Heterogeneous activity causes a nonlinear increase in the group energy use of ant workers isolated from queen and brood

Increasing evidence has shown that the energy use of ant colonies increases sublinearly with colony size so that large colonies consume less per capita energy than small colonies. It has been postulated that social environment (e.g., in the presence of queen and brood) is critical for the sublinear group energetics, and a few studies of ant workers isolated from queens and brood observed linear relationships between group energetics and size. In this paper, we hypothesize that the sublinear energetics arise from the heterogeneity of activity in ant groups, that is, large groups have relatively more inactive members than small groups. We further hypothesize that the energy use of ant worker groups that are allowed to move freely increases more slowly than the group size even if they are isolated from queen and brood. Previous studies only provided indirect evidence for these hypotheses due to technical difficulties. In this study, we applied the automated behavioral monitoring and respirometry simultaneously on isolated worker groups for long time periods, and analyzed the image with the state‐of‐the‐art algorithms. Our results show that when activity was not confined, large groups had lower per capita energy use, a lower percentage of active members, and lower average walking speed than small groups; while locomotion was confined, however, the per capita energy use was a constant regardless of the group size. The quantitative analysis shows a direct link between variation in group energy use and the activity level of ant workers when isolated from queen and brood.     

The effect of maternal obesity on self-esteem and body image

Abstract stress, dissatisfaction and the feeling of inadequacy experienced as a result of the change in appearance caused by weight gain affects self -esteem and body image of pregnant women negatively. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between maternal obesity, self-esteem and body image. The study was performed through a questionnaire in a state hospital in Trabzon, Turkey with 300 unselected pregnant women who were recruited from the delivery unit. As data collection tools, Body Image Scale (BAS) and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Scale (GIS) were used between April and May 2016. According to BMI variables, 12.3%, 57.0% and 30.7% of the pregnant women were normal, overweight and obese respectively and gained an average of 12.11?±?3.03?kg during pregnancy. Accordingly, the majority of pregnant women who participated in this study were found to be overweight and obese. While the body image of pregnant women surveyed in this study was at a high level (158.84?±?21.34), their average self-esteem was found at a moderate level (64.01?±?15.88). Based on BMI, 56.8% of the women with normal weight perceived themselves as normal, 48.0% of overweight women perceived themselves as normal and 53.3% of obese women perceived themselves as overweight. There was a positive significant relationship between participants' body image and their BMI (r?=?0.119 p?<?0.05). The pregnant women with normal BMI were more likely to feel satisfied. While 56.8% of the pregnant women at normal weight based on BMI were found to feel satisfied and 43.3% of those overweight felt satisfied, 54.3% of obese ones did not feel satisfied. A weak positive significant correlation was found between body image and self-esteem (r?=?0.172; p?=?0.003?<?0.05). As the self-esteem increases, body image increases, too. It was found that the majority of pregnant women were overweight and obese according to BMI and their average body image and self-esteem were high and medium level respectively.     

Natsumushi: Image measuring software for entomological studies

Natsumushi is a free image analysis software that offers easy handling and quick measurement, designed especially for entomologists as the main users. The software enables measurement of: (i) color features of a specific region; (ii) area size; (iii) length of simple lines or polylines; and (iv) number of points or their x–y coordinates. Users can specify the region for measurement either manually or automatically by using image thresholding operations. The software is freely available at the website https://staff.aist.go.jp/t-fukatsu/Natsumushi.html .     

Genome-wide variants of Eurasian facial shape differentiation and a prospective model of DNA based face prediction

It is a long-standing question as to which genes define the characteristic facial features among different ethnic groups. In this study, we use Uyghurs, an ancient admixed population to query the genetic bases why Europeans and Han Chinese look different. Facial traits were analyzed based on high-dense 3D facial images; numerous biometric spaces were examined for divergent facial features between European and Han Chinese, ranging from inter-landmark distances to dense shape geometrics. Genome-wide association studies(GWAS) were conducted on a discovery panel of Uyghurs. Six significant loci were identified, four of which, rs1868752, rs118078182, rs60159418 at or near UBASH3B, COL23A1, PCDH7 and rs17868256 were replicated in independent cohorts of Uyghurs or Southern Han Chinese. A prospective model was also developed to predict 3D faces based on top GWAS signals and tested in hypothetic forensic scenarios.     

Pixel classification method in optical coherence tomography for tumor segmentation and its complementary usage with OCT microangiography

A novel machine‐learning method to distinguish between tumor and normal tissue in optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been developed. Pre‐clinical murine ear model implanted with mouse colon carcinoma CT‐26 was used. Structural‐image‐based feature sets were defined for each pixel and machine learning classifiers were trained using “ground truth” OCT images manually segmented by comparison with histology. The accuracy of the OCT tumor segmentation method was then quantified by comparing with fluorescence imaging of tumors expressing genetically encoded fluorescent protein KillerRed that clearly delineates tumor borders. Because the resultant 3D tumor/normal structural maps are inherently co‐registered with OCT derived maps of tissue microvasculature, the latter can be color coded as belonging to either tumor or normal tissue. Applications to radiomics‐based multimodal OCT analysis are envisioned.      

Front Cover: Spectrally encoded coherence tomography and reflectometry: Simultaneous en face and cross‐sectional imaging at 2 gigapixels per second (J. Biophotonics 4/2018)

SECTR is a novel multimodal imaging platform for combined volumetric optical coherence tomography (OCT) and en face spectrally encoded reflectometry (SER). The authors demonstrate three‐dimensional motion‐tracking with millisecond temporal and micron spatial resolution using complementary data from OCT and SER, and preliminary algorithms and results showing real‐time image aiming and multi‐volumetric mosaicking for reconstruction of wide‐field composites. The image shows a noninvasively imaged nine‐field mosaic of in vivo human retina and depth‐resolved visualization of tissue microstructures. Further details can be found in the article by Mohamed T. El‐Haddad, Ivan Bozic, and Yuankai K. Tao ( e201700268 )

     

Whole‐field macro‐ and micro‐deformation characteristic of unbound water‐loss in dentin hard tissue

High‐resolution deformation measurements in a functionally graded hard tissue such as human dentin are essential to understand the unbound water‐loss mediated changes and their role in its mechanical integrity. Yet a whole‐field, 3‐dimensional (3D) measurement and characterization of fully hydrated dentin in both macro‐ and micro‐scales remain to be a challenge. This study was conducted in 2 stages. In stage‐1, a stereo‐digital image correlation approach was utilized to determine the water‐loss and load‐induced 3D deformations of teeth in a sagittal section over consecutively acquired frames, from a fully hydrated state to nonhydrated conditions for a period up to 2 hours. The macroscale analysis revealed concentrated residual deformations at the dentin‐enamel‐junction and the apical regions of root in the direction perpendicular to the dentinal tubules. Significant difference in the localized deformation characteristics was observed between the inner and outer aspects of the root dentin. During quasi‐static loadings, further increase in the residual deformation was observed in the dentin. In stage‐2, dentin microstructural variations induced by dynamic water‐loss were assessed with environmental scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM), showing that the dynamic water‐loss induced distention of dentinal tubules with concave tubular edges, and concurrent contraction of intertubular dentin with convex profile. The findings from the current macro‐ and micro‐scale analysis provided insight on the free‐water‐loss induced regional deformations and ultrastructural changes in human dentin.      

Structured illumination microscopy with interleaved reconstruction (SIMILR)

Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is the commonly used super‐resolution (SR) technique for imaging subcellular dynamics. However, due to its need for multiple illumination patterns, the frame rate is just a fraction of that of conventional microscopy and is thus too slow for fast dynamic studies. A new SR image reconstruction method that maximizes the use of each subframe of the acquisition series is proposed for improving the super‐resolved frame rate by N times for N illumination directions. The method requires no changes in raw data and is appropriate for many versions of SIM setup, including those implementing fast illumination pattern generation mechanism based on spatial light modulator or digital micromirror device. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated through imaging the highly dynamic endoplasmic reticulum where continuous rapid growths or shape changes of tiny structures are observed.      

Quantification of root water uptake in soil using X‐ray computed tomography and image‐based modelling

Spatially averaged models of root–soil interactions are often used to calculate plant water uptake. Using a combination of X‐ray computed tomography (CT) and image‐based modelling, we tested the accuracy of this spatial averaging by directly calculating plant water uptake for young wheat plants in two soil types. The root system was imaged using X‐ray CT at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 d after transplanting. The roots were segmented using semi‐automated root tracking for speed and reproducibility. The segmented geometries were converted to a mesh suitable for the numerical solution of Richards' equation. Richards' equation was parameterized using existing pore scale studies of soil hydraulic properties in the rhizosphere of wheat plants. Image‐based modelling allows the spatial distribution of water around the root to be visualized and the fluxes into the root to be calculated. By comparing the results obtained through image‐based modelling to spatially averaged models, the impact of root architecture and geometry in water uptake was quantified. We observed that the spatially averaged models performed well in comparison to the image‐based models with <2% difference in uptake. However, the spatial averaging loses important information regarding the spatial distribution of water near the root system.