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Abstract Despite recent advancements, artificial muscles have not yet been able to strike the right balance between exceptional mechanical properties and dexterous actuation abilities that are found in biological systems. Here, we present an artificial magnetic muscle that exhibits multiple remarkable mechanical properties and demonstrates comprehensive actuating performance, surpassing those of biological muscles. This artificial muscle utilizes a composite configuration, integrating a phase-change polymer and ferromagnetic particles, enabling active control over mechanical properties and complex actuating motions through remote laser heating and magnetic field manipulation. Consequently, the magnetic composite muscle can dynamically adjust its stiffness as needed, achieving a switching ratio exceeding 2.7 × 10³. This remarkable adaptability facilitates substantial load-bearing capacity, with specific load capacities of up to 1000 and 3690 for tensile and compressive stresses, respectively. Moreover, it demonstrates reversible extension, contraction, bending, and twisting, with stretchability exceeding 800%. We leverage these distinctive attributes to showcase the versatility of this composite muscle as a soft continuum robotic manipulator. It adeptly executes various programmable responses and performs complex tasks while minimizing mechanical vibrations. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this composite muscle excels across multiple mechanical and actuation aspects compared to existing actuators.

Abstract During organ regeneration, after the initial responses to injury, gene expression patterns similar to those in normal development are reestablished during subsequent morphogenesis phases. This supports the idea that regeneration recapitulates development and predicts the existence of genes that reboot the developmental program after the initial responses. However, such rebooting mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we explore core rebooting factors that operate during Xenopus limb regeneration. Transcriptomic analysis of larval limb blastema reveals that hoxc12/c13 show the highest regeneration specificity in expression. Knocking out each of them through genome editing inhibits cell proliferation and expression of a group of genes that are essential for development, resulting in autopod regeneration failure, while limb development and initial blastema formation are not affected. Furthermore, the induction of hoxc12/c13 expression partially restores froglet regenerative capacity which is normally very limited compared to larval regeneration. Thus, we demonstrate the existence of genes that have a profound impact alone on rebooting of the developmental program in a regeneration-specific manner.

This paper presents bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT)-based deep learning model for the classification of scientific articles. This model aims to increase the efficiency and reliability of human health risk assessments related to electromagnetic fields (EMF). The proposed model takes the title and abstract of EMF-related articles and classifies them into four categories: animal exposure experiment, cell exposure experiment, human exposure experiment, and epidemiological study. We conducted a performance evaluation to verify the superiority of the proposed model. The results demonstrated that the proposed model outperforms other deep learning models that use pre-trained embeddings, with an average accuracy of 98.33%.

Objective Although several studies have reported successful fusion rates after oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) using allografts or dimerized bone matrix (DBM) instead of autografts, whether OLIF can achieve satisfactory solid fusion without the use of autografts remains unclear. This study investigated the real fusion rates after OLIF using allografts and DBM, which were evaluated using both dynamic radiographs and computed tomography scans. Methods We enrolled 79 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive OLIF followed by percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. All patients were treated with OLIF between L2 and L5 and underwent radiographic and clinical follow-ups at 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. Radiographic assessment of fusion was performed using the modified BrantigaSteffee-Fraser (mBSF) scale, which was categorized as follows: grades I (radiographic pseudoarthrosis), II (indeterminate fusion), and III (solid radiographic fusion). Other radiologic and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the following parameters: vertebral slippage distance, disc height, subsidence, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results Clinical outcomes demonstrated significant improvements in the VAS scores for back pain, leg pain, and ODI after surgery. Subsidence was present in 34 cases (35.4%) at 12 months postoperatively, which increased to 47.9% and reached 50.0% at 1.5 years and 2 years after surgery, respectively. The solid fusion rate after OLIF was 32.3% at 1 year, increased to 58.3% at 1.5 years, and reached 72.9% at 2 years. Radiographic pseudoarthrosis was 24.0% at 1 year, which decreased to 6.3% at 1.5 years and 3.1% at 2 years. Conclusion OLIF is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. The mBSF scale, which simultaneously evaluates both dynamic angles and bone bridge formation, offers great reliability for the radiological assessment of fusion. Moreover, OLIF using allografts and DBM, which is performed on one or 2 levels at L2–5, can achieve satisfactory fusion rates within 2 years after surgery.

Abstract Morphometric studies have revealed the existence of simple geometric relationships among various animal shapes. However, we have little knowledge of the mathematical principles behind the morphogenetic dynamics that form the organ/body shapes of different species. Here, we address this issue by focusing on limb morphogenesis in Gallus gallus domesticus (chicken) and Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog). To compare the deformation dynamics between tissues with different sizes/shapes as well as their developmental rates, we introduce a species-specific rescaled spatial coordinate and a common clock necessary for cross-species synchronization of developmental times. We find that tissue dynamics are well conserved across species under this spacetime coordinate system, at least from the early stages of development through the phase when basic digit patterning is established. For this developmental period, we also reveal that the tissue dynamics of both species are mapped with each other through a time-variant linear transformation in real physical space, from which hypotheses on a species-independent archetype of tissue dynamics and morphogenetic scaling are proposed.

Natural products with high antioxidant activity are considered as innovative prevention strategies to effectively prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the early stage because the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to the development of drusen is reported as an important cause of this disease. To investigate the prevention effects of the methanol extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla L. (MEE) on AMD, its effects on the antioxidant activity, inflammatory response, apoptosis pathway, neovascularization, and retinal tissue degeneration were analyzed in N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E)-landed spontaneously arising retinal pigment epithelia (ARPE)-19 cells and BALB/c mice after exposure to blue light (BL). The MEE contained 10 active components and showed high free radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. The pretreatments of high-dose MEE remarkably suppressed the production of intracellular ROS (88.2%) and NO (25.2%) and enhanced (SOD) activity (84%) and the phosphorylation of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) in A2E + BL-treated ARPE-19 cells compared to Vehicle-treated group. The activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mediated pathway, inflammasome activation, and expression of inflammatory cytokines was significantly inhibited in A2E + BL-treated ARPE-19 cells after the MEE pretreatment. The activation of the apoptosis pathway and increased expression of neovascular proteins (36% for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9) were inhibited in the MEE pretreated groups compared to the Vehicle-treated group. Furthermore, the thickness of the whole retina (31%), outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and photoreceptor layer (PL) were significantly increased by the MEE pretreatment of BALB/c mice with BL-induced retinal degeneration. Therefore, these results suggest that the MEE, with its high antioxidative activity, protects against BL-induced retinal degeneration through the regulation of the antioxidative system, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and neovascularization in the AMD mouse model.

Abstract The spatial monitoring of submicron particles has become an essential issue due to their negative effects on human health. However, the use of high-cost and high-grade measurement instruments is a challenging investment cost. Thus, a cost-effective optical particle counter (OPC), which is improved measurement quality, has become a good candidate. In this study, two cost-effective OPCs, coupled with a heated inlet tube to reduce the effect of humidity on its measurements, were applied in the field to measure ambient PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 over 1 month. Their 1-h-average and 24-h-average data were compared with those obtained from a reference-grade OPC and a beta attenuation monitor (BAM). In particular, the correlations between the measurement data obtained from them, the differences in the mean values of these data, and the relative errors were evaluated. The PM2.5 data obtained from cost-effective OPCs were comparable to those from BAM at even under high humidity conditions, except for rainy days. The data obtained from the cost-effective OPCs also showed good correlations and low relative errors (i.e.,

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most prevalent type of hematopoietic malignancy. Despite recent therapeutic advancements, the high relapse rate associated with extramedullary involvement remains a challenging issue. Moreover, therapeutic targets that regulate the extramedullary infiltration of AML cells are still not fully elucidated. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) is known to influence the progression and migration of solid tumors; however, its role in AML is largely unknown. This study explored the roles of AHR in the invasion and migration of AML cells. We found that suppressed expression of AHR target genes correlated with an elevated relapse rate in AML. Treatment with an AHR agonist on patient-derived AML cells significantly decreased genes associated with leukocyte trans-endothelial migration, cell adhesion, and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. These results were further confirmed in THP-1 and U937 AML cell lines using AHR agonists (TCDD and FICZ) and inhibitors (SR1 and CH-223191). Treatment with AHR agonists significantly reduced Matrigel invasion, while inhibitors enhanced it, regardless of the Matrigel’s stiffness. AHR agonists significantly reduced the migration rate and chemokinesis of both cell lines, but AHR inhibitors enhanced them. Finally, we found that the activity of AHR and the expression of NMIIA are negatively correlated. These findings suggest that AHR activity regulates the invasiveness and motility of AML cells, making AHR a potential therapeutic target for preventing extramedullary infiltration in AML.

Pistacia chinensis and Pistacia weinmannifolia are small trees and are distributed in East Asia, in particular China. The data on P. chinensis presented in this article is associated with the research article, “DOI: 10.5010/JPB.2019.46.4.274” [1]. Both P. chinensis and P. weinmannifolia have long been used as ethnobotanical plants to treat various illnesses, including dysentery, inflammatory swelling, rheumatism, liver diseases, influenza, lung cancer, etc. Many studies have been carried out to delve into the pharmaceutical properties of these Pistacia species using plant extracts, but genomic studies are very rarely performed to date. To enrich the genetic information of these two species, RNA sequencing was conducted using a pair-end Illumina HiSeq2500 sequencing system, resulting in 2.6 G of raw data from P. chinensis (Accession no: SRR10136265) and 2.7 G bases from P. weinmannifolia (Accession no: SRR10136264). Transcriptome shotgun assembly using three different assembly tools generated a total of 18,524 non-redundant contigs (N50, 1104 bp) from P. chinensis and 18,956 from P. weinmannifolia (N50, 1137 bp). The data is accessible at NCBI BioProject: PRJNA566127. These data would be crucial for the identification of genes associated with the compounds exerting pharmaceutical properties and also for molecular marker development.

Since the enactment of the 「Han-River Watershed Act」, comprehensive analysis about direct and indirect contributions and effects of various environmental policies and water quality improvement projects for the preservation of water quality in the Han-River watershed is insufficient. Especially, effect of pollutant source location regulation should be inferred and estimated through model prediction cause it does not exist unregulated conditions. In this study, average pollutant density of Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, and Chungcheongbuk-do, where the regulation areas located and average pollutant density of water source management areas were compared and analyzed. After that changes in pollutant sources in regulation areas were estimated by assuming load of pollutant sources in unregulated areas that load of pollutant sources in regulation areas. Since many reservoirs are located in Han-river watershed, it is difficult to simulate the water quality of Paldang reservoir using only watershed model, BASINS/WinHSPF and EFDC-WASP were linked. Water quality improvement of Paldang reservoir was evaluated by applying the discharge load when the pollution source location regulation was not implemented to the calibrated model. As a result of the pollution source location regulation, discharge load in the location regulation area was analyzed to reduced by 53.90% and T-P by 48.58%, and the BOD and T-P improvement effect of Paldang Dam was analyzed 6.77% and T-P 6.62%. Since the water quality improvement effect of Paldang Lake is accumulated to the entire upstream, it is evaluated relatively less than pollutant load reducing effect. It was analyzed that pollutiont source location regulation has water quality improvement effect, despite the small area which only located in near Paldang reservoir compared to the total area of the Han-River watershed.

Abstract Background Orthodontic brackets provide a favorable environment for Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation, increasing the risk of white spots and dental caries. Manganese oxide (MnO2) nanozyme-doped diatom microbubbler (DM) is a recently developed material for biofilm removal. DM can generate oxygen by catalase-mimicking activity in Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution and move with ejecting oxygen microbubbles to produce a mechanical self-cleansing effect. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of DM as a novel bracket cleaner. Methods DM was prepared according to the protocol and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). We treated S. mutans biofilms grown over bracket with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS group), 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX group), 3% H2O2 (H2O2 group), and co-treatment with 3 mg/mL of DM and 3% H2O2 (DM group). The biofilm removal effect was analyzed using crystal violet assay, and the results were observed using SEM. The viability of S. mutans in remaining biofilms was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Finally, we examined the effect of all materials on mature multispecies biofilms formed on debonded brackets. Results Crystal violet assay results revealed that the CHX group removed more biofilms than the control group, and the DM group removed biofilms more effectively than the CHX group (p

Abstract A study on monitoring PM2.5 concentrations at an underground subway station using light scattering and beta attenuation methods was conducted. Six optical particle counters (OPCs), which were representative of the light scattering method and had 16 size channels, were installed at different sampling sites in the waiting room and platforms to compare PM2.5 concentrations, determine PM2.5 /PM10 ratios, and characterize the size distribution based on particle number. In terms of the beta attenuation method, a beta-ray attenuation monitor (BAM) was set up at the platform to compare it with OPCs for one month. It was found that 1h-average PM2.5 concentrations varied at different sampling sites depending on PM composition, while 24h-average PM2.5 concentrations were independent of the sampling sites. There was a significant difference between the means of 1h-average PM2.5 concentrations observed by the BAM and OPC when PM2.5 contributed to less than 50% or higher than 80% of PM10. In contrast, the 24h-average PM2.5 concentrations observed by the BAM and OPC showed the same patterns as each other with an insignificant difference. Therefore, an OPC can be used to monitor the 24h-average PM2.5 concentration in an underground subway station. However, the use of OPC to measure the 1h-average PM2.5 concentration should consider PM composition and other factors. In addition, more frequent calibration is needed on a regular basis.

Objective Neuropathic pain is a common secondary complication of spinal cord injury (SCI). N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation is critical for hypersensitivity in neuropathic pain. This activation requires the binding of both glutamate and the D-serine co-agonist to the NMDA glycine site. We evaluated the effects of D-serine on neuropathic pain after SCI and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods Anesthetized rats underwent T9 spinal cord contusion (130 kdyn). D-serine (500 and 1,000 mg/kg) and MK-801 hydrogen maleate (2.0 mg/kg) were injected daily for 2 weeks, starting the day after SCI. Functional outcomes were assessed according to the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale, while histological outcomes were evaluated based on lesion volume and spared tissue area. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were evaluated by measuring the withdrawal threshold of a von Frey filament and hot/cold plate latency. Western blotting was performed to determine the expression levels of Trpv1, Nav1.9, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and β-actin in damaged tissue. Results The withdrawal threshold values and latency of the D-serine group were significantly lower than those of the noninjection group. The MK-801 group showed higher threshold values and latencies than the other groups. Western blotting showed increased Nav1.9 and Trpv1 levels and lower CGRP levels in the D-serine group, whereas the MK-801 group showed the opposite results. Conclusion D-serine increases neuropathic pain after traumatic SCI by mediating the NMDA receptor. NMDA receptor antagonists alleviate neuropathic pain after traumatic SCI.

Abstract Objective The aims of the study were to measure the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes in the lateral ventricle, high-convexity subarachnoid space, and Sylvian fissure region in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and to evaluate differences in these volumes between INPH and AD groups and healthy controls. Methods Forty-nine INPH patients, 59 AD patients, and 26 healthy controls were imaged with automated three-dimensional volumetric MRI. Results INPH patients had larger lateral ventricles and CSF spaces of the Sylvian fissure region and smaller high-convexity subarachnoid spaces than other groups, and AD patients had larger lateral ventricles and CSF spaces of the Sylvian fissure region than the control group. The INPH group showed a negative correlation between lateral ventricle and high-convexity subarachnoid space volumes, while the AD group showed a positive correlation between lateral ventricle volume and volume for CSF spaces of the Sylvian fissure region. The ratio of lateral ventricle to high-convexity subarachnoid space volumes yielded an area under the curve of 0.990, differentiating INPH from AD. Conclusions Associations between CSF volumes suggest that there might be different mechanisms between INPH and AD to explain their respective lateral ventricular dilations. The ratio of lateral ventricle to high-convexity subarachnoid space volumes distinguishes INPH from AD with good diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. We propose to refer to this ratio as the VOSS (ventricle over subarachnoid space) index.

Hundreds of thousands of tons of waste are generated from decommissioned nuclear- power facilities, and it has become a critical global issue to secure technology for reducing and recycling this waste. Concrete waste (CW) is estimated to comprise 60–80% of the total waste, and concrete-waste powder (CWP) includes enough inorganic substances used as effective materials for waste treatment. Accordingly, it can be used to produce recycled cement (RC). This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a solidification agent manufactured using recycled cement (SRC) for the safe packing of radioactive wastes, such as coarse aggregates of CW, waste soil, and metal wastes originating from decommissioned nuclear facilities. The experimental results indicated that the most relevant incineration temperature of CWP for RC was 700 °C. The optimum water-to-binder ratio was determined to be 0.4, and the most relevant substitution ratio of ground granulated blast furnace slag for CWP was determined to be 15%. In addition, calcium silicate hydrate is the most effective hydration product for improving the compressive strength of SRC. The maximum packing capacities of the SRC for coarse aggregates, waste soil, and metal waste, which were simulated as radioactive wastes, were determined to be 30, 5, and 7 wt%, respectively. The results of leaching tests using SRC containing radioactive wastes contaminated with Co, Cs, and Sr indicated that their leachability indices met the acceptance level for disposal. Consequently, the RC composed of CWP can be used as a solidifying agent to safely dispose of radioactive wastes, such as coarse aggregates, waste soil, and metal waste.

Understanding the relation between watershed land use and stream conditions is critical for watershed planning and management. This study investigated the effects of land use on stream water quality and biological conditions in sub-watersheds and micro-watersheds across the Han River watershed in South Korea. We developed random forest models for each water quality and biological indicator using the proportions of urban, agricultural, and forested areas. Our results indicate that water quality and biological indicators were significantly affected by forest area at both scales, and the sub-watershed models performed better than the micro-watershed models. Accumulated local effects were used to interpret the effect of each explanatory variable on the response variable. The plots for water quality and biological indicators with proportions of watershed land use demonstrated similar patterns at both scales, although the relation between land use and stream conditions was slightly more sensitive in micro-watersheds than in sub-watersheds. Urban and agricultural areas showed a lower proportion of water quality and biological condition variability in the micro-watersheds than in the sub-watersheds, while forests showed the opposite results. The findings of this study suggest that different spatial scales should be considered when developing effective watershed management strategies to maintain stream ecosystems.

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) occurs in 4% of pediatric neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients and is characterized by epinephrine and norepinephrine secretion. Herein, we report the first case of dopamine-secreting PCC in a 13-year-old patient with NF1. A left adrenal mass was incidentally found on abdominal computed tomography (CT) during hypertension workup. Fractionated 24-hour urine metanephrine excretion was normal, but urine dopamine level was elevated. Focal 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine uptake was observed on single-photon emission tomography/CT (SPECT/CT). Surgery was delayed due to small tumor size, vague symptoms, and increased dopamine level. After 6 months, focal significant uptake of the lesion on 6‐[18F]fluoro‐L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-FDOPA) PET/CT increased and tumor size increased on abdominal CT. Laparoscopic resection was performed, and the mass was histologically confirmed as PCC. Currently, the vital signs of the patient are stable, urine dopamine level is normal, and there is no abnormal uptake of 18F-FDOPA PET/CT. This study reports a rare case of dopamine-secreting PCC. A multidisciplinary approach and focused examination are needed in metanephrine-negative, high-risk PCC patients.

Urban green spaces provide various social, economic, health, aesthetic, environmental, and ecological benefits. This study aimed to investigate the influence of green spaces on apartment prices, with a particular emphasis on visual greenery and the proportion of green spaces. Hedonic pricing models have often been used to assess the impact of green spaces on housing prices. Herein, 16 variables were considered as factors affecting housing prices and divided into housing, neighborhood, and green space characteristics. The findings indicate that the presence of green spaces enhanced the value of apartment complexes. Moreover, both visual greenery and the proportion of green spaces within apartment complexes influenced housing prices. Additional analysis demonstrated the impact of green space characteristics within Seoul apartment complexes on housing price changes from 2016 to 2022, finding that higher green space proportions and visual greenery led to approximately 20% higher price increases, and structural equation modeling revealed that the proportion of green spaces within apartment complexes, directly and indirectly, influenced housing prices through visual greenery. Overall, this study emphasized the importance of ensuring well-managed green spaces within and around apartment complexes.

In Republic of Korea, pronounced seasonal precipitation variability poses substantial challenges for stream water quality management and the effective utilization of water resources. Ecologically degraded streams are particularly vulnerable to these fluctuations, which can exacerbate their already fragile condition. We assessed the resilience of reference and impaired streams in response to rainfall through water quality system performance (WQSP). The WQSP is quantified as the concentration of BOD, T-N, and T-P, which represent streams’ eutrophication and anaerobic conditions and respond quickly to disturbances. Reference and impaired streams are classified according to the biological condition and habitat environment of the streams in the Han River watershed of Republic of Korea. The resilience of the stream ecosystem was estimated using WQSP, the linear multiple regression model, and the generalized additive model for rainfall and WQSP. The WQSP reference streams have a lower sensitivity to disturbance and recover more quickly from the influence of rainfall; therefore, they have higher resilience than impaired streams to rainfall events. This study facilitates understanding changes in stream ecosystems of varying conditions in response to rainfall for ensuring long-term stability and adaptability.

The decommissioning process of nuclear power facilities renders hundreds of thousands of tons of various types of waste. Of these different waste types, the amount of concrete waste (CW) varies greatly depending on the type of facility, operating history, and regulation standards. From the previous decommissioning projects, CW was estimated to comprise 60–80 wt.% of the total weight of radioactive wastes. This represents a significant technical challenge to any decommissioning project. Furthermore, the disposal costs for the generated concrete wastes are a substantial part of the total budget for any decommissioning project. Thus, the development of technologies effective for the reduction and recycling of CW has become an urgent agenda globally. Blast furnace slag (BFS) is an industrial byproduct containing a sufficient amount (higher than 30%) of CaO and it can be used as a substitute for ordinary Portland cement (OPC). However, there have been few studies on the application of BFS for the treatment of radioactive waste from decommissioning processes. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the solidification agent using ground granulated BFS (SABFS) to pack radioactive wastes, such as the coarse aggregates of CW (CACW), waste soil (WS), and metal waste (MW). The analytical results indicated that the CaO content of the ground granulated BFS was 36.8% and it was confirmed that calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) could be activated as the precursor of the hydration reactions. In addition, the optimum water-to-binder ratio was determined to be 0.25 and Ca(OH)2 and CaSO4 were found to be the most effective alkaline and sulfate activators for improving the compressive strength of the SABFS. The maximum packing capacities of the SABFS were determined to be 9 and 13 wt.% for WC and WM, respectively, when the content of CW was fixed at 50 wt.%. The results of the leaching tests using SABFS containing radioactive wastes contaminated with Co, Cs, and Sr indicated that their leachability indices met the acceptance level for disposal. Consequently, the SABFS can be used as a solidifying agent for the safe disposal of radioactive waste.

Oral cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily affects areas such as the lips, tongue, buccal mucosa, salivary gland, and gingiva and has a very high malignancy. Piperlongumine (PL), isolated from long pepper (Piper longum L.), is a natural alkaloid with pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects. The effect and mechanism of PL in oral cancer cell lines has not been explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism of anticancer effects of PL in the human oral cancer cell lines MC-3 and HSC-4 in vitro. This study demonstrated that PL inhibits cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and autophagy in human oral cancer cell lines, which was confirmed by the levels of apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins through Western blotting. Moreover, the pharmacological blockade of autophagy activation by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an autophagy inhibitor, significantly improved PL-induced apoptosis in MC-3 cells, suggesting a cytoprotective effect. In addition, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway contributed to PL-induced apoptosis. Collectively, the study suggested that combining an autophagy inhibitor with PL treatment can exert effective anticancer properties in oral cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy via the JNK-mediated MAPK pathway.

Currently, therapies for treating oral cancer have various side effects; therefore, research on treatment methods employing natural substances is being conducted. This study aimed to investigate piperine-induced apoptosis and autophagy in HSC-3 human oral cancer cells and their effects on tumor growth in vivo. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay demonstrated that piperine reduced the viability of HSC-3 cells and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, annexin-V/propidium iodide staining, and analysis of apoptosis-related protein expression confirmed that piperine induces apoptosis in HSC-3 cells. Additionally, piperine-induced autophagy was confirmed by the observation of increased acidic vesicular organelles and autophagy marker proteins, demonstrating that autophagy in HSC-3 cells induces apoptosis. Mechanistically, piperine induced apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in HSC-3 cells. We also confirmed that piperine inhibits oral cancer tumor growth in vivo via antitumor effects related to apoptosis and PI3K signaling pathway inhibition. Therefore, we suggest that piperine can be considered a natural anticancer agent for human oral cancer.

Recent technological advances in high-resolution imaging and artificial modulation of genetic functions at different times and regions have enabled direct observations of the formation and elimination of abnormal cell populations. A recent trend in cell competition research is the incorporation of cell mechanics. In different tissues and species, abnormal cells developing in epithelial tissues are mechanically eliminated by cell contraction via actomyosin accumulation at the interface between normal and abnormal cells. This mechanical cell elimination process has attracted attention as a potential universal defense mechanism. Here, we theoretically examined the conditions for mechanical elimination of growing abnormal cell populations. Simulations and mathematical analyses using a vertex dynamics model revealed two types of critical cell density associated with mechanical elimination of abnormal cell clusters. One is a subtype of homeostatic density, in which the frequencies of spontaneous mechanical cell elimination and proliferation are balanced, even if no explicit dependence of proliferation or apoptosis on the cell density is assumed. This density is related to the mechanical stability of a single cell. The other is density related to mechanical stability as a cell population under external pressure. Both density types are determined by tissue mechanical properties. In solid tissues, the former type is reached first as the intensity of interfacial contraction increases, and it functions as a critical density. On the other hand, the latter type becomes critical when tissues are highly fluid. The derived analytical solution explicitly reveals the dependence of critical contractile force and density on different parameters. We also found a negative correlation between the proliferation rate of abnormal cells and the likelihood of the abnormal cell population expanding by escaping elimination. This is counterintuitive because in the context of cell competition, fast-growing cell populations generally win. These findings provide new insight into, and interpretation of, the results from experimental studies.

In air pollutant monitoring using sensors, moisture can adversely affect the analytical accuracy of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, a new moisture pretreatment device (KPASS–Odor) for analyzing VOCs in the air was developed, based on frost and created by a desublimation process inside a cold tube. The performance of KPASS–Odor was compared with conventional devices (i.e., a NafionTM dryer and a cooler) through the measurements of low water-soluble VOCs (i.e., benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, p-xylene, and styrene) and relatively high ones (i.e., methyl-ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, butyl acetate, and isobutyl alcohol) using gas chromatography (GC) and sensor methods. Regarding the GC method, the recovery rates for KPASS–Odor and the cooler were >95% and >80%, respectively, at a flow rate of 500 mL/min for all compounds. For the NafionTM dryer, the recovery rates differed between low and high water-soluble compounds, which exhibited the rates ≥88% and ≤86%, respectively. In terms of the sensor method, the VOC recovery rates of KPASS–Odor and the NafionTM dryer were found to be >90% and

Chemical and biological agents were evaluated to inhibit Colletotrichum fructicola, Phytophthora cactorum, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing strawberry diseases. Mycelial growths of C. fructicola were gradually arrested by increasing concentrations of fungicides pyraclostrobin and iminoctadine tris (albesilate). P. cactorum and L. theobromae were more sensitive to pyraclostrobin compared to C. fructicola, but iminoctadine tris (albesilate) was not or less effective to limit P. cactorum or L. theobromae, respectively. Bacillus siamensis H30-3 was antagonistic against the three pathogens by diffusible as well as volatile molecules, and evidently reduced aerial mycelial formation of P. cactorum. B. siamensis H30-3 growth was declined by at least 0.025 mg/ml of pyraclostrobin. The two fungicides additively inhibited mycelial growths of C. fructicola, but not of P. cactorum and L. theobromae. B. siamensis H30-3 volatiles led to less growth of C. fructicola than one reduced by the fungicides. Taken together, in vitro antimicrobial activities of the two fungicides together with or without B. siamensis H30-3 volatiles may be cautiously incorporated into integrated management of strawberry diseases dependent on causal pathogens.

This paper presents a traffic-adaptive contention-free period (CFP) extension (TaCFPext) protocol for IEEE 802.15.4 deterministic and synchronous multichannel extension (DSME) medium access control (MAC), which aims to satisfy the traffic adaptability requirement of industrial wireless sensor networks (IWSNs). The legacy DSME standard has limitations in accommodating highly varying traffic load in IWSNs due to its fixed multi-superframe structure. TaCFPext enables a node to adaptively use a contention access period (CAP) as an extended CFP (extCFP) on the demands of traffic loads in a distributed manner. The node starts TaCFPext when it determines that the CFP of the current multi-superframe is insufficient to accommodate the traffic load. Then, the node selects a CAP to be used as an extCFP, on which it is allocated an extended guaranteed time slot (extGTS). When the traffic load decreases, the extGTS is deallocated before the GTS in CFP, and the extCFP returns to CAP again. An experimental simulation was performed to verify the superiority of TaCFPext. The results demonstrated that TaCFPext outperforms the legacy DSME for aggregate throughput and average delay under various traffic conditions.

Abstract Background Pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a predictor of improved outcomes in breast cancer. In patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -negative breast cancer, the response to NAC is variable and mostly limited. This study was an investigation of the predictive relevance of parameters of 18F-FDG PET/CT for the pCR to NAC in patients with HR-positive, HER2–negative breast cancer. Methods: AH total of 109 consecutive HR-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer patients who were treated with NAC were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The relationships between pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical outcomes including pathologic response to NAC were evaluated. Results: All patients finished their planned NAC cycles and eight patients (7.3%) achieved pCR. In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, pSUVmax exhibited high sensitivity and specificity for predicting pCR. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed pSUVmax as a predictive factor for pCR (hazard ratio = 17.452; 95% CI = 1.847–164.892; p = 0.013). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that 18F-FDG PET/CT pSUVmax is a predictive factor for pCR of HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer to NAC.

BackgroundChronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is known to induce Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, but its mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the cerebral regions that are affected by CCH, and to evaluate the development of AD pathology in a rat model of CCH.MethodsA rat model of CCH was established by bilaterally ligating the common carotid arteries in adult male rats (CCH group). The identical operations were performed on sham rats without arteries ligation (control group). Regional cerebral glucose metabolism was evaluated at 1 and 3 months after bilateral CCA ligation using positron emission tomography with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. The expression levels of amyloid β40 (Aβ40), amyloid β42 (Aβ42), and hyperphosphorylated tau were evaluated using western blots at 3 months after the ligation. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Y-maze test at 3 months after the ligation.ResultsAt 1 month after the ligation, cerebral glucose metabolism in the entorhinal, frontal association, motor, and somatosensory cortices were significantly decreased in the CCH group compared with those in the control group. At 3 months after the ligation, cerebral glucose metabolism was normalized in all regions except for the anterodorsal hippocampus, which was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. The expression of Aβ42 and the Aβ42/40 ratio were significantly higher in the CCH group than those in the control group. The phosphorylated-tau levels of the hippocampus in the CCH group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Cognitive function was more impaired in the CCH group than that in the control group.ConclusionOur findings suggest that CCH causes selective neurodegeneration of the anterodorsal hippocampus, which may be a trigger point for the development of AD pathology.

Uranium (U) is one of the typical naturally occurring radioactive elements enriched in groundwater through geological mechanisms, thereby bringing about adverse effects on human health. For this reason, some countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) regulate U with drinking water standards and monitor its status in groundwater. In Korea, there have been continuous investigations to monitor and manage U in groundwater, but they have targeted only public groundwater wells. However, the features of private wells differ from public ones, particularly in regard to the well’s depth and diameter, affecting the U distribution in private wells. This study was initiated to investigate U concentrations in private groundwater wells for potable use, and the significant factors controlling them were also elucidated through statistical methods. The results obtained from the analyses of 7036 groundwater samples from private wells showed that the highest, average, and median values of U concentrations were 1450, 0.4, and 4.0 μg/L, respectively, and 2.1% of the wells had U concentrations exceeding the Korean and WHO standard (30 μg/L). In addition, the U concentrations were highest in areas of the Jurassic granite, followed by Quaternary alluvium and Precambrian metamorphic rocks. A more detailed investigation of the relationship between U concentration and geology revealed that the Jurassic porphyritic granite, mainly composed of Daebo granite, showed the highest U contents, which indicated that U might originate from uraninite (UO2) and coffinite (USiO4). Consequently, significant caution should be exercised when using the groundwater in these geological areas for potable use. The results of this study might be applied to establish relevant management plans to protect human health from the detrimental effect of U in groundwater.

Abstract Background This study was to evaluate the prognostic value of metabolic parameters on F-18-FDG PET/CT and the status of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and known prognostic variables for predicting tumor recurrence and investigating a prognostic model in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Methods A total of 129 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma who underwent initial CCRT were eligible for this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using traditional prognostic factors, metabolic parameters, and HPV infection. Classification and regression decision tree (CART) was used to establish new classification. Results Among 129 patients, 29 patients (22.5%) had recurrence after a median follow-up of 60 months (range, 3–125 months). Tumor size, para-aortic lymph node metastasis, nodal SUVmax, and HPV infection status were identified as independent prognostic factors by multivariate analysis. The CART analysis classified the patients into three groups. The first node was nodal SUVmax, and HPV status was the second node for patients with nodal SUVmax ≤7.49; Group A (nodal SUVmax ≤7.49 and HPV positive, HR 1.0), Group B (nodal SUVmax ≤7.49 and HPV negative, HR 3.56), and Group C (nodal SUVmax > 7.49, HR 10.13). Disease-free survival was significantly different among the three groups (p

Abstract Plasmonic nanostructure-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) has proven to be a promising approach for cancer treatment, and new approaches for its effective delivery to tumor lesions are currently being developed. This study aimed to assess macrophage-mediated delivery of PTT using radioiodine-124-labeled gold nanoparticles with crushed gold shells (124I-Au@AuCBs) as a theranostic nanoplatform. 124I-Au@AuCBs exhibited effective photothermal conversion effects both in vitro and in vivo and were efficiently taken up by macrophages without cytotoxicity. After the administration of 124I-Au@AuCB-labeled macrophages to colon tumors, intensive signals were observed at tumor lesions, and subsequent in vivo PTT with laser irradiation yielded potent antitumor effects. The results indicate the considerable potential of 124I-Au@AuCBs as novel theranostic nanomaterials and the prominent advantages of macrophage-mediated cellular therapies in treating cancer and other diseases.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to (1) evaluate the ability of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) parameters to predict suboptimal cytoreduction and (2) to create a risk model for predicting suboptimal cytoreduction in advanced ovarian cancer. From 2011 to 2015, 51 patients underwent primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer were enrolled. A residual disease with maximal diameter > 1 cm was considered a suboptimal surgical result. The SUVmax values for nine abdominal regions, the sum of 9 regional SUVmax (WB1SUVmax) and WB2SUVmax (WB1SUVmax plus SUVmax of lymph nodes) were used for PET parameter. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictive value of PET and clinical parameters for risk model. In addition, assessments of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed. Results Seventeen of the 51 patients (33.3%) underwent suboptimal cytoreduction. The ECOG status (OR, 4.091), SUVmax of central (OR, 5.250), right upper (OR, 4.148), left upper (OR, 5.921) and WB2SUVmax (OR, 4.148) were associated with suboptimal cytoreduction. The risk model can divide the risk groups of suboptimal cytoreduction (area under the curve (AUC), 0.775; p = 0.0001). The DFS and OS in the high-risk group were significantly worse than those in the low-risk group (p = 0.0379 for DFS; p = 0.0211 for OS). Conclusions The presence of hypermetabolic lesions in the central, right upper, and left upper regions showed predictive value for suboptimal cytoreduction. Our risk model may be helpful for selecting patients who may show suboptimal cytoreduction.

Monitoring and preserving natural habitats has become an essential activity in many countries today. As a native tree species in Korea, Paulownia coreana has periodically been surveyed in national ecological surveys and was identified as an important target for conservation as well as habitat monitoring and management. This study explores habitat suitability models (HSMs) for Paulownia coreana in conjunction with national ecological survey data and various environmental factors. Together with environmental variables, the national ecological survey data were run through machine learning algorithms such as Artificial Neural Network and Decision Tree & Rules, which were used to identify the impact of individual variables and create HSMs for Paulownia coreana, respectively. Unlike other studies, which used remote sensing data to create HSMs, this study employed periodical on-site survey data for enhanced validity. Moreover, localized environmental resources such as topography, soil, and rainfall were taken into account to project habitat suitability. Among the environment variables used, the study identified critical attributes that affect the habitat conditions of Paulownia coreana. Therefore, the habitat suitability modelling methods employed in this study could play key roles in planning, monitoring, and managing plants species in regional and national levels. Furthermore, it could shed light on existing challenges and future research needs.

Soil health deteriorates through the contamination and remediation processes, resulting in the limitation of the reuse and recycling of the remediated soils. Therefore, soil health should be recovered for the intended purposes of reuse and recycling. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of several amendments to revitalize total petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soils remediated by the landfarming process. Ten inorganic, organic, and biological amendments were investigated for their dosage and duration, and nine physicochemical, four fertility, and seven microbial (soil enzyme activity) factors were compared before and after the treatment of amendments. Finally, the extent of recovery was quantitatively estimated, and the significance of results was confirmed with statistical methods, such as simple regression and correlation analyses assisted by principal component analysis. The landfarming process is considered a somewhat environmentally friendly remediation technology to minimize the adverse effect on soil quality, but four soil properties—such as water holding capacity (WHC), exchangeable potassium (Ex. K), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), available phosphorus (Av. P), and urease—were confirmed to deteriorate through the landfarming process. The WHC was better improved by organic agents, such as peat moss, biochar, and compost. Zeolite was evaluated as the most effective material for improving Ex. K content. The vermicompost showed the highest efficacy in recovering the NO3-N content of the remediated soil. Chlorella, vermicompost, and compost were investigated for their ability to enhance urease activity effectively. Although each additive showed different effectiveness according to different soil properties, their effect on overall soil properties should be considered for cost-effectiveness and practical implementation. Their overall effect was evaluated using statistical methods, and the results showed that compost, chlorella, and vermicompost were the most relevant amendments for rehabilitating the overall health of the remediated soil for the reuse and/or recycling of agricultural purposes. This study highlighted how to practically improve the health of remediated soils for the reuse and recycling of agricultural purposes.

We developed a novel quantification method named shape feature using F-18 florapronol positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT) and evaluated its sensitivity and specificity for discriminating between patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and patients with mild cognitive impairment or other precursors dementia (non-AD). We calculated the cerebral amyloid smoothing score (CASS) and brain atrophy index (BAI) using the surface area and volume of the region of interest in PET images. We calculated gray and white matter from trained CT data, prepared using U-net. Shape feature was calculated by multiplying CASS with BAI scores. We measured region-based standard uptake values (SUVr) and performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to compare SUVr, shape feature, CASS, and BAI score. We investigated the relationship between shape feature and neuropsychological tests. Fifty subjects (23 with AD and 27 with non-AD) were evaluated. SUVr, shape feature, CASS, and BAI score were significantly higher in patients with AD than in those with non-AD. There was no statistically significant difference between shape feature and SUVr in ROC analysis. Shape feature correlated well with mini-mental state examination scores. Shape feature can effectively quantify beta-amyloid deposition and atrophic changes in the brain. These results suggest that shape feature is useful in the diagnosis of AD.

Abstract Background Radioactive isotope-labeled gold nanomaterials have potential biomedical applications. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of PEGylated crushed gold shell-radioactive iodide-124-labeled gold core nanoballs (PEG-124I-Au@AuCBs) for in vivo tumor imaging applications through combined positron emission tomography and Cerenkov luminescent imaging (PET/CLI). Results PEG-124I-Au@AuCBs showed high stability and sensitivity in various pH solutions, serum, and in vivo conditions and were not toxic to tested cells. Combined PET/CLI clearly revealed tumor lesions at 1 h after injection of particles, and both signals remained visible in tumor lesions at 24 h, consistent with the biodistribution results. Conclusion Taken together, the data provided strong evidence for the application of PEG-124I-Au@AuCBs as promising imaging agents in nuclear medicine imaging of various biological systems, particularly in cancer diagnosis.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a disorder of reversible vasogenic brain edema which mainly involves the parieto-occipital lobes in various clinical settings. The main mechanism is known to be cerebral autoregulation failure and endothelial dysfunction leading to the disruption of the blood-brain barrier. We report the case of a 47-year-old woman with PRES which involved the brain stem and thalami, sparing the cerebral hemispheres. She was admitted to the emergency room because of acute-onset confusion. Her initial blood pressure was 270/220 mm Hg. Routine blood lab tests showed pleocytosis, hyperglycemia, and azotemia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a lesion of vasogenic edema involving nearly the whole area of pons, the left side of the midbrain, and the bilateral medial thalami. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed an increased level of protein with normal white blood cell count. With conservative care, the patient markedly recovered 3 days after symptom onset, and a follow-up MRI confirmed complete resolution of the vasogenic edema. This case suggests that PRES can rarely involve the “central zone” only, sparing the cerebral hemispheres, which may be confused with other neurological diseases. Besides, the CSF albuminocytologic dissociation may suggest the disruption of the blood-brain barrier in patients with PRES.

A high humidity at a high temperature presents a common challenge in monitoring the air pollutants emitted from stationary sources. Thus, humidity removal is a pivotal issue. In this study, the effect of humidity pretreatment devices (HPDs) on hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas emitted from an incinerator stack was investigated. A conventional cooler (HPD_CL), and poly-tube (HPD_NP) and single-tube (HPD_NS) Nafion™ dryers were used as HPDs in this study. HCl concentrations varied at five and 10 parts per million in volume (ppmv). Low (i.e., ~4%) and high (i.e., ~17%) humidities were generated at 180 °C. The removal efficiencies of humidity and the loss rates of HCl by the devices were determined. The removal efficiencies of humidity by HPD_CL and the two dryers were found to be similar, at approximately 85% at a low humidity and 95% at a high humidity. In terms of HCl loss rates, HPD_CL revealed the highest loss rates in all conditions (i.e., >95%), followed by HPD_NP and HPD_NS. At normal room temperature (i.e., 25 °C), the HCl loss rates of HPD_NP were >40% at a low humidity and >70% at a high humidity, while those of HPD_NS were >10% at a low humidity and >60% at a high humidity. The performance of the two dryers improved when they were heated to 80 °C. However, this temperature caused damage to the dryers, which reduced their lifetime.

Tight junctions (TJs) play an important role in water, ion, and solute transport through the paracellular pathway of epithelial cells; however, their role in diabetes-induced salivary gland dysfunction remains unknown. Here, we found that the TJ proteins claudin-1 and claudin-3 were significantly increased in the submandibular glands (SMGs) of db/db mice and high glucose (HG)-treated human SMGs. HG decreased paracellular permeability and increased claudin-1 and claudin-3 expression in SMG-C6 cells. Knockdown of claudin-1 or claudin-3 reversed the HG-induced decrease in paracellular permeability. MiR-22-3p was significantly downregulated in diabetic SMGs and HG-treated SMG-C6 cells. A miR-22-3p mimic suppressed claudin-1 and claudin-3 expression and abolished the HG-induced increases in claudin-1 and claudin-3 levels in SMG-C6 cells, whereas a miR-22-3p inhibitor produced the opposite effects. Specificity protein-1 (Sp1) was enhanced in diabetic SMGs and HG-treated SMG-C6 cells, which promoted claudin-1 and claudin-3 transcription through binding to the corresponding promoters. A luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-22-3p repressed Sp1 by directly targeting the Sp1 mRNA 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR). Consistently, the miR-22-3p mimic suppressed, whereas the miR-22-3p inhibitor enhanced, the effects of HG on Sp1 expression. Taken together, our results demonstrate a new regulatory pathway through which HG decreases the paracellular permeability of SMG cells by inhibiting miR-22-3p/Sp1-mediated claudin-1 and claudin-3 expression.

Objective: To compare the radiomic features of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and intratumoral heterogeneity according to tumor budding (TB) status and to develop a prediction model for the TB status using the radiomic feature of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: Seventy-six patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT were included. We assessed the status of intratumoral budding (ITP) and peritumoral budding (PTB) in all available hematoxylin and eosin-stained specimens. Three conventional metabolic parameters and fifty-nine features were extracted and analyzed. Univariate analysis was used to identify significant metabolic parameters and radiomic findings for TB status. The prediction model for TB status was built using 3 machine learning classifiers (random forest, support vector machine, and neural network). Results: Univariate analysis led to the identification of 2 significant metabolic parameters and 12 significant radiomic features according to intratumoral budding (ITB) status. Among these parameters, following multivariate analysis for the ITB status, only compacity remained significant (odds ratio, 5.0047; 95% confidence interval, 1.1636–21.5253; p = 0.0305). Two conventional metabolic parameters and 25 radiomic features were selected by the Lasso regularization, and the prediction model for the ITB status had a mean area under the curve of 0.762 in the test dataset. Conclusion: Radiomic features of 18F-FDG PET/CT were associated with the ITB status. The prediction model using radiomic features successfully predicted the TB status in patients with cervical cancer. The prediction models for the ITB status may contribute to personalized medicine in the management of patients with cervical cancer.

An analyzer for measuring NH3 emitted from a combustion process has been developed based on a simple non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technique because of its cost-effective benefit. The weakness of the NDIR analyzer due to interference and zero-drift has been overcome. A least-interfering bandpass filter (BPF) was found and manufactured to compensate for the interfering effects of gases emitted from a combustion process (e.g., CO, NOx, SO2, CO2, H2O, HCl, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and toluene). It was found that there was no significant interference in the least-interfering BPF with respect to gases of concern. Measurement errors by the analyzer were less than 2.5% in a range of 1 to 10 ppmv of NH3 compared to a standard method when the compound was measured in complicated mixing gases. For the zero-drift, using BPFs with identical center wavelength with respect to different incident infrared intensity was found to help minimize the zero-drift of the NDIR analyzer. As a result, the analyzer could cut approximately 19% of zero-drift caused by the aging effect of both IR source and detector. It suggests that the analyzer could be applied for measuring NH3 emitted from combustion processes with good accuracy and reproducibility.

Quantifying deformation patterns of curved epithelial sheets is challenging owing to imaging difficulties. Here the authors develop a method to obtain a quantitative description of 3D tissue deformation dynamics from a small set of cell positional data and applied it to chick forebrain morphogenesis.

Abstract Background Recently, 18F-tetrafluoroborate (TFB) was used as a substrate for the human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) reporter gene. This study evaluated the feasibility of performing molecular-genetic imaging by using the new radiotracer (18F-TFB) for the hNIS gene, to track dendritic cell (DC) migration in live mice. A murine dendritic cell line (DC2.4) co-expressing the hNIS and effluc genes (DC/NF) was established. To confirm the functional cellular expression of both effluc and NIS in the inoculated DC/NF cells by bio-medical imaging, combined bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and 18F-TFB positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging was performed after intramuscular injection with parental DCs and DC/NF cells. For DC-tracking, parental DCs or DC/NF cells were injected in the left or right mouse footpad, respectively, and 18F-TFB PET/CT and BLI were performed to monitor these cells in live mice. Results In vivo PET/CT and BLI showed a clear signal in DC/NF injection sites but not in parental DC injection sites. The signal intensity in DC/NF cells was correlated with time. In vivo 18F-TFB PET/CT imaging showed higher radiotracer activity in the draining popliteal lymph nodes (DPLNs) in DC/NF injection sites than those in DC injection sites on day 2. BLI also showed DC/NF cell migration to the DPLNs on day 2 after the injection. Conclusions Migration of DCs to the lymph nodes was successfully monitored using 18F-TFB PET/CT imaging of the NIS gene and optical imaging of the effluc gene in live mice. These data support the feasibility of using 18F-TFB as a substrate for hNIS reporter gene imaging to track the migration of DCs to the lymph nodes in live animals. The use of 18F-TFB may facilitate enhanced PET imaging of the hNIS reporter gene in small animals and humans in future studies.

Here, we sought to monitor bone marrow–derived dendritic cell (BMDC) migration and antitumor effects using a multimodal reporter imaging strategy in living mice. BMDCs were transduced with retroviral vector harboring human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS, nuclear imaging reporter), firefly luc2 (optical imaging reporter), and thy1.1 (surrogate marker of NIS and luc2) genes (BMDC/NF cells). No significant differences in biological functions, including cell proliferation, antigen uptake, phenotype expression, and migration ability, were observed between BMDC and BMDC/NF cells. Combined bioluminescence imaging and I-124 positron emission tomography/computed tomography clearly revealed the migration of BMDC/NF cells to draining popliteal lymph nodes at day 7 postinjection. Interestingly, marked tumor protection was observed in mice immunized with TC-1 lysate-pulsed BMDC/NF cells. Our findings suggested that multimodal reporter gene imaging of NIS and luciferase could provide insights into the biological behaviors of dendritic cells in living organisms and could be a useful tool for the optimization of DC-based immunotherapy protocols.

Embryonic salivary gland mesenchyme (eSGM) secretes various growth factors (bioactives) that support the proper growth and differentiation of salivary gland epithelium. Therefore, eSGM cells can be used as feeder cells for in vitro-cultured artificial salivary gland if their survival and bioactivity are properly maintained. As eSGM is encapsulated in a hyaluronan (HA)-rich developmental milieu, we hypothesized that mimicking this environment in vitro via surface immobilization of HA might enhance survival and bioactivity of eSGM. In this study, various HA derivatives, conjugated with catechol (HA–CA), thiol (HA–SH), or amine (HA–EDA) moieties, respectively, were screened for their efficacy of culturing eSGM-derived feeder cells in vitro. Among these HA derivatives, HA–CA showed the highest surface coating efficiency and growth enhancement effect on the embryonic submandibular gland. In addition, the HA–CA coating enhanced the production of growth factors EGF and FGF7, but not FGF10. These effects were maintained when eSGM cells isolated from the embryonic salivary gland were re-seeded to develop the feeder layer cells. CD44s (a major HA receptor) in eSGM cells were clustered at the cell membrane, and enhanced EGF expression was detected only in CD44 cluster-positive cells, suggesting that membrane clustering of CD44 is the key mechanism for the increased expression of EGF.

In this paper, a novel drill bit breakage prediction method featuring a low-cost commercial infrared sensor to monitor drill bit corner wear is proposed. In the proposed method, the drill bit outer corner wear state can be monitored by measuring reflected infrared light because the reflection phenomenon is influenced by wear, edge shape, and surface roughness of the drill bit. In the experiments, a titanium workpiece was drilled without using cutting fluid to accelerate drill bit fracture. After drilling a hole in the workpiece, reflected infrared light was measured for the drill bit rotating at 100 rpm. Collected data on intensity of infrared light reflected from the circumferential surface of the drill bit versus the rotation angle of the drill bit were considered to predict tool breakage; two significant positions to predict tool breakage were found from the reflected infrared light graphs. By defining gradient vectors from the slopes of the reflected infrared light curves, a reliable criterion for determining drill bit breakage could be established. The proposed method offers possibilities for new measurement and analysis methods that have not been used in conventional tool wear and damage studies. The advantage of the proposed method is that the measurement device is easy to install and the measured signal is resistant to electromagnetic noise and ambient temperature because optical fiber is used as the signal transmission medium. It also eliminates the need for complex analysis of the measured signal, eliminating the need for a high-performance analyzer and reducing analysis time.

Advances in 3D printing technology are giving rise to attempts to utilize the technology in various fields, including landscape design. However, exploring the potential of 3D printing technology has been largely neglected in the context of landscape design and education. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the implication of 3D printing technology for both education and practice in landscape design. We analyzed the literature and examined the current state of 3D printing technology. We also conducted case studies with secondary school students and landscape practitioners to assess the implementation of the technology. Secondary school students demonstrated positive responses, such as increased interest and participation and improvement of understanding, through workshops using 3D-printed models. The semi-structured interviews with landscape practitioners on the implication of the technology confirmed the limitations of 3D printing in terms of cost, delivery time, scale, and level of detail.

CXC-chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), a 7-transmembrane receptor family member, displays multifaceted roles, participating in immune cell migration, angiogenesis, and even adipocyte metabolism. However, the activity of such a ubiquitously expressed receptor in epithelial gland organogenesis has not yet been fully explored. To investigate the relationship between CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling and embryonic glandular organogenesis, we used an ex vivo culture system with live imaging and RNA sequencing to elucidate the transcriptome and protein-level signatures of AMD3100, a potent abrogating reagent of the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis, imprinted on the developing organs. Immunostaining results showed that CXCR4 was highly expressed in embryonic submandibular gland, lung, and pancreas, especially at the periphery of end buds containing numerous embryonic stem/progenitor cells. Despite no significant increase in apoptosis, AMD3100-treated epithelial organs showed a retarded growth with significantly slower branching and expansion. Further analyses with submandibular glands revealed that such responses resulted from the AMD3100-induced precocious differentiation of embryonic epithelial cells, losing mitotic activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that inhibition of CXCR4 significantly down-regulated polycomb repressive complex (PRC) components, known as regulators of DNA methylation. Treatment with PRC inhibitor recapitulated the AMD3100-induced precocious differentiation. Our results indicate that the epigenetic modulation by the PRC-CXCR12/CXCR4 signaling axis is crucial for the spatiotemporal regulation of proliferation and differentiation of embryonic epithelial cells during embryonic glandular organogenesis.

The silencing of thyroid-related genes presents difficulties in radioiodine therapy for anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATCs). Tunicamycin (TM), an N-linked glycosylation inhibitor, is an anticancer drug. Herein, we investigated TM-induced restoration of responsiveness to radioiodine therapy in radioiodine refractory ATCs. 125I uptake increased in TM-treated ATC cell lines, including BHT101 and CAL62, which was inhibited by KClO4, a sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) inhibitor. TM upregulated the mRNA expression of iodide-handling genes and the protein expression of NIS. TM blocked pERK1/2 phosphorylation in both cell lines, but AKT (protein kinase B) phosphorylation was only observed in CAL62 cells. The downregulation of glucose transporter 1 protein was confirmed in TM-treated cells, with a significant reduction in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake. A significant reduction in colony-forming ability and marked tumor growth inhibition were observed in the combination group. TM was revealed to possess a novel function as a redifferentiation inducer in ATC as it induces the restoration of iodide-handling gene expression and radioiodine avidity, thereby facilitating effective radioiodine therapy.