Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “spatial patterning”

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 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources

Spatial autocorrelation of cancer in Western Europe.

We applied the techniques of spatial autocorrelation (SA) analysis to 40 cancer mortality distributions in Western Europe. One of the aims of these methods is to describe the scale over which spatial patterns of mortalities occur, which may provide suggestions concerning the agents bringing about the patterns. We analyzed 355 registration areas, applying one- and two-dimensional SA as well as local SA techniques. We find that cancer mortalities are unusually strongly spatially structured, implying similar spatial structuring of the responsible agents. The small number of spatial patterns (4 or 5) in the 40 cancer mortalities suggests there are fewer spatially patterned agents than the number of cancers studied. SA present in variables will bias the results of conventional statistical tests applied to them. After correcting for such bias, some pairwise correlations of cancer mortality distributions remain significant, suggesting inherent, epidemiologically meaningful correlations. Local SA is a useful technique for exploring epidemiological maps. It found homogeneous high overall cancer mortalities in Denmark and homogeneous low mortalities in southern Italy, as well as a very heterogeneous pattern for ovarian cancer in Ireland.

Cluster Analysis↗

Temporal and Spatial Expression Pattern of Sucrose Synthase during Tomato Fruit Development.

Sucrose synthase is proposed to play an important role in the early stages of tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growth. In this work, the temporal and spatial expression patterns of sucrose synthase during tomato fruit development were investigated. Fruit contained the majority of the sucrose synthase protein and mRNA relative to other organs. Only trace levels of sucrose synthase protein and mRNA were detected in the stem, petiole, and roots. Sucrose synthase mRNA was detected in pistils prior to anthesis, reached peak levels in fruit 5 to 7 d after anthesis (DAA), and was not detectable after 35 DAA. Sucrose synthase protein levels reached a maximum at 20 to 25 DAA and then declined to nondetectable levels after 45 DAA. The lack of coordination between protein and mRNA levels suggests that sucrose synthase expression may be controlled at the levels of both transcription and translation. Sucrose synthase mRNA was differentially localized in the fruit, being most abundant in the mesocarp cells adjacent to the placenta, the columella, and the cells surrounding the vascular bundle. Except around the vascular tissue, the localization of sucrose synthase mRNA positively correlates with starch granule accumulation at the cellular level.

Journal Article↗

Chemokine regulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: temporal and spatial expression patterns govern disease pathogenesis.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a CD4+ Th1-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that serves as a model for multiple sclerosis (MS). There are several considerations that suggest a role for chemokines in the disease process. First, chemokines are highly expressed in the central nervous system with a tight temporal relationship to disease activity. Second, in vivo neutralization studies showed a distinct role for specific chemokines in the evolution of the process. Third, the selective and differential expression of chemokines in differing models of EAE bears a close relationship to the patterns of inflammatory pathology. Fourth, the spatial distribution of chemokine expression could plausibly contribute to lesion architecture. Finally, preliminary observations in MS material suggest that chemokine expression observed in EAE may provide useful information regarding the pathogenesis of inflammation in MS. We propose that temporal and spatial expression of chemokines are crucial factors, complementing adhesion molecule up-regulation, that regulate EAE disease activity.

Acute Disease↗

Alpha2C-adrenoceptor overexpression disrupts execution of spatial and non-spatial search patterns.

We investigated the role of alpha2C-adrenoceptors in the modulation of spatial and non-spatial navigation behaviour. Alpha2C-adrenoceptor overexpressing mice developed an ineffective thigmotaxic search pattern characterized by swimming close to the pool walls during both spatial and non-spatial water maze training. A subtype-non-selective alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, atipamezole (1000 microg/kg, s.c.), fully reversed this impairment in their search strategy. Withdrawal of atipamezole at the end of spatial training resulted in an immediate disruption of the search pattern in alpha2C-adrenoceptor overexpressing mice. The swimming pattern of alpha2C-adrenoceptor overexpressing mice during a five day free swimming period was normal, when no cognitive component was required. Diazepam (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), neither improved the accuracy in finding the platform nor decreased thigmotaxis. These results suggest that alpha2C-adrenoceptors may modulate the execution of complex navigation patterns.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Synchronization analysis of the uterine magnetic activity during contractions.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to quantify and compare the extent of synchronization of the spatial-temporal myometrial activity over the human uterus before and during a contraction using transabdominal magnetomyographic (MMG) recordings. Synchronization can be an important indicator for the quantification of uterine contractions. METHODS: The spatialtermporal myometrial activity recordings were performed using a 151-channel noninvasive magnetic sensor system called SARA. This device covers the entire pregnant abdomen and records the magnetic field corresponding to the electrical activity generated in the uterine myometrium. The data was collected at 250 samples/sec and was resampled with 25 samples/sec and then filtered in the band of 0.1-0.2 Hz to study the primary magnetic activity of the uterus related to contractions. The synchronization between a channel pair was computed. It was inferred from a statistical tendency to maintain a nearly constant phase difference over a given period of time even though the analytic phase of each channel may change markedly during that time frame. The analytic phase was computed after taking Hilbert transform of the magnetic field data. The process was applied on the pairs of magnetic field traces (240 sec length) with a stepping window of 20 sec duration which is long enough to cover two cycle of the lowest frequency of interest (0.1 Hz). The analysis was repeated by stepping the window at 10 sec intervals. The spatial patterns of the synchronization indices covering the anterior transabdominal area were computed. For this, regional coil-pairs were used. For a given coil, the coil pairs were constructed with the surrounding six coils. The synchronization indices were computed for each coil pair, averaged over the 21 coil-pairs and then assigned as the synchronization index to that particular coil. This procedure was tested on six pregnant subjects at the gestational age between 29 and 40 weeks admitted to the hospital for contractions. The RMS magnetic field for each coil was also computed. RESULTS: The results show that the spatial patterns of the synchronization indices change and follow the periodic pattern of the uterine contraction cycle. Spatial patterns of synchronization indices and the RMS magnetic fields show similarities in few window frames and also show large differences in few other windows. For six subjects, the average synchronization indices were: 0.346 +/- 0.068 for the quiescent baseline period and 0.545 +/- 0.022 at the peak of the contraction. DISCUSSION: These results show that synchronization indices and their spatial distributions depict uterine contractions and relaxations.

Action Potentials↗

[Analysis of spatial diffusion patterns for AIDS cases in some Brazilian States].

Despite new improvements in AIDS treatment, preventive measures are still essential to control the epidemic. Effective programs almost always depend on correct and efficient allocation of scarce health resources. Detailed information on the epidemic, such as where, when, and how the epidemic will spread are of great value. This study was conducted to obtain a better understanding of the dissemination of AIDS cases in four important Brazilian States. Spatial diffusion patterns were evaluated qualitatively by studying sequential maps and quantitatively by analyzing spatial correlograms. Ten years were analyzed, grouped in three periods (1987-1989, 1990-1992, and 1993-1996). The diffusion process was studied for both total AIDS cases and male and female cases. Diffusion of AIDS cases presented specific characteristics for each of the four States. Information derived from the study, especially the results of the correlogram analysis, improve our understanding of the epidemic's spatial diffusion in different parts of the country and can also be used to determine parameters for other AIDS epidemiological models.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Spatial distribution pattern and fractal analysis of Larix chinensis populations in Qinling Mountain].

In this paper, the fractal characters of Larix chinensis populations in Qinling Mountain were studied by contiguous grid quadrate sampling method and by boxing-counting dimension and information dimension. The results showed that the high boxing-counting dimension (1.8087) and information dimension (1.7931) reflected a higher spatial occupational degree of L. chinensis populations. Judged by the dispersal index and Morisita's pattern index, L. chinensis populations clumped at three different age stages (0-25, 25-50 and over 50 years). From Greig-Smiths' mean variance analysis, the figure of pattern scale showed that L. chinensis populations clumped in 128 m2 and 512 m2, and the different age groups clumped in different scales. The pattern intensities decreased with increasing age, and tended to reduce with increasing area when detected by Kershaw's PI index. The spatial pattern characters of L. chinensis populations may be their responses to environmental factors.

China↗

Emergent patterns of growth controlled by multicellular form and mechanics.

Spatial patterns of cellular growth generate mechanical stresses that help to push, fold, expand, and deform tissues into their specific forms. Genetic factors are thought to specify patterns of growth and other behaviors to drive morphogenesis. Here, we show that tissue form itself can feed back to regulate patterns of proliferation. Using micro-fabrication to control the organization of sheets of cells, we demonstrated the emergence of stable patterns of proliferative foci. Regions of concentrated growth corresponded to regions of high tractional stress generated within the sheet, as predicted by a finite-element model of multicellular mechanics and measured directly by using a micromechanical force sensor array. Inhibiting actomyosin-based tension or cadherin-mediated connections between cells disrupted the spatial pattern of proliferation. These findings demonstrate the existence of patterns of mechanical forces that originate from the contraction of cells, emerge from their multicellular organization, and result in patterns of growth. Thus, tissue form is not only a consequence but also an active regulator of tissue growth.

Animals↗

Ising-Bloch transition for spatially extended patterns.

The Ising-Bloch transition for domain walls in spatially extended nonlinear systems is a known phenomenon. We show a similar transition for extended patterns, such as labyrinths and stripes. The analysis is performed in the frame of the parametrically driven Ginzburg-Landau equation, which is a paradigmatic model for a variety on nonlinear systems showing the Ising-Bloch transition of domain walls.

Journal Article↗

Spatial distribution patterns of Echinococcus multilocularis (Leuckart 1863) (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Taeniidae) among red foxes in an endemic focus in Brandenburg, Germany.

Over a period of 40 months, 4374 foxes were randomly sampled from an area located in northwestern Brandenburg, Germany, and examined parasitologically for infections with Echinococcus multilocularis. Spatial analysis of the origin of infected animals identified two (one central and one southeastern) high-endemic foci with an estimated prevalence of 23.8%. By contrast, a prevalence of 4.9% was found in the remaining (low-endemic) area. The prevalences among juvenile and adult foxes were compared in the high-endemic and the low-endemic areas. To analyse the central high-endemic focus further, the random sample was stratified by zones representing concentric circles with a radius of 13 km (zone 1) or x(n-1) + 7 km for the remaining three zones from the apparent centre of this focus (anchor point). Prevalences calculated for each zone showed a decrease from zone 1 (18.8%) to zone 4 (2.4%) with significant differences for all zones but zones 3 and 4. The relative risk of an infection decreased rapidly in a distance range of 26 km around the high-endemic focus, whereas the relative risk remained unchanged within a distance of 5 km around the anchor point. The importance of heterogeneous spatial distribution patterns for the diagnosis and epidemiology of the infection is discussed.

Age Distribution↗

Geostatistics, remote sensing and precision farming.

Precision farming is possible today because of advances in farming technology, procedures for mapping and interpolating spatial patterns, and geographic information systems for overlaying and interpreting several soil, landscape and crop attributes. The key component of precision farming is the map showing spatial patterns in field characteristics. Obtaining information for this map is often achieved by soil sampling. This approach, however, can be cost-prohibitive for grain crops. Soil sampling strategies can be simplified by use of auxiliary data provided by satellite or aerial photo imagery. This paper describes geostatistical methods for estimating spatial patterns in soil organic matter, soil test phosphorus and wheat grain yield from a combination of Thematic Mapper imaging and soil sampling.

Agriculture↗

Single-cell-scale spatial transcriptome of the developing and adult mouse ovary.

Mammalian ovary development is essential for female fertility, involving the complex spatial patterning of diverse cell types to establish the finite reserve of ovarian follicles. While single-cell transcriptome analyses have provided important insights into the mechanisms driving specification and developmental trajectories of ovarian cells, they disrupt this crucial spatial context. To overcome this limitation, we used 10X Genomics Visium HD spatial transcriptomics to analyze the developing mouse ovary while maintaining its native cellular architecture. We captured all ovarian cell types at eight key fetal and postnatal timepoints, generating a near single cell resolution library of spatial gene expression across ovarian development. This comprehensive dataset allows analysis of dynamic transcriptional signatures associated with unique spatial patterning throughout development, including the establishment of cortex and medulla and assembly of ovarian follicles in each region. This dataset represents a fundamental resource for the investigation of regulatory mechanisms driving spatial patterning of the ovary and opens new avenues to explore the spatial determinants of female fertility and reproductive longevity.

Journal Article↗

Household survey of dengue infection in central Brazil: spatial point pattern analysis and risk factors assessment.

Urban dengue fever is now considered a major public health threat in most American countries. A household survey was conducted in the city of Goiania in central Brazil in 2001 to assess prevalence of dengue infection and individual and area-based risk factors. Spatial point pattern analysis was performed using the dual Kernel method. A total of 1,610 households were surveyed; 1,585 individuals more than five years old had blood and data collected. Sera were tested for IgM/IgG antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Area-based indicators derived from census data were linked to geocoded residential address. The seroprevalence of dengue was 29.5% and the estimate prevalence surface reached 50% in the outskirts areas. The risk of infection was significantly associated with older age (P < 0.01), low education (odds ratio [OR] = 3.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.82-6.55), and low income (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.02-1.71) in multivariate analysis. This study highlighted the heterogeneity of dengue transmission within the city and can assist in spatial targeting control interventions.

Adolescent↗

Topographic representation of tone intensity along the isofrequency axis of cat primary auditory cortex.

The sound pressure level (SPL), henceforth termed intensity, of acoustic signals is encoded in the central auditory system by neurons with different forms of intensity sensitivity. However, knowledge about the topographic organization of neurons with these different properties and hence about the spatial representation of intensity, especially at higher levels of the auditory pathway, is limited. Here we show that in the tonotopically organized primary auditory cortex (AI) of the cat there are orderly topographic organizations, along the isofrequency axis, of several neuronal properties related to the coding of the intensity of tones, viz. minimum threshold, dynamic range, best SPL, and non-monotonicity of spike count--intensity functions to tones of characteristic frequency (CF). Minimum threshold, dynamic range, and best SPL are correlated and alter periodically along isofrequency strips. The steepness of the high-intensity descending slope of spike count--intensity functions also varies systematically, with steepest slopes occurring in the regions along an isofrequency strip where low thresholds, narrow dynamic ranges and low best SPLs are found. As a consequence, CF-tones of various intensities are represented by orderly and, for most intensities, periodic, spatial patterns of distributed neuronal activity along an isofrequency strip. For low--to--moderate intensities, the mean relative activity along the entire isofrequency strip increases rapidly with intensity, with the spatial pattern of activity remaining quite constant along the strip. At higher intensities, however, the mean relative activity along the strip remains fairly constant with changes in intensity, but the spatial patterns change markedly. As a consequence of these effects, low- and high-intensity tones are represented by complementary distributions of activity alternating along an isofrequency strip. We conclude that in AI tone intensity is represented by two complementary modes, viz. discharge rate and place. Furthermore, the magnitude of the overall changes in the representation of tone intensity in AI appears to be closely related to psychophysical measures of loudness and of intensity discrimination.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

[Spatial distribution pattern of Larix chinensis population in Taibai Mt].

Larix chinensis is an endangered species only distributed in Qinling Mountains of China. It has a concentrated distribution in Taibai Mt., and plays an important role in environmental protection in the high altitude. After an investigation on fifteen 400 m2 plots, a comparative study on the spatial distribution pattern of L. chinensis population and its dynamics was made by the tests of discrete distribution pattern and aggregation intensity. The results showed that at different sampling areas, L. chinensis populations all performed the pattern of clustering distribution. As the sampling area increased, the congregating intensity of L. chinensis population appeared the pattern of high-->low-->high, but the highest congregation occurred in the areas of 100 m2 and 25 m2. The clustering intensity went down from low to high altitude, and the area with the highest clustering intensity occurred on that of 25 m2 in low altitude, 150 m2 in middle altitude, and 100 m2 in higher altitude. The clustering intensity in shade slope was higher than that in sunny slope, and the area with the highest clustering intensity was 100 m2 on shade slope, and 150 m2 on sunny slope. With the population age increased, the distribution pattern had a trend from clustering to random, the clustering intensity decreased somewhat, and the area with the highest clustering intensity was 150 m2 in young or old stages, and 100 m2 in middle stage. The distribution pattern of L. chinensis population was related to its ecological characteristics, community composition, and environmental factors. In situ conservation should be strengthened in the future. In lower altitude or on shade slope, the measurements of thinning no-aim in tree and shrub species should be taken; while in higher altitude area or sunny slope, thinning shrub species in patch form would be better for L. chinensis populations block renovating. The fostering area for L. chinensis populations should be suit to the area with the highest clustering intensity of populations.

China↗

Divergence in spatial expression patterns and in response to stimuli of tandem-repeat paralogues encoding a novel class of proline-rich proteins in Oryza sativa.

Gene duplication has been recognized as a major route to supply raw sequences for genome novelty in evolution, but the mechanism underlying the retention of duplicate genes is not fully understood yet. Divergence in spatial expression patterns was investigated here and in response to stimuli of the four members of a rice proline-rich protein gene family (OsPRP1), which encode a class of proline-rich proteins. The four paralogues are tandemly organized within a 20 kbp range of chromosome 10 without any interval of other open reading frames and with a median K(S) value of 0.474. These paralogues showed little similarity in their regulatory regions but high conservation in coding regions. Search of an intergenomic cis-element database predicted their promoter regions with divergent cis-element fingerprints. Further expression analyses involving different tissues/organs and nine types of stimuli by a promoter::GUS-fusion strategy revealed that the four paralogues were expressed mainly in vascular cylinders of different organs and showed diversity in tissue/organ specificity and in response to these stimuli, with some overlapping expression. Furthermore, these data show that OsPRP1.2 appeared to inherit most of the functions from their multifunctional progenitor, whereas the other three genes diverged after duplication events. Thus, the retention of paralogues in a multigene family seems to require a more complicated diversification process than originally thought. In addition, the promoter::GUS strategy is a powerful way to explore function divergence of a tandem-repeat gene family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Spatial temporal patterns in childhood leukaemia: further evidence for an infectious origin. EUROCLUS project.

The EUROCLUS project included information on residence at diagnosis for 13351 cases of childhood leukaemia diagnosed in the period 1980-89 in defined geographical regions in 17 countries. A formal algorithm permits identification of small census areas as containing case excesses. The present analysis examines spatial-temporal patterns of the cases (n = 970) within these clustered areas. The objectives were, first, to compare these results with those from an analysis conducted for UK data for the period 1966-83, and, second, to extend them to consider infant leukaemias. A modification of the Knox test investigates, within the small areas, temporal overlap between cases in a subgroup of interest at a putative critical time and all other cases at any time between birth and diagnosis. Critical times were specified in advance as follows: for cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia aged 2-4 years, the 18-month period preceding diagnosis; for cases of total leukaemia aged 5-14 years, 1 year before to 1 year after birth; and for infant cases (diagnosed < 1 year), 1 year before to 6 months after birth. Each of the analyses found evidence of excess space-time overlap compared with that expected; these were 10% (P = 0.005), 15% (P= 0.0002) and 26% (P= 0.03) respectively. The results are interpreted in terms of an infectious origin of childhood leukaemia.

Adolescent↗