Ultrafast Interfacial Charge Transfer Initiates Mechanical Stress and Heat Transport at the Au-TiO2 Interface.

Metal-semiconductor interfaces are crucial components of optoelectronic and electrical devices, the performance of which hinges on intricate dynamics involving charge transport and mechanical interaction at the interface. Nevertheless, structural changes upon photoexcitation and subsequent carrier transportation at the interface, which crucially impact hot carrier stability and lifetime, remain elusive. To address this long-standing problem, they investigated the electron dynamics and resulting structural changes at the Au/TiO2 interface using ultrafast electron diffraction (UED). The analysis of the UED data reveals that interlayer electron transfer from metal to semiconductor generates a strong coupling between the two layers, offering a new way for ultrafast heat transfer through the interface and leading to a coherent structural vibration that plays a critical role in propagating mechanical stress. These findings provide insights into the relationship between electron transfer and interfacial mechanical and thermal properties.

A comparative review of time-resolved x-ray and electron scattering to probe structural dynamics.

The structure of molecules, particularly the dynamic changes in structure, plays an essential role in understanding physical and chemical phenomena. Time-resolved (TR) scattering techniques serve as crucial experimental tools for studying structural dynamics, offering direct sensitivity to molecular structures through scattering signals. Over the past decade, the advent of x-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) and mega-electron-volt ultrafast electron diffraction (MeV-UED) facilities has ushered TR scattering experiments into a new era, garnering significant attention. In this review, we delve into the basic principles of TR scattering experiments, especially focusing on those that employ x-rays and electrons. We highlight the variations in experimental conditions when employing x-rays vs electrons and discuss their complementarity. Additionally, cutting-edge XFELs and MeV-UED facilities for TR x-ray and electron scattering experiments and the experiments performed at those facilities are reviewed. As new facilities are constructed and existing ones undergo upgrades, the landscape for TR x-ray and electron scattering experiments is poised for further expansion. Through this review, we aim to facilitate the effective utilization of these emerging opportunities, assisting researchers in delving deeper into the intricate dynamics of molecular structures.

Capturing the generation and structural transformations of molecular ions.

Molecular ions are ubiquitous and play pivotal roles1-3 in many reactions, particularly in the context of atmospheric and interstellar chemistry4-6. However, their structures and conformational transitions7,8, particularly in the gas phase, are less explored than those of neutral molecules owing to experimental difficulties. A case in point is the halonium ions9-11, whose highly reactive nature and ring strain make them short-lived intermediates that are readily attacked even by weak nucleophiles and thus challenging to isolate or capture before they undergo further reaction. Here we show that mega-electronvolt ultrafast electron diffraction (MeV-UED)12-14, used in conjunction with resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization, can monitor the formation of 1,3-dibromopropane (DBP) cations and their subsequent structural dynamics forming a halonium ion. We find that the DBP+ cation remains for a substantial duration of 3.6 ps in aptly named 'dark states' that are structurally indistinguishable from the DBP electronic ground state. The structural data, supported by surface-hopping simulations15 and ab initio calculations16, reveal that the cation subsequently decays to iso-DBP+, an unusual intermediate with a four-membered ring containing a loosely bound17,18 bromine atom, and eventually loses the bromine atom and forms a bromonium ion with a three-membered-ring structure19. We anticipate that the approach used here can also be applied to examine the structural dynamics of other molecular ions and thereby deepen our understanding of ion chemistry.

Dynamical Franz-Keldysh Effect in Diamond in the Deep Ultraviolet Probed by Transient Absorption and Dispersion Spectroscopy Using a Miniature Beamline.

Here, we introduce a miniature beamline for transient absorption and dispersion spectroscopy, using a tailored deep ultraviolet field immediately after the noncollinear generation without subsequent optical elements. We explore the near-band-gap region in diamond in the presence of a few-femtosecond pump pulse where the delayed dynamical Franz-Keldysh effect and the almost instantaneous optical Kerr effect coexist.

Risk Assessment and Determination of Arsenic and Heavy Metals in Fishery Products in Korea.

The purpose of this study is to quantify several heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Me-Hg, and metalloid arsenic) contained in Korean fishery products (seven categories, 1186 samples) and assess their health risk. Heavy metals quantification was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and a direct mercury analysis (DMA). The good linearity (R2 > 0.999), limits of detection (1.0-3.2 µg/kg), limits of quantification (3.1-9.6 µg/kg), accuracy (88.14-113.80%), and precision (0.07-6.02%) of the five heavy metals were obtained, and these results meet the criteria recommended by the AOAC. The average heavy metal concentrations of fishery products were in the following order: As > Cd > Pb > Hg > Me-Hg for sea algae, crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms, As > Hg > Me-Hg > Pb > Cd for freshwater fish and marine fish, and As > Pb > Cd > Hg > Me-Hg for tunicates. Heavy metal concentrations were lower than MFDS, EU, CODEX, and CFDA standards. In addition, the exposure, non-carcinogenic, and carcinogenic evaluation results, considering the intake of aquatic products for Koreans, were very low. It was concluded that this study will provide basic data for food safety and risk assessment.

Fish Freshness Indicator for Sensing Fish Quality during Storage.

This study aims to develop a freshness indicator for fish products that changes color to indicate ammonia among volatile base compounds (TVB-N) generated during storage. Through an optimization experiment, we observed the indicator's color change relative to the ammonia concentration standard, finally selecting cresol red and bromocresol purple for the indicator mixture. In addition, eco-DEHCH and Breathron film were applied to the freshness indicator, considering environmental and economic values. For the storage experiment, Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius), and Largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) samples were stored at three different temperatures (4, 10, and 20 °C) for seven days, and we measured pH, TVB-N, total bacterial count, and ammonia content every 24 h. The pH-sensitive sensors' color changes monitor amine release, especially ammonia, from decomposing fish. The chromatic parameter ∆E value increased significantly with fish product storage periods. We confirmed that when the freshness limit and bacterial spoilage level were reached, the color of the indicator changed from yellow to black and sequentially changed to purple as the storage period increased. Therefore, a developed freshness indicator can be used for determining the quality of fish products quickly and non-destructively by reflecting the freshness and spoilage degree of fish products during storage.

Singlet fission dynamics modulated by molecular configuration in covalently linked pyrene dimers, Anti- and Syn-1,2-di(pyrenyl)benzene.

Covalently linked dimers (CLDs) and their structural isomers have attracted much attention as potential materials for improving power conversion efficiencies through singlet fission (SF). Here, we designed and synthesized two covalently ortho-linked pyrene (Py) dimers, anti- and syn-1,2-di(pyrenyl)benzene (Anti-DPyB and Syn-DPyB, respectively), and investigated the effect of molecular configuration on SF dynamics using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies. Both Anti-DPyB and Syn-DPyB, which have different Py-stacking configurations, form excimers, which then relax to the correlated triplet pair ((T1T1)) state, indicating the occurrence of SF. Unlike previous studies where the excimer formation inhibited an SF process, the (T1T1)'s of Anti-DPyB and Syn-DPyB are formed through the excimer state. The dissociation of (T1T1)'s to 2T1 in Anti-DPyB is more favorable than in Syn-DPyB. Our results showcase that the molecular configuration of a CLD plays an important role in SF dynamics.

Onset of Bloch oscillations in the almost-strong-field regime.

In the field of high-order harmonic generation from solids, the electron motion typically exceeds the edge of the first Brillouin zone. In conventional nonlinear optics, on the other hand, the excursion of band electrons is negligible. Here, we investigate the transition from conventional nonlinear optics to the regime where the crystal electrons begin to explore the first Brillouin zone. It is found that the nonlinear optical response changes abruptly already before intraband currents due to ionization become dominant. This is observed by an interference structure in the third-order harmonic generation of few-cycle pulses in a non-collinear geometry. Although approaching Keldysh parameter γ = 1, this is not a strong-field effect in the original sense, because the iterative series still converges and reproduces the interference structure. The change of the nonlinear interband response is attributed to Bloch motion of the reversible (or transient or virtual) population, similar to the Bloch motion of the irreversible (or real) population which affects the intraband currents that have been observed in high-order harmonic generation.

Relation of Dietary n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acid Intakes to Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged People Depending on the Level of HbA1c: A Review of National Health and Nutrition Survey Data from 2014 to 2016.

Background and Objectives: The relation of dietary n-6 fatty acid to metabolic syndrome has not been examined and clearly defined. To improve health in the general population, this study was to investigate the role of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the reduction in metabolic syndrome and to observe changes in the effects of these fatty acids depending on the level of insulin resistance. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized national health and nutrition survey data from 2014 to 2016. From the data, a relation of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid intakes to metabolic syndrome and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)'s role in the relation was evaluated and analyzed for 4852 patients between 40 and 64 years old. Intake frequency of 112 nutrition and daily consumption amounts were identified, and intakes of n-3 and n-4 fatty acids were calculated from this data. Metabolic syndrome was determined for each participant using diagnostic standards for the Asian population published by the National Cholesterol Education Program. Results: Among the total 4852 subjects, 1583 (32.6%) had metabolic syndrome; 736 of 1875 (39.3%) males and 847 of 2977 (28.5%) females had the syndrome. In males, when their HbA1c was low (<5.4%), intakes of both n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were related to a 43−63% decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome with significance, and a similar negative tendency was also observed in females. On the contrary, for both males and females, no statistically significant correlation was present when HbA1c was high. Conclusion: It was considered that consistent and regular dietary intakes of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids may contribute greatly to prevent or treat metabolic syndrome in healthy males with normal insulin sensitivity, but the effect of their dietary intakes was found to be limited in a group with strong insulin resistance. The conclusion of this study presents a valuable reference and knowledge to provide nutritional education to the general population.

Characterization, Antioxidant Activities, and Functional Properties of Mucilage Extracted from Corchorus olitorius L.

This study extracted the mucilage from Corchorus olitorius L. to observe its chemical and functional properties and suggest its possible applications in various fields. Corchorus olitorius L. mucilage was isolated by hot water extraction. FT-IR and HPAEC-PAD were used to describe the chemical composition, and the functional properties and antioxidant activities of the mucilage were also examined. The mucilage was mainly composed of uronic acid (34.24%, w/w). The solubility was 79.48 ± 1.08% at 65 °C, the swelling index was 29.01 ± 2.54% at 25 °C, and the water-holding capacity and oil-binding capacity were 28.66 ± 1.48 and 8.423 ± 0.23 g/g, respectively. The mucilage viscosity increased from 4.38 to 154.97 cP in a concentration-dependent manner. Increasing the concentration decreased the emulsion activity and increased the emulsion stability, most likely because of the corresponding increase in surface tension and viscosity. Results from antioxidant assays confirmed that the in-vitro radical scavenging activity of the mucilage increased with concentration. This study shows that C. olitorius L. can be utilized as a new hydrocolloid source, with potential applications in fields ranging from foods to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Effect of Mucilage Extracted from Corchorus olitorius Leaves on Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)-Stabilized Oil-in-Water Emulsions.

The present study examined the effect of mucilage extracted from Corchorus olitorius L. leaves on the emulsifying stability of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions during the storage for seven days. O/W emulsions were prepared with a 90% aqueous phase containing C. olitorius mucilage (0-1.00% w/v) together with 0.5% (w/v) BSA and 10% oil phase. Emulsion properties were analyzed by measuring droplet size, zeta potential, spectroturbidity, backscattering profiles (%BS), and visual observations. The mean droplet size of emulsions prepared with 0.75 and 1.00% mucilage did not show significant changes during storage. The zeta potential of all the emulsions exhibited a negative charge of approximately -40 mV, but electrical repulsion was not the dominant stabilization mechanism in the emulsion. C. olitorius mucilage was able to increase the viscosity of the aqueous phase of the O/W emulsion system, which prevented droplet flocculation and enhanced the emulsion stability against phase separation at higher concentrations. The most stable emulsions during the storage period were those with 1.00% C. olitorius mucilage. In conclusion, C. olitorius mucilage has good potential for the preparation of stable O/W emulsions and can be used as a plant-based natural emulsifying and thickening agent in the food industry.

Evaluation of analytical method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content in home meal replacement products by GC/MS.

This study analyzed four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from frequently consumed home meal replacement (HMR) products in Korea and evaluated their chemical analysis methods. The PAHs investigated were benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene. Chrysene-d12 and benzo[a]pyrene-d12 served as internal standards. The sample was dissolved in dichloromethane before extraction. Liquid-liquid extraction, microwave extraction, alkali digestion and GC-MS were used for analysis. Method validation was conducted on four matrices: fatty solid, fatty liquid, non-fatty liquid, non-fatty solid. Linear correlation coefficients (R2) were all above 0.99 and accuracy ranged from 80.03 to 119.65%. The LOD and LOQ were in the range of 0.03-0.15 and 0.09-0.44 µg/kg, respectively. The recoveries varied from 81.09 to 116.42% and precision ranged from 0.07 to 10.73% in both intraday and interday analysis. All concentrations of total PAHs from HMR products were detected at relatively low concentration. This study could provide the PAHs content from HMR products in Korea.

Development and Clinical Evaluation of an Immunochromatography-Based Rapid Antigen Test (GenBody™ COVAG025) for COVID-19 Diagnosis.

Antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis are simpler and faster than their molecular counterparts. Clinical validation of such tests is a prerequisite before their field applications. We developed and clinically evaluated an immunochromatographic immunoassay, GenBody™ COVAG025, for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (NP) antigen in two different clinical studies. Retrospectively, 130 residual nasopharyngeal swabs transferred in viral transport medium (VTM), pre-examined for COVID-19 through emergency use authorization (EUA)-approved real-time RT-PCR assay and tested with GenBody™ COVAG025, revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 90.00% (27/30; 95% CI: 73.47% to 97.89%) and 98.00% (98/100; 95% CI: 92.96% to 99.76%), respectively, fulfilling WHO guidelines. Subsequently, the prospective examination of 200 symptomatic and asymptomatic nasopharyngeal swabs, collected on site and tested with GenBody™ COVAG025 and EUA-approved real-time RT-PCR assay simultaneously, revealed a significantly higher sensitivity and specificity of 94.00% (94/100; 95% CI: 87.40% to 97.77%) and 100.00% (100/100; 95% CI: 96.38% to 100.00%), respectively. Clinical sensitivity and specificity were significantly high for samples with Ct values ≤ 30 as well as within 3 days of symptom onset, justifying its dependency on the viral load. Thus, it is assumed this can help with the accurate diagnosis and timely isolation and treatment of patients with COVID-19, contributing to better control of the global pandemic.

Clinical Evaluation of an Immunochromatographic-Based IgM/IgG Antibody Assay (GenBody™ COVI040) for Detection of Antibody Seroconversion in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

There is a need for accurate diagnostic tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of an immunochromatography-based immunoglobulin G (IgG)/immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody assay (GenBody™ COVI040) for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion in COVID-19 patients. A total of 130 samples, serially collected from patients with confirmed COVID-19, and 100 negative control samples were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG using the GenBody™ COVI040 assay following the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety guidelines on the review and approval of in vitro diagnostic devices for COVID-19. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction results were used as the comparator. The overall sensitivity of the GenBody™ COVI040 assay was 97.69% (95% confidence interval (CI): 93.40-99.52%). The sensitivity of the assay increased with time post symptom onset (PSO) (sensitivity ≤6 days PSO: 78.57%, 95% CI: 49.20-95.34%; sensitivity 7-13 days PSO: 100%, 95% CI: 87.23-100%; and sensitivity ≥14 days PSO: 100%, 95% CI: 95.94-100%). The specificity of the assay was 100% (95% CI: 96.38-100%). The GenBody™ COVI040 assay showed high sensitivity and specificity, making it a promising diagnostic test to monitor COVID-19.

Reduction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sesame Oil Using Cellulosic Aerogel.

The effect of cellulosic aerogel treatments used for adsorption of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene [BaP]-generated during the manufacture of sesame oil was evaluated. In this study, eulalia (Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens)-based cellulosic aerogel (adsorbent) was prepared and used high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for determination of PAHs in sesame oil. In addition, changes in the sesame oil quality parameters (acid value, peroxide value, color, and fatty acid composition) following cellulosic aerogel treatment were also evaluated. The four PAHs and their total levels decreased in sesame oil samples roasted under different conditions (p < 0.05) following treatment with cellulosic aerogel. In particular, highly carcinogenic BaP was not detected after treatment with cellulosic aerogel. Moreover, there were no noticeable quality changes in the quality parameters between treated and control samples. It was concluded that eulalia-based cellulosic aerogel proved suitable for the reduction of PAHs from sesame oil and can be used as an eco-friendly adsorbent.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoking cessation aids by using high-performance liquid chromatography.

A method has been developed and validated for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the electronic liquid/gas (e-liquid/e-gas) of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and ignitable/non-ignitable smokeless cigarettes by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. The proposed method was further applied to detect the presence of PAHs in 16 commercially available smoking cessation aids. The analytical method for benz [a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo [b]fluoranthene, benzo [k]fluoranthene, benzo [a]pyrene, dibenz [a,h]anthracene, and benzo [g,h,i]perylene (BghiP) was validated in terms of linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery (%), accuracy (%), and precision (%). Results showed low levels of PAHs in all samples, except for the non-ignitable cigarettes. In particular, BghiP was detected in e-liquid even though a mixture of food-grade propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin was used, and at least one PAH was present in the e-gas of all e-cigarettes, except for one. From these results, it is necessary to prepare an accurate quantitative analysis method and investigate unexpected hazardous materials generated from smoking cessation aids to prevent health problems and provide the scientific basis for safety management.

Plants of the Genus Terminalia: An Insight on Its Biological Potentials, Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies.

The evaluation and confirmation of healing properties of several plant species of genus Terminalia based on their traditional uses and the clinical claims are of utmost importance. Genus Terminalia has received more attention to assess and validate the therapeutic potential and clinical approval due to its immense folk medicinal and traditional applications. Various species of Terminalia genus are used in the form of herbal medicine and formulations, in treatment of diseases, including headache, fever, pneumonia, flu, geriatric, cancer, to improve memory, abdominal and back pain, cough and cold, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, heart disorder, leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases, and urinary tract disorders. These are reported to possess numerous biological properties, counting: antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antiretroviral, antioxidant, and antipa7rasitic. This current research review aims to update the detailed biological activities, pre-clinical and clinical studies of various extracts and secondary metabolites from several plant species under the genus Terminalia, along with information on the traditional uses and chemical composition to develop a promising strategy for their potential applications in the form of medicine or use in modern drug formulations for treating diseases like pneumonia, flu, and other types of viral infections or controlling human contagions.

Exploiting Fruit Waste Grape Pomace for Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis, Assessing Their Antioxidant, Antidiabetic Potential and Antibacterial Activity Against Human Pathogens: A Novel Approach.

Grape pomace, a most abundant and renewable wine industry waste product was utilized as a suitable reducing, capping, and stabilizing biomolecules for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The physicochemical properties of biosynthesized grape pomace extract (GPE)-AgNPs were duly appraised via UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy. The analytical studies revealed that the GPE-AgNPs were well formed and stable in nature. The functional groups of organic molecules of GPE are present on the surface of AgNPs with average NPs diameter in the range of 20-35 nm. GPE-AgNPs exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity mainly DPPH radical (IC50, 50.0 ± 2.25 µg/mL) and ABTS radical (IC50, 38.46 ± 1.14 µg/mL). Additionally, the synthesized AgNPs showed noticeable inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes mainly, α-amylase (IC50, 60.2 ± 2.15 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50, 62.5 ± 2.75 µg/mL). The GPE fabricated AgNPs showed noteworthy antibacterial potential against infectious bacteria viz., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The reaction mechanism of antibacterial activity was studied by measuring the bacterial cell membrane breakage and cytoplasmic contents, mainly, nucleic acid, proteins, and reducing sugar. Therefore, this research attempt illustrated the potential of GPE as a novel source intended for the biosynthesis of AgNPs that may open up new horizons in the field of nanomedicine.

Thiolation of Chitosan Loaded over Super-Magnetic Halloysite Nanotubes for Enhanced Laccase Immobilization.

This study focuses on the development of a nanosupport based on halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), and thiolated chitosan (CTs) for laccase immobilization. First, HNTs were modified with Fe3O4 NPs (HNTs-Fe3O4) by the coprecipitation method. Then, the HNTs-Fe3O4 surface was tuned with the CTs (HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs) by a simple refluxing method. Finally, the HNTs- Fe3O4-CTs surface was thiolated (-SH) (denoted as; HNTs- Fe3O4-CTs-SH) by using the reactive NHS-ester reaction. The thiol-modified HNTs (HNTs- Fe3O4-CTs-SH) were characterized by FE-SEM, HR-TEM, XPS, XRD, FT-IR, and VSM analyses. The HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs-SH was applied for the laccase immobilization. It gave excellent immobilization of laccase with 100% activity recovery and 144 mg/g laccase loading capacity. The immobilized laccase on HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs-SH (HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs-S-S-Laccase) exhibited enhanced biocatalytic performance with improved thermal, storage, and pH stabilities. HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs-S-S-Laccase gave outstanding repeated cycle capability, at the end of the 15th cycle, it kept 61% of the laccase activity. Furthermore, HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs-S-S-Laccase was applied for redox-mediated removal of textile dye DR80 and pharmaceutical compound ampicillin. The obtained result marked the potential of the HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs-S-S-Laccase for the removal of hazardous pollutants. This nanosupport is based on clay mineral HNTs, made from low-cost biopolymer CTs, super-magnetic in nature, and can be applied in laccase-based decontamination of environmental pollutants. This study also gave excellent material HNTs-Fe3O4-CTs-SH for other enzyme immobilization processes.

Flock House Virus RNA1 with a Long Heterologous Sequence at the 3'-end Can Replicate in Mammalian Cells and Mediate Reporter Gene Expression.

Flock House virus (FHV), an insect RNA virus, has a bipartite genome. FHV RNA1 can be packaged in turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) as long as the FHV RNA has a TYMV sequence at the 3'-end. The encapsidated FHV RNA1 has four additional nucleotides at the 5'- end. We investigated whether the recombinant FHV RNA1 could replicate in mammalian cells. To address this issue, we prepared in vitro transcribed FHV RNAs that mimicked the recombinant FHV RNA1, and introduced them into baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. The result showed that the recombinant FHV RNA1 was capable of replication. An eGFP gene inserted into the frame with B2 gene of the FHV RNA1 was also successfully expressed. We also observed that eGFP expression at the protein level was strong at 28°C but weak at 30°C. Sequence analysis showed that the 3'-ends of the RNA1 and RNA3 replication products were identical to those of the authentic FHV RNAs. This indicates that FHV replicase correctly recognized an internally-located replication signal. In contrast, the 5'-ends of recombinant FHV RNA1 frequently had deletions, indicating random initiation of (+)-strand synthesis.