Evaluation of Fluorescent Analogs of Deoxycytidine for Monitoring DNA Transitions from Duplex to Functional Structures

Topological variants of single-strand DNA (ssDNA) structures, referred to as “functional DNA,” have been detected in regulatory regions of many genes and are thought to affect gene expression. Two fluorescent analogs of deoxycytidine, Pyrrolo-dC (PdC) and 1,3-diaza-2-oxophenoxazine (tC°), can be incorporated into DNA. Here, we describe spectroscopic studies of both analogs to determine fluorescent properties that report on structural transitions from double-strand DNA (dsDNA) to ssDNA, a common pathway in the transition to functional DNA structures. We obtained fluorescence-detected circular dichroism (FDCD) spectra, steady-state fluorescence spectra, and fluorescence lifetimes of the fluorophores in DNA. Our results show that PdC is advantageous in fluorescence lifetime studies because of a distinct ~2 ns change between paired and unpaired bases. However, tC° is a better probe for FDCD experiments that report on the helical structure of DNA surrounding the fluorophore. Both fluorophores provide complementary data to measure DNA structural transitions

MQTT and ROC Based Hybrid Robot as a Service (RaaS) Platform

Robots are rapidly evolving from factory work-horses to robot-companions. The future of robots will be as companions in the workplace functioning as interactive salespeople. In order to support this transition, it is important to combine service-oriented architecture and robotics. Service-oriented architecture and cloud computing have become dominant computing paradigms, and adding an RaaS (Robot as a Service) unit as a part of this system will help the companies manage and develop robots more efficiently. The major components of RaaS will be the integration of RMS (Robot Management System) and ROC (Robot Operation Center). As more and more robots are increasing in the service industry, the inter-robot communication is very critical. This communication can be achieved by ROC and the robots can be monitored remotely or locally via RMS. The RaaS platform will comply with all the standards of SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) like the development platform and execution unit, thereby creating a flexible and more development-friendly process

30 Years on: How the Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis of Schizophrenia Morphed into the Developmental Risk Factor Model of Psychosis

At its re-birth 30 years ago, the neurodevelopment hypothesis of schizophrenia focussed on aberrant genes and early neural hazards, but then it grew to include ideas concerning aberrant synaptic pruning in adolescence. The hypothesis had its own stormy development and it endured some difficult teenage years when a resurgence of interest in neurodegeneration threatened its survival. In early adult life, it over-reached itself with some reductionists claiming that schizophrenia was simply a neurodevelopmental disease. However, by age 30, the hypothesis has matured sufficiently to incorporated childhood and adult adversity, urban living and migration, as well as heavy cannabis use, as important risk factors. Thus, it morphed into the developmental risk factor model of psychosis and integrated new evidence concerning dysregulated striatal dopamine as the final step on the pathway linking risk factors to psychotic symptoms

Maryland Chartbook of Minority Health And Minority Health Disparities Data With Sections on Gender-specific Health And Jurisdiction-specific Health

The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (MHHD) was established in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2004 by legislation passed in the Maryland General Assembly session of that same year. One of the charges to MHHD is the compilation and distribution of minority health and health disparities data. This Chartbook is one response to that charge. Adequate and accurate data are essential to any effort to identify and address health problems in general, and health disparities in particular. With regard to health disparities, whether defined by ethnicity/race or other factors (geography, gender, income, education, etc.), data are required to complete three essential tasks: 1. Identify and measure disparities 2. Determine the causes of the disparity and plan interventions 3. Track progress toward eliminating health disparities The compilation of Maryland health disparities data in this Chartbook is intended to enable each of these three critical functions.https://health.maryland.gov/hd/mdchartbook.ht

Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Innovations in Automation and Mechatronics Engineering (ICIAME2018)

The Mechatronics Department (Accredited by National Board of Accreditation, New Delhi, India) of the G H Patel College of Engineering and Technology, Gujarat, India arranged the 4th International Conference on Innovations in Automation and Mechatronics Engineering 2018, (ICIAME 2018) on 2-3 February 2018. The papers presented during the conference were based on Automation, Optimization, Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing, Nanotechnology, Solar Energy etc and are featured in this book

Monitoring Outdoor Alcohol Advertising in Developing Countries: Findings of a Pilot Study in Five African Countries

This paper aims to describe alcohol advertising in the public arena of Gambia, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria and  Uganda. Analyses on the placement, channels, size and content of outdoor alcohol advertising practices (N=807) in relation to existing regulations are given. For example, in Gambia, the country with the most stringent alcohol  marketing regulations of all countries studied, outdoor alcohol advertisements are on average smaller and less  attractive to youth; whereas, in Uganda and Ghana, countries with selfregulation, there is limited protection. Findings illustrate the innovative ways in which the alcohol industry attempts to reach their market despite existing alcohol marketing regulations and cultural boundaries. Legal measures could be a policy instrument to protect against  harmful exposure.Key Words: alcohol marketing, outdoor advertising, Africa, alcohol polic