Vibrations, quanta and biology

May combine two claims.

No noise or very strong noise are counterproductive for the performance of the transport network.

“No noise or very strong noise are counterproductive for the performance of the transport network.”

May combine two claims.

A numerical optimization using Redfield equations finds that the optimal position of site 2 is close to site 1, with strong coherent dipolar interaction and close excitation energy.

“A numerical optimization employing Redfield equations to take account of the spectral structure of the environment (see [34, 61] for theoretical and numerical details) now finds that the optimal position of site 2 is close to site 1 such that it exhibits a strong coherent dipolar interaction and close in excitation energy.”

• cites [34]Not checked yet

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• cites [61]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Drosophila flies can discriminate between hydrogenated and deuterated molecules and can generalize from deuterated molecules to other molecules with vibrational modes similar in frequency to the carbon-deuterium stretch mode.

“Even more remarkable is the observation in recent experiments that Drosophila flies are capable of discriminating between molecules in their hydrogenated and their deuterated form and, importantly, are able to generalize from deuterated molecules to other molecules that exhibit a vibrational modes similar in frequency to the Carbon-Deuterium stretch mode [21]”

• cites [21]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

In this setting, in 50% of cases the system remains in the anti-symmetric state and in the other 50% the excitation reaches the reaction center, so transfer efficiency is limited to 50%.

“Hence, in 50% of the cases the system will remain in the anti-symmetric state while in the other 50% of the cases the excitation reaches the reaction center. Therefore the transfer efficiency is limited to 50% in this setting.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

In the exchange of energy between two quantum systems, highest efficiency is enforced if the respective energy levels, such as vibrational eigenfrequencies, are well matched.

“In the exchange of energy between two quantum systems these features will then enforce highest efficiency if the respective energy levels, such as vibrational eigenfrequencies, are well matched.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

There is some evidence for proton tunneling in enzymes.

“there is some evidence for proton tunneling in enzymes (see e.g. [8])”

• cites [8] sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Coherence and interference may lead to faster propagation, for example in quantum random walks.

“This includes coherence and interference, that is, wave-like features of particles which may lead to faster propagation for example in quantum random walks [9].”

• cites [9] sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Maintaining the out-of-equilibrium state of life requires a wide variety of transport processes including excitation energy transfer, charge transport including electrons, protons and ions, and transport of larger molecules, peptides and proteins.

“This requires a wide variety of transport processes including excitation energy transfer but extending to charge transport including electrons, protons and ions as well as the transport of larger molecules, peptides and proteins.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Biological systems need to be supplied with energy and drained of entropy to maintain the out-of-equilibrium state that life represents.

May combine two claims.

This permits unambiguous identification of frequencies and can facilitate construction of sensing devices.

“This in turn permits the unambiguous identification of frequencies and thus can facilitate the construction of sensing devices [20].”

• cites [20]Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Distinct from evolutionary optimization, via control of conformation within an existing structure nature also possesses the means to switch between different states of operation.

“It is noteworthy though that, distinct from evolutionary optimization, via the control of conformation within an existing structure nature also possesses the means to switch between different states of operation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Uncontrolled fluctuations of environments lead to changes in local structures in which electronic degrees of freedom are embedded and may therefore lead to decoherence.

“The uncontrolled fluctuations of these environments will lead to changes in the local structures in which the electronic degrees of freedom are embedded and may therefore lead to decoherence.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The properties of environmental fluctuations that transport networks are subjected to are determined and tuned mainly via the secondary protein structure.

“and at the same time the properties of the environmental fluctuations that this transport networks are subjected to are determined and tuned mainly via the secondary protein structure.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

In order to optimize this interplay between system and environment, biological systems cannot simply be random conglomerates but must possess structure that they can control.

“In order to optimize this interplay between system and environment, biological systems cannot simply be random conglomerates but must possess structure that they can control.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Thermal fluctuations imparted by the environment may be beneficial for overcoming potential barriers between distinct classical configurations and therefore facilitating processes such as protein folding or chemical reactions.

“While thermal fluctuations imparted by the environment may be beneficial for example to overcome potential barriers between distinct classical configurations and therefore facilitating processes such as protein folding or chemical reactions”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

So much is unknown about biological systems that assumptions entering theoretical models as well as predictions of these models must be tested against experiment.

“So much is unknown about biological systems that assumptions that are entering theoretical models as well as the predictions of these models must be tested against experiment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Quantum dynamics, structured environments and their mutual interplay may provide increased efficiencies and potentially even novel functionalities.

“The discussions so far suggest that quantum dynamics, structured environments and their mutual interplay may provide increased efficiencies and potentially even novel functionalities.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The rich structure of biological environments leads to non-Markovian dynamics which is also non-perturbative being neither weak nor strong compared to the intrasystem dynamics.

“The rich structure of biological environments leads to non-Markovian dynamics which is also non-perturbative being neither weak nor strong compared to the intrasystem dynamics.”

May combine two claims.

If a narrow spectral feature relating to a long-lived vibrational mode is excited, it will lead to long lasting quasi-coherent motion of the environment with the possibility of triggering quasi-coherent exchange with the system.

“If, on the other hand, a narrow spectral feature, relating to a long-lived vibrational mode, is excited then this will lead to long lasting quasi-coherent motion of the environment with the possibility of triggering quasi-coherent exchange with the system.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

This optimization required will have taken place on evolutionary time scales.

“This optimization that is required here will have taken place on evolutionary time scales.”

May combine two claims.

The ensuing out-of-equilibrium dynamics leads to perturbation of the environment by the system and a back-action of the environment on the system, initiating a dynamical exchange between system and environment.

“The ensuing out-of-equilibrium dynamics then leads to perturbation of the environment by the system and a back-action of the very same environment on the system initiating as a result a dynamical exchange between system and environment.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Far from being passive scaffolds, the primary, secondary and especially tertiary structure of proteins play a broader and active role for the emergence of quantum effects in biology.

“It will become crucial that far from being passive scaffolds whose mere purpose is to hold other molecules in their place, the primary, secondary and especially the tertiary structure of proteins play a much broader and active role for the emergence of quantum effects in biology.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

The study of quantum effects in biology is an endeavour in which theory alone cannot succeed and has to proceed hand-in-hand with experiment.

“It must be stressed however that the study of quantum effects in biology is an endeavour in which theory alone cannot succeed and has to proceed hand-in-hand with experiment.”

May combine two claims.

Biological environments are not featureless sources of white noise nor merely weak perturbations.

“Biological environments are not featureless sources of white noise nor do they represent merely weak perturbations.”

May combine two claims.

Excitation by incoherent sunlight as well as ensemble averages may suppress the observed coherence.

“Excitation by incoherent sunlight as well as ensemble averages may suppress the observed coherence and have tempted some researchers to reach the conclusion that coherence may be of no relevance in these systems under natural conditions.”

May combine two claims.

On shorter length and timescales quantum coherence is present in the systems while for longer distances and times classical properties dominate.

“the coherence and entanglement [63, 64] properties of states [62, 65] and, more importantly, the dynamics of the system [66] which demonstrate quite clearly that on shorter lengthand timescales quantum coherence is present in the systems while for longer distances and times classical properties dominate.”

• cites [62]Not checked yet

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• cites [65]Not checked yet

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• cites [66]Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

There are additional mechanisms in which noise and coherent dynamics coexist to lead to similar conclusions.

“We will later see that there are a number of additional mechanisms in which noise and coherent dynamics coexist to lead to similar conclusions [62, 79].”

• cites [62]Not checked yet

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• cites [79]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

H_I describes a purely dephasing interaction because the vibrational degrees of freedom have energies at least 10-100 times smaller than the excitation energies of the excitons, thus suppressing direct exciton-phonon interconversion.

“Note, that H I describes a purely dephasing interaction because the vibrational degrees of freedom have energies that are at least 10 -100 times smaller than the excitation energies of the excitons thus suppressing direct exciton-phonon interconversion.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The vibrational degrees of freedom have energies at least 10-100 times smaller than the excitation energies of the excitons.

May combine two claims.

The phonon antenna principle is sufficiently general to provide a mechanism that can support the long-lasting oscillatory features observed in ultrafast laser spectroscopy and explain key aspects of olfaction.

“More importantly, this principle is sufficiently general to provide a mechanism that can support the surprisingly long-lasting oscillatory features observed in recent ultra-fast laser spectroscopy experiments [11-14] and explain key aspects of the dynamics that may underlie the process olfaction.”

• cites [11]Not checked yet

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• cites [12]Not checked yet

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• cites [13] sourceNot checked yet

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• cites [14] sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

If environmental noise is too weak, formation of dressed states presents little benefit for transport; if dephasing noise is very strong, it suppresses formation of dressed states and the phonon antenna effect.

“Indeed, if the environmental noise is too weak, then the formation of dressed states will present little benefit for transport. On the other hand if dephasing noise is very strong then it will suppress the formation of the dressed states and thus of the phonon antenna effect in the first place.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The dynamical equations describing the full state of system and vibrational environment are generally too complex to be solved exactly.

“Needless to say, these dynamical equations describing the full state of system and vibrational environment are generally too complex to be solved exactly.”

May combine two claims.

Inducing strong coherent coupling to move to a dressed basis and tuning the coupling to match the maximum of the environmental spectral density comes close to the numerically obtained solution and can optimize excitation energy transport.

“Observing these two points alone, that is inducing strong coherent coupling to move to a dressed basis and tuning the coupling such that it matches the maximum of the spectral density of the environmental fluctuations, one already comes close to the numerically obtained solution of the above optimization problem and can thus optimize excitation energy transport.”

May combine two claims.

In the presence of a long-lived vibrational mode, the phonon antenna principle remains the same, but the interaction between a single vibrational mode and the electronic degrees of freedom is coherent as long as the mode remains coherent.

“In the presence of a long-lived vibrational mode the phonon antenna principle remains the same but, crucially, the nature of the interaction changes as the interaction between a single vibrational mode and the electronic degrees of freedom is coherent, at least for as long as the mode itself remains coherent.”

May combine two claims.

It is the equations of motion that determine the performance of each individual system and are unaffected by the nature of the initial preparation or ensemble averages that may obscure the observed coherence.

“It is the equations of motion that determine the performance of each individual system and are unaffected by the nature of the initial preparation or ensemble averages that may obscure the observed coherence”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The structure of the environment does play an important role.

“Crucially however we will see shortly that the structure of the environment does play an important role and thus the development of methods that can capture these features will be of considerable importance for quantitative studies of such systems.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Nature can construct and optimize pigment-protein complexes, for example the FMO complex, to create transport networks that exploit both the quantum dynamics of its electronic degrees of freedom and their interaction with a structured vibrational environment.

“We will contend that nature can construct and optimize pigment-protein complexes, for example the FMO complex, to create transport networks that exploit both the quantum dynamics of its electronic degrees of freedom and their interaction with a structured vibrational environment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Not all biological systems possess long-lived vibrational modes that are strongly coupled to electronic degrees of freedom and can play a role in the dynamics.

“Needless to say, not all biological systems will possess long-lived vibrational modes that are strongly coupled to electronic degrees of freedom and can therefore play a role in the dynamics of the system.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Pigment-protein complexes consist of sites whose excitation energies generally exhibit static disorder, differing from site to site and between complexes.

“Pigment-protein complexes consist of a number of sites, schematically depicted in Fig. 3, whose excitation energies generally exhibit a certain degree of static disorder, that is, their on-site energies will differ from site to site and also from one pigment-protein complexes to another.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

A mode in a coherent state acts on a two-level system essentially like a time-dependent classical driving field, resulting in coherent Rabi-like oscillations.

“As is well-known in quantum optics a mode in a coherent state acts on a two-level system essentially like a time-dependent classical driving field resulting in coherent Rabi-like oscillations following approximately the Hamiltonian”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Dyson in 1938 proposed that the smell of a molecule may be determined by its vibrational spectrum and that the olfactory system effectively operates as a vibrational spectrometer.

“Remarkably, it was well before the advent of the lock-and-key principle that Dyson in 1938 proposed [93] that the smell of a molecule may be determined by its vibrational spectrum and that hence the olfactory system effectively operates as a vibrational spectrometer”

• cites [93]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Coherent transitions between dissipative excitonic states will be observed, and coherences will last for the coherence time of the vibrational mode.

“As a result we will observe coherent transitions between dissipative excitonic states and thus coherences that will last for the coherence time of the vibrational mode an expectation that can be corroborated by more sophisticated numerical treatments employing methods described in [28, 87-89].”

• cites [28]Not checked yet

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• cites [87] sourceNot checked yet

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• cites [88] sourceNot checked yet

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• cites [89]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Electron-vibrational coupling regenerates electronic coherences in the system to replace those damped out by the smooth background environment and may lead to stationary entanglement.

“This electron-vibrational coupling regenerates electronic coherences in the system to replace those that are continuously damped out by the fluctuations of the smooth background environment and may even lead to stationary entanglement [90].”

• cites [90]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The sudden displacement of the long-lived vibrational mode implies it is in a displaced thermal state, which will be close to a coherent state if the mode's thermal occupation number is low.

“Secondly, we note that the sudden displacement of this mode implies that it is now found to be in a displaced thermal state which will be close to a coherent state if the frequency of the mode is such that its thermal occupation number is low.”

May combine two claims.

Initial injection of an exciton creates a sudden force on electrons and nuclei and changes their equilibrium positions.

“The initial (fast) injection of an exciton, either coherently or incoherently, populates one of the exciton states of the system (raised black dot in Fig. 7b) and creates a sudden force on the electrons and nuclei and thus change their equilibrium positions (compressed spring in Fig. 7b).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

All biological systems possess thermal fluctuations of molecular and protein structures as well as surrounding solvents, water etc.

“What is present in all biological systems however are thermal fluctuations of the molecular and protein structures as well as the surrounding solvents, water etc.”

May combine two claims.

The resonance condition ensures increased transport efficiency and leads to a detectable effect at the physiological level.

“This resonance condition ensures increased transport efficiency and thus leads to a detectable effect at the physiological level (delivery of an electronic excitation to the reaction center or electron transfer which stimulates a subsequent response of a receptor).”

The quote only partly states this claim.

Tunneling is suppressed in the absence of the odorant because energy conservation cannot be satisfied when donor electrons have energy ∆E higher than acceptor electrons and energy distributions are much narrower than ∆E.

“In that case tunneling is suppressed in the absence of the odorant because of the impossibility to satisfy energy conservation.”

• AssumptionThe authors state this as an assumption: Electrons in the donor have an energy that is ∆E higher than for electrons in the acceptor, and the energy distribution in donor and acceptor is much narrower than ∆E.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The detailed mechanisms by which we discriminate between the vast number of odorants are not yet fully understood.

“Despite considerable progress concerning the understanding of the structure of olfactory receptors that involved in the early stages of the olfactory process, the detailed mechanisms by which we are able to discriminate between the vast number of odorants are not yet fully understood [91].”

• cites [91]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Jaklevik and Lambe identified anomalous conductivity through tunnel junctions with organic adsorbates, arising for voltages such that the energy difference of electrons on both sides of the tunneling barrier matches a vibrational quantum of the adsorbed molecules, and demonstrated that inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy allows identification of vibrational spectra.

“They realised that these anomalies arose for certain voltages such that the energy difference of the electrons on both sides of the tunneling barrier would match a vibrational quantum of energy of the adsorbed molecules and went on to demonstrate that this mechanism, inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy, allows them to identify vibrational spectra of molecules”

• cites [97]Not checked yet

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• cites [98]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The phonon-assisted electron tunneling mechanism for olfaction closely resembles the phonon antenna principle, and both demonstrate the importance of electron-vibrational coupling.

“What we would like to stress here though is the very close resemblance of the above mechanism to the phonon antenna principle and thus the importance of electronvibrational coupling.”

May combine two claims.

An intermediate noise level is optimal for transport: too low does not suppress destructive interference efficiently, and too high suppresses all transport.

“As a consequence we expect again that an intermediate noise level will be optimal, too low it will not suppress destructive interference efficiently and too high it will suppress all transport.”

May combine two claims.

Weak magnetic fields affect the growth of plants and the orientation and navigation abilities of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and insects.

“The effects of weak magnetic field on the growth of plants as well as the remarkable orientation and navigation abilities of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and insects are well documented [123].”

• cites [123]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Under broad-spectrum noise, neither variations of fine details of the spectral density nor variations of the electronic structure of the transport network have a significant effect.

“In this case, neither variations of the fine details of the spectral density nor variations of the electronic structure of the transport network have a significant effect.”

• cites [62]Not checked yet

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• cites [122]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

A symmetric superposition experiences a coherently enhanced coupling to site 3 and propagates rapidly to the reaction center, while the antisymmetric part does not evolve.

“Thanks to constructive interference a symmetric superposition experiences a coherently enhanced coupling to the site 3 to which it will then propagate rapidly, and from there into the reaction center, while the antisymmetric part will not evolve at all.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The spin singlet state is rotationally symmetric and hence insensitive to the orientation and magnitude of the external magnetic field.

“At this stage no magnetic field sensitivity can be expected as the spin singlet state is rotationally symmetric and hence insensitive to the orientation and magnitude of the external magnetic field.”

May combine two claims.

Excessive dephasing noise suppresses transport but may serve a useful function by reducing the effective transition rate to leakage sites and thus blocking unfavorable transfer paths.

“In such a case dephasing may be useful to reduce the effective transition rate to such sites and thus block unfavorable transfer paths from being followed [74, 106].”

• cites [74]Not checked yet

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• cites [106]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

An excitation initially prepared in the antisymmetric state forms an eigenstate whose overlap with site 3 vanishes, so the excitation remains localized and does not propagate.

“As a consequence this excitation will remain localized and does not propagate through the system.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

At least two alternative ideas for the mechanism of magnetic field sense are considered: forces on ferrimagnetic iron oxide particles and magnetically sensitive free radical reactions.

“The mechanism by which this magnetic field sense is achieved, however, is less well understood and at least two alternative ideas are being considered, one that exploits the forces exerted on ferrimagnetic iron oxide particles embedded in the body, essentially a classical effect, and another that is based on magnetically sensitive free radical reactions [17, 18, 124].”

• cites [17]Not checked yet

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• cites [18]Not checked yet

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• cites [124]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

A low level of fluctuations will not bring site energies sufficiently close and transport remains suppressed, while excessive fluctuations reduce the time intervals in which sites are energetically sufficiently close for efficient energy transfer.

“Indeed, a low level of fluctuations will not bring the site energies sufficiently close and transport remains suppressed, while excessive fluctuations of the site energies will reduce the time intervals in which the sites are energetically sufficiently close to allow for efficient energy transfer.”

May combine two claims.

An energy mismatch and the resulting time-evolution of the relative phase between two sites leads to transitions between symmetric and antisymmetric states and can assist transport.

“It should also be noted that an energy mismatch and the resulting time-evolution of the relative phase between the two sites 1 and 2 also leads to transitions between symmetric and anti-symmetric state and can thus assists transport [16, 62, 121].”

• cites [16] sourceNot checked yet

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• cites [62]Not checked yet

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• cites [121]Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Marcus theory gives a maximum electron transfer rate for ∆G0 = λ.

“which achieves a maximum for ∆ G 0 = λ .”

• cites [105]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The finite lifetime of the excitation implies it will be lost to the general environment due to spontaneous annihilation, which is not in the interest of a transport network.

“Eventually the finite lifetime of the excitation implies that it will be lost to the general environment due to a spontaneous annihilation process, an event that is not in the interest of a transport network.”

May combine two claims.

Dephasing noise inhibits both constructive and destructive interference, slowing propagation of an excitation initiated in the symmetric state and accelerating propagation initiated in the antisymmetric state.

“Hence, the presence of dephasing noise inhibits both constructive and destructive interference and therefore slows the propagation of an excitation in a system initiated in the symmetric state and accelerates the propagation of an excitation in a system initiated in the antisymmetric state.”

May combine two claims.

Avian magnetoreception depends on the wavelength of ambient light and can be disrupted by very weak external oscillating magnetic fields.

“Behavioral experiments with birds such as the European robin to study avian magneto-reception [125] have led to the observation that the process of avian magnetoreception depends on the wavelength of the ambient light [126] and can be disrupted by very weak external oscillating magnetic fields [19, 127].”

• cites [125]Not checked yet

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• cites [19]Not checked yet

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• cites [127]Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Such stability can be an attractive feature to ensure robustness in an organism subject to changes in its environment.

“Such a stability can be an attractive feature to ensure robustness in an organism that is subject to changes in its environment.”

May combine two claims.

Both the electronic structure and the vibrational environment have likely been subject to evolutionary adaptation.

“While in many respects it appears easier to achieve considerable changes in the electronic structure as compared to the vibrational environment it is likely that both will have been subject to evolutionary adaptation.”

May combine two claims.

Studying the properties of system and environment enables understanding of the chemical compass and prediction of optimal designs.

“Hence it is only when studying the properties of system and environment that we can gain and understanding of the chemical compass and an opportunity to predict optimal designs [138].”

• cites [138]Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Local interactions between electron spins and their nuclear environment break the symmetry of the electronic spin state, indicating the importance of local environments.

“The fact that local interactions between electron spins and their nuclear environment lead to a breaking of the symmetry of the electronic spin state gives a first indication of the importance of the presence of local environments.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The optimal operating regime for quantum bio dynamics tends to favour parameter ranges where interaction between system components is comparable to interaction between system components and their environment.

“Furthermore, it has become clear that the optimal operating regime for quantum bio dynamics tends to favour parameter ranges in which the interaction between system components is comparable to the interaction of these system components and their environment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The spectral function describes the overall strength of interaction of the system with reservoir modes of frequency ω.

“The spectral function thus describes the overall strength of the interaction of the system with the reservoir modes of frequency ω .”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

It may be beneficial to increase noise by arranging easily movable charges close to a site, creating significant changes in excitation energy.

“On the other hand it may on occasion be beneficial to increase the level of noise by arranging easily movable charges close to a site which will respond strongly to vibrations and thus create significant changes in the excitation energy of the site.”

May combine two claims.

The numerical hierarchy technique is non-perturbative and can interpolate between Bloch-Redfield and Förster regimes.

“This approach is non-perturbative and is capable of interpolating, for example, between the Bloch-Redfield and the F¨ orster regimes [152, 154].”

• cites [152]Not checked yet

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• cites [154]Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

For spin environments, molecular structure and electronic wavefunction determine the strength and anisotropy of the hyperfine interaction.

“For spin environments, e.g. the nuclear spin environment in magneto-reception, the structure of the relevant molecule and the form of the electronic wavefunction determines the strength and anisotropy of the hyperfine interaction.”

May combine two claims.

The time-adaptive renormalization group method preserves full environment information, treats arbitrary spectral densities and coupling strengths with known and controllable error, and is computationally efficient in environment size.

“We begin by presenting an approach to the systemenvironment interaction that preserves the full information about the environment state, is able to treat arbitrary spectral densities and coupling strengths within a single unified framework with known and controllable error and is computationally efficient in the size of the environment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

Insertion of a specific molecule may allow certain functionality to be achieved, similar to a PC card.

“In this way, it is conceivable that similar to a PC card the insertion of a specific molecule may allow for certain functionality to be achieved.”

May combine two claims.

A translationally invariant harmonic chain with ratio ω_n/t_n = 2 has a gapless dispersion and excitations escape down the chain without backscattering.

“A translationally invariant harmonic chain with this ratio ω n /t n has a gapless dispersion and excitations can escape down the chain without being scattered back towards the system (see Fig. 13 for illustration).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Nature has likely optimized both the properties of its quantum networks and the structure of the environment to achieve optimal performance.

“We have also explained that it is likely that nature has optimized both the properties of its quantum networks and the structure of the environment to achieve optimal performance.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The principles of beneficial interplay between quantum dynamics and environment apply to any quantum network in contact with an environment of charges, spins or vibrations.

“The principles expounded here are more general though and apply to any quantum network whose task may include for example transport or sensing and that is in contact with an environment of charges, spins or vibrations.”

May combine two claims.

This implies that buildup of excitations in any region of the chain is limited over time and correlations are bounded.

“Thus the buildup of excitations in any region of the chain is limited over time, and correlations can be expected to be bounded.”

May combine two claims.

In the large n limit, chain parameters ω_n and t_n converge and their ratio approaches 2 for a wide variety of spectral densities.

“As it can be proven for a wide variety of spectral densities, in the large n limit the chain parameters ω n to t n converge and their ratio approaches ω n /t n → 2.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In the standard open-quantum system model, the quantum system interacts with a macroscopic number of environmental degrees of freedom and the total system-environment state evolves under purely unitary dynamics.

“In this model the quantum system interacts with a macroscopic number of environmental degrees of freedom and the total system and environment state evolves under a purely unitary dynamics.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Nature has a wide variety of possibilities for tuning quantum networks and their environments to achieve robust and efficient devices.

“This suggests that indeed nature has at its hand a wide variety of possibilities for tuning quantum networks and their environments to achieve robust and efficient devices.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The electronic network and its environment are the two principal aspects that can be controlled for structural adaptation.

“There are two principal aspects that can be controlled, the electronic network and its environment.”

May combine two claims.

Singlet donor-acceptor pairs may recombine to ground state or react at rate kS; triplet spins cannot recombine but may react at rate kT.

“A donor acceptor pair in the singlet state may either recombine to reach the groundstate or lead to a reaction product at rate k S . Spins in the triplet state cannot recombine to reach the ground state but may lead to different reaction products at rate k T .”

May combine two claims.

This process couples vibrational motion of proteins and molecules to their electronic energies, causing dephasing and interaction of long-lived vibrational modes with electronic degrees of freedom.

“It is this process for example that couples the vibrational motion of proteins and molecules to their electronic energies and is thus the cause of both dephasing and the interaction of long-lived vibrational modes with electronic degrees of freedom.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The phonon assisted tunneling process in olfaction may be used to recognise molecules and initiate charge transfer processes.

“Likewise the phonon assisted tunneling process in olfaction suggests that this process may be used to recognise molecules and to initiate charge transfer processes.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Strong featureless noise can affect the ability to act and react specifically to external input.

“Certainly, strong featureless noise can affect the ability to act and react specifically to external input.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The method becomes computationally less efficient with increasing temperature.

“It should be noted however that, in contrast to some other methods, it becomes computationally less efficient with increasing temperature.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Dissipation and decoherence appear when the system is observed without knowledge of the environment state, leading to non-unitary effective dynamics for the reduced density matrix.

“Dissipation and decoherence appear when the system is observed without any knowledge of the state of its environment, leading to a non-unitary effective dynamics for the sub-system's reduced density matrix.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In various circumstances it may be essential to reduce noise, for example by protecting a molecule inside a protein structure or hydrophobic binding pocket.

“Hence, in various circumstances it may be essential to reduce the level of noise for example by protecting a molecule inside a protein structure or a hydrophobic binding pocket.”

May combine two claims.

The chemical compass can be seen as an environment-assisted quantum interferometer, affirming avian magneto-reception as an example of quantum biology that benefits from system-environment interplay.

“From this viewpoint the chemical compass can be seen as an environment assisted quantum interferometer thus affirming avian magneto-reception as an example of quantum biology that benefits from an interplay of system-environment interaction [138].”

• cites [138]Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Local environment changes can shift excitation energy by hundreds of wavenumbers or more, and larger structural changes can shift wavelength by dozens of nanometers.

“These changes can be significant and can reach the range of 100 ′ s of wavenumbers or more even for very small distance changes in the environment. For larger structural changes of the protein scaffold, e.g. due to variations in pH-value or other more drastic changes the shift in wavelength can even reach dozens of nanometers.”

May combine two claims.

The standard open-quantum system model is not exactly solvable and requires numerical methods, particularly for structured spectral densities or non-perturbative coupling.

“Despite the relative simplicity of this model its dynamics is not exactly solvable and one has to resort to numerical methods. This is particularly so, when the environmental spectral density does exhibit considerable structure or when the coupling strength between system and environment lies in the non-perturbative regime.”

May combine two claims.

A large amount of initial coherence correlates strongly with high sensitivity of the chemical compass, and the impact of different types of decoherence can be predicted from it.

“Indeed, a large amount of initial coherence in this picture correlates strongly with high sensitivity of the chemical compass and the impact of different types of decoherence can be predicted from it.”

• cites [138]Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Highly structured environments combining narrow and broad features challenge these methods.

“For highly structured environments in which for example both narrow and broad features are combined these methods find challenges.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Temperatures not too far below typical system frequencies appear to be accessible.

“Temperatures not too far below the typical system frequencies appear to be accessible [169].”

• cites [169] M. Thorwart, P. Reimann and P. H¨ anggi, Iterative algorithm versus analytic solutions of the parametrically driven dissipative quantum harmonic oscillator , Phys. Rev. E 62 (2000) pp. 5808 - 5817.Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Path integral methods have been applied mostly to dimers, and scaling to larger systems remains to be demonstrated.

“Path integral methods have been applied mostly to dimers (see e.g.[166]) and their scaling to larger systems, just as for the transformation approach to be discussed below, remains to be demonstrated.”

• cites [166] M. Thorwart, J. Eckel, J.H. Reina, P. Nalbach, and S. Weiss, Enhanced quantum entanglement in the nonMarkovian dynamics of biomolecular excitons , Chem. Phys. Lett. 478 (2009), pp. 234 - 237.Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

The design principles can allow rational design of optimal structures and optimized experiments to amplify and verify quantum effects in biology.

“The importance of these design principles goes beyond merely understanding what has been created already but also paves the way by which these principles, when spelled out and made quantitative, can allow for the rational design of optimal structures as well as the execution of optimized experiments by which to amplify and verify quantum effects in biology.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

With decreasing temperatures and increasing correlation time, computational effort grows rapidly.

“With decreasing temperatures and thus increasing correlation time the computational effort grows rapidly.”

May combine two claims.

Too much or too little coherence can be detrimental, and an intermediate regime is optimal.

“It can be understood from simple and generalizable principles that we have identified in our discussions to explain that too much or too little coherence can be detrimental and that it is in fact natural to expect that there is an intermediate regime that is optimal.”

May combine two claims.

The hierarchy depth and coefficient structure depend on bath correlation time and spectral density.

“The depth of this hierarchy and the structure of its coefficients depend on the correlation time of the bath and its spectral density.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The hierarchy method has been applied successfully to a dimer and the seven-site FMO complex with Brownian harmonic oscillator spectral density.

“Nevertheless, it should be noted, that the hierarchy method has been applied successfully to a dimer [152, 154] as well as the seven-site FMO complex [154, 159, 160] with a Brownian harmonic oscillator spectral density of the environment.”

• cites [152]Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites [154]Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites [159] A.G. Dykstra and Y. Tanimura, The role of the environment time scale in light-harvesting efficiency and coherent oscillations , New J. Phys. 14 (2012), 073027.Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites [160] Ch. Kreisbeck, T. Kramer, M. Rodriguez, and B. Hein, High-performance solution of hierarchical equations of motions for studying energy-transfer in light-harvesting complexes , J. Chem. Theo. Comp. 7 (2011), pp. 2166 2174.Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

For Brownian harmonic oscillator spectral density and/or high temperatures, temporal bath correlations decay exponentially, allowing early termination of the hierarchy with small but uncontrolled error.

“For specific choices of the bath spectral density, namely the Brownian harmonic oscillator and/or high temperatures the temporal bath correlations decay exponentially so that the hierarchy can be terminated early with small but uncontrolled error and one obtains a manageable structure of the hierarchy.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Nonexponential decay of temporal bath correlations leads to exponential growth of the number of operators in the hierarchy.

“A nonexponential decay of the temporal bath correlations also leads one to estimate an exponential growth of the number of operators in the hierarchy.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

More complex spectral densities lead to considerably more demanding evaluations of hierarchy coefficients.

“More complex spectral densities will lead to considerably more demanding evaluations of the coefficients of the hierarchy.”

May combine two claims.

Protein structure allows tuning of transport or sensory networks and adjustment of their environment.

“Indeed, by the use of protein structure to arrange molecules and their local environment they are capable of tuning the properties of transport or sensory networks and, at the same time, adjust the environment of these networks by providing isolation or for example by inserting specific molecules with desirable vibrational or spin properties to fashion an environment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Path integral methods are expected to give good results in the high temperature limit and short correlation time.

“These procedures are expected to give good results in the high temperature limit and hence short correlation time of the environments.”