AbstractAn open access community is a digital repository or an online community where scientific information and communication are free to the public through computing technologies (Hanauske, M., et al 2007; Hubbard, C., et al, 2005). Open access community provides a new way for knowledge sharing and knowledge management. It takes advantage of collective expertise by providing a repository for research papers and research data that are scattered or take a long time to be published. The panel will discuss experiences and challenges people face in various open access communities. Particularly, we will discuss the following issues: How did each community or repository achieve the functions of “organize” and “share” among people having a common interest in the community? How long did it take to launch and establish an open‐access community? What impact of such an open‐access community / repository has on people's interaction with information? Impact on fee‐based digital libraries or traditional libraries? What the tradeoffs are between opened vs. controlled? How well do they address privacy issues? How well is current open access community/ repository meeting human needs, and what should future technology research and development involve to better meet user needs?

The effects of mutations of --10 T:A to A:T, C:G, or G:C in the lambda P(R) promoter on formation of transcriptionally competent open complexes were studied by DNAse I footprinting, KMnO(4)-sensitivity, and abortive initiation kinetic analysis. The mutations --10A (T:A --> A:T) and --10C significantly reduce k(f), the composite rate constant for conversion of closed complexes (RP(c)) to open complexes (RP(o)) but do not affect K(B), the equilibrium constant for formation of closed complexes. Unlike the other mutants or wild-type P(R), the mutation with the largest effect on open complex formation, --10G (T:A --> G:C), substantially decreases the occupancy of the promoter. When reduced occupancy is taken into account, the calculated effect of the mutation on k(f) is a 20-fold reduction. Analysis of open complex formation by a three-step pathway that includes an additional intermediate, RP(i), indicates that the primary effect of all three mutations is a reduction in the rate of isomerization of RP(c) to RP(i), which precedes DNA strand separation. Thus, RNA polymerase holoenzyme must recognize specific base pairs in the --10 region of P(R) while the DNA is still double-stranded. Comparison of the observed level of stable complexes (RP(i) plus RP(o)) with the level of productive complexes (RP(o)) indicates that the --10G mutation may also affect the equilibrium between RP(i) and RP(o) at 37 degrees. Open complexes formed at the three mutant promoters are approximately 3-5 times less stable at 37 degrees than those formed at wild-type P(R).