The Experts below are selected from a list of 74586 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Antonio Gasbarrini - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • the human gut microbiota and virome potential therapeutic implications
    Digestive and Liver Disease, 2015
    Co-Authors: E Scarpellini, Gianluca Ianiro, Fabia Attili, C Bassanelli, Adriano De Santis, Antonio Gasbarrini
    Abstract:

    Abstract Human gut microbiota is a Complex Ecosystem with several functions integrated in the host organism (metabolic, immune, nutrients absorption, etc.). Human microbiota is composed by bacteria, yeasts, fungi and, last but not least, viruses, whose composition has not been completely described. According to previous evidence on pathogenic viruses, the human gut harbours plant-derived viruses, giant viruses and, only recently, abundant bacteriophages. New metagenomic methods have allowed to reconstitute entire viral genomes from the genetic material spread in the human gut, opening new perspectives on the understanding of the gut virome composition, the importance of gut microbiome, and potential clinical applications. This review reports the latest evidence on human gut “virome” composition and its function, possible future therapeutic applications in human health in the context of the gut microbiota, and attempts to clarify the role of the gut “virome” in the larger microbial Ecosystem.

Rusong Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • a qualitative network model for understanding regional metabolism in the context of social economic natural Complex Ecosystem theory
    Ecological Informatics, 2015
    Co-Authors: Liang Yao, Rusong Wang, Jingru Liu, Ke Yin, Baolong Han
    Abstract:

    Abstract In Social–Economic–Natural Complex Ecosystem (SENCE) theory, regional metabolism is seen as an integral part of a Complex network of interconnected natural, economic and societal subsystems. Analyzing regional metabolism within this network assists observers to understand the concept in a broader context. Some qualitative tools such as simple matrix operations have been adopted to explore such networks but related research is highly fragmented. Here the emphasis is put on a qualitative network model (QNM) that integrates the existing tools into a unified analytical framework. The tools in the QNM are organized into three levels: (1) dominance analysis focuses on how to measure the performance of each component of a network; (2) consistency analysis is used to test whether the interactions between network components are contradictory to the desired development direction for regional metabolism; and (3) sustainability analysis returns three sustainability benchmarks for regional metabolism. With the aid of these tools, QNM can comprehensively explore such networks from multiple perspectives. To test the QNM construct, we conducted a case study on the regional metabolism of bio-fuels from locally grown plant crops, a hotspot in regional environmental research. In the case study we screened key components for inconsistent variables, identified the relationships between components, and rated the sustainability of the regional bio-fuel metabolism system suggested by the model. This study demonstrated that our research approach can inform bio-fuel policy making. The QNM is helpful in the understanding of regional metabolism in the broader context of SENCE theory and may be used to improve regional environmental management and policy-making.

  • cultivating eco sustainability social economic natural Complex Ecosystem case studies in china
    Ecological Complexity, 2011
    Co-Authors: Rusong Wang, Tao Zhou, Jingru Liu
    Abstract:

    Abstract This paper discusses ecological development in China based on the theory and methodology of SENCE (social–economic–natural Complex Ecosystem), and two typical case studies of Yangzhou city and Dafeng city. Ecological development in China refers to the integrative learning process, integrative design process, interactive adaptation process resulting in ecologically sound, economically productive and behaviorally feasible development. Ecological development in China includes the ecological assessment/evaluation, ecological planning/design, ecological engineering and ecological management which require systematically responsible planning, totally functional design and ecologically vivid management. Since several decades of years, different scales of ecological administrative units including ecological county, ecopolis (eco-cities) and ecological provinces have been developed, which indicated that the process of ecological development helps local people to engage in a vision and actions regarding how the urban or regional Ecosystems are coupling systematically, vitalizing and functioning ecologically and how the actions are connected with their social, economic and long-term ecological interests. The constructive practice of ecopolis and eco-provinces in China has demonstrated this success. The key instrument for ecological development in China is the eco-integration of total metabolism of material and energy; total cultivation of eco-industry, eco-scape and eco-culture; total coordination of systematic coupling in time, space, quantity, structure and order; total design of developmental goals of wealth, health and faith; total cooperation between decision makers, entrepreneurs, researchers and the public. The special emphasis of China's ecological development has been placed on encouraging bottom-up and flexible actions rather than top-down and rigid institution, and helping local people to help themselves through capacity building.

  • understanding eco Complexity social economic natural Complex Ecosystem approach
    Ecological Complexity, 2011
    Co-Authors: Rusong Wang
    Abstract:

    Abstract Human dominated landscape is a kind of Social-Economic-Natural Complex Ecosystem dominated by human behavior, sustained by natural life support system, and vitalized by ecological process, which is called ecoscape. Its natural subsystem consists of Chinese traditional five elements: metal (minerals), wood (living organism), water, fire (energy) and soil (nutrients and land). Its economic subsystem includes the components of production, consumption, reduction, transportation and regulation. While its social subsystem includes technology, institution and culture steered by man. In dealing with this eco-Complexity, the key issue is how to image the complicated interactions, how to simplify and integrate the diversified relationships, and how to develop a practical instrument for cultivating the sustainability in helping local people to help themselves. Based on ancient Chinese human ecological philosophy, the SENCE approach for eco-sustainability planning and management was explored, which requires holistic rethinking, institutional reform and technological renovation. A combinatory model consists of mechanism model, planning model, and regulation model has been developed through identification of its key factors, feedback and function, simulation of its partial problems, process and alternative policies, and inducing its technological, institutional and cultural innovation towards sustainability.

  • eco Complexity and sustainability in china s water management
    2008
    Co-Authors: Rusong Wang
    Abstract:

    China’s severe water challenges as a result of rapid social and economic development, has led to significant impacts on regional eco-security, Ecosystem service and human health. Grounded in ancient Chinese human ecological philosophy, a social-economic-natural Complex Ecosystem-based approach ‘China Water Vision’ is briefing to help people understand and simplify the complicated ecological dynamics and cybernetics of water. To transform the Complexity vision into a sustainability mission, an integrative and adaptive management approach is being enhanced through capacity building including philosophical rethinking, institutional reform and technological renovation so as to transform reductionism to holism, fragmented to integrated management, and physical to ecological engineering.

Maxim Bazhenov - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • the Complex Ecosystem in non small cell lung cancer invasion
    PLOS Computational Biology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Seth Haney, Jessica Konen, Adam I Marcus, Maxim Bazhenov
    Abstract:

    Many tumors are characterized by genetic instability, producing an assortment of genetic variants of tumor cells called subclones. These tumors and their surrounding environments form Complex multi-cellular Ecosystems, where subclones compete for resources and cooperate to perform multiple tasks, including cancer invasion. Our recent empirical studies revealed existence of such distinct phenotypes of cancer cells, leaders and followers, in lung cancer. These two cellular subclones exchange a Complex array of extracellular signals demonstrating a symbiotic relationship at the cellular level. Here, we develop a computational model of the microenvironment of the lung cancer Ecosystem to explore how the interactions between subclones can advance or inhibit invasion. We found that, due to the Complexity of the Ecosystem, invasion may have very different dynamics characterized by the different levels of aggressiveness. By altering the signaling environment, we could alter the ecological relationship between the cell types and the overall Ecosystem development. Competition between leader and follower cell populations (defined by the limited amount of resources), positive feedback within the leader cell population (controlled by the focal adhesion kinase and fibronectin signaling), and impact of the follower cells to the leaders (represented by yet undetermined proliferation signal) all had major effects on the outcome of the collective dynamics. Specifically, our analysis revealed a class of tumors (defined by the strengths of fibronectin signaling and competition) that are particularly sensitive to manipulations of the signaling environment. These tumors can undergo irreversible changes to the tumor Ecosystem that outlast the manipulations of feedbacks and have a profound impact on invasive potential. Our study predicts a Complex division of labor between cancer cell subclones and suggests new treatment strategies targeting signaling within the tumor Ecosystem.

  • the Complex Ecosystem in non small cell lung cancer invasion
    bioRxiv, 2017
    Co-Authors: Seth Haney, Jessica Konen, Adam I Marcus, Maxim Bazhenov
    Abstract:

    Many tumors are characterized by genetic instability, producing an assortment of genetic variants of tumor cells called subclones. These tumors and their surrounding environments form Complex multi-cellular Ecosystems, where subclones compete for resources and cooperate to perform multiple tasks, including cancer invasion. Recent empirical studies revealed existence of such distinct phenotypes of cancer cells, leaders and followers, in lung cancer. These two cellular subclones exchange a Complex array of extracellular signals where interplay between them demonstrates a symbiotic relationship at the cellular level. Here, we develop a computational model of the microenvironment of the lung cancer Ecosystem to explore how the relationships between subclones can advance or inhibit cancer progression. We found that due to the Complexity of the Ecosystem, cancer growth may have very different dynamics characterized by the different levels of aggressiveness. By altering the signaling environment, we could alter the ecological relationship between the cell types and the overall dynamics of the cancer cells population. Specifically, inhibition of the feedbacks targeting leader type of the cancer cells had profound impact on the outcome of cancer growth. Our study predicts a Complex division of labor between cancer cell subclones and suggests new treatment strategies targeting signaling within heterogeneous tumor cell populations.

Jelle Matthijnssens - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • what is not known about the dynamics of the human gut virome in health and disease
    Current Opinion in Virology, 2019
    Co-Authors: Leen Beller, Jelle Matthijnssens
    Abstract:

    The human gut virome has an important role in human health but its dynamics remain poorly understood. Few longitudinal studies in healthy adults showed a stable temporal gut virome, with high inter-individual diversity. In contrast, the infant virome shows a high temporal intra-individual diversity. Unfortunately, these virome studies ignore an enormous amount of unknown 'dark matter' sequences, leading to incomplete analyses and possibly incorrect conclusions. Also, the interactions between prokaryotes and bacteriophages in the gut seem to be too Complex for currently available models. Therefore, there is a huge need of larger longitudinal cohort studies focusing on both the bacterial and viral component of the microbiome to be able to describe and understand this Complex Ecosystem.

Jeremy Rayner - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • the neglect of governance in forest sector vulnerability assessments structural functionalism and black box problems in climate change adaptation planning
    Ecology and Society, 2013
    Co-Authors: Adam Wellstead, Michael Howlett, Jeremy Rayner
    Abstract:

    Efforts to develop extensive forest-based climate change vulnerability assessments have informed proposed management and policy options intended to promote improved on-the-ground policy outcomes. These assessments are derived from a rich vulnerability literature and are helpful in modeling Complex Ecosystem interactions, yet their policy relevance and impact has been limited. We argue this is due to structural-functional logic underpinning these assessments in which governance is treated as a procedural “black box” and policy-making as an undifferentiated and unproblematic output of a political system responding to input changes and/or system prerequisites. Like an earlier generation of systems or cybernetic thinking about political processes, the focus in these assessments on macro system-level variables and relationships fails to account for the multi-level or polycentric nature of governance and the possibility of policy processes resulting in the nonperformance of critical tasks.

  • research part of a special feature on understanding adaptive capacity in forest governance the neglect of governance in forest sector vulnerability assessments structural functionalism and black box problems in climate change adaptation planning
    2013
    Co-Authors: Adam Wellstead, Michael Howlett, Jeremy Rayner
    Abstract:

    Efforts to develop extensive forest-based climate change vulnerability assessments have informed proposed management and policy options intended to promote improved on-the-ground policy outcomes. These assessments are derived from a rich vulnerability literature and are helpful in modeling Complex Ecosystem interactions, yet their policy relevance and impact has been limited. We argue this is due to structural-functional logic underpinning these assessments in which governance is treated as a procedural "black box" and policy-making as an undifferentiated and unproblematic output of a political system responding to input changes and/or system prerequisites. Like an earlier generation of systems or cybernetic thinking about political processes, the focus in these assessments on macro system-level variables and relationships fails to account for the multi-level or polycentric nature of governance and the possibility of policy processes resulting in the nonperformance of critical tasks.