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Sepsis has a high mortality rate and leads to multi-organ failure, including lung injury. Inactive rhomboid protease family protein (iRhom2) has been identified as accountable for the release of TNF-α, a crucial mediator in the development of sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate the role of iRhom2 in sepsis and sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). TNF-α and IL-6 secretion in vitro by peritoneal macrophages from wild-type (WT) and iRhom2 knoukout (KO) mice was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced murine sepsis model was used for in vivo experiments. To evaluate the role of iRhom2 deficiency on survival during sepsis, both WT and iRhom2 KO mice were monitored for 8 consecutive days following the CLP. For histologic and biochemical examination, the mice were killed 18 h after CLP. iRhom2 deficiency improved the survival of mice after CLP. iRhom2 deficiency decreased CD68+ macrophage infiltration in lung tissues. Multiplex immunohistochemistry revealed that the proportion of Ki-67+ CD68+ macrophages was significantly lower in iRhom2 KO mice than that in WT mice after CLP. Moreover, CLP-induced release of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum were significantly inhibited by iRhom2 deficiency. iRhom2 deficiency reduced NF-kB p65 and IκBα phosphorylation after CLP. iRhom2 deficiency reduces sepsis-related mortality associated with attenuated macrophage infiltration and proliferation in early lung injury. iRhom2 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of sepsis and early stage of sepsis-induced ALI. Thus, iRhom2 may be a potential therapeutic target for the management of sepsis and sepsis-induced ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While ethical values and privacy concerns are considered factors that influence online consumers' decision-making process, few studies have examined the interaction effect between the two factors in the online brand development process. Therefore, this study proposed a research model to maximize the effectiveness of e-travel agents' ethical business on brand loyalty with a consideration of the roles of authenticity and two dimensions of trust. To do so, this study collected data from 405 online customers of e-travel agents. The empirical results indicated that consumers' perception of an e-travel agent's ethical values leads to higher levels of authenticity, trust, and brand loyalty. However, the empirical findings also addressed that the impact of authenticity on cognitive trust became significantly weaker under the high level of online privacy concerns. A deep understanding of the interaction between authenticity/brand trust and online privacy concerns is critical in the online brand development context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is one of the leading causes of visual damage and blindness, severely affecting the quality of life of affected children. It is characterized by cupping of the optic disc and loss of ganglion cells due to elevated intraocular pressure. While most PCG patients exhibit epiphora, photophobia, and buphthalmos with corneal opacity, variability in phenotypic manifestations is not uncommon. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of PCG affected individuals becomes relevant to preserve visual function throughout their lives. Most PCG cases are sporadic or autosomal recessive; however, an incompletely dominant autosomal dominant form arising from mutations in the TEK gene has recently been demonstrated. Here, we describe the clinical and mutational features of a cohort of Mexican patients with TEK‐related PCG. Our results support the involvement of the TEK gene as an important cause of the disease in our ethnic group and expand the mutational spectrum causing PCG by reporting 10 novel disease‐causing variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although nuts are a well-known healthy food group, the relationship between nut consumption and mortality remains unclear, particularly among Asians. This prospective cohort study examined the association between nut consumption and the risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality in Korean adults. Methods: Data from two cohorts (the Ansan-Ansung and Health-Examinees) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were used. A total of 114,140 individuals aged 40–79 years were included in the data analyses. Nut consumption was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and categorized into four groups: non-consumers, less than 1 serving/week, 1–2 servings/week, and 2 or more servings/week (one serving was 15 g of nuts). Mortality outcomes were determined based on the 2001–2021 death records from Statistics Korea. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality across nut consumption categories. A stratified subgroup analysis by health-related variables was also performed. Results: During a mean follow-up of 12.3 years, 4,559 deaths were recorded. After adjusting for covariates, the HR for all-cause mortality was 0.877 (95% CI = 0.772–0.996, p for trend = 0.006) in individuals with a nut consumption of 2 or more servings/week compared with that in non-consumers. Multivariable HRs for CVD mortality were 0.800 (95% CI = 0.681–0.939) in individuals consuming less than 1 serving/week, 0.656 (95% CI = 0.469–0.918) in those consuming 1–2 servings/week, and 1.009 (95% CI = 0.756–1.347) in those consuming 2 or more servings/week compared with that in non-consumers (p for trend = 0.080). No association was observed between nut consumption and cancer mortality. Stratified analysis identified significant interactions in the association between nut consumption and all-cause mortality by age, body mass index, and physical activity. Conclusions: Nut consumption was linearly associated with the reduced risk of all-cause mortality and showed a non-linear dose-response relationship with CVD mortality in Koreans, but had no association with cancer mortality. The effects of nut consumption, which have been inadequately investigated in this population, varied across different subgroups. These findings suggest that incorporating nuts into the diet should be encouraged for long-term health of Korean adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FCPs (free-form concrete panels) can be made using reusable and easily customizable silicone molds tailored to the unique shape of each panel. CNC (Computer Numerical Control)-type rods move vertically to press the silicone plate and shape the lower curved surface. Silicone caps are attached to the ends of the rods to facilitate the formation of smooth curves. However, there is currently no fixing method for the silicone caps and the silicone plate, which makes them vulnerable to the lateral pressure exerted during concrete pouring. Therefore, the current study used magnetic force to improve the lower shape of free-form molds. To this end, a neodymium silicone cap was designed by adding a neodymium magnet to the upper surface of the silicone cap. Moreover, two types of silicone plates were developed for fixing: one type is IS-LSM (Iron Sheet–Silicone Mold), which includes an iron sheet, while the other type is IP-LSM (Iron Powder–Silicone Mold), which is made by mixing iron powder. To verify these two techniques, FCP manufacturing experiments were conducted. The experimental results indicated that IS-LSM had a broader error range than existing techniques, thus rendering it unusable, while IP-LSM yielded significant values. Consequently, a t-test was conducted to validate the data for IP-LSM at 30%, 50%, and 70%, and it was confirmed that the difference in error data was significant at a 95% confidence level. Future research in this area should investigate the addition of iron powder to the silicone plate and a side fixing method for the silicone mold. Such research would help advance the production technology of free-form concrete panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low fertility is a critical social problem worldwide, and infertility has a prevalence of 15%. This cross-sectional study aimed to understand the factors affecting the usage and satisfaction of Korean medicine (KM) in subfertile women. An online survey was conducted from 3 November to 8 November 2021. The survey collected basic information, KM treatment experience, and satisfaction from women who experienced poor pregnancy. The t-test and chi-square test (χ2-test) were used to determine the overall characteristics of the subjects and factors affecting the utilization and satisfaction of KM treatment. Of the total of 29,465 people, 4922 read the survey email, and 601 responded. After excluding 51 respondents with questionable response patterns, 550 respondents were included in the final analysis. Of these, 43.1% (n = 237) had experience with conventional treatment, and 16.5% (n = 91) had received KM treatment. The group that received both KM treatment and CM treatment (n = 59, 24.9%) was significantly more prevalent than the group that received KM treatment alone (n = 32, 10.2%) (p = 0.00). Women who had given birth more than once or held a master's degree were significantly more willing to participate in the 'KM Support Project for Subfertility' program. Our findings suggest that subfertile patients prefer integrated treatment that combines KM and CM treatments. Further studies are needed to assess the status of integrative medicine treatment, satisfaction with each KM intervention, factors for low satisfaction, and patient requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to perceive and adapt to environmental changes is crucial for the survival of all organisms. Neural functional imaging, particularly in model organisms, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, provides valuable insights into how animals sense and process external cues through their nervous systems. Because of its fully mapped neural anatomy, transparent body, and genetic tractability, C. elegans serves as an ideal model for these studies. This review focuses on advanced methods for neural functional imaging in C. elegans, highlighting calcium imaging techniques, lab-on-a-chip technologies, and their applications in the study of various sensory modalities, including chemosensation, mechanosensation, thermosensation, photosensation, and magnetosensation. We discuss the benefits of these methods in terms of precision, reproducibility, and ability to study dynamic neural processes in real time, ultimately advancing our understanding of the fundamental principles of neural activity and connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the effects of spousal support and parent–nurse partnership on caregiver burden of parents of children with chronic disease. Background: With the trend of increasing the global number of children with chronic diseases, the parental caregiver burden has become increasingly prevalent. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: The study participants included 115 parents of children diagnosed with chronic disease at a general hospital in South Korea. The study duration was 4 June 2021–30 April 2022. Self‐reported measures included the parent–nurse partnership scale, the Korean version of the Parenting Alliance Inventory and the family caregiver burden scale. T‐tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and hierarchical linear multiple regression were conducted using IBM SPSS version 26.0. This study followed STROBE guideline. Results: Parental caregiver burden was significantly negatively associated with spousal support and parent–nurse partnership. Factors significantly influencing caregiver burden were parental alcohol consumption; child's inherited metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, disease relating to haematological tumours or kidney disease diagnosis; child's health perceived as poor by parents; child's dependency perceived as high by parents; hospitalization recency; and low spousal support. These factors accounted for 65% of caregiver burden. Conclusion: Parental caregiver burden was related to spousal support and parent–nurse partnership, but the primary factor affecting caregiver burden was spousal support. Relevance to clinical practice: The results highlighted the role of healthcare professionals in educating parents of children with chronic diseases to facilitate spousal support and have implications for nursing and community‐based interventions to reduce parental caregiver burden. Furthermore, they underlined that policymakers and other stakeholders should pay attention to the parental caregiver burden through government‐based, family‐centered strategies. Patient or public contribution: Parents of children with chronic disease were recruited to perform the self‐administered survey in the phase of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the circadian rhythms of tongue features according to the effects of physiological phases over a 24 h period. (2) Methods: Fifteen healthy participants aged 20 to 69 years were recruited. The participants did not have current chronic diseases or past diseases and had to meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The participants stayed at the Gil Hospital for a duration of 2 nights and 3 days. On the first day, at 18:00, they consumed their allocated portions of food and water and then completed a questionnaire. At approximately 21:00, their tongue images were acquired using a computerized tongue image acquisition system, following which they slept for 8 h, commencing at 23:00. Measurements were taken from 07:00 through 21:00 on the second day, and the final acquisition was taken at 07:00 on the following morning, resulting in a total of eight images. The circadian rhythm was authenticated and quantified utilizing the single cosinor analysis, a technique for periodic regression analysis for fitting a 24 h cosine curve. (3) Results: Cosinor analysis revealed that all tongue features were significantly related to circadian rhythm. (4) Conclusions: The results of this study may be important for considering the time of day at which the tongue is observed and tongue status is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the trend of informal care (unpaid care provided by family or other caregivers) provided to nursing home residents before or during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study assessed this trend during 2010–2021, for all and Medicaid versus non‐Medicaid residents. Methods: Using data from the RAND Health and Retirement Study longitudinal file, our study sample included a total of 2025 resident‐years (860 for Medicaid and 1165 for non‐Medicaid residents). We fit two‐part regression models to determine adjusted trends in average amount of informal care over time, and difference by resident Medicaid status. Results: Informal care received by residents reduced substantially over time, from an average of 39.2 h in the past month of interview in 2010–11 to 23.2 h in 2018–19, and then to 11.2 h in the COVID‐19 pandemic (2020–21). The reduced hours were due to both reduced percentages of nursing home residents who received any informal care and reduced hours of care among those who did receive it over time. Multivariable analyses confirmed this trend and similar downward trends for Medicaid versus non‐Medicaid residents. Medicaid residents on average received 10.02 fewer hours of informal care per month (95% confidence interval −17.16, −2.87; p = 0.006) than non‐Medicaid residents after adjustment for resident characteristics and time trends. Conclusion: Informal care provided to nursing home residents during 2010–2021 reduced over time, especially during the COVID‐19 pandemic (2020–21). Medicaid residents tended to receive less informal care than non‐Medicaid residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undeniably, COVID-19 disrupted higher education. The concepts of traditional learning were challenged, online learning was thrust into the mainstream in colleges and universities, and the student population was unavoidably affected. It became apparent that maintaining the status quo that existed prior to the pandemic was not the path to the future sustainability of higher education. As higher education institutions began the long road to recovery, important challenges emerged due to increased demand for online learning and emotional health concerns for students. The current research collected data from online undergraduates at private and public universities in the United States for multivariate data analyses to examine controllable elements in the online learning environment that can enhance student quality of life and psychological well-being. These elements relate to perseverance for students and may promote the sustainability of higher education institutions. The focus of this study is to emphasize the importance of reinforcing online students' emotional health as an important sustainability strategy for higher education. The findings confirm that higher education institutions can facilitate online students' quality of life and psychological well-being by implementing elements into the classroom that create procedural and interpersonal justice, which enhances the formation of social and structural bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been suggested that allergic diseases may increase after Kawasaki disease (KD). We aimed to analyze the temporal patterns of allergic disease incidence after KD. Methods: A nationwide population‐based matched cohort study was conducted using data from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database. Patients aged <5 years diagnosed with KD and their 1:3 propensity score‐matched controls were included. Three cohorts were established: Cohort A, patients with allergies; Cohort B, patients without allergies; and Cohort C, patients without allergies, but excluding patients with birth history and underlying medical conditions. Cumulative incidence rates (%) and associated hospital visits for allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, and asthma were compared between the cases and controls during the 6‐year follow‐up period. Results: The study population comprised 8678 patients diagnosed with KD and 26,034 controls. In Cohort A, although initially, there were intergroup differences in the number of hospital visits for certain allergic diseases, these differences were inconsistent and varied depending on the type of allergic disease. Over time, the differences narrowed, and by the sixth year, the gap had decreased significantly. In Cohorts B and C, the initial incidence rates of the four allergic diseases and associated hospital visits were lower in patients with KD as compared to controls. However, with a faster rate of increase, the incidence rates and number of hospital visits eventually surpassed those of the controls. Conclusions: The pattern of delayed increase in cumulative incidence rates and hospital visits for allergic diseases after KD suggests the possibility of a shared genetic or immunologic susceptibility between KD and allergic diseases, which becomes evident over time, rather than a direct influence of KD resulting in allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increased awareness and availability of genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome for over 20 years, there is still significant underuse of cascade genetic testing among at-risk relatives. This scoping review synthesized evidence regarding psychosocial barriers and facilitators of family communication and/or uptake of cascade genetic testing in relatives from HBOC families. Search terms included 'hereditary breast and ovarian cancer' and 'cascade genetic testing' for studies published from 2012–2022. Through searching common databases, and manual search of references, 480 studies were identified after excluding duplications. Each article was reviewed by two researchers independently and 20 studies were included in the final analysis. CASP, RoBANS 2.0, RoB 2.0, and MMAT were used to assess the quality of included studies. A convergent data synthesis method was used to integrate evidence from quantitative and narrative data into categories and subcategories. Evidence points to 3 categories and 12 subcategories of psychosocial barriers and facilitators for cascade testing: (1) facilitators (belief in health protection and prevention; family closeness; decisional empowerment; family support, sense of responsibility; self-efficacy; supportive health professionals); (2) bidirectional concepts (information; perception of genetic/cancer consequences; negative emotions and attitude); and (3) barriers (negative reactions from family and negative family dynamics). Healthcare providers need to systematically evaluate these psychosocial factors, strengthen facilitators and alleviate barriers to promote informed decision-making for communication of genetic test results and uptake of genetic testing. Bidirectional factors merit special consideration and tailored approaches, as they can potentially have a positive or negative influence on family communication and uptake of genetic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrometallurgical gold recovery processes play a pivotal role in the gold mining industry, contributing to more than 90% of global gold production. Among the array of techniques available, the Merrill–Crowe process, adsorption, ion exchange, and solvent extraction are central in extracting gold from leach solutions. While the Merrill–Crowe process and gold complex adsorption onto activated carbon represent historical cornerstones, their inherent limitations have prompted the emergence of more recent innovations in ion exchange and solvent extraction, offering enhanced selectivity, control, and sustainability. The evolution of modern organic chemistry has significantly influenced the progress of ion exchange technology, mainly through the introduction of advanced polymer matrix synthetic resins. At the same time, novel solvents tailored to gold complex interactions have revitalized ion exchange and solvent extraction. Introducing ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents has also added a new dimension to efforts to improve gold extraction metallurgy. This paper reviews these cutting-edge developments and their potential to revolutionize the hydrometallurgical gold recovery process, addressing the pressing need for improved efficiency and environmental responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells use signaling pathways to sense and respond to their environments. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway produces context-specific responses. Here, we combined modeling and experimental analysis to study the dependence of the output of the TGF-β pathway on the abundance of signaling molecules in the pathway. We showed that the TGF-β pathway processes the variation of TGF-β receptor abundance using Liebig's law of the minimum, meaning that the output-modifying factor is the signaling protein that is most limited, to determine signaling responses across cell types and in single cells. We found that the abundance of either the type I (TGFBR1) or type II (TGFBR2) TGF-β receptor determined the responses of cancer cell lines, such that the receptor with relatively low abundance dictates the response. Furthermore, nuclear SMAD2 signaling correlated with the abundance of TGF-β receptor in single cells depending on the relative expression levels of TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. A similar control principle could govern the heterogeneity of signaling responses in other signaling pathways. Author summary: The same cell signal can often initiate different signaling responses depending on the cellular context, but the underlying control principle remains unclear. In this study, we explored the complex world of cell signaling, focusing on the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway that plays a crucial role in regulating fundamental cellular processes such as cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. We were intrigued by how variations in the abundance of signaling molecules could impact the responses of the TGF-β pathway in different types of cells and within individual cells. Our investigation led to an insightful discovery—the "minority control rule" in the TGF-β pathway, similar to Liebig's law of the minimum. This minority control rule suggests that the activity of TGF-β signaling is governed by the TGF-β receptor present at the lowest level, much like the shortest wood plate determining the capacity of a cask. By uncovering this principle, we shed light on the significance of considering the relative abundance of signaling proteins, especially receptors, in designing strategies aimed at modulating the activities of signaling pathways for therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma atomic layer etching (ALE) processes for SiO2 and Si3N4 and reactive ion etching (RIE) processes for SiO2 with hole patterns were developed using C4F8 and the low global warming potential gases of perfluoroisopropyl vinyl ether (PIPVE) and perfluoropropyl vinyl ether (PPVE). The ALE windows of SiO2 and Si3N4 were in the range of 50.0–57.5 V for all precursors. Etch per cycle of SiO2 was determined to be 5.5 Å/cycle (C4F8), 3.3 Å/cycle (PIPVE), and 5.4 Å/cycle (PPVE), all lower than that of Si3N4. PPVE reduced global warming emissions by 49%, demonstrating better vertical etch profiles in RIE compared to C4F8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Microglia/macrophages line the border of demyelinated lesions in both cerebral white matter and the cortex in the brains of multiple sclerosis patients. Microglia/macrophages associated with chronic white matter lesions are thought to be responsible for slow lesion expansion and disability progression in progressive multiple sclerosis, whereas those lining gray matter lesions are less studied. Profiling these microglia/macrophages could help to focus therapies on genes or pathways specific to lesion expansion and disease progression. Methods: We compared the morphology and transcript profiles of microglia/macrophages associated with borders of white matter (WM line) and subpial gray matter lesions (GM line) using laser capture microscopy. We performed RNA sequencing on isolated cells followed by immunocytochemistry to determine the distribution of translational products of transcripts increased in WM line microglia. Results: Cells in the WM line appear activated, with shorter processes and larger cell bodies, whereas those in the GM line appear more homeostatic, with smaller cell bodies and multiple thin processes. Transcript profiling revealed 176 genes in WM lines and 111 genes in GM lines as differentially expressed. Transcripts associated with immune activation and iron homeostasis were increased in WM line microglia, whereas genes belonging to the canonical Wnt signaling pathway were increased in GM line microglia. Interpretation: We propose that the mechanisms of demyelination and dynamics of lesion expansion are responsible for differential transcript expression in WM lines and GM lines, and posit that increased expression of the Fc epsilon receptor, spleen tyrosine kinase, and Bruton's tyrosine kinase, play a key role in regulating microglia/macrophage function at the border of chronic active white matter lesions. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:907–916 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), demonstrating HGS as an effective indicator for evaluating HRQoL of patients with cancer. Analyzing 1657 Korean adult cancer patients (644 males, 1013 females) aged ≥ 20 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014–2019), HGS was standardized based on body mass index and categorized by sex. HRQoL was assessed using the Euro Quality of Life-5-Dimension 3-Level version (EQ-5D-3L) Index. Lower relative HGS was associated with decreased HRQoL in female patients, while no significant association was found in male patients. The lowest quartile of relative HGS exhibited a 2.5-fold decrease in HRQoL compared to the highest quartile (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.59–3.95, p < 0.001). Both male and female patients with cancer were affected by age, subjective health perception, and stress recognition regarding HRQoL. This study suggests that HGS may be associated with the HRQoL of female patients with cancer, emphasizing that the HGS measurement can be effectively utilized as a pivotal tool for evaluating HRQoL in female patients with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of wearable and wireless electronic devices, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is attracting interest as a candidate for portable power. Many studies are conducted to increase the surface charge density of the TENG, such as external charge pumping or external electron excitation strategies. However, there are limitations in that another additional external energy source is required. Here, a TENG–capacitor (TC) coupling system that can maximize energy generation and storage efficiency within a limited volume is proposed. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the electric field induced on capacitor increases the fermi energy of positive triboelectric material, resulting in more charge transfer between two triboelectric materials. TC coupling system enhances TENG output performance and the capacitor charging rate in a virtuous cycle. This study provides new insights into TENG structural design and an important guideline for the use of TENG as a portable power source for wearable and wireless applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive alcohol consumption has been consistently linked to depression. This study, utilizing nationwide samples from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 21,440) examined the association between drinking behaviors and depressive symptoms while also exploring the influence of sleep duration on this relationship. Demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors were included as covariates in the multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess their relationships with depressive symptoms. Based on their sleep duration, the participants were divided into subgroups to explore how sleep duration affects the relationship between drinking behaviors and depressive symptoms. Moderate alcohol consumption (1–4 times a month) was associated with reduced likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms in women (p = 0.024), with a similar trend observed among men (p = 0.001). Men who started consuming alcohol before the age of 19 had a higher likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms (p = 0.048). Only women who consumed more alcohol per occasion (≥ 7 drinks) had higher odds of depressive symptoms (p = 0.001). This study revealed complex factors that influence depressive symptoms, including alcohol consumption and sleep duration. This highlights the importance of tailored interventions based on sleep duration and sociodemographic characteristics for preventing and treating depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates that consumers' perceptions of voice assistant device (VAD) elements promote psychological ownership and interface flow experience, resulting in satisfaction with, and loyalty toward VADs. To that end, this study collected VAD users in the United States and conducted structural equation modeling to empirically examine the relationships among the variables. The empirical findings indicated that perceived artificiality and intelligence had significant influences on psychological ownership and flow experience. In addition, the empirical results demonstrated that psychological ownership resulted in flow experience with VADs, significantly affecting customer satisfaction and loyalty toward VADs. Finally, customer satisfaction had a significant impact on loyalty. Based on the empirical findings, this study provided meaningful implications for marketing scholars and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study harnesses the power of natural language processing (NLP) to explore the relationship between dietary patterns and metabolic health outcomes among Korean adults using data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII). Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis, we identified three distinct dietary patterns: "Traditional and Staple", "Communal and Festive", and "Westernized and Convenience-Oriented". These patterns reflect the diversity of dietary preferences in Korea and reveal the cultural and social dimensions influencing eating habits and their potential implications for public health, particularly concerning obesity and metabolic disorders. Integrating NLP-based indices, including sentiment scores and the identified dietary patterns, into our predictive models significantly enhanced the accuracy of obesity and dyslipidemia predictions. This improvement was consistent across various machine learning techniques—XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost—demonstrating the efficacy of NLP methodologies in refining disease prediction models. Our findings underscore the critical role of dietary patterns as indicators of metabolic diseases. The successful application of NLP techniques offers a novel approach to public health and nutritional epidemiology, providing a deeper understanding of the diet–disease nexus. This study contributes to the evolving field of personalized nutrition and emphasizes the potential of leveraging advanced computational tools to inform targeted nutritional interventions and public health strategies aimed at mitigating the prevalence of metabolic disorders in the Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a daily environment, several vibration energies have low amplitude and broad range of frequencies, and it is crucial to harvest them efficiently in a single triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Here, a multi‐degree of freedom (DOF) vibration system is coupled with TENG to make several resonant frequencies in a single device. When the number of DOF increases in the system, the number of resonant frequencies also increases. These resonant frequencies are calculated by MATLAB software using the masses and spring constant of DOF vibration system. With the masses of 20 g and the spring constant of 82.712 N m−1, it is found that 1‐DOF has one resonant frequency (20.47 Hz), 2‐DOF has two resonant frequencies (12.63 and 33.17 Hz), and 3‐DOF has three resonant frequencies (9.12, 25.55, and 36.87 Hz). At each resonant frequency, the displacement of all weight layers increases due to the constructive interference of resonance, resulting in higher output than other frequencies at the frequency sweep experiment. In addition, the magnitude and phase of output signals obtained in friction regions are evaluated through COMSOL simulation. A self‐powered wireless sensor module with 3‐DOF TENGs to detect the humidity/temperature and transmit the data every 30 min by harvesting vibration energy is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a novel OLED material discovery process and several applications based on AI technology. This process in which six AI modules that generate molecular structures with active learning algorithm, predict multiple properties, analyze novelty, predict synthetic scheme, predict relative synthesizability and predict device characteristics are linked one after another. Also, we introduce some cases in which materials designed by this process were actually synthesized and applied to devices for evaluation to confirm the improvement of characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural language processing (NLP) technology has recently used to predict substance properties based on their Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System (SMILES). We aimed to develop a model predicting human skin sensitizers by integrating text features derived from SMILES with in vitro test outcomes. The dataset on SMILES, physicochemical properties, in vitro tests (DPRA, KeratinoSensTM, h-CLAT, and SENS-IS assays), and human potency categories for 122 substances sourced from the Cosmetics Europe database. The ChemBERTa model was employed to analyze the SMILES of substances. The last hidden layer embedding of ChemBERTa was tested with other features. Given the modest dataset size, we trained five XGBoost models using subsets of the training data, and subsequently employed bagging to create the final model. Notably, the features computed from SMILES played a pivotal role in the model for distinguishing sensitizers and non-sensitizers. The final model demonstrated a classification accuracy of 80% and an AUC-ROC of 0.82, effectively discriminating sensitizers from non-sensitizers. Furthermore, the model exhibited an accuracy of 82% and an AUC-ROC of 0.82 in classifying strong and weak sensitizers. In summary, we demonstrated that the integration of NLP of SMILES with in vitro test results can enhance the prediction of health hazard associated with chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR-Cas13 is widely used for programmable RNA interference, imaging, and editing. In this study, we develop a light-inducible Cas13 system called paCas13 by fusing Magnet with fragment pairs. The most effective split site, N351/C350, was identified and found to exhibit a low background and high inducibility. We observed significant light-induced perturbation of endogenous transcripts by paCas13. We further present a light-inducible base-editing system, herein called the padCas13 editor, by fusing ADAR2 to catalytically inactive paCas13 fragments. The padCas13 editor enabled reversible RNA editing under light and was effective in editing A-to-I and C-to-U RNA bases, targeting disease-relevant transcripts, and fine-tuning endogenous transcripts in mammalian cells in vitro. The padCas13 editor was also used to adjust post-translational modifications and demonstrated the ability to activate target transcripts in a mouse model in vivo. We therefore present a light-inducible RNA-modulating technique based on CRISPR-Cas13 that enables target RNAs to be diversely manipulated in vitro and in vivo, including through RNA degradation and base editing. The approach using the paCas13 system can be broadly applicable to manipulating RNA in various disease states and physiological processes, offering potential additional avenues for research and therapeutic development.Cas13 systems suffer from a lack of spatiotemporal control. Here the authors report paCas13, a light-inducible Cas13 system created by fusing Magnet with fragment pairs; they also report padCas13, a light-inducible base-editing system by fusing ADAR2 to catalytically inactive paCas13 fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that during the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 20% of children and adolescents in the United States experienced mental health issues that became a significant social concern. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the majority of adolescents maintain positive emotions despite the crisis. This cross-sectional and descriptive study delves into the emotional states of adolescents during the pandemic, considering the viewpoints of both adolescents and their parents, with a specific focus on Hispanic adolescents. Survey results revealed that most adolescents reported positive and happy moods. However, a percentage of adolescents experienced worry, significant changes in feelings, and loneliness as a result of the physical and social isolation associated with virtual learning. Unfortunately, most surveyed Hispanic parents did not adequately recognize their adolescents' mood changes well. This lack of awareness, caused by factors such as an insufficient understanding about the importance of adolescent mental health, cultural reasons, language barriers, low education, unstable jobs, and more, could lead to missed opportunities for timely mental health interventions. This study seeks to provide a comprehensive discussion on the mental health of adolescents, while also advocating for the emotional wellbeing of Hispanic adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we examine peripheral blood memory T cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 BA.4/BA.5 variant spike among vaccinated individuals with or without Omicron breakthrough infections. We provide evidence supporting a lack of original antigenic sin in CD8+ T cell responses targeting the spike. We show that BNT162b2-induced memory T cells respond to the BA.4/BA.5 spike. Among individuals with BA.1/BA.2 breakthrough infections, IFN-γ–producing CD8+ T cell responses against the BA.4/BA.5 spike increased. In a subgroup with BA.2 breakthrough infections, IFN-γ–producing CD8+ T cell responses against the BA.2-mutated spike region increased and correlated directly with responses against the BA.4/BA.5 spike, indicating that BA.2 spike–specific CD8+ T cells elicited by BA.2 breakthrough infection cross-react with the BA.4/BA.5 spike. We identified CD8+ T cell epitope peptides that are present in the spike of BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 but not the original spike. These peptides are fully conserved in the spike of now-dominant XBB lineages. Our study shows that breakthrough infection by early Omicron subvariants elicits CD8+ T cell responses that recognize epitopes within the spike of newly emerging subvariants. Editor's summary: Recent studies have suggested that memory T cells play a critical role in protecting individuals immunized with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against variants. Kim et al. tracked memory T cell responses in a cohort of vaccinated individuals in Korea who experienced breakthrough Omicron subvariant infection. They confirmed that BNT162b2 vaccination induced memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific to BA.4/BA.5 spike, even if these individuals had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Breakthrough infection with early Omicron subvariants (BA.1/BA.2) induced an increase in cross-reactive CD8+ T cell responses specific to BA.4/BA.5 spike. They identified peptides in the BA.2 spike that were fully conserved in BA.4/BA.5 and later subvariants but absent in original spike. Together, these findings provide further evidence that breakthrough infection can induce cross-reactive memory T cell responses that contribute to protection against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 subvariants. —Christiana Fogg [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global incidence of quinolone antimicrobial resistance poses a considerable public health concern. The aquatic environment, particularly wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), serves as a major reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), leading to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors contributing to quinolone antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli isolates obtained from effluents of 33 WWTPs. A total of 1082 E. coli isolates were analyzed, 32.6% and 17.1% of which showed resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of antibiotic resistance demonstrated that quinolone resistance primarily originated from chromosomal mutations in the gyrA, parC, and parE genes, known as quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs). The amino acid substitution at codon 83 in gyrA was closely associated with nalidixic acid resistance, whereas substitutions at codon 87 in gyrA and codon 80 in parC were significantly associated with ciprofloxacin resistance. The plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes qnrS and qnrB were identified in 41 isolates (11.5%) and 15 isolates (4.2%), respectively. Thus, we confirmed that the quinolone resistance in E. coli in WWTPs primarily occurs through QRDR mutations rather than through the acquisition of PMQR genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most quinolone-resistant isolates belonged to the B1, A, B2, and D phylogenetic groups. Notably, the B2 group, which is responsible for extraintestinal infections, exhibited the highest rate of quinolone resistance. These findings provide novel insights into the presence and mechanisms of quinolone resistance in E. coli isolates from WWTPs, emphasizing the need for further research and understanding of quinolone resistance in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to understand how social and gender norms affect child labour in India, which is mainly defined by a work-hours threshold. It develops a regression model using two datasets – the Indian Human Development Survey 2011/2012 and the World Value Survey India 2012 – to predict child-labour risks based on such norms. The gender and development approach provides a theoretical foundation for applying norms in association with social and gender relations. The results of the regression model have revealed that a norm supportive of women's work and a benevolent attitude norm help reduce the risk of child labour. In contrast, seclusion norms show an opposite association with child labour. Child-labour practices are varied because agents accept or deny norms as part of the social structure. Our findings confirm that the transformation of restricted norms on gender could help reduce child labour in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a complex disease resulting from chronic liver injury associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation. Recently, the importance of developing multi-target drugs as a strategy to address complex diseases such as NASH has been growing; however, their manufacturing processes remain time- and cost-intensive and inefficient. To overcome these limitations, we developed UniStac, a novel enzyme-mediated conjugation platform for multi-specific drug development. UniStac demonstrated high conjugation yields, optimal thermal stabilities, and robust biological activities. We designed a tetra-specific compound, C-192, targeting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), glucagon (GCG), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) simultaneously for the treatment of NASH using UniStac. The biological activity and treatment efficacy of C-192 were confirmed both in vitro and in vivo using a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced mouse model. C-192 exhibited profound therapeutic efficacies compared to conventional drugs, including liraglutide and dulaglutide. C-192 significantly improved alanine transaminase levels, triglyceride accumulation, and the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of UniStac in creating multi-specific drugs and confirmed the therapeutic potential of C-192, a drug that integrates multiple mechanisms into a single molecule for the treatment of NASH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Recently developed cardiac patches provide mechanical support and additional conductive paths to promote electrical signal propagation in the MI area to synchronize cardiac excitation and contraction. Cardiac patches based on conductive polymers offer attractive features; however, the modest levels of elasticity and high impedance interfaces limit their mechanical and electrical performance. These structures also operate as permanent implants, even in cases where their utility is limited to the healing period of tissue damaged by the MI. The work presented here introduces a highly conductive cardiac patch that combines bioresorbable metals and polymers together in a hybrid material structure configured in a thin serpentine geometry that yields elastic mechanical properties. Finite element analysis guides optimized choices of layouts in these systems. Regular and synchronous contraction of human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes on the cardiac patch and ex vivo studies offer insights into the essential properties and the bio‐interface. These results provide additional options in the design of cardiac patches to treat MI and other cardiac disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between polymers and graphene can have synergistic effects such as doping, thereby improving the performance of graphene-based devices. In this study, the effects of doping graphene with the n-type dopant polyethylenimine were investigated. The doping-induced changes in the optical contrast of the graphene films were investigated through simulations and experiment. It was experimentally observed that the doping induced a maximum decrease of 63% in the sheet resistance of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) films. The effects of the doping on RGO-based supercapacitor electrodes were examined; the specific capacitance was improved by approximately 3%–11%, with a maximum value of 205 ± 22 F/g (or 260 ± 50 F/cm2). These results can facilitate future research on combining polymers and graphene-based materials for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades there has been a dramatic increase in Korean restaurants in Frankfurt, Germany. Based on ethnographic research conducted in Frankfurt in 2022, this research explores multiple situational factors across socio‐structural layers influencing Korean restaurant owners in their decision to open their businesses. The study found that the economic, cultural, and social contexts in Germany, such as visa and settlement schemes, market conditions, and the cosmopolitan lifestyle in Frankfurt have been vital factors for Korean immigrants in Germany while ethnic networks and resources have been inconsequential. Korean restaurant owners in Frankfurt also contribute greatly to the shaping of trends in terms of interest in Korean food and culture in the host society through their own agency and in their interactions with local people. In the context of a rapid rise in popularity of Korean culture and food internationally, this study points to an uneasy fit between the case of Korean restaurant owners in Frankfurt and the prevailing conceptual frameworks of immigrant entrepreneurship in Europe, leading to the need to approach their case from new angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SB12 is being developed as a proposed biosimilar to eculizumab reference product (RP), a humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG2/4 kappa immunoglobulin) that binds to the human C5 complement protein. Binding to this protein inhibits complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis by blocking its cleavage into C5a and C5b. Eculizumab RP is indicated for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) to reduce hemolysis, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) to inhibit complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy, generalized myasthenia gravis who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in adult patients who are anti-aquaporin-4 antibody-positive. Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate structural, physicochemical, and biological similarity between eculizumab RP and SB12 using various state-of-the-art analytical methods. Methods: Comprehensive analytical characterization was conducted with side-by-side comparison of SB12 with European Union (EU) and United States (US) eculizumab RPs using various analytical methods (more than 40 state-of-the-art assays). Comparisons included purity, product-related impurity, charge heterogeneity, primary structure, post-translational modification, higher-order structure, quantity, Fab-related biological activities (potency and binding activity), and Fc-related biological activities. Results: Based on the analytical similarity assessment, the structural, physicochemical, and biological characterization results demonstrated that SB12 is highly similar to the EU and US eculizumab RP. In the structural aspects, it was confirmed that there is no difference between post-translational modification profiles and higher-order structures of SB12 compared with the eculizumab RP. Product-related impurities in the form of aggregates and charge variants were also confirmed to be similar. Mechanism of action (MoA)-related biological activities showed that SB12 is highly similar to the EU and US eculizumab RP with respect to overall critical and non-critical quality attributes analyzed. Moreover, similarity of comparative binding tendency of SB12 and eculizumab RP to Fc gamma receptors and C1q was confirmed through additional characterization methods. Based on these results, SB12 is expected to have highly similar safety and efficacy compared with eculizumab RP. Conclusion: In summary, the overall analytical characterization and similarity assessment results show that SB12 is highly similar to the EU and US eculizumab RP in terms of structural, physicochemical, biophysical, and biological attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study are to examine the effects of relational bonds (i.e., financial, social, and structural) on two aspects of members' trust toward their online gaming community (i.e., cognitive and affective); to investigate the interrelationship between two aspects of trust and members' trust toward brands the online gaming community advertises based on the trust transfer theory; and to test the impacts of two aspects of trust and brand trust on purchase intentions. To do so, this study collects data from League of Legends (LoL) video-game users in the United States who have been involved in the LoL Inven community as members. The empirical findings indicate that cognitive trust toward an online gaming community is significantly influenced by financial bonds, while affective trust toward an online gaming community is significantly impacted by financial, social, and structural bonds. In addition, cognitive trust has significant effects on affective trust and brand trust, and affective trust significantly influences brand trust, resulting in a higher level of purchase intentions among online gaming community members. Based on the empirical findings, this study has theoretical and managerial implications for advertising strategies in the online environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Conventional natural killer (NK)-based anticancer immunotherapy has a limitation: a culture period of approximately 2 weeks is required to increase the number and activity of NK cells. By transferring functional allogeneic mitochondria into NK cells, we demonstrated that the activity of NK cells and their cytotoxicity were significantly enhanced. This approach could potentially offer a timely therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment without the need for in vitro culture, which can be time-consuming and costly. An in vitro culture period of at least 2 weeks is required to produce sufficient natural killer (NK) cells for immunotherapy, which are the key effectors in hematological malignancy treatment. Mitochondrial damage and fragmentation reduce the NK cell immune surveillance capacity. Thus, we hypothesized that the transfer of healthy mitochondria to NK cells could enhance their anticancer effects. Allogeneic healthy mitochondria isolated from WRL-68 cells were transferred to NK cells. We evaluated NK cells' proliferative capacity, cell cycle, and cytotoxic capacity against various cancer cell types by analyzing specific lysis and the cytotoxic granules released. The relationship between the transferred allogenic mitochondrial residues and NK cell function was determined. After mitochondrial transfer, the NK cell proliferation rate was 1.2-fold higher than that of control cells. The mitochondria-treated NK cells secreted a 2.7-, 4.1-, and 5-fold higher amount of granzyme B, perforin, and IFN-γ, respectively, when co-cultured with K562 cells. The specific lysis of various solid cancer cells increased 1.3–1.6-fold. However, once allogeneic mitochondria were eliminated, the NK cell activity returned to the pre-mitochondrial transfer level. Mitochondria-enriched NK cells have the potential to be used as a novel solid cancer treatment agent, without the need for in vitro cytokine-induced culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: It is still controversial whether tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) has a lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development than entecavir (ETV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Furthermore, other antiviral treatment-related outcomes need to be evaluated between the two antivirals to provide essential information for clinical practice. Using a multicenter cohort of 4210 CHB patients, we demonstrated that ETV and TDF are comparable in terms of HCC development as well as mortality, incidence of liver-related outcome, extrahepatic malignancy or new decompensation events, and seroconversion rates. Patients treated with TDF experienced more side effects than those treated with ETV. The results of this study can be applied to the development of a personalized antiviral treatment strategy for CHB patients. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is reportedly superior or at least comparable to entecavir (ETV) in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients; however, it remains controversial. This study aimed to conduct comprehensive comparisons between the two antivirals. CHB patients initially treated with ETV or TDF between 2012 and 2015 at 20 referral centers in Korea were included. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of HCC. The secondary outcomes included death or liver transplantation, liver-related outcome, extrahepatic malignancy, development of cirrhosis, decompensation events, complete virologic response (CVR), seroconversion rate, and safety. Baseline characteristics were balanced using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Overall, 4210 patients were enrolled: 1019 received ETV and 3191 received TDF. During the median follow-ups of 5.6 and 5.5 years, 86 and 232 cases of HCC were confirmed in the ETV and TDF groups, respectively. There was no difference in HCC incidence between the groups both before (p = 0.36) and after IPTW was applied (p = 0.81). Although the incidence of extrahepatic malignancy was significantly higher in the ETV group than in the TDF group before weighting (p = 0.02), no difference was confirmed after IPTW (p = 0.29). The cumulative incidence rates of death or liver transplantation, liver-related outcome, new cirrhosis development, and decompensation events were also comparable in the crude population (p = 0.24–0.91) and in the IPTW-adjusted population (p = 0.39–0.80). Both groups exhibited similar rates of CVR (ETV vs. TDF: 95.1% vs. 95.8%, p = 0.38), and negative conversion of hepatitis B e antigen (41.6% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.09) or surface antigen (2.8% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.10). Compared to the ETV group, more patients in the TDF group changed initial antivirals due to side effects, including decreased kidney function (n = 17), hypophosphatemia (n = 20), and osteoporosis (n = 18). In this large-scale multicenter study, ETV and TDF demonstrated comparable effectiveness across a broad range of outcomes in patients with treatment-naïve CHB during similar follow-up periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the relation between plant-based dietary patterns and digestive system cancers. This study investigated the prospective association between 3 pre-defined indices of plant-based dietary pattern and risk of digestive system cancers, as a whole or individually. We utilized data from 3 prospective cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study (1984–2018, 74,496 women aged 65 ± 10.9 years), Nurses' Health Study II (1991–2017, 91,705 women aged 49.3 ± 8.3 years), and Health Professionals Follow up Study (1986–2016, 45,472 men aged 65.4 ± 11.0 years). We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of digestive system cancers across 3 plant-based diet index scores: overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). During a follow-up of 4,914,985 person-years, we identified 6,518 cases of digestive system cancers. In the pooled analysis of 3 cohorts, the HRs (95% CIs) per 10-point increase in hPDI score were 0.93 (0.89, 0.97) for total digestive system cancer, 0.94 (0.89, 0.99) for gastrointestinal tract cancer, 0.89 (0.81, 0.98) for accessory organ cancer, and 0.68 (0.52, 0.91) for liver cancer. In contrast, the HRs (95% CIs) per 10-point increase in uPDI score was 1.06 (1.01, 1.11) for gastrointestinal tract cancer and 1.07 (1.01, 1.13) for colorectal cancer. A healthy plant-based dietary pattern was associated with reduced risks of total digestive system cancers as well as individual cancers in the gastrointestinal tract and the accessory organs. Emphasizing the healthiness and quality of plant-based diets may be important for the prevention of developing cancers in the digestive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable assistive robotics has emerged as a promising technology to supplement or replace motor functions and to retrain people recovering from an injury or living with reduced mobility. We developed delayed output feedback control for a wearable hip-assistive robot, the EX1, to provide gait assistance. Our purpose in this study was to investigate the effects of long-term exercise with EX1 on gait, physical function, and cardiopulmonary metabolic energy efficiency in elderly people. This study used parallel experimental (exercise with EX1) and control groups (exercise without EX1). A total of 60 community-dwelling elderly persons participated in 18 exercise intervention sessions during 6 weeks, and all participants were assessed at 5 time points: before exercise, after 9 exercise sessions, after 18 sessions, and 1 month and 3 months after the last session. The spatiotemporal gait parameters, kinematics, kinetics, and muscle strength of the trunk and lower extremities improved more after exercise with EX1 than in that without EX1. Furthermore, the effort of muscles over the trunk and lower extremities throughout the total gait cycle (100%) significantly decreased after exercise with EX1. The net metabolic energy costs during walking significantly improved, and functional assessment scores improved more in the experimental group than in the control group. Our findings provide evidence supporting the application of EX1 in physical activity and gait exercise is effective to improve age-related declines in gait, physical function, and cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In light of the increasing occurrences of social issues and natural disasters, the number of people who need financial assistance is also growing. Using the compassion fade framework, marketing scholars have focused on the impact of the number of victims in need of monetary donations. Situated in the cause-related marketing context, the purpose of this study is to test whether personalization and perceived social visibility moderate the influence of compassion on social engagement intention to participate in a company's charity. Design/methodology/approach: This study conducted an online experiment with a 2 (number of children in need: single vs group) x 2 (personalization: personalized vs general) between subjects' design and measured perceived social visibility as a numeric variable divided into three groups. Two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), a simple moderation analysis, and a moderated mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro were conducted to test the hypotheses. Findings: Compassion fade occurred in general advertisements whereas the opposite tendency occurred in personalized advertisements. The positive effect of compassion on social engagement intention was stronger at a high level of perceived social visibility; the effect was significant but weak in the low perceived social visibility condition. The indirect effects from the number of children to social engagement intention via compassion were significant in the personalized ads with medium/high social visibility conditions and general ads with medium/high social visibility conditions; the indirect effects were insignificant in the personalized ads with low social visibility and general ads with low social visibility conditions. Practical implications: The findings of this study should help companies develop and implement effective cause-related marketing strategies via social media, providing consumers with an opportunity to show others how they support social and environmental issues. Originality/value: This study increases the understanding of the influence of the number of children in need on social media posts incorporating cause-related marketing and emphasizes the interaction effects of compassion, personalization and perceived social visibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates the role of transnational mixed-embeddedness when transnational entrepreneurial firms (TEFs) become internationalized. First-generation immigrant entrepreneurs who maintain business arrangements in their home and host countries own TEFs. In many cases, they internationalize from emerging economies to advanced economies. Nevertheless, this study focuses on TEF cases that internationalize from an advanced to an emerging economy, which prior transnational entrepreneurship studies have largely overlooked. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses a qualitative approach based on six TEF case studies from Canada and the UK venturing into China to explore TEFs' internationalization. Findings: The case studies explore the elements that constitute TEFs' cognitive and relational embeddedness—two main types of embeddedness—in home and host countries and how TEFs exploit such embeddedness for their internationalization. The results suggest that high levels of transnational mixed-embeddedness help TEFs reduce resource and institutional distance barriers in home countries, thereby assisting their internationalization. A framework that visualizes the role of transnational mixed-embeddedness in TEFs' internationalization and novel categorizations of transnational mixed-embeddedness is proposed. Originality/value: Although there has been a growing demand for research on the emergence of internationalized smaller firms, there have been few empirical efforts on TEFs' internationalization. It is still unclear how TEFs internationalize differently than homegrown entrepreneurial firms. This study fills this gap in transnational entrepreneurship literature by examining the influence of transnational mixed-embeddedness on TEFs' internationalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the prevalence of child labour and long working hours in India using 2019 data, with estimates for boys and girls that deal with age-related child development concerns related to long hours of work. We use international suggestions to define harmful child labour from ILO and UNICEF and a nationally defined time-threshold model in analysing the child-labour phenomenon. Measuring time by the three measurement systems and splitting children by age, gender, and cultural components make harmful forms of labour become clearer. The results show that girls doing agricultural labour and boys working as non-agricultural labourers had the longest average working hours in India. Important social-group differentials emerge. This study implies that policy-makers can be, and need to be, aware of explicit measures of hours worked by children aged six to 17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic heat-based brain stimulation of specific lesions could promote the restoration of impaired motor function caused by chronic stroke. We delivered localized stimulation by nanoparticle-mediated heat generation within the targeted brain area via focused magnetic stimulation. The middle cerebral artery occlusion model was prepared, and functional recovery in the chronic-phase stroke rat model was demonstrated by the therapeutic application of focused magnetic stimulation. We observed a transient increase in blood–brain barrier permeability at the target site of < 4 mm and metabolic brain activation at the target lesion. After focused magnetic stimulation, the rotarod score increased by 390 ± 28% (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Standardized uptake value in the focused magnetic stimulation group increased by 2063 ± 748% (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. Moreover, an increase by 24 ± 5% (p < 0.05) was observed in the sham group as well. Our results show that non-invasive focused magnetic stimulation can safely modulate BBB permeability and enhance neural activation for chronic-phase stroke treatment in the targeted deep brain area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In 2012, Liu et al. reported that miR-34 is an age-related miRNA regulating age-associated events and long-term brain integrity in Drosophila. They demonstrated that modulating miR-34 and its downstream target, Eip74EF, showed beneficial effects on an age-related disease using a Drosophila model of Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 expressing SCA3trQ78. These results imply that miR-34 could be a general genetic modifier and therapeutic candidate for age-related diseases. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine the effect of miR-34 and Eip47EF on another age-related Drosophila disease model. Results: Using a Drosophila eye model expressing mutant Drosophila VCP (dVCP) that causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), or multisystem proteinopathy (MSP), we demonstrated that abnormal eye phenotypes generated by dVCPR152H were rescued by Eip74EF siRNA expression. Contrary to our expectations, miR-34 overexpression alone in the eyes with GMR-GAL4 resulted in complete lethality due to the leaky expression of GMR-GAL4 in other tissues. Interestingly, when miR-34 was co-expressed with dVCPR152H, a few survivors were produced; however, their eye degeneration was greatly exacerbated. Our data indicate that, while confirming that the downregulation of Eip74EF is beneficial to the dVCPR152HDrosophila eye model, the high expression level of miR-34 is actually toxic to the developing flies and the role of miR-34 in dVCPR152H-mediated pathogenesis is inconclusive in the GMR-GAL4 eye model. Identifying the transcriptional targets of Eip74EF might provide valuable insights into diseases caused by mutations in VCP such as ALS, FTD, and MSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FCP (Free-form Concrete Panel) is used to easily realize the huge and complex curved surfaces of free-form buildings, and research on FCP manufacturing technology is being conducted. However, as the concrete was extruded manually into the manufactured mold, the precision of the FCP was lowered and errors occurred. Therefore, this study developed concrete extrusion equipment that includes a nozzle part, an open/close part, and a control part, according to the required performance derived from previous research analysis. The mixing ratio of concrete was selected at an appropriate value of W/C 38% and extruded uniformly with a width of 60 mm and a thickness of 22 mm. Depending on the opening/closing function, it was possible to open and close at the desired position. The concrete extrusion nozzle for FCP production is the basic equipment, and miniaturization and automation of the nozzle are required in the future. This is expected to contribute to the development of new free-form construction technology and equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]