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Fecal samples were collected from 640 individuals in Korea, including 523 patients with IBD (223 with Crohn's disease [CD] and 300 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) and 117 healthy controls. The samples were subjected to cross-sectional gut metagenomic analysis using 16 S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Patients with IBD, particularly those with CD, exhibited significantly lower alpha diversities than the healthy subjects. Differential abundance analysis revealed dysbiotic signatures, characterized by an expansion of the genus Escherichia-Shigella in patients with CD. Functional annotations showed that functional pathways related to bacterial pathogenesis and production of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) were strongly upregulated in patients with CD. A dysbiosis score, calculated based on functional characteristics, highly correlated with disease severity. Markers distinguishing between healthy subjects and patients with IBD showed accurate classification based on a small number of microbial taxa, which may be used to diagnose ambiguous cases. These findings confirm the taxonomic and functional dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in patients with IBD, especially those with CD. Taxa indicative of dysbiosis may have significant implications for future clinical research on the management and diagnosis of IBD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite decades of extensive research on thermoelectric materials, Bi 2 Te 3 alloys have dominated room-temperature applications. However, recent advancements have highlighted the potential of alternative candidates, notably Mg 3 Sb 2 -Mg 3 Bi 2 alloys, for low- to mid-temperature ranges. This study optimizes the low-temperature composition of this alloy system through Nb addition (Mg 3.2- x Nb x (Sb 0.3 Bi 0.7 ) 1.996 Te 0.004 ), characterizing composition, microstructure, and transport properties. A high Mg 3 Bi 2 content improves the band structure by increasing weighted mobility while enhancing the microstructure. Crucially, it suppresses detrimental grain boundary scattering effects for room-temperature applications. While grain boundary scattering suppression is typically achieved through grain growth, our study reveals that Nb addition significantly reduces grain boundary resistance without increasing grain size. This phenomenon is attributed to a grain boundary complexion transition, where Nb addition transforms the highly resistive Mg 3 Bi 2 -rich boundary complexion into a less resistive, metal-like interfacial phase. This marks the rare demonstration of chemistry noticeably affecting grain boundary interfacial electrical resistance in Mg 3 Sb 2 -Mg 3 Bi 2 . The results culminate in a remarkable advancement in zT , reaching 1.14 at 330 K. The device ZT is found to be 1.03 at 350 K, which further increases to 1.24 at 523 K and reaches a theoretical maximum device efficiency (η max ) of 10.5% at 623 K, underscoring its competitive performance. These findings showcase the outstanding low-temperature performance of n -type Mg 3 Bi 2 -Mg 3 Sb 2 alloys, rivaling Bi 2 Te 3 , and emphasize the critical need for continued exploration of complexion phase engineering to advance thermoelectric materials further.

Se-free n-type (Bi,Sb) 2 Te 3 thermoelectric materials, outperforming traditional n-type Bi 2 (Te,Se) 3 , emerge as a compelling candidate for practical applications of recovering low-grade waste heat. A 100% improvement in the maximum ZT of n-type Bi 1.7 Sb 0.3 Te 3 is demonstrated by using melt-spinning and excess Te-assisted transient liquid phase sintering (LPS). Te-rich sintering promotes the formation of intrinsic defects (Te Bi ), elevating the carrier concentration and enhancing the electrical conductivity. Melt-spinning with excess Te fine-tunes the electronic band, resulting in a high power-factor of 0.35 × 10 -3 W·m -1 K -2 at 300 K. Rapid volume change during sintering induces the formation of dislocation networks, significantly suppressing the lattice thermal conductivity (0.4 W·m -1 K -1 ). The developed n-type legs achieve a high maximum ZT of 1.0 at 450 K resulting in a 70% improvement in the output power of the thermoelectric device (7.7 W at a temperature difference of 250 K). This work highlights the synergy between melt-spinning and transient LPS, advancing the tailored control of both electronic and thermal properties in thermoelectric technology.

Nanostructured thermoelectric materials ideally reduce lattice thermal conductivity without harming the electrical properties. Thus, to truly improve the thermoelectric performance, the quality factor, which is proportional to the weighted mobility divided by the lattice thermal conductivity of the material, must be improved. Precipitates of In 2 Te 3 form in the state-of-the-art Bi 2 Te 3 with crystallographic alignment to the Bi 2 Te 3 structure. Like epitaxy in films, this can be called endotaxy in solids. This natural epitaxy in a 3-dimensional solid is ideally situated to scatter phonons but produces minimal electronic scattering and, therefore, maintains high mobility. Here, we study the effects of In-alloying in Bi 2 Te 3 at high In concentrations (about 4 at%), enough to produce the endotaxial microstructure. It is found that such concentrations of indium in Bi 2 Te 3 significantly alter the electronic structure, reducing the effective mass and weighted mobility so significantly as to effectively destroy the thermoelectric properties even though the lattice thermal conductivity is successfully reduced.

SnSe 2 with its layered structure is a promising thermoelectric material with intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity. However, its poor electronic transport properties have motivated extensive doping studies. Br doping effectively improves the power factor and converts the dimorphic SnSe 2 to a fully hexagonal structure. To understand the mechanisms underlying the power factor improvement of Br-doped SnSe 2 , the electronic band parameters of Br-doped dimorphic and hexagonal SnSe 2 should be evaluated separately. Using the single parabolic band model, we estimate the intrinsic mobility and effective mass of the Br-doped dimorphic and hexagonal SnSe 2 . While Br doping significantly improves the mobility of dimorphic SnSe 2 (with the dominant hexagonal phase), it results in a combination of band convergence and band flattening in fully hexagonal SnSe 2 . Br-doped dimorphic SnSe 2 is predicted to exhibit higher thermoelectric performance ( zT ∼0.23 at 300 K) than Br-doped fully hexagonal SnSe 2 ( zT ∼0.19 at 300 K). Characterisation of the other, currently unidentified, structural phases of dimorphic SnSe 2 will enable us to tailor the thermoelectric properties of Br-doped SnSe 2 ., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The discoloration switching appearing in the initial and final growth stages of 4H-silicon carbide (4H-SiC) single crystals grown using the physical vapor transport (PVT) technique was investigated. This phenomenon was studied, investigating the correlation with linear-type micro-pipe defects on the surface of 4H-SiC single crystals. Based on the experimental results obtained using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and micro-Raman analysis, it was deduced that the orientation of the 4H-SiC c-axis causes an axial change that correlates with low levels of carbon. In addition, it was confirmed that the incorporation of additional elements and the concentrations of these doped impurity elements were the main causes of discoloration and changes in growth orientation. Overall, this work provides guidelines for evaluating the discoloration switching in 4H-SiC single crystals and contributes to a greater understanding of this phenomenon.

In this study, Al 2 O 3 -siloxane composite thermal pads were fabricated using a tape-casting technique, and the thermal conductivity effect of the Al 2 O 3 nanoparticle powder synthesized using a flame fusion process on siloxane composite thermal pads was investigated. Furthermore, various case studies were implemented, wherein the synthesized Al 2 O 3 nanoparticle powder was subjected to different surface treatments, including dehydration, decarbonization, and silylation, to obtain Al 2 O 3 -siloxane composite thermal pads with high thermal conductivity. The experimental results confirmed that the thermal conductivity of the Al 2 O 3 -siloxane composite pads improved when fabricated using surface-treated Al 2 O 3 nanoparticle powder synthesized with an optimally spheroidized crystal structure compared to that produced using non-treated Al 2 O 3 nanoparticle powder. Therefore, this study provides guidelines for fabricating Al 2 O 3 -siloxane composite thermal pads with high thermal conductivity in the field of thermal interface materials.

Breath volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis is a non-invasive tool for assessing health status; the compositional profile of these compounds in the breath of patients with chronic kidney disease is believed to change with decreasing renal function. We aimed to identify breath VOCs for recognizing patients with chronic kidney disease. Using thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, untargeted analysis of breath markers was performed using breath samples of healthy controls ( n = 18) versus non-dialysis ( n = 21) and hemodialysis ( n = 12) patients with chronic kidney disease in this cross-sectional study. A total of 303 VOCs alongside 12 clinical variables were used to determine the breath VOC profile. Metabolomic analysis revealed that age, systolic blood pressure, and fifty-eight breath VOCs differed significantly between the chronic kidney disease group (non-dialysis + hemodialysis) and healthy controls. Thirty-six VOCs and two clinical variables that showed significant associations with chronic kidney disease in the univariate analysis were further analyzed. Different spectra of breath volatile organic compounds between the control and chronic kidney disease groups were obtained. A multivariate model incorporating age, 2-methyl-pentane, and cyclohexanone showed high performance (accuracy, 86%) in identifying patients with chronic kidney disease with odds ratios of 0.18 (95% CI, 0.07-2.49, p = 0.013); 2.10 (0.94-2.24, p = 0.025); and 2.31 (0.88-2.64, p = 0.008), respectively. Hence, this study showed that renal dysfunction induces a characteristic profile of breath VOCs that can be used as non-invasive potential biomarkers in screening tests for CKD.

A high-performance gas sensor operating at room temperature is always favourable since it simplifies the device fabrication and lowers the operating power by eliminating a heater. Herein, we fabricated the ammonia (NH 3 ) gas sensor by using Au nanoparticle-decorated TiO 2 nanosheets, which were synthesized via two distinct processes: (1) preparation of monolayer TiO 2 nanosheets through flux growth and a subsequent chemical exfoliation and (2) decoration of Au nanoparticles on the TiO 2 nanosheets via hydrothermal method. Based on the morphological, compositional, crystallographic, and surface characteristics of this low-dimensional nano-heterostructured material, its temperature- and concentration-dependent NH 3 gas-sensing properties were investigated. A high response of ~ 2.8 was obtained at room temperature under 20 ppm NH 3 gas concentration by decorating Au nanoparticles onto the surface of TiO 2 nanosheets, which generated oxygen defects and induced spillover effect as well., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Zintl compounds are promising thermoelectric materials for power generation as their electronic and thermal transport properties can be simultaneously engineered with anion/cation alloying. Recently, a peak thermoelectric figure-of-merit, zT, of 1.4 was achieved in a (Yb 0.9 Mg 0.1 )Cd 1.2 Mg 0.4 Zn 0.4 Sb 2 Zintl phase at 700 K. Although the effects of alloying Zn in lattice thermal conductivity had been studied thoroughly, how the Zn alloying affects its electronic transport properties has not yet been fully investigated. This study evaluates how the Zn alloying at Cd sites alters the band parameters of (Yb 0.9 Mg 0.1 )Cd 1.6-x Mg 0.4 Zn x Sb 2 (x=0-0.6) using the Single Parabolic Band model at 700 K. The Zn alloying increased the density-of-states effective mass (m d * ) from 0.87 to 0.97 m 0 . Among Zn-alloyed samples, the m d * of the x=0.4 sample was the lowest (0.93 m 0 ). The Zn alloying decreased the non-degenerate mobility (μ 0 ) from 71 to 57 cm 2  s -1  V -1 . Regardless of Zn alloying content, the μ 0 of the Zn-alloyed samples were similar (∼57 cm 2  s -1  V -1 ). Consequently, the x=0.4 with the highest zT exhibited the lowest weighted mobility (μ W ). The lowest μ W represents the lowest theoretical electronic transport properties among other x. The highest zT at x=0.4 despite the lowest μ W was explained with a significant lattice thermal conductivity reduction achieved with Zn alloying with x=0.4, which outweighed the deteriorated electronic transport properties also due to the alloying., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: Antiplatelet maintenance after stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) is generally considered essential to avoid post-procedural thromboembolic complications. However, there is still debate as to whether it is safe to discontinue antiplatelet drugs after SACE or when is the best time to do so. We investigate herein the clinical outcomes experienced by patients who discontinue antiplatelet agents after SACE., Methods: From a prospective database, we retrieved the data for 120 consecutive patients (harboring 130 aneurysms) in whom antiplatelet agents were discontinued after SACE between January 2010 and December 2019. We defined thromboembolic complications associated with discontinuation as neurologic or radiographic ischemia that occurred within 6 months of discontinuation of antiplatelet agents; the lesion was required to be correlated with the stented artery., Results: The mean time of discontinuation of antiplatelet medication was 31.4 ± 18.3 months after SACE (median, 26 months). The majority of patients stopped antiplatelet medication between 18 and 36 months after SACE (74 patients, 61.6%). Laser-cut closed-cell stent was most commonly applied in 91 aneurysms (70.0%), followed by braided closed-cell (n=29; 22.3 %) and laser-cut open-cell stent 10 (7.7 %). No patients experienced cerebral ischemia related to discontinuation of antiplatelet medication., Conclusion: Our preliminary study suggests that it may be safe to discontinue antiplatelet medication after SACE in patients at low risk for ischemia. The optimal time to discontinue might be around 18 to 36 months after SACE. Large cohort-based studies or randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm these results., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest We declare that we have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Pulmonary thromboembolism is a potentially life-threatening condition in patients with heart disease; however, limited studies discussing long-term outcomes exist. This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), focusing on the improvement of functional class and right ventricular (RV) pressure., Materials and Methods: Clinical data of patients with CTEPH were obtained from Yonsei Hospital between May 2012 and December 2021, and reviewed retrospectively. Twenty-six patients underwent endoscope-guided PEA during the study period, and the mean follow-up duration was 24.8±23.4 months., Results: After PEA, most patients (88.5%) were weaned from inotropes without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support during the first few days. Two patients (7.6%) had cerebrovascular accidents without neurological deficits. On echocardiography, the RV systolic pressure and tricuspid regurgitation grades significantly improved ( p <0.001). Furthermore, the mean left ventricle end-diastolic diameter was significant increased ( p =0.003), and the left ventricular end-systolic diameter increased ( p <0.001). The median intensive care unit stay was 3.0±9.4 days, and median hospital stay 16.0±26.5 days. The 5-year survival rate was 95.5%, and the 5-year freedom rate of cardiac death was 100%. There was a marked improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) status ( p <0.001). Cox regression suggested that the main pulmonary artery (MPA) involvement is a significant predictor of non-improvement in functional class post-PEA., Conclusion: Mortality rates are low and patients experience a marked improvement in NYHA class and health status after PEA. Moreover, MPA involvement may affect functional outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2023.)

Flat metasurfaces with subwavelength meta-atoms can be designed to manipulate the electromagnetic parameters of incident light and enable unusual light-matter interactions. Although hydrogel-based metasurfaces have the potential to control optical properties dynamically in response to environmental conditions, the pattern resolution of these surfaces has been limited to microscale features or larger, limiting capabilities at the nanoscale, and precluding effective use in metamaterials. This paper reports a general approach to developing tunable plasmonic metasurfaces with hydrogel meta-atoms at the subwavelength scale. Periodic arrays of hydrogel nanodots with continuously tunable diameters are fabricated on silver substrates, resulting in humidity-responsive surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at the nanostructure-metal interfaces. The peaks of the SPPs are controlled reversibly by absorbing or releasing water within the hydrogel matrix, the matrix-generated plasmonic color rendering in the visible spectrum. This work demonstrates that metasurfaces designed with these spatially patterned nanodots of varying sizes benefit applications in anti-counterfeiting and generate multicolored displays with single-nanodot resolution. Furthermore, this work shows system versatility exhibited by broadband beam-steering on a phase modulator consisting of hydrogel supercell units in which the size variations of constituent hydrogel nanostructures engineer the wavefront of reflected light from the metasurface., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective : This study assesses the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic on the first time Korean adolescents have sex. Methods : The study examines 2017-2021 data from an annual, cross-sectional survey. Results : There is a significant drop in the percentages of male adolescents initiating sexual intercourse in 2020 and noticeable rebounds in 2021. However, the sexual debut among female students shows no significant change. Conclusions : We suggest that strict social distancing measures in 2020 and loosening of them in 2021, different orientations toward having sex by gender, and a strong sexual double standard are responsible for these findings., Competing Interests: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper., (© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.)

A novel bacterium, designated strain JHSY0214 T , was isolated from the gut of a Korean limpet, Cellana toreuma . Cells of strain JHSY0214 T were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, yellow-pigmented, non-spore-forming, non-motile and showed a rod-coccus growth cycle. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain belonged to the genus Parasphingorhabdus , and was most closely related to Parasphingorhabdus litoris KCTC 12764 T (98.71 %). Strain JHSY0214 T had two fluoroquinolone-resistance genes and seven multidrug-resistance efflux pump genes, but did not have beta-lactamase genes and zinc resistance genes compared with P. litoris KCTC 12764 T . Strain JHSY0214 T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain JHSY0214 T were summed feature 8 (C 18 : 1  ω 6 c and/or C 18 : 1  ω 7 c ; 41.2 %), summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1  ω 7 c and/or C 16 : 1  ω 6 c ; 21 %) and C 16 : 0 (18.9 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid and phosphatidylethanolamine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 52.8 mol%. Based on phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic data, strain JHSY0214 T represents a novel species of the genus Parasphingorhabdus , for which the name Parasphingorhabdus cellanae is proposed. The type strain is JHSY0214 T (=KCTC 82387 T =DSM 112279 T ).

Three aerobic, Gram-negative, and rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated strains G4M1 T , SM13 T , and L12M9 T , were isolated from the gut of Batillaria multiformis, Cellana toreuma, and Patinopecten yessoensis collected from the Yellow Sea in South Korea. All the strains grew optimally at 25°C, in the presence of 2% (w/v) NaCl, and at pH 7. These three strains, which belonged to the genus Polaribacter in the family Flavobacteriaceae, shared < 98.8% in 16S rRNA gene sequence and < 86.68% in whole-genome sequence with each other. Compared with the type strains of Polaribacter, isolates showed the highest sequence similarity to P. haliotis KCTC 52418 T (< 98.68%), followed by P. litorisediminis KCTC 52500 T (< 98.13%). All the strains contained MK-6 as their predominant menaquinone and iso-C 15:0 as their major fatty acid. Moreover, all the strains had phosphatidylethanolamine as their polar lipid component. In addition, strain G4M1 T had two unidentified lipids and three unidentified aminolipids, strain SM13 T had three unidentified lipids and three unidentified aminolipids, and strain L12M9 T had three unidentified lipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G + C contents of strains G4M1 T , SM13 T , and L12M9 T were 31.0, 30.4, and 29.7 mol%, respectively. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic findings, strains G4M1 T (= KCTC 82388 T = DSM 112372 T ), SM13 T (= KCTC 82389 T = DSM 112373 T ), and L12M9 T (= KCTC 62751 T = DSM 112374 T ) were classified into the genus Polaribacter as the type strains of novel species, for which the names Polaribacter batillariae sp. nov., Polaribacter cellanae sp. nov., and Polaribacter pectinis sp. nov., respectively, have been proposed., (© 2022. Author(s).)

Background: Invertebrates are a very attractive subject for studying host-microbe interactions because of their simple gut microbial community and host diversity. Studying the composition of invertebrate gut microbiota and the determining factors is essential for understanding their symbiotic mechanism. Cephalopods are invertebrates that have similar biological properties to vertebrates such as closed circulation system, an advanced nervous system, and a well-differentiated digestive system. However, it is not currently known whether their microbiomes have more in common with vertebrates or invertebrates. This study reports on the microbial composition of six cephalopod species and compares them with other mollusk and marine fish microbiomes to investigate the factors that shape the gut microbiota., Results: Each cephalopod gut consisted of a distinct consortium of microbes, with Photobacterium and Mycoplasma identified as core taxa. The gut microbial composition of cephalopod reflected their host phylogeny, the importance of which was supported by a detailed oligotype-level analysis of operational taxonomic units assigned to Photobacterium and Mycoplasma. Photobacterium typically inhabited multiple hosts, whereas Mycoplasma tended to show host-specific colonization. Furthermore, we showed that class Cephalopoda has a distinct gut microbial community from those of other mollusk groups or marine fish. We also showed that the gut microbiota of phylum Mollusca was determined by host phylogeny, habitat, and diet., Conclusion: We have provided the first comparative analysis of cephalopod and mollusk gut microbial communities. The gut microbial community of cephalopods is composed of distinctive microbes and is strongly associated with their phylogeny. The Photobacterium and Mycoplasma genera are core taxa within the cephalopod gut microbiota. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiomes reflect host phylogeny, habitat, and diet. It is hoped that these data can contribute to future studies on invertebrate-microbe interactions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

To develop highly efficient thermoelectric materials, the generation of homogeneous heterostructures in a matrix is considered to mitigate the interdependency of the thermoelectric compartments. In this study, Cu 2 Te nanoparticles were introduced onto Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 n-type materials and their thermoelectric properties were investigated in terms of the amount of Cu 2 Te nanoparticles. A homogeneous dispersion of Cu 2 Te nanoparticles was obtained up to 0.4 wt.% Cu 2 Te, whereas the Cu 2 Te nanoparticles tended to agglomerate with each other at greater than 0.6 wt.% Cu 2 Te. The highest power factor was obtained under the optimal dispersion conditions (0.4 wt.% Cu 2 Te incorporation), which was considered to originate from the potential barrier on the interface between Cu 2 Te and Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 . The Cu 2 Te incorporation also reduced the lattice thermal conductivity, and the dimensionless figure of merit ZT was increased to 0.75 at 374 K for 0.4 wt.% Cu 2 Te incorporation compared with that of 0.65 at 425 K for pristine Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 . This approach could also be an effective means of controlling the temperature dependence of ZT , which could be modulated against target applications.

Fundamental obstacles toward the development of a portable time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF MS) are ionization sources and vacuum systems. To overcome these, a cold electron source (CES) and a pulse valve are introduced in this study to examine the possibility of developing a portable TOF MS. The CES is developed using a microchannel plate electron multiplier radiated by ultraviolet photons from a light-emitting diode. The CES is controlled using short pulses to generate accelerated electrons that ionize a substrate surface. A 10 ns CES pulse produces an electron flux density of 10 13 to 10 14  m -2 on the surface, and the short pulse minimizes the ionization time such that the resolution limit associated with a short drift tube is overcome. In addition, the injected 0.05 m 3 quantitative sample reduces the vacuum exhaust load, and simultaneously, it is possible to temporarily form layers of the target molecules on the substrate. The possibility of immediate measurement by directly injecting benzene at ambient pressure was verified through repeated measurements; therefore, it is technically possible to use a CES to allow for a highly compact (and portable) TOF MS.

One means of enhancing the performance of thermoelectric materials is to generate secondary nanoprecipitates of metallic or semiconducting properties in a thermoelectric matrix, to form proper band bending and, in turn, to induce a low-energy carrier filtering effect. However, forming nanocomposites is challenging, and proper band bending relationships with secondary phases are largely unknown. Herein, we investigate the in situ phase segregation behavior during melt spinning with various metal elements, including Ti, V, Nb, Mo, W, Ni, Pd, and Cu, in p -type Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 (BST) thermoelectric alloys. The results showed that various metal chalcogenides were formed, which were related to the added metal elements as secondary phases. The electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity of the BST composite with various secondary phases were measured and compared with those of pristine BST alloys. Possible band alignments with the secondary phases are introduced, which could be utilized for further investigation of a possible carrier filtering effect when forming nanocomposites.

Cultivation and isolation of gut bacteria are necessary for understanding their role in the intestinal ecosystem. We isolated a novel bacterium, designated strain BG01 T , from the faeces of a patient with Crohn's disease. Strain BG01 T was a strictly anaerobic, rod-shaped, Gram-variable and endospore-forming bacterium. Strain BG01 T possessed C 12 : 0 , C 18 : 0 dimethyl aldehyde (DMA) and C 18 : 1  ω 9 c DMA as predominant cellular fatty acids and meso -diaminopimelic acid as a diagnostic diamino acid. Strain BG01 T grew at 15-45 °C (optimum, 37 °C), with 0-4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-1 %), at pH 6-10 (optimum, pH 7) and was resistant to bile salt, but not to ampicillin, metronidazole, vancomycin and cefoperazone. Butyrate, propionate, oxalacetate and fumarate were produced as fermentation end products from Gifu anaerobic medium broth. Strain BG01 T showed 97.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, and 92.0 and 48.5 % of average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values, respectively, with Anaerostipes caccae KCTC 15019 T . Genomic analysis indicated that strain BG01 T had a butyrate-producing pathway. The genomic G+C content of the strain was 43.5 mol%. Results of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic analyses indicated that strain BG01 T represents a novel butyrate-producing species of the genus Anaerostipes , for which the name Anaerostipes hominis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BG01 T (=KCTC 15617 T =JCM 32275 T ).

Thermoelectrics, which can generate electricity from a temperature difference, or vice versa, is a key technology for solid-state cooling and energy harvesting; however, its applications are constrained owing to low efficiency. Since the conversion efficiency of thermoelectric devices is directly obtained via a figure of merit of materials, zT, which is related to the electronic and thermal transport characteristics, the aim here is to elucidate physical parameters that should be considered to understand transport phenomena in semiconducting materials. It is found that the weighted mobility ratio of the majority and minority carrier bands is an important parameter that determines zT. For nanograined Bi-Sb-Te alloy, the unremarked role of this parameter on temperature-dependent electronic transport properties is demonstrated. This analysis shows that the control of the weighted mobility ratio is a promising way to enhance zT of narrow bandgap thermoelectric materials., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Kissing aneurysms are situated on the same artery but have separate points of origin. Open surgical strategies for access from opposing directions may be technically problematic. Recent advances in protective devices and coiling techniques have compelled the present study, aimed at technical aspects and procedural outcomes of coil embolization in this setting., Methods: Data prospectively accruing between May 2001 and May 2020 were systematically reviewed, assessing clinical and morphologic outcomes of coil embolization in 36 patients with 72 kissing aneurysms., Results: Lesions most often involved paraclinoid internal carotid artery (n = 22), followed by anterior communicating artery (n = 7). Single-stage coil embolization of both aneurysms took place in nearly all patients (n = 35). Microcatheter tips for selecting paired aneurysms were usually directed opposite to one another (32 of 36, 88.9%), applying protective devices (i.e., balloons or stents) to 1 or both aneurysms in 21 patients (58.3%). Balloons were placed in 9 patients, often when treating first aneurysms and largely for second aneurysms as well (7 of 9, 77.8%). Stents deployed in 14 patients involved first and second aneurysms equally. Two patients required balloon of stent combinations. No procedure-related morbidity or mortality resulted. In follow-up of 68 aneurysms (mean: 40.2 ± 28.1 months) after coiling, 86.8% (59 of 68) showed sustained complete saccular occlusion., Conclusions: Strategies for endovascular treatment of kissing aneurysms rely heavily on characteristics that the paired aneurysms display. Properly conducted single-stage coil embolization is a safe and effective method of treating such lesions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phenotypic and genomic analyses were performed to characterize two novel species, H23M54 T and AMA3305 T , isolated from the faeces of the Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) and the cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), respectively. Strains H23M54 T and AMA3305 T showed the highest similarities of 16S rRNA gene sequences and complete genome sequences with Ornithinimicrobium cavernae CFH 30183 T (98.5% of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 82.1% of average nucleotide identity, ANI) and O. pekingense DSM 21552 T (98.5% of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 82.3% of ANI), respectively. Both strains were Gram-stain-positive, obligate aerobes, non-motile, non-spore-forming, and coccoid- and rodshaped. Strain H23M54 T grew optimally at 25-30°C and pH 8.0 and in the presence of 1.5-2% (wt/vol) NaCl, while strain AMA3305 T grew optimally at 30°C and pH 7.0 and in the presence of 1-3% (wt/vol) NaCl. Both strains had iso-C 15:0 , iso-C 16:0 , and summed feature 9 (iso-C 17:1 ω9c and/or C 16:0 10-methyl) as major cellular fatty acids. MK-8 (H 4 ) was identified as the primary respiratory quinone in both strains. Strains H23M54 T and AMA3305 T possessed diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids. Moreover, strains H23M54 T and AMA3305 T commonly contained ribose and glucose as major sugars and L-ornithine, L-alanine, glycine, and aspartic acid as major amino acids. The polyphasic taxonomic data indicate that strains H23M54 T and AMA3305 T represent novel species of the genus Ornithinimicrobium. We propose the names Ornithinimicrobium ciconiae sp. nov. and Ornithinimicrobium avium sp. nov. for strains H23M54 T (= KCTC 49151 T = JCM 33221 T ) and AMA3305 T (= KCTC 49180 T = JCM 32873 T ), respectively., (© 2021. The Microbiological Society of Korea.)

Objective: The anti-tumor effect of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol in breast cancer is well known; however, its activity in glioblastoma is not well-evaluated. The Notch-Hes pathway is known to regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We investigated the effect of propranolol to human glioblastoma cell lines, and the role of Notch and Hes signaling in this process., Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining on 31 surgically resected primary human glioblastoma tissues. We also used glioblastoma cell lines of U87-MG, LN229, and neuroblastoma cell line of SH-SY5Y in this study. The effect of propranolol and isoproterenol on cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay (absorbance 570 nm). The impact of propranolol on gene expression (Notch and Hes) was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, whereas protein levels of Notch1 and Hes1 were measured using Western blotting (WB), simultaneously. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to suppress the Notch gene to investigate its role in the proliferation of glioblastoma., Results: Propranolol and isoproterenol caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation (MTT assay). RT-PCR showed an increase in Notch1 and Hes1 expression by propranolol, whereas WB demonstrated increase in Notch1 protein, but a decrease in Hes1 by propranolol. The proliferation of U87-MG and LN229 was not significantly suppressed after transfection with Notch siRNA., Conclusion: These results demonstrated that propranolol suppressed the proliferation of glioblastoma cell lines and neuroblastoma cell line, and Hes1 was more closely involved than Notch1 was in glioblastoma proliferation.

Objective: Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms is challenging in case of wide-necked aneurysms because coils are prone to herniate into the parent artery, causing thromboembolic events or vessel occlusion. This study aims to compare long-term angiographic results of wide-necked aneurysms treated by stent-assisted, double-microcatheter, or single-microcatheter groups., Methods: Between January 2003 and October 2016, 108 aneurysms that were treated with endovascular coil embolization with a neck size wider than 4 mm and a follow-up period of more than 3 years were selected. We performed coil embolization with single-microcatheter, double-microcatheter, and stent-assisted techniques. Angiographic results were evaluated using the Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC). All medical and angiographic records were reviewed retrospectively., Results: Clinical and angiographic analyses were conducted in 108 wide-necked aneurysms. The immediate post-procedural results revealed RROC class I (complete occlusion) in 66 cases (61.1%), class II (residual neck) in 36 cases (33.3%), and class III (residual sac) in six cases (5.6%). The final follow-up results revealed class I in 48 cases (44.4%), class II in 49 cases (45.4%), and class III in 11 cases (10.2%). Of a total of 45 (41.6%) radiologic recurrences, there were 21 cases (19.4%) of major recurrence that required additional treatment, and 24 cases (22.2%) of minor recurrence. The final follow-up angiographic results showed statistically significant differences between the stent-assisted group and the others (p<0.01)., Conclusion: Long-term follow-up angiography demonstrated that the stent-assisted technique had a better complete occlusion rate than the other two techniques.

Viridans group streptococci are a serious health concern because most of these bacteria cause life-threatening infections, especially in immunocompromised and hospitalized individuals. We focused on two alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus strains (I-G2 and I-P16) newly isolated from an ileostomy effluent of a colorectal cancer patient. We examined their pathogenic potential by investigating their prevalence in human and assessing their pathogenicity in a mouse model. We also predicted their virulence factors and pathogenic features by using comparative genomic analysis and in vitro tests. Using polyphasic and systematic approaches, we identified the isolates as belonging to a novel Streptococcus species and designated it as Streptococcus ilei. Metagenomic survey based on taxonomic assignment of datasets from the Human Microbiome Project revealed that S. ilei is present in most human population and at various body sites but is especially abundant in the oral cavity. Intraperitoneal injection of S. ilei was lethal to otherwise healthy C57BL/6J mice. Pathogenomics and in vitro assays revealed that S. ilei possesses a unique set of virulence factors. In agreement with the in vivo and in vitro data, which indicated that S. ilei strain I-G2 is more pathogenic than strain I-P16, only the former displayed the streptococcal group A antigen. We here newly identified S. ilei sp. nov., and described its prevalence in human, virulence factors, and pathogenicity. This will help to prevent S. ilei strain misidentification in the future, and improve the understanding and management of streptococcal infections., (© 2021. The Microbiological Society of Korea.)

Compositional tuning is one of the important approaches to enhance the electronic and thermal transport properties of thermoelectric materials since it can generate point defects as well as control the phase evolution behavior. Herein, we investigated the Ti addition effect on the grain growth during melt spinning and thermoelectric transport properties of Hf 0 .5 Zr 0.5 NiSn 0.98 Sb 0.02 half-Heusler compound. The characteristic grain size of melt-spun ribbons was reduced by Ti addition, and very low lattice thermal conductivity lower than 0.27 W m -1 K -1 was obtained within the whole measured temperature range (300-800 K) due to the intensified point defect (substituted Ti) and grain boundary (reduced grain size) phonon scattering. Due to this synergetic effect on the thermal transport properties, a maximum thermoelectric figure of merit, zT , of 0.47 was obtained at 800 K in (Hf 0 .5 Zr 0.5 ) 0.8 Ti 0.2 NiSn 0.98 Sb 0.02 .

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium with a single polar flagellum, designated strain 2T18 T , was isolated from the gut of the freshwater mussel Anodonta arcaeformis collected in the Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain belonged to the genus Chitinibacter . Strain 2T18 T formed a monophyletic clade with Chitinibacter fontanus KCTC 42982 T , C. tainanensis KACC 11706 T and C. alvei KCTC 23839 T , with sequence similarities of 98.5, 98.4 and 95.9 %, respectively. Strain 2T18 T exhibited optimal growth at 30 °C, at pH 8 and with 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1 ω 6 c and/or C 16 : 1 ω 7 c ) and C 16 : 0 . The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified lipid, three unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 50.6 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains 2T18 T and C. fontanus KCTC 42982 T were below the thresholds used for the delineation of a novel species. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics, strain 2T18 T represents a novel species of the genus Chitinibacter , for which the name Chitinibacter bivalviorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 2T18 T (=KCTC 72821 T =CCUG 74764 T ).

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize three novel bacterial strains, designated as HDW12A T , HDW-15B T , and HDW15C T , isolated from the intestine of fish species Odontobutis interrupta or Siniperca scherzeri. All isolates were obligate aerobic, non-motile bacteria, and grew optimally at 30°C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences revealed that strain HDW12A T was a member of the genus Nocardioides, and closely related to Nocardioides allogilvus CFH 30205 T (98.9% sequence identities). Furthermore, strains HDW15B T and HDW15C T were members of the genus Sphingomonas, and closely related to Sphingomonas lutea JS5 T and Sphingomonas sediminicola Dae 20 T (97.1% and 97.9% sequence identities), respectively. Strain HDW12A T contained MK-8 (H 4 ), and strains HDW15B T and HDW15C T contained Q-10 as the respiratory quinone. Major polar lipid components of strain HDW12A T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol, and those of strains HDW15B T and HDW15C T were sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylcholine. The G + C content of strains HDW12A T , HDW15B T , and HDW15C T were 69.7, 63.3, and 65.5%, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses suggest that strain HDW12A T represents a novel species within the genus Nocardioides, and strains HDW15B T and HDW15C T represent two novel species within the genus Sphingomonas. We propose the names Nocardioides piscis for strain HDW12A T (= KACC 21336 T = KCTC 49321 T = JCM 33670 T ), Sphingomonas piscis for strain HDW15B T (= KACC 21341 T = KCTC 72588 T = JCM 33738 T ), and Sphingomonas sinipercae for strain HDW15C T (= KACC 21342 T = KCTC 72589 T = JCM 33739 T ).

Mitochondrial function and innate immunity are intimately linked; however, the mechanisms how mitochondrion-shaping proteins regulate innate host defense remains largely unknown. Herein we show that mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a mitochondrial fusion protein, promotes innate host defense through the maintenance of aerobic glycolysis and xenophagy via hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α during intracellular bacterial infection. Myeloid-specific MFN2 deficiency in mice impaired the antimicrobial and inflammatory responses against mycobacterial and listerial infection. Mechanistically, MFN2 was required for the enhancement of inflammatory signaling through optimal induction of aerobic glycolysis via HIF-1α, which is activated by mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I and reactive oxygen species, in macrophages. MFN2 did not impact mitophagy during infection; however, it promoted xenophagy activation through HIF-1α. In addition, MFN2 interacted with the late endosomal protein Rab7, to facilitate xenophagy during mycobacterial infection. Our findings reveal the mechanistic regulations by which MFN2 tailors the innate host defense through coordinated control of immunometabolism and xenophagy via HIF-1α during bacterial infection.

The aim of this study was to present a control method for modulating the translucency of lithium disilicate ceramics through thermal refinement. Identical lithium disilicate blocks were thermally refined using four different heat treatment schedules, and the microstructure, translucency, and flexural strength of the ceramics were investigated in detail by SEM, spectroscopy, and a piston-on-three-ball test. The results showed that ceramics treated under higher heat had larger grains, with an average size between 240 and 1080 nm. In addition, a higher transmittance of all wavelengths was observed in ceramics treated under lower heat, and the transmittance in the 550 nm wavelength ranged from 27 to 34%. The results suggest that the translucency of ceramics can be modified through thermal refinement under two conditions: (1) the particle size of the ceramic is small enough to achieve minimal grain-boundary light scattering, and (2) the percentage of particles allowing visible light transmission is altered by the heat treatment.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize two novel bacterial strains, designated as HDW11 T and HDW19 T , isolated from intestine samples of the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus and the diving beetle Cybister lewisianus , respectively. Both isolates were Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic and non-motile. Strain HDW11 T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 8 and in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl. Strain HDW19 T grew optimally at 25 °C, pH 7 and in the presence of 0.3% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome sequences revealed that strain HDW11 T is a member of the genus Brevilactibacter and is closely related to Brevilactibacter flavus VG341 T [with 97.9% 16S rRNA sequence identity and 79.1% average nucleotide identity (ANI)], and that strain HDW19 T belongs to the genus Weissella and is closely related to W. koreensis KCTC 3621 T (with 98.9% 16S rRNA sequence identity and 79.5% ANI). The major cellular fatty acids of strains HDW11 T and HDW19 T were C 18:1 ω 9c and anteiso-C 15:0 , respectively. The sole respiratory quinone of strain HDW11 T was MK-9 (H 4 ). The major polar lipid components of strain HDW11 T were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, and the major polar lipid component of strain HDW19 T was diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content of strains HDW11 T and HDW19 T were 72.1 and 37.2 mol%, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses suggest that strain HDW11 T represents a novel species within the genus Brevilactibacter , and that strain HDW19 T represents a novel species within the genus Weissella . We propose the name Brevilactibacter coleopterorum sp. nov. for strain HDW11 T (=KACC 21335 T =KCTC 49320 T =JCM 33680 T ) and the name Weissella coleopterorum for strain HDW19 T (=KACC 21347 T =KCTC 43114 T =JCM 33684 T ).

Facile strategies in flexible transparent conductive electrode materials that can sustain their electrical conductivities under 1 mm-scale radius of curvature are required for wider applications such as foldable devices. We propose a rational design as well as a fabrication process for a silver nanowire-based transparent conductive electrode with low sheet resistance and high transmittance even after prolonged cyclic bending. The electrode is fabricated on a poly(ethylene terephthalate) film through the hybridization of silver nanowires with silver nanoparticles-anchored RuO 2 nanosheets. This hybridization significantly improves the performance of the silver nanowire network under severe bending strain and creates an electrically percolative structure between silver nanowires and RuO 2 nanosheets in the presence of anchored silver nanoparticles on the surface of RuO 2 nanosheets. The resistance change of this hybrid transparent conductive electrode is 8.8% after 200,000 bending cycles at a curvature radius of 1 mm, making it feasible for use in foldable devices.

Neonatal calf diarrhea is a common disease leading to a major economic loss for cattle producers worldwide. Several infectious and noninfectious factors are implicated in calf diarrhea, but disease control remains problematic because of the multifactorial etiology of the disease. Here, we conducted diagnostic multiplex PCR assay and meta-omics analysis (16S rRNA gene-based metataxonomics and untargeted transcriptional profiling) of rectal content of normal and diarrheic beef calves ( n  = 111). In the diarrheic calf gut, we detected both microbial compositional dysbiosis (i.e., increased abundances of the family Enterobacteriaceae members and their lytic bacteriophages) and functional dysbiosis (i.e., elevated levels of aerobic respiration and virulence potential). The calf diarrheic transcriptome mirrored the gene expression of the bovine host and was enriched in cellular pathways of sulfur metabolism, innate immunity, and gut motility. We then isolated 12 nontoxigenic Enterobacteriaceae strains from the gut of diarrheic calves. Feeding a strain mixture to preweaning mice resulted in a significantly higher level of fecal moisture content, with decreased body weight gain and shortened colon length. The presented findings suggest that gut inflammation followed by a prolonged expansion of nontoxigenic autochthonous Enterobacteriaceae contributes to the onset of diarrhea in preweaning animals. IMPORTANCE Calf diarrhea is the leading cause of death of neonatal calves worldwide. Several infectious and noninfectious factors are implicated in calf diarrhea, but disease control remains problematic because of the multifactorial etiology of the disease. The major finding of the current study centers around the observation of microbial compositional and functional dysbiosis in rectal samples from diarrheic calves. These results highlight the notion that gut inflammation followed by a prolonged expansion of autochthonous Enterobacteriaceae contributes to the onset of calf diarrhea. Moreover, this condition possibly potentiates the risk of invasion of notorious enteric pathogens, including Salmonella spp., and the emergence of inflammation-resistant (or antibiotic-resistant) microbiota via active horizontal gene transfer mediated by lytic bacteriophages., (Copyright © 2021 Whon et al.)

The electroluminescent (EL) performances of quantum dot-light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) based on either high-quality CdSe- or Cd-free quantum dots (QDs) have been greatly improved during the last decade, exclusively aiming at monochromatic devices for display applications. Meanwhile, work on white lighting QLEDs integrated particularly with Cd-free QDs remains highly underdeveloped. In this work, the solution-processed fabrication of tricolored white lighting QLEDs comprising three environmentally benign primary color emitters of II-VI blue and green ZnSeTe and I-III-VI red Zn-Cu-In-S (ZCIS) QDs is explored. The emitting layer (EML) consists of two different QD layers stacked on top of the other with an ultrathin ZnMgO nanoparticle buffer layer inserted in the middle, with both blue and green QDs mixed in one layer, and red QDs placed in a separate layer. The stacking order of the bilayered EML architecture is found to control the exciton recombination zone and thus crucially determine the EL performance of the device. The optimal tricolored white device yields outstanding EL performances such as 5461 cd m -2 luminance, 5.8% external quantum efficiency, and 8.4 lm W -1 power efficiency, along with a near-ideal color rendering index of 95, corresponding to the record quantities reported among Cd-free white lighting QLEDs.

Calf diarrhea is associated with enteric infections, and also provokes the overuse of antibiotics. Therefore, proper treatment of diarrhea represents a therapeutic challenge in livestock production and public health concerns. Here, we describe the ability of a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), to ameliorate diarrhea and restore gut microbial composition in 57 growing calves. We conduct multi-omics analysis of 450 longitudinally collected fecal samples and find that FMT-induced alterations in the gut microbiota (an increase in the family Porphyromonadaceae) and metabolomic profile (a reduction in fecal amino acid concentration) strongly correlate with the remission of diarrhea. During the continuous follow-up study over 24 months, we find that FMT improves the growth performance of the cattle. This first FMT trial in ruminants suggest that FMT is capable of ameliorating diarrhea in pre-weaning calves with alterations in their gut microbiota, and that FMT may have a potential role in the improvement of growth performance.

Castration of young males is widely used in the cattle industry to improve meat quality, but the mechanism linking hypogonadism and host metabolism is not clear. Here, we use metataxonomic and metabolomic approaches to evaluate the intestinal microbiota and host metabolism in male, castrated male (CtM), and female cattle. After pubescence, the CtM cattle harbor distinct ileal microbiota dominated by the family Peptostreptococcaceae and exhibit distinct serum and muscle amino acid profiles (i.e., highly abundant branched-chain amino acids), with increased extra- and intramuscular fat storage. We also evaluate the causative factor(s) that underpin the alteration of the intestinal microbiota and host metabolic phenotype in response to hypogonadism. Castration of male mice phenocopies both the intestinal microbial alterations and obese-prone metabolism observed in cattle. Antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation experiments in a mouse model confirm that the intestinal microbial alterations associated with hypogonadism are a key contributor to the obese phenotype in the CtM animals. Collectively, targeting the gut microbiota is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of both hypogonadism and obesity., (© 2020 The Authors.)

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize a novel bacterium, designated as strain HDW20 T , isolated from the intestine of the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus . The isolate was Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, coccus-shaped, and formed pale orange colonies. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Tessaracoccus in the phylum Actinobacteria and was closely related to T. flavescens SST-39 T , T. defluvii JCM 17540 T , and T. aquimaris NSG39 T , with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.5 % and a highest average nucleotide identity (ANI) value of 80.6 %. The major cellular fatty acids were C 18 : 1  ω 9 c and anteiso-C 15 : 0 . The main respiratory quinone was MK-9 (H 4 ). The major polar lipid components were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.0 %. The isolate contains ʟʟ-diaminopimelic acid, ʟ-alanine, and ʟ-lysine as amino acid components, and ribose, glucose, and galactose as sugar components of the cell wall peptidoglycan. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses suggested that strain HDW20 T represents a novel species within the genus Tessaracoccus . We propose the name Tessaracoccus coleopterorum sp. nov. The type strain is HDW20 T (=KACC 21348 T =KCTC 49324 T =JCM 33674 T ).

Introduction: For the past few decades, numerous theoretical perspectives have predicted a negative association between adolescent sexual debut and the probability of college entrance. The present article extends the literature by using nationally representative longitudinal data from South Korea to assess these perspectives., Methods: Drawing on longitudinal data from South Korea, this article examined the impact of becoming sexually active between 8th and 12th grades on the probability of college entrance. We controlled for a wide array of confounding variables by using logit models that account for longitudinal attrition and school-based sampling design., Results: Analytical results showed that the initiation of sexual intercourse during adolescence predicted a statistically significant decrease in the probability of college entrance for both boys and girls. Gender-specific analyses suggested that, on average, sexual debut in adolescence was associated with a decrease of 10.3 percentage points in the probability of college entrance for boys and a decrease of 14.7 percentage points for girls., Conclusions: These findings strongly support the theoretical perspectives of age norm theory and sexual double standards in South Korea, where strictly conservative attitudes toward sexuality and sexual behaviors are dominant., (Copyright © 2020 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A novel Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, coccobacillus-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain H23T48 T , was isolated from the faecal sample of an oriental stork collected from the Seoul Grand Park Zoo in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Optimal growth of strain H23T48 T was observed at 30-37 °C, pH 8 and with 3 % (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain H23T48 T was closely related to the genus Flaviflexus , with 97.0 and 96.7 % sequence similarities to Flaviflexus salsibiostraticola EBR4-1-2 T and Flaviflexus huanghaiensis H5 T , respectively. Strain H23T48 T possessed MK-9(H 4 ) as the major menaquinone and C 16 : 0 (42.4 %), C 18 : 1  ω 9 c (31.3 %) and C 14 : 0 (17.7 %) as the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified lipids, six unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified glycophospholipids. The amino acid composition of the cell-wall peptidoglycan was l-alanine, l-lysine, d-glutamic acid, l-aspartic acid and glycine. The genomic G+C content of strain H23T48 T is 59.5 mol% and the average nucleotide identity value between H23T48 T and F. salsibiostraticola KCT C33148 T (=EBR4-1-2 T ) is 75.5 %. Based on the obtained data, strain H23T48 T represents a novel species of the genus Flaviflexus , for which the name Flaviflexus ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H23T48 T (=KCTC 49253 T =JCM 33282 T ).

Investigation of two common explosives such as cyclonite (RDX) and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) using a mass spectrometer with ultrahigh resolution and accuracy has not been comprehensively performed. Here, ultrahigh mass accuracy 15-T Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) spectra were utilized to comprehensively characterize the adduct ions of RDX and HMX. Two different ionization sources such as a conventional electrospray ionization (ESI) source and a chip-based static nano-ESI source were used to investigate the adduct ions of RDX and HMX. The ESI-MS analyses of two explosives in negative ion mode provide some adduct ions of RDX and HMX even without prior addition of their corresponding anions. A total of six types of adduct ion were characterized: [M + Cl] - , [M + HCOO] - , [M + NO 2 ] - , [M + CH 3 COO] - , [M + NO 3 ] - , and [M + C 3 H 5 O 3 ] - , where M is either RDX or HMX. The ultrahigh accuracy of the 15-T FT-ICR MS was utilized to distinguish two closely spaced peaks representing the monoisotopic [M + NO 2 ] - and second isotopic [M + HCOO] - ions, thereby enabling the discovery of a [M + NO 2 ] - adduct ion in the ESI analysis of RDX or HMX. [M + NO 2 ] - and [M + CH 3 COO] - adduct ions were only observed when using a static nano-ESI source. It is the first report explaining the discovery of [M + NO 2 ] - adduct ion in the ESI-MS analyses of RDX and HMX., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

(Bi,Sb) 2 Se 3 alloys are promising alternatives to commercial n-type Bi 2 (Te,Se) 3 ingots for low-mid temperature thermoelectric power generation due to their high thermoelectric conversion efficiency at elevated temperatures. Herein, we report the enhanced high-temperature thermoelectric performance of the polycrystalline Cl-doped Bi 2- x Sb x Se 3 ( x = 0.8, 1.0) bulks and their sustainable thermal stability. Significant role of Cl substitution, characterized to enhance the power factor and reduce the thermal conductivity synergetically, is clearly elucidated. Cl-doping at Se-site of both Bi 1.2 Sb 0.8 Se 3 and BiSbSe 3 results in a high power factor by carrier generation and Hall mobility improvement while maintaining converged electronic band valleys. Furthermore, point defect phonon scattering originated from mass fluctuations formed at Cl-substituted Se-sites reduces the lattice thermal conductivity. Most importantly, spark plasma sintered Cl-doped Bi 2- x Sb x Se 3 bulks are thermally stable up to 700 K, and show a reproducible maximum thermoelectric figure of merit, zT , of 0.68 at 700 K., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

A novel, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain H21T32 T , was isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana . Cells formed cocci grouped in pairs, tetrads or conglomerates, and colonies on solid medium were pale yellow. Strain H21T32 T belonged to the genus Jeotgalibaca , family Carnobacteriaceae , order Lactobacillales and class Bacilli . The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strain showed 97.06-97.34, 96.17-96.31 and 95.93-96.07 % similarity to the type strains of Jeotgalibaca arthritidis , J. porci and J. dankookensis , respectively. The strain grew at 10-37 °C (optimum temperature: 30 °C), with 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum salinity: 0.5 %) and at pH 7-9 (optimum pH: 8). The main cellular fatty acids were C 16 : 1 ω 9 c , C 18 : 1 ω 9 c and C 16 : 0 . The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Respiratory quinones were not detected. Sugar components of the peptidoglycan were rhamnose, ribose and glucose. Amino acid components of the cell wall were l-alanine, d-glucose, l-lysine, glycine and aspartic acid. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.1 mol%. Average nucleotide identity between strain H21T32 T and J. arthritidis CECT 9157 T was 77.02 %, confirming that strain H21T32 T represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibaca , for which the name Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H21T32 T (=KCTC 33991 T =JCM 33222 T ).

The effects of micro-hole arrays in the thin metal films were studied as a method to release bending stress in flexible electrodes and flexible thin film transistors (TFTs). Interest in flexible electronics is increasing, and many approaches have been suggested to solve the issue of the electrical failure of electrodes or electrical components such as TFTs after repeated bending. Here, we demonstrate a micro-hole array structure as a common solution to release bending stress. Although micro-size cracks were generated and propagated from the hole edges, the cracks stopped within a certain range when enough stress was released. Moreover, since the crack sites were predictable and controllable, a fatal electrical breakdown in a conductive layer such as a metal electrode or the semiconducting junction of a TFT can be prevented by specifically arranging the hole arrays. Thin film layers fabricated without holes suffered an electrical breakdown due to random crack propagation during bending tests. Aluminum thin film electrodes prepared with arrays of 3 μm diameter holes and 25% hole area showed excellent durability after 300,000 bending cycles. The change in resistance was below 3%. The electrical characteristics of an a-IGZO TFT with the micro-hole structure were almost equivalent to a standard a-IGZO TFT. After 10,000 bending cycles, I ON and the ratio of I ON / I OFF remained >10 7 A and ∼10 7 , respectively. Since the effective hole diameter is micrometer in size, fabrication does not require additional process steps or expensive process equipment. Therefore, the approach can be an important way to enhance the reliability of various electrical devices in flexible and wearable applications.

A novel Gram-negative, obligately aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium, designated strain K13M18 T , was isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean indigenous fish, oily bitterling ( Acheilognathus koreensis ). Strain K13M18 T formed creamy-pink colonies on a marine agar plate. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated that strain K13M18 T was most closely related to Tabrizicola sediminis DRYC-M-16 T , sharing 97.62 % similarity with that strain. Strain K13M18 T belonged to the genus Tabrizicola , which formed a cluster with Tabrizicola aquatica RCRI19 T , Tabrizicola fusiformis SY72 T , Tabrizicola sediminis DRYC-M-16 T and Tabrizicola alkalilacus DJC T in a phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain K13M18 T grown optimally in 0 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7 and 30 °C, in a marine broth medium. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C 18 : 1 ω 7 c and C 18 : 1 ω 6 c . The major respiratory isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. Polar lipids of strain K13M18 T contained phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, six unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. Based on genome sequencing, the DNA G+C content of strain K13M18 T was 64.08 mol %, with an average nucleotide identity value, calculated by a comparative genomic analysis of strains K13M18 T and T. sediminis DRYC-M-16 T , of 74.82 %. Based on the phylogenetic, genotypic, and phenotypic information, strain K13M18 T is proposed to be a novel species of the genus Tabrizicola . The type strain is K13M18 T (=KCTC 62659 T =JCM 33230 T ).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, reddish-orange-coloured, gliding bacterial strain, designated L12M1 T , was isolated from the gut of the Korean scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis . Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain L12M1 T formed a monophyletic clade with the strains in the genus Flammeovirga and showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flammeovirga kamogawensis YS10 T (98.66 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain L12M1 T were iso-C 15 : 0 and C 20 : 4 ω6,9,12,15 c . The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major polyamines were spermidine, cadaverine and the minor polyamine was putrescine. The DNA G+C content was 32.1 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, biochemical, chemotaxonomic and genotypic results indicated that strain L12M1 T represents a novel species of the genus Flammeovirga , for which the name Flammeovirga pectinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L12M1 T (=KCTC 62750 T =JCM 33169 T ).

Doping is known as an effective way to modify both electrical and thermal transport properties of thermoelectric alloys to enhance their energy conversion efficiency. In this project, we report the effect of Pd doping on the electrical and thermal properties of n -type Cu 0.008 Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 alloys. Pd doping was found to increase the electrical conductivity along with the electron carrier concentration. As a result, the effective mass and power factors also increased upon the Pd doping. While the bipolar thermal conductivity was reduced with the Pd doping due to the increased carrier concentration, the contribution of Pd to point defect phonon scattering on the lattice thermal conductivity was found to be very small. Consequently, Pd doping resulted in an enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit, zT , at a high temperature, due to the enhanced power factor and the reduced bipolar thermal conductivity.