1,703 research outputs found
Enhancing the spectral gap of networks by node removal
Dynamics on networks are often characterized by the second smallest
eigenvalue of the Laplacian matrix of the network, which is called the spectral
gap. Examples include the threshold coupling strength for synchronization and
the relaxation time of a random walk. A large spectral gap is usually
associated with high network performance, such as facilitated synchronization
and rapid convergence. In this study, we seek to enhance the spectral gap of
undirected and unweighted networks by removing nodes because, practically, the
removal of nodes often costs less than the addition of nodes, addition of
links, and rewiring of links. In particular, we develop a perturbative method
to achieve this goal. The proposed method realizes better performance than
other heuristic methods on various model and real networks. The spectral gap
increases as we remove up to half the nodes in most of these networks.Comment: 5 figure
Clinical significance of perioperative Q-wave myocardial infarction: The Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial
AbstractObjective: The primary end point of the Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial was a composite of three events: death, Q-wave infarction, and a new large defect on 3-year postoperative thallium scan. This study examines the clinical significance of Q-wave infarction in the surgical cohort (194 patients) of the Emory trial. Methods: Twenty patients (10.3%) with Q-wave infarctions were identified: 13 patients had inferior Q-wave infarctions and seven patients had anterior, lateral, septal, or posterior Q-wave infarctions (termed anterior Q-wave infarctions). Results: In the inferior Q-wave infarction group, postoperative cardiac catheterization (at 1 year or 3 years) in 11 patients revealed normal ejection fraction (ejection fraction >55%) in 10 (91%), no wall motion abnormalities in 10 (91%), and all grafts patent in 10 (91%). In the anterior Q-wave infarction group, postoperative catheterizatiOn in six patients revealed normal ejection fractions in five (83%), no wall motion abnormalities in three (50%), and all grafts patent in three (50%). Average peak postoperative creatine kinase MB levels were as follows: no Q-wave infarction (n = 174) 37 ± 43 IU/L, inferior Q-wave infarction 40 ± 27 IU/L, and anterior Q-wave infarction 58 ± 38 IU/L. Mortality in the 20 patients with Q-wave infarctions was 5% (1/20) at 3 years; in patients without a Q-wave infarction it was 6.3% (11/174) (p = 0.64). Of 17 patients with a Q-wave infarction who underwent postoperative catheterization, 11 (65%) had a normal ejection fraction, normal wall motion, and all grafts patent with an uneventful 3-year postoperative course. Conclusions: The core laboratory screening of postoperative electrocardiograms, particularly in the case of inferior Q-wave infarctions, appears to identify a number of patients as having a Q-wave infarction with minimal clinical significance. Q-wave infarction identified in the postoperative period seems to be a weak end point with little prognostic significance and therefore not valuable for future randomized trials. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112:1447-54
Peristaltic Transport of a Rheological Fluid: Model for Movement of Food Bolus Through Esophagus
Fluid mechanical peristaltic transport through esophagus has been of concern
in the paper. A mathematical model has been developed with an aim to study the
peristaltic transport of a rheological fluid for arbitrary wave shapes and tube
lengths. The Ostwald-de Waele power law of viscous fluid is considered here to
depict the non-Newtonian behaviour of the fluid. The model is formulated and
analyzed with the specific aim of exploring some important information
concerning the movement of food bolus through the esophagus. The analysis has
been carried out by using lubrication theory. The study is particularly
suitable for cases where the Reynolds number is small. The esophagus is treated
as a circular tube through which the transport of food bolus takes places by
periodic contraction of the esophageal wall. Variation of different variables
concerned with the transport phenomena such as pressure, flow velocity,
particle trajectory and reflux are investigated for a single wave as well as
for a train of periodic peristaltic waves. Locally variable pressure is seen to
be highly sensitive to the flow index `n'. The study clearly shows that
continuous fluid transport for Newtonian/rheological fluids by wave train
propagation is much more effective than widely spaced single wave propagation
in the case of peristaltic movement of food bolus in the esophagus.Comment: Accepted for publication in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (AMM),
Springe
Detrended Fluctuation Analysis of Systolic Blood Pressure Control Loop
We use detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) to study the dynamics of blood
pressure oscillations and its feedback control in rats by analyzing systolic
pressure time series before and after a surgical procedure that interrupts its
control loop. We found, for each situation, a crossover between two scaling
regions characterized by exponents that reflect the nature of the feedback
control and its range of operation. In addition, we found evidences of
adaptation in the dynamics of blood pressure regulation a few days after
surgical disruption of its main feedback circuit. Based on the paradigm of
antagonistic, bipartite (vagal and sympathetic) action of the central nerve
system, we propose a simple model for pressure homeostasis as the balance
between two nonlinear opposing forces, successfully reproducing the crossover
observed in the DFA of actual pressure signals
Network Physiology reveals relations between network topology and physiological function
The human organism is an integrated network where complex physiologic
systems, each with its own regulatory mechanisms, continuously interact, and
where failure of one system can trigger a breakdown of the entire network.
Identifying and quantifying dynamical networks of diverse systems with
different types of interactions is a challenge. Here, we develop a framework to
probe interactions among diverse systems, and we identify a physiologic
network. We find that each physiologic state is characterized by a specific
network structure, demonstrating a robust interplay between network topology
and function. Across physiologic states the network undergoes topological
transitions associated with fast reorganization of physiologic interactions on
time scales of a few minutes, indicating high network flexibility in response
to perturbations. The proposed system-wide integrative approach may facilitate
the development of a new field, Network Physiology.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure
Virtual Patients and Sensitivity Analysis of the Guyton Model of Blood Pressure Regulation: Towards Individualized Models of Whole-Body Physiology
Mathematical models that integrate multi-scale physiological data can offer insight into physiological and pathophysiological function, and may eventually assist in individualized predictive medicine. We present a methodology for performing systematic analyses of multi-parameter interactions in such complex, multi-scale models. Human physiology models are often based on or inspired by Arthur Guyton's whole-body circulatory regulation model. Despite the significance of this model, it has not been the subject of a systematic and comprehensive sensitivity study. Therefore, we use this model as a case study for our methodology. Our analysis of the Guyton model reveals how the multitude of model parameters combine to affect the model dynamics, and how interesting combinations of parameters may be identified. It also includes a “virtual population” from which “virtual individuals” can be chosen, on the basis of exhibiting conditions similar to those of a real-world patient. This lays the groundwork for using the Guyton model for in silico exploration of pathophysiological states and treatment strategies. The results presented here illustrate several potential uses for the entire dataset of sensitivity results and the “virtual individuals” that we have generated, which are included in the supplementary material. More generally, the presented methodology is applicable to modern, more complex multi-scale physiological models
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