scholarly journals The Human Organism as an Integrated Interaction Network: Recent Conceptual and Methodological Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Lehnertz ◽  
Timo Bröhl ◽  
Thorsten Rings
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Multivariate Time Series ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Interaction Network ◽  
Human Organism ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Integrated Network ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
The Many ◽  
Physiological Systems

The field of Network Physiology aims to advance our understanding of how physiological systems and sub-systems interact to generate a variety of behaviors and distinct physiological states, to optimize the organism's functioning, and to maintain health. Within this framework, which considers the human organism as an integrated network, vertices are associated with organs while edges represent time-varying interactions between vertices. Likewise, vertices may represent networks on smaller spatial scales leading to a complex mixture of interacting homogeneous and inhomogeneous networks of networks. Lacking adequate analytic tools and a theoretical framework to probe interactions within and among diverse physiological systems, current approaches focus on inferring properties of time-varying interactions—namely strength, direction, and functional form—from time-locked recordings of physiological observables. To this end, a variety of bivariate or, in general, multivariate time-series-analysis techniques, which are derived from diverse mathematical and physical concepts, are employed and the resulting time-dependent networks can then be further characterized with methods from network theory. Despite the many promising new developments, there are still problems that evade from a satisfactory solution. Here we address several important challenges that could aid in finding new perspectives and inspire the development of theoretic and analytical concepts to deal with these challenges and in studying the complex interactions between physiological systems.

scholarly journals Māori Urban Migrations and Identities, ‘Ko Ngā Iwi Nuku Whenua’: A study of Urbanisation in the Wellington Region during the Twentieth Century

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Erin Keenan
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
World War ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
The Past ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Many ◽  
Migration Experiences

<p>Māori urbanisation and urban migrations have been the subject of much discussion and research, especially following World War Two when Māori individuals, whānau and communities increasingly became residents of towns and cities that were overwhelmingly Pākehā populated. However, Māori urbanisation experiences and urban migrations are difficult topics to address because kaumātua are reluctant to discuss ‘urban Māori’, especially considering its implications for Māori identities. The original contribution this thesis makes to histories of Māori urban migrations is that it explores these and other understandings of urbanisations to discover some of their historical influences. By discussing urbanisations directly with kaumātua and exploring historical sources of Māori living in, and moving to, the urban spaces of Wellington and the Hutt Valley through the twentieth century, this thesis is a ‘meeting place’ for a range of perspectives on the meanings of urbanisations from the past and the present. Although urbanisation was an incredible time of material change for the individuals and whānau who chose to move into cities such as Wellington, the histories of urban migration experiences exist within a scope of Māori and iwi worldviews that gave rise to multiple experiences and understandings of urbanisations. The Wellington region is used to show that Māori in towns and cities used Māori social and cultural forms in urban areas so that they could, through the many challenges of becoming urban-dwelling, ensure the persistence of their Māoritanga. Urbanisations also allowed Māori to both use traditional identities in urban areas, as well as develop new relationships modelled on kinship. The Ngāti Pōneke community is used as an example of the complex interactions between these identities and how many Māori became active residents in but not conceptually ‘of’ cities. As a result, the multiple and layered Māori identities that permeate throughout Māori experiences of the present and the past are important considerations in approaching and discussing urbanisations. Urban Māori communities have emphasised the significance of varied and layered Māori identities, and this became particularly pronounced through the Māori urban migrations of the twentieth century.</p>

scholarly journals Characterisation of the Semliki Forest Virus-host cell interactome reveals the viral capsid protein as an inhibitor of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Contu ◽  
Giuseppe Balistreri ◽  
Michal Domanski ◽  
Anne-Christine Uldry ◽  
Oliver Mühlemann
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Capsid Protein ◽  
Mrna Decay ◽  
Semliki Forest Virus ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Host Cell Proteins ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Nonsense Mediated Mrna Decay ◽  
Interaction Map ◽  
The Many

AbstractThe positive-sense, single-stranded RNA alphaviruses pose a potential epidemic threat. Understanding the complex interactions between the viral and the host cell proteins is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying successful virus replication strategies and for developing specific antiviral interventions. Here we present the first comprehensive protein-protein interaction map between the proteins of Semliki Forest Virus (SFV), a mosquito-borne member of the alphaviruses, and host cell proteins. Among the many identified cellular interactors of SFV proteins, the enrichment of factors involved in translation and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) was striking, reflecting the virus’ hijacking of the translation machinery and indicating viral countermeasures for escaping NMD by inhibiting NMD at later time points during the infectious cycle. In addition to observing a general inhibition of NMD about 4 hours post infection, we also demonstrate that transient expression of the SFV capsid protein is sufficient to inhibit NMD in cells, suggesting that the massive production of capsid protein during the SFV reproduction cycle is responsible for NMD inhibition.

Critical Zone Observatories: Building a network to advance interdisciplinary study of Earth surface processes

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Anderson ◽  
R. C. Bales ◽  
C. J. Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Transport ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Watershed Scale ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Tectonic Processes ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Interdisciplinary Study

AbstractWe live at the dynamic interface between the solid Earth and its outer fluid envelopes. This interface, extending from the outer vegetation canopy to the base of active groundwater, was recently named the Critical Zone because it supports life and is increasingly impacted by human actions. Understanding the complex interactions between processes that operate in and shape the Critical Zone requires interdisciplinary approaches that span wide spatial and temporal scales. Tectonic processes, weathering, fluid transport, and biological processes control the function and structure of the Critical Zone. Three Critical Zone Observatories recently established by the U.S. National Science Foundation are designed to integrate studies of process interactions up to the watershed scale. A goal of the program is to build the three independently conceived observatories into a network from which broader understanding — larger spatial scales but also deeper insight — can emerge.

scholarly journals Advancing the physics of cosmic distances: Conference summary

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S289) ◽  
pp. 351-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard de Grijs
Keyword(s):  
Recent Progress ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Distance Measurements ◽  
Distance Determination ◽  
New Developments ◽  
The Road ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Full Discussion ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Universe

AbstractKnowing the distance of an astrophysical object is key to understanding it. However, at present, comparisons of theory and observations are hampered by precision (or lack thereof) in distance measurements or estimates. Putting the many recent results and new developments into the broader context of the physics driving cosmic distance determination is the next logical step, which will benefit from the combined efforts of theorists, observers and modellers working on a large variety of spatial scales, and spanning a wide range of expertise. IAU Symposium 289 addressed the physics underlying methods of distance determination across the Universe, exploring the various approaches employed to define the milestones along the road. The meeting provided an exciting snapshot of the field of distance measurement, offering not only up-to-date results and a cutting-edge account of recent progress, but also full discussion of the pitfalls encountered and the uncertainties that remain. One of the meeting's main aims was to provide a roadmap for future efforts in this field, both theoretically and observationally.

SOFT-CLIFF RETREAT, SELF-ORGANIZED CRITICAL PHENOMENA IN THE LIMIT OF PREDICTABILITY?

Fractals ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (01) ◽  
pp. 1540009 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARLOS PAREDES ◽  
CLARA GODOY ◽  
RICARDO CASTEDO
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Dynamic Features ◽  
Cliff Erosion ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Coastal Cliffs ◽  
Gravity Driven

The coastal erosion along the world's coastlines is a natural process that occurs through the actions of marine and subaerial physico-chemical phenomena, waves, tides, and currents. The development of cliff erosion predictive models is limited due to the complex interactions between environmental processes and material properties over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. As a result of this erosive action, gravity driven mass movements occur and the coastline moves inland. Like other studied earth natural and synthetically modelled phenomena characterized as self-organized critical (SOC), the recession of the cliff has a seemingly random, sporadic behavior, with a wide range of yearly recession rate values probabilistically distributed by a power-law. Usually, SOC systems are defined by a number of scaling features in the size distribution of its parameters and on its spatial and/or temporal pattern. Particularly, some previous studies of derived parameters from slope movements catalogues, have allowed detecting certain SOC features in this phenomenon, which also shares the recession of cliffs. Due to the complexity of the phenomenon and, as for other natural processes, there is no definitive model of recession of coastal cliffs. In this work, various analysis techniques have been applied to identify SOC features in the distribution and pattern to a particular case: the Holderness shoreline. This coast is a great case study to use when examining coastal processes and the structures associated with them. It is one of World's fastest eroding coastlines (2 m/yr in average, max observed 22 m/yr). Cliffs, ranging from 2 m up to 35 m in height, and made up of glacial tills, mainly compose this coast. It is this soft boulder clay that is being rapidly eroded and where coastline recession measurements have been recorded by the Cliff Erosion Monitoring Program (East Riding of Yorkshire Council, UK). The original database has been filtered by grouping contiguous sections, with similar geomorphological and dynamic features, to configure a complete and suitable catalogue of yearly recession rates (in m/yr) to analyze. Results show SOC fingerprint characteristics in the limited range scaling of the probability distribution function, in the variographic analysis and in the zero-mean Gaussian distribution of the Fourier coefficients. Therefore it cannot be neglected the possibility that Holderness cliffs behave as a SOC system. According to the discussed results, predictability possibilities of sea-cliff recession phenomena have been concluded.

scholarly journals British Experience on Democratic Interaction between Power and Opposition

2017 ◽  
pp. 63-80
Author(s):  
N. Yakovenko
Keyword(s):  
Common Good ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Power Structures ◽  
Progressive Development ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Political Forces ◽  
Stable Vision ◽  
British Experience ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Uk

The article deals with complex interactions of main political forces inside the British Parliament, activities of Her Majesty’s Opposition in different periods of historical development of Great Britain. Constructive competition between Opposition and the ruling party is stressed as a phenomenon causing progressive development of the United Kingdom and coming to proper decisions concerning its further democratic course. Both power and Opposition are mentioned to be united by the same purpose which is flourishing and common good of their state, welfare of their citizens and stable vision of the future. Relations between power and Opposition are always complex, multidimensional and sensitive to any changes in the political era. Significant influence on the nature of their relationship is made through the transformation taking place in modern society and its scientific perception. In the UK it is the active Opposition provides dynamism and fruitfulness, so that parliamentary government has the ability to predict future horizons of its reign. Studying the many-sided British experience in the labyrinth of power seems to be extremely significant for Ukraine considering its complicated apprehension of contradictory interaction and between power structures and other political forces facing contemporary challenges.

scholarly journals Assessing a low-cost methane sensor quantification system for use in complex rural and urban environments

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Collier-Oxandale ◽  
Michael P. Hannigan ◽  
Joanna Gordon Casey ◽  
Ricardo Piedrahita ◽  
John Ortega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Linear Calibration ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales

Abstract. Low-cost sensors have the potential to facilitate the exploration of air quality issues on new temporal and spatial scales. Here we evaluate a low-cost sensor quantification system for methane through its use in two different deployments. The first, a one-month deployment along the Colorado Front Range includes sites near active oil and gas operations in the Denver-Julesberg basin. The second deployment in an urban Los Angeles neighborhood, an subject to complex mixture of air pollution sources including oil operations. Given its role as a potent greenhouse gas, new low-cost methods for detecting and monitoring methane may aid in protecting human and environmental health. In this paper, we assess a number of linear calibration models to convert raw sensor signals into ppm concentration values. We also examine different choices that can be made during calibration and data processing, and explore cross-sensitivities that impact this sensor type. The results illustrate the accuracy of the Figaro TGS 2600 sensor when methane is quantified from raw signals using the techniques described. The results also demonstrate the value of these tools for examining air quality trends and events on small spatial and temporal scales as well as their ability to characterize an area – highlighting their potential to provide preliminary data that can inform more targeted measurements or supplement existing monitoring networks.

scholarly journals HELGES: Helmholtz Laboratory for the Geochemistry of the Earth Surface

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friedhelm Von Blanckenburg ◽  
Hella Wittmann ◽  
Jan A. Schuessler
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Soil Formation ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Earth Surface ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Weathering Processes ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Geomorphological Changes

New developments in Geochemistry during the last two decades have revolutionized our understanding of the processes that shape Earth's surface. Here, complex interactions occur between the tectonic forces acting from within the Earth and the exogenic forces like climate that are strongly modulated by biota and, increasingly today, by human activity. Within the Helmholtz Laboratory for the Geochemistry of the Earth Surface (HELGES) of the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, it is our goal to quantify the rates and fluxes of these processes in detail and to develop new techniques to fingerprint them over various temporal and spatial scales. We use mass spectrometry facilities to analyze metal stable isotopes, element concentrations and cosmogenic nuclides to fingerprint and quantify geomorphological changes driven by erosion and weathering processes. We use these novel geochemical tools, to quantify, for example, the recycling of metals in plants after their release during weathering of rocks and soils, soil formation and its erosion rates, and mechanisms and speed of sediment transport through drainage basins. Our research is thus dedicated towards understanding material turnover rates at the Earth's surface by using geochemical fingerprints.

scholarly journals Biotechnology for the Treatment of Pesticide Waste

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 699c-699
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Karns
Keyword(s):  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Organophosphate Insecticide ◽  
The Past ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Number Of Microorganisms ◽  
Parathion Hydrolase ◽  
Multiple Treatments ◽  
The Many

The use of microbes and/or microbial processes for the bioremediation of soils contaminated with pesticides is an idea that has enjoyed considerable interest over the past several years. Many microbes with specific pathways for the degradation of particular pesticides, or classes of pesticide, have been isolated and characterized. Unfortunately, most sites that are heavily contaminated with pesticides contain a mixture of the many different types of pesticides that have been used over the last 5 decades. This complex mixture of compounds may inhibit microbial degradation or may require multiple treatments to assure that all the chemicals are degraded. Treatment of wastes before they contaminate the environment is one way to avoid the problems associated with mixed wastes. We have isolated a number of microorganisms that detoxify insecticides, such as carbaryl of parathion via the action of hydrolase enzymes. These enzymes can be used to treat waste pesticide solutions before disposal. A system was developed for the disposal of one high-volume organophosphate insecticide waste by treatment with parathion hydrolase, followed by ozonation to yield harmless products that were readily degraded by other soil microorganisms. A second method for disposal of this waste involves altering the environmental conditions in the waste to stimulate the growth of microorganisms naturally present in the material utilizing the pesticide as a carbon source. This accomplishes degradation of the material over a 2-week period. Many, if not all, pesticides are degradable to some degree by microorganisms, and this fact can be exploited to provide cost-effective methods for the safe disposal of pesticide wastes.

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