Physical Sciences

Abstract: The pervasive allometric scaling laws in biology, most notably Kleiber’s law (B ∝ M^3/4), conflict with the predictions of classical Euclidean dimensional analysis (B ∝ M^2/3). While the West-Brown-Enquist (WBE) model resolved this paradox using hierarchical fractal networks, and Barenblatt’s incomplete similarity formalized the fractional exponents, a rigorous symmetry framework connecting the two has been lacking. In this paper, we reconstruct dimensional analysis from the perspective of Lie group theory, demonstrating that incomplete similarity corresponds to a deformed scaling Lie group parameterized by anomalous dimensions. We show that the internal fractal network breaks the isotropic Euclidean scaling symmetry. Crucially, we formulate natural selection and physical optimization as a constrained optimization problem on the Lie group parameters. Maximizing the throughput exponent subject to the physical bounds of fractal dimensions uniquely selects the anomalous parameters, rigorously yielding the 3/4-power law. Substituting these optima back into the Lie group action reveals an algebraic dimensional promotion: the broken symmetry is restored, but the effective group is isomorphic to a 4D Euclidean scaling group. This provides a rigorous algebraic foundation for the “fourth dimension of life,” establishing allometric scaling as the universal geometric invariant of optimized resource-distribution networks.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for a quarter of all cancer cases worldwide and are responsible for a third of cancer deaths. One of the characteristic features of GI tissue is its multilayered structure, which in addition to multiple scattering, complicates optical-spectral analysis. The risk of lymph node metastasis in GI cancer is primarily related to the depth of tumor invasion. The use of spectroscopic diagnostics and photodynamic therapy for the detection and treatment of GI cancer is a rapidly developing field. The method proposed in this paper for layer-by-layer optical properties assessment, suitable for real-time clinical application to the walls of hollow organs, allows for both determining the depth of tumor invasion into the GI organ wall and calculating the absorbed dose layer-by-layer. This paper proposes a method for recording spectral data in two geometries, diffuse reflectance and transmission, using light delivery from both the external and internal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract wall. Layer-by-layer assessment of optical properties was performed using a developed algorithm based on the inverse adding-doubling method with initial optical properties values ​​determined using the modified two-stream Kubelka-Munk model with the accuracy equal to 86±13%. The method was approbated in clinical conditions.  Based on the results of the work, the developed method for assessing the optical properties of multilayered biological tissues exhibited sufficient speed and accuracy for in vivo application to personalize laser-induced therapy by correction of the laser dose.

Abstract: We study the effects of weak magnetic fields (around 2 mT) on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in the presence of a few sweeteners (monosaccharides, disaccharides, sugar alcohols, and consumer-grade sweeteners). Bacterial growth rates were compared in various magnetic fields at room temperature. Bacterial growth was estimated using optical absorbance measurements at various wavelengths, and pH values were manually estimated using pH strips. Absorbance was measured at 492 nm and 630 nm, which are wavelengths comparable to the size of a cell of S. aureus after division. This comparability plays a vital role in the scale of measured absorbance values. The results imply that bacterial growth may be reduced due to acidic byproducts formed by metabolizing sugars or sugar alcohols, as an increasingly acidic solution is less ideal for bacterial growth. Magnetic fields were also found to have a minor effect on pH estimates. These results reveal potential effects on microorganisms in the presence of sugars and sugar alcohols in addition to weak magnetic fields, demonstrating the contribution of various environmental conditions with increasing prevalence in the modern day.

Abstract: Microtubules contain ordered aromatic amino-acid networks whose optical excitations have been proposed to support non-trivial energy-transfer dynamics. Here, we examined whether bound tryptamine ligands can perturb the excitonic structure of the tubulin tryptophan network. A virtual screen of 294 tryptamines was performed across seven known binding regions of the tubulin heterodimer using AutoDock Vina. From this screen, top-ranked tryptamine ligands were carried forward for excited-state analysis. Geometry optimization and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were used to obtain vertical excitation energies and transition dipole moments for the ligand-bound states in the ultraviolet range. These ligand properties were then incorporated into a tight-binding Hamiltonian describing the tubulin tryptophan excitation network in order to evaluate changes in exciton energies and eigenvector delocalization. The calculations indicate that tryptamine binding can modify the excitonic landscape of tubulin in a ligand-dependent manner, with the magnitude of the perturbation governed by excitation wavelength, transition dipole strength, and spatial orientation relative to the intrinsic tryptophan network. These results support the possibility that aromatic ligands may provide a chemically tunable route to altering the optical response of tubulin and motivate future experimental tests of ligand-dependent modulation of microtubule photophysics.

Abstract: Pulse wave propagation through blood vessels is affected by many biophysical parameters that change with aging. The aim of this study was to investigate both theoretically and experimentally how the pulse wave velocity changes in the vertical position and to introduce a new parameter in biophysics - pulse wave acceleration - PWA. On a biophysical model of the cardiovascular system, placed in horizontal and vertical position, pressure waveforms were measured along the arterial tree at several sites at different diastolic pressures and pump frequencies. Blood flow waveforms on the carotid and femoral arteries in the supine and standing position were measured on the subjects. The results showed that the pulse pressure wave accelerates in the direction of gravity and decelerates in the opposite direction both in the model and in humans. A new biophysical parameter - PWA - was defined, and the experimental results are in agreement with the mathematical model. Due to the acceleration of the pulse wave, the reflected wave in the standing position arrives earlier in systole and affects the increase in pressure. The novel biophysical parameter provides a more accurate assessment of the age of the cardiovascular system and a more precise diagnosis of increased blood pressure.

Abstract: FLASH radiotherapy, characterized by ultra-high dose rates, has been shown to reduce normal tissue toxicity while preserving tumor control, yet its underlying mechanism remains unresolved. Existing models based on radiolytic oxygen depletion (ROD) successfully capture dose-rate dependence but fail to explain key experimental features, including threshold-like onset, saturation of the sparing effect, and sensitivity to temporal delivery structure. Here, we propose a mechanistic framework — Memory-modulated Radiolytic Oxygen Depletion (M-ROD) — that extends classical ROD by incorporating a bounded, history-dependent internal state. The dynamical structure of this state — cooperative activation, bounded feedback, and characteristic decay — is consistent with that of cooperative biological regulatory processes, including gene regulatory networks. In this framework, dose-rate–dependent stress activates a nonlinear biological state that evolves through induction, bounded feedback, and decay, modulating radiosensitivity alongside oxygen effects. We show that the framework reproduces the defining characteristics of FLASH, including sharp threshold-like transitions, plateau behavior, and strong dependence on pulse spacing, duty cycle, and irradiation sequence, while reducing to conventional radiobiology under low dose-rate conditions. The pulse-spacing sensitivity that distinguishes M-ROD from memoryless models requires the state to relax on a characteristic timescale τ_M of approximately 10–100 ms; we show that bioelectric membrane dynamics, treated as a passive RC system using parameter values from standard electrophysiology, naturally produce relaxation in this range without parameter tuning. The model predicts that the magnitude of the FLASH effect is governed by the extent of state activation rather than dose rate alone, providing a mechanistic explanation for variability across experiments. These results support the interpretation of FLASH as an emergent state transition in a dynamical biological system and offer experimentally testable predictions that distinguish it from memoryless models.

Abstract: Forward osmosis (FO) membranes are commonly evaluated through macroscopic observables such as water flux and reverse solute flux. However, these quantities do not necessarily reveal whether water permeation and solute leakage remain governed by the same dominant transport pathways, particularly in heterogeneous nanostructured membranes where selective nanochannels and defect-mediated pores can contribute differently to solvent and solute transport. Here, we introduce a hierarchical diagnostic framework to assess transport coherence loss in heterogeneous FO membranes. The framework comprises a baseline model (BM), an extended model (EM) including chemistry–geometry coupling through accessibility loss, and a full model (FM) incorporating selective pore-size heterogeneity. The flux ratio R=J_s/J_w is used as a regime-based diagnostic descriptor of transport organization, and its normalized form is used to map coherence variations across the state-space defined by structural selectivity and nanochemical state. The results show that chemistry–geometry coupling produces the first clear reorganization of the coherence landscape, whereas pore-size heterogeneity mainly broadens the response while preserving its dominant topology. Simulations based on both Monte Carlo and experimentally derived pore-size distributions show consistent trends. Overall, the BM–EM–FM hierarchy offers an interpretable framework for describing transport coherence loss and the emergence of leakage-prone regimes in heterogeneous FO membranes.

Abstract: Ant navigation is widely explained through pheromone-mediated trail formation and reinforcement, which accounts for efficient shortest-path selection in two-dimensional environments. However, certain three-dimensional foraging behaviors—such as navigation toward suspended food sources or the rapid use of newly established material paths—raise questions about whether chemical gradients alone fully explain route detection and selection. This paper examines experimental observations that appear difficult to reconcile with purely diffusion-based pheromone models and proposes an expanded framework incorporating the concept of Intrinsic Energy Spin (IESpin) fields. According to this hypothesis, all entities possess an intrinsic spin (ISpin) that encodes their fundamental intrinsic properties. The ISpin field propagates through space and interacts with other entities in the universe, giving rise to an IESpin field. These fields are proposed to propagate preferentially through continuous matter, potentially allowing organisms to detect spatial pathways and resource signatures via field gradients. The hypothesis generates experimentally testable predictions concerning material-dependent transmission, pheromone-independent navigation, and the possible existence of non-chemical sensory mechanisms in ants.

Abstract: Many peer-reviewed studies report spatiotemporal or kinetic parameters of running gait without considering their stability, temporal structure, or relationship to typical run durations. This study investigated the stability and temporal structure of key spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters during a 30-minute easy-paced treadmill run (13 km∙h-1) while participants wore familiar and unfamiliar every day running shoes. Step-level data were analysed across the full time series and in sequential 1-minute epochs to determine how long each parameter takes to reach practical stability and whether this differs between shoe conditions. Approximately, 2,450 steps were analysed per condition. Within-participant variability was low (CV< 2.5%) for all parameters and conditions except for peak impact force (CV=6.9-7.0%) and average loading rate (CV=8.4-8.7%). DFA-α indicated persistent temporal structure for stride duration, swing time, and active peak force, whereas loading-phase kinetics showed weak long-range dependence. No significant differences were observed between shoe conditions for variability or temporal structure, although ground contact time was slightly longer in the unfamiliar shoe. Practical windows of stability relative to each participant’s 30-minute mean ranged from 11 to 17 minutes for spatiotemporal variables, 9-17 minutes for active peak force, and within the first minute for impact related parameters and impulse. These findings indicate that studies examining spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters during easy-paced treadmill running require 11-17 minutes of continuous data to obtain 1-minute epoch estimates that are practically stable relative to 30-minute averages, regardless of footwear familiarity.

Abstract: This present study adopted the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to identify the optimum input processing factors (heating temperature: 40, 50 and 60 °C, heating time: 30, 45 and 60 min and pressing height: 60, 80 and 100 mm) for estimating the oil output parameters (mass of oil, oil yield and oil expression efficiency) and deformation energy. The mechanical properties examined were the hardness and secant modulus of elasticity. Based on the full quadratic model, which includes both significant and non-significant terms, the optimal input processing factors were determined to be a heating temperature of 60 °C, a heating time of 52.5 min, and a sample pressing height of 100 mm, with coefficient of determination (R²) values ranging from 0.68 to 0.95. The linear models with the significant terms predicted the mass of oil of 33.36 g, oil yield of 21.5 %, oil expression efficiency of 65.47 % and the experimental deformation energy of 1080.82 J. The percentage error values between the experimental and theoretical deformation energies were from 1.35 to 28.31%, suggesting that the varying input processing factors affected the coefficients of the tangent curve model for fitting the experimental force-deformation curves. The hardness and secant modulus of elasticity values ranged between 3.65 and 7.09 kN/mm and 123.98 to 150.39 MPa, indicating that the varying input processing factors had a significant effect on the stiffness of the bulk hemp seeds. These findings are useful for modelling and optimising the mechanical behaviour of oilseeds using a mechanical screw press to enhance oil recovery efficiency.

Abstract: This work presents a discrete theoretical model in which basal metabolic rate B is described as a dynamic function of an organism’s ontogenetic stage n. Instead of treating B only as a static function of body mass M, we adopt the form B(n) = B₀ M^b(n), in which the effective scaling exponent b(n) varies systematically throughout development. In contrast to classical approaches, such as Kleiber’s empirical law (B ∝ M^3/4) and the continuous fractal model of West–Brown–Enquist (WBE), which assume a constant exponent, the present framework emphasizes how the metabolic scaling relationship itself can evolve over the life cycle of a single individual. The model is inspired by a Fibonacci-based description of growth in discrete stages, leading to analytic expressions for b(n) that connect ontogenetic progression to changes in the scaling between metabolism and mass. In this setting, Kleiber’s constant B₀ ≈ 70 kcal/day is reinterpreted as a metabolic anchoring point, linking the classical law B ≈ 70 M^3/4 to a developmentally explicit formulation. We show that the resulting trajectory B(n) captures, at a conceptual level, how metabolic scaling can shift from strongly sublinear behavior at early stages towards an almost linear regime as n increases, and that the predicted basal rates remain compatible, in order of magnitude, with values reported for mammals of different sizes. In this way, the work offers a unified framework that connects the evolution of B(n) across ontogeny to the recursive organization of biological growth.

Abstract: Permeation of different chemical substances across the membrane is of utmost importance to the life and health of a living cell. Depending on the nature of the permeant, the process is mediated by either the protein (e.g., membrane channels) or lipid phases of the membrane, or both. In the case of small and physiologically important gas molecules, namely O2 and CO2, the literature supports the involvement of both pathways in their transport. The extent of involvement of the lipid phase, however, is directly dependent on the nature of the lipid constituents of the membrane that determine its various structural and physicochemical properties. In this study, we use molecular dynamics simulation, as a method with sufficient spatial and temporal resolutions, to analyze these properties in heterogeneous lipid bilayers, composed of phospholipids with varied tails, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol, to different degrees. Together with the calculation of the free energy profiles, diffusion constants, and gas diffusivity, the results shed light onto the importance of the lipid phase of membranes in gas transport rate and how they can be modulated by their lipid composition.

Abstract: This paper presents the first experimental study of the physical properties of the millimeter-wave radio response of aqueous media and biological objects to external centimeter-wave electromagnetic radiation. It has been hypothesized that the spectrum of the radio response to external millimeter-wave radiation contains not only frequencies an order of magnitude or more lower than the radiation signal, but also frequencies close to the radiation signal and even frequencies higher than the external signal. This radio response property would suggest that each point in an aquatic environment exposed to electromagnetic waves could be a source of a radio response across an ultra-wide spectrum of electromagnetic frequencies. Experiments have demonstrated the presence of a radio response at frequencies of 61,2 GHz, 94 GHz, and 118 GHz when water is irradiated in the microwave range of 1,16–5,6 GHz at a power flux of 10 mW/cm2. The experimental results prompt a new examination of the comparative effects of 4G and 5G cellular electromagnetic waves on humans.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are promising agents for nanomedicine but their interactions with lipid membranes, which are a key interface for drug delivery, require deeper understanding. This study investigates the influence of fructose-capped AgNPs on the physicochemical properties of SOPC-based liposomal bilayers, with implications for drug delivery and photothermal therapy. We employed a multi-technique approach, including infrared (IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermally induced shape fluctuation analysis, and laser irradiation at 343, 515, and 1030nm. Our results show that AgNPs incorporated into the bilayer are causing measurable perturbations: DSC revealed a decrease in the main phase transition enthalpy (from 0.280 to 0.234 J/g) and temperature (from 2.80 to 3.41 °C) while shape fluctuation analysis indicated a reduction in bending modulus (from 1.18 × 10−19 J to 0.93 × 10−19 J), confirming increased membrane fluidity. FTIR confirmed interactions of fructose-capped nanoparticles and lipid’s carbonyl and phosphate groups. Furthermore, the AgNPs-liposomes exhibited a strong, wavelength- dependent photothermal response with a temperature increase ≈22 °C under 515 nm laser irradiation, compared to only 3–5 °C at 1030nm. We concluded that fructose-capped-AgNPs moderately fludify lipid bilayers while enabling efficient, controllable photothermal capability, making them excellent candidates for designing advanced liposomal systems for combined therapy and diagnostic.

Abstract: For the first time, a comparative experimental analysis of the biophysical response in the form of a change in aquatic resistance was conducted for entamoeba gingivalis populations with an individual concentration of 1000 pcs/litre and 4000 pcs/litre under the influence of an electromagnetic field of the centimeter (2.1 GHz) and millimeter (42.25 GHz) wavelength ranges. It was shown that the studied populations demonstrate qualitatively comparable biophysical responses to external electromagnetic exposure in the centimeter and millimeter ranges in the form of a change in aquatic resistance. It was established that the biophysical response is characterized by four temporal phases: 1) the information exchange phase, 2) the phase of decreasing aquatic resistance, 3) the phase of a stable state of reduced resistance, 4) the phase of increasing resistance. The nature of the biophysical responses indicates a group reaction of individuals in the populations. The duration of the biophysical response phases depends on the frequency of the acting field and the pH value of the aquatic environment. It was established that the demonstrated functional states of the "water - entamoeba gingivalis population" system are more stable when exposed to a millimeter-wave electromagnetic field.

Abstract: This work unveils complex topological properties within a recent theoretical model concerning the interplay of positional and orientational order. The model features "complementary-spins" (c-spins), symbolic agents divided into two populations with contrasting positional and orien-tational interactions. The model is governed by a control parameter, a form of circular anisot-ropy that splits the c-spins natural rotational frequencies. For a given system size and for small anisotropy, uniform equilibrium patterns showing both positional and orientational regularity emerge, consistently with local stability predictions. For moderate anisotropy, the system de-velops complex topological point defects, driven by phase singularity and bistable with the uniform patterns. The defects are constituted by curled orientational textures embedding two c-spin loop trains that counter-rotate around the same center, exhibiting regular spacing, spin-momentum locking and dissipationless flow. These defect complexes are extremely robust to noise and capable of self-repair, and constitute a whole new class of non-equilibrium dissi-pative structures. These are in fact topological vortex states, classifiable by a two-valued topo-logical charge. For anisotropy values exceeding a local stability threshold, active turbulence (deterministic chaos) takes place and order is lost. A statistical analysis revealed the coexistence of a double phase transition at a critical parameter value: an "ordinary" symmetry-breaking transition associated with standard collective synchronization and a novel topological phase transition activating the vortex complexes. Quantitative boundaries in the parameter space have been evaluated, either analytically or numerically. Increasing system size enhances organiza-tional complexity, developing more intricate spin-momentum locked transport networks. Thanks to its self-organizational properties, this work provides a new tool to understand ro-bustness and morphogenesis in living systems.

Abstract: Lately the non-linear optical third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy is starting to emerge as a laboratory standard for label-free studies in biological samples. In this study, the THG signals produced from corn starch granules are investigated. In particular, the polarization-dependent THG (P-THG) signals emerging from the outer layer (shell) of the starch granules are compared with the P-THG signals originating from their inner portion (core). By rotating the linear polarization of the excitation beam, two distinct P-THG modulation patterns are revealed within single granules, corresponding to their shells and to their structurally different cores. These patterns are analyzed using a theoretical framework, that describes THG from an orthorhombic crystal symmetry, characteristic of corn starch. This allows us to extract point-by-point in the granules the ratios of the χ(3) susceptibility tensor elements and the average molecular orientations. Then, the anisotropy-ratio (AR=χxxxx3/χyyyy3) is defined and used as a quantitative descriptor of the local molecular arrangements. Our results show that the shells and cores exhibit distinct AR values, probing the anisotropy in the molecular arrangements between the two regions. This study establishes P-THG as a powerful contrast mechanism for probing structural anisotropy in biological samples beyond conventional THG intensity-only microscopy.

Abstract: Atomic force microscopy is a powerful tool for imaging and characterizing micro and nano-structures, particularly in the realm of biological membranes and model systems such as cells and supported lipid bilayers. The lateral resolution of AFM in liquid environments, necessary for studying membrane interactions, poses a challenge. In this study, we explore the imaging of freeze-dried supported lipid bilayers allowing for the topographical imaging of supported lipid bilayers in air with higher resolution as well as the use of Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy to measure electrical properties. Despite non-physiological conditions, this technique offers unprecedented insights into the study of lipid bilayer structures, bridging the gap between resolution and experimental feasibility. This process underscores the potential of freeze-dried supported lipid bilayers in advancing our understanding of complex membrane dynamics and membrane interactions in diverse experimental settings. The ability to measure the electrical properties of lipid bilayers will greatly advance our understanding and determination of membrane properties and their interactions with proteins, drugs and toxins. A more complete understanding of the factor intervening in the interactions would lead to, for example, better drug development.

Abstract: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a key biomarker for the early detection of prostate cancer recurrence following surgical treatment. In this study, we present a PSA-responsive, aptamer-based switchable aggregate system (AS2-US-AuNPs-Aggregate) composed of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (US-AuNPs) linked by (partially) pairing oligomers that selectively disassemble in the presence of PSMA. The system was optimized also using a previously developed in-silico routine, and is designed for enhanced sensing capabilities and for supporting in vivo applica-bility. We measured the sizes of the nanosystems by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and their extinction spectra, also in presence of PSA in simple buffers, in the presence of DNAse, and under blood-mimicking conditions (filtered plasma) and We measured a response down to 1 fM PSA in buffers and to 1 pM in filtered plasma. Our findings highlight the potential of aptamer-based nanoparticle aggregates as a basis for us-er-friendly, portable diagnostic tools. Additionally, we discuss key optimization strat-egies to further advance their development for in-vivo diagnostic applications.

Abstract: The universe appears organized as a nested hierarchy of oscillatory processes spanning from quantum fluctuations to vast cosmological cycles. This paper presents a semi-comprehensive mapping of cycles across all scales of physical reality, examining how these rhythms interact, nest within one another, and give rise to increasingly complex phenomena including human consciousness. Through the lens of General Resonance Theory (GRT), we explore how shared resonance between oscillatory systems at different scales creates the foundation for information integration, consciousness, and the emergence of ever-more-complex forms of organization. We propose that "cycles upon cycles" represents not merely a descriptive observation but a fundamental organizing principle of reality itself—one that solves the combination problem in consciousness studies while explaining the thermodynamic necessity of cyclic organization in all open systems capable of storing energy.