Nutrition fact label (NFL) use is related to meeting the requirements for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey VIII (2019-2021) for the prepandemic and pandemic periods.

The credibility and wide usability of nutrition fact labels (NFLs) have increased due to the pandemic, which may lead to healthier nutritional choices. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between NFL use and meeting the estimated average requirements (EARs) for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs during the prepandemic (2019, n = 6606) and pandemic periods (2020 and 2021, n = 12085) using KNHANES data. Household surveys, health behavior interviews, and health checkup examinations were conducted for all participants. Subjects were included in the unAware+noUse, Aware+noUse, and Aware+Use groups according to NFL usage, and nutritional intake was analyzed by the 24-hour recall method. Complex-sample multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for meeting the EARs according to NFL usage in the crude and adjusted (including metabolic conditions) models. The primary finding was that awareness and NFL use were associated with adequate intake above the EARs for vitamin A, vitamin B2, niacin, folate, Ca, Fe, and P; this association was more evident during the pandemic. After adjusting for covariates, during the pandemic, the ORs of meeting the EARs in the Aware+noUse group and Aware+Use group were 1.25 (CI 1.06-1.47) and 1.36 (CI 1.05-1.75) for vitamin A, 1.26 (CI 1.06-1.50) and 1.54 (CI 1.19-2.00) for vitamin B2, 1.32 (CI 1.13-1.56) and 1.46 (CI 1.15-1.85) for folate, and 1.46 (CI 1.06-2.00) and 1.73 (1.09-2.75) for P, respectively. Additionally, the ORs for niacin (1.21, 1.02-1.43) and Fe (1.29, 1.08-1.54) were significant in the Aware+noUse group, and that for Ca (1.39, 1.08-1.78) was significant in the Aware+Use group (all p <0.05). In conclusion, NFL awareness and use are associated with meeting the EARs for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs. For future recurring health crises, effective NFL use is necessary for healthy dietary practices.

Automatic identification of posteroanterior cephalometric landmarks using a novel deep learning algorithm: a comparative study with human experts.

This study aimed to propose a fully automatic posteroanterior (PA) cephalometric landmark identification model using deep learning algorithms and compare its accuracy and reliability with those of expert human examiners. In total, 1032 PA cephalometric images were used for model training and validation. Two human expert examiners independently and manually identified 19 landmarks on 82 test set images. Similarly, the constructed artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm automatically identified the landmarks on the images. The mean radial error (MRE) and successful detection rate (SDR) were calculated to evaluate the performance of the model. The performance of the model was comparable with that of the examiners. The MRE of the model was 1.87 ± 1.53 mm, and the SDR was 34.7%, 67.5%, and 91.5% within error ranges of < 1.0, < 2.0, and < 4.0 mm, respectively. The sphenoid points and mastoid processes had the lowest MRE and highest SDR in auto-identification; the condyle points had the highest MRE and lowest SDR. Comparable with human examiners, the fully automatic PA cephalometric landmark identification model showed promising accuracy and reliability and can help clinicians perform cephalometric analysis more efficiently while saving time and effort. Future advancements in AI could further improve the model accuracy and efficiency.

Bottom-Up Evolution of Diamond-Graphite Hybrid Two-Dimensional Nanostructure: Underlying Picture and Electrochemical Activity.

The diamond-graphite hybrid thin film with low-dimensional nanostructure (e.g., nitrogen-included ultrananocrystalline diamond (N-UNCD) or the alike), has been employed in many impactful breakthrough applications. However, the detailed picture behind the bottom-up evolution of such intriguing carbon nanostructure is far from clarified yet. Here, the authors clarify it, through the concerted efforts of microscopic, physical, and electrochemical analyses for a series of samples synthesized by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition using methane-hydrogen precursor gas, based on the hydrogen-dependent surface reconstruction of nanodiamond and on the substrate-temperature-dependent variation of the growth species (atomic hydrogen and methyl radical) concentration near substrate. The clarified picture provides insights for a drastic enhancement in the electrochemical activities of the hybrid thin film, concerning the detection of important biomolecule, that is, ascorbic acid, uric acid, and dopamine: their limits of detections are 490, 35, and 25 nm, respectively, which are among the best of the all-carbon thin film electrodes in the literature. This work also enables a simple and effective way of strongly enhancing AA detection.

Supplementation with a Natural Source of Amino Acids, Sil-Q1 (Silk Peptide), Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity: A Redesigned Clinical Trial with a Reduced Supplementation Dose and Minimized Seasonal Effects in a Larger Population.

The aim of this study was to re-validate the changes in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and cytokines related to T cells after Sil-Q1 (SQ; silk peptide) supplementation in a larger pool of Korean adults with minimized daily dose of SQ and controlling seasonal influence compared to the previous study. A total of 130 subjects were randomly assigned (1:1) to consume either 7.5 g of SQ or placebo for 8 weeks. NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokines were measured at T0 (baseline) and T8 (follow-up). Comparing the NK cell cytotoxicity values at T0 and T8 within each group, the cytotoxicity at all effector cell (E) to target cell (T) ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1, and 1.25:1 was significantly increased in the SQ group at T8. Additionally, significant differences in the changed value (Δ, subtract baseline values from follow-up values) comparison between the groups at E:T = 10:1, 5:1, and 2.5:1 were found. As a secondary endpoint, the interleukin (IL)-12 level in the SQ group was significantly increased for 8 weeks, and Δ IL-12 in the SQ group was greater than in the placebo group. In conclusion, the present study showed considerable practical implications of SQ supplementation. Thus, SQ is an effective and safe functional food supplement for enhancing immune function.

Access opening guide produced using a 3D printer (AOG-3DP) as an effective tool in difficult cases for dental students.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using an access opening guide in teaching ideal access opening shape and preventing excessive tooth loss, with a focus on predoctoral dental students. METHODS: Ninety teeth that were mounted in a box just below the level of the cementoenamel junction using tray resin were randomly divided into two study groups. An access opening guide produced using a 3D printer (AOG-3DP) was designed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The AOG-3DP was applied in the test groups, while no aid was used in the control group. Access preparations in both groups performed by predoctoral dental students were scanned using CBCT to detect overpreparation. The preparation time and access cavity volume were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean times required for achieving access opening were 327.2 and 97.4 s in the control and AOG-3DP groups, respectively, for premolars, and 547.4 and 104.5 s for molars. The mean volumes for premolars and molars differed from the ideal cavities by 38.1 and 72.2 mm3 , respectively, in the control group, and by -2.0 and -8.7 mm3 the AOG-3DP group. CONCLUSIONS: Using the AOG-3DP significantly reduced the access opening time for premolars and molars. However, there is a limitation in that CBCT DICOM images must be converted to stereolithographic .stl files in order to be printed via 3D technology. This requires additional preclinical treatment time for imaging and subsequent printing. It could be considered that this can be a useful method in difficult cases.

Immune activation of Bio-Germanium in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 130 human subjects: Therapeutic opportunities from new insights.

REGISTERED CLINICAL TRIAL: [NCT03677921]; www.clinicaltrials.gov [KCT0002726]; https://cris.nih.go.kr.

The cholesterol-lowering effect of unripe Rubus coreanus is associated with decreased oxidized LDL and apolipoprotein B levels in subjects with borderline-high cholesterol levels: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Rubus coreanus (R. coreanus) possesses properties that may decrease cholesterol levels. METHODS: The effects of unripe R. coreanus (uRC) consumption on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol levels related to decreased circulating apolipoprotein (Apo) B and oxidized LDL levels were evaluated. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included subjects with borderline-high cholesterol levels (between 200 and 239 mg/dL) who consumed one capsule daily containing 600 mg of freeze-dried uRC extract (n = 39) or the placebo (n = 38). RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the uRC group showed reductions of 21.23 ± 4.36 mg/dL in total cholesterol levels (P = 0.007) and 15.61 ± 4.16 mg/dL in LDL cholesterol levels (P = 0.032). In addition, significantly greater reductions in Apo B levels were observed in the uRC group (- 3.48 ± 3.40 mg/dL), but Apo B levels were increased in the placebo group (6.21 ± 2.84 mg/dL; P = 0.032). Furthermore, a remarkably lower oxidized LDL level was detected in the uRC group (57.76 ± 2.07 U/L) than in the placebo group (66.09 ± 3.47 U/L) after 12 weeks of consumption (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Because of its cholesterol-lowering effect, uRC shows great promise as a therapeutic agent for subjects with borderline-high total blood cholesterol levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03649620 (8/28/2018, retrospectively registered).

Effect of immune-enhancing enteral nutrition formula enriched with plant-derived n-3 fatty acids on natural killer cell activity in rehabilitation patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Enteral nutrition formulas with immune-enhancing nutrients, such as n-3 fatty acids, may manage patients' nutritional status and pathophysiological processes. The aim of our study was to investigate natural killer (NK) cell activity alterations and related cytokine changes resulting from feeding with soybean oil-containing enteral nutrition formula (control group) and plant-derived n-3 fatty acid-enriched enteral nutrition formula. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects participated for 14 consecutive days and consumed enteral formula containing canola and flaxseed oil (n3EN, test group) in nonsurgical patients hospitalized for rehabilitation. Blood samples were collected on the first day and 14 days after the consumption of each formula daily, and anthropometric parameters were collected. Hematology and biochemical values were analyzed, and NK cell activities and serum cytokine concentration were measured. A total of sixty subjects were included in the analysis, excluding dropouts. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in biochemical parameters. The n3EN group's NK cell activities at effector:tumor cell ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1 and 0.625:1 were significantly higher than those of the control group after two weeks (P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in serum cytokine interleukin (IL)-12, interferon-γ, IL-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α values between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study elucidates the beneficial effects of plant-derived n-3 fatty acid supplementation in enteral formula on NK cell activity.

Effects of motivation interviewing using a group art therapy program on negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of motivation interviewing using group art therapy on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. METHODS: Participants were patients with chronic schizophrenia admitted to the D psychiatric wards in D city, Korea. There were 17 and 18 patients in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The data collection period was from November 28, 2016 to January 28, 2017. Motivation interviewing using group art therapy was conducted twice per week over 6 weeks (12 sessions in total). RESULTS: The significance of the intervention effects were confirmed via measures of negative symptoms, motivation and pleasure, interpersonal relationships, personal hygiene, and hospital program attendance. The experimental group exhibited significantly greater improvements in negative symptoms, motivation and pleasure, interpersonal relationships, personal hygiene, and hospital program attendance than did the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the motivation interviewing using group art therapy was an effective nursing intervention for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Fabrication and Evaluation of Aluminum Laminated Film for a Pouch-Type Secondary Battery.

In this study, we intend to find the laminate condition for improvement of the chemical resistance of the aluminum pouch film widely used as the coating material of the secondary battery. Here, we investigated the properties including the initial adhesive strength and electrolyte resistance between the metal film layer aluminum and the sealant layer cast polypropylene (CPP) film. As for the laminating condition, we changed the temperature and line speed and maintained the identical pressure conditions. A roll-to-roll dry laminate coating system was used in surface treatment agent coating, adhesive coating, and film laminate. As for the laminate condition of the surface treated aluminum and CPP film, the initial adhesive strength of the laminated pouch film manufactured with 110 °C temperature and 30 m/min line speed was 1300 gf/15 mm. The adhesive strength of the 85 °C electrolyte resistance measured after being immersed for 7 days was found to be 800 gf/15 mm. The initial adhesive strength of CPP film laminated to aluminum without surface treatment showed 900 gf/15 mm and decreased sharply to 150 gf/15 mm in the electrolyte at 85 °C after an hour. The initial adhesive strength and electrolyte resistance of the aluminum and CPP were measured by using the universal testing machine.

Chromate adsorption mechanism on nanodiamond-derived onion-like carbon.

The onion-like carbon (OLC) was prepared as adsorbent and tested for the removal of chromate ions from aqueous solutions. The OLC was thermally derived from nanodiamond by vacuum annealing at 1000-2000°C. An investigation was conducted the chromate adsorption mechanism of OLC, by analysing the temperature-dependent evolution of the various oxygen-carbon bonds and the chemisorbed water by X-ray photo electron spectroscopy, as well as by the first principle calculation of the bond energies for relevant bond configurations. The present work demonstrated the importance of the carbon-oxygen bond type and carbon dangling bonds for chromate adsorption, as well as for other anionic heavy metals adsorbed from wastewater and sewage.

Inherently-Forced Tensile Strain in Nanodiamond-Derived Onion-like Carbon: Consequences in Defect-Induced Electrochemical Activation.

We analyzed the nanodiamond-derived onion-like carbon (OLC) as function of synthesis temperature (1000~1400 °C), by high-resolution electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, visible-Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The temperature dependences of the obtained properties (averaged particle size, tensile strain, defect density, density of states, electron transfer kinetics, and electrochemical oxidation current) unanimously coincided: they initially increased and saturated at 1200 °C. It was attributed to the inherent tensile strains arising from (1) the volume expansion associated with the layer-wise diamond-to-graphite transformation of the core, which caused forced dilation of the outer shells during their thermal synthesis; (2) the extreme curvature of the shells. The former origin was dominant over the latter at the outermost shell, of which the relevant evolution in defect density, DOS and electron transfer kinetics determined the electrochemical performances. In detection of dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) using the OLC as electrode, their oxidation peak currents were enhanced by factors of 15~60 with annealing temperature. Their limit of detection and the linear range of detection, in the post-treatment-free condition, were as excellent as those of the nano-carbon electrodes post-treated by Pt-decoration, N-doping, plasma, or polymer.

Effects of hole and electron transporting interlayers for inverted polymer solar cells.

An efficient inverted polymer solar cell (PSC) with a transparent amorphous titanium oxide (TiOx) as an electron transporting layer (ETL) between bottom electrode and photo-active layer, and a tungsten oxide (WO3) inserted as a hole transporting layer (HTL) was fabricated. Introducing of ETL and HTL results in increases in the open circuit voltage (VOC), short circuit current (JSC) and the fill factor (FF). The inverted PSC device with TiOx and WO3 layer showed the higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than that of conventional PSC. The PCE of 3.73% was achieved at inverted device, and was retained over 87% of its initial efficiency after 25 days in the ambient air without encapsulation.

Novel aspect in grain size control of nanocrystalline diamond film for thin film waveguide mode resonance sensor application.

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin film growth was systematically investigated for application for the thin film waveguide mode resonance sensor. The NCD thin film was grown on the Si wafer or on the SiO2-coated sapphire substrate using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). The structural/optical properties of the samples were characterized by the high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The waveguide modes of the NCD layer were studied by prism coupler technique using laser (wavelength: 632.8 nm) with varying incident angle. A novel aspect was disclosed in the grain size dependence on the growth temperature at the relatively low methane concentration in the precursor gas, which was important for optical property: the grain size increased with decreasing growth temperature, which was contrary to the conventional knowledge prevailing in the microcrystalline diamond (MCD) domain. We have provided discussions to reconcile such observation. An optical waveguide mode resonance was demonstrated in the visible region using the microstructure-controlled transparent NCD thin film waveguide, which provided a strong potential for the waveguide mode resonance sensor applications.

Synthesis and characterization of a thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole-based copolymer for high performance polymer solar cells.

A highly processable, new semiconducting polymer, PCDTTz, based on alternating thiazolothiazole and carbazole units was synthesized. The new polymer exhibited a field-effect carrier mobility of up to 3.8 × 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and bulk heterojunction solar cells made from PCDTTz produced a power conversion efficiency of 4.88% under AM 1.5 G (100 mW cm(-2)) conditions.

Formation of nanotubule, nanorod and polycrystalline nanoparticles TiO2 by alkaline hydrothermal transformation of anatase TiO2.

Nanostructured titanium oxides with various morphologies were prepared through the hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 anatase, using LiOH, NaOH and KOH as a peptizing agent at 400 K for 30 hrs. The obtained samples were characterized using the scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, BET measurement and the electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The observed morphologies such as tubule, partially plugged nanorod and polycrystalline nanoparticles can be tailored depending on the types of alkali metal ion, Na+, K+, and Li+ used in the hydrothermal treatments. The result of the ESR studies suggested the existence of paramagnetic sites on the annealed nanostructured TiO2 samples. The ESR signals came from the single electron trapped in oxygen vacancy (SETOV) and Ti3+.

Enhanced efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells with novel synthesized TiO2.

An anatase TiO2 and three kinds of novel TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by a hydrothermal method for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which were obtained by mixing NaOH (10 M), KOH (14 M) and LiOH (10 M) solution with an anatase TiO2 powder, respectively. The TiO2 working electrodes of DSSCs were prepared and the photoelectric properties of the cells were characterized. The influence of different poly(ethylene glycol) contents in TiO2 films with and without HNO3 treatment on the electron transfer in DSSCs were investigated. It is found that the DSSC with HNO3 (0.002 mol/l)-treated film containing 16.7 wt% PEG shows the higher power conversion efficiency of 6.0%, which was mainly depended on the degrees of TiO2 pore size and uniformity of TiO2 films.

Preparation and characterization of Pt nanoparticles inside nanotubule TiO2.

Platinum nanoparticle has been supported on the tubular type titanium oxide using incipient wetness method employing H2PtCl6 as a precursor, where the loading was controlled to 4 wt%. The result of transmission electron micrographs of the sample showed the formation of Pt nanoparticles inside the tubule. The distribution of the particle size was found to be bimodal at ca. 1-2 nm and 5-6 nm, respectively. The former size was limited due to the inner diameter of the nanotubule. The particle size obtained from the hydrogen chemisorption, 1.24 H/Pt ratio was nearly 1 nm assuming spherical particle geometry, which was consistent with the formation of the Pt particle of 1-2 nm. The result suggested that there was no pore blockage for hydrogen since hydrogen can diffuse inside the channel through adsorption-diffusion-desorption on the Pt nanoparticle where the one dimensional channel was blocked with the particle itself.

Adsorption of Cr(VI) onto cationic surfactant-modified activated carbon.

Highly toxic oxyanions, such as hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), have caused adverse effects on human health. This study evaluated the feasibility of using cationic surfactant-modified activated carbon (AC) to remove Cr(VI). To modify activated carbon using a cationic surfactant, AC was mixed with a surfactant solution of 0.5 critical micelle concentration (CMC), at which concentration the surfactant molecules exist as mono-molecules. Adsorption kinetics and an isotherm model were used to study the adsorption characteristics of Cr(VI) onto MAC. The adsorption capacity of MAC for Cr(V) was enhanced compared to that of AC. MAC modified by hexadecyltrimethylammonium had a higher adsorption capacity for the removal of Cr(VI) than that modified by cetylpyridinium. The modification of AC by a cationic surfactant enhanced both its Cr(VI) adsorption rate and its Cr(VI) adsorption capacity. The breakthrough point of MAC for Cr(VI) was 100 times greater than for the raw AC. As a result, MAC is a promising adsorbent to treat Cr(VI) in an aqueous stream.

Influence of cationic surfactant on adsorption of Cr(VI) onto activated carbon.

The effect of a cationic surfactant on the adsorption of Cr(VI) on activated carbon was investigated using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). At a concentration below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of CPC, the adsorption of CPC and Cr(VI) reached equilibrium within 60 min, while it took 180 min at the concentration above CMC. CPC decreased the adsorption rate of Cr(VI) and increased the adsorption amount of Cr(VI) onto activated carbon. To analyze adsorption phenomena of Cr(VI), adsorption kinetic and isotherm were used and fitted well with the pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption model, respectively. CPC introduced a cationic functional group on the surface of activated carbon and provided an adsorption site for Cr(VI).