Whole-genome-scale identification of novel non-protein-coding RNAs controlling cell proliferation and survival through a functional forward genetics strategy

Identification of cell fate-controlling lncRNAs is essential to our understanding of molecular cell biology. Here we present a human genome-scale forward-genetics approach for the identification of lncRNAs based on gene function. This approach can identify genes that play a causal role, and immediately distinguish them from those that are differentially expressed but do not affect cell function. Our genome-scale library plus next-generation-sequencing and bioinformatic approach, radically upscales the breadth and rate of functional ncRNA discovery. Human gDNA was digested to produce a lentiviral expression library containing inserts in both sense and anti-sense orientation. The library was used to transduce human Jurkat T-leukaemic cells. Cell populations were selected using continuous culture ± anti-FAS IgM, and sequencing used to identify sequences controlling cell proliferation. This strategy resulted in the identification of thousands of new sequences based solely on their function including many ncRNAs previously identified as being able to modulate cell survival or to act as key cancer regulators such as AC084816.1*, AC097103.2, AC087473.1, CASC15*, DLEU1*, ENTPD1-AS1*, HULC*, MIRLET7BHG*, PCAT-1, SChLAP1, and TP53TG1. Independent validation confirmed 4 out of 5 sequences that were identified by this strategy, conferred a striking resistance to anti-FAS IgM-induced apoptosis.

Sense-overlapping lncRNA as a decoy of translational repressor protein for dimorphic gene expression

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are vastly transcribed and extensively studied but lncRNAs overlapping with the sense orientation of mRNA have been poorly studied. We analyzed the lncRNA DAPALR overlapping with the 5´ UTR of the Doublesex1 (Dsx1), the male determining gene in Daphnia magna. By affinity purification, we identified an RNA binding protein, Shep as a DAPALR binding protein. Shep also binds to Dsx1 5´ UTR by recognizing the overlapping sequence and suppresses translation of the mRNA. In vitro and in vivo analyses indicated that DAPALR increased Dsx1 translation efficiency by sequestration of Shep. This regulation was impaired when the Shep binding site in DAPALR was deleted. These results suggest that Shep suppresses the unintentional translation of Dsx1 by setting a threshold; and when the sense lncRNA DAPALR is expressed, DAPALR cancels the suppression caused by Shep. This mechanism may be important to show dimorphic gene expressions such as sex determination and it may account for the binary expression in various developmental processes.

Nature of the Wind, the Culture of the Landscape: Toward an Energy Sustainability Project in Catalonia

Landscape and energy are an inseparable and innovative binomial because of the challenges they imply and being the factors we use to measure the quality of our habitat. Presenting the report “Wind Energy and Landscape. Guidelines for a suitable installation in Catalonia”, which involved research into the methodology for installing wind farms, this article presents a critical reflection on the possible spatial, ethical, and aesthetic effects of energy transition. Landscape design interprets the convergence of territorial values with the innovation of an energy system: it is not measured on a geographical scale, but draws from geography the sense of the overwriting of everyday places, giving them sense, orientation, meaning, and narrative. The research involves ecology, society, nature, and culture. Methodologically, the approach is reversed: rather than designing a project for the correct installation of wind power plants, the project for the wind landscape is understood as new contemporary nature. Wind energy and the culture of the landscape legitimize an advance in thought on design tools, espousing the dictates of the European Landscape Convention and more recent ambitious goals set by the UN with the 2030 Agenda.

Perilla Mosaic Virus Is a Highly Divergent Emaravirus Transmitted by Shevtchenkella sp. (Acari: Eriophyidae)

Shiso (Perilla frutescens var. crispa) is widely grown as an important vegetable or herb crop in Japan. Beginning around the year 2000, occurrences of severe mosaic symptoms on shiso were documented and gradually spread across Kochi Prefecture, one of four major shiso production areas in Japan. Next generation sequencing and cloning indicated the presence of a previously unknown virus related to the members of the genus Emaravirus, for which we proposed the name Perilla mosaic virus (PerMV). The genome of PerMV consists of 10 RNA segments, each encoding a single protein in the negative-sense orientation. Of these proteins, P1, P2, P3a, P3b, P4, and P5 show amino acid sequence similarities with those of known emaraviruses, whereas no similarities were found in P6a, P6b, P6c, and P7. Characteristics of the RNA segments as well as phylogenetic analysis of P1 to P4 indicate that PerMV is a distinct and highly divergent emaravirus. Electron microscopy observations and protein analyses corresponded to presence of an emaravirus. Transmission experiments demonstrated that an eriophyid mite, Shevtchenkella sp. (family Eriophyidae), transmits PerMV with a minimum 30-min acquisition access period. Only plants belonging to the genus Perilla tested positive for PerMV, and the plant−virus−vector interactions were evaluated. The nucleotide sequences reported here are available in the DDBJ/ENA/GenBank databases under accession numbers LC496090 to LC496099.

Bradley and Moore on Common Sense

It is well appreciated that Moore, in the final years of the nineteenth century, emphatically rejected the monistic idealism of F. H. Bradley. It has, however, been less widely noticed that Moore’s concern to defeat monism remained with him well into the 1920s. In the following discussion I describe the role that Moore’s adoption of a ‘common sense’ orientation played in his criticisms of Bradley’s monism. I begin by outlining certain distinctive features of Bradley’s sceptical methodology, before describing the contrasting approach of Moore as it appears in 1910-11 and 1925. I bring these methodological differences into relief by assessing the status of common sense claims in the work of each figure. I show that Moore’s common sense methodology was employed against Bradley’s monistic conclusions, and that it was adopted with Bradley squarely in mind.

Psycholinguistic Aspects of Realisation of Acme Potential of Life Scripts of Ukrainian Writers-Emigrants

Introduction. This article has been devoted to the research of the issue of realization of psycholinguistic resources of acme potential of the Ukrainian writers and scientists whose activities are connected with generation of texts, in another cultural environment. So as to study the peculiarities of this process, which is the aim of the article, the main focus has been put on the empirical research of the correlation between the socio-cultural adaptation of Ukrainian emigrants and the indicators of acmeological and psycholinguistic resources and on revealing differences in the indicators of resources and adaptation of Ukrainian emigrants who deal with writing and scientific activities in comparison with emigrants who do not. Materials & Methods.The life sense orientation, psychological position, and the sociocultural adaptation have been identified as the main indicators of acme realization of emigrants. Accordingly, the diagnostic instruments of the study included the Life Sense Orientation Test by D. Leontev, which is an adapted version of Purpose-In-Life Test by J. Crumbaugh & L. Maholick, the “Fullness of Life” methodology by J. Powell and the Questionnaire of a Personality Adaptation to New Socio-Cultural Environment by L. Yankovskiy. Results. It has been confirmed that the desire to self-realization of the emigrants depends on interest and emotional fullness of life, self-imagination and acceptance of others. The statistically confirmed results of the research have confirmed the differences between the indicators of resources and adaptation of the Ukrainian emigrants conducting writing and scientific activities, compared to the emigrants not conducting such activities. It has been stressed out that the Ukrainian emigrants generating texts have more harmonious type of adaptation, and more often perceive the process of life as full of sense compared to those emigrants whose activities do not include narrativization. The received results testify the importance of development of acme technologies for the Ukrainian emigrants through a prism of psycholinguistics methodology.

The neural basis of motion sickness

Although motion of the head and body has been suspected or known as the provocative cause for the production of motion sickness for centuries, it is only within the last 20 yr that the source of the signal generating motion sickness and its neural basis has been firmly established. Here, we briefly review the source of the conflicts that cause the body to generate the autonomic signs and symptoms that constitute motion sickness and provide a summary of the experimental data that have led to an understanding of how motion sickness is generated and can be controlled. Activity and structures that produce motion sickness include vestibular input through the semicircular canals, the otolith organs, and the velocity storage integrator in the vestibular nuclei. Velocity storage is produced through activity of vestibular-only (VO) neurons under control of neural structures in the nodulus of the vestibulo-cerebellum. Separate groups of nodular neurons sense orientation to gravity, roll/tilt, and translation, which provide strong inhibitory control of the VO neurons. Additionally, there are acetylcholinergic projections from the nodulus to the stomach, which along with other serotonergic inputs from the vestibular nuclei, could induce nausea and vomiting. Major inhibition is produced by the GABAB receptors, which modulate and suppress activity in the velocity storage integrator. Ingestion of the GABAB agonist baclofen causes suppression of motion sickness. Hopefully, a better understanding of the source of sensory conflict will lead to better ways to avoid and treat the autonomic signs and symptoms that constitute the syndrome.

Time in Russian and Japanese Lingo-cultures

The article highlights the concept of "time" as the most important axiom which is a part of linguocultural worldview of different nations, that also allows us to consider this concept in terms of its cultural distinctive potential. In its turn, the definition of the limits and possibilities of matching cultures by comparing their lingvocultural axioms enables us to refine the boundaries of their communicative interactions, identifying areas of understanding /misunderstanding and the most constructive interaction /potentialproneness to conflict. Cultural differences in understanding the time could be considered in two main directions: first, each culture performs the calculation of time in its own way; secondly, the way to decompose the time, its "segmentation" also creates a significant originality of unique linguocultural pictures of the world. These features are interrelated and interdependent, therefore it is reasonable to combine them under the title "time attitude." It goes without saying that, the attitude towards time in each linguoculture formed for many centuries, being therefore historically conditioned. In this case, axiological aspect in the attitude towards time should be mentioned, which is also associated with the reflection in this concept of the socially- approved values of different levels (ethical, aesthetic, religious, etc.). Consequently, we are talking about a concentrated expression of the important world paradigms in the concept of “time", which are related to value-sense orientation and social psychology segments, that are projected on the individual consciousness in the process of enculturation. The specificity of the Japanese culture is usually described within the overall paradigm of the relations between East and West, considered as a synthetic and analytical way of perceiving the world. These relations - are relations between two independent, different systems of traditions, meanings and world-views. The question of their commensuration is one of the key questions for the theory and practice ofintercultural communication, considering the influence of cultural differences on the run of the communicative event, its "success" or "failure." "Time attitude" is the most important linguocultural "axiom", allowing not only to recognize the specificity of the world picture of Japanese culture representatives, but also to highlight the clear criteria for its possible comparison with the counter-agents of the communication, to describe the "intersection point" and "point of mutual exclusionemerging form comparison of Japanese and Russian linguocultures, their peculiar" time attitude."