Organic carbon burial is paced by a ~173-ka obliquity cycle in the middle to high latitudes

Earth’s climate system is complex and inherently nonlinear, which can induce some extraneous cycles in paleoclimatic proxies at orbital time scales. The paleoenvironmental consequences of these extraneous cycles are debated owing to their complex origin. Here, we compile high-resolution datasets of total organic carbon (TOC) and stable carbon isotope (δ13Corg) datasets to investigate organic carbon burial processes in middle to high latitudes. Our results document a robust cyclicity of ~173 thousand years (ka) in both TOC and δ13Corg. The ~173-ka obliquity–related forcing signal was amplified by internal climate feedbacks of the carbon cycle under different geographic and climate conditions, which control a series of sensitive climatic processes. In addition, our new and compiled records from multiple proxies confirm the presence of the obliquity amplitude modulation (AM) cycle during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic and indicate the usefulness of the ~173-ka cycle as geochronometer and for paleoclimatic interpretation.

History of the Romanian Lexicon

The history of the Romanian lexicon has been divided into periods in various ways: (a) the Latin of the Danubian provinces (from around the 2nd to around the 7th centuries); (b) common Romanian (româna comună, from 8th to 11th/12th centuries); and (c) preliterary Romanian (the centuries this period covers vary, from the 8th century at the earliest to the 14th century at the latest) and the rise of literary Romanian (start of the 16th century–1780). This latter period includes the most important stages in the process of unification and modernization of Romanian, and thus of its lexicon; (d) Modern Romanian (1780–1945); and (e) the contemporary era, including the socialist period (1945–1989) and current Romanian. A stand-alone section 7 discusses the numerous external influences of varied and complex origin: geographic contact, bi- and multilingualism, foreign occupation and/or domination, and last but not least, the strengthening of national conscience followed or accompanied by a cultural and political paradigm shift.

208 Sperm Retention, Storage and Release from the Oviduct: A Story of Sugars, Steroids, and Channels

Because mating is not always synchronized with ovulation, females from many species store sperm in the female reproductive tract until ovulation and fertilization. This may be done for short periods, a day or two for swine and cattle, or longer periods. Other mammals, such as some species of bats, store sperm for several months. Chickens and turkeys store sperm for 2–4 weeks and queens of some species of insects store sperm for over a decade in specialized structures. How sperm are retained, kept fertile for varying times and released is unclear. We have identified two specific carbohydrate motifs that are abundant in the porcine oviduct that bind and retain sperm in the isthmus. When immobilized, these two glycans lengthen sperm lifespan and suppress the normal increase in intracellular Ca2+ that normally accompanies capacitation. Porcine sperm can be released from oviduct cells and immobilized glycans by progesterone, perhaps of ovarian or cumulus-oocyte complex origin, which activates CatSper, a sperm-specific Ca2+ channel. Progesterone, as well as other compounds that stimulate hyperactivated motility, trigger sperm release, suggesting that hyperactivated motility is sufficient to release porcine sperm from oviduct glycans. We also have found that blocking proteasome-induced sperm protein lysis diminishes the number of sperm released from oviduct glycans. Finally, a transcriptomic approach has identified several groups of genes that are differentially regulated in both bovine and porcine oviducts from estrus animals that are storing sperm compared to oviducts from diestrus animals. This provides clues about how sperm lifespan is extended during storage.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts as Players in Cancer Development and Progression and Their Role in Targeted Radionuclide Imaging and Therapy

Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) form a major component of the tumour microenvironment, they have a complex origin and execute diverse functions in tumour development and progression. As such, CAFs constitute an attractive target for novel therapeutic interventions that will aid both diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. There are, however, a few limitations in reaching successful translation of CAF targeted interventions from bench to bedside. Several approaches targeting CAFs have been investigated so far and a few CAF-targeting tracers have successfully been developed and applied. This includes tracers targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) on CAFs. A number of FAP-targeting tracers have shown great promise in the clinic. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the functional heterogeneity and biology of CAFs in cancer. Moreover, we highlight the latest developments towards theranostic applications that will help tumour characterization, radioligand therapy and staging in cancers with a distinct CAF population.

Drawing Comparisons between SARS-CoV-2 and the Animal Coronaviruses

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by a novel zoonotic coronavirus (CoV), SARS-CoV-2, has infected 46,182 million people, resulting in 1,197,026 deaths (as of 1 November 2020), with devastating and far-reaching impacts on economies and societies worldwide. The complex origin, extended human-to-human transmission, pathogenesis, host immune responses, and various clinical presentations of SARS-CoV-2 have presented serious challenges in understanding and combating the pandemic situation. Human CoVs gained attention only after the SARS-CoV outbreak of 2002–2003. On the other hand, animal CoVs have been studied extensively for many decades, providing a plethora of important information on their genetic diversity, transmission, tissue tropism and pathology, host immunity, and therapeutic and prophylactic strategies, some of which have striking resemblance to those seen with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the evolution of human CoVs, including SARS-CoV-2, is intermingled with those of animal CoVs. In this comprehensive review, attempts have been made to compare the current knowledge on evolution, transmission, pathogenesis, immunopathology, therapeutics, and prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 with those of various animal CoVs. Information on animal CoVs might enhance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2, and accordingly, benefit the development of effective control and prevention strategies against COVID-19.

The co-occurrence of a four-headed coracobrachialis muscle, split coracoid process and tunnel for the median and musculocutaneous nerves: the potential clinical relevance of a very rare variation

The coracobrachialis muscle (CBM) originates from the apex of the coracoid process, in common with the short head of the biceps brachii muscle, and from the intermuscular septum. Both the proximal and distal attachment of the CBM, as well as its relationship with the musculocutaneus nerve demonstrate morphological variability, some of which can lead to many diseases. The present case study presents a new description of a complex origin type (four-headed CBM), as well as the fusion of both the short biceps brachii head, brachialis muscle and medial head of the triceps brachii. In addition, the first and second heads formed a tunnel for the musculocutaneus and median nerves. This case report has clear clinical value due to the split mature of the coracoid process, and is a significant indicator of the development of interest in this overlooked muscle.

Evidence of recombination in coronaviruses implicating pangolin origins of nCoV-2019

SUMMARYA novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) was the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December of 2019. Genomic analyses of nCoV-2019 determined a 96% resemblance with a coronavirus isolated from a bat in 2013 (RaTG13); however, the receptor binding motif (RBM) of these two genomes share low sequence similarity. This divergence suggests a possible alternative source for the RBM coding sequence in nCoV-2019. We identified high sequence similarity in the RBM between nCoV-2019 and a coronavirus genome reconstructed from a viral metagenomic dataset from pangolins possibly indicating a more complex origin for nCoV-2019.

The Immortal and Mortal Origins of the Banshee

The banshee is one of the most important supernatural creatures in Ireland, due to her ominous and gloomy fate. There is a debate whether she is a goddess, an undead creature or a fairy; in the case of the modern banshee, all of these categories can be true due to her complex origin. Her oldest forms must have been such Irish warrior goddesses/fairy queens like Mórrigan or Badhbn and the Crone Sisters, who are called the Ladies of the Earth. That is why the personality of the banshee became richer when she incorporated other elements from mortal women. Therefore, the contemporary banshee can be claimed to possess strong connections with both humans and immortals and both of them are equally essential in her evolution.