BioMaths Colloquium - 08/12/2017

BioMaths Colloquium Series - 2017/18

08 December 2017 - 3pm Maths Seminar Room

(room 224 Talbot Building 2nd floor)

Information sensitivity functions to assess parameter information gain and identifiability of dynamical systems

Dr Sanjay Pant

(College of Engineering, Swansea University, UK) 

We conclude the BioMaths Colloquium Series for this Autumn term with a seminar by Dr Sanjay Pant, from the College of Engineering at Swansea University (UK). Sanjay's research ranges from cardiovascular modelling and medical device design and optimisation, to reduced order and probabilistic modelling, forward and inverse uncertainty propagation, surrogate modelling, information theory, and inverse problems.

Abstract

A new class of functions, called the 'Information sensitivity functions' (ISFs), which quantify the information gain about the parameters through the measurements/observables of a dynamical system are presented. These functions can be easily computed through classical sensitivity functions alone and are based on Bayesian and information-theoretic approaches. While marginal information gain is quantified by decrease in differential entropy, correlations between arbitrary sets of parameters are assessed through mutual information. For individual parameters these information gains are also presented as marginal posterior variances, and, to assess the effect of correlations, as conditional variances when other parameters are given. 

The easy to interpret ISFs can be used to a) identify time-intervals or regions in dynamical system behaviour where information about the parameters is concentrated; b) assess the effect of measurement noise on the information gain for the parameters; c) assess whether sufficient information in an experimental protocol (input, measurements, and their frequency) is available to identify the parameters; d) assess correlation in the posterior distribution of the parameters to identify the sets of parameters that are likely to be indistinguishable; and e) assess identifiability problems for particular sets of parameters. 

The application of ISFs is presented in three areas of mathematical biosciences: i) a Windkessel model, which is widely used a boundary condition in computational fluid dynamics simulations of haemodynamics; ii) the Hodgkin-Huxley model for a biological neuron, which has formed the basis for a variety of ionic models describing excitable tissues; and iii) a kinetics model for the Influenza A virus.

The discussions will continue over biscuits and tea/coffee after the seminar. 

Hope to see many of you!

Biosciences Seminar Speaker 30 November 2017

Biosciences Seminar Series - Autumn 2017
30 November 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum

Social structure and life-history evolution in resident killer whales

Dr Daniel Franks

University of York, UK

Photo by Dr Dan Franks

Abstract

Why females of some species cease ovulation before the end of their natural lifespan is a longstanding puzzle in life-history evolution. In humans, as well as some natural populations of cetaceans and insects, reproductive aging occurs much faster than somatic aging and females exhibit prolonged post-reproductive lifespans (PRLSs). Determining the mechanisms and functions that underpin PRLSs has proved a significant challenge. Here I bring together both classic and modern hypotheses proposed to explain PRLSs and life-history evolution and discuss their application with particular reference to our studies of killer whales. In doing so I highlight the need to consider multiple interacting explanations for the evolution of PRLSs and discuss the key role of social structure.

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!

Biosciences Seminar Speaker 23 November 2017

Biosciences Seminar Series - Autumn 2017
23 November 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum

Marine megafaunal extinction

Dr Catalina Pimiento

Museum für Naturkunde - Berlin, Germany

from: www.sharkopedia.discovery.com

Abstract

Millions of years ago, an 18 meters shark (Megalodon) used to live in all oceans of the world. How did this shark achieve such a large size? When, how and why did it become extinct? In this seminar, I will be talking about the answers to these questions, which not only provide insights into the role of apex predators in Deep Time, but which lead us to uncover a previously unrecognized extinction event that not only affected Megalodon, but also the global marine megafauna. In contrast with the effects of the extinction of small organisms like invertebrates, this extinction event resulted in an important erosion of functional diversity, leaving communities highly vulnerable to future extinctions, like the one we are facing today. Our next step is therefore to assess the extent of the loss of functional diversity as a consequence of the current extinction crisis, which is particularly affecting large marine vertebrates. 

My work, however, is not only about research questions. Science education and public outreach are an important component of my agenda and I will be sharing those with you as well.

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!

For the list of forthcoming seminars see here

Biosciences Seminar Speaker 16 November 2017

Biosciences Seminar Series - Autumn 2017
16 November 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum

Investigating the links between locomotor morphology, gait and metabolic cost

Dr Kayleigh Rose

(Swansea University, UK)

from: Science Blogs

Our seminar series continues this week with our very own Dr Kayleigh Rose, Lecturer at our Biosciences Department at Swansea University (UK). Kayleigh's research focusses on biomechanics, with a particular interest in the kinematics and energetics of terrestrial locomotion, in relation to skeletal structure and gait mechanics. Kayleigh has joint out Department in 2017, after a postdoc and PhD at Manchester University.

Abstract

The cost of transport (the energy required to travel a unit distance) is an important measure in investigating the selection pressures that have shaped animal locomotor systems. Extracting generalizations from large-scale comparisons between species is invaluable towards understanding the links between morphology, gait and metabolic cost, but only to a certain extent due to confounding phylogenetic and geometric factors. Here, using measurements collected from domestic chickens, I will highlight how within species comparisons and selectively bred species can offer further insights into the factors influencing the metabolic cost of transport.

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!


For the list of forthcoming seminars see here

Biosciences Seminar Speaker 09 November 2017

Biosciences Seminar Series - Autumn 2017
09 November 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum

The evolutionary and mechanistic drivers of zebra stripes

Prof Tim Caro

(UC Davis, USA)

We are excited to welcome this week Professor Tim Caro, Professor at the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at UC Davis (USA), to our Biosciences Autumn Seminar Series. Tim is a behavioural ecologists and conservation biologist and has extensively published in both fields - not 'only' producing key journal papers but also writing and editing key books in these fields. Examples range from the fascinating Cheetahs of the Serengeti Plains and Antipredator Defenses in Birds and Mammals, to the classic textbooks on Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Biology and on Conservation by Proxy, to the recent one on Zebra Stripes. His current research continues to focus on both topics, Animal Coloration in mammals, such as zebra stripes (more on that in the seminar!), and coconut crabs, and Conservation Biology, especially in Tanzania - trying to find ways to halt lion killing in protected areas and the conservation of forest fragments. A key effort is also aimed at linking these two disciplines, by exploring the conceptual links between animal behaviour and conservation.

Abstract

In this talk I will discuss evidence and present new data for and against each of the hypotheses for zebra's extraordinary coat coloration. Homing in on the reason that zebras are striped, I will discuss unpublished information collected on Bristol zebras that is leading to an understanding of how stripes confer a fitness advantage to their bearers. 

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!


For the list of forthcoming seminars see here

BioMaths Colloquium - 03/11/2017

BioMaths Colloquium Series - 2017/18

03 November 2017 - 3pm Maths Seminar Room

(room 224 Talbot Building 2nd floor)

Mean-Field Models in Biology and Engineering

Prof José Carrillo

(Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, UK) 

from: Albi et al. (2013) https://arxiv.org/abs/1304.5459

For our second BioMaths Colloquium Series for the 2017/18 academic year we are delighted to feature a seminar by Prof José Antonio Carrillo de la Plata, from the Department of Mathematics at Imperial College London (UK). José's research uniquely combines the Mathematical and Biological Sciences, such as the use and development of Kinetic and Diffusive Models in Mathematical Biology, from chemotaxis, to swarming and flocking, to computational neuroscience. José holds a Chair in Applied and Numerical Analysis and is also the Chair of the Organizing Committee of the EMS-ESMTB Year of Mathematical Biology 2018

Abstract

I will review different aspects of applications of mean-field models arising in science, technology and life sciences. I will concentrate on 3 models in mathematical biology where these aspects are important in order to produce macroscopic models keeping the right qualitative behaviour. We will focus on swarming models, probabilistic models in computational neuroscience and pattern formation in zebra fish lateral lines. Finally, a model of consensus will be adapted as an algorithm for global optimisation.

The discussions will continue over biscuits and tea/coffee after the seminar. 

Hope to see many of you!

Science Club Events - 02/11/2017

Biosciences Science Club Series - Autumn 2017
02 November 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum

Science communication - How to make it engaging & accurate

Caitlin Fikes

(Associate Editor, Biosphere)

We are delighted to welcome Caitlin Fikes to our Science Club series. Caitlin is a writer and associate editor with the wildlife-science magazine Biosphere.

Abstract

Scientists are increasingly asked to increase outreach activities and engaging the public with stories about their research. However, with today’s instant-communication world oversaturated with snippets and soundbytes that are often not fact-checked or reviewed, it’s more important than ever that scientists know how to tell their own stories in a way that is both accurate and interesting and builds public trust in scientists and their work.

I aim to provide examples and tips how to do so – to empower researchers at any stage in their career to effectively engage an audience through passion, humour, and creativity. This presentation will give tips and pointers of how to turn a scientific article into an engaging story, how to avoid the pitfalls of press releases and would give examples of real-life #scicomm heroes and their keys to success. There will also be enough funny Tweets, comics, and sharks guaranteed to keep any student's attention. 

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!


For the list of forthcoming seminars see here

BioMaths Colloquium - 20/10/2017

BioMaths Colloquium Series - 2017/18

20 October 2017 - 3pm Maths Seminar Room

(room 224 Talbot Building 2nd floor)

Patterns, cellular movement and brain tumours

Dr Thomas Woolley

(Department of Mathematics, Cardiff University, UK) 

Our first BioMaths Colloquium Series for the 2017/18 academic year features a seminar by Dr Thomas Woolley from the School of Mathematics at University of Cardiff (UK).


Abstract

I present three pieces of work that illustrate the power of mathematics as a tool for understanding biology. Although the applications appear to be disparate the underlying mathematics is very similar. I begin by looking at theoretical and experimental pattern formation, with emphasis on whisker formation in mice. Here, reaction-diffusion equations are used to provide insights into how the wavelength of the whiskers are controlled. 
   Next, I consider the phenomena of blebbing cells. Initially, I use a diffusion equation to understand the motion of muscle stem cells and illustrate how young cells fundamentally move differently to old cells. This is then extended to include solid mechanics, which allows us to link the structural properties of the cell to their motion. 
   Finally, reaction-diffusion equations are used to understand the formation of brain tumours. Critically, the cells move at different speeds in white and grey matter, including this information can lead to very different migration patterns of the tumours. 

The discussions will continue over biscuits and tea/coffee after the seminar. 

Hope to see many of you!

Biosciences Seminar Speaker 12 October 2017

Biosciences Seminar Series - Autumn 2017
12 October 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum

Potential Oscillators and Keystone Modules in Food Webs

Dr Taku Kadoya

(National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan)

Photo by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes

We are delighted to be treated to a double seminar today, thanks to Dr Taku Kadoya, researcher at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan). Taku is a quantitative ecologist interested in how the interactions of life histories and behavioral responses of animals with landscape structure determine their abundances and population persistence. Particularly, Taku has a special fondness for dragonflies (Odonata).

Abstract

Food web module theory predicts weak interactions can govern stability by acting as “keystone interactions” that prevent collapse. However, this connection between weak interactions, derived from modular theory, and keystone species, derived from empirical result, is not yet well understood. In this talk, I will show that indeed these two research results are connected by a simple mathematical example and propose a simple framework to pull apart complex whole webs into smaller sub-webs, and to identify where weak interactions may be placed to mediate stability.

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!


For the list of forthcoming seminars see here

Biosciences Seminar Speaker 12 October 2017

Biosciences Seminar Series - Autumn 2017
12 October 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum

Embracing variability: The adaptive capacity of aquatic ecosystems

Prof Kevin McCann

(University of Guelph, Canada)

Photo by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes

We are delighted to welcome Professor Kevin McCann, Professor at the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph (Canada), to start our Biosciences Autumn Seminar Series. Kevin started as a mathematician but then went back to University to train into how to apply mathematics to ecology, which then lead to him becoming now one of the leading researchers on community ecology and food webs (e.g. see here). Research in Kevin's lab focuses currently on understanding the structure and function of food webs, combining theory, lab and field-based approaches. A special focus is on aquatic systems (currently lakes and seagrass food webs), but his research branches out to work with soil, forest and desert food web ecologists.

Abstract

Here, I will discuss variability and the structure of food webs. I will start by arguing that underneath nature's baroque complexity in food webs lies a gross repeatable structure (i.e., a fundamental food web module) that fosters stability through informed individual behavioural responses. With this argument, I then examine how and why this fundamental structure changes empirically in aquatic food webs across spatially and temporally changing conditions. 

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!


For the list of forthcoming seminars see here

Biosciences Science Club Events 30 August 2017

Biosciences Science Club Series - Summer 2017
30 August 2017 - 1pm - Zoology Museum (W129)

Merging phylogenetic- and trait-based approaches into Network Ecology 

Dr Vinicius Bastazini

Centre for Biodiversity Theory and Modelling, CNRS Moulis, FR

Dr Vinicius Bastazini, postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Biodiversity Theory and Modelling at the Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale CNRS Centre in Moulis (France) will be visiting our department this coming week and has kindly agreed to give also a seminar - muito obrigado Vinicius! If you would like to also arrange a chat with Vinicius, please contact Dr John Griffin.

Abstract

Understanding how species interact and how the topology of ecological networks influences the dynamics of populations and communities has been mind- boggling ecologists for over a century now. Despite this long tradition and the rapid increase in the number of studies of complex ecological networks in the past two decades, only recently have ecologists begun to move beyond the description of topological patterns of interaction networks and started to integrate other important biological data, such as functional traits and phylogenies in Network Ecology. 

Therefore, the aim of this talk is mainly two-fold: to introduce a new analytical approach capable to integrate functional and phylogenetic information in order to describe structural patterns in ecological networks, and to demonstrate the effects of eco- evolutionary dynamics on network resistance.

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!