Search for Rare b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} Transitions at Belle.

We present the results of a search for the b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} flavor-changing neutral-current rare decays B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{+,0},ρ^{+,0})e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{0},ρ^{+})μ^{+}μ^{-} using a 711  fb^{-1} data sample that contains 772×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] events. The data were collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We find no evidence for signal and set upper limits on branching fractions at the 90% confidence level in the range (3.

TFEB controls expression of human syncytins during cell-cell fusion.

During human development, a temporary organ is formed, the placenta, which invades the uterine wall to support nutrient, oxygen, and waste exchange between the mother and fetus until birth. Most of the human placenta is formed by a syncytial villous structure lined by syncytialized trophoblasts, a specialized cell type that forms via cell-cell fusion of underlying progenitor cells. Genetic and functional studies have characterized the membrane protein fusogens Syncytin-1 and Syncytin-2, both of which are necessary and sufficient for human trophoblast cell-cell fusion.

Coping with stress: Salt type, concentration, and exposure history limit life history tradeoffs in response to road salt salinization.

Substantial increases in the salinity of freshwater ecosystems has occurred around the globe from causes such as climate change, industrial operations, and the application of road deicing salts. We know very little about how plastic responses in life history traits or rapid evolution of new traits among freshwater organisms could promote stability in ecological communities affected by salinization. We performed a cohort life history analysis from birth to death with 180 individuals of a ubiquitous freshwater zooplankter to understand how life history traits are affected by exposure to two common salt types causing salinization-sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl)-across two environmentally relevant concentrations.