Network and Evolutionary Analysis of Human Epigenetic Regulators to Unravel Disease Associations.

We carried out a system-level analysis of epigenetic regulators (ERs) and detailed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network characteristics of disease-associated ERs. We found that most diseases associated with ERs can be clustered into two large groups, cancer diseases and developmental diseases. ER genes formed a highly interconnected PPI subnetwork, indicating a high tendency to interact and agglomerate with one another. We used the disease module detection (DIAMOnD) algorithm to expand the PPI subnetworks into a comprehensive cancer disease ER network (CDEN) and developmental disease ER network (DDEN). Using the transcriptome from early mouse developmental stages, we identified the gene co-expression modules significantly enriched for the CDEN and DDEN gene sets, which indicated the stage-dependent roles of ER-related disease genes during early embryonic development. The evolutionary rate and phylogenetic age distribution analysis indicated that the evolution of CDEN and DDEN genes was mostly constrained, and these genes exhibited older evolutionary age. Our analysis of human polymorphism data revealed that genes belonging to DDEN and Seed-DDEN were more likely to show signs of recent positive selection in human history. This finding suggests a potential association between positive selection of ERs and risk of developmental diseases through the mechanism of antagonistic pleiotropy.

Morphology of the lingual papillae of the bharal (Pseudois nayaur).

We examined the dorsal lingual surfaces of an adult bharal (Pseudois nayaur) by scanning electron microscopy. The filiform papillae of the lingual apex and body consisted of a main papilla and smaller secondary papillae. The filiform papilla of the lingual body was big as compared to that of the lingual apex. The connective tissue cores of the filiform papillae consisted of several processes. The fungiform papilla was round in shape. The connective tissue cores of the fungiform papillae were flower-bud shaped. The lenticular papillae of large size were limited on the lingual prominence. The connective tissue cores of the lenticular papillae were hair-like in shape. The vallate papillae were located on both sides of the posterolateral aspects. The vallate papillae were flattened-oval shaped and the papillae were surrounded by an oval-shaped trench. The connective tissue cores of the vallate papillae were covered with numerous small spines The lingual surface of the bharal closely resembled that of the family Bovidae.

An Over 90 dB Intra-Scene Single-Exposure Dynamic Range CMOS Image Sensor Using a 3.0 µm Triple-Gain Pixel Fabricated in a Standard BSI Process.

To respond to the high demand for high dynamic range imaging suitable for moving objects with few artifacts, we have developed a single-exposure dynamic range image sensor by introducing a triple-gain pixel and a low noise dual-gain readout circuit. The developed 3 µm pixel is capable of having three conversion gains. Introducing a new split-pinned photodiode structure, linear full well reaches 40 ke-. Readout noise under the highest pixel gain condition is 1 e- with a low noise readout circuit. Merging two signals, one with high pixel gain and high analog gain, and the other with low pixel gain and low analog gain, a single exposure dynamic rage (SEHDR) signal is obtained. Using this technology, a 1/2.7", 2M-pixel CMOS image sensor has been developed and characterized. The image sensor also employs an on-chip linearization function, yielding a 16-bit linear signal at 60 fps, and an intra-scene dynamic range of higher than 90 dB was successfully demonstrated. This SEHDR approach inherently mitigates the artifacts from moving objects or time-varying light sources that can appear in the multiple exposure high dynamic range (MEHDR) approach.