The chromatin remodelling enzymes SNF2H and SNF2L position nucleosomes adjacent to CTCF and other transcription

Within the genomes of metazoans, nucleosomes are highly organised adjacent to the binding sites for a subset of transcription factors. Here we have sought to investigate which chromatin remodelling enzymes are responsible for this. We find that the ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling enzyme SNF2H plays a major role organising arrays of nucleosomes adjacent to the binding sites for the architectural transcription factor CTCF sites and acts to promote CTCF binding. At many other factor binding sites SNF2H and the related enzyme SNF2L contribute to nucleosome organisation. The action of SNF2H at CTCF sites is functionally important as depletion of CTCF or SNF2H affects transcription of a common group of genes. This suggests that chromatin remodelling ATPase's most closely related to the Drosophila ISWI protein contribute to the function of many human gene regulatory elements

European Union

This paper will identify the mission and the objective of the EU, analyze its structural and critical issues. Strategic policies, especially innovation, research and development policies, and EU capabilities will be highlighted. Strengths and weaknesses will be addressed

The Future of Global Positioning System Technology

Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology is one that may be considered silenf\u27 in its nature, existing in relative obscurity to the general public until roughly 1984. That is the year when the emphasis of it switched from strictly military applications to the first civilian and commercial applications. Even until 1991, given the relatively low exposure in limited surveying and navigation applications, the public was still unaware of its importance. Not until the Gulf War began between the U.S. led coalition against Iraq highlighted smart weapons systems , exemplified by the Cruise missile that are guided by the GPS embedded technology, did the general public and civilian/commercial market leaders awaken to it\u27s great potential. Since that time GPS technology has been applied in many industries, and has been one of the key factors supporting many innovative products and services that are vital in today\u27s economy. GPS technology is a spatial information technology that is integrated into the larger superhighway of information that has swept the globe in the last two decades. It is a precise technology that is satellite and land based, coordinated to provide accurate three-dimensional locations, absolute timing, and velocity of a given object on or in orbit around the earth. The U.S. GPS technology system is highlighted in this paper, and discussions of the existing Russian GLONASS system, and other global efforts in this technology field are examined to illustrate the great depth of its penetration into the information age. This paper will present: the history to date of applied GPS; an overview of the base and innovative GPS related technologies; a consideration of the strong world market for GPS products; four case studies from military and commercial application fields; a review of the latest policy issues affecting GPS evolution; and, the conclusions reached from the authors research and evaluation. With much gratitude, this includes the results of a survey based questioning of three local firms (direct GPS users) and an international research and development leader in the GPS field, which assisted us in drawing inferences on the position of GPS in ifs S-Curve . These are included in Appendices A and B. Essentially, GPS technology has been found to be in its exponential growth stage of the S-Curve , which may not be surprising given its relative youth in civil and commercial applications. A review of industry literature revealed to the authors that not only are new innovations occurring directly in GPS technology, but it is also an exciting component in the many innovative applications in related industries. The future of GPS is stronger than ever, and it\u27s most ardent proponents are pushing for an even higher profile and importance in military and civilian sectors. This will remain the subject of significant debate in the near future. GPS\u27s position is solid in many national infrastructures, regardless of any official status it receives, since it is relied upon as an invaluable tool protecting countries, providing safe travel by air, increasing productivity throughout the business world, and providing an innovative base into the heart of this century. Replacement technologies are a fact of the S-Curve life-cycle, but there is not currently a full fledged competitor that may signal its demise, and therefore the future is one of growth and further successes, may they be silent or not

The Columbia River Channel Deepening Project Balancing the Decision Using a Hierarchical Decision Model (HDM)

The Columbia River Channel Deepening Project (CRCD) currently under consideration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) would be the one of the largest federally funded public works projects in Oregon over the next decade, with a range of development costs between $150 and$200 million. The focus of the project is to increase the depth of the Columbia River to not less than 43 feet, such that larger loads of cargo may be exported from the Port of Portland to the Pacific Ocean. Thus, it will contribute to the larger goal of creating more export opportunities for the southwest Washington and Central Oregon markets of goods and services. The CRCD project is one that has generated many newspaper headlines, controversy and analysis by many interested parties over its ten year development process. It is an entity of great interest for decision makers in the engineering community as well, and as such, Team 1 identified this project as ripe for applying decision making course tools. Note: The presentation associated with this report is included here as a supplemental file