Mammalian Pumilio proteins, PUM1 and PUM2, are members of the PUF family of sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins. In this review, we explore their mechanisms, regulatory networks, biological ...functions, and relevance to diseases. Pumilio proteins bind an extensive network of mRNAs and repress protein expression by inhibiting translation and promoting mRNA decay. Opposingly, in certain contexts, they can activate protein expression. Pumilio proteins also regulate noncoding (nc)RNAs. The ncRNA, ncRNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD), can in turn modulate Pumilio activity. Genetic analysis provides new insights into Pumilio protein function. They are essential for growth and development. They control diverse processes, including stem cell fate, and neurological functions, such as behavior and memory formation. Novel findings show that their dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration, epilepsy, movement disorders, intellectual disability, infertility, and cancer.
Mammalian Pumilio proteins recognize specific RNA sequences via a highly conserved Pum-homology domain (HD).
Pumilio proteins bind and regulate a large number of RNAs.
Pumilio proteins repress target mRNAs by antagonizing translation and promoting RNA degradation.
In certain contexts, Pumilio proteins may activate gene expression.
Pumilio proteins regulate stem cell fate, development, and neurological functions.
Dysfunction of Pumilio proteins contributes to neurodegeneration, epilepsy, ataxia, infertility, and cancer.
The ability of animals to regenerate missing parts is a dramatic and poorly understood aspect of biology. The sources of new cells for these regenerative phenomena have been sought for decades. ...Recent advances involving cell fate tracking in complex tissues have shed new light on the cellular underpinnings of regeneration in
Hydra, planarians, zebrafish,
Xenopus, and Axolotl. Planarians accomplish regeneration with use of adult pluripotent stem cells, whereas several vertebrates utilize a collection of lineage-restricted progenitors from different tissues. Together, an array of cellular strategies—from pluripotent stem cells to tissue-specific stem cells and dedifferentiation—are utilized for regeneration.
Abstract
While satellite-based global navigation systems have become essential tools in our daily lives, their effectiveness is often hampered by the fact that the signals cannot be accessed in ...underground, indoor, or underwater environments. Recently, a novel navigation system has been invented to address this issue by utilizing the characteristics of the ubiquitous and highly penetrative cosmic-ray muons. This technique, muometric navigation, does not require active signal generation and enables positioning in the aforementioned environments within a reference coordinate defined by the three-dimensional positions of multiple detectors. In its first phase of development, these reference detectors had to be connected to the receivers via a wired configuration to guarantee precise time synchronization. This work describes more versatile, wireless muometric navigation system (MuWNS), which was designed in conjunction with a cost-effective, crystal-oscillator-based grandmaster clock and a performance evaluation is reported for shallow underground/indoor, deep underground and undersea environments. It was confirmed that MuWNS offers a navigation quality almost equivalent to aboveground GPS-based handheld navigation by determining the distance between the reference frame and the receivers within a precision range between 1 and 10 m.
The relationship between cesium (Cs) adsorption on clay minerals with various expandabilities and Cs mobility in environment was investigated using sequential extraction, batch adsorption, X-ray ...diffraction (XRD), generalized adsorption model (GAM), and Cs LIII-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analyses with molecular simulations using the density functional theory (DFT). In particular, the difference between the affinities of illite (non-expansion) and vermiculite (intermediate expansion) for Cs and the effect of humic acid (HA) addition on the Cs/clay mineral system were highlighted in this study. These two factors affect Cs mobility and bioavailability in surface soil and sediments.
The batch adsorption results showed that Cs adsorption was inhibited to some extent in the ternary clay+HA+Cs system because of (i) the blocked access of Cs to the frayed edge site (FES) and type II site inner–sphere (IS) complex in GAM by HA, and (ii) the reduced availability of the interlayer site in vermiculite. EXAFS analysis further confirmed that the adsorbed Cs in clay minerals was drastically changed by the sequential addition of HA. In addition, the dominant IS complex in the illite+Cs and illite+Cs+HA systems (in which HA was added after Cs adsorption on illite) can be converted to the outer–sphere (OS) complex largely in the illite+HA+Cs system (in which HA was added prior to Cs adsorption). These results are consistent with the sequential extraction and GAM results.
The IS complex of dehydrated Cs+ mainly formed at the FES and interlayer site on illite (non-expansion) without resulting in any illite structural changes. However, on vermiculite (intermediate expansion), the dehydrated Cs+ can be adsorbed as an IS complex associated with the siloxane group of the di-trigonal cavity in the tetrahedral SiO4 sheet. This adsorption is accompanied by collapse of the layer, which can be easily coated by HA molecules to prevent Cs fixation. However, a nearly complete OS complex was observed at the planar site of montmorillonite (large expansion). These processes were confirmed by sequential extraction, batch adsorption, XRD, and EXAFS, which clearly showed that Cs mobility in soil highly depends on clay mineral expandability, natural organic matter (NOM), and the coupling of both effects. The atomic-scale information given by EXAFS is consistent with the distribution data from adsorption experiments, GAM, sequential extraction, and DFT. These results can be used as a basis for a clearer understanding of Cs behavior in natural systems.
Abstract
The Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) has become a cornerstone of extragalactic astronomy. Since the last public catalog in 2015, a wealth of new imaging and spectroscopic data have been ...collected in the COSMOS field. This paper describes the collection, processing, and analysis of these new imaging data to produce a new reference photometric redshift catalog. Source detection and multiwavelength photometry are performed for 1.7 million sources across the 2 deg
2
of the COSMOS field, ∼966,000 of which are measured with all available broadband data using both traditional aperture photometric methods and a new profile-fitting photometric extraction tool,
The Farmer
, which we have developed. A detailed comparison of the two resulting photometric catalogs is presented. Photometric redshifts are computed for all sources in each catalog utilizing two independent photometric redshift codes. Finally, a comparison is made between the performance of the photometric methodologies and of the redshift codes to demonstrate an exceptional degree of self-consistency in the resulting photometric redshifts. The
i
< 21 sources have subpercent photometric redshift accuracy and even the faintest sources at 25 <
i
< 27 reach a precision of 5%. Finally, these results are discussed in the context of previous, current, and future surveys in the COSMOS field. Compared to COSMOS2015, it reaches the same photometric redshift precision at almost one magnitude deeper. Both photometric catalogs and their photometric redshift solutions and physical parameters will be made available through the usual astronomical archive systems (ESO Phase 3, IPAC-IRSA, and CDS).
Precise time synchronization is an essential technique required for financial transaction systems, industrial automation and control systems, as well as land and ocean observation networks. However, ...the time synchronization signals based on the global-positioning-system (GPS), or global-navigation-satellite-system, are sometimes unavailable or only partially available in indoor, underground and underwater environments. In this work, the simultaneous and penetrative natures of the muon component of the extended air shower (EAS) were used as signals for time synchronization in environments with little or no GPS coverage. CTS was modeled by combining the results of previous EAS experiments with OCXO holdover precision measurements. The results have shown the capability of CTS to reach perpetual local time synchronization levels of less than 100 ns with a hypothetical detector areal coverage of larger than 2 × 10
. We anticipate this level of areal coverage is attainable and cost-effective for use in consumer smartphone networks and dense underwater sensor networks.
Background
Initial recurrence mapping of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) could help in stratifying patient subpopulations for optimal postoperative follow‐up. The aim of this ...systematic review and meta‐analysis was to investigate the initial recurrence patterns of PDAC and to correlate them with clinicopathological factors.
Methods
MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were searched systematically for studies reporting first recurrence patterns after PDAC resection. Data were extracted from the studies selected for inclusion. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals were calculated to determine the clinicopathological factors related to the recurrence sites. The weighted average of median overall survival was calculated.
Results
Eighty‐nine studies with 17 313 patients undergoing PDAC resection were included. The weighted median rates of initial recurrence were 20·8 per cent for locoregional sites, 26·5 per cent for liver, 11·4 per cent for lung and 13·5 per cent for peritoneal dissemination. The weighted median overall survival times were 19·8 months for locoregional recurrence, 15·0 months for liver recurrence, 30·4 months for lung recurrence and 14·1 months for peritoneal dissemination. Meta‐analysis revealed that R1 (direct) resection (OR 2·21, 95 per cent c.i. 1·12 to 4·35), perineural invasion (OR 5·19, 2·79 to 9·64) and positive peritoneal lavage cytology (OR 5·29, 3·03 to 9·25) were significantly associated with peritoneal dissemination as initial recurrence site. Low grade of tumour differentiation was significantly associated with liver recurrence (OR 4·15, 1·71 to 10·07).
Conclusion
Risk factors for recurrence patterns after surgery could be considered for specific surveillance and treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Antecedentes
El mapeo del patrón de recidiva inicial tras la resección de un adenocarcinoma ductal pancreático (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PDAC) podría ayudar a estratificar subpoblaciones de pacientes para un seguimiento postoperatorio óptimo. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática con metaanálisis fue investigar los patrones de recidiva inicial de PDAC y correlacionarlos con factores clínico‐patológicos.
Métodos
Se realizaron búsquedas sistemáticas en las bases de datos MEDLINE y Web of Science para seleccionar estudios que presentaran información sobre los patrones de recidiva inicial después de la resección del PDAC. Se extrajeron los datos de los estudios seleccionados para su inclusión en el metaanálisis. Se calcularon las razones de oportunidades agrupadas (pooled odds ratio, OR) y los i.c. del 95% para definir los factores clínico‐patológicos relacionados con las localizaciones de la recidiva. Se estimó el promedio ponderado de la mediana de la supervivencia global.
Resultados
Se incluyeron 89 estudios con 17.313 pacientes a los que se realizó una resección por PDAC. Las tasas medias ponderadas de las localizaciones de la recidiva inicial fueron del 20,8% para la locorregional, 26,5% para las hepáticas, 11,4% para el pulmón y 13,5% para la diseminación peritoneal. La mediana ponderada de supervivencia global fue de 19,8 meses (locorregional), 15,0 meses (hígado), 30,4 meses (pulmón) y 14,1 meses (diseminación peritoneal). El metaanálisis demostró que la resección R1 (inicial) (OR 2,21, i.c. del 95% 1,12–4,35), la invasión perineural (OR 5,19; i.c. del 95% 2,79–9,64) y la positividad de la citología del lavado peritoneal (OR 5,29; i.c. del 95% 3,03–9,25) se asociaron significativamente con la diseminación peritoneal como localización de recidiva inicial. El bajo grado de diferenciación tumoral se asoció significativamente con la recidiva hepática (OR 4,15; i.c. del 95%: 1,71‐10,07).
Conclusión
Se podrían tener en cuenta estos factores de riesgo de los patrones de recidiva tras la cirugía para realizar un seguimiento y tratamiento específicos en pacientes con cáncer de páncreas.
In this study, initial recurrence patterns and their prognosis after resection of pancreatic cancer were reviewed systematically, and a meta‐analysis undertaken of clinicopathological features of the primary tumour associated with each initial recurrence site. Based on the results, correctly predicting the site and prognosis of each recurrence could guide structured follow‐up after surgery and optimal treatment specific to recurrence site. LR, locoregional; NACRT, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; CTx, chemotherapy; PeD, peritoneal dissemination.
Pattern related to survival
This paper presents data from a recent cross-sectional survey of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the US, to understand changes in sexual behavior and access to HIV ...prevention options (i.e. condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)) during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The
Love and Sex in the Time of COVID
-
19
survey was conducted online from April to May, 2020. GBMSM were recruited through advertisements featured on social networking platforms, recruiting a sample size of 518 GBMSM. Analysis considers changes three in self-reported measures of sexual behavior: number of sex partners, number of anal sex partners and number of anal sex partners not protected by pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or condoms. Approximately two-thirds of the sample reported that they believed it was possible to contract COVID-19 through sex, with anal sex reported as the least risky sex act. Men did not generally feel it was important to reduce their number of sex partners during COVID-19, but reported a moderate willingness to have sex during COVID-19. For the period between February and April–May 20,202, participants reported a mean increase of 2.3 sex partners during COVID-19, a mean increase of 2.1 anal sex partners (range − 40 to 70), but a very small increase in the number of unprotected anal sex partners. Increases in sexual behavior during COVID-19 were associated with increases in substance use during the same period. High levels of sexual activity continue to be reported during the COVID-19 lockdown period and these high levels of sexual activity are often paralleled by increases in substance use and binge drinking. There is a clear need to continue to provide comprehensive HIV prevention and care services during COVID-19, and telehealth and other eHealth platforms provide a safe, flexible mechanism for providing services.
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