Evaluation of Stereological Strategies for Estimating Mean Volume, Number Per Unit Volume, and Grain Volume Distribution: The Disector and Selector Methods

Author(s):  
Tyler M. Kaub ◽  
Robert T. DeHoff ◽  
Burton R. Patterson
1978 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bakule ◽  
A. Havránek

Abstract The dielectric properties of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, andpolybutadiene samples crosslinked with sulfur and of natural rubber samplescrosslinked simultaneously with sulfur and dicumyl peroxide were studied. Inthe investigated systems, the number of polar groups in unit volume and thecrosslink density may be changed independently over relatively wide ranges.The measurements were performed in the frequency range from 101 to 105 Hzat various temperatures, and macroscopic parameters describing the dielectricproperties of the samples were evaluated. The position and intensity of thedielectric dispersion peak in the main transition zone is only slightly dependenton the crosslink density of the samples. These two values are mainly influencedby the amount of combined sulfur, or more generally, by the number and thedipole moments of polar groups in the sample. The influence of crosslink densityon the width of the absorption curve is very strong; the width increases withincreasing crosslink density. The possibility of explaining this effect in termsof the dependence of the free volume distribution function on crosslink densityis discussed.


1985 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1488-1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Hammel ◽  
A M Dvorak ◽  
S P Peters ◽  
E S Schulman ◽  
H F Dvorak ◽  
...  

We analyzed transmission electron micrographs of human lung mast cells by digitized planimetry and point counting to determine the cross-sectional areas of two distinct cytoplasmic organelles: specific granules and lipid bodies. Specific granules have a limiting membrane and often contain one or more cylindrical scroll-like inclusions. By contrast, lipid bodies are on average much larger than granules and lack both limiting membranes and inclusions. The measured cross-sectional areas of lipid bodies and scroll-containing granules were converted to equivalent volumes, and the noise in the frequency distribution of these volumes was smoothed using a moving bin technique. This analysis revealed (a) a periodic, multimodal distribution of granule equivalent volumes in which the modes fell at volumes that were integral multiples of the volume defined by the first mode (the "unit volume"), and (b) a modal granule equivalent volume frequency that occurred at a magnitude equal to four "unit volumes." Thus, specific granules appear to be composed of units of a narrowly fixed volume. Furthermore, the mean volume of intragranule inclusions was 0.0061 mu3, a value very similar to that calculated for the "unit volume" (0.0071 mu3). This result suggests that each "unit volume" comprising the individual scroll-type granules contains (or is capable of generating or accommodating) a single scroll-like inclusion. In contrast to the specific granules, mast cell lipid bodies lack a periodic, multimodal volume distribution. Taken together, these findings suggest that the volumes of human lung mast cell granules and lipid bodies are regulated by distinct mechanisms.


Author(s):  
J. Bentley ◽  
E. A. Kenik ◽  
K. Siangchaew ◽  
M. Libera

Quantitative elemental mapping by inner shell core-loss energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with a Gatan Imaging Filter (GIF) interfaced to a Philips CM30 TEM operated with a LaB6 filament at 300 kV has been applied to interfaces in a range of materials. Typically, 15s exposures, slit width Δ = 30 eV, TEM magnifications ∼2000 to 5000×, and probe currents ≥200 nA, were used. Net core-loss maps were produced by AE−r background extrapolation from two pre-edge windows. Zero-loss I0 (Δ ≈ 5 eV) and “total” intensity IT (unfiltered, no slit) images were used to produce maps of t/λ = ln(IT/I0), where λ is the total inelastic mean free path. Core-loss images were corrected for diffraction contrast by normalization with low-loss images recorded with the same slit width, and for changes in thickness by normalization with t/λ, maps. Such corrected images have intensities proportional to the concentration in atoms per unit volume. Jump-ratio images (post-edge divided by pre-edge) were also produced. Spectrum lines across planar interfaces were recorded with TEM illumination by operating the GIF in the spectroscopy mode with an area-selecting slit oriented normal to the energy-dispersion direction. Planar interfaces were oriented normal to the area-selecting slit with a specimen rotation holder.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
pp. 151-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Schneider ◽  
A. Wehmeier

SummaryMegakaryocytes are part of clonal hematopoiesis in chronic myeloproliferative disorders and are responsible for most of the clinical complications in this disease. About 30-40% of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) suffer from thrombotic complications, and microcirculatory disorders are common. Spontaneous bleeding mainly from the gastrointestinal tract is another complication that is especially prevalent in myelofibrosis and advanced stages of chronic myeloid leukemia.In vivo, the bone marrow is hypercellular and the concentration of megakaryocytes increased with characteristic morphological abnormalities. Megakaryocytes are enlarged and ploidy is increased in PV and ET but small mononuclear cells with decreased ploidy are a feature of CML. Despite spontaneous growth in cul-ture, megakaryocytes in chronic MPD are hypersensitive to added interleukin-3, interleukin-6 and GM-CSF.Platelets released from these megakaryocytes show abnormal morphology and ultrastructure, reflected in loss of storage granules and organelles, increased volume distribution and low buoyant density. Uptake, storage and secretion of platelet dense granule constituents is abnormal, and the plasma levels of platelet specific proteins which may also include growth factors for fibroblasts are elevated. At high platelet counts, spontaneous aggregation is observed, whereas agonist-induced aggregation in vitro with adrenaline, ADP and collagen is often defective. Platelet thromboxane generation may be stimulated, and production along the lipoxygenase pathway is decreased. Abnormalities of glycoprotein receptors and decreased fibrinogen binding have been reported but their clinical significance is uncertain. Several observations suggest that not only receptor defects but ineffective intracellular signalling may be responsible for platelet function abnormalities.No single underlying defect has been discovered that could explain this variety of pathological findings. Moreover, a combination of intrinsic megakaryocyte abnormalities and increased susceptibility of platelets to activation makes it difficult to differentiate secondary phenomena from effects of clonal hematopoiesis. How-ever, there are some clinical guidelines for therapy.Most elderly patients will be treated with cytoreductive therapy. Alkylating drugs and 32P have been shown to be leukemogenic, but even hydroxyurea may have a 10% incidence of leukemia induction after long-term therapy. Therapy with platelet-inhibitory drugs is often not sufficient to control thrombosis, and may aggravate a bleeding tendency, so that younger patients with PV and ET are increasingly treated with anagrelide or interferon alpha (A-IFN). Anagrelide is a quinazolin derivative that specifically inhibits megakaryocytopoiesis, while A-IFN may suppress clonal hematopoiesis by an unknown mechanism.


1986 ◽  
Vol 56 (03) ◽  
pp. 288-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Mezzano ◽  
Eduardo Aranda ◽  
Arnaldo Foradori

SummaryThe size, total protein, fibrinogen and 5-HT content were evaluated in density subpopulations of human and canine platelets fractionated in linear arabinogalactan gradients. The methodology was assessed to ascertain that platelet separation was by density and to discard artifactual changes and platelet release during the procedure. EDTA or PGEi increased the size of human PRP-platelets, but not of dog platelets. In humans, high density (HD) platelets were 1.26 times larger and contained 1.88 times more fibrinogen, 2.23 times more 5-HT and 1.37 times more protein than low density (LD) platelets; in dogs, these density cohorts did not differ in protein content, but LD platelets were 1.29 times larger and had 1.33 times more fibrinogen and 5-HT than HD platelets. These findings suggest that cell density is mostly dependent on the protein content per unit volume of platelets (and not on dense bodies). The differences in fibrinogen and 5-HT content between HD and LD cohorts in humans and dogs may be related to platelet age. The difference in volume between HD and LD platelets in dogs is of uncertain interpretation.


ABOUTOPEN ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-23
Author(s):  
Raffaele Di Fenza ◽  
Hedwige Gay ◽  
Martina Favarato ◽  
Isabella Fontana ◽  
Roberto Fumagalli

In severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), characterized by the ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen over fraction of inspired oxygen (P/F) less than 150 mm Hg, pronation cycles are the only intervention that showed improved survival, in combination with protective ventilation. The physiological advantages of performing pronation cycles, such as the improvement of oxygenation, better tidal volume distribution with increased involvement of dorsal regions, and easier drainage of secretions, overcome the possible complications, that is, endotracheal tube occlusion or misplacement, pressure ulcers, and brachial plexus injury. However, the incidence of complications is dramatically lower in intensive care units with expertise, adopting prone positioning in daily practice. In this video we are proposing step by step an easy and ergonomic technique to perform pronation maneuvers in patients with severe ARDS. Recent literature suggests that a high percentage of these patients are treated without undergoing pronation cycles. The main purpose of this video is to help increase the number of intensive care units worldwide commonly performing pronation cycles in patients that have indications to be pronated, in order to decrease healthcare burden and costs directly caused by ARDS. Proper intensive care unit staff training is fundamental in minimizing the risks associated with the maneuver for both patients and operators; and diffusion of a safe technique encouraging the operators is the second main purpose of this video.


1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilém Kodýtek

The McMillan-Mayer (MM) free energy per unit volume of solution AMM, is employed as a generating function of the MM system of thermodynamic quantities for solutions in the state of osmotic equilibrium with pure solvent. This system can be defined by replacing the quantities G, T, P, and m in the definition of the Lewis-Randall (LR) system by AMM, T, P0, and c (P0 being the pure solvent pressure). Following this way the LR to MM conversion relations for the first derivatives of the free energy are obtained in a simple form. New relations are derived for its second derivatives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jincheng Wei ◽  
Shurui Guo ◽  
Enshen Long ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Bizhen Shu ◽  
...  

Abstract The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is highly contagious, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by it has forced many countries to adopt ‘lockdown’ measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic through social isolation of citizens. Some countries proposed universal mask wearing as a protection measure of public health to strengthen national prevention efforts and to limit the wider spread of the epidemic. In order to reveal the epidemic prevention efficacy of masks, this paper systematically evaluates the experimental studies of various masks and filter materials, summarises the general characteristics of the filtration efficiency of isolation masks with particle size, and reveals the actual efficacy of masks by combining the volume distribution characteristics of human exhaled droplets with different particle sizes and the SARS-CoV-2 virus load of nasopharynx and throat swabs from patients. The existing measured data show that the filtration efficiency of all kinds of masks for large particles and extra-large droplets is close to 100%. From the perspective of filtering the total number of pathogens discharged in the environment and protecting vulnerable individuals from breathing live viruses, the mask has a higher protective effect. If considering the weighted average filtration efficiency with different particle sizes, the filtration efficiencies of the N95 mask and the ordinary mask are 99.4% and 98.5%, respectively. The mask can avoid releasing active viruses to the environment from the source of infection, thus maximising the protection of vulnerable individuals by reducing the probability of inhaling a virus. Therefore, if the whole society strictly implements the policy of publicly wearing masks, the risk of large-scale spread of the epidemic can be greatly reduced. Compared with the overall cost of social isolation, limited personal freedoms and forced suspension of economic activities, the inconvenience for citizens caused by wearing masks is perfectly acceptable.


2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 849-859
Author(s):  
Ximeng Y. Dow ◽  
Christopher M. Dettmar ◽  
Emma L. DeWalt ◽  
Justin A. Newman ◽  
Alexander R. Dow ◽  
...  

Second harmonic generation correlation spectroscopy (SHG-CS) is demonstrated as a new approach to protein nanocrystal characterization. A novel line-scanning approach was performed to enable autocorrelation analysis without sample damage from the intense incident beam. An analytical model for autocorrelation was developed, which includes a correction for the optical scattering forces arising when focusing intense, infrared beams. SHG-CS was applied to the analysis of BaTiO3nanoparticles ranging from 200 to ∼500 nm and of photosystem I nanocrystals. A size distribution was recovered for each sample and compared with the size histogram measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Good agreement was observed between the two independent measurements. The intrinsic selectivity of the second-order nonlinear optical process provides SHG-CS with the ability to distinguish well ordered nanocrystals from conglomerates and amorphous aggregates. Combining the recovered distribution of particle diameters with the histogram of measured SHG intensities provides the inherent hyperpolarizability per unit volume of the SHG-active nanoparticles. Simulations suggest that the SHG activity per unit volume is likely to exhibit relatively low sensitivity to the subtle distortions within the lattice that contribute to resolution loss in X-ray diffraction, but high sensitivity to the presence of multi-domain crystals.


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