Probiotic lactic acid bacteria are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when administered in adequate amounts and may exhibit antiproliferative effects on various cancer cell lines, including colon cancer. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of three Lactobacillus strains - Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri VA 102, Ligilactobacillus (L.) animalis VA 105, and Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) - on mouse colon carcinoma cells (CT-26). Live cells, heat-killed cells, and cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lactobacillus sp. were prepared and used to treat CT-26 cells at different concentrations. The cytotoxic effect was assessed using the MTT assay. The results indicated that the CFS of all strains significantly reduced the viability of CT-26 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the VA 102 strain showing the most pronounced effect. Heat-killed cells of L. reuteri VA 102 and L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) also reduced cell viability. These findings suggest the potential anticancer properties of these Lactobacillus strains and indicate that CFS and heat-killed cells may offer a safer and more effective alternative to live bacteria for therapeutic applications. Our study contributes to the understanding of the potential of Lactobacillus strains, particularly L. reuteri VA 102, L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272), and L. animalis VA 105, as possible candidates for cancer treatment and control.

The increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace has introduced changes to traditional working environments. However, these are changes not only to employee productivity but also to how employees feel and think about their work. Based on prior research that has suggested connections between employees’ perceptions of AI and their emotions and thoughts at work, the present study tested a moderated mediation model in which the perception of AI opportunity is indirectly related to job insecurity via employee hope, with tenure as a moderator. Data obtained from 290 Korean full-time employees illustrated that the perception of AI opportunity was negatively related to job insecurity through hope acting as a mediator. In addition, this indirect relationship was found to be dependent on the moderating role of tenure. Specifically, at lower levels of tenure, the aforementioned indirect relationship was statistically significant, but at higher levels of tenure, this indirect relationship was no longer found to be statistically significant. The implications, limitations, and future research directions of this study are discussed.

The study aimed to investigate the impact of varying levels of neutral detergent-soluble fiber (NDSF) in Hanwoo growing cattle diets on rumen fermentation and methane (CH4) emissions. An in vitro rumen fermentation experiment utilized feeds with different NDSF levels, incorporating ingredients such as corn grain, soybean meal, soybean hulls, palm kernel meal, beet pulp and timothy hay. The NDSF contents in the diets were 9.02% (T1), 10.09% (T2), 12.42% (T3) and 14.63% (T4). In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) at 48 h was 7.4% higher for T4 compared to T1 (p<0.05). Total gas production at 48 h was 6.6% higher for T4 than T1 (p<0.05). CH4 production significantly decreased at 9 h and 12 h for T1 and T2 (p<0.05). At 48 h, CH4 production was 5.6% higher for T4 compared to T1 and 6.7% higher compared to T2 (p<0.05). At 12 h ans 24 h, the ammonia nitrogen concentration of T4 was approximately 33.1% and 40.4% lower, respectively, compared to T1 (p<0.05). The acetate to propionate ratio at 48 h was approximately 18.8% higher for T4 than T1 (p<0.05). From 9 h to 48 h, the proportions of butyrate and valerate were significantly higher for T4 (p<0.05). At 48 h, the dominant phylum in T4's rumen microbial community was Candidatus Thermoplasmatota Methanomassiliicoccus, an Archaea. Therefore, this study confirmed that increasing the NDSF content in growing Hanwoo cattle diets up to 12.42% increases IVDMD without increasing CH4 emissions, which is expected to positively impact Hanwoo productivity.

Geopolitical risk is now among the most important factors in the formulation of multinational corporate strategy and the US trade policy. The US has aggressively enacted national-security-based trade sanctions, which recently include export controls on semiconductor chips and restrictions on outbound and inbound investment. The US has also adopted major legislation providing historical subsidies and tax breaks. Congress and the courts have upheld the president’s use of national security as a basis of trade actions and generally supported his protectionist policies. Trade should not be restricted or weaponized. Global and national rules need to be strengthened and, perhaps, a bit updated, but protectionism in the name of national security is a losing argument. The growing movement by the US to rely more on national security and protectionism in formulating trade policy is a very worrisome development. No one in Washington is proposing a return to pre-Trump policies. The real question is how far US trade policy will continue to change in the near future. Geopolitics will give us the answer.

Integration of noble metals on graphene is renowned for their catalytic and antioxidant prowess. However, utilization of toxic chemicals in the synthesis creates environmental pollution and poisonous nature of chemically synthesized materials. To address this, an economical and eco-friendly method for synthesizing graphene-gold (BRG-Au) nanocomposite by anchoring gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) onto reduced graphene oxide sheets using betel leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent is presented. Comprehensive structural characterizations through UV–Visible, Raman, FT-IR, and XRD analyses confirm the successful formation of the BRG-Au nanocomposite. Morphological assessments utilizing FE-SEM and TEM techniques revealed the presence of transparent, twinkling graphene sheets embellished with 20 to 60 nm of Au NPs in various shapes, including spherical, triangular, pentagonal, circular, and trapezoids. The catalytic and antioxidant activities of the BRG-Au nanocomposite were thoroughly evaluated. In catalytic trials, the nanocomposite exhibited remarkable efficiency in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, accomplishing this transformation within a mere 30 min during the initial cycle and maintaining stable catalytic performance over three consecutive cycles. Additionally, antioxidant analyses employing Total Antioxidant Activity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl methods demonstrated that BRG-Au nanocomposite possessed equal or superior antioxidant activity than the ascorbic acid standard. This research thus underscores the promising potential of environmentally benign synthesis method for graphene-gold nanocomposite with enhanced catalytic and antioxidant properties.

To fabricate intermetallic nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction activity, a high-temperature heat treatment of 700 to 1,000 °C is required. This heat treatment provides energy sufficient to induce an atomic rearrangement inside the alloy nanoparticles, increasing the mobility of particles, making them structurally unstable and causing a sintering phenomenon where they agglomerate together naturally. These problems cannot be avoided using a typical heat treatment process that only controls the gas atmosphere and temperature. In this study, as a strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing heat treatment process for the fabrication of intermetallic nanoparticles, we propose an interesting approach, to design a catalyst material structure for heat treatment rather than the process itself. In particular, we introduce a technology that first creates an intermetallic compound structure through a primary high-temperature heat treatment using random alloy particles coated with a carbon shell, and then establishes catalytic active sites by etching the carbon shell using a secondary heat treatment process. By using a carbon shell as a template, nanoparticles with an intermetallic structure can be kept very small while effectively controlling the catalytically active area, thereby creating an optimal alloy catalyst structure for fuel cells.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, such as the use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for image recognition, have emerged as a promising modality with the capability to visually differentiate between mosquito species. Here we present the first performance metrics of IDX, Vectech’s system for AI mosquito identification, as part of Maryland’s mosquito control program in the USA. Specimens were collected over fourteen weeks from twelve CDC gravid trap collection sites, identified morphologically by an entomologist, and imaged using the IDX system. By comparing entomologist identification to the algorithm output by IDX, we are able to calculate the accuracy of the system across species. Over the study period, 2,591 specimens were collected and imaged representing 14 species, 10 of which were available in the identification algorithm on the device during the study period. The micro average accuracy was 94.9%. Of these 10 species, 7 species consisted of less than 30 samples. The macro average accuracy when including these species was 79%, while the macro average when excluding these species was 93%. In the next iteration of this technology, Vectech is translating the vector identification capabilities of IDX into systems capable of processing greater numbers of specimens at large public health facilities, and remote sensing systems that will allow public health organizations to monitor vector abundance and diversity from the office. These advances demonstrate the utility of artificial intelligence in entomology and its potential to support vector surveillance and control programs around the world.

This study explored the changes in senescence patterns and vase life of cut roses grown in summer and autumn, aiming to identify the relationship between harvest seasons and flower longevity. We analyzed gene expression profiles associated with lignin, pectin, ethylene, auxin, and sucrose transport to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying senescence symptoms, such as the bent neck, petal abscission, and petal wilting in cut rose flowers. Our results revealed season-dependent occurrences of bent neck and petal abscission, with higher incidence rates in autumn-harvested rose flowers. These increases in bent neck and petal abscission contributed to a shortened vase life for the cut flowers. Gene expression analysis indicated that elevated levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes and reduced expression of lignin, pectin biosynthesis, auxin response factor, and sucrose transport genes accelerated the increased senescence symptoms. Notably, the incidence rates of the bent neck were highly negatively correlated with the transcript levels of key genes involved in lignin and pectin biosynthesis, RhPRXPX and RhGAUT1, in pedicels. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular factors influencing the mechanical strength of flower pedicels and provide insights for postharvest strategies to enhance the ornamental value of cut flowers across seasons.

Activated carbon (AC) is a versatile and extensively employed adsorbent in environmental remediation. It possesses distinct properties that can be enhanced to selectively target specific pollutants through modifications, including chemical impregnation or incorporation into composite materials. In this study, porous calcium alginate beads (PCAB) were synthesized by incorporating AC and natural alginate through ion gelation in a Ca(II) ion-containing solution, with the addition of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant. The prepared PCAB was tested for Cu(II) removal. PCAB exhibited a spherical shape with higher porosity and surface area (160.19 m2. g−1) compared to calcium alginate beads (CAB) (0.04 m2. g−1). The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-first-order model for PCAB and the pseudo-second-order model for CAB. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit for adsorption on PCAB, while the Freundlich model was suitable for CAB. Notably, PCAB demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 75.54 mg.g−1, significantly higher than CAB's capacity of 9.16 mg. g−1. Desorption studies demonstrated that 0.1 M CaCl2 exhibited the highest efficiency (90%) in desorbing Cu(II) ions from PCAB, followed by 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaCl. PCAB showed efficient reusability for up to four consecutive adsorption– desorption cycles. The fixed-bed column experiment confirmed the match with the Thomas model to the breakthrough curves with qTH of 120.12 mg.g−1 and 68.03 mg.g−1 at a flow rate of 1 mL.min−1 and 2 mL.min−1, respectively. This study indicated that PCAB could be an effective adsorbent for Cu(II) removal, offering insights for further application and design considerations.

The challenge of incorporating photothermal conversion function into chitosan (CS) hybrid fibers lies in balancing functionality and mechanical properties. In this study, we successfully prepared a chitosan/graphene oxide/gelatin (CS/GA/GO) hybrid fiber using the wet spinning process, achieving improved mechanical properties and efficient photothermal conversion capabilities. When compared with pure CS fiber with a breaking strength of 1.07 cN/dtex, the breaking strength of the CS/ GA composite fiber increased by 46.73%, while the CS/GA/GO hybrid fiber showed an even greater increase of 85.98%. In addition, the introduction of gelatin (GA) led to secondary scattering of near-infrared light, enhancing the photothermal conversion efficiency. As a result, the CS/GA/GO hybrid fiber exhibited a faster temperature rise rate and higher maximum temperatures (94.3 °C, 103.0 °C, and 111.3 °C) as compared to the CS/GO hybrid fiber. The successful incorporation of GA not only improved the mechanical properties but also enhanced the photothermal performance of the hybrid fiber.