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The unique three-dimensional orthorhombic NbS (o-NbS) compound synthesized in 1969 has recently been experimentally confirmed to be a superconductor [ Phys. Rev. B 108 174517 (2023)]. However, there is currently no theoretical research on its superconducting mechanism. In this work, we investigate the superconducting properties of o-NbS from first-principles calculations. Based on the Eliashberg equation, it is found that the superconductivity mainly originates from the coupling between the electrons of Nb-4d orbitals and the vibrations of Nb atoms in the low-frequency region and those of S atoms in the high-frequency region. A superconducting transition temperature (T c) of 10.7 K is obtained, which is close to the experimental value and higher than most transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs). The calculated thermodynamic properties in the superconducting state, such as specific heat, energy gap, isotope coefficient, etc., also indicate that o-NbS is a conventional phonon-mediated superconductor. These results are consistent with recent experimental reports and provide a good understanding of the superconducting mechanism of o-NbS. Furthermore, the TMCs of o-TaS and o-WS are also investigated; these belong to the same and neighboring groups of Nb, and we find that o-TaS and o-WS are also phonon-mediated superconductors with T c of 8.9 K and 7.2 K, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel monomer, 9-bis[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]fluorene di(mercaptopropionate), with a highly refractive index, purity, and excellent UV-curable properties, is synthesized through an optimized Fischer esterification process, reacting 9,9-bis[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]fluorene with 3-mercaptopropionic acid. The structural characterization of this monomer is performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The synthesis conditions are optimized using a design-of-experiments approach. UV-curable resins are obtained by incorporating the synthesized monomer as the thiol component. The effects of thiol content on the UV-curing behavior, refractive index, shrinkage, adhesion to the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil, and viscoelastic recovery are examined. The thermal properties are assessed using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy confirms the successful replication of the prism film. In edge-lit light-emitting diode (LED) backlight units, the prism film showed increased luminance with higher thiol monomer content in the UV-curable resin while maintaining stable color coordinates. This novel highly refractive index monomer can be utilized in luminance-enhancing prism films, thereby contributing to future innovations in the display film industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the geostrophic balance, horizontal divergence-free is often assumed when analyzing large-scale oceanic flows. However, the geostrophic balance is a leading-order approximation. We investigate the statistical feature of weak horizontal compressibility in the Gulf of Mexico by analyzing drifter data (the Grand LAgrangian Deployment (GLAD) experiment and the LAgrangian Submesoscale ExpeRiment (LASER)) based on the asymptotic probability density function of the angle between velocity and acceleration difference vectors in a strain-dominant model. The results reveal a notable divergence at scales between 10 km and 300 km, which is stronger in winter (LASER) than in summer (GLAD). We conjecture that the divergence is induced by wind stress with its curl parallel to the Earth's rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects employ terpenoids for communication both within and between species. While terpene synthases derived from isoprenyl diphosphate synthase have been shown to catalyze terpenoid biosynthesis in some insects, canonical terpene synthases (TPS) commonly found in plants, fungi, and bacteria were previously unidentified in insects. This study reveals the presence of TPS genes in insects, likely originating via horizontal gene transfer from noninsect arthropods. By examining 361 insect genomes, we identified TPS genes in five species of the Sciaridae family (fungus gnats). Additionally, TPS genes were found in Collembola (springtails) and Acariformes (mites) among diverse noninsect arthropods. Selected TPS enzymes from Sciaridae, Collembola, and Acariformes display monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and/or diterpene synthase activities. Through comprehensive protein database search and phylogenetic analysis, the TPS genes in Sciaridae were found to be most closely related to those in Acariformes, suggesting transfer of TPS genes from Acariformes to Sciaridae. In the model Sciaridae Bradysia coprophila, all five TPS genes are most highly expressed in adult males, suggesting a sex-and developmental stage-specific role of their terpenoid products. The finding of TPS genes in insects and their possible evolutionary origin through intraphylum gene transfer within arthropods sheds light on metabolic innovation in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Macrophages and T cells play crucial roles in liver physiology, but their functional diversity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unknown. Methods: Two bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) cohorts for HCC were analyzed using gene co-expression network analysis. Key gene modules and networks were mapped to single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of HCC. Cell type fraction of bulk RNA-seq data was estimated by deconvolution approach using single-cell RNA-sequencing data as a reference. Survival analysis was carried out to estimate the prognosis of different immune cell types in bulk RNA-seq cohorts. Cell-cell interaction analysis was performed to identify potential links between immune cell types in HCC. Results: In this study, we analyzed RNA-seq data from two large-scale HCC cohorts, revealing a major and consensus gene co-expression cluster with significant implications for immunosuppression. Notably, these genes exhibited higher enrichment in liver macrophages than T cells, as confirmed by scRNA-seq data from HCC patients. Integrative analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA-seq data pinpointed SPP1 + macrophages as an unfavorable cell type, while VCAN + macrophages, C1QA + macrophages, and CD8 + T cells were associated with a more favorable prognosis for HCC patients. Subsequent scRNA-seq investigations and in vitro experiments elucidated that SPP1, predominantly secreted by SPP1 + macrophages, inhibits CD8 + T cell proliferation. Finally, targeting SPP1 in tumor-associated macrophages through inhibition led to a shift towards a favorable phenotype. Discussion: This study underpins the potential of SPP1 as a translational target in immunotherapy for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernonia amygdalina Del. is a perennial tropical shrub from Asteraceae. The fresh leaf of V. amygdalina is consumed as a vegetable due to its medicinal and nutritional properties. The present study focused on the quantification of bioactive compounds, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, and 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid from aqueous leaf extract of V. amygdalina. The study also aims to investigate the effects of the aqueous leaf extract of V. amygdalina on cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9), and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) in hepatic cells of control and diabetic rats. The quantification of the bioactive compounds was conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography multiple reactions monitoring tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS-MRM) technique. The effect of the extract on CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 activities was determined using a fluorometric screening kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. The three bioactive compounds were detected and quantified in the aqueous leaf extract. Results showed that the content of luteolin-7-O-glucuronide (47 μg/mg) was the highest followed by luteolin-7-O-glucoside (3.5 μg/mg) and 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1.07 μg/mg). The extract showed an inhibitory effect on CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 enzyme activities in control and diabetic rats. The UHPLC-MS/MS-MRM method is sensitive and reliable for the quality control of V. amygdalina leaf extract. The inhibitory effect of the extract suggests that concomitant use of V. amygdalina leaf preparations with conventional drugs metabolized and eliminated from the body by CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 enzymes may lead to possible interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Influenza remains a significant public health challenge, with vaccination being a substantial way to prevent it. Cell-cultured influenza vaccines have emerged to improve on the drawbacks of egg-based vaccines, but there are few studies focusing on T cell immunity with both types of vaccines. Therefore, we studied the following 2022–2023 seasonal influenza vaccines with a standard dose and high dose: cell-based (C_sd and C_hd) and egg-based (E_sd and E_hd) vaccines. Methods: Along with a saline control group, C_sd, C_hd, E_sd, and E_hd vaccines were administered to BALB/c mice, followed by a challenge with the A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1) strain. Results: After the challenge, four out of five mice in the saline group died by day 7 post-infection (P.I.). None of the vaccinated groups experienced over 20% weight loss or any deaths. On day 7 P.I., the lung viral load in the saline group (mean log value of 4.17) was higher than that in the vaccinated groups, with the C_sd group showing the lowest viral load (mean log value of 3.47). The C_sd group showed a significantly high response in macrophage 1 (M1), IFN-γ+ T cells, and tissue-resident memory (TRM) T cells compared with the E_sd group on day 2 P.I. These M1, IFN-γ+ T cells, and TRM cells showed similar trends (p < 0.01). In terms of humoral immunity, only the E_hd group showed HAI titers above 40 for all four strains before and after the challenge. Conclusions: The high levels of T cells in the cell-cultured vaccines suggest, pending further real-world research, that these vaccines may offer advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Varicella can lead to severe complications in immunocompromised children, including those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or chemotherapy. Preventing primary varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is crucial in these populations to mitigate morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the live attenuated MAV/06 varicella vaccine in pediatric patients post-HSCT and post-chemotherapy. Additionally, it sought to compare fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen (FAMA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titers to establish effective cut-off levels for protection against varicella. Methods: The FAMA assay was conducted at the Vaccine Bio Research Institute, and a VARICELLA-ZOSTER ELISA (Vircell, Granada, Spain) kit, which relies on lysate from whole cells infected with VZV, was used to determine VZV IgG. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 76 pediatric patients under 18 years old who tested negative for VZV IgG via ELISA. Patients post-HSCT and post-chemotherapy were included. Participants received the MAV/06 varicella vaccine, and serologic responses were evaluated using ELISA and FAMA. Results: The median age of participants was 9.8 years, with acute lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia being the most common underlying disease. Post-dose 1, the seropositive rate was 56.1% by ELISA and 97.2% by FAMA. Based on the FAMA seropositive cut-off ≥1:4, post-dose 1 geometric mean titers (GMTs) of seropositive patients in the post-HSCT group were 14.7 (95% CI, 11.3–19.1) versus 20.2 (95% CI, 13.0–31.3) in the post-chemotherapy group (p = 0.690). Based on a FAMA seropositive cut-off ≥1:16, the post-dose 1 GMT of patients considered seropositive in the post-HSCT group was 19.3 (95% CI, 15.6–24.0) versus 34.1 (95% CI, 21.0–55.4) in the post-chemotherapy group (p = 0.116), and post-dose 2 FAMA titers of 76.1 (95% CI, 14.6–398.1) in the post-HSCT group and 64.0 (95% CI, 11.4–358.1) in the post-HSCT group (p = 0.853) were observed. In patients with lower baseline FAMA titers (1:4 to 1:8), 66.7% in the post-HSCT group and 71.5% in the post-chemotherapy group achieved a greater than four-fold increase in FAMA titers post-dose 1, while those with higher baseline titers (≥1:16) did not. There were no serious adverse events or vaccine-related rashes occurring in any of the patients. Conclusion: The MAV/06 varicella vaccine is immunogenic in pediatric patients post-HSCT and post-chemotherapy, particularly when administered in a two-dose schedule using a cut-off FAMA titer of <1:16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vehicle fuel economy rating system in South Korea has adopted the US 5-cycle fuel economy system since 2012 to provide consumers with comprehensive information. However, due to resource constraints, derived 5-cycle equations have been utilized to approximate 5-cycle test results using the 2-cycle test. This study examines the accuracy of derived 5-cycle fuel economy equations for 20 recent vehicle models in Korea and updates them based on the correlation between 5-cycle and 2-cycle fuel consumption. The updated equations are expected to refine fuel economy ratings for up to three models, ensuring the label's reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise monitoring of NOx concentrations in nitric oxide delivery systems is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of patients undergoing inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Currently, NOx sensing in commercialized iNO instruments predominantly relies on chemiluminescence sensors, which not only drives up costs but also limits their portability. Herein, we developed solid-state gas sensors utilizing Ni-based sensing materials for effectively tracking the levels of NO and NO2 in the NO delivery system. These sensors comprised of NiO-SE or (NiFe2O4 + 30 wt.% Fe2O3)-SE vs. Mn-based RE demonstrated high selectivity toward 100 ppm NO under the interference of 10 ppm NO2 or 3 ppm NO2 under the interference of 100 ppm NO, respectively. Meanwhile, excellent stability, repeatability, and humidity resistance were also verified for the proposed sensors. Sensing mechanisms were thoroughly investigated through assessments of adsorption capabilities and electrochemical reactivity. It turns out that the superior electrochemical reactivity of NiO toward NO, alongside the NO2 favorable adsorption characteristics of (NiFe2O4 + 30 wt.% Fe2O3), is the primary reason for the high selectivity to NOx. These findings indicate a bright future for the application of these NOx sensors in innovative iNO treatment technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incomplete Atypical Femoral Fracture (IAFF) is a precursor to Atypical Femoral Fracture (AFF). If untreated, it progresses to a complete fracture, increasing mortality risk. However, due to their small and ambiguous features, IAFFs are often misdiagnosed even by specialists. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for accurately classifying IAFFs in X-ray images across various radiographic views. We design a Dual Context-aware Complementary Extractor (DCCE) to capture both the overall femur characteristics and IAFF details with the surrounding context, minimizing information loss. We also develop a Level-wise Perspective-preserving Fusion Network (LPFN) that preserves the perspective of features while integrating them at different levels to enhance model representation and sensitivity by learning complex correlations and features that are difficult to obtain independently. Additionally, we incorporate the Spatial Anomaly Focus Enhancer (SAFE) to emphasize anomalous regions, preventing the model bias toward normal regions, and reducing False Negatives and missed IAFFs. Experimental results show significant improvements across all evaluation metrics, demonstrating high reliability in terms of accuracy (0.931), F1-score (0.9456), and AUROC (0.9692), proving the model's potential for application in real medical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection, where a rotating fluid is heated from below, exhibits a non-Hermitian topological invariant. Recently, Favier & Knobloch (J. Fluid Mech. , vol. 895, 2020, R1) hypothesized that the robust sidewall modes in rapidly rotating convection are topologically protected. By considering a Berry curvature defined in the complex wavenumber space, we reveal that the bulk states can be characterized by a non-zero integer Chern number, implying a potential topological origin of the edge modes based on the Atiyah–Patodi–Singer index theorem (Fukaya et al. , Phys. Rev. D, vol. 96 2017, 125004; Yu et al. , Nucl. Phys. B, vol. 916, 2017, pp. 550–566). The linearized eigenvalue problem is intrinsically non-Hermitian, therefore, the definition of Berry curvature generalizes that of the stably stratified problem. Moreover, the three-dimensional set-up naturally regularizes the eigenvector, avoiding the compactification problem in shallow water waves (Tauber et al. , J. Fluid Mech. , vol. 868, 2019, R2). Under the hydrostatic approximation, it recovers a two-dimensional analogue of the one which explains the topological origin of the equatorial Kelvin and Yanai waves (Delplace et al. , Science , vol. 358, issue 6366, 2017, pp. 1075–1077). The non-zero Chern number relies only on rotation when the fluid is stratified, no matter whether it is stable or unstable. However, the neutrally stratified system does not support a topological invariant. In addition, we define a winding number to visualize the topological nature of the fluid. Our results represent a step forward for the topologically protected states in convection, but the bulk-boundary correspondence requires a further direct analysis for proof, and the robustness of the edge states under varying boundary conditions remains a question to be answered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban-enhanced precipitation is often observed far downwind of cities, suggesting important roles of background wind. This study examines the impacts of background wind on the initiation and evolution of urban-induced precipitation through idealized ensemble large-eddy simulations with different initial background wind speeds of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 m s−1. Without background wind, a strong urban breeze circulation (UBC) initiates a relatively large number of cumulus clouds in the urban area, which exhibit greater cloud top heights than those in the rural area. The early-initiated clouds do not produce precipitation but moisten the middle troposphere, assisting later-initiated clouds to develop into deep convective clouds and produce concentrated precipitation in the urban area. As the background wind speed increases, the UBC weakens. Also, the high-humidity area generated by early-initiated clouds is continuously advected away from the urban area. Consequently, the precipitation initiation is delayed as the background wind speed increases. Precipitating clouds are advected downwind and generate a cold pool, and updrafts are repeatedly produced at the downwind boundary of the cold pool. The downwind-advected clouds are fed by the newly produced updrafts, being a long-lived organized precipitation system that produces a considerable amount of precipitation in the downwind area. This feeding effect is most prominent for a moderate background wind (3 m s−1), causing the precipitation amount and duration to be maximized. For stronger background winds, precipitation is initiated by the mechanical lifting of the warm air of the urban boundary layer over the cool rural boundary layer around sunset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, full-scale loading tests were conducted to investigate web-shear strengths of hollow-core slab (HCS) members strengthened in shear by using practically viable methods. All the HCS units used in the current test program were fabricated by using the individual mold method, not by the extrusion method, and the key experimental variables of the shear test were set as the presence of shear reinforcement, core-filling concrete, topping concrete, and also the magnitude of effective prestress. The shear force-displacement behaviors, crack patterns, and strain response of shear reinforcements were reported in detail. In addition, to identify the shear strength enhancement provided under various strengthening conditions in a quantitative manner, existing shear test results of series specimens, including a naked HCS member and corresponding composite HCS members with cast-in-place (CIP) concrete and/ or shear reinforcements, were collected from literature. On this basis, a practical design expression capable of estimating shear strengths of HCSs strengthened with CIP concrete and stirrups was suggested based on the ACI 318 code equation. The proposed method evaluated the shear strengths of the collected specimens with a good level of accuracy, regardless of the presence of core-filling concrete, topping concrete, and shear reinforcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or chemotherapy are at increased risk for severe influenza complications, necessitating annual vaccination. This study evaluated the immunogenicity and antibody persistence of the 2021–2022 seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine in pediatric patients post-HSCT or chemotherapy, compared to healthy controls. A prospective cohort study included 80 pediatric participants divided into three groups: chemotherapy (n = 33), HSCT (n = 27), and healthy controls (n = 20). All participants were vaccinated with the 2021–2022 GC FLU Quadrivalent vaccine. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays measured seroprotection rates (SPR), geometric mean titers (GMT), and seroconversion rates (SCR) for the four vaccine antigens (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Victoria, B/Yamagata) at one, three, and six months post-vaccination. At one month post-vaccination, all groups met the 70% SPR threshold for A/H1N1 and A/H3N2, but not for B/Victoria. For B/Yamagata, the SPR was low in the chemotherapy and HSCT groups (18.18% and 33.33%, respectively), compared to 80.00% in controls (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0015). While A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 GMTs were protective in all groups, only controls achieved protective levels for B/Yamagata. Over time, the control group maintained >70% SPR for A/H1N1 up to six months, but the chemotherapy and HSCT groups declined by three and six months, respectively. For A/H3N2, the SPR in controls dropped below 70% at three months, while it remained above 70% in the chemotherapy and HSCT groups until three months. None of the groups achieved protective GMTs for B strains at three or six months. Pediatric patients post-HSCT or chemotherapy demonstrated a comparable immune response to healthy controls for A/H1N1 and A/H3N2, but the rapid decline in A/H1N1 antibody levels suggests the need for ongoing monitoring and adjusted vaccination schedules. The poor response to B antigens, particularly B/Yamagata, underscores the need for improved vaccination strategies in these vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing awareness of the negative effects of fatigue on daily activities, mental health, and quality of life, antifatigue supplements are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. Selenium has been found to have antifatigue potential in high dosage, but may cause toxicity effects to the body. In this study, inorganic selenium was first converted to nanoselenium particles via in situ synthesis by Lactobacillus rhamnosus SHA113 (Se‐LRS), and then loaded by Ganoderma lucidum spores (GLS). The resulting products were not only assessed for their antioxidant activities, but also the antifatigue potential in mice. As a result, both Se‐LRS and the Se‐LRS/GLS complex exhibited higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities in simulated gastrointestinal fluids compared to isolated selenium nanoparticles. The Se‐LRS/GLS complex demonstrated sustained release of selenium in simulated gastrointestinal fluids and showed significant alleviation of exercise‐induced fatigue indicators, but relatively lower liver selenium accumulation in the mice, surpassing the effects of isolated nanoselenium. No toxicity was found to Caco‐2 cells for Se‐LRS/GLS complex at 2 µg/mL. This is a novel approach to enhance the antifatigue potential of selenium without causing extra toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics delves into flow patterns and energy spectra in forced quasi-two-dimensional turbulence, examining how system size and damping rate influence these phenomena. It uncovers that larger system sizes display streamers while smaller sizes exhibit coherent vortices, and the damping rate impacts the energy spectrum transition. The study proposes the dimensionless Taylor microscale as a diagnostic tool for spectral transition. Overall, the research sheds light on the intricate dynamics of turbulence and challenges current theories in the field. [Extracted from the article]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder with a global impact, yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. While age, metabolic abnormalities, and accumulation of neurotoxic substances are potential risk factors for AD, their effects are confounded by other factors. To address this challenge, we first utilized multi-omics data from 87 well phenotyped AD patients and generated plasma proteomics and metabolomics data, as well as gut and saliva metagenomics data to investigate the molecular-level alterations accounting the host-microbiome interactions. Second, we analyzed individual omics data and identified the key parameters involved in the severity of the dementia in AD patients. Next, we employed Artificial Intelligence (AI) based models to predict AD severity based on the significantly altered features identified in each omics analysis. Based on our integrative analysis, we found the clinical relevance of plasma proteins, including SKAP1 and NEFL, plasma metabolites including homovanillate and glutamate, and Paraprevotella clara in gut microbiome in predicting the AD severity. Finally, we validated the predictive power of our AI based models by generating additional multi-omics data from the same group of AD patients by following up for 3 months. Hence, we observed that these results may have important implications for the development of potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for AD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the rapid development of urbanization and industrialization, the carrying capacity of territorial space has been confronted with a serious crisis. Faced with many uncertain risks and unknown disruptions, it is important to proactively address the uncertainty of future developments in planning and to improve territorial spatial resilience (TSR). Based on the connotation of TSR, we build an assessment framework for TSR containing urban, agricultural and ecological space from three dimensions, including element, structure and function. Using a variety of methods such as the source-sink landscape index, land suitability assessment, and cropland pressure index, we assessed the TSR of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 2000 to 2020 and comprehensively analysed its spatial and temporal evolutionary characteristics. Through data analysis, we observe that the urban spatial resilience (RU) decreases and then increases, while the agricultural spatial resilience (RA) and the ecological spatial resilience (RE) show an increasing trend. The spatial clustering in TSR is apparent, and the distribution of hot and cold spots in RA and RE is reversed in the east–west direction. The changes in TSR are influenced by a combination of RU, RA and RE, which show unique geographical characteristics. Based on the average level and overall evolution of TSR, we divided the study area into five type zones and proposed development strategies for each of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a full coverage path planning (CPP) algorithm for the marine surveys conducted in the convex polygon shaped search area. The survey is supposed to carry out by torpedo-type AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles). Due to their nonholonomic mechanical characteristics, these vehicles have nonzero minimum turning radius. For any given polygon shaped search area, it can always be partitioned into one or more convex polygons. With this in mind, this paper proposes a novel search algorithm called CbSPSA (Calculation based Shortest Path Search Algorithm) for full coverage of any given convex polygon shaped search area. By aligning the search inter-tracks alongside the edge with the minimum height, we can guarantee the minimum number of the vehicle's turns. In addition, the proposed method can guarantee the planned path is strictly located inside the polygon area without overlapped or crossed path lines, and also has the total path length as short as possible. Considering the vehicle's nonzero minimum turning radius, we also propose a sort of smoothing algorithm which can smooth the waypoint path searched by CbSPSA so that the vehicle can exactly follow it. The smoothed path is also guaranteed to be strictly located inside the polygon. Numerical simulation analyses are also carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This case report aims to present a rare case of endometrial carcinosarcoma, a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. The primary objective is to describe this unique case's clinical presentation, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features, typical histopathological characteristics and surgical treatment. Methods: A detailed analysis of the patient's medical history, preoperative imaging evaluation, and treatment approach was conducted. This case report includes high-resolution images and figures, showcasing MRI scans, surgical treatment, and histopathology slides related to the case. Results: The case report outlines imaging findings of a rare case of endometrial carcinosarcoma. Multimodal imaging such as T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) scanning could accurately identify the histopathological features of the case. Surgical resection is the best treatment, and preoperative imaging evaluation should be particularly important. Conclusion: This case report highlights endometrial carcinosarcoma's rarity and diagnostic challenges. Multimodal MRI has significant value in diagnosing endometrial carcinosarcoma. This technology not only improves the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnosis, but also helps to more accurately evaluate the staging and grading of tumors. By comparing imaging features and pathological results, studies have found that multimodal MRI can clearly show the anatomical structure, pathological nature, and extent of the tumor, with a high degree of consistency with the pathological diagnosis. In particular, when differentiating endometrial carcinosarcoma from low-risk endometrial cancer, multimodal MRI combined with serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and E-box binding zinc finger protein 1 (ZEB1) detection can further improve the sensitivity and specificity of differential diagnosis. In addition, research has found that the ADC value of the tumor tissue in different pathological grades is related to the multimodal MRI, which helps to better understand the biological behavior and prognosis of the tumor. In summary, multimodal MRI is an effective diagnostic tool that can provide important evidence for the precise diagnosis and treatment of endometrial carcinosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of Cr alloying on phase stability, magnetism, and electronic structures in both body‐centered cubic (bcc) and face‐centered cubic (fcc) phases and on the transformation from fcc to bcc are studied by first‐principles calculations. Results show that the doped Cr atoms in fcc and bcc phases choose distinct occupation models. This phenomenon can be understood from the amount of electron density of states close to Fermi energy. For magnetism, Cr tends to be antiferromagnetically coupled with the surrounding Fe in the studied phases. The magnetic moment of Fe is greater than that of Cr in bcc, but the order is reversed in fcc. The moment of Fe is dictated by the distance between it and the doped Cr in bcc, whereas it is dominated by spatial orientation with Cr in fcc. For phase stability, it is found that the alloying of Cr prefers destabilizing bcc while tends to stabilize fcc, leading to a strong inhibition of phase transition from fcc to bcc. Notably, the role in the fcc phase is more prominent than that in bcc, which can be associated with the antiferromagnetism between Fe and Cr in fcc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a rare case of acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) in an adult with type 1 diabetes. AST is a rare condition, more commonly seen in children, and is considered an endocrine emergency with a mortality rate ranging from 3.7% to 9.0%. The patient initially presented with symptoms of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) but rapidly progressed to septic shock, highlighting the challenges in differentiating between the two conditions. The case also highlights the rare occurrence of AST as a presentation of disseminated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in a patient with type 1 diabetes, without additional immunocompromising factors. [Extracted from the article]

The presence of atherosclerotic plaque vessels is a critical factor in plaque destabilization. This may be attributable to the leaky phenotype of these microvessels, although direct proof for this notion is lacking. In this study, we investigated molecular and cellular patterns of stable and hemorrhaged human plaque to identify novel drivers of intraplaque vessel dysfunction. From transcriptome data of a human atherosclerotic lesion cohort, we reconstructed a co-expression network, identifying a gene module strongly and selectively correlated with both plaque microvascular density and inflammation. Spectrin Beta Non-Erythrocytic 1 (sptbn1) was identified as one of the central hubs of this module (along with zeb1 and dock1) and was selected for further study based on its predominant endothelial expression. Silencing of sptbn1 enhanced leukocyte transmigration and vascular permeability in vitro, characterized by an increased number of focal adhesions and reduced junctional VE-cadherin. In vivo, sptbn1 knockdown in zebrafish impaired the development of the caudal vein plexus. Mechanistically, increased substrate stiffness was associated with sptbn1 downregulation in endothelial cells in vitro and in human vessels. Plaque SPTBN1 mRNA and protein expression were found to correlate with an enhanced presence of intraplaque hemorrhage and future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events during follow-up. In conclusion, we identify SPTBN1 as a central hub gene in a gene program correlating with plaque vascularisation. SPTBN1 was regulated by substrate stiffness in vitro while silencing blocked vascular development in vivo, and compromised barrier function in vitro. Together, SPTBN1 is identified as a new potential regulator of the leaky phenotype of atherosclerotic plaque microvessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing firms in the S&P 500, we study whether greater transparency in the reporting of other comprehensive income (OCI) items, as mandated by ASU 2011-05, resulted in a reduction in information asymmetry, a change in the value relevance of this information, or a change in hedging practice. Our results show that while transparent reporting reduced information asymmetry, firms that engage in cash flow hedging do have greater information asymmetry than their counterparts that do not hedge. We find evidence that investors penalize firm value for greater volatility of OCI relative to net income volatility when reported transparently. When permitted, managers were able to mitigate the negative impact by reporting OCI only in the Statement of Shareholders' Equity. We conclude that managers' concerns regarding potential confusion surrounding OCI volatility following more prominent reporting led to changes in hedging behavior. After transparent reporting, we find a reduced likelihood of foreign currency cash flow (FXCF) hedges and a reduced level of FXCF hedging among firms experiencing the greatest volatility of unrealized hedging gains and losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafloor topography is essential for oceanic fluid dynamics from many perspectives, and it is believed to enhance energy dissipation in oceanic flows. This study numerically examines the impact of small-scale topography on the dynamics of quasi-geostrophic barotropic flows and finds three regimes and two critical values of topographic magnitude. In the first regime, where the topographic magnitude is below the first critical value, small-amplitude topography extends the range of upscale energy flux and enhances condensation, contradicting the common understanding of topographic damping. In the second regime, where the topography magnitude lies between the two critical values, energy simultaneously transfers to both large and small scales, and topography induces extra dissipation at the topographic scale. A second critical topography magnitude exists, corresponding to a second-order phase transition. When the topography magnitude exceeds the second critical value, energy only transfers downscale. The discovery of counterintuitive topography-enhanced energy flux and its critical phenomenon brings new challenges to topography parameterization in ocean models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious threat to patients with nosocomial infections, and infection is strongly associated with biofilm formation. Gallic acid (GA) is a natural bioactive compound found in traditional Chinese medicines that exerts potent antimicrobial activity. However, the anti-MRSA biofilm efficacy of GA remained to be determined. This study investigated the antimicrobial activities of GA against MRSA and the mechanisms involved. The results revealed the significant antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of GA. The minimal inhibitory concentration of GA against MRSA was 32 μg/mL and a growth curve assay confirmed the significant inhibitory effect of GA on planktonic MRSA. Crystal violet and XTT assays showed that 8 µg/mL GA effectively inhibited the formation of new biofilms and disrupted existing biofilms by reducing both biofilm biomass and metabolic activities. Alkaline phosphatase and β-galactosidase leakage assays and live/dead staining provided evidence that GA disrupted the integrity of bacterial cell walls and membranes within the biofilm. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that GA significantly inhibited bacterial adhesion and aggregation, affecting the overall structure of the biofilm. Bacterial adhesion, polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA) production and real-time quantitative PCR assay confirmed that GA inhibited bacterial adhesion, PIA synthesis, and the expression of icaAD and sarA. These results suggested that GA inhibited biofilm formation by inhibiting the expression of sarA, then downregulating the expression of icaA and icaD, thereby reducing the synthesis of PIA to attenuate the adhesion capacity of MRSA. GA is therefore a promising candidate for development as a pharmaceutical agent for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections caused by MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolism is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of the function and phenotype of the primary cellular constituents of the atherosclerotic vascular wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and inflammatory cells. However, a comprehensive analysis of metabolic changes associated with the transition of plaque from a stable to a hemorrhaged phenotype is lacking. Methods: In this study, we integrated two large mRNA expression and protein abundance datasets (BIKE, n = 126; MaasHPS, n = 43) from human atherosclerotic carotid artery plaque to reconstruct a genome-scale metabolic network (GEM). Next, the GEM findings were linked to metabolomics data from MaasHPS, providing a comprehensive overview of metabolic changes in human plaque. Results: Our study identified significant changes in lipid, cholesterol, and inositol metabolism, along with altered lysosomal lytic activity and increased inflammatory activity, in unstable plaques with intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH+) compared to non-hemorrhaged (IPH−) plaques. Moreover, topological analysis of this network model revealed that the conversion of glutamine to glutamate and their flux between the cytoplasm and mitochondria were notably compromised in hemorrhaged plaques, with a significant reduction in overall glutamate levels in IPH+ plaques. Additionally, reduced glutamate availability was associated with an increased presence of macrophages and a pro-inflammatory phenotype in IPH+ plaques, suggesting an inflammation-prone microenvironment. Conclusions: This study is the first to establish a robust and comprehensive GEM for atherosclerotic plaque, providing a valuable resource for understanding plaque metabolism. The utility of this GEM was illustrated by its ability to reliably predict dysregulation in the cholesterol hydroxylation, inositol metabolism, and the glutamine/glutamate pathway in rupture-prone hemorrhaged plaques, a finding that may pave the way to new diagnostic or therapeutic measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study, an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and validated. The titer of ELISA was calculated using the reference line (RFL) method based on the standard curve drawn using the international reference anti-mouse serum NIBSC (National Institute for Biological Standards and Control) 97/642. Materials and Methods: In the development step, signal to noise was depicted to select the buffers that showed the most appropriate ratio. In the validation step, standard range, precision, dilution linearity, and specificity were confirmed, and RFL and parallel line (PLL) methods were compared in precision and dilution linearity. Results: Coating concentration for plate was achieved at 0.1 μg/mL for pertussis toxin (PT), 0.15 μg/mL for filamentous hemagglutinin antigen (FHA), and 0.25 μg/mL for pertactin (PRN). The signal to noise ratio was 22.02 for PT, 14.93 for FHA, and 8.02 for PRN with 0.25% goat serum in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a dilution buffer, and 2% skim milk in PBS as a blocking buffer. Based on the precision results, we assessed the lower limit of quantification by 1, 0.2, and 1.5 EU/mL concentration for PT, FHA, and PRN which met the ICH (International Council for Harmonization) M10 criteria of a 25% accuracy and total error of 40%. In specificity, homologous serum was spiked into heterologous serum and the accuracy met the criteria. There was no difference in the results between RFL and PLL calculations (p-value=0.3207 for PT, 0.7394 for FHA, 0.2109 for PRN). Conclusion: ELISA validated with RFL calculation method in this study is a relatively accurate assay for mouse humoral immunogenicity test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common disease in the world and the fourth most common cause of death. It is diagnosed through esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy; however, there are limitations in finding lesions in the early stages. Recently, research has been actively conducted to use liquid biopsy to diagnose various cancers, including gastric cancer. Various substances derived from cancer are reflected in the blood. By analyzing these substances, it was expected that not only the presence or absence of cancer but also the type of cancer can be diagnosed. However, the amount of these substances is extremely small, and even these have various variables depending on the characteristics of the individual or the characteristics of the cancer. To overcome these, we collected methylated DNA fragments using MeDIP and compared them with normal plasma to characterize gastric cancer tissue or patients' plasma. We attempted to diagnose gastric cancer using the characteristics of cancer reflected in the blood through the cancer tissue and patients' plasma. As a result, we confirmed that the consistency of common methylated fragments between tissue and plasma was approximately 41.2% and we found the possibility of diagnosing and characterizing cancer using the characteristics of the fragments through SFR and 5′end-motif analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and information quality of YouTube videos on implant overdenture searched in two languages (Korean and English). Materials and methods. Youtube, an online video sharing platform was searched using search terms in two different languages related to implant overdenture. A total of 120 videos were selected (60 videos for each search term), then the reliability and information quality of the videos were evaluated. Topic domain, DISCERN instrument, and JAMA benchmark were used to evaluate the reliability and information quality of the videos. Statistical analyses were performed by using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results. Out of a total of 120 videos, the topic domain scores of 78 (65.0%) videos were evaluated as 'poor', and the DISCERN scores of 104.5 (87.1%) videos were evaluated as 'very poor' and 'poor'. The Korean videos had significantly higher topic domain scores and DISCERN scores than the English videos (P < .05). 3.5 Korean videos and 4 English videos met the criteria for attribution of JAMA benchmark. Conclusion. The reliability and information quality of YouTube videos on implant overdenture were low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the dual pressures of the exacerbation of global climate change and the deterioration of the domestic environment caused by pollution, China has clearly adopted environmental regulatory measures to improve the climate environment. One measure is the carbon emissions trading scheme (CETS), which serves as a notable example of the country's efforts to improve the climate environment. We gathered panel data from 285 prefecture‐level cities in China from 2005 to 2018 and used the Difference‐in‐Differences (DID) model to empirically examine the synergistic effects of the CETS on carbon emissions and air pollution. The results indicate that CETS have been effective in reducing urban carbon emissions by approximately 9.8%. Additionally, the schemes have caused a simultaneous reduction in particulate matter (PM)2.5 emissions by 11.7% and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by approximately 9.7%, mitigating urban air pollution in China. It demonstrates that the scheme has significant synergistic effects on carbon emissions and air pollution. To achieve synergistic effects of CETS, effective measures include reducing energy intensity and upgrading the industrial structure. The implementation of CETS had heterogeneity in different conditions, and the synergistic effect of the scheme is more significant in eastern regions, large cities, and the final industrial stage. Our findings offer innovative solutions for the integrated management of carbon emissions and air pollution and provide valuable insights for policymakers to enhance China's CETS. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1112–1124. © 2023 SETAC Key Points: The carbon emissions trading scheme (CETS) led not only to the significant reduction by approximately 9.8% in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but also effectively mitigated sulfur dioxide emissions by approximately 9.7% and particulate matter (PM)2.5 emissions by approximately 11.7%.This policy highlights the synergistic impact of reducing carbon emissions and air pollution.The effective emission reduction measures of CETS are focused on reducing energy intensity and upgrading industrial structure; the proper implementation of these measures can achieve significant synergistic emission reduction.Based on the heterogeneous analysis of the pilot scheme, the synergistic effects of the CETS are particularly significant in the eastern regions, large cities, and the final industrial stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Special needs dentistry (SND) is an emerging dental specialty, with ongoing developments in education and clinical practice focused towards the tailored management of individuals with special needs (SN). Patients with SN have a higher prevalence of oral diseases and unmet dental needs compared to the general population. Although inadequate training and experience in managing patients with SN has been highlighted as a significant barrier to accessing care, there is limited data about the extent of SND teaching at the entry‐to‐practice or higher levels. Methods: This work is the first to map SND curricula globally, across 180 countries and 1265 dental schools. Results: Although 74.62% of dental schools were found in developing economies, the distribution of programs that reported SND in their courses was highly skewed towards developed countries. In terms of advanced degrees, beyond basic entry‐to‐practice training, the USA delivered 60% of the SND programs, followed by Canada (15.56%), UK (13.33%), and Australia (8.89%). The term SND appeared in 33.95% of entry‐to‐practice level program curricula and was less commonly used in transitioning economies. Only 112 SND‐specialized practitioners enter the workforce globally each year from developed economies, and all but three advanced degrees are found in G7 countries. Conclusion: By exploring the impact of economic status on its distribution, this paper highlighted the lack of SND representation in dental curricula, especially amongst programs in transitioning or developing economies. Education of both general dentists and specialists is critical as a collaborative effort is needed to manage the growing population of patients with SN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: In previous reports, hypothyroidism, hypopituitrism, and hypogonadism were common endocrine causes of SCFE, but this is the first time that congenital adrenal hyperplasia has been observed. As such, patients who have undergone long‐term endocrine treatment for congenital adrenal hyperplasia could potentially be subjected to a higher risk for SCFE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we systematically investigate the general dark matter-electron interactions within the framework of effective field theories (EFTs). We consider both the non-relativistic (NR) EFT and the relativistic EFT descriptions of the interactions with the spin of dark matter (DM) up to one, i.e., the scalar (ϕ), fermion (χ), and vector (X) DM scenarios. We first collect the leading-order NR EFT operators describing the DM-electron interactions, and construct especially the NR operators for the vector DM case. Next, we consider all possible leading-order relativistic EFT operators including those with a photon field and perform the NR reduction to match them onto the NR EFT. Then we rederive the DM-bound-electron scattering rate within the NR EFT framework and find that the matrix element squared, which is the key input that encodes the DM and atomic information, can be compactly decomposed into three terms. Each term is a product of a DM response function (a0,1,2), which is essentially a factor of Wilson coefficients squared, and its corresponding generalized atomic response function W ~ 0 , 1 , 2 . Lastly, we employ the electron recoil data from the DM direct detection experiments (including XENON10, XENON1T, and PandaX-4T) to constrain all the non-relativistic and relativistic operators in all three DM scenarios. We set strong bounds on the DM-electron interactions in the sub-GeV region. Particularly, we find that the latest PandaX-4T S2-only data provide stringent constraints on dark matter with a mass greater than approximately 20 MeV, surpassing those from the previous XENON10 and XENON1T experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking can have a positive impact on cognitive function in adolescents. This study aimed to compare the effects of walking with sneakers and barefoot on cognitive ability in adolescents. Fifty-nine adolescent male students were included in the study and assigned to the control (n = 20), sneaker (n = 19), and barefoot (n = 20) groups. The barefoot and sneakers group performed a 40-min walking exercise four times a week for 12 weeks during the morning physical activity time, while the control group performed self-study. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and brain activity variables were measured before and after the exercise program. The results showed that after 12 weeks, the barefoot group had a significant decrease in Gamma and H-beta waves and a significant increase in sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) and Alpha waves. Conversely, the control group showed a significant decrease in SMR waves and increase in Theta waves. The sneaker group showed a significant decrease in SMR waves alone. In an eyes-open resting state, the barefoot group showed a significant increase in H-beta, M-beta, SMR, and Alpha waves. The barefoot group also had a significant increase in cognitive speed and concentration and a significant decrease in brain stress. Taken together, barefoot walking can effectively enhance cognitive ability in adolescents, as demonstrated by the significant variation in EEG activity. This research highlights the potential benefits of barefoot walking as a simple and effective form of exercise for enhancing cognitive function in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is potentially fatal; so, early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential. However, detecting MAS is sometimes challenging because its principal features can be observed in other pediatric diseases that cause severe inflammation. Cytokine storm due to immune dysregulation represents the clinical and laboratory features of MAS that are included in the diagnostic criteria. Most cases of MAS occur as an underlying condition worsens and progresses. Therefore, a patient with autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease who shows unexplained clinical deterioration despite appropriate management should be considered at high risk for MAS (i.e., occult MAS). The basic principles of treatment are control of triggering factors, supportive care, and relief of hyperinflammation. Systemic steroids and cyclosporine A are frequently used as a first-line treatment. For the treatment of refractory MAS, cytokine-specific biologic agents such as anakinra have recently become preferred over traditional immunosuppressive agents such as etoposide. MAS might be underrecognized in pediatric patients with infectious and inflammatory diseases due to its diverse clinical presentations. Clinical suspicion of MAS is of the utmost importance for early recognition of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a rate limiting enzyme in glycolysis, is a cellular regulator that has received extensive attention and regards as a metabolic regulator of cellular metabolism and energy. Kidney is a highly metabolically active organ, and glycolysis is the important energy resource for kidney. The accumulated evidences indicates that the enzymatic activity of PKM2 is disturbed in kidney disease progression and treatment, especially diabetic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. Modulating PKM2 post-translational modification determines its enzymatic activity and nuclear translocation that serves as an important interventional approach to regulate PKM2. Emerging evidences show that PKM2 and its post-translational modification participate in kidney disease progression and treatment through modulating metabolism regulation, podocyte injury, fibroblast activation and proliferation, macrophage polarization, and T cell regulation. Interestingly, PKM2 activators (TEPP-46, DASA-58, mitapivat, and TP1454) and PKM2 inhibitors (shikonin, alkannin, compound 3k and compound 3h) have exhibited potential therapeutic property in kidney disease, which indicates the pleiotropic effects of PKM2 in kidney. In the future, the deep investigation of PKM2 pleiotropic effects in kidney is urgently needed to determine the therapeutic effect of PKM2 activator/inhibitor to benefit patients. The information in this review highlights that PKM2 functions as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for kidney diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD8 + T cells exert a critical role in eliminating cancers and chronic infections, and can provide long-term protective immunity. However, under the exposure of persistent antigen, CD8 + T cells can differentiate into terminally exhausted CD8 + T cells and lose the ability of immune surveillance and disease clearance. New insights into the molecular mechanisms of T-cell exhaustion suggest that it is a potential way to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy by restoring the function of exhausted CD8 + T cells. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is an important executor of immune homeostasis and tolerance, inhibiting the expansion and function of many components of the immune system. Recent studies have shown that TGF-β is one of the drivers for the development of exhausted CD8 + T cells. In this review, we summarized the role and mechanisms of TGF-β in the formation of exhausted CD8 + T cells and discussed ways to target those to ultimately enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formations in the early Paleozoic Joseon Supergroup (mainly carbonates with subordinate siliciclastics) within the Taebaeksan Basin in the Danyang area, South Korea, show an apparent right-side-up homoclinal stratigraphy without repetition or omission of any formation, and it was therefore thought that the NW-dipping formation boundaries are primary depositional contacts. Our detailed examination revealed, however, that the formation boundaries are reverse-slip shear zones parallel to the second-generation foliation (S2) crenulating transposed S0//S1 foliation and that WNW-dipping bedding planes (S0) are only locally preserved. The most penetrative regional planar structure in the area is the NNW-dipping first-generation foliation (S1) that is defined by compositional layering and is parallel to the axial planes of isoclinal F1 folds. Isoclinal to close F1 folds occur on both the mesoscopic and macroscopic scale, whereas tight to close F2 folds occur locally only on the mesoscopic scale. D1 deformation presumably involved a NNW-SSE horizontal contraction and resulted in the buckle folding and transposition of S0. D2 deformation involved a NW-SE contraction, probably at a high angle to the S0//S1 transposed layers, and produced passive shear folding of S0//S1 with S2 crenulation cleavages as discrete shear surfaces. Shearing deformation was strongly localized along some S2 foliation planes, resulting in reverse shear zones that represent the current 'pseudo'-formation boundaries. Based on zircons U-Pb ages, we suggest that the Okdong Fault was initiated from an unconformable boundary between the Precambrian basement gneiss and overlying sediments of the Paleozoic Taebaeksan Basin, probably during the Middle Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2016 magnitude (MW) 5.5 Gyeongju earthquake, which occurred in Korea near assumed epicenters of several substantial historical earthquakes and Quaternary fault segments, underscores the importance of seismic hazard assessment in the region. However, uncertainties about potential seismic sources make evaluating the potential for a moderate-to-large earthquake challenging. Microearthquake monitoring through a dense seismic network can provide crucial insights into the regional seismic characteristics. An extensive temporary seismic array known as the Gyeongju Hi-density Broadband Seismic Network (GHBSN) was established to investigate microearthquake activity in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. This included the zone of aftershocks from the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake sequence. The GHBSN comprises 200 broadband stations located at approximately 4.5 km intervals in an area of approximately 60 × 60 km2 around the epicenter of the mainshock. A total of 4,773 events were detected from November 2017 to December 2021, including 3,935 events within the GHBSN. The detected events were categorized into five seismic regions excluding quarry blasting sites, that is, the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake region, eastern part of the Ulsan Fault, 2017 Pohang earthquake region, eastern offshore Gyeongju, and western part of the Miryang Fault. A local magnitude scale was developed for the southeastern Korean Peninsula using events detected through the GHBSN. This reflects the distance attenuation and site conditions of the GHBSN stations for earthquakes. An event catalog was created using two automatic detection methods based on the measurement of the energy ratio. This provided high-resolution hypocenter parameters at a completeness magnitude (MC) of 0.0 despite the seismic environment of the network being exposed to high cultural noise. The Gutenberg-Richter b-value was estimated as 0.82 ± 0.02 for all events and 1.01 ± 0.02 for those inside GHBSN. This implies that the seismicity reflects a representative intraplate seismic environment. Testing the obtainability of the focal mechanism solutions showed that the GHBSN outperformed the regional network. Depending on the relationship between the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes, a relatively large number of small earthquakes can provide detailed information on the geometric properties of the causative faults and the state of the acting stress. High-precision microearthquake observation and analysis through GHBSN could provide an unprecedented opportunity with seismic datasets to understand the seismogenesis of the southeastern Korean Peninsula, including the zone of aftershocks of the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to cellular damage, ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury induces substantial damage to the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. In this study, we sought to determine whether impaired mitochondrial function owing to IR could be restored by transplanting mitochondria into the heart under ex vivo IR states. Additionally, we aimed to provide preliminary results to inform therapeutic options for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Healthy mitochondria isolated from autologous gluteus maximus muscle were transplanted into the hearts of Sprague-Dawley rats damaged by IR using the Langendorff system, and the heart rate and oxygen consumption capacity of the mitochondria were measured to confirm whether heart function was restored. In addition, relative expression levels were measured to identify the genes related to IR injury. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption capacity was found to be lower in the IR group than in the group that underwent mitochondrial transplantation after IR injury (p < 0.05), and the control group showed a tendency toward increased oxygen consumption capacity compared with the IR group. Among the genes related to fatty acid metabolism, Cpt1b (p < 0.05) and Fads1 (p < 0.01) showed significant expression in the following order: IR group, IR + transplantation group, and control group. These results suggest that mitochondrial transplantation protects the heart from IR damage and may be feasible as a therapeutic option for IHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that performs various functions upon ligand activation. Several studies have explored the role of AhR expression in tumor progression and immune surveillance. Nevertheless, investigations on the distribution of AhR expression, specifically in cancer or immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), remain limited. Examining the AhR expression and distribution in the TME is crucial for gaining insights into the mechanism of action of AhR-targeting anticancer agents and their potential as biomarkers. Methods: Here, we used multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC) and image cytometry to investigate the AhR expression and distribution in 513 patient samples, of which 292 are patients with one of five solid cancer types. Additionally, we analyzed the nuclear and cytosolic distribution of AhR expression. Results: Our findings reveal that AhR expression was primarily localized in cancer cells, followed by stromal T cells and macrophages. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between the nuclear and cytosolic expression of AhR, indicating that the expression of AhR as a biomarker is independent of its localization. Interestingly, the expression patterns of AhR were categorized into three clusters based on the cancer type, with high AhR expression levels being found in regulatory T cells (Tregs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Discussion: These findings are anticipated to serve as pivotal evidence for the design of clinical trials and the analysis of the anticancer mechanisms of AhRtargeting therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]