What is motion? Recent advances in the study of molecular movement patterns of the peptidoglycan synthesis machines

How proteins move through space and time is a fundamental question in biology. While great strides have been made towards a mechanistic understanding of protein movement, many questions remain. We discuss the biological implications of motion in the context of the peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis machines. We review systems in several bacteria, including Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis , and Streptococcus pneumoniae , and present a comprehensive view of our current knowledge regarding movement dynamics. Discrepancies are also addressed since “one size does not fit all”. For bacteria to divide, new PG is synthesized and incorporated into the growing cell wall by complex multi-protein nanomachines consisting of PG synthases (transglycosylases [TG] and/or transpeptidases [TP]) as well as a variety of regulators and cytoskeletal factors. Advances in imaging capabilities and labeling methods have revealed that these machines are not static but rather circumferentially transit the cell via directed motion perpendicular to the long axis of model rod-shaped bacteria such as E. coli and B. subtilis . The enzymatic activity of the TG:TPs drives motion in some species, while motion is mediated by FtsZ treadmilling in others. In addition, both directed and diffusive motion of the PG synthases has been observed using single particle tracking technology. Here, we examine the biological role of diffusion regarding transit. Lastly, findings regarding the monofunctional transglycosylases (RodA and FtsW) as well as the Class A PG synthases are discussed. This minireview serves to showcase recent advances, broach mechanistic unknowns, and stimulate future areas of study.

Experimental study of standing and walking at work — What is compatible with physiological characteristics and human needs?

An experimental study with two scenarios S1 and S2 was conducted, in which the standing and walking proportions as well as movement dynamics were varied. Eleven participants have taken part in the study for 2.5 h each (cycle time: 90 s). By means of surface electromyography, the static and dynamic components of muscle strain as well as the muscle fatigue were recorded and compared with the results of water plethysmography and a structured subjective rating survey. The results of the EMG study showed significantly higher dynamic components of the EA at S2 compared to S1, while the static components for the same activities did not show any significant difference, as expected. S1 and S2 always led to an increase in volume of the lower leg. Standing with less walking (S1) resulted in a significantly higher increase than standing with a higher proportion of walking and stronger dynamic movements (S2). In scenario S2, compared to scenario S1, the participants reported weaker subjective complaints which were also reported later in time. The results on muscular fatigue indicated only partially significant differences between S1 and S2. The results make clear that the dynamics of movement are a decisive criterion for assessing standing activities.Practical Relevance: To relieve strain during standing work, “real” walking movement must be integrated into the workflow. It could be shown that only a small step to the side or a few “shuffling” steps are not sufficient. In contrast, it is compatible with human physiological characteristics to make correct steps and dynamically activate the leg muscles.

The Use of a Single Trunk-Mounted Accelerometer to Detect Changes in Center of Mass Motion Linked to Lower-Leg Overuse Injuries: A Prospective Study

Movement dynamics during running was previously characterized using a trunk-mounted accelerometer, and were associated with a history of overuse injuries. However, it remains unknown if these measures are also linked to the development of overuse injuries. The aim of this study was therefore to determine how movement dynamics alter in response to fatigue, and the possible link with developing lower-leg overuse injuries during a six-month follow-up period. Two hundred and eight movement science university students completed a 12-min all-out run while wearing a trunk-mounted accelerometer. Dynamic stability, dynamic loading and spatiotemporal measures were extracted from the accelerometer. Participants sustaining an injury within the 6-month period demonstrated significantly higher RMS ratio values in the vertical direction and lower RMS ratio values in the anteroposterior direction, and lower impact acceleration values in the anteroposterior direction in an unfatigued state compared to the uninjured group. They also demonstrated an increase in dynamic loading in the horizontal plane during the run. In addition, with running fatigue both groups exhibited changes in dynamic stability and loading measures. These results show the potential of using a single trunk-mounted accelerometer to detect changes in movement dynamics that are linked to lower-leg overuse injuries.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF THE ENGINE PARAMETERS INFLUENCE ON VEHICLE ACCELERATION DYNAMICS

The throttle response of a vehicle determines its dynamic properties and is characterized by an acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h. An experimental study of the influence of vehicle parameters on its throttle response is associated with significant material and labor costs. At the stage of sketching the design of the vehicle, preliminary determination of design parameters and settings, it is rational to use mathematical models. In the existing models of the vehicles movement dynamics, the engine power, as a rule, is set by empirical dependencies and does not take into account the possibility of changing its parameters and characteristics. The paper proposes a mathematical model that combines models of the engine workflow and the dynamics of vehicle acceleration. The mathematical model of the engine workflow is a quasi-stationary thermodynamic model, in which combustion is described by the Vibe equation, and heat transfer with the walls is described by the Woschni equation. To check its adequacy, an experimental study of the VAZ-2108 engine was carried out to obtain external speed, load and control characteristics. Good agreement between the calculated and experimental data is shown. Vehicle acceleration simulation was carried out according to the method of E.A. Chudakov. The parameters of the VAZ-2108 car and the resistance forces during acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h have been determined. It is shown that the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 18.3 s, which corresponds to the experimental data and indicates the adequacy of the chosen techniques. The influence of changing the parameters and settings of the engine on the dynamics of vehicle acceleration has been investigated. It is shown that in order to achieve better dynamics of motion, the cylinder diameter and compression ratio must be maximized. The ignition timing, intake valve closing angle and excess air ratio have extremes. The efficiency of using a 16-valve cylinder head instead of an 8-valve one is shown. Based on the results of the studies, it was proposed to apply a set of engine parameters, which made it possible to reduce the acceleration time of the VAZ-2108 from 18.3 s to 13.2 s. Thus, the developed mathematical model makes it possible to quantitatively evaluate the influence of engine parameters on the dynamics of vehicle acceleration, to optimize the parameters and settings of the power plant and the vehicle as a whole.

Hippocampal replay of experience at real-world speeds

Representations related to past experiences play a critical role in memory and decision-making processes. The rat hippocampus expresses these types of representations during sharp-wave ripple (SWR) events, and previous work identified a minority of SWRs that contain ‘replay’ of spatial trajectories at ∼20x the movement speed of the animal. Efforts to understand replay typically make multiple assumptions about which events to examine and what sorts of representations constitute replay. We therefore lack a clear understanding of both the prevalence and the range of representational dynamics associated with replay. Here, we develop a state space model that uses a combination of movement dynamics of different speeds to capture the spatial content and time evolution of replay during SWRs. Using this model, we find that the large majority of replay events contain spatially coherent, interpretable content. Furthermore, many events progress at real-world, rather than accelerated, movement speeds, consistent with actual experiences.

Visual exploration dynamics are low-dimensional and driven by intrinsic factors

When looking at visual images, the eyes move to the most salient and behaviourally relevant objects. Saliency and semantic information significantly explain where people look. Less is known about the spatiotemporal properties of eye movements (i.e., how people look). We show that three latent variables explain 60% of eye movement dynamics of more than a hundred observers looking at hundreds of different natural images. The first component explaining 30% of variability loads on fixation duration, and it does not relate to image saliency or semantics; it approximates a power-law distribution of gaze steps, an intrinsic dynamic measure, and identifies observers with two viewing styles: static and dynamic. Notably, these viewing styles were also identified when observers look at a blank screen. These results support the importance of endogenous processes such as intrinsic dynamics to explain eye movement spatiotemporal properties.

Citizenship: Contrasting Dynamics at the Interface of Integration and Constitutionalism

This chapter explores the complex tapestry of citizenship in the European Union context, and examines how discourses of citizenship illuminate both the nature of European integration and the process of gradual constitutionalization. The intention is to re-evaluate the role played by citizenship in the evolving processes of Union polity-formation, and the connection between citizenship and the various dynamics of constitution-making. The chapter has three substantive sections which examine the complex and dynamic relationship between citizenship of the Union, the free movement dynamics underpinning EU law, and concepts of citizenship in a wider constitutional context. The chapter finds that there is a tension between citizenship of the Union, as part of the EU’s ‘old’ incremental constitutionalism based on the constitutionalization of the existing Treaties, and citizenship in the Union, where the possibilities of a ‘new’ constitutionalism based on renewed constitutional documents have yet to be fully realized.

Whole-body adaptation to novel dynamics does not transfer between effectors

How does the brain coordinate concurrent adaptation of arm movements and standing posture? From previous studies, the postural control system can use information about previously adapted arm movement dynamics to plan appropriate postural control; however, it is unclear whether postural control can be adapted and controlled independently of arm control. The present study addresses that question. Subjects practiced planar reaching movements while standing and grasping the handle of a robotic arm, which generated a force field to create novel perturbations. Subjects were divided into two groups, for which perturbations were introduced in either an abrupt or gradual manner. All subjects adapted to the perturbations while reaching with their dominant (right) arm, then switched to reaching with their non-dominant (left) arm. Previous studies of seated reaching movements showed that abrupt perturbation introduction led to transfer of learning between arms, but gradual introduction did not. Interestingly, in this study neither group showed evidence of transferring adapted control of arm or posture between arms. These results suggest primarily that adapted postural control cannot be transferred independently of arm control in this task paradigm. In other words, whole-body postural movement planning related to a concurrent arm task is dependent on information about arm dynamics. Finally, we found that subjects were able to adapt to the gradual perturbation while experiencing very small errors, suggesting that both error size and consistency play a role in driving motor adaptation.