Valorizing spent lithium iron phosphate battery in biomass pyrolysis for production of valuable chemicals and mitigating pollutant emissions.

The rapid increase of electronic waste, particularly battery waste, presents significant environmental challenges such as pollutant emissions and resource depletion, emphasizing the need for effective valorization and reuse strategies. This study introduces a novel approach for repurposing end-of-life lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries as catalysts in the pyrolysis of walnut shells (WS). Characterization analyses revealed that LFP provides both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, which alter the thermal decomposition pathway of WS.

Combinations of A1-R, Recombinant Methioninase, and Chloroquine, Each Targeting Fundamental Cancer Hallmarks, Are Selectively Effective on Colon Cancer Cells Compared to Normal Fibroblasts.

Background/aim: Metastatic colon cancer is a recalcitrant disease. Previous studies have shown efficacy of A1-R (A1-R), recombinant methioninase (rMETase), and chloroquine (CQ) on cancer cells as they target fundamental hallmarks of cancer. The present study examined these agents alone and all combinations against colon-cancer cells compared to normal fibroblasts.

Platform study of circulating tumor DNA directed adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer (CLAUDIA colon cancer, KCSG CO22-12).

Background: Tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis allows for the sensitive detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) and has the potential to enhance patient stratification for adjuvant chemotherapy. We hypothesize that intensifying adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer patients with postoperative MRD positivity may reduce recurrence and improve survival outcomes.

Methods: This multi-center platform trial (NCT05534087) consists of a prospective observational study (Part 1) and an interventional randomized trial (Part 2).

MUTE-Seq: An Ultrasensitive Method for Detecting Low-Frequency Mutations in cfDNA With Engineered Advanced-Fidelity FnCas9.

In this study, we present the development of the Mutation tagging by CRISPR-based Ultra-precise Targeted Elimination in Sequencing (MUTE-Seq) method. We engineered a highly precise advanced-fidelity FnCas9 variant, named FnCas9-AF2, to effectively discriminate single-base mismatches at all positions of the single guide RNA (sgRNA) target sequences. FnCas9-AF2 exhibited significantly lower off-target effects compared to existing high-fidelity CRISPR-Cas9 variants.

Roles of Nanoscale Defects of Graphene in Remote Epitaxy of GaN.

Remote epitaxy through graphene enables the fabrication of freestanding membranes, facilitating the "peel-and-stack" process for semiconductor hetero-integration. While previous studies have emphasized graphene thickness, substrate bonding ionicity, and damage-free transfer of graphene for implementing remote epitaxy, the impact of nanoscale microscopic defects in graphene remains unexplored. Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of GaN requires high temperatures and a radical reaction environment, which can damage graphene.

DNA damage and Nuclear Anaplasia Induced by Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Cancer Cells with Variable HER2 Expression and Homologous Recombination Deficiency Status.

Purpose: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is amplified or overexpressed in various malignancies, including breast and gastric cancers, and is associated with poor prognosis. Although HER2-targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab, improve outcomes in HER2-positive tumors, resistance often develops, and HER2-low tumors remain largely untargeted. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd; DS-8201a) is a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate with potent activity in HER2-positive and HER2-low tumors.

Public willingness to pay for chemicals regulation policies in South Korea: Insights from socio-economic factors.

This study investigates the socio-economic determinants influencing public willingness to pay (WTP) for reducing health risks from phthalate exposure in South Korea. The study focuses on dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) that are currently under regulatory consideration. Using the contingent valuation method, a national survey of 1,000 respondents employed both single-bounded (SBDC) and double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) formats.

Epidemiology and risk factors of glaucoma in a comprehensive health screening baseline report from the Gangnam Eye Cohort Study.

We investigated the epidemiology and systemic risk factors of glaucoma in a health screening center-based cohort. The Gangnam Eye Cohort Study included 75,154 participants who completed initial comprehensive health check-up examinations in 2003-2010. In this baseline report, the prevalence of glaucoma was estimated, ocular and systemic factors were compared between glaucoma and normal control groups, and risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression.

The Triple Combination of Recombinant Methioninase, Rapamycin, and Chloroquine Synergistically Eradicates HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: The prognosis for advanced/metastatic colon cancer is poor, with low survival rates despite aggressive treatment. Recombinant methioninase (rMETase) targets the methionine addiction of cancer and works synergistically with many anticancer drugs. The present study aimed to determine the synergistic efficacy of the combination of rMETase, rapamycin (RAPA), and chloroquine (CQ) on human HCT116 colon cancer cells .

Therapeutic Intervention of an Intranasally Administered Monoclonal Antibody Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike Protein Against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection in Mice.

SARS-CoV-2 has evolved into several variants of concern, with Omicron and its subvariants currently being the most prevalent. Previously, we developed a mouse monoclonal antibody (m1E3H12 mAb) specific to the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike protein, and the mAb showed neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and its subvariants BA.

Effects of , Ohwi, and Extract on Vascular Endothelial Dysfunctions in Ovariectomized Rats and Molecular Mechanisms.

Menopause is the natural period of aging in women induced by ovary deterioration, resulting in estrogen deficiency. We evaluated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of , Ohwi, and (CPL) extracts on vascular endothelial dysfunction. After treatment, CPL extracts decreased serum lipid profiles, serum vasoactive substances, tail temperatures, and cardiovascular risk indices.

Temporal Association Between ChatGPT-Generated Diarrhea Synonyms in Internet Search Queries and Emergency Department Visits for Diarrhea-Related Symptoms in South Korea: Exploratory Study.

Background: Diarrhea, a common symptom of gastrointestinal infections, can lead to severe complications and is a major cause of emergency department (ED) visits.

Objective: This study explored the temporal association between internet search queries for diarrhea and its synonyms and ED visits for diarrhea-related symptoms.

Methods: We used data from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) and NAVER (Naver Corporation), South Korea's leading search engine, from January 2017 to December 2021.

Mineral interactions in lactating sows: evaluating oxidative stress and productivity during heat stress.

This study investigated the effects of dietary minerals at different levels on reproductive performance of lactating sows during high ambient temperature. The sows were divided into eight treatments according to a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement including two levels of Zn and Cu (ZC100, 100 mg/kg of Zn, and 20 mg/kg Cu; ZC150, 150 mg/kg of Zn and 25 mg/kg Cu) and four levels of Fe, Mn, and Se (FMS; 80 mg/kg Fe, 25 mg/kg Mn, 0.15 mg/kg Se; FMS150, 120 mg/kg Fe, 37.

Combination of Recombinant Methioninase With Rapamycin or Chloroquine Is Synergistic to Highly Inhibit Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cells .

Background/aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis despite multimodal treatment. New therapeutic approaches for TNBC are necessary. We very recently showed that the triple combination of recombinant methioninase (rMETase), rapamycin (RAPA), and chloroquine (CQ) synergically eradicated osteosarcoma cells .

Estimation of Flood Inundation Area Using Soil Moisture Active Passive Fractional Water Data with an LSTM Model.

Accurate flood monitoring and forecasting techniques are important and continue to be developed for improved disaster preparedness and mitigation. Flood estimation using satellite observations with deep learning algorithms is effective in detecting flood patterns and environmental relationships that may be overlooked by conventional methods. Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) fractional water (FW) was used as a reference to estimate flood areas in a long short-term memory (LSTM) model using a combination of soil moisture information, rainfall forecasts, and floodplain topography.

Troubleshooting Carbon Nanotube Bundling Using Electrostatic Energy-Driven Dispersion for LiFePO Bimodal Thick Electrode in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Interest in using thick LiFePO cathodes to enhance lithium-ion battery energy density has recently been growing. To obtain thick cathodes with superior electrical conductivity throughout their depth, it is crucial to substitute conventional zero-dimensional conductive agents with one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Nevertheless, the inherent properties of CNT, including their high aspect ratio and strong van der Waals interaction, hinder uniform dispersion, causing poor performance in thick electrodes.

Land use change-induced abrupt changes in vegetation and the role of climate factors.

Land use change (LUC) and climate are major factors constraining terrestrial ecosystem. As these impacts are expected to intensify in the future, it is necessary to quantify the effects of anthropogenic LUC on the terrestrial biosphere and its interactions with regional climate. Here, we identify abrupt decreases in the Leaf Area Index (LAI) from 2015 to 2100, primarily driven by LUC through cropland expansion.

National dose survey and discussion on establishing diagnostic reference levels for dental imaging in Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish updated diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for dental imaging modalities in South Korea.

Methods: In cooperation with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, various types of institutions (dental clinics, dental hospitals, and dental university hospitals) were selected to investigate the status of diagnostic radiation equipment use. Subsequently, over 300 units were randomly selected for each imaging device type (intraoral, panoramic, and cone-beam CT [CBCT]) as measurement samples.

Effects of dietary yeast β-glucan on lactating sows under heat stress.

This study sought to determine the impact of dietary supplementation with yeast β-glucan on the alleviation of heat stress (HS) in lactating sows during the summer. Thirty cross-bred sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) with an initial body weight of 216.2 ± 7 kg, an average parity of 3, and their litter were used in this study.

Deep Learning-Enhanced Diagnosis of Sow Pregnancy Through Low-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging.

The escalating demand for pork highlights the importance of swift and accurate pregnancy diagnosis in sows, a crucial factor in farm profitability. The prevalent use of low-frequency ultrasound devices in this context poses a challenge owing to the suboptimal resolution of the resultant images. This study introduces an innovative approach for sow pregnancy diagnosis using deep learning techniques to analyze low-frequency ultrasound images.

Prediction of the Cause of Fundus-Obscuring Vitreous Hemorrhage Using Machine Learning.

This study aimed to predict the unknown etiology of fundus-obscuring vitreous hemorrhage (FOVH) based on preoperative conditions using machine learning (ML) and to identify key preoperative factors. Medical records of 223 eyes from 204 patients who underwent vitrectomy for FOVH of unknown etiology between January 2012 and July 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative data, including demographic information, systemic disease, ophthalmic history, and retinal status of the unaffected eye, were collected.

Differential Pattern of Symptom Correlation With Acute Respiratory Infections in Korea.

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) pose global health challenges, with major outbreaks affecting healthcare systems and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to identify distinctive signs or symptoms correlated with ARIs for utilizing syndromic surveillance.

Methods: We used data from national Korean databases to examine correlations between various symptoms and the reported ARI viruses in children under and over 5 years of age.

A Comprehensive Health Screening Program Reveals the Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

: We investigated the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and associated risk factors in Korean subjects who underwent comprehensive health screening examinations. : This single health screening center-based cross-sectional study included a total of 73,574 consecutive participants older than 30 years who underwent a health screening examination, including fundus photography, between October 2003 and December 2010. Weighted prevalence and risk factors for AMD were evaluated.