Antibacterial mode of action of thyme white (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil and its constituents, thymol and carvacrol against Agrobacterium tumefaciens via down-regulation of manganese transport genes, sitABCD and mntH.

In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activities of plant essential oils (EOs) from the Lamiaceae family against Agrobacterium tumefaciens to find new eco-friendly antimicrobials. Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme white) EO demonstrated the most potent fumigant antibacterial activity among these.

A Safe and Versatile Minicell Platform Derived from for Biotechnological Applications.

Bacterial minicells are small and chromosome-free cells that result from aberrant cell division and represent a safe alternative to live microbial applications. However, most research on minicells has focused on , with few studies exploring their development in non-model, biocompatible hosts. In this study, we engineered a -deficient (formerly and ) strain capable of producing minicells and systematically evaluated its potential as a chassis for biotechnological applications.

Discovery of natural RORγt inhibitor using machine learning, virtual screening, and in vivo validation.

Introduction: Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) is a crucial transcription factor regulating Th17 cells, which secrete the cytokine IL-17. RORγt inhibitors are regarded as a therapeutic modality in a wide range of autoimmunity including psoriasis.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to investigate novel RORγt inhibitors from natural products (NPs), combining machine learning (ML)-based virtual screening, chemotaxonomic analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations, and biological validation.

Screening-Detected versus Interval Lung Cancer in the Biennial Korean National Lung Cancer Screening Program: Proportion, Characteristics, and Mortality.

Introduction: Interval lung cancers (ILCs) are key indicators of lung cancer screening (LCS) performance. However, data on the proportion, characteristics, and mortality of ILCs under biennial screening in Asian populations remain limited.

Methods: We analyzed participants from the baseline biennial Korean national LCS program between 2019 and 2020.

Quantitative analysis of PM oxidative potential: Insights into the role of organic compounds and sources.

This study evaluates the oxidative potential (OP) of PM and its chemical drivers across three contrasting environments in South Korea: a residential area, a cement factory, and a charcoal kiln facility. Mass-normalized OP (OPm, reflecting intrinsic particle reactivity) ranged from 9.5 to 13.

Source-specific contamination process revealed by mercury isotope analyses and hydrodynamic modeling in an estuary.

While mercury (Hg) concentration and isotope analyses play pivotal roles in understanding contamination levels and Hg sources, complex hydrodynamics often obscure Hg transport pathways from source to sink. We applied hydrodynamic modeling with Hg stable isotopes to unravel source-specific contamination processes and propose effective management strategies in an estuarine system (Yeongil Bay) impacted by Hg-contaminated riverine input (Hyeongsan River) in Korea. Sediment isotope data revealed contributions of three sources: legacy Hg from the river, regional background Hg, and atmospheric Hg sources.

Protocol for isolation and flow cytometric analysis of interstitial macrophages in murine lung metastasis models.

Interstitial macrophages increase significantly during lung metastasis and may contribute to tumor dissemination. However, isolating them is challenging due to their localization within lung tissue and phenotypic overlap with other immune cells. Here, we present a protocol for isolating and characterizing murine interstitial macrophages.

Comparative Analysis of Vehicles for the Regeneration of Mouse Endometrial Damage Model.

Background: Endometrial damage is a critical factor contributing to infertility, particularly in women with refractory thin endometrium or intrauterine adhesions. Therefore, developing innovative therapeutic strategies for endometrial regeneration is essential. This study evaluates the regenerative potential of endometrial stromal cell (EMSC) injection and EMSC-loaded patch application in a mouse model with ethanol-induced endometrial damage.

Improving HER2 Diagnostics with Digital Real-Time PCR for Ultrafast, Precise Prediction of Anti-HER2 Therapy Response in Patients with Breast Cancer.

While human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) has emerged as a tumor-agnostic biomarker, standard HER2 testing for anti-HER2 therapies using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays remains subjective, time-consuming, and often inaccurate. To address these limitations, an ultrafast and precise HER2 testing method is developed using Lab-On-An-Array (LOAA) digital real-time PCR (drPCR), a fully automated digital PCR enabling real-time absolute quantification. A multicenter study involving four independent breast cancer cohorts cross-validates the high diagnostic accuracy of drPCR-based HER2 assessment.

DynG: a dynamic scaling factor for thermographic stomatal conductance estimation under changing environmental conditions.

Thermal imaging is a key plant phenotyping and monitoring technique but faces major bottlenecks in accurately and efficiently inferring stomatal conductance (g) from leaf temperature. The conductance index (I) was previously proposed to estimate g from thermography by linking temperature differences between real and artificial leaves (ALs) based on the leaf energy balance. However, I is highly sensitive to environmental fluctuations, hampering interpretation and reducing reproducibility.

Syllable-based speech characteristics as potential biomarker for differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and cerebellar ataxia.

Speech disorders differ between Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), but studies focusing on group differences based on syllables or including cerebellar ataxia (CA) are lacking until now. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze syllable-based speech characteristics in patients with PD, MSA, and CA, as well as healthy controls, to determine their diagnostic utility. Speech samples were collected from 68 PD, 52 MSA, 23 CA, and 70 healthy controls.

Gut microbial production of imidazole propionate drives Parkinson's pathologies.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the selective degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and aggregation of α-synuclein. Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiome in PD, with microbial metabolites proposed as potential pathological mediators. However, the specific microbes and metabolites involved, and whether gut-derived metabolites can reach the brain to directly induce neurodegeneration, remain unclear.

A phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled study on the efficacy and safety of AR1001, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Background: AR1001 is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor that produces improved cognitive performance and reduces amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau burdens in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of AR1001 in participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial conducted at 21 sites in the United States.

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.

Ready, set, but no go: Skin fat comes preloaded with waiting precursors.

Fat depots across the body dynamically tune their sizes in response to nutrient demands and nonmetabolic cues. Writing in Cell Stem Cell, Rivera-Gonzalez et al. report that skin fat, notable for its ability to rapidly expand, harbors molecularly distinct precursors, primed for proliferation and differentiation into mature adipocytes.

Enhancement of On-Current and Reliability in InGaZnO Thin-Film Transistors for Synaptic Circuit Applications through Gate Insulator Stack Engineering.

A nanometer-scale multilayer gate insulator (GI) engineering strategy is introduced to simultaneously enhance the on-current and bias stability of amorphous InGaZnO thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs). Atomic layer deposition supercycle modifications employ alternating layers of AlO, TiO, and SiO to optimize the gate-oxide stack. Each GI material is strategically selected for complementary functionalities: AlO improves the interfacial quality at both the GI/semiconductor and GI/metal interfaces, thereby enhancing device stability and performance; TiO increases the overall dielectric constant; and SiO suppresses leakage current by serving as a high-energy barrier between AlO and TiO.

A history-dependent approach for accurate initial condition estimation in epidemic models.

Mathematical modeling is a powerful tool for understanding and predicting complex dynamical systems, ranging from gene regulatory networks to population-level dynamics. However, model predictions are highly sensitive to initial conditions, which are often unknown. In infectious disease models, for instance, the initial number of exposed individuals (E) at the time the model simulation starts is frequently unknown.

Addressing Frailty in Cardiology: Identifying Barriers Faced by Cardiologists and Health Care Professionals in Asia.

Background: Preventing frailty is crucial for improving outcomes in aging populations at heightened cardiovascular risk, yet implementation in real-world practice remains challenging. The authors previously reported low use of frailty strategies among cardiologists in Asia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the barriers to frailty implementation among cardiologists, other physicians, and nurses.

Prognostic Value of A/T/N Biomarkers: Comparing Plasma and Imaging Modalities in Alzheimer Disease.

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β plaques (A), tau tangles (T), and neurodegeneration (N), collectively defining the ATN framework. While imaging biomarkers are well-established, the prognostic value of plasma biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline remains underexplored. This study compares plasma and imaging A/T/N biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline and evaluate the impact of combining biomarkers across modalities.

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Automated Design of Anterior and Posterior Crowns Under Diverse Occlusal Scenarios.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of occlusion type and artificial intelligence-based computer-aided design (CAD) software on the geometric accuracy and clinical quality of auto-generated anterior and posterior crown designs.

Methods: Five typodont models representing various occlusion types (normal, Class I anterior diastema, Class II division 1, Class II division 2, and Class III anterior crossbite occlusion) underwent crown preparation for the maxillary right central incisor and first molar. Ten sets of intraoral scans were obtained from each prepared model, and crown designs were automatically generated using two software programs: deep learning-based (DL; Dentbird) and conventional automated (CA; Auto Workflow, 3Shape) (n = 10).

Comprehensive Dentition Intrusion in Hyperdivergent Patients Using Temporary Skeletal Anchorage Devices.

Hyperdivergent skeletal Class II malocclusion is largely genetically determined and poses significant challenges in orthodontic treatment, particularly due to compromised facial aesthetics, reduced bite force and airway narrowing. Traditionally, orthognathic surgery has been the standard treatment for correcting such skeletal discrepancies. However, the advent of temporary skeletal anchorage devices (TSADs) has expanded the possibilities for orthodontic camouflage by allowing effective vertical control.

Advancing metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks for photocatalytic CO reduction.

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration necessitates innovative approaches to transform CO into valuable compounds utilizing solar energy. The photocatalytic CO reduction reaction (PC CRR) offers a sustainable solution, yet wide band gaps, rapid electron-hole recombination, and poor CO adsorption capacity limit traditional metal oxide semiconductors for the PC CRR. This review systematically evaluates recent engineering advances in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as efficient photocatalysts for the PC CRR.

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.

Alternative Surveillance Improves Outcomes by Detecting Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Background/aims: Current guidelines recommend biannual ultrasound for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used when ultrasound is inadequate. The clinical impact of these alternative modalities remains unclear.