The predictability of DNA self-assembly is exploited in many nanotechnological approaches. Inspired by naturally existing self-assembled DNA architectures, branched DNA has been developed that allows self-assembly to predesigned architectures with dimensions on the nanometer scale. DNA is an attractive material for generation of nanostructures due to a plethora of enzymes which modify DNA with ...

Diamondoids are cage-like saturated hydrocarbons consisting of fused cyclohexane rings. The Diamondoids family of compounds is one of the best candidates for molecular building blocks (MBBs) in nanotechnology to construct organic nanostructures compared to other MBBs known so far. The challenge is to find a route for self-assembly of these cage hydrocarbons and their applications in the bottom-...

This article presents findings from five repertory grid interviews conducted in early 2001 to identify attributes of information as an asset. Repertory grid is a technique developed by George Kelly based on his theory of personal constructs. Personal construct theory (PCT) assumes that individuals are their own ‘personal scientists’ who mentally represent the world around them. The method was u...

Work is currently in progress on the following projects: What do experts/novices know about programming. T1 The objective here is to develop a plan-based theory of programming knowledge and to test it empirically with novice and expert programmers. We are also using this theory to study the bugs and misconceptions of novice programmers. Cognitively appropriate programming language constructs.’ ...

Like other constructivist approaches, Personal Construct Theory (PCT) views human activity as a meaning creating process. What human organisms do, is informed by the way they construe events, and in turn assign meaning to those events. Symptoms are a rare, but legitimate part of their activity. They challenge our everyday conceptions regarding human behaviour. From a personal construct perspect...

It is known that every class-regular symmetric μ,m -net is tactical. Also it is known that all μ,m nets with m 2 or μ 1 are tactical. In the work of Al-Kenani and Mavron 2003 , it is proved that every symmetric net with m 3 is tactical if and only if it is class regular. In this paper, we construct 2, 4 -net and show that it is class regular and therefore tactical. New necessary and sufficient ...

Small insertions were made independently at each of four unique restriction sites on African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) DNA A to disrupt the three overlapping complementary-sense open reading frames (ORFs) herein designated AC1, AC2 and AC3. The DNA A mutants were assayed for their infectivity by agroinoculation of monomeric constructs to Nicotiana benthamiana plants containing chromosomal ins...

Although undifferentiated F9 teratocarcinoma cells express low levels of mRNAs for collagen IV, previous transient transfection experiments using an alpha 1(IV) collagen gene promoter-enhancer-CAT construct revealed a high level of transcriptional activity in these cells. In this report, we find that when this construct is introduced stably into undifferentiated F9 teratocarcinoma cells, expres...

DNA-stabilized silver clusters (Ag-DNA) show excellent promise as a multi-functional nanoagent for molecular investigations in living cells. The unique properties of these fluorescent nanomaterials allow for intracellular optical sensors with tunable cytotoxicity based on simple modifications of the DNA sequences. Three Ag-DNA nanoagent designs are investigated, exhibiting optical responses to ...

Background: Puma is a highly robust pro-apoptotic protein. The protein becomes activated by p53 ensuing beyond-repair DNA damage. Downregulation of SIRT 1, by miR-128, elevates activated p53 that foment Puma indirectly. Objectives: In the present study, we used two-expression Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) system for co-expression of miR-128 and Puma in order to evaluate apoptotic response; both ...