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Abstract This study introduces a constrained many‐objective optimization approach for the optimal design of 20 MW direct drive (DD) permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs). Designing a high‐performance, competitive DD‐PMSG requires considering the generator's performance as well as its weight and material cost. Therefore, we focus on four main characteristics as our design objectives: (1) specific power (power per weight), (2) power‐per‐cost, (3) efficiency, and (4) power factor. To achieve this, we apply an advanced constrained nondominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA‐III), a many‐objective optimization method utilizing evolutionary computation, capable of optimizing four or more objectives with constraints. Additionally, the electromagnetic finite element method is employed to evaluate the generator's characteristics. Through our proposed design process, we optimize three distinct 20 MW DD‐PMSG configurations: a 320‐pole/300‐slot, a 350‐pole/300‐slot, and a 350‐pole/336‐slot topology. Following this optimization, we perform additional multiphysics simulations (covering electromagnetic, structural, overload, and thermal aspects) and control response simulations on four selected models from the Pareto‐optimal solutions to validate their effectiveness as preliminary DD‐PMSG designs. Finally, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of all simulation results.

Abstract Two-dimensional electrides can acquire topologically non-trivial phases due to intriguing interplay between the cationic atomic layers and anionic electron layers. However, experimental evidence of topological surface states has yet to be verified. Here, via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), we probe the magnetic Weyl states of the ferromagnetic electride [Gd2C]2+·2e−. In particular, the presence of Weyl cones and Fermi-arc states is demonstrated through photon energy-dependent ARPES measurements, agreeing with theoretical band structure calculations. Notably, the STM measurements reveal that the Fermi-arc states exist underneath a floating quantum electron liquid on the top Gd layer, forming double-stacked surface states in a heterostructure. Our work thus not only unveils the non-trivial topology of the [Gd2C]2+·2e− electride but also realizes a surface heterostructure that can host phenomena distinct from the bulk.

Abstract The pursuit of advanced brain‐inspired electronic devices and memory technologies has led to explore novel materials by processing multimodal and multilevel tailored conductive properties as the next generation of semiconductor platforms, due to von Neumann architecture limits. Among such materials, antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) thin films exhibit outstanding optical and electronic properties, and therefore, they are ideal for applications such as thin‐film solar cells and nonvolatile memory systems. This study investigates the conduction modulation and memory functionalities of Sb2S3 thin films deposited via the vapor transport deposition technique. Experimental results indicate that the Ag/Sb2S3/Pt device possesses properties suitable for memory applications, including low operational voltages, robust endurance, and reliable switching behavior. Further, the reproducibility and stability of these properties across different device batches validate the reliability of these devices for practical implementation. Moreover, Sb2S3‐based memristors exhibit artificial neuroplasticity with prolonged stability, promising considerable advancements in neuromorphic computing. Leveraging the photosensitivity of Sb2S3 enables the Ag/Sb2S3/Pt device to exhibit significant low operating potential and conductivity modulation under optical stimulation for memory applications. This research highlights the potential applications of Sb2S3 in future memory devices and optoelectronics and in shaping electronics with versatility.

Abstract Background Tumor cells of diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) are discohesive and infiltrate into the stroma as single cells or small subgroups, so the stroma significantly impacts DGC progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of the tumor stroma. Here, we identified CAF-specific secreted molecules and investigated the mechanism underlying CAF-induced DGC progression. Methods We conducted transcriptome analysis for paired normal fibroblast (NF)-CAF isolated from DGC patient tissues and proteomics for conditioned media (CM) of fibroblasts. The effects of fibroblasts on cancer cells were examined by transwell migration and soft agar assays, western blotting, and in vivo. We confirmed the effect of blocking tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1) in CAFs using siRNA or shRNA. We evaluated the expression of TINAGL1 protein in frozen tissues of DGC and paired normal stomach and mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue using RNA in-situ hybridization (RNA-ISH). Results CAFs more highly expressed TINAGL1 than NFs. The co-culture of CAFs increased migration and tumorigenesis of DGC. Moreover, CAFs enhanced the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mesenchymal marker expression in DGC cells. In an animal study, DGC tumors co-injected with CAFs showed aggressive phenotypes, including lymph node metastasis. However, increased phosphorylation of FAK and migration were reduced by blocking TINAGL1 in CAFs. In the tissues of DGC patients, TINAGL1 was higher in cancer than paired normal tissues and detected with collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) in the same spot. Furthermore, high TINAGL1 expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis in several public databases and our patient cohort diagnosed with DGC. Conclusions These results indicate that TINAGL1 secreted by CAFs induces phosphorylation of FAK in DGC cells and promotes tumor progression. Thus, targeting TINAGL1 in CAFs can be a novel therapeutic strategy for DGC.

AbstractPhilodendron hederaceum (Jacq.) Schott 1829, a species of the Araceae family, is a foliage plant of ornamental value. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Philodendron hederaceum was obtained by the de novo assembly of NovaSeq 6000 (Illumina Co., San Diego, CA) paired-end short reads and Oxford Nanopore long reads. The complete chloroplast genome of P. hederaceum was 168,609 bp in length, with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 94,393 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 25,774 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 24,221 bp. The genome contained a total of 129 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis of P. hederaceum with 19 related species and two outgroup species revealed the closest taxonomical relationship with Philodendron lanceolatum in the Araceae family.

Introduction: Magnolia kobus DC has been used as herbal medicine to treat coughs and is known to exert biological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. We aimed to define the pharmacological effects of M. kobus leaf ethanol extract (MLEE) on acute lung inflammation and explore the underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: For in vitro investigations, RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with MLEE (1, 10, and 100 μg/mL) and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). For in vivo investigations, BALB/c mice were intratracheally administered with LPS for 24 hours after injection of MLEE (0.3, 3, and 30 mg/kg). Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for histopathology analysis of lung tissue. The phytochemical constituents of MLEE were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: In RAW 264.7 cells, MLEE reduced the activation of the inflammatory mediators (inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2) and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The intraperitoneal injection of MLEE (30 mg/kg) attenuated interstitial edema and immune cell infiltration in LPS-induced acute lung inflammation. MLEE also inhibited the activation of cyclooxygenase-2, NF-κB, and Nrf2 in the lung tissue. Conclusion: Taken together, MLEE exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting inflammatory and oxidative mediators on acute lung inflammation suggesting that it might be used as a natural drug for treating acute lung inflammatory diseases.

Sorting single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that are heterogeneous into homogeneous groups based on their electronic type, chirality, and handedness is crucial for optoelectronic and biological applications. To achieve this, researchers have utilized dispersants with different binding affinities to sort SWNTs according to their chiralities. This review article provides an overview of the methods developed for sorting SWNTs using dispersants, with a particular focus on the role played by dispersant binding affinities. The article is organized into six sections, including an introduction, a background on SWNTs and dispersant‐based individualization of SWNTs, information on dispersants and their binding affinities, separation methods for SWNTs based on controlling the dispersant binding affinity, parameters used to control dispersant binding affinity, and a conclusion. It is hoped that this review will enhance understanding of the intricate interactions between dispersants and SWNTs, leading to the development of new SWNT sorting methods for future applications.

Abstract Innate immune training involves myelopoiesis, dynamic gene modulation, and functional reprogramming of myeloid cells in response to secondary heterologous challenges. The present study evaluates whether systemic innate immune training can protect tissues from local injury. Systemic pretreatment of mice with β‐glucan, a trained immunity agonist, reduces the mortality rate of mice with bleomycin‐induced lung injury and fibrosis, as well as decreasing collagen deposition in the lungs. β‐Glucan pretreatment induces neutrophil accumulation in the lungs and enhances efferocytosis. Training of mice with β‐glucan results in histone modification in both alveolar macrophages (AMs) and neighboring lung epithelial cells. Training also increases the production of RvD1 and soluble mediators by AMs and efferocytes. Efferocytosis increases trained immunity in AMs by stimulating RvD1 release, thus inducing SIRT1 expression in neighboring lung epithelial cells. Elevated epithelial SIRT1 expression is associated with decreased epithelial cell apoptosis after lung injury, attenuating tissue damage. Further, neutrophil depletion dampens the effects of β‐glucan on macrophage accumulation, epigenetic modification in lung macrophages, epithelial SIRT1 expression, and injury‐mediated fibrosis in the lung. These findings provide mechanistic insights into innate immune training and clues to the potential ability of centrally trained immunity to protect peripheral organs against injury‐mediated disorders.

Background/Aims The Genoss DES™ is a novel, biodegradable, polymer-coated, sirolimus-eluting stent with a cobalt-chromium stent platform and thin strut. Although the safety and effectiveness of this stent have been previously investigated, real-world clinical outcomes data are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this prospective, multicenter trial was to evaluate the clinical safety and effectiveness of the Genoss DES™ in all-comer patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods The Genoss DES registry is a prospective, single-arm, observational trial for evaluation of clinical outcomes after Genoss DES™ implantation in all-comer patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from 17 sites in South Korea. The primary endpoint was a device-oriented composite outcome of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12 months. Results A total of 1,999 patients (66.4 ± 11.1 years of age; 72.8% male) were analyzed. At baseline, 62.8% and 36.7% of patients had hypertension and diabetes, respectively. The implanted stent number, diameter, and length per patient were 1.5 ± 0.8, 3.1 ± 0.5 mm, and 37.0 ± 25.0 mm, respectively. The primary endpoint occurred in 1.8% patients, with a cardiac death rate of 1.1%, target vessel-related MI rate of 0.2%, and clinically driven TLR rate of 0.8%. Conclusions In this real-world registry, the Genoss DES™ demonstrated excellent safety and effectiveness at 12 months among all-comer patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. These findings suggest that the Genoss DES™ may be a viable treatment option for patients with coronary artery disease.

Abstract Various prospective surgical trials have been conducted on treating patients with gastric cancer. In clinical practice, patients and surgeons may hesitate to participate in prospective surgical trials due to trial-related complications. In this study, we evaluated the effects of participation in prospective surgical trials on surgical outcomes after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. This study included 1689 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 2016 and 2020. The propensity score weighting (PSW) method was used to adjust for differences in baseline clinicopathological characteristics between patients who participated and those who did not participate in prospective surgical clinical trials. Perioperative outcomes and overall survival were compared between groups. Of the 1689 patients, 309 (18.3%) participated in surgical clinical trials (SCT group). Before PSW, the SCT group had a similar operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, major complications, and hospital stay as the non-SCT group but had superior overall survival. After PSW, overall survival and perioperative outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. The present study suggests that participation in prospective surgical trials was not associated with surgical outcomes. Patients and surgeons may participate in prospective surgical trials without fearing adverse effects on surgical outcomes.

Abstract Background Although sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated cardiovascular benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, real-world evidence regarding their benefits to diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is insufficient. This study evaluated cardiovascular outcomes by comparing SGLT2i with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) in combination with metformin in diabetic patients with AMI. Methods This study involved 779 diabetic participants with AMI from a Korean nationwide multicenter observational cohort, who were divided into two groups: (1) metformin plus SGLT2i group (SGLT2i group, n = 186) and (2) metformin plus DPP-4i (DPP-4i group, n = 593). The primary endpoint was one year of major adverse composite events (MACEs), a composite outcome of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, any revascularization, cerebrovascular accident, and stent thrombosis. To balance the baseline differences, inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was performed. Results After IPTW, the rate of MACEs in the SGLT2i group was not significantly lower than that in the DPP-4i group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.99; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 0.46 to 2.14, p = 0.983). In the unadjusted and adjusted analyses, all items for clinical outcomes were comparable between the two groups. In our exploratory analysis, the left ventricular ejection fraction showed a significant improvement in the SGLT2i group than in the DPP-4i group before achieving statistical balancing (6.10 ± 8.30 versus 2.95 ± 10.34, p = 0.007) and after IPTW adjustment (6.91 ± 8.91 versus 3.13 ± 10.41, p = 0.027). Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that SGLT2i did not influence the rate of MACEs compared with DPP-4i in combination with metformin in diabetic patients with AMI but did improve left ventricular ejection fraction. Trial registration Not applicable (retrospectively registered).

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the interrelationships between PM2.5 exposure, heavy metal concentrations, and oxidative stress indicators, while evaluating the impact of antioxidant intake, such as vitamins, on these associations. PM2.5 exposure assessments were conducted using portable sensor-based monitors; biomarker analyses for heavy metals and oxidative stress were performed in 114 non-smoking adults. We observed that personal or ambient PM2.5 exposure levels were not associated with increased levels of heavy metals in blood and urine, nor with oxidative stress levels in urine. However, the concentrations of cadmium and lead in blood, and those of chromium and nickel in urine, were significantly associated with the urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Additionally, increases in blood cadmium, urinary chromium, and nickel levels were significantly associated with higher urinary MDA concentrations in the non-vitamin-supplement group, but this trend was not observed in the regular vitamin supplement group. Our findings suggest that a regular intake of vitamin supplements might modulate the relationship between heavy metal exposure and oxidative stress, indicating potential protective effects against oxidative damage induced by PM2.5 and heavy metals. This study highlights the complexity of environmental pollutant exposure and its impact on human health, emphasizing the need for further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore potential protective strategies.

This study focuses on advancing the field of remote sensing image target detection, addressing challenges such as small target detection, complex background handling, and dense target distribution. We propose solutions based on enhancing the YOLOv7 algorithm. Firstly, we improve the multi-scale feature enhancement (MFE) method of YOLOv7, enhancing its adaptability and precision in detecting small targets and complex backgrounds. Secondly, we design a modified YOLOv7 global information DP-MLP module to effectively capture and integrate global information, thereby improving target detection accuracy and robustness, especially in handling large-scale variations and complex scenes. Lastly, we explore a semi-supervised learning model (SSLM) target detection algorithm incorporating unlabeled data, leveraging information from unlabeled data to enhance the model’s generalization ability and performance. Experimental results demonstrate that despite the outstanding performance of YOLOv7, the mean average precision (MAP) can still be improved by 1.9%. Specifically, under testing on the TGRS-HRRSD-Dataset, the MFE and DP-MLP models achieve MAP values of 93.4% and 93.1%, respectively. Across the NWPU VHR-10 dataset, the three models achieve MAP values of 93.1%, 92.1%, and 92.2%, respectively. Significant improvements are observed across various metrics compared to the original model. This study enhances the adaptability, accuracy, and generalization of remote sensing image object detection.

Background This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of add-on gemigliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had inadequate glycemic control with metformin and dapagliflozin. Methods In this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind, phase III study, 315 patients were randomized to receive either gemigliptin 50 mg (n=159) or placebo (n=156) with metformin and dapagliflozin for 24 weeks. After the 24-week treatment, patients who received the placebo were switched to gemigliptin, and all patients were treated with gemigliptin for an additional 28 weeks. Results The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, except for body mass index. At week 24, the least squares mean difference (standard error) in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) changes was –0.66% (0.07) with a 95% confidence interval of –0.80% to –0.52%, demonstrating superior HbA1c reduction in the gemigliptin group. After week 24, the HbA1c level significantly decreased in the placebo group as gemigliptin was administered, whereas the efficacy of HbA1c reduction was maintained up to week 52 in the gemigliptin group. The safety profiles were similar: the incidence rates of treatment-emergent adverse events up to week 24 were 27.67% and 29.22% in the gemigliptin and placebo groups, respectively. The safety profiles after week 24 were similar to those up to week 24 in both groups, and no new safety findings, including hypoglycemia, were noted. Conclusion Add-on gemigliptin was well tolerated, providing comparable safety profiles and superior efficacy in glycemic control over placebo for long-term use in patients with T2DM who had poor glycemic control with metformin and dapagliflozin.

The transportation industry has played a crucial role in advancing human society, but it has also raised concerns about carbon emissions and environmental pollution. As a result, significant research is being conducted in various areas, such as electric vehicles, powertrain energy efficiency, shared mobility, and autonomous driving. However, vehicles remain essential, and reducing their energy consumption is vital. One effective way to achieve this is by light–weighting vehicle materials. In the past, steel was the primary material used, but the transition to materials like aluminum has shown better weight-to-strength ratios. To drive change, we must explore the use of diverse materials since no single material is perfect. By combining specific materials, we can complement their weaknesses and enhance their strengths, opening up new possibilities for the future of mobility. One critical factor in advancing future mobility is the joining of dissimilar materials. This paper delves into various methods of joining dissimilar materials, their characteristics, and techniques to improve their joining performance. The joint strength for each joining method is also summarized in this study. The joining methods are primarily divided into mechanical joining, chemical joining using adhesives, and thermal fusion welding. Methods to enhance the joint include combining each joining method and improving surface interactions through surface treatments. The joint exhibiting the highest strength was the laser-welded joint of strength 312 MPa between Ti3Al-Nb alloy and Ni-based superalloy, while the lightest and strong joint was the friction stir-welded joint of strength 63.4 MPa in Polyamide 6 GFRP. Welded joints of polymer materials appear promising for the future mobility industry, particularly in terms of being lightweight. Additionally, there is a need to develop new methods to measure strength as the units used to represent the physical characteristics of the joints are not standardized. Some joints suffer from issues due to unclear joint area, highlighting the necessity to develop new strength measurement methods for future advancements.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections impact billions of individuals globally; however, there is a need to clarify the long-term impacts of these infections on pulmonary health owing to their transient migration and subsequent damage to the lungs. In mouse models of these infections using Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, lung pathology persists at later time points post single infection. These studies also indicate the persistent transcriptional expression of resistin-like molecule α (RELMα), an immunomodulatory protein induced in type 2 immunity and alternatively activated macrophages. Using constitutive and tamoxifen-inducible cell-specific RELMα knockout mouse strains, we identified that epithelial- and myeloid-derived RELMα protein remained elevated at 30 days post infection and altered the immune cell signature and gene expression in lung compartments. Histopathological assessment of alveolar damage revealed a role for RELMα in tissue repair, suggesting the importance of sustained RELMα expression for lung recovery from helminth infection. Acellular three-dimensional (3D) lung scaffolds were prepared from the lungs of wild-type (WT), RELMα KO-naive, or 30 days post N. brasiliensis-infected mice to assess their ability to support epithelial cell growth. N. brasiliensis infection significantly altered the scaffold and impaired epithelial cell growth and metabolic activity, especially in the RELMα KO scaffolds. These findings underscore a need to identify the long-term impacts of helminth infection on human pulmonary disease, particularly as alveolar destruction can develop into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which remains among the top global causes of death. Translation of these findings to human protein resistin, with sequence homology to RELMα therapeutic opportunities in lung repair.

Abstract Abandoned metal mines and refineries are considered environmentally vulnerable areas owing to high levels of exposure to heavy metals. This study examined the association between heavy metal exposure and renal function indicators. We studied a total of 298 participants, of which 74 and 68 resided in low- and high-exposure abandoned metal mine areas, respectively, with 121 in the refinery area and 35 in the control area. Blood and urine samples were collected from the participants to analyze the levels of blood lead, cadmium, and creatinine and urinary cadmium, NAG, and β2-MG. The estimated glomerular filtration rate, which is calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation, was used for assessments. The study participants comprised more females than males, and their mean age was 70.3 years. The blood lead and cadmium as well as urinary cadmium levels were 2.12 μg/dL, 1.89 μg/L, and 2.11 μg/L, respectively, in the heavy metal-exposure areas, and 1.18 μg/dL, 0.89 μg/L, and 1.11 μg/L, respectively, in the control area. The odds ratio (OR) for exceeding the reference value showed that blood cadmium in the refinery area was 38 times higher than that in the control area. Urinary cadmium was seven times higher in the low-exposure abandoned metal mine area than in the control area. NAG showed a positive correlation with urinary cadmium in all areas. In the refinery area, correlations were observed between β2-MG and urinary cadmium levels and the eGFR and blood cadmium level; in the high-exposure abandoned metal mine area, correlations were observed between NAG, β2-MG, and the eGFR and blood cadmium. In this study, the association between Cd exposure and some renal function indicators was observed. This study’s findings and the obtained biological samples can serve as a basis for future molecular biological research.

Abstract Background Cancer cells have developed molecular strategies to cope with evolutionary stressors in the dynamic tumor microenvironment. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α) is a metabolic rheostat that regulates diverse cellular adaptive behaviors, including growth and survival. However, the mechanistic role of PGC1α in regulating cancer cell viability under metabolic and genotoxic stress remains elusive. Methods We investigated the PGC1α-mediated survival mechanisms in metabolic stress (i.e., glucose deprivation-induced metabolic stress condition)-resistant cancer cells. We established glucose deprivation-induced metabolic stress-resistant cells (selected cells) from parental tumor cells and silenced or overexpressed PGC1α in selected and parental tumor cells. Results Several in vitro and in vivo mouse experiments were conducted to elucidate the contribution of PGC1α to cell viability in metabolic stress conditions. Interestingly, in the mouse xenograft model of patient-derived drug-resistant cancer cells, each group treated with an anti-cancer drug alone showed no drastic effects, whereas a group that was co-administered an anti-cancer drug and a specific PMCA inhibitor (caloxin or candidate 13) showed marked tumor shrinkage. Conclusions Our results suggest that PGC1α is a key regulator of anti-apoptosis in metabolic and genotoxic stress-resistant cells, inducing PMCA expression and allowing survival in glucose-deprived conditions. We have discovered a novel therapeutic target candidate that could be employed for the treatment of patients with refractory cancers.

This paper presents a novel variable flux memory motor (VFMM) with a series–parallel configuration that employs a constant-magnetization permanent magnet (CPM) with high coercivity and a variable-magnetization permanent magnet (VPM) with low coercivity. The CPMs in the proposed VFMM are arranged in parallel. Therefore, they share an air gap. Meanwhile, the VPMs are arranged in series with respect to the CPMs, as well as each other. The CPM-induced magnetic field not only reduces the re-magnetizing current for the VPMs but also enhances the torque density. Additionally, it can assist VPMs in resisting demagnetization under loaded conditions. For verification, we compared the performance of the proposed model with that of a series-type model widely applied in VFMMs. The magnetization characteristics were investigated using nonlinear finite element analysis by deriving the VPM load line. Furthermore, the electromagnetic performance under re-magnetization and demagnetization conditions was analyzed.

Introduction: Rhododendron brachycarpum D. Don ex G. Don(RbGD) leaves have traditionally been used to treat diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and skin ailments. Although RbGD leaves are used as a medicinal plant, there is no scientific evidence to support skin treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to look into the anti-inflammatory effect of an ethanolic extract of RbGD on skin disease, specifically atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: The anti-inflammatory effect of RbGD ethanol leaf extract (RbGDE) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-activated keratinocytes was evaluated using MTT, qPCR, ELISA, and Western blot Procedures. The therapeutic effects of RbGDE were evaluated in vivo inflammatory responses by histological observation, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and ELISA using the 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)/Dermatophagoides farina extract (DfE)-induced AD-like skin mouse model. Results: RbGDE showed the protective effect against irritating and stimulating substances (H2 O2 and TNF-α/IFN-γ) and inhibited TNF-α/IFN-γ-activated keratinocytes by inhibiting the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B activation. Furthermore, topical RbGDE treatment reduced the AD features such as thickened skin, erythema, immune cells infiltration (eosinophils and mast cells), and AD-related cytokines (IL-12a, IL-1β, IL-4, and TSLP) in the ear tissues of DNCB/DfE-induced mice. The RbGDE also reduced histamine and immunoglobulins (Igs) levels in the serum, including DfE-specific IgE, total IgE, and IgG2a. Conclusion: RbGD leaf extract had an anti-inflammatory effect on dermatitis by reducing inflammatory mediators, indicating that it might be used to treat skin disease.

In dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the counter electrode (CE) plays a crucial role as an electron transfer agent and regenerator of the redox couple. Unlike conventional CEs that are generally made of glass-based substrates (e.g., FTO/glass), polymer substrates appear to be emerging candidates, owing to their intrinsic properties of lightweight, high durability, and low cost. Despite great promise, current manufacturing methods of CEs on polymeric substrates suffer from serious limitations, including low conductivity, scalability, process complexity, and the need for dedicated vacuum equipment. In the present study, we employ and evaluate a fully additive manufacturing route that can enable the fabrication of CEs for DSSCs in a high-throughput and eco-friendly manner with improved performance. The proposed approach sequentially comprises: (1) material extrusion 3-D printing of polymer substrate; (2) conductive surface metallization through cold spray particle deposition; and (3) over-coating of a thin-layer catalyzer with a graphite pencil. The fabricated electrodes are characterized in terms of microstructure, electrical conductivity, and photo-conversion efficiency. Owing to its promising electrical conductivity (8.5 × 104 S·m−1) and micro-rough surface structure (Ra ≈ 6.32 µm), the DSSCs with the additively manufactured CEs led to ≈2.5-times-higher photo-conversion efficiency than that of traditional CEs made of FTO/glass. The results of the study suggest that the proposed additive manufacturing approach can advance the field of DSSCs by addressing the limitations of conventional CE manufacturing platforms.

Humans share a similar body structure, but each individual possesses unique characteristics, which we define as one’s body type. Various classification methods have been devised to understand and assess these body types. Recent research has applied artificial intelligence technology utilizing noninvasive measurement tools, such as 3D body scanner, which minimize physical contact. The purpose of this study was to develop an artificial intelligence somatotype system capable of predicting the three body types proposed by Heath-Carter’s somatotype theory using 3D body images collected using a 3D body scanner. To classify body types, measurements were taken to determine the three somatotype components (endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy). MobileNetV2 was utilized as the transfer learning model. The results of this study are as follows: first, the AI somatotype model showed good performance, with a training accuracy around 91% and a validation accuracy around 72%. The respective loss values were 0.26 for the training set and 0.69 for the validation set. Second, validation of the model’s performance using test data resulted in accurate predictions for 18 out of 21 new data points, with prediction errors occurring in three cases, indicating approximately 85% classification accuracy. This study provides foundational data for subsequent research aiming to predict 13 detailed body types across the three body types. Furthermore, it is hoped that the outcomes of this research can be applied in practical settings, enabling anyone with a smartphone camera to identify various body types based on captured images and predict obesity and diseases.

The advancement of smart factories has brought about small quantity batch production. In multi-variety production, both materials and processing methods change constantly, resulting in irregular changes in the progression of tool wear, which is often affected by processing methods. This leads to changes in the timing of tool replacement, and failure to correctly determine this timing may result in substantial damage and financial loss. In this study, we sought to address the issue of incorrect timing for tool replacement by using a Seq2Seq model to predict tool wear. We also trained LSTM and GRU models to compare performance by using R2, mean absolute error (MAE), and mean squared error (MSE). The Seq2Seq model outperformed LSTM and GRU with an R2 of approximately 0.03~0.037 in step drill data, 0.540.57 in top metal data, and 0.16~0.45 in low metal data. Confirming that Seq2Seq exhibited the best performance, we established a real-time monitoring system to verify the prediction results obtained using the Seq2Seq model. It is anticipated that this monitoring system will help prevent accidents in advance.

(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping on arm swing, balance, and gait parameters among chronic stroke patients. (2) Methods: Twenty-eight participants were randomized into proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training (n = 14) and gait training (n = 14) groups. The proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training group employed proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during 15 min treadmill-based gait training five times a week for four weeks, while the gait training group underwent the same gait training without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping. Arm swing angle was measured using the Image J program, static balance was assessed with an AMTI force plate, dynamic balance was evaluated through the Timed Up and Go test, and gait parameters were recorded using the GAITRite system and the Dynamic Gait Index. (3) Results: After 4 weeks of training, the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training group exhibited significant improvements in all variables compared to the baseline (p < 0.05), whereas the gait training group did not show statistically significant differences in any variables (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training in enhancing arm swing angle, balance, and gait parameters.

Type 2 cytokines like IL-4 are hallmarks of helminth infection and activate macrophages to limit immunopathology and mediate helminth clearance. In addition to cytokines, nutrients and metabolites critically influence macrophage polarization. Choline is an essential nutrient known to support normal macrophage responses to lipopolysaccharide; however, its function in macrophages polarized by type 2 cytokines is unknown. Using murine IL-4-polarized macrophages, targeted lipidomics revealed significantly elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine, with select changes to other choline-containing lipid species. These changes were supported by the coordinated up-regulation of choline transport compared to naïve macrophages. Pharmacological inhibition of choline metabolism significantly suppressed several mitochondrial transcripts and dramatically inhibited select IL-4-responsive transcripts, most notably, Retnla. We further confirmed that blocking choline metabolism diminished IL-4-induced RELMα (encoded by Retnla) protein content and secretion and caused a dramatic reprogramming toward glycolytic metabolism. To better understand the physiological implications of these observations, naïve or mice infected with the intestinal helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus were treated with the choline kinase α inhibitor, RSM-932A, to limit choline metabolism in vivo. Pharmacological inhibition of choline metabolism lowered RELMα expression across cell-types and tissues and led to the disappearance of peritoneal macrophages and B-1 lymphocytes and an influx of infiltrating monocytes. The impaired macrophage activation was associated with some loss in optimal immunity to H. polygyrus, with increased egg burden. Together, these data demonstrate that choline metabolism is required for macrophage RELMα induction, metabolic programming, and peritoneal immune homeostasis, which could have important implications in the context of other models of infection or cancer immunity.

IntroductionHeparins, naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans, are widely used for thrombosis prevention. Upon application as anticoagulants in cancer patients, heparins were found to possess additional antitumor activities. Ectonucleotidases have recently been proposed as novel targets for cancer immunotherapy.Methods and resultsIn the present study, we discovered that heparin and its derivatives act as potent, selective, allosteric inhibitors of the poorly investigated ectonucleotidase NPP1 (nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1, CD203a). Structure-activity relationships indicated that NPP1 inhibition could be separated from the compounds’ antithrombotic effect. Moreover, unfractionated heparin (UFH) and different low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) inhibited extracellular adenosine production by the NPP1-expressing glioma cell line U87 at therapeutically relevant concentrations. As a consequence, heparins inhibited the ability of U87 cell supernatants to induce CD4+ T cell differentiation into immunosuppressive Treg cells.DiscussionNPP1 inhibition likely contributes to the anti-cancer effects of heparins, and their specific optimization may lead to improved therapeutics for the immunotherapy of cancer.

A tremendous effort has been made to develop 2D materials-based FETs for electronic applications due to their atomically thin structures. Typically, the electrical performance of the device can vary with the surface roughness and thickness of the channel layer. Therefore, a two-step surface engineering process is demonstrated to tailor the surface roughness and thickness of MoSe2 multilayers involving exposure of O2 plasma followed by dipping in (NH4)2S(aq) solution. The O2 plasma treatment generated an amorphous MoOx layer to form a MoOx/MoSe2 heterojunction, and the (NH4)2S(aq) treatment tailored the surface roughness of the heterojunction. The ON/OFF current ratio of MoSe2 FET is about 1.1 × 105 and 5.7 × 104 for bare and chemically etched MoSe2, respectively. The surface roughness of the chemically treated MoSe2 is higher than that of the bare, 4.2 ± 0.5 nm against 3.6 ± 0.5 nm. Conversely, a 1-hour exposure of the multilayer MoOx/MoSe2 heterostructure with the (NH4)2S(aq) solution removed the amorphous oxide layer and scaled down the thickness of MoSe2 from ~92.2 nm to ~38.9 nm. The preliminary study shows that this simple two-step strategy can obtain a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio and thickness engineering with acceptable variation in electrical properties.

Orostachys spp., considered economically important succulent plants for both the medicinal and ornamental plant industries, are known to exhibit slow growth in their offsets during the long, cold winter months. Due to the slow growth, this study investigated the application of gibberellic acid (GA3) and determined the optimal GA3 concentration (control, 200 mg·L−1, 400 mg·L−1, and 600 mg·L−1) for promoting the propagation of three Orostachys species (i.e., O. fimbriata, O. japonica, and O. minuta), as well as its impact on their growth and development. According to our study findings, O. fimbrata and O. minuta influenced by GA3 exhibited higher survival rates (7–38%) and offset growth rates (3–87%) compared to the control. Similarly, its application resulted in significant shoot and root development, along with increased moisture content for the majority of the species. The results of this research demonstrate the potential and practical applications of using GA3 to increase the propagation and growth of Orostachys spp. during cold conditions for year-round propagation of these succulent plants, which could have ecological and horticultural significance for related species as well as other vegetatively propagated crops.

Highly porous layered double hydroxide (LDH) and its calcined mixed metal oxide (MMO) were obtained by utilizing egg white (EW) as a biogenic porous template. The LDH was prepared through coprecipitation under the existence of a beaten EW meringue, and the corresponding MMO was obtained by calcining LDH at 500 °C. According to X-ray diffraction, the crystal structure of LDH and MMO was well-developed with or without EW. In contrast, the crystallinity analyses and microscopic investigations clearly showed differences in the particle orientation in the presence of EW; the protein arrangement in the EW foam induced the ordered orientation of LDH platelets along proteins, resulting in well-developed inter-particle pores. As a result, the distinctive particle arrangement in EW-templated samples compared with non-templated ones showed dramatically enhanced specific surface area and porosity. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm exhibited that the high specific surface area was attributed to the homogeneous nanopores in EW-templated LDH and MMO, which originated from the sacrificial role of the EW.

Abstract Human cyclophilin A (hCypA) is important for the replication of multiple coronaviruses (CoVs), and cyclosporine A inhibitors can suppress CoVs. The emergence of rapidly spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) variants has sparked concerns that mutations affect the binding ability of the spike (S) protein to the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cell receptor, affecting the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). Far‐western blotting and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) results revealed that hCypA interacts strongly with the viral SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor‐binding domain (RBD), with a binding affinity of 6.85 × 10−8 M. The molecular interaction between hCypA and the viral protein interface was shown using three‐dimensional structural analysis, which revealed the blocking of key residues on the RBD interface by hCypA. The RBD facilitates binding to the ACE2 receptor. The hCypA–S protein complex suppressed the binding of RBD to the ACE2 receptor, which a required event for CoV entry into the host cell. The reliability of this postulated blocking mechanism of the hCypA–SARS‐CoV2 RBD complex with ACE was confirmed by SPR and molecular interaction lateral flow (MILF) strip assay, which offers the immunochromatographic signal read‐outs. The emergence of new SARS‐CoV‐2 variants with key mutations in RBD had a negligible effect on the binding of the RBD variants to hCypA, indicating an effective mitigation strategy for SARS‐CoV‐2 variants. The MILF strip assay results also highlight the neutralizing effect of hCypA by effectively blocking RBD (wild type and its variants) from binding ACE2. Given the importance of hCypA in viral entry regulation, it has the potential to be used as a target for antiviral therapy.

BackgroundEpstein–Barr virus (EBV) quantitation and current imaging modalities are used for diagnosis and disease monitoring in Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL) but have limitations. Thus, we explored the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a diagnostic biomarker.MethodsThrough in-depth sequencing of 118 blood samples collected longitudinally at different time points from 45 patients, we examined the mutational profile of each sample, estimated its impact on the clinical outcome, and assessed its role as a biomarker in comparison with EBV DNA quantitation.ResultsThe ctDNA concentration was correlated with treatment response, stage, and EBV DNA quantitation. The detection rate of ctDNA mutation was 54.5%, with BCOR (21%) being the most commonly mutated gene in newly diagnosed patients; TP53 mutation (33%) was the most prevalent in patients that experienced a relapse. Additionally, patients in complete remission exhibited a rapid clearance of ENKTL-related somatic mutations, while relapsed patients frequently presented with persisting or emerging mutations. We detected ctDNA mutations in EBV-negative patients (50%) and mutation clearance in EBV-positive patients in remission, suggesting ctDNA genotyping as an efficient complementary monitoring method for ENKTL. Additionally, mutated DDX3X (PFS HR, 8.26) in initial samples predicted poor outcome.ConclusionOur results suggest that ctDNA analysis can be used to genotype at diagnosis and estimate the tumor burden in patients with ENKTL. Furthermore, ctDNA dynamics indicate the potential use of testing it to monitor therapeutic responses and develop new biomarkers for precision ENKTL therapy.

Abstract Sialic acid (SA) is present in glycoconjugates and important in cell–cell recognition, cell adhesion, and cell growth and as a receptor. Among the four mammalian sialidases, cytosolic NEU2 has a pivotal role in muscle and neuronal differentiation in vitro. However, its biological functions in vivo remain unclear due to its very low expression in humans. However, the presence of cytoplasmic glycoproteins, gangliosides, and lectins involved in cellular metabolism and glycan recognition has suggested the functional importance of cytosolic Neu2 sialidases. We generated a Neu2 knockout mouse model via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering and analyzed the offspring littermates at different ages to investigate the in vivo function of cytosolic Neu2 sialidase. Surprisingly, knocking out the Neu2 gene in vivo abrogated overall lipid metabolism, impairing motor function and leading to diabetes. Consistent with these results, Neu2 knockout led to alterations in sialylated glycoproteins involved in lipid metabolism and muscle function, as shown by glycoproteomics analysis.

In this paper, parameter optimization of multi-layered interior permanent-magnet synchronous motors for electric vehicle propulsion is carried out to improve torque ripple and efficiency at low- and high-speed regions. First, we establish a torque ripple map based on d-q currents. The ripples of the d-q parameters and harmonics of the phase flux linkages are then analyzed to investigate the relationship between the torque ripple and the parameters. Second, we compose and analyze an iron loss map based on d-q currents, and then investigate the parameters that affect the harmonics of the flux density. In particular, because the high-speed region is highly vulnerable to iron loss, the parameters related to this tendency are also analyzed. Based on the analysis results, we develop a parameter optimization strategy that leads to an optimal design. To analyze the electro-magnetic performances of the motors, two- and three-dimensional finite elements analyses are carried out by employing sinusoidal and inverter-controlled currents, and the improvement achieved are demonstrated by the experimental validations on prototypes.

Background To evaluate the effects of teneligliptin on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived time in range, and glycemic variability in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in eight centers in Korea (clinical trial registration number: NCT03508323). Sixty-five participants aged ≥65 years, who were treatment-naïve or had been treated with stable doses of metformin, were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive 20 mg of teneligliptin (n=35) or placebo (n=30) for 12 weeks. The main endpoints were the changes in HbA1c levels from baseline to week 12, CGM metrics-derived time in range, and glycemic variability. Results After 12 weeks, a significant reduction (by 0.84%) in HbA1c levels was observed in the teneligliptin group compared to that in the placebo group (by 0.08%), with a between-group least squares mean difference of –0.76% (95% confidence interval [CI], –1.08 to –0.44). The coefficient of variation, standard deviation, and mean amplitude of glycemic excursion significantly decreased in participants treated with teneligliptin as compared to those in the placebo group. Teneligliptin treatment significantly decreased the time spent above 180 or 250 mg/dL, respectively, without increasing the time spent below 70 mg/dL. The mean percentage of time for which glucose levels remained in the 70 to 180 mg/dL time in range (TIR70–180) at week 12 was 82.0%±16.0% in the teneligliptin group, and placebo-adjusted change in TIR70–180 from baseline was 13.3% (95% CI, 6.0 to 20.6). Conclusion Teneligliptin effectively reduced HbA1c levels, time spent above the target range, and glycemic variability, without increasing hypoglycemia in our study population.

The purpose of this study was to confirm the antiproliferative and apoptotic induction potential of a saccharin and caffeine combination in ovarian cancer cells. The cell line used was Ovcar-3, and the cell viability was measured through a WST-8 assay, while a Chou–Talalay assay was used to confirm the synergistic effect of saccharin and caffeine on the ovarian cancer cells. A clonogenic assay, annexin V-FITC/PI-PE double-staining, and RT-PCR were performed to confirm the expression of genes that induce colony formation, cell viability, and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells treated with the saccharin–caffeine combination. It was demonstrated that both saccharin and caffeine decreased the viability of Ovcar-3 cells, and the cell viability decreased even more significantly when the cells were treated with the combination of saccharin and caffeine. The clonogenic assay results showed that the number of colonies decreased the most when saccharin and caffeine were combined, and the number of colonies also significantly decreased compared to the single-treatment groups. Based on flow cytometry analysis using annexin V-FITC/PI-PE double-staining, it was confirmed that the decrease in cell viability caused by the combination of saccharin and caffeine was correlated with the induction of apoptosis. The results of the RT-PCR confirmed that the combined treatment of saccharin and caffeine promoted cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of apoptosis-inducing genes. These results demonstrate that the combination of saccharin and caffeine more efficiently inhibits the proliferation of Ovcar-3 cells and induces apoptosis in vitro.

Metal oxides (MOs) having Mg and Al with Mg/Al ratios of 1, 2, 3, and 4 were synthesized via calcination of the layered double hydroxides (LDH). The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all the MO consisted of periclase (MgO) crystallite with comparable crystallinity regardless of the metal ratio. According to the 27Al magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, the phase transformation from LDH to MO upon calcination facilitated the evolution of the Al3+ ions with unsaturated coordination at the surface of MO. The specific surface area values of MOs were not significantly different from each other, ranging between 100 and 200 m2/g, suggesting that the metal ratio did not strongly influence the porous structure of MO. The temperature-dependent desorption of ammonia demonstrated that the Lewis acidity of the Al-rich MOs was the largest with an Mg/Al ratio of 1, attributed to the efficient exposure of the surface-active site Al3+-O2− pairs. The acidity of heterogenous Al-rich MOs significantly increased with the exposed tetrahedral Al site on the surface and dramatically diminished when the molar ratio (Mg/Al) was over two.

Rice accounts for most of the calories consumed by the world’s population. However, the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horvath), is an insect that can cause rice yield loss. WBPH sucks the stems of rice and negatively affects yield and grain quality. Therefore, numerous insecticides have been developed to control WBPH in rice fields. However, chemical pesticides cause serious problems such as environmental pollution and ecosystem disturbance. Here, we research the possibility of using previously reported rice extracts obtained using methanol, Chrysoeriol 7(C7) and Cochlioquinone-9 (cq-9), as potential insect repellents. WBPH was caged with C7 or cq-9 and monitored, and the WBPH behavior was recorded. The number of WBPHs approaching the periphery of the C7 and cq-9 was very low. In cages containing the C7 and cq-9, only 13 and 7 WBPHs out of 100, respectively, walked around the material. In addition, foliar spraying with C7 and cq-9 did not negatively affect the plant height. The expression level of genes related to resistance was maintained at a high level in the resistant lines when treated with WBPHs alone, but was at a similar level to those of the controls when treated with C7 or cq-9. Interfering with WBPH access did not adversely affect the plant phenotype. Recently, people’s interest in the environment has increased, and the use of plant-derived materials is also increasing. There is a new trend towards using plant extracts as an environmentally friendly means of managing resistance to WBPH during the rice cultivation period, while also avoiding environmental pollution.

Taq DNA polymerases have played an important role in molecular biology for several years and are frequently used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR); hence, there is an increasing interest in developing a convenient method for preparing Taq DNA polymerase for routine use in laboratories. We developed a method using Escherichia coli (E. coli) that expresses thermostable Taq DNA polymerase directly in the PCR without purification. The Taq gene was transformed into E. coli and expressed. After overnight incubation and washing, E. coli-expressing Taq DNA polymerase (EcoliTaq) was used as the DNA polymerase without purification. EcoliTaq showed activity comparable to that of commercial DNA polymerase and remained stable for 3 months. With a high-pH buffer containing 2% Tween 20 and 0.4 M trehalose, EcoliTaq facilitated direct PCR amplification from anticoagulated whole blood samples. EcoliTaq exhibited good performance in allele-specific PCR using both purified DNA and whole blood samples. Furthermore, it proved to be useful as a DNA polymerase in hot-start PCR by effectively minimizing non-specific amplification. We developed a simple and cost-effective direct and hot-start PCR method in which EcoliTaq was used directly as a PCR enzyme, thus eliminating the laborious and time-consuming steps of polymerase purification.

IntroductionIntestinal roundworms cause chronic debilitating disease in animals, including humans. Traditional experimental models of these types of infection use a large single-dose infection. However, in natural settings, hosts are exposed to parasites on a regular basis and when mice are exposed to frequent, smaller doses of Heligmosomoides polygyrus, the parasites are cleared more quickly. Whether this more effective host response has any negative consequences for the host is not known.ResultsUsing a trickle model of infection, we found that worm clearance was associated with known resistance-related host responses: increased granuloma and tuft cell numbers, increased levels of granuloma IgG and decreased intestinal transit time, as well as higher serum IgE levels. However, we found that the improved worm clearance was also associated with an inflammatory phenotype in and around the granuloma, increased smooth muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia, and elevated levels of Adamts gene expression.DiscussionTo our knowledge, we are the first to identify the involvement of this protein family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in host responses to helminth infections. Our results highlight the delicate balance between parasite clearance and host tissue damage, which both contribute to host pathology. When continually exposed to parasitic worms, improved clearance comes at a cost.

Echeveria lilacina Kimnach & Moran is a succulent plant having ornamental and ecological importance. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome of Echeveria lilacina, a species belonging to the Crassulaceae family, was characterized from the de novo assembly of Illumina NovaSeq 6000 paired-end sequencing data. The chloroplast genome of E. lilacina is 150,080 bp in length, which includes a large single-copy (LSC) region of 81,741 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 16,747 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,796 bp each. The genome annotation revealed a total of 138 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 41 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 10 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis with 15 complete chloroplast genome sequences including outgroup showed that E. lilacina formed the closest taxonomical relationship with Graptopetalum amethystinum in the Crassulaceae family.

Abstract This study used several informatics techniques to analyze consumer-driven social media data from four cities (Paris, Milan, New York, and London) during the 2019 Fall/Winter (F/W) Fashion Week. Analyzing keywords using a semantic network analysis method revealed the main characteristics of the collections, celebrities, influencers, fashion items, fashion brands, and designers connected with the four fashion weeks. Using topic modeling and a sentiment analysis, this study confirmed that brands that embodied similar themes in terms of topics and had positive sentimental reactions were also most frequently mentioned by the consumers. A semantic network analysis of the tweets showed that social media, influencers, fashion brands, designers, and words related to sustainability and ethics were mentioned in all four cities. In our topic modeling, the classification of the keywords into three topics based on the brand collection’s themes provided the most accurate model. To identify the sentimental evaluation of brands participating in the 2019 F/W Fashion Week, we analyzed the consumers’ sentiments through positive, neutral, and negative reactions. This quantitative analysis of consumer-generated social media data through this study provides insight into useful information enabling fashion brands to improve their marketing strategies.

Background Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods From March 2014 to December 2018, data of patients with T2DM, who were treated with quadruple hypoglycemic medications for over 12 months in 11 hospitals in South Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. We compared glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels before and 12 months after quadruple treatment with OHAs. The safety, maintenance rate, and therapeutic patterns after failure of the quadruple therapy were also evaluated. Results In total, 357 patients were enrolled for quadruple OHA therapy, and the baseline HbA1c level was 9.0%±1.3% (74.9±14.1 mmol/mol). After 12 months, 270 patients (75.6%) adhered to the quadruple therapy and HbA1c was significantly reduced from 8.9%±1.2% to 7.8%±1.3% (mean change, −1.1%±1.2%; P

Abstract We hypothesized that a deep-learning algorithm using HE images might be capable of predicting the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in cancer patients. HE slides were retrospectively collected from 1343 de-identified breast cancer patients at the Samsung Medical Center and used to develop the Lunit SCOPE algorithm. Lunit SCOPE was trained to predict the recurrence using the 21-gene assay (Oncotype DX) and histological parameters. The risk prediction model predicted the Oncotype DX score > 25 and the recurrence survival of the prognosis validation cohort and TCGA cohorts. The most important predictive variable was the mitotic cells in the cancer epithelium. Of the 363 patients who did not receive adjuvant therapy, 104 predicted high risk had a significantly lower survival rate. The top-300 genes highly correlated with the predicted risk were enriched for cell cycle, nuclear division, and cell division. From the Oncotype DX genes, the predicted risk was positively correlated with proliferation-associated genes and negatively correlated with prognostic genes from the estrogen category. An integrative analysis using Lunit SCOPE predicted the risk of cancer recurrence and the early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients who would benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

The Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) updated the previous clinical practice guidelines for Korean adults with diabetes and prediabetes and published the seventh edition in May 2021. We performed a comprehensive systematic review of recent clinical trials and evidence that could be applicable in real-world practice and suitable for the Korean population. The guideline is provided for all healthcare providers including physicians, diabetes experts, and certified diabetes educators across the country who manage patients with diabetes or the individuals at the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The recommendations for screening diabetes and glucose-lowering agents have been revised and updated. New sections for continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump use, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with diabetes mellitus have been added. The KDA recommends active vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with diabetes during the pandemic. An abridgement that contains practical information for patient education and systematic management in the clinic was published separately.

Abstract Textbook outcome is a composite quality measurement of short-term outcomes for evaluating complex surgical procedures. We compared textbook outcome and survival of robotic total gastrectomy (RTG) with those of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). We retrospectively reviewed 395 patients (RTG, n = 74; LTG, n = 321) who underwent curative total gastrectomy for gastric cancer via minimally invasive approaches from 2009 to 2018. We performed propensity score matched analysis to adjust for potential selection bias. Textbook outcome included a negative resection margin, no intraoperative complication, retrieved lymph nodes > 15, no severe complication, no reintervention, no unplanned intensive care unit admission, hospitalization ≤ 21 days, no readmission after discharge, and no postoperative mortality. Survival outcomes included 3-year overall and relapse-free survival rates. After matching, 74 patients in each group were selected. Textbook outcome was similar in the RTG and LTG groups (70.3% and 75.7%, respectively), although RTG required a longer operative time. The quality metric least often achieved was the presence of severe complications in both groups (77.0% in both groups). There were no differences in the 3-year overall survival rate (98.6% and 89.7%, respectively; log-rank P = 0.144) and relapse-free survival rate between the RTG and LTG groups (97.3% and 87.0%, respectively; log-rank P = 0.167). Textbook outcome and survival outcome of RTG were similar to those of LTG for gastric cancer.

Nitropyrene (1-NP) is a specific indicator of exposure to diesel exhaust and is partly metabolized to 1-aminopyrene (1-AP) and N-acetyl-1-aminopyrene (1-NAAP), which are excreted in urine. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of gene polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes for 1-NP on the urinary concentrations of 1-AP and 1-NAAP. The study participants were 70 South Koreans who were occupationally or environmentally exposed to diesel exhaust. To evaluate 1-NP exposure levels, we sampled airborne particulate matters with a personal air sampler and measured urinary 1-AP and 1-NAAP concentrations. The genetic polymorphisms of the 1-NP metabolic enzymes (CYP1A1, CYP1B1, EPHX1, NQO1, and NAT2) were determined by direct sequencing. The mean 1-NP exposure level was 20.40 pg/m3, and the mean urinary concentrations of 1-AP and 1-NAAP were 0.074 nM and 0.213 nM, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the 1-NP exposure level and urinary 1-AP concentrations was 0.0138 and that between the 1-NP exposure level and urinary 1-NAAP concentrations was 0.1493, and neither correlation coefficient was statistically significant. The correlation coefficient between the 1-NP exposure level and urinary 1-AP concentrations showed statistically significant differences according to the CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 genotypes, and that between the 1-NP exposure level and urinary 1-NAAP concentrations was significantly different according to the CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and NAT2 genotypes. The urinary concentration of 1-NAAP is a better biomarker for exposure to 1-NP or DEPs because the former is higher, easier to measure, and more strongly correlated with 1-NP exposure levels than that of 1-AP. The relationship between 1-NP exposure and urinary 1-AP or 1-NAAP concentration depends on the single nucleotide polymorphism types of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, NQO1, and NAT2.

This study aimed to develop an English version of a doping drug-recognition system using deep learning-based optical character recognition (OCR) technology. A database of 336 banned substances was built based on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s International Standard Prohibited List and the Korean Pharmaceutical Information Center’s Drug Substance Information. For accuracy and validity analysis, 886 drug substance images, including 152 images of prescriptions and drug substance labels collected using data augmentation, were used. The developed hybrid system, based on the Tesseract OCR model, can be accessed by both a smartphone and website. A total of 5379 words were extracted, and the system showed character recognition errors regarding 91 words, showing high accuracy (98.3%). The system correctly classified all 624 images for acceptable substances, 218 images for banned substances, and incorrectly recognized 44 of the banned substances as acceptable. The validity analysis showed a high level of accuracy (0.95), sensitivity (1.00), and specificity (0.93), suggesting system validity. The system has the potential of allowing athletes who lack knowledge about doping to quickly and accurately check whether they are taking banned substances. It may also serve as an efficient option to support the development of a fair and healthy sports culture.

Groundwater is an important freshwater source that satisfies the needs of a significant portion of the world’s population, industries, and ecosystems [...]