Advanced parametrization for the production of high-energy solid-state lithium pouch cells containing polymer electrolytes.

Lithium batteries with solid-state electrolytes are an appealing alternative to state-of-the-art non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes because of safety and energy aspects. However, engineering development at the cell level for lithium batteries with solid-state electrolytes is limited. Here, to advance this aspect and produce high-energy lithium cells, we introduce a cell design based on advanced parametrization of microstructural and architectural parameters of electrode and electrolyte components. To validate the cell design proposed, we assemble and test (applying a stack pressure of 3.74 MPa at 45 °C) 10-layer and 4-layer solid-state lithium pouch cells with a solid polymer electrolyte, resulting in an initial specific energy of 280 Wh kg-1 (corresponding to an energy density of 600 Wh L-1) and 310 Wh kg-1 (corresponding to an energy density of 650 Wh L-1) respectively.

Alone but not isolated: social presence and cognitive load in learning with 360 virtual reality videos.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify any differences in social presence and cognitive load among three types of 360 virtual reality (VR)-based videos lectures. We hypothesized that social presence would be higher when interactions among peers are visible in a 360 VR video lectures while the cognitive load would be also increased. Methods: A total of 48 college students were randomly assigned to one of the three study groups to view an assigned 360 VR video lecture. The three groups were: (1) an instructor-only video viewing group, (2) a classroom lecture video viewing group, and (3) a classroom lecture and activity video viewing group. The video lectures were differently designed depending on the levels of peer visibility and the interactions between the instructor and peers. The participants watched one of the three types of assigned video lecture and subsequently completed two sets of questionnaires regarding social presence and cognitive load. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted with a planned contrast analysis for the type of video lectures. Results: We found that, contrary to the hypotheses, students in the group 1 (instructor-only video) showed higher social presence scores than students in the groups 2 and 3. However, no significant differences were found in the cognitive load scores. Discussion: The results show that 360 VR video lectures with an instructor-only are more effective at enhancing users' social presence than 360 VR video lectures with both the instructor and class-peers. We suggest creating 360 VR video lectures with the presence of the course instructor to offer learners the sense of actually participating in a lecture.

Seasonal patterns and bloom dynamics of phytoplankton based on satellite-derived chlorophyll-a in the eastern yellow sea.

Satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) is essential for assessing environmental conditions, yet its application in the optically complex waters of the eastern Yellow Sea (EYS) is challenged. This study refines the Chl-a algorithm for the EYS employing a switching approach based on normalized water-leaving radiance at 555 nm wavelength according to turbidity conditions to investigate phytoplankton bloom patterns in the EYS. The refined Chl-a algorithm (EYS algorithm) outperforms prior algorithms, exhibiting a strong alignment with in situ Chl-a. Employing the EYS algorithm, seasonal and bloom patterns of Chl-a are detailed for the offshore and nearshore EYS areas. Distinct seasonal Chl-a patterns and factors influencing bloom initiation differed between the areas, and the peak Chl-a during the bloom period from 2018 to 2020 was significantly lower than the average year in both areas. Specifically, bimodal and unimodal peak patterns in Chl-a were observed in the offshore and nearshore areas, respectively. By investigating the relationships between environmental factors and bloom parameters, we identified that major controlling factors governing bloom initiation were mixed layer depth (MLD) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the offshore and nearshore areas, respectively. Additionally, this study proposed that the recent decrease in the peak Chl-a might be caused by rapid environmental changes such as the warming trend of sea surface temperature (SST) and the limitation of nutrients. For example, external forcing, phytoplankton growth, and nutrient dynamics can change due to increased SST and limitation of nutrients, which can lead to a decrease in Chl-a. This study contributes to understanding phytoplankton dynamics in the EYS, highlighting the importance of region-specific considerations in comprehending Chl-a patterns and bloom dynamics.

Small Peptide Derived from SFRP5 Suppresses Melanogenesis by Inhibiting Wnt Activity.

Melanocytes, located in the epidermis' basal layer, are responsible for melanin pigment production, crucial for skin coloration and protection against UV radiation-induced damage. Melanin synthesis is intricately regulated by various factors, including the Wnt signaling pathway, particularly mediated by the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). While MITF is recognized as a key regulator of pigmentation, its regulation by the Wnt pathway remains poorly understood. This study investigates the role of Sfrp5pepD, a peptide antagonist of the Wnt signaling pathway, in modulating melanogenesis and its potential therapeutic implications for pigmentary disorders. To tackle this issue, we investigated smaller peptides frequently utilized in cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. Nevertheless, there is a significant scarcity of reports on peptides associated with melanin-related signal modulation or inhibiting melanin production. Results indicate that Sfrp5pepD effectively inhibits Wnt signaling by disrupting the interaction between Axin-1 and ß-catenin, thus impeding downstream melanogenic processes. Additionally, Sfrp5pepD suppresses the interaction between MITF and ß-catenin, inhibiting their nuclear translocation and downregulating melanogenic enzyme expression, ultimately reducing melanin production. These inhibitory effects are validated in cell culture models suggesting potential clinical applications for hyperpigmentation disorders. Overall, this study elucidates the intricate interplay between Wnt signaling and melanogenesis, highlighting Sfrp5pepD as a promising therapeutic agent for pigmentary disorders. Sfrp5pepD, with a molecular weight of less than 500 Da, is anticipated to penetrate the skin unlike SFRPs. This suggests a strong potential for their use as cosmetics or transdermal absorption agents. Additional investigation into its mechanisms and clinical significance is necessary to enhance its effectiveness in addressing melanin-related skin conditions.

Influence of Unit Water Content Control on Concrete Performance in the Ready-Mixed Concrete Production Process.

This study examined the effects of increasing concrete unit water content and artificially controlling water content on concrete performance in the production process of ready-mixed concrete. Results showed that changes in the unit water content of 20 concrete mix proportions without air-entraining significantly reduced concrete compressive strength, increased porosity, and in-creased occurrence of bleeding. A unit water content increase of 25 kg/m3 or more may reduce the compressive strength of concrete below the design standard and significantly affect the occurrence of bleeding water. Moreover, an extra unit water content of at least 25 kg/m3 could significantly affect the diffusion of chloride ions in the concrete. The carbonation depth of concrete was extremely high with the increase in unit water content and water addition. In the production of concrete requiring at least normal strength or durability, the extra water change to total unit water content should be maintained at 15 kg/m3 or less. And a water-cement ratio of 48% or less and a unit water content of 155 kg/m3 or less are considered effective for management of concrete quality. Considering the aggregate type, absorption rate, and moisture state, the management of unit water content error in concrete production processes requires greater.

Pharmacological effects of biologically synthesized ginsenoside CK-rich preparation (AceCK40) on the colitis symptoms in DSS-induced Caco-2 cells and C57BL mice.

BACKGROUND: Despite the notable pharmacological potential of natural ginsenosides, their industrial application is hindered by low oral bioavailability. Recent research centers on the production of less-glycosylated minor ginsenosides. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effect of a biologically synthesized ginsenoside CK-rich minor ginsenoside complex (AceCK40), on ameliorating colitis using DSS-induced colitis models in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The ginsenoside composition of AceCK40 was determined by HPLC-ELSD and UHPLC-MS/MS analyses. In vitro colitis model was established using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced Caco-2 intestinal epithelial model. For in vivo experiments, DSS-induced severe colitis mouse model was established. RESULTS: In DSS-stimulated Caco-2 cells, AceCK40 downregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation (p < 0.05), inhibited monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production (p < 0.05), and enhanced MUC2 expression (p < 0.05), mediated via signaling pathway regulation. Daily AceCK40 administration at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg/day was well tolerated by DSS-induced severe colitis mice. These doses led to significant alleviation of disease activity index score (> 36.0% decrease, p < 0.05), increased luminal immunoglobulin (Ig)G (> 37.6% increase, p < 0.001) and IgA (> 33.8% increase, p < 0.001), lowered interleukin (IL)-6 (> 65.7% decrease, p < 0.01) and MCP-1 (> 116.2% decrease, p < 0.05), as well as elevated serum IgA (> 51.4% increase, p < 0.001) and lowered serum IL-6 (112.3% decrease at 30 mg/kg, p < 0.001). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining revealed that DSS-mediated thickening of the muscular externa, extensive submucosal edema, crypt distortion, and decreased mucin droplets were significantly alleviated by AceCK40 administration. Additionally, daily administration of AceCK40 led to significant recovery of colonic tight junctions damaged by DSS through the elevation in the expression of adhesion molecules, including occludin, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin. CONCLUSION: This study presents the initial evidence elucidating the anti-colitis effects of AceCK40 and its underlying mechanism of action through sequential in vitro and in vivo systems employing DSS stimulation. Our findings provide valuable fundamental data for the utilization of AceCK40 in the development of novel anti-colitis candidates.

Efficacy of pulse oximetry for early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism after total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) are crucial for preventing severe complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to examine the efficacy of measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) using a pulse oximeter for early diagnosis of PE after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We consecutively examined 1645 patients who underwent TKA between January 2015 and November 2019. Postoperative SpO2 was measured with a pulse oximeter, which was stopped if SpO2 was maintained at ≥ 95% until postoperative day 2 (POD2). To diagnose PE, computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was performed for specific indications, including persistently low SpO2 < 95% (group 1), sudden decrease in SpO2 (group 2), and decrease in SpO2 after POD3 with presenting symptoms (group 3). Also, we divided the patients into unilateral, simultaneous and sequential TKA groups and compared the results with specific statistical techniques. RESULTS: Of the 1645 patients who underwent TKA, there were 20 patients with PE (1.2%), and symptomatic PE was observed in only 4 patients (0.24%). CTPA was performed in 58 (3.5%) patients, of whom 20 were diagnosed with PE. In groups 1 (n = 34), 2 (n = 21), and 3 (n = 3), CTPA was performed 2.4, 2.6, and 8.3 days after TKA, respectively, and 12, 8, and 0 patients were diagnosed with PE, respectively. Of the 782, 416, and 447 unilateral, simultaneous, and sequential (done in same admission with interval 1 or 2 weeks) patients with TKA, 38, 18, and 2 received CTPA, and 13, 6, and 1 were diagnosed with PE, respectively. All patients diagnosed with PE have persistently low SpO2 < 95% (group 1), or sudden decrease in SpO2 (group 2) until POD2. Of the patients diagnosed with PE, SpO2 decreased without the presentation of symptoms in 16 patients (11 and 5 from groups 1 and 2, respectively) and with the presentation of symptoms, such as mild dyspnea and chest discomfort, in 4 patients (1 and 3 from groups 1 and 2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Measuring SpO2 using a pulse oximeter until POD2 was an effective method for early diagnosis of PE after TKA. No case of morbidity or mortality was observed after early diagnosis with early stage CTPA and management of PE. We recommend measuring SpO2 with a pulse oximeter for early diagnosing of PE in TKA.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and mTOR inhibitors in real world-a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease developing mostly on lung and leading to various pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations. Management of this intractable illness has been mostly symptomatic and supplementary until the advent and application of a novel drug, i.e., the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, and successful disease control using mTOR inhibitors is improving LAM patients. Although mTOR inhibitors are showing remarkable results there are still many rooms for further progress, and partly solved issues on problems seen in LAM still remain. We searched multiple reports and investigational studies regarding LAM, especially the therapeutic achievement won by mTOR inhibitors. This article summarized several characteristics of LAM including pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, and management. We also attempted to review the latest knowledge and efficacy of mTOR inhibitors and some new drugs. Methods: Online searching of literature was performed. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and EMBASE were searched. Key Content and Findings: LAM is a genetic disease with a high predilection toward female subjects. Not only lung but also other organs are involved, hence extrapulmonary symptoms and signs are also noted. Representative objective finding is a progressive deterioration of lung function, sometimes leading to respiratory failure. Supportive and symptomatic care has been the mainstay of therapy with suboptimal result, until a novel drug, the mTOR inhibitor, was developed. Successful deterrence of disease progression was achieved on management with mTOR inhibitors. Several unsolved problems using mTOR inhibitors are a pending issue, such as duration of treatment. Conclusions: LAM has been a rare, stubborn disease to ameliorate in health due to its complex pathogenesis and accompanied by other manifestations. Adopting various tools for relief has been usually suboptimal, but mTOR inhibitors proved to achieve significant improvement in various aspects. Further investigation is needed including refinement of currently available therapeutic applications, development of novel remedies, and so on.

A Deep Reinforcement Learning Strategy for Surrounding Vehicles-Based Lane-Keeping Control.

As autonomous vehicles (AVs) are advancing to higher levels of autonomy and performance, the associated technologies are becoming increasingly diverse. Lane-keeping systems (LKS), corresponding to a key functionality of AVs, considerably enhance driver convenience. With drivers increasingly relying on autonomous driving technologies, the importance of safety features, such as fail-safe mechanisms in the event of sensor failures, has gained prominence. Therefore, this paper proposes a reinforcement learning (RL) control method for lane-keeping, which uses surrounding object information derived through LiDAR sensors instead of camera sensors for LKS. This approach uses surrounding vehicle and object information as observations for the RL framework to maintain the vehicle's current lane. The learning environment is established by integrating simulation tools, such as IPG CarMaker, which incorporates vehicle dynamics, and MATLAB Simulink for data analysis and RL model creation. To further validate the applicability of the LiDAR sensor data in real-world settings, Gaussian noise is introduced in the virtual simulation environment to mimic sensor noise in actual operational conditions.

The Incidence Rate, Microbiological Etiology, and Results of Treatments of Prosthetic Joint Infection following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains among the most challenging and costly complications. PJI rates vary from 0.39% to 3.9% after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to identify the causative microorganisms involved and to report our experience of subsequent treatment of PJI following over 7000 TKAs performed over 19 years. A retrospective study was conducted on 4547 patients (7019 cases) from March 2000 to September 2019. The incidence rate of PJI was 0.5%. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 88.8% (n = 16) of the 18 cases, and S. aureus was the most commonly isolated pathogen (n = 7, 38.8%). There were six cases of MSSA and one case of MRSA. Streptococcus species (n = 7, 38.8%) also showed the same pattern. The CoNS species (n = 2, 11.1%) and Gram-negative bacteria (n = 1, 5.5%) were also reported. Candida species were isolated from 1 patient (5.5%). Successful I&D and implant retention (DAIR procedures) was achieved at the final follow-up in 19 patients (82.6%). The incidence of causative microorganisms was different for each PJI onset type. The overall infection rate of PJI was less than 1%. Although the success rate of DAIR procedures is lower than the two-stage exchange arthroplasty in this study, it is possible to achieve acceptable success rates if DAIR procedures are carefully selected considering the virulence of the microorganism, duration since symptom onset, and early-onset infection.

Primary Production in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian Seas.

Understanding of the primary production of phytoplankton in the Kara Sea (KS), the Laptev Sea (LS), and the East Siberian Sea (ESS) remains limited, despite the recognized importance of phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted three NABOS (Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System) expeditions in 2013, 2015, and 2018 to measure in situ primary production rates using a 13C-15N dual-tracer method and examine their major controlling factors. The main goals in this study were to investigate regional heterogeneity in primary production and derive its contemporary ranges in the KS, LS, and ESS. The daily primary production rates in this study (99 ± 62, 100 ± 77, and 56 ± 35 mg C m-2 d-1 in the KS, LS, and ESS, respectively) are rather different from the values previously reported in each sea mainly because of spatial and regional differences. Among the three seas, a significantly lower primary production rate was observed in the ESS in comparison to those in the KS and LS. This is likely mainly because of regional differences in freshwater content based on the noticeable relationship (Spearman, rs = -0.714, p < 0.05) between the freshwater content and the primary production rates observed in this study. The contemporary ranges of the annual primary production based on this and previous studies are 0.96-2.64, 0.72-50.52, and 1.68-16.68 g C m-2 in the KS, LS, and ESS, respectively. Further intensive field measurements are warranted to enhance our understanding of marine microorganisms and their community-level responses to the currently changing environmental conditions in these poorly studied regions of the Arctic Ocean.

Design and Optimization of Composite Cathodes for Solid-State Batteries Using Hybrid Carbon Networks with Facile Electronic and Ionic Percolation Pathways.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional liquid electrolyte batteries due to their potential for higher energy density and improved safety. However, achieving high performance in SSBs is difficult because of inadequate contact and interfacial reactions that generate high interfacial resistance, as well as inadequate solid-solid contact between electrodes. These chronic issues are associated with inhomogeneous ion and electron transport networks owing to imperfect solid-solid interfacial contact. This study developed an optimal interfacial engineering strategy to facilitate an ion-electron transport network by designing an active material (NCM622) uniformly filled with a thin layer of a solid electrolyte (garnet-type Li6.25Ga0.25La3Zr2O12) and conductive additives. The optimal composite electrode architecture enhanced the high capacity, high rate capability, and long-term cycle stability, even at room temperature, owing to the percolating network for facile ionic conduction that assured a homogeneous reaction. In addition to mitigating the mechanical degradation of the cathode electrode, it also reduced the crosstalk effects on the anode-solid electrolyte interface. Effectively optimizing the selection and use of conductive additives in composite electrodes offers a promising approach to addressing key performance-limiting factors in SSBs, including interfacial resistance and solid-solid contact issues. This study underscores the critical importance of cathode architecture design for achieving high-performance SSBs by ensuring that the interfaces are intact with solid electrolytes at both the cathode and anode interfaces while promoting uniform reactions. This study provides valuable insights into the development of SSBs with improved performance, which could have significant implications for a wide range of applications.

C2RL: Convolutional-Contrastive Learning for Reinforcement Learning Based on Self-Pretraining for Strong Augmentation.

Reinforcement learning agents that have not been seen during training must be robust in test environments. However, the generalization problem is challenging to solve in reinforcement learning using high-dimensional images as the input. The addition of a self-supervised learning framework with data augmentation in the reinforcement learning architecture can promote generalization to a certain extent. However, excessively large changes in the input images may disturb reinforcement learning. Therefore, we propose a contrastive learning method that can help manage the trade-off relationship between the performance of reinforcement learning and auxiliary tasks against the data augmentation strength. In this framework, strong augmentation does not disturb reinforcement learning and instead maximizes the auxiliary effect for generalization. Results of experiments on the DeepMind Control suite demonstrate that the proposed method effectively uses strong data augmentation and achieves a higher generalization than the existing methods.

Particulated Costal Allocartilage With Microfracture Versus Microfracture Alone for Knee Cartilage Defects: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Participant- and Rater-Blinded Study.

Background: Microfracture is the first-line treatment for cartilage defects; however, the suboptimal quality of the repaired cartilage remains an issue. Purpose/Hypothesis: The aim of this first in-human study was to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of a combination of particulated costal allocartilage and microfracture versus microfracture alone in treating knee cartilage defects. We hypothesized that the particulated costal allocartilage with microfracture would result in superior cartilage repair quality and better clinical outcomes at 48 weeks postoperatively. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: Patients with cartilage defects were allocated randomly to the treatment group (particulated costal allocartilage with microfracture) and control group (microfracture alone). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes of cartilage repair (the primary outcome measure) were evaluated at the 48-week follow-up using the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score. Patient-reported clinical outcomes (visual analog scale [VAS] pain score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS], and International Knee Documentation Committee score) and adverse events were evaluated at 12, 24, and 48 weeks postoperatively. Results: Overall, 88 patients were included (44 patients each in the treatment and control groups). The total MOCART score at 48 weeks postoperatively was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < .001). Among the 9 MOCART variables, 6 were significantly superior in the treatment versus the control group: degree of repair and defect filling (P < .001), integration to the border zone (P < .001), surface (P = .006), structure (P = .011), signal intensity of the repair tissue (P < .001), and subchondral lamina (P = .005). There were significant between-group differences in KOOS-Pain (P = .014), KOOS-Activities of Daily Living (P = .010), KOOS-Sports (P = .029), and KOOS-Symptoms (P = .039) at 12 weeks postoperatively and in VAS pain (P = .012) and KOOS-Pain (P = .005) at 24 weeks postoperatively. At 48 weeks postoperatively, clinical outcomes were comparable between the groups. Conclusion: Microfracture augmented with particulated costal allocartilage resulted in superior cartilage repair quality compared with microfracture alone in terms of MRI evaluation of the knee joint cartilage defect at the 48-week follow-up. Functional outcomes were favorable for both treatments at final follow-up. Registration: KCT0004936 (Clinical Research Information Service [CRiS] of the Republic of Korea).

Joint Replacement Surgery in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in South Korea: Analysis of a Large National Database.

Background: We aimed to investigate the current trend of joint replacement surgery incidence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in South Korea and to compare the incidence of joint replacement surgery in each affected joint. Methods: We performed this big data analysis to investigate the current trend of joint replacement surgery incidence in patients with RA in South Korea and to compare the incidence of joint replacement surgery in each affected joint. This retrospective study was based on data from the Korea National Health Insurance claims database. Results: The prevalence of RA increased every year (0.13% in 2008, 0.25% in 2016). The number of newly diagnosed patients increased from 29,184 in 2010 to 38,347 in 2016. The incidence rate of joint replacement surgery in patients with RA increased from 0.72% in 2010 to 4.03% in 2016. The knee (68.3%) was the most commonly replaced joint. The relative risk (RR) of additional joint replacement surgery was highest for the shoulder joint (RR,1.454; 95% confidence interval, 0.763-2.771). The median time from diagnosis to surgery was the shortest in the elbow joint (379 days) and the longest in the shoulder joint (955 days). The median time for each joint was short in order of the elbows, ankles, hips, knees, and shoulders (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The most frequently and initially replaced joints were different, but the prevalence and incidence of RA, as well as those of joint replacement surgery, have recently increased in South Korea. Joint replacement surgery in RA was the highest for the knee joint. The median time from diagnosis to surgery was shortest for the elbow, followed by the ankle, hip, knee, and shoulder. Regardless of whether patients are symptomatic, evaluation of large joints such as the knee, elbow, ankle, and hip should be considered from an early stage.

Spatio-temporal variations in organic carbon composition driven by two different major phytoplankton communities in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.

The compositions of organic carbon could be important in determining biological carbon pump efficiency. However, little information on them in relation to each algal assemblage is currently available in the Ross Sea. Here, we investigated the seasonal variations in organic carbon composition and the relative abundance of each organic carbon, including particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs), characterized by different algal groups in the Ross Sea. The average POC and DOC contributions to the total organic carbon (TOC = POC + DOC) were 13.8 ± 3.7 % and 86.2 ± 3.7 % in mid-January 2019 and 20.9 ± 4.1 % and 79.1 ± 4.1 % in February-March 2018, respectively. The carbon content of TEP (TEP-C) contributed 19.6 ± 11.7 % and 4.6 ± 7.0 % of POC and TOC in mid-January and 36.2 ± 14.8 % and 9.0 ± 6.7 % in February-March, respectively. We found that the organic carbon compositions were affected by seasonal variations in the phytoplankton bloom phase, physical characteristics, and phytoplankton community structure. DOC concentrations and contributions to the TOC increased as phytoplankton cells became senescent in mid-January and decreased in February-March when phytoplankton were relatively active. From February-March, the deepened mixed layer depth encouraged TEP formation, subsequently increasing the TEP contributions. Regardless of the sampling season, all organic carbon concentrations per unit Chl-a were significantly higher in P. antarctica-abundant groups. The DOC contributions to the TOC were correspondingly higher at the P. antarctica-abundant stations in mid-January, which indicates that P. antarctica could be also important in the DOC contributions in the Ross Sea. The rapid alteration in environmental characteristics and phytoplankton community structures in the Ross Sea due to climate change could affect the organic carbon pool at the euphotic layer which consequently could determine the efficiency of the biological pump.

Histone variant HTB4 delays leaf senescence by epigenetic control of Ib bHLH transcription factor-mediated iron homeostasis.

Leaf senescence is an orderly process regulated by multiple internal factors and diverse environmental stresses including nutrient deficiency. Histone variants are involved in regulating plant growth and development. However, their functions and underlying regulatory mechanisms in leaf senescence remain largely unclear. Here, we found that H2B histone variant HTB4 functions as a negative regulator of leaf senescence. Loss of function of HTB4 led to early leaf senescence phenotypes that were rescued by functional complementation. RNA-seq analysis revealed that several Ib subgroup basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) involved in iron (Fe) homeostasis, including bHLH038, bHLH039, bHLH100, and bHLH101, were suppressed in the htb4 mutant, thereby compromising the expressions of FERRIC REDUCTION OXIDASE 2 (FRO2) and IRON-REGULATED TRANSPORTER (IRT1), two important components of the Fe uptake machinery. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that HTB4 could bind to the promoter regions of Ib bHLH TFs and enhance their expression by promoting the enrichment of the active mark H3K4me3 near their transcriptional start sites. Moreover, overexpression of Ib bHLH TFs or IRT1 suppressed the premature senescence phenotype of the htb4 mutant. Our work established a signaling pathway, HTB4-bHLH TFs-FRO2/IRT1-Fe homeostasis, which regulates the onset and progression of leaf senescence.

Workplace Violence Experienced by Community Mental Health Workers.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to 1) investigate the prevalence of workplace violence and workers' emotional distress, 2) explore factors associated with workplace violence, and 3) assess workers' needs for preventive measures. A total of 763 community mental health workers participated in Korea. Among them, 85.85% of workers experienced workplace violence, including verbal (74.31%), emotional (66.45%), infectious (47.44%), informational (42.60%), sexual (32.50%), and physical (23.72%) abuse. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that sex, occupation, certification, and working institution were significantly associated with workplace violence. Workplace violence affects workers' depression, anger, and anxiety negatively. The most-needed preventive measure is a two-person home visit.

Identification and Fungicide Control of Bipolaris sorokiniana Causing Leaf Spot and Blight on Common Hop (Humulus lupulus) in Korea.

Hop (Humulus lupulus) is a perennial herbaceous vine belonging to the family Cannabaceae. This crop is commercially grown for the brewing industry for its bitter and aromatic flavor, as well as its antiseptic properties. In June 2021, leaf spot and blight was observed on common hop plants in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. The typical symptoms were small to large, dark-brown, necrotic lesions with yellow halos on the leaves. This study aimed to clarify the causal agent of this disease. Two fungal species, Alternaria alternata and Bipolaris sorokiniana, were isolated from the diseased leaf samples and identified by combining morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis using sequence datasets of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), Alt a1, rpb2, endoPG, and OPA10-2; and ITS, gpd, and tef1, respectively. Pathogenicity of the fungal isolates on detached leaves and living plants revealed that B. sorokiniana is the causal pathogen of this disease, while A. alternata is potentially a saprophyte. Fungicide sensitivity of the pathogen B. sorokiniana was further estimated in vitro using three classes of fungicides represented by fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin, and hexaconazole. The effective concentrations that inhibited 50% of spore germination (EC50) were 0.72, 1.90, and 0.68 µg ml-1, respectively. Moreover, all of these fungicides were able to control B. sorokiniana on detached common hop leaves at their recommended concentrations. In conclusion, this study reports leaf spot and blight of common hop caused by B. sorokiniana for the first time and proposes potential fungicides for this disease.