Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan on Monday said it had closed a probe into pagers that exploded in Lebanon in September and caused a deadly blow to Iran-backed Hezbollah, saying no Taiwanese citizens or companies were involved. Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed responsibility for the attack during a cabinet meeting, telling ministers that senior defense officials and political figures were opposed to the detonation of the pagers but that he went ahead with the operation. Security sources have previously said the pagers carried the name of Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, a company which has asserted that it did not make them. Taiwan's government has also said the pagers were not made in Taiwan. Taipei prosecutors, who were investigating the case, said in a statement the AR-924 pager model that exploded in Lebanon was manufactured, traded, and shipped by a firm called Frontier Group Entity, and made outside of Taiwan. They added, however, that Gold Apollo had authorized the company to use the Apollo trademark. "There is no evidence indicating that any domestic manufacturers or individuals were accomplices in the relevant explosions, violating the Counter-Terrorism Financing Act, or engaging in other illegal activities," the prosecutors said in a statement. "No concrete evidence of criminal activity has been discovered in this case, nor have any specific individuals been implicated in any criminal activity, following a comprehensive investigation." Prosecutors have previously confirmed that they questioned Gold Apollo's president and founder Hsu Ching-kuang and a woman called Teresa Wu, the sole employee of a company called Apollo Systems Ltd. In their statement, the prosecutors said Wu acted as a liaison with Frontier, but there was no evidence she "had prior knowledge or participated in any conspiracy or collaboration related to the explosion incidents." The prosecutors said there was some information they did not know, including the exact identities of the Frontier employees Wu communicated with. It said one person was called "T" and was presumably the head of Frontier, while another was called "M" and was presumably the sales director. Gold Apollo told Reuters it had also just seen the prosecutor’s statement, and that it was not immediately able to comment further.

At upcoming multilateral summits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an opportunity to expand India's regional position and economic links, and address issues such as terrorism and a rising China.

At the end of the first week at the 16th Conference of Parties on Biodiversity (COP16), finance emerges as the biggest issue but also shrouded in controversies. On Saturday, as the COP moved closer to its most crucial phase of negotiations, resource mobilization—listed under Target 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)—took centerstage, with […]

The 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Thailand and Cambodia regarding territory claimed by both sides in the Gulf of Thailand provides a framework for negotiations on two main subjects: maritime demarcation and economic benefits from the development of energy resources, said Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.

1. ‘Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain’: The Effect Of PM Modi's Slogan On Maharashtra’s Muslim Seats  News18
2. ‘Congress’s shahi parivar thinks it is born to rule India': PM Modi in Maharashtra  Hindustan Times
3. "Most Unstable Vehicle": PM Modi's Jibe At Maha Vikas Aghadi In Maharashtra  NDTV
4. Rahul Gandhi's 'Golden Goose' Is Revant Reddy | Claims of Congress Funding Accusation | India Today  India Today
5. Pune to progress faster in next five years, says PM Modi  The Times of India

Security sources have previously said the pagers carried the name of a Taiwan-based company that has asserted that it did not make them.

As the UN’s COP16 biodiversity conference continues, the temptation is to focus on the wild flora and fauna under threat. But there is another, less obvious yet just as critical biodiversity crisis unfolding around the world that also deserves attention. A quarter of livestock breeds – from chickens, ducks and geese to horses, camels and […]

José Aruna, a forest defender from Sud Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), remembers the night in September 2019 when a group of heavily armed men barged into his house in the middle of the night. Aruna and his wife—6 months pregnant at the time—were in bed when he heard sounds […]

to work with and modify the turbo hydra matic 40

to work with and modify the turbo hydra matic 400

This study outlines actions Cambodia can take to diversify its economy and shows how cutting business costs, tackling human capital deficits, and reducing vulnerability to external shocks can help drive sustainable, inclusive growth.

This report outlines the cascading environmental, social, and economic impacts of aquatic biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia and recommends ways to develop scalable projects that tackle river pollution and support sustainable development.

Blackworms are ultra-fast swimmers, and they tangle up into worm balls to protect themselves from predators – but leeches have an ingenious method of catching them called “spiral entombment”

Invasive cane toads have decimated native freshwater crocodile populations in northern Australia, as the predators don't know they should avoid the toxic amphibians

There are secrets aplenty in a pot of honey – from information about bees' "micro-bee-ota" to DNA from the environment – that can help us fight food fraud and even monitor shifts in climate

Several enormous craters left by explosions have been spotted in Siberia over the past 15 years, and a new explanation links them to hot gas – and climate change

Although the COP16 summit in Colombia ended with some important agreements, countries still aren’t moving fast enough to stem biodiversity loss

Blood tests have shown that about 7 per cent of workers on dairy farms that had H5N1 outbreaks had antibodies against the disease

Title: iodine
Category: Medications
Created: 7/21/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/21/2022 12:00:00 AM

Title: Longer, Worse COVID Leaves Stronger Antibodies: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2021 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/23/2021 12:00:00 AM

Understanding the evolution of chromatin conformation among species is fundamental to elucidate the architecture and plasticity of genomes. Nonrandom interactions of linearly distant loci regulate gene function in species-specific patterns, affecting genome function, evolution, and, ultimately, speciation. Yet, data from nonmodel organisms are scarce. To capture the macroevolutionary diversity of vertebrate chromatin conformation, here we generate de novo genome assemblies for two cryptodiran (hidden-neck) turtles via Illumina sequencing, chromosome conformation capture, and RNA-seq: Apalone spinifera (ZZ/ZW, 2n = 66) and Staurotypus triporcatus (XX/XY, 2n = 54). We detected differences in the three-dimensional (3D) chromatin structure in turtles compared to other amniotes beyond the fusion/fission events detected in the linear genomes. Namely, whole-genome comparisons revealed distinct trends of chromosome rearrangements in turtles: (1) a low rate of genome reshuffling in Apalone (Trionychidae) whose karyotype is highly conserved when compared to chicken (likely ancestral for turtles), and (2) a moderate rate of fusions/fissions in Staurotypus (Kinosternidae) and Trachemys scripta (Emydidae). Furthermore, we identified a chromosome folding pattern that enables "centromere–telomere interactions" previously undetected in turtles. The combined turtle pattern of "centromere–telomere interactions" (discovered here) plus "centromere clustering" (previously reported in sauropsids) is novel for amniotes and it counters previous hypotheses about amniote 3D chromatin structure. We hypothesize that the divergent pattern found in turtles originated from an amniote ancestral state defined by a nuclear configuration with extensive associations among microchromosomes that were preserved upon the reshuffling of the linear genome.

Massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) are powerful tools for quantifying the impacts of sequence variation on gene expression. Reading out molecular phenotypes with sequencing enables interrogating the impact of sequence variation beyond genome scale. Machine learning models integrate and codify information learned from MPRAs and enable generalization by predicting sequences outside the training data set. Models can provide a quantitative understanding of cis-regulatory codes controlling gene expression, enable variant stratification, and guide the design of synthetic regulatory elements for applications from synthetic biology to mRNA and gene therapy. This review focuses on cis-regulatory MPRAs, particularly those that interrogate cotranscriptional and post-transcriptional processes: alternative splicing, cleavage and polyadenylation, translation, and mRNA decay.

Vault RNAs (vtRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small noncoding RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase III. Vault RNAs were initially described as components of the vault particle, but have since been assigned multiple vault-independent functions, including regulation of PKR activity, apoptosis, autophagy, lysosome biogenesis, and viral particle trafficking. The full-length transcript has also been described as a noncanonical source of miRNAs, which are processed in a DICER-dependent manner. As central molecules in vault-dependent and independent processes, vtRNAs have been attributed numerous biological roles, including regulation of cell proliferation and survival, response to viral infections, drug resistance, and animal development. Yet, their impact to mammalian physiology remains largely unexplored. To study vault RNAs in vivo, we generated a mouse line with a conditional Vaultrc5 loss-of-function allele. Because Vaultrc5 is the sole murine vtRNA, this allele enables the characterization of the physiological requirements of this conserved class of small regulatory RNAs in mammals. Using this strain, we show that mice constitutively null for Vaultrc5 are viable and histologically normal but have a slight reduction in platelet counts, pointing to a potential role for vtRNAs in hematopoiesis. This work paves the way for further in vivo characterizations of this abundant but mysterious RNA molecule. Specifically, it enables the study of the biological consequences of constitutive or lineage-specific Vaultrc5 deletion and of the physiological requirements for an intact Vaultrc5 during normal hematopoiesis or in response to cellular stresses such as oncogene expression, viral infection, or drug treatment.

Extract

In cystic fibrosis (CF), Pseudomonas aeruginosa acquisition represents a turning point in disease progression. The presence of chronic P. aeruginosa infection is associated with worsening lung function and increased risk of earlier death, whereas treatment substantially improves lung function and survival [1, 2]. Efforts to diagnose and eradicate early P. aeruginosa provide lasting benefits for children with CF [3, 4]. However, the timing of infection varies considerably between individuals with CF, treatment centres [5, 6], and different birth cohorts of people with the disease [7, 8].

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha antisense 1 (HNF4A-AS1) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) gene physically located next to the transcription factor HNF4A gene in the human genome. Its transcription products have been reported to inhibit the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and negatively regulate the expression of cytochrome P450s (CYPs), including CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2E1, and 3A4. By altering CYP expression, lncRNA HNF4A-AS1 also contributes to the susceptibility of drug-induced liver injury. Thus, HNF4A-AS1 lncRNA is a promising target for controlling HCC and modulating drug metabolism. However, HNF4A-AS1 has four annotated alternative transcripts in the human genome browsers, and it is unclear which transcripts the small interfering RNAs or small hairpin RNAs used in the previous studies are silenced and which transcripts should be used as the target. In this study, four annotated and two newly identified transcripts were confirmed. These six transcripts showed different expression levels in different liver disease conditions, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, alcohol-associated liver disease, and obesity. The expression patterns of all HNF4A-AS1 transcripts were further investigated in liver cell growth from human embryonic stem cells to matured hepatocyte-like cells, HepaRG differentiation, and exposure to rifampicin treatment. Several HNF4A-AS1 transcripts highly displayed correlations with these situations. In addition, some of the HNF4A-AS1 transcripts also showed a strong correlation with CYP3A4 during HepaRG maturation and rifampicin exposure. Our findings provide valuable insights into the specific roles of HNF4A-AS1 transcripts, paving the way for more targeted therapeutic strategies for liver diseases and drug metabolism.

In nuclear medicine, estimating the number of radioactive decays that occur in a source organ per unit administered activity of a radiopharmaceutical (i.e., the time-integrated activity coefficient [TIAC]) is an essential task within the internal dosimetry workflow. TIAC estimation is commonly derived by least-squares fitting of various exponential models to organ time–activity data (radiopharmaceutical biodistribution). Rarely, however, are methods used to objectively determine the model that best characterizes the data. Additionally, the uncertainty associated with the resultant TIAC is generally not evaluated. As part of the MIRDsoft initiative, MIRDfit has been developed to offer a biodistribution fitting software solution that provides the following essential features and advantages for internal dose assessment: nuclear medicine–appropriate fit functions; objective metrics for guiding best-fit selection; TIAC uncertainty calculation; quality control and data archiving; integration with MIRDcalc software for dose calculation; and a user-friendly Excel-based interface. For demonstration and comparative validation of MIRDfit’s performance, TIACs were derived from serial imaging studies involving ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE using MIRDfit. These TIACs were then compared with TIAC estimates obtained using other software. In most cases, the TIACs agreed within approximately 10% between MIRDfit and the other software. MIRDfit has been endorsed by the MIRD Committee of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and has been integrated into the MIRDsoft suite of free dosimetry software; it is available for download at no user cost (https://mirdsoft.org/).

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation in Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites has emerged as a key pathogenetic feature in Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. Various factors, including posttranslational modifications (PTMs), can influence the propensity of α-Syn to misfold and aggregate. PTMs are biochemical modifications of a protein that occur during or after translation and are typically mediated by enzymes. PTMs modulate several characteristics of proteins including their structure, activity, localization, and stability. α-Syn undergoes various posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, acetylation, glycation, O-GlcNAcylation, nitration, oxidation, polyamination, arginylation, and truncation. Different PTMs of a protein can physically interact with one another or work together to influence a particular physiological or pathological feature in a process known as PTMs crosstalk. The development of detection techniques for the cooccurrence of PTMs in recent years has uncovered previously unappreciated mechanisms of their crosstalk. This has led to the emergence of evidence supporting an association between α-Syn PTMs crosstalk and synucleinopathies. In this review, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of α-Syn PTMs, their impact on misfolding and pathogenicity, the pharmacological means of targeting them, and their potential as biomarkers of disease. We also highlight the importance of the crosstalk between these PTMs in α-Syn function and aggregation. Insight into these PTMS and the complexities of their crosstalk can improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies and identify novel targets of therapeutic potential.

BackgroundIncident benzodiazepine prescriptions in primary care for anxiety decreased between 2003 and 2018. However, from 2008, incident prescribing of benzodiazepines for anxiety increased among those aged 18–34 years. There are increasing concerns around prescribing of benzodiazepines. Further, although guidelines state benzodiazepines should only be prescribed short term, in 2017, 44% of incident prescriptions were prescribed for longer than the recommended duration of 2–4 weeks.AimTo understand when and why GPs prescribe benzodiazepines for anxiety in young adults.Design and settingA qualitative study was undertaken using in-depth interviews with 17 GPs from 10 general practices in South West England.MethodInterviews were conducted by telephone or videocall. A topic guide was used to ensure consistency across interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsGPs described caution in prescribing benzodiazepines for anxiety in young adults, but thought they had an important role in acute situations. GPs described caution in prescribing duration, but some thought longer-term prescriptions could be appropriate. In light of these views, some GPs questioned whether primary care needs to revisit how clinicians are using benzodiazepines. GPs perceived that some young adults requested benzodiazepines and suggested this might be because they wanted quick symptom relief. GPs noted that refusing to prescribe felt uncomfortable and that the number of young adults presenting to general practice, already dependent on benzodiazepines, had increased.ConclusionPatient-driven factors for prescribing benzodiazepines suggest there are current unmet treatment needs among young adults with anxiety. Given increases in prescribing in this age group, it may be timely to revisit the role of benzodiazepines in the management of people with anxiety in primary care.

This week on RPG Cast, Kelley falls asleep for four years and misses the announcement of Kingdom Hearts 4. Chris is a five year old with beefy fists. Sam tells us how her video game marriage life works. And we all agree that Bidoof is our buddy.

The post RPG Cast – Episode 627: “Maybe His Feet Are Nobodies” appeared first on RPGamer.

After a star explodes, the resulting supernova remnant collapses in on itself and could begin the cycle again, creating generations of stars enriched with heavy elements

Researchers have managed to encode enormous amounts of information, including images, into DNA at a rate hundreds of times faster than was previously possible

Scientists in Australia are boosting the country's dwindling freshwater crocodile numbers by getting the animals to stop eating a poisonous toad.

Blood tests have shown that about 7 per cent of workers on dairy farms that had H5N1 outbreaks had antibodies against the disease

1. PM Narendra Modi to visit Nigeria, Brazil, Guyana from November 16  The Hindu
2. PM Modi to attend G20 Summit in Brazil, visit Nigeria and Guyana from November 16-20: Full schedule  The Times of India
3. PM Modi to embark on three nation visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana from 16th nov  News On AIR
4. PM Modi's Africa-Latin America trip begins Sunday  The Economic Times
5. PM Modi to embark on 3-nation tour, attend G20 Leaders Summit in Brazil next week  The Indian Express

DID you ever really believe that the Netflix launch coinciding with the beginning of winter was just a coincidence? Surely those execs weren’t insinuating that you were going to be ...

The post Summer bodies are built in winter appeared first on Star Observer.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the ministry of commerce and industry, has released a list of registered interested parties regarding the ongoing Second Sunset Review anti─dumping

S.M. Zafar, Khan's prominent and highly respected lawyer, had pledged to the government that the meeting with the press would be Khan's "first and last" such encounter.