The Exact Distribution of the Anderson-Kannemann Statistic

The Anderson-Kannemann test is a rank test for treatment effects in a randomized block design with K treatments and N blocks. In this paper, an algorithm for computing the exact distribution of the Anderson-Kannemann test statistic under the null hypothesis is deduced. Then, the exact distribution is compared with the asymptotic χ²-distribution, and it is shown that the exact distribution is approximated fairly well by the asymptotic distribution. Tables of the exact distribution are given for K = 3, N = 3(1)15; K = 4, N = 3(1)11; K = 5, N = 3(1)7; and K = 6, N = 3(1)5.     

Clusterings should not be compared by visual inspection: response to Gagné & Proulx

In Heikinheimo et al . ( Journal of Biogeography , 2007, 34 , 1053–1064) we used clustering to analyse European land mammal fauna. Gagné & Proulx criticized our choice of the Euclidean distance measure in the analysis, and advocated the use of the Hellinger distance measure, claiming that this leads to very different clustering results. The criticism fails to take into account the probabilistic nature of the methods used and the fact that in this case the similarity measures correlate strongly. Gagné & Proulx used subjective inspection as the criterion of similarity between clusterings. We show that this is insufficient and misleading. Namely, owing to the local minimum problem, two clustering runs rarely give identical results. In the case of our study, the measured similarity (using the kappa statistic) between the Euclidean- and Hellinger-based clusterings is roughly equal to the similarity between two clusterings that both use the Hellinger distance but different random initialization points.     

Automated measurement and statistical modelling of elastic laminae in arteries

Structural features of elastic laminae within arteries can provide vital information for both the mechanobiology and the biomechanics of the wall. In this paper, we propose, test and illustrate a new computer-based scheme for automated analysis of regional distributions of elastic laminae thickness, inter-lamellar distances and fragmentation furcation points (FPs) from standard histological images. Our scheme eliminates potential artefacts produced by tissue cutting, automatically aligns tissue according to physiologic orientations and performs cross-sectional measurements along radial directions. A statistical randomised complete block design and F test were used to assess the potential (non)-uniformity of lamellar thicknesses and separations along both radial and circumferential directions. Illustrative results for both normotensive and hypertensive thoracic porcine aorta revealed marked heterogeneity along the radial direction in nearly stress-free samples. Clearly, regional measurements can provide more detailed information about morphologic changes that cannot be gained by globally averaged evaluations alone. We also found that quantifying FP densities offers new information about potential elastin fragmentation, particularly in response to increased loading due to hypertension.     

Cancer: Towards a general theory of the target

General theories (GT) are reductionist explications of apparently independent facts. Here, in reviewing the literature, I develop a GT to simplify the cluttered landscape of cancer therapy targets by revealing they cluster parsimoniously according to only a few underlying principles. The first principle is that targets can be only exploited by either or both of two fundamentally different approaches: causality‐inhibition, and ‘acausal’ recognition of some marker or signature. Nonetheless, each approach must achieve both of two separate goals, efficacy (reduction in cancer burden) and selectivity (sparing of normal cells); if the mechanisms are known, this provides a definition of rational treatment. The second principle is target fragmentation, whereby the target may perform up to three categoric functions (cytoreduction, modulation, cytoprotection), potentially mediated by physically different target molecules, even on different cell types, or circulating freely. This GT remains incomplete until the minimal requirements for cure, or alternatively, proof that cure is impossible, become predictable.     

Hunter Movement and its Role in National Game Bird Surveys

Analysis of sample survey data on the species composition of waterfowl kill for resident and nonresident hunters for provinces of Canada during 1974 and 1975 showed that a successful game bird hunter who hunted in more than one area (degree block) had both a higher average season kill and more successful days of hunting in which one or more birds were bagged, than one who hunted in the same area during the season. Adjustment for days hunted resulted in a higher daily hunting for those who hunted in more than one degree block. However, the higher kill of the successful hunter is attributable more to a larger number of days hunted than to a larger kill per successful day. Also, hunters hunting in more than one degree block had their successful hunting days more evenly spread across the season. The estimates of kill per successful hunter and days hunted for stratified sampling by areas of hunting were considerably more efficient than simple random sampling.     

Rational Design of Novel Phosphoinositide 3‐Kinase Gamma (PI3Kγ) Selective Inhibitors: A Computational Investigation Integrating 3D‐QSAR,Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Phosphoinositide 3‐kinase gamma (PI3Kγ) draws an increasing attention due to its link with deadly cancer, chronic inflammation and allergy. But the development of PI3Kγ selective inhibitors is still a challenging endeavor because of the high sequence homology with the other PI3K isoforms. In order to acquire valuable information about the interaction mechanism between potent inhibitors and PI3Kγ, a series of PI3Kγ isoform‐selective inhibitors were analyzed by a systematic computational method, combining 3D‐QSAR, molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, free energy calculations and decomposition. The general structure–activity relationships were revealed and some key residues relating to selectivity and high activity were highlighted. It provides precious guidance for rational virtual screening, modification and design of selective PI3Kγ inhibitors. Finally, ten novel inhibitors were optimized and P10 showed satisfactory predicted bioactivity, demonstrating the feasibility to develop potent PI3Kγ inhibitors through this computational modeling and optimization.     

右美托咪定对老年恶性肿瘤全麻手术患者术后细胞免疫功能、认知功能及炎症因子水平的影响

目的:探讨右美托咪定对老年恶性肿瘤全麻手术患者术后细胞免疫功能、认知功能及炎症因子水平的影响。方法:选取2017年2月～2019年6月期间到我院择期行手术治疗的老年恶性肿瘤患者119例,根据随机数字表法将患者分为对照组(n=59)和研究组(n=60),研究组麻醉中输注右美托咪定,对照组麻醉中输注同容量等速率的生理盐水,比较两组患者围术期指标、细胞免疫功能、不良反应、炎症因子指标、简易智力状态量表(MMSE)评分。结果:两组患者术后第3 d的CD4~+/CD8~+、CD3~+、CD4~+较术前下降,CD8~+较术前升高(P0.05);研究组术后第3 d的CD4~+/CD8~+、CD3~+、CD4~+高于对照组,CD8~+则低于对照组(P0.05)。两组术后第3 d的血清高迁移率族蛋白1(HMGBl)、白介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平均升高,但研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。两组手术时间、术中出血量、麻醉时间比较无差异(P0.05)。两组患者术前、术后第1 d、术后第3 d的MMSE评分呈先下降后升高趋势(P0.05),且研究组术后第1 d、第3 d的MMSE评分高于对照组(P0.05)。两组不良反应发生率比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:老年恶性肿瘤全麻手术患者术中输注右美托咪定,可减轻细胞免疫抑制及炎症反应,对术后早期的认知功能下降有一定预防作用。