On the myology of the cephalic region and pectoral girdle of three arid species, <i>Arius heudeloti</i>, <i>Genidens genidens</i> and <i>Bagre marinus</i>, and comparison with other catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes)

The muscles of the cephalic region and pectoral girdle of Arius heudeloti, Genidens genidens and Bagre marinus are described and compared with those of non-ariid siluriforms. Our observations and comparisons revealed that, although the configuration of the cephalic and pectoral girdle musculature of these ariid species is basically similar to that of other catfishes, these species present two myological peculiarities that could eventually represent autapomorphic characters of the family Ariidae, namely: 1) the muscle adductor arcus palatini inserts not only on the mesial margin of the suspensorium, but also on a significant part of the lateral surface of this complex structure; 2) the adductor mandibulae Aw is obliquely oriented, with its postero-dorsal fibres being significantly dorsal to the upper edge of the coronoid process

Morphological particularities of the head in four Carapidae (Ophidiiformes)

A study of the skull and the musculature of the oral and pharyngeal region of four adult Carapidae species (Encheliophis boraboreruis, E. homei. E. gracilis and Carapus acus) has been undertaken to compare it with the diet related characters. The cephalic organization of E. boraborensis and E. gracilis seems related to diet (mainly fishes and shrimps for the first one and holothurian tissues for the other): these species are respectively commensal and parasitic. Although the feeding characters of E. homei and C. acus are closely similar to those of E. boraborensis, there are sparse observations of holothurian tissues in their stomach contents. It is suggested that these fishes are commensal when they are adults and have parasitic tendency when they are juveniles

Morphology of the <i>Buccal apparatus</i> and related structures in four species of Carapidae

The aims of this study were (1) to compare the morphology of the Buccal apparatus, the suspensorium and the opercle in four species of Carapidae (Carapus acus, Encheliophis boraborensis, Encheliophis homei and Encheliophis gracilis) and (2) to investigate the relationships between their cranial anatomy, their carnivorous diet, and their well known ability to enter holothurians.The complex and strong dentition and the wide hyomandibular with thickenings that seem to suit the constraints of the adductor mandibulae muscles partly inserted on the neurocranium are signs of a carnivorous diet.C. acus, E. boraborensis and E. homei have extremely strong buccal pieces and can protrude their upper jaws. However, in E. gracilis, the jaws are more slender, and the insertions of the Al along the entire length of the maxillary associated with the lack of mobility between the maxillary and the premaxillary prevent buccal protrusion. These differences could be related to the diet: C. acus, E. boraborensis and E. homei can feed on fishes and crustaceans, whereas E. gracilis feeds only on holothurian tissue.The cephalic morphology of the four species is not incompatible with entering the host. However, the neutralisation of the suboperculum spine by 'cartilaginous' tissue could be considered to be a particular adaptation to this behaviour

Dynamical model and nonextensive statistical mechanics of a market index on large time windows

The shape and tails of partial distribution functions (PDF) for a financial signal, i.e. the S&P500 and the turbulent nature of the markets are linked through a model encompassing Tsallis nonextensive statistics and leading to evolution equations of the Langevin and Fokker-Planck type. A model originally proposed to describe the intermittent behavior of turbulent flows describes the behavior of normalized log-returns for such a financial market index, for small and large time windows, both for small and large log-returns. These turbulent market volatility (of normalized log-returns) distributions can be sufficiently well fitted with a $\chi^2$-distribution. The transition between the small time scale model of nonextensive, intermittent process and the large scale Gaussian extensive homogeneous fluctuation picture is found to be at $ca.$ a 200 day time lag. The intermittency exponent ($\kappa$) in the framework of the Kolmogorov log-normal model is found to be related to the scaling exponent of the PDF moments, -thereby giving weight to the model. The large value of $\kappa$ points to a large number of cascades in the turbulent process. The first Kramers-Moyal coefficient in the Fokker-Planck equation is almost equal to zero, indicating ''no restoring force''. A comparison is made between normalized log-returns and mere price increments.Comment: 40 pages, 14 figures; accepted for publication in Phys Rev

Block to granular-like transition in dense bubble flows

We have experimentally investigated 2-dimensional dense bubble flows underneath inclined planes. Velocity profiles and velocity fluctuations have been measured. A broad second-order phase transition between two dynamical regimes is observed as a function of the tilt angle $\theta$. For low $\theta$ values, a block motion is observed. For high $\theta$ values, the velocity profile becomes curved and a shear velocity gradient appears in the flow.Comment: Europhys. Lett. (2003) in pres

An efficient SEM algorithm for Gaussian Mixtures with missing data

International audienceThe missing data problem is well-known for statisticians but its frequency increases with the growing size of modern datasets. In Gaussian model-based clustering, the EM algorithm easily takes into account such data by dealing with two kinds of latent levels: the components and the variables. However, the quite familiar degeneracy problem in Gaussian mixtures is aggravated during the EM runs. Indeed, numerical experiments clearly reveal that degeneracy is quite slow and also more frequent than with complete data. In practice, such situations are difficult to detect efficiently. Consequently, degenerated solutions may be confused with valuable solutions and, in addition, computing time may be wasted through wrong runs. A theoretical and practical study of the degeneracy will be presented. Moreover a simple condition on the latent partition to avoid degeneracy will be exhibited. This condition is used in a constrained version of the Stochastic EM (SEM) algorithm. Numerical experiments on real and simulated data illustrate the good behaviour of the proposed algorithm

Ocular Pulse Amplitude and Doppler Waveform Analysis in Glaucoma Patients

PURPOSE: To determine the correlation between ocular blood flow velocities and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in glaucoma patients using colour Doppler imaging (CDI) waveform analysis. METHOD: A prospective, observer-masked, case-control study was performed. OPA and blood flow variables from central retinal artery and vein (CRA, CRV), nasal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries (NPCA, TPCA) and ophthalmic artery (OA) were obtained through dynamic contour tonometry and CDI, respectively. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the correlations between OPA and retrobulbar CDI waveform and systemic cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, blood pressure amplitude, mean ocular perfusion pressure and peripheral pulse). RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-two patients were included [healthy controls: 55; primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG): 74; normal-tension glaucoma (NTG): 63]. OPA was statistically different between groups (Healthy: 3.17 ± 1.2 mmHg; NTG: 2.58 ± 1.2 mmHg; POAG: 2.60 ± 1.1 mmHg; p < 0.01), but not between the glaucoma groups (p = 0.60). Multiple regression models to explain OPA variance were made for each cohort (healthy: p < 0.001, r = 0.605; NTG: p = 0.003, r = 0.372; POAG: p < 0.001, r = 0.412). OPA was independently associated with retrobulbar CDI parameters in the healthy subjects and POAG patients (healthy CRV resistance index: β = 3.37, CI: 0.16-6.59; healthy NPCA mean systolic/diastolic velocity ratio: β = 1.34, CI: 0.52-2.15; POAG TPCA mean systolic velocity: β = 0.14, CI 0.05-0.23). OPA in the NTG group was associated with diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate (β = -0.04, CI: -0.06 to -0.01; β = -0.04, CI: -0.06 to -0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular-related models provide a better explanation to OPA variance in healthy individuals than in glaucoma patients. The variables that influence OPA seem to be different in healthy, POAG and NTG patients

Selection of DNA nanoparticles with preferential binding to aggregated protein target.

High affinity and specificity are considered essential for affinity reagents and molecularly-targeted therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies. However, life's own molecular and cellular machinery consists of lower affinity, highly multivalent interactions that are metastable, but easily reversible or displaceable. With this inspiration, we have developed a DNA-based reagent platform that uses massive avidity to achieve stable, but reversible specific recognition of polyvalent targets. We have previously selected these DNA reagents, termed DeNAno, against various cells and now we demonstrate that DeNAno specific for protein targets can also be selected. DeNAno were selected against streptavidin-, rituximab- and bevacizumab-coated beads. Binding was stable for weeks and unaffected by the presence of soluble target proteins, yet readily competed by natural or synthetic ligands of the target proteins. Thus DeNAno particles are a novel biomolecular recognition agent whose orthogonal use of avidity over affinity results in uniquely stable yet reversible binding interactions