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We designed and synthesized IDTBTCf (Indacenodithiophene-benzothiadiazolecaffeine) non-fullerene acceptor by using the caffeine derivative as the electron withdrawing end-group. It showed strong polarization that is possible to improve stability by causing non-covalent interaction in active layer. When 2.5 wt% IDTBTCf was introduced as the third component in PTB7:PC71BM binary blend, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) is more higher value of 8.7% than the reference (8.4%). As a result of stability measurement without encapsulation in a glove box for 172 h, a device with IDTBTCf (degradation rate of efficiency, 8%) showed better stability than the reference one (degradation rate of efficiency, 15.5%).

Attempts to reduce the sugar content of carbonated drinks are ongoing. Reducing the sugar content while maintaining the sensory quality requires the development of an effective sensory test method that can measure a consumers' perceived sensory difference and preference of reformulated products against the reference product. The A-Not A with reminder (A-Not AR) method (sometimes called the reminder method) allows blind sensory tests of multiple test samples vs. a reference, while for the reference, marketing information, such as brand name and advertisements emphasizing the consumer benefit, can be provided to improve the marketing effects and consumer expectation. Thus, a preference test method can also simulate branded tests using A-Not AR design with a branded reference, making them suitable for consumer sensory tests. In the present study, an affective difference-preference test method using an A-Not AR design with the reference familiarization procedure of providing marketing information was developed, called the "reminder-preference test". The "reminder-preference test" sensitivity was compared with the previously suggested version of the "same-different difference-preference test", using signal detection d' analyses. A lemon-lime flavored carbonated drink was used as the reference and compared with two types of reformulations. The consumers were divided randomly into two groups that performed one of the two difference-preference test methods. With the "reminder-preference test", the consumers watched a commercial advertisement for the reference by providing its brand name before the tests to evoke the marketing effects. The proposed sensory test of the "reminder-preference test" was more sensitive than the "same-different difference-preference test", in terms of both sensory and preference discriminations. Hence, brand effects can be incorporated into the consumer sensory evaluation to achieve the reformulation objective and the potential of the "reminder-preference test" and its signal detection d' analyses to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of consumer sensory measurements.

Currently, capsule cigarettes have been introduced by tobacco industries and their sales have increased exponentially. However, the capsule flavoring ingredients and their safety are still unknown. Although the contents of menthol and other ingredients directly added to cigarettes have been determined extensively, no analogous study exists for menthol-containing cigarette capsules. Basic physical properties of capsules in all 31 different capsule cigarettes commercially available in Korea were investigated, and their menthol contents were determined in this study. Other ingredients in these capsules were also qualitatively analyzed; methyl octanoate, menthone and isopulegol as well as menthol were detected in all the capsules. There is considerable variability in basic physical properties and menthol contents of cigarette capsules depending on their brand styles. The menthol contents of capsules and whole cigarettes are similar or higher than those previously reported for conventional menthol cigarettes. This is the first report on the physical properties of capsules and the fact that a wide range of menthol contents in capsule cigarettes, regardless of flavor types, allows smokers to select menthol content to their liking.

MeCP2 is a chromatin associated protein which is highly expressed in brain and relevant with Rett syndrome (RTT). There are AT-hook motifs in MeCP2 which can bind with AT-rich DNA, suggesting a role in chromatin binding. Here, we report the identification and characterization of another AT-rich DNA binding motif (residues 295 to 313) from the C-terminal transcription repression domain of MeCP2 by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and isothermal calorimetry (ITC). This motif shows a micromolar affinity to AT-rich DNA, and it binds to the minor groove of DNA like AT-hook motifs. Together with the previous studies, our results provide an insight into a critical role of this motif in chromatin structure and function.

Ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of kitchenware is considered environmentally friendly and economical. However, there are many cases of extended UV irradiation, which raises concerns about the release of hazardous substances. Here, we investigated the migration of monomers, plastic additives, and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) from food utensils made of melamine–formaldehyde resin into food simulants after UV irradiation for up to 7 d. The migration of monomers (melamine and formaldehyde) was analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph with a diode array detector. When irradiated with a UV lamp for 7 d, the release of melamine from food utensils made of melamine–formaldehyde resins increased by up to 85-fold compared with that from the unexposed samples. Formaldehyde release increased up to 4-fold after UV exposure. UV exposure led to a sustained increase in melamine migration in a time-dependent manner. Formaldehyde release also increased on the first day, but plateaued after seven days of exposure. Safety assessment demonstrated that there is a low risk of melamine and formaldehyde exposure of up to 11.78% and 7.95%, respectively, compared with the tolerable daily intake. Non-target screening analysis of plastic additives and NIAS from melamine–formaldehyde resin and other synthetic resins was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Exposure of melamine–formaldehyde resin to UV for 7 d drastically increased the release of plastic additives and NIAS. In contrast, for other synthetic resins (polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and silicone), the peaks of these compounds disappeared or decreased after UV exposure, indicating that the melamine–formaldehyde resin is less resistant to UV degradation than other synthetic resins.

In South Korea, a cluster of humidifier disinfectant-induced lung injury (HDLI) cases developed between 2006 and 2011. There are no existing reports regarding the rate of humidifier disinfectant (HD) usage in the general population of Korean children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of humidifier and HD usage in the general population of Korean children. This is a general population-based birth cohort multicenter study, Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) from 2008, a humidifier and HD-related questionnaire administered to 1577 subjects (809 male, 768 female) in 2015 (n=1577). The questionnaire consisted of four categories (humidifier usage, HD usage, exposure duration, and type of HD brands). A total of 75.6% (1192/1577) had used a humidifier, and the rate of HD usage was found to be 31.1% (409/1316). Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), used as a disinfectant, was found to have the highest usage rate (62.0%). HD was used for less than 3 months of the entire lifetime of most of the subjects. In conclusion, approximately 30% of young Korean children were exposed to HD. PHMG-containing HD was the most commonly used. These results suggest that a nationwide epidemiologic investigation is needed urgently, and children exposed to HD should be investigated regarding their status of lung injury, including a pulmonary function test. Moreover, a long-term follow-up period may be required to evaluate HD usage-associated lung injury.

Background: Finasteride has proved to be an effective treatment for men with AGA. Daily use of finasteride 1mg for three months or more is necessary before benefit is observed. Also, treatments for AGA, including finasteride 1mg, should be continued to treat AGA and maintain therapeutic effect. Objectives: To compare the maintenance effect of finasteride 1mg regimens, daily or every other months (EOM) use, after taking finasteride 1mg daily for 1 year. Methods: We enrolled 23 Korean men with AGA who were treated with finasteride 1 mg daily for 1 year. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, and then treated with finasteride 1 mg for 1 more year. We defined daily group as 9 patients who took finasteride 1 mg daily and EOM group as 14 patients who took it EOM. Treatment efficacy was assessed by the investigator’s global assessment. The 5-point scale was as follows: 4, greatly improved; 3, moderately improved; 2, slightly improved; 1, unchanged; 0, aggravated. Results: Two patients (22.2%) showed mild improvement and 6 patients (66.7%) showed no change in daily group. Five patients (35.7%) patients showed mild improvement and 7 patients (50.0%) had no change in EOM group. There were 1 patient (11%) with aggravation in daily group and 2 patients (14.3%) with aggravation in EOM group. Conclusion: Maintenance effect of finasteride 1mg EOM dosage showed similar to that of finasteride 1mg daily dosage during 1 year in Korean men with AGA, after taking finasteride 1 mg daily for 1 year.

The effect of simulants, repeated use, washing, and oiling on the release of toxic metals from metallic kitchen utensils was investigated. The release of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb from kitchen utensils composed of stainless steel, aluminum, copper alloy, and cast iron into food simulants was quantified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results show that this release of toxic metals was highly dependent on pH. Generally, the release of toxic metals tended to decrease with repeated use, and the release of Cr and Ni from stainless steel samples was significantly higher in the first test, compared to the third test. The washing conditions affected the release of As and Cr, whose release levels were higher when washing only with water and with a steel wool pad, respectively. Furthermore, oiling cast iron cookware reduced the release of As, Cd, Cr, and Ni into acidic simulants by 66%, 83%, 71%, and 15%, respectively. The margin of exposure (MOE) was calculated for each toxic metal; the calculated MOE values indicated that it is improbable that the current level of exposure from metallic kitchen utensils would pose a health risk in Korea.

Early diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) remains an elusive challenge, especially in individuals with disseminated TB and HIV co-infection. Recent studies have shown a promise for the direct detection of pathogen-specific biomarkers such as lipoarabinomannan (LAM) for the diagnosis of TB in HIV-positive individuals. Currently, traditional immunoassay platforms that suffer from poor sensitivity and high non-specific interactions are used for the detection of such biomarkers. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the development of sandwich immunoassays for the direct detection of three TB-specific biomarkers, namely LAM, early secretory antigenic target 6 (ESAT6) and antigen 85 complex (Ag85), using a waveguide-based optical biosensor platform. Combining detection within the evanescent field of a planar optical waveguide with functional surfaces that reduce non-specific interactions allows for the ultra-sensitive and quantitative detection of biomarkers (an order of magnitude enhanced sensitivity, as compared to plate-based ELISA) in complex patient samples (urine, serum) within a short time. We also demonstrate the detection of LAM in urine from a small sample of subjects being treated for TB using this approach with excellent sensitivity and 100% corroboration with disease status. These results suggest that pathogen-specific biomarkers can be applied for the rapid and effective diagnosis of disease. It is likely that detection of a combination of biomarkers offers greater reliability of diagnosis, rather than detection of any single pathogen biomarker. NCT00341601.

The exposure to acute or chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been known to induce dysfunction of islets, leading to apoptosis. The reduction of ER stress in islet isolation for transplantation is critical for islet protection. In this study, we investigated whether tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDCA) could inhibit ER stress induced by thapsigargin, and restore the decreased glucose stimulation index of islets. In pig islets, thapsigargin decreased the insulin secretion by high glucose stimulation in a time-dependent manner (1h, 1.35+/-0.16; 2h, 1.21+/-0.13; 4h, 1.17+/-0.16 vs. 0h, 1.81+/-0.15, n=4, p

Background The exact role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of TB is poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that neutrophils are not simply scavenging phagocytes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ) infection. Methods Three different types of clinical specimens from patients with active pulmonary TB who underwent lung surgery were examined: sputum, BAL fluid, and cavity contents. Differential cell separation and quantification were performed for intracellular and extracellular bacteria, and bacterial length was measured using microscopy. Results Neutrophils were more abundant than macrophages in sputum (86.6% ± 2.2% vs 8.4% ± 1.3%) and in BAL fluid (78.8% ± 5.8% vs 11.8% ± 4.1%). Inside the cavity, lymphocytes (41.3% ± 11.2%) were the most abundant cell type, followed by neutrophils (38.8% ± 9.4%) and macrophages (19.5% ± 7.5%). More intracellular bacilli were found in neutrophils than macrophages in sputum (67.6% ± 5.6% vs 25.2% ± 6.5%), in BAL fluid (65.1% ± 14.4% vs 28.3% ± 11.6%), and in cavities (61.8% ± 13.3% vs 23.9% ± 9.3%). The lengths of Mtb were shortest in cavities (1.9± 0.1 ± m), followed by in sputum (2.9 ± 0.1 μm) and in BAL fluid (3.6 ± 0.2 μm). Conclusions Our results show that neutrophils are the predominant cell types infected with Mtb in patients with TB and that these intracellular bacteria appear to replicate rapidly. These results are consistent with a role for neutrophils in providing a permissive site for a final burst of active replication of the bacilli prior to transmission.