Defining the beginning of a eukaryotic protein-coding gene is relatively simple. It corresponds to the first ribonucleotide incorporated by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) into the nascent RNA molecule. This nucleotide is protected by capping and maintained in the mature messenger RNA (mRNA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuperconducting niobium serves as a key enabling material for superconducting radio frequency (SRF) technology as well as quantum computing devices. Niobium has a high propensity for the uptake of hydrogen. At room temperature, hydrogen commonly occupies tetragonal sites in the Nb lattice as the metal (M)-gas (H) phase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study of extremophilic microorganisms has sparked interest in understanding extraterrestrial microbial life. Such organisms are fundamental for investigating life forms on Saturn's icy moons, such as Enceladus, which is characterized by potentially habitable saline and alkaline niches. Our study focused on the salt-alkaline soil of the Al Wahbah crater in Saudi Arabia, where we identified microorganisms that could be used as biological models to understand potential life on Enceladus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImproving the qubit's lifetime (T) is crucial for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Recent advancements have shown that replacing niobium (Nb) with tantalum (Ta) as the base metal significantly increases T, likely due to a less lossy native surface oxide. However, understanding the formation mechanism and nature of both surface oxides is still limited.
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