Complex Elucidation of Cells-of-Origin in Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma: From Concepts to Real Life,Hide-and-Seek through Epigenetic and Transcriptional Reprogramming

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) comprise a large group of mesenchymal malignant tumors with heterogeneous cellular morphology, proliferative index, genetic lesions and, more importantly, clinical features. Full elucidation of this wide diversity remains a central question to improve their therapeutic management and the identity of cell(s)-of-origin from which these tumors arise is part of this enigma. Cellular reprogramming allows transitions of a mature cell between phenotypes, or identities, and represents one key driver of tumoral heterogeneity. Here, we discuss how cellular reprogramming mediated by driver genes in STS can profoundly reshape the molecular and morphological features of a transformed cell and lead to erroneous interpretation of its cell-of-origin. This review questions the fact that the epigenetic context in which a genetic alteration arises has to be taken into account as a key determinant of STS tumor initiation and progression. Retracing the cancer-initiating cell and its clonal evolution, notably via epigenetic approach, appears as a key lever for understanding the origin of these tumors and improving their clinical management.     

A low-cost wireless sensors positioning solution for indoor parking facilities management

A relatively low-cost system for indoor parking facilities management is proposed, which is a combined solution of RFID/WiFi and a MEMS IMU monitoring scheme. An RFID localisation module is proposed in the form of so-called virtual gates. To define such virtual gates, either RFID tags or readers are placed at known locations throughout the area of interest. In this study, a number of tags are fixed at known positions and a moving reader is carried by each participating vehicle. Based on this configuration set-up, the Cell of Origin (CoO) technique is applied, in which the system indicates the presence of the user carrying the reader in a cell around the tag location. To define a virtual gate, tags are installed along the parking lot corridors and at critical transit passages in the parking facility. The CoO technique is also proposed in the case of WiFi for location determination of vehicles in a multi-storey car park. In this study, WiFi is employed to monitor the passing vehicles and bridge the gap until a tag can detect a user’s reader again. Thus, a combined positioning solution of RFID and WiFi is achieved. As a complement to the proposed RFID/WiFi system, this study examines the potential and limitations of MEMS IMU sensors (i.e. accelerometers, gyroscopes and barometers) commonly found in modern smartphones. The paper concludes with a detailed discussion on the implications of alternative positioning techniques for indoor parking management.