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.

Effect of Takadiastase on the Extraction of Biotin from Plant-Based Foods.

This study aimed to evaluate the extraction of biotin from plant-based foods using takadiastase in combination with autoclave- or ultrasound-assisted extraction. In cereals, vegetables, and mushrooms, autoclave-assisted enzymatic extraction obtained higher analytical values compared with autoclave-assisted extraction. However, in legumes and nuts, ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction obtained higher biotin content compared with either autoclave- or ultrasound-assisted extraction.

Powder-attached microneedles for the stable and effective transdermal delivery of clinically validated mRNA-LNP vaccine.

Microneedle-based delivery offers a promising strategy for administering mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccines via the skin; however, maintaining mRNA-LNP integrity and achieving effective immune responses remain challenging. This study presents a clinically relevant microneedle platform for the transdermal delivery of clinically validated mRNA-LNP vaccines using powder-attached microneedles (P-MAP) and coated microneedles (C-MAP). The mRNA-LNP vaccine, based on the formulation of Moderna's clinically approved product, was prepared without alteration in their composition or manufacturing method.

Oncogenic pathway landscape of ovarian cancer and correlation with clinical prognosis.

Objective: We aimed to identify the main oncogenic pathway by histological type of ovarian cancer based on Next-generation sequencing (NGS) test and to determine the correlation with clinical prognosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 420 patients with ovarian cancer who underwent NGS testing at Asan Medical Center from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2021. Identified mutations were categorized into seven oncogenic pathways that are most frequently associated with ovarian cancer.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Intention to Quit Smoking Plan Among Korean Adults, 2016-2021.

Smoking is the largest preventable cause of cancer morbidity and mortality; however, the smoking prevalence in Korea remains high. Several studies have shown that health behaviors vary by socioeconomic status, indicating that similar inequalities would be found in smoking behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the disparities in smoking cessation intention according to socioeconomic status.

Data-driven flight path monitoring technique using recurrent neural network for the safety management of commercial aircraft.

Aviation spins, particularly at low altitudes, significantly contribute to fatalities due to limited recovery time. Standard recovery procedures typically only become eligible after a spin is fully developed, by which time multiple turns may have already resulted in substantial altitude loss. The primary challenge in upset prevention is heavy reliance on the pilot's situational awareness, which is only effective before the spin has been fully developed.

Longitudinal assessment of smoking-related knowledge, attitude, and practice for cancer prevention: an analysis of data from the Korean National Cancer Prevention Awareness and Practice Survey.

Background: This study examined the influence of knowledge and attitudes on smoking cessation behaviors among Koreans-including both individuals who have quit smoking and those who continue to smoke-using an extended KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practice) model.

Methods: Data for this study were drawn from the Korean National Cancer Prevention Awareness and Practice Survey conducted between 2014 and 2023, encompassing 12,400 participants. After excluding responses lacking data on KAP questions and individuals who had never smoked, the final analytic sample comprised 4,794 participants.

Plant-derived nanovesicles and therapeutic application.

Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) are becoming more popular as promising therapeutic tools owing to their diversity, cost-effectiveness, and biocompatibility with very low toxicity. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the methods for isolating and characterizing PDNVs and emphasize their versatile roles in direct therapeutic applications and drug delivery systems. Their ability to effectively encapsulate and deliver large nucleic acids, proteins, and small-molecule drugs was highlighted.

Gender differences in awareness and practices of cancer prevention recommendations in Korea: a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: Gender is a major determinant of health behaviors that influences cancer prevention awareness and practices. This study investigated the relationship of the awareness and practice rates of cancer prevention recommendations with gender and socioeconomic status.

Methods: We used data from the Korean National Cancer Prevention Awareness and Practice Survey (2023).

Roseoside Is a Bioactive Compound in Nakai Extract with Potent In Vitro Antiviral Activity Against Hepatitis C Virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pathogen that causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma through chronic hepatitis C. This study focused on the anti-HCV activity of a 70% ethanol extract of Nakai (KKE) and its bioactive chemical constituent(s). The KKE and its -butanol (-BuOH) fraction induced a significant reduction in HCV RNA levels without inducing cytotoxicity.

Diabetic Neuropathy and Minimum Effective Anesthetic Concentration of Mepivacaine for Axillary Brachial Plexus Block: A Prospective Observational Study.

Nerves in patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN) show increased susceptibility to local anesthetics, potentially requiring a decreased dose. We investigated whether the minimum effective anesthetic concentration (MEAC) of mepivacaine for successful axillary block is lower in patients with DN than in those without. This prospective observational study included patients with DN ( = 22) and without diabetes ( = 22) at a tertiary care center.

A DNA vaccine against GII.4 human norovirus VP1 induces blocking antibody production and T cell responses.

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are highly contagious and a leading cause of epidemics of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Among the various HuNoV genotypes, GII.4 is the most prevalent cause of outbreaks.

Environmental forensics using stable and radioactive isotopes in naturally attenuated soil after phenol-leakage accidents.

Phenol is a carcinogenic and hazardous chemical used in multiple industries and poses a high risk of chemical spills into the environment. To date, environmental forensic research has not focused on chemically remediated soils. In this study, an advanced environmental forensic analysis was performed on microbial communities and breakdown products of phenol, carbon stable isotopes, and radioactive isotopes in phenol-contaminated soil.

Kaempferol Interferes with Varicella-Zoster Virus Replication in Human Foreskin Fibroblasts.

Kaempferol, a natural flavonoid abundantly found in plants, is known to have pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we investigated the antiviral effects of kaempferol against a varicella-zoster virus (VZV) clinical isolate in vitro. We found that kaempferol significantly inhibited VZV replication without exhibiting cytotoxicity.

Coordinated regulation of interferon and inflammasome signaling pathways by SARS-CoV-2 proteins.

Type I and III interferons (IFNs) and the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-containing receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. While optimal IFN and inflammasome responses are essential for limiting SARS-CoV-2 infection, aberrant activation of these innate immune responses is associated with COVID-19 pathogenesis. In this review, we focus our discussion on recent findings on SARS-CoV-2-induced type I and III IFNs and NLRP3 inflammasome responses and the viral proteins regulating these mechanisms.

Do liberals want curbside pickup more than conservatives? Contactless shopping as protectionary action against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consumers showed a dramatically increased interest in contactless shopping in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the protection motivation theory, this study investigated how contactless shopping grew as a protectionary action against COVID-19. Findings from a nationwide online survey ( = 311) confirmed the impact of politicization of the pandemic on consumer responses for contactless shopping intention and the significance of threat and coping appraisals in taking protectionary actions.

OsGATA16, a GATA Transcription Factor, Confers Cold Tolerance by Repressing OsWRKY45-1 at the Seedling Stage in Rice.

Background: Cold stress is the main abiotic stress in rice, which seriously affects the growth and yield of rice. Identification of cold tolerance genes is of great significance for rice to solve these problems. GATA-family transcription factors involve diverse biological functions, however, their role in cold tolerance in rice remains unclear.

SARS-CoV-2 Nonstructural Proteins 1 and 13 Suppress Caspase-1 and the NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.

Viral infection-induced activation of inflammasome complexes has both positive and negative effects on the host. Proper activation of inflammasome complexes induces down-stream effector mechanisms that inhibit viral replication and promote viral clearance, whereas dysregulated activation has detrimental effects on the host. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, encode viroporins that activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, and the severity of coronavirus disease is associated with the inflammasome activation.

Soil assessment after chemical accidents using metabolic profiling and microbial community evaluation.

This study investigated the effects of accidental contamination of soils with phenol, toluene, nitric acid, and hydrogen fluoride (HF) by simulating chemical leakage in the soil with/without rain and characterizing the resulting metabolites and microbial. In the case of acid leakage, pH and cation exchange capacity were decreased, and the content of fluoride ion was increased in case of HF leakage. Using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analysis, phytosphingosine was detected as a distinguishing metabolite in soils contaminated with phenol and HF in rain conditions.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Root System Development at Seedling Stage in Rice.

Root network structure plays a crucial role in growth and development processes in rice. Longer, more branched root structures help plants to assimilate water and nutrition from soil, support robust plant growth, and improve resilience to stresses such as disease. Understanding the molecular basis of root development through screening of root-related traits in rice germplasms is critical to future rice breeding programs.

Fc-saxatilin inhibits VEGF-induced permeability by regulating claudin-5 expression in human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

The disruption of the blood-brain barrier influences the degree of brain damage and prognosis in cerebral ischemia or other brain diseases accompanied by inflammation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) released during brain ischemia or inflammation has been implicated in the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier by increasing endothelial permeability. Saxatilin, a disintegrin-containing RGD motif, has been reported to disaggregate platelets via interactions with platelet integrins and to have a thrombolysis effect.

TNF-α-Induced YAP/TAZ Activity Mediates Leukocyte-Endothelial Adhesion by Regulating VCAM1 Expression in Endothelial Cells.

YAP/TAZ, a transcriptional co-activator of Hippo pathway, has emerged as a central player in vessel homeostasis such as sprouting angiogenesis and vascular barrier stabilization, during development. However, the role of YAP/TAZ in pathological angiogenesis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that YAP/TAZ is a critical mediator in leukocyte-endothelial adhesion induced by the vascular inflammatory cytokine TNF-α.

The Effect of a Parental Visitation Program on Emergence Delirium Among Postoperative Children in the PACU.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parental presence on the incidence of emergence delirium (ED) of children in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

Design: A quasi-experimental pretest and post-test study with nonequivalent and nonsynchronized control groups.

Methods: About 93 children aged 3 to 6 years undergoing general anesthesia for tonsillectomy were divided into two groups: parental presence and absence.