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Objectives The objective of this study is to confirm the possibility of reduction and consequent dissolution of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn from NCM622 cathodes in spent Li-ion batteries through the anaerobic respiration with Na-lactate by Shewanella putrefaciens. Methods The method involves using anaerobic microbial respiration to mimic dissimilatory metal oxide reduction, allowing metals to be leached from NCM622 cathodes (LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2) under near-neutral pH conditions (~7.5). Results and Discussion The results show that approximately 26 wt% of the total Li, Ni, Co, and Mn were successfully leached into the solution within two weeks. This approach differs significantly from conventional acidic leaching processes, offering a more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative. In addition, we provide quantitative information regarding the dissolution of NCM622 when it is exposed in environmental systems. Conclusion In conclusion, microbial-based metal leaching presents a novel, sustainable pathway for recovering metals from spent Li-ion batteries, addressing environmental concerns and reducing dependence on traditional energy-intensive recovery methods.

This study explored the positive effects of a six-week Social–Emotional and Ethical Learning® (SEE Learning) program on resilience and social and emotional competences, adapted for elementary students in Daegu, South Korea, a region strongly affected by the first outbreak of COVID-19. A total of 348 third- and fourth-grade students from 15 elementary schools participated, and the curriculum was tailored, emphasizing key areas such as resilience, attention, kindness, attention training, and compassion. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) tests showed statistically significant improvements between pre- and post-tests in resilience and its subscales, including self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, positive support relations, power of control, and spontaneity, as well as in social and emotional competencies, including emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendencies. Despite a lack of maintenance in all areas, at follow-up, the mean scores for self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, and positive support relations, as well as emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendency, remained higher than pre-test levels, suggesting some lasting benefits. The findings underscore the potential of the SEE Learning program integrated with resilience, mindfulness, compassion, and ethical practices to enhance students’ resilience and social and emotional well-being. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of mindfulness and compassion-based SEL programs to mitigate the adverse effects of traumatic events on children’s mental health.

Abstract Background Hair follicle stem cells (HFSC) play an essential role in the maintenance of hair homeostasis; during the hair cycle, HFSC remain quiescent for most of its duration. The hairpoor mouse (+ /Hr Hp ), an animal model of Marie-Unna hypotrichosis (MUHH), overexpresses hairless in the bulge, inner root sheath, and outer root sheath of HF and shows the same phenotype as in MUHH patients manifesting sparse hair with progression to alopecia with age. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the hair cycle and the status of HFSC during the hair cycle of the hairpoor mouse in order to delineate the pathogenesis of MUHH. Methods H&E staining was performed in order to define the state of the hair follicle. FACS analysis and immunostaining were performed at the 1st and 2nd telogen stages for observation of the HFSC. A label retaining assay was performed to determine the quiescent state of hair follicles. qRT-PCR was performed to determine expression of factors involved in niche signaling and Wnt signaling. Results We observed a drastic decrease in the number of hair follicles after the 1st telogen, followed by an intensified disturbance in the hair cycle with shorter anagen as well as 2nd telogen in the hairpoor mouse. A dramatic reduction in the number of CD34 expressing bulges as well as cells was observed at the telogen of the HFs, with prominent high proliferation of bulge cells, suggesting the loss of HFSC quiescence in the hairpoor mouse. The increased cell proliferation in HF was reiterated following the synchronization of the hair cycle, leading to acceleration of HF cycling. Reduced expression of Fgf18 and Bmp6, the factors involved in HFSC quiescence, was observed in the HFSC niche of the hairpoor mouse. In addition, disturbed expression of Wnt signaling molecules including Wnt7b, Wnt10b, and Sfrp1 was observed, which induced the telogen-to-anagen transition of HFs in the hairpoor mouse. Conclusions These results indicate that the quiescent state of HFSC is not properly maintained in the hairpoor mouse, consequently leading HFs to the completely disarrayed hair cycle. These findings may provide an understanding of an underlying mechanism for development of alopecia with age in MUHH patients.

Abstract Background and objective Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have been proposed as novel methods to enhance cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance and increase engagement with CPR training. A scoping review was conducted to map the global evolution of these new approaches to CPR training, to assess their efficacy and determine future directions to meet gaps in current knowledge. Methods A standardised five-stage scoping methodology was used to (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant studies, (3) select the studies, (4) chart the data and (5) summarise the findings. The Kirkpatrick model levels of evidence were used to chart and assess the efficacy of each intervention reported. A multi-pronged search term strategy was used to search the Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL and EMBASE databases up to June 2020. Results A total of 42 articles were included in this review. The first relevant paper identified was published in 2009 and based on VR, from 2014 onwards there was a large increase in the volume of work being published regarding VR and AR uses in CPR training. This review reports Kirkpatrick level one to three evidence for the use of VR/AR–CPR. Inconsistencies in the specific language, keywords used and methodologies are highlighted. Conclusion VR and AR technologies have shown great potential in the area of CPR, and there is continuing evidence of new novel applications and concepts. As VR/AR research into CPR reaches an inflection point, it is key to bring collaboration and consistency to the wider research community, to enable the growth of the area and ease of access to the wider medical community.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an ongoing global health problem, including in South Korea. To manage TB efficiently, it is necessary to understand the epidemiology, transmission route, and characteristics of prevailing Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. In this study, we investigated microevolutions over time in the spoligotype patterns of M. tuberculosis isolated from TB patients in Korea. We collected 1,055 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates from 16 provinces in Korea from 1994 to 2006 and analyzed them by spoligotyping. We observed 26 subfamilies, including two large predominant families: a Beijing family (72.7%) and the T family (19.1%). Specifically, the abundance of spoligotype SIT269 from the Beijing-like subfamily significantly increased in the 2000s relative to the 1990s in Korea. This study provides an overview of the M. tuberculosis genotype trends over time in Korea. These data also indicate that we should consider the influence of the newly growing SIT269 subtype identified in the Beijing family.

A new species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota), Acaulospora koreana, was isolated from forest soils in South Korea. This novel fungus was collected from the rhizosphere of Lindera obtusiloba and Styrax obassia in forest and propagated with Sorghum bicolor in pot. Morphological characteristics of spores of A. koreana are rarely distinguished from Acaulospora mellea, which is reported as one of the most abundant mycorrhizal species in Korea. However, molecular evidence of rDNA sequence using improved primers for glomeromycotan fungal identification strongly supported that A. koreana is different from A. mellea but also any other species belonging to the genus Acaulospora. This is the first novel glomeromycatan fungus introduced in South Korea, but it suggests that there is a high possibility for discovering new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi considering the abundance of plant species and advanced phylogenetic analysis technique.

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) has been recognized as an eco-friendly separation system owing to its excellent cost and energy saving efficiency, easy scale-up in the narrow area and mild operation conditions. Membrane properties are the key part in terms of determining the separation efficiency in the OSN system. In this review paper, the recently reported OSN thin-film composite (TFC) membranes were investigated to understand insight of membrane materials and performance. Especially, we highlighted the representative study concepts and materials of the selective layer of OSN TFC membranes for non-polar solvents. The proper choice of monomers and additives for the selective layer forms much more interconnected voids and the enhanced microporosity, which can improve membrane performance of the OSN TFC membrane with reducing the transport resistance. Therefore, this review paper could be an important bridge to connect with the next-generation OSN TFC membranes for non-polar solvents.

Pediatric hypertensive crisis is a potentially life threatening medical emergency, usually secondary to an underlying disease. Hypertension commonly occurs during general anesthesia, and is usually promptly and appropriately treated by anesthesiologists. However in children with severe, unexplained, or refractory hypertension, it has the potential to cause morbidity and even mortality in susceptible patients. We report an anesthetic management of an unexpected hypertensive crisis that developed during general anesthesia in a three-year-old girl with undiagnosed severe left renal artery stenosis.

With the Westernization and opening of our society, adolescents' smoking is increasing and being popularized. Many adolescents start smoking at an early age out of curiosity and venturesomeness, and earlier start of smoking makes it more difficult to quit smoking. Adolescents' habitual smoking not only becomes a gateway to all kinds of substance abuse but also causes various health problems including upper respiratory infection, immature lung development, reduced maximum vital capacity, and lung cancer. Therefore, it is quite important to prevent adolescents from smoking. The lowering of adolescents' smoking rate cannot be achieved only through social restrictions such as stereotyped education on the harms of smoking and ID checking. In order to lower adolescents' smoking rate substantially, each area of society should develop standardized programs and make related efforts. As adolescents' smoking is highly influenced by home environment or school life, it is necessary to make efforts in effective education and social reinforcement in school, to establish related norms, and to execute preventive education using peer groups. When these efforts are spread throughout society in cooperation with homes and communities, they will be helpful to protect adolescents' health and improve their quality of life.

BackgroundThe tuberculin skin test (TST) frequently yields false positive results among BCG-vaccinated persons thereby limiting its diagnostic value particularly in settings with high BCG vaccination rate. We determined the agreement between IGRA and TST using 2 cutoff values and identified possible relationships between the results of these tests and the development of active tuberculosis.MethodologyAdolescents aged 11-19 years in close contact with smear-positive tuberculosis cases and with normal chest radiographs were recruited from middle and high schools in South Korea. The TST was conducted by trained nurses, and blood was drawn for the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT). Participants were followed up for 2 years to check for incidence tuberculosis.ResultsA total of 2,982 subjects were included in the study, the average age was 15.1 years (SD 1.3), 61% had BCG vaccination scars. The agreement of QFT-GIT and the TST was low (κ = 0.38, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.42) using 10 mm cutoff; however, when the 15 mm cutoff was used, the agreement was intermediate (κ = 0.56, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.61). The odds ratio (OR) for the development of active tuberculosis was 7.9 (95% CI 3.46 to 18.06) for QFT-GIT positive patients, 7.96 (95% CI 3.14-20.22) for TST/QFT-GIT+ and the OR 4.62 (95% CI 2.02 to 10.58) and 16.35 (95% CI 7.09 to 37.71) for TST 10 mm and 15 mm cutoff respectively.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that the TST cutoff point for patients aged 11-17 years would be 15 mm in other study. The OR of QFT-GIT for the development of active tuberculosis and its intermediate agreement with TST using 15 mm cutoff demonstrates its role as an adjunct diagnostic tool to current clinical practice. Positive responders to both TST and QFT-GIT at the outset may benefit from chemoprophylaxis.

Mitotane is an adrenolytic drug that exhibits therapeutic effects within a narrow target range (14–20 μg/dL). Various complications develop if the upper limit is exceeded. We present the case of a 5-year-old girl with breast development, acne, and pubic hair who was diagnosed with an adrenal mass that was subsequently excised. The pathological finding was adrenocortical carcinoma with a high risk of malignancy, and adjuvant therapy (combined mitotane and radiation therapy) was recommended. Mitotane was initiated at a low dose to allow monitoring of the therapeutic drug level, and high-dose hydrocortisone was also administered. However, the patient exhibited elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone levels and vague symptoms such as general weakness and difficulty concentrating. It was important to determine if these symptoms were signs of the neurological complications that develop when mitotane level is elevated. Encephalopathy progression and pubertal signs appeared 6 months after diagnosis, induced by high mitotane level. The mitotane decreased to subtherapeutic level several months after its discontinuation, at which time endocrinopathy (central hypothyroidism, hypercholesterolemia, and secondary central precocious puberty) developed. The case shows that low-dose mitotane can trigger neurological and endocrinological complications in a pediatric patient, indicating that the drug dose should be individualized with frequent monitoring of the therapeutic level.

There is a growing demand for hair loss treatments with minimal side effects and recurrence potential. Connarus semidecandrus Jack has been used as a folk medicine for fever in tropical regions, but its anti-alopecia effects remain unclear. In this study, the anti-androgenic alopecia effect of an ethanol extract of Connarus semidecandrus Jack (Cs-EE) was demonstrated in a testosterone-induced androgenic alopecia (AGA) model, in terms of the hair–skin ratio, hair type frequency, and hair thickness. The area of restored hair growth and thickened hair population after Cs-EE treatment showed the hair-growth-promoting effect of Cs-EE. Histological data support the possibility that Cs-EE could reduce hair loss and upregulate hair proliferation in mouse skin by shifting hair follicles from the catagen phase to the anagen phase. Western blotting indicated that Cs-EE reduced the expression of the androgenic receptor. Cs-EE treatment also inhibited programmed cell death by upregulating Bcl-2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. The anti-alopecia effect of Cs-EE was confirmed by in vitro experiments showing that Cs-EE had suppressive effects on 5-α reductase activity and lymph node carcinoma of the prostate proliferation, and a proliferative effect on human hair-follicle dermal papilla (HDP) cells. Apoptotic pathways in HDP cells were downregulated by Cs-EE treatment. Thus, Cs-EE could be a potential treatment for AGA.

Skin aging is a natural process influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and many skin anti-aging strategies have been developed. Plants from the genus Potentilla has been used in Europe and Asia to treat various diseases. Potentilla paradoxa Nutt. has been used as a traditional medicinal herb in China and has recently been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. Despite the biological and pharmacological potential of Potentilla paradoxa Nutt., its skin anti-aging effects remain unclear. Therefore, this study evaluated the free radical scavenging, moisturizing, anti-melanogenic, and wound-healing effects of an ethanol extract of Potentilla paradoxa Nutt. (Pp-EE). Pp-EE was found to contain phenolics and flavonoids and exhibits in vitro antioxidant activities. α-Linolenic acid was found to be a major component of Pp-EE on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pp-EE promoted the expression of hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis-related enzymes and suppressed the expression of HA degradation-related enzymes in keratinocytes, so it may increase skin hydration. Pp-EE also showed inhibitory effects on the production and secretion of melanin in melanocytes. In a scratch assay, Pp-EE improved skin wound healing. Taken together, Pp-EE has several effects that may delay skin aging, suggesting its potential benefits as a natural ingredient in cosmetic or pharmaceutical products.

This study argues that, from the standpoint of social suffering, the perspective that sees refugees in terms of their "bare life" (Agamben) over-represents the legal-political system and treats them as apolitical subjects. This study posits that when seen not only in the legal-political but also in personal-relationalsocial dimensions, refugees can be understood as political subjects during their transnational journeys from North to South Korea. In-depth interviews with North Korean refugees who have settled in South Korea are used to support this point. Other Asian states approach North Korean refugee migrations according to their own particular social and political circumstances and the refugees describe their experiences of exploitation and social dislocation as "bearable pain" or "temporary pain" in light of the hoped-for survival and legal asylum. While helpful in adapting psychologically or emotionally to adverse circumstances, such perceptions support the continuation of inhumane relationships and unjust practices in the formal and informal socio-economic arena made up of North Korean refugees and the local subjects who interact with them. The lived experiences and storytelling of refugees, however, expose contradictions in the social structure and demonstrate they are political subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that transportation noise is associated with blood pressure and hypertension, but little is known about its relationship in the adults living in multi-storey residential buildings, where neighbour noise is frequently heard. This study aimed to investigate the effects of transportation noise exposure on blood pressure in 400 adult residents of multi-storey residential buildings and modifying effects of indoor noise annoyance and self-rated noise sensitivity on the associations between transportation noise and blood pressure. Noise levels were measured on the top of buildings for 24 h, and levels of each house unit were then predicted for different sources and periods using noise maps. Adjusted linear regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations of noise exposure levels (LDEN, LDay, and LNight) with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The questionnaire also included questions related to annoyance caused by indoor noise, noise sensitivity, and sociodemographic variables. Adjusted regression models yielded significant effect estimates for a 5-dBA increase in overall transportation noise for 24 h (SBP β = 0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25–1.81; DBP β = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.12–0.93). The overall (road traffic and railway noise) and road traffic noises showed stronger associations with the SBP than with the DBP, while the railway noise had similar associations with the SBP and the DBP. Stronger associations were estimated for the participants who reported higher indoor noise annoyance ratings. Furthermore, the regression coefficients between the noise exposure and blood pressure slightly increased (β = 0.26 and 0.22 for overall and road traffic noise, respectively for SBP) in a subgroup that excluded participants exposed to high railway noise. The results lend some support to the hypothesis that long-term exposure to transportation noise is associated with a higher blood pressure in adults living in multi-storey residential buildings.

This paper explores how the modality of task presentation (spoken vs. written) influences the perception of sentences by native Korean speakers, focusing on ditransitive constructions. We conducted a spoken acceptability judgment experiment to collect acceptability scores and reaction times, examining both the judgment outcomes and processes. The spoken judgments were further compared with those obtained in a previous written judgment study by Park and Yi (2021) to directly assess the impact of presentation modality on ditransitive perception. The spoken experiment revealed general and construction-specific patterns in the relationship between acceptability scores and reaction times. Furthermore, we found the presentation modality significantly affects the acceptability scores and reaction times of ditransitives, with its precise influence varying depending on construction type and verb semantics. These results highlight the value of using spoken stimuli in acceptability judgment experiments and incorporating reaction time data in theoretical and psycholinguistic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss is a traditional herb commonly used in East Asia including Korea, Japan, and China. It has been administered to reduce and treat inflammation in Donguibogam, Korea. The mechanism for its anti-inflammatory effects has already been reported. In this study, we confirmed the efficacy of Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss ethanol extract (Pv-EE) for inducing autophagy and investigate its anti-melanogenic properties. Melanin secretion and content were investigated using cells from the melanoma cell line B16F10. Pv-EE inhibited melanin in melanogenesis induced by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). The mechanism of inhibition of Pv-EE was confirmed by suppressing the mRNA of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), decreasing the phosphorylation level of CREB, and increasing the phosphorylation of ERK. Finally, it was confirmed that Pv-EE induces autophagy through the autophagy markers LC3B and p62, and that the anti-melanogenic effect of Pv-EE is inhibited by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyl adenine (3-MA). These results suggest that Pv-EE may be used as a skin protectant due to its anti-melanin properties including autophagy.

In the present study, the effect of footstep noise on emotions was investigated. This study used noise stimulus of human footsteps throughout the study. First, Korean emotion lexicons were collected from narratives of residents living in multi-family housing buildings. The lexicons were then classified into four emotion clusters, with three expressing negative emotions (anger, dislike, and pain) and the fourth depicting empathy. Since self-reported annoyance has long been investigated as one of the major non-auditory responses to noise, annoyance was measured along with affective responses in a laboratory experiment with varying noise levels. The findings revealed that the emotion and noise annoyance experienced by the participants were significantly affected by noise levels. All clusters expressing negative emotions showed strong correlations with noise annoyance, whereas that representing empathy showed the weakest correlation. Noise sensitivity and attitudes to the noise source were observed as possible moderators in emotional responses and annoyance ratings.