At the LHC, the process of a Higgs boson decaying into bottom or charm quarks produced in association with a pair of top quarks, tt¯H, allows for an empirical exploration of the heavy-flavor quark Yukawa couplings to the Higgs boson. Accordingly, the cross sections for the tt¯ + heavy-flavor production without the appearance of the Higgs boson have been measured at the LHC in various phase spaces using data samples collected in pp collisions at s = 7, 8 and 13 TeV with the ATLAS and CMS experiments. Flavor ratios of cross sections of tt¯ + additional jets processes with different flavors are also measured. In this paper, the measured cross sections and ratios are reviewed and the prospects with more data are presented.

Background and Objectives: The ingestion of anhydrous calcium chloride (CaCl2) causes direct injury to the gastrointestinal wall via a thermal burn. Severe CaCl2 intoxication can induce a hypercalcemic crisis, presenting with arrhythmia, acute pancreatitis, and acute kidney injury. This case report details a patient with hematemesis and hypercalcemia following the ingestion of a commercial desiccant. We aimed to report the progression of the case and focused on the elec-trocardiographic manifestations. Case presentation: A 39-year-old female presented at a regional emergency center with blood in her vomit after the ingestion of a commercial desiccant. Bloody emesis was the initial symptom, and various electrolyte imbalances developed during admission. Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes occurred early after hospitalization and disappeared before the electrolyte levels normalized. The patient was maintained in an NPO state throughout her hospital stay. Bloody emesis and abdominal pain resolved rather early, despite her minimal mention of symptoms, possibly due to her suspected negative psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions: The rise in suicidal attempts has led to an increase in unusual intoxication cases. Previous reports on CaCl2 ingestion primarily considered the gastrointestinal injury. In this case, we observed the dynamic and prolonged multiple electrolyte imbalances along with the early-phase ECG changes, all of which responded well to supportive care. This report adds to the understanding of the diverse manifestations and management of CaCl2 intoxication.

This study analyzed the changes and trends in twelve extreme precipitation-based climate indices obtained using daily data from 10 synoptic stations in the Chungcheong region of South Korea during the 1973-2020 period. The climate indices were used to assess the trends in the extreme precipitation characteristics of duration, frequency, and intensity using the innovative trend analysis (ITA) method. The results of the ITA were further compared with two other non-parametric test methods such as Mann-Kendall (MK) and Spearman’s rho (SR). The results showed that the most stations exhibited significant increasing trends in all the investigated climate indices at a 95% confidence level as indicated by the ITA method, with only a few stations indicating significant decreasing trends in R95p, R99p, Rx3day, and Rx5day. The sub-trend analysis further revealed the dominance of neutral behavior around the low-value cluster, especially for the extreme precipitation duration. At the same time, increasing trends dominate the high-value cluster in most stations. Meanwhile, only R10mm, R95p, and R99p exhibited monotonic trends in the Boeun, Seosan, and Boeun stations, respectively. Further, the ITA exhibited superior performance over the MK and SR methods by indicating the presence of more significant trends in the climate indices at most stations. The distribution of extreme precipitation indices for duration, frequency, and intensity indicate the pronounced risk of flood condition around the north-central and some parts of southern regions, while the western region indicate a potential drought risk, which could greatly impact the water resources and consequently agricultural activities in the study area. The results of this study provide essential information for addressing the climate-related problems of water resources management and agriculture in the study area and other related climatic regions.

The hematopoietic system plays a crucial role in immune defense response and normal development, and is regulated by various factors from other tissues. The dysregulation of hematopoiesis is associated with melanotic mass formation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood. Here, we observed that the overexpression of miR-274 in the fat body resulted in the formation of melanotic masses. Moreover, abnormal activation of the JNK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways was linked to these consequences. In addition to this defect, miR-274 overexpression in the larval fat body decreased the total tissue mass, leading to a reduction in body weight. miR-274-5p was found to directly suppress the expression of found-in-neurons (fne), which encodes an RNA-binding protein. Similar to the effects of miR-274 overexpression, fne depletion led to melanotic mass formation and growth reduction. Collectively, miR-274 plays a regulatory role in the fne-JNK signaling axis in melanotic mass formation and growth control.

This study examined the effects of group art therapy on depression, burden, and self-efficacy in primary family caregivers of patients with brain injuries. This was a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group and a pre- and post-test design. This study was carried out in one national rehabilitation hospital targeting 41 primary family caregivers of patients with brain injuries. Group art therapy intervention was carried out three days per week for 12 times over four consecutive weeks. The experimental group (n = 20) received group art therapy, whereas the control group (n = 21) did not. We used a time difference method to minimize the risk of contaminating the control group by sampling sequentially. The experimental group showed a significantly greater decrease in burden (t = 2.462, p = 0.020) and significantly greater improvement in self-efficacy (t = −6.270, p < 0.001) than the control group. Group art therapy may be an effective nursing intervention for primary family caregivers of patients with brain injuries.

This study investigated clinical nurses’ knowledge and visual differentiation ability of the pressure injury classification system (PICS) and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), additionally analyzing possible influencing factors. A convenience sample of 248 nurses took the PICS and IAD knowledge test (KT) and completed the visual differentiation ability test (VDAT), consisting of 21 photographs with clinical information. The overall mean score for correct answers was 12.65±2.90 points in PICS & IAD KT and 11.43±4.57 points in VDAT. Incorrect responses were most common for statements related to stage Ⅱ, Ⅲ, IAD for PICS & IAD KT, and deep tissue pressure injury (DTPI), unstageable, and stage Ⅲ for VDAT. Significant correlations were found between PICS & IAD KT and VDAT (r=.252, p<.001). Factors affecting scores for VDAT were the scores of PICS & IAD KT, debridement experience in nursing patients with PI, and the management frequency of PI and IAD. Results indicate that nurses have an overall understanding of PICS and IAD, but low visual differentiation ability regarding stage Ⅲ, DTPI, and unstageable PI. Continuing education is needed to further improve knowledge and visual differentiation ability for PICS and IAD.

Phosphate (Pi) starvation is a critical factor limiting crop growth, development, and productivity. Rice (Oryza sativa) R2R3-MYB transcription factors function in the transcriptional regulation of plant responses to various abiotic stresses and micronutrient deprivation, but little is known about their roles in Pi starvation signaling and Pi homeostasis. Here we identified the R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene OsMYB58, which shares high sequence similarity with AtMYB58. OsMYB58 expression was induced more strongly by Pi starvation than by other micronutrient deficiencies. Overexpressing OsMYB58 in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice inhibited plant growth and development under Pi-deficiency conditions. In addition, overexpression of OsMYB58 in plants exposed to Pi deficiency strongly affected root development, including seminal root, lateral root, and root hair formation. Overexpressing OsMYB58 strongly decreased the expression of the rice microRNAs, OsmiR399a and OsmiR399j. By contrast, overexpressing OsMYB58 strongly increased the expression of rice PHOSPHATE 2 (OsPHO2), whose expression is repressed by miR399 during Pi starvation signaling. OsMYB58 functions as a transcriptional repressor of the expression of its target genes, as determined by a transcriptional activity assay. These results demonstrate that OsMYB58 negatively regulates OsmiR399-dependent Pi starvation signaling by enhancing OsmiR399s expression.

The traditional herbal medicine, Hochu-ekki-to, has been shown to have preventive effects on viral infection and stress. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of Hochu-ekki-to on two stress-related rat models of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and treatment groups, the latter of which were subjected to stress induced by exposure to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or cold temperatures. After these stress inductions, rats were orally treated with dissolved Hochu-ekki-to once per day for 7 days. Rats subjected to the two different stressors exhibited upregulation of steroid hormone receptors (in ovaries) and reproductive hormones (in blood), and consequent stimulation of abnormal follicle development accompanied by elevation of Hsp 90 expression (in ovaries). Treatment with Hochu-ekki-to for 7 days after stress induction increased immune functions, reduced the stress-induced activation of Hsp 90, and normalized the levels of the tested steroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormones. Our findings suggest that stress stimulations may promote the activation of Hsp 90 via the dysregulation of steroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormones, but that post-stress treatment with Hochu-ekki-to improves reproductive and immune functions in the ovaries of stressed rats.

Field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) is newly emerged as an edible insect in several countries. Anti-inflammatory effect of glycosaminoglycan derived this cricket was not fully investigated on chronic disease animal model such as diabetic mouse. For potential therapeutic agents, anti-diabetic activities of field cricket glycosaminoglycan (GbG) was evaluated in diabetic mice based on their abilities to reduce glucose, ALT, AST, LDL-cholesterol, and BUN levels, compared with dung beetle (Catharsius molossus) glycosaminoglycan (CaG) as a positive control glycosaminoglycan. Db mice were orally administered for one month according to their groups: Db Hetero (normal), Db Homo (type-2 diabetic), CaG (5 mg/kg), GbG (5 mg/kg), and metformin (10 mg/kg). Blood glucose level was decreased after 1^st week treatment with GbG. It also inhibited LDL-cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase levels. Regarding oxidative damage of diabetic state, levels of hepatocellular biomarkers levels and protein carbonyl content were reduced in db mice treated with GbG. Especially anti-oxidative activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased in GbG treated group compared to those in the control. GbG was composed of heparin disaccharides and main N-glycan was identified as Hex₉GlcNAc₂ (m/z 1905.7) of with neutral mono-sugar mainly comprising of hexose, L (+) rhamnose by mass spectroscopy. These results from sero-biochemical, hepatocellular anti-oxidant assay in db mice data suggest cricket (G. bimaculatus) glycosaminoglycan might play a role in its anti-diabetic action.

Rice is an important cereal crop worldwide, the growth of which is affected by rice blast disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. As climate change increases the diversity of pathogens, the disease-resistance genes (R genes) in plants must be identified. The major blast-resistance genes have been identified in indica rice varieties; therefore, japonica rice varieties with R genes now need to be identified. Because leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain proteins possess R-gene properties, we used bioinformatics analysis to identify the rice candidate LRR domain receptor-like proteins (OsLRR-RLPs). OsLRR-RLP2, which contains six LRR domains, showed differences in the DNA sequence, containing 43 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in indica and japonica subpopulations. The results of M. oryzae inoculation analysis indicated that indica varieties with partial deletion of OsLRR-RLP2 showed susceptibility, whereas japonica varieties with intact OsLRR-RLP2 showed resistance. oslrr-rlp2 mutant generated using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) showed increased pathogen susceptibility, whereas plants overexpressing this gene showed pathogen resistance. These results indicate that OsLRR-RLP2 confers resistance to rice, and OsLRR-RLP2 may be useful for breeding resistant cultivars.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are basic pathogenic factors involved in tissue injury, pain, as well as acute and chronic diseases. Since long-term uses of steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause severe adverse effects, novel effective materials with minimal side effects are required. In this study, polyphenol content and antioxidative activity of rosebud extracts from 24 newly-crossbred Korean roses were analyzed. Among them, Pretty Velvet rosebud extract (PVRE) were found to contain high polyphenols and to show in vitro antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), PVRE down-regulated mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and thereby decreased nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. In an air-pouch inflammation model, treatment with PVRE decreased λ-carrageenan-induced tissue exudation, infiltration of inflammatory cells including neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes, and tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β concentrations, as achieved with dexamethasone (a steroid). Notably, PVRE also inhibited PGE2, similar to dexamethasone and indomethacin (an NSAID). The anti-inflammatory effects of PVRE were confirmed by microscopic findings, attenuating tissue erythema, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration. These results indicate that PVRE exhibits dual (steroid- and NSAID-like) anti-inflammatory activities by blocking both the iNOS ― NO and COX-2 ― PG pathways, and that PVRE could be a promising anti-inflammatory material for diverse issue injuries.