Albion College

About: Albion College is a education organization based out in Albion, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Higher education. The organization has 485 authors who have published 754 publications receiving 20907 citations.

Putting Humpty-Dumpty Together: Clustering the Functional Dynamics of Single Biomolecular Machines Such as the Spliceosome.

Abstract: The spliceosome is a biomolecular machine that, in all eukaryotes, accomplishes site-specific splicing of introns from precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) with high fidelity Operating at the nanometer scale, where inertia and friction have lost the dominant role they play in the macroscopic realm, the spliceosome is highly dynamic and assembles its active site around each pre-mRNA anew To understand the structural dynamics underlying the molecular motors, clocks, and ratchets that achieve functional accuracy in the yeast spliceosome (a long-standing model system), we have developed single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) approaches that report changes in intra- and intermolecular interactions in real time Building on our work using hidden Markov models (HMMs) to extract kinetic and conformational state information from smFRET time trajectories, we recognized that HMM analysis of individual state transitions as independent stochastic events is insufficient for a biomolecular machine as complex as the spliceosome In this chapter, we elaborate on the recently developed smFRET-based Single-Molecule Cluster Analysis (SiMCAn) that dissects the intricate conformational dynamics of a pre-mRNA through the splicing cycle in a model-free fashion By leveraging hierarchical clustering techniques developed for Bioinformatics, SiMCAn efficiently analyzes large datasets to first identify common molecular behaviors Through a second level of clustering based on the abundance of dynamic behaviors exhibited by defined functional intermediates that have been stalled by biochemical or genetic tools, SiMCAn then efficiently assigns pre-mRNA FRET states and transitions to specific splicing complexes, with the potential to find heretofore undescribed conformations SiMCAn thus arises as a general tool to analyze dynamic cellular machines more broadly

Toward a Monopoly Botnet Market

Abstract: Economics play an increasingly important role in fighting cyber crimes. While the arms race against botnet problems has achieved limited success, we propose an approach attacking botnets through affecting a botnet market structure. The characteristics of the present underground botnet market suggest that it functions effectively as perfectly competitive. Competitive markets are usually efficient. We argue that less competition in the botnet market is actually preferred. Our economic analysis suggests that monopoly reduces the overall market output of botnets. Using a model of market structure evolution, we identify key forces that affect the botnet market structure and propose possible ways such as defaming botnet entrants to reduce competition, which ultimately reduce the size and output of the botnet market. The analysis provides useful insight to botnet defenders as a guidance on an efficient allocation of defending resources by attacking more on new entrants to the botnet market relative to th...

“When Dans Weren't Damned: The Public Power Crusade and Visions of the Good Life in the Pacific Northwest in the 1930s”

Abstract: McPhee maintains that conservationists who remain rational in the face of oil spills "mysteriously go insane at even the thought of a dam." How can this violent reaction to dams be explained? Possibly, suggests McPhee, it is "because rivers are the ultimate metaphors of existence, and dams destroy rivers. Humiliating nature, a dam is evil-placed and solid."' Historical accounts of early 20th century conservation have emphasized the controversial decision to dam the Tuolumne River

Using Performance Assessments to Determine Competence in Clinical Athletic Training Education: How Valid Are Our Assessments?.

Abstract: Context: Validity arguments can be used to provide evidence that instructors are drawing accurate conclusions from the results of students' clinical performance assessments (PAs). Little research h...

Consistency of cardiologists' prognostic judgments in cases of myocardial infarction

Abstract: The basic goal of this research was to determine if cardiologists′ prognostic judgments could be reliably measured by use of a scaling technic. Prognostic judgments were studied in 20 cases of myocardial infarction. To determine what information should be presented to those making the judgments, a series of interviews were conducted with cardiologists and internists. They were asked what information they would like to have in order to make an immediate prognostic judgment. On the basis of the information obtained, case histories of myocardial infarction were reviewed in four hospitals. Twenty histories were selected. On the basis of the amount of information contained in the history, those histories were selected that came closest to having that information that the interviewees had said they wanted. The information on each patient was summarized on a sheet of paper. In the testing phase, 20 cardiologists were asked to place the 20 case histories in rank order in terms of favorability of immediate prognosis. Numerical scales were constructed from these rankings, and the reliability of the scale values was 0.97. Cardiologists are able to make extremely consistent prognostic judgments in a disease of their speciality. The implications for this type of research in medical education seem quite direct. Thus, it would be interesting to compare the reliability of the cardiologist's judgments to those with less specialized training or with medical students in their various stages of education. Perhaps this is a technic for measuring the development of clinical judgment.