SORI: A softness-rendering interface to unravel the nature of softness perception.

Tactile perception of softness serves a critical role in the survival, well-being, and social interaction among various species, including humans. This perception informs activities from food selection in animals to medical palpation for disease detection in humans. Despite its fundamental importance, a comprehensive understanding of how softness is neurologically and cognitively processed remains elusive. Previous research has demonstrated that the somatosensory system leverages both cutaneous and kinesthetic cues for the sensation of softness. Factors such as contact area, depth, and force play a particularly critical role in sensations experienced at the fingertips. Yet, existing haptic technologies designed to explore this phenomenon are limited, as they often couple force and contact area, failing to provide a real-world experience of softness perception. Our research introduces the softness-rendering interface (SORI), a haptic softness display designed to bridge this knowledge gap. Unlike its predecessors, SORI has the unique ability to decouple contact area and force, thereby allowing for a quantitative representation of softness sensations at the fingertips. Furthermore, SORI incorporates individual physical fingertip properties and model-based softness cue estimation and mapping to provide a highly personalized experience. Utilizing this method, SORI quantitatively replicates the sensation of softness on stationary, dynamic, homogeneous, and heterogeneous surfaces. We demonstrate that SORI accurately renders the surfaces of both virtual and daily objects, thereby presenting opportunities across a range of fields, from teleoperation to medical technology. Finally, our proposed method and SORI will expedite psychological and neuroscience research to unlock the nature of softness perception.

BML-281 promotes neuronal differentiation by modulating Wnt/Ca2+ and Wnt/PCP signaling pathway.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors promote differentiation through post-translational modifications of histones. BML-281, an HDAC6 inhibitor, has been known to prevent tumors, acute dextran sodium sulfate-associated colitis, and lung injury. However, the neurogenic differentiation effect of BML-281 is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of BML-281 on neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell differentiation into mature neurons by immunocytochemistry (ICC), reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and western blotting analysis. We found that the cells treated with BML-281 showed neurite outgrowth and morphological changes into mature neurons under a microscope. It was confirmed that the gene expression of neuronal markers (NEFL, MAP2, Tuj1, NEFH, and NEFM) was increased with certain concentrations of BML-281. Similarly, the protein expression of neuronal markers (NeuN, Synaptophysin, Tuj1, and NFH) was upregulated with BML-281 compared to untreated cells. Following treatment with BML-281, the expression of Wnt5α increased, and downstream pathways were activated. Interestingly, both Wnt/Ca2+ and Wnt/PCP pathways activated and regulated PKC, Cdc42, RhoA, Rac1/2/3, and p-JNK. Therefore, BML-281 induces the differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells into mature neurons by activating the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway. From these results, we concluded that BML-281 might be a novel drug to differentiation into neuronal cells through the regulation of Wnt signaling pathway to reduce the neuronal cell death.

Mono- and dinuclear zinc complexes bearing identical bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligand that exhibit alkaline phosphatase-like catalytic reactivity.

Mono- and dinuclear zinc(II) complexes bearing bis(thiosemicarbazone) (bTSC) ligand were employed in the cleavage of phosphoester bonds. Comparative kinetic studies combined with theory suggested that the P-O bond cleavage is much accelerated by dinuclear zinc(II) complex in the presence of base. Based on the DFT-optimized structures of the proposed intermediates, it is plausible that (1) the removal of sulfur atoms of bTSC ligand from the zinc center provides two vacant sites for the binding of water (or hydroxide ion) and phosphoester and (2) the H-bonding between water (or hydroxide ion) and phosphoester, through several water molecules, may also assist the P-O bond cleavage and facilitate the nucleophilic attack. The kinetic and catalytic studies on the hydrolysis of phosphoester by dinuclear zinc complex showed a much-enhanced reactivity under basic reaction conditions, reaching over 95% conversion yield within 4 h. The currently presented compounds are arguably one of the faster synthetic Zn-based model performing phosphatase-like activity presented so far.

Isolation of high-purity and high-stability exosomes from ginseng.

Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that regulate cell growth and defense by delivering bioactive cellular constituents. They are a promising material for biomedical and cosmetic utilization, especially in medicinal crops such as ginseng. One main hurdle to their usage is the need for a method to isolate stable exosomes with high purity. In this study, we first tested two methods to isolate exosomes from ginseng: ultracentrifugation, the most widely used method; and the ExoQuick system, a polymer-based exosome precipitation approach. We also designed and tested a third method in which we combined ultracentrifugation and ExoQuick methods. Size distribution analysis revealed that the exosome isolation purity by the ultracentrifugation and ExoQuick methods alone were 34.1% and 59.7%, respectively, while the combination method greatly improved exosome isolation purity (83.3%). Furthermore, we found that the combination method also increases the colloidal stability of isolated ginseng exosomes, and the increase was almost double that of the ultracentrifugation method. Lastly, we showed that the combination method can also be used to isolate high-purity and high-stability exosomes from the model plant Arabidopsis. Overall, our findings indicate that the combination method is suitable to isolate high-purity and high-stability exosomes from plants including ginseng.

Auxin controls the division of root endodermal cells.

The root endodermis forms a selective barrier that prevents the free diffusion of solutes into the vasculature; to make this barrier, endodermal cells deposit hydrophobic compounds in their cell walls, forming the Casparian strip. Here, we showed that, in contrast to vascular and epidermal root cells, endodermal root cells do not divide alongside the root apical meristem in Arabidopsis thaliana. Auxin treatment induced division of endodermal cells in wild-type plants, but not in the auxin signaling mutant auxin resistant3-1. Endodermis-specific activation of auxin responses by expression of truncated AUXIN-RESPONSIVE FACTOR5 (ΔARF5) in root endodermal cells under the control of the ENDODERMIS7 promoter (EN7::ΔARF5) also induced endodermal cell division. We used an auxin transport inhibitor to cause accumulation of auxin in endodermal cells, which induced endodermal cell division. In addition, knockout of P-GLYCOPROTEIN1 (PGP1) and PGP19, which mediate centripetal auxin flow, promoted the division of endodermal cells. Together, these findings reveal a tight link between the endodermal auxin response and endodermal cell division, suggesting that auxin is a key regulator controlling the division of root endodermal cells, and that PGP1 and PGP19 are involved in regulating endodermal cell division.

Factors that determine thione(thiol)-disulfide interconversion in a bis(thiosemicarbazone) copper(ii) complex.

Solvent-, acidity-, and redox-responsive thione(thiol)-disulfide interconversion were achieved by a dinuclear copper(ii) complex bearing a bis(thiosemicarbazone) (bTSC) ligand. The role of copper(ii) ion coordination was rationalized by parallel comparison with a bare bTSC ligand and zinc(ii) bTSC complexes under identical reaction conditions.

Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of very severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Controversy exists regarding percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (PBK) in patients with a very severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (vsOVCF). PURPOSE: The study was conducted to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes of PBK for the treatment of vsOVCF compared with those of non-vsOVCF. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This is a retrospective, case-control study. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 167 consecutive patients (210 vertebral bodies) who underwent PBK for OVCF between March 2010 and January 2015 were assessed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back pain, Korean Oswestry disability index (K-ODI) scores, vertebral body height variations, and kyphotic angles were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and 1 year after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients in the non-vsOVCF group (anterior vertebral compression of more than two-thirds on plain radiograph) who had undergone PBK where compared with those in the non-vsOVCF group (compression between 30% and two-thirds). Clinical and radiological outcomes were compared. In addition, complications were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 31 patients (33 vertebrae) in the vsOVCF group and 136 patients (177 vertebrae) in the non-vsOVCF group were treated with PBK. Both groups had significant postoperative improvements in the clinical and radiological outcomes (VAS score, K-ODI score, vertebral body height variation, and kyphotic angle). There was no difference regarding the VAS score and the K-ODI score between the two groups at the final follow-up (p>.05). The cement leakage occurred frequently in the vsOVCF group (26 vertebrae, 78.8%) than in the non-vsOVCF group (92 vertebrae, 52.0%), the difference was statistically significant (p<.05). But there was no case that showed neurologic complication or pulmonary embolism caused by cement leakage. The incidence of recollapse was significantly higher in the vsOVCF group (five vertebrae, 15.2%) than in the non-vsOVCF group (seven vertebrae, 4.0%) (p<.05). The incidence of an adjacent segment fracture (vsOVCF group, 6 vertebrae, 18.2%; non-vsOVCF group, 21 vertebrae, 11.9%) was not significantly different (p=.320). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of vsOVCF.

Outcome of balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures are widely known as complications of rheumatoid arthritis. Kyphoplasty (KP) is known as an effective treatment modality for reducing pain and correcting kyphotic deformity in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). However, cutcomes of KP in rheumatoid patients are not well known. The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes of balloon KP on OVCF in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: A total of 23 patients (31 vertebral bodies) with rheumatoid arthritis who received KP for OVCF and could be followed up for at least 1 year were examined. For clinical outcomes, visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KODI) were evaluated. For radiological outcomes, changes in anterior vertebral height and local kyphotic angle were measured, alongside cement leakage, adjacent fracture, and the recollapse of cemented vertebra. RESULTS: The anterior vertebral height was significantly restored after surgery compared with prior to surgery (p < 0.001). Cement leakage was found in 14 cases (45.1 %), and disc space leakage was prevalent (50 %), while vascular cement leakage was found in one case. Adjacent fracture was found in 3 patients (11.5 %). VAS for lumbago showed a significant decrease (p < 0.001) after surgery (VAS = 2.4) compared with that before (VAS = 8.1); it was somewhat increased after the 1-year follow-up (VAS = 2.8; p = 0.223). KODI also decreased (48.8 %) after surgery compared with before (84.6 %). However, it increased somewhat (49.9 %) after the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: KP on rheumatoid arthritis patients for OVCF was effective for reducing pain in the early stage and restoring vertebral body height. Recollapse of the treated vertebral body was found relatively frequently alongside the correction loss of local kyphotic angle.

Effect of total intravenous anaesthesia and prophylactic ramosetron on postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy: A prospective, randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of combined prophylactic ramosetron and total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), compared with sevoflurane anaesthesia without prophylactic antiemetics, in female patients undergoing thyroidectomy. METHODS: Female patients were randomized between the sevoflurane group (anaesthesia maintained with sevoflurane) or TIVA + ramosetron group (TIVAR; 0.3 mg ramosetron just before anaesthesia induction, remifentanil and propofol anaesthesia). Incidence and severity of PONV and use of rescue antiemetics were recorded during the first 24 h after surgery. RESULTS: In the early postoperative period (0-6 h), the incidence of PONV, severe emesis and rescue antiemetic use were significantly lower in the TIVAR group (n = 36) than in the sevoflurane group (n = 36). In the late postoperative period (6-24 h), the incidence of severe emesis was significantly lower in the TIVAR group than in the sevoflurane group. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of TIVA and prophylactic ramosetron decreases early PONV and late postoperative severe emesis compared with sevoflurane anaesthesia.