A statistical geometrical description of the human liver for probabilistic occupant models

Realistic numerical assessments of liver injury risk for the entire occupant population require incorporating inter-subject variations into numerical models. Statistical shape models of the abdominal organs have been shown to be useful tools for the investigation of the organ variations and could be applied to the development of statistical computational models. The main objective of this study was to establish a standard procedure to quantify the shape variations of a human liver in a seated posture, and construct three-dimensional (3D) statistical shape boundary models.     

Statistical significance analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabonomics data

Use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics to search for human disease biomarkers is becoming increasingly common. For many researchers, the ultimate goal is translation from biomarker discovery to clinical application. Studies typically involve investigators from diverse educational and training backgrounds, including physicians, academic researchers, and clinical staff. In evaluating potential biomarkers, clinicians routinely use statistical significance testing language, whereas academicians typically use multivariate statistical analysis techniques that do not perform statistical significance evaluation. In this article, we outline an approach to integrate statistical significance testing with conventional principal components analysis data representation. A decision tree algorithm is introduced to select and apply appropriate statistical tests to loadings plot data, which are then heat map color-coded according to P score, enabling direct visual assessment of statistical significance. A multiple comparisons correction must be applied to determine P scores from which reliable inferences can be made. Knowledge of means and standard deviations of statistically significant buckets enabled computation of effect sizes and study sizes for a given statistical power. Methods were demonstrated using data from a previous study. Integrated metabonomics data assessment methodology should facilitate translation of NMR-based metabonomics discovery of human disease biomarkers to clinical use.     

Assessment of scapular morphology and bone quality with statistical models

The design of total shoulder arthroplasty implants are guided by anatomy. The objective of this study was to develop statistical models to quantify shape and material property variation in the scapula. Material-mapped models were reconstructed from CT scans for a training set of subjects. Statistical shape (SSM) and intensity (SIM) models were created; SSM modes described scaling, changes in the medial border and acromial process, and elongation of the scapular blade. SIM modes captured bone quality changes in the anterior and inferior glenoid. Bone quality was independent of scapular morphology. Variation described by the statistical representations can inform implant design and sizing.     

粤西海域浮游植物群落结构特征的多元分析与评价

根据1998-1999年对粤西海域浮游植物的周年调查资料,本文采用主成分分析和聚类分析等多元统计分析方法研究该海域浮游植物的主要种类组成和群落结构的基本特征。研究结果表明,中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）、伏氏海毛藻（Thalassiothrix fauenfeldii）、小舟形藻（Navicula subminuscula）、颤藻（Oscillatoria sp．）、菱形海线藻（Thalassionema nitzschioides）、细弱海链藻（Thalassiosira subtilis）、齿角毛藻（Chaetoceros denticulatus）、北方劳德藻（Lauderia borealis）、中华盒形藻（Biddulphia sinensis）、纺锤角藻（Ceratium fusus）、翼根管藻（Rhizosolenia alata）、斯氏根管藻（Rhizosolenia stolterforthii）、短角弯角藻（Eucampia zoodiacu）、笔尖形根管藻（Rhizosolenia styliformis）、拟弯角毛藻（Chaetoceros pseudocurvisetus）等种类构成了粤西海域浮游植物的主体。春季、夏季和秋季该海域浮游植物可明显划分为近岸类群和近外海类群2个群落,冬季群落结构分化不显著,不形成明显的类群。各主要种类的季节演替现象十分明显。     

A comparative study of metric and non-metric traits in a series of modern crania

The purpose of this study is to question the utility of non-metric traits as predictors of age, race, and sex by comparing a group of non-metric variables with a group of metric variables. Twelve metric variables and 15 nonmetric variables were scored on 317 crania from the Terry Collection at the U. S. National Museum, and later statistically evaluated with a number of multivariate analysis programs and a stepwise discriminant program. The metric variables were found to be significant sex and race discriminators, where-as the non-metric variables were non-significant. The non-metric variables were found to be better age discriminators than the metric variables, even though neither could be classified as highly significant. It was concluded that non-metric traits by themselves have very little discriminatory value and should be used instead to supplement other osteological measurements and observations.     

三峡科技移民示范区及其毗邻地区水体营养状况的数量分析

对在梅子垭及其毗邻地区若干重要水体所取的10个水样及其pH值、总氮、总磷、PO43-态磷和P2O5态磷进行了聚类和主成分分析。聚类分析表明10个水样可分为两大类,其中一类又明显分为两类。主成分分析表明磷对第一主成分的贡献最大;氮对第二主成分的贡献最大,其值为负表示存在负相关,排序时将会影响水样在第二主成分上的排列方向。     

Factor and principal component analyses as alternatives to index selection

Summary Selections from factor and principal component analyses were compared with those from the Smith-Hazel index when selecting for several switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) traits. The objective of this study was to examine several alternatives to index selection. Such procedures would potentially eliminate problems of selection associated with Smith-Hazel indices, including errors in genetic parameter estimates and difficulty in assigning relative economic weights to traits. Selection was performed on 1,280 plants that were evaluated over 2 years at 1 location, in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. The plants were evaluated for forage yield and several forage quality traits. The comparisons of index selection with principal factor analysis, maximum-likelihood factor analysis and principal component analysis were made for three sets of traits (five traits per set) to estimate repeatability for the comparisons. Multivariate analyses were performed on both simple and genotypic correlation matrices. Comparisons were made by computing Spearman's rank correlations between selection index plant scores and scores computed from multivariate analysis and by determining the number of plants selected in common for the selection methods. Among the three multivariate analysis methods evaluated in this study, principal component analysis had the highest correlation with index selection. The high correlation for principal component analysis of simple correlation matrices indicates the potential for using this statistical method for selection purposes. This would permit the breeder to reduce field costs (e.g., time, labor, equipment) required to obtain the genetic parameter estimates necessary to construct selection indices.     

The polyphyly of Neotragus – Results from genetic and morphometric analyses

Dwarf antelope species were commonly united in the tribe “Neotragini” (Bovidae, Mammalia) due to their general morphological appearance. However, phylogenetic analyses have shown that not all dwarf antelopes are closely related, so it was suggested to restrict the name Neotragini to the type genus Neotragus. In our study we use mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences and linear skull measurements to further investigate the similarity of all three Neotragus species. Our analyses support the close relationship of N. moschatus and N. batesi. However, N. pygmaeus – the type species, which was never before included in phylogenetic analyses – is not closely related. It might share a most recent common ancestor with another “dwarf antelope”, the Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus, and the duikers in the taxon Cephalophini. Hence, we suggest resurrecting the genus Nesotragus von Dueben, 1846 for Nesotragus moschatus and N. batesi.     

中国人群肤纹的主成分分析

近年来 ,我国学者多将中国人群分为南、北两大类群。作者对我国 5 9个人群的肤纹进行主成分分析。结果表明 ,根据肤纹特征 ,可将中国人分为 6个族群 ,除北方族群、南方族群外 ,存在着新疆族群与西藏族群。新疆族群与北方族群相比 ,斗型率低 ,尺箕、桡箕率高 ,小鱼际区与指间区Ⅱ、Ⅲ真实花纹率高。西藏族群斗型率高、尺箕率低。北方族群与南方族群相比 ,指纹嵴线总数、小鱼际区与指间区Ⅲ真实花纹率高。此外 ,还存在南北族群间的过渡族群与南北混合族群。 8个汉族人群未能聚集 ,分散于各族群中。这表明 ,汉族与少数民族间、南北方民族间存在着肤纹基因的交流。将中华民族分为南北两大类群的观点可能过于简单化了。     

中国海菜花属植物的性状分析

本文对中国海菜花属全部已知分类群的84个形态学、生物学和生态学性状,进行了R分析和主成分分析。R分析结果表明,被研究的性状可明显地划分为若干组高度相关的性状,它们或表明本属向次生性陆生和异花传粉方向演化,或具重要的分类价值。主成分分析结果表明,仅前16个主成分几乎可保留84个性状的全部信息量,这说明在中国海菜花属分类研究中所选性状很合理;前3个主成分可保留总信息量的76.56%,说明在三维空间内能较好地反映中国海菜花属所有已知分类群间的相对位置。     

Using principal component analysis to find correlations between loop-related and thermodynamic variables for G-quadruplex-forming sequences

The application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is proposed here as a simple means of revealing correlations between thermodynamic variables corresponding to folding equilibria of intramolecular G-quadruplexes and Watson–Crick duplexes, and the length of loops in the corresponding guanine-rich DNA sequences. To this end, two previously studied data sets were analyzed (Arora and Maiti, J. Phys. Chem. B. 2009 and Kumar and Maiti, Nucleic Acids. Res. 2008). All of the sequences considered shared the common structure 5’- GGG - loop1 - GGG - loop2 - GGG - loop3 - GGG -3’. PCA of these data sets supported a series of correlations between the variables studied. First, the association of loop length with thermodynamic stability and quadruplex structure was corroborated. Secondly, it is proposed that the addition of ethylene glycol produces a stronger stabilization on those sequences showing long loop1 and/or loop3. Thirdly, it is proposed that a low content of adenine in loop1 and/or loop3 will produce an increase in the stability of G-quadruplex and its related Watson–Crick duplex.     

夜蛾科(鳞翅目)卵分类性状的定量分析

本文用主成分分析法对夜蛾科卵的分类性状进行定量分析,用以说明各主成分的生物含义和各变量对分类的重要性．     

Sex hormones, central nervous system and pain

The aim of the present review, which highlights some relationships between sex hormones, the CNS and pain, is to provide reference points for discussion on one of the most intriguing aspects of pain pathophysiology: the presence of sex differences in the response threshold to phasic painful stimuli and in the incidence of chronic pain syndromes. The first part of the review deals with sex steroids and their mechanisms of action. In the second part, the connections between sex steroids, the CNS and pain are illustrated to introduce possible areas of discussion in the study of sex differences in experimental and clinical pain.