Non-random Orientation Research Articles

Microvascular Engineering for the Development of a Nonembedded Liver Sinusoid with a Lumen: When Endothelial Cells Do Not Lose Their Edge.

Microvascular engineering seeks to exploit known cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in the context of vasculogenesis to restore homeostasis or disease development of reliable capillary models in vitro. However, current systems generally focus on recapitulating microvessels embedded in thick gels of extracellular matrix, overlooking the significance of discontinuous capillaries, which play a vital role in tissue-blood exchanges particularly in organs like the liver. In this work, we introduce a novel method to stimulate the spontaneous organization of endothelial cells into nonembedded microvessels. By creating an anisotropic micropattern at the edge of a development-like matrix dome using Marangoni flow, we achieved a long, nonrandom orientation of endothelial cells, laying a premise for stable lumenized microvessels. Our findings revealed a distinctive morphogenetic process leading to mature lumenized capillaries, demonstrated with both murine and human immortalized liver sinusoidal endothelial cell lines (LSECs). The progression of cell migration, proliferation, and polarization was clearly guided by the pattern, initiating the formation of a multicellular cord that caused a deformation spanning extensive regions and generated a wave-like folding of the gel, hinged at a laminin-depleted zone, enveloping the cord with gel proteins. This event marked the onset of lumenogenesis, regulated by the gradual apico-basal polarization of the wrapped cells, leading to the maturation of vessel tight junctions, matrix remodeling, and ultimately the formation of a lumen─recapitulating the development of vessels in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the process strongly relies on the initial gel edge topography, while the geometry of the vessels can be tuned from a curved to a straight structure. We believe that our facile engineering method, guiding an autonomous self-organization of vessels without the need for supporting cells or complex prefabricated scaffolds, holds promise for future integration into microphysiological systems featuring discontinuous, fenestrated capillaries.

Multivalent interactions between RNA and RNA binding proteins drive differential intra-speckle positioning of RNA transcripts.

Nuclear speckles represent a type of membraneless organelles in higher eukaryotic cells which are rich in snRNP components, certain splicing factors, including SR proteins (a family of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) named for containing regions with repetitive serine and arginine residues), polyA+ RNAs, and certain long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA). Multivalent interactions between RNAs and residing protein components drive the formation, as well as layered organization of components in nuclear speckles. Furthermore, RBPs have differential localization with respect to nuclear speckles; while SRSF1 proteins is enriched in nuclear speckles, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1) is either uniformly distributed in the nucleoplasm or slightly depleted from nuclear speckles. Using super-resolution imaging we show that the pre-mRNA transcripts containing SRSF1 motifs in the exon and hnRNPA1 motifs in the intron, are orientated in a way such that the regions containing the SRSF1 binding motifs are positioned relatively towards the interior of nuclear speckles and hnRNPA1 binding motifs are placed relatively towards the periphery of speckles. Knocking down of SRSF1 protein leads to the migration of RNA transcripts further towards the periphery of nuclear speckles, whereas knocking down of hnRNPA1 protein leads to the inward migration of RNA transcripts with respect to the speckle center. A similar effect of protein knockdown is seen on the endogenous nuclear speckle associated lncRNA, MALAT1. Our results collectively demonstrate that RNAs can adopt non-random orientation and positioning within the membraneless organelles. These observations might help explain the need for nuclear RNAs for structural integrity of nuclear speckles and the context dependent effect of SR and hnRNP proteins on splicing outcomes.

Effective properties of heterogeneous materials as functions of contrast between properties of constituents

One of the key difficulties in applications of the effective media theories to real materials is the complex and “irregular” character of microstructures. However, in cases of moderate contrast between properties of the constituents, the sensitivity of the effective properties to microgeometries is much lower; it vanishes in the first approximation. The latter actually remains applicable at substantial (up to 70%–100%) contrast in properties. The effective elastic and conductive properties are considered as functions of property contrast between constituents. Whereas in the isotropic cases the Voigt–Reuss bounds provide guidance, in anisotropic cases these issues are less obvious. Two origins of effective anisotropies are discussed: (A) anisotropy of material constants and (B) geometric factors: non-random orientations of non-spherical inclusions. To the first order in contrast, the factor (A) is dominant, and factor (B) can be ignored (effective properties are independent of microgeometries, such as inhomogeneity shapes); the importance of factor (B) increases sharply with increasing contrast. For matrix composites (continuous matrices containing inhomogeneities), an interesting interplay takes place between the moderate contrast assumption and the non-interaction assumption (NIA). It shows that, in cases of moderate contrast, the NIA remains accurate at substantial concentrations. An application to monitoring fatigue of austenitic steel, whereby property contrast between the martensite and austenite phases is moderate, is discussed. Results of the second order in contrast, that are limited to the ellipsoidal inhomogeneities, are also given.

Diminutive Epibionts on Crinoid Stems from the Lower/Middle Devonian Boundary in the Barrandian, Czech Republic

Abstract Diminutive crinoid holdfasts and cemented tests of the foraminifers Psammosphaera and Tolypammina were observed on coarse bioclasts in weathered limestones of the Daleje-Třebotov Formation. Specimens were obtained in 1984 by washing so called “white beds” at a temporary locality in Praha- Barrandov. A few millimeter sized bioclasts with epibionts were freed from hard limestone beds of the Třebotov Limestone near the Lower/Middle Devonian boundary by long-term weathering. Many of the crinoid holdfasts attached to pluricolumnals provoked a stereomic response of the host crinoid. Also the growth orientation of the crinoid epibiont is not random and indicates some crinoid-epibiont to crinoidhost interaction. Reaction of host stereome and non-random stem orientation offer direct evidence of epibiont larval settlement and subsequent growth on the stem of a living crinoid host. The extensive growth of the host stereome ended by partial to total engulfing of the epibiont holdfast. This indicates advancing and finally successful defence of the host crinoid against the epibiont. The holdfast gives evidence that the small host crinoids offered a somewhat higher tier for even smaller epibiont crinoids. However, other observed holdfasts indicate fixation of larva and growth over loose bioclasts lying on a sea bed. Location of foraminifer test on bioclasts confims that foraminifers cemented and grew on loose echinodermal and brachiopod remains and preferred crevices and similar protected sites with concave profiles. This is clear evidence that diverse bioclasts (brachiopod shells, pelmatozoan ossicles) provided the hard substrate suitable for epibiont life on a sea bed.

Non-random orientation of Pocillopora colonies on forereefs of Moorea, French Polynesia

Morphological variation in scleractinian corals has been variously ascribed to genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity, with a likely influence of both factors. Experimental approaches have dominated studies of phenotypic plasticity, for example with asymmetrical colony formation resulting from exposure to experimentally imposed unidirectional water flow. However, it has been difficult to disentangle the effects of competition for space between sessile organisms from the influence of physical forcing on coral morphologies in situ. To this end, we investigated morphological variation of coral colonies of the genus Pocillopora on reefs in Moorea, French Polynesia, where recovery (by 2018) after near complete loss of coral cover on the forereef in 2010 was driven predominantly by recruitment and growth of Pocillopora. We employed a large-area imaging approach at 8 study sites in the forereef of Moorea, constructing digital models of 100 m2 benthic plots to describe the orientation of ~400 individual colonies of Pocillopora. Results demonstrate that Pocillopora colonies on the forereef of Moorea exhibit non-random orientations, with a systematic orientation of the major axis that lies approximately perpendicular to the 20-30 m isobath.

Revealing the Dynamic Allosteric Changes Required for Formation of the Cysteine Synthase Complex by Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange MS

CysE and CysK, the last two enzymes of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway, engage in a bienzyme complex, cysteine synthase, with yet incompletely characterized three-dimensional structure and regulatory function. Being absent in mammals, the two enzymes and their complex are attractive targets for antibacterial drugs. We have used hydrogen/deuterium exchange MS to unveil how complex formation affects the conformational dynamics of CysK and CysE. Our results support a model where CysE is present in solution as a dimer of trimers, and each trimer can bind one CysK homodimer. When CysK binds to one CysE monomer, intratrimer allosteric communication ensures conformational and dynamic symmetry within the trimer. Furthermore, a long-range allosteric signal propagates through CysE to induce stabilization of the interface between the two CysE trimers, preparing the second trimer for binding the second CysK with a nonrandom orientation. These results provide new molecular insights into the allosteric formation of the cysteine synthase complex and could help guide antibacterial drug design.

Global tectonic patterns of the Moon

Planetary tectonics provide a record of the myriad of processes that shape planetary surfaces and interiors. While there is a long history of mapping and modeling planetary tectonics, stresses from disparate processes are not generally captured by a single model. We present a comprehensive and general stress and tectonics model that can consider multiple stress-generating mechanisms simultaneously. The model is applicable to mass loading with arbitrary geometry, rotational and orbital perturbations, and arbitrary elastic lithosphere thicknesses. This wholistic approach to tectonic modeling has important implications for understanding both lunar evolution and tectonics across the solar system. We apply this model to the Moon, which exhibits a global pattern of thrust faults. The ubiquitous presence of young thrust faults suggests that isotropic contraction plays a dominant role. However, their non-random orientation requires additional stress-generating mechanisms that are not isotropic. Best-fit solutions correspond to models combining isotropic contraction with orbit recession, despinning, and South Pole-Aitken ejecta loading and the corresponding true polar wander. Contraction and despinning assuming an elastic shell with a thinner equatorial region can lead to misfits that are smaller than those assuming a constant thickness elastic shell. The young age of the faults favors recent contraction and recession; however, unrelaxed stresses from older processes combined with recent contractional stresses can also generate young faults. This possibility is supported by the Moon's ability to preserve a fossil figure.

Nest Orientation in Closed Nests of Passeriformes across a Latitudinal Gradient in the Southern Neotropic

Birds are expected to orient their nests non-randomly in order to avoid extreme thermal conditions that are known to affect their reproductive success. Considering the hypotheses that yearly mean temperature influences entrance orientation in birds, nests at higher latitudes are expected to face the equator in order to take advantage of warmer temperatures. Here we explore the relationship between latitude and nest entrance orientation in closed nests of Passeriformes in the southern Neotropics (Furnariidae, Rhinocryptidae, Troglodytidae, Tyrannidae), using both published and original data. We found a positive and significant correlation between mean entrance orientation and latitude, and report significantly non-random nest orientation at 62% of the locations with available samples. Overall, there is a trend for nests at lower latitudes to have north-northeasterly orientations, and for nests at higher latitudes to be oriented northwest. The reasons for the observed trends remain unclear, but likely involve the availability and intensity of solar radiation and its effect upon the nest microclimate.

Histovariability in human clavicular cortical bone microstructure and its mechanical implications.

The human clavicle (i.e. collarbone) is an unusual long bone due to its signature S-shaped curve and variability in macrostructure observed between individuals. Because of the complex nature of how the upper limb moves, as well as due to its complex musculoskeletal arrangement, the biomechanics, in particular the mechanical loadings, of the clavicle are not fully understood. Given that bone remodeling can be influenced by bone stress, the histologic organization of Haversian bone offers a hypothesis of responses to force distributions experienced across a bone. Furthermore, circularly polarized light microscopy can be used to determine the orientation of collagen fibers, providing additional information on how bone matrix might organize to adapt to direction of external loads. We examined Haversian density and collagen fiber orientation, along with cross-sectional geometry, to test whether the clavicle midshaft shows unique adaptation to atypical load-bearing when compared with the sternal (medial) and acromial (lateral) shaft regions. Because fractures are most common at the midshaft, we predicted that the cortical bone structure would show both disparities in Haversian remodeling and nonrandomly oriented collagen fibers in the midshaft compared with the sternal and acromial regions. Human clavicles (n=16) were sampled via thin-sections at the sternal, middle, and acromial ends of the shaft, and paired sample t-tests were employed to evaluate within-individual differences in microstructural or geometric properties. We found that Haversian remodeling is slightly but significantly reduced in the middle of the bone. Analysis of collagen fiber orientation indicated nonrandom fiber orientations that are overbuilt for tensile loads or torsion but are poorly optimized for compressive loads throughout the clavicle. Geometric properties of percent bone area, polar second moment of area, and shape (Imax /Imin ) confirmed the conclusions drawn by existing research on clavicle macrostructure. Our results highlight that mediolateral shape changes might be accompanied by slight changes in Haversian density, but bone matrix organization is predominantly adapted to resisting tensile strains or torsion throughout and may be a major factor in the risk of fracture when experiencing atypical compression.

Computer simulation of microstructure evolution in strip-cast silicon steel with cube and fibre texture

ABSTRACTThin strip casting process which is already used for non-oriented grades of electrical steel, is relatively novel processing route for grain oriented electrical steel and to achieve the cube texture through suitable annealing. In the present investigation, a two-dimensional Monte Carlo model has been formulated to study texture evolution in strip-cast and annealed Fe–3.2%Si steel with a cube texture. Both random and non-random microstructures of Fe–3.2% silicon steel and corresponding Euler angles have been used as input parameters. Results obtained from the simulation characterised the evolving texture in terms of grain size distribution and misorientation distribution functions. It has been found that randomly textured microstructures follow power law growth kinetics with evolving grain size distribution similar to normal grain growth. Microstructures with random orientation texture evolve steady state misorientation distribution functions, while those with fibre texture narrows and shifts to low angles. The simulation results based on EBSD microstructure inputs have been compared and validated with microstructures obtained from computationally generated input microstructures as well as published literature for both random and non-random orientation texture and found to be in good agreement.

An analytical finite-strain parametrization for texture evolution in deforming olivine polycrystals

Progressive deformation of upper mantle rocks via dislocation creep causes their constituent crystals to take on a non-random orientation distribution (crystal preferred orientation or CPO). The resulting anisotropy of the rock's elastic properties can be observed by seismic techniques, and provides a means to constrain mantle convective flow patterns. Existing methods for calculating the evolution of CPO in deforming olivine-dominated rocks rely on unwieldy discrete representations of the crystal orientation distribution in terms of a large number (103-104) of individual grains. Here we propose a more efficient method in which CPO is represented using three continuous analytical functions (structured basis functions or SBFs), each of which represents a virtual CPO produced by the action of just one of the three dominant slip systems of olivine. The SBFs are then combined using an appropriate weighting scheme to represent a realistic CPO that results from the simultaneous activity of all three slip systems. We assume that olivine CPO is a unique function of the finite strain experienced by the aggregate, which implies that the weights of the SBFs depend only on the two ratios of the lengths of the axes of the finite strain ellipsoid (FSE) and the two ratios of the strengths (critical resolved shear stresses) of the slip systems. Our preferred set of weighting coefficients is obtained by least-squares fitting of the SBF expansion to the predictions of a kinematic model (solved by the method of characteristics) in which the amplitudes of the crystallographic spins do not increase with strain. Calculation of CPO using this model is ≈107 times faster than full homogenization approaches such as the second-order self-consistent model, and the result fits the characteristics-based solution with a variance reduction ≥ 88.6 per cent for equivalent strains up to 0.9. Finally, we propose a simple modification of the FSE that prevents the CPO from becoming singular at large strains.

Oriented Nucleation and Crystal Growth of Ba-Fresnoite (Ba2TiSi2O8) in 2 BaO·TiO2·2 SiO2 Glasses with Additional SiO2

Glasses of the mol composition 2 BaO·TiO2·2 SiO2 + x SiO2 (with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 mol) were prepared, polished, and crystallized at 810 °C for 5 h or more. All glasses showed the sole crystallization of Ba-fresnoite (Ba2TiSi2O8). The crystal orientations at the immediate surfaces were analyzed by EBSD and showed that all glasses exhibit a nonrandom orientation distribution, i.e., oriented nucleation at the surface. While the glasses with x = 0.0, 0.1, and 0.2 show rather broad orientation preferences in the form of c-axes tilted from the surface by roughly 10–50°, the glasses with x = 1.5 or higher show discrete textures where specific crystal orientations are significantly preferred with orientation spreads of less than ±15°. While the glasses with x = 0 and 0.1 show polygon crystals at the surface and in the bulk, dendritic crystals are observed in the bulk of all other analyzed compositions. Phase separation solely occurred in the glass with x = 1.5 during the applied heat...

Probing the structure and mechanical properties of the graphite nodules in ductile cast irons via nano-indentation

Little is known today about the mechanical properties of the graphite nodules, despite the key influence these particles have on the performance of ductile cast irons. To address this issue, nano-indentation tests were performed on the cross-section of a nodule whose sub-surface morphology was characterized via 3D computed tomography. From the recorded load vs. penetration curves, the spatial variation of the maximum indenter penetration hmax and of the reduced Young's modulus E* was determined. It was observed that the pattern of hmax presents features which, statistically, cannot be explained with the experimental error. Conversely, they can be justified by a model which takes into account the geometrical interaction between the indenter and the local orientation of the graphite platelets forming the nodule. To the authors’ best knowledge, this result constitutes the first direct proof of a clear link between internal structure and mechanical properties of the nodules. The existence of a non-negligible mechanical anisotropy implies that the calculated mean value of E* can only be seen as indicative of a sort of “averaged” elastic stiffness. Caution should then be used when assessing the elastic response of the entire nodule just on the basis of this parameter, as complex anisotropic effects associated with the non-random orientation of the graphite platelets can be foreseen.

Southeastern Orientation of Entrances of Yellow-Tufted WoodpeckerMelanerpes cruentatusCavities on the Equator

Woodpeckers play important ecological roles as excavators of tree cavities, many of which are subsequently used by other vertebrate species. Tree cavities may serve as either roosting or nesting sites, providing protection from external climatic elements and predation. Cavity entrances are hypothesized to be excavated in directions that allow for maintenance of microclimatic variables inside the cavity, or are alternatively linked to wood hardness of cavity-bearing trees, and are for those reasons often non-randomly oriented. It has been suggested that the mean direction of these cavity entrances vary across latitudes, from south-facing entrances at high latitudes to entrances facing east and west closer to the tropics. I show non-random distribution of the orientation of cavities excavated by at least one species of woodpecker i.e. Yellow-tufted Woodpecker Melanerpes cruentatus near Tena, Ecuador, and that entrances face predominantly towards the southeast. This study is a first step to gather ecological information on tree-cavity-nesting communities in this region, with the factors driving non-random orientation to be tested in future studies.

Explaining gregarious behaviour in Banffia constricta from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, British Columbia

Banffia constricta is an enigmatic Burgess Shale animal originally described by Charles Walcott in 1911 as an annelid, and more recently as a stem-group deuterostome. Interpreted, on the basis of anatomy, to have been bottom-feeders, there are few other data from which to draw interpretations of Banffia's life habit. A slab of Burgess Shale with a dense aggregation of B. constricta may indicate a gregarious habit for the animal, as taphonomic and stratigraphical data indicate an in situ origin for the assemblage. Clustering of individuals, high density of the individuals and non-random within-cluster orientation support the hypothesis that detritus-feeding B. constricta congregated to feed on a local, rich food source. Presumed opportunistic feeding aggregations have been documented in at least one other Burgess Shale taxon and have been described for other fossil benthic marine invertebrates. Extant benthic marine invertebrates such as holothurians and echinoids exhibit mass feeding behaviour and may serve as modern analogs for the behaviour represented by the B. constricta assemblage.

Thermoregulatory behavior and orientation preference in bearded dragons

The regulation of body temperature is a critical function for animals. Although reliant on ambient temperature as a heat source, reptiles, and especially lizards, make use of multiple voluntary and involuntary behaviors to thermoregulate, including postural changes in body orientation, either toward or away from solar sources of heat. This thermal orientation may also result from a thermoregulatory drive to maintain precise control over cranial temperatures or a rostrally-driven sensory bias. The purpose of this work was to examine thermal orientation behavior in adult and neonatal bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), to ascertain its prevalence across different life stages within a laboratory situation and its interaction with behavioral thermoregulation. Both adult and neonatal bearded dragons were placed in a thermal gradient and allowed to voluntarily select temperatures for up to 8h to observe the presence and development of a thermoregulatory orientation preference. Both adult and neonatal dragons displayed a non-random orientation, preferring to face toward a heat source while achieving mean thermal preferences of ~ 33–34°C. Specifically, adult dragons were more likely to face a heat source when at cooler ambient temperatures and less likely at warmer temperatures, suggesting that orientation behavior counter-balances local selected temperatures but contributes to their thermoregulatory response. Neonates were also more likely to select cooler temperatures when facing a heat source, but required more experience before this orientation behavior emerged. Combined, these results demonstrate the importance of orientation to behavioral thermoregulation in multiple life stages of bearded dragons.

Anisotropy effects during dwell-fatigue caused by δ-phase orientation in forged Inconel 718

Inconel 718 is a commonly used superalloy for turbine discs in the gas turbine industry. Turbine discs are often subjected to dwell-fatigue as a result of long constant load cycles. The effect of anisotropy on dwell-fatigue cracking in forged turbine discs have not yet been thoroughly investigated. Crack propagation behaviour was characterised using compact tension (CT) samples cut in different orientations from a real turbine disc forging. Samples were also cut in two different thicknesses in order to investigate the influence of plane strain and plane stress condition on the crack propagation rates. The samples were subjected to dwell-fatigue tests at 550°C with 90s or 2160s dwell-times at maximum load. Microstructure characterisation was done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques such as electron channelling contrast imaging (ECCI), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and light optical microscopy (LOM). The forged alloy exhibits strong anisotropic behaviour caused by the non-random δ-phase orientation. When δ-phases were oriented perpendicular compared to parallel to the loading direction, the crack growth rates were approximately ten times faster. Crack growth occurred preferably in the interface between the γ-matrix and the δ-phase.

Design of a molecular support for cryo-EM structure determination

Despite the recent rapid progress in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), there still exist ample opportunities for improvement in sample preparation. Macromolecular complexes may disassociate or adopt nonrandom orientations against the extended air-water interface that exists for a short time before the sample is frozen. We designed a hollow support structure using 3D DNA origami to protect complexes from the detrimental effects of cryo-EM sample preparation. For a first proof-of-principle, we concentrated on the transcription factor p53, which binds to specific DNA sequences on double-stranded DNA. The support structures spontaneously form monolayers of preoriented particles in a thin film of water, and offer advantages in particle picking and sorting. By controlling the position of the binding sequence on a single helix that spans the hollow support structure, we also sought to control the orientation of individual p53 complexes. Although the latter did not yet yield the desired results, the support structures did provide partial information about the relative orientations of individual p53 complexes. We used this information to calculate a tomographic 3D reconstruction, and refined this structure to a final resolution of ∼15 Å. This structure settles an ongoing debate about the symmetry of the p53 tetramer bound to DNA.

Tensile strain-induced softening of iron at high temperature.

In weakly ferromagnetic materials, already small changes in the atomic configuration triggered by temperature or chemistry can alter the magnetic interactions responsible for the non-random atomic-spin orientation. Different magnetic states, in turn, can give rise to substantially different macroscopic properties. A classical example is iron, which exhibits a great variety of properties as one gradually removes the magnetic long-range order by raising the temperature towards its Curie point of = 1043 K. Using first-principles theory, here we demonstrate that uniaxial tensile strain can also destabilise the magnetic order in iron and eventually lead to a ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at temperatures far below . In consequence, the intrinsic strength of the ideal single-crystal body-centred cubic iron dramatically weakens above a critical temperature of ~500 K. The discovered strain-induced magneto-mechanical softening provides a plausible atomic-level mechanism behind the observed drop of the measured strength of Fe whiskers around 300–500 K. Alloying additions which have the capability to partially restore the magnetic order in the strained Fe lattice, push the critical temperature for the strength-softening scenario towards the magnetic transition temperature of the undeformed lattice. This can result in a surprisingly large alloying-driven strengthening effect at high temperature as illustrated here in the case of Fe-Co alloy.

Analytical parametrization of self-consistent polycrystal mechanics: Fast calculation of upper mantle anisotropy

Progressive deformation of upper mantle rocks via dislocation creep causes their constituent crystals to take on a non-random orientation distribution (crystallographic preferred orientation or CPO) whose observable signatures include shear-wave splitting and azimuthal dependence of surface wave speeds. Comparison of these signatures with mantle flow models thus allows mantle dynamics to be unraveled on global and regional scales. However, existing self-consistent models of CPO evolution are computationally expensive when used in 3-D and/or time-dependent convection models. Here we propose a new method, called ANPAR, which is based on an analytical parameterisation of the crystallographic spin predicted by the second-order (SO) self-consistent theory. Our parameterisation runs approximately 2-3 x 10^4 times faster than the SO model and fits its predictions for CPO and crystallographic spin with a variance reduction > 99%. We illustrate the ANPAR model predictions for three uniform deformations (uniaxial compression, pure shear, simple shear) and for a corner-flow model of a spreading ridge.