Positive feedback loop between Sox2 and Sox6 inhibits neuronal differentiation in the developing central nervous system.

How a pool of undifferentiated neural progenitor cells is maintained in the developing nervous system is an issue that remains unresolved. One of the key transcription factors for self-renewal of these cells is Sox2, the forced expression of which has been shown to inhibit neuronal differentiation in vivo. To dissect the molecular mechanisms of Sox2 activity, a ChIP-on-chip assay has been carried out for Sox2, and multiple candidate direct target genes have been isolated. In this report, we provide evidence indicating that Sox6, which like Sox2 belongs to the SRY-related HMG box transcription factor family, is a bona-fide direct regulatory target of Sox2. In vivo, Sox6 expression is seen with a temporal lag in Sox2-positive neural precursor cells in the ventricular zone, and Sox2 promotes expression of Sox6 as a transcriptional activator. Interestingly, gain- and loss-of-function assays indicate that Sox6 in turn is required for the maintenance of Sox2 expression, suggesting that a positive feedback loop, which functions to inhibit premature neuronal differentiation, exists between the two transcription factors.

Steam Trap Maintenance-Prioritizing Model Based on Big Data.

Steam traps in large facilities need continuous maintenance to prevent corrosion and other damage that could pose a considerable threat to a facility and its workers. However, a significant amount of human resources is required for the maintenance of steam traps. An automatic method to inform stakeholders regarding maintenance cycles will be beneficial for the maintenance process. Therefore, an optimal maintenance priority decision model is developed in this study to establish an efficient steam trap management system. First, the frequency of failures, installation locations, and specifications of steam traps were determined as parameters causing a failure. A relative score and conversion score are calculated for each parameter. The final conversion score is the sum of the conversion score multiplied by the corresponding steam trap data weight factor. Steam traps within the range requiring inspection are classified as high priority cases. Experimental results confirmed that the failure accuracy rate is approximately 95%, and the average failure error rate is within 3%. Additionally, the number of steam traps to be checked was reduced by 3616. The proposed model significantly reduces maintenance in commercial industries.

Down-regulation of Sox10 with specific small interfering RNA promotes transdifferentiation of Schwannoma cells into myofibroblasts.

Neural crest-derived cells are noted for the long lasting plasticity during lineage commitment process and the potential for transdifferentiation into other neural crest derivatives. Schwann cells in particular have been reported to transdifferentiate into melanocytes and myofibroblasts. Detailed studies of transdifferentiation at the molecular level have been hampered by difficulty in isolating sufficient quantity of primary cells or cellular materials. Here, we describe a robust in vitro system in which Schwannoma cells undergo an apparent transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts. Importantly, we induce the transdifferentiation by down-regulating a single transcription factor, Sox10, thereby identifying a key molecular event in this process. Myofibroblasts thus generated showed carbachol-stimulated contraction and calcium transients and express several established myofibroblast-specific genes. These results suggest that generating desired cell types based on "knock-down" of critical genes may be a viable strategy.