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A novel Gram stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, designated strain 24SJ04S-2T, was isolated from riparian soil near the Seomjin River, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain 24SJ04S-2T within the genus Niveibacterium in the family Zoogloeaceae, with high similarity to Niveibacterium umoris (97.3%) and Niveibacterium microcysteis (96.7%). Whole-genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 3.98 Mbp with a G+C content of 63.9 mol%, and genomic relatedness metrics confirmed that strain 24SJ04S-2T represents a novel species. The strain demonstrated unique growth characteristics, including tolerance to low salinity and a broad pH range (5.0 to 10.0), suggesting ecological adaptability to fluctuating riparian environments. Chemotaxonomic analysis identified ubiquinone-8 as the major quinone, with diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine as dominant polar lipids. Fatty acid profiling showed that summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) and C16:0 were predominant. Genome analysis identified several biosynthetic gene clusters, including those potentially associated with antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. Based on its distinct genomic and phenotypic characteristics, we propose the designation Niveibacterium terrae sp. nov. This discovery highlights the potential ecological and biotechnological roles of Niveibacterium terrae in nutrient cycling and environmental remediation in freshwater ecosystems. The type strain is 24SJ04S-2T (=KACC 23837T =FBCC-B16161T).

Traditional pig breeding has improved production traits but faces limitations in genetic diversity, disease resistance, and environmental adaptation. Gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, base editing, and prime editing, enable precise genetic modifications, overcoming these limitations and expanding applications to biomedical research. Here, we reviewed the advancements in gene editing technologies in pigs and explored pathways toward optimized swine genetics for a resilient and adaptive livestock industry. This review synthesizes recent research on gene editing tools applied to pigs, focusing on CRISPR/Cas9 and its derivatives. It examines their impact on critical swine production traits and their role as human disease models. Significant advancements have been made in targeting genes for disease resistance, such as those conferring immunity to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses. Additionally, gene-edited pigs are increasingly used as models for human diseases, demonstrating the technology’s broader applications. However, challenges such as off-target effects, ethical concerns, and varying regulatory frameworks remain. Gene editing holds substantial potential for sustainable and productive livestock production by enhancing key traits and supporting biomedical applications. Addressing technical and ethical challenges through integrated approaches will be essential to realize its full potential, ensuring a resilient, ethical, and productive livestock sector for future generations

Aquaculture has grown significantly, contributing to global food security and sustainability; however, intensified fish farming has increased disease susceptibility and antibiotic resistance. This study assessed the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus plantarum PSCPL13 (hereafter, PSCPL13), isolated from the intestines of Japanese eels, for enhancing the health of olive flounder. After screening 16 Lactobacillus isolates, PSCPL13 was selected because of its potential broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against many pathogens, such as Vibrio and Edwardsiella. This strain exhibited high acid and bile salt tolerance, which is crucial for intestinal survival. Molecular characterisation confirmed PSCPL13 to be L. plantarum. It was resistant to all tested antibiotics and exhibited significant enzyme activity. In vivo assays in olive flounder revealed that the body weight and length of the fish were significantly higher, while the prevalence of pathogens was lower in their gut microbiota. Regarding haematological parameters, the treated groups exhibited lower eosinophil counts and higher IgM levels, suggesting enhancement of the immune system. These findings indicate that PSCPL13 is a potential probiotic that can be used in aquaculture for naturally improving fish health, growth and immunity, in addition to combating antibiotic resistance and reducing environmental impacts. These findings not only highlight the potential of PSCPL13 in sustainable aquaculture but also provide a foundation for the development of future probiotics.

The rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern in both human and veterinary medicine, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius presenting significant challenges. Background/Objectives: This study evaluates the effectiveness of amoxicillin against these MDR pathogens in canine isolates using pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters. Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and mutation prevention concentration (MPC) were assessed. Additionally, time-kill assays and post-antibiotic effect (PAE) assessments were performed. Epidemiological cutoff (ECOFF) values were established for both species to guide therapy. Results: S. aureus had a higher resistance rate (35.89%) than S. pseudintermedius (15.27%), with MIC50 values of 0.50 μg/mL and 0.25 μg/mL, respectively. The MPC analysis revealed that S. pseudintermedius required higher antibiotic concentrations (16.11 μg/mL) to prevent mutations compared to S. aureus (2.20 μg/mL). Time-kill assays indicated that higher amoxicillin dosages caused faster bacterial reduction. The PAE analysis showed extended post-treatment bacterial suppression at elevated doses, particularly against S. aureus. Conclusions: Species-specific amoxicillin dosing strategies are necessary due to differing resistance and susceptibility profiles between S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius. High-dose amoxicillin therapy is recommended to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes for resistant SA, while slightly adjusted dosing can manage S. pseudintermedius infections. These findings provide essential insights for veterinary antimicrobial stewardship, underscoring the need for tailored therapeutic approaches to minimize AMR development while ensuring effective infection control.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by abnormal immune responses and keratinocyte hyperproliferation. Limonin, a bioactive compound found in citrus fruits, has anti-inflammatory properties in various models; however, its effects on psoriasis are not fully understood. We investigated the therapeutic potential of limonin in a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced psoriasis mouse model. Mice were treated with TPA to induce psoriasis-like skin lesions, followed by intraperitoneal administration of limonin (200 or 400 μg/mouse) for six days. The results showed that limonin improved psoriasis-related symptoms in a psoriasis-like mouse model by suppressing the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-related antimicrobial peptides and regulating the expansion of myeloid cells and T cells. Specifically, limonin reduced glucose uptake and oxidative phosphorylation to shift the metabolic program in the inflamed skin cells of psoriasis-like mice. Limonin activates AMPK and proteins related to mTOR inhibition, thereby suppressing the mTOR signaling pathway. It also inhibits mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial ROS production, thereby preventing the development of dysfunctional mitochondria in inflamed skin cells. Overall, limonin modulates key immune responses and metabolic pathways related to inflammation and mitochondrial health in psoriasis. Therefore, it is a promising natural candidate for the treatment of psoriasis and various inflammatory skin diseases.

Metastatic spine cancer can cause pain and neurological issues, making it challenging to distinguish from spinal compression fractures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To improve diagnostic accuracy, this study developed artificial intelligence (AI) models to differentiate between metastatic spine cancer and spinal compression fractures in MRI images. MRI data from Gyeongsang National University Hospital, collected from January 2019 to April 2022, were processed using Otsu’s binarization and Canny edge detection algorithms. Using these preprocessed datasets, convolutional neural network (CNN) and support vector machine (SVM) models were built. The T1-weighted image-based CNN model demonstrated high sensitivity (1.00) and accuracy (0.98) in identifying metastatic spine cancer, particularly with data processed by Otsu’s binarization and Canny edge detection, achieving exceptional performance in detecting cancerous cases. This approach highlights the potential of preprocessed MRI data for AI-assisted diagnosis, supporting clinical applications in distinguishing metastatic spine cancer from spinal compression fractures.

Urban tree canopies are a vital component of green infrastructure, especially in the context of the accelerating urban heat island effect and global climate change. Quantifying urban canopy cover in relation to land use and land cover changes is therefore crucial. However, accurately evaluating visual changes remains a challenge. In this study, we introduced the Urban Cover View Factor (VF) and Potential Influence Intensity Grade (PIIG) for tree canopy (TC) mapping using airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote-sensing three-dimensional point clouds (3DPCs) from the Incheon metropolitan area, South Korea. The results demonstrated that airborne LiDAR 3DPCs effectively segmented non-sky urban cover views. Furthermore, the PIIG map, derived from the TC VF map, showed a significant correlation between surface heat risks and energy consumption patterns. Areas with lower PIIG grades tended to have higher energy consumption and greater vulnerability to surface heat risks, while areas with higher PIIG grades exhibited the opposite trend. Nevertheless, further exploration of complex urban cover and the collection of sufficient ground-based evidence is crucial for practical PIIG application. Further remote sensing research should support the management of urban tree canopies and urban agriculture to promote sustainable urban greening in response to evolving environmental needs.

The aim of the study is to formulate an injectable nanocrystalline suspension (NS) of dutasteride (DTS), a hydrophobic 5α-reductase inhibitor used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and scalp hair loss, for parenteral long-acting delivery. A DTS-loaded NS (DTS-NS, 40 mg/mL DTS) was prepared using a lab-scale bead-milling technique. The optimized DTS-NS prepared using Tween 80 (0.5% w/v) as a nano-suspending agent, was characterized as follows: rod/rectangular shape; particle size of 324 nm; zeta potential of −11 mV; and decreased drug crystallinity compared with intact drug powder. The DTS-NS exhibited a markedly protracted drug concentration-time profile following intramuscular injection, reaching a maximum concentration after 8.40 days, with an elimination half-life of 9.94 days in rats. Histopathological observations revealed a granulomatous inflammatory response at the injection site 7 days after intramuscular administration, which significantly subsided by day 14 and showed minimal inflammation by day 28. These findings suggest that the nanosuspension system is a promising approach for the sustained release parenteral DTS delivery, with a protracted pharmacokinetic profile and tolerable local inflammation.

This study was conducted to analyze the viability of primary chicken embryo fibroblasts and the efficiency of adipogenic trans-differentiation for cultured meat production. In isolating chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) from a heterogeneous cell pool containing chicken satellite cells (CSCs), over 90% of CEFs expressed CD29 and vimentin. The analysis of the proliferative capabilities of CEFs revealed no significant differences in EdU-positive cells (%), cumulative cell number, doubling time, and growth rate from passage 1 to passage 9 (p > 0.05). This indicates that CEFs can be isolated by 2 h of pre-plating and survive stably up to passage 9, and that primary fibroblasts can serve as a valuable cell source for the cultured meat industry. Adipogenic trans-differentiation was induced up to passage 9 of CEFs. As passages increased, lipid accumulation and adipocyte size significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The reduced differentiation rate of primary CEFs with increasing passages poses a major challenge to the cost and efficiency of cultured meat production. Thus, effective cell management and the maintenance of cellular characteristics for a long time are crucial for ensuring stable and efficient cultured fat production in the cultured meat industry.

Inductive power transfer (IPT) systems often encounter limitations in efficiency and transmission distance due to near-field magnetic coupling characteristics. Increasing the inductance can enhance the transmission distance, but it also raises the system’s Q factor, leading to several issues. This study aimed to optimize the magnetic core design of helical coils to enhance magnetic coupling in IPT systems while minimizing the increase in self-inductance. Through finite element analysis, various core placements were evaluated, leading to a proposed core design process that integrates inner and lower cores at optimal angles. The proposed design was compared with conventional cores, and its performance was validated in an IPT system. The results demonstrate that the proposed core design significantly enhances the coupling coefficient (k) and extends power transmission distance compared with conventional planar and U-shaped core structures without substantially increasing self-inductance (L). This design effectively balances the trade-off between increasing inductance and maintaining system stability, thereby improving transmission efficiency while minimizing frequency instability and voltage stress.

Natural scaffolds have been the cornerstone of tissue engineering for decades, providing ideal environments for cell growth within extracellular matrices. Previous studies have favored animal-derived materials, including collagen, gelatin, and laminin, owing to their superior effects in promoting cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation compared to non-animal scaffolds, and used immortalized cell lines. However, for cultured meat production, non-animal-derived scaffolds with edible cells are preferred. Our study represents the first research to describe plant-derived, film-type scaffolds to overcome limitations associated with previously reported thick, gel-type scaffolds completely devoid of animal-derived materials. This approach has been employed to address the difficulties of fostering bovine muscle cell survival, migration, and differentiation in three-dimensional co-cultures. Primary bovine myoblasts from Bos Taurus Coreanae were harvested and seeded on alginate (Algi) or corn-derived alginate (AlgiC) scaffolds. Scaffold functionalities, including biocompatibility and the promotion of cell proliferation and differentiation, were evaluated using cell viability assays, immunofluorescence staining, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our results reveal a statistically significant 71.7% decrease in production time using film-type scaffolds relative to that for gel-type scaffolds, which can be maintained for up to 7 days. Film-type scaffolds enhanced initial cell attachment owing to their flatness and thinness relative to gel-type scaffolds. Algi and AlgiC film-type scaffolds both demonstrated low cytotoxicity over seven days of cell culture. Our findings indicated that PAX7 expression increased 16.5-fold in alginate scaffolds and 22.8-fold in AlgiC from day 1 to day 3. Moreover, at the differentiation stage on day 7, MHC expression was elevated 41.8-fold (Algi) and 32.7-fold (AlgiC), providing initial confirmation of the differentiation potential of bovine muscle cells. These findings suggest that both Algi and AlgiC film scaffolds are advantageous for cultured meat production.

Decentralized Identifiers have recently expanded into Internet of Things devices and are crucial in securing users’ digital identities and data. However, Decentralized Identifiers face challenges in scenarios necessitating authority delegation and anonymity, such as when dealing with legal guardianship for minors, device loss or damage, and specific medical contexts involving patient information. This paper aims to strengthen data sovereignty within the Decentralized Identifier system by implementing a secure authority delegation and anonymity scheme. It suggests optimizing verifiable presentations by utilizing a sequential aggregate signature, a Non-Interactive Zero-Knowledge Proof, and a Merkle tree to prevent against linkage and Sybil attacks while facilitating delegation. This strategy mitigates security risks related to delegation and anonymity, efficiently reduces the computational and verification efforts for signatures, and reduces the size of verifiable presentations by about 1.2 to 2 times.

Asian sand dust (ASD), generally produced in East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea, directly leads to the development of pulmonary disease and exacerbates underlying pulmonary diseases. Loranthus tanakae Franch. and Sav. is a traditional herbal medicine applied to improve various inflammatory conditions. Here, we evaluated the curative properties of L. tanakae ethanol extract (LTE) against pulmonary inflammation caused by ASD. Additionally, to investigate the mechanism of action of LTE, we performed network pharmacological analysis. ASD was administrated on day 1, 3, and 5 by intranasal instillation, and LTE was orally administered for 6 days. Administration of LTE significantly decreased inflammatory cytokines and the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, which was accompanied by a decrease in inflammatory cell accumulation in pulmonary tissue. Administration of LTE decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in mice exposed to ASD with the decline in p65 phosphorylation. Additionally, administration of LTE significantly elevated hemeoxygenase (HO)-1 expression in the pulmonary tissue of mice exposed to ASD. These results were consistent with the data of network pharmacological analysis. This experiment showed that LTE attenuated pulmonary inflammation caused by ASD via inhibition of NF-κB and elevation of HO-1. Therefore, LTE may have potential as a therapeutic agent to treat pulmonary inflammation caused by ASD.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Raphanus Sativus Linne herbal mixture (SRE) is a Chinese herbal medicine. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of SRE as an active ingredient for 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) and to predict the underlying therapeutic mechanisms and involved pathways using network pharmacological analysis. Treatment with SRE accelerated the development of AD-like lesions, improving thickness and edema of the epidermis. Moreover, administering the SRE to AD-like mice suppressed immunoglobulin E and interleukin-4 cytokine and reduced T lymphocyte differentiation. In silico, network analysis was used to predict the exact genes, proteins, and pathways responsible for the therapeutic effect of the SRE against DNCB-induced AD. These results indicated that the SRE exerted protective effects on the DNCB-induced AD-like model by attenuating histopathological changes and suppressing the levels of inflammatory mediators. Therefore, the SRE can potentially be a new remedy for improving AD and other inflammatory diseases and predicting the intracellular signaling pathways and target genes involved. This therapeutic effect of the SRE on AD can be used to treat DNCB-induced AD and its associated symptoms.

Globally, the demand for plant-based meat is increasing rapidly as these products are becoming quite popular among vegans and vegetarians. However, its development is still in the early stage and faces various technological challenges; the imitation of the sensory profile of meat is the most challenging part as these products are meant to be an alternative to animal meat. The development of a product similar to meat requires accurate selection of ingredients and processing techniques. An understanding of the relevant sensory profile can help in constructing products and technologies that are consumer-centric and sustainable. In this review, we focus on the comparative differences in the sensory profiles of animal meat and plant-based meat alternatives, particularly regarding the color, texture, and flavor, along with the methods used to compare them. This paper also explains the sensory evaluation and how it affects consumer preference and acceptability. Additionally, a direction for further research on developing better plant-based meat products is suggested.

Whole blood viscosity, a hemorheological factor, is currently used for diagnosis, as it is correlated with various vascular diseases that are difficult to diagnose early with a general blood test. It was determined that it was necessary to set reference intervals for further studies and utilization of whole blood viscosity in cats, a representative companion animal, and this study was conducted. Fifty healthy cats were recruited for the study, and whole blood viscosity, complete blood count, and serum chemistry tests were performed. The reference intervals of whole blood viscosity were 15.169 to 43.684 cP at a shear rate of 1 s−1 reflecting diastole, and 3.524 to 5.544 cP at a shear rate of 300 s−1 reflecting systole. Red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and neutrophils in the complete blood count, and total protein, albumin, globulin, and cholesterol in the serum chemistry were significantly correlated with whole blood viscosity. The results of this study set the reference intervals of whole blood viscosity for healthy cats in a wide shear rate range that has not yet been fully established, and its correlation with other blood indicators investigated.

Asthma is a pulmonary disease induced by the inhalation of aeroallergens and subsequent inappropriate immune responses. Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze has been evaluated as an effective antioxidant supplement produced from bioactive compounds, including flavonoids. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze extract (CE) on ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma. The components of CE were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatogram patterns, and asthmatic animal models were induced via ovalbumin treatment. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of CE were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), and nitric oxide (NO) assays. Seven compounds were detected in the CE chromatogram. In the ovalbumin-induced mouse model, CE treatment significantly decreased the inflammation index in the lung tissue. CE also significantly decreased eosinophilia and the production of inflammatory cytokines and OVA-specific IgE in animals with asthma. Collectively, our results indicate that CE has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and that CE treatment suppresses asthmatic progression, including mucin accumulation, inflammation, and OVA-specific IgE production.

We analyzed the virulence traits and azole resistance mechanisms of 104 Candida auris isolates collected from 13 Korean hospitals from 1996 to 2022. Of these 104 isolates, 96 (5 blood and 91 ear isolates) belonged to clade II, and 8 (6 blood and 2 other isolates) belonged to clade I. Fluconazole resistance (minimum inhibitory concentration ≥32 mg/L) was observed in 68.8% of clade II and 25.0% of clade I isolates. All 104 isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and three echinocandins. In 2022, six clade I isolates indicated the first nosocomial C. auris cluster in Korea. Clade II C. auris isolates exhibited reduced thermotolerance at 42 °C, with diminished in vitro competitive growth and lower virulence in the Galleria mellonella model compared to non-clade II isolates. Of the 66 fluconazole-resistant clade II isolates, several amino acid substitutions were identified: Erg11p in 14 (21.2%), Tac1Ap in 2 (3.0%), Tac1Bp in 62 (93.9%), and Tac1Bp F214S in 33 (50.0%). Although there were a limited number of non-clade II isolates studied, our results suggest that clade II C. auris isolates from Korean hospitals might display lower virulence traits than non-clade II isolates, and their primary fluconazole resistance mechanism is linked to Tac1Bp mutations.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on the distribution of immune cells, intestinal morphology, intestinal barrier function, antioxidant markers, and the cecal microbiome in 10-day-old broiler chickens. A total of 120 day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were assigned to two dietary treatments using a randomized complete block design, with body weight as the blocking factor. Birds fed a diet containing CV showed an increase in CD4+ T cells (p < 0.05) compared to those fed the control diet. The relative mRNA expression of intestinal epithelial barrier function-related markers (occludin and avian β-defensin 5) was elevated (p < 0.05) in the CV-supplemented group compared to the control group. The alpha diversity indices (Chao1 and observed features) of the cecal microbiome in 10-day-old birds increased (p < 0.05), indicating higher richness within the cecal bacterial community. In the microbiome analysis, enriched genera abundance of Clostridium ASF356 and Coriobacteriaceae CHKCI002 was observed in birds fed the diet containing CV compared to those fed the control diet. Taken together, dietary CV supplementation might alter intestinal barrier function, immunity, and microbiomes in 10-day-old broiler chickens.

Employing affordable and uncomplicated sample preparation techniques to recommend the most efficient antibacterial therapy could help reduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study evaluated the suitability of immunoassays and microbiological assays as alternatives for liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) in determining plasma tylosin concentrations after intramuscular administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg to both healthy and diseased pigs in clinical veterinary practice. The diseased pigs were confirmed using the target genes Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (apxIVA) and Pasteurella multocida (kmt1). The methods showed good linearity, precision, and accuracy. In both healthy and diseased pigs, a significant correlation was observed between LC/MS and the microbiological assay (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.930, p < 0.001 vs. Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.950, p < 0.001) and between LC/MS and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.933; p < 0.001 vs. Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.976, p < 0.001). A strong correlation was observed between the microbiological assay and the ELISA in both healthy and diseased pigs (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.911; p < 0.001 vs. Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.908, p < 0.001). A Bland-Altman analysis revealed good agreement between the methods, i.e., 95% of the differences were within the limits of agreement. Therefore, the microbiological assay and the ELISA, which demonstrated sufficient precision and accuracy, can be viable alternatives to LC/MS when it is unavailable.

The aim of this study was to discover bioactive constituents of Angelica reflexa that improve glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic β-cells. Herein, three new compounds, namely, koseonolin A (1), koseonolin B (2), and isohydroxylomatin (3), along with 28 compounds (4–31) were isolated from the roots of A. reflexa by chromatographic methods. The chemical structures of new compounds (1–3) were elucidated through spectroscopic/spectrometric methods such as NMR and HRESIMS. In particular, the absolute configuration of the new compounds (1 and 3) was performed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) studies. The effects of the root extract of A. reflexa (KH2E) and isolated compounds (1–31) on GSIS were detected by GSIS assay, ADP/ATP ratio assay, and Western blot assay. We observed that KH2E enhanced GSIS. Among the compounds 1–31, isohydroxylomatin (3), (−)-marmesin (17), and marmesinin (19) increased GSIS. In particular, marmesinin (19) was the most effective; this effect was superior to treatment with gliclazide. GSI values were: 13.21 ± 0.12 and 7.02 ± 0.32 for marmesinin (19) and gliclazide at a same concentration of 10 μM, respectively. Gliclazide is often performed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). KH2E and marmesinin (19) enhanced the protein expressions associated with pancreatic β-cell metabolism such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1, and insulin receptor substrate-2. The effect of marmesinin (19) on GSIS was improved by an L-type Ca2+ channel agonist and K+ channel blocker and was inhibited by an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker and K+ channel activator. Marmesinin (19) may improve hyperglycemia by enhancing GSIS in pancreatic β-cells. Thus, marmesinin (19) may have potential use in developing novel anti-T2D therapy. These findings promote the potential application of marmesinin (19) toward the management of hyperglycemia in T2D.

In total, four new eudesmane-type sesquiterpene glycosides, askoseosides A–D (1–4), and 18 known compounds (5–22) were isolated from the flowers of Aster koraiensis via chromatographic techniques. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by spectroscopic/spectrometric methods, including NMR and HRESIMS, and the absolute configuration of the new compounds (1 and 2) was performed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) studies. Further, the anticancer activities of the isolated compounds (1–22) were evaluated using the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced as well as the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced cell transformation assay. Among the 22 compounds, compounds 4, 9, 11, 13–15, 17, 18, and 22 significantly inhibited both EGF- and TPA-induced colony growth. In particular, askoseoside D (4, EGF: 57.8%; TPA: 67.1%), apigenin (9, EGF: 88.6%; TPA: 80.2%), apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (14, EGF: 79.2%; TPA: 70.7%), and 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxycinnamoyl) cyclopentane-2,3-diol (22, EGF: 60.0%; TPA: 72.1%) showed higher potent activities.

Oxylipins are important biological molecules with diverse roles in human and plants such as pro-/anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and regulatory activity. Although there is an increasing number of plant-derived oxylipins, most of their physiological roles in humans remain unclear. Here, we describe the isolation, identification, and biological activities of four new oxylipins, chaenomesters A–D (1–4), along with a known compound (5), obtained from Chaenomeles sinensis twigs. Their chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic (i.e., NMR) and spectrometric (i.e., HRMS) data analysis including 1H NMR-based empirical rules and homonuclear-decoupled 1H NMR experiments. Chaenomester D (4), an omega-3 oxylipin, showed a potent inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 cells (NO production, 8.46 ± 0.68 μM), neurotrophic activity in C6 cells through the induction of the secretion of nerve growth factor (NGF, 157.7 ± 2.4%), and cytotoxicity in A549 human cancer cell lines (IC50 = 27.4 μM).

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a versatile thermoplastic with superior biodegradability and biocompatibility that is intracellularly accumulated by numerous bacterial and archaeal species. Priestia sp. strain JY310 that was able to efficiently biotransform reducing sugars in d-xylose-rich rice husk hydrolysate (reducing sugarRHH) to PHB was isolated from the soil of a rice paddy. Reducing sugarRHH including 12.5% d-glucose, 75.3% d-xylose, and 12.2% d-arabinose was simply prepared using thermochemical hydrolysis of 3% H2SO4-treated rice husk for 15 min at 121 °C. When cultured with 20 g/L reducing sugarRHH under optimized culture conditions in a batch bioreactor, Priestia sp. strain JY310 could produce PHB homopolymer up to 50.4% of cell dry weight (6.2 g/L). The melting temperature, heat of fusion, and thermal decomposition temperature of PHB were determined to be 167.9 °C, 92.1 J/g, and 268.1 °C, respectively. The number average and weight average molecular weights of PHB with a broad polydispersity index value (4.73) were estimated to be approximately 16.2 and 76.8 kg/mol, respectively. The findings of the present study suggest that Priestia sp. strain JY310 can be exploited as a good candidate for the low-cost production of low molecular weight PHB with improved biodegradability and reduced brittleness from inexpensive agricultural waste hydrolysates.

Neuronal accumulation of parkin-interacting substrate (PARIS), a transcriptional repressor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), has been observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Herein, we showed that PARIS can be S-nitrosylated at cysteine 265 (C265), and S-nitrosylated PARIS (SNO-PARIS) translocates to the insoluble fraction, leading to the sequestration of PGC-1α into insoluble deposits. The mislocalization of PGC-1α in the insoluble fraction was observed in S-nitrosocysteine-treated PARIS knockout (KO) cells overexpressing PARIS WT but not S-nitrosylation deficient C265S mutant, indicating that insolubility of PGC-1α is SNO-PARIS-dependent. In the sporadic PD model, α-synuclein preformed fibrils (α-syn PFFs)-injected mice, we found an increase in PARIS, SNO-PARIS, and insoluble sequestration of PGC-1α in substantia nigra (SN), resulting in the reduction of mitochondrial DNA copy number and ATP concentration that were restored by N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. To assess the dopaminergic (DA) neuronal toxicity by SNO-PARIS, lentiviral PARIS WT, C265S, and S-nitrosylation mimic C265W was injected into the SN of either PBS- or α-syn PFFs-injected mice. PARIS WT and C265S caused DA neuronal death to a comparable extent, whereas C265W caused more severe DA neuronal loss in PBS-injected mice. Interestingly, there was synergistic DA loss in both lenti-PARIS WT and α-syn PFFs-injected mice, indicating that SNO-PARIS by α-syn PFFs contributes to the DA toxicity in vivo. Moreover, α-syn PFFs-mediated increment of PARIS, SNO-PARIS, DA toxicity, and behavioral deficits were completely nullified in neuronal NOS KO mice, suggesting that modulation of NO can be a therapeutic for α-syn PFFs-mediated neurodegeneration.

The aim of this study was to investigate properties of ceramic phosphors fabricated using nano Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+ phosphors produced with a sol-gel-combustion method. These nano Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+ phosphors had a size of about 200 nm, leading to high density when fabricated as a ceramic phosphor. We manufactured ceramic phosphors through vacuum sintering. Alumina powder was added to improve properties. We mounted the manufactured ceramic phosphor in a high-power laser beam projector and drove it to determine its optical performance. Ceramic phosphor manufactured according to our route will have a significant impact on the laser-driven lighting industry.

Loranthus tanakae Franch. & Sav. found in China, Japan, and Korea is traditionally used for managing arthritis and respiratory diseases. In this study, we analyzed the components of L. tanakae 70% ethanol extract (LTE) and investigated the therapeutic effects of LTE on pulmonary inflammation using cells exposed to cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro and in vivo in mice and performed a network analysis between components and genes based on a public database. We detected quercitrin, afzelin, rhamnetin 3-rhamnoside, and rhamnocitrin 3-rhamnoside in LTE, which induced a significant reduction in inflammatory mediators including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inflammatory cells in CSC exposed H292 cells and in mice, accompanied by a reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration into lung tissue. In addition, LTE increased translocation into the nuclei of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). By contrast, the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, induced by CSC exposure, decreased after LTE application. These results were consistent with the network pharmacological analysis. In conclusion, LTE effectively attenuated pulmonary inflammation caused by CSC+LPS exposure, which was closely involved in the enhancement of Nrf2 expression and suppression of NF-κB activation. Therefore, LTE may be a potential treatment option for pulmonary inflammatory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

We incorporated nationwide Candida antifungal surveillance into the Korea Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (Kor-GLASS) for bacterial pathogens. We prospectively collected and analyzed complete non-duplicate blood isolates and information from nine sentinel hospitals during 2020–2021, based on GLASS early implementation protocol for the inclusion of Candida species. Candida species ranked fourth among 10,758 target blood pathogens and second among 4050 hospital-origin blood pathogens. Among 766 Candida blood isolates, 87.6% were of hospital origin, and 41.3% occurred in intensive care unit patients. Adults > 60 years of age accounted for 75.7% of cases. Based on species-specific clinical breakpoints, non-susceptibility to fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin was found in 21.1% (154/729), 4.0% (24/596), 0.1% (1/741), 0.0% (0/741), and 0.1% (1/741) of the isolates, respectively. Fluconazole resistance was determined in 0% (0/348), 2.2% (3/135, 1 Erg11 mutant), 5.3% (7/133, 6 Pdr1 mutants), and 5.6% (6/108, 4 Erg11 and 1 Cdr1 mutants) of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis isolates, respectively. An echinocandin-resistant C. glabrata isolate harbored an F659Y mutation in Fks2p. The inclusion of Candida species in the Kor-GLASS system generated well-curated surveillance data and may encourage global Candida surveillance efforts using a harmonized GLASS system.

Biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) are preferred as drug carriers because of their effectiveness in encapsulating drugs, ability to control drug release, and low cytotoxicity. Although poly(lactide co-glycolide) (PLGA)-based NPs have been used for controlled release strategies, they have some disadvantages. This study describes an approach using biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) to overcome these challenges. By varying the amount of PHA, NPs were successfully fabricated by a solvent evaporation method. The size range of the NPS ranged from 137.60 to 186.93 nm, and showed zero-order release kinetics of paclitaxel (PTX) for 7 h, and more sustained release profiles compared with NPs composed of PLGA alone. Increasing the amount of PHA improved the PTX loading efficiency of NPs. Overall, these findings suggest that PHA can be used for designing polymeric nanocarriers, which offer a potential strategy for the development of improved drug delivery systems for sustained and controlled release.

Meat analogs produced through extruded products, such as texture vegetable protein (TVP) with the addition of various plant-based ingredients are considered the products that have great potential for replacing real meat. This systematic review was conducted to summarize the evidence of the incorporation of TVP on the quality characteristics of meat analogs. Extensive literature exploration was conducted up to March 2022 for retrieving studies on the current topic in both PubMed and Scopus databases. A total of 28 articles published from 2001 to 2022 were included in the data set based on specific inclusion criteria. It appears that soy protein is by far the most used extender in meat analogs due to its low cost, availability, and several beneficial health aspects. In addition, the studies included in this review were mainly conducted in countries, such as Korea, the USA, and China. Regarding quality characteristics, textural parameters were the most assessed in the studies followed by physicochemical properties, and sensory and taste attributes. Other aspects, such as the development of TVP, the difference in quality characteristics of texturized proteins, and the usage of binding agents in various meat analogs formulations are also highlighted in detail.

This study investigates the quenching behavior and heat transfer characteristics of a copper cube immersed in cellulose nanofiber (CNF) solutions. The heat transfer performance of CNF solutions during boiling has been examined in several studies, but the quenching behavior of CNF solutions, which is an important heat transfer method, has not been evaluated. In this study, four copper cubes with the same dimensions and four different quenchants (deionized water and 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5% CNF solutions) were prepared. A copper cube heated to greater than 600 °C was submerged three times in the quenchant. This was repeated with different copper cubes in each of the quenchants. The time at which the heated copper cube convectively transferred heat to the surroundings was recorded. The cooling time was shortest when the cube was immersed in a 0.5% CNF solution for the first time. The average cooling time for quenching in the 0.5% CNF solution was 30.3% shorter than that in DI water. In this study, film boiling during quenching was thoroughly observed and analyzed to explain the cause of enhancement in heat transfer efficiency.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of several pathovirotypes and evaluate the association of haemolysis with the virotypes of pathogenic E. coli isolated from post-weaning piglets in South Korea from 2015 to 2019. We isolated 890 E. coli and tested for O-serogroups, virulence genes, haemolysis, and multilocus sequence typing. The predominant virotypes were STb:EAST1:AIDA-I, F18b:Stx2e:AIDA-I, F18:STa:STb:Stx2e, and eae:Paa in enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), ETEC/STEC, and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), respectively. Regarding serogroups, O139, O149, O141, and O121 were mostly detected in F18:Stx2e:AIDA-I, F4:LT:STb:EAST1, F18:STa:STb, and F18:Stx2e:EAST1, respectively. There was a significant change in the frequency of the O141:F18ac:STa:STb (an increase from 1.6% to 10.1%) and O139:F18ab:Stx2e:AIDA-I (a decrease from 13.0% to 5.3%) virotypes in ETEC and STEC, respectively, from 2015 to 2019. The O141:F18ac:STa:STb virotype was mostly detected in the central area and was spreading to the southern area. The odds ratios between haemolysis and virotypes were 11.0, 6.25, and 8.57 in F18:STa:STb, F18:Stx2e:AIDA-I, and F4:LT:STb:EAST1, respectively. Our findings provide insights regarding the recent prevalence of pathogenic E. coli in South Korea and could be used for the development of vaccines for E. coli responsible for PWD and ED in post-weaning piglets.

Magnetic resonant wireless power transmission (MRWPT) is a method of transmitting power over a long distance at a specific frequency. Because this system uses an alternating magnetic field, if an object with electrical/magnetic properties is placed between the transmit and receive coils, this will have a significant impact on the power transfer. In this paper, the effect of an obstacle located between two coils on the resonance frequency and transmission power is analyzed. A wireless power transmission system with a resonant frequency of 20 kHz was designed, and ferrite, aluminum, and carbon steel were selected as obstacles with permeability or conductivity. After simulating the system with finite element analysis (FEA) with these obstacles, the results were verified through actual experiments. The results show that the permeability of the obstacle decreases the resonant frequency, and the conductivity increases the resonant frequency and greatly reduces the output power. In addition, part of reduced output could be recovered by adjusting the frequency.

Concerns associated with global warming and the depleting reserves of fossil fuels have highlighted the importance of high−performance energy storage systems (ESSs) for efficient energy usage. ESSs such as supercapacitors can contribute to improved power quality of an energy generation system, which is characterized by a slow load response. Composite materials are primarily used as supercapacitor electrodes because they can compensate for the disadvantages of carbon or metal oxide electrode materials. In this study, a composite of oxide nanoparticles loaded on a carbon nanofiber support was used as an electrode material for a hybrid supercapacitor. The addition of a small amount of hydrophilic FeN@GnP (Fe− and N−doped graphene nanoplates) modified the surface properties of carbon nanofibers prepared by electrospinning. Accordingly, the effects of the hydrophobic/hydrophilic surface properties of the nanofiber support on the morphology of Co3O4 nanoparticles loaded on the nanofiber, as well as the performance of the supercapacitor, were systematically investigated.

The main objective of this study was to incorporate soy-based textured vegetable protein (TVP) into beef patties in different quantities (10–40%) and compare various characteristics of these innovative formulations with a regular beef patty as a control. Incorporation of 10–40% TVP resulted in significantly lower (p < 0.05) moisture and fat contents, while higher crude fiber contents were detected compared to beef as the control. In addition, cooked patties showed higher pH levels (p < 0.05), with color coordinates expressing lighter, yellowish, and slightly redder indices than raw patties. Similarly, a plant protein that includes TVP minimizes (p < 0.05) WHC (water holding capacity), both RW% (release water) and CL% (cooking loss). Furthermore, hardness, cohesiveness, and thickness were reduced significantly (p < 0.05), while gumminess and chewiness increased (p < 0.05) considerably with the substitution of TVP (10–40%) compared to the control. Patties made without TVP received higher scores for sourness, bitterness, umami, and richness than the rest of the formulations. However, a higher tendency was detected for sourness, astringency, umami, and saltiness values with increasing additions of TVP. Nevertheless, hierarchical clustering revealed that the largest group of fatty acid profiles, including palmitoleic acid (C16:1), stearic acid (C18:0), and palmitic acid (C16:0), was slightly reduced with the addition of TVP, while arachidic acid (C20:0), lauric acid (C12:0), and oleic acid (C18:1) increased moderately with increasing levels of TVP. Meanwhile, the second-largest cluster that included linoleic acid (C18:2), arachidonic acid (C20:4), and linolenic acid (C18:3) increased enormously with higher levels of TVP incorporation. Taken together, it is suggested that incorporation of TVP up to 10–40% in beef patties shows promising results.

Magnetic silence of warships is necessary to prevent damage caused by the magnetic mines detecting the magnetic field of the warship. Anhysteretic and Deperm-ME protocols are used to reduce permanent magnetization among magnetic signals. However, they have some disadvantages. Therefore, this paper proposes an effective deperming protocol that is easily controlled and reduces the demagnetization time. A protocol composed of two Anhysteretic protocols is presented using the Preisach model to easily manage and ensure excellent performance. Each stage has its own advantages by considering the Preisach density distribution. In Stage 1, the existing magnetic history is erased, and the demagnetization time is reduced. In Stage 2, the demagnetization performance is improved. The effectiveness of the protocol was verified via simulations using the Preisach model and experiments using a specimen. When the proposed protocol was applied, the results were excellent when applying Anhysteretic and Deperm-ME. In addition, even if the number of magnetic fields was reduced by 4 and 8 in the proposed protocol, the demagnetization result was maintained. Therefore, if the proposed protocol is applied, excellent demagnetization results can be obtained and the time required to perform demagnetization can be reduced, thereby improving the operational capability of the warship.

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

The implementation of the Nagoya Protocol highlighted the importance of identifying alternative herbal products that are as effective as traditional medicine. Dipsacus asperoides and Phlomis umbrosa, two species used in the Korean medicine ‘Sok-dan’, are used for the treatment of bone- and arthritis-related diseases, and they are often mixed or misused. To identify herbal resources with similar efficacy, we compared the effects of D. asperoides extract (DAE) and P. umbrosa extract (PUE) on osteoarthritis (OA) in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rat model. Weight-bearing distribution, serum cytokines, histopathological features, and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) of knee joint tissues were examined in the OA rats treated with DAE and PUE (200 mg/kg) for 21 days. DAE and PUE restored weight-bearing distribution, inhibited the production of serum cytokines, and alleviated the histopathological features of the OA knee tissue. DAE or PUE treatment decreased OA-induced overexpression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13 in the knee joint tissue. This study demonstrated the efficacy of both DAE and PUE in an MIA-induced OA model, providing a basis for the clinical use of these products in traditional Korean medicine.

This paper presents a hybrid singulation strategy for fast object singulation in a cluttered environment. Recent techniques related to object singulation in clutter have employed various kinds of pushing techniques and in some cases have also used hitting techniques. However, these techniques have not addressed the issue related to the direction of pushing and hitting which is vital for fast object singulation. Finding the appropriate direction of hitting and pushing helps in singulating objects quickly in a cluttered environment. This paper proposes the desired direction for pushing and hitting, combined with a hybrid strategy, that results in fast object singulation in a cluttered environment. The number of times of pushing and hitting in terms of time is chosen as the measure of performance. We employ multiple circular disks as the test example and carry out diverse experiments to corroborate the usefulness of the proposed object singulation algorithm. This approach is able to singulate objects quickly in complex formations. In this paper, we have combined both pushing and hitting and also proposed the direction of hitting and pushing in order to singulate objects in clutter quickly.

As a result of rapid urbanization and population movement, flooding in urban areas has become one of the most common types of natural disaster, causing huge losses of both life and property. To mitigate and prevent the damage caused by the recent increase in floods, a number of measures are required, such as installing flood prevention facilities, or specially managing areas vulnerable to flooding. In this study, we presented a technique for determining areas susceptible to flooding using hydrological-topographic characteristics for the purpose of managing flood vulnerable areas. To begin, we collected digital topographic maps and stormwater drainage system data regarding the study area. Using the collected data, surface, locational, and resistant factors were analyzed. In addition, the maximum 1-h rainfall data were collected as an inducing factor and assigned to all grids through spatial interpolation. Next, a logistic regression analysis was performed by inputting hydrological-topographic factors and historical inundation trace maps for each grid as independent and dependent variables, respectively, through which a model for calculating the flood vulnerability of the study area was established. The performance of the model was evaluated by analyzing the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of flood vulnerability and inundation trace maps, and it was found to be improved when the rainfall that changes according to flood events was also considered. The method presented in this study can be used not only to reasonably and efficiently select target sites for flood prevention facilities, but also to pre-detect areas vulnerable to flooding by using real-time rainfall forecasting.

Pelubiprofen (PEL), which is a commercialized non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is associated with the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events following long-term exposure and has poor water-soluble properties. Here, a new pelubiprofen tromethamine (PEL-T) with improved solubility, permeability, GI safety, and absorption, compared to PEL, has been developed. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results confirmed that the PEL-T was well formed. The powder of PEL-T showed the presence of additional 6H protons at δ 3.66–3.61 in the 1H NMR spectrum, and shifted the sharp endothermic peaks at 129 °C in DSC, and the spectrum of distinct absorption peaks in FT-IR. In addition, compared with PEL, PEL-T showed a significantly improved solubility in various media and an increased permeability coefficient (Kp) in Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, compared to PEL oral administration, PEL-T was found to significantly reduce the damaged area in an acute gastric damage rat model. The pharmacokinetic study of the PEL-T powder showed higher maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from 0 h to the last time point (AUCt) than those of the PEL powder. Taken together, our data suggest that PEL-T is a recommendable candidate with enhanced gastrointestinal safety and better absorption compared with commercial PEL.

As a traditional medicine with potential antioxidant effects, Tenodera angustipennis egg cases (Mantidis ootheca) are a potential source of new bioactive substances. Herein, three new N-acetyldopamine derivatives, namely, (+)-tenoderin A (1a), (−)-tenoderin A (1b), and tenoderin B (2), along with thirteen known compounds (3–15), were isolated from a 70% EtOH extract of T. angustipennis egg cases. Compound 1 was isolated as a racemic mixture, and two enantiomers (1a and 1b) were successfully separated by chiral-phase preparative HPLC. The chemical structures of the new compounds were established by NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and the absolute configurations of enantiomers 1a and 1b were determined by electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy. All the new compounds exhibited antioxidant activities with IC50 values of 19.45–81.98 μM, as evaluated using free-radical scavenging assays, with the highest activity observed for compound 2. In addition, compounds 1a, 1b, and 2 exhibited inhibitory activities on intracellular reactive oxygen species generation.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious lung disease characterized by excessive collagen matrix deposition and extracellular remodeling. Signaling pathways mediated by fibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) make important contributions to pulmonary fibrosis, but it remains unclear how TGF-β1 alters metabolism and modulates the activation and differentiation of pulmonary fibroblasts. We found that TGF-β1 lowers NADH and NADH/NAD levels, possibly due to changes in the TCA cycle, resulting in reductions in the ATP level and oxidative phosphorylation in pulmonary fibroblasts. In addition, we showed that butyrate (C4), a short chain fatty acid (SCFA), exhibits potent antifibrotic activity by inhibiting expression of fibrosis markers. Butyrate treatment inhibited mitochondrial elongation in TGF-β1-treated lung fibroblasts and increased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Consistent with the mitochondrial observations, butyrate significantly increased ADP, ATP, NADH, and NADH/NAD levels in TGF-β1-treated pulmonary fibroblasts. Collectively, our findings indicate that TGF-β1 induces changes in mitochondrial dynamics and energy metabolism during myofibroblast differentiation, and that these changes can be modulated by butyrate, which enhances mitochondrial function.

This study assessed the effects of Methylcellulose (MC) at different concentrations on plant-based meat analog (PBMA) patties, comprised of commercial texture vegetable protein (C-TVP) and textured isolate soy protein (T-ISP) as key ingredients, and compared to beef patty control. A significantly higher difference was observed in moisture content in control with increasing MC concentration than the C-TVP and T-ISP patties. However, protein varied significantly among three different protein sources, with control had higher protein content than PBMA patties. Crude fiber content recorded higher values in C-TVP as compared to control. Significantly lower pH values were recorded in control than C-TVP and T-ISP respectively. Regardless, with the addition of MC or ingredient PBMA and control patties tend to reduce lightness (L*) and redness (a*) value after cooking. Although control sample before cooking exhibits lighter and redder than PBMA patties (C-TVP and T-ISP). Likewise, water holding capacity (WHC) decreases as the concentration of MC increases (1.5–4%) in control and PBMA patties. Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and texture profile analysis (TPA), including hardness, chewiness, and gumminess of control, were significantly higher than C-TVP and T-ISP. Consequently, panelists’ in the sensory analysis presented that C-TVP patties containing 3% of MC had better sensory properties than T-ISP. Hence, PBMA patties with C-TVP and incorporation of 3% MC are considered ideal for manufacturing of meat analog as related to control (beef).

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative arthritis associated with pain and cartilage destruction in the elderly; it is known to be involved in inflammation as well. A drug called celecoxib is commonly used in patients with osteoarthritis to control pain. Metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes but also exhibits regulation of the autophagy pathway. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether metformin can treat monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA in rats. Metformin was administered orally every day to rats with OA. Paw-withdrawal latency and threshold were used to assess pain severity. Cartilage damage and pain mediators in dorsal root ganglia were evaluated by histological analysis and a scoring system. Relative mRNA expression was measured by real-time PCR. Metformin reduced the progression of experimental OA and showed both antinociceptive properties and cartilage protection. The combined administration of metformin and celecoxib controlled cartilage damage more effectively than metformin alone. In chondrocytes from OA patients, metformin reduced catabolic factor gene expression and inflammatory cell death factor expression, increased LC3Ⅱb, p62, and LAMP1 expression, and induced an autophagy–lysosome fusion phenotype. We investigated if metformin treatment reduces cartilage damage and inflammatory cell death of chondrocytes. The results suggest the potential for the therapeutic use of metformin in OA patients based on its ability to suppress pain and protect cartilage.

In this study, we observed the Geyser phenomenon that occurs in a small-diameter two-phase closed thermosyphon (confinement number of 0.245). This phenomenon interferes with the natural circulation of the internal working fluid and increases the thermal resistance of the system. This study attempts to improve the thermal performance of the system using cellulose nanofiber as the working fluid and hydrophilic surface modification at the inner surface of the evaporator section. As a result, the total thermal resistance showed average reduction rates of 47.51%, 36.69%, and 22.56% at filling ratios of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75, respectively.

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) face two important and conflicting challenges with regards to security: preserve the privacy of vehicles in order to prevent malicious entities from tracking users and detect and remove bad actors that attempt to game the system for their own advantage. In particular, detecting Sybil attacks, in which one node attempts to appear as many, seemingly conflicts with the goal of privacy preservation, and existing schemes fail on either one or both accounts. To fill this gap, we present a hierarchical key management system which uses short group signatures to preserve member privacy at lower levels while allowing mid-level nodes to detect Sybil attacks and highly trusted nodes at the top of the hierarchy to completely reveal the real identities of malicious nodes in order to prevent them from rejoining the system and for use by legal authorities. In addition, we present an argument for relaxing the requirement of backward secrecy in VANET groups in the case when no malicious activity has been detected.

A Wheeler method for the evaluation of the radiation efficiency of submerged antennas within lossy media is presented and demonstrated for the first time in the literature. Extensive investigations have been devised by empirical and simulation methods. Normal-mode helical antenna (NMHA) was first designed and fabricated to exemplify a real-life application at the UHF band (0.3 to 3 GHz). The antenna under test (AUT) was evaluated within an artificial lossy material using a series of Wheeler caps featuring different radii to study the validity of this method. The error between the experimental and simulation radiation efficiency is below 3% near the theoretical radian length. The presented measurement method of radiation efficiency without any essential measurement facilities or accessories could be a promising candidate for fast and accurate evaluation for any wire-type antenna submerged within lossy media.

Obesity, a condition characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat, is a metabolic disorder related to an increased risk of chronic inflammation. Obesity is mediated by signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, which is regulated by genes associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality (GRIM) 19, a protein ubiquitously expressed in various human tissues. In this study, we investigated the role of GRIM19 in diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice via intravenous or intramuscular administration of a plasmid encoding GRIM19. Splenocytes from wild-type and GRIM19-overexpressing mice were compared using enzyme-linked immunoassay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and histological analyses. GRIM19 attenuated the progression of obesity by regulating STAT3 activity and enhancing brown adipose tissue (BAT) differentiation. GRIM19 regulated the differentiation of mouse-derived 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes, while modulating gene expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) and BAT. GRIM19 overexpression reduced diet-induced obesity and enhanced glucose and lipid metabolism in the liver. Moreover, GRIM19 overexpression reduced WAT differentiation and induced BAT differentiation in obese mice. GRIM19-transgenic mice exhibited reduced mitochondrial superoxide levels and a reciprocal balance between Th17 and Treg cells. These results suggest that GRIM19 attenuates the progression of obesity by controlling adipocyte differentiation.

Gyejibokryeong-hwan (GBH) is a traditional formula comprised of five herbal medicines that is frequently used to treat blood stasis and related complex multifactorial disorders such as atherosclerosis. The present study used network pharmacology and molecular docking simulations to clarify the effect and mechanism of the components of GBH. Active compounds were selected using Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and target genes linked to the selected components were retrieved using Search Tool for Interacting Chemicals (STITCH) and GeneCards. Functional analysis of potential target genes was performed through the Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, and molecular docking confirmed the correlation between five core compounds (quercetin, kaempferol, baicalein, ellagic acid, and baicalin) and six potential target genes (AKT1, CASP3, MAPK1, MAPK3, NOS2, and PTGS2). Molecular docking studies indicated that quercetin strongly interacted with six potential target proteins. Thus, these potential target proteins were closely related to TNF, HIF-1, FoxO, and PI3K-Akt signal pathways, suggesting that these factors and pathways may mediate the beneficial effects of GBH on atherosclerosis. Our results identify target genes and pathways that may mediate the clinical effects of the compounds contained within GBH on atherosclerosis.