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Primary sensory dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons are diverse, with distinct populations that respond to specific stimuli. Previously, we observed that functionally distinct populations of DRG neurons express mRNA transcript variants with different 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs). 3′UTRs harbor binding sites for interaction with RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) for transporting mRNAs to subcellular domains, modulating transcript stability, and regulating the rate of translation. In the current study, analysis of publicly available single‐cell RNA‐sequencing data generated from adult mice revealed that 17 3′UTR‐binding RBPs were enriched in specific populations of DRG neurons. This included four members of the CUG triplet repeat (CUGBP) Elav‐like family (CELF): CELF2 and CELF4 were enriched in peptidergic, CELF6 in both peptidergic and nonpeptidergic, and CELF3 in tyrosine hydroxylase‐expressing neurons. Immunofluorescence studies confirmed that 60% of CELF4+ neurons are small‐diameter C fibers and 33% medium‐diameter myelinated (likely Aδ) fibers and showed that CELF4 is distributed to peripheral termini. Coexpression analyses using transcriptomic data and immunofluorescence revealed that CELF4 is enriched in nociceptive neurons that express GFRA3, CGRP, and the capsaicin receptor TRPV1. Reanalysis of published transcriptomic data from macaque DRG revealed a highly similar distribution of CELF members, and reanalysis of single‐nucleus RNA‐sequencing data derived from mouse and rat DRG after sciatic injury revealed differential expression of CELFs in specific populations of sensory neurons. We propose that CELF RBPs may regulate the fate of mRNAs in populations of nociceptors, and may play a role in pain and/or neuronal regeneration following nerve injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc should have an extraordinary impact on criminal litigation, because there is rarely a criminal trial that does not rely on some form of expert testimony. In fact, it is almost irrelevant. Despite the frequency of prosecution proffered scientific and expert testimony in criminal cases, Dauber is rarely invoked to challenge it. In civil cases, when expert testimony is challenged in criminal proceedings, the outcome could not be more different. Because most violent crimes are committed by the poor, their court appointed advocates--overworked and underfinanced--are not up to the challenge. In the absence of a system of effective representation, Dauber will not improve scientific evidence in criminal cases. The only way to guard against the misapplication of forensic science is to impose controls and reforms long before the cases come to court. (doi:10.2105/AJPH.2004.056333)

The article discusses the efforts to promote accuracy in the use of confession evidence in America as of June 2013, focusing on the proposed implementation of pretrial reliability assessments as a means of preventing wrongful convictions in the U.S. False confessions and the reported inadequacy of constitutional criminal procedure are mentioned, along with an analysis of the police interrogation techniques that were used in a case involving suspected rapist Bruce Godschalk.