scholarly journals Revealing the structure of information flows discriminates similar animal social behaviors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Valentini ◽  
Nobuaki Mizumoto ◽  
Stephen C. Pratt ◽  
Theodore P. Pavlic ◽  
Sara Imari Walker

Behavioral correlations stretching over time are an essential but often neglected aspect of interactions among animals. These correlations pose a challenge to current behavioral-analysis methods that lack effective means to analyze complex series of interactions. Here we show that non-invasive information-theoretic tools can be used to reveal communication protocols that guide complex social interactions by measuring simultaneous flows of different types of information between subjects. We demonstrate this approach by showing that the tandem-running behavior of the ant Temnothorax rugatulus and that of the termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus are governed by different communication protocols. Our discovery reconciles the diverse ultimate causes of tandem running across these two taxa with their apparently similar signaling mechanisms. We show that bidirectional flow of information is present only in ants and is consistent with the use of acknowledgement signals to regulate the flow of directional information.

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Valentini ◽  
Nobuaki Mizumoto ◽  
Stephen C Pratt ◽  
Theodore P Pavlic ◽  
Sara I Walker

Behavioral correlations stretching over time are an essential but often neglected aspect of interactions among animals. These correlations pose a challenge to current behavioral-analysis methods that lack effective means to analyze complex series of interactions. Here we show that non-invasive information-theoretic tools can be used to reveal communication protocols that guide complex social interactions by measuring simultaneous flows of different types of information between subjects. We demonstrate this approach by showing that the tandem-running behavior of the ant Temnothorax rugatulus and that of the termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus are governed by different communication protocols. Our discovery reconciles the diverse ultimate causes of tandem running across these two taxa with their apparently similar signaling mechanisms. We show that bidirectional flow of information is present only in ants and is consistent with the use of acknowledgement signals to regulate the flow of directional information.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn M. Sampselle ◽  
Kenneth J. Pienta ◽  
Dorene S. Markel

The ultimate aim of the National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) initiative is to accelerate the movement of discoveries that can benefit human health into widespread public use. To accomplish this translational mandate, the contributions of multiple disciplines, such as dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, public health, biostatistics, epidemiology, and bioengineering, are required in addition to medicine. The research community is also mandated to establish new partnerships with organized patient communities and front line health care providers to assure the bidirectional flow of information in order that health priorities experienced by the community inform the research agenda. This article summarizes current clinical research directives, the experience of the University of Michigan faculty during the first 2 years of CTSA support, and recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of future CTSA as well as other interdisciplinary initiatives. While the manuscript focuses most closely on the CTSA Community Engagement mission, the challenges to interdisciplinarity and bidirectionality extend beyond the focus of community engagement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Pottier ◽  
Anne Michelin ◽  
Salomon Kwimang ◽  
Christine Andraud ◽  
Fabrice Goubard ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (43) ◽  
pp. 54-61
Author(s):  
Dmitriy A. Burynin ◽  
◽  
Aleksandr A. Smirnov

Portable spectroradiometers and hyperspectral cameras are increasingly being used to quickly assess the physiological state of plants. The operation of these devices is based on the registration of reflection or reflection and transmission spectra. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in analyzing the technical means and methods of non-invasive monitoring of the plant state based on the registration of the reflection spectra of leaves. (Materials and methods) The article presents a review of the work on the application of hyperspectral imaging methods. Authors classified and analyzed materials on spectroscopic radiometers and hyperspectral cameras, and outlined the prospects for implementation. Authors applied the methods of a systematic approach to the research problem. (Results and discussion) Hyperspectral imaging methods serve as an effective means of monitoring plants. It is possible to determine the pigment composition of plants, lack of nutrition, and detect biotic stress through hyperspectral imaging. The article presents methods of application of portable spectroradiometers and hyperspectral cameras. With the help of these devices it is possible to carry out measurements with high spectral resolution. The difficulty of accurately detecting the content of pigments in the leaves lies in the mutual overlap of the areas of light absorption by them. The main drawback of spectroradiometers is that they measure only at one point on a single sheet. The article presents the difficulties encountered in interpreting the results obtained by the hyperspectral camera. The background reflectivity of the soil, the geometry of the vegetation cover, and the uneven lighting can make errors in the measurements. (Conclusions) The article presents the disadvantages of the hyperspectral imaging method when using only the reflection spectrum. In order to increase the accuracy of the determination of pigments and stresses of various origins, it is necessary to develop a portable device that combines the methods of recording reflection and fluorescence.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (04) ◽  
pp. 1350019 ◽  
Author(s):  
XUEJIAO WANG ◽  
PENGJIAN SHANG ◽  
JINGJING HUANG ◽  
GUOCHEN FENG

Recently, an information theoretic inspired concept of transfer entropy has been introduced by Schreiber. It aims to quantify in a nonparametric and explicitly nonsymmetric way the flow of information between two time series. This model-free based on Shannon entropy approach in principle allows us to detect statistical dependencies of all types, i.e., linear and nonlinear temporal correlations. However, we always analyze the transfer entropy based on the data, which is discretized into three partitions by some coarse graining. Naturally, we are interested in investigating the effect of the data discretization of the two series on the transfer entropy. In our paper, we analyze the results based on the data which are generated by the linear modeling and the ARFIMA modeling, as well as the dataset consists of seven indices during the period 1992–2002. The results show that the higher the degree of data discretization get, the larger the value of the transfer entropy will be, besides, the direction of the information flow is unchanged along with the degree of data discretization.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Shiwei Yu ◽  
Ting-Zhu Huang

Information measures are capable of providing us with fundamental methodologies to analyze uncertainty and unveiling the substantive characteristics of random variables. In this paper, we address the issues of different types of entropies through q-generalized Kolmogorov-Nagumo averages, which lead to the propositions of the survival Rényi entropy and survival Tsallis entropy. Therefore, we make an inventory of eight types of entropies and then classify them into two categories: the density entropy that is defined on density functions and survival entropy that is defined on survival functions. This study demonstrates that, for each type of the density entropy, there exists a kind of the survival entropy corresponding to it. Furthermore, the similarity measures and normalized similarity measures are, respectively, proposed for each type of entropies. Generally, functionals of different types of information-theoretic metrics are equally diverse, while, simultaneously, they also exhibit some unifying features in all their manifestations. We present the unifying frameworks for entropies, similarity measures, and normalized similarity measures, which helps us deal with the available information measures as a whole and move from one functional to another in harmony with various applications.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thangarajan Rajkumar ◽  
Sathyanarayanan Amritha ◽  
Veluswami Sridevi ◽  
Gopisetty Gopal ◽  
Kesavan Sabitha ◽  
...  

AbstractBreast cancer is the most common malignancy among women globally. Development of a reliable plasma biomarker panel might serve as a non-invasive and cost-effective means for population-based screening of the disease. Transcriptomic profiling of breast tumour, paired normal and apparently normal tissues, followed by validation of the shortlisted genes using TaqMan® Low density arrays and Quantitative real-time PCR was performed in South Asian women. Fifteen candidate protein markers and 3 candidate epigenetic markers were validated first in primary breast tumours and then in plasma samples of cases [N = 202 invasive, 16 DCIS] and controls [N = 203 healthy, 37 benign] using antibody array and methylation specific PCR. Diagnostic efficiency of single and combined markers was assessed. Combination of 6 protein markers (Adipsin, Leptin, Syndecan-1, Basic fibroblast growth factor, Interleukin 17B and Dickopff-3) resulted in 65% sensitivity and 80% specificity in detecting breast cancer. Multivariate diagnostic analysis of methylation status of SOSTDC1, DACT2, WIF1 showed 100% sensitivity and up to 91% specificity in discriminating BC from benign and controls. Hence, combination of SOSTDC1, DACT2 and WIF1 was effective in differentiating breast cancer [non-invasive and invasive] from benign diseases of the breast and healthy individuals and could help as a complementary diagnostic tool for breast cancer.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Kaye

Many governments are seeking to improve the translation of medical research innovation by developing mechanisms to aid the flow of information between the laboratory and the clinic. The intention is that the combination of new research insights and the use of next generation sequencing technology in the clinic will lead to more and better personalised medicine outcomes. However, existing healthcare structures often maintain the sharp line between research and the clinic, which slows down the bidirectional flow of information that is needed to enable effective translation. At the same time, within the biobanking field, infrastructures are being built to enable more efficient and better quality research. As with translational research, there are a number of challenges for these biobanking initiatives. Questions remain as to the best way to utilise biobanks for translational research. Other challenges are how to ensure the sustainability of individual biobanks and the biobank infrastructures that are being developed. Sustainability requires public support for long-term funding, as well as the on-going commitment of patients and research participants to provide the raw material for biobanks and regular use by researchers. One possible solution to the challenges that are found in these two areas is to embed a biobank within the healthcare structure and to use it for healthcare and research purposes simultaneously. This paper discusses the CuraRata and the EnCoRe dynamic consent models that in combination could provide sustainability for biobanks and at the same time enable translational research.


2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Mulloney ◽  
Wendy M. Hall

During forward swimming, periodic movements of swimmerets on different segments of the crayfish abdomen progress from back to front with the same period. Information encoded as bursts of spikes by coordinating neurons in each segmental ganglion is necessary for this coherent organization. This information is conducted to targets in other ganglia. When an individual coordinating neuron is stimulated at different phases in the system's cycle of activity, the timing of motor output from other ganglia may be altered. In models of this coordinating circuit, we assumed that each coordinating neuron encodes information about the state of the local pattern-generating circuit in its home ganglion but is not part of that local circuit. We tested this assumption by stimulating individual coordinating neurons of two kinds—ASCE and DSC—at different phases under two conditions: with the target ganglion functional, and with the target ganglion silenced. Blocking a DSC neuron's target ganglion did not alter its negligible influence on the output from its home ganglion; the phase-response curves (PRC) remained flat. Blocking an ASCE neuron's target ganglion significantly affected its influence on the output from its home ganglion. We had predicted that ASCE's modest phase-dependent influence would disappear with the target silenced, but instead the amplitude of the PRCs increased significantly. Thus we have two different results: DSC neurons conformed to prediction based on the models’ assumptions, but ASCE neurons showed an unexpected property, one that is partially masked when the bidirectional flow of information between neighboring ganglia is operating normally.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Melnychuk ◽  
I. Yuskiv

The paper presents the results of experimental researches on the determination of the disinvasion efficiency of chlorinated chemical preparations of domestic production of “Brovades-plus”, “Bi-dez” and “Dezsans” of NPF “Brovafarma” (Ukraine). The conducted researches on the basis of the parasitology laboratory found that the studied disinfectants possess disinvasive properties in respect of non-invasive test culture of eggs of nematodes of the species Aonchotheca bovis (son Capillaria bovis) López-Neyra, 1947, isolated from gonads of females of worms. The dissimilar stability of eggs of capillaries to the effect of the tested agents in vitro is proved. The most effective disinfectant in the case of eggs of capillaries of the species A. bovis was the preparation “Dezsan”. The high level of its disinvasive efficacy (DE – 91.14–100.0%) was registered at the application of the preparation in 1.0–2.0% of the exposure concentration for 10–60 minutes. The chemicals “Bi-dez” and “Brovadez-plus” proved to be less effective in the relatively non-invasive test culture of A. bovis eggs. The high level of efficiency (DE –92.41–100.00%) of the “Bi-dez” was achieved with its use at concentrations of 1.5% (exposure of 30 and 60 min) and 2.0% (exposure of 10–60 minutes) The “Brovadez plus” preparation in vitro proved to be the least effective means of non-invasive test culture of nematode eggs of the species A. bovis, since a high level of disinvasive efficacy (DE – 100.00%) was achieved only with the use of 2.0% solution per exposure 10–60 min. It was established that the experimentally tested chlorine-based means of domestic production resulted in the death of eggs in the culture in due to the destructive effect of the components of the preparations on the shell, the caps of eggs of the capillaries, as well as on the germ in the middle of the egg. In experimental cultures treated with the means, the destruction of the shell of the egg in the location of the caps, the exit of morulae outside, the cessation of development or shrinkage of the embryo and deformation of the egg shell were recorded.


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