DNA hybridization evidence of hominoid phylogeny: Results from an expanded data set

Summary The living hominoids are human, the two species of chimpanzees, gorilla, orangutan, and nine species of gibbons. The cercopithecoids (Old World monkeys) are the sister group of the hominoids. A consensus about the phylogeny of the hominoids has been reached for the branching order of the gibbons (earliest) and the orangutan (next earliest), but the branching order among gorilla, chimpanzees, and human remains in contention. In 1984 we presented DNA-DNA hybridization data, based on 183 DNA hybrids, that we interpreted as evidence that the branching order, from oldest to most recent, was gibbons, orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzees, and human. In the present paper we report on an expanded data set totaling 514 DNA hybrids, which supports the branching order given above. The ranges for the datings of divergence nodes are Old World monkeys, 25–34 million years (Myr) ago; gibbons, 16.4–23 Myr ago; orangutan, 12.2–17 Myr ago; gorilla, 7.7–11 Myr ago; chimpanzees-human, 5.5–7.7 Myr ago. The possible effects of differences in age at first breeding are discussed, and some speculations about average genomic rates of evolution are presented.     

On Conditions for Validity of the Approximations to Fisher's Exact Test

A 2 × 2 table is analyzed from the conditional viewpoint, using Fisher's exact test, for which there is abundant software nowadays (StatXact, SPSS with the module “Exact Test”, …). Nevertheless, because it is well-nigh impossible to work the test out “by hand”, it is customary in many books to analyze the table, in an approximate fashion, by using the classic chi-square test with the appropriate continuity correction, and this is what many researchers do in practice. Unfortunately little research has been carried out on the validity conditions of the test (remember the classic advice that the minimum expected quantity E should be larger than or equal to 5), so that it is applied indiscriminately with the obvious danger of obtaining erroneous results. In this paper the exact validity conditions (which depend not only on E, but also on the real P-value, on the size of the sample, on the number of tails of the test and on the continuity correction used) are determined, showing that the classic condition E > 5 can be either very strict or quite liberal (depending on the circumstances) and it can even be necessary for the test to have E > 20. A similar study is made of the case of using the binomial approximation, while the Poisson approximation is also discussed. The article ends with a list of rules and precautions to be borne in mind by researchers using the approximate methods. The strict rules are complex enough to make the researcher want to use the exact test, but simplified (and conservative) rules are also given for those unable to do so.     

Simultaneous sign tests for marginal homogeneity of square contingency tables

For testing the nullhypothesis of marginal homogeneity of 1x1-contingency tables it is proposed to perform I simultaneous sign tests and to combine them according to the BONFFERRONI or the ?INáK inequality.     

Fatty Liver Through the Ages: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

ObjectiveThe global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus is the main driver of the growing global prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to review the current literature on NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as it impacts children and adults.MethodsWe performed a literature search on fatty liver specifically NAFLD and NASH among children and adults.ResultsThe prevalence of NAFLD in children ranges from 8% to 12%, while the prevalence in adults ranges 25% to 48%. The prevalence of NASH among children with NAFLD is 23%, while it ranges from 13% to 65% in adults. There are similar risk factors for NAFLD among children and adults. However, in children, the diagnostic tests in the studies of NAFLD are limited to the elevation of the alanine aminotransferase level or a liver biopsy. In adults, additional diagnostic modalities, including noninvasive tests, have been used. From the spectrum of NAFLD, patients with NASH are predominantly at risk of progressive liver disease to cirrhosis and liver-related mortality. NAFLD is associated with impairment of health-related quality of life and substantial economic burden.ConclusionThe comprehensive burden (clinical, health-related quality of life, and economic) of NAFLD is high and increasing.     

A Nonparametrical Evaluation of Anova and MANOVA Designs Using Interaction Structure Analysis

The interaction structure analysis (ISA) is proposed as a nonparametric procedure for the evaluation of uni- and multivariate analysis of variance models. Main effects and interactions of (independent) treatment variables are replaced by interaction-types where types are defined as those treatment-response combinations which occur significantly more often than expected under a null hypothesis (H_o) of no treatment effects. The application of ISA and the typological interpretation of ISA results are illustrated for an ANOVA design from toxicology and for a MANOVA design from psychopharmacology.