Pollen tube-expressed RUPO forms a complex with OsMTD2 and OsRALF17 and OsRALF19 peptides in rice (Oryza sativa).

Pollen tubes are crucial for angiosperm plants, as they deliver sperm gametes for the essential process of double fertilization. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind pollen tube germination and growth is critical; however, these processes remain partially elucidated in monocot cereal crops. Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF), a small peptide of about 5 kDa, binds to the CrRLK1L receptor and plays a role in various plant physiological processes, including reproduction and tip growth.

Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group expert consensus statement on the peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer.

The peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in earlier stage disease has seen significant advances in recent years with the incorporation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy. However, many unanswered questions and challenges remain, including the application of clinical trial data to routine clinical practice. Recognising the unique demographic profile of Asian patients with NSCLC and heterogeneous healthcare systems, the Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group (ATORG) convened a consensus meeting in Singapore on 26 April 2024 to discuss relevant issues spanning diagnostic testing to post-neoadjuvant treatment considerations and future directions.

Comparison of mechanical properties and shaping performance of ProGlider and ProTaper ultimate slider.

Background: This study aims to compare design, phase transformation behavior, and torsional resistance of the ProGlider (PG) and ProTaper ultimate slider (PUS) and to compare the performance of two files in the glide-path preparation of a double-curved artificial canal.

Methods: Scanning electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography, and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize the samples. A torsional resistance test was performed to obtain ultimate strength and distortion angle.

Chromosome-level Genome Assembly of Korean Long-tailed Chicken and Pangenome of 40 Gallus gallus Assemblies.

This study presents the first chromosome-level genome assembly of the Korean long-tailed chicken (KLC), a unique breed of Gallus gallus known as Ginkkoridak. Our assembly achieved a super contig N50 of 5.7 Mbp and a scaffold N50 exceeding 90 Mb, with a genome completeness of 96.

How to diagnose glaucoma in myopic eyes by detecting structural changes?

Myopia is rapidly escalating globally, especially in East and Southeast Asia, where its prevalence among younger populations reaches alarming levels of 80 to 90%. This surge contributes to a myopia epidemic linked to several ocular complications, including glaucoma. As myopic individuals age, the risk of developing glaucoma increases, and an additional concern arises from the growing frequency of refractive surgeries among younger individuals, making precise optic nerve assessments critical before surgery.

Durvalumab with or without bevacizumab with transarterial chemoembolisation in hepatocellular carcinoma (EMERALD-1): a multiregional, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is standard of care for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma that is amenable to embolisation; however, median progression-free survival is still approximately 7 months. We aimed to assess whether adding durvalumab, with or without bevacizumab, might improve progression-free survival.

Methods: In this multiregional, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study (EMERALD-1), adults aged 18 years or older with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma amenable to embolisation, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 at enrolment, and at least one measurable intrahepatic lesion per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) were enrolled at 157 medical sites including research centres and general and specialist hospitals in 18 countries.

A three-dimensional mouse liver organoid platform for assessing EDCs metabolites simulating liver metabolism.

Hepatic metabolism is an important process for evaluate the potential activity and toxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) metabolites. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has advocated the development of in vitro assays that mimic in vivo hepatic metabolism to eventually replace classical animal tests. In response to this need, we established a 3D mouse liver organoid (mLO) platform that mimics the animal model and is distinct from existing models.

Cemiplimab in recurrent cervical cancer: Final analysis of overall survival in the phase III EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9 trial.

Aim: Cemiplimab has demonstrated significantly longer survival than physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. We report the final survival analysis from the phase III randomized study (EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9).

Methods: Cemiplimab (n = 304) or chemotherapy (n = 304) were administered every 3 weeks.

Unprecedented East Siberian wildfires intensify Arctic snow darkening through enhanced poleward transport of black carbon.

Summer Arctic black carbon (BC) predominantly originates from boreal wildfires, significantly contributing to Arctic warming. This study examined the impact of MODIS-detected extensive East Siberian wildfires from 2019 to 2021 on Arctic BC and the associated radiative effects using GEOS-Chem and SNICAR simulations. During these years, Arctic surface BC aerosol concentrations rose to 46 ng m, 43 ng m, and 59 ng m, nearly doubling levels from the low-fire year of 2022.

The overlap of diabetic and inflammatory neuropathies: Epidemiology, possible mechanisms, and treatment implications.

Diabetic polyneuropathy is the common neuropathy of diabetes. However, several inflammatory neuropathies may occur during diabetes. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) represents the most treatable example.

Easy and Fast Detection of Hypochlorite by a Bithiophene-Based Fluorescent Turn-on Sensor and its Applications to Test Strips, Real Water Samples, and Smartphone-Assisted Platform.

We report a bithiophene-based fluorescence probe BDT (2,2'-(((1 E, 1'E)-[2,2'-bithiophene]-5,5'-diylbis(methaneylylidene))bis(azaneylylidene))bis(4-(tert-butyl)phenol)) for recognizing ClO. BDT selectively responded to ClO, leading to a blue fluorescence enhancement in a mixture of DMF/HEPES buffer (9:1, v/v). Importantly, BDT showed an ultrafast response (within 1 s) to ClO among the fluorescent turn-on chemosensors based on bithiophene.

Mechanical analysis of cerclage as a treatment for cervical insufficiency.

Background: The primary treatment for cervical insufficiency is cervical cerclage (mechanical support) with vaginal progesterone (biochemical support). Cerclage is a surgical procedure that mechanically increases the tensile capacity of the cervix. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the effects of cerclage from a mechanical point of view.

Cardiovascular Outcomes With Antidiabetic Drugs in People With Type 2 Diabetes and a Prior Stroke.

Objective: To assess the comparative effectiveness of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), thiazolidinediones (TZD), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) for the cardiorenal outcomes and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes and a prior stroke.

Patients And Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from 2014 to 2021, a new-user cohort was established through propensity score matching for SGLT2i, TZD, and DPP-4i. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), comprising myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular death.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids as Potential Predictors of Sudden Cardiac Death and Cardiovascular Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) poses a significant burden on the modern-day public health system; however, while our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is still evolving and may not be complete, many insights are known and applied every day. Targeted prevention methods are continually being developed and refined. We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis to identify a blood nutritional biomarker that can predict and screen population groups at high risk for cardiovascular disease mortality (CVD mortality) or SCD.

Rice Bran Consumption Improves Lipid Profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Dyslipidemia, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), significantly contributes to global morbidity and mortality. Rice bran, rich in bioactive compounds such as γ-oryzanol and tocotrienols, has demonstrated promising lipid-modulating effects.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of rice bran on lipid profiles, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and identify factors influencing its efficacy across different populations and intervention conditions.

Genome-Wide Association Study to Identify Genetic Factors Linked to HBV Reactivation Following Liver Transplantation in HBV-Infected Patients.

This study utilized a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate the genetic variations linked to the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients who have undergone liver transplantation (LT), aiming to enhance understanding and improve clinical outcomes. Genotyping performed on a selected patients from the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY) data using high-throughput platforms with the Axiom Korea Biobank array 1.1.

Nutritional Strategies for Enhancing Performance and Training Adaptation in Weightlifters.

Weightlifting demands explosive power and neuromuscular coordination in brief, repeated intervals. These physiological demands underscore the critical role of nutrition, not only in optimizing performance during competitions but also in supporting athletes' rigorous training adaptations and ensuring effective recovery between sessions. As weightlifters strive to enhance their performance, well-structured nutritional strategies are indispensable.

Differential Expression of CXCL12 in Human and Mouse Hair: Androgens Induce CXCL12 in Human Dermal Papilla and Dermal Sheath Cup.

We previously demonstrated that C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12) is primarily secreted by dermal fibroblasts in response to androgens and induces hair miniaturization in the mouse androgenic alopecia (AGA) model. However, the direct effects of androgen-induced CXCL12 on dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and dermal sheath cup cells (DSCs) have not been demonstrated. First, we compared single-cell RNA sequencing data between mouse and human skin, and the results show that CXCL12 is highly co-expressed with the androgen receptor (AR) in the DPCs and DSCs of only human hair.

Effects of Doping on Elastic Strain in Crystalline Ge-Sb-Te.

Phase-change random access memory (PcRAM) faces significant challenges due to the inherent instability of amorphous GeSbTe (GST). While doping has emerged as an effective method for amorphous stabilization, understanding the precise mechanisms of structural modification and their impact on material stability remains a critical challenge. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of elastic strain and stress in crystalline lattices induced by various dopants (C, N, and Al) through systematic measurements of film thickness changes during crystallization.

Development of Application Customization Toolkit (ACT) for 3D Thermal Elastic-Plastic Welding Analysis.

A 3D thermal elastic-plastic welding analysis ACT (Application Customization Toolkit) was developed in ANSYS, making welding analysis more accessible. The welding analysis was performed using a decoupled method, separated into thermal and structural analyses. To validate the results, comparisons were made with previous studies for two types of welding: T-joint fillet welding and butt welding.

The Validity of a Smartphone-Based Application for Assessing Cognitive Function in the Elderly.

The early detection of individuals at risk of cognitive impairment is a clinical imperative. With the recent advancement of digital devices, smartphone application-based cognitive assessment is considered a promising tool for cognitive screening and monitoring inside and outside the clinic. This study examined whether a smartphone-based cognitive assessment, Brain OK, was valid for evaluating cognitive performance and identifying people at risk of cognitive impairment.