Self-Regulating Hydrogel Actuators.

Self-regulating hydrogels represent the next generation in the development of soft materials with active, adaptive, autonomous, and intelligent behavior inspired by sophisticated biological systems. Nature provides exemplary demonstrations of such self-regulating behaviors, including muscle tissue's precise biochemical and mechanical feedback mechanisms, and coordinated cellular chemotaxis driven by dynamic biochemical signaling. Building upon these natural examples, self-regulating hydrogels are capable of spontaneously modulating their structural and functional states through integrated negative feedback loops.

Impact of high-flow nasal oxygen therapy on esophageal pressure and cardiovascular function in healthy, anesthetized, spontaneously breathing dogs.

Objective: To determine whether high-flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNOT) induces changes in esophageal pressure, a surrogate for intrathoracic pressure, and to evaluate the associated cardiovascular and respiratory effects in healthy dogs.

Methods: A prospective, randomized study was conducted in 6 healthy Beagles. Anesthesia was induced and maintained using alfaxalone total IV anesthesia.

Clinical Utility of Salivary Steroid Profiling for the Differential Diagnosis of Adrenal Diseases.

Context: Although salivary steroid sampling offers several advantages, the diagnostic potential of salivary steroid metabolites remains largely unexplored.Objective To evaluate the diagnostic utility of salivary steroid profiling in patients with adrenal diseases.

Design: Prospective multicenter study.

Development and evaluation of a comprehensive QA phantom for image quality and geometrical accuracy in CT and CBCT for radiotherapy.

Purpose: This study presents MZ CUBE, a newly developed multipurpose phantom designed to assess both image quality and geometrical accuracy in image-guided radiotherapy.

Methods: The phantom is a 16 × 16 × 16 cm cube made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and designed to evaluate HU constancy, HU uniformity, spatial integrity, spatial resolution, low contrast resolution, and geometrical accuracy. Two CT simulators (Big Bore RT and Discovery RT Gen3) and two cone-beam CT (CBCT) systems (XVI and OBI) were used for verification alongside commercial phantoms (ACR 464 and CatPhan 504).

Effectiveness of Switching From Intravenous to Subcutaneous Infliximab in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Goals: We assessed clinical outcomes over 6 months in an integrated analysis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) infliximab (IFX).

Background: Real-world data from large multinational IBD patient populations treated with SC IFX are lacking.

Study: This individual participant data meta-analysis combined anonymized data from 3 real-world cohorts and evaluated clinical remission [Crohn's disease (CD): Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI)/modified HBI (mHBI) <5; ulcerative colitis (UC): Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI)/partial Mayo score (PMS) <3], disease activity (HBI/mHBI/SCCAI/PMS), treatment persistence, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, biomarkers [fecal calprotectin (FCP); C-reactive protein (CRP)], and reasons for discontinuation.

Controlling gene expression through five zinc finger domains of ZNF18.

Zinc finger (ZF) proteins are the most abundant transcription factors in vertebrates, and they regulate gene expression through interactions with cis-acting elements. ZF domains selectively recognize specific sequences to accelerate or repress target genes. Zinc finger protein 18 (ZNF18) contains five CXCXHXH-type ZFs at the C-terminus, which are expressed in the brain and other organs of the biological system.

Cryogenic Tensile Strength of 1.6 GPa in a Precipitation-Hardened (NiCoCr)C Medium-Entropy Alloy Fabricated via Laser Powder Bed Fusion.

A (NiCoCr)C medium entropy alloy (MEA) was developed via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) using pre-alloyed powder feedstock containing 0.75 at%C, followed by a precipitation heat treatment. The as-built alloy exhibited high density (>99.

An Endolichenic Fungi-Derived Fatty Acid, cis-10-Nonadecenoic acid, Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Stemness.

Endolichenic fungi (ELF), symbionts of lichens, have been reported to produce diverse bioactive secondary metabolites with promising pharmaceutical potential. In this study, we isolated and identified an ELF, EL001668 (KACC 83020BP), from Rass., and assessed its crude extract and bioactive compounds against colorectal cancer (CRC) stem cell activity.

Public willingness to pay for chemicals regulation policies in South Korea: Insights from socio-economic factors.

This study investigates the socio-economic determinants influencing public willingness to pay (WTP) for reducing health risks from phthalate exposure in South Korea. The study focuses on dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) that are currently under regulatory consideration. Using the contingent valuation method, a national survey of 1,000 respondents employed both single-bounded (SBDC) and double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) formats.

Velvety tree ant extract is a chemotaxis repellent for .

Ants use a range of compounds for interspecies interactions, but the neurogenetic mechanisms mediating these interactions are unclear. Here, we used chemotaxis assays with the nematode to test if ant compounds can be detected by the worm nervous system and which chemosensory neurons are required for detection. We found that avoid the extracts of velvety tree ants ( ), and this response requires and positive neurons.

Olfactory cues elicit species-specific locomotive responses in poison frog tadpoles.

Amphibian species rear their larvae in distinct environments that may influence how they respond to different sensory stimuli. Here, we investigated the olfactory-mediated locomotive responses of two poison frog species ( and ) that vary in life history strategies. We found that tadpoles spent more time near an injury cue compared to control, while tadpoles increased their movement in response to high concentrations of amino acids.

Factors influencing quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study in South Korea.

Background: The promotion of quality of life for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus enables them to achieve physical, psychological, and social development. Improving quality of life positively influences their well-being in adulthood.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of Brown Spot Resistance Genes in Rice ( L.).

Rice brown spot (BS) caused by affects both rain-fed and upland rice production, causing both yield and grain quality loss. Here, we used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to analyze the resistance of 130 rice cultivars to BS disease. We identified two quantitative trait loci on chromosome 4.

Two-dimensional dynamic multileaf collimator (2DDMLC) technique for improved treatment quality in intensity modulated radiation therapy.

This study aims to evaluate feasibility of the two-dimensional dynamic MLC (2DDMLC) technique through analytical and experimental investigations, focusing on its potential to improve intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The leaf motion calculator (LMC), which calculates the leaf motion of the MLC during the treatment, was developed to obtain the MLC sequence including the bank's movement and anticipate the actual fluence delivery. The effect of the y-axis MLC motion was evaluated by calculating the actual fluence distributions from the optimal fluence maps.

Targeting the HER2-ELF3-KRAS axis: a novel therapeutic strategy for KRAS colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with KRAS mutations playing a significant role in its tumorigenesis. Among the KRAS variants, the G13D mutation is associated with poor prognosis and distinctive biological behaviors. This study focuses on the role of HER2, a critical prognostic and predictive biomarker, in modulating the unique characteristics of KRAS-mutated CRCs.

Potential Habitat and Priority Conservation Areas for Endangered Species in South Korea.

Anthropogenic threats from human activity have significantly altered global ecosystems, resulting in habitat destruction and fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and species extinction. The identification and establishment of protected areas for the conservation of threatened species is thus required to mitigate the impacts of these threats. This study identified priority conservation areas (PCAs) for endangered mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles in South Korea using ecological modeling.

A real-world, observational, prospective cohort study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of CT-P13 in inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis: the MEGA-J study.

Objective: The primary objective of the MEGA-J study (UMIN-CTR number: UMIN000057308) was to assess the safety of CT-P13, an infliximab biosimilar, in Japanese patients with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and/or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after switching from reference infliximab.

Methods: Data were collected over 5 years, following initiation of CT-P13 treatment within routine clinical practice. Interim findings are reported (cut-off: last patient's Year 2 visit).

Ovarian Function Restoration with Biomimetic Scaffold Incorporating Angiogenic Molecules and Antioxidant in Chemotherapy-Induced Perimenopausal Model.

Chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a major cause of infertility and hormonal imbalance in young female cancer survivors. In this study, developed a biomimetic scaffold is developed that incorporates polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) and melatonin to restore ovarian function. The scaffold is designed to mimic the ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM), enhancing angiogenesis, promoting antioxidant effects, and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Spatial mechanisms of quality control during chaperone-mediated assembly of the proteasome.

Cellular protein degradation requires a complex molecular machine, the proteasome. To mitigate the fundamental challenge of assembling the 66-subunit proteasome, cells utilize dedicated chaperones to order subunit addition. However, recent evidence suggests that proteasome assembly is not simply a series of subunit additions, but each step may be scrutinized so that only correct assembly events advance to proteasomes.

A 2D/3D Heterostructure Perovskite Solar Cell with a Phase-Pure and Pristine 2D Layer.

Interface engineering plays a critical role in advancing the performance of perovskite solar cells. As such, 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures are of particular interest due to their optoelectrical properties and their further potential improvements. However, for conventional solution-processed 2D perovskites grown on an underlying 3D perovskite, the reaction stoichiometry is normally unbalanced with excess precursors.

Multi-label material and human risk factors recognition model for construction site safety management.

Introduction: Construction sites are prone to numerous safety risk factors, but safety managers have difficulty managing these risk factors for practical reasons. Moreover, manually identifying multiple risk factors visually is challenging. Therefore, this study aims to propose a deep learning model-based multi-label risk factor recognition (MRFR) framework that automatically recognizes multiple potential material and human risk factors at construction sites.

Dysregulation of Retinal and Photoreceptor Structural Integrity Genes in ATF6 Retinal Organoids.

ATF6 is a key regulator of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway that maintains cellular homeostasis during ER stress. In people, loss of ATF6 function causes cone dysfunction, manifesting as achromatopsia (ACHM). Previously, we generated ACHM retinal organoids (ROs) from patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying mutant ATF6 variants and gene-edited ATF6-knockout (KO) human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

Real-world efficacy and toxicity of olaparib maintenance therapy in Korean ovarian cancer patients with an exploratory analysis of BRCA mutations.

Objective: To evaluate the real-world efficacy and toxicity of olaparib maintenance therapy in Korean patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer (OC), with an exploratory analysis of BRCA mutations.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of Korean BRCA-mutated OC patients treated with olaparib maintenance therapy as first-line (1Lm) or second-/subsequent-line (2Lm +) at Asan Medical Center, South Korea, from August 2015 to April 2023. Survival outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), as well as toxicity, were analyzed with patient characteristics and BRCA mutations.

Lobaric acid suppresses the stemness potential of colorectal cancer cells through mTOR/AKT.

Stereocaulon alpinum has been found to have potential pharmaceutical properties due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as usnic acid, atranorin, and lobaric acid (LA) which have anticancer activity. On the other hand, the effect of LA on the stemness potential of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells remains unexplored, and has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we examined the inhibitory activity of LA from Stereocaulon alpinum against the stemness potential of CRC cells and investigated the possible underlying mechanisms.

Impact of Spatial Presence on Charitable Behavior in the Metaverse: A Moderated Mediation Model of Norm Message and Involvement with Charity.

With the rapid development of virtual technology, the metaverse has become an influential communication tool driving engagement in prosocial behavior. This study examined whether spatial presence in a metaverse affects charitable involvement and prosocial behavior. Additionally, it explored the impact of descriptive norms in the metaverse, validated as effective in the physical world.