States of decay: The systems biology of mRNA stability

An appropriate equilibrium between transcription and mRNA decay is vital for the function of the cell. The RNA-binding complexes regulating mRNA degradation, such as carbon catabolite repression 4-negative on TATA-less, may also control several other stages of the mRNA life cycle, from transcription to translation. This pleiotropic control complicates the analysis of mRNA stability. Computational models have analysed the mechanisms underlying mRNA turnover and have been used to extract mRNA decay rates from high-throughput data sets. Multiomics studies have clarified the actions of RNA-binding complexes, and such studies allow the evolution of more accurate and complex computational models. This review discusses two complementary aspects of systems biology in the study of mRNA decay—computational modelling of mRNA turnover and recent ‘-omics’ studies of the function of RNA-binding proteins controlling mRNA stability

Expression in the human brain of retinoic acid induced 1, a protein associated with neurobehavioural disorders

Acknowledgements Funding was provided by the Wellcome Trust and Tenovus Scotland. Prof Fragoso is the recipient of a Post Doctoral Science without Borders grant from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, 37450/2012- 7). We also thank Aberdeen Proteomics for assistance with the western blots as well as the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the University of Aberdeen for confocal microscopy.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Rhythmic Diurnal Synthesis and Signaling of Retinoic Acid in the Rat Pineal Gland and Its Action to Rapidly Downregulate ERK Phosphorylation

Open access via Springer Compact Agreement Funding was provided by a Biological Sciences Research Council East of Scotland BioScience Doctoral Training Partnership PhD Studentship awarded to Anna Ashton. qPCR was performed in the Institute of Medical Sciences qPCR Core Facility, University of Aberdeen. Microscopy was performed in the Institute of Medical Sciences Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The rhythm of retinoids in the brain

Funded by Biological Sciences Research Council. Grant Numbers: BB/G014272/1, BB/K001043/1Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Cosmological Analogues of the Bartnik--McKinnon Solutions

We present a numerical classification of the spherically symmetric, static solutions to the Einstein--Yang--Mills equations with cosmological constant $\Lambda$. We find three qualitatively different classes of configurations, where the solutions in each class are characterized by the value of $\Lambda$ and the number of nodes, $n$, of the Yang--Mills amplitude. For sufficiently small, positive values of the cosmological constant, \Lambda < \Llow(n), the solutions generalize the Bartnik--McKinnon solitons, which are now surrounded by a cosmological horizon and approach the deSitter geometry in the asymptotic region. For a discrete set of values $\Lambda_{\rm reg}(n) > \Lambda_{\rm crit}(n)$, the solutions are topologically $3$--spheres, the ground state $(n=1)$ being the Einstein Universe. In the intermediate region, that is for \Llow(n) < \Lambda < \Lhig(n), there exists a discrete family of global solutions with horizon and ``finite size''.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, 9 Postscript figures, uses epsf.st

Fenretinide Treatment Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity in Association With Major Alterations in Retinoid Homeostatic Gene Expression in Adipose, Liver and Hypothalamus

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Patients with multiple sclerosis do not necessarily consume more alcohol or tobacco than the general population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Design project: LONGBOW supersonic interceptor

A recent white paper entitled 'From the Sea' has spotlighted the need for Naval Aviation to provide overland support to joint operations. The base for this support, the Aircraft Carrier (CVN), will frequently be unable to operate within close range of the battleground because of littoral land-based air and subsurface threats. A high speed, long range, carrier capable aircraft would allow the CVN to provide timely support to distant battleground operations. Such an aircraft, operating as a Deck-Launched Interceptor (DLI), would also be an excellent counter to Next Generation Russian Naval Aviation (NGRNA) threats consisting of supersonic bombers, such as the Backfire, equipped with the next generation of high-speed, long-range missiles. Additionally, it would serve as an excellent high speed Reconnaissance airplane, capable of providing Battle Force commanders with timely, accurate pre-mission targeting information and post-mission Bomb Damage Assessment (BDA). Recent advances in computational hypersonic airflow modeling has produced a method of defining aircraft shapes that fit a conical shock flow model to maximize the efficiency of the vehicle. This 'Waverider' concept provides one means of achieving long ranges at high speeds. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued by Professor Conrad Newberry that contained design requirements for an aircraft to accomplish the above stated missions, utilizing Waverider technology

Trialogue on the number of fundamental constants

This paper consists of three separate articles on the number of fundamental dimensionful constants in physics. We started our debate in summer 1992 on the terrace of the famous CERN cafeteria. In the summer of 2001 we returned to the subject to find that our views still diverged and decided to explain our current positions. LBO develops the traditional approach with three constants, GV argues in favor of at most two (within superstring theory), while MJD advocates zero.Comment: Version appearing in JHEP; 31 pages late