scholarly journals Algorithms underlying flexible phototaxis in larval zebrafish

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex B. Chen ◽  
Diptodip Deb ◽  
Armin Bahl ◽  
Florian Engert
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Homeostatic Control ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Phototactic Behavior ◽  
Larval Zebrafish ◽  
The Mean

To thrive, organisms must maintain physiological and environmental variables in suitable ranges. Given that these variables undergo constant fluctuations over varying timescales, how do biological control systems maintain control over these values? We explored this question in the context of phototactic behavior in larval zebrafish. We demonstrate that larval zebrafish use phototaxis to maintain environmental luminance at a set point, that the value of this set point fluctuates on a timescale of seconds when environmental luminance changes, and that it is determined by calculating the mean input across both sides of the visual field. These results expand on previous studies of flexible phototaxis in larval zebrafish; they suggest that larval zebrafish exert homeostatic control over the luminance of their surroundings, and that feedback from the surroundings drives allostatic changes to the luminance set point. As such, we describe a novel behavioral algorithm with which larval zebrafish exert control over a sensory variable.

scholarly journals Algorithms underlying flexible phototaxis in larval zebrafish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex B. Chen ◽  
Diptodip Deb ◽  
Armin Bahl ◽  
Florian Engert
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Optimal Control ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Optimal Range ◽  
Behavioral Experiments ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Phototactic Behavior ◽  
Larval Zebrafish

SUMMARYTo thrive, organisms must maintain physiological and environmental variables in optimal ranges. However, in a dynamic world, the optimal range of a variable might fluctuate depending on the organism’s state or environmental conditions. Given these fluctuations, how do biological control systems maintain optimal control of physiological and environmental variables? We explored this question by studying the phototactic behavior of larval zebrafish. We demonstrate, with behavioral experiments and computational modeling, that larval zebrafish use phototaxis to maintain environmental luminance at a set point that depends on luminance history. We further show that fish compute this set point using information from both eyes, and that the set point fluctuates on a timescale of seconds when environmental luminance changes. These results expand on previous studies, where phototaxis was found to be primarily positive, and suggest that larval zebrafish, rather than consistently turning towards the brighter areas, exert homeostatic control over the luminance of their surroundings. Furthermore, we show that fluctuations in the surrounding luminance feed back on the system to drive allostatic changes to the luminance set point. Our work has uncovered a novel principle underlying phototaxis in larval zebrafish and characterized a behavioral algorithm by which larval zebrafish exert control over a sensory variable.

scholarly journals Correlation between fundus autofluorescence and visual function in patients with cone-rod dystrophy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoru Kanda ◽  
Takumi Hara ◽  
Ryosuke Fujino ◽  
Keiko Azuma ◽  
Hirotsugu Soga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Field ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Fundus Autofluorescence ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Mean Deviation ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Field Imaging

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between autofluorescence (AF) signal measured with ultra-wide field imaging and visual functions in patients with cone-rod dystrophy (CORD). A retrospective chart review was performed for CORD patients. We performed the visual field test and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) measurement and visualized retinal structures with optical coherence tomography (OCT) on the same day. Using binarised FAF images, we identified a low FAF area ratio (LFAR: low FAF/30°). Relationships between age and logMAR visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), mean deviation (MD) value, and LFAR were investigated. Thirty-seven eyes of 21 CORD patients (8 men and 13 women) were enrolled. The mean patient age was 49.8 years. LogMAR VA and MD were 0.52 ± 0.47 and − 17.91 ± 10.59 dB, respectively. There was a significant relationship between logMAR VA and MD (p = 0.001). LogMAR VA significantly correlated with CRT (p = 0.006) but not with other parameters. Conversely, univariate analysis suggested a significant relationship between MD and LFAR (p = 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, LFAR was significantly associated with MD (p = 0.002). In conclusion, it is useful to measure the low FAF area in patients with CORD. The AF measurement reflects the visual field deterioration but not VA in CORD.

scholarly journals What do patients with glaucoma see: a novel iPad app to improve glaucoma patient awareness of visual field loss

2020 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-317034
Author(s):  
Meghal Gagrani ◽  
Jideofor Ndulue ◽  
David Anderson ◽  
Sachin Kedar ◽  
Vikas Gulati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Field ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Peripheral Vision ◽  
Glaucoma Patient ◽  
Visual Field Loss ◽  
Sensitivity Threshold ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ipad App ◽  
Field Defects

PurposeGlaucoma patients with peripheral vision loss have in the past subjectively described their field loss as ‘blurred’ or ‘no vision compromise’. We developed an iPad app for patients to self-characterise perception within areas of glaucomatous visual field loss.MethodsTwelve glaucoma patients with visual acuity ≥20/40 in each eye, stable and reliable Humphrey Visual Field (HVF) over 2 years were enrolled. An iPad app (held at 33 cm) allowed subjects to modify ‘blur’ or ‘dimness’ to match their perception of a 2×2 m wall-mounted poster at 1 m distance. Subjects fixated at the centre of the poster (spanning 45° of field from centre). The output was degree of blur/dim: normal, mild and severe noted on the iPad image at the 54 retinal loci tested by the HVF 24-2 and was compared to threshold sensitivity values at these loci. Monocular (Right eye (OD), left eye (OS)) HVF responses were used to calculate an integrated binocular (OU) visual field index (VFI). All three data sets were analysed separately.Results36 HVF and iPad responses from 12 subjects (mean age 71±8.2y) were analysed. The mean VFI was 77% OD, 76% OS, 83% OU. The most common iPad response reported was normal followed by blur. No subject reported dim response. The mean HVF sensitivity threshold was significantly associated with the iPad response at the corresponding retinal loci (For OD, OS and OU, respectively (dB): normal: 23, 25, 27; mild blur: 18, 16, 22; severe blur: 9, 9, 11). On receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the HVF retinal sensitivity cut-off at which subjects reported blur was 23.4 OD, 23 OS and 23.3 OU (dB).ConclusionsGlaucoma subjects self-pictorialised their field defects as blur; never dim or black. Our innovation allows translation of HVF data to quantitatively characterise visual perception in patients with glaucomatous field defects.

scholarly journals Functional Monitoring after Trabeculectomy or XEN Microstent Implantation Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Visual Field Indices—A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 273
Author(s):  
Marc Schargus ◽  
Catharina Busch ◽  
Matus Rehak ◽  
Jie Meng ◽  
Manuela Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Spectral Domain ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Rnfl Thickness ◽  
Comparative Cohort Study ◽  
The Mean ◽  
All Treatment

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of trabeculectomy (TE), single XEN microstent implantation (solo XEN) or combined XEN implantation and cataract surgery (combined XEN) in primary open-angle glaucoma cases, naïve to prior surgical treatment, using a monocentric retrospective comparative cohort study. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of IOP-lowering drugs (Meds) were monitored during the first 24 months after surgery. Further disease progression was monitored using peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness examinations using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) as well as visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) tests. In the TE group (52 eyes), the mean IOP decreased from 24.9 ± 5.9 to 13.9 ± 4.2 mmHg (p < 0.001) and Meds decreased from 3.2 ± 1.2 to 0.5 ± 1.1 (p < 0.001). In the solo XEN (38 eyes) and the combined XEN groups, the mean IOP decreased from 24.1 ± 4.7 to 15.7 ± 3.0 mmHg (p < 0.001) and 25.4 ± 5.6 to 14.7 ± 3.2 mmHg (p < 0.001), while Meds decreased from 3.3 ± 0.8 to 0.8 ± 1.2 (p < 0.001) and 2.7 ± 1.2 to 0.4 ± 1.0 (p < 0.001), respectively. The VF and VA indices showed no sign of further deterioration, the RNFL thickness further decreased in all treatment groups after surgery. TE and XEN led to comparable reductions in IOP and Meds. Although the VA and VF indices remained unaltered, the RNFL thickness continuously decreased in all treatment groups during the 24-month follow-up.

Relationship between mean follow-up intraocular pressure, rates of visual field progression and current target intraocular pressure guidelines

2020 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-317406
Author(s):  
Bruna Melchior ◽  
Carlos Gustavo De Moraes ◽  
Jayter S Paula ◽  
George A Cioffi ◽  
Christopher A Girkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraocular Pressure ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Mean Deviation ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Current Guideline ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
The Mean

AimsTo investigate if eyes presenting intraocular pressure (IOP) within the limits of current guideline-driven target IOP indeed experience slow rates of glaucomatous visual field (VF) progression.MethodsA total of 8598 24-2 VF tests from 603 eyes from the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study with manifest glaucoma were included. The sample was split into three groups based on baseline VF mean deviation (MD): G1 (better than −5.0 dB), G2 (−5.0 to −10 dB) and G3 (worse than −10 dB). We investigated the relationship between existing target IOP guidelines and rates of MD progression in these groups.ResultsFor stable eyes, the medians and IQR of the mean follow-up IOP were G1=15.0 mmHg (IQR: 13.1 to 17.7), G2=13.2 mmHg (IQR: 11.6 to 14.3) and G3=11.9 mmHg (IQR: 10.1 to 13.8) (p<0.01). When considering the mean follow-up IOP within the limits proposed by current guidelines, the median MD slopes were: −0.20 dB/y (IQR: −0.43 to −0.02) for G1<21 mmHg, −0.19 dB/y (IQR: −0.51 to −0.01) for G2<18 mmHg and −0.15 dB/y (IQR: −0.47 to 0.05) for G3<15 mmHg (p=0.63). There were no significant differences between racial groups.ConclusionIn a sample of patients with manifest glaucoma, despite substantial variability between eyes, adherence to treatment guidelines helped slow the rates of global VF progression at various stages of disease.Trial registration numberclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00221923.

Implications of body condition and seasonality on morphological and functional parameters of testes of Myotis nigricans (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029
Author(s):  
Marcelo Ferreira ◽  
Aline Soldati ◽  
Sirlene S. S. Rodrigues ◽  
Laércio dos Anjos Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Light Microscopy ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
The Body ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Seminiferous Tubules ◽  
The Mean

The insectivorous bat Myotis nigricans is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, including Brazil, and has a reproductive biology that is affected by climate and food availability. To evaluate the reproductive capacity of this species, morphofunctional parameters of the testes were correlated with environmental variables and the body condition of individuals captured. After bats had been killed, their testes were removed, fixed in Karnovsky’s fluid for 24 h and embedded in resin for evaluation by light microscopy. The mean annual tubulosomatic index (0.58%) and the percentage of seminiferous tubules in the testes (88.96%) were the highest ever recorded for the Order Chiroptera. The percentage of Leydig cells and volume of the cytoplasm of Leydig cells were higher in the rainy than dry season (80.62 ± 3.19% and 573.57 ± 166.95 μm, respectively; mean ± s.d.). Conversely, the percentage of nuclei of the Leydig cells in the dry season (26.17 ± 3.70%; mean ± s.d.) and the total number of Leydig cells (6.38 ± 1.84 × 109; mean ± s.d.) were higher in the dry season. The results of the present study could help in future conservation of these bats because they provide a better understanding of the bats’ reproductive strategies and how the species can adapt to changes.

The synthesis method of regulators for multichannel systems using neural networks

2020 ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Александр Александрович Воевода ◽  
Дмитрий Олегович Романников
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Automatic Control ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Neural Net ◽  
Initial State ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Automatic Control Systems ◽  
Policy Gradient

Синтез регуляторов для многоканальных систем - актуальная и сложная задача. Одним из возможных способов синтеза является применение нейронных сетей. Нейронный регулятор либо обучают на предварительно рассчитанных данных, либо используют для настройки параметров ПИД-регулятора из начального устойчивого положения замкнутой системы. Предложено использовать нейронные сети для регулирования двухканального объекта, при этом обучение будет выполняться из неустойчивого (произвольного) начального положения с применением методов обучения нейронных сетей с подкреплением. Предложена структура нейронной сети и замкнутой системы, в которой уставка задается при помощи входного параметра нейронной сети регулятора The problem for synthesis of automatic control systems is hard, especially for multichannel objects. One of the approaches is the use of neural networks. For the approaches that are based on the use of reinforcement learning, there is an additional issue - supporting of range of values for the set points. The method of synthesis of automatic control systems using neural networks and the process of its learning with reinforcement learning that allows neural networks learning for supporting regulation is proposed in the predefined range of set points. The main steps of the method are 1) to form a neural net input as a state of the object and system set point; 2) to perform modelling of the system with a set of randomly generated set points from the desired range; 3) to perform a one-step of the learning using the Deterministic Policy Gradient method. The originality of the proposed method is that, in contrast to existing methods of using a neural network to synthesize a controller, the proposed method allows training a controller from an unstable initial state in a closed system and set of a range of set points. The method was applied to the problem of stabilizing the outputs of a two-channel object, for which stabilization both outputs and the first near the input set point is required

scholarly journals Biology and parasitic potential of Doryctobracon areolatuson Anastrepha fraterculus larvae

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 669-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrise Medeiros Nunes ◽  
Dori Edson Nava ◽  
Fernanda Appel Müller ◽  
Rafael da Silva Gonçalves ◽  
Mauro Silveira Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Parasitism Rate ◽  
Anastrepha Fraterculus ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Parasitoid Development

The objective of this work was to study the biology and parasitic potential of Doryctobracon areolatus on larvae of Anastrepha fraterculus. The egg-adult period, the sex ratio, the longevity, the pupal viability, and the parasitism rate of D. areolatus were determined in laboratory, using A. fraterculus as host. The parasitoid development from oviposition to adult emergence required 25.00±1.70 days, the sex ratio was 0.62±0.09, and the mean longevity was 16.36±3.62 days for males and 10.24±1.71 days for females. The mean parasitism rate was 53.50±8.93%, varying from 41.60 to 68.60%, which shows the potential of this parasitoid for biological control of A. fraterculus.

scholarly journals Experimental Validation of the Mean Pitch Theory

2021 ◽  
Vol 2090 (1) ◽  
pp. 012042
Author(s):  
T Meda ◽  
A Rogala
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Experimental Validation ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Simple Point ◽  
Fire Control ◽  
Mass Model ◽  
Body Model ◽  
Rigid Body Model ◽  
The Mean ◽  
In Fire

Abstract There are several types of exterior ballistic models used to calculate projectile’s flight trajectories. The most complex 6 degree of freedom rigid body model has many disadvantages to using it to create firing tables or rapid calculations in fire control systems. Some of ballistic phenomena can be simplified by empirical equations without significant loss of accuracy. This approach allowed to create standard NATO ballistic model for spin stabilized projectiles named Modified Point of Mass Model (PM Model). For fin (aerodynamically) stabilized projectiles like mortar projectiles simple Point of Mass Model is commonly used. The PM Model excludes many flight phenomena in calculations. In this paper authors show the mean pitch theory as an approximation of the natural fin stabilised projectile pitch during flight. The theory allows for simple improvement of accuracy of the trajectories calculation. In order to validate the theory data obtained from shooting of supersonic mortar projectiles were used. The comparison of accuracy between simple PM Model and PM Model including mean pitch theory were shown. Results were also compared with the angle of response theory.

Validating the usefulness of sectorwise regression of visual field in the central 10°

2021 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-317391
Author(s):  
Takashi Omoto ◽  
Hiroshi Murata ◽  
Yuri Fujino ◽  
Masato Matsuura ◽  
Takehiro Yamashita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Field ◽  
Mean Absolute Error ◽  
Open Angle Glaucoma ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Open Angle ◽  
Clustering Method ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Test Points

AimTo evaluate the usefulness of the application of the clustering method to the trend analysis (sectorwise regression) in comparison with the pointwise linear regression (PLR).MethodsThis study included 153 eyes of 101 patients with open-angle glaucoma. With PLR, the total deviation (TD) values of the 10th visual field (VF) were predicted using the shorter VF sequences (from first 3 to 9) by extrapolating TD values against time in a pointwise manner. Then, 68 test points were stratified into 29 sectors. In each sector, the mean of TD values was calculated and allocated to all test points belonging to the sector. Subsequently, the TD values of the 10th VF were predicted by extrapolating the allocated TD value against time in a pointwise manner. Similar analyses were conducted to predict the 11th–16th VFs using the first 10 VFs.ResultsWhen predicting the 10th VF using the shorter sequences, the mean absolute error (MAE) values were significantly smaller in the sectorwise regression than in PLR. When predicting from the 11th and 16th VFs using the first 10 VFs, the MAE values were significantly larger in the sectorwise regression than in PLR when predicting the 11th VF; however, no significant difference was observed with other VF predictions.ConclusionAccurate prediction was achieved using the sectorwise regression, in particular when a small number of VFs were used in the prediction. The accuracy of the sectorwise regression was not hampered in longer follow-up compared with PLR.

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