Physicochemical properties of surimi made from edible insects using washing and pH shift methods.

Edible insects, characterized by their eco-friendly nature and high nutrient value, are promising protein sources. Therefore, we aimed to assess the suitability of insects as source ingredients for surimi, a widely-used, intermediate food material. Mealworm ( L.

Machine learning-driven optimization of mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine quality with XGBoost/Bayesian method and ensemble model approaches.

To enhance the efficiency of vaccine manufacturing, this study focuses on optimizing the microfluidic conditions and lipid mix ratios of messenger RNA-lipid nanoparticles (mRNA-LNP). Different mRNA-LNP formulations ( = 24) were developed using an I-optimal design, where machine learning tools (XGBoost/Bayesian optimization and self-validated ensemble (SVEM)) were used to optimize the process and predict lipid mix ratio. The investigation included material attributes, their respective ratios, and process attributes.

A Narrative Review with Strategic Analysis of Home Care Services for Older Adults in Seoul, South Korea: Toward a Comprehensive Care Approach.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish a role framework and organizational redesign for home care services in response to the evolving internal and external environments in South Korea. The specific objectives were: (1) to perform a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis based on the external and internal factors related to home care services; (2) to propose key ideas for restructuring services and human resources; and (3) to suggest strategies for enhancing the quality of home-based care services.

Patients And Methods: The policy landscape for older adult healthcare in Seoul, South Korea along with the current state and challenges of home care services were reviewed.

Synergistic enhancement of spinal fusion in preclinical models using low-dose rhBMP-2 and stromal vascular fraction in an injectable hydrogel composite.

Spinal fusion surgery remains a significant challenge due to limitations in current bone graft materials, particularly in terms of bioactivity, integration, and safety. This study presents an innovative approach using an injectable hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate (HA/β-TCP) hydrogel combined with stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and low-dose recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) to enhance osteodifferentiation and angiogenesis. Through a series of in vitro studies and preclinical models involving rats and minipigs, we demonstrated that the hydrogel system enables the sustained release of rhBMP-2, resulting in significantly improved bone density and integration, alongside reduced inflammatory responses.

The structure, role, and procedures of Korean expert committee on immunization practices.

Vaccination is a cornerstone of public health, preventing infectious diseases with significant contribution to human health. In South Korea, the Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices (KECIP) plays a pivotal role in guiding national vaccination policies. In this comprehensive review, we investigated the history, legal basis, operation, and achievements of the KECIP, highlighting its critical role in shaping the country's successful vaccination program.

Unraveling metabolic signatures in SARS-CoV-2 variant infections using multiomics analysis.

Introduction: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, notably delta and omicron, has significantly accelerated the global pandemic, worsening conditions worldwide. However, there is a lack of research concerning the molecular mechanisms related to immune responses and metabolism induced by these variants.

Methods: Here, metabolomics combined with transcriptomics was performed to elucidate the immunometabolic changes in the lung of hamsters infected with delta and omicron variants.

Fabricating ZnO@C composites based on shell-derived cellulose for high performance lithium-ion battery anodes.

In this study, shell-derived cellulose was successfully produced, and the hydrothermal method was employed to generate ZnO@C (ZOC) composites, which were then subjected to calcination in N gas at a temperature of 600 °C for varying durations. X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses demonstrated that the annealing duration had a substantial impact on the quantities of C and ZnO in the ZOC composites. The scanning electron microscope images indicated the presence of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of the C phase and revealed a similar morphology among the ZOC composites.

Synthesis of nickel-boron/reduced graphene oxide for efficient and stable lithium-ion storage.

Electrode material capacities and cycle performances must improve for large-scale applications such as energy storage systems. Numerous investigations have developed cathode materials to improve lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) performance: however, few have examined new anode materials. In this study, we synthesized a Ni-B/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites via a simple chemical reaction method to enhance the stability of electrodes in LIBs.

Advanced deep transfer learning techniques for efficient detection of cotton plant diseases.

Introduction: Cotton, being a crucial cash crop globally, faces significant challenges due to multiple diseases that adversely affect its quality and yield. To identify such diseases is very important for the implementation of effective management strategies for sustainable agriculture. Image recognition plays an important role for the timely and accurate identification of diseases in cotton plants as it allows farmers to implement effective interventions and optimize resource allocation.

Factors Affecting the Subjective Health Status of Middle-Aged Retirees in Korea.

Background: Countries that are becoming aging societies are struggling to establish financial support policies due to their increasing numbers of retired people. In particular, the increase in middle-aged retirees has been reported as unusual and influenced by various factors. This study aimed to identify the subjective health conditions of middle-aged retirees and explore the factors that help provide basic data for developing health-related programs for them.

Impact of aspect ratio and crystal size distribution of l-glutamic acid formed by cooling crystallization on drying characteristics.

This study investigated the impact of aspect ratio and crystal size distribution on the mother liquor content and drying rate of l-glutamic acid (LGA). LGA cooling crystallization was performed using two methods: spontaneous nucleation and seeding. First, to identify various crystalline forms of LGA and obtain α-form seeds, cooling crystallization was carried out through spontaneous nucleation and seeding.

Simultaneous utilization of CO and potassium-rich biomass for the environmentally friendly production of potassium formate.

The C chemical species, potassium formate (K(HCO)), known as a two-electron reducing agent, finds application in the synthesis of multi-carbon compounds, including oxalate, and plays a crucial role not only in the food and pharmaceutical industries but also across various sectors. However, the direct hydrogenation of CO to produce K(HCO) remains a challenge. Addressing this issue, efficient production of K(HCO) is achieved by integrating CO hydrogenation in a trickle-bed reactor using a heterogeneous catalyst with a novel separation method that utilizes potassium ions from biomass ash for formic acid derivative product isolation.

Comparison of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of submerged culture mycelium and basidioma extracts of .

Unlabelled: This research aimed to assess the biological characteristics of both submerged culture mycelium and artificial basidioma of NTH-PL4. The extraction yield from the basidioma surpassed that of the mycelium. The use of hot water extract resulted in the highest total carbohydrate content, predominantly found in the basidioma.

Enhancement of bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase, α-glucosidase, and nitric oxide production in sorghum ( L.) via solid-state fermentation with .

Sorghum () is a gluten-free supercrop with a high content of phenolic compounds, along with anti-nutrient factors such as tannin that limit its use in food. In this study, we conducted solid-state fermentation for sorghum with to reduce the tannin content and value-added sorghum by enhancing biological properties. The results showed that fermented sorghum had 1.

Antithrombic effects of in a rat model of acute thrombosis: modulation of endothelial adhesion molecules and inflammatory factors.

(PR) is a tropical plant used as a spice in Southeast Asia. This study investigated the antithrombotic effect of PR in rats with acute thrombosis induced by collagen and epinephrine (CE). The rats were divided into four groups, control (CON), CE, PR15, and PR30, with PR administered at 15 and 30 mg/kg body weight.

Development of a SYBR Green Real-Time PCR method for the detection of and using chloroplast genes.

Unlabelled: (Arabica) and (Robusta) are valuable agricultural products traded worldwide. In this study, we designed specific primer pairs for Arabica and Robusta using chloroplast genes to distinguish and quantify the two types of coffee beans. We assessed the specificity, sensitivity, and applicability of the qRT-PCR assay using all the primer pairs.

Development of analysis method for -xylenediamine as aldehyde scavenger using HPLC-PDA.

The objective of this study was to develop an analytical method for -xylenediamine (-XDA), an aldehyde scavenger, in various food simulants and food matrices. The analysis was performed using HPLC-UV (270 nm) with a Capcell pak MGII C18 column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm).

Antioxidant and anticancer effects of kiwi () fermented beverage using .

Kiwi fermented beverages utilizing lactic acid bacteria exhibit a decrease in sugar content, pH and increase in total acidity. The maximum CFU is observed in 20% kiwi fermented beverages containing . For the most efficient fermentation conditions, 20% kiwi fermented beverages fermented at 24 h was selected for use in subsequent experiments.

Upregulation of the gluconeogenesis pathway was observed by KDH1, mitigating glucose catabolite repression.

Unlabelled: was engineered to mitigate carbon catabolite repression to efficient co-fermenting mixed sugars, which are primary components of cellulosic biomass. KDH1 produced ethanol with 0.42 ± 0.

Advancing modified biochar for sustainable agriculture: a comprehensive review on characterization, analysis, and soil performance.

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of various feedstocks. It can be further modified to enhance its properties and is referred to as modified biochar (MB). The research interest in MB application in soil has been on the surge over the past decade.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test with bicycle stress echocardiography for predicting adverse cardiac events in patients with stage A or B heart failure.

Background: Given the high prevalence of stage A or B heart failure (HF), comprehensive screening for new-onset HF is cost-prohibitive. Therefore, further risk stratification is warranted to identify at-risk patients. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic utility of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with bicycle stress echocardiography (BSE) in patients with stage A or B HF.

Impact of medical resources in residential area on unmet healthcare needs: Findings from a multi-level analysis of Korean nationwide data.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine whether sufficient medical resources in residential areas influence individuals' unmet healthcare needs in South Korea, where overpopulation is of concern.

Methods: Two publicly available datasets were utilized: The Korean Community Health Survey at the individual-level and the Korean medical utilization statistics at the regional-level. It included 176,378 individuals.