Phytoplankton community responses to environmental changes in the Yellow Sea.

This research examines phytoplankton dynamics in the Yellow Sea (YS), a highly productive and ecologically significant region currently experiencing rapid environmental changes. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we analyzed phytoplankton pigment composition from samples collected between 2018 and 2020 to assess community responses to environmental factors. Cluster analysis, Redundancy Analysis (RDA), Variance Partitioning Analysis (VPA), and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were applied to identify dominant phytoplankton communities and their environmental association.

Influence of Crossbreeding on the Quality and Nutritional Values of Goat Meat.

The goat meat industry has the potential to grow because of the increasing global population and health benefits of this meat type. However, to expand the goat meat market, it is necessary to improve meat yield and quality. In this study, we investigated the effects of crossbreeding Korean native goats (KNG) with Boer goats on meat quality and nutritional value.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Properties of Curcuma longa Extract Against Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that colonizes the human stomach, causing gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer. This study investigated the anti-Helicobacter and anti-inflammatory effects of Curcuma longa extract (CLE) as a potential treatment for H. pylori infection.

Heat-Treated Ni-Coated Fibers for EMI Shielding: Balancing Electrical Performance and Interfacial Integrity.

With the growing integration of electronic systems into modern infrastructure, the need for effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials has intensified. This study explores the development of electroless Ni-plated fiber composites and systematically investigates the effects of post-heat treatment on their electrical, structural, and interfacial performance. Both carbon fibers (CFs) and glass fibers (GFs) were employed as reinforcing substrates, chosen for their distinct mechanical and thermal characteristics.

Emergent functional dynamics of link-bots.

Synthetic active collectives, made of nonliving individuals that cooperatively change group shape and dynamics, hold promise for practical applications and understanding of their natural analogs. We investigate how simple steric interaction constraints between active individuals produce a versatile and functional system using the link-bot: a V-shape-based, single-stranded chain composed of active bots whose dynamics are defined by geometric linking constraints. A variety of emergent properties arises from this active polymer-like system, including locomotion, navigation, transportation, and competitive or cooperative interactions.

Metabolic Profiling of Fermented Products of the Ethanolic Extract of Fruit and Evaluation of Its Immune Enhancement Effect in RAW 264.7 Macrophages and BV2 Microglia.

In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential availability of 30% ethanol extract of fruit (ASE) as a prebiotic and compare the immune enhancement effect of ASE and its fermented products, which were fermented with three probiotic bacteria, namely, (ASE-LPF), (ASE-STF), and (ASE-LHF). RAW264.7 and BV2 cells were treated with various concentrations of ASE and its fermented products.

Improvement of sleep disorders through the adenosine A receptor agonist effect of Turczaninow root extract in pentobarbital-induced ICR mice.

Unlabelled: Sleep deprivation is a serious problem that deteriorates the health, quality of life, and social productivity of affected individuals. Research on safe and effective plant-based materials should be performed to help alleviate sleep disorders. Turczaninow is a domestic plant in South Korea that has been used traditionally as a medicine to treat sleep disorders.

Facile Enhancement of Mechanical Interfacial Strength of Recycled Carbon Fiber Web-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites via a Single-Step Silane Modification Process.

In this study, a surface treatment process was introduced into the conventional dispersion process for preparing wet-laid nonwoven fabrics to improve their properties, using recycled carbon fibers (rCFs). The conventional binder solution was replaced with a solution containing different amounts of silane, and the changes in the fiber properties of the prepared nonwoven fabrics were examined after the addition of modified rCFs and polypropylene. FE-SEM analysis confirmed that a silane layer was formed on the rCF surface due to the formation of a siloxane network.

Mitochondrial Genomes of Korean Native Black Goats Reveal Shared Phylogeographic Patterns and Demographic History.

This study explores the phylogeny of Korean native black goats through analysis of their complete mitochondrial DNA. The National Institute of Animal Science has gathered genetic material on purebred goats from isolated regions such as Tongyeong, Dangjin, and Jangsu, and is actively breeding them on a national level. These populations, however, are small and exhibit high inbreeding rates, highlighting the urgent need to preserve genetic diversity.

Characterizing fluvial impact on the biochemical composition of particulate organic matter in the Laptev Sea and Western East Siberian Sea during the late summer of 2018.

The Laptev Sea (LS) and Western East Siberian Sea (W-ESS) are paradigmatic examples of seas dominated by terrestrial organic matter, attributed to substantial Siberian River discharges and coastal erosion. The influx of terrestrial organic matter significantly alters the biochemical composition of particulate organic matter (POM) in these Arctic coastal regions, potentially reducing the nutritional quality available to higher trophic levels. This study investigated the origin and qualitative characteristics of POM in the LS and W-ESS during the late summer of 2018 by analyzing elemental ratios (C/N ratio), stable carbon isotopes (δC), and biochemical compositions (biomolecular and amino acid (AA) compositions).

Exerts Hypnotic Effects via the Adenosine A Receptor in Mice.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder with significant societal and economic impacts. Current pharmacotherapies for insomnia are often accompanied by side effects, necessitating the development of new therapeutic drugs. In this study, the hypnotic effects and mechanisms of 30% ethanol extract (ESK) and one of its active compounds, myricitrin, were investigated using pentobarbital-induced sleep experiments, immunohistochemistry (IHC), receptor binding assays, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Metabolomics study to reveal cognitive improvement with treatment of Scrophularia buergeriana.

Population aging around the world is rapidly progressing; as a result, cognitive decline developing into dementia is becoming a social problem. There is no drug that can cure dementia, and though drugs that alleviate the symptoms of dementia have been developed, they also have side effects. Therefore, we conducted a study on improving cognitive function using natural products that have secured safety.

Comparative analysis of robotic single-site cholecystectomy outcomes between novice and expert surgeons.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has declined in popularity, posing a challenge for novice surgeons. However, robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) has gained popularity in hepatopancreatic surgery, suggesting a paradigm shift in minimally invasive procedures due to the advantages of robotic platforms. The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes and learning curves between experts and novices without SILC experience, and discuss the utility and potential of RSSC for novice surgeons.

Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effect of the Ethanolic Extract of Black Ginseng through TLR4-MyD88-Regulated Inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in LPS-Induced BV2 Microglial Cells.

Korean ginseng () contains various ginsenosides as active ingredients, and they show diverse biological activities. Black ginseng is manufactured by repeated steaming and drying of white ginseng, which alters the polarity of ginsenosides and improves biological activities. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of the ethanolic extract of black ginseng (BGE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cells.

Enhanced Interfacial Properties of Carbon Fiber/Maleic Anhydride-Grafted Polypropylene Composites via Two-Step Surface Treatment: Electrochemical Oxidation and Silane Treatment.

The interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers (CFs) and a thermoplastic matrix is an important aspect that should be improved in manufacturing CF-reinforced thermoplastics with high strength and rigidity. In this study, the effects of a two-step surface treatment comprising electrochemical oxidation and silane treatment of the CF surface on the mechanical properties of CF/maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) composites were confirmed. The surface characteristics of the treated CFs were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Hybrid Hydrogen Sensor Based on Pd/WO Showing Simultaneous Chemiresistive and Gasochromic Response.

The gasochromism of WO, wherein the color of the material changes according to the reaction of gas, can immediately allow for the determination of the presence of hydrogen by the naked eye. We have also developed a hybrid hydrogen sensor for WO, a metal oxide, that can simultaneously utilize its gasochromic response and resistance to hydrogen. Because the proposed sensor has a transparent electrode on a glass substrate, it is a structure that can not only reveal the change in resistance but also more clearly illustrate the gasochromic response.

Primary Production in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian Seas.

Understanding of the primary production of phytoplankton in the Kara Sea (KS), the Laptev Sea (LS), and the East Siberian Sea (ESS) remains limited, despite the recognized importance of phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted three NABOS (Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System) expeditions in 2013, 2015, and 2018 to measure in situ primary production rates using a C-N dual-tracer method and examine their major controlling factors. The main goals in this study were to investigate regional heterogeneity in primary production and derive its contemporary ranges in the KS, LS, and ESS.

Spatio-temporal variations in organic carbon composition driven by two different major phytoplankton communities in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.

The compositions of organic carbon could be important in determining biological carbon pump efficiency. However, little information on them in relation to each algal assemblage is currently available in the Ross Sea. Here, we investigated the seasonal variations in organic carbon composition and the relative abundance of each organic carbon, including particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs), characterized by different algal groups in the Ross Sea.

Information diversity and anomalous scaling in asymmetric social contagion process on low-dimensional static networks.

To understand how competition affects the diversity of information, we study the social contagion model introduced by Halvorsen-Pedersen-Sneppen (HPS) [G. S. Halvorsen, B.

Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness of Direct-Grown-Carbon Nanotubes/Carbon and Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Matrix Composites.

In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown under the same conditions as those of carbon fibers and glass fibers, and a comparative analysis was performed to confirm the potential of glass fibers with grown CNTs as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. The CNTs were grown directly on the two fiber surfaces by a chemical vapor deposition process, with the aid of Ni particles loaded on them via a Ni-P plating process followed by heat treatment. The morphology and structural characteristics of the carbon and glass fibers with grown CNTs were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and the EMI shielding efficiency (EMI SE) of the directly grown CNT/carbon and glass fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites was determined using a vector-network analyzer.

Thermal and Mechanical Characterization of Epoxy/Polyimide Blends via Postcuring Process.

In this study, the effects of polyimide (PI) content and postcuring on thermal and mechanical properties in PI and epoxy (EP) blending systems were investigated. EP/PI (EPI) blending reduced the crosslinking density and improved the flexural and impact strength due to ductility. On the other hand, in the postcuring of EPI, the thermal resistance improved due to the increased crosslinking density and the flexural strength increased by up to 57.

Synthetic Glabridin Derivatives Inhibit LPS-Induced Inflammation via MAPKs and NF-κB Pathways in RAW264.7 Macrophages.

Glabridin is a polyphenolic compound with reported anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. In the previous study, we synthesized glabridin derivatives-HSG4112, (S)-HSG4112, and HGR4113-based on the structure-activity relationship study of glabridin to improve its biological efficacy and chemical stability. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the glabridin derivatives in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.

Effects of diet and castration on fatty acid composition and volatile compounds in the meat of Korean native black goats.

Objective: This study determined the effects of dietary treatments and castration on meat quality, fatty acids (FAs) profiles, and volatile compounds in Korean native black goats (KNBG, Capra hircus coreanae), including the relationship between the population of rumen microbiomes and meat FA profiles.

Methods: Twenty-four KNBG (48.6±1.