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Abstract A delicate balance between neural stem cell (NSC) quiescence and proliferation is important for adult neurogenesis and homeostasis. Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO)-dependent post-translational modifications cause rapid and reversible changes in protein functions. However, the role of the SUMO pathway during NSC reactivation and brain development is not established. Here, we show that the key components of the SUMO pathway play an important role in NSC reactivation and brain development in Drosophila. Depletion of SUMO/Smt3 or SUMO conjugating enzyme Ubc9 results in notable defects in NSC reactivation and brain development, while their overexpression leads to premature NSC reactivation. Smt3 protein levels increase with NSC reactivation, which is promoted by the Ser/Thr kinase Akt. Warts/Lats, the core protein kinase of the Hippo pathway, can undergo SUMO- and Ubc9-dependent SUMOylation at Lys766. This modification attenuates Wts phosphorylation by Hippo, leading to the inhibition of the Hippo pathway, and consequently, initiation of NSC reactivation. Moreover, inhibiting Hippo pathway effectively restores the NSC reactivation defects induced by SUMO pathway inhibition. Overall, our study uncovered an important role for the SUMO-Hippo pathway during Drosophila NSC reactivation and brain development.

Abstract Background A System Dynamics Model (SDM) is a computer simulation to alleviate the problem by comparing strategies and policies. Addressing the costs by using SDM helps in allocating the resources efficiently in managing the strategies. Objective To describe the costs of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of dental caries for 0–5-year-old children by SDM. Methods The SDM was developed to explore the cost of primary and secondary prevention (supervised toothbrushing, STB and fluoride varnish, FV), the treatment cost for caries (tertiary prevention), and the total cost under three scenarios; STB, FV and base case (no intervention). Results When the children aged 5 years, the treatment cost under the base case was the highest at 57.6 million baht while 53.5 million baht in FV and 51.9 million baht in STB. As a total cost, 64.1 million baht under FV, 60.9 million baht under STB, and 57.6 million baht under base case. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the effective rate of STB must be at least 30%, and FV should be a minimum of 50% to ascertain the total cost reduction relative to the base case scenario. Conclusion Caries treatment costs were lower when STB and FV were implemented than in the base case scenario. The overall cost under FV was the highest, followed by STB, with no total cost savings observed as compared to the base case situation. Despite that, carrying out the STB rather than the FV would save a total of 3.2 million baht. Treatment costs under interventions would be lower than expected, and overall cost reductions might be obtained by comparing the base case if the intervention's effective rates are higher, according to sensitivity analysis.

Germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA2 gene are strongly correlated with an elevated risk of developing breast cancer. Two specific BRCA2 variants, c.8167G>C (p.Asp2723His) and c.1583del (p.Asn528fs), have been identified from individuals with a family history of breast cancer. Here we generated two iPSC lines from breast cancer patients who are heterozygous carriers of these two variants. These iPSCs exhibit pluripotency and demonstrate the capability to differentiate into three germ layers. These iPSC lines represent a valuable resource for personalized pre-clinical research, offering new opportunities to explore the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer and develop targeted therapeutic approaches.

Elderly people avoid eating red meat and dried meat product due to its texture and stiffness; they deprive them of rich sources of nutrients. In addition, food-related diseases are exponentially increasing due to using synthetic additives in food products. Therefore, this research aimed to develop semi-dried goat meat jerky considering geriatric preferences by using natural tenderizers and nitrate. Four treatments were formulated negative control (NC [synthetic nitrite without tenderizers]), positive control (PC [Swiss chard without tenderizers]), T1 (Swiss chard with pineapple powder), and T2 (Swiss chard with pineapple and tomato powder). T1 and T2 had higher processing yield, and rehydration capacity compared with NC and PC. The fat content of T1 and T2 was lower than the control groups. Moisture was significantly higher in T1, NC, and T2 than in PC (p < 0.05). T2 showed the lowest water activity (0.87), lowest shear force (4.82 kgf), and lowest total plate count (TPC). The lowest pH and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were observed in T1 and T2. T1 showed the lowest lightness and the maximum redness (p < 0.05) while PC showed the lowest yellowness. During the storage period, moisture and pH decreased, and TPC and TBARS significantly increased whereas water activity is stable regardless of the treatment. The results of the myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel revealed that T1 and T2 more effectively converted protein to polypeptides. In addition, tenderizers positively affected thrombogenicity, atherogenicity, and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic indices. T2 observed the highest overall sensory acceptance by reducing goaty flavor. Overall, jerky treated with tenderizers is easily chewable and digestible for the elderly due to its tenderness and essential fatty acids that would be senior-friendly food.

Abstract Acetylcholine (ACh) plays a pivotal role as a neurotransmitter, influencing nerve cell communication and overall nervous system health. Imbalances in ACh levels are linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This study focused on developing electrochemical sensors for ACh detection, utilizing graphene oxide (GO) and a composite of reduced graphene oxide and zinc oxide (rGO/ZnO). The synthesis involved modified Hummers' and hydrothermal methods, unveiling the formation of rGO through deoxygenation and the integration of nano-sized ZnO particles onto rGO, as demonstrated by XPS and TEM. EIS analysis also revealed the enhancement of electron transfer efficiency in rGO/ZnO. Cyclic voltammograms of the electrode, comprising the rGO/ZnO composite in ACh solutions, demonstrated prominent oxidation and reduction reactions. Notably, the composite exhibited promise for ACh detection due to its sensitivity, low detection threshold, reusability, and selectivity against interfering compounds, specifically glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid. The unique properties of rGO, such as high specific surface area and electron mobility, coupled with ZnO's stability and catalytic efficiency, contributed to the composite's potential in electrochemical sensor applications. This research, emphasizing the synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of the rGO/ZnO composite, established itself as a reliable platform for detecting the acetylcholine neurotransmitter.

Abstract Many tropical landscapes have experienced the loss of traditional cultivation practices as they have transitioned to other land use systems. The Tanintharyi Region of southern Myanmar is a landscape experiencing a rapid land use regime shift from traditional subsistence farming to permanent cash crop agriculture. Despite previous research in this region on the expansion of large‐scale agribusiness, such as oil palm and rubber plantations, little is known about how the small‐scale shifting cultivation system practiced by the local Karen ethnic people in Tanintharyi has changed over recent decades or the underlying reasons for this transition. Our study explores this transition process and its drivers from a social and land system change perspective in four villages of Bokpyin Township in Tanintharyi. We investigated the drivers of land cover and land use change by collecting information through focus groups and individual interviews with community members who previously practised shifting cultivation. We also quantified the overall change in land cover and land use through remote sensing analysis of Landsat 8 (2020) and declassified KH‐9 satellite imagery (1976). Prior to a period of civil war in the 1980s, cultivators used a traditional ‘slash‐and‐burn’ agricultural system for subsistence use. The present land use system is dominated by permanent betel nut cultivation, which represents the primary income source for farming households. The reported drivers of the transition to cash crop farming are greater income potential and livelihood security, risk of losing fallow land due to the needs for new cultivation areas for in‐migration and new centralized land use policies and administration after the national ceasefire agreement in 2012. The documented change in land use systems has been paired with a concurrent net loss of forest that, given the conflicted governance within the landscape, seems likely to continue without additional land use planning efforts. Our study contributes to an increased understanding of changes in shifting cultivation systems that are being documented globally. Furthermore, our example of combining qualitative interviews with analysis of historical satellite imagery to detect and explain land use regime shifts can serve as a model for future work in different landscapes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Abstract Background To fight the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have implemented various mitigation measures to contain the spread of the disease. By engaging with health service providers, the community’s participation in adherence to preventive measures is certainly required in the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and its associated factors among the residents, Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 636 residents in Yangon Region, Myanmar, from October to December 2021. A multistage non-probability sampling method, purposively selected for three townships in Yangon Region and convenience sampling for 212 participants from each township, was applied and the data were collected by face-to-face interviews using structured and pretested questionnaires. Data were entered, coded, and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Simple and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the significant variables of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Results As a level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, the proportion of residents who had good adherence was 39.3% (95% CI 35.5–43.2%), moderate adherence was 37.6% (95% CI 33.8–41.5%), and poor adherence was 23.1% (95% CI 19.9–26.6%). The age group of 31–40 years (AOR: 3.13, 95% CI 1.62–6.05), 30 years and younger (AOR: 3.22, 95% CI 1.75–5.92), Burmese ethnicity (AOR: 2.52, 95% CI 1.44–4.39), own business (AOR: 3.19, 95% CI 1.15–8.87), high school education level and below (AOR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.02–2.69), less than 280.90 USD of monthly family income (AOR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.01–2.29), low knowledge about COVID-19 (AOR: 1.90, 95% CI 1.26–2.88) were significantly associated with poor adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Conclusions In this study, nearly one-fourth of the residents were experiencing poor adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Therefore, building up the risk communication through the community using widely used mainstream media, the continuation of disease surveillance and announcement of updated information or advice for the public to increase awareness towards COVID-19, and enforcement to follow the recommended directions and regulations of health institutions are vital to consider for improving the adherence to preventive measures against COVID-19 among the residents.

Lack of maternal milk commonly leads to Asian elephant calves’ death in captivity. Currently, available supplements seem inefficient. Hence, we aimed at characterizing the composition of Asian elephant milk to provide information on calves’ nutritional needs. Seventy milk samples from 22 Asian elephants living in semi-captivity in their natural environment in Myanmar were collected. Samples were analysed through various techniques including liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, and bicinchoninic acid assay to determine total protein content and various metabolites. Associations with lactation stage (months postpartum) were investigated through repeated measure mixed models. We identified 160 compounds: 22 amino acids, 12 organic acids of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, 27 fatty acids, 15 acyl-carnitines and 84 phospholipids. The milk contained substantial amounts of free glutamate (median: 1727.9, interquartile range (IQR): 1278.4 µmol l−1) and free glycine (2541.7, IQR: 1704.1 µmol l−1). The fatty acid profile was mostly constituted by saturated fatty acids, particularly capric acid (40.1, IQR: 67.3 g l−1). Milk samples also contained high amounts of carnitines, phospholipids and organic acids. The wide array of metabolites identified and quantified, some of which present high concentrations in the milk from this species as opposed to other species, suggests underpinning physiological functions that might be crucial for the survival of Asian elephant calves.

Automatically and accurately identifying the deformation zone of coastal slope landslides is crucial for exploring the mechanism of landslides and predicting landslide disasters. To this end, this study proposes an integrated automatic recognition method combining Image Clipping (IC), Image Information Enhancement (IE), Adaptive K-means Clustering Segmentation (AKS), and Optimization (O): IC-IE-AKS-O, which achieves precise extraction of the deformation area in coastal slope landslide images. Firstly, due to the more complex natural environment of field slopes, to extend the monitoring duration, we introduce a hierarchical operation algorithm based on the HSV color model, which effectively mitigates the impact of sunlight, rain, and foggy weather on image recognition accuracy. Secondly, this study proposes a 2D landslide image segmentation technique that combines K-means clustering with global threshold segmentation for landslide images, enabling the segmentation of small image regions with precision. Finally, we combine image information enhancement technology with image segmentation technology. To verify its effectiveness, we identify a landslide image of a coastal slope in Pingtan. The method displays an average relative error of 5.20% and 5.14% in the X and Y directions, respectively. Its advantages are threefold: (1) The combination of image information enhancement and segmentation techniques can more accurately identify landslide areas that appear blurred in the image; (2) expanding the temporal dimension of coastal slope monitoring; (3) providing excellent boundary conditions and segmentation results. The practical application of this method ensures the stable and accurate operation of the coastal slope monitoring system, providing a safeguard for the sustainable development of marine safety.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a hereditary condition caused by mutations in the FBN1 gene. Genetic mutations in the FBN1 locus impact the function of the encoded protein, Fibrillin 1, a structural molecule forming microfibrils found in the connective tissue. MFS patients develop severe cardiovascular complications including thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, which predispose them to an enhanced risk of premature death. Here, we generated two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines harboring mutations in the FBN1 gene (p.C1942C>A and c.1954 T>C), directly derived from MFS patients. We have shown that both iPSC lines displayed expression of pluripotency markers, normal karyotype and ability of trilineage differentiation, representing a valuable tool for the identification of new therapeutic strategies for intervening in this disease.

Flagellated bacteria are hydrodynamically attracted to rigid walls, yet past work shows a “hovering” state where they swim stably at a finite height above surfaces. We use numerics and theory to reveal the physical origin of hovering. Simulations first show that hovering requires an elongated cell body and results from a tilt away from the wall. Theoretical models then identify two essential asymmetries: the response of width-asymmetric cells to active flows created by length-asymmetric cells. A minimal model reconciles near- and far-field hydrodynamics, capturing all key features of hovering.

Global warming and rapid urban growth, compounded by the urban heat island (UHI) effect, are posing substantial challenges for urban populations and ecological well-being due to increased heat stress risks. This study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of land surface temperature (LST), UHI, and potential heat stress risk areas (PHSRA) in two distinct cities, an inland city, Nakhon Ratchasima, and a coastal city, Si Racha, during the summer. Geoinformatics techniques and Crichton’s Risk Triangle method were employed, using updated demographic data and Sentinel-3 data from 2017 to 2022. The findings indicate that the inland city daytime average LST values were higher than in the coastal city, while the opposite was true at nighttime. Additionally, high daytime UHI patterns in the inland city were observed on the outskirts, and nighttime UHI concentrated in the urban center. The coastal city exhibited a strong daytime and nighttime UHI compared to the inland city, with daytime UHI peaking in the inner area and nighttime UHI near the coastline. The PHSRA was categorized into five risk levels (very high: > 0.8, high: 0.8–0.6, moderate: 0.6–0.4, low: 0.4–0.2 and very low: ≤ 0.2). During the daytime the highest risk areas, the high and very high levels of PHSRA in the inland city (23.84%) were greater than those in the coastal city (16.46%). Conversely, at nighttime, the coastal city (16.46%) exhibited higher levels than the inland city (5.26%). In nighttime conditions, all levels of PHSRA occurred more significantly than during the daytime in these cities. Understanding the spatiotemporal variations in PHSRA is vital for pinpointing places at risk of heat stress accidents in summer. This data is a goldmine for city planners and healthcare authorities, helping them plan interventions and effective measures for the future.

Hanwoo beef is in high demand because of its unique flavor, freshness, and high-fat content. However, the longer rearing period required to enhance marbling in Hanwoo cattle has adverse environmental consequences, such as greenhouse gas emissions and overall rearing costs. To address consumer preferences for leaner and healthier meat, the Korean meat industry has recently introduced Hanwoo heifer meat as an alternative source, but its quality traits are still unclear. Nevertheless, there is a limited body of research exploring the impact of Hanwoo gender (steer, heifer, and cow) and their corresponding slaughter ages on meat quality traits. This study looked into how gender affected the physicochemical and qualitative features of Hanwoo striploin at their respective slaughter ages. Results revealed that cow striploin has higher levels of moisture (66.81%) and protein (20.76%), whereas it contains lower levels of fat (10.66%) and cholesterol (34.66 mg/100 g). Regarding the physicochemical properties, cow striploin exhibited significantly lower shear force, color indexes, and soluble collagen (p < 0.05). However, chondroitin (1.19%) and muscle fiber area (1,545.23 μm2) were significantly higher in steer striploin than in heifer and cow (p < 0.05). Cow striploin exhibited significantly higher levels of oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) while having lower levels of eicosadienoic acid and atherogenic index compared to the other two groups. Cows and heifers had higher concentrations of amino acid metabolites than striploin from steers. Furthermore, bioactive metabolites such as carnitine and carnosine content were found higher in cow and heifer respectively. Overall, Hanwoo cattle gender influences the qualitative attributes of striploin; nevertheless, compared to steer and heifer striploin, cow striploin is a relatively good source of protein, fatty acid content, and metabolites conducive to a healthy diet.

Abstract Background Bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung injury is characterized by mixed histopathologic changes with inflammation and fibrosis, such as observed in human patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although no curative therapies for these lung diseases exist, stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential therapeutic option. Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are endogenous pluripotent- and macrophage-like stem cells distributed in various adult and fetal tissues as stage-specific embryonic antigen-3-positive cells. They selectively home to damaged tissue by sensing sphingosine-1-phosphate and replace the damaged/apoptotic cells by in vivo differentiation. Clinical trials for some human diseases suggest the safety and therapeutic efficacy of intravenously injected human leukocyte antigen-mismatched allogenic Muse cells from adult bone marrow (BM) without immunosuppressant. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of human Muse cells from preterm and term umbilical cord (UC), and adult BM in a rat BLM-induced lung injury model. Methods Rats were endotracheally administered BLM to induce lung injury on day 0. On day 3, human preterm UC-Muse, term UC-Muse, or adult BM-Muse cells were administered intravenously without immunosuppressants, and rats were subjected to histopathologic analysis on day 21. Body weight, serum surfactant protein D (SP-D) levels, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored. Histopathologic lung injury scoring by the Ashcroft and modified American Thoracic Society document scales, quantitative characterization of engrafted Muse cells, RNA sequencing analysis, and in vitro migration assay of infused Muse cells were performed. Results Rats administered preterm- and term-UC-Muse cells exhibited a significantly better recovery based on weight loss, serum SP-D levels, SpO2, and histopathologic lung injury scores, and a significantly higher rate of both Muse cell homing to the lung and alveolar marker expression (podoplanin and prosurfactant protein-C) than rats administered BM-Muse cells. Rats receiving preterm-UC-Muse cells showed statistically superior results to those receiving term-UC-Muse cells in many of the measures. These findings are thought to be due to higher expression of genes related to cell migration, lung differentiation, and cell adhesion. Conclusion Preterm UC-Muse cells deliver more efficient therapeutic effects than term UC- and BM-Muse cells for treating BLM-induced lung injury in a rat model.

Abstract Forecasting changes in stock prices is extremely challenging given that numerous factors cause these prices to fluctuate. The random walk hypothesis and efficient market hypothesis essentially state that it is not possible to systematically, reliably predict future stock prices or forecast changes in the stock market overall. Nonetheless, machine learning (ML) techniques that use historical data have been applied to make such predictions. Previous studies focused on a small number of stocks and claimed success with limited statistical confidence. In this study, we construct feature vectors composed of multiple previous relative returns and apply the random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and long short-term memory (LSTM) ML methods as classifiers to predict whether a stock can return 2% more than its index in the following 10 days. We apply this approach to all S&P 500 companies for the period 2017–2022. We assess performance using accuracy, precision, and recall and compare our results with a random choice strategy. We observe that the LSTM classifier outperforms RF and SVM, and the data-driven ML methods outperform the random choice classifier (p = 8.46e −17 for accuracy of LSTM). Thus, we demonstrate that the probability that the random walk and efficient market hypotheses hold in the considered context is negligibly small.

Abstract A flexible smart coating with electroluminescence effect was designed and fabricated on the surface of gas insulated switch gear (GIS)/gas insulated transmission line (GIL) epoxy insulators based on two‐step curing process. As the AC voltage increases, the luminous area on the insulator surface expands from the centre to the periphery, and the light intensity shows a linear relationship with the applied voltage. Besides, the flexible smart coating can effectively identify the location of metal particle defects and the degree of electric field distortion. The flexible smart coating enhances the surface flashover voltage due to its higher dielectric constant. Simultaneously, metal particle contamination can substantially reduce the insulation performance of epoxy insulators, particularly when they are located near the high‐voltage side. It is hoped that this study can provide a reference for the smart detection of surface defects GIS/GIL basin insulators.

Abstract This study examined the growth patterns of the spotted catfish, Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792) in the Thanlwin River Estuary throughout the analysis of standard lengths obtained from observed otolith data and back‐calculated data. Between April 2023 and January 2024, 516 fish ranging in standard lengths from 8.3 to 33 cm were collected. The annual deposition of annuli in otoliths was confirmed using the marginal increment ratio, with ages ranging from 2 to 9 years. The Dahl‐Lea back‐calculation method expanded the length at age data to 2472 records for ages 1–9 years. Growth was characterized using Von Bertalanffy growth curves, revealing the significant differences between the observed data (asymptotic length L∞ = 25.34 cm, growth coefficient K = 0.257 year−1 and growth performance index ϕ′ = 2.02) and the back‐calculated data (L∞ = 36.23 cm, K = 0.087 year−1 and ϕ′ = 2.21). The findings of the study suggested that the back‐calculated otolith data were more dependable for determining growth parameters compared to the observed otolith data. A. maculatus appears to exhibit slow growth characteristics, suggesting that the environmental conditions in the Thanlwin River Estuary may be deficient for this species. The insights gleaned from this research are crucial for guiding and shaping fishery management policies through informed advice and recommendations.

ADP ribosylation factor-like GTPase 2 (Arl2) is crucial for controlling mitochondrial fusion and microtubule assembly in various organisms. Arl2 regulates the asymmetric division of neural stem cells in Drosophila via microtubule growth. However, the function of mammalian Arl2 during cortical development was unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mouse Arl2 plays a new role in corticogenesis via regulating microtubule growth, but not mitochondria functions. Arl2 knockdown (KD) leads to impaired proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neuronal migration. Arl2 KD in mouse NPCs significantly diminishes centrosomal microtubule growth and delocalization of centrosomal proteins Cdk5rap2 and γ-tubulin. Moreover, Arl2 physically associates with Cdk5rap2 by in silico prediction using AlphaFold multimer, which was validated by co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay. Remarkably, Cdk5rap2 overexpression significantly rescues the neurogenesis defects caused by Arl2 KD. Therefore, Arl2 plays an important role in mouse cortical development through microtubule growth via the centrosomal protein Cdk5rap2.