IN DECEMBER 2004, the new Barroso Commission brought the saga of the French and German infringements of the Stability and Growth Pact to a close by lifting the “excessive deficit” procedure launched in 2003. That same month, the Commission launched infringement proceedings against Greece that has been providing inaccurate public deficit statistics since the creation of the Pact in 1997. The new...

To determine the physiological functions of the mammalian double-stranded RNA-binding protein PACT, the single-copy mouse Pact gene was disrupted and expression of the protein was completely ablated. The most notable phenotypes of the Pact(-/-) mouse were reduced size and severe microtia. As a result of the congenital abnormality of both outer and middle ears, these mice were hearing impaired. ...

RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionally conserved posttranscriptional gene-silencing mechanism whereby small interfering RNA (siRNA) triggers sequence-specific cleavage of its cognate mRNA. Dicer, Argonaute (Ago), and either TAR-RNA binding protein (TRBP) or a protein activator of PKR (PACT) are the primary components of the RNAi pathway, and they comprise the core of a complex termed the R...

The dsRNA binding protein (dsRBP) PACT was first described as an activator of the dsRNA dependent protein kinase PKR in response to stress signals. Additionally, it has been identified as a component of the small RNA processing pathway. A role for PACT in this pathway represents an important interplay between two modes of post-transcriptional gene regulation. The function of PACT in this contex...

The pressure of hot gas in groups and clusters galaxies is a key physical quantity, which directly linked to the total mass halo several other thermodynamical properties. In wake previous observational works on distribution massive halos, we have investigated sample 31 detected both Planck Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), MBAC surveys. We made use an optimised Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) map recon...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has recently been shown in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the biogenesis and function of which are modulated by miRNA machinery proteins. The expression of these proteins in inflammatory airway diseases is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of miRNA machinery components in CRS. STUDY DESIGN Case-control exp...

The protein activator of RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) is a proapoptotic protein called PACT. PKR is an interferon (IFN)-induced serine-threonine protein kinase that plays a central role in IFN's antiviral and antiproliferative activities. PKR activation in cells leads to phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of the eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation factor (eIF)2alpha, inhibition of p...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Antibiotic resistance has emerged as one of the most important determinants of outcome in patients with serious infections, along with the virulence of the underlying pathogen. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) has been proposed as an alternative approach for the inactivation of bacteria. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial effect of sinoporphyri...

BACKGROUND Autism is associated with impairments that have life-time consequences for diagnosed individuals and a substantial impact on families. There is growing interest in early interventions for children with autism, yet despite the substantial economic burden, there is little evidence of the cost-effectiveness of such interventions with which to support resource allocation decisions. This ...

Thanyalak Boonlue Prof. Pam Briggs Dr. Elizabeth Sillence PaCT Lab, Department of Psychology, PaCT Lab, Department of Psychology, PaCT Lab, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, NE1 8ST Northumbria University, NE1 8ST Northumbria University, NE1 8ST thanyalak.boonlue@northu...