De novo a-to-i rna editing discovery in lncrna

Background: Adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is the most frequent editing event in humans. It converts adenosine to inosine in double-stranded RNA regions (in coding and noncoding RNAs) through the action of the adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes. Long non-coding RNAs, particularly abundant in the brain, account for a large fraction of the human transcriptome, and their important regulatory role is becoming progressively evident in both normal and transformed cells. Results: Herein, we present a bioinformatic analysis to generate a comprehensive inosinome picture in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), using an ad hoc index and searching for de novo editing events in the normal brain cortex as well as in glioblastoma, a highly aggressive human brain cancer. We discovered >10,000 new sites and 335 novel lncRNAs that undergo editing, never reported before. We found a generalized downregulation of editing at multiple lncRNA sites in glioblastoma samples when compared to the normal brain cortex. Conclusion: Overall, our study discloses a novel layer of complexity that controls lncRNAs in the brain and brain cancer

Frequency addressing of nano-objects by electrical tuning of optical antennas

We first analyze the equivalent circuit parameters of linear wire optical nano-antennas in uniaxial anisotropic media. We then exploit the electro-optic response of a bipolar nematic liquid crystal to demonstrate tuning of an optical antenna using a low frequency external electric field as the control mechanism

Acute myeloid leukemia in infants: biology and treatment

Children aged 0-2 years (i.e., infants) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are a peculiar subgroup of patients in the childhood AML scenario. They present with distinctive biological and clinical characteristics, including a high prevalence of prognostically unfavorable risk factors and an increased susceptibility to therapy-related toxicity. Remarkable improvements have been achieved over the last two decades in the treatment of these patients and their outcome is becoming superimposable to that of the older age groups. In this review, we will focus on peculiarities of this young subgroup of children with AML, describing their clinical presentation, the biology of disease, and factors influencing outcome. Treatment results and toxicity data reported by major collaborative groups are also summarized and compared

Surface stress of Ni adlayers on W(110): the critical role of the surface atomic structure

Puzzling trends in surface stress were reported experimentally for Ni/W(110) as a function of Ni coverage. In order to explain this behavior, we have performed a density-functional-theory study of the surface stress and atomic structure of the pseudomorphic and of several different possible 1x7 configurations for this system. For the 1x7 phase, we predict a different, more regular atomic structure than previously proposed based on surface x-ray diffraction. At the same time, we reproduce the unexpected experimental change of surface stress between the pseudomorphic and 1x7 configuration along the crystallographic surface direction which does not undergo density changes. We show that the observed behavior in the surface stress is dominated by the effect of a change in Ni adsorption/coordination sites on the W(110) surface.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures Published in J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 24 (2012) 13500

Design, fabrication, and characterization of deep-etched waveguide gratings

One-dimensional (1-D) deep-etched gratings on a specially grown AlGaAs wafer were designed and fabricated. The gratings were fabricated using state-of-the-art electron beam lithography and high-aspect-ratio reactive ion etching (RIE) in order to achieve the required narrow deep air slots with good accuracy and reproducibility. Since remarkable etch depths (up to 1.5 /spl mu/m), which completely cut through the waveguide core layer, have been attained, gratings composed of only five periods (and, thus, shorter than 6 /spl mu/m) have a bandgap larger than 100 nm. A defect was introduced by increasing the width of the central semiconductor tooth to create microcavities that exhibit a narrow transmission peak (less than 7 nm) around the wavelength of 1530 nm. The transmission spectra between 1460 and 1580 nm have been systematically measured, and the losses have been estimated for a set of gratings, both with and without a defect, for different periods and air slot dimensions. Numerical results obtained via a bidirectional beam propagation code allowed the evaluation of transmissivity, reflectivity, and diffraction losses. By comparing experimental results with the authors' numerical findings, a clear picture of the role of the grating's geometric parameters in determining its spectral features and diffractive losses is illustrated

Expanding the neurological phenotype of ring chromosome 10 syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Ring chromosome 10 [r(10)] syndrome is a rare genetic condition, currently described in the medical literature in a small number of case report studies. Typical clinical features include microcephaly, short stature, facial dysmorphisms, ophthalmologic abnormalities and genitourinary malformations. We report a novel case of r(10) syndrome and review the neurological and neuro-radiological phenotypes of the previously described cases. Our patient, a 3 year old Italian girl, represents the 20th case of r(10) syndrome described to date. Intellectual disability/developmental delay (ID/DD), microcephaly, strabismus, hypotonia, stereotyped/aggressive behaviors and elec-troencephalographic abnormalities were identified in our patient, and in a series of previous cases. A brain MRI disclosed a complex malformation involving both the vermis and cerebellar hemispheres; in the literature, posterior cranial fossa abnormalities were documented by CT scan in another case. Two genes deleted in our case (ZMYND11 in 10p and EBF3 in 10q) are involved in autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by different expressions of brain and posterior cranial fossa abnormalities, ID/DD, hypotonia and behavioral problems. Our case expands the neurological and neuroradiological phenotype of r(10) syndrome. Although r(10) syndrome represents an extremely rare condition, with a clinical characterization limited to case reports, the recurrence of specific neurological and neuroradiological features suggests the need for specific genotype-phenotype studies

Directive Ultra-Wideband Planar Antennas

Two different techniques for Directive Ultra-Wideband Planar Antennas were presented throughout chapter 1: the operation of a novel bow-tie antenna with high front-to-back ratio and directivity and a differential planar UWB antenna characterized by higher gain (more than 11 dB around 7 GHz) with respect to conventional printed radiators has been demonstrated

NK cells and other innate lymphoid cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Natural killer (NK) cells play a major role in the T-cell depleted haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) to cure high-risk leukemias. NK cells belong to the expanding family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). At variance with NK cells, the other ILC populations (ILC1/2/3) are non-cytolytic, while they secrete different patterns of cytokines. ILCs provide host defenses against viruses, bacteria, and parasites, drive lymphoid organogenesis, and contribute to tissue remodeling. In haplo-HSCT patients, the extensive T-cell depletion is required to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) but increases risks of developing a wide range of life-threatening infections. However, these patients may rely on innate defenses that are reconstituted more rapidly than the adaptive ones. In this context, ILCs may represent important players in the early phases following transplantation. They may contribute to tissue homeostasis/remodeling and lymphoid tissue reconstitution. While the reconstitution of NK cell repertoire and its role in haplo-HSCT have been largely investigated, little information is available on ILCs. Of note, CD34+ cells isolated from different sources of HSC may differentiate in vitro toward various ILC subsets. Moreover, cytokines released from leukemia blasts (e.g., IL-1β) may alter the proportions of NK cells and ILC3, suggesting the possibility that leukemia may skew the ILC repertoire. Further studies are required to define the timing of ILC development and their potential protective role after HSCT

Avaliação do PH, K, Ca + Mg de áreas com cafeeiro na Zona da Mata de Rondônia.

Nutrientes como cálcio, potássio e magnésio são necessários para o desenvolvimento e produtividade da maioria das culturas. O Objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os níveis de K+, Ca++, Mg++ e pH em áreas de cultivo de café Conilon e Arábica nos solos da Zona da Mata de Rondônia. A base utilizada foram laudos de análises de solos concernentes a amostragens realizadas por produtores rurais com auxílio de extensionistas nos municípios de Rolim de Moura, Nova Brazilandia, Alta Floresta, Novo Horizonte, Alto Alegre, Cacoal, compreendendo os anos de 2008/2009. Nesses municípios foram escolhidas áreas com cafeeiro (Robusta e/ou Arábica) pela importância econômica que essa cultura representa para a agricultura familiar no Estado. A quantidade de amostras analisadas não foi comum a todos os municípios (Tabela 6), sendo utilizadas aquelas que foram submetidas a análise pelo produtor. Nesse sentido, a pesquisa apresenta uma caracterização dessas áreas com relação aos parâmetros químicos pH, K, Ca e Mg.Os valores médios de pH para cada município foram obtidos através da média aritmética das concentrações hidrogeniônicas, sendo utilizada em seguida a equação pH = -log[H+] para determinação do pH médio.Os demais parâmetros tiveram seus valores médios obtidos através de média aritmética. Conclui-se que Das 85 áreas analisadas apenas 12 apresentaram valores de pH igual ou superior a 6,0; As áreas nos município de Alto Alegre seguido de Alta Floresta apresentaram solos com melhores condições de fertilidade; 76% das áreas precisam de adubação de reposição de potássio para melhoria da qualidade da lavoura cafeeira