Composite quantile regression approach to batch effect correction in microbiome data.

Background: Batch effects refer to data variations that arise from non-biological factors such as experimental conditions, equipment, and external factors. These effects are considered significant issues in the analysis of biological data since they can compromise data consistency and distort actual biological differences, which can severely skew the results of downstream analyses.

Method: In this study, we introduce a new approach that comprehensively addresses two types of batch effects: "systematic batch effects" which are consistent across all samples in a batch, and "nonsystematic batch effects" which vary depending on the variability of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within each sample in the same batch.

Is Overweight Protective Against Fracture Occurrence? Age and Site-Dependent Different Association Between Body Mass Index and the Incidence of Hip and Vertebral Fractures.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI), age, and sex on the occurrence of hip and vertebral fractures in the South Korean population.

Methods: We enrolled participants who underwent routine health screenings conducted by the Korean National Health Insurance Service in 2009 and followed up from 2010 to 2018.

Nanoscale Resolution Imaging of Whole Mouse Embryos Using Expansion Microscopy.

Nanoscale imaging of whole vertebrates is essential for the systematic understanding of human diseases, yet this goal has not yet been achieved. Expansion microscopy (ExM) is an attractive option for accomplishing this aim; however, the expansion of even mouse embryos at mid- and late-developmental stages, which have fewer calcified body parts than adult mice, is yet to be demonstrated due to the challenges of expanding calcified tissues. Here, we introduce a state-of-the-art ExM technique, termed whole-body ExM, that utilizes cyclic digestion.

Anti-Inflammatory and Prebiotic Potential of Ethanol Extracts and Mucilage Polysaccharides from Korean Yams ( and ).

Korean yams are abundant in bioactive compounds with significant health-promoting properties. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of ethanol and water extracts from and in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

The impact of regular physical activity on vertebral fractures: Korean nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Vertebral fractures are a common medical issue. Physical activity helps improve bone health and manage the risk of fractures. However, much controversy exists about the association between physical activity and vertebral fractures.

Evaluation of Pedicle Screw Position on Computerized Tomography Using Three-Dimensional Reconstruction Software.

: Recent advances in intraoperative navigation systems have improved the accuracy of pedicle screw placement in spine surgery. However, many hospitals have limited access to these advanced technologies due to resource constraints. In such settings, postoperative computed tomography (CT) evaluation remains crucial for assessing screw placement and related potential complications.

Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Humans Living with and Without Companion Animals.

Cohabitation with companion animals (CAs) has been suggested as a significant modifier of gut microbial diversity. This study investigated the influence of cohabitation with CAs on human gut microbiota composition. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed the gut microbiota of 20 families with CAs (40 adults, 20 children) and 20 families without CAs (40 adults, 20 children).

Freestanding Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors Nanomembrane from 2D to 3D Materials and Their Applications.

Wide-bandgap semiconductors (WBGS) with energy bandgaps larger than 3.4 eV for GaN and 3.2 eV for SiC have gained attention for their superior electrical and thermal properties, which enable high-power, high-frequency, and harsh-environment devices beyond the capabilities of conventional semiconductors.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potentials and Molecular Mechanisms of Alkaloids in Ulcerative Colitis: An Integrative Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approach.

, a medicinal plant traditionally used in Southeast Asia, exerts protective effects against various inflammatory diseases, primarily due to its rich alkaloid content. Despite substantial evidence supporting its anti-inflammatory properties, the biological activities of are unclear. This study aimed to elucidate anticolitis mechanisms of alkaloids (CFAs) using an integrative approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses.

Ultrafast Floquet engineering of Fermi-polaron resonances in charge-tunable monolayer WSe devices.

Fermi polarons are emerging quasiparticles when a bosonic impurity immersed in a fermionic bath. Depending on the boson-fermion interaction strength, the Fermi-polaron resonances exhibit either attractive or repulsive interactions, which impose further experimental challenges on understanding the subtle light-driven dynamics. Here, we report the light-driven dynamics of attractive and repulsive Fermi polarons in monolayer WSe devices.

Anti-IL-4Ra therapy is superior to other biologic classes in treating allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disease resulting from an overactive type 2 response to . Initial studies suggest that asthma biologics can effectively treat ABPA, but it is unclear which biologic class is superior.

Objective: We sought to compare the effectiveness of asthma biologics in the treatment of ABPA.

Neck extension with closed mouth position provides optimal airway patency after anterior cervical spine surgery at C3-4 and C4-5: a single-center retrospective case series.

Airway compromise due to prevertebral soft tissue swelling is a potentially devastating complication following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). However, there are no studies on the postoperative patient posture for enhancing airway patency after ACDF. This study aimed to analyze the effect of neck and mouth postures on airway patency following ACDF and to suggest the beneficial postoperative patient posture for improving airway patency.

Dynamics of Blister Actuation in Laser-Induced Forward Transfer for Contactless Microchip Transfer.

The rapid evolution of microelectronics and display technologies has driven the demand for advanced manufacturing techniques capable of precise, high-speed microchip transfer. As devices shrink in size and increase in complexity, scalable and contactless methods for microscale placement are essential. Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) has emerged as a transformative solution, offering the precision and adaptability required for next-generation applications such as micro-light-emitting diodes (μ-LEDs).

Motivational and behavioral mechanisms underlying generalized health risking behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in smokers.

Under the threat of public health challenges such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, individual citizens' active and cooperative participation in precautionary measures is crucial. Although non-compliance is recognized as a recurring problem, it remains unknown why some individuals tend to comply less than others and whether violations of preventive behaviors are observed consistently across different public health issues. To test our hypothesis that individuals would show consistent public health behavior transcending domains, we collected self-reports from two independent samples of participants (total N = 2983) on health risk beliefs and behavioral choices.

Evaluating radionuclide mobility in groundwater recharge areas of fractured natural barrier systems using multiple isotopes and microbial indicators.

The distribution of uranium (U) concentrations, which reached up to 322 µg/L, was found to correlate with the pattern of fractures within the natural barrier system (NBS). Analysis of the vertical distribution of dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), tritium (H), microbial communities, and HO and SO isotopes revealed insights into oxic water infiltration within the heterogeneous fractured system. Their distribution showed that the average infiltration depth at the KURT site is 200 m, while in external areas with a high frequency of fractures, oxic conditions extended down to 495 m.

Novel Approach to Skin Anti-Aging: Boosting Pharmacological Effects of Exogenous Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) by Synergistic Inhibition of CD38 Expression.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is indispensable for the regulation of biological metabolism. Previous studies have revealed its role in aging and degenerative diseases, while crucially showing that supplementation with NAD or its precursors could ameliorate or reverse the progression of aging. Despite extensive evidence for the role and action of NAD in aging, its pharmacological activity on the skin, or even its mechanism, has not been elucidated.

Fabrication of Vertically Aligned InGaN/GaN Nanorod Light Emitting Diode Arrays Using Dielectrophoresis.

We report a novel strategy for vertical alignment of nanorod light emitting diodes (NRLs) by introducing dielectrophoresis (DEP) coupled with a nanohole electrode (NHE). The NHE consists of two electrodes placed at the top and the bottom separated by an insulating layer. This electrode structure allows NRLs to align within the nanoholes due to the nonuniform electric field generated across the entire region of the nanohole when a DEP voltage is applied.

Efficacy and safety of Sipjeondaebo-tang for cancer-related fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Approximately 52% of patients with cancer experience cancer-related fatigue (CRF), which negatively impacts both prognosis and quality of life (QoL). CRF is characterized by exhaustion, which is linked to cancer or treatment. Sipjeondaebo-tang (SDT) is an herbal medicine that is effective in alleviating fatigue and potentially easing CRF; however, there is currently insufficient clinical or scientific evidence to support the efficacy of SDT in managing CRF.

RFC2 may contribute to the pathogenicity of Williams syndrome revealed in a zebrafish model.

Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare multisystemic disorder caused by recurrent microdeletions on 7q11.23, characterized by intellectual disability, distinctive craniofacial and dental features, and cardiovascular problems. Previous studies have explored the roles of individual genes within these microdeletions in contributing to WS phenotypes.

Efficacy and Safety of Biportal Endoscopic Decompressive Laminectomy in Octogenarians With Severe Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is prevalent among octogenarians, causing significant pain and disability. Surgical intervention is often required because of the ineffectiveness of conservative treatments. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of biportal endoscopic decompressive laminectomy (BED) in octogenarians with severe LSS, evaluating its potential as a minimally invasive surgical option.

ISG15 is involved in chondrogenic differentiation through activation of IFN-γ signaling.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was found to increase in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). However, few studies have been conducted to elucidate the role of IFN-γ in cartilage metabolism and regeneration. In this study, we investigated whether cartilage regeneration is driven by interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) under the control of IFN-γ.