Growth Promotion and Secondary Metabolites of Vegetables by Spraying Soil with and Extracts at Various Stages of Growth.

There is a growing need for sustainable, efficient methods to promote plant growth and protect crops, with plant extracts offering natural, multi-component solutions. Based on previous observations, , , and were selected from 17 water extracts to investigate how the application times of soil sprays affect the antioxidant enzymes and secondary metabolites in fruity and leafy vegetables at different growth stages. From 1 week after sowing (WAS) to 4 WAS, all applications increased the shoot fresh weight by 42-69% in cucumbers, 40-64% in tomatoes, 46-65% in kale and 42-63% in lettuce.

Combined Impact of Canada Goldenrod Invasion and Soil Microplastic Contamination on Seed Germination and Root Development of Wheat: Evaluating the Legacy of Toxicity.

The concurrent environmental challenges of invasive species and soil microplastic contamination increasingly affect agricultural ecosystems, yet their combined effects remain underexplored. This study investigates the interactive impact of the legacy effects of Canada goldenrod ( L.) invasion and soil microplastic contamination on wheat ( L.

Distribution of Vegetation and Soil Seed Banks Across Habitat Types in Paddy Fields Under Different Farming Practices.

Paddy field ecosystems are crucial for crop production, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem services. Although previous studies have examined paddy field biodiversity, few have addressed how the distribution and species richness of vegetation and soil seed banks are regulated. This study investigated the distribution of wetland plants and soil seed banks in paddy fields across diverse habitat types and identified factors influencing their patterns.

An Explainable CNN and Vision Transformer-Based Approach for Real-Time Food Recognition.

Background: Food image recognition, a crucial step in computational gastronomy, has diverse applications across nutritional platforms. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are widely used for this task due to their ability to capture hierarchical features. However, they struggle with long-range dependencies and global feature extraction, which are vital in distinguishing visually similar foods or images where the context of the whole dish is crucial, thus necessitating transformer architecture.

Interrelation Between BMI, Dietary Habits, Self-Rated Health, and Body Image Perception Among Korean Adolescents: The Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2022).

Background/objectives: Adolescent obesity is highly likely to lead to adult obesity and is associated with dietary habits, subjective health, and body image perception. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between BMI, dietary habits, subjective health perception, and body image perception among Korean adolescents using data from the 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted in 2022 to explore strategies for reducing adolescent obesity rates.

Methods: Data from 50,427 participants were analyzed, including BMI, seven lifestyle factors (intake frequencies of water, milk, fruit, soft drinks, vegetables, breakfast, and late-night snacks), and responses to one item each for subjective health perception and body image perception.

Integrating 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and Metabolomics Analysis to Reveal the Mechanism of L-Proline in Preventing Autism-like Behavior in Mice.

Background/objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive stereotyped behavior. Effective interventions for the core autistic symptoms are currently limited.

Methods: This study employed a valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse model of ASD to assess the preventative effects of L-proline supplementation on ASD-like behaviors.

Coenzyme Q and Selenium Co-Supplementation Alleviate Methionine Choline-Deficient Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis in Mice.

Background/objectives: The pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is closely associated with increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Coenzyme Q (CoQ) and selenium (Se) are well-established antioxidants with protective effects against oxidative damage. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CoQ and Se in ameliorating MASH induced by a methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet in mice.

Hydrolysate Mitigates Muscle Dysfunction and Ectopic Fat Deposition Triggered by a High-Fat Diet in Mice.

Background/objectives: Obesity is a key factor in metabolic syndrome (MetS) development. Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) accelerates the onset of obesity and associated metabolic complications. (PB) has been traditionally utilized in Korean medicine for its antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer, and hepatoprotective effects.

Prediction Model for Flake Line Defects in Metallic Injection Molding: Considering Skin-Core Velocity and Alignment.

Metallic injection molding combines aluminum flake metallic pigments with polymers to directly produce components with metallic luster, improving production efficiency and reducing environmental impact. However, flake line defects that occur in regions where ribs or flow paths intersect remain a significant challenge. This study proposes a velocity model that considers the flow characteristics between the surface and core layers and an alignment model that incorporates the orientation of aluminum flakes to predict appearance defects.

Enhancing the Mechanical and Adhesive Properties of Polyurethane Adhesives with Propylene Oxide-Modified Ethylenediamine (PPO-EDA).

This study explores the use of propylene oxide-modified ethylenediamine (PPO-EDA) as a novel crosslinker and chain extender in polyurethane (PU) adhesives. PPO-EDA was synthesized and compared with ,-dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) to assess its impact on mechanical properties and adhesion performance. Key parameters such as NCO conversion, tensile strength, and lap shear strength were thoroughly evaluated.

Electrochemical Performance of Guanidinium Salt-Added PVP/PEO Solid Polymer Electrolyte with Superior Power Density.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for symmetrical supercapacitors are proposed herein with activated carbon as electrodes and optimized solid polymer electrolyte membranes, which serve as the separators and electrolytes. We propose the design of a low-cost solid polymer electrolyte consisting of guanidinium nitrate (GuN) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Using the solution casting approach, blended polymer electrolytes with varying GuN weight percentage ratios of PVP and PEO are prepared.

Calcium Phosphate (CaP) Composite Nanostructures on Polycaprolactone (PCL): Synergistic Effects on Antibacterial Activity and Osteoblast Behavior.

Bone tissue engineering aims to develop biomaterials that are capable of effectively repairing and regenerating damaged bone tissue. Among the various polymers used in this field, polycaprolactone (PCL) is one of the most widely utilized. As a biocompatible polymer, PCL is easy to fabricate, cost-effective, and offers consistent quality control, making it a popular choice for biomedical applications.

High-Yield Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyhexanoate) from Crude Glycerol by a Newly Isolated Species Oh_219.

Crude glycerol (CG), a major biodiesel production by-product, is the focus of ongoing research to convert it into polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). However, few bacterial strains are capable of efficiently achieving this conversion. Here, 10 PHA-producing strains were isolated from various media.

Plasma Treatment of Metal Surfaces for Enhanced Bonding Strength of Metal-Polymer Hybrid Structures.

The adhesion between metals and polymers plays a pivotal role in numerous industrial applications, especially within the automotive and aerospace sectors, where there is a growing demand for materials that are both lightweight and durable. This study introduces an innovative technique to improve the adhesion between a metal and a polymer in hybrid structures through the synergistic use of anodization and plasma treatment. By forming a nanoporous oxide layer on aluminum surfaces, anodization enhances the interface for polymer binding.

Poly(amic acid)-Polyimide Copolymer Interfacial Layers for Self-Powered CHNHPbI Photovoltaic Photodiodes.

Hybrid organohalide perovskites have received considerable attention due to their exceptional photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiencies in optoelectronic devices. In this study, we report the development of a highly sensitive, self-powered perovskite-based photovoltaic photodiode (PVPD) fabricated by incorporating a poly(amic acid)-polyimide (PAA-PI) copolymer as an interfacial layer between a methylammonium lead iodide (CHNHPbI, MAPbI) perovskite light-absorbing layer and a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) hole injection layer. The PAA-PI interfacial layer effectively suppresses carrier recombination at the interfaces, resulting in a high power conversion efficiency () of 11.

Establishment of Optimal Drug Delivery System and Evaluation of Utilization of Hydrogel Contact Lens According to the Addition Method of Tretinoin and Bovine Serum Albumin.

This study aims to build an optimal drug delivery system by manufacturing and evaluating a hydrogel contact lens using Tretinoin (ATRA) and protein nanoparticles to improve the drug delivery system as an ophthalmic medical contact lens. To evaluate the optical and physical properties of the manufactured lens, the spectral transmittance, refractive index, water content, contact angle, AFM, tensile strength, drug delivery, and antibacterial properties were analyzed. The contact lens was manufactured to contain ATRA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in different ways, and the results confirmed that A, B, and C each had different physical properties.

Characterization of Fatigue Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Based on a Multiscale Approach.

This study presents a methodology for characterizing the constituent properties of composite materials by back-calculating from the laminate behavior under fatigue loading. Composite materials consist of fiber reinforcements and a polymer matrix, with the fatigue performance of the laminate governed by the interaction between these constituents. Due to the challenges in directly measuring the properties of individual fibers and the polymer matrix, a reverse-engineering approach was employed.

Enhancing Thermal Insulation Property and Flexibility of Starch/Poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) Blend Foam by Improving Rheological Properties.

Starch foam has attracted significant attention as an alternative to expanded styrene (EPS) foam owing to its abundance and biodegradability. Despite these merits, its limited thermal insulation and flexibility compared to EPS have hindered its utilization in packaging. Herein, we report the effect of blending with starch/PBAT on foaming behavior and physical properties during foaming processing.

Critical Role of Rubber Functionalities on the Mechanical and Electrical Responses of Carbon Nanotube-Based Electroactive Rubber Composites.

Carbon nanomaterials, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are widely used as reinforcing fillers in rubber composites for advanced mechanical and electrical applications. However, the influence of rubber functionality and its interactions with CNTs remains underexplored. This study investigates electroactive elastomeric composites fabricated with CNTs in two common diene rubbers: natural rubber (NR) and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), each with distinct functionalities.

Gedunin Mitigates -Induced Skin Inflammation by Inhibiting the NF-κB Pathway.

: , a bacterium residing in hair follicles, triggers acne by inducing monocyte-mediated inflammatory cytokine production. Gedunin, a limonoid derived from (commonly known as neem), is renowned for its antifungal, antimalarial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. However, its role in mitigating -induced skin inflammation remains unexplored.

Nose-to-Brain Delivery of Chitosan-Grafted Leciplexes for Promoting the Bioavailability and Antidepressant Efficacy of Mirtazapine: In Vitro Assessment and Animal Studies.

: Mirtazapine (MRZ) is a psychotropic drug prescribed to manage serious sorts of depression. By virtue of its extensive initial-pass metabolic process with poor water solubility, the ultimate bioavailability when taken orally is a mere 50%, necessitating repeated administration. The current inquiry intended to fabricate nose-to-brain chitosan-grafted cationic leciplexes of MRZ (CS-MRZ-LPX) to improve its pharmacokinetic weaknesses and boost the pharmacodynamics aspects.

Exploring the Anti-Osteoporotic Effects of -Hexane Fraction from Nakai: Activation of Runx2 and Osteoblast Differentiation In Vivo.

Background: Osteoporosis is characterized by the microstructural depletion of bone tissue and decreased bone density, leading to an increased risk of fractures. Nakai, an endemic species of the Korean Peninsula, grows wild in Ulleungdo. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of and its components on osteoporosis.

Yeokwisan: Standardised Herbal Formula Enhancing Gastric Mucosal Protection Against Gastric Ulcers in Mice, a Preclinical Study.

: Yeokwisan (YWS) is a standardised herbal formula for relieving functional dyspepsia symptoms. : We explored the therapeutic value of YWS and its potential effects on gastritis. Its inhibitory effect on gastric mucosal damage and anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of alcohol- and restraint stress-induced gastritis were also examined.

Therapeutic Potential of Combined 5% Lifitegrast and Tocopherol Eye Drops in Managing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Murine Dry Eye.

: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combined 5% lifitegrast (LF) and tocopherol (TCP) eye drops in a murine experimental dry eye (EDE) model. Female C57BL/6 were divided into seven groups: untreated controls, EDE control, EDE + 0.05% cyclosporin A (CsA), EDE + tocopherol (TCP), EDE + 5% LF, EDE + 5% LF + TCP (once daily), and EDE + 5% LF + TCP (twice daily).

Fabrication and In Vivo Evaluation of In Situ pH-Sensitive Hydrogel of Sonidegib-Invasomes via Intratumoral Delivery for Basal Cell Skin Cancer Management.

Background/objectives: Basal cell skin cancer (BCSC) develops when skin cells proliferate uncontrollably. Sonidegib (SDB) is a therapeutic option for the treatment of BCSC by inhibiting hedgehog signaling. The problems with SDB's low solubility, poor bioavailability, resistance, poor targeting, and first-pass action make it less effective when taken orally.