Visualizing Oscillations in Brain Slices With Genetically Encoded Voltage Indicators

Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) expressed pan-neuronally were able to optically resolve bicuculline induced spontaneous oscillations in brain slices of the mouse motor cortex. Three GEVIs were used that differ in their timing of response to voltage transients as well as in their voltage ranges. The duration, number of cycles, and frequency of the recorded oscillations reflected the characteristics of each GEVI used. Multiple oscillations imaged in the same slice never originated at the same location, indicating the lack of a “hot spot” for induction of the voltage changes. Comparison of pan-neuronal, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α restricted, and parvalbumin restricted GEVI expression revealed distinct profiles for the excitatory and inhibitory cells in the spontaneous oscillations of the motor cortex. Resolving voltage fluctuations across space, time, and cell types with GEVIs represent a powerful approach to dissecting neuronal circuit activity.

Nutations in growing plant shoots as a morphoelastic flutter instability

Growing plant shoots exhibit spontaneous oscillations that Darwin observed, and termed ‘circumnutations’. Recently, they have received renewed attention for the design and optimal actuation of bioinspired robotic devices. We discuss a possible interpretation of these spontaneous oscillations as a Hopf-type bifurcation in a growing morphoelastic rod. Using a three-dimensional model and numerical simulations, we analyse the salient features of this flutter-like phenomenon (e.g. the characteristic period of the oscillations) and their dependence on the model details (in particular, the impact of choosing different growth models) finding that, overall, these features are robust with respect to changes in the details of the growth model adopted. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Topics in mathematical design of complex materials’.

Modifying the Models of Calcium Dynamics in Astrocytes by Ryanodine Release

The influence of ryanodine channels on the cytosole Ca2+ dynamics was studied. We added the equations for ryanodine receptors and voltage-gated calcium channels into the original De Pitta et al. model of Ca2+. The derived model was shown to have significantly wider range of predictions: we derived the frequency of cytosole calcium spontaneous oscillations (which are absent in the original De Pitta et al. model) for various existing models of Ca2+ signalling in astrocytes. Particularly, the initial De Pitta et al. results can be converted to either Lavrentovich and Hemkin model or in the Dupont et al model predictions. The absence of the Ca2+ oscillations in astrocytes with the active ryanodine channels only was recently reported. This behaviour can be achieved in our model predictions for the certain values of parameters, which are supposedly responsible for the bifurcation landscape between the oscillatory and non-oscillatory dynamics of cytosol Ca2+ in astrocytes. We also investigated the interplay between the spontaneous and glutamate-triggered oscillations.

Bifurcation and Chaos of Spontaneous Oscillations of Hair Bundles in Auditory Hair Cells

Various spontaneous oscillations and Hopf bifurcation have been observed in hair bundles of auditory hair cells, which play very important roles in the auditory function. In the present paper, the bifurcations and chaos of spontaneous oscillations of hair bundles are investigated in a theoretical model to explain the experimental observations. Firstly, the equivalent negative stiffness and symmetrical characteristic of the model are acquired. The model exhibits coexisting attractors symmetrical to each other or an attractor with symmetry by itself. The attractors include stable focus, stable periodic oscillations, and chaotic oscillations. Secondly, except for the well-known subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcations from the stable focus to period-1 limit cycle, the complex bifurcations of spontaneous oscillation patterns such as period-doubling bifurcation cascade to chaos and intermittency between periodic limit cycles and chaos, are observed. Various chaotic oscillations are distinguished. Lastly, a complex bifurcation process containing multiple modes of oscillations and bifurcations mentioned above is obtained, which provides the relationships between different spontaneous oscillation patterns. The results present not only the well-known Hopf bifurcation, but also the various spontaneous oscillations including periodic and chaotic patterns, which are consistent with the recent experimental results. The complex bifurcation process presents a global view of the nonlinear dynamics of complex spontaneous oscillations of hair bundles, which is very important for the auditory function.

Leidenfrost droplet trampolining

A liquid droplet dispensed over a sufficiently hot surface does not make contact but instead hovers on a cushion of its own self-generated vapor. Since its discovery in 1756, this so-called Leidenfrost effect has been intensively studied. Here we report a remarkable self-propulsion mechanism of Leidenfrost droplets against gravity, that we term Leidenfrost droplet trampolining. Leidenfrost droplets gently deposited on fully rigid surfaces experience self-induced spontaneous oscillations and start to gradually bounce from an initial resting altitude to increasing heights, thereby violating the traditionally accepted Leidenfrost equilibrium. We found that the continuously draining vapor cushion initiates and fuels Leidenfrost trampolining by inducing ripples on the droplet bottom surface, which translate into pressure oscillations and induce self-sustained periodic vertical droplet bouncing over a broad range of experimental conditions.

Driven oscillations of a curved object under a laminar jet of water

By putting a ball on a flat surface under a jet of water, one may observe spontaneous oscillations of the ball of well-defined amplitude and frequency. As a simpler conformation, the study of a cylinder shows that the mere effect of the jet is sufficient to observe an oscillation for a certain range of parameters such as the curvature of the object and the characteristics of the jet. An empirical model of the forces strengthened by direct measurements of the forces and torque allowed us to predict a theoretical period of 0.64 s when the experimental one was 0.80 s. Further, the origin of the oscillation was determined to be a dynamic hysteresis of the torque as it is deflected on one side of the can even when the jet hits its center. This phenomenon results in a gain of energy that counterbalances the losses by friction and leads to oscillations. Domain of oscillation is also shortly addressed while improvements of the theoretical model and other experiments are suggested as well.