Microswimmers – From Single Particle Motion to Collective Behavior

Locomotion of autonomous microswimmers is a fascinating field at the cutting edge of science. It combines the biophysics of self-propulsion via motor proteins, artificial propulsion mechanisms, swimming strategies at low Reynolds numbers, the hydrodynamic interaction of swimmers, and the collective motion and synchronisation of large numbers of agents. The articles of this Special Issue are based on the lecture notes of an international summer school, which was organized by the DFG Priority Programme 1726 “Microswimmers – From Single Particle Motion to Collective Behaviour” in the fall of 2015. The minireviews provide a broad overview of the field, covering both elementary and advanced material, as well as selected areas from current research.     

Cross-approximate entropy of cortical local field potentials quantifies effects of anesthesia - a pilot study in rats

Background

Anesthetics dose-dependently shift electroencephalographic (EEG) activity towards high-amplitude, slow rhythms, indicative of a synchronization of neuronal activity in thalamocortical networks. Additionally, they uncouple brain areas in higher (gamma) frequency ranges possibly underlying conscious perception. It is currently thought that both effects may impair brain function by impeding proper information exchange between cortical areas. But what happens at the local network level? Local networks with strong excitatory interconnections may be more resilient towards global changes in brain rhythms, but depend heavily on locally projecting, inhibitory interneurons. As anesthetics bias cortical networks towards inhibition, we hypothesized that they may cause excessive synchrony and compromise information processing already on a small spatial scale. Using a recently introduced measure of signal independence, cross-approximate entropy (XApEn), we investigated to what degree anesthetics synchronized local cortical network activity. We recorded local field potentials (LFP) from the somatosensory cortex of three rats chronically implanted with multielectrode arrays and compared activity patterns under control (awake state) with those at increasing concentrations of isoflurane, enflurane and halothane.

Results

Cortical LFP signals were more synchronous, as expressed by XApEn, in the presence of anesthetics. Specifically, XApEn was a monotonously declining function of anesthetic concentration. Isoflurane and enflurane were indistinguishable; at a concentration of 1 MAC (the minimum alveolar concentration required to suppress movement in response to noxious stimuli in 50% of subjects) both volatile agents reduced XApEn by about 70%, whereas halothane was less potent (50% reduction).

Conclusions

The results suggest that anesthetics strongly diminish the independence of operation of local cortical neuronal populations, and that the quantification of these effects in terms of XApEn has a similar discriminatory power as changes of spontaneous action potential rates. Thus, XApEn of field potentials recorded from local cortical networks provides valuable information on the anesthetic state of the brain.

     

Advanced flicker spectroscopy of fluid membranes

The bending elasticity of a fluid membrane is characterized by its modulus and spontaneous curvature. We present a new method, advanced flicker spectroscopy of giant nonspherical vesicles, which makes it possible to simultaneously measure both parameters for the first time. Our analysis is based on the generation of a large set of reference data from Monte Carlo simulations of randomly triangulated surfaces. As an example of the potential of the procedure, we monitor thermal trajectories of vesicle shapes and discuss the elastic response of zwitterionic membranes to transmembrane pH gradients. Our technique makes it possible to easily characterize membrane curvature as a function of environmental conditions.     

Vortex-creep activation energy in YBa2Cu3O7/PrBa2Cu3O7 superlattices

YBa₂Cu₃O₇/PrBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO/PBCO) superlattices with a different ratio of the superconducting and insulating layer thicknesses were prepared by high pressure dc sputtering. The vortex-creep activation energy U₀ was determined by analyzing the in-plane resistive transition of 200 μm wide bridges with the external magnetic field B oriented along the c axis. It was found that U₀ is proportional to the thickness of the YBCO layers, and does only weakly depend on the PBCO layer thickness, when the latter exceeds two unit cells. We observed a change in the variation of U₀ with the current I in the specimen: U₀ exhibits a plateau in the low-I region, then decreases significantly with increasing I. This behaviour is explained in terms of a crossover plastic vortex creep – elastic (collective) creep induced by the transport current.     

Connectedness properties of polynomial maps between affine spaces

Let f:A^mAⁿ be a polynomial map between affine spaces. We give some sufficient conditions for the connectedness of the difference kernel of f and relate this to the Jacobian Conjecture.     

Elektronenstruktur,Spektren und Magnetismus von Chinon-π-Komplexen des Nickels

Zusammenfassung Die Elektronenstrukturen von Bis-durochinon-nickel(0) und der Komplexe vom Typ Olefin-Ni(0)-Chinon werden im Rahmen der LCAO-MO-Näherung diskutiert und zur Deutung der Absorptionsspektren herangezogen. Den im freien Durochmon auftretenden Übergängen lassen sich in den Komplexspektren jeweils nur wenig verschobene Banden zuordnen. Darüber hinaus wird eine intensive Charge-Transfer-Bande beobachtet, die einem Übergang vom höchsten besetzten Nickelzustand zum tiefsten unbesetzten Chinon-Orbital entspricht. Aus der Intensität der Bande, die im freien Chinon dem b _3g 2b ₂ g-Übergang zugeordnet wird, ergibt sich für das gelöste Bis-durochinon-nickel(0)-Molekül die Symmetrie D _2h . Während die Komplexe mit Durochinon in Übereinstimmung mit der Theorie diamagnetisch sind, weisen die analogen Verbindungen der Dimethylchinone magnetische Momente von 1,52 bzw. 2,75 B. M. auf, woraus auf eine Mitbeteiligung polarer Strukturen am Grundzustand dieser Komplexe geschlossen wird.

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The electronic structures of bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) and complexes of the type olefine-Ni(0)-quinone are discussed in the MO-LCAO approximation and used for an interpretation of the absorption spectra. The transitions of the free duroquinone can be correlated with transitions of the complexes at nearly the same wavelengths. In addition, an intense charge transfer band is observed which corresponds to a transition from the highest occupied nickel orbital to the lowest unoccupied quinone orbital. From the intensity of the band which corresponds to b _3g 2b_2g in the free quinone, the symmetry D _2h for the dissolved bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) molecule is deduced. Whereas the duroquinone complexes are diamagnetic in agreement with theory, analogous compounds of the diméthylquinones exhibit magnetic momenta of 1.52 and 2.75 B. M. suggesting the participation of polar structures in the ground state of these complexes.

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Résumé Les structures électroniques du bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) et des complexes du type oléfine-Ni(0)-quinone sont discutées dans le cadre del'approximationMO-LCAO et utilisées pour l'interprétation des spectres d'absorption. Aux transitions de la duroquinone libre peuvent être attribuées des bandes peu déplacées dans les spectres des complexes. En outre on observe une bande intense correspondant à une transition de la plus haute orbitale occupée du nickel à la plus basse orbitale libre de la quinone. L'intensité de la bande nommée b _3g 2b _2g dans la quinone libre indique la symétrie D _2h pour la molécule dissoute du bis-duroquinone-nickel(0). Tandis que les complexes de la duroquinone sont diamagnétiques en accord avec la théorie, des composés analogues des diméthylquinones présentent des moments magnétiques de 1,52 et de 2,75 B. M. d'où l'on infère la participation de structures polaires à l'état fondamental de ces complexes.

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6. Mitteilung über Komplexe vom Typ des Bis-durochinon-nickel(0). 5. Mitt. vgl. [11].     

STUDIEN ZUM VORGANG DER WASSERSTOFFÜBERTRAGUNG 511 RANEY-NICKEL ALS REAGENS ZUR HYDRIERENDEN ABSPALTUNG DES CHALKOGENATOMS AUS SCHWEFEL-, SELEN- UND TELLUR-VERBINDUNGEN

Abstract

Thioäther, Sulfoxide, Sulfone, organische Selenide und Telluride (R – Y – R': R, R', = Alkyl, Aryl, Y=S, SO, SO₂, Se, Te) werden an der Grenzfläche von Raney-Nickel hydrogenolysiert. Als Spaltprodukte entstehen die Verbindungen RH und R'H sowie eine Grenzflächenverbindung (Raney-Nickel-Y) (Y=S, Se, Te; S auch aus Sulfoxiden und Sulfonen. Letztere entbinden ebenfalls mit Mineralsäuren YH₂).

Die Größe und ‘Struktur’ der Oberfläche des Raney-Nickels entscheidet über die Hydrogenolysekapazität. Bei einer technischen Raney-Nickel-Probe liegt bei Diphenylsulfid die Sättigungsausbeute an Benzol bei 1,1 mmol/g Raney-Nickel. Die Sättigungskapazität hängt ab von der Struktur von R bzw. R' und dem Heteroatom Y. (Auch Benzylether können–wenn auch langsamer als Thioether–zu Toluol aufgespalten werden). Auf Grund bekannter Daten werden Vorstellungen entwickelt, die ein Bild über den topochemischen Verlauf der Hydrogenolyse von R–Y–R' vermitteln sollen.

Vergiftetes Raney-Nickel ist im Gegensatz zum aktivierten Raney-Nickel nicht mehr oder nur stark vermindert zur Isomerisierung, Disproportionierung und zum H-D-Austausch befähigt. Bei diesen Prozessen spielt offenbar der im Nickel strukturgebundene Wasserstoff eine wichtige Rolle.

Some thioethers, sulphoxides, sulphones, organoselenium and tellurium compounds (R–Y–R' R, R'= Alkyl, Aryl, Y?S, SO, SO₂, Se, Te) have been reductively cleaved on the surface of Raney-nickel. The products comprise RH and R'H, and a surface bound material (Raney-nickel-Y) (Y?S, also from sulphoxides and sulphones, Se, Te. The latter may be released as YH₂ on treatment with mineral acids).

The area and ‘structure’ of the surface determines the hydrogenolysis capacity of the catalyst. For technical quality Raney-nickel, the limiting yield of benzene from diphenylsulphide is 1.1 mmol/g. The limiting yield is dependent on the structure of R and R' and also the nature of Y. (Benzyl ethers may also be reduced to toluene, if somewhat slower than the corresponding thioether).

Proposal for the processes possibly involved at the surface during hydrogenolysis of R–Y–R' are put forward in the basis of consideration of the available experimental data.

Poisoned Raney-nickel (in contrast to the activated catalyst) is practically inactive as agent for isomerization, disproportionation, or H–D exchange, and hence surface bound hydrogen clearly plays an important role in these processes.     

Investigating Membrane-Mediated Antimicrobial Peptide Interactions with Synchrotron Radiation Far-Infrared Spectroscopy

Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy enables access to vibrational information from mid over far infrared to even terahertz domains. This information may prove critical for the elucidation of fundamental bio-molecular phenomena including folding-mediated innate host defence mechanisms. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent one of such phenomena. These are major effector molecules of the innate immune system, which favour attack on microbial membranes. AMPs recognise and bind to the membranes whereupon they assemble into pores or channels destabilising the membranes leading to cell death. However, specific molecular interactions responsible for antimicrobial activities have yet to be fully understood. Herein we probe such interactions by assessing molecular specific variations in the near-THz 400–40 cm⁻¹ range for defined helical AMP templates in reconstituted phospholipid membranes. In particular, we show that a temperature-dependent spectroscopic analysis, supported by 2D correlative tools, provides direct evidence for the membrane-induced and folding-mediated activity of AMPs. The far-FTIR study offers a direct and information-rich probe of membrane-related antimicrobial interactions.