Insights into DNA platination within unusual structural settings

2D [1H, 15N] HSQC NMR spectroscopy has been used to monitor reaction and product formation between [Pt(15NH3)2I2] and nucleic acids possessing irregular topologies and containing site specific phosphorothioate substitution in the phosphodiester backbone. Comparison of the reaction profiles of dimer nucleic acids with and without phosphorothioate substitution is made with their short nucleic acid counterparts containing the key dimer components. Whereas d(GpA) is relatively unreactive towards [Pt(15NH3)2I2], NMR evidence suggests that the tandem sheared mismatch duplex d(GCG3pAGC)2 reacts to form the head-to-tail inter-strand G3-N7-Pt-G3-N7 cross-link. The equivalent phosphorothioate R,S-d(GsA) reacts to form a mono-iodo, mono-sulphur adduct, whereas the tandem sheared mismatch phosphorothioate duplex d(GCGsAG5C)2 (VIs) reacts to form the unusual intra-strand macrochelate [Pt(15NH3)2{d(VIs-G5-N7)},S]2+ in which platinum is attached at both sulphur and G5-N7. Experimental evidence supports the formation of a stabilized mismatch duplex in which platinum is attached to two nitrogen centres in the sequence d(CGCGpTGCG) in contrast to R,S-d(CGCGsT5GCG) for which NMR evidence supports macrochelate-stabilized hairpin loop formation cross-linked at both phosphorothioate sulphur and T5-N

Interpersonal Behavior in Couple Therapy: Concurrent and Prospective Associations with Depressive Symptoms and Relationship Distress

Objective: This study investigated associations between couples’ interpersonal behavior, depressive symptoms, and relationship distress over the course of couple psychotherapy. Method: After every other session of Integrative Systemic Therapy (M = 13 sessions), N = 100 individuals within 50 couples rated their in-session affiliation and autonomy behavior using the circumplex-based Structural Analysis of Social Behavior Intrex. Concurrent and prospective associations of interpersonal behavior with depressive symptoms and relationship distress were evaluated via multivariate multilevel modeling using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results: An individual’s hostility, as well as the partner’s hostility, positively predicted an individual’s concurrent depressive symptoms and relationship distress, as well as his or her relationship distress at the following session. Partner hostility during one session predicted an individual’s subsequent depressive symptoms. During sessions in which individuals controlled the partner, and separated themselves from the partner, they reported more concurrent depressive symptoms and relationship distress, and more subsequent relationship distress. When partners separated themselves, individuals reported more concurrent depressive symptoms and relationship distress, and more subsequent relationship distress. Conclusions: Results underscore the importance of couples’ in-session affiliation and autonomy behavior in the treatment of depressive symptoms and relationship distress within couple therapy

The Philly Bee’s Stake in Pollination: The Bees of Philadelphia

This study is part of a larger United States Geological Survey of the bees in the United States as part of a monitoring program of the flora and fauna of North America. While bees have been studied across Pennsylvania, in New York City and Baltimore, this is the first documented survey of the bees of Philadelphia. I sampled bees by netting once in July, August, and September. A total of 280 bees, representing 58 species were captured. This is the first record of several bee species for Pennsylvania, including the recently introduced Hylaeus hyalinatus Smith and Coelioxys coturnix Perez. I also document the presence of Bombus pensylvanicus Perez, a bumble bee that may be in decline. This study can be used to guide monitoring and conservation efforts

Sequence CSI: The Nitrogen Cycle. Subjects: Life Science, Environmental Science, Marine/Ocean Science - Grades: 9-12

This lesson invites students to work together to identify a mystery DNA sample using state of the art biotechnology. After identifying the organism, they can work with another group of students to hypothesize about how the different organisms are related to one another. Students will learn that the samples are connected through the nitrogen cycle! This gives students an introduction to scientific molecular techniques and environmental nitrogen cycling

Critical Awareness Expectations in the Revised Ontario Kindergarten Program: Teachers’ Interpretation of New Educational Programming

The revised version of the Ontario Ministry of Education document The Kindergarten Program (2006) mandates teaching critical awareness to students as young as three years of age. and has been the mandated programming document for publicly-funded Kindergarten programs in Ontario for two school years. This study critically examines the program’s expectations in relation to the contents of other Ministiy of Education documents for early primary teachers and reports on interviews with kindergarten teachers that explored their interpretations of and thoughts about the new expectations. The research was informed by approaches to discourse analysis, a qualitative research strategy that analyzes “language in use” (Wetherell, Taylor, and Yates, 2001, p.3). It analyzed teachers’ interpretations and implementation of the mandated expectations and found that respondents re-conceptualized critical awareness to align with their established practices and with the dominant representations of literacy learning present in the Ministry documents