Effects of Age on the Neural Tracking of Speech in Noise.

Background: Older adults often struggle to comprehend speech in noisy environments, a challenge influenced by declines in both auditory processing and cognitive functions. This study aimed to investigate how differences in speech-in-noise perception among individual with clinically normal hearing thresholds (ranging from normal to mild hearing loss in older adults) are related to neural speech tracking and cognitive function, particularly working memory.

Method: Specifically, we examined delta (1-4 Hz) and theta (4-8 Hz) EEG oscillations during speech recognition tasks to determine their association with cognitive performance in older adults.

High Carbon Dioxide Concentration Inhibits Pileus Growth of by Downregulating Cyclin Gene Expression.

is a widely cultivated edible mushroom in East Asia, recognized for its nutritional benefits and distinct morphology characterized by a long stipe and a compact, hemispherical pileus. The pileus not only plays a critical biological role in reproduction through spore formation but also serves as a key commercial trait influencing consumer preference and market value. Despite its economic importance, pileus development in is highly sensitive to environmental factors, among which carbon dioxide (CO) concentration is particularly influential under indoor cultivation conditions.

Multimodal Alzheimer's disease recognition from image, text and audio.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that significantly affects cognitive function. One widely used diagnostic approach involves analyzing patients' verbal descriptions of pictures. While prior studies have primarily focused on speech- and text-based models, the integration of visual context is still at an early stage.

Identification of Simultaneous Occurrence of Amphibian Chytrid Fungi and Ranavirus in South Korea.

Emerging infectious diseases such as chytridiomycosis and ranavirosis, caused by () and ranavirus (RV), respectively, are major contributors to global amphibian declines. Despite their significance, comprehensive data on the spatial epidemiology of these pathogens in South Korea remain limited. This study aimed to assess the nationwide co-occurrence and prevalence of and RV across four anuran species in five administrative regions.

Metabolite Profiling and Antimicrobial Activities of ssp. (Tatsoi), var. × (Dacheongchae), and ssp. (Pakchoi).

Pakchoi and Tatsoi are agriculturally and commercially important subspecies of . Dacheongchae is a new crop generated via the hybridization of Tatsoi and Pakchoi. Metabolite profiles of carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, amines, amino acids, carotenoids, phenolics, organic acids, and glucosinolates were carried out in the three cultivars.

A dynamic meshing scheme for integrated hydrologic modeling to represent evolving landscapes.

The influence of human activities on water resources has gained significant attention from water resource regulatory authorities, stakeholders, and the public. Anthropogenic activities, such as alterations in land use, agricultural practices, and mining operations, have a profound impact on the sustainability and quality of both surface water and groundwater systems. Evaluating the influence of a continually evolving engineered environment on surface water and groundwater systems demands the utilization of adaptive landscape models that can consider changing surface and subsurface topography, geometry, and material properties.

The Genetic Variants Influencing Hypertension Prevalence Based on the Risk of Insulin Resistance as Assessed Using the Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR).

Insulin resistance is a major indicator of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. The Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR) offers a simplified and cost-effective way to evaluate insulin resistance. This study aimed to identify genetic variants associated with the prevalence of hypertension stratified by METS-IR score levels.

Regulation of Tumor Growth and Invasion in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by the Tumor Microenvironment Through the Enhancement of IGFBP-3 Expression.

Background/aim: Accumulated evidence indicates that interactions among various stromal cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influence cancer progression. Oral cancers not diagnosed at early stages are associated with low five-year survival rates, highlighting the need for substantial improvements in patient outcomes. Understanding the interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment is crucial for identifying methods and developing treatment strategies that more effectively inhibit tumor progression and metastasis.

The Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Ganodermanontriol from the Medicinal Mushroom through the Regulation of the CREB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in B16F10 Cells.

, a member of the Basidiomycetes family, is attracting attention for its medicinal potential due to its biological activity and the presence of numerous bioactive compounds. Although it is known that extracts of this mushroom inhibit melanin production, there are few reports on a single substance associated with this effect. In this study, we identified ganodermanontriol (GT), a novel compound from , that effectively inhibited melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 cells.

Implications of TP-positive CAFs in the Bone Invasion of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have recently been suggested as critical cellular components of bone invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and subtypes related to their bone-invasive function are unclear. This study investigated the implications of thymidine phosphorylase (TP)-positive CAFs (TPCAFs) in OSCC bone invasion.

Effects of Light on the Fruiting Body Color and Differentially Expressed Genes in .

Light plays vital roles in fungal growth, development, reproduction, and pigmentation. In , the color of the fruiting body exhibits distinct changes in response to light; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to analyze the transcriptome under red, green, and blue light-emitting diode (LED) lights to identify the key genes affecting the light response and fruiting body color in this fungus.

MB2033, an anti-PD-L1 × IL-2 variant fusion protein, demonstrates robust anti-tumor efficacy with minimal peripheral toxicity.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a cytokine with pleiotropic immune effects, was the first approved cancer immunotherapy agent. However, IL-2 is associated with systemic toxicity due to binding with its ligand IL-2Rα, such as vascular leakage syndrome, limiting its clinical applications. Despite efforts to extend the half-life of IL-2 and abolish IL-2Rα interactions, the risk of toxicity remains unresolved.

Optimal bilayer composites for temperature-tracking wireless electronics.

Modern silicone-based epidermal electronics engineered for body temperature sensing represent a pivotal development in the quest for advancing preventive medicine and enhancing post-surgical monitoring. While these compact and highly flexible electronics empower real-time monitoring in dynamic environments, a noteworthy limitation is the challenge in regulating the infiltration or obstruction of heat from the external environment into the surface layers of these electronics. The study presents a cost-effective temperature sensing solution by embedding wireless electronics in a multi-layered elastomeric composite to meet the dual needs of enhanced thermal insulation for encapsulation in contact with air and improved thermal conductivity for the substrate in contact with the skin.

Metabolomics Reveals TT41-Induced Metabolic Shifts Enhancing Drought Stress Tolerance in Kimchi Cabbage ( L. subsp. ).

Climate change has increased variable weather patterns that affect plants. To address these issues, we developed a microbial biocontrol agent against drought stress in kimchi cabbage ( L. subsp.

Metabolic phenotyping and global functional analysis facilitate metabolic signature discovery for tuberculosis treatment monitoring.

Tracking alterations in polar metabolite and lipid levels during anti-tuberculosis (TB) interventions is an emerging biomarker discovery and validation approach due to its sensitivity in capturing changes and reflecting on the host status. Here, we employed deep plasma metabolic phenotyping to explore the TB patient metabolome during three phases of treatment: at baseline, during intensive phase treatment, and upon treatment completion. Differential metabolites (DMs) in each period were determined, and the pathway-level biological alterations were explored by untargeted metabolomics-guided functional interpretations that bypassed identification.

Phase-Engineered WS Monolayer Quantum Dots by Rhenium Doping.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) occur in the thermodynamically stable trigonal prismatic (2H) phase or the metastable octahedral (1T) phase. Phase engineering of TMDs has proven to be a powerful tool for applications in energy storage devices as well as in electrocatalysis. However, the mechanism of the phase transition in TMDs and the synthesis of phase-controlled TMDs remain challenging.

Langmuir-Blodgett Monolayer of Cobalt Phthalocyanine as Ultralow Loading Single-Atom Catalyst for Highly Efficient HO Production.

The electrochemical production of HO via the two-electron oxygen-reduction reaction (2e ORR) has been actively studied using systems with atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) structures. However, the development of well-defined M-N-C structures that restrict the migration and agglomeration of single-metal sites remains elusive. Herein, we demonstrate a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) on monolayer graphene (LB CoPc/G) as a single-metal catalyst for the 2e ORR.

AI-driven robotic chemist for autonomous synthesis of organic molecules.

The automation of organic compound synthesis is pivotal for expediting the development of such compounds. In addition, enhancing development efficiency can be achieved by incorporating autonomous functions alongside automation. To achieve this, we developed an autonomous synthesis robot that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology to establish optimal synthetic recipes.

Comparative In Vivo Study of Solid-Type Pure Hyaluronic Acid in Thread Form: Safety and Efficacy Compared to Hyaluronic Acid Filler and Polydioxanone Threads.

Introduction: Although various products are commonly used for skin rejuvenation, solid-type hyaluronic acid (HA) as an injectable form has not been researched or utilized. This study aimed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of solid-type HA in thread form, which differs from the conventional gel-type HA commonly used.

Method: Solid-type HA threads, conventional HA fillers, and polydioxanone (PDO) threads were inserted into the dorsal subcutaneous layer of mice.