Experiences With a Substitution System for Clinical Nurses' Leave of Absence: A Qualitative Study.

Insufficient staffing often makes it difficult for nurses in South Korea to adjust their schedules when they have illnesses or other health problems, resulting in presenteeism. This study aimed to explore the experiences of the Acknowledged Care Expert (ACE) team as a substitution system for clinical nurses taking leave because of illness or health problems from the perspectives of ACE nurses, nurse managers, and shift nurses. We collected data for this qualitative study through individual in-depth interviews with six ACE nurses, a focus group interview with five nurse managers, and two focus group interviews with five nurses who shared their experiences with the ACE team.

Boosting the Production of Hydrogen from an Overall Urea Splitting Reaction Using a Tri-Functional Scandium-Cobalt Electrocatalyst.

The creation of highly efficient and economical electrocatalysts is essential to the massive electrolysis of water to produce clean energy. The ability to use urea reaction of oxidation (UOR) in place of the oxygen/hydrogen evolution process (OER/HER) during water splitting is a significant step toward the production of high-purity hydrogen with less energy usage. Empirical evidence suggests that the UOR process consists of two stages.

A Question Answering Chatbot for Gastric Cancer Patients After Curative Gastrectomy: Development and Evaluation of User Experience and Performance.

Postoperative gastric cancer patients have many questions about managing their daily lives with various symptoms and discomfort. This study aimed to develop a knowledge-based question answering (QA) chatbot for their self-management and to evaluate the user experience and performance of the chatbot. To support the chatbot's natural language processing, we analyzed QA texts from an online self-help group, clinical guidelines, and refined frequently asked questions related to gastric cancer.

A Microlearning-Based Self-directed Learning Chatbot on Medication Administration for New Nurses: A Feasibility Study.

New nurses must acquire accurate knowledge of medication administration, as it directly affects patient safety. This study aimed to develop a microlearning-based self-directed learning chatbot on medication administration for novice nurses. Furthermore, the study had the objective of evaluating the chatbot feasibility.

Low-Cost Hydrogen Production from Alkaline/Seawater over a Single-Step Synthesis of Mo Se -NiSe Core-Shell Nanowire Arrays.

The rational design and steering of earth-abundant, efficient, and stable electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation is highly desirable but challenging with catalysts free of platinum group metals (PGMs). Mass production of high-purity hydrogen fuel from seawater electrolysis presents a transformative technology for sustainable alternatives. Here, a heterostructure of molybdenum selenide-nickel selenide (Mo Se -NiSe) core-shell nanowire arrays constructed on nickel foam by a single-step in situ hydrothermal process is reported.

TRPC expression in human periodontal ligament cells and the periodontal tissue of periodontitis mice: a preliminary study.

Background: Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are non-selective cationic channels with permeability to Ca and Na. Despite their importance, there are currently few studies on TRPC in the periodontal ligament (PDL) and bone cells in the dental field. To provide biological information regarding TRPC in PDL cells and periodontal tissue, we evaluated TRPC channels expression in the osteoblast differentiation of PDL cells and periodontitis-induced tissue.

Impact of nusinersen on the health-related quality of life and caregiver burden of patients with spinal muscular atrophy with symptom onset after age 6 months.

Introduction/aims: Novel disease-modifying approaches for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have highlighted the patient's perspective on functional changes over time. In this study, we evaluated the impact of nusinersen on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with later-onset SMA and the caregiver burden.

Methods: We assessed the changes in HRQoL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.

Comprehensiveness of cardiac rehabilitation program in Korea: a nation-wide survey result.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an essential component in secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Current guidelines recommend that the program should be comprehensive including multidisciplinary behavioral intervention, not only exercise training. While the utilization of CR is gradually increasing, the comprehensiveness of the program has not been systemically evaluated in Korea.

A single-center prospective study regarding time to return to activities of daily living after craniotomy for brain tumors.

Background: There are few studies on the time to return to activities of daily living (ADL) after craniotomy in patients with brain tumors. This study aimed to investigate the duration before returning to ADLs after craniotomy for brain tumors and present data that can provide information and guidelines on the appropriate time needed.

Methods: Patients (n = 183 of 234) who underwent craniotomy for brain tumors between April 2021 and July 2021 capable of self-care upon discharge were enrolled, and data of 158 were collected.

Periodontitis deteriorates renal fibrosis and macrophage infiltration in rats with chronic kidney disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of periodontitis on renal function and morphology in rats with or without nephrectomy (Nx)-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Rats were divided into sham surgery (Sham), Sham with tooth ligation (ShamL), Nx, and NxL groups. Periodontitis was induced by tooth ligation at 16-week olds.

Developing Outstanding Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries Using High-Purity Spinel-Type ZnCo Se Nanoparticles.

Zinc-air batteries are gaining popularity as viable energy sources for green energy storage technologies. The cost and performance of Zn-air batteries are mostly determined by the air electrodes in combination with an oxygen electrocatalyst. This research aims at the particular innovations and challenges relating to air electrodes and related materials.

How Structure-Function Relationships of 1,4-Naphthoquinones Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top ten health-related threats worldwide. Among several antimicrobial agents, naphthoquinones (NQs) of plant/chemical origin possess enormous structural and functional diversity and are effective against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. 1,4-NQs possess alkyl, hydroxyl, halide, and metal groups as side chains on their double-ring structure, predominantly at the C-2, C-3, C-5, and C-8 positions.

A survey of the perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of cardiac rehabilitation in healthcare providers and policy stakeholders.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a prognostic management strategy to help patients with CVD achieve a good quality of life and lower the rates of recurrence, readmission, and premature death from disease. Globally, cardiac rehabilitation is poorly established in hospitals and communities. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the discrepancies in the perceptions of the need for CR programs and relevant health policies between directors of hospitals and health policy personnel in South Korea to shed light on the status and to establish practically superior and effective strategies to promote CR in South Korea.

Alveolar bone and tibia responses to hormonal and mineral abnormalities in rats with chronic kidney disease: A pilot study.

Objectives: As the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) severity on different bone types remains unclear, we induced increasing levels of CKD severity in a rat model and investigated hormone and mineral levels as well as alveolar and tibia bone histomorphology.

Methods: Rats were divided into sham operation (sham), 4/6 nephrectomy (4/6Nx), 5/6Nx, and 4/6Nx with hyperphosphorous (HP) diet (4/6NxHP). At week 20, BUN, FGF23, PTH, and P were estimated in plasma.

A Comparison of Barrier Factors between Hospitals with and without Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs in Korea: A Nation-Wide Survey Research.

The percentage of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) is very low (30-40%), and hospitals providing CRP are either insufficient or lacking, even in countries with advanced medical care; therefore, this study aims to investigate the barriers, as well as compare the differences between hospitals, with or without CRP. We conducted a survey, in which the questionnaire was distributed through post or email to 607 specialists who work at 164 hospitals performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The results were as follows: (1) of the 164 hospitals, 132 responded (response rate: 80.

Potential carbon nanomaterials as additives for state-of-the-art Nafion electrolyte in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells: a concise review.

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have received great attention as a potential alternative energy device for internal combustion engines due to their high conversion efficiency compared to other fuel cells. The main hindrance for the wide commercial adoption of PEMFCs is the high cost, low proton conductivity, and high fuel permeability of the state-of-the-art Nafion membrane. Typically, to improve the Nafion membrane, a wide range of strategies have been developed, in which efforts on the incorporation of carbon nanomaterial (CN)-based fillers are highly imperative.

Evaluation of Current Resources Available for Community-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea: A Nationwide Survey Study.

Background: In Korea, the actual distribution of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) to the clinical field is insufficient due to the many barriers for cardiovascular patients to participate in CR. Community-based CR is a useful alternative to overcome these obstacles. Through a nationwide survey, we investigated the possibility of regional medical and public health management institutes which can be in charge of community-based CR in Korea.

Quasihexagonal Platinum Nanodendrites Decorated over CoS -N-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide for Electro-Oxidation of C1-, C2-, and C3-Type Alcohols.

The development of efficient and highly durable materials for renewable energy conversion devices is crucial to the future of clean energy demand. Herein, cage-like quasihexagonal structured platinum nanodendrites decorated over the transition metal chalcogenide core (CoS )-N-doped graphene oxide (PtNDs@CoS -NrGO) through optimized shape engineering and structural control technology are fabricated. The prepared electrocatalyst of PtNDs@CoS -NrGO is effectively used as anodic catalyst for alcohol oxidation in direct liquid alcohol fuel cells.

Distribution of neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage populations induced by the CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100 in blood and periodontal tissue early after periodontitis induction.

CXCR4, a CXCL12 receptor, is expressed on epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and inflammatory cells. The CXCR4-CXCL12 interaction is related to the migration of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages. Periodontitis, an inflammatory disease mainly caused by gram-negative bacteria, is characterized by infiltration of circulating inflammatory cells and alveolar bone (AB) loss.

Current Status of Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers in Korea.

Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers (RCCs)-a Korean government initiative-seek to reduce medical gaps across regions, and their cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are expected to model post-acute care for the Korean CR program. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the current status of CR programs in the RCCs. We distributed surveys on the CR condition, activity, and barriers to 12 RCCs in different provinces.

Construction of a simple dual-channel fluorescence chemosensor for Cu ion and GSSG detection and its mitochondria-targeting bioimaging applications.

Numerous chemosensors have been developed for next-generation detection systems because of their ease of use and promising characteristics to distinguish signals between various analytes binding. However, given their typically poor emission response and arduous preparation methods, very few chemosensing probes have been commercialized to date. In this work, a simple, naphthoquinone-based mitochondria-targeting chemosensor (CIA) has been fabricated for the simultaneous detection of Cu and GSSG (glutathione oxidized) through an "on-off" mode in a buffered semi-aqueous solution.

Impact of fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in motor- and sensory-related brain networks on spinal cord injury severity.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunctions and may affect the cerebral functions. However, the mechanisms of plastic changes in the brain according to SCI severity remain poorly understood. Therefore, in the current study, we compared the brain activity of the entire neural network according to severity of SCI using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) analysis in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

Machine learning-based approach for disease severity classification of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Identifying the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is essential to providing appropriate therapeutic interventions. We developed and validated machine-learning (ML) models for classifying CTS severity. Here, 1037 CTS hands with 11 variables each were retrospectively analyzed.