Large Extra Dimension effects through Light-by-Light Scattering at the CERN LHC

Observing light-by-light scattering at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has received quite some attention and it is believed to be a clean and sensitive channel to possible new physics. In this paper, we study the diphoton production at the LHC via the process $\rm pp\rightarrow p\gamma\gamma p\rightarrow p\gamma\gamma p$ through graviton exchange in the Large Extra Dimension (LED) model. Typically, when we do the background analysis, we also study the Double Pomeron Exchange (DPE) of $\gamma\gamma$ production. We compare its production in the quark-quark collision mode to the gluon-gluon collision mode and find that contributions from the gluon-gluon collision mode are comparable to the quark-quark one. Our result shows, for extra dimension $\delta=4$, with an integrated luminosity $\rm {\cal L} = 200 fb^{-1}$ at the 14 TeV LHC, that diphoton production through graviton exchange can probe the LED effects up to the scale $\rm M_S=5.06 (4.51, 5.11) TeV$ for the forward detector acceptance $\xi_1 (\xi_2, \xi_3)$, respectively, where $0.0015<\xi_1<0.5$, $0.1<\xi_2<0.5$ and $0.0015<\xi_3<0.15$.Comment: 25 pages. 7 figs. Change some grammatical error

The greedy basis equals the theta basis: A rank two haiku

We prove the equality of two canonical bases of a rank 2 cluster algebra, the greedy basis of Lee–Li–Zelevinsky and the theta basis of Gross–Hacking–Keel–Kontsevich.National Science FoundationThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcta.2016.08.00

Breast Conservation Treatment in Hong Kong – Early Results of 203 Patients: Retrospective Study

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Solution structure of a repeated unit of the ABA-1 nematode polyprotein allergen of ascaris reveals a novel fold and two discrete lipid-binding sites

Parasitic nematode worms cause serious health problems in humans and other animals. They can induce allergic-type immune responses, which can be harmful but may at the same time protect against the infections. Allergens are proteins that trigger allergic reactions and these parasites produce a type that is confined to nematodes, the nematode polyprotein allergens (NPAs). These are synthesized as large precursor proteins comprising repeating units of similar amino acid sequence that are subsequently cleaved into multiple copies of the allergen protein. NPAs bind small lipids such as fatty acids and retinol (Vitamin A) and probably transport these sensitive and insoluble compounds between the tissues of the worms. Nematodes cannot synthesize these lipids, so NPAs may also be crucial for extracting nutrients from their hosts. They may also be involved in altering immune responses by controlling the lipids by which the immune and inflammatory cells communicate. We describe the molecular structure of one unit of an NPA, the well-known ABA-1 allergen of Ascaris and find its structure to be of a type not previously found for lipid-binding proteins, and we describe the unusual sites where lipids bind within this structur

The signalling channel of Central Bank interventions:modelling the Yen/US dollar exchange rate

This paper presents a theoretical framework analysing the signalling channel of exchange rate interventions as an informational trigger. We develop an implicit target zone framework with learning in order to model the signalling channel. The theoretical premise of the model is that interventions convey signals that communicate information about the exchange rate objectives of the central bank. The model is used to analyse the impact of Japanese FX interventions during the period 1999--2011 on the yen/US dollar dynamics

Human papillomavirus status in southern Chinese women

1. The overall and type-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence differed between Hong Kong and Guangzhou healthy women. The prevalence of HPV was significantly higher in Guangzhou than Hong Kong women. Younger women had significantly higher risk of HPV infection. 2. HPV16 remained the most common type detected in both regions; the frequency increased with increasing disease severity. The prevalence of HPV58 and HPV52 was relatively high in women with normal cervix and precancerous lesions.published_or_final_versio

Highly efficient PCR assay to discriminate allelic DNA methylation status using whole genome amplification

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We previously developed a simple method termed <it>Hpa</it>II-<it>McrBC </it>PCR (HM-PCR) to discriminate allelic methylation status of the genomic sites of interest, and successfully applied it to a comprehensive analysis of CpG islands (CGIs) on human chromosome 21q. However, HM-PCR requires 200 ng of genomic DNA to examine one target site, thereby precluding its application to such samples that are limited in quantity.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We developed <it>Hpa</it>II-<it>McrBC </it>whole-genome-amplification PCR (HM-WGA-PCR) that uses whole-genome-amplified DNA as the template. HM-WGA-PCR uses only 1/100th the genomic template material required for HM-PCR. Indeed, we successfully analyzed 147 CGIs by HM-WGA-PCR using only ~300 ng of DNA, whereas previous HM-PCR study had required ~30 μg. Furthermore, we confirmed that allelic methylation status revealed by HM-WGA-PCR is identical to that by HM-PCR in every case of the 147 CGIs tested, proving high consistency between the two methods.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HM-WGA-PCR would serve as a reliable alternative to HM-PCR in the analysis of allelic methylation status when the quantity of DNA available is limited.</p

Ezrin interacts with the SARS coronavirus spike protein and restrains infection at the entry stage

© 2012 Millet et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Background: Entry of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and its envelope fusion with host cell membrane are controlled by a series of complex molecular mechanisms, largely dependent on the viral envelope glycoprotein Spike (S). There are still many unknowns on the implication of cellular factors that regulate the entry process. Methodology/Principal Findings: We performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using as bait the carboxy-terminal endodomain of S, which faces the cytosol during and after opening of the fusion pore at early stages of the virus life cycle. Here we show that the ezrin membrane-actin linker interacts with S endodomain through the F1 lobe of its FERM domain and that both the eight carboxy-terminal amino-acids and a membrane-proximal cysteine cluster of S endodomain are important for this interaction in vitro. Interestingly, we found that ezrin is present at the site of entry of S-pseudotyped lentiviral particles in Vero E6 cells. Targeting ezrin function by small interfering RNA increased S-mediated entry of pseudotyped particles in epithelial cells. Furthermore, deletion of the eight carboxy-terminal amino acids of S enhanced S-pseudotyped particles infection. Expression of the ezrin dominant negative FERM domain enhanced cell susceptibility to infection by SARS-CoV and S pseudotyped particles and potentiated S-dependent membrane fusion. Conclusions/Significance: Ezrin interacts with SARS-CoV S endodomain and limits virus entry and fusion. Our data present a novel mechanism involving a cellular factor in the regulation of S-dependent early events of infection.This work was supported by the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (RGC#760208)and the RESPARI project of the International Network of Pasteur Institutes

MEIS2 Is an Adrenergic Core Regulatory Transcription Factor Involved in Early Initiation of TH-MYCN-Driven Neuroblastoma Formation.

Roughly half of all high-risk neuroblastoma patients present with MYCN amplification. The molecular consequences of MYCN overexpression in this aggressive pediatric tumor have been studied for decades, but thus far, our understanding of the early initiating steps of MYCN-driven tumor formation is still enigmatic. We performed a detailed transcriptome landscaping during murine TH-MYCN-driven neuroblastoma tumor formation at different time points. The neuroblastoma dependency factor MEIS2, together with ASCL1, was identified as a candidate tumor-initiating factor and shown to be a novel core regulatory circuit member in adrenergic neuroblastomas. Of further interest, we found a KEOPS complex member (gm6890), implicated in homologous double-strand break repair and telomere maintenance, to be strongly upregulated during tumor formation, as well as the checkpoint adaptor Claspin (CLSPN) and three chromosome 17q loci CBX2, GJC1 and LIMD2. Finally, cross-species master regulator analysis identified FOXM1, together with additional hubs controlling transcriptome profiles of MYCN-driven neuroblastoma. In conclusion, time-resolved transcriptome analysis of early hyperplastic lesions and full-blown MYCN-driven neuroblastomas yielded novel components implicated in both tumor initiation and maintenance, providing putative novel drug targets for MYCN-driven neuroblastoma