Tracer flow, permeability, and partial conductance.

It is often not possible to evaluate a permeability coefficient for net flow P from the small flows produced by physiological gradients of concentration or electrical potential. The common use of a tracer permeability coefficient P-x for this purpose, under the assumption that P-x = P, requires that the species be transported passively, and that there be no significant coupling between its flow and that of other chemical species, and between the flows of its tracer and abundant isotopes (isotope interaction). These conditions are often not satisfied. However, for passive transport in the absence of coupling of flows of different chemical species the measurement of tracer flow at two values of electrical potential difference evaluates (P-x/P) and thus P. In the presence of coupling of flows of different chemical species, although these measurements no longer evaluate P, they evaluate the partial conductance G. A graphical method of evaluating (p-x/P), P, and G is presented.     

Tracer flow,permeability, and partial conductance

Summary It is often not possible to evaluate a permeability coefficient for net flowP from the small flows produced by physiological gradients of concentration or electrical potential. The common use of a tracer permeability coefficientP ^x for this purpose, under the assumption thatP ^x =P, requires that the species be transported passively, and that there be no significant coupling between its flow and that of other chemical species, and between the flows of its tracer and abundant isotopes (isotope interaction). These conditions are often not satisfied. However, for passive transport in the absence of coupling of flows of different chemical species the measurement of tracer flow at two values of electrical potential difference evaluates (P ^x /P) and thusP. In the presence of coupling of flows of different chemical species, although these measurements no longer evaluateP, they evaluate the partial conductanceG. A graphical method of evaluating (P ^x /P),P andG is presented.     

Side-selective, unobtrusive monitoring of nasal airflow and conductance.

Whether nasal obstruction disturbs sleep and nocturnal breathing is controversial because convenient techniques for measuring nasal resistance during sleep are lacking. Therefore, we developed a technique for unobtrusive, side-selective nasal conductance monitoring. The technique measures left and right nasal airflow and transnasal pressure using nasal cannulas, thin catheters inserted through the cannulas into the nasopharynx, and three pressure transducers. Their processed signals provide conductance as airflow-to-resistive pressure ratio for the left and right side and the sum, total nasal conductance. For validation, total nasal conductance was also determined by a flowmeter attached to a nasal mask and nasopharyngeal pressure that served as reference standard. Methods were compared in five normal subjects during pharmacological interventions and in 12 snorers during sleep. The novel technique accurately tracked total nasal conductance by the reference method at baseline, after nasal application of histamine and xylomethazoline in normal subjects; mean difference (bias) was 1%, and limits of agreement (+/-2 SD of bias) were +/- 22% (75 comparisons). Corresponding values during overnight sleep studies in snorers were 0 +/- 19% (192 comparisons); bias and limits of agreement of changes in nasal conductance were 1 +/- 19% (180 comparisons). Conductance measured once at the beginning of sleep studies differed from subsequent measurements during the night by a mean +/- SD of 26 +/- 20%, P < 0.0001. The novel technique accurately measures side-selective conductance. It is suitable to investigate interactions among nasal obstruction, sleep and nocturnal breathing, and drug effects. One-time measurements at the beginning of sleep studies do not appropriately reflect the highly variable nasal conductance during an entire night.     

Determination by conductance of the cytotoxic effects of bioreductive antimicrobial and radiosensitizing agents

Conductance measurements can be applied to determine the relative effects of bioreductively activated antimicrobial and antitumour agents under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Manipulation of the detection time measurements for Escherichia coli may be used to determine the relative toxicities of each drug on a concentration basis.     

Hydraulic conductance, stomatal conductance, and maximal photosynthetic rate in bean leaves

A positive correlation was found between steady state values of hydraulic (L _pA) and stomatal conductance (g _s) of French bean leaves: both were lower in the dark than in the light and lower in water-deficient plants than in the well-watered ones. The relative rate of stomatal opening after a pressure rise in the xylem was also positively related to L _pA. The L _pA and g _s were both related to the maximal photosynthetic rate at saturating CO2 concentrations. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hydraulic conductance,stomatal conductance,and maximal photosynthetic rate in bean leaves

A positive correlation was found between steady state values of hydraulic (L _pA) and stomatal conductance (g _s) of French bean leaves: both were lower in the dark than in the light and lower in water-deficient plants than in the well-watered ones. The relative rate of stomatal opening after a pressure rise in the xylem was also positively related to L _pA. The L _pA and g _s were both related to the maximal photosynthetic rate at saturating CO2 concentrations.     

Chloride conductance of the Amphiuma red cell membrane

Summary Like most other red cells, the giant erythrocytes ofAmphiuma means possess a system for rapid exchange of chloride across the membrane. Also, there are indications that the net transport of chloride in these cells is slow. The size ofAmphiuma erythrocytes allows direct measurements of membrane potential with microelectrodes. The present work exploits the possibility that such measurements can be used to give a quantitative estimate of the chloride conductance (G _Cl) of the Amphiuma red cell membrane. The membrane potential was measured as a function of extracellular chloride concentration (5–120mM), using an impermeant anion (Para-amino-hippurate) as a substitute. Furthermore, the effect of different pH values (6.0–7.2) was studied. For each extracellular chloride concentration the membrane potential was determined at a pH at which hydroxyl, hydrogen, and bicarbonate ions were in electrochemical equilibrium. From these membrane potentials and the corresponding chloride concentrations in the medium (at constant intracellular ion concentrations), theG _Cl of the membrane was calculated to be 3.9×10^–7 {ie27-1} cm^–2. This value is some six orders of magnitude smaller than that calculated from the rate of tracer exchange under equilibrium conditions. The experimental strategy used gives the value for a partial transference number which takes into account only ions which arenot in electrochemical equilibrium. Whereas this approach gives a value forG _Cl, it does not permit calculation of the overall membrane conductance. From the calculated value ofG _Cl it is possible to estimate that the maximal value of the combined conductances of hydroxyl (or proton) and bicarbonate ions is 0.6×10^–7 {ie27-2} cm^–2. The large discrepancy between the rate of exchange of chloride and its conductance is in agreement with measurements on human and sheep red cells employing the ionophore valinomycin to increase the potassium conductance of the membrane. The results in the present study were, however, obtained without valinomycin and an accompanying assumption of a constant field in the membrane. Therefore, the present measurements give independent support to the above mentioned conclusions.     

Scanning conductance microscopy investigations on fixed human chromosomes

Scanning conductance microscopy investigations were carried out in air on human chromosomes fixed on pre-fabricated SiO2 surfaces with a backgate. The point of the investigation was to estimate the dielectric constant of fixed human chromosomes in order to use it for microfluidic device optimization. The phase shift caused by the electrostatic forces, together with geometrical measurements of the atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever and the chromosomes were used to estimate a value for the dielectric constant of different human chromosomes.     

Water relations of Calycanthus flowers: Hydraulic conductance,capacitance, and embolism resistance

For most angiosperms, producing and maintaining flowers is critical to sexual reproduction, yet little is known about the physiological processes involved in maintaining flowers throughout anthesis. Among extant species, flowers of the genus Calycanthus have the highest hydraulic conductance and vein densities of species measured to date, yet they can wilt by late morning under hot conditions. Here, we combine diurnal measurements of gas exchange and water potential, pressure–volume relations, functional responses of gas exchange, and characterization of embolism formation using high resolution X‐ray computed microtomography to determine drought responses of Calycanthus flowers. Transpiration from flowers frequently exceeded transpiration from leaves, and flowers were unable to limit transpiration under conditions of high vapour pressure deficit. As a result, they rely heavily on hydraulic capacitance to prevent water potential declines. Despite having high water potentials at turgor loss, flowers were very resistant to embolism formation, with no embolism apparent until tepal water potentials had declined to ?2 MPa. Although Calycanthus flowers remain connected to the stem xylem and have high hydraulic capacitance, their inability to curtail transpiration leads to turgor loss. These results suggest that extreme climate events may cause flower failure, potentially preventing successful reproduction.     

Mesophyll conductance to CO2 in Arabidopsis thaliana

The close rosette growth form, short petioles and small leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana make measurements with commercial gas exchange cuvettes difficult. This difficulty can be overcome by growing A. thaliana plants in 'ice-cream cone-like' soil pots. This design permitted simultaneous gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements from which the first estimates of mesophyll conductance to CO(2) (g(m)) in Arabidopsis were obtained and used to determine photosynthetic limitations during plant ageing from c. 30-45 d. Estimations of g(m) showed maximum values of 0.2 mol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1) bar(-1), lower than expected for a thin-leaved annual species. The parameterization of the response of net photosynthesis (A(N)) to chloroplast CO(2) concentrations (C(c)) yielded estimations of the maximum velocity of carboxylation (V(c,max_Cc)) which were also lower than those reported for other annual species. As A. thaliana plants aged from 30 to 45 d, there was a 40% decline of A(N) that was entirely the result of increased diffusional limitations to CO(2) transfer, with g(m) being the largest. The results suggest that in A. thaliana A(N) is limited by low g(m) and low capacity for carboxylation. Decreased g(m) is the main factor involved in early age-induced photosynthetic decline.     

Differential coordination of stomatal conductance,mesophyll conductance,and leaf hydraulic conductance in response to changing light across species

Stomatal conductance (g_s) and mesophyll conductance (g_m) represent major constraints to photosynthetic rate (A), and these traits are expected to coordinate with leaf hydraulic conductance (K_leaf) across species, under both steady‐state and dynamic conditions. However, empirical information about their coordination is scarce. In this study, K_leaf, gas exchange, stomatal kinetics, and leaf anatomy in 10 species including ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms were investigated to elucidate the correlation of H₂O and CO₂ diffusion inside leaves under varying light conditions. Gas exchange, K_leaf, and anatomical traits varied widely across species. Under light‐saturated conditions, the A, g_s, g_m, and K_leaf were strongly correlated across species. However, the response patterns of A, g_s, g_m, and K_leaf to varying light intensities were highly species dependent. Moreover, stomatal opening upon light exposure of dark‐adapted leaves in the studied ferns and gymnosperms was generally faster than in the angiosperms; however, stomatal closing in light‐adapted leaves after darkening was faster in angiosperms. The present results show that there is a large variability in the coordination of leaf hydraulic and gas exchange parameters across terrestrial plant species, as well as in their responses to changing light.     

整树水力导度协同冠层气孔导度调节森林蒸腾

冠层气孔导度决定森林的蒸腾效率,它对驱动水汽移动的水汽应力的响应受树木水力结构的影响,并随水汽压亏缺上升和水力导度下降而降低,维持水势在最低阈值之上,避免出现水力灾变,调控冠层蒸腾。由于叶形和树冠结构的特点,部分脱耦联反映了湿润地区阔叶林冠层与大气的水汽交换特征,单纯以气孔导度的变化难以完整描述水分通量的调节规律,因而,需要考虑冠层气孔导度与水力导度协同控制冠层蒸腾的潜在机理。通过整合叶片气孔气体交换、树干液流、冠层微气象和其他环境因子的野外观测值,估测不同时间尺度的森林冠层气孔导度与大气的脱耦联系数和变异范围,以基于树干液流的冠层蒸腾,结合叶片/土壤水势梯度计算的水力导度,分析水力导度影响冠层气孔导度响应水汽压亏缺的敏感性,可以揭示和阐明水力导度和冠层气孔导度联合调节森林蒸腾的机理,对准确估测全球变化背景下森林对水资源利用的潜在生态效应有明显的理论意义。     

Evidence for a calcium-dependent outward conductance in endocrine cells of the cockroach, Diploptera punctata

Abstract The cell membranes of the corpora allata of the cockroach Diploptera punctata contain voltage-dependent calcium channels. Depolarizing current injection into cells of the corpora allata in the presence of the calcium channel blockers, cadmium, cobalt or verapamil allows the production of multiple action potentials, as does treatment with the intracellular calcium chelator, BAPTA/AM. These results suggest that calcium currents are involved both in decreasing the excitability and in activating an outward current in cells of the corpora allata. Electrophysiological measurements also suggest a concomitant reduction in outward conductance following the multiple action potentials produced in the presence of the channel blockers or BAPTA/ AM. We hypothesize that the calcium current may play an important role in the regulation of intracellular calcium concentration and Juvenile Hormone biosynthesis.     

Amphotericin B channel conductance inactivation

Effects induced in bilayer lipid membranes by amphotericin B and its alkyl derivatives was analysed. Inactivation of the antibiotic-dependent multichannel membrane conductance was discovered. Kinetics of membrane conductivity was shown to depend on the antibiotic concentration in the membrane. At concentrations between 10(-8) and 10(-7) M, the resulting conductance appeared to the transient. We suggest that the phenomenon of biphasic kinetics of membrane conductance is the result of a consecutive transformation of polyene channels in the membrane: half-pores are assembled on either side of membrane-nonconducting 1; two half-pores combine to build up a conducting channels-conducting 2, and the conducting channels are disassemled to monomers and nonconducting self-associated forms inside the membrane-disassembled state (nonconducting 3). To explain the transient characteristics of the induced conductance, it is proposed that the antibiotic, present in the solution under self-associated form, binds the membrane and forms pores, then dissociates in the bilayer in a non-active monomeric form. The existence of definite monomers and nonconducting self-associated forms of amphotericin B molecules inside the membrane was estimated from the dependence of kinetic conductance of lipid membranes of amphotericin B and its alkyl derivatives, when the antibiotics are washed out from aqueous medium. Equilibrium between different antibiotic assemblies inside the membrane was demonstrated by the kinetics of conductance decrease following washing the antibiotic. Using circular dichroism measurements, we observed that amphotericin B alkyl derivatives were in self-associated form being susceptible to form pores across cholesterol-containing membranes. The phenomenon of biophasic kinetics was observed only in the cholesterol-containing membrane. The substitution of membrane cholesterol for ergosterol provides monotonic kinetics of membrane conductance at any antibiotic concentration.     

Effects of boundary layer conductance on substomatal pressures of carbon dioxide

Abstract. Gas exchange measurements were made on single leaves of three C₃ and one C₄ species at air speeds of 0.4 and 4.0 m s⁻¹ to determine if boundary layer conductance substantially affected the substomatal pressure of carbon dioxide. Boundary layer conductances to water vapour were 0.4 to 0.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at the lower air speed, and 1.2 to 1.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at the higher air speed. Substomatal carbon dioxide pressures were about 5 Pa lower at low boundary layer conductance in the C₃ species, and about 3 Pa lower in the C₄ species when measurements were made at high and moderate photosynthetic photon flux densities. No evidence of stomatal adjustment to altered boundary layer conductance was found. Photosynthetic rates at high photon flux densities were reduced by about 20% at the low air speed in the C₃ species. The commonly reported values of substomatal carbon dioxide pressure for C₃ and C₄ species were found to occur only when measurements were made at the higher air speed.     

基于叶片尺度观测数据的气孔导度模型评价

气孔导度(g)是控制冠层与大气之间能量和水分交换的重要因素。空气湿度是控制植物叶片气孔导度的一个关键环境因子。在过去的十几年中,普遍得到应用的是Ball-Woodrow-Berry(BWB)模型和Leuning模型中气孔导度与湿度的关系。本研究使用一个诊断变量f(H),基于农田叶片水平的光合-气孔导度观测数据,对BWB模型、Leuning模型以及新发展的power-h模型和power-D模型进行了气孔导度模拟效果的比较和评价。结果表明:BWB模型描述的是g和相对湿度(hs)之间的一种线性关系,当空气较为湿润时,模拟结果存在较大的低估;Leuning模型中反映的是g与饱和水汽压差(Ds)的非线性函数,降低了模拟结果的误差,但仍然不能很好地描述g在较湿状况下的显著升高;相比之下,两个新的模型,即Ds的指数函数和(1-hs)的指数函数形式模型能提高模拟结果的精度。这个研究结果也表明基于Ds的模型模拟效果要好于基于hs的模型。     

Modelling the effectiveness of a natural antimicrobial on Salmonella enteritidis as a function of concentration, temperature and pH, using conductance measurements

The growth of Salmonella enteritidis in a brain heart infusion medium was monitored using the traditional viable count method and by conductance measurements using a Rabit impedance instrument. Growth curves (log₁₀ cfu ml⁻¹ vs time) at three different concentrations of oleuropein (0, 0·2 and 0·8%), pH values in the range of 5–8 and incubation temperatures from 22 to 42 °C were modelled using the Gompertz equation. A good correlation between the maximum growth rate from the viable count method and the maximum slope of the conductance curve from the impedance instrument was established. Based on this correlation, the maximum specific growth rate of Salm. enteritidis was modelled as a function of the oleuropein concentration, initial pH values and the incubation temperature with a quadratic equation, using a new, larger dataset of growth measurements by conductance. The developed model was validated by statistical comparison of predicted growth rates with growth rates determined by the viable count method, within the limits of the antimicrobial, pH and temperature domain.     

Non-ohmic proton conductance of mitochondria and liposomes

Direct measurements of the proton/hydroxyl ion flux across rat liver mitochondria and liposome membranes are reported. H+/OH- fluxes driven by membrane potential (delta psi) showed nonlinear dependence on delta psi both in mitochondria and in liposomes whereas delta pH-driven H+/OH- flux shows linear dependence on delta pH in liposomes. In the presence of low concentrations of a protonophore the H+/OH- flux was linearly dependent on delta psi and showed complex dependence on delta pH. The nonlinearity of H+/OH- permeability without protonophore is described by an integrated Nernst- Plank equation with trapezoidal energy barrier. Permeability coefficients depended on the driving force but were in the range 10(-3) cm/s for mitochondria and 10(-4)-10(-6) cm/s for liposomes. The nonlinear dependence of H+/OH- flux on delta psi explains the nonlinear dependence of electrochemical proton gradient on the rate of electron transport in energy coupling systems.     

Dynamics of patchy stomatal movements, and their contribution to steady-state and oscillating stomatal conductance calculated using gas-exchange techniques

Patchy stomatal movements were induced in leaves of Helianthus annuus L. and Xanthium strumarium L. by increasing Δw and decreasing light in a gas-exchange cuvette. The dynamics of the patchy movements were recorded and analysed using images of chlorophyll fluorescence, and the influence of heterogeneous stomatal activity on gas-exchange measurements of whole-leaf stomatal conductance was explored. Image series and gas-exchange measurements from two contrasting 100 min experiments are presented. One series of images, taken using Helianthus annuus, was characterized by strongly oscillating stomatal conductance induced by a decrease in light at high Δw. Fluorescence analysis revealed that individual patches of the leaf displayed a variety of behaviours (from static to strongly oscillating fluorescence), which, when averaged, matched the time dependence of the oscillating stomatal conductance measured by gas-exchange techniques. During the second series of images, taken using Xanthium strumarium, stomatal conductance (measured with gas exchange) declined slightly after an increase in Δw, and then maintained a steady state. Again, some patches in this leaf showed highly dynamic q_NP, although on the whole q_NP varied without any obvious pattern or frequency. When all patch activity in this series was averaged, it paralleled the steady whole-leaf stomatal conductance determined by gas-exchange measurements. It is clear from this work that coordinated patchy stomatal movements can contribute significantly to the dynamics of whole-leaf stomatal conductance, and, in contrast, that dynamic but uncoordinated patchy movements can average to produce a steady gas-exchange trace.     

Rapid microcomputed tomography suggests cardiac enlargement occurs during conductance catheter measurements in mice

Conductance catheters (CC) represent an established method of determining cardiac function in mice; however, the potentially detrimental effects a catheter may have on the mouse heart have never been evaluated. The present study takes advantage of rapid three-dimensional (3D) microcomputed tomography (CT) to compare simultaneously acquired micro-CT and CC measurements of left ventricular (LV) volumes in healthy and infarcted mice and to determine changes in LV volume and function associated with CC insertion. LV volumes were measured in C57BL/6 mice (10 healthy, 10 infarcted, 2% isoflurane anesthesia) using a 1.4-Fr Millar CC. 3D micro-CT images of each mouse were acquired before CC insertion as well as during catheterization. Each CT scan produced high-resolution images throughout the entire cardiac cycle in <1 min, enabling accurate volume measurements as well as direct visualization of the CC within the LV. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated that CC measurements underestimate volume compared with CT measurements in both healthy [bias of -18.4 and -28.9 μl for end-systolic (ESV) and end-diastolic volume (EDV), respectively] and infarcted mice (ESV = -51.6 μl and EDV = -71.7 μl); underestimation was attributed to the off-center placement of the catheter. Individual evaluation of each heart revealed LV dilation following CC insertion in 40% of mice in each group. No change in ejection fraction was observed, suggesting the enlargement was caused by volume overload associated with disruption of the papillary muscles or chords. The enlargement witnessed was not significant; however, the results suggest the potential for CC insertion to detrimentally affect mouse myocardium, necessitating further investigation.