Retrotransposon addiction promotes centromere function via epigenetically activated small RNAs.

Retrotransposons have invaded eukaryotic centromeres in cycles of repeat expansion and purging, but the function of centromeric retrotransposons has remained unclear. In Arabidopsis, centromeric ATHILA retrotransposons give rise to epigenetically activated short interfering RNAs in mutants in DECREASE IN DNA METHYLATION1 (DDM1). Here we show that mutants that lose both DDM1 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase have pleiotropic developmental defects and mis-segregate chromosome 5 during mitosis.

A novel multivariate time series forecasting dendritic neuron model for COVID-19 pandemic transmission tendency.

A novel coronavirus discovered in late 2019 (COVID-19) quickly spread into a global epidemic and, thankfully, was brought under control by 2022. Because of the virus's unknown mutations and the vaccine's waning potency, forecasting is still essential for resurgence prevention and medical resource management. Computational efficiency and long-term accuracy are two bottlenecks for national-level forecasting.

The modified Glasgow prognostic score is a reliable predictor of oncological outcomes in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

There has been no reliable marker for predicting oncological outcomes in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). We retrospectively analyzed 73 patients with LARC who underwent curative surgery after NACRT. The modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) was assessed after NACRT, and clinical outcomes were compared between the high (mGPS = 1 or 2; n = 23) and low (mGPS = 0; n = 50) groups.

Retrotransposon addiction promotes centromere function via epigenetically activated small RNAs.

Retrotransposons have invaded eukaryotic centromeres in cycles of repeat expansion and purging, but the function of centromeric retrotransposons, if any, has remained unclear. In , centromeric retrotransposons give rise to epigenetically activated short interfering RNAs (easiRNAs) in mutants in , which promote histone H3 lysine-9 di-methylation (H3K9me2). Here, we show that mutants which lose both DDM1 and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) have pleiotropic developmental defects and mis-segregation of chromosome 5 during mitosis.

A non-randomized, controlled, interventional study to investigate the effects of community pharmacists' cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions on medication adherence and relevant indicators in patients with depression.

Background: The prevalence of depression is increasing in Japan. Pharmacists play an important role in helping patients use medicines effectively. Several studies had investigated the impact of community pharmacists on patient adherence to antidepressant therapy, and their results indicated that further study was warranted.

Total Synthesis of Loroxanthin.

The first total synthesis of loroxanthin () was accomplished by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of C-apocarotenal having a silyl-protected 19-hydroxy moiety with C-phosphonate bearing a silyl-protected 3-hydroxy-ε-end group. Preparation of apocarotenal was achieved via Stille coupling reaction of alkenyl iodide with alkenyl stananne , whereas phosphonate was prepared through treatment of ally alcohol with triethyl phosphite and ZnI. The ally alcohol was derived from the known (3,6)-3-hydroxy C-aldehyde which was obtained by direct optical resolution of racemate using a semi-preparative chiral HPLC column.

Effects of targeting signal mutations in a mitochondrial presequence on the spatial distribution of the conformational ensemble in the binding site of Tom20.

The 20-kDa TOM (translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane) subunit, Tom20, is the first receptor of the protein import pathway into mitochondria. Tom20 recognizes the mitochondrial targeting signal embedded in the presequences attached to mature mitochondrial proteins, as an N-terminal extension. Consequently, ~1,000 different mitochondrial proteins are sorted into the mitochondrial matrix, and distinguished from non-mitochondrial proteins.

Ca -induced structural changes and intramolecular interactions in N-terminal region of diacylglycerol kinase alpha.

Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) are multi-domain lipid kinases that modulate the levels of lipid messengers, diacylglycerol, and phosphatidic acid. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to its α isozyme (DGKα) as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. However, little progress has been made on the structural biology of DGKs, and a detailed understanding of the Ca -triggered activation of DGKα, for which the N-terminal domains likely play a critical role, remains unclear.

Trimethylguanosine synthase 1 (Tgs1) is involved in Swi6/HP1-independent siRNA production and establishment of heterochromatin in fission yeast.

In fission yeast, siRNA generated by RNA interference (RNAi) factors plays critical roles in establishment and maintenance of heterochromatin. To achieve efficient siRNA synthesis, RNAi factors assemble on heterochromatin via association with Swi6, a homologue of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), and heterochromatic noncoding RNA (hncRNA) retained on chromatin. In addition, spliceosomes formed on hncRNA introns recruit RNAi factors to hncRNA and heterochromatin.

Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on orofacial pain conditions.

Numerous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain, and it is generally regarded as an appropriate intervention. However, it may not be effective for some pain sites, and the duration of the effect may be limited. In addition, some studies of CBT lacked a comparison group.

The relationship between community pharmacists' social distance from and their confidence in interacting with patients with depression in Japan.

Background Prejudice and stigma against patients with depression may lead to adverse clinical consequences, such as delayed initiation and premature termination of therapy. However, available survey results on pharmacists' awareness showed a lack of confidence in dealing with patients with depression. Until recently, few studies addressed the relationship between pharmacists' perceptions of their social distance from and confidence in interacting with patients with depression.

Small RNA Function in Plants: From Chromatin to the Next Generation.

Small RNA molecules can target a particular virus, gene, or transposable element (TE) with a high degree of specificity. Their ability to move from cell to cell and recognize targets in also allows building networks capable of regulating a large number of related targets at once. In the case of epigenetic silencing, small RNA may use the widespread distribution of TEs in eukaryotic genomes to coordinate many loci across developmental and generational time.

Phagocytosis is mediated by two-dimensional assemblies of the F-BAR protein GAS7.

Phagocytosis is a cellular process for internalization of micron-sized large particles including pathogens. The Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs167 (BAR) domain proteins, including the FCH-BAR (F-BAR) domain proteins, impose specific morphologies on lipid membranes. Most BAR domain proteins are thought to form membrane invaginations or protrusions by assembling into helical submicron-diameter filaments, such as on clathrin-coated pits, caveolae, and filopodia.

Crystal contact-free conformation of an intrinsically flexible loop in protein crystal: Tim21 as the case study.

Background: In protein crystals, flexible loops are frequently deformed by crystal contacts, whereas in solution, the large motions result in the poor convergence of such flexible loops in NMR structure determinations. We need an experimental technique to characterize the structural and dynamic properties of intrinsically flexible loops of protein molecules.

Methods: We designed an intended crystal contact-free space (CCFS) in protein crystals, and arranged the flexible loop of interest in the CCFS.

Regulation of ectopic heterochromatin-mediated epigenetic diversification by the JmjC family protein Epe1.

H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) is a conserved marker of heterochromatin, a transcriptionally silent chromatin structure. Knowledge of the mechanisms for regulating heterochromatin distribution is limited. The fission yeast JmjC domain-containing protein Epe1 localizes to heterochromatin mainly through its interaction with Swi6, a homologue of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), and directs JmjC-mediated H3K9me demethylation in vivo.

Indoor Positioning System Based on Chest-Mounted IMU.

Demand for indoor navigation systems has been rapidly increasing with regard to location-based services. As a cost-effective choice, inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) systems have been developed for years because they do not require external devices to be installed in the environment. In this paper, we propose a PDR system based on a chest-mounted IMU as a novel installation position for body-suit-type systems.

Yield Visualization Based on Farm Work Information Measured by Smart Devices.

This paper proposes a new approach to visualizing spatial variation of plant status in a tomato greenhouse based on farm work information operated by laborers. Farm work information consists of a farm laborer's position and action. A farm laborer's position is estimated based on radio wave strength measured by using a smartphone carried by the farm laborer and Bluetooth beacons placed in the greenhouse.

Reconstruction-Based Change Detection with Image Completion for a Free-Moving Camera.

Reconstruction-based change detection methods are robust for camera motion. The methods learn reconstruction of input images based on background images. Foreground regions are detected based on the magnitude of the difference between an input image and a reconstructed input image.

Adapting Local Features for Face Detection in Thermal Image.

A thermal camera captures the temperature distribution of a scene as a thermal image. In thermal images, facial appearances of different people under different lighting conditions are similar. This is because facial temperature distribution is generally constant and not affected by lighting condition.

Learning analytics of the relationships among self-regulated learning, learning behaviors, and learning performance.

This research aims to investigate the relationship between self-regulated learning awareness, learning behaviors, and learning performance in ubiquitous learning environments. In order to conduct this research, psychometric data about self-regulated learning and log data, such as slide pages that learners read, marker, and annotate, was collected. The accessing activity of device types that stored the learning management system was collected and analyzed by applying path analysis and correlation analysis using data divided into high and low performers.

Tethering an N-Glycosylation Sequon-Containing Peptide Creates a Catalytically Competent Oligosaccharyltransferase Complex.

Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) transfers an oligosaccharide chain to the Asn residue in the Asn-X-Ser/Thr sequon in proteins, where X is not proline. A sequon was tethered to an archaeal OST enzyme via a disulfide bond. The positions of the cysteine residues in the OST protein and the sequon-containing acceptor peptide were selected by reference to the eubacterial OST structure in a noncovalent complex with an acceptor peptide.

Diagnosis of occlusal dysesthesia utilizing prefrontal hemodynamic activity with slight occlusal interference.

Clinical diagnosis of occlusal dysesthesia (OD), also referred to as phantom bite syndrome, is currently based on the absence of objective occlusal discrepancy despite the persistent complaint of uncomfortable bite sensation. We previously demonstrated that the subjective feeling of occlusal discomfort generated by artificial occlusal interference can be objectively evaluated using prefrontal hemodynamic activity in young healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dental patients with and without OD show distinct prefrontal activity during grinding behavior with an occlusal interference.