Monocytes Do Not Transdifferentiate into Proper Osteoblasts

Recent publications suggested that monocytes might be an attractive cell type to transdifferentiate into various cellular phenotypes. Aim was, therefore, to evaluate the potential of blood monocytes to transdifferentiate into osteoblasts. Monocytes isolated from peripheral blood were subjected to two previously published treatments to obtain unique, multipotent cell fractions, named programmable cells of monocytic origin (PCMOs) and monocyte-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (MOMPs). Subsequently, MOMPs and PCMOs were treated with osteogenic differentiation medium (including either vitamin D or dexamethasone) for 14 days. Regarding a variety of surface markers, no differences between MOMPs, PCMOs, and primary monocytes could be detected. The treatment with osteogenic medium neither resulted in loss of hematopoietic markers nor in adoption of mesenchymal phenotype in all cell types. No significant effect was observed regarding the expression of osteogenic transcription factors, bone-related genes, or production of mineralized matrix. Osteogenic medium resulted in activation of monocytes and appearance of osteoclasts. In conclusion, none of the investigated monocyte cell types showed any transdifferentiation characteristics under the tested circumstances. Based on our data, we rather see an activation and maturation of monocytes towards macrophages and osteoclasts

ST Operation Report

The ST Operation Report gives an overview of the technical infrastructure operation under the responsibility of the ST division. The availability of the infrastructure for CERN's accelerators and experiments is analysed in detail and the lessons learned for next year's operation are described. Furthermore, details of the TCR operation and the electrical infrastructure are discussed. In addition major breakdowns of the electrical and cooling infrastructure other than for the accelerators as well as major tests are discussed

How Migration Motives Change over Migration Distance: Evidence on Variation across Socio-economic and Demographic Groups

Niedomysl T. How migration motives change over migration distance: evidence on variation across socio-economic and demographic groups, Regional Studies. Migration researchers have long known that the motives for changing place of residence vary over migration distance. Typically, short-distance moves are regarded as motivated by housing considerations and longer-distance moves primarily by employment considerations. Using a large-scale survey on migration motives, this paper explores how migration motives change over migration distance. Particular attention is paid to variations across socio-economic and demographic groups. The results show that the housing- versus employment-driven migration dichotomy, over short and long distances, respectively, is still somewhat valid, though the present findings give a much more nuanced interpretation. The paper reveals considerable variation in migration motives, not only over migration distance, but also particularly in relation to migrant socio-economic and demographic characteristics. [image omitted] Niedomysl T. Comment les motifs de migration varient en fonction de la distance: des preuves de la variation des groupes socio-professionnels et demographiques, Regional Studies. Ceux qui font des recherches sur la migration savent depuis longtemps que les raisons qui expliquent la migration varient en fonction de la distance. Il n'est pas a surprendre que l'on considere que la migration a courte distance s'explique par la demande de logement et que la migration a plus grande distance s'explique essentiellement par la demande d'emploi. A partir d'une enquete a grande echelle sur les motifs de migration, le present article examine comment les motifs de migration varient en fonction de la distance. On prete une attention particuliere a la variation des groupes socio-professionnelles et demographiques. Les resultats laissent voir que la dichotomie qui se pose - a savoir, la migration, a courte ou a grande distance, est-elle determinee par le logement ou par l'emploi? - reste plutot valable, bien que les preuves actuelles fournissent une interpretation beaucoup plus nuancee. L'article laisse voir d'importantes variations des motifs de migration, non seulement en fonction de la distance, mais aussi par rapport aux caracteristiques socio-professionnelles et demographiques des migrants. Migration Motifs Distance Donnees observees Suede Niedomysl T. Wie sich Migrationsmotive mit der Migrationsdistanz andern: Belege fur Abweichungen zwischen verschiedenen soziookonomischen und demografischen Gruppen, Regional Studies. Unter Migrationsforschern ist seit langem bekannt, dass sich die Motive fur einen Wohnortswechsel mit zunehmender Migrationsdistanz andern. In der Regel gelten Ortswechsel uber kurze Entfernungen als durch Aspekte der Wohnung motiviert und Ortswechsel uber langere Entfernungen als vornehmlich durch Arbeitsfaktoren verursacht. In diesem Beitrag wird mit Hilfe einer umfangreichen Erhebung uber Migrationsmotive untersucht, wie sich die Motive fur eine Migration mit der Migrationsdistanz andern. Hierbei wird insbesondere auf Abweichungen zwischen verschiedenen soziookonomischen und demografischen Gruppen geachtet. Aus den Ergebnissen geht hervor, dass die Dichotomie der wohnungsbedingten Migration uber kurze Entfernungen und der arbeitsbedingten Migration uber langere Entfernungen weiterhin eine gewisse Gultigkeit besitzt, wobei aber die vorliegenden Resultate eine weitaus nuanciertere Interpretation ermoglichen. Es zeigen sich erhebliche Schwankungen hinsichtlich der Migrationsmotive, die nicht nur mit der Migrationsdistanz, sondern insbesondere auch mit den soziookonomischen und demografischen Merkmalen der Migranten zusammenhangen. Migration Motive Distanz Erhebungsdaten Schweden Niedomysl T. Como cambian los motivos de migracion con la distancia de migracion: ejemplos de variacion entre grupos socioeconomicos y demograficos, Regional Studies. Los investigadores sobre migracion saben desde hace mucho tiempo que los motivos de cambiar de residencia varian segun la distancia de migracion. En general se considera que los desplazamientos de cortas distancias estan motivados por cuestiones de vivienda y los de largas distancias sobre todo por cuestiones de empleo. Con ayuda de un estudio a gran escala sobre los motivos de migracion, en este articulo analizamos como cambian los motivos de migracion en funcion de las distancias. Prestamos especial atencion a las variaciones entre grupos socioeconomicos y demograficos. Los resultados indican que la dicotomia de la migracion motivada por la vivienda frente a la motivada por el empleo, en cortas y largas distancias respectivamente, todavia tiene cierta validez, si bien los presentes resultados dan una interpretacion mucho mas exhaustiva. En este articulo mostramos que hay una variacion considerable en los motivos de migracion, no solamente con respecto a la distancia de migracion sino tambien en particular con relacion a las caracteristicas socioeconomicas y demograficas de los migrantes. Migracion Motivos Distancia Datos de estudios SueciaMigration, Motives, Distance, Survey data, Sweden,

Beyond plug and pray : context sensitivity and in silico design of artificial neomycin riboswitches

Gene regulation in prokaryotes often depends on RNA elements such as riboswitches or RNA thermometers located in the 5′ untranslated region of mRNA. Rearrangements of the RNA structure in response, e.g., to the binding of small molecules or ions control translational initiation or premature termination of transcription and thus mRNA expression. Such structural responses are amenable to computational modelling, making it possible to rationally design synthetic riboswitches for a given aptamer. Starting from an artificial aptamer, we construct the first synthetic transcriptional riboswitches that respond to the antibiotic neomycin. We show that the switching behaviour in vivo critically depends not only on the sequence of the riboswitch itself, but also on its sequence context. We therefore developed in silico methods to predict the impact of the context, making it possible to adapt the design and to rescue non-functional riboswitches. We furthermore analyse the influence of 5′ hairpins with varying stability on neomycin riboswitch activity. Our data highlight the limitations of a simple plug-and-play approach in the design of complex genetic circuits and demonstrate that detailed computational models significantly simplify, improve, and automate the design of transcriptional circuits. Our design software is available under a free licence on GitHub (https://github.com/xileF1337/riboswitch_design)