Physical extensibility of maize coleoptile cell walls: apparent plastic extensibility is due to elastic hysteresis

Segments of maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptiles demonstrate plastic cell-wall extensibility (E_pl) as operationally defined by the amount of irreversible strain elicited by stretching living or frozen-thawed tissue under constant load in an extensiometer (creep test). Changes of E_pl are correlated with auxin- and abscisic-acid-dependent growth responses and have therefore been causally related to hormone-controlled cell-wall loosening. Auxin induces an increase of E_pl specifically in the outer epidermal wall of maize coleoptiles which is considered as the growth-limiting wall of the organ. However, detailed kinetic measurements of load-induced extension of frozen-thawed coleoptile segments necessitates a revision of the view that E_pl represents a true plastic (irreversible) wall deformation. Segments demonstrate no significant irreversible extension when completely unloaded between loading cycles. Moreover, E_pl can be demonstrated repeatedly if the same segment is subjected to repeated loading cycles in the extensiometer. It is shown that these phenomena result from the hysteresis behaviour of the cell wall. Stress-strain curves for loading and unloading form a closed hysteresis loop, the width of which represents E_pl at a particular load. Auxin-treatment of segments leads to a deformation of the hysteresis loop, thereby giving rise to an increase of E_pl. These results show that the creep test estimates the viscoelastic (retarded elastic) properties rather than the plastic properties of the wall.Abbreviations E_tot, E_el, E_pl total, elastic, and plastic cell-wall extensibility as defined by the standard creep test - L load Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 206).     

Structural deformation of the preterm trachea during acute distention and collapse.

The compliant airways of the premature neonate undergo episodic distention and collapse in response to changes in transmural pressure such as occur during spontaneous breathing, mechanical ventilation, and various therapeutic maneuvers. To identify and quantitate the effects of distending and collapsing transmural pressures on the structure of immature airways, tracheal segments from fetal rabbits, fixed at 0, +30, and -30 cm H2O transmural pressure, were examined using histologic and morphometric techniques. In comparison to control sections fixed at 0 cm H2O transmural pressure, application of distending pressures led to evagination of the posterior tracheal wall and significantly increased (P less than 0.05) cross-sectional area, antero-posterior diameter, circumference and muscle length, and decreased muscle thickness. Collapsed tracheal segments (-30 cm H2O) demonstrated invagination of the posterior wall and significantly (P less than 0.05) lower cross-sectional area, and antero-posterior diameter compared to the control segments; all the other parameters remained relatively unchanged. These data demonstrate extreme changes in tracheal geometry in response to the acute application of transmural pressure. From a methodological perspective, these observations suggest that fixation pressures may present significant artifact in histological analyses. Functionally, the noted deformation may lead to alterations in anatomic dead space and airway resistance, and mechanical function of the airways; all of which may compromise respiratory status in ventilated premature infant.     

Effects of light and low temperature on the reciprocal style curvature of Flexistylous Alpinia Species (Zingiberaceae)

The style curvature (flexistyly) of Alpinia species in ginger family is a unique plant organ movement because the style of each flower curves twice during its 1-day anthesis and styles of two phenotypes of each Alpinia species in the same population synchronously curve in opposite directions at the same time. In this study, we investigated the effects of low temperature and light conditions on these reciprocal style movements. Our results indicate that low temperature cannot change the direction of each curvature movement, but can slow down these movements and decrease the curve degrees. Light did not affect the upward curvature of the cataflexistylous morph, but the degrees of downward curvature decreased in darkness. For the anaflexistylous morph, the downward curvature only occurred in darkness, but curved directly upward in light condition; after the first (downward) curvature, the second (upward) movement only occurred in light, but did not occur if styles maintained in darkness. These results suggest that low temperature does not stimulate style curvature; light is the necessary condition for the upward movement of the anaflexistylous morph. The stimuli that induced curvature movements in the two morphs were different. Both two curvatures of the cataflexistylous style and downward movement of the anaflexistylous style were controlled via an endogenous program, while the upward movement of the anaflexistylous style was controlled by light.     

Frequency modulated sound pattern analysis in the lesser bulldog bat: the role of interactions between adjacent frequency elements of complex sounds

A stereotyped approach phase vocalization response of Noctilio albiventris to artificial echoes simulating a virtual approaching object was used to assess the ability of the bat to analyze and extract distance information from the artificial echoes. The performance of the bats depended on the temporal pattern of frequency change of the continuously sweeping frequency modulated (FM) component of the signals. When the bats were presented with a CF/FM signal containing a time-reversed upward FM sweep, they responded with approach phase behavior at a performance level that was significantly below that seen with a CF/FM signal containing a naturally structured downward FM sweep. When the FM sweep was divided into a series of brief pure tone steps, the extent to which the bats showed a difference in their capability to process upward versus downward FM sweeps depended on the difference in frequency between the pure tone steps. The bats effectively processed downward but not upward FM sweeps when the difference in frequency between pure tone frequency elements of the FM sweeps was from about 100–200 Hz, but they effectually processed both downward and upward FM sweeps when the tonal elements composing the FM sweeps were separated by more than about 200 Hz. This suggests that the ability of the bats to effectively process downward but not upward FM sweeps is based on local interactions between adjacent frequency elements of the complex sounds.Abbreviations CF constant frequency - FM frequency modulated     

Initial phases of gravity-induced lateral auxin transport and geotropic curvature in corn coleoptiles

Summary Wild-type corn coleoptiles showed an initial downward bending upon transfer from the vertical to the horizontal position. Strong upward curvature started only 15–30 min after the begin of horizontal exposure.Little, if any at all, initial downward geotropic bending was found with amylomaize coleoptiles at 1 X g. With stronger stimuli (10 or 20 X g) the amylomaize mutant reacted initially strongly in the wrong direction, i.e. opposite to the later response.When wild-type coleoptiles had been symmetrically prestimulated for 60 min with alternating 2-min horizontal exposures from opposite sides, no initial downward bending occurred if the plane of horizontal exposure was maintained from pretreatment to the continuous horizontal stimulation of the test. If, however, the coleoptiles were rotated 90° around their long axis between pretreatment and test, the initial downward bending reaction developed as in the non-prestimulated controls. Thus changes in reactivity remained localized to the site of stimulation.Following the same pretreatments used for the curvature measurements, lateral ³H-IAA transport was measured in coleoptile segments for 10 or 12.5 min. The auxin distribution found was strikingly parallel to the bending for all pretreatments.The dependence of reaction pattern on the duration of prestimulation in the same plane was tested. The function indicates a half life of 10–20 min for the change in sensitivity. The findings are discussed in view of a model of overstimulation and adaptation.     

Application of the equilibrium concept to the development of agaric fruit-bodies, with special reference to their straight downward growth in light from below

Equilibrium, a concept of dynamics, is found to be applicable to the phototropic and gravitropic growth in agaric fruit-bodies. The fruit-bodies exposed to light from below grow straight downward without bending upward, and those exposed to light from obliquely below grow first downward and then upward by negative gravitropism. The fruit-bodies exposed to light from above grow upward. Fruit-bodies growing straight downward or upward do not change the direction of growth; they are in ‘equilibria’. The straight downward growth can be regarded as an ‘unstable equilibrium’ having a higher potential, and the straight upward growth as a ‘stable equilibrium’ having a lower potential. The change in the direction of growth can be explained by the change in the potential; the upward bending in fruit-bodies that have grown obliquely downward can be regarded as a ‘transition’ from the unstable equilibrium to the stable one.     

中枢α受体在大鼠颈动脉窦反射中的调制作用

孤离大鼠左侧颈动脉窦,采用侧脑室(LCV)注射α_1受体阻断剂酚苄明(phenoxybenzam-ine PBZ,2μg/20μl)或α_2受体阻断剂育亨宾(yohimbine Y,2μg/20μl),以颈动脉窦内压(ISP)-平均动脉压(MAP)关系曲线及其有关参数为指标,研究和分析了中枢α受体对颈动脉窦反射的影响。将所得ISP和MAP经Logistic方程拟合,建立ISP-MAP关系曲线。结果如下:PBZ组,ISP-MAP关系曲线在高窦内压区明显上移;峰斜率、MAP变动范围明显减小;ISP-斜率关系曲线在15.96kPa处明显下移。Y组,ISP-MAP关系曲线在高窦内压区明显上移;峰斜率、MAP变动范围明显减小,阈压明显增大,ISP-斜率关系曲线在10.64、15.96kPa处明显下移。与PBZ组相比,Y组的峰斜率、MAP变动范围减小更明显。结果表明:中枢α_1或α_2受体阻断后,窦反射的敏感性明显降低,其中阻断α_2受体的作用尤为明显。     

On the existence of a hysteresis loop in open and closed end pores

We have studied the adsorption of argon at 87 K in slit pores of finite length with a smooth graphitic potential, open at both ends or closed at one end. Simulations were carried out using conventional GCMC (grand canonical Monte Carlo) or kMC (kinetic Monte Carlo) in the canonical ensemble with extremely long Markov chain, of at least 2 × 10⁸ configurations; selected simulations with much longer Markov chains do not show any change in the results. When the pore width is in the micropore range (0.65 nm), type I isotherms are obtained for both pore models and for both simulation methods. However, wider pores (1, 2 and 3 nm in width) all exhibit hysteresis loops in the GCMC simulations, while in the canonical ensemble simulations, the isotherms pass through a sigmoid van der Waals type loop in the transition region. This loop locates the true equilibrium transition. For the pores with one closed end, this transition is close to, or coincides with, the adsorption branch of the GCMC hysteresis loop, but for the open-ended pores, it is more closely associated with the desorption branch. In a separate study of adsorption hysteresis in an infinitely long slit pore, using both simulation techniques, the van der Waals loop follows the adsorption branch of the GCMC isotherm to the transition, then reverts to a long vertical section that falls midway between the two hysteresis branches and finally moves to the desorption transition close to the evaporation pressure. An examination of molecular distributions inside the pores reveals two coexisting phases in the canonical simulations, whereas in the grand canonical simulations, the molecules are uniformly distributed along the length of the pores.     

Towards a Metropolitan Fundamental Diagram Using Travel Survey Data

Using travel diary data from 2000–2001 and 2010–2012 this research examines fundamental traffic relationships at the metropolitan level. The results of this paper can help to explain the causes of some traffic phenomena. Network average speed by time of day can be explained by trip length and cumulative number of vehicles on the road. A clockwise hysteresis loop is found in the Metropolitan Fundamental Diagram in the morning period and a reverse process happens in the afternoon.     

The adsorption of DNA in the mercury electrolyte interface. 3. Reaction of DNA in the mercury-electrolyte interface

The adsorption of deoxyribonucleic acid in the mercury-electrolyte interface was investigated. The effect of this adsorption on the differential capacity of the electrical double layer at the interface between a stationary mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and a buffered aqueous sodium chloride solution was measured. The dependences of this differential capacity on potential, time, and pH was studied in the presence of native and also of denatured DNA. These results were compared with the adsorption of model compounds and with the general theory of the adsorption of polymers. The structure of the adsorbed DNA molecules corresponds to an alternating arrangement of two-dimensional, totally adsorbed sequences and three-dimensional loops extending into the solution. The adsorbed sequences and loops consist of several segments with a specific free-energy change of adsorption. Essentially this energy determines the distribution of the segments between adsorbed sequences and loops. The absolute value of this energy change per segment is fairly large in the case of negatively charged poly-electrolyte DNA at the weakly positively charged interface near the electrocapillary maximum (ECM). The fraction of totally adsorbed segments is relatively large in this potential region. The more negative the potential the lower is the absolute value of free energy change of adsorption per segment. Under the conditions unfavorable for the adsorption, only a few segments can be adsorbed. Most of the segments of the adsorbed DNA molecules extend into the solution and therefore fairly high interface concentrations can be reached. Thus, the arrangement of DNA molecules in the electrode surface is changed when the potential is altered from values near the ECM to more negative ones. This change should produce the wave on the differential capacity curves at a little more negative potential than that of ECM. At a more negative potential, intermolecular interactions between the loops extending into the solution may occur. The adsorption tendency of the resulting associates is higher than that of the isolated molecules. Therefore the isolated molecules desorb at sufficient negatively charged interface producing a round wave while the associates stay adsorbed. At this potential it is impossible for native DNA to generate associates because they are formed from the isolated molecules. This explains the hysteresis loop of the curves of differential capacity vs. potential by using the HMDE. The desorption of the associates is indicated by a sharp wave at much more negative potential. For denatured DNA the associates arise from the very few isolated adsorbed molecules at this potential; therefore, no hysteresis loop occurs. The association constant of denatured DNA must be much higher than that of the native DNA. The reasons for this are discussed.     

褐飞虱成虫体内磁性物质检测

地磁定向是昆虫远距离迁飞定向的重要机制之一.本研究以褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens长翅型和短翅型成虫为研究对象,利用MPMS-7型号超导量子干涉磁强计(磁场范围为±4.8 mA/m,温度范围为1.9 ～ 400 K)检测虫体内的磁性物质,明确其体内的分布状况.结果表明:褐飞虱长翅型雄成虫整个虫体的温度退磁曲...     

Measurement of k(L)a by dynamic pressure method in pilot-plant fermentor

The dynamic pressure method (DPM) is used for measurement of k(L)a in a 1-m(3) pilot scale fermentor in coalescing (distilled water) and noncoalescing (0.3 M Na(2)SO(4) aqueous solution) batches. The method consists in recording oxygen concentration in a batch after a small pressure change (20 kPa) in the fermentor. The upward pressure change is brought about by temporary closing and subsequent throttling of outlet gas stream and the downward change by full reopening of the gas outlet. Absorption of pure oxygen yields the same k(L)a values as absorption of air. In noncoalescing batch, the downward k(L)a values are always higher than the upward values owing to spontaneous nucleation of bubbles. The experiments performed in a stirred cell confirm this behavior. Thus, only upward pressure change should be used for measurement. The correlation of k(L)a data measured in small (18-L) and large (1000-L) vessels based on power dissipated and superficial gas velocity are in a good agreement. Unlike the DPM, the classical dynamic methods yield, under the same conditions, excessively low values of k(L)a (the dynamic startup method) or fail to produce data at all (the dynamic method with interchange of air for N(2)). (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rheological analysis of viscoelastic cell wall changes in maize coleoptiles as affected by auxin and osmotic stress

The effects of auxin and osmotic stress on elongation growth of maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptile segments are accompanied by characteristic changes in the extensibility of the growth-limiting cell walls. At full turgor auxin causes growth by an increase in wall extensibility (wall looseining). Growth can be stopped by an osmotically produced step-down in turgor of 0.45 MPa. Under these conditions auxin causes the accumulation of a potential for future wall extension which is released after restoration of full turgor. Turgor reduction causes a reversible decrease in wall extensibility (wall stiffening) both in the presence and absence of auxin. These changes in vivo are correlated with corresponding changes in the rheological properties of the cell walls in vitro which can be traced back to specific modifications in the shape of the hysteretic stress-strain relationship. The longitudinally load-bearing walls of the coleoptile demonstrate almost perfect viscoelasticity as documented by a nearly closed hysteresis loop. Auxin-mediated wall loosening causes an increase of loop width and thus affects primarily the amount of hysteresis in the isolated wall. In contrast, turgor reduction by osmotic stress reduces loop length and thus affects primarily the amount of viscoelastic wall extensibility. Pretreatment of segments with anoxia and H₂O₂ modify the hysteresis loop in agreement with the conclusion that the wall-stiffening reaction visualized under osmotic stress in vivo is an O₂-dependent process in which O₂ can be substituted by H₂O₂. Cycloheximide specifically inhibits auxin-mediated wall loosening without affecting wall stiffening, and this is mirrored in specific changes of the hysteresis loop. Corroborating a previous in vivo study (Hohl et al. 1995, Physiol. Plant. 94: 491–498) these results show that cell wall stiffening in vivo can also be demonstrated by Theological measurements with the isolated cell wall and that this process can be separated from cell wall loosening by specific changes in the shape of the hysteresis loop.     

Effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on intervertebral dynamic motion characteristics in the porcine lumbar spine

Fresh frozen spine specimens are commonly used in biomechanical investigations of the spine. Since many study designs require staged preparation and testing, the effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on motion behavior should be understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on the biomechanical parameters measured during dynamic pure moment loading. Ten porcine lumbar motion segments were harvested immediately after death and potted in acrylic fixtures. Specimens were tested in continuous pure moment flexion-extension, lateral flexion, and rotation cycles up to a limit of +/-5Nm. Moment-angular displacement data were analyzed and parameters quantified including range of motion, elastic zone, transitional zone (neutral region) size and slope, and width of the hysteresis loop. All specimens were tested at baseline and after each of three subsequent cycles of freezing and thawing. The transitional zone size decreased and the transitional zone slope increased during flexion-extension and lateral bending after the initial freeze-thaw cycle. These parameters were not altered after subsequent cycles. No significant change was observed in the elastic zone or width of hysteresis loop. Although freezing porcine spine specimens increased the stiffness in the neutral region of motion, up to three subsequent cycles of freezing and thawing did not further affect these motion characteristics. This suggests that data obtained from porcine spines which have been frozen and thawed multiple times are stable after initial freezing.     

Voltage-current relationships in skeletal muscles of rats.

(1) Thin sheets of fibres from gastrocnemius and lumbricalis muscles of rats were washed in Tris-proponiate solutions containing 0.67 to 60 mM K. The voltage-current relationship was measured by the two microelectrode technique. (2) The V-C curve was S-shaped. The steep region, sometimes including a "forbidden" voltage zone, occurred between about -40 and -70 mV when the solution contained 2 mM K. In some fibres the steep region was found to occur at more positive currents and voltages in "upward" runs (steps of increasing depolarizing currents) then in "downward" runs. The V-C curves thus revealed hysteresis loops presumably covering a negative conductance region. (3) The voltage at which the steep region occurred was a function of [K]0. The mid-point of the steep region was 50 to 60 mV more positive than EK for a particular [K]0 was about 6 mM the steep region of the V-C relationship was not conspicuous. The steep V-C region is considered to reflect depolarizing K inactivation. The near disappearance of the phenomenon at 6 mM K is thought to result from an interference of delayed rectification and depolarizing K inactivation.     

Is central optokinetic nystagmus gravity-dependent?

Up-down asymmetry of vertical optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) has been attributed to a potential effect of gravity. This suggestion has been supported by some investigations in microgravity where a reverse of up-down asymmetry (downward OKN greater than upward OKN) was found. In joint Bulgarian-Russian space experiment "Labyrinth", the part "Optokinez" was devoted to central OKN and its gravity dependence. We aimed at answering questions: 1) Was central optokinetic nystagmus gravity dependent, in particular vertical OKN? If it was: 2) What happened with up-down asymmetry in adaptation period to weightlessness and re-adaptation period to gravity. Furthermore, in our recent study (3) on upright standing humans we found a consistent downward prevalence in central vertical OKN. Thus, a new question arises: What determines the direction of up-down OKN asymmetry?     

Recruitment in networks of pulmonary capillaries.

To improve our understanding of the pressure-flow characteristics of pulmonary capillaries, we analyzed by means of computer stimulation a theoretical model composed of 50 interconnected nonlinear elements. Each element required a critical pressure across it before flow occurred and there was a subsequent linear pressure-flow region whose slope, or resistance, could be related to the transmural pressure of the element ("distensibility"). The critical pressures and resistances of each element of the network were randomly chosen from distributions. We found that recruitment (i.e., onset of flow) occurred over a large range of network upstream or "arterial" pressures, and that relatively high arterial pressures were required before all elements had no distensibility. Intermittent and reverse flow were commonly seen in some elements as the arterial pressure was raised in steps. These flow reversals were particularly common when the critical pressures and resistances of the elements were inversely related. The critical pressures required for such behavior in the capillary segments of the pulmonary microcirculation were calculated to be extremely small, of the order of 0.02 cmH2O. Pressures of this magnitude might result from sticking of red cells to capillary walls or to each other. The properties of such a network may explain the patchiness of flow in the pulmonary microcirculation and the large range of arterial pressures over which recruitment is observed to occur.     

Norepinephrine induced contractions of the feline mesenterial vein under oxygenized and hypoxic conditions in vitro

Cylindrical segments from mesenteric veins of 8 cats were prepared and mounted in a Krebs-Ringer tissue bath. The oxygenized solution was bubbled with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. For lowered oxygen tension 95% N2 and 5% CO2 was used. Intraluminal pressure was changed between 0-20-0 mm Hg in consecutive cycles at a rate of 0.93-1.33 mm Hg/sec. Outer radii on the upward routes were recorded. Norepinephrine was added in doses of 6 X 10(-8) -6 X 10(-5) M, first in the oxygenized medium then under hypoxic conditions, and then in oxygenized medium again. Maximally relaxed curves were taken with 1.5 X 10(-4) M papaverine at the end of the experiment. Outer radius of relaxed segments at 20 mm Hg intraluminal pressure was 2.03 +/- 0.12 mm which slowly dilated to 2.09-0.12 mm toward the end of the experiment, and reached 2.11 +/- 0.11 mm with papaverine. Maximum active contractions of the outer radii were found at 6 mm Hg intraluminal pressure and with 6 X 10(-5) M norepinephrine in the bath: 23.1 +/- 3.2% in oxygenized, 20.3 +/- 3.4% in hypoxic and 19.0 +/- 3.4% again in oxygenized media. The observations showed that acute hypoxia had no or had only a limited effect on the contraction of the feline mesenteric vein.     

The distribution of colony-forming cells in the kidney

Abstract. A method is described for producing outgrowths of small nephron segments (average 24 cells) in culture. The method was used to estimate an overall colony-forming efficiency of 4.6% for cells constituting the segments. Efficiency was found to be lower for thick segments (1%) than for thin segments (6%) from Henle's loop. The latter higher level indicates that precursor cells are concentrated near the middle of the nephron. For comparison, a two-dose irradiation technique was used to calculate a mean number of 5 ± 2 (SE) clonogens per segment producing outgrowths. This tended to be higher than the value of about 1 calculated from the 65% of segments producing outgrowths, as expected if the remaining segments contained no clonogens.     

Phospholipid lysophosphatidylcholine as a metabolic trigger and HERG as an ionic pathway for extracellular K accumulation and "short QT syndrome" in acute myocardial ischemia.

The most profound abnormalities during acute myocardial ischemia are extracellular K(+) accumulation ([K(+)](o)- upward arrow) and shortening of action potential duration or QT interval (APD- downward arrow or QT- downward arrow), which are pivotal in the genesis of ischemic arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The ionic mechanisms however remained obscured. We performed studies in a rabbit model of acute global myocardial ischemia in order to explore ionic and metabolic mechanisms for ischemic [K(+)](o)- upward arrow and QT- downward arrow. Exogenous 1-palmitoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC-16) mimicked the low-perfusion ischemia to produce significant [K(+)](o)- upward arrow and QT- downward arrow. The [K(+)](o)- upward arrow and QT- downward arrow induced by either LPC-16 or ischemia were prevented by dofetilide, a blocker of rapid delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(Kr)), but not by blockers for other K(+) channels. Consistently, dofetilide efficiently abolished the ventricular tachy-arrhythmias induced by ischemia or LPC-16. LPC-16 remarkably shortened APD and enhanced the function of I(Kr) and HERG (the pore-forming subunit of I(Kr)). The effects of LPC-16 manifested with shorter APD (faster repolarization rate) and at more negative potential (membrane repolarization). Dofetilide abolished the I(Kr)/HERG enhancing and APD shortening effects of LPC-16. Our results suggest that LPC-16 accumulation/HERG enhancement may be a link between metabolic trigger and ionic pathway for ischemic [K(+)](o)- upward arrow and QTc- downward arrow. This represents the first documentation of I(Kr)/HERG as the ionic mechanism in ischemic [K(+)](o)- upward arrow and QTc- downward arrow. Inhibition of LPC-16 production and accumulation and/or of I(Kr)/HERG may be a promising therapeutic strategy to attenuate the incidence of lethal arrhythmias associated with ischemic heart disease.