Search

The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of organic soil amendment (compost) on bacterial populations associated with petroleum hydrocarbon (PH) degradation and nitrous oxide (N2O) dynamics via pot experiments. Soil was artificially contaminated with diesel oil at total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration of 30,000 mg·kg-soil-1 and compost was mixed with the contaminated soil at a 1:9 ratio (w/w). Maize seedlings were planted in each pot and a total of ten pots with two treatments (compost-amended and unamended) were prepared. The pot experiment was conducted for 85 days. The compost-amended soil had a significantly higher TPH removal efficiency (51.1%) than unamended soil (21.4%). Additionally, the relative abundance of the alkB gene, which is associated with PH degradation, was higher in the compost-amended soil than in the unamended soil. Similarly, cnorB and nosZ (which are associated with nitric oxide (NO) and N2O reduction, respectively) were also highly upregulated in the compost-amended soil. Moreover, the compost-amended soil exhibited higher richness and evenness indices, indicating that bacterial diversity was higher in the amended soil than in the unamended soil. Therefore, our findings may contribute to the development of strategies to enhance remediation efficiency and greenhouse gas mitigation during the rhizoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils.

Rhizoremediation is a promising method based on the synergism between plant and rhizobacteria to remediate soil co-contaminated with heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). A plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizobacterium with diesel-degrading capacity and heavy metal tolerance was isolated from the rhizosphere of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.), after which the effects of its inoculation on rhizoremediation performance were evaluated in heavy metal- and diesel-contaminated soil planted with tall fescue. The bacterial isolate (Novosphingobium sp. CuT1) was characterized by its indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, and siderophore productivity as PGP traits. CuT1 was able to grow on 1/10 LB-agar plates containing 5 mM of Cu or 5 mM of Pb. To evaluate the remediation effect of heavy metal- and diesel-contaminated soil by CuT1 inoculation, the experimental conditions were prepared as follows. The soil was artificially contaminated with heavy metals (Cu and Pb) at a final concentration of 500 ppm. The soil was then further contaminated with diesel at final concentrations of 0, 10,000, and 30,000 ppm. Finally, all plots were planted with tall fescue, a representative hyperaccumulating plant. Compared to the rhizoremediation performance of the co-contaminated soil (Cu + Pb + diesel) without inoculation, the bioavailable Cu concentrations in the soil and the tall fescue biomass were significantly increased in CuT1 inoculation. Additionally, the root growth of tall fescue was also promoted in CuT1 inoculation. Correlation analysis showed that Cu bioavailability and bioconcentration factor were positively correlated with CuT1 inoculation. The diesel removal efficiency showed a positive correlation with CuT1 inoculation, although the diesel removal was below 30%. CuT1 inoculation was positively correlated with IAA and dehydrogenase activity in the soil. Moreover, the dry biomass of the tall fescue's roots was highly associated with CuT1 inoculation. Collectively, our findings suggest that Novosphingobium sp. CuT1 can be utilized as an applicable bioresource to enhance rhizoremediation performance in heavy metal- and TPH-contaminated soils.

PurposeThis study sought to examine perceived risk and concerns for breast cancer according to awareness of breast density and states thereof among Korea women and to identify the impact of such awareness on screening intentions. Materials and MethodsThis study was based on the 2017 Korean National Cancer Screening Survey of a nationally representative and randomly selected sample of Koreans. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to examine associations for awareness of and knowledge on breast density in relation to psychological factors. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate significant factors associated with intentions to undergo breast cancer screening. ResultsAmong a total of 1,609 women aged 40-69 years, 62.0% were unaware of their breast density, and only 29.7% had good breast density knowledge. Awareness of one’s breast density and knowledge about breast density were positively associated with perceptions of absolute and comparative risk and cancer worry. Women aware of their breast density (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.35 for women aware of having a non-dense breast; aOR, 4.17 for women aware of having a dense breast) and women with a good level of breast density knowledge (aOR, 1.65) were more likely to undergo future breast cancer screening. ConclusionBreast density awareness and knowledge showed positive associations with psychological factors and breast cancer screening intentions. However, the majority of Korean women were not aware of their breast density status and demonstrated poor knowledge about breast density. These results demonstrate a need for better health communication concerning breast density.

Hearing loss in the elderly cause communication difficulties, decreased quality of life, isolation, loneliness and frustration. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of drug repurposing candidates in aging mouse. The selected candidate drugs for age-related hearing loss (ARHL) included atorvastatin (AS) and sarpogrelate. Monotherapy or fixed dose combination (FDC) products were administered via oral gavage for 6 consecutive months. Auditory outcomes showed significant hearing preservation in AS-treated aging mice compared to aging control, especially in the early stages of ARHL in both 8 and 16 kHz frequencies. However, none of the FDC products were able to prevent ARHL regardless of AS involvement. In aging mice, damage and dysfunction of mitochondria was noted as well as reactive oxygen species overproduction leading to oxidative stress and intrinsic apoptosis. These processes of ARHL were significantly prevented with administration of AS. Normal structures of mitochondria were maintained, and antioxidant activity were proceeded by activation of HSF1/Sirt1 pathway. Our study suggests that AS is a promising drug repurposing candidate to delay the progression of ARHL.

BACKGROUND The Korea National Cancer Screening Program currently provides screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) for adults older than 50 years with no upper age limit. In general, people are likely to only pay attention to the benefits of cancer screening and to neglect its risks. Most consider the benefits of cancer screening as being far greater than the risks and are unaware that any potential benefits and harms can vary with age. AIM To report acceptance of an upper age limit for CRC screening and factors associated therewith among cancer-free individuals in Korea. METHODS The present study analyzed data from the Korea National Cancer Screening Survey 2017, a nationally representative random sample of 4500 Korean individuals targeted for screening for the five most common types of cancer. A total of 1922 participants were included in the final analysis. The baseline characteristics of the study population are presented as unweighted numbers and weighted proportions. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were developed to examine factors related with acceptance of an upper age limit for CRC screening; subgroup analysis was also applied. RESULTS About 80% (1554/1922) of the respondents agreed that CRC screening should not be offered for individuals older than 80 years. Specifically, those who had never been screened for CRC had the highest acceptance rate (91%). Overall, screening history for CRC [screened by both fecal occult blood test and colonoscopy, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.22-0.50] and other cancers (aOR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.34-0.87), as well as a family history of cancer (aOR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.50-0.87), were negatively associated with acceptance of an upper age limit for CRC screening. In contrast, metropolitan residents (aOR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.29-2.68) and people who exercised regularly (aOR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.07-1.89) were more likely to accept an upper age limit. After subgrouping, we found gender, marital status, and lifetime smoking history among never-screened individuals and residential region, family history of cancer, and physical activity among never-screened individuals to be associated with acceptance of an upper age limit. CONCLUSION This study describes acceptance of an upper age limit for CRC screening and factors associated with it, and provides perspectives that should be considered, in addition to scientific evidence, when developing population-based cancer screening policies and programs.

Grilling restaurants are a major contributor to airborne particulate matter (PM) in metropolitan areas. In this study, the removal of PM during the grilling of pork belly using an orifice scrubber, which is a form of gas-induced spray scrubber, was assessed. During grilling, the particle mass concentration was the highest for 1.0 2.5 μm (7.0%). The PM removal efficiency of the orifice scrubber at a gas flow of 4.5 m3 min-1 was > 99.7% for PM ≥ 2.5 μm, 89.4% for 1.0 < PM ≤ 2.5 μm, 62.1% for 0.5 < PM ≤ 1.0, and 36.5% for PM ≤ 0.5 μm. Although further research is necessary to optimize its use, the orifice scrubber offers a user-friendly technology for the control of PM in small grilling restaurants because of its simple design, uncomplicated operation, and satisfactory PM removal performance.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to age-related senescence phenotypes. We report here the pathway increasing nucleoid remodeling and biogenesis in mitochondria during the senescence of foreskin human diploid fibroblasts (fs-HDF) and WI-38 cells. Replicative senescence in fs-HDF cells increased mitochondrial nucleoid remodeling as indicated by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) expression in enlarged and fused mitochondria. Mitochondrial nucleoid remodeling was accompanied by mitochondrial biogenesis in old cells, and the expression levels of OXPHOS complex-I, -IV and -V subunits, PGC-1α and NRF1 were greatly increased compared to young cells. Activated protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) increased mitochondrial activity and expressed phenotypes of delayed senescence in fs-HDF cells, but not in WI-38 cells. The findings were reproduced in the doxorubicin-induced senescence of young fs-HDF and WI-38 cells via the PKCζ-LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway, which was regulated by the p53-p21WAF1 pathway when p16INK4a was silenced. The signaling enhanced PGC-1α-NRF1-TFAM axis in mitochondria, which was demonstrated by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of young and old fs-HDF cells. Activation of the p53-p21WAF1 pathway and silencing of p16INK4a are responsible for mitochondrial reprogramming in senescent cells, which may be a compensatory mechanism to promote cell survival under senescence stress.

The objective of this study was to explore the seasonal characteristics of rhizoremediation and the bacterial community structure over the course of a year in soil contaminated with diesel oil. The soil was contaminated with diesel oil at a total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration of 30,000 mg-TPH·kg-soil

This study aimed to analyze the trends in cervical cancer screening rates, including organized and opportunistic cancer screening rates, with the Papanicolaou test among Korean women.Data were collected from a nationwide, cross-sectional, Korean National Cancer Screening Survey. To evaluate the cervical cancer screening rates, we used the screening approach of "The cervical cancer screening rate was 56.0% in 2020. From 2005 to 2013, there was a rising trend in cervical cancer screening rates (APC=2.70%, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.05 to 4.38), followed by a falling trend (APC=-2.67%, 95% CI:-4.3 to -1.01). The falling trend was significantly associated with age (≥40 years), education level (below the 15th grade), household income (below the middle-income level), and residence (all residential areas).The recent falling trend was more common in women with a low socioeconomic status, which suggests that there is a socioeconomic gap in cervical cancer screening. Moreover, young women in their thirties had a low screening rate. Therefore, an active participation strategy for women vulnerable to cervical cancer is required.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a common stress factor during the aging process. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) plays a critical role in ER stress, however, its exact function in age-related hearing loss (ARHL) has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to identify the role of HSF1 in ARHL. In this study, we demonstrated that the loss of inner and outer hair cells and their supporting cells was predominant in the high-frequency region (basal turn, 32 kHz) in ARHL cochleae. In the aging cochlea, levels of the ER stress marker proteins p-eIF2α and CHOP increased as HSF1 protein levels decreased. The levels of various heat shock proteins (HSPs) also decreased, including HSP70 and HSP40, which were markedly downregulated, and the expression levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 apoptosis-related proteins were increased. However, HSF1 overexpression showed significant hearing protection effects in the high-frequency region (basal turn, 32 kHz) by decreasing CHOP and cleaved caspase-3 and increasing the HSP40 and HSP70 proteins. These findings were confirmed by HSF1 functional studies using an auditory cell model. Therefore, we propose that HSF1 can function as a mediator to prevent ARHL by decreasing ER stress-dependent apoptosis in the aging cochlea.

Since 2002, the Korean government has provided breast cancer screening as part of the National Cancer Screening Program. This study reported the screening rate trends among Korean women from 2005 to 2020, including organized and opportunistic screening for breast cancer.Data from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey, an annual cross-sectional nationwide survey, was collected using a structured questionnaire between 2005 and 2020. The study population included 23,702 women aged 40-74 years with no history of cancer. We estimated the screening rate with the current recommendation of biennial mammographic screening for breast cancer. In addition, a joinpoint trend analysis was performed for breast cancer screening rates using subgroup analysis.In 2020, the breast cancer screening rate was 63.5%, which showed an annual increase of 7.72% (95% confidence interval 5.53% to 9.95%) between 2005 and 2012, followed by non-significant trends thereafter. In particular, a significant decrease in the breast cancer screening rate was observed in the subgroups aged 50-59 years old, with 12-15 years of education, and living in rural areas.Although there has been substantial improve in breast cancer screening rates in Korean women, the recent trend has flattened. Therefore, efforts are continually required to find out unmet subgroups and solve barriers for uptake of breast cancer screening.

In megacities and urban areas, grilling restaurants have been recognized as major sources of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter under 2.5 μm (PM2.5). To reduce PM emission...

Control over particulate matter (PM) emission from grilling is required for improving public health and air quality. The performance of mirror-symmetrical multi-compartment scrubbers with an upflow (U-type) and downflow baffle (D-type) configuration was evaluated for PM emission control from grilling at a flow rate of 30 m3 min-1. The PM removal efficiency of the U-type scrubber was the highest when the water level was 8 cm (95.6%), and the pressure drops recorded at the water levels of 6, 8 and 10 cm were 103, 122 and 153 mmH2O, respectively. Although PM removal efficiency of the D-type scrubber was over 91.0% at the water levels of 8, 10 and 12 cm, the pressure drops were 124, 142 and 185 mmH2O, respectively. A comprehensive evaluation of the water volume, pressure drop and PM removal performance, as well as device size, revealed that the U-type scrubber with a PM removal efficiency of 92% or higher and a pressure drop of 122 mmH2O or lower at the water levels of 6-8 cm was more economical for removing PM from grilling gas than the D-type scrubber.

The relationship between type 1 diabetes and hearing loss is not well known, although based on many pathological studies, type 2 diabetes induced hearing loss is associated with microcirculation problems in the inner ear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between type 1 diabetes and hearing loss through hearing function and immunohistochemical analyses using type 1 diabetic Akita or wild-type (WT) mice. The Akita mice had a significant increase in hearing thresholds, blood glucose, and insulin tolerance compared to WT mice. Histological analysis showed that the loss of cells and damage to mitochondria in the spiral ganglion neurons of Akita mice were significantly increased compared to WT. Also, the stria vascularis showed decreased thickness, loss of intermediate cells, and disturbance in blood capillary shape in the Akita mice. Moreover, a reduction in type I, II, and IV fibrocytes and Na+/K+-ATPase &alpha, 1 expression in spiral ligament was also observed. Cleaved caspase-3 expression was highly expressed in spiral ganglion neurons. In conclusion, hearing loss in type 1 diabetes is caused not only by ion imbalance and blood flow disorders of cochlear endolymph, but through the degenerative nervous system via apoptosis-mediated cell death.

The effects of operational parameters such as carbon source, C/N ratio, initial nitrate concentration, temperature, and pH value on heterotrophic denitrification and functional denitrifying genes w...

It is known that hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss. However, the biological mechanisms underlying hyperlipidemia and hearing impairment have not been completely elucidated in the cochlea. Based on our previous study of human subjects, elderly people taking drugs for hyperlipidemia showed better hearing than those not taking any medications. We hypothesized that drugs for hyperlipidemia, such as statins, may have the potential to prevent hearing impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between hyperlipidemia and hearing impairment and the hearing preservation effect of atorvastatin using a hyperlipidemic mouse model with diet-induced obesity (DIO). Here, we demonstrate that DIO mice had a significant hearing impairment as well as increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hair cell death due to reduced levels of pAKT and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). However, these changes were significantly prevented by atorvastatin. In mechanistic studies, oxidative stress-induced intrinsic apoptosis was decreased by the high expression of nrf2 and antioxidant genes, which improved mitochondrial function and ROS via activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway by atorvastatin. Therefore, atorvastatin has the potential to prevent hearing impairment via redox balance in the presence of hyperlipidemia.

Les espaces cinematographiques singuliers que le cinema de Kim Ki-duk a explores peuvent etre qualifies d’heterotopiques. Ils sont non seulement grotesques, maussades et excentriques, mais aussi reellement situes en Coree, a savoir localisables. Une part notable du travail de ce metteur en scene consiste a reperer des heterotopies au sein de la societe coreenne, a les employer ensuite pour construire ses espaces cinematographiques, avant d’appliquer leurs particularites aux personnages, aux evenements, voire aux imaginaires. Un autre lieu, le corps, qui subit chez Kim toutes les formes de violence, temoigne de la rigidite sociale mortifere. D’autres imaginaires, nes principalement des lieux heterotopiques dans le cinema de Kim, contestent la societe coreenne, ainsi que son imaginaire typique.

Effects of operational parameters (initial nitrite concentration, initial nitrate concentration, carbon source, and COD/N ratio) on denitrification performance was evaluated using a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) under intermittent aeration. Complete denitrification was observed without N

Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to age-related senescence phenotypes. We report here the pathway increasing nucleoid remodeling and biogenesis in mitochondria during the senescence of foreskin human diploid fibroblasts (fs-HDF) and WI-38 cells. Replicative senescence in fs-HDF cells increased mitochondrial nucleoid remodeling as indicated by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) expression in enlarged and fused mitochondria. Mitochondrial nucleoid remodeling was accompanied by mitochondrial biogenesis in old cells, and the expression levels of OXPHOS complex-I, -IV and -V subunits, PGC-1α and NRF1 were greatly increased compared to young cells. Activated protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) increased mitochondrial activity and expressed phenotypes of delayed senescence in fs-HDF cells, but not in WI-38 cells. The findings were reproduced in the doxorubicin-induced senescence of young fs-HDF and WI-38 cells via the PKCζ-LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway, which was regulated by the p53-p21WAF1 pathway when p16INK4a was silenced. The signaling enhanced PGC-1α-NRF1-TFAM axis in mitochondria, which was demonstrated by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of young and old fs-HDF cells. Activation of the p53-p21WAF1 pathway and silencing of p16INK4a are responsible for mitochondrial reprogramming in senescent cells, which may be a compensatory mechanism to promote cell survival under senescence stress.

Meat-grilling restaurants are considered to be residential emission sources of air pollutants. To investigate the emission characteristics of particulate matter (PM), odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the grilling of meat, a grilling apparatus equipped with butane gas burners was used to grill pork belly and marinated pork ribs in a laboratory setting. When grilling the pork belly, the emission factor for PM with a diameter of 2.5 μm or below (PM2.5) was 754 mg-PM·kg-meat−1, accounting for 99% of total suspended particles (TSPs), while that of the marinated pork ribs was 137 mg-PM·kg-meat−1 (96% of TSPs). Ammonia and acetaldehyde were the most common odors emitted during grilling at 43–88 mg·kg-meat−1 and 22–30 mg·kg-meat−1, respectively. Aldehydes were the most significant contributor to total odor intensity (36%–67%). Benzene, vinyl acetate, and hexene were the most abundant VOCs for the pork belly, while butane, vinyl acetate, and n-dodecane were the most abundant for the marinated ribs. Among the VOCs emitted from the pork grilling process, hexene, butane, and toluene were the dominant ozone precursors. The information obtained in this study is useful for furthering the understanding of the characteristics of air pollutants emitted from actual meat-grilling restaurants. Additionally, knowledge of the PM, odor, and VOC emission characteristics and their emission factors is useful for establishing management strategies for air pollutants from meat-grilling restaurants.

Two types of solid bacterial agents for the simultaneous removal of methane and odor were designed using humic soil (De-MO-1) and the mixture of humic soil and tobermolite (De-MO-2) as biocarriers. The bacterial consortium, having the removability of methane and dimethyl sulfide (DMS), was immobilized in the biocarriers, and then stored at room temperature for 375 days without additional treatment. Although the lag period, of which the incubation time required for removing methane and DMS, tended to increase over the storage period, the removability of methane and DMS was maintained during 375 days in both bacterial agents. Key bacteria associated with the removal of methane and odors (Streptomyces, Promicromonospora, Paracoccus, Lysobacter, Sphingopyxis and Methylosystis) could keep their abundance during the storage period. The richness and evenness values of the bacterial communities in De-MO-1 and De-MO-2 ranged 4.89 ∼ 6.50 and 0.89 ∼ 0.98, respectively, indicating that high bacterial diversity was maintained during the storage period. The results suggest that De-MO-1 and De-MO-2, designed for the simultaneous removal of methane and odors, had shelf stabilities over one year.

Rhizoremediation, CH4 emission, and bacterial community dynamics were evaluated in diesel-contaminated soil cultivated with tall fescue via a pot experiment. At the beginning of the experiment, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) removal efficiency was 30.2% in tall fescue-cultivated soil, which was significantly higher than that of unplanted soil (19.4%). However, when compost was added as a soil amendment, TPHs removal efficiency increased to 39.2% in tall fescue-cultivated soil. Interestingly, potential CH4 emissions were more affected by the initial diesel concentration than by compost addition or tall fescue planting. Specifically, the potential CH4 emission was approximately 3.8 times higher in the treatment with the highest initial diesel concentration (T-WC38) than that of the treatment with the lowest initial diesel concentration (T-WC5). Functional gene analysis revealed that TPHs removal had a linear correlation with the alkB/16S gene ratio, whereas potential CH4 emission had a linear correlation with pmoA gene copy numbers. Initial diesel concentrations in soil also affected bacterial community structures and the genera Rhizobium, Halothiobacillus, and Geobacter were found to be positively linked to diesel-contaminated soil rhizoremediation. Therefore, this study provides useful insights into the development of strategies to enhance rhizoremediation efficiency and CH4 emission mitigation in diesel-contaminated soils.

In this study, a three-stage-integrated process using the hydrogenic process (BioH2), methanogenic process (BioCH4), and a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was operated using molasses wastewater. The contribution of individual processes to chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and energy production was evaluated. The three-stage integration system was operated at molasses of 20 g-COD L−1, and each process achieved hydrogen production rate of 1.1 ± 0.24 L-H2 L−1 day−1, methane production rate of 311 ± 18.94 mL-CH4 L−1 day−1, and production rate per electrode surface area of 10.8 ± 1.4 g m−2 day−1. The three-stage integration system generated energy production of 32.32 kJ g-COD−1 and achieved COD removal of 98 %. The contribution of BioH2, BioCH4, and the MFC reactor was 20.8, 72.2, and, 7.0 % of the total COD removal, and 18.7, 81.2, and 0.16 % of the total energy production, respectively. The continuous stirred-tank reactor BioH2 at HRT of 1 day, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket BioCH4 at HRT of 2 days, and MFC reactor at HRT of 3 days were decided in 1:2:3 ratios of working volume under hydraulic retention time consideration. This integration system can be applied to various configurations depending on target wastewater inputs, and it is expected to enhance energy recovery and reduce environmental impact of the final effluent.

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, electricity generation, and microbial communities were compared in 3 types of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) treating molasses wastewater. Single-chamber MFCs without and with a proton exchange membrane (PEM), and double-chamber MFC were constructed. A total of 10,000 mg L(-1) COD of molasses wastewater was continuously fed. The COD removal, electricity generation, and microbial communities in the two types of single-chamber MFCs were similar, indicating that the PEM did not enhance the reactor performance. The COD removal in the single-chamber MFCs (89-90%) was higher than that in the double-chamber MFC (50%). However, electricity generation in the double-chamber MFC was higher than that in the single-chamber MFCs. The current density (80 mA m(-2)) and power density (17 mW m(-2)) in the double-chamber MFC were 1.4- and 2.2-times higher than those in the single-chamber MFCs, respectively. The bacterial community structures in single- and double-chamber MFCs were also distinguishable. The amount of Proteobacteria in the double-chamber MFC was 2-3 times higher than those in the single-chamber MFCs. For the archaeal community, Methanothrix (96.4%) was remarkably dominant in the single-chamber MFCs, but Methanobacterium (35.1%), Methanosarcina (28.3%), and Methanothrix (16.2%) were abundant in the double-chamber MFC.

The mechanism by which 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) bypasses cellular senescence was investigated using human diploid fibroblast (HDF) cell replicative senescence as a model. Upon TPA treatment, protein kinase C (PKC) α and PKCβ1 exerted differential effects on the nuclear translocation of cytoplasmic pErk1/2, a protein which maintains senescence. PKCα accompanied pErk1/2 to the nucleus after freeing it from PEA-15pS(104) via PKCβ1 and then was rapidly ubiquitinated and degraded within the nucleus. Mitogen-activated protein kinase docking motif and kinase activity of PKCα were both required for pErk1/2 transport to the nucleus. Repetitive exposure of mouse skin to TPA downregulated PKCα expression and increased epidermal and hair follicle cell proliferation. Thus, PKCα downregulation is accompanied by in vivo cell proliferation, as evidenced in 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-TPA-mediated carcinogenesis. The ability of TPA to reverse senescence was further demonstrated in old HDF cells using RNA-sequencing analyses in which TPA-induced nuclear PKCα degradation freed nuclear pErk1/2 to induce cell proliferation and facilitated the recovery of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Our data indicate that TPA-induced senescence reversal and carcinogenesis promotion share the same molecular pathway. Loss of PKCα expression following TPA treatment reduces pErk1/2-activated SP1 biding to the p21(WAF1) gene promoter, thus preventing senescence onset and overcoming G1/S cell cycle arrest in senescent cells.

안드레이 타르코프스키 감독의 영화 (1986)에서는 레오나르도다빈치의 회화 (1481)가 핵심적인 역할을 수행한다. 이 그림은 한편으로는 (문학적 각색과 다른) 회화적 각색의 대상으로서이 영화의 진정한 기원으로 기능하며, 다른 한편으로는 영화 진행 도중에지속적으로 인용되고 환기됨으로써 풍요로운 상호텍스트적 기능을 수행한다. 이 영화의 타이틀 시퀀스에서 강렬한 존재감을 드러내는 다빈치의이 그림은, 실제로 시나리오 쓰기를 포함한 이 영화의 구상 단계에서 핵심적인 역할을 했다. 사실상 의 배경들, 인물들, 주제 등은 이그림의 그것들과 긴밀한 관계를 갖고 있기 때문에, 심도 깊은 비교연구의대상이 될 수 있다. 나아가 이 그림은, 타이틀 시퀀스 이외에도 이 영화의진행 과정에서 4번에 걸친 인서트의 형태로 환기되고 인용되는데, 이때마다 그림 속에 들어 있는 서로 다른 층위들(인물, 배경, 주제 등)이 풍요롭게 환기되면서 영화의 그것들과 적극적으로 호응을 이룬다. 에서 를 대상으로 이루어진 타르코프스키 감독의 작업은 문학적 각색과 구별되는 회화적 각색의 길을 열고 있으며, 나아가풍요로운 상호텍스트적 작업의 예가 된다. 타르코프스키 감독의 작업은 결국 다빈치가 규정한 것처럼 ‘정신적인 것’으로서의 회화를 계승한다. 시/서/화의 일체를 표방한 한국의 문인화 전통은 ‘정신적인 것’으로서 회화를 구현하고 있기 때문에 타르코프스키의 작업과 같은 회화적 각색 및 적극적인 상호텍스트적 작업의 대상이 될 수 있다.

The effects of operational parameters such as carbon source, C/N ratio, initial nitrate concentration, temperature, and pH value on heterotrophic denitrification and functional denitrifying genes were evaluated. When methanol was used as the sole carbon source, complete denitrification was performed in a short time without nitrous oxide (N

The clinical use of aminoglycoside antibiotics is partly limited by their ototoxicity. The pathogenesis of aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity still remains unknown. Here, RNA-sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes in rat cochlear organotypic cultures treated with gentamicin (GM), and 232 and 43 genes were commonly up- and downregulated, respectively, at day 1 and 2 after exposure. Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (Uchl1) was one of the downregulated genes whose expression was prominent in spiral ganglion cells (SGCs), lateral walls, as well as efferent nerve terminal and nerve fibers. We further investigated if a deficit of Uchl1 in organotypic cochlea and the House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells accelerates ototoxicity. We found that a deficit in Uchl1 accelerated GM-induced ototoxicity by showing a decreased number of SGCs and nerve fibers in organotypic cochlear cultures and HEI-OC1 cells. Furthermore, Uchl1-depleted HEI-OC1 cells revealed an increased number of autophagosomes accompanied by decreased lysosomal fusion. These data indicate that the downregulation of Uchl1 following GM treatment is deleterious to auditory cell survival, which results from the impaired autophagic flux. Our results provide evidence that UCHL1-dependent autophagic flux may have a potential as an otoprotective target for the treatment of GM-induced auditory cell death.

This study investigated the effects of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) on performance and microbial community of air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Air-cathode MFCs with reactor volume of 1L were constructed in duplicate with or without PEM (designated as ACM-MFC and AC-MFC, respectively) and fed with a mixture of glucose and acetate (1:1, w:w). The maximum power density and coulombic efficiency did not differ between MFCs in the absence or presence of a PEM. However, PEM use adversely affected maximum voltage production and the rate of organic compound removal (p0.05). Quantitative droplet digital PCR indicated that AC-MFCs had a greater bacterial population than ACM-MFCs (p0.05). Likewise, ribosomal tag pyrosequencing revealed that the diversity index of bacterial communities was greater for AC-MFCs (p0.05). Network analysis revealed that the most abundant genus was Enterococcus, which comprised ≥62% of the community and was positively associated with PEM and negatively associated with the rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (Pearson correlation0.9 and p0.05). Geobacter, which is known as an exoelectrogen, was positively associated with maximum power density and negatively associated with PEM. Thus, these results suggest that the absence of PEM favored the growth of Geobacter, a key player for electricity generation in MFC systems. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that MFC systems without PEM are more efficient with respect to power production and COD removal as well as exoelectrogen growth.