Flagellar Cooperativity and Collective Motion in Sperm

Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 353
Author(s):  
Julie Simons ◽  
Alexandra Rosenberger

Sperm have thin structures known as flagella whose motion must be regulated in order to reach the egg for fertilization. Large numbers of sperm are typically needed in this process and some species have sperm that exhibit collective or aggregate motion when swimming in groups. The purpose of this study is to model planar motion of flagella in groups to explore how collective motion may arise in three-dimensional fluid environments. We use the method of regularized Stokeslets and a three-dimensional preferred curvature model to simulate groups of undulating flagella, where flagellar waveforms are modulated via hydrodynamic coupling with other flagella and surfaces. We find that collective motion of free-swimming flagella is an unstable phenomenon in long-term simulations unless there is an external mechanism to keep flagella near each other. However, there is evidence that collective swimming can result in significant gains in velocity and efficiency. With the addition of an ability for sperm to attach and swim together as a group, velocities and efficiencies can be increased even further, which may indicate why some species have evolved mechanisms that enable collective swimming and cooperative behavior in sperm.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen-Vi Mohamed ◽  
Paula Lepine ◽  
Maria Lacalle-Aurioles ◽  
Julien Sirois ◽  
Meghna Mathur ◽  
...  

By providing a three-dimensional in vitro culture system with key features of the substantia nigra region in the brain, 3D neuronal organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide living neuronal tissue resembling the midbrain region of the brain. However, a major limitation of conventional brain organoid culture is that it is often labor-intensive, requiring highly specialized personnel for moderate throughput. Additionally, the methods published for long-term cultures require time-consuming maintenance to generate brain organoids in large numbers. With the increasing need for human midbrain organoids (hMOs) to better understand and model Parkinson′s disease (PD) in a dish, there is a need to implement new workflows and methods to both generate and maintain hMOs, while minimizing batch to batch variation. In this study, we developed a method with microfabricated disks to scale up the generation of hMOs. This opens up the possibility to generate larger numbers of hMOs, in a manner that minimizes the amount of labor required, while decreasing variability and maintaining the viability of these hMOs over time. Taken together, producing hMOs in this manner opens up the potential for these to be used to further PD studies.


Author(s):  
C.L. Woodcock

Despite the potential of the technique, electron tomography has yet to be widely used by biologists. This is in part related to the rather daunting list of equipment and expertise that are required. Thanks to continuing advances in theory and instrumentation, tomography is now more feasible for the non-specialist. One barrier that has essentially disappeared is the expense of computational resources. In view of this progress, it is time to give more attention to practical issues that need to be considered when embarking on a tomographic project. The following recommendations and comments are derived from experience gained during two long-term collaborative projects.Tomographic reconstruction results in a three dimensional description of an individual EM specimen, most commonly a section, and is therefore applicable to problems in which ultrastructural details within the thickness of the specimen are obscured in single micrographs. Information that can be recovered using tomography includes the 3D shape of particles, and the arrangement and dispostion of overlapping fibrous and membranous structures.


1967 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 8-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Collen

The utilization of an automated multitest laboratory as a data acquisition center and of a computer for trie data processing and analysis permits large scale preventive medical research previously not feasible. Normal test values are easily generated for the particular population studied. Long-term epidemiological research on large numbers of persons becomes practical. It is our belief that the advent of automation and computers has introduced a new era of preventive medicine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (06) ◽  
pp. 696-702
Author(s):  
Nolan B. Seim ◽  
Enver Ozer ◽  
Sasha Valentin ◽  
Amit Agrawal ◽  
Mead VanPutten ◽  
...  

AbstractResection and reconstruction of midface involve complex ablative and reconstructive tools in head and oncology and maxillofacial prosthodontics. This region is extraordinarily important for long-term aesthetic and functional performance. From a reconstructive standpoint, this region has always been known to present challenges to a reconstructive surgeon due to the complex three-dimensional anatomy, the variable defects created, combination of the medical and dental functionalities, and the distance from reliable donor vessels for free tissue transfer. Another challenge one faces is the unique features of each individual resection defect as well as individual patient factors making each preoperative planning session and reconstruction unique. Understanding the long-term effects on speech, swallowing, and vision, one should routinely utilize a multidisciplinary approach to resection and reconstruction, including head and neck reconstructive surgeons, prosthodontists, speech language pathologists, oculoplastic surgeons, dentists, and/or craniofacial teams as indicated and with each practice pattern. With this in mind, we present our planning and reconstructive algorithm in midface reconstruction, including a dedicated focus on dental rehabilitation via custom presurgical planning.


Author(s):  
Tingting Xia ◽  
Chengfei Xu ◽  
Pengfei Dai ◽  
Xiaoyun Li ◽  
Riming Lin ◽  
...  

Three-dimensional (3D) conductive polymers are promising conductive matrices for electrode materials toward electrochemical energy storage. However, their fragile nature and weak binding forces with active materials could not guarantee long-term...


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110000
Author(s):  
Annabel LW Groot ◽  
Jelmer S Remmers ◽  
Roel JHM Kloos ◽  
Peerooz Saeed ◽  
Dyonne T Hartong

Purpose: Recurrent contracted sockets are complex situations where previous surgeries have failed, disabling the wear of an ocular prosthesis. A combined method of surgery and long-term fixation using custom-made, three-dimensional (3D) printed conformers is evaluated. Methods: Retrospective case series of nine patients with recurrent excessive socket contraction and inability to wear a prosthesis, caused by chemical burns ( n = 3), fireworks ( n = 3), trauma ( n = 2) and enucleation and radiotherapy at childhood due to optic nerve glioma ( n = 1) with three average previous socket surgeries (range 2–6). Treatment consisted of a buccal mucosal graft and personalized 3D-printed conformer designed to be fixated to the periosteum and tarsal plates for minimal 2 months. Primary outcome was the retention of an ocular prosthesis. Secondary outcome was the need for additional surgeries. Results: Outcomes were measured at final follow-up between 7 and 36 months postoperatively (mean 20 months). Eight cases were able to wear an ocular prosthesis after 2 months. Three cases initially treated for only the upper or only the lower fornix needed subsequent surgery for the opposite fornix for functional reasons. Two cases had later surgery for cosmetic improvement of upper eyelid position. Despite pre-existing lid abnormalities (scar, entropion, lash deficiency), cosmetic outcome was judged highly acceptable in six cases because of symmetric contour and volume, and reasonably acceptable in the remaining two. Conclusions: Buccal mucosal transplant fixated with a personalized 3D-designed conformer enables retention of a well-fitted ocular prosthesis in previously failed socket surgeries. Initial treatment of both upper and lower fornices is recommended to avoid subsequent surgeries for functional reasons.


Author(s):  
Soumitra Roy Joy ◽  
Hao Yu ◽  
Pinaki Mazumder

Spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) is an exotic electromagnetic state that confines light at a subwavelength scale at a design-specific frequency. It has been known for a while that spoof plasmon mode can exist in planar, thin structures with dispersion properties similar to that of its wide three-dimensional structure counterpart. We, however, have shown that spoof plasmons in thin structures possess some unique properties that remain unexplored. Our analysis reveals that the field interior to SSPP waveguide can achieve an exceptional hyperbolic spatial dependence, which can explain why spoof plasma resonance incurs red-shift with the reduction of the waveguide thickness, whereas common wisdom suggests frequency blue-shift of a resonant structure with its size reduction. In addition, we show that strong confinement can be achieved over a wide band in thin spoof plasmon structure, ranging from the spoof plasma frequency up to a lower frequency considerably away from the resonant point. The nature of lateral confinement in thin SSPP structures may enable interesting applications involving fast modulation rate due to enhanced sensitivity of optical modes without compromising modal confinement.


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