Existing research on direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) has predominantly focused on the types and concentrations of conductive materials across diverse anaerobic digestion. However, ...insufficient understanding of the impact of residence time, a critical economic factor, prompted this investigation. Magnetite, a conductive material, was introduced into the anaerobic digestion of food wastewater, leading to a significant increase in ultimate methane production (Bu) with 25 mM-Fe3O4 (p < 0.05). Despite a subsequent decline in methane production efficiency from 388.9% to 7.1% over the 15- to 65-day anaerobic digestion period, the initial impact of increased methane production due to magnetite addition was evident. Control’s maximum methane production rate (Rm) was 27.5 mL/day, reaching its highest point at 37.4 mL/day with 15 mM-Fe3O4, accompanied by a noteworthy 56.6% reduction in the attainment day of Rm (Rm-day), shortened to 8.2 days. Even with 100 mM-Fe3O4, while Bu showed no significant difference, Rm-day exhibited a substantial reduction of 22.8. Despite the lower overall anaerobic digestion efficiency under some magnetite input conditions, this study confirmed a substantial shortening of Rm-day, suggesting that the DIET mechanism induced by conductive materials such as magnetite could reduce the residence time in continuous-type anaerobic reactors, contributing to improved economic feasibility.
This study attempted to identify the crucial characteristics of Korean consumers’ seafood purchasing behavior by using an extended Mehrabian–Russell model. To construct a new analytical framework, ...the present research proposed a comprehensive research model to incorporate the quality–satisfaction–loyalty model components into the traditional Mehrabian–Russell model. A web-based survey asking consumers about their farmed Atlantic salmon purchasing experiences was conducted, resulting in 255 samples (25.5% response rate). Structural equation modeling was applied to examine hypothesized relationships among major constructs of the extended Mehrabian–Russell model. Results showed that product quality is the most influential factor to affect satisfaction, followed by service quality and facility. However, personal interaction did not affect consumers’ satisfaction statistically.
Excessive responses to pattern-recognition receptors are prevented by regulatory mechanisms that affect the amounts and activities of the downstream signaling proteins. We report that activation of ...the transcription factor IRF3 by the ribonucleic acid sensor RIG-I was restricted by caspase-8-mediated cleavage of the RIP1 protein, which resulted in conversion of RIP1 from a signaling enhancer to a signaling inhibitor. The proteins RIP1 and caspase-8 were recruited to the RIG-I complex after viral infection and served antagonistic regulatory roles. Conjugation of ubiquitin chains to RIP1 facilitated assembly of the RIG-I complex, resulting in enhanced phosphorylation of IRF3. However, the ubiquitination of RIP1 also rendered it susceptible to caspase-8-mediated cleavage that yielded an inhibitory RIP1 fragment. The dependence of RIP1 cleavage on the same molecular change as that facilitating RIG-I signaling allows for RIG-I signaling to be restricted in its duration without compromising its initial activation.
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► Caspase-8-deficient cells display strongly enhanced RIG-I-mediated IRF3 activation ► RIP1 ubiquitination in the RIG-I complex enhanced both signaling and RIP1 cleavage ► Caspase-8 mediated this RIP1 cleavage, yielding an inhibitory RIP1 fragment ► RIG-I-induced RIP1 ubiquitination thus links maximal signaling to its termination
The ATPase activity of NLRP3 has pivotal role in inflammasome activation and is recognized as a good target for the development of the NLRP3 inflammasome-specific inhibitor. However, signals in the ...vicinity of the ATPase activity of NLRP3 have not been fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate NLRP3 inflammasome-specific action of a benzoxathiole derivative, BOT-4-one. BOT-4-one exhibited an inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which was attributable to its alkylating capability to NLRP3. In particular, the NLRP3 alkylation by BOT-4-one led to an impaired ATPase activity of NLRP3, thereby obstructing the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Additionally, we found that NLRP3 alkylators, including BOT-4-one, enhance the ubiquitination level of NLRP3, which might also contribute to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Finally, BOT-4-one appeared to be superior to other known NLRP3 alkylators in inhibiting the functionality of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its resulting anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed in vivo using a monosodium urate-induced peritonitis mouse model. Collectively, the results suggest that NLRP3 alkylators function by inhibiting ATPase activity and increasing the ubiquitination level of NLRP3, and BOT-4-one could be the type of NLRP3 inhibitor that may be potentially useful for the novel development of a therapeutic agent in controlling NLRP3 inflammasome-related diseases.
Tegoprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), is a next-generation therapeutics developed for the treatment of acid-related gastrointestinal diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux ...disease (GERD) and peptic ulcers. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of tegoprazan were compared with those of esomeprazole, a representative proton pump inhibitor. In vitro enzyme assays were performed using ion-leaky vesicles containing gastric H
/K
-ATPases isolated from pigs. The in vivo efficacies of tegoprazan were evaluated in rat models of GERD and peptic ulcer. Tegoprazan inhibited the activity of porcine H
/K
-ATPase with an IC
value of 0.53
M in a reversible manner, whereas esomeprazole showed weak and irreversible inhibition with an IC
value of 42.52
M. In a GERD model, tegoprazan showed dose-dependent efficacy in inhibiting esophageal injury and gastric acid secretion with an ED
of 2.0 mg/kg, which was 15-fold more potent than that of esomeprazole. In peptic ulcer models, tegoprazan exhibited superior antiulcer activity compared with esomeprazole. The ED
of tegoprazan in the naproxen-, ethanol-, and water-immersion restraint stress-induced peptic ulcer models were 0.1, 1.4, and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively. In the acetic acid-induced peptic ulcer model, the curative ratio of tegoprazan at 10 mg/kg was higher than that of esomeprazole at 30 mg/kg (44.2% vs. 32.7%, respectively), after 5 days of repeated oral administration. Thus, tegoprazan is a novel P-CAB that shows potent and reversible inhibition of gastric H
/K
-ATPase and may provide stronger efficacy compared with previous proton pump inhibitors.
Constitutive activation of the β-catenin dependent canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which enhances tumor growth and progression in multiple types of cancer, is commonly observed in melanoma. LEF1 ...activates β-catenin/TCF4 transcriptional activity, promoting tumor growth and progression. Although several reports have shown that LEF1 is highly expressed in melanoma, the functional role of LEF1 in melanoma growth is not fully understood. While A375, A2058, and G361 melanoma cells exhibit abnormally high LEF1 expression, lung cancer cells express lower LEF1 levels. A luciferase assay-based high throughput screening (HTS) with a natural compound library showed that cinobufagin suppressed β-catenin/TCF4 transcriptional activity by inhibiting LEF1 expression. Cinobufagin decreases LEF1 expression in a dose-dependent manner and Wnt/β-catenin target genes such as
,
, and
in melanoma cell lines. Cinobufagin sensitively attenuates cell viability and induces apoptosis in LEF1 expressing melanoma cells compared to LEF1-low expressing lung cancer cells. In addition, ectopic LEF1 expression is sufficient to attenuate cinobufagin-induced apoptosis and cell growth retardation in melanoma cells. Thus, we suggest that cinobufagin is a potential anti-melanoma drug that suppresses tumor-promoting Wnt/β-catenin signaling via LEF1 inhibition.
Expression of enzymatically inactive caspase-8, or deletion of caspase-8 from basal epidermal keratinocytes, triggers chronic skin inflammation in mice. Unlike similar inflammation resulting from ...arrest of nuclear factor kappaB activation in the epidermal cells, the effect induced by caspase-8 deficiency did not depend on TNF, IL-1, dermal macrophage function, or expression of the toll-like receptor adapter proteins MyD88 or TRIF. Both interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 3 and TANK-binding kinase were constitutively phosphorylated in the caspase-8-deficient epidermis, and knockdown of IRF3 in the epidermis-derived cells from these mice abolished the expression of up-regulated genes. Temporal and spatial analyses of the alterations in gene expression that result from caspase-8 deficiency reveal that the changes are initiated before birth, around the time that cornification develops, and occur mainly in the suprabasal layer. Finally, we found that caspase-8-deficient keratinocytes display an enhanced response to gene activation by transfected DNA. Our findings suggest that an enhanced response to endogenous activators of IRF3 in the epidermis, presumably generated in association with keratinocyte differentiation, contributes to the skin inflammatory process triggered by caspase-8 deficiency.
We assess the vulnerability to climate change of Korean aquaculture based on predicted changes in seawater temperature and salinity in adjacent sea areas of the Korean Peninsula according to ...representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios. Unlike previous studies that have been conducted mostly on a national scale, we classify 14 farming species in major production regions of the Republic of Korea, and assess their vulnerability for each region, using the indicator-based method and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's definition of vulnerability in order to overcome limitations in developing specific adaptation strategies within a country. First, for each exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, specific and proper indicators are selected. Subsequently, these indicators are estimated and weighted to analyze vulnerability to climate change. The results show that the absolute level of vulnerability is high in a long-term period of RCP8.5 in which exposure becomes severe, whereas the relative vulnerability is similar among farming species and regions. Specifically, vulnerability is at the highest level in seaweed, such as laver and sea mustard, while fish, shrimp, and abalone are relatively less vulnerable to climate change.
•Vulnerability of farming species in major regions of Korea to climate change is assessed.•The absolute level of vulnerability is high in a long-term period of RCP8.5 scenario.•The relative vulnerability is similar among farming species and regions.•Vulnerability is at the highest level in seaweed such as laver and sea mustard.•New farming methods and adaptive species should be developed to address such vulnerability.
The purpose of this study is to examine how the competitive advantage on international markets based on sustainable production is reflected in the pricing behavior of farmed fish, using Norwegian ...Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as an example. The salmon is widely consumed and highly traded due to the rapid development of aquaculture. Norway, which has been successful in regulating and innovating for sustainable aquaculture, accounts for more than half of world production. A model dealing with pass-through of exchange rates and tariff rates based on the exporter’s profit maximization was applied to 28 major countries importing from Norway, using yearly panel data for 2000–2016. Significant evidence of price discrimination was observed in Asian countries where Norway has a high market share, such as China, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. This implies that the market structure of imperfect competition played a major role, suggesting the need to diversify imports to transform the market structure in favor of consumers in Asian countries. Research on the pricing behavior of fisheries products, including cultured fish, is limited in international trade. This paper addresses the gap by applying the pass-through model with changes in tariff rate as well as exchange rate.
We analyzed the short- (2030) and long-term (2100) impacts of elevated seawater temperatures on the 14 most important aquaculture species around the Korean Peninsula under two representative ...concentration pathways (RCPs) scenarios: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Under these scenarios, the differences in sea surface temperatures that currently exist (i.e., where the South Sea is warmer than the East Sea and West Sea), decrease, and sea surface temperatures increase more rapidly in the East Sea and West Sea compared with the South Sea, with similar elevated summertime temperatures. We measured the durations of periods of optimal water temperature (ensuring optimal growth) and tolerable temperature (ensuring survival) for each target species as the criteria for assessing the impact of increased seawater temperatures on aquafarming. Our results suggest that the predicted northward shift in suitable aquafarming locations in Korea will not necessarily apply to all species. In addition, according to the results of non-optimal temperature frequency extraction based on averages in the major farming regions, the frequency of periods of non-optimal temperatures was higher under the RCP8.5 scenario. A comparison among the target aquaculture species revealed relatively low frequencies of periods with non-optimal temperatures for finfish and shellfish products and high frequencies for seaweed products.
•Suitable locations for 14 aquaculture species of commercial importance in Korea were analyzed.•Impact of sea surface temperatures under RCPs of the revised IPCC SRES considered.•Predicted northward shift in suitable aquafarming locations not applicable to all species.•Results can guide adaptive aquaculture management plans to respond to climate change.
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