Explore the vast range of titles available.

Two-pore channels (TPCs) contain two copies of a Shaker -like six-transmembrane (6-TM) domain in each subunit and are ubiquitously expressed in both animals and plants as organellar cation channels. Here we present the crystal structure of a vacuolar two-pore channel from Arabidopsis thaliana , AtTPC1, which functions as a homodimer. AtTPC1 activation requires both voltage and cytosolic Ca 2+ . Ca 2+ binding to the cytosolic EF-hand domain triggers conformational changes coupled to the pair of pore-lining inner helices from the first 6-TM domains, whereas membrane potential only activates the second voltage-sensing domain, the conformational changes of which are coupled to the pair of inner helices from the second 6-TM domains. Luminal Ca 2+ or Ba 2+ can modulate voltage activation by stabilizing the second voltage-sensing domain in the resting state and shift voltage activation towards more positive potentials. Our Ba 2+ -bound AtTPC1 structure reveals a voltage sensor in the resting state, providing hitherto unseen structural insight into the general voltage-gating mechanism among voltage-gated channels. The X-ray crystal structure of a two-pore channel from Arabidopsis thaliana reveals the structure and the mechanism of voltage gating of this class of ubiquitous cation-selective ion channels. Characterization of the two-pore channel AtTPC1 The X-ray crystal structure of the two-pore channel AtTPC1 from Arabidopsis thaliana reveals the structure and mechanism of voltage gating of a type of cation-selective ion channel ubiquitously expressed in the organelles of animal and plant cells. AtTPC1 is activated by both voltage and cytosolic Ca 2+ , and voltage activation can be inhibited by luminal Ca 2+ . Youxing Jiang and colleagues determined the crystal structure of AtTPC1 to 3.3 Å resolution and find that, as predicted, two AtTPC1 subunits make up the functional channel. Alexander Kintzer and Robert Stroud report the AtTPC1 crystal structure at 2.87 Å resolution, revealing the mechanisms of ion permeation, channel activation, and location of regulatory sites and voltage-sensing domains.

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a highly selective calcium channel localized to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Here, we describe the structure of an MCU orthologue from the fungus Neosartorya fischeri (NfMCU) determined to 3.8 Å resolution by phase-plate cryo-electron microscopy. The channel is a homotetramer with two-fold symmetry in its amino-terminal domain (NTD) that adopts a similar structure to that of human MCU. The NTD assembles as a dimer of dimers to form a tetrameric ring that connects to the transmembrane domain through an elongated coiled-coil domain. The ion-conducting pore domain maintains four-fold symmetry, with the selectivity filter positioned at the start of the pore-forming TM2 helix. The aspartate and glutamate sidechains of the conserved DIME motif are oriented towards the central axis and separated by one helical turn. The structure of NfMCU offers insights into channel assembly, selective calcium permeation, and inhibitor binding. A cryo-electron microscopy structure of fungal mitochondrial calcium uniporter shows that the channel is tetrameric and sheds light on channel assembly and function.

A series of crystal structures and calculated free-energy landscapes of a Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger explain how its alternating-access mechanism is controlled by the ion occupancy, thus leading to coupled antiport. Na + /Ca 2+ exchangers use the Na + electrochemical gradient across the plasma membrane to extrude intracellular Ca 2+ and play a central role in Ca 2+ homeostasis. Here, we elucidate their mechanisms of extracellular ion recognition and exchange through a structural analysis of the exchanger from Methanococcus jannaschii (NCX_Mj) bound to Na + , Ca 2+ or Sr 2+ in various occupancies and in an apo state. This analysis defines the binding mode and relative affinity of these ions, establishes the structural basis for the anticipated 3:1 Na + /Ca 2+ -exchange stoichiometry and reveals the conformational changes at the onset of the alternating-access transport mechanism. An independent analysis of the dynamics and conformational free-energy landscape of NCX_Mj in different ion-occupancy states, based on enhanced-sampling molecular dynamics simulations, demonstrates that the crystal structures reflect mechanistically relevant, interconverting conformations. These calculations also reveal the mechanism by which the outward-to-inward transition is controlled by the ion occupancy, thereby explaining the emergence of strictly coupled Na + /Ca 2+ antiport.

The rapid growth of industrial robotization in South Korea—one of the world’s most automated economies—offers a unique setting to study the psychological as well as economic impacts of automation. Drawing on county-level robot-intensity measures linked to individual data from the Community Health Survey and the Korean Labor & Income Panel Study, we employ two-way fixed-effects instrumental-variables models over one-, two-, and three-year intervals to isolate causal effects. We find that higher robot adoption swiftly elevates workers’ stress and depression, undermines self-rated health, and prompts increased alcohol consumption. In contrast, overall job-satisfaction ratings remain essentially unchanged, though select dimensions—daily task enjoyment, perceived meaningfulness, confidence in benefits, and long-term job commitment—erode in a staggered pattern consistent with our technostress framework. By extending technostress theory from digital tools to factory automation, our study reveals how shifting performance norms and cognitive burdens generate mental spillovers beyond the shop floor. These findings underscore the need for accompanying robotic investments with worker-centered supports—targeted upskilling, job redesign, and mental-health resources—to ensure that productivity gains do not come at the cost of human well-being.

This study investigates whether large language models (LLMs) can meaningfully extend or generate synthetic public opinion survey data on labor policy issues in South Korea. Unlike prior work conducted on people’s general sociocultural values or specific political topics such as voting intentions, our research examines policy preferences on tangible social and economic topics, offering deeper insights for news media and data analysts. In two key applications, we first explore whether LLMs can predict public sentiment on emerging or rapidly evolving issues using existing survey data. We then assess how LLMs generate synthetic datasets resembling real-world survey distributions. Our findings reveal that while LLMs capture demographic and ideological traits with reasonable accuracy, they tend to overemphasize ideological orientation for politically charged topics—a bias that is more pronounced in fully synthetic data, raising concerns about perpetuating societal stereotypes. Despite these challenges, LLMs hold promise for enhancing data-driven journalism and policy research, particularly in polarized societies. We call for further study into how LLM-based predictions align with human responses in diverse sociopolitical settings, alongside improved tools and guidelines to mitigate embedded biases.

Underwater imagery survey was conducted to address changes in Antarctic benthic megafauna communities by recent glacial retreat in Marian Cove, where distance from the glacier was proportional to retreat period. Benthic megafauna communities showed lesser variation due to frequent ice-scouring at 10 m than deeper seabed. At deep seabed (50–90 m), where glacier impacts decreased, benthic megafauna was scarce right in front of the glacier, but near the glacier (~10 years after seabed exposure), density peaked (128 ind. m −2 ) with pioneer species. At the outermost site, pioneer species were extremely limited (5 ind. m −2 ) while late-successional species were abundant (42 ind. m −2 ). Taxonomic and functional diversities peaked near the glacier and outermost site, respectively, indicating different mechanisms of structural and functional change after glacial retreat. This study showed a four-step successional process of benthic megafauna communities after glacial retreat in Antarctic nearshore: high disturbance, colonization, transition, and maturing stages.

Understanding what and how physico-chemical factors of a ligand configure conditions for ligand-receptor binding is a key to accurate assessment of toxic potencies of environmental pollutants. We investigated influences of the dipole-driven orientation and resulting directional configuration of ligands on receptor binding activities. Using physico-chemical properties calculated by ab initio density functional theory, directional reactivity factors (DRF) were devised as main indicators of toxic potencies, linking molecular ligand-receptor binding to in vitro responses. The directional reactive model was applied to predict variation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated toxic potencies among homologues of chrysene with structural modifications such as the numbers of constituent benzene rings, methylation and hydroxylation. Results of predictive models were consistent with empirical potencies determined by use of the H4IIE- luc transactivation bioassay. The experiment-free approach based on first principles provides an analytical framework for estimating molecular bioactivity in silico and complements conventional empirical approaches to studying molecular initiating events in adverse outcome pathways.

Currently licensed influenza vaccines focus immune responses on viral hemagglutinin (HA), while the other major surface glycoprotein neuraminidase (NA) is not tightly controlled in inactivated vaccine formulations despite evidence that anti-NA antibodies reduce clinical disease. We utilized a bicistronic self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) platform encoding both HA and NA from four seasonal influenza strains, creating a quadrivalent influenza vaccine. sa-mRNA vaccines encoding an NA component induced the production of NA-inhibiting antibodies and CD4+ T-cell responses in both monovalent and quadrivalent formulations. Including NA in the vaccine enabled cross-neutralization against antigenically drifted strains and provided greater protection than HA alone upon A(H3N2) challenge in ferrets. These results demonstrate that next-generation bicistronic sa-mRNA vaccines expressing HA and NA induce potent antibodies against both viral coat proteins, as well as vaccine-specific cell-mediated immunity. When formulated as a quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine, the sa-mRNA platform provides an opportunity to increase the breadth of protection through cross-neutralizing anti-NA antibodies.

Lee, S.; Lee, H., and Lee, C., 2023. Landscape preference for tourism resourceization of coastal bridges in Busan, Republic of Korea. In: Lee, J.L.; Lee, H.; Min, B.I.; Chang, J.-I.; Cho, G.T.; Yoon, J.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Multidisciplinary Approaches to Coastal and Marine Management. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 116, pp. 523-527. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Busan's Coastal Ring Road features seven bridges that traverse the city, and the 'Seven Bridges Landmark Project' aims to utilize these bridges to create a unique city brand. The project involves analyzing the environment surrounding each bridge, identifying brand images and storytelling that can be used to establish a long-term marketing strategy. Although the Gwangan Bridge and Yeongdo Bridge is already recognized as a landmark of Busan, the other five bridges are still waiting to be discovered. To increase public interest, the Seven Bridges' storytelling and content should emotionally connect with the audience, providing diverse and compelling content that stimulates the desire to visit. The purpose of this study is to propose a utilization plan for bridge landscape images, which can be used to develop tourism and city branding around the Seven Bridges landmark in Busan. The study focuses on comparing the day and night views of the seven bridges, both from the road and from a distance. A survey of 126 men and women was conducted to compare their preferences for different types of landscapes of the Busan Seven Bridges. The results showed that the night view was preferred over the day view for all seven bridges. Additionally, the study proposes a basic method for utilizing bridge landscapes as a resource for tourism development and identifies future research tasks to be pursued in greater depth.

Busan’s Coastal Ring Road features seven bridges that traverse the city, and the 'Seven Bridges Landmark Project' aims to utilize these bridges to create a unique city brand. The project involves analyzing the environment surrounding each bridge, identifying brand images and storytelling that can be used to establish a long-term marketing strategy. Although the Gwangan Bridge and Yeongdo Bridge is already recognized as a landmark of Busan, the other five bridges are still waiting to be discovered. To increase public interest, the Seven Bridges' storytelling and content should emotionally connect with the audience, providing diverse and compelling content that stimulates the desire to visit. The purpose of this study is to propose a utilization plan for bridge landscape images, which can be used to develop tourism and city branding around the Seven Bridges landmark in Busan. The study focuses on comparing the day and night views of the seven bridges, both from the road and from a distance. A survey of 126 men and women was conducted to compare their preferences for different types of landscapes of the Busan Seven Bridges. The results showed that the night view was preferred over the day view for all seven bridges. Additionally, the study proposes a basic method for utilizing bridge landscapes as a resource for tourism development and identifies future research tasks to be pursued in greater depth.