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• Pub. Date : 2025
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Abstract The energy sector is the most influential industry for the successful functioning of the states’ economy and general daily life maintenance. One of the future targets of the Baltic states is reaching the continental European energy network integrity and securing it. Furthermore, regional independence of the energy networks apart from eastern neighboring countries is of the most significant importance as the existing electricity grid is still synchronized with the supply systems of Russia and Belarus. During a tense geopolitical situation, it is crucial to search for alternative energy production options in terms of environmentally friendly and sustainable energy sources and economically viable alternatives. The Baltic states already have hydropower capacity, and Latvia is a leading country in this regard. Also, the energy production sector based on wind power use is developing significantly, and in this niche, the dominant one is Lithuania. Another alternative mentioned at the interstate level is the construction opportunity of a small modular reactor for nuclear fission, where Estonia has taken the first assessment step. In any case, but most significantly for the latter option, the regional geological and environmental situation determines where such strategic energy objects can be safely situated. The dynamic progression of climate change in boreal regions, including the Baltic states, may endanger the structural integrity of energy production infrastructure objects; therefore, geotechnical investigation serves as a key stage in the objects’ construction planning.

• Book : 1474(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.012020-012020
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Abstract R-loops (RNA/DNA hybrids) are caused by defects in RNA transcription or processing and their level heavily correlates with genome instability and human disease. Most current yeast methods for R-loop analysis use fixed or disrupted cells probed with an R-loop specific antibody (S9.6), and relatively few cytological methods are available to visualize R-loops in living cells. Here we present a simplified cytological method for R-loop detection in live cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a catalytically inactive RNase H1 protein coupled to GFP (dRnh1-GFP reporter). In cells lacking the endogenous RNase H1 gene, reporter expression generates bright nuclear foci that colocalize with R-loops as defined by S9.6 immunocytology. We find that our dRnh1-GFP reporter system can sensitively identify and track changes in R-loop levels induced by various mutations and small molecules known to increase R-loops. Given its ease of use and superior R-loop specificity relative to S9.6, the dRnh1-GFP reporter is suitable for use in high throughput experiments and presents an exciting opportunity to deepen our understanding of R-loops and their regulatory mechanisms.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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Abstract Purpose of Review While the oncogenic potential of HPV has been well-established in other disease sites (e.g. cervix, vulva, anus), it is increasingly evident that a significant proportion of oropharyngeal cancer cases are related to the virus. Although considerable progress has been made in the understanding of this disease with respect to its underlying biology and clinical behavior, numerous questions persist. From a therapeutic standpoint, HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer has been shown to be more radiosensitive than HPV-negative disease. However, how HPV mediates this radiosensitivity is relatively uncertain. Recent Findings Given that it has been firmly established that patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer have a significantly improved prognosis as a result of their exquisite response to radiation and can be treated with less-than-standard doses, logical questions pertain to how HPV confers this benefit to infected patients. Although the exact reason for the improved radiosensitivity of HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma is unclear, multiple theories have been proposed. Indeed, it is likely that no single explanation exists for the increased radiosensitivity, and instead, HPV likely exerts its influence through a cascade of activated pathways at both the cellular level and tumor microenvironment. As will be discussed in this review, the proposed mechanisms for HPV-induced radiation response have generally centered on the disruption of such cellular pathways as DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints, metabolic-induced stress, immunology, and cancer stem cells. Summary Given that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is increasingly recognized as a public health problem, the search to better understand its unique biological radiosensitivity has important societal and treatment-related implications.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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Phased telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome assemblies are revolutionizing our understanding of long-hidden genome biology dark matter such as centromeres, rDNA repeats, inter-haplotype variation, and allele-specific expression (ASE). Yet insights into dikaryotic fungi that separate their haploid genomes into distinct nuclei are limited. Here we explore the impact of dikaryotism on the genome biology of a long-term asexual clone of the wheat pathogenic fungusPuccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. We use Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) duplex sequencing combined with Hi-C to generate a T2T nuclear-phased assembly with >99.999% consensus accuracy. We show that this fungus has large regional centromeres enriched in LTR retrotransposons, with a single centromeric dip in methylation that suggests one kinetochore attachment site per chromosome. The centromeres of homologous chromosomes are most often highly diverse in sequence and kinetochore attachment sites are not always positionally conserved. Each nucleus carries a unique array of rDNAs with >200 copies that harbour nucleus-specific sequence variations. The inter-haplotype diversity between the two nuclear genomes is shaped by large-scale structural variations linked to transposable elements. ONT long-read cDNA analysis across dormancy and distinct host infection conditions revealed pervasive ASE for nearly 20% of the heterozygous genes. Genes encoding secreted proteins, including putative virulence effectors, are significantly enriched in ASE genes which appear to be linked to elevated CpG gene body methylation of the lower-expressed allele. This suggests that epigenetically regulated ASE is likely a previously overlooked mechanism facilitating plant infection. Overall, our study reveals how dikaryotism uniquely shapes key eukaryotic genome features.

• Book : ()
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.gr.280359.124-gr.280359.124
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• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.100192-100192
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Soil temperature, a key factor in subsurface geochemical processes, is influenced by environmental and geological dynamics. This study analyzed hourly soil temperature variations at depths of 10 to 100 cm near the Sakurajima volcano, alongside concurrent ambient temperature measurements. By applying temperature models and statistical methods, we characterized both seasonal and short-term thermal dynamics, including soil-atmosphere thermal coupling. Our findings revealed a depth-dependent thermal diffusivity, establishing distinct thermal regimes within the soil profile. The soil’s strong thermal buffering capacity, evidenced by increasing amplitude attenuation and temporal lag with depth, allowed us to identify optimal instrument placement depths (80–100 cm) for minimal diurnal temperature influence. We also quantified the relationship between ambient temperature fluctuations and soil thermal response at various depths, as well as the impact of these temperature variations on soil permeability. These results enhance our understanding of subsurface thermal behaviour in volcanic environments and offer practical guidance for environmental monitoring and geohazard studies.

• Book : 16(4)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.460-460
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