Tumor phagocytosis-driven STING activation invigorates antitumor immunity and reprograms the tumor micro-environment.

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) holds the potential for in situ tumor vaccination while concurrently eradicating tumors and stimulating adaptive immunity. Most ICD inducers, however, elicit insufficient immune responses due to negative feedback against ICD biomarkers, limited infiltration of antitumoral immune cells, and the immunosuppressive tumor micro-environment (TME). Recent findings highlight the pivotal roles of stimulators of interferon gene (STING) activation, particularly in stimulating antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and TME reprogramming, addressing ICD limitations.

SIRT1 regulates the localization and stability of telomerase protein by direct interaction.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) not only upholds telomeric equilibrium but also plays a pivotal role in multiple non-canonical cellular mechanisms, particularly in the context of aging, cancer, and genomic stability. Though depletion of SIRT1 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts has demonstrated telomere shortening, the impact of SIRT1 on enabling TERT to regulate telomeric homeostasis remains enigmatic. Here, we reveal that SIRT1 directly interacts with TERT, and promotes the nuclear localization and stability of TERT.

Ultra-thin light-weight laser-induced-graphene (LIG) diffractive optics.

The realization of hybrid optics could be one of the best ways to fulfill the technological requirements of compact, light-weight, and multi-functional optical systems for modern industries. Planar diffractive lens (PDL) such as diffractive lenses, photonsieves, and metasurfaces can be patterned on ultra-thin flexible and stretchable substrates and be conformally attached on top of arbitrarily shaped surfaces. In this review, we introduce recent research works addressed to the design and manufacturing of ultra-thin graphene optics, which will open new markets in compact and light-weight optics for next-generation endoscopic brain imaging, space internet, real-time surface profilometry, and multi-functional mobile phones.

Massively parallel electro-optic sampling of space-encoded optical pulses for ultrafast multi-dimensional imaging.

High-speed and high-resolution imaging of surface profiles is critical for the investigation of various structures and mechanical dynamics of micro- and nano-scale devices. In particular, recent emergence of various nonlinear, transient and complex mechanical dynamics, such as anharmonic vibrations in mechanical resonators, has necessitated real-time surface deformation imaging with higher axial and lateral resolutions, speed, and dynamic range. However, real-time capturing of fast and complex mechanical dynamics has been challenging, and direct time-domain imaging of displacements and mechanical motions has been a missing element in studying full-field structural and dynamic behaviours.

A Comparative Field Study of Indoor Environment Quality and Work Productivity between Job Types in a Research Institute in Korea.

Indoor environment quality (IEQ) evaluation can help improve building satisfaction and productivity of residents. However, for more efficient analysis, it is necessary to gain a large amount of data on the differences between specific groups, such as building and resident work types. In this study, we conducted an IEQ evaluation for administrators and researchers, which are occupational groups of a research institute.

EVI1 activates tumor-promoting transcriptional enhancers in pancreatic cancer.

Cancer cells utilize epigenetic alterations to acquire autonomous capabilities for tumor maintenance. Here, we show that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) cells utilize super-enhancers (SEs) to activate the transcription factor EVI1 (ecotropic viral integration site 1) gene, resulting in activation of an EVI1-dependent transcription program conferring PDA tumorigenesis. Our data indicate that SE is the vital -acting element to maintain aberrant EVI1 transcription in PDA cells.

Classifying the Linkage between Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Tumor Growth through Cancer-Associated Adipocytes.

Recently, tumor microenvironment (TME) and its stromal constituents have provided profound insights into understanding alterations in tumor behavior. After each identification regarding the unique roles of TME compartments, non-malignant stromal cells are found to provide a sufficient tumorigenic niche for cancer cells. Of these TME constituents, adipocytes represent a dynamic population mediating endocrine effects to facilitate the crosstalk between cancer cells and distant organs, as well as the interplay with nearby tumor cells.

Divergence of the PIERCE1 expression between mice and humans as a p53 target gene.

PIERCE1, p53 induced expression 1 in Rb null cells, is a novel p53 target involved in the DNA damage response and cell cycle in mice. These facts prompted us to study the function of PIERCE1 with respect to p53-associated pathophysiology of cancer in humans. Unexpectedly, PIERCE1 did not respond to overexpression and activation of p53 in humans.