Mechanism of solid electrolyte interphase film formation using ethylene carbonate-based local high concentration electrolyte in sodium-ion batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have the advantages of abundant resources and low cost, making them potential candidates for the next-generation large-scale energy storage technology. However, the capacity fade during cycling used in sodium-ion batteries is a major challenge. The rational design of the electrolyte is one of the ways to solve these problems.

Genotypes and clinical phenotypes of pediatric patients with NOG variants: Middle ear surgical outcomes from a Tertiary Center in South Korea.

Objective: Although NOG variants are linked to congenital stapes fixation and conductive hearing loss (CHL), little is known about middle ear surgery outcomes and the characteristics of accompanying inner ear anomalies. We explored auditory phenotypes in patients with NOG variants, with a focus on the outcomes of middle ear surgery.

Methods: This study included 11 patients from five unrelated Korean families harboring NOG variants.

Incorporating Community Case Management in Risk-Based Surveillance for Malaria Elimination in the Dominican Republic.

As countries strive for malaria elimination, it is crucial to gather sufficient evidence to confirm the absence of transmission. Routine surveillance data often lack the sensitivity to detect community transmission at low levels. In the Dominican Republic, community health workers (CHWs) have been deployed in malaria foci to perform active case detection.

A Pseudo-Block Copolymerization Access to Cyclic Alternating Copolymers through Segment-Selective Transesterification.

Efficient synthesis of cyclic polymers remains a frontier challenge. We report here that macromolecular transesterification during a pseudoblock copolymerization process can be utilized for such a purpose. Organobase-catalyzed ring-opening alternating copolymerization of 3,4-dihydrocoumarin and epoxide is conducted with four-armed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a macroinitiator.

Engineering Spin Interaction Channels of FePc on Au(111).

We demonstrate the reversible control of interactions between a local molecular spin, hosted within an iron phthalocyanine (FePc) molecule, and the conduction electrons of a supporting Au(111) surface. Using the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope, we deliberately and reversibly manipulate the adsorption configuration of the molecule relative to the underlying substrate lattice. Different rotation configurations lead to noticeable changes in the differential conductance measured on the FePc molecules.

Strong Hydrophobic Interaction of High Molecular Weight Chitosan in Aqueous Solution.

Chitosan is a versatile bioactive polysaccharide in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals and environmental applications, owing to its abundance, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties. To effectively harness its potential for various purposes, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms of its interaction in water. This study investigates the interactions between high molecular weight (HMW, >150 kDa) chitosan and four different functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) at three different pHs (3.

The Longitudinal Effect of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Korean Adults: Results From the Health Examinees Study.

Objective: High consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality; however, the data and results for Asian populations, particularly in Korea, are limited and unclear. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the association between types of SSB consumption and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in South Korean adults.

Methods: This prospective study included Korean adults aged 40 to 79 who participated in the Health Examinees Study.

Machine Learning-Based Diagnosis of Chronic Subjective Tinnitus With Altered Cognitive Function: An Event-Related Potential Study.

Objectives: Due to the absence of objective diagnostic criteria, tinnitus diagnosis primarily relies on subjective assessments. However, its neuropathological features can be objectively quantified using electroencephalography (EEG). Despite the existing research, the pathophysiology of tinnitus remains unclear.

Ultrasensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of paraoxon-ethyl in fruit samples using 2D TiCT/MWCNT-OH.

This study reports on the development of a highly sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on a two-dimensional TiCT/MWCNT-OH nanocomposite for the detection of paraoxon-based pesticide. The synergistic effect between the TiCT nanosheet and the functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes enhanced the sensor's conductivity and catalytic activity. The nanocomposite demonstrates superior electrochemical and electroanalytical performance compared to the pristine TiCT and MWCNT-OH in detecting paraoxon-ethyl in fruit samples (green and red grapes), with a linear response range from 0.

Prognostic value of interim [F]FDG PET/CT after immunotherapy-based combinations in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of interim [F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([F]FDG PET/CT) after immunotherapy-based systemic therapies in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively recruited 133 newly diagnosed nasal-type ENKTL patients who underwent interim [F]FDG PET/CT scans after 2-4 cycles of immunotherapy-based treatments. Interim PET/CT was interpreted by maximum standardized uptake value (SUV), Deauville 5-point scale (DS), and early treatment response.

The Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier as a Potential Entry Site for the SARS-CoV-2 Virus.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets the lungs and airways, it can also infect other organs, including the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the choroid plexus could serve as a potential entry site for SARS-CoV-2 into the brain.

Pharmacokinetic characterization and exposure-response relationship of crovalimab in the COMMODORE 1, 2 and 3 and COMPOSER trials of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

Aims: Crovalimab is a novel C5 inhibitor administered first intravenously and then subcutaneously in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) naive to complement inhibition or switching from eculizumab or ravulizumab. Crovalimab showed efficacy and safety comparable to eculizumab in the pivotal COMMODORE 2 and supporting studies.

Methods: We characterized crovalimab pharmacokinetics and the relationship between exposure pharmacokinetic parameters and pharmacodynamic biomarkers, efficacy and safety endpoints using pooled data (healthy volunteers [n = 9], naive [n = 210] and switched [n = 211] patients).

The Prognostic Significance of the CALLY Index in Ampullary Carcinoma: An Inflammation-Nutrition Retrospective Analysis.

Background: As a novel inflammatory-nutritional biomarker, the C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index has demonstrated significant prognostic value in various malignancies. However, research on its association with the prognosis of ampullary carcinoma (AC) is rare. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the CALLY index and the prognosis of patients with AC.

The role of fMRI in the mind decoding process in adults: a systematic review.

Background: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revolutionized our understanding of brain activity by non-invasively detecting changes in blood oxygen levels. This review explores how fMRI is used to study mind-reading processes in adults.

Methodology: A systematic search was conducted across Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

Management of a Large Nosocomial Outbreak From an Index of Crusted Scabies in a Tertiary Care Hospital, 2023: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: In 2023, we experienced an outbreak from a case of undiagnosed crusted scabies, resulting in a significant number of exposed individuals and secondary cases. In this report, we describe the outbreak control measures, the attack rate, and the risk factors for acquisition of scabies among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods: This study was conducted in a 2,700-bed tertiary care hospital in Seoul, South Korea.

Palovarotene in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: review and perspective.

Introduction: Palovarotene is a retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist that was studied in phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trials for the inhibition of new heterotopic ossification (HO) in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Despite numerous setbacks and regulatory delays, palovarotene is now the first approved FOP treatment in the U.S.

Enhancing RT-PCR Throughput and Sensitivity through Large-Scale Sample Pooling Using a Nano-Hybrid Membrane.

During the pandemic surge, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, pooling samples emerged as an efficient strategy to identify infected individuals in large groups. While pooling enhances RT-PCR throughput, reducing costs and resources, it dilutes positive samples with negative ones, lowering sensitivity and increasing false negatives. This study proposes a new method to address the trade-off between pool sizes and RT-PCR accuracy.

The association between health literacy, private health insurance, and medical expenditure in South Korea.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is crucial for effective healthcare utilization, but its relationship with private health insurance (PHI) enrollment and medical expenditure in South Korea remains unexplored.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the associations between HL, PHI enrollment, and annual out-of-pocket (OOP) medical expenditure in South Korea's universal healthcare system.

Methods: Using data from the 2021 Korea Health Panel Study, we analyzed 5,469 participants aged 19-65.

Integrating acute care surgery in South Korea: enhancing trauma and non-trauma emergency care.

Background: Trauma surgery is a fundamental aspect of medicine. According to the 2023 mortality report from Statistics Korea, external factors such as intentional self-harm and transportation incidents are leading causes of death among individuals aged 10 to 30, accounting for 7.9% of overall mortality.

Mixed vulnerabilities: the biological risk of high parity is aggravated by emergency referral in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda.

Identification of interacting vulnerabilities is essential to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). High parity (≥ 5 previous births) is an underemphasized biological vulnerability linked to poverty and affecting a sizeable proportion of SSA births. Despite increased risk, high parity women rarely use hospitals for childbirth.

Deer antler velvet (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) promotes fracture healing via partial BMP2-Smad mediated osteoblast differentiation.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND CERVUS ELAPHUS SIBIRICUS: (CES) has been traditionally used in Korean clinics to promote fracture healing based on its function of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening bones. However, experimental data supporting its efficacy are still insufficient. The aim of this study investigated the bone-union properties of CES in a femoral fracture animal model and its corresponding molecular mechanisms.

The performance of upper arm circumference for age in diagnosing severe acute malnutrition in children aged 6 to 59 months in South Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Lwiro Cohort.

Background: The studies on the use and performance of the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference for age (MUACZ) for the diagnosis of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are still rare. Our study aimed to analyze the performance of MUACZ for diagnosis of SAM in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo.

Methods: We analyzed a database of children admitted from 1987 to 2008 for management of SAM in the east of the DRC.

Evolving trends in the prevalence and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in Korea from 2010 to 2023: a population-based study.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the axial skeleton, resulting in severe pain, decreased mobility, and irreversible structural damage. This study explores the evolving prevalence, patient demographics, and treatment trends for AS in the Korean population from 2010 to 2023, alongside advancements in targeted therapies. This population-based study utilized data from the National Health Insurance Database covering 2010 to 2023.

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.