Bright Granules Research Articles

Spatial pattern of photospheric granules in a sunspot neighborhood

Based on high-resolution (∼0.3 arcsec) observations, we studied the behavior of solar granulation in the neighborhood of a sunspot. The bright granules’ spatial distribution and the granules’ surface density as a function of distance from the center of the sunspot umbra were determined. Bright granules distribute delimiting cells of dimensions in the mesogranular scale. The mean diameter of these cells does not show significant variation with the variation of the magnetic field of the sunspot. The granules’ surface density does not show significant variation with distance to the sunspot umbra. Both results point to a very weak, if any, influence of the sunspot magnetic field at distances greater than 20 arcsec.

Cytochemical and ultrastructural characterization of growing colonies of human embryonic stem cells.

The morphology of human embryonic stem (ES) cells changes with their colonial growth. For a better understanding of the growth of ES cell colonies in culture, we determined their cytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics focusing on images of living cells under a phase contrast microscope. During the initial growth stages, the colonies exhibited a mosaic appearance with discernible cell-cell borders. PAS staining coupled with amylase digestion demonstrated that the bright granules and dark deposits in the cytoplasm contained glycogen. Ultrastructurally they were glycogen accumulations, and clustered open spaces associated with various amounts of glycogen. Although intercellularly heterogeneous, these structures were detectable throughout colony growth. As the colonies grew, compaction towards the centre emerged and increased, accompanied by heterogeneous increases in coarse particles with or without a halo. TUNEL showed these particles to consist at least in part of apoptotic cells/bodies. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that most apoptotic cells had been phagocytosed by intact ES cells. Spontaneous differentiation was detected occasionally in the periphery of the colonies. The presence of PAS-positive fibrous structures not susceptible to amylase digestion and laminin-immunoreactivity indicated the accumulation of extracellular matrix in the peripheral differentiated areas. These findings made it possible to determine the growth stage of human ES cell colonies.

Observational Manifestations of Solar Magnetoconvection: Center-to-Limb Variation

We present the first center-to-limb G-band images synthesized from high-resolution simulations of solar mag- netoconvection. Toward the limb the simulations show hilly granulation with dark bands on the far side, bright granulation walls, and striated faculae, similar to observations. At disk center G-band bright points are flanked by dark lanes. The increased brightness in elements is due to their lower density compared with the surrounding intergranular medium. One thus sees deeper layers where the temperature is higher. At a given geometric height, the elements are cooler than the surrounding medium. In the G band, the contrast is further increased by the destruction of CH in the low-density elements. The optical depth unity surface is very corrugated. Bright granules have their continuum optical depth unity 80 km above the mean surface, the elements 200-300 km below. The horizontal temperature gradient is especially large next to flux concentrations. When viewed at an angle, the deep elements' optical surface is hidden by the granules and the bright points are no longer visible, except where the magnetic valleys are aligned with the line of sight. Toward the limb, the low density in the strong elements causes unit line-of-sight optical depth to occur deeper in the granule walls behind than for rays not going through elements, and variations in the field strength produce a striated appearance in the bright granule walls. Subject headings: convection — fields — MHD — Sun: faculae, plages — Sun: photosphere

High resolution limb images synthesized from 3D MHD simulations

We present the first center-to-limb G-band images synthesized from high resolution simulations of solar magneto-convection. Towards the limb the simulations show “hilly” granulation with dark bands on the far side, bright granulation walls and striated faculae, similar to observations. At disk center G-band bright points are flanked by dark lanes. The increased brightness in magnetic elements is due to their lower density compared with the surrounding intergranular medium. One thus sees deeper layers where the temperature is higher. At a given geometric height, the magnetic elements are cooler than the surrounding medium. In the G-band, the contrast is further increased by the destruction of CH in the low density magnetic elements. The optical depth unity surface is very corrugated. Bright granules have their continuum optical depth unity 80 km above the mean surface, the magnetic elements 200-300 km below. The horizontal temperature gradient is especially large next to flux concentrations. When viewed at an angle, the deep magnetic elements optical surface is hidden by the granules and the bright points are no longer visible, except where the “magnetic valleys” are aligned with the line of sight. Towards the limb, the low density in the strong magnetic elements causes unit line-of-sight optical depth to occur deeper in the granule walls behind than for rays not going through magnetic elements and variations in the field strength produce a striated appearance in the bright granule walls.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html

A comment on “Regular structures of the solar photosphere"

A recent Letter to the Editor (Getling & Brandt [CITE]) suggests that solar granulation is not entirely random, instead showing large scale spatial and long term temporal coherence. The authors cite as evidence the persistence of bright granular size objects in images even after long term temporal averaging, the reoccurrence of bright granules in time series at locations of local maxima in the average image, and the presence of large scale regular structures in time-average images. This paper demonstrates that all three of these observations are consistent with a completely random and changing flow pattern and do not require self organization of the granular flows.

A new stain for identification of avian leukocytes

Differential staining of avian leukocytes was achieved within 6 min following brief fixation in a methanolic solution of C.I. acid red 360 followed by immersion in a mixture containing C.I. basic blue 41, C.I. basic blue 141, and C.I. acid red 52. Heterophils contained black angular and punctate granules. Eosinophils contained bright purple granules. Lymphocytes displayed red nuclei and blue cytoplasm. Monocytes contained red-brown nuclei and lavender cytoplasm. Basophils showed red-orange granules. Thrombocytes stained deep purple. Compared to traditional panoptic stains like Wright's or Giemsa's, the new staining method provides brighter colors, more precise details of cellular structures, and shorter staining time. Significantly, it facilitates identification of avian leukocyte species based on differences in color as well as differences in size and shape.

High resolution 2D-spectroscopy of granular dynamics

Spectroscopic data with high spatial resolution are used to study the granular dynamics of the Sun. The observations were obtained with the “Gottingen” two-dimensional (2D) Fabry-Perot interferometer in the Vacuum Tower Telescope at the Observatorio del Teide/Tenerife. Time sequences of spectral scans across the nonmagnetic Fe i 5576 A line were taken from disc center. The 2D spectroscopic images were reconstructed with speckle methods, from which a spatial resolution of 0. ′′4–0. ′′5 was achieved. A power and coherence analysis of intensity and velocity maps from different photospheric heights has been carried out. The coherence between intensity and velocity fluctuations stays high for structural scales >0. ′′5, which underlines the high spatial resolution of the data. Furthermore, the vertical flow field and its time evolution within exploding granules have been analyzed. We find fast downflows in the dark centers of exploding granules with velocities up to 1.2 km s−1. Additionally, we estimated the flow velocities of so-called “dark dots”. We discuss indications that these structures represent a new type of downflow within the centers of bright granules.

Dynamics of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in normal and laser photocoagulated retina

AIMSTo investigate the distribution, persistence, and stability of fluorescently labelled phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-ODNs) in normal and laser photocoagulated retina following intravitreal injection in the rat.METHODSFluorescently labelled PS-ODNs were injected intravitreally...

Characterization of Cucumber Mosaic Virus

cDNA clones of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) RNA 3 were modified to express the jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP) in place of the 3a movement protein (MP) or coat protein (CP), as fusions to the N (GFP–3a) or C (3a–GFP) terminus of the MP or from a separate open reading frame as part of tricistronic RNAs 3. CMV RNA transcripts containing the individual modified RNAs 3 were unable to infect eitherNicotiana tabacumorNicotiana benthamianasystemically. Infection, as measured by confocal microscopy of GFP fluorescence, generally was limited to one to three epidermal cells at each inoculation site. Limited cell-to-cell movement, but not systemic movement, could be detected by complementation involving expression of MP and CP from two different RNA 3 constructs, each also expressing GFP. Infection involving RNA 3 expressing the GFP–3a fusion showed bright granules of variable size distributed predominantly and nonuniformly throughout the cytoplasm and, to a lesser extent, associated with the cell wall in single fluorescent cells, while infections expressing the 3a–GFP fusion showed bright, punctate fluorescence associated only with the cell wall. Infected cells expressing either 3a–GFP or free GFP showed a halo of less bright, fluorescent, neighboring cells, indicating limited movement of GFP. The initially infected cells also allowed movement of 10-kDa fluorescent dextran to the neighboring halo cells, while infection did not spread, suggesting different requirements for movement of either MP or dextran versus RNA.

Solar activity and solar oscillations

Helioseismology provides us with the tools to probe solar activity. So that we can consider how the solar oscillations are influenced by that activity, we first consider the phenomena that we associate with the active Sun. The surface of the Sun is not quiet but shows evidence of convection on a wide range of scales from a few hundred kilometres through to several tens-of-thousands of kilometres. The surface temperature shows signs of the convection structures with the temperature in the bright granules being some 100 K to 200 K hotter than the surrounding dark lanes. Sunspots, which are regions of high magnetic field that suppress convective flows, are clearly visible to even quite crude observations. They are several tens-of-thousands of kilometres in diameter and about 2000 K cooler than their surroundings. Ultraviolet and X-ray pictures from satellites show that the higher layers of the solar atmosphere are very non-uniform with bright regions of high activity. Contemporaneous magnetograms show that these regions are associated with sunspots. Flares - regions of magnetic reconnections - are seen at all wavelengths from X-ray through the visible to radio. They are the non-thermal component of the radio emission of the Sun. There are many other indicators of activity on the Sun.

Detection of mineral density on the surface of mouse parietal bones: backscattered electron imaging of low accelerating voltage scanning electron microscopy.

Backscattered electron (BSE) imaging of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to a study on the mineral density of the bone surface. The neonatal and adult mouse parietal bones freed of the periosteum and covering cells were examined in a field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with a high sensitivity BSE detector at 1-30 kV accelerating voltages. The mineral density of the bone surface was observable in BSE images at 5 kV accelerating voltage while only the topographic structures of the surface were obtained under an accelerating voltage less than 5 kV. As the accelerating voltages increased from 5 kV, the bright areas were extended, probably due to the imaging of the calcified bone matrix under the uncalcified osteoid. The bone surface is usually divided into smooth and rough areas according to its irregularities. BSE images at 5 kV clearly showed that the smooth areas were further divided into dark and bright areas which apparently corresponded to the uncalcified osteoid and calcified bone matrix, respectively. Bright granules, about 1.0-3.0 microns in diameter, were sometimes observed at the border between the osteoid and calcified bone matrix; these granular calcified areas were regarded as the calcifying front forming the calcified bone matrix from the osteoid. The present study demonstrated that the distribution of the osteoid on the mouse parietal bone surface changes depending on age: the osteoid occupied a large area in the parietal bone surface in neonatal mice, but was small in adult mice. Thus, low accelerating voltage SEM using BSE provides new information on the distribution of the osteoid and the bone matrix calcification under both normal and pathological conditions.

Characterization and immunolocalization of a Cryptosporidium protein containing repeated amino acid motifs.

The oocyst wall is one of the components that permits cryptosporidia both to survive in the environment and to retain infectivity. With the aim of identifying Cryptosporidium proteins specifically expressed at the oocyst stage, we screened lambda gt11 genomic libraries of Cryptosporidium parvum with both an oocyst antiserum and a specific genetic probe. We isolated, from distinct libraries, two overlapping clones containing an open reading frame encoding a 1,252-amino-acid polypeptide. The analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed unusually high contents of cysteine, proline, and histidine. The sequence was also characterized by two distinct amino acid motifs, each repeated several times. The DNA sequences coding for the amino acid repeats showed a high frequency of synonymous mutations, a result suggesting that the repeated motifs may be functionally and/or structurally important to the parasite. Antisera and monoclonal antibodies developed against a recombinant polypeptide encompassing the first 786 amino acids revealed that the corresponding protein in C. parvum had an apparent molecular weight of 190,000. Moreover, confocal microscopy analysis with immunofluorescence indicated that the protein was localized on the oocyst wall as a uniform stain and within the oocyst itself as bright granules in close association with the residual body.

Binding ofTrichophyton rubrum Mannan to Human Monocytes In Vitro

We recently reported that the mannan component of Trichophyton rubrum cell wall (TRM) has an inhibitory influence on cell-mediated immune function in vitro. We now describe experiments designed to identify the target cell for this effect of TRM. T. rubrum mannan labeled with fluorescein (FITC-TRM) was incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, monocytes, or lymphocytes. Binding and uptake of the FITC-TRM were monitored by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Approximately 10% of mononuclear leukocytes were stained with this reagent and the fluorescent cells appeared to be monocytes by morphology. Virtually all purified monocytes and no purified lymphocytes stained with FITC-TRM. Flow cytometry to analyze FITC-TRM monocyte-specific binding of FITC-TRM involved the use of a phycoerythrin-labeled anti-CD14 antibody to identify monocytes. The only cells stained with FITC-TRM were those stained with the monocyte-specific antibody. The ability of monocytes to endocytose mannan was assessed by fluorescence microscopy. Cells were exposed to FITC-TRM and washed, and the staining pattern recorded periodically over a 48-h incubation period. After 15 min, staining was homogeneous and involved the entire cell surface; by 30 min, "patching" was observed; by 90 min, bright granules had formed along the cell border and a large number of small granules were present in the cytoplasm; by 8-12 h, the fluorescent granules were enlarged in size and reduced in number; by 24-36 h, the intensity of cytoplasmic fluorescence began to diminish; and, after 48 h, all fluorescent staining had disappeared. An additional feature of staining during the 8-12-h period was the appearance of a large round bright spot in the nuclear region of each cell, which may represent nucleolar staining. A role for "mannan receptors" is suggested by observations that FITC-TRM binding was prevented by unlabeled TRM or pretreatment of the monocytes with trypsin. Our finding that monocytes selectively and specifically bind TRM appears to identify the monocyte rather than the lymphocyte as the target cell for the inhibitory effect of mannan on cell-mediated immune function.

Basic Blue 41: A New Panoptic Stain for Blood and Bone Marrow Cells

AbstractThe sulfur containing azo dye basic blue 41 (CI 11154) used as a single agent stain for blood and bone marrow cells gave coloration virtually identical to that found with conventional panoptic stains like Wright's or Giemsa's. Exceptions included bright turquoise blue granulation in eosinophils rather than the traditional orange color and orange-green staining of erythrocytes. With basic blue 41, details of nuclear and cytoplasmic structures were exceptionally clear and well delineated. In coverslip or smear preparations of blood and bone marrow as old as ten years, the coloration was undiminshed and intact. Basic blue 41 constitutes an alternative to the conventional panoptic staining mixtures because it is a single agent stain that is reproducible on a day to day basis and provides bright coloration of cellular structures. (The J Histotechnol 11: 10, 1988.)

C. I. Acid Red 52: A New Stain for Cells of Granulocytic Origin

Using the xanthene dye C.I. acid red 52 (C.I. 45100) as a single agent stain applied to coverslip preparations of blood and bone marrow, primary and secondary granules in cells of neutrophilic origin stained brilliant pink. In eosinophils, granules stained dark red. In leukemic myeloblasts that also stained with Sudan black B and demonstrated myeloperoxidase and specific esterase activity, a few bright red staining granules were visualized with acid red 52. In some leukemic promyelocytes, Auer rods stained bright red. In leukemic lymphoblasts, no red granules were seen. Of a wide variety of dyes tested so far, acid red 52 is the most sensitive stain for primary and secondary granules of granulocytes in blood and bone marrow.

Immunogold-silver staining of lymphocyte surface antigens on cells in suspension and in lymph node cryostat sections.

An immunogold-silver staining (IGSS) technique for the light microscopical detection of leucocyte cell surface antigens in cell suspensions and cryostat sections is described. The specimens were first incubated with monoclonal mouse antibodies and then with colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-mouse antibodies. They were then immersed in a physical developer, counterstained and mounted. In light microscopy, the tissue architecture and the cellular morphology were well preserved. Positive cells showed dark granules on their surface membranes. Optimal labelling conditions were determined. This method proved to be a reliable tool for the enumeration of T-cells and their subsets in peripheral blood. The dense labelling permitted the use of panoptic counterstains like May-Grünwald-Giemsa or Wright's stain. This IGSS technique was used to determine the distribution of the T- and B-cell subsets in cryostat sections of reactive lymph nodes. The sensitivity of the method was comparable with that of immunofluorescence microscopy for cell suspensions and that of the biotin-avidin-peroxidase technique for tissue sections. Immunogold-silver staining was combined with enzyme cytochemistry. In dark-field or epipolarization microscopy the labelling appeared as bright granules on a dark background. With its dense granular membrane labelling and its good morphology IGSS is an ideal method for the study of particular cell types in mixed cell suspensions. In addition, it could be a general method for the detection of cell surface antigens in all kinds of cells and tissues.

Changes in distribution of nuclear matrix antigens during the mitotic cell cycle.

We examined the distribution of nonlamin nuclear matrix antigens during the mitotic cell cycle in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts. Four monoclonal antibodies produced against isolated nuclear matrices were used to characterize antigens by the immunoblotting of isolated nuclear matrix preparations, and were used to localize the antigens by indirect immunofluorescence. For comparison, lamins and histones were localized using human autoimmune antibodies. At interphase, the monoclonal antibodies recognized non-nucleolar and nonheterochromatin nuclear components. Antibody P1 stained the nuclear periphery homogeneously, with some small invaginations toward the interior of the nucleus. Antibody I1 detected an antigen distributed as fine granules throughout the nuclear interior. Monoclonals PI1 and PI2 stained both the nuclear periphery and interior, with some characteristic differences. During mitosis, P1 and I1 were chromosome-associated, whereas PI1 and PI2 dispersed in the cytoplasm. Antibody P1 heavily stained the periphery of the chromosome mass, and we suggest that the antigen may play a role in maintaining interphase and mitotic chromosome order. With antibody I1, bright granules were distributed along the chromosomes and there was also some diffuse internal staining. The antigen to I1 may be involved in chromatin/chromosome higher-order organization throughout the cell cycle. Antibodies PI1 and PI2 were redistributed independently during prophase, and dispersed into the cytoplasm during prometaphase. Antibody PI2 also detected antigen associated with the spindle poles.

ABSENCE OF RISTOCETIN AGGREGATION FACTOR FROM THE SKIN OF A PATIENT WITH VON WILLEBRAND'S DISEASE

Samples of apparently normal skin from one patient with von Willebrand's disease (vWD) and five patients without vWD were examined with fluorescein-tagged antiserum to the component of factor VIII required for aggregation of platelets by ristocetin (VIII-R.A.F.). No evidence of VIII-R.A.F. was found in the vWD skin, while bright granules were seen on and/or in the endothelial cells of dermal capillaries in all patients without vWD. VIII-R.A.F. granules were also found in the interstitial vasculature of all of twelve renal-biopsy specimens from patients without vWD. These observations support the concept that an abnormality of the vascular endothelium is involved in the pathogenesis of vWD.

‘Turbulence’ and the Photospheric Granulation

EARLY high-resolution photographs of the solar photosphere showed a well-defined pattern of bright granules with diameters lying mostly in the range 1–2 sec. of arc. The similarity of this structure to laboratory convection patterns led to the view that the granules represent convective cells of the Benard type. However, although some modern observers1–3 apparently confirmed the existence of a granular structure with the same narrow distribution of sizes, others reached contrary conclusions. In particular, on the basis of photometric measurements of photographs obtained at Mt. Wilson, some workers4–6 have concluded that the solar surface actually presents the appearance of random brightness fluctuations. These brightness fluctuations have been identified with so-called ‘turbulent eddies’. In fact, the view is now widely held that the photosphere is in a state of aerodynamic turbulence. (This conclusion has been opposed by Plaskett7.) This interpretation, however, does not accord with results derived from sequences of high-quality photographs of the granulation obtained recently by Leighton8 in the United States and by us9 in Australia. These cinematographic observations strongly support the convective interpretation and argue against the existence of turbulence.

Studies on the bright granule in the free tumor cells

Studies on the bright granule in the free tumor cells