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This study was carried out to determine the effect of autophagy modulation in radiation treatment of cervical cancer cells. HeLa and CaSki cells were irradiated with γ-rays (2 Gy/min) after treatment with an autophagy inducer (rapamycin) and inhibitor (3-MA). Expression of LC3 and cell death in two cell preparations were examined. In addition, expression of Caspase-3 and PARP were examined after radiation alone and with autophagy inhibitor treatment. A notable increment of LC3 expression was detected after radiation in both cell lines. Cell viability was observed to decrease in 3-MA-treated cells compared to radiation alone, and even further in rapamycin-treated cells. Apoptosis was confirmed to occur later than autophagy in radiation treatment, and inhibition of autophagy derived a decrease in apoptosis. In conclusion, radiation-induced autophagy may be regulated by modulators, and autophagy augmentation yields an increase in cervical cancer cell death under radiation.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Autophagy is known to contribute both to tumour cell survival and death against radiation therapy. The effect of induction or inhibition of radiation-induced autophagy on cervical cancer cell death is not clear. What the results of this study add? Cell viability was observed to decrease in 3-MA-treated cells compared to radiation alone, and even further in rapamycin-treated cells. Apoptosis occurred later than autophagy in radiation treatment, and inhibition of autophagy derived a decrease in apoptosis. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our results suggest that radiation-induced autophagy may be regulated by modulators, and autophagy augmentation yields an increase in cervical cancer cell death under radiation.

Abstract Eating quality (EQ) of rice has a complex nature composed of physicochemical properties. Nevertheless, breeding programs evaluating EQ through sensory test or taste-evaluation instruments have been laborious, time-consuming and inefficient. EQ is affected by both taste and aroma. However, in actual breeding programs, aroma of cooked rice has been considered the least due to lack of information. Here we identified a total of 41 volatile compounds potentially affecting the EQ of non-aromatic, cooked japonica rice, identified by GC–MS, sensory panel test, and Toyo taste-meter analyses. Partial least squares discriminant analysis demonstrated an outstanding classification effect of the identified volatile compounds on eating-quality discrimination. Several volatile compounds related to lipid oxidation and fatty acid degradation were identified to affect the EQ in japonica rice. Of them, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-ethyl-3,5-dimethylbenzene, 2,6,11-trimethyldodecane, 3-ethyloctane, 2,7,10-trimethyldodecane, methyl salicylate, 2-octanone, and heptanal were selected as important compounds. The discriminant model for the classification of the quality of cultivars was robust and accurate, an r-squared value was 0.91, a q squared value was 0.85, and an accuracy was 1.0. Overall, the results of this study characterize EQ of rice cultivars based on volatile compounds, suggesting the application of metabolite profiling data for rice breeding of high eating quality.

Floral organ number is crucial for successful seed setting and mature grain development. Although some genes and signaling pathways controlling floral organ number have been studied, the underlying mechanism is complicated and requires further investigation. In this study, a floral organ number mutant was generated by the ethyl methanesulfonate treatment of the Korean japonica rice cultivar Ilpum. In the floral organ number mutant, 37% of the spikelets showed an increase in the number of floral organs, especially stamens and pistils. Histological analysis revealed that the number of ovaries was determined by the number of stigmas; spikelets with two or three stigmas contained only one ovary, whereas spikelets with four stigmas possessed two ovaries. The floral organ number mutant showed pleiotropic phenotypes including multiple grains, early flowering, short plant height, and reduced tiller number compared with the wild-type. Genetic and MutMap analyses revealed that floral organ number is controlled by a single recessive gene located between the 8.0 and 20.0 Mb region on chromosome 8. Calculation of SNP-index confirmed Os08g0299000 as the candidate gene regulating floral organ number, which was designated as FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER7 (FON7). A single nucleotide polymorphism (G to A) was discovered at the intron splicing donor site of FON7, which caused the skipping of the entire sixth exon in the mutant, resulting in the deletion of 144 bp. Furthermore, the T-DNA-tagged line displayed the same floral organ number phenotype as the fon7 mutant. These results provide valuable insight into the mechanism of floral organ differentiation and formation in rice.

Gomso bay tidal flat is influenced by human activity, such as Saemangeum dyke construction, Southwest sea offshore wind power plant construction, and reclamation. To observe continuous change of tidal flat topography, topographic change observation was carried out from Oct. 1991 to Oct. 2016. Gomso bay is located between latitude 35.5°N to 35.6°N and longitude 124.4°E to 126.7°E and elevation is measured at three transect located at tidal flat of outer bay, middle bay, and inner bay, respectively. RTK-GPS (Real time kinetic global positioning system) and sedimentation plate are used to measure elevation change of each transect. Line KM, which is located at outer bay tidal flat nearby Mandol-ri, has approximately 2 km distance from shoreline to lower intertidal zone and elevation is measured at 22 stations with RTK-GPS and sedimentation rate is measured at 10 stations with sedimentation plate. Line KH, which is located at middle bay tidal flat nearby Hajeon-ri, has approximately 5 km distance, and 50 stations and 20 stations are measured by RTK-GPS and sedimentation plate. Line KB, which has 1 km distance, approximately, and 10 stations and 9 stations are measured by RTK-GPS and sedimentation plate. Long term elevation change data is expected to predict long term elevation measurement data.

Moderate leaf rolling is considered optimal for the ideal plant type in rice (Oryza sativa L.), as it improves photosynthetic efficiency and, consequently, grain yield. Determining the genetic basis of leaf rolling via the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) could facilitate the development of high-yielding varieties. In this study, we identified three stable rice QTLs, qARO1, qARO5, and qARO9, which control adaxial leaf rolling in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between Tong 88-7 (T887) and Milyang 23 (M23), using high-density SNP markers. These QTLs controlled the rolling phenotype of both the flag leaf (FL) and secondary leaf (SL), and different allelic combinations of these QTLs led to a wide variation in the degree of leaf rolling. Additive gene actions of qARO1 and qARO9 on leaf rolling were observed in a backcross population. In addition, qARO1 (markers: 01id4854718 and 01asp4916781) and qARO9 (markers: 09id19650402 and 09id19740436) were successfully fine-mapped to approximately 60- and 90-kb intervals on chromosomes 1 and 9, respectively. Histological analysis of near-isogenic lines (NILs) revealed that qARO1 influences leaf thickness across the small vein, and qARO9 affects leaf thickness in the entire leaf and bulliform cell area, thus leading to adaxial leaf rolling. The results of this study advance our understanding of the genetic and molecular bases of adaxial leaf rolling, and this information can be used for the development of rice varieties with the ideal plant type.

Highly nutritious rice production will be benefited with the improvement of amino acid content (AAC) and protein content (PC). The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the PC and AAC of rice grains could provide a basis for improving the nutritional value of rice grains. Here, we conducted QTL analyses using recombinant inbred lines from the cross between indica (Milyang 23 or M23) and japonica (Tong 88-7 or T887) rice varieties, afterward employing genotyping-by-sequencing to obtain a high-density genetic map. A total of 17 and 3 QTLs were detected for AAC and PC, respectively. Among them, two QTLs associated with more than 10 AACs, qAAC6.1 and qAAC7.1, were identified for the first time in this study. Each favorable allele that increased the AAC of the two QTLs was derived from M23 and T887, respectively. Allelic combination of qAAC6.1M23 and qAAC7.1T887 showed significantly higher content of associated amino acids (AAs) than other allelic combinations. Near-isogenic line (NIL) possessing qAAC7.1T887 with M23 genetic background had significantly higher AACs than both parents. These results indicate that the pyramiding of QTLs would be useful in developing brown rice with a high AA and protein content.

Abstract The term ‘re-birth’ refers to the redesign of stock items originally released through the distribution route for sale to consumers but returned to headquarters as unsold stock. As a sustainable fashion practice, products are analysed and redeveloped by designers for resale as new products. During this 4-month project, a South Korean handbag company partnered with senior apparel design students in Seoul to execute a re-birth collaboration for fashion handbags. This study addresses some of the issues that arose in the process of interpretation and application of this re-birth exercise, including the relationship between the university and company, the roles of the student designer and company design team, characteristics of the product selected, and the communication required to implement the project. The concept of re-birth was introduced to the students, followed by a collaborative design exercise. Finally, 2 of the 50 re-birth designs were selected by company designers and altered for resale.

Objective. Thickened inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL) is considered as one of the major morphological parameters of adhesive capsulitis (AC). Previous studies reported that the anterior band of inferior glenohumeral ligament thickness (aIGHLT) is correlated with shoulder capsular contracture, luxatio erecta humeri, and AC. However, the thickness varies from the measured angle. To reduce this measurement error, we devised a new morphological parameter, called the anterior band of inferior glenohumeral ligament area (aIGHLA). Methods. The aIGHL samples were collected from 54 patients with AC and from 50 control subjects who underwent shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without any evidence of AC. Coronal T2-weighted MRI images were obtained at the shoulder level from each patient. We measured the aIGHLA and aIGHLT at the maximal view of the IGHL in the coronal plane using our picture archiving and communication system. The aIGHLA was measured at the whole cross-sectional area of the IGHL in the most hypertrophied segment of the coronal MR images. The aIGHLT was measured at the thickest point of the IGHL. Results. The average aIGHLA was 55.58 ± 14.16 mm2 in the control group and 83.71 ± 28.45 mm2 in the AC group. The average aIGHLT was 3.47 ± 0.99 mm in the control group and 4.52 ± 1.02 mm in the AC group. AC patients showed significantly greater aIGHLA (p

Using natural products as antioxidant agents has been beneficial to replace synthetic products. Efforts have been made to profile the antioxidant capacities of natural resources, such as medicinal plants. The polyphenol content of Himalayan rhubarb, Rheum emodi wall, was measured and the antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH and ABTS+ assay, and the oxidative stress was assessed using SOD enzymatic assay. Five different solvent fractions, n-hexane, n-butanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and water, were used for screening the antioxidant capacity in effort to determine the optimum extraction solvent. The total phenolic contents for R. emodi fractions ranged from 27.76 to 209.21 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dry weight. DPPH and ABTS+ assay results are presented into IC50 values, ranged from 21.52 to 2448.79 μg/mL and 90.25 to 1718.05 μg/mL, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction had the highest antioxidant activity among other fractions. Also, n-butanol and water fractions showed significantly lower IC50 values than the positive control in DPPH radical scavenging activity. The IC50 values of SOD assay of fractions ranged from 2.31 to 64.78 μg/mL. A similar result was observed with ethyl acetate fraction showing the highest SOD radical scavenging activity. The study suggests that the ethyl acetate fraction of R. emodi possess the strongest antioxidant activity, thus the most efficient in extracting antioxidant contents. Moreover, a highly significant correlation was shown between total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity screening assays. The compounds related to the antioxidant activity of R. emodi were identified to myricitrin, myricetin 3-galloyl rhamnoside, and myricetin, which have not been reported in studies about R. emodi before.

A tiller number is the key determinant of rice plant architecture and panicle number and consequently controls grain yield. Thus, it is necessary to optimize the tiller number to achieve the maximum yield in rice. However, comprehensive analyses of the genetic basis of the tiller number, considering the development stage, tiller type, and related traits, are lacking. In this study, we sequence 219 Korean rice accessions and construct a high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset. We also evaluate the tiller number at different development stages and heading traits involved in phase transitions. By genome-wide association studies (GWASs), we detected 20 significant association signals for all traits. Five signals were detected in genomic regions near known candidate genes. Most of the candidate genes were involved in the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. In particular, HD1 was simultaneously associated with the productive tiller ratio and heading date, indicating that the photoperiodic heading gene directly controls the productive tiller ratio. Multiple linear regression models of lead SNPs showed coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.49, 0.22, and 0.41 for the tiller number at the maximum tillering stage, productive tiller number, and productive tiller ratio, respectively. Furthermore, the model was validated using independent japonica rice collections, implying that the lead SNPs included in the linear regression model were generally applicable to the tiller number prediction. We revealed the genetic basis of the tiller number in rice plants during growth, By GWASs, and formulated a prediction model by linear regression. Our results improve our understanding of tillering in rice plants and provide a basis for breeding high-yield rice varieties with the optimum the tiller number.

Tiller angle is an important influencing factor in rice plant architecture that affects planting density and yield per unit area. Molecular tools to predict tiller angle contribute to breeding programs, which aim at optimizing rice plant architecture. In this study, several single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers related to tiller angle were developed and used with a model population to define a linear regression model for the prediction of tiller angle in rice. The resulting linear regression model, consisting of eight SNP markers as independent variables, was assessed using an independent test population. Overall, the regression model achieved an adjusted R2 of 0.51 and exhibited consistent predictive accuracy with an R2 of 0.61. Three of the eight independent variables, namely, PIN2-1, LIC1-1, and TAC1, contributed substantially to the linear regression model. These three major effect markers were also major determinants of tiller angle in the independent test population. Allelic combinations of the three major effect markers modulated tiller angle in the range of 5.6–19°. The DNA markers and linear regression model developed in this study will facilitate rice breeding programs for improving plant architecture.

Deposition of amyloid fibrils is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ42 is the major protein whose aggregation leads to the formation of these fibrils. Understanding the detailed structure of Aβ42 fibrils is of particular importance for delineating the mechanism of Aβ42 aggregation and developing specific amyloid-targeting drugs. Here, we use site-directed spin labelling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the site-specific structural order at each and every residue position in Aβ42 fibrils. Strong interactions between spin labels indicate highly ordered protein backbone at the labelling site, while weak interactions suggest disordered local structure. Our results show that Aβ42 consists of five β-strands (residues 2–7, 10–13, 17–20, 31–36, 39–41), three turns (residues 7–8, 14–16, 37–38) and one ordered loop (residues 21–30). Spin labels introduced at β-strand sites show strong spin–spin interactions, while spin labels at turn or loop sites show weak interactions. However, residues 24, 25 and 28 also show strong interactions between spin labels, suggesting that the loop 21–30 is partly ordered. In the context of recent structural work using solid-state NMR and cryoEM, the site-specific structural order revealed in this study provides a different perspective on backbone and side chain dynamics of Aβ42 fibrils.

Aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease. Because protein aggregation is a concentration-dependent process, rigorous investigations require accurate concentration measurements. Owing to the high aggregation propensity of Aβ protein, working solutions of Aβ are typically in the low micromolar range. Therefore, an ideal Aβ quantification method requires high sensitivity without sacrificing speed and accuracy. Absorbance at 280 nm is frequently used to measure Aβ concentration, but the sensitivity is low with only one tyrosine and no tryptophan residues in the Aβ sequence. Here we present a fluorescence method for Aβ quantification using fluorescamine, which gives high fluorescence upon reaction with primary amines. We show that, using hen egg white lysozyme as a standard, fluorescence correlates linearly with primary amine concentration across a wide range of fluorescamine concentrations, from 62.5 to 1000 µM. The maximal sensitivity of detection is achieved at a fluorescamine concentration of 250 µM or higher. The fluorescamine method is compatible with the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide, which is commonly used in the preparation of Aβ oligomers, and limits the use of absorbance at 280 nm due to its high background reading. Using aggregation kinetics, we show that the fluorescamine method gives accurate concentration measurements at low micromolar range and leads to highly consistent aggregation data. We recommend the fluorescamine assay to be used for routine and on-the-fly concentration determination in Aβ oligomerization and fibrillization experiments.

A 53-year-old woman who had undergone total gastrectomy and received adjuvant chemotherapy two months ago underwent adhesiolysis of the small bowel. She presented with sudden desaturation and dyspnea of unknown etiology at postanesthetic care unit. Following ET intubation, the endotracheal tube suction revealed massive hemoptysis. Bilateral lung infiltrated on her chest radiograph and bronchofibroscopic examination disclosed a diffuse hemorrhage on both lung fields without bleeding focus. These findings were consistent with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) syndrome. As per our knowledge and search, this is the first reported case of DAH that occurred during the recovery period immediately after general anesthesia. DAH is known to have a high mortality rate and an early detection followed by adequate treatment is essential.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is recommended for patients with psychotic disorders that do not respond to medication. Usually, many psychotropic medications have teratogenic effects on the fetus. ECT seems to be a relatively safe and effective treatment during pregnancy. We report here on a 33-year-old primigravida patient in her third trimester receiving ECT.

Building human-aligned artificial intelligence (AI) for social support remains challenging despite the advancement of Large Language Models. We present a novel method, the Chain of Empathy (CoE) prompting, that utilizes insights from psychotherapy to induce LLMs to reason about human emotional states. This method is inspired by various psychotherapy approaches—Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), and Reality Therapy (RT)—each leading to different patterns of interpreting clients’ mental states. LLMs without CoE reasoning generated predominantly exploratory responses. However, when LLMs used CoE reasoning, we found a more comprehensive range of empathic responses aligned with each psychotherapy model’s different reasoning patterns. For empathic expression classification, the CBT-based CoE resulted in the most balanced classification of empathic expression labels and the text generation of empathic responses. However, regarding emotion reasoning, other approaches like DBT and PCT showed higher performance in emotion reaction classification. We further conducted qualitative analysis and alignment scoring of each prompt-generated output. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the emotional context and how it affects human-AI communication. Our research contributes to understanding how psychotherapy models can be incorporated into LLMs, facilitating the development of context-aware, safe, and empathically responsive AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]