Dynamic Activities (dynamic + activity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Membrane dynamics of cleavage furrow closure in Xenopus laevis

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2008
Michael V. Danilchik
Abstract Epithelial membrane polarity develops early in Xenopus development, with membrane inserted along the earliest cleavage furrows by means of localized exocytosis. The added surface constitutes a new basolateral domain important for early morphogenesis. This basolateral surface becomes isolated from the outside by furrow closure, a zippering of adjacent apical,basolateral margins. Time-lapse microscopy of membrane-labeled embryos revealed two distinct kinds of protrusive activity in furrow closure. Early in furrowing, protrusive activity was associated with purse-string contractility along the apical,basolateral margins. Later in furrow progression, a basolateral protrusive zone developed entirely within the new membrane domain, with long motile filopodia extending in contractile bands from the exposed surfaces. Filopodia interacting with opposing cell surfaces across the cleavage furrow appeared to mediate blastomere,blastomere adhesion, contact spreading and lamellipodial protrusion. Interference with these dynamic activities prevented furrow closure, indicating a basic role for both marginal and basolateral protrusive activities in early embryogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 237:565,579, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Super-resolution bright-field optical microscopy based on nanometer topographic contrast

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 4-5 2004
Shu-Wei Huang
Abstract By using an expectation-maximization maximum likelihood estimation algorithm to improve the lateral resolution of a recently developed non-interferometric wide-field optical profilometer, we obtain super-resolution bright-field optical images of nanometer features on a flat surface. The optical profilometer employs a 365-nm light source and an ordinary objective lens of a 0.95 numerical aperture. For objects of 100 nm thickness, lateral features about ,/7 can be resolved in the restored images without fluorescence labeling. Current image acquisition rate is 0.1 frame/sec, which is limited by the brightness of the light source. With a brighter light source, the imaging speed can be fast enough for real-time observation of dynamic activities in the nanometer scale. Microsc. Res. Tech. 65:180,185, 2004. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Integrating modelling and experiments to assess dynamic musculoskeletal function in humans

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
J. W. Fernandez
Magnetic resonance imaging, bi-plane X-ray fluoroscopy and biomechanical modelling are enabling technologies for the non-invasive evaluation of muscle, ligament and joint function during dynamic activity. This paper reviews these various technologies in the context of their application to the study of human movement. We describe how three-dimensional, subject-specific computer models of the muscles, ligaments, cartilage and bones can be developed from high-resolution magnetic resonance images; how X-ray fluoroscopy can be used to measure the relative movements of the bones at a joint in three dimensions with submillimetre accuracy; how complex 3-D dynamic simulations of movement can be performed using new computational methods based on non-linear control theory; and how musculoskeletal forces derived from such simulations can be used as inputs to elaborate finite-element models of a joint to calculate contact stress distributions on a subject-specific basis. A hierarchical modelling approach is highlighted that links rigid-body models of limb segments with detailed finite-element models of the joints. A framework is proposed that integrates subject-specific musculoskeletal computer models with highly accurate in vivo experimental data. [source]


4D-Var assimilation of MERIS total column water-vapour retrievals over land

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 644 2009
Peter Bauer
Abstract Experiments with the active assimilation of total column water-vapour retrievals from Envisat MERIS observations have been performed at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), focusing on the summer 2006 African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) field campaign period. A mechanism for data quality control, observation error definition and variational bias correction has been developed so that the data can be safely treated within 4D-Var, like other observations that are currently assimilated in the operational system. While data density is limited due to the restriction to daylight and cloud-free conditions, a systematic impact on mean moisture analysis was found, with distinct regional and seasonal features. The impact can last 1--2 days into the forecast but has little effect on forecast accuracy in terms of both moisture and dynamics. This is mainly explained by the weak dynamic activity in the areas of largest data impact. Analysis and short-range forecast evaluation with radiosonde observations revealed a strong dependence on radiosonde type. Compared with Vaisala RS92 observations, the addition of MERIS total column water-vapour observations produced neutral to positive impact, while contradictory results were obtained when all radiosonde types were used in generating the statistics. This highlights the issue of radiosonde moisture biases and the importance of sonde humidity bias correction in numerical weather prediction (NWP). Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source]