through a constricted capillary, i.e. a geometrically constricted passage with an abrupt change in radius. The proposed model is expressed as a function of the smaller capillary radius, pore-throat ratio, contact angle, surface tension and length of the drop/bubble in the smaller capillary. The model predictions are compared with the available experimental data, and good agreement is found between them.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
pp. 1350062
Author(s):  
PEI-JUNG WU ◽  
CHOU-CHING K. LIN ◽  
MING-SHAUNG JU

Cell spreading plays an important role in the modulation of physiological functions such as inflammation and cancer metastasis. The Brownian ratchet model and Bell's model have been used to simulate actin dynamics and bond kinetics for focal adhesion dynamics, respectively. In the present study, these models were modified and two additional subcellular mechanisms, integrin and myosin kinetics, were incoporated. An integrin recruitment function was introduced to determine the size of a focal adhesion associated with the substrate stiffness. The relationship between myosin concentration and the actin protrusion velocity was described by a first-order differential equation. Subcellular processes, including cell protrusion, focal adhesion formation, and stress fiber formation, were integrated into an axial-symmetric biophysical model, while inputs to the model were kinematic data from time-lapse experiments. Numerical simulations of the model using the Gillespie algorithm showed that dynamics of cell spreading can be well described by the model.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1286
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Górecki ◽  
Przemysław Ptak

This paper concerns the problem of modelling electrical, thermal and optical properties of multi-colour power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) situated on a common PCB (Printed Circuit Board). A new form of electro-thermo-optical model of such power LEDs is proposed in the form of a subcircuit for SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuits Emphasis). With the use of this model, the currents and voltages of the considered devices, their junction temperature and selected radiometric parameters can be calculated, taking into account self-heating phenomena in each LED and mutual thermal couplings between each pair of the considered devices. The form of the formulated model is described, and a manner of parameter estimation is also proposed. The correctness and usefulness of the proposed model are verified experimentally for six power LEDs emitting light of different colours and mounted on an experimental PCB prepared by the producer of the investigated devices. Verification was performed for the investigated diodes operating alone and together. Good agreement between the results of measurements and computations was obtained. It was also proved that the main thermal and optical parameters of the investigated LEDs depend on a dominant wavelength of the emitted light.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siul A. Ruiz ◽  
Samuel Bickel ◽  
Dani Or

AbstractEarthworm activity modifies soil structure and promotes important hydrological ecosystem functions for agricultural systems. Earthworms use their flexible hydroskeleton to burrow and expand biopores. Hence, their activity is constrained by soil hydromechanical conditions that permit deformation at earthworm’s maximal hydroskeletal pressure (≈200kPa). A mechanistic biophysical model is developed here to link the biomechanical limits of earthworm burrowing with soil moisture and texture to predict soil conditions that permit bioturbation across biomes. We include additional constraints that exclude earthworm activity such as freezing temperatures, low soil pH, and high sand content to develop the first predictive global map of earthworm habitats in good agreement with observed earthworm occurrence patterns. Earthworm activity is strongly constrained by seasonal dynamics that vary across latitudes largely due to soil hydromechanical status. The mechanistic model delineates the potential for earthworm migration via connectivity of hospitable sites and highlights regions sensitive to climate.


2001 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 381-385
Author(s):  
Z. Akdeniz ◽  
M . Gaune-Escard ◽  
M. P. Tosi

Abstract We determine a model of the ionic interactions in RF3 compounds, where R is a rare-earth element in the series from La to Lu, by an analysis of data on the bond length and the vibrational mode frequencies of the PrF3, GdF3 and HoF3 molecular monomers. All RF3 monomers are predicted to have a pyramidal shape, displaying a progressive flattening of the molecular shape in parallel with the lanthanide contraction of the bond length. The vibrational frequencies of all monomers are calculated, the results being in good agreement with the data from infrared studies of matrix-isolated molecules. We also evaluate the geometrical structure and the vibrational spectrum of the La2F6 and Ce2F6 dimers, as a further test of the proposed model. -PACS 36.40.Wa (Charged clusters)


2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. 2475-2484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Vouret-Craviari ◽  
Christine Bourcier ◽  
Etienne Boulter ◽  
Ellen Van Obberghen-Schilling

Soluble mediators such as thrombin and sphingosine-1-phosphate regulate morphological changes in endothelial cells that affect vascular permeability and new blood vessel formation. Although these ligands activate a similar set of heterotrimeric G proteins, thrombin causes cell contraction and rounding whereas sphingosine-1-phosphate induces cell spreading and migration. A functional requirement for Rho family GTPases in the cytoskeletal responses to both ligands has been established, yet the dynamics of their regulation and additional signaling mechanisms that lead to such opposite effects remain poorly understood. Using a pull-down assay to monitor the activity of Rho GTPases in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, we find significant temporal and quantitative differences in RhoA and Rac1 activation. High levels of active RhoA rapidly accumulate in cells in response to thrombin whereas Rac1 is inhibited. In contrast, sphingosine-1-phosphate addition leads to comparatively weak and delayed activation of RhoA and it activates Rac1. In addition, we show here that sphingosine-1-phosphate treatment activates a Src family kinase and triggers recruitment of the F-actin-binding protein cortactin to sites of actin polymerization at the rim of membrane ruffles. Both Src and Rac pathways are essential for lamellipodia targeting of cortactin. Further, Src plays a determinant role in sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced cell spreading and migration. Taken together these data demonstrate that the thrombin-induced contractile and immobile phenotype in endothelial cells reflects both robust RhoA activation and Rac inhibition, whereas Src- and Rac-dependent events couple sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors to the actin polymerizing machinery that drives the extension of lamellipodia and cell migration.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Dhar

The trajectory of an angular particle as it cuts a ductile target is, in general, complicated because of its dependence not only on particle shape, but also on particle orientation at the initial instant of impact. This orientation dependence has also made experimental measurement of impact parameters of single angular particles very difficult, resulting in a relatively small amount of available experimental data in the literature. The current work is focused on obtaining measurements of particle kinematics for comparison to rigid plastic model developed by Papini and Spelt. Fundamental mechanisms of material removal are identified, and measurements of rebound parameters and corresponding crater dimensions of single hardened steel particles launched against flat aluminium alloy targets are presented. Also a 2-D finite element model is developed and a dynamic analysis is performed to predict the erosion mechanism. Overall, a good agreement was found among the experimental results, rigid-plastic model predictions and finite element model predictions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 129-131 ◽  
pp. 1244-1247
Author(s):  
Hai Hang Xu ◽  
Lei Zhong

New shear and extensional viscosity models based on Fredrickson kinetic equation coupled with Dewitt constitutive equation were established to predict viscosities of polymer melts. The experimental data of 125°C LDPE and LDPE filled with 35% glass beads reported from references were compared with the model predictions. The predictions showed good agreement with the measurements. The models are simple and easy to use. Because they contain no structure parameter, they are capable to describe the viscosities of pure polymer and polymer composites.


2013 ◽  
Vol 328 ◽  
pp. 950-954
Author(s):  
Wei Wei Zhang ◽  
Hong Xu ◽  
Hong Yuan Li

An analytical method based on a creep model is being developed to investigate the effect of retightening on stress relaxation behavior for high-temperature turbine and valve studs/bolts. In order to validate the approach, the calculated results are compared to the results of uniaxial reloading stress relaxation testing, which were performed by the National Research Institute for Metals of Japan (NRIM) for 12Cr-1Mo-1W-1/4V stainless steel bolting material at 550°C. It was shown that the proposed model based on Altenbach-Gorash-Naumenko creep model for the primary and steady state creep could be applied for the present data. The calculated residual stresses versus time curves were in good agreement with the measured for initial stress level of 273.6MPa at 550°C and for specific reloading time intervals of 24, 72, 240, and 720 hours.


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