Emergent Property in Macromolecular Motion

In this paper, the model of inverse cascade fractal super-blocks along one direction (in the positive or negative) in the 3-dimensional space is developed to describe the self-similar motion in macromolecular system. Microscopically the cohesive and dispersed states of the motion blocks are co-existent states with vastly different probability of occurrence.Experimental results and theoretical analysis show that the microscopic cohesive state energy and dispersed state energy of each motion block are respectively equal to the macroscopic glassy state energy kT8 and molten state energy kTm of the system. This singularity unveils topologically the nonintegrability, mathematically the anholonomy, and macroscopically the emergent property. This singularity also reveals that the glass, viscoelastic and melt states are three distinct emergent properties of macromolecular motion from a macroscopic viewpoint. The fractal concept of excluded volume is introduced to depict the random motion at various scales in the system. The Hausdorff dimensions of the excluded volune and the motion blocks are both found equal to 3/2.

Enhanced sampling for lipid-protein interactions during membrane dynamics

The inflexible concept of membrane curvature as an independent property of lipid structures is today obsolete.Lipid bilayers behave as many-body entities with emergent properties that depend on their interactions with the environment.In particular,proteins exert crucial actions on lipid molecules that ultimately condition the collective properties of the membranes.In this review,the potential of enhanced molecular dynamics to address cell-biology problems is discussed.The cases of membrane deformation,membrane fusion,and the fusion pore are analyzed from the perspective of the dimensionality reduction by collective variables.Coupled lipid-protein interactions as fundamental determinants of large membrane remodeling events are also commented.Finally,novel strategies merging cell biology and physics are considered as future lines of research.

Emerging low-dimensional black phosphorus:from physical-optical properties to biomedical applications

Low-dimensional black phosphorus(BP)is a class of nanomaterial derived from layered semiconductor BP which has gained tremendous attention in a variety of fields,owing to its uncommon structural features and appealing physical properties.More surprisingly,it has addressed current biomedical obstacles due to its orthorhombic puckered honeycomb crystal structure and unique properties such as tunable direct-bandgap,high carrier mobility,and exceptional photo-responsiveness.However,few reviews have focused on the interactions of low-dimensional BP’s physical properties with its biomedical performances.Herein,we discuss the physical properties of low-dimensional BP and potential biomedical applications associated with these physical properties.Moreover,different preparation methods,surface modification techniques,and future challenges,as well as future outlooks,are presented.This comprehensive review will provide a clear understanding of the relationship between lowdimensional BP’s physical properties and biomedical performances,with the ultimate goal of better knowledge of utilizing BP.

The effect of social context and social scale on the perception of relationships in monk parakeets

Social relationships formed within a network of interacting group members can have a profound impact on an indi- vidual＇s behavior and fitness. However, we have little understanding of how individuals perceive their relationships and how this perception relates to our external measures of interactions. We investigated the perception of affiliative and agonistic relation- ships at both the dyadic and emergent social levels in two captive groups of monk parakeets （Myiopsitta monachus, n = 21 and 19） using social network analysis and playback experiments. At the dyadic social scale, individuals directed less aggression to- wards their strong affiliative partners and more aggression towards non-partner neighbors.At the emergent social scale, there was no association between relationships in different social contexts and an individual＇s dominance rank did not correlate with its popularity rank. Playback response pattems were mainly driven by relationships in affiliative social contexts at the dyadic scale. In both groups, individual responses to playback experiments were significantly affected by strong affiliative relationships at the dyadic social scale, albeit in different directions in the two groups. Response pattems were also affected by affiliative relation- ships at the emergent social scale, but only in one of the two groups. Within affiliative relationships, those at the dyadic social scale were perceived by individuals in both groups, but those at the emergent social scale only affected responses in one group. These results provide preliminary evidence that relationships in affiliative social contexts may be perceived as more important than agonistic relationships in captive monk parakeet groups. Our approach could be used in a wide range of social species and comparative analyses could provide important insight into how individuals perceive relationships across social contexts and social scales [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 55-69, 2015].