Recurring mutations in genes encoding 3' splice-site recognition proteins, U2AF1 and ZRSR2 are associated with human cancers. Here, we determined binding sites of the proteins to reveal that U2-type and U12-type splice sites are recognized by U2AF1 and ZRSR2, respectively. However, some sites are spliced by both the U2-type and U12-type spliceosomes, indicating that well-conserved consensus motifs in some U12-type introns could be recognized by the U2-type spliceosome. Nucleotides flanking splice sites of U12-type introns are different from those flanking U2-type introns. Remarkably, the AG dinucleotide at the positions -1 and -2 of 5' splice sites of U12-type introns with GT-AG termini is not present. AG next to 5' splice site introduced by a single nucleotide substitution at the -2 position could convert a U12-type splice site to a U2-type site. The class switch of introns by a single mutation and the bias against G at the -1 position of U12-type 5' splice site support the notion that the identities of nucleotides in exonic regions adjacent to splice sites are fine-tuned to avoid recognition by the U2-type spliceosome. These findings may shed light on the mechanism of selectivity in U12-type intron splicing and the mutations that affect splicing.

L1TD1 is a cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein specifically expressed in pluripotent stem cells and, unlike its mouse ortholog, is essential for the maintenance of stemness in human cells. Although L1TD1 is the only known protein-coding gene domesticated from a LINE-1 (L1) retroelement, the functional legacy of its ancestral protein, ORF1p of L1, and how it is manifested in L1TD1 are still unknown. Here, we determined RNAs associated with L1TD1 and found that, like ORF1p, L1TD1 binds L1 RNAs and localizes to high-density ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates. Unexpectedly, L1TD1 enhanced the translation of a subset of mRNAs enriched in the condensates. L1TD1 depletion promoted the formation of stress granules in embryonic stem cells. In HeLa cells, ectopically expressed L1TD1 facilitated the dissolution of stress granules and granules formed by pathological mutations of TDP-43 and FUS. The glutamate-rich domain and the ORF1-homology domain of L1TD1 facilitated dispersal of the RNPs and induced autophagy, respectively. These results provide insights into how L1TD1 regulates gene expression in pluripotent stem cells. We propose that the ability of L1TD1 to dissolve stress granules may provide novel opportunities for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases caused by disturbed stress granule dynamics.

Understanding the origin of distinct charge density wave (CDW) instabilities in layered R Te n (n n = 2, 3) compounds (R, R , rare earth element) has been an important issue. In this research update, we have investigated the electronic structures of PrTen n (n n = 2, 3) and ErTe3 3 layered CDW compounds employing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The trivalent valency of R 3 + ions is confirmed for PrTen n (n n = 2, 3) and ErTe3, 3 , supporting that R-Te slabs serve as charge reservoirs and that the CDW instability occurs in the partially filled Te sheets. Both R 4d d -> 4 f resonant photoemission spectroscopy and photon-energy map measurements provide evidence that R 4 f electrons do not contribute directly to the CDW formation but that the indirect contribution from Pr 4 f electrons through the Pr 4 f - Te 5p p hybridization is feasible in PrTen n (n n = 2, 3). Circular and linear dichroism ARPES measurements indicate that the chirality of the Te 5p p orbitals certainly plays a role in the CDW formation of R Te 3 (R R = Pr, Er) while it is relatively weak in PrTe2, 2 , and that the E F-crossing orbitals, responsible for the CDW formation, are ordered in plane (in the ac plane) in all of them. Different CDW-induced Fermi surface reconstructions between R Te 3 and R Te 2 are due to (i) the existence of two Te sheets and one Te sheet per unit cell in R Te 3 and R Te 2 , respectively, so as to produce different numbers of hole carriers, and (ii) the different lattice parameters of Te sheets in R Te n , leading to the different densities of states at E F .

Seabirds take a long time to recover if their population decreases due to slow growth and small clutch size. This study was conducted to collect basic data of breeding status of Black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) on Hongdo Island of Hallyeohaesang National Park and and Nando Island. These two breeding colonies are designated as natural monuments. We investigated egg volume, clutch size and nest density in May 2022. As results, clutch size was 1.89±0.57 in Hongdo Island and 1.91±0.48 in Nando Island. The egg volume was also similar between Hongdo Island (59.22±5.47) and Nando Island (59.63±3.96). The nest density was significantly higher in Hongdo Island (1.27±0.18/㎡) than in Nando Island(0.54±0.15/㎡). Breeding population was estimated as 56,729 pairs in Hongdo Island while 14,112 pairs in Nando Island based on the proportion of breeding areas. Long-term monitoring is required to know the trends of Black-tailed gulls to protect breeding colonies.

Migratory birds disperse ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens along their migratory routes. Four selected pathogens of medical importance ( Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia spp., Francisella tularensis, and Toxoplasma gondii ) were targeted for detection in 804 ticks (365 pools) collected from migratory birds at Hong and Heuksan Islands in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from 2010 to 2011 and 2016. Toxoplasma gondii and Rickettsia spp., were detected in 1/365 (0.27%) and 34/365 (9.32%) pools of ticks, respectively. T. gondii and five rickettsial species were recorded in ticks collected from migratory birds for the first time in ROK. The five rickettsial species ( R. monacensis, Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii , R. japonica, R. raoultii , and R. tamurae ) were identified using sequence and phylogenetic analysis using ompA and gltA gene fragments. Rickettsia spp. are important pathogens that cause rickettsiosis in humans, with cases recorded in the ROK. These results provide important evidence for the potential role of migratory birds in the introduction and dispersal of T. gondii and Rickettsia spp. along their migratory routes and raise awareness of potential transmission of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens associated with migratory birds in the ROK.

The electronic structures of layered rare-earth tritelluride RTe3 (R = Pr, Er) charge density wave (CDW) compounds have been investigated by performing R 4d → 4f resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPES) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements for high-quality single crystals. R 4d → 4f RPES measurements reveal that the R 4f states do not contribute directly to the CDW formation in RTe3 but that the R 4f-Te 5p hybridization in PrTe3 is significantly larger than that in ErTe3. In the photon-energy maps for the Fermi-edge (E F)-crossing states in RTe3, straight vertical dispersions are observed along k c , demonstrating the 2D character for the near-E F states in both R = Pr and Er. This finding implies the weak interlayer interaction between R-Te(1) and Te(2)–Te(3) layers, which is supported by the similar linear dichroism in ARPES for PrTe3 and ErTe3. The CDW-induced Fermi surface of PrTe3 exhibits two-fold symmetric features while that of ErTe3 exhibits four-fold symmetric features. This finding reveals different CDW distortions in PrTe3 and ErTe3, the origin of which is likely to be different ionic sizes of R ions and different R 4f-Te 5p hybridization.

Plastic ingestion studies in seabirds that analyse the frequency of occurrence and the characteristics of the plastics ingested by each species provide valuable information for marine environmental assessments by quantifying the impacts of marine debris on seabirds. We investigated the frequency of plastic ingestion from a sample of 387 individuals of 11 seabird species on the Korean Peninsula. We found evidence of plastic ingestion in red-breasted mergansers (Mergus serrator) (33.3%), Pacific loons (Gavia pacifica) (10.0%), Swinhoe's storm petrels (Hydrobates monorhis) (93.7%), black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) (12.9%) and ancient murrelets (Synthliboramphus antiquus) (0.9%). In particular, it was observed that Swinhoe's storm petrels had the highest frequency of plastic ingestion, both in terms of the number of affected individuals, and the accumulated mass of plastic debris ingested. The majority of seabirds examined in our study had ingested microplastics, comprised predominantly of user plastics. This is the first report quantifying plastic ingestion in seabirds on the Korean Peninsula and in the broader area of the East Asian Seas.

The electronic structures of ErTe3, having double charge density wave (CDW) transitions, have been investigated by performing polarization- and temperature (T)-dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and Er 4d -> 4f resonant PES measurements for high-quality single crystals. It is found that Er 4 f electrons do not contribute directly to CDW formation. The shadow Fermi surfaces (FSs) are clearly observed, arising from band folding due to the interlayer interaction. Twofold symmetric FS, but with weak FS reconstruction, is observed in the CDW phase of ErTe3, which is similar to that of PrTe3 having the CDW modulation vector Q approximate to 5/7 c* approximate to 5/7 a*. Very good agreement is found between the constant energy maps and ARPES measured in the CDWphase and the density functional theory band calculation for the non-CDW phase, implying very weak and only partial CDW-induced FS reconstruction in ErTe3. Very weak and similar circular dichroism is observed along different symmetry lines in both FS and ARPES, suggesting weak chiral orbital and spin polarizations in the Te 5p orbitals. T-dependent FS and ARPES measurements reveal closing of the CDW gap on heating but no clear changes across T-CDW2 and T-CDW1, supporting the very weak CDW distortion in ErTe3. The origin of the very weak CDW reconstruction in ErTe3 is likely to be the small ionic sizes of Er ions and the concomitant small volume that give rise to the imperfect FS nesting and the reduced density of states at the Fermi level. The very weak FS reconstruction at the first CDW transition along c* is considered to be a reason why there exists a second CDW transition further along a*, which elucidates the observed double CDW transitions in ErTe3.

바닷새의 서식 범위 파악은 개체군 변동을 이해하고 종 보호를 위해 중요하다. 본 연구는 한려해상국립공원 홍도에서 번식하는 괭이갈매기의 연중 서식 범위 파악을 위해 수행되었다. 홍도 괭이갈매기 번식지에서 2018년 괭이갈매기 4개체와 2019년 2개체에 조류위치추적기를 부착하여 위치정보를 수집하였다. 괭이갈매기는 홍도로부터 부산, 거제, 통영, 여수 등 100km 내외의 서식 범위를 이용하였다. 괭이갈매기의 서식 범위는 번식기에 비번식기보다 더 넓었다. 1년 이상 위치를 추적한 성조의 경우 번식기인 5월부터 8월까지는 홍도와 부산, 거제, 통영, 여수 등에 서식했다. 이후에는 남하하여 일본으로 이동한 후 이듬해 2월까지 머물렀다가 3월이 되자 홍도로 다시 되돌아왔다. 본 연구는 한려 해상국립공원 홍도에서 번식하는 괭이갈매기의 서식 범위를 밝힌 첫 논문이다.

The extended distribution and potential introduction of exotic ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens along the northern and southern routes of migratory birds pose zoonotic tick-borne disease risks to wild and domestic animals and incidentally to humans. A knowledge of bird migratory patterns, species of attached ticks, and associated pathogens during their migrations to and from their feeding and nesting grounds is central to understanding associated tick-borne disease risks. Tick-borne disease surveillance was conducted from 2010 to 2011 and 2016 at Hong-do (do = island), Heuksan-do, and Nan-do, major stopovers for migratory birds in Republic of Korea (ROK), as part of the Migratory Birds Research Center bird-banding program for studying bird migration patterns in the ROK. A total of 877 ticks belonging to three genera and nine species were collected, Ixodes turdus (576, 65.7%), Haemaphysalis flava (134, 15.3%), H. longicornis (91, 10.4%), I. nipponensis (56, 6.4%), H. formosensis (7, 0.8%), H. ornithophila (6, 0.7%), H. phasiana (5, 0.6%), H. concinna (1, 0.1%), and Amblyomma testudinarium (1, 0.1%) were collected from 274 birds belonging to 20 genera and 41 species. A total of 15/380 pools (3.95%) were positive for Borrelia species (14 pools of I. turdus and 1 pool of H. flava), while only 1/380 pools (0.26%) was positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1 pool of I. nipponensis). Our findings support the role of migratory birds as possible vectors for the introduction of tick-borne pathogens, which requires continuous monitoring for the potential introduction of ticks and their associated tick-borne pathogens.

괭이갈매기는 동북아시아에서 가장 흔한 갈매기류 중 하나이며, IUCN에 의하면 LC(Least Concern)로 분류되어 있다. 인간의 활동이 해양환경에 영향을 미친 이래 괭이갈매기는 해양 환경오염과 서식지 교란의 중요한 지표종이 되었다. 본 연구에서 괭이갈매기가 6개의 미토콘드리아 CO1 하플로타입(haplotype)이 있고, 이중 일부 희귀 haplotype은 지리적으로 제한되어 나타난다는 사실을 확인하였으며, 이러한 현상은 본 종이 멀리 분산하지 않음을 암시한다. 본 논문은 한국에서 괭이갈매기를 대상으로 한 첫번째 개체군 유전적 연구결과이며, 환경지표종으로서 모니터링과 유전학적 연구의 기초자료가 될 것이다.

The 65th Medical Brigade (MED BDE)/Medical Department Activity-Korea (MEDDAC-K), in collaboration with the Migratory Birds Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted migratory bird tick-borne disease surveillance at six small, remote, uninhabited islands near the western (Nan Island), southwestern (Chilbal, Gugul, Gaerin, Hong, and Sogugul islands) and southeastern (Hong Island) coastal areas of the Republic of Korea (ROK) during 2009 and from 2014–2017. Ticks were collected from nest soil/litter of the Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus), Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume), Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates monorhis), Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus), and Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) using Tullgren funnels. Ticks also were collected from recently dead nestlings of Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel and Black-tailed Gull at Gugul, Sogugul, Gaerin, Nan, and Hong islands, and single ticks were collected from vegetation (tick drag) and a human bitten on Chilbal Island. A total of 1,578 ticks (61 females, 122 males, 290 nymphs, and 1,105 larvae), belonging to four genera and six species, were collected. Ornithodoros capensis (73.00%; 1,152) was the most commonly collected tick on migratory seabirds, followed by Ornithodoros sawaii (26.55%; 420), Ixodes uriae (0.19%; 3), and Ixodes signatus (0.13%, 2). One (0.06%) Haemaphysalis flava was collected by tick drag and one (0.06%) Amblyomma testudinarium was collected while biting one of the survey members. Ornithodoros species were identified morphologically and confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. This is the first record of O. sawaii collected from nest soil/litter during the 2017 nesting season of the Pacific Swift and Streaked Shearwater in the ROK.

성판별은 환경변화에 따른 개체군의 영속성을 예측하기 위해서 기초적으로 진행하는 과정이다. Haematopus 속의 검은머리물떼새류에서 크기와 홍채의 반점 패턴은 성별에 따라 다른 것으로 알려져 있다. 준위협종에 해당하는 검은머리물떼새 아종(Haematopus ostralegus osculans)에서 비번식시기에 기존에 알려진 특징들이 성별을 구분하는 기준이 될 수 있는지를 검정하기 위해, 봄철 북상시기에 중간기착하는 검은머리물떼새의 신체 각 부위의 측정자료를 수집하고 홍채의 반점패턴을 촬영하여 성염색체 분석을 통해 얻은 성별 정보와 비교하였다. 검은머리물떼새류에서 알려진 일반적인 특징과 달리, 본 연구에서는 신체 각 부위의 크기나 홍채의 반점 패턴 모두 성별에 따른 차이가 보이지 않았다. 해당 아종에서 형태적 특징에 따른 성판별에 대한 구체적 정보를 얻기 위해서 서로 다른 시기, 또는 다른 개체군을 대상으로 한 추가 연구가 필요하다.

The steroid hormone ecdysone has a central role in the developmental transitions of insects through its control of responsive protein-coding and microRNA (miRNA) gene expression. However, the complete regulatory network controlling the expression of these genes remains to be elucidated. In this study, we performed cross-linking immunoprecipitation coupled with deep sequencing of endogenous Argonaute 1 (Ago1) protein, the core effector of the miRNA pathway, in Drosophila S2 cells. We found that regulatory interactions between miRNAs and their cognate targets were substantially altered by Ago1 in response to ecdysone signaling. Additionally, during the larva-to-adult metamorphosis, miR-252-5p was up-regulated via the canonical ecdysone-signaling pathway. Moreover, we provide evidence that miR-252-5p targets Abelson interacting protein (Abi) to decrease the protein levels of cyclins A and B, controlling the cell cycle. Overall, our data suggest a potential role for the ecdysone/miR-252-5p/Abi regulatory axis partly in cell-cycle control during metamorphosis in Drosophila.Lim, D.-H., Lee, S., Han, J. Y., Choi, M.-S., Hong, J.-S., Seong, Y., Kwon, Y.-S., Lee, Y. S. Ecdysone-responsive microR-252-5p controls the cell cycle by targeting Abi in Drosophila.

Abstract The 65th Medical Brigade and Medical Department Activity-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Birds Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted a migratory bird tick-borne disease surveillance program on Gugul and Sogugul Islands, two small, remote, uninhabited islands in southwestern Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea (ROK) from 2015–2016. Ticks were collected from nest soil/litter of the Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, Japanese Murrelet, Synthliboramphus wumizusume, and Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, Hydrobates monorhis, using Tullgren funnels. A total of 100 Ornithodoros sawaii (25 females, 56 males, 17 nymphs, and 2 larvae) were collected from 2/33 (6.1%) Ancient Murrelet, 3/11 (27.3%) Japanese Murrelet, and 23/94 (24.5%) Swinhoe's Storm Petrel nest sites. In addition, 3 larvae were collected from Swinhoe's Storm Petrel nestlings. Ticks were identified morphologically and species determination was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction techniques. This is the first record of O. sawaii collected from nest soil/litter of the Japanese Murrelet during this bird's nesting season in the ROK.

We investigate the doping dependence of flux pinning in superconducting NaFe1-xCoxAs (x = 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) single crystals grown by the Bridgman method. The electronic specific heat displays a pronounced anomaly in a sample series at superconducting transition temperature, which hardly shows any residual part at low temperature. We found that Co doping plays an important role in signifying the secondary peak in the magnetic hysteresis of optimally doped (x = 0.03) and heavily doped (x = 0.05, 0.07) crystals. Furthermore, the dependence of the relaxation rate S = vertical bar d lnM / d ln t vertical bar on magnetic field and temperature exhibits a decreasing trend within a certain range corresponding to the secondary peak effect in the optimally and heavily doped samples. The magnetic relaxation rate combined with the Maley analysis of the current-dependent creep energy shows a single-vortex pinning in the lightly doped sample dominant at low applied fields, and plastic pinning at high applied fields, without showing a secondary peak. However, in the optimally and heavily doped samples, the magnetic relaxation rate and U(J) isothermal analysis show that the collective pinning that dominates below H-peak crosses over to plastic pinning for fields above H-peak.

Raman scattering has been employed to investigate lattice and magnetic excitations of the honeycomb Kitaev material $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ and its Heisenberg counterpart CrCl$_3$. Our phonon Raman spectra give evidence for a first-order structural transition from a monoclinic to a rhombohedral structure for both compounds. Significantly, only $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ features a large thermal hysteresis, consistent with the formation of a wide phase of coexistence. In the related temperature interval of $70-170$ K, we observe a hysteretic behavior of magnetic excitations as well. The stronger magnetic response in the rhombohedral compared to the monoclinic phase evidences a coupling between the crystallographic structure and low-energy magnetic response. Our results demonstrate that the Kitaev magnetism concomitant with fractionalized excitations is susceptible to small variations of bonding geometry.

The 65th Medical Brigade and Medical Department Activity-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Birds Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted a migratory bird tick-borne disease surveillance program during 2014–2015 on two small, remote, uninhabited islands, Hong (Gull) Island, southern Gyeongnam Province, and Nan Island, western Chungnam Province, Republic of Korea (ROK). Argasid ticks were collected from Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) nestlings that had recently died and associated nest soil/litter, and all tick life history stages were identified morphologically. Because morphological keys are unreliable for the identification of adult and nymphal argasid ticks, identifications were confirmed by genotyping using polymerase chain reaction techniques. A total of 29 Ornithodoros capensis larvae and 2 Ornithodoros sawaii larvae were collected from 4 of 7 (57.1%) Black-tailed Gull nestlings that had recently died. An additional five O. capensis (2 males, 1 nymph, and 2 larvae) were collected from nest soil/litter. Only O. sawaii larvae (2/41, 4.9%) were collected from dead Black-tailed Gull nestlings on Nan Island. This is the first report of O. capensis from these seabird breeding islands.

The 65th Medical Brigade and Medical Department Activity-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Birds Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted a migratory bird tick-borne disease surveillance program on Chilbal Island during 2016. Chilbal Island is a small, remote, uninhabited government-protected island in southwestern Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea (ROK). Ticks were collected from nest soil and litter of the Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, using Tullgren funnels. A total of 4 Ixodes ticks (3 male Ixodes uriae and 1 female Ixodes signatus) were collected. The principal hosts of I. uriae are pelagic birds that have a largely circumpolar distribution. Ixodes signatus parasitizes other migratory birds in coastal areas of western North America and eastern Asia. This is the first report of I. uriae from the ROK.

Topological quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are states of matter with remarkable predicted properties -- an ability to create and braid quasiparticles in certain topological QSLs equals the ability to perform topologically protected quantum computation. There are various mathematical models with topological QSL phases, but so far none has been physically realized. Here we show that $alpha$-RuCl$_3$ exhibits a magnetic field-induced QSL ground-state. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance measurements reveal that for fields larger than $sim 10$ T a spin-gap opens up while resonance lines remain sharp, evidencing that spins are quantum disordered. Such a field-induced, gapped topological QSL phase has been predicted in the Kitaev model, which is closely associated to $alpha$-RuCl$_3$. The quasiparticles in this phase of the Kitaev model have the statistical properties required for universal topological quantum computation.