Human visual system (HVS) models have been used in digital watermarking to minimize the visual effects of the watermark while increasing the strength of watermark. Such work has been applied to different watermarking schemes with varying degrees of success. Previous work at Digimarc resulted in a HVS model that inserts a high watermark signal in busy or high contrast areas, while reducing the w...

The harmonic generation process in a harmonic cascade (HC) FEL is subject to noise degradation which is proportional to the square of the total harmonic order. In this paper, we study the shot noise evolution in the first-stage modulator and radiator of a HC FEL that produces the dominant noise contributions. We derive the effective input noise for a modulator operating in the low-gain regime, ...

Dominant gain-of-function mutations that hyperpolarize activation of the Na(v)1.7 sodium channel have been linked to inherited erythromelalgia (IEM), a disorder characterized by severe pain and redness in the feet and hands in response to mild warmth. Pharmacotherapy remains largely ineffective for IEM patients with cooling and avoidance of triggers being the most reliable methods to relieve pa...

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in the control of the stress response and the regulation of plant growth and development. ABA binding to PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1 (PYR1)/PYR1-LIKE (PYL)/REGULATORY COMPONENTS OF ABA RECEPTORS intracellular receptors leads to inhibition of key negative regulators of ABA signaling, i.e. clade A protein phosphatases type 2C (PP2Cs) such as A...

The modified U1 snRNA gene can suppress expression of a target transgene. In the present study, its potential utility to inhibit a dominant negative/gain of function mutation is explored. Using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) target gene, inhibition was achieved in all cells transduced with U1antiGFP directed at multiple sites within GFP. Using a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) target...

In Drosophila, RotundRacGAP/RacGAP(84C) is critical to retinal organisation and spermatogenesis. We show that eye-directed expression of RacGAP(84C) or its GTPase activating protein (GAP) domain induces a dominant rough eye phenotype which we used as a starting point in a gain-of-function screen to identify new partners of RacGAP(84C). Proteins known to function in Ras, Rho and Rac signalling w...

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D) is a dominantly inherited peripheral neuropathy caused by missense mutations in the glycyl-tRNA synthetase gene (GARS). In addition to GARS, mutations in three other tRNA synthetase genes cause similar neuropathies, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To address this, we generated transgenic mice that ubiquitously over-express...

We review the derivation of the electrostatic screening effect from first principles. We show that under the conditions prevailing in the Sun the number of particles in the Debye sphere is of the order of unity. Consequently, fluctuations play a dominant role in the screening process and lead to an energy exchange between the scattering particles and the surrounding plasma that depends on the e...

dentinogenesis imperfecta (di) is a hereditary dentin defect caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in dentin sialophosphoprotein gene. defective dentin development results in discolored teeth that are prone to wear and fracture. early diagnosis and proper treatment are necessary to achieve better functional and esthetic results and minimize nutritional deficiencies and psychosocial distress....