Biology subjects

Daniel, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel, T..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Geographical Origin and Variety Differentiation of Kava (Piper methysticum) using Artificial Neural Network with FTIR Spectroscopy: A Novel Method

This study presents a novel method for authenticating the geographical origin and cultivar of kava (Piper methysticum) by combining Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). A spectral database of kava varieties from four (4) countries in the Pacific Island region, namely Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Hawaii, was used for regional authentication. For samples collected within Vanuatu, spectral data were obtained from the acetone extract of both fresh and dried kava. The ANN predictive model was trained on geographical origin (countries or islands of origin), quality (noble vs tudei), and between different cultivars. ANN achieved near-perfect performance, with a generalized R-Square of 0.99 (training), 0.84 (validation), and 0.95 (test) for geographical origin prediction. Class-specific accuracy was 100% for Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Hawaii. The model achieved near-perfect internal prediction accuracy (R{superscript 2} = 0.99) under repeated-measure validation. Due to the limited availability of independent Fiji samples, no blind-test validation was performed for that region. Thus, robustness claims apply only to regions with sufficient validation data. Significantly, the model demonstrated perfect classification (100% accuracy) for Malo and Santo Island kava samples, highlighting its ability to authenticate micro-regional origins within Vanuatu. For variety differentiation, ANN achieved 100% accuracy for noble versus tudei cultivars, ensuring compliance with Vanuatus noble-only export policy. ATR-FTIR spectra of fresh and dried kava acetone extracts exhibited visually distinct patterns among kava cultivars at spectral regions of 1750 cm-1 to 1525 cm-1 and 1124 cm-1 to 900 cm-1, indicating potential for direct differentiation. Visual detection of kava adulteration at 1585 cm-1 was feasible at 1% tudei or wichmannii substitution without advanced analysis. These findings position ANN-FTIR as a rapid, non-destructive, and cost-effective solution for food authentication, geographical indication labeling, and export certification, supporting international standards such as Codex Alimentarius and International Standards Organization (ISO) guidelines. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=140 SRC="FIGDIR/small/679113v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (20K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@171b7eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@10e218eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@bd2eb2org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@44c952_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Physics-Informed Generative Model for 3D Localization Microscopy

Localization microscopy has overcome the diffraction limit, i.e. the conventional resolution limit of a microscope, enabling nanoscale biological imaging by precisely determining the positions of individual emitters such as single fluorescent molecules. However, the performance of deep learning methods, commonly applied to these tasks, depends significantly on the quality of training data, typically generated through simulation. Creating simulations that perfectly replicate experimental conditions remains challenging, resulting in a persistent simulation-to-experiment gap. To bridge this gap, we propose a physics-informed generative model leveraging self-supervised learning directly on experimental data. Our model extends the Deep Latent Particles (DLP) framework by incorporating a physical model of the Point Spread Function (PSF; the image of a single point source in the microscope) into the decoder, enabling it to disentangle learned realistic environments from emitters. Trained directly on unlabeled experimental images, our model intrinsically captures realistic background, noise patterns, and emitter characteristics. The decoder thus acts as a high-fidelity generator, producing fully labeled, realistic training images with known emitter locations. Using these generated datasets significantly improves the performance of supervised localization networks, particularly in challenging scenarios such as complex backgrounds and low signal-to-noise ratios. We demonstrate our approach on a variety of experimentally measured microscopy data, including super-resolution imaging in 2D and 3D and particle tracking in live cells, showing substantial improvements in localization precision and emitter detection.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2024

Identifying mechanisms and therapeutic targets in muscle using Bayesian parameter estimation with conditional variational autoencoders

Cardiomyopathies, often caused by mutations in genes encoding muscle proteins, are traditionally treated by phenotyping hearts and addressing symptoms post irreversible damage. With advancements in genotyping, early diagnosis is now possible, potentially introducing earlier treatment. However, the intricate structure of muscle and its myriad proteins make treatment predictions challenging. Here we approach the problem of estimating therapeutic targets for a mutation in mouse muscle using a spatially explicit half sarcomere muscle model. We selected 9 rate parameters in our model linked to both small molecules and cardiomyopathy-causing mutations. We then randomly varied these rate parameters and simulated an isometric twitch for each combination to generate a large training dataset. We used this dataset to train a Conditional Variational Autoencoder (CVAE), a technique used in Bayesian parameter estimation. Given simulated or experimental isometric twitches, this machine learning model is able to then predict the set of rate parameters which are most likely to yield that result. We then predict the set of rate parameters associated with twitches from control mice with the cardiac Troponin C (cTnC) I61Q variant and control twitches treated with the myosin activator Danicamtiv, as well as model parameters that recover the abnormal I61Q cTnC twitches. SIGNIFICANCEMachine learning techniques have potential to accelerate discoveries in biologically complex systems. However, they require large data sets and can be challenging in high dimensional systems such as cardiac muscle. In this study, we combined experimental measures of cardiac muscle twitch forces with mechanistic simulations and a newly developed mixture of Bayesian inference with neural networks (in autoencoders) to solve the inverse problem of determining the underlying kinetics for observed force generation by cardiac muscle. The autoencoders are trained on millions of simulations spanning parameter spaces that correspond to the mechanochemistry of cardiac sarcomeres. We apply the trained model to experimental data in order to infer parameters that can explain a diseased twitch and ways to recover it.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Abdominal movements in insect flight reshape the role of non-aerodynamic structures for flight maneuverability I: Model predictive control for flower tracking

Research on insect flight control has focused primarily on the role of wings. Yet abdominal deflections during flight can potentially influence the dynamics of flight. This paper assesses the role of airframe deformations in flight, and asks to what extent the abdomen contributes to flight maneuverability. To address this, we use a combination of both a Model Predictive Control (MPC)-inspired computational inertial dynamics model, and free flight experiments in the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta. We explored both underactuated (i.e. number of outputs are greater than the number of inputs) and fully actuated (equal number of outputs and inputs) systems. Using metrics such as the non-dimensionalized tracking error and cost of transport to evaluate flight performance of the inertial dynamics model, we show that fully actuated simulations minimized the tracking error and cost of transport. Additionally, we tested the effect of restricted abdomen movement on free flight in live hawkmoths by fixing a carbon fiber rod over the thoracic-abdomen joint. Moths with a restricted abdomen performed worse than sham treatment moths. This study finds that abdominal motions contribute to flight control and maneuverability. Such motions of non-aerodynamic structures, found in all flying taxa, can inform the development of multi-actuated micro air vehicles.

physiology↗