Nuclear Size Research Articles

Nuclear Structure, Size Regulation, and Role in Cell Migration.

The nucleus serves as a pivotal regulatory and control hub in the cell, governing numerous aspects of cellular functions, including DNA replication, transcription, and RNA processing. Therefore, any deviations in nuclear morphology, structure, or organization can strongly affect cellular activities. In this review, we provide an updated perspective on the structure and function of nuclear components, focusing on the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex, the nuclear envelope, the nuclear lamina, and chromatin. Additionally, nuclear size should be considered a fundamental parameter for the cellular state. Its regulation is tightly linked to environmental changes, development, and various diseases, including cancer. Hence, we also provide a concise overview of different mechanisms by which nuclear size is determined, the emerging role of the nucleus as a mechanical sensor, and the implications of altered nuclear morphology on the physiology of diseased cells.

TRNA gene content, structure, and organization in the flowering plant lineage

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are noncoding RNAs involved in protein biosynthesis and have noncanonical roles in cellular metabolism, such as RNA silencing and the generation of transposable elements. Extensive tRNA gene duplications, modifications to mature tRNAs, and complex secondary and tertiary structures impede tRNA sequencing. As such, a comparative genomic analysis of complete tRNA sets is an alternative to understanding the evolutionary processes that gave rise to the extant tRNA sets. Although the tRNA gene (tDNA) structure and distribution in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, specifically in vertebrates, yeasts, and flies, are well understood, there is little information regarding plants. A detailed and comprehensive analysis and annotation of tDNAs from the genomes of 44 eudicots, 20 monocots, and five other non-eudicot and non-monocot species belonging to the Ceratophyllaceae and the ANA (Amborellales, Nymphaeales, and Austrobaileyales) clade will provide a global picture of plant tDNA structure and organization. Plant genomes exhibit varying numbers of nuclear tDNAs, with only the monocots showing a strong correlation between nuclear tDNA numbers and genome sizes. In contrast, organellar tDNA numbers varied little among the different lineages. A high degree of tDNA duplication in eudicots was detected, whereby most eudicot nuclear genomes (91%) and only a modest percentage of monocot (65%) and ANA nuclear genomes (25%) contained at least one tDNA cluster. Clusters of tRNATyr–tRNASer and tRNAIle genes were found in eudicot and monocot genomes, respectively, while both eudicot and monocot genomes showed clusters of tRNAPro genes. All plant genomes had intron-containing tRNAeMet and tRNATyr genes with modest sequence conservation and a strictly conserved tRNAAla-AGC species. Regulatory elements found upstream (TATA-box and CAA motifs) and downstream (poly(T) signals) of the tDNAs were present in only a fraction of the detected tDNAs. A and B boxes within the tDNA coding region show varying consensus sequences depending on the tRNA isotype and lineage. The chloroplast genomes, but not the mitogenomes, possess relatively conserved tRNA gene organization. These findings reveal differences and patterns acquired by plant genomes throughout evolution and can serve as a foundation for further studies on plant tRNA gene function and regulation.

Impact of intrinsic electromagnetic structure on the nuclear charge radius in relativistic density functional theory

Impact of intrinsic electromagnetic structure on the nuclear charge radius in relativistic density functional theory

Short Exposure to Full Moonlight Has a Long-Term Impact on Brassica juncea Cell Activity and Growth.

Lunar farming, often regarded as a myth, is regularly practiced in many places around the world (e.g., India) where framers organized their agricultural activities according to moon phases. Early and recent work showed that exposure to moonlight affects the life cycle of plants, from seed germination and vegetative growth to fruit maturation and dispersal. Here we addressed the long-term effect of short exposure to full moonlight (FML) on cellular activities in Brassica juncea by analyzing protein and metabolite profiles immediately after 3-night-exposure (3NE) or 7 and 15 days after exposure (DAE) to FML. This study shows an increase in nuclear size following 3NE to FML, which was accompanied by changes in protein and metabolite profiles. We identified significant alterations in protein and metabolite profiles between FML and dark-treated plants in conjunction with developmental stages, which persisted long after exposure to FML. Most notable are the changes in composition of metabolite interconversion enzymes (MIEs) at various developmental stages which were intensified in FML-treated plants. Changes in MIEs were accompanied by significant alterations in metabolite composition and level, particularly at 15DAE, including branched-chain amino acids (e.g., valine, leucine), multiple sugars (raffinose, glucose, sucrose) as well as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates malic acid and citric acid. Thus, our results show that short-term exposure to FML triggers a developmental switch resulting in a long-term impact on plant performance that brings about an increase in cell activities and consequently enhanced growth. Our results call for meticulous research on this lunar phenomenon and its potential to enhance crop plant growth and development.

Potential signature of new magicity from universal aspects of nuclear charge radii

Potential signature of new magicity from universal aspects of nuclear charge radii

Disentangling Sources of Momentum Fluctuations in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

High-energy nuclear collisions create a quark-gluon plasma, whose initial condition and subsequent expansion vary from event to event, impacting the distribution of the eventwise average transverse momentum [P([pT])]. Disentangling the contributions from fluctuations in the nuclear overlap size (geometrical component) and other sources at a fixed size (intrinsic component) remains a challenge. This problem is addressed by measuring the mean, variance, and skewness of P([pT]) in Pb208+Pb208 and Xe129+Xe129 collisions at sNN=5.02 and 5.44 TeV, respectively, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. All observables show distinct features in ultracentral collisions, which are explained by a suppression of the geometrical component as the overlap area reaches its maximum. These results demonstrate a new technique to separate geometrical and intrinsic fluctuations, providing constraints on initial conditions and properties of the quark-gluon plasma, such as the speed of sound. © 2024 CERN, for the ATLAS Collaboration 2024 CERN

Electric, magnetic, and quadrupole form factors and charge radii of vector mesons: From light to heavy sectors in a contact interaction

We present a detailed survey of electric, magnetic, and quadrupole form factors of light and heavy spin-1 vector mesons. It complements our analogous analysis of the electromagnetic form factors of pseudoscalar and scalar mesons reported earlier. Our formalism is based upon the Schwinger-Dyson equations treatment of a vector × vector contact interaction and the Bethe-Salpeter equation description of relativistic two-body bound states. We compute the form factors, associated moments, and charge radii, comparing these quantities to earlier theoretical studies and experimental results if and when possible. We also investigate the quark-mass dependence of the charge radii and find the anticipated hierarchy such that it decreases with increasing dressed quark masses. In addition, our analysis shows that the magnetic moment is independent of the mass of the light and heavy mesons. Our results agree with most measurements reported earlier, finding a negative quadrupole moment, implying the charge distribution is oblate. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Unveiling radii and neutron skins of unstable atomic nuclei via nuclear collisions

Total reaction, interaction, and charge-changing cross sections, which are kinds of cross sections standing for total nuclear collision probability in medium-to high-energy region from a few to several hundred MeV, have been extensively utilized to probe nuclear sizes especially for unstable nuclei. In this mini review, experimental techniques and recent findings from these cross sections are briefly overviewed. Additionally, two new methods to extract neutron skin thickness solely from the above cross sections are explained: One is utilizing the energy and isospin dependence of the total reaction cross sections, and the other is the combination of the total reaction and charge-changing cross section measurements.

Neutrino charge radius and additional one-loop radiative corrections at ultranear reactor experiments

We scrutinize the potential of upcoming ultranear reactor neutrino experiments to detect radiative corrections in the elastic neutrino-electron scattering channel, focusing on the JUNO-TAO and CLOUD detectors, which employ advanced scintillator detection technologies. Previous reactor experiments have already constrained the electron neutrino charge radius, which is a neutrino property associated with a certain subset of the total radiative corrections, and have achieved limits that are only about an order of magnitude away from the Standard Model prediction. Our study demonstrates that JUNO-TAO and CLOUD could discover the neutrino charge radius in the near future, considering the established treatment of the charge radius. However, we show that it is necessary to go beyond this standard treatment. By including the complete set of one-loop level radiative corrections, we find a partial cancellation with the charge radius effect, reducing the experimental sensitivity to this quantity. Nevertheless, JUNO-TAO and CLOUD still have the potential to achieve a 5σ discovery but over longer timescales within a reasonable operational time frame. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Nuclear morphological characterisation of lobular carcinoma variants: a morphometric study.

Lobular carcinoma (LC) of the breast exhibits diverse morphology and clinical behaviour. The pleomorphic variant (pLC) displays distinct cytonuclear features and aggressiveness compared to the classic variant (cLC). However, diagnosing pLC remains subjective. This study aims to refine LC's cytonuclear features, focusing on pLC. Whole slide images of 59 LCs, including both in situ (LCIS) and invasive (ILC) lesions, were analysed. Nuclear measurements, including nuclear size and variability, were scored using QuPath imageanalysis software. For comparison, selected features were scored in normal cells (n = 10) and pleomorphism score-matched invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) of NST type (n = 33). Additional visual assessment of the pleomorphic ILC (pILC) cohort (n = 90) was conducted for cytomorphological features characterisation. pILC demonstrated larger nuclear area and higher nuclear variability with abundance of cytoplasm than cILC. Compared to lymphocytes, pILC demonstrated a median area ranging from 2.7 to 4.7 times larger. Cut-off values for differentiating pILC from other ILC subtypes included median nuclear area > 48.2 μm2 and interquartile range (IQR) > 19.4, nuclear perimeter median > 25.2 μm and IQR > 5.3 and maximum diameter > 9.1 μm and IQR > 2.2. Multivariable logistic regression confirmed these parameters as independent predictors of pILC, with the maximum diameter being the most significant (P < 0.001). Visual assessment recognised two pILC subtypes: apocrine and non-apocrine. Apocrine variant showed nuclear roundness, pale vesicular chromatin patterns and prominent nucleoli, while non-apocrine variant exhibited greater nuclear size and shape variation. Objective nuclear measurements, combined with cytoplasmic and architectural features, provide a robust framework for diagnosing LC subtypes, improving diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility.

Temporal Changes Toward Cellular Senescence in Rat Dental Pulp Stem Cells Induced by Long-Term In Vitro Culture

Rat dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) can be used to elucidate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) applications in regenerative medicine. However, information on rat DPSCs during long-term passage, which could lead to replicative senescence, is limited. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic changes in DPSCs after 3–26 passages (3P–26P). The results show that cell morphology and nuclear size increase proportionally with passage number. The phosphorylated histone H2A.X (γ-H2A.X) positive cells (indicating DNA damage) increased significantly earlier than the 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) stained cells (indicating an abundance of intracellular reactive oxygen species). Compared to the cells subjected to 3P and 5P, the cells subjected to 15P showed reduced proliferation despite being positive for Ki67. Furthermore, cell growth was completely arrested after 26P. The senescence markers, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) and p16, exhibited similar expression patterns that were not correlated with those of p21 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Nearly all cells expressed SA-β-gal and p16 after 26P, whereas only half expressed p21 and uPAR. These results will contribute to understanding the characteristics of DPSCs toward replicative senescence, which are applicable to elucidate mechanisms related to regenerative medicine and stem cell aging.

P112 An exclusive established cell model of patient-derived psoriatic keratinocyte provides a valuable in vitro tool for mechanistic studies and therapeutic testing

Abstract Chronic inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis, result in a wide range of distressing symptoms for affected individuals. There is a pressing need for epidermal models which can be readily utilized, enhancing our comprehension of these disorders. We report, the establishment of a novel psoriatic keratinocyte cell line that embodies essential features of psoriasis. Psoriatic keratinocytes (PSA cells), isolated from epidermal hypertrophic plaques of a 50-year-old male with psoriasis vulgaris, and a control keratinocyte (KT2) cell line, derived from an aged-matched healthy human skin sample, were immortalized with SV40-large T antigen. The transcriptomic and biological analysis of these established cellular models revealed significant phenotypic distinctions between healthy and psoriatic keratinocytes. Our findings from RNA-seq data analysis (validation by qRT-PCR) demonstrate that PSA cells from psoriatic individuals display a heightened expression profile of inflammatory cytokines and peptides (including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-23, IL-8, LL-37, and serpin B1) compared with KT2 cells from healthy individuals, mirroring the clinical characteristics observed in psoriasis patients. Stimulation of the cells for 24 h with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) which induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and protein kinase C (PKC) activation, ultimately leading to an inflammatory response further increased most of cytokine’s expression in PSA cells when compared with non-treated KT2 cells. This confirms that the psoriatic cell model is capable of launching additional inflammatory responses upon exposure to stress factors, in addition to their already innate inflammatory nature. Additional comparative analysis of PSA cells and KT2 cells in conjunction with NTERT cells, a healthy keratinocyte line conventionally used in cutaneous research, found that the PSA cells exhibited reduced expression of anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid receptor, comparable to what detected in primary keratinocytes isolated from psoriatic lesional and non-lesional skin. Further transcriptomic and morphological examination of these newly established cell models revealed enlarged nuclear and cell body size and a faster growth rate of PSA cells in comparison with either the healthy NTERT or KT2 cell lines, all trademark affiliations of psoriasis. These findings suggest that immortalized psoriatic PSA cells, the first of their kind, faithfully profile the psoriatic phenotype in vitro and may provide a novel tool for interrogating the disease's pathogenic mechanisms.

Prognostic impact of tumor cell nuclear size assessed by artificial intelligence in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Tumor cell nuclear size (NS) indicates malignant potential in breast cancer; however, its clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is unknown. Artificial intelligence (AI) can quantitatively evaluate histopathological findings. The aim was to measure NS in ESCC using AI and elucidate its clinical significance. We investigated the relationship between NS assessed by AI and prognosis in 138 patients with ESCC who underwent curative esophagectomy. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides from the deepest tumor sections were digitized. Using HALO-AI DenseNet v2, we created a deep learning classifier that identified tumor cells with an NS area >20 μm2. Median NS was 40.14 μm2, which was used to divide patients into NS-high and NS-low groups (n = 69 per group). Five-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival rates were significantly lower in the NS-high group (43.2% and 39.6%) than in the NS-low group (67.7% and 49.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that greater tumor depth and NS-high status (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.79; p = 0.032) were independent risk factors for OS. In 77 cases with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, increased tumor depth and NS-high status (HR: 1.99; p = 0.048) were independent prognostic factors for unfavorable OS. Compared to the NS-low group, the NS-high group had significantly higher anisokaryosis, higher Ki-67 expression as calculated by AI analysis of immunostaining, and higher NS heterogeneity as examined by equidividing the tumors into square tiles. In conclusion, NS assessed by AI is a simple and useful prognostic factor for ESCC.

Study on precise arrangement of spherical fragments in blast-fragmentation warhead

Abstract The fragmentation arrangement of a blast-fragmentation warhead plays a crucial role in determining its damage performance. While extensive research has been conducted on explosive detonation driving and dynamic performance, there is a lack of reports regarding fragmentation arrangement methods. This study primarily focuses on the precise arrangement of spherical fragments within a warhead, building upon the conventional cylindrical warhead design. We discuss two main types of fragment arrangements: staggered and centripetal. Furthermore, the analysis further into staggered arrangements with single-layer, double-layer, triple-layer, and multi-layer configurations, providing a theoretical calculation formula for determining the thickness of the spherical fragment module. Finally, we explore the impact of charge radius and fragment size on the module thickness, noting a gradual increase in thickness with larger fragment radius and charge radius, before eventually stabilizing. Additionally, it investigates the effects of double-layer and triple-layer spherical fragment arrangements on warhead quality using a Φ350 mm ×1200 mm cylindrical warhead. The findings suggest that staggered arrangement of spherical fragments can enhance charge quality and overall damage performance of the warhead while offering valuable insights for the designing of high-quality blast-fragmentation warheads.

Nuclear pore permeability and fluid flow are modulated by its dilation state.

Changing environmental conditions necessitate rapid adaptation of cytoplasmic and nuclear volumes. We use the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, known for its ability to tolerate extreme changes in osmolarity, to assess which role nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) play in achieving nuclear volume adaptation and relieving mechanical stress. We capitalize on the unique properties of D.discoideum to quantify fluid flow across NPCs. D.discoideum has an elaborate NPC structure in situ. Its dilation state affects NPC permeability for nucleocytosolic flow. Based on mathematical concepts adapted from hydrodynamics, we conceptualize this phenomenon as porous flow across NPCs, which is distinct from canonically characterized modes of nucleocytoplasmic transport because of its dependence on pressure. Viral NPC blockage decreased nucleocytosolic flow. Our results may be relevant for any biological conditions that entail rapid nuclear size adaptation, including metastasizing cancer cells, migrating cells, or differentiating tissues.

The analytical resolution of Klein–Gordon equation with vector and scalar for Coulomb plus Yukawa potentials

Similar to how general relativity emerged, quantum mechanics resulted from experimental observations that made us radically rethink our previous assumptions. Scientists who study atoms need to solve these three equations. They are for a system with N electrons affected by the nucleus’s attractive Coulomb force and the repulsive force between each pair of electrons and other potentials. While general relativity has upended our large-scale conception of the universe, quantum mechanics calls into question all our intuition regarding particle physics. The Klein–Gordon (KG) resolution helps determine some physical systems and their properties by finding their bound states and eigenfunctions. These are resolved using analytical and numerical methods, as well as Coulomb and Yukawa potentials. In order to extract some of the first eigenvalues of the quantum mechanical system, we applied the Nikiforov–Uvarov (NU) method to the KGequation. The findings are significant for understanding nuclear charge radius, spin, nuclear diffusion and other topics in numerous theoretical physics and quantum chemistry fields because they are more generic and helpful.

Cells transit through a quiescent-like state to convert to neurons at high rates.

Proliferation drives cells to a compact nuclear state that is receptive to TF-mediated conversion.Increased receptivity to TFs corresponds to reduced nuclear volumes.Reprogrammable cells display global, genome-wide increases in H3K27me3.High levels of H3K27me3 support cells' transits through a state of altered RNA metabolism.Inhibition of Ezh2 increases nuclear size, reduces the expression of the quiescence marker p27.Acute inhibition of Ezh2 abolishes motor neuron conversion. Cells transit through a quiescent-like state characterized by global reductions in nuclear size and transcriptional activity to convert to neurons at high rates.

Local charge radius relations based on neutron shell effects

In this paper, we obtained the mean mass density parameter (MMDP) [Formula: see text] based on the nuclear mass AME2020 and nuclear charge radius CR2013 databases. On this basis, we study the dependence relationship between neutron number N and the two neighboring isotopes MMDP difference [Formula: see text], and then obtained the empirical formula for [Formula: see text]. By combining this empirical formula with the AME2020 and CR2013 databases, the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) for 606 nuclear charge radii with [Formula: see text] 21 between the calculated and experimental values is 0.0046[Formula: see text]fm. Considering the odd–even staggering and isospin term correction, the study found that the RMSD is reduced to 0.0040[Formula: see text]fm. This work also uses Levenberg–Marquart (L-M) neural network approach to study the nuclear charge radius. The RMSD of nuclear charge radius is only 0.0030 fm, where the accuracy is increased by about 25%. Furthermore, the predicted values of nuclear charge radius obtained using this modified empirical formula and Neural Network model are competitive with the results of other models. These results indicate that nuclear charge radius relation and Neural Network model based on [Formula: see text] proposed in this work have a certain accuracy, simplicity and reliability.

Nuclear pleomorphism in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors: Comparison of reproducibility and prognostic relevance between estimates, manual morphometry, and algorithmic morphometry.

Variation in nuclear size and shape is an important criterion of malignancy for many tumor types; however, categorical estimates by pathologists have poor reproducibility. Measurements of nuclear characteristics can improve reproducibility, but current manual methods are time-consuming. The aim of this study was to explore the limitations of estimates and develop alternative morphometric solutions for canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (ccMCTs). We assessed the following nuclear evaluation methods for accuracy, reproducibility, and prognostic utility: (1) anisokaryosis estimates by 11 pathologists; (2) gold standard manual morphometry of at least 100 nuclei; (3) practicable manual morphometry with stratified sampling of 12 nuclei by 9 pathologists; and (4) automated morphometry using deep learning-based segmentation. The study included 96 ccMCTs with available outcome information. Inter-rater reproducibility of anisokaryosis estimates was low (k = 0.226), whereas it was good (intraclass correlation = 0.654) for practicable morphometry of the standard deviation (SD) of nuclear size. As compared with gold standard manual morphometry (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.839, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.701-0.977), the prognostic value (tumor-specific survival) of SDs of nuclear area for practicable manual morphometry and automated morphometry were high with an AUC of 0.868 (95% CI = 0.737-0.991) and 0.943 (95% CI = 0.889-0.996), respectively. This study supports the use of manual morphometry with stratified sampling of 12 nuclei and algorithmic morphometry to overcome the poor reproducibility of estimates. Further studies are needed to validate our findings, determine inter-algorithmic reproducibility and algorithmic robustness, and explore tumor heterogeneity of nuclear features in entire tumor sections.

Contact interaction treatment of V→Pγ for light-quark mesons

The V→Pγ and η(η′)→γγ decays are evaluated within a Dyson-Schwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations framework (here V={ρ±,K⋆±,ϕ} and P={π±,K±,η,η′}). The so-called impulse approximation (IA) is employed in the computation of the decay constants involved and decay widths, and so in the estimation of the associated charge and interaction radii. For their part, the required propagators and vertices stem from a contact interaction model, embedded within a beyond rainbow-ladder (RL) truncation that accounts for the typical ladder exchanges, quark anomalous magnetic moment, as well as the non-Abelian anomaly. While the examined transitions produce decay widths plainly compatible with the available experimental data, those processes involving the η−η′ mesons highlight the incompleteness of the IA when considering beyond RL effects in the interaction kernels. Published by the American Physical Society 2024