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Atomic sawtooth surfaces have emerged as a versatile platform for growth of single-crystal van der Waals layered materials. However, the mechanism governing the formation of single-crystal atomic sawtooth metal (copper or gold) films on hard substrates (tungsten or molybdenum) remains a puzzle. In this study, we aim to elucidate the formation mechanism of atomic sawtooth metal films during melting-solidification process. Utilizing molecular dynamics, we unveil that the solidification of the liquid copper initiates at a high-index tungsten facet with higher interfacial energy. Subsequent tungsten facets follow energetically favourable pathways of forming single-crystal atomic sawtooth copper film during the solidification process near melting temperature. Formation of atomic sawtooth copper film is guaranteed with a film thickness exceeding the grain size of polycrystalline tungsten substrate. We further demonstrate the successful growth of centimeter-scale single-crystal monolayer hexagonal boron nitride films on atomic sawtooth copper films and explore their potential as efficient oxygen barrier.
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The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens has outpaced the development of new antibiotics, leading to renewed interest in endolysins. Endolysins have been investigated as novel biocontrol agents for Gram-positive bacteria. However, their efficacy against Gram-negative species is limited by the barrier presented by their outer membrane, which prevents endolysin access to the peptidoglycan substrate. Here, we used the translocation domain of botulinum neurotoxin to deliver endolysin across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The translocation domain selectively interacts with and penetrates membranes composed of anionic lipids, which have been used in nature to deliver various proteins into animal cells. In addition to the botulinum neurotoxin translocation domain, we have fused bacteriophage-derived receptor binding protein to endolysins. This allows the attached protein to efficiently bind to a broad spectrum of Gram-negative bacteria. By attaching these target-binding and translocation machineries to endolysins, we aimed to develop an engineered endolysin with broad-spectrum targeting and enhanced antibacterial activity against Gram-negative species. To validate our strategy, we designed engineered endolysins using two well-known endolysins, T5 and LysPA26, and tested them against 23 strains from six species of Gram-negative bacteria, confirming that our machinery can act broadly. In particular, we observed a 2.32 log reduction in 30 min with only 0.5 µM against an Acinetobacter baumannii isolate. We also used the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system to easily attach target-binding proteins, thereby improving its target-binding ability. Overall, our newly developed endolysin engineering strategy may be a promising approach to control multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial strains.
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Antibacterianos , Membrana Externa Bacteriana , Endopeptidasas , Bacterias Gramnegativas , Endopeptidasas/farmacología , Endopeptidasas/metabolismo , Endopeptidasas/química , Bacterias Gramnegativas/efectos de los fármacos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Membrana Externa Bacteriana/efectos de los fármacos , Membrana Externa Bacteriana/metabolismo , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Transporte de Proteínas , Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/química , Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/metabolismo , Acinetobacter baumannii/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution is linked to a higher risk of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. However, the association between pregnancy complications and exposure to indoor air pollution remains unclear. The Air Pollution on Pregnancy Outcomes research is a hospital-based prospective cohort research created to look into the effects of aerodynamically exposed particulate matter (PM)10 and PM2.5 on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This prospective multicenter observational cohort study was conducted from January 2021 to June 2023. A total of 662 women with singleton pregnancies enrolled in this study. An AirguardK® air sensor was installed inside the homes of the participants to measure the individual PM10 and PM2.5 levels in the living environment. The time-activity patterns and PM10 and PM2.5, determined as concentrations from the time-weighted average model, were applied to determine the anticipated exposure levels to air pollution of each pregnant woman. The relationship between air pollution exposure and pregnancy outcomes was assessed using logistic and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Exposure to elevated levels of PM10 throughout the first, second, and third trimesters as well as throughout pregnancy was strongly correlated with the risk of pregnancy problems according to multiple logistic regression models adjusted for variables. Except for in the third trimester of pregnancy, women exposed to high levels of PM2.5 had a high risk of pregnancy complications. During the second trimester and entire pregnancy, the risk of preterm birth (PTB) increased by 24% and 27%, respectively, for each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10. Exposure to high PM10 levels during the second trimester increased the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by 30%. The risk of GDM increased by 15% for each 5 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 during the second trimester and overall pregnancy, respectively. Exposure to high PM10 and PM2.5 during the first trimester of pregnancy increased the risk of delivering small for gestational age (SGA) infants by 96% and 26%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Exposure to high concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 is strongly correlated with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Exposure to high levels of PM10 and PM2.5 during the second trimester and entire pregnancy, respectively, significantly increased the risk of PTB and GDM. Exposure to high levels of PM10 and PM2.5 during the first trimester of pregnancy considerably increased the risk of having SGA infants. Our findings highlight the need to measure individual particulate levels during pregnancy and the importance of managing air quality in residential environment.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Diabetes Gestacional , Complicaciones del Embarazo , Nacimiento Prematuro , Embarazo , Recién Nacido , Femenino , Humanos , Resultado del Embarazo , Material Particulado/efectos adversos , Material Particulado/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Estudios Prospectivos , Nacimiento Prematuro/epidemiología , Nacimiento Prematuro/etiología , Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , República de Corea/epidemiología , ChinaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing proportion of older adults in Korea and growing interest in aging, the concepts of oral aging and oral hypofunction have recently been introduced. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the age-specific oral function levels of Korean older adults and develop expert intervention methods for healthy aging. METHODS: Dysphagia, independence of daily living, and oral hypofunction were assessed in 206 older adults living in Wonju, Gangwon State, South Korea. Subjective dysphagia was assessed through self-report questionnaires using the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI), the Korean version of Eating Assessment Tool-10, and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index. In addition, the oral hypofunction assessment items included decreased chewing ability, occlusal pressure, tongue pressure, oral dryness, and oral cleanliness. RESULTS: DHI increased significantly with age, with those in their 80 s reporting the most difficulty swallowing. Oral function in terms of chewing ability (maximum occlusal pressure and number of remaining teeth), maximum occlusal pressure, and maximum tongue pressure also declined with increasing age. While there was no significant difference in oral dryness by age, those in their 80 s had dry mouth according to the criteria of the oral moisture checking device. CONCLUSIONS: In an assessment of oral function in community-dwelling, independent Korean older adults, the number of items that were assessed as oral hypofunction increased with age. The findings can be used to standardize the oral hypofunction assessment item and develop age-based individualized intervention plans for the early management of oral health and individual oral myofunctional rehabilitation in Korean community-dwelling older adults.
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Trastornos de Deglución , Xerostomía , Humanos , Anciano , Vida Independiente , Presión , Lengua , Salud Bucal , Evaluación GeriátricaRESUMEN
Water electrolyzers powered by renewable energy are emerging as clean and sustainable technology for producing hydrogen without carbon emissions. Specifically, anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers utilizing non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) catalysts have garnered attention as a cost-effective method for hydrogen production, especially when integrated with solar cells. Nonetheless, the progress of such integrated systems is hindered by inadequate water electrolysis efficiency, primarily caused by poor oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrodes. To address this issue, a NiFeCoâOOH has developed as an OER electrocatalyst and successfully demonstrated its efficacy in an AEM electrolyzer, which is powered by renewable electricity and integrated with a silicon solar cell.
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The clavicle has various anatomic shapes unique to each individual. Additionally, with the increase in high-energy traumas such as sports injuries and traffic accidents, the patterns of fractures become complex and complicated. Thus, there is a need for a variety of shapes of locking compression plates (LCP) to accommodate different types of fractures and facilitate quicker rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to present different types of LCP that secure fracture fragments and distribute stress evenly, in comparison to typical anatomical LCPs, for reinforcing clavicle fractures. Three models were compared in this study: the typical shape, the center hole removed shape, and the double-curved wing shape. The DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) file obtained from the computed tomography scan of the patient's clavicle was used to extract the three-dimensional (3D) clavicle structure. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulation was employed to analyze the structural changes of the LCP under external forces. A reinforced jig was used to apply the same type of external force to each LCP, and an experiment was conducted to analyze the mechanical impact of the LCP's structural characteristics. When comparing the stress values at the fracture zone point, resulting from the FEA simulation with applied bending forces, it was calculated that the stress dispersion effect was approximately ten times greater when transitioning from a typical LCP shape to a double-curved partial wing structure. Moreover, the ultimate stress increased 3.33 times, from 241.322 to 804.057 N, as the LCP design changed under cantilever bending conditions. This double-curved wing LCP design reduces stress concentration at the fracture site and minimizes stress in the fracture area when subjected to cantilever bending forces. Consequently, this newly designed LCP has the potential to decrease complications related to the plate and accelerate rehabilitation protocols.
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Clavícula , Fijación Interna de Fracturas , Fracturas Óseas , Humanos , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Placas Óseas , Clavícula/diagnóstico por imagen , Clavícula/lesiones , Fijación Interna de Fracturas/métodos , Fracturas Óseas/diagnóstico por imagen , Fracturas Óseas/cirugía , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos XRESUMEN
Preterm birth (PTB) refers to delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Premature neonates exhibit higher neonatal morbidity and mortality rates than term neonates; therefore, predicting and preventing PTB are important. In this study, we investigated the potential of using short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, specific vaginal microbiota-derived metabolites, as a biomarker in predicting PTB using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) was collected from 89 pregnant women (29 cases of PTB vs. 60 controls) without evidence of other clinical infections, and SCFA levels were measured. Furthermore, the PTB group was divided into two subgroups based on birth timing after CVF sampling: delivery ≤ 2 days after sampling (n = 10) and ≥2 days after sampling (n = 19). The concentrations of propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, hexanoic acid, and heptanoic acid were significantly higher in the PTB group than in the term birth (TB) group (p < 0.05). In particular, the concentrations of propionic acid, isobutyric acid, hexanoic acid, and heptanoic acid were continuously higher in the PTB group than in the TB group (p < 0.05). In the delivery ≤ 2 days after sampling group, the propionic acid, isobutyric acid, hexanoic acid, and heptanoic acid levels were significantly higher than those in the other groups (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated a significant association between specific SCFAs and PTB. We propose these SCFAs as potential biomarkers for the prediction of PTB.
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Caproatos , Isobutiratos , Nacimiento Prematuro , Propionatos , Embarazo , Femenino , Recién Nacido , Humanos , Nacimiento Prematuro/metabolismo , Espectrometría de Masas , Ácidos Grasos Volátiles , Biomarcadores/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The residual life of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is of major interest to patients and their physicians. While existing analyses of HIV patient survival focus mostly on data collected at baseline, residual life analysis allows for dynamic analysis based on additional data collected over a period of time. As survival times typically exhibit a right-skewed distribution, the median provides a more useful summary of the underlying distribution than the mean. In this paper, we propose an efficient inference procedure that fits a semiparametric quantile regression model assessing the effect of longitudinal biomarkers on the residual life of HIV patients until the development of dyslipidemia, a disease becoming more prevalent among those with HIV. METHODS: For estimation of model parameters, we propose an induced smoothing method that smooths nonsmooth estimating functions based on check functions. For variance estimation, we propose an efficient resampling-based estimator. The proposed estimators are theoretically justified. Simulation studies are used to evaluate their finite sample performances, including their prediction accuracy. We analyze the Korea HIV/AIDS cohort study data to examine the effects of CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) cell count on the residual life of HIV patients to the onset of dyslipidemia. RESULTS: The proposed estimator is shown to be consistent and normally distributed asymptotically. Under various simulation settings, our estimates are approximately unbiased. Their variances estimates are close to the empirical variances and their computational efficiency is superior to that of the nonsmooth counterparts. Two measures of prediction performance indicate that our method adequately reflects the dynamic character of longitudinal biomarkers and residual life. The analysis of the Korea HIV/AIDS cohort study data shows that CD4 cell count is positively associated with residual life to the onset of dyslipidemia but the effect is not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our method enables direct prediction of residual lifetimes with a dynamic feature that accommodates data accumulated at different times. Our estimator significantly improves computational efficiency in variance estimation compared to the existing nonsmooth estimator. Analysis of the HIV/AIDS cohort study data reveals dynamic effects of CD4 cell count on the residual life to the onset of dyslipidemia.
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Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida , Dislipidemias , Infecciones por VIH , Humanos , Estudios de Cohortes , VIH , Análisis de Regresión , Simulación por Computador , Biomarcadores , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
In the original publication [...].
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OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to establish the validity-specifically, the sensitivity and specificity-of the screening questionnaire and diagnostic criteria for oral frailty proposed by the Korean Academy of Geriatric Dentistry (KAGD) among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This study enrolled 100 participants. Among various definitions of oral frailty, this study used the criteria proposed by Tanaka as the reference test. The screening questionnaire consisted of 11 items for screening physical frailty, chewing ability, swallowing difficulties, oral dryness, and tongue and lip motor function. Each question had a different scoring weight, and if the total score was 1 or higher, an oral frailty diagnostic examination proposed by the KAGD would be recommended. The diagnostic test was the oral frailty diagnostic criteria proposed by the KAGD including 6 measures: chewing ability, occlusal force, tongue pressure, oral dryness, swallowing difficulty, and oral hygiene. If a participant exhibited 2 or more positive measures, this participant was classified as "oral frail." The screening questionnaire was analyzed using a cut-off value of 1 or higher, while the diagnostic criteria utilized a cut-off of 2 or more positive measures. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. RESULTS: The screening questionnaire showed significant power for screening oral frailty (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.783; sensitivity, 87.8%; specificity, 52.5%). The diagnostic accuracy of the newly proposed diagnostic criteria was acceptable (sensitivity, 95.1%; specificity, 42.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The newly proposed screening questionnaire and diagnostic criteria in Korea appear to be a useful tool to identify oral frailty in community-dwelling older adults.
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Fragilidad , Humanos , Anciano , Fragilidad/diagnóstico , Vida Independiente , Anciano Frágil , Odontología Geriátrica , Presión , Estudios Transversales , Evaluación Geriátrica , Lengua , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , República de CoreaRESUMEN
Dysbiotic vaginal microbiota (DVM) disturb the vaginal environment, including pH, metabolite, protein, and cytokine profiles. This study investigated the impact of DVM on the vaginal environment in 40 Korean pregnant women and identified predictable biomarkers of birth outcomes. Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) samples were collected in the third trimester using vaginal swabs, examined for pH, and stored at -80 °C for further analysis. The samples were grouped as full-term (FTB, n = 20) and preterm (PTB, n = 20) births. The microbiota was profiled in the V1-V9 regions. The levels of targeted metabolites, TLR-4, and cytokines were determined. The pH of CVF from PTB (>4.5) was significantly higher than that of the CVF from FTB (>3.5) (p < 0.05). Neonatal gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and Apgar score differed significantly between groups. The relative abundances of beneficial Lactobacillus spp., such as Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii, and Bifidobacterium, were higher in FTB, whereas those of pathogenic Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus, Prevotella, Ureaplasma parvum, and Corynebacterium spp. were higher in PTB. Acetate, methanol, TLR-4, and TNF-α levels were negatively correlated with gestational age at delivery and birth weight. Moreover, ethanol, methanol, TLR-4, IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels were positively correlated with succinate, acetate, acetoacetate, formate, and ammonia. Overall, DVM induces preterm birth via pathogenic molecules in the vagina.
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Monolayered transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are easily exposed to air, and their crystal quality can often be degraded via oxidation, leading to poor electronic and optical device performance. The degradation becomes more severe in the presence of defects, grain boundaries, and residues. Here, we report crack propagation in pristine TMD monolayers grown by chemical vapor deposition under ambient conditions and light illumination. Under a high relative humidity (RH) of â¼60% and white light illumination, the cracks appear randomly. Photo-oxidative cracks gradually propagated along the grain boundaries of the TMD monolayers. In contrast, under low RH conditions of â¼2%, cracks were scarcely observed. Crack propagation is predominantly attributed to the accumulation of water underneath the TMD monolayers, which is preferentially absorbed by hygroscopic alkali metal-based precursor residues. Crack propagation is further accelerated by the cyclic process of photo-oxidation in a basic medium, leading to localized tensile strain. We also found that such crack propagation is prevented after the removal of alkali metals via the transfer of the sample to other substrates.
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Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal health outcomes. To explore the mechanism, we performed mRNA sequencing of neonatal cord blood. From an ongoing prospective cohort, Air Pollution on Pregnancy Outcome (APPO) study, 454 pregnant women from six centers between January 2021 and June 2022 were recruited. Individual PM2.5 exposure was calculated using a time-weighted average model. In the APPO study, age-matched cord blood samples from the High PM2.5 (Ë15 ug/m3; n = 10) and Low PM2.5 (≤ 15 ug/m3; n = 30) groups were randomly selected for mRNA sequencing. After selecting genes with differential expression in the two groups (p-value < 0.05 and log2 fold change > 1.5), pathway enrichment analysis was performed, and the mitochondrial pathway was analyzed using MitoCarta3.0. The risk of preterm birth (PTB) increased with every 5 µg/m3 increase of PM2.5 in the second trimester (odds ratio 1.391, p = 0.019) after adjusting for confounding variables. The risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increased in the second (odds ratio 1.238, p = 0.041) and third trimester (odds ratio 1.290, p = 0.029), and entire pregnancy (odds ratio 1.295, p = 0.029). The mRNA-sequencing of cord blood showed that genes related to mitochondrial activity (FAM210B, KRT1, FOXO4, TRIM58, and FBXO7) and PTB-related genes (ADIPOR1, YBX1, OPTN, NFkB1, HBG2) were upregulated in the High PM2.5 group. In addition, exposure to high PM2.5 affected mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and proteins in the electron transport chain, a subunit of OXPHOS. These results suggest that exposure to high PM2.5 during pregnancy may increase the risk of PTB and GDM, and dysregulate PTB-related genes. Alterations in mitochondrial OXPHOS by high PM2.5 exposure may occur not only in preterm infants but also in normal newborns. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Diabetes Gestacional , Nacimiento Prematuro , Embarazo , Recién Nacido , Femenino , Humanos , Exposición Materna , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Sangre Fetal/química , Estudios Prospectivos , Fosforilación Oxidativa , Recien Nacido Prematuro , Material Particulado/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , ARN MensajeroRESUMEN
Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is associated with reproductive health and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, studies evaluating biological markers of PM2.5 are lacking, and identifying biomarkers for estimating prenatal exposure to prevent pregnancy complications is essential. Therefore, we aimed to explore urine metabolites that are easy to measure as biomarkers of exposure. In this matched case-control study based on the PM2.5 exposure, 30 high PM2.5 group (>15 µg/m3) and 30 low PM2.5 group (<15 µg/m3) were selected from air pollution on pregnancy outcome (APPO) cohort study. We used a time-weighted average model to estimate individual PM exposure, which used indoor PM2.5 and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations by atmospheric measurement network based on residential addresses. Clinical characteristics and urine samples were collected from participants during the second trimester of pregnancy. Urine metabolites were quantitatively measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry following multistep chemical derivatization. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 21 and MetaboAnalyst 5.0. Small for gestational age and gestational diabetes (GDM) were significantly increased in the high PM2.5 group, respectively (P = 0.042, and 0.022). Fifteen metabolites showed significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). Subsequent pathway enrichment revealed that four pathways, including pentose and glucuronate interconversion with three pentose sugars (ribose, arabinose, and xylose; P < 0.05). The concentration of ribose increased preterm births (PTB) and GDM (P = 0.044 and 0.049, respectively), and the arabinose concentration showed a tendency to increase in PTB (P = 0.044). Therefore, we identified urinary pentose metabolites as biomarkers of PM2.5 and confirmed the possibility of their relationship with pregnancy complications.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Diabetes Gestacional , Nacimiento Prematuro , Recién Nacido , Femenino , Embarazo , Humanos , Material Particulado/análisis , Exposición Materna/efectos adversos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Estudios de Cohortes , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Arabinosa/análisis , Ribosa/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversosRESUMEN
Layered 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been suggested as efficient substitutes for Pt-group metal electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, poor catalytic activities in neutral and alkaline electrolytes considerably hinder their practical applications. Furthermore, the weak adhesion between TMDs and electrodes often impedes long-term durability and thus requires a binder. Here, a universal platform is reported for robust dual-atom doped 2D electrocatalysts with superior HER performance over a wide pH range media. V:Co-ReS2 on a wafer scale is directly grown on oxidized Ti foil by a liquid-phase precursor-assisted approach and subsequently used as highly efficient electrocatalysts. The catalytic performance surpasses that of Pt group metals in a high current regime (≥ 100 mA cm-2) at pH ≥ 7, with a high durability of more than 70 h in all media at 200 mA cm-2. First-principles calculations reveal that V:Co dual doping in ReS2 significantly reduces the water dissociation barrier and simultaneously enables the material to achieve the thermoneutral Gibbs free energy for hydrogen adsorption.
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Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined whether the concentration of indoor PM2.5 affected pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, we evaluated biomarkers of pregnancy-related complications caused by fine dust. We collected clinical information and data based on residential addresses from the Air Korea database to assess PM2.5 exposure levels. As a multicenter prospective cohort study, we measured the indoor PM2.5 concentration and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. The PM2.5 concentration of the low-birth-weight (LBW) delivery group was 27.21 µg/m3, which was significantly higher than that of the normal-birth-weight (NBW) group (26.23 µg/m3) (p = 0.02). When the newborns were divided by sex, the PM2.5 concentration of the LBW group was 27.89 µg/m3 in male infants, which was significantly higher than that of the NBW group (26.26 µg/m3) (p = 0.01). In the prospective study, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine significantly increased in the high-concentration group (113.55 ng/mL, compared with 92.20 ng/mL in the low-concentration group); in the high-concentration group, the rates of preterm birth (PTB) and small size for gestational age significantly increased (p < 0.01, p = 0.01). This study showed an association between PM2.5, oxidative stress, and fetal growth, with the PTB group being more vulnerable.
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Preterm birth (PTB) refers to delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Premature neonates exhibit higher neonatal morbidity and mortality rates than term neonates; therefore, it is crucial to predict and prevent PTB. Advancements enable the prediction and prevention of PTB using genetic approaches, especially by investigating its correlation with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We aimed to identify impactive and relevant SNPs for the prediction of PTB via whole-genome sequencing analyses of the blood of 31 pregnant women with PTB (n = 13) and term birth (n = 18) who visited the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from November 1, 2018 to February 29, 2020. A genome-wide association study was performed using PLINK 1.9 software and 256 SNPs were selected and traced through protein-protein interactions. Moreover, a validation study by genotyping was performed on 60 other participants (preterm birth, n = 30; term birth, n = 30) for 25 SNPs related to ion channel binding and receptor complex pathways. Odds ratios were calculated using additive, dominant, and recessive genetic models. The risk of PTB in women with the AG allele of rs2485579 (gene name: RYR2) was significantly 4.82-fold increase, and the risk of PTB in women with the AG allele of rs7903957 (gene name: TBX5) was significantly 0.25-fold reduce. Our results suggest that rs2485579 (in RYR2) can be a genetic marker of PTB, which is considered through the association with abnormal cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and dysfunctional uterine contraction due to differences of RYR2 in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
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Nacimiento Prematuro , Humanos , Femenino , Embarazo , Recién Nacido , Nacimiento Prematuro/genética , Nacimiento Prematuro/prevención & control , Mujeres Embarazadas , Estudio de Asociación del Genoma Completo , Canal Liberador de Calcio Receptor de Rianodina/genética , República de CoreaRESUMEN
We examined the association between exposure to PM2.5, focused on individual exposure level, and metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy. APPO study (Air Pollution on Pregnancy Outcome) was a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study conducted from January 2021 to March 2023. Individual PM2.5 concentrations were calculated using a time-weighted average model. Metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy was assessed based on a modified definition of metabolic syndrome and its components, accounting for pregnancy-specific criteria. Exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy was associated with worsened metabolic parameters especially glucose metabolism. In comparison to participants exposed to the low PM2.5 group, those exposed to high PM2.5 levels exhibited increased odds of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) after adjusting for confounding variables in different adjusted models. Specifically, in model 1, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 3.117 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.234-7.870; in model 2, the aOR was 3.855 with a 95% CI of 1.255-11.844; in model 3, the aOR was 3.404 with a 95% CI of 1.206-9.607; and in model 4, the aOR was 2.741 with a 95% CI of 0.712-10.547. Exposure to higher levels of PM2.5 during pregnancy was associated with a tendency to worsen metabolic dysfunction markers specifically in glucose homeostasis. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of ambient PM2.5 on metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Síndrome Metabólico , Embarazo , Humanos , Femenino , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Mujeres Embarazadas , Material Particulado/análisis , Estudios Prospectivos , Síndrome Metabólico/epidemiología , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Resultado del Embarazo , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Surface self-reconstruction of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts generally occurs during the electrochemical activation process. Herein, we study the surface self-reconstruction of a 2D layered Fe-doped Ni-thiophosphate (NixFe1-xPS3) nanosheet. The role of Fe in the surface self-reconstruction of NiPS3 during the OER is investigated by using an in situ Raman analysis. Formation of amorphous metal/non-metal oxide layers on the surface of NixFe1-xPS3 can efficiently act as the ultimate catalytic center for the OER.
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Vaginal dysbiosis can lead to serious infections in asymptomatic women. Lactobacillus probiotics (LBPs) are being investigated as a promising therapy for reversing vaginal microbiota dysbiosis. This study aimed to investigate whether administering LBPs could improve vaginal dysbiosis and facilitate the colonization of Lactobacillus species in asymptomatic women. 36 asymptomatic women were classified based on the Nugent score as Low-NS (n = 26) and High-NS (n = 10) groups. A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus CBT LA1, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT LR5, and Lactobacillus reuteri CBT LU4 was administered orally for 6 weeks. The study found that among women with a High-NS, 60% showed improved vaginal dysbiosis with a Low-NS after LBP intake, while four retained a High-NS. Among women with a Low-NS, 11.5 % switched to a High-NS. Genera associated with vaginal dysbiosis were positively correlated with the alpha diversity or NS, while a negative correlation was observed between Lactobacillus and the alpha diversity and with the NS. Vaginal dysbiosis in asymptomatic women with an HNS improved after 6 weeks of LBP intake, and qRT-PCR revealed the colonization of Lactobacillus spp. in the vagina. These results suggested that oral administration of this LBP could improve vaginal health in asymptomatic women with an HNS.