Intraclass and interclass ambiguities (fuzziness) in feature evaluation

The terms Index of fuzziness, Entropy and π-ness which give measures of fuzziness (ambiguity) in a set are used here to define an Index of Feature Evaluation in pattern recognition problems in terms of intraclass and interclass ambiguity. The index is seen to possess a lower value for the feature having more importance in characterising a class. The algorithm has been implemented on a speech recognition problem.     

Stability analysis of externally-pressurized gas-lubricated porous bearings with journal rotation Part 1. Cylindrical whirl

Whirl stability (cylindrical) of externally-pressurized gas-lubricated porous journal bearings, considering one-dimensional flow through the porous matrix, is analysed by a first-order perturbation method. The effect of supply pressure, feeding parameter, porosity parameter and length-to-diameter ratio on the stability is also investigated.     

Single crystal modelling of the SMSI phenomenon: Structure,composition, electronic effects and CO chemisorption at the Ru(0001)/TiOx interface

LEED, CO chemisorption, Auger and XP spectroscopy have been used to investigate the growth morphology, structure, kinetic behaviour and chemical properties of TiO _x films on Ru(0001) as a function of oxide loading and temperature. The system exhibits a number of interesting properties which are of direct relevance to the SMSI phenomenon; these properties are critically dependent on the method of preparation.     

Molecular mechanism of alkene epoxidation: A model study with 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene on Ag(111)

On chlorine-promoted Ag(111) oxygen adatoms selectively oxidise 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene (DMB) to the corresponding epoxide with very high selectivity providing direct verification of the mechanism advanced earlier for alkene epoxidation over single crystal silver and silver catalysts.     

Catalytic efficiencies of allelic variants of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 toward carcinogenic anti-diol epoxides of benzo[c]phenanthrene and benzo[g]chrysene

Four allelic variants of glutathione (GSH) S-transferase P1-1 (hGSTP1-1) that differ in their structures at amino acid(s) in position(s) 104 and/or 113 are known to exist in human populations. However, the physiological significance of hGSTP1-1 polymorphism is not fully understood. In this communication, we report that the I104,A113 allele of hGSTP1-1, which is most frequent in human populations, is also most efficient in the GSH conjugation of carcinogenic anti-diol epoxides of benzo[g]chrysene and benzo[c]phenanthrene (anti-BGCDE and anti-BCPDE, respectively). The catalytic efficiency of hGSTP1-1(I104,A113) isoform toward anti-BGCDE, 0.36 mM(-1) x s(-1), was approximately 1.7-fold higher (P < 0.05) compared with hGSTP1-1(V104,V113). Interestingly, the frequency of codon 104-valine alleles is significantly higher in certain cancers compared with codon 104-isoleucine alleles. Like anti-BGCDE, the catalytic efficiency of hGSTP1-1(I104,A113) isoform toward anti-BCPDE was higher by about 1.4- to 2.2-fold (P < 0.05) than those of other hGSTP1-1 variants. These observations are interesting because we have shown previously (Hu, X. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 238: 397-402, 1997) that the V104,V113 variant, not the I104,A113 isoform, is most efficient in the GSH conjugation of bay-region anti-diol epoxide of benzo(a)pyrene (anti-BPDE), which, unlike anti-BGCDE or anti-BCPDE, is a planar molecule. In conclusion, our results suggest that hGSTP1-1 polymorphism may be an important factor in differential susceptibility of humans to cancers where polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are etiological factors and that I104,A113 variant may play a major role in the detoxification of nonplanar, sterically hindered fjord-region diol epoxides (e.g., anti-BGCDE).     

Genetic implications of double primary cancers of the colorectum and endometrium

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant condition predisposing to cancers of the colorectum and endometrium. Endometrial cancer is the most commonly occurring extracolonic cancer in HNPCC. Estimates of the cumulative incidence of endometrial cancer in women with mutations in the HNPCC genes range from 22-43%. In order to determine how frequently double primary cancers of the colorectum and endometrium are the result of a hereditary factor, we conducted a registry based study in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. We obtained pedigrees on 80 women diagnosed with double primary cancers of the colorectum and endometrium at less than 70 years of age. Family histories of cancer were obtained for all first degree relatives of these women and cancer rates were compared with age standardised provincial incidence rates in order to estimate the relative risks. There was a total of 82 cancers observed in relatives below the age of 55, compared with 31.2 expected, giving a relative risk of 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1-3.3). The relative risk for colorectal cancer below 55 was 16.1 (95% CI 11.6-21.8). This risk decreased with increasing age of onset of cancers in probands. For probands with both colorectal and endometrial cancer diagnosed under the age of 55, the relative risk of colorectal cancer in relatives below the age of 55 was 30.5 (95% CI 18.8-46.6). Similar patterns were observed for endometrial and pancreatic cancer. There were non-significant increases in rates of cancer of the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and bladder. There was no increased risk of breast cancer. The risk of lung cancer was decreased, especially in older relatives. Our findings indicate the presence of a significant genetic component of cancer in women with double primary cancers of the colorectum and endometrium.     

Stable reduced-order Padé approximants using the Routh-Hurwitz array

A mixed method is proposed for finding stable reduced-order models using the Padé approximation technique and the Routh-Hurwitz array. This method guarantees stability of the reduced model when the original system is stable.