Coordination Behavior Research Articles

Two orthogonal differentiation gradients locally coordinate fruit morphogenesis

Morphogenesis requires the coordination of cellular behaviors along developmental axes. In plants, gradients of growth and differentiation are typically established along a single longitudinal primordium axis to control global organ shape. Yet, it remains unclear how these gradients are locally adjusted to regulate the formation of complex organs that consist of diverse tissue types. Here we combine quantitative live imaging at cellular resolution with genetics, and chemical treatments to understand the formation of Arabidopsis thaliana female reproductive organ (gynoecium). We show that, contrary to other aerial organs, gynoecium shape is determined by two orthogonal, time-shifted differentiation gradients. An early mediolateral gradient controls valve morphogenesis while a late, longitudinal gradient regulates style differentiation. Local, tissue-dependent action of these gradients serves to fine-tune the common developmental program governing organ morphogenesis to ensure the specialized function of the gynoecium.

Grievance shocks and coordination in protest

AbstractWhen grievance shocks have heavy tails, large sudden increases in grievances coordinate behavior far more effectively into protests than a sequence of small grievance shocks that generate the same final distribution of grievances in society. That is, society as a whole behaves like the legendary boiling frog, even though each individual does not. An implication is a strong form of path‐dependence in collective action. To assess a society's potential for protest, it is not enough to know the current distribution of antiregime sentiments; we also need to know how they came about: suddenly or gradually. The theory also provides a rationale for the classic J‐curve theory of revolution. We provide a quantitative analysis of the relationship between grievance shocks and protests in Chile in 2014–2019. Consistent with the theory, results suggest that, even after controlling for grievance levels, large grievance shocks increased the number of protests.

A new progressive polycrystalline yield criterion for magnesium alloys

When the equivalent plastic strain reaches 0.002, metals can be treated as yielded. In this study, at the yielding stage, using the assumptions such as: 1) elastic strain can assist in coordinating plastic strain; 2) ignoring the need to activate five independent slip systems simultaneously; 3) the strain hardening of slip systems to be linear; and 4) ignoring the intergranular strain coordination behavior, a new progressive polycrystalline yield criterion is established. This new criterion better reflects the inherent mechanisms of yielding compared to phenomenological models and requires less computational effort than VPSC or EVPSC. Experimental validation results demonstrated that the new criterion accurately reproduced experimental outcomes.

A Gradient of Unisons: The Emergent Superunit in Collective Action

Abstract As design practice shifts from designing material goods to shaping and facilitating social situations, there is a compelling need to develop a richer understanding of specific social relations as facilitated by design. This article explores bodied unisons—enkinaesthetic entrainments of self + other. We present these unison acts as identifiable patterns of behavior that are observable when people coordinate, patterns that foster a move from individual to superunit. Extending the metaphor of musical unison, this article provides perspective on the varied qualities of consensus, offering insight for those designing to coordinate behavior. The disciplines of service design, interaction design, and experience design all aim to coordinate behavior toward specific ends. In each discipline, there are two or more entities (the client and the service provider, for instance) searching for congruence, and the success or failure of the interaction can be assessed through this spectrum of unisons. This study explores the definition of unison as an enkinaesthetic embodied act, provides a framework for analysis, and concludes with implications for the design profession and some ethical considerations regarding designed unisons. The analytical framework encourages novel attention to shared experience, opening avenues for intervention in experiential design fields. As a metaphoric construct and as embodied performance, unison offers participants a sense of stability and cooperation with varying degrees of independence and agency.

Behavioural Pattern as Indicator of Different Stages of Estrus in Sahiwal Cows

The reproductive efficiency of dairy animals is having a direct impact on productivity and profitability of dairy farms. Therefore, reproduction management is a major concern in dairy industry. Communication of the timing of physiological event of ovulation and coordination of sexual behavior are important for successful fertilization. The success rate of artificial insemination in cattle mainly depends on the time of estrus it is inseminated. Inefficient and inaccurate heat detection results in failure of conception during that attempt, which in turn leads to significant economic losses. The efficient and accurate detection of estrus and the timing of AI has remained major challenge to improve reproductive and economic efficiencies of dairy farms. To have a simple and accurate technique for optimizing the time of insemination, present investigation was performed on healthy, cyclic Sahiwal cows which had calved recently and were maintained at DDD farm of LFC, DUVASU, Mathura with an aim to investigate the behaviour of the cows in order to discriminate the various stages of estrus. The behavioral attributes of teaser bull and experimental cows were observed during three different stages i.e. onset of estrus, standing heat and non-estrus stages of same cows. It was observed that frequency of mounting by teaser bulls, frequency of Flehmen reaction by teaser bulls, restlessness of Sahiwal cows, bellowing and frequency of urination were all significantly affected by different stages of estrus i.e onset of estrus, standing heat and non-estrus.

Synthesis, structure, and stability of a set of C-stereogenic heteroditopic P, S ligands

This study focuses on synthesis and investigation of coordination modes of phosphorus and sulfur-containing C-stereogenic compounds, prepared from thioanisole. Isolation of the C-stereogenic organolithium compound [RR'CHLi·2THF]2 (R = C6H5S, R’ = (CH3)3Si, THF = tetrahydrofuran) instead of in situ usage turned out to be mandatory for controlled reactivity. Variation of the steric and electronic properties of the substituents at phosphorus furnished three different phosphane substituted P, S ligands RR'CHPPh2, RR'CHP(N(C2H5)2)2, and RR'CHP(t-C4H9)2. Furthermore, the corresponding chalcogenphosphoranes were synthesized by oxidation with elemental sulfur and selenium. Preliminary investigation of the coordination behavior of RR'CHP(t-C4H9)2, RR'CHP(S)(t-C4H9)2 and RR'CHP(Se)(t-C4H9)2 towards coinage metals was explored with Au(tht)Cl, both for the phosphanes and the corresponding phosphoranes. Intermolecular aurophilic interactions have been observed for the selenophosphorane exclusively.

1- and 2-Tetrazolylacetonitrile as Versatile Ligands for Laser Ignitable Energetic Coordination Compounds.

1- and 2-Tetrazolylacetonitrile (1- and 2-TAN) have been synthesized by the reaction of chloroacetonitrile with 1H-tetrazole under basic conditions. They further were reacted with sodium azide in the presence of zinc(II) chloride to form 5-((1H-tetrazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-tetrazole (1-HTMT) and 5-((2H-tetrazol-2-yl)methyl)-1H-tetrazole (2-HTMT). The nitrogen-rich compounds have been applied as ligands for Energetic Coordination Compounds (ECCs) and show interesting coordinative behavior due to different bridging modes. The structural variability of the compounds has been proved by low-temperature X-ray analysis. The ECCs were analyzed for their sensitivities to provide information about the safety of handling and their capability to serve as primary explosives in detonator setups to replace the commonly used lead styphnate and azide. All colored ECCs were evaluated for their ignitability by laser initiation in translucent polycarbonate primer caps. In addition, the spin-crossover characteristics of [Fe(1-TAN)6](ClO4)2 were highlighted by the measurement of the temperature-dependent susceptibility curve.

Unraveling the coordination behavior and transformation mechanism of Cr3+ in Fe–Cr redox flow battery electrolytes

Currently, the iron chromium redox flow battery (ICRFB) has become a research hotspot in the energy storage field owing to its low cost and easily-scaled-up. However, the activity of electrolyte is still ambiguous due to its complicated solution environment. Herein, we performed a pioneering investigation on the coordination behavior and transformation mechanism of Cr3+ in electrolyte and prediction of impurity ions impact through quantum chemistry computations. Based on the structure and symmetry of electrostatic potential distribution, the activity of different Cr3+ complex ions is confirmed as [Cr(H2O)5Cl]2+ > [Cr(H2O)4Cl2]+ > [Cr(H2O)6]3+. The transformation mechanism between [Cr(H2O)6]3+ and [Cr(H2O)5Cl]2+ is revealed. We find the metal impurity ions (especially Mg2+) can exacerbate the electrolyte deactivation by reducing the transformation energy barrier from [Cr(H2O)5Cl]2+ (24.38 kcal mol−1) to [Cr(H2O)6]3+ (16.23 kcal mol−1). The solvent radial distribution and mean square displacement in different solvent environments are discussed and we conclude that the coordination configuration limits the diffusivity of Cr3+. This work provides new insights into the activity of electrolyte, laying a fundamental sense for the electrolyte in ICRFB.

The Ag based composites derived from Ag-MOFs with tunable forms for electromagnetic wave absorption

The wireless communication and network technology make our lives more and more convenient. However, the inevitable electromagnetic pollution and interference deriving from these technologies have hazardous influences on the electronic equipment and human health. Therefore, continuous explorations have been strived to fabricate excellent electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers to diminish the impact of these negative effects. MOF, as an emerging hybrid material is widely investigated as the EMW absorber due to its multiple attenuation mechanisms. However, attentions are always focused on the influence of different inorganic ions and organic linkers on the electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) performance of MOF. Significantly, tremendous facts have proved that the control of morphologies and forms of hybrid materials is vital for further enhancement of many applications. Hence, the investigation of effect of MOF forms on EMWA performance will be the important foundation for further explorations. Here, three different forms of Ag based MOFs, named Ag-MOF, Ag-MOF-Microcrystal and Ag-MOG were successfully fabricated. Further investigations of XPS, XRD as well as FT-IR manifested that these three materials had the same coordination behaviors. The different forms could be obtained by the controlling of crystallization. Ag-MOG was proved to be the best EMW absorber among the fabricated materials. The minimum RL of −41.8 dB and a wider EAB of 6.3 GHz could be obtained by Ag-MOG derived composite.

Synthesis and Crystallographic Characterization of Heteroleptic Ir(III) Complexes Containing the N-oxide Functional Group and Crystallographic Characterization of Ir(III) N-oxide Precursors

The N-oxide functional group has been exploited for synthetic strategies and drug design, and it has been utilized in imaging agents. Herein, we present rare examples of neutral heteroleptic cyclometallated Ir(III) compounds that contain an uncoordinated N-oxide functional group. These species, along with others described within, were verified by NMR, EA, HRMS, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. N-oxide-containing Ir(III) species were prepared selectively in high yields > 66% from chloro-bridged Ir(III) dimers with Acipimox, a picolinate-type ligand containing the N-oxide functional group. Non-N-oxide analogs were synthesized in a similar fashion (yields > 77%). Electrochemical comparison (cyclic voltammetry) indicates that the presence of an N-oxide functional group anodically shifts the reduction potential, suggesting that the N-oxide is acting as an electron-withdrawing group in these species. Crystallographic studies were pursued to examine the coordination behavior of these N-oxides compared to their non-oxidized congeners. The Ir(III) complexes with Acipimox indeed leave the N-oxide uncoordinated and exposed on the complexes. The uncoordinated N-oxide group is influential in directing the packing structures of these complexes directly through C-H···O and O···π interactions at the N-oxide. The crystallographic characterization of cationic Ir(III) compounds with uncoordinated nitrogen atoms is also presented. The C-H···N interactions between these complexes form a variety of dimers, finite chains, and continuous chains. Future work will focus on functionalizing the cationic Ir(III) species into their corresponding N-oxide derivatives and rigorously characterizing how the N-oxide functional group impacts the optical properties of transition metal compounds in both cationic and neutral complexes.

Thermal contraction coordination behavior between unbound aggregate layer and asphalt mixture overlay based on the finite difference and discrete element coupling method

AbstractThe constraint action of the unbound aggregate layer underneath plays an important role in affecting the temperature strains in the top asphalt layer. The focus of the present paper is to investigate the interactive thermal contraction mechanisms between the asphalt mixture and granular base layers to offer a new perspective in promoting the understanding of the thermal cracking disease. In this paper, both experiments and simulations were conducted for the thermal contraction tests. A novel numerical modeling of virtual composite structures was proposed using wall‐zone coupling operation based on the finite difference and discrete element coupling method. The experimental composite structures containing three types of asphalt mixture overlays and five types of unbound aggregate base layers were developed for verification. The thermal contraction and restraint mechanism were revealed from both macro and microscopic scales. The proposed numerical modeling shows a 94% high accuracy. The particle displacement vector and contact force chain could explain the thermal contraction behavior of composite structures. Smaller particle motion displacement or stronger contact force chain result in a higher restraint strain of the asphalt overlay. The thermal contraction behavior can be coordinated through the compaction and loosening of unbound aggregates. The material parameters and cooling temperature differences in the asphalt overlay have slight effects on the constraint action of a base layer, while the gradation and mechanical parameters of the unbound aggregate layer show significant impaction. The parameters, cohesion C and friction angle φ, show a quadratic function with the restraint coefficient. This work has significant guidance on the selection of pavement structure and materials to improve the thermal cracking problem and lay the basis for the mechanical theoretical calculation to predict thermal cracking.

Recent developments in catalytic and antimicrobial applications of benzimidazole Schiff base: A review

An amino acid and a carbonyl molecule are combined to generate Schiff bases complexes, which are useful compounds. Catalytic activity is high in many metals Schiff base complexes, especially chiral ones. Examples of processes include epoxidation, aldol condensation, hydroxylation, and oxidation. In several activities and in the presence of moisture, complexes display considerable catalytic activity. They have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, anticancer, and anti-HIV properties, among other biological activities. Research into these compounds’ coordination behavior has exploded because of specific metals on them, their biological activity and their intrinsic chemical interest as multidentate ligands. This article provides an overview of the numerous syntheses and uses for Schiff bases and their metal complexes.

Outcomes and Barriers Associated with Telehealth-Based Hepatitis C Treatment During Early Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment given the need for thorough evaluation by specialists, treatment coordination, follow-up visits, laboratory monitoring, and potential health behavior impacts on patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate HCV treatment during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when care was conducted virtually, by examining patient demographics associated with treatment initiation and discontinuation rates. This retrospective study included 73 patients with quantifiable HCV RNA evaluated by gastroenterologists and infectious disease clinicians and referred to an HCV clinical pharmacy team for treatment coordination from March 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020. Data collection included baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment characteristics. Patients were followed until June 15, 2021. Forty-three patients (59%) initiated HCV treatment while 30 patients (41%) did not. Patient demographics were not associated with HCV treatment initiation rates except for presence of alcohol use disorder within the past 6 months (P = .003). Of the 43 patients that initiated HCV treatment, 9 patients (21%) discontinued their treatment. Twenty-two of 25 patients (88%) with laboratory analysis achieved sustained virologic response. There were no demographic or geographic disparities between patients that initiated HCV treatment and those that did not during the study period. Results of this study suggest that active alcohol use disorder diagnosis may be associated with HCV treatment noninitiation. This study emphasizes the need for further research to define the standards of care in assessing active alcohol use disorder during HCV treatment evaluation.

Submovement interpersonal coupling is associated to audio-motor coordination performance

Acting in concert with others, a key aspect of our social life, requires behavioral coordination between persons on multiple timescales. When zooming in on the kinematic properties of movements, it appears that small speed fluctuations, called submovements, are embedded within otherwise smooth end-point trajectories. Submovements, by occurring at a faster timescale than that of movements, offer a novel window upon the functional relationship between distinct motor timescales. In this regard, it has previously been shown that when partners visually synchronize their movements, they also coordinate the timing of their submovement by following an alternated pattern. However, it remains unclear whether the mechanisms behind submovement coordination are domain-general or specific to the visual modality, and whether they have relevance for interpersonal coordination also at the scale of whole movements. In a series of solo and dyadic tasks, we show that submovements are also present and coordinated across partners when sensorimotor interactions are mediated by auditory feedback only. Importantly, the accuracy of task-instructed interpersonal coordination at the movement level correlates with the strength of submovement coordination. These results demonstrate that submovement coordination is a potentially fundamental mechanism that participates in interpersonal motor coordination regardless of the sensory domain mediating the interaction.

The active space of sperm whale codas: inter-click information for intra-unit communication.

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are social mega-predators who form stable matrilineal units that often associate within a larger vocal clan. Clan membership is defined by sharing a repertoire of coda types consisting of specific temporal spacings of multi-pulsed clicks. It has been hypothesized that codas communicate membership across socially segregated sympatric clans, but others propose that codas are primarily used for behavioral coordination and social cohesion within a closely spaced social unit. Here, we test these hypotheses by combining measures of ambient noise levels and coda click source levels with models of sound propagation to estimate the active space of coda communication. Coda clicks were localized off the island of Dominica with a four- or five-element 80m vertical hydrophone array, allowing us to calculate the median RMS source levels of 1598 clicks from 444 codas to be 161 dB re. 1 μPa (IQR 153-167), placing codas among the most powerful communication sounds in toothed whales. However, together with measured ambient noise levels, these source levels lead to a median active space of coda communication of ∼4 km, reflecting the maximum footprint of a single foraging sperm whale unit. We conclude that while sperm whale codas may contain information about clan affiliation, their moderate active space shows that codas are not used for long range acoustic communication between units and clans, but likely serve to mediate social cohesion and behavioral transitions in intra-unit communication.

Analysis of Coordination Mechanisms during Collaborative Problem-Solving on an Interactive Tabletop Display

AbstractCoordination is an important aspect of group work. Previous studies have shown how collocated multi-user interfaces, such as interactive tabletops, support coordination by providing a shared space that enhances workspace awareness. However, only little is known about the coordination processes that occur during problem-solving on such shared devices and how the design of features and interaction techniques can impact coordination behaviour. In this paper we analyse users’ coordination mechanisms during joint manipulation tasks in Orbitia, an interactive tabletop-based problem-solving activity. The proposed design integrates a series of “breaches” seeking to challenge participants’ collaboration by confronting them to different limitations. We report on a case study with five groups of three users (N = 15), jointly solving tasks while facing different challenges related to the activity interface and the environment. By analysing 135 min of video material along with their transcripts, we identified nine different coordination mechanisms that relate to either coordination of information or coordination of actions. By exploring the occurrences of these mechanisms, we found that sharing unsolicited task-relevant information is a common coordination behaviour that can be observed at interactive tabletops, and that with breaches, more explicit coordination in the form of direct requests, orders, or shadowing is used.

Bi- and tridentate coordination behaviour of a novel bis(phosphinimino)methanide ligand.

Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel ferrocenyl-functionalized bis(phosphinimino)methane ligand (CH2 (PPh2 NFc)2 ). Deprotonation of CH2 (PPh2 NFc)2 with KN(SiMe3 )2 gave the dimeric species [K{CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }]2 , which was further reacted with ECl2 (E=Ge, Sn) to yield the tetrylene compounds [{CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }ECl]. The ligand and the resulting tetrylenes were examined for their electrochemical properties with the aid of cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, the reaction of the tetrylenes [{CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }ECl] with [AuC6 F5 (tht)] resulted in the bimetallic complexes [{(AuC6 F5 )CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }ECl] with an unusual Au coordination on the ligand backbone.

Escape from fraught states in a coordination game.

Through a behavioural coordination game played by groups of humans and simulated with agent-based models, we investigated a social network dilemma that we call fraughtness. Seven players, connected to one another in various topologies via a computer network, each had to move a slider to the left or right along a horizontal bar on their screen. The goal was for all the players to move their slider to the same side. Players received feedback indicating the degree to which they and their neighbours agreed about the choice of side. When the topology had a hierarchical branching structure, the groups often got stuck in fraughtness: players on one branch favoured one side, while players on the other branch favoured the other; because all were receiving supportive local feedback, nobody wanted to change. Nevertheless, after being stuck in fraughtness for some time, most groups managed to escape it. Fraughtness is arguably an analog of generally negatively viewed social phenomena like polarization and echo chambers. Our analyses suggest that while fraughtness is problematic, it is closely linked to successful structure formation-it thus may be most effective to focus not on how to banish it, but on how to resolve it.

Neuroanatomical frameworks for volitional control of breathing and orofacial behaviors

Breathing is the only vital function that can be volitionally controlled. However, a detailed understanding how volitional (cortical) motor commands can transform vital breathing activity into adaptive breathing patterns that accommodate orofacial behaviors such as swallowing, vocalization or sniffing remains to be developed. Recent neuroanatomical tract tracing studies have identified patterns and origins of descending forebrain projections that target brain nuclei involved in laryngeal adductor function which is critically involved in orofacial behavior. These nuclei include the midbrain periaqueductal gray and nuclei of the respiratory rhythm and pattern generating network in the brainstem, specifically including the pontine Kölliker-Fuse nucleus and the pre-Bötzinger complex in the medulla oblongata. This review discusses the functional implications of the forebrain-brainstem anatomical connectivity that could underlie the volitional control and coordination of orofacial behaviors with breathing.

Interacting with autistic virtual characters: intrapersonal synchrony of nonverbal behavior affects participants' perception.

Temporal coordination of communicative behavior is not only located between but also within interaction partners (e.g., gaze and gestures). This intrapersonal synchrony (IaPS) is assumed to constitute interpersonal alignment. Studies show systematic variations in IaPS in individuals with autism, which may affect the degree of interpersonal temporal coordination. In the current study, we reversed the approach and mapped the measured nonverbal behavior of interactants with and without ASD from a previous study onto virtual characters to study the effects of the differential IaPS on observers (N = 68), both with and without ASD (crossed design). During a communication task with both characters, who indicated targets with gaze and delayed pointing gestures, we measured response times, gaze behavior, and post hoc impression formation. Results show that character behavior indicative of ASD resulted in overall enlarged decoding times in observers and this effect was even pronounced in observers with ASD. A classification of observer's gaze types indicated differentiated decoding strategies. Whereas non-autistic observers presented with a rather consistent eyes-focused strategy associated with efficient and fast responses, observers with ASD presented with highly variable decoding strategies. In contrast to communication efficiency, impression formation was not influenced by IaPS.The results underline the importance of timing differences in both production and perception processes during multimodal nonverbal communication in interactants with and without ASD. In essence, the current findings locate the manifestation of reduced reciprocity in autism not merely in the person, but in the interactional dynamics of dyads.