Changes of marine environments due to human activities in coastal waters of Korea.

A comprehensive review of scholarly articles was conducted to examine the marine environmental changes in four representative bays in Korea. Cheonsu Bay experienced a reduction in water area to half of its original size due to the completion of dikes and related reclamation projects. Consequently, the flow environment and biota were altered, leading to increased organic pollution.

Development of fin-LEDs for next-generation inorganic displays using face-selective dielectrophoretic assembly.

Micro-light-emitting diodes offer vibrant colors and energy-efficient performance, holding promise for next-generation inorganic displays. However, their widespread adoption requires the development of cost-effective chips and low-defect pixelation processes. Addressing these challenges, nanorod-light-emitting diodes utilize inkjet and dielectrophoretic assembly techniques.

Profiling Bioactive Components of Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM) for Cartilage Protection and Its Protective Effect on Oxidative Stress in Human Chondrocytes.

The current study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties of the natural eggshell membrane (NEM) and its protective effects against HO-induced oxidative stress in human chondrocytes (SW-1353). Bioactive components from NEM related to cartilage were profiled, consisting of 1.1 ± 0.

Attojoule Hexagonal Boron Nitride-Based Memristor for High-Performance Neuromorphic Computing.

In next-generation neuromorphic computing applications, the primary challenge lies in achieving energy-efficient and reliable memristors while minimizing their energy consumption to a level comparable to that of biological synapses. In this work, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)-based metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) memristors operating is presented at the attojoule-level tailored for high-performance artificial neural networks. The memristors benefit from a wafer-scale uniform h-BN resistive switching medium grown directly on a highly doped Si wafer using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), resulting in outstanding reliability and low variability.

In Vitro Assessment of Anti-Adipogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Black Cumin ( L.) Seeds Extract on 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Raw264.7 Macrophages.

: This study evaluated the in vitro anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of black cumin ( L.) seed extract (BCS extract) as a potential candidate for developing herbal formulations targeting metabolic disorders. We evaluated the BCS extract by assessing its 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrohydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, levels of prostaglandin E (PGE) and nitric oxide (NO), and mRNA expression levels of key pro-inflammatory mediators.

Anti-Osteoarthritic Effects of Antarctic Krill Oil in Primary Chondrocytes and a Surgical Rat Model of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage destruction and synovitis; however, there are no approved disease-modifying OA drugs. Krill oil (KO) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties and alleviate joint pain in knee OA, indicating its potential to target the inflammatory mechanism of OA. Therefore, the anti-OA effects of KO were investigated in primary chondrocytes and a surgical rat model of knee OA.

Estrogen Effects Differ Between Medium Maintenance and Replacement from Transcriptional and Clinical Perspectives in T47D Breast Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Our most recent study revealed that the responsiveness of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+ BC) cells to estrogen or endocrine therapy can be altered by certain cell culture or ambient environmental conditions. Nevertheless, we were unable to investigate the relevant molecular mechanism and clinical relevance. Therefore, this study was planned as a follow-up.

Enhancing durability of automotive fuel cells via selective electrical conductivity induced by tungsten oxide layer coated directly on membrane electrode assembly.

The poor durability, attributed to catalyst corrosion during start-up/shutdown (SU/SD), is a major obstacle to the commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). We recently achieved durability enhancement under SU/SD conditions by implementing a metal-insulator transition (MIT) using proton intercalation/deintercalation in WO. However, such oxide-supported catalysts were unsuitable for direct application to the mass production stage of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) process due to their physical and chemical properties.

Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Using Superaerophobic Ni Nanoarrays with Accelerated H Bubble Release.

Despite the adverse effects of H bubbles adhering to catalyst's surface on the performance of water electrolysis, the mechanisms by which H bubbles are effectively released during the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remain elusive. In this study, a systematic investigation on the effect of nanoscale surface morphologies on H bubble release behaviors and HER performance by employing earth-abundant Ni catalysts consisting of an array of Ni nanorods (NRs) with controlled surface porosities is performed. Both aerophobicity and hydrophilicity of the catalyst's surface vary according to the surface porosity of catalysts.

A New Culture Model for Enhancing Estrogen Responsiveness in HR+ Breast Cancer Cells through Medium Replacement: Presumed Involvement of Autocrine Factors in Estrogen Resistance.

Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+ BC) cells depend on estrogen and its receptor, ER. Due to this dependence, endocrine therapy (ET) such as aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment is now possible. However, ET resistance (ET-R) occurs frequently and is a priority in HR+ BC research.

Efficacy Confirmation Test of Black Cumin ( L.) Seeds Extract Using a High-Fat Diet Mouse Model.

To deal with the adverse effects associated with the use of currently available treatments for metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, there is a need to find an alternative drug compound. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of black cumin ( L.) seeds extract (BCS extract) for type 2 diabetes using a 45% Kcal-fed obese mouse model.

Stratum-Confined Solid-State Reaction (SC-SSR) toward Colloidal Silicon-Based Hollow Nanostructures for Bioapplications.

Silicon nanostructures (SiNSs) can provide multifaceted bioapplications; but preserving their subhundred nm size during high-temperature silica-to-silicon conversion is the major bottleneck. The SC-SSR utilizes an interior metal-silicide stratum space at a predetermined radial distance inside silica nanosphere to guide the magnesiothermic reduction reaction (MTR)-mediated synthesis of hollow and porous SiNSs. In depth mechanistic study explores solid-to-hollow transformation encompassing predefined radial boundary through the participation of metal-silicide species directing the in-situ formed Si-phase accumulation within the narrow stratum.

Fatal Brain Herniation in Bilateral Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

Despite its benign nature, chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) can be fatal if surgical intervention is delayed. Here, we report on bilateral chronic SDH in an 84-year-old man who died of duret hemorrhage in the brain stem and ischemia in the occipital and temporal lobes. We discuss the necessity for urgent surgical intervention to treat bilateral chronic SDH, and provide a review of the relevant literature.

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Krill Oil on Obesity and Obesity-Induced Metabolic Syndromes in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Obesity increases the risks of metabolic syndromes including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetic dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease. Dietary krill oil (KO) has shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, thereby being a therapeutic potential for obesity-induced metabolic syndromes. Thus, the effects of KO on lipid metabolic alteration were examined in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice model.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride for Next-Generation Photonics and Electronics.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), an insulating 2D layered material, has recently attracted tremendous interest motivated by the extraordinary properties it shows across the fields of optoelectronics, quantum optics, and electronics, being exotic material platforms for various applications. At an early stage of h-BN research, it is explored as an ideal substrate and insulating layers for other 2D materials due to its atomically flat surface that is free of dangling bonds and charged impurities, and its high thermal conductivity. Recent discoveries of structural and optical properties of h-BN have expanded potential applications into emerging electronics and photonics fields.

A pilot study on the effect of formulation and individual muscle mass on vitamin C absorption in randomized clinical study.

The current study investigated that the vitamin C absorption in plasma depends on the individual muscle mass and the formulation including drinks (Vita 500), capsules, and tablets by using a randomized and double-blind clinical study. The volunteers were divided into two groups that depended on their muscle mass, including those whose muscle mass was greater than 40% ( 40%) and less than 40% muscle mass (<40%). Levels of vitamin C in blood plasma was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography by ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV).

Exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation for a post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis patient: A case report.

Rationale: Pulmonary fibrosis is an infamous sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia leading to long-lasting respiratory problems and activity limitations. Pulmonary rehabilitation is beneficial to improve the symptoms of lung fibrosis. We experienced a post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis patient who received a structured exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Van der Waals Heterostructure of Hexagonal Boron Nitride with an AlGaN/GaN Epitaxial Wafer for High-Performance Radio Frequency Applications.

While two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is emerging as an atomically thin and dangling bond-free insulating layer for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics, its practical implementation into miniaturized integrated circuits has been significantly limited due to difficulties in large-scale growth directly on epitaxial semiconductor wafers. Herein, the realization of a wafer-scale h-BN van der Waals heterostructure with a 2 in. AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) wafer using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition is presented.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with ulcerative colitis that shows rectal sparing at initial diagnosis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterised by mucosal inflammation from the rectum to its proximal area in a symmetric and continuous fashion. However, although uncommon, we encounter cases of UC with rectal sparing in the initial stage.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and clinical course for rectal sparing UC compared with typical UC.

Neuroprotective Effect and Antioxidant Potency of Fermented Cultured Wild Ginseng Root Extracts of C.A. Meyer in Mice.

Wild ginseng has better pharmacological effects than cultivated ginseng. However, its industrialization is limited by the inability to grow wild ginseng on a large scale. Herein, we demonstrate how to optimize ginseng production through cultivation, and how to enhance the concentrations of specific ginsenosides through fermentation.

Curcumin Attenuates Sarcopenia in Chronic Forced Exercise Executed Aged Mice by Regulating Muscle Degradation and Protein Synthesis with Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects.

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effects of spray dry powders of containing 40% curcumin (CM-SD), as a new aqueous curcumin formula, on sarcopenia in chronic forced exercise executed 10 month old ICR mice. CM-SD (80 and 40 mg/kg) increased calf thicknesses and strengths, total body and calf protein amounts, and muscle weights in both gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. mRNA expressions regarding muscle growth and protein synthesis were induced, while those of muscle degradation significantly declined in CM-SD treatment.

Curcumin Ameliorated Oxidative Stress and Inflammation-Related Muscle Disorders in C2C12 Myoblast Cells.

The purpose of the current study was to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of spray dry powder containing 40% curcumin (CM-SD) in C2C12 myoblast cells. CM-SD increased DPPH radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner, and up to 30 μg/mL of CM-SD did not express cytotoxicity in C2C12 cells. Exposure to hydrogen peroxide (HO) drastically decreased the viability of C2C12 cells, but pre-treatment of CM-SD significantly increased the cell viability ( < 0.

Evaluation of Titanium Tetrachloride (TiCl₄) as an Alternative Coagulant and Characterization of Recovered TiO₂.

Titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) as an alternative coagulant to remove organic matters and nutrients from the effluent of the secondary wastewater treatment was evaluated by comparison of removal efficiency of total phosphorous to Al- and Fe-based coagulants. Also, the surface characteristics, elemental contents, and crystallinity of the TiO₂ produced from wastewater sludge flocculated with TiCl₄ coagulant were investigated depending on the calcination temperatures. The more dosages of coagulants were injected, the greater concentrations of the cations (Al, Fe, Ti) and hydrogen ions (H) resulted in the lower pH.