δ-catenin promotes Twist1 stabilization in prostate cancer through ubiquitination modification.

Prostate cancer generally has a high long-term survival rate; however, metastatic prostate cancer remains largely incurable despite intensive multimodal therapy. Recent research has identified δ-catenin, a member of the catenin family, as playing a crucial role in the progression of prostate cancer. Nonetheless, the extent to which δ-catenin influences transcription factors associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has not been thoroughly explored.

Comparison of machine learning algorithms for predicting cognitive impairment using neuropsychological tests.

Objectives: Neuropsychological tests (NPTs) are standard tools for assessing cognitive function. These tools can evaluate the cognitive status of a subject, which can be time-consuming and expensive for interpretation. Therefore, this paper aimed to optimize the systematic NPTs by machine learning and develop new classification models for differentiating healthy controls (HC), mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD) among groups of subjects.

Tricaprylin-based drug crystalline suspension for intramuscular long-acting delivery of entecavir with alleviated local inflammation.

In order to ensure prolonged pharmacokinetic profile along with local tolerability at the injection site, tricaprylin-based drug crystalline suspension (TS) was designed and its local distribution, pharmacokinetics, and inflammatory response, were evaluated with conventional aqueous suspension (AS). As model drug particles, entecavir 3-palmitate (EV-P), an ester lipidic prodrug for entecavir (EV), was employed. The EV-P-loaded TS was prepared by ultra-sonication method.

ChatGPT and generative AI are revolutionizing the scientific community: A Janus-faced conundrum.

The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies marks a transformative moment for the scientific sphere, unlocking novel avenues to elevate scientific writing's efficiency and quality, expedite insight discovery, and enhance code development processes. Essential to leveraging these advancements is prompt engineering, a method that enhances AI interaction efficiency and quality. Despite its benefits, effective application requires blending researchers' expertise with AI, avoiding overreliance.

Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells from human iPSC-derived teratomas for osteochondral defect regeneration.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for personalized medicine, as they can be differentiated into specific cell types, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Therefore, our study sought to assess the feasibility of deriving MSCs from teratomas generated from human iPSCs. Teratomas serve as a model to mimic multilineage human development, thus enriching specific somatic progenitors and stem cells.

A colorimetric and fluorescent signaling probe for assaying Pd in practical samples.

We developed an optical signaling probe to detect Pd ions in Pd-containing catalyst and drug candidate. The Pd signaling probe (Res-DT) was readily prepared by reacting the versatile fluorochrome resorufin with phenyl chlorodithioformate. In a phosphate-buffered saline solution (pH 7.

Targeted and efficient delivery of rifampicin to macrophages involved in non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection mannosylated solid lipid nanoparticles.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections are representative difficult-to-cure lung diseases with high incidence. Conventional treatments have several limitations such as negative side effects and increased drug resistance due to long-term administration. To overcome these limitations, there is a growing need for more stable drug delivery systems.

Living ring-opening polymerization of β-butyrolactone initiated by mononuclear zirconium compounds containing sterically hindered ,-chelate and anionic dimethylamide ligands.

The ring-opening polymerization of β-lactones into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), biodegradable polymers with high molecular weight and narrow polydispersity, is of significant interest. The mononuclear zirconium compound containing sterically hindered ,-chelate and anionic dimethylamide ligands was used as an initiator for the polymerization of β-butyrolactone (BBL), resulting in polyhydroxylbutyrate (PHB) with a number-average molecular weight of 12 000 g mol. Kinetic studies demonstrate a first-order dependence on β-butyrolactone (BBL) concentration at room temperature, accompanied by narrow molecular weight distributions ( 1.

Lipid-based colloidal nanoparticles for applications in targeted vaccine delivery.

Bioactive molecules and their effects have been influenced by their solubility and administration route. In many therapeutic reagents, the performance of therapeutics is dependent on physiological barriers in the human body and delivery efficacy. Therefore, an effective and stable therapeutic delivery promotes pharmaceutical advancement and suitable biological usage of drugs.

Interface engineering of CeO nanoparticle/BiWO nanosheet nanohybrids with oxygen vacancies for oxygen evolution reactions under alkaline conditions.

Because of the interactive combination synergy effect, hetero interface engineering is used way for advancing electrocatalytic activity and durability. In this study, we demonstrate that a CeO/BiWO heterostructure is synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Electrochemical measurement results indicate that CeO/BiWO displays not only more OER catalytic active sites with an overpotential of 390 mV and a Tafel slope of 117 mV dec but also durability for 10 h (97.

EasyAmplicon: An easy-to-use, open-source, reproducible, and community-based pipeline for amplicon data analysis in microbiome research.

It is difficult for beginners to learn and use amplicon analysis software because there are so many software tools to choose from, and all of them need multiple steps of operation. Herein, we provide a cross-platform, open-source, and community-supported analysis pipeline EasyAmplicon. EasyAmplicon has most of the modules needed for an amplicon analysis, including data quality control, merging of paired-end reads, dereplication, clustering or denoising, chimera detection, generation of feature tables, taxonomic diversity analysis, compositional analysis, biomarker discovery, and publication-quality visualization.

A machine-learning algorithm for predicting brain age using Rey-Osterrieth complex figure tests of healthy participants.

Objective: Neuropsychologists widely use the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (RCFT) as part of neuropsychological test batteries to evaluate cognitive function and assess constructional ability, with age being the most significant factor. Our study investigated a supervised machine learning (ML) algorithm to predict brain age gap using RCFT drawings from the healthy elderly community for early dementia detection.

Participants And Methods: RCFT drawings from 1,970 healthy subjects (ages 45-90 years) were collected from the Korean elderly community.

Prediction of Deterioration of Left Ventricular Function Using 3-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Patients With Left Bundle-Branch Block.

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that 2-dimensional (2D) global longitudinal strain (GLS) is associated with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with left bundle-branch block. However, the predictive value of 3-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography has not yet been investigated in these patients. Methods and Results The authors retrospectively identified 290 patients with left bundle-branch block who underwent echocardiography more than twice.

Pathways from economic hardship to couple conflict by socioeconomic status during COVID-19 in Korea.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the direct and indirect relationships among economic hardship, economic strain, emotional stress, and couple conflict for married Koreans during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we investigated whether these pathways were different between lower and higher socioeconomic status (SES) groups.

Background: Due to the global economic downturn brought on by COVID-19, many couples experienced economic hardship including increased household debt, job loss, and reduced work hours.

Colorimetric screening of elevated urinary mercury levels by a novel Hg-selective probe of resorufin phosphinothioate.

Urinary mercury levels are the most reliable indicators of mercury exposure but identifying them requires complex techniques and heavy instruments. In this research, we reported a simple and convenient urinary mercury analysis method using a readily available office scanner. Probe MP-1 synthesized by the reaction of resorufin and dimethylthiophosphinoyl chloride revealed Hg-selective chromogenic and fluorescent signaling behavior.

The impact of parental monitoring on cyberbullying victimization in the COVID-19 era.

Objective: The purpose of the current research was to examine the predictors of cyberbullying victimization among South Korean students during a period in which the coronavirus disease was spreading worldwide. We assessed whether parental guardianship protected against victimization when most people worked from home and school instructions were shifted to online learning.

Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data collected between October 6 and November 13, 2020.

Development of a stem cell spheroid-laden patch with high retention at skin wound site.

Mesenchymal stem cells such as human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have been used as a representative therapeutic agent for tissue regeneration because of their high proliferation and paracrine factor-secreting abilities. However, certain points regarding conventional ADSC delivery systems, such as low cell density, secreted cytokine levels, and cell viability, still need to be addressed for treating severe wounds. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) cavity-structured stem cell-laden system for overdense delivery of cells into severe wound sites.

RhoA-ROCK competes with YAP to regulate amoeboid breast cancer cell migration in response to lymphatic-like flow.

Lymphatic drainage generates force that induces prostate cancer cell motility via activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP), but whether this response to fluid force is conserved across cancer types is unclear. Here, we show that shear stress corresponding to fluid flow in the initial lymphatics modifies taxis in breast cancer, whereas some cell lines use rapid amoeboid migration behavior in response to fluid flow, a separate subset decrease movement. Positive responders displayed transcriptional profiles characteristic of an amoeboid cell state, which is typical of cells advancing at the edges of neoplastic tumors.

Simple fabrication of CoO nanoparticles on N-doped laser-induced graphene for high-performance supercapacitors.

This study demonstrates a simple strategy to fabricate CoO on N-doped laser-induced graphene (CoO-NLIG) based on duplicate laser pyrolysis, enabling the generation of CoO nanoparticles and heteroatom doping in laser-induced graphene (LIG). Morphological analyses reveal the uniform distribution of CoO nanoparticles on the surface of the LIG structure. The modification of NLIG with CoO nanoparticles results in impressive electrochemical performance due to the contributions from electric double-layer capacitance and pseudocapacitance.

Reduced graphene oxide-incorporated calcium phosphate cements with pulsed electromagnetic fields for bone regeneration.

Natural calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) derived from sintered animal bone have been investigated to treat bone defects, but their low mechanical strength remains a critical limitation. Graphene improves the mechanical properties of scaffolds and promotes higher osteoinduction. To this end, reduced graphene oxide-incorporated natural calcium phosphate cements (RGO-CPCs) are fabricated for reinforcement of CPCs' characteristics.

Selective CO adsorption and bathochromic shift in a phosphocholine-based lipid and conjugated polymer assembly.

We assemble a film of a phosphocholine-based lipid and a crystalline conjugated polymer using hydrophobic interactions between the alkyl tails of the lipid and alkyl side chains of the polymer, and demonstrated its selective gas adsorption properties and the polymer's improved light absorption properties. We show that a strong attractive interaction between the polar lipid heads and CO was responsible for 6 times more CO being adsorbed onto the assembly than N, and that with repeated CO adsorption and vacuuming procedures, the assembly structures of the lipid-polymer assembly were irreversibly changed, as demonstrated by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction during the gas adsorption and desorption. Despite the disruption of the lipid structure caused by adsorbed polar gas molecules on polar head groups, gas adsorption could promote orderly alkyl chain packing by inducing compressive strain, resulting in enhanced electron delocalization of conjugated backbones and bathochromic light absorption.

Sensitive and specific capture of polystyrene and polypropylene microplastics using engineered peptide biosensors.

Owing to increased environmental pollution, active research regarding microplastics circulating in the ocean has attracted significant interest in recent times. Microplastics accumulate in the bodies of living organisms and adversely affect them. In this study, a new method for the rapid detection of microplastics using peptides was proposed.

Electrodeposition: An efficient method to fabricate self-supported electrodes for electrochemical energy conversion systems.

The development of electrocatalysts for energy conversion systems is essential for alleviating environmental problems and producing useful energy sources as alternatives to fossil fuels. Improving the catalytic performance and stability of electrocatalysts is a major challenge in the development of energy conversion systems. Moreover, understanding their electrode structure is important for enhancing the energy efficiency.