Composition of soil fungal communities and microbial activity along an elevational gradient in Mt. Jiri, Republic of Korea.

Approximately 64% of the Republic of Korea comprises mountainous areas, which as cold and high-altitude regions are gravely affected by climate change. Within the mountainous and the alpine-subalpine ecosystems, microbial communities play a pivotal role in biogeochemical cycling and partly regulate climate change through such cycles. We investigated the composition and function of microbial communities, with a focus on fungal communities, in Republic of Korea's second tallest mountain, Mt.

ARS: AI-Driven Recovery Controller for Quadruped Robot Using Single-Network Model.

Legged robots, especially quadruped robots, are widely used in various environments due to their advantage in overcoming rough terrains. However, falling is inevitable. Therefore, the ability to overcome a falling state is an essential ability for legged robots.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Extracellular Vesicles from on 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate-Induced Skin Inflammation in Mice.

Steroids, which are often used to treat the inflammation associated with various skin diseases, have several negative side effects. As extract has anti-inflammatory effects in various diseases, we evaluated the efficacy of -derived extracellular vesicles (EVEs) in decreasing 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation. We determined the effect of the EVEs on the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome in human keratinocytes and mouse ear skin.

The influence of cooling die temperature gradients on the texture of high-moisture meat analogs.

In this study, we used protein blends and rheological methods to simulate the structural changes in high-moisture meat analogs (HMMA) within the cooling die and clarified the complex interactions between changes in protein composition and HMMA's textural characteristics. Rheological analysis revealed a decrease in rheological parameters with an increase in the cooling die temperature, although no structural collapse was observed in gel stability. Although the hardness of HMMA decreased with an increase in the cooling die temperature, it facilitated the alignment of protein structures, resulting in an enhanced texturization index.

Microstructural and textural characteristics of blend gels and high-moisture meat analogs of soy protein isolate and faba bean protein concentrate.

In this study, the effects of faba bean protein concentrate (FPC) and soy protein isolate (SPI) on the microstructure and texture of high-moisture meat analogs (HMMA) were extensively analyzed using rheological methodologies. Rheological analyses revealed that introducing FPC disrupted the gel structure and hindered the formation of a protein network among the SPIs. The gel stability also indicated that higher FPC content increased the susceptibility to continuous oscillation, potentially resulting in structural collapse.

Injectable "Skin Boosters" in Aging Skin Rejuvenation: A Current Overview.

Aging-related changes in the skin, such as dullness, dehydration, and loss of elasticity, significantly affect its appearance and integrity. Injectable "skin boosters," comprising various biological materials, have become increasingly prominent in addressing these issues, offering rejuvenation and revitalization. This review offers a comprehensive examination of these injectables, detailing their types, mechanisms of action, and clinical uses.

Thermorheological properties and structural characteristics of soy and pumpkin seed protein blends for high-moisture meat analogs.

This study explored the effects of soy protein isolate (SPI) and pumpkin seed protein concentrate (PSC) blends on the thermorheological properties and microstructure of high-moisture meat analogs. Using a Discovery Hybrid Rheometer, we observed that increasing PSC content weakened SPI network formation, resulting in decreased gel stability and a more porous, less aligned structure. Microstructural analyses (FE-SEM and FT-IR) revealed a correlation between protein network disruption and increased PSC content.

Solar Hydrogen Production and Storage in Solid Form: Prospects for Materials and Methods.

Climatic changes are reaching alarming levels globally, seriously impacting the environment. To address this environmental crisis and achieve carbon neutrality, transitioning to hydrogen energy is crucial. Hydrogen is a clean energy source that produces no carbon emissions, making it essential in the technological era for meeting energy needs while reducing environmental pollution.

Enhancement of Electron Transport Characteristics Using MXene-MnFeO Nanocomposite Integration with Fullerene Derivatives for the Perovskite-Based Solar Cells and Detectors.

In this study, we prepared a hybrid film incorporating the MnFeO-decorated conducting two-dimensional (2D) MXene sheet-suspended [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) electron transfer layer (ETL) for the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and detectors. The incorporation of MXene-MnFeO with the PCBM ETL could drive exceptional conducting features for the PSCs. Moreover, the presence of MXene-MnFeO facilitated superior charge transfer pathways, thereby enhancing the electron extraction and collection processes.

Cyanide profiling in stone fruit syrups: A comparative study of distillation techniques, a novel derivatization method, and cyanide composition in Maesil (Prunus Mume) syrup.

Cyanide ion was derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde and 3-mercaptopropionic acid for high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector analysis. The structure was elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Method validation was conducted for three distillation methods to analyze cyanogenic glycosides, cyanohydrins, and free cyanide in fruit syrup.

Impact of Preanesthetic Blood Pressure Deviations on 30-Day Postoperative Mortality in Non-Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Background: Blood pressure readings taken before anesthesia often influence the decision to delay or cancel elective surgeries. However, the implications of these specific blood pressure values, especially how they compare to baseline, on postoperative in-hospital 30-day mortality remain underexplored. This research aimed to examine the effect of discrepancies between the baseline blood pressure evaluated in the ward a day before surgery, and the blood pressure observed just before the administration of anesthesia, on the postoperative mortality risks.

Characterization of potato starch-high amylose rice starch blend as a substitute of acetylated potato starch in long-life noodle.

Unlabelled: This study investigated the suitability of a potato starch (NP)-Dodamssal rice starch (DD) mixture to replace acetylated potato starch (AP) in long-life noodles. Wheat flour (WF) was replaced with AP and NP in 20% of WF, and NP was replaced with DD in 10-50% of NP. The swelling power of the WF-AP mixture was similar to that of all the WF-NP-DD mixtures.

Extraction and characterization of mung bean proteins using different alkaline solutions.

Unlabelled: This study investigated the effects of alkaline solutions on the production and characteristics of mung bean proteins (MBPs). MBPs were prepared using alkaline solutions of NaOH, NaHCO, and NaCO and designated MPN, MPH, and MPC, respectively. The yield, protein recovery, and crude protein content of MBP were not significantly different at different alkali concentrations (0.

Energy deprivation affects nitrogen assimilation and fatty acid biosynthesis leading to leaf chlorosis under waterlogging stress in the endangered Abies koreana.

Energy deprivation triggers various physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants under abiotic stress. We investigated the oxidative damages in the high altitude grown conifer Korean fir (Abies koreana) exposed to waterlogging stress. Our experimental results showed that waterlogging stress led to leaf chlorosis, 35 days after treatment.

MASLD/MetALD and mortality in individuals with any cardio-metabolic risk factor: A population-based study with 26.7 years of follow-up.

Background And Aims: A new term, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), has been proposed by a multi-society expert panel. However, it remains unclear whether hepatic steatosis per se in MASLD contributes to an increased risk of mortality in individuals with any cardio-metabolic risk factor (CMRF), which is also a significant risk factor for increased mortality. This study aimed to compare all-cause and cause-specific mortality between the "MASLD/MetALD" and "no steatotic liver disease (SLD)" groups in individuals with any CMRF.

Optical and UV Shielding Properties of Inorganic Nanoparticles Embedded in Polymethyl Methacrylate Nanocomposite Freestanding Films.

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is an interesting polymer employed in various applications due to its outstanding properties. However, its electrical and mechanical properties can be further improved by incorporating nanoparticles, and in particular, PMMA nanocomposite with nanoparticles provides various multifunctional properties. This work reports PMMA nanocomposite preparation and structural and optical characterizations incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs), TiO nanoparticles, and carbon quantum dots (CQDs).

CRISPR/Cas9 targeting of passenger single nucleotide variants in haploinsufficient or essential genes expands cancer therapy prospects.

CRISPR/Cas9 technology has effectively targeted cancer-specific oncogenic hotspot mutations or insertion-deletions. However, their limited prevalence in tumors restricts their application. We propose a novel approach targeting passenger single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in haploinsufficient or essential genes to broaden therapeutic options.