The cochlea's high sensitivity stems from the active process of outer hair cells, which possess two force-generating mechanisms: active hair-bundle motility elicited by Ca(2+) influx and somatic motility mediated by the voltage-sensitive protein prestin. Although interference with prestin has demonstrated a role for somatic motility in the active process, it remains unclear whether hair-bundle ...

Motility initiation in crawling cells requires a symmetry breaking mechanism which transforms a symmetric state into a polarized state. Experiments on keratocytes suggest that polarization is triggered by increased contractility of motor proteins. In this paper we argue that contraction can be responsible not only for the symmetry breaking transition but also for the incipient translocation of ...

To explore and react to their environment, living micro-swimmers have developed sophisticated strategies for locomotion - in particular, motility with multiple gaits. understand the physical principles associated such a behavioural variability,synthetic model systems capable of mimicking it are needed. Here, we demonstrate bimodal gait switching autophoretic droplet swimmers. This minimal exper...

Objective The quality of semen depends upon several factors such as environment, life style, physical activity, age and occupation. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the conventional and functional semen parameters in men who practice vigorous physical activity to those of sedentary men. MaterialsAndMethods Semen samples from 17 physically active men and 15 sedentary men were col...

introduction: attachment of blood and tissue cells to the extracellular matrix (ecm) is done with the help of specific joints, which are made between cells’ receptors and matrixes’ ligands. this interaction is vital for many biological activities such as cell migration, cancer development, and wound healing. the purpose of this study is to model a 3-dimensional cell by abaqus commercial softwar...