The catalytic core of RNase P

A deletion mutant of the catalytic RNA component of Escherichia coli RNase P missing residues 87-241 retains the ability to interact with the protein component to form a functional catalyst. The deletion of this phylogenetically conserved region significantly increases the Km, indicating that the deleted structures may be important for binding to the precursor tRNA substrate but not for the cleavage reaction. Under some reaction conditions, this RNase P deletion mutant can become a relatively non-specific nuclease, indicating that this RNA's catalytic center may be more exposed. The catalytic core of the RNase P is formed by less than one third of the 377 residues of the RNase P RNA.     

Graphite formation on Ni film by chemical vapor deposition

Thin film formation of graphite by chemical vapor deposition using 2-methyl-1,2′-naphthyl ketone as a starting material was carried out on Ni film substrates. On Ni films directly deposited on quartz glass, the graphite films were obtained when the Ni film thickness was above 1 000 Å and above 5 000 Å at 700 °C and 1 000 °C, respectively. Depositions on thinner Ni film substrates comprise amorphous carbon (a-C) or graphite tubes which was owing to the thermal coagulation of the Ni film into droplets. On the other hand, graphite film was obtained on the Ni film with thickness 10 Å when a-C was inserted between the Ni film and the quartz glass. The coagulation of the Ni film is considered to be avoided by inserting a-C layer.     

The computer in literary analysis: UsingTACT with students

TACT, a freeware program from the University of Toronto's Centre for Computing in the Humanities, is a highly sophisticated tool for text retrieval; although written for experienced critics and researchers, it can teach undergraduate students to read literature in new, fresh ways. Without requiring that the user become either a programmer, linguist, mathematician, or statistician,TACT introduces the literature student to the computer as a research tool. Studies of imagery and symbolism, of structural patterns, and of prosody can result from the student's careful tagging of a literary text and can yield significant insights into the work of literature. Students who use the computer as such a tool learn to read literary texts more closely and to think more clearly about literary problems.     

Ratings of Therapist Dynamic Activities and Alliance Early and Late in Psychotherapy.

The present study examines the concurrent and predictive relationships between therapist psychodynamic-interpersonal activity and therapist-rated alliance. Ratings from 45 patient and therapist dyads engaged in short term psychodynamic psychotherapy from a point early (3rd or 4th session) and late (the session at which 90% of the treatment was completed) in treatment were used. The results suggest that therapists who have positive views of the alliance early in treatment also have positive views of the alliance later in treatment. Therapists who used psychodynamic-interpersonal activities early in treatment also made use of psychodynamic-interpersonal activities later in treatment. Moreover, the use of psychodynamic-interpersonal activities early in treatment was positively related to both global and specific aspects of therapist-rated alliance late in treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

On-demand Virtual Neonatal Intensive Care units supporting rural, remote and urban healthcare with Bush Babies Broadband

Premature and ill term babies born in regional Australia must be moved to another hospital with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) facilities. Transferred pre-term and critically ill term babies have higher mortality rates and much higher rates of long term disability than similar babies born in hospitals with NICU facilities. This paper details the Bush Babies Broadband project that aims to significantly improve the quality of treatment for babies born in rural, remote as well as urban areas by providing the first on-demand virtual NICU architecture in Australia. Real-time data collected from medical monitors and ventilators attached to the baby, audiovisual streams and static physiological data such as X-ray images are transmitted to the consulting Neonatologist to gain a better picture of the patient's condition than is currently available. The key contribution of this significant research is the infrastructure providing a mechanism for Neonatologists to receive information directly from a regional hospital, thereby preventing, in some cases, the immediate need to move the baby. A key benefit of this framework is that it is available to link regional hospitals with the supporting NICU Neonatologist ‘on demand’ eliminating the need to establish permanent point to point connections. This paper further describes the application of that architecture to a specific pilot connecting the Bathurst regional hospital with Neonatologists within the NICU at Nepean Hospital, Penrith Australia.     

BRING PLANNING DOWN TO EARTH

Applying information systems strategic planning (ISSP) theory to a practical planning effort is not a straightforward endeavor, and the penalties of a misapplied planning exercise are high. IS managers do not need another conceptual framework for ISSP as much as they need a practical point of view on driving the planning effort to produce tangible, high-quality results.     

The Witchfinder-General and the Will-o'-the-Wisp: The myth and reality of Internet control

Internet pornography, especially child pornography, has been a significant concern in British society for several years. This article seeks to examine the prevalence and impact of such material, the way public concern has developed, and media and legislative reactions to this concern. It suggests that a more rational debate of the actual and likely dangers in this sphere is necessary in order both to protect and serve the interests of justice.