Homology and enzymatic requirements of microhomology-dependent alternative end joining

Nonhomologous DNA end joining (NHEJ) is one of the major double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways in higher eukaryotes. Recently, it has been shown that alternative NHEJ (A-NHEJ) occurs in the absence of classical NHEJ and is implicated in chromosomal translocations leading to cancer. In the present study, we have developed a novel biochemical assay system utilizing DSBs flanked by varying lengths of microhomology to study microhomology-mediated alternative end joining (MMEJ). We show that MMEJ can operate in normal cells, when microhomology is present, irrespective of occurrence of robust classical NHEJ. Length of the microhomology determines the efficiency of MMEJ, 5 nt being obligatory. Using this biochemical approach, we show that products obtained are due to MMEJ, which is dependent on MRE11, NBS1, LIGASE III, XRCC1, FEN1 and PARP1. Thus, we define the enzymatic machinery and microhomology requirements of alternative NHEJ using a well-defined biochemical system.

Soft Real Time Implementation of a Cognitive Radio Testbed for Frequency Hopping Primary Satisfying QoS Requirements

The Cognitive Radio (CR) is a promising technology which provides a novel way to subjugate the issue of spectrum underutilization caused due to the fixed spectrum assignment policies. In this paper we report the design and implementation of a soft-real time CR MAC, consisting of multiple secondary users, in a frequency hopping (Fit) primary scenario. This MAC is capable of sensing the spectrum and dynamically allocating the available frequency bands to multiple CR users based on their QoS requirements. As the primary is continuously hopping, a method has also been implemented to detect the hop instant of the primary network. Synchronization usually requires real time support, however we have been able to achieve this with a soft-real time technique which enables a fully software implementation of CR MAC layer. We demonstrate the wireless transmission and reception of video over this CR testbed through opportunistic spectrum access. The experiments carried out use an open source software defined radio package called GNU Radio and a basic radio hardware component USRP.

Analysis of OSNR Requirements for Higher Modulation Schemes for Various Local Oscillator Powers

To meet the growing demands of data traffic in long haul communication, it is necessary to efficiently use the low-loss region(C-band) of the optical spectrum, by increasing the no. of optical channels and increasing the bit rate on each channel But narrow pulses occupy higher spectral bandwidth. To circumvent this problem, higher order modulation schemes such as QPSK and QAM can be used to modulate the bits, which increases the spectral efficiency without demanding any extra spectral bandwidth. On the receiver side, to meet a satisfy, a given BER, the received optical signal requires to have minimum OSNR. In our study in this paper, we analyses for different modulation schemes, the OSNR required with and without preamplifier. The theoretical limit of OSNR requirement for a modulation scheme is compared for a given link length by varying the local oscillator (LO) power. Our analysis shows that as we increase the local oscillator (LO) power, the OSNR requirement decreases for a given BER. Also a combination of preamplifier and local oscillator (LO) gives the OSNR closest to theoretical limit.

Contrasting Electronic Requirements for C-H Binding and C-H Activation in d(6) Half-Sandwich Complexes of Rhenium and Tungsten

A computational study of the interaction half-sandwich metal fragments (metal=Re/W, electron count=d(6)), containing linear nitrosyl (NO+), carbon monoxide (CO), trifluorophosphine (PF3), N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands with alkanes are conducted using density functional theory employing the hybrid meta-GGA functional (M06). Electron deficiency on the metal increases with the ligand in the order NHC < CO < PF3 < NO+. Electron-withdrawing ligands like NO+ lead to more stable alkane complexes than NHC, a strong electron donor. Energy decomposition analysis shows that stabilization is due to orbital interaction involving charge transfer from the alkane to the metal. Reactivity and dynamics of the alkane fragment are facilitated by electron donors on the metal. These results match most of the experimental results known for CO and PF3 complexes. The study suggests activation of alkane in metal complexes to be facile with strong donor ligands like NHC. (C) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR DIRECT SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE RECEIVER DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING

This paper establishes the design requirements for the development and testing of direct supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) solar receivers. Current design considerations are based on the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). Section I (BPVC) considers typical boilers/superheaters (i.e. fired pressure vessels) which work under a constant low heat flux. Section VIII (BPVC) considers pressure vessels with operating pressures above 15 psig 2 bar] (i.e. unfired pressure vessels). Section III, Division I - Subsection NH (BPVC) considers a more detailed stress calculation, compared to Section I and Section VIII, and requires a creep-fatigue analysis. The main drawback from using the BPVC exclusively is the large safety requirements developed for nuclear power applications. As a result, a new set of requirements is needed to perform detailed thermal-structural analyses of solar thermal receivers subjected to a spatially-varying, high-intensity heat flux. The last design requirements document of this kind was an interim Sandia report developed in 1979 (SAND79-8183), but it only addresses some of the technical challenges in early-stage steam and molten-salt solar receivers but not the use of sCO2 receivers. This paper presents a combination of the ASME BPVC and ASME B31.1 Code modified appropriately to achieve the reliability requirements in sCO(2) solar power systems. There are five main categories in this requirements document: Operation and Safety, Materials and Manufacturing, Instrumentation, Maintenance and Environmental, and General requirements. This paper also includes the modeling guidelines and input parameters required in computational fluid dynamics and structural analyses utilizing ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS Mechanical, and nCode Design Life. The main purpose of this document is to serve as a reference and guideline for design and testing requirements, as well as to address the technical challenges and provide initial parameters for the computational models that will be employed for the development of sCO(2) receivers.

A comparison of winter pre-heating requirements for natural displacement and natural mixing ventilation

In winter, natural ventilation can be achieved either through mixing ventilation or upward displacement ventilation (P.F. Linden, The fluid mechanics of natural ventilation, Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics 31 (1999) pp. 201-238). We show there is a significant energy saving possible by using mixing ventilation, in the case that the internal heat gains are significant, and illustrate these savings using an idealized model, which predicts that with internal heat gains of order 0.1 kW per person, mixing ventilation uses of a fraction of order 0.2-0.4 of the heat load of displacement ventilation assuming a well-insulated building. We then describe a strategy for such mixing natural ventilation in an atrium style building in which the rooms surrounding the atrium are able to vent directly to the exterior and also through the atrium to the exterior. The results are motivated by the desire to reduce the energy burden in large public buildings such as hospitals, schools or office buildings centred on atria. We illustrate a strategy for the natural mixing ventilation in order that the rooms surrounding the atrium receive both pre-heated but also sufficiently fresh air, while the central atrium zone remains warm. We test the principles with some laboratory experiments in which a model air chamber is ventilated using both mixing and displacement ventilation, and compare the energy loads in each case. We conclude with a discussion of the potential applications of the approach within the context of open plan atria type office buildings.