Associations between coronal mass ejections and interplanetary shocks

Nearly continuous complementary coronal observations and interplanetary plasma measurements for the years 1979-1982 are compared. It is shown that almost all low latitude high speed coronal mass ejections (CME's) were associated with shocks at HELIOS 1. Some suitably directed low speed CME's were clearly associated with shocks while others may have been associated with disturbed plasma (such as NCDE's) without shocks. A few opposite hemisphere CME's associated with great flares seem to be associated with shocks at HELIOS

Interpretation of the ion mass spectra in the mass range 25-35 obtained in the inner coma of Halley's comet by the HIS-sensor of the Giotto IMS Experiment

The IMS-HIS double-focussing mass spectrometer that flew on the Giotto spacecraft covered the mass per charge range from 12 to 56 (AMU/e). By comparing flight data, calibration data, and results of model calculations of the ion population in the inner coma, the absolute mass scale is established, and ions in the mass range 25 to 35 are identified. Ions resulting from protonation of molecules with high proton affinity are relatively abundant, enabling us to estimate relative source strengths for H2CO, CH3OH, HCN, and H2S, providing for the first time a positive in situ measurement of methanol. Also, upper limits for NO and some hydrocarbons are derived

Cross talk between Wnt/β-catenin and Irf8 in leukemia progression and drug resistance

Progression and disease relapse of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) depends on leukemia-initiating cells (LIC) that resist treatment. Using mouse genetics and a BCR-ABL model of CML, we observed cross talk between Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling and the interferon-regulatory factor 8 (Irf8). In normal hematopoiesis, activation of {beta}-catenin results in up-regulation of Irf8, which in turn limits oncogenic {beta}-catenin functions. Self-renewal and myeloproliferation become dependent on {beta}-catenin in Irf8-deficient animals that develop a CML-like disease. Combined Irf8 deletion and constitutive {beta}-catenin activation result in progression of CML into fatal blast crisis, elevated leukemic potential of BCR-ABL-induced LICs, and Imatinib resistance. Interestingly, activated {beta}-catenin enhances a preexisting Irf8-deficient gene signature, identifying {beta}-catenin as an amplifier of progression-specific gene regulation in the shift of CML to blast crisis. Collectively, our data uncover Irf8 as a roadblock for {beta}-catenin-driven leukemia and imply both factors as targets in combinatorial therapy

Economic growth in the post-socialist Russian Federation after 1991 : the role of institutions

The paper emphasizes the transition in Russia and the role institutions played before and during the process. In Russia, a ?big bang? approach was applied. That is to say, transition was conducted all of a sudden, omitting important underlying reforms. This practice should function as a shock therapy. Hence, the approach should leave no other chance than an abrupt adaption to the new free-market rules. These rules would then lead to fast economic growth and development, as they did in other places. However, since Russian GDP per capita and thereby living standards deteriorated dramatically in the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the plan did not work. At any rate, since then Russian economic indicators recovered and partly achieved their pre-1991 levels at the end of the last decade. The paper depicts Russia?s reform efforts and the subsequent developments. The close ties among the political elite, the banking sector and the old nomenklatura are demonstrated. The patrimonial system that persisted for centuries is still observable at the state level. At any rate, Russia can neither evade its historical and institutional development path nor its societal structures that are based on networks and nepotism. Russia?s systemic lack of the rule of law and therewith of secure property, the character of the Russian political system with the patriarch as the head of state and the resulting necessity of corruption and bribes inhibit the realization of its full growth potential

Beagle 2: Mission to Mars — current status

Beagle 2, developed in the UK, was launched on June 2, 2003. It landed on Mars on December 25th, 2003 in Isidis Planitia, a large sedimentary basin. To date, the team is awaiting signals from the Beagle 2 lander. Current status of the mission will be reported

Molecular Genetics of T Cell Development

T cell development is guided by a complex set of transcription factors that act recursively, in different combinations, at each of the developmental choice points from T-lineage specification to peripheral T cell specialization. This review describes the modes of action of the major T-lineage-defining transcription factors and the signal pathways that activate them during intrathymic differentiation from pluripotent precursors. Roles of Notch and its effector RBPSuh (CSL), GATA-3, E2A/HEB and Id proteins, c-Myb, TCF-1, and members of the Runx, Ets, and Ikaros families are critical. Less known transcription factors that are newly recognized as being required for T cell development at particular checkpoints are also described. The transcriptional regulation of T cell development is contrasted with that of B cell development, in terms of their different degrees of overlap with the stem-cell program and the different roles of key transcription factors in gene regulatory networks leading to lineage commitment

High Levels of Education Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults: Results from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

Although autoimmune diabetes in adults is a common form of diabetes, knowledge on risk factors and long term consequences of the disease is limited. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the influence of socioeconomic factors (education and occupation), sleep disturbances and psychological well-being on the risk of developing autoimmune diabetes in adults, to investigate whether genetic variation in the melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) contributes to the association between poor sleep and type 2 diabetes which has been previously suggested, and finally to investigate the risk of mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease and ischemic heart disease in adult-onset autoimmune diabetes, with consideration of the possible influence of metabolic risk factors, glycaemic control, lifestyle factors and socioeconomic position. These studies are based on data from the Norwegian HUNT Study, to date the largest population-based study where incident cases of autoimmune diabetes in adults can be separated from cases of type 2 diabetes. The HUNT Study consists of three separate surveys performed on three occasions in 1984-2008 and contains information from questionnaires, clinical examinations and blood samples. Information on mortality was obtained by linkage to the national Cause of Death Registry. Individuals who were positive for antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase and with onset of diabetes at ≥35 years were classified as having autoimmune diabetes in adults. The main finding of Study I was that high educational levels (university versus primary school) were associated with an increased risk of autoimmune diabetes in adults (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.21-3.26) after adjustment for BMI, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and family history of diabetes, whereas type 2 diabetes was more common in those with low education. An increased risk of autoimmune diabetes in adults was also seen in individuals who reported having sleep disturbances and low psychological well-being (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.10-3.09), a risk similar to that seen in type 2 diabetes (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13-1.50) (Study II). The results from Study III indicated that there was no influence of the MTNR1B genetic variant on the association between poor sleep and type 2 diabetes. The association remained after adjustment for genotype and was seen in non-carriers as well as in carriers of the risk allele. Mortality from all causes (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.25-1.92), cardiovascular disease (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.40-2.48) and ischemic heart disease (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.57-3.64) was increased in autoimmune diabetes in adults compared to individuals without diabetes. Importantly, mortality risk was as high as in type 2 diabetes, despite a more favourable metabolic risk profile in patients with autoimmune diabetes. In these patients, excess mortality appeared to be primarily associated with poor glycaemic control. These findings suggest, for the first time, that socioeconomic and psychosocial factors contribute to the development of autoimmune diabetes in adults. The results are in line with previous data indicating that the aetiology of autoimmune diabetes is partly similar to that of type 2 diabetes but suggest, also, that there are other, currently unidentified, environmental risk factors for autoimmune diabetes that remain to be explored. Finally, the results indicate that survival in individuals with autoimmune diabetes with adult onset would be improved by a more effective treatment

Pharmacological restoration and therapeutic targeting of the B-cell phenotype in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma

Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), although originating from B-cells, is characterized by the virtual lack of gene products whose expression constitutes the B-cell phenotype. Epigenetic repression of B-cell-specific genes via promoter hypermethylation and histone deacetylation as well as compromised expression of B-cell-committed transcription factors were previously reported to contribute to the lost B-cell phenotype in cHL. Restoring the B-cell phenotype may not only correct a central malignant property, but render cHL susceptible to clinically established antibody therapies targeting B-cell surface receptors or small compounds interfering with B-cell receptor signaling. We conducted now a high-throughput pharmacological screening based on more than 28,000 compounds in cHL cell lines carrying a CD19 reporter to identify drugs that promote re-expression of the B-cell phenotype. Three chemicals were retrieved that robustly enhanced CD19 transcription. Subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation-based analyses indicated that action of two of these compounds was associated with lowered levels of the transcriptionally repressive lysine 9-trimethylated histone H3 mark at the CD19 promoter. Moreover, the anti-leukemia agents all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide (ATO) were found to reconstitute the silenced B-cell transcriptional program and reduce viability of cHL cell lines. When applied in combination with a screening-identified chemical, ATO evoked re-expression of the CD20 antigen, which could be further therapeutically exploited by enabling CD20 antibody-mediated apoptosis of cHL cells. Furthermore, restoration of the B-cell phenotype also rendered cHL cells susceptible to the B-cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-tailored small compound inhibitors Ibrutinib and Idelalisib. In essence, we report here a conceptually novel, re-differentiation-based treatment strategy for cHL

Multi-Jet Event Rates in Deep Inelastic Scattering and Determination of the Strong Coupling Constant

Jet event rates in deep inelastic ep scattering at HERA are investigated applying the modified JADE jet algorithm. The analysis uses data taken with the H1 detector in 1994 and 1995. The data are corrected for detector and hadronization effects and then compared with perturbative QCD predictions using next-to-leading order calculations. The strong coupling constant alpha_S(M_Z^2) is determined evaluating the jet event rates. Values of alpha_S(Q^2) are extracted in four different bins of the negative squared momentum transfer~\qq in the range from 40 GeV2 to 4000 GeV2. A combined fit of the renormalization group equation to these several alpha_S(Q^2) values results in alpha_S(M_Z^2) = 0.117+-0.003(stat)+0.009-0.013(syst)+0.006(jet algorithm).Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, this version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.; it replaces first posted hep-ex/9807019 which had incorrect figure 4