Complex Networks on Hyperbolic Surfaces

We explore a novel method to generate and characterize complex networks by means of their embedding on hyperbolic surfaces. Evolution through local elementary moves allows the exploration of the ensemble of networks which share common embeddings and consequently share similar hierarchical properties. This method provides a new perspective to classify network-complexity both on local and global scale. We demonstrate by means of several examples that there is a strong relation between the network properties and the embedding surface.Comment: 8 Pages 3 Figure

Nondestructive Electromagnetic Characterization of Uniaxial Sheet Media Using a Two-Flanged Rectangular Waveguide Probe

Excerpt: Recent advancements in fabrication capabilities have renewed interest in the electromagnetic characterization of complex media, as many metamaterials are anisotropic and/or inhomogeneous. Additionally, for composite materials, anisotropy can be introduced by load, strain, misalignment, or damage through the manufacturing process [1], [2]. Methods for obtaining the constitutive parameters for isotropic materials are well understood and widely employed [3]–[8]. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a practical method for the electromagnetic characterization of anisotropic materials

Association between motor planning and the frontoparietal network in children: An exploratory multimodal study

Objective: Evidence from adult literature shows the involvement of cortical grey matter areas of the frontoparietal lobe and the white matter bundle, the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) in motor planning. This is yet to be confirmed in children. Method: A multimodal study was designed to probe the neurostructural basis of childhood motor planning. Behavioural (motor planning), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) data were acquired from 19 boys aged 8–11 years. Motor planning was assessed using the one and two colour sequences of the octagon task. The MRI data were preprocessed and analysed using FreeSurfer 6.0. Cortical thickness and cortical surface area were extracted from the caudal middle frontal gyrus (MFG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), precentral gyrus (PcG), supramarginal gyrus (SMG), superior parietal lobe (SPL) and the inferior parietal lobe (IPL) using the Desikan– Killiany atlas. The DWI data were preprocessed and analysed using ExploreDTI 4.8.6 and the white matter tract, the SLF was reconstructed. Results: Motor planning of the two colour sequence was associated with cortical thickness of the bilateral MFG and left SFG, PcG, IPL and SPL. The right SLF was related to motor planning for the two colour sequence as well as with the left cortical thickness of the SFG. Conclusion: Altogether, morphology within frontodorsal circuity, and the white matter bundles that support communication between them, may be associated with individual differences in childhood motor planning

Molecular and Microbial Microenvironments in Chronically Diseased Lungs Associated with Cystic Fibrosis.

To visualize the personalized distributions of pathogens and chemical environments, including microbial metabolites, pharmaceuticals, and their metabolic products, within and between human lungs afflicted with cystic fibrosis (CF), we generated three-dimensional (3D) microbiome and metabolome maps of six explanted lungs from three cystic fibrosis patients. These 3D spatial maps revealed that the chemical environments differ between patients and within the lungs of each patient. Although the microbial ecosystems of the patients were defined by the dominant pathogen, their chemical diversity was not. Additionally, the chemical diversity between locales in the lungs of the same individual sometimes exceeded interindividual variation. Thus, the chemistry and microbiome of the explanted lungs appear to be not only personalized but also regiospecific. Previously undescribed analogs of microbial quinolones and antibiotic metabolites were also detected. Furthermore, mapping the chemical and microbial distributions allowed visualization of microbial community interactions, such as increased production of quorum sensing quinolones in locations where Pseudomonas was in contact with Staphylococcus and Granulicatella, consistent with in vitro observations of bacteria isolated from these patients. Visualization of microbe-metabolite associations within a host organ in early-stage CF disease in animal models will help elucidate the complex interplay between the presence of a given microbial structure, antibiotics, metabolism of antibiotics, microbial virulence factors, and host responses.IMPORTANCE Microbial infections are now recognized to be polymicrobial and personalized in nature. Comprehensive analysis and understanding of the factors underlying the polymicrobial and personalized nature of infections remain limited, especially in the context of the host. By visualizing microbiomes and metabolomes of diseased human lungs, we reveal how different the chemical environments are between hosts that are dominated by the same pathogen and how community interactions shape the chemical environment or vice versa. We highlight that three-dimensional organ mapping methods represent hypothesis-building tools that allow us to design mechanistic studies aimed at addressing microbial responses to other microbes, the host, and pharmaceutical drugs

Calcium-sensing soluble adenylyl cyclase mediates TNF signal transduction in human neutrophils

Through chemical screening, we identified a pyrazolone that reversibly blocked the activation of phagocyte oxidase (phox) in human neutrophils in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or formylated peptide. The pyrazolone spared activation of phox by phorbol ester or bacteria, bacterial killing, TNF-induced granule exocytosis and phox assembly, and endothelial transmigration. We traced the pyrazolone's mechanism of action to inhibition of TNF-induced intracellular Ca2+ elevations, and identified a nontransmembrane (“soluble”) adenylyl cyclase (sAC) in neutrophils as a Ca2+-sensing source of cAMP. A sAC inhibitor mimicked the pyrazolone's effect on phox. Both compounds blocked TNF-induced activation of Rap1A, a phox-associated guanosine triphosphatase that is regulated by cAMP. Thus, TNF turns on phox through a Ca2+-triggered, sAC-dependent process that may involve activation of Rap1A. This pathway may offer opportunities to suppress oxidative damage during inflammation without blocking antimicrobial function

A Spanish version of the short Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS)

The aim of this studywas to adapt and assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the sMARS in terms of evidence of validity and reliability of scores. The sMARS was administered to 342 students and, in order to assess convergent and discriminant validity, several subsamples completed a series of related tests. The factorial structure of the sMARSwas analyzed by means of a confirmatory factor analysis and results showed that the three-factor structure reported in the original test fits well with the data. Thus, three dimensions were established in the test: math test, numerical task and math course anxiety. The results of this study provide sound evidence that demonstrates the good psychometric properties of the scores of the Spanish version of the sMARS: strong internal consistency, high 7-week test-retest reliability and good convergent/discriminant validity were evident. Overall, this study provides an instrument that allows us to obtain valid and reliable math anxiety measurements. This instrument may be a useful tool for educators and psychologists interested in identifying individuals that may have a low level of math mastery because of their anxiety

Towards an Interoperable Ecosystem of Research Cohort and Real-world Data Catalogues Enabling Multi-center Studies

Objectives : Existing individual-level human data cover large populations on many dimensions such as lifestyle, demography, laboratory measures, clinical parameters, etc. Recent years have seen large investments in data catalogues to FAIRify data descriptions to capitalise on this great promise, i.e. make catalogue contents more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. However, their valuable diversity also created heterogeneity, which poses challenges to optimally exploit their richness. Methods : In this opinion review, we analyse catalogues for human subject research ranging from cohort studies to surveillance, administrative and healthcare records. Results : We observe that while these catalogues are heterogeneous, have various scopes, and use different terminologies, still the underlying concepts seem potentially harmonizable. We propose a unified framework to enable catalogue data sharing, with catalogues of multi-center cohorts nested as a special case in catalogues of real-world data sources. Moreover, we list recommendations to create an integrated community of metadata catalogues and an open catalogue ecosystem to sustain these efforts and maximise impact. Conclusions : We propose to embrace the autonomy of motivated catalogue teams and invest in their collaboration via minimal standardisation efforts such as clear data licensing, persistent identifiers for linking same records between catalogues, minimal metadata ‘common data elements’ using shared ontologies, symmetric architectures for data sharing (push/pull) with clear provenance tracks to process updates and acknowledge original contributors. And most importantly, we encourage the creation of environments for collaboration and resource sharing between catalogue developers, building on international networks such as OpenAIRE and research data alliance, as well as domain specific ESFRIs such as BBMRI and ELIXIR

Asexuality: Classification and characterization

This is a post-print version of the article. The official published version can be obtaineed at the link below.The term “asexual” has been defined in many different ways and asexuality has received very little research attention. In a small qualitative study (N = 4), individuals who self-identified as asexual were interviewed to help formulate hypotheses for a larger study. The second larger study was an online survey drawn from a convenience sample designed to better characterize asexuality and to test predictors of asexual identity. A convenience sample of 1,146 individuals (N = 41 self-identified asexual) completed online questionnaires assessing sexual history, sexual inhibition and excitation, sexual desire, and an open-response questionnaire concerning asexual identity. Asexuals reported significantly less desire for sex with a partner, lower sexual arousability, and lower sexual excitation but did not differ consistently from non-asexuals in their sexual inhibition scores or their desire to masturbate. Content analyses supported the idea that low sexual desire is the primary feature predicting asexual identity