TUNAR lncRNA Encodes a Microprotein that Regulates Neural Differentiation and Neurite Formation by Modulating Calcium Dynamics

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory molecules which have been traditionally considered as “non-coding”. Strikingly, recent evidence has demonstrated that many non-coding regions, including lncRNAs, do in fact contain small-open reading frames that code for small proteins that have been called microproteins. Only a few of them have been characterized so far, but they display key functions in a wide variety of cellular processes. Here, we show that TUNAR lncRNA encodes an evolutionarily conserved microprotein expressed in the nervous system that we have named pTUNAR. pTUNAR deficiency in mouse embryonic stem cells improves their differentiation potential towards neural lineage both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, pTUNAR overexpression impairs neuronal differentiation by reduced neurite formation in different model systems. At the subcellular level, pTUNAR is a transmembrane protein that localizes in the endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with the calcium transporter SERCA2. pTUNAR overexpression reduces cytoplasmatic calcium, consistent with a possible role of pTUNAR as an activator of SERCA2. Altogether, our results suggest that our newly discovered microprotein has an important role in neural differentiation and neurite formation through the regulation of intracellular calcium. From a more general point of view, our results provide a proof of concept of the role of lncRNAs-encoded microproteins in neural differentiation.

Cancer metabolic subtypes and their association with molecular and clinical features

Alteration of metabolic pathways in cancer has been investigated for many years, beginning way before the discovery of the role of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and the last few years have witnessed a renewed interest in this topic. Large-scale molecular and clinical data on tens of thousands of samples allow us today to tackle the problem from a general point of view. Here we show that trancriptomic profiles of tumors can be exploited to define metabolic cancer subtypes, that can be systematically investigated for association with other molecular and clinical data. We find thousands of significant associations between metabolic subtypes and molecular features such as somatic mutations, structural variants, epigenetic modifications, protein abundance and activation; and with clinical/phenotypic data including survival probability, tumor grade, and histological types. Our work provides a methodological framework and a rich database of statistical associations, accessible from https://metaminer.unito.it, that will contribute to the understanding of the role of metabolic alterations in cancer and to the development of precision therapeutic strategies.

Entropy for the Brain and Applied Computation

Entropy is a quantity expressing the measure of disorder or unpredictability in a system, and, from a more general point of view, it can be regarded as an irreversible source of energy [...]

Aftereffects in the Transient Electromagnetic Method: Inductively Induced Polarization

—Inductively induced electric polarization (IIP) is one of the aftereffects inherent in the geologic materials and affecting results of the transient electromagnetic method. Its effect on the inductive transient response manifests itself as a nonmonotonic EMF decay, including the polarity reversal. The dependence of IIP on many conditions makes it difficult to study the basic regularities in its manifestation. One of the ways to address this problem is to present the simulation results as a normalized transient response. From the most general point of view, the intensity and time range of the IIP manifestation are controlled by the competition between induction and induced polarization phenomena. Induced polarization manifests itself differently, depending on the transmitter used for the excitation of the ground response. Therefore, when studying polarizable ground, the results of the conventional IP method and those of the TEM method do not always correlate.

Generalizing the Algebra of Throws to Rank-3 Matroids

<p>The algebra of throws is a geometric construction which reveals the underlying algebraic operations of addition and multiplication in a projective plane. In Desarguesian projective planes, the algebra of throws is a well-defined, commutative and associative binary operation. However, when we consider an analogous operation in a more general point-line configuration that comes from rank-3 matroids, none of these properties are guaranteed. We construct lists of forbidden configurations which give polynomial time checks for certain properties. Using these forbidden configurations, we can check whether a configuration has a group structure under this analogous operation. We look at the properties of configurations with such a group structure, and discuss their connection to the jointless Dowling geometries.</p>

Generalizing the Algebra of Throws to Rank-3 Matroids

<p>The algebra of throws is a geometric construction which reveals the underlying algebraic operations of addition and multiplication in a projective plane. In Desarguesian projective planes, the algebra of throws is a well-defined, commutative and associative binary operation. However, when we consider an analogous operation in a more general point-line configuration that comes from rank-3 matroids, none of these properties are guaranteed. We construct lists of forbidden configurations which give polynomial time checks for certain properties. Using these forbidden configurations, we can check whether a configuration has a group structure under this analogous operation. We look at the properties of configurations with such a group structure, and discuss their connection to the jointless Dowling geometries.</p>

Mesh filtration problems with a two-flow structure of phase velocities

This paper deals with the problem of filtration of a two-phase incompressible fluid within the Buckley-Leverett model. From a general point of view, a two-flow structure of conservation laws is investigated. In addition, since the solution in the Buckley-Leverett model is discontinuous, conservation laws are presented in the generalized integral form. A good illustration of the approach presented is the problem of gravitational segregation of oil and water in a porous medium. For this problem, a two-flow mesh structure of conservation laws is described.

Two-Phase Flow Effects on Seismic Wave Anelasticity in Anisotropic Poroelastic Media

We study the wave anelasticity (attenuation and velocity dispersion) of a periodic set of three flat porous layers saturated by two immiscible fluids. The fluids are very dissimilar in properties, namely gas, oil, and water, and, at most, three layers are required to study the problem from a general point of view. The sequence behaves as viscoelastic and transversely isotropic (VTI) at wavelengths much longer than the spatial period. Wave propagation causes fluid flow and slow P modes, inducing anelasticity. The fluids are characterized by capillary forces and relative permeabilities, which allow for the existence of two slow modes and the presence of dissipation, respectively. The methodology to study the physics is based on a finite-element uspcaling approach to compute the complex and frequency-dependent stiffnesses of the effective VTI medium. The results of the experiments indicate that there is higher dissipation and anisotropy compared to the widely used model based on an effective fluid that ignores the effects of surface tension (capillarity) and viscous flow interference between the two fluid phases.

SOME ASPECTS OF IMPORT SUBSTITUTION IN THE DOMESTIC SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DESIGN OF ANTENNA-FEEDER DEVICES

Рассматриваются вопросы импортозамещения при создании отечественного программного обеспечения для проектирования антенно-фидерных устройств. Обозначены основные аспекты проблемы: импортозамещение при создании вычислительных ядер (решение электродинамических задач,задач анализа цепей СВЧ,расчет антенных характеристик и т.д.)и импортозамещение при создании пользовательских интерфейсов и средств электродинамического моделирования. Дается оценка состояния вопроса в отечественной теории и практике в указанных областях. С общих позиций анализируется круг задач, требующих решения для обеспечения процессов импортозамещения. Оцениваются возможности и перспективы реализации данных процессов на практике. The problems of import substitution in the domestic software development for the design of antenna-feeder devices are considered. The main aspects of the import substitution problem are outlined: calculation kernel design (electrodynamic simulation problem, RF-circuit analysis problem, antenna performance definition problem, etc.), user interface design, and electrodynamic modeling tools. The assessment of the state in the domestic theory and practice in these areas is given. From a general point of view, the authors analyze the range of tasks that need to be solved to ensure import substitution processes. The possibilities and prospects for the implementation of these processes in practice are evaluated.

Brazilians in Europe: Three Successful Stories in the Light of French Discourse Analysis

ABSTRACT Considering that migrations are not made of suffering and exclusion alone, we intend, in this paper, to analyze and compare, in the light of French Discourse Analysis, three life stories of Brazilian migrants to Europe to understand, by means of their discourse, how they achieved success abroad. The results, in general, point to three common aspects: courage to take risks, determination to overcome the challenges and the willingness to integrate fully into the new country.