Far from Equilibrium Percolation, Stochastic and Shape Resonances in the Physics of Life

Poccia, Nicola; Ansuini, Alessio; Bianconi, A.

doi:10.3390/ijms12106810

Cited by 12 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 97 publications

(111 reference statements)

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“…Considering the scale of our problem, this is an acceptable average. These results indicate the occurrence of a crystallization-like process in the aged myelin membranes indicative of a transition from a quasi-critical fluctuating state out of equilibrium in the fresh state to a relaxed rigid state with Gaussian distribution approaching equilibrium in the unfresh state, which is in agreement with the hypothesis of criticality for living matter proposed by recent theories [10,[12][13][14][35][36][37].…”

Section: Experimental and Data Analysissupporting

confidence: 79%

“…This makes standard experimental probes probing the average structure inadequate for the visualization of this heterogeneity, requiring highly spatially resolved probes. Biological tissues are typically intrinsically heterogeneous; indeed, nowadays new features and properties have been visualized using scanning methods with high spatial resolutions, such as by Atomic Force Microscopy [38][39][40], Confocal Microscopy [40], Scanning Electron Microscopy [35] and Scanning micro X-ray diffraction [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Correlated spatial structural fluctuations in biological systems have been correlated with the emergence of quantum coherence in biological matter [35,41], in photosystems [42] and intrinsically disordered proteins [43,44], as well as in lamellar oxides showing quantum coherence [45][46][47][48], where non-Euclidean spatial geometries for signal transmission are able to emerge from a correlated disorder [22,48].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correlated Disorder in Myelinated Axons Orientational Geometry and Structure

et al. 2017

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While the ultrastructure of myelin is considered a quasi-crystalline stable system, nowadays its multiscale complex dynamics appear to play a key role in its functionality, degeneration and repair processes following neurological diseases and trauma. In this work, we investigated the fluctuation of the myelin supramolecular assembly by measuring the spatial distribution of orientation fluctuations of axons in a Xenopus Laevis sciatic nerve associated with nerve functionality. To this end, we used scanning micro X-ray diffraction (SµXRD), a non-invasive technique that has already been applied to other heterogeneous systems presenting complex geometries from microscale to nanoscale. We found that the orientation of the spatial fluctuations of fresh axons show a Levy flight distribution, which is a clear indication of correlated disorder. We found that the Levy flight distribution was missing in the aged nerve prepared in an unfresh state. This result shows that the spatial distribution of axon orientation fluctuations in unfresh nerve state loses the correlated disorder and assumes a random disorder behavior. This work provides a deeper understanding of the ultrastructure-function nerve relation and paves the way for the study of other materials and biomaterials using the SµXRD technique to detect fluctuations in their supramolecular structure.

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Section: Experimental and Data Analysissupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlated Disorder in Myelinated Axons Orientational Geometry and Structure

et al. 2017

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“…Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the mechanism and nature of stochastic resonance. The graphs show a sinusoidal response dependent upon the different noise levels [136] and a peak value at a specific noise level [135]. Such sinusoidal doseresponse phenomena are similar to the sinusoidal dose-response curves noted for homeopathically-prepared medicines in a bacterial cell metabolism model [126].…”

Section: Salient Signal For the Systemmentioning

confidence: 50%

“…Stochastic resonance is a common phenomenon in biological systems, especially neural networks and sensory systems. One example of SR in animals is the capacity for sensory detection of weak environmental signals heralding arrival of a predator threat [136,137]. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the mechanism and nature of stochastic resonance.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Quantum dots per se possess inherent unpredictability in their properties [150][151][152] as another potential explanation for the variability and anomalies of homeopathic medicine effects. Even so [136,153], the evidence suggests that these three adaptive biological amplification mechanisms are scientifically indicated as a starting point for systematic empirical studies into how homeopathically-manufactured nanomedicines could initiate healing responses.It is possible that certain dose ranges of NPs evoke one or more of these processes, but not others. In homeopathic treatment of chronic diseases, for instance, the scope of possible medicine selections is in the thousands.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Nonlinear Response Amplification Mechanisms for Low Doses of Natural Product Nanomedicines: Dynamical Interactions with the Recipient Complex Adaptive System

Bell

Sarter

Koithan

et al. 2013

J Nanomed Nanotechol

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The purpose of the present paper is (a) to outline the self-organized, complex adaptive network nature of the organism as recipient of nanomedicines; (b) to propose several nonlinear endogenous amplification processes by which pulsed low doses of traditional, homeopathically-manufactured natural product nanomedicines may stimulate a return toward healthier function; and (c) to discuss their potential relevance to novel, but safer than conventional dosing strategies for contemporary nanomedicines. Homeopathy is an over 200-year-old system of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses low doses of natural plant-, mineral-, and animal-sourced nanomedicines. Homeopathic manufacturing is "green", with mechanical grinding in lactose and agitation in ethanol-water as primary reagents. Agitation within glass containers at room temperature may also contribute nanosilica and nanosilicon as drug delivery vehicles and biological amplifiers. The medicine selection is matched to the recipient organism's systemic patterns of dysfunction and pulsed in the timing of the discrete doses. Endogenous amplification processes within the recipient organism may involve hormesis, time-dependent sensitization, and/or stochastic resonance. Effects are adaptive and systemically diffuse, i.e., causally indirect, rather than pharmacological and local, i.e., direct. All of these nonlinear response processes require interaction of the nanoparticle (NP) dose with the organism as a complex adaptive system. The pulsed NP dose serves as a low intensity salient danger signal for the organism to make network-wide adaptive changes that can lead to healing. The historically safe therapeutic approach of homeopathic nanomedicine dosing avoids risks of high, continuous doses and cumulative toxicity that contemporary nanomedicine researchers are now trying to solve while using NPs as if they were conventional bulk drugs. Integrating the insights, technical procedures, and clinical dosing approaches from modern and homeopathic nanomedicine could lead to major advances in the field for more effective and safer translational applications.NPs in homeopathic medicines [3]. NP concentrations are low, but measurable [3]. Like modern manufactured NPs [13], homeopathicallymanufactured medicines in solution also can exhibit aging effects [9,14]. These nanomedicines are delivered either in ethanolic liquids or sprayed and dried onto lactose or lactose/sucrose pellets for oral administration.Homeopathic manufacturing materials and methods are inherently "green" [15,16]. Previous papers have addressed the striking similarities between modern top-down mechanical attrition procedures for making nanoparticles (NPs) [17] and historical homeopathic medicine manufacturing methods and materials [15,[18][19][20][21]. These similarities include mechanically grinding source materials in lactose for hours and repeatedly agitating ethanol-water solutions containing the source Citation: Bell IR, Sarter B, Koithan M, Standish LJ, Banerji P, et al. (2013) Nonlinea...

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