Bridge-rich and loop-less hydrogel networks through suppressed micellization of multiblock polyelectrolytes.

Most triblock copolymer-based physical hydrogels form three-dimensional networks through micellar packing, and formation of polymer loops represents a topological defect that diminishes hydrogel elasticity. This effect can be mitigated by maximizing the fraction of elastically effective bridges in the hydrogel network. Herein, we report hydrogels constructed by complexing oppositely charged multiblock copolymers designed with a sequence pattern that maximizes the entropic and enthalpic penalty of micellization.

Next-generation all-organic composites: A sustainable successor to organic-inorganic hybrid materials.

This Review presents an overview of all-organic nanocomposites, a sustainable alternative to organic-inorganic hybrids. All-organic nanocomposites contain nanocellulose, nanochitin, and aramid nanofibers as highly rigid reinforcing fillers. They offer superior mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics suitable for diverse applications.

Structural evaluation of Poly(lactic acid) degradation at standardized composting temperature of 58 degrees.

The accumulation of petroleum-based plastics on our planet is causing serious environmental pollution. Biodegradable plastics, promoted as eco-friendly solutions, hold the potential to address this issue. However, their impact on the environment and the mechanisms of their natural degradation remain inadequately understood.

Practical Applications of Self-Healing Polymers Beyond Mechanical and Electrical Recovery.

Self-healing polymeric materials, which can repair physical damage, offer promising prospects for protective applications across various industries. Although prolonged durability and resource conservation are key advantages, focusing solely on mechanical recovery may limit the market potential of these materials. The unique physical properties of self-healing polymers, such as interfacial reduction, seamless connection lines, temperature/pressure responses, and phase transitions, enable a multitude of innovative applications.

Network of cyano-p-aramid nanofibres creates ultrastiff and water-rich hydrospongels.

The structure-property paradox of biological tissues, in which water-rich porous structures efficiently transfer mass while remaining highly mechanically stiff, remains unsolved. Although hydrogel/sponge hybridization is the key to understanding this phenomenon, material incompatibility makes this a challenging task. Here we describe hydrogel/sponge hybrids (hydrospongels) that behave as both ultrastiff water-rich gels and reversibly squeezable sponges.

Factors Predicting Older People's Acceptance of a Personalized Health Care Service App and the Effect of Chronic Disease: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) services enable real-time measurement of information on individuals' biosignals and environmental risk factors; accordingly, research on health management using mHealth is being actively conducted.

Objective: The study aims to identify the predictors of older people's intention to use mHealth in South Korea and verify whether chronic disease moderates the effect of the identified predictors on behavioral intentions.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 500 participants aged 60 to 75 years.

Evaluation of an air quality warning system for vulnerable and susceptible individuals in Korea: an interrupted time series analysis.

Objectives: This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of an air quality warning system (AQWS) implemented in January 2015 in Korea by analyzing changes in the incidence and exacerbation rates of environmental diseases.

Methods: Data from patients with environmental diseases were extracted from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database from 2010 to 2019, and data on environmental risk factors were acquired from the AirKorea database. Patient and meteorological data were linked based on residential area.

Regional Health Disparities in Hypertension-Related Hospitalization of Hypertensive Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study.

This study aims to explore regional health disparities in hypertension-related hospitalizations and confirm this difference according to the states of continuity of care (COC). We used the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data from 2002 to 2019. The dependent variable, hypertension-related hospitalization, included hospitalization for hypertensive diseases (I10-I13, I15), ischemic heart disease (I20-I25), and cerebrovascular disease (I60-I69).

Masterbatch of Chitosan Nanowhiskers for Preparation of Nylon 6,10 Nanocomposite by Melt Blending.

Composite materials have been extensively studied to optimize properties such as lightness and strength, which are the advantages of plastics. We prepared a highly concentrated (30 wt %) nylon/chitosan nanowhisker (CSW) masterbatch by blending nylon 6,10 and CSW by solvent casting to achieve high dispersion efficiency while considering an industrial setting. Subsequently, 0.

Biodegradable, Water-Resistant, Anti-Fizzing, Polyester Nanocellulose Composite Paper Straws.

Among plastic items, single-use straws are particularly detrimental to marine ecosystems because such straws, including those made of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), are sharp and extremely slowly degradable in the ocean. While paper straws are promising alternatives, they exhibit hydration-induced swelling even when coated with a non-degradable plastic coating and promote effervescence (fizzing) in soft drinks owing to their surface heterogeneities. In this study, upgraded paper straw is coated with poly(butylene succinate) cellulose nanocrystal (PBS/CNC) composites.

Which indicator should be used? A comparison between the incidence and intensity of catastrophic health expenditure: using difference-in-difference analysis.

Background: Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) represents out-of-pocket payment as a share of household income. Most previous studies have focused on incidence aspects when assessing health policy effects. However, because CHE incidence is a binary variable, the effect of the health policy could not accurately be evaluated.

Is Avoidable Hospitalization Experienced Prior to Infection Associated With COVID-19-Related Deaths?

This study aimed to determine the effect of the presence or absence of avoidable hospitalization before acquiring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on COVID-19-related deaths. This study used the total NHIS-COVID-19 dataset comprising domestic COVID-19 patients, provided by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea. We conducted logistic regression and double robust estimation (DRE) to confirm the effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths.

Chronic Disease Management for People With Hypertension.

To assess the effectiveness of continuity of care policies by identifying the impact of a chronic disease management program on the continuity of care in patients with hypertension in South Korea. The propensity score matching method was used to control selection bias, and the difference-in-differences method was used to compare the impact on the treatment and control groups according to the policy intervention. The continuity of care index of hypertensive patients using the difference-in-differences analysis outcome of the chronic disease management program was higher than that of the non-participating hypertensive patients.

Analysis of volatile organic compounds produced during incineration of non-degradable and biodegradable plastics.

As plastic consumption has increased, environmental problems associated with the accumulation of plastic wastes have started to emerge. These include the non-degradability of plastic and its disintegration into sub-micron particles. Although some biodegradable plastic products have been developed to relieve the landfill and leakage burden, a significant portion of discarded plastics are inevitably still incinerated.

Rheological Percolation of Cellulose Nanocrystals in Biodegradable Poly(butylene succinate) Nanocomposites: A Novel Approach for Tailoring the Mechanical and Hydrolytic Properties.

Although biodegradable plastics are gradually emerging as an effective solution to alleviate the burgeoning plastic pollution, their performance is currently trivial for commercialization. A proposed two-pronged strategy to overcome this limitation includes (1) preparation of the nanocomposites from biorenewable nano-fillers to preserve their biodegradability and (2) tailoring their properties to meet the diverse demands in various applications. Herein, we report the preparation of biodegradable nanocomposites composed of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) (loading of 0.

Strong, Multifaceted Guanidinium-Based Adhesion of Bioorganic Nanoparticles to Wet Biological Tissue.

Gluing dynamic, wet biological tissue is important in injury treatment yet difficult to achieve. Polymeric adhesives are inconvenient to handle due to rapid cross-linking and can raise biocompatibility concerns. Inorganic nanoparticles adhere weakly to wet surfaces.

Biorenewable, transparent, and oxygen/moisture barrier nanocellulose/nanochitin-based coating on polypropylene for food packaging applications.

Aluminum-coated polypropylene films are commonly used in food packaging because aluminum is a great gas barrier. However, recycling these films is not economically feasible. In addition, their end-of-life incineration generates harmful alumina-based particulate matter.

The Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation for Bone Tumors Unsuitable for Radical Excision.

Background: Bone tumors can cause severe pain and poor quality of life due to recurrence and non-achievement of complete remission after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be considered for minimally invasive treatment of bone tumors that are difficult to radically excise. In this study, RFA was performed for bone tumors that were difficult to radically excise and did not respond to surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy due to their large sizes and/or locations.

Tamper-Proof Time-Temperature Indicator for Inspecting Ultracold Supply Chain.

In the precarious situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines is promising for prevention against the infection. However, this type of vaccine has not been effectively commercialized because it needs to be stored and transported at ultracold conditions. mRNA vaccines exposed to undesired temperatures may not show any visible changes but can deteriorate and cause negative effects.

Biodegradable, Efficient, and Breathable Multi-Use Face Mask Filter.

The demand for face masks is increasing exponentially due to the coronavirus pandemic and issues associated with airborne particulate matter (PM). However, both conventional electrostatic- and nanosieve-based mask filters are single-use and are not degradable or recyclable, which creates serious waste problems. In addition, the former loses function under humid conditions, while the latter operates with a significant air-pressure drop and suffers from relatively fast pore blockage.

Relationship between the living-alone period and depressive symptoms among the elderly.

Objective: The study aims to understand the relationship between the living-alone period and depressive symptoms among the elderly in South Korea.

Methods: The study obtained data on the elderly over 65 years old from the 2006 to 2019 Korea Welfare Panel Study. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis was performed to understand changes in depressive symptoms over periods of living alone.

Highly reinforced poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites prepared from chitosan nanowhiskers by in-situ polymerization.

Biodegradable aliphatic polyesters need to be tough for commodity-plastic applications, such as disposable bags. Herein, we show that chitosan nanowhiskers (CsWs) prepared from naturally abundant chitin is an effective nanofiller that reinforces the strength and toughness of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). In-situ polycondensation of an aqueous solution of processed CsWs led to a PBS nanocomposite with the highest tensile strength (77 MPa) and elongation at break (530%) reported to date for all PBS types at a minimal nanofiller content of 0.