Non-Coding RNAs Play Significant Roles in Host-Virus Interactions

Previous Dicer immunoprecipitation (IP) discovered an RNA polyphosphatase PIR-1 interacting with Dicer, may participate in RNAi but the mechanism is unrevealed. Here we demonstrate that C. elegans PIR-1 is involved in the RNAi-mediated silencing of Orsay virus via promoting the biogenesis of 23-mer RNAs and the loading of 23-mer RNAs to RDE-1. We also showed that PIR-1 acts as a de facto RNA phosphatase in vivo to regulate triphosphorylated RNAs (ppp-RNAs). Thus, PIR-1 is a conserved master regulator of ppp-RNAs and plays important roles in silencing viral ppp-RNAs and modifying cellular ppp-RNAs.Next we apply PIR-1 in our small RNA cloning strategy. The high-throughput sequencing has become a standard tool for analyzing RNA and DNA. We have developed a new strategy to clone modified/unmodified small RNA in an all-liquid-based reaction carried out in a single PCR tube with as little as 16 ng total RNA. The 7-hour cloning process only needs ~1-hour labor. Moreover, this method can also clone mRNA, simplifying the need to prepare two cloning systems for small RNA and mRNA.At last, we study the function of non-coding RNA in influenza A virus. It utilizes a special process, cap-snatching, to obtain a host capped small RNA for priming viral mRNA synthesis, generating hybrid capped mRNA for translation. Previous studies have been focusing on cap-snatching at thevii5' end of viral mRNA. Here we report two non-canonical cap-snatching regions: one 300-nt upstream of the 3' end of each mRNA generating capped mRNA/ncRNA, and the other in the 5' region of vRNA and mapped primarily at the 2-nt, likely generating ncRNA. We also demonstrate that the influenza virus snatches virus-derived capped RNA in addition to host capped RNA. These findings expand our understanding of the cap-snatching mechanism and suggest that the influenza A virus may utilize this process to diversify its mRNA/ncRNA

Cost of Winning: What contributing factors play the most significant roles in increasing the winning percentage of a major league baseball team?

Over the past decade, discussions of competition disparity in Major League Baseball have been brought to the forefront of many debates regarding the sport. The belief that large market teams such as the New York Yankees buy their championships through acquiring star talent at high prices has become a common belief of many followers of the game. This research will answer the pressing question, What are the most significant factors that correlate to a Major League Baseball Team’s winning percentage?”. I used stepwise regression to identify factors significantly related to winning percentage. Interestingly enough, payroll is not a significant factor in the best model. Its high correlation with several other model variables may explain this

The roles of adult siblings in the lives of people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND: Siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often assume key roles to support their brothers and sisters. For people with more significant support needs, siblings may undertake additional roles and responsibilities throughout their lives. The purpose of the present study was to identify and describe the roles of adult siblings who have a brother or sister with severe IDD. METHOD: Seventy‐nine adult siblings from 19 to 72 years of age completed an online survey with open‐ended questions about the roles they play in their relationships with their brother or sister. RESULTS: Thematic analysis resulted in identification of several roles including caregiver, friend (social partner), advocate, legal representative, sibling (teacher/role model), leisure planner and informal service coordinator. CONCLUSION: Siblings assume key roles in the lives of people with IDD and need support from family and professionals to perform these roles.Accepted manuscrip

HAPPEN TO BE FASHIONABLE? : NEW PRACTICE CREATION THROUGH THE SEQUENCE OF MULTIPLE ACTORS

In contrast to previous research, this paper illustrates a process in which institutional entrepreneurs play less significant roles in creating a new practice. We drew on a historical case study that deals with the emergence of a new practice of emphasizing fashionable design of a type of clothing known as meisen. In the historical case study, multiple actors played distinctive and essential roles, which, as a whole, led to the creation of a new practice.

Inorganic materials in industrial processes

Although inorganic materials represent a small number to the extreme number of the organic ones, they play a number of crucial roles in several processes of industrial interest. Two significant technologically processes have been selected as “case studies” for this presentation: metallic corrosion and its control, and mitigation of inorganic deposits, both related to industrial water systems.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Controlling the quantum computational speed

The speed of quantum computation is investigated through the time evolution of the speed of the orthogonality. The external field components for classical treatment beside the detuning and the coupling parameters for quantum treatment play important roles on the computational speed. It has been shown that the number of photons has no significant effect on the speed of computation. However, it is very sensitive to the variation in both detuning and the interaction coupling parameters.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

Conjoining the Concepts of Visitor Attitude and Place Image to Better Understand Casino Patrons\u27 Behavioral Intentions

The importance of visitor attitude and place image in understanding individual’s visit behavioral intention has both been emphasized in tourism literature. However, the two concepts seem to have been amalgamated; their distinctive and interactive roles are rarely discussed. To fill this gap, this study investigated visitor attitude from two different aspects in the context of casino gaming – one’s generic attitude versus specific attitude. A conjoined conceptual model based on the theories of planned behavior and place image is developed and empirically tested in the context of casinos in Central Indiana. The results indicate that ‘generic attitude,’ ‘specific attitude’ and ‘cognitive image’ all play significant and distinctive roles in the process of formulating visitor’s behavioral intention. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed

The emerging roles and therapeutic potential of cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11) in human cancer.

Overexpression and/or hyperactivation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are common features of most cancer types. CDKs have been shown to play important roles in tumor cell proliferation and growth by controlling cell cycle, transcription, and RNA splicing. CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib has been recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of breast cancer. CDK11 is a serine/threonine protein kinase in the CDK family and recent studies have shown that CDK11 also plays critical roles in cancer cell growth and proliferation. A variety of genetic and epigenetic events may cause universal overexpression of CDK11 in human cancers. Inhibition of CDK11 has been shown to lead to cancer cell death and apoptosis. Significant evidence has suggested that CDK11 may be a novel and promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cancers. This review will focus on the emerging roles of CDK11 in human cancers, and provide a proof-of-principle for continued efforts toward targeting CDK11 for effective cancer treatment