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This study synthesized the effect of performance-based funding (hereafter, PBF) through multi-stages of a systematic literature review based on 36 articles. In addition, this study analyzes how policy design relates to the effectiveness of PBF in individual states. Similar to other meta-analyses, this study found that PBF policy is not effective in improving completion and equity of higher education institutions in the US. Further, this study assumed that there might be some positive effects of PBF on institutional performance in the states that maintained it for more than seven consecutive years. Specifically, this study assumed that some policy details such as institutional types, funding method (baseline or bonus), share of funding linked to institutional performance, and funding metrics were related to policy effects. However, this systematic review found that a majority of evaluative studies arrived at inconclusive results across different types of policy designs. One notable finding is that 2-year institutions show more positive results than 4-year institutions. In addition, this study found that statistically significant effects are both positive and negative. Based on the findings of the selected evaluative studies, this review concluded that PBF policy is not very successful in improving institutional performance across different types of policy designs in each state.

Abstract The Ames test is used worldwide to initially screen the mutagenic potential of new chemicals. In the standard Ames test, S. typhimurium strains (TA100, TA98, TA1535, and TA1537) and Escherichia coli (WP2uvrA) are treated with substances with/without cytochrome P450s (CYPs)-induced rat S9 fractions for identifying mutagens and pro-mutagens. However, many substances show completely different toxicity patterns depending on whether the liver S9 fraction belongs to rats or humans. The natural product Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) can also show bacterial reverse mutation, followed by the rat or human liver S9 fraction. While PMR elicits reverse mutations in the TA1537 strain in rat liver S9 but not in human liver S9, this mechanism has not been verified yet. To explain this, the differences in metabolic enzymes compositions commonly observed between rats and humans have been implicated. This study aimed to explore the key factors that cause differences in the genotoxicity of PMR between rat and human liver S9 metabolic enzymes. The results of next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis showed that both rat and human metabolic enzymes caused similar mutations in TA1537. However, when the metabolic enzymes in each S9 fraction were analyzed using ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (IM-MS), rat- and human-specific enzymes were identified among the cytochrome (CYP) family, especially aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-related CYPs. These findings suggest that CYP1A1 isoforms contribute to the mechanism of PMR in the Ames test. Therefore, an in vitro Ames test might be more reliable in predicting genotoxicity for both rodents and humans. This will also help overcome the limitations of laboratory animal-based toxicity evaluations, which provide unreliable results due to interspecies differences between humans and rodents.

Abstract Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified over fifty loci associated with lung cancer risk. However, underlying mechanisms and target genes are largely unknown, as most risk-associated variants might regulate gene expression in a context-specific manner. Here, we generate a barcode-shared transcriptome and chromatin accessibility map of 117,911 human lung cells from age/sex-matched ever- and never-smokers to profile context-specific gene regulation. Identified candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) are largely cell type-specific, with 37% detected in one cell type. Colocalization of lung cancer candidate causal variants (CCVs) with these cCREs combined with transcription factor footprinting prioritize the variants for 68% of the GWAS loci. CCV-colocalization and trait relevance score indicate that epithelial and immune cell categories, including rare cell types, contribute to lung cancer susceptibility the most. A multi-level cCRE-gene linking system identifies candidate susceptibility genes from 57% of the loci, where most loci display cell-category-specific target genes, suggesting context-specific susceptibility gene function.

Abstract Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensors measure the local slopes of an incoming wavefront based on the displacement of focal spots created by a lenslet array, serving as key components for adaptive optics for astronomical and biomedical imaging. Traditionally, the challenges in increasing the density and the curvature of the lenslet have limited the use of such wavefront sensors in characterizing slowly varying wavefront structures. Here, we develop a metasurface-enhanced Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor (meta SHWFS) to break this limit, considering the interplay between the lenslet parameters and the performance of SHWFS. We experimentally validate the meta SHWFS with a sampling density of 5963 per mm2 and a maximum acceptance angle of 8° which outperforms the traditional SFWFS by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, we demonstrate the first use of a wavefront sensing scheme in single-shot phase imaging of highly complex patterns, including biological tissue patterns. The proposed approach opens up new opportunities in incorporating exceptional light manipulation capabilities of the metasurface platform in complex wavefront characterization.

Objective This study aimed to determine the effects of increasing energy and protein levels in diets by including protected fat (PF), glycerol (GL), and soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, physiological parameters, carcass characteristics, and behavioral measurements of late-fattening Hanwoo steers under heat stress conditions. Methods Thirty-six steers (initial body weight, 724.9±58.3 kg; age, 25.5±0.4 month) were assigned into control (total digestible nutrient [TDN] 76%, crude protein [CP] 15%), PF (TDN 83.6%, CP 15%), PF+GL (TDN 83.6%, CP 15%) and PF+GL+SBM (TDN 83.6%, CP 16.5%) by randomized complete block design for a total of 16 weeks with division of 4-week periods. The average temperature-humidity index was 87.0 (1st period; severe), 82.8 (2nd; moderate), 71.4 (3rd; comfort), and 68.1 (4th; comfort). Results The dry matter intake (DMI) showed no treatments differences during the whole experiment. However, DMI in 1st and 2nd period decreased by approximately 30% and 10% compared to 4th period, respectively. Higher average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were noted for treatments compared to control at both 1st and 2nd period (p

Abstract Soybean seeds are excellent sources of tocopherols, B vitamins, and isoflavones, which are well known for their health benefits. This study investigated the influence of environment and genotype on these constituents across 13 Korean soybean varieties cultivated in three locations during the 2017–2019 growing seasons. Statistical analyses, employing both univariate and multivariate methods, revealed significant impacts of genetic and environmental factors on the composition of tocopherols, B vitamins, and isoflavones. Through permutational univariate analysis of variance, the primary contributors to each measured component were identified. Genotype strongly influenced the levels of β- and δ-tocopherols, whereas the interaction between location and year predominantly affected α- and γ-tocopherols. Vitamin B1 content was predominantly determined by genotype, whereas B3 and B6 were influenced by annual variations. Vitamin B2 level was primarily affected by the interplay between environmental and genotypic effects. Genotype had a significant effect on isoflavone components, with the exception of daidzein. Furthermore, early maturing varieties and those with black seed coats exhibited low levels of isoflavone components and total isoflavones, suggesting a relationship between maturity group and seed coat color in isoflavone variation. These findings can be used as reference values for compositional equivalence assessment of genetically modified soybeans.

Despite the recognized clinical significance of vitamin D deficiency in other solid organ transplant recipients, its specific relevance in lung transplantation remains to be fully understood. In this study, we performed a retrospective observational study on the impact of vitamin D deficiency on clinical outcomes and prognosis in 125 lung transplant recipients (LTRs) from October 2014 to March 2020 at a university hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Among 125 LTRs, 51 patients (40.8%) were vitamin D deficient. LTRs in the vitamin D-deficient group exhibited a higher incidence of post-transplant pneumonia and overall mortality than those with normal vitamin D levels during the follow-up period. This trend persisted when subjects were stratified into vitamin D tertiles. Furthermore, post-transplant vitamin D levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) significantly impacted pneumonia incidence and survival outcomes. Prognosis also varied based on cumulative vitamin D supplementation after transplantation, with patients receiving higher cumulative supplementation demonstrating improved prognosis. Our findings underscore the importance of assessing and maintaining optimal vitamin D levels post-transplantation, suggesting a potential avenue for improving outcomes in lung transplant recipients, especially in mitigating infection risk and enhancing long-term survival. Further research into optimal vitamin D levels and supplementation strategies in this population is warranted.

Paulownin, a natural compound derived from Paulownia tomentosa wood, exhibits various physiological functions, including anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects. However, the impact of paulownin on natural killer (NK) cell immune activity remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of paulownin on NK cell activity both in vitro and in vivo, and explored its potential mechanisms. NK-92 cells were used for in vitro experiments and a BALB/c mouse model with B16F10 cells injected subcutaneously were used for in vivo anti-tumor analysis. We found that paulownin enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK-92 cells against leukemia, human colon, and human lung cancer cell lines. Paulownin treatment increased the expression of the degranulation marker protein CD107a and cytolytic granules, including granzyme B and perforin in NK-92 cells. Moreover, these enhancements of cytotoxicity and the expression of cytolytic granules induced by paulownin were also observed in human primary NK cells. Signaling studies showed that paulownin promoted the phosphorylation of JNK. The increased perforin expression and elevated cytotoxic activity induced by paulownin were effectively inhibited by pre-treatment with a JNK inhibitor. In vivo studies demonstrated that the administration of paulownin suppressed the growth of B16F10 melanoma cells allografted into mice. Paulownin administration promoted the activation of NK cells in the spleen of mice, resulting in enhanced cytotoxicity against YAC-1 cells. Moreover, the anti-tumor effects of paulownin were reduced upon the depletion of NK cells. Therefore, these results suggest that paulownin enhances NK cell cytotoxicity by activating the JNK signaling pathway and provide significant implications for developing new strategies for cancer immunotherapy.

Adipogenesis is a process that differentiates new adipocytes from precursor cells and is tightly regulated by several factors, including many transcription factors and various post-translational modifications. Recently, new roles of adipogenesis have been suggested in various diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms and functional modulation of these adipogenic genes remain poorly understood. This review summarizes the regulatory factors and modulators of adipogenesis and discusses future research directions to identify novel mechanisms regulating adipogenesis and the effects of adipogenic regulators in pathological conditions. The master adipogenic transcriptional factors PPARγ and C/EBPα were identified along with other crucial regulatory factors such as SREBP, Kroxs, STAT5, Wnt, FOXO1, SWI/SNF, KLFs, and PARPs. These transcriptional factors regulate adipogenesis through specific mechanisms, depending on the adipogenic stage. However, further studies related to the in vivo role of newly discovered adipogenic regulators and their function in various diseases are needed to develop new potent therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and cancer.

Abstract Acute phase proteins involved in chronic inflammatory diseases have not been systematically analyzed. Here, global proteome profiling of serum and urine revealed that orosomucoid-2 (ORM2), an acute phase reactant, was differentially expressed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and showed the highest fold change. Therefore, we questioned the extent to which ORM2, which is produced mainly in the liver, actively participates in rheumatoid inflammation. Surprisingly, ORM2 expression was upregulated in the synovial fluids and synovial membranes of RA patients. The major cell types producing ORM2 were synovial macrophages and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from RA patients. Recombinant ORM2 robustly increased IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL8 (IL-8), and CCL2 production by RA macrophages and FLSs via the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways. Interestingly, glycophorin C, a membrane protein for determining erythrocyte shape, was the receptor for ORM2. Intra-articular injection of ORM2 increased the severity of arthritis in mice and accelerated the infiltration of macrophages into the affected joints. Moreover, circulating ORM2 levels correlated with RA activity and radiographic progression. In conclusion, the acute phase protein ORM2 can directly increase the production of proinflammatory mediators and promote chronic arthritis in mice, suggesting that ORM2 could be a new therapeutic target for RA.

Abstract Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4K4) has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target in cancer. In this study, we explored the biological function of MAP4K4 in radioresistant breast cancer cells using two MAP4K4 inhibitors, namely PF06260933 and GNE-495. Radioresistant SR and MR cells were established by exposing SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells to 48–70 Gy of radiation delivered at 4–5 Gy twice a week over 10 months. Surprisingly, although radioresistant cells were derived from two different subtypes of breast cancer cell lines, MAP4K4 was significantly elevated regardless of subtype. Inhibition of MAP4K4 with PF06260933 or GNE-495 selectively targeted radioresistant cells and improved the response to irradiation. Furthermore, MAP4K4 inhibitors induced apoptosis through the accumulation of DNA damage by inhibiting DNA repair systems in radioresistant cells. Notably, Inhibition of MAP4K4 suppressed the expressions of ACSL4, suggesting that MAP4K4 functioned as an upstream effector of ACSL4. This study is the first to report that MAP4K4 plays a crucial role in mediating the radioresistance of breast cancer by acting upstream of ACSL4 to enhance DNA damage response and inhibit apoptosis. We hope that our findings provide a basis for the development of new drugs targeting MAP4K4 to overcome radioresistance.

Abstract Background Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 1 (RhoGDI1) plays an important role in diverse cellular processes by regulating Rho guanosine triphosphate (GTP)ases activity. RhoGDI1 phosphorylation regulates the spatiotemporal activation of Rho GTPases during cell migration. In this study, we identified polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) as a novel kinase of RhoGDI1 and investigated the molecular mechanism by which the interaction between RhoGDI1 and PLK1 regulates cancer cell migration. Methods Immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down assay, and proximity ligation assay (PLA) were performed to analyze the interaction between RhoGDI1 and PLK1. In vitro kinase assay and immunoprecipitation were performed with Phospho-(Ser/Thr) antibody. We evaluated RhoA activation using RhoGTPases activity assay. Cell migration and invasion were analyzed by transwell assays. Results GST pull-down assays and PLA showed that PLK1 directly interacted with RhoGDI1 in vitro and in vivo. Truncation mutagenesis revealed that aa 90-111 of RhoGDI1 are critical for interacting with PLK1. We also showed that PLK1 phosphorylated RhoGDI1 at Thr7 and Thr91, which induces cell motility. Overexpression of the GFP-tagged RhoGDI1 truncated mutant (aa 90-111) inhibited the interaction of PLK1 with RhoGDI1 and attenuated RhoA activation by PLK1. Furthermore, the overexpression of the RhoGDI1 truncated mutant reduced cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and suppressed lung metastasis in vivo. Conclusions Collectively, we demonstrate that the phosphorylation of RhoGDI1 by PLK1 promotes cancer cell migration and invasion through RhoA activation. This study connects the interaction between PLK1 and RhoGDI1 to the promotion of cancer cell behavior associated with malignant progression, thereby providing opportunities for cancer therapeutic interventions.

Rice is a staple crop in Asia, with more than 400 million tons consumed annually worldwide. The protein content of rice is a major determinant of its unique structural, physical, and nutritional properties. Chemical analysis, a traditional method for measuring rice’s protein content, demands considerable manpower, time, and costs, including preprocessing such as removing the rice husk. Therefore, of the technology is needed to rapidly and nondestructively measure the protein content of paddy rice during harvest and storage stages. In this study, the nondestructive technique for predicting the protein content of rice with husks (paddy rice) was developed using near-infrared spectroscopy and deep learning techniques. The protein content prediction model based on partial least square regression, support vector regression, and deep neural network (DNN) were developed using the near-infrared spectrum in the range of 950 to 2200 nm. 1800 spectra of the paddy rice and 1200 spectra from the brown rice were obtained, and these were used for model development and performance evaluation of the developed model. Various spectral preprocessing techniques was applied. The DNN model showed the best results among three types of rice protein content prediction models. The optimal DNN model for paddy rice was the model with first-order derivative preprocessing and the accuracy was a coefficient of determination for prediction, Rp2 = 0.972 and root mean squared error for prediction, RMSEP = 0.048%. The optimal DNN model for brown rice was the model applied first-order derivative preprocessing with Rp2 = 0.987 and RMSEP = 0.033%. These results demonstrate the commercial feasibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy for the non-destructive prediction of protein content in both husked rice seeds and paddy rice.

5G wireless network technology is widely used, and data protection is becoming more important as data transmitted and received over the network increases. As the number of Internet of Things devices rapidly increases, data leakage attacks targeting lightweight devices are increasing. Machine learning models have limitations in being applied to lightweight devices because of their large computational complexity and latency in the learning process. Improving utility while protecting data using existing data privacy protection techniques is difficult. Guaranteeing privacy and data utility is difficult because processing large amounts of data with low-capacity memory is complicated. Therefore, a memory-efficient mechanism is needed while ensuring privacy and data utility in data transmission conditions. We propose an optimal feature selection mechanism that maximizes privacy and utility by optimizing the privacy-utility trade-off for resource-constrained lightweight device environments. The proposed mechanism extracts privacy-sensitive features by selecting features requiring privacy protection, removing privacy-sensitive features, making it difficult for attackers to identify data even if they intercept them during data transmission. It demonstrated improved accuracy and memory usage compared to conventional models and improved the accuracy of legitimate nodes by 17.6% compared to models with differential privacy, reduced the accuracy of attackers by 15.45% compared to models without privacy protection techniques, and memory usage by 18.26% under 100% data sampling ratio conditions. Thus, it has been proven to be a secure and efficient model for data transmission environments by effectively improving data utility, privacy, and memory usage.

Objective This study was conducted to assess effects of heat stress on growth performance, physiological parameters, and blood profiles of Hanwoo steers during early-fattening period in climate chambers. Methods Four Hanwoo steers (body weight, 454.3±10.9 kg; age, 14±0.1 month) were allocated into four levels of temperature-humidity index (THI) in a 4×4 Latin square design for 21 days (pre-adaptation, 7 d; heat stress, 7 d; post-adaptation, 7 d) per period. Experimental treatments were assigned according to THI chart based on National Institute Animal Science (NIAS, 2022): Comfort (25.5°C to 26.5°C, 60%; THI 73 to 75), Mild (28°C to 29°C, 60%; THI 77 to 79), Moderate (29.5°C to 30.5°C, 80%; THI 82 to 84), and Severe (31°C to 32°C, 80%; THI 85 to 86) in separate climatic controlled chambers. Results The dry matter intake (DMI) of the formula feed was lower in Severe compared to Mild and Comfort (p

Exploration of easily produced visible light photocatalysts is still necessary. Thus, this study investigated the catalytic performance of a mixed metal oxide-titanium dioxide (MMO-TiO2) to remove perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a typical and harmful perfluoroalkyl substance, under visible light conditions. Analysis of degradation efficiencies revealed that MMO-TiO2 exhibited a remarkable removal efficiency of 95.99 ± 1.49 %, surpassing other catalysts, including TiO2, ZnAl, MMO, and ZnAl-TiO2. MMO-TiO2, derived from ZnAl-TiO2 calcination, displayed a 5.66-fold higher apparent degradation rate constant (1.07 × 10−2 min−1) compared to ZnAl-TiO2 (1.89 × 10−3 min−1). These materials were characterized via X-ray powder diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance, N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, and field emission-scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed that O2•- radicals play a pivotal role as the predominant species that mediate PFOA removal. Comparative experiments using probe compounds confirmed increased O2•- production during MMO-TiO2 photoreaction under visible light. In addition, this study explored the effect of operational parameters, such as catalyst dose, initial PFOA concentration, solution pH, and water matrices on the photocatalytic removal process. These findings provide insight into the removal of PFOA using MMO-TiO2, highlighting the potential of this visible light catalyst for the eco-friendly removal of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic systems.

Abstract Background Commercial anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CART19) are efficacious against advanced B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); however, most patients ultimately relapse. Several mechanisms contribute to this failure, including CD19-negative escape and CAR T dysfunction. All four commercial CART19 products utilize the FMC63 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) specific to a CD19 membrane-distal epitope and characterized by slow association (on) and dissociation (off) rates. We hypothesized that a novel anti-CD19 scFv that engages an alternative CD19 membrane-proximal epitope independent of FMC63 and that is characterized by faster on- and off-rates could mitigate CART19 failure and improve clinical efficacy. Methods We developed an autologous CART19 product with 4-1BB co-stimulation using a novel humanized chicken antibody (h1218). This antibody is specific to a membrane-proximal CD19 epitope and harbors faster on/off rates compared to FMC63. We tested h1218-CART19 in vitro and in vivo using FMC63-CART19-resistant models. We conducted a first-in-human multi-center phase I clinical trial to test AT101 (clinical-grade h1218-CART19) in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) NHL. Results Preclinically, h1218- but not FMC63-CART19 were able to effectively eradicate lymphomas expressing CD19 point mutations (L174V and R163L) or co-expressing FMC63-CAR19 as found in patients relapsing after FMC63-CART19. Furthermore, h1218-CART19 exhibited enhanced killing of B-cell malignancies in vitro and in vivo compared with FMC63-CART19. Mechanistically, we found that h1218-CART19 had reduced activation-induced cell death (AICD) and enhanced expansion compared to FMC63-CART19 owing to faster on- and off-rates. Based on these preclinical results, we performed a phase I dose-escalation trial, testing three dose levels (DL) of AT101 (the GMP version of h1218) using a 3 + 3 design. In 12 treated patients (7 DLBCL, 3 FL, 1 MCL, and 1 MZL), AT101 showed a promising safety profile with 8.3% grade 3 CRS (n = 1) and 8.3% grade 4 ICANS (n = 1). In the whole cohort, the overall response rate was 91.7%, with a complete response rate of 75.0%, which improved to 100% in DL-2 and -3. AT101 expansion correlates with CR and B-cell aplasia. Conclusions We developed a novel, safe, and potent CART19 product that recognizes a membrane-proximal domain of CD19 with fast on- and off-rates and showed significant efficacy and promising safety in patients with relapsed B-cell NHL. Trial registration NCT05338931; Date: 2022–04-01.

Abstract Background People of Sub-Saharan African ancestry are at higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), attributed to the Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene risk alleles (RA) G1 and G2. The underlying mechanisms by which the APOL1-RA precipitate CKD remain elusive, hindering the development of potential treatments. Results Using a Drosophila genetic modifier screen, we found that SNARE proteins (Syx7, Ykt6, and Syb) play an important role in preventing APOL1 cytotoxicity. Reducing the expression of these SNARE proteins significantly increased APOL1 cytotoxicity in fly nephrocytes, the equivalent of mammalian podocytes, whereas overexpression of Syx7, Ykt6, or Syb attenuated their toxicity in nephrocytes. These SNARE proteins bound to APOL1-G0 with higher affinity than APOL1-G1/G2, and attenuated APOL1-G0 cytotoxicity to a greater extent than either APOL1-RA. Conclusions Using a Drosophila screen, we identified SNARE proteins (Syx7, Ykt6, and Syb) as antagonists of APOL1-induced cytotoxicity by directly binding APOL1. These data uncovered a new potential protective role for certain SNARE proteins in the pathogenesis of APOL1-CKD and provide novel therapeutic targets for APOL1-associated nephropathies.

The effects of interfacial energy on precipitation behavior and physical properties of Cu–Ni–Si–(Co) alloys were investigated. The Cu–1.3Ni–0.3Si and Cu–1.3Ni–0.6Si–1.0Co alloys (in weight %) were prepared by combined cold-rolling and aging processes. The addition of Co promoted the formation of (Ni,Co)2Si by replacing Ni with Co in Ni2Si. Ab initio calculations demonstrated that the small addition of Co considerably reduced the interfacial energy between the Cu matrix and (Ni,Co)2Si, which effectively decreased the activation energy for precipitation. As a result, the precipitation of fine rod-shaped (Ni,Co)2Si was accelerated during the aging process and the number density of the precipitates increased up to 9.0 × 1010 cm−2. The nano-scale (Ni,Co)2Si precipitates with an average size of 13.5 nm strengthened the alloy properly through the Orowan mechanism without much loss of electrical conductivity. The maximum hardness and electrical conductivity were 220 Hv and 51 % International Annealed Copper Standard, respectively, for the Cu–1.3Ni–0.6Si–1.0Co alloy aged for 4 h at 420 °C.

Sepsis is an inflammatory condition causing organ failure due to an uncontrolled immune response to infection and remains a significant challenge. Crotonis Semen has displayed various pharmacological effects, yet its potential in protecting against sepsis and the mechanisms involved remains largely unclear. Here, we explored the antiseptic properties of Crotons Semen extract (CSE) in both LPS-stimulated J774 macrophages and mice subjected to sepsis through Cecal ligation and Puncture (CLP) or LPS induction. We found that CSE enhanced survival rates in mouse models with acute sepsis induced by CLP operation and LPS injection. Administering CSE also reduced levels of enzymes indicating organ damage, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK), in septic mice. Furthermore, CSE lowered the serum levels of inflammatory mediators and cytokines, such as NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, in septic mice. In LPS-stimulated J774 macrophages, CSE reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins, including iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, CSE inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα and IKK, key components of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing inflammatory mediators and cytokines. These results demonstrate CSE’s protective effects against sepsis through NF-κB pathway disruption, indicating its potential as a therapeutic option for acute inflammatory conditions.

Colonoscopy has a limited field of view because it relies solely on a small camera attached to the end of the scope and a screen displayed on a monitor. Consequently, the quality and safety of diagnosis and treatment depend on the experience and skills of the gastroenterologist. When a novice attempts to insert the colonoscope during the procedure, excessive pressure can sometimes be applied to the colon wall. This pressure can cause a medical accident known as colonic perforation, which the physician should prevent. We propose an assisting device that senses the pressure applied to the colon wall, analyzes the risk of perforation, and warns the physician in real time. Flexible pressure sensors are attached to the surface of the colonoscope shaft. These sensors measure pressure signals during a colonoscopy procedure. A simple signal processor is used to collect and process the pressure signals. In the experiment, a colonoscope equipped with the proposed device was inserted into a simulated colon made from a colon extracted from a pig. The processed data were visually communicated to the gastroenterologist via displays and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The device helps the physician continuously monitor and prevent excessive pressure on the colon wall. In this experiment, the device appropriately generated and delivered warnings to help the physicians prevent colonic perforation. In the future, the device is to be improved, and more experiments will be performed in live swine models or humans to confirm its efficacy and safety.

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have recently evolved into technologies featuring extremely high throughput and ultra-high reliability. As WLANs are predominantly utilized in Internet of Things (IoT) and Wi-Fi-enabled sensor applications powered by coin cell batteries, these high-efficiency, high-performance technologies often cause significant battery depletion. The introduction of the trigger frame-based uplink transmission method, designed to enhance network throughput, lacks adequate security measures, enabling attackers to manipulate trigger frames. Devices receiving such frames must respond immediately; however, if a device receives a fake trigger frame, it fails to enter sleep mode, continuously sending response signals and thereby increasing power consumption. This problem is specifically acute in next-generation devices that support multi-link operation (MLO), capable of simultaneous transmission and reception across multiple links, rendering them more susceptible to battery draining attacks than conventional single-link devices. To address this, this paper introduces a Secure Triggering Frame-Based Dynamic Power Saving Mechanism (STF-DPSM) specifically designed for multi-link environments. Experimental results indicate that even in a multi-link environment with only two links, the STF-DPSM improves energy efficiency by an average of approximately 55.69% over conventional methods and reduces delay times by an average of approximately 44.7% compared with methods that consistently utilize encryption/decryption and integrity checks.

This study evaluated the effects of a complex natural feed additive on rumen fermentation, carcass characteristics and growth performance in Korean-native steers. In this study, in vitro and in vivo experiment were conducted. Seven different levels of complex natural feed additive (CA) were added to the buffered rumen fluid using AnkomRF gas production system for 12, 24 and 48 h. All experimental data were analyzed by mixed procedure of SAS. Total gas production increased in the CA groups, with the highest response observed in the 0.06% group at 48 h of incubation (linear, p = 0.02; quadratic, p

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disorder characterized by dopamine neuronal degeneration and dopamine transporter loss. In this study, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line, KNIHi001-A, from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a 76-year-old man with Parkinson's disease. The non-integrating Sendai virus was used to reprogram iPSCs. iPSCs exhibit pluripotent markers, a normal karyotype, viral clearance, and the ability to differentiate into the three germ layers.

This study explores the effect of Al-buffered layers on the crystal structure and superconductivity of MgB2. The unique Mg1-xAlxB2 phase formed at a thickness of 190 nm is a promising technique for thin-film fabrication. The upper critical field (Hc2) of Mg1-xAlxB2 is suppressed, which corresponds to a change in interband scattering, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and extended X-ray absorption fine structure results. By contrast, the thicker samples with the Al-buffer layer, which contain MgB2 on the top surface, show an improvement in Hc2 compared to the pure sample because the grain boundaries act as flux pinning sources. The observed reduction in the electron–phonon coupling constants correlates with Tc suppression in the Al-buffered samples. A Meissner force curve reveal larger London penetration depth (λL) in Al-buffered films than in pure MgB2 samples. Particularly, the Mg1-xAlxB2 sample, exhibits a λL value at 0 K of 1009.68 nm, resulting in a thermodynamic critical field (Hc) of 0.026 T. Higher-thickness Al-buffered film samples, which have a MgB2 layer on the top surface, displays λL and Hc values in close agreement with those of a pure MgB2 film.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies frequently show hyperplastic thymi with ectopic germinal centers, where autoreactive B cells proliferate with the aid of T cells. In this study, thymus and peripheral blood (PB) samples were collected from ten AChR antibody-positive MG patients. T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires were analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and compared with that of an age and sex matched control group generated from a public database. Certain V genes and VJ gene recombination pairs were significantly upregulated in the TCR chains of αβ-T cells in the PB of MG patients compared to the control group. Furthermore, the TCR chains found in the thymi of MG patients had a weighted distribution to longer CDR3 lengths when compared to the PB of MG patients, and the TCR beta chains (TRB) in the MG group's PB showed increased clonality encoded by one upregulated V gene. When TRB sequences were sub-divided into groups based on their CDR3 lengths, certain groups showed decreased clonality in the MG group's PB compared to the control group's PB. Finally, we demonstrated that stereotypic MG patient-specific TCR clonotypes co-exist in both the PB and thymi at a much higher frequency than that of the clonotypes confined to the PB. These results strongly suggest the existence of a biased T cell-mediated immune response in MG patients, as observed in other autoimmune diseases.

Abstract A great diversity of crustacean zooplankton found in inland and coastal waters produce embryos that settle into bottom sediments to form an egg bank. Embryos from these banks can remain dormant for centuries, creating a reservoir of genetic diversity. A large body of literature describes the ecological and evolutionary importance of zooplankton egg banks. However, literature on the physiological traits behind dormancy in crustacean zooplankton are limited. Most data on the physiology of dormancy comes from research on one species of anostracan, the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana. Anoxia-induced dormancy in this species is facilitated by a profound and reversible acidification of the intracellular space. This acidification is accompanied by a reversible depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The present study demonstrates that acidification of the intracellular space also occurs in concert with a depletion of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) in the Antarctic copepod, Boeckella poppei. Like A. franciscana, the depletion of NTPs and acidification are rapidly reversed during aerobic recovery in B. poppei. These data provide the first comparative evidence that extreme dormancy under anoxia in crustacean zooplankton is associated with intracellular acidification and an ability to recover from the depletion of ATP.

Lung transplant patients are more likely to develop severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared with the general population and should be vaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, previous studies have reported reduced vaccination immunogenicity in lung transplantation patients. We aimed to investigate the serological response and associated factors after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in this population. Lung transplant patients without a history of contracting coronavirus disease who had received a second or higher dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were enrolled. The anti-SARS-Cov-2 spike and neutralizing antibody levels were measured in blood samples. Firth’s logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the factors associated with non-response after vaccination. Forty-six lung transplant patients were enrolled, of which sixteen (34.8%) showed a serological response to vaccination. All patients who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination before transplantation (n = 5) exhibited a serological response. No significant difference was observed in anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody or neutralization titers based on the number and timing of vaccination. Firth’s logistic regression showed an association between lower hemoglobin levels (odds ratio, 0.59; confidence interval, 0.35–0.92; p = 0.017) and non-response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Lung transplant patients showed poor serologic responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in this pilot study; anemia may be associated with this poor response.

In a photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction system, a hole scavenger (electron donor) is required to enhance the performance of photocatalytic reaction. In this study, mandarin peel extract (ME) was used as a natural sacrificing agent to enhance the photocatalytic Cr(VI) removal performance. The use of ME increased the Cr(VI) reduction rate (0.0286 min−1), and a Cr(VI) removal efficiency of 99.1% was achieved within 150 min. Hole scavenging by antioxidants contained in ME on TiO2 surface contributed to the enhancement of the photocatalytic Cr(VI) removal. Under the optimal conditions (ME volume = 5 mL, TiO2 dose = 0.2 g L−1, and pH = 2), the Cr(VI) reduction rate constant was about 1.2–7.3 times higher than the values reported in the literature. Furthermore, experiments on Cr(VI) treatment in real wastewater and H2O2 production showed the suitability of ME for other reaction systems. The photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction efficiency achieved in 150 min in real wastewater increased from 58.6% to 83.6% after ME addition. This study employed a waste material as a reagent to improve the photocatalytic Cr(VI) removal performance for the photoreduction of a water pollutant, namely Cr(VI), which can be employed as a strategy for simultaneous waste and water treatment.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) has collaborated with Jeollanamdo Agricultural Research & Extension Services and Chonnam National University to establish a ground observation tower for evaluating the value-added products (such as surface reflectance and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and improving algorithms of domestic development satellites (Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-3, 3A and 7). The ground measurement tower, installed at the Jeollanamdo Naju ground observation site (NGOS), constantly observes surface hyperspectral reflectance and atmospheric information, providing the advantage of real-time algorithm validation improvement when satellite acquires images of the site. The NGOS operates hyperspectral radiometer equipment (6 types), meteorological observation equipment (5 types), sky radiometer (1 type), and eddy flux observation equipment (2 types), along with a web service for display and data processing. The ground observation site equipment that is being installed and operated can be utilized in various fields such as carbon circle, agriculture, environment, atmosphere and climate change, in addition to validation of satellite value-added products. This study aims to introduce KARI NGOS for user data sharing and highlight the characteristics of the measured data.

In this study, rumen temperature and environment in estral and non-estral Korean Native breeding cattle were evaluated by using a bolus sensor. Behavioral and physiological changes in study animals were also assessed. To assess the rumen temperature and environment, we inserted bolus sensors into 12 Korean Native cattle with an average age of 35.5 months, then measured temperature and activity within the rumen using the wireless bolus sensor. Drinking, feeding and mounting behavior, and measured vaginal temperature and levels of intravaginal mucus resistance were recorded. We found that cattle in estrus exhibited more acts of mounting (37.4 vs. 0 times/day), increased vaginal temperature (39.0°C vs. 38.4°C), and decreased vaginal mucus resistance (136.3 Ω vs 197.4 Ω), compared with non-estral animals. Furthermore, increased levels of rumen activity were most significant in estrus cattle at the highest activity levels (p < 0.01). Overall, the estrus group exhibited increased rumen temperature (p = 0.01), compared with the non-estrus group. In conclusion, the results of this study not only provide basic physiological data related to estrus in improved Korean Native breeding cattle, but also suggest that monitoring of rumen temperature and activity might be used as an effective smart device for estrus detection.

Abstract Few studies have directly compared the incidence of pneumonia in patients on common chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatments such as long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) with those on inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonist (ICS/LABA). Moreover, risk factors for pneumonia in COPD are still unclear. We aimed to compare the incidence of pneumonia in COPD patients on LAMA and those on ICS/LABA and explored the risk factors associated with pneumonia. This nationwide cohort study used Korean National Health Insurance claim data from January 2002 to April 2016. Patients who received COPD medication, either LAMA or ICS/LABA, with the COPD diagnostic code, were selected. We enrolled patients with good compliance (medication possession ratio ≥ 80%). The primary outcome was pneumonia in COPD patients initiating LAMA or ICS/LABA. We investigated the risk factors associated with pneumonia, including the sub-types of ICS treatments. After propensity score matching, the incidence rate per 1000 person-years of pneumonia was 93.96 for LAMA (n = 1003) and 136.42 for ICS/LABA (n = 1003) patients (p

Climate change increases global temperatures, which is lethal to both livestock and humans. Heat stress is known as one of the various livestock stresses, and dairy cows react sensitively to high-temperature stress. We aimed to better understand the effects of heat stress on the health of dairy cows and observing biological changes. Individual cows were divided into normal (21-22 °C, 50-60% humidity) and high temperature (31-32 °C, 80-95% humidity), respectively, for 7-days. We performed metabolomic and transcriptome analyses of the blood and gut microbiomes of feces. In the high-temperature group, nine metabolites including linoleic acid and fructose were downregulated, and 154 upregulated and 72 downregulated DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes) were identified, and eighteen microbes including Intestinimonas and Pseudoflavonifractor in genus level were significantly different from normal group. Linoleic acid and fructose have confirmed that associated with various stresses, and functional analysis of DEG and microorganisms showing significant differences confirmed that high-temperature stress is related to the inflammatory response, immune system, cellular energy mechanism, and microbial butyrate production. These biological changes were likely to withstand high-temperature stress. Immune and inflammatory responses are known to be induced by heat stress, which has been identified to maintain homeostasis through modulation at metabolome, transcriptome and microbiome levels. In these findings, heat stress condition can trigger alteration of immune system and cellular energy metabolism, which is shown as reduced metabolites, pathway enrichment and differential microbes. As results of this study did not include direct phenotypic data, we believe that additional validation is required in the future. In conclusion, high-temperature stress contributed to the reduction of metabolites, changes in gene expression patterns and composition of gut microbiota, which are thought to support dairy cows in withstanding high-temperature stress via modulating immune-related genes, and cellular energy metabolism to maintain homeostasis.