A time-domain test for some types of nonlinearity

The bispectrum and third-order moment can be viewed as equivalent tools for testing for the presence of nonlinearity in stationary time series. This is because the bispectrum is the Fourier transform of the third-order moment. An advantage of the bispectrum is that its estimator comprises terms that are asymptotically independent at distinct bifrequencies under the hypothesis of linearity. An advantage of the third-order moment is that its values in any subset of joint lags can be used in the test, whereas when using the bispectrum the entire (or truncated) third-order moment is required to construct the Fourier transform. We propose a test for nonlinearity based upon the estimated third-order moment. We use the phase scrambling bootstrap method to give a nonparametric estimate of the variance of our test statistic under the hypothesis. Using a simulation study, we demonstrate that the test obtains its target significance level, with large power, when compared to an existing standard parametric test that uses the bispectrum. Further we show how the proposed test can be used to identify the source of nonlinearity due to interactions at specific frequencies. We also investigate implications for heuristic diagnosis of nonstationarity.     

Interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme mediates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in malignant glioma cells

Increasing the susceptibility of tumor cells to apoptotic cell death following chemotherapy is of importance to the outcome of cancer treatment. Although the tumor suppressor gene p53 is required for efficient induction of apoptosis by chemotherapeutic agents, it is not the only apoptosis mediator gene. The molecular mechanisms mediating apoptosis following chemotherapy via p53-dependent or p53-independent pathways remain unclear. We show here that cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cisplatin) induces the expression of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE), a mammalian homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene ced-3, in murine and human malignant glioma cells during apoptosis regardless of their p53 status. Furthermore, overexpression of the murine ICE gene induces apoptosis in these tumor cells. The apoptosis induced by cisplatin treatment or murine ICE overexpression can be suppressed by the tetrapeptide ICE inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK or the apoptosis inhibitors bcl-2 or bcl-2-related bcl-XL gene. These findings suggest that ICE may mediate apoptosis induced by chemotherapy, and its induction could represent a novel approach for the effective treatment of malignant glioma.     

A Customized Radiation Sensor for Ionization Collection

The measurement of absorbed doses is fundamental to radiation biology and oncology. A customized parallel plate radiation sensor was designed and fabricated as a precursor to investigating novel materials, such as carbon nanotubes, as a substitute for conventional metallic conducting plates or active volume medium. This sensor contains two thick and large-area electrodes that provide the sensor with a good signal-to-noise ratio. The 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams produced by a Varian Clinac 21 EX medical linear accelerator were used in the experiments. The linear accelerator was calibrated such that 1 monitor unit (MU) produces 1 cGy of dose in water with depth of 5 cm for a calibration geometry of source-to-axis distance equal to 100 cm and 10times10 cm² field size at the point of measurement. Ionization measurements were performed by varying the bias voltages, electrode separations, exposures, and angles of the incident beam to characterize the sensor. Signal saturation characteristics of the sensor with different electrode separations and exposures were investigated. This sensor displayed excellent linear response to exposure up to 600 MU. An analytical modeling using the pencil beam model and simulations based on device configuration were given to explain the results. In oblique incident beam experiments, the prototype sensor showed an accurate response compared to simulation results for a small field size of 1times1 cm². The sensor was tested to be suitable in the study of ionization collection efficiencies for different materials     

Electrodeposited polytyramine as an immobilisation matrix for enzyme biosensors

The application of an electrodeposited polytyramine film as an immobilisation matrix for the construction of enzyme biosensors is described. Glucose oxidase (used as a model enzyme) is covalently attached to free amine groups on the polytyramine film using the coupling reagents 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide. The resultant recognition interface consisted of multilayers of GOx immobilised onto the polymer surface. This method of constructing enzyme biosensors is shown to produce a highly reproducible and stable device. The biosensor showed no loss in electrode response after four months of dry storage and exhibited only minor loss in response after 20 days of repeated use. The resultant biosensor had a linear range of 0.1-28 mM glucose and a detection limit of 0.01 mM.     

Can cirrus clouds produce glories?

A vague glory display was photographed over central Utah from an airplane beginning its descent through a cirrus cloud layer with an estimated cloud top temperature of -45 and -55 degrees C. Photographic analysis reveals a single reddish-brown ring of 2.5-3.0 degrees radius around the antisolar point, although a second ring appeared visually to have been present over the brief observation period. Mie and approximate nonspherical theory scattering simulations predict a population of particles with modal diameters between 9 and 15 mum. Although it is concluded that multiple-ringed glories can be accounted for only through the backscattering of light from particles that are strictly spherical in shape, the poor glory colorization in this case could imply the presence of slightly aspherical ice particles. The location of this display over mountainous terrain suggests that it was generated by an orographic wave cloud, which we speculate produced numerous frozen cloud droplets that only gradually took on crystalline characteristics during growth.     

Full-body interface pressure testing as a method for performance evaluation of clinical support surfaces

A method for evaluating the performance of clinical support surfaces is required by designers in their efforts to produce better clinical support surfaces that will reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. In this study, a Pressure Index (P_index) is defined which is derived from an analytical equation used to evaluate the average interface pressure, the peak pressure, the magnitude of the peak pressure, and the number of peak pressures on the entire body. The type of subjects needed to represent a population of users as well as the head of bed elevations necessary to simulate clinical applications were integrated with the P_index to create a single-value mean pressure index which can be used to evaluate any type of surface. To determine the accuracy and repeatability of the mean pressure index, three surfaces (a standard hospital innerspring, a replacement foam mattress, and a low-airloss surface) were tested and evaluated using this method. The low airloss performed the best and the standard innerspring clearly performed the worst (p < 0.0001). The method appeared to accurately and reproducibly predict the relative performance of the three surfaces in reducing pressure.     

Inducing affect about self or other: Effects on generosity in children.

85 7–12 yr olds were asked to discuss happy, sad, or affectively neutral incidents that had been experienced either by themselves or by another child. Following the inducement of affect, the Ss were given the opportunity to share their experimental earnings with some less fortunate children. As predicted, a significant interaction of the discussion topic (self/other) and affect was found. Ss relating sad experiences encountered by another individual shared significantly more than those describing sad incidents that they had experienced. Although older Ss were more generous than the younger Ss in sharing their experimental earnings, age did not interact with the other experimental variables. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On‐line learning: A quality experience

The paper outlines the strategy being developed for the growth of electronic books within the UK academic community and provides a broad analysis of the e‐book industry and critical factors. The role of the JISC E‐Books Working Group is described and an overview given of its programme of activities.