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Peptenatu D, Băloi AM, Andronic O, Bolocan A, Cioran N, Gruia AK, Grecu A, Panciu TC, Georgescu L, Munteanu I, Pistol A, Furtunescu F, Strâmbu IR, Ibrahim E, Băiceanu D, Popescu GG, Păduraru D, Jinga V, Mahler B. Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Tuberculosis Distribution in Romania and Particulate Matter Pollution Associated With Risk of Infection. GEOHEALTH 2024; 8:e2023GH000972. [PMID: 38638801 PMCID: PMC11025721 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The study proposes a dynamic spatio-temporal profile of the distribution of tuberculosis incidence and air pollution in Romania, where this infectious disease induces more than 8,000 new cases annually. The descriptive analysis for the years 2012-2021 assumes an identification of the structuring patterns of mycobacterium tuberculosis risk in the Romanian population, according to gender and age, exploiting spatial modeling techniques of time series data. Through spatial autocorrelation, the degree of similarity between the analyzed territorial systems was highlighted and the relationships that are built between the analysis units in spatial proximity were investigated. By modeling the geographical distribution of tuberculosis, the spatial correlation with particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution was revealed. The identification of clusters of infected persons is an indispensable step in the construction of efficient tuberculosis management systems. The results highlight the link between the distribution of tuberculosis, air pollution and socio-economic development, which requires a detailed analysis of the epidemiological data obtained in the national tuberculosis surveillance and control program from the perspective of geographical distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Peptenatu
- Faculty of GeographyResearch Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management (CAIMT)University of BucharestBucharestRomania
- Graphit Innovation FactoryStr.Constantin BrancoveanuDrobeta Turnu SeverinRomâniaRomânia
| | - A. M. Băloi
- Faculty of GeographyResearch Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management (CAIMT)University of BucharestBucharestRomania
- Graphit Innovation FactoryStr.Constantin BrancoveanuDrobeta Turnu SeverinRomâniaRomânia
- Faculty of Administration and BusinessUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - O. Andronic
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - A. Bolocan
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - N. Cioran
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - A. K. Gruia
- Faculty of Administration and BusinessUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - A. Grecu
- Faculty of Administration and BusinessUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - T. C. Panciu
- Marius Nasta Institute of PneumologyBucharestRomania
| | - L. Georgescu
- Marius Nasta Institute of PneumologyBucharestRomania
| | - I. Munteanu
- Marius Nasta Institute of PneumologyBucharestRomania
| | - A. Pistol
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - F. Furtunescu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - I. R. Strâmbu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - E. Ibrahim
- Marius Nasta Institute of PneumologyBucharestRomania
| | - D. Băiceanu
- Marius Nasta Institute of PneumologyBucharestRomania
| | - G. G. Popescu
- Marius Nasta Institute of PneumologyBucharestRomania
| | - D. Păduraru
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - V. Jinga
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - B. Mahler
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
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Khan MSI, Jelinek HF. Point of Care Testing (POCT) in Psychopathology Using Fractal Analysis and Hilbert Huang Transform of Electroencephalogram (EEG). ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:693-715. [PMID: 38468059 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Research has shown that relying only on self-reports for diagnosing psychiatric disorders does not yield accurate results at all times. The advances of technology as well as artificial intelligence and other machine learning algorithms have allowed the introduction of point of care testing (POCT) including EEG characterization and correlations with possible psychopathology. Nonlinear methods of EEG analysis have significant advantages over linear methods. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is a reliable nonlinear method of EEG pre-processing. In this chapter, we compare two existing EEG complexity measures - Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) and sample entropy (SE), with our newly proposed method using Higuchi fractal dimension from the Hilbert Huang transform (HFD-HHT). We present an example using the three complexity measures on a 2-minute EEG recorded from a healthy 20-year-old male after signal pre-processing. Furthermore, we showed the usefulness of these complexity measures in the classification of major depressive disorder (MDD) with healthy controls. Our study is in line with previous research and has shown an increase in HFD and SE values in the full, alpha and beta frequency bands suggestive of an increase in EEG irregularity. Moreover, the HFD-HHT values decreased in those three bands for majority of electrodes which is suggestive of a decrease in irregularity in the frequency-time domain. We conclude that all three complexity measures can be vital features useful for EEG analysis which could be incorporated in POCT systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Herbert F Jelinek
- Department of Medical Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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3
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Andronache I, Peptenatu D, Ahammer H, Radulovic M, Djuričić GJ, Jelinek HF, Russo C, Di Ieva A. Fractals in the Neurosciences: A Translational Geographical Approach. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:953-981. [PMID: 38468071 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The chapter presents three new fractal indices (fractal fragmentation index, fractal tentacularity index, and fractal anisotropy index) and normalized Kolmogorov complexity with proven applicability in geographic research, developed by the authors, and the possibility of their future use in neuroscience. The research demonstrates the relevance of fractal analysis in different fields and the basic concepts and principles of fractal geometry being sufficient for the development of models relevant to the studied reality. Also, the research highlighted the need to continue interdisciplinary research based on known fractal indicators, as well as the development of new analysis methods with the translational potential between fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ion Andronache
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Daniel Peptenatu
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Helmut Ahammer
- GSRC, Division of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Marko Radulovic
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Goran J Djuričić
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, University Children's Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Herbert F Jelinek
- Department of Medical Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Carlo Russo
- Computational NeuroSurgery (CNS) Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Antonio Di Ieva
- Computational NeuroSurgery (CNS) Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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4
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Di Ieva A. The Fractal Geometry of the Brain: AnOverview. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:3-13. [PMID: 38468025 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The first chapter of this book introduces some history, philosophy, and basic concepts of fractal geometry and discusses how the neurosciences can benefit from applying computational fractal-based analysis. Further, it compares fractal with Euclidean approaches to analyzing and quantifying the brain in its entire physiopathological spectrum and presents an overview of the first section of this book as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Ieva
- Computational NeuroSurgery (CNS) Lab & Macquarie Neurosurgery, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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5
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Peptenatu D, Nedelcu ID, Pop CS, Simion AG, Furtunescu F, Burcea M, Andronache I, Radulovic M, Jelinek HF, Ahammer H, Gruia AK, Grecu A, Popa MC, Militaru V, Drăghici CC, Pintilii RD. The Spatial-Temporal Dimension of Oncological Prevalence and Mortality in Romania. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2023GH000901. [PMID: 37799773 PMCID: PMC10549965 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify spatial disparities in the distribution of cancer hotspots within Romania. Additionally, the research aimed to track prevailing trends in cancer prevalence and mortality according to a cancer type. The study covered the timeframe between 2008 and 2017, examining all 3,181 territorial administrative units. The analysis of spatial distribution relied on two key parameters. The first parameter, persistence, measured the duration for which cancer prevalence exceeded the 75th percentile threshold. Cancer prevalence refers to the total number of individuals in a population who have been diagnosed with cancer at a specific time point, including both newly diagnosed cases (occurrence) and existing cases. The second parameter, the time continuity of persistence, calculated the consecutive months during which cancer prevalence consistently surpassed the 75th percentile threshold. Notably, persistence of elevated values was also evident in lowland regions, devoid of any discernible direct connection to environmental conditions. In conclusion, this work bears substantial relevance to regional health policies, by aiding in the formulation of prevention strategies, while also fostering a deeper comprehension of the socioeconomic and environmental factors contributing to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Peptenatu
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management—CAIMTFaculty of GeographyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - I. D. Nedelcu
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management—CAIMTFaculty of GeographyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - C. S. Pop
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - A. G. Simion
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management—CAIMTFaculty of GeographyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - F. Furtunescu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - M. Burcea
- Faculty of Administration and BusinessUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - I. Andronache
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management—CAIMTFaculty of GeographyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - M. Radulovic
- Department of Experimental OncologyInstitute of Oncology and Radiology of SerbiaBelgradeSerbia
| | - H. F. Jelinek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Engineering Innovation CenterKhalifa UniversityAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates
| | - H. Ahammer
- Division of Medical Physics and BiophysicsGSRCMedical University of GrazGrazAustria
| | - A. K. Gruia
- Faculty of Administration and BusinessUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - A. Grecu
- Faculty of Administration and BusinessUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - M. C. Popa
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management—CAIMTFaculty of GeographyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - V. Militaru
- Faculty of MedicineIuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj‐NapocaCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | - C. C. Drăghici
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management—CAIMTFaculty of GeographyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - R. D. Pintilii
- Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management—CAIMTFaculty of GeographyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
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Peptenatu D, Andronache I, Ahammer H, Radulovic M, Costanza JK, Jelinek HF, Di Ieva A, Koyama K, Grecu A, Gruia AK, Simion AG, Nedelcu ID, Olteanu C, Drăghici CC, Marin M, Diaconu DC, Fensholt R, Newman EA. A new fractal index to classify forest fragmentation and disorder. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2023; 38:1373-1393. [DOI: 10.1007/s10980-023-01640-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Context
Forest loss and fragmentation pose extreme threats to biodiversity. Their efficient characterization from remotely sensed data therefore has strong practical implications. Data are often separately analyzed for spatial fragmentation and disorder, but no existing metric simultaneously quantifies both the shape and arrangement of fragments.
Objectives
We present a fractal fragmentation and disorder index (FFDI), which advances a previously developed fractal index by merging it with the Rényi information dimension. The FFDI is designed to work across spatial scales, and to efficiently report both the fragmentation of images and their spatial disorder.
Methods
We validate the FFDI with 12,600 synthetic hierarchically structured random map (HRM) multiscale images, as well as several other categories of fractal and non-fractal test images (4880 images). We then apply the FFDI to satellite imagery of forest cover for 10 distinct regions of the Romanian Carpathian Mountains from 2000–2021.
Results
The FFDI outperformed its two individual components (fractal fragmentation index and Rényi information dimension) in resolving spatial patterns of disorder and fragmentation when tested on HRM classes and other image types. The FFDI thus offers a clear advantage when compared to the individual use of fractal fragmentation index and the Information Dimension, and provided good classification performance in an application to real data.
Conclusions
This work improves on previous characterizations of landscape patterns. With the FFDI, scientists will be able to better monitor and understand forest fragmentation from satellite imagery. The FFDI may also find wider applicability in biology wherever image analysis is used.
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Fractal algorithms and RGB image processing in scribal and ink identification on an 1819 secret initiation manuscript to the "Philike Hetaereia". Sci Rep 2023; 13:1735. [PMID: 36720889 PMCID: PMC9889743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Historical texts incorporate important characteristics that need to be assessed including genre, text structure and content. Often overlooked are characteristics of handwritten manuscripts commonly divided into legibility, readability and aesthetics. To determine the scientific feasibility of classification of handwritten texts an objective approach is developed to describe twenty handwritten pages of an 1819 Greek manuscript, that refers to the initiation to the Greek secret "friendly society" (Philike Hetaereia) organization, established as part of the Greek independence against the Ottoman Turks. It is investigated through a fractal and RGB image analysis approach. Fractal Minkowski Dimension was applied on the handwritten text and the RGB color analysis on the ink and paper and both were used as a non-invasive manner and revealed interesting results. The novel RGB image analysis and the fractal analysis of the manuscript identified respectively, five iron gall inks and four scribes from the ink content and handwritten styles, of the compact five lines text and whole text pages. The novel approach was verified with another old manuscript of known ink pigments, as well as with thirteen known handwritten texts of that period and four prints representing modern and similar period texts substantiating the findings of the novel methods.
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Kolmogorov compression complexity may differentiate different schools of Orthodox iconography. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10743. [PMID: 35750777 PMCID: PMC9232591 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12826-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The complexity in the styles of 1200 Byzantine icons painted between 13th and 16th from Greece, Russia and Romania was investigated through the Kolmogorov algorithmic information theory. The aim was to identify specific quantitative patterns which define the key characteristics of the three different painting schools. Our novel approach using the artificial surface images generated with Inverse FFT and the Midpoint Displacement (MD) algorithms, was validated by comparison of results with eight fractal and non-fractal indices. From the analyzes performed, normalized Kolmogorov compression complexity (KC) proved to be the best solution because it had the best complexity pattern differentiations, is not sensitive to the image size and the least affected by noise. We conclude that normalized KC methodology does offer capability to differentiate the icons within a School and amongst the three Schools.
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Effects of Forest Fragmentation on the Volume of Wood Resources in Managed, Pine-Dominated Forests in Poland. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13040590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Forest fragmentation is a widespread phenomenon that directly or indirectly affects the processes that take place both in forest ecosystems and in their immediate surroundings. So far, many studies confirm its negative effects, especially on biodiversity. On the other hand, there are few studies that address the effects of forest fragmentation on the amount of accumulated biomass or carbon, as well as on the characteristics of wood resources in managed forests. Therefore, issues related to timber production, which are important from the point of view of multifunctional forest management, are omitted. The aim of our research was to add to the knowledge in this area. In particular, we focused on assessing the impact of forest fragmentation on wood resources based on an analysis of edge effects in forest patches (units formed by combining forest fragments characterized by structural connectivity). Vector data describing the topography of forest fragments in Poland and the results of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) from 2015–2019 were used as material for solving this problem. The results of our research showed that the effects of fragmentation on managed pine stands depend on the age of the stand and the fertility of the habitat. In young stands growing on barren or strongly barren habitats, growing stock volume turned out to be significantly higher in the edge zone. In older stands, especially on moderately fertile habitats, significantly higher resources were found in the interior zone of forest patches. Habitat quality also had a significant effect on the amount of carbon accumulated. In strongly barren habitats, higher carbon mass was found in edge zones, while in moderately fertile habitats, stands had higher carbon volume in the interior zone. Our results illustrate that forest fragmentation is a very complex process that can increase or reduce wood resources, depending on the age of the stand and the quality of the habitat. From the standpoint of measurable benefits, it was concluded that protection from the negative effects of fragmentation should focus primarily on older stands and more fertile habitats.
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Somatic Embryogenesis of Norway Spruce and Scots Pine: Possibility of Application in Modern Forestry. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an important method for the vegetative propagation of trees. SE is the developmental in vitro process in which embryos are produced from somatic cells. This method can be integrated with other biotechnological techniques, genomic breeding and cryopreservation, which enables commercial-scale sapling production of selected high-yielding genotypes in wood production combined with fast breeding cycles. The SE is potential tool to improve plant stock in comparison with seed orchards. It can be useful for ecologically and economically important species, such as Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), ensuring stable production in the era of climate change and biodiversity crisis. In this review, we summarize the current state of research on problems associated with somatic embryogenesis in P. abies and P. sylvestris.
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Urgilez-Clavijo A, Rivas-Tabares DA, Martín-Sotoca JJ, Tarquis Alfonso AM. Local Fractal Connections to Characterize the Spatial Processes of Deforestation in the Ecuadorian Amazon. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 23:748. [PMID: 34198668 PMCID: PMC8232215 DOI: 10.3390/e23060748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Deforestation by human activities is a common issue in Amazonian countries. This occurs at different spatial and temporal scales causing primary forest loss and land fragmentation issues. During the deforestation process as the forest loses connectivity, the deforested patches create new intricate connections, which in turn create complex networks. In this study, we analyzed the local connected fractal dimension (LCFD) of the deforestation process in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR) with two segmentation methods, -CA-wavelet and K-means-to categorize the complexity of deforested patches' connections and then relate these with the spatial processes. The results showed an agreement with both methods, in which LCFD values below 1 corresponded to isolated patches with simple shapes and those above 1 signified more complex and connected patches. From CA-wavelet a threshold of 1.57 was detected allowing us to identify and discern low and high land transformation, while the threshold for K-means was 1.61. Both values represent the region from which deforestation performs local aggressive expansion networks. The thresholds were used to map the LCFD in which all spatial processes were visually detected. However, the threshold of 1.6 ± 0.03 was more effective in discerning high land transformation. such as shrinkage and attrition, in the deforestation process in the SBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Urgilez-Clavijo
- CEIGRAM, Centro de Estudios e Investigación para la Gestión de Riesgos Agrarios y Medioambientales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (D.A.R.-T.); (J.J.M.-S.); (A.M.T.A.)
- Complex Systems Group, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- IERSE, Instituto de Estudios de Régimen Seccional del Ecuador, Universidad del Azuay, 010204 Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - David Andrés Rivas-Tabares
- CEIGRAM, Centro de Estudios e Investigación para la Gestión de Riesgos Agrarios y Medioambientales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (D.A.R.-T.); (J.J.M.-S.); (A.M.T.A.)
| | - Juan José Martín-Sotoca
- CEIGRAM, Centro de Estudios e Investigación para la Gestión de Riesgos Agrarios y Medioambientales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (D.A.R.-T.); (J.J.M.-S.); (A.M.T.A.)
- Complex Systems Group, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Matemática Aplicada a las TIC, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana María Tarquis Alfonso
- CEIGRAM, Centro de Estudios e Investigación para la Gestión de Riesgos Agrarios y Medioambientales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (D.A.R.-T.); (J.J.M.-S.); (A.M.T.A.)
- Complex Systems Group, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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12
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Kim JJ, Parker S, Henderson T, Kirby JN. Physiological fractals: visual and statistical evidence across timescales and experimental states. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200334. [PMID: 32574539 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A marker of engaging in compassion meditation and related processes is an increase in heart-rate variability (HRV), typically interpreted as a marker of parasympathetic nervous system response. While insightful, open questions remain. For example, which timescale is best to examine the effects of meditation and related practices on HRV? Furthermore, how might advanced time-series analyses--such as stationarity--be able to examine dynamic changes in the mean and variance of the HRV signal across time? Here we apply such methods to previously published data, which measured HRV pre- and post- a two-week compassionate mind training (CMT) intervention. Inspection of these data reveals that a visualization of HRV correlations across resting and compassion meditation states, pre- and post-two-week training, is retained across numerous recording timescales. Here, the fractal-like nature of our data indicates that the accuracy of representing HRV data can exist across timescales, albeit with greater or lesser granularity. Interestingly, inspection of the HRV signal at Time 2 compassion meditation versus Time 1 revealed a more highly correlated (i.e. potentially more stable) signal. We followed up these results with tests of stationarity, which revealed Time 2 had a less stochastic (variable) signal than Time 1, and a measure of distance in the time series, which showed that Time 2 had less of an average difference between rest and meditation than at Time 1. Our results provide novel assessment of visual and statistical markers of HRV change across distinct experimental states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Kim
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Stacey Parker
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - James N Kirby
- Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Abstract
We can think of forests as multiscale multispecies networks, constantly evolving toward a climax or potential natural community—the successional process-pattern of natural regeneration that exhibits sensitivity to initial conditions. This is why I look into forest succession in light of the Red Queen hypothesis and focus on the key aspects of ecological self-organisation: dynamical criticality, evolvability and intransitivity. The idea of the review is that forest climax should be associated with habitat dynamics driven by a large continuum of ecologically equivalent time scales, so that the same ecological conclusions could be drawn statistically from any scale. A synthesis of the literature is undertaken in order to (1) present the framework for assessing habitat dynamics and (2) present the types of successional trajectories based on tree regeneration mode in forest gaps. In general, there are four types of successional trajectories within the process-pattern of forest regeneration that exhibits sensitivity to initial conditions: advance reproduction specialists, advance reproduction generalists, early reproduction generalists and early reproduction specialists. A successional trajectory is an expression of a fractal connectivity among certain patterns of natural regeneration in the multiscale multispecies networks of landscape habitats. Theoretically, the organically derived measures of pattern diversity, integrity and complexity, determined by the rates of recruitment, growth and mortality of forest tree species, are the means to test the efficacy of specific interventions to avert the disturbance-related decline in forest regeneration. That is of relevance to the emerging field of biocomplexity research.
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Application of Fractal and Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix Indices to Assess the Forest Dynamics in the Curvature Carpathians—Romania. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11246927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The mountain ecosystems face significant damage from deforestation and environmental forest changes. We investigated the evolution of tree types of cover areas, deforested areas and total deforested areas from Curvature Carpathians using Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix and fractal analysis. The forest dynamics mapping was one of the main objectives of this study and it was carried out using multiple fractal and GLCM indices. We approached the analysis of satellite forest images by calculation of four fractal indices such as Pyramid dimension, Cube Counting Dimension, Fractal Fragmentation-Compaction Index and Tug-of-War lacunarity. We also calculated fractal dimension because it is an index of complexity comparing how the detail in a pattern changes with the scale at which it is measured. Fractal dimension is useful for estimation of irregularity or roughness of fractal and natural objects that do not conform to Euclidian geometry. While the fractal dimension quantifies how much space is occupied, the Tug-of-War lacunarity complements fractal dimension with its ability to quantify how space is occupied. Analysis was further supplemented by the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix analysis because it quantifies spatial probability distributions of gray level values between pixel pairs within an image. The calculated Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix features included Angular Second Moment, Contrast, Correlation, Inverse Difference Moment and Entropy. Such comprehensive analysis has the advantage of combining fractal analysis that extracts quantitative information about the morphological complexity of the image with the spatial distribution of the gray pixel intensities as calculated by the co-occurrence features provided by Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix. Evolution of deforested areas, expansion of agricultural land and the increased demand for quality timber have affected the forests ecosystems and, the regional sustainable development of local communities.
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Gruia KA, Dobrea RC, Simion CP, Dima C, Grecu A, Hudea OS, Marin M, Andronache I, Peptenatu D. The Use of Sholl and Kolmogorov Complexity Analysis in Researching on the Sustainable Development of Creative Economies in the Development Region of Bucharest‒Ilfov, Romania. SUSTAINABILITY 2019; 11:6195. [DOI: 10.3390/su11226195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, creative economies stand as a relevant indicator of the sustainable development of local and regional ones. The study aims to highlight the spatial behaviour of creative economies in the Bucharest‒Ilfov Development Region, the most dynamic and complex regional economy in Romania. In order to assess the spatial dynamics of creative economies in the region, an economic database was created, at the level of the territorial administrative unit, for the two economic indicators considered important for the study, number of employees and turnover, under the auspices of the Classification of National Economy Activities (NACE). The establishment of creative economies was made following the Government Decision no. 859 of 2014, with 66 codes for this sector. Annual cartographic models were developed for each indicator in QGIS (a free and open–source cross–platform desktop geographic information system application that supports viewing, editing, and analysis of geospatial data), for the period 2000–2016. For a relevant analysis of spatial behaviour, we used Sholl and Kolmogorov complexity, which highlighted specific patterns of spatial dynamics that help us to understand the role of creative economies in the sustainable development of regional economies. The results highlighted the role of accessibility corridors in the development of the regional economy.
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