Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “branching process”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Canopy rainfall storage capacity of tropical seasonal rainforest and rubber plantation in Xishuangbanna].

Based on the 2003-2004 laboratory and field observation data, and with scaling-up method, this paper studied the canopy rainfall storage capacity of tropical seasonal rainforest and rubber plantation in Xishuangbanna. The results showed that the canopy rainfall storage capacity was 0.45-0.79 mm for tropical seasonal rainforest and 0.48-0.71 mm for rubber plantation, and that of the branch and bark accounted for >50 % of the total. For these two forests, the canopy rainfall storage capacity was much higher in foggy season (from November to February) and dry-hot season (from March to April) than in rainy season (from May to October), and the duration needed to reach water saturation was about 5 min for leaf, 2-3 h for bark, and 2. 5-4 h for branch. During the processes of wetting and air-drying, leaf was easier while branch and bark were somewhat difficult to hold water and then be air-dried, suggesting that leaf played an important role in intercepting rainfall in short-duration rainfall events, while branch and bark could work much better in doing this in long-duration or high-intensity rainfall events. Compared with rubber plantation, tropical seasonal rainforest had a stronger rainfall-storage capacity due to its multi-layer structure of canopy and excellent water-holding performance.

China↗
PubMed1994

Morphology of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-injected glial cells in the myenteric plexus of the guinea-pig.

Glial cells of the myenteric plexus from guinea pig small intestine were intracellularly filled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and histochemically stained. Camera lucida-like drawings of twenty cells were morphologically and morphometrically analyzed. The cells have very small ellipsoid somata (8.5 +/- 0.7 microns equivalent diameter, i.e., about 330 micron3 volume), and send up to 20 thin and short processes (less than 26 to about 110 microns in length). The morphology of the cells appears to depend on their location within the plexus. Glial cells located within the ganglia are similar to CNS protoplasmic astrocytes; they are star-shaped, and their very short processes are irregularly branched. In contrast, glial cells within the interganglionic fiber tracts resemble CNS fibrous astrocytes. They extend longer processes that are parallel to the fiber tracts, and show less tendency to branch. We propose that the morphology of enteric glia is determined by the structure of the microenvironment. Both cell types form several flat endfeet at a basal lamina either surrounding blood vessels or at the ganglionic border. Furthermore, the occurrence of "holes" in the glial cell processes suggests that particular neuronal cell processes may be enwrapped in a specific manner. Fractal analysis of camera lucida-like drawings of the cells showed that the cells have a highly complex surface structure, comparable to that of protoplasmic astrocytes in the brain. These tiny cells may possess a membrane surface area of approximately 2000 micron2, almost 90% of which are contributed by the cell processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Dependence upon growth medium and the polA, polC, recA, recB, recC, and exrA genes of separate branches of the uvr Gene-dependent excision-repair process in Escherichia coli K12 cells.

The repair of single-strand breaks which arise in DNA during the uvr gene-dependent excision-repair process was examined in certain radiation-sensitive strains of Escherichia coli K12. The results suggest that the excision-repair process may be divided into two branches, one which is dependent on the presence of growth medium and also the rec+ exr+ genotype, and a second which can occur in buffer (growth medium independent) and is largely dependent on DNA polymerase I. DNA polymerase III appears to be involved in the growth-medium-dependent branch of excision repair, and also in the residual growth-medium-independent repair which occurs in polA1 cells. Chloramphenicol, dinitrophenol, and impurities present in some brands of agar all appear to inhibit the growth-medium-dependent branch of excision-repair. The similarities of the two branches of excision-repair to two known pathways for the repair of X-ray-induced DNA chain breaks are discussed.

Chloramphenicol↗
PubMed1987

Neurocircuitry of two types of neurotensin-containing amacrine cells in the turtle retina.

The ultrastructural features and synaptic contacts of two types of neurotensin-containing amacrine cells in turtle retina were examined by electron immunocytochemistry, and the retinal peptides were characterized using radioimmunoassay and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The two types of cell were distinguished on the basis of their sizes, dendritic arborizations, synaptic connections and cytoplasmic staining characteristics. Type A cells had lightly labeled cytoplasm and large vertically elongated cell bodies which gave rise to a single primary process which in turn branched and ramified as smooth tapering processes in stratum 3 of the inner plexiform layer. Type A cells received approximately equal synaptic input from amacrine and bipolar cells. Type A amacrines had much more overall synaptic input than synaptic output, and they made conventional synaptic contacts onto bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cells. Type B cells had a much darker-staining cytoplasm and a smaller cell body which gave rise to numerous delicate beaded dendrites which arborized in strata 3, 4 and 5 of the inner plexiform layer. Type B cells received primarily amacrine and some bipolar cell input. Type B cells had equal amounts of synaptic input and output and they made conventional synaptic contacts onto amacrine, bipolar, and ganglion cells. Whereas there were numerous large vesicles (120 nm diameter) that stained for neurotensin in both types of cells, conventional synaptic vesicles (60 nm diameter) were not labeled. In several cases these large labeled vesicles appeared to fuse with the cell membrane in non-synaptic regions and release their contents into extracellular space, which suggested a non-synaptic release of the neurotensin from type A neurons. Immunochemical and chromatographic studies demonstrated that the neurotensin-related material in retina was indistinguishable from neurotensin found in brain. These results are consistent with a neuroactive role for the neurotensin present within the large vesicles. The differences in the synaptic contacts and dendritic arborizations of the two amacrine cell types suggest they play distinctive functions in visual processing.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Presenilin-1 inhibits delta-catenin-induced cellular branching and promotes delta-catenin processing and turnover.

Although delta-catenin/neural plakophilin-related armadillo protein (NPRAP) was reported to interact with presenilin-1 (PS-1), the effects of PS-1 on delta-catenin have not been established. In this study, we report that overexpression of PS-1 inhibits the delta-catenin-induced dendrite-like morphological changes in NIH 3T3 cells and promotes delta-catenin processing and turnover. The effects of PS-1 on endogenous delta-catenin processing were confirmed in hippocampal neurons overexpressing PS-1, as well as in the transgenic mice expressing the disease-causing mutant PS-1 (M146V). In addition, disease-causing mutant PS-1 (M146V and L286V) enhanced delta-catenin processing, whereas PS-1/gamma-secretase inhibitors could block the formation of processed forms of delta-catenin. Together, our findings suggest that PS-1 can affect delta-catenin-induced morphogenesis possibly through the regulation of its processing and stability.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1986

Application of an NaOH maceration method to a scanning electron microscopic observation of Ito cells in the rat liver.

A three-dimensional observation of the Ito cells in the rat liver was made by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an NaOH maceration method. The treatment with NaOH facilitated the intercellular separation of the specimen and completely removed reticular fibers around the sinusoid. In this way, the entire shapes of the Ito cells located in the perisinusoidal spaces or between the hepatocytes, were exposed under the SEM. The Ito cells were disposed at regular intervals of 30-55 microns all over the hepatic lobule, and surrounded the whole sinusoid with their subendothelial processes. SEM revealed a pattern of branching for the primary processes into secondary and tertiary processes. Furthermore, previously unknown thorn-like processes of the fourth order were also demonstrated. The Ito cells showed sparse microvilli on their surfaces confronting the hepatocytes, and occasional round elevations, these probably corresponding to lipid droplets. SEM also exhibited the relationship between the Ito cells and other types of cells in the liver. The Kupffer cells often interposed between the sinusoidal wall and the subendothelial processes of the Ito cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Oxidation processes and ubiquinone localization in the branched respiratory system of mi-1 mutant of Neurospora crassa.

1. Stimulation of succinate oxidation in mi-1 mitochondria by Mg2+ and Pi is abolished on uncoupling, which points to the energy-linked activation of succinate oxidation. 2. Mitochondria exhibited respiratory control with succinate and NADH when the cyanide-insensitive oxidation was inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). SHAM lowered the oxidation rate with NADH and succinate to the same level, though the NADH oxidation rate was 2.5 times as high as with succinate. 3. Despite the high stimulation of succinate oxidation via the SHAM-sensitive pathway in the active and controlled state of mitochondria, the redox state of UQ in all metabolic states remains unchanged. On inhibition of the cyanide-insensitive pathway, UQ reduction is greatly increased only in the controlled and active state. With NADH as a substrate, UQ does not respond to the metabolic states of mitochondria. 4. The redox changes of cytochrome c parallel those of UQ. 5. Branching of the respiratory chain in mi-1 mitochondria is discussed.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Heterogeneity of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of five glycosylation sites on immunoglobulin M heavy chain from mineral oil plasmacytoma 104E.

Mouse myeloma immunoglobulin IgM heavy chains were cleaved with cyanogen bromide into nine peptide fragments, four of which contain asparagine-linked sites of glycosylation. Three of these glycopeptides contain a single site located at asparagines 171, 403, and 563 in the sequence of the intact heavy chain. Another glycopeptide contains two sites of glycosylation at asparagines 332 and 364. All sites contain multiple oligosaccharide structures with a trend towards increased processing from the COOH to the NH2 terminus. Structures present at asparagine 563, located only exclusively high mannose oligosaccharides. Asparagine 403, located penultimate to the COOH terminus, has a major component that is of a complex nature but is incompletely processed. Other sites contain predominantly complex structures consisting of biantennary or triantennary branches. The unusual structure found at asparagine 403 contains fucose even though only one branch has been processed to a terminal galactose. These studies suggest that each site has a unique set of heterogeneous oligosaccharides derived from a complex processing system which utilizes a combination of "position completeness" and polypeptide structure to determine final carbohydrate structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of calcium channel blockade on mammalian lung branching morphogenesis.

The bronchial tree is formed during the pseudo-glandular stage of lung development in a process termed lung branching morphogenesis. Coinciding with the period of lung branching morphogenesis is the appearance of spontaneous airway contractions, a phenomenon whose role in development remains unclear. In this study, an in vitro model of murine lung branching morphogenesis was used to examine the potential role of airway contractions in airway branching and lung growth. Spontaneous airway contractions of the proximal airways were observed in cultured murine lungs (obtained at 11 days of gestation) after 48 h in culture. Airway contractility was inhibited in a reversible manner by the voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker Nifedipine. Interestingly, long-term incubation of lung rudiments with Nifedipine not only prevented airway contraction, but also caused lung hypoplasia. The Nifedipine-treated hypoplastic lungs showed a normal branching pattern, suggesting that airway contractions and calcium channel function are not necessary for cleft formation directly. These observations suggest that calcium ion transport is necessary for development of airway contractions and for normal progression of lung growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Assembly of the Escherichia coli RuvABC resolvasome directs the orientation of holliday junction resolution.

Genetic recombination can lead to the formation of intermediates in which DNA molecules are linked by Holliday junctions. Movement of a junction along DNA, by a process known as branch migration, leads to heteroduplex formation, whereas resolution of a junction completes the recombination process. Holliday junctions can be resolved in either of two ways, yielding products in which there has, or has not, been an exchange of flanking markers. The ratio of these products is thought to be determined by the frequency with which the two isomeric forms (conformers) of the Holliday junction are cleaved. Recent studies with enzymes that process Holliday junctions in Escherichia coli, the RuvABC proteins, however, indicate that protein binding causes the junction to adopt an open square-planar configuration. Within such a structure, DNA isomerization can have little role in determining the orientation of resolution. To determine the role that junction-specific protein assembly has in determining resolution bias, a defined in vitro system was developed in which we were able to direct the assembly of the RuvABC resolvasome. We found that the bias toward resolution in one orientation or the other was determined simply by the way in which the Ruv proteins were positioned on the junction. Additionally, we provide evidence that supports current models on RuvABC action in which Holliday junction resolution occurs as the resolvasome promotes branch migration.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1987

Structure and localization of synaptic complexes in the cardiac ganglion of a portunid crab.

The cardiac ganglion of Portunus sanguinolentus exhibits spontaneous rhythmic activity when isolated. The ganglion contains five large and four small intrinsic neurons and is innervated by three pairs of fibres originating in the thoracic ganglia. We have identified the processes of the large neurons in electron micrographs by injecting these cells with two electron-dense markers, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Procion Rubine (PR). In addition we have studied the processes of the four smaller neurons by light microscopy serial reconstructions and by electron microscopy of selected regions. Both markers were found only in neuronal processes and not in glial cells nor in the extracellular space, except close to the soma of the injected cell. We found contacts between the small secondary (collateral) processes of the large cells but not between their somata or their primary processes (axons and dendrites). Two specialized structures present at the contacts between the collateral processes were small membrane close appositions, possibly the site of electrotonic junctions, and chemical synapses. Contacts between processes marked by HRP and those marked by PR were common, as were contacts between processes marked by either HRP or PR and those of the other intrinsic neurons. Adjacent processes stained by PR could contain PR deposits of different densities, but it is unclear whether this finding was due to intercellular diffusion of the dye or to its diffusing at different rates into branches of the same process. Identified processes of all the intrinsic neurons contained the same type of vesicles, which were different from those found in processes of the extrinsic fibres. Chemical synapses were present at contacts between processes of the extrinsic and intrinsic neurons, as well as at contacts between processes of the intrinsic neurons. The axons of three small cells made a series of contacts at which extensive arrays of membrane close appositions, but not chemical synapses, were found. These three axons also formed contacts, either directly or through their collateral branches, with processes of the large cells, at which both membrane close appositions and chemical synapses were present. The axon of the fourth small cell could not be followed in our series.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Morphology and physiology of the polyaxonal amacrine cells in the rabbit retina.

We examined the morphology and physiological response properties of the axon-bearing, long-range amacrine cells in the rabbit retina. These so-called polyaxonal amacrine cells all displayed two distinct systems of processes: (1) a dendritic field composed of highly branched and relatively thick processes and (2) a more extended, often sparsely branched axonal arbor derived from multiple thin axons emitted from the soma or dendritic branches. However, we distinguished six morphological types of polyaxonal cells based on differences in the fine details of their soma/dendritic/axonal architecture, level of stratification within the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and tracer coupling patterns. These morphological types also showed clear differences in their light-evoked response activity. Three of the polyaxonal amacrine cell types showed on-off responses, whereas the remaining cells showed on-center responses; we did not encounter polyaxonal cells with off-center physiology. Polyaxonal cells respected the on/off sublamination scheme in that on-off cells maintained dendritic/axonal processes in both sublamina a and b of the IPL, whereas processes of on-center cells were restricted to sublamina b. All polyaxonal amacrine cell types displayed large somatic action potentials, but we found no evidence for low-amplitude dendritic spikes that have been reported for other classes of amacrine cell. The center-receptive fields of the polyaxonal cells were comparable to the diameter of their respective dendritic arbors and, thus, were significantly smaller than their extensive axonal fields. This correspondence between receptive and dendritic field size was seen even for cells showing extensive homotypic and/or heterotypic tracer coupling to neighboring neurons. These data suggest that all polyaxonal amacrine cells are polarized functionally into receptive dendritic and transmitting axonal zones.

Amacrine Cells↗
PubMed2003

Dissociative increase of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells between young and aged rats after transient cerebral ischemia.

To investigate the effect of aging on the oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) after cerebral ischemia, neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2) chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan was examined at 1, 3 and 7 days after 90 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in young and aged brains. The number of NG2 positive cells increased in the ischemic penumbra at 3 and 7 days after reperfusion, while those decreased in the ischemic core. At 7 days, the number of NG2 positive cells was significantly greater in the young than the aged brains, and the processes of NG2 positive cells enlarged and were highly branched in the young than the aged brains. These results suggest that the young brain showed a higher potential of proliferation and process branching of OPCs than the aged brains.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Early events in the synthesis of the multicopy single-stranded DNA-RNA branched copolymer of Myxococcus xanthus.

Myxobacteria and a variety of strains of Escherichia coli contain an unusual extrachromosomal element, a small single-stranded branched copolymer of DNA and RNA (msDNA). Interest in msDNA stems from the presence of a 2'-5' linkage between its DNA and RNA moieties and the possible involvement of reverse transcriptase in its synthesis. Two groups have proposed a model for the synthesis of msDNA that involves the following sequence of events: 1) synthesis of an RNA precursor; 2) addition of a dNTP in a 2'-5' linkage to the RNA precursor (branch priming); 3) synthesis by reverse transcriptase of complementary DNA on the primed RNA precursor; 4) concomitant processing of the RNA precursor by RNase H; and 5) further processing of the RNA precursor by RNase H; and 5) further processing of the branched polymer. The branch priming hypothesis (step 2) was originally based on pulse-chase experiments using a lengthy pulse of 30-min duration. Our experiments with shorter pulse durations demonstrate a variety of intermediate forms not predicted by this model. Specifically, we find that early in synthesis, intermediate msDNA forms appear that are apparently not branch-linked to corresponding RNA moieties. The concomitant RNase H hypothesis (step 4) was based in part on intermediate trapping experiments using dideoxy NTPs to interrupt msDNA synthesis. These experiments showed an apparent complementary relationship between DNA length and RNA length in the trapped forms. In contrast, our experiments show that DNA elongation and RNA processing follow different kinetics. These results suggest an alternate model for synthesis of msDNA in which a conventionally primed DNA moiety is joined with the RNA moiety in a branch ligation event taking place several minutes after the synthesis of both moieties.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗