Electron microscopic visualization of tRNA genes with ferritin-avidin: biotin labels

A method is described for indirect electron microscopic visualization and mapping of tRNA and other short transcripts hybridized to DNA. This method depends upon the attachment of the electron-dense protein ferritin to the RNA, the binding being mediated by the remarkably strong association of the egg white protein avidin with biotin. Biotin is covalently attached to the 3' end of tRNA using an NH2 (CH2) 5NH2 bridge. The tRNA-biotin adduct is hybridized to complementcrry DNA sequences present in a single stranded nonhomology loop of a DNA:DNA heteroduplex. Avidin, covalently crosslinked to ferritin is mixed with the heteroduplex and becomes bound to the hybridized tRNA-biotin. Observation of the DNA:RNA-biotin:avidin-ferritin complex by electron microsdopy specifically and accurately reveals the position of the tRNA gene, with a frequency of labeling of approximately 50%

EFFECT OF HIP ORIENTATION ON WINGATE ANAEROBIC POWER OUTPUT

The effect on anaerobic power output of Hip Orientation Angle (HOA, angle of hip joint to bottom bracket relative to horizontal) while maintaining a constant Body Configuration Angle (BCA, included angle between torso, hip, and bottom bracket) and maximum hipto- pedal distance was examined. In this way, changes in power output could be attributable to the altered pull of gravity on the lower extremity. Nineteen male recreational cyclists with no recent recumbent cycling experience completed 30 s Wingate tests in three recumbent positions (HOA of -20, -10, and 0°) and the standard cycling position (HOA = 75°), all with a 130° BCA. Neither peak, average, or minimum power were significantly different across all positions nor was fatigue index (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that anaerobic power is not altered by hip orientation

Bis[N-2-hydroxyethyl,N-methyldithiocarbamato-κ2 S,S)'-4-{[(pyridin-4-ylmethylidene)hydrazinylidene}methyl]pyridine-κN 1)zinc(II): crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis

In the title compound, [Zn(C4H8NOS2)2(C12H10N4)], the ZnII atom exists within a NS4 donor set defined by two chelating dithiocarbamate ligands and a pyridyl-N atom derived from a terminally bound 4-pyridinealdazine ligand. The distorted coordination geometry tends towards square-pyramidal with the pyridyl-N atom occupying the apical position. In the crystal, hydroxyl-O—H...O(hydroxyl) and hydroxyl-O—H...N(pyridyl) hydrogen-bonding give rise to a supramolecular double-chain along [1-10]; methyl-C—H...π(chelate ring) interactions help to consolidate the chain. The chains are connected into a three-dimensional architecture via pyridyl-C—H...O(hydroxyl) interactions. In addition to the contacts mentioned above, the Hirshfeld surface analysis points to the significance of relatively weak π–π interactions between pyridyl rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.901 (3) Å]

The use of biomechanics in the study of movement in microgravity

As biomechanists interested in the adaptability of the human body to microgravity conditions, it appears that our job is not only to make sure that the astronauts can function adequately in space but also that they can function upon their return to Earth. This is especially significant since many of the projects now being designed at NASA concern themselves with humans performing for up to 3 years in microgravity. While the Extended Duration Orbiter flights may last 30 to 60 days, future flights to Mars using current propulsion technology may last from 2 to 3 years. It is for this range of time that the adaptation process must be studied. Specifically, biomechanists interested in space travel realize that human performance capabilities will change as a result of exposure to microgravity. The role of the biomechanist then is to first understand the nature of the changes realized by the body. These changes include adaptation by the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, cardiorespiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. As biomechanists, it is also our role to take part in the development of countermeasure programs that involve some form of regular exercise. Exercise countermeasure programs should include a variety of modalities with full knowledge of the loads imposed on the body by these modalities. Any exercise programs that are to be conducted by the astronauts during space travel must consider the fact that the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems degrade as a function of flight duration. Additionally, it must be understood that the central nervous system modifies its output in the control of the human body during space flight and most importantly, we must prepare the astronauts for their return to one g

Dissipative Abelian Sandpiles and Random Walks

We show that the dissipative Abelian sandpile on a graph L can be related to a random walk on a graph which consists of L extended with a trapping site. From this relation it can be shown, using exact results and a scaling assumption, that the dissipative sandpiles' correlation length exponent \nu always equals 1/d_w, where d_w is the fractal dimension of the random walker. This leads to a new understanding of the known results that \nu=1/2 on any Euclidean lattice. Our result is however more general and as an example we also present exact data for finite Sierpinski gaskets which fully confirm our predictions.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Boundary effects in a random neighbor model of earthquakes

We introduce spatial inhomogeneities (boundaries) in a random neighbor version of the Olami, Feder and Christensen model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 1244 (1992)] and study the distributions of avalanches starting both from the bulk and from the boundaries of the system. Because of their clear geophysical interpretation, two different boundary conditions have been considered (named free and open, respectively). In both cases the bulk distribution is described by the exponent $\tau \simeq {3/2}$. Boundary distributions are instead characterized by two different exponents $\tau ' \simeq {3/2}$ and $\tau ' \simeq {7/4}$, for free and open boundary conditions, respectively. These exponents indicate that the mean-field behavior of this model is correctly described by a recently proposed inhomogeneous form of critical branching process.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures ; to appear on PR

Site-fidelity and spatial movements of western North Pacific gray whales on their summer range off Sakhalin, Russia

The Western North-Pacific (WNP) gray whale feeding grounds are off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia and is comprised of a nearshore and offshore component that can be distinguished by both depth and location. Spatial movements of gray whales within their foraging grounds were examined based on 13 years of opportunistic vessel and shore-based photo-identification surveys. Site fidelity was assessed by examining annual return and resighting rates. Lagged Identification Rates (LIR) analyses were conducted to estimate the residency and transitional movement patterns within the two components of their feeding grounds. In total 243 individuals were identified from 2002-2014, among these were 94 calves. The annual return rate over the period 2002-2014 was 72%, excluding 35 calves only seen one year. Approximately 20% of the individuals identified from 2002-2010 were seen every year after their initial sighting (including eight individuals that returned for 13 consecutive years). The majority (239) of the WNP whales were observed in the nearshore area while only half (122) were found in the deeper offshore area. Within a foraging season, there was a significantly higher probability of gray whales moving from the nearshore to the offshore area. No mother-calf pairs, calves or yearlings were observed in the offshore area, which was increasingly used by mature animals. The annual return rates, and population growth rates that are primarily a result of calf production with little evidence of immigration, suggest that this population is demographically self-contained and that both the nearshore and offshore Sakhalin feeding grounds are critically important areas for their summer annual foraging activities. The nearshore habitat is also important for mother-calf pairs, younger individuals, and recently weaned calves. Nearshore feeding could also be energetically less costly compared to foraging in the deeper offshore habitat and provide more protection from predators, such as killer whales

Association of treatment satisfaction and psychopathological sub-syndromes among involuntary patients with psychotic disorders

Publisher's version: http://www.springerlink.com/content/rx24036274667t10

Viral-E1 and Viral-E2 Proteins Support Replication of Homologous and Heterologous Papillomaviral Origins

We have shown that E1 and E2 proteins of human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) were essential to support the replication of the homologous viral origin (ori) in a transient replication assay, similar to reports on bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1). Unexpectedly, matched or even mixed combinations of E1 and E2 proteins from HPV-11 or BPV-1 replicated either ori in human, monkey, and rodent cell lines of epithelial or fibroblastic lineage, albeit with varied efficiencies. Either set of viral proteins was also able to initiate replication of ori-containing plasmids from many other human and animal papillomaviruses. Thus the interactions among the cis elements and trans factors of papillomaviruses are more conserved than expected from the other members of the papovavirus family, simian virus 40 and polyomavirus, for which large tumor antigen does not replicate a heterologous ori in either permissive or nonpermissive cells. We infer that the stringent species and tissue specificities observed for papillomaviruses in vivo are not entirely due to direct restrictions on viral DNA replication. Rather, transcriptional control of viral gene expression must play a dominant role

How self-organized criticality works: A unified mean-field picture

We present a unified mean-field theory, based on the single site approximation to the master-equation, for stochastic self-organized critical models. In particular, we analyze in detail the properties of sandpile and forest-fire (FF) models. In analogy with other non-equilibrium critical phenomena, we identify the order parameter with the density of ``active'' sites and the control parameters with the driving rates. Depending on the values of the control parameters, the system is shown to reach a subcritical (absorbing) or super-critical (active) stationary state. Criticality is analyzed in terms of the singularities of the zero-field susceptibility. In the limit of vanishing control parameters, the stationary state displays scaling characteristic of self-organized criticality (SOC). We show that this limit corresponds to the breakdown of space-time locality in the dynamical rules of the models. We define a complete set of critical exponents, describing the scaling of order parameter, response functions, susceptibility and correlation length in the subcritical and supercritical states. In the subcritical state, the response of the system to small perturbations takes place in avalanches. We analyze their scaling behavior in relation with branching processes. In sandpile models because of conservation laws, a critical exponents subset displays mean-field values ($\nu=1/2$ and $\gamma = 1$) in any dimensions. We treat bulk and boundary dissipation and introduce a new critical exponent relating dissipation and finite size effects. We present numerical simulations that confirm our results. In the case of the forest-fire model, our approach can distinguish between different regimes (SOC-FF and deterministic FF) studied in the literature and determine the full spectrum of critical exponents.Comment: 21 RevTex pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.