The RNA polymerase II core promoter is a critical yet often overlooked component in the transcription process. The core promoter is defined as the stretch of DNA, which encompasses the RNA start site ...and is typically approx. 40-50 nt in length, that directs the initiation of gene transcription. In the past, it has been generally presumed that core promoters are general in function and that transcription initiation occurs via a common shared mechanism. Recent studies have revealed, however, that there is considerable diversity in core promoter structure and function. There are a number of DNA elements that contribute to core promoter activity, and the specific properties of a given core promoter are dictated by the presence or absence of these core promoter motifs. The known core promoter elements include the TATA box, Inr (initiator), BRE(u) {BRE TFIIB (transcription factor for RNA polymerase IIB) recognition element upstream of the TATA box} and BRE(d) (BRE downstream of the TATA box), MTE (motif ten element), DCE (downstream core element) and DPE (downstream core promoter element). In this paper, we will provide some perspectives on current and future issues that pertain to the RNA polymerase II core promoter.
The objective of this article is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of patients with herpes zoster (HZ) that take into account clinical efficacy, adverse effects, impact on ...quality of life, and costs of treatment. Systematic literature reviews, published randomized clinical trials, existing guidelines, and the authors' clinical and research experience relevant to the management of patients with HZ were reviewed at a consensus meeting. The results of controlled trials and the clinical experience of the authors support the use of acyclovir, brivudin (where available), famciclovir, and valacyclovir as first-line antiviral therapy for the treatment of patients with HZ. Specific recommendations for the use of these medications are provided. In addition, suggestions are made for treatments that, when used in combination with antiviral therapy, may further reduce pain and other complications of HZ.
Status of the TORCH time-of-flight project Harnew, N.; Bhasin, S.; Blake, T. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
02/2020, Volume:
952
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
TORCH is a time-of-flight detector, designed to provide charged π∕K particle identification up to a momentum of 10GeV/c for a 10m flight path. To achieve this level of performance, a time resolution ...of 15 ps per incident particle is required. TORCH uses a plane of quartz of 1 cm thickness as a source of Cherenkov photons, which are then focussed onto square Micro-Channel Plate Photomultipliers (MCP-PMTs) of active area 53 × 53mm2, segmented into 8 × 128 pixels equivalent. A small-scale TORCH demonstrator with a customised MCP-PMT and associated readout electronics has been successfully operated in a 5GeV/c mixed pion/proton beam at the CERN PS facility. Preliminary results indicate that a single-photon resolution better than 100ps can be achieved. The expected performance of a full-scale TORCH detector for the Upgrade II of the LHCb experiment is also discussed.
TORCH is a time-of-flight detector that is being developed for the Upgrade II of the LHCb experiment, with the aim of providing charged particle identification over the momentum range 2–10GeV/c. A ...small-scale TORCH demonstrator with customised readout electronics has been operated successfully in beam tests at the CERN PS. Preliminary results indicate that a single-photon resolution better than 100ps can be achieved.
A report on an initial genome screen on 540 individuals in 97 families was collected as part of the NIMH Genetics Initiative on Bipolar Disorder. Families were ascertained to be informative for ...genetic linkage and underwent a common ascertainment and assessment protocol at four clinical sites. The sample was genotyped for 65 highly polymorphic markers from chromosomes 1, 6, 8, 10, and 12. The average intermarker interval was 16 cM. Genotypic data was analyzed using affected sib pair, multipoint affected sib pair, and pedigree analysis methods. Multipoint methods gave lod scores of approximately two on chromosomes 1, 6, and 10. The peak lod score on chromosome 6 occurred at the end of the q-arm, at some distance from the 6p24-22 area previously implicated for schizophrenia. We are currently genotyping additional markers to reduce the intermarker interval around the signals. The interpretation of results from a genome screen of a complex disorder and the problem of achieving a balance between detecting false positive results and the ability to detect genes of modest effect are discussed.
Flavor physics in the quark sector Asner, D.M.; Bauer, D.; Becher, T. ...
Physics Reports,
2010, Volume:
494, Issue:
3
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Peer reviewed
Open access
In the past decade, one of the major challenges of particle physics has been to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of quark flavor. In this time frame, measurements and the theoretical ...interpretation of their results have advanced tremendously. A much broader understanding of flavor particles has been achieved; apart from their masses and quantum numbers, there now exist detailed measurements of the characteristics of their interactions allowing stringent tests of Standard Model predictions. Among the most interesting phenomena of flavor physics is the violation of the CP symmetry that has been subtle and difficult to explore. In the past, observations of CP violation were confined to neutral
K
mesons, but since the early 1990s, a large number of CP-violating processes have been studied in detail in neutral
B
mesons. In parallel, measurements of the couplings of the heavy quarks and the dynamics for their decays in large samples of
K
,
D
, and
B
mesons have been greatly improved in accuracy and the results are being used as probes in the search for deviations from the Standard Model.
In the near future, there will be a transition from the current to a new generation of experiments; thus a review of the status of quark flavor physics is timely. This report is the result of the work of physicists attending the 5th CKM workshop, hosted by the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, September 9–13, 2008. It summarizes the results of the current generation of experiments that are about to be completed and it confronts these results with the theoretical understanding of the field which has greatly improved in the past decade.
Twenty-eight individuals with familial schizophrenia, from 16 unrelated families (12 sibling pairs and 4 individuals whose siblings refused scanning), and 21 normal control subjects were examined by ...cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Measurements of the cerebrum, temporal lobes, and cerebral lateral ventricles were obtained using consecutive coronal sections containing these structures. Temporal lobe volume was significantly decreased by approximately 10% in these early onset schizophrenic siblings compared with normal controls. These findings add to recent post-mortem and neuroradiological evidence for morphological alteration in the temporal lobes in schizophrenia.