Sole dermatoglyphics in the forest Nentsy,Nganasans, and Chukchi: Dermatoglyphic distances

Sole dermatoglyphics of the aborigines of Northwestern Siberia, Taimir, and Kamchatka are presented in this paper. The distance coefficients based on various combinations of dermatoglyphic traits depending on their heritability were estimated. These were compared with the overall dermatoglyphic distance coefficients as well as with the genetic (dermatoglyphic) distance coefficients based on six blood groups (ABO, MNSs, P, Fy, Jk, Kp). Genetic interpretation of the distances was attempted in connection with analysis of differences or similarities between these populations.     

Quantitative dermatoglyphics in males and females of five Sardinian linguistic groups

Discriminant analysis of 23 digital and 15 palmar quantitative dermatoglyphic variables of 1364 Sardinians, 689 males and 675 females, were performed to identify biological relationships among five Sardinian linguistic groups of both sexes. By ANOVA 17 of the 23 digital variables and 4 of the 15 palmar variables were significantly different among males and females of the Sardinian linguistic groups. By MANOVA the results indicate high intergroup heterogeneity also within each sex. By stepwise discriminant analysis with p≤0.01 as F-to-enter and p≤0.05 as F-to-remove, only 4 of the 38 digital and palmar variables were in the model (URC R5, RRC L5, RRC R5, URC R4). The pattern of interpopulation biological relationships shows a clearly distinct position of the Gallurian group (both males and females) which speaks an Italian dialect. The properly Sardinian linguistic groups (Campidanian and Logudorian), the Sassarian group (which speaks and Italian dialect) and the Alghero group (which speaks Catalan) were close to one another. This pattern agrees more with the ethno-historical background than with the linguistic one.     

Quantitative digital dermatoglyphics in males and females of four Sardinian linguistic groups

Radial and ulnar ridge counts on each of the 10 fingers, total finger ridge count, bilateral summed radial and ulnar finger ridge counts, an index of asymmetry between homologous fingers and two indices of intraindividual diversity of finger ridge counts were used to identify biological relationships among Sardinian linguistic groups. Stepwise discriminant analysis of 26 digital traits of 1258 Sardinians, 647 females and 611 males, was carried out. The results indicate high intergroup heterogeneity; moreover, with p≤0.01 as F-to-enter and p≤0.05 as F-to-remove, only 5 of the 26 digital variables are in the model (URC R5, RRC L5, RRC R5, URC R4, URC L5). The pattern of interpopulation biological relationships shows a clearly distinct position of the Gallurian group (both males and females), which speaks an Italian dialect. It originated mainly from Corsican immigration to the Gallura region starting from the XVII century. While the properly Sardinian linguistic groups (Campidanian and Logudorian) and the Sassarian group, which speaks an Italian dialect that developed as a “lingua franca” during the Middle Ages (XII–XIV centuries) due to linguistic contact between Sardinians and Italians, are positioned close to one another. This pattern agrees more with the ethno-historical back-ground than with the linguistic one.     

Comparison of three different ways of measuring distances between residences and high voltage power lines

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether distance data based on calculations by use of digitalized geographical information systems (GIS) and distance data based on measurements on 1:5000 maps agree sufficiently with on site distance measurements to be used as input to magnetic field calculations in epidemiological studies. The analysis were performed by use of weighted kappa (kappa(w)) statistical method described by Bland and Altman for comparison of measures of agreement. Map measurements showed better agreement with on site measurements than GIS calculations did. However, we consider both methods appropriate for use in larger epidemiological studies if the results are interpreted with caution. GIS calculations have the advantage of being both time and cost saving.     

精神分裂症患者皮纹a-b嵴线数波动性不对称的研究

本文分析了精神分裂症患者134例(男性70例,女性64例)和正常对照人群331例(男性170例,女性161例)皮纹a-b嵴线数波动性不对称的分布特征。结果表明:⑴精神分裂症患者双手皮纹a-b嵴线数明显低于正常对照组(P<0.01),表现出明显增高。     

Directional asymmetry of finger ridge counts in females of Sardinian linguistic groups

The data used in this study are the fingerprints of 744 females from 6 Sardinian linguistic groups. We analyzed 15 dermatoglyphic variables of directional asymmetry, namely the right vs left signed differences between i-th homologous fingers for larger ridge counts, radial counts and ulnar counts. Principal components analysis of the dermatoglyphic variables in the females of Sardinian linguistic groups revealed a pattern of biological relations among the groups which is consistent with their linguistic, but especially historical and demographic, backgrounds.     

Genetic variation within two linguistic Amerindian groups: relationship to geography and population size

Nine Carib and eight Tupi groups were studied for a minimum of eight common polymorphic systems and compared in terms of genetic distances using the methods of Nei and Edwards. Two levels of genetic information were distinguished, one with a maximum of 20 loci and another with a maximum of 12 loci considered. The dendrograms produced consistent, reproducible results, independent of the method used, when a minimum of ten polymorphic systems were included in the analysis. Irrespective of the number of systems or the method used, the Tupi showed two to three times higher average interpopulation genetic distances than the Carib groups, which may be due to their lower average population sizes, allowing for the action of genetic drift and/or founder effects, as these two sets of populations do not differ significantly in geographic range, years of contact with non-Indians, or degree of acculturation.     

Palmar pattern frequencies as indicators of relationships among Sardinian linguistic groups of males

Palmar pattern frequencies were used to calculate distance coefficients between Sardinian linguistic groups of males for the purpose of verifying, by means of correlation matrix analyses, whether or not the dermatoglyphic traits considered lead to a reliable identification of the biological relationships on the basis of the linguistic backgrounds of these groups. With Sanghvi's as the distance measure and by using palmar pattern frequencies in the Hy area, Th/I, II, III, and IV interdigital areas and all traits together for palms combined or separated were calculated dermatoglyphic distance measures. Mantel tests of matrix correspondence showed that, by using palmar pattern frequencies in the Th/I interdigital area (palms combined), in the II, III, and IV interdigital areas, or all traits together for palms combined and separated, statistical significance between dermatoglyphic and linguistic distances can be obtained, even when the effect of geography is removed; there is no statistically significant correspondence between geographic and dermatoglyphic distance matrices, even when the effect of language is removed. The results obtained in this study by means of the Mantel test procedure demonstrate that the dermatoglyphic traits analyzed, with the exception of palmar pattern frequencies in the Hy area and in the Th/I interdigital area for plams separated when these areas are used singly, can be considered as a good set of variables to use in finding biological relationships between Sardinian linguistic groups of males examined on the basis of their linguistic backgrounds.     

An ab initio study of the guanidinium groups in saxitoxin

Quantum chemical (Hartree-Fock) calculations were performed on neutral and protonated saxitoxin in order to obtain optimum geometries, rotational energy barriers for the guanidinium ions and proton affinities. For comparison purposes, as model compounds, guanidinium systems in five and six membered rings were also investigated. In addition, DFT (B3LYP) calculations with the 6-31G** basis set were performed and the sodium affinities of the guanidinium groups in saxitoxin were obtained. It was concluded that the inhibition of the sodium channels by the saxitoxin is due to the interaction of the guanidinium group with carboxylate groups from the wall of the channel and not to the binding of the sodium ions. Figure Calculated structure of Compound 1, neutral saxitoxin. a Calculated structure of Compound 1a, saxitoxin protonated on the guanidine of the five-membered ring. b Calculated structure of Compound 1b, saxitoxin protonated on the guanidine of the six-membered ring     

语言复杂性理论及临床应用

复杂语言结构和简单语言结构相比,哪一种更能促进语言能力提高,是语言心理研究的核心问题。近年来,国外出现大量语言复杂性的研究。本文对语言复杂性的理论、评估、原理及应用作了介绍,并对语言复杂性理论与教学理论的联系以及在应用中需要考虑的问题做了简单评述,旨在对语言学习和语言缺陷治疗提供帮助。     

Genetic data on Alghero population (Sardinia): Contrast between biological and cultural evidence

Data on 20 genetic polymorphisms (61 alleles) in the Algehero population on the northwestern coast of Sardinia are presented and discussed in relation to its linguistic peculiarity inside the island. Since the Aragonese (Spain) conquest of Sardinia in the 13th century, the Catalan language, the same as that spoken in Northeastern Spain and certain districts of Southern France, has been used in Alghero even until today. Analysis for heterogeneity of gene frequency distributions indicates that the genetic information obtained on Alghero is adequate to discriminate Sardinians from other neighbouring populations. Genetic variation between populations measured through genetic distances and principal-component analysis shows that the present-day population of Alghero is much closer genetically to Sardinians than to Catalonians. Our genetic results do not support any interpretation of the linguistic affinities between Alghero and Catalonia at present as indicative of biological kinship. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Comparison of interproton distances in DNA models with nuclear Overhauser enhancement data

The conformational flexibility inherent in the polynucleotide chain plays an important role in deciding its three-dimensonal structure and enables it to undergo structural transitions in order to fulfil all its functions. Following certain stereochemical guidelines, both right and left handed double-helical models have been built in our laboratory and they are in reasonably good agreement with the fibre patterns for various polymorphous forms of DNA. Recently, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has become an important technique for studying the solution conformation and polymorphism of nucleic acids. Several workers have used 1_H nuclear magnetic resonance nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements to estimate the interproton distances for the various DNA oligomers and compared them with the-interproton distances for particular models of A and B form DNA. In some cases the solution conformation does not seem to fit either of these models. We have been studying various models for DNA with a view to exploring the full conformational space allowed for nucleic acid polymers. In this paper, the interproton distances calculated for the different stereochemically feasible models of DNA are presented and they are compared and correlated against those obtained from¹H nuclear magnetic resonance nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements of various nucleic acid oligomers.     

Comparison of RFLP and morphological distances between maize Zea mays L. inbred lines. Consequences for germplasm protection purposes

 A total of 145 maize inbred lines, representative of material released in France, were differentiated using RFLP markers and a set of discriminant morphological traits in order to evaluate the use of molecular markers for large-scale germplasm diversity analysis and determination of distinctness. Several criteria are proposed with respect to choice of probes, which should give reliable results for routine studies and have a known single-locus genetic determinism to avoid redundancy. A method is proposed by which to incorporate the data from different restriction enzymes obtained with the same probe. The precision of the estimation of the genetic distance is given. The relationship between molecular and morphological distances appears to be triangular, molecular divergence behaving as a limiting factor for morphological divergence. This suggested a scheme for incorporating molecular markers in studies of distinctness. Received: 20 August 1996 / Accepted: 20 December 1996     

Genetic and demographical analysis of San Pietro Island (Sardinia, Italy)

San Pietro island is located in the Western Mediterranean basin, 4 km off the southwestern coast of Sardinia. It was first populated in 1738 by a founder group coming from the island of Tabarka (Tunisia). Many researchers focused their attention on the population of San Pietro, because of its peculiar linguistic, genetic and demographic features. In this paper we analyzed data on surnames, matrimonial structure and genetic polymorphisms. All the data demonstrated a strong differentiation of San Pietro population when it is compared with other Sardinian or Italian populations. This differentiation is due to the isolation that for century characterized the island. Moreover, medical researches discovered a high incidence of a rare genetic pathology: the high myopia. This mutant gene was probably present in the founder group and then the isolation and the high rate of endogamy and consanguinity, highlighted by matrimonial structure analysis, could have determined its diffusion. Finally, our results suggested that San Pietro genetic diversity is strictly associated with linguistic and cultural diversity.     

A critical survey of average distances between catalytic carboxyl groups in glycoside hydrolases

Published X‐ray crystallographic structures for glycoside hydrolases (GHs) from 39 different families are surveyed according to some rigorous selection criteria, and the distances separating 208 pairs of catalytic carboxyl groups (20 α‐retaining, 87 β‐retaining, 38 α‐inverting, and 63 β‐inverting) are analyzed. First, the average of all four inter‐carboxyl O^…O distances for each pair is determined; second, the mean of all the pair‐averages within each GH family is determined; third, means are determined for groups of GH families. No significant differences are found for free structures compared with those complexed with a ligand in the active site of the enzyme, nor for α‐GHs as compared with β‐GHs. The mean and standard deviation (1σ) of the unimodal distribution of average O^…O distances for all families of inverting GHs is 8 ± 2Å, with a very wide range from 5Å (GH82) to nearly 13Å (GH46). The distribution of average O^…O distances for all families of retaining GHs appears to be bimodal: the means and standard deviations of the two groups are 4.8 ± 0.3Å and 6.4 ± 0.6Å. These average values are more representative, and more likely to be meaningful, than the often‐quoted literature values, which are based on a very small sample of structures. The newly‐updated average values proposed here may alter perceptions about what separations between catalytic residues are “normal” or “abnormal” for GHs. Proteins 2014; 82:1747–1755. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cranial morphological diversity of early,middle, and late Holocene Brazilian groups: Implications for human dispersion in Brazil

The history of human occupation in Brazil dates to at least 14 kyr BP, and the country has the largest record of early human remains from the continent. Despite the importance and richness of Brazilian human skeletal collections, the biological relationships between groups and their implications for knowledge about human dispersion in the country have not been properly explored. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the morphological affinities of human groups from East‐Central, Coastal, Northeast, and South Brazil from distinct periods and test for the best dispersion scenarios to explain the observed diversity across time. Our results, based on multivariate assessments of shape and goodness of fit tests of dispersion and adaptation models, favor the idea that Brazil experienced at least two large dispersion waves. The first dispersive event brought the morphological pattern that characterize Late Pleistocene groups continent‐wide and that persisted among East‐Central Brazil groups until recently. Within the area covered by our samples, the second wave was probably restricted to the coast and is associated with a distinct morphological pattern. Inland and coastal populations apparently did not interact significantly during the Holocene, as there is no clear signal of admixture between groups sharing the two morphological patterns. However, these results cannot be extended to the interior part of the country (Amazonia and Central Brazil), given the lack of skeletal samples in these regions. Am J Phys Anthropol 155:546–558, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and blood groups in northern Sardinia

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, A1A2BO, Rhesus and Kell systems were investigated in a sample of 28,439 blood donors native of northern Sardinia. The frequency of deficient male individuals was 6.56%. Higher values of r, D, and CDe compared to the averages for continental Italy were observed. Variations within the island were found in the A1A2BO and Rhesus blood group systems.