Soret-Effect Induced Phase-Change in a Chromium Nitride Semiconductor Film.

Phase-change materials such as Ge-Sb-Te (GST) exhibiting amorphous and crystalline phases can be used for phase-change random-access memory (PCRAM). GST-based PCRAM has been applied as a storage-class memory; however, its relatively low ON/OFF ratio and the large Joule heating energy required for the RESET process (amorphization) significantly limit the storage density. This study proposes a phase-change nitride, CrN, with a much wider programming window (ON/OFF ratio more than 105) and lower RESET energy (one order of magnitude reduction from GST). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed a phase-change from the low-resistance cubic CrN phase into the highly resistive hexagonal CrN2 phase induced by the Soret-effect. The proposed phase-change nitride could greatly expand the scope of conventional phase-change chalcogenides and offer a strategy for the next-generation of PCRAM, enabling a large ON/OFF ratio (∼105), low switching energy (∼100 pJ), and fast operation (∼30 ns).

Cocaine-derived hippuric acid activates mtDNA-STING signaling in alcoholic liver disease: Implications for alcohol and cocaine co-abuse.

The simultaneous abuse of alcohol-cocaine is known to cause stronger and more unpredictable cellular damage in the liver, heart, and brain. However, the mechanistic crosstalk between cocaine and alcohol in liver injury remains unclear. The findings revealed cocaine-induced liver injury and inflammation in both marmosets and mice. Of note, co-administration of cocaine and ethanol in mice causes more severe liver damage than individual treatment. The metabolomic analysis confirmed that hippuric acid (HA) is the most abundant metabolite in marmoset serum after cocaine consumption and that is formed in primary marmoset hepatocytes. HA, a metabolite of cocaine, increases mitochondrial DNA leakage and subsequently increases the production of proinflammatory factors via STING signaling in Kupffer cells (KCs). In addition, conditioned media of cocaine-treated KC induced hepatocellular necrosis via alcohol-induced TNFR1. Finally, disruption of STING signaling in vivo ameliorated co-administration of alcohol- and cocaine-induced liver damage and inflammation. These findings postulate intervention of HA-STING-TNFR1 axis as a novel strategy for treatment of alcohol- and cocaine-induced excessive liver damage.

Biaxial strain induced OH engineer for accelerating alkaline hydrogen evolution.

The sluggish kinetics of Volmer step in the alkaline hydrogen evolution results in large energy consumption. The challenge that has yet well resolved is to control the water adsorption and dissociation. Here, we develop biaxially strained MoSe2 three dimensional nanoshells that exhibit enhanced catalytic performance with a low overpotential of 58.2 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in base, and long-term stable activity in membrane-electrode-assembly based electrolyser at 1 A cm-2. Compared to the flat and uniaxial-strained MoSe2, we establish that the stably adsorbed OH engineer on biaxially strained MoSe2 changes the water adsorption configuration from O-down on Mo to O-horizontal on OH* via stronger hydrogen bonds. The favorable water dissociation on 3-coordinated Mo sites and hydrogen adsorption on 4-coordinated Mo sites constitute a tandem electrolysis, resulting in thermodynamically favorable hydrogen evolution. This work deepens our understanding to the impact of strain dimensions on water dissociation and inspires the design of nanostructured catalysts for accelerating the rate-determining step in multi-electron reactions.

Development of a Standardized Suicide Prevention Program for Gatekeeper Intervention in Korea (Suicide CARE Version 2.0) to Prevent Adolescent Suicide: Version for Teachers.

OBJECTIVE: The increasing concern over adolescent suicide necessitates suicide prevention training for school teachers, as students spend a significant portion of their time at school. This study's objective is to develop a suicide prevention program tailored for teachers. METHODS: The program was developed by a multidisciplinary research team, drawing on a review of both domestic and international suicide prevention programs, related scholarly articles, and Korean psychological autopsy interviews of adolescents. This was complemented by a survey of teachers to assess the program's practicality and usability. RESULTS: The developed program comprises three parts, consistent with other versions: Careful Observation, Active Listening, and Risk Evaluation and Expert Referral. Careful Observation focuses on training teachers to recognize verbal, behavioral, and situational warning signs of suicidal ideation in students; Active Listening involves strategies for encouraging students to express their suicidal thoughts and techniques for being an empathetic and attentive listener; Risk Evaluation and Expert Referral provides instruction on how to assess suicide risk and assist students safely. CONCLUSION: It is anticipated that this program will equip teachers with valuable knowledge and skills, contributing to a reduction in adolescents suicide rates.

The relationship between growth mindset and cognitive fusion in college students is mediated by bias towards negative information.

This study aimed to investigate the relationships among growth mindset, cognitive fusion, bias towards negative information, and bias towards positive information. The Growth Mindset Scale, the Attention to Positive and Negative Information Scale, and the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire were employed. A total of 470 college students in China participated in the study. The findings showed a negative correlation between a growth mindset and cognitive fusion. In addition, a parallel mediation analysis demonstrated that bias towards negative information mediated the relationship between a growth mindset and cognitive fusion and that the indirect effect was significant. However, the mediation of bias towards positive information in this model was not significant. These results suggest that possessing a growth mindset is advantageous for mental health.

Unraveling the Capacitive Behaviors in Nanoconfined Ionophilic Carbon Pores.

Intensifying the synergy between confined carbon nanopores and ionic liquids (ILs) and a deep comprehension of the ion behavior is required for enhancing the capacitive storage performance. Despite many theoretical insights on the storage mechanism, experimental verification has remained lacking due to the intricate nature of pore texture. Here, a compressed micropore-rich carbon framework (CMCF) with tailored monolayer and bilayer confinement pores is synthesized, which exhibits a compatible ionophilic interface to accommodate the IL [EMIM][BF4]. By deploying in situ Raman spectroscopy, in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, the effect of the pore textures on ions storage behaviors is elucidated. A voltage-induced ion gradient filling process in these ionophilic pores is proposed, in which ion exchange and co-ion desorption dominate the charge storage process. Moreover, it is established that the monolayer confinement of ions enhances the capacity, and bilayer confinement facilitates the charging dynamics. This work may guide the design of nanoconfinement carbon for high-energy-density supercapacitors and deepen the understanding of the charge storage mechanism in ionophilic pores.

Investigation of Tissue-Specific Distribution and Genetic Variation of Alfalfa Mosaic Virus and Chinese Artichoke Mosaic Virus in Chinese Artichoke (Stachys affinis miq.).

The Chinese artichoke (Stachys affinis syn. S. sieboldii) is a widely cultivated crop, and its rhizome is used as a medicinal vegetable. To investigate the causes of viral diseases in Chinese artichokes, the infection rates of four virus species infecting Chinese artichoke were investigated. Since the Chinese artichoke propagates through its tuber, this study aimed to determine whether viral transmission to the progeny is possible through the tuber, by identifying the virus present in the tuber and investigating its accumulation. First, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to detect viruses using total RNA extracted from the flowers, leaves, and tubers of Chinese artichoke plants. Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and Chinese artichoke mosaic virus (ChAMV) had high infectivity in Chinese artichoke and most plants were simultaneously infected with AMV and ChAMV. These viruses were present in all tissues, but their detection frequency and accumulation rates varied across different tissues of the Chinese artichoke. Also, we sequenced the coat protein (CP) genes of AMV and ChAMV to investigate genetic variations of virus between the leaf and tuber. It provides information on CP gene sequences and genetic diversity of isolates identified from new hosts of AMV and ChAMV. This study offers valuable insights into the distribution and spread of the ChAMV and AMV within Chinese artichoke plants, which have implications for the management and control of viral infections in crops.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in Siblings Treated by Surgical Deformity Correction.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in siblings reflects genetic hypothesis; however, few studies have been published. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports in the literature of both siblings with AIS who underwent deformity corrections. A 15-year-old adolescent girl visited our clinic with back pain after recognition of the incidental findings of a scoliotic curve in the spine. Whole spine radiographs detected Lenke classification type 3CN. The patient underwent deformity correction with posterior instrumented fusion from T4 to L3 with thoracoplasty of the right 7th to 10th rib. Four years later, her 16-year-old younger brother also visited our clinic with back pain after recognition of the incidental findings of a scoliotic curve in the spine. Whole spine radiographs detected Lenke classification type 2AN. The patient underwent deformity correction with posterior instrumented fusion from T5 to L2 with thoracoplasty of the right 8th to 10th rib. In conclusion, we report on two siblings with AIS who underwent surgical treatment for different types of curves. They showed favorable outcomes after performing deformity correction with posterior instrumented fusion. Our rare case supports the underlying basis of genetic heterogeneity as a complex polygenic model.

Recombinant Human IL-32θ Induces Polarization Into M1-like Macrophage in Human Monocytic Cells.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is formed by several immune cells. Notably, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are existed in the TME that induce angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, a point-mutated variant of IL-32θ was discovered in breast cancer tissues, which suppressed migration and proliferation through intracellular pathways. Although the relationship between cancer and IL-32 has been previously studied, the effects of IL-32θ on TAMs remain elusive. Recombinant human IL-32θ (rhIL-32θ) was generated using an Escherichia coli expression system. To induce M0 macrophage polarization, THP-1 cells were stimulated with PMA. After PMA treatment, the cells were cultured with IL-4 and IL-13, or rhIL-32θ. The mRNA level of M1 macrophage markers (IL-1ß, TNFα, inducible nitric oxide synthase) were increased by rhIL-32θ in M0 macrophages. On the other hand, the M2 macrophage markers (CCL17, CCL22, TGFß, CD206) were decreased by rhIL-32θ in M2 macrophages. rhIL-32θ induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB via regulation of the MAPK (p38) pathway. In conclusion, point-mutated rhIL-32θ induced the polarization to M1-like macrophages through the MAPK (p38) and NF-κB (p65/p50) pathways.

Erratum: Inhibition of Chitinase-3-like-1 by K284-6111 Reduces Atopic Skin Inflammation via Repressing Lactoferrin.

[This corrects the article e22 in vol. 21, PMID: 34277112.].

Positively Charged Hollow Co Nanoshells by Kirkendall Effect Stabilized by Electron Sink for Alkaline Water Dissociation.

While cobalt (Co) exhibits a comparable energy barrier for H* adsorption/desorption to platinum in theory, it is generally not suitable for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) because of unfavorable water dissociation. Here, the Kirkendall effect is adopted to fabricate positive-charged hollow metal Co (PHCo) nanoshells that are stabilized by MoO2 and chainmail carbon as the electron sink. Compared to the zero-valent Co, the PHCo accelerates the water dissociation and changes the rate-determining step from Volmer to Heyrovsky process. Alkaline HER occurs with a low overpotential of 59.0 mV at 10 mA cm-2. Operando Raman and first principles calculations reveal that the interfacial water to the PHCo sites and the accelerated proton transfer are conducive to the adsorption and dissociation of H2O molecules. Meanwhile, the upshifted d-band center of PHCo optimizes the adsorption/desorption of H*. This work provides a unique synthesis of hollow Co nanoshells via the Kirkendall effect and insights to water dissociation on catalyst surfaces with tailored charge states.

A Dual-Carbon Potassium-Ion Capacitor Enabled by Hollow Carbon Fibrous Electrodes with Reduced Graphitization.

The large size of K+ ions (1.38 Å) sets a challenge in achieving high kinetics and long lifespan of potassium storage devices. Here, a fibrous ZrO2 membrane is utilized as a reactive template to construct a dual-carbon K-ion capacitor. Unlike graphite, ZrO2-catalyzed graphitic carbon presents a relatively disordered layer arrangement with an expanded interlayer spacing of 0.378 nm to accommodate K+ insertion/extraction. Pyridine-derived nitrogen sites can locally store K-ions without disrupting the formation of stage-1 graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). Consequently, N-doped hollow graphitic carbon fiber achieves a K+-storage capacity (primarily below 1 V), which is 1.5 time that of commercial graphite. Potassium-ion hybrid capacitors are assembled using the hollow carbon fiber electrodes and the ZrO2 nanofiber membrane as the separator. The capacitor exhibits a high power of 40 000 W kg-1, full charge in 8.5 s, 93% capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 2 A g-1, and a low self-discharge rate of 8.6 mV h-1. The scalability and high performance of the lattice-expanded tubular carbon electrodes underscores may advance the practical potassium-ion capacitors.

The prognostic role of aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index on outcomes after nonemergent major hepatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Noninvasive screening methods to identify patients preoperatively with abnormal liver texture remain limited. Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index has been validated to predict fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C; however, its use as a predictor of postoperative outcomes in patients without viral hepatitis remains unknown. METHODS: We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset to identify patients who underwent a major hepatectomy between 2014 and 2021. We excluded patients who underwent emergent operations, patients with viral hepatitis, and patients with ascites. Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index was calculated using the following equation: (aspartate transaminase/40)/(platelet count) × 100. An aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index ≥0.7 was used to identify patients with significant fibrosis. Univariable analysis was performed to identify factors associated with aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index ≥0.7, perioperative transfusion, serious morbidity, overall morbidity, and 30-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify adjusted predictors of these outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 8,933 patients who met inclusion criteria, 1,170 (13.1%) patients had an aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index ≥0.7. A perioperative blood transfusion was administered to 2,497 (28.0%). The number of patients who experienced overall morbidity, serious morbidity, and mortality were 3,195 (35.8%), 2,665 (29.8%), and 238 (2.7%), respectively. Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index ≥0.7 was an independent predictor of transfusion (odds ratio: 1.51 [1.32-1.72], P < .001), overall morbidity (1.16 [1.01-1.33], P = .032), and mortality (1.56 [1.12-2.13], P = .006). Transfusion was an independent predictor of overall morbidity (2.50 [2.26-2.76], P < .001), serious morbidity (2.51 [2.26-2.79], P < .001), and mortality (3.28 [2.49-4.33], P < .001). CONCLUSION: An aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index ≥0.7 is associated with perioperative transfusion, overall morbidity, and 30-day mortality. The aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index may serve as a noninvasive tool to risk stratify patients before elective major hepatectomy.

Eight-Year Prevalence Trends of Lumbar Spondylolysis and Isthmic Spondylolisthesis in Adolescent Males: A Population-Based Study from a Nationwide Military Draft Medical Examination Database in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the national and regional trend in the prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis and isthmic spondylolisthesis for adolescent males in South Korea from 2015 to 2022. METHODS: A total of 2,666,277 Korean adolescent males were routinely examined at regional Military Manpower Administration offices. The data gathered from Military Manpower Administration were retrospectively collected to measure the prevalence and 95% confidence interval of lumbar spondylolysis and isthmic spondylolisthesis according to the year and region in South Korea. The Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the correlation between lumbar spondylolysis, isthmic spondylolisthesis, and several factors including height, weight, current smoking rate, and occasional and high-risk alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The prevalence of spondylolysis per 10,000 individuals showed a gradual increasing trend from 2015 to 2022 On the contrary, the prevalence of isthmic spondylolisthesis per 10,000 individuals decreased over a consecutive 8-year period. There were no statistical differences in the prevalence of spondylolysis and isthmic spondylolisthesis between Greater Seoul and the countryside. The prevalence of isthmic spondylolisthesis was significantly correlated with occasional (r=0.81, P=0.015) and high-risk alcohol consumption (r=0.86, P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis among adolescent men has increased, whereas isthmic spondylolisthesis has shown a decline over a consecutive 8-year period. The trends in prevalence for both lumbar spondylosis and isthmic spondylolisthesis were similar across the regions in South Korea. Notably, there was a significant correlation between the prevalence of isthmic spondylolisthesis and the rate of alcohol consumption in adolescent men.

Pulmonary microbial spectrum in late-stage SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case series.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a kind of respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), primarily spreads through the respiratory tract from human to human. Its extensive and rapid spread has led to a global pandemic, causing great harm to human health and economic development all over the world. Current known evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 has evolved accumulating multiple mutations, with altered infectivity and viral replication capacity. A better understanding of the complications of COVID-19 and its relationship with underlying diseases is crucial for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2. This case series reviewed case data of our 4 recent patients with severe or critical COVID-19, including treatment plan, status of pulmonary infection and their microbiology workup with metagenomic next-generation sequencing with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. This report shed light on the significance of rapid and accurate clinical diagnosis and treatment on COVID-19.

Association between osteoporosis and the rate of telomere shortening.

A shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is reported to be associated with age-related diseases, including osteoporosis. Many studies have tried identifying the association between LTL and osteoporosis, although it remains controversial. This study aimed to determine whether osteoporosis is independently associated with LTL shortening in a prospective longitudinal cohort. The KBASE study is an independent multicenter prospective cohort in South Korea, which began in 2014. We compared the LTL values for each participant at baseline and over a 2-year follow-up period. Boxplots were used to demonstrate the differences in the change in LTL over a 2-year follow-up according to osteoporosis. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to identify whether osteoporosis is independently associated with the rate of telomere shortening. A total of 233 subjects (from 55 to 88 years) from the KBASE cohort were finally enrolled in the study. We observed that the LTL decreased by approximately 1.2 kbp over 2 years. While the LTL decreased as age increased, the rate of LTL shortening did not increase with age. Multivariable linear regression analysis indicated that only osteoporosis was independently associated with rapid LTL shortening over 2 years (B, -8.08; p = 0.038). We sought to identify an association between osteoporosis and LTL shortening in an independent prospective cohort. We found that participants with osteoporosis had significantly faster LTL shortening over 2 years than those without osteoporosis. We hope this study will help elucidate the underlying mechanisms in the relationship between LTL and osteoporosis in the future.

Retraction Notice to: Decreased Lung Tumor Development in SwAPP Mice through the Downregulation of CHI3L1 and STAT 3 Activity via the Upregulation of miRNA342-3p.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.02.007.].

Repeated epidural delivery of Shinbaro2: effects on neural recovery, inflammation, and pain modulation in a rat model of lumbar spinal stenosis.

The choice of treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) depends on symptom severity. When severe motor issues with urinary dysfunction are not present, conservative treatment is often considered to be the priority. One such conservative treatment is epidural injection, which is effective in alleviating inflammation and the pain caused by LSS-affected nerves. In this study, Shinbaro2 (Sh2), pharmacopuncture using natural herbal medicines for patients with disc diseases, is introduced as an epidural to treat LSS in a rat model. The treatment of primary sensory neurons from the rats' dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons with Sh2 at various concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL) was found to be safe and non-toxic. Furthermore, it remarkably stimulated axonal outgrowth even under H2O2-treated conditions, indicating its potential for stimulating nerve regeneration. When LSS rats received epidural injections of two different concentrations of Sh2 (1 and 2 mg/kg) once daily for 4 weeks, a significant reduction was seen in ED1+ macrophages surrounding the silicone block used for LSS induction. Moreover, epidural injection of Sh2 in the DRG led to a significant suppression of pain-related factors. Notably, Sh2 treatment resulted in improved locomotor recovery, as evaluated by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale and the horizontal ladder test. Additionally, hind paw hypersensitivity, assessed using the Von Frey test, was reduced, and normal gait was restored. Our findings demonstrate that epidural Sh2 injection not only reduced inflammation but also improved locomotor function and pain in LSS model rats. Thus, Sh2 delivery via epidural injection has potential as an effective treatment option for LSS.

Psychiatric adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination: a population-based cohort study in Seoul, South Korea.

Evidence has suggested an increased risk of psychiatric manifestations following viral infections including coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, psychiatric adverse events (AEs) after COVID-19 vaccination, which were documented in case reports and case series, remain unclear. This study is aimed to investigate the psychiatric AEs after COVID-19 vaccination from a large population-based cohort in Seoul, South Korea. We recruited 50% of the Seoul-resident population randomly selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) claims database on 1, January, 2021. The included participants (n = 2,027,353) from the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database were divided into two groups according to COVID-19 vaccination. The cumulative incidences per 10,000 of psychiatric AEs were assessed on one week, two weeks, one month, and three months after COVID-19 vaccination. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% Confidence interval (CIs) of psychiatric AEs were measured for the vaccinated population. The cumulative incidence of depression, anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, and somatoform disorders, sleep disorders, and sexual disorders at three months following COVID-19 vaccination were higher in the vaccination group than no vaccination group. However, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders showed lower cumulative incidence in the vaccination group than in the non-vaccinated group. Depression (HR [95% CI] = 1.683 [1.520-1.863]), anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (HR [95% CI] = 1.439 [1.322-1.568]), and sleep disorders (HR [95% CI] = 1.934 [1.738-2.152]) showed increased risks after COVID-19 vaccination, whereas the risks of schizophrenia (HR [95% CI] = 0.231 [0.164-0.326]) and bipolar disorder (HR [95% CI] = 0.672 [0.470-0.962]). COVID-19 vaccination increased the risks of depression, anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, and somatoform disorders, and sleep disorders while reducing the risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Therefore, special cautions are necessary for administering additional COVID-19 vaccinations to populations vulnerable to psychiatric AEs.