Relative Importance of Environmental Attributes Using Logistic Regression

We investigate the problem of determining the relative importance of attributes in the discrete choice setting. Four alternative methods of extracting the relative importance of attributes are considered. The empirical application involves the development of a risk index system for individual herbicides combining the information on the herbicides' different human and environmental risks. The values of the pesticide risk indices are found to be consistent across the different methods.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Peak Yield, Yield and Persistency Traits in Murciano-Granadina Goats Using Multi-Traits Models

This paper studies parameters of a lactation curve such as peak yield (PY) and persistency (P), which do not conform to the usual selection criteria in the Murciano-Granadina (MG) breed, but are considered to be an alternative to benefit animal welfare without reducing production. Using 315,663 production records (of 122,883 animals) over a period of 24 years (1990–2014), genetic parameters were estimated with uni-, bi- and multivariate analysis using multiple trait derivative free restricted maximum likelihood (MTDFREML). The heritability (h2)/repeatability (re) of PY, yield (Y) and P was estimated as 0.13/0.19, 0.16/0.25 and 0.08/0.09 with the uni-trait and h2 of bi- and multi-traits analysis ranging from 0.16 to 0.17 of Y, while that of PY and Y remained constant. Genetic correlations were high between PY–Y (0.94 ± 0.011) but low between PY–P (–0.16 ± 0.054 to –0.17 ± 0.054) and between Y–P (–0.06 ± 0.058 to –0.05 ± 0.058). Estimates of h2/re were low to intermediate. The selection for Y–PY or both can be implemented given the genetic correlation between these traits. PY–P and Y–P showed low to negligible correlation values indicating that if these traits are implemented in the early stages of evaluation, they would not be to the detriment of PY–Y. The combination of estimated breeding values (EBVs) for all traits would be a good criterion for selection

Intersection local times of fractional Brownian motions with H∈(0,1)H\in(0,1) as generalized white noise functionals

In $\R^d$, for any dimension $d\geq 1$, expansions of self-intersection local times of fractional Brownian motions with arbitrary Hurst coefficients in $(0,1)$ are presented. The expansions are in terms of Wick powers of white noises (corresponding to multiple Wiener integrals), being well-defined in the sense of generalized white noise functionals.Comment: 17 page

Searching for Communities in Bipartite Networks

Bipartite networks are a useful tool for representing and investigating interaction networks. We consider methods for identifying communities in bipartite networks. Intuitive notions of network community groups are made explicit using Newman's modularity measure. A specialized version of the modularity, adapted to be appropriate for bipartite networks, is presented; a corresponding algorithm is described for identifying community groups through maximizing this measure. The algorithm is applied to networks derived from the EU Framework Programs on Research and Technological Development. Community groups identified are compared using information-theoretic methods.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, to appear in "Proceedings of the 5th Jagna International Workshop: Stochastic and Quantum Dynamics of Biomolecular Systems," C. C. Bernido and M. V. Carpio-Bernido, editors. A version with full-quality figures and larger file size is available at http://ccm.uma.pt/publications/Barber-Faria-Streit-Strogan-2008.pd

IDENTIFICATION OF PROTEINS ISOLATE FROM AMARANTH (AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS) BY SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE-POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS WITH WATER AND NACL 0.1 M SOLVENTS

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study was to obtain protein isolate from amaranth using alkaline method at extraction pH 8 and extraction pH 12 withdifferent precipitation pHs and to analyze protein isolate with electrophoresis.Methods: Amaranth protein isolates were obtained using isoelectric precipitation method at different pHs. Proteins were analyzed using sodiumdodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.Results: A yield of 20.52% of protein isolate of defatted amaranth at pH 4.0 was obtained. The content of protein isolate was higher than 53% in allpH assays. Globulins and albumins in protein isolate at different pHs were observed. A band with 50 kDa corresponding to 7S globulin was found. Thebands 36-38 kDa and 18-20 kDa correspond to 11S globulin. Bands less to 14.4 kDa correspond to albumins.Conclusions: Amaranth protein isolate is possible to obtain in extreme conditions of pH. The treatment with water was optimum to obtain amaranthprotein isolate.Keywords: Amaranth, Globulins, Albumins, Proteinisolate, Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Tracking collective cell motion by topological data analysis

By modifying and calibrating an active vertex model to experiments, we have simulated numerically a confluent cellular monolayer spreading on an empty space and the collision of two monolayers of different cells in an antagonistic migration assay. Cells are subject to inertial forces and to active forces that try to align their velocities with those of neighboring ones. In agreement with experiments, spreading tests exhibit finger formation in the moving interfaces, swirls in the velocity field, and the polar order parameter and correlation and swirl lengths increase with time. Cells inside the tissue have smaller area than those at the interface, as observed in recent experiments. In antagonistic migration assays, a population of fluidlike Ras cells invades a population of wild type solidlike cells having shape parameters above and below the geometric critical value, respectively. Cell mixing or segregation depends on the junction tensions between different cells. We reproduce experimentally observed antagonistic migration assays by assuming that a fraction of cells favor mixing, the others segregation, and that these cells are randomly distributed in space. To characterize and compare the structure of interfaces between cell types or of interfaces of spreading cellular monolayers in an automatic manner, we apply topological data analysis to experimental data and to numerical simulations. We use time series of numerical simulation data to automatically group, track and classify advancing interfaces of cellular aggregates by means of bottleneck or Wasserstein distances of persistent homologies. These topological data analysis techniques are scalable and could be used in studies involving large amounts of data. Besides applications to wound healing and metastatic cancer, these studies are relevant for tissue engineering, biological effects of materials, tissue and organ regeneration.Comment: 34 pages, 25 figures, the final version will appear in PLoS Computational Biolog

ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN ISOLATE FROM QUINOA (CHENOPODIUM QUINOA WILLD)

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study was to obtain protein isolate from quinoa using alkaline pH at different pHs of precipitation and to analyze proteinisolate with electrophoresis.Methods: Quinoa protein isolates were obtained using isoelectric precipitation method at different pHs. Proteins were analyzed using electrophoresisnative-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate - PAGE.Results: A yield of 6.29% of protein isolate of defatted quinoa at pH 4.0 was obtained. The content of protein isolate was higher than 64% in allpH assays. Globulins and albumins in protein isolate at different pHs were observed. One band near 130 kDa was found. A band with MW 60 kDacorresponding to 7S globulin was found. The bands, MW 33-36 kDa and MW 20-22 kDa, correspond to 11S globulin. Bands less to 15.4 kDa correspondto albumins.Conclusions: Quinoa is a good source of proteins. Globulins and albumins were identified in the quinoa protein isolate.Keywords: Quinoa, Globulins, Albumins, Polypeptides, Protein isolate

ANALYSIS OF SESAME PROTEINS ISOLATE (SESAMUM INDICUM L) WITH WATER AND SALT TREATMENT

Objective: The aim of this study was to obtain protein isolate from sesame using alkaline pH at different pHs of precipitation with water and salt andto analyze protein isolate with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).Methods: Sesame protein isolates were obtained using isoelectric precipitation method at different pHs using water and salt as solvents. Proteinswere analyzed using native-PAGE and SDS-PAGE.Results: A yield of 14,727% ± 0.3 of protein isolate of defatted sesame flour at pH 7.0 with a 47.4% ± 0.6 of protein was obtained. The yield of proteinisolate using water and salt was similar. Polypeptides profile is between 6.5 and 50 kDa.Conclusions: Sesame seed is a good source of proteins. Globulins and albumins were identified in the sesame protein isolate in the presence of waterand salt.Keywords: Sesame, Protein isolate, Proteins, Globulins and albumins

ISOLATION OF PROTEINS FROM SACHA INCHI (PLUKENETIA VOLUBILIS L.) IN PRESENCE OF WATER AND SALT

Objective: The aim of this study was to obtain protein isolate from sacha inchi using alkaline pH at different pHs of precipitation with water and saltand to analyze protein isolate with electrophoresis.Methods: Sacha inchi protein isolates were obtained using isoelectric precipitation method at different pHs. Proteins were analyzed usingelectrophoresis native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), one-dimensional, two-dimensional-sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE.Results: A yield of 20.88% of protein isolate of defatted sacha inchi flour at pH 4.0 with a 75.31% of protein was obtained. The yield of protein isolateusing water and salt was similar. Polypeptides profile is between 14 and 70 kDa.Conclusions: Sacha inchi seed is a good source of proteins. Globulins and albumins were identified in the sacha inchi protein isolate in the presenceof water and salt.Keywords: Albumins, Globulins, Proteins, Protein isolate, Sacha inchi