scholarly journals Three-dimensional functional gradients direct stem curling in the resurrection plant Selaginella lepidophylla

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (159) ◽  
pp. 20190454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Brulé ◽  
Ahmad Rafsanjani ◽  
Meisam Asgari ◽  
Tamara L. Western ◽  
Damiano Pasini

Upon hydration and dehydration, the vegetative tissue of Selaginella lepidophylla can reversibly swell and shrink to generate complex morphological transformations. Here, we investigate how structural and compositional properties at tissue and cell wall levels in S. lepidophylla lead to different stem curling profiles between inner and outer stems. Our results show that directional bending in both stem types is associated with cross-sectional gradients of tissue density, cell orientation and secondary cell wall composition between adaxial and abaxial stem sides. In inner stems, longitudinal gradients of cell wall thickness and composition affect tip-to-base tissue swelling and shrinking, allowing for more complex curling as compared to outer stems. Together, these features yield three-dimensional functional gradients that allow the plant to reproducibly deform in predetermined patterns that vary depending on the stem type. This study is the first to demonstrate functional gradients at different hierarchical levels combining to operate in a three-dimensional context.

Author(s):  
L. V. Leak

Electron microscopic observations of freeze-fracture replicas of Anabaena cells obtained by the procedures described by Bullivant and Ames (J. Cell Biol., 1966) indicate that the frozen cells are fractured in many different planes. This fracturing or cleaving along various planes allows one to gain a three dimensional relation of the cellular components as a result of such a manipulation. When replicas that are obtained by the freeze-fracture method are observed in the electron microscope, cross fractures of the cell wall and membranes that comprise the photosynthetic lamellae are apparent as demonstrated in Figures 1 & 2.A large portion of the Anabaena cell is composed of undulating layers of cytoplasm that are bounded by unit membranes that comprise the photosynthetic membranes. The adjoining layers of cytoplasm are closely apposed to each other to form the photosynthetic lamellae. Occassionally the adjacent layers of cytoplasm are separated by an interspace that may vary in widths of up to several 100 mu to form intralamellar vesicles.


Author(s):  
D. Reis ◽  
B. Vian ◽  
J. C. Roland

Wall morphogenesis in higher plants is a problem still open to controversy. Until now the possibility of a transmembrane control and the involvement of microtubules were mostly envisaged. Self-assembly processes have been observed in the case of walls of Chlamydomonas and bacteria. Spontaneous gelling interactions between xanthan and galactomannan from Ceratonia have been analyzed very recently. The present work provides indications that some processes of spontaneous aggregation could occur in higher plants during the formation and expansion of cell wall.Observations were performed on hypocotyl of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) for which growth characteristics and wall composition have been previously defined.In situ, the walls of actively growing cells (primary walls) show an ordered three-dimensional organization (fig. 1). The wall is typically polylamellate with multifibrillar layers alternately transverse and longitudinal. Between these layers intermediate strata exist in which the orientation of microfibrils progressively rotates. Thus a progressive change in the morphogenetic activity occurs.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 757
Author(s):  
Maged Sultan Alhammadi ◽  
Abeer Abdulkareem Al-mashraqi ◽  
Rayid Hussain Alnami ◽  
Nawaf Mohammad Ashqar ◽  
Omar Hassan Alamir ◽  
...  

The study sought to assess whether the soft tissue facial profile measurements of direct Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and wrapped CBCT images of non-standardized facial photographs are accurate compared to the standardized digital photographs. In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients with an age range of 18–30 years, who were indicated for CBCT, were enrolled. Two facial photographs were taken per patient: standardized and random (non-standardized). The non-standardized ones were wrapped with the CBCT images. The most used soft tissue facial profile landmarks/parameters (linear and angular) were measured on direct soft tissue three-dimensional (3D) images and on the photographs wrapped over the 3D-CBCT images, and then compared to the standardized photographs. The reliability analysis was performed using concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and depicted graphically using Bland–Altman plots. Most of the linear and angular measurements showed high reliability (0.91 to 0.998). Nevertheless, four soft tissue measurements were unreliable; namely, posterior gonial angle (0.085 and 0.11 for wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively), mandibular plane angle (0.006 and 0.0016 for wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively), posterior facial height (0.63 and 0.62 for wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively) and total soft tissue facial convexity (0.52 for both wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively). The soft tissue facial profile measurements from either the direct 3D-CBCT images or the wrapped CBCT images of non-standardized frontal photographs were accurate, and can be used to analyze most of the soft tissue facial profile measurements.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3404
Author(s):  
Majid Hejazian ◽  
Eugeniu Balaur ◽  
Brian Abbey

Microfluidic devices which integrate both rapid mixing and liquid jetting for sample delivery are an emerging solution for studying molecular dynamics via X-ray diffraction. Here we use finite element modelling to investigate the efficiency and time-resolution achievable using microfluidic mixers within the parameter range required for producing stable liquid jets. Three-dimensional simulations, validated by experimental data, are used to determine the velocity and concentration distribution within these devices. The results show that by adopting a serpentine geometry, it is possible to induce chaotic mixing, which effectively reduces the time required to achieve a homogeneous mixture for sample delivery. Further, we investigate the effect of flow rate and the mixer microchannel size on the mixing efficiency and minimum time required for complete mixing of the two solutions whilst maintaining a stable jet. In general, we find that the smaller the cross-sectional area of the mixer microchannel, the shorter the time needed to achieve homogeneous mixing for a given flow rate. The results of these simulations will form the basis for optimised designs enabling the study of molecular dynamics occurring on millisecond timescales using integrated mix-and-inject microfluidic devices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Li ◽  
Guanzhi Liu ◽  
Run Tian ◽  
Ning Kong ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Our objective was to obtain normal patellofemoral measurements to analyse sex and individual differences. In addition, the absolute values and indices of tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distances are still controversial in clinical application. A better method to enable precise prediction is still needed. Methods Seventy-eight knees of 78 participants without knee pathologies were included in this cross-sectional study. A CT scan was conducted for all participants and three-dimensional knee models were constructed using Mimics and SolidWorks software. We measured and analysed 19 parameters including the TT-TG distance and dimensions and shapes of the patella, femur, tibia, and trochlea. LASSO regression was used to predict the normal TT-TG distances. Results The dimensional parameters, TT-TG distance, and femoral aspect ratio of the men were significantly larger than those of women (all p values < 0.05). However, after controlling for the bias from age, height, and weight, there were no significant differences in TT-TG distances and anterior-posterior dimensions between the sexes (all p values > 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficients between the anterior femoral offset and other indexes were consistently below 0.3, indicating no relationship or a weak relationship. Similar results were observed for the sulcus angle and the Wiberg index. Using LASSO regression, we obtained four parameters to predict the TT-TG distance (R2 = 0.5612, p < 0.01) to achieve the optimal accuracy and convenience. Conclusions Normative data of patellofemoral morphology were provided for the Chinese population. The anterior-posterior dimensions of the women were thicker than those of men for the same medial-lateral dimensions. More attention should be paid to not only sex differences but also individual differences, especially the anterior condyle and trochlea. In addition, this study provided a new method to predict TT-TG distances accurately.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Durnea ◽  
S. Siddiqi ◽  
D. Nazarian ◽  
G. Munneke ◽  
P. M. Sedgwick ◽  
...  

AbstractThe feasibility of rendering three dimensional (3D) pelvic models of vaginal, urethral and paraurethral lesions from 2D MRI has been demonstrated previously. To quantitatively compare 3D models using two different image processing applications: 3D Slicer and OsiriX. Secondary analysis and processing of five MRI scan based image sets from female patients aged 29–43 years old with vaginal or paraurethral lesions. Cross sectional image sets were used to create 3D models of the pelvic structures with 3D Slicer and OsiriX image processing applications. The linear dimensions of the models created using the two different methods were compared using Bland-Altman plots. The comparisons demonstrated good agreement between measurements from the two applications. The two data sets obtained from different image processing methods demonstrated good agreement. Both 3D Slicer and OsiriX can be used interchangeably and produce almost similar results. The clinical role of this investigation modality remains to be further evaluated.


Author(s):  
Shu Yan ◽  
Yan Jiang ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Kaixuan Chen ◽  
Xudong Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To report our experience using endoscopic intranasal incision reduction (EIIR) for nasal fractures and to assess effectiveness of the method. Methods 30 patients who underwent EIIR were retrospectively analysed. All the patients were examined by three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT), acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry, preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the preoperative aesthetics and nasal airflow satisfaction and at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. VAS aesthetic satisfaction was also scored by two junior doctors. Results 3D CT showed that the fracture fragments fitted well in 30 patients postoperatively at 1 month. VAS aesthetics and nasal airflow scores were significantly improved postoperatively at 1, 3 and 6 months compared with preoperative scores (P < 0.01). The VAS aesthetic scores from the two surgeons were also significantly improved (P < 0.01). The minimal cross-sectional area increased from 0.39 ± 0.13 to 0.64 ± 0.13 (P < 0.001), the nasal volume increased from 4.65 ± 0.86 to 6.37 ± 0.94 (P < 0.001) and the total inspiratory airway resistance of the bilateral nasal cavity median decreased from 0.467 Pa/mL/s to 0.193 Pa/mL/s (P < 0.001). There were no technique-related intraoperative complications. Conclusion EIIR was a practical choice, and the aesthetics and nasal airflow were significantly improved in patients with overlapped and displaced bone fragments, patients with fractures of the frontal process of the maxilla (FFPM), patients who underwent failed CR and patients beyond the optimal temporal window.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Xin Wan ◽  
Ximing Liu ◽  
Jichen Miao ◽  
Peng Cong ◽  
Yuai Zhang ◽  
...  

Pebble dynamics is important for the safe operation of pebble-bed high temperature gas-cooled reactors and is a complicated problem of great concern. To investigate it more authentically, a computed tomography pebble flow detecting (CT-PFD) system has been constructed, in which a three-dimensional model is simulated according to the ratio of 1 : 5 with the core of HTR-PM. A multislice helical CT is utilized to acquire the reconstructed cross-sectional images of simulated pebbles, among which special tracer pebbles are designed to indicate pebble flow. Tracer pebbles can be recognized from many other background pebbles because of their heavy kernels that can be resolved in CT images. The detecting principle and design parameters of the system were demonstrated by a verification experiment on an existing CT system in this paper. Algorithms to automatically locate the three-dimensional coordinates of tracer pebbles and to rebuild the trajectory of each tracer pebble were presented and verified. The proposed pebble-detecting and tracking technique described in this paper will be implemented in the near future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3255
Author(s):  
Aizhao Zhou ◽  
Xianwen Huang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Pengming Jiang ◽  
Xinwei Li

For reducing the initial GSHP investment, the heat transfer efficiency of the borehole heat exchange (BHE) system can be enhanced to reduce the number or depth of drilling. This paper proposes a novel and simple BHE design by changing the cross-sectional shape of the U-tube to increase the heat transfer efficiency of BHEs. Specifically, in this study, we (1) verified the reliability of the three-dimensional numerical model based on the thermal response test (TRT) and (2) compared the inlet and outlet temperatures of the different U-tubes at 48 h under the premise of constant leg distance and fluid area. Referent to the circular tube, the increases in the heat exchange efficiencies of the curved oval tube, flat oval tube, semicircle tube, and sector tube were 13.0%, 19.1%, 9.4%, and 14.8%, respectively. (3) The heat flux heterogeneity of the tubes on the inlet and outlet sides of the BHE, in decreasing order, is flat oval, semicircle, curved oval, sector, and circle shapes. (4) The temperature heterogeneity of the borehole wall in the BHE in decreasing order is circle, sector, curved oval, flat oval, and semicircle shapes. (5) Under the premise of maximum leg distance, referent to the heat resistance of the tube with a circle shape at 48 h, the heat exchange efficiency of the curved oval, flat oval, semicircle, and sector tubes increased 12.6%, 17.7%, 10.3%, and 7.8%, respectively. (6) We found that the adjustments of the leg distance and the tube shape affect the heat resistance by about 25% and 12%, respectively. (7) The flat-oval-shaped tube at the maximum leg distance was found to be the best tube design for BHEs.


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