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Controlling Flow Speeds of Microtubule-Based 3D Active Fluids Using Temperature
08:04

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Published on: November 26, 2019

Pattern formation in active fluids.

Justin S Bois1, Frank Jülicher, Stephan W Grill

  • 1Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, D-01187 Dresden, Germany.

Physical Review Letters
|March 17, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Active fluids exhibit pattern formation driven by diffusing molecules that regulate active stress. This leads to self-organized flow and concentration patterns, mimicking biological systems like the actomyosin cortex.

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Area of Science:

  • Physics
  • Biophysics
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Active fluids are complex fluids with internal energy sources.
  • Pattern formation is crucial in biological and physical systems.
  • The actomyosin cortex is a key example of active fluid dynamics in cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate pattern formation mechanisms in active fluids regulated by diffusing molecules.
  • To model the interplay between active stress, flow, and molecular transport.
  • To explore the relevance of these mechanisms to biological systems, such as the actomyosin cell cortex.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of active fluid dynamics.
  • Analysis of reaction-diffusion systems coupled with advection.
  • Simulation of nonhomogeneous active stress profiles and their consequences.

Main Results:

  • A single diffusing species can upregulate active stress, inducing steady flow and concentration patterns.
  • Nonhomogeneous active stress profiles drive advective transport of regulatory molecules.
  • Demonstrated general pattern-formation behaviors in active fluids.

Conclusions:

  • Diffusive regulation of active stress is a viable mechanism for pattern formation in active fluids.
  • Advection plays a critical role in transporting stress regulators, influencing pattern stability.
  • The findings provide insights into the self-organization principles governing active biological matter.