Hydrophobic Coating of Paperboard Using Oak Wood-Derived Lignin Nanoparticles and Chitosan Composites.

This study explores the potential application of lignin nanoparticles and chitosan-lignin nanoparticles (CLNs) as hydrophobic barrier coatings for paperboard. The lignin nanoparticles were initially prepared using a mixed solvent of ethanol and acetone. Their characteristics were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering, which revealed particle sizes in the range of 180-400 nm.

Attenuates Citrinin-Induced Oxidative Stress and Maintains Tight Junction Integrity in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Citrinin (CTN), a mycotoxin commonly found in contaminated food and animal feed, impairs intestinal barrier integrity through oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. However, its link to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, remains unclear. This study investigated whether CTN induces ferroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells and evaluated the protective role of (EH) against CTN-induced oxidative damage and tight junction (TJ) disruption.

Nonconventional growth characteristics of tin silicon oxide grown by thermal atomic layer deposition using H2O as oxidant.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of tin silicon oxide was performed via an ALD supercycle on an amorphous carbon (a-C) layer, which serves as the mandrel in self-aligned double patterning (SADP) techniques. This approach addresses limitations of conventional ALD SiO2 processes using ozone (O3) as the oxidant, which can lead to degradation of a-C mandrel or collapse of the SiO2 spacer itself under aggressive scaling. In this study, tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin (TDMASn) and bis-diethylaminosilane (BDEAS) were used as Sn and Si precursors, respectively, with H2O as the oxidant to avoid damage to the a-C layer.

A High-Sensitivity Genetically Encoded Biosensor for Terephthalic Acid Detection in PET Degradation.

The accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste poses a serious environmental challenge due to its durability and resistance to degradation. Enzymatic PET hydrolysis offers a sustainable solution, but efficient high-throughput screening tools for PET-degrading enzymes remain limited. Here, we report a genetically encoded biosensor (GEB) for terephthalic acid (TPA)─the primary monomer released during PET degradation─that enables rapid and sensitive detection of enzymatic activity.

Topology-engineered radio-theranostic layered double hydroxide nanocarrier via surface modification with spacer-linked cancer targeting ligand and lattice-integrated radioisotope.

A theranostic hybrid nanomaterial was synthesized by incorporating functional moieties such as anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX), cancer targeting ligand folic acid (FA) and a radioisotope, Co-57, into topological sites of layered double hydroxide (LDH). The surface of the drug intercalated LDH (MTX-LDH) was successfully modified with FA utilizing hexamethylene diamine (HDA) as a spacer. The radioisotope, Co-57, was then incorporated into the frameworks of the surface-modified LDH (Co@FHML) via a hydrothermal method in order to preserve the crystalline phase and particle size of the LDH during the incorporation.

A multimodal approach of microglial CSF1R inhibition and GENUS provides therapeutic effects in Alzheimer's disease mice.

The CSF1R inhibitor PLX3397, an FDA-approved treatment for a rare cancer, has been shown to reduce microglia count, lower inflammation, and increase synaptic markers in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effects of PLX3397 on neural function in AD remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized the effects of PLX3397 treatment in 5xFAD mice.

Clinical Benefits of Cartilage Repair in High Tibial Osteotomy Can Only Be Expected in Patients with Successfully Regenerated Cartilage.

Background: The clinical benefits of combining cartilage procedures with high tibial osteotomy (HTO) remain undetermined. This study aimed to evaluate the additional clinical benefits by comparing a combined procedure group with an isolated HTO group, with stratification based on the success of cartilage regeneration.

Methods: Patients who underwent medial open-wedge HTO from 2010 to 2022 with a minimum 2-year follow-up were retrospectively reviewed.

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of the Porcine Small Intestine During Weaning.

Background/objectives: Intestinal dysfunction during weaning in piglets causes declines in growth through hindered absorption capacity and intestinal barrier function, equating to economic losses for the porcine industry. Established strategies for mitigating these negative issues are currently lacking.

Methods: We evaluated biomolecular alterations induced by weaning stress through gene expression profiling and metabolome analysis using intestinal samples collected from piglets before weaning, 1 week after weaning, and 2 weeks after weaning.

Alleviates Patulin-Induced Glutamine Metabolic Stress and Epithelial Toxicity in Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Patulin (PAT) is a mycotoxin commonly found in fruits and contaminated feedstuffs, known for its gastrointestinal and systemic toxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying PAT-induced damage to intestinal epithelial cells remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that 6.

Simulation of dry matter partitioning in cucumber fruits: reflecting gas exchange characteristics based on leaf position and cropping type.

This study aimed to predict dry matter partitioning in cucumber fruit ( L.) by developing a simulation model that integrates photosynthetic characteristics based on leaf age and cropping type. Leaf gas exchange, growth, and environmental data from semi-forcing and forcing cropping types were used to calibrate models including the Farquhar-von Caemmerer-Berry (FvCB) model and other growth-related models.

Unmet healthcare needs of people with disabilities: evidence from the 2018-2021 Korean disability and life dynamics panel.

Background: People with disabilities frequently have higher healthcare demands and unmet needs. This study investigated the unmet healthcare needs of people with disabilities in Korea, addressing the disparities across disability types.

Methods: We analyzed the 2018-2021 Korean Disability and Life Dynamics Panel using the vulnerable population behavior model.

Health insurance enrollment and maternal health service utilization using Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 2022.

Background: Maternal health services utilization is essential in the reduction of maternal mortality. Despite the implementation of a national health insurance scheme in 2003, Ghana still reports universal health coverage service index below the global average. This study investigates the association between health insurance coverage and maternal health service utilization.

Spin-polarized Acidic Water Electrolysis with Antenna-Reactor Plasmonic Electrocatalysts.

Water electrolysis, driven by renewable electricity, offers a sustainable path for hydrogen production. However, efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts are needed to overcome the high overpotentials of both the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction. To address this, a novel catalyst system is developed integrating plasmonic nanoreactors with chirality-induced spin selectivity.

Enhancing Health Policy Administration in LMICs: Dr. LJW Fellowship Program Insights (2021-2023).

The Dr. LEE Jong-wook (LJW) Fellowship Program aims to enhance the capabilities of healthcare personnel in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through comprehensive training and education. This study evaluates the satisfaction and effectiveness of the Health Policy Administrator course within the program, focusing on participants from 2021 to 2023.

Gene expression inference based on graph neural networks using L1000 data.

Gene expression profiles can serve as proxies for cellular states and provide valuable insights into the discovery of functional connections across diverse cellular contexts. A cost-effective method called L1000 has been developed to generate gene expression profiles for over a million different conditions. Since gene expression inference of this method relies on linear regression, nonlinear regression methods, including deep learning models, have been assessed.

Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: With an aging population driven by advances in medical technology, digital literacy has become essential for improving the quality of life of older adults, enhancing access to health information, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the subjective health perceptions and healthy lifestyle behaviors of older adults. However, there is limited research exploring the relationship between digital literacy, subjective health perceptions, and healthy lifestyle behaviors in Korea.

Construction of metre-scale foldable space shelter based on gravity-driven self-assembling origami.

Space infrastructure to protect astronauts and equipment from various hazards is critical for sustainable exploration. However, conventional shelters are challenging to transport due to their large volume, and in-situ construction requires significant time. Deployable shelters can address volume constraints, but thin-panel designs often lack functionality and robustness.

Risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases among government employees in Nepal: insights from a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy work environments and occupational stress increase the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among government employees, impacting healthcare costs and productivity. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypertension, prediabetes, and diabetes, and identify risk factors among government employees in Nepal.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 994 government employees.

Association between patient experience and medical dispute costs.

Background: Patient experience is increasingly being recognized as a core component of quality healthcare. It captures various dimensions of a patient's interaction with healthcare providers that may influence patient satisfaction and ultimately impact the incidence of complaints or disputes. However, only limited research has investigated the financial implications of patient experience, particularly its association with medical dispute costs.

Breast cancer implant reconstructive surgery and radiotherapy: a retrospective analysis of medical records.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze whether the occurrence of complications increases if radiotherapy (RT) is administered after breast reconstructive surgery using implants.

Methods: This retrospective study included 80 patients who underwent breast reconstruction using implants, of which 16 (20.0%) underwent RT.

Pathogenic PPP2R5D variants disrupt neuronal development and neurite outgrowth in patient-derived neurons that are reversed by allele-specific knockdown.

A significant barrier to the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) is a limited understanding of disease mechanisms. Heterozygous missense variants in PPP2R5D cause Houge-Janssens syndrome 1, a rare NDD characterized by macrocephaly, developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, autism spectrum disorder, and early-onset Parkinson disease. This study investigated the impact of pathogenic PPP2R5D variants on neuronal development and evaluated allele-specific knockdown as a potential therapeutic strategy.

General Hospitals with High-Tech Medical Equipment and Patient Experience.

This study investigates the relationship between the retention of high-tech medical equipment in medical institutions in South Korea and patient experience evaluation outcomes. Data were sourced from the third Patient Experience Assessment conducted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), a South Korean agency, and HIRA's 2021 data on medical equipment. A total of 320 institutions equipped with CT, MRI, and PET scans or only CT and MRI were analyzed.

Transparent Wood Fabrication and Applications: A Review.

Wood cellulose is an abundant bio-based resource with diverse applications in construction, cosmetics, packaging, and the pulp and paper industries. Transparent wood (TW) is a novel, high-quality wood material with several advantages over traditional transparent materials (e.g.

Ivangustin Alleviates Deoxynivalenol-Induced Apoptosis by Regulating FOXO3a Translocation in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin derived from species. It is commonly found in crops and has a high detection rate in animal feedstuffs. We previously confirmed that apoptosis could be induced by DON through the FOXO3a (Forkhead box 3a) signaling pathway.