Representative modeling of biocompatible MXene nanocomposites for next-generation biomedical technologies and healthcare.

MXenes are a class of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXT) that have attracted significant interest owing to their remarkable potential in various fields. The unique combination of their excellent electromagnetic, optical, mechanical, and physical properties have extended their applications to the biological realm as well. In particular, their ultra-thin layered structure holds specific promise for diverse biomedical applications.

Expression and localization of two β-carbonic anhydrases in , a single-cell C plant.

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze reversibly both the hydration and dehydration reactions of CO and HCO-, respectively. Higher plants contain many different isoforms of CAs that can be classified into α-, β- and γ-type subfamilies. β-type CAs play a key role in the CO-concentrating mechanism, thereby contributing to efficient photosynthesis in the C plants in addition to many other biochemical reactions in plant metabolism.

High-performance boron nitride/graphene oxide composites modified with sodium thiosulfate for energy storage applications.

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid materials, particularly those based on boron nitride (BN) and graphene oxide (GO), have attracted significant attention for energy applications owing to their distinct structural and electronic properties. BN/GO composites uniquely combine the mechanical strength, thermal stability and electrical insulation of BN with the high conductivity and flexibility of GO, creating advanced materials ideal for the fabrication of batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells. These hybrids offer synergistic effects, enhanced charge transport, increased surface area, and improved chemical stability, making them promising candidates for high-performance energy systems.

Exploring the potential of some natural indoles as antiviral agents: quantum chemical analysis, inverse molecular docking, and affinity calculations.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections represent critical global health challenges due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with co-infections. HIV, the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), infects 4,000 people daily, potentially leading to 1.2 million new cases by 2025, while HCV chronically affects 58 million people, causing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

A pilot human study using ketamine to treat disorders of consciousness.

Post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent persistent neurological conditions with limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. Recent works advocate for exploring the effects of psychedelics to enhance brain complexity in DoC and ameliorate their consciousness. We investigated sub-anesthetic concentration of the atypical psychedelic ketamine for treating post-comatose prolonged DoC through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial involving three adult patients.

Reinforcing Bulk Heterojunction Morphology through Side Chain-Engineered Pyrrolopyrrole-1,3-dione Polymeric Donors for Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) are attracting significant attention due to their low cost, lightweight, and flexible nature. The introduction of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) has propelled OSC development into a transformative era. However, the limited availability of wide band gap polymer donors for NFAs poses a critical challenge, hindering further advancements.

Prognostic Value of Postpercutaneous Coronary Intervention Murray-Law-Based Quantitative Flow Ratio: Post Hoc Analysis From FLAVOUR Trial.

Background: Coronary physiology measured by fractional flow reserve (FFR) is superior to angiography for assessing the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Yet, the clinical adoption of post-PCI FFR is limited. Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (μQFR) may represent a promising alternative, as it can quickly compute FFR from a single angiographic view.

Preexisting hemodialysis and survival outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients: Ulsan, South Korea.

Background: Although the incidence of sudden cardiac death is higher in hemodialysis (HD) patients, whether out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival outcomes are poorer in this group remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of HD on survival outcomes among adult nontraumatic OHCA patients and to compare these outcomes between HD and non-HD groups.

Methods: This observational cohort study retrospectively analyzed data from adult nontraumatic OHCA patients in Ulsan, South Korea, from January 2017 through December 2022.

First record of Serban, 2000 (Bathynellacea, Bathynellidae) from subterranean waters of South Korea, with the description of a new species.

This study describes , the first new species of Bathynellidae family reported in East Asia since 2000, and it presents the first molecular analysis using CO1 and 18S gene sequences. Morphological analysis reveals that the new species and previously known species uniquely share key characteristics in the male and female thoracopods VIII. However, the presence or absence of the median seta on the antenna exopod, along with the length differences between the four spines in the furca, distinguish the new species from , 2000.

Evaluating the CO capture potential of MgO sheets: a DFT study on the effects of vacancy and Ni doping for assessing environmental sustainability.

Investigations on two-dimensional materials for efficient carbon dioxide (CO) capture and storage have recently attracted much attention, especially in the global industrial sector. In this work, the CO uptake by three configurations of two-dimensional magnesium oxide was investigated using density functional theory. CO capture analysis was performed considering the geometrical, thermophysical, vibrational, electronic and optical properties.

Construction of a hydrazine electrochemical sensor using Ag@ZIF as the electrode material.

In recent years, the fabrication of hydrazine sensors has received extensive attention because of the toxicity of hydrazine to the environment and human beings. It is thus important to design and develop efficient electrode modifiers for the construction of hydrazine electrochemical sensors. Herein, we reported the benign synthesis of a silver (Ag)-doped zinc-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8).

Insights into the specific capacitance of CNT-based supercapacitor electrodes using artificial intelligence.

In this study, the specific capacitance characteristics of a carbon nanotube (CNT) supercapacitor was predicted using different machine learning algorithms, such as artificial neural network (ANN), random forest regression (RFR), -nearest neighbors regression (KNN), and decision tree regression (DTR), based on experimental studies. The results of the simulation verified the accuracy of the ANN algorithm with respect to the data derived from the specific capacitance of the supercapacitor module. It was observed that there was a strong correlation between the experimental results and the predictions made by the ANN algorithm.

Ongoing invasions by American bullfrogs and red-eared sliders in the Republic of Korea.

Invasive species can be unpredictable in their ability to adapt and spread across novel landscapes. American bullfrogs () and red-eared sliders () have become invasive in South Korea since their introduction in the 1970s through the food and pet trades. One of the first steps to their population regulations is to determine each species' distribution in the country, which will allow for the identification of at-risk areas.

Temporal trends of liver cancer burden, comparative analysis of risk factors and trend forecasts to 2024 in China, USA, the Republic of Korea, and Mongolia: an analysis based on multiple data sources from Global Burden of Disease 2019, the Global Cancer Observatory, and Cancer Incidence in Five Continents.

Background: Liver cancer represents a significant burden of disease globally, with variations in liver cancer status among countries. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiological burden of liver cancer in four representative countries - China, the USA, the Republic of Korea, and Mongolia - and cover the highest number of incidence cases, the highest prevalence rates and the burden in developed countries. In addition, we intended to predict the trends in liver cancer in these countries over the next six years.

The Role of Knowledge and Personal Experience in Shaping Stigma Associated With COVID-19 and Mental Illness.

Objective: Stigma influences perceptions of mental illness and novel diseases like coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), often impeding healthcare access despite advancements in medical treatment. This study compares the stigma associated with COVID-19 and mental illness to identify factors that could help reduce stigma.

Methods: An online survey was conducted in May 2023 among 1,500 participants aged 19 to 65 in South Korea, using a panel from Embrain, an online survey service.

Psychological Inflexibility, Cognitive Fusion, and Thought-Action Fusion as a Transdiagnostic Construct: Direct Comparisons Among Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Healthy Controls.

Objective: Evidence suggests that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) processes function as transdiagnostic factors in both major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) individually. However, few studies have directly compared these two clinical disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential transdiagnostic factors associated with ACT across MDD, OCD, and healthy control (HC) groups.

Effects of Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine Treatment on Improvement of Motor Coordination in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective: To investigate the effects of methylphenidate and atomoxetine treatment on motor coordination in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: In this single-site, open-label, naturalistic follow-up study, 157 children (7.6±1.

Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Digital Health Literacy Among Older Women Living Alone in South Korea During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: While using digital technologies for social health is widely acknowledged, the relationship between loneliness, social isolation, and digital health literacy remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the levels of loneliness, social isolation, and digital health literacy in older women living alone and to explore the associations between these factors.

Methods: In August 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 145 older women living alone, selected using convenience sampling.

Temperamental and Neurocognitive Predictors in Korean Basketball League Draft Selection.

Objective: This study hypothesized that physical status, temperament and characteristics, and neurocognitive functions of basketball players could predict the result of Korean Basketball League (KBL) draft selection.

Methods: We recruited the number of 89 college elite basketball players (KBL selection, n=44; non-KBL selection, n=45), and the number of 82 age-matched healthy comparison subjects who major in sports education in college. All participants were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory, Sports Anxiety Scales, Beck Depression Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Trail Making Test, and Computerized Neuro-cognitive Test for Emotional Perception and Mental Rotation.

Diabetes Is Positively Associated With High Risk of Depression in Korean Cervical Cancer Patients: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2021.

Objective: Objective of this study is to evaluate the association between high risk of depression and metabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia in Korean cervical cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 330 women with cervical cancer were included in this study, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 to 2021. Participants were categorized into two groups-high risk of depression and non-depression-based on their answers to survey items related to depression.

The Moderating Effect of Internet Ethics on the Relationship Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Perpetration Among Korean Adults.

Objective: Cyberbullying is increasing every year and poses a serious problem worldwide; although the rate of adult cyberbullying is increasing every year, still cyberbullying studies mainly focused on youths. This study examined the moderating effect of Internet ethics on the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and perpetration among adults.

Methods: An online self-report survey was conducted with 601 participants aged 20 to 59.

Healing Through Loss: Exploring Nurses' Post-Traumatic Growth After Patient Death.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to post-traumatic growth (PTG) among nurses who experienced patient death during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to evaluate the necessity of grief support is required.

Methods: An online survey was conducted to assess the experiences of nurses at Ulsan University Hospital who lost patients during the past year of the pandemic. In total, 211 nurses were recruited.

A New Agenda for Optimizing Roles and Infrastructure in a Mental Health Service Model for South Korea.

Objective: As the demand for community mental health services continues to grow, the need for well-equipped and organized services has become apparent. This study aimed to optimize the roles and infrastructure of mental health services, by establishing, among other initiatives, standardized operating models.

Methods: The study was conducted in multiple phases from May 12, 2021, to December 29, 2021.