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This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of 360-degree panorama-based Virtual Reality (360VR) as a tool to simulate real-world site visit experiences in interior design education. In the first stage of evaluation, the online survey was implemented to ask students about their learning experience of using 360VR. The second stage of 360 VR effectiveness evaluation focused on the objective comparison of students learning outcomes between the 360VR method and the traditional approach. The students' experience survey results indicated that 360VR and virtual walkthrough experiences benefited students' understanding of the site during the design process. Students reflected positive 360 VR experiences on their engagement in learning, special layout, visualization, and educational effectiveness. The result of the student learning outcome evaluation showed no significant difference between 360 VR compared to no site visit. However, there was a significant improvement in students' spatial planning, finish selection, and total scores when using the 360 VR method compared to an on-site visit.

Abstract Background Medical students perceive the transition to clerkship education as stressful and challenging and view themselves as novices during their rotation in clerkship education. The developmental perspective is thus important because the transition to clerkship supports rather than hinders growth. Accordingly, this study examines medical students’ transition to clerkship and their developmental features. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 medical students or graduates who had completed clerkships as medical students. Based on Straussian grounded theory, the collected data were analyzed in terms of the differences between pre- and post-clerkship education. Results Our data analysis revealed five stages of the transition process: “anticipation and anxiety,” “reality check,” “seeking solutions,” “practical application,” and “transition and stability.” The core category, that is, “growing up from being students to being student doctors,” was driven by patients who perceived the participants as student doctors. Meanwhile, the participants recognized that having a solution that is agreed upon by colleagues was more important than knowing the correct answer. The participants undergoing the transition to clerkship showed developmental features divided into three categories: personal, social, and professional. Specifically, they attempted to balance clerkship and life through personal development, learned to navigate around the hospital and reduced tension through social development, and developed clinical competencies focused on efficiency through professional development. Conclusions This study explores the process of students’ transition to clerkship education and the developmental features that emerge during this period. The students were motivated by patients who perceived them as student doctors. Through the transition, they maintained a work-life balance and adapted to hospitals but developed an overly doctor-centered attitude by cultivating clinical competencies with a focus on efficiency. To develop them into medical professionals, it is essential to assist their transition and cultivate a patient-centered attitude.

Abstract Acrylic resins are widely used as the main components in removable orthodontic appliances. However, poor oral hygiene and maintenance of orthodontic appliances provide a suitable environment for the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, strontium-modified phosphate-based glass (Sr-PBG) was added to orthodontic acrylic resin at 0% (control), 3.75%, 7.5%, and 15% by weight to evaluate the surface and physicochemical properties of the novel material and its in vitro antifungal effect against Candida albicans (C. albicans). Surface microhardness and contact angle did not vary between the control and 3.75% Sr-PBG groups (p > 0.05), and the flexural strength was lower in the experimental groups than in the control group (p 0.05). All experimental groups showed an antifungal effect at 24 and 48 h compared to that in the control group (p

Abstract Despite the improved outcomes in patients with hematological malignancies, infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a new threat to these patients. We retrospectively reviewed the patients with hematological cancer and bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) at a tertiary hospital between 2003 and 2022 to assess the impact of MDROs on outcomes. Among 328 BSIs, 81 (24.7%) were caused by MDROs. MDRO rates increased from 10.3% (2003–2007) to 39.7% (2018–2022) (P

Abstract Inside germinal centers (GCs), antigen-specific B cells rely on precise interactions with immune cells and strategic localization between the dark and light zones to clonally expand, undergo affinity maturation, and differentiate into long-lived plasma cells or memory B cells. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, the key gatekeepers of GC-dependent humoral immunity, exhibit remarkable dynamic positioning within secondary lymphoid tissues and rely on intercellular interactions with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) during their differentiation and execution of B-cell-facilitating functions within GCs. In this review, we briefly cover the transcriptional regulation of Tfh cell differentiation and function and explore the molecular mechanisms governing Tfh cell motility, their interactions with B cells within GCs, and the impact of their dynamic behavior on humoral responses.

Abstract Purpose Students report various motives for attending university (MAU) grouped under five categories, namely, personal–intellectual development (PER), humanitarian (HUM), careerist–materialist (CAR), expectation-driven (EXP), and uncertain motives. Although the literature demonstrates that these motives exert an influence on learning and achievement, relatively less attention is given to this issue in the context of dental students. This study aimed to examine the relationship among the mindsets, MAU, academic engagement (AE), and DAL of dental students and to test the mediating effect of AE on the relationship between MAU and deep approach to learning (DAL). Methods The study recruited 226 dental students at various levels of the curriculum, who responded to four questionnaires for measuring MAU, DAL, mindsets, and AE. The study employed structural equation modeling to analyze the mediation effects of AE on the relationship between MAU and DAL and to determine the influence of mindsets on MAU. Results This model reveals the significant relationships of a growth mindset with CAR, PER, and HUM. Moreover, the study finds that a fixed mindset was associated with CAR, EXP, and uncertain motives. Furthermore, AE only fully mediated the significant positive relationship between PER and DAL, whereas CAR negatively predicted DAL without a mediator. Conclusions These findings suggest that administering the inventories in a dental school setting can facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of students’ mindsets toward learning and effective processes related to learning. This understanding can inform instructors’ pedagogical practices, enabling them to provide more effective guidance to students navigating the complexities of academic coursework.

Adult-onset diabetes increases one’s risk of neurodegenerative disease including Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, the risk associated with youth-onset diabetes (Y-DM) remains underexplored. We quantified plasma biomarkers of neurodegeneration and AD in participants with Y-DM from the SEARCH cohort at adolescence and young adulthood (Type 1, n = 25; Type 2, n = 25; 59% female; adolescence, age = 15 y/o [2.6]; adulthood, age = 27.4 y/o [2.2]), comparing them with controls (adolescence, n = 25, age = 14.8 y/o [2.7]; adulthood, n = 21, age = 24.9 y/o [2.8]). Plasma biomarkers, including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain protein (NfL), phosphorylated tau-181 (pTau181), and amyloid beta (Aβ40, Aβ42), were measured via Simoa. A subset of participants (n = 7; age = 27.5 y/o [5.7]) and six controls (age = 25.1 y/o [4.5]) underwent PET scans to quantify brain amyloid and tau densities in AD sensitive brain regions. Y-DM adolescents exhibited lower plasma levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, and GFAP, and higher pTau181 compared to controls (p < 0.05), a pattern persisting into adulthood (p < 0.001). All biomarkers showed significant increases from adolescence to adulthood in Y-DM (p < 0.01), though no significant differences in brain amyloid or tau were noted between Y-DM and controls in adulthood. Preliminary evidence suggests that preclinical AD neuropathology is present in young people with Y-DM, indicating a potential increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract The axle box of high-speed train adopts double row tapered roller bearings as transmission parts, and the reliability of bearings directly affects the safety of train operation. Tapered roller bearings can withstand axial and radial loads, their service life being closely related to the distribution of contact stress. The test object is the axle box bearing of high-speed train. According to bearing’s structural characteristics, based on the digital speckle correlation method (DSCM) and machine vision, the contact stress distribution detection devices for rollers and complete sets of bearings are developed respectively and an effective detection method is proposed. The contact stress data of the bearing which has reached the service life and the new bearing under the condition of no lubrication and grease lubrication are collected and normalized. Through the geometric relationship, based on the measured data of the selected detection points, the normal and tangential contact stress distribution of the roller and raceway under different contact conditions is obtained by data fitting. The test can be used as an evaluation basis for the effectiveness of bearing modification and provide reference for bearing design.

Abstract Sarcopenia, the progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and function, is observed in various conditions, including cancer and aging. The complex molecular biology of sarcopenia has posed challenges for the development of FDA-approved medications, which have mainly focused on dietary supplementation. Targeting a single gene may not be sufficient to address the broad range of processes involved in muscle loss. This study analyzed the gene expression signatures associated with cancer formation and 5-FU chemotherapy-induced muscle wasting. Our findings suggest that dimenhydrinate, a combination of 8-chlorotheophylline and diphenhydramine, is a potential therapeutic for sarcopenia. In vitro experiments demonstrated that dimenhydrinate promotes muscle progenitor cell proliferation through the phosphorylation of Nrf2 by 8-chlorotheophylline and promotes myotube formation through diphenhydramine-induced autophagy. Furthermore, in various in vivo sarcopenia models, dimenhydrinate induced rapid muscle tissue regeneration. It improved muscle regeneration in animals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facilitated muscle and fat recovery in animals with chemotherapy-induced sarcopenia. As an FDA-approved drug, dimenhydrinate could be applied for sarcopenia treatment after a relatively short development period, providing hope for individuals suffering from this debilitating condition.

Purpose This study assessed the alignment between Korean medical schools’ mission statements (MSs) and Korean Doctor’s Role (KDR) domains, considering school characteristics. Methods We analyzed the South Korean medical school’s MS characteristics using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis preprocessed MS text data to identify concept words, while qualitative content analysis categorized information into predefined KDR domains and extracted themes from other parts. Results At the KDR domain level, “social accountability” was the most frequent, followed by “education and research” and “patient care,” while “professionalism” had the least frequency. At the competency level, the most frequent domains were “involvement in public and global health initiatives,” while “self-regulation based on professional leadership” and “professionalism and self-management” were not present. Conclusion The study found that the majority of MSs had a homogeneous pattern and included traditional themes. Medical schools should evaluate and incorporate missing elements in their MSs to reflect the institution’s own purpose and current societal needs.

Abstract Background To improve the medical professionalism of medical students, it is essential to understand the dilemmas they face in various situations. This study explored the types and distribution of dilemmas Korean medical students encounter during their clinical clerkships. It then compared these with previous dilemma frameworks and identified the types and distribution of “complexity dilemmas,” wherein two dilemma themes emerge in a single clinical situation. Methods The researchers organized and recorded a group discussion with 106 third-year medical students who had completed their clinical clerkships. These students participated in the discussion as part of an assignment, focusing on the dilemmas they encountered during their clerkships. For data analysis and visualization, the researchers employed the MAXQDA software program and utilized the template analysis method, a qualitative research methodology. Results A total of seven dilemma themes and sixteen sub-themes were identified. The identity-related dilemma concerning student-doctors had the highest frequency. The themes “mismatch” and “Nun-chi” emerged as new additions not found in previous dilemma frameworks. The complexity dilemmas appeared in the sequence of “identity-dignity,” “identity-abuse,” and “identity-consent”. Conclusions To navigate the unique dilemmas present within South Korea’s clinical culture, several key issues need consideration: elevating the role of student-doctors, balancing the primary emphasis of educational hospitals on delivering medical services, and understanding interpersonal strategies, such as “Nun-chi”.

Screen summarization aims to generate concise textual descriptions that communicate the crucial contents and functionalities of a mobile user interface (UI) screen. A UI screen consists of objects with a hierarchical structure that are tightly interconnected, and each object contains multimodal data such as images, texts, and bounding boxes. Considering these characteristics, previous works encoded the absolute position of objects at the view hierarchy to extract the semantic representation of the UI screen. However, the importance of the hierarchical dependency between objects in the UI structure was overlooked. In this study, we propose an object-wise hierarchical dependency-based Transformer named OHiFormer. OHiFormer considers the objects on the UI screen as tokens in natural language processing and leverages the Transformer to capture the mutual relationships between objects. Moreover, OHiFormer includes a modified self-attention mechanism using structural relative position encoding to represent the hierarchically connected UI. Experimental results demonstrate that OHiFormer outperforms benchmark models in the BLEU 1, BLEU 2, BLEU 3, BLEU 4, ROUGE-L, and CIDEr metrics by 3.63%, 2.1%, 0.12%, 1.8%, 2.38%, and 17.58%, respectively, on the Screen Summarization dataset. Furthermore, our proposed UI structural representation method achieves remarkable performance on complex UIs with numerous objects compared to other structural position encoding methods. Finally, a visualization of the self-attention heatmaps demonstrates how OHiFormer reflects the hierarchical dependencies between objects. By reflecting hierarchical dependencies hidden in the visual layout of the UI, OHiFormer not only improves the quality of summaries but also offers the potential for applications in mobile apps and systems containing numerous interactive objects.

Abstract Background Parthanatos represents a critical molecular aspect of Parkinson's disease, wherein AIMP2 aberrantly activates PARP-1 through direct physical interaction. Although AIMP2 ought to be a therapeutic target for the disease, regrettably, it is deemed undruggable due to its non-enzymatic nature and predominant localization within the tRNA synthetase multi-complex. Instead, AIMP2 possesses an antagonistic splice variant, designated DX2, which counteracts AIMP2-induced apoptosis in the p53 or inflammatory pathway. Consequently, we examined whether DX2 competes with AIMP2 for PARP-1 activation and is therapeutically effective in Parkinson’s disease. Methods The binding affinity of AIMP2 and DX2 to PARP-1 was contrasted through immunoprecipitation. The efficacy of DX2 in neuronal cell death was assessed under 6-OHDA and H2O2 in vitro conditions. Additionally, endosomal and exosomal activity of synaptic vesicles was gauged in AIMP2 or DX2 overexpressed hippocampal primary neurons utilizing optical live imaging with VAMP-vGlut1 probes. To ascertain the role of DX2 in vivo, rotenone-induced behavioral alterations were compared between wild-type and DX2 transgenic animals. A DX2-encoding self-complementary adeno-associated virus (scAAV) was intracranially injected into 6-OHDA induced in vivo animal models, and their mobility was examined. Subsequently, the isolated brain tissues were analyzed. Results DX2 translocates into the nucleus upon ROS stress more rapidly than AIMP2. The binding affinity of DX2 to PARP-1 appeared to be more robust compared to that of AIMP2, resulting in the inhibition of PARP-1 induced neuronal cell death. DX2 transgenic animals exhibited neuroprotective behavior in rotenone-induced neuronal damage conditions. Following a single intracranial injection of AAV-DX2, both behavior and mobility were consistently ameliorated in neurodegenerative animal models induced by 6-OHDA. Conclusion AIMP2 and DX2 are proposed to engage in bidirectional regulation of parthanatos. They physically interact with PARP-1. Notably, DX2's cell survival properties manifest exclusively in the context of abnormal AIMP2 accumulation, devoid of any tumorigenic effects. This suggests that DX2 could represent a distinctive therapeutic target for addressing Parkinson's disease in patients.

Abstract Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease that impairs bone mineral density, microarchitecture, and strength. It requires continuous management, and further research into new treatment options is necessary. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibits bone resorption and osteoclast activity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stepwise administration of OPG-encoded minicircles (mcOPG) and a bone formation regulator, parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP)-encoded minicircles (mcPTHrP) in osteoporosis. The combined treatment with mcOPG and mcPTHrP significantly increased osteogenic marker expression in osteoblast differentiation compared with the single treatment groups. A model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was established in 12-week-old female rats through ovariectomy (OVX). After 8 weeks of OVX, mcOPG (80 µg/kg) was administered via intravenous injection. After 16 weeks of OVX, mcPTHrP (80 µg/kg) was injected once a week for 3 weeks. The bone microstructure in the femur was evaluated 24 weeks after OVX using micro-CT. In a proof-of-concept study, stepwise treatment with mcOPG and mcPTHrP on an OVX rat model significantly improved bone microstructure compared to treatment with mcOPG or mcPTHrP alone. These results suggest that stepwise treatment with mcOPG and mcPTHrP may be a potential treatment for osteoporosis.

Background Video-recordings review of patient encounters is reported to improve the clinical performance of medical students. However, evidence on specific remediation strategies or outcomes are lacking. We aimed to implement videorecording-based remediation of standardized patient encounters among medical students, combined with preceptor one-on-one feedback or peer group discussion, and evaluate the effectiveness of the two remediation methods using objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).Methods Following standardized patient encounters, 107 final-year medical students were divided into two groups based on different remediation methods of video review: (1) precepted video review with preceptor feedback (N = 55) and (2) private video review and subsequent peer group discussion under supervision (N = 52). All students underwent twelve-stations of OSCE both before and after the video review. Students’ pre- and post-remediation OSCE scores, self-efficacy level in patient encounters, and level of educational satisfaction with each method were assessed and compared between different video-based remediation methods to evaluate their respective effects.Results After remediation, the total and subcomponent OSCE scores, such as history taking, physical examination, and patient – physician interaction (PPI), among all students increased significantly. Post-remediation OSCE scores showed no significant difference between two remediation methods (preceptor module, 79.6 ± 4.3 vs. peer module, 79.4 ± 3.8 in the total OSCE score). Students’ self-efficacy levels increased after remediation in both modules (both p-value

ABSTRACTVanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have received significant attention for use in large-scale energy storage systems (ESSs) because of their long cycle life, flexible capacity, power design, and safety. However, the poor electrochemical activity of the conventionally used carbon felt electrode results in low energy efficiency of the VRFBs and consequently impedes their commercialization. In this study, a carbon felt (CF) electrode with numerous nanopores and robust oxygen-containing functional groups at its edge sites is designed to improve the electrochemical activity of a carbon felt electrode. To achieve this, Ni metal nanoparticles were initially precipitated on the surface of the CF electrode, followed by etching of the precipitated Ni nanoparticles on the CF electrode using sulfuric acid. The resulting CF electrode had a specific surface area eight times larger than that of the pristine CF electrode. In addition, the oxygen-containing functional groups anchored at the graphite edge sites of the nanopores can act as robust electrocatalysts for VO2+/VO2+ and V2+/V3+ redox reactions. Consequently, the VRFB cell with the resulting carbon felt electrode can deliver a high energy efficiency of 86.2% at the current density of 60 mA cm−2, which is 20% higher than that of the VRFB cell with the conventionally heat-treated CF electrode. Furthermore, the VRFB cell with the resultant carbon felt electrodes showed stable cycling performance with no considerable energy efficiency loss over 200 charge-discharge cycles. In addition, even at a high current density of 160 mA cm−2 , the developed carbon felt electrode can achieve an energy efficiency of 70.1%.

Dopamine-modified hyaluronic acid (DA-HA) has been initially developed as an efficient coating and adhesion material for industrial uses. However, the biological activity and safety of DA-HA in the brain have not been explored yet. Here, we report a series of evidence that DA-HA exhibits similar functionality as dopamine (DA), but with much lower toxicity arising from autoxidation. DA-HA shows very little autoxidation even after 48-h incubation. This is profoundly different from DA and its derivatives including l-DOPA, which all induce severe neuronal death after pre-autoxidation, indicating that autoxidation is the cause of neuronal death. Furthermore, in vivo injection of DA-HA induces significantly lower toxicity compared to 6-OHDA, a well-known oxidized and toxic form of DA, and alleviates the apomorphine-induced rotational behavior in the 6-OHDA animal model of Parkinson's disease. Our study proposes that DA-HA with DA-like functionalities and minimal toxicity has a great potential to treat DA-related disease.

Abstract Objectives Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is a low‐cost approach for cervical cancer screening used in most low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) but, similar to other visual tests, is subjective and requires sustained training and quality assurance. We developed, trained, and validated an artificial‐intelligence‐based “Automated Visual Evaluation” (AVE) tool that can be adapted to run on smartphones to assess smartphone‐captured images of the cervix and identify precancerous lesions, helping augment VIA performance. Design Prospective study. Setting Eight public health facilities in Zambia. Participants A total of 8204 women aged 25–55. Interventions Cervical images captured on commonly used low‐cost smartphone models were matched with key clinical information including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) status, plus histopathology analysis (where applicable), to develop and train an AVE algorithm and evaluate its performance for use as a primary screen and triage test for women who are HPV positive. Main Outcome Measures Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC); sensitivity; specificity. Results As a general population screening tool for cervical precancerous lesions, AVE identified cases of cervical precancerous and cancerous (CIN2+) lesions with high performance (AUC = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89–0.93), which translates to a sensitivity of 85% (95% CI = 81%–90%) and specificity of 86% (95% CI = 84%–88%) based on maximizing the Youden's index. This represents a considerable improvement over naked eye VIA, which as per a meta‐analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has a sensitivity of 66% and specificity of 87%. For women living with HIV, the AUC of AVE was 0.91 (95% CI = 0.88–0.93), and among those testing positive for high‐risk HPV types, the AUC was 0.87 (95% CI = 0.83–0.91). Conclusions These results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing AVE on images captured using a commonly available smartphone by nurses in a screening program, and support our ongoing efforts for moving to more broadly evaluate AVE for its clinical sensitivity, specificity, feasibility, and acceptability across a wider range of settings. Limitations of this study include potential inflation of performance estimates due to verification bias (as biopsies were only obtained from participants with visible aceto‐white cervical lesions) and due to this being an internal validation (the test data, while independent from that used to develop the algorithm was drawn from the same study).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the Limosilactobacillus reuteri ID-D01 (ID-D01) lactic acid bacteria probiotic on exercise performance and muscle fatigue in C57BL/6 mice. ID-D01 improved exercise endurance by extending treadmill running time and forced swimming duration. Moreover, mice treated with ID-D01 exhibited increased quadriceps muscle tissue weight, suggesting a potential for enhancing muscle growth. Serum analysis showed decreased muscle fatigue markers, and lower levels of lactate, and ammonia, indicating reduced exercise-induced fatigue. ID-D01 also affected intramuscular factors such as citrate synthase and glycogen. Notably, citrate synthase levels increased, indicating improved aerobic capacity, while intramuscular glycogen decreased. ID-D01 decreased reactive oxygen species and increased antioxidant enzymes SOD2 and catalase, in muscle tissue. This study identifies the potential of ID-D01 to improve exercise performance and relieve muscle fatigue. Further, it provides a rationale for the development of ID-D01-based functional supplements for individuals who are physically active.

Abstract High-density lipoprotein (HDL) therapy has demonstrated beneficial effects in acute stroke and acute myocardial infarction models by reducing infarct size. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of reconstituted HDL (rHDL) on neointimal hyperplasia and elucidated its underlying mechanism using a balloon injury rat model. Our finding revealed a significant 37% reduction in the intima to media ratio in the arteries treated with 80 mg/kg rHDL compared to those subjected to injury alone (p

ABSTRACTCanine C-reactive protein (cCRP) is one of the major positive acute phase proteins in dogs and is commonly measured to detect and monitor systemic inflammation as well as the efficacy of treatment. Traditional methods for testing cCPR, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), have some drawbacks, such as a long time for diagnosis and the requirement of well-equipped laboratories. Therefore, there is a need for a rapid and precise diagnostic test for cCRP at point-of-care. This study assessed the accuracy, precision, and validated clinical effectiveness of a diagnostic test based on fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay to detect cCRP. For the standard cCRP concentration ranging from 0 to 200 μg/mL, the cCRP diagnostic test showed strong linearity with R2 of 0.9977 (p

Abstract The industrial potential of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has extended beyond its traditional use in fermentation to various applications, including recombinant protein production. Herein, comparative genomics was performed with three industrial S. cerevisiae strains and revealed a heterozygous diploid genome for the 98‐5 and KSD‐YC strains (exploited for rice wine fermentation) and a haploid genome for strain Y2805 (used for recombinant protein production). Phylogenomic analysis indicated that Y2805 was closely associated with the reference strain S288C, whereas KSD‐YC and 98‐5 were grouped with Asian and European wine strains, respectively. Particularly, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in FDC1, involved in the biosynthesis of 4‐vinylguaiacol (4‐VG, a phenolic compound with a clove‐like aroma), was found in KSD‐YC, consistent with its lack of 4‐VG production. Phenotype microarray (PM) analysis showed that KSD‐YC and 98‐5 displayed broader substrate utilization than S288C and Y2805. The SNPs detected by genome comparison were mapped to the genes responsible for the observed phenotypic differences. In addition, detailed information on the structural organization of Y2805 selection markers was validated by Sanger sequencing. Integrated genomics and PM analysis elucidated the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of industrial S. cerevisiae strains, providing a platform to improve fermentation processes and genetic manipulation.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of differences in muscle function training of Taekwondo sparring athletes on body composition, basic physical fitness, isokinetic muscle function, and electronic hogu hitting ability, and to present basic data for a training program for Taekwondo sparring athletes. METHODS This study randomly sampled 25(M: 20, F: 5) Taekwondo sparring athletes. The sampled subjects were divided into a weight training group (n=8), a plyometric training(plyometric) group (n=8), and a control group (n=9) and trained for 60 minutes, 5 times a week, for 12 weeks. Body composition, basic physical fitness, isokinetic muscle function, and electronic hogu hitting ability were evaluated before and after training. Statistical tests of RM Two-way ANOVA were conducted to verify the interaction between groups and times, main effects of times, and main effects between groups according to 12 weeks of training. Post-hoc was conducted using paired-T test(times) and One-way ANOVA test(groups). RESULTS Taekwondo sparring athletes showed positive changes in body composition(weight, BMI, Lean body mass, % body fat, WHR), basic physical fitness(muscle endurance, flexibility), isokinetic muscle function(knee endurance, low back strength), and electronic hogu hitting ability(round house kick, Turning back kick, number of hit) after participating in weight training for 12 weeks (All p

Abstract Canine mammary gland tumors (CMTs) are the most common and lethal cancers in female dogs. Dysregulated phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/AKT pathway reportedly was involved in the growth and metastasis of CMTs. However, there are few studies on therapeutic strategies for targeting the PI3K pathway in CMTs. In this study, we aimed to determine whether palmatine, a natural isoquinoline alkaloid with anti-cancer properties, could inhibit the growth of CMTs and whether the inhibitory effect was mediated through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our in vitro experiments on CMT-U27, a CMT cell line, showed that palmatine reduced cell proliferation and induced cell death. Western blotting results revealed that palmatine decreased the protein expression of PI3K, PTEN, AKT, and mechanistic target of rapamycin in the PI3K/AKT pathway, which was supported by the results of immunocytochemistry. Additionally, palmatine suppressed the migration and tube formation of canine aortic endothelial cells as well as the migration of CMT U27 cells. Our in vivo results showed that palmatine inhibited tumor growth in a CMT-U27 mouse xenograft model. We observed a decreased expression of proteins in the PI3K/AKT pathway in tumor tissues, similar to the in vitro results. Furthermore, palmatine significantly disrupted the tumor vasculature and inhibited metastasis to adjacent lymph nodes. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that palmatine exerts anti-cancer effects against CMTs by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, suggesting that palmatine has potential as a canine-specific PI3K inhibitor for the treatment of CMTs.

X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is a hereditary retinal degeneration affecting young males caused by mutations in the retinoschisin (RS1) gene. We generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from XLRS patients and established three-dimensional retinal organoids (ROs) for disease investigation. This disease model recapitulates the characteristics of XLRS, exhibiting defects in RS1 protein production and photoreceptor cell development. XLRS ROs also revealed dysregulation of Na/K-ATPase due to RS1 deficiency and increased ERK signaling pathway activity. Transcriptomic analyses of XLRS ROs showed decreased expression of retinal cells, particularly photoreceptor cells. Furthermore, relevant recovery of the XLRS phenotype was observed when co-cultured with control ROs derived from healthy subject during the early stages of differentiation. In conclusion, our in vitro XLRS RO model presents a valuable tool for elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying XLRS, offering insights into disease progression. Additionally, this model serves as a robust platform for the development and optimization of targeted therapeutic strategies, potentially improving treatment outcomes for patients with XLRS.

Extensive research has been conducted on the in vitro mass propagation of pear (Pyrus spp.) trees through vegetative propagation, demonstrating high efficiency in shoot multiplication across various pear species. However, the low in vitro rooting rates remain a significant barrier to the practical application and commercialization of mass propagation. This study aims to determine the favorable conditions for inducing root formation in the in vitro microshoots of Pyrus genotypes. The base of the microshoots was exposed to a high concentration (2 mg L−1) of auxins (a combination of IBA and NAA) for initial root induction at the moment when callus formation begins. The microshoots were then transferred to an R1 medium (1/2 MS with 30 g L−1 sucrose without PGRs) to promote root development. This method successfully induced rooting in three European pear varieties, one Asian pear variety, and a European–Asian hybrid, resulting in rooting rates of 66.7%, 87.2%, and 100% for the European pear (P. communis), 60% for the Asian pear (P. pyrifolia), and 83.3% for the hybrid pear (P. pyrifolia × P. communis) with an average of 25 days. In contrast, the control group (MS medium) exhibited rooting rates of 0–13.3% after 60 days of culture. These findings will enhance in vitro root induction for various pear varieties and support the mass propagation and acclimatization of pear. The in vitro root induction method developed in this study has the potential for global commercial application in pear cultivation.