Comparison of lifestyle, cognitive function, mental health, and quality of life between hospitalized older adults with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 in South Korea: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly impacted older adults, resulting in many deaths. The impact of lifestyle and mental health on vulnerable groups, such as older adults, can be large and long lasting. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 confirmation on cognition, lifestyle, mental health, and quality of life in adults aged 55 years. METHODS: The sample consisted of 111 people in the COVID group and 189 people in the non-COVID group aged over 55 years in South Korea. An online survey was conducted between January and May 2022. Participants responded to the following assessment tools: Yonsei Lifestyle Profile, Prospective and Retrospective Memory (PRMQ), Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire (SMCQ), Visual Analogue Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19 S), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF). Differences in lifestyle, cognition, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in physical activity, diet, the total score of the PRMQ, PM (a sub-score of the PRMQ), PHQ-9, Korean version of the ISI (ISI-K), and WHOQOL-BREF scores between the COVID and non-COVID groups. However, there were no significant differences in activity participation, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), or FCV-19 S between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that COVID-19 negatively affects memory, physical activity, diet, quality of life, depression, and insomnia in the older adults. Therefore, this study implicated that prevention and intervention strategies required improving the memory, lifestyle, and mental health of older adults with COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Yonsei university in Korea (Registration number: 1041849-202112-SB-226-03, Date of registration: 01042022).

Controlled Synthesis and Uniform Anchoring of Hollow CuxO Nanocubes on Carbon Nanofiber for Enhanced Se(S)-Se(S) Bond Activation.

In the present study, we fabricated hollow cubic CuxO nanoparticles (∼23 nm) incorporated with CNF (HC-CuxO/CNF) through controlled thermal oxidation of solid cubic Cu2O nanoparticles (∼21 nm) supported on carbon nanofibers (SC-Cu2O/CNF) under airflow, exploiting the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. These hollow CuxO nanocubes with increased surface areas exhibited outstanding catalytic activity for unsymmetrical chalcogenide synthesis under ligand-free conditions.

Simple Transformation of Hierarchical Hollow Structures by Reduction of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Catalytic Activity in the Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol.

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based derivatives have been found to be promising heterogeneous catalysts for organic transformations. Herein, hollow-structure Cu-MOFs derived by reduction of Cu3 (BTC)2 (BTC=1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate; denoted as RCB) were prepared by using hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent under various conditions. The influence of hydrazine hydrate induced the structure of Cu3 (BTC)2 and led to dynamic variation in the interior and exterior as well as oxidation states of the Cu ion. The synthesized materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, N2 sorption isotherms, XRD, and XPS. The product of the catalytic reaction was observed by GC-MS. In addition, the prepared RCBs were found to have excellent catalytic activity and selectivity for benzyl alcohol oxidation when assisted by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO).

Preparation of Cu@Cu2O Nanocatalysts by Reduction of HKUST-1 for Oxidation Reaction of Catechol.

HKUST-1, a copper-based metal organic framework (MOF), has been investigated as a catalyst in various reactions. However, the HKUST-1 shows low catalytic activity in the oxidation of catechol. Therefore, we synthesized Fe3O4@HKUST-1 by layer-by layer assembly strategy and Cu@Cu2O by reduction of HKUST-1 for enhancement of catalytic activity. Cu@Cu2O nanoparticles exhibited highly effective catalytic activity in oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol. Through this method, MOF can maintain the original core-shell structure and be used in various other reactions with enhanced catalytic activity.

Fracture of the Posterior Process of the Talus With Concomitant Subtalar Dislocation.

Fracture of the posterior process of the talus with concomitant subtalar dislocation is rare; thus, the mechanism of injury, appropriate treatment, and prognosis are unclear. We report the case of a 50-year-old male with a fracture of the posterior process of the talus with concomitant subtalar dislocation that was recognized early and successfully treated operatively.

Dermal Toxicity of Flake-Like α-Alumina Pigments.

Aluminum is one of the most widely used nonferrous metals and an important industrial material, especially for automotive coatings. However, potential toxicity caused by aluminum in humans limits the used of this metal. α-alumina is the most stable form of aluminum in various phases. Although the results of studies evaluating the dermal toxicity of α-alumina remained unclear, this compound can still be used as a pigment in cosmetics for humans. In the current study, we further evaluated the dermal cytotoxic effects of α-alumina on human skin cells and an in vivo mouse model. We also measured the in vitro penetration profile of flake-like α-alumina in porcine skin and assessed the degree of cellular metabolic disorders. Our findings demonstrated that treatment with flake-like α-alumina did not significantly affect cell viability up to 24 h. This compound was found to have a non-penetration profile based on a Franz modified diffusion cell assay. In addition, flake-like α-alumina was not found to induce dermal inflammation as assessed by histology of epidermal architecture, hyperplasia, and the expression of Interleukin-1ß and Cyclooxygenase-2. Results of the cellular metabolic disorder assay indicated that flake-like α-alumina does not exert a direct effect on human skin cells. Taken together, our findings provided not only evidence that flake-like α-alumina may serve as a pearlescent pigment in cosmetics but also experimental basis utilizing α-alumina for human application. Our results also obviously provide new insight of the further toxicity study to aluminum based nanoparticles for skin.

Suzuki coupling reaction using hybrid Pd nanoparticles.

This paper reviews recent developments in the field of hybrid Pd nanoparticles and their catalytic activity in the Suzuki coupling reaction, which is used extensively in the fabrication of both simple and complex biaryl compounds. We developed three types of Pd-silica hybrid nanoparticles. Pd/SiO2 nanobeads containing tiny Pd clusters, Pd@nickel phyllosilicate yolk-shell nanoparticles, Pd@porous SiO2 yolk-shell nanoparticles were synthesized, and they displayed highly efficient catalytic activity and excellent reusability. The hybrid nanoparticles also catalyzed the Suzuki coupling reaction with various substrates, including bromobenzene and chlorobenzene. This review also briefly discusses the synthesis procedure, structural characterization, and catalytic activity of hybrid Pd nanoparticles.

Magnetically separable and recyclable Fe3O4-supported Ag nanocatalysts for reduction of nitro compounds and selective hydration of nitriles to amides in water.

As hybrid nanostructures have become more important in many fields of chemistry, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are being increasingly immobilized onto Fe3O4 microspheres in situ. Structural characterization reveals that the Ag NPs are uniformly immobilized in the Fe3O4 microsphere-based supports. Moreover, Ag NPs are more stable in the hybrid structure than in the naked state and show high catalytic activity for the reduction of nitro compounds and hydration of nitriles to amides in water. The Fe3O4 microspheres were recycled several times using an external magnet.

Social Network Typologies and Digital Literacy Differences among Korean Older Adults: A Latent Class Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study categorized older Korean adults' social networks and analyzed their characteristics and digital literacy differences based on type. METHODS: We analyzed data from 9,377 Korean older adult participants of the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans, and performed latent class analysis (LCA) chi-square and Welch's F analyses to understand the characteristics of each social network type. The Games-Howell post-hoc test was applied to determine the significance of differences between groups. RESULTS: The three social network types derived using LCA were "child-centered," "child-friend," and "friend-centered." The digital literacy levels differed significantly according to social network type. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used to propose intervention programs and services associated with older adults' social networks by examining their social network types and the corresponding differences in digital literacy.

Nanomaterials for detection of biomolecules and delivering therapeutic agents in theragnosis: A review.

Nanomaterials are emerging facts used to deliver therapeutic agents in living systems. Nanotechnology is used as a compliment by implementing different kinds of nanotechnological applications such as nano-porous structures, functionalized nanomaterials, quantum dots, carbon nanomaterials, and polymeric nanostructures. The applications are in the initial stage, which led to achieving several diagnoses and therapy in clinical practice. This review conveys the importance of nanomaterials in post-genomic employment, which includes the design of immunosensors, immune assays, and drug delivery. In this view, genomics is a molecular tool containing large databases that are useful in choosing an apt molecular inhibitor such as drug, ligand and antibody target in the drug delivery process. This study identifies the expression of genes and proteins in analysis and classification of diseases. Experimentally, the study analyses the design of a disease model. In particular, drug delivery is a boon area to treat cancer. The identified drugs enter different phase trails (Trails I, II, and III). The genomic information conveys more essential entities to the phase I trials and helps to move further for other trails such as trails-II and III. In such cases, the biomarkers play a crucial role by monitoring the unique pathological process. Genetic engineering with recombinant DNA techniques can be employed to develop genetically engineered disease models. Delivering drugs in a specific area is one of the challenging issues achieved using nanoparticles. Therefore, genomics is considered as a vast molecular tool to identify drugs in personalized medicine for cancer therapy.

Recyclable rhodium nanoparticles: green hydrothermal synthesis, characterization, and highly catalytic performance in reduction of nitroarenes.

In this work, rhodium nanoparticles were synthesized using hydrothermal method that is simple and easy to manipulate reaction and use nontoxic supercritical water. The rhodium nanoparticles were formed in uniform size and shape. These Rh NPs also acted as a efficient heterogenous catalyst in reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. Moreover, the rhodium nanoparticles can be recycled without any loss in catalytic activity, and showed highly catalytic activity for various nitroarenes. Therefore, this method will contribute greatly to the development of environmental field and be suitable for use in the industry.

Electrospun Fe doped TiO2 fiber photocatalyst for efficient wastewater treatment.

Water pollution caused by industrial wastewater is the most critical environmental problem in the world. Synthetic dyes are commonly used in various industries such as paper, plastic, printing, leather and textile for their ability to impact color. Complex composition, high toxicity and low biodegradability of dyes make them difficult to degrade which causes a substantial negative impact on overall ecosystems. To address this issue we synthesized TiO2 fibers photocatalyst using the combination of sol-gel and electrospinning techniques to be used in the degradation of dyes which causes water pollution. We doped Fe in TiO2 fibers to enhance the absorption in the visible region of the solar spectrum which will also help to increase the degradation efficiency. As synthesized pristine TiO2 fibers and Fe doped TiO2 fibers were analyzed using different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. 5% Fe doped TiO2 fibers show excellent photocatalytic degradation activity for rhodamine B (99% degradation in 120 min). It can be utilized for degradation of other dye pollutants such as methylene blue, Congo red and methyl orange. It shows good photocatalytic activity (97%) even after 5 cycles of reuse. The radical trapping experiments reveals that holes, •O2- and •OH has a significant contribution in the photocatalytic degradation. Due to the robust fibrous nature of 5FeTOF the process of collection of photocatalysts was simple and without loss as compared to powder photocatalysts. This justifies our selection of electrospinning method of synthesis of 5FeTOF which is also useful for large scale production.

Nitridation-free preparation of bimetallic oxide-nitride bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting.

A novel one-pot surfactant-free synthesis is presented for designing bimetallic oxide-nitride electrocatalysts with tunable morphologies using metal salts and nitrogen-rich precursors. This innovative approach eliminates the need for a distinct nitridation process. Bifunctional electrode Co3O4/MoO3/MoxNy achieved a current density of 10 mA cm-2 while maintaining a cell voltage of 1.52 V, outperforming many bimetallic oxide-nitride catalysts in the scientific literature.

Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction of Graphene Oxide and Metal-Free Graphene in an Alkaline Medium.

Graphene is a well-known two-dimensional material with a large surface area and is used for numerous applications in a variety of fields. Metal-free carbon materials such as graphene-based materials are widely used as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs). Recently, more attention has been paid to developing metal-free graphenes doped with heteroatoms such as N, S, and P as efficient electrocatalysts for ORR. In contrast, we found our prepared graphene from graphene oxide (GO) by the pyrolysis method under a nitrogen atmosphere at 900 °C has shown better ORR activity in aqueous 0.1 M potassium hydroxide solution electrolyte as compared with the electrocatalytic activity of pristine GO. At first, we prepared various graphene by pyrolysis of 50 mg and 100 mg of GO in one to three alumina boats and pyrolyzed the samples under a N2 atmosphere at 900 °C. The prepared samples are named G50-1B to 3B and G100-1B and G100-2B. The prepared GO and graphenes were also analyzed under various characterization techniques to confirm their morphology and structural integrity. The obtained results suggest that the ORR electrocatalytic activity of graphene may differ based on the pyrolysis conditions. We found that G100-1B (Eonset, E1/2, JL, and n values of 0.843, 0.774, 4.558, and 3.76) and G100-2B (Eonset, E1/2, and JL values of 0.837, 0.737, 4.544, and 3.41) displayed better electrocatalytic ORR activity, as did Pt/C electrode (Eonset, E1/2, and JL values of 0.965, 0.864, 5.222, and 3.71, respectively). These results display the wide use of the prepared graphene for ORR and also can be used for fuel cell and metal-air battery applications.

Porosity control of Pd@SiO2 yolk-shell nanocatalysts by the formation of nickel phyllosilicate and its influence on Suzuki coupling reactions.

The surface of Pd@SiO(2) core-shell nanoparticles (1) was simply modified by the formation of nickel phyllosilicate. The addition of nickel salts formed branched nickel phyllosilicates and generated pores in the silica shells, yielding Pd@SiO(2)-Niphy nanoparticles (Niphy = nickel phyllosilicate; 2, 3). By removal of the silica residue, Pd@Niphy yolk-shell nanoparticles (4) was uniformly obtained. The four distinct nanostructures (1-4) were employed as catalysts for Suzuki coupling reactions with aryl bromide and phenylboronic acid, and the conversion yields were in the order of 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 as the pore volume and surface area of the catalysts increased. The reaction rates were strongly correlated with shell porosity and surface exposure of the metal cores. The chemical inertness of nickel phyllosilicate under the basic conditions rendered the catalysts reusable for more than five times without loss of activity.

Optimizing hemocompatibility of surfactant-coated silver nanoparticles in human erythrocytes.

Several recent biological science studies have been focused on nanotechnology and nanomaterials due to their potential use in biomedicine. Drug delivery systems are an example of biomedical applications utilizing nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can be used for these drug delivery systems. However, the effects of cytotoxicity caused by AgNPs are not fully understood. Determining the optimal characteristics to facilitate the biocompatibility of AgNPs is an important subject for application. In the present study, human erythrocytes were used as an in vitro model to examine the size, dose, and coating surfactant-dependent cytotoxicity of AgNPs. Our results demonstrated that polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was a more suitable surfactant than polyethylene glycol (PEG) for AgNPs capping. In addition, we determined the appropriate particular size and dosage of AgNPs to reduce human erythrocytes hemolysis. Membrane damages including hemolysis, potassium efflux, protein leakage, and alterations in cell shape and membrane fragility were minimized with 100-nm AgNP particles. This study provides novel insights into AgNPs cytotoxicity and a basis for utilizing AgNPs for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Azide-alkyne Huisgen [3+2] cycloaddition using CuO nanoparticles.

Recent developments in the synthesis of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) and their application to the [3+2] cycloaddition of azides with terminal alkynes are reviewed. With respect to the importance of click chemistry, CuO hollow NPs, CuO hollow NPs on acetylene black, water-soluble double-hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) nanoreactors and ZnO–CuO hybrid NPs were synthesized. Non-conventional energy sources such as microwaves and ultrasound were also applied to these click reactions, and good catalytic activity with high regioselectivity was observed. CuO hollow NPs on acetylene black can be recycled nine times without any loss of activity, and water-soluble DHBC nanoreactors have been developed for an environmentally friendly process.

The Impact of Social Network Characteristics on Health among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Korea: Application of Social Network Analysis.

Objectives: Population aging is a reality in most developed countries. In this era, an important health issue for these countries is promoting health and quality of life in the elderly population. Older adults' social networks are associated with health and quality of life. Therefore, this study examines the association between the characteristics of social networks (friendship networks) and the subjective well-being of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study was conducted between June 2015 and August 2015 with a total of 146 participants. The size and density of social networks were analyzed using social network analysis. Additionally, to investigate the impact of social networks on health, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed using NetMiner 4.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: In terms of Model 1, which used social network characteristics as variables, the higher the out-degree (376.161) and in-closeness (201.825), the better the health. In contrast, the higher the in-degree (−279.167) and out-closeness (−52.620), the poorer the health. Regarding Model 2, which used sociodemographic characteristics as variables, the higher the out-degree (218.747) and in-closeness (170.075), the better the health. In addition, religion had a negative effect on health, and a high level of education had a positive effect on health. Conclusions: The findings suggest that higher out-degree and in-closeness intensity positively affect the health of older adults, but higher in-degree and out-closeness intensity negatively affect health. Therefore, health professionals should use appropriate strategies to increase the strength of social networks to improve the health of older adults living in the community.

Light-Harvesting Novel Hierarchical Porous Cu9S5-MnWO4 Hybrid Structures in Photocatalytic Oxidative Homocoupling of Alkynes and Amines.

The discovery of light-harvesting materials for use in photocatalytic organic reactions has recently attracted attention, indicating the potential for utilizing renewable energy sources. A hybrid semiconductor (SC)-SC structure, Cu9S5-MnWO4, was synthesized using a simple, efficient method. The novel hierarchical porous Cu9S5-MnWO4 hybrid structures were then applied in the photocatalysis of oxidative homocoupling of alkynes and amines. The design of a heterogeneous catalyst based on a porous, SC-SC hybrid structure and low-cost Cu should generate interest in the fabrication and modification of photocatalysts for a wide range of applications.

Health-adjusted life expectancy according to lifestyle classified by the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile-BREF.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) by demographic characteristics (sex, educational achievement, and residential area) according to the lifestyle classifications of the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile-BREF (YLP-BREF). METHODS: This study included 569 participants aged 55 years or older living in Korea. The YLP-BREF domains were physical activity, activity participation, and nutrition. RESULTS: Females had a longer HALE (mean±standard deviation, 8.90±5.06 years) in the physical activity domain, while males had a longer HALE in the nutrition domain (9.44±5.91 years). People living in rural areas had longer HALE in physical activity (12.02±5.60 years), activity participation (8.58±4.21 years), and nutrition (11.33±6.43 years). There were no significant differences according to sex or residential area. High school graduates showed the longest HALE (physical activity: 10.38± 6.89; activity participation: 7.64±4.29; nutrition: 9.59±6.40 years). There was a significant difference in educational achievement. CONCLUSIONS: As people age, the demand for a healthy lifestyle increases. This study attempted to calculate HALE by demographic characteristics according to lifestyle. The results of this study will help inform future research directions for providing a healthy lifestyle.