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Little is known about underlying pathways regarding how middle school students can improve their COVID-19 knowledge. This study investigates the relationship between subjective poverty and COVID-19 knowledge by considering a dual mediation model. A total of 328 middle school students were included. We used a multiple mediator model developed by Preacher and Hayes, using bootstrapping approach to include a first and sequence mediators. We employed the PROCESS macro 3.4 for SPSS to test the dual mediating effects. Both Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources and family satisfaction mediated the association between subjective poverty and knowledge about COVID-19. Further, an indirect effect of subjective poverty via the dual mediators of ICT resources and family satisfaction was found. Further, middle school students who more satisfied with their family dynamics and who had more ICT resources were more likely to have greater levels of knowledge about COVID-19. This study contributes to further understanding of pathways between subjective poverty and COVID-19 knowledge in the context of dual mediators. It is imperative to help households in poverty before and since COVID-19; specific financial supports that focus on ICT resources should be provided to increase middle school students' quality of online learning, which then helps to improve family satisfaction. The pathways influence COVID-19 knowledge.

Background: Parental depression is a significant problem that negatively affects parents' welfare and influences family dynamics, children's academic and health behaviors, and mental health. However, there is limited evidence regarding the impact of the parental depression into the children's' psychological and physical wellbeing on Asian cultures. This study examined the psychological burdens and health behaviors of adolescent children with parents with depression in the Republic of Korea. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) spanning 2013 to 2021 to compare health behaviors and mental health outcomes between 203 adolescent children with parents diagnosed with depression and 3,856 control adolescents aged 12–19 years. Results: Following multivariate adjustments, the risk of depressive mood for more than two weeks was significantly increased in boys with parental depression (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.05, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.91–3.52) and adolescents with parents with moderate-to-severe depression (aOR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.17–5.77). Adolescents with parental depression reported significantly worse subjective health status (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.05–3.36) and higher stress levels (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.33–2.76). Additionally, when parental depression was present and the time since depression diagnosis was more than five years, adolescents with parental depression exhibited even poorer subjective health status and higher stress levels. Conclusions: The study found that adolescents whose parents experienced depression had poorer mental health than those whose parents did not have mental health issues. These findings emphasize the importance of providing support for the mental health of adolescents in families affected by parental depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: Given that the period from middle to high school is important to develop and cultivate self-efficacy, reduced support in low-income families might negatively influence the development of self-efficacy among low-income students since COVID-19. This study aims to investigate the association between family satisfaction and self-efficacy among low-income students since COVID-19 and the moderating effect of parents’ educational attainment on the relationship. Methods: 255 low-income students in South-Korea were selected for the final sample. The PROCESS macro 3.4 for Statistical Product and Service Solutions was used to analyze the data. Results: Family satisfaction was positively related to self-efficacy among low-income students. There was a significant moderating effect of parents’ educational attainment on the relationship between family satisfaction and self-efficacy among low-income students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Financial support and COVID-19 benefits should be prioritized to low-income families with adolescents to improve family relationships, leading to increase self-efficacy among low-income students. Social welfare programs targeting family relationships in low-income households should be especially targeted toward low-income households without a parent who received higher education. Life-long education should be provided to parents in low-income families who did not gain higher education as their educational attainment influences the self-efficacy of their adolescent children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores associations between perceived economic status and depression among middle school students during COVID-19 in the context of conflict with parents and self-esteem. Data were collected in South Korea in the fall of 2020. A total of 328 middle school students were included, and a multiple mediator model was employed to examine the multiple mediating effects. Middle schoolers' household economic status was negatively associated with their conflict with parents. Conflict with parents was negatively related to middle school students' self-esteem. Indirect effects of perceived economic status via conflict with parents were significantly associated with depression. The indirect effect of perceived economic status via both conflict with parents and self-esteem was related to depression. Government subsidies should temporarily be expanded to improve households' economic status to potentially improve middle school students' depression and to enhance relationships between children and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, extra financial support from the government should be focused on poor households with children in order to address family conflict, self-esteem, and depression among middle school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inherited cystic kidney disease is a spectrum of disorders in which clusters of renal cysts develop as the result of genetic mutation. The exact methods and pipelines for defining genetic mutations of inherited cystic kidney disease are not clear at this point. This 3-year, prospective, multicenter, cohort study was designed to set up a cohort of Korean patients with inherited cystic kidney disease, establish a customized genetic analysis pipeline for each disease subtype, and identify modifying genes associated with the severity of the disease phenotype.Methods/design: From May 2020 to May 2022, we aim to recruit 800 patients and their family members to identify pathogenic mutations. Patients with more than 3 renal cysts in both kidneys are eligible to be enrolled. Cases of simple renal cysts and acquired cystic kidney disease that involve cyst formation as the result of renal failure will be excluded from this study. Demographic, laboratory, and imaging data as well as family pedigree will be collected at baseline. Renal function and changes in total kidney volume will be monitored during the follow-up period. Genetic identification of each case of inherited cystic kidney disease will be performed using a targeted gene panel of cystogenesis-related genes, whole exome sequencing (WES) and/or family segregation studies. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis will be performed to elucidate the genetic effect on the severity of the disease phenotype.Discussion: This is the first nationwide cohort study on patients with inherited cystic kidney disease in Korea. We will build a multicenter cohort to describe the clinical characteristics of Korean patients with inherited cystic kidney disease, elucidate the genotype of each disease, and demonstrate the genetic effects on the severity of the disease phenotype.Trial Registration: This cohort study was retrospectively registered at the Clinical Research Information Service ( KCT0005580 ) operated by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention on November 5th, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Gambling disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling. In the present study, we evaluated the characteristics of resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in patients with gambling disorder. In addition, we explored the association between the EEG characteristics of the patients and the stages of change in a transtheoretical model. Methods: All participants were men who visited a gambling disorder clinic in Seoul, Korea. At the assessment, questionnaires, including the Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ), were administered and resting-state EEGs were carried out. Participants were grouped based on Ward's method for cluster analysis. Independent sample t-tests were used to evaluate group differences. To assess the relationship between the clinical data and the EEG recordings, we used Pearson's partial correlation analysis. Results: Overall, 63 male participants were enrolled. Cluster analysis of the alpha activity revealed two clusters. No significant differences were observed in the demographic or clinical data between the two groups except for the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We found that the precontemplation score of the RCQ was positively correlated with the z-score of the relative alpha power in almost all cortical regions. Conclusion: This study suggests that EEG parameters, particularly alpha activity, could inform us about the subtypes or stages of change in gambling disorder. Alpha power is the predominant EEG rhythm in a relaxed, alert person; thus, alpha power serves as an index of relaxation. We expect that the level of alpha activity could be utilized as an additional parameter to help clinicians assess and treat patients with gambling disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a lethal skin cancer in Western countries. Although the incidence is low in Asians compared to that in Caucasians, it is increasing. However, literature regarding risk factors for prognosis of MM patients who have undergone surgical excision in Asian is limited. This study aimed to investigate the predictive factors for local recurrence and metastasis in MM patients who underwent surgical treatment at a single tertiary-level hospital in Korea. Patients who underwent surgery for MM at our institution between January 1998 and December 2014 were analyzed. We retrospectively investigated risk factors for local recurrence and metastasis after surgery. In cases with distant metastasis, tumor thickness (adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR), 6.139; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.152 to 17.509; P = 0.001) and increased mitotic number [(0-1/mm2 vs 2-6/mm2: adjusted HR, 4.483; 95% CI, 1.233 to 16.303; P = 0.023); (0-1/mm2 vs > 6/mm2: adjusted HR, 10.316; 95% CI, 2.871 to 37.063; P < 0.001)] were associated with risk in multivariate analysis. Regarding local recurrence, tumor thickness (T4 [≥4mm] vs T1) was found to be a significant risk factor (adjusted HR, 8.461; 95% CI, 2.514 to 28.474; P = 0.001). Our data revealed tumor thickness and increased mitotic count were significant risk factors for local recurrence and distant metastasis in Korean patients with MM after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The electrophysiological inhibitory mechanism of cognitive control for alcohol remains largely unknown. The purpose of the study was to compare electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra and cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling ( CFPAC) at rest and during a simple subtraction task after acute alcohol ingestion. Methods Twenty-one healthy subjects participated in this study. Two experiments were performed 1 week apart, and the order of the experiments was randomly assigned to each subject. During the experiments, each subject was provided with orange juice containing alcohol or orange juice only. We recorded EEG activity and analyzed power spectra and CFPAC data. Results The results showed prominent theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling at the frontal and parietal electrodes at rest. This effect was significantly reduced after alcohol ingestion. Conclusions Our findings suggest that theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling is deficiently synchronized at rest after alcohol ingestion. Therefore, cross-frequency coupling could be a useful tool for studying the effects of alcohol on the brain and investigating alcohol addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Middle school students are of particular interest when examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic because they are in a formative period for socioemotional development, and because they are not as mature as adults, making them more vulnerable to the effects of the current pandemic. This study seeks to examine determinants of protective behavior changes since COVID-19 among middle school students. Participants were recruited through an official online flatform used by public schools. The final sample included 328 middle school students in South Korea. A multiple linear regression was conducted to explore what factors influence protective behavior changes since COVID-19. Gender and health status were associated with protective behavior changes since COVID-19. Family satisfaction was positively associated with protective behavior changes. Levels of sanitation since COVID-19 and perceptions regarding the risk of COVID-19 were significantly related to protective behavior changes. This study suggests to consider three factors–individual, family, and environmental—in order to prevent middle school students from contracting and spreading the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multi-layer repository design for high-level radioactive waste disposal is proposed. • Applicability of the multi-layer concept is analyzed by numerical simulations. • Multi-layer repositories meet the temperature criterion of 100 °C. • Stress evolutions in bentonite buffer materials are not significantly different from existing repository concept. • Rock mechanical behavior is different and potential for spalling failure exists. A multi-layer repository concept is proposed as an alternative to the single-layer repository concept to improve the disposal density of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Korea. Numerical simulations are performed to compare the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behavior in the existing Korean reference HLW disposal system (KRS) based on the single-layer repository concept to that in the new multi-layer repository concept. The applicability of the multi-layer repository concept, such as double- and triple-layer repositories, for the disposal of HLW is analyzed with respect to a maximum temperature criterion of 100 °C, evolution of saturation and pore pressure, and mechanical stability. Maximum temperatures are below 100 °C in the double- and triple-layer repository concepts, as in the single-layer reference, although two peaks in simulated temperatures are observed during the evolution of the thermal pulse, resulting from superposition of decay heat at different vertical levels in the multi-layer repository concept. There is no significant difference in the evolution of pore pressure and saturation among the three concepts. The evolutions of mean effective stress at the bentonite blocks and backfill materials are also not significantly different between the single-, double-, and triple-layer repository concepts, because the hydraulic behavior is quite similar, resulting in almost the same change in swelling pressure. Stress states in the rock mass near the tunnels and deposition holes remain below the Mohr-Coulomb failure envelopes at the repositories of 500 m depth in the single-, double-, and triple-layer repository concept simulations. However, the stress states exceed the Mohr-Coulomb failure envelopes at the repositories below 500 m depth (beneath the top layer) in the double- and triple-layer repository concepts. Also, mechanical analysis shows high potential for spalling failure around the deposition holes and tunnel roof in the double- and triple-layer repository concepts. Subsidence in the double- and triple-layer concepts due to the construction of repositories is much deeper than that in the single-layer concept, and uplift induced by heating the rock mass due to the decay heat in the double- and triple-layer concepts is much higher than in the single-layer concept. These results indicate that multi-layer repositories with larger depth intervals between layers are a feasible alternative to the KRS to safely achieve higher disposal density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), commonly used flame retardants, have been reported as potential endocrine disruptor and neurodevelopmental toxicants, thus giving rise to the public health concern. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk concentrations of PBDEs in South Korean. We assessed PBDE levels in paired samples of umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk. The levels of seven PBDE congeners were measured in 21 paired samples collected from the Cheil Woman’s Hospital (Seoul, Korea) in 2008. We also measured thyroid hormones levels in maternal and cord blood to assess the association between PBDEs exposure and thyroid hormone levels. However, there was no correlation between serum thyroxin (T4) and total PBDEs concentrations. The total PBDEs concentrations in the umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk were 10.7±5.1ngg−1 lipid, 7.7±4.2ngg−1 lipid, and 3.0±1.8ngg−1 lipid, respectively. The ranges of total PBDE concentrations observed were 2.28–30.94ngg−1 lipid in umbilical cord blood, 1.8–17.66ngg−1 lipid in maternal blood, and 1.08–8.66ngg−1 lipid in breast milk. BDE-47 (45–73% of total PBDEs) was observed to be present dominantly in all samples, followed by BDE-153. A strong correlation was found for major BDE-congeners between breast milk and cord blood or maternal blood and cord blood samples. The measurement of PBDEs concentrations in maternal blood or breast milk may help to determine the concentration of PBDEs in infant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]