Electron-ion and ion-ion reaction rate coefficients at low altitudes during a PCA event

Based on experimental data from several ESRO PCA rocket flights some considerations are presented regarding the mean values of the electron-ion dissociative recombination coefficient (αd) and the ion-ion neutralization coefficient (αi). The estimates yield values for αd = 10−5 cm3 sec−1 for heights between 60 and 67 km. The data indicate that αi is smaller than αd by a factor of 100

An integrated encyclopedia of DNA elements in the human genome.

The human genome encodes the blueprint of life, but the function of the vast majority of its nearly three billion bases is unknown. The Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project has systematically mapped regions of transcription, transcription factor association, chromatin structure and histone modification. These data enabled us to assign biochemical functions for 80% of the genome, in particular outside of the well-studied protein-coding regions. Many discovered candidate regulatory elements are physically associated with one another and with expressed genes, providing new insights into the mechanisms of gene regulation. The newly identified elements also show a statistical correspondence to sequence variants linked to human disease, and can thereby guide interpretation of this variation. Overall, the project provides new insights into the organization and regulation of our genes and genome, and is an expansive resource of functional annotations for biomedical research