Disorder in Ca2+ Release Unit Locations Confers Robustness but Cuts Flexibility of Heart Pacemaking

Excitation-contraction coupling kinetics are dictated by the rate and rhythm of the excitations generated by sinoatrial-nodal cells. These cells generate local Ca releases (LCRs) that activate Na/Ca exchanger current, which accelerates diastolic depolarization and determines the rate and rhythm of the excitations. The LCRs are generated by clusters of ryanodine receptors, Ca release units (CRUs), residing in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. While the spatial CRU distribution in pacemaker cells exhibits substantial heterogeneity, it remains unknown if it has any functional importance. Using numerical modeling, here we showed that with a square lattice distribution of CRUs, Ca-induced-Ca-release propagation during diastolic depolarization is insufficient for pacemaking within a broad lower range of realistic ICaL densities. Allowing each CRU to deviate from its original lattice position fundamentally changes the model behavior: during diastolic depolarization sparks propagate, forming LCRs observed experimentally. As disorder in the CRU positions increases, the CRU distribution exhibits larger empty spaces but simultaneously CRU clusters, as in Poisson clumping. Propagating within the clusters, Ca release becomes synchronized, increasing AP firing rate and reviving pacemaker function within lower ICaL densities at which cells with lattice CRU distribution were dormant/non-firing. However, cells with fully disordered CRU positions cannot reach low firing rates and their β-adrenergic receptor stimulation effect was substantially decreased. Thus, order/disorder in CRU locations regulates Ca release propagation and could be harnessed by pacemaker cells to regulate their function. Excessive disorder is expected to limit heart rate range that may contribute to heart rate range decline with age and in disease.

Integrated Double-Sided Random Microlens Array Used for Laser Beam Homogenization

Double microlens arrays (MLAs) in series can be used to divide and superpose laser beam so as to achieve a homogenized spot. However, for laser beam homogenization with high coherence, the periodic lattice distribution in the homogenized spot will be generated due to the periodicity of the traditional MLA, which greatly reduces the uniformity of the homogenized spot. To solve this problem, a monolithic and highly integrated double-sided random microlens array (D-rMLA) is proposed for the purpose of achieving laser beam homogenization. The periodicity of the MLA is disturbed by the closely arranged microlens structures with random apertures. And the random speckle field is achieved to improve the uniformity of the homogenized spot by the superposition of the divided sub-beams. In addition, the double-sided exposure technique is proposed to prepare the rMLA on both sides of the same substrate with high precision alignment to form an integrated D-rMLA structure, which avoids the strict alignment problem in the installation process of traditional discrete MLAs. Then the laser beam homogenization experiments have been carried out by using the prepared D-rMLA structure. The laser beam homogenized spots of different wavelengths have been tested, including the wavelengths of 650 nm (R), 532 nm (G), and 405 nm (B). The experimental results show that the uniformity of the RGB homogenized spots is about 91%, 89%, and 90%. And the energy utilization rate is about 89%, 87%, 86%, respectively. Hence, the prepared structure has high laser beam homogenization ability and energy utilization rate, which is suitable for wide wavelength regime.

The anchored location of CdS on SiC via organosilane for effective heterogeneous interface design in photocatalysis

This work demonstrates a new approach to construct a heterogeneous junction by means of the periodic lattice distribution of semiconductor atoms. The organosilane was applied as an anchored coupling agent to connect the semiconductors at both ends, one of which connects SiC and the other connects CdS, and the SiC/M/CdS heterogeneous junction was established. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution ability of this heterojunction was three times as much as the traditional SiC/CdS composite under visible light. Meanwhile, the uniform interface distribution, prolonged charge-carrier lifetime and minor electron–hole recombination were achieved. The results provide new insights into interface design and offer an indepth understanding with respect to organic–inorganic heterojunction configuration in photocatalysis.

The orientation relationships of nanobelt-like Si2Hf precipitates in an Al–Si–Mg–Hf alloy

The orientation relationships (ORs) between the Al matrix and Si2Hf precipitates with an orthorhombic structure in an Al–Si–Mg–Hf alloy after heat treatment at 833 K for 20 h were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Four ORs are identified as (100)Al||(010)p, (0\overline {1}1)Al||(101)pand [011]Al||[\overline {1}01]p; (11\overline {1})Al||(010)pand [011]Al||[\overline {1}01]p; (12\overline {1})Al||(010)p, (101)Al||(100)pand [1\overline {11}]Al||[001]p; (\overline {11}1)Al||(010)pand [112]Al||[\overline {1}01]p. The habit planes of these four ORs are rationalized by the fraction of good atomic matching sites at the interface. In addition, the formation of Si2Hf precipitates with a nanobelt-like morphology is interpreted on the basis of the near-coincident site lattice distribution.

Determination of the topological charge of a bessel-gauss beam using the diffraction pattern through of an equilateral aperture

The topological charge TC of an electromagnetic wave is relate with their wavefront spatial distribution. Electromagnetic waves with factor azimuthal exp(ilθ) in its phase, have TC integer (l=m) or non-integer (l=M). These electromagnetic waves with a well-defined of TC can be produced in the visible regime by computer generated holographic masks with fork shaped. In this paper, we study the formed triangle lattice distribution in the intensity Fraunhofer regime using numerical simulations of the Bessel-Gauss beams with integer and non-integer TC. The beam is diffracted by equilateral triangular aperture to measure both their sign and magnitude. In addition, we showed the experimental results of the intensity in far field regime product of diffraction of Bessel-Gauss beams with integer and noninteger TC by the equilateral triangular aperture. Partial and qualitative explanations have been proposed for the diffraction of electromagnetic beams with topological charge. This paper presents a complete analysis for qualitative and quantitative explanation of diffraction of a beam with topological charge by a triangular aperture. The results of such diffraction are obtained by numerical simulation or experimentally.

Mechanisms of self-organization for the collagen fibril lattice in the human cornea

The transparency of the human cornea depends on the regular lattice arrangement of the collagen fibrils and on the maintenance of an optimal hydration—the achievement of both depends on the presence of stromal proteoglycans (PGs) and their linear sidechains of negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Although the GAGs produce osmotic pressure by the Donnan effect, the means by which they exert positional control of the lattice is less clear. In this study, a theoretical model based on equilibrium thermodynamics is used to describe restoring force mechanisms that may control and maintain the fibril lattice and underlie corneal transparency. Electrostatic-based restoring forces that result from local charge density changes induced by fibril motion, and entropic elastic restoring forces that arise from duplexed GAG structures that bridge neighbouring fibrils, are described. The model allows for the possibility that fibrils have a GAG-dense coating that adds an additional fibril force mechanism preventing fibril aggregation. Swelling pressure predictions are used to validate the model with results showing excellent agreement with experimental data over a range of hydration from 30 to 200% of normal. The model suggests that the electrostatic restoring force is dominant, with the entropic forces from GAG duplexes being an order or more smaller. The effect of a random GAG organization, as observed in recent imaging, is considered in a dynamic model of the lattice that incorporates randomness in both the spatial distribution of GAG charge and the topology of the GAG duplexes. A striking result is that the electrostatic restoring forces alone are able to reproduce the image-based lattice distribution function for the human cornea, and thus dynamically maintain the short-range order of the lattice.