Morphological Computation in Plant Seeds for a New Generation of Self-Burial and Flying Soft Robots

Plants have evolved different mechanisms to disperse from parent plants and improve germination to sustain their survival. The study of seed dispersal mechanisms, with the related structural and functional characteristics, is an active research topic for ecology, plant diversity, climate change, as well as for its relevance for material science and engineering. The natural mechanisms of seed dispersal show a rich source of robust, highly adaptive, mass and energy efficient mechanisms for optimized passive flying, landing, crawling and drilling. The secret of seeds mobility is embodied in the structural features and anatomical characteristics of their tissues, which are designed to be selectively responsive to changes in the environmental conditions, and which make seeds one of the most fascinating examples of morphological computation in Nature. Particularly clever for their spatial mobility performance, are those seeds that use their morphology and structural characteristics to be carried by the wind and dispersed over great distances (i.e. “winged” and “parachute” seeds), and seeds able to move and penetrate in soil with a self-burial mechanism driven by their hygromorphic properties and morphological features. By looking at their motion mechanisms, new design principles can be extracted and used as inspiration for smart artificial systems endowed with embodied intelligence. This mini-review systematically collects, for the first time together, the morphological, structural, biomechanical and aerodynamic information from selected plant seeds relevant to take inspiration for engineering design of soft robots, and discusses potential future developments in the field across material science, plant biology, robotics and embodied intelligence.

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Three Structural Features of Functional Food Components and Herbal Medicine with Amyloid β42 Anti-Aggregation Properties

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24112125 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (11) ◽

pp. 2125 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kazuma Murakami ◽

Kazuhiro Irie

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Functional Food ◽

Structural Characteristics ◽

Salt Bridge ◽

Basic Amino Acid ◽

Structural Features ◽

Amino Acid Residues ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Food Components ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Aggregation of amyloid β42 (Aβ42) is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There are numerous naturally occurring products that suppress the aggregation of Aβ42, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Based on NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis, we propose three structural characteristics found in natural products required for the suppressive activity against Aβ42 aggregation (i.e., oligomerization by targeting specific amino acid residues on this protein). These characteristics include (1) catechol-type flavonoids that can form Michael adducts with the side chains of Lys16 and 28 in monomeric Aβ42 through flavonoid autoxidation; (2) non-catechol-type flavonoids with planarity due to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups that can interact with the intermolecular β-sheet region in Aβ42 aggregates, especially aromatic rings such as those of Phe19 and 20; and (3) carboxy acid derivatives with triterpenoid or anthraquinoid that can generate a salt bridge with basic amino acid residues such as Lys16 and 28 in the Aβ42 dimer or trimer. Here, we summarize the recent body of knowledge concerning amyloidogenic inhibitors, particularly in functional food components and Kampo medicine, and discuss their application in the treatment and prevention of AD.

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The Structure, Microhardness and Wear Resistance of Coatings Obtained through Non-Vacuum Electron Beam Cladding of Chromium and Titanium Carbides on Low Carbon Steel

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.927.13 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 927 ◽

pp. 13-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tatyana A. Krylova ◽

Konstantin V. Ivanov ◽

Vladimir E. Ovcharenko

Keyword(s):

Wear Resistance ◽

Electron Beam ◽

Carbon Steel ◽

Volume Fraction ◽

Structural Characteristics ◽

Low Carbon Steel ◽

Structural Features ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Indentation Tests ◽

Titanium Carbides

An interrelation between structural features, microhardness and wear resistance was studied in the coatings obtained by non-vacuum relativistic electron beam cladding of chromium and titanium carbides powder mixture on low carbon steel. Five coatings differing in the amount of the entered energy were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), indentation tests and wear resistance measurements. It was found that the concentration of alloying elements both in solid solution and eutectic as well as the volume fraction of eutectic are the main structural characteristics which defines the microhardness of the coatings. The distribution of TiC phase plays a key role in the resistance to wear.

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Influence of Neighboring Vegetation Height on Seed Dispersal: Implications for Invasive Plant Management

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-07-067.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (6) ◽

pp. 626-630 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Kirk W. Davies ◽

Roger L. Sheley

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Invasive Plants ◽

Invasive Plant ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Plant Management ◽

Wind Dispersal ◽

Invasive Plant Management ◽

Wind Speeds ◽

Plant Seeds ◽

Vegetation Height

Controlling invasive plant infestations is very costly and often unsuccessful. Preventing invasions is more cost-effective than controlling invasive plants after they are established. Because prevention guidelines do not suggest any tools or methods to limit wind dispersal of invasive plant seeds, we investigated the influence of neighboring vegetation height on seed dispersal of a wind-dispersed (yellow salsify) and nonwind-dispersed (medusahead) species. To examine the influence of neighboring vegetation height on dispersal, seeds of both species were released in front of an artificial stand of desert wheatgrass in a modified wind tunnel. Treatments were a complete factorial design with two species, four vegetation heights (10, 30, 40, and 60 cm), three wind speeds (3, 5.5, and 10 km h−1), and three release distances from the neighboring vegetation (0, 15, and 30 cm). The ability of medusahead and yellow salsify seeds to disperse was influenced by the height of neighboring vegetation. Increasing height of neighboring vegetation decreased the number of yellow salsify seeds dispersing across neighboring vegetation. The greatest percentage of medusahead seeds dispersed across the neighboring vegetation was at the shortest height. Based on these results, we suggest that maintaining or promoting tall vegetation neighboring invasive plant infestations may reduce wind dispersal of seeds. More research is needed to investigate the influence of varying heights, densities, structural attributes, and composition of vegetation neighboring infestations and the dispersal of invasive plants.

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Interspecific Difference in Seed Dispersal Characteristics between Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) and Sympatric Japanese Martens (Martes melampus)

Folia Primatologica ◽

10.1159/000509385 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 91 (6) ◽

pp. 711-720

Author(s):

Yamato Tsuji ◽

Risma Yanti ◽

Atsushi Takizawa ◽

Toshio Hagiwara

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Seed Dispersal ◽

Macaca Fuscata ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Japanese Macaques ◽

Interspecific Difference ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Plant Seeds ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Martes Melampus

We compared the characteristics of seeds within faeces between semi-terrestrial Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and sympatric arboreal Japanese martens (Martes melampus) in Shiga Heights, central Japan. We collected faecal samples of the two mammalian species for 1 year (n = 229 for macaques and n = 22 for martens). We then compared the proportion of seed occurrence, life-form composition, number of seeds and species richness within single faecal samples, and the seed intact ratio between the two mammalian species. We detected seeds from 20 and 7 species from macaque and marten faeces, respectively. Macaque faeces contained seeds of multiple strata, while marten faeces contained no herbaceous plant seeds. Seed sizes within faeces showed no interspecific difference. For macaques, seeds were found within faecal samples collected in late spring to late fall, while for martens, seeds were found between summer and winter. The proportion of seed occurrence was greater in summer (both species) and fall (macaques), which implied that the seed dispersal roles of macaques and martens was greater in these seasons. The mean seed number (across species), intact ratio of seeds (high for both species) and seed species richness within single faecal samples of macaques and martens showed no significant differences, but for several species, martens defecated more seeds than macaques and showed higher intact ratio. Our study indicates that sympatric mammals in the temperate regions of Japan contribute differently to seed dispersal in forest ecosystems.

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Reactions between uranium veins and their host rocks in Vendée and Limousin (France)

Mineralogical Magazine ◽

10.1180/minmag.1981.044.336.07 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 44 (336) ◽

pp. 417-423 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Cathelineau ◽

J. Leroy

Keyword(s):

Structural Characteristics ◽

Wall Rock ◽

Structural Features ◽

Gangue Mineral ◽

List Type ◽

Vein Formation ◽

Wall Rock Alteration ◽

Rock Alteration ◽

Host Rocks ◽

Basic Rocks

AbstractHydrothermal uranium veins, associated with the Hercynian leucogranites show important variations in their mineralogical, chemical and structural features in relation to the host rock lithology. These are described with particular reference to the Chardon deposit, Vendée where the veins cut granite, basic lithologies, and shales. The following features are described: 1Changes in the thickness of veins near to contact zones, particularly those between granites and basic lithologies, lamprophyres, and shales.2Changes in the gangue mineral assemblage with the preferential development of carbonate in veins cutting basic lithologies, and of silica in veins which cut granite.3Paragenetic zoning in the veins in passing from granites to their metamorphic aureoles.Comparisons between deposits of Vendée, Limousin, and Erzgebirge allow the following generalizations to be made: 1Open faults and subsequent mineralization are concentrated at boundaries between competent and more plastic lithologies.2Mineralizing fluids cause wall-rock alteration characterized by the removal of Si from granite and of Ca, Mg, Fe from metamorphic and basic rocks.3The chemical and structural characteristics of wallrocks are important controls on the mineralization but in acid lithologies the main controls on the pitchblende vein formation are the structural characteristics of the wallrock.

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Bird‐mediated seed dispersal: reduced digestive efficiency in active birds modulates the dispersal capacity of plant seeds

Oikos ◽

10.1111/oik.01894 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (7) ◽

pp. 899-907 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Erik Kleyheeg ◽

Casper H. A. van Leeuwen ◽

Mary A. Morison ◽

Bart A. Nolet ◽

Merel B. Soons

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Digestive Efficiency ◽

Dispersal Capacity ◽

Plant Seeds

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Structural Characterization of Clostridium sordellii Spores of Diverse Human, Animal, and Environmental Origin and Comparison to Clostridium difficile Spores

mSphere ◽

10.1128/msphere.00343-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rebecca Rabi ◽

Lynne Turnbull ◽

Cynthia B. Whitchurch ◽

Milena Awad ◽

Dena Lyras

Keyword(s):

Structural Characteristics ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Structural Features ◽

Spore Morphology ◽

Structural Studies ◽

Content Type ◽

Clostridium Sordellii ◽

Structural Details ◽

Microscopy Techniques

ABSTRACT Clostridium sordellii is a significant pathogen with mortality rates approaching 100%. It is the bacterial spore that is critical in initiating infection and disease. An understanding of spore structures as well as spore morphology across a range of strains may lead to a better understanding of C. sordellii infection and disease. However, the structural characteristics of the C. sordellii spores are limited. In this work, we have addressed this lack of detail and characterized the C. sordellii spore morphology. The use of traditional and advanced microscopy techniques has provided detailed new observations of C. sordellii spore structural features, which serve as a reference point for structural studies of spores from other bacterial species. Clostridium sordellii is an often-lethal bacterium causing human and animal disease. Crucial to the infectious cycle of C. sordellii is its ability to produce spores, which can germinate into toxin-producing vegetative bacteria under favorable conditions. However, structural details of the C. sordellii spore are lacking. Here, we used a range of electron microscopy techniques together with superresolution optical microscopy to characterize the C. sordellii spore morphology with an emphasis on the exosporium. The C. sordellii spore is made up of multiple layers with the exosporium presenting as a smooth balloon-like structure that is open at the spore poles. Focusing on the outer spore layers, we compared the morphologies of C. sordellii spores derived from different strains and determined that there is some variation between the spores, most notably with spores of some strains having tubular appendages. Since Clostridium difficile is a close relative of C. sordellii, their spores were compared by electron microscopy and their exosporia were found to be distinctly different from each other. This study therefore provides new structural details of the C. sordellii spore and offers insights into the physical structure of the exosporium across clostridial species. IMPORTANCE Clostridium sordellii is a significant pathogen with mortality rates approaching 100%. It is the bacterial spore that is critical in initiating infection and disease. An understanding of spore structures as well as spore morphology across a range of strains may lead to a better understanding of C. sordellii infection and disease. However, the structural characteristics of the C. sordellii spores are limited. In this work, we have addressed this lack of detail and characterized the C. sordellii spore morphology. The use of traditional and advanced microscopy techniques has provided detailed new observations of C. sordellii spore structural features, which serve as a reference point for structural studies of spores from other bacterial species.

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Interlocking Directorates and the Corporate Revolution

Social Science History ◽

10.1017/s0145553200019581 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 143-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

William G. Roy

Keyword(s):

Structural Characteristics ◽

Structural Features ◽

Capitalist Class ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Interlocking Directorates ◽

Social Patterns

Many social scientistshave documented that the American corporate capitalist class is highly organized and cohesive, both in terms of formal structural characteristics (Domhoff, 1967; Useem, 1979; Scott, 1979) and informal social patterns (Baltzell, 1964; Domhoff, 1974; Mills, 1956). One of the major structural features integrating corporate capitalists is interlocking directorates, which have been shown to form a single, continuous, cohesive network (Sonquist and Koenig, 1975; Allen, 1974; Mariolis, 1975; Mizruchi, 1982; Pennings, 1980; Scott, 1979; Fennema and Schijf, 1978).

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Study on Wood Carbon Sequestration Based on Micro-Characteristics of Wood

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.113-116.1693 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 113-116 ◽

pp. 1693-1696

Author(s):

Ming Hui Guo ◽

Xin Guan ◽

Li Zhu ◽

Jian Li

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Structural Characteristics ◽

Structural Features ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Xylem Parenchyma ◽

Micro Level ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Trees are complicated and important organisms in forest ecosystem. They are both carbon stocks and carbon source. In order to give full play to the role of wood carbon sequestration, this paper discussed the relationship of wood structural features and wood carbon sequestration at micro-level. It shows that wood carbon sequestration can be synthetically reflected by vessel, tracheid/xylon, wood rays, intercellular canal, xylem parenchyma and so on. The rate of cell wall and wood carbon sequestration is the relationship of direct proportional function. Micro-structural characteristics of wood can reflect wood carbon sequestration of forest ecosystems, as well as have a practical guide to enhance carbon storage of wood.

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The Bivariate Minimum-Energy Tight Wavelet Frames and Applications in Economics and Management

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.915-916.1412 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 915-916 ◽

pp. 1412-1417

Author(s):

Jian Guo Shen

Keyword(s):

Multiresolution Analysis ◽

Material Science ◽

Minimum Energy ◽

Research Field ◽

Wavelet Frames ◽

Science And Engineering ◽

Interdisciplinary Field ◽

Existence Criterion ◽

Generalized Multiresolution Analysis ◽

Active Research

Material science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. Frames have become the focus of active research field, both in the-ory and in applications. In the article, the binary minimum-energy wavelet frames and frame multi-resolution resolution are introduced. A precise existence criterion for minimum-energy frames in terms of an ineqity condition on the Laurent poly-nomial symbols of the filter functions is provided. An explicit formula for designing minimum-energy frames is also established. The sufficient condi tion for the existence of tight wavelet frames is obtained by virtue of a generalized multiresolution analysis.

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