Feasibility of Observing Glymphatic System Activity During Sleep Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging Analysis Along the Perivascular Space (DTI-ALPS) Index.

: The glymphatic system plays a crucial role in clearing brain metabolic waste, and its dysfunction has been correlated to various neurological disorders. The Diffusion Tensor Imaging Analysis Along the Perivascular Space (DTI-ALPS) index has been proposed as a non-invasive marker of glymphatic function by measuring diffusivity along perivascular spaces; however, its sensitivity to sleep-related changes in glymphatic activity has not yet been validated. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using the DTI-ALPS index as a quantitative marker of dynamic glymphatic activity during sleep.

Effects of Acute Stress on Metabolic Interactions Related to the Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) Cycle in the Left Hippocampus of Mice.

Background/objectives: The acute stress response affects brain metabolites closely linked to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. This response involves time-dependent changes in hormones and neurotransmitters, which contribute to resilience and the ability to adapt to acute stress while maintaining homeostasis. This physiological mechanism of metabolic dynamics, combined with time-series analysis, has prompted the development of new methods to observe the relationship between TCA cycle-related brain metabolites.

Bacterial degradation kinetics of poly(Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) film by Aquabacterium sp. CY2-9 isolated from plastic-contaminated landfill.

Despite the identification of numerous bioplastic-degrading bacteria, the inconsistent rate of bioplastic degradation under differing cultivation conditions limits the intercomparison of results on biodegradation kinetics. In this study, we isolated a poly (Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL)-degrading bacterium from a plastic-contaminated landfill and determined the principle-based biodegradation kinetics in a confined model system of varying cultivation conditions. Bacterial degradation of PCL films synthesized by different polymer number average molecular weights (M) and concentrations (% w/v) was investigated using both solid and liquid media at various temperatures.

Distinct Bacterial and Fungal Communities Colonizing Waste Plastic Films Buried for More Than 20 Years in Four Landfill Sites in Korea.

Plastic pollution has been recognized as a serious environmental problem, and microbial degradation of plastics is a potential, environmentally friendly solution to this. Here, we analyzed and compared microbial communities on waste plastic films (WPFs) buried for long periods at four landfill sites with those in nearby soils to identify microbes with the potential to degrade plastics. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra of these WPFs showed that most were polyethylene and had signs of oxidation, such as carbon-carbon double bonds, carbon-oxygen single bonds, or hydrogen-oxygen single bonds, but the presence of carbonyl groups was rare.

Horticoccus luteus gen. nov., sp. nov., A Novel Member of the Phylum Verrucomicrobia Isolated from a Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)-Contaminated Orchard Soil.

Strain KSB-15 was isolated from an orchard soil that had been contaminated with the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane for about 60 years. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed the highest sequence similarities with those of Oleiharenicola alkalitolerans NVT (95.3%), Opitutus terrae PB90-1 (94.

Root-Knot Nematode () Control Using a Combination of WiKim0090 and Copper Sulfate.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exert antagonistic activity against root-knot nematodes, mainly by producing organic acids via carbohydrate fermentation. However, they have not yet been used for root-knot nematode () control owing to a lack of economic feasibility and effectiveness. In this study, we aimed to isolate organic acid-producing LAB from kimchi (Korean traditional fermented cabbage) and evaluated their nematicidal activity.

Inhibition of Oomycetes by the Mixture of Maleic Acid and Copper Sulfate.

Since the protective activity of the Bordeaux mixture against plant disease caused by oomycetes was discovered, copper compounds have been used for more than a century as an effective plant protection strategy. However, the application of excessive copper can cause adverse effects through long-term heavy metal accumulation in soils. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new strategies to reduce or replace copper in pesticides based on organic and low-input farming systems.

Nonviral gene delivery using PAMAM dendrimer conjugated with the nuclear localization signal peptide derived from human papillomavirus type 11 E2 protein.

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are biocompatible polymers utilized in multiple biomedical applications including tissue engineering, medical diagnosis, drug and gene delivery systems, and biosensors. Normally, high-generation PAMAM dendrimers are advantageous for use in gene therapy research because they have a relatively high transfection efficiency. A high-generation PAMAM dendrimer has a high charge density, which induces greater damage to the membranous organelles than that induced by a low-generation PAMAM dendrimer.

Biological Control of Root-Knot Nematodes by Organic Acid-Producing WiKim0069 Isolated from Kimchi.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are among the most destructive plant-parasites worldwide, and RKN control has been attempted mainly using chemical nematicides. However, these chemical nematicides have negative effects on humans and the environment, thus necessitating the search for eco-friendly alternative RKN control methods. Here, we screened nematicidal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kimchi and evaluated their efficacy as biocontrol agents against RKNs.

Trends of major, minor and rare earth elements in decomposing litter in a cool temperate ecosystem, South Korea.

The decomposition dynamics of 34 different elements in four different litter types (foliar and woody litter) from Pinus densiflora (Korean red pine) and Castanea crenata (Korean chestnut) was investigated in a cool temperate ecosystem using the litterbag method. Two contrasting trends were observed in the dynamics of elements with accumulated mass loss of litter and carbon. Leaf litter of Korean chestnut, which was richer in elements, showed a general decrease in concentrations of elements with accumulated mass loss of litter and carbon on a dry mass basis during decomposition in the field.