中国哺乳动物地理分布的多元相似性聚类分析

中国的地形复杂、地貌多样,动物的地理分布亦表现出明显的区域间差异。本研究通过新近文献调研,获知中国现生哺乳动物计692种（隶于13目56科246属）;进而建立物种及其地理分布数据库。采用多元相似性聚类分析（multivariate similarity clustering analysis, MSCA）方法,探讨了中国哺乳动物的地理分布特征。结果表明：（1）中国的现生哺乳动物可划分为176个调查地理单元（investigated geographical unit, IGU）,进而归并为63个基础地理单元（basic geographical unit, BGU）;（2）当相似性系数取0.31、0.25和0.15时,上述63个BGU可分别归并为10个、7个和2个基础地理单元群;据此可对中国的哺乳动物地理分布作出2界7区10亚区的3级区划。本文建议,世界动物地理区划中古北界与东洋界在中国境内的分界线走向为：南迦巴瓦峰西部-玛卿岗日-秦岭北部-黄土高原南缘-大别山-淮河南-长江中下游一线。     

On a seven-dimensional representation of RNA secondary structures

In this paper, we proposed a seven-dimensional (7D) representation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) secondary structures. The use of the 7D representation is illustrated by constructing structure invariants. Comparisons with the similarity/dissimilarity results based on 7D representation for a set of RNA 3 secondary structures at the 3′-terminus of different viruses, are considered to illustrate the use of our structure invariants based on the entries in derived sequence matrices restricted to a selected width of a band along the main diagonal.     

CDS: a fold-change based statistical test for concomitant identification of distinctness and similarity in gene expression analysis

The problem of identifying differential activity such as in gene expression is a major defeat in biostatistics and bioinformatics.Equally important,however much less frequently studied,is the question of similar activity from one biological condition to another.The foldchange,or ratio,is usually considered a relevant criterion for stating difference and similarity between measurements.Importantly,no statistical method for concomitant evaluation of similarity and distinctness currently exists for biological applications.Modem microarray,digital PCR(dPCR),and Next-Generation Sequencing(NGS) technologies frequently provide a means of coefficient of variation estimation for individual measurements.Using fold-change,and by making the assumption that measurements are normally distributed with known variances,we designed a novel statistical test that allows us to detect concomitantly,thus using the same formalism,differentially and similarly expressed genes(http://cds.ihes.fr).Given two sets of gene measurements in different biological conditions,the probabilities of making type I and type II errors in stating that a gene is differentially or similarly expressed from one condition to the other can be calculated.Furthermore,a confidence interval for the fold-change can be delineated.Finally,we demonstrate that the assumption of normality can be relaxed to consider arbitrary distributions numerically.The Concomitant evaluation of Distinctness and Similarity(CDS) statistical test correctly estimates similarities and differences between measurements of gene expression.The implementation,being time and memory efficient,allows the use of the CDS test in high-throughput data analysis such as microarray,dPCR,and NGS experiments.Importantly,the CDS test can be applied to the comparison of single measurements(N:1) provided the variance(or coefficient of variation) of the signals is known,making CDS a valuable tool also in biomedical analysis where typically a single measurement per subject is available.     

Mixed-beam approach for high-risk prostate cancer: Carbon-ion boost followed by photon intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Dosimetric and geometric evaluations (AIRC IG-14300)

Background and purposeThe aim was to evaluate dosimetric uncertainties of a mixed beam approach for patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). The treatment consists of a carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) boost followed by whole-pelvis intensity-modulated RT (IMRT).Materials and methodsPatients were treated with a CIRT boost of 16.6 Gy/4 fractions followed by whole-pelvis IMRT of 50 Gy/25 fractions, with consequent long term androgen deprivation therapy. Deformable computed tomography image registration (DIR) was performed and corresponding doses were used for plan sum. A comparative IMRT photon plan was obtained as whole-pelvis IMRT of 50 Gy/25 fractions followed by a boost of 28 Gy/14 fractions. DIR performances were evaluated through structure-related and image characteristics parameters.ResultsUntil now, five patients out of ten total enrolled ended the treatment. Dosimetric parameters were lower in CIRT + IMRT than IMRT-only plans for all organs at risk (OARs) except femoral heads.Regarding DIR evaluation, femoral heads were the less deformed OAR. Penile bulb, bladder and anal canal showed intermediate deformation. Rectum was the most deformed. DIR algorithms were patient (P)-dependent, as performances were the highest for P3 and P4, intermediate for P2 and P5, and the lowest for P1.ConclusionsCIRT allows better OARs sparing while increasing the efficacy due to the higher radio-biological effect of carbon ions. However, a mixed beam approach could introduce DIR problems in multi-centric treatments with different operative protocols. The development of this prospective trial will lead to more mature data concerning the clinical impact of implementing DIR procedures in dose accumulation applications for high-risk PCa treatments.     

Margin based ontology sparse vector learning algorithm and applied in biology science

In biology field, the ontology application relates to a large amount of genetic information and chemical information of molecular structure, which makes knowledge of ontology concepts convey much information. Therefore, in mathematical notation, the dimension of vector which corresponds to the ontology concept is often very large, and thus improves the higher requirements of ontology algorithm. Under this background, we consider the designing of ontology sparse vector algorithm and application in biology. In this paper, using knowledge of marginal likelihood and marginal distribution, the optimized strategy of marginal based ontology sparse vector learning algorithm is presented. Finally, the new algorithm is applied to gene ontology and plant ontology to verify its efficiency.     

Communities of fungal endophytes in tropical forest grasses: highly diverse host- and habitat generalists characterized by strong spatial structure

Plant-symbiotic fungi influence the structure and function of all terrestrial ecosystems, but factors shaping their distributions in time and space are rarely well understood. Grasses (Poaceae), which first arose and diversified in tropical forests, harbor diverse but little-studied endophytes in the lowland forests of Panama. We used sequence data for 402 isolates from two sampling years, 11 host species, and 55 microsites at Barro Colorado Island, Panama to investigate the influence of host and habitat (soil type, forest age) in shaping endophyte diversity and composition. In contrast to previous studies, we found no evidence for host- or habitat specificity. Instead, endophytes demonstrated strong spatial structure consistent with dispersal limitation, with community similarity decaying markedly over a scale of hundreds of meters. Spatial structure that is independent of host species and habitat reveals remarkable heterogeneity of endophyte–host associations at small geographic scales and adds an important spatial component to extrapolative estimates of fungal diversity.     

犬冠状病毒南京株M基因的同源重组分析

对来自腹泻犬粪样的犬冠状病毒(CCV)南京株NJ17株及参考株171的M基因进行了克隆、测序,并与GenBank中所有已知CCV毒株及同亚群的猪冠状病毒(TGEV)和猫冠状病毒(FCoV)代表株的M基因进行了同源性比较和系统进化分析,同时对M蛋白的结构和功能进行了预测分析。结果表明,CCV171与近年在中国分离到的CCV毒株V1、V2及大熊猫源的毒株具有98.9%～99.5%的同源性,说明这些毒株可能是来自同一毒株的准种。NJ17与其他中国分离株及国外分离株的同源性为87.0%～91.9%,显示国内可能存在一个相对独立进化的CCV毒株。序列比较发现,所有CCV毒株在可能的同源重组“热点”区内都有一个CTTTAG序列,与鸡传染性支气管炎病毒同源重组模板交换位点附近的特征序列相似。CCVNJ17株M蛋白在N端50氨基酸序列与FCoV791683同源性高,而在后212氨基酸序列与TGEV同源性高,提示该毒株可能在M基因上曾经发生过不同病毒的同源重组。CCVM蛋白的结构及功能预测表明,所有毒株都具有分泌型信号肽,有4个螺旋跨膜区,N末端和C末端均位于膜内。M蛋白的两末端具有较强的抗原性,M蛋白上存在多种功能性氨基酸修饰位点且相对保守。N末端的氨基酸变异很大,但是功能性修饰位点相对保守,提示N末端的功能可能与构象有关。     

Similarity and discrimination learning in humans

In an experiment involving a new behavioural preparation the role played by similarity in discrimination learning was examined using visual patterns (i.e., paintings) that might share common elements (specifically, A, BC, and ABC). A-C were small stars of three specific colours (target colours), which were intermixed with other stars of two different colours (distracting colours). The target colours were balanced through A-C. Students received discrimination training in which a fictitious painter was the author of paintings A and BC, while paintings ABC were assigned to a second fictitious painter. During training, the students had to make a choice, in the presence of each pattern, between two response keys, each of them indicating one of the painters. The time taken to respond was also measured. Feedback was always given after each key-press. The results showed that while at times the A+ ABC- discrimination was acquired more readily than was the BC+ ABC- discrimination, on other occasions the reverse was also true, the critical factor being the way in which the colours were combined.