https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/329 2026-10-11T22:04:48Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60901 Title: Convergent acquisition of a specialized feeding strategy: flush-pursue foraging in birds Author(s): Park, Jinseok; Lee, Sang-im; Jablonski, Piotr G. Abstract: Birds exhibit diverse foraging strategies shaped jointly by the morphology and behaviour of predators and prey, as well as by habitat conditions. Some foraging tactics may result from convergent evolution when similar patterns among these factors are found across different lineages. Flush-pursue foraging, where birds use conspicuous wing and tail displays to startle hidden prey and pursue it, is known to drive plumage evolution among birds. However, the diversity and evolutionary relationship of the species using this strategy and associated traits remain poorly documented. For the first time, we compiled a global list of flush-pursuing species and conducted a family-level phylogenetic analysis. We found that flush-pursue foraging has independently evolved in four avian orders, and at least 17 families within Passeriformes, illustrating convergent adaptations to a specialized foraging niche. Flush-pursuers were more likely to be found in families with traits related to pursuit ability, such as smaller body size and longer tarsus length relative to body mass. This foraging strategy was also associated with denser habitats, likely providing various substrates and hiding spots for prey, and thus flushing prey makes foraging more efficient. Similarly, families with broader latitudinal ranges that cover more diverse habitats and prey types were also associated with a higher likelihood of flush-pursue behaviour. Family-level invertivorous diet predicted the presence of flush-pursuers, as expected from the susceptibility of arthropod sensory systems to startle displays. These findings illustrate how convergent acquisition of this unique foraging strategy of birds is shaped by the combination of morphology and ecology. 2026-06-30T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60865 Title: Habitat urbanization, nest defense and breeding success in the Oriental Magpie (Pica serica) Author(s): Kim, Hyo-hyun; Lee, Sunghyun; Cho, Haeun; Park, Seong-guk; Shin, Eunmin; Jablonski, Piotr G.; Lee, Sang-im Abstract: Nest defense is one component of parental behavior performed to prevent the approaches of potential predators toward eggs and offspring. Although positive relationship between the occurrence and/or intensity of nest defense and the breeding success is expected, conflicting results have been reported. We hypothesized that habitat urbanization may confound the relationship between nest defense behavior and resulting breeding success. Based on the data collected during eight years, we explored the possibility that the relationship between nest defense behavior and breeding success may further depend on habitat urbanization in the Oriental Magpie (Pica serica). We found that magpie breeders with urbanized territories produced fewer fledglings. Furthermore, fledgling body condition was differentially related to the propensity of exhibiting nest defense behavior depending on habitat urbanization; among the breeders whose territories contain more urbanized areas, the breeders who exhibited more frequent nest defense behavior produced fledglings poorer in condition while opposite relationship was observed among the breeders with less urbanized territories. Our results suggest a possibility that habitat urbanization mediates the relationship between the frequency and/or intensity of nest defense behavior and the breeding success. 2026-07-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60862 Title: S100 Calcium-Binding Protein P Predicts Early Recurrence and Poor Survival in Distal Cholangiocarcinoma: A Proteomics Study Author(s): Kim, Hyemin; Huh, Sunghyun; Han, In Woong; Choi, Young Hoon; Choi, Kyu; Lee, Seung-Eun; Lee, Se-Hoon; Jang, Kee-Taek; Lee, Jong Kyun; Lee, Kyu Taek; Park, Joo Kyung; Kim, Min-Sik; Lee, Kwang Hyuk Abstract: Distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis, necessitating novel biomarkers for acute prognosis and optimal treatment selection. This study aimed to elucidate the proteomic landscape of dCCA and identify novel biomarkers associated with improved patient outcomes. Proteomic profiling was conducted on 18 surgical samples from patients with dCCA by using shotgun liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Patients were categorized into early recurrence (n = 9) and nonearly recurrence (n = 9) groups. Validation was performed via immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis on an independent dCCA cohort of 26 tissue microarray samples. A total of 6804 proteins were identified, and differential expression and functional enrichment analyses revealed 219 upregulated proteins in the early recurrence group, associated with biological processes of the extracellular matrix and cellular interaction. Among these, S100 calcium-binding protein P (S100P) correlated with EZR, and LGALS3BP was significantly overexpressed in the early recurrence group. Furthermore, high S100P expression was identified as a strong independent risk factor for recurrence, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 4.55 (95% CI, 1.609-12.841, p = 0.004) and mortality (HR 4.99, 95% CI 1.794-12.880, p = 0.002). These findings identify S100P as a prognostic biomarker for dCCA, suggesting its clinical utility for postoperative risk stratification and patient management. 2026-05-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60859 Title: Generation and Genetic Manipulation of Human Cervical Organoids Author(s): Choi, Yeonhyo; Myeong, Jihyeon; Chong, Gun Oh; Jeong, Youngtae Abstract: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and most frequently affects the uterine ectocervix. The uterine ectocervix is lined by stratified squamous epithelium, comprising basal cells and differentiating parabasal and suprabasal cells. The regeneration observed after cervical conization suggests the presence of robust stem cell activity. However, our understanding of the identity and regulatory mechanisms of cervical stem cells and their malignant transformation process has been limited due to the restricted access to human cervical tissues and the lack of optimal systems to assess stem cell activity in the uterine ectocervix. Recently established human cervical organoids can help overcome these limitations and offer new opportunities to study cervical physiology and pathology. However, no standardized method exists for isolating and establishing human cervical organoids. Here, we describe a method for establishing human ectocervical organoids. Specifically, we present a protocol to isolate single cells from the human ectocervical epithelium. By incubating cervical tissue in an optimized enzyme solution, we peel off the cervical epithelium to maximize cell yield while minimizing fibroblast contamination. We further outline the conditions for culturing human cervical organoids using an optimized medium formulation. In addition, we detail the procedures for passaging and genetically manipulating cervical organoids. This protocol provides a highly efficient approach for establishing human cervical organoids and utilizing them to study cervical stem cells and diseases. 2026-02-28T15:00:00Z