Unveiling NiO/Perovskite Interfaces: Charge Transport and Device Performance in Perovskite Solar Cells.

NiO is a p-type semiconductor widely used as a hole transport material in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), yet the impact of fabrication methods on its interfacial properties and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study investigates how the fabrication process─nanoparticle precursor (NP NiO) and sputtering deposition (SP NiO)─and interfacial space charge effects influence charge transport and device performance in NiO/perovskite systems. SP NiO exhibits a higher Ni/Ni ratio and greater conductivity but induces significant hole depletion and band bending at the interface, leading to reduced open-circuit voltage and efficiency.

Evaluation of Anthocyanin Profiling, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Korean Accessions for Functional Food Applications and Breeding.

The genus includes numerous berry species known for their rich phytochemical content and antioxidant properties. However, comparative evaluations of wild and cultivated germplasms in East Asia remain limited. This study aimed to identify superior resources with potential for use in functional foods and breeding through integrated phytochemical and antioxidant profiling.

The Role of miRNA167 in Skin Improvement: Insight from Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Rock Samphire ().

Samphire (), a halophyte, thrives in saline environments due to its salt tolerance, which is partly attributed to miR167. However, the functional role of miR167 in human cells is unclear. This study explores the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from C.

miRNA408 from L. Mediates Cross-Kingdom Regulation in Human Skin Recovery.

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process involving several stages of tissue repair. This study has shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the callus of L. and their associated microRNAs (miRNAs) possess significant wound healing activities.

Treatable traits in chronic cough: a prospective evaluation for predicting cough persistence.

Background: The concept of treatable traits has been proposed for managing chronic cough; however, evidence supporting its clinical utility remains limited. This study investigated the relationship between baseline traits and cough persistence in a prospective registry of patients with chronic cough.

Methods: We analysed data from 426 patients with chronic cough enrolled in the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

Photo-Fenton mineralization of aquatic organic pollutants in visible-light-driven photocatalysis: Revisiting Fe reduction and noble metal necessity.

The photo-Fenton process is an advanced oxidation technique that utilizes electrons photogenerated from a photocatalyst to activate hydrogen peroxide (HO), forming highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (•OH) capable of rapidly degrading organic pollutants. While noble metal co-catalysts are often introduced to facilitate charge separation and promote HO activation, their use can increase the cost and complexity. In this study, hierarchically porous tungsten oxide (WO) demonstrated enhanced photo-Fenton performance without the need for noble metals owing to its larger surface area and strong ferric ion (Fe) adsorption capacity.

Adenosine A receptor agonist polydeoxyribonucleotide ameliorates acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis via modulating PI3K/Akt/VEGF signaling pathway.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease caused by an abnormal immune response. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), which acts on adenosine A receptors (AR), inhibits the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. We aimed to elucidate the effects of PDRN on acetic acid-induced UC rats.

Association of throat sensation severity with quality of life in patients with chronic cough.

Background: Patients with chronic cough frequently present with abnormal throat sensations, but the clinical significance of such sensations remains unknown. This study examined the severity of throat sensations and their relationships with quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic cough.

Methods: The analysis used baseline cross-sectional data from the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

Dietary β-Carotene, Vitamin A, and Retinol Intake and Prevalence of Colorectal Adenoma: A Cross-Sectional Study and Meta-Analysis.

Background/aims: Antioxidants may offer protection against colorectal cancer, but their association with colorectal adenomas remains unclear due to variations in study design, population, and dietary factors. We investigated the relationship between dietary intake of β-carotene, vitamin A, and retinol and the prevalence of colorectal adenoma using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and colonoscopy data.

Methods: We recruited participants undergoing elective colonoscopy across eight medical institutions.

Effects of Acute Exercise Bouts on Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Runners with Exercise-Induced Hypertension.

Exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) has increasingly been observed among middle-aged long-distance runners, raising concerns about cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to investigate acute changes in cardiovascular biomarkers associated with vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, endothelial function, and myocardial burden in runners with EIH. Thirty-seven middle-aged male runners (aged 40-65 years) were categorized into a normal blood pressure group (NBPG; systolic blood pressure <210 mmHg, = 23) and an EIH group (EIHG; ≥210 mmHg, = 14) based on maximal systolic blood pressure during a graded exercise test (GXT).

Predicted pro-inflammatory high-sensitivity C-reactive protein score and inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background/aims: The role of pro-inflammatory factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), is not well understood. This study investigated the association between the predicted pro-inflammatory high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) score and IBD.

Methods: This study involved 127 case/non-case pairs matched by age and sex of participants who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy in Korea.

Exosome-Derived miR-11987 in Bovine Milk Inhibits Obesity Through Browning of White Fat.

The global obese population accounts for approximately 30% of the total population and continues to increase. White adipocytes, which accumulate in the body for energy storage, are associated with obesity. Mechanisms that activate browning of white adipocytes are an attractive therapeutic target for obesity and metabolic disorders.

Current Practices in Histological Diagnosis and Management of Asymptomatic Gastric Subepithelial Lesions: A Multicenter Survey in Korea.

Objectives: Gastric subepithelial lesions (SELs) are elevated lesions covered by normal mucosa often detected during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Because of its submucosal location, accurate diagnosis through biopsy is challenging. We conducted a nationwide survey to identify differences in clinical practices across healthcare institutions with varying medical resources in Korea.

Complete genome sequence of S188, a hydrogen sulfide-degrading bacterium.

(formerly ) is a gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming bacterium found in a wide range of environmental niches. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of S188 isolated from soil, which can decrease hydrogen sulfide (HS) levels and help reduce malodor generation in livestock farms. Putative genes related to sulfide assimilation and conversion were found in the genome of S188; among these, one O-acetylhomoserine (O-AH) desulfhydrase, two cysteine synthases-primarily related to the biosynthesis of sulfur-containing amino acids, five rhodanese or sulfurtransferases, and one nitrogen reductase were identified.

Association Between Oral Health and Gastric Cancer in Korean Adults.

Objectives: Poor oral hygiene is known to be associated with gastric cancer, but this remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the association between oral health and gastric cancer in Korean adults using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Methods: We analyzed data of 79501 patients with gastric cancer and 41856805 individuals without gastric cancer (control group) using the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2019) records.

Endolysosomal processing of neuron-derived signaling lipids regulates autophagy and lipid droplet degradation in astrocytes.

Dynamic regulation of metabolic activities in astrocytes is critical to meeting the demands of other brain cells. During neuronal stress, lipids are transferred from neurons to astrocytes, where they are stored in lipid droplets (LDs). However, it is not clear whether and how neuron-derived lipids trigger metabolic adaptation in astrocytes.

Temple stay diet and its impact on gut microbiome and irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective cohort study.

/: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) significantly impacts quality of life, with effective treatment challenged by its multifactorial pathogenesis. A temple stay program incorporating a vegetarian diet may benefit IBS by modulating the gut microbiota. : In this prospective cohort study, 61 patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) or mixed bowel habit IBS (IBS-M) participated in a 4 day temple stay program following a 1 week washout period.

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis - based selection of hub genes related to phenolic and volatile compounds and seed coat color in sorghum.

Background: Sorghum grains are rich in phenolic compounds, which are noted for their anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as volatile compounds (VOCs) that contribute to aroma and fermentation processes. There is a known close relationship between sorghum coat color and phenolic compound content (PCC), particularly flavonoids which are pigments that confer red and purple colors in flowers and seeds.

Results: Our results showed that black seeds had the highest total tannin content (TTC) and ketone content, which were measured at 457.

Current status and trends of green endoscopy.

The increasing global emphasis on sustainability has extended its influence to the field of medicine, including endoscopy. Green endoscopy aims to minimize the environmental footprint of endoscopic practices while maintaining high standards of patient care. This review examines the current status of green endoscopy, focusing on its environmental impact, strategies for waste reduction, and adoption of sustainable practices.

Impact of maternal exercise on neurodevelopment and gut microbiota in offspring from advanced-age mice.

The effects of maternal exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptic protein expression, and gut microbiome composition in the offspring of older females were investigated. Male offspring from female C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: offspring of young female group (CON), offspring of exercised young female group, offspring of advanced-age female group (AMA), and offspring of exercised advanced-age female group (AMA+EX). The exercised group received 8 weeks of treadmill training before and during pregnancy.

Pirfenidone Alleviates Against Fine Particulate Matter-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Modulating via TGF-β1/TAK1/MKK3/p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway in Rats.

Increased exposure to particulate matter (PM) from air pollution causes lung inflammation and increases morbidity and mortality due to respiratory diseases. Pirfenidone is an anti-fibrotic agent used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. : In this experiment, we studied the therapeutic effects of pirfenidone on PM-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Optimal gamma-ray doses for inducing mutation in L. cultivars at different growth stages.

Purpose: Gamma (γ)-ray-dependent mutagenesis has not been fully established in cannabis. Hence, in this study, we aimed to determine the optimal γ-ray doses for inducing mutations in cannabis seeds and plants at the vegetative and reproductive stages.

Materials And Methods: The γ-irradiation ranging from 0 to 200 Gy was used to determine the optimal doses for three cannabis cultivars (CBGambit, Superwoman S1, Spectrum 303) at seeds, vegetative and reproductive stages.

[Novel Insights into Pathophysiology and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia Management].

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by upper abdominal discomfort without structural abnormalities. Traditionally, the FD pathophysiology has focused on impaired gastric emptying, accommodation, and visceral hypersensitivity. Nevertheless, recent studies have highlighted the importance of duodenal factors such as increased mucosal permeability, low-grade inflammation, and microbial dysbiosis.

Sex differences in the impact of marital status on coronary artery disease outcomes in Korea.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) outcomes are influenced by social determinants, including marital status. However, research on the sex-specific effects of marital status on CAD outcomes is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between marital status and clinical outcomes of patients with CAD stratified according to sex in Korea.

Effect of Hormonal Treatments on Cannabinoid Content Levels in Female Hemp ( L.) Inflorescences.

The diverse hormonal treatments applied to hemp ( L.) carry significant implications for cultivation, and yield optimization across a range of applications, including fiber, seed, oil production, and the enhancement of medicinal compounds. However, there is no evidence concerning the long-term consequences of hormonal treatment.