Development of inorganic-organic CdSe(en)via microwave-assisted method and topotactic transformation into porous CdSe nanosheet photoanode for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production.

In this study, inorganic-organic hybrid CdSe(en) nanosheet (NS) was developed on Cd foil via the microwave-assisted (MW) method with different MW irradiation cycles. Furthermore, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of the mother material was improved through a second hydrothermal method with different time variations (3, 6, and 12 h at 160 °C). After the second hydrothermal, organic moieties were removed, and a porous photoanode was obtained.

Case report of laryngeal infection by Clinostomum complanatum 24 days after ingestion of raw fish.

Rationale: Clinostomum complanatum is a laryngeal fluke whose hosts include birds and mammals.[1] In humans, infection occurs accidentally during the consumption of raw freshwater fish.[1,2].

High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements.

Single-molecule magnetic tweezers (MTs) have served as powerful tools to forcefully interrogate biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and are therefore poised to be useful in the field of mechanobiology. Since the method commonly relies on image-based tracking of magnetic beads, the speed limit in recording and analyzing images, as well as the thermal fluctuations of the beads, has long hampered its application in observing small and fast structural changes in target molecules. This article describes detailed methods for the construction and operation of a high-resolution MT setup that can resolve nanoscale, millisecond dynamics of biomolecules and their complexes.

Association of the etiology and peak level of markedly elevated aminotransferases with mortality: a multicenter study.

Background: Markedly elevated aminotransferase levels are commonly encountered among hospitalized patients. However, data regarding the trajectory of enzyme elevation and disease-specific prognosis are limited.

Methods: This study included 3237 patients with at least one episode of aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase level being higher than 400 U/L between January 2010 and December 2019 at 2 centers.

Markedly Elevated Aspartate Aminotransferase from Non-Hepatic Causes.

There have been no reports on mortality in patients with markedly elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels from non-hepatic causes to date. This study aimed to determine the etiologies of markedly elevated AST levels > 400 U/L due to non-hepatic causes and to investigate the factors associated with mortality in these cases. This retrospective study included 430 patients with AST levels > 400 U/L unrelated to liver disease at two centers between January 2010 and December 2021.

Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Microporous Hollow Carbon from Milkweed Pappus as Cathode Material of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Microtube-like porous carbon (MPC) and tube-like porous carbon-sulfur (MPC-S) composites were synthesized by carbonizing milkweed pappus with sulfur, and they were used as cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries. The morphology and uniformity of these materials were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. The electrochemical performance of the MPC-S cathodes was measured using the charge/discharge cycling performance, C rate, and AC impedance.

Clinical Features of Hepatitis C Virus-related Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure in a Korean Population.

Background/aims: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a widely recognized concept in which acute decompensation (AD) in patients with cirrhosis results in organ failure and high short-term mortality. On the other hand, few studies reflecting the various etiologies of cirrhosis are available. This study examined the clinical features of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related ACLF.

Leveraging Building Material as Part of the In-Plane Robotic Kinematic System for Collective Construction.

Although collective robotic construction systems are beginning to showcase how multi-robot systems can contribute to building construction by efficiently building low-cost, sustainable structures, the majority of research utilizes non-structural or highly customized materials. A modular collective robotic construction system based on a robotic actuator, which leverages timber struts for the assembly of architectural artifacts as well as part of the robot body for locomotion is presented. The system is co-designed for in-plane assembly from an architectural, robotic, and computer science perspective in order to integrate the various hardware and software constraints into a single workflow.

Healing Ion-Implanted Semiconductors by Hybrid Microwave Annealing: Activation of Nitrogen-Implanted TiO.

In order to recover the damaged structure of a nitrogen-implanted TiO (N-I-TiO) photoanode, hybrid microwave annealing (HMA) is proposed as an alternative postannealing process instead of conventional thermal annealing (CTA). Compared to CTA, HMA provides distinctive advantages: (i) facile transformation of the interstitial N-N states into substitutional N-Ti states, (ii) better preservation of the ion-implanted nitrogen in TiO, and (iii) effective alleviation of lattice strain and reconstruction of the broken bonds. As a result, the HMA-activated photoanode improves the photocurrent density by a factor of ∼3.

High-Resolution Single-Molecule Magnetic Tweezers.

Single-molecule magnetic tweezers deliver magnetic force and torque to single target molecules, permitting the study of dynamic changes in biomolecular structures and their interactions. Because the magnetic tweezer setups can generate magnetic fields that vary slowly over tens of millimeters-far larger than the nanometer scale of the single molecule events being observed-this technique can maintain essentially constant force levels during biochemical experiments while generating a biologically meaningful force on the order of 1-100 pN. When using bead-tether constructs to pull on single molecules, smaller magnetic beads and shorter submicrometer tethers improve dynamic response times and measurement precision.

Analyzing climate change impacts on health, energy, water resources, and biodiversity sectors for effective climate change policy in South Korea.

This study analyzes how climate change affects the economy, society, and environment in South Korea. Then, the study explores the ways to strengthen capabilities that can alleviate climate change impacts. To find them, the study employs a system dynamics simulation method and builds a model with several sectors including the urban, rural, population, and social-environmental sectors.

Publisher Correction: Distinct handedness of spin wave across the compensation temperatures of ferrimagnets.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Distinct handedness of spin wave across the compensation temperatures of ferrimagnets.

Antiferromagnetic spin waves have been predicted to offer substantial functionalities for magnonic applications due to the existence of two distinct polarizations, the right-handed and left-handed modes, as well as their ultrafast dynamics. However, experimental investigations have been hampered by the field-immunity of antiferromagnets. Ferrimagnets have been shown to be an alternative platform to study antiferromagnetic spin dynamics.

Risk factors of postoperative major adverse cardiac events after radical cystectomy: implication of diastolic dysfunction.

Radical cystectomy, which is a standard treatment of muscle invasive and high-grade non-invasive bladder tumour, is accompanied with high rates of postoperative complications including major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Diastolic dysfunction is associated with postoperative complications. We evaluated perioperative risk factors including diastolic dysfunction related with MACE within 6 months after radical cystectomy.

Leaching behaviors and mechanisms of vitrified forms for the low-level radioactive solid wastes.

Leaching behaviors and mechanisms of commercialized glass wasteforms to sequester low-level solid-wastes were investigated: SG glass for resin waste and DG-2 glass for dry active waste. After ANS 16.1 leaching test, leachabilities of the nuclides, Co, Cs, and Sr, were all lager than 14, which met the requirement of the US-Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Tuning the Ionomer Distribution in the Fuel Cell Catalyst Layer with Scaling the Ionomer Aggregate Size in Dispersion.

With the demands for better performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, studies on controlling the distribution of ionomers have recently gained interest. Here, we present a tunable ionomer distribution in the catalyst layer (CL) with dipropylene glycol (DPG) and water mixtures as the ionomer dispersion medium. Dynamic light scattering and molecular dynamics simulation demonstrate that, by increasing the DPG content in the dispersion, the size of the ionomer aggregates in the dispersion is exponentially reduced because of the higher affinity of DPG for Nafion ionomers.

Fast-switching optically isotropic liquid crystal nano-droplets with improved depolarization and Kerr effect by doping high k nanoparticles.

We proposed and analyzed an optically isotropic nano-droplet liquid crystal (LC) doped with high k nanoparticles (NPs), exhibiting enhanced Kerr effects, which could be operated with reduced driving voltages. For enhancing the contrast ratio together with the light efficiencies, the LC droplet sizes were adjusted to be shorter than the wavelength of visible light to reduce depolarization effects by optical scattering of the LC droplets. Based on the optical analysis of the depolarization effects, the influence of the relationship between the LC droplet size and the NP doping ratio on the Kerr effect change was investigated.

Ultrathin Nafion-filled porous membrane for zinc/bromine redox flow batteries.

In this work, we present a 16 μm-thick Nafion-filled porous membrane for Zn/Br redox flow batteries (ZBBs). By using molecular dynamics simulation and dynamic light scattering analysis, we rationally design Nafion solution for Nafion impregnation into a porous polypropylene (PP) separator. A void-free Nafion/PP membrane is successfully fabricated by using NMP as a solvent for the Nafion solution.

Bioequivalence Study of a New Fixed-dose Combination Tablet Containing S-Amlodipine Nicotinate and Olmesartan Medoxomil in Healthy Korean Male Subjects.

Purpose: A fixed-dose combination (FDC) pill of amlodipine (relatively old calcium channel blocker as dihydropyridine) and olmesartan (relatively new angiotensin II receptor blocker) is used for hypertension that is not adequately controlled with a single-formulation drug. Because the FDC is a one-pill formulation, and amlodipine and olmesartan have different mechanisms of action, it is expected to improve patients' medication compliance and have an increased blood pressure-lowering efficacy. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety profile and the bioequivalence of two different FDC formulations [amlodipine besylate/olmesartan medoxomil 10/40 mg (reference product) and S-amlodipine nicotinate/olmesartan medoxomil 5/40 mg (test product)].

Combined Treatment with Low Concentrations of Aqueous and Gaseous Chlorine Dioxide Inactivates O157:H7 and Typhimurium Inoculated on Paprika.

Combined treatment with gaseous and aqueous chlorine dioxide (ClO) was performed to improve the microbiological safety and quality of paprika. A single treatment of 50 ppmv ClO gas for 30 min decreased the populations of O157:H7 and Typhimurium by 2.33 and 2.

First results of 28 GHz superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion source for KBSI accelerator.

The 28 GHz superconducting electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source has been developed to produce a high current heavy ion for the linear accelerator at KBSI (Korea Basic Science Institute). The objective of this study is to generate fast neutrons with a proton target via a p(Li,n)Be reaction. The design and fabrication of the essential components of the ECR ion source, which include a superconducting magnet with a liquid helium re-condensed cryostat and a 10 kW high-power microwave, were completed.

Nitrogen ion implantation into various materials using 28 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

The installation of the 28 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) ion implantation beamline was recently completed at the Korea Basic Science Institute. The apparatus contains a beam monitoring system and a sample holder for the ion implantation process. The new implantation system can function as a multipurpose tool since it can implant a variety of ions, ranging hydrogen to uranium, into different materials with precise control and with implantation areas as large as 1-10 mm(2).

Efficiencies of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Hollow SnO2 Nanofiber/TiO2 Nanoparticle Composite Photoanodes.

In this study, we present dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with improved efficiencies by using SnO2/TiO2 composite photoanodes containing SnO2 at various concentrations. The composites consisted of hollow nanofibers (h-NFs) of SnO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The combination of the large surface area of the NPs and the efficient charge transport in the h-NFs make the use of the SnO2/TiO2 composites advantageous.

Adhesion of Poly(phenylene sulfide) Resin with Polymeric Film of Triazine Thiol on Aluminum Surface Modified by Anodic Oxidation.

Various surface modifications have been applied to improve the adhesion properties of aluminum for the cap plate and sealing quality of electrolyte on Li ion batteries. In this study, we have tried to find the effective condition for the polymerization of triazine thiols (TT) on modified aluminum surfaces by anodic aluminum oxide. Characterization of polymerized films on aluminum was explored by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis.