A new record of the genus Foerster and a newly-recorded species of genus Haliday (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from Korea.

Background: The subfamily Alysiinae is a relatively large group within the family Braconidae, comprising more than 2,440 valid species worldwide. It is divided into two tribes, Alysiini and Dacnusini and is characteried by koinobiont endoparasitoidism of dipteran larvae. In South Korea, 286 species from 21 genera have been recorded to date.

First records of the genera and (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) from South Korea.

Background: The aphidiine genera Förster, 1863 and Ashmead, 1900 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) each contain only a few species worldwide. In this study, we report the first records of and from Korea, based on specimens of Takada & Shiga, 1974 and (Ashmead, 1906).

New Information: We provide detailed morphological characters, diagnostic characters, and photographic documentation for both species.

Effects of Red Mud on Cement Mortar Based on Sodium Salt Type.

This study treated the NaOH component in red mud sludge, an industrial by-product generated at 300,000 tons annually in Korea, with sulfuric and nitric acids to produce NaSO and NaNO, respectively. The effects of acid-treated liquid red mud (LRM) on the hydration reactions and early strength development in cement mortar were investigated. Properties such as flow, setting time, hydration heat, and compressive strength were evaluated alongside hydration product analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Three new species and a new record of the genus (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) from South Korea.

The genus Förster, 1863 consists of 11 species worldwide, with two species previously recorded in South Korea. In this study, three new species: S. Kim & H.

Practical considerations for accurate estimation of diffusion parameters from single-particle tracking in living cells.

Advances in fluorescence microscopy have enabled high-resolution tracking of individual biomolecules in living cells. However, accurate estimation of diffusion parameters from single-particle trajectories remains challenging due to static and dynamic localization errors inherent in these measurements. While previous studies have characterized how such errors affect mean-squared displacement (MSD) analysis, practical guidelines for minimizing them during data acquisition and correcting them during analysis are still lacking.

Tuning the Swelling Behavior of Superabsorbent Hydrogels with a Branched Poly(aspartic acid) Crosslinker.

Superabsorbent hydrogels used in products like diapers, hygiene items, and medical patches depend on their swelling ratio. However, improving the swelling performance across hydrogel assemblies remains challenging. This study identifies a decline in the water absorption capacity in hydrogel assemblies with high swelling ratios, as confirmed through MRI analysis, and introduces a solution using a branched crosslinker to address this issue.

Single-molecule imaging reveals the role of membrane-binding motif and C-terminal domain of RNase E in its localization and diffusion in .

In , RNase E is the key enzyme for RNA processing and mRNA degradation. Despite the conserved function across bacteria, the domain composition of RNase E varies significantly among species, possibly affecting the enzyme's subcellular localization, mobility, and function. In this work, we used super-resolution microscopy to find that 93% of RNase E is localized to the membrane in and exhibits slow diffusion comparable to polysomes diffusing in the cytoplasm.

Dual-delivery of exosome inhibitor and immune-activating gene via lipid nano-assemblies for tumor immune evasion inhibition.

The tumor microenvironment, with its complex immune evasion mechanisms, significantly hinders the efficacy of anti-tumor immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Consequently, there is a strong impetus for extensive research to elucidate the immunosuppressive mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment and to develop novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we have developed a drug/gene delivery system (folate-modified GW4869-loaded siIRF3 nano-complex, FD9R-GW/siIRF3) designed to simultaneously target and inhibit two key immune evasion pathways in the tumor microenvironment.

Etchant-Free Dry-Developable Extreme Ultraviolet Photoresist Materials Utilizing N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Metal Complexes.

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography has enabled significant reductions in device dimensions but is often limited by capillary force-driven pattern collapse in conventional wet processes. Recent dry-development approaches, while promising, frequently require toxic etchants or specialized equipment, limiting their broader applicability and highlighting the need for more sustainable, cost-effective alternatives. In this study, highly reactive, etchant-free dry-developable EUV photoresists using N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based metal-ligand complexes, achieving half-saturation at EUV doses of 8.

Enhancement and evaluation for deep learning-based classification of volumetric neuroimaging with 3D-to-2D knowledge distillation.

The application of deep learning techniques for the analysis of neuroimaging has been increasing recently. The 3D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) technology, which is commonly adopted to encode volumetric information, requires a large number of datasets. However, due to the nature of the medical domain, there are limitations in the number of data available.

Five new species and one new record of the genus Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea.

Five new species of the genus Foester, 1863 (Braconidae: Alysiinae) are described and illustrated: Sohn & van Achterberg, , Sohn & van Achterberg, , Sohn & van Achterberg, , Sohn & van Achterberg, , and Sohn & van Achterberg, Additionally, Stelfox, 1941 is recorded for the first time from South Korea. The barcode region of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) was also analyzed for the seven congeneric species including one from GenBank. In addition, an identification key for the species recorded in Korea is provided.

Impact of Baseline Anti-ABO Antibody Titer on Biliary Complications in ABO-Incompatible Living-Donor Liver Transplantation.

Although advancements in desensitization protocols have led to increased ABO-incompatible (ABOi) living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), a higher biliary complication rate remains a problem. This study evaluated the effect of baseline anti-ABO antibody titers before desensitization on biliary complications after ABOi LDLT. The study cohort comprised 116 patients in the ABO-compatible group (ABOc), 29 in the ABOi with the low titer (<1:128) group (ABOi-L), and 14 in the high titer (≥1:128) group (ABOi-H).

Genome-wide CRISPR screening identifies tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase-2 as a target for augmenting anti-PD1 efficacy.

Background: Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) provides durable responses in select cancer patients, yet resistance remains a significant challenge, prompting the exploration of underlying molecular mechanisms. Tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase-2 (TPST2), known for its role in protein tyrosine O-sulfation, has been suggested to modulate the extracellular protein-protein interactions, but its specific role in cancer immunity remains largely unexplored.

Methods: To explore tumor cell-intrinsic factors influencing anti-PD1 responsiveness, we conducted a pooled loss-of-function genetic screen in humanized mice engrafted with human immune cells.

ER-associated VAP27-1 and VAP27-3 proteins functionally link the lipid-binding ORP2A at the ER-chloroplast contact sites.

The plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contacts heterotypic membranes at membrane contact sites (MCSs) through largely undefined mechanisms. For instance, despite the well-established and essential role of the plant ER-chloroplast interactions for lipid biosynthesis, and the reported existence of physical contacts between these organelles, almost nothing is known about the ER-chloroplast MCS identity. Here we show that the Arabidopsis ER membrane-associated VAP27 proteins and the lipid-binding protein ORP2A define a functional complex at the ER-chloroplast MCSs.

Re-defining how mRNA degradation is coordinated with transcription and translation in bacteria.

In eukaryotic cells, transcription, translation, and mRNA degradation occur in distinct subcellular regions. How these mRNA processes are organized in bacteria, without employing membrane-bound compartments, remains unclear. Here, we present generalizable principles underlying coordination between these processes in bacteria.

A new species of genus (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) from South Korea.

Background: The genus Haliday, 1833 is a small group which consists of 24 species worldwide. In South Korea, Chang and Youn (1983) recorded one species, Starý & Schlinger, 1967, but the evidence for identification of this species is doubtful and further confirmation is required (personal communication with Prof. Jong-Cheol Paik).

Two new records of the genus (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) parasitic on bamboo aphids from South Korea.

Background: The genus Haliday, 1833 consists of more than 80 species worldwide with three species being recorded in South Korea. In this study, we report the first observation of the two additional species, Chou & Chou, 1993 from (Essig, 1917) on Siebold & Zucc., 1843 and Starý & Rakhshani, 2017 from (Takahashi, 1926) on (Hack.

Development of a rectally administrable Dnase1 to treat septic shock by targeting NETs.

Aims: Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), which is formed by DNA threads, induces septic shock by aggravating systemic inflammation. An intravenous administration of deoxyribonuclease is regarded as a compelling modality for treating septic shock. However, alternative routes should be chosen when cutaneous veins are all collapsed due to hypotension.

Network analysis, , and experiments identified the mechanisms by which L. [Piperaceae] alleviates cartilage destruction, joint inflammation, and arthritic pain.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by irreversible joint destruction, pain, and dysfunction. L. [Piperaceae] (PL) is an East Asian herbal medicine with reported anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-stress, and anti-osteoporotic effects.

Engineering TGF-β inhibitor-encapsulated macrophage-inspired multi-functional nanoparticles for combination cancer immunotherapy.

Background: The emergence of cancer immunotherapies, notably immune checkpoint inhibitors, has revolutionized anti-cancer treatments. These treatments, however, have been reported to be effective in a limited range of cancers and cause immune-related adverse effects. Thus, for a broader applicability and enhanced responsiveness to solid tumor immunotherapy, immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment is crucial.

Defense against phytopathogens relies on efficient antimicrobial protein secretion mediated by the microtubule-binding protein TGNap1.

Plant immunity depends on the secretion of antimicrobial proteins, which occurs through yet-largely unknown mechanisms. The trans-Golgi network (TGN), a hub for intracellular and extracellular trafficking pathways, and the cytoskeleton, which is required for antimicrobial protein secretion, are emerging as pathogen targets to dampen plant immunity. In this work, we demonstrate that tgnap1-2, a loss-of-function mutant of Arabidopsis TGNap1, a TGN-associated and microtubule (MT)-binding protein, is susceptible to Pseudomonas syringae (Pst DC3000).

Immune activation during Pseudomonas infection causes local cell wall remodeling and alters AGP accumulation.

The plant cell boundary generally comprises constituents of the primary and secondary cell wall (CW) that are deposited sequentially during development. Although it is known that the CW acts as a barrier against phytopathogens and undergoes modifications to limit their invasion, the extent, sequence, and requirements of the pathogen-induced modifications of the CW components are still largely unknown, especially at the level of the polysaccharide fraction. To address this significant knowledge gap, we adopted the compatible Pseudomonas syringae-Arabidopsis thaliana system.

Properties of Red Mud Neutralized with Sulfuric Acid and Effects on Cement Mortar.

The purpose of this study was to recycle red mud, an industrial byproduct that generates 300,000 tons per year, into the construction industry. Red mud was prepared as a liquid, neutralized with sulfuric acid, and replaced with cement mortar. The properties of liquefied red mud (LRM) neutralized with sulfuric acid (LRM + S) were investigated as well as its effect on cement mortar's mechanical and hydration characteristics.