Surface Pinning of Mn by Oxidation State Control for the Synthesis of Cobalt-Free, Ni-Rich, Core/Shell Structured Cathode Materials.

Motivated by the increasing cost, environmental concerns, and limited availability of Co, researchers are actively seeking alternative cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. A promising strategy involves structure-modified materials, such as a NiMn core/shell system. This design leverages the high energy density of a Ni-rich core while employing an Mn-rich shell to enhance interfacial stability by suppressing unwanted reactions with the electrolyte. This approach offers improved cycling stability and reduced reliance on Co. However, the interdiffusion of Mn ions between the core and shell remains a significant challenge during synthesis. This work presents a facile approach to address the issue of Mn interdiffusion in core/shell cathode materials. The study demonstrates that partial oxidation of the precursor during the drying stage effectively enhances the Mn oxidation state. This strategy successfully suppresses Mn interdiffusion during subsequent calcination, leading to the preservation of the core/shell architecture in the final cathode material. This optimized structure mitigates interfacial reactions, enhances chemomechanical properties, and reduces crosstalk, a major contributor to rollover failure. This work presents a novel approach for synthesizing high-performance core/shell cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Metabolic Profiling in Plasma and Brain Induced by 17ß-Estradiol Supplementation in Ovariectomized Mice.

17ß-Estradiol is an ovarian hormone that regulates energy circulation and storage by acting on the central nervous system. However, the metabolic differences between the blood and brain when stimulated by 17ß-estradiol are poorly understood. Moreover, research using menopause-induced models to investigate primary metabolites in the blood and brain is limited. Thus, this study aimed to identify metabolic changes in the plasma and brain resulting from 17ß-estradiol supplementation in an estrogen-deficient mouse model. Three groups of mice were utilized: sham-operated mice (Sham), ovariectomized mice (OVX), and ovariectomized mice that received a weekly supplementation of 17ß-estradiol (E2). Plasma and brain samples from these mice were subjected to metabolic analysis using gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry. Compared with the plasma samples from the Sham and OVX groups, the plasma samples from the E2 group contained higher contents of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), such as valine, isoleucine, and leucine. Meanwhile, the brain samples from the E2 group contained higher contents of most metabolites, including BCAAs, neurotransmitters, tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, and fatty acids, than those from the two other groups. This study is the first to reveal differences in energy metabolism induced by 17ß-estradiol supplementation through brain metabolic profiling of ovariectomized mice, emphasizing the importance of brain metabolic profiling in menopausal hormone research.

Coherent charge hopping suppresses photoexcited small polarons in ErFeO3 by antiadiabatic formation mechanism.

Polarons are prevalent in condensed matter systems with strong electron-phonon coupling. The adiabaticity of the polaron relates to its transport properties and spatial extent. To date, only adiabatic small polaron formation has been measured following photoexcitation. The lattice reorganization energy is large enough that the first electron-optical phonon scattering event creates a small polaron without requiring substantial carrier thermalization. We measure that frustrating the iron-centered octahedra in the rare-earth orthoferrite ErFeO3 leads to antiadiabatic polaron formation. Coherent charge hopping between neighboring Fe3+─Fe2+ sites is measured with transient extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy and lasts several picoseconds before the polaron forms. The resulting small polaron formation time is an order of magnitude longer than previous measurements and indicates a shallow potential well, even in the excited state. The results emphasize the importance of considering dynamic electron-electron correlations, not just electron-phonon-induced lattice changes, for small polarons for transport, catalysis, and photoexcited applications.

Enzymatic Synthesis of α-Glucan Microparticles Using Amylosucrases from Bifidobacterium Species and Its Physicochemical Properties.

α-Glucan microparticles (GMPs) have significant potential as high-value biomaterials in various industries. This study proposes a bottom-up approach for producing GMPs using four amylosucrases from Bifidobacterium sp. (BASs). The physicochemical characteristics of these GMPs were analyzed, and the results showed that the properties of the GMPs varied depending on the type of enzymes used in their synthesis. As common properties, all GMPs exhibited typical B-type crystal patterns and poor colloidal dispersion stability. Interestingly, differences in the physicochemical properties of GMPs were generated depending on the synthesis rate of linear α-glucan by the enzymes and the degree of polymerization (DP) distribution. Consequently, we found differences in the properties of GMPs depending on the DP distribution of linear glucans prepared with four BASs. Furthermore, we suggest that precise control of the type and characteristics of the enzymes provides the possibility of producing GMPs with tailored physicochemical properties for various industrial applications.

Integrated "-omics" analysis highlights the role of brassinosteroid signaling and antioxidant machinery underlying improved rice seed longevity during artificial aging treatment.

Seed longevity is a critical characteristic in agriculture, yet the specific genes/proteins responsible for this trait and the molecular mechanisms underlying reduced longevity during seed aging remain largely elusive. Here we report the comparative proteome and metabolome profiling of three rice cultivars exhibiting varying degrees of aging tolerance: Dharial, an aging-tolerant cultivar; Ilmi, an aging-sensitive cultivar; and A2, a moderately aging-tolerant cultivar developed from the crossbreeding of Dharial and Ilmi. Artificial aging treatment (AAT) markedly reduced the germination percentage and enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes in all the cultivars. Further, proteomics results showed a key role of the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome pathway in the degradation of damaged proteins during AAT while other proteases were majorly reduced. In addition, proteins associated with energy production and protein synthesis were strongly reduced in Ilmi while these were majorly increased in A2 and Dharial. These, along with metabolomics results, suggest that Ub-proteasome mediated protein degradation during AAT results in the accumulation of free amino acids in Ilmi while tolerant cultivars potentially utilize those for energy production and synthesis of stress-related proteins, especially hsp20/alpha-crystallin family protein. Additionally, both Dharial and A2 seem to activate brassinosteroid signaling and suppress jasmonate signaling which initiates a signaling cascade that allows accumulation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants for efficient detoxification of aging-induced ROS. Taken together, these results provide an in-depth understanding of the aging-induced changes in rice seeds and highlight key pathways responsible for maintaining seed longevity during AAT.

The ergodicity question when imaging DNA conformation using liquid cell electron microscopy.

Assessing the ergodicity of graphene liquid cell electron microscope measurements, we report that loop states of circular DNA interconvert reversibly and that loop numbers follow the Boltzmann distribution expected for this molecule in bulk solution, provided that the electron dose is low (80-keV electron energy and electron dose rate 1-20 e- Å-2 s-1). This imaging technique appears to act as a "slow motion" camera that reveals equilibrated distributions by imaging the time average of a few molecules without the need to image a spatial ensemble.

Nanoscale Cathodoluminescence Thermometry with a Lanthanide-Doped Heavy-Metal Oxide in Transmission Electron Microscopy.

When navigated by the available energy of a system, often provided in the form of heat, physical processes or chemical reactions fleet on a free-energy landscape, thus changing the structure. In in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), where material structures are measured and manipulated inside the microscope while being subjected to external stimuli such as electrical fields, laser irradiation, or mechanical stress, it is necessary to precisely determine the local temperature of the specimen to provide a comprehensive understanding of material behavior and to establish the relationship among energy, structure, and properties at the nanoscale. Here, we propose using cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy in TEM for in situ measurement of the local temperature. Gadolinium oxide particles doped with emissive europium ions present an opportunity to utilize them as a temperature probe in CL measurements via a ratiometric approach. We show the thermometric performance of the probe and demonstrate a precision of ±5 K in the temperature range from 113 to 323 K with the spatial resolution limited by the size of the particles, which surpasses other methods for temperature determination. With the CL-based thermometry, we further demonstrate measuring local temperature under laser irradiation.

Changes in the BOLD signal of S1 and BA3 per finger/phalanx as a response to high-frequency vibratory stimulation.

PURPOSE AND METHOD: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent signal of Primary somatosensory area (S1) and Brodmann area 3 (BA3) per finger and phalanx in comparison to the activation voxel when 250 Hz vibratory stimulation with high sensitivity for the Pacinian corpuscle was given to the four fingers and three phalanges. RESULTS: The result of analyzing the activation voxel showed a significant difference for S1 per finger and phalanx, but for BA3, no significant difference was observed despite a similar trend to S1. In contrast, the activation intensity (BOLD) displayed a significant difference for S1 per finger and phalanx and for BA3, where the activation voxel had no significant variation. In addition, while the result of S1 did not indicate whether the index or the little fingers had the highest sensitivity based on the BOLD signal per finger, the result of BA3 marked the strongest BOLD signal for the little finger as a response to 250 Hz vibratory stimulation. The activation intensity per phalanx was the highest for the intermediate phalanx for S1 and BA3, which was in line with a previous study comparing the activation voxel. CONCLUSIONS: The method based on the intensity of the nerve activation is presumed to have high sensitivity as the signal intensity is monitored within a specific, defined area. Thus, for the extraction of brain activation patterns of micro-domains, such as BA3, monitoring the BOLD signal that reflects the nerve activation intensity more sensitively is likely to be advantageous.

Hepatobiliary phase imaging in cirrhotic patients using compressed sensing and controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the image quality and focal lesion detection ability of hepatobiliary phase (HBP) images obtained using compressed sensing (CS) and controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) in patients with liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively included 244 gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI from 244 patients with cirrhosis obtained by two HBP images using CS and CAIPIRINHA from July 2020 to December 2020. The optimized resolution and scan time for CS-HBP and CAIPIRINHA-HBP were 0.9 × 0.9 × 1.5 mm3 and 15 s and 1.3 × 1.3 × 3 mm3 and 16 s, respectively. We compared the image quality between the two sets of images in 244 patients and focal lesion (n = 294) analyses for 112 patients. RESULTS: CS-HBP showed comparable overall image quality (3.7 ± 0.9 vs. 3.6 ± 0.8, p = 0.680), superior liver edge sharpness (3.9 ± 0.6 vs. 3.6 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), and fewer respiratory motion artifacts (4.0 ± 0.7 vs. 3.8 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), but higher non-respiratory artifacts (3.4 ± 0.7 vs. 3.6 ± 0.6, p < 0.001) and subjective image noise (3.5 ± 0.8 vs. 3.6 ± 0.7, p = 0.014) than CAIPIRINHA-HBP. CS-HBP showed a higher signal-to-noise ratio in the liver than CAIPIRINHA-HBP (20.9 ± 9.0 vs. 18.9 ± 7.1, p = 0.008). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 90.0%, 77.5%, and 0.84 for CS-HBP and 73.5%, 82.4%, and 0.78 for CAIPIRINHA-HBP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CS-HBP showed better focal lesion detection ability, comparable overall image quality, and fewer respiratory motion artifacts, but higher non-respiratory artifacts and noise compared to CAIPIRINHA-HBP. Thus, CS-HBP could be recommended for liver MRI in patients with cirrhosis to improve diagnostic performance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Thin-slice CS-HBP may be useful for detecting sub-centimeter hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh classification A while maintaining comparable subjective image quality. KEY POINTS: • Compared with controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration, compressed sensing hepatobiliary phase yielded thinner slices and shorter scan time at a higher accelerating factor. • Compressed sensing hepatobiliary phase showed comparable overall image quality, superior liver edge sharpness, and fewer respiratory motion artifacts, but higher non-respiratory artifacts and subjective image noise than controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration-hepatobiliary phase. • Compressed sensing hepatobiliary phase can detect sub-centimeter hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh classification A.

Metabolite Changes in Soybean (Glycine max) Leaves during the Entire Growth Period.

Although soybean (Glycine max) leaves generate building blocks to produce seeds, a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic changes in soybean leaves during the entire growth stages is limited. Here, we investigated the metabolite changes in soybean leaves from five cultivars among four vegetative (V) and eight reproductive (R) stages using metabolite profiling coupled with chemometrics. Principal component analysis (PCA) of all samples showed a clear separation by growth stage. The total amount of monosaccharides and organic acids for energy production were highly detected in the V stage samples, accumulating in concentrations 2.5 and 1.7 times higher than in the R stage samples, respectively. The results of partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed a clear separation from R1 to R5 by the first PLS, suggesting significant alterations in the metabolic networks up to R5. After flowering, the stage of seed formation, R5, was associated with lower levels of most amino acids and an accumulation of phytosterols. The negative correlation observed between amino acids and phytosterol levels suggests a sophisticated coordination between carbon and nitrogen metabolism in plant, ensuring and supporting optimal growth (r = -0.50085, P = 0.0001). In addition, R-stage samples had decreased monosaccharide levels, indicating redistribution to seeds and senescence-related metabolite changes. Thus, metabolite profiling coupled with chemometrics could be a useful tool for investigating alterations in metabolic networks during various plant growth and development stages. Furthermore, we observed variations in flavonoid contents among the different cultivars. The results could be a basis of further studies on the source-sink interactions in the plant system.

Effectiveness of non-immersive virtual reality exercises for balance and gait improvement in older adults: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR)-based physical exercise is an innovative and effective intervention strategy for healthcare in older adults. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed to clarify the effects of VR-based balance exercise programs on various balancing abilities of older adults. In addition, the effect size of each variable was computed by total exercise time, sensor type, avatar presence, and feedback type to determine influencing factors that lead to the success of VR-based rehabilitation programs. METHODS: The databases searched were PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, NDSL, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were: (1) independent older adults; (2) non-immersive VR exercise; (3) randomized controlled design; (4) both balance and gait data; and (5) written in English and Korean. The studies without information to compute effect sizes were excluded. Standardized mean difference was used to analyze the effect size (d). RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were finally included in this study. The main findings of this meta-analysis were as follows: (1) Non-immersive VR-based balance exercises are moderately and largely effective for improving overall balance function, (2) VR balance exercise was more effective for static balance than for gait, (3) VR exercise is more effective when avatars are presented and KP is provided as feedback. CONCLUSION: Total exercise time and mode of feedback are influencing factors that affect the effectiveness of VR-based balance exercises.

Antioxidant, Collagenase Inhibitory, and Antibacterial Effects of Bioactive Peptides Derived from Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Ulva australis.

The protein extract of Ulva australis hydrolyzed with Alcalase and Flavourzyme was found to have multi-functional properties, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), collagenase inhibitory, and antibacterial activities. The #5 fraction (SP5) and #7 fraction (SP7) of U. australis hydrolysate from cation-exchange chromatography displayed significantly high TAC, collagenase inhibitory, and antibacterial effects against Propionibacterium acnes, and only the Q3 fraction from anion-exchange chromatography displayed high multi-functional activities. Eight of 42 peptides identified by MALDI-TOF/MS and Q-TOF/MS/MS were selected from the results for screening with molecular docking on target proteins and were then synthesized. Thr-Gly-Thr-Trp (TGTW) displayed ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] radical scavenging activity. The effect of TAC as Trolox equivalence was dependent on the concentration of TGTW. Asn-Arg-Asp-Tyr (NRDY) and Arg-Asp-Arg-Phe (RDRF) exhibited collagenase inhibitory activity, which increased according to the increase in concentration, and their IC50 values were 0.95 mM and 0.84 mM, respectively. Peptides RDRF and His-Ala-Val-Tyr (HAVY) displayed anti-P. Acnes effects, with IC50 values of 8.57 mM and 13.23 mM, respectively. These results suggest that the U. australis hydrolysate could be a resource for the application of effective nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

SGLT2 inhibitors prevent LPS-induced M1 macrophage polarization and alleviate inflammatory bowel disease by downregulating NHE1 expression.

BACKGROUND: Classically activated M1 macrophages, characterized by aberrant glycolysis and secretion of inflammatory cytokines, play pivotal roles in inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recently, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors were shown to suppress Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 (NCX1) activity, regulating downstream intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in cardiomyocytes. However, whether SGLT2 inhibitors regulate M1 macrophage polarization by downregulating NHE1 and NCX1 remains unknown. METHODS: We analyzed cellular responses to SGLT2 inhibitors using mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and peritoneal macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To induce IBD, we used a dextran sulfate sodium salt-induced colitis mouse model. RESULTS: We observed that NHE1 and NCX1 were overexpressed in LPS-treated macrophages, leading to M1 macrophage polarization. Mechanistically, NHE1 and NCX1-mediated Ca2+ accumulation in the macrophage resulted in enhanced glycolysis by promoting PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signaling. SGLT2 inhibitors suppressed both the expression levels and activities of NHE1 and NCX1, and consequently downregulated PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signaling and glycolysis in LPS-treated macrophages. We observed inhibition of LPS-stimulated M1 polarization and cytokine production by SGLT2 inhibitors in vitro, ex vivo, and in an IBD mouse model. CONCLUSIONS: NHE1 promotes M1 macrophage polarization and SGLT2 inhibitors are a novel strategy to treat M1 macrophage-mediated inflammatory diseases, including IBD.

Using electron energy-loss spectroscopy to measure nanoscale electronic and vibrational dynamics in a TEM.

Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) can measure similar information to x-ray, UV-Vis, and IR spectroscopies but with atomic resolution and increased scattering cross-sections. Recent advances in electron monochromators have expanded EELS capabilities from chemical identification to the realms of synchrotron-level core-loss measurements and to low-loss, 10-100 meV excitations, such as phonons, excitons, and valence structures. EELS measurements are easily correlated with electron diffraction and atomic-scale real-space imaging in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) to provide detailed local pictures of quasiparticle and bonding states. This perspective provides an overview of existing high-resolution EELS (HR-EELS) capabilities while also motivating the powerful next step in the field-ultrafast EELS in a TEM. Ultrafast EELS aims to combine atomic-level, element-specific, and correlated temporal measurements to better understand spatially specific excited-state phenomena. Ultrafast EELS measurements also add to the abilities of steady-state HR-EELS by being able to image the electromagnetic field and use electrons to excite photon-forbidden and momentum-specific transitions. We discuss the technical challenges ultrafast HR-EELS currently faces, as well as how integration with in situ and cryo measurements could expand the technique to new systems of interest, especially molecular and biological samples.

The S-S.M.A.R.T: A New Prognostic Tool for Patients with Suspected Sepsis in the Emergency Department.

Background: The sepsis screening tool is essential because it enables the rapid identification of high-risk patients and facilitates prompt treatment. Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) is a widely used screening tool for sepsis. However, it has limitations in predicting patient prognosis. We developed the S-S.M.A.R.T (sepsis evaluation with shock index, mental status, age, and ROX index on triage) and aimed at evaluating it as a screening tool for patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective chart review of patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department. We compared the prognosis prediction abilities of the S-S.M.A.R.T and qSOFA scores in patients with suspected sepsis. The primary outcome was 7-day mortality, and the secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality and ICU admission. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the chi-square test were used. Results: In total, 401 patients were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 72.2 ± 15.6 years, and 213 (53.1%) of them were female. The S-S.M.A.R.T had superior predictive ability for prognosis of patients with suspected sepsis compared to qSOFA (area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.789 vs. 0.699; p=0.02 for 7-day mortality, AUC of 0.786 vs. 0.681; p < 0.001 for 30-day mortality, AUC 0.758 vs 0.717; p=0.05 for ICU admission). Conclusion: The S-S.M.A.R.T can be useful in predicting the prognosis of patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department.

Obesity Is Associated With Higher Risk of Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Than Supervised Gestational Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Unlike gestational diabetic mellitus (GDM), which is strictly managed by most patients and physicians, obesity does not have proper management guidelines, and the importance of its management during pregnancy is often ignored. The aim of this study was to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes according to obesity and GDM, alone or in combination. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 3,078 consecutive pregnant women who experienced prenatal care and delivery of a live singleton neonate between January 2016 and December 2020 at our institution. Study participants were categorized into 4 mutually exclusive groups, as follows: group 1, no GDM without obesity; group 2, GDM without obesity; group 3, no GDM with obesity; and group 4, GDM with obesity. RESULTS: Compared to group 2, group 3 had higher rates of pre-eclampsia, cesarean section including emergent cesarean section rate. Also, neonates in group 3 were heavier and had lower glucose levels compared to those in group 2. Of note, there was no significant difference in maternal or neonatal outcomes except the rate of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) between group 1 and group 2. Among the GDM groups, group 4 had higher risks for pre-eclampsia, cesarean section, and LGA infant status than group 2. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that obese women without GDM face higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes than women with supervised GDM and non-obese women. We also confirmed that adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with GDM were mainly attributable to obesity among women receiving GDM education.

A Frameshift Mutation in the Mg-Chelatase I Subunit Gene OsCHLI Is Associated with a Lethal Chlorophyll-Deficient, Yellow Seedling Phenotype in Rice.

Chlorophyll biosynthesis is a crucial biological process in plants, and chlorophyll content is one of the most important traits in rice breeding programs. In this study, we identified a lethal, chlorophyll-deficient, yellow seedling (YS) phenotype segregating in progeny of CR5055-21, an F2 plant derived from a backcross between Korean japonica variety 'Hwaseong' (Oryza sativa) and CR5029, which is mostly Hwaseong with a small amount of Oryza grandiglumis chromosome segments. The segregation of the mutant phenotype was consistent with a single gene recessive mutation. Light microscopy of YS leaf cross-sections revealed loosely arranged mesophyll cells and sparse parenchyma in contrast to wildtype. In addition, transmission electron microscopy showed that chloroplasts did not develop in the mesophyll cells of the YS mutant. Quantitative trait loci (QTL)-seq analysis did not detect any significant QTL, however, examination of the individual delta-SNP index identified a 2-bp deletion (AG) in the OsCHLI gene, a magnesium (Mg)-chelatase subunit. A dCAPs marker was designed and genotyping of a segregating population (n = 275) showed that the mutant phenotype co-segregated with the marker. The 2-bp deletion was predicted to result in a frameshift mutation generating a premature termination. The truncated protein likely affects formation and function of Mg-chelatase, which consists of three different subunits that together catalyze the first committed step of chlorophyll biosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis showed that photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism pathways were significantly altered although expression of OsCHLI was not. Chlorophyll- and carotenoid-related genes were also differentially expressed in the YS mutant. Our findings demonstrated that OsCHLI plays an important role in leaf pigment biosynthesis and leaf structure development in rice.

Application of Schizosaccharomyces japonicus in makgeolli fermentation and its brewing characteristics.

Recently, unconventional yeasts have become popular as fermentation starters in the brewing industry due to the growing consumer demand for aromatic diversity. Specifically, Schizosaccharomyces japonicus has been explored as a potential starter culture for beer and wine production because of its distinct brewing characteristics; however, its application in makgeolli fermentation has not been tested. Therefore, in the present study, two Sz. japonicus strains (SZJ-1 and SZJ-2) were isolated from natural sources, and their brewing characteristics for makgeolli fermentation were compared with those of commercial S. cerevisiae strain. Although the tested isolates showed a lower fermentation and carbon source consumption rate than control-, their overall alcohol fermentation characteristics were suitable for makgeolli production. Regarding flavor composition, Sz. japonicus-fermented makgeolli possessed more ester compounds (e.g., 2-phenylethyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and ethyl decanoate) than S. cerevisiae-fermented makgeolli. Therefore, Sz. japonicus can be used as an alternative culture starter in makgeolli fermentation. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01265-6.

Dopamine and serotonin alterations by Hizikia fusiformis extracts under in vitro cortical primary neuronal cell cultures.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hizikia fusiformis (HF) is a class of brown seaweeds whose active ingredients exert central nervous system protective effects, such as neuroprotection; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Given that dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) are two major neurotransmitters involved in various psychiatric disorders and neuronal growth in early neurodevelopmental processes, we investigated whether HF extract could modulate the molecular expression associated with DA and 5HT transmission as well as the structural formation of neurons. MATERIALS/METHODS: In vitro cell cultures were prepared from cerebral cortical neurons obtained from CD-1 mice on embryonic day 14. Cultured cells were treated with 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 µg/mL of HT extract for 24 h, followed by fluorescence immunostaining for DA and 5HT-related receptors and transporters and some neuronal structural formation-associated molecules. RESULTS: HF extract dose-dependently upregulated the expression levels of selective DA and 5HT receptors, and downregulated the levels of DA and 5HT transporters. Moreover, HF extract increased the neurofilament light chain expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HF may modulate DA and 5HT transmission, thereby affecting neurodevelopment.

Effects of inaudible binaural beats on visuospatial memory.

OBJECTIVES: Binaural beats are auditory beat stimulation that produces sounds and induces a specific state of brain wave based on the difference in the frequency of stimulation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of inaudible binaural beats on visuospatial memory at 18 000 Hz reference and 10 Hz difference frequencies. METHODS: Eighteen adult subjects in their twenties were enrolled, including 12 males (mean age: 23.8 ±â€…1.2) and 6 females (mean age: 22.8 ±â€…0.8). An auditory stimulator providing 10 Hz binaural beats stimulation via 18 000 Hz to the left and 18 010 Hz to the right ears was used. The experiment consisted of two 5-min phases, including a rest phase and a task phase involving task performance without (Task-only) and with binaural beats stimulation (Task+BB). A 3-back task was used to measure visuospatial memory. Cognitive ability measured by task performance (accuracy and reaction time) with and without binaural beats, as well as variations in alpha power across different brain domains, were compared using paired t-tests. RESULTS: Compared to the Task-only condition, the Task+BB condition had significantly higher accuracy and significantly shorter reaction time. The electroencephalogram analysis showed that the reduction level in alpha power for the task performance under the Task+BB condition was significantly lower in all brain areas except the frontal, compared to that under the Task-only condition. CONCLUSION: The significance of this study lies in having verified the independent effects of binaural beats stimulation without any auditory influence, based on visuospatial memory.