Engineering a Whitlockite-Containing Macroporous Composite Cryogel with Silica Hybrid for Enhanced Vascularized Bone Regeneration.

Recognizing the complexity of the bone regeneration cascade and understanding the adverse effects of using growth factors, it is crucial to develop a growth factor-free scaffold with multiple functions to modulate various aspects of the regenerative process. This study explores a novel macroporous multifunctional bone graft for bone regeneration, aiming to overcome complications associated with current treatment modalities. The study reveals enhanced bone regeneration and vascularization by integrating silica hybrid and nano-whitlockite (nWH) into cryogel-based composite scaffolds.

Thermochemical conversion of grape marc into carbon-negative syngas.

The massive generation of waste from the food industry requires sustainable management strategies to mitigate its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this study explored a sustainable approach by valorizing food waste into energy through pyrolysis. Grape marc (GM), a byproduct of the wine industry, was selected as the model (carbon) substrate.

Thermochemical processing for the sustainable disposal of spent filter waste.

High-efficiency particulate air filters are widely used for indoor air purification. Spent filter waste (SFW), which can trap infectious and toxic substances, is primarily treated via incineration. This method causes environmental concerns, particularly regarding the generation of carbon dioxide (CO) and other air pollutants.

Chemicals and fuels from lipid-containing biomass: A comprehensive exploration.

In response to address the climate crisis, there has been a growing focus on substituting conventional refinery-derived products with those derived from biorefineries. The utilization of lipids as primary materials or intermediates for the synthesis of chemicals and fuels, which are integral to the existing chemical and petrochemical industries, is a key step in this transition. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the production of sustainable chemicals (acids and alcohols), biopolymers, and fuels (including gasoline, kerosene, biodiesel, and heavy fuel oil) from lipids derived from terrestrial and algal biomass.

Conversion of toxic pyrogenic products into syngas through catalytic pyrolysis of insulation material waste under the presence of CO.

Plastic-based insulation materials have been widely employed owing to their exceptional durability, cost-effectiveness, low weight, and low thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, the disposal of the insulation material waste (IMW) within construction waste and its recycling and recovery are challenging. Meanwhile, landfilling or incineration methods can release toxic chemicals into the environment.

Functional use of carbon dioxide for the sustainable valorization of orange peel in the pyrolysis process.

Although biomass is carbon-neutral, its use as a primary feedstock faces challenges arising from inconsistent supply chains. Therefore, it becomes crucial to explore alternatives with reliable availability. This study proposes a strategic approach for the thermochemical valorization of food processing waste, which is abundantly generated at single sites within large-scale processing plants.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin-induced myopathy presenting as rhabdomyolysis: a case report.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation is an adjuvant treatment for non-muscle-invasive urinary bladder cancer. Although most complications associated with BCG immunotherapy are mild and self-limiting, rare albeit serious complications have been reported. Only a few cases of BCG-related rhabdomyolysis have been reported.

Effect of age on the prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background/aims: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a subgroup of cholangiocarcinoma and is the second- most-common primary hepatic tumor. Several predictive and prognostic factors have been analyzed; however, in this study we focused on the influence of age. Our aim was to use real-world results to determine the influence of age in iCCA patients.

Switching from Tenofovir-Based Combination Therapy to Tenofovir Monotherapy in Multidrug-Experienced Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: a 5-Year Experience at Two Centers.

Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who were administered tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based combination therapy after receiving multiple drugs are frequently switched to TDF monotherapy in South Korea. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of switching to TDF monotherapy from TDF-based combination therapy over 5 years. This was a retrospective study of multidrug-experienced CHB patients who switched from TDF-based combination therapy to TDF monotherapy after achieving a virologic response (VR; <20 IU/mL) at Konkuk University Hospital and Sanggye Paik Hospital.

Valorizing plastic toy wastes to flammable gases through CO-mediated pyrolysis with a Co-based catalyst.

Toys are discarded due to their short life cycle. Unfortunately, development of sustainable disposal platform for toy has not gained particular concern. To establish a reliable disposal platform, this study employed a pyrolysis platform to valorize plastics into value-added fuels.

Post-processing calcium subtraction method to minimize stenosis-overestimation by blooming artifact.

Background: CT images are often affected by blooming artifacts during the diagnosis that facilitate an overestimation of the expression of calcification stenosis, thereby impeding the accurate diagnosis of this condition.

Objective: Arterial calcification can act as a blooming artifact in computed tomography (CT) images, leading to overestimations of the blood vessel and the size of calcified plaque. This study proposes an improved CT post-processing method that accurately measures calcium and lumen size in blood vessels.

Valorization of carbon dioxide and waste (Derived from the site of Eutrophication) into syngas using a catalytic thermo-chemical platform.

Global warming increases a chance of eutrophication, and such fact offers that unhygienic organic waste materials (OWMs) in water must be treated. Hence, this study laid emphasis on the thermal-chemical (pyrolysis) process to establish a rapid valorization platform for OWMs. Indeed, OWMs were collected from the eutrophication site, and OWMs were mainly comprised of lignocellulosic biomass, microalgae (cyanobacteria) and the diverse types of bacteria (commonly observed from livestock waste).

Enhancement of sophorolipids production in Candida batistae, an unexplored sophorolipids producer, by fed-batch fermentation.

Sophorolipids (SLs) from Candida batistae has a unique structure that contains ω-hydroxy fatty acids, which can be used as a building block in the polymer and fragrance industries. To improve the production of this industrially important SLs, we optimized the culture medium of C. batistae for the first time.

3D print material study to reproduce the function of pig heart tissue.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for heart simulation can be represented as complex anatomical structures, and objective information can be provided.

Objective: We studied 3D print material to find a material with the same elastic coefficient as pig elastic coefficient.

Methods: Pig heart sample, Agilus sample, Tango sample, TPU sample, and silicone sample were studied.

Comparative study on carbon dioxide-cofed catalytic pyrolysis of grass and woody biomass.

This study investigated the mechanistic functions of CO on the pyrolysis of two different biomasses to elucidate the effect of CO on syngas formations during pyrolysis. To this end, CO-assisted pyrolysis of cellulosic biomass (barnyard grass, Echinochloa) and lignin-rich woody biomass (retinispora, Chamaecyparis obtusa) were compared. The confirmed mechanistic effectiveness of CO on pyrolysis of biomass was gas phase reactions between CO and volatile matters from biomass pyrolysis.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of chronic shoulder pain after breast cancer surgery: single center, cross-sectional study.

Chronic shoulder pain is a common complication in breast cancer patients after surgery. Chronic shoulder pain after breast cancer surgery was formerly considered as neuropathic pain, however the pathophysiology including structural damages has not been assessed comprehensively. We hypothesized that the structural change could be one of the cause of shoulder pain after breast cancer surgery and evaluated various ultrasonography findings of the shoulder in breast cancer patients with chronic shoulder pain.

Sequential growth factor releasing double cryogel system for enhanced bone regeneration.

Bone regeneration is a complicated physiological process regulated by several growth factors. In particular, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) are regarded as key factors that induce bone regeneration by angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In this study, we developed a double cryogel system (DC) composed of gelatin/chitosan cryogel (GC) surrounded by gelatin/heparin cryogel (GH) for dual drug delivery with different release kinetics.

Metabolic Syndrome and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

The association of metabolic syndrome and its components with the risk of thyroid cancer is unclear. Thus, we conducted a large-scale, nationwide, population-based, cohort study to investigate this relationship. We studied 9,890,917 adults without thyroid cancer from the Korean National Health Insurance health checkup database from January 1 to December 31, 2009.

CO-cofed catalytic pyrolysis of tea waste over Ni/SiO for the enhanced formation of syngas.

To valorize tea waste (TW), catalytic pyrolysis was done as a practical measure for recovering energy as a form of syngas. Considering CO as a reactive gas medium in place of conventional pyrolysis gas, a sustainable pyrolysis platform was established. In addition, mechanistic effectiveness of CO on TW pyrolysis was examined.

3-D Space Visualization System Using Ultrasonic Sensors as an Assistive Device for the Blind.

This study proposes a new assistive device for the blind that uses more than one-dimensional data to draw objects. The study aims to convert three-dimensional (3-D) spatial information into sound information using 6-axis and ultrasonic sensors, and to draw a 3-D depiction of the space ahead for the user. Fourteen participants were involved in testing, wherein 4 were visually impaired.

Analysis of Correlation Between Contrast and Component of Polylatic Acid Composite for Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printing.

Additive manufacturing or three-dimensional (3D) printing is considered a disruptive technology for producing components with topologically optimized complex geometries as well as functionalities that are not achievable by traditional methods. 3D printing is expected to revolutionize the manufacturing of components. While several 3D printing systems are available, printing based on fused-deposition modeling (FDM) using thermoplastics is particularly widespread because of the simplicity and potential applicability of the method.

Application of chemical reaction engineering principles to 'body-on-a-chip' systems.

The combination of cell culture models with microscale technology has fostered emergence of cell-based microphysiological models, also known as organ-on-a-chip systems. Body-on-a-chip systems, which are multi-organ systems on a chip to mimic physiological relations, enable recapitulation of organ-organ interactions and potentially whole-body response to drugs, as well as serve as models of diseases. Chemical reaction engineering principles can be applied to understanding complex reactions inside the cell or human body, which can be treated as a multi-reactor system.

Development of a visual information to auditory information transformation system for ambulation assistance.

Background: Assistant equipment for the visually impaired has a white cane. If the information in the three-dimensional space is transmitted by sound, the blind can draw a three-dimensional space.

Objective: This study developed "Visual System," an ambulation aid/guide for the blind that transforms visual-spatial information into auditory information, and verified its utility.