30 research outputs found
Computers from plants we never made. Speculations
We discuss possible designs and prototypes of computing systems that could be
based on morphological development of roots, interaction of roots, and analog
electrical computation with plants, and plant-derived electronic components. In
morphological plant processors data are represented by initial configuration of
roots and configurations of sources of attractants and repellents; results of
computation are represented by topology of the roots' network. Computation is
implemented by the roots following gradients of attractants and repellents, as
well as interacting with each other. Problems solvable by plant roots, in
principle, include shortest-path, minimum spanning tree, Voronoi diagram,
-shapes, convex subdivision of concave polygons. Electrical properties
of plants can be modified by loading the plants with functional nanoparticles
or coating parts of plants of conductive polymers. Thus, we are in position to
make living variable resistors, capacitors, operational amplifiers,
multipliers, potentiometers and fixed-function generators. The electrically
modified plants can implement summation, integration with respect to time,
inversion, multiplication, exponentiation, logarithm, division. Mathematical
and engineering problems to be solved can be represented in plant root networks
of resistive or reaction elements. Developments in plant-based computing
architectures will trigger emergence of a unique community of biologists,
electronic engineering and computer scientists working together to produce
living electronic devices which future green computers will be made of.Comment: The chapter will be published in "Inspired by Nature. Computing
inspired by physics, chemistry and biology. Essays presented to Julian Miller
on the occasion of his 60th birthday", Editors: Susan Stepney and Andrew
Adamatzky (Springer, 2017
Conformational-Analysis of Endoperoxides Grafted onto Bicyclo[2.2.N]Alkanes as a Test of the Rigidity of the Bicyclic Skeleton - Photooxidation of [2.2.2]Hericene and 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.N]Alkanes .24
Tandem Cheletropic Additions of Sulfur-Dioxide to [2.2.2]Hericene - the Barrelene Effect
Interaction between Non-Conjugated Chromophores .18. Preparation and Diels-Alder Reactivity of 2,3,5,6,7,8-Hexamethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]Octane ([2.2.2]Hericene) - Force-Field Calculations of Exocyclic Dienes as a Moiety of Bicyclic Skeletons
Interaction between Non-Conjugated Chromophores .17. Effects of Remote Substitution on the Photooxidation of Exocyclic S-Cis-Butadienes Grafted onto Bicyclo[2.2.1]Heptanes - Thermal and Rhodium Catalyzed Rearrangements of 3,6-Dihydro-1,2-Dioxines
No evidence for cerium dioxide nanoparticle translocation in maize plants
The rapidly increasing production of engineered nanoparticles has raised questions regarding their environmental impact and their mobility to overcome biological important barriers. Nanoparticles were found to cross different mammalian barriers, which is summarized under the term translocation. The present work investigates the uptake and translocation of cerium dioxide nanoparticles into maize plants as one of the major agricultural crops. Nanoparticles were exposed either as aerosol or as suspension. Our study demonstrates that 50 ÎĽg of cerium/g of leaves was either adsorbed or incorporated into maize leaves. This amount could not be removed by a washing step and did not depend on closed or open stomata investigated under dark and light exposure conditions. However, no translocation into newly grown leaves was found when cultivating the maize plants after airborne particle exposure. The use of inductively coupled mass spectrometer allowed detection limits of less than 1 ng of cerium/g of leaf. Exposure of plants to well-characterized nanoparticle suspensions in the irrigation water resulted also in no detectable translocation. These findings may indicate that the biological barriers of plants are more resistant against nanoparticle translocation than mammalian barriers