Effect of Chicken Age on Proliferation and Differentiation Abilities of Muscle Stem Cells and Nutritional Characteristics of Cultured Meat Tissue.

This study aimed to investigate effects of chicken age on proliferation and differentiation capacity of muscle satellite cells (MSCs) and to determine total amino acid contents of cultured meat (CM) produced. Chicken MSCs (cMSCs) were isolated from hindlimb muscles of broiler chickens at 5-week-old (5W) and 19-embryonic-day (19ED), respectively. Proliferation abilities (population doubling time and cell counting kit 8) of cMSCs from 19ED were significantly higher than those from 5W (p<0.05). Likewise, both myotube formation area and expression of myosin heavy chain heavy of cMSCs from 19ED were significantly higher than those from 5W (p<0.05). After cMSCs were serially subcultured for long-term cultivation in 2D flasks to produce cultured meat tissue (CMT), total amino acid contents of CMT showed no significant difference between 5W and 19ED chickens (p>0.05). This finding suggests that cMSCs from chicken embryos are more suitable for improving the production efficiency of CM than those derived from young chickens.

Development and Comparative Evaluation of Imitated Fiber from Different Protein Sources Using Wet-Spinning.

Texture is a major challenge in addressing the need to find sustainable meat alternatives, as consumers desire alternative meat to have a sensory profile like meat. In this study, the fabrication of imitated muscle fiber (IMF) is performed by introducing different kinds of protein sources, with an effective bottom-up technique- wet spinning. Herein, the protein sources (pea protein isolate, wheat protein, and myofibrillar paste) were combined with sodium alginate to stimulate the bonding with the coagulation solution for fabrication. It has been found that the fabrication of IMF is possible using all the protein sources, however, due to the difference in protein structure, a significant difference was observed in quality characteristics compared to conventional meat. Additionally, combination of wheat protein and pea protein isolate has given similar values as conventional meat in terms of some of the texture profiles and Warner-Bratzler shear force. In general, the optimization of protein sources for wet spinning can provides a novel way for the production of edible fiber of alternative meat.

Non-destructive ultrasonic testing for identifying concealed weapons and analyzing internal chemical substances.

The management of unknown weapons obtained from warfare, military operations, and terrorist situations requires a series of nondestructive testing processes. This management process, which is aimed at collecting information on the nature of the weapons, encompasses identification, processing, transportation, and storage of the obtained weapons. A lack of identification marks in acquired ammunition may indicate the potential presence of a chemical weapon. Therefore, nondestructive evaluation methods have been employed to identify unknown weapons. However, these methods rely on neutron- and radiation-based analyses, which require radiation-handling experts and specific protective facilities. Consequently, their application in this field is challenging. Herein, a nondestructive ultrasonic testing method, which can identify substances inside unknown weapons and optimize the verifiability of the state of the ammunition, was employed as an alternative method to overcome these limitations. The experimental system enabled quantitative and qualitative analyses of the internal chemicals by analyzing the time difference in acquiring the signals, particularly when the results indicate that the internal substance is a liquid. The results of this study can serve as a basis for advancing the application of ultrasonic testing as a viable and efficient approach for managing unknown weapons.

Harmonic errors of a 9.4 T all-REBCO NMR magnet affected by screening current and geometric inconsistency of coated conductors.

REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 - x (REBCO, RE = rare earth)-coated conductor is a competitive option in terms of current-carrying capacity and high-stress durability in developing high-field magnets for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) research. Meanwhile, a technical challenge in utilizing a stand-alone REBCO NMR magnet is an unexpected difference in the field uniformity between the designed and measured values after being constructed and charged, i.e., harmonic errors. Bortot et al., and Li et al., reported analytic evidence of the related issue. However, sufficient research has not yet been conducted, so evidence should be supplemented further. Here we report harmonic errors due to screening current and inconsistent conductor thickness, confirmed by a 400 MHz 1H NMR magnet development project. The magnet was first charged up to its operating current, and then multiple overcharge-discharge cycles were applied, which was an empirically optimized operation protocol. A field mapping device obtained magnetic fields at designated locations in the room-temperature bore. The result showed over 100 ppm field uniformity difference between designed and measured values. A simulation model was developed considering screening current and inconsistent conductor thickness for reproducing the field distribution. Comparison of voltages and fields between simulation and measurement validated the model. Further analysis of the overcharge-discharge effect on harmonic errors demonstrated that even and odd-order harmonics are mainly attributed to screening current and geometric inconsistency while confirming the limitation of the screening current mitigation effect. Hence, we concluded that the desirable requirement of the sub-ppm level field uniformity generation might be barely possible with the current REBCO NMR magnet design approach.

Meat quality and safety issues during high temperatures and cutting-edge technologies to mitigate the scenario.

Climate change, driven by the natural process of global warming, is a worldwide issue of significant concern because of its adverse effects on livestock output. The increasing trend of environmental temperature surging has drastically affected meat production and meat product quality, hence result in economic losses for the worldwide livestock business. Due to the increasing greenhouse gas emissions, the situation would get prolonged, and heat exposure-related stress is expected to worsen. Heat exposure causes metabolic and physiological disruptions in livestock. Ruminants and monogastric animals are very sensitive to heat stress due to their rate of metabolism, development, and higher production levels. Before slaughter, intense hot weather triggers muscle glycogen breakdown, producing pale, mushy, and exudative meat with less water-holding capacity. Animals exposed to prolonged high temperatures experience a decrease in their muscle glycogen reserves, producing dry, dark, and complex meat with elevated final pH and increased water-holding capacity. Furthermore, heat stress also causes oxidative stresses, especially secondary metabolites from lipid oxidation, severely affects the functionality of proteins, oxidation of proteins, decreasing shelf life, and food safety by promoting exfoliation and bacterial growth. Addressing the heat-related issues to retain the sustainability of the meat sector is an essential task that deserves an inclusive and comprehensive approach. Considering the intensity of the heat stress effects, this review has been designed primarily to examine the consequences of hot environment temperatures and related stresses on the quality and safety of meat and secondarily focus on cutting edge technology to reduce or alleviate the situational impact.

Importance of Autophagy Regulation in Glioblastoma with Temozolomide Resistance.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and common malignant and CNS tumor, accounting for 47.7% of total cases. Glioblastoma has an incidence rate of 3.21 cases per 100,000 people. The regulation of autophagy, a conserved cellular process involved in the degradation and recycling of cellular components, has been found to play an important role in GBM pathogenesis and response to therapy. Autophagy plays a dual role in promoting tumor survival and apoptosis, and here we discuss the complex interplay between autophagy and GBM. We summarize the mechanisms underlying autophagy dysregulation in GBM, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, which is most active in brain tumors, and EGFR and mutant EGFRvIII. We also review potential therapeutic strategies that target autophagy for the treatment of GBM, such as autophagy inhibitors used in combination with the standard of care, TMZ. We discuss our current understanding of how autophagy is involved in TMZ resistance and its role in glioblastoma development and survival.

The Application of High-Intensity Ultrasound on Wet-Dry Combined Aged Pork Loin Induces Physicochemical and Oxidative Alterations.

This research investigated the synergic outcome of high intensity ultrasound (HIU) treatment and wet-dry combined aging (WDCA) on physiochemical characteristics and lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage to ameliorate pork meat's quality and shelf life. The CIE b* values, cooking loss (CL %), and pH of the HIU treated samples were higher than those of the control over the aging period. They were significantly (p<0.05) modified by the aging period and ultrasound (US) treatment. However, the released water (RW %) and moisture were not significantly influenced by US treatment (p>0.05). The Warner-Bratzler shear force of HIU-treated samples was lower over control values except in 7-14 d, and it showed a significant difference between control and US treatment according to the significance of HIU (p<0.05). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substance of HIU-treated samples was significantly higher (p<0.05) than control values over the aging period. These results suggested that HIU treatment and WDCA showed a synergistic effect of maximizing the tenderness, but lipid oxidation was higher than before ultrasonic treatment. In agreement with this, the most favorable approach would involve implementing wet aging for a period of two weeks followed by dry aging for a period not exceeding one week after the application of HIU.

Ir(triNHC)-Catalyzed Upcycling of Waste PET for Lactic Acid Production with Sustainable Isolation via Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis.

For the upcycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET), encompassing both colored and fabric PET materials, we investigated the Ir(triNHC)-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of PET and methanol, leading to the production of sodium lactate with good yields. We proposed a sustainable method for isolating lactic acid from the catalytic reaction mixture of sodium lactate and regenerating the base using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED). This isolation method demonstrated high effectiveness, achieving isolation of lactic acid while maintaining economic feasibility at $ 0.10 per kg of lactic acid, and enabling sustainable NaOH regeneration with complete resource circulation. We assessed the recyclability of the catalyst and elucidated the mechanism involving base-mediated depolymerization and catalyst-promoted dehydrogenation, highlighting the importance of triNHC ligands in enhancing catalytic activity.

What Did the Ideal Beauty of the 15th Century Look Like? An Anthropometric Analysis of Botticelli Portraits.

The aim of this study was to conduct an anthropometric analysis of the 5 portraits painted by Botticelli that depict Simonetta Vespucci. Five images in the Simonetta series by Botticelli workshop were measured. The anthropometric measurements of the face included 22 parameters on the lateral view (in 4 portraits; 18 distances and 4 angles) and 17 distances on the frontal view (in one portrait), which were measured using Adobe Photoshop. The absolute distances were calculated relative to the vertical corneal diameter (10.6 mm), which was calculated by multiplying the distance from the pupil's center to the lower margin of the iris. In the lateral faces, the nasofrontal angle (g-n-prn) was 157.6±2.4 degrees, and the nasal tip angle (n-prn-sn) was 99.7±3.4 degrees. The nasolabial angle (prn-sn-ls) was 125.7±4.9 degrees, and the labiomental angle (li-sl-pg) was 131.6±4.4 degrees. The ratio of the upper lip height to the lower lip height (sn-sto/sto-sl) was 85.4±9.0%. The ratio of the upper lip vermillion to the upper lip height (ls-sto/sn-sto) was 27.7±3.9%. The ratio of the lower lip vermillion to the lower lip height (sto-li/sto-sl) was 47.2±6.6%. Comparing the data with 21st-century Italian females, forehead II height (tr-n), physiognomical face height (tr-gn), and morphologic face height (n-gn) of the beauties of the 15th century were significantly greater than those of 21st-century Italian females. However, there were no significant differences in lower face height (sn-gn) and nose height (n-sn). Considering the ongoing cultural relevance of Renaissance art, the esthetic proportions from this study may have reflection to the present day plastic surgery.

Aconite-Induced Metamorphosis From Beauty to Ugliness in a Japanese Tale.

The authors present a narrative that details the cause and process of a woman's transformation from beauty to ugliness in a Japanese tale. In " Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan ," the metamorphosis from a beauty to an ugly woman is analyzed. After taking medication to recover from childbirth, Oiwa's face became disfigured and grotesque. Oiwa: It seems to be good for my blood, but when I drink it, it causes fraying and breakdown, causing sudden pain. I feel a numbing dullness. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was shocked. Oiwa: What's wrong with my face? I hate this, it's such a disgusting thing. Neighbor: It was a lie that the medicine you drank was a helpful medicine that protects the appearance of people's faces. Your face is that of a wicked woman (). Oiwa: Is it really me? Why does she have the face of an evil woman? Her hair falls out in a gruesome combing scene, driving her mad. The poison Oiwa took was aconite, which grows wild in Japan. Both aconite tincture and raw aconite roots contain high concentrations of Aconitum alkaloids, which can penetrate the stratum corneum following the diffusion gradient. As her hair fell out during a horrific combing session, she abandoned her maternal role and sought revenge, having lost what she considered a symbol of her femininity. In treating female patients with facial disfigurement, it is important to be mindful of their psychological state, akin to that of Oiwa, who became disfigured through no fault of her own.

Images of Modern Beauties in the Japanese Colonial Era of Korea (1910-1945).

This study aimed to analyze images of the modern beauty of Korea during the Japanese colonial era. Searches were conducted on Google ( www.google.com ) and Naver ( www.naver.com ) for archives of newspapers and magazines that contained images of beauty. Beauty of the face and neck (the early 1920s): an article (1922) detailed the contemporary beauty standards. It specifies the desired characteristics of the eyes, nose, and mouth and dictates that "the cheeks ought to be plump enough to obscure the cheekbones" and "the neck and shoulders should also be full, concealing the collarbones." Images of beauty showing balance and proportion (the late 1920s): in 1928, a magazine article introduced the concept of "the world's beauty from a scientific perspective," which represented Western esthetics as reflected in the "Canon" of body proportions and Vitruvian Man. From the face to the body (from the late 1920s to 1930s): in 1927, a daily newspaper established the standard for global beauty. During this period, there was an increased emphasis on maintaining the body, rather than just the face, as a crucial aspect of beauty. From the mid-1930s, the concept of a "streamlined" female body shape gained popularity. Male gaze, which fragmented and objectified women's bodies, had been visualized and mass-produced. It is essential to understand how preferences have evolved and to possess skilled hands capable of improving the face and body. To properly sculpt the face and body, keen eyes and adept hands are needed.

Defining the cellular origin of seminoma by transcriptional and epigenetic mapping to the normal human germline.

Aberrant male germline development can lead to the formation of seminoma, a testicular germ cell tumor. Seminomas are biologically similar to primordial germ cells (PGCs) and many bear an isochromosome 12p [i(12p)] with two additional copies of the short arm of chromosome 12. By mapping seminoma transcriptomes and open chromatin landscape onto a normal human male germline trajectory, we find that seminoma resembles premigratory/migratory PGCs; however, it exhibits enhanced germline and pluripotency programs and upregulation of genes involved in apoptosis, angiogenesis, and MAPK/ERK pathways. Using pluripotent stem cell-derived PGCs from Pallister-Killian syndrome patients mosaic for i(12p), we model seminoma and identify gene dosage effects that may contribute to transformation. As murine seminoma models do not exist, our analyses provide critical insights into genetic, cellular, and signaling programs driving seminoma transformation, and the in vitro platform developed herein permits evaluation of additional signals required for seminoma tumorigenesis.

Scaffolding fundamentals and recent advances in sustainable scaffolding techniques for cultured meat development.

In cultured meat (CM) production, Scaffolding plays an important role by aiding cell adhesion, growth, differentiation, and alignment. The existence of fibrous microstructure in connective and muscle tissues has attracted considerable interest in the realm of tissue engineering and triggered the interest of researchers to implement scaffolding techniques. A wide array of research efforts is ongoing in scaffolding technologies for achieving the real meat structure on the principality of biomedical research and to replace serum free CM production. Scaffolds made of animal-derived biomaterials are found efficient in replicating the extracellular matrix (ECM), thus focus should be paid to utilize animal byproducts for this purpose. Proper identification and utilization of plant-derived scaffolding biomaterial could be helpful to add diversified options in addition to animal derived sources and reduce in cost of CM production through scaffolds. Furthermore, techniques like electrospinning, modified electrospinning and 3D bioprinting should be focused on to create 3D porous scaffolds to mimic the ECM of the muscle tissue and form real meat-like structures. This review discusses recent advances in cutting edge scaffolding techniques and edible biomaterials related to structured CM production.

Beauty Pageants in the Japanese Colonial Era of Korea (1931 and 1940).

The aim of this study was to analyze the beauty pageants that were held in Korea during the Japanese colonial era (1931, 1940). Through searches of www.google.com and www.naver.com, 3 pageants were found: (1) 1931, Miss Korea, organized by Samchunli (a magazine): Any Korean woman, with the exception of Korean geishas, could apply by submitting her photographs. The number of candidates was 326. Nine Korean judges evaluated the photos of the candidates. Among them, the victor was an 18-year-old Korean woman. (2) 1931 (Oct), Miss Joseon, organized by Osaka Mainichi Shimbun: The candidates were categorized into 2 groups: 10 "internals" (Japanese) and 10 Koreans. Their heights and weights, along with their photographs, were provided for the readers' reference. The winners were determined based on the readers' votes. The Japanese victor was a 21-year-old student with a height of 150 cm and a weight of 52 kg (body mass index [BMI] 23.11 kg/m2). The Korean winner was a 19-year-old student standing at 157 cm and weighing 53 kg (BMI 21.50 kg/m2). (3) 1940, Venus of the Peninsula, organized by Modern Japan (a magazine): The candidates were Korean women residing in Japan or Korea. The panel of judges evaluated the photographs of the candidates. The victor was a 20-year-old Korean geisha. Her winning photograph was featured in the Korean edition of the magazine Modern Japan. She stood at 157 cm in height and weighed 45 kg (BMI 18.25 kg/m2). As beauty standards evolved over time, the beauty standards of the 1930s were markedly different from those of today.

Rejuvenation: From the Fictional Dr Heidegger (1837) to Pioneering Modern Plastic Surgeons (1901-1912).

This study aims to identify criticisms of rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery through an analysis of "Dr Heidegger's Experiment" (1837), written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Dr Heidegger an eccentric, aged scientist, invites 4 elderly friends to be his subjects of study. The guests drink the water from the "fountain of Youth." As their youth is restored, they revert to the foolish behaviors of their younger days. The 3 men soon start vying for the affection of the now youthful and attractive widow. In the midst of their rivalry over the widow, the vase is shattered, and miraculous water spills out. The guests revert to their elderly states. To regain their lost youth, they journey in search of the fountain. Hawthorne viewed rejuvenation procedures as consumptive and physically destructive transformations. His novel captures the modern anxiety surrounding rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery through the lens of literary fantasy. Observing the transformation of the 4 guests, Dr Heidegger understands that youth is too meager a prize to trade for the wisdom that comes with old age. Advancements in medical science have alleviated modern individuals' concerns regarding rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery. Eugen Holländer and Erich Lexer independently performed a facelift in Germany (1901). Charles Conrad Miller first described the blepharoplasty technique in the United States (1906). Suzanne Noël performed a rhytidectomy in France (1912). For the plastic surgeon, it is important to sculpt the face in a way that reflects the patient's virtues, such as wisdom and dignity-qualities that Hawthorne highlighted through the character of Dr Heidegger.

Lifestyle of Cleft Lip/Palate Patients in Korea Before the Introduction of the Millard Technique.

The authors introduce a short story about the lifestyle of a cleft lip woman in Korea, published in 1936, about 2 decades before Dr Millard operated on his first patient in Korea. A short story entitled "Ugly Thing," written by Yao-hsieh Chu, analyzed by Eonnyeon, a girl born in a rural area with a cleft lip and palate who excelled at household tasks such as sewing. Her forehead was bulging, and her eyes were protruding. She had a low-profile nose with wide nostrils. She had a left unilateral complete primary cleft, including an alveolar cleft. There was midface retraction, accompanied by a relatively prominent chin. Her voice exhibited hypernasality. People often laugh when they see Eonnyeon eating her food, exclaiming, "She's eating like a rabbit!" However, she married a young man who deserted her on their wedding night because of her appearance. Subsequently, she moved to an urban area and found work as a housemaid. One day, she was raped by a middle-aged water delivery man, who then fled. Ten months later, she gave birth to a girl who also had a cleft lip. In a moment of despair, Eonnyeon attempted to smother her baby with a pillow but stopped herself. She resolved to raise her daughter despite the challenges ahead. The mockery directed at her could be viewed as an expression of the latent sadism inherent in human nature. It is remarkable to consider the progress made since Millard performed his first cleft lip surgery in Korea in 1954.

Room Temperature Reduction of Nitrogen Oxide on Iron Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Nitrogen oxides represent one of the main threats for the environment. Despite decades of intensive research efforts, a sustainable solution for NOx removal under environmental conditions is still undefined. Using theoretical modelling, material design, state-of-the-art investigation methods and mimicking enzymes, it is found that selected porous hybrid iron(II/III) based MOF material are able to decompose NOx, at room temperature, in the presence of water and oxygen, into N2 and O2 and without reducing agents. This paves the way to the development of new highly sustainable heterogeneous catalysts to improve air quality.

Effect of Sample Geometry on Graphitization of Polyacrylonitrile.

In this study, it is analyzed how sample geometry (spheres, nanofibers, or films) influences the graphitization behavior of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) molecules. The chemical bonding and changes in the composition of these three geometries are studied at the oxidation, carbonization, and graphitization stages via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in situ thermogravimetric-infrared (TGA-IR) analysis, elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The influence of molecular alignment on the graphitization of the three sample geometries is investigated using synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of molecular alignment at different draw rates during spinning are explored in detail.

Modern Concepts of Restructured Meat Production and Market Opportunities.

Restructured meat (RM) products are gaining importance as an essential component of the meat industry due to consumers' interest in health benefits. RM products imply the binding or holding of meat, meat by-products, and vegetable proteins together to form a meat product with meat's sensory and textural properties. RM products provide consumers with diversified preferences like the intake of low salt, low fat, antioxidants, and high dietary fiber in meat products. From the point of environmental sustainability, RM may aid in combining underutilized products and low-valued meat by adequately utilizing them instead of dumping them as waste material. RM processing technique might also help develop diversified and new hybrid meat products. It is crucial to have more knowledge on the quality issues, selection of binding agents, their optimum proportion, and finally, the ideal processing techniques. It is observed in this study that the most crucial feature of RM could be its healthy products with reduced fat content, which aligns with the preferences of health-conscious consumers who seek low-fat, low-salt, high-fiber options with minimal synthetic additives. This review briefly overviews RM and the factors affecting the quality and shelf life. Moreover, it discusses the recent studies on binding agents in processing RM products. Nonetheless, the recent advancements in processing and market scenarios have been summarized to better understand future research needs. The purpose of this review was to bring light to the ways of sustainable and economical food production.

Umami Characteristics and Taste Improvement Mechanism of Meat.

Taste is one of the five senses that detect vital information about what we are eating. Comprehending taste is crucial for enhancing the flavor of foodstuffs and high-protein foods like meat. Umami has global recognition as the fifth elementary taste, alongside sweetness, sourness, saltiness, and bitterness. Umami compounds are known to enhance the sensation of recognized flavors such as salty, sweet, bitter, and others. This could end up in greater food consumption by consumption by consumers. With the rising global population, meat consumption is rising and is projected to double by 2025. It is crucial to comprehend the umami mechanism of meat and meat products, identify novel compounds, and employ laboratory methodologies to gather varied information. This knowledge will aid in the development of new consumer products. Although very limited information is available on umami taste and compounds in meat through research data. This article discusses recent advancements in umami compounds in other foodstuff as well as meat to aid in designing future research and meat product development. Moreover, another objective of this review is to learn present techniques in foodstuffs to enhance umami taste and utilize that knowledge in meat products.