Analysis of pattern recognition and dimensionality reduction techniques for odor biometrics

In this paper, we analyze the performance of several well-known pattern recognition and dimensionality reduction techniques when applied to mass-spectrometry data for odor biometric identification. Motivated by the successful results of previous works capturing the odor from other parts of the body, this work attempts to evaluate the feasibility of identifying people by the odor emanated from the hands. By formulating this task according to a machine learning scheme, the problem is identified with a small-sample-size supervised classification problem in which the input data is formed by mass spectrograms from the hand odor of 13 subjects captured in different sessions. The high dimensionality of the data makes it necessary to apply feature selection and extraction techniques together with a simple classifier in order to improve the generalization capabilities of the model. Our experimental results achieve recognition rates over 85% which reveals that there exists discriminatory information in the hand odor and points at body odor as a promising biometric identifier.

Proteomic definition of normal human luminal and myoepithelial breast cells purified from reduction mammoplasties

Normal human luminal and myoepithelial breast cells separately purified from a set of 10 reduction mammoplasties by using a double antibody magnetic affinity cell sorting and Dynabead immunomagnetic technique were used in two-dimensional gel proteome studies. A total of 43,302 proteins were detected across the 20 samples, and a master image for each cell type comprising a total of 1,738 unique proteins was derived. Differential analysis identified 170 proteins that were elevated 2-fold or more between the two breast cell types, and 51 of these were annotated by tandem mass spectrometry. Muscle-specific enzyme isoforms and contractile intermediate filaments including tropomyosin and smooth muscle (SM22) alpha protein were detected in the myoepithelial cells, and a large number of cytokeratin subclasses and isoforms characteristic of luminal cells were detected in this cell type. A further 134 nondifferentially regulated proteins were also annotated from the two breast cell types, making this the most extensive study to date of the protein expression map of the normal human breast and the basis for future studies of purified breast cancer cells.

Automated de novo sequencing of proteins by tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry

A de novo sequencing program for proteins is described that uses tandem MS data from electron capture dissociation and collisionally activated dissociation of electrosprayed protein ions. Computer automation is used to convert the fragment ion mass values derived from these spectra into the most probable protein sequence, without distinguishing Leu/Ile. Minimum human input is necessary for the data reduction and interpretation. No extra chemistry is necessary to distinguish N- and C-terminal fragments in the mass spectra, as this is determined from the electron capture dissociation data. With parts-per-million mass accuracy (now available by using higher field Fourier transform MS instruments), the complete sequences of ubiquitin (8.6 kDa) and melittin (2.8 kDa) were predicted correctly by the program. The data available also provided 91% of the cytochrome c (12.4 kDa) sequence (essentially complete except for the tandem MS-resistant region K13–V20 that contains the cyclic heme). Uncorrected mass values from a 6-T instrument still gave 86% of the sequence for ubiquitin, except for distinguishing Gln/Lys. Extensive sequencing of larger proteins should be possible by applying the algorithm to pieces of ≈10-kDa size, such as products of limited proteolysis.

Cloning the expression of a mammalian gene involved in the reduction of methionine sulfoxide residues in proteins.

An enzyme that reduces methionine sulfoxide [Met(O)] residues in proteins [peptide Met(O) reductase (MsrA), EC 1.8.4.6; originally identified in Escherichia coli] was purified from bovine liver, and the cDNA encoding this enzyme was cloned and sequenced. The mammalian homologue of E. coli msrA (also called pmsR) cDNA encodes a protein of 255 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 25,846 Da. This protein has 61% identity with the E. coli MsrA throughout a region encompassing a 199-amino acid overlap. The protein has been overexpressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. The mammalian recombinant MsrA can use as substrate, proteins containing Met(O) as well as other organic compounds that contain an alkyl sulfoxide group such as N-acetylMet(O), Met(O), and dimethyl sulfoxide. Northern analysis of rat tissue extracts showed that rat msrA mRNA is present in a variety of organs with the highest level found in kidney. This is consistent with the observation that kidney extracts also contained the highest level of enzyme activity.

Australian water mass variations from GRACE data linked to Indo-Pacific climate variability

Time-variable gravity data from the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission are used to study total water content over Australia for the period 2002–2010. A time-varying annual signal explains 61% of the variance of the data, in good agreement with two independent estimates of the same quantity from hydrological models. Water mass content variations across Australia are linked to Pacific and Indian Ocean variability, associated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), respectively. From 1989, positive (negative) IOD phases were related to anomalously low (high) precipitation in southeastern Australia, associated with a reduced (enhanced) tropical moisture flux. In particular, the sustained water mass content reduction over central and southern regions of Australia during the period 2006–2008 is associated with three consecutive positive IOD events.

Eolian mass-accumulation rates and grain size at DSDP Sites 86-576 and 86-578

The mass-accumulation rate and grain size of the total eolian component of North Pacific pelagic clays at Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites 576 and 578 have been used to evaluate changes in eolian sedimentation and the intensity of atmospheric circulation that have occurred during the past 70 m.y. Eolian deposition, an indicator of source area aridity, was low in the Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene, apparently reflecting the humid environments of that time as well as the lack of glacial erosion products. A general increase in eoiian accumulation in the Miocene apparently reflects the relative increase in global aridity during the latter part of the Cenozoic. A dramatic increase in eolian accumulation rates in the Pliocene reflects the increased aridity and availability of glacial erosion products associated with Northern Hemisphere glaciation 2.5 m.y. ago. Eolian grain size, an indicator of wind intensity, suggests that Late Cretaceous wind strength was comparable to present-day wind strength. A sharp decrease in eolian grain size across the Paleocene/Eocene boundary is not readily interpreted, but may indicate a significant reduction in the intensity of atmospheric circulation at that time. Fine eolian grain size and low accumulation rates in the Eocene and early Oligocene are in agreement with low early Tertiary thermal gradients and less vigorous atmospheric circulation. Large increases in grain size during the Oligocene, mid-to-late Miocene, and Pliocene appear to be a response to steepening thermal gradients resulting from increasing polar isolation.

Near term weight reduction potential in a 1977 General Motors B body vehicle. Final report.

Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Weight reduction potential of automobiles and light truck. 1980 summary source document. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

Light duty truck weight reduction evaluation. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

Potential means of cost reduction in grade crossing automatic gate systems. Volume I: overview and low cost railroad/highway grade crossing gate systems. Final report.

Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Potential means of cost reduction in grade crossing automatic gate systems. Volume II: improved gate arm concepts for railroad/highway grade crossings. Final report.

Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Workshop on Methodology for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Transit Crime Reduction Measures in Automated Guideway Transit Systems. Proceedings. Final report.

Urban Mass Transportation Administration, Washington, D.C.

Truck noise XI. Evaluation and reduction of heavy-duty truck noise. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of Noise Abatement, Washington, D.C.