Bismuth oxychloride as a van der Waals dielectric for 2D electronics.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have received a lot of attention as the channel material for the next generation of transistors and electronic devices. On the other hand, insulating 2D gate dielectrics, as possible materials for gate dielectrics in transistors, have received little attention. We performed an experimental study on bismuth oxychloride, which is theoretically proposed to have good dielectric properties.

Impact of cumulative exposure to a high TG to HDL-C ratio on type 2 diabetes risk in young adults.

Background: Increases in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) pose significant challenges to its prediction and prevention.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether cumulative exposure to a high triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is associated with increased T2D risk in young adults.

Methods: We collected South Korean National Health Insurance Service data between 2009 and 2012 from 1,840,251 young adults without T2D aged 20 to 39 years who underwent 4 consecutive annual health checkups.

Effectiveness of Subcutaneous Negative-Suction Drain on Surgical Site Infection After Ileostomy Reversal: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a leading common condition after ileostomy reversal (IR). However, evidence is unclear that subcutaneous negative-suction drainage (SND) reduces the incidence of SSI. This study aimed to investigate whether SND effectively reduced the incidence of SSI.

Emerging Role of the DREAM Complex in Cancer and Therapeutic Opportunities.

The DREAM (dimerization partner, RB-like, E2F, and multi-vulval class B) complex is an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional repression complex that coordinates nearly one thousand target genes, primarily associated with the cell cycle processes. The formation of the DREAM complex consequently inhibits cell cycle progression and induces cellular quiescence. Given its unique role in cell cycle control, the DREAM complex has gained significant interest across various physiological and pathological contexts, particularly in conditions marked by dysregulated cell cycles, such as cancer.

Tracing Quiescent Cancer Cells In Vivo.

QCCs have long gained significant interest as potential "seeds" for recurrent cancers. Clinical evidence suggests that a subset of cancer cells exits the cell cycle and enters a quiescent state following anti-cancer treatment. These microscopic-residual QCCs are extremely challenging to trace and detect within patients.

PCLAF-DREAM drives alveolar cell plasticity for lung regeneration.

Cell plasticity, changes in cell fate, is crucial for tissue regeneration. In the lung, failure of regeneration leads to diseases, including fibrosis. However, the mechanisms governing alveolar cell plasticity during lung repair remain elusive.

Preventive machine learning models incorporating health checkup data and hair mineral analysis for low bone mass identification.

Machine learning (ML) models have been increasingly employed to predict osteoporosis. However, the incorporation of hair minerals into ML models remains unexplored. This study aimed to develop ML models for predicting low bone mass (LBM) using health checkup data and hair mineral analysis.

Enhanced Stability and Compatibility of Montelukast and Levocetirizine in a Fixed-Dose Combination Monolayer Tablet.

The purpose of this study was to enhance the stability of montelukast and levocetirizine for the development of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) monolayer tablet. To evaluate the compatibility of montelukast and levocetirizine, a mixture of the two drugs was prepared, and changes in the appearance characteristics and impurity content were observed in a dry oven at 60 °C. Excipients that contributed minimally to impurity increases were selected to minimize drug interactions.

Effect of the early diastolic blood pressure response to the head-up tilt test on the recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Background: Otolith organ acts complementarily with the autonomic nervous system to maintain blood pressure. However, the effect of blood pressure variability in the autonomic nervous system on otolith organ has not yet been determined. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that blood pressure variability in the autonomic nervous system affects the recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which is the most common disease of the vestibular organs, by using the head-up tilt test (HUTT).

Application of Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Osteoporotic Fractures in Women.

Background: Predicting the risk of osteoporotic fractures is vital for prevention. Traditional methods such as the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) model use clinical factors. This study examined the predictive power of the FRAX score and machine-learning algorithms trained on FRAX parameters.

Interpreting coagulation mixing study results in the era of direct oral anticoagulants.

Interpretation of coagulation mixing studies is complicated by interference arising from direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), which are increasingly prescribed. In this retrospective study, we reviewed 1035 consecutive coagulation mixing studies performed from 2017 to 2021. Three hundred and ninety-nine cases with normal prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were excluded.

Exceptional Thermochemical Stability of Graphene on N-Polar GaN for Remote Epitaxy.

In this study, we investigate the thermochemical stability of graphene on the GaN substrate for metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)-based remote epitaxy. Despite excellent physical properties of GaN, making it a compelling choice for high-performance electronic and light-emitting device applications, the challenge of thermochemical decomposition of graphene on a GaN substrate at high temperatures has obstructed the achievement of remote homoepitaxy via MOCVD. Our research uncovers an unexpected stability of graphene on N-polar GaN, thereby enabling the MOCVD-based remote homoepitaxy of N-polar GaN.

Unintended consequences of healthcare reform in South Korea: evidence from a regression discontinuity in time design.

Background: To address concerns over the financial stability of South Korea's National Health Insurance (NHI) programme, the government transitioned from an outpatient copayment system to a coinsurance system in 2007. This policy aimed to reduce healthcare overutilization by increasing patients' financial responsibility for outpatient services.

Methods: Using comprehensive data on NHI beneficiaries, this study employs a regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) design to assess the policy's impact on outpatient healthcare utilization and expenditures.

Healthcare Utilization and Costs According to Frailty Transitions After Two Years: A Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.

Background: Korea's aging population has raised several challenges, especially concerning healthcare costs. Consequently, this study evaluated the association of frailty transitions with healthcare utilization and costs for older adults aged 70 to 84.

Methods: This study linked the frailty status data of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study to the National Health Insurance Database.

Antidepressant effects of p-coumaric acid isolated from Vaccinium bracteatum leaves extract on chronic restraint stress mouse model and antagonism of serotonin 6 receptor in vitro.

Background: Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves (VBL) are used in traditional herbal medicines to treat various biological diseases. p-coumaric acid (CA), the main active component of VBL, has neuroprotective effects against corticosterone-induced damage in vitro.

Development of Highly Fluorogenic Styrene Probes for Visualizing RNA in Live Cells.

Styrene dyes are useful imaging probes and fluorescent sensors due to their strong fluorogenic responses to environmental changes or binding macromolecules. Previously, indole-containing styrene dyes have been reported to selectively bind RNA in the nucleolus and cytoplasm. However, the application of these indole-based dyes in cell imaging is limited by their moderate fluorescence enhancement and quantum yields, as well as relatively high background associated with these green-emitting dyes.

A New Wave of Targeting 'Undruggable' Wnt Signaling for Cancer Therapy: Challenges and Opportunities.

Aberrant Wnt signaling activation is frequently observed in many cancers. The mutation acquisition of Wnt signaling leads to tumorigenesis, whereas the inhibition of Wnt signaling robustly suppresses tumor development in various in vivo models. Based on the excellent preclinical effect of targeting Wnt signaling, over the past 40 years, numerous Wnt-targeted therapies have been investigated for cancer treatment.

Self-Limiting Sub-5 nm Nanodiamonds by Geochemistry-Inspired Synthesis.

Controlling diamond structures with nanometer precision is fundamentally challenging owing to their extreme and far-from-equilibrium synthetic conditions. State-of-the-art techniques, including detonation, chemical vapor deposition, mechanical grinding, and high-pressure-high-temperature synthesis, yield nanodiamond particles with a broad distribution of sizes. Despite many efforts, the direct synthesis of nanodiamonds with precisely controlled diameters remains elusive.

Highly Emissive Zero-Dimensional Cesium Lead Iodide Perovskite Nanocrystals with Thermally Activated Delayed Photoluminescence.

We utilized a modified reverse-microemulsion method to develop highly emissive and photostable zero-dimensional (0D) CsPb(BrI) perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs). We employed single-particle photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy to explore blinking statistics and demonstrate single-photon emission from individual PNCs. Low-temperature blinking and photon correlation studies revealed a transition from single- to multiphoton emission with progressively longer "delayed" PL components, reaching ∼70 ns at room temperature and representing a distinctive behavior to previously known iodide PNCs.

Enhanced Nanobubble Formation: Gold Nanoparticle Conjugation to Qβ Virus-like Particles.

Plasmonic gold nanostructures are a prevalent tool in modern hypersensitive analytical techniques such as photoablation, bioimaging, and biosensing. Recent studies have shown that gold nanostructures generate transient nanobubbles through localized heating and have been found in various biomedical applications. However, the current method of plasmonic nanoparticle cavitation events has several disadvantages, specifically including small metal nanostructures (≤10 nm) which lack size control, tuneability, and tissue localization by use of ultrashort pulses (ns, ps) and high-energy lasers which can result in tissue and cellular damage.

Temporomandibular disorders-related videos on YouTube are unreliable sources of medical information: A cross-sectional analysis of quality and content.

Objective: The amount of online medical information available is rapidly growing and YouTube is considered as the most popular source of healthcare information nowadays. However, no study has been conducted to comprehensively evaluate YouTube videos related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD). So this study aimed to evaluate the content and quality of YouTube videos as a source of medical information on TMD.

Improving Medication Adherence in Isolated Patients With Cognitive Impairment Using Automated Telephone Reminders.

Background And Purpose: Medication adherence is essential for effective medical treatment. However, it is challenging for cognitively impaired patients. We investigated whether an automated telephone reminder service improves medication adherence and reduces the decline of cognitive function in isolated patients with cognitive impairment.