1,525,711 research outputs found
DNA Renaturation at the Water-Phenol Interface
We study DNA adsorption and renaturation in a water-phenol two-phase system,
with or without shaking. In very dilute solutions, single-stranded DNA is
adsorbed at the interface in a salt-dependent manner. At high salt
concentrations the adsorption is irreversible. The adsorption of the
single-stranded DNA is specific to phenol and relies on stacking and hydrogen
bonding. We establish the interfacial nature of a DNA renaturation at a high
salt concentration. In the absence of shaking, this reaction involves an
efficient surface diffusion of the single-stranded DNA chains. In the presence
of a vigorous shaking, the bimolecular rate of the reaction exceeds the
Smoluchowski limit for a three-dimensional diffusion-controlled reaction. DNA
renaturation in these conditions is known as the Phenol Emulsion Reassociation
Technique or PERT. Our results establish the interfacial nature of PERT. A
comparison of this interfacial reaction with other approaches shows that PERT
is the most efficient technique and reveals similarities between PERT and the
renaturation performed by single-stranded nucleic acid binding proteins. Our
results lead to a better understanding of the partitioning of nucleic acids in
two-phase systems, and should help design improved extraction procedures for
damaged nucleic acids. We present arguments in favor of a role of phenol and
water-phenol interface in prebiotic chemistry. The most efficient renaturation
reactions (in the presence of condensing agents or with PERT) occur in
heterogeneous systems. This reveals the limitations of homogeneous approaches
to the biochemistry of nucleic acids. We propose a heterogeneous approach to
overcome the limitations of the homogeneous viewpoint
Erratum: Luminosity function, sizes and FR dichotomy of radio-loud AGN
This erratum corrects a number of formulae containing mistakes in the paper
'Luminosity function, sizes and FR dichotomy of radio-loud AGN', 2007, MNRAS,
v. 381, p.1548. The corrections do not alter any of the conclusions in the
original paper.Comment: single page, no figures, erratum to MNRAS, 2007, v. 381, p. 154
The promoter from SlREO, a highly-expressed, root-specific Solanum lycopersicum gene, directs expression to cortex of mature roots
Root-specific promoters are valuable tools for targeting transgene expression, but many of those already described have limitations to their general applicability. We present the expression characteristics of SlREO, a novel gene isolated from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). This gene was highly expressed in roots but had a very low level of expression in aerial plant organs. A 2.4-kb region representing the SlREO promoter sequence was cloned upstream of the uidA GUS reporter gene and shown to direct expression in the root cortex. In mature, glasshouse-grown plants this strict root specificity was maintained. Furthermore, promoter activity was unaffected by dehydration or wounding stress but was somewhat suppressed by exposure to NaCl, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. The predicted protein sequence of SlREO contains a domain found in enzymes of the 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase superfamily. The novel SlREO promoter has properties ideal for applications requiring strong and specific gene expression in the bulk of tomato root tissue growing in soil, and is also likely to be useful in other Solanaceous crop
Evaluation of the KA24 (Knowledge Access 24) service for health- and social-care staff in London and the south-east of England. Part 2: qualitative
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this two-part paper is to identify the main transferable lessons learned from both the quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the KA24 (Knowledge Access 24) service of online databases and selected full text journals for health and social care staff in London and the South-East of England. The objectives of the qualitative evaluation were to assess the enablers and barriers to usage, and to assess the impact of the service on patient care.
METHODS: Telephone interviews (n=65) and a questionnaire survey (n=296) were conducted with various types of user, in various Trust settings. Some non-users were also contacted. Selection of interviewees and questionnaire recipients was not random, and aimed to cover all groups of users representatively.
RESULTS: Results show that policy goals were being delivered, with indications of changes to clinical practice, and improved clinical governance. Promotion, training and support needs to be extensive, and tailored to needs, but users are not always aware they need training. The sharing of passwords cast doubts on the reliability of some usage data.
CONCLUSIONS: Digital health library services, delivered at the point of care, are changing the way some clinicians practise. A combination of qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods are needed to assess digital library services
3D image analysis for pedestrian detection
A method for solving the dense disparity stereo correspondence problem is presented in this paper. This technique is designed specifically for pedestrian detection type applications. A new Ground Control Points (GCPs) scheme is introduced, using groundplane homography information to determine regions in which good GCPs are likely to occur. The method also introduces a dynamic disparity limit constraint to further improve GCP selection and dense disparity generation. The technique is applied to a real world pedestrian detection scenario with a background modeling system based on disparity and edges
The X-ray Transient XTE J2012+381
We present optical and infrared observations of the soft X-ray transient
(SXT) XTE J2012+381 and identify the optical counterpart with a faint red star
heavily blended with a brighter foreground star. The fainter star is coincident
with the radio counterpart and appears to show weak H alpha emission and to
have faded between observations. The RXTE/ASM lightcurve of XTE J2012+381 is
unusual for an SXT in that after an extended linear decay, it settled into a
plateau state for about 40 days before undergoing a weak mini-outburst. We
discuss the nature of the object and suggest similarities to long orbital
period SXTs.Comment: 5 pages, 7 postscript figures included, uses mn.sty. Accepted for
publication in MNRA
The Introduction of Anthropometrics into Development and Labor Economics
We trace the introduction of anthropometric indicators into development and labor economics in the late 1970s
Visualisation, Story And Metaphor As Tools To Build Self-Belief And Moral Awareness. An Ethnographic Case Study With Disengaged Pupils.
This case study of the Swindon Youth Empowerment Project 2001-2007, explores personal and social transformations when young people are encouraged to talk through their life choices conceptually using visualisation, symbol and metaphor. This educational project was designed to empower disaffected pupils in urban schools who are failing academically. They are referred to as âdispiritedâ as they lacked motivation and ambition. The SYEP project is unique in that the procedure was created by the team and has no direct parallels. The fieldwork took place over three years, 2004-2007 with the researcher working as ethnographer as an outsider to the project. Data collection has included ethnographic observations, of training and events, and planning meetings. Interviews were conducted, group and individual pupils, teachers and learning mentors. The research drew on naturalistic data of the pupils involved, taken before, during and after the intervention.
In doing so the team were trained to become evaluators and researchers. The researcher was allowed access to the work in order to encourage a long-term culture of evaluation, in schools as well as in the project. The research used a range of qualitative and ethnographic data collection methods and encouraged co-researcher dialogue. The analytical process was interpretative.
The research demonstrates a clear effect on some of the young people involved. It reveals a range of factors contributing to this success. It also discusses the learning and development processes of the project team, including the process by which evaluation was improved and a future action plan is set. It locates the benefits of the project in relation to theoretical discussions about holistic education, self-belief, emotional literacy and wellbeing, and therapeutic approaches. It argues that young people can transcend their limited world view, learning to see themselves differently as people with energy, potential, compassion and the ability to affect positive change. In this they can reach out to others and with others, building moral understanding and cascading positive attitudes and energies to those around them
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