An activation mechanism for ATP cleavage in muscle.

Evidence for a proposed activation mechanism is summarized. The low rate of ATP cleavage in the resting state of muscle is considered to result from the formation of a stable ring structure involving the two essential sulfhydryl groups on each myosin head and MgATP. Activation is thought to occur by interaction of actin in the vicinity of one of the essential sulfhydryl groups. Thus opening the stable ring leading to rapid dissociation of split products. This idea is consistent with the kinetic scheme of ATP cleavage developed recently by other workers and allows a prediction of the shift in population of intermediate states with changes in solvent conditions. It is also supported by our recent studies on the spatial geometry of the ring. The possibility that other nucleophilic groups may replace the sulfhydryl groups in other contractile systems is considered. The relevance of the ring structure to the tension generating event is discussed on the basis of recent measurements of the rate of contraction of modified (SH1-blocked) actomyosin threads. Results indicate the ability to form the ring structure is an essential requirement of the contractile process in these systems, and, moreover, that single, modified heads of myosin can act independently to produce the same rate of contraction as native myosin. This latter finding suggests that the myosin duplex exhibits some type of negative cooperativity in the contractile process.     

On-line data acquisition system for Perkin-Elmer 240 carbon,hydrogen, and nitrogen analyzer

The Perkin-Elmer 240 CH and N analyzer was adapted for on-line data acquisition with a remote computer. Sample weights from a Cahn electrobalance are directly entered into the computer via a power supply and interrupt system. The outputs from the three thermal conductivity detectors are monitored for 10 sec and signal averaged by the computer. The computer takes all data necessary for the calculation of percent CH and N and prints out a final report on a Silent 700 remote terminal. The report is suitable for direct transmission to the sample submitter. Duplicate reports are printed for permanent analytical records. The precision of results obtained with on-line data acquisition compare favorably to results calculated manually, and provides a 38% improvement in efficiency. The on-line systems employ a PDP-15/76 computer, which is available for other tasks. This provides an additional cost savings compared to the alternate approach of purchasing a small dedicated computer.     

Ion-molecule reactions of gas-phase chromium oxyanions: CrxOyH z − + O2

Chromium oxyanions, Cr(x)O(y)H(z)(-), were generated in the gas-phase using a quadrupole ion trap secondary ion mass spectrometer (IT-SIMS), where they were reacted with O(2). Only CrO(2)(-) of the Cr(1)O(y)H(z)(-) envelope was observed to react with oxygen, producing primarily CrO(3)(-). The rate constant for the reaction of CrO(2)(-) with O(2) was approximately 38% of the Langevin collision constant at 310 K. CrO(3)(-), CrO(4)(-), and CrO(4)H(-) were unreactive with O(2) in the ion trap. In contrast, Cr(2)O(4)(-) was observed to react with O(2) producing CrO(3)(-) + CrO(3) via oxidative degradation at a rate that was approximately 15% efficient. The presence of background water facilitated the reaction of Cr(2)O(4)(-) + H(2)O to form Cr(2)O(5)H(2)(-); the hydrated product ion Cr(2)O(5)H(2)(-) reacted with O(2) to form Cr(2)O(6)(-) (with concurrent elimination of H(2)O) at a rate that was 6% efficient. Cr(2)O(5)(-) also reacted with O(2) to form Cr(2)O(7)(-) (4% efficient) and Cr(2)O(6)(-) + O (2% efficient); these reactions proceeded in parallel. By comparison, Cr(2)O(6)(-) was unreactive with O(2), and in fact, no further O(2) addition could be observed for any of the Cr(2)O(6)H(z)(-) anions. Generalizing, Cr(x)O(y)H(z)(-) species that have low coordinate, low oxidation state metal centers are susceptible to O(2) oxidation. However, when the metal coordination is >3, or when the formal oxidation state is > or =5, reactivity stops.     

Decentralized Business Strategies in a Multi-Unit Firm

In a multi-unit firm, such as a retail chain or a multi-plant manufacturer, we compare the business strategies developed by unit managers with the strategies that maximize corporate profit. The setting is one in which units face different markets and where learning spillovers between two units are enhanced if their strategies are more similar. When there is a small number of units, we find a tendency for managers' strategies to be excessively tailored to their local market. When the firm has many units, unit strategies can be either excessively or insufficiently standardized.     

Unusual metal ion selectivities of the highly preorganized tetradentrate ligand 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide: a thermodynamic and fluorescence study

Some metal ion complexing properties of the ligand PDAM (1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide) in aqueous solution are reported. Using UV-visible spectroscopy to follow the intense π-π* transitions of PDAM as a function of metal ion concentration, log K(1) values in 0.1 M NaClO(4) and at 25 °C are, for Cu(II), 3.56(5); Ni(II), 3.06(5); Zn(II), 3.77(5); Co(II), 3.8(1); Mg(II), 0.1(1); Ca(II), 1.94(4); and Ba(II), 0.7(1). For more strongly bound metal ions, competition reactions between PDAM and EDTA (ethylenedinitrilo-tetraacetic acid) or tetren (1,4,7,10,13-pentaazatridecane), monitored following the UV spectrum of PDAM, gave the following log K(1) values in 0.1 M NaClO(4) and at 25 °C: Cd(II), 7.1(1); Pb(II), 5.82(5); In(III), 9.4(1); and Bi(III), 9.4(1). The very low log K(1)(PDAM) values for small metal ions such as Cu(II) or Zn(II) are unprecedented for a phen-based ligand (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), which is rationalized in terms of the low basicity of the N donors of the ligand (pK(a) = 0.6) and the fact that PDAM has a best-fit size corresponding to large metal ions of ionic radius ~1.0 ?. Large metal ions with ionic radius ≥1.0 ? show large increases in log K(1) relative to their phen complexes, which in turn produces unparalleled selectivities, such as a 3.5 log units greater log K(1)(PDAM) for Cd(II) than for Cu(II). PDAM shows strong fluorescence in aqueous solution, suggesting that its carboxamide groups do not produce a fluorescence-quenching photon-induced electron transfer (PET) effect. Only Ca(II) produces a weak CHEF (chelation enhanced fluorescence) effect with PDAM, while all other metal ions tested produce a decrease in fluorescence, a CHEQ (chelation enhanced quenching effect). The production of the CHEQ effect is rationalized in terms of the idea that coordination of metal ions to PDAM stabilizes a canonical form of the carboxamide groups that promotes a PET effect.     

Characterization and deposition of various light-harvesting antenna complexes by electrospray atomization

Photosynthetic organisms have light-harvesting complexes that absorb and transfer energy efficiently to reaction centers. Light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) have received increased attention in order to understand the natural photosynthetic process and also to utilize their unique properties in fabricating efficient artificial and bio-hybrid devices to capture solar energy. In this work, LHCs with different architectures, sizes, and absorption spectra, such as chlorosomes, Fenna–Matthews–Olson (FMO) protein, LH2 complex, and phycobilisome have been characterized by an electrospray-scanning mobility particle-sizer system (ES-SMPS). The size measured by ES-SMPS for FMO, chlorosomes, LH2, and phycobilisome were 6.4, 23.3, 9.5, and 33.4?nm, respectively. These size measurements were compared with values measured by dynamic light scattering and those reported in the literature. These complexes were deposited onto a transparent substrate by electrospray deposition. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of the deposited LHCs were measured. It was observed that the LHCs have light absorption and fluorescence spectra similar to that in solution, demonstrating the viability of the process.     

Simplex optimisation of conditions for the determination of antimony in environmental samples by using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Analysis of the total antimony in plant material was unsuccessful using the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) conditions recommended by the instrument manufacturer. For this reason, an optimisation procedure utilising the Plackett-Burman method, simplex optimisation and visualisation of the generated response surface via principal components analysis, was carried out. The Plackett-Burman method was used to eliminate four of the initial variables chosen. Four variables (atomisation temperature, atomisation time, ash temperature and modifier concentration) were subsequently optimised using the composite modified simplex method and the results were visualised as a contour diagram, after reduction to two principal components. The optimised conditions were used for the analysis of both an acid digested pine needle standard reference material (NIST 1575) and a pond weed sample, collected from a contaminated site at Yellowknife Bay, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. The total concentration of antimony present in the pine needles was statistically indistinguishable from the non-certified value, as was the value for the pond weed sample, compared with a value determined by neutron activation analysis (NAA). The results for the analysis of the pond weed sample by ETAAS agreed with those obtained from a subsequent analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.     

The evolution and future of influenza pandemic preparedness

The influenza virus is a global threat to human health causing unpredictable yet recurring pandemics, the last four emerging over the course of a hundred years. As our knowledge of influenza virus evolution, distribution, and transmission has increased, paths to pandemic preparedness have become apparent. In the 1950s, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a global influenza surveillance network that is now composed of institutions in 122 member states. This and other surveillance networks monitor circulating influenza strains in humans and animal reservoirs and are primed to detect influenza strains with pandemic potential. Both the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO have also developed pandemic risk assessment tools that evaluate specific aspects of emerging influenza strains to develop a systematic process of determining research and funding priorities according to the risk of emergence and potential impact. Here, we review the history of influenza pandemic preparedness and the current state of preparedness, and we propose additional measures for improvement. We also comment on the intersection between the influenza pandemic preparedness network and the current SARS-CoV-2 crisis. We must continually evaluate and revise our risk assessment and pandemic preparedness plans and incorporate new information gathered from research and global crises.Subject terms: Influenza virus, Infectious diseases