A Method to Categorize 2-Dimensional Patterns Using Statistics of Spatial Organization
We developed a measurement framework of spatial organization to categorize 2-dimensional patterns from 2 multiscalar biological architectures. We propose that underlying shapes of biological entities can be approached using the statistical concept of degrees of freedom, defining it through expansion...
Main Authors: | , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2017-03-01
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Series: | Evolutionary Bioinformatics |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1176934317697978 |
Summary: | We developed a measurement framework of spatial organization to categorize 2-dimensional patterns from 2 multiscalar biological architectures. We propose that underlying shapes of biological entities can be approached using the statistical concept of degrees of freedom, defining it through expansion of area variability in a pattern. To help scope this suggestion, we developed a mathematical argument recognizing the deep foundations of area variability in a polygonal pattern (spatial heterogeneity). This measure uses a parameter called eutacticity . Our measuring platform of spatial heterogeneity can assign particular ranges of distribution of spatial areas for 2 biological architectures: ecological patterns of Namibia fairy circles and epithelial sheets. The spatial organizations of our 2 analyzed biological architectures are demarcated by being in a particular position among spatial order and disorder. We suggest that this theoretical platform can give us some insights about the nature of shapes in biological systems to understand organizational constraints. |
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ISSN: | 1176-9343 |