90 research outputs found
Optimizing Functional Network Representation of Multivariate Time Series
By combining complex network theory and data mining techniques, we provide objective criteria for optimization of the functional network representation of generic multivariate time series. In particular, we propose a method for the principled selection of the threshold value for functional network reconstruction from raw data, and for proper identification of the network's indicators that unveil the most discriminative information on the system for classification purposes. We illustrate our method by analysing networks of functional brain activity of healthy subjects, and patients suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment, an intermediate stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more pronounced decline of dementia. We discuss extensions of the scope of the proposed methodology to network engineering purposes, and to other data mining tasks
Planetary Dynamics and Habitable Planet Formation In Binary Star Systems
Whether binaries can harbor potentially habitable planets depends on several
factors including the physical properties and the orbital characteristics of
the binary system. While the former determines the location of the habitable
zone (HZ), the latter affects the dynamics of the material from which
terrestrial planets are formed (i.e., planetesimals and planetary embryos), and
drives the final architecture of the planets assembly. In order for a habitable
planet to form in a binary star system, these two factors have to work in
harmony. That is, the orbital dynamics of the two stars and their interactions
with the planet-forming material have to allow terrestrial planet formation in
the habitable zone, and ensure that the orbit of a potentially habitable planet
will be stable for long times. We have organized this chapter with the same
order in mind. We begin by presenting a general discussion on the motion of
planets in binary stars and their stability. We then discuss the stability of
terrestrial planets, and the formation of potentially habitable planets in a
binary-planetary system.Comment: 56 pages, 29 figures, chapter to appear in the book: Planets in
Binary Star Systems (Ed. N. Haghighipour, Springer publishing company
Serological detection of antibodies against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in dogs with leishmaniasis
The aim of this study was to detect antibodies against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in dogs seropositive and seronegative for leishmaniasis. Sera from 836 dogs (449 positive and 387 negative to leishmaniasis) were analysed by ELISA and the immunodiffusion test using gp43 and exoantigen, respectively. The analysis of the 836 serum samples by ELISA and the immunodiffusion test showed a positivity of 67.8 % and 7.3%, respectively, for P. brasiliensis infection. The dogs positive to leishmaniasis showed a higher reactivity to gp43 (79.9%) and exoantigen (12.7%) than the negative ones (54.0% and 1.0%, respectively). The higher reactivity to P. brasiliensis antigens may be due to cross-reactivity or a co-infection of dogs by Leishmania and P. brasiliensis. The lower correlation (0.187) observed between reactivity to gp43 and Leishmania antigen reinforces the latter hypothesis
A chemical survey of exoplanets with ARIEL
Thousands of exoplanets have now been discovered with a huge range of masses, sizes and orbits: from rocky Earth-like planets to large gas giants grazing the surface of their host star. However, the essential nature of these exoplanets remains largely mysterious: there is no known, discernible pattern linking the presence, size, or orbital parameters of a planet to the nature of its parent star. We have little idea whether the chemistry of a planet is linked to its formation environment, or whether the type of host star drives the physics and chemistry of the planet’s birth, and evolution. ARIEL was conceived to observe a large number (~1000) of transiting planets for statistical understanding, including gas giants, Neptunes, super-Earths and Earth-size planets around a range of host star types using transit spectroscopy in the 1.25–7.8 μm spectral range and multiple narrow-band photometry in the optical. ARIEL will focus on warm and hot planets to take advantage of their well-mixed atmospheres which should show minimal condensation and sequestration of high-Z materials compared to their colder Solar System siblings. Said warm and hot atmospheres are expected to be more representative of the planetary bulk composition. Observations of these warm/hot exoplanets, and in particular of their elemental composition (especially C, O, N, S, Si), will allow the understanding of the early stages of planetary and atmospheric formation during the nebular phase and the following few million years. ARIEL will thus provide a representative picture of the chemical nature of the exoplanets and relate this directly to the type and chemical environment of the host star. ARIEL is designed as a dedicated survey mission for combined-light spectroscopy, capable of observing a large and well-defined planet sample within its 4-year mission lifetime. Transit, eclipse and phase-curve spectroscopy methods, whereby the signal from the star and planet are differentiated using knowledge of the planetary ephemerides, allow us to measure atmospheric signals from the planet at levels of 10–100 part per million (ppm) relative to the star and, given the bright nature of targets, also allows more sophisticated techniques, such as eclipse mapping, to give a deeper insight into the nature of the atmosphere. These types of observations require a stable payload and satellite platform with broad, instantaneous wavelength coverage to detect many molecular species, probe the thermal structure, identify clouds and monitor the stellar activity. The wavelength range proposed covers all the expected major atmospheric gases from e.g. H2O, CO2, CH4 NH3, HCN, H2S through to the more exotic metallic compounds, such as TiO, VO, and condensed species. Simulations of ARIEL performance in conducting exoplanet surveys have been performed – using conservative estimates of mission performance and a full model of all significant noise sources in the measurement – using a list of potential ARIEL targets that incorporates the latest available exoplanet statistics. The conclusion at the end of the Phase A study, is that ARIEL – in line with the stated mission objectives – will be able to observe about 1000 exoplanets depending on the details of the adopted survey strategy, thus confirming the feasibility of the main science objectives.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Long-Distance Signals Are Required for Morphogenesis of the Regenerating Xenopus Tadpole Tail, as Shown by Femtosecond-Laser Ablation
tadpoles has recently emerged as an important model for these studies; we explored the role of the spinal cord during tadpole tail regeneration.Using ultrafast lasers to ablate cells, and Geometric Morphometrics to quantitatively analyze regenerate morphology, we explored the influence of different cell populations. For at least twenty-four hours after amputation (hpa), laser-induced damage to the dorsal midline affected the morphology of the regenerated tail; damage induced 48 hpa or later did not. Targeting different positions along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis caused different shape changes in the regenerate. Interestingly, damaging two positions affected regenerate morphology in a qualitatively different way than did damaging either position alone. Quantitative comparison of regenerate shapes provided strong evidence against a gradient and for the existence of position-specific morphogenetic information along the entire AP axis.We infer that there is a conduit of morphology-influencing information that requires a continuous dorsal midline, particularly an undamaged spinal cord. Contrary to expectation, this information is not in a gradient and it is not localized to the regeneration bud. We present a model of morphogenetic information flow from tissue undamaged by amputation and conclude that studies of information coming from far outside the amputation plane and regeneration bud will be critical for understanding regeneration and for translating fundamental understanding into biomedical approaches
Extensive Transcriptional Regulation of Chromatin Modifiers during Human Neurodevelopment
Epigenetic changes, including histone modifications or chromatin remodeling are regulated by a large number of human genes. We developed a strategy to study the coordinate regulation of such genes, and to compare different cell populations or tissues. A set of 150 genes, comprising different classes of epigenetic modifiers was compiled. This new tool was used initially to characterize changes during the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to central nervous system neuroectoderm progenitors (NEP). qPCR analysis showed that more than 60% of the examined transcripts were regulated, and >10% of them had a >5-fold increased expression. For comparison, we differentiated hESC to neural crest progenitors (NCP), a distinct peripheral nervous system progenitor population. Some epigenetic modifiers were regulated into the same direction in NEP and NCP, but also distinct differences were observed. For instance, the remodeling ATPase SMARCA2 was up-regulated >30-fold in NCP, while it remained unchanged in NEP; up-regulation of the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler CHD7 was increased in NEP, while it was down-regulated in NCP. To compare the neural precursor profiles with those of mature neurons, we analyzed the epigenetic modifiers in human cortical tissue. This resulted in the identification of 30 regulations shared between all cell types, such as the histone methyltransferase SETD7. We also identified new markers for post-mitotic neurons, like the arginine methyl transferase PRMT8 and the methyl transferase EZH1. Our findings suggest a hitherto unexpected extent of regulation, and a cell type-dependent specificity of epigenetic modifiers in neurodifferentiation
Mouse Transgenesis Identifies Conserved Functional Enhancers and cis-Regulatory Motif in the Vertebrate LIM Homeobox Gene Lhx2 Locus
The vertebrate Lhx2 is a member of the LIM homeobox family of
transcription factors. It is essential for the normal development of the
forebrain, eye, olfactory system and liver as well for the differentiation of
lymphoid cells. However, despite the highly restricted spatio-temporal
expression pattern of Lhx2, nothing is known about its
transcriptional regulation. In mammals and chicken, Crb2,
Dennd1a and Lhx2 constitute a conserved
linkage block, while the intervening Dennd1a is lost in the
fugu Lhx2 locus. To identify functional enhancers of
Lhx2, we predicted conserved noncoding elements (CNEs) in
the human, mouse and fugu Crb2-Lhx2 loci and
assayed their function in transgenic mouse at E11.5. Four of the eight CNE
constructs tested functioned as tissue-specific enhancers in specific regions of
the central nervous system and the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), recapitulating
partial and overlapping expression patterns of Lhx2 and
Crb2 genes. There was considerable overlap in the
expression domains of the CNEs, which suggests that the CNEs are either
redundant enhancers or regulating different genes in the locus. Using a large
set of CNEs (810 CNEs) associated with transcription factor-encoding genes that
express predominantly in the central nervous system, we predicted four
over-represented 8-mer motifs that are likely to be associated with expression
in the central nervous system. Mutation of one of them in a CNE that drove
reporter expression in the neural tube and DRG abolished expression in both
domains indicating that this motif is essential for expression in these domains.
The failure of the four functional enhancers to recapitulate the complete
expression pattern of Lhx2 at E11.5 indicates that there must
be other Lhx2 enhancers that are either located outside the
region investigated or divergent in mammals and fishes. Other approaches such as
sequence comparison between multiple mammals are required to identify and
characterize such enhancers
Special cases : moons, rings, comets, trojans
Non-planetary bodies provide valuable insight into our current under-
standing of planetary formation and evolution. Although these objects are
challeng- ing to detect and characterize, the potential information to be drawn
from them has motivated various searches through a number of techniques. Here,
we briefly review the current status in the search of moons, rings, comets, and
trojans in exoplanet systems and suggest what future discoveries may occur in
the near future.Comment: Invited review (status August 2017
- …