Search

Panax vietnamensis, indigenous to Vietnam and southern China, is classified into three subspecies: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. (PVV), Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus (PVF), and Panax vietnamensis var. langbianensis (PVL). A method to distinguish these varieties in their intact form is absent, which poses a possible risk of misclassification. Here, we aimed to devise a plant metabolite-based discrimination algorithm for the three varieties, without causing significant damage to individual plants. A multivariate analysis on mass spectral data of PVV, PVF, and PVL revealed that a peak at m/z 426, which was subsequently identified as an indole alkaloid glycoside, was exclusive to PVF and therefore clearly distinguished PVF from PVV and PVL. Additionally, global metabolic profiling was conducted to elucidate the discrimination markers between PVV and PVL, and lysophospholipids and hydroxy fatty acids were selected as potential discrimination markers. The performance of these markers was validated by cross-validation using machine learning algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: Knowledge regarding risk factors for primary distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) arthritis is limited. This study evaluated the association between ulnar variance (UV) and the development of primary DRUJ arthritis in a matched case-control cohort. Methods: Patients with symptomatic DRUJ arthritis were identified from those attending an orthopaedic outpatient clinic between January 2017 and April 2023. The control group comprised individuals without radiographic evidence of DRUJ arthritis. Propensity score matching was performed, aiming for a 1:3 ratio with an age difference limit of five years or less. UV and grade of DRUJ arthritis were assessed using a previously described method. Differences in UV between the case and control groups, and the association between ulnocarpal joint (UCJ) and DRUJ arthritis, were analysed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the UV cut-off value for predicting symptomatic DRUJ arthritis. Results: The case group comprised 49 wrists from 44 patients, while the control group included 147 wrists from 132 individuals. The mean ages of the case and control groups were 69.6 and 67.5 years, respectively. UV was significantly higher in the case group (3.5 ± 2.9 vs. 1.6 ± 1.5 mm). The prevalence of UCJ arthritis increased with higher DRUJ arthritis grades. ROC curve analysis revealed a UV cut-off of 2.9 mm, with a sensitivity of 0.612 and specificity of 0.816. Conclusions: A UV greater than 2.9 mm was associated with symptomatic primary DRUJ arthritis. Patients with more advanced DRUJ arthritis were also more likely to have concomitant UCJ arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In this study, we quantified quercetin content in onion peel extract (OPE) and investigated the effects of OPE and the equivalent amount of quercetin on lipid disorder induced by high fat diet (HDF). OPE reduced triglyceride (TG) level in oral lipid tolerance test. OPE administration improved lipid profile by lowering the level of total cholesterol (T-Chol) and LDL and by improving HDL/T-Chol ratio in HFD-fed rats. OPE also regulated hepatic expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A (CPT1A). More importantly, quercetin at the same concentration with OPE exerted similar efficacies in lipid profiles and expression of SREBP-1, FAS, PPARα, and CPT1A. Taken together, OPE possessing the key functional constituent quercetin inhibited lipid absorption and lowered serum levels of TG, cholesterol, and LDL by regulation of de novo lipogenesis and fatty acid β-oxidation, contributing to dyslipidemia improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV) is a novel antiviral agent widely used in South Korea for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to compare the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following long-term use of BSV versus tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), utilizing large-scale national data. A total of 41,949 patients were analyzed, with propensity score matching (PSM) yielding 2,239 BSV and 6,717 TAF patients. The HCC incidence rate per 1,000 person-years was 1.8 for BSV versus 2.4 for TAF before matching (P = 0.057) and 1.6 versus 2.2 after matching (P = 0.284). Multivariate Cox regression identified age, male sex, antiviral duration, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, and decompensated cirrhosis as significant risk factors for HCC, while antiviral type was not (HR 1.12, P = 0.413). Subgroup analyses showed no significant differences in HCC incidence between BSV and TAF in cirrhotic or non-cirrhotic patients. These findings suggest that BSV offers comparable efficacy to TAF in preventing HCC and is a promising option for CHB management. Longer-term studies with larger cohorts are necessary to confirm these results and assess the full impact of BSV on HCC prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Summary: The purpose of this study is to scientifically and systematically investigate the clinical effectiveness of a fracture liaison service (FLS) for patients with femoral fractures. Methods: The international databases Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library and the Korean databases KISS, RISS, KoreaScience, Koreamed, and Kmbase were used. Risk of bias assessment was conducted at the study design level, and meta-analysis utilized both random-effects and fixed-effects models, along with subgroup analysis. Results: From the 32 selected articles, 14 articles related to subsequent fracture and 18 articles related to mortality were included in the meta-analysis. As a result of the meta-analysis, the risk of subsequent fracture in the group that participated in the fracture liaison service was 46% lower than that in the non-participated group, and this difference was statistically significant (RR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.50–0.59). The risk of death in the group that participated in the FLS was 17% lower than that in the non-participating group, and this difference was not statistically significant as well (RR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.67–1.03). As a result of subgroup analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in the reduction of subsequent fracture in the clinical outcomes, and there was a significant difference in mortality in the intervention follow-up period and clinical outcomes. Conclusion: The global implementation of FLS has played a crucial role in enhancing the clinical management and treatment of patients with femoral fractures, contributing to a decrease in subsequent fracture and mortality. This indicates the significant role of FLS in minimizing the disease burden associated with femoral fractures worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In the case of neonates, especially low birth weight preterm and high-risk infants, portable X-rays are frequently used. However, the image quality of portable X-rays is significantly lower compared to standard adult or pediatric X-rays, leading to considerable challenges in identifying abnormalities. Although attempts have been made to introduce deep learning to address these image quality issues, the poor quality of the images themselves hinders the training of deep learning models, further emphasizing the need for image enhancement. Additionally, since neonates have a high cell division rate and are highly sensitive to radiation, increasing radiation exposure to improve image quality is not a viable solution. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance image quality through preprocessing before training deep learning models. While various image enhancement methods have been proposed, Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) has been recognized as an effective technique for contrast-based image improvement. However, despite extensive research, the process of setting CLAHE’s hyperparameters still relies on a brute force, manual approach, making it inefficient. To address this issue, we propose a method called Bayesian Optimization CLAHE(BO-CLAHE), which leverages Bayesian optimization to automatically select the optimal hyperparameters for X-ray images used in diagnosing lung diseases in preterm and high-risk neonates. The images enhanced by BO-CLAHE demonstrated superior performance across several classification models, with particularly notable improvements in diagnosing Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN). This approach not only reduces radiation exposure but also contributes to the development of AI-based diagnostic tools, playing a crucial role in the early diagnosis and treatment of preterm and high-risk neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Aim: To investigate the effects of hypertension (HTN) on inner retinal thickness and macular microvasculature in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: Subjects were classified into three groups: patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (T2DM group), patients with DR (DR-HTN group), and patients with DR and HTN (DR + HTN group). The ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses and the macular vessel density (VD) were compared. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the VD in the DR + HTN group. Results: The mean GCC thicknesses were 112.2 ± 12.3, 109.2 ± 13.7, and 106.2 ± 11.2 μm in the T2DM, DR-HTN, and DR + HTN groups, respectively (P = 0.045). The mean VDs were 25.4 ± 5.0, 24.3 ± 8.9, and 21.2 ± 7.1% (P = 0.014) for the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and 25.9 ± 4.3, 22.9 ± 8.5, and 20.2 ± 6.6% (P < 0.001) for the deep capillary plexus (DCP) in the T2DM, DR-HTN, and DR + HTN groups, respectively. In multivariate analyses, the duration of HTN was a significant factor associated with the VD of both SCP (B = -0.24, P = 0.010) and DCP (B = -0.21, P = 0.016). Conclusions: Patients with both DR and HTN had a thinner GCC and lower VDs of SCP and DCP than those with DR alone. These outcomes could be associated with the synergistic ischemic effects in DR patients with HTN. Moreover, the duration of HTN in DR patients was significantly associated with macular VD in both SCP and DCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Propensity score weighting is widely used to correct the selection bias in the sample with missing data. The propensity score function is often developed using a model for the response probability, which completely ignores the outcome regression model. In this paper, we explore an alternative approach by developing smoothed propensity score weights that provide a more efficient estimation by removing unnecessary auxiliary variables in the propensity score model. The smoothed propensity score function is obtained by applying the information projection of the original propensity score function to the space that satisfies the moment conditions on the balancing scores obtained from the outcome regression model. By including the covariates for the outcome regression models only in the density ratio model, we can achieve an efficiency gain. Penalized regression is used to identify important covariates. Some limited simulation studies are presented to compare with the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In abdominal penetrating injury, selective non-operative management (SNOM) is widely accepted. Even with advanced imaging, few patients undergo non-therapeutic surgery. In the present study, we analyzed factors other than clinical presentations that predicted intra-abdominal injury or would have prevented a non-therapeutic surgery. It was a retrospective analysis of data from 2016 to 2021 from the level 1 trauma center. Hemodynamically stable patients with an anterior abdominal wall stab injury diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) with no overt abdominal signs (CT-positive group) who underwent surgical management were included. The outcome measures were the number of patients with intra-abdominal injuries and patient factors predicting the intra-abdominal injury. Of the 179 patients, 42 who had peritoneal breach CT (CT positive) but had no overt abdominal signs and were hemodynamically stable were included. On further surgical exploration of this CT-positive group, only 12 had intra-abdominal injury (injury-positive group) which was the primary outcome and 30 had no intra-abdominal injury (injury negative group). Further, the injury-positive group had a lower body mass index (BMI) (22.21 SD 2.77 vs. 24.87 SD 4.04, p = 0.044), and the injury-negative group had a higher rate of self-inflicted injury (7 (58.3%) vs. 29 (96.7%), p = 0.001). In the patients with PASI who are hemodynamically stable, CT shows only peritoneal breach, and no overt physical and clinical abdominal signs of peritonitis could be safely managed with SNOM. Further, a higher BMI and self-inflicted injuries altogether could avoid an unnecessary non-therapeutic laparotomy provided used in proper clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Proline is a major substrate in collagen biosynthesis and is required for collagen molecule formations. However, detailed explanations of the molecular basis through which proline functions in collagen biosynthesis have yet to be provided. Thus, genome-wide screening was employed to elucidate these in the pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 and human periodontal ligament fibroblast (hPDLF) cell lines. Indeed, both cell lines represent important sources for collagen biosynthesis and tissue regeneration in the dental region, specifically treating extracellular proline during cultivations. The altered gene expression patterns were identified, and the precise expression patterns were confirmed by microarray. Cell viability and osteogenic differentiation patterns were examined using a range of experimental methods, such as the MTS assay, ALP staining, ARS staining, and collagen (COL)-type1A ELISA. Overall, we revealed a cell line-specific function of exogenous proline in collagen biosynthesis during osteogenic differentiation conditions with the candidate signaling pathways. These putative signaling networks could represent plausible answers to understanding collagen biosynthesis for regenerating connective tissues such as skin, muscle, and bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A facultative anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain AGMB14963T was isolated from the feces of a dairy cow. A 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain AGMB14963T belongs to the genus Gallibacterium, with Gallibacterium salpingitidis F150T being the closest species (95.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Whole-genome sequence analysis revealed that strain AGMB14963T had a 37.0% G + C genomic DNA content and a genome size of 2.58 Mb. In addition, the strain contained 53 tRNA and 2 rRNA genes. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains AGMB14963T and G. salpingitidis F150T were 82.3 and 24.9%, respectively. Further, strain AGMB14963T was positive for oxidase and catalase, but negative for urease. Optimal growth of strain AGMB14963T occurred at 37 ℃, pH 8, and in 0.5% NaCl-containing medium. The predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10%) in strain AGMB14963T were C14:0, C16:0, and summed feature 3. Strain AGMB14963T produced lactic acid and isobutyric acid as the major end products of glucose fermentation. Polar lipids consisted of one phospholipid and one phosphoaminolipid. According to the genomic, physiologic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain AGMB14963T represents a novel species of the genus Gallibacterium, for which the name Gallibacterium faecale sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AGMB14963T (= KCTC 25487 T = NBRC 116419 T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Calcium Magnesium Vanadate (Ca5Mg4V6O24–CMV) nanoparticles were prepared using solution combustion method. Structural characterizations confirmed the phase and crystallite size 32 nm and band gap 3.2 eV. Acid Red-88 (AR-88) dye degradation were carried out using CMV photocatalyst under UV light exposure and obtained degradation of 83% using first-order kinetics. Environmental effect of treated water was tested by successful plant growth to demonstrate the industrial applications of CMV photocatalyst. Electrochemical properties of the CMV nanoparticles were studied through cyclic voltammetry and galvanometric charge discharge analysis in IM KCl electrolyte which exhibited a specific capacitance of 346.66 Fg1. Electrochemical sensing properties of the electrode were studied for the detection of Urea, Ascorbic acid, Creatinine, and Paracetamol and lead and Chromium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Discharge of wastewater containing nitrate (NO3−) disrupts aquatic ecosystems even at low concentrations. However, selective and rapid reduction of NO3− at low concentration to dinitrogen (N2) is technically challenging. Here, we present an electrified membrane (EM) loaded with Sn pair-atom catalysts for highly efficient NO3− reduction to N2 in a single-pass electrofiltration. The pair-atom design facilitates coupling of adsorbed N intermediates on adjacent Sn atoms to enhance N2 selectivity, which is challenging with conventional fully-isolated single-atom catalyst design. The EM ensures sufficient exposure of the catalysts and intensifies the catalyst interaction with NO3− through mass transfer enhancement to provide more N intermediates for N2 coupling. We further develop a reduced titanium dioxide EM as the anode to generate free chlorines for fully oxidizing the residual ammonia (<1 mg-N L−1) to N2. The sequential cathode-to-anode electrofiltration realizes near-complete removal of 10 mg-N L−1 NO3− and ~100% N2 selectivity with a water resident time on the order of seconds. Our findings advance the single-atom catalyst design for NO3− reduction and provide a practical solution for NO3− contamination at low concentrations. The selective and rapid reduction of nitrate at low concentration is technically challenging. Here, the authors report an electrified membrane loaded with Sn pair-atom catalysts that realizes near-complete removal of 10 mg-N/L nitrate and ~100% N2 selectivity during electro-filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes significant economic losses in the global swine industry due to its high genetic diversity and different virulence levels, which complicate disease management and vaccine development. This study evaluated longitudinal changes in the immune cell composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the clinical outcomes across PRRSV strains with varying virulence, using techniques including single-cell transcriptomics. In highly virulent infection, faster viral replication results in an earlier peak lung-damage time point, marked by significant interstitial pneumonia, a significant decrease in macrophages, and an influx of lymphocytes. Viral tracking reveals less than 5% of macrophages are directly infected, and further analysis indicates bystander cell death, likely regulated by exosomal microRNAs as a significant factor. In contrast, the peak intermediate infection shows a delayed lung-damage time point with fewer cell population modifications. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory M2-like macrophages (SPP1-CXCL14high) are identified and their counts increase during the peak lung-damage time point, likely contributing to local defense and lung recovery, which is not observed in high virulent infection. These findings provide a comprehensive description of the immune cellular landscape and differential PRRSV virulence mechanisms, which will help build new hypotheses to understand PRRSV pathogenesis and other respiratory infections. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus strains can have markedly different virulence in pigs. Here, the authors describe differences in the immune response to infection with varying virulence and suggest that M2-like macrophages may aid in recovery and lung health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Photocatalytic water disinfection technology is highly promising in off-grid areas due to abundant year-round solar irradiance. However, the practical use of powdered photocatalysts is impeded by limited recovery and inefficient inactivation of stress-resistant bacteria in oligotrophic surface water. Here we prepare a floatable monolithic photocatalyst with ZIF-8-NH2 loaded Ag single atoms and nanoparticles (AgSA+NP/ZIF). Atomically dispersed Ag sites form an Ag−N charge bridge, extending the lifetime of charge carriers and thereby promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The photothermal effect of the plasmonic Ag nanoparticles reduces the bacterial resistance to ROS and impairs DNA repair capabilities. Under sunlight irradiation, the synergistic effect of Ag single atoms and nanoparticles enables 4.0 cm2 AgSA+NP/ZIF to achieve over 6.0 log inactivation (99.9999%) for the stress-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) in oligotrophic surface water within 30 min. Furthermore, 36 cm2 AgSA+NP/ZIF is capable of disinfecting at least 10.0 L of surface water, which meets the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended daily per capita drinking water allocation (8.0 L). This study presents a decentralized and sustainable approach for water disinfection in off-grid areas. Photocatalytic water disinfection holds great promise for off-grid areas due to abundant year-round solar irradiance. Here, authors present a floatable monolithic photocatalyst with ZIF-8-NH2 loaded Ag single atoms and nanoparticles for efficient and synergistic solar-driven water disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the difference in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space volume between the deviated (Dev) and non-deviated (NDev) side following transoral vertical ramus osteotomy (TOVRO) in patients with mandibular prognathism combined with asymmetry using reconstructed 3-dimensional images. Sixty joints from 30 patients who underwent TOVRO between January 2018 and December 2021 were included. Computed tomography (CT) or cone-beam CT was performed before surgery (T0), and 6 (T1) and 12 months postoperatively (T2). The volume of the overall joint space (Vjs) and its compartments (i.e., the anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral joint spaces) were calculated at each time point. A linear mixed model and repeated-measures covariance pattern with unstructured covariance were used. Vjs increased at T1 compared to T0 and decreased at T2 compared to T1 (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the volume changes over time were statistically significant in all compartments (p < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the Vjs and its compartments between the Dev and NDev side over time (p > 0.05). Adjustments for sex and mandibular movements did not affect the results. This study can provide the basis in TMJ spatial change and predicting the prognosis after TOVRO in facial asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons are found in fluids discharged from ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal vents. Beneath the hydrothermal vents, abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons can be formed by serpentinization reactions and Fischer–Tropsch-type hydrocarbon-forming reactions, respectively, over ultramafic rocks. However, the source rocks that form abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons may extend to broader subsurface rocks. Here, we show that various rock constituents (solid acids) play a catalytic role in the formation of H and OH radicals via H2O dissociation, as well as in the formation of diverse hydrocarbons via the synthesis reactions of H radicals and inorganic carbons or by H radical-induced dissociation of organic carbons. The mechanisms and characteristics of these formation processes were explored through a series of reactor-based laboratory experiments. Four types of solid acid-containing rocks were mixed with H2O and a carbon source and reacted at different temperatures and pressures for different reaction periods. The product gases were analyzed via GC/MS. Twenty-nine hydrocarbons up to C11, predominantly including CH4 and aromatic hydrocarbons, were identified when CO2 (inorganic carbon source) and basalt particles were used; in contrast, 42 hydrocarbons up to C11, predominantly including CH4 and aliphatic hydrocarbons, were identified when soybean oil (organic carbon source) and basalt particles were used. The results of this study imply that abiotic H2 and diverse hydrocarbons are produced in the subsurface of Earth regardless of the presence of living organisms and suggest that solid acid-containing rocks near hot springs or volcanic areas can promote CO2 conversion into CH4 with the aid of H radicals supplied from H2O dissociation over the rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

To evaluate the outcomes and predictive factors for fluid resolution following three loading injections of faricimab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration(AMD). This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with treatment-naïve neovascular AMD who received three monthly injections of faricimab. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA) and central retinal thickness(CRT) following treatment were evaluated. The resolution of subretinal fluid(SRF), intraretinal fluid(IRF), and serous pigment epithelial detachment(PED) was also assessed. In addition, factors associated with complete resolution of SRF and IRF were investigated. A total of 69 patients were included in this study. BCVA significantly improved from a mean logarithm of minimal angle of resolution of 0.64 ± 0.41 at baseline to 0.47 ± 0.39 at 3 months (P < 0.001). CRT significantly decreased from 424.1 ± 155.5 μm at baseline to 266.3 ± 71.7 μm at 3 months (P < 0.001). At baseline, SRF was observed in 55 eyes (79.7%), IRF in 39 eyes(56.5%), and serous PED in 57 eyes(82.6%). By 3 months, the number of eyes showing these findings had decreased to 11 eyes(15.9%) for SRF, 6 eyes(8.7%) for IRF, and 10 eyes(14.5%) for serous PED. The presence of type 2 (88.2%) and type 3 (94.7%) macular neovascularization(MNV) was associated with a high incidence of complete resolution of SRF and IRF after treatment. Three loading injections of faricimab resulted in significant functional and anatomical improvements in treatment-naïve neovascular AMD, with a high rate of resolution of SRF, IRF, and serous PED. The anatomical effects were especially pronounced in cases of type 2 and type 3 MNV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Image-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pose estimation is carried out by deep learning (DL) to automate the UAV aim-point selection for a laser beam control research testbed (LBCRT). DL models are proposed to estimate the UAV pose from available UAV target images and serve as a new sensor within the testbed. Such models are designed to address the problem of pose ambiguity, which arises from different 3D UAV poses looking similar in a 2D image plane. The models are trained under three datasets: synthetic data, synthetic data combined with real-world data, and real-world data. Afterward, the models are compared based on their ability to infer a real-world UAV trajectory in order to analyze the impact of using synthetic data during training. Quantitative results show that the proposed DL models solve the pose ambiguity problem when trained with appropriate data. In average, the models trained on real-world data had the lowest mean angle error, followed by those trained on combined data, and those trained solely on synthetic data. This shows that synthetic data should be carefully selected to bridge the gap when real-world data is unavailable or scarce. Customized real-world and synthetic data were created for the research. Real-world data are short wave infra-red (SWIR) images of a 3D printed UAV model with varying poses and associated pose labels. In addition, synthetic data are UAV images with varying poses and associated labels created by simulation. For this research, 77,077 real-world and 100,000 synthetic data were created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: While [18F]FET PET plays a complementary role in glioma imaging, it needs to be more comprehensively understood for improved characterization of glioma prior to surgery given the evolving landscape of molecular neuropathology. Thus, we investigated the utility of pre-operative dual-time-point [18F]FET PET in correlation with next-generation sequencing (NGS) data in patients with adult-type diffuse glioma (ADG). Methods: Adult patients who were suspected to have primary glioma were prospectively recruited between June 2021 and January 2024. They underwent pre-operative dual-time-point static PET/CT at 20 min (early) and 80 min (delay) after [18F]FET injection. Semi-quantitative parameters of the hottest lesion (SUVmax) of tumour and the hottest lesion-to-normal brain ratio (TBRmax) were assessed from each summed image. Furthermore, the percentage changes (△) of SUVmax and TBRmax between two images were calculated. Histopathology of glioma was determined according to the 2021 WHO classification and NGS data. Results: This study investigated a dozen genes in 76 patients, of whom 51 had isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastoma, 13 had IDH-mutant astrocytoma, and 12 had IDH-mutant oligodendroglioma. Every tumour was [18F]FET-avid having TBRmax more than 1.6. Patients with CDKN2A/B loss had significantly higher values of SUVmax (5.7 ± 1.6 vs. 4.7 ± 1.3, p = 0.004; 5.0 ± 1.4 vs. 4.4 ± 1.2, p = 0.026) and TBRmax (6.5 ± 1.8 vs. 5.1 ± 1.7, p = 0.001; 5.3 ± 1.5 vs. 4.3 ± 1.3, p = 0.004) in both scans than patients without CDKN2A/B loss, even after adjustment for age, MRI enhancement, tumor grade and type of pathology. Furthermore, patients with PIK3CA mutation (16.2 ± 11.8 vs. 6.7 ± 11.6, p = 0.007) had significantly higher △SUVmax than patients without PIK3CA mutation, even after adjustment for age, MRI enhancement, tumor grade, and type of pathology. Conclusion: Among the dozen genes investigated in this prospective study in patients with ADG, we found out that CDKN2A/B loss and PIK3CA mutation status could be differentiated by pre-operative dual-time-point [18F]FET PET/CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

We investigated the risk of cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and liver-related mortality according to the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and fatty liver index (FLI). In this retrospective longitudinal population-based cohort study, we used Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2009 to 2012. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was defined as FLI ≥ 60. Risk of all-cause mortality, liver-related mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure (HF), and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality was assessed according to the presence of MetS and FLI among adults (aged 40 to 80 years) who underwent health examinations (n = 769,422). During a median 8.59 years of follow up, 44,356 (5.8%) cases of MACE, 24,429 (3.2%) cases of all-cause mortality, and 1114 (0.1%) cases of liver-related mortality were detected in the entire cohort. When the FLI < 30 without MetS group was set as a reference, the FLI ≥ 60 with MetS group had the highest risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.98–2.13) and all-cause mortality (aHR 1.96, 95% CI 1.86–2.07). The risk of liver-related mortality (aHR 10.71, 95% CI 8.05–14.25) was highest in the FLI ≥ 60 without MetS group. The FLI ≥ 60 with MetS group had a higher risk of MACE (aHR 1.39, 95%CI 1.28–1.51), a lower risk of liver-related mortality (aHR 0.44, 95%CI 0.33–0.59), and no significant difference in all-cause mortality compared with the FLI ≥ 60 without MetS group. The FLI ≥ 60 with MetS group was associated with the highest risk of MACE and the FLI ≥ 60 without MetS group had the highest risk liver-related mortality, but there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between two groups. In conclusion, as FLI levels increase, the risk of MACE increases, and the risk increases additively in the presence of MetS. The risk of liver-related mortality increases with higher FLI levels, the effect of high FLI on increased risk is more significant in groups without MetS compared to those with MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study investigates the role of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in modulating the expression of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and its influence on the uptake and degradation of tau proteins in immortalized human microglia cells. We demonstrate that ATRA significantly upregulates Hsp90 expression in a concentration-dependent manner, enhancing both extracellular and intracellular Hsp90 levels. Our results show that ATRA-treated cells exhibit increased tau protein uptake via caveolae/raft-dependent endocytosis pathways. This uptake is mediated by surface Hsp90, as evidenced by the inhibition of tau internalization using an extracellular Hsp90-selective inhibitor. Further, we establish that the exogenously added full-sized monomeric tau proteins bind to Hsp90. The study also reveals that ATRA-enhanced tau uptake is followed by effective degradation through both lysosomal and proteasomal pathways. We observed a significant reduction in intracellular tau levels in ATRA-treated cells, which was reversed by lysosome or proteasome inhibitors, suggesting the involvement of both degradation pathways. Our findings highlight the potential therapeutic role of ATRA in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. By enhancing Hsp90 expression and facilitating tau degradation, ATRA could contribute to the clearance of pathological tau proteins, offering a promising strategy for mitigating neurodegeneration. This research underscores the need for further exploration into the molecular mechanisms of tau protein internalization and degradation, which could provide valuable insights into the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Biofilms, groups of bacteria that adhere to wet surfaces and resist antibiotics, often cause chronic infections and complications with medical devices. Despite their critical role in various environments, a significant gap remains in understanding biofilm dynamics within common ecological settings. Here, we investigate the formation and development of biofilm streamers in microfluidic channels using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and its chemotaxis-blind mutant PC4. We find that biofilm streamers consistently form at the corners of microfluidic channels under low-speed flow conditions. We observe that higher concentrations of LB medium lead to the development of mature biofilms, while lower concentrations favor the formation of streamers. Also, the surface properties of the microfluidic channels significantly influence biofilm formation. The PEL-coated surfaces are more favorable to form biofilm streamers compared to bare glass surfaces. Furthermore, we investigate the role of chemotaxis with wild-type PAO1 strains formed streamers differently compared to the PC4 mutant, which confirms that chemotaxis significantly impacts streamer formation. These findings offer valuable insights into the physical and biological factors affecting biofilm development in microfluidic environments and provide important information for further studies on bacterial biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

We evaluated the risk of being diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders after an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis using data from South Korea's National Health Insurance Service from 2002 to 2019, which covers approximately 97% of the country's population. ADHD and control groups were selected after propensity score matching was performed for individuals diagnosed with ADHD and their age- and sex-matched counterparts from the general population. Comorbid psychiatric disorders included depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, tic disorder, and schizophrenia. The incidence of newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders was compared between the groups. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and adjusted for ADHD medication prescription. After matching, 353,898 individuals were assigned to each of the two groups. Compared to the control group, the ADHD group showed a significantly higher risk of being subsequently diagnosed with depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and tic disorder. The onset age of depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia in the ADHD group was 16–17 years, approximately 5 years earlier than that in the control group. The risk for depression was the highest in individuals with high income levels, and that for schizophrenia was the highest among rural patients. The median length of the follow-up time until the diagnosis of each comorbid psychiatric disorder was 7.53, 8.43, 8.53, and 8.34 years for depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and tic disorder, respectively. Individuals with ADHD had an overall higher risk of being diagnosed with subsequent psychiatric disorders than did the controls. Hence, they should be carefully screened for other psychiatric symptoms from an early age and followed up for an extended duration, along with appropriate interventions for ADHD symptoms, including psychosocial treatments and educational approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Platooning represents a crucial strategy for mitigating emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). This study evaluates the effects of platoon composition on the surrounding airflow utilizing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, and quantifies the resultant fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. This study examines fuel consumption data reconstructed from field experiments to validate the CFD model's ability to accurately simulate drag forces within a homogeneous three-truck platoon. The potential for fuel savings was assessed based on CFD-simulated fuel consumption, taking into account various inter-vehicle distances and driving speeds. The model successfully reproduced the fuel consumption observed in a platooning formation comprising lead, middle, and trailing trucks, with an error margin below 6.2%. Fuel consumption analysis shows that while lead and middle trucks consume more fuel with increased inter-vehicle distances, the trailing truck's consumption decreases at specific distance-to-length ratios (D/L), increasing again beyond a D/L of 1.1. Additionally, a significant decrease in total fuel efficiency was noted for D/L ratios exceeding 1.5. Considering the diverse platooning scenarios analyzed, the study anticipates an annual reduction of up to 7 tons of CO2 equivalent per vehicle. By optimizing platooning configurations, this research contributes to enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions from HDVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Recent studies on anomaly detection (AD) for industrial products typically address the problem in an unsupervised manner, requiring only normal data for training. This approach alleviates the need for anomalous data but still requires a set of normal samples and often involves demanding computations. More recent methods aim to solve this problem in zero-, one-, or few-shot settings but suffer from performance drops or rely on additional contexts, such as language guidance and text encoding, which add overhead. This paper focuses on homogeneous textures and demonstrates how the problem can be addressed without any training samples or additional training (zero-shot), only requiring one normal sample (one-shot) for hyperparameter selection, which is an additional challenge in unsupervised settings. This is achieved by enforcing K-means clustering with on each of the testing samples independently, distinguishing it from the typical use of clustering methods in outlier detection, which are applied to a set of samples. The confidence score of each locality belonging to the smaller cluster, considered the potential anomalous cluster for evaluation, forms the anomaly map used in anomaly localization, and the maximum values in this map are used in AD. Competitive performance is achieved through the careful selection of the distance metric, feature layers, and clustering method. Experiments show that this zero-to-one-shot method, which facilitates deployment by reducing data dependency, maintains performance comparable to, or even higher than, conventional many-shot methods, all with relatively high speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study aimed to investigate the cutoff values of standardized uptake values (SUVs) and their accuracy using single-photon emission computed tomography–computed tomography (SPECT–CT) for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical examination. We included 106 joints of 53 patients with TMJ OA. SUVmax and SUVpeak of each TMJ was measured. SUVref was set as the SUV at the clivus. The diagnostic performance, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy, were evaluated. SUVmax was 5.15, with a sensitivity of 59.375, specificity of 100.000, PPV of 100.000, NPV of 61.765, and accuracy of 75.472. The cutoff value for SUVpeak was 3.635, with sensitivity of 56.250, specificity of 100.000, PPV of 100.000, NPV of 60.000, and accuracy of 73.585. SUVmax was 3.286 ± 0.780 and 6.623 ± 3.442 in the non-OA and OA groups, respectively (p < 0.001). SUVpeak was 2.324 ± 0.688 and 4.913 ± 2.749 in the non-OA and OA groups, respectively (p < 0.001). SPECT–CT can be helpful for the diagnosis of patients clinically suspected of having OA. It is also recommended that clinicians keep in mind that patients with SUVmax values higher than the cutoff value should be managed with a higher possibility of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The images of the Quantitative Light induced Fluorescent (QLF) device, which provides both natural color images similar to those from intraoral cameras and fluorescent images using 405 nm light in a single shot, were evaluated for the validity and inter examiner reliability in detecting tooth cracks. QLF images of 26 cracked teeth before and after removing crack lines were taken. Two examiners assessed the QLF images before removing the crack line with natural color images, fluorescent images, and combination images showing both images simultaneously, and recorded the crack's location after observing images. The reference standard of the crack's location was established by a trained dentist based on QLF images after removing the crack line. The agreement between examiners and the reference standard of the crack line was calculated by kappa value. Inter examiner agreement of natural color images showed at 0.394, while fluorescent and combination images showed at 0.449 and 0.493. Compared with the reference standard, the combination and fluorescent images showed higher agreement at 0.742 and 0.662, while the natural color images showed the lowest agreement, at 0.164. Determining crack location using only natural colored QLF images is challenging, but fluorescent and combination images improved agreement between examiners and the reference standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Three genetically modified (GM) rice varieties were developed: drought-tolerant, insect-resistant, and marker-free transgenic Bt rice. The metabolomic approaches were applied to the seeds and leaves of three GM rice plants to comparatively investigate the effects of genetic modification on GM and non-GM rice. Among the non-GM rice, commercial rice consisting of japonica, indica, and japonica × indica (hybrid) subspecies was grown in a greenhouse together with GM rice. Multivariate analysis revealed that natural genotypes (japonica, indica, and hybrids) had a much stronger effect on rice seed and leave compositions than genetic modifications. Compared to japonica rice, raffinose and inositol were higher in the seeds and leaves of indica and hybrid rice, suggesting a metabolic phenotype for the genetic diversity of subspecies with different origins. Our results demonstrated that metabolomics approaches can be used to evaluate the unintended effects of GM and non-GM rice ingredients. Furthermore, metabolic profiling reflects the natural variability of the metabolites associated with their origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a key crop for the global food supply. Its complex polyploid genome and recalcitrance to tissue culture pose challenges for genetic transformation, especially for elite cultivars. This study aimed to improve transformation efficiency in elite Korean wheat cultivars by integrating morphogenic regulator genes (GRF4–GIF1), using an engineered Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain. By integrating speed breeding to accelerate donor plant growth, we also reduced the time required to generate transgenic plants. Modifying the resting period and incorporating GRF4–GIF1 significantly improved the outcomes, leading to a transformation efficiency of 4.46% ± 0.93% in Bobwhite cultivar. Application of these methods to Korean elite cultivars also successfully yielded transformations with Keumkang and Baekkang cultivars. Furthermore, using a T3SS AGL-1 strain expressing the type III effector AvrPto enhanced the transformation efficiency in Baekkang cultivar by 2.27 times (17.7%) compared to the standard AGL-1 strain. Using the protocol as described here, we successfully developed stable transgenic lines of the Korean wheat cultivar, marking a pioneering achievement in Korean wheat molecular breeding. The modified protocol can contribute to wheat genetic research and breeding programs in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is the most common inherited form of bone fragility and includes a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that most commonly result from defects associated with type I collagen. Although genetic analyses have been developed, nationwide research on the incidence and associated fractures in OI is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of OI prevalence, incidence, fracture rate, etc. in South Korea using National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) claims data. We found 1596 patients newly diagnosed with OI between March 2002 and February 2020. We evaluated the incidence, prevalence, and history of fractures, fracture site, prescription of anti-osteoporosis drugs, etc. To compare medical costs, fracture rates, and scoliosis rates, we created a control group comprising patients without OI using 1:1 propensity score matching. The prevalence of OI increased slightly each year, with an annual incidence of 20.20 per 100,000 live births. Mean fracture frequency in OI patients was 17 (2–32) times per patient and the most frequent fracture site was the lower leg. A total of 21.4% patients were prescribed anti-osteoporosis drugs, and the most popular drug was pamidronate. After 1:1 propensity score matching, in terms of scoliosis, OI patients had a 3.91 times higher prevalence of scoliosis than in healthy patients which was statistically significant. The sum of medical care expenses for patients with OI was 3.5 times higher than that for patients without OI. We identified nationwide trends in OI occurrence, fractures, and medication use. This study also highlighted the real-world data of scoliosis and medical costs compared to the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The aviation industry has set ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions, with the International Civil Aviation Organization targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Bio-jet fuel is expected to play a crucial role in achieving this target, and the demand for bio-jet fuel is projected to rapidly increase. Bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of lignin, such as waste wood, is considered a promising alternative for production of bio-jet fuel through processes such as hydrodeoxygenation. In this study, the physical properties and compositions of bio-jet fuel produced from wood-derived pyrolysis bio-oil blended with petroleum-based jet fuel as well as their changes during 16 weeks storage were investigated. Consistently, 0%, 10%, 50%, and 100% blended bio-jet fuels were prepared. After 16 weeks of aging, the total acid number of the all-blended bio-jet fuel showed a sharp increase from 12 weeks, reaching over 0.1 mg KOH/g. Additionally, kinematic viscosity showed a steady increase over 16 weeks whereas oxidative stability decreased by approximately 20% at 16 weeks for the 100% bio-jet fuel alone. The final boiling point increased by up to 20% in higher blends of bio-jet fuel and the average molecular weight increased. Bio-jet fuel has a high olefin content, which can further increase during storage, leading to a decrease in the combustion characteristics. This study suggests that using up to 10% the bio-jet fuel in aircraft is safe considering storage stability, but further research is required to confirm this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The West Korea Coastal Current (WKCC) is known to flow northward in summer and southward in winter along the eastern boundary of the Yellow Sea (YS). To examine the variation in the WKCC in the eastern YS, the current was observed at four stations at 15 km intervals along the 36° N line from May to August 2012 using acoustic Doppler current profilers. In particular, the summertime monthly variation in the WKCC was examined including its strength, vertical structure, and horizontal distribution using current meter and hydrographic data. Over the entire observation period, a northward surface current and a weaker southward subsurface countercurrent were observed. In May and June, the monthly mean surface current velocity ranged from 6.4 to 8.6 cm/s at the onshore stations, while the velocity was slower at the offshore stations. In July and August, the monthly mean surface current velocity reached 11.4 cm/s at the onshore stations and 6.9 cm/s at the offshore stations. The thickness of the upper layer flowing northward ranged from 18 to 50 m. The monthly vertical structure of the geostrophic current estimated using the observed water density data was similar to that of the observed current. This indicates that monthly changes in the WKCC are mainly affected by regional changes in the zonal density gradient. This study is the first to provide data for the monthly vertical structure of the WKCC and the subsurface countercurrent in the eastern YS, thus enhancing the understanding of the summer circulation patterns in the YS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic, pale-yellow coloured and oval-shaped bacterium designated GRR-S6-38T was isolated from a tidal flat sediment that collected from Garorim Bay of the Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea. Strain GRR-S6-38T grew at 15–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C) at pH 6–9 (optimum, pH 7) and at 2–6% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2% NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain GRR-S6-38T was closely related to those of J. seosinensis CL-SP26T (98.1%), J. helgolandensis DSM 14858T (97.4%), J. rubra CECT 5088T (97.4%), J. faecimaris DSM 100420T (97.4%), J. marina SHC163T (97.3%), J. donghaensis CECT 7802T (97.2%) and J. pohangensis DSM 19073T (97.1%). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization value between GRR-S6-38T and related type strains were 71.47–78.59% and 17.80–21.40%. Strain GRR-S6-38T was characterized as having Q-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the major principle fatty acids (> 10%) were SF 8 (C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c, 39.3%), C19:0ω8c cyclo (13.2%) and C18:1ω7c 11-methyl (10.6%). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified lipid, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified phospholipids. The assembled genome of strain GRR-S6-38T has a total length of 3.32 Mbp, and a G + C content is 69.98%. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic evidence presented in this study, GRR-S6-38T is regarded to represent a novel species within the genus Jannaschia, for which name Jannaschia ovalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GRR-S6-38T (= KCTC 82518 = KACC 22240 = JCM 36187). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Collagen fibers, one of the key load-bearing components of the extracellular matrix, contribute significantly to tissue integrity through their mechanical properties of strain-dependent stiffening. This study investigated the effects of bacterial collagenase on the mechanical behavior of individual bovine lung collagen fibers in the presence or absence of mechanical forces, with a focus on potential implications for emphysema, a condition associated with collagen degradation and alveolar wall rupture. Tensile tests were conducted on individual collagen fibers isolated from bovine lung tissue. The rate of degradation was characterized by the change in fiber Young's modulus during 60 min of digestion under various mechanical conditions mimicking the mechanical stresses on the fibers during breathing. Compared to digestion without mechanical forces, a significantly larger drop of fiber modulus was observed in the presence of static or intermittent mechanical forces. Fiber yield stress was also reduced after digestion indicating compromised fiber failure. By incorporating fibril waviness obtained by scanning electron microscopic images, an analytic model allowed estimation of fibril modulus. A computational model that incorporated waviness and the results of tensile tests was also developed to simulate and interpret the data. The simulation results provided insights into the mechanical consequences of bacterial collagenase and mechanical forces on collagen fibers, revealing both fibril softening and rupture during digestion. These findings shed light on the microscale changes in collagen fiber structure and mechanics under enzymatic digestion and breathing-like mechanical stresses with implications for diseases that are impacted by collagen degradation such as emphysema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study examined the modifying effects of surgery status on the association between the Standard Deviation of NN Intervals (SDNN) of the heart rate variability and the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development. Participants with physical injury were recruited from a trauma center and followed for two years. Baseline assessment included SDNN and surgery status. Socio-demographic and clinical covariates were collected. PTSD was diagnosed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-injury using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5. Logistic regression analyses were performed. Among 538 participants, 58 (10.8%) developed PTSD during the study, with prevalence rates of 8.4% at 3 months, 6.5% at 6 months, 4.7% at 12 months, and 2.5% at 24 months. A significant modifying effect was found that lower SDNN were significantly associated with PTSD in non-surgical patients but not in surgical patients, with significant interaction terms. This pattern was observed from 3 to 12 months but not at 24 months. Surgery-dependent associations between SDNN and PTSD development were observed, highlighting the need for tailored PTSD prevention strategies considering SDNN and surgery status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Light, an essential factor in plant development, exerts a significant impact on both primary and secondary metabolism in plants. Althaea officinalis, commonly known as marshmallow, offers versatile applications through its leaves and roots. With a plethora of identified bioactive compounds and their extensive use in food, health, and supplements, it is widely cultivated globally. This study aimed to demonstrate the definitive positive impact of dark and light irradiation on both primary and secondary metabolite production in A. officinalis hairy roots and to elucidate the light-responsive mechanism through integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis. Results: When exposed to light, significant changes with a greenish colour shift were observed in 60 metabolites. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed a distinct separation between light- and dark-treated hairy roots, likely attributed to metabolites such as glutamic acid, phenylalanine, catechin hydrate, and chlorophyll. Correspondingly, the pathways significantly impacted included galactose metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, and phenylalanine metabolism. Light-responsive differentially expressed genes associated with pigment and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways were analysed and compared via RNA sequencing. Furthermore, among the light-related transcription factors, including CONSTANS-LIKE and double B-box zinc finger, which are responsible for photomorphogenic modulation, were upregulated. Moreover, light-responsive genes, such as ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, photosystem II, and chlorophyll A-B binding family protein, were upregulated. Conclusions: These findings emphasise that exposure of A. officinalis hairy root culture to light conditions is a useful method for enhancing most of the primary and secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This retrospective study investigated the degree of intraocular lens (IOL) tilt and decentration after cataract surgery in eyes with varying degrees of myopia using the anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Eyes of 76 patients were analyzed and divided into three groups: mild myopia (emmetropia to − 1.5 diopter [D], Group 1), moderate myopia (− 1.5 D to − 6.0 D, Group 2), and high myopia (over − 6.0 D, Group 3). Postoperative IOL decentration, tilt, and lens diameter were evaluated using swept-source AS-OCT under mesopic conditions without dilation eyedrop. Postoperative parameters revealed no difference in IOL tilt, but IOL decentration was significantly different among the groups, and the degree of decentration was greater in Group 3 (P = 0.007). Univariable regression analysis indicated that age, sex, preoperative uncorrected distant visual acuity, corrected distant visual acuity, intraocular pressure, spherical equivalent, preoperative anterior chamber depth and lens thickness had no influence on postoperative IOL decentration, but axial length (AL) was significantly related to IOL decentration (P = 0.001). This association was confirmed using multivariable regression analysis, establishing a significant correlation between AL and IOL decentration (P = 0.001) on AS-OCT, showing an increase in IOL decentration associated with increasing AL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Melon thrips, Thrips palmi, represent a significant threat to plants, inducing necrosis and acting as vectors for numerous plant viruses. Entomopathogenic fungi present a promising avenue for the management of melon thrips populations resistant to conventional chemical treatments. In this work, an adult colony of melon thrips was exposed to Beauveria bassiana strain JEF-350, and the ensuing transcriptional response of the infected thrips was scrutinized to elucidate their reactions during fungal pathogenesis. Utilizing Illumina sequencing, RNA samples were extracted from untreated thrips as well as from thrips continuously infected for 2 and 4 days, each with three biological replicates. While no notable alterations in gene expression were observed between the untreated control and thrips infected for 2 days, those infected for 4 days exhibited a plethora of differentially expressed genes. Specifically, in the thrips infected for the extended period, pathways associated with lysosomal function and insect hormone biosynthesis were notably repressed, while others such as serine and glycine metabolism, Toll and Imd, and circadian rhythm pathways displayed heightened activity. Noteworthy downregulation was observed in numerous lysosomal hydrolase genes encoding glycosidases, sulfatases, and lipases, particularly glycosidases. Furthermore, certain genes related to hydrolase precursors within the Golgi apparatus exhibited heightened expression levels but failed to progress toward hydrolase biosynthesis. Upstream regulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis was augmented, yet downstream genes were significantly downregulated, leading to a disruption in juvenile hormone production. Similarly, while cytochrome P450 genes in the downstream of ecdysone biosynthesis were upregulated, expressions of cholesterol desaturase and cytochrome P450 genes in the upstream were inhibited, consequently dampening ecdysone biosynthesis. The observed differential targeting of organs or pathways by B. bassiana JEF-350, in contrast to conventional chemicals primarily affecting neurotransmission and energy production, suggests its potential efficacy in managing resistant thrips populations. Consequently, integrating JEF-350 into the chemical spray regimen or incorporating it into tank-mix formulations with chemical insecticides emerges as a pragmatic approach within the realm of integrated pest management strategies. Key points: • Beauveria treatment inhibited lysosomal function and hormone synthesis in thrips. • Thrips serine/glycine metabolism, Toll and Imd, and circadian rhythm pathways were activated. • Upstream functions of thrips hormone biosynthesis increased, while downstream functions were suppressed. • Regarding biosynthesis of metabolites, this fungus targets other pathways with resistance management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

When a severe medial wall defect is present in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), simple bone grafting (BG) may not be sufficient, and trabecular metal (TM) augmentation is often necessary. We aimed to evaluate whether there were differences in outcomes of revision THA with medial wall defects depending on the use of TM augmentation. Between 2009–2021, 130 patients were classified into two groups: 80 patients undergoing bone grafting (BG group) and 50 patients undergoing both bone grafting and TM augmentation (BG/TM group). We evaluated the postoperative center of rotation (COR) position and changes in vertical and horizontal COR at last follow-up. Additionally, we categorized the fate of the transplanted bone graft into four groups: unchanged, initially changed, resorption-no further intervention, and resorption-revision. The mean horizontal COR changes were −3.50 mm in the BG group and −1.07 mm in the BG/TM group (p = 0.005). In the BG/TM group, a higher proportion of the patients showed unchanged or only initial changes when compared to the BG group (88.0% and 65.0%, respectively). The BG/TM group showed more favorable results regarding horizontal changes in the COR and fate of the bone graft. Therefore, for revision THA in patients with severe medial wall defects, the combined use of bone graft and TM augmentation can be a suitable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factors for persistent disease activity following anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) and their long-term effects in patients to be treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) under real-world conditions. Methods: Retrospective data analysis of the PROOF study, a multi-center real-world retrospective chart review conducted across Korea in patients with nAMD included treatment-naive patients with nAMD who received first anti-VEGF (ranibizumab, bevacizumab, or aflibercept) between January 2017 and March 2019 was performed. All 600 patients (cohort 1) had a minimum follow-up of 12 months of which 453 patients (cohort 2) were followed-up for 24 months from baseline. Results: At month 12 after anti-VEGF therapy, 58.10% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 54.09, 62.12) of patients and at month 24, 66.02% of patients continued to have persistent retinal fluid. At both months 12 and 24, predictive factors for persistent disease activity were fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments (PED) (P = 0.0494) and retinal fluid at month 3 after loading phase (P = 0.0082). The mean changes in visual acuity were + 6.2, + 10.1, and + 13.3 letters and in the central subfield thickness were − 79.1 µm, − 96.3 µm, and − 134.4 µm at 12 months from baseline, in the bevacizumab, aflibercept, and ranibizumab groups, respectively. Conclusions: The presence of retinal fluid after loading phase and fibrovascular PED were predictors of persistent disease activity after at least 1 year of anti-VEGF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

We study the local interior regularity condition of a suitable weak solution to MHD equations. We prove that if a vorticity, w belong to L x , t p , q in a neighborhood of an interior point with 3 p + 2 q ≤ 2 and 3 2 < p < ∞ , then solution is regular near that point. Also, we show the result of the component reduction in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

High dimensionality and noise have limited the new biological insights that can be discovered in scRNA-seq data. While dimensionality reduction tools have been developed to extract biological signals from the data, they often require manual determination of signal dimension, introducing user bias. Furthermore, a common data preprocessing method, log normalization, can unintentionally distort signals in the data. Here, we develop scLENS, a dimensionality reduction tool that circumvents the long-standing issues of signal distortion and manual input. Specifically, we identify the primary cause of signal distortion during log normalization and effectively address it by uniformizing cell vector lengths with L2 normalization. Furthermore, we utilize random matrix theory-based noise filtering and a signal robustness test to enable data-driven determination of the threshold for signal dimensions. Our method outperforms 11 widely used dimensionality reduction tools and performs particularly well for challenging scRNA-seq datasets with high sparsity and variability. To facilitate the use of scLENS, we provide a user-friendly package that automates accurate signal detection of scRNA-seq data without manual time-consuming tuning. Single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis is limited by noise and high dimensionality. Here, authors present scLENS, a tool that automates accurate signal detection without manual input, particularly in complex datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Superconducting diode effects have recently attracted much attention for their potential applications in superconducting logic circuits. Several pathways have been proposed to give rise to non-reciprocal critical currents in various superconductors and Josephson junctions. In this work, we establish the presence of a large Josephson diode effect in a type-II Dirac semimetal 1T-PtTe2 facilitated by its helical spin-momentum locking and distinguish it from extrinsic geometric effects. The magnitude of the Josephson diode effect is shown to be directly correlated to the large second-harmonic component of the supercurrent. We denote such junctions, where the relative phase between the two harmonics can be tuned by a magnetic field, as 'tunable second order φ0-junctions'. The direct correspondence between the second harmonic supercurrents and the diode effect in 1T-PtTe2 junctions at relatively low magnetic fields makes it an ideal platform to study the Josephson diode effect and Cooper quartet transport in Josephson junctions. This work reports on the observation of a large Josephson diode effect in a type-II Dirac semimetal 1T-PtTe2. The magnitude of the Josephson diode effect is found to be related to an asymmetry of the critical supercurrent which is modeled as a phase shift between the first and second harmonic terms of the current-phase relationship and can be tuned by an external magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objective: To compare the image quality and lesion conspicuity of conventional vs deep learning (DL)-based reconstructed three-dimensional T1-weighted images in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This prospective study (NCT05182099) enrolled participants scheduled for gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI due to suspected focal liver lesions (FLLs) who provided signed informed consent. A liver MRI was conducted using a 3-T scanner. T1-weighted images were reconstructed using both conventional and DL-based (AIRTM Recon DL 3D) reconstruction algorithms. Three radiologists independently reviewed the image quality and lesion conspicuity on a 5-point scale. Results: Fifty participants (male = 36, mean age 62 ± 11 years) were included for image analysis. The DL-based reconstruction showed significantly higher image quality than conventional images in all phases (3.71–4.40 vs 3.37–3.99, p < 0.001 for all), as well as significantly less noise and ringing artifacts than conventional images (p < 0.05 for all), while also showing significantly altered image texture (p < 0.001 for all). Lesion conspicuity was significantly higher in DL-reconstructed images than in conventional images in the arterial phase (2.15 [95% confidence interval: 1.78, 2.52] vs 2.03 [1.65, 2.40], p = 0.036), but no significant difference was observed in the portal venous phase and hepatobiliary phase (p > 0.05 for all). There was no significant difference in the figure-of-merit (0.728 in DL vs 0.709 in conventional image, p = 0.474). Conclusion: DL reconstruction provided higher-quality three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging than conventional reconstruction in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI. Critical relevance statement: DL reconstruction of 3D T1-weighted images improves image quality and arterial phase lesion conspicuity in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI compared to conventional reconstruction. Key Points: DL reconstruction is feasible for 3D T1-weighted images across different spatial resolutions and phases. DL reconstruction showed superior image quality with reduced noise and ringing artifacts. Hepatic anatomic structures were more conspicuous on DL-reconstructed images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The association between self-rated health (SRH) and the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population remains underexplored. We reviewed the data of 9,895 participants in the Ansung–Ansan cohort study, a community-based Korean study. SRH was categorised as 'poor', 'fair', or 'good'. A newly developed AF was identified through biennial electrocardiography examinations and/or a self-reported history of physician-determined diagnoses. Over a median follow-up of 11 years, 149 patients (1.5%) developed AF. Compared with the 'good' group, the 'poor' group exhibited a higher risk of incident AF (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.19–2.87). Old age, female sex, lower educational level, smoking, cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease), and inflammation were associated with 'poor' SRH. Along with SRH, age, male sex, urban residence, hypertension, and myocardial infarction were also associated with a higher risk of incidental AF. The combined model, which included conventional risk factors and SRH, demonstrated a marginally improved performance in predicting incident AF (concordance index: 0.704 vs. 0.714, P = 0.058). Poor SRH is independently associated with the development of AF in Korean adults. However, it plays a limited role in AF surveillance when combined with conventional AF risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Epidemiological parameters such as the reproduction number, latent period, and infectious period provide crucial information about the spread of infectious diseases and directly inform intervention strategies. These parameters have generally been estimated by mathematical models that involve an unrealistic assumption of history-independent dynamics for simplicity. This assumes that the chance of becoming infectious during the latent period or recovering during the infectious period remains constant, whereas in reality, these chances vary over time. Here, we find that conventional approaches with this assumption cause serious bias in epidemiological parameter estimation. To address this bias, we developed a Bayesian inference method by adopting more realistic history-dependent disease dynamics. Our method more accurately and precisely estimates the reproduction number than the conventional approaches solely from confirmed cases data, which are easy to obtain through testing. It also revealed how the infectious period distribution changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 in South Korea. We also provide a user-friendly package, IONISE, that automates this method. In infectious disease models, epidemiological parameters are typically estimated assuming a exponential distributions of latent and infectious periods. Here, the authors show that adapting models to incorporate Gamma distributions produces less biased estimates when applied to the example of the early COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...