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The present study evaluated the cultural and functional characteristics of six strains of acetic-acid bacteria (AAB), namely, GHUR-A11-2, SR-A24, GY-A26, GHF-A37, JS-B7, and JS-C1, which were isolated from farm-made fermented vinegars. The six bacterial strains exhibited high acetic acid production capability via the decomposition of CaCO3, and they were identified as Acetobacter pasteurianus based on the 16S rDNA sequences. The initial pH and optimal growth temperature for acetic acid production were determined to be 4.0 and 30°C, respectively; however, some strains of AAB presented reasonable growth even at 40°C. Four bacterial strains (except SR-A24 and GHF-A37) exhibited alcohol degradation activities of more than 90%. Bacillus cereus presented high susceptibility to the antibacterial activity of the six strains of AAB. The antioxidant activity evaluated using DPPH and ABTS was 5–15 times and 4–5 times higher for the six strains of AAB than that for the control group, respectively. GHUR-A11-2, SR-A24, and JS-C1 exhibited higher ACE activities, with inhibition rates of 154%-175%, as compared to those exhibited by the positive control of 0.1% captopril (inhibition rate of 138%). Furthermore, the fibrinolysis activity of SR-A24 (93.3%) was markedly higher than that of 0.5 U plasmin. Four bacterial strains (except GHF-A37 (75.3%) and JS-B7 (68.0%)), exhibited α-glucosidase inhibition activities of more than 100%. It was concluded that the six strains of AAB exhibited excellent physiologically active characteristics, which facilitated their use as seed strains for the synthesis of high-efficiency functional vinegar by harnessing the functional characteristics that fit the scientific basis.

A peptide antibiotic, daptomycin, was repurposed to a multicopper catalyst presenting cooperative rate enhancement in O–O bond formation and activation reactions.

Emotion recognition is indispensable in human-machine interaction systems. It comprises locating facial regions of interest in images and classifying them into one of seven classes: angry, disgust, fear, happy, neutral, sad, and surprise. Despite several breakthroughs in image classification, particularly in facial expression recognition, this research area is still challenging, as sampling in the wild is a demanding task. In this study, a two-stage method is proposed for recognizing facial expressions given a sequence of images. At the first stage, all face regions are extracted in each frame, and essential information that would be helpful and related to human emotion is obtained. Then, the extracted features from the previous step are considered temporal data and are assigned to one of the seven basic emotions. In addition, a study of multi-level features is conducted in a convolutional neural network for facial expression recognition. Moreover, various network connections are introduced to improve the classification task. By combining the proposed network connections, superior results are obtained compared to state-of-the-art methods on the FER2013 dataset. Furthermore, the performance of our temporal model is better than that of the single architecture of the 2017 EmotiW challenge winner on the AFEW 7.0 dataset.

Background: This study aimed to identify factors influencing dementia-screening behaviors among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults using the Korean Community Health Survey data in 2018.Methods: This cross-sectional study included community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years. We used data related to socio-demographic and health-related factors and subjective cognitive function. We conducted a chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis with weighted analysis.Results: Of 108,050 participants (men, 46.6%; ≥65 years old, 41.5%), only 13.4% (20,404 participants) performed dementia-screening. Using multiple logistic regression, we found that advanced age, female, and unemployed, having a low level of education, low monthly family income, and rural residence, no alcohol intake, no-smoking, hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, and awareness of the dementia helpline service center were positively associated with dementia-screening behaviors.Conclusions: This study suggests the application of holistic approaches to improve dementia-screening behaviors among middle-aged and older adults considering their socioeconomic and health related conditions. Our findings highlight that government health programs should consider socio-economic status and awareness of dementia helpline services in designing dementia prevention programs.

The present study intended to compare the flavors of small-scale, farm-made ‘Kujippong’ (Cudrania tricuspidata) fermented vinegars (V_A37 and V_B7) produced using two types of acetic acid bacteria (AP A37, AP B7) with those of two commercially available ‘Kujippong’ vinegars (CV_A, CV_B) using an electronic nose and an electronic tongue. The farm-made vinegars and the commercial vinegars did have different flavors. The first principal component (PC1) of the principal component analysis using the electronic nose confirmed that the pattern of volatility can be used to distinguish between the raw materials used to produce ‘Kujippong’ vinegar-i.e., stems and fruit. A total of 11 main types of volatile components were identified: ethyl acetate and acetic acid, which indicate fruity and pungent acidic were the main volatile components. Analysis of the four kinds of ‘Kujippong’ vinegar by the electronic tongue revealed that the farm-made ‘Kujippong’ fermented vinegar had a richer taste than the commercially available vinegar in terms of sourness and umami. In conclusion, it is possible to differentiate between the flavors of ‘Kujippong’ fermented vinegars using electronic noses and tongues. These results will contribute to the development of the vinegar industry, thus increasing the income of workers employed in a small-scale farming.

The measurement invariance and latent mean differences in emotional labor across different hospital and monthly salary levels among registered nurses have never been confirmed for the Emotional Labour Scale. These issues may influence the application and efficacy of this scale in practice.This study was developed to evaluate the factor structure of the nurses' Emotional Labour Scale and to examine the measurement invariance and latent mean differences for this scale across different hospital and monthly salary levels.Data were collected from 461 registered nurses working in four general hospitals and 12 long-term care hospitals. Confirmatory factor analysis and a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis were performed to determine the internal structure and measurement invariance of the Emotional Labour Scale.The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicate that the factor structure model proposed by the original scale fits well with our data as well as configural invariance, factor loading invariance, intercept invariance, and uniqueness invariance. Moreover, factor variance/covariance invariance across two hospital levels as well as configural invariance, factor loading invariance, and intercept invariance across two monthly salary levels were supported. The mean score for emotional control effort in the profession of general hospital nurses was lower than that for long-term care hospital nurses. No statistically significant latent mean differences were found across monthly salary levels.The findings show the Emotional Labour Scale to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing registered nurses and also comparing the mean score for emotional labor across hospital and monthly salary levels to be feasible. The scale may contribute to the development of human resource strategies.

Objective This study aimed to determine the effects of job characteristics and work engagement on the nursing performance of nurses working in general hospitals. Methods Data were collected from 169 nurses who are working in a general hospital in South Korea by using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. Results Nurses’ job characteristics and work engagement showed positive effects on nursing performance. This effect was magnified when work engagement was used as a mediating variable. Conclusions The findings elucidate the factors influencing job performance and provide managers with important information for developing programs to improve the job skills and work engagement of nurses.

This study aimed to examine and compare the mediating effect of adolescent lifestyle profiles in the relationship between male and female adolescents’ smartphone addiction and health-related quality of life. This model was investigated with 1338 Filipino senior high school students. Using Google Forms, the participants completed the survey on smartphone addiction, health-related quality of life, and adolescent lifestyle profiles. The correlation analyses demonstrated that smartphone addiction was significantly and negatively correlated with health-related quality of life and adolescent lifestyle profiles. Furthermore, adolescent lifestyle profiles were positively correlated with health-related quality of life. The mediation analyses revealed that adolescent lifestyle profiles significantly mediated the relationship between smartphone addiction and health-related quality of life for both male and females after controlling for demographics and nomophobia with females, who were highly addicted to smartphones, getting more mediating effects than males. Implications of these findings are discussed with recommendation for future studies.

Somatic

Total knee replacement (TKR) is associated with a large amount of bleeding; therefore, the prevalence of postoperative anemia is high. In particular, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more vulnerable to postoperative anemia than are healthy individuals. Accordingly, the effect of intraoperative intravenous ferric derisomaltose (FDI) supplementation on postoperative anemia and blood transfusion volume reduction in patients with CKD was studied. Patients who underwent unilateral TKR between January 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. In analyzing the data, the patients fell into the CKD group (n = 85) and the non-CKD group (n = 106). Each group was divided into a group using FDI and a non-FDI group, and classified into 4 groups. The postoperative hemoglobin level for each postoperative day (POD) was determined as the primary outcome. In addition, the patient transfusion rate, volume of transfusion, and length of hospital stay were set as secondary study outcomes during the period from surgery to discharge. There was no statistically significant difference in hemoglobin levels on PODs 0, 1, 2, 7, and 14 in the CKD group. In the CKD group, the transfusion volume of the FDI group was 0.58 ± 0.91 units per person, which was statistically significantly lower than 1.28 ± 1.28 units of the non-FDI group (P = .01). In the CKD group, the transfusion rate of the FDI group was 30.2%, which was statistically significantly lower than that of the non-FDI group, which was 56.3% (P = .02). This study showed that intravenous FDI supplementation after TKR in CKD patients did not reduce postoperative anemia but was an effective and safe treatment to reduce transfusion volume and transfusion rate. There was no statistically significant difference in hemoglobin levels on POD 0, 1, 2, 7, and 14 in the non-CKD group. In the non-CKD group, the transfusion volume of the FDI group was 0.46 ± 0.88 units per person, which was lower than the 0.56 ± 0.91 units of the non-FDI group, but it was not statistically significant (P = .59). In the non-CKD group, the transfusion rate of the FDI group was 23.0%, which was lower than that of the non-FDI group, which was 31.3%, but it was not statistically significant (P = .37).

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an emotive role-play program for nursing students focusing on high-risk pregnancy and analyze its effects on communication skills, clinical performance, and emotional intelligence.Methods: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was adopted with 83 nursing students (experimental group, 45; control group, 38) who participated voluntarily in an extracurricular program. The preliminary survey was conducted on November 3 and November 4, 2020, and the follow-up survey was conducted on November 12, 2020, for the control group and on November 27, 2020, for the experimental group. A program that included five role-play scenarios related to induced labor, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, preterm labor, and infertility was developed by a group of experts and presented to the experimental group over 11 total hours across 3 days. Each student participated in a role-play scenario as a patient, family member, or nurse and observed three other scenarios. The control group received a workbook after the follow-up evaluation. The independent t-test was performed to analyze changes in communication skills, clinical performance, and emotional intelligence.Results: Communication skills (t=1.84, p=.035) and clinical performance (t=2.75, p=.004) significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. A significant difference was not observed between the experimental and control groups for emotional intelligence (t=1.36, p=.088).Conclusion: The emotive role-play program concerning high-risk pregnancy was effective in improving nursing students’ communication skills and clinical performance and can be used in nursing education related to high-risk pregnancy and childbirth.

Mumps is the second-most reported infectious disease in South Korea; however, due to the low pathogen confirmation rate in laboratory diagnoses, we proposed a method for reevaluating the high incidence rate via the laboratory verification of other viral diseases. In 2021, 63 cases of pharyngeal or cheek mucosal swabs of suspected mumps cases in Gwangju, South Korea, were assessed for causative pathogens using massive simultaneous pathogen testing (TaqManTM Array Cards). More than one respiratory virus was detected in 60 cases (95.2%), 44 (73.3%) of which were co-detected. Human rhinovirus was detected in 47 cases, followed by human herpesvirus (HHV)6 in 30; HHV4 (17), human bocavirus (17), HHV5 (10), and human parainfluenza virus 3 (6) were also detected. Our findings suggest the need for further investigations on the pathogenesis of diseases mimicking mumps, which are considered to aid with appropriate public health responses, treatment, and the prevention of infectious disease outbreaks.

Most deaths from colon cancer are due to metastasis. Recently, PGE2 was found to influence colon cancer invasion and metastasis. 15-PGDH, an enzyme that metabolizes PGE2, is known as a tumor suppressor in colonic carcinogenesis. This study investigated the effect of 15-PGDH on colon cancer metastasis.15-PGDH expression by immunohistochemical staining, clinicopathologic features, and 5-year cancer-specific survival were investigated in colon cancer patients. Liver metastasis was examined by assaying 15-PGDH activity in an animal model. Changes in PGE2, proliferation, migration, and invasion of the colorectal cancer cell line HCT116, were examined using a 15-PGDH inhibitor (SW033291) or enhancer (CDDO-ME). The expression of genes involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was also studied.The absence of 15-PGDH expression significantly correlated with advanced-stage, lymph node metastasis, and decreased cancer-specific survival in colon cancer patients. Inhibition of 15-PGDH increased colon cancer liver metastasis in the animal model. The 15-PGDH inhibitor, SW033291, increased PGE2 and decreased 15-PGDH expression on HCT116. However, treatment with CDDO-ME, a substance that enhances 15-PGDH, showed the opposite results. Inhibition of 15-PGDH increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, but activation of 15-PGDH showed the opposite effect. Inhibition of 15-PGDH also affected the EMT markers, N-cadherin, Snail, and Twist2.15-PGDH inhibition increased colon cancer metastasis by inducing changes in EMT-related genes via an increase in PGE2 expression and could be a promising biomarker for anticancer treatment.

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) form a bacterial film on the surface of alcoholic solutions and ferment ethanol to acetic acid while also producing bioactive compounds. To discover functional AAB for industrial use, we isolated and selected strains from farm-produced vinegars using a CaCO3-containing medium. The seven strains belonged to Acetobacter cerevisiae and A. pasteurianus. Physiological properties were determined, including ethanol tolerance at up to 12% (v/v). Acidification at a growth temperature of 40 ℃ was seen for GHA 7, GYA 23, JGB 21-17, and GHA 20 strains, which may be useful in vinegar production where thermotolerant AAB are required. The seven AAB isolates had strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Antioxidant activity was 2- and 4-fold higher, respectively, for A cerevisiae and A. pasteurianus than for the control, 1% acetic acid. We also observed 91.3% inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity for the KSO 5 strain, higher than that for the positive control, 0.1% captopril (76.9%). All strains showed complete inhibition of α-glucosidase, except JGB 21-17 and GHA 7 with 98.3% inhibition. Our work suggests usefulness of the strains selected as seed strains for highly efficient production of functional vinegar and illustrates identification of useful functional characteristics on a scientific basis.

Acinetobacter strains are widely present in the environment. Some antimicrobial-resistant strains of this genus have been implicated in infections acquired in hospitals. Genetic similarities have been reported between Acinetobacter strains in nosocomial infections and those isolated from foods. However, the antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter strains in foods, such as meat, remains unclear. This study initially aimed to isolate Campylobacter strains; instead, strains of the genus Acinetobacter were isolated from meat products, and their antimicrobial resistance was investigated. In total, 58 Acinetobacter strains were isolated from 381 meat samples. Of these, 32 strains (38.6%) were from beef, 22 (26.5%) from pork, and 4 (4.8%) from duck meat. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed that 12 strains were resistant to more than one antimicrobial agent, whereas two strains were multidrug-resistant; both strains were resistant to colistin. Cephalosporin antimicrobials showed high minimal inhibitory concentration against Acinetobacter strains. Resfinder analysis showed that one colistin-resistant strain carried mcr-4.3; this plasmid type was not confirmed, even when analyzed with PlasmidFinder. Analysis of the contig harboring mcr-4.3 using BLAST confirmed that this contig was related to mcr-4.3 of Acinetobacter baumannii. The increase in antimicrobial resistance in food production environments increases the resistance rate of Acinetobacter strains present in meat, inhibits the isolation of Campylobacter strains, and acts as a medium for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance in food products.