Subsequent Proliferation Research Articles

Sanitizers Used for Fungal Spoilage Control in Dry-Fermented Cured Meat Production

Contamination caused by fungi stands out as a significant microbiological issue in the food industry, particularly leading to premature spoilage across various food segments, including the dry-fermented meat industry. The emergence of undesired fungi on product surfaces results in substantial economic losses. Once microorganisms infiltrate the food, contamination ensues, and their subsequent proliferation can adversely impact the product’s appearance, odor, flavor, and texture. This, in turn, leads to consumer rejection and negatively affects the commercial brand. Additionally, concerns persist regarding the potential presence of mycotoxins in these products. Given the detrimental effects of spoilage fungi in the food industry, practices such as thorough cleaning and sanitization become crucial to prevent contamination and subsequent premature deterioration. These measures play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and safety of food, while also extending the shelf life of products. This review delves into the advantages, disadvantages, and factors that may influence the efficacy of commonly used sanitizers in the dry-fermented cured meat industry, including substances like sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, and benzalkonium chloride.

Global gene expression profiling of perirenal brown adipose tissue whitening in goat kids reveals novel genes linked to adipose remodeling

BackgroundBrown adipose tissue (BAT) is known to be capable of non-shivering thermogenesis under cold stimulation, which is related to the mortality of animals. In the previous study, we observed that goat BAT is mainly located around the kidney at birth, and changes to white adipose tissue (WAT) in the perirenal adipose tissue of goats within one month after birth. However, the regulatory factors underlying this change is remain unclear. In this study, we systematically studied the perirenal adipose tissue of goat kids in histological, cytological, and accompanying molecular level changes from 0 to 28 d after birth.ResultsOur study found a higher mortality rate in winter-born goat kids, with goat birthing data statistics. Then we used thermal imaging revealing high temperature in goat hips at postnatal 0 d and gradually decrease during 28 d. This is consistent with the region of perirenal BAT deposition and highlights its critical role in energy expenditure and body temperature regulation in goat kids. Additionally, we found a series of changes of BAT during the first 28 d after birth, such as whitening, larger lipid droplets, decreased mitochondrial numbers, and down-regulation of key thermogenesis-related genes (UCP1, DIO2, UCP2, CIDEA, PPARGC1a, C/EBPb, and C/EBPa). Then, we used RNA-seq found specific marker genes for goat adipose tissue and identified 12 new marker genes for BAT and 10 new marker genes for WAT of goats. Furthermore, 12 candidate genes were found to potentially regulate goat BAT thermogenesis. The mechanism of the change of this biological phenomenon does not involve a large-scale death of brown adipocytes and subsequent proliferation of white adipocytes. While apoptosis may play a limited role, it is largely not critical in this transition process.ConclusionsWe concluded that perirenal BAT plays a crucial role in thermoregulation in newborn goat kids, with notable species differences in the expression of adipose tissue marker genes, and we highlighted some potential marker genes for goat BAT and WAT. Additionally, the change from BAT to WAT does not involve a large-scale death of brown adipocytes and subsequent proliferation of white adipocytes.

Human Gingival Fibroblast Growth and Function in Response to Laser-Induced Meso- and Microscale Hybrid Topography on Dental Implant Healing Abutments.

To examine the behavior and function of human gingival fibroblasts growing on healing abutments with or without laser-textured topography. Human primary gingival connective tissue fibroblasts were cultured on healing abutments with machined or laser-textured (Laser-Lok, BioHorizons) surfaces. Cellular and molecular responses were evaluated by a variety of tests, including cell density assay (WST-1), fluorescence microscopy, real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and detachment tests. The machined surface showed monodirectional traces and scratches from milling, whereas the laser-textured surface showed a distinct morphology consisting of monodirectional mesoscale channels (15-μm pitch) and woven oblique microridges formed within the channels. There were no differences in initial fibroblast attachment, subsequent fibroblast proliferation, or collagen production between the machined and laser-textured surfaces. Fibroblasts growing on a laser-textured surface were found to spread in one direction along the mesochannels, while cells growing on machined surfaces tended to spread randomly. Fibroblasts on laser-textured surfaces were 1.8 times more resistant to detachment than those on machined surfaces. An adhesive glycoprotein (fibronectin) and transmembrane adhesion linker gene (integrin β-1) were upregulated on laser-textured surfaces. The increased fibroblast retention, uniform growth, and increased transcription of cell adhesion proteins compellingly explain the enhanced tissue-level response to laser-created and hybrid-textured titanium surfaces. These results provide a cellular and molecular rationale for the tissue reaction to this unique surface; in addition, they support its extended use, from implants and healing abutments to diverse prosthetic components where enhanced soft tissue responses would be desirable.

Towards Automation in 3D Cell Culture: Selective and Gentle High-Throughput Handling of Spheroids and Organoids via Novel Pick-Flow-Drop Principle.

3D cell culture is becoming increasingly important for mimicking physiological tissue structures in areas such as drug discovery and personalized medicine. To enable reproducibility on a large scale, automation technologies for standardized handling are still a challenge. Here, a novel method for fully automated size classification and handling of cell aggregates like spheroids and organoids is presented. Using microfluidic flow generated by a piezoelectric droplet generator, aggregates are aspirated from a reservoir on one side of a thin capillary and deposited on the other side, encapsulated in free-flying nanoliter droplets to a target. The platform has aggregate aspiration and plating efficiencies of 98.1% and 98.4%, respectively, at a processing throughput of up to 21 aggregates per minute. Cytocompatibility of the method is thoroughly assessed with MCF7, LNCaP, A549 spheroids and colon organoids, revealing no adverse effects on cell aggregates as shear stress is reduced compared to manual pipetting. Further, generic size-selective handling of heterogeneous organoid samples, single-aggregate-dispensing efficiencies of up to 100% and the successful embedding of spheroids or organoids in a hydrogel with subsequent proliferation is demonstrated. This platform is a powerful tool for standardized 3D in vitro research.

CD155 is essential for skeletal muscle regeneration by regulating satellite cell proliferation and differentiation.

CD155, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is closely related to cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. CD155 is overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells to promote cell proliferation and is upregulated in damaged tissues as a stress-induced molecule. The process of skeletal muscle regeneration after injury is complex and involves injurious stimulation and subsequent satellite cell proliferation. However, the role of CD155 in this process remains unelucidated. This study aimed to explore the role of CD155 in injured skeletal muscle regeneration and to clarify its effect on satellite cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunofluorescence results indicated that CD155 expression in satellite cells increased after skeletal muscle injury. CD155 knockout in mice impaired the regeneration of skeletal muscle. A bone marrow transplantation mouse model was constructed and revealed that CD155 on skeletal muscle tissues, not immune cells, affected muscle regeneration. Invitro, CD155 knockdown in myoblasts inhibited their proliferation and differentiation. The transcriptomic analysis also indicated that CD155 absence can impair the biological proliferation and differentiation process of myoblasts. Our research demonstrates that CD155 directly promotes injured muscle regeneration by regulating satellite cell proliferation and differentiation, which may be a potential therapeutic molecule for skeletal muscle injury.

Green Globular Body Induction and Plantlet Regeneration of Endangered Fern Adiantum reniforme var. sinense

Background: Adiantum reniforme var. sinense is a pteridophyte with considerable ornamental importance and medicinal value. However, the wild population of A. reniforme var. sinense has gradually become scarce due to sparse distribution and human activities. Green Globular Bodies (GGBs) are specific tissue which use to propagate ferns in vitro. The study uses GGBs induced from sporophytic embryos to preserve and to proliferate this pteridophyte. Methods: The present study was carried out during year 2018-2020 at National Ilan University. The developing sporophyte of Adiantum reniforme var. sinense were used to induce GGBs. The optimal medium for GGBs proliferation and differentiation in terms of basal salts, plant growth regulators, sugar concentrations and gelling agents was examined. The structure of GGBs and the embryos were analyzed by paraffin section as well. Result: The result indicates the 100% GGBs induction rate from sporophytic embryos for the first time could be obtained under BA (0.1 mg L-1) and NAA (0.15 mg L-1). For subsequent proliferation of GGBs required a higher concentration of NAA (10 mg L-1). Cytokinins such BA, KT and TDZ, inhibited GGBs proliferation. In vitro optimal amount of basal salts, plant growth regulators, sugar concentrations and gelling agents for GGB proliferation were obtained as 2 g L-1 Hyponex, 10 mg L-1 NAA, 15 g L-1 sucrose and 4 g L-1 gelrite, respectively. Paraffin sections revealed histological characteristics of the sporophytic embryo and GGB.

The multiple actions of grape and its polyphenols on female reproductive processes with an emphasis on cell signalling.

Grapes are an economically important fruit crop, and their polyphenols (mainly phenolic acids, flavanols, flavonols, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and stilbenes) can exert a wide range of health benefits as an interesting and valuable dietary supplement for natural complementary therapy. However, their potential physiological and therapeutic actions on reproductive processes have not been sufficiently elucidated. This evidence-based study presents current knowledge of grape extracts and polyphenols, as well as their properties and therapeutical actions in relation to female reproduction in a nutshell. Grape extract, and its polyphenols such as resveratrol, proanthocyanidin B2 or delphinidin may influence female reproductive physiology and pathology, as well as regulate multiple signaling pathways related to reproductive hormones, steroid hormones receptors, intracellular regulators of oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation, apoptosis, and proliferation. Their role in the management of ovarian cancer, age-related reproductive insufficiency, ovarian ischemia, PCOS, or menopausal syndrome has been indicated. In particular, the potential involvement of grapeseed extracts and/or proanthocyanidin B2 and delphinidin on ovarian steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, and developmental capacity has been implicated, albeit at different regulatory levels. Grape polyphenols exert a wide range of health benefits posing grape extract as an interesting and valuable dietary supplement for natural complementary therapy. This evidence-based study focuses on the actions of grapeseed extract and grape polyphenols on female reproductive processes at various regulatory levels and multiple signalling pathways by regulating reproductive hormones (GnRH, gonadotropins, prolactin, steroid hormones, IGFBP), steroid receptors, markers of proliferation and apoptosis. However, lack of knowledge of standardized dosages so far limits their clinical application despite the wide range of their biological and therapeutic potentials.

Strategies based on nido-carborane embedded indole fluorescent polymers: their synthesis, spectral properties and cell imaging studies.

The continuous preparation scheme EPO-Poly-indol-nido-carborane (E-P-INDOLCAB), L100-55-Poly-indol-nido-carborane (L-P-INDOLCAB), RS-Poly-indol-nido-carborane (S-P-INDOLCAB), and RL-Poly-indol-nido-carborane (R-P-INDOLCAB) were used to prepare the four types of acrylic resin-coated nido-carborane indole fluorescent polymers. After testing their spectral properties and the fluorescence stability curve trend at various acidic pH values (3.4 and 5.5, respectively), L-P-INDOLCAB and S-P-INDOLCAB were determined to be the best polymers. The stable states of the two polymers and the dispersion of the nanoparticles on the system's surface during Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) test are shown by the zeta potentials of -23 and -42mV. The dispersion of nanoparticles on the system's surface and the stable condition of the two polymers were examined using zeta potential and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can also confirm these findings, showing that the acrylic resin securely encases the interior to form an eyeball. Both polymers' biocompatibility with HELA cells was enhanced in cell imaging, closely enclosing the target cells. The two complexes displayed strong inhibitory effects on PC-3 and HeLa cells when the concentration was 20ug/mL, as validated by subsequent cell proliferation toxicity studies.

Biogenic silica accumulation and diatom assemblage variations through the Eocene-Oligocene Transition: A Southern Indian Ocean versus South Atlantic perspective

It is widely interpreted that there is a significant link between climate cooling at the Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT; ∼34 Ma) and subsequent diatom proliferation in the world's oceans during the mid to late Cenozoic. Yet, our understanding of biogenic silica flux through the EOT interval is based on limited data from a few sites, and there are many complications in making a meaningful comparison based on biogenic silica concentration data generated using different techniques. Here, we present new biogenic opal flux and diatom assemblage records across EOT from Ocean Drilling Program Site 748 (Southern Kerguelen Plateau, southern Indian Ocean), in addition to new biogenic opal flux records from the South Atlantic (Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 511, Falkland Plateau and Ocean Drilling Program Site 1090, Agulhas Ridge). Observed opal flux shifts and variability at Site 748 are consistent with published data from nearby Site 744; both sites show considerable shifts in biogenic opal accumulation rates corresponding to shifts in published benthic oxygen isotope records through the EOT. In contrast, our new opal flux record for Site 511, derived from biogenic opal concentration measurements via spectrophotometry, differs from the published record derived from insoluble residues, whereas new data generated for Site 1090 are generally consistent with previously published flux reconstructions. The South Atlantic biogenic opal flux records, however, are dissimilar from one another, and both are dissimilar from the Southern Indian Ocean records. Also, the taxonomic composition of the diatom assemblages from Sites 511, 748 and 1090 display considerable differences, with hemiauloids and rhizosolenids – generally inferred as indicative of oligotrophic conditions – being the dominant diatoms at the Southern Kerguelen Plateau (Site 748). Published records show that hemiauloid taxa are absent from the earliest Oligocene interval at Site 1090, which is widely seen as a record of deposition from nutrient-rich waters sustaining abundant diatom assemblages. These differences in diatom assemblages testify to regional differences in nutrient concentrations. In particular, the timing of biogenic opal flux pulses between Sites 1090 and 748 imply a shift in the locus of opal deposition to areas further south in the Southern Ocean across the EOT, likely related to proto-ACC development and strengthening of frontal boundaries. Thus, combined geochemical and micropaleontological evidence points to a regionally variable rather than a global, unified opal flux response to climate cooling through the Eocene-Oligocene Transition.

Principles for effective management of scabies outbreaks

Background: The contagious skin infestation scabies, is caused by the mite <i>Sarcoptes scabiei</i> var. <i>hominis</i>. These microscopic organisms navigate under the skin surface to lay eggs, creating burrows that cause notable discomfort and itching and enable the maturation and subsequent proliferation of the mites. Spread to other hosts can occur through direct, often prolonged, skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through shared items such as clothing, bedding, or towels.Current Concepts: Management of a scabies outbreak encompasses several pivotal steps: accurate diagnosis, comprehensive treatment with topical scabicides to kill the mites, rigorous environmental control (including washing all possibly infested materials in hot water), meticulous contact tracing of all close contacts, administration of symptomatic relief through antihistamines and corticosteroids, and meticulous follow-up to verify successful treatment outcomes.Discussion and Conclusion: The prevention of further infestation and recurrent outbreaks is crucial, necessitating a holistic, integrative public health management approach. This approach involves consistent communication and public education about preventive measures and prompt treatment strategies to curtail widespread infestation, thereby safeguarding community health.

Efferocytosis-induced lactate enables the proliferation of pro-resolving macrophages to mediate tissue repair.

The clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages (efferocytosis) prevents necrosis and inflammation and activates pro-resolving pathways, including continual efferocytosis. A key resolution process in vivo is efferocytosis-induced macrophage proliferation (EIMP), in which apoptotic cell-derived nucleotides trigger Myc-mediated proliferation of pro-resolving macrophages. Here we show that EIMP requires a second input that is integrated with cellular metabolism, notably efferocytosis-induced lactate production. Lactate signalling via GPR132 promotes Myc protein stabilization and subsequent macrophage proliferation. This mechanism is validated in vivo using a mouse model of dexamethasone-induced thymocyte apoptosis, which elevates apoptotic cell burden and requires efferocytosis to prevent inflammation and necrosis. Thus, EIMP, a key process in tissue resolution, requires inputs from two independent processes: a signalling pathway induced by apoptotic cell-derived nucleotides and a cellular metabolism pathway involving lactate production. These findings illustrate how seemingly distinct pathways in efferocytosing macrophages are integrated to carry out a key process in tissue resolution.

Common Property Resources and Normalization of Encroachment: An Ethnographic Account

The article enquires into the construction of encroachment (of village pond) as an acceptable regular practice in the day-to-day discourse of village life, violating the norms of collective usages of common water bodies. Violation in this case is the outcome of a peculiar social understanding that emerged over a period of time (a) by ineffective functioning of state apparatus and the subsequent proliferation of corrupt network and (b) by the arrival of new technologies of development which replaced the collective action for local resource management and reversed social trust to support violation. While on the one hand this process led to obliteration of distinction between the agent and the victim of violation as a free rider condition exist vis-à-vis encroachment; on the other hand there is an increased sense of vulnerability to the effects of violation. The perception of encroachment in the village community as natural and unavoidable reality gives social legitimation to this violation which affects all.

SAT008 Elucidating The Role Of Small Heterodimer Partner In Injury Associated Hepatic Proliferation

Abstract Disclosure: R.P. Shaw: None. Small Heterodimer Partner (SHP) is an atypical nuclear receptor that is involved in the regulation of several metabolic pathways but lacks the typically conserved DNA binding domain seen in other nuclear receptors. Several studies have found that SHP expression is drastically lower due to epigenetic silencing in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fourth most fatal cancer worldwide, indicating a crucial role for SHP in controlling liver proliferation. SHP can modulate the cell cycle by inhibiting cyclin D1, and remarkably, SHP knockout mice develop tumours at 12 to 15 months of age. The underlying mechanism(s) of this tumorigenesis may be consequential to increases in cyclin D1, yes associated protein (YAP), and decreases in apoptosis when SHP expression is reduced. Furthermore, excessive bile acid (BA) levels in cholestatic liver diseases are cytotoxic and in large quantities, can induce hepatic injury and subsequent hepatic proliferation. We have confirmed that in male mice, loss of hepatic SHP leads to increased systemic BA levels, suggesting these mice may also have increased hepatic injury and proliferation. Moreover, BAs have been identified as upstream regulators of YAP. YAP is a transcriptional coactivator that regulates genes involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation and is also overexpressed in hepatic cancers. In addition to BAs, YAP has also been shown to be activated upon treatment with 0.1% DDC (3,5-Diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-Dihydrocollidine) diet, a chemical-based biliary injury model. We have recently demonstrated that male LSHPKO mice exhibit significantly increased hepatic proliferation, inflammation, and cyclin B1 & B2 mRNA expression in response to the DDC challenge. We have also characterized apoptotic pathways and cell death using TUNEL staining in these mice and characterized how the downregulation of YAP in LSHPKO mice affects hepatic proliferation. These results, in tandem with previous studies of YAP, suggest that hepatic SHP may play a role in mediating hepatic proliferation after injury. It is possible that SHP may act as a repressor for YAP-mediated function. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Lineage tracing identifies heterogeneous hepatoblast contribution to cell lineages and postembryonic organ growth dynamics.

To meet the physiological demands of the body, organs need to establish a functional tissue architecture and adequate size as the embryo develops to adulthood. In the liver, uni- and bipotent progenitor differentiation into hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells (BECs), and their relative proportions, comprise the functional architecture. Yet, the contribution of individual liver progenitors at the organ level to both fates, and their specific proportion, is unresolved. Combining mathematical modelling with organ-wide, multispectral FRaeppli-NLS lineage tracing in zebrafish, we demonstrate that a precise BEC-to-hepatocyte ratio is established (i) fast, (ii) solely by heterogeneous lineage decisions from uni- and bipotent progenitors, and (iii) independent of subsequent cell type-specific proliferation. Extending lineage tracing to adulthood determined that embryonic cells undergo spatially heterogeneous three-dimensional growth associated with distinct environments. Strikingly, giant clusters comprising almost half a ventral lobe suggest lobe-specific dominant-like growth behaviours. We show substantial hepatocyte polyploidy in juveniles representing another hallmark of postembryonic liver growth. Our findings uncover heterogeneous progenitor contributions to tissue architecture-defining cell type proportions and postembryonic organ growth as key mechanisms forming the adult liver.

CBX7 reprograms metabolic flux to protect against meningioma progression by modulating the USP44/c-MYC/LDHA axis.

Meningioma is one of the most common primary neoplasms in the central nervous system, but no specific molecularly targeted therapy has been approved for the clinical treatment of aggressive meningiomas. There is hence an urgent demand to decrypt the biological and molecular landscape of malignant meningioma. Here, through the in-silica prescreening and 10-year follow-up studies of 445 meningioma patients, we uncovered that CBX7 expression progressively decreases with malignancy grade and neoplasia stage in meningioma, and a high CBX7 expression level predicts a favorable prognosis in meningioma patients. CBX7 restoration significantly induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits meningioma cell proliferation. iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis indicated that CBX7 restoration triggers the metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. The mechanistic study demonstrated that CBX7 promotes the proteasome-dependent degradation of c-MYC protein by transcriptionally inhibiting the expression of a c-MYC deubiquitinase, USP44, consequently attenuates c-MYC-mediated transactivation of LDHA transcripts, and further inhibits glycolysis and subsequent cell proliferation. More importantly, the functional role of CBX7 was further confirmed in subcutaneous and orthotopic meningioma xenograft mouse models and meningioma patients. Altogether, our results shed light on the critical role of CBX7 in meningioma malignancy progression and identify the CBX7/USP44/c-MYC/LDHA axis as a promising therapeutic target against meningioma progression.

M6A demethylase FTO stabilizes LINK-A to exert oncogenic roles via MCM3-mediated cell-cycle progression and HIF-1α activation

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is implicated in cancer progression, yet its role in regulating long noncoding RNAs during cancer progression remains unclear. Here, we report that the m6A demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) stabilizes long intergenic noncoding RNA for kinase activation (LINK-A) to promote cell proliferation and chemoresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Mechanistically, LINK-A promotes the interaction between minichromosome maintenance complex component 3 (MCM3) and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), increasing MCM3 phosphorylation. This phosphorylation facilitates the loading of the MCM complex onto chromatin, which promotes cell-cycle progression and subsequent cell proliferation. Moreover, LINK-A disrupts the interaction between MCM3 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), abrogating MCM3-mediated HIF-1α transcriptional repression and promoting glycolysis and chemoresistance. These results elucidate the mechanism by which FTO-stabilized LINK-A plays oncogenic roles and identify the FTO/LINK-A/MCM3/HIF-1α axis as a promising therapeutic target for ESCC.

Expression and Activity of the NF-κB Subunits in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: A Role for RelB and Non-Canonical Signalling.

Canonical NF-κB signalling by p65 (RelA) confers chemo-resistance and poor survival in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The role of non-canonical NF-κB signalling (leading to RelB and p52 subunit activation) in CLL is less understood, but given its importance in other B-cell tumour types, we theorised that RelB and p52 may also contribute to the pathology of CLL. DNA binding activity of all five NF-kB subunits, p65, p50, RelB, p52, and c-Rel, was quantified using ELISA and correlated to ex vivo chemoresistance, CD40L-stimulated signalling (to mimic the lymph node microenvironment), and clinical data. Importantly, we show for the first time that high basal levels of RelB DNA binding correlate with nuclear RelB protein expression and are associated with del(11q), ATM dysfunction, unmutated IGHV genes, and shorter survival. High levels of nuclear p65 are prevalent in del(17p) cases (including treatment-naïve patients) and also correlate with the outcome. CD40L-stimulation resulted in rapid RelB activation, phosphorylation and processing of p100, and subsequent CLL cell proliferation. These data highlight a role for RelB in driving CLL cell tumour growth in a subset of patients and therefore strategies designed to inhibit non-canonical NF-κB signalling represent a novel approach that will have therapeutic benefit in CLL.

The Use of Small-Molecule Compounds for Cell Adhesion and Migration in Regenerative Medicine.

Cell adhesion is essential for cell survival, communication, and regulation, and it is of fundamental importance in the development and maintenance of tissues. Cell adhesion has been widely explored due to its many important roles in the fields of tissue regenerative engineering and cell biology. This is because the mechanical interactions between a cell and its extracellular matrix (ECM) can influence and control cell behavior and function. Currently, biomaterials for regenerative medicine have been heavily investigated as substrates for promoting a cells' adhesive properties and subsequent proliferation, tissue differentiation, and maturation. Specifically, the manipulation of biomaterial surfaces using ECM coatings such as fibronectin extracted from animal-derived ECM have contributed significantly to tissue regenerative engineering as well as basic cell biology research. Additionally, synthetic and natural bioadhesive agents with pronounced abilities to enhance adhesion in numerous biological components and molecules have also been assessed in the field of tissue regeneration. Research into the use of facilitative bioadhesives has aimed to further optimize the biocompatibility, biodegradability, toxicity levels, and crosslinking duration of bioadhesive materials for improved targeted delivery and tissue repair. However, the restrictive drawbacks of some of these bioadhesive and animal-derived materials include the potential risk of disease transmission, immunogenicity, poor reproducibility, impurities, and instability. Therefore, it is necessary for alternative strategies to be sought out to improve the quality of cell adhesion to biomaterials. One promising strategy involves the use of cell-adhesive small molecules. Small molecules are relatively inexpensive, stable, and low-molecular-weight (<1000 Da) compounds with great potential to serve as efficient alternatives to conventional bioadhesives, ECM proteins, and other derived peptides. Over the past few years, a number of cell adhesive small molecules with the potential for tissue regeneration have been reported. In this review, we discuss the current progress using cell adhesive small molecules to regulate tissue regeneration.

The Environment in the Box of Cold-War Developmentalism: North Korea’s 1970s Discourse on Pollution (&lt;i&gt;konghae&lt;/i&gt;)

This paper examines the unfolding of North Korean discourse on “&lt;i&gt;konghae (pollution)&lt;/i&gt;” in the context of the Cold War and developmentalism during the 1970s. Scrutinizing how the North Korean regime justified its own environmental management approach by critiquing the handling of the &lt;i&gt;konghae&lt;/i&gt; issue in capitalist states, this study elucidates the impact of North Korea’s Cold War framing on the intertwined dynamics of development and the environment. In particular, the import of Japanese polluting industries into South Korea triggered the introduction of the term &lt;i&gt;konghae&lt;/i&gt; into the North Korean vernacular and the subsequent proliferation of related discourse, which may have also been influenced by the growing global consciousness of environmental matters and the corresponding dialogue on potential solutions.&lt;/br&gt;While Cold War framing impeded North Korean acknowledgment of its own developing pollution problem, discourse on pollution expanded as it became harder to ignore the growing phenomenon of pollution within the country and awareness of pollution became more common. This led to efforts in the 1980s and 1990s to respond to environmental concerns in North Korea, such as the enactment of the Environmental Protection Law in 1986 and the incorporation of environmental rights into the Constitution in 1992. This paper highlights the significance of the 1970s as a pivotal pre-transition phase during which North Korea’s environmental discourse evolved from a confined focus on &lt;i&gt;konghae&lt;/i&gt; to a broader, more comprehensive conception of the environment. Despite this progression, the developmentalist idea that technological advancement can resolve environmental challenges persists in the DPRK.

Reproducible science of science at scale: pySciSci

Abstract Science of science (SciSci) is a growing field encompassing diverse interdisciplinary research programs that study the processes underlying science. The field has benefited greatly from access to massive digital databases containing the products of scientific discourse—including publications, journals, patents, books, conference proceedings, and grants. The subsequent proliferation of mathematical models and computational techniques for quantifying the dynamics of innovation and success in science has made it difficult to disentangle universal scientific processes from those dependent on specific databases, data-processing decisions, field practices, etc. Here we present pySciSci, a freely available and easily adaptable package for the analysis of large-scale bibliometric data. The pySciSci package standardizes access to many of the most common data sets in SciSci and provides efficient implementations of common and advanced analytical techniques.