Structural Relationships between Highly Conserved Elements and Genes in Vertebrate Genomes

Large numbers of sequence elements have been identified to be highly conserved among vertebrate genomes. These highly conserved elements (HCEs) are often located in or around genes that are involved in transcription regulation and early development. They have been shown to be involved in cis-regulatory activities through both in vivo and additional computational studies. We have investigated the structural relationships between such elements and genes in six vertebrate genomes human, mouse, rat, chicken, zebrafish and tetraodon and detected several thousand cases of conserved HCE-gene associations, and also cases of HCEs with no common target genes. A few examples underscore the potential significance of our findings about several individual genes. We found that the conserved association between HCE/HCEs and gene/genes are not restricted to elements by their absolute distance on the genome. Notably, long-range associations were identified and the molecular functions of the associated genes do not show any particular overrepresentation of the functional categories previously reported. HCEs in close proximity are found to be linked with different set of gene/genes. The results reflect the highly complex correlation between HCEs and their putative target genes

Electroweak corrections to the H→ttˉH\to t\bar{t} decay rate

The electroweak corrections at one-loop level to the process $H\rightarrow t{\bar t}$ are calculated, especially the fresh top mass value announced recently by CDF is concerned. For $M_H < 1. TeV$ where a perturbative calculation is valid, the corrections themselves would gain a few to 20 percent increment in the decay width as the Higgs mass $M_H$ is increasing within the region, but they are in opposite direction to the QCD ones. If the electroweak and QCD corrections are concerned in the meantime, the resultant decay width of the mode yields a reduction about a few percent of the tree level one.Comment: 18, a new version

Modelling and analysis of influenza A (H1N1) on networks

Network modelling is a useful tool for studying the transmission of H1N1 in China, capturing the main features of the spread of H1N1. The paper calculates the basic reproduction number and studies the effects of various immunization schemes. The final size relation is derived for the network epidemic model. While a uniform, mass-immunization strategy helps control the prevalence, a targeted immunization strategy focusing on specific groups with given connectivity may better control an epidemic

Arp2/3 Complex Regulates Asymmetric Division and Cytokinesis in Mouse Oocytes

Mammalian oocyte meiotic maturation involves oocyte polarization and a unique asymmetric division, but until now, the underlying mechanisms have been poorly understood. Arp2/3 complex has been shown to regulate actin nucleation and is widely involved in a diverse range of processes such as cell locomotion, phagocytosis and the establishment of cell polarity. Whether Arp2/3 complex participates in oocyte polarization and asymmetric division is unknown. The present study investigated the expression and functions of Arp2/3 complex during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. Immunofluorescent staining showed that the Arp2/3 complex was restricted to the cortex, with a thickened cap above the meiotic apparatus, and that this localization pattern was depended on actin. Disruption of Arp2/3 complex by a newly-found specific inhibitor CK666, as well as by Arpc2 and Arpc3 RNAi, resulted in a range of effects. These included the failure of asymmetric division, spindle migration, and the formation and completion of oocyte cytokinesis. The formation of the actin cap and cortical granule-free domain (CGFD) was also disrupted, which further confirmed the disruption of spindle migration. Our data suggest that the Arp2/3 complex probably regulates oocyte polarization through its effect on spindle migration, asymmetric division and cytokinesis during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation

Solid-state microscale lithium batteries prepared with microfabrication processes

The miniaturization of power sources is important for meeting the requirements of low power, mass and volume for nano- or microelectronics and MEMS devices. In this paper a dexterous microfabrication process was developed for preparing microscale solid-state lithium batteries. The active size of a single microbattery is 500 mu m x 500 mu m and its thickness is 1.5 mu m. LiCoO2 films prepared by RF sputtering, then annealed at moderate temperature (500 degrees C), were employed as a cathode electrode, and LiPON and Al films were used as a solid electrolyte and an anode electrode, respectively. An individual microbattery delivers a capacity of about 17 nAh at a current of 5 nA at the initial cycles, and can be operated at as high as 40 nA discharge current.National 973 Program [2009CB220102]; National Defence [XMDX2008176]; Fujian province [2006H0090

Neutral Higgs boson pair production via γγ\gamma\gamma collision in the minimal supersymmetric standard model at linear colliders

We investigate in detail the $\gamma\gamma$ fusion production mechanisms of two neutral Higgs bosons ($h^0A^0$, $H^0A^0$, $h^0H^0$ and $H^0H^0$) within the framework of the mSUGRA-inspired minimal supersymmetric standard model(MSSM) at an $e^+e^-$ linear colliders, which provide a probe of the trilinear Higgs self-couplings. We calculate the dependence of the production rates on Higgs boson masses, the ratio of the vacuum expectation values $\tan \beta$ and the CMS energy $\sqrt{s}$. We find that the cross section for the $H^0H^0$ production at LC can reach $0.2 fb$, while the cross section of $A^0H^0$ production is only $10^{-4}\sim 10^{-3} fb$ under our parameters.Comment: Accepted by Phys. Rev.

Design of the Anti-tuberculosis Drugs induced Adverse Reactions in China National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Scheme Study (ADACS)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>More than 1 million tuberculosis (TB) patients are receiving the standard anti-TB treatment provided by China National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Scheme (CNTS) in China every year. Adverse reactions (ADRs) induced by anti-TB drugs could both do harm to patients and lead to anti-TB treatment failure. The ADACS aimed to explore ADRs' incidences, prognoses, economical and public health impacts for TB patients and TB control, and build a DNA bank of TB patients.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Multiple study designs were adopted. Firstly, a prospective cohort with 4488 sputum smears positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients was established. Patients were followed up for 6-9 months in 52 counties of four regions. Those suspected ADRs should be checked and confirmed by Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). Secondly, if the suspected ADR was anti-TB drug induced liver injury (ATLI), a nested case-control study would be performed which comprised choosing a matched control and doing a plus questionnaire inquiry. Thirdly, health economical data of ADRs would be collected to analyze financial burdens brought by ADRs and cost-effectiveness of ADRs' treatments. Fourthly, a drop of intravenous blood for each patient was taken and saved in FTA card for DNA banking and genotyping. Finally, the demographic, clinical, environmental, administrative and genetic data would be merged for the comprehensive analysis.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>ADACS will give an overview of anti-TB drugs induced ADRs' incidences, risk factors, treatments, prognoses, and clinical, economical and public health impacts for TB patients applying CNTS regimen in China, and provide suggestions for individualized health care and TB control policy.</p