Preliminary test almost unbiased ridge estimator in a linear regression model with multivariate Student-t errors

In this paper, the preliminary test almost unbiased ridge estimators of the regression coefficients based on the conflicting Wald (W), Likelihood ratio (LR) and Lagrangian multiplier (LM) tests in a multiple regression model with multivariate Student-t errors are introduced when it is suspected that the regression coefficients may be restricted to a subspace. The bias and quadratic risks of the proposed estimators are derived and compared. Sufficient conditions on the departure parameter ∆ and the ridge parameter k are derived for the proposed estimators to be superior to the almost unbiased ridge estimator, restricted almost unbiased ridge estimator and preliminary test estimator. Furthermore, some graphical results are provided to illustrate theoretical results

The Relationships Between the Level of Lignin, a Secondary Metabolite in Soybean Plant, and Aphid Resistance in Soybeans

In the present report, the relationship was discussed between the level of lignin-one of the secondary metabolites in soybean plant and the chemical defense reaction of soybean to the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Muts). Experimental results indicated that the cultivars with higher level of lignin are more resistant to the damage of aphids than those with lower level of lignin. Lignin is one of the compounds that are responsible to the chemical defense reaction of soybean. This finding laid a foundation for the elucidation of the mechanism of aphid resistance in plants and its biochemical basis.Originating text in Chinese.Citation: Hu, Qi, Zhao, Jianwei, Cui, Jianwen. (1993). The Relationships Between the Level of Lignin, a Secondary Metabolite in Soybean Plant, and Aphid Resistance in Soybeans. Plant Protection (Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS, China), 19(1), 8-9

Single image super resolution based on multi-scale structure and non-local smoothing

In this paper, we propose a hybrid super-resolution method by combining global and local dictionary training in the sparse domain. In order to present and differentiate the feature mapping in different scales, a global dictionary set is trained in multiple structure scales, and a non-linear function is used to choose the appropriate dictionary to initially reconstruct the HR image. In addition, we introduce the Gaussian blur to the LR images to eliminate a widely used but inappropriate assumption that the low resolution (LR) images are generated by bicubic interpolation from high-resolution (HR) images. In order to deal with Gaussian blur, a local dictionary is generated and iteratively updated by K-means principal component analysis (K-PCA) and gradient decent (GD) to model the blur effect during the down-sampling. Compared with the state-of-the-art SR algorithms, the experimental results reveal that the proposed method can produce sharper boundaries and suppress undesired artifacts with the present of Gaussian blur. It implies that our method could be more effect in real applications and that the HR-LR mapping relation is more complicated than bicubic interpolation

Sample size/power calculation for stratified case-cohort design

The Case-cohort (CC) study design usually has been used for risk factor assessment in epidemiologic studies or disease prevention trials for rare diseases. The sample size/power calculation for the CC design is given in Cai and Zeng [1]. However, the sample size/power calculation for a stratified case-cohort (SCC) design has not been addressed before. This article extends the results of Cai and Zeng [1] to the SCC design. Simulation studies show that the proposed test for the SCC design utilizing small sub-cohort sampling fractions is valid and efficient for situations where the disease rate is low. Furthermore, optimization of sampling in the SCC design is discussed and compared with proportional and balanced sampling techniques. An epidemiological study is provided to illustrate the sample size calculation under the SCC design

Fracture failure analysis and bias tearing strength criterion for PVDF coated bi-axial warp knitted fabrics

This paper concerns the fracture failure and bias tearing strength criterion for a PVDF coated bi-axial warp knitted fabrics (BWKFs) widely used in air supported membrane structures (ASMSs). Central slit tearing tests were carefully conducted on bias specimens with seven off-axis angles, and the corresponding tearing properties, including failure behaviors and tearing strength criterion were discussed. Results show that coated bi-axial warp knitted fabrics are typical direction-depended materials, and their tearing characteristics vary greatly with the bias angles. Typical tearing stress-displacement curves of bias samples could exhibit four characteristic regions: a co-deformation region, a shear deformation region, a plateau region, and a post peak region. No matter what the orientation of the initial slit or the yarn is, the propagation is always parallel to the secondary yarns. For specimens with different bias angles, some obvious differences in tearing behaviors are observed in terms of maximum displacement, damage mode, curve slope, and number of stress peaks, and these differences could be attributed to the material orthotropy and different failure mechanism of constituent materials. Unlike results of tensile strength for most of woven fabrics, for the studied BWKF composite, there is a W-shaped relationship between tearing strength and bias angle, with a local strength peak at 45o angle. The new tearing strength criterion proposed in the prior research is validated due to the strong agreements between the calculated and experimental results for the BWKF

Transcript Profiling Identifies Dynamic Gene Expression Patterns and an Important Role for Nrf2/Keap1 Pathway in the Developing Mouse Esophagus

Morphological changes during human and mouse esophageal development have been well characterized. However, changes at the molecular level in the course of esophageal morphogenesis remain unclear. This study aims to globally profile critical genes and signaling pathways during the development of mouse esophagus. By using microarray analysis this study also aims to determine how the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway regulates the morphogenesis of the esophageal epithelium.Gene expression microarrays were used to survey gene expression in the esophagus at three critical phases: specification, metaplasia and maturation. The esophagi were isolated from wild-type, Nrf2(-/-), Keap1(-/-), or Nrf2(-/-)Keap1(-/-) embryos or young adult mice. Array data were statistically analyzed for differentially expressed genes and pathways. Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining were used to verify potential involvement of the Wnt pathway, Pparβ/δ and the PI3K/Akt pathway in the development of esophageal epithelium.Dynamic gene expression patterns accompanied the morphological changes of the developing esophagus at critical phases. Particularly, the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway had a baseline activity in the metaplasia phase and was further activated in the maturation phase. The Wnt pathway was active early and became inactive later in the metaplasia phase. In addition, Keap1(-/-) mice showed increased expression of Nrf2 downstream targets and genes involved in keratinization. Microarray and immunostaining data also suggested that esophageal hyperkeratosis in the Keap1(-/-) mice was due to activation of Pparβ/δ and the PI3K/Akt pathway.Morphological changes of the esophageal epithelium are associated with dynamic changes in gene expression. Nrf2/Keap1 pathway activity is required for maturation of mouse esophageal epithelium

TBK1 phosphorylation activates LIR-dependent degradation of the inflammation repressor TNIP1

Limitation of excessive inflammation due to selective degradation of pro-inflammatory proteins is one of the cytoprotective functions attributed to autophagy. In the current study, we highlight that selective autophagy also plays a vital role in promoting the establishment of a robust inflammatory response. Under inflammatory conditions, here TLR3-activation by poly(I:C) treatment, the inflammation repressor TNIP1 (TNFAIP3 interacting protein 1) is phosphorylated by Tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) activating an LIR motif that leads to the selective autophagy-dependent degradation of TNIP1, supporting the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and proteins. This selective autophagy efficiently reduces TNIP1 protein levels early (0–4 h) upon poly(I:C) treatment to allow efficient initiation of the inflammatory response. At 6 h, TNIP1 levels are restored due to increased transcription avoiding sustained inflammation. Thus, similarly as in cancer, autophagy may play a dual role in controlling inflammation depending on the exact state and timing of the inflammatory response

Living grass mulching improves soil enzyme activities through enhanced available nutrients in citrus orchards in subtropical China

Living grass mulching (LGM) is an important orchard floor management that has been applied worldwide. Although LGM can effectively enhance soil nutrient availability and fertility, its effects on microbial-mediated soil nutrient cycling and main drivers are unclear. Meanwhile, the variation of enzyme activities and soil nutrient availability with LGM duration have been rarely studied. This study aims to explore the effects of mulching age and soil layer on enzyme activities and soil nutrients in citrus orchards. In this study, three LGM (Vicia villosa) treatments were applied, i.e., mulching for eight years, mulching for four years, and no mulching (clean tillage). Their effects on the enzyme activities and soil nutrients were analyzed in different soil layers of citrus orchards in subtropical China, i.e., 0-10, 10-20, and 20-40 cm. Compared to clean tillage, mulching for four years had fewer effects on enzyme activities and soil nutrients. In contrast, mulching for eight years significantly increased available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) nutrients, β-glucosidase, and cellobiohydrolase activities in the soil layer of 0-20 cm. In the soil layer of 0-40 cm, microbial biomass carbon (C), N, P, N-acetylglucosaminidase, leucine aminopeptidase, and acid phosphatase activities also increased (P < 0.05). Mulching for eight years significantly promoted C, N, and P-cycling enzyme activities and total enzyme activities by 2.45-6.07, 9.29-54.42, 4.42-7.11, and 5.32-14.91 times, respectively. Redundancy analysis shows that mulching treatments for eight and four years had soil layer-dependent positive effects on soil enzyme activities. Microbial C and P showed the most significant positive correlation with enzyme activities, followed by moisture content, organic C, and available N (P < 0.05). Available nutrients contributed almost 70% to affect enzyme activities significantly and were the main drivers of the enzyme activity variation. In summary, LGM could improve soil enzyme activities by increasing available nutrients. The promotion effect was more significant under mulching for eight years. Therefore, extending mulching age and improving nutrient availability are effective development strategies for sustainable soil management in orchard systems. Our study can provide valuable guidelines for the design and implementation of more sustainable management practices in citrus orchards

Comparison of Self-Reported Sleep Duration With Actigraphy: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sueño Ancillary Study

Most studies of sleep and health outcomes rely on self-reported sleep duration, although correlation with objective measures is poor. In this study, we defined sociodemographic and sleep characteristics associated with misreporting and assessed whether accounting for these factors better explains variation in objective sleep duration among 2,086 participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos who completed more than 5 nights of wrist actigraphy and reported habitual bed/wake times from 2010 to 2013. Using linear regression, we examined self-report as a predictor of actigraphy-assessed sleep duration. Mean amount of time spent asleep was 7.85 (standard deviation, 1.12) hours by self-report and 6.74 (standard deviation, 1.02) hours by actigraphy; correlation between them was 0.43. For each additional hour of self-reported sleep, actigraphy time spent asleep increased by 20 minutes (95% confidence interval: 19, 22). Correlations between self-reported and actigraphy-assessed time spent asleep were lower with male sex, younger age, sleep efficiency <85%, and night-to-night variability in sleep duration ≥1.5 hours. Adding sociodemographic and sleep factors to self-reports increased the proportion of variance explained in actigraphy-assessed sleep slightly (18%–32%). In this large validation study including Hispanics/Latinos, we demonstrated a moderate correlation between self-reported and actigraphy-assessed time spent asleep. The performance of self-reports varied by demographic and sleep measures but not by Hispanic subgroup

Proteomics analysis of serum protein profiling in pancreatic cancer patients by DIGE: up-regulation of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pancreatic cancer has significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Good prognosis relies on an early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to develop techniques for identifying cancer biomarkers in the serum of patients with pancreatic cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum samples from five individuals with pancreatic cancer and five individuals without cancer were compared. Highly abundant serum proteins were depleted by immuno-affinity column. Differential protein analysis was performed using 2-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among these protein spots, we found that 16 protein spots were differently expressed between the two mixtures; 8 of these were up-regulated and 8 were down-regulated in cancer. Mass spectrometry and database searching allowed the identification of the proteins corresponding to the gel spots. Up-regulation of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2, which have not previously been implicated in pancreatic cancer, were observed. In an independent series of serum samples from 16 patients with pancreatic cancer and 16 non-cancer-bearing controls, increased levels of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2 were confirmed by western blot.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that affinity column enrichment and DIGE can be used to identify proteins differentially expressed in serum from pancreatic cancer patients. These two proteins 'mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2' might be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of the pancreatic cancer.</p