Phase 1 of the automated array assembly task of the low cost silicon solar array project

The state of technology readiness for the automated production of solar cells and modules is reviewed. Individual process steps and process sequences for making solar cells and modules were evaluated both technically and economically. High efficiency with a suggested cell goal of 15% was stressed. It is concluded that the technology exists to manufacture solar cells which will meet program goals

Creating Artful Thinkers - Transforming Research into Practice, Onsite to Online Learning

National Gallery of Art educators Julie Carmean and Sara Lesk propose presenting about their process of transforming research into practice through creating the National Gallery’s first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), specifically for K-12 educators, using the pedagogy of Harvard’s Artful Thinking Routines and the National Gallery’s art collection. This free, international, online learning experience aims to democratize the opportunity for teachers to bring critical thinking through art to their students around the world. Participants will experience a combined onsite/online demonstration of one of their MOOC modules by, first, engaging with a work of art, using an Artful Thinking routine; second, watching a produced video of students responding to the same work, using the same routine as participants; and third, discussing the experience and the documentation of student learning, as would happen on a discussion forum. The presenters will then invite participants to give actionable feedback to course creators

On the origin of distribution patterns of motifs in biological networks

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inventories of small subgraphs in biological networks have identified commonly-recurring patterns, called motifs. The inference that these motifs have been selected for function rests on the idea that their occurrences are significantly more frequent than random.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our analysis of several large biological networks suggests, in contrast, that the frequencies of appearance of common subgraphs are similar in natural and corresponding random networks.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Indeed, certain topological features of biological networks give rise naturally to the common appearance of the motifs. We therefore question whether frequencies of occurrences are reasonable evidence that the structures of motifs have been selected for their functional contribution to the operation of networks.</p

RIBFIND: a web server for identifying rigid bodies in protein structures and to aid flexible fitting into cryo EM maps

Motivation: To better analyze low-resolution cryo electron microscopy maps of macromolecular assemblies, component atomic structures frequently have to be flexibly fitted into them. Reaching an optimal fit and preventing the fitting process from getting trapped in local minima can be significantly improved by identifying appropriate rigid bodies in the fitted component. Results: Here we present the RIBFIND server, a tool for identifying rigid bodies in protein structures. The server identifies rigid bodies in proteins by calculating spatial proximity between their secondary structural elements. Availability: The RIBFIND web server and its standalone program are available at http://ribfind.ismb.lon.ac.uk

What determines the spectrum of protein native state structures

AbstractWe present a brief summary of the key factors underlying protein structure, as developed in the investigations of Pauling, Ramachandran, and Rose. We then outline a simplified physical model of proteins that focusses on geometry and symmetry. Although this model superficially appears unrelated to the detailed chemical descriptions commonly applied to proteins, we show that it captures the essential elements of the chemistry and provides a unified framework for understanding the common characteristics of folded proteins. We suggest that the spectrum of protein native state structures is determined by geometry and symmetry and the role of the sequence is to choose its native state structure from this predetermined menu. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Non-perturbative renormalization of vector and axial vector currents in quenched QCD for a renormalization group improved gauge action

Renormalization constants of vector ($Z_V$) and axial-vector ($Z_A$) currents are determined non-perturbatively in quenched QCD for an RG-improved gauge action and a tadpole-improved clover quark action using the Schr\"odinger functional method. Meson decay constants $f_\rho$ and $f_\pi$ show much better scaling when $Z_V$ and $Z_A$ estimated for infinite physical volume are used instead of $Z$-factors from tadpole-improved one-loop perturbation theory.Comment: Lattice2003(improve), 3 page

I=2 Pion Scattering Length and Phase Shift with Wilson Fermions

We present preliminary results of scattering length and phase shift for I=2 S-wave $\pi\pi$ system with the Wilson fermions in the quenched approximation. The finite size method presented by L\"uscher is employed, and calculations are carried out at $\beta=5.9$ on a $24^3\times 60$ and $32^3\times 60$ lattice.Comment: Lattice2001(spectrum

How precise are reported protein coordinate data?

Atomic coordinates in the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) are generally reported to greater precision than the experimental structure determinations have actually achieved. By using information theory and data compression to study the compressibility of protein atomic coordinates, it is possible to quantify the amount of randomness in the coordinate data and thereby to determine the realistic precision of the reported coordinates. On average, the value of each Cα coordinate in a set of selected protein structures solved at a variety of resolutions is good to about 0.1 Å

Minimum message length inference of secondary structure from protein coordinate data

Motivation: Secondary structure underpins the folding pattern and architecture of most proteins. Accurate assignment of the secondary structure elements is therefore an important problem. Although many approximate solutions of the secondary structure assignment problem exist, the statement of the problem has resisted a consistent and mathematically rigorous definition. A variety of comparative studies have highlighted major disagreements in the way the available methods define and assign secondary structure to coordinate data