Azimuthal correlation between the (p⃗l,p⃗Xb)(\vec{p}_l,\vec{p}_{X_b}) and (p⃗l,P⃗t)(\vec{p}_l,\vec{P}_t) planes in the semileptonic rest frame decay of a polarized top quark: An O(αs)O(\alpha_s) effect

The azimuthal correlation between the planes formed by the vectors $(\vec{p}_\ell,\vec{p}_{X_b})$ and $(\vec{p}_\ell,\vec{P}_t)$ in the semileptonic rest frame decay of a polarized top quark $t(\uparrow) \to X_b + l^+ + \nu_\ell$ belongs to a class of polarization observables involving the top quark which vanish at the Born term level in the standard model. We determine the next--to--leading order QCD corrections to the afore-mentioned azimuthal correlation and compare the result to the corresponding contribution of a non--standard--model right--chiral quark current.Comment: latex, 12 pages with 2 figures in the text, typos removed,comment and references added, replaced with published versio

On the direction of transcription of cloned genes in Neurospora crassa.

On the direction of transcription of cloned genes in Neurospora crassa

Co-regulation of two tandem genes by one blue-light element in Neurospora crassa

Many genes of Neurospora crassa are regulated by blue light: al-1 (Schmidhauser et al. 1990 Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:5064-5070), al-2 (Lauter, Schmidhauser, Yanofsky, Russo unpublished), al-3 (Nelson et al. 1989 Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:1271-1276), bli-3, bli-4, bli-7, bli-13 (Sommer et al. 1989 NAR 17:5713-5723). For none of these genes are the blue light cis-regulatory sequences (blue-light elements, BE) known. Here we report the presence of such BE in front of bli-4

On the state of Latin American states: approaching the bicentenary

Praca recenzowana / Peer-reviewed paperWhat is the actual condition of the state in Latin America? Each contributor to this volume has been invited to answer this question by writing an interpretative essay from a specifically suggested angle: the origins of the state; government and society; economic growth; society and economy; nation-building; the indigenous population; political culture; international relations etc. It was the contributors’ decision which particular states to focus on in order to best illuminate the issues involved. Our main focus in the volume is on outlining some of the processes concerning the state now, two hundred years since the first declarations of independence. Along the way, we tackle both theoretical and normative issues. All the contributors to this volume share a long-cultivated multidisciplinary research interest in Latin America but the volume also reflects our disagreement on what we take the state to be as well as on the prevailing situation in Latin America. Each chapter reflects the views of its author all the way down to his choice of British or American English. As a result all chapters reflect the authors’ views on the contemporary state of the State in Latin America, as well as – why not say it – the authors’ identities. The book is aimed primarily at academics and students of the humanities and social sciences

On the Early History of Current Algebra

The history of Current Algebra is reviewed up to the appearance of the Adler-Weisberger sum rule. Particular emphasis is given to the role current algebra played for the historical struggle in strong interaction physics of elementary particles between the S-matrix approach based on dispersion relations and field theory. The question whether there are fundamental particles or all hadrons are bound or resonant states of one another played an important role in this struggle and is thus also regarded.Comment: 17 page

Mutation analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Iranian high risk breast cancer families

Background: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesises telomeres after cell division and maintains chromosomal stability leading to cellular immortalization. Telomerase has been associated with negative prognostic indicators in some studies. The present study aims to detect any association between telomerase sub-units: hTERT and hTR and the prognostic indicators including tumour's size and grade, nodal status and patient's age. Methods: Tumour samples from 46 patients with primary invasive breast cancer and 3 patients with benign tumours were collected. RT-PCR analysis was used for the detection of hTR, hTERT, and PGM1 (as a housekeeping) genes expression. Results: The expression of hTR and hTERT was found in 31(67.4%) and 38 (82.6%) samples respectively. We observed a significant association between hTR gene expression and younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.019) when comparing patients ≤ 40 years with those who are older than 40 years. None of the benign tumours expressed hTR gene. However, the expression of hTERT gene was revealed in 2 samples. No significant association between hTR and hTERT expression and tumour's grade, stage and nodal status was seen. Conclusion: The expression of hTR and hTERT seems to be independent of tumour's stage. hTR expression probably plays a greater role in mammary tumourogenesis in younger women (≤ 40 years) and this may have therapeutic implications in the context of hTR targeting strategies

Identification of a novel phosphorylation site in hepatitis C virus NS5A

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A protein is phosphorylated on multiple residues; however, despite extensive study, the precise identity of these sites has not been determined unambiguously. In this study, we have used a combination of immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify these phosphorylation sites. This analysis revealed the presence of a major phosphorylated residue within NS5A from the genotype 1b Con1 isolate – serine 249 (serine 2221 in polyprotein numbering). However, mutation of this residue (or the corresponding threonine in the JFH-1 isolate) to either a phosphomimetic (aspartate) or a phosphoablative (alanine) residue resulted in no phenotype. We conclude that phosphorylation of this residue, in the context of a highly culture-adapted HCV genome, does not play a role in either viral RNA replication or virus assembly. It is possible that it might be important in an aspect of virus biology that is not recapitulated faithfully in the Huh-7 cell-culture system

Expanding the host range of hepatitis C virus through viral adaptation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) species tropism is incompletely understood. We have previously shown that at the level of entry, human CD81 and occludin (OCLN) comprise the minimal set of human factors needed for viral uptake into murine cells. As an alternative approach to genetic humanization, species barriers can be overcome by adapting HCV to use the murine orthologues of these entry factors. We previously generated a murine tropic HCV (mtHCV or Jc1/mCD81) strain harboring three mutations within the viral envelope proteins that allowed productive entry into mouse cell lines. In this study, we aimed to characterize the ability of mtHCV to enter and infect mouse hepatocytes in vivo and in vitro Using a highly sensitive, Cre-activatable reporter, we demonstrate that mtHCV can enter mouse hepatocytes in vivo in the absence of any human cofactors. Viral entry still relied on expression of mouse CD81 and SCARB1 and was more efficient when mouse CD81 and OCLN were overexpressed. HCV entry could be significantly reduced in the presence of anti-HCV E2 specific antibodies, suggesting that uptake of mtHCV is dependent on viral glycoproteins. Despite mtHCV's ability to enter murine hepatocytes in vivo, we did not observe persistent infection, even in animals with severely blunted type I and III interferon signaling and impaired adaptive immune responses. Altogether, these results establish proof of concept that the barriers limiting HCV species tropism can be overcome by viral adaptation. However, additional viral adaptations will likely be needed to increase the robustness of a murine model system for hepatitis C. IMPORTANCE: At least 150 million individuals are chronically infected with HCV and are at risk of developing serious liver disease. Despite the advent of effective antiviral therapy, the frequency of chronic carriers has only marginally decreased. A major roadblock in developing a vaccine that would prevent transmission is the scarcity of animal models that are susceptible to HCV infection. It is poorly understood why HCV infects only humans and chimpanzees. To develop an animal model for hepatitis C, previous efforts focused on modifying the host environment of mice, for example, to render them more susceptible to HCV infection. Here, we attempted a complementary approach in which a laboratory-derived HCV variant was tested for its ability to infect mice. We demonstrate that this engineered HCV strain can enter mouse liver cells but does not replicate efficiently. Thus, additional adaptations are likely needed to construct a robust animal model for HCV

Chiral corrections to the vector and axial couplings of quarks and baryons

We calculate chiral corrections to the semileptonic vector and axial quark coupling constants using a manifestly Lorentz covariant chiral quark approach up to order O(p4) in the two- and tree-flavor picture. These couplings are then used in the evaluation of the corresponding couplings which govern the semileptonic transitions between octet baryon states. In the calculation of baryon matrix elements we use a general ansatz for the spatial form of the quark wave function, without referring to a specific realization of hadronization and confinement of quarks in baryons. Matching the physical amplitudes calculated within our approach to the model-independent predictions of baryon chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) allows one to deduce the connection between our parameters and those of baryon ChPT.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figure