CATOM : Causal Topology Map for Spatiotemporal Traffic Analysis with Granger Causality in Urban Areas.

The transportation network is an important element in an urban system that supports daily activities, enabling people to travel from one place to another. One of the key challenges is the network complexity, which is composed of many node pairs distributed over the area. This spatial characteristic results in the high dimensional network problem in understanding the 'cause' of problems such as traffic congestion.

Two-Level Transfer Functions Using t-SNE for Data Segmentation in Direct Volume Rendering.

The transfer function (TF) design is crucial for enhancing the visualization quality and understanding of volume data in volume rendering. Recent research has proposed various multidimensional TFs to utilize diverse attributes extracted from volume data for controlling individual voxel rendering. Although multidimensional TFs enhance the ability to segregate data, manipulating various attributes for the rendering is cumbersome.

Resistance switching of graphene by gate-controlled polarization reorientation of polyvinylidene fluoride in a field effect transistor.

Ferroelectric β-phase crystals of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer grown or deposited on a graphene channel of a field effect transistor would induce various degrees of electrostatic doping (, various amounts of charge carriers) into graphene and in turn ON/OFF switching of the device, only if the electric field applied at the gate can reorient its polarization (, the well-aligned F-to-H dipole moments perpendicular to the all-trans polymer backbone) around the polymer backbone. To assess the feasibility of achieving a β-PVDF/graphene ferroelectric field effect transistor or memory device, we mimic (1) the electric-field-controlled PVDF polarization reversal (with density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations) and (2) the conductance switching of β-PVDF/graphene by PVDF reorientations (F-, H- and FH-down) representing a cycle of gate-voltage sweep (with density functional theory combined with non-equilibrium Green's function formalism). The low energy barrier of the collective synchronous PVDF chain rotation around the backbone (0.

Effect of Cl Radical on Dry Development of Spin-Coated Metal Oxide Resist.

In this study, the effects of Cl radicals on dry development of spin-coated metal oxide resist (MOR) and changes in its surface binding states were investigated to verify the mechanism of dry development. Dry development characteristics of tin hydroxide (Tin OH), which is one of the MOR candidates for next generation lithography, were investigated as functions of process time and temperature using a Cl radicals source. Non-UV-exposed Tin OH film showed a linear etch rate (1.

Association between body mass index and atopic dermatitis among adolescents: Findings from a national cross-sectional study in Korea.

Background: The association between atopic dermatitis and childhood overweight and obesity has been studied extensively, but the results are inconclusive; most studies have focused on body mass index as a measure of obesity, with few investigating the relationship with underweight. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between body mass index levels and atopic dermatitis in Korean adolescents.

Methods: 3-year (2019-2021) of Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey were used.

Active Sites of Mixed-Metal Core-Shell Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts: FeO Sites on Ni Cores or NiN Sites in C Shells?

Water electrolysis for clean hydrogen production requires high-activity, high-stability, and low-cost catalysts for its particularly sluggish half-reaction, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Currently, the most promising of such catalysts working in alkaline conditions is a core-shell nanostructure, NiFe@NC, whose Fe-doped Ni (NiFe) nanoparticles are encapsulated and interconnected by N-doped graphitic carbon (NC) layers, but the exact OER mechanism of these catalysts is still unclear, and even the location of the OER active site, either on the core side or on the shell side, is still debated. Therefore, we herein derive a plausible active-site model for each side based on various experimental evidence and density functional theory calculations and then build OER free-energy diagrams on both sides to determine the active-site location.

Effect of Chronic Kidney Disease on All-Cause Mortality After Hip Fracture Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated: (1) The impact of comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD) on postoperative mortality in patients with a hip fracture; (2) mortality variations by dialysis type, potentially indicating CKD stage; (3) the efficacy of different hip fracture surgical methods in reducing mortality for patients with CKD. This study included 25,760 patients from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Senior cohort (2002-2019) who underwent hip fracture surgery. Participants were categorized as CKD and Non-CKD.

Identification of New Isolates of Phytophthora sojae and Selection of Resistant Soybean Genotypes.

Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRR), caused by Phytophthora sojae, can occur at any growth stage under poorly drained and humid conditions. The expansion of soybean cultivation in South Korean paddy fields has increased the frequency of PRR outbreaks. This study aimed to identify four P.

Impact of parental leave system on the childbirth plan among working married women: a three-year follow-up study of the Korean longitudinal survey of women and families.

Background: The Korean government seeks to balance work and family and alleviate low fertility by implementing a parental leave system. This study aimed to identify the impact of the parental leave system on childbirth among married working women in South Korea.

Methods: This study used three-year follow-up data from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (2016, 2018, and 2020).

Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) antigen is overexpressed in Kaposi Sarcoma and is regulated by KSHV vFLIP.

In people living with HIV, Kaposi Sarcoma (KS), a vascular neoplasm caused by KS herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8), remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Individuals living with HIV, receiving otherwise effective antiretroviral therapy, may present with extensive disease requiring chemotherapy. Hence, new therapeutic approaches are needed.

Efficacy and safety of rademikibart (CBP-201), a next-generation mAb targeting IL-4Rα, in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: A phase 2 randomized trial (CBP-201-WW001).

Background: Rademikibart (CBP-201) is a next-generation IL-4 receptor alpha-targeting antibody.

Objective: We sought to evaluate rademikibart in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Methods: A total of 226 patients were randomized, double-blind, to subcutaneous rademikibart (300 mg every 2 weeks [Q2W], 150 mg Q2W, 300 mg every 4 weeks [Q4W]; plus 600-mg loading dose) or placebo.

Socioeconomic Status and Dementia Risk Among Intensive Care Unit Survivors: Using National Health Insurance Cohort in Korea.

Background: In aging populations, more elderly patients are going to the intensive care unit (ICU) and surviving. However, the specific factors influencing the occurrence of post-intensive care syndrome in the elderly remain uncertain.

Objective: To investigate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and risk of developing dementia within two years following critical care.

The Potential of Callus Extract to Enhance Skin Barrier Function.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal barrier dysfunction and Th2-skewed inflammation. (), a Korean endemic plant grown on Ulleng Island, has long been associated with a traditional alternative medicine for asthma, tonsillitis, and sore throat. In this study, we reported the effect of callus extract on upregulating epidermal barrier-related proteins dysregulated by Th2 cytokines.

Association between alcohol use disorder and risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterised by recurrent upper airway collapse during sleep. Alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of OSA due to its effects on the upper airway and body mass index (BMI). We aimed to investigate the correlation between alcohol use disorders and OSA.

Development of Polycistronic Baculovirus Surface Display Vectors to Simultaneously Express Viral Proteins of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and Analysis of Their Immunogenicity in Swine.

To simultaneously express and improve expression levels of multiple viral proteins of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), polycistronic baculovirus surface display vectors were constructed and characterized. We engineered polycistronic baculovirus surface display vectors, namely, pBacDual Display EGFP(BacDD)-2GP2-2GP4 and pBacDD-4GP5N34A/N51A (mtGP5), which simultaneously express and display the ectodomain of His-tagged GP2-gp64TM-CTD, His-tagged GP4-gp64TM-CTD, and His-tagged mtGP5-gp64TM-CTD fusion proteins of PRRSV on cell membrane of Sf-9 cells. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) pigs were administered intramuscularly in 2 doses at 21 and 35 days of age with genetic recombinant baculoviruses-infected cells.

Association between having a meal together with family and smoking: a cross-sectional nationwide survey.

Background: Smoking is a major risk factor that significantly affects public health. Although the South Korean government spends significant money on smoking cessation services, the smoking rate remains stagnant. Families influence health-conscious decisions, and family meals can positively affect smoking suppression and health behaviors.

DNA groove preference shift upon phosphorylation of a protamine-like cationic peptide.

Protamines, arginine-rich DNA-binding proteins, are responsible for chromatin compaction in sperm cells, but their DNA groove preference, major or minor, is not clearly identified. We herein study the DNA groove preference of a short protamine-like cationic peptide before and after phosphorylation, using all-atom molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling simulations. According to various thermodynamic and structural analyses, a peptide in its non-phosphorylated native state prefers the minor groove over the major groove, but phosphorylation of the peptide bound to the minor groove not only reduces its binding affinity but also brings a serious deformation of the minor groove, eliminating the minor-groove preference.

Delivery systems designed to enhance stability and suitability of lipophilic bioactive compounds in food processing: A review.

Lipophilic compounds, such as flavors, fat-soluble vitamins, and hydrophobic nutrients possess vital properties including antioxidant effects, functional attributes, and nutritional value that can improve human health. However, their susceptibility to environmental factors including heat, pH changes, and ionic strength encountered during food processing poses significant challenges. To address these issues, diverse bioactive delivery systems have been developed.

Corrosion-driven droplet wetting on iron nanolayers.

The classical Evans' drop describes a drop of aqueous salt solution, placed on a bulk metal surface where it displays a corrosion pit that grows over time producing further oxide deposits from the metal dissolution. We focus here on the corrosion-induced droplet spreading using iron nanolayers whose semi-transparency allowed us to monitor both iron corrosion propagation and electrolyte droplet behavior by simple optical means. We thus observed that pits grow under the droplet and merge into a corrosion front.

Effect of a Real-Time Audio Ventilation Feedback Device on the Survival Rate and Outcomes of Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of real-time audio ventilation feedback on the survival of patients with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) during advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) performed by paramedics. This research was a prospective randomized controlled study performed in Busan, South Korea, from July 2022 to December 2022. This study included 121 patients, ages 19 and up, who were transferred to the study site, excluding 91 patients who did not receive CPR under a doctor's direction as well as those who had a '(DNR)' order among 212 adult CA patients.

DNA-protamine condensates under low salt conditions: molecular dynamics simulation with a simple coarse-grained model focusing on electrostatic interactions.

Protamine, a small, strongly positively-charged protein, plays a key role in achieving chromatin condensation inside sperm cells and is also involved in the formulation of nanoparticles for gene therapy and packaging of mRNA-based vaccines against viral infection and cancer. The detailed mechanisms of such condensations are still poorly understood especially under low salt conditions where electrostatic interaction predominates. Our previous study, with a refined coarse-grained model in full consideration of the long-range electrostatic interactions, has demonstrated the crucial role of electrostatic interaction in protamine-controlled reversible DNA condensation.

Association between work-related physical activity and depressive symptoms in Korean workers: data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.

Background: The workplace experiences of employees can impact their mental health. Depressive symptoms, which are experienced by workers, are a mental health issue that deserves attention. Several studies have evaluated physical activity to prevent possible depression in workers in a work environment, however, research on physical activity and depression symptoms directly related to work is still insufficient.

Crif1 deficiency in dopamine neurons triggers early-onset parkinsonism.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in Parkinson's Disease (PD) progression; however, the mitochondrial factors underlying the development of PD symptoms remain unclear. One candidate is CR6-interacting factor1 (CRIF1), which controls translation and membrane insertion of 13 mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Here, we found that CRIF1 mRNA and protein expression were significantly reduced in postmortem brains of elderly PD patients compared to normal controls.