Search results for "Cluster Analysis"
showing 10 items of 848 documents
Endotyping Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis in Children: A Cluster Analysis.
2022
BackgroundSeasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) is a heterogeneous inflammatory disease. We hypothesized that a cluster analysis based on the evaluation of cytokines in nasal lavage (NL) could characterize distinctive SAR endotypes in children.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled 88 children with SAR. Detailed medical history was obtained by well-trained physicians. Quality of life and sleep quality were assessed through standardized questionnaires [Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) respectively]. Children were grouped through K-means clustering using Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-17, IL-23, and Interferon (INF)-γ in NL.R…
Population structure in the Méditerranean basin: a Y chromosome perspective
2006
The Mediterranean region has been characterised by a number of pre-historical and historical demographic events whose legacy on the current genetic landscape is still a matter of debate. In order to investigate the degree of population structure across the Mediterranean, we have investigated Y chromosome variation in a large dataset of Mediterranean populations, 11 of which are first described here. Our analyses identify four main clusters in the Mediterranean that can be labelled as North Africa, Arab, Central-East and West Mediterranean. In particular, Near Eastern samples tend to separate according to the presence of Arab Y chromosome lineages, suggesting that the Arab expansion played a…
Pheno-morphological and agronomic diversity among Scorpiurus muricatus (Fabaceae) natural populations collected in Sicily.
2009
SUMMARYPrickly scorpion's tail (Scorpiurus muricatus L.) is a self-reseeding annual legume widely distributed in natural pastures of the Mediterranean area and appreciated by farmers for its productivity, forage quality and palatability. Twenty-eight natural populations were collected throughout Sicily in 2005; two field experiments were carried out in 2005/06 in a hilly area of the Sicilian inland to assess the genetic variation based on pheno-morphological and agronomic characters. The pheno-morphological traits observed were analysed using a principal component analysis (PCA). The first four components of PCA (eigenvalues >1) explained 0·84 of the total variation. Similarities obtaine…
A Fuzzy-Clustering Based Approach for Measuring Similarity Between Melodies
2017
Symbolic melodic similarity aims to evaluate the degree of likeness of two or more sequences of notes. In this work, we propose the use of fuzzy c-means clustering as a tool for the measurement of the similarity between two melodies with a different number of notes. Moreover, we present an algorithm, FOCM, implemented in a computer program written in C\(\sharp \) able to read two melodies from files with MusicXML format and to perform the clustering to calculate the dissimilarity between any two melodies. In addition, for each iteration step in the convergence process of the algorithm, a family of intermediate states (transition melodies) are obtained that can be used as new thematic materi…
A mesoscopic approach to point-defect clustering in solids during irradiation
1993
Accumulation of point defects in solids during irradiation is often accompanied by self-organization processes which lead to point-defect clustering and thus to the formation of a spatially inhomogeneous defect structure. Within the framework of a mesoscopic phenomenological approach, the conditions for clustering of mobile point defects caused by their elastic interactions are studied. It is shown that differences between the elastic interaction of similar and that of dissimilar defects may lead to such clustering. Further, it is shown that the presence of impurities acting as traps for interstitials may promote the clustering process. The conditions for spatial clustering are studied for …
A Tutorial on Computational Cluster Analysis with Applications to Pattern Discovery in Microarray Data
2008
Background Inferring cluster structure in microarray datasets is a fundamental task for the so-called -omic sciences. It is also a fundamental question in Statistics, Data Analysis and Classification, in particular with regard to the prediction of the number of clusters in a dataset, usually established via internal validation measures. Despite the wealth of internal measures available in the literature, new ones have been recently proposed, some of them specifically for microarray data. Results We consider five such measures: Clest, Consensus (Consensus Clustering), FOM (Figure of Merit), Gap (Gap Statistics) and ME (Model Explorer), in addition to the classic WCSS (Within Cluster Sum-of-S…
Listeria monocytogenes Differential Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Temperature-Dependent Agr Regulation and Suggests Overlaps with Other Regulons
2012
Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous, opportunistic pathogenic organism. Environmental adaptation requires constant regulation of gene expression. Among transcriptional regulators, AgrA is part of an auto-induction system. Temperature is an environmental cue critical for in vivo adaptation. In order to investigate how temperature may affect AgrA-dependent transcription, we compared the transcriptomes of the parental strain L. monocytogenes EGD-e and its Delta agrA mutant at the saprophytic temperature of 25 degrees C and in vivo temperature of 37 degrees C. Variations of transcriptome were higher at 37 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. Results suggested that AgrA may be involved in the regu…
Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii from intensive care units and home care patients in Palermo, Italy.
2011
AbstractIn this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care units of three different hospitals and from pressure ulcers in home care patients in Palermo, Italy, during a 3-month period in 2010, were characterized. All isolates were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics, but susceptible to colistin and tygecycline. Forty isolates were non-susceptible to carbapenems. Eighteen and two isolates, respectively, carried the blaOXA-23-like and the blaOXA-58-like genes. One strain carried the VIM-4 gene. Six major rep-PCR subtype clusters were defined, including isolates from different hospitals or home care patients. The sequence type/pulsed …
The gut microbiota of larvae of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
2014
Background: The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of palms. The larvae bore into the palm trunk and feed on the palm tender tissues and sap, leading the host tree to death. The gut microbiota of insects plays a remarkable role in the host life and understanding the relationship dynamics between insects and their microbiota may improve the biological control of insect pests. The purpose of this study was to analyse the diversity of the gut microbiota of field-caught RPW larvae sampled in Sicily (Italy). Results: The 16S rRNA gene-based Temporal Thermal Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TTGE) of the gut microbiota of RPW …
A multilocus sequence analysis scheme for characterization of Flavobacterium columnare isolates
2015
Background Columnaris disease caused by Flavobacterium columnare is a serious problem in aquaculture, annually causing large economic losses around the world. Despite considerable research, the molecular epidemiology of F. columnare remains poorly understood. Methods We investigated the population structure and spatiotemporal changes in the genetic diversity of F. columnare population in Finland by using a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and analysis (MLSA) based on DNA sequence variation within six housekeeping genes. A total of 83 strains of F. columnare were collected from eight different areas located across the country between 2003 and 2012. Results Partial sequencing of six housekee…