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Purpose Staff is essential to the university’s efficient administrative operations, which are critical for education, research, and service. Medical schools, often independent, need specialized administrative elements. This study explores how medical school staff perceives the organization using the Six-Box model and evaluates their perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment based on the concept of job attitudes. Methods This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data via a convergent parallel design. It simultaneously collects and analyzes data from a survey and consensus workshop for medical school staff. The survey data were statistically analyzed (IBM SPSS ver. 25.0; IBM Corp., USA), and the workshop discussions were subjected to content analysis. The findings combined provide a comprehensive understanding of the medical school administrative system. Results Quantitative analysis revealed purpose (3.80) as the highest-rated organizational perception and rewards (2.72) as the lowest. Similarly, job satisfaction was highest (3.63) in job attitudes, while perceived organizational support (2.96) was the lowest. Group differences were observed by gender, enrollment capacity, and contract type (p

Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a progressive, chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high oxidative stress, which can lead to cardiac damage. Methionine sulfoxylation (MetO) of proteins by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can impair the basic functionality of essential cellular proteins, contributing to heart failure. Methionine sulfoxide reductase B2 (MsrB2) can reverse oxidation induced MetO in mitochondrial proteins, so we investigated its role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. We observed that DM-induced heart damage in diabetic mice model is characterized by increased ROS, increased protein MetO with mitochondria structural pathology, and cardiac fibrosis. In addition, MsrB2 was significantly increased in mouse DM cardiomyocytes, supporting the induction of a protective process. Further, MsrB2 directly induces Parkin and LC3 activation (mitophagy markers) in cardiomyocytes. In MsrB2, knockout mice displayed abnormal electrophysiological function, as determined by ECG analysis. Histological analysis confirmed increased cardiac fibrosis and disrupted cardiac tissue in MsrB2 knockout DM mice. We then corroborated our findings in human DM heart samples. Our study demonstrates that increased MsrB2 expression in the heart protects against diabetic cardiomyopathy. Graphic Abstract

Purpose Current faculty development (FD) programs are mostly limited to medical education and often lack a comprehensive and systematic structure. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the current status and needs of FD programs in medical schools to provide a basis for establishing FD strategies. Methods We conducted an online survey of medical school FD staff and professors regarding FD. Frequency, regression, and qualitative content analyses were conducted. FD programs were categorized into the classification frameworks. Results A total of 17 FD staff and 256 professors at 37 medical schools participated. There are gaps between the internal and external FD programs offered by medical schools and their needs, and there are gaps between the programs the professors participated in and their needs. Recent internal and external FD programs in medical schools have focused on educational methods, student assessment, and education in general. Medical schools have a high need for leadership and self-development, and student assessment. Furthermore, professors have a high need for leadership and self-development, and research. The number of participants, topics, and needs of FD programs varied depending on the characteristics of individual professors. Conclusion Medical schools should expand their FD programs to meet the needs of individuals and the changing demands of modern medical education. The focus should be on comprehensive and responsive programs that cover various topics, levels, and methods. Tailored programs that consider professors’ professional roles, career stages, and personal interests are essential for effective FD.

Abstract Oxide semiconductors have gained significant attention in electronic device industry due to their high potential for emerging thin-film transistor (TFT) applications. However, electrical contact properties such as specific contact resistivity (ρ C) and width-normalized contact resistance (R C W) are significantly inferior in oxide TFTs compared to conventional silicon metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors. In this study, a multi-stack interlayer (IL) consisting of titanium nitride (TiN) and indium-gallium-tin-oxide (IGTO) is inserted between source/drain electrodes and amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO). The TiN is introduced to increase conductivity of the underlying layer, while IGTO acts as an n+-layer. Our findings reveal IGTO thickness (t IGTO)-dependent electrical contact properties of IGZO TFT, where ρ C and R C W decrease as t IGTO increases to 8 nm. However, at t IGTO > 8 nm, they increase mainly due to IGTO crystallization-induced contact interface aggravation. Consequently, the IGZO TFTs with a TiN/IGTO (3/8 nm) IL reveal the lowest ρ C and R C W of 9.0 × 10−6 Ω·cm2 and 0.7 Ω·cm, significantly lower than 8.0 × 10−4 Ω·cm2 and 6.9 Ω·cm in the TFTs without the IL, respectively. This improved electrical contact properties increases field-effect mobility from 39.9 to 45.0 cm2/Vs. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of this multi-stack IL approach in oxide TFTs.

Thin-film-transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs) still dominate most of the display markets due to a big leap in image quality while keeping low cost and superior reliability, and its evolution is continuing to compete with emerging emissive displays. In this paper, recent progress in liquid crystal technologies mainly focusing on fringe-field switching (FFS) and polymer-stabilized vertical alignment (PS-VA) modes and materials for improving electro-optic performances is reviewed.

Abstract Air pollution is an environmental risk factor linked to multiple human diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). While particulate matter (PM) emitted by diesel exhaust damages multiple organ systems, heart disease is one of the most severe pathologies affected by PM. However, the in vivo effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on the heart and the molecular mechanisms of DEP-induced heart dysfunction have not been investigated. In the current study, we attempted to identify the proteomic signatures of heart fibrosis caused by diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in CVDs-prone apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE −/− ) mice model using tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic analysis. DEP exposure induced mild heart fibrosis in ApoE −/− mice compared with severe heart fibrosis in ApoE −/− mice that were treated with CVDs-inducing peptide, angiotensin II. TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis of heart tissues between PBS- and DEP-treated ApoE −/− mice revealed significant upregulation of proteins associated with platelet activation and TGFβ-dependent pathways. Our data suggest that DEP exposure could induce heart fibrosis, potentially via platelet-related pathways and TGFβ induction, causing cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction.

Abstract Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are risk factors for endothelial cells (ECs) dysfunction. However, the mechanism by which DEP induce ECs apoptosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated how DEP induce death of human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), with a focus on the autophagy-mediated apoptotic pathway. DEP induced dose-dependent HUVECs death and exposure to the IC50 concentration of DEP (70 µg/ml) led to apoptosis. DEP phosphorylated Beclin-1 (Ser93) and increased protein levels of p62 and LC3BII and the number of LC3B puncta, indicating autophagy initiation. DEP increased expression of pro- and mature forms of cathepsin D, which increases lysosomal activity. However, DEP suppressed expression of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor proteins (STX17, VAMP8, SNAP29, YKT6, and STX7) to inhibit autolysosome formation, resulting in accumulation of autophagosomes. LC3B, p62, and caspase-8 form a tertiary complex in accumulated autophagosomes, which is known to serve as a platform for caspase-8 activation. Indeed, DEP activates caspase-8 and pretreatment with a caspase-8 inhibitor suppressed DEP-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, depletion of p62 decreased caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation and inhibited the DEP-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that DEP induced HUVECs apoptosis by inhibiting autophagosome maturation and identified caspase-8 as a novel mediator of DEP-induced ECs apoptosis.

Objective: To examine associations between comfort eating in response to loneliness or stress and weight change during the COVID-19 pandemic among U.S. adults. Design: Quantitative, cross-sectional study. Setting: The 2021 SummerStyles survey data. Subjects: U.S. adults (≥18 years; N = 4068). Measures: The outcome was reported weight changes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic with four responses: lost weight, weight remained the same, gained weight, and don't know. The exposure variable was frequency of comfort eating in response to loneliness or stress during the past year with three responses: never/rarely, sometimes, or often/always. Analysis: We used chi-square analysis to examine the independence of survey variables related to weight changes, and comfort eating in response to loneliness or stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, we used a multinomial logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios for weight changes by comfort eating in response to loneliness or stress frequency. Results: Overall, 20.1% of adults reported losing weight, 39.9% remained about the same weight, 30.4% gained weight, and 9.4% did not know about their weight change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking comfort by eating in response to loneliness or stress was reported by over 33% of participants (often/always = 8.3%; sometimes = 25.3%). Weight change and comfort eating during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly varied by sociodemographic factors. Respondents that sometimes or often/always reported taking comfort by eating in response to loneliness or stress were more likely to report losing weight (Adjusted Odds Ratio ranges: 1.62–2.99) or gaining weight (Adjusted Odds Ratio ranges: 3.10–4.61) than those who never/rarely took comfort by eating in response to loneliness or stress. Conclusions: Taking comfort by eating when stressed/lonely was significantly associated with reported weight changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weight changes may lead to additional health complications. Implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce loneliness or stress and support healthy eating during the COVID-19 pandemic may benefit weight management and future well-being.

Background: Stem cell therapy has emerged as a novel treatment for heart failure after myocardial infarction (Ml). Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are commonly considered because of their accessibility and usability. However, their therapeutic potential remains controversial. In our previous in vitro study, chorion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (C-MSCs) and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) demonstrated an ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes and neural cells, respectively. Thus, we examined whether C-MSCs had a better differentiation potential in an MI animal model. Methods: MI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending artery, and DiI-labeled MSCs were injected into the border of the infarcted myocardium. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (FS) were measured using echocardiograms. Masson's Trichrome staining was performed to evaluate the viable myocardium. Alpha-sarcomeric actin (α-SA), cardiac troponin-T (cTnT), and isolectin were immunolabeled to evaluate differentiation and capillary formation. Results: After 8 weeks, the LVEF and FS significantly increased to a greater extent in the C-MSC-injected group with maintenance of viable myocardium, as compared to in the control, UC-MSC-, and BM-MSC-injected groups (p

BackgroundAlcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with a range of adverse birth-related outcomes, including stillbirth, low birth weight, preterm birth, and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). With more than 10% of women consuming alcohol during pregnancy worldwide, it is increasingly important to understand how racial/ethnic variations affect FAS onset. However, whether race and ethnicity inform FAS risk assessment when daily ethanol intake is controlled for remains unknown. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess racial/ethnic disparities in FAS risk associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. MethodsWe used data from a longitudinal cohort study (the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) at 5 hospital sites around the United States of 595 women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy from 2007 to 2017. Questionnaires, in-person interviews, and reviews of medical, legal, and social service records were used to gather data on average alcoholic content (AAC) during pregnancy. Self-reports of maternal race (American Indian/Alaska Native [AI/AN], Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Black or African American, White, more than one race, and other) and ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino or not Hispanic/Latino), as well as FAS diagnoses based on standardized dysmorphological criteria, were used for analysis. Log-binomial regression was used to examine the risk of FAS associated with each 1-gram increase in ethanol consumption during pregnancy, stratified by race/ethnicity. ResultsA total of 3.4% (20/595) of women who reported consuming alcohol during pregnancy gave birth to a baby with FAS. Women who gave birth to a baby with FAS had a mean AAC of 32.06 (SD 9.09) grams, which was higher than that of women who did not give birth to a baby with FAS (mean 12.07, SD 15.87 grams). AI/AN mothers with FAS babies had the highest AAC (mean 42.62, SD 8.35 grams), followed by White (mean 30.13, SD 4.88 grams) and Black mothers (mean 27.05, SD 12.78 grams). White (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.19), Black (PR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.23), and AI/AN (PR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.21) mothers had 10% to 13% increased odds of giving birth to a baby with FAS given the same exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. Regardless of race, a 1-gram increase in AAC resulted in a 4% increase (PR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07) in the chance of giving birth to a baby with ≥2 facial anomalies (ie, short palpebral fissures, thin vermilion border of the upper lip, and smooth philtrum) and a 4% increase (PR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07) in the chance of deficient brain growth. ConclusionsThe risk of delivering a baby with FAS was comparable among White, Black, and AI/AN women at similar levels of drinking during pregnancy. Regardless of race, a 1-gram increase in AAC resulted in increased odds of giving birth to a baby with facial anomalies or deficient brain growth.

Aging is a growing problem worldwide, and the prevalence and mortality of arterial and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are higher in the elderly than in the young population. To address this issue, various anticoagulants have been used. However, no evidence can confirm that antithrombotic agents are suitable for the elderly. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the platelet proteome of aged mice and identify antithrombotic drug targets specific to the elderly. Based on the proteome analysis of platelets from aged mice, 308 increased or decreased proteins were identified. Among these proteins, three targets were selected as potential antithrombotic drug targets. These targets are membrane proteins or related to platelet function and include beta-2-glycoprotein 1 (β2GP1, ApolipoproteinH (ApoH)), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein2 (AGP2, Orosomucoid-2 (Orm2)), and Ras-related protein (Rab11a).

Purpose Seoul National University College of Medicine operates a faculty development program for clinical teachers at multiple affiliated teaching hospitals. In 2020, the program was moved online due to coronavirus disease 2019. The purpose of this study was to determine whether it is feasible and effective to provide faculty development programs online in terms of clinical teachers’ participation and satisfaction in comparison with offline programs. Methods Clinical teachers participated in the clinical teaching methods programs offline in 2019 and online in 2020. We analyzed participation rate and satisfaction level. All surveys items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. We also interviewed instructors about the advantages and drawbacks of the online program. Results The participation rate of the online program (89.5%) was significantly higher than that of the offline program (67.8%). The overall satisfaction level for the online program (4.37) was similar to that for the offline program (4.50). Conclusion Faculty development programs online are feasible and effective in medical education. We need to design training content that fits online programs, consider various online training methods to reinforce the strengths of online programs, and support participants to make good use of these programs.

Summary: Purpose: A safe and effective hemostatic care is necessary after bone marrow examination to minimize bleeding, pain, and discomfort. However, a standardized hemostatic care protocol following bone marrow examination has not been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in bleeding, hematoma, pain, and discomfort by the hemostatic method used following bone marrow examination. Methods: This study was carried out with a pre-test/post-test nonequivalent control group design. Sixty-four patients undergoing bone marrow examination at the hemato-oncology ward in a tertiary hospital in South Korea were assigned to an intervention (n = 30) and comparison group (n = 34). The intervention group was treated using a compression dressing alone, while the comparison group received a compression dressing followed by sandbag compression. Both groups received two hours of bedrest. Bleeding, hematoma, pain, and discomfort were measured at one and two hours after the biopsy. Results: No significant differences in the occurrence of bleeding between the groups at one and two hours after bone marrow examination were observed, and no participant developed hematoma. The intervention group had significantly lower pain than the comparison group two hours after the bone marrow examination as well as lower discomfort one hour and two hours after the bone marrow examination (p

Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) is a Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) Tier-1 center mandated to preserve raw data produced from A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) experiment using the world’s largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Physical medium used widely for long-term data preservation is tape, thanks to its reliability and least price per capacity compared to other media such as optical disk, hard disk, and solid-state disk. However, decreasing numbers of manufacturers for both tape drives and cartridges, and patent disputes among them escalated risk of market. As alternative to tape-based data preservation strategy, we proposed disk-only erasure-coded archival storage system, Custodial Disk Storage (CDS), powered by Exascale Open Storage (EOS), an open-source storage management software developed by CERN. CDS system consists of 18 high density Just-Bunch-Of-Disks (JBOD) enclosures attached to 9 servers through 12 Gbps Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Host Bus Adapter (HBA) interfaces via multiple paths for redundancy and multiplexing. For data protection, we introduced Reed-Solomon (RS) (16, 4) Erasure Coding (EC) layout, where the number of data and parity blocks are 12 and 4 respectively, which gives the annual data loss probability equivalent to 5×10-14. In this paper, we discuss CDS system design based on JBOD products, performance limitations, and data protection strategy accommodating EOS EC implementation. We present CDS operations for ALICE experiment and long-term power consumption measurement.

Here, we report the synthesis of the WS2 nanorods (NRs) using an eco-friendly and facile hydrothermal method for an acetone-sensing application. This study explores the acetone gas-sensing characteristics of the WS2 nanorod sensor for 5, 10, and 15 ppm concentrations at 25 °C, 50 °C, 75 °C, and 100 °C. The WS2 nanorod sensor shows the highest sensitivity of 94.5% at 100 °C for the 15 ppm acetone concentration. The WS2 nanorod sensor also reveals the outstanding selectivity of acetone compared to other gases, such as ammonia, ethanol, acetaldehyde, methanol, and xylene at 100 °C with a 15 ppm concentration. The estimated selectivity coefficient indicates that the selectivity of the WS2 nanorod acetone sensor is 7.1, 4.5, 3.7, 2.9, and 2.0 times higher than xylene, acetaldehyde, ammonia, methanol, and ethanol, respectively. In addition, the WS2 nanorod sensor also divulges remarkable stability of 98.5% during the 20 days of study. Therefore, it is concluded that the WS2 nanorod can be an excellent nanomaterial for developing acetone sensors for monitoring work/public places.

Abstract Mitophagy can selectively remove damaged toxic mitochondria, protecting a cell from apoptosis. The molecular spatial–temporal mechanisms governing autophagosomal selection of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐damaged mitochondria, particularly in a platelet (no genomic DNA for transcriptional regulation), remain unclear. We now report that the mitochondrial matrix protein MsrB2 plays an important role in switching on mitophagy by reducing Parkin methionine oxidation (MetO), and transducing mitophagy through ubiquitination by Parkin and interacting with LC3. This biochemical signaling only occurs at damaged mitochondria where MsrB2 is released from the mitochondrial matrix. MsrB2 platelet‐specific knockout and in vivo peptide inhibition of the MsrB2/LC3 interaction lead to reduced mitophagy and increased platelet apoptosis. Pathophysiological importance is highlighted in human subjects, where increased MsrB2 expression in diabetes mellitus leads to increased platelet mitophagy, and in platelets from Parkinson's disease patients, where reduced MsrB2 expression is associated with reduced mitophagy. Moreover, Parkin mutations at Met192 are associated with Parkinson's disease, highlighting the structural sensitivity at the Met192 position. Release of the enzyme MsrB2 from damaged mitochondria, initiating autophagosome formation, represents a novel regulatory mechanism for oxidative stress‐induced mitophagy.

Background: Aging is a complex physiological phenomenon, intricately associated with cardiovascular pathologies, where platelets play a central pathophysiological role. Although antiplatelets are commonly employed to prevent and treat major adverse cardiovascular events, aging associated intraplatelet changes remain largely unexplored. Methods: Platelets were studied in high cardiovascular risk patients (aged 40–100 years) comparing them to younger healthy subjects. This was followed by cross sectional and longitudinal mice studies. Flow cytometry, biochemical and molecular assays were used to study platelets comprehensively. Findings: CVD Patients were categorized in the age groups 40–59, 60–79, and 80–100 years. Progressive decline in platelet health was observed in the 40–79 years age cohort, marked by increase in oxidative stress, hyperactivation and apoptotic markers. Paradoxically, this was reversed in patients aged above 79 years and the improved platelet phenotype was associated with lower oxidative damage. The platelets from the very old (80–100 year) group were found to be preloaded with increased antioxidants, which also contributed to higher resistance against induced redox insults. Cross sectional mouse studies excluded the effect of comorbidities and medications. Longitudinal mouse studies implicate an adaptive increase in antioxidant levels as the mechanism. Interpretation: We report a novel age associated, non-linear redox regulation in platelets in both humans and mice. In advanced age, there occurs an adaptive increase in platelet antioxidants, reducing the intracellular ROS and leading to a healthier platelet phenotype. Clinically, our results advocate the use of less aggressive antiplatelet therapies for CVD in the elderly population. Fund: Study funded by NIH-NHLBI, RO1-HL122815 and RO1-HL115247. Keywords: Platelets, Oxidative stress, Aging, Antioxidants, Apoptosis, Bleeding in elderly, Platelet ROS, Antiplatelet therapy

We present a novel brush coating method for fabricating a coatable polarizer that utilizes a mixture of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (h-SWCNTs) grafted with carboxyl and hydroxyl groups and a reactive mesogen (RM), which possess a long-range orientational ordering of their rod-shaped molecules with photo-sensitive functional groups. The h-SWCNTs are shortened to a length of around 150 nm by an acid sonochemical oxidation process and then dispersed in an RM solution. The brush-coated thin layer initially consists of h-SWCNT clusters, but applying an in-plane electric field induces large-scale stretching of these along the field direction, after which the layer is photo-polymerized by ultraviolet irradiation to form a film embedding the stretched nanotubes. The uniaxially aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produce a broadband absorption spectrum that enables the film to exhibit an optical anisotropic property that absorbs incident light from the ultraviolet to the visible spectrum selectively depending on the polarization direction, thus acting as a coatable CNT polarizer. The dispersibility and elongation of h-SWCNT clusters induced by applying the electric field, as well as the anisotropic light-absorption properties of the h-SWCNT film, are investigated.

Developing treatments that inhibit skin aging is an important research project. Rejuvenation, which focuses on prevention of skin aging, is one of the major issues. Recent studies suggested that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete many cytokines, which are important in wound healing. In this study, we investigated the effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media (USC-CM) in cutaneous wound healing and collagen synthesis. We found that USC-CM has many useful growth factors associated with skin rejuvenation, such as Epithelial Growth Factor (EGF), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), Collagen type 1, and especially, one of the rejuvenation factors, the growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11). Our in vitro results showed that USC-CM stimulate growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) production of Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFs) compared to those of other MSCs conditioned media (CM) from different origins. Moreover, we evaluated the roles of GDF-11. The results showed that GDF-11 accelerates growth, migration and ECM production of HDFs. Our In vivo results showed that topical treatment of USC-CM showed anti-wrinkle effect and significantly increased dermal density in women. In conclusion, USC-CM has various useful growth factors including GDF-11 that can stimulate skin rejuvenation by increasing growth and ECM production of HDFs. Keywords: Conditioned media, Cosmetics, Mesenchymal stem cells, Skin, Umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media (USC-CM)

Abstract The nylon 6 nanofiber-reinforced cellulose acetate (NF-r-CA) film as a fiber-based transparent substrate is used to develop the highly transparent electrodes with excellent durable and extremely foldable properties. Mechanical properties of the NF-r-CA films are greatly improved, suggesting that the nanofibers provide an effective reinforcement. The NF-r-CA transparent films show smooth surface morphologies (RRMS ~ 27 nm) than as-spun nylon 6 nanofiber membrane, indicating the successful infiltration of cellulose acetate into the voids of nylon nanofiber membranes. The NF45-r-CA electrodes prepared using AgNWs concentration of 0.025 wt% and electrospinning time of 45 min are highly transparent (~90%), lower sheet resistance (~24 Ω sq−1) and mechanically robust (59.7 MPa). The sheet resistance of NF45-r-CA electrodes remains almost constant, and the change ratio is less than 0.01% even after a repeated bending test of 10,000 cycles (bending radius ~1 mm), whereas ITO electrode shows gradual increase in sheet resistance and then eventually no electrical signal at about 270 cycles. We also demonstrate the successful fabrication of the foldable polymer-disperse liquid crystal film utilizing highly transparent NF45-r-CA electrode, which shows outstanding working stability after bending test of 500 cycles at an extreme bending radius of 1.5 mm.

Abstract Background An optimal therapy for the treatment of pneumonia caused by drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii remains unclear. This study aims to compare various antimicrobial strategies and to determine the most effective therapy for pneumonia using a network meta-analysis. Methods Systematic search and quality assessment were performed to select eligible studies reporting one of the following outcomes: all-cause mortality, clinical cure, and microbiological eradication. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A network meta-analysis was conducted with a Bayesian approach. Antimicrobial treatments were ranked based on surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) value along with estimated median outcome rate and corresponding 95% credible intervals (CrIs). Two treatments were considered significantly different if a posterior probability of superiority (P) was greater than 97.5%. Results Twenty-three studies evaluating 15 antimicrobial treatments were included. Intravenous colistin monotherapy (IV COL) was selected as a common comparator, serving as a bridge for developing the network. Five treatments ranked higher than IV COL (SUCRA, 57.1%; median all-cause mortality 0.45, 95% CrI 0.41–0.48) for reducing all-cause mortality: sulbactam monotherapy (SUL, 100.0%; 0.18, 0.04–0.42), high-dose SUL (HD SUL, 85.7%; 0.31, 0.07–0.71), fosfomycin plus IV COL (FOS + IV COL, 78.6%; 0.34, 0.19–0.54), inhaled COL plus IV COL (IH COL + IV COL, 71.4%; 0.39, 0.32–0.46), and high-dose tigecycline (HD TIG, 71.4%; 0.39, 0.16–0.67). Those five treatments also ranked higher than IV COL (SUCRA, 45.5%) for improving clinical cure (72.7%, 72.7%, 63.6%, 81.8%, and 90.9%, respectively). Among the five treatments, SUL (P = 98.1%) and IH COL + IV COL (P = 99.9%) were significantly superior to IV COL for patient survival and clinical cure, respectively. In terms of microbiological eradication, FOS + IV COL (P = 99.8%) and SUL (P = 98.9%) were significantly superior to IV COL. Conclusions This Bayesian network meta-analysis demonstrated the comparative effectiveness of fifteen antimicrobial treatments for drug-resistant A. baumannii pneumonia in critically ill patients. For survival benefit, SUL appears to be the best treatment followed by HD SUL, FOS + IV COL, IH COL + IV COL, HD TIG, and IV COL therapy, in numerical order.

A thin layer of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibiting optical anisotropy is prepared by electroactively elongating SWCNT agglomerates. SWCNTs are doped into a reactive mesogen (RM) solution, and the composite solution is spin-coated on an interdigitated-electrode substrate. The spherical shaped SWCNT agglomerates observed in the solution of thin layers are electroactively elongated and aligned along the direction of the external electric field. After elongating the SWCNT agglomerates, the transparency of RM-SWCNT thin composite layers increases by about 14%. In addition, the elongated SWCNT agglomerates present significant optical anisotropy such that an incident light with a polarization direction parallel and perpendicular to the elongated direction of SWCNTs is absorbed and transmitted, respectively. The electroactively elongating strategy adopted to realize the optical anisotropy of SWCNT agglomerates suggests a new way to fabricate an optically anisotropic SWCNT thin layer.

Background: This study examined gender differences in the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms in elderly Korean adults and the variables that influence this relationship. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using fourth-wave data from adults 65 yr of age or older who participated in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item short-form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used. Results: After controlling for the factors of formal and informal social activities, financial support from children, employment, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, self-rated health, frequency of meals, and gender, living alone (AOR=1.45, 95% CI =1.09-1.93, P=0.010) was an independent risk factor that contributed to depressive symptoms in late life. Living alone was more likely to elevate depressive symptoms in older women but not in older men. Conclusion: Gender differences in the depressive effect of living alone in late life may differ across diverse cultures.

Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of blindness. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response that affects cell survival and death and GRP78 forms a representative protective response. We aimed to determine the exact localization of GRP78 in an animal model of light-induced retinal degeneration. Dark-adapted mice were exposed to blue light-emitting diodes and retinas were obtained at 24 h and 72 h after exposure. In the normal retina, we found that GRP78 was rarely detected in the photoreceptor cells while it was expressed in the perinuclear space of the cell bodies in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers. After injury, the expression of GRP78 in the outer nuclear and inner plexiform layers increased in a time-dependent manner. However, an increased GRP78 expression was not observed in damaged photoreceptor cells in the outer nuclear layer. GRP78 was located in the perinuclear space and ER lumen of glial cells and the ER developed in glial cells during retinal degeneration. These findings suggest that GRP78 and the ER response are important for glial cell activation in the retina during photoreceptor degeneration.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing international concern. Considerable mortality and morbidity associated with diabetes mellitus arise predominantly from thrombotic cardiovascular events. Oxidative stress‐mediated mitochondrial damage contributes significantly to enhanced thrombosis in DM. A basal autophagy process has recently been described as playing an important role in normal platelet activation. We now report a substantial mitophagy induction (above basal autophagy levels) in diabetic platelets, suggesting alternative roles for autophagy in platelet pathology. Using a combination of molecular, biochemical, and imaging studies on human DM platelets, we report that platelet mitophagy induction serves as a platelet protective mechanism that responds to oxidative stress through JNK activation. By removing damaged mitochondria (mitophagy), phosphorylated p53 is reduced, preventing progression to apoptosis, and preserving platelet function. The absence of mitophagy in DM platelets results in failure to protect against oxidative stress, leading to increased thrombosis. Surprisingly, this removal of damaged mitochondria does not require contributions from transcription, as platelets lack a nucleus. The considerable energy and resources expended in “prepackaging” the complex mitophagy machinery in a short‐lived normal platelet support a critical role, in anticipation of exposure to oxidative stress.

The compound 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), a replacement for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in the electroplating industry, has been widely detected in numerous environmental matrices, human sera, and organisms. Due to regulations that limit PFOS use, F-53B use is expected to increase. Therefore, in this study, we performed a subchronic oral toxicity study of F-53B in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. F-53B was administered orally once daily to male and female rats for 28 days at doses of 5, 20, and 100 mg/kg/day. There were no toxicologically significant changes in F-53B-treated rats, except in the thyroid gland. However, F-53B slightly reduced the serum concentrations of thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine and thyroxine, compared with their concentrations in the vehicle group. F-53B also induced follicular hyperplasia and was associated with increased thyroid hormone biosynthesis-associated protein expression. These results demonstrate that F-53B is a strong regulator of thyroid hormones in SD rats as it disrupts thyroid function. Thus, caution should be exercised in the industrial application of F-53B as an alternative for PFOS.

Two marine ulvalean species (Chlorophyta) were collected from the southern and eastern coasts of Korea. One is morphologically characterized by usually unbranched or little branched ribbon-shaped thalli, fronds with spirally twisted basal portions and usually undulate margins and 1 (-2) pyrenoids per cell. The other has irregularly shaped thalli, undulate and dentate margins in the fronds, small macroscopic denticulations along the margin and (1-) 2-3 pyrenoids per cell. In phylogenetic tree based on molecular data, the two species nest in the same clade with Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida, respectively. These two Korean entities are identified as U. flexuosa and U. rigida, respectively, based on morphological and molecular analyses. This is the first record of Ulva flexuosa and U. rigida in Korea.

Cytokine-like 1 (Cytl1) is a secreted protein that is involved in diverse biological processes. A comparative modeling study indicated that Cytl1 is structurally and functionally similar to monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). As MCP-1 plays an important role in cardiac fibrosis (CF) and heart failure (HF), we investigated the role of Cytl1 in a mouse model of CF and HF. Cytl1 was upregulated in the failing mouse heart. Pressure overload-induced CF was significantly attenuated in cytl1 knock-out (KO) mice compared to that from wild-type (WT) mice. By contrast, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated overexpression of cytl1 alone led to the development of CF in vivo. The endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and the transdifferentiation of fibroblasts (FBs) to myofibroblasts (MFBs) have been suggested to contribute considerably to CF. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of cytl1 was sufficient to induce these two critical CF-related processes in vitro, which were completely abrogated by co-treatment with SB-431542, an antagonist of TGF-β receptor 1. Cytl1 induced the expression of TGF-β2 both in vivo and in vitro. Antagonizing the receptor for MCP-1, C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2), with CAS 445479-97-0 did not block the pro-fibrotic activity of Cytl1 in vitro. Collectively, our data suggest that Cytl1 plays an essential role in CF likely through activating the TGF-β-SMAD signaling pathway. Although the receptor for Cyt1l remains to be identified, Cytl1 provides a novel platform for the development of anti-CF therapies.

This study is empirical and descriptive one for analysing the nurse's job. This study used the methods of making the job descriptions and survey research about the nurses' perception of importance in their job and the frequency of job performance. The results were in following: the research divided the job of new nurse into 11 duties. And duties include the 65 tasks and 446 task elements. According to the survey research on the nurses' perception of importance and the frequency of job performance, the elements graded higher than 2.5 point in importance perception, were 47 elements(10.5%). And the elements from 2.0 to 2.5 were 93 elements(18.8%). Regarding the frequency of job performance, the 56 elements were graded higher than 2.5 point on average(12.6%), and 84 elements were from 2.0 to 2.5(18.8%). Especially, the elements which grade higher than 2.5 point in both two items, were 31 elements(7.0%). Based on these results, the elements graded higher than 2.0 point were grouped to the core competencies for registered nurse, these could be core concepts to develop the questions for national examination for nurse's registration.

Electric field-induced reorientation of suspended graphitic (GP) flakes and its relaxation back to the original state in a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) host are of interest not only in academia, but also in industrial applications, such as polarizer-free and optical film-free displays, and electro-optic light modulators. As the phenomenon has been demonstrated by thorough observation, the detailed study of the physical properties of the host NLC (the magnitude of dielectric anisotropy, elastic constants, and rotational viscosity), the size of the GP flakes, and cell thickness, are urgently required to be explored and investigated. Here, we demonstrate that the response time of GP flakes reorientation associated with an NLC host can be effectively enhanced by controlling the physical properties. In a vertical field-on state, higher dielectric anisotropy and higher elasticity of NLC give rise to quicker reorientation of the GP flakes (switching from planar to vertical alignment) due to the field-induced coupling effect of interfacial Maxwell-Wagner polarization and NLC reorientation. In a field off-state, lower rotational viscosity of NLC and lower cell thickness can help to reduce the decay time of GP flakes reoriented from vertical to planar alignment. This is mainly attributed to strong coupling between GP flakes and NLC originating from the strong π-π interaction between benzene rings in the honeycomb-like graphene structure and in NLC molecules. The high-uniformity of reoriented GP flakes exhibits a possibility of new light modulation with a relatively faster response time in the switching process and, thus, it can show potential application in field-induced memory and modulation devices.

The aim of this study was to examine whether formal and informal social activities are associated with a lower risk of depression. Besides, we investigated which type of social activities may protect against late-life depression by gender using data from a population-based study of older Korean adults.Data for analysis were drawn from the 2010 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Study sample included 3968 Korean adults aged ≥ 65 years. Depression was measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies. Depression scale. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used.Among the informal activities, frequent contact by phone or letters with adult children is significantly associated with a lower risk of depression among older Korean adults, even after adjusting for potentially confounding factors. Face to face contact with close friends was negatively associated with depression in women, but not in men. Face to face contacts with adult children were not significantly associated with depression. All of formal social activities (attending religious activities, volunteering, and participating in alumni society or family councils, political or interest groups) were not significantly associated with depression in both men and women.Informal social activities (contact by phone/letters with children and contact with friends) may have a greater impact on geriatric depression than formal social activities in this population. Researchers need to consider gender differences when examining the relationship between social activity and depression. More research is warranted to examine the direction of associations between particular types of social activities and late-life depression across time.

We established a method for creation of an anatomic femoral tunnel with minimal damage to the remnant bundle in remnant-preserving anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The goals of this surgical technique were to preserve the remnant bundle as much as possible, especially at the femoral insertion, and to make the tunnel at the anatomic position. The critical points are that the posterior side of the femoral footprint of the ACL is observed through the posterolateral portal using a 70° arthroscope and a femoral tunnel is made by use of an outside-in technique with remnant preservation. This technique allows for easy viewing of the posterior side of the ACL and enables performance of an anatomic ACL reconstruction.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between diabetes and depression and investigate the effects of comorbid diabetes and depression on healthcare utilization.The study sample included 10,179 Korean adults aged ≥ 45 years. The presence of diabetes was assessed by asking participants if the participants had ever been diagnosed with diabetes. Depression was measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Healthcare utilization was assessed by self-report. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.Diabetes was positively associated with depression after controlling socioeconomic and health variables. Diabetic patients who had low socioeconomic status, who were obese, who were smokers, and who had higher numbers of chronic diseases had a higher depression risk. Diabetes and depression was associated with increased healthcare utilization. People with both diabetes and depression had significantly increased odds of multiple physician visits, multiple hospital admissions, and prolonged hospitalization compared with individuals with neither diabetes nor depression. Patients with both diabetes and depression had greater odds of multiple hospital admissions than patients with diabetes alone.We found a positive association between diabetes and depression. Depression in persons with diabetes is associated with increased multiple hospital admissions. More research is warranted to clarify an association between co-occurring depression with diabetes and increased healthcare utilization.

In this study, GEO-KOMPSAT-2A/Advanced Meteorological Imager (GK2A/AMI) and Lightning NETwork (LINET) data were used for lightning detection. A total of 20 lightning cases from the summer of 2020–2021 were selected, with 14 cases for training and 6 for validation to develop lightning detection algorithms. Since these two datasets have different spatiotemporal resolutions, spatiotemporal matching was performed to use them together. To find the optimal lightning detection algorithm, we designed 25 experiments and selected the best experiment by evaluating the detection level. Although the best experiment had a high POD (>0.9) before post-processing, it also showed over-detection of lightning. To minimize the over-detection problem, statistical and Region-Growing post-processing methods were applied, improving the detection performance (FAR: −19.14~−24.32%; HSS: +76.92~+86.41%; Bias: −59.3~−66.9%). Also, a sensitivity analysis of the collocation criterion between the two datasets showed that the detection level improved when the spatial criterion was relaxed. These results suggest that detecting lightning in mid-latitude regions, including the Korean Peninsula, is possible by using GK2A/AMI data. However, reducing the variability in detection performance and the high FAR associated with anvil clouds and addressing the parallax problem of thunderstorms in mid-latitude regions are necessary to improve the detection performance.

To investigate the effect of continuous multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the thermal and mechanical properties of composites, we propose a fabrication method for a buckypaper-filled flexible composite film prepared by a two-step process involving buckypaper fabrication using vacuum filtration of MWCNTs, and composite film fabrication using the dipping method. The thermal conductivity and tensile strength of the composite film filled with the buckypaper exhibited improved results, respectively 76% and 275% greater than those of the individual MWCNT-filled composite film. It was confirmed that forming continuous MWCNT fillers is an important factor which determines the physical characteristics of the composite film. In light of the study findings, composite films using buckypaper as a filler and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a flexible matrix have sufficient potential to be applied as a heat-dissipating material, and as a flexible film with high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical properties.

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the overall operational status of medical school admission interview evaluations in South Korea and explore the operational experience of universities conducting interview evaluations. Methods This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Through a nationwide survey and data collection from 39 medical schools, the quantitative analysis explored interview evaluations procedures, the purpose of the interview evaluations, and the competencies expected of medical school freshmen. Concurrently, qualitative data were obtained through focus group discussions with 12 professors from 10 medical schools, providing in-depth insights into the operational experiences and challenges faced during interview evaluations. Results In the quantitative data, interview evaluations were most prevalent in the “comprehensive school records screening” for rolling admissions (85.5%), but less common in regular admissions (18.6%). Private schools (64.2%) showed a statistically significant higher proportion of interview admissions than public schools (11.1%) in the “high school grades focused admission” (p<0.01). Metropolitan areas (50.0%) conducted interview evaluations more frequently than non-metropolitan areas (11.1%) in the “College Scholastic Ability Test-focused admissions” (p<0.05). In the qualitative data, professors recognize the dominant role of “negative selection” in filtering out unsuitable candidates. Challenges in maintaining a consistent evaluator pool and team-based question development were acknowledged. Strategies, such as seeking student feedback for question improvement and conducting study meetings for interviewer preparation are essential. Conclusion This study illuminates the operation of admissions interview evaluations in South Korea, revealing variations across regions and admissions types. These findings offer insights for enhancing medical school admission processes, guiding future research and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caesarean section (CS) is a complex surgical procedure that involves many steps and requires careful precision. Virtual reality (VR) simulation has emerged as a promising tool for medical education and training, providing a realistic and immersive environment for learners to practice clinical skills and decision-making. This study aimed to evaluate the educational effectiveness of a VR simulation program in training the management of patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and CS. Materials and Methods: A two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted with 105 eligible participants randomly assigned to the VR group (n= 53) or the control group (n= 52) in a 1:1 ratio. The VR group received VR simulation training focused on PROM management and CS practice, while the control group watched a video presentation with narrative of clinical scenario and recording of CS. Both groups completed questionnaires assessing their prior experiences with VR, experience in managing patients with PROM and performing CS, as well as their confidence levels. These questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention, along with a mini-test quiz. Results: Baseline characteristics and previous experiences were comparable between the two groups. After the intervention, the VR group had higher confidence scores in all four aspects, including managing patients with PROM, performing CS as an operator, and understanding the indications and complications of CS, compared to the control group. The VR group also achieved significantly higher scores on the mini-test quiz [median (interquartile range), 42 (37-48) in the VR group; 36 (32-40) in the control group, P<0.001]. Conclusion: VR simulation program can be an effective educational tool for improving participants' knowledge and confidence in managing patients with PROM and performing CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]