New morphometric parameter for analyzing changes in the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes--the relative volume fraction

Analysing the processes accompanied by changes in cardiomyocyte volume without the formation or loss of myofibrils, it has been proposed to use a new parameter "relative volume fraction" that denotes the volume occupied by the ultrastructure under investigation, as related to primary cell volume, and permits to estimate changes of the ultrastructural volume proper. The value of this parameter may be calculated according to the formula: (Formula: see text).     

The relationship between RNA content, cell volume and growth potential in ageing human embryonic mesenchymal cells

Modal cell volume and cellular RNA content were meaume was found to correlate with both culture replication rate and cellular RNA content. This observation suggests that cell volume changes may be related to the rate of cell division during ageing in vitro, and that both cell volume and RNA content may be closely controlled. There was no change in the relative proportions of the major rRNA species during the cultures' lifespan.     

Muscle geometry affects accuracy of forearm volume determination by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Upper extremity musculoskeletal modeling is becoming increasingly sophisticated, creating a growing need for subject-specific muscle size parameters. One method for determining subject-specific muscle volume is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of MRI-derived muscle volumes in the human forearm across a variety of muscle sizes and shapes. Seventeen cadaveric forearms were scanned using a fast-spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence with high isotropic spatial resolution (1mm(3) voxels) on a 3T MR system. Pronator teres (PT), extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB), extensor pollicis longus (EPL), flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), and brachioradialis (BR) muscles were manually segmented allowing volume to be calculated. Forearms were then dissected, muscles isolated, and muscle masses obtained, which allowed computation of muscle volume. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(2,1)) and absolute volume differences were used to compare measurement methods. There was excellent agreement between the anatomical and MRI-derived muscle volumes (ICC = 0.97, relative error = 12.8%) when all 43 muscles were considered together. When individual muscles were considered, there was excellent agreement between measurement methods for PT (ICC = 0.97, relative error = 8.4%), ECRB (ICC = 0.93, relative error = 7.7%), and FCU (ICC = 0.91, relative error = 9.8%), and fair agreement for EPL (ICC = 0.68, relative error = 21.6%) and BR (ICC = 0.93, relative error = 17.2%). Thus, while MRI-based measurements of muscle volume produce relatively small errors in some muscles, muscles with high surface area-to-volume ratios may predispose them to segmentation error, and, therefore, the accuracy of these measurements may be unacceptable.     

Triple therapy with octreotide,galanin, and serotonin reduces the size and blood vessel density and increases apoptosis of a rat colon carcinoma

A rat colonic adenocarcinoma was implanted subcutaneously in female nude (C57BL/6JBom-nu) mice. After 7 days, the animals were divided into different groups. One group received triple therapy with octreotide, galanin, and serotonin, 10 microg/kg body weight of each, twice daily. The second group served as controls and received only saline solution. Three groups received 10 microg/kg body weight twice daily of octreotide, galanin, or serotonin. The last group consisted of controls that received only saline solution. The treatment lasted for 5 days. The tumour volume, wet weight, and relative volume density of blood vessels were significantly decreased after the triple treatment, as compared to controls. Apoptotic index was significantly increased, but the proliferation index was not affected in the group of mice that received triple therapy. There was no significant difference between controls and mice treated with octreotide, galanin, or serotonin regarding tumour volume or weight. The relative volume density of blood vessels was decreased in tumours treated with galanin, but not with octreotide or serotonin. There was no statistical difference in the proliferation index between controls and animals treated with octreotide, galanin, or serotonin, as compared with controls. Tumour necrosis and increased apoptosis may be responsible for the reduction in the volume and weight of the tumour after triple therapy. Tumour necrosis may be caused by the induction of tumour ischemia due to a reduction in tumour blood flow, which is caused by decreased incidence of tumour-feeding blood vessels, and by constriction of tumour-feeding arterioles. These results are promising and may offer treatment for colon cancer.     

Septum volume and food-storing behavior are related in parids

The hippocampal formation (HF) of food-storing birds is larger than non-storing species, and the size of the HF in food-storing Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) varies seasonally. We examined whether the volume of the septum, a medial forebrain structure that shares reciprocal connections with the HF, demonstrates the same species and seasonal variation as has been shown in the HF. We compared septum volume in three parid species; non-storing Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Parus major), and food-storing Black-Capped Chickadees. We found the relative septum volume to be larger in chickadees than in the non-storing species. We also compared septum and nucleus of the diagonal band (NDB) volume of Black-Capped Chickadees at different times of the year. We found that the relative septum volume varies seasonally in food-storing birds. The volume of the NDB does not vary seasonally. Due to the observed species and seasonal variation, the septum, like the hippocampal formation of food-storing birds, may be specialized for some aspects of food-storing and spatial memory.     

The evolution of hippocampus volume and brain size in relation to food hoarding in birds

Food‐hoarding birds frequently use spatial memory to relocate their caches, thus they may evolve a larger hippocampus in their brain than non‐hoarder species. However, previous studies testing for such interspecific relationships provided conflicting results. In addition, food hoarding may be a cognitively complex task involving elaboration of a variety of brain regions, even outside of the hippocampus. Hence, specialization to food hoarding may also result in the enlargement of the overall brain. In a phylogenetic analysis of distantly related birds, we studied the interspecific association between food hoarding and the size of different brain regions, each reflecting different resolutions. After adjusting for allometric effects, the relative volume of the hippocampus and the relative size of the entire brain were each positively related to the degree of food‐hoarding specialization, even after controlling for migration and brood parasitism. We also found some significant evidence for the relative volume of the telencephalon being associated with food hoarding, but this relationship was dependent on the approach we used. Hence, neural adaptation to food hoarding may favour the evolution of different brain structures.     

The seeds of Campsiandra angustifolia (Fabaceae: Caesalpiniodeae) as a reflex of selective pressures on dispersal and establishment

We indirectly evaluated the selective pressures on dispersal and establishment of Campsiandra angustifolia, a common water-dispersed tree from the Peruvian Amazon, analyzing the variation in the relationship between the volume occupied by dispersal and establishment structures in a total of 535 seeds from 13 trees located at three different habitats. The seeds differed one order of magnitude in their total volume. However, independently of their size and the location of the maternal tree, the relationship between the volume occupied by dispersal and establishment structures was relatively constant (approximately 1) and showed a normal distribution with low skewness, indicating stabilizing selection. These results suggest that, in the habitats studied, dispersal and establishment processes may have similar importance to C. agustifolia. In species with seeds confined in pods, and therefore strongly space-limited, the relative volume of their seeds occupied by dispersal and establishment structures could be a better measure of the trade-off between these two processes than the variation in seed size.     

Size,temperature, and scaphognathite frequency-dependent variations of ventilation volumes in Carcinus maenas (L.)

There is a direct, linear relationship between scaphognathie beat frequency and absolute ventilation volume in Carcinus maenas (L). The absolute ventilation volume is directly proportional to the size of the animals. At all scaphognathie frequencies small animals have a greater relative ventilation volume than large animals. The absolute stroke volume (ml/beat) is greater in large animals than in small animals. The majority of the available evidence suggests that, whilst the force of the scaphognathie stroke may be variable, the amplitude of its excursion remains constant at all beat frequencies.     

Morphometric analysis of the ultrastructural changes in rat liver induced by the peroxisome proliferator SaH 42-348

The changes occurring in hepatocytes of F-344 male rats during a 3-wk treatment with a hypolipidemic agent, 1-methyl-4-piperidyl-bis [p- chlorophenoxy]acetate (SaH 42-348), have been evaluated by morphometric and biochemical methods. The twofold increase in liver weight resulted from a significant increase in hepatocyte cytoplasm as well as a moderate increase in the number of liver cells. The peroxisome population and SER played an overwhelming part in the hypertrophy of hepatocytic cytoplasm. The relative volume and the surface density of peroxisomes volume resulted from an increased ninefold and sevenfold, respectively. The increase in the collective peroxisome volume resulted from an increase in both the number and the average volume of peroxisomes. The SER also demonstrated a substantial increase in these values. The relative volume and surface density of mitochondria were not significantly altered in comparison to controls, while these values for RER decreased onefold. Studies on the lobular distribution of cytoplasmic organelles before and during treatment revealed that the relative volume and surface density of peroxisomes and SER increased from periportal to centrilobular cells of the hepatic lobule, whereas mitochondrial values decreased from periportal to centrilobular cells. The RER values were fairly constant in different parts of the hepatic lobule. The increase in peroxisome and SER volume and surface area was first evident within the first 3 days of SaH 42-348 treatment and these values continued to increase, reaching a steady state within 2 wk. The time course of increase in catalase and carnitine acetyltransferase activities correlated with the morphometric data on the peroxisomes. After cessation of SaH 42-348 treatment, the peroxisome values decreased rapidly within the first 3 days and reached control levels within 1 wk. Moderate reduction in SER values occurred after withdrawal of the drug, but these values remained higher than controls even after 2 wk, suggesting that the reduction in the amount of circulating peroxisome proteins may result in empty SER channels. On the 4th day of drug withdrawal a significant increase in the relative volume and surface density of lysosomes was observed, suggesting that these organelles may play some part in the removal of cellular membranes. However, the rapid reduction in peroxisome values after SaH 42-348 withdrawal appears to be due to cessation of enhanced peroxisome protein synthesis.     

A model of the respiratory pump

The interaction of forces that produce chest wall motion and lung volume change is complex and incompletely understood. To aid understanding we have developed a simple model that allows prediction of the effect on chest wall motion of changes in applied forces. The model is a lever system on which the forces generated actively by the respiratory muscles and passively by impedances of rib cage, lungs, abdomen, and diaphragm act at fixed sites. A change in forces results in translational and/or rotational motion of the lever; motion represents volume change. The distribution and magnitude of passive relative to active forces determine the locus and degree of rotation and therefore the effect of an applied force on motion of the chest wall, allowing the interaction of diaphragm, rib cage, and abdomen to be modeled. Analysis of moments allow equations to be derived that express the effect on chest wall motion of the active component in terms of the passive components. These equations may be used to test the model by comparing predicted with empirical behavior. The model is simple, appears valid for a variety of respiratory maneuvers, is useful in interpreting relative motion of rib cage and abdomen and may be useful in quantifying the effective forces acting on the rib cage.     

Water penetration in the low and high pressure native states of ubiquitin

Theoretical studies on the solvation of methane molecules in water have shown that the effect of increased pressure is to stabilize solvent separated contacts relative to direct contacts. This suggests that high pressure stabilizes waters that have penetrated into a protein's core, indicating a mechanism for the high pressure denaturation of proteins. We test this theory on a folded protein by studying the penetration of water into the native state of ubiquitin at low and high pressures, using molecular dynamics. An ensemble of conformations sampled in the folded state of ubiquitin has been determined by NMR at two pressures below the protein's denaturation pressure, 30 atm and 3000 atm. We find that 1-5 more waters penetrate the high pressure conformations than the low pressure conformations. Low volume configurations of the system are favored at high pressures, but different components of the system may experience increases or decreases in their specific volumes. We find that penetrating waters have a higher volume per water than bulk waters, but that the volume per protein residue may be lowered by solvation. Furthermore, we find that penetration of the protein by water at high pressures is driven by the difference in the pressure dependence of the probability of cavity opening in the protein and pressure dependence of the probability of cavity opening in the bulk solvent. The volume changes associated with cavity opening and closing indicate that each penetrating water reduces the volume of the system by about 12 mL/mol. The experimental volume change going from the low pressure to the high pressure native state of ubiquitin is 24 mL/mol. Our results indicate that this volume change can be explained by penetration of the protein by two water molecules.     

Does Glass Size and Shape Influence Judgements of the Volume of Wine?

Background

Judgements of volume may influence the rate of consumption of alcohol and, in turn, the amount consumed. The aim of the current study was to examine the impact of the size and shape of wine glasses on perceptions of wine volume.

Methods

Online experiment: Participants (n = 360; recruited via Mechanical Turk) were asked to match the volume of wine in two wine glasses, specifically: 1. the Reference glass holding a fixed reference volume, and 2. the Comparison glass, for which the volume could be altered until participants perceived it matched the reference volume. One of three comparison glasses was shown in each trial: ‘wider’ (20% wider but same capacity); ‘larger’ (same width but 25% greater capacity); or ‘wider-and-larger’ (20% wider and 25% greater capacity). Reference volumes were 125ml, 175ml and 250ml, in a fully factorial within-subjects design: 3 (comparison glass) x 3 (reference volume). Non-zero differences between the volumes with which participants filled comparison glasses and the corresponding reference volumes were identified using sign-rank tests.

Results

Participants under-filled the wider glass relative to the reference glass for larger reference volumes, and over-filled the larger glass relative to the reference glass for all reference volumes. Results for the wider-and-larger glass showed a mixed pattern across reference volume. For all comparison glasses, in trials with larger reference volumes participants tended to fill the comparison glass less, relative to trials with smaller reference volumes for the same comparison glass.

Conclusions

These results are broadly consistent with people using the relative fullness of glasses to judge volume, and suggest both the shape and capacity of wine glasses may influence perceived volume. Perceptions that smaller glasses contain more than larger ones (despite containing the same volume), could slow drinking speed and overall consumption by serving standard portions in smaller glasses. This hypothesis awaits testing.     

Shapes of discoid intracellular compartments with small relative volumes

A prominent feature of many intracellular compartments is a large membrane surface area relative to their luminal volume, i.e., the small relative volume. In this study we present a theoretical analysis of discoid membrane compartments with a small relative volume and then compare the theoretical results to quantitative morphological assessment of fusiform vesicles in urinary bladder umbrella cells. Specifically, we employ three established extensions of the standard approach to lipid membrane shape calculation and determine the shapes that could be expected according to three scenarios of membrane shaping: membrane adhesion in the central discoid part, curvature driven lateral segregation of membrane constituents, and existence of stiffer membrane regions, e.g., support by protein scaffolds. The main characteristics of each scenario are analyzed. The results indicate that even though all three scenarios can lead to similar shapes, there are values of model parameters that yield qualitatively distinctive shapes. Consequently, a distinctive shape of an intracellular compartment may reveal its membrane shaping mechanism and the membrane structure. The observed shapes of fusiform vesicles fall into two qualitatively different classes, yet they are all consistent with the theoretical results and the current understanding of their structure and function.     

Standardization of the filter paper activity assay for solid substrate fermentation

The conditions of the filter paper activity (FPA) assay were standardized for solid substrate fermentation (SSF). The FPA is a relative measure of the overall cellulose hydrolysing capacity of microbial cellulase preparations, thus reliable and comparable data may be obtained only under standardized conditions. The standardization developed for submerged fermentation (SF) cannot be translated directly to SSF. In SSF, the FPA is strongly dependent on the extraction volume and on the dilution of the enzyme in the assay. The optimal extraction volume was substrate dependent in SSF of corn fiber, spent brewing grains and wheat straw for cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei Rut C30. Other cellulolytic enzyme assays (endoglucanase, beta-glucosidase and xylanase) were much less sensitive to the extraction volume.     

An Analysis of Seed Development in Pisum sativum L.

Growth analysis has been performed on developing seeds and seedcomponents of six contrasting genotypes of Pisum sativum. Seeddevelopment has been divided into three phases of high growthrate separated by two ‘lag’ phases, or phases oflow growth rate. It is suggested that the timing of these growthphases may not be determined by the developing seed, since thereappeared to be no consistent correlation with particular physiologicalstages of seed development. The relationship between the absolutegrowth rate of the embryo sac and of the embryo as determinedfrom changes in volume is reflected in the accumulation andabsorption of the endosperm. The relative growth rate of theembryo volume was invariably higher than that of the embryosac although the difference between these two relative ratesvaried with genotype and may account in part for the differencein seed phenotype. It is suggested that the testa and embryo are sinks which bothcompete for the endosperm which may act as a common source,and that this relationship accounts for variation in endospermvolume. It is concluded that seed development is dependent on threelevels of plant organization, the maternal parent, interactionsbetween the components of the seed and the genetic constitutionof the embryo. Pisum sativum L., garden pea, seed development, growth analysis     

The scaling of basicranial flexion and length.

Based on correlations between the cranial base angle (CBA) and the index of relative encephalization (IRE, calculated as the cubed root of brain volume divided by basicranial length), several recent studies have identified relative brain size as the factor most responsible for determining basicranial flexion in primates. IRE, however, scales with positive allometry relative to body mass, unlike the negatively allometric relationship between brain volume and body mass. This poses new questions concerning the factors underlying the correlation between IRE and CBA. Specifically, if basicranial flexion represents a spatial solution to the problem of housing a large brain within a neurocranium of limited size, then why is it that the problem is greatest in those species whose brains are smallest relative to body mass? To address this question, the scaling relationships of IRE and the measurements used to calculate it were examined in 87 primate species. It was found that the positive allometry of IRE is due to the fact that its denominator, basicranial length (BL), scales with very strong negative allometry relative to body mass. The scaling relationship of BL may reflect the fact that the noncortical components of the brain (i.e., diencephalon, mesencephalon, medulla) also scale with strong negative allometry relative to body mass, perhaps because of energetic constraints. Importantly, BL and these three brain components scale isometrically against each other. Thus, although cranial base flexion may be an adaptation to accommodate the size of the brain relative to basicranial length, the reason why that adaptation is necessary is not the evolution of a large brain, but rather the evolution of a short cranial base. In so far as basicranial length is affected by the strong negative allometry of the diencephalon, mesencephalon and medulla, the scaling relationships of these brain components are therefore indirectly responsible for the evolution of basicranial flexion.     

Effect of different pion stopping volumes on the radiation response of mouse small intestine

This radiobiological investigation was based on measurements of crypt cell survival in mouse small intestine when the animals were exposed to 5 cm3 (spot), 350 cm3 and 3010 cm3 (the latter two were spot scans) pion stopping volumes generated by the multi-channel Piotron of the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research. The experimental data obtained indicate that there was a decrease in biological effectiveness when the pion treatment volume was enlarged, irrespective of whether the pion dose was delivered in a single exposure or in four fractions. The r.b.e. values for pion beams relative to 200 kVp X-rays for the different experimental conditions used in this study are presented. The phenomenon of decreasing biological effectiveness with increasing pion stopping volume may be attributed to the following two factors: (1) when the pion stopping volume is increased there is a corresponding dilution of the high l.e.t. component of the beam; (2) the biological test system used may be sensitive to radiation dose rate which varied by a ratio of about 20 for the pion volumes used in this study.     

Ultrastructure of dormant buds of Salix sp. in early winter

In the apex of dormant buds of Salk a histological zonation comparable to that found in growing buds was observed. However, significant changes in relative volumes of cell components between dormant and growing buds were noted; the dormant buds had a lower volume density of vacuoles and higher relative volumes of mitochondria, plastids, lipid bodies, and starch grains than the growing buds. In the leaf primordia the relative volume of nuclei decreased with age, while the relative volume of plastids and mitochondria increased. The large central vacuole found in cells of e.g. the pro-cambium and rib meristem in growing buds is split into many smaller ones during the winter. A high content of tannin and calcium oxalate crystals was noted in dormant buds. They also accumulate lipids and starch. Phytoferritin may appear in plastids. Stacked ER and concentric sheaths of ER around lipid bodies appear, probably as a consequence of either anaerobic conditions or water stress. Several indications of metabolic activities in the seemingly dormant buds were found; plasmatubules at the plasmalemma particularly in the procambium, sheaths of smooth ER around the plastids, electron opaque globules (probably calcium-binding sites), and vacuoles that seemed to be autophagic.     

Mathematical model for the estimation of hemodynamic and oxygenation variables by tissue spectroscopy

This article presents a quasistatic, compartmental model of tissue-level hemodynamics and oxygenation that leads to a set of formulas, which is suitable to calculate important physiological variables from the mean tissue concentration and saturation of hemoglobin, measured by tissue spectroscopy. Dimensioned quantities are represented relative to their baseline value in the equations (relative value = perturbed/baseline). All model parameters are non-dimensional. The model is based and extends on a number of previous works: previous models of similar aim and scope are consolidated, and every critical assumptions and approximations are treated explicitly; extensions include for example the incorporation of the Fahraeus-effect and the separate estimation of the volume changes of the arterial and the venous compartments. The information content of spectroscopic data alone is shown to be valuable, but limited: the relative venous volume, the oxygen extraction fraction and the relative cellulovascular coupling (defined as the ratio of blood flow and oxygen consumption) can be calculated from these data, if the alterations in arterial blood volume are negligible. The number of variables estimated by the derived formulas can be increased if local blood flow is measured simultaneously: in this case, the relative arterial and venous volume and resistance, the oxygen extraction fraction, and the relative oxygen consumption can be determined. Given that this model considers arterial blood pressure, saturation and hematocrit as its inputs, when measured, the model becomes applicable in such conditions as hyper- or hypotension, hypoxic hypoxia, hemodilution and hemorrhage, where these variables do change. The estimation of the changes in arterial resistance can be applied to estimate the extent of an autoregulatory response.