Seed traits inheritance in Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. based on image analysis method.

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) is one of the most important orphan crops worldwide. Various research efforts have been done to improve cultivation methods to enhance important agronomic traits such as productivity and biotic/abiotic resistance. One important aspect is the seed trait, which has not been extensively studied due to the time-consuming and tedious nature of its examination. Despite this, understanding seed traits is crucial for meeting consumer needs and optimizing crop yields. Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate the inheritance of common buckwheat seed traits-such as shape, size, and coat color-using an image-based approach. This method allows for the analysis of a large number of seeds with a level of accuracy and precision that was previously unattainable. The results indicate that seed coat color is inherited maternally. Notably, the parameters in size had substantial increases acting like overdominance. The number of seeds that were harvested from F1s of each cross differed a lot depending on the cross combinations and pin/thrum type. In addition, seed size had large reduction in F1s from the different seed-sized parents, especially in thrum type. These may show that there could be cross barriers. The results revealed trends of maternal inheritance for seed shape and coat color in buckwheat, an area that has not been extensively studied. These findings could support buckwheat breeding efforts, helping to address market needs and food demands in the face of significant climate change.

An innovative strategy harnessing self-activating CAR-NK cells to mitigate TGF-ß1-driven immune suppression.

The dysfunction of natural killer (NK) cells, mediated by transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) within the tumor microenvironment, impedes antitumor therapy and contributes to poor clinical outcomes. Our study introduces self-activating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells that block TGFß1 signaling by releasing a specifically designed peptide, P6, which targets mesothelin in pancreatic tumors. P6 originates from the interaction sites between TGFß1 and TGFß receptor 1 and effectively disrupts TGFß1's inhibitory signaling in NK cells. Our analysis demonstrates that P6 treatment interrupts the SMAD2/3 pathway in NK cells, mitigating TGFß1-mediated suppression of NK cell activity, thereby enhancing their metabolic function and cytotoxic response against pancreatic tumors. These CAR-NK cells exhibit potent antitumor capabilities, as evidenced in spheroid cultures with cancer-associated fibroblasts and in vivo mouse models. Our approach marks a substantial advancement in overcoming TGFß1-mediated immune evasion, offering a promising avenue for revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy.

Nanozyme-Shelled Microcapsules for Targeting Biofilm Infections in Confined Spaces.

Bacterial infections in irregular and branched confinements pose significant therapeutic challenges. Despite their high antimicrobial efficacy, enzyme-mimicking nanoparticles (nanozymes) face difficulties in achieving localized catalysis at distant infection sites within confined spaces. Incorporating nanozymes into microrobots enables the delivery of catalytic agents to hard-to-reach areas, but poor nanoparticle dispersibility and distribution during fabrication hinder their catalytic performance. To address these challenges, a nanozyme-shelled microrobotic platform is introduced using magnetic microcapsules with collective and adaptive mobility for automated navigation and localized catalysis within complex confinements. Using double emulsions produced from microfluidics as templates, iron oxide and silica nanoparticles are assembled into 100-µm microcapsules, which self-organize into multi-unit, millimeter-size assemblies under rotating magnetic fields. These microcapsules exhibit high peroxidase-like activity, efficiently catalyzing hydrogen peroxide to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, microcapsule assemblies display remarkable collective navigation within arched and branched confinements, reaching the targeted apical regions of the tooth canal with high accuracy. Furthermore, these nanozyme-shelled microrobots perform rapid catalysis in situ and effectively kill biofilms on contact via ROS generation, enabling localized antibiofilm action. This study demonstrates a facile method of integrating nanozymes onto a versatile microrobotic platform to address current needs for targeted therapeutic catalysis in complex and confined microenvironments.

Fabrication of a uniform quantum dot film with a high quantum yield.

We present a method that uses viscosity-lowering materials to fabricate flexible polydimethylsiloxane-based quantum dot (QD) films with high quantum yield (QY) and improved uniformity. We found that the aggregation of individual QDs was prevented, and the QY improved simultaneously in films that contained surfactants. These films showed an improved absorption of approximately 27% in the near-UV and blue light regions, along with an improved photoluminescence of approximately 18%, indicating improved light conversion from the UV to the visible frequency region.

A transparent p-type semiconductor designed via a polarizability-enhanced strongly correlated insulator oxide matrix.

Electron-transporting transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are a commercial reality, however, hole-transporting counterparts are far more challenging because of limited material design. Here, we propose a strategy for enhancing the hole conductivity without deteriorating the band gap (Eg) and workfunction (Φ) by Cu incorporation in a strongly correlated NiWO4 insulator. The optimal Cu-doped NiWO4 (Cu0.185Ni0.815WO4) exhibits a resistivity reduction of ∼109 times versus NiWO4 as well as band-like charge transport with the hole mobility approaching 7 cm2 V-1 s-1 at 200 K, a deep Φ of 5.77 eV, and Eg of 2.8 eV. Experimental and theoretical data reveal that the strength of the electron correlation in NiWO4 is unaffected by Cu incorporation, while the promoted polarizability weakens electron-phonon coupling, promoting the formation of large polarons. Quantum dot light-emitting and oxide p/n junction devices incorporating Cu0.185Ni0.815WO4 exhibit remarkable performances, demonstrating that our approach can be deployed to discover new p-type TCOs.

Simple and robust high-throughput serum proteomics workflow with low-microflow LC-MS/MS.

Clinical proteomics has substantially advanced in identifying and quantifying proteins from biofluids, such as blood, contributing to the discovery of biomarkers. The throughput and reproducibility of serum proteomics for large-scale clinical sample analyses require improvements. High-throughput analysis typically relies on automated equipment, which can be costly and has limited accessibility. In this study, we present a rapid, high-throughput workflow low-microflow LC-MS/MS method without automation. This workflow was optimized to minimize the preparation time and costs by omitting the depletion and desalting steps. The developed method was applied to data-independent acquisition (DIA) analysis of 235 samples, and it consistently yielded approximately 6000 peptides and 600 protein groups, including 33 FDA-approved biomarkers. Our results demonstrate that an 18-min DIA high-throughput workflow, assessed through intermittently collected quality control samples, ensures reproducibility and stability even with 2 µL of serum. It was successfully used to analyze serum samples from patients with diabetes having chronic kidney disease (CKD), and could identify five dysregulated proteins across various CKD stages.

Investigation of Residue Dissipation of Fluxapyroxad and Its Metabolites in Chinese Cabbage and Spring Scallion Using Different Application Methods.

Fluxapyroxad, a persistent fungicide in soil, was investigated for differences in residue dissipation in Chinese cabbage and spring scallion through the application methods of soil, foliar, and systemic treatment. Soil application of 0.4% granule fluxapyroxad resulted in residues up to 0.09 mg kg-1 in the scallion, while it did not contribute to the residues in the harvested cabbage. The 50% dissipation time (DT50) of fluxapyroxad in the scallion was 6.8 days. The residues from systemic treatment were highly correlated with foliar application in both the cabbage and the scallion, and the initial residue and DT50 values were similar for foliar and systemic treatments. In comparing the residues from the systemic treatments between the two crops, the initial residue was 3.11 and 0.22 mg kg-1 in the cabbage and the scallion after the systemic treatment, respectively. The DT50 values were 2.6 and 12.2 days in the cabbage and the scallion, respectively. The theoretical dilution effect due to crop growth was higher for the cabbage (4-fold) than for the scallion (1.2-fold), and the half-lives of fluxapyroxad without considering the dilution effect were 6.4 days in the cabbage and 17.8 days in the scallion. Thus, the residue difference was drastically reduced after 14 days from the last treatment.

S@FeS2 Core-Shell Cathode Nanomaterial for Preventing Polysulfides Shuttling and Forming Solid Electrolyte Interphase in High-Rate Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is a potential next-generation energy storage technology over lithium-ion batteries for high capacity, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solutions. However, several issues including polysulfides shuttle, low conductivity and limited rate-capability have hampered its practical application. Herein, a new class of cathode active material with perfect core-shell structure is reported, in which sulfur is fully encapsulated by conductivity-enhancing FeS2 (named as S@FeS2), for high-rate application. Surface-stabilized S@FeS2 cathode exhibits a stable cycling performance under 2 - 20 times higher rates (1-2 C, charged in 30-60 min) than standard rates (e.g., 0.1-0.5 C, charged in 2-10 h), without polysulfides shuttle event. Surface analysis results reveal the unprecedented formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on S@FeS2 cathode, which is distinguished from other sulfur-based cathodes that are not able to form the SEI layer. The data suggest that the prevention of polysulfides shuttling is owing to the surface protection effect of FeS2 shell and the SEI layer formation overlying core-shell S@FeS2. This unique and potential material concept proposed in the present study will give insight into designing a prospective fast charging Li-S battery.

Flexible All-Inorganic Thermoelectric Yarns.

Achieving both formability and functionality in thermoelectric materials remains a significant challenge due to their inherent brittleness. Previous approaches, such as polymer infiltration, often compromise thermoelectric efficiency, underscoring the need for flexible, all-inorganic alternatives. This study demonstrates that the extreme brittleness of thermoelectric bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) bulk compounds can be overcome by harnessing the nanoscale flexibility of Bi2Te3 nanoribbons and twisting them into a yarn structure. The resulting Bi2Te3 yarn, with a Seebeck coefficient of -126.6 µV K-1, exhibits remarkable deformability, enduring extreme bending curvatures (down to 0.5 mm-1) and tensile strains of ≈5% through over 1000 cycles without significant resistance change. This breakthrough allows the yarn to be seamlessly integrated into various applications-wound around metallic pipes, embedded within life jackets, or woven into garments-demonstrating unprecedented adaptability and durability. Moreover, a simple 4-pair thermoelectric generator comprising Bi2Te3 yarns and metallic wires generates a maximum output voltage of 67.4 mV, substantiating the effectiveness of thermoelectric yarns in waste heat harvesting. These advances not only challenge the traditional limitations posed by the brittleness of thermoelectric materials but also open new avenues for their application in wearable and structural electronics.

Comparison of surgical outcomes between bioabsorbable and metal screw fixation for distal tibial physeal fracture in children and adolescent.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes between bioabsorbable and metal screw fixation for distal tibial physeal fracture in children and adolescents, radiographically and clinically. METHODS: This study included consecutive 67 children and adolescents who underwent open reduction and internal fixation using metal or bioabsorbable screws for the distal tibia physeal fracture. All patients underwent preoperative radiographs, three-dimensional computed tomography scans, and postoperative follow-up teleradiogram. Patients were divided into metal (N = 40) and bioabsorbable groups (N = 27). We compared the surgical outcomes between the two groups in terms of clinical and radiographic outcomes, length of hospital stays, and medical cost. RESULTS: Follow-up duration were significantly longer in the metal group than that in the bioabsorbable group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of growth arrest after surgery and the scores of the Oxford Ankle and Foot Questionnaire between the two groups. However, the total hospital stay was significantly longer in the metal group (5.2 ± 4.8 days) compared to the bioabsorbable group (2.6 ± 0.5 days). Medical costs were significantly higher in the bioabsorbable group than in the metal group with a difference of 397 US dollars. CONCLUSIONS: The use of bioabsorbable screws exhibited therapeutic effects equivalent to that of metal screws for pediatric distal tibia physeal fractures regarding clinical and radiological outcomes. Moreover, it had the advantage of avoiding the need for repeated general anesthesia and secondary operation for implant removal. Therefore, the use of bioabsorbable screws may be a favourable surgical option for treating pediatric fractures.

Effectiveness of organic acids for inactivating pathogenic bacteria inoculated in laboratory media and foods: an updated minireview.

Food processing industries commonly employ organic acids (OAAs) to determine bacterial contamination in acidified and fermented foods. OAAs are believed to possess potent antimicrobial properties by permeating cell membranes, altering proton and anion concentrations in the cytoplasm due to their lipophilic undissociated forms. The bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects of OAAs are influenced by various factors including microbial physiology, environmental pH, and acid dissociation ratios. Despite their utility, the precise mechanisms underlying OAA-mediated inhibition of pathogenic bacteria remain incompletely understood. Therefore, the objectives of this review are to compile a selected area of researches that focus on the current propensity of different OAAs for inactivating food-borne pathogens, and then to present a theoretical insight on the use of OAAs to prevent and control pathogenic bacteria present in acidic/acidified foods and their mode of mechanisms.

Chiral Twist Interface Modulation Enhances Thermoelectric Properties of Tellurium Crystal.

Manipulating the grain boundary and chiral structure of enantiomorphic inorganic thermoelectric materials facilitates a new degree of freedom for enhancing thermoelectric energy conversion. Chiral twist mechanisms evolve by the screw dislocation phenomenon in the nanostructures; however, contributions of such chiral transport have been neglected for bulk crystals. Tellurium (Te) has a chiral trigonal crystal structure, high band degeneracy, and lattice anharmonicity for high thermoelectric performance. Here, Sb-doped Te crystals are grown to minimize the severe grain boundary effects on carrier transport and investigate the interface of chiral Te matrix and embedded achiral Sb2Te3 precipitates, which induce unusual lattice twists. The low grain boundary scattering and conformational grain restructuring provide electrical-favorable semicoherent interfaces. This maintains high electrical conductivity leading to a twofold increase in power factor compared to polycrystal samples. The embedded Sb2Te3 precipitates concurrently enable moderate phonon scattering leading to a remarkable decrease in lattice thermal conductivity and a high dimensionless figure of merit (zT) of 1.1 at 623 K. The crystal growth and chiral atomic reorientation unravel the emerging benefits of interface engineering as a crucial contributor to effectively enhancing carrier transport and minimizing phonon propagation in thermoelectric materials.

Piperacillin-Tazobactam versus Cefotaxime as Empiric Treatment for Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Hospitalized Children.

BACKGROUND: According to international pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI) guidelines, selecting ampicillin/sulbactam or amoxicillin/clavulanate is recommended as the first-line treatment for pediatric UTI. In Korea, elevated resistance to ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam has resulted in the widespread use of third-generation cephalosporins for treating pediatric UTIs. This study aims to compare the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) and cefotaxime (CTX) as first-line treatments in hospitalized children with UTIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study, conducted at Jeju National University Hospital, retrospectively analyzed medical records of children hospitalized for febrile UTIs between 2014 and 2017. UTI diagnosis included unexplained fever, abnormal urinalysis, and the presence of significant uropathogens. Treatment responses, recurrence, and antimicrobial susceptibility were assessed. RESULTS: Out of 323 patients, 220 met the inclusion criteria. Demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between TZP and CTX groups. For children aged ≥3 months, no significant differences were found in treatment responses and recurrence. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-positive strains were associated with recurrence in those <3 months. CONCLUSION: In Korea, escalating resistance to empirical antibiotics has led to the adoption of broad-spectrum empirical treatment. TZP emerged as a viable alternative to CTX for hospitalized children aged ≥3 months with UTIs. Consideration of ESBL-positive strains and individualized approaches for those <3 months are crucial.

Shorter interval to surgery after self-expanding metallic stent may result in better oncologic outcomes in colon cancer obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Colon cancer obstruction is one of the most serious conditions in colorectal surgery. However, the use of self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) has made it possible to avoid emergency surgery and stoma creation, therefore enabling minimally invasive surgery and one-stage operation. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is an optimal interval from SEMS to surgery for the best long-term oncologic outcomes. METHODS: Obstructive colon cancer patients treated with SEMS insertion and received surgery were included in the study. Patient data were retrospectively reviewed in prospectively collected data. Using the ROC curve, the optimal interval to surgery after SEMS insertion was 10 days; the patients were divided into the early surgery group (≤10 days, ES) and the late surgery group (>10 days, LS). Factors contributing to the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. RESULTS: 83 patients were included in this study. Eight patients (9.6 %) had SEMS insertion failure, with 3 perforations and 5 failed expansions. There were no differences between the ES group and the LS group in terms of pathologic characteristics, incidence of stoma creation, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Twenty-six patients (31.3 %) had recurrences; local (Arnarson et al., 2023) [6], peritoneal seeding (Lee et al., 2013) [8], liver (Ho et al., 2017) [11], lung [7], bone (van Hooft et al., 2020) [2], and abdominal wall metastasis (Chen and Sheen-Chen, 2000) [1]. The 5-year DFS rate was significantly better in the ES group than the LS group (74.3 % vs. 55.01 %; p = 0.0394). The 5-year OS was slightly better in the ES group than the LS group (76.11 % vs. 58.75 %; p = 0.0901). In univariable analysis, the ES group showed a lower risk of recurrence than the LS group (OR: 0.447 [0.204-0.984], p = 0.0455), but this was not reproduced in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the long-term oncologic outcomes were better in patients who received surgery after SEMS within 10 days. Hence, we propose with caution that elective surgery might be suggested to take place within 10 days from SEMS insertion for better oncologic outcomes.

Comparative Efficacy of 5% Dextrose and Corticosteroid Injections in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of 5% dextrose (D5W) in comparison to corticosteroids for treating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials on November 13, 2023. These were supplemented by manual searches using Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION: Two independent authors reviewed the literature, resolving any discrepancies through detailed discussions and consultation with a third author. DATA EXTRACTION: Data on primary outcomes (pain assessment) and secondary outcomes (symptom severity and functional status using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, electrophysiologic measures, cross-sectional area, and adverse effects) were extracted independently by the 2 authors (M.W. and H.H.). DATA SYNTHESIS: The analysis included 4 randomized controlled trials and 1 quasi-experimental study, encompassing a total of 212 patients (220 hands) with mild to moderate CTS. RESULTS: Within 3 months, the D5W injections showed a statistically significant improvement in functional status compared to the corticosteroids with a standard mean difference of -0.34 (95% CI, -0.62 to -0.05). D5W was associated with fewer adverse incidents than corticosteroids (risk ratio, 0.13; 95% CI: 0.03-0.51). No difference was observed between the 2 treatments in other areas. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with mild to moderate CTS, D5W injections were more effective than corticosteroid injections in improving functional status and demonstrated fewer adverse effects. D5W injections also paralleled corticosteroids in pain reduction, symptom severity, electrodiagnostic measures, and cross-sectional area of nerve, recommending D5W as a preferred treatment for mild to moderate CTS.

The Role of Prolactin in Amniotic Membrane Regeneration: Therapeutic Potential for Premature Rupture of Membranes.

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is defined as rupture of fetal membranes before the onset of labor. Prolactin (PRL) is secreted by decidual membranes and accumulated significantly in the amniotic fluid during pregnancy. PRL could ameliorate inflammation and collagen degradation in fetal membranes. However, the role of PRL in amniotic membrane is not well characterized. We isolated human amniotic epithelial stem cells (hAESCs) from human fetal membranes to study the effect of PRL on proliferation, migration, and antioxidative stress. Amniotic pore culture technique (APCT) model was constructed to evaluate the tissue regeneration effect in vitro. The potential targets and pathways of PRL acting in amnion via integrated bioinformatic methods. PRL had a dose-dependent effect on hAESCs in vitro. PRL (500 ng/mL) significantly improved the viability of hAESCs and inhibited cell apoptosis, related to the upregulation of CCN2 expression and downregulation of Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 8. PRL accelerated migration process in hAESCs via downregulation of MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9. PRL attenuated the cellular damage and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by hydrogen peroxide in hAESCs. PRL accelerated the healing process in the APCT model significantly. The top 10 specific targets (IGF1R, SIRT1, MAP2K1, CASP8, MAPK14, MCL1, NFKB1, HIF1A, MTOR, and HSP90AA1) and signaling pathways (such as HIF signaling pathway) were selected using an integrated bioinformatics approach. PRL improves the viability and antioxidative stress function of hAESCs and the regeneration of ruptured amniotic membranes in vitro. Thus, PRL has great therapeutic potential for prevention and treatment of ruptured membranes.

Angularly offset multiline dispersive optical phased array enabling large field of view and plateau envelope.

We propose and demonstrate an angularly offset multiline (AOML) dispersive silicon nitride optical phased array (OPA) that enables efficient line beam scanning with an expanded field of view (FOV) and plateau envelope. The suggested AOML OPA incorporates multiline OPA units, which were seamlessly integrated with a 45° angular offset through a thermo-optic switch based on a multimode interference coupler, resulting in a wide FOV that combines three consecutive scanning ranges. Simultaneously, a periodic diffraction envelope rendered by the multiline OPA units contributes to reduced peak intensity fluctuation of the main lobe across the large FOV. An expedient polishing enabling the angled facet was diligently accomplished through the implementation of oblique polishing techniques applied to the 90° angle of the chip. For each dispersive OPA unit, we engineered an array of delay lines with progressively adjustable delay lengths, enabling a passive wavelength-tunable beam scanning. Experimental validation of the proposed OPA revealed efficient beam scanning, achieved by wavelength tuning from 1530 to 1600 nm and seamless switching between multiline OPAs, yielding an FOV of 152° with a main lobe intensity fluctuation of 2.8 dB. The measured efficiency of dispersive scanning was estimated at 0.97°/nm, as intended.

Intercritically Annealed Medium-Manganese Steel: Insights into Microstructural and Microtextural Evolution, Strain Distribution, and Grain Boundary Characteristics.

Aluminum-incorporated medium-manganese steel (MMnS) has potential for lightweight transport applications owing to its impressive mechanical properties. Increasing the austenite volume fraction and making microstructural changes are key to manufacturing MMnS. However, the grain boundary character and strain distribution of intercritically annealed low-density MMnS have not been extensively scrutinized, and the effects of crystallographic texture orientation on tensile properties remain ambiguous. Therefore, in this study, the microstructure, microtexture, strain distribution, and grain boundary characteristics of a hot-rolled medium-Mn steel (Fe-0.2 C-4.3 Al-9.4 Mn (wt%)) were investigated after intercritical annealing (IA) at 750, 800, or 850 °C for 1 h. The results show that the 800 °C annealed sample exhibited the highest austenite volume fraction among the specimens (60%). The duplex microstructure comprised lath-type γ-austenite, fine α-ferrite, and coarse δ-ferrite. As the IA temperature increased, the body-centered cubic phase orientation shifted from <001> to <111>. At higher temperatures, the face-centered cubic phase was oriented in directions ranging from <101> to <111>, and the sums of the fractions of high-angle grain boundaries and coincidence-site-lattice special boundaries were significantly increased. The 800 °C annealed sample with a high austenite content and strong γ-fiber {111}//RD orientation demonstrated a noteworthy tensile strength (1095 MPa) and tensile elongation (30%).

Analysis of medical images super-resolution via a wavelet pyramid recursive neural network constrained by wavelet energy entropy.

Recently, multi-resolution pyramid-based techniques have emerged as the prevailing research approach for image super-resolution. However, these methods typically rely on a single mode of information transmission between levels. In our approach, a wavelet pyramid recursive neural network (WPRNN) based on wavelet energy entropy (WEE) constraint is proposed. This network transmits previous-level wavelet coefficients and additional shallow coefficient features to capture local details. Besides, the parameter of low- and high-frequency wavelet coefficients within each pyramid level and across pyramid levels is shared. A multi-resolution wavelet pyramid fusion (WPF) module is devised to facilitate information transfer across network pyramid levels. Additionally, a wavelet energy entropy loss is proposed to constrain the reconstruction of wavelet coefficients from the perspective of signal energy distribution. Finally, our method achieves the competitive reconstruction performance with the minimal parameters through an extensive series of experiments conducted on publicly available datasets, which demonstrates its practical utility.

Medium Chain Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by Engineered Pseudomonas gessardii Using Acetate-formate as Carbon Sources.

Production of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) was attempted using Pseudomonas gessardii NIBRBAC000509957, which was isolated from Sunchang, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea (35°24'27.7"N, 127°09'13.0"E) and effectively utilized acetate and formate as carbon sources. We first evaluated the utilization of acetate as a carbon source, revealing optimal growth at 5 g/L acetate. Then, formate was supplied to the acetate minimal medium as a carbon source to enhance cell growth. After overexpressing the acetate and formate assimilation pathway enzymes, this strain grew at a significantly higher rate in the medium. As this strain naturally produces PHA, it was further engineered metabolically to enhance mcl-PHA production. The engineered strain produced 0.40 g/L of mcl-PHA with a biomass content of 30.43% in fed-batch fermentation. Overall, this strain can be further developed to convert acetate and formate into valuable products.