Comprehensive analysis of proteomic and biochemical responses of Daphnia magna to short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastic particles.

Microplastic (MP) represent a pervasive and escalating threat to aquatic ecosystems, impacting organisms from cellular to population levels. To investigate the immediate molecular impacts of MP exposure, we exposed Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems, to polystyrene microplastic particles (5 μm, 5 μg/L) for 48 h. Through proteomic and biochemical analyses, we identified extensive disruptions in key physiological pathways.

Characterization of HZO Films Fabricated by Co-Plasma Atomic Layer Deposition for Ferroelectric Memory Applications.

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a common method for fabricating HfZrO (HZO) ferroelectric thin films that can be performed using direct-plasma (DP) and remote-plasma (RP) methods. This study proposed co-plasma ALD (CPALD), where DPALD and RPALD are applied simultaneously. HZO films fabricated using this method showed wake-up-free polarization properties, no anti-ferroelectricity, and high fatigue endurance when DPALD and RPALD started simultaneously.

Enhancing Charge Trapping Performance of Hafnia Thin Films Using Sequential Plasma Atomic Layer Deposition.

We aimed to fabricate reliable memory devices using HfO, which is gaining attention as a charge-trapping layer material for next-generation NAND flash memory. To this end, a new atomic layer deposition process using sequential remote plasma (RP) and direct plasma (DP) was designed to create charge-trapping memory devices. Subsequently, the operational characteristics of the devices were analyzed based on the thickness ratio of thin films deposited using the sequential RP and DP processes.

Unraveling the mechanisms of benzo[a]pyrene degradation by Pigmentiphaga kullae strain KIT-003 using a multi-omics approach.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), notably benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), are environmental contaminants with multiple adverse ecological implications. Numerous studies have suggested the use of BaP biodegradation using various bacterial strains to remove BaP from the environment. This study investigates the BaP biodegradation capability of Pigmentiphaga kullae strain KIT-003, isolated from the Nak-dong River (South Korea) under specific environmental conditions.

KoNA: Korean Nucleotide Archive as A New Data Repository for Nucleotide Sequence Data.

During the last decade, the generation and accumulation of petabase-scale high-throughput sequencing data have resulted in great challenges, including access to human data, as well as transfer, storage, and sharing of enormous amounts of data. To promote data-driven biological research, the Korean government announced that all biological data generated from government-funded research projects should be deposited at the Korea BioData Station (K-BDS), which consists of multiple databases for individual data types. Here, we introduce the Korean Nucleotide Archive (KoNA), a repository of nucleotide sequence data.

Insights into tissue accumulation, depletion, and health risk assessment of clopidol in poultry.

Clopidol is extensively used in livestock farming and residues of this antibiotic can persist in animal tissues, posing a risk to humans and the environment. In this study, we investigated the depletion of clopidol in various edible tissues of chickens (muscle, liver, kidney, fat, and eggs) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after the administration of a clopidol-contaminated diet (at 250 mg kg for the high (1x) dose). After 14 d of exposure, the clopidol concentrations were highest in eggs (median: 9.

Exposure and risk assessment for agricultural workers during chlorothalonil and flubendiamide treatments in pepper fields.

Pesticides are indispensable tools in modern agriculture for enhancing crop productivity. However, the inherent toxicity of pesticides raises significant concerns regarding human exposure, particularly among agricultural workers. This study investigated the exposure and associated risks of two commonly used pesticides in open-field pepper cultivation, namely, chlorothalonil and flubendiamide, in the Republic of Korea.

Comprehensive RNA-sequencing analysis of colorectal cancer in a Korean cohort.

Considering the recent increase in the number of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases in South Korea, we aimed to clarify the molecular characteristics of CRC unique to the Korean population. To gain insights into the complexities of CRC and promote the exchange of critical data, RNA-sequencing analysis was performed to reveal the molecular mechanisms that drive the development and progression of CRC; this analysis is critical for developing effective treatment strategies. We performed RNA-sequencing analysis of CRC and adjacent normal tissue samples from 214 Korean participants (comprising a total of 381 including 169 normal and 212 tumor samples) to investigate differential gene expression between the groups.

Endothelial cells adopt a pro-reparative immune responsive signature during cardiac injury.

Modulation of the heart's immune microenvironment is crucial for recovery after ischemic events such as myocardial infarction (MI). Endothelial cells (ECs) can have immune regulatory functions; however, interactions between ECs and the immune environment in the heart after MI remain poorly understood. We identified an EC-specific IFN responsive and immune regulatory gene signature in adult and pediatric heart failure (HF) tissues.

Hypoxia stabilizes SETDB1 to maintain genome stability.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is a tumor suppressor that functions as the substrate recognition subunit of the CRL2VHL E3 complex. While substrates of VHL have been identified, its tumor suppressive role remains to be fully understood. For further determination of VHL substrates, we analyzed the physical interactome of VHL and identified the histone H3K9 methyltransferase SETBD1 as a novel target.

Integrative analysis of single-cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq reveals heterogeneity of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatic organoids.

To gain deeper insights into transcriptomes and epigenomes of organoids, liver organoids from two states (expandable and more differentiated) were subjected to single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and single-cell ATAC-seq (scATAC-seq) analyses. Mitochondrial gene expression was higher in differentiated than in non-differentiated hepatocytes, with ATAC-seq peaks increasing near the mitochondrial control region. Differentiation of liver organoids resulted in the expression of transcription factors that act as enhancers and repressors.

Deciphering the DNA methylation landscape of colorectal cancer in a Korean cohort.

Aberrant DNA methylation plays a pivotal role in the onset and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), a disease with high incidence and mortality rates in Korea. Several CRC-associated diagnostic and prognostic methylation markers have been identified; however, due to a lack of comprehensive clinical and methylome data, these markers have not been validated in the Korean population. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to obtain the CRC methylation profile using 172 tumors and 128 adjacent normal colon tissues of Korean patients with CRC.

Preparation of Remote Plasma Atomic Layer-Deposited HfO Thin Films with High Charge Trapping Densities and Their Application in Nonvolatile Memory Devices.

Optimization of equipment structure and process conditions is essential to obtain thin films with the required properties, such as film thickness, trapped charge density, leakage current, and memory characteristics, that ensure reliability of the corresponding device. In this study, we fabricated metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure capacitors using HfO thin films separately deposited by remote plasma (RP) atomic layer deposition (ALD) and direct-plasma (DP) ALD and determined the optimal process temperature by measuring the leakage current and breakdown strength as functions of process temperature. Additionally, we analyzed the effects of the plasma application method on the charge trapping properties of HfO thin films and properties of the interface between Si and HfO.

Secreted Akkermansia muciniphila threonyl-tRNA synthetase functions to monitor and modulate immune homeostasis.

Commensal bacteria are critically involved in the establishment of tolerance against inflammatory challenges, the molecular mechanisms of which are just being uncovered. All kingdoms of life produce aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs). Thus far, the non-translational roles of ARSs have largely been reported in eukaryotes.

Introduction of the Korea BioData Station (K-BDS) for sharing biological data.

A wave of new technologies has created opportunities for the cost-effective generation of high-throughput profiles of biological systems, foreshadowing a "data-driven science" era. The large variety of data available from biological research is also a rich resource that can be used for innovative endeavors. However, we are facing considerable challenges in big data deposition, integration, and translation due to the complexity of biological data and its production at unprecedented exponential rates.

Dissipation of Four Typical Insecticides on Strawberries and Effects of Different Household Washing Methods.

The dissipation patterns of chlorfenapyr, cyenopyrafen, indoxacarb, and spirotetramat on strawberries and the effects of different household washing methods were investigated. A risk assessment was also conducted by monitoring the insecticide residues detected. The concentrations ranged from 0.

Epigenetic Activation of Tensin 4 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a complex disease influenced by multiple genetic and epigenetic factors. Chronic inflammation caused by infection and dietary risk factors can result in the accumulation of aberrant DNA methylation in gastric mucosa, which promotes GC development. Tensin 4 (TNS4), a member of the Tensin family of proteins, is localized to focal adhesion sites, which connect the extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal network.

Cyclin Y regulates spatial learning and memory flexibility through distinct control of the actin pathway.

Spatial learning and memory flexibility are known to require long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), respectively, on a cellular basis. We previously showed that cyclin Y (CCNY), a synapse-remodeling cyclin, is a novel actin-binding protein and an inhibitory regulator of functional and structural LTP in vitro. In this study, we report that Ccny knockout (KO) mice exhibit enhanced LTP and weak LTD at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in the hippocampus.

Proteomic analysis of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed to benzyl benzoate.

Benzyl benzoate (BB) is widely used in the food, cosmetics, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries and is discharged into the aquatic environment via various water sources, including wastewater. Research on the bioaccumulation and possible toxicity of BB has been conducted, but the biochemical responses to BB toxicity are not fully understood, and the specific molecular pathways by which BB causes toxicity remain unknown. In this study, label-free quantitative proteomics based on mass spectrometry was applied to investigate protein profiles in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed to BB (1 µg/mL) for 7 days.

Hair Follicle Classification and Hair Loss Severity Estimation Using Mask R-CNN.

Early and accurate detection of scalp hair loss is imperative to provide timely and effective treatment plans to halt further progression and save medical costs. Many techniques have been developed leveraging deep learning to automate the hair loss detection process. However, the accuracy and robustness of assessing hair loss severity still remain a challenge and barrier for transitioning such a technique into practice.