Density dependent neurodynamics

The dynamics of a neural network depends on density parameters at (at least) two different levels: the subcellular density of ion channels in single neurons, and the density of cells and synapses at a network level. For the Frankenhaeuser-Huxley (FH) neural model, the density of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) channels determines the behaviour of a single neuron when exposed to an external stimulus. The features of the onset of single neuron oscillations vary qualitatively among different regions in the channel density plane. At a network level, the density of neurons is reflected in the global connectivity. We study the relation between the two density levels in a network of oscillatory FH neurons, by qualitatively distinguishing between three regions, where the mean network activity is (1) spiking, (2) oscillating with enveloped frequencies, and (3) bursting, respectively. We demonstrate that the global activity can be shifted between regions by changing either the density of ion channels at the subcellular level, or the connectivity at the network level, suggesting that different underlying mechanisms can explain similar global phenomena. Finally, we model a possible effect of anaesthesia by blocking specific inhibitory ion channels.     

Density functional theory

Photosynthesis Research - Density functional theory (DFT) finds increasing use in applications related to biological systems. Advancements in methodology and implementations have reached a point...     

典型草原区鹰隼类密度对啮齿动物密度的数值响应

捕食者与猎物的关系是动物生态学研究的热点之一,捕食者应对猎物密度的变化往往呈现出特定的数值响应特征。为研究典型草原区鹰隼类对其猎物——啮齿动物密度变化的数值响应关系,于2005年7月在内蒙古自治区锡林郭勒盟阿巴嘎旗白音图嘎苏木选取15个实验样地,采用标准夹线法调查了啮齿类密度,同时采用目视方法调查了鹰隼类密度。本次实验共捕获鼠类2 675只,主要为布氏田鼠(Lasiopodomys brandtii),观察到鹰隼类活动450只次。回归分析结果表明,鼠类密度和鹰隼类密度的数值反应关系符合S型曲线,可用Gompertz方程W=22.765 e-3.735 e-0.078 t来拟合,拟合优度R2达0.984,表明鼠类密度对鹰隼类密度有显著影响,验证了Holling所提出的脊椎动物捕食者和猎物数量关系属于S型反应曲线的观点。从本文的结果看,鹰隼类数量对鼠类数量的反应可分为三个阶段:(1)平缓期,随着鼠类密度的逐渐增加,鹰隼类活动频次增长非常缓慢;(2)快速反应期,当鼠类密度达到5只/hm2时,鹰隼类活动频次随鼠类密度的增加迅速增长,期间出现一个增长拐点值;(3)稳定平台期,当鼠类的密度达到40只/hm2左右时,鼠类密度虽然继续增加,但鹰隼类活动频次保持稳定,不再增加。本研究可为草原鼠害的天敌控制方法提供参考。     

Density and age-specific mortality

Age-specific mortality rates decelerate at older ages in laboratory populations in the MedflyCeratitis capitata. This has been interpreted by Careyet al. (1992) to reflect a slowing of the aging process, but might also be explained by declining adult density. Here it is argued that the density explanation, as presented by Graves and Mueller (1993), is unpersuasive for several reasons: extrapolations fromDrosophila to Medflies are unjustified; the range of densities they studied is 2–120 times higher than that used in other studies; they ignore data on Medflies held in isolation, which rule out density effects; their own data suggest that initial cohort density has no effect on mortality rates at older ages, which is the relevant part of the life cycle; their experiment is too small to provide accurate estimates of mortality; new Medfly experiments executed at multiple densities show decelerating and then declining mortality rates at advanced ages for all densities. WhenDrosophila survivorship experiments are done on a sufficiently large scale they also show a deceleration of mortality at older ages that is not attributable to density effects. The deceleration of mortality rates is most likely a real facet of aging, and will have to be taken into consideration in any synthesis of the genetics and evolution of aging.     

氧化低密度脂蛋白

1 .氧化低密度脂蛋白 (ＬＤＬ)的发现形成动脉粥样硬化过程中的泡沫细胞病变与巨噬细胞的脂化胆固醇积累相关 ,在巨噬细胞极少发现ＬＤＬ受体 ,特别是遗传性ＬＤＬ受体缺乏的同形合子患者的家族性高胆固醇血症及其动物模型中 ,极早出现动脉粥样硬化病变。以后用抗氧化药能阻止高ＬＤＬ血症的实验兔发生动脉粥样硬化。用特异性的氧化ＬＤＬ的单克隆抗体 ,采用免疫组织化学法 ,从高脂血症的患者及动物模型的动脉粥样硬化病变部位检出氧化ＬＤＬ。ＬＤＬ的氧化变性的实际部位在活体内 ,特别是在血管壁内发生 ,对动脉粥样硬化的形成起重要作用。…     

Density of rabbits (

The density of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the modified tussock grasslands of the Mackenzie Basin, South Island, New Zealand, in August-September 1991 was determined within 26 I-ha quadrats spread over 1000 ha. The area was poisoned with 1080- carrot baits and dead and live rabbits counted. The overall kill rate was 93%. Wide variability in rabbit densities amongst the quadrats was correlated with burrow density, but vegetation was not a significant predictor of rabbit numbers. High density quadrats were not all spatially clumped together. Variation amongst quadrats of 0-43% of rabbits dying underground shows that searching burrows as well as the surface will provide the most accurate rabbit densities. Poisoning efficacy was greater than or equal to 90% in 77% of the quadrats, but two low- density quadrats recorded kill rates <70%. Nine per cent of carcasses had been partly eaten by predators, suggesting a potential for the predators to be killed during rabbit control operations via secondary poisoning. The average density of 19 rabbits per ha confirms the classification of this area as a moderate to high rabbit-prone zone, with the rabbit population imposing grazing pressure equivalent to at least 1-2 sheep per ha at the beginning of spring. Sustainable agriculture cannot be attained in these semi-arid regions of New Zealand without cheap, widespread and effective rabbit control.     

Crop Yield and Planting Density

From the established responses of plants to photosynthetic activityand to the availability of nutrients in the soil, a crop yield:planting density response equation is derived with parametersthat are of biological significance. crop yield, planting density, mathematical model     

Stomatal Density and Bio-water Saving

Bio-water saving is to increase water use efficiency of crops or crop yield per unit of water input. Plant water use efficiency is determined by photosynthesis and transpiration, for both of which stomata are crucial. Stomata are pores on leaf epidermis for both water and carbon dioxide fluxes that are controlled by two major factors： stomatal behavior and density. Stomatal behavior has been the focus of intensive research, while less attention has been paid to stomatal density. Recently, a number of genes controlling stomatal development have been identified. This review summarizes the recent progress on the genes regulating stomatal density, and discusses the role of stomatal density in plant water use efficiency and the possibility to increase plant water use efficiency, hence bio-water saving by genetically manipulating stomatal density.     

Stomatal Density and Bio-water Saving

Bio-water saving is to increase water use efficiency of crops or crop yield per unit of water input. Plant water use efficiency is determined by photosynthesis and transpiration, for both of which stomata are crucial. Stomata are pores on leaf epidermis for both water and carbon dioxide fluxes that are controlled by two major factors: stomatal behavior and density. Stomatal behavior has been the focus of intensive research, while less attention has been paid to stomatal density. Recently, a number of genes controlling stomatal development have been identified. This review summarizes the recent progress on the genes regulating stomatal density, and discusses the role of stomatal density in plant water use efficiency and the possibility to increase plant water use efficiency, hence bio-water saving by genetically manipulating stomatal density.     

Density estimation in live-trapping studies

Unbiased estimation of population density is a major and unsolved problem in animal trapping studies. This paper describes a new and general method for estimating density from closed-population capture–recapture data. Many estimators exist for the size (N) and mean capture probability ( p ) of a closed population. These statistics suffer from an unknown bias due to edge effect that varies with trap layout and home range size. The mean distance between successive captures of an individual (     ) provides information on the scale of individual movements, but is itself a function of trap spacing and grid size. Our aim is to define and estimate parameters that do not depend on the trap layout. In the new method, simulation and inverse prediction are used to estimate jointly the population density (D) and two parameters of individual capture probability, magnitude (g₀) and spatial scale (σ), from the information in     , p and     . The method uses any configuration of traps (e.g. grid, web or line) and any choice of closed-population estimator. It is assumed that home ranges have a stationary distribution in two dimensions, and that capture events may be simulated as the outcome of competing Poisson processes in time. The method is applied to simulated and field data. The estimator appears unusually robust and free from bias.     

Cadmium Is More Toxic on Volume Bone Mineral Density than Tissue Bone Mineral Density

It has been showed that Cd induces low areal bone mineral density, but we do not know the effect of Cd on cubic bone density. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Cd on volumetric bone mineral density (VBMD) and tissue bone mineral density (TBMD) in male rats. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four groups that were given cadmium chloride by subcutaneous injection at doses of 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.5?mg/kg body weight for 8?weeks, respectively. Then, microcomputed tomography scanning was performed on the proximal tibia, and region of interest was reconstructed using microview software. The VBMD, bone volume fraction of rats treated with 1.5?mg Cd/kg, were significantly decreased compared to control (p?相似文献   

Density compensation in island avifaunas

Summary This paper analyzes factors which determine the extent of density compensation on islands; i.e., is the summed population density of all species on an island equal to the summed mainland density? A graphical analysis allows quantitative comparisons of density compensation studies. Two hypotheses which are generally applicable predict the extent of density compensation on islands: (1) Niche theory predicts that summed population densities should be low if island species number is low. (2) The habitat appropriateness hypothesis predicts that summed population densities should be low if island populations occupy unfamiliar habitat. Both hypotheses successfully explain variability in the extent of density compensation on islands. Relative to the mainland, summed population densities on islands are high when islands support a large number of species and those species occupy familiar habitats. Summed population densities on islands are low when islands support few species and those species occupy novel habitats.     

测定胰腺癌组织微血管密度及淋巴管密度的临床意义

目的:研究胰腺癌组织中微血管密度(Microvessel density,MVD)和淋巴管密度(Lymphatic vessel density,LVD)的变化、与胰腺癌临床病理的联系。方法:采用免疫组织化学SABC法应用CD34及D2-40分别检测41例胰腺导管腺癌患者配对癌组织内、癌旁及正常胰腺组织中MVD及LVD的表达情况,分析其与肿瘤分化程度、分期和淋巴转移间的相关性;以及癌组织MVD与癌旁组织LVD表达之间的关系。结果:在41例胰腺癌组织配对癌组织及正常胰腺组织平均MVD值分别为46.585±16.935,11.100±4.036,两组之间差别有统计学意义(P=0.000<0.01)。配对癌组织内、癌旁及正常胰腺组织中平均LVD值分别为11.244±4.800,15.829±7.470和13.512±5.139;其中癌旁组织与正常胰腺组织LVD值差别无统计学意义(P=0.060>0.05),癌旁组织与胰腺癌组织的LVD值有显著性差异(P=0.000<0.01)。癌组织内MVD值与癌旁组织LVD值之间有相关性(P=0.025<0.05)。结论:胰腺导管腺癌组织中MVD及LVD与肿瘤分化程度、病理分期及淋巴转移存在关联。胰腺癌组织内MVD值与癌旁组织LVD之间存在相关性。     

Preparation of Avocado Mitochondria Using Self-Generated Percoll Density Gradients and Changes in Buoyant Density during Ripening

Mitochondria from avocado (Persea americana Mill, var. Fuerte and Hass) can be rapidly prepared at every stage of ripening using differential centrifugation and self-generated Percoll gradients. The procedure results in improved oxidative and phosphorylative properties, especially for mitochondria isolated from preclimacteric fruits.

A gradual change in the buoyant density of avocado mitochondria takes place during ripening. Climacteric and postclimacteric avocado mitochondria have the same buoyant density as other plant mitochondria (potato, cauliflower), whereas mitochondria from preclimacteric fruit have a lower density. The transition in buoyant density occurs during the climacteric rise, and two populations of intact mitochondria (p = 1.060 and p = 1.075) can be separated at this stage. Evidence indicates that the difference in mitochondrial buoyant density between preclimacteric and postclimacteric mitochondria is likely due to interactions with soluble cytosolic components.

     

密度制约决定的植物生物量分配格局

基于自然环境下红葱(Allium cepa var.proliferum)个体各器官生物量积累动态、生物量分配比例动态、生物量比率动态和形态性状对不同种群密度(36、49、64、121和225株·m-2)响应的模拟实验,分析了密度制约对其生物量分配格局的影响。结果表明:红葱地上部分、叶和鞘的生物量分配比例均随密度的增加而增加,地下部分和鳞茎的分配比例随密度的增加而下降,而根的分配比例未随密度发生显著变化。除根:叶、根:地上比在密度处理间无显著差异外,各器官间生物量比率均表现出明显的密度依赖性。随着个体的生长,根:鞘、根:叶、根:地上比逐渐减小,鳞茎:叶、鳞茎:鞘、鳞茎:地上比先减小后增加,而地上:地下比先增加后减小。比叶面积与密度呈显著正相关(P<0.01),叶面积和根长与密度呈显著负相关(P<0.05),而比根长不受密度的影响。由此可见,种内竞争水平会对植物体内的资源分配产生较大影响;植物生物量分配格局响应不同密度具有可塑性,随着密度的增加,红葱个体会增加地上营养器官的生物量分配,并以减小地下无性繁殖器官的生物量分配为代价。最优化分配理论仅在无竞争存在的情况下适用,当竞争发生时,种群密度及其制约性调节是决定...     

Teaching Density with a Little Drama

This article provides an example of an innovative science activity applied in a science methods course for future elementary teachers at a small university in northeastern Turkey. The aim of the activity is to help prospective elementary teachers understand the density concept in a simple way and see an innovative teaching example.