Unique N-glycosylation signatures in Aβ oligomer-and lipopolysaccharide-activated human iPSC-derived microglia.

Microglia are the immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and become pro-inflammatory/activated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cell surface glycosylation plays an important role in immune cells; however, the N-glycosylation and glycosphingolipid (GSL) signatures of activated microglia are poorly understood. Here, we study comprehensive combined transcriptomic and glycomic profiles using human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived microglia (hiMG).

Hemichordate cis-regulatory genomics and the gene expression dynamics of deuterostomes.

Deuterostomes are one major group of bilaterians composed by hemichordates and echinoderms (collectively called Ambulacraria) and chordates. Comparative studies between these groups can provide valuable insights into the nature of the last common ancestor of deuterostomes and that of bilaterians. Indirect development of hemichordates, with larval phases similar to echinoderms and an adult body plan with an anteroposterior polarity like chordates and other bilaterians, makes them a suitable model for studying the molecular basis of development among deuterostomes.

Analysis of Meis2 knockout mice reveals Sonic hedgehog-mediated patterning of the cochlear duct.

Background: The mechanisms underlying the formation of complex structures such as during the outgrowth of the cochlear duct are still poorly understood.

Results: We have analyzed the morphological and molecular changes associated with cochlear development in mouse mutants for the transcription factor Meis2, which show defective coiling of the cochlea. These morphological abnormalities were accompanied by the formation of ectopic and extra rows of sensory hair cells.

The importance of test order in external and standardized test results: The case of PISA 2018.

Standardized tests intend to reduce information asymmetry by providing a common and objective measure of students' academic performance. The basic assumption underlying standardized testing is that differences in student performance on standardized tests should be attributed primarily to differences in the quality of education received by students. However, there is evidence that environmental factors can affect standardized test scores, which may result in anomalous observations or outliers that show a distortion of student performance.

Chromosome-level genome assemblies of 2 hemichordates provide new insights into deuterostome origin and chromosome evolution.

Deuterostomes are a monophyletic group of animals that includes Hemichordata, Echinodermata (together called Ambulacraria), and Chordata. The diversity of deuterostome body plans has made it challenging to reconstruct their ancestral condition and to decipher the genetic changes that drove the diversification of deuterostome lineages. Here, we generate chromosome-level genome assemblies of 2 hemichordate species, Ptychodera flava and Schizocardium californicum, and use comparative genomic approaches to infer the chromosomal architecture of the deuterostome common ancestor and delineate lineage-specific chromosomal modifications.