Enhancing Genomic Prediction Accuracy for Body Conformation Traits in Korean Holstein Cattle.

The Holstein breed is the mainstay of dairy production in Korea. In this study, we evaluated the genomic prediction accuracy for body conformation traits in Korean Holstein cattle, using a range of π levels (0.75, 0.

Evaluation of a novel, low-cost, 3D printed video laryngoscope with borescope in anesthetized Beagle dogs.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a low-cost three-dimensional (3D)-printed video laryngoscope (VL) for use with a commercial borescope.

Study Design: Instrument development and pilot study.

Animals: A total of six adult male Beagle dogs.

3D spatiotemporally scalable in vivo neural probes based on fluorinated elastomers.

Electronic devices for recording neural activity in the nervous system need to be scalable across large spatial and temporal scales while also providing millisecond and single-cell spatiotemporal resolution. However, existing high-resolution neural recording devices cannot achieve simultaneous scalability on both spatial and temporal levels due to a trade-off between sensor density and mechanical flexibility. Here we introduce a three-dimensional (3D) stacking implantable electronic platform, based on perfluorinated dielectric elastomers and tissue-level soft multilayer electrodes, that enables spatiotemporally scalable single-cell neural electrophysiology in the nervous system.

Multiscale stress deconcentration amplifies fatigue resistance of rubber.

Rubbers reinforced with rigid particles are used in high-volume applications, including tyres, dampers, belts and hoses. Many applications require high modulus to resist excessive deformation and high fatigue threshold to resist crack growth under cyclic load. The particles are known to greatly increase modulus but not fatigue threshold.

SARS-CoV-2 infection engenders heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein interactions to impede translation elongation in the lungs.

Translational regulation in tissue environments during in vivo viral pathogenesis has rarely been studied due to the lack of translatomes from virus-infected tissues, although a series of translatome studies using in vitro cultured cells with viral infection have been reported. In this study, we exploited tissue-optimized ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) and severe-COVID-19 model mice to establish the first temporal translation profiles of virus and host genes in the lungs during SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Our datasets revealed not only previously unknown targets of translation regulation in infected tissues but also hitherto unreported molecular signatures that contribute to tissue pathology after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Low-intensity mixing process of high molecular weight polymer chains leads to elastomers of long network strands and high fatigue threshold.

Many polymer networks are prepared by crosslinking polymer chains. The polymer chains and crosslinkers are commonly mixed in internal mixers or roll mills. These intense processes break the polymer chains, lower viscosity, and ease mixing.

A soft, self-sensing tensile valve for perceptive soft robots.

Soft inflatable robots are a promising paradigm for applications that benefit from their inherent safety and adaptability. However, for perception, complex connections of rigid electronics both in hardware and software remain the mainstay. Although recent efforts have created soft analogs of individual rigid components, the integration of sensing and control systems is challenging to achieve without compromising the complete softness, form factor, or capabilities.

Hydrogels of arrested phase separation simultaneously achieve high strength and low hysteresis.

Hydrogels are being developed to bear loads. Applications include artificial tendons and muscles, which require high strength to bear loads and low hysteresis to reduce energy loss. However, simultaneously achieving high strength and low hysteresis has been challenging.

Making Highly Elastic and Tough Hydrogels from Doughs.

A hydrogel is often fabricated from preexisting polymer chains by covalently crosslinking them into a polymer network. The crosslinks make the hydrogel swell-resistant but brittle. This conflict is resolved here by making a hydrogel from a dough.

An Electret-Powered Skin-Attachable Auditory Sensor that Functions in Harsh Acoustic Environments.

Auditory sensors have shortcomings with respect to not only personalization with wearability and portability but also detecting a human voice clearly in a noisy environment or when a mask covers the mouth. In this work, an electret-powered and hole-patterned polymer diaphragm is exploited into a skin-attachable auditory sensor. The optimized charged electret diaphragm induces a voltage bias of >400 V against the counter electrode, which reduces the necessity of a bulky power source and enables the capacitive sensor to show high sensitivity (2.

Self-assembled nanocomposites of high water content and load-bearing capacity.

Biological tissues, such as cartilage, tendon, ligament, skin, and plant cell wall, simultaneously achieve high water content and high load-bearing capacity. The high water content enables the transport of nutrients and wastes, and the high load-bearing capacity provides structural support for the organisms. These functions are achieved through nanostructures.

Clozapine-Induced Chemogenetic Neuromodulation Rescues Post-Stroke Deficits After Chronic Capsular Infarct.

Long-term disabilities induced by stroke impose a heavy burden on patients, families, caregivers, and public health systems. Extensive studies have demonstrated the therapeutic value of neuromodulation in enhancing post-stroke recovery. Among them, chemogenetic neuromodulation activated by clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) has been proposed as the potential tool of neuromodulation.

Design Rule for Constructing Buckling-Free Polymeric Stencil with Microdot Apertures.

A polymeric stencil with microdot apertures made by using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds with pillar patterns has many advantages, including conformal contact, easy processability, flexibility, and low cost compared to conventional silicon-based membranes. However, due to the inherent deformability of PDMS materials in response to external pressure, it is challenging to construct structurally stable stencils with high structural fidelity. Here, we propose a design rule on the buckling pressure for constructing polymeric stencils without process failure.

Improving the Performance of the ToGoFET Probe: Advances in Design, Fabrication, and Signal Processing.

We report recent improvements of the tip-on-gate of field-effect-transistor (ToGoFET) probe used for capacitive measurement. Probe structure, fabrication, and signal processing were modified. The inbuilt metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) was redesigned to ensure reliable probe operation.

Capillary-Induced Clustering of Thermoresponsive Micropillars.

In this study, we demonstrate the controllable clustering of thermoresponsive high-aspect-ratio hydrogel pillars by modulating the elastic modulus of the materials. Generally, high-aspect-ratio polymeric pillars readily cluster owing to the effect of capillary force and adhesion. However, this unstable behavior hinders the implementation of various functionalities such as wetting, adhesion, and energy harvesting on surfaces with such pillars.

Fracture, fatigue, and friction of polymers in which entanglements greatly outnumber cross-links.

In gels and elastomers, the role of entanglements on deformation has been studied, but their effects on fracture, fatigue, and friction are less well understood. In this study, we synthesized polymers in which entanglements greatly outnumber cross-links. The dense entanglements enable transmission of tension in a polymer chain along its length and to many other chains.

A piezoelectric micro-cantilever acoustic vector sensor designed considering fluid-structure interaction.

We developed a piezoelectric micromachined cantilever acoustic vector (PEMCAV) sensor. We modeled the device using a "lumped" approach that considers fluid-structure interaction, the piezoelectric effect, and the mechanical impedance of the cantilever. Due to the high flexibility, the influence of the medium is significant, so fluid-structure interaction must be considered in theoretical modeling.

A Modeling and Feasibility Study of a Micro-Machined Microphone Based on a Field-Effect Transistor and an Electret for a Low-Frequency Microphone.

Miniaturized capacitive microphones often show sensitivity degradation in the low-frequency region due to electrical and acoustical time constants. For low-frequency sound detection, conventional systems use a microphone with a large diaphragm and a large back chamber to increase the time constant. In order to overcome this limitation, an electret gate on a field-effect transistor (ElGoFET) structure was proposed, which is the field-effect transistor (FET) mounted diaphragm faced on electret.

Intervertebral Disc Regeneration Using Stem Cell/Growth Factor-Loaded Porous Particles with a Leaf-Stacked Structure.

Although biological therapies based on growth factors and transplanted cells have demonstrated some positive outcomes for intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration, repeated injection of growth factors and cell leakage from the injection site remain considerable challenges for human therapeutic use. Herein, we prepare human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3)-loaded porous particles with a unique leaf-stack structural morphology (LSS particles) as a combination bioactive delivery matrix for degenerated IVD. The LSS particles are fabricated with clinically acceptable biomaterials (polycaprolactone and tetraglycol) and procedures (simple heating and cooling).

Home Range Estimates and Habitat Use of Siberian Flying Squirrels in South Korea.

Conservation measures or management guidelines must be based on species' ecological data. The home range of the target species was studied to understand its spatial ecology, in order to protect it. The Siberian flying squirrel is the only flying squirrel species present and is considered as a protected species in South Korea.

Optimizing clozapine for chemogenetic neuromodulation of somatosensory cortex.

Clozapine (CLZ) has been proposed as an agonist for Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), to replace Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO); however, there are no reliable guidelines for the use of CLZ for chemogenetic neuromodulation. We titrated the optimal dose of CLZ required to evoke changes in neural activity whilst avoiding off-target effects. We also performed [F]Fluoro-deoxy-glucose micro positron emission tomography (FDG-microPET) scans to determine the global effect of CLZ-induced hM3D(Gq) DREADD activation in the rat brain.

Structural and kinetic insights into flavin-containing monooxygenase and calponin-homology domains in human MICAL3.

MICAL is an oxidoreductase that participates in cytoskeleton reorganization via actin disassembly in the presence of NADPH. Although three MICALs (MICAL1, MICAL2 and MICAL3) have been identified in mammals, only the structure of mouse MICAL1 has been reported. Here, the first crystal structure of human MICAL3, which contains the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) and calponin-homology (CH) domains, is reported.