Optimizing nano-sized oxygen bubble application for prolonged aerobic degradation of BTEX in contaminated groundwater.

This study investigates the use of nano-sized oxygen bubbles (NOBs) to enhance BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) biodegradation in groundwater. Optimized NOBs, averaging 155 nm and at a concentration of 6.59 × 10⁸ bubbles/mL, were found to provide sustained oxygen release with a half-life of approximately 50 days.

ECoGScope: An integrated platform for real-time Electrophysiology and fluorescence imaging.

In this study, we present ECoGScope, a versatile neural interface platform designed to integrate multiple functions for advancing neural network research. ECoGScope combines an electrocorticography (ECoG) electrode array with a commercial microendoscope, enabling simultaneous recording of ECoG signals and fluorescence imaging. The electrode array, constructed from highly flexible and transparent polymers, ensures conformal contact with the brain surface, allowing unobstructed optical monitoring of neural activity alongside electrophysiological recordings.

Recent trends in embedded 3D bioprinting of vascularized tissue constructs.

3D bioprinting technology offers significant advantages in the fabrication of tissue and organ structures by allowing precise layer-by-layer patterning of cells and various biomaterials. However, conventional bioinks exhibit poor mechanical properties, which limit their use in the fabrication of large-scale vascularized tissue constructs. To address these limitations, recent studies have focused on the development of rapidly crosslinkable bioinks through chemical modification.

First-Line Mobocertinib Versus Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Patients With Exon 20 Insertion-Positive Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Phase III EXCLAIM-2 Trial.

Purpose: Mobocertinib is an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This open-label, phase III trial (EXCLAIM-2: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04129502) compared mobocertinib versus platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment of ex20ins+ advanced/metastatic NSCLC.

A hyperelastic torque-reversal mechanism for soft joints with compression-responsive transient bistability.

Snap-through, a rapid transition of a system from an equilibrium state to a nonadjacent equilibrium state, is a valuable design element of soft devices for converting a monolithic stimulus into systematic responses with impulsive motions. A common way to benefit from snap-through is to embody it within structures and materials, such as bistable structures. Torque-reversal mechanisms discovered in nature, which harness snap-through instability via muscular forces, may have comparative advantages.

Scrub typhus association with autoimmune biomarkers and clinical implications.

Background: Scrub typhus, a disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, triggers systemic vasculitis and is prevalent in Eastern and Southern Asia. This study aimed to uncover the relationship between scrub typhus and autoimmune responses, focusing on antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and the implications of elevated ANA titers during infection.

Method: Data from a total of 139 patients diagnosed with scrub typhus and 30 healthy controls were retrospectively analyzed through serum samples to assess the levels of ANAs and related autoantibodies.

Assessing the sustainable development in the European Union: influence of municipal waste, industrial waste, and waste related patents.

Waste has emerged as a pressing concern for the environment, primarily stemming from the processes of urbanization and industrialization. The substantial volumes of waste generated pose a serious threat to the environment, as they spread out harmful substances in the soil and release methane emissions into the atmosphere. To effectively address this issue, this study explores the impact of municipal and industrial waste, as well as waste-related innovation on the load capacity factor (LCF) from 2005 to 2020.

Effects of intrathecal administration of sodium nitroprusside and nicardipine on cerebral pial microcirculation, cortical tissue oxygenation, and electrocortical activity in the early post-resuscitation period in a porcine cardiac arrest model.

Recent studies suggested intrathecal vasodilator administration as a therapy to mitigate post-ischemic cerebral hypoperfusion following cardiac arrest. We examined the effects of two commonly used intrathecal vasodilators, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nicardipine, on cerebral pial microcirculation, cortical tissue oxygen tension (PctO2), and electrocortical activity in the early post-resuscitation period using a porcine model of cardiac arrest. Thirty pigs were resuscitated after 14 min of untreated cardiac arrest.

Modified musculofascial lengthening technique for submuscular ulnar nerve transposition in cubital tunnel syndrome.

Objective: Cubital tunnel syndrome is a common peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremity. Anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve is an established surgical treatment option for this condition. This study aimed to introduce a novel musculofascial lengthening technique that uses only a portion of the flexor-pronator muscle mass for submuscular anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve and investigate its clinical outcomes.

Mechanistic and bibliometric insights into -mediated biofilm regulation and its strategic role in food safety applications.

Biofilm, complex structures formed by microorganisms within an extracellular polymeric matrix, pose significant challenges in the sector by harboring dangerous pathogens and complicating decontamination, thereby increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses. This article provides a comprehensive review of the sigma factor, 's role in biofilm development, specifically in gram-negative bacteria, and how the genetic, environmental, and regulatory elements influence activity with its critical role in bacterial stress responses. Our findings reveal that is a pivotal regulator of biofilm formation, enhancing bacterial survival in adverse conditions.

Targeted insertion of heterogenous DNA using Cas9-gRNA ribonucleoprotein-mediated gene editing in .

Gene editing is emerging as a powerful tool for introducing novel functionalities in mushrooms. While CRISPR/Cas9-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) typically rely on non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) for gene disruption, precise insertion of heterologous DNA in mushrooms is less explored. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of inserting donor DNAs (8-1008 bp) with or without homologous arms at Cas9-gRNA RNP-induced DSBs.

Impact of - and -Direction External Side Chains in Y-Series Acceptors on the Molecular Packing and Charge Carrier Dynamics of Organic Photovoltaics.

The side-chain directions in nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) strongly influence the intermolecular interactions in NFAs; however, the influence of these side chains on the morphologies and charge carrier dynamics of Y6-based acceptors remains underexplored. In this study, we synthesize four distinct Y6-based acceptors, i.e.

Precise Measurement of the e^{+}e^{-}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} Cross Section at Center-of-Mass Energies from Threshold to 4.95 GeV.

Using the e^{+}e^{-} collision data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, at center-of-mass energies from the threshold to 4.95 GeV, we present precise measurements of the cross section for the process e^{+}e^{-}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} using a single-tag method. The resulting cross section line shape exhibits several new structures, thereby offering an input for a future coupled-channel analysis and model tests, which are critical to understand vector charmonium-like states with masses between 4 and 5 GeV.

Prognostic impact of one-year permanent pacemaker implantation after mitral valve surgery with the Cox-maze procedure.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation within the first year after mitral valve (MV) surgery combined with the Cox-maze procedure, focusing on long-term outcomes, including overall mortality, infective endocarditis (IE), and ischaemic stroke.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea, identifying 10,127 patients who underwent MV surgery with the Cox-maze procedure between 2005 and 2020. Patients were classified into the PPM and non-PPM groups based on PPM implantation within one year postoperatively.

sp. nov., isolated from the faecal sample of a zoo animal, .

Strain NoAH (=KACC 23135=JCM 35999), a novel Gram-negative, motile bacterium with a rod-shaped morphology, was isolated from the zoo animal faecal samples, specifically the long-tailed goral species . The novel bacterial strain grew optimally in a nutrient broth medium under the following conditions: 1-2% (w/v) NaCl, pH 7-8 and 30 °C. The strain NoAH exhibited high tolerance to NaCl, with the ability to tolerate up to 7% (w/v) NaCl.

Racial Differences in Discrepancies Between Subjective Ratings and Objective Assessments of Hearing Impairment.

Background And Objectives: To better understand racial/ethnic disparities in hearing aid use, we examined racial differences in discrepancies between subjective hearing ratings and objective hearing tests as a potential source of this disparity.

Research Design And Methods: A cross-sectional assessment was conducted using the data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Our analytic sample included 2,568 participants aged 50 and older: 1,814 non-Hispanic White Americans and 754 non-Hispanic Black Americans.

Baseline Alpha-Fetoprotein Elevation and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Multicentre Cohort Study.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and its changes in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) may influence the risk of future hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to evaluate the HCC risk in CHB patients with no overt HCC but with elevated AFP level and to explore the prognostic role of longitudinal changes in AFP and liver-related laboratory values. This multicentre cohort study included 10,639 CHB patients without a history of HCC from seven medical facilities in South Korea.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Supported Layered Double Hydroxides (GCN@FeMg-LDH) for Efficient Water Splitting and Energy Harvesting.

The advancement of highly efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting, along with the development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), is crucial for sustainable energy generation and harvesting. In this study, a novel hybrid composite by integrating graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) with an earth-abundant FeMg-layered double hydroxide (LDH) (GCN@FeMg-LDH) was synthesized by the hydrothermal approach. Under controlled conditions, with optimized concentrations of metal ions and GCN, the fabricated electrode, GCN@FeMg-LDH demonstrated remarkably low overpotentials of 0.

Daily Cognition in the Family Context: The Complex Associations between Memory Lapses, Family Relationships, and Affect in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: The analysis of daily memory lapses is an underutilized approach to understanding daily experiences of cognitive functioning. The present study adopts this approach, with the goals of exploring how the quality of family relationships predicts the frequency of daily memory lapses and moderates the link between daily memory lapses and daily affect.

Research Design And Methods: We used longitudinal data from the third wave of Midlife in the United States and the National Study of Daily Experiences to assess our research goals.

Studying Cationic Liposomes for Quick, Simple, and Effective Nucleic Acid Preconcentration and Isolation.

To ensure high quality of food and water, the identification of traces of pathogens is mandatory. Rapid nucleic acid-based tests shorten traditional detection times while maintaining low detection limits. Challenging is the loss of nucleic acids during necessary purification processes, since elution off solid surfaces is not efficient.

Cross-cultural validation of plasma p-tau217 and p-tau181 as precision biomarkers for amyloid PET positivity: An East Asian study in Taiwan and Korea.

Introduction: Plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau) biomarkers have improved Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis, but data from diverse Asian populations are limited. This study evaluated plasma p-tau217 and p-tau181 levels in Korean and Taiwanese populations.

Methods: All participants (n = 270) underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and blood tests.

Neuromodulatory effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on cue reactivity and craving in young adults with internet gaming disorder: an event-related potential study.

Objective: This study assessed the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cue reactivity and craving for game-related cues using event-related potentials (ERPs) in internet gaming disorder (IGD) patients.

Methods: At baseline, a series of game-related and neutral pictures were shown to both IGD and healthy controls (HCs) while ERPs were recorded. Late positive potentials (LPP) were used to investigate cue reactivity.

Monitoring of ant species surrounding the ports of South Korea.

The introduction and spread of invasive insects is accelerating worldwide owing to human activities, such as trade and transportation development; in particular, ports are hubs and routes for invasive insects, including ants. We surveyed ant populations in eight ports from 2021 to 2023 using pitfall traps. A total of 316,975 ants belonging to four subfamilies, 26 genera and 44 species were identified as , , and .

Game changing electoral reforms and party system change? An analysis of the 2020 national assembly election in South Korea.

The article analyses the 2020 National Assembly election in South Korea. It was the first legislative election held after President Park Geun-hye had been successfully impeached, and removed from office, in March 2017. The 2020 election was also the first election after important changes to the electoral law were made in 2019.