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Irving, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Irving, T..

Nanometer-scale structure differences in the myofilament lattice spacing of two cockroach leg muscles correspond to their different functions

ABSTRACT Muscle is highly organized across multiple length scales. Consequently, small changes in the arrangement of myofilaments can influence macroscopic mechanical function. Two leg muscles of a cockroach have identical innervation, mass, twitch responses, length–tension curves and force–velocity relationships. However, during running, one muscle is dissipative (a ‘brake’), while the other dissipates and produces significant positive mechanical work (bifunctional). Using time-resolved X-ray diffraction in intact, contracting muscle, we simultaneously measured the myofilament lattice spacing, packing structure and macroscopic force production of these muscles to test whether structural differences in the myofilament lattice might correspond to the muscles' different mechanical functions. While the packing patterns are the same, one muscle has 1 nm smaller lattice spacing at rest. Under isometric stimulation, the difference in lattice spacing disappeared, consistent with the two muscles' identical steady-state behavior. During periodic contractions, one muscle undergoes a 1 nm greater change in lattice spacing, which correlates with force. This is the first identified structural feature in the myofilament lattice of these two muscles that shares their whole-muscle dynamic differences and quasi-static similarities.

Tune, Travis Carver↗

Hydrogen in Martian Meteorites

Most volatile studies of Mars have targeted its surface via spacecraft and rover data, and have evidenced surficial water in polar caps and the atmosphere, in the presence of river channels, and in the detection of water bearing minerals. The other focus of Martian volatile studies has been on Martian meteorites which are all from its crust. Most of these studies are on hydrous phases like apatite, a late-stage phase, i.e. crystallizing near the end of the differentiation sequence of Martian basalts and cumulates. Moreover, calculating the water content of the magma a phosphate crystallized from is not always possible, and yet is an essential step to estimate how much water was present in a parent magma and its source. Water, however, is primarily dissolved in the interiors of differentiated planets as hydrogen in lattice defects of nominally anhydrous minerals (olivine, pyroxene, feldspar) of the crust and mantle. This hydrogen has tremendous influence, even in trace quantities, on a planet's formation, geodynamics, cooling history and the origin of its volcanism and atmosphere as well as its potential for life. Studies of hydrogen in nominally anhydrous phases of Martian meteorites are rare. Measuring water contents and hydrogen isotopes in well-characterized nominally anhydrous minerals of Martian meteorites is the goal of our study. Our work aims at deciphering what influences the distribution and origin of hydrogen in Martian minerals, such as source, differentiation, degassing and shock.

Peslier, A. H.↗