Selective Amplifier Research Articles

Strong bounds for evolution in networks

This work studies the generalized Moran process, as introduced by Lieberman et al. (2005) [20]. We introduce the parameterized notions of selective amplifiers and selective suppressors of evolution, i.e. of networks (graphs) with many “strong starts” and many “weak starts” for the mutant, respectively. We first prove the existence of strong selective amplifiers and of (quite) strong selective suppressors. Furthermore we provide strong upper bounds and almost tight lower bounds (by proving the “Thermal Theorem”) for the traditional notion of fixation probability of Lieberman et al., i.e. assuming a random initial placement of the mutant.

Suppressors of selection.

Inspired by recent works on evolutionary graph theory, an area of growing interest in mathematical and computational biology, we present examples of undirected structures acting as suppressors of selection for any fitness value r > 1. This means that the average fixation probability of an advantageous mutant or invader individual placed at some node is strictly less than that of this individual placed in a well-mixed population. This leads the way to study more robust structures less prone to invasion, contrary to what happens with the amplifiers of selection where the fixation probability is increased on average for advantageous invader individuals. A few families of amplifiers are known, although some effort was required to prove it. Here, we use computer aided techniques to find an exact analytical expression of the fixation probability for some graphs of small order (equal to 6, 8 and 10) proving that selection is effectively reduced for r > 1. Some numerical experiments using Monte Carlo methods are also performed for larger graphs and some variants.

Amplification on Undirected Population Structures: Comets Beat Stars

The fixation probability is the probability that a new mutant introduced in a homogeneous population eventually takes over the entire population. The fixation probability is a fundamental quantity of natural selection, and known to depend on the population structure. Amplifiers of natural selection are population structures which increase the fixation probability of advantageous mutants, as compared to the baseline case of well-mixed populations. In this work we focus on symmetric population structures represented as undirected graphs. In the regime of undirected graphs, the strongest amplifier known has been the Star graph, and the existence of undirected graphs with stronger amplification properties has remained open for over a decade. In this work we present the Comet and Comet-swarm families of undirected graphs. We show that for a range of fitness values of the mutants, the Comet and Comet-swarm graphs have fixation probability strictly larger than the fixation probability of the Star graph, for fixed population size and at the limit of large populations, respectively.

Most Undirected Random Graphs Are Amplifiers of Selection for Birth-Death Dynamics, but Suppressors of Selection for Death-Birth Dynamics.

We analyze evolutionary dynamics on graphs, where the nodes represent individuals of a population. The links of a node describe which other individuals can be displaced by the offspring of the individual on that node. Amplifiers of selection are graphs for which the fixation probability is increased for advantageous mutants and decreased for disadvantageous mutants. A few examples of such amplifiers have been developed, but so far it is unclear how many such structures exist and how to construct them. Here, we show that almost any undirected random graph is an amplifier of selection for Birth-death updating, where an individual is selected to reproduce with probability proportional to its fitness and one of its neighbors is replaced by that offspring at random. If we instead focus on death-Birth updating, in which a random individual is removed and its neighbors compete for the empty spot, then the same ensemble of graphs consists of almost only suppressors of selection for which the fixation probability is decreased for advantageous mutants and increased for disadvantageous mutants. Thus, the impact of population structure on evolutionary dynamics is a subtle issue that will depend on seemingly minor details of the underlying evolutionary process.

Amplifiers of selection

When a new mutant arises in a population, there is a probability it outcompetes the residents and fixes. The structure of the population can affect this fixation probability. Suppressing population structures reduce the difference between two competing variants, while amplifying population structures enhance the difference. Suppressors are ubiquitous and easy to construct, but amplifiers for the large population limit are more elusive and only a few examples have been discovered. Whether or not a population structure is an amplifier of selection depends on the probability distribution for the placement of the invading mutant. First, we prove that there exist only bounded amplifiers for adversarial placement—that is, for arbitrary initial conditions. Next, we show that the Star population structure, which is known to amplify for mutants placed uniformly at random, does not amplify for mutants that arise through reproduction and are therefore placed proportional to the temperatures of the vertices. Finally, we construct population structures that amplify for all mutational events that arise through reproduction, uniformly at random, or through some combination of the two.

Broadband Input Block of Radio Receiver for Software-Defined Radio Devices

Abstract In the paper a cost-effective input block of the SDR receiver for 0.9 — 2.4 GHz frequency band built of capacitive-tuned selective amplifier and broadband Vivaldi antenna is presented. The applied selective amplifier consists of three identical sections of tunable filters and two stages of monolithic broadband amplifiers. The single filter section proposed by the authors, due to its ability to absorb parasitic inductances of varicap diodes, simplifies usage of encapsulated varicap diodes in design of tunable in broad band selective filters dedicated to input stages of the receivers. Moreover, proposed filter section has small variation of in-band insertion loss in comparison to varicap-tuned filters built of coupled transmission lines which are commonly applied in input blocks of the microwave receivers. The described selective amplifier could be easily integrated on a single substrate with the Vivaldi antenna which is a cost effective way of fabrication of the tunable in broad band input block of a receiver that has desired gain, selectivity and directivity of the antenna.

Counterintuitive properties of the fixation time in network-structured populations.

Evolutionary dynamics on graphs can lead to many interesting and counterintuitive findings. We study the Moran process, a discrete time birth–death process, that describes the invasion of a mutant type into a population of wild-type individuals. Remarkably, the fixation probability of a single mutant is the same on all regular networks. But non-regular networks can increase or decrease the fixation probability. While the time until fixation formally depends on the same transition probabilities as the fixation probabilities, there is no obvious relation between them. For example, an amplifier of selection, which increases the fixation probability and thus decreases the number of mutations needed until one of them is successful, can at the same time slow down the process of fixation. Based on small networks, we show analytically that (i) the time to fixation can decrease when links are removed from the network and (ii) the node providing the best starting conditions in terms of the shortest fixation time depends on the fitness of the mutant. Our results are obtained analytically on small networks, but numerical simulations show that they are qualitatively valid even in much larger populations.

Spectral Characteristics of Separation Shock Unsteadiness

Spectra of wall-pressure fluctuations caused by separation shock unsteadiness were compared for data obtained from wind-tunnel experiments, the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation flight test 1, and large-eddy simulations. The results were found to be in generally good agreement, despite differences in Mach number and two orders of magnitude difference in Reynolds number. Relatively good agreement was obtained between these spectra and the predictions of a theory developed by Plotkin. The predictions of this theory are also qualitatively consistent with the results of experiments in which the shock motion was synchronized to controlled perturbations. The results presented here support the idea that separation unsteadiness has common features across a broad range of compressible flows and that it behaves as a selective amplifier of large-scale disturbances in the incoming flow.

Exact formulas for fixation probabilities on a complete oriented star

It is already known that large complete oriented stars (COSs) with intrinsic weights are amplifiers of selection. This paper addresses the evolutionary dynamics on COSs. First, we give the exact formulas for the fixation probabilities on a COS. We then apply these formulas to study some properties of COSs. The obtained results partially reveal the way in which the fixation probabilities are affected by COSs.

SELF-TUNING BIQUAD BAND-PASS FILTER

One approach to design self-tuning gm-C biquad band-pass filter is considered in this paper. The phase control loop is introduced to force filter central frequency to be equal to input signal frequency what is achieved by adjusting the amplifier transconductance gm. Thanks to that, the filter is robust to parameter perturbations and it can be used as a selective amplifier. In the full tuning range, it has a constant maximum gain at central frequency as well as a constant bandwidth. The 0.25 μm SiGe BiCMOS technology was used during design and verification of the band-pass filter. The filter has 26 dB gain, quality factor Q = 20 and central frequency up to 150 MHz. Simulation results indicate that the total in-band noise is 59 μV rms , the output third intercept point OIP3 = 4.36 dB and the dynamic range is 35 dB. Maximal power consumption at 3 V power supply is 1.115 mW.

Analysis and Detection of OVERHAUSER Magnetometer Signal

Studied the OVERHAUSER magnetometer signal's production mechanism and instrument's working principle, designed high frequency energizer, DC polarization circuit and signal detecting circuit. Detecting circuit was composed of the analog frequency selective amplification, narrow-band filter, programmable amplifier and controller. In setting conditions, the probe output Larmor precession signal, then collected the signal by the detecting circuit. The results show the single identified with the theoretical analysis with a higher SNR. Provided an important basis for the increase of the system sampling rate by analysising the relationship between the poling time and the output signals amplitude.

Amplitudo Modulation Data Rate Coherence To Ease Clock Regeneration For Underwater Data Communication

Clock regeneration in synchronized data communication system has a very important role to extract the transmitted data correctly. According to very low bit rate with long zero and high signal distortion due to underwater propagation, the recovery would be very difficult, so that a certain technique must be applied to regenerate the clock easily. In this paper will be discussed a simply technical method to regenerate the clock. At the transmitter, amplitude modulator uses carrier frequency coherent with the data rate in the system. It is done by generating clock pulses as a fraction of the carrier wave. In addition to the coherency, modulation index of generated AM to supply underwater acoustic transducer is adjusted to be less than hundred percent. At the receiver, the weak signal is amplified by a frequency selective amplifier for carrier wave signal only. The output contains other weak signal and noise. To find the clear clock pulses, the signal is used as a frequency reference. A Voltage Controlled Oscillator, where its phase and frequency automatically controlled by frequency reference will generate a phase locked wave with the frequency as same as frequency clock at the transmitter side.

A Current Comparator Based Four-Terminal Impedance Bridge

This paper presents a current comparator based four-terminal impedance bridge for quantity-value dissemination of national AC resistance standard in China. In order to enhance the feedback adjustment ability and simplify the balance process, the bridge applies a frequency selective amplifier instead of feedforward and feedback networks to balance the magnetomotive force of the current comparator. The resistance difference between the measured and standard resistor can be calculated according to their voltage difference indicated by a digital lock-in amplifier. The AC/DC resistance relative differences between Double Helix Resistor and Tinsley standard resistor are measured with the proposed bridge under 1592Hz.

Fixation Probabilities on Complete Star and Bipartite Digraphs

This paper exactly formulates the kth‐order fixation probabilities on complete star digraphs (CSDs), which extend the results from Broom and Rychtář (2008). By applying these probability formulae, some asymptotic properties on CBDs are analyzed, and certain CSDs are determined to be amplifiers of selection for arbitrary relative fitness larger than 1, while all the CSDs are proved to be amplifiers of selection for fixed relative fitness slightly larger than 1. A numerical method for fixed population structure (by solving a linear system) is developed to calculate the fixation probabilities on complete bipartite digraphs (CBDs), and some conjectures are finally given through simulations.

Long-term Regulation of Genetically Modified Primary Hematopoietic Cells in Dogs

We report long-term results from a large animal model of in vivo selection. Nine years ago, we transplanted two dogs (E900 and E958) with autologous marrow CD34(+) cells that had been transduced with a gammaretrovirus vector encoding a conditionally activatable derivative of the thrombopoietin receptor. Receptor activation through administration of a chemical inducer of dimerization (CID) (AP20187 or AP1903) confers a growth advantage. We previously reported responses to two 30-day intravenous (i.v.) courses of AP20187 administered within the first 8 months post-transplantation. We now report responses to 5-day subcutaneous (s.c.) courses of AP20187 or AP1903 at months 14, 90, and 93 (E900), or month 18 (E958), after transplantation. Long-term monitoring showed no rise in transduced cells in the absence of drug. Retroviral insertion site analysis showed that 4 of 6 (E958) and 5 of 12 (E900) transduced hematopoietic cell clones persisted lifelong. Both dogs were euthanized for reasons unrelated to the gene therapy treatment at 8 years 11 months (E958) and 11 years 1 month (E900) of age. Three clones from E900 remained detectable in each of two secondary recipients, one of which was treated with, and responded to, AP1903. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of safely regulating genetically engineered hematopoietic cells over many years.

Behavioural trait assortment in a social network: patterns and implications

The social fine structure of a population plays a central role in ecological and evolutionary processes. Whilst many studies have investigated how morphological traits such as size affect social structure of populations, comparatively little is known about the influence of behaviours such as boldness and shyness. Using information on social interactions in a wild population of Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata), we construct a social network. For each individual in the network, we quantify its behavioural phenotype using two measures of boldness, predator inspection tendency, a repeatable and reliably measured behaviour well studied in the context of co-operation, and shoaling tendency. We observe striking heterogeneity in contact patterns, with strong ties being positively assorted and weak ties negatively assorted by our measured behavioural traits. Moreover, shy fish had more network connections than bold fish and these were on average stronger. In other words, social fine structure is strongly influenced by behavioural trait. We assert that such structure will have implications for the outcome of selection on behavioural traits and we speculate that the observed positive assortment may act as an amplifier of selection contributing to the maintenance of co-operation during predator inspection.

Cochlear outer hair cell system is a logarithmic compressor

In general, sensors of the sensory organs are ultrasensitive, so that a gain control function would be essential to protect the sensors from high intensity stimuli. This holds for the cochlea, an acoustic sensor of high sensitivity. Above all, the cochlea has to be equipped with the organ mechanically protecting the vulnerable sensor from high amplitude sounds. In addition, to expand the apparent dynamic range of the cochlear sensor, the stimulus intensity i.e. amplitude, should be considerably compressed in the cochlea. Of course, the amplitude should be compressed logarithmically so as not to miss the low level signals as much as possible. Thus, it is very convenient if a logarithmic compressor (LC) exists in the cochlea. Then, we examined literatures on this subject, and finally we reached the conclusion that the outer hair cell (OHC) system is none other than the LC. Here we propose ‘the LC theory’ that the OHC system is the LC properly compressing the signal intensity together with the tectorial membrane. However, this theory is quite contradictory to the generally accepted theory that OHCs are selective amplifiers of the basilar membrane vibrations (CA theory). In our opinion, this contradiction is due to that the logic of the CA theory is not sound. If you enumerate all possible explanations of experimental data and examine them logically, you will never conclude to the CA theory. In a word, the CA theory confuses the effect of the LC with that of the selective amplifier. Certainly, they are very mistakable. On the other hand, because the LC theory is a logical result of the well-known experimental data, it is consistent with any of them. Moreover, the LC theory can easily explain the causes of such phenomena as otoacoustic emissions, two-tone suppression and loudness recruitment that have been difficult to be reasonably explained up to now. Needless to say, if the OHC system is the LC, you will have to re-create the auditory theory fundamentally. This means that every aspect of otology such as the clinical examination, the design of cochlear implant and the etiology of hearing impairments should be re-evaluated. The conclusion is that the CA theory should be corrected as quickly as possible.

Determination of coupling regime of high-Q resonators and optical gain of highly selective amplifiers

We present a simple method to determine simultaneously the main characteristics of passive or active high-Q optical resonators. The method is based on cavity ringdown spectroscopy, where the probe wavelength is rapidly swept across the resonance. It has already been shown that this technique allows the loaded cavity lifetime of passive resonators to be obtained. We show that we can also infer the coupling regime for passive resonators and the resonant gain for active resonators. The method is tested on Er3+ doped fiber resonators and also applied to determine the intrinsic and external Q-factors of an MgF2 whispering gallery mode resonator.

Detection of leakage magnetic flux from near-side and far-side defects in carbon steel plates using a giant magneto-resistive sensor

Giant magneto-resistive (GMR) sensors are attractive for magnetic flux leakage measurements, especially for the detection of shallow near-side cracks and deeply located defects. An optimized measurement system with magnetic yoke, GMR sensor and selective amplifier has been devised to detect the tangential component of leakage flux from various near-side notches and far-side notches (widths 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm, respectively) in 12 mm thick carbon steel plates. Far-side notches located at nearly 11 mm below the measurement surface have been detected with a good signal-to-noise ratio. The performance of the GMR sensor with lift off has also been studied for possible non-contact examination of hot surfaces and a lift off of 2 mm is expected to ensure the saturation-free detection of near-side as well as far-side notches.

Evolutionary dynamics for the spatial Moran process

Evolutionary dynamics for the Moran process have been previously examined within the context of fixation behaviour for introduced mutants, where it was demonstrated that certain spatial structures act as amplifiers of selection. This article will revisit the assumptions for this spatial Moran process and show that proportional global fitness, introduced as part of the Moran process, is necessary for the amplification of selection to occur. Here it is shown that under the condition of local proportional fitness selection the amplification property no longer holds. In addition, regular structures are also shown to have a modified fixation probability from a panmictic population when local selection is applied. Theoretical results from population genetics, which suggest fixation probabilities are independent of geography, are discussed in relation to these local graph-based models and shown to have different assumptions and therefore not to be in conflict with the presented results. This paper examines the issue of fixation probability of an introduced advantageous allele in terms of spatial structure and various spatial parent selection models. The results describe the relationship between structured populations and individual selective advantage in a problem independent manner. This is of significant interest to the theory of fine-grained spatially-structured evolutionary algorithms since the interaction of selection and space for diversity maintenance, selection strength and convergence underlies resulting evolutionary trajectories.