Preparation of food active packaging materials based on calcium hydroxide and modified porous medium for reducing carbon dioxide and kimchi odor.

Carbon dioxide and kimchi odor compounds, formed during fermentation, negatively affect the long-distance distribution of commercial kimchi. To address these issues, in this study, we modified different porous media (activated carbon, bleaching earth, diatomite, and zeolite) using sodium bicarbonate and silver (Ag) ions. Functional sheets were prepared using linear low-density polyethylene, calcium hydroxide, a porous medium, and a blowing agent. Various prepared porous media and sheets were effective in removing acetic acid, sulfur compounds (allyl methyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, allyl methyl disulfide, and diallyl disulfide), and carbon dioxide. Porous media with micropores exhibited a sulfur compound removal efficiency of 43.5%-99.4%, while no effect was observed on acetic acid removal. However, porous media with mesopores showed an acetic acid removal efficiency of 42.3%-90.7%, with no reduction in sulfur compounds removal. The impregnation of porous materials with sodium bicarbonate significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the acetic acid removal activity. Ag modification improved the sulfur compound removal of the mesoporous bleaching earth and diatomite statistically (p < 0.05). Additionally, the incorporation of sodium bicarbonate-impregnated mesoporous media significantly improved carbon dioxide removal, reducing concentrations from 25.97% to 14.27% with respect to the control group. Our functional food packaging materials can solve the current issues in kimchi distribution by removing carbon dioxide and kimchi odor without affecting its quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Food active packaging materials containing calcium hydroxide and modified porous medium are effective in removing carbon dioxide and kimchi odor (acetic acid and sulfur compounds). The removal of carbon dioxide and kimchi odor, which adversely affect the distribution and sale of commercial kimchi, can help solve the current issues with kimchi distribution without affecting its quality.

Development of a calcium hydroxide-dye kimchi ripening indicator and its application in kimchi packaging.

Intelligent packaging that provides real-time information on food quality is useful for consumers. We developed a kimchi ripening indicator that can determine the ripeness of kimchi inside packaging and evaluated its applicability and limitations. The indicator was made using calcium hydroxide, which captures CO2, and four pH-sensitive dyes (cresol red, bromothymol blue, bromocresol purple, and methyl red). Fourier-transform infrared spectra of the prepared powders showed shapes similar to that of calcium hydroxide, and the dyes were evenly distributed on the calcium hydroxide surfaces. When the developed indicators were evaluated for kimchi packaging application, the indicator made from synthesized calcium hydroxide and bromothymol blue was the most reliable and clearly reflected useful kimchi ripening information. The indicator developed in this study is judged to be practically usable at temperatures of 4-15 °C. However, its usefulness is limited in that the seller cannot change the packaging capacity or kimchi capacity.

Review of the genus Lecithocera Herrich-Schffer (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) in DR Congo, with description of four new species.

The genus Lecithocera Herrich-Schffer, 1853 in the Democratic Republic of theCongo (DR Congo) is reviewed, with descriptions of four new species: Lecithocera katangaica Park, sp. nov., L. seydeliella Park, sp. nov., L. cornutispina Park, sp. nov., and L. lusingensis Park, sp. nov. Five species are already recorded from this country: 1) L. chloroscia Meyrick described from DR Congo; 2) L. lucernata Meyrick previously reported from DR Congo by Ghesquire in 1940; 3) L. trifera Meyrick and 4) L. xanthochalca Meyrick, their generic assignments still remain doubtable; and 5) L. ideologa Meyrick. Lecithocera dicentropa Meyrick, 1938 is synonymized as a junior synonym of L. ideologa Meyrick. Adults and the genitalia of the new species and L. ideologa Meyrick are illustrated, and a lectotype for L. trifera Meyrick is designated herein.

Bioactive Compounds and Quality Evaluation of Red-Pigmented Rice Processed by Germination and Roasting.

Red-pigmented rice was germinated and processed to develop germinated red rice tea, and the changes in physicochemical, bioactive, and microbial properties due to germination and roasting were investigated. The moisture and crude ash contents of red rice decreased after germination and roasting. Crude protein and crude fat contents increased after germination but slightly decreased after roasting. Total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities) increased following germination and heat treatment. However, the increased levels of γ-amino butyric acid after germination significantly decreased during the subsequent roasting step. In addition, total bacteria, yeast, and mold counts increased during the germination process but decreased after heat treatment as compared to those in the original grain; Escherichia coli was not detected. Therefore, germination and subsequent roasting could effectively enhance the contents of the most bioactive compounds and maintain microbial stability in red-pigmented rice.

Epidemiological characteristics of varicella outbreaks in the Republic of Korea, 2016-2020.

OBJECTIVES: We described the trends and epidemiological characteristics of varicella outbreaks from 2016 to 2020 in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: We investigated variables such as the outbreak setting, age of patients, vaccination status, and lesion count. The collected data were analyzed with the Cochrane-Armitage trend test and Kruskal-Wallis test. These statistical tests were performed using R ver. 4.0.3. RESULTS: The number of varicella outbreaks increased from 2016 to 2018; however, after a slight decrease in the number of outbreaks in 2019, the number fell sharply in 2020. The median size of outbreaks decreased from 8 to 9 cases during 2016-2019 to 6 cases in 2020. The median duration of outbreaks was 18 days during 2016-2017, 28 days in 2018, 29 days in 2019, and 15 days in 2020. Varicella outbreaks occurred most frequently in elementary schools, and vaccination coverage of patients increased from 89.4% in 2016 to 97.2% in 2019. The median age of patients with outbreak-related varicella decreased from 8 years in 2016 to 6 years in 2020. CONCLUSION: Significant changes were observed in the age of patients with outbreak-related varicella. Ongoing monitoring of varicella outbreaks should be conducted. Further research will be needed to measure the disease burden of varicella and enable evidence-based policy decisions.

Assessment of biochemical compounds and antioxidant enzyme activity in barley and wheatgrass under water-deficit condition.

Wheatgrass and barley grass are freshly sprouted leaves of wheat and barley seeds and are rich sources of phytochemicals. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of drought stress on the biochemical compounds and antioxidant activities of barley grass and wheatgrass extracts. The grass was cultivated in an organic soil growing medium with different levels of drought stress (a control with 100% water holding capacity (WHC), mild drought stress with 75% WHC, moderate drought stress with 50% WHC, and severe drought stress with 25% WHC) in a growth chamber by controlling temperature (20/15 °C, day/night), light (12/12 h, light/dark; intensity 150 µmol m-2  s-1 with quantum dot light-emitting diodes), and relative humidity (60%) for 7 days. The drought stress showed increased levels of biochemical compounds, especially phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C, in both barley grass and wheatgrass extracts. The wheatgrass extracts showed 1.38-1.67 times higher phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C contents than the barley grass extracts did. The antioxidant (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity, and nitrite-scavenging activity) and antioxidant enzymes (guaiacol peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione reductase) were the highest under severe drought stress in both barley grass and wheatgrass extracts; and the wheatgrass extracts showed 1.20-5.70 times higher antioxidant enzyme activities than the barley grass extracts did. Proper drought-stress treatment of barley grass and wheatgrass may be a convenient and efficient method to increase biochemical compounds and antioxidants in our diet to exploit the related health benefits. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Apalutamide for patients with metastatic castrationsensitive prostate cancer in East Asia: a subgroup analysis of the TITAN trial.

Ethnicity might be associated with treatment outcomes in advanced prostate cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with apalutamide in East Asians with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). The original phase 3 Targeted Investigational Treatment Analysis of Novel Anti-androgen (TITAN) trial was conducted at 260 sites in 23 countries. This subgroup analysis included patients enrolled in 62 participating centers in China, Japan, and Korea. Radiographic progression-free survival (PFS), time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, and PSA changes from baseline were compared between groups in the East Asian population. The intent-to-treat East Asian population included 111 and 110 participants in the apalutamide and placebo groups, respectively. The 24-month radiographic PFS rates were 76.1% and 52.3% in the apalutamide and placebo groups, respectively (apalutamide vs placebo: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.506; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.302-0.849; P = 0.009). Median time to PSA progression was more favorable with apalutamide than placebo (HR = 0.210; 95% CI, 0.124-0.357; P < 0.001). Median maximum percentages of PSA decline from baseline were 99.0% and 73.9% in the apalutamide and placebo groups, respectively. The most common adverse event (AE) was rash in the apalutamide group, with a higher rate than that in the placebo group (37.3% vs 9.1%). The most common grade 3 or 4 AEs were rash (12 [10.9%]) and hypertension (12 [10.9%]) for apalutamide. The efficacy and safety of apalutamide in the East Asian subgroup of the TITAN trial are consistent with the global results.

Importation and Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant of Concern in Korea, November 2021.

In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel. There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.

Bioinspired Microsphere-Embedded Adhesive Architectures for an Electrothermally Actuating Transport Device of Dry/Wet Pliable Surfaces.

For highly conformable and universal transport devices, bioinspired dry adhesion systems with reversible molecular attractions (e.g., van der Waals forces, capillarity, or suction stress) between the engaged surfaces have recently become favorable for various dry/wet processes in flexible devices and medical applications. In addition, many efforts have been made for switchable attachments of such adhesives by employing costly sophisticated systems such as mechanically deformable chucks, UV-radiating components, or fluidic channels. In this work, we propose a simple electrothermally actuating transport device based on an octopus-inspired microsphere-embedded sucker (OMS). The adhesive with microsphere-embedded suckers offers enhanced adhesion on dry/wet surfaces, in accordance with investigation of the geometric and materials parameters of the novel suction architecture for maximizing adhesion interactions. Inspired by muscle actuation of octopus tentacles, we laminate the electrothermally reactive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) layer on the backside of the OMS adhesive patch. By controlling inputs of electrical energy, our assembled actuator may actively expand and contract reversibly to induce switchable attachments and detachments. Our bioinspired device can be integrated onto a robotic arm to attach and release against dry/wet flexible thin objects.

Deodorization films based on polyphenol compound-rich natural deodorants and polycaprolactone for removing volatile sulfur compounds from kimchi.

As natural polyphenols have been known to have the deodorizing activity, the deodorizing properties and mechanisms of action of polyphenols, the main constituents of green tea extract (GTE), black tea extract (BTE), and grape seed extract (GSE), against volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in kimchi were investigated. Six VSCs were targeted and detected to be in high abundance in kimchi. The deodorizing activity (%) toward VSCs was found to be in the following order: GSE (58.4 to 91.8) >GTE (37.6 to 73.8) >BTE (28.4 to 60.3). This was attributed to the high phenolic (892.6 ± 10.5 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (666.5 ± 23.9 mg CE/g) contents in GSE, that is, polymeric proanthocyanidins (85.97%). Particularly, the hydroxyl groups in the polyphenols showed deodorizing activity against VSCs via a sulfur-capture reaction. For packaging applications, deodorization films based on GSE and polycaprolactone were developed, and the GSE/polycaprolactone 20% films exhibited strong deodorizing effects (54.9 to 99.8%) against kimchi VSCs.

Neurological Emergencies in Patients Hospitalized With Nonneurological Illness.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to present neurological profiles and clinical outcomes of patients with acute neurological symptoms, which developed during hospitalization with nonneurological illness. METHODS: We organized the neurological alert team (NAT), a neurological rapid response team, to manage in-hospital neurological emergencies. In this registry-based study, we analyzed the clinical profiles and outcomes of patients who were consulted to the NAT. We also compared the 3-month mortality of patients with acute neurological symptoms with that of patients without acute neurological symptoms. RESULTS: Among the 85,507 adult patients, 591 (0.7%) activated the NAT. The most common reason for NAT activation was stroke symptoms (37.6%), followed by seizures (28.6%), and sudden unresponsiveness (24.0%). The most common diagnosis by the NAT neurologists was metabolic encephalopathy (45.5%), followed by ischemic stroke (21.2%) and seizures or status epilepticus (21.0%). Patients with NAT activation had high rates in mortality before hospital discharge (22.5%) and at 3 months (34.7%), transfer to intensive care units (39.6%), and length of hospital stay (43.1 ± 57.1 days). They also had high prevalence of poor functional status (78.1%) and recurrence of neurological symptoms at 3 months (27.2%). In a Cox proportional hazards model, patients with in-hospital neurological emergencies had a hazard ratio of 13.2 in terms of mortality at 3 months (95% confidence interval, 11.5-15.3; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Occurrence of acute neurological symptoms during hospital admission was associated with high rate of mortality and poor functional status. These results call for enhanced awareness and hospital-wide strategies for managing in-hospital neurological emergencies.

Newly developed stroke in patients admitted to non-neurological intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about newly developed stroke in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate characteristics and outcomes of newly developed stroke in patients admitted to the non-neurological intensive care units (ICU-onset stroke, IOS). METHODS: A consecutive series of adult patients who were admitted to the non-neurological ICU were included in this study. We compared neurological profiles, risk factors, and mortality rates between patients with IOS and those without IOS. RESULTS: Of 18,604 patients admitted to the ICU for non-neurological illness, 218 (1.2%) developed stroke (ischemic, n = 182; hemorrhagic, n = 36). The most common neurological presentation was altered mental status (n = 149), followed by hemiparesis (n = 55), and seizures (n = 28). The most common etiology of IOS was cardioembolism (50% [91/182]) for ischemic IOS and coagulopathy (67% [24/36]) for hemorrhagic IOS. In multivariable analysis, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.03-1.06, P < 0.001), prothrombin time (AOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98-0.99, P = 0.013), cardiovascular surgery (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.34-2.50, P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (AOR = 6.75, 95% CI = 4.87-9.45, P < 0.001), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.62-4.55, P < 0.001) were related to the development of IOS. Stroke was associated with increased 3-month mortality after hospital discharge (AOR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.58-3.05; P < 0.001), after adjustment for APACHE II and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who developed IOS had characteristics of initial critical illness and managements performed in the ICU as well as neurological presentations. The occurrence of IOS was related to high morbidity and mortality.

Hydrophobicity Evolution on Rough Surfaces.

Hydrophobicity is abundant in nature and obtainable in industrial applications by roughening hydrophobic surfaces and engineering micropatterns. Classical wetting theory explains how surface roughness can enhance water repellency, assuming a droplet to have a flat bottom on top of micropatterned surfaces. However, in reality, a droplet can partially penetrate into micropatterns to form a round-bottom shape. Here, we systematically investigate the evolution of evaporating droplets on micropatterned surfaces with X-ray microscopy combined with three-dimensional finite element analyses and propose a theory that explains the wetting transition with gradually increasing penetration depth. We show that the penetrated state with a round bottom is inevitable for a droplet smaller than the micropattern-dependent critical size. Our finding reveals a more complete picture of hydrophobicity involving the partially penetrated state and its role in the wetting state transition and can be applied to understand the stability of water repellency of rough hydrophobic surfaces.

Influence of Packaging Oxygen Transmission Rate on Physical Characteristics of Frozen Cooked Rice Under Various Freezing Conditions.

The influence of packaging oxygen transmission rate (OTR; 0, 3,000, 5,000, 7,000, and 20,000 [mL/m2 ]/day) on cooked rice quality factors, including freezing rate and time, moisture content, color parameters, texture characteristics, and morphology, were evaluated. Cooked rice was frozen at -20 and -80 °C using packaging with different OTRs for 14 days. Freezing rates in packaging with lower OTRs (0, 3,000, and 5,000 [mL/m2 ]/day) were higher than those in packaging with higher OTRs. The moisture content of cooked rice was the highest in OTR 5,000 packaging under all experimental conditions. Lightness (L* ) and total color difference (ΔE) values were the highest in OTR 20,000 packaging, whereas ΔE values were the lowest in OTR 5,000 packaging. Hardness and cohesiveness of frozen cooked rice gradually increased from OTR 0 to 5,000 but decreased from OTR 5,000 to 20,000. Morphology was distinct in all conditions and at all OTRs. Thus, we confirmed that the OTR of packaging influences the physical characteristics of frozen cooked rice. Therefore, packaging OTR should be considered when seeking to improve the quality of frozen cooked rice. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Packaging oxygen transmission rate (OTR) influenced quality characteristics of frozen cooked rice under various freezing conditions. Cooked rice frozen in packaging with lower OTRs (0, 3,000, and 5,000 [mL/m2 ]/day) showed higher freezing rates, higher moisture content, shorter freezing times, smaller ice crystal formation, homogeneous pore distribution, and lower total color differences (ΔE) than did cooked rice frozen in packaging with higher OTRs (7,000 and 20,000 [mL/m2 ]/day). Packaging OTR influences frozen cooked rice quality characteristics, and should therefore be carefully considered when designing rice products.

Effects of Appointing a Full-Time Neurointensivist to Run a Closed-Type Neurological Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate whether appointing a full-time neurointensivist to manage a closed-type neurological intensive care unit (NRICU) improves the quality of critical care and patient outcomes. METHODS: This study included patients admitted to the NRICU at a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. Two time periods were defined according to the presence of a neurointensivist in the preexisting open-type NRICU: the before and after periods. Hospital medical records were queried and compared between these two time periods, as were the biannual satisfaction survey results for the families of patients. RESULTS: Of the 15,210 patients in the neurology department, 2,199 were admitted to the NRICU (n=995 and 1,204 during the before and after periods, respectively; p<0.001). The length of stay was shorter during the after than during the before period in both the NRICU (3 vs. 4 days; p<0.001) and the hospital overall (12.5 vs. 14.0 days; p<0.001). Neurological consultations (2,070 vs. 3,097; p<0.001) and intrahospital transfers from general intensive care units to the NRICU (21 vs. 40; p=0.111) increased from the before to after the period. The mean satisfaction scores of the families of the patients also increased, from 78.3 to 89.7. In a Cox proportional hazards model, appointing a neurointensivist did not result in a statistically significant change in 6-month mortality (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.652-1.031; p=0.089). CONCLUSIONS: Appointing a full-time neurointensivist to manage a closed-type NRICU had beneficial effects on quality indicators and patient outcomes.

Effects of different drying methods on physicochemical properties, volatile profile, and sensory characteristics of kimchi powder.

The effects of five different drying conditions on kimchi powder quality were determined by comparatively analyzing their physicochemical characteristics, volatile profile, and sensory evaluations. The moisture content of the kimchi powder obtained by each method was < 10%, and the yield after drying differed among methods ranging from 9.50 to 10.38% (p < 0.05). Electronic nose and tongue analyses demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05) between samples based on the drying temperature. The particle size distribution did not differ considerably between drying methods, except for the ground kimchi (p < 0.05). The sensory evaluation test revealed that the flavor and taste were rated the highest for the kimchi powder prepared using HADHT. Therefore, hot-air drying at a high temperature was the most effective method for kimchi powder production owing to have a good flavor and taste and the shorter drying time.

Effect of pasteurization on delayed kimchi ripening and regression analysis for shelf life estimation of kimchi.

Pasteurization-mediated delayed kimchi ripening and regression analysis for shelf life estimation were investigated. Various initial kimchi microbial communities were simplified to lactic acid bacteria Leuconostoc sp. and Lactobacillus sp. over time, with concomitant pH decrease from 6.39 to 4.34 and acidity increase from 0.06% to 0.35%. Other quality characteristics (organic acid, carbon dioxide, and microbial population) also changed, exhibiting high intercorrelation. Pasteurization decreased the initial bacterial counts from 5.20 to 1.92 log CFU/g, thereby delaying the change in quality characteristics (pH, acidity, organic acid, microbial population, carbon dioxide, and microbial community); however, the texture did not differ significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, the regression equation for the relationship between acidity and carbon dioxide levels suggested that shelf life could be estimated in conjunction with the ideal gas equation. In conclusion, pasteurization and regression analysis for kimchi shelf life estimation may enable the maintenance of quality and effective management during the distribution process.

Prediction of Postoperative Length of Hospital Stay Based on Differences in Nursing Narratives in Elderly Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The current study sought to evaluate whether nursing narratives can be used to predict postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS) following curative surgery for ovarian cancer. METHODS: A total of 33 patients, aged over 65 years, underwent curative surgery for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer between 2008 and 2012. Based on the median postoperative LOS, patients were divided into two groups: long-stay (>12 days; n = 13) and short-stay (≤12 days; n = 20). Patterns in nursing narratives were examined and compared through a quantitative analysis. Specifically, the total number (TN) of narratives pertaining to care and the standardized number (SN), which was calculated by dividing the TN by the LOS, were compared. Experts evaluated the relevance of the phrases extracted. LOS was then predicted using machine learning techniques. RESULTS: The median postoperative LOS was 18 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 16-24 days) in the long-stay group and 9.5 days (IQR: 8-11.25 days) in the short-stay group. In the long-stay group, surgery duration was longer. Overall, patients in the long-stay group showed a higher volume of nursing narratives compared with patients in the short-stay group (SN: 68 vs. 46, p = 0.021). Thirty-two of the most frequently used nursing narratives were selected from 998 uniquely defined nursing narratives. Multiple t-tests were used to compare the TN and real standardized number (RSN; minimum p < 0.1). Mean and standard deviation of classification results of long-short term memory recurrent neural networks for long and short stays were 0.7774 (0.105), 0.745 (0.098), 0.739 (0.107), and 0.765 (0.115) for F1-measure, precision, recall, and area under the receiver operating characteristic, respectively. Agreement between the differential narratives as assessed by statistical methods and the expert response was low (52.6% agreement; McNemar's test p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Statistical tests showed that nursing narratives that utilized the words "urination," "food supply," "bowel mobility," or "pain" were related to hospital stay in elderly females with ovarian cancer. Additionally, machine learning effectively predicted LOS. SUMMARY: The current study sought to determine whether elements of nursing narratives could be used to predict postoperative LOS among elderly ovarian cancer patients. Results indicated that nursing narratives that used the words "urination," "food supply," "bowel mobility," and "pain" significantly predicted postoperative LOS in the study population. Additionally, it was found that machine learning could effectively predict LOS based on quantitative characteristics of nursing narratives.

Development of a Sulfite-Based Oxygen Scavenger and its Application in Kimchi Packaging to Prevent Oxygen-mediated Deterioration of Kimchi Quality.

A sulfite-based oxygen scavenger (SOS) was developed with sodium metabisulfite and applied to kimchi packaging in an attempt to prevent oxygen-mediated kimchi quality degradation. The results of the oxygen- scavenging capacity test showed that the SOS had a competitive oxygen- scavenging performance in comparison with commercial oxygen scavengers. The kimchi was packaged with and without the SOS and stored over 12 weeks at 0 and 10 °C for an SOS application test. The kimchi treated with the SOS showed a significantly lower (P < 0.05) headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration and pressure inside the packages than the control. The pH and titratable acidity values indicated that the SOS did not retard the kimchi fermentation process. The Hunter L, a, and b values in the kimchi packaged with the SOS were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the control. After 12 weeks of storage, the total aerobic bacteria counts were reduced by 1.32 and 2.97 log CFU/g, lactic acid bacteria counts were reduced by 2.22 and 4.42 log CFU/g, and total yeasts and molds counts were reduced by 1.76 and 3.04 log CFU/g at 0 and 10 °C, respectively, by the SOS compared to those in the control. These results demonstrated that the developed SOS inhibited oxygen-mediated deterioration of the kimchi, but did not affect the kimchi fermentation. Therefore, our SOS can be used as an active food-packaging technology for kimchi quality preservation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A newly designed sulfite-based oxygen scavenger was applied in kimchi packaging, and it showed remarkable preventive effects on the kimchi quality deterioration caused by oxygen. Accordingly, it can be used as an active food-packaging technology to maintain kimchi quality during the storage period. Moreover, it can also be effectively utilized in the packaging of other high-moisture foods such as meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

Microtopography-Guided Conductive Patterns of Liquid-Driven Graphene Nanoplatelet Networks for Stretchable and Skin-Conformal Sensor Array.

Flexible thin-film sensors have been developed for practical uses in invasive or noninvasive cost-effective healthcare devices, which requires high sensitivity, stretchability, biocompatibility, skin/organ-conformity, and often transparency. Graphene nanoplatelets can be spontaneously assembled into transparent and conductive ultrathin coatings on micropatterned surfaces or planar substrates via a convective Marangoni force in a highly controlled manner. Based on this versatile graphene assembled film preparation, a thin, stretchable and skin-conformal sensor array (144 pixels) is fabricated having microtopography-guided, graphene-based, conductive patterns embedded without any complicated processes. The electrically controlled sensor array for mapping spatial distributions (144 pixels) shows high sensitivity (maximum gauge factor ≈1697), skin-like stretchability (<48%), high cyclic stability or durability (over 105 cycles), and the signal amplification (≈5.25 times) via structure-assisted intimate-contacts between the device and rough skin. Furthermore, given the thin-film programmable architecture and mechanical deformability of the sensor, a human skin-conformal sensor is demonstrated with a wireless transmitter for expeditious diagnosis of cardiovascular and cardiac illnesses, which is capable of monitoring various amplified pulse-waveforms and evolved into a mechanical/thermal-sensitive electric rubber-balloon and an electronic blood-vessel. The microtopography-guided and self-assembled conductive patterns offer highly promising methodology and tool for next-generation biomedical devices and various flexible/stretchable (wearable) devices.