COSINE-100 full dataset challenges the annual modulation signal of DAMA/LIBRA.

For over 25 years, the DAMA/LIBRA collaboration has claimed to observe an annual modulation signal, suggesting the existence of dark matter interactions. However, no experiment using different target materials has observed a dark matter signal consistent with their result. To address this puzzle, the COSINE-100 collaboration conducted a model-independent test using sodium iodide crystal detectors, the same target material as DAMA/LIBRA.

The elucidation of the dual role of Beclin-1 in ischemic stroke through systems biology modeling.

Beclin-1 plays a pivotal role in the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis in ischemic stroke, influencing both cell survival and death. We developed a mathematical model incorporating the dual role of Beclin-1 to simulate Beclin-1-induced autophagy and apoptosis under varying ischemic stress conditions. The model predicts a critical threshold of Beclin-1 expression, beyond which apoptosis is triggered, with this threshold decreasing as stress severity increases.

Robust Skin-Conformal Nano-Electrodes for Sustainable Health and Performance Monitoring.

Wearable electrodes with high conformability to the skin allow for a second-skin-like wearing experience and record high-quality electrophysiological signals over extended time in challenging environments. However, current research on skin-conformal electrodes faces limitations due to excessive motion artifacts under real-life external conditions. Here, we report a nanoscale skin-conformal electrode that enables continuous resilient electrophysiological signal monitoring with highly suppressed noise, low-motion artifacts, and high water-resilience, all unachievable with commercial gel electrodes.

Cell Surface Thiol Engineering Mechanoregulates Myogenic Differentiation via the FAK-PI3K-AKT Axis.

Skeletal muscle regeneration is essential in conditions like muscle injury and muscular dystrophy, primarily relying on the activation and differentiation of myogenic progenitors. This study explores the role of redox-modulated surface thiol modification in myogenesis, using tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP) to reduce disulfide bonds and generate free thiol groups on the cell surface. The findings show that TCEP treatment significantly increases cell surface thiols, activating the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, and promoting cell spreading, adhesion, and actin cytoskeleton remodeling.

Application of cold atmospheric microwave plasma on four domestic pigeons () with open wounds.

This paper reports the feasibility of cold atmospheric microwave plasma (CAMP) therapy for birds with open wounds. Four domestic pigeons () with open wounds of varying severity were treated with CAMP as an adjunct to conventional therapy. Wound healing was assessed using a modified scoring system during each treatment session, and the extent of healing was calculated as a percentage.

Human eyelid behavior is driven by segmental neural control of the orbicularis oculi.

The eyelid performs critical functions to protect the eye and preserve functional vision. These functions are driven by contraction of the orbicularis oculi (OO), which is a unique skeletal muscle with a circular geometry and diffuse innervation. It is thought that this distributed innervation may allow for differential segmental activation and contraction, but it is not currently understood how sequenced activation patterns relate to differential muscle contraction, nor how segmental contraction creates the kinematics that drive the eyelid's critical functions.

Isolation and Characterisation of Serotype III in Miamiensis avidus (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatida) From Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

Miamiensis avidus (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatida, syn. Philasterides dicentrarchi) is a significant pathogen causing scuticociliatosis in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in Korea and Japan. In this study, the BB19 strain, isolated from olive flounder, was identified as M.

Transcriptomic Insights into GABA Accumulation in Tomato via CRISPR/Cas9-Based Editing of and .

Background: -Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid with key roles in plant metabolism, stress responses, and fruit nutritional quality. In tomato (), GABA levels are dynamically regulated during fruit development but decline in the late ripening stages.

Methods: To enhance GABA accumulation, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the calmodulin-binding domain (CaMBD) of and , which encode glutamate decarboxylases (GADs).

Effect of Missense Variants on Its Tumor-Suppressive Function.

Background: Solute carrier family-5 member-8 (SLC5A8) serves as a plasma membrane transporter for monocarboxylates, such as lactate, butyrate, pyruvate, acetate, propionate, nicotinate, and β-hydroxybutyrate. SLC5A8 can suppress colorectal cancer (CRC), and its tumor-suppressive function is mainly associated with butyrate, propionate, and pyruvate, which inhibit histone deacetylase. Although SLC5A8 is an important tumor suppressor, the impact of variants on its tumor-suppressive function have not been reported.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout of Reveals Its Role in ABA-Associated Immune Signaling in Rice.

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are involved in a wide range of physiological processes in plants, including hormone signaling, stress responses, and growth and development regulation. They play a key role in abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated immune regulation. However, the immune-related function of in rice remains poorly understood.

Hierarchical Microstructure-Mechanical Property Correlations in Superior Strength 5 wt% Cr Cold-Work Tool Steel Manufactured by Direct Energy Deposition.

The direct energy deposition (DED) metal additive manufacturing process enables rapid deposition and repair, providing an efficient approach to producing durable tool steel components. Here, 5 wt% Cr cold-work tool steel (Caldie) was developed by reducing carbon and chromium to suppress coarse carbide formation and by increasing molybdenum and vanadium to enhance dimensional stability. In this study, Caldie tool steel was fabricated via DED for the first time, and the effects of post-heat treatment on its hierarchical microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated and compared with those of wrought (reference) material.

The complete mitogenome of (Dytiscidae, Coleoptera).

(Zaitzev, 1953), a rare great diving beetle species, is found in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of South Korea. We present the first complete mitogenome of , which is 18,385 bp in length and comprises 37 genes: 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The overall base composition is A (42.

Hemagglutinin docking analysis-based visual detection of antiviral therapeutic efficacy of umifenovir against influenza virus.

The rapid evolution of viruses poses a significant threat to global health, as evidenced by recent pandemics. Umifenovir (Arbidol®), a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, has demonstrated potential in treating various viral infections. This study aimed to assess the antiviral mechanism of umifenovir against influenza A virus (IAV), specifically its interaction with hemagglutinin (HA), using umifenovir-modified gold nanoparticles (umi-GNPs).

Weighted Hypoxemia Index: An adaptable method for quantifying hypoxemia severity.

Objective: To quantitate hypoxemia severity.

Methods: We developed the Weighted Hypoxemia Index to be adapted to different clinical settings by applying 5 steps to the oxygen saturation curve: (1) Identify desaturation/resaturation event [Formula: see text] by setting the upper threshold; (2) Exclude events as artifact by setting a lower threshold; (3) Calculate weighted area for each [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text]; (4) Calculate a normalization factor [Formula: see text] for each subject; (5) Calculate the Weighted Hypoxemia Index as the summation of all weighted areas multiplied by [Formula: see text]. We assessed the Weighted Hypoxemia Index predictive value for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality using the Sleep Heart Health Study (enrollment 1995-1998, 11.

A biosynthetic thumb prosthesis.

In cases of severe damage to the extremities, the function and structure of compromised tissues must be replaced. If biological reconstruction using autologous tissue is not feasible, amputation and replacement with a synthetic prosthesis is often the next best option. Synthetic prostheses are limited, especially in their ability to restore skin sensation.

Piezo-ionic Materials and Structures for Complex Shear Field Monitoring.

Capturing shearing stresses is crucial for accurately monitoring multidirectional mechanical deformation, enabling advanced motion analysis and enhancing functionality in wearable and robotic applications. Here, we present self-powered porous piezo-ionic shear-sensing materials that simultaneously resolve normal and tangential stresses with high sensitivity, a broad dynamic range, and high linearity. A composite of thermoplastic urethane and ionic liquids, reinforced with silica nanoparticles, was exploited to establish and sustain a porous framework.

A Biosynthetic Thumb Prosthesis.

Unlabelled: In cases of severe damage to the extremities, the function and structure of compromised biological tissues must be replaced. If biological reconstruction using autologous tissue is not feasible, amputation and replacement with a synthetic prosthesis is often the next best option. Currently, the synthetic materials available for prostheses are limited, especially in their ability to restore skin sensation.

A 3D vascularized tumor spheroid microfluidic platform for head and neck cancer research: new insights.

Conventional in vitro cancer models often fail to replicate the complexity of the tumor microenvironment. We have developed a 3D micro-engineered vascularized organoid chip (VOC) platform to enhance the physiological relevance of in vivo tumor models. This platform incorporates patient-derived tumor spheroids from head and neck cancer patients, providing a more accurate simulation of the native tumor microenvironment.

Multilayer iontronic sensors with controlled charge gradients for high-performance, self-powered tactile sensing.

Piezoionic sensors have emerged as a promising class of self-powered tactile sensors, utilizing ion transport within soft materials to convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. These sensors offer flexibility, biocompatibility, and the ability to detect both static and dynamic forces, making them highly suitable for wearable electronics, robotic skins, and human-machine interfaces. However, conventional piezoionic sensors suffer from low output signals and slow response times due to inefficient ion transport and charge separation.

Balancing Reactivity and Specificity: Fc-Binding -Acyl Hydroxamate Reagents for Site-Selective Antibody Labeling at Lys248.

We report the design and synthesis of -acyl hydroxamates (OAHs) affinity labels for selective modification of human IgG1 at Lys248 via proximity-driven acylation. Optimized compound exhibits high water stability and >99% site-selective conversion at Lys248 on Trastuzumab using only 3 equiv. Peptide mapping and fluorescence labeling confirm its precision, establishing as a robust platform for efficient and site-selective antibody conjugation.

Feasibility of a Structured Calorie-Restricted Dietary Intervention in Korean Adults with Early Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: A Pilot Study.

: Calorie restriction is increasingly recognized as a strategy for glycemic management in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) by promoting weight loss and potentially achieving diabetes remission. This study evaluated the feasibility of a 12-week structured calorie-restricted dietary intervention based on healthy Korean dietary patterns for adults with early type 2 DM. : Adults aged 18-60 years with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m and a short duration of diabetes were recruited.

Acoustofluidic bioassembly induced morphogenesis for therapeutic tissue fabrication.

To build in vitro tissues for therapeutic applications, it is essential to replicate the spatial distribution of cells that occurs during morphogenesis in vivo. However, it remains technically challenging to simultaneously regulate the geometric alignment and aggregation of cells during tissue fabrication. Here, we introduce the acoustofluidic bioassembly induced morphogenesis, which is the combination of precise arrangement of cells by the mechanical forces produced by acoustofluidic cues, and the morphological and functional changes of cells in the following in vitro and in vivo cultures.

Are nanophotonic intermediate mirrors really effective in enhancing the efficiency of perovskite tandem solar cells?

An intermediate mirror has been proposed to enhance multijunction solar cell efficiency by selectively reflecting the light beyond higher energy bandgap of top cell, while simultaneously transmitting the rest of lower-energy light. Therefore, it reduces the higher-energy absorption spectral tail of the bottom cell (thermalization loss) and increase the absorption in the top cell. However, its effectiveness has only been theoretically validated in simplified tandem with basic components such as an antireflection coating (ARC) and top/bottom absorbers.

3D Spheroid Cultures for Salivary Gland Tissue Engineering: Effects of Fibroblast on Epithelial Cell Function.

Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid cultures are crucial for modeling salivary gland (SG) morphogenesis and advancing regenerative medicine. This study evaluated the effects of varying ratios of mouse SG-derived epithelial cells co-cultured with human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs), identifying a 2:1 ratio (spheroids containing 67% EpCAM cells with 33% hDFs) as optimal for preserving native SG-derived epithelial cell phenotypes. At this ratio, 67% EpCAM spheroids maintained structural integrity and demonstrated a significant reduction in apoptosis and senescence markers, specifically, cleaved caspase-3 (Cc3) and Serpine1, alongside an enhanced expression of the progenitor marker Keratin 5 (KRT5).