261 research outputs found
Simulating Tritrophic Interactions by Means of P Systems
P systems provide a high level computational modelling framework that combines the structural and dynamical aspects of ecosystems in a compressive and relevant way. The inherent randomness and uncertainty in biological systems is captured by using probabilistic strategies. The design of efficient simulation algorithms in order to reproduce the behavior of these computational models over conventional computers is fundamental for the validation and virtual experimentation processes. In this paper, we describe the modelling framework and two different simulation algorithms. As a case study, a P system based model of an ideal ecosystem with three trophic levels is designed and simulated by both simulation algorithms, providing comparisons of efficiency between them
Comparing simulation algorithms for multienvironment probabilistic P systems over a standard virtual ecosystem
Membrane Computing has recently proved to
be a suitable framework for addressing the modelling of
dynamical biological systems in general, and ecosystems in
particular. Due to the inherent randomness and uncertainty
in biological systems, when designing a model the relevant
tasks to be addressed are the validation and virtual experimentation
processes, rather than the formal verification. It
is therefore crucial to rely on software implementations of
efficient simulation algorithms. This paper presents a
simple (but realistic enough) ecosystem where a carnivore
and several herbivorous species interact. The model of this
ecosystem has been used to compare experimentally the
performance of two different simulation algorithms.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciĂłn TIN2009â13192Junta de AndalucĂa P08-TIC-0420
MeCoSim: A general purpose software tool for simulating biological phenomena by means of P Systems
In recent years, the increasing importance of the
computational systems biology is leading to an impressive growth
of the knowledge of several real-life phenomena. In this framework,
membrane computing is an emergent branch within natural
computing that has been succesfully used to model biological
phenomena. The study of these phenomena usually requires the
execution of virtual experiments using mechanisms of simulation,
implying the development of ad-hoc tools to simulate. However,
the advance of the research is demanding general solutions
to avoid the necessity of custom software developments for
each matter of study, when there are some common problems
to resolve. MeCoSim (Membrane Computing Simulator) is a
first step in this direction providing the users a customizable
application to generate custom simulators based on membrane
computing by simply writing a configuration file.Ministerio de EducaciĂłn y Ciencia TIN2009â13192Junta de AndalucĂa P08âTIC-0420
A new simulation algorithm for multienvironment probabilistic P systems
Multienvironment P systems are the base of a
general framework for modeling ecosystems dynamics. On one
hand, this modeling framework represents the structural and
dynamical aspects of real ecosystems in a discrete, modular and
compressive way. On the other hand, the inherent randomness
and uncertainty of biological systems are captured by using
probabilistic strategies. Nowadays, the simulation of these P
systems based models is fundamental for experimentation and
validation. In this paper, we introduce a new simulation algorithm,
called DNDP, which performs object distribution and
maximal consistency in the application of rules, that are crucial
aspects of these systems.
The paper also depicts a parallel implementation of the
algorithm, and a comparison with the existing algorithm in
PLinguaCore is provided. In order to test the performance of the
presented algorithm, several experiments (simulations) have been
carried out over four simple P systems with the same skeleton
and different number of environments.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciĂłn TIN2009â13192Junta de AndalucĂa P08âTIC-0420
A uniform framework for modeling based on P Systems
In this paper, a P systems based general framework
for modeling the dynamics of a population biology is presented.
Multienvironment probabilistic functional P systems with active
membranes provide the syntactical specification, and the semantics
is captured by using stochastic or probabilistic strategies
implemented through simulation algorithms.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciĂłn TIN2009â13192Junta de AndalucĂa P08âTIC-0420
A new approach for the treatment of CLL using chlorambucil/hydroxychloroquine-loaded anti-CD20 nanoparticles
Current approaches for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have greatly improved the prognosis for survival, but some patients remain refractive to these therapeutic regimens. Hence, in addition to reducing the long-term sideeffects of therapeutics for all leukemia patients, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for difficult-to-treat leukemia cases. Due to the cytotoxicity of drugs, the major challenge currently is to deliver the therapeutic agents to neoplastic cells while preserving the viability of non-malignant cells. In this study, we propose a therapeutic approach in which high doses of hydroxychloroquine and chlorambucil were loaded into biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles coated with an anti-CD20 antibody.We first demonstrated the ability of the nanoparticles to target and internalize in tumor B-cells. Moreover, these nanoparticles could kill not only p53-mutated/deleted leukemia cells expressing a low amount of CD20, but also circulating primary cells isolated from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. The safety of these nanoparticles was also demonstrated in healthy mice, and their therapeutic effects were shown in a new model of aggressive leukemia. These results showed that anti-CD20 nanoparticles containing hydroxychloroquine and chlorambucil can be effective in controlling aggressive leukemia and provided a rationale for adopting this approach for the treatment of other B-cell disorders. [Figure not available: see fulltext.
EvaluaciĂłn fĂsica y clĂnica de sementales bovinos en dos municipios de la costa chica de Guerrero, MĂ©xico
Objective: To evaluate the reproductive physical characteristics and general health of stallions in two municipalities of Costa Chica of Guerrero, Mexico.
Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out in the municipalities of Ometepec and Cuajinicuilapa. Thirty bulls between 2 and 10 years of age were evaluated. In the physical reproductive and clinical examination were performed by direct observation, using ultrasound to evaluate attached reproductive glands and testicular parenchyma. Blood samples were taken to determine the blood profile. Descriptive statistics was used to present the results.
Results: The 86% of the bulls had adequate legs and feet as well as preputial length. Scrotal circumference was according to the age and breed of the animals. Testicular defects were showed for 30% of the bulls, the most common was hypoplasia and unilateral tumors of testicular parenchyma and epididymis, as well as calcifications of the testicular parenchyma. The 93% of the bulls had normal accessory genital glands. Clinically 24% of the bulls with signs suggestive of anaplasmosis were found. The 76% of the bulls, apparently healthy, presented monocytosis, thrombocytopenia and anemia.
Limitations on study/implications: the lack of knowledge of the producers about the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the bulls allows them to suffer from diseases without receiving any type of treatment, decreasing their reproductive efficiency.
Findings/conclusions: Most of the bulls evaluated had the minimum physical characteristics required, although the presence of anemia and respiratory diseases may have an indirect negative impact on the reproductive efficiency of the bulls.Objetivo: Evaluar las caracterĂsticas fĂsicas reproductivas y la salud general de los sementales en dos municipios de Costa Chica de Guerrero, MĂ©xico.
Diseño/metodologĂa/aproximaciĂłn: Se evaluaron reproductiva y clĂnicamente 30 sementales, de entre 2 y 10 años. El examen reproductivo, se realizĂł por observaciĂłn directa, empleĂĄndose ecografĂa para evaluar glĂĄndulas reproductivas anexas y el parĂ©nquima testicular. La evaluaciĂłn clĂnica se realizĂł por medio del examen fĂsico y perfil hemĂĄtico. Se empleĂł estadĂstica descriptiva para la presentaciĂłn de los resultados.
Resultados: El 86% de los sementales tuvieron aplomos y largo prepucial adecuado, asĂ como circunferencia escrotal acorde a la edad y raza de los animales. El 30% de los sementales presentaron defectos testiculares, siendo los mĂĄs comunes, hipoplasia y tumores unilaterales de parĂ©nquima testicular y epidĂdimos, asĂ como calcificaciones del parĂ©nquima testicular. El 93% de las glĂĄndulas anexas fueron normales. ClĂnicamente se encontrĂł un 24% de los sementales con signos sugerentes a anaplasmosis. El 76% de los toros, aparentemente sanos, presentaron monocitosis, trombocitopenia y anemia.
Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: El desconocimiento de los productores sobre la necesidad de una evaluaciĂłn integral de los sementales permite que Ă©stos padezcan enfermedades que no son tratadas, disminuyendo su eficiencia reproductiva.
Hallazgos/conclusiones: La mayorĂa de los sementales evaluados tuvieron las caracterĂsticas fĂsicas mĂnimas requeridas, aunque la presencia de anemia y enfermedades respiratorias pueden tener incidencia negativa indirecta sobre la eficiencia reproductiva de los sementales
DCBA: Simulating Population Dynamics P Systems with Proportional Object Distribution
Population Dynamics P systems refer to a formal framework for ecological
modelling. The semantics of the model associates probabilities to rules, but at the
same time, the model is based on P systems, so the rules are applied in a maximally
parallel way. Since the success of the rst model using this framework [5], initially
called multienvironment probabilistic P systems, several simulation algorithms have been
de ned in order to better reproduce the behaviour of the ecosystems with the models.
BBB and DNDP are previous attempts, which de ne blocks of rules having the
same left-hand side, but do not de ne a deterministic behaviour when di erent rules are
competing for the same resources. That is, di erent blocks of rules present in their lefthand
side common objects, being applicable at the same time. In this paper, we introduce
a new simulation algorithm, called DCBA, which performs a proportional distribution of
resources.Junta de AndalucĂa P08-TIC04200Ministerio de EducaciĂłn y Ciencia TIN2009-1319
Methods to estimate aboveground wood productivity from long-term forest inventory plots
Forest inventory plots are widely used to estimate biomass carbon storage and its change over time. While there has been much debate and exploration of the analytical methods for calculating biomass, the methods used to determine rates of wood production have not been evaluated to the same degree. This affects assessment of ecosystem fluxes and may have wider implications if inventory data are used to parameterise biospheric models, or scaled to large areas in assessments of carbon sequestration. Here we use a dataset of 35 long-term Amazonian forest inventory plots to test different methods of calculating wood production rates. These address potential biases associated with three issues that routinely impact the interpretation of tree measurement data: (1) changes in the point of measurement (POM) of stem diameter as trees grow over time; (2) unequal length of time between censuses; and (3) the treatment of trees that pass the minimum diameter threshold (ârecruitsâ). We derive corrections that control for changing POM height, that account for the unobserved growth of trees that die within census intervals, and that explore different assumptions regarding the growth of recruits during the previous census interval. For our dataset we find that annual aboveground coarse wood production (AGWP; in Mg haâ1 yearâ1 of dry matter) is underestimated on average by 9.2% if corrections are not made to control for changes in POM height. Failure to control for the length of sampling intervals results in a mean underestimation of 2.7% in annual AGWP in our plots for a mean interval length of 3.6 years. Different methods for treating recruits result in mean differences of up to 8.1% in AGWP. In general, the greater the length of time a plot is sampled for and the greater the time elapsed between censuses, the greater the tendency to underestimate wood production. We recommend that POM changes, census interval length, and the contribution of recruits should all be accounted for when estimating productivity rates, and suggest methods for doing this.European UnionUK Natural Environment Research CouncilGordon and Betty Moore FoundationCASE sponsorship from UNEP-WCMCRoyal Society University Research FellowshipERC Advanced Grant âTropical Forests in the Changing Earth SystemâRoyal Society Wolfson Research Merit Awar
- âŠ