Name-picture verification as a control measure for object naming: a task analysis and norms for a large set of pictures.

The name-picture verification task is widely used in spoken production studies to control for nonlexical differences between picture sets. In this task a word is presented first and followed, after a pause, by a picture. Participants must then make a speeded decision on whether both word and picture refer to the same object.

High speed hybrid silicon evanescent Mach-Zehnder modulator and switch.

We demonstrate the first high speed silicon evanescent Mach Zehnder modulator and switch. The modulator utilizes carrier depletion within AlGaInAs quantum wells to obtain V(pi) L of 2 V-mm and clear open eye at 10 Gb/s. The switch exhibits a power penalty of 0.

Evolutionary fate of rhizome-specific genes in a non-rhizomatous Sorghum genotype.

What is the fate of organ-specific genes after the organ is lost? For Sorghum propinquum and Sorghum halepense genes that were previously shown to have rhizome-enriched expression, we have conducted comparative analysis of both coding regions and regulatory sequences in Sorghum bicolor (non-rhizomatousness) and S. propinquum (rhizomatousness). Most genes with rhizome-enriched expression appear to have similar numbers of paralogous copies in both genotypes, with only three of 24 genes studied showing significant differences in copy numbers.

Seasonal distribution of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Chesapeake Bay oysters and waters.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the seasonal distribution of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the Chesapeake Bay oysters and waters, and to determine the degree of association between V. parahaemolyticus densities and selected environmental parameters. Oyster and water samples were collected monthly from three sites in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland from November 2004 through October 2005.

Finding and comparing syntenic regions among Arabidopsis and the outgroups papaya, poplar, and grape: CoGe with rosids.

In addition to the genomes of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and poplar (Populus trichocarpa), two near-complete rosid genome sequences, grape (Vitis vinifera) and papaya (Carica papaya), have been recently released. The phylogenetic relationship among these four genomes and the placement of their three independent, fractionated tetraploidies sum to a powerful comparative genomic system. CoGe, a platform of multiple whole or near-complete genome sequences, provides an integrative Web-based system to find and align syntenic chromosomal regions and visualize the output in an intuitive and interactive manner.

Genetic and Biological Diversity of Trichoderma stromaticum, a Mycoparasite of the Cacao Witches'-Broom Pathogen.

ABSTRACT The witches'-broom disease, caused by the basidiomycete Crinipellis perniciosa, is the most limiting factor for cacao cultivation in Brazil. Trichoderma stromaticum is a mycoparasite of the witches'-broom pathogen of cacao that is currently being applied in the field to manage the disease in Bahia State, Brazil. In this work, molecular and traditional methods were used to study the genetic and biological diversity of this mycoparasite.

Genetic and Morphological Diversity of Temperate and Tropical Isolates of Phytophthora capsici.

ABSTRACT Phytophthora capsici is a diverse species causing disease on a broad range of both temperate and tropical plants. In this study, we used cultural characteristics, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and DNA sequence analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II (cox II) genes to characterize temperate and tropical isolates from a wide range of host species. All but one temperate isolate grew at 35 degrees C, while all tropical isolates did not.

The microbial and quality properties of poultry carcasses treated with peracetic acid as an antimicrobial treatment.

Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. continue to be prominent food safety concerns for the poultry industry and consumers alike.

Unraveling ancient hexaploidy through multiply-aligned angiosperm gene maps.

Large-scale (segmental or whole) genome duplication has been recurring in angiosperm evolution. Subsequent gene loss and rearrangements further affect gene copy numbers and fractionate ancestral gene linkages across multiple chromosomes. The fragmented "multiple-to-multiple" correspondences resulting from this distinguishing feature of angiosperm evolution complicates comparative genomic studies.

Diagnostic accuracy of Doppler echocardiography for determining left ventricular diastolic pressure elevation: prospective comparison to chest radiography, serum B-type natriuretic peptide, and chest auscultation.

Background: Doppler echocardiography (DE), chest radiography (CXR), serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement and physical examination are all commonly employed to estimate left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP) in clinical care. There are no published studies directly comparing the diagnostic accuracy of these tests.

Methods And Results: DE, BNP, CXR, and physical examination were performed on 56 consecutive patients immediately following clinically indicated cardiac catheterization with measurement of LVDP.

Integration of hybrid silicon lasers and electroabsorption modulators.

We present an integration platform based on quantum well intermixing for multi-section hybrid silicon lasers and electroabsorption modulators. As a demonstration of the technology, we have fabricated discrete sampled grating DBR lasers and sampled grating DBR lasers integrated with InGaAsP/InP electroabsorption modulators. The integrated sampled grating DBR laser-modulators use the as-grown III-V bandgap for optical gain, a 50 nm blue shifted bandgap for the electrabosprtion modulators, and an 80 nm blue shifted bandgap for low loss mirrors.

An integrated recirculating optical buffer.

This paper reports an integrated optical buffer consisting of a low loss silicon waveguide delay line and a silicon evanescent gate matrix switch. The integrated device demonstrates an error free operation at 40 Gb/s data rate with a packet delay of 1.1 ns.

Acetylcholine receptor expression in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Neurocrest-derived tissues express muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR and nAChR respectively). These receptors are critical for migration of neurocrest-derived cells to their corresponding tissues during development. Recent reports demonstrate neurocrest-derived melanoma and numerous non-Merkel cell neuroendocrine tumors express both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.

Validating the efficacy of peracetic acid mixture as an antimicrobial in poultry chillers.

Peracetic acid mixture (PAHP), which is a combination of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, has been approved as an antimicrobial for use in poultry chillers. To validate its effectiveness, 85 ppm of PAHP was compared with the 30-ppm chlorine treatment in a commercial setting. In this trial, 100 carcasses were sampled for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp.

High speed hybrid silicon evanescent electroabsorption modulator.

A new way to make high speed modulators using Si waveguides is demonstrated. The hybrid silicon evanescent electroabsorption modulator with offset AlGaInAs quantum wells has an extinction ratio over 10 dB and modulation bandwidth of 10 GHz. The modulator has a clean open eye at 10 Gb/s with sub-volt drive.

Epitaxially-grown Ge/Si avalanche photodiodes for 1.3 microm light detection.

We designed and fabricated Ge/Si avalanche photodiodes grown on silicon substrates. The mesa-type photodiodes exhibit a responsivity at 1310 nm of 0.54 A/W, a breakdown voltage thermal coefficient of 0.

SOA gate array recirculating buffer with fiber delay loop.

We present a compact variable delay buffer for storage of 40 byte packets. The recirculating buffer is based on an InP SOA gate array two-by-two switch which provides greater than 40 dB of extinction, sub-nanosecond switching, and fiber-to-fiber gain. The switch is used with a fiber delay loop 450 centimeters, or 23 ns, in length.

A distributed feedback silicon evanescent laser.

We report an electrically pumped distributed feedback silicon evanescent laser. The laser operates continuous wave with a single mode output at 1600 nm. The laser threshold is 25 mA with a maximum output power of 5.

A racetrack mode-locked silicon evanescent laser.

By utilizing a racetrack resonator topography, an on-chip mode locked silicon evanescent laser (ML-SEL) is realized that is independent of facet polishing. This enables integration with other devices on silicon and precise control of the ML-SEL's repetition rate through lithographic definition of the cavity length. Both passive and hybrid mode-locking have been achieved with transform limited, 7 ps pulses emitted at a repetition rate of 30 GHz.

Combination of negative pressure wound therapy and acoustic pressure wound therapy for treatment of infected surgical wounds: a case series.

The optimal wound therapy for healing infected wounds post surgery or surgical debridement has not been established. Negative pressure wound therapy and acoustic pressure wound therapy are advanced wound-healing modalities that apply forms of mechanical pressure to wound tissue in an effort to promote healing by stimulating cellular proliferation. Using a combination of negative pressure wound therapy and acoustic pressure wound therapy was evaluated in a series of six patients with large, infected surgical wounds presenting with moderate to large amounts of serosanguineous drainage.

Synteny and collinearity in plant genomes.

Correlated gene arrangements among taxa provide a valuable framework for inference of shared ancestry of genes and for the utilization of findings from model organisms to study less-well-understood systems. In angiosperms, comparisons of gene arrangements are complicated by recurring polyploidy and extensive genome rearrangement. New genome sequences and improved analytical approaches are clarifying angiosperm evolution and revealing patterns of differential gene loss after genome duplication and differential gene retention associated with evolution of some morphological complexity.

The draft genome of the transgenic tropical fruit tree papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus).

Papaya, a fruit crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, is known for its nutritional benefits and medicinal applications. Here we report a 3x draft genome sequence of 'SunUp' papaya, the first commercial virus-resistant transgenic fruit tree to be sequenced. The papaya genome is three times the size of the Arabidopsis genome, but contains fewer genes, including significantly fewer disease-resistance gene analogues.

Single-molecule DNA sequencing of a viral genome.

The full promise of human genomics will be realized only when the genomes of thousands of individuals can be sequenced for comparative analysis. A reference sequence enables the use of short read length. We report an amplification-free method for determining the nucleotide sequence of more than 280,000 individual DNA molecules simultaneously.