Understanding the role of chromatin remodeling in the regulation of circadian transcription in Drosophila.

Circadian clocks enable organisms to anticipate daily changes in the environment and coordinate temporal rhythms in physiology and behavior with the 24-h day-night cycle. The robust cycling of circadian gene expression is critical for proper timekeeping, and is regulated by transcription factor binding, RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) recruitment and elongation, and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Recently, it has become clear that dynamic alterations in chromatin landscape at the level of histone posttranslational modification and nucleosome density facilitate rhythms in transcription factor recruitment and RNAPII activity, and are essential for progression through activating and repressive phases of circadian transcription. Here, we discuss the characterization of the BRAHMA (BRM) chromatin-remodeling protein in Drosophila in the context of circadian clock regulation. By dissecting its catalytic vs. non-catalytic activities, we propose a model in which the non-catalytic activity of BRM functions to recruit repressive factors to limit the transcriptional output of CLOCK (CLK) during the active phase of circadian transcription, while the primary function of the ATP-dependent catalytic activity is to tune and prevent over-recruitment of negative regulators by increasing nucleosome density. Finally, we divulge ongoing efforts and investigative directions toward a deeper mechanistic understanding of transcriptional regulation of circadian gene expression at the chromatin level

Piezoelectric dispenser based on a piezoelectric-metal-cavity actuator

Author name used in this publication: K. H. LamAuthor name used in this publication: C. L. SunAuthor name used in this publication: K. W. KwokAuthor name used in this publication: H. L. W. Chan2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers based on P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer thin films

2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Energy harvesting with piezoelectric drum transducer

Author name used in this publication: Kwok Ho LamAuthor name used in this publication: Cheng Liang SunAuthor name used in this publication: Kin Wing KwokAuthor name used in this publication: Helen Lai Wa ChanAuthor name used in this publication: Ming Sen GuoAuthor name used in this publication: Xing-Zhong Zhao2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

A community based intervention program to enhance neighborhood cohesion: The Learning Families Project in Hong Kong

published_or_final_versio

A mathematical model for correcting patient setup errors using a tilt and roll device

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134812/1/mp8797.pd

A tilt and roll device for automated correction of rotational setup errors

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135033/1/mp8355.pd

Dementia and risk of visual impairment in Chinese older adults

We had previously identified visual impairment increasing risk of incident dementia. While a bi-directional vision-cognition association has subsequently been proposed, no study has specifically examined the longitudinal association between dementia and incidence of clinically defined visual impairment. In this territory-wide community cohort study of 10,806 visually unimpaired older adults, we examined their visual acuity annually for 6 years and tested if dementia at baseline was independently associated with higher risk of incident visual impairment (LogMAR ≥ 0.50 in the better eye despite best correction, which is equivalent to moderate visual impairment according to the World Health Organization definition). By the end of Year 6, a total of 3151 (29.2%) participants developed visual impairment. However, we did not find baseline dementia associating with higher risk of incident visual impairment, after controlling for baseline visual acuity, cataract, glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, heart diseases, stroke, Parkinson's disease, depression, hearing and physical impairments, physical, intellectual and social activities, diet, smoking, age, sex, educational level, and socioeconomic status. Among different covariables, baseline visual acuity appears to be more important than dementia in contributing to the development of visual impairment. Our present findings highlight the need for re-evaluating whether dementia is indeed a risk factor for visual impairment

Report of AAPM Therapy Physics Committee Task Group 74: Inâ air output ratio, Sc, for megavoltage photon beams

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134830/1/mp7367.pd