Adjusted exponentially tilted likelihood with applications to brain morphology

Summary .  In this article, we develop a nonparametric method, called adjusted exponentially tilted (ET) likelihood, and apply it to the analysis of morphometric measures. The adjusted exponential tilting estimator is shown to have the same first-order asymptotic properties as that of the original ET likelihood. The adjusted ET likelihood ratio statistic is applied to test linear hypotheses of unknown parameters, such as the associations of brain measures (e.g., cortical and subcortical surfaces) with covariates of interest, such as age, gender, and gene. Simulation studies show that the adjusted exponential tilted likelihood ratio statistic performs as well as the  t -test when the imaging data are symmetrically distributed, while it is superior when the imaging data have skewed distribution. We demonstrate the application of our new statistical methods to the detection of statistically significant differences in the morphology of the hippocampus between two schizophrenia groups and healthy subjects.     

A spatial analysis of trophic composition: a case study of hairtail (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichiurus japonicus</Emphasis>) in the East China Sea

The spatial distribution of fish on feeding grounds is an important factor in determining their prey composition. Of the factors that may influence the spatial distribution on the feeding ground and subsequent diet composition is the fish maturation stage. Using hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus) as an example, we evaluated the impacts of gonad development stage on diet composition. Hairtail supports one of the most valuable and largest fisheries in the East China Sea. As one of the top predators, it plays an important role in the ecosystem. We analyzed hairtail stomach samples collected on their feeding grounds from a fisheries-independent survey program in September 2005. Our analyses suggest that females in their third maturity stage tended to feed more intensively. Fish were the most important preys for hairtail, accounting for 72.6% of the total stomach contents in weight. The four most important fish species were juvenile hairtail (25.2%), Japanese scad (11.4%), Japanese jack mackerel (7.7%), and small yellow croaker (5.9%), suggesting strong cannibalism. A cluster analysis suggests that hairtail could be divided into three groups in their spatial distribution based on their diets: one group with similar percentages of fish and crustacean preys mainly distributed in the south of East China Sea far from the coast; one group mainly consuming fish and distributed over the north of East China Sea near the coast; and the third group consuming mainly crustacean species mainly distributed in the open sea. We hypothesize that gonadal development stage of hairtail may determine their movement from spawning ground to feeding ground, and subsequently spatial distribution on the feeding ground, which in turn results in different feeding intensities and prey compositions. Handling editor: Robert Bailey     

N-Glycosylation engineering of tobacco plants to produce asialoerythropoietin

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone that displays both hematopoietic and tissue-protective functions by binding to two distinct receptors. Recombinant human EPO (rhuEPO) is widely used for the treatment of anemia, but its use for tissue protection is limited because of potentially harmful increases in red blood cell mass when higher doses of rhuEPO are used. Recent studies have shown that asialoerythropoietin (asialo-rhuEPO), a desialylated form of rhuEPO, lacks hematopoietic activity, but retains cytoprotective activity. Currently, a small amount of asialo-rhuEPO is produced by enzymatic desialylation of rhuEPO. The prohibitive cost of rhuEPO, however, is a major limitation of this method. Plants have the ability to synthesize complex N-glycans, but lack enzymatic activities to add sialic acid and β1,4-galactose to N-glycan chains. Plants could be genetically engineered to produce asialo-rhuEPO by introducing human β1,4-galactosyltransferase. The penultimate β1,4-linked galactose residues are important for in vivo biological activity. In this proof of concept study, we show that tobacco plants co-expressing human β1,4-galactosyltransferase and EPO genes accumulated asialo-rhuEPO. Purified asialo-rhuEPO binds to an Erythrina cristagalli lectin column, indicating that its N-glycan chains bear terminal β1,4-galactose residues and that the co-expressed GalT is functionally active. Asialo-rhuEPO interacted with the EPO receptor (EPOR) with similar affinity as rhuEPO, implying that it was properly folded. The strategy described here provides a straightforward way to produce asialo-rhuEPO for research and therapeutic purposes. KEY MESSAGE: N-glycosylation pathway in tobacco plants could be genetically engineered to produce a tissue-protective cytokine, asialoerythropoietin (a desialylated form of human hormone erythropoietin).     

Studies on quantum dots synthesized in aqueous solution for biological labeling via electrostatic interaction

3-Mercaptopropyl acid-stabilized CdTe nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous solution are effectively bound to a biomacromolecule, papain, via electrostatic interaction. The conjugation between the nanoparticles and the papain is demonstrated by UV-Vis absorption, photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence micrographs. The biological activity of papain is maintained after the conjugation. The effects of the quantity of papain and the size of nanoparticles on the fluorescence characteristics of the CdTe-papain bioconjugates were studied.     

Comparison of nucleic acid-based detection of avian influenza H5N1 with virus isolation

Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification with electrochemiluminescent detection (NASBA/ECL) of avian influenza virus was compared with viral culture in embryonated chicken eggs. Virus was isolated from blood or anal swabs of chickens artificially infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A/Chicken/Hong Kong/1000/97 (H5N1). Viral nucleic acid was detected in blood samples by NASBA/ECL immediately prior to death, whilst nucleic acid extracted from anal swabs was detected from the day following artificial infection until death. Thus, blood and/or anal swabs are a suitable source of material for the detection of avian influenza in dead birds, but anal swabs are more suitable for detection of viral genetic material in live birds. Dilution of a known viral standard was used to determine the limit of sensitivity for both NASBA/ECL and egg culture detection methods. The NASBA/ECL method was equivalent in sensitivity to egg culture. The NASBA/ECL results agreed with egg culture data in 71/94 (75.5%) tissue samples obtained from artificially infected birds.     

Estimation of fish abundance indices based on scientific research trawl surveys

The fish abundance index over an ocean region is defined here to be the integral of expected catch per unit effort (CPUE), approximated by the sum of expected CPUE over grid squares. When trawl surveys are done within grid squares selected according to a probability sampling design, several other sources of variation such as the fish population dynamics and the catching process are also involved. In such situations model-assisted methods for estimating abundance, assessed under both design and model perspectives, have some advantages over purely design-based methods such as the Horvitz-Thompson (HT) estimator or purely model-based prediction approaches. This article develops model-assisted empirical likelihood (EL) methods via loglinear regression and nonparametric smoothing. The methods are applied to grid surveys of the Grand Bank region carried out annually by Fishery Products International from 1996 through 2002. The HT and EL methods produce similar point estimates of abundance indices. Simulation results, however, indicate that the EL estimator under local linear smoothing is associated with smaller standard errors.     

Active tolerance induction and prevention of autoimmune diabetes by immunogene therapy using recombinant adenoassociated virus expressing glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 peptide GAD(500-585)

Tolerance induction of autoreactive T cells against pancreatic beta cell-specific autoantigens such as glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) and insulin has been attempted as a method to prevent autoimmune diabetes. In this study, we investigate whether adenoassociated virus (AAV) gene delivery of multiple immunodominant epitopes expressing GAD(500-585) could induce potent immune tolerance and persistently suppress autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. A single muscle injection of 7-wk-old female NOD mice with rAAV/GAD(500-585) (3 x 10(11) IU/mouse) quantitatively reduced pancreatic insulitis and efficiently prevented the development of overt type I diabetes. This prevention was marked by the inactivation of GAD(500-585)-responsive T lymphocytes, the enhanced GAD(500-585)-specific Th2 response (characterized by increased IL-4, IL-10 production, and decreased IFN-gamma production; especially elevated anti-GAD(500-585) IgG1 titer; and relatively unchanged anti-GAD(500-585) IgG2b titer), the increased secretion of TGF-beta, and the production of protective regulatory cells. Our studies also revealed that peptides 509-528, 570-585, and 554-546 in the region of GAD(500-585) played important roles in rAAV/GAD(500-585) immunization-induced immune tolerance. These data indicate that using AAV, a vector with advantage for therapeutic gene delivery, to transfer autoantigen peptide GAD(500-585), can induce immunological tolerance through active suppression of effector T cells and prevent type I diabetes in NOD mice.     

光,电镜观察小鼠呼吸道合胞病毒性肺炎的免疫病理改变

Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠经鼻吸入呼吸道合胞病毒（ＲＳＶ）悬液感染成ＲＳＶ肺炎。于感染第５天后连续隔日取肺,光镜与透射电镜检查。感染第５～７天,肺组织病理改变最严重,多数小鼠表现为间质淋巴细胞（ＬＣ）套状浸润,肺泡隔增宽;少数小鼠出现间质内大量ＬＣ浸润与肺泡内大量单个核细胞渗出的两种病理改变。病毒包涵体出现于肺泡上皮细胞内,细胞受感染后发生肿胀、坏死。Ⅰ型细胞核周胞质内有核衣壳复制,表面病毒芽生形成长短不等的丝状体。第９天,肺泡隔增宽与间质ＬＣ浸润逐渐减轻。第１２天,病毒包涵体明显减少。     

福建省突颚反颚茧蜂属一新种(膜翅目:茧蜂科)(英)

笔者在整理福建省的茧蜂标本时,发现一新种:赭胸反颚茧蜂Heratemis ustulatus Wu et Chen。该新种与Heratemis vegeta(Papp)近缘,但新种的头部黑褐色,中胸背板红褐色,产卵器与腹部等长。 该新种的主要鉴别特征:雌蜂体长3.7mm。体黑褐色,中胸背板红褐色。无后头瘤,后单眼间距POL及单复眼距(OOL)分别为后单眼直径(D)的1.3和3.0倍。上颚4齿(第4齿在第1、2齿间)。第1、2鞭节长为第3鞭节的1.1和1.2倍。盾纵沟完整,伸及椭圆形的中陷;小盾片隆起,但未形成尖刺。回脉明显前叉式,小脉强烈后叉式。腹柄节长为其后端宽度的1.9倍。产卵器与腹部等长。 正模:♀,福建清流大丰山,1990-07-16,洪盛祥采集。 词源;本新种的种名“ustulatus”意指该新种的中胸背板红褐色。新种模式标本保存于福建农业大学益虫室。     

A NEW SPECIES OF GENUS HERATEMIS WALKER FROM FUJIAN PROVINCE (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE)

Abstract The present paper deals with a new species, Heratemis ustulatus Wu et Chen, collected from Fujian Province. The new species is distinguished easily from the closely related species Heratemis uegeta (Papp) by the following characters: head blackish-brown, mesonotum reddish-brown, length of ovipositor equal to abdomen. Type specimen is deposited in Beneficial Insects Lab., Fujian Agricultural University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province.