Inherent structures of phase-separating binary mixtures: Nucleation, spinodal decomposition, and pattern formation

An energy landscape view of phase separation and nonideality in binary mixtures is developed by exploring their potential energy landscape (PEL) as functions of temperature and composition. We employ molecular dynamics simulations to study a model that promotes structure breaking in the solute-solvent parent binary liquid, at low temperatures. The PEL of the system captures the potential energy distribution of the inherent structures (IS) of the system and is obtained by removing the kinetic energy (including that of intermolecular vibrations). The broader distribution of the inherent structure energy for structure breaking liquid than that of the structure making liquid demonstrates the larger role of entropy in stabilizing the parent liquid of the structure breaking type of binary mixtures. At high temperature, although the parent structure of the structure breaking binary mixture is homogenous, the corresponding inherent structure is found to be always phase separated, with a density pattern that exhibits marked correlation with the energy of its inherent structure. Over a broad range of intermediate inherent structure energy, bicontinuous phase separation prevails with interpenetrating stripes as signatures of spinodal decomposition. At low inherent structure energy, the structure is largely phase separated with one interface where as at high inherent structure energy we find nucleation type growth. Interestingly, at low temperature, the average inherent structure energy (< EIS >) exhibits a drop with temperature which signals the onset of crystallization in one of the phases while the other remains in the liquid state. The nonideal composition dependence of viscosity is anticorrelated with average inherent structure energy.

A novel neural network design for long range prediction of rainfall pattern

The importance of long-range prediction of rainfall pattern for devising and planning agricultural strategies cannot be overemphasized. However, the prediction of rainfall pattern remains a difficult problem and the desired level of accuracy has not been reached. The conventional methods for prediction of rainfall use either dynamical or statistical modelling. In this article we report the results of a new modelling technique using artificial neural networks. Artificial neural networks are especially useful where the dynamical processes and their interrelations for a given phenomenon are not known with sufficient accuracy. Since conventional neural networks were found to be unsuitable for simulating and predicting rainfall patterns, a generalized structure of a neural network was then explored and found to provide consistent prediction (hindcast) of all-India annual mean rainfall with good accuracy. Performance and consistency of this network are evaluated and compared with those of other (conventional) neural networks. It is shown that the generalized network can make consistently good prediction of annual mean rainfall. Immediate application and potential of such a prediction system are discussed.

The determination of spatial pattern in Dictyostelium discoideum

Free-living amoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum aggregate when starved and give rise to a long and thin multicellular structure, the slug. The slug resembles a metazoan embryo, and as with other embryos it is possible to specify a fate map. In the case of Dictyostelium discoideum the map is especially simple: cells in the anterior fifth of the slug die and form a stalk while the majority of those in the posterior differentiate into spores. The genesis of this anterior-posterior distinction is the subject of our review. In particular, we ask: what are the relative roles of individual pre-aggregative predispositions and post-aggregative position in determining cell fate? We review the literature on the subject and conclude that both factors are important. Variations in nutritional status, or in cell cycle phase at starvation, can bias the probability that an amoeba differentiates into a stalk cell or a spore. On the other hand, isolates, or slug fragments, consisting of only prestalk cells or only prespore cells can regulate so as to result in a normal range of both cell types. We identify three levels of control, each being responsible for guiding patterning in normal development: (i) 'coin tossing', whereby a cell autonomously exhibits a preference for developing along either the stalk or the spore pathway with relative probabilities that can be influenced by the environment; (ii) 'chemical kinetics', whereby prestalk and prespore cells originate from undifferentiated amoebae on a probabilistic basis but, having originated, interact (e.g. via positive and negative feedbacks), and the interaction influences the possibility of conversion of one cell type into the other, and (iii) 'positional information', in which the spatial distribution of morphogens in the slug influences the pathway of differentiation. In the case of possibilities (i) and (ii), sorting out of like cell types leads to the final spatial pattern. In the case of possibility (iii), the pattern arises in situ.

The precision of regulation in Dictyostelium discoideum: implications for cell-type proportioning in the absence of spatial pattern

We have made careful counts of the exact number of spore, stalk and basal disc cells in small fruiting bodies of Dictyostelium discoideum (undifferentiated amoebae are found only rarely and on average their fraction is 4.96 x 10(-4)). (i) Within aggregates of a given size, the relative apportioning of amoebae to the main cell types occurs with a remarkable degree of precision. In most cases the coefficient of variation (c.v.) in the mean fraction of cells that form spores is within 4.86%. The contribution of stalk and basal disc cells is highly variable when considered separately (c.v.'s upto 25% and 100%, respectively), but markedly less so when considered together. Calculations based on theoretical models indicate that purely cell-autonomous specification of cell, fate cannot account for die observed accuracy of proportioning. Cell-autonomous determination to a prestalk or prespore condition followed by cell type interconversion, and stabilised by feedbacks, suffices to explain the measured accuracy. (ii) The fraction of amoebae that differentiates into spores increases monotonically with the total number of cells. This fraction rises from an average of 73.6% for total cell numbers below 30 and reaches 86.0% for cell numbers between 170 and 200 (it remains steady thereafter at around 86%). Correspondingly, the fraction of amoebae differentiating into stalk or basal disc decreases viith total size. These trends are in accordance with evolutionary expectations and imply that a mechanism for sensing the overall size of the aggregate also plays an essential role in the determination of cell-type proportions.

Immunochemical characterization of rapid and slowly released allergens from the pollen of Parthenium hysterophorus

Allergens from the pollen of Parthenium hysterophorus (American feverfew), responsible for high incidence of allergic rhinitis, were found by immunoprint analysis to be localized on the surface of the pollen grains. The allergens were released very rapidly when extracted in vitro. The allergenic activity of the rapid (10 s) and slowly (20 h) released pollen proteins was comparable by in vivo skin test and ELISA inhibition assay. The isoelectric focusing patterns of the rapid and slowly released proteins, were also identical. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed that all the major pollen allergens with molecular weight 14, 28, 31, 37 and 45 kDa were eluted within 10 s of extraction. Periodate-Schiff staining showed that the 28, 31 and 45 kDa components of the pollen extract are glycoproteins. The pollen allergens released after different periods of extraction lost 75% of IgE binding activity when subjected to in situ sodium m-periodate oxidation under controlled conditions, while 80% of the allergenic activity was still retained after extensive proteolysis. Our results support the clinical observation of a rapid onset of symptoms of allergic rhinitis in patients sensitive to Parthenium pollen, mediated predominantly by glycoproteins.

TolA mediates the differential detergent resistance pattern between the Salmonella enterica subsp enterica serovars Typhi and Typhimurium

The tol-pal genes are essential for maintaining the outer membrane integrity and detergent resistance in various Gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella. The role of TolA has been well established for the bile resistance of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium. We compared the bile resistance pattern between the S. enterica serovars Typhi and Typhimurium and observed that Typhi is more resistant to bile-mediated damage. A closer look revealed a significant difference in the TolA sequence between the two serovars which contributes to the differential detergent resistance. The tolA knockout of both the serovars behaves completely differently in terms of membrane organization and morphology. The role of the Pal proteins and difference in LPS organization between the two serovars were verified and were found to have no direct connection with the altered bile resistance. In normal Luria broth (LB), S. Typhi Delta tolA is filamentous while S. Typhimurium Delta tolA grows as single cells, similar to the wildtype. In low osmolarity LB, however, S. Typhimurium Delta tolA started chaining and S. Typhi Delta tolA showed no growth. Further investigation revealed that the chaining phenomenon observed was the result of failure of the outer membrane to separate in the dividing cells. Taken together, the results substantiate the evolution of a shorter TolA in S. Typhi to counteract high bile concentrations, at the cost of lower osmotic tolerance.

Vitellins and vitellogenins of Dysdercus koenigii (Heteroptera : Pyrrhocoridae) - identification, purification and temporal pattern

Two vitellins, VtA and VtB, were purified from the eggs of Dysdercus koenigii by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. VtA and VtB have molecular weights of 290 and 260 kDa, respectively. Both Vts are glycolipoproteinaceous in nature. VtA is composed of three polypeptides of M-r 116, 92 and 62 kDa while VtB contained an additional subunit of M-r 40 kDa. All subunits except the 116-kDa subunit are glycolipopolypeptides. Polyclonal antibody raised against VtA (anti-VtA antibody) cross-reacted with VtB and also with vitellogenic haemolymph and ovaries and pre-vitellogenic fat bodies, but not with haemolymph from either adult male, fifth instar female, or pre-vitellogenic females demonstrating sex and stage specificity of the Vts. Immunoblots in the presence of anti-VtA revealed two proteins (of 290 and 260 kDa) in both vitellogenic haemolymph and pre-vitellogenic fat bodies that are recognised as D. koenigii Vgs. In newly emerged females, Vgs appeared on day 1 in fat bodies and on day 3 in haemolymph and ovaries. Vg concentration was maximum on day 2 in fat body, day 4 in haemolymph and day 7 in ovary. Although the biochemical and temporal characteristics of these proteins show similarity to some hemipterans, they are strikingly dissimilar with those of a very closely related species. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning and expression pattern of a Cubitus interruptus homologue from the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori

A homologue of the segment polarity gene Cubitus interruptus from Bombyx Mori, (BmCi) has been cloned and characterized. This region harbouring Zn2+ finger motif is highly conserved across species. In B. Mori, BmCi RNA expression was first detected at stage 6 of embryogenesis, which reached maximum levels at stage 21C and was maintained until larval hatching. The segmentally reiterated striped pattern of transcript distribution in stage 21C embryos was in conformity with its predicted segment polarity nature. BmCi was expressed in the fore- and hind-wing discs, ovaries, testes and gut during fifth larval intermolt, reminiscent of its expression domains in Drosophila. Besides, BmCi expression was seen in the. anterior part of the middle silkglands in late embryonic stages, and this pattern was maintained during larval development. The transition from third to fourth and fifth larval intermolts was accompanied by an increase in the transcript levels in the middle silkglands. Our results demonstrate the presence of a novel expression domain for Ci in Bombyx. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expression pattern of Cubitus interruptus from the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori in late developmental stages

A partial genomic clone of Bombyx mori homologue of the segment polarity gene Cubitus interruptus (BmCi), encoding the conserved zinc finger domain and harbouring two introns, has been characterized. BmCi was expressed in the silkglands of B. mori from embryonic to the late larval stages(3rd, 4th and 5th intermoults). The expression was confined to the anterior region of the middle silkglands, overlapping with the domain of sericin-2 expression and excluding the domains of Bm invected expression, namely the middle and posterior regions of the middle silkglands. In the wing discs, the expression was restricted to the anterior compartment, which increased from 4th to 5th larval intermoults and declined later in the pupal wing buds. In gonadal tissues (both ovaries and testes) BmCi was expressed from the larval to pupal stages. The transcripts were localized to the sperm tubes containing spermatogonia in the testis of Bombyx larvae. BmCi expression, however, was not detected in any of these tissues during the moulting stages. Expression of Ci in the wing discs and gonads is evolutionarily conserved, while the silkgland represents a novel domain. Our results imply that BmCi is involved in the specification and maintenance of micro-compartment identity within the middle silkglands.

Online Unsupervised Pattern Discovery in Speech Using Parallelization

Segmental dynamic time warping (DTW) has been demonstrated to be a useful technique for finding acoustic similarity scores between segments of two speech utterances. Due to its high computational requirements, it had to be computed in an offline manner, limiting the applications of the technique. In this paper, we present results of parallelization of this task by distributing the workload in either a static or dynamic way on an 8-processor cluster and discuss the trade-offs among different distribution schemes. We show that online unsupervised pattern discovery using segmental DTW is plausible with as low as 8 processors. This brings the task within reach of today's general purpose multi-core servers. We also show results on a 32-processor system, and discuss factors affecting scalability of our methods.

Wetlands of Greater Bangalore, India: Automatic Delineation through Pattern Classifiers

Wetlands are the most productive and biologically diverse but very fragile ecosystems. They are vulnerable to even small changes in their biotic and abiotic factors. In recent years, there has been concern over the continuous degradation of wetlands due to unplanned developmental activities. This necessitates inventorying, mapping, and monitoring of wetlands to implement sustainable management approaches. The principal objective of this work is to evolve a strategy to identify and monitor wetlands using temporal remote sensing (RS) data. Pattern classifiers were used to extract wetlands automatically from NIR bands of MODIS, Landsat MSS and Landsat TM remote sensing data. MODIS provided data for 2002 to 2007, while for 1973 and 1992 IR Bands of Landsat MSS and TM (79m and 30m spatial resolution) data were used. Principal components of IR bands of MODIS (250 m) were fused with IRS LISS-3 NIR (23.5 m). To extract wetlands, statistical unsupervised learning of IR bands for the respective temporal data was performed using Bayesian approach based on prior probability, mean and covariance. Temporal analysis of wetlands indicates a sharp decline of 58% in Greater Bangalore attributing to intense urbanization processes, evident from a 466% increase in built-up area from 1973 to 2007.

Geoinformatics for Urbanisation and Urban Sprawl Pattern Analysis

Urbanisation is the increase in the population of cities in proportion to the region's rural population. Urbanisation in India is very rapid with urban population growing at around 2.3 percent per annum. Urban sprawl refers to the dispersed development along highways or surrounding the city and in rural countryside with implications such as loss of agricultural land, open space and ecologically sensitive habitats. Sprawl is thus a pattern and pace of land use in which the rate of land consumed for urban purposes exceeds the rate of population growth resulting in an inefficient and consumptive use of land and its associated resources. This unprecedented urbanisation trend due to burgeoning population has posed serious challenges to the decision makers in the city planning and management process involving plethora of issues like infrastructure development, traffic congestion, and basic amenities (electricity, water, and sanitation), etc. In this context, to aid the decision makers in following the holistic approaches in the city and urban planning, the pattern, analysis, visualization of urban growth and its impact on natural resources has gained importance. This communication, analyses the urbanisation pattern and trends using temporal remote sensing data based on supervised learning using maximum likelihood estimation of multivariate normal density parameters and Bayesian classification approach. The technique is implemented for Greater Bangalore – one of the fastest growing city in the World, with Landsat data of 1973, 1992 and 2000, IRS LISS-3 data of 1999, 2006 and MODIS data of 2002 and 2007. The study shows that there has been a growth of 466% in urban areas of Greater Bangalore across 35 years (1973 to 2007). The study unravels the pattern of growth in Greater Bangalore and its implication on local climate and also on the natural resources, necessitating appropriate strategies for the sustainable management.