Regulation of Calcium Homeostasis in Endoplasmic Reticulum–Mitochondria Crosstalk: Implications for Skeletal Muscle Atrophy

The Critical Role of Calcium in Skeletal Muscle Function and Its Interaction with Mitochondria and the Endoplasmic Reticulum Academic Background Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) are crucial intracellular signaling molecules, particularly in the excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) of skeletal muscle. The contraction of skeletal muscle relies on the release and...

Days-Old Zebrafish Rapidly Learn to Recognize Threatening Agents Through Noradrenergic and Forebrain Circuits

This study explores the necessity of quickly recognizing and avoiding predators in the natural environment, which is crucial for juvenile animals due to their increased vulnerability to predators. However, it remains unclear whether neonatal vertebrates can rapidly acquire such skills and the underlying neural mechanisms. Zebrafish, a widely used m...

Layer-Specific Anatomical and Physiological Features of the Retina’s Neurovascular Unit

Academic Report on the Study of Layer-Specific Anatomical and Physiological Characteristics of the Retinal Neurovascular Unit Background and Problem Statement Retinal processing, similar to all neural computations, is metabolically expensive and involves the dynamic regulation of blood flow, known as neurovascular coupling (NVC). The retina is supp...

Oscillatory Contractile Forces Refine Endothelial Cell-Cell Interactions for Continuous Lumen Formation Governed by Heg1/CCM1

Academic Background The formation and maintenance of vascular networks are critical processes in embryonic development and tissue regeneration, involving the regulation of various biophysical forces. Endothelial cells (ECs) play a central role in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, with the contractile forces of the cytoskeleton (actomyosin contractil...

Automated Analysis of Ultrastructure through Large-Scale Hyperspectral Electron Microscopy

Automated Analysis of Ultrastructure through Large-Scale Hyperspectral Electron Microscopy

Automated Analysis of Ultrastructure: A Study Based on Large-Scale Hyperspectral Electron Microscopy Academic Background Electron Microscopy (EM) is a key technique for studying biological ultrastructure, revealing the fine details of cells at biomolecular resolution. In recent years, advancements in automation and digitization have enabled EM to c...

Robust Self-Supervised Denoising of Voltage Imaging Data Using CellMincer

Academic Background Voltage imaging is a powerful technique for studying neuronal activity, but its effectiveness is often constrained by low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Traditional denoising methods, such as matrix factorization, impose rigid assumptions about noise and signal structures, while existing deep learning approaches fail to fully cap...

Impact of Photobleaching on Quantitative, Spatio-Temporal, Super-Resolution Imaging of Mitochondria in Live C. elegans Larvae

Academic Background and Problem Statement Mitochondria, as crucial organelles in eukaryotic cells, are involved in cellular energy metabolism, signal transduction, and the regulation of cell survival and death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with various human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabet...

Uranium-Free Imaging of Tissue Architectures in Low Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscopy

Uranium-Free KMnO₄/Pb Staining Enables Imaging of Tissue Architectures in Low Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscopy Academic Background Electron Microscopy (EM) is one of the most powerful tools for studying the ultrastructure of cells and tissues. However, traditional metal staining methods for biological samples often require the use of harmful ura...

Nucleosome Fibre Topology Guides Transcription Factor Binding to Enhancers

Nucleosome Fibre Topology Guides Transcription Factor Binding to Enhancers Academic Background The establishment of cellular identity relies on the concerted action of multiple transcription factors (TFs) bound to enhancers of cell-type-specific genes. Although TFs recognize specific DNA motifs within accessible chromatin, this information alone is...

Diatom Phytochromes Integrate the Underwater Light Spectrum to Sense Depth

Report on the Study of Diatom Phytochromes Integrating Underwater Light Spectrum to Sense Depth Academic Background The distribution of light in marine ecosystems profoundly influences aquatic life. Light not only attenuates with depth but also undergoes significant spectral changes. However, research on how phytoplankton perceive these light chang...