Wireless optogenetic stimulation on the prelimbic to the nucleus accumbens core circuit attenuates cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization.

Behavioral sensitization is defined as the heightened and persistent behavioral response to repeated drug exposure as a manifestation of drug craving. Psychomotor stimulants such as cocaine can induce strong behavioral sensitization. In this study, we explored the effects of optogenetic stimulation of the prelimbic (PL) to the nucleus accumbnes (NAc) core on the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization.

Manipulation of radixin phosphorylation in the nucleus accumbens core modulates risky choice behavior.

Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) proteins are actin-binding proteins that contribute to morphological changes in dendritic spines. Despite their significant role in regulating spine structure, the role of ERM proteins in the nucleus accumbnes (NAcc) is not well known, especially in in the context of risk-reward decision-making. Here, we measured the relationship between synaptic excitation and inhibition (E/I ratio) from medium spiny neurons in the NAcc core obtained in the rat after a rat gambling task (rGT).

A Robust Method for Simultaneous Determination and Risk Assessment of Multiresidual Pesticides in Fishery Products.

In this study, we developed and validated a multiresidue analytical method for the simultaneous detection of 24 pesticides in fishery products. Using the EN15662 extraction method and C as the adsorbent for purification, the validation results complied with Codex guidelines, achieving recovery rates between 70% and 120% and relative standard deviation values (%RSD) within 20%, indicating excellent performance. The limit of detection ranged from 0.

Antioxidant and cholesterol regulatory effect of flavonoid-rich silk sericin.

Cholesterol is a component of cell membranes and a precursor of hormones, and excess levels are associated with disease development; therefore, it must be maintained within the normal range. Silkworm cocoons are known to contain bioactive substances. Therefore, we compared the bioactivities of pigmented and white silkworm cocoons.

Modulatory Effects of the Kuwanon-Rich Fraction from Mulberry Root Bark on the Renin-Angiotensin System.

In this study, we investigated the anti-hypertensive properties of mulberry products by modulating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Comparative analysis showed that the ethyl acetate fractions, particularly from the Cheongil and Daeshim cultivars, contained the highest levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, with concentrations reaching 110 mg gallic acid equivalent (GE)/g and 471 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g of extract, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction showed superior angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, mainly because of the presence of the prenylated flavonoids kuwanon G and H.

High-Performance One-Body Electrochemical Torsional Artificial Muscles Built Using Carbon Nanotubes and Ion-Exchange Polymers.

Electrochemical torsional artificial muscles have the potential to replace electric motors in the field of miniaturization. In particular, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are some of the best materials for electrochemical torsional artificial muscles due to their remarkable mechanical strength and high electrical conductivity. However, previous studies on CNT torsional muscle utilize only half of the whole potential range for torsional actuation because the actuations in the positive and negative voltage ranges offset each other.

Unraveling prokaryotic diversity distribution and functional pattern on nitrogen and methane cycling in the subtropical Western North Pacific Ocean.

Prokaryotes play an important role in marine nitrogen and methane cycles. However, their community changes and metabolic modifications to the concurrent impact of ocean warming (OW), acidification (OA), deoxygenation (OD), and anthropogenic‑nitrogen-deposition (AND) from the surface to the deep ocean remains unknown. We examined here the amplicon sequencing approach across the surface (0-200 m; SL), intermediate (200-1000 m; IL), and deep layers (1000-2200 m; DL), and characterized the simultaneous impacts of OW, OA, OD, and AND on the Western North Pacific Ocean prokaryotic changes and their functional pattern in nitrogen and methane cycles.

Molecular diagnosis of 5 silkworm strains endemic to South Korea using single-nucleotide polymorphisms selected from whole-genome sequences.

The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), often poses a challenge in strain identification due to similarities in morphology and genetic background. In South Korea, around 40 silkworm strains are classified as premium, including 5 endemic tri-molting strains: Goryeosammyeon, Sammyeonhonghoeback, Hansammyeon, Sun7ho, and Sandongsammyeon. These strains have potential for breeding programs in response to emerging industry demands, necessitating a reliable strain identification method.

Environment-Adaptable Rotational Energy Harvesters Based on Nylon-core Coiled Carbon Nanotube Yarns.

Owing to increasing amount of research on energy harvesting, studies on harvesters for practical application and their performance are attracting attention. Therefore, studies on the use of continuous energy as an energy source for energy-harvesting devices are being conducted, and fluid flows, e.g.

A Novel Surgical Technique for Neglected Volar Dislocation of the Lunate: Cases Report and Literature Review.

Background: Treatments for chronic perilunate or lunate dislocations are very difficult and associated with poor prognoses. There is no established treatment method and are still many controversies.

Case Presentation: We reported three cases of chronic neglected lunate volar dislocation treated with a novel surgical technique.

Nuclear S6K1 Enhances Oncogenic Wnt Signaling by Inducing Wnt/β-Catenin Transcriptional Complex Formation.

Ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), a key downstream effector of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), regulates diverse functions, such as cell proliferation, cell growth, and protein synthesis. Because S6K1 was previously known to be localized in the cytoplasm, its function has been mainly studied in the cytoplasm. However, the nuclear localization and function of S6K1 have recently been elucidated and other nuclear functions are expected to exist but remain elusive.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum of the Hand: Unique Experience and Literature Review.

Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a reactive, noninfectious, neutrophilic dermatosis. Diagnosis of PG is based on exclusion, due to lack of availability of a confirmatory test. PG is not caused by infection or gangrene.

Biocompatible fluorescent silk fibroin bioink for digital light processing 3D printing.

Chemically modified silk fibroin (SF) bioink has been used for three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting in tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility and printability. Also, fluorescent silk fibroin (FSF) from transgenic silkworms has been recently applied in biomedicine because of its fluorescence property. However, the fabrication of fluorescent hydrogel from FSF has not been elucidated.

More Powerful Twistron Carbon Nanotube Yarn Mechanical Energy Harvesters.

Stretching a coiled carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn can provide large, reversible electrochemical capacitance changes, which convert mechanical energy to electricity. Here, it is shown that the performance of these "twistron" harvesters can be increased by optimizing the alignment of precursor CNT forests, plastically stretching the precursor twisted yarn, applying much higher tensile loads during precoiling twist than for coiling, using electrothermal pulse annealing under tension, and incorporating reduced graphene oxide nanoplates. The peak output power for a 1 and a 30 Hz sinusoidal deformation are 0.

Simultaneous Determination of Pyridate, Quizalofop-ethyl, and Cyhalofop-butyl Residues in Agricultural Products Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

An analytical method was developed to simultaneously determine pyridate, quizalofop-ethyl, and cyhalofop-butyl in brown rice, soybean, potato, pepper, and mandarin using LC-MS/MS. Purification was optimized using various sorbents: primary−secondary amine, octadecyl (C18) silica gel, graphitized carbon black, zirconium dioxide-modified silica particles, zirconium dioxide-modified silica particles (Z-SEP), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Three versions of QuECHERS methods were then tested using the optimal purification agent.

Implantable Biosupercapacitor Inspired by the Cellular Redox System.

The carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn supercapacitor has high potential for in vivo energy storage because it can be used in aqueous environments and stitched to inner parts of the body, such as blood vessels. The biocompatibility issue for frequently used pseudocapacitive materials, such as metal oxides, is controversial in the human body. Here, we report an implantable CNT yarn supercapacitor inspired by the cellular redox system.

Unipolar stroke, electroosmotic pump carbon nanotube yarn muscles.

Success in making artificial muscles that are faster and more powerful and that provide larger strokes would expand their applications. Electrochemical carbon nanotube yarn muscles are of special interest because of their relatively high energy conversion efficiencies. However, they are bipolar, meaning that they do not monotonically expand or contract over the available potential range.

Soft subdermal implant capable of wireless battery charging and programmable controls for applications in optogenetics.

Optogenetics is a powerful technique that allows target-specific spatiotemporal manipulation of neuronal activity for dissection of neural circuits and therapeutic interventions. Recent advances in wireless optogenetics technologies have enabled investigation of brain circuits in more natural conditions by releasing animals from tethered optical fibers. However, current wireless implants, which are largely based on battery-powered or battery-free designs, still limit the full potential of in vivo optogenetics in freely moving animals by requiring intermittent battery replacement or a special, bulky wireless power transfer system for continuous device operation, respectively.

Liver Abscess caused by Cytomegalovirus in a Patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes severe infection in immunocompromised patients, especially those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), those who have undergone organ transplantation, and/or those who are being treated with steroids. In patients with AIDS, CMV is the most common pathogen that causes opportunistic infections. Here, we present a case of liver abscess due to CMV in a 58-year-old man diagnosed with AIDS.

Bombyx mori kynurenine 3-monooxygenase gene editing and insect molecular breeding using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR associated protein 9 system.

Genome editing by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas)9, a third-generation gene scissors, and molecular breeding at the genome level are attracting considerable attention as future breeding techniques. In the present study, genetic and phenotypic analyses were conducted to examine the molecular breeding of Bombyx mori through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) gene. The synthesized guide RNAs (gRNAs) were analyzed using T7 endonuclease I after introduction into the BM-N silkworm cell line.

Fermented Ginseng Extract, BST204, Suppresses Tumorigenesis and Migration of Embryonic Carcinoma through Inhibition of Cancer Stem Cell Properties.

The pharmacological effects of BST204-a fermented ginseng extract-on several types of cancers have been reported. However, the effects of ginseng products or single ginsenosides against cancer stem cells are still poorly understood. In this study, we identified the anti-tumorigenic and anti-invasive activities of BST204 through the suppression of the cancer stem cell marker, CD133.

Conditions of nutrients and dissolved organic matter for the outbreaks of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) in Jinhae Bay, Korea.

We measured the concentrations of nutrients, fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM), and photosynthetic pigments in seawater during the springs of 2018 and 2019 in Jinhae Bay, Korea. The samplings were carried out during the severe and weak outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in April 2018 and March 2019, respectively. The additional sampling campaigns were carried out before and after the PSP outbreak for the comparison.

Electrical energy harvesting from ferritin biscrolled carbon nanotube yarn.

Various studies about harvesting energy for future energy production have been conducted. In particular, replacing batteries in implantable medical devices with electrical harvesting is a great challenge. Here, we have improved the electrical harvesting performance of twisted carbon nanotube yarn, which was previously reported to be an electrical energy harvester, by biscrolling positively charged ferritin protein in a biofluid environment.

Cloning, purification and characterization of a recombinant protease with novel thrombolytic activity in human plasma and rat thrombosis models.

Background: There is a need to identify and develop novel thrombolytic agents that can directly digest fibrin clots from various biological resources.

Objective: To clone, express, purify, and characterize a recombinant protease named rvFMP capable of cleaving fibrinogen, fibrin polymer, and cross-linked fibrin in human plasma milieu and rat thrombosis model systems.

Results: We cloned a vFMP-encoding gene from the genomic DNA of V.