The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that Glycine max hydrolyzed with enzymes from Bacillus velezensis KMU01 has on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Hydrolysis improves functional health through the bioconversion of raw materials and increase in intestinal absorption rate and antioxidants. Therefore, G. max was hydrolyzed in this study using a food-derived microorganism, and its anti-inflammatory effect observed. Enzymatically hydrolyzed G. max (EHG) was orally administered once daily for four weeks before DSS treatment. Colitis was induced in mice through consumption of 5% (w/v) DSS in drinking water for eight days. Results showed that EHG treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced body weight loss and decreased the disease activity index and colon length. In addition, EHG markedly reduced tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6 production, and increased that of IL-10. EHG improved DSS-induced histological changes and intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in mice. Moreover, we found that the abundance of 15 microorganisms changed significantly; that of Proteobacteria and Escherichia coli, which are upregulated in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, decreased after EHG treatment. These results suggest that EHG has a protective effect against DSS-induced colitis and is a potential candidate for colitis treatment.

Obesity and overweight are associated with many metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, which are closely related to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise. Aerobic exercise effectively increases the high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and decreases the triglyceride (TG) levels. The consumption of Cuban policosanol (Raydel®) is also effective in enhancing the HDL-C quantity and HDL functionality to treat dyslipidemia and hypertension. On the other hand, no study has examined the effects of a combination of high-intensity exercise and policosanol consumption in obese subjects to improve metabolic disorders. In the current study, 17 obese subjects (average BMI 30.0±1.1 kg/m2, eight male and nine female) were recruited to participate in a program combining exercise and policosanol (20 mg) consumption for 12 weeks. After completion, their BMI, waist circumference, total fat mass, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by approximately 15% (p=0.022), 12.7% (p=0.008), 33% (p=0.006), 11% (p<0.046), and 13% (p=0.007), respectively. In the serum lipid profile, at week 12, they showed a remarkable decrease in the total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, up to 17% (p<0.019) and 54% (p<0.002) from the baseline, respectively. Although the serum HDL-C was increased by approximately +12% from the baseline, the percentage of HDL-C in TC, HDL-C/TC (%), was increased by up to +32% (p=0.007) at week 12. The serum coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) level was increased 1.2-fold in all participants at week 12 from the baseline. In particular, the male participants showed a 1.4-fold increase (p=0.027) from the baseline. The larger increase in serum CoQ10 was correlated with the larger increase in the serum HDL-C during 12 weeks. The hepatic function parameters were improved; the serum -glutamyl transferase decreased at week 12 by up to 55% (p<0.007), while the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase levels decreased within the normal range. In the lipoprotein level, the extent of oxidation and glycation were reduced significantly in VLDL and LDL, with a remarkable decrease in the TG content in particles. The antioxidant abilities of HDL2 and HDL3, such as paraoxonase (PON) and ferric ion reduction ability (FRA), were enhanced significantly by up to 1.8-fold (p<0.001) and 1.6-fold (p<0.001) at week 12. The particle size and number of HDL2 were increased up to +10% during the 12 weeks with a remarkable decrease in the TG content, glycation extent, oxidation up to 32% (p=0.032), 18% (p=0.043), and 11% (p=0.023), respectively. The particle number and diameter of HDL3 were increased by up to +9% with a remarkable increase in the PON activity, FRA activity, and TC content of +82% (p<0.001), +56% (p<0.001), and +32% (p=0.009), respectively. Expression of apolipoproteinA-I in HDL2 and HDL3 were significantly elevated more in both gender around 30~48% with more distinct band intensity and less glycation at week 12. These improvements in HDL quality and functionality were linked to the higher survivability of adult zebrafish and their embryos. Under the co-presence of carboxymethyllysine (CML), a microinjection of HDL2 to zebrafish embryo from week 0 resulted in approximately 47% survivability with developmental defects and attenuated speed. On the other hand, the HDL2 microinjection from week 12 resulted in remarkably higher survivability (~ 70%). In conclusion, 12 weeks of Cuban policosanol (Raydel®, 20 mg) consumption with high-intensity exercise showed significant improvement in blood pressure, body fat mass, blood lipid profile without liver damage, CoQ10 metabolism, and renal impairment. At week 12, all participants showed a remarkable decrease in oxidation and glycation extent in the VLDL and LDL with a decrease in the TC and TG content. Significant enhancement of the qualities and functionalities in HDL2 and HDL3 by the policosanol consumption were also detected: increase in apoA-I content, TC content, particle size, and particle numbers along with antioxidant abilities, such as PON and FRA.

Air pollution contributes to a critical environmental problem in various towns and cities. With the emergence of the smart cities concept, appropriate methods to curb associated with exposure to pollutants must have been a portion of appropriate urban development policy. This study presents a technologically driven air quality solution in smart cities to advertise energy-efficient and cleaner sequestration in these areas. It aims to address the issue of how to integrate the data-based strategies and artificial intelligence into efficient public sector pollution management in smart cities as a core part of the smart city definition. Exploratory research has been used in 152 smart cities, and environmental experts contributed to this study. It further addresses the technical criteria for implementing such a framework that the public administration uses to prepare the renovation of public buildings, minimize energy use and costs, and link these smart police stations to monitor air pollution as a part of integrated cities. Such a digital transition in resource management will increase public governance's energy performance, a higher standard of operation, and a healthier environment.

Recently, research on ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with the characteristics of ultra-high strength, high toughness, and high durability has been actively conducted from materials to actual structural applications. However, research on experimental methods that reflect the unique characteristics of UHPC, which are different from those of normal concrete, is insufficient. To solve the difficulties in applying the compressive creep test method for normal concrete to UHPC and to verify the validity of the recently proposed ASTM C 1856 standard test method, this study performed compressive creep tests on UHPC with variables of specimen size, sustained load intensity, fiber length, and strain measuring method. Two types of cylindrical specimens of ϕ100 × 200 mm and ϕ75 × 150 mm were used for a specimen size variable. The sustained load intensities of 10% to 40% based on the specified compressive strength of 150 MPa were applied. Two types of steel fiber lengths of 13 mm and 19.5 mm in the UHPC mix were used as a variable, and three strain measuring methods of the embedded strain gauge method, the attached strain gauge method, and the strain meter with stud measured the change in length of the UHPC specimens. The experimental results showed that the strain meter method using the standard rod had limitations due to the error in the verification process using the standard rod and the observation error of the measurer, and the sustained load intensity is preferable to 15% to 40% of the actual compressive strength. It was found that it is possible to perform a compressive creep test for UHPC using a specimen with a size of ϕ75 mm or more, and the fiber length did not affect the creep behavior of UHPC up to 19.5 mm. As a result of comparing the UHPC creep test results with the creep prediction model, the B3 model was found to most accurately predict the UHPC creep behavior. The creep coefficient pattern of the B3 model was very similar to the measured results, and well reflected the effects of the mixing ratio and compressive strength of UHPC.

Cloud computing has revolutionized how industries store, process, and access data. However, the increasing adoption of cloud technology has also raised concerns regarding data security. Machine learning (ML) is a promising technique to enhance cloud computing security. This paper focuses on utilizing ML techniques (Support Vector Machine, XGBoost, and Artificial Neural Networks) to progress cloud computing security in the industry. The selection of 11 important features for the ML study satisfies the study's objectives. This study focused on identifying gaps in utilizing ML techniques in cloud cyber security. Moreover. this study aims at developing a practical strategy for predicting the employment of machine learning in an Industrial Cloud environment regarding trust and privacy issues. The efficiency of the employed models is assessed by applying validation matrices of Precision, Accuracy, Recall values, F1 score, R.O.C. curves, and Confusion matrix. The results demonstrated that the X.G.B. model outperformed in terms of all the matrices with an Accuracy of 97.50 %, 97.60 % Precision, 97.60 % Recall values, and 97.50 % F1 score. This research highlights the potential of ML algorithms in enhancing cloud computing security for industries. It emphasizes the need for continued research and development to create more advanced and efficient security solutions for cloud computing.

Traditional diagnosis of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the heart has involved the use of transcranial doppler (TCD). However, TCD is essentially a blind test that cannot directly visualize the location of blood vessels. Since TCD relies on qualitative assessments by examiners, there is room for errors, such as misalignment of the ultrasound's angle of incidence with the actual blood vessels. This limitation affects the reproducibility and consistency of the examination. In this study, we presented an alternative approach for assessing right-to-left shunt (RLS) associated with PFO using contrast transcranial color-coded doppler (C-TCCD) with bubble contrast. The patient under consideration had been diagnosed with an ischemic stroke through imaging, but the subsequent cardiac work-up failed to determine the cause. Employing C-TCCD for RLS screening revealed a confirmed RLS of Spencer’s three grades. Subsequently, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was conducted to evaluate PFO risk factors, confirming an 8 mm PFO size, a 21 mm tunnel length, a hypermobile interatrial septum, and persistent RLS. The calculated high-risk PFO score was 4 points, categorizing it as a very high-risk PFO. This case underscores the importance of C-TCCD screening in detecting RLS associated with PFO, especially in cryptogenic stroke patients when identifying the underlying cause of ischemic stroke becomes challenging.

OBJECTIVE: Although 3D-printed anatomic models are not new to medicine, the high costs and lengthy production times entailed have limited their application. Our goal was developing a new and less costly 3D modeling method to depict organ-tumor relations at faster printing speeds. METHODS: We have devised a method of 3D modeling using DICOM images. Coordinates are extracted at a specified interval, connecting them to create mesh-work replicas. Adjacent constructs are depicted by density variations, showing anatomic targets (ie, tumors) in contrasting color. RESULTS: An array of organ solid-tumor models were printed via Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printer at significantly less cost ($0.05/cm3) and time expenditure (1.73 min/cm3; both, p<.001). Printed models helped promote visual appreciation of organ-tumor anatomy and adjacent tissues. Our mesh-work 3D thyroidal prototype reproduced glangular size/contour and tumor location, readily approximating the surgical specimen. CONCLUSIONS: This newly devised mesh-type 3D printing method may facilitate anatomic modeling for personalized care and improve patient awareness during informed surgical consent.

In this study, we used statistical models to analyze nonlinear behavior links with atmospheric teleconnections between hydrometeorological variables and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) mode over the East Asia (EA) region. The analysis of atmospheric teleconnections was conducted using principal component analysis and singular spectrum analysis techniques. Moreover, the nonlinear lag-time correlations between climate indices and hydrological variables were calculated using mutual information (MI) techniques. The teleconnection-based nonlinear correlation coefficients (CCs) were higher than the linear CCs in each lag time. Additionally, we documented that the IOD has a direct influence on hydro-meteorological variables, such as precipitation within the Korean Peninsula (KP). Moreover, during the warm season (June to September) the variation of hydro-meteorological variables in the KP demonstrated significantly decreasing patterns during positive IOD years and they have neutral conditions during negative IOD years in comparison with long-term normal conditions. Finally, the revealed relationship between climate indices and hydro-meteorological variables and their possible changes will allow better understanding of stakeholder decision-making regarding to manage of freshwater management over the EA region. It can also provide useful data for long-range water resources prediction, to minimize hydrological uncertainties in a changing climate.

This study presents a comprehensive ecological evaluation of avian species based on 5,322 photographs obtained through camera-trap sampling. We identified 1,427 independent bird sightings, encompassing 26 families and 49 species. The study focused on temporal activity patterns, nesting behaviors, habitat preferences, and the overlap coefficient of activity patterns among 22 species of Passeriformes. Two species exhibited predominant morning activity, while five species were active in the afternoon, and 15 exhibited cathemeral activity (activity throughout the day). A cross-analysis revealed varying degrees of overlap in the activity patterns of pairs of species with similar behavioral ecology. Our findings indicate that despite exhibiting similar ecological behavior, these species display unique activity patterns, likely influenced by factors such as resource availability, competition avoidance, and thermoregulation strategies. The results highlight the richness and complexity of avian temporal niches and emphasize the need for further research into their correlation with environmental factors. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of niche separation within Passeriformes and expands our knowledge of avian behavioral ecology.

This paper presents a novel dynamic camera parameter control method for position and posture estimation of highly miniaturized AR markers (micro AR markers) using a low cost general camera. The proposed method performs iterative calculation of the marker’s position and posture to converge them to specified accuracy with dynamically updating the camera’s zoom, focus and other parameter values based on the detected marker’s depth distances. For a 10 mm square micro AR marker, the proposed system demonstrated recognition accuracy of better than ±1.0% for depth distance and 2.5∘ for posture angle with a maximum recognition range of 1.0 m. In addition, the iterative calculation time was at most 0.7 seconds in an initial detection of the marker. These experimental results suggest that the proposed method and system can be applied to a robotic precise handling of small objects with low cost.

Lately, the Critical Pathway(CP) of Electronic Medical Record(EMR) is used to the guideline for a treatment in the public hospital. We propose a healthcare promotion service using disease pattern with lifestyle risk factors. We classify a medical historical patient data with disease codes with lifestyle risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, overweight, excessive alcohol intake, and low physical activity) to make the lifestyle risk factors through the classification. We finally make the clusters of disease code with lifestyle risk factors using the medical historical data based on EMR's electronic discharge summary data. As the result of that, we do a healthcare recommending service based on the disease pattern with lifestyle risk. We can build a medical help desk of a public hospital to support people as we check into the public hospital; how to get the procedure of curing, the desired curing clinical method for the healthcare promotion service by each disease code, and how to be better our healthcare. We evaluate the performance of the proposed system by experimenting with the datasets collected at the medical center to measure performance and report some experimental results.

(1) Background: The aim of this work was to systematically review existing studies on whether hysteroscopy improves the reproductive outcomes of women with infertility even in the absence of intrauterine pathologies when compared to women who did not receive a hysteroscopy. (2) Methods: We established the Participant-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome strategy and used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement to conduct a systematic review of 11 studies which were retrieved from 3 electronic databases: Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Two independent investigators extracted the data from the included studies and used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool to assess their quality. (3) Results: The primary outcome measures were the clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs) and live birth rates (LBRs) in the in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Hysteroscopy in infertile women without intrauterine pathologies showed higher CPRs and LBRs than those in the same population who did not receive hysteroscopy in cases of recurrent implantation failure and IVF (odds ratio: 1.79 and 1.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.46-2.30 and 1.08-1.97 for CPR and LBR, respectively); however, the degree of significance was not as high for LBR. (4) Conclusions: Hysteroscopy before IVF/ICSI in infertile women without intrauterine pathologies may potentially be effective in improving the CPRs and LBRs in patients with RIF. Robust and high-quality randomized trials are warranted to confirm this finding.

In this study, a flexible strain sensor is devised using corrugated poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin film. In the previous studies, the P3HT-based photoactive thin film was shown to generate direct current (DC) under broadband light, and the generated DC voltage varied with applied tensile strain. Yet, the mechanical resiliency and strain sensing range of the P3HT-based thin film strain sensor were limited due to relatively more brittle thin film constituent—poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene(sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conductive thin film as a bottom electrode. To address this issue, it is aimed to design mechanically resilient strain sensor using corrugated thin film constituents. Buckling is induced to form corrugation in the thin films by applying pre-strain to the substrate, where the thin films are deposited, and releasing the pre-strain afterwards. It is known that corrugated thin film constituents exhibit different optical and electronic properties from non-corrugated ones. Therefore, to optimize design of the flexible strain sensor, it was studied to understand how the applied pre-strain and thickness of the PEDOT:PSS thin film affect the optical and electrical properties. Also, pre-strain effect on light absorptivity of the corrugated P3HT-based thin films was studied. In addition, strain effect was investigated on the optical and electrical properties of the corrugated thin film constituents. Finally, flexible strain sensors are fabricated by following the design guideline, which is suggested from the studies on the corrugated thin film constituents, and DC voltage strain sensing capability was validated. As a result, flexible strain sensor exhibited tensile strain sensing range up to 5% at frequency up to 15 Hz with maximum gage factor ~7.

We suggest a deep learning based sensor signal processing method to remove chemical, kinetic and electrical artifacts from ion selective electrodes’ measured values. An ISE is used to investigate the concentration of a specific ion from aqueous solution, by measuring the Nernst potential along the glass membrane. However, application of ISE on a mixture of multiple ion has some problem. First problem is a chemical artifact which is called ion interference effect. Electrically charged particles interact with each other and flows through the glass membrane of different ISEs. Second problem is the kinetic artifact caused by the movement of the liquid. Water molecules collide with the glass membrane causing abnormal peak values of voltage. The last artifact is the interference of ISEs. When multiple ISEs are dipped into same solution, one electrode’s signal emission interference voltage measurement of other electrodes. Therefore, an ISE is recommended to be applied on single-ion solution, without any other sensors applied at the same time. Deep learning approach can remove both 3 artifacts at the same time. The proposed method used 5 layers of artificial neural networks to regress correct signal to remove complex artifacts with one-shot calculation. Its MAPE was less than 1.8% and R² of regression was 0.997. A randomly chosen value of AI-processed data has MAPE less than 5% (p-value 0.016).

TVs and monitors are among the most widely used displays in various environments. However, they have limitations in their physical display conditions, such as a fixed size/position and a rigid/flat space. In this paper, we suggest a new "Display In the Wild" (DIW) concept to overcome the aforementioned problems. Our proposed DIW system allows us to display a flexibly large screen on dynamic non-planar surfaces at an arbitrary display position. To implement our DIW concept practically, we choose a projector as the hardware configuration in order to a generate screen anywhere with different sizes. However, distortion occurs when the projector displays content on a surface that is dynamic and/or non-planar. Therefore, we propose a distortion correction method for DIW to overcome the aforementioned surface-constraints. Since projectors are not capture devices, we propose using a depth camera to determine the distortions on the surfaces quickly. We also propose DIW-specific calibration and fast/precise correction methods. Our calibration method is constructed to easily and quickly detect the projection surface, and also allows our proposed system to accommodate the intrinsic parameters such as a display resolution and field of view. We accomplish a fast undistortion process of the projector by considering only surface boundary pixels, which enables our method to run in real time. In our comprehensive experiments, the proposed DIW system generates undistorted screens such as TVs and monitors on dynamic non-planar surfaces at an arbitrary display position with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in a fast and accurate manner, demonstrating its usefullness in practical DIW scenarios.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of clinical dose of beraprost for feline CKD in healthy cats, and also to examine whether NOS inhibition reversed them. Methods: A placebo-controlled pharmacological sequential design study was carried out to assess plasma aldosterone and renin concentrations, mean blood pressure, heart rate, renal plasma flow, and renal vascular resistance. Results: Beraprost reduced plasma aldosterone when compared to the placebo (P < 0.05); this was reversed when NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was added to beraprost treatment (P < 0.01). No differences in the plasma renin concentration or hemodynamic parameters were detected between beraprost and placebo. The correlation ratios (η2) showed opposite relationships between beraprost and added L-NAME effects on aldosterone concentration, mean blood pressure, heart rate, renal plasma flow, and renal vascular resistance (P < 0.001). Conclusions: In healthy cats, the clinical dose of beraprost suppresses plasma concentration of aldosterone, which can be reversed by inhibition of NOS.

This study identifies the optimal management policy of a given energy storage system (ESS) installed in a grid-connected wind farm for maximizing the monetary benefits and provides guidelines for defining the economic value of the ESS under the optimal management policy and selecting the optimal size of the ESS based on the economic value. Considering stochastic models for wind power and electricity price, we develop a finite-horizon periodic-review Markov decision process (MDP) model to seek the optimal management policy. We also use a simple optimization model to find the optimal storage capacity and charging/discharging capacity of the ESS. By applying our analytic approach to a real-world grid-connected wind farm located in South Korea, we verify the usefulness of this study. Our numerical study shows that the economic value of the ESS is highly dependent on the management policy, wind electricity variability, and the electricity price variability. Thus, the optimal size of ESS should be carefully determined based on the locational characteristics and management policy even with limited investments. Furthermore, this study provides a meaningful policy implication on how much a subsidy the government should provide for installing ESS in a wind farm.

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities of beeswax alcohol (BWA) are well reported in animal and human clinical studies, with a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood, reduction of liver steatosis, and decrease in insulin. On the other hand, there is insufficient information to explain the in vitro antioxidant activity of BWA because it is extremely insoluble in aqueous buffer system. The BWA mixture was incorporated into reconstituted HDL (rHDL) with apoA-I, and the physiological functions of BWA in a water system were evaluated. After synthesis of rHDL with palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC), cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and the BWA at molar ratios of 95:5:1:0 (rHDL-0), 95:5:1:0.5 (rHDL-0.5), and 95:5:1:1 (rHDL-1) for POPC:FC:apoA-I:BWA, the particle size of rHDL-1 was increased 15% compared to rHDL-0. rHDL-1 exhibited the strongest anti-glycation activity, up to 18% less glycation than rHDL-0 treated HDL3, with the highest protection of apoA-I from proteolytic degradation: a 28% larger band intensity than that of rHDL-0 treated HDL3 in the presence of fructose (final 250 mM). The antioxidant ability to inhibit cupric ion-mediated LDL oxidation increased as the BWA content in rHDL increased. The rHDL-1-treated LDL exhibited the smallest oxidation extent in electromobility with the least quantification of oxidized species (MDA). The antioxidant activities of HDL, ferric ion reduction ability (FRA), and paraoxonase (PON) were enhanced by the BWA in rHDL treatment with a concomitant increase in the molar ratio. rHDL-1-treated HDL showed 20–22% higher FRA and PON activities than rHDL-0-treated HDL. A microinjection of each rHDL into zebrafish embryos was performed in the presence of carboxymethyllysine (CML). The rHDL-1 injected embryo exhibited the highest survivability (~63%), whereas the CML alone group showed 28% survivability. A higher BWA content in rHDL helped neutralize the CML toxicity, resulting in higher survivability and normal developmental morphology. In contrast, the CML alone injected embryo showed severe retardation of the developmental speed and morphological defect. The CML-alone group showed the highest extent of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular apoptosis in embryos, but a co-injection of rHDL-1 resulted in a remarkable decrease in ROS and apoptosis. The dermal application of rHDL containing BWA resulted in higher potent wound-healing activity in a dose-dependent manner with decreased reactive oxygen species and cellular apoptosis in the cutaneous wound area in the presence of CML. Conclusively, incorporating BWA in rHDL significantly enhanced the anti-glycation and antioxidant activities in rHDL via more stabilization of apoA-I with a larger particle size. The rHDL containing BWA facilitated enforced inherent antioxidant ability of HDL and anti-inflammatory activity to suppress the CML toxicities in zebrafish embryos and to ameliorate CML-aggravated chronic wounds in adult zebrafish.

This study aims to provide an updated overview of the systematic evaluation and management of Post-Traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain (PTTN) resulting from dental procedures or trauma. PTTN arises following an injury to the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensory and motor functions in the maxillofacial region. The etiology encompasses various dental procedures and craniofacial trauma, leading to a spectrum of symptoms, from tingling to severe pain. Diagnostic challenges stem from the absence of standardized criteria and the overlap with focal neuralgia, necessitating comprehensive evaluation. Misdiagnosis can result in prolonged suffering and unnecessary procedures. Successful management hinges on prompt diagnosis and interdisciplinary collaboration, with early intervention crucial in mitigating chronicity. While nerve recovery post-trauma is challenging, preventive measures through accurate evaluation and treatment are paramount.  Management for PTTN includes non-invasive and surgical interventions. Non-invasive intervention includes systematic and local pharmacological management. This review enhances uniformity in PTTN evaluation and treatment approaches despite standardized study limitations.

Genus Clematis is one of the largest within Ranunculaceae. Here we report the chloroplast genome of two Clematis species, C. brachyura and C. trichotoma endemic to Korea. The chloroplast genome lengths of C. brachyura and C. trichotoma are 159,532 bp and 159,170 bp, respectively. Gene contents in the complete chloroplast genomes of these two Clematis species are identical to that of most Ranunculaceae and other angiosperms. However, our data results demonstrated that genus Clematis has inversion and rearrangement events concerning gene rps4 gene, rps16 to trnH region, and trnL to ndhC region, and IR regions expansion. Comparison of IR regions among Ranunculaceae species revealed that Clematis species contained six protein coding genes (infA, rps8, rpl14, rpl16, rps3, and rpl22) usually found in the long single copy (LSC) region of other species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that genus Clematis is closely related to genus Ranunculus. Differences in repeat structure, substitution rates, and IR expansion in genera Clematis and Ranunculus, explained their relationship. Clematis species showed slightly higher tandem repeats content than Ranunculus species. The six protein-coding genes showed lower synonymous substitution rates in the IR of Clematis species than in the LSC of Ranunculus species. Overall, the chloroplast genomes and results presented here provide important information on the evolution of Ranunculaceae.

Oxidative stress is a major contributor to muscle aging and loss of muscle tissue. Jakyakgamcho-tang has been used in traditional Eastern medicine to treat muscle pain. Here, we compared various solvent-based Jakyakgamcho-tang extracts in terms of their effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in murine C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content in 30% ethanol extracts of Jakyakgamcho-tang were higher than those of water extracts of Jakyakgamcho-tang. Ethanol extracts of Jakyakgamcho-tang had stronger antioxidant and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and 2,2´-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging activity than water extracts of Jakyakgamcho-tang. The ethanol extract of Jakyakgamcho-tang inhibited peroxide-induced cell viability and intracellular reactive oxygen species generation more effectively than the water extract of Jakyakgamcho-tang in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of Jakyakgamcho-tang is relatively more efficacious at protecting against oxidative stress-induced muscle cell death because it prevents reactive oxygen species generation in C2C12 cells. Moreover, the current study indicated that the effective dose of the ethanol extract of Jakyakgamcho-tang required to alleviate muscle pain might be lower than that required for Jakyakgamcho-tang.

A lead zirconate titanate [PZT;Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃] layer embedded infrared (IR) detector decorated with wavelength-selective plasmonic crystals has been investigated for high-performance non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) spectroscopy. A plasmonic IR detector with an enhanced IR absorption band has been designed based on numerical simulations, fabricated by conventional microfabrication techniques, and characterized with a broadly tunable quantum cascade laser. The enhanced responsivity of the plasmonic IR detector at specific wavelength band has improved the performance of NDIR spectroscopy and pushed the limit of detection (LOD) by an order of magnitude. In this paper, a 13 fold enhancement in the LOD of a methane gas sensing using NDIR spectroscopy is demonstrated with the plasmonic IR detector.

Serologic measures of tissue transglutaminase (tTG) immunoglobulin A (IgA) and deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) IgA and immunoglobulin G (IgG) are hallmark tests utilized when diagnosing individuals for celiac disease (CeD) and for monitoring adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD), currently the only available treatment for CeD. We address two issues in this study: (i) the relapse to seropositivity for CeD patients who resume a gluten containing diet and (ii) the correlation between two different tTG-IgA assays near the upper limit of normal (ULN) designated thresholds. Regarding the first issue, often a suspected CeD individual is put back on a gluten diet to return to their serologic levels. However, we show it requires a substantial amount of gluten for serology to return to a positive level. For example, in one study of 22 patients treated with placebo and taking 84 g of gluten over 6 weeks, only 2 converted from seronegative to seroposi-tive for tTG-IgA. Regarding the second topic, we compare the relationship for different serologic assays, namely tTG-IgA AB (recombinant, ULN=4 Units/mL) vs. tTG-IgA (non-recombinant, ULN=20 Units). There is a strong correlation by both measurements as evidenced by a Pearson coefficient of R = 0.8584. However, we observed that the cross-correlation in terms of sensitivity and specificity improved substantially by using an ULN value of 3 instead of 4 for the tTG-IgA AB (recombinant) assay. This result suggests that assay thresholds used for initial diagnosis in patients who have not yet started a GFD may need to be adjusted for monitoring and in the setting of a diagnostic gluten challenge.

Hydrostatic bearings for liquid rocket engine turbopumps provide distinctive advantages including high load capacity even with low viscosity cryogenic fluid and extending a life span by minimizing friction and wear between rotor and bearing surfaces. Application of hydrostatic bearings into turbopumps demands reliable test data base with well-quantified operating parameters and experimentally validated accurate performance predictive tools. The present paper shows the comprehensive experimental data and validation of predicted static load characteristics of hydrostatic journal bearings lubricated with air, water, and liquid nitrogen. Extensive experiments for static load characteristics of hydrostatic bearings are conducted using a turbopump rotor-bearing system simulator while increasing supply pressure (Ps) into the test bearings. The test results demonstrate notable effects of the test fluids and their temperatures, as well as Ps, on the bearing performance. In general, the measured bearing flow rate, rotor displacement, and stiffness of the test bearings steadily increase with Ps. The static load bearing characteristics predictions considering flow turbulence and compressibility matched well with the experimental results. The work with an independent test data and engineering computational programs will further the implementation of hydrostatic bearings in high performance turbopump shaft systems with improved efficiency and enhanced reusability of liquid rocket engine sub-systems.

Low night temperature (LNT) can be a practical and economical target in tomato breeding programs in terms of energy saving in greenhouses. This study was conducted to investigate the physiological responses to LNT using four tomato accessions of cherry and large fruit types with LNT tolerance and sensitivity grown in two greenhouses with night temperature set-points of 10 and 15°C for heating. LNT significantly reduced plant height regardless of fruit types and LNT tolerance. The number of flowers were significantly reduced in 10°C in cherry but not in large fruit types. Fruit set in 10°C was significantly lower in LNT sensitive accessions than tolerant ones regardless of fruit types, which was due to abnormal flower morphology in 10°C. Proline accumulation patterns between 10 and 15°C significantly differed between fruit types as well as between LNT tolerant and sensitive accessions. Chlorophyll content in 10 °C was significantly higher at later growth stages in LNT tolerant accessions than sensitive ones in both fruit types. No clear difference in photosynthetic parameters was observed between fruit types or tolerance and sensitive accessions except for photosynthetic rate, which was significantly lower in tolerant than sensitive accessions during early growing period. These results suggest that different tomato fruit types may have different mechanisms for LNT tolerance.

Magnetorheological (MR) fluid is recognized as one of intelligent materials that is widely used for various kinds of controllable devices since its rheological characteristics can be controlled by an external magnetic field (or input current). However, the density mismatch of the compositions between iron particles and carrier oil leads to inevitable sedimentation. Therefore, many works on the sedimentation problem of MR fluids have been carried out to improve the sedimentation stability using appropriate additives, surfactants, nanoparticles, particle coating as well as using several carrier oils with different densities. However, a study on the effect of the current magnitudes and profiles on the sedimentation is considerably rare. This study experimentally investigates the sedimentation behaviors due to the different current magnitudes and different profiles such as square and sine wave. It is shown that average sedimentation rate is 98.61% by applying 1 A of the square wave, while it is 97.83% under the sine type of the current. It is also identified that the higher intensity of the applied current results in stronger electromagnetic which can slow down the sedimentation rate. The results presented in this work are very helpful in designing a controller which provides the input current in terms of the magnitude and profile configuration.

There is an accelerating requirement for ocean sensing where autonomous vehicles can play an essential role in assisting engineers, researchers, and scientists with environmental monitoring and collecting oceanographic data. This paper is performed to develop a rigid sail for the autonomous sailing drone. Our study aims to numerically analyze the aerodynamic characteristics of curvy twin sail and compare it with wing sail. Because racing regulations limit the sail shape, only the two-dimensional geometry was open for an optimization. Therefore, this study’s first objective was to identify the aerodynamic performance of such curvy twin sails. Simultaneously, a secondary objective was to estimate the effect of the sail’s spacing and shapes. A viscous Navier-Stokes flow solver is used for the numerical aerodynamic analysis. The 2D aerodynamic investigation is a preliminary evaluation. The results have shown that the curvy twin sail designs have improved lift, drag, and driving force coefficient compared to the wing sails. The spacing between the port and starboard sails of curvy twin sail is an important parameter. The spacing is 0.035L, 0.07L, and 0.14L shows the lift coefficient reduction because of dramatically stall effect, while flow separation is improved with spacing is 0.21L, 0.28L, and 0.35L. Significantly, the spacing 0.28L shows the maximum high pressure at the lower area and the small low pressure area at leading edges, so the highest lift is generated.

Hope is important in the rehabilitation of persons with schizophrenia, through scales to measure hope are not appropriate for this population. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the psychometric properties of the Schizophrenia Hope Scale-9 (SHS-9) using data from 83 people with schizophrenia in four mental health centers and 762 healthy persons from two universities in South Korea. The mean (standard deviation) SHS-9 score of the participants with schizophrenia and healthy participants was 11.24 (4.90) and 14.83 (3.10), respectively. Lower scores indicate a lower level of hope. The internal consistency alpha coefficient was 0.92 with a 4-week test-retest reliability of 0.89. Criterion-related construct validity was established by examining the correlation between the SHS-9 and the State-Trait Hope Inventory scores. Divergent validity was identified through a negative relationship of SHS-9 with the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The construct validity of the SHS-9 was confirmed through principal component analysis with extraction methods, which resulted in a one-factor solution, accounting for 49–60% of the total item variance.. This study provided evidence for the validity and reliability of the SHS-9; therefore, it could be used to measure hope in people with schizophrenia.

This study examines how the design of museum archaeological boxes and the overall museum image affect behavioral intention. This research used partial least squares-structural equation modeling, indicating a relationship between aesthetics, symbolism, affective museum image, perceived value, and behavioral intention. This study found that symbolism predicted behavioral intention. Moreover, aesthetics, symbolism, and affective museum image affected perceived value, in turn triggering behavioral intention. This indicates theoretical and practical implications for museum products.

Lack of shock absorption capability of conventional steel bollards causes significant vehicle damage and consequently high repair costs. This research studies a solution to reduce vehicle damage by inserting PLA honeycomb structures. A honeycomb-inserted bollard was designed based on numerical simulations using LS-DYNA, which yielded the bollard designed for actual vehicle-bollard collision experiments. Simulation efforts were focused on calculating the acceleration characteristics when a vehicle collides with steel and honeycomb-inserted bollards. Compared to the simulated steel bollards, 20 MPa yield-strength honeycomb-inserted bollard showed 0.017s delay in the maximum acceleration occurrence time, reduction of the maximum acceleration to 37.4% of that of steel bollards, and 13.1% reduction in the B-pillar maximum acceleration. Actual vehicle-bollard collision experiments, with a gyro-sensor installed at the test vehicle front bumper frame, also proved improved shock absorption characteristics of the honeycomb-inserted bollards. An experiment with honeycomb-inserted bollard showed 0.783s delay in the maximum acceleration occurrence time, a significant delay when compared to steel bollards. The maximum acceleration measured by the gyro-sensor was 0.35m/s2 when the simulation predicted it to be 0.388 m/s2, proving the similarity in the simulations and experiments. Thus, this study of shock absorption characteristics promised reduced damage to vehicles and lower repair cost.

Ulleung County, one of the most medically vulnerable areas in South Korea, requires public attention because of the high incidence of liver cancer. This study was conducted as a part of the Ulleung Liver Cancer Prevention and Management Project. The purpose of this study was to estimate the community prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses and to identify the associated risk factors. The Project’s interagency workgroup established a procedure for conducting blood sampling and health behavior surveys at the Ulleung Public Community Health Center. A total of 1,792 residents aged 40 years and older voluntarily participated in the study between 2019 and 2022. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) positive rates in Ulleung were 7.19% and 1.37%, respectively. Low education level and lifetime smoking were associated with HBsAg positivity, whereas cupping therapy at non-medical institutions was associated with anti-HCV positivity. The odds of HBs Ag positivity were lower among those with tattoos than among those without. There was a difference in the risk factors associated with hepatitis B and C viral infection. While a high HBs Ag positivity rate alone may not fully explain the high incidence of liver cancer in Ulleung, it may be a contributing factor.

Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require highly reliable navigation information. Generally, navigation systems with the inertial navigation system (INS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) have been widely used. However, the GNSS is vulnerable to jamming and spoofing. The terrain referenced navigation (TRN) technique can be used to solve this problem. In this study, to obtain reliable navigation information even if a GNSS is not available or the degree of terrain roughness is not determined, we propose a federated filter based INS/GNSS/TRN integrated navigation system. we also introduce a TRN system that combines batch processing and an auxiliary particle filter to ensure stable flight of UAVs even in a long-term GNSS-denied environment. As an altimeter sensor for the TRN system, we use an interferometric radar altimeter (IRA) to obtain reliable navigation accuracy in high altitude flight. In addition, a parallel computing technique with general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU) is applied to process a high resolution terrain database and a nonlinear filter in real time on board. Finally, we verify the performance of the proposed system through software-in-the-loop (SIL) tests and captive flight tests in a GNSS unavailable environment.

This study was conducted on elderly over 65 years of age to verify that healing garden activities control stress in the elderly. The experimental group performed garden activities once a week for 12 weeks, 2 hours each, and the control group continued their daily lives. Each group's cumulative stress at the beginning and end, total power (TP), the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN), and root mean square differences of successive R-R intervals (RMSSD) were measured using a stress index meter, u-bio MACPA. As a result of the analysis, the experimental group had a statistically significant decrease in cumulative stress compared to the control group, and TP significantly increased compared to the control group. SDNN and RMSSD of the experimental group increased, respectively, and the control group decreased, respectively, but it was not statistically significant. The fact that cumulative stress decreased, and stress evaluation indicators increased shows that daily stress can be controlled through healing garden activities. This confirms that the value of the garden can extend to healing.

For the effective utilization of rice husk, organosolv fractionation was investigated to separate three main components (glucan, xylose, and lignin) with low acid concentration. Reaction temperatures of 170–190 °C, ethanol concentrations of 50–70% (v/v), and sulfuric acid concentrations of 0–0.7% (w/v) were investigated, with the reaction time and liquid-to-solid ratio kept constant at 60 min and 10, respectively. The fractionation conditions for the efficient separation into the three components of rice husk were determined to be 180 °C, 60% (v/v) of ethanol, and 0.25% (w/v) of sulfuric acid. Under these fractionation conditions, 86.8% of the xylan and 77.5% of the lignin were removed from the rice husk, and xylose and lignin were obtained from the liquid in 67.6% and 49.8% yields, respectively. The glucan digestibility of the fractionated rice husk was 85.2% with an enzyme loading of 15 FPU (filter paper unit) of cellulase per g-glucan.

Febrile seizure (FS), which occurs as a response to fever, is the most common seizure that occurs in infants and young children. FS is usually accompanied by diverse neuropsychiatric symptoms including impaired social behaviors; however, no causative link between FS and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has yet been established. Here, we provide evidence linking FS occurrence with ASD pathogenesis in rats. We developed an FS juvenile rats model and found ASD-like abnormal behaviors including deficits in social novelty, repetitive behaviors, and hyperlocomotion. In addition, FS model juvenile rats showed enhanced levels of gliosis and inflammation in the hippocampal CA2 region and cerebellum. Furthermore, abnormal levels of social and repetitive behaviors persisted in adults FS model rats. These findings suggest that occurrence of FS in infants can cause behavioral endophenotypes of ASD.

The spring-in phenomenon of the composite parts can affect the assembly process. This study aims to predict the spring-in phenomenon of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) part. Here, we predict the spring-in of the CFRP part using a coupled analysis of the forming and cooling processes during the stamping process. First, a simulation of the entire forming process, such as the transfer of the composite laminate, gravity analysis, and forming was performed to obtain the temperature distribution of the CFRP part. Subsequently, a finite-element (FE) simulation of the cooling process was conducted to predict the spring-in phenomenon of the shaped CFRP part using the temperature data obtained in the forming simulation. Finally, a CFRP part was manufactured and compared with the results of the FE simulation.

High temperature (HT) significantly affects the crop physiological traits and reduces the 12 productivity in plants. To increase yields as well as survival of crops under HT, developing heat13 tolerant plants is one of the main targets in crop breeding programs. The present study attempted 14 to investigate the linkage of the heat tolerance between the seedling and the reproductive growth 15 stages of tomato cultivars ’Dafnis‘ and ’Minichal’. This research was undertaken to evaluate heat 16 tolerance under two experimental designs such as screening at seedling stage and screening from 17 reproductive traits in greenhouses. Survival rate and physiological responses in seedlings of 18 tomatoes with 4-5 true leaf were estimated under HT (40 °C, RH 70%, day/night, respectively) and 19 under two control and HT greenhouse conditions (day time 28 °C and 40 °C, respectively). Heat 20 stress significantly affected physiological-chemical (photosynthesis, electrolyte conductivity, 21 proline) and vegetative parameters (plant height, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight) in all 22 tomatoes seedlings. The finding revealed that regardless of tomato cultivars the photosynthesis, 23 chlorophyll, total proline and electrical conductivity parameters were varied in seedlings during the 24 heat stress period. The heat tolerance rate of tomatoes in the seedling stage might not be associated 25 always with reproductive parameters. HT reduced the fruit parameters likeas fruit weight (31.9%), 26 fruit length (14.1%), fruit diameter (19.1%) and fruit hardness (9.1%) in compared to NT under HT 27 in heat susceptible tomato cultivar ‘Dafnis’, while in heat tolerant cultivar ‘Minichal’ fruit length 28 (7.1%) and fruit diameter (12.1%) was decreased by the affect of HT but on the contrary fruit weight 29 (3.6%) and fruit hardness (8.3%) were increased. In conclusion, screening and selection for tomatoes 30 should be evaluated at the vegetative and reproductive stages with consideration of reproductive 31 parameters.

Accurate expression of bracket prescription is important for successful orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of digital scan images of brackets produced by four different intraoral scanners (IOSs) in terms of the height, position, and angle of the bracket slot when scanning the surface of dental model attached with bracket materials made from different composition of materials. Brackets made from stainless steel, polycrystalline alumina, composite and composite/stainless steel slot were considered, which have been scanned from 4 different IOSs (Primescan, Trios, CS3600 and i500). SEM images were used as references. Each bracket axis was set in the reference scan image, and the axis was set identically by superimposing with the IOS image, and then only the brackets were divided and analyzed. The difference between the manufacturer's nominal torque and bracket slot base angle was 0.39 in SEM, 1.96 in Primescan, 2.04 in Trios, and 5.21 in CS3600 (P <0.001). The parallelism, which is the difference between the upper and lower angles of the slot wall, was 0.55 in SEM, 7.55 in Primescan, 6.74 in Trios3, 6.59 in CS3600, and 24.95 in i500 (p <0.001). This study evaluated the accuracy of the bracket only and it must be admitted that there is some error in recognizing slots through scanning in general

In this study, effluent water was produced through Submerged Membrane Bio-Reactor (SMBR) process, which is a simple system and decomposes organic matter contained in wastewater with biological treatment process and performs solid-liquid separation, Especially, ozone oxidation treatment process is applied to effluent water containing fluorescent whitening agent, which is a trace pollutant which is not removed by biological treatment, and influences the quality of reused water. The concentration of COD in the SMBR was 449.3 mg/ℓ-COD, and the concentration of permeate water was 100.3 mg/ℓ-COD. The removal efficiency was about 70.1%. The amount of ozone re- quired for the removal of the fluorescent whitening agent in the permeated water in SMBR was 6.67 g-O3/min, and the amount of ozone required to remove COD relative to the permeate water was calculated to remove 0.997 mg-COD for 1 mg of O3.

Rammed earth in a built environment has vapor diffusion characteristics and humidity control ability each of which are respectively attributed to the porous structures and the hydrophilic properties. Indeed, these structures and properties, which allows easily absorbing water parti-cles, hence, affecting the durability of a rammed earth wall. This paper presents the water repel-lency method for rammed earth walls which synthesizes siloxane copolymers containing fluo-rine. The water-repellent properties are investigated by measuring the contact angle, water ab-sorption rate, and compressive strength after spray coating with the synthesized siloxane co-polymers on the surface of the rammed earth specimens under study. The water contact angle of the specimen coated with a siloxane copolymer containing 10 mol.% of a silane monomer with a fluorine group is about 140o. The water absorption of the specimen obtained after immersing in water for 24 hours is low at about 3.5 wt.%. In addition, the compressive strength is remained more than 80% of the corresponding strength of the specimen which is not immersed into water. It is confirmed that the use of a 10% by volume of the siloxane copolymer containing the fluo-rine group may assure the water-repellent performance and the economic competitiveness.

The sensitivity of DNBR(Departure from Nucleate Boiling Ratio) values to approaches of subchannel control volume selection has been investigated for the TS01 and TS03 out of HIPER17 CHF(Critical Heat Flux) tests. In general, the coolant-centered subchannel method is applied to subchanel analyses for fuel bundle. When it comes to predicting for CHF of high quality region, however, the rod-centered subchannel method was better over high quality region. As a result, the rod-centered subchannel method were more suitable at a conservative point of view than the coolant-centered subchannel method comparing major properties. Also, it was confirmed that the radial subchannel locations at the minimum DNBR were similar when comparing both analysis results by two kind of methods.

Understanding the mechanism for heat tolerance is important for the hot pepper breeding program to develop heat-tolerant cultivars in changing climate. This study was conducted to investigate physiological and biochemical parameters related to heat tolerance and to determine leaf heat damage levels critical for selecting heat-tolerant genotypes. Seedlings of two commercial cultivars, heat-tolerant ‘NW Bigarim’ (NB) and susceptible ‘Chyung Yang’ (CY), were grown in 42 °C for ten days. Photosynthesis, electrolyte conductivity, proline content were measured among seedlings during heat treatment. Photosynthetic rate was significantly reduced in ‘CY’ but not in ‘NB’ seedlings in 42 °C. Stomatal conductivity and transpiration rate was significantly higher in ‘NB’ than ‘CY’. Proline content was also significantly higher in ‘NB’. After heat treatment, leaf heat damages were determined as 0, 25, 50 and 75% and plants with different leaf heat damages were moved to a glasshouse (30–32/22–24 °C in day/night). The growth and developmental parameters were investigated until 70 days. ‘NB’ was significantly affected by leaf heat damages only in fruit yield while ‘CY’ was in fruit set, number and yield. ‘NB’ showed fast recovery after heat stress compared to ‘CY’. These results suggest that constant photosynthetic rate via increased transpiration rate as well as high proline content in heat stress condition confer faster recovery from heat damage of heat-tolerant cultivars in seedlings stages.

The plant Allium hookeri, belonging to the Allium genus, has a history of being used both as a common food ingredient and in herbal medicine. It has recently been reported to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. A. hookeri has been also shown to exhibit neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory activities, but the active compounds responsible for these effects have not been identified in previous studies. This study aimed to perform a metabolite profiling using an HRESI-qTOF MS/MS-based molecular networking approach and identify the active compounds from A. hookeri that target senescent cell-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) inhibitory effects, which contribute to neuroprotective activities. As a result, ten compounds, including one new flavonoid (2) and nine known compounds (1 and 3–10), were identified, and their biological activity was tested. The most potent compound was N-trans-feruloyltyramine (7), which inhibited SASP markers and contributed to the senomorphic activities of A. hookeri. These findings suggest that the phenolamides from A. hookeri could be a promising source of bioactive compounds for preventing senescence-associated diseases.

We present an automated system for nutrient solution management. Prior arts usually measure only pH and EC of the nutrient solutions for maintenance. When EC drops, they just simply add concentrated nutrient to the horticulture bed. Such approach can maintain the density of nutrient solution but cannot maintain the rates of individual ion particles. To prevent nutrition related disorders, fertilization methods with ion selective electrodes are widely introduced. This trend measures individual ion concentration of nutrient solution to maintain appropriate nutrient composition by supplying only insufficient ions. Many researchers have suggested ISE based automated fertilization systems. However, they failed to control a chemical artifact called ion interference effect, which becomes greater at higher density. Our system measures individual concentration of multiple ions and add only deficient nutrients, while handling the ion interference effect issue. To ensure the performance of ion selective electrodes, the system also performs fully automated 3-point calibration 24 times a day. A machine learning algorithm is applied on the sensory parts to remove ion interference effect which make measurement of complex solution with ISE almost impossible. With automated calibration and signal processing technology, the system robustly and continuously maintains nutrient condition for plants. We suggest applying this system on closed hydroponic systems such as smart farms or plant factory, to reduce water consumption and to provide more appropriate environment for the crops.

Agriculture (crop production, land use, and livestock) is the second most important greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sector after the energy sector. Agriculture is also recognized as the source and sink of GHGs. Evidence demonstrates that the application of high amounts of nitrogen-rich fertilizers enhances methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, which are potent GHGs with a high global warming potential (GWP). Considering its global contribution to the climate crisis, reducing GHG emissions in agriculture would considerably lower its share of the global GHG emission records, which may lead to enormous benefits for the environment and food production systems. Several diverging and controversial views questioning the actual role of plants in the current global GHG budget continue to nourish the debate globally. We must acknowledge that considering the beneficial roles of major GHGs to plants at a certain level of accumulation, implementing GHG mitigation measures from agriculture is indeed a complex task. This review seeks to provide key approaches for GHG mitigation in the literature (environmentally friendly crop cultivation and residue management practices, improvement of plants nutrients/fertilizer use efficiency, exploring the genetic diversity for low GHG emission, soil methane-producing bacteria, integrated soil fertility management, improved livestock feeding efficiency, and production, etc.). This work gathers key approaches from 275 peer-reviewed publications, including experimental research papers, review articles, and books, discussing greenhouse gas emissions mechanisms and mitigation to unravel effective strategies for GHG mitigation, proven to be effective or carry the potential to mitigate GHG generation from agriculture. This review also discusses in depth the significance and the dynamics of strategies regarded as game changers with a high potential to enhance, in a sustainable manner, the resilience of agricultural systems. Agricultural GHG mitigation approaches discussed in this work can serve as game changers in global efforts to reducing GHG emissions and alleviating the impact of climate change through sustainable agriculture and informed-decision making.

Tomato is exposure to diverse abiotic stresses. Cold stress is one of harsh environmental stresses and abnormal low temperature affects tomato growth and development including physio- logical disorders, flower drops, and abnormal fruit morphology, causing the decrease of tomato yield and a fruit quality. It is important to identify low temperature-(LT) tolerant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars relying on different fruit types. This study focused on analyzing physiological traits of 35 tomato accessions with three different fruit types (cherry, medium, and large sizes) under night temperature set-points of 15°C for normal temperature (NT) and 10°C for LT, respectively. Plant heights (PH) of most tomato accessions in LT were remarkably decreased compared to those in NT. The growth of leaf length (LL) and leaf width (LW) was reduced depending on the genotypes under LT. In addition, the number of fruits (NFR), fruit set (FS), fruit yield (FY), and marketable yield (MY) were negatively affected in LT. The variation was further investigated by the correlation analysis, the principal component (PCA), and the cluster analysis. Interestingly, positive correlations between different vegetative and reproductive traits were uncovered. Multivariate analysis including the PCA and hierarchical clustering classified LT-treated 35 tomato accessions into four major groups. The identified accessions were associated with vegetative and reproductive parameters on positive directions and might be utilized for breeding programs on selecting LT-tolerant cultivars.

Third-generation biomass production utilizing microalgae exhibits sustainable and environmentally friendly attributes, along with significant potential as a source of physiologically active compounds. However, the process of screening and localizing strains that are capable of producing high-value-added substances necessitates a significant amount of effort. In the present study, we have successfully isolated the indigenous marine diatom Odontella aurita OAOSH22 from the East coast of Korea. Subsequently, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of its morphological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics. Afterwards, comprehensive analysis was conducted on the morphological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics, along with testing for optimal growth conditions. The morphological characteristics of the isolate were observed using optical and electron microscopes, and it exhibited typical features of O. aurita. Additionally, the molecular phylogenetic inference derived from the sequence of the small-subunit 18S rDNA confirmed the classification of the microalgal strain as O. aurita. This isolate has been confirmed to contain 7.1 mg g-1 dry cell weight (DCW) of fucoxanthin, a powerful antioxidant substance, in terms of dry cell weight (DCW). In addition, this isolate contains 11.1 mg g-1 DCW of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which is one of the nutritionally essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, this indigenous isolate exhibits a significant potential as a valuable source of bioactive substances for various bio-industrial applications.

Software is playing the most important role in recent vehicle innovation, and consequently the amount of software has been rapidly growing last decades. Safety-critical nature of ships, one sort of vehicles, makes Software Quality Assurance (SQA) has gotten to be a fundamental prerequisite. Just-In-Time Software Defect Prediction (JIT-SDP) aims to conduct software defect prediction (SDP) on commit-level code changes to achieve effective SQA resource allocation. The first case study of SDP in maritime domain reported feasible prediction performance. However, we still consider that the prediction model has still rooms for improvement since the parameters of the model are not optimized yet. Harmony Search (HS) is a widely used music-inspired meta-heuristic optimization algorithm. In this article, we demonstrated that JIT-SDP can produce the better performance of prediction by applying HS-based parameter optimization with balanced fitness value. Using two real-world datasets from the maritime software project, we obtained an optimized model that meets the performance criterion beyond baseline of previous case study throughout various defect to non-defect class imbalance ratio of datasets. Experiments with open source software also showed better recall for all datasets despite we considered balance as performance index. HS-based parameter optimized JIT-SDP can be applied to the maritime domain software with high class imbalance ratio. Finally, we expect that our research can be extended to improve performance of JIT-SDP not only in maritime domain software but also in open source software.

Wireless sensor networks are widely used in many applications such as environmental monitoring, health care, smart grid and surveillance. Many security protocols have been proposed and intensively studied due to the inherent nature of wireless networks. In particular, Wu et al. proposed a promising authentication scheme which is sufficiently robust against various attacks. However, according to our analysis, Wu et al.'s scheme has two serious security weaknesses against malicious outsiders. First, their scheme can lead to user impersonation attacks. Second, user anonymity is not preserved in their scheme. In this paper, we present these vulnerabilities of Wu et al.'s scheme in detail. We also propose a new scheme by fixing such vulnerabilities and improving the performance of the protocol.

Sarcopenia becomes more common with age, being most prevalent among elderly individuals. According to the EWGSOP, muscle mass is one of the criteria for the evaluation of sarcopenia. The main methods for evaluating muscle mass are CT, MRI, and DXA, but these methods are difficult to apply in the field due to equipment costs, radioactivity, and lack of portability. BIVA and PhA are alternative approaches for assessing somatic cell mass and volume and do not require predictive equations. These variables are clinically relevant parameters that indicate cell health, especially cell membrane integrity and cell function. This study in sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic elderly volunteers aimed to determine the BIVA distribution pattern among individual sarcopenia patients; to evaluate the relationship between PhA and muscle strength, muscle quality, and physical function; and to find any correlates of PhA. The sample comprised 134 free-living elderly individuals of both sexes aged 69–91 years. Anthropometric parameters, grip strength, DXA findings, BIA results, and physical performance (the 6-meter walk test) were measured. Impedance vector distributions were evaluated in sarcopenia patients and healthy elderly individuals using BIVA. According to the AWGS criteria, sarcopenia was diagnosed according to DXA findings, grip strength and physical performance test results. Group differences were evaluated using the t test, Mann‒Whitney U test, and Hotelling's T2 test. Correlation analysis was performed to identify variables significantly associated with PhA. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine whether PhA was associated with muscle strength, muscle quality and physical function. BIVA detected a significant difference between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups (both sexes) due to higher R/H values and lower phase angles in a few individuals, whereas Xc/Ht values did not differ between the two groups. The sarcopenia group had a significantly lower PhA than the non-sarcopenia group among both males (p&lt;0.01) and females (p&lt;0.05). PhA was significantly correlated with age, ASM, HGS, and muscle quality in both sexes and significantly correlated with ASM/Ht2 and physical performance in males. PhA was a significant indicator of muscle strength in both males (β = 2.6; p&lt;0.01) and females (β = 3.4; p&lt;0.01), a significant indicator of muscle quality in both males (β = 0.07; p&lt;0.05) and females (β = 0.17; p&lt;0.01), and a significant indicator of physical performance in males (β = 0.3; p&lt;0.01). BIVA can detect changes in muscle mass in individuals with sarcopenia and is a practical method for the assessment of sarcopenia in the field. PhA is a good indicator of muscle strength, muscle quality and physical performance (in males). These methods can help diagnose sarcopenia in elderly individuals with reduced mobility.

Rotorcrafts operate HUMS for fault diagnosis, but the capabilities of HUMS analysts are important due to the complex mechanical configuration of rotorcraft and the difficulty of analysis. Accordingly, an advanced algorithm is needed to identify faults, and flight data can be used to develop the algorithm. However, flight data contains abnormal or missing data due to problems such as sensor defects, which can be a major problem in algorithm development. Therefore, in this paper, we study a gap filling method using MLP to obtain normal data when there are problems such as abnormal or missing data in rotorcraft flight data. Existing methods typically fill the gap through interpolation or curve fitting using the before and after values of missing data. However, in this study, normal values were estimated using the values of other parameters at the moment of missing or abnormal data occurred. As a result of evaluating the performance of the trained MLP using normal data, it was confirmed that the output of the model well estimates the changing trend of the target. And when abnormal data was applied to the trained model, it was confirmed that point outliers were eliminated and appropriate values were found in the case of missing data.

Globally, the demand for plant-based alternative food is increasing rapidly as these products are getting quite popular in vegan and vegetarians. However, it is still in the early stage and faces various technological challenges, but the imitation of sensory profile is the most challenging part as the products are meant to be an alternative of meat. The development of similar product to meat requires an accurate selection of ingredients and processing. An understanding about the sensory profile can help to construct the product and technologies that are consumer centric and sustainable. In this review, we focus on the comparative differences in the sensory profile of animal meat and plant-based meat alternative specially in the color, texture and flavor, along with the method used to resemble them. The paper also explains about the sensory evaluation and how it affects the consumer preference and acceptability. Additionally, a direction to further research for developing better plant-based alternative products has also been suggested.

The horizontal flatbed electrophoresis system has been used for the electrophoresis of protein samples and is often preferred for a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In currently available equipment, cathode and anode electrodes were placed on top of a gel at each end. An electric field entered from the top of a gel, and its strength was relatively weaker in the bottom part of the gel. Such configuration caused migrating protein bands to lie down forward in the migrating direction. New electrodes, i.e., the clamp-shaped and the double-deck electrodes, were developed to simultaneously apply an electric field from the top and bottom of a gel. Electrophoretic separation with these electrodes made protein bands more focused and improved protein band resolutions. When the FIGE technique was tested together with new electrodes, protein bands were aligned nearly vertically and showed the best electrophoretic resolutions.

Varicella (chickenpox) is one of the most common infectious diseases in preschool children and can be prevented by immunization. While immunization program promotes higher vaccine coverage, there are still challenges with implementing vaccination programs particularly in low-income countries. Economic barriers can increase inequality in vaccination, which highlights the importance of distributing cost-effective varicella vaccines. Varicella vaccines have been developed with two main Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) strains globally: MAV/06 and Oka strains. Most of the vaccines are based on the Oka strain, while MAV/06 strain vaccines were exclusively developed by GC Biopharma. Although more than 30 million doses of MAV/06 vaccines as cost-effective vaccines have been distributed internationally, there is no comprehensive review on safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of MAV/06 vaccines in the literature. This paper aims to summarize and present more than 30 years of accumulated evidence from research on safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of MAV/06 vaccines. We expect that MAV/06 vaccines as cost-effective varicella vaccines make a significant contribution to improving global public health and health equality in children.

This study was designed to extend the literature on multicomponent interventions for the children of deaf adults (CODA) population. This study used two evidence-based behavior intervention strategies: pre-session pairing (PSP) and independent group contingency (GC). These strategies have been successfully used to decrease off-task behavior in elementary school children with various abilities and diverse backgrounds. However, the research on multicomponent interventions has yet to examine their effects on the CODA population in inclusive classrooms. This study used a concurrent multiple baseline design across participants with an ABC sequence to examine teacher-implemented PSP with independent GC in reducing the off-task behavior of three CODAs in an inclusive classroom at a public elementary school. The results show that the intervention successfully decreased off-task behavior for all participating CODAs. The results suggest that CODAs can adapt to classroom rules and expectations when PSP and independent GC are systematically applied to them in classrooms.

The introduction of electrical vehicle charging infrastructure including EV charger, renewable energy resource at secondary feeder in distribution system has been increased as one of countermeasure for global environmental issues. However, the Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) infrastructure may act as the peak load in distribution system, which can adversely impact on the voltage stability when the electric vehicle is quickly charged. Therefore, to keep within the limit capacity of secondary feeder and allowable limit for feeder voltage, this paper proposes a stabilization method by the Energy Storage System (ESS) control strategy at secondary feeder in order to be not violated over than lower and upper limit. Also, this paper presents the estimation method to keep the proper standard value of State of Charge (SOC). From the simulation results, the voltage stabilization operation by ESS should make the feeder voltages of the distribution system(secondary feeder) introduced EVC Infra keep better voltage conditions, also estimation method to keep the proper standard value is confirmed that the SOC of ESS when is the standby condition could be exactly kept within the proper reference range.

Juvenile hormones (JH) play crucial roles in insect development, reproduction, and other physi-ological functions. Because JH is specific to arthropods, including insects, it has long been stud-ied for use in pest control. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the substances that act as JH disruptors from edible plants. Curcuminoids generally exhibit a wide range of biological ac-tivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and insecticidal properties, and they exhibit insect growth inhibitory effects. Demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, two curcuminoids from the turmeric plant Curcuma longa L. inhibit the formation of a metho-prene-tolerant (Met)–Taiman (Tai) heterodimer complex as shown through in vitro yeast two-hybrid assays. An artificial diet containing 1% (w/v) demethoxycurcumin or bisdemethox-ycurcumin reduced the number of larvae, leading to no pupal development. Building on our re-sults regarding curcuminoids, researchers can use our study as a reference to develop eco-friendly pesticides.

Concerns associated with global warming and the depleting reserves of fossil fuels have highlighted the importance of high-performance energy storage systems (ESSs) for efficient energy usage. ESSs such as supercapacitors can contribute to improved power quality of an energy generation system, which is characterized by a slow load response. Composite materials are primarily used as supercapacitor electrodes because they can compensate for the disadvantages of carbon or metal oxide electrode materials. In this study, a composite of oxide nanoparticles loaded on a carbon nanofiber support was used as an electrode material for a hybrid supercapacitor. The addition of a small amount of hydrophobic Fe- and N-doped graphene nanoplates modified the surface properties of carbon nanofibers prepared by electrospinning. Accordingly, the effects of the hydrophobic/hydrophilic surface properties of the nanofiber support on the morphology of Co3O4 nanoparticles loaded on the nanofiber, as well as the performance of the supercapacitor, were systematically investigated.

Since 2007, highly pathogenic clade 2.3.2 H5N1 avian influenza A [A(H5N1)] viruses have evolved to clade 2.3.2.1a, b and c, and currently only 2.3.2.1c A(H5N1) viruses circulate in wild birds and poultry. During antigenic evolution, clade 2.3.2.1a and c A(H5N1) viruses acquired both S144N and V223I mutations around the receptor binding site of hemagglutinin (HA), with S144N generating an N-glycosylation sequon. We introduced single or combined reverse mutations, N144S and/or I223V, into the HA gene of clade 2.3.2.1c A(H5N1) virus and generated PR8-derived, 2 + 6 recombinant A(H5N1) viruses. When we compared replication efficiency in embryonated chicken eggs, mammalian cells and mice, the recombinant virus containing both N144S and I223V mutations showed increased replication efficiency in avian and mammalian hosts and pathogenicity in mice. The N144S mutation significantly decreased avian receptor affinity and egg white inhibition, but not all mutations increased mammalian receptor affinity. Interestingly, the combined reverse mutations dramatically increased the thermostability of HA. Therefore, the adaptive mutations possibly acquired to evade avian immunity may decrease viral thermostability as well as mammalian pathogenicity.

In the context of high-temperature water vapor treatment, Zn-Mg-Al alloy-coated steel sheets exhibit the emergence of a black surface. This study aims to explore the factors and mechanisms contributing to surface blackening by inducing black surfaces on Zn-Mg-Al alloy-coated steel sheets, which were fabricated through molten coating subjected to water vapor treatment at 150 degrees Celsius. The surfaced composition was predominantly identified as ZnO, a zinc oxide film, validated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Morphological analysis of the surface and cross-section post-water vapor treatment revealed a disrupted lamellar structure with diffused features, resulting in the formation of an oxide film. Optical properties analysis demonstrated an increased absorbance and a decreased bandgap energy after water vapor treatment, indicative of an augmented blackening effect. Consequently, the high-temperature water vapor treatment led to the formation of oxides on the surface, with the highly reactive Mg and Al extracting oxygen from the predominantly present ZnO surface. This process resulted in the creation of an oxygen-deficient oxide, ultimately causing surface blackening.

Pepper plants experience complex environmental factors including abiotic and biotic stresses in field and the importance of climate changes including low and high temperatures has been emerged. Low temperature stress in the growth and development is one of the most critical issues, which directly impact on the crop yield and productivity of pepper plants. It is essential to select and breed low temperature-(LT) tolerant pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars. The research was performed to assess the agronomical traits of 39 pepper accessions belonging to chili and bell fruit types which cultivated two different night temperature set-points at 15°C for suboptimal temperature (CT) and at 10°C for low temperature (LT), respectively. Plant heights (PH) of most pepper accessions in LT were significantly decreased compared to those in CT. The stem diameter (SD) and the length of main axis (LMA) were various depending on the genotypes under LT. Moreover, the number of flowers (NFL), the total number of fruits (NFR), fruit yield (FY), fruit fresh weight (FFW), fruit length (FL), fruit diameter (FD), and the number of seeds in a fruit (NSF) were notably declined in LT compared to CT. The evaluated agronomical traits between LT and CT were further applied for the correlation analysis, the principal component analysis (PCA), and the hierarchical cluster analysis. Notably, FY trait was correlated with other reproductive traits including NFR, FFW, FD, and FL on positive directions and LT treated-39 pepper accessions were clustered into seven groups by the clustering analysis. The selected accessions were primarily involved with the positive trends with the reproductive index including NFR, FL, FD, and FW traits and would be used for pepper breeding programs on developing LT-tolerant cultivars.

(1) Background: Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is an intravenous (IV) high-dose iron that is effective in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. This study was to determine if preoperative IV FCM administration could improve recovery from postoperative anemia in patients undergoing revision total joint arthroplasty. (2) Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study analyzed 82 patients undergoing revision total joint arthroplasty during a single hospitalization. Patients in the iron group (n = 41) were administered 1000 mg of IV FCM two weeks preoperatively, while those in the control group (n = 41) were not. Moreover, patients with anemia defined as a preoperative suboptimal Hb concentration &lt;13.0 g/dl were compared according to IV FCM administration. The absolute Hb levels and changes in Hb levels, iron profiles, transfusion rate, and EuroQOL 5-dimension (EQ-5D) scores were compared. (3) Results: There were no significant differences in recovery of Hb levels at each timepoint between the two groups; however, the changes in Hb levels from baseline to four weeks postoperatively showed marginally significant differences favoring the iron group (p = 0.052). However, for preoperatively anemic patients, the change in hemoglobin (Hb) levels between baseline and four weeks postoperatively was significantly better in the iron group than in the control group (iron group [n = 26], −0.3 ± 0.7 g/dL vs. control group [n = 27], −0.9 ± 0.8 g/dL; p = 0.040), although the absolute Hb levels, transfusion rates, and patient quality of life were comparable (all p &gt; 0.05). The iron group showed improved iron metabolite levels including serum ferritin and transferrin saturation four weeks postoperatively, and no adverse events associated with IV FCM administration occurred in either group. (4) Conclusions: Preoperative IV FCM in anemic individuals undergoing revision joint arthroplasty was effective in accelerating recovery from surgery-related anemia by improving Hb levels without any adverse events, despite similar actual Hb levels between the groups. Our findings are clinically relevant and can facilitate determination of the suitability of IV FCM as a safe and reliable protocol for iron supplementation for anemia correction.

Background and Objective: There is a paucity of literature comparing unilateral instrumented transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (UITLIF) with bilateral instrumented TLIF (BITLIF) regarding radiological alignment, including the coronal balance, even though UITLIF might have asymmetric characteristics in the coronal plane. This retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical and long-term radiological outcomes of 1-level UITLIF and BITLIF in lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD). Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent 1-level UITLIF with two rectangular polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages or BITLIF with ≥ 5 years of follow-up at a single hospital were included. We compared the clinical and radiological outcomes between the UITLIF and BITLIF. Results: In total, 63 and 111 patients who underwent UITLIF and BITLIF, respectively, were enrolled. The median follow-up was 85.55 months (range: 60–130). The UITLIF group had a significantly shorter operation time (185.0 [170.0–210.0] vs. 225.0 [200.0–265.0], p &lt; 0.001) and lower estimated blood loss (300.0 [250.0–500.0] vs. 550.0 [400.0–800.0], p &lt; 0.001) than BITLIF group. Regarding the clinical outcomes, there were no significant differences in the intermittent claudication score (p = 0.495) and Kirkaldy–Willis criteria (p = 0.707) at 1 year postoperatively. The interval changes of the local coronal Cobb angle at the index level, L1-S1 lordotic angle, and coronal off-balance from the immediate postoperative radiograph to the last follow-up were not significantly different (p = 0.687, p = 0.701, and p = 0.367, respectively). Conclusion: UITLIF with two rectangular PEEK cages is a viable option for providing comparable clinical outcomes and radiological longevity to BITLIF in 1-level LDD. In addition, UITLIF has advantages over BITLIF in terms of operative time and blood loss.

Mechanical properties of three-dimensional (3D) printed resin can be improved by decreasing oxygen concentrations during post-curing, and nitrogen saturated post-curing has been applied for the purpose. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the color stability of 3D printed resin crowns post-cured in normal air and nitrogen saturated conditions. Crowns were fabricated with 3D printer and post-cured in normal air (control group; air) or nitrogen saturated condition (experimental group; nitrogen). The specimens in each group were subdivided into four subgroups, each exposed to different discoloration agents: distilled water, coffee, wine, and curry. Post-immersion color changes were measured using a digital spectrophotometer and analyzed through repeated measures ANOVA. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy evaluated the degree of conversion of resin over immersion times for both post-curing conditions. Comparing the effects of post-curing conditions, significant difference was found between control and experimental groups over immersion time in wine and curry subgroups. In FT-IR analysis, there was significant difference in degree of conversion between the air and nitrogen groups from 10 to 300 seconds. The findings suggest that nitrogen saturated post-curing can potentially enhances the conversion rate of 3D printed resin crowns, thereby improving their color stability.

We used a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition technique to synthesize a boron-doped reduced graphene oxide (B-rGO) material with various electrical characteristics, dependent on simultaneous reduction and doping procedures. The effect of the doping level on the B bonding in the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layer controlled by the annealing temperature was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS data indicated that the B-rGO layer had a higher B concentration and a considerable number of O-B bonds as a result of the appreciable annealing temperature, which resulted in a decreased work function and Schottky contact between B-rGO and n-type Si. Owing to the higher proportion of B-C and B-C3 bonding in the B-rGO device than that in the rGO/Si device, the lower Schottky barrier height of the B-rGO/n-Si vertical junction photodetector resulted in a higher responsivity. This work suggests a facile method of B doping to alter the electrical properties of graphene materials.

This study investigates the application of frequency augmentation techniques to improve condition-based maintenance (CBM+) systems for airborne weapon systems, focusing on the predictive accuracy of velocity and acceleration parameters. Utilizing MIL-STD-1553B MUX data from 138 sorties of fixed-wing aircraft, we explored six augmentation methods, including traditional interpolations (linear, quadratic, cubic spline) and advanced machine learning models (K-Nearest Neighbor, LSTM, and Bi-LSTM). Our findings indicate that while traditional methods like linear interpolation are more effective for velocity parameters, advanced ML techniques, particularly Bi-LSTM, provide better results for acceleration parameters, which exhibit more complex and rapid variability. The study underscores the necessity of tailoring augmentation approaches to specific parameter characteristics and highlights the potential of ML models in capturing intricate patterns within time-series data. These insights are critical for advancing CBM+ systems in military avionics, enhancing reliability and operational efficiency through improved data processing strategies. Future work should explore more performant augmentation techniques, such as by integrating multi-dimensional datasets, and explore ways to develop automated tools for a more powerful predictive maintenance framework.

Cellular immunotherapy has recently emerged as a fourth pillar in cancer treatment co-joining surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Where, the discovery of immune checkpoint blockage or inhibition (ICB/ICI), anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA4-based, therapy has revolutionized the class of cancer treatment at a different level. However, still some cancer patient escape this immune surveillance mechanism and become resistant to ICB-therapy. Therefore, a more advanced or an alternative treatment is required instantly. Despite the functional importance of epitranscriptomics in diverse clinico-biological practices, its role in improving the efficacy of ICB therapeutics has been limited. Consequently, our study encapsulates the evidences, as a possible strategy, to improve the efficacy of ICB-therapy by co-targeting molecular checkpoints especially N6A-modification machineries which could be reformed into RNA modifying drugs (RMD). Here, we have explained the mechanism of individual RNA-modifiers (editor/writer, eraser/remover and effector/reader) in overcoming the issues associated with high-dose antibody toxicities and drug-resistance. Moreover, we have shed light on the importance of suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS/CISH) and microRNAs in improving the efficacy of ICB-therapy, with brief insight on the current monoclonal antibodies undergoing clinical trials or already approved against several solid tumor and metastatic cancers. We anticipate our investigation will encourage researchers and clinicians to further strengthen the efficacy of ICB-therapeutics by considering the importance of epitranscriptomics as a personalized medicine.

Effective oral care is a critical requirement to maintain high quality of life. Most oral diseases are caused by plaque (oral biofilm), which is also correlated with systemic diseases. A common method to remove biofilm is brushing teeth with a toothpaste. However, 3.5 billion people in the world have oral diseases, meaning that more efficient methods of removing biofilms are needed. We have developed a toothbrush applying bioelectric effect (BE) utilizing an electric force for biofilm removal. It demonstrated significantly higher biofilm removal efficiency than non-BE manual toothbrushes. Tests were performed in saline and toothpaste conditions using various pressure. Results showed that the BE toothbrush had a significantly higher biofilm removal efficiency in saline (0.5 N: 215.43 ± 89.92 %, 2.5 N: 116.77 ± 47.02 %) and in a toothpaste slurry (0.5 N: 104.96 ± 98.93 %, 2.5 N: 96.23 ± 35.16 %) than non-BE manual toothbrushes. Results also showed that BE toothbrushes were less dependent on toothpaste. This study suggests that the application of BE can be a new solution to plaque problems in oral care.

The study of pain requires a balance between subjective methods that rely on self-reports and complementary objective biometrics that ascertain physical signals associated with subjective accounts. There are at present no objective scales that enable the personalized assessment of pain, as most work involving electrophysiology rely on summary statistics from a priori theoretical population assumptions. Along these lines, recent work has provided evidence of differences in pain sensations between participants with Sensory Over Responsivity (SOR) and controls. While these analyses are useful to understand pain across groups, there remains a need to quantify individual differences more precisely in a personalized manner. Here we offer new methods to characterize pain using the moment-by-moment standardized fluctuations in EEG brain activity centrally reflecting the person’s experiencing temperature-based stimulation at the periphery. This type of gross data is often disregarded as noise, yet here we show its utility to characterize the lingering sensation of discomfort raising to the level of pain, individually, for each participant. We show fundamental differences between the SOR group in relation to controls and provide an objective account of pain congruent with the subjective self-reported data. This offers the potential to build a standardized scale useful to profile pain levels in a personalized manner across the general population.

The number of fishers working on commercial fishing vessels worldwide is approximately 159,800 according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The International Labour Organization estimates that the mean annual number of deaths during fishing is approximately 24,000. Most guidelines for the prevention of marine accidents have been developed with a focus on vessels involved in international navigation. As these guidelines may have parts that are unsuitable for application in small-scale boats operating in coastal areas, appropriate modifications are required. This study analyzed quantitative data on 1,790 marine accidents that occurred in trap fishery, a globally common type of fishery, and data obtained through a survey of 101 fishers in South Korea. A guideline to reduce the rate of fatal accidents was developed using the Bayesian network, a method used for the analysis of accidents, as suggested in the formal safety assessment protocol. The results of data analysis and the developed guidelines are expected to be beneficial to all fishers involved in trap fishery across many countries worldwide.

The narrow process window during intercritical annealing and discontinuous yielding have limited the commercialisation of medium Mn steels. In this study, a double annealing process based on the commercial continuous annealing line is proposed. The cold-rolled medium Mn steels were first fully austenitized and quenched during the first annealing, followed by the intercritical annealing for reverted austenite transformation. The microstructure of duplex lath-shaped austenite and ferrite is produced and the steel exhibit a desirable continuous yielding during tensile deformation. Al is added into the medium Mn steel to enlarge the process window and to improve partitioning efficiency of Mn. The produced steel is more robust with temperature fluctuation during the industrial process due to the enlarged intercritical region. Mn partitioning is more efficient owing to elevated annealing temperature, which results in the improvement of ductility in the Al-added steel with increased austenite stability.

Cervi cornu has been extensively used in traditional medicine as an antioxidant and for the treatment of various disorders, including osteoporosis. However, since it is not easy to separate the active ingredient, absorption is not performed well. In this study, we extracted the low molecular weight (843Da) collagen NP-2007 from cervi cornu by enzyme hydrolyzation, and evaluated the therapeutic effect in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rat osteoarthritis model, and identified their molecular mechanisms. NP-2007 was orally administered at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 21 d. Efficacy was evaluated based on serum parameters, inflammatory mediators, and mor-phological and histopathological analyses of knee joints. Production of matrix metalloproteinases, including MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9, in the serum was higher in MIA-treated rats; however, these levels decreased after NP-2007 treatment. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 were lower in the NP-2007 group than in the MIA group. Furthermore, the administration of NP-2007 resulted in effective preservation of both the synovial membrane and knee cartilage, and significantly decreased the transformation of fibrous tissue. This study indicates that NP-2007 can prevent and alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis and have applications as a novel arthritis treatment.

A programmable DC power supply with Real-time Digital Simulator (RTDS)-based photovoltaic (PV) Power Hardware-In-the-Loop (PHIL) simulators have been used to improve the control algorithm and reliability of PV Inverter. This paper proposes a supervisory control algorithm for PV PHIL simulator with non-RTDS device that is an alternative solution of high cost PHIL simulator. However, when such a simulator with conventional algorithm which is used in RTDS is connected to a PV inverter, the output is in the transient state and it makes it impossible to evaluate the performance of the PV Inverter. Therefore proposed algorithm controls the voltage and current target values according to the constant voltage (CV) and constant current (CC) modes to overcome the limitation of the Computing Unit, DC power supply and also uses a multi-rate system to account for the characteristics of each component of simulator. A mathematical models of a PV system, programmable DC power supply, isolated DC measurement device and Computing Unit are integrated to form a real-time processing simulator. Performance tests using a PV PHIL simulator which is applied proposed algorithm connected a PV inverter are carried out and proved superiority and utility of this method against conventional methods.

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis with its five-year survival rate lower than that of any other cancer type because it is difficult to detect in the early stages. Gemcitabine, a standard treatment for pancreatic cancer, often has poor outcomes for patients as a result of chemoresistance. Therefore, novel therapeutic targets must be identified to overcome gemcitabine-resistance. Here, we found that SLC38A5, a glutamine transporter, is more highly overexpressed in gemcitabine-resistant patients than in gemcitabine-sensitive patients. Furthermore, the deletion of SLC38A5 decreased the proliferation and migration of gemcitabine-resistant PDAC cells. We also found that the inhibition of SLC38A5 triggered the ferroptosis signaling pathway via RNA sequencing. Also, silencing SLC38A5 induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced glutamine uptake and glutathione (GSH) levels, and downregulated the expressions of GSH-related genes NRF2 and GPX4. The blockade of glutamine uptake negatively modulated the mTOR-SREBP1-SCD1 signaling pathway. Therefore, suppression of SLC38A5 triggers ferroptosis via two pathways that regulate lipid ROS levels. Similarly, we observed knockdown of SLC38A5 restored gemcitabine sensitivity by hindering tumor growth and metastasis in the orthotopic mouse model. Altogether, our results demonstrated that SLC38A5 could be a novel therapeutic target to overcome gemcitabine-resistance in PDAC therapy.

This paper presents a study on the idle vibration reduction of a diesel sport utility vehicle (SUV). To reduce idle vibration, the transmission paths of vibration from the engine to the driver seat floor were investigated with the vehicle components related to idle vibration. Furthermore, operational deflection shape (ODS) tests were conducted to visualize the vibration shapes during engine idling. Experimental modal analyses were performed to obtain the natural frequencies and mode shapes. Through the ODS and modal tests, the vibration characteristics of the diesel SUV during idling were identified. Considering these vibration characteristics, a multi-body dynamic model for the diesel SUV described by differential equations of motion was established to evaluate the idle vibration. To implement the dynamic model effectively, the equivalent stiffnesses and damping coefficients included in the model were determined experimentally or analytically. The established dynamic model was verified by comparing the natural frequencies and idle vibration levels between simulations. Using this dynamic model, we analyzed the effects of various design variables on idle vibration and obtained an optimal design for reducing the idle vibration level. Finally, we present a design guide to reduce the idle vibration for diesel SUVs.

Significant recent advances in cancer immunotherapeutics include the vaccination of cancer patients with tumor antigen-associated peptide-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs). DC vaccines with homogeneous, mature, and functional activities are required to achieve effective acquired immunity; however, the yield of autologous monocyte-derived DCs varies in each patient. Priming with a low dose of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) 16–18 h prior to apheresis resulted in 50% more harvested monocytes, with a significant increase in the ratio of CD11c+CD80+ DCs/apheresed monocytes. The detection of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes after Wilms’ tumor 1-pulsed DC vaccination was higher in patients treated with rhG-CSF than those who were not, based on immune monitoring using tetramer analysis. Our study is the first to report that DC vaccines for cancer immunotherapy primed with low-dose rhG-CSF are expected to achieve higher acquired immunogenicity.

Anti-diabetic effects of Glycine soja seed extract (GS) on Type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse model and human hepatocytes induced insulin resistance were investigated. 3 weeks old db/db mice were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) including two control groups and 3 GS treated groups with different doses. Oral administration of GS for 6 weeks to diabetic db/db mice reduced blood glucose level significantly in a dose dependent manner by 44.7% (300 mg/kg/day), 30.9% (150 mg/kg/day) and 21.1% (75 mg/kg/day). GS treatment also lowered significantly plasma level of HbA1c, insulin, IGF-1 and leptin, and increased that of adiponectin. GS treatment activated AMPK, and down-regulated GLUT2 in liver tissues of mice while up-regulated GLUT4 in muscle tissues of mice. In in vitro study with insulin resistance induced human hepatocyte, GS treatment increased glucose uptake and increased the activities of Akt and PPAR-γ in response to insulin. Treatment of GS appears to reduce blood glucose level by regulating energy metabolism positively through various metabolic pathways and reducing insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Anti-diabetic effects of Glycine soja seed extract (GS) on Type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse model and human hepatocytes induced insulin resistance were investigated. 3 weeks old db/db mice were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) including two control groups and 3 GS treated groups with different doses. Oral administration of GS for 6 weeks to diabetic db/db mice reduced blood glucose level significantly in a dose dependent manner by 44.7% (300 mg/kg/day), 30.9% (150 mg/kg/day) and 21.1% (75 mg/kg/day). GS treatment also lowered significantly plasma level of HbA1c, insulin, IGF-1 and leptin, and increased that of adiponectin. GS treatment activated AMPK, and down-regulated GLUT2 in liver tissues of mice while up-regulated GLUT4 in muscle tissues of mice. In in vitro study with insulin resistance induced human hepatocyte, GS treatment increased glucose uptake and increased the activities of Akt and PPAR-γ in response to insulin. Treatment of GS appears to reduce blood glucose level by regulating energy metabolism positively through various metabolic pathways and reducing insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Owing to the expansion of non-face-to-face activities, security issues in video conferencing systems are becoming more critical. In this paper, we focus on the end-to-end encryption (E2EE) function among security services of video conferencing systems. First, the E2EE-related protocols of Zoom and Secure Frame (SFrame), which are representative video conferencing systems, are thoroughly investigated, and the two systems are compared and analyzed overall. Next, the E2EE protocol in the Government Public Key Infrastructure (GPKI)-based video conferencing system, in which the user authentication mechanism is fundamentally different from those used in private sector systems, such as Zoom or SFrame, will be considered. In particular, among E2EE-related protocols, we propose a detailed mechanism in which the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) is applied to the user key exchange process. As the session key is not disclosed to the central server even in futuristic quantum computers, the mechanism to which the PQC KEM method proposed in this study is applied satisfies the E2EE security requirements and can be applied to domestic GPKI-based systems. It is expected to contribute in strengthening the safety of the next-generation video conferencing system.

This study investigated novel quantitative traits loci (QTLs) associated with the control of grain shape and size as well as grain weight in rice. We employed a joint strategy multiple GAPIT (Genome Association and Prediction Integrated Tool) models [(Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK)), Fixed and random model Circulating Probability Uniform (FarmCPU), Settlement of MLM Under Progressive Exclusive Relationship (SUPER), and General Linear Model (GLM)]–High Density SNP Chip DNA Markers (60,461) to conduct a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). GWAS was performed using genotype and grain-related phenotypes of 143 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Data show that parental lines (Ilpum and Tung Tin Wan Hein 1, TTWH1, Oryza sativa L., ssp. japonica and indica, respectively) exhibited divergent phenotypes for all analyzed grain traits), which was reflected in their derived population. GWAS results revealed the association between seven SNP Chip makers and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for grain length, co-detected by all GAPIT models on (Chr) 1–3, 5, 7, and 11), were qGL1-1BFSG (AX-95918134, Chr1: 3820526 bp) explains 65.2%–72.5% of the phenotypic variance explained (PVE). In addition, qGW1-1BFSG (AX-273945773, Chr1: 5623288 bp) for grain width explains 15.5%–18.9% of PVE. Furthermore, BLINK or FarmCPU identified three QTLs for grain thickness independently, and explain 74.9% (qGT1Blink, AX-279261704, Chr1: 18023142 bp) and 54.9% (qGT2-1Farm, AX-154787777, Chr2: AX-154787777 bp) of the observed PVE. For t length-to-width ratio, the qLWR2BFSG (AX-274833045, Chr2: 10000097 bp) explains nearly 15.2%–32% of PVE for LWR. Likewise, the major QTL for thousand-grain weight (TGW) was detected on Chr6 (qTGW6BFSG, AX-115737727, 28484619 bp) and explains 32.8%–54% of PVE. The qTGW6BFSG QTL coincides with qGW6-1Blink for grain width and explained 32.8%–54% of PVE. Putative Candidate genes pooled from major QTLs for each grain traits have interesting annotated functions that require functional studies to elucidate their function in the control of grain size, shape, or weight in rice. Genome selection analysis proposed makers useful for downstream marker-assisted selection based on genetic merit of RILs.

Rice production is a significant contributor to methane emissions, accounting for ap-proximately 11% of global anthropogenic emissions. However, methane emissions in rice fields could effectively be reduced by implementing proper management practices and careful cultivar selection. The impact of nitrogen fertilizers on methane emissions is mul-tifaceted, as these fertilizers enhance crop growth and influence the activity of me-thane-producing (methanogens) and methane-consuming microbes (methanotrophs), leading to complex outcomes in methane emissions. In this study, we used qPCR to quan-tify methanogens and methanotrophs using mcrA (methanogenesis-related gene) and pmoA (methane oxidation-related gene) primer sets under different nitrogen levels (0, 50, and 100%) and rice varieties. The results revealed that higher nitrogen input led to higher methanogen inhabitation in the rhizosphere. Additionally, the abundances of methano-gens and methanotrophs varied among the different rice varieties. Furthermore, it was observed that there may be an additive effect between the rice variety and nitrogen level used. These findings suggest that future breeding efforts should involve screening for me-thane-related microbes in rice cultivars adapted to low-nitrogen conditions. By identifying and selecting rice varieties that promote lower methanogen levels and higher metha-notroph inhabitation, significant steps can be taken to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation.

Abstract: Rice production is a significant contributor to methane emissions, accounting for approximately 11% of global anthropogenic emissions. However, there is potential for effectively reducing methane emissions from rice fields through the implementation of proper management practices and careful cultivar selection. The impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizers on methane (CH4) emissions is multifaceted, as these fertilizers not only en-hance crop growth but also influence the activity of methane-producing microbes (Meth-anogens) and methane-consuming microbes (Methanotrophs), leading to complex out-comes in CH4 emissions. In this study, we utilized qPCR to quantify methanogens and methanotrophs using mcrA (methanogenesis-related gene) and pmoA (methane oxida-tion-related gene) primer sets under different nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100%) and rice varie-ties. The results revealed that higher nitrogen inputs led to higher methanogen inhabita-tion in the rhizosphere. Additionally, the abundances of methanogens and metha-notrophs varied among different rice varieties. Furthermore, through the analysis of two-way ANOVA, it was observed that there may be an additive effect between rice variety and nitrogen level. Furthermore, enhancing agronomic traits related to yield can reduce methanogen inhabitation. These findings suggest that future breeding efforts should in-volve the screening of methane-related microbes in rice cultivars adapted to low nitrogen conditions. By identifying and selecting rice varieties that promote lower methanogen lev-els and higher methanotroph inhabitation, we can take significant steps towards mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation.

The high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is well-established, with p16 expression being a strong predictor. HPV-related tumors exhibit unique mechanisms targeting p16 and p53 proteins. However, re-search on HPV prevalence and the combined predictive value of p16 and p53 expression in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (HNCSCC), especially in Asian populations, is limited. This retrospective study surveyed 62 HNCSCC patients (2011–2020), excluding those with facial warts or other skin cancers. All patients underwent wide excision and biopsy. Immuno-histochemical staining for HPV, p16, and p53 yielded both positive and negative results. The relevance of each marker was investigated by categorizing the tumor locations into high-risk (Area H) and mid-risk (Area M) zones based on recurrence frequency. Of the 62 patients, 20 (32.26%) were male, with an average age of 82.27 years (26–103). Area H included 19 cases (30.65%), with the eyelid and lip being the most common sites (five cases, 8.06%). Area M in-cluded 43 cases (69.35%), with the cheek being the most common site (29 cases, 46.77%). p16 ex-pression was positive in 24 patients (38.71%), p53 expression in 42 patients (72.58%), and HPV in five patients (8.06%). No significant association was found between p16 expression and HPV presence (p > 0.99), with a positive predictive value of 8.33%. This indicates that p16, a surrogate marker of HPV in OPSCC, is not a reliable marker for HPV in HNCSCC. This study enhances our understanding of the relationship between HPV, p53, and p16 in HNCSCC in Asian populations and offers valuable insights for further research.

Hair loss attributed to excessive stress from work and lifestyle changes has become a growing concern, particularly among young individuals. However, currently used drugs such as minoxidil and finasteride impose a plethora of side effects. Therefore, natural substances as alternatives have garnered research interest. A recent study showed the efficacy of Malva verticillata seed extracts in alleviating hair loss via upregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, the efficacy of M. verticillata seed extracts on alleviation of hair loss was further investigated. Further fractionation and purification of the seed extracts using silica gel column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography helped identify linoleic acid (LA) and oleic acid as the major bioactive components. LA insufficiency is reported to cause hair loss. However, its mechanism of action is not clearly known. Here, we explored the efficacy of LA treatment on preventing hair loss and its underlying mechanism of action. We found that LA treatment activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and induced dermal papilla cell (DPC) proliferation in cell proliferation assays. Moreover, it increased the expression of cell cycle proteins such as cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. LA treatment also increased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, hepatocyte growth factor, and keratinocyte growth factor in a concentration-dependent manner and significantly inhibited that of DKK-1, induced by dihydrotestosterone. These findings suggest that LA treatment induces hair growth by increasing DPC proliferation and alleviates androgenic alopecia by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in DPCs.

Hydrogels incorporated with hydrophobic motifs have received considerable attention to recapitulate the cellular microenvironments, specifically for the bio-mineralization of a 3D matrix. Introduction of hydrophobic motifs into a hydrogel often results in irregular arrangement of the motifs, and further phase separation of hydrophobic domains, but limited efforts have been made to resolve this challenge in the hydrophobically-modified hydrogel. Therefore, this study presents an advanced integrative strategy to incorporate hydrophobic domains regularly in a hydrogel by self-assembling of polymer cross-linkers, building blocks of a hydrogel. Self-assemblies between polymer cross-linkers were examined as micro-domains to incorporate hydrophobic motifs in a hydrogel. The self-assembled structures in a pre-gelled solution were confirmed with the fluorescence analysis and the hydrophobicity of a hydrogel could be tuned by incorporating the motifs in a controlled manner. Overall, the results of this study would greatly serve to tuning performance of a wide array of hydrophobically-modified hydrogels in drug delivery, cell therapies and tissue engineering.

The inter-subspecific crossing between indica and japonica subspecies in rice have been utilized to improve the yield potential of temperate rice. In this study, a comparative study of the genomic regions in the eight high-yielding varieties (HYVs) was conducted with those of the four non-HYVs. The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) mapping on the Nipponbare reference genome identified a total of 14 common genomic regions of japonica-originated alleles. Interestingly, the HYVs shared japonica-originated genomic regions on nine chromosomes, although they were developed through different breeding programs. A panel of 94 varieties was classified into four varietal groups with 38 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from 38 genes residing in the japonica-originated genomic regions and 16 additional trait-specific SNPs. As expected, the japonica-originated genomic regions were only present in the japonica (JAP) and HYV groups, except for Chr4-1 and Chr4-2. The Wx gene, located within Chr6-1, was present in the HYV and JAP variety groups, while the yield-related genes were conserved as indica alleles in HYVs. The japonica-originated genomic regions and alleles shared by HYVs can be employed in molecular breeding programs to further develop the HYVs in temperate rice.

Background Some patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experience gait disturbances. However, there are few reports on the relationship between gait disturbance and cognitive function in patients with MCI. Therefore, we investigated the neural correlates of gait characteristics related to cognitive dysfunction. Methods Eighty patients diagnosed with MCI from three dementia centres in Gangwon-do, Korea were recruited for this study. We defined MCI as a Clinical Dementia Rating global score of 0.5 or higher, with a memory domain score of 0.5 or greater. The patients were classified as having either early or late MCI based on their Mini Mental Status Examination z-scores. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the gait characteristics and cognitive impairment. Analyses included variables such as age, sex, years of education, number of comorbidities, body mass index and height. Results Gait velocity, step count, step length, heel-to-heel base support, swing and stance phase duration, and support time were associated with cognitive function. A decrease in gray matter volume in the right pericalcarine area was associated with gait characteristics related to cognitive dysfunction. An increase in the curvature of gray matter in the right entorhinal, right lateral orbitofrontal, right cuneus, and right and left pars opercularis areas was also associated with gait characteristics related to cognitive dysfunction. Conclusion Since gait impairment is an important factor in determining activities of daily living in patients with mild cognitive impairment, the evaluation of gait and cognitive functions in patients with mild cognitive impairment is important.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) stands as a significant cause of drug attrition. To mitigate clinical DILI risks, assessing drugs using human liver models is crucial since animal studies may fall short due to species-specific liver pathway variations. Cell-based preclinical hepatotoxicity testing is often pertinent. In the present study, cells from a human liver cancer line (HepG2, HepaRG) were cultured in both formats of 2D and 3D spheroids to explore their responses to drugs. Liver-specific marker expressions across cell lines and culture formats were also examined to assess disparities in drug-induced liver injury marker expressions. In cytotoxicity assays, HepG2 cells exhibited heightened sensitivity to amiodarone HCl, while HepaRG cells showed greater sensitivity to acetaminophen. Generally, 2D cultures were more responsive to drugs than 3D cultures. Consistency was observed between cytotoxicity assays and liver injury markers AST and ALT. Variations were also noted in liver cell marker secretion, with albumin and urea concentrations declining post-drug treatment, particularly with higher baseline expression in HepaRG cells and 3D cultures. Additionally, mRNA expression levels of CYP enzymes involved in hepatocellular drug metabolism were compared following treatment with enzyme inducers. CYP1A2 and CYP2C9 were not expressed in HepG2 cells. On the other hand, CYP3A4 was expressed higher in 3D culture than in 2D culture. HepaRG cells exhibited significantly increased expression of all three enzymes post-treatment. Notably, enzyme expression was notably higher in 3D cultures than in 2D cultures. Collectively, these findings suggest that HepaRG cells and 3D cultures hold promise for evaluating DILI during early-stage drug development.

Hydrogen energy is regarded as an auspicious future substitute to replace fossil fuels, because of its environmentally friendly characteristics and high energy density. In the pursuit of clean hydrogen production, there has been a significant focus on the advancement of effective electrocatalysts for the process of water splitting. Although noble metals like Pt, Ru, Pd and Ir are superb electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), they have limitations for large-scale applications, mainly high cost and low abundance. As a result, non-precious transition metals have emerged as promising candidates to replace their more expensive counterparts in various applications. This review focuses on recently developed transition metal phosphides (TMPs) electrocatalysts for the HER in alkaline media due to the cooperative effect between the phosphorus and transition metals. Finally, we discuss the challenges of TMPs for HER.

We investigated the effect and molecular mechanism of 24-MCF-induced PPAR-γ2 on angiogenesis-related genes in MCF7 cells. cDNA microarray, semi-quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and western blotting revealed that 24-MCF mediated the expression of genes related to angiogenesis in MCF-7 cells. Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that promoter activation of the LIF gene, an anti-angiogenesis factor, was increased upon PPAR-γ2 overexpression and 24-MCF treatment, whereas activation of HoxA7 and VEGF promoters, known pro-angiogenesis factors, decreased upon PPAR-γ2 overexpression and 24-MCF treatment. We identified PPAR-response elements (PPRE) located in the VEGF (-913 to +1), HoxA7 (-1107 to +1), and LIF promoter regions (-9032 to -8403). VEGF promoter activity was abolished by mutation of the PPRE motif. Treatment with 24-MCF inhibited expression of VEGF and inhibited the Akt/mTOR pathway. Treatment with 24-MCF also decreased VEGF secretion in MCF7 cells and PMA-stimulated tube formation in HUVECs. Our findings suggest that 24-MCF induces PPAR-γ2-mediated regulation of anti-angiogenesis via PPRE motifs in VEGF, HoxA7, and LIF promoters or upstream regions. Furthermore, 24-MCF treatment inhibits angiogenesis by blocking VEGF secretion.

A comprehensive lipid profile was analyzed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using nanoflow ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. The study investigated 297, 202, and 166 lipids in saliva, plasma, and fecal samples, respectively, comparing NSCLC patients to healthy controls. Lipids with significant changes (&gt;2-fold, p&lt;0.05) were further analyzed in each sample type. Both saliva and plasma exhibited similar lipid alteration patterns in NSCLC, but saliva showed more pronounced changes and fecal lipids had weak correlation with those of saliva and plasma. Total triglycerides (TGs) increased (&gt;2–3 folds) in plasma and saliva but decreased in fecal samples. Three specific TGs (50:2, 52:5, and 54:6) were significantly increased in NSCLC across all sample types. A common ceramide species (d18:1/24:0) decreased in both plasma and saliva but increased in fecal samples. Additionally, phosphatidylinositol 38:4 decreased by approximately 2-fold in plasma and saliva. Phosphatidylserine 36:1 was selectively detected in saliva and showed a subsequent decrease, making it a potential biomarker for predicting lung cancer. The study identifies 27 salivary, 10 plasma, and 16 fecal lipids as candidate markers for NSCLC by statistical evaluations. Moreover, it highlights the potential of saliva in understanding changes in lipid metabolism associated with NSCLC.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is diagnosed by the occurrence of fat buildup, inflammation, and fibrotic changes within the liver. NASH has the capacity to proceed to the advancement of decompensated cirrhosis and carcinoma by inflammation and oxidative stress. Although Agrimonia pilosa has traditionally been used medicinal purposes, its effects on the liver remains incompletely elucidated. In this research, we assessed the therapeutic outcomes of Agrimonia pilosa extract (APE) on free fatty acid (FFA)-treated HepG2 cellular hepatic steatosis and in a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet with 0.1% methionine (CDAHFD)-induced NASH mouse model. In FFA-treated cells, APE inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation, and regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of modulators of fatty acid (FA) synthesis as well as FA oxidation proteins, through down-regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase/sirtuin 1 signaling pathway. In the CDAHFD-induced NASH mouse model, APE significantly enhanced liver histology and serum levels of liver damage. APE also significantly attenuated hepatic expression of mRNA and proteins related to FA synthesis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Furthermore, APE mitigated the expression levels of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Overall, these discoveries indicate that Agrimonia pilosa has the potential to treat NASH by regulating hepatic lipid metabolism, alleviating inflammation, and mitigating oxidative stress.

As renewable energy generation prediction system has been introduced into the energy trading market, making a model to accurately predict the quantity of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation has become a significant problem. Moreover, to encourage an accurate prediction of the quantity of energy generation, an incentive system has been implemented for those who predict the quantity of solar PV energy under the error rate of 8%. Therefore, it has become more important to investigate and analyze current prediction technology numerically and develop more advanced prediction system. In this study, we tried to develop a better model to improve the accuracy of solar PV energy generation quantity by comparing three models made with gradient boosting machine (GBM), Model 1, Model 2, Model 3 respectively. Model 1 was built with the whole training data set without any additional preprocessing. After conducting some additional preprocessing procedure to predict solar energy generation more accurately, we made Model 2 with the whole training data set and Model 3 with only upper 10% of energy generation capacity. To compare the accuracy of three models, normalized mean absolute error (nMAE) was used as an evaluation index. The nMAE of Model 1 was 9.64% while the Model 2 showed 8.41%. Also, Model 3, which was constructed with the training set of upper 10% energy generation capacity, outperformed with the nMAE of 8.08%. For further study, to check the effectiveness of models constructed with GBM, a time series model, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), was also built and the nMAE was compared.

This research was conducted to manufacture thermally expandable microspheres (TEMs) for vehicles’ underbody coating and to apply them on an industrial scale. TEMs heat resistance was studied depending on the ratios of a cross-linking agent and an initiator. This research focused on the content of a cross-linking agent and how it affected the results. The TEMs’ outer shell was thickened to solve the problem of the foam expansion ratio’s reduction that occurred due to the shrinkage after the maximum expansion (Tmax) was reached. After foaming, the cross-sectional thickness and surface of the sample with thickened outer shell were observed. The TEMs with the thickened shell showed the least shrinkage, which indicated excellent shrinkage stability, even after prolonged exposure to heat.

This research was conducted to manufacture thermally expandable microspheres (TEMs) for vehicles’ underbody coating and to apply them on an industrial scale. TEMs heat resistance was studied depending on the ratios of a cross-linking agent and an initiator. This research focused on the content of a cross-linking agent and how it affected the results. The TEMs’ outer shell was thickened to solve the problem of the foam expansion ratio’s reduction that occurred due to the shrinkage after the maximum expansion (Tmax) was reached. After foaming, the cross-sectional thickness and surface of the sample with thickened outer shell were observed. The TEMs with the thickened shell showed the least shrinkage, which indicated excellent shrinkage stability, even after prolonged exposure to heat.

Inflammation is natural protective response of the body tissue caused by various stimuli. Macrophages start and control the inflammatory response. Microalgae have high value of ingredients including carotenoids which are well known for anti-inflammatory properties and used for various products in functional food industries. A green microalgal, Tetraselmis species contains a various type of carotenoids such as lutein, violaxanthin, astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, α-carotene and β-carotene. Therefore, we studied whether carotenoids isolated from Tetraselmis sp. with different culture conditions in Raw 264.7 cells and zebrafish (Danio rerio) have an anti -inflammatory effect. Carotenoid extracts of natural seawater (NS) and magma seawater (MS) showed inhibitory activity of nitric oxide (NO) overproduction without toxicity. In addition, carotenoid extracts of NS and MS inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)- 1β and IL-6. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, which are inflammatory mediators also decreased by pretreatment of NS and MS. Carotenoid extracts of NS and MS pretreatment also reduced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB). In conclusion, the carotenoid extract of Tetraselmis sp. has an anti -inflammatory effect and can be potential industrial ingredient.

The Hwangdo tidal flat is an intertidal landform located in Cheonsu Bay, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, on the west coast of Korea. The topographical characteristics of the semi-enclosed bay on the eastern side of the study area include waterways, sandbars, small islands, and tidal flats. In this study, data were acquired from tide gauges installed on the Hwangdo Bridge, and the height of the ellipsoid was measured using a real-time kinematics global positioning system (RTK-GPS). Digital elevation model (DEM) using Matrice 300 drone data were also acquired after processing. The geochemical sediment characteristics in the study area were analyzed, together with tidal-flat exposure-time characteristics based on environmental factors. Sediment data (n = 107) collected from October 25 to 28, 2022 (Korean local time) were used to classify sediment particles according to Folk and Ward (1957). Sedimentary facies ranged from coarse sand (sand:mud ratio = 9:1) to sandy silt (sZ) followed by muddy sand (mS) and slightly gravelly sandy mud ((g)sM). Total organic carbon (TOC) in the surface sediments were also characterized based on a particle-size analysis. The mean change in tidal height measured at Hwangdo Bridge during the sampling period was ~7.53 m (minimum: –3.86 m, maximum: +3.67 m). Based on the Boryeong's sea level measurement tide data in 2022, the tidal area in the drone images ranged from 6.362 m² (0.006 km²) at DEM +4.0 to 4,841,078 m² (4.841 km²) at DEM –4.0 m, indicating an increase in the tidal-flat area according to the tidal level of up to ~800-fold. The daily average exposure time was 9.0 h (minimum: 1.5 h, maximum: 17.9 h). Based on the results of multivariate analysis using exposure times and a geochemical dataset, four groups were identified: upper, middle, and lower intertidal zones and regions with a relatively high organic-matter concentration. A determination of the main characteristics of the Hwangdo tidal flat according to their spatial distribution showed that, among various environmental factors, changes in the sand or clay sediment composition were determined by community factors. The results of this study demonstrate the four statistically processed groups of marine environmental characteristics in the Hwangdo tidal flats. Changes in sedimentary patterns, rather than in the exposure time, accounted for the differences in the sediment compositions of the upper, middle, and lower stations, a response that is expected to continue.

In this paper, we investigate the structural, microstructural, dielectric, and energy storage properties of Nd and Mn co-doped Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 [(Ba0.7Sr0.3)1-xNdxTi1-yMnyO3 (BSNTM) ceramics (x = 0, 0.005, and y = 0, 0.0025, 0.005, and 0.01)] via a defect dipole engineering method. The complex defect dipoles (MnTi"-VO∙∙)∙ and (MnTi"-VO∙∙) between acceptor ions and oxygen vacancies capture electrons, enhancing the breakdown electric field and energy storage performances. XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and microscopic investigations of BSNTM ceramics revealed the formation of a tetragonal phase, increased oxygen vacancies, and reduced grain size with Mn dopant, respectively. The BSNTM ceramics with x=0.005 and y=0 exhibit a high dielectric constant of 2058 and a dielectric loss of 0.026 at 1 kHz. These values gradually decreased to 1876 and 0.019 for x=0.005 and y=0.01 due to the Mn2+ ions at Ti4+-site, which facilitates the formation of oxygen vacancies, and prevents the decrease of Ti4+. In addition, the defect dipoles act as a driving force for depolarization to tailor the domain formation energy and domain wall energy, which provides a high difference between the maximum polarization of Pmax and remnant polarization of Pr (ΔP=10.39 µC/cm2). Moreover, the complex defect dipoles with optimum oxygen vacancies in BSNTM ceramics can provide not only a high ΔP but also reduce grain size, which together improve the breakdown strength from 60.4 to 110.6 kV/cm, giving rise to a high energy storage density of 0.41 J/cm3 and high efficiency of 84.6% for x=0.005 and y=0.01. These findings demonstrate that defect dipoles engineering is an effective method to enhance the energy storage performance of dielectrics for capacitor applications.

Purinergic receptors (P2X) are ATP-gated ion channels with an elusive role in the CNS. While the P2X2 and P2X4 subtypes are widely expressed in most neurons (i.e. at the edge of the postsynaptic densities of excitatory synapses), the direct contribution of P2X to synaptic transmission is uncertain. Several P2X have been shown to participate in receptor cross-talk: an interaction where one receptor (e.g. P2X2) influences the activity of another (e.g. GABA or AMPA receptors.) In this study, we tested for interactions between P2X2 or P2X4 and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Using two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology experiments in X. laevis oocytes, we demonstrate that both P2X2 and P2X4 interact with NMDARs in an inhibitory manner. When investigating the molecular domains responsible for this phenomenon, we found that the P2X2 c-terminus (CT) could interfere with P2X2 and P2X4 interactions with NMDARs. We also report that 11 distal CT residues on the P2X4 facilitate the P2X4-NMDAR interaction, and that a peptide consisting of these P2X4 CT residues (11C) can disrupt the interaction between NMDARs and P2X2 or P2X4. Collectively, these results provide new evidence for the modulatory nature of P2X2 and P2X4, suggesting they might play a more nuanced role in the CNS.

Little is known about the effect of statin use in lung cancer development in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We analyzed the database of the National Health Insurance Service to further investigate the clinical impacts of statin on lung cancer development and overall survival (OS) in IPF patients. The analysis included 9,182 individuals diagnosed with IPF, of which 3,372 (36.7%) were statin users. Compared to statin non-users, the time from diagnosis of IPF to lung cancer development and OS were longer in statin users in IPF patients. In Cox proportional hazard regression models, higher statin compliance, statin use, and being female had an inverse association with lung cancer risk, while older age at diagnosis of IPF and smoking history were associated with higher risk of lung cancer in IPF patients. For OS, statin use, female sex, higher exercise frequency, and diabetes were associated with longer survival. In contrast, older age at diagnosis of IPF and smoking history were associated with shorter OS in IPF patients. These data from a large population indicate that statin had an independent protective association with lung cancer development and mortality in IPF patients.