Dynamical robustness and its structural dependence in biological networks.

We discuss the dynamical robustness of biological networks represented by directed graphs, such as neural networks and gene regulatory networks. The theoretical results indicate that networks with low indegree variance and high outdegree variance are dynamically robust. We propose a machine learning method that gives equilibrium states to input-output networks with a recurrent hidden layer.

Asymmetry in indegree and outdegree distributions of gene regulatory networks arising from dynamical robustness.

Although outdegree distributions of gene regulatory networks have scale-free characteristics similar to other biological networks, indegree distributions have single-scale characteristics with significantly lower variance than that of outdegree distributions. In this study, we mathematically explain that such asymmetric characteristics arise from dynamical robustness, which is the property of maintaining an equilibrium state of gene expressions against inevitable perturbations to the networks, such as gene dysfunction and mutation of promoters. We reveal that the expression of a single gene is robust to a perturbation for a large number of inputs and a small number of outputs.

Estimating optimal sparseness of developmental gene networks using a semi-quantitative model.

To estimate gene regulatory networks, it is important that we know the number of connections, or sparseness of the networks. It can be expected that the robustness to perturbations is one of the factors determining the sparseness. We reconstruct a semi-quantitative model of gene networks from gene expression data in embryonic development and detect the optimal sparseness against perturbations.

Delayed feedback control and phase reduction of unstable quasi-periodic orbits.

The delayed feedback control (DFC) is applied to stabilize unstable quasi-periodic orbits (QPOs) in discrete-time systems. The feedback input is given by the difference between the current state and a time-delayed state in the DFC. However, there is an inevitable time-delay mismatch in QPOs.

Tetrahedral gray code for visualization of genome information.

We propose a tetrahedral Gray code that facilitates visualization of genome information on the surfaces of a tetrahedron, where the relative abundance of each [Formula: see text]-mer in the genomic sequence is represented by a color of the corresponding cell of a triangular lattice. For biological significance, the code is designed such that the [Formula: see text]-mers corresponding to any adjacent pair of cells differ from each other by only one nucleotide. We present a simple procedure to draw such a pattern on the development surfaces of a tetrahedron.

Identification of a new clock-related element EL-box involved in circadian regulation by BMAL1/CLOCK and HES1.

Several cis-acting elements play critical roles in maintaining circadian expression of clock and clock-controlled genes. Using in silico analysis, we identified 10 sequence motifs that are correlated with the circadian phases of gene expression in the cartilage. One of these motifs, an E-box-like clock-related element (EL-box; GGCACGAGGC), can mediate BMAL1/CLOCK-induced transcription, which is typically regulated through an E-box or E'-box.

Large-scale motif discovery using DNA Gray code and equiprobable oligomers.

Motivation: How to find motifs from genome-scale functional sequences, such as all the promoters in a genome, is a challenging problem. Word-based methods count the occurrences of oligomers to detect excessively represented ones. This approach is known to be fast and accurate compared with other methods.

Dynamical Cell Assembly Hypothesis - Theoretical Possibility of Spatio-temporal Coding in the Cortex.

This paper is an attempt to understand how knowledge and events are represented and processed in the brain. An important point is the question of what carries information in the brain - the mean firing rate or the timing of spikes? The idea we want to pursue is that, contrary to the traditional view, the brain might use higher order statistics, which means in essence that timing of spikes plays a critical role in encoding, representing, and processing knowledge and events in the brain.A recently revealed salient nature of cortical pyramidal cells, i.