Optimization of culture conditions to generate vascularized multi-lineage liver organoids with structural complexity and functionality.

Hepatic organoids (HOs), primarily composed of hepatobiliary cells, do not represent the pathogenesis of liver diseases due to the lack of non-parenchymal cells. Multi-lineage liver organoids (mLOs) containing various cell types found in the liver offer a promising in vitro disease model. However, their structural complexity remains challenging to achieve due to the difficulty in optimizing culture conditions that meet the growth need of all component cell types.

Variability in personal exposure to ultrafine and fine particles by microenvironment among adolescents in Cincinnati.

Personal exposure to air pollution is influenced by an individual's time-activity patterns, but data regarding personal exposure to air pollution among children populations is lacking. The objective of this study was to characterize personal exposure to both PM and ultrafine particles (UFPs) using two portable real-time monitors, combined with GPS logging, and describe the relationship between these exposures across time and microenvironments among adolescents with asthma. Participants completed personal exposure monitoring for seven consecutive days and PM2.

Sources of personal PM exposure during pregnancy in the MADRES cohort.

Background: Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is impacted by different sources each with different chemical composition. Determining these sources is important for reducing personal exposure and its health risks especially during pregnancy.

Objective: Identify main sources and their contributions to the personal PM exposure in 213 women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in Los Angeles, CA.

Suboptimal hepatobiliary phase image in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI for the evaluation of the HCC: Predictive factors.

To determine the relevant laboratory values for hepatobiliary phase (HBP) imaging and predictive factors for suboptimal HBP images on gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). This study included 307 patients with CLD who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI for HCC evaluation. The liver-portal vein contrast ratio and liver-spleen contrast ratio were calculated from the measurements of the HBP images.

A Comparison of Measured Airborne and Self-Reported Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort Study.

Introduction: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy is linked to adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and preterm birth. While questionnaires are commonly used to assess SHS exposure, their ability to capture true exposure can vary, making it difficult for researchers to harmonize SHS measures. This study aimed to compare self-reported SHS exposure with measurements of airborne SHS in personal samples of pregnant women.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for enhanced production of 1,3-butanediol from glucose.

1,3-Butanediol (1,3-BDO) finds versatile applications in the cosmetic, chemical, and food industries. This study focuses on the metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli K12 to achieve efficient production of 1,3-BDO from glucose via acetoacetyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and 3-hydroxybutyraldehyde. The accumulation of an intermediary metabolite (pyruvate) and a byproduct (3-hydroxybutyric acid) was reduced by disruption of the negative transcription factor (PdhR) for pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) and employing an efficient alcohol dehydrogenase (YjgB), respectively.

Effect of Types of Dementia Care on Quality of Life and Mental Health Factors in Caregivers of Patients with Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Eastern cultures, particularly in South Korea, caregiving for dementia patients at home is common, yet even after facility placement, families may experience ongoing burden due to cultural factors. The aim of this study was to examine the burden experienced by caregivers of dementia patients, considering cultural factors influencing in-home care and facility-based care. Using a cross-sectional study design, we compared the quality of life, depression, subjective happiness, and subjective health of family caregivers providing in-home care (FCHC) and informal family caregivers (IFCGs).

Envelope-Stress Sensing Mechanism of Rcs and Cpx Signaling Pathways in Gram-Negative Bacteria.

The global public health burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is intensified by Gram-negative bacteria, which have an additional membrane, the outer membrane (OM), outside of the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) aid in maintaining envelope integrity through a phosphorylation cascade by controlling gene expression through sensor kinases and response regulators. In Escherichia coli, the major TCSs defending cells from envelope stress and adaptation are Rcs and Cpx, which are aided by OM lipoproteins RcsF and NlpE as sensors, respectively.

Effects of Multimodal Rehabilitation on the Activities of Daily Living, Quality of Life, and Burden of Care for Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Control Study.

Background: Parkinson’s disease reduces patients’ function, activities of daily living, and quality of life, and increases their guardians’ burden of care. This study verified the effectiveness of a multimodal rehabilitation programme for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Trial design: This study was a multicentre parallel randomised controlled, single-blind, trial conducted in three hospitals in Korea.

Synergistic antitumor activity of sorafenib and MG149 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most challenging cancers to overcome, and there is a need for better therapeutic strategies. Among the different cancer drugs that have been used in clinics, sorafenib is considered the standard first-line drug for advanced HCC. Here, to identify a chemical compound displaying a synergistic effect with sorafenib in HCC, we screened a focused chemical library and found that MG149, a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor targeting the MYST family, exhibited the most synergistic anticancer effect with sorafenib on HCC cells.

RoF-based indoor distributed antenna system that can simultaneously support 5G mmWave and 6G terahertz services.

The telecommunication society is paving the way toward ultra-high frequency regions, including the millimeter wave (mmWave) and sub-terahertz (sub-THz) bands. Such high-frequency electromagnetic waves induce a variety of physical constraints when they are used in wireless communications. Inevitably, the fiber-optic network is deeply embedded in the mobile network to resolve such challenges.

Study on Effects of Nonlinear Behavior Characteristics of Prepreg Dielectric on Warpage of Substrate under Laminating Process.

To analyze the effects of nonlinear behavior characteristics of prepreg (PPG) among the insulating materials of substrate and the residual stress of laminating process on the warpage of substrate, this study investigated the continuous laminating process using the numerical analysis by finite element method. The analysis results showed that the warpage of the substrate in the laminating process of PPG was very low, but it increased rapidly in the solder resist (SR) laminating process. As the laminating process of PPG continued, the stress inside the substrate increased continuously and it was predicted to decrease in the SR laminating process.

Disorder is a critical component of lipoprotein sorting in Gram-negative bacteria.

Gram-negative bacteria express structurally diverse lipoproteins in their cell envelope. Here, we find that approximately half of lipoproteins destined to the Escherichia coli outer membrane display an intrinsically disordered linker at their N terminus. Intrinsically disordered regions are common in proteins, but establishing their importance in vivo has remained challenging.

Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population: demographics and its relation with coexisting rotator cuff tear.

Background: To evaluate the demographics, clinical and radiographic features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population, specifically focusing on the incidence of coexisting rotator cuff tear.

Methods: Between October 2014 and January 2015, we performed a prospective multicenter study with 506 patients from 11 training hospitals in Korea. We collected data of demographics and radiographic analysis based on simple radiographs, clinical assessments based on visual analog scale (VAS) and the American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and treatment modalities that are used currently.

Defining the function of OmpA in the Rcs stress response.

OmpA, a protein commonly found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, has served as a paradigm for the study of β-barrel proteins for several decades. In , OmpA was previously reported to form complexes with RcsF, a surface-exposed lipoprotein that triggers the Rcs stress response when damage occurs in the outer membrane and the peptidoglycan. How OmpA interacts with RcsF and whether this interaction allows RcsF to reach the surface has remained unclear.

Demonstration of photonics-aided terahertz wireless transmission system with using silicon photonics circuit: erratum.

We present an erratum for our recent paper [Opt. Express 28, 23397 (2020)] to include funding information in the funding section.

Demonstration of photonics-aided terahertz wireless transmission system with using silicon photonics circuit.

We experimentally demonstrate the use of silicon photonics circuit (SPC) in the simple and cost-effective photonics-aided Terahertz (THz) wireless transmission system. We perform theoretical investigation (with experimental confirmation) to understand that the system performance is more sensitive to the free space path loss (FSPL) at the THz wireless link than the SPC's insertion loss. The SPC, we design and fabricate, combines two incident optical carriers at different wavelengths and modulates one of two optical carriers with data to transfer, consequently reducing the system footprint that is indeed one of the key challenges that must be tackled for better practicability of the THz communication system.

Air Pollution Exposure Monitoring among Pregnant Women with and without Asthma.

: We monitored exposure to fine particulates (PM), ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO), and ambient temperature for pregnant women with and without asthma. : Women ( = 40) from the Breathe-Well-Being, Environment, Lifestyle, and Lung Function Study (2015-2018) were enrolled during pregnancy and monitored for 2-4 days. Daily pollutants were measured using personal air monitors, indoor air monitors, and nearest Environmental Protection Agency's stationary monitors based on GPS tracking and home address.

How the assembly and protection of the bacterial cell envelope depend on cysteine residues.

The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria is a multilayered structure essential for bacterial viability; the peptidoglycan cell wall provides shape and osmotic protection to the cell, and the outer membrane serves as a permeability barrier against noxious compounds in the external environment. Assembling the envelope properly and maintaining its integrity are matters of life and death for bacteria. Our understanding of the mechanisms of envelope assembly and maintenance has increased tremendously over the past two decades.

Household air pollution and personal exposure from burning firewood and yak dung in summer in the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

This study assessed the sources, magnitudes, and chemical compositions of household air pollution (HAP) and personal exposure in traditional Tibetan households. We measured 24-h personal exposures to PM and kitchen area black carbon (BC) concentrations, using MicroPEMs and microAeths, respectively. Particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and inorganic element concentrations were quantified via post analyses of a subset of MicroPEM sample filters.

Quality Prediction on Deep Generative Images.

In recent years, deep neural networks have been utilized in a wide variety of applications including image generation. In particular, generative adversarial networks (GANs) are able to produce highly realistic pictures as part of tasks such as image compression. As with standard compression, it is desirable to be able to automatically assess the perceptual quality of generative images to monitor and control the encode process.

Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Mucociliary Remodeling of the Nasal Airway Epithelium Induced by Urban PM.

Air pollution particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM) exposure is associated with poor respiratory outcomes. Mechanisms underlying PM-induced lung pathobiology are poorly understood but likely involve cellular and molecular changes to the airway epithelium.

Health impacts and cost-benefit analyses of surface O and PM over the U.S. under future climate and emission scenarios.

Health impacts of surface ozone (O) and fine particulate matter (PM) are of major concern worldwide. In this work, the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program tool is applied to estimate the health and economic impacts of projected changes in O and PM in the U.S.