Bacteria classification using Cyranose 320 electronic nose

Background An electronic nose (e-nose), the Cyrano Sciences' Cyranose 320, comprising an array of thirty-two polymer carbon black composite sensors has been used to identify six species of bacteria responsible for eye infections when present at a range of concentrations in saline solutions. Readings were taken from the headspace of the samples by manually introducing the portable e-nose system into a sterile glass containing a fixed volume of bacteria in suspension. Gathered data were a very complex mixture of different chemical compounds. Method Linear Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method was able to classify four classes of bacteria out of six classes though in reality other two classes were not better evident from PCA analysis and we got 74% classification accuracy from PCA. An innovative data clustering approach was investigated for these bacteria data by combining the 3-dimensional scatter plot, Fuzzy C Means (FCM) and Self Organizing Map (SOM) network. Using these three data clustering algorithms simultaneously better 'classification' of six eye bacteria classes were represented. Then three supervised classifiers, namely Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP), Probabilistic Neural network (PNN) and Radial basis function network (RBF), were used to classify the six bacteria classes. Results A [6 × 1] SOM network gave 96% accuracy for bacteria classification which was best accuracy. A comparative evaluation of the classifiers was conducted for this application. The best results suggest that we are able to predict six classes of bacteria with up to 98% accuracy with the application of the RBF network. Conclusion This type of bacteria data analysis and feature extraction is very difficult. But we can conclude that this combined use of three nonlinear methods can solve the feature extraction problem with very complex data and enhance the performance of Cyranose 320

The emergence of a multiscalar growth regime and scalar tension: the politics of urban development in Songdo New City, South Korea

This study approaches the politics of urban development from within the framework of the emergence of a new multiscalar growth regime and the path dependence of the Korean developmental state. Through a case study of the Songdo New City development in South Korea, this study looks at how the scalar division of labor among various actors has interacted with the emergence of a multiscalar growth regime. We focus on the logic by which different scales of governmental and nongovernmental actors cooperate and, at the same time, compete with one another for authority over economic development. Our findings demonstrate, first, that the new regime resulted from the emergence of downward state rescaling to the local scale and of private business as a key actor. Second, the regime actors have been involved in scalar tensions and have constantly negotiated the scalar divisions of labor among them. This research provides a contextualized example of a spatiotemporal logic in which statehood has been transformed into a network

Momentum and market correlation

This paper proposes that an important source of momentum profits is market information associated with correlation to general market movements. Empirical tests for U.S. stocks in the sample period 1965 to 2013 indicate that most momentum profits can be attributed to the correlation of big- and medium-capitalization stocks with the CRSP market index. Further results show that small loser stocks have low correlation to the market and post-formation return reversal, small losers can be added to long winner portfolios to enhance profits, and momentum crashes can be reduced by suspending portfolio formation in bear markets. We conclude that momentum profits are related to market information and therefore not entirely anomalous as commonly believed

Nanocluster-Based Ultralow-Temperature Driven Oxide Gate Dielectrics for High-Performance Organic Electronic Devices.

The development of novel dielectric materials with reliable dielectric properties and low-temperature processibility is crucial to manufacturing flexible and high-performance organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) for next-generation roll-to-roll organic electronics. Here, we investigate the solution-based fabrication of high-k aluminum oxide (Al2O3) thin films for high-performance OTFTs. Nanocluster-based Al2O3 films fabricated by highly energetic photochemical activation, which allows low-temperature processing, are compared to the conventional nitrate-based Al2O3 films. A wide array of spectroscopic and surface analyses show that ultralow-temperature photochemical activation (6 MV/cm). Using this dielectric layer, precisely aligned microrod-shaped 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno [3,2-b][1] benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) single-crystal OTFTs were fabricated via solvent vapor annealing and photochemical patterning of the sacrificial layer

Consecutive treatment with phytase and arazyme influence protein hydrolysis of soybean meal

Soybean meal (SBM) is the main protein supplement used in animal feed worldwide. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) of SBM treated with two enzymes viz. phytase and arazyme was investigated for the first time in this study. The DH of SBM in the treatment with arazyme increased significantly as compared to the control without enzyme application. About 1.5-times and 10-fold higher DH were observed in phytase treatment when compared to the control treatments containing no enzyme. At the end of 24 h, enzymatic hydrolysis was done through consecutive treatment with 0.5% (w/v) phytase and 0.02% (w/v) arazyme, and the protein in the hydrolysate were mostly degraded free amino acids and peptides (<6 KDa) when SDS-PAGE and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) techniques used. Free amino acids contents of the soybean meal treated with phytase-arazyme increased by 2 to 14 fold as compared to products without enzyme. These results suggested that soybean meal proteins continuously treated with phytase and arazyme can be used as commercial feed additive for accelerated livestock growth.Key words: Soybean meal, phytase, arazyme, hydrolysis

Molecular detection of Edwardsiella tarda with gyrB gene isolated from pirarucu, Arapaima gigas which is exhibited in an indoor private commercial aquarium

The pirarucu, Arapaima gigas, which was displayed in commercial aquarium was found dead and was submitted for diagnostic examination. Bacteria from different organs of the fish were characterized using Vitek System®2 and showed 98% probability to Edwardsiella tarda. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) result showed positive for E. tarda gyrB gene. The 16S rRNA gene was identical and exhibited 99% sequence similarity with the other known isolates of E. tarda available in the GenBank. This paper reports the isolation and detection of E. tarda with the gyrB gene in pirarucu, A. gigas, which was exhibited in an indoor private commercial aquarium in Seoul, South Korea.Key words: Arapaima gigas, commercial aquarium, Edwardsiella tarda, gyrB gene, pirarucu

Self-Aligned Top-Gate Metal-Oxide Thin-Film Transistors Using a Solution-Processed Polymer Gate Dielectric.

For high-speed and large-area active-matrix displays, metal-oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) with high field-effect mobility, stability, and good uniformity are essential. Moreover, reducing the RC delay is also important to achieve high-speed operation, which is induced by the parasitic capacitance formed between the source/drain (S/D) and the gate electrodes. From this perspective, self-aligned top-gate oxide TFTs can provide advantages such as a low parasitic capacitance for high-speed displays due to minimized overlap between the S/D and the gate electrodes. Here, we demonstrate self-aligned top-gate oxide TFTs using a solution-processed indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) channel and crosslinked poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) gate dielectric layers. By applying a selective Ar plasma treatment on the IGZO channel, low-resistance IGZO regions could be formed, having a sheet resistance value of ~20.6 kΩ/sq., which can act as the homojunction S/D contacts in the top-gate IGZO TFTs. The fabricated self-aligned top-gate IGZO TFTs exhibited a field-effect mobility of 3.93 cm2/Vs and on/off ratio of ~106, which are comparable to those fabricated using a bottom-gate structure. Furthermore, we also demonstrated self-aligned top-gate TFTs using electrospun indium-gallium-oxide (IGO) nanowires (NWs) as a channel layer. The IGO NW TFTs exhibited a field-effect mobility of 0.03 cm2/Vs and an on/off ratio of >105. The results demonstrate that the Ar plasma treatment for S/D contact formation and the solution-processed PVP gate dielectric can be implemented in realizing self-aligned top-gate oxide TFTs

Effect of storage media and time on fin explants culture in the goldfish, Carassius auratus

The effect of storage media and time was investigated on fin explants culture in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). Fin explants under sterile conditions were able to produce cells at different storage media and time. On the outgrowth of cells, fin explants stored for seven days before culturing showed significantly higher growth (P<0.05) as observed on the fin explants stored in Dulbecco’s modified Eagles medium (DMEM, 84.44%), phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 62.42%) and in control/fresh fin explants (100%), compared with the explants with no storage medium (25.56%) at day three of culture. From day seven to 14, all caudal fin explants exhibited a 100% outgrowth of cells regardless of treatment. However, caudal fin explants kept for 10 days in 4°C showed a significant difference (P<0.05) from fin explants stored in DMEM (96.67%), PBS (75.57%) and the control (100%), as compared with no storage medium (no growth) on day three. Moreover, only 6.67% of no storage medium group could maintain outgrowth of cells, while other treatment group reached 100% of outgrowth after 14 days of culture.Key words: Carassius auratus, fin explants, goldfish, storage

Low penetrance of retinoblastoma for p.V654L mutation of the RB1 gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Retinoblastoma is caused by compound heterozygosity or homozygosity of retinoblastoma gene (<it>RB1</it>) mutations. In germline retinoblastoma, mutations in the <it>RB1 </it>gene predispose individuals to increased cancer risks during development. These mutations segregate as autosomal dominant traits with high penetrance (90%).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We screened 30 family members from one family using high resolution melting assay and DNA direct sequencing for mutations in the <it>RB1 </it>gene. We evaluate the phenotype and penetrance of germline mutations of the <it>RB1 </it>gene in a large Taiwanese family.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The molecular analysis and clinical details of this family showed phenotypic variability associated with the p.V654L mutation in exon 19 of the <it>RB1 </it>gene in 11 family members. The phenotype varied from asymptomatic to presence of a unilateral tumor. Only four individuals (2 males and 2 females) developed unilateral retinoblastoma, which resulted in calculated low penetrance of 36% (4/11). The four individuals with retinoblastoma were diagnosed before the age of three years. None of their relatives exhibited variable severity or bilateral retinoblastoma.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The diseased-eye ratio for this family was 0.36, which is lower than current estimates. This suggests that the <it>RB1 </it>p.V654L mutation is a typical mutation associated with low penetrance.</p

Static analysis-based approaches for secure software development

Software security is a matter of major concern for software development enterprises that wish to deliver highly secure software products to their customers. Static analysis is considered one of the most effective mechanisms for adding security to software products. The multitude of static analysis tools that are available provide a large number of raw results that may contain security-relevant information, which may be useful for the production of secure software. Several mechanisms that can facilitate the production of both secure and reliable software applications have been proposed over the years. In this paper, two such mechanisms, particularly the vulnerability prediction models (VPMs) and the optimum checkpoint recommendation (OCR) mechanisms, are theoretically examined, while their potential improvement by using static analysis is also investigated. In particular, we review the most significant contributions regarding these mechanisms, identify their most important open issues, and propose directions for future research, emphasizing on the potential adoption of static analysis for addressing the identified open issues. Hence, this paper can act as a reference for researchers that wish to contribute in these subfields, in order to gain solid understanding of the existing solutions and their open issues that require further research