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Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most widespread and threatening health crisis experienced by the Korean society. Faced with an unprecedented threat to survival, society has been gripped by social fear and anger, questioning the culpability of this pandemic. This study explored the correlation between social cognitions and negative emotions and their changes in response to the severe events stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Methods The analysis was based on a cognitive-emotional model that links fear and anger to the social causes that trigger them and used discursive content from comments posted on YouTube’s COVID-19-related videos. A total of 182,915 comments from 1,200 videos were collected between January and December 2020. We performed data analyses and visualizations using R, Netminer 4.0, and Gephi software and calculated Pearson’s correlation coefficients between emotions. Results YouTube videos were analyzed for keywords indicating cognitive assessments of major events related to COVID-19 and keywords indicating negative emotions. Eight topics were identified through topic modeling: causes and risks, perceptions of China, media and information, infection prevention rules, economic activity, school and infection, political leaders, and religion, politics, and infection. The correlation coefficient between fear and anger was 0.462 (p

Abstract In this study, we aimed to demonstrate that a significant increase in dietary iron intake disrupts the regulation of copper availability, ultimately leading to systemic copper deficiency. To investigate this, we conducted experiments using five-week-old male weanling Sprague–Dawley rats fed diets based on AIN-93G with some modifications. These diets featured varying iron content, offering choices of adequate iron (~ 120 μg/g, near the upper limit [UL]) or high iron (~ 7544 μg/g), along with low (~ 0.3 μg/g), adequate (~ 6 μg/g), or high (~ 153 μg/g) levels of dietary copper over a 5-week period. Rats consuming the high-iron diets displayed anemia, reduced copper levels in their organs and feces, and shortened colon lengths. Increased dietary iron intake resulted in an overall reduction in copper distribution within the body, likely leading to severe copper deficiency-related disorders in the experimental rats. However, the physiological disturbances caused by a high-iron diet were prevented when additional copper was included in the rodent diet. Furthermore, high iron intake led to copper deprivation, and high iron consumption resulted in elevated serum cholesterol levels. However, increasing dietary copper consumption led to a decrease in overall serum cholesterol levels. Additionally, serum alkaline phosphate and aspartate aminotransferase levels were increased by high-iron feeding, regardless of dietary copper concentration, while alanine aminotransferase levels decreased.

We introduce a novel dual redox mediator synthesized by covalently linking ferrocene dicarboxylic acid (FcDA) and thionine (TH) onto a pre-treated glassy carbon electrode. This unique structure significantly enhances the electro-oxidation of dopamine (DA) and the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), offering a sensitive detection method for both analytes. The electrode exhibits exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, demonstrating potential for practical applications in biosensing. It facilitates rapid electron transfer between the analyte and the electrode surface, detecting H2O2 concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 60 µM with a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.49 µM and DA concentrations from 0.3 to 230 µM with an LoD of 0.07 µM. The electrode’s performance was validated through real-sample analyses, yielding satisfactory results.

Abstract Owing to climate change, abnormal climate phenomena occur frequently, damaging aging highway facilities. Therefore, it is necessary to develop adaptation projects for highway systems. Adaptation projects focus on mitigating the impact of climate change on highway facilities and enabling safe use. The present study aims to develop quantified evaluation indicators that are necessary for planning and selecting appropriate climate change adaptation projects. By analysing previous studies, the most important factors to be considered in the evaluation process of climate change adaptation projects were defined, and 20 preliminary evaluation indicators were divided into three layers. A feasibility study for each class was performed on the preliminary evaluation indicators by an expert panel; 16 evaluation indicators were selected through a feasibility study, and the weight of each indicator was calculated using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. The priority of the evaluation indicators was service improvement through adaptation projects (weight 8.76), cost reduction and job creation (weight 8.46), and climate change impact reduction and vulnerability reduction (weight 8.31). These quantified evaluation indicators can help organizations that manage highways respond to climate change and establish adaptation projects.

We present initial results from a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) survey of the youngest Galactic core-collapse supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A (Cas A), made up of NIRCam and MIRI imaging mosaics that map emission from the main shell, interior, and surrounding circumstellar/interstellar material (CSM/ISM). We also present four exploratory positions of MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph integral field unit spectroscopy that sample ejecta, CSM, and associated dust from representative shocked and unshocked regions. Surprising discoveries include (1) a weblike network of unshocked ejecta filaments resolved to ∼0.01 pc scales exhibiting an overall morphology consistent with turbulent mixing of cool, low-entropy matter from the progenitor’s oxygen layer with hot, high-entropy matter heated by neutrino interactions and radioactivity; (2) a thick sheet of dust-dominated emission from shocked CSM seen in projection toward the remnant’s interior pockmarked with small (∼1″) round holes formed by ≲0.″1 knots of high-velocity ejecta that have pierced through the CSM and driven expanding tangential shocks; and (3) dozens of light echoes with angular sizes between ∼0.″1 and 1′ reflecting previously unseen fine-scale structure in the ISM. NIRCam observations place new upper limits on infrared emission (≲20 nJy at 3 μ m) from the neutron star in Cas A’s center and tightly constrain scenarios involving a possible fallback disk. These JWST survey data and initial findings help address unresolved questions about massive star explosions that have broad implications for the formation and evolution of stellar populations, the metal and dust enrichment of galaxies, and the origin of compact remnant objects.

Heavy snowfall is a natural disaster that causes extensive damage in South Korea. Therefore, predicting heavy snowfall occurrence, identifying vulnerable areas, and establishing response plans to reduce risk are crucial. In this study, to project heavy snowfall, meteorological and geographic data from the past 30 years were collected, and four machine learning algorithms were trained and compared: multiple linear regression, support vector regression, random forest regressor (RFR), and extreme gradient boosting. We observed that the RFR model (R2 = 0.64) demonstrated the most optimal performance in projecting snowfall compared to other models. Representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenario data was input into the RFR model to generate projection data up to 2100. Projection results of more than 48.2 cm based on heavy snowfall events in the past 20 years were observed 17 times in RCP2.6, 19 times in RCP4.5, 16 times in RCP6.0, and 17 times in RCP8.5. The annual GIS-based projected snowfall images for the RCP8.5 scenario were classified into five distinct groups using K-means clustering. These groups were then further divided based on the vulnerability of regions, including Gangwon-do, Jeollabuk-do, and northern Gyeonggi-do. Our study can aid decision-making on policies related to heavy snowfall disaster prevention standards, snow removal plans, budgeting, and the establishment of mid- to long-term climate change adaptation plans for government, public institutions and private organizations.

Abstract Worldwide, catastrophic landslides are occurring as a result of abnormal climatic conditions. Since a landslide is caused by a combination of the triggers of rainfall and the vulnerability of spatial information, a study that can suggest a method to analyze the complex relationship between the two factors is required. In this study, the relationship between complex factors (rainfall period, accumulated rainfall, and spatial information characteristics) was designed as a system dynamics model as variables to check the possibility of occurrence of vulnerable areas according to the rainfall characteristics that change in real-time. In contrast to the current way of predicting the collapse time by analysing rainfall data, the developed model can set the precipitation period during rainfall. By setting the induced rainfall period, the researcher can then assess the susceptibility of the landslide-vulnerable area. Further, because the geospatial information features and rainfall data for the 672 h before the landslide's occurrence were combined, the results of the susceptibility analysis could be determined for each topographical characteristic according to the rainfall period and cumulative rainfall change. Third, by adjusting the General cumulative rainfall period (DG) and Inter-event time definition (IETD), the preceding rainfall period can be adjusted, and desired results can be obtained. An analysis method that can solve complex relationships can contribute to the prediction of landslide warning times and expected occurrence locations.

Young massive star clusters, like the six red supergiant clusters in the Scutum complex, provide valuable insights into star formation and galaxy structures. We investigated the high-resolution near-infrared spectra of 60 RSG candidates in these clusters using the Immersion Grating Infrared Spectrograph. Among the candidates in RSGC4, we found significant scattering in radial velocity (−64 to 115 km s ^−1 ), unlike other clusters with velocities of ∼100 km s ^−1 . Most candidates in RSGC4 have Q _GK _s values larger than 1.7, suggesting that they could be early AGB stars. Four candidates in RSGC4 exhibit infrared excess and distinct absorption features absent in other candidates. Two of these stars exhibit absorption lines resembling those of D-type symbiotic stars, showing radial velocity changes in multiepoch observations. Analysis of relative proper motions revealed no runaway/walkaway stars in RSGC4. The dynamic properties of RSGC4 and RSGC1 differ from the disklike motions of other clusters: RSGC4 has low normalized horizontal action J _hor = J _ϕ / J _tot and vertical action J _ver = ( J _z − J _R )/ J _tot values and high eccentricities, while RSGC1 has vertical motions with high J _ver values and inclinations. We propose that RSGC4 may not be a genuine star cluster but rather a composite of RSGs and AGB stars distributed along the line of sight at similar distances, possibly originating from various environments. Our results suggest a complex and hierarchical secular evolution of star clusters in the Scutum complex, emphasizing the importance of considering factors beyond density crowding when identifying star clusters in the bulge regions.

The study by Chen et al. of a 56-year-old man diagnosed with acute hemorrhagic encephalomyelitis (AHEM) had a significant impact on us. The authors provided a comprehensive account of their diagnostic journey and emphasized the need to differentiate myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) from AHEM. However, recent research suggests that AHEM may not be an isolated entity, but rather a phenotype within MOGAD. The patient’s clinical presentation included MRI brain lesions characteristic of MOGAD in addition to hemorrhagic abnormalities. These findings raise the possibility that AHEM in this case represents a MOGAD phenotype. In conclusion, it is important to recognize the potential association between AHEM and MOGAD, especially when distinct MOGAD brain MRI patterns are present, as in this case.

Explosion-related disasters are large and difficult to predict; therefore, the magnitude of potential risks must be identified ahead of time. This paper presents a new method for evaluating economic risk based on building damage that can be carried out in advance. The study was conducted using scenario-based hazard analysis, vulnerability analysis, and risk assessment. Using the GIS (Geographic Information System) technique, spatial information of the damage target range was constructed, and the hazard analysis of the explosion accident was analyzed in connection with a three-dimensional explosion simulation. Vulnerability analysis based on impact was performed by reflecting building spatial information (location, material, and height), and economic risks caused by explosions in appropriate scenarios were confirmed by applying a new methodology that reflects the total area and building cost of 4708 building objects with an explosion radius of 3 km. The results revealed that the estimated damage costs of 44,616,934,076 won (∼3.60000 US dollars) and 584,230,849,444 won (∼476 million US dollars), respectively, provided the basis for policy decision-making for accident prevention. Using this study, the risk of explosion can be predicted in advance, and effective support for explosive storage buildings in terms of engineering, policy, and management is possible to minimize damage.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and performance of an artificial intelligence (AI) model for detecting three common wrist fractures: distal radius, ulnar styloid process, and scaphoid. The AI model was trained with a dataset of 4432 images containing both fractured and non-fractured wrist images. In total, 593 subjects were included in the clinical test. Two human experts independently diagnosed and labeled the fracture sites using bounding boxes to build the ground truth. Two novice radiologists also performed the same task, both with and without model assistance. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for each wrist location. The AUC for detecting distal radius, ulnar styloid, and scaphoid fractures per wrist were 0.903 (95% C.I. 0.887–0.918), 0.925 (95% C.I. 0.911–0.939), and 0.808 (95% C.I. 0.748–0.967), respectively. When assisted by the AI model, the scaphoid fracture AUC of the two novice radiologists significantly increased from 0.75 (95% C.I. 0.66–0.83) to 0.85 (95% C.I. 0.77–0.93) and from 0.71 (95% C.I. 0.62–0.80) to 0.80 (95% C.I. 0.71–0.88), respectively. Overall, the developed AI model was found to be reliable for detecting wrist fractures, particularly for scaphoid fractures, which are commonly missed.

During the last five years the demand of indoor photovoltaic (IPV) technology is growing rapidly for the Internet of Things. Until now, there is no standardized measurement methodology for IPV devices. So, it is very hard to estimate device efficiency accurately in indoor illuminating condition. This is one of the main obstacles for the commercialization of IPV devices. A standardized universal measurement methodology is highly needed. Therefore in this study, a series of N719 dye based dye-sensitized photovoltaic (PV) cells have been fabricated by varying the working electrode thickness. Then, a low irradiance measurement system has been configured to develop an ideal indoor environment with diffused light by adjusting the distance (1.4 m) between the test cell and light source. Furthermore, the inner wall of the measurement system has been covered by white paper. PV cells are tested under the illumination of three different light sources such as cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), cool white LED (LED 5600 K), and warm white LED (LED 3200 K)), at the same irradiance power intensity (150 μW/cm2) and luminance (500 Lux) values, to standardize the measurement methodology for PV cells in indoor environment. This study shows that, the response of a PV cell to different light sources can be realized more accurately, if the PV cell is tested under the illumination of different light sources at a fixed irradiance power intensity value instead of a fixed luminance value.

Kilonova spectra provide us with information of r -process nucleosynthesis in neutron star mergers. However, it is still challenging to identify individual elements in the spectra mainly due to the lack of experimentally accurate atomic data for heavy elements at near-infrared wavelengths. Recently, Domoto et al. proposed that the absorption features around 14500 Å in the observed spectra of GW170817/AT2017gfo are Ce iii lines. But they used theoretical transition probabilities ( gf -values) whose accuracy is uncertain. In this paper, we derive the astrophysical gf -values of three Ce iii lines, aiming at verifying this identification. We model high-resolution H -band spectra of four F-type supergiants showing clear Ce iii absorption features by assuming stellar parameters derived from optical spectra in the literature. We also test the validity of the derived astrophysical gf -values by estimating the Ce iii abundances of Ap stars. We find that the derived astrophysical gf -values of the Ce iii lines are systematically lower by about 0.25 dex than those used in previous work of kilonovae, while they are still compatible within the uncertainty ranges. By performing radiative transfer simulations of kilonovae with the derived gf -values, we find that the identification of Ce iii as a source of absorption features in the observed kilonova spectra still stands, even considering the uncertainties in the astrophysical gf -values. This supports the identification of Ce in the spectra of GW170817/AT2017gfo.

The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant has a complex structure, manifesting the multidimensional nature of core-collapse supernova explosions. To further understand this, we carried out near-infrared multiobject spectroscopy on the ejecta knots located in the northeastern (NE) jet and Fe K plume regions, which are two distinct features in the outer eastern area of the remnant. Our study reveals that the knots exhibit varying ratios of [S ii ] 1.03, [P ii ] 1.189, and [Fe ii ] 1.257 μ m lines depending on their locations within the remnant, suggesting regional differences in elemental composition. Notably, the knots in the NE jet are mostly S-rich with weak or no [P ii ] lines, implying that they originated below the explosive Ne-burning layer, consistent with the results of previous studies. We detected no ejecta knots exhibiting only [Fe ii ] lines in the NE jet area that are expected in the jet-driven supernova explosion model. Instead, we discovered a dozen Fe-rich knots in the Fe K plume area. We propose that they are dense knots produced by a complete Si burning with α -rich freeze-out in the innermost region of the progenitor and ejected with the diffuse X-ray-emitting Fe ejecta but decoupled after crossing the reverse shock. In addition to these metal-rich ejecta knots, several knots emitting only He i 1.083 μ m lines were detected, and their origin remains unclear. We also detected three extended H emission features of circumstellar or interstellar origin in this area and discuss their association with the supernova remnant.

Most stars form in multiple-star systems. For a better understanding of their formation processes, it is important to resolve the individual protostellar components and the surrounding envelope and disk material at the earliest possible formation epoch, because the formation history can be lost in a few orbital timescales. Here we present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observational results of a young multiple protostellar system, IRAS 04239+2436, where three well-developed large spiral arms were detected in the shocked SO emission. Along the most conspicuous arm, the accretion streamer was also detected in the SO _2 emission. The observational results are complemented by numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations, where those large arms only appear in magnetically weakened clouds. Numerical simulations also suggest that the large triple spiral arms are the result of gravitational interactions between compact triple protostars and the turbulent infalling envelope.

Observations of the kilonova from the neutron star merger event GW170817 opened a way to study r -process nucleosynthesis directly using neutron star mergers. It is, however, challenging to identify individual elements in kilonova spectra due to a lack of complete atomic data, in particular at near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. In this paper, we demonstrate that spectra of chemically peculiar stars with enhanced heavy-element abundances can provide us with an excellent astrophysical laboratory for kilonova spectra. We show that the photosphere of the late B-type, chemically peculiar star HR 465 has similar lanthanide abundances and ionization degrees with those in the line-forming region in a kilonova at ∼2.5 days after the merger. The NIR spectrum of HR 465 taken with Subaru/IRD indicates that Ce iii lines give the strongest absorption feature around 16000 Å and there are no other comparably strong transitions around these lines. The Ce iii lines nicely match with the broad absorption feature at 14500 Å observed in GW170817 with a blueshift of v = 0.1 c , which supports recent identification of this feature as Ce iii by Domoto et al.

We used the Immersion GRating Infrared Spectrometer (IGRINS) to determine fundamental parameters for 61 K- and M-type young stellar objects (YSOs) located in the Ophiuchus and Upper Scorpius star-forming regions. We employed synthetic spectra and a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach to fit specific K -band spectral regions and determine the photospheric temperature ( T ), surface gravity ( $\mathrm{log}g$ ), magnetic field strength ( B ), projected rotational velocity ( $v\sin i$ ), and K -band veiling ( r _K ). We determined B for ∼46% of our sample. Stellar parameters were compared to the results from Taurus-Auriga and the TW Hydrae association presented in Paper I of this series. We classified all the YSOs in the IGRINS survey with infrared spectral indices from Two Micron All Sky Survey and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry between 2 and 24 μ m. We found that Class II YSOs typically have lower $\mathrm{log}g$ and $v\sin i$ , similar B , and higher K -band veiling than their Class III counterparts. Additionally, we determined the stellar parameters for a sample of K and M field stars also observed with IGRINS. We have identified intrinsic similarities and differences at different evolutionary stages with our homogeneous determination of stellar parameters in the IGRINS YSO survey. Considering $\mathrm{log}g$ as a proxy for age, we found that the Ophiuchus and Taurus samples have a similar age. We also find that Upper Scorpius and TWA YSOs have similar ages, and are more evolved than Ophiuchus/Taurus YSOs.

Geup Kyung Sa Ji (GGSJ) is the term used to refer to steep slopes managed by the Ministry of Interior and Safety (MOIS). The MOIS is a government agency of South Korea in charge of administration and safety, with evaluations and management carried out by local governments. There are 16,071 GGSJs as of March 2022. However, it is difficult to determine whether the evaluation results for these GGSJs are reliable and whether data are managed efficiently. Unlike the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Forest Service, there are personnel in charge of the relevant administration and welfare operations who are not experts in GGSJs. Therefore, a method for evaluating the currently managed steep slopes and the problems that arise in the process must be identified through evaluation by experts and non-experts in the field. Additionally, methods to increase the consistency and reliability of evaluation results must be determined. This study proposes methods designed to solve the problem of differences in evaluation results caused by the diversity of perspectives on the evaluation of GGSJs and which can be used in the assessment of complex slopes. This study aims to increase the efficiency and consistency of evaluation results in the integrated management of GGSJs to build trust among management staff.

Here, we investigated the physicochemical and storage characteristics of Tteokgalbi using n-3 fatty acid-enriched pork (n-6/n-3 ratio: 3.220) and explored the effects of treatment with watermelon radish powder (W; 0–4%). Tteokgalbi groups were prepared with 0% W (control (CON)), 1% W (W1), 2% W (W2), 4% W (W3), or 0.05% ascorbic acid as a reference (REF) treatment. W addition to Tteokgalbi increased the moisture and ash contents and water-holding capacity, but reduced cooking loss. W-prepared Tteokgalbi had markedly decreased L* (brightness) and increased b* (yellowness) values, but significantly increased a* (redness) values. W treatment markedly altered the textural properties of Tteokgalbi by improving the hardness and chewiness (W3 treatment), but decreasing springiness (W3) and brittleness (W2 and W3). W addition dose-dependently increased the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, thereby increasing the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical-scavenging activities of Tteokgalbi over 7 days in cold storage. W-treatment Tteokgalbi decreased the pH slightly (compared to CON treatment) and significantly attenuated the induction of 2-thiobarbituric acid, volatile basic nitrogen, and total microbial counts during 7 days in cold storage. Therefore, W may be a suitable food antioxidant that can act as a natural radical scavenger in Tteokgalbi prepared from n-3 fatty acid-enriched pork.

The steric shielding offered by sensitizers on semiconducting surfaces as a result of branching in the dyes used offers the less utilization of semiconducting substrate sites during device fabrication in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This work proposes a strategy to increase the coverage through the utilization of small molecules which have the ability to penetrate into the sites. The small molecules play the dual role of vacancy filling and sensitization, which can be viewed as an alternative to co-sensitization also. Hence, we show for the first time ever that the co-adsorption of catechol with Z907 as a sensitizer enhances the electron density in the photo-anode by adsorbing on the vacant sites. Catechol was subsequently adsorbed on TiO2 after Z907 as it has a stronger interaction with TiO2 owing to its favorable thermodynamics. The reduced number of vacant sites, suppressed charge recombination, and enhanced spectral response are responsible for the improvement in the PCEs. Quantitatively, both organic and aqueous electrolytes were used and the co-sensitized DSSCs had PCE enhancements of 7.2 and 60%, respectively, compared to the control devices.

Obesity is closely associated with low-grade chronic and systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia, and the consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) may modulate obesity-related disorders, such as inflammation and dyslipidemia. An emerging research question is to understand the dietary intervention strategy that is more important regarding n-3 PUFA consumption: (1) a lower ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs or (2) a higher amount of n-3 PUFAs consumption. To understand the desirable dietary intervention method of n-3 PUFAs consumption, we replaced lard from the experimental diets with either perilla oil (PO) or corn oil (CO) to have identical n-3 amounts in the experimental diets. PO had a lower n-6/n-3 ratio, whereas CO contained higher amounts of PUFAs; it inherently contained relatively lower n-3 but higher n-6 PUFAs than PO. After the 12-week dietary intervention in ob/ob mice, dyslipidemia was observed in the normal chow and CO-fed ob/ob mice; however, PO feeding increased the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level; further, not only did the HDL-C level increase, the low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels also decreased significantly after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Consequently, extra TG accumulated in the liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) of normal chow- or CO-fed ob/ob mice after LPS injection; however, PO consumption decreased serum TG accumulation in the liver and WAT. PUFAs replacement attenuated systemic inflammation induced by LPS injection by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines but inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the serum and WAT. PO further decreased hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in comparison with the ND and CO. Hepatic functional biomarkers (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels) were also remarkably decreased in the PO group. In LPS-challenged ob/ob mice, PO and CO decreased adipocyte size and adipokine secretion, with a reduction in phosphorylation of MAPKs compared to the ND group. In addition, LPS-inducible endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress decreased with consumption of PUFAs. Taken together, PUFAs from PO and CO play a role in regulating obesity-related disorders. Moreover, PO, which possesses a lower ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs, remarkably alleviated metabolic dysfunction in LPS-induced ob/ob mice. Therefore, an interventional trial considering the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs may be desirable for modulating metabolic complications, such as inflammatory responses and ER stress in the circulation, liver, and/or WAT.

We investigated conducting poly(thionine) (PTH) films prepared by single-step and double-step electrochemical methods (PTH-S and PTH-D, respectively) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the detection of dopamine (DA) with varying sensitivity. Electrochemical and spectroscopic analysis revealed that both PTH films have identical chemical structures, but the sensitivity of DA detection was significantly dependent on the polymerization conditions. A simple variation of the electropolymerization conditions dramatically changed the catalytic activity of the PTH films towards the oxidation of DA in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) as well as the PTH formation mechanism. PTH-D was found to have a higher surface charge than PTH-S, and also showed a sensitivity enhancement for DA detection of up to one order of magnitude compared to PTH-S.

This study investigates the physicochemical and storage characteristics of Tteokgalbi treated with various concentrations of Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) powder (BP). BP is constituted mainly of carbohydrates (77.9%), possesses free-radical scavenging activity due to the presence of polyphenol and flavonoids, and is slightly acidic (pH 5.99). Five Tteokgalbi samples were treated with 0 (CON), 0.5% (B1), 1.0% (B2), or 2.0% (B3) of BP or 0.05% of ascorbic acid (REF). Compared to CON, BP-treated Tteokgalbi demonstrated significantly higher carbohydrate content and water-holding capacity and decreased cooking loss (%). BP-treated Tteokgalbi had significantly altered Hunter color properties, with decreased L* and increased b* values. Additionally, BP treatment significantly changed the textural properties by increasing the hardness (B3) and chewiness (B2 and B3) and decreasing the springiness (B3) of Tteokgalbi. Owing to the increased total polyphenol and flavonoid content, BP addition significantly enhanced the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of Tteokgalbi during vacuum-packed cold storage (0–14 days) at 5 °C. BP-treated Tteokgalbi maintained a higher pH compared to CON, and BP-treatment significantly suppressed 2-thiobarbituric acid, volatile basic nitrogen, and total microbial count during the cold storage period (7 and 14 days). Therefore, BP is a natural, edible antioxidant that may be applied to Tteokgalbi.

Background: We aimed to identify factors related to childbirth intention in multicultural marriage migrant women in Korea. The study was based on the raw data of a National Survey on Multicultural Families 2015 in Korea, covering 7 countries and 31,047 participants. Methods: Data were analyzed with multiple regression analysis using SPSS and WIN 21.0 programs. Results: First, the consistent outcome in the seven countries was Residence period in Korea. The shorter the period of residence in Korea and the lower the age, the higher childbirth intentions. Second, the major factors according to country were Economic Activity, Satisfaction of Marital Relationship, Life Satisfaction, and Education. The most influential factors in each country were economic activity in Taiwan and Hong Kong, satisfaction with marital relationships in Korean-China, life satisfaction in Cambodia, and education in Mongolia and the Philippines. The higher the participation in economic activities, satisfaction with marital relationship, life satisfaction, and education level, the greater the number of childbirth intentions. Third, a contradictory result was found in State of health. In Vietnam, better health predicted greater numbers of childbirth intentions, while in China, Korean-Chinese, Mongolia, Cambodia, worse health predicated greater numbers of childbirth intentions. Conclusion: The findings suggest a need for a comprehensive multicultural policy and support services for multicultural marriage migrant women that considers characteristics such as country, cultural differences, and nationality in order to contribute to family formation and settlement of Korean society.

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) provide a transformative approach to integrating photovoltaics into a built environment. In this paper, we report thin-film LSCs composed of intramolecular charge transfer fluorophore (DACT-II) and discuss the effect of two polymers, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and poly (benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) on the performance of large-area LSCs. As observed experimentally, DACT-II with the charge-donating diphenylaminocarbazole and charge-accepting triphenyltriazine moieties shows a large Stokes shift and limited re-absorption losses in both polymers. Our results show that thin-film LSC (10 × 10 × 0.3 cm3) with optimized concentration (0.9 wt%) of DACT-II in PBzMA gives better performance than that in the PMMA matrix. In particular, optical conversion efficiency (ηopt) and power-conversion efficiency (ηPCE) of DACT-II/PBzMA LSC are 2.32% and 0.33%, respectively, almost 1.2 times higher than for DACT-II/PMMA LSC.

This aim of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effects of rice bran powder, fermented by Weissella koreensis DB1 isolated from kimchi, to protect against obesity and dyslipidemia induced by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet, in a mouse model. Male mice were fed a modified AIN-93M diet containing high fat/high-cholesterol (HFCD), or same diet supplemented with non-fermented rice bran powder (HFCD-RB) or fermented rice bran powder (HFCD-FRB) for 10 weeks. In the HFCD-FRB group, body weight, liver and white fat pads weights, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), non-high-density lipopreotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), insulin, glucose and leptine levels in serum, TG levels and the ratio of fat droplets in the liver, TG levels and fat cell size in adipose tissue were decreased, and (high-density lipopreotein cholesterol) HDL-C and adiponectin levels in serum were increased, compared with the HFCD group. The HFCD-FRB group had significantly lower CCAAT-enhancer-binding potein α (C/EBPα), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) gene expression when compared to the HFCD group. The anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects were marginally greater in the HFCD-FRB group than in the HFCD-RB group. These results suggest that fermented rice bran powder by Weissella koreensis DB1 may have potential beneficial effects on the obesity-related abnormalities and the dysfunction of lipid metabolism.

A 120 days trial was conducted to investigate the effect of sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi, Drasche 1884) tunic’s carotenoid to sea-reared rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792) growth and muscle color. Sea-rearing was done at Tongyeong sea area, Korea. Three dietary treatments, namely control (C), CT, and AT, were administered to 6 groups of fish (n = 490-520). C was given basal diet which has contained 40 mg kg−1 of astaxanthin. A further inclusion of 10 mg kg−1 canthaxanthin was added to diet of CT, while AT’s feed was supplemented with 10 mg kg−1 H. roretzi tunics carotenoids extract. The result revealed that AT has the highest final weight (1119.2 ± 82.4 g) compare to those of C (881.0 ± 121.2 g) and CT (1068.2 ± 4.3 g). The specific growth rate (SGR) of AT (1.0 ± 0.07%/day) was significantly higher than C (0.7 ± 0.22%/day) and CT (0.7 ± 0.25%/day) while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were 1.5 ± 0.6, 1.4 ± 0.6, and 1.2 ± 0.1 for C, CT and AT respectively. The hepatosomatic index (HSI) and Viscerosomatic index (VSI) of all groups showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). The muscle color was also positively affected by the treatments, CT and AT were significantly different from C (p

Functional nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in a variety of research fields (in particular, in the healthcare system) because of the easily controllable morphology, their high chemical and environmental stability, biocompatibility, and unique optoelectronic and sensing properties. The sensing properties of nanomaterials can be used to detect biomolecules such as cholesterol. Over the past few decades, remarkable progress has been made in the production of cholesterol biosensors that contain nanomaterials as the key component. In this article, various nanomaterials for the electrochemical sensing of cholesterol were reviewed. Cholesterol biosensors are recognized tools in the clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The function of nanomaterials in cholesterol biosensors were thoroughly discussed. In this study, different pathways for the sensing of cholesterol with functional nanomaterials were investigated.

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and hybrid zeolite imidazole framework (HZ) are an emerging biomaterial and a porous carbonous material, respectively. The composite of these two materials could have versatile physiochemical characteristics. A cellulose nanofiber and cobalt-containing zeolite framework-based composite was prepared using an in-situ and eco-friendly chemical method followed by pyrolysis. The composite was comprised of cobalt nanoparticles decorated on highly graphitized N-doped nanoporous carbons (NPC) wrapped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced from the direct carbonization of HZ. By varying the ratio of CNF in the composite, we determined the optimal concentration and characterized the derived samples using sophisticated techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the functionalization of CNF in the metallic cobalt-covered N-doped NPC wrapped with CNTs. The CNF–HZNPC composite electrodes show superior electrochemical performance, which is suitable for supercapacitor applications; its specific capacitance is 146 F/g at 1 A/g. Furthermore, the composite electrodes retain a cycling stability of about 90% over 2000 charge–discharge cycles at 10 A/g. The superior electrochemical properties of the cellulose make it a promising candidate for developing electrodes for energy storage applications.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of different concentrations of extracts of hot air-dried ramie leaf (HR) and freeze-dried ramie leaf (FR) in 3T3-L1 cells and pig preadipocytes. To analyze the effect on cell proliferation, cells were treated with 25 μg/mL or 100 μg/mL HR or FR extract for 2 days. Cell differentiation was evaluated by measuring glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activities and intracellular triglyceride content. Treatment with either HR or FR extracts inhibited the proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells and pig preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. HR extract treatment inhibited the differentiation of both cell types more effectively than FR treatment. The extent of triglyceride accumulation decreased significantly in both cells following either HR or FR treatment. Furthermore, LPL activity significantly decreased after treatment with HR or FR extract. These results indicated that HR and FR extracts may inhibit proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and pig preadipocytes. Further studies are needed to explore the anti-obesity effect of HR and FR extracts.

This study aimed at investigating the anti-obesity and anti-dyslipidemic effects of Stachys sieboldii Miq. root (SS) powder in rats following a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet for 6 weeks. Thirty-two Sprague–Dawley rats were fed one of the following diets: a regular diet (RD), HFC, HFC supplemented with 3% SS (HFC + 3SS) or HFC supplemented with 5% SS (HFC + 5SS). Following an HFC diet increased body weight (BW) gain (p < 0.001) and the food efficiency ratio (FER; p < 0.001); however, SS consumption gradually prevented the HFC-induced BW gain (p < 0.001) and increase in FER (p < 0.01). The HFC diet resulted in increased liver size (p < 0.001) and total adipose tissue weight (p < 0.001), whereas the SS supplementation decreased hepatomegaly (p < 0.05) and body fat mass (p < 0.001). SS consumption prevented the increased activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT; p < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; p < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (ALP; p < 0.01 in HFC + 5SS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; p < 0.001 in HFC + 5SS) induced by the HFC diet (p < 0.001). The SS supplementation improved lipid profiles in the circulation by lowering triglyceride (TG; p < 0.01), total cholesterol (TC; p < 0.001) and non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C; p < 0.001) levels, as well as the atherogenic index (p < 0.01) and cardiac risk factor (p < 0.01). The lipid distribution in the liver (p < 0.05) and white adipose tissues (WAT; p < 0.001) of the HFC + SS diet-consuming rats was remarkably lower than that of the HFC diet-consuming rats. The average size of the epididymal adipose tissue (p < 0.001) was significantly lower in the HFC + SS diet-fed rats than in the HFC diet-fed rats. The fecal lipid (>3% SS; p < 0.001) and cholesterol (5% SS; p < 0.001) efflux levels were significantly elevated by the SS supplementation compared to those measured in the RD or HFC diet-fed groups. In addition, the hepatic lipid and cholesterol metabolism-related gene expressions were affected by SS consumption, as the hepatic anabolic gene expression (Acc; p < 0.001, Fas; p < 0.001 and G6pdh; p < 0.01) was significantly attenuated. The HFC + 5SS diet-fed rats exhibited elevated hepatic Cyp7a1 (p < 0.001), Hmgcr (p < 0.001) and Ldlr (p < 0.001) mRNA expression levels compared to the HFC diet-fed rats. These results suggest that SS may possess anti-adipogenic and lipid-lowering effects by enhancing lipid and cholesterol efflux in mammals.

A binder-free process for the electrode preparation for supercapacitor application was suggested by drop casting graphene nanoplatelets on a carbon fiber (GnP@CF) followed by electrodeposition of Ni nanoparticles (NPs). The microstructure of the electrode showed that Ni was homogeneously distributed over the surface of the GnP@CF. XRD analysis confirmed the cubic structure of metallic Ni NPs. The Ni-GnP@CF electrode showed excellent pseudocapacitive behavior in alkaline solution by exhibiting a specific capacitance of 480 F/g at 1.0 A/g, while it was 375 F/g for Ni@CF. The low value of series resistance of Ni-GnP@CF (1 Ω) was attributed to the high capacitance. The enhanced capacitance of the electrode could be correlated to the highly nanoporous structure of the composite material, synergetic effect of the electrical double layer charge-storage properties of graphene, and the pseudocapacitive nature of Ni NPs.

This study aimed to investigate the potential of cabbage-apple juice, fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum EM isolated from kimchi, to protect against obesity and dyslipidemia that are induced by a high-fat diet in a rat model. Male rats were fed a modified AIN-93M high-fat diet (HFD), the same diet supplemented with non-fermented cabbage-apple juice, or the same diet supplemented with fermented cabbage-apple juice for eight weeks. In the HFD-fermented cabbage- apple juice administered groups the following parameters decreased: body weight, liver and white fat pad weights, serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol, insulin, glucose and leptin levels, TG levels, while HDL-C and adiponectin levels in serum increased as compared with the HFD group. The HFD-fed rats that were supplemented with fermented cabbage-apple juice exhibited significantly lower fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and malic enzyme gene expression levels when compared to the exclusively HFD-fed rats. The anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects were marginally greater in the fermented juice administered group than in the non-fermented juice administered group. These results suggest that cabbage-apple juice—especially fermented cabbage-apple juice—might have beneficial effects on lipid metabolism dysfunction and obesity-related abnormalities. However, further studies are necessary for analyzing the biochemical regulatory mechanisms of fermented juice for obesity amelioration and lipid metabolic homeostasis.

Obesity has recently risen and become a serious health concern in Korea according to the westernized diet and altered lifestyle. Hence, there is a growing interest in the supplementation of phytochemicals to find a safe and effective functional ingredient to treat obesity. Spergularia marina Griseb (SM) has traditionally been used as a natural herb against chronic diseases in Korea. In this study, we investigated the antiobesity effects of SM in vitro and in vivo. SM ethanol extract (SME) inhibited proliferation and differentiation in murine adipocytes and primary porcine pre-adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In the in vivo study, supplementation of SM powder (SMP) remarkably attenuated fat accumulation in HFD-induced obese rats. In addition, SMP supplementation improved lipid profiles in the serum and tissues of high-fat induced obese rats. Collectively, these data indicated that SME exhibited antiobesity effects by modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis. Furthermore, SMP could be developed as an obesity-induced metabolic syndrome treatment.

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs can be both beneficial and harmful to healthcare consumers. Therefore, DTCA for prescription drugs is a topic that should be considered crucially, at this point, when the interests of patients as well as pharmaceutical companies in DTCA of prescription drugs are growing in South Korea. The goals of this study were to investigate Korean college students' perceptions and attitudes about DTCA of prescription drugs through a survey as well as to analyze data according to their college majors in order to identify differences in their perceptions and attitudes about prescription drug DTCAs as future health care professionals and consumers, respectively. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted between September and November 2015. Participants were recruited from Chosun University in Gwangju, South Korea. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Chosun University Institutional Review Board. Of 1,040 questionnaires initially distributed, 774 were collected, and 742 were included in the analysis. The results of this study indicated that most students who had participated in the survey did not have sufficient knowledge of DTCA for prescription drugs. Approximately, 17% reported being cognizant of DTCA for prescription drugs. More healthcare students (24.6%) knew this term than non-healthcare students did (6.3%). In this study, most of the students were likely to feel that healthcare professionals (e.g., doctors and pharmacists) had the responsibility of delivering information about prescription drugs to patients, and that all prescription drugs DTCA, if it were permitted, had to be pre-approved by the Korean government. The results of this study indicated that DTCA for prescription drugs had to be permitted under the condition of pre-approval of the DTCA contents by the Korean government, and prescription drugs should not be advertised through the Internet. It is recommended that the Korean government cautiously examine whether DTCA of prescription drugs should be permitted, after considering the current marketing strategies of pharmaceutical companies on the Internet and the effects of online electronic-DTCA on Korean consumers.

Conducting polymers (CPs) are a group of polymeric materials that have attracted considerable attention because of their unique electronic, chemical, and biochemical properties. This is reflected in their use in a wide range of potential applications, including light-emitting diodes, anti-static coating, electrochromic materials, solar cells, chemical sensors, biosensors, and drug-release systems. Electrochemical DNA sensors based on CPs can be used in numerous areas related to human health. This review summarizes the recent progress made in the development and use of CP-based electrochemical DNA hybridization sensors. We discuss the distinct properties of CPs with respect to their use in the immobilization of probe DNA on electrode surfaces, and we describe the immobilization techniques used for developing DNA hybridization sensors together with the various transduction methods employed. In the concluding part of this review, we present some of the challenges faced in the use of CP-based DNA hybridization sensors, as well as a future perspective.

Esthetic interaction of robot with human is a new human–robot interaction model that focuses on helping a human create a social affinity with a robot by adding the concept of an esthetic experience to their interaction. The model is based on the theory that an esthetic experience is a circular mental process between subjects and their social environment; this experience makes social interaction more positive in ways that differ from more traditional emotion-related approaches. Our research using esthetic interaction of robot with human demonstrates that by including an esthetic interaction (imitative play) with the robot, the robot’s negative emotional factors (e.g. facial expression and appearance) do not produce a negative social relationship with a human but transform the relationship into a positive one. The results do not signify that emotional factors can simply be excluded from human–robot interaction; rather, they suggest that there are circular processes between the emotional factors and the esthetic interaction with the robot. Although our research is challenging and very experimental, we expect it to contribute to innovation in human–robot interaction research fields.

Nanotechnology has opened new and exhilarating opportunities for exploring glucose biosensing applications of the newly prepared nanostructured materials. Nanostructured metal-oxides have been extensively explored to develop biosensors with high sensitivity, fast response times, and stability for the determination of glucose by electrochemical oxidation. This article concentrates mainly on the development of different nanostructured metal-oxide [such as ZnO, Cu(I)/(II) oxides, MnO2, TiO2, CeO2, SiO2, ZrO2, and other metal-oxides] based glucose biosensors. Additionally, we devote our attention to the operating principles (i.e., potentiometric, amperometric, impedimetric and conductometric) of these nanostructured metal-oxide based glucose sensors. Finally, this review concludes with a personal prospective and some challenges of these nanoscaled sensors.

This review focuses on recent contributions in the development of the electrochemical sensors based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs have unique mechanical and electronic properties, combined with chemical stability, and behave electrically as a metal or semiconductor, depending on their structure. For sensing applications, CNTs have many advantages such as small size with larger surface area, excellent electron transfer promoting ability when used as electrodes modifier in electrochemical reactions, and easy protein immobilization with retention of its activity for potential biosensors. CNTs play an important role in the performance of electrochemical biosensors, immunosensors, and DNA biosensors. Various methods have been developed for the design of sensors using CNTs in recent years. Herein we summarize the applications of CNTs in the construction of electrochemical sensors and biosensors along with other nanomaterials and conducting polymers.

To ensure long-term stable dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) and modules, a hermetic sealing is required. This research investigates the chemical stability of I-/I3- redox electrolyte and four different glass frits (GFs). Sintered GF layers were openly exposed to nonaqueous redox electrolyte and redox electrolyte with 1, 5, and 10 wt% H2O in thin, encapsulated cells. The change in I3− absorbance was assigned to a reaction between the GF and I-/I3- electrolyte and was used to evaluate the chemical stability of the different GFs. The I3− absorbance change was monitored over 100 days. Two out of the four GFs were unstable when H2O was added to the redox electrolyte. The H2O caused metal ion leaching which was determined from EDX analysis of the inorganic remains of electrolyte samples. A GF based on Bi2O3–SiO2–B2O3 with low bond strength leached bismuth into electrolyte and formed the BiI3- complex. A ZnO–SiO2–Al2O3-based GF also became unstable when H2O was added to the redox electrolyte. Leaching of zinc ions due to exchange with H+ resulted in the formation of a zinc-iodine compound which caused I3− depletion. By applying the test design to different types of GFs, the material suitability in the DSC working environment was investigated.

Granular ZnO nanostructures of single-crystalline wurtzite hexagonal phases were synthesized by a facile and low-cost chemical method in aqueous condition. The average size of ZnO nanograin increased with reflux time, and it significantly affected the open circuit potential (Voc) while the short circuit current density (Jsc) was not changed much. The overall energy conversion efficiency was 1.82% with the smaller grain size of ca. 250 nm when it was used as photoelectrode of DSSCs. The positive shifting of the Fermi energy (EF) and low density of surface states (DOS) were consistent with the reduction of the recombination of excited electron with electrolyte for smaller grains.

A social robot interacts and communicates with humans by using the embodied knowledge gained from interactions with its social environment. In recent years, emotion has emerged as a popular concept for designing social robots. Several studies on social robots reported an increase in robot sociability through emotional imitative interactions between the robot and humans. In this paper conventional emotional interactions are extended by exploiting the aesthetic theories that the sociability of a social robot can be markedly enhanced through aesthetic imitative interactions such as “playful acts”. We applied these aesthetic interactions to child-robot interaction. Children imitate the emotional behaviours of a robot through aesthetic interactions; they play with the robot by mimicking its emotional facial expressions. From the tests, we see that aesthetic judgment is more influential than emotions in playful interactions between children and the robot; the aesthetic imitative interactions would reinforce the positive social relationships of children and enhance their social adaptability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first social robot study to investigate child-robot interaction on the basis of aesthetics.

We fabricated well-aligned one-dimensional (1-D) titania nanotubes (TNT) on transparent conducting oxide (TCO) by anodization of Ti foil. Different lengths of TNTs were prepared by varying the applied potential (70 V) time, and we investigated the performance of these TNTs in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), transplanted onto a 6 μm TNP adhesion layer. The fabricated TNTs arrays (length 15 μm) photoelectrode showed 24% increased efficiency compared to the TNP photoelectrode of 17 μm thickness. We further investigated the performances of DSSCs for the TNTs (1 wt%) incorporated TNP photoelectrode and obtained 22% increased efficiency. The increased efficiency of the pure TNTs arrays and TNT-mixed TNP photoelectrodes was attributed to the directional electron movement of TNTs and light scattering effect of the TNT with the decreased rate of back electron transfer. The anodized and fabricated TNTs and DSSCs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).