Chemometric approach to find relationships between physiological elements and elements causing toxic effects in herb roots by ICP-MS

In this paper 13 elements, both physiological and causing toxic effects, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in roots of 26 species of herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The herbs were purchased from online shop in two batches 1 year apart to verify the variability of elemental content in time. The multivariate statistical methods—multiple regression, canonical variates and interaction effect analysis—were applied to interpret the data and to show the relationships between elements and two batches of herb roots. The maximum permissible concentration of Cd (0.3 mg kg−1) was exceeded in 7 herb roots which makes 13% of all specimens. The multiple regression analysis revealed the significant relationships between elements: Mg with Sr; V with Pb, As and Ba; Mn with Pb; Fe with As and Ba; Co with Ni and Sr, Cu with Pb, Cd and As; Zn with Pb, Cd, As and Ba. The canonical variates analysis showed that the statistical inference should not be based solely on the type of herb or number of batch because of the underlying interaction effects between those two variables that may be a source of variability of the content of determined elements.

Quantifying Late Pennsylvanian Multivariate Morphological Change in the Fusulinid Genus Triticites from the Central and Southwestern United States

ABSTRACT Fusulinid Foraminifera are important for biostratigraphic correlation of strata in the Upper Paleozoic of the central and southwestern United States due to their high abundance and diversity in shallow marine carbonates. These correlations rely on consistent species-level identifications as well as geographically consistent morphological variation within species. However, many taxonomically important characters are described qualitatively, which can lead to conflicting identifications among taxonomists and cause biostratigraphic disagreements. Quantitative morphometric comparisons among species can increase the consistency of identifications among workers and capture temporal and geographic morphological gradients. Here, we used 14 linear measurements to describe the morphology of 18 biostratigraphically important species within the genus Triticites. Canonical variates analysis (CVA) showed that whereas specimens of a given species occupy similar areas of morphospace, species overlap considerably and, thus, these linear measurements poorly differentiate among species. However, species morphology covaried with geological age and multivariate analyses focused on age differences reveal an increase in the size of the initial chamber (proloculus) and a relative decrease in test expansion along the long axes over time. These morphological changes are consistent with an adaptation to shallow water conditions following the fall in relative sea-level across the Virgilian-Newwellian/Bursumian transition. Given the consistency of the morphological shift among North American basins, these morphological changes may be more useful for the recognition of the Virgilian-Newwellian/Bursumian transition than species-level biozones because they do not depend on consistent species identification.

MRI Radiomic Signature of White Matter Hyperintensities Is Associated With Clinical Phenotypes

ObjectiveNeuroimaging measurements of brain structural integrity are thought to be surrogates for brain health, but precise assessments require dedicated advanced image acquisitions. By means of quantitatively describing conventional images, radiomic analyses hold potential for evaluating brain health. We sought to: (1) evaluate radiomics to assess brain structural integrity by predicting white matter hyperintensities burdens (WMH) and (2) uncover associations between predictive radiomic features and clinical phenotypes.MethodsWe analyzed a multi-site cohort of 4,163 acute ischemic strokes (AIS) patients with T2-FLAIR MR images with total brain and WMH segmentations. Radiomic features were extracted from normal-appearing brain tissue (brain mask–WMH mask). Radiomics-based prediction of personalized WMH burden was done using ElasticNet linear regression. We built a radiomic signature of WMH with stable selected features predictive of WMH burden and then related this signature to clinical variables using canonical correlation analysis (CCA).ResultsRadiomic features were predictive of WMH burden (R2 = 0.855 ± 0.011). Seven pairs of canonical variates (CV) significantly correlated the radiomics signature of WMH and clinical traits with respective canonical correlations of 0.81, 0.65, 0.42, 0.24, 0.20, 0.15, and 0.15 (FDR-corrected p-valuesCV1–6 < 0.001, p-valueCV7 = 0.012). The clinical CV1 was mainly influenced by age, CV2 by sex, CV3 by history of smoking and diabetes, CV4 by hypertension, CV5 by atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes, CV6 by coronary artery disease (CAD), and CV7 by CAD and diabetes.ConclusionRadiomics extracted from T2-FLAIR images of AIS patients capture microstructural damage of the cerebral parenchyma and correlate with clinical phenotypes, suggesting different radiographical textural abnormalities per cardiovascular risk profile. Further research could evaluate radiomics to predict the progression of WMH and for the follow-up of stroke patients’ brain health.

Differentiation of face and auricular shape resulting from diabetes and hypertension in the elderly

The prevalence global of noncommunicable chronic diseases as diabetes and hypertension worldwide has been disregarded until recently by policy makers. In addition, these diseases have growing with the aging of the population. This study sought to identify changes in face shape from the frontal and side views in elderly people diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. 205 individuals were studied, with 60 years or more, from both sexes, with different ethnicities, and cognition intact. With a digital camera, photos were taken of the front and side and based on these images landmarks for measurement were determined. For statistical analysis, ANOVA, Canonical Variates Analysis, Mahalanobis distance and Thin-Plate Spline were realized. Given sexual dimorphism, the sexes were analyzed separately. From the ANOVA, significant differences (p<0.01) for individuals with diabetes, hypertension, and patients with both or neither of the diseases were observed. The groups were separated by the Canonical Variates and Mahalanobis distance and independent of edentulism, sex or ethnicity. A morphofacial characteristics for the front and side views (especially in the ear region) that identified individuals with these chronic diseases was observed. This methodology can contribute in a specific manner to the identification of at risk populations and help to promote preventative measures for these conditions.

A Multidimensional Approach to Competitiveness, Innovation and Well-Being in the EU Using Canonical Correlation Analysis

Achieving a competitive economy and a competitive market generally proceeds from the desire to meet economic and social objectives and it ensures a growing level of social welfare. The objectives of our research are to determine and highlight the bidirectional linear correlations among competitiveness, well-being and innovation and to analyze the main factors that influence these relations. Our research includes the EU member states and the UK using these countries’ specific indicators from the databases of EUROSTAT, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations from 2016-2018. We used Canonical Correlation Analysis to determine a set of canonical variates which represent linear combinations of the variables from each set. The contributions of our research show a direct and strong link among the three pillars of competitiveness, innovation and well-being. This analysis allowed us to identify and analyze the influence of innovation on the economic development and competitiveness of each EU country and on the well-being of its population. Governments and organizations that invest more in research in terms of innovation to increase the competitiveness of their products and services have shown a growing GDP and a higher level of population well-being. This research is representative at the European level and may influence the decisions of national governments and other institutions to encourage innovation through drivers such as R&D expenditures and human resources as the main factors generating economic growth and competitiveness, thus with a direct effect on GDP and on well-being.

Size matters: micro-evolution in Polynesian rats highlights body size changes as initial stage in evolution

Microevolutionary patterns in populations of introduced rodent species have often been the focus of analytic studies for their potential relevance to understanding vertebrate evolution. The Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) is an excellent proxy species because of its wide geographic and temporal distribution: its native and introduced combined range spans half the globe and it has been living for at least seven centuries wherever it was introduced. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of long-term isolation (insularity; up to 4,000 years) and geographic variables on skull shape variation using geometric morphometrics. A sample of 513 specimens from 103 islands and four mainland areas was analysed. This study, to my knowledge the first to extensively sample introduced rats, analysed 59 two-dimensional landmarks on the skull. Landmarks were obtained in three separate aspects (dorsal, lateral, ventral skull view). The coordinate data were then subjected to a multivariate ordination analysis (principal components analysis, or PCA), multivariate regressions, and a canonical variates analysis (CVA). Three measures of disparity were evaluated for each view. The results show that introduced Polynesian rats evolve skull shapes that conform to the general mammalian interspecific pattern of cranial evolutionary allometry (CREA), with proportionally longer snouts in larger specimens. In addition, larger skulls are more tubular in shape than the smaller skulls, which are more balloon-shaped with a rounder and wider braincase relative to those of large skulls. This difference is also observed between the sexes (sexual dimorphism), due to the slightly larger average male size. Large, tubular skulls with long snouts are typical for Polynesia and Remote Oceania, where no native mammals occur. The greater disparity of Polynesian rats on mammal species-poor islands (’exulans-only’ region) provides further insight into how diversity may affect diversification through ecological release from predators and competitors.

Path analysis and canonical variables of intervarietal maize hybrids

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the cereal most produced in the world, due to its wide scope and utilization in human and animal diet. This study aims to evaluate the agronomic performance of intervarietal maize hybrids, as well as the linear associations, interrelations of cause and effect, and the genotypes dispersion through canonical variates. The experiment was conducted in the agricultural year of 2014/2015. The crosses that originated the hybrids were carried out on the growing season of 2013/2014 and hybrids evaluated on 2014/2015. The hybrids were arranged in randomized blocks, being 13 treatments with five repetitions. The measured characters were: plant height, spike insertion height, stem diameter, spike diameter, spike length, spike mass, number of rows of grains per spike, number of grains per row, cob diameter, cob mass, spike grains mass, mass of a thousand grains, grain length and grain yield. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and mean values compared by the Tukey test at 5% of probability. The Pearson’s linear correlation analysis and path analysis were performed using grain yield as a dependent character. Furthermore, the analysis of canonical variables was carried out. The hybrid H5: G3 X G4 revealed higher grain yield, spike grains mass, number of grains per row and spike diameter. Grain yield of intervarietal hybrids presented positive correlations with the traits such as stem diameter, spike diameter, spike length, number of grains per row, mass of a thousand grains, grain length and spike grains mass. Spike diameter and spike length presented higher direct effects on grain yield of intervarietal hybrids. The canonical variates revealed the formation of five phenotypically distinct groups of intervarietal hybrids.

Geographical variation in Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris L., 1758) mandibles and the issue of subspecies-level organization: a failure of history?

Sciurus vulgaris is a widespread, highly polytypic tree squirrel species, under which a large number of subspecies have been described. This study tests the robustness of the current subspecific classification by using geometric morphometrics to quantify morphological variation in mandible shape, along with canonical variates analysis to test hypotheses of morphological distinctiveness. Patterns of mandible allometry were examined in eight out of 16 currently recognized subspecies. The significance of the discriminate functions was tested statistically, and the iterative jackknife procedure was applied to evaluate stability of the subspecies-specific discriminant functions. Applying criteria that focus on shape diagnosability, rather than mean group differences, indicates that most regional subspecific groupings show intergradations and continuity in mandible shape and size and that allometric effects on mandible shape are negligible. Evidence of a distinct subspecies confined to the Iberian Peninsula (Sciurus vulgaris infuscatus) and a discrete group originating from an extinct, 19th century population in Dorset, UK were identified based on these mandibular data. All other regional subspecific groupings were not diagnosably different. These results suggest that most red squirrel subspecies might represent non-diagnosable morphological variants whose taxonomic validity seems doubtful. More generally, our results highlight the importance of applying objective, quantitative and reproducible criteria to the issue of subspecies delimitation.

Evaluation of trophic parameters in newly built reservoir using canonical variates analysis

Wielkopolska region has precipitation below country average and water shortage is especially visible during spring and summer, thus regeneration of water bodies play important role in saving of water reserves in rural areas. The newly built water reservoir is located in Nienawiszcz, Rogoźno commune, Poland. The aim of study was to compare experimental sites according to parameters describing water trophy like chlorophyll a, dry mass of seston, total organic carbon, biochemical oxygen demand and according to concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Sites were compared using location in reservoir and year season. In the year 2014 (after connection of both parts of lake) part A and B of reservoir had similar trophic conditions, thus confirming stabilisation of the reservoir as an initial freshwater ecosystem. Water table level was also stable, thus low average water depth was not affected water quality Based on canonical variates analysis it was showed, that changes of nitrates and total nitrogen concentrations strongly affected the variability of experimental objects in comparison to concentrations of nitrites and total phosphorus. In the year 2014, after connection of both parts A and B the reservoir start to stabilise in case of similarity of water quality parameters in surveyed sites.