136 research outputs found
Transience and recurrence of random walks on percolation clusters in an ultrametric space
We study existence of percolation in the hierarchical group of order ,
which is an ultrametric space, and transience and recurrence of random walks on
the percolation clusters. The connection probability on the hierarchical group
for two points separated by distance is of the form , with , non-negative constants , and . Percolation was proved in Dawson and Gorostiza
(2013) for , with
. In this paper we improve the result for the critical case by
showing percolation for . We use a renormalization method of the type
in the previous paper in a new way which is more intrinsic to the model. The
proof involves ultrametric random graphs (described in the Introduction). The
results for simple (nearest neighbour) random walks on the percolation clusters
are: in the case the walk is transient, and in the critical case
, there exists a critical
such that the walk is recurrent for and transient for
. The proofs involve graph diameters, path lengths, and
electric circuit theory. Some comparisons are made with behaviours of random
walks on long-range percolation clusters in the one-dimensional Euclidean
lattice.Comment: 27 page
Hierarchical equilibria of branching populations
The objective of this paper is the study of the equilibrium behavior of a
population on the hierarchical group consisting of families of
individuals undergoing critical branching random walk and in addition these
families also develop according to a critical branching process. Strong
transience of the random walk guarantees existence of an equilibrium for this
two-level branching system. In the limit (called the hierarchical
mean field limit), the equilibrium aggregated populations in a nested sequence
of balls of hierarchical radius converge to a backward
Markov chain on . This limiting Markov chain can be explicitly
represented in terms of a cascade of subordinators which in turn makes possible
a description of the genealogy of the population.Comment: 62 page
Percolation in a hierarchical random graph
We study asymptotic percolation as in an infinite random graph
embedded in the hierarchical group of order , with connection
probabilities depending on an ultrametric distance between vertices. is structured as a cascade of finite random subgraphs of (approximate)
Erd\"os-Renyi type. We give a criterion for percolation, and show that
percolation takes place along giant components of giant components at the
previous level in the cascade of subgraphs for all consecutive hierarchical
distances. The proof involves a hierarchy of random graphs with vertices having
an internal structure and random connection probabilities.Comment: 19 pages and 1 figur
Self-similar stable processes arising from high-density limits of occupation times of particle systems
We extend results on time-rescaled occupation time fluctuation limits of the
-branching particle system with Poisson initial condition. The earlier results in the homogeneous case
(i.e., with Lebesgue initial intensity measure) were obtained for dimensions
only, since the particle system becomes locally extinct if
. In this paper we show that by introducing high density
of the initial Poisson configuration, limits are obtained for all dimensions,
and they coincide with the previous ones if . We also give
high-density limits for the systems with finite intensity measures (without
high density no limits exist in this case due to extinction); the results are
different and harder to obtain due to the non-invariance of the measure for the
particle motion. In both cases, i.e., Lebesgue and finite intensity measures,
for low dimensions ( and
, respectively) the limits are determined by
non-L\'evy self-similar stable processes. For the corresponding high dimensions
the limits are qualitatively different: -valued L\'evy
processes in the Lebesgue case, stable processes constant in time on
in the finite measure case. For high dimensions, the laws of all
limit processes are expressed in terms of Riesz potentials. If , the
limits are Gaussian. Limits are also given for particle systems without
branching, which yields in particular weighted fractional Brownian motions in
low dimensions. The results are obtained in the setup of weak convergence of
S'(R^d)$-valued processes.Comment: 28 page
Oscillatory Fractional Brownian Motion and Hierarchical Random Walks
We introduce oscillatory analogues of fractional Brownian motion,
sub-fractional Brownian motion and other related long range dependent Gaussian
processes, we discuss their properties, and we show how they arise from
particle systems with or without branching and with different types of initial
conditions, where the individual particle motion is the so-called c-random walk
on a hierarchical group. The oscillations are caused by the discrete and
ultrametric structure of the hierarchical group, and they become slower as time
tends to infinity and faster as time approaches zero. We also give other
results to provide an overall picture of the behavior of this kind of systems,
emphasizing the new phenomena that are caused by the ultrametric structure as
compared with results for analogous models on Euclidean space
GHEP-ISFG collaborative exercise on mixture profiles of autosomal STRs (GHEP-MIX01, GHEP-MIX02 and GHEP-MIX03): results and evaluation
One of the main objectives of the Spanish and Portuguese-Speaking Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG) is to promote and contribute to the development and dissemination of scientific knowledge in the area of forensic genetics. Due to this fact, GHEP-ISFG holds different working commissions that are set up to develop activities in scientific aspects of general interest. One of them, the Mixture Commission of GHEP-ISFG, has organized annually, since 2009, a collaborative exercise on analysis and interpretation of autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) mixture profiles. Until now, three exercises have been organized (GHEP-MIX01, GHEP-MIX02 and GHEP-MIX03), with 32, 24 and 17 participant laboratories respectively. The exercise aims to give a general vision by addressing, through the proposal of mock cases, aspects related to the edition of mixture profiles and the statistical treatment. The main conclusions obtained from these exercises may be summarized as follows. Firstly, the data show an increased tendency of the laboratories toward validation of DNA mixture profiles analysis following international recommendations (ISO/IEC 17025:2005). Secondly, the majority of discrepancies are mainly encountered in stutters positions (53.4%, 96.0% and 74.9%, respectively for the three editions). On the other hand, the results submitted reveal the importance of performing duplicate analysis by using different kits in order to reduce errors as much as possible. Regarding the statistical aspect (GHEP-MIX02 and 03), all participants employed the likelihood ratio (LR) parameter to evaluate the statistical compatibility and the formulas employed were quite similar. When the hypotheses to evaluate the LR value were locked by the coordinators (GHEP-MIX02) the results revealed a minor number of discrepancies that were mainly due to clerical reasons. However, the GHEP-MIX03 exercise allowed the participants to freely come up with their own hypotheses to calculate the LR value. In this situation the laboratories reported several options to explain the mock cases proposed and therefore significant differences between the final LR values were obtained. Complete information concerning the background of the criminal case is a critical aspect in order to select the adequate hypotheses to calculate the LR value. Although this should be a task for the judicial court to decide, it is important for the expert to account for the different possibilities and scenarios, and also offer this expertise to the judge. In addition, continuing education in the analysis and interpretation of mixture DNA profiles may also be a priority for the vast majority of forensic laboratories.Fil: Sala, Adriana Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Servicio de Huellas Digitales GenĂ©ticas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Crespillo, M.. Instituto Nacional de ToxicologĂa y Ciencias Forenses; EspañaFil: Barrio, P. A.. Instituto Nacional de ToxicologĂa y Ciencias Forenses; EspañaFil: Luque, J. A.. Instituto Nacional de ToxicologĂa y Ciencias Forenses; EspañaFil: Alves, CĂntia. Universidad de Porto; PortugalFil: Aler, M.. Servicio de Laboratorio. SecciĂłn de GenĂ©tica Forense y CriminalĂstica; EspañaFil: Alessandrini, F.. UniversitĂ Politecnica delle Marche. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health; ItaliaFil: Andrade, L.. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e CiĂȘncias Forenses, Delegação do Centro. Serviço de GenĂ©tica e Biologia Forenses; PortugalFil: Barretto, R. M.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Bofarull, A.. Instituto Nacional de ToxicologĂa y Ciencias Forenses; EspañaFil: Costa, S.. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses; PortugalFil: GarcĂa, M. A.. Servicio de CriminalĂstica de la Guardia Civil. Laboratorio Central de CriminalĂstica. Departamento de BiologĂa; EspañaFil: GarcĂa, O.. Basque Country Police. Forensic Genetics Section. Forensic Science Unit; EspañaFil: Gaviria, A.. Cruz Roja Ecuatoriana. Laboratorio de GenĂ©tica Molecular; EcuadorFil: Gladys, A.. Corte Suprema de Justicia de la NaciĂłn; ArgentinaFil: Gorostiza, A.. Grupo Zeltia. Genomica S. A. U.. Laboratorio de IdentificaciĂłn GenĂ©tica; EspañaFil: HernĂĄndez, A.. Instituto Nacional de ToxicologĂa y Ciencias Forenses; EspañaFil: Herrera, M.. Laboratorio Genda S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Hombreiro, L.. Jefatura Superior de PolicĂa de Galicia. Brigada de PolicĂa CientĂfica. Laboratorio Territorial de BiologĂa â ADN; EspañaFil: Ibarra, A. A.. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: JimĂ©nez, M. J.. Policia de la Generalitat â Mossos dâEsquadra. DivisiĂł de Policia CientĂfica. Ărea Central de CriminalĂstica. Unitat Central de Laboratori BiolĂČgic; EspañaFil: Luque, G. M.. Instituto Nacional de ToxicologĂa y Ciencias Forenses; EspañaFil: Madero, P.. Centro de AnĂĄlisis GenĂ©ticos; EspañaFil: MartĂnez Jarreta, B.. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Masciovecchio, M. VerĂłnica. IACA Laboratorios; ArgentinaFil: Modesti, Nidia Maria. Provincia de CĂłrdoba. Poder Judicial; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, F.. Servicio MĂ©dico Legal. Unidad de GenĂ©tica Forense; ChileFil: Pagano, S.. DirecciĂłn Nacional de PolicĂa TĂ©cnica. Laboratorio de AnĂĄlisis de ADN para el CODIS; UruguayFil: Pedrosa, S.. Navarra de Servicios y TecnologĂas S. A. U.; EspañaFil: Plaza, G.. Neodiagnostica S. L.; EspañaFil: Prat, E.. ComisarĂa General de PolicĂa CientĂfica. Laboratorio de ADN; EspañaFil: Puente, J.. Laboratorio de GenĂ©tica ClĂnica S. L.; EspañaFil: Rendo, F.. Universidad del PaĂs Vasco; EspañaFil: Ribeiro, T.. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e CiĂȘncias Forenses, Delegação Sul. Serviço de GenĂ©tica e Biologia Forenses; PortugalFil: SantamarĂa, E.. Instituto Nacional de ToxicologĂa y Ciencias Forenses; EspañaFil: Saragoni, V. G.. Servicio MĂ©dico Legal. Departamento de Laboratorios. Unidad de GenĂ©tica Forense; ChileFil: Whittle, M. R.. Genomic Engenharia Molecular; Brasi
Colloids as Mobile Substrates for the Implantation and Integration of Differentiated Neurons into the Mammalian Brain
Neuronal degeneration and the deterioration of neuronal communication lie at the origin of many neuronal disorders, and there have been major efforts to develop cell replacement therapies for treating such diseases. One challenge, however, is that differentiated cells are challenging to transplant due to their sensitivity both to being uprooted from their cell culture growth support and to shear forces inherent in the implantation process. Here, we describe an approach to address these problems. We demonstrate that rat hippocampal neurons can be grown on colloidal particles or beads, matured and even transfected in vitro, and subsequently transplanted while adhered to the beads into the young adult rat hippocampus. The transplanted cells have a 76% cell survival rate one week post-surgery. At this time, most transplanted neurons have left their beads and elaborated long processes, similar to the host neurons. Additionally, the transplanted cells distribute uniformly across the host hippocampus. Expression of a fluorescent protein and the light-gated glutamate receptor in the transplanted neurons enabled them to be driven to fire by remote optical control. At 1-2 weeks after transplantation, calcium imaging of host brain slice shows that optical excitation of the transplanted neurons elicits activity in nearby host neurons, indicating the formation of functional transplant-host synaptic connections. After 6 months, the transplanted cell survival and overall cell distribution remained unchanged, suggesting that cells are functionally integrated. This approach, which could be extended to other cell classes such as neural stem cells and other regions of the brain, offers promising prospects for neuronal circuit repair via transplantation of in vitro differentiated, genetically engineered neurons
Optical Control of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of membrane signaling proteins, respond to neurotransmitters, hormones and small environmental molecules. The neuronal function of many GPCRs has been difficult to resolve because of an inability to gate them with subtype-specificity, spatial precision, speed and reversibility. To address this, we developed an approach for opto-chemical engineering native GPCRs. We applied this to the metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) to generate light-agonized and light-antagonized âLimGluRsâ. The light-agonized âLimGluR2â, on which we focused, is fast, bistable, and supports multiple rounds of on/off switching. Light gates two of the primary neuronal functions of mGluR2: suppression of excitability and inhibition of neurotransmitter release. The light-antagonized âLimGluR2blockâ can be used to manipulate negative feedback of synaptically released glutamate on transmitter release. We generalize the optical control to two additional family members: mGluR3 and 6. The system works in rodent brain slice and in zebrafish in vivo, where we find that mGluR2 modulates the threshold for escape behavior. These light-gated mGluRs pave the way for determining the roles of mGluRs in synaptic plasticity, memory and disease
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