Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Dynamic network”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources

Inferring dynamic properties of biochemical reaction networks from structural knowledge.

Functional properties of biochemical networks depend on both the network structure and the kinetic parameters. Extensive data on metabolic network topologies have been collected in databases, but much less information is available about the kinetic constants or metabolite concentrations. Depending on the values of these parameters, metabolic fluxes and control coefficients may vary within a wide range. Nevertheless, some of the parameters may have little influence on the observables of interest. We address the question whether, despite uncertainty about kinetic parameters, probabilistic statements can be made about dynamic network features. To this end, we perform a variability analysis of the parameters: assuming that the parameters follow statistical distributions, we compute the resulting distributions of the network properties like metabolic fluxes, concentrations, or control coefficients by Monte Carlo simulation. In this manner, we study systematically the possible distributions arising from typical topologies of biochemical networks such as linear chains, branched networks, and signaling and gene expression cascades. This analysis reveals how much information about dynamic behavior can be drawn from structural knowledge.

Biochemistry↗

Molecular dynamics simulation on a network of workstations using a machine-independent parallel programming language.

Molecular dynamics simulations investigate local and global motion in molecules. Several parallel computing approaches have been taken to attack the most computationally expensive phase of molecular simulations, the evaluation of long range interactions. This paper reviews these approaches and develops a straightforward but effective algorithm using the machine-independent parallel programming language, Linda. The algorithm was run both on a shared memory parallel computer and on a network of high performance Unix workstations. Performance benchmarks were performed on both systems using two proteins. This algorithm offers a portable cost-effective alternative for molecular dynamics simulations. In view of the increasing numbers of networked workstations, this approach could help make molecular dynamics simulations more easily accessible to the research community.

Algorithms↗

A versatile ODE approximation to a network model for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

We develop a moment closure approximation (MCA) to a network model of sexually transmitted disease (STD) spread through a steady/casual partnership network. MCA has been used previously to approximate static, regular lattices, whereas application to dynamic, irregular networks is a new endeavour, and application to sociologically-motivated network models has not been attempted. Our goals are 1). to investigate issues relating to the application of moment closure approximations to dynamic and irregular networks, and 2). to understand the impact of concurrent casual partnerships on STD transmission through a population of predominantly steady monogamous partnerships. We are able to derive a moment closure approximation for a dynamic irregular network representing sexual partnership dynamics, however, we are forced to use a triple approximation due to the large error of the standard pair approximation. This example underscores the importance of doing error analysis for moment closure approximations. We also find that a small number of casual partnerships drastically increases the prevalence and rate of spread of the epidemic. Finally, although the approximation is derived for a specific network model, we can recover approximations to a broad range of network models simply by varying model parameters which control the structure of the dynamic network. Thus our moment closure approximation is very flexible in the kinds of network models it can approximate.

Computer Simulation↗

Radar image segmentation using self-adapting recurrent networks.

This paper presents a novel approach to the segmentation and integration of (radar) images using a second-order recurrent artificial neural network architecture consisting of two sub-networks: a function network that classifies radar measurements into four different categories of objects in sea environments (water, oil spills, land and boats), and a context network that dynamically computes the function network's input weights. It is shown that in experiments (using simulated radar images) this mechanism outperforms conventional artificial neural networks since it allows the network to learn to solve the task through a dynamic adaptation of its classification function based on its internal state closely reflecting the current context.

Doppler Effect↗

Using heterogeneity to predict inhibitory network model characteristics.

From modeling studies it has been known for >10 years that purely inhibitory networks can produce synchronous output given appropriate balances of intrinsic and synaptic parameters. Several experimental studies indicate that synchronous activity produced by inhibitory networks is critical to the production of population rhythms associated with various behavioral states. Heterogeneity of inputs to inhibitory networks strongly affect their ability to synchronize. In this paper, we explore how the amount of input heterogeneity to two-cell inhibitory networks affects their dynamics. Using numerical simulations and bifurcation analyses, we find that the ability of inhibitory networks to synchronize in the face of heterogeneity depends nonmonotonically on each of the synaptic time constant, synaptic conductance and external drive parameters. Because of this, an optimal set of parameters for a given cellular model with various biophysical characteristics can be determined. We suggest that this could be a helpful approach to use in determining the importance of different, underlying biophysical details. We further find that two-cell coherence properties are maintained in larger 10-cell networks. As such, we think that a strategy of "embedding" small network dynamics in larger networks is a useful way to understand the contribution of biophysically derived parameters to population dynamics in large networks.

Biological Clocks↗

The dynamic clamp: artificial conductances in biological neurons.

The dynamic clamp is a novel method that uses computer simulation to introduce conductances into biological neurons. This method can be used to study the role of various conductances in shaping the activity of single neurons, or neurons within networks. The dynamic clamp can also be used to form circuits from previously unconnected neurons. This approach makes computer simulation an interactive experimental tool, and will be useful in many applications where the role of synaptic strengths and intrinsic properties in neuronal and network dynamics is of interest.

Animals↗

Role of repulsive factors in vascularization dynamics.

Capillary networks are essential in vertebrates to supply tissues with nutrients. Experiments of in vitro capillary formation show that endothelial cells randomly spread on a gel matrix autonomously organize to form vascular networks with a characteristic length independent of the initial cell density. A mathematical model based on free cell migration and on cell cross-talk mediated by soluble chemical factors has been recently proposed and explains the main dynamical and geometrical properties of the networks. We extend this model introducing the action of repulsive factors and we show that their activity results in a larger degree of reorganization of cellular matter and in more robust control over the size of the growing vascular network.

Animals↗

Dynamic behaviors in directed networks.

Motivated by the abundance of directed synaptic couplings in a real biological neuronal network, we investigate the synchronization behavior of the Hodgkin-Huxley model in a directed network. We start from the standard model of the Watts-Strogatz undirected network and then change undirected edges to directed arcs with a given probability, still preserving the connectivity of the network. A generalized clustering coefficient for directed networks is defined and used to investigate the interplay between the synchronization behavior and underlying structural properties of directed networks. We observe that the directedness of complex networks plays an important role in emerging dynamical behaviors, which is also confirmed by a numerical study of the sociological game theoretic voter model on directed networks.

Journal Article↗

Water and the cytoskeleton.

The diffusion of intracellular fluid and solutes is mainly limited by the density and the geometry of crossbridges between cytoskeletal polymers mediating the formation of an integrated cytoplasmic scaffold. Evidence for specific relationships between water and cytoskeletal polymers arises from the effect of heavy water on their polymerization process in vitro and on the cytoskeleton of living cells. The hydration of cytoskeletal subunits is modified through polymerization, a mechanism which may be involved in the direct contribution of the cytoskeleton to the osmotic properties of cells together with changes of hydration of polymers within networks. The dynamic properties of the hydration layer of cytoskeletal polymers may reflect the repetitive distribution of the surface charges of subunits within the polymer lattice, thus inducing a local and long range ordering of the diffusion flows of water and solutes inside polymer networks. The interactions between subunits in protofilaments and between protofilaments determine the specific viscoelastic properties of each type of polymer, regulated by associated proteins, and the mechanical properties of the cell through the formation of bundles and gels. Individual polymers are interconnected into dynamic networks through crossbridging by structural associated proteins and molecular motors, the activity of which involves cooperative interactions with the polymer lattice and likely the occurence of coordinated modifications of the hydration layer of the polymer surface. The cytoskeletal polymers are polyelectrolytes which constitute a large intracellular surface of condensed anionic charges and form a buffering structure for the sequestration of cations involved in the regulation of intracellular events. This property allows also the association of cytoplasmic enzymes and multimolecular complexes with the cytoskeleton, facilitating metabolic channelling and the localization of these complexes in specific subdomains of the cytoplasm. The consequences of interactions between membranes and the cytoskeleton in all cellular compartments range from the local immobilization and clustering of lipids and membrane proteins to the regulation of water and ion flows by the association of cytoskeletal subunits or polymers with transmembrane channels. The possibility that the polyelectrolyte properties of the cytoskeletal polymers contribute to the modulation of membrane potentials supports the hypothesis of a direct involvement of the cytoskeleton in intercellular communications.

Actins↗

Linear systems approach to analysis of complex dynamic behaviours in biochemical networks.

Central functions in the cell are often linked to complex dynamic behaviours, such as sustained oscillations and multistability, in a biochemical reaction network. Determination of the specific mechanisms underlying such behaviours is important, e.g. to determine sensitivity, robustness, and modelling requirements of given cell functions. In this work we adopt a systems approach to the analysis of complex behaviours in intracellular reaction networks, described by ordinary differential equations with known kinetic parameters. We propose to decompose the overall system into a number of low complexity subsystems, and consider the importance of interactions between these in generating specific behaviours. Rather than analysing the network in a state corresponding to the complex non-linear behaviour, we move the system to the underlying unstable steady state, and focus on the mechanisms causing destabilisation of this steady state. This is motivated by the fact that all complex behaviours in unforced systems can be traced to destabilisation (bifurcation) of some steady state, and hence enables us to use tools from linear system theory to qualitatively analyse the sources of given network behaviours. One important objective of the present study is to see how far one can come with a relatively simple approach to the analysis of highly complex biochemical networks. The proposed method is demonstrated by application to a model of mitotic control in Xenopus frog eggs, and to a model of circadian oscillations in Drosophila. In both examples we are able to identify the subsystems, and the related interactions, which are instrumental in generating the observed complex non-linear behaviours.

Animals↗

Dynamic properties of hydrogen-bonded networks in supercritical water

Dynamic properties of supercritical water at temperatures between 573 and 773 K and densities between 0.49 and 0.83 g/cm(3) have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulation and compared to states located on the vapor-liquid coexistence curve. A flexible simple point charge potential has been assumed for interactions in the subcritical states, whereas a reparameterization of that model has been performed to model the supercritical states. The hydrogen bonding structure and the diffusion coefficients in an ensemble of simulated states were previously analyzed and a good agreement with available experimental data was found. Dynamic properties of hydrogen bonding like the bond lifetimes and the influence of hydrogen bonds in the vibrational spectra are discussed along a range of simulation conditions. A nonlinear behavior of the hydrogen-bond lifetime as a function of temperature is observed in subcritical water whereas a linear dependence is found in supercritical water. Special attention is paid to the intermolecular vibrational spectrum (10-400 cm(-1)). It has been observed that the mode centered at 200 cm(-1), attributed to the intermolecular O-O stretching vibration in the ambient state remains active in the supercritical states.

Journal Article↗

Application of a neural observer to phenols ozonation in water: simulation and kinetic parameters identification.

Presented in this study, a dynamic neural network (DNN) is employed to estimate the states dynamics of the phenols-ozone-water system. A new technique based on the dynamic neural network observer (DNNO) with relay (signum) term is applied to estimate the decomposition dynamics of phenols and to identify their kinetic parameters without any mathematical model usage. The decomposition of phenols (phenol (PH), 4-chlorophenol (4-CPH) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCPH)) and their mixture by ozone, realized in a semi-batch reactor, is considered as a process with uncertain model ("black-box"). Only one parameter monitoring, namely, the ozone concentration in gas phase in the reactor outlet, is measured during ozonation. The variation of this variable is used to obtain the summary characteristic curve for the phenols ozonation. Then, using the experimental decomposition dynamics of phenols and of their mixture, obtained by HPLC method, the proposed DNNO is applied to estimate the ozonation constants of phenols at the different pH 2-12. A good correspondence between the decomposition dynamics and the estimated ones by DNNO is obtained.

Computer Simulation↗

Dynamics of lysozyme structure network: probing the process of unfolding.

Recently we showed that the three-dimensional structure of proteins can be investigated from a network perspective, where the amino acid residues represent the nodes in the network and the noncovalent interactions between them are considered for the edge formation. In this study, the dynamical behavior of such networks is examined by considering the example of T4 lysozyme. The equilibrium dynamics and the process of unfolding are followed by simulating the protein at 300 K and at higher temperatures (400 K and 500 K), respectively. The snapshots of the protein structure from the simulations are represented as protein structure networks in which the strength of the noncovalent interactions is considered an important criterion in the construction of edges. The profiles of the network parameters, such as the degree distribution and the size of the largest cluster (giant component), were examined as a function of interaction strength at different temperatures. Similar profiles are seen at all the temperatures. However, the critical strength of interaction (Icritical) and the size of the largest cluster at all interaction strengths shift to lower values at 500 K. Further, the folding/unfolding transition is correlated with contacts evaluated at Icritical and with the composition of the top large clusters obtained at interaction strengths greater than Icritical. Finally, the results are compared with experiments, and predictions are made about the residues, which are important for stability and folding. To summarize, the network analysis presented in this work provides insights into the details of the changes occurring in the protein tertiary structure at the level of amino acid side-chain interactions, in both the equilibrium and the unfolding simulations. The method can also be employed as a valuable tool in the analysis of molecular dynamics simulation data, since it captures the details at a global level, which may elude conventional pairwise interaction analysis.

Algorithms↗

Boolean networks with variable number of inputs (K).

We studied a random Boolean network model with a variable number of inputs K per element. An interesting feature of this model, compared to the well-known fixed-K networks, is its higher orderliness. It seems that the distribution of connectivity alone contributes to a certain amount of order. In the present research, we tried to disentangle some of the reasons for this unexpected order. We also studied the influence of different numbers of source elements (elements with no inputs) on the network's dynamics. An analysis carried out on the networks with an average value of K=2 revealed a correlation between the number of source elements and the dynamic diversity of the network. As a diversity measure we used the number of attractors, their lengths and similarity. As a quantitative measure of the attractors' similarity, we developed two methods, one taking into account the size and the overlapping of the frozen areas, and the other in which active elements are also taken into account. As the number of source elements increases, the dynamic diversity of the networks does likewise: the number of attractors increases exponentially, while their similarity diminishes linearly. The length of attractors remains approximately the same, which indicates that the orderliness of the networks remains the same. We also determined the level of order that originates from the canalizing properties of Boolean functions and the propagation of this influence through the network. This source of order can account only for one-half of the frozen elements; the other half presumably freezes due to the complex dynamics of the network. Our work also demonstrates that different ways of assigning and redirecting connections between elements may influence the results significantly. Studying such systems can also help with modeling and understanding a complex organization and self-ordering in biological systems, especially the genetic ones.

Computer Simulation↗

Stochastic opinion formation in scale-free networks.

The dynamics of opinion formation in large groups of people is a complex nonlinear phenomenon whose investigation is just beginning. Both collective behavior and personal views play an important role in this mechanism. In the present work we mimic the dynamics of opinion formation of a group of agents, represented by two states +/-1, as a stochastic response of each agent to the opinion of his/her neighbors in the social network and to feedback from the average opinion of the whole. In the light of recent studies, a scale-free Barabási-Albert network has been selected to simulate the topology of the interactions. A turbulent-like dynamics, characterized by an intermittent behavior, is observed for a certain range of the model parameters. The problem of uncertainty in decision taking is also addressed both from a topological point of view, using random and targeted removal of agents from the network, and by implementing a three-state model, where the third state, zero, is related to the information available to each agent. Finally, the results of the model are tested against the best known network of social interactions: the stock market. A time series of daily closures of the Dow-Jones index has been used as an indicator of the possible applicability of our model in the financial context. Good qualitative agreement is found.

Journal Article↗

Complex network from pseudoperiodic time series: topology versus dynamics.

We construct complex networks from pseudoperiodic time series, with each cycle represented by a single node in the network. We investigate the statistical properties of these networks for various time series and find that time series with different dynamics exhibit distinct topological structures. Specifically, noisy periodic signals correspond to random networks, and chaotic time series generate networks that exhibit small world and scale free features. We show that this distinction in topological structure results from the hierarchy of unstable periodic orbits embedded in the chaotic attractor. Standard measures of structure in complex networks can therefore be applied to distinguish different dynamic regimes in time series. Application to human electrocardiograms shows that such statistical properties are able to differentiate between the sinus rhythm cardiograms of healthy volunteers and those of coronary care patients.

Biological Clocks↗

Pattern storage and processing in attractor networks with short-time synaptic dynamics.

Neurophysiological experiments show that the strength of synaptic connections can undergo substantial changes on a short time scale. These changes depend on the history of the presynaptic input. Using mean-field techniques, we study how short-time dynamics of synaptic connections influence the performance of attractor neural networks in terms of their memory capacity and capability to process external signals. For binary discrete-time as well as for firing rate continuous-time neural networks, the fixed points of the network dynamics are shown to be unaffected by synaptic dynamics. However, the stability of patterns changes considerably. Synaptic depression turns out to reduce the storage capacity. On the other hand, synaptic depression is shown to be advantageous for processing of pattern sequences. The analytical results on stability, size of the basins of attraction and on the switching between patterns are complemented by numerical simulations.

Algorithms↗

Optimization dynamics for partitioned neural networks.

Given a relaxation-based neural network and a desired partition of the neurons in the network into modules with relatively slow communication between modules, we investigate relaxation dynamics for the resulting partitioned neural network. In particular, we show how the slow inter-module communication channels can be modeled by means of certain transformations of the original objective function which introduce new state variables for the inter-module communication links. We report on a parallel implementation of the resulting relaxation dynamics, for a two-dimensional image segmentation network, using a network of workstations. Experiments demonstrate a functional and efficient parallelization of this neural network algorithm. We also discuss implications for analog hardware implementations of relaxation networks.

Kinetics↗