Physarum boats: If plasmodium sailed it would never leave a port

Plasmodium of \emph{Physarum polycephalum} is a single huge (visible by naked eye) cell with myriad of nuclei. The plasmodium is a promising substrate for non-classical, nature-inspired, computing devices. It is capable for approximation of shortest path, computation of planar proximity graphs and plane tessellations, primitive memory and decision-making. The unique properties of the plasmodium make it an ideal candidate for a role of amorphous biological robots with massive parallel information processing and distributed inputs and outputs. We show that when adhered to light-weight object resting on a water surface the plasmodium can propel the object by oscillating its protoplasmic pseudopodia. In experimental laboratory conditions and computational experiments we study phenomenology of the plasmodium-floater system, and possible mechanisms of controlling motion of objects propelled by on board plasmodium

Pattern formation of reaction-diffusion system having self-determined flow in the amoeboid organism of Physarum plasmodium

The amoeboid organism, the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum, behaves on the basis of spatio-temporal pattern formation by local contraction-oscillators. This biological system can be regarded as a reaction-diffusion system which has spatial interaction by active flow of protoplasmic sol in the cell. Paying attention to the physiological evidence that the flow is determined by contraction pattern in the plasmodium, a reaction-diffusion system having self-determined flow arises. Such a coupling of reaction-diffusion-advection is a characteristic of the biological system, and is expected to relate with control mechanism of amoeboid behaviours. Hence, we have studied effects of the self-determined flow on pattern formation of simple reaction-diffusion systems. By weakly nonlinear analysis near a trivial solution, the envelope dynamics follows the complex Ginzburg-Landau type equation just after bifurcation occurs at finite wave number. The flow term affects the nonlinear term of the equation through the critical wave number squared. Contrary to this, wave number isn't explicitly effective with lack of flow or constant flow. Thus, spatial size of pattern is especially important for regulating pattern formation in the plasmodium. On the other hand, the flow term is negligible in the vicinity of bifurcation at infinitely small wave number, and therefore the pattern formation by simple reaction-diffusion will also hold. A physiological role of pattern formation as above is discussed.Comment: REVTeX, one column, 7 pages, no figur

When the path is never shortest: a reality check on shortest path biocomputation

Shortest path problems are a touchstone for evaluating the computing performance and functional range of novel computing substrates. Much has been published in recent years regarding the use of biocomputers to solve minimal path problems such as route optimisation and labyrinth navigation, but their outputs are typically difficult to reproduce and somewhat abstract in nature, suggesting that both experimental design and analysis in the field require standardising. This chapter details laboratory experimental data which probe the path finding process in two single-celled protistic model organisms, Physarum polycephalum and Paramecium caudatum, comprising a shortest path problem and labyrinth navigation, respectively. The results presented illustrate several of the key difficulties that are encountered in categorising biological behaviours in the language of computing, including biological variability, non-halting operations and adverse reactions to experimental stimuli. It is concluded that neither organism examined are able to efficiently or reproducibly solve shortest path problems in the specific experimental conditions that were tested. Data presented are contextualised with biological theory and design principles for maximising the usefulness of experimental biocomputer prototypes.Comment: To appear in: Adamatzky, A (Ed.) Shortest path solvers. From software to wetware. Springer, 201

Direct measurements of the effects of salt and surfactant on interaction forces between colloidal particles at water-oil interfaces

The forces between colloidal particles at a decane-water interface, in the presence of low concentrations of a monovalent salt (NaCl) and of the surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in the aqueous subphase, have been studied using laser tweezers. In the absence of electrolyte and surfactant, particle interactions exhibit a long-range repulsion, yet the variation of the interaction for different particle pairs is found to be considerable. Averaging over several particle pairs was hence found to be necessary to obtain reliable assessment of the effects of salt and surfactant. It has previously been suggested that the repulsion is consistent with electrostatic interactions between a small number of dissociated charges in the oil phase, leading to a decay with distance to the power -4 and an absence of any effect of electrolyte concentration. However, the present work demonstrates that increasing the electrolyte concentration does yield, on average, a reduction of the magnitude of the interaction force with electrolyte concentration. This implies that charges on the water side also contribute significantly to the electrostatic interactions. An increase in the concentration of SDS leads to a similar decrease of the interaction force. Moreover the repulsion at fixed SDS concentrations decreases over longer times. Finally, measurements of three-body interactions provide insight into the anisotropic nature of the interactions. The unique time-dependent and anisotropic interactions between particles at the oil-water interface allow tailoring of the aggregation kinetics and structure of the suspension structure.Comment: Submitted to Langmui

Cellular Automata Applications in Shortest Path Problem

Cellular Automata (CAs) are computational models that can capture the essential features of systems in which global behavior emerges from the collective effect of simple components, which interact locally. During the last decades, CAs have been extensively used for mimicking several natural processes and systems to find fine solutions in many complex hard to solve computer science and engineering problems. Among them, the shortest path problem is one of the most pronounced and highly studied problems that scientists have been trying to tackle by using a plethora of methodologies and even unconventional approaches. The proposed solutions are mainly justified by their ability to provide a correct solution in a better time complexity than the renowned Dijkstra's algorithm. Although there is a wide variety regarding the algorithmic complexity of the algorithms suggested, spanning from simplistic graph traversal algorithms to complex nature inspired and bio-mimicking algorithms, in this chapter we focus on the successful application of CAs to shortest path problem as found in various diverse disciplines like computer science, swarm robotics, computer networks, decision science and biomimicking of biological organisms' behaviour. In particular, an introduction on the first CA-based algorithm tackling the shortest path problem is provided in detail. After the short presentation of shortest path algorithms arriving from the relaxization of the CAs principles, the application of the CA-based shortest path definition on the coordinated motion of swarm robotics is also introduced. Moreover, the CA based application of shortest path finding in computer networks is presented in brief. Finally, a CA that models exactly the behavior of a biological organism, namely the Physarum's behavior, finding the minimum-length path between two points in a labyrinth is given.Comment: To appear in the book: Adamatzky, A (Ed.) Shortest path solvers. From software to wetware. Springer, 201

Emergence of self-organized amoeboid movement in a multi-agent approximation of Physarum polycephalum

The giant single-celled slime mould Physarum polycephalum exhibits complex morphological adaptation and amoeboid movement as it forages for food and may be seen as a minimal example of complex robotic behaviour. Swarm computation has previously been used to explore how spatio-temporal complexity can emerge from, and be distributed within, simple component parts and their interactions. Using a particle-based swarm approach we explore the question of how to generate collective amoeboid movement from simple non-oscillatory component parts in a model of P. polycephalum. The model collective behaves as a cohesive and deformable virtual material, approximating the local coupling within the plasmodium matrix. The collective generates de-novo and complex oscillatory patterns from simple local interactions. The origin of this motor behaviour distributed within the collective rendering is morphologically adaptive, amenable to external influence and robust to simulated environmental insult. We show how to gain external influence over the collective movement by simulated chemo-attraction (pulling towards nutrient stimuli) and simulated light irradiation hazards (pushing from stimuli). The amorphous and distributed properties of the collective are demonstrated by cleaving it into two independent entities and fusing two separate entities to form a single device, thus enabling it to traverse narrow, separate or tortuous paths. We conclude by summarizing the contribution of the model to swarm-based robotics and soft-bodied modular robotics and discuss the future potential of such material approaches to the field. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd

High incidence of silent myocardial ischemia in elderly patients with non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Celem badania była ocena częstości występowania niemego niedokrwienia mięśnia sercowego u bezobjawowych chorych na cukrzycę w podeszłym wieku (> 60 lat). Wstępnym etapem badania była maksymalna próba wysiłkowa na bieżni ruchomej. Spośród 140 chorych u 54 (38,6%) nie udało się osiągnąć diagnostycznego poziomu wysiłku podczas próby lub nie można jej było wykonać z innych przyczyn, u 39 z 86 chorych (45,3%) uzyskano pozytywny wynik próby wysiłkowej. W drugim etapie tej pracy u 93 chorych z dodatnią próbą wysiłkową, ale u których nie można było uzyskać maksymalnego wysiłku, wykonano scyntygrafię z użyciem talu w teście z dipirydamolem. U 39 z 93 chorych (41,9%), u których wystąpiły zaburzenia perfuzji, rozpoznano nieme niedokrwienie mięśnia sercowego. U 18 chorych z niemym niedokrwieniem mięśnia sercowego, którzy wyrazili zgodę, wykonano koronarografię. U 17 spośród 18 chorych (94,4%) stwierdzono znacznego stopnia zwężenia naczyń wieńcowych, co potwierdziło duże znaczenie predykcyjne tej metody. Podsumowując, stwierdzono, że częstość niemego niemego niedokrwienia mięśnia sercowego u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 w podeszłym wieku jest bardzo wysoka (26,3%). Te wyniki sugerują, że wczesna intensywna diagnostyka zmian w naczyniach wieńcowych może się okazać niezbędna jako uzupełnienie rutynowego postępowania w tej grupie chorych.The present study was designed reveal the incidence of silent myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic elderly non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients (aged over 60 years). As a first step screening, maximal treadmill exercise test was performed. Of 140 patients studied, 54 (38.6%) were unable or not expected to achieve diagnostic levels of exercise during treadmill testing. A positive exercise test was noted in 39 of 86 (45.3%) subjects. As a second step examination, dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy was performed for 93 subjects who exhibited a positive exercise test and could not perform a maximal exercise test. Abnormal perfusion pattern was found in 39 of 93 (41.9%), who were finally considered to have a silent myocardial ischemia. Coronary angiography was performed in 18 subjects with diagnosis of silent myocardial ischemia, who gave their consent. Significant coronary artery stenosis was in fact found in 17 of 18 (94.4%) subjects studied, confirming a very high positive predictive value of this diagnostic procedure. In conclusion, elderly NIDDM patients (aged over 60 years) had an extremely high prevalence (estimated 26.3%) of silent myocardial ischemia. This evidence suggests that early and intensive detection may be needed as a part of routine care for this grou

Symmetry restoring bifurcation in collective decision-making.

How social groups and organisms decide between alternative feeding sites or shelters has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically. One key result is the existence of a symmetry-breaking bifurcation at a critical system size, where there is a switch from evenly distributed exploitation of all options to a focussed exploitation of just one. Here we present a decision-making model in which symmetry-breaking is followed by a symmetry restoring bifurcation, whereby very large systems return to an even distribution of exploitation amongst options. The model assumes local positive feedback, coupled with a negative feedback regulating the flow toward the feeding sites. We show that the model is consistent with three different strains of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum, choosing between two feeding sites. We argue that this combination of feedbacks could allow collective foraging organisms to react flexibly in a dynamic environment