Bayesian discrimination with longitudinal data

The motivation for the methodological development is a double-blind clinical trial designed to estimate the effect of regular injection of growth hormone, with the purpose of identifying growth hormone abusers in sport. The data formed part of a multicentre investigation jointly sponsored by the European Union and the International Olympic Committee. The data are such that for each individual there is a matrix of marker variables by time point (nominally 8 markers at each of 7 time points). Data arise out of a double-blind trial in which individuals are given growth hormone at one of two dose levels or placebo daily for 28 days. Monitoring by means of blood samples is at 0, 21, 28, 30, 33, 42 and 84 days. We give a new method of Bayesian discrimination for multivariate longitudinal data. This involves a Kronecker product covariance structure for the time by measurements (markers) data on each individual. This structure is estimated by an empirical Bayes approach, using an ECM algorithm, within a Bayesian Gaussian discrimination model. In future one may have markers for an individual at one or more time points. The method gives probabilities that an individual is on placebo or on one of the two dose regimes.     

国产降纤酶治疗脑梗死的前瞻性随机双盲对照研究

目的 应用全国脑防办双盲编号的国产降纤酶静滴治疗发２４小时以内的急性脑梗死病人３４例。方法 降纤酶治疗组２１例,对照组１３例,在应用降纤酶治疗前进行神经缺损评分,在出院时和第１２周进行病人日常生活功能的评估（Ｂａｒｔｈｅｌ氏指数）。并于治疗前后检测血浆纤维蛋白原含量、肝、肾功能。结果 近期泖降纤酶治疗组优于对照组,神经功能缺损评分亦优于对照组,但不具备统计学显著性差异（０．２〈Ｐ〈０．３）。病人第     

Zeitgeber Hierarchy in Humans: Resetting the Circadian Phase Positions of Blind People Using Melatonin

Four blind individuals who were thought to be entrained at an abnormal circadian phase position were reset to a more normal phase using exogenous melatonin administration. In one instance, circadian phase was shifted later. A fifth subject who was thought to be entrained was monitored over four years and eventually was shown to have a circadian period different from 24 h. These findings have implications for treating circadian phase abnormalities in the blind, for distinguishing between abnormally entrained and free‐running blind individuals, and for informing the debate over zeitgeber hierarchy in humans.     

CASP10–BCL::Fold efficiently samples topologies of large proteins

During CASP10 in summer 2012, we tested BCL::Fold for prediction of free modeling (FM) and template‐based modeling (TBM) targets. BCL::Fold assembles the tertiary structure of a protein from predicted secondary structure elements (SSEs) omitting more flexible loop regions early on. This approach enables the sampling of conformational space for larger proteins with more complex topologies. In preparation of CASP11, we analyzed the quality of CASP10 models throughout the prediction pipeline to understand BCL::Fold's ability to sample the native topology, identify native‐like models by scoring and/or clustering approaches, and our ability to add loop regions and side chains to initial SSE‐only models. The standout observation is that BCL::Fold sampled topologies with a GDT_TS score > 33% for 12 of 18 and with a topology score > 0.8 for 11 of 18 test cases de novo. Despite the sampling success of BCL::Fold, significant challenges still exist in clustering and loop generation stages of the pipeline. The clustering approach employed for model selection often failed to identify the most native‐like assembly of SSEs for further refinement and submission. It was also observed that for some β‐strand proteins model refinement failed as β‐strands were not properly aligned to form hydrogen bonds removing otherwise accurate models from the pool. Further, BCL::Fold samples frequently non‐natural topologies that require loop regions to pass through the center of the protein. Proteins 2015; 83:547–563. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

灰鹤在迁徙途中撞击高压线伤亡分析与视觉盲区初探

广布于欧亚大陆的灰鹤(Grus grus)又叫普通鹤、欧亚鹤.采用直接计数法,观测灰鹤的迁徙活动.依据2019至2021年在乌鲁木齐郊区连续3年搜集灰鹤迁徙期遭遇高压线(220 kV)挂碰遇难的数据,简单介绍伤亡案例的特点.可能是因为灰鹤前端有一个视觉盲区,致49只灰鹤碰撞了高压线,统计到伤亡率达5.4％.伤亡者多是1...     

Morphology of the male reproductive systems of two Indopacific blenniid fishes,Salarias fasciatus and Ecsenius bicolor (Blenniidae,Teleostei)1

The testes and associated accessory organs of two blenniid fishes are described. The testicular organs of Salarias fasciatus consist of a testicular gland adjacent to the testis, chambered seminal vesicles serving as a reservoir for spermatozoa and testicular blind ouches. Ecsenirts bicolor has no testicular gland, has elongated chambered seminal vesicles whii are not used as a reservoir for spermatozoa, and has testicular blind pouches.     

Blind Count Surveys of White-Tailed Deer and Population Estimates Using Bowden's Estimators

Abstract: Conducting surveys from blinds when supplemental feed (bait) has been provided has not been evaluated for estimating parameters of ungulate populations. We conducted blind count surveys of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a 214-ha enclosure in central Texas, USA, in 2007 and 2008 to address 2 main objectives: 1) to evaluate a blind count survey protocol developed for use on small parcels of land, and 2) to use data collected from blind count surveys to conduct simulations to evaluate the reliability of abundance and sex ratio estimates obtained from Bowden's estimator. In each year population abundance (2007: 60; 2008: 48) and sex ratio (M:F, 2007: 0.58; 2008: 0.71) were known as were sighting frequencies of every animal. The enclosure had 5 blinds and we baited each blind with corn. We encountered many deer during surveys because there were only 2 deer in 2007 and 1 deer in 2008 that we did not view from blinds ≥1 time. To evaluate bias and precision of abundance and sex ratio estimates we conducted 10,000 bootstrap simulations. We evaluated both parameters in relation to the percentage of each population marked, number of surveys conducted from blinds, and whether surveys were conducted in the morning, evening, or both morning and evening. Also, we evaluated abundance in relation to whether we identified animals with unique marks to individual, and we evaluated sex ratio in relation to intersexual distribution of marks. Abundance estimates were less biased and more precise when we uniquely identified all marked animals and 40–70% of the population was marked. Sex ratio estimates were less biased when 40–70% of the population was marked and surveys were conducted in the morning and evening. Sex ratio estimates, however, were less precise than abundance estimates. Unbiased estimates of white-tailed deer population parameters can be obtained from blind count surveys conducted on small parcels of enclosed land and when animals are baited.     

Unusual testicular accessory organs, the testicular blind pouches of blennies (Teleostei, Blenniidae). Fine structure, (enzyme-) histochemistry and possible functions

The testicular blind pouches (TBPs) of Lipophrys canevae and Solaria pavo have an annual reproductive cycle with an active secretion phase during spawning, a regression phase correlated with necrotic processes during post-spawning, an inactive regeneration phase during inter-spawning and prespawning. As revealed by fine structure and enzyme-histochemistry the TBPs of L. canevae and S. pavo are involved in the production of steroid glucuronides, which possibly act as pheromones, Further functions are in the secretion of small amounts of sialomuciri and in lytic activity.     

云南石林盲高原鳅的发现及其分类地位的讨论

石林盲高原鳅Triplophysa shilinensis Chen et Yang,sp.nov.是在我国发现的第四种洞穴条鳅鱼类。其鉴别特征为:眼睛完全退化;体半透明;须发达,鼻瓣延长成须状;体裸露无鳞;背鳍、尾鳍分枝鳍条分别为7和14根;体和尾柄较细长。在摒弃趋同演化特征后,综合形态性状并结合地理分布资料分析的结果表明,类似于南盘江高原鳅的祖先曾广泛分布于滇东南一带,后来随着地下河的发育分别进入个旧卡房笆蕉箐溶洞和石林尾博邑溶洞。在溶洞间的地理隔离作用下,形成了与环境相适应的各自形态特点,最终分别演化成为目前的石林盲高原鳅和个旧盲高原鳅。本文还依据朱松泉的条鳅分类系统,订正了如下2个种:个旧盲高原鳅Triplophysa gejiuensis (Chu et Chen)、湘西盲高原鳅Triplophysa xiangxiensis (Yang et al.)。     

Speciation and adaptive radiation of subterranean mole rats, Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies, in Jordan

The major initial mechanism of speciation in subterranean blind mole rats, Spalacidae, is chromosomal, primarily through Robertsonian rearrangements. Here we highlight another scenario of chromosomal rearrangement leading to ecological speciation and adaptive radiation apparently initiated by pericentric inversions and genie divergence to different ecologies in mole rats in Jordan. We analysed karyotype, allozyme, size and ecological diversity across the range of mole rats in Jordan from mesic Irbid in the north to xeric Wadi Musa (Petra region) in the south, a transect of 250 km. We examined mole rats for chromosome ( N =71), size ( N =76), and allozyme ( N =67) diversities, encoded by 32 loci, in 12 populations of the Spalax ehrenbetgi superspecies in Jordan. By a combination of chromosome morphology, genetic distance, body size and ecogeography, we identified four new putative biological species. All species (except two animals in Madaba) share 2 n = 60 but vary in chromosome morphology, caused by pericentric inversions and/or centromeric shifts. The 'north Moav' species is karyotypically polymorphic for 2 n (2 n = 60; including locally also two animals with 2 n = 62). The distribution of the four species is associated with ecogeographical different domains and climatic diversity. Genetic diversity indices were low, but like chromosome arms (NFa) were positively correlated with aridity stress. Discriminant analysis correctly classified 91% of the individuals into the four species utilizing combinatorially chromosome, allozyme and size diversities. It is hypothesized that mole rat evolution underground is intimately associated with climatic diversity stress above ground.