Dislocation Mechanics of Extremely High Rate Deformations in Iron and Tantalum

High strain rate simulations were performed using the multiscale dislocation dynamic plasticity (MDDP) method to calculate different rise times and load durations in mimicking high deformation rate shock or isentropic (ramp) testing of a-iron and tantalum crystals. Focus for both types of loading on both materials was on the inter-relationship between the (dislocation-velocity-related) strain rate sensitivity and the (time-dependent) evolution of dislocation density. The computations are compared with model thermal activation strain rate analysis (TASRA), phonon drag and dislocation generation predictions. The overall comparison of simulated tests and previous experimental measurements shows that the imposition of a rise time even as small as 0.2 ns preceding plastic relaxation via the MDDP method is indicative of relatively weak shock behavior.

Mitochondrial Dynamics, ROS, and Cell Signaling: A Blended Overview

Mitochondria are key intracellular organelles involved not only in the metabolic state of the cell, but also in several cellular functions, such as proliferation, Calcium signaling, and lipid trafficking. Indeed, these organelles are characterized by continuous events of fission and fusion which contribute to the dynamic plasticity of their network, also strongly influenced by mitochondrial contacts with other subcellular organelles. Nevertheless, mitochondria release a major amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside eukaryotic cells, which are reported to mediate a plethora of both physiological and pathological cellular functions, such as growth and proliferation, regulation of autophagy, apoptosis, and metastasis. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial ROS could be a promising strategy to overcome and hinder the development of diseases such as cancer, where malignant cells, possessing a higher amount of ROS with respect to healthy ones, could be specifically targeted by therapeutic treatments. In this review, we collected the ultimate findings on the blended interplay among mitochondrial shaping, mitochondrial ROS, and several signaling pathways, in order to contribute to the dissection of intracellular molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of eukaryotic cells, possibly improving future therapeutic approaches.

Generalized Regularity and the Symmetry of Branches of ''Botanological'' Networks

We derive the generalized regularity of convex quadrilaterals in R^2, which gives a new evolutionary class of convex quadrilaterals that we call generalized regular quadrilaterals in R^2. The property of generalized regularity states that the Simpson line defined by the two Steiner points passes through the corresponding Fermat-Torricelli point of the same convex quadrilateral. We prove that a class of generalized regular convex quadrilaterals consists of convex quadrilaterals, such that their two opposite sides are parallel. We solve the problem of vertical evolution of a ''botanological'' thumb (a two way communication weighted network) w.r to a boundary rectangle in R^2 having two roots,two branches and without having a main branch, by applying the property of generalized regularity of weighted rectangles. We show that the two branches have equal weights and the two roots have equal weights, if the thumb inherits a symmetry w.r to the midperpendicular line of the two opposite sides of the rectangle, which is perpendicular to the ground (equal branches and equal roots). The geometric, rotational and dynamic plasticity of weighted networks for boundary generalized regular tetrahedra and weighted regular tetrahedra lead to the creation of ''botanological'' thumbs and ''botanological'' networks (with a main branch) having symmetrical branches

Multifractal Formalism in Tasks of Dynamic Plasticity

The application of the multifractal parameterization method for comparing structural changes observed in an optical microscope on steel St.3 subjected to severe plastic deformation and high-rate superplastic deformation is investigated.

Conformational and dynamic plasticity in substrate-binding proteins underlies selective transport in ABC importers

Substrate-binding proteins (SBPs) are associated with ATP-binding cassette importers and switch from an open to a closed conformation upon substrate binding, providing specificity for transport. We investigated the effect of substrates on the conformational dynamics of six SBPs and the impact on transport. Using single-molecule FRET, we reveal an unrecognized diversity of plasticity in SBPs. We show that a unique closed SBP conformation does not exist for transported substrates. Instead, SBPs sample a range of conformations that activate transport. Certain non-transported ligands leave the structure largely unaltered or trigger a conformation distinct from that of transported substrates. Intriguingly, in some cases, similar SBP conformations are formed by both transported and non-transported ligands. In this case, the inability for transport arises from slow opening of the SBP or the selectivity provided by the translocator. Our results reveal the complex interplay between ligand-SBP interactions, SBP conformational dynamics and substrate transport.