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Despite global initiatives to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, such activities continue unabated. As a response, states are encouraged to join the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) as a countermeasure. Despite these efforts, it is suspected that many IUU fishing activities involve non-party or unknown vessels that evade international sanctions. This study aims to propose technical and institutional improvement measures in light of these challenges. First, using available IUU vessel lists, we conducted independent-sample comparisons and paired-sample comparisons to analyze the characteristics of IUU vessels. As key solutions, we propose the formation of a global collaborative body to facilitate an integrated information chain, the implementation of advanced technologies for systematic operations, strategies to encourage PSMA accession by non-parties, market investigations, and enhanced national inspection and organizational capabilities. Furthermore, this study seeks to strengthen global deterrence of IUU fishing activities by proposing a phased international cooperation framework to enhance the feasibility of integrating the PSMA, Global Record (GR), Global Information Exchange System (GIES), and Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) systems. These strategies are expected to contribute positively to the transparent governance, sustainable management of fishery resources, and safety officers and vessels.

This study develops integrated bioeconomic management strategies for the common squid (Todarodes pacificus) fishery in Korea’s coastal waters, addressing both biological conservation and economic sustainability amid severe stock depletion and declining fishery profitability. Drawing on recent catch data and cost structures for six Total allowable Catch (TAC)-managed fishery types, common squid-specific economic indicators were estimated using a stepwise cost allocation method. Based on previous research using the Catch—Maximum Sustainable Yield (CMSY) model with limited Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) data, the biomass in 2020 was estimated at approximately 56% of Biomass at Maximum Sustainable Yield (BMSY), indicating an overfished state. Scenario-based simulations identified TAC allocation thresholds at which net profits reach zero, providing a benchmark for adaptive quota redistribution. Results show variation in economic sensitivity and common squid dependency among fishery types: common squid-dependent gears such as offshore jigging and East Sea trawl exhibit high vulnerability, while multi-species fisheries such as purse seine remain resilient. These results provide a basis for developing tailored management strategies for each fishery, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of interventions. Accordingly, policy recommendations include dynamic TAC adjustments, expanded monitoring, introduction of an Individual Transferable Quota system, and coordinated stock assessments with China and Japan. These findings contribute to refining Korea’s TAC system by aligning stock recovery goals with the economic viability of fishing operations.

Preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—which depletes fishery resources—is a critical task in international fisheries governance. Many countries operate vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and electronic reporting systems (ERS) to track their fishing vessels, while regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are actively considering the adoption of electronic monitoring systems (EMS). Although ERS and EMS share the same operational goals, differences in their concepts and functions lead to technical and institutional limitations when implemented separately. This study presents a conceptual design of an intelligent electronic monitoring and reporting (I-EMR) system model, which integrates the strengths of both systems to address these limitations and provides a framework for efficient operation. The necessity for the prompt and proactive adoption of such systems is reinforced by recent analyses of global IUU fishing trends, which indicate that IUU activities are not decreasing despite existing monitoring efforts. While empirical validation is beyond the scope of this study, the conceptual framework aims to support transparent management of fishery resources, facilitate real-time monitoring of fishing activities, and serve as a foundation for future pilot testing and operational deployment.

Defects in mitochondrial function have been believed to contribute to insulin resistance. Myung-Shik Lee and colleagues now show that mitochondrial dysfunction in muscle induced by tissue-specific deficiency of autophagy results in upregulation of Fgf21 and improved metabolism, suggesting that at least some mitochondrial dysfunction may actually be beneficial. Despite growing interest and a recent surge in papers, the role of autophagy in glucose and lipid metabolism is unclear. We produced mice with skeletal muscle–specific deletion of Atg7 (encoding autophagy-related 7). Unexpectedly, these mice showed decreased fat mass and were protected from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance; this phenotype was accompanied by increased fatty acid oxidation and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) owing to induction of fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21). Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by autophagy deficiency increased Fgf21 expression through induction of Atf4, a master regulator of the integrated stress response. Mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors also induced Fgf21 in an Atf4-dependent manner. We also observed induction of Fgf21, resistance to diet-induced obesity and amelioration of insulin resistance in mice with autophagy deficiency in the liver, another insulin target tissue. These findings suggest that autophagy deficiency and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction promote Fgf21 expression, a hormone we consequently term a 'mitokine', and together these processes promote protection from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

Early peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infection is a severe complication. This study investigated the relationship between patient–doctor contact (PDC) duration and early PD-related infection. In the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS) Korea, incident dialysis patients receiving PD were divided into two groups based on PDC duration (< 15 min versus ≥ 15 min), which was defined as the duration a nephrologist typically spends with a patient receiving PD during each visit according to the facility practice pattern. Early risks of PD-related infections, such as peritonitis and catheter-related infection (onset within 3 and 12 months of PD), were compared to the PDC duration using Cox regression. The study included 276 patients (184 [66.7%] in the shorter PDC group [< 15 min] and 92 [33.3%] in the longer PDC group [≥ 15 min]). The average age did not differ between the groups. The incidences of 3- and 12-month PD-related infections were significantly lower in the longer PDC group than in the shorter PDC group (3 months: 1.1% versus 9.8%, P  = 0.007; 12 months: 9.8% versus 23.4%, P  = 0.007). Longer PDC was independently associated with a lower risk of PD-related infections at 3 and 12 months (3 months: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02–0.85, P  = 0.034; 12 months: aHR, 0.43; 95% CI 0.19–0.99, P  = 0.048). Overall, a longer PDC duration was associated with a significantly lower risk of early PD-related infection.

Cerebrovascular disease such as ischemic stroke develops cognitive impairment due to brain tissue damage including neural loss, demyelination and decrease in synaptic density. In the present study, we developed transient ischemia in the forebrain of the gerbil and found cognitive impairment using the Barnes maze test and passive avoidance test for spatial memory and learning memory, respectively. In addition, neuronal loss/death was detected in the Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) region of the gerbil hippocampus after the ischemia by cresyl violet histochemistry, immunohistochemistry for neuronal nuclei and histofluorescence with Fluoro-Jade B. Furthermore, in the CA1 region following ischemia, myelin and vesicular synaptic density were significantly decreased using immunohistochemistry for myelin basic protein and vesicular glutamate transporter 1. In the gerbils, treatment with COG-up® (a combined extract of Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. and Brassica oleracea Var.), which was rich in scutellarin and sinapic acid, after the ischemia, significantly improved ischemia-induced decline in memory function when compared with that shown in gerbils treated with vehicle after the ischemia. In the CA1 region of these gerbils, COG-up® treatment significantly promoted the remyelination visualized using immunohistochemistry myelin basic protein, increased oligodendrocytes visualized using a receptor-interacting protein, and restored the density of glutamatergic synapses visualized using double immunofluorescence for vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and microtubule-associated protein, although COG-up® treatment did not protect pyramidal cells (principal neurons) located in the CA1 region form the ischemic insult. Considering the current findings, a gerbil model of ischemic stroke apparently showed cognitive impairment accompanied by ischemic injury in the hippocampus; also, COG-up® can be employed for improving cognitive decline following ischemia-reperfusion injury in brains.

The importance of maximal resection in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) has been reported in many studies, but maximal resection of thalamic GBM is rarely attempted due to high rate of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of surgical resection in adult thalamic glioblastoma (GBM) treatment and to identify the surgical technique of maximal safety resection. In case of suspected thalamic GBM, surgical resection is the treatment of choice in our hospital. Biopsy was considered when there was ventricle wall enhancement or multiple enhancement lesion in a distant location. Navigation magnetic resonance imaging, diffuse tensor tractography imaging, tailed bullets, and intraoperative computed tomography and neurophysiologic monitoring (transcranial motor evoked potential and direct subcortical stimulation) were used in all surgical resection cases. The surgical approach was selected on the basis of the location of the tumor epicenter and the adjacent corticospinal tract. Among the 42 patients, 19 and 23 patients underwent surgical resection and biopsy, respectively, according to treatment strategy criteria. As a result, the surgical resection group exhibited a good response with overall survival (OS) (median: 676 days, p < 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (median: 328 days, p < 0.001) compared with each biopsy groups (doctor selecting biopsy group, median OS: 240 days and median PFS: 134 days; patient selecting biopsy group, median OS: 212 days and median PFS: 118 days). The surgical resection groups displayed a better prognosis compared to that of the biopsy groups for both the O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase unmethylated (log-rank p = 0.0035) or methylated groups (log-rank p = 0.021). Surgical resection was significantly associated with better prognosis (hazard ratio: 0.214, p = 0.006). In case of thalamic GBM without ventricle wall-enhancing lesion or multiple lesions, maximal surgical resection above 80% showed good clinical outcomes with prolonged the overall survival compared to biopsy. It is helpful to use adjuvant surgical techniques of checking intraoperative changes and select the appropriate surgical approach for reducing the surgical morbidity.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a 3D-printed resorbable polycaprolactone/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate (PCL/PLGA/β-TCP) membrane on bone regeneration and osseointegration in areas surrounding implants and to compare results with those of a non-resorbable titanium mesh membrane. After preparation of PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes using extrusion-based 3D printing technology; mechanical tensile testing and in vitro cell proliferation testing were performed. Implant surgery and guided bone regeneration were performed randomly in three groups (a no membrane group, a titanium membrane group, and a PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membrane group (n = 8 per group)). Histological and histometric analyses were conducted to evaluate effects on bone regeneration and osseointegration. Using the results of mechanical testing; a PCL/PLGA/β-TCP ratio of 2:6:2 was selected. The new bone areas (%) in buccal defects around implants were highest in the PCL/PLGA/β-TCP group and significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Bone-to-implant contact ratios (%) were also significantly higher in the PCL/PLGA/β-TCP and titanium groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). When the guided bone regeneration procedure was performed using the PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membrane; new bone formation around the implant and osseointegration were not inferior to those of the non-resorbable pre-formed titanium mesh membrane.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive malignancy classified by the World Health Organization as a grade IV glioma. Despite the availability of aggressive standard therapies, most patients experience recurrence, for which there are currently no effective treatments. We aimed to conduct a phase I/IIa clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of adoptive, ex-vivo- expanded, and activated natural killer cells and T lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with recurrent GBM. This study was a single-arm, open-label, investigator-initiated trial on 14 patients recruited between 2013 and 2017. The immune cells were administered via intravenous injection 24 times at 2-week intervals after surgical resection or biopsy. The safety and clinical efficacy of this therapy was examined by assessing adverse events and comparing 2-year overall survival (OS). Transcriptomic analysis of tumor tissues was performed using NanoString to identify the mechanism of therapeutic efficacy. No grade 4 or 5 severe adverse events were observed. The most common treatment-related adverse events were grade 1 or 2 in severity. The most severe adverse event was grade 3 fever. Median OS was 22.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 10 months. Five patients were alive for over 2 years and showed durable response with enhanced immune reaction transcriptomic signatures without clinical decline until the last follow-up after completion of the therapy. In conclusion, autologous adoptive immune-cell therapy was safe and showed durable response in patients with enhanced immune reaction signatures. This therapy may be effective for recurrent GBM patients with high immune response in their tumor microenvironments. Trial registration: The Korea Clinical Research Information Service database: KCT0003815, Registered 18 April 2019, retrospectively registered.

NaA zeolite membranes were prepared on the inner surfaces of ceramic α-alumina tubes based on an aqueous phase synthesis in order to investigate the influence of different silica sources on NaA zeolite membrane synthesis and zeolite layer thickness with reference to the gas separation properties. SEM and XRD results indicated that zeolite prepared with sodium metasilicate as the silica source can be synthesized for a NaA zeolite membrane, leading to uniform zeolite layers and good thermal stability. The H 2 permeance at 25 °C was 4.99 × 10 −7  mol m −2  s −1  Pa −1 , and the H 2 /Ar and H 2 /He permselectivities were 3.78 and 1.36, respectively. The morphologies and single gas permeation properties of the NaA zeolite membranes prepared through repeated aqueous phase synthesis treatments were also studied. When the zeolite layer thickness increased from 2.9 to 53 µm, the H 2 permeance gradually decreased, while the permselectivities increased from 3.78 to 5.17. The gas permeance was mainly controlled by the Knudsen diffusion in our NaA zeolite membrane.