The identification of molecular structure is essential for understanding chemical diversity and for developing drug leads from small molecules. Nevertheless, the structure elucidation of small molecules by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments is often a long and non-trivial process that relies on years of training. To achieve this process efficiently, several spectral databases have been established to retrieve reference NMR spectra. However, the number of reference NMR spectra available is limited and has mostly facilitated annotation of commercially available derivatives. Here, we introduce DeepSAT, a neural network-based structure annotation and scaffold prediction system that directly extracts the chemical features associated with molecular structures from their NMR spectra. Using only the 1H-13C HSQC spectrum, DeepSAT identifies related known compounds and thus efficiently assists in the identification of molecular structures. DeepSAT is expected to accelerate chemical and biomedical research by accelerating the identification of molecular structures.

Yin Yang 2 (YY2) is a paralog of YY1, a well-known multifunctional transcription factor containing a C-terminal zinc finger domain. Although the role of YY1 in various biological processes, such as the cell cycle, cell differentiation and tissue development, is well established, the function of YY2 has not been fully determined. In this study, we investigated the functional role of YY2 during osteoblast differentiation. YY2 overexpression and knockdown increased and decreased osteoblast differentiation, respectively, in BMP4-induced C2C12 cells. Mechanistically, YY2 overexpression increased the mRNA and protein levels of Osterix (Osx), whereas YY2 knockdown had the opposite effect. To investigate whether YY2 regulates Osx transcription, the effect of YY2 overexpression and knockdown on Osx promoter activity was evaluated. YY2 overexpression significantly increased Osx promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner, whereas YY2 knockdown had the opposite effect. Furthermore, vectors containing deletion and point mutations were constructed to specify the regulation site. Both the Y1 and Y2 sites were responsible for YY2-mediated Osx promoter activation. These results indicate that YY2 is a positive regulator of osteoblast differentiation that functions by upregulating the promoter activity of Osx, a representative osteogenic transcription factor in C2C12 cells.

To implement wearable textile displays (WTDs), it is essential that unique properties such as physical and chemical properties, aesthetics, and flexibility of the textile be maintained. Therefore, thin film transistors (TFTs) for WTDs should exhibit excellent electrical properties to enable 4K and 8K high resolution and high frame-rate (>120 Hz) displays while maintaining the properties of textiles. All layers of TFTs were formed by vacuum deposition and oxide-based transparent materials; amorphous In–Ga–Zn-O (a-IGZO), indium tin oxide (ITO), and Al2O3 were used. A transparent and flexible electrode with an ITO/Ag/ITO (IAI) structure was optimized and applied to the source/drain and gate. All processes were performed below 150 °C, and the wet-step was eliminated to prevent physical and chemical deformation of the substrate. The flexible, transparent, high mobility a-IGZO TFTs (FTH TFTs) for WTDs were fabricated on glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, and textile substrates, respectively. Their electrical performance, transparency, and flexibility were then compared. The textile-based TFTs showed transmittance of 72.98%, high mobility of 11.5 cm2/(V s), and an on/off ratio of 9.28 × 107 even in a low temperature process (<150 °C). In addition, the electrical properties of the textile-based TFTs were maintained despite testing entailing 1000 cycles of bending with a tensile strain of 0.8%. In particular, the FTH TFTs for WTDs were able to stably drive a red organic light-emitting diode on textile.

Science museums have long been heralded as important informal science education sites where people can engage in voluntary and experiential science learning. In this paper, we identify and raise questions about how science museum responses to a global pandemic could impact on accessibility of informal science education for the public. To explore these issues, we examined the response of the Gwacheon National Science Museum (GNSM) to COVID-19 in South Korea using publicly available data from the museum website and museum YouTube video channel. Analysis shows that the pandemic has increased and diversified the GNSM’s provision of science content for the general public via online platforms, such as YouTube and the museum website. In addition, GNSM educators are preparing special outreach education projects for deaf and blind visitors, who have often been excluded from informal science learning opportunities. By discussing these changes, we seek to raise questions about the potential for a global pandemic, like COVID-19, to affect informal science learning opportunities for a diverse group of people.

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Soybean is a crop with high-quality of protein and oil, and it is one of the most widely used genetically modified (GM) crops in the world today. In South Korea, Kwangan is the most utilized variety as a parental line for GM soybean development. In this study, untargeted LC-MS metabolomic approaches were used to compare metabolite profiles of Kwangan and three other commercial varieties cultivated in Gunwi and Jeonju in 2020 year. Metabolomic studies revealed that the 4 soybean varieties were distinct based on the partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) score plots; 18 metabolites contributed to variety distinction, including phenylalanine, isoflavones, and fatty acids. All varieties were clearly differentiated by location on the PLS-DA score plot, indicating that the growing environment is also attributable to metabolite variability. In particular, isoflavones and linolenic acid levels in Kwangan were significantly lower and higher, respectively compared to those of the three varieties. It was discussed that it might need to include more diverse conventional varieties as comparators in regard to metabolic characteristics of Kwangan for the assessment of substantial equivalence biogenetically engineered soybeans in a Kwanganvariety background.

This study examines and describes how various online remote laboratory courses, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, were implemented at Hankuk University in Korea in 2020. We compared four general undergraduate laboratory courses, one each for physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science, and two major-level laboratory courses taught during the spring and fall of 2020. Employing a sociocultural perspective, we examined how the changes in structures at the macro-, meso-, and micro-levels shaped the responses of educational authorities and impacted the agency of university instructors. Instructors implemented various remote laboratory courses in each content area dependent upon availability and access to material resources, including access to video of laboratory activities, and also based on the nature of experimental data associated with each content area. Drawing from survey responses and in-depth interviews with instructors and students, we share findings about how instructor practices impacted the interactions of students, the processes for evaluation, and student learning. We discuss how the global pandemic has re-ignited the debate about the role and value of experimental laboratory activities for undergraduate science majors and about the significance of hands-on versus minds-on science learning. Implications for how universities approach laboratory coursework in the post-COVID-19 are discussed, and questions for university science instruction are raised for future research.