The diversification of life involved enormous increases in size and complexity. evolutionary transitions from prokaryotes to unicellular eukaryotes metazoans were accompanied by major innovations metabolic design. Here we show that the scalings rate, population growth production efficiency with body have changed across transitions. Metabolic rate scales mass superlinearly prokaryotes, linearly protists, sublinearly metazoans, so Kleiber's 3/4 power scaling law does not apply universally...

The temperature size rule (TSR) is the tendency for ectotherms to develop faster but mature at smaller body sizes higher temperatures. It can be explained by a simple model in which rate of growth or biomass accumulation and development have different dependence. accounts both TSR less frequently observed reverse-TSR, predicts fraction energy allocated maintenance synthesis over course development, also that total expended when developing warmer temperatures vice versa reverse-TSR. has...

All organisms face the problem of how to fuel ontogenetic growth. We present a model, empirically grounded in data from birds and mammals, that correctly predicts growing animals allocate food energy between synthesis new biomass maintenance existing biomass. Previous budget models have typically had their bases rates either consumption or metabolic expenditure. Our model provides framework reconciles these two approaches highlights fundamental principles determine assimilation allocation...

It has been known for decades that the metabolic rate of animals scales with body mass an exponent is almost always <1, >2/3, and often very close to 3/4. The 3/4 emerges naturally from two models resource distribution networks, radial explosion hierarchically branched, which incorporate a minimum specific details. Both show 2/3 if velocity flow remains constant, but can attain maximum value its exponent, 1/12. Quarter-power scaling arise even when there no underlying fractality....

We propose a statistical approach to determine the features of urban road networks affecting accessibility. Our is inspired by metabolic scaling theory (MST) in biology (West et al. 1997). 
 study structure across 425 cities different sizes USA. show decentralization as an important difference between and biological vascular networks. Per capita capacity independent spatial extent cities. Driving distances do depend on size city, although not much predicted completely centralized model....

The ontogenetic growth model (OGM) of West et al. provides a general description how metabolic energy is allocated between production new biomass and maintenance existing during ontogeny. Here, we reexamine the OGM, make some minor modifications corrections, further evaluate its ability to account for empirical variation on rates metabolism in vertebrates both ontogeny across species varying adult body size. We show that updated version internally consistent with other predictions scaling...

Cognitive networks have evolved a broad range of solutions to the problem gathering, storing and responding information. Some these are describable as static sets neurons linked in an adaptive web connections. These ‘solid’ networks, with well-defined physically persistent architecture. Other systems formed by agents that exchange, store process information but without connections or move relative each other physical space. We refer lack stable elements ‘liquid’ brains, category includes ant...

In a 1966 American Naturalist article, G. C. Williams initiated the study of reproductive effort (RE) with prediction that longer‐lived organisms ought to expend less in reproduction per unit time. We can multiply RE, often measured fractions adult body mass committed time, by average life span get lifetime (LRE). Williams's hypothesis (across species, RE decreases as increases) then be refined read "LRE will approximately constant for similar organisms." Here we show LRE is key component...

Humans have a dual nature. We are subject to the same natural laws and forces as other species yet dominate global ecology exhibit enormous variation in energy use, cultural diversity, apparent social organization. suggest scientists tackle these challenges with macroecological approach-using comparative statistical techniques identify deep patterns of large datasets test for causal mechanisms. show power metabolic perspective interpreting suggesting possible underlying mechanisms, one that...

Effective search strategies have evolved in many biological systems, including the immune system. T cells are key effectors of response, required for clearance pathogenic infection. cell activation requires that encounter antigen-bearing dendritic within lymph nodes, thus, patterns nodes may be a crucial determinant how quickly response can initiated. Previous work suggests motion node is similar to Brownian random walk, however, no detailed analysis has definitively shown whether movement...

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging pathogen that has decimated bird populations and caused severe outbreaks of viral encephalitis in humans. Currently, little known about the within-host kinetics WNV during infection. We developed mathematical models to describe replication, spread host immune response wild-type immunocompromised mice. Our approach fits a target cell-limited model viremia data from knockout mice adaptive Using this approach, we first estimate parameters governing...

The biogeographic expansion of modern humans out Africa began approximately 50,000 years ago. This resulted in the colonization most land area and habitats throughout globe replacement preexisting hominid species. However, such rapid population growth geographic spread is somewhat unexpected for a large primate with slow, density-dependent life history. Here, we suggest mechanism these outcomes by modifying simple model to allow varying levels intraspecific competition finite resources....

Effector T cell migration through tissues can enable control of infection or mediate inflammatory damage. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms that regulate effector cells within interstitial space inflamed lungs are incompletely understood. Here, we show in a mouse model acute lung injury with two-photon imaging intact tissue. Computational analysis indicates migrate an intermittent mode, switching between confined and almost straight migration, guided by lung-associated vasculature....

Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) live in groups of nests connected by trails to each other and stable food sources. In a field study, we investigated whether some recruit directly from established, persistent sources, thus accelerating collection. Our results indicate that nestmates trails, the exponential increase arrival rate at baits is faster than would be possible if recruited traveled distant nests. Once find new source, they walk back forth between bait sometimes share trophallaxis...

Urban areas and their voracious appetites are increasingly dominating the flows of energy materials around globe. Understanding size distribution dynamics urban is vital if we to manage growth mitigate negative impacts on global ecosystems. For over 50 years, city distributions have been assumed universally follow a power function, many theories put forth explain what has become known as Zipf's law (the instance where exponent function equals unity). Most previous studies, however, only...

Ovarian cancer relapse is often characterized by metastatic spread throughout the peritoneal cavity with tumors attached to multiple organs. In this study, interaction of ovarian cells tumor microenvironment was evaluated in a xenograft model based on intraperitoneal injection fluorescent SKOV3.ip1 cells. Intra-vital microscopy mixed GFP-red protein (RFP) cell populations injected into peritoneum demonstrated that aggregate and attach as spheroids, emphasizing importance homotypic adhesion...

T cells play a vital role in eliminating pathogenic infections. To activate, na¨ıve search 5 lymph nodes (LNs) for dendritic (DCs). Positioning and movement of LNs is 6 influenced by chemokines including CCL21 as well multiple cell types structures the 7 LNs. Some previous studies have suggested that positioning facilitates DC colocalization 8 leading to T:DC interaction. Despite influence chemical signals, cells, can 9 on positioning, relatively few used quantitative measures directly 10...

In ovarian cancer, metastasis is typically confined to the peritoneum. Surgical removal of primary tumor and macroscopic secondary tumors a common practice, but more effective strategies are needed target microscopic spheroids persisting in peritoneal fluid after debulking surgery. To treat this residual disease, therapeutic agents can be administered by either intravenous or intraperitoneal infusion. Here, we describe use cellular Potts model compare penetration two classes drugs (cisplatin...

Abstract The flux of energy and materials constrains all organisms, allometric relationships between rates consumption other biological are manifest at many levels organization. Although human ecology is unusual in respects, populations also face energetic constraints. Here we present a model relating fertility to per capita contemporary nations. Fertility declines as increases with scaling exponent −1/3 predicted by theory. decline may be explained parental trade‐offs the number children...

BackgroundUnderstanding the mechanisms that control rates of disease progression in humans and other species is an important area research relevant to epidemiology translating studies small laboratory animals humans. Body size metabolic rate influence a great number biological times. We hypothesize body affect pathogenesis, specifically times between infection first symptoms or death.Methods Principal FindingsWe conducted literature search find estimates time from (tS) death (tD) for five...

Desert seed-harvester ants, genus Pogonomyrmex, are central place foragers that search for resources collectively. We quantify how seed harvesters exploit the spatial distribution of seeds to improve their rate collection. find foraging rates significantly influenced by clumpiness experimental baits. Colonies collected from larger piles faster than randomly distributed seeds. developed a method compare on clumped versus random across three Pogonomyrmex species differ substantially in forager...

As robot swarms become more viable, efficient solutions to fundamental tasks such as swarm search and collection are required. We propose the distributed deterministic spiral algorithm (DDSA) which generalises a pattern swarms. While being an effective strategy in its own right, DDSA is also useful point of comparison for other strategies. Such benchmark currently needed but missing. case study, we compare biologically-inspired central-place foraging that uses stochastic search, memory,...