Search

Abstract Radiotherapy (RTx) is a highly effective treatment for head and neck cancer that can cause concurrent damage to surrounding healthy tissues. In cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the auditory apparatus is inevitably exposed to radiation fields and sustains considerable damage, resulting in dysfunction. To date, little research has been conducted on the changes induced by RTx in the middle ear and the underlying mechanisms involved. Dexamethasone (DEX) is widely used in clinical practice because of its immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of DEX delivered via intratympanic administration on RTx-induced damage to the middle ear and human middle ear epithelial (HMEE) cells. Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to fractionated RTx (6.6 Gy/day for 5 days), and middle ear samples were collected at 1 and 4 months. Rats that received RTx presented a significant increase in the thickness of the submucosal layer in the middle ear and disorganization of the ciliated epithelium in the Eustachian tube (ET) mucosa. Importantly, intratympanic administration of DEX 30 min before RTx resulted in a lower degree of damage than that in the control group. Furthermore, DEX pretreatment downregulated the expression of cell death pathway markers in HMEE cells. Our collective results potentially support the use of DEX to reduce radiation-induced damage in the middle ear and may contribute to the development of future studies.

This paper proposes a real-time prediction of the duct using a refractivity from clutter (RFC) method based on genetic algorithm (GA) and the parabolic equation (PE) method. Three dates with duct formation are selected, and the refractivity calculated using atmospheric measurements is compared with the refractivity obtained through the GA-based RFC method. Additionally, using the PE method, the electromagnetic wave propagation for each refractivity is analyzed and compared. The atmospheric refractivity and propagation prediction results derived from the proposed process are validated to be similar to those of the measurements. The proposed method enables real-time duct prediction and propagation trend analysis at low altitudes using clutter signals.

"Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of robot-assisted ureteral reconstruction as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery for managing ureteric complications in transplanted kidneys. Materials and Methods: From January 2020 to December 2023, robot-assisted ureteral reconstruction was performed on fifteen kidney transplant patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or ureteral stricture who had previously failed endoscopic treatments. Results: Twelve females and three males, with a mean age of 48.6±6.6 years, were included in the study. Nine patients (60.0%) underwent surgery due to VUR (grade III or higher) of the transplanted kidney, and six patients (40.0%) had transplanted ureteral strictures. Postoperative voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) was performed at 3.2±1.6 months. Seven patients (77.8%) became VUR-free, while two patients (22.2%) had VUR regression from grade IV to I. All six patients who underwent reconstruction due to anastomosis site stricture became stenosis-free without the need for an indwelling ureteral catheter. In cases where the ureter was too short for reimplantation, a Boari flap or end-to-end anastomosis with the native ureter was performed. The mean hospital stay was 5.9±4.5 days. The urethral catheter was removed after 15.1±5.4 days, and the ureteral catheter was removed after 4.9±1.5 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 23.9±6.8 months, with no additional interventions required after surgery. No complications above Clavien-Dindo grade I were recorded. Conclusions: Robotic ureteral reconstruction is technically feasible and offers an effective, minimally invasive treatment for ureteric complications in kidney transplant patients, serving as an alternative to open surgery."

Abstract Background This study aimed to establish the optimal cutoff values for visual amyloid positivity using standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) in [18F]flutemetamol (FMM) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Given the variability in amyloid assessment, our goal was to determine cutoff values that enhance diagnostic accuracy and assist clinicians in reliably identifying amyloid positivity. Results The identified cutoff values for visual amyloid positivity were > 1.6 for the cerebellar gray matter, > 1.38 for the whole cerebellum, and > 0.63 for the pons, yielding high sensitivity (95.5%, 94.5%, and 95.8%, respectively) and specificity (91.2%, 94.3%, and 95.2%, respectively). Conclusions The SUVR cutoff values demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance, supporting their clinical use in assessing visual amyloid positivity in [18F]FMM PET imaging.

Background: Stroke patients commonly experience functional declines in balance and gait due to decreased muscle strength and coordination issues caused by brain damage. Through repetitive training, robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) can aid in promoting neuroplasticity in stroke patients and help them acquire effective gait patterns. Additionally, convalescent rehabilitation hospitals help to ensure rapid recovery through intensive rehabilitation training. Objects: This study investigated the effects of RAGT frequency on gait and balance recovery in stroke patients in convalescent rehabilitation hospitals, providing data to optimize rehabilitation efficiency, enhance functional recovery, and support the development of personalized strategies to ensure safer and more rapid returns to daily life. Methods: This study compared the frequency of RAGT by analyzing a group receiving two units of RAGT per day for 5 days per week with a group receiving two units of RAGT per week as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program, totaling 16 units daily, in a convalescent rehabilitation hospital. Results: In the 10-minute walking test, statistical significance was observed both within and between groups, whereas the Functional Ambulation Category, Fugl-Meyer Assessment–lower extremities, Berg Balance Scale, and timed up-and-go tests showed significance only within groups. Conclusion: End-effector RAGT and traditional gait training significantly improve gait ability, balance, and lower limb function in stroke patients.

Background/Objectives: Calculating the radiation dose from CT in 18F-PET/CT examinations poses a significant challenge. The objective of this study is to develop a deep learning-based automated program that standardizes the measurement of radiation doses. Methods: The torso CT was segmented into six distinct regions using TotalSegmentator. An automated program was employed to extract the necessary information and calculate the effective dose (ED) of PET/CT. The accuracy of our automated program was verified by comparing the EDs calculated by the program with those determined by a nuclear medicine physician (n = 30). Additionally, we compared the EDs obtained from an older PET/CT scanner with those from a newer PET/CT scanner (n = 42). Results: The CT ED calculated by the automated program was not significantly different from that calculated by the nuclear medicine physician (3.67 ± 0.61 mSv and 3.62 ± 0.60 mSv, respectively, p = 0.7623). Similarly, the total ED showed no significant difference between the two calculation methods (8.10 ± 1.40 mSv and 8.05 ± 1.39 mSv, respectively, p = 0.8957). A very strong correlation was observed in both the CT ED and total ED between the two measurements (r2 = 0.9981 and 0.9996, respectively). The automated program showed excellent repeatability and reproducibility. When comparing the older and newer PET/CT scanners, the PET ED was significantly lower in the newer scanner than in the older scanner (4.39 ± 0.91 mSv and 6.00 ± 1.17 mSv, respectively, p < 0.0001). Consequently, the total ED was significantly lower in the newer scanner than in the older scanner (8.22 ± 1.53 mSv and 9.65 ± 1.34 mSv, respectively, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: We successfully developed an automated program for calculating the ED of torso 18F-PET/CT. By integrating a deep learning model, the program effectively eliminated inter-operator variability.

HPV/pap tests are widely used for cervical cancer screening, playing a crucial role in early diagnosis and guiding future treatment options. However, approximately 50% of cervical cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which is associated with higher recurrence rates and poorer survival outcomes than early-stage diagnoses. This underscores the need for effective treatments for advanced-stage cervical cancer. Among the various oncogenes implicated in cancer, PIK3CA expression is known to cause cervical cancer, suggesting that inhibiting PIK3CA may impede cervical cancer progression. In this study, we transfected PIK3CA-overexpressing tumor cells (SiHa, C33A, and HeLa) with miR-29a, a microRNA extensively studied as a therapeutic candidate for oncogene suppression in various tumor types. We conducted RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses to assess changes in PIK3CA expression at the RNA and protein levels. Wound healing and cell migration assays were used to evaluate the effects of miR-29a on cell division and migration in HeLa cells. We confirmed a reduction in PIK3CA expression at both RNA and protein levels following miR-29a transfection. After transfecting miR-29a into HeLa cells, we observed a reduction in cell division and migration, as demonstrated by wound healing and cell migration assays. Additionally, we found that miR-29a binds to the 3′-UTR region of PIK3CA, leading to a reduction in its gene expression. Furthermore, we correlated the concentration of miR-29a in clinical histologic biopsy samples from cervical cancer patients with disease progression. These findings indicate that miR-29a can slow the progression of cervical cancer by targeting PIK3CA and potentially aid in its treatment. miR-29a shows promise as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting oncogene expression and controlling cervical cancer progression, especially in advanced-stage cases.

Abstract Dimensionality reduction is a method used in machine learning and data science to reduce the dimensions in a dataset. While linear methods are generally less effective at dimensionality reduction than nonlinear methods, they can provide a linear relationship between the original data and the dimensionality-reduced representation, leading to better interpretability. In this research, we present a tied-weight autoencoder as a dimensionality reduction model with the merit of both linear and nonlinear methods. Although the tied-weight autoencoder is a nonlinear dimensionality reduction model, we approximate it to function as a linear model. This is achieved by removing the hidden layer units that are largely inactivated by the input data, while preserving the model’s effectiveness. We evaluate the proposed model by comparing its performance with other linear and nonlinear models using benchmark datasets. Our results show that the proposed model performs comparably to the nonlinear model of a similar autoencoder structure to the proposed model. More importantly, we show that the proposed model outperforms the linear models in various metrics, including the mean square error, data reconstruction, and the classification of low-dimensional projections of the input data. Thus, our study provides general recommendations for best practices in dimensionality reduction.

Abstract This paper presents a novel single-layer, single-sided, dual-wideband linear-to-circular (LTC) polarsation converter. The unit cell of the polarisation converter comprises two identical diagonally oriented C-shaped metallic strips arranged symmetrically and integrated with four outwardly extending diagonal parasitic strips. The LTC polarisation converter is placed on the top side of an ultra-thin substrate layer with a profile size of 0.020 λo at 11.9 GHz and 0.05 λo at 30.7 GHz. The inclusion of parasitic strips in the unit cell design is pivotal, inducing a 90º phase shift between the orthogonal wave components, thus enhancing LTC polarisation conversion. The design achieved near-equal transmission amplitudes and maintained a stable phase difference of nearly 90° across two distinct frequency bands, enabling right-hand circular polarisation in the lower frequency band and left-hand circular polarisation in the higher frequency band. Numerical and experimental results showed that the polariser can realise a wideband LTC polarisation conversion for both x- and y-polarised electromagnetic wave incidences at two distinct frequency bands of 6.78–17.08 GHz (fractional bandwidth of 86.3%) and 25.09–36.40 GHz (36.8%). The converter maintained consistent polarisation conversion performance across a broad range of incidence angles and exhibited high and uniform total transmittance in both operational frequency bands.

Abstract Background Phlegm is prevalent symptom in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Few studies have investigated the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) nebulizer therapy in COPD patients. We evaluated the effect of nebulized NAC on the improvement of phlegm symptom in COPD patients. Methods This was a 12-week, prospective, single-arm, open-label, phase IV multi-center trial (NCT05102305, Registration Date: 20-October-2021). We enrolled patients aged ≥ 40 years with post bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC)

Abstract Background Numerous studies have compared the efficacy of ustekinumab (UST) and anti-TNF agents [infliximab (IFX) or adalimumab(ADA)] in moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. This study aims to compare the efficacy of UST, IFX, and ADA while differentiating between bio-naïve and bio-experienced patients, which is an underexplored aspect, particularly in Asia. Methods We conducted a retrospective multi-center study from 2012 to 2023, categorizing patients into bio-naïve and bio-experienced groups. We evaluated clinical remission rates after induction therapy and clinical outcomes, including CD-related hospitalization, intestinal resection, and drug discontinuation during maintenance therapy. Results Among the 214 bio-naïve CD patients, 60 received UST, 108 received IFX, and 46 received ADA. After 1:1 propensity score matching between UST and anti-TNF agents groups, 59 patients were analyzed in each group (45 in the IFX group and 14 in the ADA group). We found no significant differences in clinical remission rates (P = 0.071), CD-related hospitalization (P = 0.800), intestinal resection (P = 0.390), or drug discontinuation (P = 0.052) between the UST, IFX, and ADA groups in bio-naïve CD patients. In bio-experienced CD patients, with 35 in the UST group and 13 in the anti-TNF agents group, the UST group showed a lower risk of drug discontinuation (P = 0.004) than the anti-TNF agents group. Conclusions This study suggests that UST, IFX, and ADA are equally effective in bio-naïve CD patients, while in bio-experienced patients, mostly with previous exposure to anti-TNF agents, UST may offer superior drug durability.

Abstract Objectives This study investigated whether serum syndecan1 at diagnosis reflects activity at diagnosis and predicts poor outcomes during follow-up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods The study included 79 patients with AAV from the cohort of Korean patients diagnosed with AAV. AAV-specific indices, including the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS), five-factor score (FFS), 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS), and vasculitis damage index (VDI), were assessed. Laboratory data including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were also collected. The highest tertile and upper half of the BVAS were tentatively defined as having high AAV activity. Serum syndecan1 levels were measured in sera stored at diagnosis. Results Serum syndecan1 at diagnosis was significantly correlated with AAV activity and functional status, as assessed by BVAS, FFS, SF-36 PCS, MCS, and acute-phase reactants, including ESR and CRP. Patients with serum syndecan1 ≥ 76.1 ng/mL at diagnosis, and those with serum syndecan1 ≥ 60.0 ng/mL at diagnosis showed significantly higher risks for the highest tertile and the upper half of BVAS at diagnosis than those without, respectively. Patients with serum syndecan1 ≥ 120.1 ng/mL at diagnosis had a significantly higher risk for all-cause mortality during follow-up than those without, and further, exhibited a significantly lower cumulative patients’ survival rate than those without. Conclusion Serum syndecan1 at diagnosis may not only reflect AAV activity at diagnosis but may also be associated with all-cause mortality during follow-up.

Abstract Background Periodontitis is common in dogs. It is characterized by destruction of the supporting tissues of the teeth due to the host-immune response triggered by plaque. Magnoliae cortex and Zea mays L. extract showed anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects, respectively. This study aimed to evaluate improvement in periodontitis following the administration of Magnoliae cortex and Zea mays L. extract in dogs. Periodontitis was experimentally induced in 10 beagle dogs. Five dogs were administered 40 mg of Magnoliae cortex extract and 20 mg of Zea mays L. extract orally once per day for 2 months (MZ group), whereas the other group received empty gelatin capsules (control group). Periodontal clinical parameters, complete blood count, serum chemistry parameters, and tissue inflammatory cytokines and chemokine expression were assessed before and after combined oral extracts administration. Results The complete blood count and serum chemistry results of all dogs were within normal ranges. Gingival inflammation in MZ group was significantly better than that in the control group at 4 and 8 weeks post-medication (PM; p

BackgroundIn this study, we investigated whether serum glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-3) concentration at diagnosis could be used to assess vasculitis activity and damage at diagnosis in immunosuppressive drug-naïve patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).MethodsWe included 71 immunosuppressive drug-naïve patients newly diagnosed with AAV. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and serum GPX-3 concentration was measured using serum samples collected and stored at diagnosis. The degree of vascular activity and extent of damage were assessed using the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) and vasculitis damage index (VDI), respectively. Poor outcomes including all-cause mortality, end-stage kidney disease, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases were also investigated.ResultsThe median age of the study subjects was 63.0 years, 26 and 45 patients were males and females, respectively. The median GPX-3 concentration was measured as 82.8 ng/mL. Serum GPX-3 concentration at diagnosis was inversely correlated with BVAS (r = −0.280), VDI (r = −0.263), and C-reactive protein (r = −0.261) at diagnosis, whereas, it was positively correlated with haemoglobin (r = 0.255), and serum albumin (r = 0.240) at diagnosis, respectively. However, serum GPX-3 concentration at diagnosis was not significantly associated with poor outcomes during follow-up in patients with AAV.ConclusionIn this study, we demonstrated for the first time that serum GPX-3 concentration at diagnosis correlates with vasculitis activity and damage at diagnosis in patients with AAV, suggesting a possible role of serum GPX-3 as a complementary biomarker for assessing AAV activity in real clinical practice.

IntroductionFine dust exposure has been reported to affect patients with prostate cancer, making it crucial to understand how environmental pollutants impact health. This study aimed to determine the risk of prostate cancer in South Korea associated with moderate levels of fine dust (PM10) exposure.MethodsWe analyzed data from 20,430 individuals in the National Health Insurance Sharing Service database from 2010 to 2020, comparing a new prostate cancer group (n = 4,071, 19.9%) with a non-prostate cancer group (n = 16,359, 80.1%). Using PM10 data from Air Korea's annual average air quality database, we conducted logistic regression analysis to assess the risk of prostate cancer.ResultsOur findings indicate that even moderate PM10 exposure is a risk factor for developing prostate cancer. Additionally, even at low levels of PM2.5, moderate PM10 exposure significantly impacts prostate cancer development, with lifestyle ha bits potentially lowering this risk.DiscussionThese results underscore the need for stricter environmental standards for PM10 and proactive policies to reduce public health and long-term social costs. Public awareness, including mask use and air quality management, is essential.

Background: Koreoleptoxis globus is an endangered candidate species of snail in South Korean streams. This species primarily inhabits streams characterized by fast current velocities and coarse-particle streambed substrates. In this study, 12 types of probability distribution models, including exponential, normal, log-normal, logistic, Weibull, gamma, beta, and Gumbel, were used to quantitatively assess the physical microhabitat preferences of K. globus. The evaluation was based on data collected from 340 sampling units across 34 sites in South Korea between April 2024 and May 2024, focusing on variables such as water depth, current velocity, and streambed substrate. Results: The best-fitting probability distribution models for each physical environmental factor were identified as follows: 1) water depth, inverted log-normal distribution, 2) current velocity, beta distribution, and 3) streambed substrate, Weibull distribution. Optimal water depth preferences ranged from 31.2 cm to 53.7 cm. Current velocity preferences ranged from 57.8 cm s-1 to 88.8 cm s-1. Substrate preferences ranged from −7.4 Φm to −5.6 Φm. The mean values for these factors were water depth of 35.8 cm, current velocity of 63.0 cm s-1, and streambed substrate of −5.7 Φm. Mode values were water depth of 44.4 cm, current velocity of 75.6 cm s-1, and substrate of −6.7 Φm. Standard deviation values were water depth of 15.8 cm, current velocity of 21.4 cm s-1, and streambed substrate of 1.5 Φm. Conclusions: Overall, the beta and Weibull distribution models demonstrated a high degree of fit, likely owing to the inherent flexibility of these models. Beta distribution models were well suited for cases with negative skewness, whereas Weibull distribution models provided a better fit for cases with positive skewness. The physical habitat characteristics of K. globus were quantitatively demontrated to correspond to riffled areas. Further research is required to explore the interactions between physical environmental factors and the impact of habitat disturbance.

Background: KRAS is frequently mutated in the tumors of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and thus represents a valid target for therapy. However, the strategies of targeting KRAS directly and targeting the downstream effector mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) via monotherapies have shown limited efficacy. Thus, there is a strong need for novel, effective combination therapies to improve MEK-inhibitor efficacy in patients with KRAS -mutated mCRC. Objective: Our objective was to identify novel drug combinations that enhance MEK-inhibitor efficacy in patients with KRAS -mutated mCRC. Design: In this study, we performed unbiased high-throughput screening (HTS) to identify drugs that enhance the efficacy of MEK inhibitors in vitro , and we validated the drugs’ efficacy in vivo. Methods: HTS was performed using three-dimensional CRC spheroids. Trametinib, the anchor drug, was probed with two “clinically ready” libraries of 252 drugs to identify effective drug combinations. The effects of the drug combinations on CRC cell proliferation and apoptosis were further validated using cell growth assays, flow cytometry, and biochemical assays. Proteomic and immunostaining studies were performed to determine the drugs’ effects on molecular signaling and cell division. The effects of the drug combinations were examined in vivo using CRC patient-derived xenografts. Results: HTS identified paclitaxel as being synergistic with trametinib. In vitro validation showed that, compared with monotherapies, this drug combination demonstrated strong inhibition of cell growth, reduced colony formation, and enhanced apoptosis in multiple KRAS -mutated CRC cell lines. Mechanistically, combining trametinib with paclitaxel led to alterations in signaling mediators that block cell-cycle progression. Trametinib also enhanced paclitaxel-mediated microtubule stability resulting in significantly higher defects in mitosis. Finally, the combination of trametinib with paclitaxel exhibited significant inhibition of tumor growth in several KRAS -mutant patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence supporting clinical trials of trametinib with paclitaxel as a novel therapeutic option for patients with KRAS -mutated, metastatic CRC.

Multiparental mapping populations hold great potential for dissecting quantitative traits and rapidly identifying genetic determinants. We developed a japonica nested association mapping population, KNU_NAM, comprising 880 lines derived from ten recombinant inbred lines (RILs) families of prominent varieties and the elite Korean variety Shindongjin. Genetic characterization of KNU_NAM revealed 48,159 polymorphic SNPs, with family counts ranging from 18,787 to 42,578 and an average of 30,019 SNPs per family. Further molecular diversity analysis of KNU_NAM indicated reduced population structure and broad genetic diversity. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on five morphological traits identified 47 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs), with a set of 18 MTAs located on chromosome 9. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) block analysis of this region revealed 15 haplotypes and identified five key genes associated with panicle architecture: OsDEP1, OsEATB, OsLGD1, and OsSPL18. Additionally, two non-synonymous MTAs on chromosome 7 were located on the exon of OsPRR37/Ghd7.1, a gene associated with plant height, heading date, and grain number per panicle. Further phenotypic performance analysis of haplotypes from these hotspot regions revealed significant differences in the targeted traits. The study validates the potential of KNU_NAM and GWAS for high-resolution genetic mapping in rice breeding programs, highlighting the utility of these populations for enhancing genetic diversity and improving trait selection in rice.

This paper presents a computational framework for drop time assessment of a control element assembly (CEA) under fuel assembly (FA) deformations. The proposed framework consists of three key components: 1) finite element modeling of CEA, 2) fluid-structure interaction to compute drag force, and 3) modeling of frictional contact between CEA and FA. Specially, to accommodate the large motion of CEA, beam elements based on absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) are adopted. The continuity equation is utilized to calculate the drag force, considering flow changes in the cross-sectional area during the CEA drop. Lastly, beam-inside-beam frictional contact model is employed to capture practical contact conditions between CEA and FA. The proposed framework is validated through experiments under two scenarios: free falls of CEA within FA, encompassing undeformed and deformed scenarios. The experimental validation of the framework demonstrated that the drop time of CEA can be accurately predicted under the complex coupling effects of fluid and frictional contact. The drop times of the S-shaped deformation case is longer than those of the C-shaped deformation case, affirming the time delay due to frictional force. The validation confirms the potential applicability to access the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants under extreme conditions.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) poses a significant global challenge to cereal production, impacting both yield and quality. In this study, we employed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on diverse rice accessions to identify novel PHS-associated haplotypes. An assessment of 127 cultivated accessions for panicle germination (PHS) and detached grain germination (germination rate of detached grains at the 14th day (D14)) revealed considerable phenotypic variation among rice ecotypes. GWAS analysis identified 91 significant signals at –log10(P-value)>5, including 15 SNPs for PHS and 76 SNPs for D14. A subsequent linkage disequilibrium (LD) block-based GWAS analysis detected 227 significant SNPs for both traits, consisting of 18 nonsynonymous substitutions located on the coding regions of nine genes. Further haplotype analysis identified 32 haplotypes, with 10 specific to cultivated accessions, 19 specific to the wild type, and three shared between them. A phenotypic assessment of major haplotypes revealed significant differences between resistant (Hap1 and Hap2) and susceptible haplotypes (Hap5, Hap27, and Hap28), distinguished by a G/A SNP within a novel gene, Os04g0545200. The identified haplotypes offer promising prospects for haplotype-based breeding aimed at enhancing PHS resistance in rice.

Introduction Muscle strength is known to play an important role in the health of older adults. The health burden of cigarette smoking among older adults remains significant. We investigated the association between smoking cessation and dynapenia among older lifetime smokers in Korea. Methods This study is a secondary dataset analysis of cross-sectional data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016– 2019. We included 1450 participants aged 65–79 years, excluding those who had never smoked. Dynapenia was defined as grip strength

Abstract Background Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects around 250 million people worldwide, causing approximately 887,000 deaths annually, primarily owing to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current approved treatments for chronic HBV infection, such as interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogs, have certain limitations as they cannot completely eradicate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Considering that HBV replication relies on host transcription factors, focusing on host factors in the HBV genome may provide insights into new therapeutic targets against HBV. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying viral persistence and hepatocyte pathogenesis, along with the associated host factors, is crucial. In this study, we investigated novel therapeutic targets for HBV infection by identifying gene and pathway networks involved in HBV replication in primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). Importantly, our study utilized cultured primary hepatocytes, allowing transcriptomic profiling in a biologically relevant context and enabling the investigation of early HBV-mediated effects. Methods PHHs were infected with HBV virion particles derived from HepAD38 cells at 80 HBV genome equivalents per cell (Geq/cell). For transcriptomic sequencing, PHHs were harvested 1, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7 days post-infection (dpi). After preparing the libraries, clustering and sequencing were conducted to generate RNA-sequencing data. This data was processed using Bioinformatics tools and software to analyze DEGs and obtain statistically significant results. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to validate the RNA-sequencing results, ensuring consistent findings. Results We observed significant alterations in the expression patterns of 149 genes from days 1 to 7 following HBV infection (R2 > 0.7, q

This study examined a flexible composite wideband dipole antenna implemented with conductive silver nanoparticle ink having different conductivities. Two identical split ring resonators (SRRs) were designed to encompass each arm of a dipole element, and each dipole arm and its coupled SRR were printed on the top and bottom sides of a dielectric substrate. The overall dimensions of the compact antenna were 10 mm × 74.8 mm × 0.254 mm (0.053λo × 0.399λo × 0.0014λo at 1.6 GHz). The characteristics of the antenna with different conductivities were numerically investigated and experimentally confirmed. Our investigation aimed to ascertain the proposed antenna's response to different conductivity values and to determine the range of conductivity values that generates major changes in the antenna's performance characteristics in terms of impedance bandwidth, gain, and radiation efficiency. At conductivity values less than approximately 6.0 × 104 S/m, the number of generated resonances changed from three to two, and the antenna experienced a nearly 3-dB gain reduction when the conductivity approached 5.8 × 104 S/m.

Abstract Characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with superoptimal peak inspiratory flow rates (PIFR) has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to compare the characteristics between COPD patients with superoptimal PIFR and those with optimal and sub-optimal PIFR. PIFR was measured using In-Check DIAL G16 and categorized into sub-optimal (PIFR lower than that required by the patient’s device), optimal, and superoptimal (peak PIFR ≥ 90 L/min). Considering COPD patients with sub-optimal PIFR as the reference group, analyses were performed to identify PIFR-related factors. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % of the predicted value (%pred). Among 444 post-bronchodilator-confirmed COPD patients from seven tertiary hospitals in South Korea, 98, 223, and 123 were classified into the sub-optimal, optimal, and superoptimal PIFR groups, respectively. The superoptimal PIFR group were younger, had an increased proportion of males, a higher body mass index, lowest number of comorbidities and less frequent exacerbation in the previous year, as well as the highest forced vital capacity %pred. The adjusted odds ratio for frequent exacerbation in the previous year was lower in the superoptimal PIFR group than in the sub-optimal PIFR group and was more pronounced in patients with an FEV1%pred of

Abstract Background Nefopam and propacetamol are the most commonly used analgesics in postoperative multimodal analgesic regimens. Distinct mechanisms are involved in each drug’s anti-nociceptive effects. No studies have compared pain relief efficacy between the two drugs in patients undergoing transplantation surgery. Here, we investigated whether the administration of nefopam or propacetamol to healthy living kidney donors who underwent rectus sheath block (RSB) for parietal pain could reduce the subsequent opioid dose necessary to produce adequate analgesia. Methods This prospective, randomized controlled trial included 72 donors undergoing elective hand-assisted living donor nephrectomy into two groups: propacetamol (n = 36) and nefopam (n = 36). Intraoperative RSB was performed in all enrolled donors. The primary outcome was the total volume of intravenous opioid-based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) used on postoperative day 1 (POD 1). Additionally, the Numeric Rating Scale scores for flank (visceral) and umbilicus (parietal) pain at rest and during coughing were compared, and the Korean adaptation of the Quality of Recovery-15 Questionnaire (QoR-15 K) was evaluated on POD 1. Results Both groups had similar preoperative and intraoperative characteristics. On POD 1, the total amount of PCA infusion was significantly lower in the nefopam group than in the propacetamol group (44.5 ± 19.3 mL vs. 70.2 ± 29.0 mL; p

Abstract We propose a compact wearable glove capable of estimating both the finger bone lengths and the joint angles of the wearer with a simple stretch-based sensing mechanism. The soft sensing glove is designed to easily stretch and to be one-size-fits-all, both measuring the size of the hand and estimating the finger joint motions of the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The system was calibrated and evaluated using comprehensive hand motion data that reflect the extensive range of natural human hand motions and various anatomical structures. The data were collected with a custom motion-capture setup and transformed into the joint angles through our post-processing method. The glove system is capable of reconstructing arbitrary and even unconventional hand poses with accuracy and robustness, confirmed by evaluations on the estimation of bone lengths (mean error: 2.1 mm), joint angles (mean error: 4.16°), and fingertip positions (mean 3D error: 4.02 mm), and on overall hand pose reconstructions in various applications. The proposed glove allows us to take advantage of the dexterity of the human hand with potential applications, including but not limited to teleoperation of anthropomorphic robot hands or surgical robots, virtual and augmented reality, and collection of human motion data.

Background/Aims The impact of vaccination on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is still unknown, and no studies have assessed the changes in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after vaccination in patients with IBD. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impact of vaccines on the PROs of patients with IBD. Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey of patients with IBD who visited outpatient clinics at 4 specialized IBD clinics of referral university hospitals from April 2022 to June 2022. A total of 309 IBD patients were included in the study. Patient information was collected from a questionnaire and their medical records, including laboratory findings, were reviewed retrospectively. Risk factors associated with an increase in PROs after COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. In addition, we assessed whether there were differences in variables by vaccine order using the linear mixed model. Results In multivariate analysis, young age ( < 40 years) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were found to be independent risk factors for aggravation of PROs in patients with IBD. In all patients, platelet count significantly increased with continued vaccination in multiple pairwise comparisons. In UC patients, PROs such as the short health scale, UC-abdominal signs and symptoms, and UC-bowel signs and symptoms were aggravated significantly with continued vaccination. There was no significant increase in the variables of patients with Crohn’s disease. Conclusions Therefore, there may be a need to counsel patients with IBD younger than 40 years of age, and patients with UC before they receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Abstract Recently, research results on PC-based or alkali-activated slag cement (AASC) using seawater as mixing water have been reported. Unlike seawater, reverse osmosis brine (brine) is waste discharged into the ocean from seawater desalination plants. There is a need to develop new and effective methods of disposing or utilizing brine to reduce marine pollution, protect marine ecosystems, and increase marine plant construction. However, research on cement or concrete using brine as a mixing water is very limited. Brine has almost the same composition as seawater, and the ion concentration is 2–4 times higher. Therefore, it is believed that new methods of using brine can be investigated and developed based on existing research and experimental results on seawater. The effects of brine and aluminum oxide (AO) on activated slag with calcium hydroxide (CH) were investigated for hydration and mechanical properties. 5% and 10% of CH were used, and samples using fresh water (FC) were prepared at the same time for comparison with brine. The slag sample without CH has a low initial (1 and 3d) strength of about 10 MPa for both FC and brine, but increases rapidly from 7d. Incorporation of CH was effective in improving the mechanical performance of FC and brine samples. In addition, the brine sample exhibited higher strength than the FC sample because it formed fewer C3AH6 phases that cause volume instability than the FC sample and affected the hydration promotion of slag particles. And more calcite phases were observed in the brine samples than in the FC samples. Through this study, the possibility of using brine as a building material was confirmed. In addition, the effect of chloride ion adsorption of slag mixed with AO and CH on the physical properties and mechanical performance of the hydration reaction was confirmed.

In this study, we investigated the potential mechanisms by which polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), a known respiratory irritant, may contribute to lung cancer development. Using the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework, we analyzed established databases (such as AOP-Wiki) and employed AI tools (AOP-helpFinder) to identify key events (KEs) associated with lung carcinogenesis. Our analysis indicates that chronic inhalation of PHMG-p triggers a non-genotoxic pathway, characterized by cell membrane disruption, inflammation, and oxidative stress, with a point of departure (POD) of 0.0018 mg/m³, suggesting carcinogenic potential. Additionally, a human exposure assessment revealed that most claimants were exposed to PHMG-p levels exceeding the estimated inhalation reference concentration (RfC) of 0.018 µg/m³. While downstream KEs, such as DNA damage, mutation, and cell proliferation, require further investigation, our findings, supported by the AOP framework and potency and exposure assessments, strongly suggest that PHMG-p exposure could induce lung cancer in individuals affected by humidifier disinfectants. These results underscore the importance of a comprehensive risk assessment approach for evaluating the carcinogenicity of PHMG-p.

Invasion risk assessments are essential for making informed decisions, allocating resources, and implementing targeted strategies to prevent or minimize the harmful effects of invasive species on native biodiversity, agricultural productivity, and natural ecosystems. In this study, the random forest algorithm was used to assess the spatial invasion risk of Lantana camara, one of the world’s top 100 worst invasive weeds, across all continents under current and future environmental conditions. The current invasion risk was relatively high on four continents (i.e., Africa, Australia, Oceania, and South America) within approximately 35°N and 35°S latitude, estimated to cover at least 68.98 % of the total land surface. Furthermore, projections for future environmental changes suggested a substantial increase in invasion risk across all continents, with the most significant changes (251.52 %) observed in Europe compared with current invasion levels. Additionally, invasion risk was predicted to extend beyond 35°N latitude. Categorizing 200 countries and territories into distinct risk levels, 27 countries had current invasion potential, and introduction and establishment was predicted in 114 countries. Moreover, at least 45 countries, including Canada, India, Italy, and United States, were projected to transition from no or low invasion risk to high invasion risk and 28 countries had a risk increase of over 50 %. Current study provides valuable insights into the global invasion risk posed by L. camara. These results are expected to be of great utility for invasive weed management, facilitating the development of control and sustainable management strategies for this notorious weed at both global and local scales.

Crisis phenomena (wars, epidemics) push people to seek spirituality. Scholars also need to study the experience of successful religious movements to identify effective management approaches in this area. An example of such a movement is the University Bible Fellowship (UBF). The study aims to identify effective methods of building a lay movement and methods of managing it and its development, based on the example of the UBF. To achieve this goal, the historical-genetic and historical-functional methods were used. It turned out that small group and one-on-one Bible studies are the most effective, as these didactic approaches have a therapeutic effect on movement members and candidates. An important role in the functioning of the Fellowship is played by the practice of writing personal testimony (sogam). From the point of view of ecclesiology, a certain amount of uncertainty is useful for the lay movement, which allows it to attract representatives of different denominations. The ability of the founders of the movement and its leaders to use their leadership qualities was important, as is seen in the examples of Samuel Lee and Sarah Barry. Some types of activities of religious organisations, such as presence on social media, are notable to convey religious experience but are necessary in the modern world. The rapid involvement of movement members in missionary or volunteer activities also plays an important role. The results of this study can be used both to further study the history of the UBF and to create lay movements using the most effective methods of management, evangelism, and didactic influence.

Background/Aims This study applied the 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) to patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and investigated the frequency of overlap syndrome of SSc and AAV (SSc-AAV-OS). Methods Among the 232 patients diagnosed with SSc, 105 with signs suggestive of small- or medium-vessel vasculitis, which were defined as the present of interstitial lung disease (ILD), peripheral neuropathy, or suspected renal vasculitis, were included in this study and analyzed. Results Among the 105 SSc patients, the detection rate of ANCA was 19.0%. When the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria were applied, the frequency of SSc-AAV-OS was 20.0%, which was much higher than 1.7% reported with previous criteria for AAV. ANCA positivity contributed to the reclassification of SSc-AAV-OS more than ANCA negativity in SSc patients with signs suggestive of small- or medium-vessel vasculitis. Conclusions The frequency of SSc-AAV-OS in SSc patients with signs suggestive of small- or medium-vessel vasculitis at diagnosis was 20.0%. Therefore, we suggest that physicians should perform ANCA tests in SSc patients exhibiting signs suggestive of small- or medium-vessel vasculitis and apply the new criteria for AAV.

Background Although elective surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) has increased, few studies have evaluated the risk factors for transfusion during UIA surgery. We evaluated the association between the preoperative De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase) and the incidence of intraoperative transfusion in patients who had undergone surgical UIA clipping. Methods Patients who underwent surgical clipping of UIA were stratified into two groups according to the preoperative De Ritis ratio cutoff levels (< 1.54 and ≥ 1.54), and the propensity score (PS)-matching analysis was performed to compare the incidence of intraoperative transfusion. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors for intraoperative transfusion. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) analyses were performed to verify the improvement in the intraoperative transfusion predictive model upon addition of the De Ritis ratio. Results Intraoperative transfusion incidence was 15.4% (77/502). We observed significant differences in the incidence of intraoperative transfusion (16.2% vs. 39.7%, P = 0.004) between the groups after matching. In the logistic regression analyses, the De Ritis ratio ≥ 1.54 was an independent risk factor for transfusion (odds ratio [OR]: 3.04, 95% CI [1.53, 6.03], P = 0.002). Preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) value was a risk factor for transfusion (OR: 0.33, 95% CI [0.24, 0.47], P < 0.001). NRI and IDI analyses showed that the De Ritis ratio improved the intraoperative blood transfusion predictive models (P = 0.031 and P = 0.049, respectively). Conclusions De Ritis ratio maybe a significant risk factor for intraoperative transfusion in UIA surgery.

Abstract This study presents the design of a uniplanar crossed-dipole antenna with broadband characteristics. The antenna comprises a pair of identical crossed-dipole arms printed on the same plane of a dielectric substrate. The crossed-dipole arms are corner-cut fat dipoles that are perpendicular to each other and connected with a bent stripline to generate circularly polarised (CP) radiations. A wide dipole arm was used to improve impedance matching and widen the axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. Additionally, the corner of each dipole arm was cut into a triangular shape to broaden the impedance and AR bandwidths further. The antenna in free space is excited via a wideband microstrip-to-parallel stripline tapered balun to reduce the effect of leakage current on the coaxial cable. Experiments and full-wave electromagnetic simulations were employed to design, verify, and validate the antenna design. The antenna, having an overall size of 45 × 45 × 0.508 mm3 (0.4 × 0.4 × 0.0045 λL 3 where λL is the lowest frequency in the 3-dB AR bandwidth), demonstrates the following measured performances: an |S11|

Abstract Although the esophageal stethoscope is used for continuous auscultation during general anesthesia, few studies have investigated phonocardiographic data as a continuous hemodynamic index. In this study, we aimed to induce hemodynamic variations and clarify the relationship between the heart sounds and hemodynamic variables through an experimental animal study. Changes in the cardiac contractility and vascular resistance were induced in anesthetized pigs by administering dobutamine, esmolol, phenylephrine, and nicardipine. In addition, a decrease in cardiac output was induced by restricting the venous return by clamping the inferior vena cava (IVC). The relationship between the hemodynamic changes and changes in the heart sound indices was analyzed. Experimental data from eight pigs were analyzed. The mean values of the correlation coefficients of changes in S1 amplitude (ΔS1amp) with systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP), pulse pressure (ΔPP), and ΔdP/dt during dobutamine administration were 0.94, 0.96, and 0.96, respectively. The mean values of the correlation coefficients of ΔS1amp with ΔSBP, ΔPP, and ΔdP/dt during esmolol administration were 0.80, 0.82, and 0.86, respectively. The hemodynamic changes caused by the administration of phenylephrine and nicardipine did not correlate significantly with changes in the heart rate. The S1 amplitude of the heart sound was significantly correlated with the hemodynamic changes caused by the changes in cardiac contractility but not with the variations in the vascular resistance. Heart sounds can potentially provide a non-invasive monitoring method to differentiate the cause of hemodynamic variations.

Abstract Inflammation is implicated as a cause in many diseases. Most of the anti-inflammatory agents in use are synthetic and there is an unmet need for natural substance-derived anti-inflammatory agents with minimal side effects. Aiouea padiformis belongs to the Lauraceae family and is primarily found in tropical regions. While some members of the Aiouea genus are known to possess anti-inflammatory properties, the anti-inflammatory properties of Aiouea padiformis extract (AP) have not been investigated. In this study, we aimed to examine the anti-inflammatory function of AP through the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Treatment with AP inhibited the secretion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome in J774A.1 and THP-1 cells without affecting the viability. In addition, AP treatment did not influence NF-κB signaling, potassium efflux, or intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production—all of which are associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation. However, intriguingly, AP treatment significantly reduced the ATPase activity of NLRP3, leading to the inhibition of ASC oligomerization and speck formation. Consistent with cellular experiments, the anti-inflammatory property of AP in vivo was also evaluated using an LPS-induced inflammation model in zebrafish, demonstrating that AP hinders NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Abstract The key genes BADH2, GBSS1, GBSS2, and HIS1 regulate the fragrance, starch synthesis, and herbicide resistance in rice. Although the molecular functions of four genes have been investigated in the Oryza sativa species, little is known regarding their evolutionary history in the Oryza genus. Here, we studied the evolution of four focal genes in 10 Oryza species using phylogenetic and syntenic approaches. The HIS1 family underwent several times of tandem duplication events in the Oryza species, resulting in copy number variation ranging from 2 to 7. At most one copy of BADH2, GBSS1, and GBSS2 orthologs were identified in each Oryza species, and gene loss events of BADH2 and GBSS2 were identified in three Oryza species. Gene transfer analysis proposed that the functional roles of GBSS1 and GBSS2 were developed in the Asian and African regions, respectively, and most allelic variations of BADH2 in japonica rice emerged after the divergence between the Asian and African rice groups. These results provide clues to determine the origin and evolution of the key genes in rice breeding as well as valuable information for molecular breeders and scientists to develop efficient strategies to simultaneously improve grain quality and yield potential in rice.

Abstract For the accurate and continuous control of soft actuators in dynamic environments, the movements of the soft actuators must be monitored in real-time. To this end, various soft actuators capable of self-monitoring have been developed by separately integrating sensing devices into actuators. However, integrating such heterogeneous sensing components into soft actuators results in structural complexity, high manufacturing costs, and poor interfacial stability. Here, we report on intelligent pneumatic fiber-reinforced soft actuators with an inherent flexible proprioceptive sensor that uses only the essential components of typical fiber-reinforced soft actuators. The inherent flexible proprioceptive sensor is achieved by leveraging two parallel conductive microfibers around an elastomeric chamber of the soft actuator, which simultaneously acts as both a capacitive bending sensor and radial expansion limiting fibers of typical fiber-reinforced soft actuators. The proprioceptive soft actuator exhibits excellent mechanical actuation up to 240° bending motion and proprioceptive sensing performance with high sensitivity of 1.2 pF rad−1. Mathematical analysis and simulations of the soft actuator can effectively predict the bending actuation and capacitive responses against input pressures. We demonstrate that proprioceptive soft actuators can be used to construct a soft gripping system and prosthetic hand which express various hand gestures and perform dexterous manipulation with real-time proprioceptive sensing capability.

Ectopic pancreas refers to presence of pancreatic tissue in locations other than the pancreas (the usual anatomical site). This condition is often asymptomatic but can occasionally cause abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Ectopic pancreatic tissue is mainly observed in the stomach and duodenum and may be accompanied by complications, such as hemorrhage, pancreatitis, gastric outlet obstruction due to pseudocyst, and malignant transformation. We report a rare case of gastric ectopic pancreas accompanied by a pseudocyst that led to gastric outlet obstruction, which improved after endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine-needle aspiration in a young woman with habitual excessive alcohol consumption.

Objectives Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a widely used approach for the resection of superficial gastric neoplastic lesions. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is acceptable for lesions

Abstract Background Residual microcalcifications after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) are challenging for deciding extent of surgery and questionable for impact on prognosis. We investigated changes in the extent and patterns of microcalcifications before and after NAC and correlated them with pathologic response. We also compared prognosis of patients depending on presence of residual microcalcifications after NAC. Methods A total of 323 patients with invasive breast carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Samsung Medical center from March 2015 to September 2018 were included. Patients were divided into four groups according to pathologic response and residual microcalcifications. Non-pCRw/mic group was defined as breast non-pCR with residual microcalcifications. Non-pCRw/o mic group was breast non-pCR without residual microcalcifications. pCRw/mic group was breast pCR with residual microcalcifications. pCRw/o mic group was breast pCR without residual microcalcifications. The first aim of this study is to investigate changes in the extent and patterns of microcalcifications before and after NAC and to correlate them with pathologic response. The second aim is to evaluate oncologic outcomes of residual microcalcifications according to pathologic response after NAC. Results There were no statistical differences in the extent, morphology, and distribution of microcalcifications according to pathologic response and subtype after NAC (all p > 0.05). With a median follow-up time of 71 months, compared to pCRw/o mic group, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for regional recurrence were 5.190 (1.160–23.190) in non-pCRw/mic group and 5.970 (1.840–19.380) in non-pCRw/o mic group. Compared to pCRw/o mic group, the hazard ratios (95% CI) for distant metastasis were 8.520 (2.130–34.090) in non-pCRw/mic group, 9.120 (2.850–29.200) in non-pCRw/o mic group. Compared to pCRw/o mic, the hazard ratio (95% CI) for distant metastasis in pCRw/mic group was 2.240 (0.230–21.500) without statistical significance (p = 0.486). Conclusions Regardless of residual microcalcifications, patients who achieved pCR showed favorable long term outcome compared to non-pCR group.

The invasive morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea (Convolvulaceae), poses a mounting challenge in vineyards by hindering grape harvest and as a secondary host of disease pathogens, necessitating advanced detection and control strategies. This study introduces a novel automated image analysis framework using aerial images obtained from a small fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and an RGB camera for the large-scale detection of I. purpurea flowers. This study aimed to assess the sampling fidelity of aerial detection in comparison with the actual infestation measured by ground validation surveys. The UAS was systematically operated over 16 vineyard plots infested with I. purpurea and another 16 plots without I. purpurea infestation. We used a semi-supervised segmentation model incorporating a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) with the Expectation-Maximization algorithm to detect and count I. purpurea flowers. The flower detectability of the GMM was compared with that of conventional K-means methods. The results of this study showed that the GMM detected the presence of I. purpurea flowers in all 16 infested plots with 0% for both type I and type II errors, while the K-means method had 0% and 6.3% for type I and type II errors, respectively. The GMM and K-means methods detected 76% and 65% of the flowers, respectively. These results underscore the effectiveness of the GMM-based segmentation model in accurately detecting and quantifying I. purpurea flowers compared with a conventional approach. This study demonstrated the efficiency of a fixed-wing UAS coupled with automated image analysis for I. purpurea flower detection in vineyards, achieving success without relying on data-driven deep-learning models.

Thermal imaging drones have transformed wildlife monitoring by facilitating the efficient and noninvasive monitoring of animal populations across large areas. In this study, an optimized flight path design was developed for monitoring wildlife on Guleopdo Island, South Korea using the DJI Mavic 3T drone equipped with a thermal camera. We employed a strata-based sampling technique to reclassify topographical and land cover information, creating an optimal survey plan. Using sampling strata, key waypoints were derived, on the basis of which nine flight paths were designed to cover ~50% of the study area. The results demonstrated that an optimized flight path improved the accuracy of detecting Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon taiouanus). Population estimates indicated at least 128 Formosan sika deer, with higher detection efficiency observed during cloudy weather. Customizing flight paths based on the habitat characteristics proved crucial for efficient monitoring. This study highlights the potential of thermal imaging drones for accurately estimating wildlife populations and supporting conservation efforts.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including phthalates, have been implicated in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic fibrosis. This study investigates the age-dependent effects of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) exposure on lipid metabolism in the livers of young and aged mice. Young (2-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to BBP through drinking water at a dose of 169 μg/kg/day for 6 and 4 months, respectively. Young mice exposed to BBP showed fatty liver, with downregulation of key fatty acid oxidation genes (CPT1A, CPT1B, CPT2, and Acox1) and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). In contrast, aged mice exhibited hepatic fibrosis, with increased collagen deposition and upregulation of genes related to fibrosis (Acta2, MMP2, TGF-ß1, and Col1a2), cirrhosis (CXCR4, SOX9, DCN, and MFAP4), and cancer (Bcl2, CDKN2a, c-Myc, and Fn1). Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of age when evaluating the risks of EDC exposure, such as BBP. Future research should focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind these age-related differences and explore Grem1 and SOCS3 as potential therapeutic targets for treating EDC-induced and age-related liver diseases.

Background/Objectives: Aronia extract or its active compounds, especially anthocyanin, have shown potential for Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related pathologies, including neuroinflammation, fibrillogenesis of amyloid beta (Aβ), and cognitive impairment. However, there was still concern about their structural instability in vivo and in vitro. To solve the instability of anthocyanins, we combined aronia bioactive factions (ABFs) and alginic acid via electrostatic molecular interactions and created an ABF–alginic acid nanocomplex (AANCP). We evaluated whether it is more stable and effective in cognitive disorder mice and neuroinflammation cell models. Methods: The physicochemical properties of the AANCP, such as nanoparticle size, structural stability, and release rate, were characterized. The AANCP was administered to scopolamine-injected Balb/c mice, and to BV2 microglia treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and amyloid beta (Aβ). Inflammation responses were measured via qPCR and ELISA in vitro, and cognitive functions were measured via behavior tests in vivo. Results: The AANCP readily formed nanoparticles, 209.6 nm in size, with a negatively charged zeta potential. The AANCP exhibited better stability in four plasma samples (human, dog, rat, and mouse) and was slowly released in different pH conditions (pH 2.0, 7.4, and 8.0) compared with non-complexedABF. In vitro studies on microglial cells treated with AANCPs revealed a suppression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) induced by LPS. The AANCP increased microglial Aβ phagocytosis through the activation of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2)-related microglial polarization. The AANCP inhibited aggregation of Aβ in vitro and alleviated cognitive impairment in a scopolamine-induced in vivo dementia mouse model. Conclusions: Our data indicate that AANCPs are more stable than ABFs and effective for cognitive disorders and neuroinflammation via modulation of M2 microglial polarization.

This study aims to evaluate how individuals are prepared to cope with or plan for their afterlife digital footprints, by examining how (1) access, (2) literacy, and (3) preparedness for digital afterlife work in concert to influence one’s wellbeing. We found the indirect relationship between access and wellbeing and the influence of digital literacy on wellbeing was indirect, illustrating that the key to the puzzle is in the sequential step in which digital literacy incubates the readiness to cope with digital remains, which influences one’s subjective wellbeing. One of the most unrecognized challenges facing digital traces is the exploitation of post-life remain of data, as the question of who accesses, owns, or controls personal data after death remains largely unanswered. We argue that the preparedness for digital afterlife represents a new form of social concern with real-life consequences, or even a newer space for inequality debates.

ObjectiveAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) presents a global health challenge, characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. However, the role of natural killer T (NKT) cells in human ARDS remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study explored the numerical and functional status of NKT cells in patients with ARDS, examining their clinical relevance and interactions with macrophages and fibroblasts during various stages of the syndrome.MethodsPeripheral blood from 40 ARDS patients and 30 healthy controls was analyzed, with paired samples of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from seven ARDS patients. We measured levels of NKT cells, cytokines, CD69, programmed death-1 (PD-1), and annexin-V using flow cytometry, and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression using real-time PCR.ResultsARDS patients exhibited decreased circulating NKT cells with elevated CD69 expression and enhanced IL-17 production. The reduction in NKT cells correlated with PaO2/FiO2 ratio, albumin, and C-reactive protein levels. Proliferative responses to α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) were impaired, and co-culturing NKT cells with monocytes or T cells from ARDS patients resulted in a reduced α-GalCer response. Increased and activated NKT cells in BALF induced proinflammatory cytokine release by macrophages and ECM protein expression in fibroblasts.ConclusionARDS is associated with a numerical deficiency but functional activation of circulating NKT cells, showing impaired responses to α-GalCer and altered interactions with immune cells. The increase in NKT cells within BALF suggests their role in inducing inflammation and remodeling/fibrosis, highlighting the potential of targeting NKT cells as a therapeutic approach for ARDS.

Introduction There is a lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of prolonged β-blocker therapy after stabilisation of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without heart failure (HF) or left ventricular systolic dysfunction.Methods and analysis The SMart Angioplasty Research Team: DEcision on Medical Therapy in Patients with Coronary Artery DIsease or Structural Heart Disease Undergoing InterventiON (SMART-DECISION) trial is a multicentre, prospective, open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial designed to determine whether discontinuing β-blocker therapy after ≥1 year of maintenance in stabilised patients after AMI is non-inferior to continuing it. Patients eligible for participation are those without HF or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction >40%) who have been continuing β-blocker therapy for ≥1 year after AMI. A total of 2540 patients will be randomised 1:1 to continuation of β-blocker therapy or not. Randomisation will be stratified according to the type of AMI (ie, ST-segment-elevation MI or non-ST-segment-elevation MI), type of β-blocker (carvedilol, bisoprolol, nebivolol or other) and participating centre. The primary study endpoint is a composite of all-cause death, MI and hospitalisation for HF over a median follow-up period of 3.5 years (minimum, 2.5 years; maximum, 4.5 years). Adverse effects related to β-blocker therapy, the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, medical costs and Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information system-29 questionnaire responses will also be collected as secondary endpoints.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval for this study was granted by the Institutional Review Board of Samsung Medical Center (no. 2020-10-176). Informed consent is obtained from every participant before randomisation. The results of this study will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed journals and the key findings will be presented at international scientific conferences.Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04769362.

As genomic selection emerges as a promising breeding method for both plants and animals, numerous methods have been introduced and applied to various real and simulated data sets. Research suggests that no single method is universally better than others; rather, performance is highly dependent on the characteristics of the data and the nature of the prediction task. This implies that each method has its strengths and weaknesses. In this study, we exploit this notion and propose a different approach. Rather than comparing multiple methods to determine the best one for a particular study, we advocate combining multiple methods to achieve better performance than each method in isolation. In pursuit of this goal, we introduce and develop a computational method of the stacked generalization within ensemble methods. In this method, the meta-model merges predictions from multiple base models to achieve improved performance. We applied this method to plant and animal data and compared its performance with currently available methods using standard performance metrics. We found that the proposed method yielded a lower or comparable mean squared error in predicting phenotypes compared to the current methods. In addition, the proposed method showed greater resistance to overfitting compared to the current methods. Further analysis included statistical hypothesis testing, which showed that the proposed method outperformed or matched the current methods. In summary, the proposed stacked generalization integrates currently available methods to achieve stable and better performance. In this context, our study provides general recommendations for effective practices in genomic selection.

Condition based maintenance (CBM) has become a very important issue in the industry because it can decrease the inventory as the need of parts can be planned by the identification of a potential failure. However, in order to predict the life span of the ball bearing, it is necessary to acquire data according to the all life span of the bearing. This article presents the time-series dataset, including vibration, and temperature, of the ball bearing under run-to-failure. Through the accelerated life test, the ball bearing was failed at 128 working hours, and the vibration and temperature data for the all running section were included. The type of fault was identified through microscopic analysis of the damaged ball bearing. The established dataset can be used to verify newly developed state-of-the-art methods for prognosis the remaining useful life (RUL) of the ball bearing. Mendeley Data. DOI: 10.17632/5hcdd3tdvb.6