SBMLToolbox: an SBML toolbox for MATLAB users

We present SBMLToolbox, a toolbox that facilitates importing and exporting models represented in the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) in and out of the MATLAB environment and provides functionality that enables an experienced user of either SBML or MATLAB to combine the computing power of MATLAB with the portability and exchangeability of an SBML model. SBMLToolbox supports all levels and versions of SBML

Random Matrix Theory and the Fourier Coefficients of Half-Integral Weight Forms

Conjectured links between the distribution of values taken by the characteristic polynomials of random orthogonal matrices and that for certain families of L-functions at the centre of the critical strip are used to motivate a series of conjectures concerning the value-distribution of the Fourier coefficients of half-integral weight modular forms related to these L-functions. Our conjectures may be viewed as being analogous to the Sato-Tate conjecture for integral weight modular forms. Numerical evidence is presented in support of them.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figure

Lower order terms in the full moment conjecture for the Riemann zeta function

We describe an algorithm for obtaining explicit expressions for lower terms for the conjectured full asymptotics of the moments of the Riemann zeta function, and give two distinct methods for obtaining numerical values of these coefficients. We also provide some numerical evidence in favour of the conjecture.Comment: 37 pages, 4 figure

The Role of Government in Corporate Governance

Numerous corporate scandals in the past several years have fueled widespread debate over proposals for government action. The central challenge for government is how to restore corporate integrity and market confidence without overreacting and stifling the dynamism that underlies a strong economy. To examine this challenge, the Center for Business and Government\u27s Regulatory Policy Program organized a conference in May 2004 on The Role of Government in Corporate Governance. The conference brought together government officials, business leaders, and academic researchers to discuss three fundamental public policy issues raised by recent corporate abuses. First, who should regulate corporate management - government agencies or self-regulatory organizations? Second, how should regulatory commands be designed, either as detailed rules or broad principles? Finally, how should regulations be enforced? This report synthesizes the conference dialogue organized around these three questions and explores conditions under which different configurations of regulatory institutions, standards, and enforcement practices can further both corporate integrity and productivity

UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine) inhibits DNA repair and increases cytotoxicity in normal lymphocytes and chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes.

Elevated DNA repair processes represent resistance mechanisms to the treatment of malignancies with alkylating agents. Recently, the cell cycle checkpoint abrogator, UCN-01, was reported to inhibit nucleotide excision repair in cell-free systems. We hypothesized that if UCN-01 was combined with DNA-damaging agents, UCN-01 might inhibit the damage repair processes, thereby enhancing cytotoxicity in quiescent cells. Here, we investigated the effect of UCN-01 on DNA repair and viability of quiescent normal lymphocytes and chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes treated with UV or the cyclophosphamide prodrug 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC). DNA damage repair kinetics were determined as DNA single strand breaks by the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay and by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Pretreatment with UCN-01 inhibited DNA repair initiated by UV or 4-HC in normal lymphocytes as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes in a concentration-dependent manner at clinically relevant levels (50-300 nM). This inhibition was demonstrated by the decreases in incision capability, DNA resynthesis, and in rejoining, suggesting that UCN-01 inhibits the multiple sites of the repair processes. The higher UCN-01 concentration (300 nM) maximized the inhibitory effects and enhanced the UV- or 4-HC-induced cytotoxicity, as determined by annexin V binding or Hoechst 33342 staining. This enhancement was not obtained by the lower concentrations that incompletely inhibited the repair, suggesting the close association between the inhibition of the repair and the enhancement of the cytotoxicity. Our findings suggest that UCN-01 may be a good candidate for combination strategies of cancer treatment

LibSBML: an API library for SBML

LibSBML is an application programming interface library for reading, writing, manipulating and validating content expressed in the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) format. It is written in ISO C and C++, provides language bindings for Common Lisp, Java, Python, Perl, MATLAB and Octave, and includes many features that facilitate adoption and use of both SBML and the library. Developers can embed libSBML in their applications, saving themselves the work of implementing their own SBML parsing, manipulation and validation software

Europe as a multilevel federation

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