A TPS kernel for calculating survival vs. depth: distributions in a carbon radiotherapy beam, based on Katz's cellular Track Structure Theory.

PubMed

Waligórski, M P R; Grzanka, L; Korcyl, M; Olko, P

2015-09-01

An algorithm was developed of a treatment planning system (TPS) kernel for carbon radiotherapy in which Katz's Track Structure Theory of cellular survival (TST) is applied as its radiobiology component. The physical beam model is based on available tabularised data, prepared by Monte Carlo simulations of a set of pristine carbon beams of different input energies. An optimisation tool developed for this purpose is used to find the composition of pristine carbon beams of input energies and fluences which delivers a pre-selected depth-dose distribution profile over the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) region. Using an extrapolation algorithm, energy-fluence spectra of the primary carbon ions and of all their secondary fragments are obtained over regular steps of beam depths. To obtain survival vs. depth distributions, the TST calculation is applied to the energy-fluence spectra of the mixed field of primary ions and of their secondary products at the given beam depths. Katz's TST offers a unique analytical and quantitative prediction of cell survival in such mixed ion fields. By optimising the pristine beam composition to a published depth-dose profile over the SOBP region of a carbon beam and using TST model parameters representing the survival of CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells in vitro, it was possible to satisfactorily reproduce a published data set of CHO cell survival vs. depth measurements after carbon ion irradiation. The authors also show by a TST calculation that 'biological dose' is neither linear nor additive. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Cytomorphologic features of myxopapillary ependymoma: a review of 13 cases.

PubMed

Takei, Hidehiro; Kosarac, Ognjen; Powell, Suzanne Z

2009-01-01

To describe the cytologic features of myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) on intraoperative smears, to analyze cytomorphologic parameters that may help in reaching the diagnosis and to discuss differential diagnosis. Touch imprint smears of 13 MPE cases were reviewed and graded semiquantitatively for 14 cytomorphologic parameters; cellularity, myxoid background, isolated/dispersed tumor cells, "hyaline globules (HGs)," fibrillary cytoplasmic processes, papillary structures, perivascular pseudorosettes, epithelioid tumor cells (ETCs), intracytoplasmic mucin, intranuclear inclusions, nuclear grooves, mitosis, cytologic atypia and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Cytologic examination revealed variably cellular specimens composed of isolated and loosely aggregated tumor cells with round to oval or occasionally spindle-shaped nuclei; evenly distributed, finely granular chromatin; and fibrillary processes admixed with occasional ETCs. Most of the cases showed prominent fibrillary processes and occasional ETCs with at least a focal myxoid background. HGs and hemosiderin-laden macrophages were often seen. Papillary structure, a histologic hallmark of MPE, was rarely observed. Dual glial and epithelioid properties of tumor cells, well-known features of "regular" ependymomas, and a distinctive myxoid background with HGs strongly support a diagnosis of MPE and are of great help in excluding other mimics (e.g., other variants of ependymoma, metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma, metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma and chordoma).

Resolution of Infinite-Loop in Hyperincursive and Nonlocal Cellular Automata: Introduction to Slime Mold Computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aono, Masashi; Gunji, Yukio-Pegio

2004-08-01

How can non-algorithmic/non-deterministic computational syntax be computed? "The hyperincursive system" introduced by Dubois is an anticipatory system embracing the contradiction/uncertainty. Although it may provide a novel viewpoint for the understanding of complex systems, conventional digital computers cannot run faithfully as the hyperincursive computational syntax specifies, in a strict sense. Then is it an imaginary story? In this paper we try to argue that it is not. We show that a model of complex systems "Elementary Conflictable Cellular Automata (ECCA)" proposed by Aono and Gunji is embracing the hyperincursivity and the nonlocality. ECCA is based on locality-only type settings basically as well as other CA models, and/but at the same time, each cell is required to refer to globality-dominant regularity. Due to this contradictory locality-globality loop, the time evolution equation specifies that the system reaches the deadlock/infinite-loop. However, we show that there is a possibility of the resolution of these problems if the computing system has parallel and/but non-distributed property like an amoeboid organism. This paper is an introduction to "the slime mold computing" that is an attempt to cultivate an unconventional notion of computation.

Fabrication of cellular materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prud'homme, Robert K.; Aksay, Ilhan A.; Garg, Rajeev

1996-02-01

Nature uses cellular materials in applications requiring strength while, simultaneously, minimizing raw materials requirements. Minimizing raw materials is efficient both in terms of the energy expended by the organism to synthesize the structure and in terms of the strength- to-weight ratio of the structure. Wood is the most obvious example of cellular bio-materials, and it is the focus of other presentations in this symposium. The lightweight bone structure of birds is another excellent example where weight is a key criterion. The anchoring foot of the common muscle [Mytilus edulis] whereby it attaches itself to objects is a further example of a biological system that uses a foam to fill space and yet conserve on raw materials. In the case of the muscle the foam is water filled and the foot structure distributes stress over a larger area so that the strength of the byssal thread from which it is suspended is matched to the strength of interfacial attachment of the foot to a substrate. In these examples the synthesis and fabrication of the cellular material is directed by intercellular, genetically coded, biochemical reactions. The resulting cell sizes are microns in scale. Cellular materials at the next larger scale are created by organisms at the next higher level of integration. For example an African tree frog lays her eggs in a gas/fluid foam sack she builds on a branch overhanging a pond. The outside of the foam sack hardens in the sun and prevents water evaporation. The foam structure minimizes the amount of fluid that needs to be incorporated into the sack and minimizes its weight. However, as far as the developing eggs are concerned, they are in an aqueous medium, i.e. the continuous fluid phase of the foam. After precisely six days the eggs hatch, and the solidified outer wall re-liquefies and dumps the emerging tadpoles into the pond below. The bee honeycomb is an example of a cellular material with exquisite periodicity at millimeter length scales. The cellular structure provides strength through geometric regularity and functions as both honey storage vessels and incubators.

Optimal Tikhonov regularization for DEER spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, Thomas H.; Stoll, Stefan

2018-03-01

Tikhonov regularization is the most commonly used method for extracting distance distributions from experimental double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy data. This method requires the selection of a regularization parameter, α , and a regularization operator, L. We analyze the performance of a large set of α selection methods and several regularization operators, using a test set of over half a million synthetic noisy DEER traces. These are generated from distance distributions obtained from in silico double labeling of a protein crystal structure of T4 lysozyme with the spin label MTSSL. We compare the methods and operators based on their ability to recover the model distance distributions from the noisy time traces. The results indicate that several α selection methods perform quite well, among them the Akaike information criterion and the generalized cross validation method with either the first- or second-derivative operator. They perform significantly better than currently utilized L-curve methods.

Physics-driven Spatiotemporal Regularization for High-dimensional Predictive Modeling: A Novel Approach to Solve the Inverse ECG Problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Bing; Yang, Hui

2016-12-01

This paper presents a novel physics-driven spatiotemporal regularization (STRE) method for high-dimensional predictive modeling in complex healthcare systems. This model not only captures the physics-based interrelationship between time-varying explanatory and response variables that are distributed in the space, but also addresses the spatial and temporal regularizations to improve the prediction performance. The STRE model is implemented to predict the time-varying distribution of electric potentials on the heart surface based on the electrocardiogram (ECG) data from the distributed sensor network placed on the body surface. The model performance is evaluated and validated in both a simulated two-sphere geometry and a realistic torso-heart geometry. Experimental results show that the STRE model significantly outperforms other regularization models that are widely used in current practice such as Tikhonov zero-order, Tikhonov first-order and L1 first-order regularization methods.

Image deblurring based on nonlocal regularization with a non-convex sparsity constraint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Simiao; Su, Zhenming; Li, Lian; Yang, Yi

2018-04-01

In recent years, nonlocal regularization methods for image restoration (IR) have drawn more and more attention due to the promising results obtained when compared to the traditional local regularization methods. Despite the success of this technique, in order to obtain computational efficiency, a convex regularizing functional is exploited in most existing methods, which is equivalent to imposing a convex prior on the nonlocal difference operator output. However, our conducted experiment illustrates that the empirical distribution of the output of the nonlocal difference operator especially in the seminal work of Kheradmand et al. should be characterized with an extremely heavy-tailed distribution rather than a convex distribution. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a nonlocal regularization-based method with a non-convex sparsity constraint for image deblurring. Finally, an effective algorithm is developed to solve the corresponding non-convex optimization problem. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Increasing cellular coverage within integrated terrestrial/satellite mobile networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castro, Jonathan P.

1995-01-01

When applying the hierarchical cellular concept, the satellite acts as giant umbrella cell covering a region with some terrestrial cells. If a mobile terminal traversing the region arrives to the border-line or limits of a regular cellular ground service, network transition occurs and the satellite system continues the mobile coverage. To adequately assess the boundaries of service of a mobile satellite system an a cellular network within an integrated environment, this paper provides an optimized scheme to predict when a network transition may be necessary. Under the assumption of a classified propagation phenomenon and Lognormal shadowing, the study applies an analytical approach to estimate the location of a mobile terminal based on a reception of the signal strength emitted by a base station.

3D Printing Variable Stiffness Foams Using Viscous Thread Instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipton, Jeffrey I.; Lipson, Hod

2016-08-01

Additive manufacturing of cellular structures has numerous applications ranging from fabrication of biological scaffolds and medical implants, to mechanical weight reduction and control over mechanical properties. Various additive manufacturing processes have been used to produce open regular cellular structures limited only by the resolution of the printer. These efforts have focused on printing explicitly designed cells or explicitly planning offsets between strands. Here we describe a technique for producing cellular structures implicitly by inducing viscous thread instability when extruding material. This process allows us to produce complex cellular structures at a scale that is finer than the native resolution of the printer. We demonstrate tunable effective elastic modulus and density that span two orders of magnitude. Fine grained cellular structures allow for fabrication of foams for use in a wide range of fields ranging from bioengineering, to robotics to food printing.

Chronic cranial window with access port for repeated cellular manipulations, drug application, and electrophysiology

PubMed Central

Roome, Christopher J.; Kuhn, Bernd

2014-01-01

Chronic cranial windows have been instrumental in advancing optical studies in vivo, permitting long-term, high-resolution imaging in various brain regions. However, once a window is attached it is difficult to regain access to the brain under the window for cellular manipulations. Here we describe a simple device that combines long term in vivo optical imaging with direct brain access via glass or quartz pipettes and metal, glass, or quartz electrodes for cellular manipulations like dye or drug injections and electrophysiological stimulations or recordings while keeping the craniotomy sterile. Our device comprises a regular cranial window glass coverslip with a drilled access hole later sealed with biocompatible silicone. This chronic cranial window with access port is cheap, easy to manufacture, can be mounted just as the regular chronic cranial window, and is self-sealing after retraction of the pipette or electrode. We demonstrate that multiple injections can be performed through the silicone port by repetitively bolus loading calcium sensitive dye into mouse barrel cortex and recording spontaneous cellular activity over a period of weeks. As an example to the extent of its utility for electrophysiological recording, we describe how simple removal of the silicone seal can permit patch pipette access for whole-cell patch clamp recordings in vivo. During these chronic experiments we do not observe any infections under the window or impairment of animal health. PMID:25426027

Effects of regular exercise training on skeletal muscle contractile function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fitts, Robert H.

2003-01-01

Skeletal muscle function is critical to movement and one's ability to perform daily tasks, such as eating and walking. One objective of this article is to review the contractile properties of fast and slow skeletal muscle and single fibers, with particular emphasis on the cellular events that control or rate limit the important mechanical properties. Another important goal of this article is to present the current understanding of how the contractile properties of limb skeletal muscle adapt to programs of regular exercise.

Efficient Analysis of Systems Biology Markup Language Models of Cellular Populations Using Arrays.

PubMed

Watanabe, Leandro; Myers, Chris J

2016-08-19

The Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) has been widely used for modeling biological systems. Although SBML has been successful in representing a wide variety of biochemical models, the core standard lacks the structure for representing large complex regular systems in a standard way, such as whole-cell and cellular population models. These models require a large number of variables to represent certain aspects of these types of models, such as the chromosome in the whole-cell model and the many identical cell models in a cellular population. While SBML core is not designed to handle these types of models efficiently, the proposed SBML arrays package can represent such regular structures more easily. However, in order to take full advantage of the package, analysis needs to be aware of the arrays structure. When expanding the array constructs within a model, some of the advantages of using arrays are lost. This paper describes a more efficient way to simulate arrayed models. To illustrate the proposed method, this paper uses a population of repressilator and genetic toggle switch circuits as examples. Results show that there are memory benefits using this approach with a modest cost in runtime.

Clustering, randomness and regularity in cloud fields. I - Theoretical considerations. II - Cumulus cloud fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weger, R. C.; Lee, J.; Zhu, Tianri; Welch, R. M.

1992-01-01

The current controversy existing in reference to the regularity vs. clustering in cloud fields is examined by means of analysis and simulation studies based upon nearest-neighbor cumulative distribution statistics. It is shown that the Poisson representation of random point processes is superior to pseudorandom-number-generated models and that pseudorandom-number-generated models bias the observed nearest-neighbor statistics towards regularity. Interpretation of this nearest-neighbor statistics is discussed for many cases of superpositions of clustering, randomness, and regularity. A detailed analysis is carried out of cumulus cloud field spatial distributions based upon Landsat, AVHRR, and Skylab data, showing that, when both large and small clouds are included in the cloud field distributions, the cloud field always has a strong clustering signal.

3D Printing Variable Stiffness Foams Using Viscous Thread Instability

PubMed Central

Lipton, Jeffrey I.; Lipson, Hod

2016-01-01

Additive manufacturing of cellular structures has numerous applications ranging from fabrication of biological scaffolds and medical implants, to mechanical weight reduction and control over mechanical properties. Various additive manufacturing processes have been used to produce open regular cellular structures limited only by the resolution of the printer. These efforts have focused on printing explicitly designed cells or explicitly planning offsets between strands. Here we describe a technique for producing cellular structures implicitly by inducing viscous thread instability when extruding material. This process allows us to produce complex cellular structures at a scale that is finer than the native resolution of the printer. We demonstrate tunable effective elastic modulus and density that span two orders of magnitude. Fine grained cellular structures allow for fabrication of foams for use in a wide range of fields ranging from bioengineering, to robotics to food printing. PMID:27503148

Unfolding sphere size distributions with a density estimator based on Tikhonov regularization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Weese, J.; Korat, E.; Maier, D.

1997-12-01

This report proposes a method for unfolding sphere size distributions given a sample of radii that combines the advantages of a density estimator with those of Tikhonov regularization methods. The following topics are discusses in this report to achieve this method: the relation between the profile and the sphere size distribution; the method for unfolding sphere size distributions; the results based on simulations; and the experimental data comparison.

Spatially patterned matrix elasticity directs stem cell fate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chun; DelRio, Frank W.; Ma, Hao; Killaars, Anouk R.; Basta, Lena P.; Kyburz, Kyle A.; Anseth, Kristi S.

2016-08-01

There is a growing appreciation for the functional role of matrix mechanics in regulating stem cell self-renewal and differentiation processes. However, it is largely unknown how subcellular, spatial mechanical variations in the local extracellular environment mediate intracellular signal transduction and direct cell fate. Here, the effect of spatial distribution, magnitude, and organization of subcellular matrix mechanical properties on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) function was investigated. Exploiting a photodegradation reaction, a hydrogel cell culture substrate was fabricated with regions of spatially varied and distinct mechanical properties, which were subsequently mapped and quantified by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The variations in the underlying matrix mechanics were found to regulate cellular adhesion and transcriptional events. Highly spread, elongated morphologies and higher Yes-associated protein (YAP) activation were observed in hMSCs seeded on hydrogels with higher concentrations of stiff regions in a dose-dependent manner. However, when the spatial organization of the mechanically stiff regions was altered from a regular to randomized pattern, lower levels of YAP activation with smaller and more rounded cell morphologies were induced in hMSCs. We infer from these results that irregular, disorganized variations in matrix mechanics, compared with regular patterns, appear to disrupt actin organization, and lead to different cell fates; this was verified by observations of lower alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and higher expression of CD105, a stem cell marker, in hMSCs in random versus regular patterns of mechanical properties. Collectively, this material platform has allowed innovative experiments to elucidate a novel spatial mechanical dosing mechanism that correlates to both the magnitude and organization of spatial stiffness.

Cellular water distribution, transport, and its investigation methods for plant-based food material.

PubMed

Khan, Md Imran H; Karim, M A

2017-09-01

Heterogeneous and hygroscopic characteristics of plant-based food material make it complex in structure, and therefore water distribution in its different cellular environments is very complex. There are three different cellular environments, namely the intercellular environment, the intracellular environment, and the cell wall environment inside the food structure. According to the bonding strength, intracellular water is defined as loosely bound water, cell wall water is categorized as strongly bound water, and intercellular water is known as free water (FW). During food drying, optimization of the heat and mass transfer process is crucial for the energy efficiency of the process and the quality of the product. For optimizing heat and mass transfer during food processing, understanding these three types of waters (strongly bound, loosely bound, and free water) in plant-based food material is essential. However, there are few studies that investigate cellular level water distribution and transport. As there is no direct method for determining the cellular level water distributions, various indirect methods have been applied to investigate the cellular level water distribution, and there is, as yet, no consensus on the appropriate method for measuring cellular level water in plant-based food material. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive review on the available methods to investigate the cellular level water, the characteristics of water at different cellular levels and its transport mechanism during drying. The effect of bound water transport on quality of food product is also discussed. This review article presents a comparative study of different methods that can be applied to investigate cellular water such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dilatometry. The article closes with a discussion of current challenges to investigating cellular water. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamics of coherent states in regular and chaotic regimes of the non-integrable Dicke model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lerma-Hernández, S.; Chávez-Carlos, J.; Bastarrachea-Magnani, M. A.; López-del-Carpio, B.; Hirsch, J. G.

2018-04-01

The quantum dynamics of initial coherent states is studied in the Dicke model and correlated with the dynamics, regular or chaotic, of their classical limit. Analytical expressions for the survival probability, i.e. the probability of finding the system in its initial state at time t, are provided in the regular regions of the model. The results for regular regimes are compared with those of the chaotic ones. It is found that initial coherent states in regular regions have a much longer equilibration time than those located in chaotic regions. The properties of the distributions for the initial coherent states in the Hamiltonian eigenbasis are also studied. It is found that for regular states the components with no negligible contribution are organized in sequences of energy levels distributed according to Gaussian functions. In the case of chaotic coherent states, the energy components do not have a simple structure and the number of participating energy levels is larger than in the regular cases.

Cellular Automata Simulation for Wealth Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lo, Shih-Ching

2009-08-01

Wealth distribution of a country is a complicate system. A model, which is based on the Epstein & Axtell's "Sugars cape" model, is presented in Netlogo. The model considers the income, age, working opportunity and salary as control variables. There are still other variables should be considered while an artificial society is established. In this study, a more complicate cellular automata model for wealth distribution model is proposed. The effects of social welfare, tax, economical investment and inheritance are considered and simulated. According to the cellular automata simulation for wealth distribution, we will have a deep insight of financial policy of the government.

Compression deformation behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy with cellular structures fabricated by electron beam melting.

PubMed

Cheng, X Y; Li, S J; Murr, L E; Zhang, Z B; Hao, Y L; Yang, R; Medina, F; Wicker, R B

2012-12-01

Ti-6Al-4V alloy with two kinds of open cellular structures of stochastic foam and reticulated mesh was fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM) using electron beam melting (EBM), and microstructure and mechanical properties of these samples with high porosity in the range of 62%∼92% were investigated. Optical observations found that the cell struts and ligaments consist of primary α' martensite. These cellular structures have comparable compressive strength (4∼113 MPa) and elastic modulus (0.2∼6.3 GPa) to those of trabecular and cortical bone. The regular mesh structures exhibit higher specific strength than other reported metallic foams under the condition of identical specific stiffness. During the compression, these EBM samples have a brittle response and undergo catastrophic failure after forming crush band at their peak loading. These bands have identical angle of ∼45° with compression axis for the regular reticulated meshes and such failure phenomenon was explained by considering the cell structure. Relative strength and density follow a linear relation as described by the well-known Gibson-Ashby model but its exponential factor is ∼2.2, which is relative higher than the idea value of 1.5 derived from the model. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Higher order total variation regularization for EIT reconstruction.

PubMed

Gong, Bo; Schullcke, Benjamin; Krueger-Ziolek, Sabine; Zhang, Fan; Mueller-Lisse, Ullrich; Moeller, Knut

2018-01-08

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) attempts to reveal the conductivity distribution of a domain based on the electrical boundary condition. This is an ill-posed inverse problem; its solution is very unstable. Total variation (TV) regularization is one of the techniques commonly employed to stabilize reconstructions. However, it is well known that TV regularization induces staircase effects, which are not realistic in clinical applications. To reduce such artifacts, modified TV regularization terms considering a higher order differential operator were developed in several previous studies. One of them is called total generalized variation (TGV) regularization. TGV regularization has been successively applied in image processing in a regular grid context. In this study, we adapted TGV regularization to the finite element model (FEM) framework for EIT reconstruction. Reconstructions using simulation and clinical data were performed. First results indicate that, in comparison to TV regularization, TGV regularization promotes more realistic images. Graphical abstract Reconstructed conductivity changes located on selected vertical lines. For each of the reconstructed images as well as the ground truth image, conductivity changes located along the selected left and right vertical lines are plotted. In these plots, the notation GT in the legend stands for ground truth, TV stands for total variation method, and TGV stands for total generalized variation method. Reconstructed conductivity distributions from the GREIT algorithm are also demonstrated.

Delayed Acquisition of Non-Adjacent Vocalic Distributional Regularities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonzalez-Gomez, Nayeli; Nazzi, Thierry

2016-01-01

The ability to compute non-adjacent regularities is key in the acquisition of a new language. In the domain of phonology/phonotactics, sensitivity to non-adjacent regularities between consonants has been found to appear between 7 and 10 months. The present study focuses on the emergence of a posterior-anterior (PA) bias, a regularity involving two…

Distribution and regularity of injection from a multicylinder fuel-injection pump

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rothrock, A M; Marsh, E T

1936-01-01

This report presents the results of performance test conducted on a six-cylinder commercial fuel-injection pump that was adjusted to give uniform fuel distribution among the cylinders at a throttle setting of 0.00038 pound per injection and a pump speed of 750 revolutions per minute. The throttle setting and pump speed were then varied through the operating range to determine the uniformity of distribution and regularity of injection.

Finite element study of scaffold architecture design and culture conditions for tissue engineering.

PubMed

Olivares, Andy L; Marsal, Elia; Planell, Josep A; Lacroix, Damien

2009-10-01

Tissue engineering scaffolds provide temporary mechanical support for tissue regeneration and transfer global mechanical load to mechanical stimuli to cells through its architecture. In this study the interactions between scaffold pore morphology, mechanical stimuli developed at the cell microscopic level, and culture conditions applied at the macroscopic scale are studied on two regular scaffold structures. Gyroid and hexagonal scaffolds of 55% and 70% porosity were modeled in a finite element analysis and were submitted to an inlet fluid flow or compressive strain. A mechanoregulation theory based on scaffold shear strain and fluid shear stress was applied for determining the influence of each structures on the mechanical stimuli on initial conditions. Results indicate that the distribution of shear stress induced by fluid perfusion is very dependent on pore distribution within the scaffold. Gyroid architectures provide a better accessibility of the fluid than hexagonal structures. Based on the mechanoregulation theory, the differentiation process in these structures was more sensitive to inlet fluid flow than axial strain of the scaffold. This study provides a computational approach to determine the mechanical stimuli at the cellular level when cells are cultured in a bioreactor and to relate mechanical stimuli with cell differentiation.

A highly ordered mesostructured material containing regularly distributed phenols: preparation and characterization at a molecular level through ultra-fast magic angle spinning proton NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Roussey, Arthur; Gajan, David; Maishal, Tarun K; Mukerjee, Anhurada; Veyre, Laurent; Lesage, Anne; Emsley, Lyndon; Copéret, Christophe; Thieuleux, Chloé

2011-03-14

Highly ordered organic-inorganic mesostructured material containing regularly distributed phenols is synthesized by combining a direct synthesis of the functional material and a protection-deprotection strategy and characterized at a molecular level through ultra-fast magic angle spinning proton NMR spectroscopy.

Regularity of a renewal process estimated from binary data.

PubMed

Rice, John D; Strawderman, Robert L; Johnson, Brent A

2017-10-09

Assessment of the regularity of a sequence of events over time is important for clinical decision-making as well as informing public health policy. Our motivating example involves determining the effect of an intervention on the regularity of HIV self-testing behavior among high-risk individuals when exact self-testing times are not recorded. Assuming that these unobserved testing times follow a renewal process, the goals of this work are to develop suitable methods for estimating its distributional parameters when only the presence or absence of at least one event per subject in each of several observation windows is recorded. We propose two approaches to estimation and inference: a likelihood-based discrete survival model using only time to first event; and a potentially more efficient quasi-likelihood approach based on the forward recurrence time distribution using all available data. Regularity is quantified and estimated by the coefficient of variation (CV) of the interevent time distribution. Focusing on the gamma renewal process, where the shape parameter of the corresponding interevent time distribution has a monotone relationship with its CV, we conduct simulation studies to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. We then apply them to our motivating example, concluding that the use of text message reminders significantly improves the regularity of self-testing, but not its frequency. A discussion on interesting directions for further research is provided. © 2017, The International Biometric Society.

Multipole Vortex Blobs (MVB): Symplectic Geometry and Dynamics.

PubMed

Holm, Darryl D; Jacobs, Henry O

2017-01-01

Vortex blob methods are typically characterized by a regularization length scale, below which the dynamics are trivial for isolated blobs. In this article, we observe that the dynamics need not be trivial if one is willing to consider distributional derivatives of Dirac delta functionals as valid vorticity distributions. More specifically, a new singular vortex theory is presented for regularized Euler fluid equations of ideal incompressible flow in the plane. We determine the conditions under which such regularized Euler fluid equations may admit vorticity singularities which are stronger than delta functions, e.g., derivatives of delta functions. We also describe the symplectic geometry associated with these augmented vortex structures, and we characterize the dynamics as Hamiltonian. Applications to the design of numerical methods similar to vortex blob methods are also discussed. Such findings illuminate the rich dynamics which occur below the regularization length scale and enlighten our perspective on the potential for regularized fluid models to capture multiscale phenomena.

A Comparison of the Pencil-of-Function Method with Prony’s Method, Wiener Filters and Other Identification Techniques,

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-12-01

exponentials encountered are complex and zhey are approximately at harmonic frequencies. Moreover, the real parts of the complex exponencials are much...functions as a basis for expanding the current distribution on an antenna by the method of moments results in a regularized ill-posed problem with respect...to the current distribution on the antenna structure. However, the problem is not regularized with respect to chaoge because the chaPge distribution

Drug release through liposome pores.

PubMed

Dan, Nily

2015-02-01

Electrical, ultrasound and other types of external fields are known to induce the formation of pores in cellular and model membranes. This paper examines drug release through field induced liposome pores using Monte Carlo simulations. We find that drug release rates vary as a function of pore size and spacing, as well as the overall fraction of surface area covered by pores: The rate of release from liposomes is found to increase rapidly with pore surface coverage, approaching that of the fully ruptured liposome at fractional pore areas. For a given pore surface coverage, the pore size affects the release rate in the limit of low coverage, but not when the pores cover a relatively high fraction of the liposome surface area. On the other hand, for a given pore size and surface coverage, the distribution of pores significantly affects the release in the limit of high surface coverage: The rate of release from a liposome covered with a regularly spaced array of pores is, in this limit, higher than the release rate from (most) systems where the pores are distributed randomly on the liposome surface. In contrast, there is little effect of the pore distribution on release when the pore surface coverage is low. The simulation results are in good agreement with the predictions of detailed diffusion models. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Obtaining sparse distributions in 2D inverse problems.

PubMed

Reci, A; Sederman, A J; Gladden, L F

2017-08-01

The mathematics of inverse problems has relevance across numerous estimation problems in science and engineering. L 1 regularization has attracted recent attention in reconstructing the system properties in the case of sparse inverse problems; i.e., when the true property sought is not adequately described by a continuous distribution, in particular in Compressed Sensing image reconstruction. In this work, we focus on the application of L 1 regularization to a class of inverse problems; relaxation-relaxation, T 1 -T 2 , and diffusion-relaxation, D-T 2 , correlation experiments in NMR, which have found widespread applications in a number of areas including probing surface interactions in catalysis and characterizing fluid composition and pore structures in rocks. We introduce a robust algorithm for solving the L 1 regularization problem and provide a guide to implementing it, including the choice of the amount of regularization used and the assignment of error estimates. We then show experimentally that L 1 regularization has significant advantages over both the Non-Negative Least Squares (NNLS) algorithm and Tikhonov regularization. It is shown that the L 1 regularization algorithm stably recovers a distribution at a signal to noise ratio<20 and that it resolves relaxation time constants and diffusion coefficients differing by as little as 10%. The enhanced resolving capability is used to measure the inter and intra particle concentrations of a mixture of hexane and dodecane present within porous silica beads immersed within a bulk liquid phase; neither NNLS nor Tikhonov regularization are able to provide this resolution. This experimental study shows that the approach enables discrimination between different chemical species when direct spectroscopic discrimination is impossible, and hence measurement of chemical composition within porous media, such as catalysts or rocks, is possible while still being stable to high levels of noise. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Obtaining sparse distributions in 2D inverse problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reci, A.; Sederman, A. J.; Gladden, L. F.

2017-08-01

The mathematics of inverse problems has relevance across numerous estimation problems in science and engineering. L1 regularization has attracted recent attention in reconstructing the system properties in the case of sparse inverse problems; i.e., when the true property sought is not adequately described by a continuous distribution, in particular in Compressed Sensing image reconstruction. In this work, we focus on the application of L1 regularization to a class of inverse problems; relaxation-relaxation, T1-T2, and diffusion-relaxation, D-T2, correlation experiments in NMR, which have found widespread applications in a number of areas including probing surface interactions in catalysis and characterizing fluid composition and pore structures in rocks. We introduce a robust algorithm for solving the L1 regularization problem and provide a guide to implementing it, including the choice of the amount of regularization used and the assignment of error estimates. We then show experimentally that L1 regularization has significant advantages over both the Non-Negative Least Squares (NNLS) algorithm and Tikhonov regularization. It is shown that the L1 regularization algorithm stably recovers a distribution at a signal to noise ratio < 20 and that it resolves relaxation time constants and diffusion coefficients differing by as little as 10%. The enhanced resolving capability is used to measure the inter and intra particle concentrations of a mixture of hexane and dodecane present within porous silica beads immersed within a bulk liquid phase; neither NNLS nor Tikhonov regularization are able to provide this resolution. This experimental study shows that the approach enables discrimination between different chemical species when direct spectroscopic discrimination is impossible, and hence measurement of chemical composition within porous media, such as catalysts or rocks, is possible while still being stable to high levels of noise.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of oscillatory cellular patterns in three-dimensional directional solidification.

PubMed

Bergeon, N; Tourret, D; Chen, L; Debierre, J-M; Guérin, R; Ramirez, A; Billia, B; Karma, A; Trivedi, R

2013-05-31

We report results of directional solidification experiments conducted on board the International Space Station and quantitative phase-field modeling of those experiments. The experiments image for the first time in situ the spatially extended dynamics of three-dimensional cellular array patterns formed under microgravity conditions where fluid flow is suppressed. Experiments and phase-field simulations reveal the existence of oscillatory breathing modes with time periods of several 10's of minutes. Oscillating cells are usually noncoherent due to array disorder, with the exception of small areas where the array structure is regular and stable.

Marine traffic model based on cellular automaton: Considering the change of the ship's velocity under the influence of the weather and sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Le; Zheng, Zhongyi; Gang, Longhui

2017-10-01

It was found that the ships' velocity change, which is impacted by the weather and sea, e.g., wind, sea wave, sea current, tide, etc., is significant and must be considered in the marine traffic model. Therefore, a new marine traffic model based on cellular automaton (CA) was proposed in this paper. The characteristics of the ship's velocity change are taken into account in the model. First, the acceleration of a ship was divided into two components: regular component and random component. Second, the mathematical functions and statistical distribution parameters of the two components were confirmed by spectral analysis, curve fitting and auto-correlation analysis methods. Third, by combining the two components, the acceleration was regenerated in the update rules for ships' movement. To test the performance of the model, the ship traffic flows in the Dover Strait, the Changshan Channel and the Qiongzhou Strait were studied and simulated. The results show that the characteristics of ships' velocities in the simulations are consistent with the measured data by Automatic Identification System (AIS). Although the characteristics of the traffic flow in different areas are different, the velocities of ships can be simulated correctly. It proves that the velocities of ships under the influence of weather and sea can be simulated successfully using the proposed model.

Cellular autofluorescence imaging for early diagnosis of cancers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steenkeste, Karine; Deniset, Ariane; Lecart, Sandrine; Leveque-Fort, Sandrine; Fontaine-Aupart, Marie-Pierre; Ferlicot, Sophie; Eschwege, Pascal

2005-08-01

Urinary cytology is employed in diagnostic guidelines of bladder cancer in anatomo-pathological laboratories mostly for its ability to diagnose non detectable cancers using cystoscopy, but also because it is a non-invasive and non-constraining technique for a regular follow-up of the more exposed populations. The impossibility to detect such cancers is mainly due to their localization either in the bladder or in the upper urinary tract and the prostate. However, urinary cytology lacks sensitivity, especially for the detection of low grade low stage tumors due to inherent limitation of morphological criteria to distinguish low grade tumor cells from normal urothelial cells. For this purpose, we developed, in addition to urinary cytology, an original screening of these cytological slides by using spectrally-resolved and time-resolved fluorescence as a contrast factor, without changing any parameters in the cytological slide preparation. This method takes advantage of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser, continuously tunable in the spectral range 700-950 nm allowing the observation of most endogenous cellular chromophores by biphotonic excitation. A commercial confocal microscope was also used in the measurements allowing an excitation of the samples between 458 nm and 633 nm. We observed that the fluorescence emission is differentially distributed in normal and pathological urothelial cells. Spectral- and time-resolved measurements attested this difference over about one hundred cases which have been tested to confirm the high accuracy of this non-invasive technique.

Adaptive immune responses to booster vaccination against yellow fever virus are much reduced compared to those after primary vaccination.

PubMed

Kongsgaard, Michael; Bassi, Maria R; Rasmussen, Michael; Skjødt, Karsten; Thybo, Søren; Gabriel, Mette; Hansen, Morten Bagge; Christensen, Jan Pravsgaard; Thomsen, Allan Randrup; Buus, Soren; Stryhn, Anette

2017-04-06

Outbreaks of Yellow Fever occur regularly in endemic areas of Africa and South America frequently leading to mass vaccination campaigns straining the availability of the attenuated Yellow Fever vaccine, YF-17D. The WHO has recently decided to discontinue regular booster-vaccinations since a single vaccination is deemed to confer life-long immune protection. Here, we have examined humoral (neutralizing antibody) and cellular (CD8 and CD4 T cell) immune responses in primary and booster vaccinees (the latter spanning 8 to 36 years after primary vaccination). After primary vaccination, we observed strong cellular immune responses with T cell activation peaking ≈2 weeks and subsiding to background levels ≈ 4 weeks post-vaccination. The number of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells declined over the following years. In >90% of vaccinees, in vitro expandable T cells could still be detected >10 years post-vaccination. Although most vaccinees responded to a booster vaccination, both the humoral and cellular immune responses observed following booster vaccination were strikingly reduced compared to primary responses. This suggests that pre-existing immunity efficiently controls booster inoculums of YF-17D. In a situation with epidemic outbreaks, one could argue that a more efficient use of a limited supply of the vaccine would be to focus on primary vaccinations.

Membrane-targeting liquid crystal nanoparticles (LCNPs) for drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nag, Okhil K.; Naciri, Jawad; Spillmann, Christopher M.; Delehanty, James B.

2016-03-01

In addition to maintaining the structural integrity of the cell, the plasma membrane regulates multiple important cellular processes, such as endocytosis and trafficking, apoptotic pathways and drug transport. The modulation or tracking of such cellular processes by means of controlled delivery of drugs or imaging agents via nanoscale delivery systems is very attractive. Nanoparticle-mediated delivery systems that mediate long-term residence (e.g., days) and controlled release of the cargoes in the plasma membrane while simultaneously not interfering with regular cellular physiology would be ideal for this purpose. Our laboratory has developed a plasma membrane-targeted liquid crystal nanoparticle (LCNP) formulation that can be loaded with dyes or drugs which can be slowly released from the particle over time. Here we highlight the utility of these nanopreparations for membrane delivery and imaging.

The Evolution of Frequency Distributions: Relating Regularization to Inductive Biases through Iterated Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reali, Florencia; Griffiths, Thomas L.

2009-01-01

The regularization of linguistic structures by learners has played a key role in arguments for strong innate constraints on language acquisition, and has important implications for language evolution. However, relating the inductive biases of learners to regularization behavior in laboratory tasks can be challenging without a formal model. In this…

Cellular respiration, metabolomics and the search for illicit drug biomarkers in breath: report from PittCon 2017

EPA Science Inventory

The annual Pittcon meeting is a convenient venue for gathering together a wide range of researchers and analytical equipment manufacturers that may both provide and gain benefit from the more focused topics of breath research. Members of IABR have regularly participated in Pittco...

[Relation between physical activity, weight balance and breast cancer].

PubMed

Maître, Carole

2013-05-01

Many epidemiologic studies, with a good methodology, support the evidence of the positive role of regular physical activity on primary and tertiary prevention of breast cancer on the risk of recurrence and mortality. This relation depends on the level of total energy expenditure by week, which helps balance weight on lifetime, an essential part of benefit. The beneficial effects of physical activity are linked to many interrelated additional mechanisms: in a short-term, contraction of skeletal muscles involves aerobic metabolism which utilizes glucose and amino acids like glutamine, improves insulin sensitivity and lowers plasma insulin; in a long-term, physical activity produces favorable changes in body composition, decreasing body fat and increasing lean mass. That is a key point to reduce the intake of energy substrates stimulating carcinogenesis, to improve insulin sensitivity, to change the ratio of leptin and adiponectin, to enhance cellular immunity and to block cellular pathways of cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Maintaining a healthy weight through regular physical activity well balanced with energy intake is it a goal for prevention of breast cancer. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Mechanical behavior of regular open-cell porous biomaterials made of diamond lattice unit cells.

PubMed

Ahmadi, S M; Campoli, G; Amin Yavari, S; Sajadi, B; Wauthle, R; Schrooten, J; Weinans, H; Zadpoor, A A

2014-06-01

Cellular structures with highly controlled micro-architectures are promising materials for orthopedic applications that require bone-substituting biomaterials or implants. The availability of additive manufacturing techniques has enabled manufacturing of biomaterials made of one or multiple types of unit cells. The diamond lattice unit cell is one of the relatively new types of unit cells that are used in manufacturing of regular porous biomaterials. As opposed to many other types of unit cells, there is currently no analytical solution that could be used for prediction of the mechanical properties of cellular structures made of the diamond lattice unit cells. In this paper, we present new analytical solutions and closed-form relationships for predicting the elastic modulus, Poisson׳s ratio, critical buckling load, and yield (plateau) stress of cellular structures made of the diamond lattice unit cell. The mechanical properties predicted using the analytical solutions are compared with those obtained using finite element models. A number of solid and porous titanium (Ti6Al4V) specimens were manufactured using selective laser melting. A series of experiments were then performed to determine the mechanical properties of the matrix material and cellular structures. The experimentally measured mechanical properties were compared with those obtained using analytical solutions and finite element (FE) models. It has been shown that, for small apparent density values, the mechanical properties obtained using analytical and numerical solutions are in agreement with each other and with experimental observations. The properties estimated using an analytical solution based on the Euler-Bernoulli theory markedly deviated from experimental results for large apparent density values. The mechanical properties estimated using FE models and another analytical solution based on the Timoshenko beam theory better matched the experimental observations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A method to deconvolve stellar rotational velocities II. The probability distribution function via Tikhonov regularization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christen, Alejandra; Escarate, Pedro; Curé, Michel; Rial, Diego F.; Cassetti, Julia

2016-10-01

Aims: Knowing the distribution of stellar rotational velocities is essential for understanding stellar evolution. Because we measure the projected rotational speed v sin I, we need to solve an ill-posed problem given by a Fredholm integral of the first kind to recover the "true" rotational velocity distribution. Methods: After discretization of the Fredholm integral we apply the Tikhonov regularization method to obtain directly the probability distribution function for stellar rotational velocities. We propose a simple and straightforward procedure to determine the Tikhonov parameter. We applied Monte Carlo simulations to prove that the Tikhonov method is a consistent estimator and asymptotically unbiased. Results: This method is applied to a sample of cluster stars. We obtain confidence intervals using a bootstrap method. Our results are in close agreement with those obtained using the Lucy method for recovering the probability density distribution of rotational velocities. Furthermore, Lucy estimation lies inside our confidence interval. Conclusions: Tikhonov regularization is a highly robust method that deconvolves the rotational velocity probability density function from a sample of v sin I data directly without the need for any convergence criteria.

Sparsely sampling the sky: Regular vs. random sampling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paykari, P.; Pires, S.; Starck, J.-L.; Jaffe, A. H.

2015-09-01

Aims: The next generation of galaxy surveys, aiming to observe millions of galaxies, are expensive both in time and money. This raises questions regarding the optimal investment of this time and money for future surveys. In a previous work, we have shown that a sparse sampling strategy could be a powerful substitute for the - usually favoured - contiguous observation of the sky. In our previous paper, regular sparse sampling was investigated, where the sparse observed patches were regularly distributed on the sky. The regularity of the mask introduces a periodic pattern in the window function, which induces periodic correlations at specific scales. Methods: In this paper, we use a Bayesian experimental design to investigate a "random" sparse sampling approach, where the observed patches are randomly distributed over the total sparsely sampled area. Results: We find that in this setting, the induced correlation is evenly distributed amongst all scales as there is no preferred scale in the window function. Conclusions: This is desirable when we are interested in any specific scale in the galaxy power spectrum, such as the matter-radiation equality scale. As the figure of merit shows, however, there is no preference between regular and random sampling to constrain the overall galaxy power spectrum and the cosmological parameters.

Decision Support System for hydrological extremes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bobée, Bernard; El Adlouni, Salaheddine

2014-05-01

The study of the tail behaviour of extreme event distributions is important in several applied statistical fields such as hydrology, finance, and telecommunications. For example in hydrology, it is important to estimate adequately extreme quantiles in order to build and manage safe and effective hydraulic structures (dams, for example). Two main classes of distributions are used in hydrological frequency analysis: the class D of sub-exponential (Gamma (G2), Gumbel, Halphen type A (HA), Halphen type B (HB)…) and the class C of regularly varying distributions (Fréchet, Log-Pearson, Halphen type IB …) with a heavier tail. A Decision Support System (DSS) based on the characterization of the right tail, corresponding low probability of excedence p (high return period T=1/p, in hydrology), has been developed. The DSS allows discriminating between the class C and D and in its last version, a new prior step is added in order to test Lognormality. Indeed, the right tail of the Lognormal distribution (LN) is between the tails of distributions of the classes C and D; studies indicated difficulty with the discrimination between LN and distributions of the classes C and D. Other tools are useful to discriminate between distributions of the same class D (HA, HB and G2; see other communication). Some numerical illustrations show that, the DSS allows discriminating between Lognormal, regularly varying and sub-exponential distributions; and lead to coherent conclusions. Key words: Regularly varying distributions, subexponential distributions, Decision Support System, Heavy tailed distribution, Extreme value theory

Size-distribution analysis of macromolecules by sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation and lamm equation modeling.

PubMed

Schuck, P

2000-03-01

A new method for the size-distribution analysis of polymers by sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation is described. It exploits the ability of Lamm equation modeling to discriminate between the spreading of the sedimentation boundary arising from sample heterogeneity and from diffusion. Finite element solutions of the Lamm equation for a large number of discrete noninteracting species are combined with maximum entropy regularization to represent a continuous size-distribution. As in the program CONTIN, the parameter governing the regularization constraint is adjusted by variance analysis to a predefined confidence level. Estimates of the partial specific volume and the frictional ratio of the macromolecules are used to calculate the diffusion coefficients, resulting in relatively high-resolution sedimentation coefficient distributions c(s) or molar mass distributions c(M). It can be applied to interference optical data that exhibit systematic noise components, and it does not require solution or solvent plateaus to be established. More details on the size-distribution can be obtained than from van Holde-Weischet analysis. The sensitivity to the values of the regularization parameter and to the shape parameters is explored with the help of simulated sedimentation data of discrete and continuous model size distributions, and by applications to experimental data of continuous and discrete protein mixtures.

Predictability in cellular automata.

PubMed

Agapie, Alexandru; Andreica, Anca; Chira, Camelia; Giuclea, Marius

2014-01-01

Modelled as finite homogeneous Markov chains, probabilistic cellular automata with local transition probabilities in (0, 1) always posses a stationary distribution. This result alone is not very helpful when it comes to predicting the final configuration; one needs also a formula connecting the probabilities in the stationary distribution to some intrinsic feature of the lattice configuration. Previous results on the asynchronous cellular automata have showed that such feature really exists. It is the number of zero-one borders within the automaton's binary configuration. An exponential formula in the number of zero-one borders has been proved for the 1-D, 2-D and 3-D asynchronous automata with neighborhood three, five and seven, respectively. We perform computer experiments on a synchronous cellular automaton to check whether the empirical distribution obeys also that theoretical formula. The numerical results indicate a perfect fit for neighbourhood three and five, which opens the way for a rigorous proof of the formula in this new, synchronous case.

Distribution of PLGA-modified nanoparticles in 3D cell culture models of hypo-vascularized tumor tissue.

PubMed

Sims, Lee B; Huss, Maya K; Frieboes, Hermann B; Steinbach-Rankins, Jill M

2017-10-05

Advanced stage cancer treatments are often invasive and painful-typically comprised of surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatment. Low transport efficiency during systemic chemotherapy may require high chemotherapeutic doses to effectively target cancerous tissue, resulting in systemic toxicity. Nanotherapeutic platforms have been proposed as an alternative to more safely and effectively deliver therapeutic agents directly to tumor sites. However, cellular internalization and tumor penetration are often diametrically opposed, with limited access to tumor regions distal from vasculature, due to irregular tissue morphologies. To address these transport challenges, nanoparticles (NPs) are often surface-modified with ligands to enhance transport and longevity after localized or systemic administration. Here, we evaluate stealth polyethylene-glycol (PEG), cell-penetrating (MPG), and CPP-stealth (MPG/PEG) poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) (PLGA) NP co-treatment strategies in 3D cell culture representing hypo-vascularized tissue. Smaller, more regularly-shaped avascular tissue was generated using the hanging drop (HD) method, while more irregularly-shaped masses were formed with the liquid overlay (LO) technique. To compare NP distribution differences within the same type of tissue as a function of different cancer types, we selected HeLa, cervical epithelial adenocarcinoma cells; CaSki, cervical epidermoid carcinoma cells; and SiHa, grade II cervical squamous cell carcinoma cells. In HD tumors, enhanced distribution relative to unmodified NPs was measured for MPG and PEG NPs in HeLa, and for all modified NPs in SiHa spheroids. In LO tumors, the greatest distribution was observed for MPG and MPG/PEG NPs in HeLa, and for PEG and MPG/PEG NPs in SiHa spheroids. Pre-clinical evaluation of PLGA-modified NP distribution into hypo-vascularized tumor tissue may benefit from considering tissue morphology in addition to cancer type.

Simple Mechanisms for Broadspectrum Color Control in Aquatic Organisms

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-28

astaxanthin accumulation, esterification, and cellular distribution in determining pigment intensity. (2) Determine the biological mechanisms behind...from predominantly red pigmentation to blue pigmentation. Approach: Isolate and identify caroteno-protein complexes which alter the astaxanthin ...below). Approach 2: Investigate the roles of astaxanthin accumulation, esterification, and cellular distribution in determining pigment intensity

Structural characterization of the packings of granular regular polygons.

PubMed

Wang, Chuncheng; Dong, Kejun; Yu, Aibing

2015-12-01

By using a recently developed method for discrete modeling of nonspherical particles, we simulate the random packings of granular regular polygons with three to 11 edges under gravity. The effects of shape and friction on the packing structures are investigated by various structural parameters, including packing fraction, the radial distribution function, coordination number, Voronoi tessellation, and bond-orientational order. We find that packing fraction is generally higher for geometrically nonfrustrated regular polygons, and can be increased by the increase of edge number and decrease of friction. The changes of packing fraction are linked with those of the microstructures, such as the variations of the translational and orientational orders and local configurations. In particular, the free areas of Voronoi tessellations (which are related to local packing fractions) can be described by log-normal distributions for all polygons. The quantitative analyses establish a clearer picture for the packings of regular polygons.

Predicting durations of online collective actions based on Peaks' heights

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Peng; Nie, Shizhao; Wang, Zheng; Jing, Ziwei; Yang, Jianwu; Qi, Zhongxiang; Pujia, Wangmo

2018-02-01

Capturing the whole process of collective actions, the peak model contains four stages, including Prepare, Outbreak, Peak, and Vanish. Based on the peak model, one of the key variables, factors and parameters are further investigated in this paper, which is the rate between peaks and spans. Although the durations or spans and peaks' heights are highly diversified, it seems that the ratio between them is quite stable. If the rate's regularity is discovered, we can predict how long the collective action lasts and when it ends based on the peak's height. In this work, we combined mathematical simulations and empirical big data of 148 cases to explore the regularity of ratio's distribution. It is indicated by results of simulations that the rate has some regularities of distribution, which is not normal distribution. The big data has been collected from the 148 online collective actions and the whole processes of participation are recorded. The outcomes of empirical big data indicate that the rate seems to be closer to being log-normally distributed. This rule holds true for both the total cases and subgroups of 148 online collective actions. The Q-Q plot is applied to check the normal distribution of the rate's logarithm, and the rate's logarithm does follow the normal distribution.

ETS Gene Fusions as Predictive Biomarkers of Resistance to Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

science   seminars,   hosted   by   the   Departments   Medicine,   and  Molecular   and  Cellular  Biology,  which  have  broadened  by   scientific... knowledge   within   my   field.   I   have   also   regularly   attended   Gene   Fusion   and   Cancer   Biology   Research   Meetings,  run  by...the  ASTRO  annual   meeting.    Finally,   I  have  met   regularly  with  my  mentors,  Drs.  Arul  Chinnaiyan,  Ted  Lawrence,   and  Tom   Carey

Cluster-size entropy in the Axelrod model of social influence: Small-world networks and mass media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gandica, Y.; Charmell, A.; Villegas-Febres, J.; Bonalde, I.

2011-10-01

We study the Axelrod's cultural adaptation model using the concept of cluster-size entropy Sc, which gives information on the variability of the cultural cluster size present in the system. Using networks of different topologies, from regular to random, we find that the critical point of the well-known nonequilibrium monocultural-multicultural (order-disorder) transition of the Axelrod model is given by the maximum of the Sc(q) distributions. The width of the cluster entropy distributions can be used to qualitatively determine whether the transition is first or second order. By scaling the cluster entropy distributions we were able to obtain a relationship between the critical cultural trait qc and the number F of cultural features in two-dimensional regular networks. We also analyze the effect of the mass media (external field) on social systems within the Axelrod model in a square network. We find a partially ordered phase whose largest cultural cluster is not aligned with the external field, in contrast with a recent suggestion that this type of phase cannot be formed in regular networks. We draw a q-B phase diagram for the Axelrod model in regular networks.

Cluster-size entropy in the Axelrod model of social influence: small-world networks and mass media.

PubMed

Gandica, Y; Charmell, A; Villegas-Febres, J; Bonalde, I

2011-10-01

We study the Axelrod's cultural adaptation model using the concept of cluster-size entropy S(c), which gives information on the variability of the cultural cluster size present in the system. Using networks of different topologies, from regular to random, we find that the critical point of the well-known nonequilibrium monocultural-multicultural (order-disorder) transition of the Axelrod model is given by the maximum of the S(c)(q) distributions. The width of the cluster entropy distributions can be used to qualitatively determine whether the transition is first or second order. By scaling the cluster entropy distributions we were able to obtain a relationship between the critical cultural trait q(c) and the number F of cultural features in two-dimensional regular networks. We also analyze the effect of the mass media (external field) on social systems within the Axelrod model in a square network. We find a partially ordered phase whose largest cultural cluster is not aligned with the external field, in contrast with a recent suggestion that this type of phase cannot be formed in regular networks. We draw a q-B phase diagram for the Axelrod model in regular networks.

Efficient mobilization of haematopoietic progenitors after a single injection of pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in mouse strains with distinct marrow-cell pool sizes.

PubMed

de Haan, G; Ausema, A; Wilkens, M; Molineux, G; Dontje, B

2000-09-01

We have compared the efficacy of a single injection of SD/01, a newly engineered, pegylated form of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), with a single injection of glycosylated rhG-CSF (Filgrastim). SD/01 was administered to regular and recombinant inbred strains of mice (AKR, C57L/J, DBA/2, C57BL/6, AKXL) known to have widely distinct marrow-cell pool sizes and proliferation kinetics. A single injection of G-CSF was unable to mobilize granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM). In sharp contrast, a single dose of SD/01 resulted in massive mobilization of progenitors and stem cells. Although all mice strains showed qualitatively similar mobilization responses, large interstrain differences remained. C57L and C57BL/6 mice mobilized relatively poorly, whereas AKR and DBA/2 mice showed threefold to tenfold superior responses. In order to explain these different phenotypes, we studied the effects of SD/01 in nine AKXL recombinant inbred strains, derived from well-responding AKR and poorly responding C57L parental strains. The best predictor for SD/01 responsiveness in these strains was marrow cellularity prior to mobilization. Comparison of the AKXL strain distribution pattern for marrow cellularity with loci previously mapped in these strains showed complete concordance with Aat, a serine protease inhibitor mapping to chromosome 12.

Correlation between histological and ultrasonographic findings of soft tissue tumors: To verify the possibility of cell-like resolution in ultrasonography.

PubMed

Wu, Ching-Lan; Lai, Yi-Chen; Wang, Hsin-Kai; Chen, Paul Chih-Hsueh; Chiou, Hong-Jen

2017-11-01

The purpose of this study is to test the possibility of obtained cell-like resolution in soft tissue tumors on the basis of ultrasound echotexture. This is a prospective study consisting of 57 patients (29 females and 28 males, age range: 9-83 years, average age: 44.5 years) with palpable soft tissue mass, referred from the Departments of Orthopedics and Oncology for ultrasound (US)-guided biopsy. The study was approved by the institutional review board (IRB) of our hospital. Ultrasonographic images were recorded by still imaging in the biopsy tract in each biopsy session. Equipment included curvilinear and linear array probes. After biopsy, a radiologist and a pathologist correlated the US image and the observations regarding the histology of the tissue specimen in low-power (40 × magnification) and high-power (100-400 × magnification) fields. The histologic results included 22 benign and 35 malignant lesions. The echotexture of the soft tissue tumors correlated well with the cellular distribution and arrangement: the greater the number of cells and the more regular their arrangement as seen histologically, the greater is the hypoechogenicity on the ultrasound. The echogenicity of the soft tissue tumor also correlated well with the presence of fat cells, hemorrhage, cartilage, and osteoid tissue, all of which cause an increase in echogenicity. This study showed that the echotexture of soft tissue tumors can predict some details of cellular histology. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.

Delivery of Human Adipose Stem Cells Spheroids into Lockyballs.

PubMed

Silva, Karina R; Rezende, Rodrigo A; Pereira, Frederico D A S; Gruber, Peter; Stuart, Mellannie P; Ovsianikov, Aleksandr; Brakke, Ken; Kasyanov, Vladimir; da Silva, Jorge V L; Granjeiro, José M; Baptista, Leandra S; Mironov, Vladimir

2016-01-01

Adipose stem cells (ASCs) spheroids show enhanced regenerative effects compared to single cells. Also, spheroids have been recently introduced as building blocks in directed self-assembly strategy. Recent efforts aim to improve long-term cell retention and integration by the use of microencapsulation delivery systems that can rapidly integrate in the implantation site. Interlockable solid synthetic microscaffolds, so called lockyballs, were recently designed with hooks and loops to enhance cell retention and integration at the implantation site as well as to support spheroids aggregation after transplantation. Here we present an efficient methodology for human ASCs spheroids biofabrication and lockyballs cellularization using micro-molded non-adhesive agarose hydrogel. Lockyballs were produced using two-photon polymerization with an estimated mechanical strength. The Young's modulus was calculated at level 0.1362 +/-0.009 MPa. Interlocking in vitro test demonstrates high level of loading induced interlockability of fabricated lockyballs. Diameter measurements and elongation coefficient calculation revealed that human ASCs spheroids biofabricated in resections of micro-molded non-adhesive hydrogel had a more regular size distribution and shape than spheroids biofabricated in hanging drops. Cellularization of lockyballs using human ASCs spheroids did not alter the level of cells viability (p › 0,999) and gene fold expression for SOX-9 and RUNX2 (p › 0,195). The biofabrication of ASCs spheroids into lockyballs represents an innovative strategy in regenerative medicine, which combines solid scaffold-based and directed self-assembly approaches, fostering opportunities for rapid in situ biofabrication of 3D building-blocks.

Considering the Spatial Layout Information of Bag of Features (BoF) Framework for Image Classification.

PubMed

Mu, Guangyu; Liu, Ying; Wang, Limin

2015-01-01

The spatial pooling method such as spatial pyramid matching (SPM) is very crucial in the bag of features model used in image classification. SPM partitions the image into a set of regular grids and assumes that the spatial layout of all visual words obey the uniform distribution over these regular grids. However, in practice, we consider that different visual words should obey different spatial layout distributions. To improve SPM, we develop a novel spatial pooling method, namely spatial distribution pooling (SDP). The proposed SDP method uses an extension model of Gauss mixture model to estimate the spatial layout distributions of the visual vocabulary. For each visual word type, SDP can generate a set of flexible grids rather than the regular grids from the traditional SPM. Furthermore, we can compute the grid weights for visual word tokens according to their spatial coordinates. The experimental results demonstrate that SDP outperforms the traditional spatial pooling methods, and is competitive with the state-of-the-art classification accuracy on several challenging image datasets.

Clustering, randomness, and regularity in cloud fields: 2. Cumulus cloud fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, T.; Lee, J.; Weger, R. C.; Welch, R. M.

1992-12-01

During the last decade a major controversy has been brewing concerning the proper characterization of cumulus convection. The prevailing view has been that cumulus clouds form in clusters, in which cloud spacing is closer than that found for the overall cloud field and which maintains its identity over many cloud lifetimes. This "mutual protection hypothesis" of Randall and Huffman (1980) has been challenged by the "inhibition hypothesis" of Ramirez et al. (1990) which strongly suggests that the spatial distribution of cumuli must tend toward a regular distribution. A dilemma has resulted because observations have been reported to support both hypotheses. The present work reports a detailed analysis of cumulus cloud field spatial distributions based upon Landsat, Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer, and Skylab data. Both nearest-neighbor and point-to-cloud cumulative distribution function statistics are investigated. The results show unequivocally that when both large and small clouds are included in the cloud field distribution, the cloud field always has a strong clustering signal. The strength of clustering is largest at cloud diameters of about 200-300 m, diminishing with increasing cloud diameter. In many cases, clusters of small clouds are found which are not closely associated with large clouds. As the small clouds are eliminated from consideration, the cloud field typically tends towards regularity. Thus it would appear that the "inhibition hypothesis" of Ramirez and Bras (1990) has been verified for the large clouds. However, these results are based upon the analysis of point processes. A more exact analysis also is made which takes into account the cloud size distributions. Since distinct clouds are by definition nonoverlapping, cloud size effects place a restriction upon the possible locations of clouds in the cloud field. The net effect of this analysis is that the large clouds appear to be randomly distributed, with only weak tendencies towards regularity. For clouds less than 1 km in diameter, the average nearest-neighbor distance is equal to 3-7 cloud diameters. For larger clouds, the ratio of cloud nearest-neighbor distance to cloud diameter increases sharply with increasing cloud diameter. This demonstrates that large clouds inhibit the growth of other large clouds in their vicinity. Nevertheless, this leads to random distributions of large clouds, not regularity.

Nuclear microprobe imaging of gallium nitrate in cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortega, Richard; Suda, Asami; Devès, Guillaume

2003-09-01

Gallium nitrate is used in clinical oncology as treatment for hypercalcemia and for cancer that has spread to the bone. Its mechanism of antitumor action has not been fully elucidated yet. The knowledge of the intracellular distribution of anticancer drugs is of particular interest in oncology to better understand their cellular pharmacology. In addition, most metal-based anticancer compounds interact with endogenous trace elements in cells, altering their metabolism. The purpose of this experiment was to examine, by use of nuclear microprobe analysis, the cellular distribution of gallium and endogenous trace elements within cancer cells exposed to gallium nitrate. In a majority of cellular analyses, gallium was found homogeneously distributed in cells following the distribution of carbon. In a smaller number of cells, however, gallium appeared concentrated together with P, Ca and Fe within round structures of about 2-5 μm diameter located in the perinuclear region. These intracellular structures are typical of lysosomial material.

3D cellular structures and co-cultures formed through the contactless magnetic manipulation of cells on adherent surfaces.

PubMed

Abdel Fattah, Abdel Rahman; Mishriki, Sarah; Kammann, Tobias; Sahu, Rakesh P; Geng, Fei; Puri, Ishwar K

2018-02-27

A magnet array is employed to manipulate diamagnetic cells that are contained in paramagnetic medium to demonstrate for the first time the contactless bioprinting of three-dimensional (3D) cellular structures and co-cultures of breast cancer MCF-7 and endothelial HUVEC at prescribed locations on tissue culture treated well plates. Sequential seeding of different cell lines and the spatial displacement of the magnet array creates co-cultured cellular structures within a well without using physically intrusive well inserts. Both monotypic and co-culture experiments produce morphologically rich 3D cell structures that are otherwise absent in regular monolayer cell cultures. The magnetic contactless bioprinting of cells provides further insight into cell behaviour, invasion strategies and transformations that are useful for potential applications in drug screening, 3D cell culture formation and tissue engineering.

Membrane related dynamics and the formation of actin in cells growing on micro-topographies: a spatial computational model.

PubMed

Bittig, Arne T; Matschegewski, Claudia; Nebe, J Barbara; Stählke, Susanne; Uhrmacher, Adelinde M

2014-09-09

Intra-cellular processes of cells at the interface to an implant surface are influenced significantly by their extra-cellular surrounding. Specifically, when growing osteoblasts on titanium surfaces with regular micro-ranged geometry, filaments are shorter, less aligned and they concentrate at the top of the geometric structures. Changes to the cytoskeleton network, i. e., its localization, alignment, orientation, and lengths of the filaments, as well as the overall concentration and distribution of key-actors are induced. For example, integrin is distributed homogeneously, whereas integrin in activated state and vinculin, both components of focal adhesions, have been found clustered on the micro-ranged geometries. Also, the concentration of Rho, an intracellular signaling protein related to focal adhesion regulation, was significantly lower. To explore whether regulations associated with the focal adhesion complex can be responsible for the changed actin filament patterns, a spatial computational model has been developed using ML-Space, a rule-based model description language, and its associated Brownian-motion-based simulator. The focus has been on the deactivation of cofilin in the vicinity of the focal adhesion complex. The results underline the importance of sensing mechanisms to support a clustering of actin filament nucleations on the micro-ranged geometries, and of intracellular diffusion processes, which lead to spatially heterogeneous distributions of active (dephosphorylated) cofilin, which in turn influences the organization of the actin network. We find, for example, that the spatial heterogeneity of key molecular actors can explain the difference in filament lengths in cells on different micro-geometries partly, but to explain the full extent, further model assumptions need to be added and experimentally validated. In particular, our findings and hypothesis referring to the role, distribution, and amount of active cofilin have still to be verified in wet-lab experiments. Letting cells grow on surface structures is a possibility to shed new light on the intricate mechanisms that relate membrane and actin related dynamics in the cell. Our results demonstrate the need for declarative expressive spatial modeling approaches that allow probing different hypotheses, and the central role of the focal adhesion complex not only for nucleating actin filaments, but also for regulating possible severing agents locally.

Membrane related dynamics and the formation of actin in cells growing on micro-topographies: a spatial computational model

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Intra-cellular processes of cells at the interface to an implant surface are influenced significantly by their extra-cellular surrounding. Specifically, when growing osteoblasts on titanium surfaces with regular micro-ranged geometry, filaments are shorter, less aligned and they concentrate at the top of the geometric structures. Changes to the cytoskeleton network, i. e., its localization, alignment, orientation, and lengths of the filaments, as well as the overall concentration and distribution of key-actors are induced. For example, integrin is distributed homogeneously, whereas integrin in activated state and vinculin, both components of focal adhesions, have been found clustered on the micro-ranged geometries. Also, the concentration of Rho, an intracellular signaling protein related to focal adhesion regulation, was significantly lower. Results To explore whether regulations associated with the focal adhesion complex can be responsible for the changed actin filament patterns, a spatial computational model has been developed using ML-Space, a rule-based model description language, and its associated Brownian-motion-based simulator. The focus has been on the deactivation of cofilin in the vicinity of the focal adhesion complex. The results underline the importance of sensing mechanisms to support a clustering of actin filament nucleations on the micro-ranged geometries, and of intracellular diffusion processes, which lead to spatially heterogeneous distributions of active (dephosphorylated) cofilin, which in turn influences the organization of the actin network. We find, for example, that the spatial heterogeneity of key molecular actors can explain the difference in filament lengths in cells on different micro-geometries partly, but to explain the full extent, further model assumptions need to be added and experimentally validated. In particular, our findings and hypothesis referring to the role, distribution, and amount of active cofilin have still to be verified in wet-lab experiments. Conclusion Letting cells grow on surface structures is a possibility to shed new light on the intricate mechanisms that relate membrane and actin related dynamics in the cell. Our results demonstrate the need for declarative expressive spatial modeling approaches that allow probing different hypotheses, and the central role of the focal adhesion complex not only for nucleating actin filaments, but also for regulating possible severing agents locally. PMID:25200251

Predictability in Cellular Automata

PubMed Central

Agapie, Alexandru; Andreica, Anca; Chira, Camelia; Giuclea, Marius

2014-01-01

Modelled as finite homogeneous Markov chains, probabilistic cellular automata with local transition probabilities in (0, 1) always posses a stationary distribution. This result alone is not very helpful when it comes to predicting the final configuration; one needs also a formula connecting the probabilities in the stationary distribution to some intrinsic feature of the lattice configuration. Previous results on the asynchronous cellular automata have showed that such feature really exists. It is the number of zero-one borders within the automaton's binary configuration. An exponential formula in the number of zero-one borders has been proved for the 1-D, 2-D and 3-D asynchronous automata with neighborhood three, five and seven, respectively. We perform computer experiments on a synchronous cellular automaton to check whether the empirical distribution obeys also that theoretical formula. The numerical results indicate a perfect fit for neighbourhood three and five, which opens the way for a rigorous proof of the formula in this new, synchronous case. PMID:25271778

Cellular burdens and biological effects on tissue level caused by inhaled radon progenies.

PubMed

Madas, B G; Balásházy, I; Farkas, Á; Szoke, I

2011-02-01

In the case of radon exposure, the spatial distribution of deposited radioactive particles is highly inhomogeneous in the central airways. The object of this research is to investigate the consequences of this heterogeneity regarding cellular burdens in the bronchial epithelium and to study the possible biological effects at tissue level. Applying computational fluid and particle dynamics techniques, the deposition distribution of inhaled radon daughters has been determined in a bronchial airway model for 23 min of work in the New Mexico uranium mine corresponding to 0.0129 WLM exposure. A numerical epithelium model based on experimental data has been utilised in order to quantify cellular hits and doses. Finally, a carcinogenesis model considering cell death-induced cell-cycle shortening has been applied to assess the biological responses. Present computations reveal that cellular dose may reach 1.5 Gy, which is several orders of magnitude higher than tissue dose. The results are in agreement with the histological finding that the uneven deposition distribution of radon progenies may lead to inhomogeneous spatial distribution of tumours in the bronchial airways. In addition, at the macroscopic level, the relationship between cancer risk and radiation burden seems to be non-linear.

Geodesics in nonexpanding impulsive gravitational waves with Λ. II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sämann, Clemens; Steinbauer, Roland

2017-11-01

We investigate all geodesics in the entire class of nonexpanding impulsive gravitational waves propagating in an (anti-)de Sitter universe using the distributional metric. We extend the regularization approach of part I [Sämann, C. et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 33(11), 115002 (2016)] to a full nonlinear distributional analysis within the geometric theory of generalized functions. We prove global existence and uniqueness of geodesics that cross the impulsive wave and hence geodesic completeness in full generality for this class of low regularity spacetimes. This, in particular, prepares the ground for a mathematically rigorous account on the "physical equivalence" of the continuous form with the distributional "form" of the metric.

Gene regulatory and signaling networks exhibit distinct topological distributions of motifs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, Gustavo Rodrigues; Nakaya, Helder Imoto; Costa, Luciano da Fontoura

2018-04-01

The biological processes of cellular decision making and differentiation involve a plethora of signaling pathways and gene regulatory circuits. These networks in turn exhibit a multitude of motifs playing crucial parts in regulating network activity. Here we compare the topological placement of motifs in gene regulatory and signaling networks and observe that it suggests different evolutionary strategies in motif distribution for distinct cellular subnetworks.

Surprise responses in the human brain demonstrate statistical learning under high concurrent cognitive demand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garrido, Marta Isabel; Teng, Chee Leong James; Taylor, Jeremy Alexander; Rowe, Elise Genevieve; Mattingley, Jason Brett

2016-06-01

The ability to learn about regularities in the environment and to make predictions about future events is fundamental for adaptive behaviour. We have previously shown that people can implicitly encode statistical regularities and detect violations therein, as reflected in neuronal responses to unpredictable events that carry a unique prediction error signature. In the real world, however, learning about regularities will often occur in the context of competing cognitive demands. Here we asked whether learning of statistical regularities is modulated by concurrent cognitive load. We compared electroencephalographic metrics associated with responses to pure-tone sounds with frequencies sampled from narrow or wide Gaussian distributions. We showed that outliers evoked a larger response than those in the centre of the stimulus distribution (i.e., an effect of surprise) and that this difference was greater for physically identical outliers in the narrow than in the broad distribution. These results demonstrate an early neurophysiological marker of the brain's ability to implicitly encode complex statistical structure in the environment. Moreover, we manipulated concurrent cognitive load by having participants perform a visual working memory task while listening to these streams of sounds. We again observed greater prediction error responses in the narrower distribution under both low and high cognitive load. Furthermore, there was no reliable reduction in prediction error magnitude under high-relative to low-cognitive load. Our findings suggest that statistical learning is not a capacity limited process, and that it proceeds automatically even when cognitive resources are taxed by concurrent demands.

Exploiting Inhibitory Siglecs to Combat Food Allergies

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

such as ELISAs . Shiteng and Kevin Worrell participated in groups meetings, regularly presenting their research updates. Dr. Macauley worked closely...transferred the cells into naïve animals and then immunized with Ara h 2. She also contributed by running some ELISA experiments. Funding Support...procedures and peanut challenges. She also assisted with cellular studies, flow cytometry, and ELISA . Kelly performed the human CD33 basophil assays as

Endocytoscopic findings of lymphomas of the stomach.

PubMed

Isomoto, Hajime; Matsushima, Kayoko; Hayashi, Tomayoshi; Imaizumi, Yoshitaka; Shiota, Junya; Ishii, Hiroyuki; Minami, Hitomi; Ohnita, Ken; Takeshima, Fuminao; Shikuwa, Saburo; Miyazaki, Yasushi; Nakao, Kazuhiko

2013-12-26

The gastric lesions of various lymphomas were observed at the cellular level using endocytoscopy. Endocytoscopy and magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging (NBI) were performed in 17 patients with lymphomas of the stomach. The lesions consisted of 7 with low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), 5 with gastric involvement by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), 4 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 1 with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. On conventional endoscopy, 9 were classified as having superficial spreading type, 7 were mass-forming type, and 1 was diffuse infiltrating type. Anti-H. pylori treatment was given in the 7 MALT lymphoma cases. NBI magnification endoscopy invariably showed dilatation or ballooning and destruction of gastric pits and elongation and distortion in microvessels. Endocytoscopy showed mucosal aggregation of interstitial cellular elements in almost all gastric lymphoma cases. The nuclear diversity in size and configuration was exclusively seen in gastric lymphomas other than MALT lymphoma, whereas the nuclei of MALT lymphoma cells were regular and small to moderate in size. Inter-glandular infiltration by lymphomatous cell elements was frequently observed in MALT lymphoma and DLBCL, but it was uncommon in peripheral gastric T-cell malignancies. Endocytoscopy could identify the disease-specific histology, the lymphoepithelial origin, as inter-glandular infiltration of cellular components in MALT lymphoma and the possibly related DLBCL cases. Complete regression (CR) was observed in 2 of the 7 MALT lymphoma patients. In the 2 patients with CR who underwent repeat endocytoscopy, the ultra-high magnification abnormalities returned to normal, while they were unchanged in those without tumor regression. On endocytoscopy, intra-glandular aggregation of cellular components was invariably identified in lymphomas of the stomach. Nuclear regularity in size and configuration may indicate the cytological grade, differentiating the indolent low-grade from aggressive lymphoproliferative diseases. The inter-glandular infiltration seen on endocytoscopy can indicate the lymphoepithelial lesions seen in MALT lymphoma and related DLBCL. Endocytoscopy would be applicable for virtual histopathological diagnosis of different lymphoproliferative disorders and their clinical assessment during ongoing endoscopy.

Cytoskeletal changes in oocytes and early embryos during in vitro fertilization process in mice.

PubMed

Gumus, E; Bulut, H E; Kaloglu, C

2010-02-01

The cytoskeleton plays crucial roles in the development and fertilization of germ cells and in the early embryo development. The growth, maturation and fertilization of oocytes require an active movement and a correct localization of cellular organelles. This is performed by the re-organization of microtubules and actin filaments. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the changes in cytoskeleton during in vitro fertilization process using appropriate immunofluorescence techniques. While the chromatin content was found to be scattered throughout the nucleus during the oocyte maturation period, it was seen only around nucleolus following the completion of the maturation. Microtubules, during oocyte maturation, were regularly distributed throughout the ooplasm which was then localized in the subcortical region of oocytes. Similarly microfilaments were scattered throughout the ooplasm during the oocyte maturation period whereas they were seen in the subcortical region around the polar body and above the meiotic spindle throughout the late developmental stages. In conclusion, those changes occurred in microtubules and microfilaments might be closely related to the re-organization of the genetic material during the oocyte maturation and early embryo development.

Positional dependence of scale size and shape in butterfly wings: wing-wide phenotypic coordination of color-pattern elements and background.

PubMed

Kusaba, Kiseki; Otaki, Joji M

2009-02-01

Butterfly wing color-patterns are a phenotypically coordinated array of scales whose color is determined as cellular interpretation outputs for morphogenic signals. Here we investigated distribution patterns of scale shape and size in relation to position and coloration on the hindwings of a nymphalid butterfly Junonia orithya. Most scales had a smooth edge but scales at and near the natural and ectopic eyespot foci and in the postbasal area were jagged. Scale size decreased regularly from the postbasal to distal areas, and eyespots occasionally had larger scales than the background. Reasonable correlations were obtained between the eyespot size and focal scale size in females. Histological and real-time individual observations of the color-pattern developmental sequence showed that the background brown and blue colors expanded from the postbasal to distal areas independently from the color-pattern elements such as eyespots. These data suggest that morphogenic signals for coloration directly or indirectly influence the scale shape and size and that the blue "background" is organized by a long-range signal from an unidentified organizing center in J. orithya.

A Distributed Learning Method for ℓ1-Regularized Kernel Machine over Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Ji, Xinrong; Hou, Cuiqin; Hou, Yibin; Gao, Fang; Wang, Shulong

2016-01-01

In wireless sensor networks, centralized learning methods have very high communication costs and energy consumption. These are caused by the need to transmit scattered training examples from various sensor nodes to the central fusion center where a classifier or a regression machine is trained. To reduce the communication cost, a distributed learning method for a kernel machine that incorporates ℓ1 norm regularization (ℓ1-regularized) is investigated, and a novel distributed learning algorithm for the ℓ1-regularized kernel minimum mean squared error (KMSE) machine is proposed. The proposed algorithm relies on in-network processing and a collaboration that transmits the sparse model only between single-hop neighboring nodes. This paper evaluates the proposed algorithm with respect to the prediction accuracy, the sparse rate of model, the communication cost and the number of iterations on synthetic and real datasets. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can obtain approximately the same prediction accuracy as that obtained by the batch learning method. Moreover, it is significantly superior in terms of the sparse rate of model and communication cost, and it can converge with fewer iterations. Finally, an experiment conducted on a wireless sensor network (WSN) test platform further shows the advantages of the proposed algorithm with respect to communication cost. PMID:27376298

Parasitoid wasp venom SERCA regulates Drosophila calcium levels and inhibits cellular immunity.

PubMed

Mortimer, Nathan T; Goecks, Jeremy; Kacsoh, Balint Z; Mobley, James A; Bowersock, Gregory J; Taylor, James; Schlenke, Todd A

2013-06-04

Because parasite virulence factors target host immune responses, identification and functional characterization of these factors can provide insight into poorly understood host immune mechanisms. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a model system for understanding humoral innate immunity, but Drosophila cellular innate immune responses remain incompletely characterized. Fruit flies are regularly infected by parasitoid wasps in nature and, following infection, flies mount a cellular immune response culminating in the cellular encapsulation of the wasp egg. The mechanistic basis of this response is largely unknown, but wasps use a mixture of virulence proteins derived from the venom gland to suppress cellular encapsulation. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying wasp virulence and fly cellular immunity, we used a joint transcriptomic/proteomic approach to identify venom genes from Ganaspis sp.1 (G1), a previously uncharacterized Drosophila parasitoid species, and found that G1 venom contains a highly abundant sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) pump. Accordingly, we found that fly immune cells termed plasmatocytes normally undergo a cytoplasmic calcium burst following infection, and that this calcium burst is required for activation of the cellular immune response. We further found that the plasmatocyte calcium burst is suppressed by G1 venom in a SERCA-dependent manner, leading to the failure of plasmatocytes to become activated and migrate toward G1 eggs. Finally, by genetically manipulating plasmatocyte calcium levels, we were able to alter fly immune success against G1 and other parasitoid species. Our characterization of parasitoid wasp venom proteins led us to identify plasmatocyte cytoplasmic calcium bursts as an important aspect of fly cellular immunity.

High-strength cellular ceramic composites with 3D microarchitecture.

PubMed

Bauer, Jens; Hengsbach, Stefan; Tesari, Iwiza; Schwaiger, Ruth; Kraft, Oliver

2014-02-18

To enhance the strength-to-weight ratio of a material, one may try to either improve the strength or lower the density, or both. The lightest solid materials have a density in the range of 1,000 kg/m(3); only cellular materials, such as technical foams, can reach considerably lower values. However, compared with corresponding bulk materials, their specific strength generally is significantly lower. Cellular topologies may be divided into bending- and stretching-dominated ones. Technical foams are structured randomly and behave in a bending-dominated way, which is less weight efficient, with respect to strength, than stretching-dominated behavior, such as in regular braced frameworks. Cancellous bone and other natural cellular solids have an optimized architecture. Their basic material is structured hierarchically and consists of nanometer-size elements, providing a benefit from size effects in the material strength. Designing cellular materials with a specific microarchitecture would allow one to exploit the structural advantages of stretching-dominated constructions as well as size-dependent strengthening effects. In this paper, we demonstrate that such materials may be fabricated. Applying 3D laser lithography, we produced and characterized micro-truss and -shell structures made from alumina-polymer composite. Size-dependent strengthening of alumina shells has been observed, particularly when applied with a characteristic thickness below 100 nm. The presented artificial cellular materials reach compressive strengths up to 280 MPa with densities well below 1,000 kg/m(3).

A density distribution algorithm for bone incorporating local orthotropy, modal analysis and theories of cellular solids.

PubMed

Impelluso, Thomas J

2003-06-01

An algorithm for bone remodeling is presented which allows for both a redistribution of density and a continuous change of principal material directions for the orthotropic material properties of bone. It employs a modal analysis to add density for growth and a local effective strain based analysis to redistribute density. General re-distribution functions are presented. The model utilizes theories of cellular solids to relate density and strength. The code predicts the same general density distributions and local orthotropy as observed in reality.

[A New Pest of Amomum villosum in Xishuangbanna].

PubMed

Peng, Jian-min; Wang, Yan-fang; Zhang, Li-xia; Li, Rong-ying; Ma, Xiao-jun

2015-11-01

To report a new pest of Amomum villosum and its distribution, occurrence regularity and damage situation, in order to provide reference for its control. Reared the pest larvae, observed the morphological characters, and made a preliminary investigation on its distribution, occurrence regularity and damage situation. Through macroscopic examination, the pest was identified as Anisodera rugulosa, which distributed in the main producing areas of Amomum villosum in Xishuangbanna, the pest larvae ate the inside of Amomum villosum fruit, which made the fruit formed holes, more seriously, it made the whole fruit rot black. The pest causes the fruit yield reduction of Amomum villosum. Pest control work needs to be carry out as soon as possible.

Undocumented migration to Venezuela.

PubMed

Van Roy, R

1984-01-01

"In 1980 Venezuela took...steps to regularize the undocumented migrant population. While the number responding to the amnesty was small relative to expectations, the majority of illegals appeared to have regularized their status. For the first time it was possible to assess objectively the characteristics of the undocumented population. Moreover, the problem of illegal migrants seems to have been temporarily solved, a result of both the amnesty and the country's declining economic activity." Topics covered in the present article include the nationality, geographic distribution, sex and age distribution, educational status, and occupations of undocumented migrants. excerpt

The UL24 protein of herpes simplex virus 1 affects the sub-cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins involved in fusion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ben Abdeljelil, Nawel; Rochette, Pierre-Alexandre; Pearson, Angela, E-mail: angela.pearson@iaf.inrs.ca

2013-09-15

Mutations in UL24 of herpes simplex virus type 1 can lead to a syncytial phenotype. We hypothesized that UL24 affects the sub-cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins involved in fusion. In non-immortalized human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) we detected viral glycoproteins B (gB), gD, gH and gL present in extended blotches throughout the cytoplasm with limited nuclear membrane staining; however, in HFFs infected with a UL24-deficient virus (UL24X), staining for the viral glycoproteins appeared as long, thin streaks running across the cell. Interestingly, there was a decrease in co-localized staining of gB and gD with F-actin at late times in UL24X-infected HFFs.more » Treatment with chemical agents that perturbed the actin cytoskeleton hindered the formation of UL24X-induced syncytia in these cells. These data support a model whereby the UL24 syncytial phenotype results from a mislocalization of viral glycoproteins late in infection. - Highlights: • UL24 affects the sub-cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins required for fusion. • Sub-cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins varies in cell-type dependent manner. • Drugs targeting actin microfilaments affect formation of UL24-related syncytia in HFFs.« less

FeynArts model file for MSSM transition counterterms from DREG to DRED

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stöckinger, Dominik; Varšo, Philipp

2012-02-01

The FeynArts model file MSSMdreg2dred implements MSSM transition counterterms which can convert one-loop Green functions from dimensional regularization to dimensional reduction. They correspond to a slight extension of the well-known Martin/Vaughn counterterms, specialized to the MSSM, and can serve also as supersymmetry-restoring counterterms. The paper provides full analytic results for the counterterms and gives one- and two-loop usage examples. The model file can simplify combining MS¯-parton distribution functions with supersymmetric renormalization or avoiding the renormalization of ɛ-scalars in dimensional reduction. Program summaryProgram title:MSSMdreg2dred.mod Catalogue identifier: AEKR_v1_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEKR_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: LGPL-License [1] No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 7600 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 197 629 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Mathematica, FeynArts Computer: Any, capable of running Mathematica and FeynArts Operating system: Any, with running Mathematica, FeynArts installation Classification: 4.4, 5, 11.1 Subprograms used: Cat Id Title Reference ADOW_v1_0 FeynArts CPC 140 (2001) 418 Nature of problem: The computation of one-loop Feynman diagrams in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) requires regularization. Two schemes, dimensional regularization and dimensional reduction are both common but have different pros and cons. In order to combine the advantages of both schemes one would like to easily convert existing results from one scheme into the other. Solution method: Finite counterterms are constructed which correspond precisely to the one-loop scheme differences for the MSSM. They are provided as a FeynArts [2] model file. Using this model file together with FeynArts, the (ultra-violet) regularization of any MSSM one-loop Green function is switched automatically from dimensional regularization to dimensional reduction. In particular the counterterms serve as supersymmetry-restoring counterterms for dimensional regularization. Restrictions: The counterterms are restricted to the one-loop level and the MSSM. Running time: A few seconds to generate typical Feynman graphs with FeynArts.

The effect of zinc on cellular immunity in chronic uremia.

PubMed

Antoniou, L D; Shalhoub, R J; Schechter, G P

1981-09-01

Delayed hypersensitivity to mumps was examined in 25 apparently well-nourished men receiving regular hemodialysis, each of whom had a history of mumps. A positive reaction was observed in eight of nine patients already under therapy with zinc added to the dialysis bath. In contrast, 11 of 16 untreated patients were anergic. Four of the anergic patients were subsequently treated with zinc resulting in restoration of sensitivity in three patients. There were no significant differences in lymphocyte, monocyte, or T-cell counts between the two groups of patients. Consequently, zinc probably acts by improving the function of one or more of these cell types. Protracted zinc deficiency may be a major cause of impaired cellular immunity in chronic renal failure.

Balancing Uplink and Downlink under Asymmetric Traffic Environments Using Distributed Receive Antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohn, Illsoo; Lee, Byong Ok; Lee, Kwang Bok

Recently, multimedia services are increasing with the widespread use of various wireless applications such as web browsers, real-time video, and interactive games, which results in traffic asymmetry between the uplink and downlink. Hence, time division duplex (TDD) systems which provide advantages in efficient bandwidth utilization under asymmetric traffic environments have become one of the most important issues in future mobile cellular systems. It is known that two types of intercell interference, referred to as crossed-slot interference, additionally arise in TDD systems; the performances of the uplink and downlink transmissions are degraded by BS-to-BS crossed-slot interference and MS-to-MS crossed-slot interference, respectively. The resulting performance unbalance between the uplink and downlink makes network deployment severely inefficient. Previous works have proposed intelligent time slot allocation algorithms to mitigate the crossed-slot interference problem. However, they require centralized control, which causes large signaling overhead in the network. In this paper, we propose to change the shape of the cellular structure itself. The conventional cellular structure is easily transformed into the proposed cellular structure with distributed receive antennas (DRAs). We set up statistical Markov chain traffic model and analyze the bit error performances of the conventional cellular structure and proposed cellular structure under asymmetric traffic environments. Numerical results show that the uplink and downlink performances of the proposed cellular structure become balanced with the proper number of DRAs and thus the proposed cellular structure is notably cost-effective in network deployment compared to the conventional cellular structure. As a result, extending the conventional cellular structure into the proposed cellular structure with DRAs is a remarkably cost-effective solution to support asymmetric traffic environments in future mobile cellular systems.

Modeling Emergent Macrophyte Distributions: Including Sub-dominant Species

EPA Science Inventory

Mixed stands of emergent vegetation are often present following drawdowns but models of wetland plant distributions fail to include subdominant species when predicting distributions. Three variations of a spatial plant distribution cellular automaton model were developed to explo...

Cellular basis of gastrulation in the sand dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis.

PubMed

Kominami, T; Takata, H

2000-12-01

The processes of gastrulation in the sand dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis are quite different from those in regular echinoids. In this study, we explored the cellular basis of gastrulation in this species with several methods. Cell-tracing experiments revealed that the prospective endodermal cells were convoluted throughout the invagination processes. Histological observation showed that the ectodermal layer remained thickened, and the vegetal cells retained an elongated shape until the last step of invagination. Further, most of the vegetal ectodermal cells were skewed or distorted. Wedge-shaped cells were common in the vegetal ectoderm, especially at the subequatorial region. In these embryos, unlike the embryos of regular echinoids, secondary mesenchyme cells did not seem to exert the force to pull up the archenteron toward the inner surface of the apical plate. In fact, the archenteron cells were not stretched along the axis of elongation and were in close contact with each other. Here we found that gastrulation was completely blocked when the embryos were attached to a glass dish coated with poly-L-lysine, in which the movement of the ectodermal layer was inhibited. These results suggest that a force generated by the thickened ectoderm, rather than rearrangement of the archenteron cells, may play a key role in the archenteron elongation in S. mirabilis embryos.

Automated and Adaptable Quantification of Cellular Alignment from Microscopic Images for Tissue Engineering Applications

PubMed Central

Xu, Feng; Beyazoglu, Turker; Hefner, Evan; Gurkan, Umut Atakan

2011-01-01

Cellular alignment plays a critical role in functional, physical, and biological characteristics of many tissue types, such as muscle, tendon, nerve, and cornea. Current efforts toward regeneration of these tissues include replicating the cellular microenvironment by developing biomaterials that facilitate cellular alignment. To assess the functional effectiveness of the engineered microenvironments, one essential criterion is quantification of cellular alignment. Therefore, there is a need for rapid, accurate, and adaptable methodologies to quantify cellular alignment for tissue engineering applications. To address this need, we developed an automated method, binarization-based extraction of alignment score (BEAS), to determine cell orientation distribution in a wide variety of microscopic images. This method combines a sequenced application of median and band-pass filters, locally adaptive thresholding approaches and image processing techniques. Cellular alignment score is obtained by applying a robust scoring algorithm to the orientation distribution. We validated the BEAS method by comparing the results with the existing approaches reported in literature (i.e., manual, radial fast Fourier transform-radial sum, and gradient based approaches). Validation results indicated that the BEAS method resulted in statistically comparable alignment scores with the manual method (coefficient of determination R2=0.92). Therefore, the BEAS method introduced in this study could enable accurate, convenient, and adaptable evaluation of engineered tissue constructs and biomaterials in terms of cellular alignment and organization. PMID:21370940

Outlier Responses Reflect Sensitivity to Statistical Structure in the Human Brain

PubMed Central

Garrido, Marta I.

2013-01-01

We constantly look for patterns in the environment that allow us to learn its key regularities. These regularities are fundamental in enabling us to make predictions about what is likely to happen next. The physiological study of regularity extraction has focused primarily on repetitive sequence-based rules within the sensory environment, or on stimulus-outcome associations in the context of reward-based decision-making. Here we ask whether we implicitly encode non-sequential stochastic regularities, and detect violations therein. We addressed this question using a novel experimental design and both behavioural and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) metrics associated with responses to pure-tone sounds with frequencies sampled from a Gaussian distribution. We observed that sounds in the tail of the distribution evoked a larger response than those that fell at the centre. This response resembled the mismatch negativity (MMN) evoked by surprising or unlikely events in traditional oddball paradigms. Crucially, responses to physically identical outliers were greater when the distribution was narrower. These results show that humans implicitly keep track of the uncertainty induced by apparently random distributions of sensory events. Source reconstruction suggested that the statistical-context-sensitive responses arose in a temporo-parietal network, areas that have been associated with attention orientation to unexpected events. Our results demonstrate a very early neurophysiological marker of the brain's ability to implicitly encode complex statistical structure in the environment. We suggest that this sensitivity provides a computational basis for our ability to make perceptual inferences in noisy environments and to make decisions in an uncertain world. PMID:23555230

Effect of molecular characteristics on cellular uptake, subcellular localization, and phototoxicity of Zn(II) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins.

PubMed

Ezzeddine, Rima; Al-Banaw, Anwar; Tovmasyan, Artak; Craik, James D; Batinic-Haberle, Ines; Benov, Ludmil T

2013-12-20

Tetra-cationic Zn(II) meso-tetrakis(N-alkylpyridinium-2 (or -3 or -4)-yl)porphyrins (ZnPs) with progressively increased lipophilicity were synthesized to investigate how the tri-dimensional shape and lipophilicity of the photosensitizer (PS) affect cellular uptake, subcellular distribution, and photodynamic efficacy. The effect of the tri-dimensional shape of the molecule was studied by shifting the N-alkyl substituent attached to the pyridyl nitrogen from ortho to meta and para positions. Progressive increase of lipophilicity from shorter hydrophilic (methyl) to longer amphiphilic (hexyl) alkyl chains increased the phototoxicity of the ZnP PSs. PS efficacy was also increased for all derivatives when the alkyl substituents were shifted from ortho to meta, and from meta to para positions. Both cellular uptake and subcellular distribution of the PSs were affected by the lipophilicity and the position of the alkyl chains on the periphery of the porphyrin ring. Whereas the hydrophilic ZnPs demonstrated mostly lysosomal distribution, the amphiphilic hexyl derivatives were associated with mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and plasma membrane. A comparison of hexyl isomers revealed that cellular uptake and partition into membranes followed the order para > meta > ortho. Varying the position and length of the alkyl substituents affects (i) the exposure of cationic charges for electrostatic interactions with anionic biomolecules and (ii) the lipophilicity of the molecule. The charge, lipophilicity, and the tri-dimensional shape of the PS are the major factors that determine cellular uptake, subcellular distribution, and as a consequence, the phototoxicity of the PSs.

Effect of Molecular Characteristics on Cellular Uptake, Subcellular Localization, and Phototoxicity of Zn(II) N-Alkylpyridylporphyrins*

PubMed Central

Ezzeddine, Rima; Al-Banaw, Anwar; Tovmasyan, Artak; Craik, James D.; Batinic-Haberle, Ines; Benov, Ludmil T.

2013-01-01

Tetra-cationic Zn(II) meso-tetrakis(N-alkylpyridinium-2 (or -3 or -4)-yl)porphyrins (ZnPs) with progressively increased lipophilicity were synthesized to investigate how the tri-dimensional shape and lipophilicity of the photosensitizer (PS) affect cellular uptake, subcellular distribution, and photodynamic efficacy. The effect of the tri-dimensional shape of the molecule was studied by shifting the N-alkyl substituent attached to the pyridyl nitrogen from ortho to meta and para positions. Progressive increase of lipophilicity from shorter hydrophilic (methyl) to longer amphiphilic (hexyl) alkyl chains increased the phototoxicity of the ZnP PSs. PS efficacy was also increased for all derivatives when the alkyl substituents were shifted from ortho to meta, and from meta to para positions. Both cellular uptake and subcellular distribution of the PSs were affected by the lipophilicity and the position of the alkyl chains on the periphery of the porphyrin ring. Whereas the hydrophilic ZnPs demonstrated mostly lysosomal distribution, the amphiphilic hexyl derivatives were associated with mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and plasma membrane. A comparison of hexyl isomers revealed that cellular uptake and partition into membranes followed the order para > meta > ortho. Varying the position and length of the alkyl substituents affects (i) the exposure of cationic charges for electrostatic interactions with anionic biomolecules and (ii) the lipophilicity of the molecule. The charge, lipophilicity, and the tri-dimensional shape of the PS are the major factors that determine cellular uptake, subcellular distribution, and as a consequence, the phototoxicity of the PSs. PMID:24214973

[Cellular composition of lymphoid nodules in the trachea wall in rats with different resistance to emotional stress in a model of hemorrhagic stroke].

PubMed

Klyueva, L A

2017-01-01

To reveal regularities of changes in cellular composition of lymphoid nodules in the tracheal wall in male Wistar rats resistant and not resistant to emotional stress in a model of hemorrhagic stroke. Lymphoid formations of the tracheal wall (an area near the bifurcation of the organ) were investigated in 98 male Wistar rats using histological methods. Significant changes in the cellular composition of lymphoid nodules were found. The pattern of changes depends on the stress resistance of rats and the period of the experiment. The active cell destruction in lymphoid nodules was noted both in stress resistant and stress susceptible animals. The changes in the structure of lymphoid nodules found in the experimental hemorrhagic stroke suggest a decrease in the local immune resistance, which is most pronounced in rats not resistant to stress, that may contribute to the development of severe inflammatory complications of stroke such as pneumonia.

Likelihood ratio decisions in memory: three implied regularities.

PubMed

Glanzer, Murray; Hilford, Andrew; Maloney, Laurence T

2009-06-01

We analyze four general signal detection models for recognition memory that differ in their distributional assumptions. Our analyses show that a basic assumption of signal detection theory, the likelihood ratio decision axis, implies three regularities in recognition memory: (1) the mirror effect, (2) the variance effect, and (3) the z-ROC length effect. For each model, we present the equations that produce the three regularities and show, in computed examples, how they do so. We then show that the regularities appear in data from a range of recognition studies. The analyses and data in our study support the following generalization: Individuals make efficient recognition decisions on the basis of likelihood ratios.

We'll Meet Again: Revealing Distributional and Temporal Patterns of Social Contact

PubMed Central

Pachur, Thorsten; Schooler, Lael J.; Stevens, Jeffrey R.

2014-01-01

What are the dynamics and regularities underlying social contact, and how can contact with the people in one's social network be predicted? In order to characterize distributional and temporal patterns underlying contact probability, we asked 40 participants to keep a diary of their social contacts for 100 consecutive days. Using a memory framework previously used to study environmental regularities, we predicted that the probability of future contact would follow in systematic ways from the frequency, recency, and spacing of previous contact. The distribution of contact probability across the members of a person's social network was highly skewed, following an exponential function. As predicted, it emerged that future contact scaled linearly with frequency of past contact, proportionally to a power function with recency of past contact, and differentially according to the spacing of past contact. These relations emerged across different contact media and irrespective of whether the participant initiated or received contact. We discuss how the identification of these regularities might inspire more realistic analyses of behavior in social networks (e.g., attitude formation, cooperation). PMID:24475073

Regular and Chaotic Spatial Distribution of Bose-Einstein Condensed Atoms in a Ratchet Potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fei; Xu, Lan; Li, Wenwu

2018-02-01

We study the regular and chaotic spatial distribution of Bose-Einstein condensed atoms with a space-dependent nonlinear interaction in a ratchet potential. There exists in the system a space-dependent atomic current that can be tuned via Feshbach resonance technique. In the presence of the space-dependent atomic current and a weak ratchet potential, the Smale-horseshoe chaos is studied and the Melnikov chaotic criterion is obtained. Numerical simulations show that the ratio between the intensities of optical potentials forming the ratchet potential, the wave vector of the laser producing the ratchet potential or the wave vector of the modulating laser can be chosen as the controlling parameters to result in or avoid chaotic spatial distributional states.

EIT Imaging Regularization Based on Spectral Graph Wavelets.

PubMed

Gong, Bo; Schullcke, Benjamin; Krueger-Ziolek, Sabine; Vauhkonen, Marko; Wolf, Gerhard; Mueller-Lisse, Ullrich; Moeller, Knut

2017-09-01

The objective of electrical impedance tomographic reconstruction is to identify the distribution of tissue conductivity from electrical boundary conditions. This is an ill-posed inverse problem usually solved under the finite-element method framework. In previous studies, standard sparse regularization was used for difference electrical impedance tomography to achieve a sparse solution. However, regarding elementwise sparsity, standard sparse regularization interferes with the smoothness of conductivity distribution between neighboring elements and is sensitive to noise. As an effect, the reconstructed images are spiky and depict a lack of smoothness. Such unexpected artifacts are not realistic and may lead to misinterpretation in clinical applications. To eliminate such artifacts, we present a novel sparse regularization method that uses spectral graph wavelet transforms. Single-scale or multiscale graph wavelet transforms are employed to introduce local smoothness on different scales into the reconstructed images. The proposed approach relies on viewing finite-element meshes as undirected graphs and applying wavelet transforms derived from spectral graph theory. Reconstruction results from simulations, a phantom experiment, and patient data suggest that our algorithm is more robust to noise and produces more reliable images.

In vitro cellular uptake of evodiamine and rutaecarpine using a microemulsion

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yong-Tai; Huang, Zhe-Bin; Zhang, Su-Juan; Zhao, Ji-Hui; Wang, Zhi; Liu, Ying; Feng, Nian-Ping

2012-01-01

Objective To investigate the cellular uptake of evodiamine and rutaecarpine in a microemulsion in comparison with aqueous suspensions and tinctures. Materials and methods A microemulsion was prepared using the dropwise addition method. Mouse skin fibroblasts were cultured in vitro to investigate the optimal conditions for evodiamine and rutaecarpine uptake with different drug concentrations and administration times. Under optimal conditions, the cellular uptake of microemulsified drugs was assayed and compared to tinctures and aqueous suspensions. Rhodamine B labeling and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) were used to explore the distribution of fluorochrome transferred with the microemulsion in fibroblasts. Cellular morphology was also investigated, using optical microscopy to evaluate microemulsion-induced cellular toxicity. Results The maximum cellular drug uptake amounts were obtained with a 20% concentration (v/v) of microemulsion and an 8 hour administration time. Drug uptake by mouse skin fibroblasts was lowest when the drugs were loaded in microemulsion. After incubation with rhodamine B-labeled microemulsion for 8 hours, the highest fluorescence intensity was achieved, and the fluorochrome was primarily distributed in the cytochylema. No obvious cellular morphologic changes were observed with the administration of either the microemulsion or the aqueous suspension; for the tincture group, however, massive cellular necrocytosis was observed. Conclusion The lower cellular uptake with microemulsion may be due to the fact that most of the drug loaded in the microemulsion vehicle was transported via the intercellular space, while a small quantity of free drug (released from the vehicle) was ingested through transmembrane transport. Mouse skin fibroblasts rarely endocytosed evodiamine and rutaecarpine with a microemulsion as the vehicle. The microemulsion had no obvious effect on cellular morphology, suggesting there is little or no cellular toxicity associated with the administration of microemulsion on mouse skin fibroblasts. PMID:22679361

In vitro cellular uptake of evodiamine and rutaecarpine using a microemulsion.

PubMed

Zhang, Yong-Tai; Huang, Zhe-Bin; Zhang, Su-Juan; Zhao, Ji-Hui; Wang, Zhi; Liu, Ying; Feng, Nian-Ping

2012-01-01

To investigate the cellular uptake of evodiamine and rutaecarpine in a microemulsion in comparison with aqueous suspensions and tinctures. A microemulsion was prepared using the dropwise addition method. Mouse skin fibroblasts were cultured in vitro to investigate the optimal conditions for evodiamine and rutaecarpine uptake with different drug concentrations and administration times. Under optimal conditions, the cellular uptake of microemulsified drugs was assayed and compared to tinctures and aqueous suspensions. Rhodamine B labeling and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) were used to explore the distribution of fluorochrome transferred with the microemulsion in fibroblasts. Cellular morphology was also investigated, using optical microscopy to evaluate microemulsion-induced cellular toxicity. The maximum cellular drug uptake amounts were obtained with a 20% concentration (v/v) of microemulsion and an 8 hour administration time. Drug uptake by mouse skin fibroblasts was lowest when the drugs were loaded in microemulsion. After incubation with rhodamine B-labeled microemulsion for 8 hours, the highest fluorescence intensity was achieved, and the fluorochrome was primarily distributed in the cytochylema. No obvious cellular morphologic changes were observed with the administration of either the microemulsion or the aqueous suspension; for the tincture group, however, massive cellular necrocytosis was observed. The lower cellular uptake with microemulsion may be due to the fact that most of the drug loaded in the microemulsion vehicle was transported via the intercellular space, while a small quantity of free drug (released from the vehicle) was ingested through transmembrane transport. Mouse skin fibroblasts rarely endocytosed evodiamine and rutaecarpine with a microemulsion as the vehicle. The microemulsion had no obvious effect on cellular morphology, suggesting there is little or no cellular toxicity associated with the administration of microemulsion on mouse skin fibroblasts.

Coupled pulsating and cellular structure in the propagation of globally planar detonations in free space

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han, Wenhu; Key Laboratory for Thermal Science and Power Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084; Gao, Yang, E-mail: gaoyang-00@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn

The globally planar detonation in free space is numerically simulated, with particular interest to understand and quantify the emergence and evolution of the one-dimensional pulsating instability and the two-dimensional cellular structure which is inherently also affected by pulsating instability. It is found that the pulsation includes three stages: rapid decay of the overdrive, approach to the Chapman-Jouguet state and emergence of weak pulsations, and the formation of strong pulsations; while evolution of the cellular structure also exhibits distinct behavior at these three stages: no cell formation, formation of small-scale, irregular cells, and formation of regular cells of a larger scale.more » Furthermore, the average shock pressure in the detonation front consists of fine-scale oscillations reflecting the collision dynamics of the triple-shock structure and large-scale oscillations affected by the global pulsation. The common stages of evolution between the cellular structure and the pulsating behavior, as well as the existence of shock-front pressure oscillation, suggest highly correlated mechanisms between them. Detonations with period doubling, period quadrupling, and chaotic amplitudes were also observed and studied for progressively increasing activation energies.« less

Cadmium accumulation, sub-cellular distribution and chemical forms in rice seedling in the presence of sulfur.

PubMed

Zhang, Wen; Lin, Kuangfei; Zhou, Jian; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Lili; Zhang, Qianqian

2014-01-01

Changes in cadmium (Cd) accumulation, distribution, and chemical form in rice seedling in the joint presence of different concentrations of sulfur (S) remain almost unknown. Therefore, the indoor experiments were performed to determine the accumulation, sub-cellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd under three S levels in rice seedling for the first time. The result showed that Cd accumulation in rice roots was more than in shoots. Sub-cellular distribution of Cd in rice roots and shoots indicated that the largest proportion of Cd accumulated in cell walls and soluble fractions. As S supply increased, the proportion of Cd in cell walls reduced, while it increased in the soluble fractions. The majority of Cd existed in inorganic form, and then gradually changed to organic forms that included pectates and proteins with increased S supply. The results showed that S supply significantly influenced Cd accumulation, distribution, and chemical forms, suggesting that S might provide the material for the synthesis of sulfhydryl protein and thereby affect Cd stress on plants. These observations provided a basic understanding of potential ecotoxicological effects of joint Cd and S exposure in the environment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantifying the correlation between spatially defined oxygen gradients and cell fate in an engineered three-dimensional culture model.

PubMed

Ardakani, Amir G; Cheema, Umber; Brown, Robert A; Shipley, Rebecca J

2014-09-06

A challenge in three-dimensional tissue culture remains the lack of quantitative information linking nutrient delivery and cellular distribution. Both in vivo and in vitro, oxygen is delivered by diffusion from its source (blood vessel or the construct margins). The oxygen level at a defined distance from its source depends critically on the balance of diffusion and cellular metabolism. Cells may respond to this oxygen environment through proliferation, death and chemotaxis, resulting in spatially resolved gradients in cellular density. This study extracts novel spatially resolved and simultaneous data on tissue oxygenation, cellular proliferation, viability and chemotaxis in three-dimensional spiralled, cellular collagen constructs. Oxygen concentration gradients drove preferential cellular proliferation rates and viability in the higher oxygen zones and induced chemotaxis along the spiral of the collagen construct; an oxygen gradient of 1.03 mmHg mm(-1) in the spiral direction induced a mean migratory speed of 1015 μm day(-1). Although this movement was modest, it was effective in balancing the system to a stable cell density distribution, and provided insights into the natural cell mechanism for adapting cell number and activity to a prevailing oxygen regime.

Potential field cellular automata model for pedestrian flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Peng; Jian, Xiao-Xia; Wong, S. C.; Choi, Keechoo

2012-02-01

This paper proposes a cellular automata model of pedestrian flow that defines a cost potential field, which takes into account the costs of travel time and discomfort, for a pedestrian to move to an empty neighboring cell. The formulation is based on a reconstruction of the density distribution and the underlying physics, including the rule for resolving conflicts, which is comparable to that in the floor field cellular automaton model. However, we assume that each pedestrian is familiar with the surroundings, thereby minimizing his or her instantaneous cost. This, in turn, helps reduce the randomness in selecting a target cell, which improves the existing cellular automata modelings, together with the computational efficiency. In the presence of two pedestrian groups, which are distinguished by their destinations, the cost distribution for each group is magnified due to the strong interaction between the two groups. As a typical phenomenon, the formation of lanes in the counter flow is reproduced.

Measuring the Autocorrelation Function of Nanoscale Three-Dimensional Density Distribution in Individual Cells Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and a New Deconvolution Algorithm.

PubMed

Li, Yue; Zhang, Di; Capoglu, Ilker; Hujsak, Karl A; Damania, Dhwanil; Cherkezyan, Lusik; Roth, Eric; Bleher, Reiner; Wu, Jinsong S; Subramanian, Hariharan; Dravid, Vinayak P; Backman, Vadim

2017-06-01

Essentially all biological processes are highly dependent on the nanoscale architecture of the cellular components where these processes take place. Statistical measures, such as the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the three-dimensional (3D) mass-density distribution, are widely used to characterize cellular nanostructure. However, conventional methods of reconstruction of the deterministic 3D mass-density distribution, from which these statistical measures can be calculated, have been inadequate for thick biological structures, such as whole cells, due to the conflict between the need for nanoscale resolution and its inverse relationship with thickness after conventional tomographic reconstruction. To tackle the problem, we have developed a robust method to calculate the ACF of the 3D mass-density distribution without tomography. Assuming the biological mass distribution is isotropic, our method allows for accurate statistical characterization of the 3D mass-density distribution by ACF with two data sets: a single projection image by scanning transmission electron microscopy and a thickness map by atomic force microscopy. Here we present validation of the ACF reconstruction algorithm, as well as its application to calculate the statistics of the 3D distribution of mass-density in a region containing the nucleus of an entire mammalian cell. This method may provide important insights into architectural changes that accompany cellular processes.

Measuring the Autocorrelation Function of Nanoscale Three-Dimensional Density Distribution in Individual Cells Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and a New Deconvolution Algorithm

PubMed Central

Li, Yue; Zhang, Di; Capoglu, Ilker; Hujsak, Karl A.; Damania, Dhwanil; Cherkezyan, Lusik; Roth, Eric; Bleher, Reiner; Wu, Jinsong S.; Subramanian, Hariharan; Dravid, Vinayak P.; Backman, Vadim

2018-01-01

Essentially all biological processes are highly dependent on the nanoscale architecture of the cellular components where these processes take place. Statistical measures, such as the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the three-dimensional (3D) mass–density distribution, are widely used to characterize cellular nanostructure. However, conventional methods of reconstruction of the deterministic 3D mass–density distribution, from which these statistical measures can be calculated, have been inadequate for thick biological structures, such as whole cells, due to the conflict between the need for nanoscale resolution and its inverse relationship with thickness after conventional tomographic reconstruction. To tackle the problem, we have developed a robust method to calculate the ACF of the 3D mass–density distribution without tomography. Assuming the biological mass distribution is isotropic, our method allows for accurate statistical characterization of the 3D mass–density distribution by ACF with two data sets: a single projection image by scanning transmission electron microscopy and a thickness map by atomic force microscopy. Here we present validation of the ACF reconstruction algorithm, as well as its application to calculate the statistics of the 3D distribution of mass–density in a region containing the nucleus of an entire mammalian cell. This method may provide important insights into architectural changes that accompany cellular processes. PMID:28416035

Stochastic cellular automata model of cell migration, proliferation and differentiation: validation with in vitro cultures of muscle satellite cells.

PubMed

Garijo, N; Manzano, R; Osta, R; Perez, M A

2012-12-07

Cell migration and proliferation has been modelled in the literature as a process similar to diffusion. However, using diffusion models to simulate the proliferation and migration of cells tends to create a homogeneous distribution in the cell density that does not correlate to empirical observations. In fact, the mechanism of cell dispersal is not diffusion. Cells disperse by crawling or proliferation, or are transported in a moving fluid. The use of cellular automata, particle models or cell-based models can overcome this limitation. This paper presents a stochastic cellular automata model to simulate the proliferation, migration and differentiation of cells. These processes are considered as completely stochastic as well as discrete. The model developed was applied to predict the behaviour of in vitro cell cultures performed with adult muscle satellite cells. Moreover, non homogeneous distribution of cells has been observed inside the culture well and, using the above mentioned stochastic cellular automata model, we have been able to predict this heterogeneous cell distribution and compute accurate quantitative results. Differentiation was also incorporated into the computational simulation. The results predicted the myotube formation that typically occurs with adult muscle satellite cells. In conclusion, we have shown how a stochastic cellular automata model can be implemented and is capable of reproducing the in vitro behaviour of adult muscle satellite cells. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aspects of Students' Reasoning about Variation in Empirical Sampling Distributions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noll, Jennifer; Shaughnessy, J. Michael

2012-01-01

Sampling tasks and sampling distributions provide a fertile realm for investigating students' conceptions of variability. A project-designed teaching episode on samples and sampling distributions was team-taught in 6 research classrooms (2 middle school and 4 high school) by the investigators and regular classroom mathematics teachers. Data…

Spray Distribution of Boomless Nozzles: The Boomjet 5880, Radiarc and Boom Buster

Treesearch

James H. Miller

1990-01-01

Abstract. The patterns of spray distribution are described for three boomless nozzlesthat arc commonly used, or have promise, for forestry applications: The BoomJet5880 cluster nozzle (Spraying Systems Co.), the Radiarc (Waldrum specialties ), and the Boom Buster (Evergreen Products). Spray distribution patterns were determined using regularly...

The determination of pair-distance distribution by double electron-electron resonance: regularization by the length of distance discretization with Monte Carlo calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dzuba, Sergei A.

2016-08-01

Pulsed double electron-electron resonance technique (DEER, or PELDOR) is applied to study conformations and aggregation of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules. For a pair of spin labels, experimental data allows for the determination of their distance distribution function, P(r). P(r) is derived as a solution of a first-kind Fredholm integral equation, which is an ill-posed problem. Here, we suggest regularization by increasing the distance discretization length to its upper limit where numerical integration still provides agreement with experiment. This upper limit is found to be well above the lower limit for which the solution instability appears because of the ill-posed nature of the problem. For solving the integral equation, Monte Carlo trials of P(r) functions are employed; this method has an obvious advantage of the fulfillment of the non-negativity constraint for P(r). The regularization by the increasing of distance discretization length for the case of overlapping broad and narrow distributions may be employed selectively, with this length being different for different distance ranges. The approach is checked for model distance distributions and for experimental data taken from literature for doubly spin-labeled DNA and peptide antibiotics.

Angular dependence of multiangle dynamic light scattering for particle size distribution inversion using a self-adapting regularization algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Lei; Yu, Long; Yang, Kecheng; Li, Wei; Li, Kai; Xia, Min

2018-04-01

The multiangle dynamic light scattering (MDLS) technique can better estimate particle size distributions (PSDs) than single-angle dynamic light scattering. However, determining the inversion range, angular weighting coefficients, and scattering angle combination is difficult but fundamental to the reconstruction for both unimodal and multimodal distributions. In this paper, we propose a self-adapting regularization method called the wavelet iterative recursion nonnegative Tikhonov-Phillips-Twomey (WIRNNT-PT) algorithm. This algorithm combines a wavelet multiscale strategy with an appropriate inversion method and could self-adaptively optimize several noteworthy issues containing the choices of the weighting coefficients, the inversion range and the optimal inversion method from two regularization algorithms for estimating the PSD from MDLS measurements. In addition, the angular dependence of the MDLS for estimating the PSDs of polymeric latexes is thoroughly analyzed. The dependence of the results on the number and range of measurement angles was analyzed in depth to identify the optimal scattering angle combination. Numerical simulations and experimental results for unimodal and multimodal distributions are presented to demonstrate both the validity of the WIRNNT-PT algorithm and the angular dependence of MDLS and show that the proposed algorithm with a six-angle analysis in the 30-130° range can be satisfactorily applied to retrieve PSDs from MDLS measurements.

Results on three predictions for July 2012 federal elections in Mexico based on past regularities.

PubMed

Hernández-Saldaña, H

2013-01-01

The Presidential Election in Mexico of July 2012 has been the third time that PREP, Previous Electoral Results Program works. PREP gives voting outcomes based in electoral certificates of each polling station that arrive to capture centers. In previous ones, some statistical regularities had been observed, three of them were selected to make predictions and were published in arXiv:1207.0078 [physics.soc-ph]. Using the database made public in July 2012, two of the predictions were completely fulfilled, while, the third one was measured and confirmed using the database obtained upon request to the electoral authorities. The first two predictions confirmed by actual measures are: (ii) The Partido Revolucionario Institucional, PRI, is a sprinter and has a better performance in polling stations arriving late to capture centers during the process. (iii) Distribution of vote of this party is well described by a smooth function named a Daisy model. A Gamma distribution, but compatible with a Daisy model, fits the distribution as well. The third prediction confirms that errare humanum est, since the error distributions of all the self-consistency variables appeared as a central power law with lateral lobes as in 2000 and 2006 electoral processes. The three measured regularities appeared no matter the political environment.

Results on Three Predictions for July 2012 Federal Elections in Mexico Based on Past Regularities

PubMed Central

Hernández-Saldaña, H.

2013-01-01

The Presidential Election in Mexico of July 2012 has been the third time that PREP, Previous Electoral Results Program works. PREP gives voting outcomes based in electoral certificates of each polling station that arrive to capture centers. In previous ones, some statistical regularities had been observed, three of them were selected to make predictions and were published in arXiv:1207.0078 [physics.soc-ph]. Using the database made public in July 2012, two of the predictions were completely fulfilled, while, the third one was measured and confirmed using the database obtained upon request to the electoral authorities. The first two predictions confirmed by actual measures are: (ii) The Partido Revolucionario Institucional, PRI, is a sprinter and has a better performance in polling stations arriving late to capture centers during the process. (iii) Distribution of vote of this party is well described by a smooth function named a Daisy model. A Gamma distribution, but compatible with a Daisy model, fits the distribution as well. The third prediction confirms that errare humanum est, since the error distributions of all the self-consistency variables appeared as a central power law with lateral lobes as in 2000 and 2006 electoral processes. The three measured regularities appeared no matter the political environment. PMID:24386103

First moments of nucleon generalized parton distributions

DOE PAGES

Wang, P.; Thomas, A. W.

2010-06-01

We extrapolate the first moments of the generalized parton distributions using heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. The calculation is based on the one loop level with the finite range regularization. The description of the lattice data is satisfactory, and the extrapolated moments at physical pion mass are consistent with the results obtained with dimensional regularization, although the extrapolation in the momentum transfer to t=0 does show sensitivity to form factor effects, which lie outside the realm of chiral perturbation theory. We discuss the significance of the results in the light of modern experiments as well as QCD inspired models.

History matching by spline approximation and regularization in single-phase areal reservoirs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, T. Y.; Kravaris, C.; Seinfeld, J.

1986-01-01

An automatic history matching algorithm is developed based on bi-cubic spline approximations of permeability and porosity distributions and on the theory of regularization to estimate permeability or porosity in a single-phase, two-dimensional real reservoir from well pressure data. The regularization feature of the algorithm is used to convert the ill-posed history matching problem into a well-posed problem. The algorithm employs the conjugate gradient method as its core minimization method. A number of numerical experiments are carried out to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. Comparisons with conventional (non-regularized) automatic history matching algorithms indicate the superiority of the new algorithm with respect to the parameter estimates obtained. A quasioptimal regularization parameter is determined without requiring a priori information on the statistical properties of the observations.

Spatial Mapping of Lipids at Cellular Resolution in Embryos of Cotton[W][OA

PubMed Central

Horn, Patrick J.; Korte, Andrew R.; Neogi, Purnima B.; Love, Ebony; Fuchs, Johannes; Strupat, Kerstin; Borisjuk, Ljudmilla; Shulaev, Vladimir; Lee, Young-Jin; Chapman, Kent D.

2012-01-01

Advances in mass spectrometry (MS) have made comprehensive lipidomics analysis of complex tissues relatively commonplace. These compositional analyses, although able to resolve hundreds of molecular species of lipids in single extracts, lose the original cellular context from which these lipids are derived. Recently, high-resolution MS of individual lipid droplets from seed tissues indicated organelle-to-organelle variation in lipid composition, suggesting that heterogeneity of lipid distributions at the cellular level may be prevalent. Here, we employed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–MS imaging (MALDI-MSI) approaches to visualize lipid species directly in seed tissues of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). MS imaging of cryosections of mature cotton embryos revealed a distinct, heterogeneous distribution of molecular species of triacylglycerols and phosphatidylcholines, the major storage and membrane lipid classes in cotton embryos. Other lipids were imaged, including phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidic acids, sterols, and gossypol, indicating the broad range of metabolites and applications for this chemical visualization approach. We conclude that comprehensive lipidomics images generated by MALDI-MSI report accurate, relative amounts of lipid species in plant tissues and reveal previously unseen differences in spatial distributions providing for a new level of understanding in cellular biochemistry. PMID:22337917

Invariant models in the inversion of gravity and magnetic fields and their derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ialongo, Simone; Fedi, Maurizio; Florio, Giovanni

2014-11-01

In potential field inversion problems we usually solve underdetermined systems and realistic solutions may be obtained by introducing a depth-weighting function in the objective function. The choice of the exponent of such power-law is crucial. It was suggested to determine it from the field-decay due to a single source-block; alternatively it has been defined as the structural index of the investigated source distribution. In both cases, when k-order derivatives of the potential field are considered, the depth-weighting exponent has to be increased by k with respect that of the potential field itself, in order to obtain consistent source model distributions. We show instead that invariant and realistic source-distribution models are obtained using the same depth-weighting exponent for the magnetic field and for its k-order derivatives. A similar behavior also occurs in the gravity case. In practice we found that the depth weighting-exponent is invariant for a given source-model and equal to that of the corresponding magnetic field, in the magnetic case, and of the 1st derivative of the gravity field, in the gravity case. In the case of the regularized inverse problem, with depth-weighting and general constraints, the mathematical demonstration of such invariance is difficult, because of its non-linearity, and of its variable form, due to the different constraints used. However, tests performed on a variety of synthetic cases seem to confirm the invariance of the depth-weighting exponent. A final consideration regards the role of the regularization parameter; we show that the regularization can severely affect the depth to the source because the estimated depth tends to increase proportionally with the size of the regularization parameter. Hence, some care is needed in handling the combined effect of the regularization parameter and depth weighting.

L1-norm locally linear representation regularization multi-source adaptation learning.

PubMed

Tao, Jianwen; Wen, Shiting; Hu, Wenjun

2015-09-01

In most supervised domain adaptation learning (DAL) tasks, one has access only to a small number of labeled examples from target domain. Therefore the success of supervised DAL in this "small sample" regime needs the effective utilization of the large amounts of unlabeled data to extract information that is useful for generalization. Toward this end, we here use the geometric intuition of manifold assumption to extend the established frameworks in existing model-based DAL methods for function learning by incorporating additional information about the target geometric structure of the marginal distribution. We would like to ensure that the solution is smooth with respect to both the ambient space and the target marginal distribution. In doing this, we propose a novel L1-norm locally linear representation regularization multi-source adaptation learning framework which exploits the geometry of the probability distribution, which has two techniques. Firstly, an L1-norm locally linear representation method is presented for robust graph construction by replacing the L2-norm reconstruction measure in LLE with L1-norm one, which is termed as L1-LLR for short. Secondly, considering the robust graph regularization, we replace traditional graph Laplacian regularization with our new L1-LLR graph Laplacian regularization and therefore construct new graph-based semi-supervised learning framework with multi-source adaptation constraint, which is coined as L1-MSAL method. Moreover, to deal with the nonlinear learning problem, we also generalize the L1-MSAL method by mapping the input data points from the input space to a high-dimensional reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) via a nonlinear mapping. Promising experimental results have been obtained on several real-world datasets such as face, visual video and object. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Minimum Fisher regularization of image reconstruction for infrared imaging bolometer on HL-2A

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, J. M.; Liu, Y.; Li, W.

2013-09-15

An infrared imaging bolometer diagnostic has been developed recently for the HL-2A tokamak to measure the temporal and spatial distribution of plasma radiation. The three-dimensional tomography, reduced to a two-dimensional problem by the assumption of plasma radiation toroidal symmetry, has been performed. A three-dimensional geometry matrix is calculated with the one-dimensional pencil beam approximation. The solid angles viewed by the detector elements are taken into account in defining the chord brightness. And the local plasma emission is obtained by inverting the measured brightness with the minimum Fisher regularization method. A typical HL-2A plasma radiation model was chosen to optimize amore » regularization parameter on the criterion of generalized cross validation. Finally, this method was applied to HL-2A experiments, demonstrating the plasma radiated power density distribution in limiter and divertor discharges.« less

Statistical regularities in the rank-citation profile of scientists

PubMed Central

Petersen, Alexander M.; Stanley, H. Eugene; Succi, Sauro

2011-01-01

Recent science of science research shows that scientific impact measures for journals and individual articles have quantifiable regularities across both time and discipline. However, little is known about the scientific impact distribution at the scale of an individual scientist. We analyze the aggregate production and impact using the rank-citation profile ci(r) of 200 distinguished professors and 100 assistant professors. For the entire range of paper rank r, we fit each ci(r) to a common distribution function. Since two scientists with equivalent Hirsch h-index can have significantly different ci(r) profiles, our results demonstrate the utility of the βi scaling parameter in conjunction with hi for quantifying individual publication impact. We show that the total number of citations Ci tallied from a scientist's Ni papers scales as . Such statistical regularities in the input-output patterns of scientists can be used as benchmarks for theoretical models of career progress. PMID:22355696

Singular Value Decomposition Method to Determine Distance Distributions in Pulsed Dipolar Electron Spin Resonance.

PubMed

Srivastava, Madhur; Freed, Jack H

2017-11-16

Regularization is often utilized to elicit the desired physical results from experimental data. The recent development of a denoising procedure yielding about 2 orders of magnitude in improvement in SNR obviates the need for regularization, which achieves a compromise between canceling effects of noise and obtaining an estimate of the desired physical results. We show how singular value decomposition (SVD) can be employed directly on the denoised data, using pulse dipolar electron spin resonance experiments as an example. Such experiments are useful in measuring distances and their distributions, P(r) between spin labels on proteins. In noise-free model cases exact results are obtained, but even a small amount of noise (e.g., SNR = 850 after denoising) corrupts the solution. We develop criteria that precisely determine an optimum approximate solution, which can readily be automated. This method is applicable to any signal that is currently processed with regularization of its SVD analysis.

Extending HPF for advanced data parallel applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chapman, Barbara; Mehrotra, Piyush; Zima, Hans

1994-01-01

The stated goal of High Performance Fortran (HPF) was to 'address the problems of writing data parallel programs where the distribution of data affects performance'. After examining the current version of the language we are led to the conclusion that HPF has not fully achieved this goal. While the basic distribution functions offered by the language - regular block, cyclic, and block cyclic distributions - can support regular numerical algorithms, advanced applications such as particle-in-cell codes or unstructured mesh solvers cannot be expressed adequately. We believe that this is a major weakness of HPF, significantly reducing its chances of becoming accepted in the numeric community. The paper discusses the data distribution and alignment issues in detail, points out some flaws in the basic language, and outlines possible future paths of development. Furthermore, we briefly deal with the issue of task parallelism and its integration with the data parallel paradigm of HPF.

Interactions between statistical and semantic information in infant language development

PubMed Central

Lany, Jill; Saffran, Jenny R.

2013-01-01

Infants can use statistical regularities to form rudimentary word categories (e.g. noun, verb), and to learn the meanings common to words from those categories. Using an artificial language methodology, we probed the mechanisms by which two types of statistical cues (distributional and phonological regularities) affect word learning. Because linking distributional cues vs. phonological information to semantics make different computational demands on learners, we also tested whether their use is related to language proficiency. We found that 22-month-old infants with smaller vocabularies generalized using phonological cues; however, infants with larger vocabularies showed the opposite pattern of results, generalizing based on distributional cues. These findings suggest that both phonological and distributional cues marking word categories promote early word learning. Moreover, while correlations between these cues are important to forming word categories, we found infants’ weighting of these cues in subsequent word-learning tasks changes over the course of early language development. PMID:21884336

Structure and organization of Stratocumulus fields: A network approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glassmeier, Franziska; Feingold, Graham

2017-04-01

The representation of Stratocumulus (Sc) clouds and their radiative impact is one of the large challenges for global climate models. Aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions greatly contribute to this challenge by influencing the morphology of Sc fields: In the absence of rain, Sc are arranged in a relatively regular pattern of cloudy cells separated by cloud-free rings of down welling air ('closed cells'). Raining cloud fields, in contrast, exhibit an oscillating pattern of cloudy rings surrounding cloud free cells of negatively buoyant air caused by sedimentation and evaporation of rain ('open cells'). Surprisingly, these regular structures of open and closed cellular Sc fields and their potential for the development of new parameterizations have hardly been explored. In this contribution, we approach the organization of Sc from the perspective of a 2-dimensional random network. We find that cellular networks derived from LES simulations of open- and closed-cell Sc cases are almost indistinguishable and share the following features: (i) The distributions of nearest neighbors, or cell degree, are centered at six. This corresponds to approximately hexagonal cloud cells and is a direct mathematical consequence (Euler formula) of the triple junctions featured by Sc organization. (ii) The degree of individual cells is found to be proportional to the normalized size of the cells. This means that cell arrangement is independent of the typical cell size. (iii) Reflecting the continuously renewing dynamics of Sc fields, large (high-degree) cells tend to be neighbored by small (low-degree) cells and vice versa. These macroscopic network properties emerge independent of the state of the Sc field because the different processes governing the evolution of closed as compared to open cells correspond to topologically equivalent network dynamics. By developing a heuristic model, we show that open and closed cell dynamics can both be mimicked by versions of cell division and cell disappearance and are biased towards the expansion of smaller cells. As a conclusion of our network analysis, Sc organization can be characterized by a typical length scale and a scale-independent cell arrangement. While the typical length scale emerges from the full complexity of aerosol-cloud-precipitation-radiation interactions, cell arrangement is independent of cloud processes and its evolution could be parameterized based on our heuristic model.

Molecular and Cellular Determinants of Malignant Transformation in Pulmonary Premalignancy

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-07-01

AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-16-1-0194 TITLE: Molecular and Cellular Determinants of Malignant Transformation in Pulmonary Premalignancy PRINCIPAL...2017 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Molecular and Cellular Determinants of Malignant Transformation in Pulmonary Premalignancy 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT...Sequenced Regions Figure 2. Intra- and inter-patient genetic heterogeneity of pulmonary lesions. A) Distribution of Jaccard indices comparing n.s

Differences in primary cellular factors influencing the metabolism and distribution of 3,5,3′-L-triiodothyronine and L-thyroxine

PubMed Central

Oppenheimer, Jack H.; Schwartz, Harold L.; Shapiro, Harvey C.; Bernstein, Gerald; Surks, Martin I.

1970-01-01

Administration of phenobarbital, which acts exclusively on cellular sites, results in an augmentation of the liver/plasma concentration ratio of L-thyroxine (T4) in rats but no change in the liver/plasma concentration ratio of L-triiodothyronine (T3). Whereas phenobarbital stimulates the fecal clearance rate both of T3 and T4, it increases the deiodinative clearance rate of T4 only. These findings suggest basic differences in the cellular metabolism of T3 and T4. Further evidence pointing to cellular differences was obtained from a comparison of the distribution and metabolism of these hormones with appropriate corrections for the effect of differential plasma binding. The percentage of total exchangeable cellular T4 within the liver (28.5) is significantly greater than the corresponding percentage of exchangeable cellular T3 within this organ (12.3). Extrahepatic tissues bind T3 twice as firmly as T4. The cellular metabolic clearance rate (= free hormone clearance rate) of T3 exceeds that of T4 by a factor 1.8 in the rat. The corresponding ratio in man, 2.4, was determined by noncompartmental analysis of turnover studies in four individuals after the simultaneous injection of T4-125I and T3-131I. The greater cellular metabolic clearance rate of T3 both in rat and man may be related to the higher specific hormonal potency of this iodothyronine. PMID:5441537

Effects of induced Na+/Ca2+ exchanger overexpression on the spatial distribution of L-type Ca2+ channels and junctophilin-2 in pressure-overloaded hearts.

PubMed

Ujihara, Yoshihiro; Mohri, Satoshi; Katanosaka, Yuki

2016-11-25

The Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger 1 (NCX1) is an essential Ca 2+ efflux system in cardiomyocytes. Although NCX1 is distributed throughout the sarcolemma, a subpopulation of NCX1 is localized to transverse (T)-tubules. There is growing evidence that T-tubule disorganization is a causal event that shifts the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure (HF). However, the detailed molecular mechanisms have not been clarified. Previously, we showed that induced NCX1 expression in pressure-overloaded hearts attenuates defective excitation-contraction coupling and HF progression. Here, we examined the effects of induced NCX1 overexpression on the spatial distribution of L-type Ca 2+ channels (LTCCs) and junctophilin-2 (JP2), a structural protein that connects the T-tubule and sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane, in pressure-overloaded hearts. Quantitative analysis showed that the regularity of NCX1 localization was significantly decreased at 8 weeks after transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-surgery; however, T-tubule organization and the regularities of LTCC and JP2 immunofluorescent signals were maintained at this time point. These observations demonstrated that release of NCX1 from the T-tubule area occurred before the onset of T-tubule disorganization and LTCC and JP2 mislocalization. Moreover, induced NCX1 overexpression at 8 weeks post-TAC not only recovered NCX1 regularity but also prevented the decrease in LTCC and JP2 regularities at 16 weeks post-TAC. These results suggested that NCX1 may play an important role in the proper spatial distribution of LTCC and JP2 in T-tubules in the context of pressure-overloading. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spatial Analysis of “Crazy Quilts”, a Class of Potentially Random Aesthetic Artefacts

PubMed Central

Westphal-Fitch, Gesche; Fitch, W. Tecumseh

2013-01-01

Human artefacts in general are highly structured and often display ordering principles such as translational, reflectional or rotational symmetry. In contrast, human artefacts that are intended to appear random and non symmetrical are very rare. Furthermore, many studies show that humans find it extremely difficult to recognize or reproduce truly random patterns or sequences. Here, we attempt to model two-dimensional decorative spatial patterns produced by humans that show no obvious order. “Crazy quilts” represent a historically important style of quilt making that became popular in the 1870s, and lasted about 50 years. Crazy quilts are unusual because unlike most human artefacts, they are specifically intended to appear haphazard and unstructured. We evaluate the degree to which this intention was achieved by using statistical techniques of spatial point pattern analysis to compare crazy quilts with regular quilts from the same region and era and to evaluate the fit of various random distributions to these two quilt classes. We found that the two quilt categories exhibit fundamentally different spatial characteristics: The patch areas of crazy quilts derive from a continuous random distribution, while area distributions of regular quilts consist of Gaussian mixtures. These Gaussian mixtures derive from regular pattern motifs that are repeated and we suggest that such a mixture is a distinctive signature of human-made visual patterns. In contrast, the distribution found in crazy quilts is shared with many other naturally occurring spatial patterns. Centroids of patches in the two quilt classes are spaced differently and in general, crazy quilts but not regular quilts are well-fitted by a random Strauss process. These results indicate that, within the constraints of the quilt format, Victorian quilters indeed achieved their goal of generating random structures. PMID:24066095

Spatial analysis of "crazy quilts", a class of potentially random aesthetic artefacts.

PubMed

Westphal-Fitch, Gesche; Fitch, W Tecumseh

2013-01-01

Human artefacts in general are highly structured and often display ordering principles such as translational, reflectional or rotational symmetry. In contrast, human artefacts that are intended to appear random and non symmetrical are very rare. Furthermore, many studies show that humans find it extremely difficult to recognize or reproduce truly random patterns or sequences. Here, we attempt to model two-dimensional decorative spatial patterns produced by humans that show no obvious order. "Crazy quilts" represent a historically important style of quilt making that became popular in the 1870s, and lasted about 50 years. Crazy quilts are unusual because unlike most human artefacts, they are specifically intended to appear haphazard and unstructured. We evaluate the degree to which this intention was achieved by using statistical techniques of spatial point pattern analysis to compare crazy quilts with regular quilts from the same region and era and to evaluate the fit of various random distributions to these two quilt classes. We found that the two quilt categories exhibit fundamentally different spatial characteristics: The patch areas of crazy quilts derive from a continuous random distribution, while area distributions of regular quilts consist of Gaussian mixtures. These Gaussian mixtures derive from regular pattern motifs that are repeated and we suggest that such a mixture is a distinctive signature of human-made visual patterns. In contrast, the distribution found in crazy quilts is shared with many other naturally occurring spatial patterns. Centroids of patches in the two quilt classes are spaced differently and in general, crazy quilts but not regular quilts are well-fitted by a random Strauss process. These results indicate that, within the constraints of the quilt format, Victorian quilters indeed achieved their goal of generating random structures.

Introduction of Total Variation Regularization into Filtered Backprojection Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raczyński, L.; Wiślicki, W.; Klimaszewski, K.; Krzemień, W.; Kowalski, P.; Shopa, R. Y.; Białas, P.; Curceanu, C.; Czerwiński, E.; Dulski, K.; Gajos, A.; Głowacz, B.; Gorgol, M.; Hiesmayr, B.; Jasińska, B.; Kisielewska-Kamińska, D.; Korcyl, G.; Kozik, T.; Krawczyk, N.; Kubicz, E.; Mohammed, M.; Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M.; Niedźwiecki, S.; Pałka, M.; Rudy, Z.; Sharma, N. G.; Sharma, S.; Silarski, M.; Skurzok, M.; Wieczorek, A.; Zgardzińska, B.; Zieliński, M.; Moskal, P.

In this paper we extend the state-of-the-art filtered backprojection (FBP) method with application of the concept of Total Variation regularization. We compare the performance of the new algorithm with the most common form of regularizing in the FBP image reconstruction via apodizing functions. The methods are validated in terms of cross-correlation coefficient between reconstructed and real image of radioactive tracer distribution using standard Derenzo-type phantom. We demonstrate that the proposed approach results in higher cross-correlation values with respect to the standard FBP method.

Using Poisson-regularized inversion of Bremsstrahlung emission to extract full electron energy distribution functions from x-ray pulse-height detector data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swanson, C.; Jandovitz, P.; Cohen, S. A.

2018-02-01

We measured Electron Energy Distribution Functions (EEDFs) from below 200 eV to over 8 keV and spanning five orders-of-magnitude in intensity, produced in a low-power, RF-heated, tandem mirror discharge in the PFRC-II apparatus. The EEDF was obtained from the x-ray energy distribution function (XEDF) using a novel Poisson-regularized spectrum inversion algorithm applied to pulse-height spectra that included both Bremsstrahlung and line emissions. The XEDF was measured using a specially calibrated Amptek Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) pulse-height system with 125 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV. The algorithm is found to out-perform current leading x-ray inversion algorithms when the error due to counting statistics is high.

Patterns, Entropy, and Predictability of Human Mobility and Life

PubMed Central

Qin, Shao-Meng; Verkasalo, Hannu; Mohtaschemi, Mikael; Hartonen, Tuomo; Alava, Mikko

2012-01-01

Cellular phones are now offering an ubiquitous means for scientists to observe life: how people act, move and respond to external influences. They can be utilized as measurement devices of individual persons and for groups of people of the social context and the related interactions. The picture of human life that emerges shows complexity, which is manifested in such data in properties of the spatiotemporal tracks of individuals. We extract from smartphone-based data for a set of persons important locations such as “home”, “work” and so forth over fixed length time-slots covering the days in the data-set (see also [1], [2]). This set of typical places is heavy-tailed, a power-law distribution with an exponent close to −1.7. To analyze the regularities and stochastic features present, the days are classified for each person into regular, personal patterns. To this are superimposed fluctuations for each day. This randomness is measured by “life” entropy, computed both before and after finding the clustering so as to subtract the contribution of a number of patterns. The main issue that we then address is how predictable individuals are in their mobility. The patterns and entropy are reflected in the predictability of the mobility of the life both individually and on average. We explore the simple approaches to guess the location from the typical behavior, and of exploiting the transition probabilities with time from location or activity A to B. The patterns allow an enhanced predictability, at least up to a few hours into the future from the current location. Such fixed habits are most clearly visible in the working-day length. PMID:23300542

Characterization of Window Functions for Regularization of Electrical Capacitance Tomography Image Reconstruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Peng; Peng, Lihui; Xiao, Deyun

2007-06-01

This paper presents a regularization method by using different window functions as regularization for electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) image reconstruction. Image reconstruction for ECT is a typical ill-posed inverse problem. Because of the small singular values of the sensitivity matrix, the solution is sensitive to the measurement noise. The proposed method uses the spectral filtering properties of different window functions to make the solution stable by suppressing the noise in measurements. The window functions, such as the Hanning window, the cosine window and so on, are modified for ECT image reconstruction. Simulations with respect to five typical permittivity distributions are carried out. The reconstructions are better and some of the contours are clearer than the results from the Tikhonov regularization. Numerical results show that the feasibility of the image reconstruction algorithm using different window functions as regularization.

Manifold Regularized Multitask Feature Learning for Multimodality Disease Classification

PubMed Central

Jie, Biao; Zhang, Daoqiang; Cheng, Bo; Shen, Dinggang

2015-01-01

Multimodality based methods have shown great advantages in classification of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its prodromal stage, that is, mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Recently, multitask feature selection methods are typically used for joint selection of common features across multiple modalities. However, one disadvantage of existing multimodality based methods is that they ignore the useful data distribution information in each modality, which is essential for subsequent classification. Accordingly, in this paper we propose a manifold regularized multitask feature learning method to preserve both the intrinsic relatedness among multiple modalities of data and the data distribution information in each modality. Specifically, we denote the feature learning on each modality as a single task, and use group-sparsity regularizer to capture the intrinsic relatedness among multiple tasks (i.e., modalities) and jointly select the common features from multiple tasks. Furthermore, we introduce a new manifold-based Laplacian regularizer to preserve the data distribution information from each task. Finally, we use the multikernel support vector machine method to fuse multimodality data for eventual classification. Conversely, we also extend our method to the semisupervised setting, where only partial data are labeled. We evaluate our method using the baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) data of subjects from AD neuroimaging initiative database. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method can not only achieve improved classification performance, but also help to discover the disease-related brain regions useful for disease diagnosis. PMID:25277605

Student perception of the educational environment in regular and bridging nursing programs in Saudi Arabia using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure.

PubMed

Al Nozha, Omar Mansour; Fadel, Hani T

2017-01-01

Taibah University offers regular nursing (RNP) and nursing bridging (NBP) bachelor programs. We evaluated student perception of the learning environment as one means of quality assurance. To assess nursing student perception of their educational environment, to compare the perceptions of regular and bridging students, and to compare the perceptions of students in the old and new curricula. Cross-sectional survey. College of Nursing at Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) instrument was distributed to over 714 nursing students to assess perception of the educational environment. Independent samples t test and Pearson's chi square were used to compare the programs and curricula. The DREEM inventory score. Of 714 students, 271 (38%) were RNP students and 443 (62%) were NBP students. The mean (standard deviation) DREEM score was 111 (25). No significant differences were observed between the programs except for the domain "academic self-perceptions" being higher in RNP students (P < .001). Higher mean DREEM scores were observed among students studying the new curriculum in the RNP (P < .001) and NBP (P > .05). Nursing students generally perceived their learning environment as more positive than negative. Regular students were more positive than bridging students. Students who experienced the new curriculum were more positive towards learning. The cross-sectional design and unequal gender and study level distributions may limit generalizability of the results. Longitudinal, large-scale studies with more even distributions of participant characteristics are needed.

An entropy regularization method applied to the identification of wave distribution function for an ELF hiss event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prot, Olivier; SantolíK, OndřEj; Trotignon, Jean-Gabriel; Deferaudy, Hervé

2006-06-01

An entropy regularization algorithm (ERA) has been developed to compute the wave-energy density from electromagnetic field measurements. It is based on the wave distribution function (WDF) concept. To assess its suitability and efficiency, the algorithm is applied to experimental data that has already been analyzed using other inversion techniques. The FREJA satellite data that is used consists of six spectral matrices corresponding to six time-frequency points of an ELF hiss-event spectrogram. The WDF analysis is performed on these six points and the results are compared with those obtained previously. A statistical stability analysis confirms the stability of the solutions. The WDF computation is fast and without any prespecified parameters. The regularization parameter has been chosen in accordance with the Morozov's discrepancy principle. The Generalized Cross Validation and L-curve criterions are then tentatively used to provide a fully data-driven method. However, these criterions fail to determine a suitable value of the regularization parameter. Although the entropy regularization leads to solutions that agree fairly well with those already published, some differences are observed, and these are discussed in detail. The main advantage of the ERA is to return the WDF that exhibits the largest entropy and to avoid the use of a priori models, which sometimes seem to be more accurate but without any justification.

RBOOST: RIEMANNIAN DISTANCE BASED REGULARIZED BOOSTING

PubMed Central

Liu, Meizhu; Vemuri, Baba C.

2011-01-01

Boosting is a versatile machine learning technique that has numerous applications including but not limited to image processing, computer vision, data mining etc. It is based on the premise that the classification performance of a set of weak learners can be boosted by some weighted combination of them. There have been a number of boosting methods proposed in the literature, such as the AdaBoost, LPBoost, SoftBoost and their variations. However, the learning update strategies used in these methods usually lead to overfitting and instabilities in the classification accuracy. Improved boosting methods via regularization can overcome such difficulties. In this paper, we propose a Riemannian distance regularized LPBoost, dubbed RBoost. RBoost uses Riemannian distance between two square-root densities (in closed form) – used to represent the distribution over the training data and the classification error respectively – to regularize the error distribution in an iterative update formula. Since this distance is in closed form, RBoost requires much less computational cost compared to other regularized Boosting algorithms. We present several experimental results depicting the performance of our algorithm in comparison to recently published methods, LP-Boost and CAVIAR, on a variety of datasets including the publicly available OASIS database, a home grown Epilepsy database and the well known UCI repository. Results depict that the RBoost algorithm performs better than the competing methods in terms of accuracy and efficiency. PMID:21927643

Frequent cellular phone use modifies hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to a cellular phone call after mental stress in healthy children and adolescents: A pilot study.

PubMed

Geronikolou, Styliani A; Chamakou, Aikaterini; Mantzou, Aimilia; Chrousos, George; KanakaGantenbein, Christina

2015-12-01

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the main "gate-keeper" of the organism's response to every somatic or mental stress. This prospective study aims to investigate the HPA-axis response to a cellular phone call exposure after mental stress in healthy children and adolescents and to assess the possible predictive role of baseline endocrine markers to this response. Two groups of healthy school-age children aged 11-14 (12.5±1.5) years were included in the study, the one comprising those who are occasional users of a cellular phone (Group A) while the second those who do regularly use one (Group B). Blood samples were obtained from all participants at 8.00 am after a 12-hour overnight fasting for thyroid hormone, glucose, insulin, and cortisol levels determination. The participants performed the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C) (5 minoral task followed by 5 min arithmetic task). Salivary cortisol samples were obtained at baseline, 10' and 20' min after the TSST-C and 10' and 20' after a 5 minute cellular phone call. Significant changes in the salivary cortisol levels were noted between 10' and 20' mins after the cellular phone call with different responses between the two groups. Baseline thyroid hormone levels seem to predict the cortisol response to mental stress mainly in group A, while HOMA had no impact on salivary cortisol response at any phase of the test, in either group. HPA axis response to cellular phone after mental stress in children and adolescents follow a different pattern in frequent users than in occasional users that seems to be influenced by the baseline thyroid hormone levels. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Endocytoscopic findings of lymphomas of the stomach

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The gastric lesions of various lymphomas were observed at the cellular level using endocytoscopy. Methods Endocytoscopy and magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging (NBI) were performed in 17 patients with lymphomas of the stomach. The lesions consisted of 7 with low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), 5 with gastric involvement by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), 4 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 1 with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Results On conventional endoscopy, 9 were classified as having superficial spreading type, 7 were mass-forming type, and 1 was diffuse infiltrating type. Anti-H. pylori treatment was given in the 7 MALT lymphoma cases. NBI magnification endoscopy invariably showed dilatation or ballooning and destruction of gastric pits and elongation and distortion in microvessels. Endocytoscopy showed mucosal aggregation of interstitial cellular elements in almost all gastric lymphoma cases. The nuclear diversity in size and configuration was exclusively seen in gastric lymphomas other than MALT lymphoma, whereas the nuclei of MALT lymphoma cells were regular and small to moderate in size. Inter-glandular infiltration by lymphomatous cell elements was frequently observed in MALT lymphoma and DLBCL, but it was uncommon in peripheral gastric T-cell malignancies. Endocytoscopy could identify the disease-specific histology, the lymphoepithelial origin, as inter-glandular infiltration of cellular components in MALT lymphoma and the possibly related DLBCL cases. Complete regression (CR) was observed in 2 of the 7 MALT lymphoma patients. In the 2 patients with CR who underwent repeat endocytoscopy, the ultra-high magnification abnormalities returned to normal, while they were unchanged in those without tumor regression. Conclusions On endocytoscopy, intra-glandular aggregation of cellular components was invariably identified in lymphomas of the stomach. Nuclear regularity in size and configuration may indicate the cytological grade, differentiating the indolent low-grade from aggressive lymphoproliferative diseases. The inter-glandular infiltration seen on endocytoscopy can indicate the lymphoepithelial lesions seen in MALT lymphoma and related DLBCL. Endocytoscopy would be applicable for virtual histopathological diagnosis of different lymphoproliferative disorders and their clinical assessment during ongoing endoscopy. PMID:24369830

Extraction protocol and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for determining micelle-entrapped paclitaxel at the cellular and subcellular levels: Application to a cellular uptake and distribution study.

PubMed

Zheng, Nan; Lian, Bin; Du, Wenwen; Xu, Guobing; Ji, Jiafu

2018-01-01

Paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles (PTX-PM) are commonly used as tumor-targeted nanocarriers and display outstanding antitumor features in clinic, but its accumulation and distribution in vitro are lack of investigation. It is probably due to the complex micellar system and its low concentration at the cellular or subcellular levels. In this study, we developed an improved extraction method, which was a combination of mechanical disruption and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), to extract the total PTX from micelles in the cell lysate and subcellular compartments. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS) method was optimized to detect the low concentration of PTX at cellular and subcellular levels simultaneously, using docetaxel as internal standard (IS). The method was proved to release PTX totally from micelles (≥95.93%) with a consistent and reproducible extraction recovery (≥75.04%). Good linearity was obtained at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 20ng/mL. The relative error (RE%) for accuracy varied from 0.68 to 7.56%, and the intra- and inter-precision (relative standard deviation, RSD%) was less than 8.64% and 13.14%, respectively. This method was fully validated and successfully applied to the cellular uptake and distribution study of PTX-loaded PLGA-PEG micelles in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A note on the regularity of solutions of infinite dimensional Riccati equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burns, John A.; King, Belinda B.

1994-01-01

This note is concerned with the regularity of solutions of algebraic Riccati equations arising from infinite dimensional LQR and LQG control problems. We show that distributed parameter systems described by certain parabolic partial differential equations often have a special structure that smoothes solutions of the corresponding Riccati equation. This analysis is motivated by the need to find specific representations for Riccati operators that can be used in the development of computational schemes for problems where the input and output operators are not Hilbert-Schmidt. This situation occurs in many boundary control problems and in certain distributed control problems associated with optimal sensor/actuator placement.

Investigation of wall-bounded turbulence over regularly distributed roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Placidi, Marco; Ganapathisubramani, Bharathram

2012-11-01

The effects of regularly distributed roughness elements on the structure of a turbulent boundary layer are examined by performing a series of Planar (high resolution l+ ~ 30) and Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experiments in a wind tunnel. An adequate description of how to best characterise a rough wall, especially one where the density of roughness elements is sparse, is yet to be developed. In this study, rough surfaces consisting of regularly and uniformly distributed LEGO® blocks are used. Twelve different patterns are adopted in order to systematically examine the effects of frontal solidity (λf, frontal area of the roughness elements per unit wall-parallel area) and plan solidity (λp, plan area of roughness elements per unit wall-parallel area), on the turbulence structure. The Karman number, Reτ , is approximately 4000 across the different cases. Spanwise 3D vector fields at two different wall-normal locations (top of the canopy and within the log-region) are also compared to examine the spanwise homogeneity of the flow across different surfaces. In the talk, a detailed analysis of mean and rms velocity profiles, Reynolds stresses, and quadrant decomposition for the different patterns will be presented.

Statistical mechanics of two-dimensional shuffled foams: Geometry-topology correlation in small or large disorder limits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durand, Marc; Kraynik, Andrew M.; van Swol, Frank; Käfer, Jos; Quilliet, Catherine; Cox, Simon; Ataei Talebi, Shirin; Graner, François

2014-06-01

Bubble monolayers are model systems for experiments and simulations of two-dimensional packing problems of deformable objects. We explore the relation between the distributions of the number of bubble sides (topology) and the bubble areas (geometry) in the low liquid fraction limit. We use a statistical model [M. Durand, Europhys. Lett. 90, 60002 (2010), 10.1209/0295-5075/90/60002] which takes into account Plateau laws. We predict the correlation between geometrical disorder (bubble size dispersity) and topological disorder (width of bubble side number distribution) over an extended range of bubble size dispersities. Extensive data sets arising from shuffled foam experiments, surface evolver simulations, and cellular Potts model simulations all collapse surprisingly well and coincide with the model predictions, even at extremely high size dispersity. At moderate size dispersity, we recover our earlier approximate predictions [M. Durand, J. Kafer, C. Quilliet, S. Cox, S. A. Talebi, and F. Graner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 168304 (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.168304]. At extremely low dispersity, when approaching the perfectly regular honeycomb pattern, we study how both geometrical and topological disorders vanish. We identify a crystallization mechanism and explore it quantitatively in the case of bidisperse foams. Due to the deformability of the bubbles, foams can crystallize over a larger range of size dispersities than hard disks. The model predicts that the crystallization transition occurs when the ratio of largest to smallest bubble radii is 1.4.

Ultrastructural changes and the distribution of arabinogalactan proteins during somatic embryogenesis of banana (Musa spp. AAA cv. 'Yueyoukang 1').

PubMed

Pan, Xiao; Yang, Xiao; Lin, Guimei; Zou, Ru; Chen, Houbin; Samaj, Jozef; Xu, Chunxiang

2011-08-01

A better understanding of somatic embryogenesis in banana (Musa spp.) may provide a practical way to improve regeneration of banana plants. In this study, we applied scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to visualize the ultrastructural changes during somatic embryogenesis of banana (Musa AAA cv. 'Yueyoukang 1'). We also used histological and immunohistochemical techniques with 16 monoclonal antibodies to study the spatial distribution and cellular/subcellular localization of different arabinogalactan protein (AGP) components of the cell wall during somatic embryogenesis. Histological study with periodic acid-Schiff staining documented diverse embryogenic stages from embryogenic cells (ECs) to the late embryos. SEM revealed a mesh-like structure on the surface of proembryos which represented an early structural marker of somatic embryogenesis. TEM showed that ECs were rich in juvenile mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi stacks. Cells in proembryos and early globular embryos resembled ECs, but they were more vacuolated, showed more regular nuclei and slightly more developed organelles. Immunocytochemical study revealed that the signal of most AGP epitopes was stronger in starch-rich cells when compared with typical ECs. The main AGP component in the extracellular matrix surface network of banana proembryos was the MAC204 epitope. Later, AGP immunolabelling patterns varied with the developmental stages of the embryos. These results about developmental regulation of AGP epitopes along with developmental changes in the ultrastructure of cells are providing new insights into the somatic embryogenesis of banana. Copyright © Physiologia Plantarum 2011.

Multi-Compartment T2 Relaxometry Using a Spatially Constrained Multi-Gaussian Model

PubMed Central

Raj, Ashish; Pandya, Sneha; Shen, Xiaobo; LoCastro, Eve; Nguyen, Thanh D.; Gauthier, Susan A.

2014-01-01

The brain’s myelin content can be mapped by T2-relaxometry, which resolves multiple differentially relaxing T2 pools from multi-echo MRI. Unfortunately, the conventional fitting procedure is a hard and numerically ill-posed problem. Consequently, the T2 distributions and myelin maps become very sensitive to noise and are frequently difficult to interpret diagnostically. Although regularization can improve stability, it is generally not adequate, particularly at relatively low signal to noise ratio (SNR) of around 100–200. The purpose of this study was to obtain a fitting algorithm which is able to overcome these difficulties and generate usable myelin maps from noisy acquisitions in a realistic scan time. To this end, we restrict the T2 distribution to only 3 distinct resolvable tissue compartments, modeled as Gaussians: myelin water, intra/extra-cellular water and a slow relaxing cerebrospinal fluid compartment. We also impose spatial smoothness expectation that volume fractions and T2 relaxation times of tissue compartments change smoothly within coherent brain regions. The method greatly improves robustness to noise, reduces spatial variations, improves definition of white matter fibers, and enhances detection of demyelinating lesions. Due to efficient design, the additional spatial aspect does not cause an increase in processing time. The proposed method was applied to fast spiral acquisitions on which conventional fitting gives uninterpretable results. While these fast acquisitions suffer from noise and inhomogeneity artifacts, our preliminary results indicate the potential of spatially constrained 3-pool T2 relaxometry. PMID:24896833

Neural Evidence of Statistical Learning: Efficient Detection of Visual Regularities without Awareness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turk-Browne, Nicholas B.; Scholl, Brian J.; Chun, Marvin M.; Johnson, Marcia K.

2009-01-01

Our environment contains regularities distributed in space and time that can be detected by way of statistical learning. This unsupervised learning occurs without intent or awareness, but little is known about how it relates to other types of learning, how it affects perceptual processing, and how quickly it can occur. Here we use fMRI during…

Impedance computed tomography using an adaptive smoothing coefficient algorithm.

PubMed

Suzuki, A; Uchiyama, A

2001-01-01

In impedance computed tomography, a fixed coefficient regularization algorithm has been frequently used to improve the ill-conditioning problem of the Newton-Raphson algorithm. However, a lot of experimental data and a long period of computation time are needed to determine a good smoothing coefficient because a good smoothing coefficient has to be manually chosen from a number of coefficients and is a constant for each iteration calculation. Thus, sometimes the fixed coefficient regularization algorithm distorts the information or fails to obtain any effect. In this paper, a new adaptive smoothing coefficient algorithm is proposed. This algorithm automatically calculates the smoothing coefficient from the eigenvalue of the ill-conditioned matrix. Therefore, the effective images can be obtained within a short computation time. Also the smoothing coefficient is automatically adjusted by the information related to the real resistivity distribution and the data collection method. In our impedance system, we have reconstructed the resistivity distributions of two phantoms using this algorithm. As a result, this algorithm only needs one-fifth the computation time compared to the fixed coefficient regularization algorithm. When compared to the fixed coefficient regularization algorithm, it shows that the image is obtained more rapidly and applicable in real-time monitoring of the blood vessel.

Diversity and Similarity of Anesthesia Procedures in the United States During and Among Regular Work Hours, Evenings, and Weekends.

PubMed

Dexter, Franklin; Epstein, Richard H; Dutton, Richard P; Kordylewski, Hubert; Ledolter, Johannes; Rosenberg, Henry; Hindman, Bradley J

2016-12-01

Anesthesiologists providing care during off hours (ie, weekends or holidays, or cases started during the evening or late afternoon) are more likely to care for patients at greater risk of sustaining major adverse events than when they work during regular hours (eg, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 2:59 PM). We consider the logical inconsistency of using subspecialty teams during regular hours but not during weekends or evenings. We analyzed data from the Anesthesia Quality Institute's National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry (NACOR). Among the hospitals in the United States, we estimated the average number of common types of anesthesia procedures (ie, diversity measured as inverse of Herfindahl index), and the average difference in the number of common procedures between 2 off-hours periods (regular hours versus weekends, and regular hours versus evenings). We also used NACOR data to estimate the average similarity in the distributions of procedures between regular hours and weekends and between regular hours and evenings in US facilities. Results are reported as mean ± standard error of the mean among 399 facilities nationwide with weekend cases. The distributions of common procedures were moderately similar (ie, not large, <.8) between regular hours and evenings (similarity index .59 ± .01) and between regular hours and weekends (similarity index, .55 ± .02). For most facilities, the number of common procedures differed by <5 procedures between regular hours and evenings (74.4% of facilities, P < .0001) and between regular hours and weekends (64.7% of facilities, P < .0001). The average number of common procedures was 13.59 ± .12 for regular hours, 13.12 ± .13 for evenings, and 9.43 ± .13 for weekends. The pairwise differences by facility were .13 ± .07 procedures (P = .090) between regular hours and evenings and 3.37 ± .12 procedures (P < .0001) between regular hours and weekends. In contrast, the differences were -5.18 ± .12 and 7.59 ± .13, respectively, when calculated using nationally pooled data. This was because the numbers of common procedures were 32.23 ± .05, 37.41 ± .11, and 24.64 ± .12 for regular hours, evenings, and weekends, respectively (ie, >2x the number of common procedures calculated by facility). The numbers of procedures commonly performed at most facilities are fewer in number than those that are commonly performed nationally. Thus, decisions on anesthesia specialization should be based on quantitative analysis of local data rather than national recommendations using pooled data. By facility, the number of different procedures that take place during regular hours and off hours (diversity) is essentially the same, but there is only moderate similarity in the procedures performed. Thus, at many facilities, anesthesiologists who work principally within a single specialty during regular work hours will likely not have substantial contemporary experience with many procedures performed during off hours.

Buckling of a growing tissue and the emergence of two-dimensional patterns☆

PubMed Central

Nelson, M.R.; King, J.R.; Jensen, O.E.

2013-01-01

The process of biological growth and the associated generation of residual stress has previously been considered as a driving mechanism for tissue buckling and pattern selection in numerous areas of biology. Here, we develop a two-dimensional thin plate theory to simulate the growth of cultured intestinal epithelial cells on a deformable substrate, with the goal of elucidating how a tissue engineer might best recreate the regular array of invaginations (crypts of Lieberkühn) found in the wall of the mammalian intestine. We extend the standard von Kármán equations to incorporate inhomogeneity in the plate’s mechanical properties and surface stresses applied to the substrate by cell proliferation. We determine numerically the configurations of a homogeneous plate under uniform cell growth, and show how tethering to an underlying elastic foundation can be used to promote higher-order buckled configurations. We then examine the independent effects of localised softening of the substrate and spatial patterning of cellular growth, demonstrating that (within a two-dimensional framework, and contrary to the predictions of one-dimensional models) growth patterning constitutes a more viable mechanism for control of crypt distribution than does material inhomogeneity. PMID:24128749

Buckling of a growing tissue and the emergence of two-dimensional patterns.

PubMed

Nelson, M R; King, J R; Jensen, O E

2013-12-01

The process of biological growth and the associated generation of residual stress has previously been considered as a driving mechanism for tissue buckling and pattern selection in numerous areas of biology. Here, we develop a two-dimensional thin plate theory to simulate the growth of cultured intestinal epithelial cells on a deformable substrate, with the goal of elucidating how a tissue engineer might best recreate the regular array of invaginations (crypts of Lieberkühn) found in the wall of the mammalian intestine. We extend the standard von Kármán equations to incorporate inhomogeneity in the plate's mechanical properties and surface stresses applied to the substrate by cell proliferation. We determine numerically the configurations of a homogeneous plate under uniform cell growth, and show how tethering to an underlying elastic foundation can be used to promote higher-order buckled configurations. We then examine the independent effects of localised softening of the substrate and spatial patterning of cellular growth, demonstrating that (within a two-dimensional framework, and contrary to the predictions of one-dimensional models) growth patterning constitutes a more viable mechanism for control of crypt distribution than does material inhomogeneity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Redox signaling in skeletal muscle: role of aging and exercise.

PubMed

Ji, Li Li

2015-12-01

Skeletal muscle contraction is associated with the production of ROS due to altered O2 distribution and flux in the cell. Despite a highly efficient antioxidant defense, a small surplus of ROS, such as hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, may serve as signaling molecules to stimulate cellular adaptation to reach new homeostasis largely due to the activation of redox-sensitive signaling pathways. Recent research has highlighted the important role of NF-κB, MAPK, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, along with other newly discovered signaling pathways, in some of the most vital biological functions, such as mitochondrial biogenesis, antioxidant defense, inflammation, protein turnover, apoptosis, and autophagy. There is evidence that the inability of the cell to maintain proper redox signaling underlies some basic mechanisms of biological aging, during which inflammatory and catabolic pathways eventually predominate. Physical exercise has been shown to activate various redox signaling pathways that control the adaptation and remodeling process. Although this stimulatory effect of exercise declines with aging, it is not completed abolished. Thus, aged people can still benefit from regular physical activity in the appropriate forms and at proper intensity to preserve muscle function. Copyright © 2015 The American Physiological Society.

Steady state temperature distribution in dermal regions of an irregular tapered shaped human limb with variable eccentricity.

PubMed

Agrawal, M; Pardasani, K R; Adlakha, N

2014-08-01

The investigators in the past have developed some models of temperature distribution in the human limb assuming it as a regular circular or elliptical tapered cylinder. But in reality the limb is not of regular tapered cylindrical shape. The radius and eccentricity are not same throughout the limb. In view of above a model of temperature distribution in the irregular tapered elliptical shaped human limb is proposed for a three dimensional steady state case in this paper. The limb is assumed to be composed of multiple cylindrical substructures with variable radius and eccentricity. The mathematical model incorporates the effect of blood mass flow rate, metabolic activity and thermal conductivity. The outer surface is exposed to the environment and appropriate boundary conditions have been framed. The finite element method has been employed to obtain the solution. The temperature profiles have been computed in the dermal layers of a human limb and used to study the effect of shape, microstructure and biophysical parameters on temperature distribution in human limbs. The proposed model is one of the most realistic model as compared to conventional models as this can be effectively employed to every regular and nonregular structures of the body with variable radius and eccentricity to study the thermal behaviour. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Influence of microtubule depolymerization of myocardial cells on mitochondria distribution and energy metabolism in adult rats].

PubMed

Dang, Yong-ming; Fang, Ya-dong; Hu, Jiong-yu; Zhang, Jia-ping; Song, Hua-pei; Zhang, Yi-ming; Zhang, Qiong; Huang, Yue-sheng

2010-02-01

To investigate the influence of microtubule depolymerization of myocardial cells on distribution and activity of mitochondria, and energy metabolism of cells in adult rats. Myocardial cells of SD adult rats and SD suckling rats were isolated and cultured. They were divided into adult and suckling rats control groups (AC and SC, normally cultured without any stimulating factor), adult and suckling rats microtubule depolymerization agent groups (AMDA and SMDA, cultured with 8 micromol/L colchicine containing nutrient solution for 30 minutes) according to the random number table. (1) The expression of polymerized beta tubulin in myocardial cells of adult and suckling rats was detected with Western blot. (2) Myocardial cells of rats in AC and AMDA groups were collected. The expression of cytochrome c was detected with Western blot. Distribution of voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC) and polymerized beta tubulin in myocardial cells were observed with immunofluorescent staining. Mitochondrial inner membrane potential was determined with immunocytochemical method. Activity of myocardial cells was detected with MTT method. Contents of ATP, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and energy charge of cells were determined with high performance liquid chromatography. (1) The expression of polymerized beta tubulin:in AMDA group it was 0.52 + or - 0.07, which was obviously lower than that (1.25 + or - 0.12) in AC group (F = 31.002, P = 0.000); in SMDA group it was 0.76 + or - 0.12, which was significantly lower than that (1.11 + or - 0.24) in SC group (F = 31.002, P = 0.000), but was obviously higher than that in AMDA group (F = 31.002, P = 0.009). (2) The expression of cytochrome c in AC group was 0.26 + or - 0.03, which was obviously lower than that (1.55 + or - 0.13) in AMDA group (t = -24.056, P = 0.000). (3) Immunofluorescent staining result: in AC group, microtubules of myocardial cells were in linear tubiform, distributed in parallel with myocardial fiber; VDAC staining result showed that mitochondria were in granular form, distributed in the same direction as microtubules. In AMDA group, the normal distribution regularity of microtubules was destroyed, with weakened immune fluorescence intensity, microtubules structure indistinct, continuity lost, rough in appearance, and the distribution of mitochondria became disrupted. (4) Mitochondrial inner membrane potential in AC group fluorescent intensity was 1288 + or - 84, which was obviously higher than that (331 + or - 27) in AMDA group (t = 26.508, P = 0.000). (5) Cellular activity: in AC group absorbance value was 1.75 + or - 0.11, which was obviously lower than that (0.81 + or - 0.07) in AMDA group (t = 17.348, P = 0.000). (6) Energy metabolism: compared with those in AC group, content of ATP decreased, contents of ADP and AMP increased, and ATP/ADP value and energy charge decreased in AMDA group. Microtubules and mitochondria distribute in the same direction in normal myocardial cells in adult rats. After microtubule depolymerization, mitochondria are arranged in disorder fashion; cytochrome c leaks from mitochondria; mitochondrial membrane potential, energy supply, and cellular activity decrease in the myocardial cells.

Characterization of Aquaporin 4 Protein Expression and Localization in Tissues of the Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)

PubMed Central

Cutler, Christopher P.; Harmon, Sheena; Walsh, Jonathon; Burch, Kia

2012-01-01

The role of aquaporin water channels such as aquaporin 4 (Aqp4) in elasmobranchs such as the dogfish Squalus acanthias is completely unknown. This investigation set out to determine the expression and cellular and sub-cellular localization of Aqp4 protein in dogfish tissues. Two polyclonal antibodies were generated (AQP4/1 and AQP4/2) and these showed somewhat different characteristics in Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Western blots using the AQP4/1 antibody showed two bands (35.5 and 49.5 kDa) in most tissues in a similar fashion to mammals. Liver had an additional band of 57 kDa and rectal gland two further faint bands of 37.5 and 38.5 kDa. However, unlike in mammals, Aqp4 protein was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues including gill and liver. The AQP4/2 antibody appeared much less specific in Western blots. Both antibodies were used in immunohistochemistry and showed similar cellular localizations, although the AQP4/2 antibody had a more restricted sub-cellular distribution compared to AQP4/1 and therefore appeared to be more specific for Aqp4. In kidney a sub-set of tubules were stained which may represent intermediate tubule segments (In-III–In-VI). AQP4/1 and AQP4/2 antibodies localized to the same tubules segments in serial sections although the intensity and sub-cellular distribution were different. AQP4/2 showed a basal or basolateral membrane distribution whereas AQP4/1 was often distributed throughout the whole cell including the nuclear region. In rectal gland and cardiac stomach Aqp4 was localized to secretory tubules but again AQP/1 and AQP/2 exhibited different sub-cellular distributions. In gill, both antibodies stained large cells in the primary filament and secondary lamellae. Again AQP4/1 antibody stained most or all the cell including the nucleus, whereas AQP4/2 had a plasma membrane or plasma membrane and cytoplasmic distribution. Two types of large mitochondrial rich transport cells are known to exist in elasmobranchs, that express either Na, K-ATPase, or V-type ATPase ion transporters. Using Na, K-ATPase, and V-type ATPase antibodies, Aqp4 was colocalized with these proteins using the AQP4/1 antibody. Results show Aqp4 is expressed in both (and all) branchial Na, K-ATPase, and V-type ATPase expressing cells. PMID:22363294

Characterization of Aquaporin 4 Protein Expression and Localization in Tissues of the Dogfish (Squalus acanthias).

PubMed

Cutler, Christopher P; Harmon, Sheena; Walsh, Jonathon; Burch, Kia

2012-01-01

The role of aquaporin water channels such as aquaporin 4 (Aqp4) in elasmobranchs such as the dogfish Squalus acanthias is completely unknown. This investigation set out to determine the expression and cellular and sub-cellular localization of Aqp4 protein in dogfish tissues. Two polyclonal antibodies were generated (AQP4/1 and AQP4/2) and these showed somewhat different characteristics in Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Western blots using the AQP4/1 antibody showed two bands (35.5 and 49.5 kDa) in most tissues in a similar fashion to mammals. Liver had an additional band of 57 kDa and rectal gland two further faint bands of 37.5 and 38.5 kDa. However, unlike in mammals, Aqp4 protein was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues including gill and liver. The AQP4/2 antibody appeared much less specific in Western blots. Both antibodies were used in immunohistochemistry and showed similar cellular localizations, although the AQP4/2 antibody had a more restricted sub-cellular distribution compared to AQP4/1 and therefore appeared to be more specific for Aqp4. In kidney a sub-set of tubules were stained which may represent intermediate tubule segments (In-III-In-VI). AQP4/1 and AQP4/2 antibodies localized to the same tubules segments in serial sections although the intensity and sub-cellular distribution were different. AQP4/2 showed a basal or basolateral membrane distribution whereas AQP4/1 was often distributed throughout the whole cell including the nuclear region. In rectal gland and cardiac stomach Aqp4 was localized to secretory tubules but again AQP/1 and AQP/2 exhibited different sub-cellular distributions. In gill, both antibodies stained large cells in the primary filament and secondary lamellae. Again AQP4/1 antibody stained most or all the cell including the nucleus, whereas AQP4/2 had a plasma membrane or plasma membrane and cytoplasmic distribution. Two types of large mitochondrial rich transport cells are known to exist in elasmobranchs, that express either Na, K-ATPase, or V-type ATPase ion transporters. Using Na, K-ATPase, and V-type ATPase antibodies, Aqp4 was colocalized with these proteins using the AQP4/1 antibody. Results show Aqp4 is expressed in both (and all) branchial Na, K-ATPase, and V-type ATPase expressing cells.

Lognormal Distribution of Cellular Uptake of Radioactivity: Statistical Analysis of α-Particle Track Autoradiography

PubMed Central

Neti, Prasad V.S.V.; Howell, Roger W.

2010-01-01

Recently, the distribution of radioactivity among a population of cells labeled with 210Po was shown to be well described by a log-normal (LN) distribution function (J Nucl Med. 2006;47:1049–1058) with the aid of autoradiography. To ascertain the influence of Poisson statistics on the interpretation of the autoradiographic data, the present work reports on a detailed statistical analysis of these earlier data. Methods The measured distributions of α-particle tracks per cell were subjected to statistical tests with Poisson, LN, and Poisson-lognormal (P-LN) models. Results The LN distribution function best describes the distribution of radioactivity among cell populations exposed to 0.52 and 3.8 kBq/mL of 210Po-citrate. When cells were exposed to 67 kBq/mL, the P-LN distribution function gave a better fit; however, the underlying activity distribution remained log-normal. Conclusion The present analysis generally provides further support for the use of LN distributions to describe the cellular uptake of radioactivity. Care should be exercised when analyzing autoradiographic data on activity distributions to ensure that Poisson processes do not distort the underlying LN distribution. PMID:18483086

Log Normal Distribution of Cellular Uptake of Radioactivity: Statistical Analysis of Alpha Particle Track Autoradiography

PubMed Central

Neti, Prasad V.S.V.; Howell, Roger W.

2008-01-01

Recently, the distribution of radioactivity among a population of cells labeled with 210Po was shown to be well described by a log normal distribution function (J Nucl Med 47, 6 (2006) 1049-1058) with the aid of an autoradiographic approach. To ascertain the influence of Poisson statistics on the interpretation of the autoradiographic data, the present work reports on a detailed statistical analyses of these data. Methods The measured distributions of alpha particle tracks per cell were subjected to statistical tests with Poisson (P), log normal (LN), and Poisson – log normal (P – LN) models. Results The LN distribution function best describes the distribution of radioactivity among cell populations exposed to 0.52 and 3.8 kBq/mL 210Po-citrate. When cells were exposed to 67 kBq/mL, the P – LN distribution function gave a better fit, however, the underlying activity distribution remained log normal. Conclusions The present analysis generally provides further support for the use of LN distributions to describe the cellular uptake of radioactivity. Care should be exercised when analyzing autoradiographic data on activity distributions to ensure that Poisson processes do not distort the underlying LN distribution. PMID:16741316

Development of Cellular Absorptive Tracers (CATs) for a Quantitative Characterization of Microbial Mass in Flow Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saripalli, Prasad; Brown, Christopher F.; Lindberg, Michael J.

We report on a new Cellular Absorptive Tracers (CATs) method, for a simple, non-destructive characterization of bacterial mass in flow systems. Results show that adsorption of a CAT molecule into the cellular mass results in its retardation during flow, which is a good, quantitative measure of the biomass quantity and distribution. No such methods are currently available for a quantitative characterization of cell mass.

Using Poisson-regularized inversion of Bremsstrahlung emission to extract full electron energy distribution functions from x-ray pulse-height detector data

DOE PAGES

Swanson, C.; Jandovitz, P.; Cohen, S. A.

2018-02-27

We measured Electron Energy Distribution Functions (EEDFs) from below 200 eV to over 8 keV and spanning five orders-of-magnitude in intensity, produced in a low-power, RF-heated, tandem mirror discharge in the PFRC-II apparatus. The EEDF was obtained from the x-ray energy distribution function (XEDF) using a novel Poisson-regularized spectrum inversion algorithm applied to pulse-height spectra that included both Bremsstrahlung and line emissions. The XEDF was measured using a specially calibrated Amptek Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) pulse-height system with 125 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV. Finally, the algorithm is found to out-perform current leading x-ray inversion algorithms when the error duemore » to counting statistics is high.« less

Using Poisson-regularized inversion of Bremsstrahlung emission to extract full electron energy distribution functions from x-ray pulse-height detector data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swanson, C.; Jandovitz, P.; Cohen, S. A.

We measured Electron Energy Distribution Functions (EEDFs) from below 200 eV to over 8 keV and spanning five orders-of-magnitude in intensity, produced in a low-power, RF-heated, tandem mirror discharge in the PFRC-II apparatus. The EEDF was obtained from the x-ray energy distribution function (XEDF) using a novel Poisson-regularized spectrum inversion algorithm applied to pulse-height spectra that included both Bremsstrahlung and line emissions. The XEDF was measured using a specially calibrated Amptek Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) pulse-height system with 125 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV. Finally, the algorithm is found to out-perform current leading x-ray inversion algorithms when the error duemore » to counting statistics is high.« less

Dietary antioxidants and exercise.

PubMed

Powers, Scott K; DeRuisseau, Keith C; Quindry, John; Hamilton, Karyn L

2004-01-01

Muscular exercise promotes the production of radicals and other reactive oxygen species in the working muscle. Growing evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species are responsible for exercise-induced protein oxidation and contribute to muscle fatigue. To protect against exercise-induced oxidative injury, muscle cells contain complex endogenous cellular defence mechanisms (enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants) to eliminate reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, exogenous dietary antioxidants interact with endogenous antioxidants to form a cooperative network of cellular antioxidants. Knowledge that exercise-induced oxidant formation can contribute to muscle fatigue has resulted in numerous investigations examining the effects of antioxidant supplementation on human exercise performance. To date, there is limited evidence that dietary supplementation with antioxidants will improve human performance. Furthermore, it is currently unclear whether regular vigorous exercise increases the need for dietary intake of antioxidants. Clearly, additional research that analyses the antioxidant requirements of individual athletes is needed.

A study of the propagation, dynamics, and extinguishment of cellular flames using microgravity techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ronney, Paul D.

1989-01-01

The characteristics of premixed gas flames in mixtures with low Lewis numbers, free of natural convection effects, were investigated and found to be dominated by diffusive-thermal instabilities. For sufficiently reactive mixtures, cellular structures resulting from these instabilities were observed and found to spawn new cells in regular patterns. For less reactive mixtures, cells formed shortly after ignition but did not spawn new cells; instead these cells evolved into a flame structure composed of stationary, apparently stable spherical flamelets. As a result of these phenomena, well-defined flammability limits were not observed. The experimental results are found to be in qualitative agreement with a simple analytical model based on the interaction of heat release due to chemical reaction, differential diffusion of thermal energy and mass, flame front curvature, and heat losses due to gas radiation.

Drying induced upright sliding and reorganization of carbon nanotube arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qingwen; DePaula, Raymond; Zhang, Xiefei; Zheng, Lianxi; Arendt, Paul N.; Mueller, Fred M.; Zhu, Y. T.; Tu, Yi

2006-09-01

Driven by capillary force, wet carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays have been found to reorganize into cellular structures upon drying. During the reorganization process, individual CNTs are firmly attached to the substrate and have to lie down on the substrate at cell bottoms, forming closed cells. Here we demonstrate that by modifying catalyst structures, the adhesion of CNTs to the substrate can be weakened. Upon drying such CNT arrays, CNTs may slide away from their original sites on the surface and self-assemble into cellular patterns with bottoms open. It is also found that the sliding distance of CNTs increases with array height, and drying millimetre tall arrays leads to the sliding of CNTs over a few hundred micrometres and the eventual self-assembly into discrete islands. By introducing regular vacancies in CNT arrays, CNTs may be manipulated into different patterns.

Asynchronous adaptive time step in quantitative cellular automata modeling

PubMed Central

Zhu, Hao; Pang, Peter YH; Sun, Yan; Dhar, Pawan

2004-01-01

Background The behaviors of cells in metazoans are context dependent, thus large-scale multi-cellular modeling is often necessary, for which cellular automata are natural candidates. Two related issues are involved in cellular automata based multi-cellular modeling: how to introduce differential equation based quantitative computing to precisely describe cellular activity, and upon it, how to solve the heavy time consumption issue in simulation. Results Based on a modified, language based cellular automata system we extended that allows ordinary differential equations in models, we introduce a method implementing asynchronous adaptive time step in simulation that can considerably improve efficiency yet without a significant sacrifice of accuracy. An average speedup rate of 4–5 is achieved in the given example. Conclusions Strategies for reducing time consumption in simulation are indispensable for large-scale, quantitative multi-cellular models, because even a small 100 × 100 × 100 tissue slab contains one million cells. Distributed and adaptive time step is a practical solution in cellular automata environment. PMID:15222901

Optimizing Cellular Networks Enabled with Renewal Energy via Strategic Learning.

PubMed

Sohn, Insoo; Liu, Huaping; Ansari, Nirwan

2015-01-01

An important issue in the cellular industry is the rising energy cost and carbon footprint due to the rapid expansion of the cellular infrastructure. Greening cellular networks has thus attracted attention. Among the promising green cellular network techniques, the renewable energy-powered cellular network has drawn increasing attention as a critical element towards reducing carbon emissions due to massive energy consumption in the base stations deployed in cellular networks. Game theory is a branch of mathematics that is used to evaluate and optimize systems with multiple players with conflicting objectives and has been successfully used to solve various problems in cellular networks. In this paper, we model the green energy utilization and power consumption optimization problem of a green cellular network as a pilot power selection strategic game and propose a novel distributed algorithm based on a strategic learning method. The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm achieves correlated equilibrium of the pilot power selection game, resulting in optimum green energy utilization and power consumption reduction.

Distributed sensor networks: a cellular nonlinear network perspective.

PubMed

Haenggi, Martin

2003-12-01

Large-scale networks of integrated wireless sensors become increasingly tractable. Advances in hardware technology and engineering design have led to dramatic reductions in size, power consumption, and cost for digital circuitry, and wireless communications. Networking, self-organization, and distributed operation are crucial ingredients to harness the sensing, computing, and computational capabilities of the nodes into a complete system. This article shows that those networks can be considered as cellular nonlinear networks (CNNs), and that their analysis and design may greatly benefit from the rich theoretical results available for CNNs.

Towards Monitoring Biodiversity in Amazonian Forests: How Regular Samples Capture Meso-Scale Altitudinal Variation in 25 km2 Plots

PubMed Central

Norris, Darren; Fortin, Marie-Josée; Magnusson, William E.

2014-01-01

Background Ecological monitoring and sampling optima are context and location specific. Novel applications (e.g. biodiversity monitoring for environmental service payments) call for renewed efforts to establish reliable and robust monitoring in biodiversity rich areas. As there is little information on the distribution of biodiversity across the Amazon basin, we used altitude as a proxy for biological variables to test whether meso-scale variation can be adequately represented by different sample sizes in a standardized, regular-coverage sampling arrangement. Methodology/Principal Findings We used Shuttle-Radar-Topography-Mission digital elevation values to evaluate if the regular sampling arrangement in standard RAPELD (rapid assessments (“RAP”) over the long-term (LTER [“PELD” in Portuguese])) grids captured patters in meso-scale spatial variation. The adequacy of different sample sizes (n = 4 to 120) were examined within 32,325 km2/3,232,500 ha (1293×25 km2 sample areas) distributed across the legal Brazilian Amazon. Kolmogorov-Smirnov-tests, correlation and root-mean-square-error were used to measure sample representativeness, similarity and accuracy respectively. Trends and thresholds of these responses in relation to sample size and standard-deviation were modeled using Generalized-Additive-Models and conditional-inference-trees respectively. We found that a regular arrangement of 30 samples captured the distribution of altitude values within these areas. Sample size was more important than sample standard deviation for representativeness and similarity. In contrast, accuracy was more strongly influenced by sample standard deviation. Additionally, analysis of spatially interpolated data showed that spatial patterns in altitude were also recovered within areas using a regular arrangement of 30 samples. Conclusions/Significance Our findings show that the logistically feasible sample used in the RAPELD system successfully recovers meso-scale altitudinal patterns. This suggests that the sample size and regular arrangement may also be generally appropriate for quantifying spatial patterns in biodiversity at similar scales across at least 90% (≈5 million km2) of the Brazilian Amazon. PMID:25170894

17 CFR 230.138 - Publications or distributions of research reports by brokers or dealers about securities other...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... dealer publishes or distributes research reports on the types of securities in question in the regular course of its business; and (4) The issuer is not, and during the past three years neither the issuer nor...

Image-guided spatial localization of heterogeneous compartments for magnetic resonance

PubMed Central

An, Li; Shen, Jun

2015-01-01

Purpose: Image-guided localization SPectral Localization Achieved by Sensitivity Heterogeneity (SPLASH) allows rapid measurement of signals from irregularly shaped anatomical compartments without using phase encoding gradients. Here, the authors propose a novel method to address the issue of heterogeneous signal distribution within the localized compartments. Methods: Each compartment was subdivided into multiple subcompartments and their spectra were solved by Tikhonov regularization to enforce smoothness within each compartment. The spectrum of a given compartment was generated by combining the spectra of the components of that compartment. The proposed method was first tested using Monte Carlo simulations and then applied to reconstructing in vivo spectra from irregularly shaped ischemic stroke and normal tissue compartments. Results: Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the proposed regularized SPLASH method significantly reduces localization and metabolite quantification errors. In vivo results show that the intracompartment regularization results in ∼40% reduction of error in metabolite quantification. Conclusions: The proposed method significantly reduces localization errors and metabolite quantification errors caused by intracompartment heterogeneous signal distribution. PMID:26328977

Stickiness in Hamiltonian systems: From sharply divided to hierarchical phase space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altmann, Eduardo G.; Motter, Adilson E.; Kantz, Holger

2006-02-01

We investigate the dynamics of chaotic trajectories in simple yet physically important Hamiltonian systems with nonhierarchical borders between regular and chaotic regions with positive measures. We show that the stickiness to the border of the regular regions in systems with such a sharply divided phase space occurs through one-parameter families of marginally unstable periodic orbits and is characterized by an exponent γ=2 for the asymptotic power-law decay of the distribution of recurrence times. Generic perturbations lead to systems with hierarchical phase space, where the stickiness is apparently enhanced due to the presence of infinitely many regular islands and Cantori. In this case, we show that the distribution of recurrence times can be composed of a sum of exponentials or a sum of power laws, depending on the relative contribution of the primary and secondary structures of the hierarchy. Numerical verification of our main results are provided for area-preserving maps, mushroom billiards, and the newly defined magnetic mushroom billiards.

Statistical regularities in the rank-citation profile of scientists.

PubMed

Petersen, Alexander M; Stanley, H Eugene; Succi, Sauro

2011-01-01

Recent science of science research shows that scientific impact measures for journals and individual articles have quantifiable regularities across both time and discipline. However, little is known about the scientific impact distribution at the scale of an individual scientist. We analyze the aggregate production and impact using the rank-citation profile c(i)(r) of 200 distinguished professors and 100 assistant professors. For the entire range of paper rank r, we fit each c(i)(r) to a common distribution function. Since two scientists with equivalent Hirsch h-index can have significantly different c(i)(r) profiles, our results demonstrate the utility of the β(i) scaling parameter in conjunction with h(i) for quantifying individual publication impact. We show that the total number of citations C(i) tallied from a scientist's N(i) papers scales as [Formula: see text]. Such statistical regularities in the input-output patterns of scientists can be used as benchmarks for theoretical models of career progress.

Evaluation of metabolism, plasma protein binding and other biological parameters after administration of (-)-[(18)F]Flubatine in humans.

PubMed

Patt, Marianne; Becker, Georg A; Grossmann, Udo; Habermann, Bernd; Schildan, Andreas; Wilke, Stephan; Deuther-Conrad, Winnie; Graef, Susanne; Fischer, Steffen; Smits, René; Hoepping, Alexander; Wagenknecht, Gudrun; Steinbach, Jörg; Gertz, Hermann-Josef; Hesse, Swen; Schönknecht, Peter; Brust, Peter; Sabri, Osama

2014-07-01

(-)-[(18)F]Flubatine is a PET tracer with high affinity and selectivity for the nicotinic acetylcholine α4β2 receptor subtype. A clinical trial assessing the availability of this subtype of nAChRs was performed. From a total participant number of 21 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs), the following parameters were determined: plasma protein binding, metabolism and activity distribution between plasma and whole blood. Plasma protein binding and fraction of unchanged parent compound were assessed by ultracentrifugation and HPLC, respectively. The distribution of radioactivity (parent compound+metabolites) between plasma and whole blood was determined ex vivo at different time-points after injection by gamma counting after separation of whole blood by centrifugation into the cellular and non-cellular components. In additional experiments in vitro, tracer distribution between these blood components was assessed for up to 90min. A fraction of 15%±2% of (-)-[(18)F]Flubatine was found to be bound to plasma proteins. Metabolic degradation of (-)-[(18)F]Flubatine was very low, resulting in almost 90% unchanged parent compound at 90min p.i. with no significant difference between AD and HC. The radioactivity distribution between plasma and whole blood changed in vivo only slightly over time from 0.82±0.03 at 3min p.i. to 0.87±0.03 at 270min p.i. indicating the contribution of only a small amount of metabolites. In vitro studies revealed that (-)-[(18)F]Flubatine was instantaneously distributed between cellular and non-cellular blood parts. (-)-[(18)F]Flubatine exhibits very favourable characteristics for a PET radiotracer such as slow metabolic degradation and moderate plasma protein binding. Equilibrium of radioactivity distribution between plasma and whole blood is reached instantaneously and remains almost constant over time allowing both convenient sample handling and facilitated fractional blood volume contribution assessment. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Murine Electrophysiological Models of Cardiac Arrhythmogenesis

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Cardiac arrhythmias can follow disruption of the normal cellular electrophysiological processes underlying excitable activity and their tissue propagation as coherent wavefronts from the primary sinoatrial node pacemaker, through the atria, conducting structures and ventricular myocardium. These physiological events are driven by interacting, voltage-dependent, processes of activation, inactivation, and recovery in the ion channels present in cardiomyocyte membranes. Generation and conduction of these events are further modulated by intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, and metabolic and structural change. This review describes experimental studies on murine models for known clinical arrhythmic conditions in which these mechanisms were modified by genetic, physiological, or pharmacological manipulation. These exemplars yielded molecular, physiological, and structural phenotypes often directly translatable to their corresponding clinical conditions, which could be investigated at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and whole animal levels. Arrhythmogenesis could be explored during normal pacing activity, regular stimulation, following imposed extra-stimuli, or during progressively incremented steady pacing frequencies. Arrhythmic substrate was identified with temporal and spatial functional heterogeneities predisposing to reentrant excitation phenomena. These could arise from abnormalities in cardiac pacing function, tissue electrical connectivity, and cellular excitation and recovery. Triggering events during or following recovery from action potential excitation could thereby lead to sustained arrhythmia. These surface membrane processes were modified by alterations in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and energetics, as well as cellular and tissue structural change. Study of murine systems thus offers major insights into both our understanding of normal cardiac activity and its propagation, and their relationship to mechanisms generating clinical arrhythmias. PMID:27974512

21 CFR 807.20 - Who must register and submit a device list?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... under the control of one of these organizations when operations are conducted at more than one..., testing, processing, storage, or distribution of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based... Cosmetic Act must register and list those human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products with...

The cellular distribution of lignans in Tsuga heterophylla wood

Treesearch

R.l. Krahmer; Richard W. Hemingway; W.E. Hillis

1970-01-01

Western hemlock heartwood contains patches of tracheids with large amounts of cellular inclusions. Microscopic and chemical examination of the wood showed several types of deposits containing the lignans matairesinol, hydroxymatairesinol and conidendrin. The deposits, which were often relatively pure individual lignans, frequently assumed different physical forms and...

Microtubules as key cytoskeletal elements in cellular transport and shape changes: their expected responses to space environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conrad, G. W.; Conrad, A. H.; Spooner, B. S. (Principal Investigator)

1992-01-01

Application of reference standard reagents to alternatively depolymerize or stabilize microtubules in a cell that undergoes very regular cytoskeleton-dependent shape changes provides a model system in which some expected components of the environments of spacecraft and space can be tested on Earth for their effects on the cytoskeleton. The fertilized eggs of Ilyanassa obsoleta undergo polar lobe formation by repeated, dramatic, constriction and relaxation of a microfilamentous band localized in the cortical cytoplasm and activated by microtubules.

Load Response of the Flagellar Beat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klindt, Gary S.; Ruloff, Christian; Wagner, Christian; Friedrich, Benjamin M.

2016-12-01

Cilia and flagella exhibit regular bending waves that perform mechanical work on the surrounding fluid, to propel cellular swimmers and pump fluids inside organisms. Here, we quantify a force-velocity relationship of the beating flagellum, by exposing flagellated Chlamydomonas cells to controlled microfluidic flows. A simple theory of flagellar limit-cycle oscillations, calibrated by measurements in the absence of flow, reproduces this relationship quantitatively. We derive a link between the energy efficiency of the flagellar beat and its ability to synchronize to oscillatory flows.

An improved cellular automaton method to model multispecies biofilms.

PubMed

Tang, Youneng; Valocchi, Albert J

2013-10-01

Biomass-spreading rules used in previous cellular automaton methods to simulate multispecies biofilm introduced extensive mixing between different biomass species or resulted in spatially discontinuous biomass concentration and distribution; this caused results based on the cellular automaton methods to deviate from experimental results and those from the more computationally intensive continuous method. To overcome the problems, we propose new biomass-spreading rules in this work: Excess biomass spreads by pushing a line of grid cells that are on the shortest path from the source grid cell to the destination grid cell, and the fractions of different biomass species in the grid cells on the path change due to the spreading. To evaluate the new rules, three two-dimensional simulation examples are used to compare the biomass distribution computed using the continuous method and three cellular automaton methods, one based on the new rules and the other two based on rules presented in two previous studies. The relationship between the biomass species is syntrophic in one example and competitive in the other two examples. Simulation results generated using the cellular automaton method based on the new rules agree much better with the continuous method than do results using the other two cellular automaton methods. The new biomass-spreading rules are no more complex to implement than the existing rules. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Implant platform switching: biomechanical approach using two-dimensional finite element analysis.

PubMed

Tabata, Lucas Fernando; Assunção, Wirley Gonçalves; Adelino Ricardo Barão, Valentim; de Sousa, Edson Antonio Capello; Gomes, Erica Alves; Delben, Juliana Aparecida

2010-01-01

In implant therapy, a peri-implant bone resorption has been noticed mainly in the first year after prosthesis insertion. This bone remodeling can sometimes jeopardize the outcome of the treatment, especially in areas in which short implants are used and also in aesthetic cases. To avoid this occurrence, the use of platform switching (PS) has been used. This study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical concept of PS with relation to stress distribution using two-dimensional finite element analysis. A regular matching diameter connection of abutment-implant (regular platform group [RPG]) and a PS connection (PS group [PSG]) were simulated by 2 two-dimensional finite element models that reproduced a 2-piece implant system with peri-implant bone tissue. A regular implant (prosthetic platform of 4.1 mm) and a wide implant (prosthetic platform of 5.0 mm) were used to represent the RPG and PSG, respectively, in which a regular prosthetic component of 4.1 mm was connected to represent the crown. A load of 100 N was applied on the models using ANSYS software. The RPG spreads the stress over a wider area in the peri-implant bone tissue (159 MPa) and the implant (1610 MPa), whereas the PSG seems to diminish the stress distribution on bone tissue (34 MPa) and implant (649 MPa). Within the limitation of the study, the PS presented better biomechanical behavior in relation to stress distribution on the implant but especially in the bone tissue (80% less). However, in the crown and retention screw, an increase in stress concentration was observed.

Cellular Telephone as Reservoir of Bacterial Contamination: Myth or Fact

PubMed Central

Walia, Satinder S.; Manchanda, Adesh; Narang, Ramandeep S.; N., Anup; Singh, Balwinder; Kahlon, Sukhdeep S.

2014-01-01

Objective: To assess bacterial contamination of cellular telephone of dental care personnel, and to determine factors contributing to their contamination. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 300 people using a cellular telephone The study group (hundred in each group) comprised of Dental Health Care Personnel (DHCP), In-Hospital Personnel (IHP) and Out-Hospital Personnel (OHP) of a dental college cum hospital. Swab was wiped along the front and all sides of cellular handset and it was incubated in glucose broth. The swab was subplated onto growth media plates made with half Mac Conkey’s agar and half blood agar and allowed to incubate for 48 hours at 37oC. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Result: The analysis of presence or absence of microorganisms in the DHCP, IHP and OHP group showed no pyogenic growth in 28%, 31% and 41% cases respectively, the distribution of which was not significant (p>.05). Among non potential pathogens, spore bearing gram positive bacilli were seen in 20 cases of DHCP group, 16 cases of IHP group and 17 cases of OHP group; the distribution of which was not significant (p>.05) Among potential pathogens, significant differences were observed in the distribution of growth of Enterobacter (p<.001), Pseudomonas species (p<.05), Acinetobacter bacteria (p<.05) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria (p<.001) between the participants of different groups. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that fomites such as cellular telephones can potentially act as “Trojan horses”, thus causing Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) in the dental setting. PMID:24596722

Cellular telephone as reservoir of bacterial contamination: myth or fact.

PubMed

Walia, Satinder S; Manchanda, Adesh; Narang, Ramandeep S; N, Anup; Singh, Balwinder; Kahlon, Sukhdeep S

2014-01-01

To assess bacterial contamination of cellular telephone of dental care personnel, and to determine factors contributing to their contamination. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 300 people using a cellular telephone The study group (hundred in each group) comprised of Dental Health Care Personnel (DHCP), In-Hospital Personnel (IHP) and Out-Hospital Personnel (OHP) of a dental college cum hospital. Swab was wiped along the front and all sides of cellular handset and it was incubated in glucose broth. The swab was subplated onto growth media plates made with half Mac Conkey's agar and half blood agar and allowed to incubate for 48 hours at 37(o)C. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. The analysis of presence or absence of microorganisms in the DHCP, IHP and OHP group showed no pyogenic growth in 28%, 31% and 41% cases respectively, the distribution of which was not significant (p>.05). Among non potential pathogens, spore bearing gram positive bacilli were seen in 20 cases of DHCP group, 16 cases of IHP group and 17 cases of OHP group; the distribution of which was not significant (p>.05) Among potential pathogens, significant differences were observed in the distribution of growth of Enterobacter (p<.001), Pseudomonas species (p<.05), Acinetobacter bacteria (p<.05) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria (p<.001) between the participants of different groups. RESULTs of this study showed that fomites such as cellular telephones can potentially act as "Trojan horses", thus causing Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) in the dental setting.

Agricultural water demand, water quality and crop suitability in Souk-Alkhamis Al-Khums, Libya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abunnour, Mohamed Ali; Hashim, Noorazuan Bin Md.; Jaafar, Mokhtar Bin

2016-06-01

Water scarcity, unequal population distribution and agricultural activities increased in the coastal plains, and the probability of seawater intrusion with ground water. According to this, the quantitative and qualitative deterioration of underground water quality has become a potential for the occurrence, in addition to the decline in agricultural production in the study area. This paper aims to discover the use of ground water for irrigation in agriculture and their suitability and compatibility for agricultural. On the other hand, the quality is determines by the cultivated crops. 16 random samples of regular groundwater are collected and analyzed chemically. Questionnaires are also distributed randomly on regular basis to farmers.

Distribution of Captured Planetesimals in Circumplanetary Gas Disks and Implications for Accretion of Regular Satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suetsugu, Ryo; Ohtsuki, Keiji

2017-04-01

Regular satellites of giant planets are formed by accretion of solid bodies in circumplanetary disks. Planetesimals that are moving on heliocentric orbits and are sufficiently large to be decoupled from the flow of the protoplanetary gas disk can be captured by gas drag from the circumplanetary disk. In the present work, we examine the distribution of captured planetesimals in circumplanetary disks using orbital integrations. We find that the number of captured planetesimals reaches an equilibrium state as a balance between continuous capture and orbital decay into the planet. The number of planetesimals captured into retrograde orbits is much smaller than that into prograde orbits, because the former experience a strong headwind and spiral into the planet rapidly. We find that the surface number density of planetesimals at the current radial location of regular satellites can be significantly enhanced by gas drag capture, depending on the velocity dispersions of the planetesimals and the width of the gap in the protoplanetary disk. Using a simple model, we examine the ratio of the surface densities of dust and captured planetesimals in the circumplanetary disk and find that solid material at the current location of regular satellites can be dominated by captured planetesimals when the velocity dispersion of those planetesimals is rather small and a wide gap is not formed in the protoplanetary disk. In this case, captured planetesimals in such a region can grow by mutual collision before spiraling into the planet and would contribute to the growth of regular satellites.

Information fusion in regularized inversion of tomographic pumping tests

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bohling, Geoffrey C.; ,

2008-01-01

In this chapter we investigate a simple approach to incorporating geophysical information into the analysis of tomographic pumping tests for characterization of the hydraulic conductivity (K) field in an aquifer. A number of authors have suggested a tomographic approach to the analysis of hydraulic tests in aquifers - essentially simultaneous analysis of multiple tests or stresses on the flow system - in order to improve the resolution of the estimated parameter fields. However, even with a large amount of hydraulic data in hand, the inverse problem is still plagued by non-uniqueness and ill-conditioning and the parameter space for the inversion needs to be constrained in some sensible fashion in order to obtain plausible estimates of aquifer properties. For seismic and radar tomography problems, the parameter space is often constrained through the application of regularization terms that impose penalties on deviations of the estimated parameters from a prior or background model, with the tradeoff between data fit and model norm explored through systematic analysis of results for different levels of weighting on the regularization terms. In this study we apply systematic regularized inversion to analysis of tomographic pumping tests in an alluvial aquifer, taking advantage of the steady-shape flow regime exhibited in these tests to expedite the inversion process. In addition, we explore the possibility of incorporating geophysical information into the inversion through a regularization term relating the estimated K distribution to ground penetrating radar velocity and attenuation distributions through a smoothing spline model. ?? 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Regular Topographic Patterning of Karst Depressions Suggests Landscape Self-Organization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quintero, C.; Cohen, M. J.

2017-12-01

Thousands of wetland depressions that are commonly host to cypress domes dot the sub-tropical limestone landscape of South Florida. The origin of these depression features has been the topic of debate. Here we build upon the work of previous surveyors of this landscape to analyze the morphology and spatial distribution of depressions on the Big Cypress landscape. We took advantage of the emergence and availability of high resolution Light Direction and Ranging (LiDAR) technology and ArcMap GIS software to analyze the structure and regularity of landscape features with methods unavailable to past surveyors. Six 2.25 km2 LiDAR plots within the preserve were selected for remote analysis and one depression feature within each plot was selected for more intensive sediment and water depth surveying. Depression features on the Big Cypress landscape were found to show strong evidence of regular spatial patterning. Periodicity, a feature of regularly patterned landscapes, is apparent in both Variograms and Radial Spectrum Analyses. Size class distributions of the identified features indicate constrained feature sizes while Average Nearest Neighbor analyses support the inference of dispersed features with non-random spacing. The presence of regular patterning on this landscape strongly implies biotic reinforcement of spatial structure by way of the scale dependent feedback. In characterizing the structure of this wetland landscape we add to the growing body of work dedicated to documenting how water, life and geology may interact to shape the natural landscapes we see today.

A global analysis of bird plumage patterns reveals no association between habitat and camouflage

PubMed Central

Marshall, Kate L.A.; Gluckman, Thanh-Lan

2016-01-01

Evidence suggests that animal patterns (motifs) function in camouflage. Irregular mottled patterns can facilitate concealment when stationary in cluttered habitats, whereas regular patterns typically prevent capture during movement in open habitats. Bird plumage patterns have predominantly converged on just four types—mottled (irregular), scales, bars and spots (regular)—and habitat could be driving convergent evolution in avian patterning. Based on sensory ecology, we therefore predict that irregular patterns would be associated with visually noisy closed habitats and that regular patterns would be associated with open habitats. Regular patterns have also been shown to function in communication for sexually competing males to stand-out and attract females, so we predict that male breeding plumage patterns evolved in both open and closed habitats. Here, taking phylogenetic relatedness into account, we investigate ecological selection for bird plumage patterns across the class Aves. We surveyed plumage patterns in 80% of all avian species worldwide. Of these, 2,756 bird species have regular and irregular plumage patterns as well as habitat information. In this subset, we tested whether adult breeding/non-breeding plumages in each sex, and juvenile plumages, were associated with the habitat types found within the species’ geographical distributions. We found no evidence for an association between habitat and plumage patterns across the world’s birds and little phylogenetic signal. We also found that species with regular and irregular plumage patterns were distributed randomly across the world’s eco-regions without being affected by habitat type. These results indicate that at the global spatial and taxonomic scale, habitat does not predict convergent evolution in bird plumage patterns, contrary to the camouflage hypothesis. PMID:27867762

A global analysis of bird plumage patterns reveals no association between habitat and camouflage.

PubMed

Somveille, Marius; Marshall, Kate L A; Gluckman, Thanh-Lan

2016-01-01

Evidence suggests that animal patterns (motifs) function in camouflage. Irregular mottled patterns can facilitate concealment when stationary in cluttered habitats, whereas regular patterns typically prevent capture during movement in open habitats. Bird plumage patterns have predominantly converged on just four types-mottled (irregular), scales, bars and spots (regular)-and habitat could be driving convergent evolution in avian patterning. Based on sensory ecology, we therefore predict that irregular patterns would be associated with visually noisy closed habitats and that regular patterns would be associated with open habitats. Regular patterns have also been shown to function in communication for sexually competing males to stand-out and attract females, so we predict that male breeding plumage patterns evolved in both open and closed habitats. Here, taking phylogenetic relatedness into account, we investigate ecological selection for bird plumage patterns across the class Aves. We surveyed plumage patterns in 80% of all avian species worldwide. Of these, 2,756 bird species have regular and irregular plumage patterns as well as habitat information. In this subset, we tested whether adult breeding/non-breeding plumages in each sex, and juvenile plumages, were associated with the habitat types found within the species' geographical distributions. We found no evidence for an association between habitat and plumage patterns across the world's birds and little phylogenetic signal. We also found that species with regular and irregular plumage patterns were distributed randomly across the world's eco-regions without being affected by habitat type. These results indicate that at the global spatial and taxonomic scale, habitat does not predict convergent evolution in bird plumage patterns, contrary to the camouflage hypothesis.

Isolating specific cell and tissue compartments from 3D images for quantitative regional distribution analysis using novel computer algorithms.

PubMed

Fenrich, Keith K; Zhao, Ethan Y; Wei, Yuan; Garg, Anirudh; Rose, P Ken

2014-04-15

Isolating specific cellular and tissue compartments from 3D image stacks for quantitative distribution analysis is crucial for understanding cellular and tissue physiology under normal and pathological conditions. Current approaches are limited because they are designed to map the distributions of synapses onto the dendrites of stained neurons and/or require specific proprietary software packages for their implementation. To overcome these obstacles, we developed algorithms to Grow and Shrink Volumes of Interest (GSVI) to isolate specific cellular and tissue compartments from 3D image stacks for quantitative analysis and incorporated these algorithms into a user-friendly computer program that is open source and downloadable at no cost. The GSVI algorithm was used to isolate perivascular regions in the cortex of live animals and cell membrane regions of stained spinal motoneurons in histological sections. We tracked the real-time, intravital biodistribution of injected fluorophores with sub-cellular resolution from the vascular lumen to the perivascular and parenchymal space following a vascular microlesion, and mapped the precise distributions of membrane-associated KCC2 and gephyrin immunolabeling in dendritic and somatic regions of spinal motoneurons. Compared to existing approaches, the GSVI approach is specifically designed for isolating perivascular regions and membrane-associated regions for quantitative analysis, is user-friendly, and free. The GSVI algorithm is useful to quantify regional differences of stained biomarkers (e.g., cell membrane-associated channels) in relation to cell functions, and the effects of therapeutic strategies on the redistributions of biomolecules, drugs, and cells in diseased or injured tissues. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a local size hierarchy causes regular spacing of trees in an even-aged Abies forest: analyses using spatial autocorrelation and the mark correlation function.

PubMed

Suzuki, Satoshi N; Kachi, Naoki; Suzuki, Jun-Ichirou

2008-09-01

During the development of an even-aged plant population, the spatial distribution of individuals often changes from a clumped pattern to a random or regular one. The development of local size hierarchies in an Abies forest was analysed for a period of 47 years following a large disturbance in 1959. In 1980 all trees in an 8 x 8 m plot were mapped and their height growth after the disturbance was estimated. Their mortality and growth were then recorded at 1- to 4-year intervals between 1980 and 2006. Spatial distribution patterns of trees were analysed by the pair correlation function. Spatial correlations between tree heights were analysed with a spatial autocorrelation function and the mark correlation function. The mark correlation function was able to detect a local size hierarchy that could not be detected by the spatial autocorrelation function alone. The small-scale spatial distribution pattern of trees changed from clumped to slightly regular during the 47 years. Mortality occurred in a density-dependent manner, which resulted in regular spacing between trees after 1980. The spatial autocorrelation and mark correlation functions revealed the existence of tree patches consisting of large trees at the initial stage. Development of a local size hierarchy was detected within the first decade after the disturbance, although the spatial autocorrelation was not negative. Local size hierarchies that developed persisted until 2006, and the spatial autocorrelation became negative at later stages (after about 40 years). This is the first study to detect local size hierarchies as a prelude to regular spacing using the mark correlation function. The results confirm that use of the mark correlation function together with the spatial autocorrelation function is an effective tool to analyse the development of a local size hierarchy of trees in a forest.

Real-Time In Vivo Imaging of Butterfly Wing Development: Revealing the Cellular Dynamics of the Pupal Wing Tissue

PubMed Central

Iwata, Masaki; Ohno, Yoshikazu; Otaki, Joji M.

2014-01-01

Butterfly wings are covered with regularly arranged single-colored scales that are formed at the pupal stage. Understanding pupal wing development is therefore crucial to understand wing color pattern formation. Here, we successfully employed real-time in vivo imaging techniques to observe pupal hindwing development over time in the blue pansy butterfly, Junonia orithya. A transparent sheet of epithelial cells that were not yet regularly arranged was observed immediately after pupation. Bright-field imaging and autofluorescent imaging revealed free-moving hemocytes and tracheal branches of a crinoid-like structure underneath the epithelium. The wing tissue gradually became gray-white, epithelial cells were arranged regularly, and hemocytes disappeared, except in the bordering lacuna, after which scales grew. The dynamics of the epithelial cells and scale growth were also confirmed by fluorescent imaging. Fluorescent in vivo staining further revealed that these cells harbored many mitochondria at the surface of the epithelium. Organizing centers for the border symmetry system were apparent immediately after pupation, exhibiting a relatively dark optical character following treatment with fluorescent dyes, as well as in autofluorescent images. The wing tissue exhibited slow and low-frequency contraction pulses with a cycle of approximately 10 to 20 minutes, mainly occurring at 2 to 3 days postpupation. The pulses gradually became slower and weaker and eventually stopped. The wing tissue area became larger after contraction, which also coincided with an increase in the autofluorescence intensity that might have been caused by scale growth. Examination of the pattern of color development revealed that the black pigment was first deposited in patches in the central areas of an eyespot black ring and a parafocal element. These results of live in vivo imaging that covered wide wing area for a long time can serve as a foundation for studying the cellular dynamics of living wing tissues in butterflies. PMID:24586829

Real-time in vivo imaging of butterfly wing development: revealing the cellular dynamics of the pupal wing tissue.

PubMed

Iwata, Masaki; Ohno, Yoshikazu; Otaki, Joji M

2014-01-01

Butterfly wings are covered with regularly arranged single-colored scales that are formed at the pupal stage. Understanding pupal wing development is therefore crucial to understand wing color pattern formation. Here, we successfully employed real-time in vivo imaging techniques to observe pupal hindwing development over time in the blue pansy butterfly, Junonia orithya. A transparent sheet of epithelial cells that were not yet regularly arranged was observed immediately after pupation. Bright-field imaging and autofluorescent imaging revealed free-moving hemocytes and tracheal branches of a crinoid-like structure underneath the epithelium. The wing tissue gradually became gray-white, epithelial cells were arranged regularly, and hemocytes disappeared, except in the bordering lacuna, after which scales grew. The dynamics of the epithelial cells and scale growth were also confirmed by fluorescent imaging. Fluorescent in vivo staining further revealed that these cells harbored many mitochondria at the surface of the epithelium. Organizing centers for the border symmetry system were apparent immediately after pupation, exhibiting a relatively dark optical character following treatment with fluorescent dyes, as well as in autofluorescent images. The wing tissue exhibited slow and low-frequency contraction pulses with a cycle of approximately 10 to 20 minutes, mainly occurring at 2 to 3 days postpupation. The pulses gradually became slower and weaker and eventually stopped. The wing tissue area became larger after contraction, which also coincided with an increase in the autofluorescence intensity that might have been caused by scale growth. Examination of the pattern of color development revealed that the black pigment was first deposited in patches in the central areas of an eyespot black ring and a parafocal element. These results of live in vivo imaging that covered wide wing area for a long time can serve as a foundation for studying the cellular dynamics of living wing tissues in butterflies.

Quantifying lipid changes in various membrane compartments using lipid binding protein domains.

PubMed

Várnai, Péter; Gulyás, Gergő; Tóth, Dániel J; Sohn, Mira; Sengupta, Nivedita; Balla, Tamas

2017-06-01

One of the largest challenges in cell biology is to map the lipid composition of the membranes of various organelles and define the exact location of processes that control the synthesis and distribution of lipids between cellular compartments. The critical role of phosphoinositides, low-abundant lipids with rapid metabolism and exceptional regulatory importance in the control of almost all aspects of cellular functions created the need for tools to visualize their localizations and dynamics at the single cell level. However, there is also an increasing need for methods to determine the cellular distribution of other lipids regulatory or structural, such as diacylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, or other phospholipids and cholesterol. This review will summarize recent advances in this research field focusing on the means by which changes can be described in more quantitative terms. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Radiocesium accumulation in mosses from highlands of Serbia and Montenegro: chemical and physiological aspects.

PubMed

Dragović, S; Nedić, O; Stanković, S; Bacić, G

2004-01-01

The aim of this work was (i) to determine the activity levels of 137Cs in mosses from highland ecosystems of Serbia and Montenegro, (ii) to find out if radiocesium is associated with essential biomacromolecules, and (iii) to investigate 137Cs distribution among intracellular compartments. It was found that biomolecules of mosses do not bind significant amounts of radiocesium (2.3-3.3% of the absorbed 137Cs), a behavior that was independent of the moss species. Cellular fractionation of mosses showed that membranes are the primary 137Cs-binding sites at the cellular level. They contained 26.1-43.1% of the initial radiocesium activity. It seems that 137Cs-binding molecules in different mosses are of similar chemical nature, and their distribution between various cellular compartments is not species specific.

Age-dependent change in the morphology of nucleoli and methylation of genes of the Nucleolar Organizer Region in Japanese quail Coturnix japonica) model (Temminck and Schlegel, 1849) (Galliformes: Aves).

PubMed

Andraszek, Katarzyna; Gryzińska, Magdalena; Wójcik, Ewa; Knaga, Sebastian; Smalec, Elżbieta

2014-01-01

Nucleoli are the product of the activity of nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) in certain chromosomes. Their main functions are the formation of ribosomal subunits from ribosomal protein molecules and the transcription of genes encoding rRNA. The aim of the study was to determine the shape of nucleoli and analyse methylation in the gene RN28S in the spermatocytes of male Japanese quail (Coturnixjaponica) in two age groups. Nucleoli were analysed in cells of the first meiotic prophase. Their number and shape were determined and they were classified as regular, irregular or defragmented. In the cells of the young birds no defragmented nucleoli were observed, with regular and irregular nucleoli accounting for 97% and 3%, respectively. In the cells of older birds no regular nucleoli were observed, while irregular and defragmented nucleoli accounted for 37% and 67%, respectively. MSP (methylation-specific PCR) showed that the gene RN28S is methylated in both 15-week-old and 52-week-old quails. In recent years an association has been established between nucleolus morphology and cellular ageing processes.

Genus Ranges of 4-Regular Rigid Vertex Graphs

PubMed Central

Buck, Dorothy; Dolzhenko, Egor; Jonoska, Nataša; Saito, Masahico; Valencia, Karin

2016-01-01

A rigid vertex of a graph is one that has a prescribed cyclic order of its incident edges. We study orientable genus ranges of 4-regular rigid vertex graphs. The (orientable) genus range is a set of genera values over all orientable surfaces into which a graph is embedded cellularly, and the embeddings of rigid vertex graphs are required to preserve the prescribed cyclic order of incident edges at every vertex. The genus ranges of 4-regular rigid vertex graphs are sets of consecutive integers, and we address two questions: which intervals of integers appear as genus ranges of such graphs, and what types of graphs realize a given genus range. For graphs with 2n vertices (n > 1), we prove that all intervals [a, b] for all a < b ≤ n, and singletons [h, h] for some h ≤ n, are realized as genus ranges. For graphs with 2n − 1 vertices (n ≥ 1), we prove that all intervals [a, b] for all a < b ≤ n except [0, n], and [h, h] for some h ≤ n, are realized as genus ranges. We also provide constructions of graphs that realize these ranges. PMID:27807395

Restriction enzyme cutting site distribution regularity for DNA looping technology.

PubMed

Shang, Ying; Zhang, Nan; Zhu, Pengyu; Luo, Yunbo; Huang, Kunlun; Tian, Wenying; Xu, Wentao

2014-01-25

The restriction enzyme cutting site distribution regularity and looping conditions were studied systematically. We obtained the restriction enzyme cutting site distributions of 13 commonly used restriction enzymes in 5 model organism genomes through two novel self-compiled software programs. All of the average distances between two adjacent restriction sites fell sharply with increasing statistic intervals, and most fragments were 0-499 bp. A shorter DNA fragment resulted in a lower looping rate, which was also directly proportional to the DNA concentration. When the length was more than 500 bp, the concentration did not affect the looping rate. Therefore, the best known fragment length was longer than 500 bp, and did not contain the restriction enzyme cutting sites which would be used for digestion. In order to make the looping efficiencies reach nearly 100%, 4-5 single cohesive end systems were recommended to digest the genome separately. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interaction of HSP20 with a viral RdRp changes its sub-cellular localization and distribution pattern in plants.

PubMed

Li, Jing; Xiang, Cong-Ying; Yang, Jian; Chen, Jian-Ping; Zhang, Heng-Mu

2015-09-11

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) perform a fundamental role in protecting cells against a wide array of stresses but their biological function during viral infection remains unknown. Rice stripe virus (RSV) causes a severe disease of rice in Eastern Asia. OsHSP20 and its homologue (NbHSP20) were used as baits in yeast two-hybrid (YTH) assays to screen an RSV cDNA library and were found to interact with the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of RSV. Interactions were confirmed by pull-down and BiFC assays. Further analysis showed that the N-terminus (residues 1-296) of the RdRp was crucial for the interaction between the HSP20s and viral RdRp and responsible for the alteration of the sub-cellular localization and distribution pattern of HSP20s in protoplasts of rice and epidermal cells of Nicotiana benthamiana. This is the first report that a plant virus or a viral protein alters the expression pattern or sub-cellular distribution of sHSPs.

Sequential sampling of ribes populations in the control of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola Fischer) in California

Treesearch

Harold R. Offord

1966-01-01

Sequential sampling based on a negative binomial distribution of ribes populations required less than half the time taken by regular systematic line transect sampling in a comparison test. It gave the same control decision as the regular method in 9 of 13 field trials. A computer program that permits sequential plans to be built readily for other white pine regions is...

Exposing Vital Forensic Artifacts of USB Devices in the Windows 10 Registry

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) Digital media devices are regularly seized pursuant to criminal investigations and...ABSTRACT Digital media devices are regularly seized pursuant to criminal investigations and Microsoft Windows is the most commonly encountered... digital footprints available on seized computers that assist in re-creating a crime scene and telling the story of the events that occurred. Part of this

Rapid establishment of a regular distribution of adult tropical Drosophila parasitoids in a multi-patch environment by patch defence behaviour.

PubMed

de Jong, Peter W; Hemerik, Lia; Gort, Gerrit; van Alphen, Jacques J M

2011-01-01

Females of the larval parasitoid of Drosophila, Asobara citri, from sub-Saharan Africa, defend patches with hosts by fighting and chasing conspecific females upon encounter. Females of the closely related, palearctic species Asobara tabida do not defend patches and often search simultaneously in the same patch. The effect of patch defence by A. citri females on their distribution in a multi-patch environment was investigated, and their distributions were compared with those of A. tabida. For both species 20 females were released from two release-points in replicate experiments. Females of A. citri quickly reached a regular distribution across 16 patches, with a small variance/mean ratio per patch. Conversely, A. tabida females initially showed a clumped distribution, and after gradual dispersion, a more Poisson-like distribution across patches resulted (variance/mean ratio was closer to 1 and higher than for A. citri). The dispersion of A. tabida was most probably an effect of exploitation: these parasitoids increasingly made shorter visits to already exploited patches. We briefly discuss hypotheses on the adaptive significance of patch defence behaviour or its absence in the light of differences in the natural history of both parasitoid species, notably the spatial distribution of their hosts.

Clustering and cellular distribution characteristics of virus particles of Tomato spotted wilt virus and Tomato zonate spot virus in different plant hosts.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhongkai; Zheng, Kuanyu; Dong, Jiahong; Fang, Qi; Hong, Jian; Wang, Xifeng

2016-01-19

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Tomato zonate spot virus (TZSV) are the two dominant species of thrip-transmitted tospoviruses, cause significant losses in crop yield in Yunnan and its neighboring provinces in China. TSWV and TZSV belong to different serogroup of tospoviruses but induce similar symptoms in the same host plant species, which makes diagnostic difficult. We used different electron microscopy preparing methods to investigate clustering and cellular distribution of TSWV and TZSV in the host plant species. Negative staining of samples infected with TSWV and TZSV revealed that particles usually clustered in the vesicles, including single particle (SP), double particles clustering (DPC), triple particles clustering (TPC). In the immunogold labeling negative staining against proteins of TZSV, the antibodies against Gn protein were stained more strongly than the N protein. Ultrathin section and high pressure freeze (HPF)-electron microscopy preparations revealed that TSWV particles were distributed in the cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), filamentous inclusions (FI) and Golgi bodies in the mesophyll cells. The TSWV particles clustered as multiple particles clustering (MPC) and distributed in globular viroplasm or cisternae of ER in the top leaf cell. TZSV particles were distributed more abundantly in the swollen membrane of ER in the mesophyll cell than those in the phloem parenchyma cells and were not observed in the top leaf cell. However, TZSV virions were mainly present as single particle in the cytoplasm, with few clustering as MPC. In this study, we identified TSWV and TZSV particles had the distinct cellular distribution patterns in the cytoplasm from different tissues and host plants. This is the first report of specific clustering characteristics of tospoviruses particles as well as the cellular distribution of TSWV particles in the FI and globular viroplasm where as TZSV particles inside the membrane of ER. These results indicated that tospoviruses particles possessed specific and similar clustering in the saps of diseased plants. Furthermore, the results of this study will also provide a basis for further study on the tospoviruses assembling, maturation and movement.

[Cellular architecture of papillary and nonpapillary transitional cell carcinoma].

PubMed

Moriyama, M

1989-07-01

To characterize the cellular architecture of papillary and nonpapillary transitional cell carcinoma. 2 normal ureters, 6 papillary bladder cancers and 5 nonpapillary bladder cancers were subjected to light and electron microscopic study as well as three dimensional reconstruction by 0.5 microns thick serial sections. Normal urothelium consisted of three cell layers of the basal, intermediate and superficial cells, each of which was morphologically characterized in terms of cell shape and development of cell organelles. Over 90% of the epithelial cells were proved to be connected to the uniform basement membrane directly or with long, fine cytoplasmic processes, forming hemidesmosomes at the junctional portion. Papillary tumors had, as a rule, the same cellular architecture as that of normal epithelium in terms of the regularity of cellular polarity, arrangement and differentiation, and the connection to the basement membrane. But, in G2 tumors, the connection between the intermediate and superficial cells and the basement membrane failed to be confirmed in 7 to 44% of the cells, suggesting the heterogeneity of the tumors. In contrast, nonpapillary tumors showed a high irregularity of the cellular architecture in both lesions of stromal and intra-epithelial invasion. The development of the basement membrane was indefinite, often showing thinning or disruption where occasional cytoplasmic protrusion of the tumor cells into the lamina propria was found. Nearly all of the intermediate and superficial cells in the intraepithelial lesions proved not to communicate with the basement membrane. The present results indicate distinct differences of cellular architecture between the papillary and nonpapillary urothelial tumors, which may reflect not only the growth pattern but also the biological behaviour of the individual tumors.

Selected Occupational Topics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Business Education Forum, 1973

1973-01-01

Research studies are classified in this regular section as marketing and distribution, typewriting, basic business and economics, shorthand and transcription, data processing, and the beginning teacher. (MU)

Least squares QR-based decomposition provides an efficient way of computing optimal regularization parameter in photoacoustic tomography.

PubMed

Shaw, Calvin B; Prakash, Jaya; Pramanik, Manojit; Yalavarthy, Phaneendra K

2013-08-01

A computationally efficient approach that computes the optimal regularization parameter for the Tikhonov-minimization scheme is developed for photoacoustic imaging. This approach is based on the least squares-QR decomposition which is a well-known dimensionality reduction technique for a large system of equations. It is shown that the proposed framework is effective in terms of quantitative and qualitative reconstructions of initial pressure distribution enabled via finding an optimal regularization parameter. The computational efficiency and performance of the proposed method are shown using a test case of numerical blood vessel phantom, where the initial pressure is exactly known for quantitative comparison.

Cellular immune response experiment MA-031

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Criswell, B. S.

1976-01-01

Significant changes in phytohemagglutinin (PHA) lymphocytic responsiveness occurred in the cellular immune response of three astronauts during the 9 day flight of the Apollo Soyuz Test Project. Parameters studied were white blood cell concentrations, lymphocyte numbers, B- and T-lymphocyte distributions in peripheral blood, and lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA, pokeweed mitogen, Concanavalin A, and influenza virus antigen.

FBI-1 can stimulate HIV-1 Tat activity and is targeted to a novel subnuclear domain that includes the Tat-P-TEFb-containing nuclear speckles.

PubMed

Pendergrast, P Shannon; Wang, Chen; Hernandez, Nouria; Huang, Sui

2002-03-01

FBI-1 is a cellular POZ-domain-containing protein that binds to the HIV-1 LTR and associates with the HIV-1 transactivator protein Tat. Here we show that elevated levels of FBI-1 specifically stimulate Tat activity and that this effect is dependent on the same domain of FBI-1 that mediates Tat-FBI-1 association in vivo. FBI-1 also partially colocalizes with Tat and Tat's cellular cofactor, P-TEFb (Cdk9 and cyclin T1), at the splicing-factor-rich nuclear speckle domain. Further, a less-soluble population of FBI-1 distributes in a novel peripheral-speckle pattern of localization as well as in other nuclear regions. This distribution pattern is dependent on the FBI-1 DNA binding domain, on the presence of cellular DNA, and on active transcription. Taken together, these results suggest that FBI-1 is a cellular factor that preferentially associates with active chromatin and that can specifically stimulate Tat-activated HIV-1 transcription.

FBI-1 Can Stimulate HIV-1 Tat Activity and Is Targeted to a Novel Subnuclear Domain that Includes the Tat-P-TEFb—containing Nuclear Speckles

PubMed Central

Pendergrast, P. Shannon; Wang, Chen; Hernandez, Nouria; Huang, Sui

2002-01-01

FBI-1 is a cellular POZ-domain–containing protein that binds to the HIV-1 LTR and associates with the HIV-1 transactivator protein Tat. Here we show that elevated levels of FBI-1 specifically stimulate Tat activity and that this effect is dependent on the same domain of FBI-1 that mediates Tat-FBI-1 association in vivo. FBI-1 also partially colocalizes with Tat and Tat's cellular cofactor, P-TEFb (Cdk9 and cyclin T1), at the splicing-factor–rich nuclear speckle domain. Further, a less-soluble population of FBI-1 distributes in a novel peripheral-speckle pattern of localization as well as in other nuclear regions. This distribution pattern is dependent on the FBI-1 DNA binding domain, on the presence of cellular DNA, and on active transcription. Taken together, these results suggest that FBI-1 is a cellular factor that preferentially associates with active chromatin and that can specifically stimulate Tat-activated HIV-1 transcription. PMID:11907272

Probabilistic Cellular Automata

PubMed Central

Agapie, Alexandru; Giuclea, Marius

2014-01-01

Abstract Cellular automata are binary lattices used for modeling complex dynamical systems. The automaton evolves iteratively from one configuration to another, using some local transition rule based on the number of ones in the neighborhood of each cell. With respect to the number of cells allowed to change per iteration, we speak of either synchronous or asynchronous automata. If randomness is involved to some degree in the transition rule, we speak of probabilistic automata, otherwise they are called deterministic. With either type of cellular automaton we are dealing with, the main theoretical challenge stays the same: starting from an arbitrary initial configuration, predict (with highest accuracy) the end configuration. If the automaton is deterministic, the outcome simplifies to one of two configurations, all zeros or all ones. If the automaton is probabilistic, the whole process is modeled by a finite homogeneous Markov chain, and the outcome is the corresponding stationary distribution. Based on our previous results for the asynchronous case—connecting the probability of a configuration in the stationary distribution to its number of zero-one borders—the article offers both numerical and theoretical insight into the long-term behavior of synchronous cellular automata. PMID:24999557

Probabilistic cellular automata.

PubMed

Agapie, Alexandru; Andreica, Anca; Giuclea, Marius

2014-09-01

Cellular automata are binary lattices used for modeling complex dynamical systems. The automaton evolves iteratively from one configuration to another, using some local transition rule based on the number of ones in the neighborhood of each cell. With respect to the number of cells allowed to change per iteration, we speak of either synchronous or asynchronous automata. If randomness is involved to some degree in the transition rule, we speak of probabilistic automata, otherwise they are called deterministic. With either type of cellular automaton we are dealing with, the main theoretical challenge stays the same: starting from an arbitrary initial configuration, predict (with highest accuracy) the end configuration. If the automaton is deterministic, the outcome simplifies to one of two configurations, all zeros or all ones. If the automaton is probabilistic, the whole process is modeled by a finite homogeneous Markov chain, and the outcome is the corresponding stationary distribution. Based on our previous results for the asynchronous case-connecting the probability of a configuration in the stationary distribution to its number of zero-one borders-the article offers both numerical and theoretical insight into the long-term behavior of synchronous cellular automata.

A chemical proteomic atlas of brain serine hydrolases identifies cell type-specific pathways regulating neuroinflammation

PubMed Central

Viader, Andreu; Ogasawara, Daisuke; Joslyn, Christopher M; Sanchez-Alavez, Manuel; Mori, Simone; Nguyen, William; Conti, Bruno; Cravatt, Benjamin F

2016-01-01

Metabolic specialization among major brain cell types is central to nervous system function and determined in large part by the cellular distribution of enzymes. Serine hydrolases are a diverse enzyme class that plays fundamental roles in CNS metabolism and signaling. Here, we perform an activity-based proteomic analysis of primary mouse neurons, astrocytes, and microglia to furnish a global portrait of the cellular anatomy of serine hydrolases in the brain. We uncover compelling evidence for the cellular compartmentalization of key chemical transmission pathways, including the functional segregation of endocannabinoid (eCB) biosynthetic enzymes diacylglycerol lipase-alpha (DAGLα) and –beta (DAGLβ) to neurons and microglia, respectively. Disruption of DAGLβ perturbed eCB-eicosanoid crosstalk specifically in microglia and suppressed neuroinflammatory events in vivo independently of broader effects on eCB content. Mapping the cellular distribution of metabolic enzymes thus identifies pathways for regulating specialized inflammatory responses in the brain while avoiding global alterations in CNS function. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.12345.001 PMID:26779719

Techniques for the Cellular and Subcellular Localization of Endocannabinoid Receptors and Enzymes in the Mammalian Brain.

PubMed

Cristino, Luigia; Imperatore, Roberta; Di Marzo, Vincenzo

2017-01-01

This chapter attempts to piece together knowledge about new advanced microscopy techniques to study the neuroanatomical distribution of endocannabinoid receptors and enzymes at the level of cellular and subcellular structures and organelles in the brain. Techniques ranging from light to electron microscopy up to the new advanced LBM, PALM, and STORM super-resolution microscopy will be discussed in the context of their contribution to define the spatial distribution and organization of receptors and enzymes of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), and to better understand ECS brain functions. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Distribution of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes in the Xenopus laevis Embryo after Microinjection

PubMed Central

Holt, Brian D.; Shawky, Joseph H.; Dahl, Kris Noel; Davidson, Lance A.; Islam, Mohammad F.

2016-01-01

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are advanced materials with the potential for a myriad of diverse applications, including biological technologies and largescale usage with the potential for environmental impacts. SWCNTs have been exposed to developing organisms to determine their effects on embryogenesis, and results have been inconsistent arising, in part, from differing material quality, dispersion status, material size, impurity from catalysts, and stability. For this study, we utilized highly purified SWCNT samples with short, uniform lengths (145 ± 17 nm) well dispersed in solution. To test high exposure doses, we microinjected > 500 μg mL-1 SWCNT concentrations into the well-established embryogenesis model, Xenopus laevis, and determined embryo compatibility and sub-cellular localization during development. SWCNTs localized within cellular progeny of the microinjected cells, but heterogeneously distributed throughout the target-injected tissue. Co-registering unique Raman spectral intensity of SWCNTs with images of fluorescently labelled sub-cellular compartments demonstrated that even at the regions of highest SWCNT concentration, there were no gross alterations to sub-cellular microstructures, including filamentous actin, endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles. Furthermore, SWCNTs did not aggregate or localize to the perinuclear sub-cellular region. Combined, these results suggest that purified and dispersed SWCNTs are not toxic to X. laevis animal cap ectoderm and may be suitable candidate materials for biological applications. PMID:26510384

Seeking the foundations of cognition in bacteria: From Schrödinger's negative entropy to latent information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ben Jacob, Eshel; Shapira, Yoash; Tauber, Alfred I.

2006-01-01

We reexamine Schrödinger's reflections on the fundamental requirements for life in view of new observations about bacterial self-organization and the emerging understanding of gene-network regulation mechanisms and dynamics. Focusing on the energy, matter and thermodynamic imbalances provided by the environment, Schrödinger proposed his consumption of negative entropy requirement for life. We take the criteria further and propose that, besides “negative entropy”, organisms extract latent information embedded in the complexity of their environment. By latent information we refer to the non-arbitrary spatio-temporal patterns of regularities and variations that characterize the environmental dynamics. Hence it can be used to generate an internal condensed description (model or usable information) of the environment which guides the organisms functioning. Accordingly, we propose that Schrödinger's criterion of “consumption of negative entropy” is not sufficient and “consumption of latent information” is an additional fundamental requirement of Life. In other words, all organisms, including bacteria, the most primitive (fundamental) ones, must be able to sense the environment and perform internal information processing for thriving on latent information embedded in the complexity of their environment. We then propose that by acting together, bacteria can perform this most elementary cognitive function more efficiently as can be illustrated by their cooperative behavior (colonial or inter-cellular self-organization). As a member of a complex superorganism-the colony-each unit (bacteria) must possess the ability to sense and communicate with the other units comprising the collective and perform its task within a distribution of tasks. Bacterial communication thus entails collective sensing and cooperativity. The fundamental (primitive) elements of cognition in such systems include interpretation of (chemical) messages, distinction between internal and external information, and some self vs., non-self distinction (peers and cheaters). We outline how intra-cellular self-organization together with genome plasticity and membrane dynamics might, in principle, provide the intra-cellular mechanisms needed for these fundamental cognitive functions. In regard to intra-cellular processes, Schrödinger postulated that new physics is needed to explain the convertion of the genetically stored information into a functioning cell. At present, his ontogenetic dilemma is generally perceived to be solved and is attributed to a lack of knowledge when it was proposed. So it is widely accepted that there is no need for some unknown laws of physics to explain cellular ontogenetic development. We take a different view and in Schrödinger's foot steps suggest that yet unknown physics principles of self-organization in open systems are missing for understanding how to assemble the cell's component into an information-based functioning “machine”.

Localization of cholesterol in sphingomyelinase-treated fibroblasts.

PubMed Central

Pörn, M I; Slotte, J P

1995-01-01

The distribution of cellular unesterified cholesterol was studied in fibroblasts, which had been depleted of plasma membrane sphingomyelin by exposure to exogenous sphingomyelinase. This treatment has previously been shown to induce an increase in cholesterol esterification, a decrease in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, and a decreased susceptibility of cell cholesterol to oxidation with cholesterol oxidase. When the cellular localization of cholesterol was studied with fluorescent filipin staining, sphingomyelin depletion did not cause any visible changes in the filipin-cholesterol staining pattern, suggesting that the major part of cellular cholesterol was retained in the plasma membrane after sphingomyelinase treatment. After the oxidation of cell-surface cholesterol with cholesterol oxidase, the plasma membrane was no longer stained by filipin, but the plasma membrane cholesterol of sphingomyelin-depleted cells appeared to be resistant to oxidation with cholesterol oxidase when sphingomyelinase was used as an oxidation-promoting agent. However, the use of hypotonic buffer or phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C together with cholesterol oxidase resulted in a complete oxidation of the cell-surface cholesterol in sphingomyelin-depleted cells, as evidenced by the filipin-cholesterol staining pattern. Similar results were obtained when [3H]cholesterol-labelled fibroblasts were used for determination of the susceptibility to cholesterol oxidation. The kinetics of [3H]cholesterol oxidation in sphingomyelin-depleted cells with cholesterol oxidase in hypotonic buffer indicated that approximately 85% of the cellular cholesterol still resided in the plasma membrane after sphingomyelin depletion. These results are contradictory to earlier reports on sphingomyelinase-induced changes in cellular cholesterol distribution and suggest that minor changes in the kinetics of cholesterol transport from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum may be responsible for the sphingomyelinase-induced changes in the rates of cholesterol metabolism. Whereas the use of phospholipases to promote the oxidation of cholesterol in some instances might lead to misinterpretations, the use of hypotonic buffer together with cholesterol oxidase proved to be a more reliable method for the determination of cellular cholesterol distribution. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 PMID:7755574

Processing and statistical analysis of soil-root images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razavi, Bahar S.; Hoang, Duyen; Kuzyakov, Yakov

2016-04-01

Importance of the hotspots such as rhizosphere, the small soil volume that surrounds and is influenced by plant roots, calls for spatially explicit methods to visualize distribution of microbial activities in this active site (Kuzyakov and Blagodatskaya, 2015). Zymography technique has previously been adapted to visualize the spatial dynamics of enzyme activities in rhizosphere (Spohn and Kuzyakov, 2014). Following further developing of soil zymography -to obtain a higher resolution of enzyme activities - we aimed to 1) quantify the images, 2) determine whether the pattern (e.g. distribution of hotspots in space) is clumped (aggregated) or regular (dispersed). To this end, we incubated soil-filled rhizoboxes with maize Zea mays L. and without maize (control box) for two weeks. In situ soil zymography was applied to visualize enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase and phosphatase at soil-root interface. Spatial resolution of fluorescent images was improved by direct application of a substrate saturated membrane to the soil-root system. Furthermore, we applied "spatial point pattern analysis" to determine whether the pattern (e.g. distribution of hotspots in space) is clumped (aggregated) or regular (dispersed). Our results demonstrated that distribution of hotspots at rhizosphere is clumped (aggregated) compare to control box without plant which showed regular (dispersed) pattern. These patterns were similar in all three replicates and for both enzymes. We conclude that improved zymography is promising in situ technique to identify, analyze, visualize and quantify spatial distribution of enzyme activities in the rhizosphere. Moreover, such different patterns should be considered in assessments and modeling of rhizosphere extension and the corresponding effects on soil properties and functions. Key words: rhizosphere, spatial point pattern, enzyme activity, zymography, maize.

Cellular Trafficking of Phospholamban and Formation of Functional Sarcoplasmic Reticulum During Myocyte DIfferentiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stenoien, David L.; Knyushko, Tatyana V.; Londono, Monica P.

2007-06-01

The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) family members are transmembrane proteins that play an essential role in regulating intracellular calcium levels. Phospholamban (PLB), a 52 amino acid phosphoprotein, regulates SERCA activity in adult heart and skeletal muscle. Using the C2C12 myocyte cell line, we find endogenous PLB constitutively expressed in both myoblasts and myotubes, whereas SERCA expression coincides with activation of the differentiation program. PLB has a punctuate distribution in myoblasts changing to a reticular distribution in myotubes where it colocalizes with SERCAs. To examine the distribution and dynamics of PLB and SERCA, we expressed fluorescent fusion proteins (GFP, CFP, andmore » YFP) of PLB and SERCA in myoblasts. Coexpressed PLB and SERCA localize to distinct cellular compartments in myoblasts but begin to colocalize as cells differentiate. Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) studies show different recovery patterns for each protein in myoblasts confirming their localization to distinct compartments. To extend these studies, we created stable cell lines expressing O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) fusions with PLB or SERCA to track their localization as myocytes differentiate. These experiments demonstrate that PLB localizes to punctate vesicles in myoblasts and adopts a reticular distribution that coincides with SERCA distribution after differentiation. Colocalization experiments indicate that a subset of PLB in myoblasts colocalizes with endosomes, Golgi, and the plasma membrane however PLB also localizes to other, as yet unidentified vesicles. Our results indicate that differentiation plays a critical role in regulating PLB distribution to ensure its colocalization within the same cellular compartment as SERCA in differentiated cells. The presence and altered distribution of PLB in undifferentiated myoblasts raises the possibility that this protein has additional functions distinct from SERCA regulation.« less

Cormack Research Project: Glasgow University

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Skinner, Susan; Ryan, James M.

1998-01-01

The aim of this project was to investigate and improve upon existing methods of analysing data from COMITEL on the Gamma Ray Observatory for neutrons emitted during solar flares. In particular, a strategy for placing confidence intervals on neutron energy distributions, due to uncertainties on the response matrix has been developed. We have also been able to demonstrate the superior performance of one of a range of possible statistical regularization strategies. A method of generating likely models of neutron energy distributions has also been developed as a tool to this end. The project involved solving an inverse problem with noise being added to the data in various ways. To achieve this pre-existing C code was used to run Fortran subroutines which performed statistical regularization on the data.

Plasmodial vein networks of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum form regular graphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumgarten, Werner; Ueda, Tetsuo; Hauser, Marcus J. B.

2010-10-01

The morphology of a typical developing biological transportation network, the vein network of the plasmodium of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum is analyzed during its free extension. The network forms a classical, regular graph, and has exclusively nodes of degree 3. This contrasts to most real-world transportation networks which show small-world or scale-free properties. The complexity of the vein network arises from the weighting of the lengths, widths, and areas of the vein segments. The lengths and areas follow exponential distributions, while the widths are distributed log-normally. These functional dependencies are robust during the entire evolution of the network, even though the exponents change with time due to the coarsening of the vein network.

Plasmodial vein networks of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum form regular graphs.

PubMed

Baumgarten, Werner; Ueda, Tetsuo; Hauser, Marcus J B

2010-10-01

The morphology of a typical developing biological transportation network, the vein network of the plasmodium of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum is analyzed during its free extension. The network forms a classical, regular graph, and has exclusively nodes of degree 3. This contrasts to most real-world transportation networks which show small-world or scale-free properties. The complexity of the vein network arises from the weighting of the lengths, widths, and areas of the vein segments. The lengths and areas follow exponential distributions, while the widths are distributed log-normally. These functional dependencies are robust during the entire evolution of the network, even though the exponents change with time due to the coarsening of the vein network.

Determination of cell cycle phases in live B16 melanoma cells using IRMS.

PubMed

Bedolla, Diana E; Kenig, Saša; Mitri, Elisa; Ferraris, Paolo; Marcello, Alessandro; Grenci, Gianluca; Vaccari, Lisa

2013-07-21

The knowledge of cell cycle phase distribution is of paramount importance for understanding cellular behaviour under normal and stressed growth conditions. This task is usually assessed using Flow Cytometry (FC) or immunohistochemistry. Here we report on the use of FTIR microspectroscopy in Microfluidic Devices (MD-IRMS) as an alternative technique for studying cell cycle distribution in live cells. Asynchronous, S- and G0-synchronized B16 mouse melanoma cells were studied by running parallel experiments based on MD-IRMS and FC using Propidium Iodide (PI) staining. MD-IRMS experiments have been done using silicon-modified BaF2 devices, where the thin silicon layer prevents BaF2 dissolution without affecting the transparency of the material and therefore enabling a better assessment of the Phosphate I (PhI) and II (PhII) bands. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) of cellular microspectra in the 1300-1000 cm(-1) region pointed out a distribution of cells among clusters, which is in good agreement with FC results among G0/G1, S and G2/M phases. The differentiation is mostly driven by the intensity of PhI and PhII bands. In particular, PhI almost doubles from the G0/G1 to G2/M phase, in agreement with the trend followed by nucleic acids during cellular progression. MD-IRMS is then proposed as a powerful method for the in situ determination of the cell cycle stage of an individual cell, without any labelling or staining, which gives the advantage of possibly monitoring specific cellular responses to several types of stimuli by clearly separating the spectral signatures related to the cellular response from those of cells that are normally progressing.

Effects of cadmium metal on young gametophytes of Gelidium floridanum: metabolic and morphological changes.

PubMed

Simioni, Carmen; Schmidt, Éder C; Rover, Ticiane; dos Santos, Rodrigo; Filipin, Elisa P; Pereira, Debora T; Costa, Giulia Burle; Oliveira, Eva Regina; Chow, Fungyi; Ramlov, Fernanda; Ouriques, Luciane; Maraschin, Marcelo; Bouzon, Zenilda L

2015-09-01

By evaluating carotenoid content, photosynthetic pigments and changes in cellular morphology, growth rates, and photosynthetic performance, this study aimed to determine the effect of cadmium (Cd) on the development of young gametophytes of Gelidium floridanum. Plants were exposed to 7.5 and 15 μM of Cd for 7 days. Control plants showed increased formation of new filamentous thallus, increased growth rates, presence of starch grains in the cortical and subcortical cells, protein content distributed regularly throughout the cell periphery, and intense autofluorescence of chloroplasts. On the other hand, plants treated with Cd at concentrations of 7.5 and 15 μM showed few formations of new thallus with totally depigmented regions, resulting in decreased growth rates. Plants exposed to 7.5 μM Cd demonstrated alterations in the cell wall and an increase in starch grains in the cortical and subcortical cells, while plants exposed to 15 μM Cd showed changes in medullary cells with no organized distribution of protein content. The autofluorescence and structure of chloroplasts decreased, forming a thin layer on the periphery of cells. Cadmium also affected plant metabolism, as visualized by a decrease in photosynthetic pigments, in particular, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin contents, and an increase in carotenoids. This result agrees with decreased photosynthetic performance and chronic photoinhibition observed after treatment with Cd, as measured by the decrease in electron transport rate. Based on these results, it was concluded that exposure to Cd affects cell metabolism and results in significant toxicity to young gametophytes of G. floridanum.

Spherical Deconvolution of Multichannel Diffusion MRI Data with Non-Gaussian Noise Models and Spatial Regularization

PubMed Central

Canales-Rodríguez, Erick J.; Caruyer, Emmanuel; Aja-Fernández, Santiago; Radua, Joaquim; Yurramendi Mendizabal, Jesús M.; Iturria-Medina, Yasser; Melie-García, Lester; Alemán-Gómez, Yasser; Thiran, Jean-Philippe; Sarró, Salvador; Pomarol-Clotet, Edith; Salvador, Raymond

2015-01-01

Spherical deconvolution (SD) methods are widely used to estimate the intra-voxel white-matter fiber orientations from diffusion MRI data. However, while some of these methods assume a zero-mean Gaussian distribution for the underlying noise, its real distribution is known to be non-Gaussian and to depend on many factors such as the number of coils and the methodology used to combine multichannel MRI signals. Indeed, the two prevailing methods for multichannel signal combination lead to noise patterns better described by Rician and noncentral Chi distributions. Here we develop a Robust and Unbiased Model-BAsed Spherical Deconvolution (RUMBA-SD) technique, intended to deal with realistic MRI noise, based on a Richardson-Lucy (RL) algorithm adapted to Rician and noncentral Chi likelihood models. To quantify the benefits of using proper noise models, RUMBA-SD was compared with dRL-SD, a well-established method based on the RL algorithm for Gaussian noise. Another aim of the study was to quantify the impact of including a total variation (TV) spatial regularization term in the estimation framework. To do this, we developed TV spatially-regularized versions of both RUMBA-SD and dRL-SD algorithms. The evaluation was performed by comparing various quality metrics on 132 three-dimensional synthetic phantoms involving different inter-fiber angles and volume fractions, which were contaminated with noise mimicking patterns generated by data processing in multichannel scanners. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of proper likelihood models leads to an increased ability to resolve fiber crossings with smaller inter-fiber angles and to better detect non-dominant fibers. The inclusion of TV regularization dramatically improved the resolution power of both techniques. The above findings were also verified in human brain data. PMID:26470024

Effect of different types of prosthetic platforms on stress-distribution in dental implant-supported prostheses.

PubMed

Minatel, Lurian; Verri, Fellippo Ramos; Kudo, Guilherme Abu Halawa; de Faria Almeida, Daniel Augusto; de Souza Batista, Victor Eduardo; Lemos, Cleidiel Aparecido Araujo; Pellizzer, Eduardo Piza; Santiago, Joel Ferreira

2017-02-01

A biomechanical analysis of different types of implant connections is relevant to clinical practice because it may impact the longevity of the rehabilitation treatment. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the Morse taper connections and the stress distribution of structures associated with the platform switching (PSW) concept. It will do this by obtaining data on the biomechanical behavior of the main structure in relation to the dental implant using the 3-dimensional finite element methodology. Four models were simulated (with each containing a single prosthesis over the implant) in the molar region, with the following specifications: M1 and M2 is an external hexagonal implant on a regular platform; M3 is an external hexagonal implant using PSW concept; and M4 is a Morse taper implant. The modeling process involved the use of images from InVesalius CT (computed tomography) processing software, which were refined using Rhinoceros 4.0 and SolidWorks 2011 CAD software. The models were then exported into the finite element program (FEMAP 11.0) to configure the meshes. The models were processed using NeiNastram software. The main results are that M1 (regular diameter 4mm) had the highest stress concentration area and highest microstrain concentration for bone tissue, dental implants, and the retaining screw (P<0.05). Using the PSW concept increases the area of the stress concentrations in the retaining screw (P<0.05) more than in the regular platform implant. It was concluded that the increase in diameter is beneficial for stress distribution and that the PSW concept had higher stress concentrations in the retaining screw and the crown compared to the regular platform implant. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seeking Temporal Predictability in Speech: Comparing Statistical Approaches on 18 World Languages.

PubMed

Jadoul, Yannick; Ravignani, Andrea; Thompson, Bill; Filippi, Piera; de Boer, Bart

2016-01-01

Temporal regularities in speech, such as interdependencies in the timing of speech events, are thought to scaffold early acquisition of the building blocks in speech. By providing on-line clues to the location and duration of upcoming syllables, temporal structure may aid segmentation and clustering of continuous speech into separable units. This hypothesis tacitly assumes that learners exploit predictability in the temporal structure of speech. Existing measures of speech timing tend to focus on first-order regularities among adjacent units, and are overly sensitive to idiosyncrasies in the data they describe. Here, we compare several statistical methods on a sample of 18 languages, testing whether syllable occurrence is predictable over time. Rather than looking for differences between languages, we aim to find across languages (using clearly defined acoustic, rather than orthographic, measures), temporal predictability in the speech signal which could be exploited by a language learner. First, we analyse distributional regularities using two novel techniques: a Bayesian ideal learner analysis, and a simple distributional measure. Second, we model higher-order temporal structure-regularities arising in an ordered series of syllable timings-testing the hypothesis that non-adjacent temporal structures may explain the gap between subjectively-perceived temporal regularities, and the absence of universally-accepted lower-order objective measures. Together, our analyses provide limited evidence for predictability at different time scales, though higher-order predictability is difficult to reliably infer. We conclude that temporal predictability in speech may well arise from a combination of individually weak perceptual cues at multiple structural levels, but is challenging to pinpoint.

Seeking Temporal Predictability in Speech: Comparing Statistical Approaches on 18 World Languages

PubMed Central

Jadoul, Yannick; Ravignani, Andrea; Thompson, Bill; Filippi, Piera; de Boer, Bart

2016-01-01

Temporal regularities in speech, such as interdependencies in the timing of speech events, are thought to scaffold early acquisition of the building blocks in speech. By providing on-line clues to the location and duration of upcoming syllables, temporal structure may aid segmentation and clustering of continuous speech into separable units. This hypothesis tacitly assumes that learners exploit predictability in the temporal structure of speech. Existing measures of speech timing tend to focus on first-order regularities among adjacent units, and are overly sensitive to idiosyncrasies in the data they describe. Here, we compare several statistical methods on a sample of 18 languages, testing whether syllable occurrence is predictable over time. Rather than looking for differences between languages, we aim to find across languages (using clearly defined acoustic, rather than orthographic, measures), temporal predictability in the speech signal which could be exploited by a language learner. First, we analyse distributional regularities using two novel techniques: a Bayesian ideal learner analysis, and a simple distributional measure. Second, we model higher-order temporal structure—regularities arising in an ordered series of syllable timings—testing the hypothesis that non-adjacent temporal structures may explain the gap between subjectively-perceived temporal regularities, and the absence of universally-accepted lower-order objective measures. Together, our analyses provide limited evidence for predictability at different time scales, though higher-order predictability is difficult to reliably infer. We conclude that temporal predictability in speech may well arise from a combination of individually weak perceptual cues at multiple structural levels, but is challenging to pinpoint. PMID:27994544

Expression and Cellular Distribution of Ubiquitin in Response to Injury in the Developing Spinal Cord of Monodelphis domestica

PubMed Central

Noor, Natassya M.; Møllgård, Kjeld; Wheaton, Benjamin J.; Steer, David L.; Truettner, Jessie S.; Dziegielewska, Katarzyna M.; Dietrich, W. Dalton; Smith, A. Ian; Saunders, Norman R.

2013-01-01

Ubiquitin, an 8.5 kDa protein associated with the proteasome degradation pathway has been recently identified as differentially expressed in segment of cord caudal to site of injury in developing spinal cord. Here we describe ubiquitin expression and cellular distribution in spinal cord up to postnatal day P35 in control opossums (Monodelphis domestica) and in response to complete spinal transection (T10) at P7, when axonal growth through site of injury occurs, and P28 when this is no longer possible. Cords were collected 1 or 7 days after injury, with age-matched controls and segments rostral to lesion were studied. Following spinal injury ubiquitin levels (western blotting) appeared reduced compared to controls especially one day after injury at P28. In contrast, after injury mRNA expression (qRT-PCR) was slightly increased at P7 but decreased at P28. Changes in isoelectric point of separated ubiquitin indicated possible post-translational modifications. Cellular distribution demonstrated a developmental shift between earliest (P8) and latest (P35) ages examined, from a predominantly cytoplasmic immunoreactivity to a nuclear expression; staining level and shift to nuclear staining was more pronounced following injury, except 7 days after transection at P28. After injury at P7 immunostaining increased in neurons and additionally in oligodendrocytes at P28. Mass spectrometry showed two ubiquitin bands; the heavier was identified as a fusion product, likely to be an ubiquitin precursor. Apparent changes in ubiquitin expression and cellular distribution in development and response to spinal injury suggest an intricate regulatory system that modulates these responses which, when better understood, may lead to potential therapeutic targets. PMID:23626776

Cellular and network properties of the subiculum in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

PubMed

Knopp, Andreas; Kivi, Anatol; Wozny, Christian; Heinemann, Uwe; Behr, Joachim

2005-03-21

The subiculum was recently shown to be crucially involved in the generation of interictal activity in human temporal lobe epilepsy. Using the pilocarpine model of epilepsy, this study examines the anatomical substrates for network hyperexcitability recorded in the subiculum. Regular- and burst-spiking subicular pyramidal cells were stained with fluorescence dyes and reconstructed to analyze seizure-induced alterations of the dendritic and axonal system. In control animals burst-spiking cells outnumbered regular-spiking cells by about two to one. Regular- and burst-spiking cells were characterized by extensive axonal branching and autapse-like contacts, suggesting a high intrinsic connectivity. In addition, subicular axons projecting to CA1 indicate a CA1-subiculum-CA1 circuit. In the subiculum of pilocarpine-treated rats we found an enhanced network excitability characterized by spontaneous rhythmic activity, polysynaptic responses, and all-or-none evoked bursts of action potentials. In pilocarpine-treated rats the subiculum showed cell loss of about 30%. The ratio of regular- and burst-spiking cells was practically inverse as compared to control preparations. A reduced arborization and spine density in the proximal part of the apical dendrites suggests a partial deafferentiation from CA1. In pilocarpine-treated rats no increased axonal outgrowth of pyramidal cells was observed. Hence, axonal sprouting of subicular pyramidal cells is not mandatory for the development of the pathological events. We suggest that pilocarpine-induced seizures cause an unmasking or strengthening of synaptic contacts within the recurrent subicular network. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Cuttlebone-like V2O5 Nanofibre Scaffolds - Advances in Structuring Cellular Solids.

PubMed

Knöller, Andrea; Runčevski, Tomče; Dinnebier, Robert E; Bill, Joachim; Burghard, Zaklina

2017-02-20

The synthesis of ceramic materials combining high porosity and permeability with good mechanical stability is challenging, as optimising the latter requires compromises regarding the first two properties. Nonetheless, significant progress can be made in this direction by taking advantage of the structural design principles evolved by nature. Natural cellular solids achieve good mechanical stability via a defined hierarchical organisation of the building blocks they are composed of. Here, we report the first synthetic, ceramic-based scaffold whose architecture closely mimics that of cuttlebone -a structural biomaterial whose porosity exceeds that of most other natural cellular solids, whilst preserving an excellent mechanical strength. The nanostructured, single-component scaffold, obtained by ice-templated assembly of V 2 O 5 nanofibres, features a highly sophisticated and elaborate architecture of equally spaced lamellas, which are regularly connected by pillars as lamella support. It displays an unprecedented porosity of 99.8 %, complemented by an enhanced mechanical stability. This novel bioinspired, functional material not only displays mechanical characteristics similar to natural cuttlebone, but the multifunctionality of the V 2 O 5 nanofibres also renders possible applications, including catalysts, sensors and electrodes for energy storage.

Cuttlebone-like V2O5 Nanofibre Scaffolds - Advances in Structuring Cellular Solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knöller, Andrea; Runčevski, Tomče; Dinnebier, Robert E.; Bill, Joachim; Burghard, Zaklina

2017-02-01

The synthesis of ceramic materials combining high porosity and permeability with good mechanical stability is challenging, as optimising the latter requires compromises regarding the first two properties. Nonetheless, significant progress can be made in this direction by taking advantage of the structural design principles evolved by nature. Natural cellular solids achieve good mechanical stability via a defined hierarchical organisation of the building blocks they are composed of. Here, we report the first synthetic, ceramic-based scaffold whose architecture closely mimics that of cuttlebone -a structural biomaterial whose porosity exceeds that of most other natural cellular solids, whilst preserving an excellent mechanical strength. The nanostructured, single-component scaffold, obtained by ice-templated assembly of V2O5 nanofibres, features a highly sophisticated and elaborate architecture of equally spaced lamellas, which are regularly connected by pillars as lamella support. It displays an unprecedented porosity of 99.8 %, complemented by an enhanced mechanical stability. This novel bioinspired, functional material not only displays mechanical characteristics similar to natural cuttlebone, but the multifunctionality of the V2O5 nanofibres also renders possible applications, including catalysts, sensors and electrodes for energy storage.

Cellular and molecular perspectives in rheumatoid arthritis.

PubMed

Veale, Douglas J; Orr, Carl; Fearon, Ursula

2017-06-01

Synovial immunopathology in rheumatoid arthritis is complex involving both resident and infiltrating cells. The synovial tissue undergoes significant neovascularization, facilitating an influx of lymphocytes and monocytes that transform a typically acellular loose areolar membrane into an invasive tumour-like pannus. The microvasculature proliferates to form straight regularly-branching vessels; however, they are highly dysfunctional resulting in reduced oxygen supply and a hypoxic microenvironment. Autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies are found at an early stage, often before arthritis has developed, and they have been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA. Abnormal cellular metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction thus ensue and, in turn, through the increased production of reactive oxygen species actively induce inflammation. Key pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors and their signalling pathways, including nuclear factor κB, Janus kinase-signal transducer, are highly activated when immune cells are exposed to hypoxia in the inflamed rheumatoid joint show adaptive survival reactions by activating. This review attempts to highlight those aberrations in the innate and adaptive immune systems including the role of genetic and environmental factors, autoantibodies, cellular alterations, signalling pathways and metabolism that are implicated in the pathogenesis of RA and may therefore provide an opportunity for therapeutic intervention.

Interactions between white spruce and shrubby alders at three boreal forest sites in Alaska.

Treesearch

Tricia L. Wurtz

2000-01-01

To document possible soil nitrogen mosaics before timber harvesting on three boreal forest sites in Alaska, maps of the distribution of understory green (Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh) and Sitka alder (A. sitchensis(Reg.) Rydb.) stems were made. Understory alders were regularly distributed throughout the northernmost site (Standard...

The Asymptotic Distribution of Ability Estimates: Beyond Dichotomous Items and Unidimensional IRT Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sinharay, Sandip

2015-01-01

The maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) of the ability parameter of an item response theory model with known item parameters was proved to be asymptotically normally distributed under a set of regularity conditions for tests involving dichotomous items and a unidimensional ability parameter (Klauer, 1990; Lord, 1983). This article first considers…

Fillers as Signs of Distributional Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taelman, Helena; Durieux, Gert; Gillis, Steven

2009-01-01

A longitudinal analysis is presented of the fillers of a Dutch-speaking child between 1;10 and 2;7. Our analysis corroborates familiar regularities reported in the literature: most fillers resemble articles in shape and distribution, and are affected by rhythmic and positional constraints. A novel finding is the impact of the lexical environment:…

Regular exercise during haemodialysis promotes an anti-inflammatory leucocyte profile

PubMed Central

Dungey, Maurice; Young, Hannah M L; Churchward, Darren R; Burton, James O; Smith, Alice C

2017-01-01

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients and is highly predicted by markers of chronic inflammation. Regular exercise may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects, but this is unclear in HD patients. This study assessed the effect of regular intradialytic exercise on soluble inflammatory factors and inflammatory leucocyte phenotypes. Methods Twenty-two HD patients from a centre where intradialytic cycling was offered thrice weekly and 16 HD patients receiving usual care volunteered. Exercising patients aimed to cycle for 30 min at rating of perceived exertion of ‘somewhat hard’. Baseline characteristics were compared with 16 healthy age-matched individuals. Physical function, soluble inflammatory markers and leucocyte phenotypes were assessed again after 6 months of regular exercise. Results Patients were less active than their healthy counterparts and had significant elevations in measures of inflammation [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), intermediate and non-classical monocytes; all P < 0.001]. Six months of regular intradialytic exercise improved physical function (sit-to-stand 60). After 6 months, the proportion of intermediate monocytes in the exercising patients reduced compared with non-exercisers (7.58 ± 1.68% to 6.38 ± 1.81% versus 6.86 ± 1.45% to 7.88 ± 1.66%; P < 0.01). Numbers (but not proportion) of regulatory T cells decreased in the non-exercising patients only (P < 0.05). Training had no significant effect on circulating IL-6, CRP or TNF-α concentrations. Conclusions These findings suggest that regular intradialytic exercise is associated with an anti-inflammatory effect at a circulating cellular level but not in circulating cytokines. This may be protective against the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality that is associated with chronic inflammation and elevated numbers of intermediate monocytes. PMID:29225811

Adaptive multi-view clustering based on nonnegative matrix factorization and pairwise co-regularization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tianzhen; Wang, Xiumei; Gao, Xinbo

2018-04-01

Nowadays, several datasets are demonstrated by multi-view, which usually include shared and complementary information. Multi-view clustering methods integrate the information of multi-view to obtain better clustering results. Nonnegative matrix factorization has become an essential and popular tool in clustering methods because of its interpretation. However, existing nonnegative matrix factorization based multi-view clustering algorithms do not consider the disagreement between views and neglects the fact that different views will have different contributions to the data distribution. In this paper, we propose a new multi-view clustering method, named adaptive multi-view clustering based on nonnegative matrix factorization and pairwise co-regularization. The proposed algorithm can obtain the parts-based representation of multi-view data by nonnegative matrix factorization. Then, pairwise co-regularization is used to measure the disagreement between views. There is only one parameter to auto learning the weight values according to the contribution of each view to data distribution. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms several state-of-the-arts algorithms for multi-view clustering.

Reconstruction algorithms based on l1-norm and l2-norm for two imaging models of fluorescence molecular tomography: a comparative study.

PubMed

Yi, Huangjian; Chen, Duofang; Li, Wei; Zhu, Shouping; Wang, Xiaorui; Liang, Jimin; Tian, Jie

2013-05-01

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is an important imaging technique of optical imaging. The major challenge of the reconstruction method for FMT is the ill-posed and underdetermined nature of the inverse problem. In past years, various regularization methods have been employed for fluorescence target reconstruction. A comparative study between the reconstruction algorithms based on l1-norm and l2-norm for two imaging models of FMT is presented. The first imaging model is adopted by most researchers, where the fluorescent target is of small size to mimic small tissue with fluorescent substance, as demonstrated by the early detection of a tumor. The second model is the reconstruction of distribution of the fluorescent substance in organs, which is essential to drug pharmacokinetics. Apart from numerical experiments, in vivo experiments were conducted on a dual-modality FMT/micro-computed tomography imaging system. The experimental results indicated that l1-norm regularization is more suitable for reconstructing the small fluorescent target, while l2-norm regularization performs better for the reconstruction of the distribution of fluorescent substance.

A Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of the Stress Distribution Generated by Splinted and Nonsplinted Prostheses in the Rehabilitation of Various Bony Ridges with Regular or Short Morse Taper Implants.

PubMed

Toniollo, Marcelo Bighetti; Macedo, Ana Paula; Rodrigues, Renata Cristina; Ribeiro, Ricardo Faria; de Mattos, Maria G

The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical performance of splinted or nonsplinted prostheses over short- or regular-length Morse taper implants (5 mm and 11 mm, respectively) in the posterior area of the mandible using finite element analysis. Three-dimensional geometric models of regular implants (Ø 4 × 11 mm) and short implants (Ø 4 × 5 mm) were placed into a simulated model of the left posterior mandible that included the first premolar tooth; all teeth posterior to this tooth had been removed. The four experimental groups were as follows: regular group SP (three regular implants were rehabilitated with splinted prostheses), regular group NSP (three regular implants were rehabilitated with nonsplinted prostheses), short group SP (three short implants were rehabilitated with splinted prostheses), and short group NSP (three short implants were rehabilitated with nonsplinted prostheses). Oblique forces were simulated in molars (365 N) and premolars (200 N). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the minimum principal stress in bone were performed using ANSYS Workbench software, version 10.0. The use of splinting in the short group reduced the stress to the bone surrounding the implants and tooth. The use of NSP or SP in the regular group resulted in similar stresses. The best indication when there are short implants is to use SP. Use of NSP is feasible only when regular implants are present.

Multiple graph regularized protein domain ranking.

PubMed

Wang, Jim Jing-Yan; Bensmail, Halima; Gao, Xin

2012-11-19

Protein domain ranking is a fundamental task in structural biology. Most protein domain ranking methods rely on the pairwise comparison of protein domains while neglecting the global manifold structure of the protein domain database. Recently, graph regularized ranking that exploits the global structure of the graph defined by the pairwise similarities has been proposed. However, the existing graph regularized ranking methods are very sensitive to the choice of the graph model and parameters, and this remains a difficult problem for most of the protein domain ranking methods. To tackle this problem, we have developed the Multiple Graph regularized Ranking algorithm, MultiG-Rank. Instead of using a single graph to regularize the ranking scores, MultiG-Rank approximates the intrinsic manifold of protein domain distribution by combining multiple initial graphs for the regularization. Graph weights are learned with ranking scores jointly and automatically, by alternately minimizing an objective function in an iterative algorithm. Experimental results on a subset of the ASTRAL SCOP protein domain database demonstrate that MultiG-Rank achieves a better ranking performance than single graph regularized ranking methods and pairwise similarity based ranking methods. The problem of graph model and parameter selection in graph regularized protein domain ranking can be solved effectively by combining multiple graphs. This aspect of generalization introduces a new frontier in applying multiple graphs to solving protein domain ranking applications.

Multiple graph regularized protein domain ranking

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Protein domain ranking is a fundamental task in structural biology. Most protein domain ranking methods rely on the pairwise comparison of protein domains while neglecting the global manifold structure of the protein domain database. Recently, graph regularized ranking that exploits the global structure of the graph defined by the pairwise similarities has been proposed. However, the existing graph regularized ranking methods are very sensitive to the choice of the graph model and parameters, and this remains a difficult problem for most of the protein domain ranking methods. Results To tackle this problem, we have developed the Multiple Graph regularized Ranking algorithm, MultiG-Rank. Instead of using a single graph to regularize the ranking scores, MultiG-Rank approximates the intrinsic manifold of protein domain distribution by combining multiple initial graphs for the regularization. Graph weights are learned with ranking scores jointly and automatically, by alternately minimizing an objective function in an iterative algorithm. Experimental results on a subset of the ASTRAL SCOP protein domain database demonstrate that MultiG-Rank achieves a better ranking performance than single graph regularized ranking methods and pairwise similarity based ranking methods. Conclusion The problem of graph model and parameter selection in graph regularized protein domain ranking can be solved effectively by combining multiple graphs. This aspect of generalization introduces a new frontier in applying multiple graphs to solving protein domain ranking applications. PMID:23157331

Sub-cellular distribution and translocation of TRP channels.

PubMed

Toro, Carlos A; Arias, Luis A; Brauchi, Sebastian

2011-01-01

Cellular electrical activity is the result of a highly complex processes that involve the activation of ion channel proteins. Ion channels make pores on cell membranes that rapidly transit between conductive and non-conductive states, allowing different ions to flow down their electrochemical gradients across cell membranes. In the case of neuronal cells, ion channel activity orchestrates action potentials traveling through axons, enabling electrical communication between cells in distant parts of the body. Somatic sensation -our ability to feel touch, temperature and noxious stimuli- require ion channels able to sense and respond to our peripheral environment. Sensory integration involves the summing of various environmental cues and their conversion into electrical signals. Members of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) family of ion channels have emerged as important mediators of both cellular sensing and sensory integration. The regulation of the spatial and temporal distribution of membrane receptors is recognized as an important mechanism for controlling the magnitude of the cellular response and the time scale on which cellular signaling occurs. Several studies have shown that this mechanism is also used by TRP channels to modulate cellular response and ultimately fulfill their physiological function as sensors. However, the inner-working of this mode of control for TRP channels remains poorly understood. The question of whether TRPs intrinsically regulate their own vesicular trafficking or weather the dynamic regulation of TRP channel residence on the cell surface is caused by extrinsic changes in the rates of vesicle insertion or retrieval remain open. This review will examine the evidence that sub-cellular redistribution of TRP channels plays an important role in regulating their activity and explore the mechanisms that control the trafficking of vesicles containing TRP channels.

Electrophoresis device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhodes, P. H.; Snyder, R. S. (Inventor)

1982-01-01

A device for separating cellular particles of a sample substance into fractionated streams of different cellular species includes a casing having a distribution chamber, a separation chamber, and a collection chamber. The electrode chambers are separated from the separation chamber interior by means of passages such that flow variations and membrane variations around the slotted portion of the electrode chamber do not enduce flow perturbations into the laminar buffer curtain flowing in the separation chamber. The cellular particles of the sample are separated under the influence of the electrical field and the separation chamber into streams of different cellular species. The streams of separated cells enter a partition array in the collection chamber where they are fractionated and collected.

Real-Time Reed-Solomon Decoder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maki, Gary K.; Cameron, Kelly B.; Owsley, Patrick A.

1994-01-01

Generic Reed-Solomon decoder fast enough to correct errors in real time in practical applications designed to be implemented in fewer and smaller very-large-scale integrated, VLSI, circuit chips. Configured to operate in pipelined manner. One outstanding aspect of decoder design is that Euclid multiplier and divider modules contain Galoisfield multipliers configured as combinational-logic cells. Operates at speeds greater than older multipliers. Cellular configuration highly regular and requires little interconnection area, making it ideal for implementation in extraordinarily dense VLSI circuitry. Flight electronics single chip version of this technology implemented and available.

Learning multiple rules simultaneously: Affixes are more salient than reduplications.

PubMed

Gervain, Judit; Endress, Ansgar D

2017-04-01

Language learners encounter numerous opportunities to learn regularities, but need to decide which of these regularities to learn, because some are not productive in their native language. Here, we present an account of rule learning based on perceptual and memory primitives (Endress, Dehaene-Lambertz, & Mehler, Cognition, 105(3), 577-614, 2007; Endress, Nespor, & Mehler, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13(8), 348-353, 2009), suggesting that learners preferentially learn regularities that are more salient to them, and that the pattern of salience reflects the frequency of language features across languages. We contrast this view with previous artificial grammar learning research, which suggests that infants "choose" the regularities they learn based on rational, Bayesian criteria (Frank & Tenenbaum, Cognition, 120(3), 360-371, 2013; Gerken, Cognition, 98(3)B67-B74, 2006, Cognition, 115(2), 362-366, 2010). In our experiments, adult participants listened to syllable strings starting with a syllable reduplication and always ending with the same "affix" syllable, or to syllable strings starting with this "affix" syllable and ending with the "reduplication". Both affixation and reduplication are frequently used for morphological marking across languages. We find three crucial results. First, participants learned both regularities simultaneously. Second, affixation regularities seemed easier to learn than reduplication regularities. Third, regularities in sequence offsets were easier to learn than regularities at sequence onsets. We show that these results are inconsistent with previous Bayesian rule learning models, but mesh well with the perceptual or memory primitives view. Further, we show that the pattern of salience revealed in our experiments reflects the distribution of regularities across languages. Ease of acquisition might thus be one determinant of the frequency of regularities across languages.

Understanding the tissue effects of tribo-corrosion: uptake, distribution, and speciation of cobalt and chromium in human bone cells.

PubMed

Shah, Karan M; Quinn, Paul D; Gartland, Alison; Wilkinson, J Mark

2015-01-01

Cobalt and chromium species are released in the local tissues as a result of tribo-corrosion, and affect bone cell survival and function. However we have little understanding of the mechanisms of cellular entry, intracellular distribution, and speciation of the metals that result in impaired bone health. Here we used synchrotron based X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and fluorescent-probing approaches of candidate receptors P2X7R and divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT-1), to better understand the entry, intra-cellular distribution and speciation of cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) in human osteoblasts and primary human osteoclasts. We found that both Co and Cr were most highly localized at nuclear and perinuclear sites in osteoblasts, suggesting uptake through cell membrane transporters, and supported by a finding that P2X7 receptor blockade reduced cellular entry of Co. In contrast, metal species were present at discrete sites corresponding to the basolateral membrane in osteoclasts, suggesting cell entry by endocytosis and trafficking through a functional secretory domain. An intracellular reduction of Cr6+ to Cr3+ was the only redox change observed in cells treated with Co2+, Cr3+, and Cr6+. Our data suggest that the cellular uptake and processing of Co and Cr differs between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

Intracellular zinc distribution in mitochondria, ER and the Golgi apparatus

PubMed Central

Lu, Qiping; Haragopal, Hariprakash; Slepchenko, Kira G; Stork, Christian; Li, Yang V

2016-01-01

Zinc (Zn2+) is required for numerous cellular functions. As such, the homeostasis and distribution of intracellular zinc can influence cellular metabolism and signaling. However, the exact distribution of free zinc within live cells remains elusive. Previously we showed the release of zinc from thapsigargin/IP3-sensitive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) storage in cortical neurons. In the present study, we investigated if other cellular organelles also contain free chelatable zinc and function as organelle storage for zinc. To identify free zinc within the organelles, live cells were co-stained with Zinpyr-1, a zinc fluorescent dye, and organelle-specific fluorescent dyes (MitoFluor Red 589: mitochondria; ER Tracker Red: endoplasmic reticulum; BODIPY TR ceramide: Golgi apparatus; Syto Red 64: nucleus). We examined organelles that represent potential storing sites for intracellular zinc. We showed that zinc fluorescence staining was co-localized with MitoFluor Red 589, ER Tracker Red, and BODIPY TR ceramide respectively, suggesting the presence of free zinc in mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and the Golgi apparatus. On the other hand, cytosol and nucleus had nearly no detectable zinc fluorescence. It is known that nucleus contains high amount of zinc binding proteins that have high zinc binding affinity. The absence of zinc fluorescence suggests that there is little free zinc in these two regions. It also indicates that the zinc fluorescence detected in mitochondria, ER and Golgi apparatus represents free chelatable zinc. Taken together, our results support that these organelles are potential zinc storing organelles during cellular zinc homeostasis. PMID:27186321

Lp-Norm Regularization in Volumetric Imaging of Cardiac Current Sources

PubMed Central

Rahimi, Azar; Xu, Jingjia; Wang, Linwei

2013-01-01

Advances in computer vision have substantially improved our ability to analyze the structure and mechanics of the heart. In comparison, our ability to observe and analyze cardiac electrical activities is much limited. The progress to computationally reconstruct cardiac current sources from noninvasive voltage data sensed on the body surface has been hindered by the ill-posedness and the lack of a unique solution of the reconstruction problem. Common L2- and L1-norm regularizations tend to produce a solution that is either too diffused or too scattered to reflect the complex spatial structure of current source distribution in the heart. In this work, we propose a general regularization with Lp-norm (1 < p < 2) constraint to bridge the gap and balance between an overly smeared and overly focal solution in cardiac source reconstruction. In a set of phantom experiments, we demonstrate the superiority of the proposed Lp-norm method over its L1 and L2 counterparts in imaging cardiac current sources with increasing extents. Through computer-simulated and real-data experiments, we further demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method in imaging the complex structure of excitation wavefront, as well as current sources distributed along the postinfarction scar border. This ability to preserve the spatial structure of source distribution is important for revealing the potential disruption to the normal heart excitation. PMID:24348735

Sublexical and lexico-syntactic factors in gender access in Spanish.

PubMed

Afonso, Olivia; Domínguez, Alberto; Alvarez, Carlos J; Morales, David

2014-02-01

The influence of sublexical and lexico-syntactic factors during the grammatical gender assignment process in Spanish was studied in two experiments using the gender decision task. In Experiment 1, the regularity of the ending of gender-marked nouns (masculine nouns ended in -o and feminine nouns ended in -a) and of nouns with gender-correlated but unmarked word-endings (e.g., -ad) was manipulated. The results showed that regularity affected reaction times and error rates only in the case of gender-marked nouns, suggesting that the mere statistical distribution of a word-ending across genders is not responsible for the regularity effect. In Experiment 2, gender-marked nouns and gender-unmarked nouns were preceded by a masked prime which could be a definite article (which provides information about the gender of the noun) or a possessive pronoun (which does not contain gender information). The presentation of the definite article led to shorter reaction times and less errors only when the word-ending was different from -o or -a. Taken together, these results indicate that gender assignment in Spanish is carried out through different processes depending on the noun ending: gender decisions for gender-marked nouns are based on the gender-to-ending distribution. Meanwhile, gender decisions for unmarked nouns seem to require the retrieval of the corresponding definite grammatical article, regardless of the statistical distribution of the noun ending across genders.

Experimental design for dynamics identification of cellular processes.

PubMed

Dinh, Vu; Rundell, Ann E; Buzzard, Gregery T

2014-03-01

We address the problem of using nonlinear models to design experiments to characterize the dynamics of cellular processes by using the approach of the Maximally Informative Next Experiment (MINE), which was introduced in W. Dong et al. (PLoS ONE 3(8):e3105, 2008) and independently in M.M. Donahue et al. (IET Syst. Biol. 4:249-262, 2010). In this approach, existing data is used to define a probability distribution on the parameters; the next measurement point is the one that yields the largest model output variance with this distribution. Building upon this approach, we introduce the Expected Dynamics Estimator (EDE), which is the expected value using this distribution of the output as a function of time. We prove the consistency of this estimator (uniform convergence to true dynamics) even when the chosen experiments cluster in a finite set of points. We extend this proof of consistency to various practical assumptions on noisy data and moderate levels of model mismatch. Through the derivation and proof, we develop a relaxed version of MINE that is more computationally tractable and robust than the original formulation. The results are illustrated with numerical examples on two nonlinear ordinary differential equation models of biomolecular and cellular processes.

Transport of fluid and solutes in the body I. Formulation of a mathematical model.

PubMed

Gyenge, C C; Bowen, B D; Reed, R K; Bert, J L

1999-09-01

A compartmental model of short-term whole body fluid, protein, and ion distribution and transport is formulated. The model comprises four compartments: a vascular and an interstitial compartment, each with an embedded cellular compartment. The present paper discusses the assumptions on which the model is based and describes the equations that make up the model. Fluid and protein transport parameters from a previously validated model as well as ionic exchange parameters from the literature or from statistical estimation [see companion paper: C. C. Gyenge, B. D. Bowen, R. K. Reed, and J. L. Bert. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 46): H1228-H1240, 1999] are used in formulating the model. The dynamic model has the ability to simulate 1) transport across the capillary membrane of fluid, proteins, and small ions and their distribution between the vascular and interstitial compartments; 2) the changes in extracellular osmolarity; 3) the distribution and transport of water and ions associated with each of the cellular compartments; 4) the cellular transmembrane potential; and 5) the changes of volume in the four fluid compartments. The validation and testing of the proposed model against available experimental data are presented in the companion paper.

Correlative organelle fluorescence microscopy and synchrotron X-ray chemical element imaging in single cells.

PubMed

Roudeau, Stéphane; Carmona, Asuncion; Perrin, Laura; Ortega, Richard

2014-11-01

X-ray chemical element imaging has the potential to enable fundamental breakthroughs in the understanding of biological systems because chemical element interactions with organelles can be studied at the sub-cellular level. What is the distribution of trace metals in cells? Do some elements accumulate within sub-cellular organelles? What are the chemical species of the elements in these organelles? These are some of the fundamental questions that can be addressed by use of X-ray chemical element imaging with synchrotron radiation beams. For precise location of the distribution of the elements, identification of cellular organelles is required; this can be achieved, after appropriate labelling, by use of fluorescence microscopy. As will be discussed, this approach imposes some limitations on sample preparation. For example, standard immunolabelling procedures strongly modify the distribution of the elements in cells as a result of the chemical fixation and permeabilization steps. Organelle location can, however, be performed, by use of a variety of specific fluorescent dyes or fluorescent proteins, on living cells before cryogenic fixation, enabling preservation of element distribution. This article reviews the methods used for fluorescent organelle labelling and X-ray chemical element imaging and speciation of single cells. Selected cases from our work and from other research groups are presented to illustrate the potential of the combination of the two techniques.

Nonsmooth, nonconvex regularizers applied to linear electromagnetic inverse problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hidalgo-Silva, H.; Gomez-Trevino, E.

2017-12-01

Tikhonov's regularization method is the standard technique applied to obtain models of the subsurface conductivity distribution from electric or electromagnetic measurements by solving UT (m) = | F (m) - d |2 + λ P(m). The second term correspond to the stabilizing functional, with P (m) = | ∇ m |2 the usual approach, and λ the regularization parameter. Due to the roughness penalizer inclusion, the model developed by Tikhonov's algorithm tends to smear discontinuities, a feature that may be undesirable. An important requirement for the regularizer is to allow the recovery of edges, and smooth the homogeneous parts. As is well known, Total Variation (TV) is now the standard approach to meet this requirement. Recently, Wang et.al. proved convergence for alternating direction method of multipliers in nonconvex, nonsmooth optimization. In this work we present a study of several algorithms for model recovering of Geosounding data based on Infimal Convolution, and also on hybrid, TV and second order TV and nonsmooth, nonconvex regularizers, observing their performance on synthetic and real data. The algorithms are based on Bregman iteration and Split Bregman method, and the geosounding method is the low-induction numbers magnetic dipoles. Non-smooth regularizers are considered using the Legendre-Fenchel transform.

Automatic Management of Parallel and Distributed System Resources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yan, Jerry; Ngai, Tin Fook; Lundstrom, Stephen F.

1990-01-01

Viewgraphs on automatic management of parallel and distributed system resources are presented. Topics covered include: parallel applications; intelligent management of multiprocessing systems; performance evaluation of parallel architecture; dynamic concurrent programs; compiler-directed system approach; lattice gaseous cellular automata; and sparse matrix Cholesky factorization.

An Expanding Range of Functions for the Copper Chaperone/Antioxidant Protein Atox1

PubMed Central

Hatori, Yuta

2013-01-01

Abstract Significance: Antioxidant protein 1 (Atox1 in human cells) is a copper chaperone for the copper export pathway with an essential role in cellular copper distribution. In vitro, Atox1 binds and transfers copper to the copper-transporting ATPases, stimulating their catalytic activity. Inactivation of Atox1 in cells inhibits maturation of secreted cuproenzymes as well as copper export from cells. Recent Advances: Accumulating data suggest that cellular functions of Atox1 are not limited to its copper-trafficking role and may include storage of labile copper, modulation of transcription, and antioxidant defense. The conserved metal binding site of Atox1, CxGC, differs from the metal-binding sites of copper-transporting ATPases and has a physiologically relevant redox potential that equilibrates with the GSH:GSSG pair. Critical Issues: Tight relationship appears to exist between intracellular copper levels and glutathione (GSH) homeostasis. The biochemical properties of Atox1 place it at the intersection of cellular networks that regulate copper distribution and cellular redox balance. Mechanisms through which Atox1 facilitates copper export and contributes to oxidative defense are not fully understood. Future Directions: The current picture of cellular redox homeostasis and copper physiology will be enhanced by further mechanistic studies of functional interactions between the GSH:GSSG pair and copper-trafficking machinery. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 19, 945–957. PMID:23249252

The Forbes 400, the Pareto power-law and efficient markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klass, O. S.; Biham, O.; Levy, M.; Malcai, O.; Solomon, S.

2007-01-01

Statistical regularities at the top end of the wealth distribution in the United States are examined using the Forbes 400 lists of richest Americans, published between 1988 and 2003. It is found that the wealths are distributed according to a power-law (Pareto) distribution. This result is explained using a simple stochastic model of multiple investors that incorporates the efficient market hypothesis as well as the multiplicative nature of financial market fluctuations.

Invasion percolation between two sites in two, three, and four dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sang Bub

2009-06-01

The mass distribution of invaded clusters in non-trapping invasion percolation between an injection site and an extraction site has been studied, in two, three, and four dimensions. This study is an extension of the recent study focused on two dimensions by Araújo et al. [A.D. Araújo, T.F. Vasconcelos, A.A. Moreira, L.S. Lucena, J.S. Andrade Jr., Phys. Rev. E 72 (2005) 041404] with respect to higher dimensions. The mass distribution exhibits a power-law behavior, P(m)∝m. It has been found that the index α for pe

Monte Carlo dose distribution calculation at nuclear level for Auger-emitting radionuclide energies.

PubMed

Di Maria, S; Belchior, A; Romanets, Y; Paulo, A; Vaz, P

2018-05-01

The distribution of radiopharmaceuticals in tumor cells represents a fundamental aspect for a successful molecular targeted radiotherapy. It was largely demonstrated at microscopic level that only a fraction of cells in tumoral tissues incorporate the radiolabel. In addition, the distribution of the radionuclides at sub-cellular level, namely inside each nucleus, should also be investigated for accurate dosimetry estimation. The most used method to perform cellular dosimetry is the MIRD one, where S-values are able to estimate cellular absorbed doses for several electron energies, nucleus diameters, and considering homogeneous source distributions. However the radionuclide distribution inside nuclei can be also highly non-homogeneous. The aim of this study is to show in what extent a non-accurate cellular dosimetry could lead to misinterpretations of surviving cell fraction vs dose relationship; in this context, a dosimetric case study with 99m Tc is also presented. The state-of-art MCNP6 Monte Carlo simulation was used in order to model cell structures both in MIRD geometry (MG) and MIRD modified geometries (MMG), where also entire mitotic chromosome volumes were considered (each structure was modeled as liquid water material). In order to simulate a wide energy range of Auger emitting radionuclides, four mono energetic electron emissions were considered, namely 213eV, 6keV, 11keV and 20keV. A dosimetric calculation for 99m Tc undergoing inhomogeneous nuclear internalization was also performed. After a successful validation step between MIRD and our computed S-values for three Auger-emitting radionuclides ( 99m Tc, 125 I and 64 Cu), absorbed dose results showed that the standard MG could differ from the MMG from one to three orders of magnitude. These results were also confirmed by considering the 99m Tc spectrum emission (Auger and internal conversion electrons). Moreover, considering an inhomogeneous radionuclide distribution, the average electron energy that maximizes the absorbed dose was found to be different for MG and MMG. The modeling of realistic radionuclide localization inside cells, including a inhomogeneous nuclear distribution, revealed that i) a strong bias in surviving cell fraction vs dose relationships (taking to different radiobiological models) can arise; ii) the alternative models might contribute to a more accurate prediction of the radiobiological effects inherent to more specific molecular targeted radiotherapy strategies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Associations between physical activity and susceptibility to cancer: possible mechanisms.

PubMed

Shephard, R J; Shek, P N

1998-11-01

Physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause and colonic cancers, and it seems to exert a weaker effect on the risk of breast, lung and reproductive tract tumours. This review examines possible mechanisms behind the observed associations. Restriction of physical activity by pre-existing disease may contribute to the association with lung cancers, but seems a less likely explanation for other types of tumour. Indirect associations through activity-related differences in body build or susceptibility to trauma seem of minor importance. Potential dietary influences include overall energy balance and energy expenditure, the intake and/or bioavailability of minerals, antioxidant vitamins and fibre, and the relative proportions of protein and fat ingested. Links between regular exercise and other facets of lifestyle that influence cancer risks are not very strong, although endurance athletes are not usually smokers, and regular leisure activity is associated with a high socioeconomic status which tends to reduce exposure to airborne carcinogens, both at work and at home. Overall susceptibility to cancer shows a 'U'-shaped relationship to body mass index (mass/height2) reflecting, in part, the adverse influences of cigarette smoking and a tall body build for those with low body mass indices and, in part, the adverse effect of obesity at the opposite end of the body mass index distribution. Obesity seems a major component in the exercise-cancer relationship, with a particular influence on reproductive tract tumours; it alters the pathways of estradiol metabolism, decreases estradiol binding and facilitates the synthesis of estrogens. Among the hormonal influences on cancer risk, insulin-like growth factors promote tumour development and exercise-mediated increases in cortisol and prostaglandin levels may depress cellular components of immune function. However, the most important change is probably the suppression of the gonadotropic axis. Apparent gender differences in the benefits associated with regular exercise reflect gender differences in the hormonal milieu and also a failure to adapt activity questionnaires to traditional patterns of physical activity in females. The immune system is active at various stages of tumour initiation, growth and metastasis. However, acute and chronic changes in immune response induced by moderate exercise are rather small, and their practical importance remains debatable. At present, the oncologist is confronted by a plethora of interesting hypotheses, and further research is needed to decide which are of practical importance.

APC: A New Code for Atmospheric Polarization Computations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korkin, Sergey V.; Lyapustin, Alexei I.; Rozanov, Vladimir V.

2014-01-01

A new polarized radiative transfer code Atmospheric Polarization Computations (APC) is described. The code is based on separation of the diffuse light field into anisotropic and smooth (regular) parts. The anisotropic part is computed analytically. The smooth regular part is computed numerically using the discrete ordinates method. Vertical stratification of the atmosphere, common types of bidirectional surface reflection and scattering by spherical particles or spheroids are included. A particular consideration is given to computation of the bidirectional polarization distribution function (BPDF) of the waved ocean surface.

Detection of regularities in variation in geomechanical behavior of rock mass during multi-roadway preparation and mining of an extraction panel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsvetkov, AB; Pavlova, LD; Fryanov, VN

2018-03-01

The results of numerical simulation of the stress–strain state in a rock block and surrounding mass mass under multi-roadway preparation to mining are presented. The numerical solutions obtained by the nonlinear modeling and using the constitutive relations of the theory of elasticity are compared. The regularities of the stress distribution in the vicinity of the pillars located in the zone of the abutment pressure of are found.

Exponential series approaches for nonparametric graphical models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janofsky, Eric

Markov Random Fields (MRFs) or undirected graphical models are parsimonious representations of joint probability distributions. This thesis studies high-dimensional, continuous-valued pairwise Markov Random Fields. We are particularly interested in approximating pairwise densities whose logarithm belongs to a Sobolev space. For this problem we propose the method of exponential series which approximates the log density by a finite-dimensional exponential family with the number of sufficient statistics increasing with the sample size. We consider two approaches to estimating these models. The first is regularized maximum likelihood. This involves optimizing the sum of the log-likelihood of the data and a sparsity-inducing regularizer. We then propose a variational approximation to the likelihood based on tree-reweighted, nonparametric message passing. This approximation allows for upper bounds on risk estimates, leverages parallelization and is scalable to densities on hundreds of nodes. We show how the regularized variational MLE may be estimated using a proximal gradient algorithm. We then consider estimation using regularized score matching. This approach uses an alternative scoring rule to the log-likelihood, which obviates the need to compute the normalizing constant of the distribution. For general continuous-valued exponential families, we provide parameter and edge consistency results. As a special case we detail a new approach to sparse precision matrix estimation which has statistical performance competitive with the graphical lasso and computational performance competitive with the state-of-the-art glasso algorithm. We then describe results for model selection in the nonparametric pairwise model using exponential series. The regularized score matching problem is shown to be a convex program; we provide scalable algorithms based on consensus alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) and coordinate-wise descent. We use simulations to compare our method to others in the literature as well as the aforementioned TRW estimator.

In-plane crashworthiness of bio-inspired hierarchical honeycombs

DOE PAGES

Yin, Hanfeng; Huang, Xiaofei; Scarpa, Fabrizio; ...

2018-03-13

Biological tissues like bone, wood, and sponge possess hierarchical cellular topologies, which are lightweight and feature an excellent energy absorption capability. Here we present a system of bio-inspired hierarchical honeycomb structures based on hexagonal, Kagome, and triangular tessellations. The hierarchical designs and a reference regular honeycomb configuration are subjected to simulated in-plane impact using the nonlinear finite element code LS-DYNA. The numerical simulation results show that the triangular hierarchical honeycomb provides the best performance compared to the other two hierarchical honeycombs, and features more than twice the energy absorbed by the regular honeycomb under similar loading conditions. We also proposemore » a parametric study correlating the microstructure parameters (hierarchical length ratio r and the number of sub cells N) to the energy absorption capacity of these hierarchical honeycombs. The triangular hierarchical honeycomb with N = 2 and r = 1/8 shows the highest energy absorption capacity among all the investigated cases, and this configuration could be employed as a benchmark for the design of future safety protective systems.« less

In-plane crashworthiness of bio-inspired hierarchical honeycombs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yin, Hanfeng; Huang, Xiaofei; Scarpa, Fabrizio

Biological tissues like bone, wood, and sponge possess hierarchical cellular topologies, which are lightweight and feature an excellent energy absorption capability. Here we present a system of bio-inspired hierarchical honeycomb structures based on hexagonal, Kagome, and triangular tessellations. The hierarchical designs and a reference regular honeycomb configuration are subjected to simulated in-plane impact using the nonlinear finite element code LS-DYNA. The numerical simulation results show that the triangular hierarchical honeycomb provides the best performance compared to the other two hierarchical honeycombs, and features more than twice the energy absorbed by the regular honeycomb under similar loading conditions. We also proposemore » a parametric study correlating the microstructure parameters (hierarchical length ratio r and the number of sub cells N) to the energy absorption capacity of these hierarchical honeycombs. The triangular hierarchical honeycomb with N = 2 and r = 1/8 shows the highest energy absorption capacity among all the investigated cases, and this configuration could be employed as a benchmark for the design of future safety protective systems.« less

Preference mapping of lemon lime carbonated beverages with regular and diet beverage consumers.

PubMed

Leksrisompong, P P; Lopetcharat, K; Guthrie, B; Drake, M A

2013-02-01

The drivers of liking of lemon-lime carbonated beverages were investigated with regular and diet beverage consumers. Ten beverages were selected from a category survey of commercial beverages using a D-optimal procedure. Beverages were subjected to consumer testing (n = 101 regular beverage consumers, n = 100 diet beverage consumers). Segmentation of consumers was performed on overall liking scores followed by external preference mapping of selected samples. Diet beverage consumers liked 2 diet beverages more than regular beverage consumers. There were no differences in the overall liking scores between diet and regular beverage consumers for other products except for a sparkling beverage sweetened with juice which was more liked by regular beverage consumers. Three subtle but distinct consumer preference clusters were identified. Two segments had evenly distributed diet and regular beverage consumers but one segment had a greater percentage of regular beverage consumers (P < 0.05). The 3 preference segments were named: cluster 1 (C1) sweet taste and carbonation mouthfeel lovers, cluster 2 (C2) carbonation mouthfeel lovers, sweet and bitter taste acceptors, and cluster 3 (C3) bitter taste avoiders, mouthfeel and sweet taste lovers. User status (diet or regular beverage consumers) did not have a large impact on carbonated beverage liking. Instead, mouthfeel attributes were major drivers of liking when these beverages were tested in a blind tasting. Preference mapping of lemon-lime carbonated beverage with diet and regular beverage consumers allowed the determination of drivers of liking of both populations. The understanding of how mouthfeel attributes, aromatics, and basic tastes impact liking or disliking of products was achieved. Preference drivers established in this study provide product developers of carbonated lemon-lime beverages with additional information to develop beverages that may be suitable for different groups of consumers. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

Manifold regularized multitask learning for semi-supervised multilabel image classification.

PubMed

Luo, Yong; Tao, Dacheng; Geng, Bo; Xu, Chao; Maybank, Stephen J

2013-02-01

It is a significant challenge to classify images with multiple labels by using only a small number of labeled samples. One option is to learn a binary classifier for each label and use manifold regularization to improve the classification performance by exploring the underlying geometric structure of the data distribution. However, such an approach does not perform well in practice when images from multiple concepts are represented by high-dimensional visual features. Thus, manifold regularization is insufficient to control the model complexity. In this paper, we propose a manifold regularized multitask learning (MRMTL) algorithm. MRMTL learns a discriminative subspace shared by multiple classification tasks by exploiting the common structure of these tasks. It effectively controls the model complexity because different tasks limit one another's search volume, and the manifold regularization ensures that the functions in the shared hypothesis space are smooth along the data manifold. We conduct extensive experiments, on the PASCAL VOC'07 dataset with 20 classes and the MIR dataset with 38 classes, by comparing MRMTL with popular image classification algorithms. The results suggest that MRMTL is effective for image classification.

Cellular senescence in the Penna model of aging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Periwal, Avikar

2013-11-01

Cellular senescence is thought to play a major role in age-related diseases, which cause nearly 67% of all human deaths worldwide. Recent research in mice showed that exercising mice had higher levels of telomerase, an enzyme that helps maintain telomere length, than nonexercising mice. A commonly used model for biological aging was proposed by Penna. I propose a modification of the Penna model that incorporates cellular senescence and find an analytical steady-state solution following Coe, Mao, and Cates [Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.89.288103 89, 288103 (2002)]. I find that models corresponding to delayed cellular senescence have younger populations that live longer. I fit the model to the United Kingdom's death distribution, which the original Penna model cannot do.

Ascites interferes with the activity of lurbinectedin and trabectedin: Potential role of their binding to alpha 1-acid glycoprotein.

PubMed

Erba, E; Romano, M; Gobbi, M; Zucchetti, M; Ferrari, M; Matteo, C; Panini, N; Colmegna, B; Caratti, G; Porcu, L; Fruscio, R; Perlangeli, M V; Mezzanzanica, D; Lorusso, D; Raspagliesi, F; D'Incalci, M

2017-11-15

Trabectedin and its analogue lurbinectedin are effective drugs used in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Since the presence of ascites is a frequent event in advanced ovarian cancer we asked the question whether ascites could modify the activity of these compounds against ovarian cancer cells. The cytotoxicity induced by trabectedin or lurbinectedin against A2780, OVCAR-5 cell lines or primary culture of human ovarian cancer cells was compared by performing treatment in regular medium or in ascites taken from either nude mice or ovarian cancer patients. Ascites completely abolished the activity of lurbinectedin at up to 10nM (in regular medium corresponds to the IC90), strongly reduced that of trabectedin, inhibited the cellular uptake of lurbinectedin and, to a lesser extent, that of trabectedin. Since α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is present in ascites at relatively high concentrations, we tested if the binding of the drugs to this protein could be responsible for the reduction of their activity. Adding AGP to the medium at concentration range of those found in ascites, we reproduced the anticytotoxic effect of ascites. Erythromycin partially restored the activity of the drugs, presumably by displacing them from AGP. Equilibrium dialysis experiments showed that both drugs bind AGP, but the affinity of binding of lurbinectedin was much greater than that of trabectedin. KD values are 8±1.7 and 87±14nM for lurbinectedin and trabectedin, respectively. The studies intimate the possibility that AGP present in ascites might reduce the activity of lurbinectedin and to a lesser extent of trabectedin against ovarian cancer cells present in ascites. AGP plasma levels could influence the distribution of these drugs and thus they should be monitored in patients receiving these compounds. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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2014-07-01

..., COMPILATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO... consisting of regularly scheduled newscasts or on-the-spot coverage of news events. ...

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2010-07-01

..., COMPILATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO... consisting of regularly scheduled newscasts or on-the-spot coverage of news events. ...

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Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., COMPILATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO... consisting of regularly scheduled newscasts or on-the-spot coverage of news events. ...

36 CFR 705.1 - Scope and purpose of this part.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., COMPILATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO... consisting of regularly scheduled newscasts or on-the-spot coverage of news events. ...

Lymphatics and the breast

MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools

... lymphatic system called lymph nodes are distributed at specific locations throughout the body. There is also an ... result in the formation of a secondary cancer mass in a different location of the body. Regular ...

W-phase estimation of first-order rupture distribution for megathrust earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benavente, Roberto; Cummins, Phil; Dettmer, Jan

2014-05-01

Estimating the rupture pattern for large earthquakes during the first hour after the origin time can be crucial for rapid impact assessment and tsunami warning. However, the estimation of coseismic slip distribution models generally involves complex methodologies that are difficult to implement rapidly. Further, while model parameter uncertainty can be crucial for meaningful estimation, they are often ignored. In this work we develop a finite fault inversion for megathrust earthquakes which rapidly generates good first order estimates and uncertainties of spatial slip distributions. The algorithm uses W-phase waveforms and a linear automated regularization approach to invert for rupture models of some recent megathrust earthquakes. The W phase is a long period (100-1000 s) wave which arrives together with the P wave. Because it is fast, has small amplitude and a long-period character, the W phase is regularly used to estimate point source moment tensors by the NEIC and PTWC, among others, within an hour of earthquake occurrence. We use W-phase waveforms processed in a manner similar to that used for such point-source solutions. The inversion makes use of 3 component W-phase records retrieved from the Global Seismic Network. The inverse problem is formulated by a multiple time window method, resulting in a linear over-parametrized problem. The over-parametrization is addressed by Tikhonov regularization and regularization parameters are chosen according to the discrepancy principle by grid search. Noise on the data is addressed by estimating the data covariance matrix from data residuals. The matrix is obtained by starting with an a priori covariance matrix and then iteratively updating the matrix based on the residual errors of consecutive inversions. Then, a covariance matrix for the parameters is computed using a Bayesian approach. The application of this approach to recent megathrust earthquakes produces models which capture the most significant features of their slip distributions. Also, reliable solutions are generally obtained with data in a 30-minute window following the origin time, suggesting that a real-time system could obtain solutions in less than one hour following the origin time.

Cationic liposome/DNA complexes: from structure to interactions with cellular membranes.

PubMed

Caracciolo, Giulio; Amenitsch, Heinz

2012-10-01

Gene-based therapeutic approaches are based upon the concept that, if a disease is caused by a mutation in a gene, then adding back the wild-type gene should restore regular function and attenuate the disease phenotype. To deliver the gene of interest, both viral and nonviral vectors are used. Viruses are efficient, but their application is impeded by detrimental side-effects. Among nonviral vectors, cationic liposomes are the most promising candidates for gene delivery. They form stable complexes with polyanionic DNA (lipoplexes). Despite several advantages over viral vectors, the transfection efficiency (TE) of lipoplexes is too low compared with those of engineered viral vectors. This is due to lack of knowledge about the interactions between complexes and cellular components. Rational design of efficient lipoplexes therefore requires deeper comprehension of the interactions between the vector and the DNA as well as the cellular pathways and mechanisms involved. The importance of the lipoplex structure in biological function is revealed in the application of synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering in combination with functional TE measurements. According to current understanding, the structure of lipoplexes can change upon interaction with cellular membranes and such changes affect the delivery efficiency. Recently, a correlation between the mechanism of gene release from complexes, the structure, and the physical and chemical parameters of the complexes has been established. Studies aimed at correlating structure and activity of lipoplexes are reviewed herein. This is a fundamental step towards rational design of highly efficient lipid gene vectors.

High-resolution seismic data regularization and wavefield separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Aimin; Stump, Brian; DeShon, Heather

2018-04-01

We present a new algorithm, non-equispaced fast antileakage Fourier transform (NFALFT), for irregularly sampled seismic data regularization. Synthetic tests from 1-D to 5-D show that the algorithm may efficiently remove leaked energy in the frequency wavenumber domain, and its corresponding regularization process is accurate and fast. Taking advantage of the NFALFT algorithm, we suggest a new method (wavefield separation) for the detection of the Earth's inner core shear wave with irregularly distributed seismic arrays or networks. All interfering seismic phases that propagate along the minor arc are removed from the time window around the PKJKP arrival. The NFALFT algorithm is developed for seismic data, but may also be used for other irregularly sampled temporal or spatial data processing.

A Decade of Boon or Burden: What Has the CHIP Ever Done for Cellular Protein Quality Control Mechanism Implicated in Neurodegeneration and Aging?

PubMed Central

Joshi, Vibhuti; Amanullah, Ayeman; Upadhyay, Arun; Mishra, Ribhav; Kumar, Amit; Mishra, Amit

2016-01-01

Cells regularly synthesize new proteins to replace old and abnormal proteins for normal cellular functions. Two significant protein quality control pathways inside the cellular milieu are ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Autophagy is known for bulk clearance of cytoplasmic aggregated proteins, whereas the specificity of protein degradation by UPS comes from E3 ubiquitin ligases. Few E3 ubiquitin ligases, like C-terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) not only take part in protein quality control pathways, but also plays a key regulatory role in other cellular processes like signaling, development, DNA damage repair, immunity and aging. CHIP targets misfolded proteins for their degradation through proteasome, as well as autophagy; simultaneously, with the help of chaperones, it also regulates folding attempts for misfolded proteins. The broad range of CHIP substrates and their associations with multiple pathologies make it a key molecule to work upon and focus for future therapeutic interventions. E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP interacts and degrades many protein inclusions formed in neurodegenerative diseases. The presence of CHIP at various nodes of cellular protein-protein interaction network presents this molecule as a potential candidate for further research. In this review, we have explored a wide range of functionality of CHIP inside cells by a detailed presentation of its co-chaperone, E3 and E4 enzyme like functions, with central focus on its protein quality control roles in neurodegenerative diseases. We have also raised many unexplored but expected fundamental questions regarding CHIP functions, which generate hopes for its future applications in research, as well as drug discovery. PMID:27757073

Computation of Steady-State Probability Distributions in Stochastic Models of Cellular Networks

PubMed Central

Hallen, Mark; Li, Bochong; Tanouchi, Yu; Tan, Cheemeng; West, Mike; You, Lingchong

2011-01-01

Cellular processes are “noisy”. In each cell, concentrations of molecules are subject to random fluctuations due to the small numbers of these molecules and to environmental perturbations. While noise varies with time, it is often measured at steady state, for example by flow cytometry. When interrogating aspects of a cellular network by such steady-state measurements of network components, a key need is to develop efficient methods to simulate and compute these distributions. We describe innovations in stochastic modeling coupled with approaches to this computational challenge: first, an approach to modeling intrinsic noise via solution of the chemical master equation, and second, a convolution technique to account for contributions of extrinsic noise. We show how these techniques can be combined in a streamlined procedure for evaluation of different sources of variability in a biochemical network. Evaluation and illustrations are given in analysis of two well-characterized synthetic gene circuits, as well as a signaling network underlying the mammalian cell cycle entry. PMID:22022252

Sensing Size through Clustering in Non-Equilibrium Membranes and the Control of Membrane-Bound Enzymatic Reactions

PubMed Central

Vagne, Quentin; Turner, Matthew S.; Sens, Pierre

2015-01-01

The formation of dynamical clusters of proteins is ubiquitous in cellular membranes and is in part regulated by the recycling of membrane components. We show, using stochastic simulations and analytic modeling, that the out-of-equilibrium cluster size distribution of membrane components undergoing continuous recycling is strongly influenced by lateral confinement. This result has significant implications for the clustering of plasma membrane proteins whose mobility is hindered by cytoskeletal “corrals” and for protein clustering in cellular organelles of limited size that generically support material fluxes. We show how the confinement size can be sensed through its effect on the size distribution of clusters of membrane heterogeneities and propose that this could be regulated to control the efficiency of membrane-bound reactions. To illustrate this, we study a chain of enzymatic reactions sensitive to membrane protein clustering. The reaction efficiency is found to be a non-monotonic function of the system size, and can be optimal for sizes comparable to those of cellular organelles. PMID:26656912

Calcium and ascorbic acid affect cellular structure and water mobility in apple tissue during osmotic dehydration in sucrose solutions.

PubMed

Mauro, Maria A; Dellarosa, Nicolò; Tylewicz, Urszula; Tappi, Silvia; Laghi, Luca; Rocculi, Pietro; Rosa, Marco Dalla

2016-03-15

The effects of the addition of calcium lactate and ascorbic acid to sucrose osmotic solutions on cell viability and microstructure of apple tissue were studied. In addition, water distribution and mobility modification of the different cellular compartments were observed. Fluorescence microscopy, light microscopy and time domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) were respectively used to evaluate cell viability and microstructural changes during osmotic dehydration. Tissues treated in a sucrose-calcium lactate-ascorbic acid solution did not show viability. Calcium lactate had some effects on cell walls and membranes. Sucrose solution visibly preserved the protoplast viability and slightly influenced the water distribution within the apple tissue, as highlighted by TD-NMR, which showed higher proton intensity in the vacuoles and lower intensity in cytoplasm-free spaces compared to other treatments. The presence of ascorbic acid enhanced calcium impregnation, which was associated with permeability changes of the cellular wall and membranes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sub-cellular mRNA localization modulates the regulation of gene expression by small RNAs in bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teimouri, Hamid; Korkmazhan, Elgin; Stavans, Joel; Levine, Erel

2017-10-01

Small non-coding RNAs can exert significant regulatory activity on gene expression in bacteria. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in understanding bacterial gene expression by sRNAs. However, recent findings that demonstrate that families of mRNAs show non-trivial sub-cellular distributions raise the question of how localization may affect the regulatory activity of sRNAs. Here we address this question within a simple mathematical model. We show that the non-uniform spatial distributions of mRNA can alter the threshold-linear response that characterizes sRNAs that act stoichiometrically, and modulate the hierarchy among targets co-regulated by the same sRNA. We also identify conditions where the sub-cellular organization of cofactors in the sRNA pathway can induce spatial heterogeneity on sRNA targets. Our results suggest that under certain conditions, interpretation and modeling of natural and synthetic gene regulatory circuits need to take into account the spatial organization of the transcripts of participating genes.

Research on stress distribution regularity of cement sheaths of radial well based on ABAQUS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Jihui; Cheng, Yuanfang; Li, Xiaolong; Xiao, Wen; Li, Menglai

2017-12-01

To ensure desirable outcome of hydraulic fracturing based on ultra-short radius radial systems, it is required to investigate the stress distribution regularity and stability of the cement sheath. On the basis of the theoretical model of the cement sheath stress distribution, a reservoir mechanical model was built using the finite element software, ABAQUS, according to the physical property of a certain oil reservoir of the Shengli oilfield. The stress distribution of the casing-cement-sheath-formation system under the practical condition was simulated, based on which analyses were conducted from multiple points of view. Results show that the stress on the internal interface of the cement sheath exceeds that on the external interface, and fluctuates with higher amplitudes, which means that the internal interface is the most failure-prone. The unevenness of the cement sheath stress distribution grows with the increasing horizontal principal stress ratio, and so does the variation magnitude. This indicates that higher horizontal principal stress ratios are unfavourable for the structural stability of the cement sheath. Both the wellbore quantity of the URRS and the physical property of the material can affect the cement sheath distribution. It is suggested to optimize the quantity of the radial wellbore and use cement with a lower elastic modulus and higher Poisson’s ratio. At last, the impact level of the above factor was analysed, with the help of the grey correlation analysis.

Identification of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) Genes Relevant to Steatosis Using a Gene Expression Approach

EPA Science Inventory

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) impact chemical concentration and activation of molecular initiating events of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) in cellular, tissue, and organ level targets. In order to better describe ADME parameters and how they modulat...

Designing Composite Resins in the 21st Century: Ending the End Group Fallacy

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-30

unlimited. Network Automata • In correspondence with cellular automata , a system of differential equations describes the evolution of structures...LLNL). 11Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. “State of the Art” Network Automata Example • Cure kinetics

Identification of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) Genes Relevant to Steatosis Using a Differential Gene Expression Approach

EPA Science Inventory

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) parameters represent important connections between exposure to chemicals and the activation of molecular initiating events of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) in cellular, tissue, and organ level targets. ADME parameters u...

Time-Optimized High-Resolution Readout-Segmented Diffusion Tensor Imaging

PubMed Central

Reishofer, Gernot; Koschutnig, Karl; Langkammer, Christian; Porter, David; Jehna, Margit; Enzinger, Christian; Keeling, Stephen; Ebner, Franz

2013-01-01

Readout-segmented echo planar imaging with 2D navigator-based reacquisition is an uprising technique enabling the sampling of high-resolution diffusion images with reduced susceptibility artifacts. However, low signal from the small voxels and long scan times hamper the clinical applicability. Therefore, we introduce a regularization algorithm based on total variation that is applied directly on the entire diffusion tensor. The spatially varying regularization parameter is determined automatically dependent on spatial variations in signal-to-noise ratio thus, avoiding over- or under-regularization. Information about the noise distribution in the diffusion tensor is extracted from the diffusion weighted images by means of complex independent component analysis. Moreover, the combination of those features enables processing of the diffusion data absolutely user independent. Tractography from in vivo data and from a software phantom demonstrate the advantage of the spatially varying regularization compared to un-regularized data with respect to parameters relevant for fiber-tracking such as Mean Fiber Length, Track Count, Volume and Voxel Count. Specifically, for in vivo data findings suggest that tractography results from the regularized diffusion tensor based on one measurement (16 min) generates results comparable to the un-regularized data with three averages (48 min). This significant reduction in scan time renders high resolution (1×1×2.5 mm3) diffusion tensor imaging of the entire brain applicable in a clinical context. PMID:24019951

36 CFR 705.2 - Authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO ARCHIVES ACT § 705... program which consists of a regularly scheduled newscast or on-the-spot coverage of news events, to...

36 CFR § 705.1 - Scope and purpose of this part.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., COMPILATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO... consisting of regularly scheduled newscasts or on-the-spot coverage of news events. ...

36 CFR 705.2 - Authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO ARCHIVES ACT § 705... program which consists of a regularly scheduled newscast or on-the-spot coverage of news events, to...

36 CFR 705.2 - Authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO ARCHIVES ACT § 705... program which consists of a regularly scheduled newscast or on-the-spot coverage of news events, to...

36 CFR 705.2 - Authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS TRANSMISSIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN TELEVISION AND RADIO ARCHIVES ACT § 705... program which consists of a regularly scheduled newscast or on-the-spot coverage of news events, to...

49 CFR 7.14 - Requests for records.

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2010-10-01

..., frequency distributions, trends, or comparisons. In those instances where DOT determines that creating a new... be made available for inspection and copying during regular business hours at the place where it is...

49 CFR 7.14 - Requests for records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

..., frequency distributions, trends, or comparisons. In those instances where DOT determines that creating a new... be made available for inspection and copying during regular business hours at the place where it is...

Beneficial impacts of regular exercise on platelet function in sedentary older adults: Evidence from a randomized 6-month walking trial.

PubMed

Haynes, Andrew; Linden, Matthew D; Robey, Elisa; Naylor, Louise H; Ainslie, Philip N; Cox, Kay L; Lautenschlager, Nicola T; Green, Daniel J

2018-04-12

Platelet activation, including the formation of monocyte platelet aggregates (MPAs), contributes to atherosclerosis, thrombus formation and acute coronary syndromes. Regular participation in exercise can lower cardiovascular risk, but little is known regarding the impact of exercise training on platelet function. We investigated the effect of 6 months of walking exercise on platelet function in sedentary older adults without significant cardiovascular disease. Twenty-seven participants were randomly allocated to 6 months of either: no-exercise (n=13) or 3 x 50 mins/wk of supervised centre-based walking (n=14). Circulating and agonist induced MPAs were assessed using flow cytometry before (month 0 0M) and after (month 6 6M) the intervention. Circulating MPAs increased from 0M (3.7 {plus minus} 1.0%) to 6M (4.7 {plus minus} 1.6%) in the no-exercise group (P = 0.009), whereas a non-significant decrease was observed in the walking group (0M 4.3 {plus minus} 1.7% vs 6M 3.7 {plus minus} 1.2, P = 0.052). The change in MPAs between groups was significant (P = 0.001). There were no differences between groups in platelet responses to agonists across the interventions (all P > 0.05). Collectively, these data suggest that the absence of regular exercise may increase MPAs, which are cellular mediators involved in atherosclerosis, whilst regular walking inhibits such increases. The thrombotic function of platelets appear to be relatively unaltered by exercise training. This study provides novel data related to the cardio-protective effects associated with participation in exercise.

Towards the mechanical characterization of abdominal wall by inverse analysis.

PubMed

Simón-Allué, R; Calvo, B; Oberai, A A; Barbone, P E

2017-02-01

The aim of this study is to characterize the passive mechanical behaviour of abdominal wall in vivo in an animal model using only external cameras and numerical analysis. The main objective lies in defining a methodology that provides in vivo information of a specific patient without altering mechanical properties. It is demonstrated in the mechanical study of abdomen for hernia purposes. Mechanical tests consisted on pneumoperitoneum tests performed on New Zealand rabbits, where inner pressure was varied from 0mmHg to 12mmHg. Changes in the external abdominal surface were recorded and several points were tracked. Based on their coordinates we reconstructed a 3D finite element model of the abdominal wall, considering an incompressible hyperelastic material model defined by two parameters. The spatial distributions of these parameters (shear modulus and non linear parameter) were calculated by inverse analysis, using two different types of regularization: Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) and Tikhonov (H 1 ). After solving the inverse problem, the distribution of the material parameters were obtained along the abdominal surface. Accuracy of the results was evaluated for the last level of pressure. Results revealed a higher value of the shear modulus in a wide stripe along the craneo-caudal direction, associated with the presence of linea alba in conjunction with fascias and rectus abdominis. Non linear parameter distribution was smoother and the location of higher values varied with the regularization type. Both regularizations proved to yield in an accurate predicted displacement field, but H 1 obtained a smoother material parameter distribution while TVD included some discontinuities. The methodology here presented was able to characterize in vivo the passive non linear mechanical response of the abdominal wall. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Dynamics of Learning and the Emergence of Distributed Adaption

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-05-01

regular access to experts in a wide range of disciplines—such as, biology, economics, cognitive science, and sociology—that historically have...organized a successful workshop on “Collective Cognition : Mathemati- cal Foundations of Distributed Intelligence,” bringing together workers in...processing and cognition . (For a complete list of participants, talk titles and abstracts, and other information on the workshop, see http

Convergence of leaf display and photosynthetic characteristics of understory Abies amabilis and Tsuga Heterophylla in an old-growth forest in southwestern Washington State, USA

Treesearch

Hiroaki Ishii; Ken-Ichi Yoshimura; Akira Mori

2009-01-01

The branching pattern of A. amabilis was regular (normal shoot-length distribution, less variable branching angle and bifurcation ratio), whereas that of T. heterophylla was more plastic (positively skewed shoot-length distribution, more variable branching angle and bifurcation ratio). The two species had similar shoot...

Distribution of Rb atoms on the antirelaxation RbH coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yi; Wang, Zhiguo; Xia, Tao

2017-04-01

We observe the extension of relaxation time of 131Xe with RbH coating, and compare the different depositions of Rb atoms on the inner surface of the vapor cell with and without RbH coating respectively to research the mechanism of coating prolongation. From the 5*5 um2 images of microscopy, we find that on the bare glass surface the Rb atoms form large random separated islands, and to the contrary they deposite as many regular longitudinal stripe of small islands on the RbH coating. We attribute these different distributions to the different molecular interactions between RbH coating and bare glass to Rb atom and build a simple rational physical model to explain this phenomenon. On the one hand, the small islands, or in other words, the relative uniform distribution on RbH coating may result from the relative stronger interaction of Rb to RbH than to the bare glass. On the other hand, the regular longitudinal stripe may stem from the grain boundaries which is related to the macroscopic shape of the vapor cell. And this longitudinal distribution can generate cylindrically electric gradient as used in some theoretically references before.

Optimization of equivalent uniform dose using the L-curve criterion.

PubMed

Chvetsov, Alexei V; Dempsey, James F; Palta, Jatinder R

2007-10-07

Optimization of equivalent uniform dose (EUD) in inverse planning for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) prevents variation in radiobiological effect between different radiotherapy treatment plans, which is due to variation in the pattern of dose nonuniformity. For instance, the survival fraction of clonogens would be consistent with the prescription when the optimized EUD is equal to the prescribed EUD. One of the problems in the practical implementation of this approach is that the spatial dose distribution in EUD-based inverse planning would be underdetermined because an unlimited number of nonuniform dose distributions can be computed for a prescribed value of EUD. Together with ill-posedness of the underlying integral equation, this may significantly increase the dose nonuniformity. To optimize EUD and keep dose nonuniformity within reasonable limits, we implemented into an EUD-based objective function an additional criterion which ensures the smoothness of beam intensity functions. This approach is similar to the variational regularization technique which was previously studied for the dose-based least-squares optimization. We show that the variational regularization together with the L-curve criterion for the regularization parameter can significantly reduce dose nonuniformity in EUD-based inverse planning.

[Geostatistics analyzing to cause of formation of circle distribution of plant communities in Horqin Sandy Land].

PubMed

He, Xingdong; Gao, Yubao; Zhao, Wenzhi; Cong, Zili

2004-09-01

Investigation results in the present study showed that plant communities took typical concentric circles distribution patterns along habitat gradient from top, slope to interdune on a few large fixed dunes in middle part of Korqin Sandy Land. In order to explain this phenomenon, analysis of water content and its spatial heterogeneity in sand layers on different locations of dunes was conducted. In these dunes, water contents in sand layers of the tops were lower than those of the slopes; both of them were lower than those of the interdunes. According to the results of geostatistics analysis, whether shifting dune or fixed dune, spatial heterogeneity of water contents in sand layers took on regular changes, such as ratios between nugget and sill and ranges reduced gradually, fractal dimension increased gradually, the regular changes of these parameters indicated that random spatial heterogeneity reduced gradually, and autocorrelation spatial heterogeneity increased gradually from the top, the slope to the interdune. The regular changes of water contents in sand layers and their spatial heterogeneity of different locations of the dunes, thus, might be an important cause resulted in the formation of the concentric circles patterns of the plant communities on these fixed dunes.

Stereological analysis of the epiphyseal growth cartilage in the brachymorphic (bm/bm) mouse, with special reference to the distribution of matrix vesicles.

PubMed

Wikström, B; Hjerpe, A; Hultenby, K; Reinholt, F P; Engfeldt, B

1984-01-01

The brachymorphic (bm/bm) mutation in the mouse leads to disproportional dwarfism due to a disturbance of endochondral bone formation. The morphological characteristics of bm/bm epiphyseal growth cartilage are signs of cellular degeneration and disintegration and alteration of the composition of the extracellular matrix, with an abnormal mineralization pattern. The present stereological study of the bm/bm growth plate revealed a clearly altered distribution of matrix vesicles as compared with the controls. It was also demonstrated that the bm/bm matrix vesicles have an abnormal size distribution, with an increased mean caliper diameter. The biological significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the different hypotheses on the origin of matrix vesicles and their possible role in the mineralization process. The results support the opinion that extracellular matrix vesicles, at least partly, constitute cellular debris.

36 CFR § 705.2 - Authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

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Thermostating extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics.

PubMed

Martínez, Enrique; Cawkwell, Marc J; Voter, Arthur F; Niklasson, Anders M N

2015-04-21

Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics is developed and analyzed for applications in canonical (NVT) simulations. Three different approaches are considered: the Nosé and Andersen thermostats and Langevin dynamics. We have tested the temperature distribution under different conditions of self-consistent field (SCF) convergence and time step and compared the results to analytical predictions. We find that the simulations based on the extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer framework provide accurate canonical distributions even under approximate SCF convergence, often requiring only a single diagonalization per time step, whereas regular Born-Oppenheimer formulations exhibit unphysical fluctuations unless a sufficiently high degree of convergence is reached at each time step. The thermostated extended Lagrangian framework thus offers an accurate approach to sample processes in the canonical ensemble at a fraction of the computational cost of regular Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations.

Accelerometric assessment of different dimensions of natural walking during the first year after stroke: Recovery of amount, distribution, quality and speed of walking.

PubMed

Sánchez, Marina Castel; Bussmann, Johannes; Janssen, Wim; Horemans, Herwin; Chastin, Sebastian; Heijenbrok, Majanka; Stam, Henk

2015-09-01

To describe the course of walking behaviour over a period of 1 year after stroke, using accelerometry, and to compare 1-year data with those from a healthy group. One-year follow-up cohort study. Twenty-three stroke patients and 20 age-matched healthy subjects. Accelerometer assessments were made in the participants' daily environment for 8 h/day during the 1st (T1), 12th (T2) and 48th (T3) weeks after stroke, and at one time-point in healthy subjects. Primary outcomes were: percentage of time walking and upright (amount); mean duration and number of walking periods (distribution); step regularity and gait symmetry (quality); and walking speed. Time walking, time upright, and number of walking bouts increased during T1 and T2 (p < 0.01) and then levelled off (p > 0.30). Mean duration of walking periods showed no significant improvements (p > 0.30) during all phases. Step regularity, gait symmetry and gait speed showed a tendency to increase consistently from T1 to T3. At T3, amount and distribution variables reached the level of the healthy group, but significant differences remained (p < 0.02) in step regularity and gait speed. In this cohort, different outcomes of walking behaviour showed different patterns and levels of recovery, which supports the multi-dimensional character of gait.

A Cellular Automata Model of Bone Formation

PubMed Central

Van Scoy, Gabrielle K.; George, Estee L.; Asantewaa, Flora Opoku; Kerns, Lucy; Saunders, Marnie M.; Prieto-Langarica, Alicia

2017-01-01

Bone remodeling is an elegantly orchestrated process by which osteocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts function as a syncytium to maintain or modify bone. On the microscopic level, bone consists of cells that create, destroy and monitor the bone matrix. These cells interact in a coordinated manner to maintain a tightly regulated homeostasis. It is this regulation that is responsible for the observed increase in bone gain in the dominant arm of a tennis player and the observed increase in bone loss associated with spaceflight and osteoporosis. The manner in which these cells interact to bring about a change in bone quality and quantity has yet to be fully elucidated. But efforts to understand the multicellular complexity can ultimately lead to eradication of metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis and improved implant longevity. Experimentally validated mathematical models that simulate functional activity and offer eventual predictive capabilities offer tremendous potential in understanding multicellular bone remodeling. Here we undertake the initial challenge to develop a mathematical model of bone formation validated with in vitro data obtained from osteoblastic bone cells induced to mineralize and quantified at 26 days of culture. A cellular automata model was constructed to simulate the in vitro characterization. Permutation tests were performed to compare the distribution of the mineralization in the cultures and the distribution of the mineralization in the mathematical models. The results of the permutation test show the distribution of mineralization from the characterization and mathematical model come from the same probability distribution, therefore validating the cellular automata model. PMID:28189632

Influence of in vitro supplementation with lipids from conventional and Alpine milk on fatty acid distribution and cell growth of HT-29 cells

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background To date, the influence of milk and dairy products on carcinogenesis remains controversial. However, lipids of ruminant origin such as conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are known to exhibit beneficial effects in vitro and in vivo. The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of milk lipids of different origin and varying quality presenting as free fatty acid (FFA) solutions on cellular fatty acid distribution, cellular viability, and growth of human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29). Methods FAME of conventional and Alpine milk lipids (MLcon, MLalp) and cells treated with FFA derivatives of milk lipids were analyzed by means of GC-FID and Ag+-HPLC. Cellular viability and growth of the cells were determined by means of CellTiter-Blue®-assay and DAPI-assay (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride), respectively. Results Supplementation with milk lipids significantly decreased viability and growth of HT-29 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. MLalp showed a lower SFA/MUFA ratio, a 8 fold increased CLA content, and different CLA profile compared to MLcon but did not demonstrate additional growth-inhibitory effects. In addition, total concentration and fatty acid distribution of cellular lipids were altered. In particular, treatment of the cells yielded highest amounts of two types of milk specific major fatty acids (μg FA/mg cellular protein) after 8 h of incubation compared to 24 h; 200 μM of MLcon (C16:0, 206 ± 43), 200 μM of MLalp (C18:1 c9, (223 ± 19). Vaccenic acid (C18:1 t11) contained in milk lipids was converted to c9,t11-CLA in HT-29 cells. Notably, the ratio of t11,c13-CLA/t7,c9-CLA, a criterion for pasture feeding of the cows, was significantly changed after incubation for 8 h with lipids from MLalp (3.6 - 4.8), compared to lipids from MLcon (0.3 - 0.6). Conclusions Natural lipids from conventional and Alpine milk showed similar growth inhibitory effects. However, different changes in cellular lipid composition suggested a milk lipid-depending influence on cell sensitivity. It is expected that similar changes may also be evident in other cell lines. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing a varied impact of complex milk lipids on fatty acid distribution in a colon cancer cell line. PMID:21816049

Creating a RAW264.7 CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Wide Library

PubMed Central

Napier, Brooke A; Monack, Denise M

2017-01-01

The bacterial clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 genome editing tools are used in mammalian cells to knock-out specific genes of interest to elucidate gene function. The CRISPR-Cas9 system requires that the mammalian cell expresses Cas9 endonuclease, guide RNA (gRNA) to lead the endonuclease to the gene of interest, and the PAM sequence that links the Cas9 to the gRNA. CRISPR-Cas9 genome wide libraries are used to screen the effect of each gene in the genome on the cellular phenotype of interest, in an unbiased high-throughput manner. In this protocol, we describe our method of creating a CRISPR-Cas9 genome wide library in a transformed murine macrophage cell-line (RAW264.7). We have employed this library to identify novel mediators in the caspase-11 cell death pathway (Napier et al., 2016); however, this library can then be used to screen the importance of specific genes in multiple murine macrophage cellular pathways. PMID:28868328

Collective Calcium Signaling of Defective Multicellular Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Potter, Garrett; Sun, Bo

2015-03-01

A communicating multicellular network processes environmental cues into collective cellular dynamics. We have previously demonstrated that, when excited by extracellular ATP, fibroblast monolayers generate correlated calcium dynamics modulated by both the stimuli and gap junction communication between the cells. However, just as a well-connected neural network may be compromised by abnormal neurons, a tissue monolayer can also be defective with cancer cells, which typically have down regulated gap junctions. To understand the collective cellular dynamics in a defective multicellular network we have studied the calcium signaling of co-cultured breast cancer cells and fibroblast cells in various concentrations of ATP delivered through microfluidic devices. Our results demonstrate that cancer cells respond faster, generate singular spikes, and are more synchronous across all stimuli concentrations. Additionally, fibroblast cells exhibit persistent calcium oscillations that increase in regularity with greater stimuli. To interpret these results we quantitatively analyzed the immunostaining of purigenic receptors and gap junction channels. The results confirm our hypothesis that collective dynamics are mainly determined by the availability of gap junction communications.

Impact of oxidative stress on exercising skeletal muscle.

PubMed

Steinbacher, Peter; Eckl, Peter

2015-04-10

It is well established that muscle contractions during exercise lead to elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skeletal muscle. These highly reactive molecules have many deleterious effects, such as a reduction of force generation and increased muscle atrophy. Since the discovery of exercise-induced oxidative stress several decades ago, evidence has accumulated that ROS produced during exercise also have positive effects by influencing cellular processes that lead to increased expression of antioxidants. These molecules are particularly elevated in regularly exercising muscle to prevent the negative effects of ROS by neutralizing the free radicals. In addition, ROS also seem to be involved in the exercise-induced adaptation of the muscle phenotype. This review provides an overview of the evidences to date on the effects of ROS in exercising muscle. These aspects include the sources of ROS, their positive and negative cellular effects, the role of antioxidants, and the present evidence on ROS-dependent adaptations of muscle cells in response to physical exercise.

Applications of Gene Editing Technologies to Cellular Therapies.

PubMed

Rein, Lindsay A M; Yang, Haeyoon; Chao, Nelson J

2018-03-27

Hematologic malignancies are characterized by genetic heterogeneity, making classic gene therapy with a goal of correcting 1 genetic defect ineffective in many of these diseases. Despite initial tribulations, gene therapy, as a field, has grown by leaps and bounds with the recent development of gene editing techniques including zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) sequences and CRISPR-associated protein-9 (Cas9) nuclease or CRISPR/Cas9. These novel technologies have been applied to efficiently and specifically modify genetic information in target and effector cells. In particular, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been applied to various hematologic malignancies and has also been used to modify and improve chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells for the purpose of providing effective cellular therapies. Although gene editing is in its infancy in malignant hematologic diseases, there is much room for growth and application in the future. Copyright © 2018 The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of Labile Zinc on Heart Function: From Physiology to Pathophysiology.

PubMed

Turan, Belma; Tuncay, Erkan

2017-11-12

Zinc plays an important role in biological systems as bound and histochemically reactive labile Zn 2+ . Although Zn 2+ concentration is in the nM range in cardiomyocytes at rest and increases dramatically under stimulation, very little is known about precise mechanisms controlling the intracellular distribution of Zn 2+ and its variations during cardiac function. Recent studies are focused on molecular and cellular aspects of labile Zn 2+ and its homeostasis in mammalian cells and growing evidence clarified the molecular mechanisms underlying Zn 2+ -diverse functions in the heart, leading to the discovery of novel physiological functions of labile Zn 2+ in parallel to the discovery of subcellular localization of Zn 2+ -transporters in cardiomyocytes. Additionally, important experimental data suggest a central role of intracellular labile Zn 2+ in excitation-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes by shaping Ca 2+ dynamics. Cellular labile Zn 2+ is tightly regulated against its adverse effects through either Zn 2+ -transporters, Zn 2+ -binding molecules or Zn 2+ -sensors, and, therefore plays a critical role in cellular signaling pathways. The present review summarizes the current understanding of the physiological role of cellular labile Zn 2+ distribution in cardiomyocytes and how a remodeling of cellular Zn 2+ -homeostasis can be important in proper cell function with Zn 2+ -transporters under hyperglycemia. We also emphasize the recent investigations on Zn 2+ -transporter functions from the standpoint of human heart health to diseases together with their clinical interest as target proteins in the heart under pathological condition, such as diabetes.

Intracellular fate of Ureaplasma parvum entrapped by host cellular autophagy.

PubMed

Nishiumi, Fumiko; Ogawa, Michinaga; Nakura, Yukiko; Hamada, Yusuke; Nakayama, Masahiro; Mitobe, Jiro; Hiraide, Atsushi; Sakai, Norio; Takeuchi, Makoto; Yoshimori, Tamotsu; Yanagihara, Itaru

2017-06-01

Genital mycoplasmas, including Ureaplasma spp., are among the smallest human pathogenic bacteria and are associated with preterm birth. Electron microscopic observation of U. parvum showed that these prokaryotes have a regular, spherical shape with a mean diameter of 146 nm. U. parvum was internalized into HeLa cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis and survived for at least 14 days around the perinuclear region. Intracellular U. parvum reached endosomes in HeLa cells labeled with EEA1, Rab7, and LAMP-1 within 1 to 3 hr. After 3 hr of infection, U. parvum induced the cytosolic accumulation of galectin-3 and was subsequently entrapped by the autophagy marker LC3. However, when using atg7 -/- MEF cells, autophagy was inadequate for the complete elimination of U. parvum in HeLa cells. U. parvum also colocalized with the recycling endosome marker Rab11. Furthermore, the exosomes purified from infected HeLa cell culture medium included U. parvum. In these purified exosomes ureaplasma lipoprotein multiple banded antigen, host cellular annexin A2, CD9, and CD63 were detected. This research has successfully shown that Ureaplasma spp. utilize the host cellular membrane compartments possibly to evade the host immune system. © 2017 The Authors. MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Addressing population heterogeneity and distribution in epidemics models using a cellular automata approach

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The spread of an infectious disease is determined by biological and social factors. Models based on cellular automata are adequate to describe such natural systems consisting of a massive collection of simple interacting objects. They characterize the time evolution of the global system as the emergent behaviour resulting from the interaction of the objects, whose behaviour is defined through a set of simple rules that encode the individual behaviour and the transmission dynamic. Methods An epidemic is characterized trough an individual–based–model built upon cellular automata. In the proposed model, each individual of the population is represented by a cell of the automata. This way of modeling an epidemic situation allows to individually define the characteristic of each individual, establish different scenarios and implement control strategies. Results A cellular automata model to study the time evolution of a heterogeneous populations through the various stages of disease was proposed, allowing the inclusion of individual heterogeneity, geographical characteristics and social factors that determine the dynamic of the desease. Different assumptions made to built the classical model were evaluated, leading to following results: i) for low contact rate (like in quarantine process or low density population areas) the number of infective individuals is lower than other areas where the contact rate is higher, and ii) for different initial spacial distributions of infected individuals different epidemic dynamics are obtained due to its influence on the transition rate and the reproductive ratio of disease. Conclusions The contact rate and spatial distributions have a central role in the spread of a disease. For low density populations the spread is very low and the number of infected individuals is lower than in highly populated areas. The spacial distribution of the population and the disease focus as well as the geographical characteristic of the area play a central role in the dynamics of the desease. PMID:24725804

Addressing population heterogeneity and distribution in epidemics models using a cellular automata approach.

PubMed

López, Leonardo; Burguerner, Germán; Giovanini, Leonardo

2014-04-12

The spread of an infectious disease is determined by biological and social factors. Models based on cellular automata are adequate to describe such natural systems consisting of a massive collection of simple interacting objects. They characterize the time evolution of the global system as the emergent behaviour resulting from the interaction of the objects, whose behaviour is defined through a set of simple rules that encode the individual behaviour and the transmission dynamic. An epidemic is characterized trough an individual-based-model built upon cellular automata. In the proposed model, each individual of the population is represented by a cell of the automata. This way of modeling an epidemic situation allows to individually define the characteristic of each individual, establish different scenarios and implement control strategies. A cellular automata model to study the time evolution of a heterogeneous populations through the various stages of disease was proposed, allowing the inclusion of individual heterogeneity, geographical characteristics and social factors that determine the dynamic of the desease. Different assumptions made to built the classical model were evaluated, leading to following results: i) for low contact rate (like in quarantine process or low density population areas) the number of infective individuals is lower than other areas where the contact rate is higher, and ii) for different initial spacial distributions of infected individuals different epidemic dynamics are obtained due to its influence on the transition rate and the reproductive ratio of disease. The contact rate and spatial distributions have a central role in the spread of a disease. For low density populations the spread is very low and the number of infected individuals is lower than in highly populated areas. The spacial distribution of the population and the disease focus as well as the geographical characteristic of the area play a central role in the dynamics of the desease.

Multiplexed Imaging of Protein Phosphorylation on Membranes Based on Ti(IV) Functionalized Nanopolymers.

PubMed

Iliuk, Anton; Li, Li; Melesse, Michael; Hall, Mark C; Tao, W Andy

2016-05-17

Accurate protein phosphorylation analysis reveals dynamic cellular signaling events not evident from protein expression levels. The most dominant biochemical assay, western blotting, suffers from the inadequate availability and poor quality of phospho-specific antibodies for phosphorylated proteins. Furthermore, multiplexed assays based on antibodies are limited by steric interference between the antibodies. Here we introduce a multifunctionalized nanopolymer for the universal detection of phosphoproteins that, in combination with regular antibodies, allows multiplexed imaging and accurate determination of protein phosphorylation on membranes. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Platform switching: biomechanical evaluation using three-dimensional finite element analysis.

PubMed

Tabata, Lucas Fernando; Rocha, Eduardo Passos; Barão, Valentim Adelino Ricardo; Assunção, Wirley Goncalves

2011-01-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate, using three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D FEA), the stress distribution in peri-implant bone tissue, implants, and prosthetic components of implant-supported single crowns with the use of the platform-switching concept. Three 3D finite element models were created to replicate an external-hexagonal implant system with peri-implant bone tissue in which three different implant-abutment configurations were represented. In the regular platform (RP) group, a regular 4.1-mm-diameter abutment (UCLA) was connected to regular 4.1-mm-diameter implant. The platform-switching (PS) group was simulated by the connection of a wide implant (5.0 mm diameter) to a regular 4.1-mm-diameter UCLA abutment. In the wide-platform (WP) group, a 5.0-mm-diameter UCLA abutment was connected to a 5.0-mm-diameter implant. An occlusal load of 100 N was applied either axially or obliquely on the models using ANSYS software. Both the increase in implant diameter and the use of platform switching played roles in stress reduction. The PS group presented lower stress values than the RP and WP groups for bone and implant. In the peri-implant area, cortical bone exhibited a higher stress concentration than the trabecular bone in all models and both loading situations. Under oblique loading, higher intensity and greater distribution of stress were observed than under axial loading. Platform switching reduced von Mises (17.5% and 9.3% for axial and oblique loads, respectively), minimum (compressive) (19.4% for axial load and 21.9% for oblique load), and maximum (tensile) principal stress values (46.6% for axial load and 26.7% for oblique load) in the peri-implant bone tissue. Platform switching led to improved biomechanical stress distribution in peri-implant bone tissue. Oblique loads resulted in higher stress concentrations than axial loads for all models. Wide-diameter implants had a large influence in reducing stress values in the implant system.

Design and evaluation of cellular power converter architectures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perreault, David John

Power electronic technology plays an important role in many energy conversion and storage applications, including machine drives, power supplies, frequency changers and UPS systems. Increases in performance and reductions in cost have been achieved through the development of higher performance power semiconductor devices and integrated control devices with increased functionality. Manufacturing techniques, however, have changed little. High power is typically achieved by paralleling multiple die in a sing!e package, producing the physical equivalent of a single large device. Consequently, both the device package and the converter in which the device is used continue to require large, complex mechanical structures, and relatively sophisticated heat transfer systems. An alternative to this approach is the use of a cellular power converter architecture, which is based upon the parallel connection of a large number of quasi-autonomous converters, called cells, each of which is designed for a fraction of the system rating. The cell rating is chosen such that single-die devices in inexpensive packages can be used, and the cell fabricated with an automated assembly process. The use of quasi-autonomous cells means that system performance is not compromised by the failure of a cell. This thesis explores the design of cellular converter architectures with the objective of achieving improvements in performance, reliability, and cost over conventional converter designs. New approaches are developed and experimentally verified for highly distributed control of cellular converters, including methods for ripple cancellation and current-sharing control. The performance of these techniques are quantified, and their dynamics are analyzed. Cell topologies suitable to the cellular architecture are investigated, and their use for systems in the 5-500 kVA range is explored. The design, construction, and experimental evaluation of a 6 kW cellular switched-mode rectifier is also addressed. This cellular system implements entirely distributed control, and achieves performance levels unattainable with an equivalent single converter. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)

Agent-Based Modeling of Mitochondria Links Sub-Cellular Dynamics to Cellular Homeostasis and Heterogeneity.

PubMed

Dalmasso, Giovanni; Marin Zapata, Paula Andrea; Brady, Nathan Ryan; Hamacher-Brady, Anne

2017-01-01

Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles that supply energy for cellular biochemistry through oxidative phosphorylation. Within a cell, hundreds of mobile mitochondria undergo fusion and fission events to form a dynamic network. These morphological and mobility dynamics are essential for maintaining mitochondrial functional homeostasis, and alterations both impact and reflect cellular stress states. Mitochondrial homeostasis is further dependent on production (biogenesis) and the removal of damaged mitochondria by selective autophagy (mitophagy). While mitochondrial function, dynamics, biogenesis and mitophagy are highly-integrated processes, it is not fully understood how systemic control in the cell is established to maintain homeostasis, or respond to bioenergetic demands. Here we used agent-based modeling (ABM) to integrate molecular and imaging knowledge sets, and simulate population dynamics of mitochondria and their response to environmental energy demand. Using high-dimensional parameter searches we integrated experimentally-measured rates of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, and using sensitivity analysis we identified parameter influences on population homeostasis. By studying the dynamics of cellular subpopulations with distinct mitochondrial masses, our approach uncovered system properties of mitochondrial populations: (1) mitochondrial fusion and fission activities rapidly establish mitochondrial sub-population homeostasis, and total cellular levels of mitochondria alter fusion and fission activities and subpopulation distributions; (2) restricting the directionality of mitochondrial mobility does not alter morphology subpopulation distributions, but increases network transmission dynamics; and (3) maintaining mitochondrial mass homeostasis and responding to bioenergetic stress requires the integration of mitochondrial dynamics with the cellular bioenergetic state. Finally, (4) our model suggests sources of, and stress conditions amplifying, cell-to-cell variability of mitochondrial morphology and energetic stress states. Overall, our modeling approach integrates biochemical and imaging knowledge, and presents a novel open-modeling approach to investigate how spatial and temporal mitochondrial dynamics contribute to functional homeostasis, and how subcellular organelle heterogeneity contributes to the emergence of cell heterogeneity.

Agent-Based Modeling of Mitochondria Links Sub-Cellular Dynamics to Cellular Homeostasis and Heterogeneity

PubMed Central

Dalmasso, Giovanni; Marin Zapata, Paula Andrea; Brady, Nathan Ryan; Hamacher-Brady, Anne

2017-01-01

Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles that supply energy for cellular biochemistry through oxidative phosphorylation. Within a cell, hundreds of mobile mitochondria undergo fusion and fission events to form a dynamic network. These morphological and mobility dynamics are essential for maintaining mitochondrial functional homeostasis, and alterations both impact and reflect cellular stress states. Mitochondrial homeostasis is further dependent on production (biogenesis) and the removal of damaged mitochondria by selective autophagy (mitophagy). While mitochondrial function, dynamics, biogenesis and mitophagy are highly-integrated processes, it is not fully understood how systemic control in the cell is established to maintain homeostasis, or respond to bioenergetic demands. Here we used agent-based modeling (ABM) to integrate molecular and imaging knowledge sets, and simulate population dynamics of mitochondria and their response to environmental energy demand. Using high-dimensional parameter searches we integrated experimentally-measured rates of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, and using sensitivity analysis we identified parameter influences on population homeostasis. By studying the dynamics of cellular subpopulations with distinct mitochondrial masses, our approach uncovered system properties of mitochondrial populations: (1) mitochondrial fusion and fission activities rapidly establish mitochondrial sub-population homeostasis, and total cellular levels of mitochondria alter fusion and fission activities and subpopulation distributions; (2) restricting the directionality of mitochondrial mobility does not alter morphology subpopulation distributions, but increases network transmission dynamics; and (3) maintaining mitochondrial mass homeostasis and responding to bioenergetic stress requires the integration of mitochondrial dynamics with the cellular bioenergetic state. Finally, (4) our model suggests sources of, and stress conditions amplifying, cell-to-cell variability of mitochondrial morphology and energetic stress states. Overall, our modeling approach integrates biochemical and imaging knowledge, and presents a novel open-modeling approach to investigate how spatial and temporal mitochondrial dynamics contribute to functional homeostasis, and how subcellular organelle heterogeneity contributes to the emergence of cell heterogeneity. PMID:28060865

Cellular Location and Expression of Na+, K+-ATPase α Subunits Affect the Anti-Proliferative Activity of Oleandrin

PubMed Central

Yang, Peiying; Cartwright, Carrie; Efuet, Ekem; Hamilton, Stanley R.; Wistuba, Ignacio Ivan; Menter, David; Addington, Crandell; Shureiqi, Imad; Newman, Robert A.

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intracellular distribution of Na+, K+-ATPase α3 subunit, a receptor for cardiac glycosides including oleandrin, is differentially altered in cancer versus normal cells and whether this altered distribution can be therapeutically targeted to inhibit cancer cell survival. The cellular distribution of Na+, K+-ATPase α3 isoform was investigated in paired normal and cancerous mucosa biopsy samples from patients with lung and colorectal cancers by immunohistochemical staining. The effects of oleandrin on α3 subunit intracellular distribution, cell death, proliferation, and EKR phosphorylation were examined in differentiated and undifferentiated human colon cancer CaCO-2 cells. While Na+, K+-ATPase α3 isoform was predominantly located near the cytoplasmic membrane in normal human colon and lung epithelia, the expression of this subunit in their paired cancer epithelia was shifted to a peri-nuclear position in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. Similarly, distribution of α3 isoform was also shifted from a cytoplasmic membrane location in differentiated human colon cancer CaCO-2 cells to a peri-nuclear position in undifferentiated CaCO-2 cells. Intriguingly, oleandrin exerted threefold stronger anti-proliferative activity in undifferentiated CaCO-2 cells (IC50, 8.25 nM) than in differentiated CaCO-2 cells (IC50, >25 nM). Oleandrin (10 to 20 nM) caused an autophagic cell death and altered ERK phosphorylation in undifferentiated but not in differentiated CaCO-2 cells. These data demonstrate that the intracellular location of Na+, K+-ATPase α3 isoform is altered in human cancer versus normal cells. These changes in α3 cellular location and abundance may indicate a potential target of opportunity for cancer therapy. PMID:23073998

Applicability of regular particle shapes in light scattering calculations for atmospheric ice particles.

PubMed

Macke, A; Mishchenko, M I

1996-07-20

We ascertain the usefulness of simple ice particle geometries for modeling the intensity distribution of light scattering by atmospheric ice particles. To this end, similarities and differences in light scattering by axis-equivalent, regular and distorted hexagonal cylindric, ellipsoidal, and circular cylindric ice particles are reported. All the results pertain to particles with sizes much larger than a wavelength and are based on a geometrical optics approximation. At a nonabsorbing wavelength of 0.55 µm, ellipsoids (circular cylinders) have a much (slightly) larger asymmetry parameter g than regular hexagonal cylinders. However, our computations show that only random distortion of the crystal shape leads to a closer agreement with g values as small as 0.7 as derived from some remote-sensing data analysis. This may suggest that scattering by regular particle shapes is not necessarily representative of real atmospheric ice crystals at nonabsorbing wavelengths. On the other hand, if real ice particles happen to be hexagonal, they may be approximated by circular cylinders at absorbing wavelengths.

Sparse regularization for EIT reconstruction incorporating structural information derived from medical imaging.

PubMed

Gong, Bo; Schullcke, Benjamin; Krueger-Ziolek, Sabine; Mueller-Lisse, Ullrich; Moeller, Knut

2016-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) reconstructs the conductivity distribution of a domain using electrical data on its boundary. This is an ill-posed inverse problem usually solved on a finite element mesh. For this article, a special regularization method incorporating structural information of the targeted domain is proposed and evaluated. Structural information was obtained either from computed tomography images or from preliminary EIT reconstructions by a modified k-means clustering. The proposed regularization method integrates this structural information into the reconstruction as a soft constraint preferring sparsity in group level. A first evaluation with Monte Carlo simulations indicated that the proposed solver is more robust to noise and the resulting images show fewer artifacts. This finding is supported by real data analysis. The structure based regularization has the potential to balance structural a priori information with data driven reconstruction. It is robust to noise, reduces artifacts and produces images that reflect anatomy and are thus easier to interpret for physicians.

A combined reconstruction-classification method for diffuse optical tomography.

PubMed

Hiltunen, P; Prince, S J D; Arridge, S

2009-11-07

We present a combined classification and reconstruction algorithm for diffuse optical tomography (DOT). DOT is a nonlinear ill-posed inverse problem. Therefore, some regularization is needed. We present a mixture of Gaussians prior, which regularizes the DOT reconstruction step. During each iteration, the parameters of a mixture model are estimated. These associate each reconstructed pixel with one of several classes based on the current estimate of the optical parameters. This classification is exploited to form a new prior distribution to regularize the reconstruction step and update the optical parameters. The algorithm can be described as an iteration between an optimization scheme with zeroth-order variable mean and variance Tikhonov regularization and an expectation-maximization scheme for estimation of the model parameters. We describe the algorithm in a general Bayesian framework. Results from simulated test cases and phantom measurements show that the algorithm enhances the contrast of the reconstructed images with good spatial accuracy. The probabilistic classifications of each image contain only a few misclassified pixels.

Phase retrieval using regularization method in intensity correlation imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiyu; Gao, Xin; Tang, Jia; Lu, Changming; Wang, Jianli; Wang, Bin

2014-11-01

Intensity correlation imaging(ICI) method can obtain high resolution image with ground-based low precision mirrors, in the imaging process, phase retrieval algorithm should be used to reconstituted the object's image. But the algorithm now used(such as hybrid input-output algorithm) is sensitive to noise and easy to stagnate. However the signal-to-noise ratio of intensity interferometry is low especially in imaging astronomical objects. In this paper, we build the mathematical model of phase retrieval and simplified it into a constrained optimization problem of a multi-dimensional function. New error function was designed by noise distribution and prior information using regularization method. The simulation results show that the regularization method can improve the performance of phase retrieval algorithm and get better image especially in low SNR condition

Estimation of reflectance from camera responses by the regularized local linear model.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei-Feng; Tang, Gongguo; Dai, Dao-Qing; Nehorai, Arye

2011-10-01

Because of the limited approximation capability of using fixed basis functions, the performance of reflectance estimation obtained by traditional linear models will not be optimal. We propose an approach based on the regularized local linear model. Our approach performs efficiently and knowledge of the spectral power distribution of the illuminant and the spectral sensitivities of the camera is not needed. Experimental results show that the proposed method performs better than some well-known methods in terms of both reflectance error and colorimetric error. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Power-law exponent of the Bouchaud-Mézard model on regular random networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ichinomiya, Takashi

2013-07-01

We study the Bouchaud-Mézard model on a regular random network. By assuming adiabaticity and independency, and utilizing the generalized central limit theorem and the Tauberian theorem, we derive an equation that determines the exponent of the probability distribution function of the wealth as x→∞. The analysis shows that the exponent can be smaller than 2, while a mean-field analysis always gives the exponent as being larger than 2. The results of our analysis are shown to be in good agreement with those of the numerical simulations.

Modification of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for DNA content data analysis through distribution alignment.

PubMed

Huang, Shuguang; Yeo, Adeline A; Li, Shuyu Dan

2007-10-01

The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test is a statistical method often used for comparing two distributions. In high-throughput screening (HTS) studies, such distributions usually arise from the phenotype of independent cell populations. However, the K-S test has been criticized for being overly sensitive in applications, and it often detects a statistically significant difference that is not biologically meaningful. One major reason is that there is a common phenomenon in HTS studies that systematic drifting exists among the distributions due to reasons such as instrument variation, plate edge effect, accidental difference in sample handling, etc. In particular, in high-content cellular imaging experiments, the location shift could be dramatic since some compounds themselves are fluorescent. This oversensitivity of the K-S test is particularly overpowered in cellular assays where the sample sizes are very big (usually several thousands). In this paper, a modified K-S test is proposed to deal with the nonspecific location-shift problem in HTS studies. Specifically, we propose that the distributions are "normalized" by density curve alignment before the K-S test is conducted. In applications to simulation data and real experimental data, the results show that the proposed method has improved specificity.

Computing aggregate properties of preimages for 2D cellular automata.

PubMed

Beer, Randall D

2017-11-01

Computing properties of the set of precursors of a given configuration is a common problem underlying many important questions about cellular automata. Unfortunately, such computations quickly become intractable in dimension greater than one. This paper presents an algorithm-incremental aggregation-that can compute aggregate properties of the set of precursors exponentially faster than naïve approaches. The incremental aggregation algorithm is demonstrated on two problems from the two-dimensional binary Game of Life cellular automaton: precursor count distributions and higher-order mean field theory coefficients. In both cases, incremental aggregation allows us to obtain new results that were previously beyond reach.

The role of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in cellular function and protection in the cardiovascular system.

PubMed

Tinker, Andrew; Aziz, Qadeer; Thomas, Alison

2014-01-01

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) are widely distributed and present in a number of tissues including muscle, pancreatic beta cells and the brain. Their activity is regulated by adenine nucleotides, characteristically being activated by falling ATP and rising ADP levels. Thus, they link cellular metabolism with membrane excitability. Recent studies using genetically modified mice and genomic studies in patients have implicated K(ATP) channels in a number of physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we focus on their role in cellular function and protection particularly in the cardiovascular system. © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society.

Computing aggregate properties of preimages for 2D cellular automata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beer, Randall D.

2017-11-01

Computing properties of the set of precursors of a given configuration is a common problem underlying many important questions about cellular automata. Unfortunately, such computations quickly become intractable in dimension greater than one. This paper presents an algorithm—incremental aggregation—that can compute aggregate properties of the set of precursors exponentially faster than naïve approaches. The incremental aggregation algorithm is demonstrated on two problems from the two-dimensional binary Game of Life cellular automaton: precursor count distributions and higher-order mean field theory coefficients. In both cases, incremental aggregation allows us to obtain new results that were previously beyond reach.

Exploring conservative islands using correlated and uncorrelated noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

da Silva, Rafael M.; Manchein, Cesar; Beims, Marcus W.

2018-02-01

In this work, noise is used to analyze the penetration of regular islands in conservative dynamical systems. For this purpose we use the standard map choosing nonlinearity parameters for which a mixed phase space is present. The random variable which simulates noise assumes three distributions, namely equally distributed, normal or Gaussian, and power law (obtained from the same standard map but for other parameters). To investigate the penetration process and explore distinct dynamical behaviors which may occur, we use recurrence time statistics (RTS), Lyapunov exponents and the occupation rate of the phase space. Our main findings are as follows: (i) the standard deviations of the distributions are the most relevant quantity to induce the penetration; (ii) the penetration of islands induce power-law decays in the RTS as a consequence of enhanced trapping; (iii) for the power-law correlated noise an algebraic decay of the RTS is observed, even though sticky motion is absent; and (iv) although strong noise intensities induce an ergodic-like behavior with exponential decays of RTS, the largest Lyapunov exponent is reminiscent of the regular islands.

The transitional behaviour of avalanches in cohesive granular materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quintanilla, M. A. S.; Valverde, J. M.; Castellanos, A.

2006-07-01

We present a statistical analysis of avalanches of granular materials that partially fill a slowly rotated horizontal drum. For large sized noncohesive grains the classical coherent oscillation is reproduced, consisting of a quasi-periodic succession of regularly sized avalanches. As the powder cohesiveness is increased by decreasing the particle size, we observe a gradual crossover to a complex dynamics that resembles the transitional behaviour observed in fusion plasmas. For particle size below ~50 µm, avalanches lose a characteristic size, retain a short term memory and turn gradually decorrelated in the long term as described by a Markov process. In contrast, large grains made cohesive by coating them with adhesive microparticles display a distinct phenomenology, characterized by a quasi-regular succession of well defined small precursors and large relaxation events. The transition from a one-peaked distribution (noncohesive large beads) to a flattened distribution (fine cohesive beads) passing through the two-peaked distribution of cohesive large beads had already been predicted using a coupled-map lattice model, as the relaxation mechanism of grain reorganization becomes dominant to the detriment of inertia.

Co-occurrence statistics as a language-dependent cue for speech segmentation.

PubMed

Saksida, Amanda; Langus, Alan; Nespor, Marina

2017-05-01

To what extent can language acquisition be explained in terms of different associative learning mechanisms? It has been hypothesized that distributional regularities in spoken languages are strong enough to elicit statistical learning about dependencies among speech units. Distributional regularities could be a useful cue for word learning even without rich language-specific knowledge. However, it is not clear how strong and reliable the distributional cues are that humans might use to segment speech. We investigate cross-linguistic viability of different statistical learning strategies by analyzing child-directed speech corpora from nine languages and by modeling possible statistics-based speech segmentations. We show that languages vary as to which statistical segmentation strategies are most successful. The variability of the results can be partially explained by systematic differences between languages, such as rhythmical differences. The results confirm previous findings that different statistical learning strategies are successful in different languages and suggest that infants may have to primarily rely on non-statistical cues when they begin their process of speech segmentation. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Transient inter-cellular polymeric linker.

PubMed

Ong, Siew-Min; He, Lijuan; Thuy Linh, Nguyen Thi; Tee, Yee-Han; Arooz, Talha; Tang, Guping; Tan, Choon-Hong; Yu, Hanry

2007-09-01

Three-dimensional (3D) tissue-engineered constructs with bio-mimicry cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions are useful in regenerative medicine. In cell-dense and matrix-poor tissues of the internal organs, cells support one another via cell-cell interactions, supplemented by small amount of the extra-cellular matrices (ECM) secreted by the cells. Here we connect HepG2 cells directly but transiently with inter-cellular polymeric linker to facilitate cell-cell interaction and aggregation. The linker consists of a non-toxic low molecular-weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) backbone conjugated with multiple hydrazide groups that can aggregate cells within 30 min by reacting with the aldehyde handles on the chemically modified cell-surface glycoproteins. The cells in the cellular aggregates proliferated; and maintained the cortical actin distribution of the 3D cell morphology while non-aggregated cells died over 7 days of suspension culture. The aggregates lost distinguishable cell-cell boundaries within 3 days; and the ECM fibers became visible around cells from day 3 onwards while the inter-cellular polymeric linker disappeared from the cell surfaces over time. The transient inter-cellular polymeric linker can be useful for forming 3D cellular and tissue constructs without bulk biomaterials or extensive network of engineered ECM for various applications.

Novel guanidine-containing molecular transporters based on lactose scaffolds: lipophilicity effect on the intracellular organellar selectivity.

PubMed

Biswas, Goutam; Jeon, Ock-Youm; Lee, Woo Sirl; Kim, Dong-Chan; Kim, Kyong-Tai; Lee, Suho; Chang, Sunghoe; Chung, Sung-Kee

2008-01-01

We have synthesized two lactose-based molecular transporters, each containing seven guanidine residues attached to the lactose scaffold through omega-aminocarboxylate linker chains of two different lengths, and have examined their cellular uptakes and intracellular and organellar localizations in HeLa cells, as well as their tissue distributions in mice. Both molecular transporters showed higher cellular uptake efficiencies than Arg8, and wide tissue distributions including the brain. Mitochondrial localization is of special interest because of its potential relevance to "mitochondrial diseases". Interestingly, it has been found that the intracellular localization sites of the G7 molecular transporters-namely either mitochondria or lysosomes and endocytic vesicles-are largely determined by the linker chain lengths, or their associated lipophilicities.

Regularization method for large eddy simulations of shock-turbulence interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braun, N. O.; Pullin, D. I.; Meiron, D. I.

2018-05-01

The rapid change in scales over a shock has the potential to introduce unique difficulties in Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of compressible shock-turbulence flows if the governing model does not sufficiently capture the spectral distribution of energy in the upstream turbulence. A method for the regularization of LES of shock-turbulence interactions is presented which is constructed to enforce that the energy content in the highest resolved wavenumbers decays as k - 5 / 3, and is computed locally in physical-space at low computational cost. The application of the regularization to an existing subgrid scale model is shown to remove high wavenumber errors while maintaining agreement with Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of forced and decaying isotropic turbulence. Linear interaction analysis is implemented to model the interaction of a shock with isotropic turbulence from LES. Comparisons to analytical models suggest that the regularization significantly improves the ability of the LES to predict amplifications in subgrid terms over the modeled shockwave. LES and DNS of decaying, modeled post shock turbulence are also considered, and inclusion of the regularization in shock-turbulence LES is shown to improve agreement with lower Reynolds number DNS.

Epidemic spreading in weighted networks: an edge-based mean-field solution.

PubMed

Yang, Zimo; Zhou, Tao

2012-05-01

Weight distribution greatly impacts the epidemic spreading taking place on top of networks. This paper presents a study of a susceptible-infected-susceptible model on regular random networks with different kinds of weight distributions. Simulation results show that the more homogeneous weight distribution leads to higher epidemic prevalence, which, unfortunately, could not be captured by the traditional mean-field approximation. This paper gives an edge-based mean-field solution for general weight distribution, which can quantitatively reproduce the simulation results. This method could be applied to characterize the nonequilibrium steady states of dynamical processes on weighted networks.

Spatial distribution of filament elasticity determines the migratory behaviors of a cell

PubMed Central

Harn, Hans I-Chen; Hsu, Chao-Kai; Wang, Yang-Kao; Huang, Yi-Wei; Chiu, Wen-Tai; Lin, Hsi-Hui; Cheng, Chao-Min; Tang, Ming-Jer

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Any cellular response leading to morphological changes is highly tuned to balance the force generated from structural reorganization, provided by actin cytoskeleton. Actin filaments serve as the backbone of intracellular force, and transduce external mechanical signal via focal adhesion complex into the cell. During migration, cells not only undergo molecular changes but also rapid mechanical modulation. Here we focus on determining, the role of spatial distribution of mechanical changes of actin filaments in epithelial, mesenchymal, fibrotic and cancer cells with non-migration, directional migration, and non-directional migration behaviors using the atomic force microscopy. We found 1) non-migratory cells only generated one type of filament elasticity, 2) cells generating spatially distributed two types of filament elasticity showed directional migration, and 3) pathologic cells that autonomously generated two types of filament elasticity without spatial distribution were actively migrating non-directionally. The demonstration of spatial regulation of filament elasticity of different cell types at the nano-scale highlights the coupling of cytoskeletal function with physical characters at the sub-cellular level, and provides new research directions for migration related disease. PMID:26919488

A nanotube based electron microbeam cellular irradiator for radiobiology research

PubMed Central

Bordelon, David E.; Zhang, Jian; Graboski, Sarah; Cox, Adrienne; Schreiber, Eric; Zhou, Otto Z.; Chang, Sha

2008-01-01

A prototype cellular irradiator utilizing a carbon nanotube (CNT) based field emission electron source has been developed for microscopic image-guided cellular region irradiation. The CNT cellular irradiation system has shown great potential to be a high temporal and spatial resolution research tool to enable researchers to gain a better understanding of the intricate cellular and intercellular microprocesses occurring following radiation deposition, which is essential to improving radiotherapy cancer treatment outcomes. In this paper, initial results of the system development are reported. The relationship between field emission current, the dose rate, and the dose distribution has been investigated. A beam size of 23 μm has been achieved with variable dose rates of 1–100 Gy∕s, and the system dosimetry has been measured using a radiochromic film. Cell irradiation has been demonstrated by the visualization of H2AX phosphorylation at DNA double-strand break sites following irradiation in a rat fibroblast cell monolayer. The prototype single beam cellular irradiator is a preliminary step to a multipixel cell irradiator that is under development. PMID:19123587

Fly's eye condenser based on chirped microlens arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wippermann, Frank C.; Zeitner, Uwe-D.; Dannberg, Peter; Bräuer, Andreas; Sinzinger, Stefan

2007-09-01

Lens array arrangements are commonly used for the beam shaping of almost arbitrary input intensity distributions into a top-hat. The setup usually consists of a Fourier lens and two identical regular microlens arrays - often referred to as tandem lens array - where the second one is placed in the focal plane of the first microlenses. Due to the periodic structure of regular arrays the output intensity distribution is modulated by equidistant sharp intensity peaks which are disturbing the homogeneity. The equidistantly located intensity peaks can be suppressed when using a chirped and therefore non-periodic microlens array. A far field speckle pattern with more densely and irregularly located intensity peaks results leading to an improved homogeneity of the intensity distribution. In contrast to stochastic arrays, chirped arrays consist of individually shaped lenses defined by a parametric description of the cells optical function which can be derived completely from analytical functions. This gives the opportunity to build up tandem array setups enabling to achieve far field intensity distribution with an envelope of a top-hat. We propose a new concept for fly's eye condensers incorporating a chirped tandem microlens array for the generation of a top-hat far field intensity distribution with improved homogenization under coherent illumination. The setup is compliant to reflow of photoresist as fabrication technique since plane substrates accommodating the arrays are used. Considerations for the design of the chirped microlens arrays, design rules, wave optical simulations and measurements of the far field intensity distributions are presented.

Macro-cellular silica foams: synthesis during the natural creaming process of an oil-in-water emulsion.

PubMed

Sen, T; Tiddy, G J T; Casci, J L; Anderson, M W

2003-09-07

The room-temperature synthesis of a macro-mesoporous silica material during the natural creaming process of an oil-in-water emulsion is reported. The material has 3-dimensional interconnected macropores with a strut-like structure similar to meso-cellular silica foams with mesoporous walls of worm-hole structure. The material has very high surface area (approximately 800 m2 g(-1)) with narrow mesopore size distribution.

Distributed Wavelet Transform for Irregular Sensor Network Grids

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

implement it in a multi-hop, wireless sensor network ; and illustrate with several simulations. The new transform performs on par with conventional wavelet methods in a head-to-head comparison on a regular grid of sensor nodes.

Lexical processing and distributional knowledge in sound-spelling mapping in a consistent orthography: A longitudinal study of reading and spelling in dyslexic and typically developing children.

PubMed

Marinelli, Chiara Valeria; Cellini, Pamela; Zoccolotti, Pierluigi; Angelelli, Paola

This study examined the ability to master lexical processing and use knowledge of the relative frequency of sound-spelling mappings in both reading and spelling. Twenty-four dyslexic and dysgraphic children and 86 typically developing readers were followed longitudinally in 3rd and 5th grades. Effects of word regularity, word frequency, and probability of sound-spelling mappings were examined in two experimental tasks: (a) spelling to dictation; and (b) orthographic judgment. Dyslexic children showed larger regularity and frequency effects than controls in both tasks. Sensitivity to distributional information of sound-spelling mappings was already detected by third grade, indicating early acquisition even in children with dyslexia. Although with notable differences, knowledge of the relative frequencies of sound-spelling mapping influenced both reading and spelling. Results are discussed in terms of their theoretical and empirical implications.

Thermostating extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martínez, Enrique; Cawkwell, Marc J.; Voter, Arthur F.

Here, Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics is developed and analyzed for applications in canonical (NVT) simulations. Three different approaches are considered: the Nosé and Andersen thermostats and Langevin dynamics. We have tested the temperature distribution under different conditions of self-consistent field (SCF) convergence and time step and compared the results to analytical predictions. We find that the simulations based on the extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer framework provide accurate canonical distributions even under approximate SCF convergence, often requiring only a single diagonalization per time step, whereas regular Born-Oppenheimer formulations exhibit unphysical fluctuations unless a sufficiently high degree of convergence is reached atmore » each time step. Lastly, the thermostated extended Lagrangian framework thus offers an accurate approach to sample processes in the canonical ensemble at a fraction of the computational cost of regular Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations.« less

Thermostating extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics

DOE PAGES

Martínez, Enrique; Cawkwell, Marc J.; Voter, Arthur F.; ...

2015-04-21

Here, Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics is developed and analyzed for applications in canonical (NVT) simulations. Three different approaches are considered: the Nosé and Andersen thermostats and Langevin dynamics. We have tested the temperature distribution under different conditions of self-consistent field (SCF) convergence and time step and compared the results to analytical predictions. We find that the simulations based on the extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer framework provide accurate canonical distributions even under approximate SCF convergence, often requiring only a single diagonalization per time step, whereas regular Born-Oppenheimer formulations exhibit unphysical fluctuations unless a sufficiently high degree of convergence is reached atmore » each time step. Lastly, the thermostated extended Lagrangian framework thus offers an accurate approach to sample processes in the canonical ensemble at a fraction of the computational cost of regular Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations.« less

Regularization with numerical extrapolation for finite and UV-divergent multi-loop integrals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Doncker, E.; Yuasa, F.; Kato, K.; Ishikawa, T.; Kapenga, J.; Olagbemi, O.

2018-03-01

We give numerical integration results for Feynman loop diagrams such as those covered by Laporta (2000) and by Baikov and Chetyrkin (2010), and which may give rise to loop integrals with UV singularities. We explore automatic adaptive integration using multivariate techniques from the PARINT package for multivariate integration, as well as iterated integration with programs from the QUADPACK package, and a trapezoidal method based on a double exponential transformation. PARINT is layered over MPI (Message Passing Interface), and incorporates advanced parallel/distributed techniques including load balancing among processes that may be distributed over a cluster or a network/grid of nodes. Results are included for 2-loop vertex and box diagrams and for sets of 2-, 3- and 4-loop self-energy diagrams with or without UV terms. Numerical regularization of integrals with singular terms is achieved by linear and non-linear extrapolation methods.

[Changes in cellular radiosensitivity after low dose irradiation].

PubMed

Pelevina, I I; Aleshchenko, A V; Antoshchina, M M; Kudriashova, O V; Riabchenko, N I; Akleev, A V

2012-01-01

When the adaptive response (AR) was studied on human blood lymphocytes, a new dependence was discovered. This dependence defines the direction of the radiosensitivity change after a low dose of irradiation. Using micronucleus (MN) test with cytochalasin B the dependence between the cell reaction after low level irradiation and radiosensititvity (the effect after irradiation at the dose of 1 Gy) was observed. The negative correlation between the frequency of AR manifestation, sensibilization, intermediate links and radiosensitivity was discovered. This regularity is observed in the population of Moscow, Obninsk, Chelyabinsk region (irradiated and control) inhabitants, Chernobyl accident liquidators, Moscow children, in individuals with Hodgkin's lymphoma before and during treatment. The negative correlation is also noted by AR determination with two irradiation schemes: in one or two different cell cycle phases (G1-G1 or G1-G2). Similar links are observed using the chromosome methaphase analysis (the frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations). So, the results of the experiments conducted allow us to suppose that the connection between the cell radiosensitivity and a different type of reaction after low dose irradiation--from AR to the increase in radiosensitivity (sensibilization) is a general regularity. AR is induced by low level irradiation and high cell radiosensitivity, while sensibilization is induced by low radiosensitivity. Since AR and sensibilization can be induced not only by irradiation, but many different chemicals and physical agents, the described correlation can be observed in the case of different exposures. Cellular AR and sensibilization are integral indexes depending on many genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as on the initiation of a large number of events. However, the discovered mechanisms of interrelations are still difficult to explain.

Magnetophoretic Induction of Root Curvature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hasenstein, Karl H.

1997-01-01

The last year of the grant period concerned the consolidation of previous experiments to ascertain that the theoretical premise apply not just to root but also to shoots. In addition, we verified that high gradient magnetic fields do not interfere with regular cellular activities. Previous results have established that: (1) intracellular magnetophoresis is possible; and (2) HGMF lead to root curvature. In order to investigate whether HGMF affect the assembly and/or organization of structural proteins, we examined the arrangement of microtubules in roots exposed to HGMF. The cytoskeletal investigations were performed with fomaldehyde-fixed, nonembedded tissue segments that were cut with a vibratome. Microtubules (MTs) were stained with rat anti-yeast tubulin (YOL 1/34) and DTAF-labeled antibody against rat IgG. Microfilaments (MFs) were visualized by incubation in rhodamine-labeled phalloidin. The distribution and arrangement of both components of the cytoskeleton were examined with a confocal microscope. Measurements of growth rates and graviresponse were done using a video-digitizer. Since HGMF repel diamagnetic substances including starch-filled amyloplasts and most The second aspect of the work includes studies of the effect of cytoskeletal inhibitors on MTs and MFs. The analysis of the effect of micotubular inhibitors on the auxin transport in roots showed that there is very little effect of MT-depolymerizing or stabilizing drugs on auxin transport. This is in line with observations that application of such drugs is not immediately affecting the graviresponsiveness of roots.

Flotillin proteins recruit sphingosine to membranes and maintain cellular sphingosine-1-phosphate levels

PubMed Central

Riento, Kirsi; Zhang, Qifeng; Clark, Jonathan; Begum, Farida; Stephens, Elaine; Wakelam, Michael J.

2018-01-01

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an important lipid signalling molecule. S1P is produced via intracellular phosphorylation of sphingosine (Sph). As a lipid with a single fatty alkyl chain, Sph may diffuse rapidly between cellular membranes and through the aqueous phase. Here, we show that the absence of microdomains generated by multimeric assemblies of flotillin proteins results in reduced S1P levels. Cellular phenotypes of flotillin knockout mice, including changes in histone acetylation and expression of Isg15, are recapitulated when S1P synthesis is perturbed. Flotillins bind to Sph in vitro and increase recruitment of Sph to membranes in cells. Ectopic re-localisation of flotillins within the cell causes concomitant redistribution of Sph. The data suggest that flotillins may directly or indirectly regulate cellular sphingolipid distribution and signalling. PMID:29787576

Effects of ultrasound on polymeric foam porosity.

PubMed

Torres-Sanchez, C; Corney, J R

2008-04-01

A variety of materials require functionally graded cellular microstructures whose porosity is engineered to meet specific applications (e.g. mimic bone structure for orthopaedic applications; fulfil mechanical, thermal or acoustic constraints in structural foamed components, etc.). Although a huge variety of foams can be manufactured with homogenous porosity, there are no generic processes for controlling the distribution of porosity within the resulting matrix. Motivated by the desire to create a flexible process for engineering heterogeneous foams, the authors have investigated how ultrasound, applied during the formation of a polyurethane foam, affects its cellular structure. The experimental results demonstrated how the parameters of ultrasound exposure (i.e. frequency and applied power) influenced the volume and distribution of pores within the final polyurethane matrix: the data demonstrates that porosity (i.e. volume fraction) varies in direct proportion to both the acoustic pressure and frequency of the ultrasound signal. The effects of ultrasound on porosity demonstrated by this work offer the prospect of a manufacturing process that can adjust the cellular geometry of foam and hence ensure that the resulting characteristics match the functional requirements.

Elution of Labile Fluorescent Dye from Nanoparticles during Biological Use

PubMed Central

Tenuta, Tiziana; Monopoli, Marco P.; Kim, JongAh; Salvati, Anna; Dawson, Kenneth A.; Sandin, Peter; Lynch, Iseult

2011-01-01

Cells act as extremely efficient filters for elution of unbound fluorescent tags or impurities associated with nanoparticles, including those that cannot be removed by extensive cleaning. This has consequences for quantification of nanoparticle uptake and sub-cellular localization in vitro and in vivo as a result of the presence of significant amount of labile dye even following extensive cleaning by dialysis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) can be used to monitor the elution of unbound fluorescent probes from nanoparticles, either commercially available or synthesized in-house, and to ensure their complete purification for biological studies, including cellular uptake and sub-cellular localisation. Very different fluorescence distribution within cells is observed after short dialysis times versus following extensive dialysis against a solvent in which the free dye is more soluble, due to the contribution from free dye. In the absence of an understanding of the presence of residual free dye in (most) labeled nanoparticle solutions, the total fluorescence intensity in cells following exposure to nanoparticle solutions could be mis-ascribed to the presence of nanoparticles through the cell, rather than correctly assigned to either a combination of free-dye and nanoparticle-bound dye, or even entirely to free dye depending on the exposure conditions (i.e. aggregation of the particles etc). Where all of the dye is nanoparticle-bound, the particles are highly localized in sub-cellular organelles, likely lysosomes, whereas in a system containing significant amounts of free dye, the fluorescence is distributed through the cell due to the free diffusion of the molecule dye across all cellular barriers and into the cytoplasm. PMID:21998668

Impact of Labile Zinc on Heart Function: From Physiology to Pathophysiology

PubMed Central

Turan, Belma; Tuncay, Erkan

2017-01-01

Zinc plays an important role in biological systems as bound and histochemically reactive labile Zn2+. Although Zn2+ concentration is in the nM range in cardiomyocytes at rest and increases dramatically under stimulation, very little is known about precise mechanisms controlling the intracellular distribution of Zn2+ and its variations during cardiac function. Recent studies are focused on molecular and cellular aspects of labile Zn2+ and its homeostasis in mammalian cells and growing evidence clarified the molecular mechanisms underlying Zn2+-diverse functions in the heart, leading to the discovery of novel physiological functions of labile Zn2+ in parallel to the discovery of subcellular localization of Zn2+-transporters in cardiomyocytes. Additionally, important experimental data suggest a central role of intracellular labile Zn2+ in excitation-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes by shaping Ca2+ dynamics. Cellular labile Zn2+ is tightly regulated against its adverse effects through either Zn2+-transporters, Zn2+-binding molecules or Zn2+-sensors, and, therefore plays a critical role in cellular signaling pathways. The present review summarizes the current understanding of the physiological role of cellular labile Zn2+ distribution in cardiomyocytes and how a remodeling of cellular Zn2+-homeostasis can be important in proper cell function with Zn2+-transporters under hyperglycemia. We also emphasize the recent investigations on Zn2+-transporter functions from the standpoint of human heart health to diseases together with their clinical interest as target proteins in the heart under pathological condition, such as diabetes. PMID:29137144

A cellular automata model of bone formation.

PubMed

Van Scoy, Gabrielle K; George, Estee L; Opoku Asantewaa, Flora; Kerns, Lucy; Saunders, Marnie M; Prieto-Langarica, Alicia

2017-04-01

Bone remodeling is an elegantly orchestrated process by which osteocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts function as a syncytium to maintain or modify bone. On the microscopic level, bone consists of cells that create, destroy and monitor the bone matrix. These cells interact in a coordinated manner to maintain a tightly regulated homeostasis. It is this regulation that is responsible for the observed increase in bone gain in the dominant arm of a tennis player and the observed increase in bone loss associated with spaceflight and osteoporosis. The manner in which these cells interact to bring about a change in bone quality and quantity has yet to be fully elucidated. But efforts to understand the multicellular complexity can ultimately lead to eradication of metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis and improved implant longevity. Experimentally validated mathematical models that simulate functional activity and offer eventual predictive capabilities offer tremendous potential in understanding multicellular bone remodeling. Here we undertake the initial challenge to develop a mathematical model of bone formation validated with in vitro data obtained from osteoblastic bone cells induced to mineralize and quantified at 26 days of culture. A cellular automata model was constructed to simulate the in vitro characterization. Permutation tests were performed to compare the distribution of the mineralization in the cultures and the distribution of the mineralization in the mathematical models. The results of the permutation test show the distribution of mineralization from the characterization and mathematical model come from the same probability distribution, therefore validating the cellular automata model. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Discriminating cellular heterogeneity using microwell-based RNA cytometry

PubMed Central

Dimov, Ivan K.; Lu, Rong; Lee, Eric P.; Seita, Jun; Sahoo, Debashis; Park, Seung-min; Weissman, Irving L.; Lee, Luke P.

2014-01-01

Discriminating cellular heterogeneity is important for understanding cellular physiology. However, it is limited by the technical difficulties of single-cell measurements. Here, we develop a two-stage system to determine cellular heterogeneity. In the first stage, we perform multiplex single-cell RNA-cytometry in a microwell array containing over 60,000 reaction chambers. In the second stage, we use the RNA-cytometry data to determine cellular heterogeneity by providing a heterogeneity likelihood score. Moreover, we use Monte-Carlo simulation and RNA-cytometry data to calculate the minimum number of cells required for detecting heterogeneity. We applied this system to characterize the RNA distributions of aging related genes in a highly purified mouse hematopoietic stem cell population. We identified genes that reveal novel heterogeneity of these cells. We also show that changes in expression of genes such as Birc6 during aging can be attributed to the shift of relative portions of cells in the high-expressing subgroup versus low-expressing subgroup. PMID:24667995

Differential growth of wrinkled biofilms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Espeso, D. R.; Carpio, A.; Einarsson, B.

2015-02-01

Biofilms are antibiotic-resistant bacterial aggregates that grow on moist surfaces and can trigger hospital-acquired infections. They provide a classical example in biology where the dynamics of cellular communities may be observed and studied. Gene expression regulates cell division and differentiation, which affect the biofilm architecture. Mechanical and chemical processes shape the resulting structure. We gain insight into the interplay between cellular and mechanical processes during biofilm development on air-agar interfaces by means of a hybrid model. Cellular behavior is governed by stochastic rules informed by a cascade of concentration fields for nutrients, waste, and autoinducers. Cellular differentiation and death alter the structure and the mechanical properties of the biofilm, which is deformed according to Föppl-Von Kármán equations informed by cellular processes and the interaction with the substratum. Stiffness gradients due to growth and swelling produce wrinkle branching. We are able to reproduce wrinkled structures often formed by biofilms on air-agar interfaces, as well as spatial distributions of differentiated cells commonly observed with B. subtilis.

Heterogeneity of Metazoan Cells and Beyond: To Integrative Analysis of Cellular Populations at Single-Cell Level.

PubMed

Barteneva, Natasha S; Vorobjev, Ivan A

2018-01-01

In this paper, we review some of the recent advances in cellular heterogeneity and single-cell analysis methods. In modern research of cellular heterogeneity, there are four major approaches: analysis of pooled samples, single-cell analysis, high-throughput single-cell analysis, and lately integrated analysis of cellular population at a single-cell level. Recently developed high-throughput single-cell genetic analysis methods such as RNA-Seq require purification step and destruction of an analyzed cell often are providing a snapshot of the investigated cell without spatiotemporal context. Correlative analysis of multiparameter morphological, functional, and molecular information is important for differentiation of more uniform groups in the spectrum of different cell types. Simplified distributions (histograms and 2D plots) can underrepresent biologically significant subpopulations. Future directions may include the development of nondestructive methods for dissecting molecular events in intact cells, simultaneous correlative cellular analysis of phenotypic and molecular features by hybrid technologies such as imaging flow cytometry, and further progress in supervised and non-supervised statistical analysis algorithms.

Daily pattern of energy distribution and weight loss.

PubMed

Raynor, Hollie A; Li, Fan; Cardoso, Chelsi

2018-08-01

Timing of energy intake, a temporal dietary pattern, may enhance health. Eating a greater amount of energy earlier and a smaller amount of energy later in the day, a behavioral circadian rhythm, may assist with chronoenhancement. Chronoenhancement seeks to enhance entrainment (synchronization) of biological and behavioral circadian rhythms. In humans, research reports that eating a greater amount of energy early and a smaller amount of energy later in the day increases dietary induced thermogenesis, improves cardiometabolic outcomes, and enhances weight loss. However, little human research has examined if this eating pattern enhances regularity of biological circadian rhythm. In a randomized controlled 8-week pilot study, the influence of energy distribution timing on weight loss and regularity of sleep onset and wake times (marker for biological circadian rhythm) was examined. Within an hypocaloric, three-meal prescription, participants (n = 8) were assigned to either: 1) Morning: 50%, 30%, and 20% of kcal at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively; or 2) Evening: 20%, 30%, and 50% of kcal at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively. Percent weight loss and regularity of sleep onset and wake times were significantly (p < 0.05) greater for Morning than Evening. To enhance understanding of the influence of energy distribution timing on health, longer studies conducted in free-living participants, with dietary intake assessed using time-stamped methods, that include measures of the circadian timing system are needed. This small review is based upon a symposium presentation at the Society of the Study of Ingestive Behavior in 2017. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A formal power series expansion-regularization approach for Lévy stable distributions: the symmetric case with \\alpha =2/M (M positive integer)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crisanto-Neto, J. C.; da Luz, M. G. E.; Raposo, E. P.; Viswanathan, G. M.

2016-09-01

In practice, the Lévy α-stable distribution is usually expressed in terms of the Fourier integral of its characteristic function. Indeed, known closed form expressions are relatively scarce given the huge parameters space: 0\\lt α ≤slant 2 ({{L\\'{e}vy}} {{index}}), -1≤slant β ≤slant 1 ({{skewness}}),σ \\gt 0 ({{scale}}), and -∞ \\lt μ \\lt ∞ ({{shift}}). Hence, systematic efforts have been made towards the development of proper methods for analytically solving the mentioned integral. As a further contribution in this direction, here we propose a new way to tackle the problem. We consider an approach in which one first solves the Fourier integral through a formal (thus not necessarily convergent) series representation. Then, one uses (if necessary) a pertinent sum-regularization procedure to the resulting divergent series, so as to obtain an exact formula for the distribution, which is amenable to direct numerical calculations. As a concrete study, we address the centered, symmetric, unshifted and unscaled distribution (β =0, μ =0, σ =1), with α ={α }M=2/M, M=1,2,3\\ldots . Conceivably, the present protocol could be applied to other sets of parameter values.

Algorithms for Hidden Markov Models Restricted to Occurrences of Regular Expressions

PubMed Central

Tataru, Paula; Sand, Andreas; Hobolth, Asger; Mailund, Thomas; Pedersen, Christian N. S.

2013-01-01

Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are widely used probabilistic models, particularly for annotating sequential data with an underlying hidden structure. Patterns in the annotation are often more relevant to study than the hidden structure itself. A typical HMM analysis consists of annotating the observed data using a decoding algorithm and analyzing the annotation to study patterns of interest. For example, given an HMM modeling genes in DNA sequences, the focus is on occurrences of genes in the annotation. In this paper, we define a pattern through a regular expression and present a restriction of three classical algorithms to take the number of occurrences of the pattern in the hidden sequence into account. We present a new algorithm to compute the distribution of the number of pattern occurrences, and we extend the two most widely used existing decoding algorithms to employ information from this distribution. We show experimentally that the expectation of the distribution of the number of pattern occurrences gives a highly accurate estimate, while the typical procedure can be biased in the sense that the identified number of pattern occurrences does not correspond to the true number. We furthermore show that using this distribution in the decoding algorithms improves the predictive power of the model. PMID:24833225

Distributional and regularized radiation fields of non-uniformly moving straight dislocations, and elastodynamic Tamm problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazar, Markus; Pellegrini, Yves-Patrick

2016-11-01

This work introduces original explicit solutions for the elastic fields radiated by non-uniformly moving, straight, screw or edge dislocations in an isotropic medium, in the form of time-integral representations in which acceleration-dependent contributions are explicitly separated out. These solutions are obtained by applying an isotropic regularization procedure to distributional expressions of the elastodynamic fields built on the Green tensor of the Navier equation. The obtained regularized field expressions are singularity-free, and depend on the dislocation density rather than on the plastic eigenstrain. They cover non-uniform motion at arbitrary speeds, including faster-than-wave ones. A numerical method of computation is discussed, that rests on discretizing motion along an arbitrary path in the plane transverse to the dislocation, into a succession of time intervals of constant velocity vector over which time-integrated contributions can be obtained in closed form. As a simple illustration, it is applied to the elastodynamic equivalent of the Tamm problem, where fields induced by a dislocation accelerated from rest beyond the longitudinal wave speed, and thereafter put to rest again, are computed. As expected, the proposed expressions produce Mach cones, the dynamic build-up and decay of which is illustrated by means of full-field calculations.

[Analysis on composition and medication regularities of prescriptions treating hypochondriac pain based on traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system inheritance support platform].

PubMed

Zhao, Yan-qing; Teng, Jing

2015-03-01

To analyze the composition and medication regularities of prescriptions treating hypochondriac pain in Chinese journal full-text database (CNKI) based on the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system, in order to provide a reference for further research and development for new traditional Chinese medicines treating hypochondriac pain. The traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support platform software V2. 0 was used to build a prescription database of Chinese medicines treating hypochondriac pain. The software integration data mining method was used to distribute prescriptions according to "four odors", "five flavors" and "meridians" in the database and achieve frequency statistics, syndrome distribution, prescription regularity and new prescription analysis. An analysis were made for 192 prescriptions treating hypochondriac pain to determine the frequencies of medicines in prescriptions, commonly used medicine pairs and combinations and summarize 15 new prescriptions. This study indicated that the prescriptions treating hypochondriac pain in Chinese journal full-text database are mostly those for soothing liver-qi stagnation, promoting qi and activating blood, clearing heat and promoting dampness, and invigorating spleen and removing phlem, with a cold property and bitter taste, and reflect the principles of "distinguish deficiency and excess and relieving pain by smoothening meridians" in treating hypochondriac pain.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Mi; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049; Liu, Lianqing, E-mail: lqliu@sia.cn

Highlights: •Nanoscale cellular ultra-structures of macrophages were observed. •The binding affinities of FcγRs were measured directly on macrophages. •The nanoscale distributions of FcγRs were mapped on macrophages. -- Abstract: Fc gamma receptors (FcγR), widely expressed on effector cells (e.g., NK cells, macrophages), play an important role in clinical cancer immunotherapy. The binding of FcγRs to the Fc portions of antibodies that are attached to the target cells can activate the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) killing mechanism which leads to the lysis of target cells. In this work, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe the cellular ultra-structures and measuremore » the biophysical properties (affinity and distribution) of FcγRs on single macrophages in aqueous environments. AFM imaging was used to obtain the topographies of macrophages, revealing the nanoscale cellular fine structures. For molecular interaction recognition, antibody molecules were attached onto AFM tips via a heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) crosslinker. With AFM single-molecule force spectroscopy, the binding affinities of FcγRs were quantitatively measured on single macrophages. Adhesion force mapping method was used to localize the FcγRs, revealing the nanoscale distribution of FcγRs on local areas of macrophages. The experimental results can improve our understanding of FcγRs on macrophages; the established approach will facilitate further research on physiological activities involved in antibody-based immunotherapy.« less

Functional response of osteoblasts in functionally gradient titanium alloy mesh arrays processed by 3D additive manufacturing.

PubMed

Nune, K C; Kumar, A; Misra, R D K; Li, S J; Hao, Y L; Yang, R

2017-02-01

We elucidate here the osteoblasts functions and cellular activity in 3D printed interconnected porous architecture of functionally gradient Ti-6Al-4V alloy mesh structures in terms of cell proliferation and growth, distribution of cell nuclei, synthesis of proteins (actin, vinculin, and fibronectin), and calcium deposition. Cell culture studies with pre-osteoblasts indicated that the interconnected porous architecture of functionally gradient mesh arrays was conducive to osteoblast functions. However, there were statistically significant differences in the cellular response depending on the pore size in the functionally gradient structure. The interconnected porous architecture contributed to the distribution of cells from the large pore size (G1) to the small pore size (G3), with consequent synthesis of extracellular matrix and calcium precipitation. The gradient mesh structure significantly impacted cell adhesion and influenced the proliferation stage, such that there was high distribution of cells on struts of the gradient mesh structure. Actin and vinculin showed a significant difference in normalized expression level of protein per cell, which was absent in the case of fibronectin. Osteoblasts present on mesh struts formed a confluent sheet, bridging the pores through numerous cytoplasmic extensions. The gradient mesh structure fabricated by electron beam melting was explored to obtain fundamental insights on cellular activity with respect to osteoblast functions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Distribution of Malassezia species in seborrhoeic dermatitis: correlation with patients' cellular immune status.

PubMed

Prohic, Asja

2010-07-01

Malassezia species are implicated in the pathogenesis of seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD), but the relationship between each species and the disorder remains unclear. It is hypothesised that the pathogenesis of SD has an immune component, which is supported by the increased incidence in patients with immunosuppressive disorders. The purpose of our study was to analyse the prevalence of Malassezia species in lesional skin of SD, and to assess the distribution of the species according to severity of the disease and cellular immune status of the patients. Forty SD patients with scalp involvement were included in the study. The samples were obtained by scraping the skin surface of the scalp and then incubated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and modified Dixon agar. The yeasts isolated were identified by their morphological and physiological properties according to the method of Guillot et al. In addition, we performed two-colour flow cytometry analysis to investigate the lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood. The most commonly isolated species was Malassezia restricta (27.5%), followed by Malassezia globosa (17.5%) and Malassezia slooffiae (15%). We demonstrated low helper/suppressor ratios in 70% patients, because of an increase in the suppressor T-cell population, suggesting an impaired cellular immunity. However, we found no significant difference in the distribution of isolated Malassezia species according to the severity of the scalp involvement and changes in the peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garlapati, Shravan; Kuruganti, Teja; Buehrer, Michael R.

The utilization of state-of-the-art 3G cellular CDMA technologies in a utility owned AMI network results in a large amount of control traffic relative to data traffic, increases the average packet delay and hence are not an appropriate choice for smart grid distribution applications. Like the CDG, we consider a utility owned cellular like CDMA network for smart grid distribution applications and classify the distribution smart grid data as scheduled data and random data. Also, we propose SMAC protocol, which changes its mode of operation based on the type of the data being collected to reduce the data collection latency andmore » control overhead when compared to 3G cellular CDMA2000 MAC. The reduction in the data collection latency and control overhead aids in increasing the number of smart meters served by a base station within the periodic data collection interval, which further reduces the number of base stations needed by a utility or reduces the bandwidth needed to collect data from all the smart meters. The reduction in the number of base stations and/or the reduction in the data transmission bandwidth reduces the CAPital EXpenditure (CAPEX) and OPerational EXpenditure (OPEX) of the AMI network. Finally, the proposed SMAC protocol is analyzed using markov chain, analytical expressions for average throughput and average packet delay are derived, and simulation results are also provided to verify the analysis.« less

Distinct Cellular and Subcellular Distributions of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase and Arrestin Isoforms in the Striatum

PubMed Central

Bychkov, Evgeny; Zurkovsky, Lilia; Garret, Mika B.; Ahmed, Mohamed R.; Gurevich, Eugenia V.

2012-01-01

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and arrestins mediate desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Arrestins also mediate G protein-independent signaling via GPCRs. Since GRK and arrestins demonstrate no strict receptor specificity, their functions in the brain may depend on their cellular complement, expression level, and subcellular targeting. However, cellular expression and subcellular distribution of GRKs and arrestins in the brain is largely unknown. We show that GRK isoforms GRK2 and GRK5 are similarly expressed in direct and indirect pathway neurons in the rat striatum. Arrestin-2 and arrestin-3 are also expressed in neurons of both pathways. Cholinergic interneurons are enriched in GRK2, arrestin-3, and GRK5. Parvalbumin-positive interneurons express more of GRK2 and less of arrestin-2 than medium spiny neurons. The GRK5 subcellular distribution in the human striatal neurons is altered by its phosphorylation: unphosphorylated enzyme preferentially localizes to synaptic membranes, whereas phosphorylated GRK5 is found in plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions. Both GRK isoforms are abundant in the nucleus of human striatal neurons, whereas the proportion of both arrestins in the nucleus was equally low. However, overall higher expression of arrestin-2 yields high enough concentration in the nucleus to mediate nuclear functions. These data suggest cell type- and subcellular compartment-dependent differences in GRK/arrestin-mediated desensitization and signaling. PMID:23139825

Distinct cellular and subcellular distributions of G protein-coupled receptor kinase and arrestin isoforms in the striatum.

PubMed

Bychkov, Evgeny; Zurkovsky, Lilia; Garret, Mika B; Ahmed, Mohamed R; Gurevich, Eugenia V

2012-01-01

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and arrestins mediate desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Arrestins also mediate G protein-independent signaling via GPCRs. Since GRK and arrestins demonstrate no strict receptor specificity, their functions in the brain may depend on their cellular complement, expression level, and subcellular targeting. However, cellular expression and subcellular distribution of GRKs and arrestins in the brain is largely unknown. We show that GRK isoforms GRK2 and GRK5 are similarly expressed in direct and indirect pathway neurons in the rat striatum. Arrestin-2 and arrestin-3 are also expressed in neurons of both pathways. Cholinergic interneurons are enriched in GRK2, arrestin-3, and GRK5. Parvalbumin-positive interneurons express more of GRK2 and less of arrestin-2 than medium spiny neurons. The GRK5 subcellular distribution in the human striatal neurons is altered by its phosphorylation: unphosphorylated enzyme preferentially localizes to synaptic membranes, whereas phosphorylated GRK5 is found in plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions. Both GRK isoforms are abundant in the nucleus of human striatal neurons, whereas the proportion of both arrestins in the nucleus was equally low. However, overall higher expression of arrestin-2 yields high enough concentration in the nucleus to mediate nuclear functions. These data suggest cell type- and subcellular compartment-dependent differences in GRK/arrestin-mediated desensitization and signaling.

77 FR 35097 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-12

... redemption procedures, fees, portfolio holdings, disclosure policies, distributions, and taxes can be found... calculated by the Trust's fund accountant and determined as of the close of the regular trading session on...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krasnobaeva, L. A., E-mail: kla1983@mail.ru; Siberian State Medical University Moscowski Trakt 2, Tomsk, 634050; Shapovalov, A. V.

Within the formalism of the Fokker–Planck equation, the influence of nonstationary external force, random force, and dissipation effects on dynamics local conformational perturbations (kink) propagating along the DNA molecule is investigated. Such waves have an important role in the regulation of important biological processes in living systems at the molecular level. As a dynamic model of DNA was used a modified sine-Gordon equation, simulating the rotational oscillations of bases in one of the chains DNA. The equation of evolution of the kink momentum is obtained in the form of the stochastic differential equation in the Stratonovich sense within the frameworkmore » of the well-known McLaughlin and Scott energy approach. The corresponding Fokker–Planck equation for the momentum distribution function coincides with the equation describing the Ornstein–Uhlenbek process with a regular nonstationary external force. The influence of the nonlinear stochastic effects on the kink dynamics is considered with the help of the Fokker– Planck nonlinear equation with the shift coefficient dependent on the first moment of the kink momentum distribution function. Expressions are derived for average value and variance of the momentum. Examples are considered which demonstrate the influence of the external regular and random forces on the evolution of the average value and variance of the kink momentum. Within the formalism of the Fokker–Planck equation, the influence of nonstationary external force, random force, and dissipation effects on the kink dynamics is investigated in the sine–Gordon model. The equation of evolution of the kink momentum is obtained in the form of the stochastic differential equation in the Stratonovich sense within the framework of the well-known McLaughlin and Scott energy approach. The corresponding Fokker–Planck equation for the momentum distribution function coincides with the equation describing the Ornstein–Uhlenbek process with a regular nonstationary external force. The influence of the nonlinear stochastic effects on the kink dynamics is considered with the help of the Fokker–Planck nonlinear equation with the shift coefficient dependent on the first moment of the kink momentum distribution function. Expressions are derived for average value and variance of the momentum. Examples are considered which demonstrate the influence of the external regular and random forces on the evolution of the average value and variance of the kink momentum.« less

Self-organization and positioning of bacterial protein clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murray, Seán M.; Sourjik, Victor

2017-10-01

Many cellular processes require proteins to be precisely positioned within the cell. In some cases this can be attributed to passive mechanisms such as recruitment by other proteins in the cell or by exploiting the curvature of the membrane. However, in bacteria, active self-positioning is likely to play a role in multiple processes, including the positioning of the future site of cell division and cytoplasmic protein clusters. How can such dynamic clusters be formed and positioned? Here, we present a model for the self-organization and positioning of dynamic protein clusters into regularly repeating patterns based on a phase-locked Turing pattern. A single peak in the concentration is always positioned at the midpoint of the model cell, and two peaks are positioned at the midpoint of each half. Furthermore, domain growth results in peak splitting and pattern doubling. We argue that the model may explain the regular positioning of the highly conserved structural maintenance of chromosomes complexes on the bacterial nucleoid and that it provides an attractive mechanism for the self-positioning of dynamic protein clusters in other systems.

The role of the thymus in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PubMed

Krenger, Werner; Holländer, Georg A

2010-07-19

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is used to treat an increasing number of congenital and acquired disorders of the haematopoietic system. Even though cytoreductive conditioning regimens vary in intensity, all clinically used protocols invariably cause side effects that compromise transiently or long-term the response of the natural and the adaptive immune systems. However, in the context of the reconstruction of immunity, the generation of naïve T cells constitutes a slow process, and requires a functionally competent thymus. Unfortunately, regular thymic function is frequently suppressed by transplant-related toxicities. Most notably, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) causes a state of posttransplantation immune deficiency. Here we discuss preclinical allogeneic HSCT models and clinical observations that have contributed to a detailed understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the thymic dysfunction caused by acute GVHD. An in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms that control regular thymopoiesis and, conversely, affect thymus function is expected to provide the factual basis for the design of innovative therapies to recover T-cell numbers and function following allogeneic HSCT.

Phase retrieval and 3D imaging in gold nanoparticles based fluorescence microscopy (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilovitsh, Tali; Ilovitsh, Asaf; Weiss, Aryeh M.; Meir, Rinat; Zalevsky, Zeev

2017-02-01

Optical sectioning microscopy can provide highly detailed three dimensional (3D) images of biological samples. However, it requires acquisition of many images per volume, and is therefore time consuming, and may not be suitable for live cell 3D imaging. We propose the use of the modified Gerchberg-Saxton phase retrieval algorithm to enable full 3D imaging of gold nanoparticles tagged sample using only two images. The reconstructed field is free space propagated to all other focus planes using post processing, and the 2D z-stack is merged to create a 3D image of the sample with high fidelity. Because we propose to apply the phase retrieving on nano particles, the regular ambiguities typical to the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, are eliminated. The proposed concept is then further enhanced also for tracking of single fluorescent particles within a three dimensional (3D) cellular environment based on image processing algorithms that can significantly increases localization accuracy of the 3D point spread function in respect to regular Gaussian fitting. All proposed concepts are validated both on simulated data as well as experimentally.

An immunological axis of biocontrol: infections in field-trapped insects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tunaz, Hasan; Stanley, David

2009-09-01

Insect immunology is an active research arena, however, the vast majority of research in the area is conducted on model species taken from laboratory cultures. We tested the hypothesis that insects are regularly exposed to infections or invasions in nature and here report results of a field study designed to assess the extent of natural infections in insects collected from agrarian fields surrounding Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. Specimens were dissected to assess numbers of nodules. Formation of darkened, melanotic nodules is the predominant cellular immune reaction to microbial and parasitic infection, and once formed, the nodules are permanently attached to internal surfaces. The collected insects were healthy. Of the >400 examined specimens, at least some nodules were found in 98%. Numbers of nodules ranged from ˜2/individual to >100 nodules/individual. We conclude that insects are regularly challenged by microbial and parasitic infections from which they recover. The novel implication of our data is that insect immune systems may limit the host range and effectiveness of agents deployed in biological control programs. Knowledge of insect immune systems may contribute to increased use of biopesticides globally.

Learning from Heterogeneous Data Sources: An Application in Spatial Proteomics

PubMed Central

Breckels, Lisa M.; Holden, Sean B.; Wojnar, David; Mulvey, Claire M.; Christoforou, Andy; Groen, Arnoud; Trotter, Matthew W. B.; Kohlbacher, Oliver; Lilley, Kathryn S.; Gatto, Laurent

2016-01-01

Sub-cellular localisation of proteins is an essential post-translational regulatory mechanism that can be assayed using high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS). These MS-based spatial proteomics experiments enable us to pinpoint the sub-cellular distribution of thousands of proteins in a specific system under controlled conditions. Recent advances in high-throughput MS methods have yielded a plethora of experimental spatial proteomics data for the cell biology community. Yet, there are many third-party data sources, such as immunofluorescence microscopy or protein annotations and sequences, which represent a rich and vast source of complementary information. We present a unique transfer learning classification framework that utilises a nearest-neighbour or support vector machine system, to integrate heterogeneous data sources to considerably improve on the quantity and quality of sub-cellular protein assignment. We demonstrate the utility of our algorithms through evaluation of five experimental datasets, from four different species in conjunction with four different auxiliary data sources to classify proteins to tens of sub-cellular compartments with high generalisation accuracy. We further apply the method to an experiment on pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells to classify a set of previously unknown proteins, and validate our findings against a recent high resolution map of the mouse stem cell proteome. The methodology is distributed as part of the open-source Bioconductor pRoloc suite for spatial proteomics data analysis. PMID:27175778

Cellular uptake of modified oligonucleotides: fluorescence approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kočišová, Eva; Praus, Petr; Rosenberg, Ivan; Seksek, Olivier; Sureau, Franck; Štěpánek, Josef; Turpin, Pierre-Yves

2005-06-01

Cellular uptake and intracellular distribution of the synthetic antisense analogue of dT 15 oligonucleotide (homogenously containing 3'-O-P-CH 2-O-5' internucleotide linkages and labeled with tetramethylrhodamine dye) was studied on B16 melanoma cell line by fluorescence micro-imaging and time-resolved microspectrofluorimetry. By using amphotericin B 3-dimethylaminopropyl amide as an enhancer molecule for the uptake process, homogenous staining of the cells with rather distinct nucleoli staining was achieved after 4 h of incubation. Two spectral components of 2.7 and 1.3 ns lifetime, respectively, were resolved in the emission collected from the cell nucleus. The way of staining and the long-lived component differed from our previous experiments demonstrating complexity of the intracellular oligonucleotide distribution and in particular of the binding inside the nucleus.

Blind image deconvolution using the Fields of Experts prior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Wende; Feng, Huajun; Xu, Zhihai; Li, Qi

2012-11-01

In this paper, we present a method for single image blind deconvolution. To improve its ill-posedness, we formulate the problem under Bayesian probabilistic framework and use a prior named Fields of Experts (FoE) which is learnt from natural images to regularize the latent image. Furthermore, due to the sparse distribution of the point spread function (PSF), we adopt a Student-t prior to regularize it. An improved alternating minimization (AM) approach is proposed to solve the resulted optimization problem. Experiments on both synthetic and real world blurred images show that the proposed method can achieve results of high quality.

Existence, uniqueness and regularity of a time-periodic probability density distribution arising in a sedimentation-diffusion problem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nitsche, Ludwig C.; Nitsche, Johannes M.; Brenner, Howard

1988-01-01

The sedimentation and diffusion of a nonneutrally buoyant Brownian particle in vertical fluid-filled cylinder of finite length which is instantaneously inverted at regular intervals are investigated analytically. A one-dimensional convective-diffusive equation is derived to describe the temporal and spatial evolution of the probability density; a periodicity condition is formulated; the applicability of Fredholm theory is established; and the parameter-space regions are determined within which the existence and uniqueness of solutions are guaranteed. Numerical results for sample problems are presented graphically and briefly characterized.

SU-E-T-667: Radiosensitization Due to Gold Nanoparticles: A Monte Carlo Cellular Dosimetry Investigation of An Expansive Parameter Space

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martinov, M; Thomson, R

2015-06-15

Purpose: To investigate dose enhancement to cellular compartments following gold nanoparticle (GNP) uptake in tissue, varying cell and tissue morphology, intra and extracellular GNP distribution, and source energy using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Methods: Models of single and multiple cells are developed for normal and cancerous tissues; cells (outer radii 5–10 µm) are modeled as concentric spheres comprising the nucleus (radii 2.5–7.5 µm) and cytoplasm. GNP distributions modeled include homogeneous distributions throughout the cytoplasm, variable numbers of GNP-containing endosomes within the cytoplasm, or distributed in a spherical shell about the nucleus. Gold concentrations range from 1 to 30 mg/g. Dosemore » to nucleus and to cytoplasm for simulations including GNPs are compared to simulations without GNPs to compute Nuclear and Cytoplasm Dose Enhancement Factors (NDEF, CDEF). Photon source energies are between 20 keV and 1.25 MeV. Results: DEFs are highly sensitive to GNP intracellular distribution; for a 2.5 µm radius nucleus irradiated by a 30 keV source, NDEF varies from 1.2 for a single endosome containing all GNPs to 8.2 for GNPs distributed about the nucleus (7 mg/g). DEFs vary with cell dimensions and source energy: NDEFs vary from 2.5 (90 keV) to 8.2 (30 keV) for a 2.5 µm radius nucleus and from 1.1 (90 keV) to 1.3 (30 keV) for a 7.5 µm radius nucleus, both with GNPs in a spherical shell about the nucleus (7 mg/g). NDEF and CDEF are generally different within a single cell. For multicell models, the presence of gold within intervening tissues between source and target perturbs the fluence reaching cellular targets, resulting in DEF inhomogeneities within a population of irradiated cells. Conclusion: DEFs vary by an order of magnitude for different cell models, GNP distributions, and source energies, demonstrating the importance of detailed modelling for advancing GNP development for radiotherapy. Funding provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRC)« less

Apparatus for forming a continuous lightweight multicell material

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Taylor G. (Inventor); Elleman, Daniel D. (Inventor); Kendall, James M., Jr. (Inventor)

1984-01-01

An apparatus is described for producing a lightweight structural material (12), by forming gas-filled shells (38) of molten material from a matrix of nozzles (22) that form shells of very uniform size at very uniform rates. The matrix of molten shells coalesce into a multi-cell material of controlled cellular structure. The shells can be of two different sizes (38, 44) that are interspersed, to form a multicell material that has a regular cell pattern but which avoids planes of weakness and localized voids. The gas (50) in the shells can be under a high pressure, and can be a fire extinguishing gas.

Changing the science education paradigm: from teaching facts to engaging the intellect: Science Education Colloquia Series, Spring 2011.

PubMed

Fischer, Caleb Nathaniel

2011-09-01

Dr. Jo Handelsman, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University, is a long-time devotee of scientific teaching, receiving this year's Presidential Award for Science Mentoring. She gave a seminar entitled "What is Scientific Teaching? The Changing Landscape of Science Education" as a part of the Scientific Education Colloquia Series in spring 2011. After dissecting what is wrong with the status quo of American scientific education, several ideological and practical changes are proposed, including active learning, regular assessment, diversity, and mentorship. Copyright © 2011.

[Monitoring of extra- and intra-cellular compartment through total body impedance (author's transl)].

PubMed

Raggueneau, J L; Gambini, D; Levante, A; Riche, F; de Vernejoul, P; Echter, E

1979-01-01

To evaluate the extra-cellular space, we measure the impedance (or resistance) of the extra-cellular electrolyte compartment with an alternating current at a fixed frequency of 5 kHz that can't pass through the cellular membrane. Total water is measured by the impedance to a current of 1 MHz which is conducted by extra and intra cellular hydro-electrolytic space. There is a good correlation between electrical impedance measurements and distribution of isotopic markers. The extra-cellular compartment was evaluated by diffusion of D.T.P.A. marked with 99mTc or with 111In and the total water by the diffusion of Antipyrin marked with 1,311 or 1,231. The findings indicate that there is not a significant difference between the results of the size of extra-cellular water measured by electrical impedance and D.T.P.A. diffusion (r = 0.75). Comparable results have been obtained in the determination of total water by electrical impedance measure and diffusion of Antipyrin (r = 0.90). We have also studied by method of electric impedance:--The state of hydratation in head injured patients and after pituitary surgery.--The lean body mass and hydro-electrolyte compartments in pregnancy. Electrical impedance measure seems to be a simple and reliable method to assess the hydric state of patients.

42 CFR 61.18 - Publications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Publications. 61.18 Section 61.18 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FELLOWSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, TRAINING FELLOWSHIPS Regular Fellowships § 61.18 Publications. Publication, distribution, and disposition of all...

42 CFR 61.18 - Publications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

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Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

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Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

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Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Publications. 61.18 Section 61.18 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FELLOWSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, TRAINING FELLOWSHIPS Regular Fellowships § 61.18 Publications. Publication, distribution, and disposition of all...

Beneficial effects of intermittent fasting and caloric restriction on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.

PubMed

Mattson, Mark P; Wan, Ruiqian

2005-03-01

Intermittent fasting (IF; reduced meal frequency) and caloric restriction (CR) extend lifespan and increase resistance to age-related diseases in rodents and monkeys and improve the health of overweight humans. Both IF and CR enhance cardiovascular and brain functions and improve several risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke including a reduction in blood pressure and increased insulin sensitivity. Cardiovascular stress adaptation is improved and heart rate variability is increased in rodents maintained on an IF or a CR diet. Moreover, rodents maintained on an IF regimen exhibit increased resistance of heart and brain cells to ischemic injury in experimental models of myocardial infarction and stroke. The beneficial effects of IF and CR result from at least two mechanisms--reduced oxidative damage and increased cellular stress resistance. Recent findings suggest that some of the beneficial effects of IF on both the cardiovascular system and the brain are mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling in the brain. Interestingly, cellular and molecular effects of IF and CR on the cardiovascular system and the brain are similar to those of regular physical exercise, suggesting shared mechanisms. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which IF and CR affect the blood vessels and heart and brain cells will likely lead to novel preventative and therapeutic strategies for extending health span.

Porosity and mechanical properties of zirconium ceramics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buyakova, S., E-mail: sbuyakova@ispms.tsc.ru; Kulkov, S.; Tomsk Polytechnic University

2015-11-17

Has been studied a porous ceramics obtained from ultra-fine powders. Porous ceramic ZrO{sub 2}(MgO), ZrO{sub 2}(Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}) powder was prepared by pressing and subsequent sintering of compacts homologous temperatures ranging from 0.63 to 0.56 during the isothermal holding duration of 1 to 5 hours. The porosity of ceramic samples was from 15 to 80%. The structure of the ceramic materials produced from plasma-sprayed ZrO{sub 2} powder was represented as a system of cell and rod structure elements. Cellular structure formed by stacking hollow powder particles can be easily seen at the images of fracture surfaces of obtained ceramics. Theremore » were three types of pores in ceramics: large cellular hollow spaces, small interparticle pores which are not filled with powder particles and the smallest pores in the shells of cells. The cells generally did not have regular shapes. The size of the interior of the cells many times exceeded the thickness of the walls which was a single-layer packing of ZrO{sub 2} grains. A distinctive feature of all deformation diagrams obtained in the experiment was their nonlinearity at low deformations which was described by the parabolic law. It was shown that the observed nonlinear elasticity for low deformation on deformation diagrams is due to mechanical instability of the cellular elements in the ceramic carcass.« less

Spatial distributions of AQP5 and AQP0 in embryonic and postnatal mouse lens development

PubMed Central

Petrova, Rosica S.; Schey, Kevin L.; Donaldson, Paul J.; Grey, Angus C.

2015-01-01

The expression of the water channel protein aquaporin (AQP)-5 in adult rodent and human lenses was recently reported using immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, and mass spectrometry techniques, confirming a second transmembrane water channel that is present in lens fibre cells in addition to the abundant AQP0 protein. Interestingly, the sub-cellular distribution and level of post-translational modification of both proteins changes with fibre cell differentiation and location in the adult rodent lens. This study compares the sub-cellular distribution of AQP0 and AQP5 during embryonic and postnatal fibre cell development in the mouse lens to understand how the immunolabelling patterns for both AQPs observed in adult lens are first established. Immunohistochemistry was used to map the cellular and sub-cellular distribution of AQP5 and AQP0 throughout the lens in cryosections from adult (6 weeks to 8 months) and postnatal (0-2 weeks) mouse lenses and in sections from paraffin embedded mouse embryos (E10-E19). All sections were imaged by fluorescence confocal microscopy. Using antibodies directed against the C-terminus of each AQP, AQP5 was abundantly expressed early in development, being found in the cytoplasm of cells of the lens vesicle and surrounding tissues (E10), while AQP0 was detected later (E11), and only in the membranes of elongating primary fibre cells. During the course of subsequent embryonic and postnatal development the pattern of cytoplasmic AQP5 and membranous AQP0 labelling was maintained until postnatal day 6 (P6). From P6 AQP5 labelling became progressively more membranous initially in the lens nucleus and then later in all regions of the lens, while AQP0 labelling was abruptly lost in the lens nucleus due to C-terminal truncation. Our results show that the spatial distribution patterns of AQP0 and AQP5 observed in the adult lens are established during a narrow window of post natal development (P6-P15) that precedes eye opening and coincides with regression of the hyaloid vascular system. Our results support the hypothesis that, in the older fibre cells, insertion of AQP5 into the fibre cell membrane may compensate for any change in the functionality of AQP0 induced by truncation of its C-terminal tail. PMID:25595964

A polymeric nanoparticle consisting of mPEG-PLA-Toco and PLMA-COONa as a drug carrier: improvements in cellular uptake and biodistribution.

PubMed

Yi, Yilwoong; Kim, Jae Hong; Kang, Hye-Won; Oh, Hun Seung; Kim, Sung Wan; Seo, Min Hyo

2005-02-01

To evaluate a new polymeric nanoparticulate drug delivery formulation that consists of two components: i) an amphiphilic diblock copolymer having tocopherol moiety at the end of the hydrophobic block in which the hydrophobic tocopherol moiety increases stability of hydrophobic core of the nanoparticle in aqueous medium; and ii) a biodegradable copolyester having carboxylate end group that is capable of forming ionic complex with positively charged compounds such as doxorubicin. A doxourubicin-loaded polymeric nanoparticle (Dox-PNP) was prepared by solvent evaporation method. The entrapment efficiency, size distribution, and in vitro release profile at various pH conditions were characterized. In vitro cellular uptake was investigated by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and MTT assay using drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cell lines. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution were evaluated in rats and tumor-bearing mice. Doxorubicin (Dox) was efficiently loaded into the PNP (higher than 95% of entrapment efficiency), and the diameter of Dox-PNP was in the range 20-25 nm with a narrow size distribution. In Vitro study showed that Dox-PNP exhibited higher cellular uptake into both human breast cancer cell (MCF-7) and human uterine cancer cell (MES-SA) than free doxorubicin solution (Free-Dox), especially into drug-resistant cells (MCF-7/ADR and MES-SA/Dx-5). In pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study, the bioavailability of Dox-PNP calculated from the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) was 69.8 times higher than that of Free-Dox in rats, and Dox-PNP exhibited 2 times higher bioavailability in tumor tissue of tumor-bearing mice. Dox-PNP exhibited enhanced cellular uptake of the drug. In the cytotoxic activity study, this improved cellular uptake was proved to be more advantageous in drug-resistant cell. Dox-PNP exhibited much higher bioavailability in blood plasma and more drug accumulation in tumor tissue than conventional doxorubicin formulation. The results of this study suggest that the PNP system is an advantageous carrier for drug delivery.

Multifractal surrogate-data generation algorithm that preserves pointwise Hölder regularity structure, with initial applications to turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keylock, C. J.

2017-03-01

An algorithm is described that can generate random variants of a time series while preserving the probability distribution of original values and the pointwise Hölder regularity. Thus, it preserves the multifractal properties of the data. Our algorithm is similar in principle to well-known algorithms based on the preservation of the Fourier amplitude spectrum and original values of a time series. However, it is underpinned by a dual-tree complex wavelet transform rather than a Fourier transform. Our method, which we term the iterated amplitude adjusted wavelet transform can be used to generate bootstrapped versions of multifractal data, and because it preserves the pointwise Hölder regularity but not the local Hölder regularity, it can be used to test hypotheses concerning the presence of oscillating singularities in a time series, an important feature of turbulence and econophysics data. Because the locations of the data values are randomized with respect to the multifractal structure, hypotheses about their mutual coupling can be tested, which is important for the velocity-intermittency structure of turbulence and self-regulating processes.

Iterative Correction Scheme Based on Discrete Cosine Transform and L1 Regularization for Fluorescence Molecular Tomography With Background Fluorescence.

PubMed

Zhang, Jiulou; Shi, Junwei; Guang, Huizhi; Zuo, Simin; Liu, Fei; Bai, Jing; Luo, Jianwen

2016-06-01

High-intensity background fluorescence is generally encountered in fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), because of the accumulation of fluorescent probes in nontarget tissues or the existence of autofluorescence in biological tissues. The reconstruction results are affected or even distorted by the background fluorescence, especially when the distribution of fluorescent targets is relatively sparse. The purpose of this paper is to reduce the negative effect of background fluorescence on FMT reconstruction. After each iteration of the Tikhonov regularization algorithm, 3-D discrete cosine transform is adopted to filter the intermediate results. And then, a sparsity constraint step based on L1 regularization is applied to restrain the energy of the objective function. Phantom experiments with different fluorescence intensities of homogeneous and heterogeneous background are carried out to validate the performance of the proposed scheme. The results show that the reconstruction quality can be improved with the proposed iterative correction scheme. The influence of background fluorescence in FMT can be reduced effectively because of the filtering of the intermediate results, the detail preservation, and noise suppression of L1 regularization.

Tool-assisted rhythmic drumming in palm cockatoos shares key elements of human instrumental music

PubMed Central

Heinsohn, Robert; Zdenek, Christina N.; Cunningham, Ross B.; Endler, John A.; Langmore, Naomi E.

2017-01-01

All human societies have music with a rhythmic “beat,” typically produced with percussive instruments such as drums. The set of capacities that allows humans to produce and perceive music appears to be deeply rooted in human biology, but an understanding of its evolutionary origins requires cross-taxa comparisons. We show that drumming by palm cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) shares the key rudiments of human instrumental music, including manufacture of a sound tool, performance in a consistent context, regular beat production, repeated components, and individual styles. Over 131 drumming sequences produced by 18 males, the beats occurred at nonrandom, regular intervals, yet individual males differed significantly in the shape parameters describing the distribution of their beat patterns, indicating individual drumming styles. Autocorrelation analyses of the longest drumming sequences further showed that they were highly regular and predictable like human music. These discoveries provide a rare comparative perspective on the evolution of rhythmicity and instrumental music in our own species, and show that a preference for a regular beat can have other origins before being co-opted into group-based music and dance. PMID:28782005

Fine-Scale Survey of Right and Humpback Whale Prey Abundance and Distribution

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-30

information, we accomplished: (1) Identification of the prey type (e.g. copepod , krill, fish) and numerical abundance of zooplankton and nekton in...primarily copepods in this area) and nekton (small fish such as sand lance or herring). The general approach is to conduct a regular grid-like...correlated right whale location in the water column with the distribution of copepods measured acoustically which has resulted in a high-profile, peer

Comparison Study of Regularizations in Spectral Computed Tomography Reconstruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salehjahromi, Morteza; Zhang, Yanbo; Yu, Hengyong

2018-12-01

The energy-resolving photon-counting detectors in spectral computed tomography (CT) can acquire projections of an object in different energy channels. In other words, they are able to reliably distinguish the received photon energies. These detectors lead to the emerging spectral CT, which is also called multi-energy CT, energy-selective CT, color CT, etc. Spectral CT can provide additional information in comparison with the conventional CT in which energy integrating detectors are used to acquire polychromatic projections of an object being investigated. The measurements obtained by X-ray CT detectors are noisy in reality, especially in spectral CT where the photon number is low in each energy channel. Therefore, some regularization should be applied to obtain a better image quality for this ill-posed problem in spectral CT image reconstruction. Quadratic-based regularizations are not often satisfactory as they blur the edges in the reconstructed images. As a result, different edge-preserving regularization methods have been adopted for reconstructing high quality images in the last decade. In this work, we numerically evaluate the performance of different regularizers in spectral CT, including total variation, non-local means and anisotropic diffusion. The goal is to provide some practical guidance to accurately reconstruct the attenuation distribution in each energy channel of the spectral CT data.

Preparation of BFV Gag antiserum and preliminary study on cellular distribution of BFV.

PubMed

Wang, Jian; Guo, Hong-yan; Jia, Rui; Xu, Xuan; Tan, Juan; Geng, Yun-qi; Qiao, Wen-tao

2010-04-01

Viruses (e.g. Human immunodeficiency virus, Human simplex virus and Prototype foamy virus) are obligate intracellular parasites and therefore depend on the cellular machinery for cellular trafficking. Bovine foamy virus (BFV) is a member of the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily of Retroviruses, however, details of its cellular trafficking remain unknown. In this study, we cloned the BFV gag gene into prokaryotic expression vector pET28a and purified the denaturalized Gag protein. The protein was used to immunize BALB/c mouse to produce antiserum, which could specifically recognize the BFV Gag protein in BFV-infected cells through western blot assay. Additionally, these results demonstrated that both the optimal and suboptimal cleavage of Gag protein occur in BFV-infected cells. Subsequently, the Gag antiserum was used to investigate subcellular localization of BFV. In immunofluorescence microscopy assays, colocalization microtubules (MTs) and assembling viral particles were clearly observed, which implied that BFV may transport along cellular MTs in host cells. Furthermore, MTs-depolymerizing assay indicated MTs were required for the efficient replication of BFV. In conclusion, our study suggests that BFV has evolved the mechanism to hijack the cellular cytoskeleton for its replication.

Cellular oxido-reductive proteins of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii control the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Elucidation of molecular mechanism of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) biosynthesis is important to control its size, shape and monodispersity. The evaluation of molecular mechanism of biosynthesis of SNPs is of prime importance for the commercialization and methodology development for controlling the shape and size (uniform distribution) of SNPs. The unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was exploited as a model system to elucidate the role of cellular proteins in SNPs biosynthesis. Results The C. reinhardtii cell free extract (in vitro) and in vivo cells mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles reveals SNPs of size range 5 ± 1 to 15 ± 2 nm and 5 ± 1 to 35 ± 5 nm respectively. In vivo biosynthesized SNPs were localized in the peripheral cytoplasm and at one side of flagella root, the site of pathway of ATP transport and its synthesis related enzymes. This provides an evidence for the involvement of oxidoreductive proteins in biosynthesis and stabilization of SNPs. Alteration in size distribution and decrease of synthesis rate of SNPs in protein-depleted fractions confirmed the involvement of cellular proteins in SNPs biosynthesis. Spectroscopic and SDS-PAGE analysis indicate the association of various proteins on C. reinhardtii mediated in vivo and in vitro biosynthesized SNPs. We have identified various cellular proteins associated with biosynthesized (in vivo and in vitro) SNPs by using MALDI-MS-MS, like ATP synthase, superoxide dismutase, carbonic anhydrase, ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase, histone etc. However, these proteins were not associated on the incubation of pre-synthesized silver nanoparticles in vitro. Conclusion Present study provides the indication of involvement of molecular machinery and various cellular proteins in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. In this report, the study is mainly focused towards understanding the role of diverse cellular protein in the synthesis and capping of silver nanoparticles using C. reinhardtii as a model system. PMID:22152042

Ribosomal L1 domain and lysine-rich region are essential for CSIG/ RSL1D1 to regulate proliferation and senescence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Liwei; Zhao, Wenting; Zheng, Quanhui

2016-01-15

The expression change of cellular senescence-associated genes is underlying the genetic foundation of cellular senescence. Using a suppressive subtractive hybridization system, we identified CSIG (cellular senescence-inhibited gene protein; RSL1D1) as a novel senescence-associated gene. CSIG is implicated in various process including cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and tumor metastasis. We previously showed that CSIG plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and cellular senescence progression through inhibiting PTEN, however, which domain or region of CSIG contributes to this function? To clarify this question, we investigated the functional importance of ribosomal L1 domain and lysine (Lys) -rich region of CSIG. Themore » data showed that expression of CSIG potently reduced PTEN expression, increased cell proliferation rates, and reduced the senescent phenotype (lower SA-β-gal activity). By contrast, neither the expression of CSIG N- terminal (NT) fragment containing the ribosomal L1 domain nor C-terminal (CT) fragment containing Lys-rich region could significantly altered the levels of PTEN; instead of promoting cell proliferation and delaying cellular senescence, expression of CSIG-NT or CSIG-CT inhibited cell proliferation and accelerated cell senescence (increased SA-β-gal activity) compared to either CSIG over-expressing or control (empty vector transfected) cells. The further immunofluorescence analysis showed that CSIG-CT and CSIG-NT truncated proteins exhibited different subcellular distribution with that of wild-type CSIG. Conclusively, both ribosomal L1 domain and Lys-rich region of CSIG are critical for CSIG to act as a regulator of cell proliferation and cellular senescence. - Highlights: • The ribosomal L1 domain and lysine-rich region of CSIG were expressed. • They are critical for CSIG to regulate proliferation and senescence. • CSIG and its domains exhibit different subcellular distribution.« less

Cellular Bases of Light-regulated Gravity Responses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roux, Stanley J.

2003-01-01

This report summarizes the most significant research accomplished in our NAG2-1347 project on the cellular bases of light-regulated gravity responses, It elaborates mainly on our discovery of the role of calcium currents in gravity-directed polar development in single germinating spore cells of the fern Ceratopteris, our development of RNA silencing as a viable method of suppressing the expression of specific genes in Ceratopteris, and on the structure, expression and distribution of members of the annexin family in flowering plants, especially Arabidopsis.

Molecular counting of membrane receptor subunits with single-molecule localization microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krüger, Carmen; Fricke, Franziska; Karathanasis, Christos; Dietz, Marina S.; Malkusch, Sebastian; Hummer, Gerhard; Heilemann, Mike

2017-02-01

We report on quantitative single-molecule localization microscopy, a method that next to super-resolved images of cellular structures provides information on protein copy numbers in protein clusters. This approach is based on the analysis of blinking cycles of single fluorophores, and on a model-free description of the distribution of the number of blinking events. We describe the experimental and analytical procedures, present cellular data of plasma membrane proteins and discuss the applicability of this method.

The causes of spatial patterning of mounds of a fungus-cultivating termite: results from nearest-neighbour analysis and ecological studies.

PubMed

Korb, Judith; Linsenmair, Karl Eduard

2001-05-01

Little is known about processes regulating population dynamics in termites. We investigated the distribution of mound-colonies of the fungus-cultivating termite Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) in two habitats in the Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) with nearest-neighbour analysis differentiating between different age classes. These results were compared with ecological data on processes influencing population dynamics. High mound densities were recorded in shrub savannah while only a few mounds were found in gallery forest. Mounds were distributed randomly in both habitats when all mounds were considered together, and when inhabited and uninhabited mounds were treated separately. However, distinctive non-random patterns were revealed in the savannah when we distinguished between different age classes. Small, young colonies were aggregated when they coexisted with larger, older colonies, which were more regularly distributed. This indicates that the distribution of older colonies is influenced by intraspecific competition whereas that of younger colonies is influenced by opposing factors that lead to aggregation. This is in accordance with ecological data. Food is a limiting resource for large colonies, while patchily distributed appropriate microclimatic conditions seem to be more important for young colonies. Colonies that had formerly coexisted (i.e. living colonies and recently dead colonies) showed aggregated, random and regular distribution patterns, suggesting several causes of mortality. Colonies that had never had contact with each other were randomly distributed and no specific regulation mechanism was implicated. These results show that different age classes seem to be regulated by different processes and that separation between age classes is necessary to reveal indicative spatial patterns in nearest-neighbour analysis.

The effect of gas double-dynamic on mass distribution in solid-state fermentation.

PubMed

Chen, Hong-Zhang; Zhao, Zhi-Min; Li, Hong-Qiang

2014-05-10

The mass distribution regularity in substrate of solid-state fermentation (SSF) has rarely been reported due to the heterogeneity of solid medium and the lack of suitable instrument and method, which limited the comprehensive analysis and enhancement of the SSF performance. In this work, the distributions of water, biomass, and fermentation product in different medium depths of SSF were determined using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the developed models. Based on the mass distribution regularity, the effects of gas double-dynamic on heat transfer, microbial growth and metabolism, and product distribution gradient were systematically investigated. Results indicated that the maximum temperature of substrate and the maximum carbon dioxide evolution rate (CER) were 39.5°C and 2.48mg/(hg) under static aeration solid-state fermentation (SASSF) and 33.9°C and 5.38mg/(hg) under gas double-dynamic solid-state fermentation (GDSSF), respectively, with the environmental temperature for fermentation of 30±1°C. The fermentation production (cellulase activity) ratios of the upper, middle, and lower levels were 1:0.90:0.78 at seventh day under SASSF and 1:0.95:0.89 at fifth day under GDSSF. Therefore, combined with NIRS analysis, gas double-dynamic could effectively strengthen the solid-state fermentation performance due to the enhancement of heat transfer, the stimulation of microbial metabolism and the increase of the homogeneity of fermentation products. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Membrane Sculpting by F-BAR Domains Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

PubMed Central

Yu, Hang; Schulten, Klaus

2013-01-01

Interplay between cellular membranes and their peripheral proteins drives many processes in eukaryotic cells. Proteins of the Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain family, in particular, play a role in cellular morphogenesis, for example curving planar membranes into tubular membranes. However, it is still unclear how F-BAR domain proteins act on membranes. Electron microscopy revealed that, in vitro, F-BAR proteins form regular lattices on cylindrically deformed membrane surfaces. Using all-atom and coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics simulations, we show that such lattices, indeed, induce tubes of observed radii. A 250 ns all-atom simulation reveals that F-BAR domain curves membranes via the so-called scaffolding mechanism. Plasticity of the F-BAR domain permits conformational change in response to membrane interaction, via partial unwinding of the domains 3-helix bundle structure. A CG simulation covering more than 350 µs provides a dynamic picture of membrane tubulation by lattices of F-BAR domains. A series of CG simulations identified the optimal lattice type for membrane sculpting, which matches closely the lattices seen through cryo-electron microscopy. PMID:23382665

The Physical Mechanism for Retinal Discrete Dark Noise: Thermal Activation or Cellular Ultraweak Photon Emission?

PubMed

Salari, Vahid; Scholkmann, Felix; Bokkon, Istvan; Shahbazi, Farhad; Tuszynski, Jack

2016-01-01

For several decades the physical mechanism underlying discrete dark noise of photoreceptors in the eye has remained highly controversial and poorly understood. It is known that the Arrhenius equation, which is based on the Boltzmann distribution for thermal activation, can model only a part (e.g. half of the activation energy) of the retinal dark noise experimentally observed for vertebrate rod and cone pigments. Using the Hinshelwood distribution instead of the Boltzmann distribution in the Arrhenius equation has been proposed as a solution to the problem. Here, we show that the using the Hinshelwood distribution does not solve the problem completely. As the discrete components of noise are indistinguishable in shape and duration from those produced by real photon induced photo-isomerization, the retinal discrete dark noise is most likely due to 'internal photons' inside cells and not due to thermal activation of visual pigments. Indeed, all living cells exhibit spontaneous ultraweak photon emission (UPE), mainly in the optical wavelength range, i.e., 350-700 nm. We show here that the retinal discrete dark noise has a similar rate as UPE and therefore dark noise is most likely due to spontaneous cellular UPE and not due to thermal activation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuruganti, Phani Teja

The smart grid is a combined process of revitalizing the traditional power grid applications and introducing new applications to improve the efficiency of power generation, transmission and distribution. This can be achieved by leveraging advanced communication and networking technologies. Therefore the selection of the appropriate communication technology for different smart grid applications has been debated a lot in the recent past. After comparing different possible technologies, a recent research study has arrived at a conclusion that the 3G cellular technology is the right choice for distribution side smart grid applications like smart metering, advanced distribution automation and demand response managementmore » system. In this paper, we argue that the current 3G/4G cellular technologies are not an appropriate choice for smart grid distribution applications and propose a Hybrid Spread Spectrum (HSS) based Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) as one of the alternatives to 3G/4G technologies. We present a preliminary PHY and MAC layer design of a HSS based AMI network and evaluate their performance using matlab and NS2 simulations. Also, we propose a time hierarchical scheme that can significantly reduce the volume of random access traffic generated during blackouts and the delay in power outage reporting.« less

Calcium distribution in Amoeba proteus

PubMed Central

1979-01-01

A preliminary investigation of the distribution of cellular calcium in Amoeba proteus was undertaken. Total cellular calcium under control conditions was found to be 4.59 mmol/kg of cells. When the external Ca++ concentration is increased from the control level of 0.03 to 20 mM, a net Ca++ influx results with a new steady-state cellular calcium level being achieved in integral of 3 h. At steady state the amount of calcium per unit weight of cells is higher than the amount of calcium per unit weight of external solution when the external concentration of Ca++ is below 10 mM. At external Ca++ concentrations above this level, total cellular calcium approaches the medium level of Ca++. Steady- state calcium exchange in Amoeba proteus was determined with 45Ca. There is an immediate and rapid exchange of integral of 0.84 mmol/kg of cells or 18% of the total cellular calcium with the labelled Ca++. Following this initial exchange, there was very little if any further exchange observed. Most of this exchanged calcium could be eliminated from the cell with 1 mM La+++, suggesting that the exchanged calcium is associated with the surface of the cell. Increase in either the external Ca++ concentration of pH raise the amount of exchangeable calcium associated with the cell. Calcium may be associated with the cell surface as a co-ion in the diffuse double layer or bound to fixed negative sites on the surface of the cell. If Ca++-binding sites do exist on the cell surface, there may be more than one type and they may have different dissociation constants. The cytoplasmic Ca++ ion activity is probably maintained at very low levels. PMID:512628

High-order regularization in lattice-Boltzmann equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattila, Keijo K.; Philippi, Paulo C.; Hegele, Luiz A.

2017-04-01

A lattice-Boltzmann equation (LBE) is the discrete counterpart of a continuous kinetic model. It can be derived using a Hermite polynomial expansion for the velocity distribution function. Since LBEs are characterized by discrete, finite representations of the microscopic velocity space, the expansion must be truncated and the appropriate order of truncation depends on the hydrodynamic problem under investigation. Here we consider a particular truncation where the non-equilibrium distribution is expanded on a par with the equilibrium distribution, except that the diffusive parts of high-order non-equilibrium moments are filtered, i.e., only the corresponding advective parts are retained after a given rank. The decomposition of moments into diffusive and advective parts is based directly on analytical relations between Hermite polynomial tensors. The resulting, refined regularization procedure leads to recurrence relations where high-order non-equilibrium moments are expressed in terms of low-order ones. The procedure is appealing in the sense that stability can be enhanced without local variation of transport parameters, like viscosity, or without tuning the simulation parameters based on embedded optimization steps. The improved stability properties are here demonstrated using the perturbed double periodic shear layer flow and the Sod shock tube problem as benchmark cases.

Sphingolipid Organization in the Plasma Membrane and the Mechanisms That Influence It

PubMed Central

Kraft, Mary L.

2017-01-01

Sphingolipids are structural components in the plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells. Their metabolism produces bioactive signaling molecules that modulate fundamental cellular processes. The segregation of sphingolipids into distinct membrane domains is likely essential for cellular function. This review presents the early studies of sphingolipid distribution in the plasma membranes of mammalian cells that shaped the most popular current model of plasma membrane organization. The results of traditional imaging studies of sphingolipid distribution in stimulated and resting cells are described. These data are compared with recent results obtained with advanced imaging techniques, including super-resolution fluorescence detection and high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Emphasis is placed on the new insight into the sphingolipid organization within the plasma membrane that has resulted from the direct imaging of stable isotope-labeled lipids in actual cell membranes with high-resolution SIMS. Super-resolution fluorescence techniques have recently revealed the biophysical behaviors of sphingolipids and the unhindered diffusion of cholesterol analogs in the membranes of living cells are ultimately in contrast to the prevailing hypothetical model of plasma membrane organization. High-resolution SIMS studies also conflicted with the prevailing hypothesis, showing sphingolipids are concentrated in micrometer-scale membrane domains, but cholesterol is evenly distributed within the plasma membrane. Reductions in cellular cholesterol decreased the number of sphingolipid domains in the plasma membrane, whereas disruption of the cytoskeleton eliminated them. In addition, hemagglutinin, a transmembrane protein that is thought to be a putative raft marker, did not cluster within sphingolipid-enriched regions in the plasma membrane. Thus, sphingolipid distribution in the plasma membrane is dependent on the cytoskeleton, but not on favorable interactions with cholesterol or hemagglutinin. The alternate views of plasma membrane organization suggested by these findings are discussed. PMID:28119913

Sphingolipid Organization in the Plasma Membrane and the Mechanisms That Influence It.

PubMed

Kraft, Mary L

2016-01-01

Sphingolipids are structural components in the plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells. Their metabolism produces bioactive signaling molecules that modulate fundamental cellular processes. The segregation of sphingolipids into distinct membrane domains is likely essential for cellular function. This review presents the early studies of sphingolipid distribution in the plasma membranes of mammalian cells that shaped the most popular current model of plasma membrane organization. The results of traditional imaging studies of sphingolipid distribution in stimulated and resting cells are described. These data are compared with recent results obtained with advanced imaging techniques, including super-resolution fluorescence detection and high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Emphasis is placed on the new insight into the sphingolipid organization within the plasma membrane that has resulted from the direct imaging of stable isotope-labeled lipids in actual cell membranes with high-resolution SIMS. Super-resolution fluorescence techniques have recently revealed the biophysical behaviors of sphingolipids and the unhindered diffusion of cholesterol analogs in the membranes of living cells are ultimately in contrast to the prevailing hypothetical model of plasma membrane organization. High-resolution SIMS studies also conflicted with the prevailing hypothesis, showing sphingolipids are concentrated in micrometer-scale membrane domains, but cholesterol is evenly distributed within the plasma membrane. Reductions in cellular cholesterol decreased the number of sphingolipid domains in the plasma membrane, whereas disruption of the cytoskeleton eliminated them. In addition, hemagglutinin, a transmembrane protein that is thought to be a putative raft marker, did not cluster within sphingolipid-enriched regions in the plasma membrane. Thus, sphingolipid distribution in the plasma membrane is dependent on the cytoskeleton, but not on favorable interactions with cholesterol or hemagglutinin. The alternate views of plasma membrane organization suggested by these findings are discussed.

Distinct cellular distributions of Kv4 pore-forming and auxiliary subunits in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

PubMed

Matsuyoshi, Hiroko; Takimoto, Koichi; Yunoki, Takakazu; Erickson, Vickie L; Tyagi, Pradeep; Hirao, Yoshihiko; Wanaka, Akio; Yoshimura, Naoki

2012-09-17

Dorsal root ganglia contain heterogeneous populations of primary afferent neurons that transmit various sensory stimuli. This functional diversity may be correlated with differential expression of voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channels. Here, we examine cellular distributions of Kv4 pore-forming and ancillary subunits that are responsible for fast-inactivating A-type K(+) current. Expression pattern of Kv α-subunit, β-subunit and auxiliary subunit was investigated using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and RT-PCR technique. The two pore-forming subunits Kv4.1 and Kv4.3 show distinct cellular distributions: Kv4.3 is predominantly in small-sized C-fiber neurons, whereas Kv4.1 is seen in DRG neurons in various sizes. Furthermore, the two classes of Kv4 channel auxiliary subunits are also distributed in different-sized cells. KChIP3 is the only significantly expressed Ca(2+)-binding cytosolic ancillary subunit in DRGs and present in medium to large-sized neurons. The membrane-spanning auxiliary subunit DPP6 is seen in a large number of DRG neurons in various sizes, whereas DPP10 is restricted in small-sized neurons. Distinct combinations of Kv4 pore-forming and auxiliary subunits may constitute A-type channels in DRG neurons with different physiological roles. Kv4.1 subunit, in combination with KChIP3 and/or DPP6, form A-type K(+) channels in medium to large-sized A-fiber DRG neurons. In contrast, Kv4.3 and DPP10 may contribute to A-type K(+) current in non-peptidergic, C-fiber somatic afferent neurons. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

21 CFR 209.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... REQUIREMENT FOR AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS AND PHARMACIES TO DISTRIBUTE A SIDE EFFECTS STATEMENT General Provisions.... Pharmacy includes, but is not limited to, a retail, mail order, Internet, hospital, university, or clinic pharmacy, or a public health agency, regularly and lawfully engaged in dispensing prescription drugs. Side...

21 CFR 209.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... REQUIREMENT FOR AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS AND PHARMACIES TO DISTRIBUTE A SIDE EFFECTS STATEMENT General Provisions.... Pharmacy includes, but is not limited to, a retail, mail order, Internet, hospital, university, or clinic pharmacy, or a public health agency, regularly and lawfully engaged in dispensing prescription drugs. Side...

21 CFR 209.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... REQUIREMENT FOR AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS AND PHARMACIES TO DISTRIBUTE A SIDE EFFECTS STATEMENT General Provisions.... Pharmacy includes, but is not limited to, a retail, mail order, Internet, hospital, university, or clinic pharmacy, or a public health agency, regularly and lawfully engaged in dispensing prescription drugs. Side...

21 CFR 209.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... REQUIREMENT FOR AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS AND PHARMACIES TO DISTRIBUTE A SIDE EFFECTS STATEMENT General Provisions.... Pharmacy includes, but is not limited to, a retail, mail order, Internet, hospital, university, or clinic pharmacy, or a public health agency, regularly and lawfully engaged in dispensing prescription drugs. Side...

Linking species abundance distributions in numerical abundance and biomass through simple assumptions about community structure.

PubMed

Henderson, Peter A; Magurran, Anne E

2010-05-22

Species abundance distributions (SADs) are widely used as a tool for summarizing ecological communities but may have different shapes, depending on the currency used to measure species importance. We develop a simple plotting method that links SADs in the alternative currencies of numerical abundance and biomass and is underpinned by testable predictions about how organisms occupy physical space. When log numerical abundance is plotted against log biomass, the species lie within an approximately triangular region. Simple energetic and sampling constraints explain the triangular form. The dispersion of species within this triangle is the key to understanding why SADs of numerical abundance and biomass can differ. Given regular or random species dispersion, we can predict the shape of the SAD for both currencies under a variety of sampling regimes. We argue that this dispersion pattern will lie between regular and random for the following reasons. First, regular dispersion patterns will result if communities are comprised groups of organisms that use different components of the physical space (e.g. open water, the sea bed surface or rock crevices in a marine fish assemblage), and if the abundance of species in each of these spatial guilds is linked to the way individuals of varying size use the habitat. Second, temporal variation in abundance and sampling error will tend to randomize this regular pattern. Data from two intensively studied marine ecosystems offer empirical support for these predictions. Our approach also has application in environmental monitoring and the recognition of anthropogenic disturbance, which may change the shape of the triangular region by, for example, the loss of large body size top predators that occur at low abundance.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of stress distribution on different bony ridges with different lengths of morse taper implants and prosthesis dimensions.

PubMed

Toniollo, Marcelo Bighetti; Macedo, Ana Paula; Rodrigues, Renata Cristina Silveira; Ribeiro, Ricardo Faria; de Mattos, Maria da Gloria Chiarello

2012-11-01

This finite element analysis (FEA) compared stress distribution on different bony ridges rehabilitated with different lengths of morse taper implants, varying dimensions of metal-ceramic crowns to maintain the occlusal alignment. Three-dimensional FE models were designed representing a posterior left side segment of the mandible: group control, 3 implants of 11 mm length; group 1, implants of 13 mm, 11 mm and 5 mm length; group 2, 1 implant of 11 mm and 2 implants of 5 mm length; and group 3, 3 implants of 5 mm length. The abutments heights were 3.5 mm for 13- and 11-mm implants (regular), and 0.8 mm for 5-mm implants (short). Evaluation was performed on Ansys software, oblique loads of 365N for molars and 200N for premolars. There was 50% higher stress on cortical bone for the short implants than regular implants. There was 80% higher stress on trabecular bone for the short implants than regular implants. There was higher stress concentration on the bone region of the short implants neck. However, these implants were capable of dissipating the stress to the bones, given the applied loads, but achieving near the threshold between elastic and plastic deformation to the trabecular bone. Distal implants and/or with biggest occlusal table generated greatest stress regions on the surrounding bone. It was concluded that patients requiring short implants associated with increased proportions implant prostheses need careful evaluation and occlusal adjustment, as a possible overload in these short implants, and even in regular ones, can generate stress beyond the physiological threshold of the surrounding bone, compromising the whole system.

Linking species abundance distributions in numerical abundance and biomass through simple assumptions about community structure

PubMed Central

Henderson, Peter A.; Magurran, Anne E.

2010-01-01

Species abundance distributions (SADs) are widely used as a tool for summarizing ecological communities but may have different shapes, depending on the currency used to measure species importance. We develop a simple plotting method that links SADs in the alternative currencies of numerical abundance and biomass and is underpinned by testable predictions about how organisms occupy physical space. When log numerical abundance is plotted against log biomass, the species lie within an approximately triangular region. Simple energetic and sampling constraints explain the triangular form. The dispersion of species within this triangle is the key to understanding why SADs of numerical abundance and biomass can differ. Given regular or random species dispersion, we can predict the shape of the SAD for both currencies under a variety of sampling regimes. We argue that this dispersion pattern will lie between regular and random for the following reasons. First, regular dispersion patterns will result if communities are comprised groups of organisms that use different components of the physical space (e.g. open water, the sea bed surface or rock crevices in a marine fish assemblage), and if the abundance of species in each of these spatial guilds is linked to the way individuals of varying size use the habitat. Second, temporal variation in abundance and sampling error will tend to randomize this regular pattern. Data from two intensively studied marine ecosystems offer empirical support for these predictions. Our approach also has application in environmental monitoring and the recognition of anthropogenic disturbance, which may change the shape of the triangular region by, for example, the loss of large body size top predators that occur at low abundance. PMID:20071388

The angular distribution of infrared radiances emerging from broken fields of cumulus clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naber, P. S.; Weinman, J. A.

1984-01-01

Infrared radiances were simultaneously measured from broken cloud fields over the eastern Pacific Ocean by means of the eastern and western geostationary satellites. The measurements were compared with the results of models that characterized the clouds as black circular cylinders disposed randomly on a plane and as black cuboids disposed in regular and in shifted periodic arrays. The data were also compared with the results obtained from a radiative transfer model that considered emission and scattering by a regular array of periodic cuboidal clouds. It was found that the radiances did not depend significantly on the azimuth angle; this suggested that the observed cloud fields were not regular periodic arrays. However, the dependence on zenith angle suggested that the clouds were not disposed randomly either. The implication of these measurements on the understanding of the transfer of infrared radiances through broken cloud fields is considered.

Thermodynamics and glassy phase transition of regular black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Javed, Wajiha; Yousaf, Z.; Akhtar, Zunaira

2018-05-01

This paper is aimed to study thermodynamical properties of phase transition for regular charged black holes (BHs). In this context, we have considered two different forms of BH metrics supplemented with exponential and logistic distribution functions and investigated the recent expansion of phase transition through grand canonical ensemble. After exploring the corresponding Ehrenfest’s equation, we found the second-order background of phase transition at critical points. In order to check the critical behavior of regular BHs, we have evaluated some corresponding explicit relations for the critical temperature, pressure and volume and draw certain graphs with constant values of Smarr’s mass. We found that for the BH metric with exponential configuration function, the phase transition curves are divergent near the critical points, while glassy phase transition has been observed for the Ayón-Beato-García-Bronnikov (ABGB) BH in n = 5 dimensions.

Increasing Accuracy of Tissue Shear Modulus Reconstruction Using Ultrasonic Strain Tensor Measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumi, C.

Previously, we developed three displacement vector measurement methods, i.e., the multidimensional cross-spectrum phase gradient method (MCSPGM), the multidimensional autocorrelation method (MAM), and the multidimensional Doppler method (MDM). To increase the accuracies and stabilities of lateral and elevational displacement measurements, we also developed spatially variant, displacement component-dependent regularization. In particular, the regularization of only the lateral/elevational displacements is advantageous for the lateral unmodulated case. The demonstrated measurements of the displacement vector distributions in experiments using an inhomogeneous shear modulus agar phantom confirm that displacement-component-dependent regularization enables more stable shear modulus reconstruction. In this report, we also review our developed lateral modulation methods that use Parabolic functions, Hanning windows, and Gaussian functions in the apodization function and the optimized apodization function that realizes the designed point spread function (PSF). The modulations significantly increase the accuracy of the strain tensor measurement and shear modulus reconstruction (demonstrated using an agar phantom).

Filtering techniques for efficient inversion of two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bortolotti, V.; Brizi, L.; Fantazzini, P.; Landi, G.; Zama, F.

2017-10-01

The inversion of two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) data requires the solution of a first kind Fredholm integral equation with a two-dimensional tensor product kernel and lower bound constraints. For the solution of this ill-posed inverse problem, the recently presented 2DUPEN algorithm [V. Bortolotti et al., Inverse Problems, 33(1), 2016] uses multiparameter Tikhonov regularization with automatic choice of the regularization parameters. In this work, I2DUPEN, an improved version of 2DUPEN that implements Mean Windowing and Singular Value Decomposition filters, is deeply tested. The reconstruction problem with filtered data is formulated as a compressed weighted least squares problem with multi-parameter Tikhonov regularization. Results on synthetic and real 2D NMR data are presented with the main purpose to deeper analyze the separate and combined effects of these filtering techniques on the reconstructed 2D distribution.

Template-directed fabrication of porous gas diffusion layer for magnesium air batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Yejian; Miao, He; Sun, Shanshan; Wang, Qin; Li, Shihua; Liu, Zhaoping

2015-11-01

The uniform micropore distribution in the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of the air-breathing cathode is very important for the metal air batteries. In this work, the super-hydrophobic GDL with the interconnected regular pores is prepared by a facile silica template method, and then the electrochemical properties of the Mg air batteries containing these GDLs are investigated. The results indicate that the interconnected and uniform pore structure, the available water-breakout pressure and the high gas permeability coefficient of the GDL can be obtained by the application of 30% silica template. The maximum power density of the Mg air battery containing the GDL with 30% regular pores reaches 88.9 mW cm-2 which is about 1.2 times that containing the pristine GDL. Furthermore, the GDL with 30% regular pores exhibits the improved the long term hydrophobic stability.

Power-law regularities in human language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehri, Ali; Lashkari, Sahar Mohammadpour

2016-11-01

Complex structure of human language enables us to exchange very complicated information. This communication system obeys some common nonlinear statistical regularities. We investigate four important long-range features of human language. We perform our calculations for adopted works of seven famous litterateurs. Zipf's law and Heaps' law, which imply well-known power-law behaviors, are established in human language, showing a qualitative inverse relation with each other. Furthermore, the informational content associated with the words ordering, is measured by using an entropic metric. We also calculate fractal dimension of words in the text by using box counting method. The fractal dimension of each word, that is a positive value less than or equal to one, exhibits its spatial distribution in the text. Generally, we can claim that the Human language follows the mentioned power-law regularities. Power-law relations imply the existence of long-range correlations between the word types, to convey an especial idea.

SPECT reconstruction using DCT-induced tight framelet regularization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jiahan; Li, Si; Xu, Yuesheng; Schmidtlein, C. R.; Lipson, Edward D.; Feiglin, David H.; Krol, Andrzej

2015-03-01

Wavelet transforms have been successfully applied in many fields of image processing. Yet, to our knowledge, they have never been directly incorporated to the objective function in Emission Computed Tomography (ECT) image reconstruction. Our aim has been to investigate if the ℓ1-norm of non-decimated discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients of the estimated radiotracer distribution could be effectively used as the regularization term for the penalized-likelihood (PL) reconstruction, where a regularizer is used to enforce the image smoothness in the reconstruction. In this study, the ℓ1-norm of 2D DCT wavelet decomposition was used as a regularization term. The Preconditioned Alternating Projection Algorithm (PAPA), which we proposed in earlier work to solve penalized likelihood (PL) reconstruction with non-differentiable regularizers, was used to solve this optimization problem. The DCT wavelet decompositions were performed on the transaxial reconstructed images. We reconstructed Monte Carlo simulated SPECT data obtained for a numerical phantom with Gaussian blobs as hot lesions and with a warm random lumpy background. Reconstructed images using the proposed method exhibited better noise suppression and improved lesion conspicuity, compared with images reconstructed using expectation maximization (EM) algorithm with Gaussian post filter (GPF). Also, the mean square error (MSE) was smaller, compared with EM-GPF. A critical and challenging aspect of this method was selection of optimal parameters. In summary, our numerical experiments demonstrated that the ℓ1-norm of discrete cosine transform (DCT) wavelet frame transform DCT regularizer shows promise for SPECT image reconstruction using PAPA method.

Queue theory for triangular and weibull arrival distribution models (case study of Banyumanik toll)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugito; Rahmawati, Rita; Kusuma Wardhani, Jenesia

2018-05-01

Queuing is one of the most common phenomena in daily life. Queued also happens on highway during busy time. The Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) was the new system of the Banyumanik toll gate which operates in 2014. Before ETC, Banyumanik toll gate users got regular service (regular toll gate) by paying in cash only. The ETC benefits more than regular service, but automatic toll gate (ETC) users are still few compared to regular toll gate users. To know the effectiveness of substance service, this paper used analysis of queuing system. The research was conducted at Toll Gate Banyumanik with the implementation time on 26-28 December 2016 for Ungaran-Semarang direction, and 29-31 December 2016 for Semarang- Ungaran direction. In one day, observation was done for 11 hours. That was at 07.00 a.m. until 06.00 p.m. There are 4 models of queues at Banyumanik toll gate. Here the four models will be used on the number of arrival and service time. Based on the simulation with Arena, the result showed that queue model regular toll gate in Ugaran-Semarang direction is (Tria/G/3):(GD/∞/∞) and the queue model for automatic toll gate is (G/G/3):(GD/∞/∞). While the queue model for the direction of Semarang-Ungaran regular toll gate is (G/G/3):(GD/∞/∞) and the queue model of automatic toll gate is (Weib/G/3):(GD/∞/∞).

Learning language from the input: why innate constraints can't explain noun compounding.

PubMed

Ramscar, Michael; Dye, Melody

2011-02-01

Do the production and interpretation of patterns of plural forms in noun-noun compounds reveal the workings of innate constraints that govern morphological processing? The results of previous studies on compounding have been taken to support a number of important theoretical claims: first, that there are fundamental differences in the way that children and adults learn and process regular and irregular plurals, second, that these differences reflect formal constraints that govern the way the way regular and irregular plurals are processed in language, and third, that these constraints are unlikely to be the product of learning. In a series of seven experiments, we critically assess the evidence that is cited in support of these arguments. The results of our experiments provide little support for the idea that substantively different factors govern the patterns of acquisition, production and interpretation patterns of regular and irregular plural forms in compounds. Once frequency differences between regular and irregular plurals are accounted for, we find no evidence of any qualitative difference in the patterns of interpretation and production of regular and irregular plural nouns in compounds, in either adults or children. Accordingly, we suggest that the pattern of acquisition of both regular and irregular plurals in compounds is consistent with a simple account, in which children learn the conventions that govern plural compounding using evidence that is readily available in the distribution patterns of adult speech. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluating crude oil chemical dispersion efficacy in a flow-through wave tank under regular non-breaking wave and breaking wave conditions.

PubMed

Li, Zhengkai; Lee, Kenneth; King, Thomas; Boufadel, Michel C; Venosa, Albert D

2009-05-01

Testing dispersant effectiveness under conditions similar to that of the open environment is required for improvements in operational procedures and the formulation of regulatory guidelines. To this end, a novel wave tank facility was fabricated to study the dispersion of crude oil under regular non-breaking and irregular breaking wave conditions. This wave tank facility was designed for operation in a flow-through mode to simulate both wave- and current-driven hydrodynamic conditions. We report here an evaluation of the effectiveness of chemical dispersants (Corexit EC9500A and SPC 1000) on two crude oils (Medium South American [MESA] and Alaska North Slope [ANS]) under two different wave conditions (regular non-breaking and plunging breaking waves) in this wave tank. The dispersant effectiveness was assessed by measuring the water column oil concentration and dispersed oil droplet size distribution. In the absence of dispersants, nearly 8-19% of the test crude oils were dispersed and diluted under regular wave and breaking wave conditions. In the presence of dispersants, about 21-36% of the crude oils were dispersed and diluted under regular waves, and 42-62% under breaking waves. Consistently, physical dispersion under regular waves produced large oil droplets (volumetric mean diameter or VMD > or = 300 microm), whereas chemical dispersion under breaking waves created small droplets (VMD < or = 50 microm). The data can provide useful information for developing better operational guidelines for dispersant use and improved predictive models on dispersant effectiveness in the field.

A new flow-regulating cell type in the Demosponge Tethya wilhelma - functional cellular anatomy of a leuconoid canal system.

PubMed

Hammel, Jörg U; Nickel, Michael

2014-01-01

Demosponges possess a leucon-type canal system which is characterized by a highly complex network of canal segments and choanocyte chambers. As sponges are sessile filter feeders, their aquiferous system plays an essential role in various fundamental physiological processes. Due to the morphological and architectural complexity of the canal system and the strong interdependence between flow conditions and anatomy, our understanding of fluid dynamics throughout leuconoid systems is patchy. This paper provides comprehensive morphometric data on the general architecture of the canal system, flow measurements and detailed cellular anatomical information to help fill in the gaps. We focus on the functional cellular anatomy of the aquiferous system and discuss all relevant cell types in the context of hydrodynamic and evolutionary constraints. Our analysis is based on the canal system of the tropical demosponge Tethya wilhelma, which we studied using scanning electron microscopy. We found a hitherto undescribed cell type, the reticuloapopylocyte, which is involved in flow regulation in the choanocyte chambers. It has a highly fenestrated, grid-like morphology and covers the apopylar opening. The minute opening of the reticuloapopylocyte occurs in an opened, intermediate and closed state. These states permit a gradual regulation of the total apopylar opening area. In this paper the three states are included in a theoretical study into flow conditions which aims to draw a link between functional cellular anatomy, the hydrodynamic situation and the regular body contractions seen in T. wilhelma. This provides a basis for new hypotheses regarding the function of bypass elements and the role of hydrostatic pressure in body contractions. Our study provides insights into the local and global flow conditions in the sponge canal system and thus enhances current understanding of related physiological processes.

A New Flow-Regulating Cell Type in the Demosponge Tethya wilhelma – Functional Cellular Anatomy of a Leuconoid Canal System

PubMed Central

Hammel, Jörg U.; Nickel, Michael

2014-01-01

Demosponges possess a leucon-type canal system which is characterized by a highly complex network of canal segments and choanocyte chambers. As sponges are sessile filter feeders, their aquiferous system plays an essential role in various fundamental physiological processes. Due to the morphological and architectural complexity of the canal system and the strong interdependence between flow conditions and anatomy, our understanding of fluid dynamics throughout leuconoid systems is patchy. This paper provides comprehensive morphometric data on the general architecture of the canal system, flow measurements and detailed cellular anatomical information to help fill in the gaps. We focus on the functional cellular anatomy of the aquiferous system and discuss all relevant cell types in the context of hydrodynamic and evolutionary constraints. Our analysis is based on the canal system of the tropical demosponge Tethya wilhelma, which we studied using scanning electron microscopy. We found a hitherto undescribed cell type, the reticuloapopylocyte, which is involved in flow regulation in the choanocyte chambers. It has a highly fenestrated, grid-like morphology and covers the apopylar opening. The minute opening of the reticuloapopylocyte occurs in an opened, intermediate and closed state. These states permit a gradual regulation of the total apopylar opening area. In this paper the three states are included in a theoretical study into flow conditions which aims to draw a link between functional cellular anatomy, the hydrodynamic situation and the regular body contractions seen in T. wilhelma. This provides a basis for new hypotheses regarding the function of bypass elements and the role of hydrostatic pressure in body contractions. Our study provides insights into the local and global flow conditions in the sponge canal system and thus enhances current understanding of related physiological processes. PMID:25409176

The COOLER Code: A Novel Analytical Approach to Calculate Subcellular Energy Deposition by Internal Electron Emitters.

PubMed

Siragusa, Mattia; Baiocco, Giorgio; Fredericia, Pil M; Friedland, Werner; Groesser, Torsten; Ottolenghi, Andrea; Jensen, Mikael

2017-08-01

COmputation Of Local Electron Release (COOLER), a software program has been designed for dosimetry assessment at the cellular/subcellular scale, with a given distribution of administered low-energy electron-emitting radionuclides in cellular compartments, which remains a critical step in risk/benefit analysis for advancements in internal radiotherapy. The software is intended to overcome the main limitations of the medical internal radiation dose (MIRD) formalism for calculations of cellular S-values (i.e., dose to a target region in the cell per decay in a given source region), namely, the use of the continuous slowing down approximation (CSDA) and the assumption of a spherical cell geometry. To this aim, we developed an analytical approach, entrusted to a MATLAB-based program, using as input simulated data for electron spatial energy deposition directly derived from full Monte Carlo track structure calculations with PARTRAC. Results from PARTRAC calculations on electron range, stopping power and residual energy versus traveled distance curves are presented and, when useful for implementation in COOLER, analytical fit functions are given. Example configurations for cells in different culture conditions (V79 cells in suspension or adherent culture) with realistic geometrical parameters are implemented for use in the tool. Finally, cellular S-value predictions by the newly developed code are presented for different cellular geometries and activity distributions (uniform activity in the nucleus, in the entire cell or on the cell surface), validated against full Monte Carlo calculations with PARTRAC, and compared to MIRD standards, as well as results based on different track structure calculations (Geant4-DNA). The largest discrepancies between COOLER and MIRD predictions were generally found for electrons between 25 and 30 keV, where the magnitude of disagreement in S-values can vary from 50 to 100%, depending on the activity distribution. In calculations for activity distribution on the cell surface, MIRD predictions appeared to fail the most. The proposed method is suitable for Auger-cascade electrons, but can be extended to any energy of interest and to beta spectra; as an example, the 3 H case is also discussed. COOLER is intended to be accessible to everyone (preclinical and clinical researchers included), and may provide important information for the selection of radionuclides, the interpretation of radiobiological or preclinical results, and the general establishment of doses in any scenario, e.g., with cultured cells in the laboratory or with therapeutic or diagnostic applications. The software will be made available for download from the DTU-Nutech website: http://www.nutech.dtu.dk/ .

Structure and Electromagnetic Properties of Cellular Glassy Carbon Monoliths with Controlled Cell Size

PubMed Central

Szczurek, Andrzej; Plyushch, Artyom; Macutkevic, Jan

2018-01-01

Electromagnetic shielding is a topic of high importance for which lightweight materials are highly sought. Porous carbon materials can meet this goal, but their structure needs to be controlled as much as possible. In this work, cellular carbon monoliths of well-defined porosity and cell size were prepared by a template method, using sacrificial paraffin spheres as the porogen and resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin as the carbon precursor. Physicochemical studies were carried out for investigating the conversion of RF resin into carbon, and the final cellular monoliths were investigated in terms of elemental composition, total porosity, surface area, micropore volumes, and micro/macropore size distributions. Electrical and electromagnetic (EM) properties were investigated in the static regime and in the Ka-band, respectively. Due to the phenolic nature of the resin, the resultant carbon was glasslike, and the special preparation protocol that was used led to cellular materials whose cell size increased with density. The materials were shown to be relevant for EM shielding, and the relationships between those properties and the density/cell size of those cellular monoliths were elucidated. PMID:29723961

Cell migration, intercalation and growth regulate mammalian cochlear extension.

PubMed

Driver, Elizabeth Carroll; Northrop, Amy; Kelley, Matthew W

2017-10-15

Developmental remodeling of the sensory epithelium of the cochlea is required for the formation of an elongated, tonotopically organized auditory organ, but the cellular processes that mediate these events are largely unknown. We used both morphological assessments of cellular rearrangements and time-lapse imaging to visualize cochlear remodeling in mouse. Analysis of cell redistribution showed that the cochlea extends through a combination of radial intercalation and cell growth. Live imaging demonstrated that concomitant cellular intercalation results in a brief period of epithelial convergence, although subsequent changes in cell size lead to medial-lateral spreading. Supporting cells, which retain contact with the basement membrane, exhibit biased protrusive activity and directed movement along the axis of extension. By contrast, hair cells lose contact with the basement membrane, but contribute to continued outgrowth through increased cell size. Regulation of cellular protrusions, movement and intercalation within the cochlea all require myosin II. These results establish, for the first time, many of the cellular processes that drive the distribution of sensory cells along the tonotopic axis of the cochlea. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Quantitative mapping of intracellular cations in the human amniotic membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moretto, Ph.; Llabador, Y.; Simonoff, M.; Razafindrabe, L.; Bara, M.; Guiet-Bara, A.

1993-05-01

The effect of magnesium and taurine on the permeability of cell membranes to monovalent cations has been investigated using the Bordeaux nuclear microprobe. PIXE and RBS techniques have been used to provide quantitative measurements and ion distributions in the isolated amniotic membrane. This physiological model for cellular exchanges allowed us to reveal the distribution of most elements involved in cellular pathways and the modifications under different experimental conditions of incubation in physiological fluids. The PIXE microanalysis provided an original viewpoint on these mechanisms. Following this first study, the amnion compact lamina was found to play a role which was not, up to now, taken into account in the interpretation of electrophysiological experimentations. The release of some ionic species, such as K +, from the epithelial cells, during immersion in isotonic fluids, could have been hitherto underestimated.

A Quantitative Three-Dimensional Image Analysis Tool for Maximal Acquisition of Spatial Heterogeneity Data.

PubMed

Allenby, Mark C; Misener, Ruth; Panoskaltsis, Nicki; Mantalaris, Athanasios

2017-02-01

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques provide spatial insight into environmental and cellular interactions and are implemented in various fields, including tissue engineering, but have been restricted by limited quantification tools that misrepresent or underutilize the cellular phenomena captured. This study develops image postprocessing algorithms pairing complex Euclidean metrics with Monte Carlo simulations to quantitatively assess cell and microenvironment spatial distributions while utilizing, for the first time, the entire 3D image captured. Although current methods only analyze a central fraction of presented confocal microscopy images, the proposed algorithms can utilize 210% more cells to calculate 3D spatial distributions that can span a 23-fold longer distance. These algorithms seek to leverage the high sample cost of 3D tissue imaging techniques by extracting maximal quantitative data throughout the captured image.

SMAC: A soft MAC to reduce control overhead and latency in CDMA-based AMI networks

DOE PAGES

Garlapati, Shravan; Kuruganti, Teja; Buehrer, Michael R.; ...

2015-10-26

The utilization of state-of-the-art 3G cellular CDMA technologies in a utility owned AMI network results in a large amount of control traffic relative to data traffic, increases the average packet delay and hence are not an appropriate choice for smart grid distribution applications. Like the CDG, we consider a utility owned cellular like CDMA network for smart grid distribution applications and classify the distribution smart grid data as scheduled data and random data. Also, we propose SMAC protocol, which changes its mode of operation based on the type of the data being collected to reduce the data collection latency andmore » control overhead when compared to 3G cellular CDMA2000 MAC. The reduction in the data collection latency and control overhead aids in increasing the number of smart meters served by a base station within the periodic data collection interval, which further reduces the number of base stations needed by a utility or reduces the bandwidth needed to collect data from all the smart meters. The reduction in the number of base stations and/or the reduction in the data transmission bandwidth reduces the CAPital EXpenditure (CAPEX) and OPerational EXpenditure (OPEX) of the AMI network. Finally, the proposed SMAC protocol is analyzed using markov chain, analytical expressions for average throughput and average packet delay are derived, and simulation results are also provided to verify the analysis.« less

CELLULAR DISTRIBUTION STUDIES OF THE NITRIC OXIDE-GENERATING ANTINEOPLASTIC PRODRUG JS-K, FORMULATED IN PLURONIC P123 MICELLES

PubMed Central

Kaur, Imit; Terrazas, Moises; Kosak, Ken M.; Kern, Steven E.; Boucher, Kenneth M.; Shami, Paul J.

2014-01-01

Objective Nitric oxide (NO) possesses anti-tumor activity. It induces differentiation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. The NO prodrug O2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate, or JS-K, has potent antileukemic activity. JS-K is also active in vitro and in vivo against multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioma and liver cancer. Using the Pluronic® P123 polymer, we have developed a micelle formulation for JS-K in order to increase its solubility and stability. The goal of the current study was to investigate the cellular distribution of JS-K in AML cells. Methods We investigated the intracellular distribution of JS-K (free drug) and JS-K formulated in P123 micelles (P123/JS-K) using HL-60 AML cells. We also studied the S-glutathionylating effects of JS-K on proteins in the cytoplasmic and nuclear cellular fractions. Key findings Both free JS-K and P123/JS-K accumulate primarily in the nucleus. Both free JS-K and P123/JS-K induced S-glutathionylation of nuclear proteins, although the effect produced was more pronounced with P123/JS-K. Minimal S-glutathionylation of cytoplasmic proteins was observed. Conclusions We conclude that a micelle formulation of JS-K increases its accumulation in the nucleus. Post-translational protein modification through S-glutathionylation may contribute to JS-K’s anti-leukemic properties. PMID:23927471

s-SMOOTH: Sparsity and Smoothness Enhanced EEG Brain Tomography

PubMed Central

Li, Ying; Qin, Jing; Hsin, Yue-Loong; Osher, Stanley; Liu, Wentai

2016-01-01

EEG source imaging enables us to reconstruct current density in the brain from the electrical measurements with excellent temporal resolution (~ ms). The corresponding EEG inverse problem is an ill-posed one that has infinitely many solutions. This is due to the fact that the number of EEG sensors is usually much smaller than that of the potential dipole locations, as well as noise contamination in the recorded signals. To obtain a unique solution, regularizations can be incorporated to impose additional constraints on the solution. An appropriate choice of regularization is critically important for the reconstruction accuracy of a brain image. In this paper, we propose a novel Sparsity and SMOOthness enhanced brain TomograpHy (s-SMOOTH) method to improve the reconstruction accuracy by integrating two recently proposed regularization techniques: Total Generalized Variation (TGV) regularization and ℓ1−2 regularization. TGV is able to preserve the source edge and recover the spatial distribution of the source intensity with high accuracy. Compared to the relevant total variation (TV) regularization, TGV enhances the smoothness of the image and reduces staircasing artifacts. The traditional TGV defined on a 2D image has been widely used in the image processing field. In order to handle 3D EEG source images, we propose a voxel-based Total Generalized Variation (vTGV) regularization that extends the definition of second-order TGV from 2D planar images to 3D irregular surfaces such as cortex surface. In addition, the ℓ1−2 regularization is utilized to promote sparsity on the current density itself. We demonstrate that ℓ1−2 regularization is able to enhance sparsity and accelerate computations than ℓ1 regularization. The proposed model is solved by an efficient and robust algorithm based on the difference of convex functions algorithm (DCA) and the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Numerical experiments using synthetic data demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method over other state-of-the-art methods in terms of total reconstruction accuracy, localization accuracy and focalization degree. The application to the source localization of event-related potential data further demonstrates the performance of the proposed method in real-world scenarios. PMID:27965529

Revealing the cellular localization of STAT1 during the cell cycle by super-resolution imaging

PubMed Central

Gao, Jing; Wang, Feng; Liu, Yanhou; Cai, Mingjun; Xu, Haijiao; Jiang, Junguang; Wang, Hongda

2015-01-01

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) can transduce cytokine signals and regulate gene expression. The cellular localization and nuclear trafficking of STAT1, a representative of the STAT family with multiple transcriptional functions, is tightly related with transcription process, which usually happens in the interphase of the cell cycle. However, these priority questions regarding STAT1 distribution and localization at the different cell-cycle stages remain unclear. By using direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), we found that the nuclear expression level of STAT1 increased gradually as the cell cycle carried out, especially after EGF stimulation. Furthermore, STAT1 formed clusters in the whole cell during the cell cycle, with the size and the number of clusters also increasing significantly from G1 to G2 phase, suggesting that transcription and other cell-cycle related activities can promote STAT1 to form more and larger clusters for fast response to signals. Our work reveals that the cellular localization and clustering distribution of STAT1 are associated with the cell cycle, and further provides an insight into the mechanism of cell-cycle regulated STAT1 signal transduction. PMID:25762114

Distribution of shortest cycle lengths in random networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonneau, Haggai; Hassid, Aviv; Biham, Ofer; Kühn, Reimer; Katzav, Eytan

2017-12-01

We present analytical results for the distribution of shortest cycle lengths (DSCL) in random networks. The approach is based on the relation between the DSCL and the distribution of shortest path lengths (DSPL). We apply this approach to configuration model networks, for which analytical results for the DSPL were obtained before. We first calculate the fraction of nodes in the network which reside on at least one cycle. Conditioning on being on a cycle, we provide the DSCL over ensembles of configuration model networks with degree distributions which follow a Poisson distribution (Erdős-Rényi network), degenerate distribution (random regular graph), and a power-law distribution (scale-free network). The mean and variance of the DSCL are calculated. The analytical results are found to be in very good agreement with the results of computer simulations.

Complementary Density Measurements for the 200W Busek Hall Thruster (PREPRINT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-12

Hall thruster are presented. Both a Faraday probe and microwave interferometry system are used to examine the density distribution of the thruster plasma at regular spatial intervals. Both experiments are performed in situ under the same conditions. The resulting density distributions obtained from both experiments are presented. Advantages and uncertainties of both methods are presented, as well as how comparison between the two data sets can account for the uncertainties of each method

Modeling Uncertainty in Military Supply Chain Management Decisions

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-23

a compound probability distribution (Eppen and Martin, 1988; Lau and Lau , 2003; Lin, 2008). This paper will incorporate the previously described...distribution with and is selected for the regular state and the N (0.27,0.19) is chosen for state 2. The demand in each state for a given lead...supplier receives orders of size Q from the buyer and purchases inventory from its vendors in a quantity that is an integer multiple N of the buyer’s

Spatial distribution of traffic in a cellular mobile data network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linnartz, J. P. M. G.

1987-02-01

The use of integral transforms of the probability density function for the received power to analyze the relation between the spatial distributions of offered and throughout packet traffic in a mobile radio network with Rayleigh fading channels and ALOHA multiple access was assessed. A method to obtain the spatial distribution of throughput traffic from a prescribed spatial distribution of offered traffic is presented. Incoherent and coherent addition of interference signals is considered. The channel behavior for heavy traffic loads is studied. In both the incoherent and coherent case, the spatial distribution of offered traffic required to ensure a prescribed spatially uniform throughput is synthesized numerically.

Palisade pattern of mormyrid Purkinje cells: a correlated light and electron microscopic study.

PubMed

Meek, J; Nieuwenhuys, R

1991-04-01

The present study is devoted to a detailed analysis of the structural and synaptic organization of mormyrid Purkinje cells in order to evaluate the possible functional significance of their dendritic palisade pattern. For this purpose, the properties of Golgi-impregnated as well as unimpregnated Purkinje cells in lobe C1 and C3 of the cerebellum of Gnathonemus petersii were light and electron microscopically analyzed, quantified, reconstructed, and mutually compared. Special attention was paid to the degree of regularity of their dendritic trees, their relations with Bergmann glia, and the distribution and numerical properties of their synaptic connections with parallel fibers, stellate cells, "climbing" fibers, and Purkinje axonal boutons. The highest degree of palisade specialization was encountered in lobe C1, where Purkinje cells have on average 50 palisade dendrites with a very regular distribution in a sagittal plane. Their spine density decreases from superficial to deep (from 14 to 6 per micron dendritic length), a gradient correlated with a decreasing parallel fiber density but an increasing parallel fiber diameter. Each Purkinje cell makes on average 75,000 synaptic contacts with parallel fibers, some of which are rather coarse (0.45 microns), and provided with numerous short collaterals. Climbing fibers do not climb, since their synaptic contacts are restricted to the ganglionic layer (i.e., the layer of Purkinje and eurydendroid projection cells), where they make about 130 synaptic contacts per cell with 2 or 3 clusters of thorns on the proximal dendrites. These clusters contain also a type of "shunting" elements that make desmosome-like junctions with both the climbing fiber boutons and the necks of the thorns. The axons of Purkinje cells in lobe C1 make small terminal arborizations, with about 20 boutons, that may be substantially (up to 500 microns) displaced rostrally or caudally with respect to the soma. Purkinje axonal boutons were observed to make synaptic contacts with eurydendroid projection cells and with the proximal dendritic and somatic receptive surface of Purkinje cells, where about 15 randomly distributed boutons per neuron occur. The organization of Purkinje cells in lobe C3 differs markedly from that in C1 and seems to be less regular and specialized, although the overall palisade pattern is even more regular than in lobe C1 because of the absence of large eurydendroid neurons. However, individual neurons have a less regular dendritic tree, there is no apical-basal gradient in spine density or parallel fiber density and diameter, and there are no "shunting" elements in the climbing fiber glomeruli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Identification of subsurface structures using electromagnetic data and shape priors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tveit, Svenn; Bakr, Shaaban A.; Lien, Martha; Mannseth, Trond

2015-03-01

We consider the inverse problem of identifying large-scale subsurface structures using the controlled source electromagnetic method. To identify structures in the subsurface where the contrast in electric conductivity can be small, regularization is needed to bias the solution towards preserving structural information. We propose to combine two approaches for regularization of the inverse problem. In the first approach we utilize a model-based, reduced, composite representation of the electric conductivity that is highly flexible, even for a moderate number of degrees of freedom. With a low number of parameters, the inverse problem is efficiently solved using a standard, second-order gradient-based optimization algorithm. Further regularization is obtained using structural prior information, available, e.g., from interpreted seismic data. The reduced conductivity representation is suitable for incorporation of structural prior information. Such prior information cannot, however, be accurately modeled with a gaussian distribution. To alleviate this, we incorporate the structural information using shape priors. The shape prior technique requires the choice of kernel function, which is application dependent. We argue for using the conditionally positive definite kernel which is shown to have computational advantages over the commonly applied gaussian kernel for our problem. Numerical experiments on various test cases show that the methodology is able to identify fairly complex subsurface electric conductivity distributions while preserving structural prior information during the inversion.

A distributed air index based on maximum boundary rectangle over grid-cells for wireless non-flat spatial data broadcast.

PubMed

Im, Seokjin; Choi, JinTak

2014-06-17

In the pervasive computing environment using smart devices equipped with various sensors, a wireless data broadcasting system for spatial data items is a natural way to efficiently provide a location dependent information service, regardless of the number of clients. A non-flat wireless broadcast system can support the clients in accessing quickly their preferred data items by disseminating the preferred data items more frequently than regular data on the wireless channel. To efficiently support the processing of spatial window queries in a non-flat wireless data broadcasting system, we propose a distributed air index based on a maximum boundary rectangle (MaxBR) over grid-cells (abbreviated DAIM), which uses MaxBRs for filtering out hot data items on the wireless channel. Unlike the existing index that repeats regular data items in close proximity to hot items at same frequency as hot data items in a broadcast cycle, DAIM makes it possible to repeat only hot data items in a cycle and reduces the length of the broadcast cycle. Consequently, DAIM helps the clients access the desired items quickly, improves the access time, and reduces energy consumption. In addition, a MaxBR helps the clients decide whether they have to access regular data items or not. Simulation studies show the proposed DAIM outperforms existing schemes with respect to the access time and energy consumption.

Analysis of the study skills of undergraduate pharmacy students of the University of Zambia School of Medicine.

PubMed

Ezeala, Christian Chinyere; Siyanga, Nalucha

2015-01-01

It aimed to compare the study skills of two groups of undergraduate pharmacy students in the School of Medicine, University of Zambia using the Study Skills Assessment Questionnaire (SSAQ), with the goal of analysing students' study skills and identifying factors that affect study skills. A questionnaire was distributed to 67 participants from both programs using stratified random sampling. Completed questionnaires were rated according to participants study skill. The total scores and scores within subscales were analysed and compared quantitatively. Questionnaires were distributed to 37 students in the regular program, and to 30 students in the parallel program. The response rate was 100%. Students had moderate to good study skills: 22 respondents (32.8%) showed good study skills, while 45 respondents (67.2%) were found to have moderate study skills. Students in the parallel program demonstrated significantly better study skills (mean SSAQ score, 185.4±14.5), particularly in time management and writing, than the students in the regular program (mean SSAQ score 175±25.4; P<0.05). No significant differences were found according to age, gender, residential or marital status, or level of study. The students in the parallel program had better time management and writing skills, probably due to their prior work experience. The more intensive training to students in regular program is needed in improving time management and writing skills.

42 CFR 403.734 - Condition of participation: Food services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... food served or desire alternative choices. (3) Furnish meals at regular times comparable to normal..., stored, prepared, distributed, and served under sanitary conditions. (b) Standard: Meals. The RNHCI must serve meals that furnish each patient with adequate nourishment in accordance with the recommended...

42 CFR 403.734 - Condition of participation: Food services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... food served or desire alternative choices. (3) Furnish meals at regular times comparable to normal..., stored, prepared, distributed, and served under sanitary conditions. (b) Standard: Meals. The RNHCI must serve meals that furnish each patient with adequate nourishment in accordance with the recommended...

School Counselors and Confidentiality: Factors Affecting Professional Choices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Isaacs, Madelyn L; Stone, Carolyn

1999-01-01

Counselors who work with children regularly face the ethical dilemma of confidentiality for which there are few definitive answers. Confidentiality and Minors Questionnaire about managing student's confidential information was distributed to district guidance supervisors. It appears that counselors' judgment of what breaches confidentiality is…

On the formation features, microstructure and microhardness of single laser tracks formed by laser cladding of a NiCrBSi self-fluxing alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devojno, O. G.; Feldshtein, E.; Kardapolava, M. A.; Lutsko, N. I.

2018-07-01

In the present paper, the influence of laser cladding conditions on the powder flow conditions, as well as the microstructure, phases and microhardness of an Ni-based self-fluxing alloy coating are described. The optimal granulations of a self-fluxing alloy powder and the relationship between the flow of powder of various fractions and the flow rate and pressure of the transporting gas have been determined. The laser beam speed, track pitch and the distance from the nozzle to the coated surface influence the height and width of single tracks. Regularities in the formation of microstructure under different cladding conditions are defined, as well as regularity of distribution of elements over the track depth and in the transient zone. The patterns of microhardness distribution over the track depth for different cladding conditions are found. These patterns as well as the optimal laser spot pitch allowed obtaining a uniform cladding layer.

Efficient Delaunay Tessellation through K-D Tree Decomposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Morozov, Dmitriy; Peterka, Tom

Delaunay tessellations are fundamental data structures in computational geometry. They are important in data analysis, where they can represent the geometry of a point set or approximate its density. The algorithms for computing these tessellations at scale perform poorly when the input data is unbalanced. We investigate the use of k-d trees to evenly distribute points among processes and compare two strategies for picking split points between domain regions. Because resulting point distributions no longer satisfy the assumptions of existing parallel Delaunay algorithms, we develop a new parallel algorithm that adapts to its input and prove its correctness. We evaluatemore » the new algorithm using two late-stage cosmology datasets. The new running times are up to 50 times faster using k-d tree compared with regular grid decomposition. Moreover, in the unbalanced data sets, decomposing the domain into a k-d tree is up to five times faster than decomposing it into a regular grid.« less

Are there laws of genome evolution?

PubMed

Koonin, Eugene V

2011-08-01

Research in quantitative evolutionary genomics and systems biology led to the discovery of several universal regularities connecting genomic and molecular phenomic variables. These universals include the log-normal distribution of the evolutionary rates of orthologous genes; the power law-like distributions of paralogous family size and node degree in various biological networks; the negative correlation between a gene's sequence evolution rate and expression level; and differential scaling of functional classes of genes with genome size. The universals of genome evolution can be accounted for by simple mathematical models similar to those used in statistical physics, such as the birth-death-innovation model. These models do not explicitly incorporate selection; therefore, the observed universal regularities do not appear to be shaped by selection but rather are emergent properties of gene ensembles. Although a complete physical theory of evolutionary biology is inconceivable, the universals of genome evolution might qualify as "laws of evolutionary genomics" in the same sense "law" is understood in modern physics.

Dimension-Factorized Range Migration Algorithm for Regularly Distributed Array Imaging

PubMed Central

Guo, Qijia; Wang, Jie; Chang, Tianying

2017-01-01

The two-dimensional planar MIMO array is a popular approach for millimeter wave imaging applications. As a promising practical alternative, sparse MIMO arrays have been devised to reduce the number of antenna elements and transmitting/receiving channels with predictable and acceptable loss in image quality. In this paper, a high precision three-dimensional imaging algorithm is proposed for MIMO arrays of the regularly distributed type, especially the sparse varieties. Termed the Dimension-Factorized Range Migration Algorithm, the new imaging approach factorizes the conventional MIMO Range Migration Algorithm into multiple operations across the sparse dimensions. The thinner the sparse dimensions of the array, the more efficient the new algorithm will be. Advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated by comparison with the conventional MIMO Range Migration Algorithm and its non-uniform fast Fourier transform based variant in terms of all the important characteristics of the approaches, especially the anti-noise capability. The computation cost is analyzed as well to evaluate the efficiency quantitatively. PMID:29113083

Accumulation, distribution and cellular partitioning of mercury in several halophytes of a contaminated salt marsh.

PubMed

Castro, Rita; Pereira, Sofia; Lima, Ana; Corticeiro, Sofia; Válega, Mónica; Pereira, Eduarda; Duarte, Armando; Figueira, Etelvina

2009-09-01

This work evaluates the role of a plant community in mercury (Hg) stabilization and mobility in a contaminated Portuguese salt marsh. With this aim, the distribution of Hg in below and aboveground tissues, as well as the metal partitioning between cellular fractions (soluble and insoluble) in four different species (Triglochin maritima L., Juncus maritimus Lam, Sarcocornia perennis (Miller) A.J. Scott, and Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen) was assessed. Mercury accumulation, translocation and compartmentation between organs and cellular fractions were related to the plant species. Results showed that the degree of Hg absorption and retention was influenced both by environmental parameters and metal translocation/partitioning strategies. Different plant species presented different allocation patterns, with marked differences between monocots (T. maritima and J. maritimus) and dicots (S. perennis, H. portulacoides). Overall, the two monocots, in particular T. maritima showed higher Hg retention in the belowground organs whereas the dicots, particularly S. perennis presented a more pronounced translocation to the aboveground tissues. Considering cellular Hg partitioning, all species showed a higher Hg binding to cell walls and membranes rather than in the soluble fractions. This strategy can be related to the high degree of tolerance observed in the studied species. These results indicate that the composition of salt marsh plant communities can be very important in dictating the Hg mobility within the marsh ecosystem and in the rest of the aquatic system as well as providing important insights to future phytoremediation approaches in Hg contaminated salt marshes.

The Exploitation of Low-Energy Electrons in Cancer Treatment.

PubMed

Rezaee, Mohammad; Hill, Richard P; Jaffray, David A

2017-08-01

Given the distinct characteristics of low-energy electrons (LEEs), particularly at energies less than 30 eV, they can be applied to a wide range of therapeutic modalities to improve cancer treatment. LEEs have been shown to efficiently produce complex molecular damage resulting in substantial cellular toxicities. Since LEEs are produced in copious amounts from high-energy radiation beam, including photons, protons and ions; the control of LEE distribution can potentially enhance the therapeutic radio of such beams. LEEs can play a substantial role in the synergistic effect between radiation and chemotherapy, particularly halogenated and platinum-based anticancer drugs. Radiosensitizing entities containing atoms of high atomic number such as gold nanoparticles can be a source of LEE production if high-energy radiation interacts with them. This can provide a high local density of LEEs in a cell and produce cellular toxicity. Auger-electron-emitting radionuclides also create a high number of LEEs in each decay, which can induce lethal damage in a cell. Exploitation of LEEs in cancer treatment, however, faces a few challenges, such as dosimetry of LEEs and selective delivery of radiosensitizing and chemotherapeutic molecules close to cellular targets. This review first discusses the rationale for utilizing LEEs in cancer treatment by explaining their mechanism of action, describes theoretical and experimental studies at the molecular and cellular levels, then discusses strategies for achieving modification of the distribution and effectiveness of LEEs in cancerous tissue and their associated clinical benefit.

Degradable gene delivery systems based on Pluronics-modified low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine: preparation, characterization, intracellular trafficking, and cellular distribution

PubMed Central

Fan, Wei; Wu, Xin; Ding, Baoyue; Gao, Jing; Cai, Zhen; Zhang, Wei; Yin, Dongfeng; Wang, Xiang; Zhu, Quangang; Liu, Jiyong; Ding, Xueying; Gao, Shen

2012-01-01

Background Cationic copolymers consisting of polycations linked to nonionic amphiphilic block polymers have been evaluated as nonviral gene delivery systems, and a large number of different polymers and copolymers of linear, branched, and dendrimeric architectures have been tested in terms of their suitability and efficacy for in vitro and in vivo transfection. However, the discovery of new potent materials still largely relies on empiric approaches rather than a rational design. The authors investigated the relationship between the polymers’ structures and their biological performance, including DNA compaction, toxicity, transfection efficiency, and the effect of cellular uptake. Methods This article reports the synthesis and characterization of a series of cationic copolymers obtained by grafting polyethyleneimine with nonionic amphiphilic surfactant polyether-Pluronic® consisting of hydrophilic ethylene oxide and hydrophobic propylene oxide blocks. Transgene expression, cytotoxicity, localization of plasmids, and cellular uptake of these copolymers were evaluated following in vitro transfection of HeLa cell lines with various individual components of the copolymers. Results Pluronics can exhibit biological activity including effects on enhancing DNA cellular uptake, nuclear translocation, and gene expression. The Pluronics with a higher hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value lead to homogeneous distribution in the cytoplasm; those with a lower hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value prefer to localize in the nucleus. Conclusion This Pluronic-polyethyleneimine system may be worth exploring as components in the cationic copolymers as the DNA or small interfering RNA/microRNA delivery system in the near future. PMID:22403492

Improved quasi parton distribution through Wilson line renormalization

DOE PAGES

Chen, Jiunn-Wei; Ji, Xiangdong; Zhang, Jian-Hui

2016-12-09

Some recent developments showed that hadron light-cone parton distributions could be directly extracted from spacelike correlators, known as quasi parton distributions, in the large hadron momentum limit. Unlike the normal light-cone parton distribution, a quasi parton distribution contains ultraviolet (UV) power divergence associated with the Wilson line self energy. Here, we show that to all orders in the coupling expansion, the power divergence can be removed by a “mass” counterterm in the auxiliary z-field formalism, in the same way as the renormalization of power divergence for an open Wilson line. After adding this counterterm, the quasi quark distribution is improvedmore » such that it contains at most logarithmic divergences. Based on a simple version of discretized gauge action, we also present the one-loop matching kernel between the improved non-singlet quasi quark distribution with a lattice regulator and the corresponding quark distribution in dimensional regularization.« less

Improved quasi parton distribution through Wilson line renormalization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Jiunn-Wei; Ji, Xiangdong; Zhang, Jian-Hui

Some recent developments showed that hadron light-cone parton distributions could be directly extracted from spacelike correlators, known as quasi parton distributions, in the large hadron momentum limit. Unlike the normal light-cone parton distribution, a quasi parton distribution contains ultraviolet (UV) power divergence associated with the Wilson line self energy. Here, we show that to all orders in the coupling expansion, the power divergence can be removed by a “mass” counterterm in the auxiliary z-field formalism, in the same way as the renormalization of power divergence for an open Wilson line. After adding this counterterm, the quasi quark distribution is improvedmore » such that it contains at most logarithmic divergences. Based on a simple version of discretized gauge action, we also present the one-loop matching kernel between the improved non-singlet quasi quark distribution with a lattice regulator and the corresponding quark distribution in dimensional regularization.« less

FOREWORD: Tackling inverse problems in a Banach space environment: from theory to applications Tackling inverse problems in a Banach space environment: from theory to applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuster, Thomas; Hofmann, Bernd; Kaltenbacher, Barbara

2012-10-01

Inverse problems can usually be modelled as operator equations in infinite-dimensional spaces with a forward operator acting between Hilbert or Banach spaces—a formulation which quite often also serves as the basis for defining and analyzing solution methods. The additional amount of structure and geometric interpretability provided by the concept of an inner product has rendered these methods amenable to a convergence analysis, a fact which has led to a rigorous and comprehensive study of regularization methods in Hilbert spaces over the last three decades. However, for numerous problems such as x-ray diffractometry, certain inverse scattering problems and a number of parameter identification problems in PDEs, the reasons for using a Hilbert space setting seem to be based on conventions rather than an appropriate and realistic model choice, so often a Banach space setting would be closer to reality. Furthermore, non-Hilbertian regularization and data fidelity terms incorporating a priori information on solution and noise, such as general Lp-norms, TV-type norms, or the Kullback-Leibler divergence, have recently become very popular. These facts have motivated intensive investigations on regularization methods in Banach spaces, a topic which has emerged as a highly active research field within the area of inverse problems. Meanwhile some of the most well-known regularization approaches, such as Tikhonov-type methods requiring the solution of extremal problems, and iterative ones like the Landweber method, the Gauss-Newton method, as well as the approximate inverse method, have been investigated for linear and nonlinear operator equations in Banach spaces. Convergence with rates has been proven and conditions on the solution smoothness and on the structure of nonlinearity have been formulated. Still, beyond the existing results a large number of challenging open questions have arisen, due to the more involved handling of general Banach spaces and the larger variety of concrete instances with special properties. The aim of this special section is to provide a forum for highly topical ongoing work in the area of regularization in Banach spaces, its numerics and its applications. Indeed, we have been lucky enough to obtain a number of excellent papers both from colleagues who have previously been contributing to this topic and from researchers entering the field due to its relevance in practical inverse problems. We would like to thank all contributers for enabling us to present a high quality collection of papers on topics ranging from various aspects of regularization via efficient numerical solution to applications in PDE models. We give a brief overview of the contributions included in this issue (here ordered alphabetically by first author). In their paper, Iterative regularization with general penalty term—theory and application to L1 and TV regularization, Radu Bot and Torsten Hein provide an extension of the Landweber iteration for linear operator equations in Banach space to general operators in place of the inverse duality mapping, which corresponds to the use of general regularization functionals in variational regularization. The L∞ topology in data space corresponds to the frequently occuring situation of uniformly distributed data noise. A numerically efficient solution of the resulting Tikhonov regularization problem via a Moreau-Yosida appriximation and a semismooth Newton method, along with a δ-free regularization parameter choice rule, is the topic of the paper L∞ fitting for inverse problems with uniform noise by Christian Clason. Extension of convergence rates results from classical source conditions to their generalization via variational inequalities with a priori and a posteriori stopping rules is the main contribution of the paper Regularization of linear ill-posed problems by the augmented Lagrangian method and variational inequalities by Klaus Frick and Markus Grasmair, again in the context of some iterative method. A powerful tool for proving convergence rates of Tikhonov type but also other regularization methods in Banach spaces are assumptions of the type of variational inequalities that combine conditions on solution smoothness (i.e., source conditions in the Hilbert space case) and nonlinearity of the forward operator. In Parameter choice in Banach space regularization under variational inequalities, Bernd Hofmann and Peter Mathé provide results with general error measures and especially study the question of regularization parameter choice. Daijun Jiang, Hui Feng, and Jun Zou consider an application of Banach space ideas in the context of an application problem in their paper Convergence rates of Tikhonov regularizations for parameter identifiation in a parabolic-elliptic system, namely the identification of a distributed diffusion coefficient in a coupled elliptic-parabolic system. In particular, they show convergence rates of Lp-H1 (variational) regularization for the application under consideration via the use and verification of certain source and nonlinearity conditions. In computational practice, the Lp norm with p close to one is often used as a substitute for the actually sparsity promoting L1 norm. In Norm sensitivity of sparsity regularization with respect to p, Kamil S Kazimierski, Peter Maass and Robin Strehlow consider the question of how sensitive the Tikhonov regularized solution is with respect to p. They do so by computing the derivative via the implicit function theorem, particularly at the crucial value, p=1. Another iterative regularization method in Banach space is considered by Qinian Jin and Linda Stals in Nonstationary iterated Tikhonov regularization for ill-posed problems in Banach spaces. Using a variational formulation and under some smoothness and convexity assumption on the preimage space, they extend the convergence analysis of the well-known iterative Tikhonov method for linear problems in Hilbert space to a more general Banach space framework. Systems of linear or nonlinear operators can be efficiently treated by cyclic iterations, thus several variants of gradient and Newton-type Kaczmarz methods have already been studied in the Hilbert space setting. Antonio Leitão and M Marques Alves in their paper On Landweber---Kaczmarz methods for regularizing systems of ill-posed equations in Banach spaces carry out an extension to Banach spaces for the fundamental Landweber version. The impact of perturbations in the evaluation of the forward operator and its derivative on the convergence behaviour of regularization methods is a practically and highly relevant issue. It is treated in the paper Convergence rates analysis of Tikhonov regularization for nonlinear ill-posed problems with noisy operators by Shuai Lu and Jens Flemming for variational regularization of nonlinear problems in Banach spaces. In The approximate inverse in action: IV. Semi-discrete equations in a Banach space setting, Thomas Schuster, Andreas Rieder and Frank Schöpfer extend the concept of approximate inverse to the practically and highly relevant situation of finitely many measurements and a general smooth and convex Banach space as preimage space. They devise two approaches for computing the reconstruction kernels required in the method and provide convergence and regularization results. Frank Werner and Thorsten Hohage in Convergence rates in expectation for Tikhonov-type regularization of inverse problems with Poisson data prove convergence rates results for variational regularization with general convex regularization term and the Kullback-Leibler distance as data fidelity term by combining a new result on Poisson distributed data with a deterministic rates analysis. Finally, we would like to thank the Inverse Problems team, especially Joanna Evangelides and Chris Wileman, for their extraordinary smooth and productive cooperation, as well as Alfred K Louis for his kind support of our initiative.

Research of Mechanical Property Gradient Distribution of Al-Cu Alloy in Centrifugal Casting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Zhi; Sui, Yanwei; Liu, Aihui; Li, Bangsheng; Guo, Jingjie

Al-Cu alloy castings are obtained using centrifugal casting. The regularity of mechanical property gradient distribution of Al-Cu alloy castings with the same centrifugal radius at different positions is investigated. The result shows that the tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and microscope hardness exhibit the following gradient distribution characteristic — high on both sides and low on the center. The trend of mechanical property gradient distribution of Al-Cu alloy increases with the increase in the rotation speed. Moreover, the mechanical properties of casting centerline two sides have asymmetry. The reason is that the grain size of casting centerline two sides and Al2Cu phase and Cu content change correspondingly.

Flexible binding simulation by a novel and improved version of virtual-system coupled adaptive umbrella sampling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dasgupta, Bhaskar; Nakamura, Haruki; Higo, Junichi

2016-10-01

Virtual-system coupled adaptive umbrella sampling (VAUS) enhances sampling along a reaction coordinate by using a virtual degree of freedom. However, VAUS and regular adaptive umbrella sampling (AUS) methods are yet computationally expensive. To decrease the computational burden further, improvements of VAUS for all-atom explicit solvent simulation are presented here. The improvements include probability distribution calculation by a Markov approximation; parameterization of biasing forces by iterative polynomial fitting; and force scaling. These when applied to study Ala-pentapeptide dimerization in explicit solvent showed advantage over regular AUS. By using improved VAUS larger biological systems are amenable.

Crystallography of rare galactic honeycomb structure near supernova 1987a

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noever, David A.

1994-01-01

Near supernova 1987a, the rare honeycomb structure of 20-30 galactic bubbles measures 30 x 90 light years. Its remarkable regularity in bubble size suggests a single-event origin which may correlate with the nearby supernova. To test the honeycomb's regularity in shape and size, the formalism of statistical crystallography is developed here for bubble sideness. The standard size-shape relations (Lewis's law, Desch's law, and Aboav-Weaire's law) govern area, perimeter and nearest neighbor shapes. Taken together, they predict a highly non-equilibrium structure for the galactic honeycomb which evolves as a bimodal shape distribution without dominant bubble perimeter energy.

From statistics of regular tree-like graphs to distribution function and gyration radius of branched polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grosberg, Alexander Y.; Nechaev, Sergei K.

2015-08-01

We consider flexible branched polymer, with quenched branch structure, and show that its conformational entropy as a function of its gyration radius R, at large R, obeys, in the scaling sense, Δ S˜ {R}2/({a}2L), with a bond length (or Kuhn segment) and L defined as an average spanning distance. We show that this estimate is valid up to at most the logarithmic correction for any tree. We do so by explicitly computing the largest eigenvalues of Kramers matrices for both regular and ‘sparse’ three-branched trees, uncovering on the way their peculiar mathematical properties.

Fluid and Electrolyte Balance model (FEB)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fitzjerrell, D. G.

1973-01-01

The effects of various oral input water loads on solute and water distribution throughout the body are presented in the form of a model. The model was a three compartment model; the three compartments being plasma, interstitial fluid and cellular fluid. Sodium, potassium, chloride and urea were the only major solutes considered explicitly. The control of body water and electrolyte distribution was affected via drinking and hormone levels.

Effects of cell phone radiation on lipid peroxidation, glutathione and nitric oxide levels in mouse brain during epileptic seizure.

PubMed

Esmekaya, Meric Arda; Tuysuz, Mehmet Zahid; Tomruk, Arın; Canseven, Ayse G; Yücel, Engin; Aktuna, Zuhal; Keskil, Semih; Seyhan, Nesrin

2016-09-01

The objective of the this study was to evaluate the effects of cellular phone radiation on oxidative stress parameters and oxide levels in mouse brain during pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced epileptic seizure. Eight weeks old mice were used in the study. Animals were distributed in the following groups: Group I: Control group treated with PTZ, Group II: 15min cellular phone radiation+PTZ treatment+30min cellular phone radiation, Group III: 30min cellular phone radiation+PTZ treatment+30min cellular phone radiation. The RF radiation was produced by a 900MHz cellular phone. Lipid peroxidation, which is the indicator of oxidative stress was quantified by measuring the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The glutathione (GSH) levels were determined by the Ellman method. Tissue total nitric oxide (NOx) levels were obtained using the Griess assay. Lipid peroxidation and NOx levels of brain tissue increased significantly in group II and III compared to group I. On the contrary, GSH levels were significantly lower in group II and III than group I. However, no statistically significant alterations in any of the endpoints were noted between group II and Group III. Overall, the experimental findings demonstrated that cellular phone radiation may increase the oxidative damage and NOx level during epileptic activity in mouse brain. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implementing Access to Data Distributed on Many Processors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

James, Mark

2006-01-01

A reference architecture is defined for an object-oriented implementation of domains, arrays, and distributions written in the programming language Chapel. This technology primarily addresses domains that contain arrays that have regular index sets with the low-level implementation details being beyond the scope of this discussion. What is defined is a complete set of object-oriented operators that allows one to perform data distributions for domain arrays involving regular arithmetic index sets. What is unique is that these operators allow for the arbitrary regions of the arrays to be fragmented and distributed across multiple processors with a single point of access giving the programmer the illusion that all the elements are collocated on a single processor. Today's massively parallel High Productivity Computing Systems (HPCS) are characterized by a modular structure, with a large number of processing and memory units connected by a high-speed network. Locality of access as well as load balancing are primary concerns in these systems that are typically used for high-performance scientific computation. Data distributions address these issues by providing a range of methods for spreading large data sets across the components of a system. Over the past two decades, many languages, systems, tools, and libraries have been developed for the support of distributions. Since the performance of data parallel applications is directly influenced by the distribution strategy, users often resort to low-level programming models that allow fine-tuning of the distribution aspects affecting performance, but, at the same time, are tedious and error-prone. This technology presents a reusable design of a data-distribution framework for data parallel high-performance applications. Distributions are a means to express locality in systems composed of large numbers of processor and memory components connected by a network. Since distributions have a great effect on the performance of applications, it is important that the distribution strategy is flexible, so its behavior can change depending on the needs of the application. At the same time, high productivity concerns require that the user be shielded from error-prone, tedious details such as communication and synchronization.

Foliar Nutrient Distribution Patterns in Sympatric Maple Species Reflect Contrasting Sensitivity to Excess Manganese.

PubMed

Fernando, Denise R; Marshall, Alan T; Lynch, Jonathan P

2016-01-01

Sugar maple and red maple are closely-related co-occurring tree species significant to the North American forest biome. Plant abiotic stress effects including nutritional imbalance and manganese (Mn) toxicity are well documented within this system, and are implicated in enhanced susceptibility to biotic stresses such as insect attack. Both tree species are known to overaccumulate foliar manganese (Mn) when growing on unbuffered acidified soils, however, sugar maple is Mn-sensitive, while red maple is not. Currently there is no knowledge about the cellular sequestration of Mn and other nutrients in these two species. Here, electron-probe x-ray microanalysis was employed to examine cellular and sub-cellular deposition of excessively accumulated foliar Mn and other mineral nutrients in vivo. For both species, excess foliar Mn was deposited in symplastic cellular compartments. There were striking between-species differences in Mn, magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) and calcium (Ca) distribution patterns. Unusually, Mn was highly co-localised with Mg in mesophyll cells of red maple only. The known sensitivity of sugar maple to excess Mn is likely linked to Mg deficiency in the leaf mesophyll. There was strong evidence that Mn toxicity in sugar maple is primarily a symplastic process. For each species, leaf-surface damage due to biotic stress including insect herbivory was compared between sites with acidified and non-acidified soils. Although it was greatest overall in red maple, there was no difference in biotic stress damage to red maple leaves between acidified and non-acidified soils. Sugar maple trees on buffered non-acidified soil were less damaged by biotic stress compared to those on unbuffered acidified soil, where they are also affected by Mn toxicity abiotic stress. This study concluded that foliar nutrient distribution in symplastic compartments is a determinant of Mn sensitivity, and that Mn stress hinders plant resistance to biotic stress.

Foliar Nutrient Distribution Patterns in Sympatric Maple Species Reflect Contrasting Sensitivity to Excess Manganese

PubMed Central

Fernando, Denise R.; Marshall, Alan T.; Lynch, Jonathan P.

2016-01-01

Sugar maple and red maple are closely-related co-occurring tree species significant to the North American forest biome. Plant abiotic stress effects including nutritional imbalance and manganese (Mn) toxicity are well documented within this system, and are implicated in enhanced susceptibility to biotic stresses such as insect attack. Both tree species are known to overaccumulate foliar manganese (Mn) when growing on unbuffered acidified soils, however, sugar maple is Mn-sensitive, while red maple is not. Currently there is no knowledge about the cellular sequestration of Mn and other nutrients in these two species. Here, electron-probe x-ray microanalysis was employed to examine cellular and sub-cellular deposition of excessively accumulated foliar Mn and other mineral nutrients in vivo. For both species, excess foliar Mn was deposited in symplastic cellular compartments. There were striking between-species differences in Mn, magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) and calcium (Ca) distribution patterns. Unusually, Mn was highly co-localised with Mg in mesophyll cells of red maple only. The known sensitivity of sugar maple to excess Mn is likely linked to Mg deficiency in the leaf mesophyll. There was strong evidence that Mn toxicity in sugar maple is primarily a symplastic process. For each species, leaf-surface damage due to biotic stress including insect herbivory was compared between sites with acidified and non-acidified soils. Although it was greatest overall in red maple, there was no difference in biotic stress damage to red maple leaves between acidified and non-acidified soils. Sugar maple trees on buffered non-acidified soil were less damaged by biotic stress compared to those on unbuffered acidified soil, where they are also affected by Mn toxicity abiotic stress. This study concluded that foliar nutrient distribution in symplastic compartments is a determinant of Mn sensitivity, and that Mn stress hinders plant resistance to biotic stress. PMID:27391424

A design of wireless sensor networks for a power quality monitoring system.

PubMed

Lim, Yujin; Kim, Hak-Man; Kang, Sanggil

2010-01-01

Power grids deal with the business of generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power. Recently, interest in power quality in electrical distribution systems has increased rapidly. In Korea, the communication network to deliver voltage, current, and temperature measurements gathered from pole transformers to remote monitoring centers employs cellular mobile technology. Due to high cost of the cellular mobile technology, power quality monitoring measurements are limited and data gathering intervals are large. This causes difficulties in providing the power quality monitoring service. To alleviate the problems, in this paper we present a communication infrastructure to provide low cost, reliable data delivery. The communication infrastructure consists of wired connections between substations and monitoring centers, and wireless connections between pole transformers and substations. For the wireless connection, we employ a wireless sensor network and design its corresponding data forwarding protocol to improve the quality of data delivery. For the design, we adopt a tree-based data forwarding protocol in order to customize the distribution pattern of the power quality information. We verify the performance of the proposed data forwarding protocol quantitatively using the NS-2 network simulator.

A scale-invariant cellular-automata model for distributed seismicity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barriere, Benoit; Turcotte, Donald L.

1991-01-01

In the standard cellular-automata model for a fault an element of stress is randomly added to a grid of boxes until a box has four elements, these are then redistributed to the adjacent boxes on the grid. The redistribution can result in one or more of these boxes having four or more elements in which case further redistributions are required. On the average added elements are lost from the edges of the grid. The model is modified so that the boxes have a scale-invariant distribution of sizes. The objective is to model a scale-invariant distribution of fault sizes. When a redistribution from a box occurs it is equivalent to a characteristic earthquake on the fault. A redistribution from a small box (a foreshock) can trigger an instability in a large box (the main shock). A redistribution from a large box always triggers many instabilities in the smaller boxes (aftershocks). The frequency-size statistics for both main shocks and aftershocks satisfy the Gutenberg-Richter relation with b = 0.835 for main shocks and b = 0.635 for aftershocks. Model foreshocks occur 28 percent of the time.

7 CFR 273.5 - Students.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 4 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Students. 273.5 Section 273.5 Agriculture Regulations... FOOD STAMP AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS § 273.5 Students. (a... the individual is enrolled in a regular curriculum at a college or university that offers degree...

30 CFR 75.807 - Installation of high-voltage transmission cables.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Installation of high-voltage transmission...-Voltage Distribution § 75.807 Installation of high-voltage transmission cables. [Statutory Provisions] All underground high-voltage transmission cables shall be installed only in regularly inspected air courses and...

Additional Guidance and Training Needed to Improve Afghan National Army Pharmaceutical Distribution

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-07

capacity for Afghan-led security. To help accomplish part of that mission, CSTC-A provided oversight and mentoring of the ANA pharmaceutical...National Military Hospital Ketamine 4575 4755 180 Tramadol 1650 1700 50 Insulin-Regular 274 280 6 Mebendazol 1164 1100 (64

Changes in weight loss, body composition and cardiovascular disease risk after altering macronutrient distributions during a regular exercise program in obese women

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background This study's purpose investigated the impact of different macronutrient distributions and varying caloric intakes along with regular exercise for metabolic and physiological changes related to weight loss. Methods One hundred forty-one sedentary, obese women (38.7 ± 8.0 yrs, 163.3 ± 6.9 cm, 93.2 ± 16.5 kg, 35.0 ± 6.2 kg•m-2, 44.8 ± 4.2% fat) were randomized to either no diet + no exercise control group (CON) a no diet + exercise control (ND), or one of four diet + exercise groups (high-energy diet [HED], very low carbohydrate, high protein diet [VLCHP], low carbohydrate, moderate protein diet [LCMP] and high carbohydrate, low protein [HCLP]) in addition to beginning a 3x•week-1 supervised resistance training program. After 0, 1, 10 and 14 weeks, all participants completed testing sessions which included anthropometric, body composition, energy expenditure, fasting blood samples, aerobic and muscular fitness assessments. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with an alpha of 0.05 with LSD post-hoc analysis when appropriate. Results All dieting groups exhibited adequate compliance to their prescribed diet regimen as energy and macronutrient amounts and distributions were close to prescribed amounts. Those groups that followed a diet and exercise program reported significantly greater anthropometric (waist circumference and body mass) and body composition via DXA (fat mass and % fat) changes. Caloric restriction initially reduced energy expenditure, but successfully returned to baseline values after 10 weeks of dieting and exercising. Significant fitness improvements (aerobic capacity and maximal strength) occurred in all exercising groups. No significant changes occurred in lipid panel constituents, but serum insulin and HOMA-IR values decreased in the VLCHP group. Significant reductions in serum leptin occurred in all caloric restriction + exercise groups after 14 weeks, which were unchanged in other non-diet/non-exercise groups. Conclusions Overall and over the entire test period, all diet groups which restricted their caloric intake and exercised experienced similar responses to each other. Regular exercise and modest caloric restriction successfully promoted anthropometric and body composition improvements along with various markers of muscular fitness. Significant increases in relative energy expenditure and reductions in circulating leptin were found in response to all exercise and diet groups. Macronutrient distribution may impact circulating levels of insulin and overall ability to improve strength levels in obese women who follow regular exercise. PMID:21092228

Clustering, randomness, and regularity in cloud fields. 4. Stratocumulus cloud fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, J.; Chou, J.; Weger, R. C.; Welch, R. M.

1994-07-01

To complete the analysis of the spatial distribution of boundary layer cloudiness, the present study focuses on nine stratocumulus Landsat scenes. The results indicate many similarities between stratocumulus and cumulus spatial distributions. Most notably, at full spatial resolution all scenes exhibit a decidedly clustered distribution. The strength of the clustering signal decreases with increasing cloud size; the clusters themselves consist of a few clouds (less than 10), occupy a small percentage of the cloud field area (less than 5%), contain between 20% and 60% of the cloud field population, and are randomly located within the scene. In contrast, stratocumulus in almost every respect are more strongly clustered than are cumulus cloud fields. For instance, stratocumulus clusters contain more clouds per cluster, occupy a larger percentage of the total area, and have a larger percentage of clouds participating in clusters than the corresponding cumulus examples. To investigate clustering at intermediate spatial scales, the local dimensionality statistic is introduced. Results obtained from this statistic provide the first direct evidence for regularity among large (>900 m in diameter) clouds in stratocumulus and cumulus cloud fields, in support of the inhibition hypothesis of Ramirez and Bras (1990). Also, the size compensated point-to-cloud cumulative distribution function statistic is found to be necessary to obtain a consistent description of stratocumulus cloud distributions. A hypothesis regarding the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for cloud clustering is presented. It is suggested that cloud clusters often arise from 4 to 10 triggering events localized within regions less than 2 km in diameter and randomly distributed within the cloud field. As the size of the cloud surpasses the scale of the triggering region, the clustering signal weakens and the larger cloud locations become more random.

Clustering, randomness, and regularity in cloud fields. 4: Stratocumulus cloud fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, J.; Chou, J.; Weger, R. C.; Welch, R. M.

1994-01-01

To complete the analysis of the spatial distribution of boundary layer cloudiness, the present study focuses on nine stratocumulus Landsat scenes. The results indicate many similarities between stratocumulus and cumulus spatial distributions. Most notably, at full spatial resolution all scenes exhibit a decidedly clustered distribution. The strength of the clustering signal decreases with increasing cloud size; the clusters themselves consist of a few clouds (less than 10), occupy a small percentage of the cloud field area (less than 5%), contain between 20% and 60% of the cloud field population, and are randomly located within the scene. In contrast, stratocumulus in almost every respect are more strongly clustered than are cumulus cloud fields. For instance, stratocumulus clusters contain more clouds per cluster, occupy a larger percentage of the total area, and have a larger percentage of clouds participating in clusters than the corresponding cumulus examples. To investigate clustering at intermediate spatial scales, the local dimensionality statistic is introduced. Results obtained from this statistic provide the first direct evidence for regularity among large (more than 900 m in diameter) clouds in stratocumulus and cumulus cloud fields, in support of the inhibition hypothesis of Ramirez and Bras (1990). Also, the size compensated point-to-cloud cumulative distribution function statistic is found to be necessary to obtain a consistent description of stratocumulus cloud distributions. A hypothesis regarding the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for cloud clustering is presented. It is suggested that cloud clusters often arise from 4 to 10 triggering events localized within regions less than 2 km in diameter and randomly distributed within the cloud field. As the size of the cloud surpasses the scale of the triggering region, the clustering signal weakens and the larger cloud locations become more random.

Passive acoustic measurement of bedload grain size distribution using self-generated noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrut, Teodor; Geay, Thomas; Gervaise, Cédric; Belleudy, Philippe; Zanker, Sebastien

2018-01-01

Monitoring sediment transport processes in rivers is of particular interest to engineers and scientists to assess the stability of rivers and hydraulic structures. Various methods for sediment transport process description were proposed using conventional or surrogate measurement techniques. This paper addresses the topic of the passive acoustic monitoring of bedload transport in rivers and especially the estimation of the bedload grain size distribution from self-generated noise. It discusses the feasibility of linking the acoustic signal spectrum shape to bedload grain sizes involved in elastic impacts with the river bed treated as a massive slab. Bedload grain size distribution is estimated by a regularized algebraic inversion scheme fed with the power spectrum density of river noise estimated from one hydrophone. The inversion methodology relies upon a physical model that predicts the acoustic field generated by the collision between rigid bodies. Here we proposed an analytic model of the acoustic energy spectrum generated by the impacts between a sphere and a slab. The proposed model computes the power spectral density of bedload noise using a linear system of analytic energy spectra weighted by the grain size distribution. The algebraic system of equations is then solved by least square optimization and solution regularization methods. The result of inversion leads directly to the estimation of the bedload grain size distribution. The inversion method was applied to real acoustic data from passive acoustics experiments realized on the Isère River, in France. The inversion of in situ measured spectra reveals good estimations of grain size distribution, fairly close to what was estimated by physical sampling instruments. These results illustrate the potential of the hydrophone technique to be used as a standalone method that could ensure high spatial and temporal resolution measurements for sediment transport in rivers.

Tsetse Fly (G.f. fuscipes) Distribution in the Lake Victoria Basin of Uganda

PubMed Central

Albert, Mugenyi; Wardrop, Nicola A; Atkinson, Peter M; Torr, Steve J; Welburn, Susan C

2015-01-01

Tsetse flies transmit trypanosomes, the causative agent of human and animal African trypanosomiasis. The tsetse vector is extensively distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. Trypanosomiasis maintenance is determined by the interrelationship of three elements: vertebrate host, parasite and the vector responsible for transmission. Mapping the distribution and abundance of tsetse flies assists in predicting trypanosomiasis distributions and developing rational strategies for disease and vector control. Given scarce resources to carry out regular full scale field tsetse surveys to up-date existing tsetse maps, there is a need to devise inexpensive means for regularly obtaining dependable area-wide tsetse data to guide control activities. In this study we used spatial epidemiological modelling techniques (logistic regression) involving 5000 field-based tsetse-data (G. f. fuscipes) points over an area of 40,000 km2, with satellite-derived environmental surrogates composed of precipitation, temperature, land cover, normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and elevation at the sub-national level. We used these extensive tsetse data to analyse the relationships between presence of tsetse (G. f. fuscipes) and environmental variables. The strength of the results was enhanced through the application of a spatial autologistic regression model (SARM). Using the SARM we showed that the probability of tsetse presence increased with proportion of forest cover and riverine vegetation. The key outputs are a predictive tsetse distribution map for the Lake Victoria basin of Uganda and an improved understanding of the association between tsetse presence and environmental variables. The predicted spatial distribution of tsetse in the Lake Victoria basin of Uganda will provide significant new information to assist with the spatial targeting of tsetse and trypanosomiasis control. PMID:25875201

Determination of cellular strains by combined atomic force microscopy and finite element modeling.

PubMed Central

Charras, Guillaume T; Horton, Mike A

2002-01-01

Many organs adapt to their mechanical environment as a result of physiological change or disease. Cells are both the detectors and effectors of this process. Though many studies have been performed in vitro to investigate the mechanisms of detection and adaptation to mechanical strains, the cellular strains remain unknown and results from different stimulation techniques cannot be compared. By combining experimental determination of cell profiles and elasticities by atomic force microscopy with finite element modeling and computational fluid dynamics, we report the cellular strain distributions exerted by common whole-cell straining techniques and from micromanipulation techniques, hence enabling their comparison. Using data from our own analyses and experiments performed by others, we examine the threshold of activation for different signal transduction processes and the strain components that they may detect. We show that modulating cell elasticity, by increasing the F-actin content of the cytoskeleton, or cellular Poisson ratio are good strategies to resist fluid shear or hydrostatic pressure. We report that stray fluid flow in some substrate-stretch systems elicits significant cellular strains. In conclusion, this technique shows promise in furthering our understanding of the interplay among mechanical forces, strain detection, gene expression, and cellular adaptation in physiology and disease. PMID:12124270

Modelisation of the SECMin molten salts environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucas, M.; Slim, C.; Delpech, S.; di Caprio, D.; Stafiej, J.

2014-06-01

We develop a cellular automata modelisation of SECM experiments to study corrosion in molten salt media for generation IV nuclear reactors. The electrodes used in these experiments are cylindrical glass tips with a coaxial metal wire inside. As the result of simulations we obtain the current approach curves of the electrodes with geometries characterized by several values of the ratios of glass to metal area at the tip. We compare these results with predictions of the known analytic expressions, solutions of partial differential equations for flat uniform geometry of the substrate. We present the results for other, more complicated substrate surface geometries e. g. regular saw modulated surface, surface obtained by Eden model process, ...

CRISPR-Cas9: a promising tool for gene editing on induced pluripotent stem cells

PubMed Central

Kim, Eun Ji; Kang, Ki Ho; Ju, Ji Hyeon

2017-01-01

Recent advances in genome editing with programmable nucleases have opened up new avenues for multiple applications, from basic research to clinical therapy. The ease of use of the technology—and particularly clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)—will allow us to improve our understanding of genomic variation in disease processes via cellular and animal models. Here, we highlight the progress made in correcting gene mutations in monogenic hereditary disorders and discuss various CRISPR-associated applications, such as cancer research, synthetic biology, and gene therapy using induced pluripotent stem cells. The challenges, ethical issues, and future prospects of CRISPR-based systems for human research are also discussed. PMID:28049282

CRISPR-Cas9: a promising tool for gene editing on induced pluripotent stem cells.

PubMed

Kim, Eun Ji; Kang, Ki Ho; Ju, Ji Hyeon

2017-01-01

Recent advances in genome editing with programmable nucleases have opened up new avenues for multiple applications, from basic research to clinical therapy. The ease of use of the technology-and particularly clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-will allow us to improve our understanding of genomic variation in disease processes via cellular and animal models. Here, we highlight the progress made in correcting gene mutations in monogenic hereditary disorders and discuss various CRISPR-associated applications, such as cancer research, synthetic biology, and gene therapy using induced pluripotent stem cells. The challenges, ethical issues, and future prospects of CRISPR-based systems for human research are also discussed.

RNAi screening comes of age: improved techniques and complementary approaches

PubMed Central

Mohr, Stephanie E.; Smith, Jennifer A.; Shamu, Caroline E.; Neumüller, Ralph A.; Perrimon, Norbert

2014-01-01

Gene silencing through sequence-specific targeting of mRNAs by RNAi has enabled genome-wide functional screens in cultured cells and in vivo in model organisms. These screens have resulted in the identification of new cellular pathways and potential drug targets. Considerable progress has been made to improve the quality of RNAi screen data through the development of new experimental and bioinformatics approaches. The recent availability of genome-editing strategies, such as the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas9 system, when combined with RNAi, could lead to further improvements in screen data quality and follow-up experiments, thus promoting our understanding of gene function and gene regulatory networks. PMID:25145850

Tomographic phase microscopy: principles and applications in bioimaging [Invited

PubMed Central

Jin, Di; Zhou, Renjie; Yaqoob, Zahid; So, Peter T. C.

2017-01-01

Tomographic phase microscopy (TPM) is an emerging optical microscopic technique for bioimaging. TPM uses digital holographic measurements of complex scattered fields to reconstruct three-dimensional refractive index (RI) maps of cells with diffraction-limited resolution by solving inverse scattering problems. In this paper, we review the developments of TPM from the fundamental physics to its applications in bioimaging. We first provide a comprehensive description of the tomographic reconstruction physical models used in TPM. The RI map reconstruction algorithms and various regularization methods are discussed. Selected TPM applications for cellular imaging, particularly in hematology, are reviewed. Finally, we examine the limitations of current TPM systems, propose future solutions, and envision promising directions in biomedical research. PMID:29386746