Determinants of Quality of Life (QoL) in Female Caregivers in Elderly Care Facilities in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of general characteristics, fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, job stress and interpersonal relationships on the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers in nursing hospitals and use them as basic data for intervention programs to improve the quality of life of caregivers. METHODS: The participants in the study were 137 caregivers, aged 52-76, who were actively working in nursing hospitals. Data were collected from caregivers by visiting 9 hospitals in 6 cities, with a questionnaire of fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, job stress, interpersonal relationship, quality of life. RESULTS: Age, marriage, marital satisfaction, education, education experience of QoL, monthly income, perceived economic status, hobby or leisure activity, and number of disease showed differences in the degree of QoL at a statistically significant level. In stage 1, economic status (ß = -0.18, p = 0.033) and hobby or leisure activity (ß = 0.19, p = 0.025) were influencing factors (F = 4.58, p < 0.001). In stage 2, monthly income (ß = -0.19, p = 0.034) and perceived economic status (ß = -0.18, p = 0.035) were influencing factors. In stage 3, age (ß = -2.80, p = 0.006), perceived economic status (ß = -2.41, p = 0.017), self-efficacy (ß = 3.19, p = 0.002) and interpersonal relationship (ß = 7.12, p < 0.001) were influencing factors which showed 61.5% explanatory power (F = 12.88, p < 0.001). Since the subject's fatigue, depression, and stress did not affect the quality of life, further research is needed. CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve the quality of life of caregivers, it would be necessary to develop interventions for raising their self-efficacy and interpersonal relationship by considering their degree of economic status, hobby or leisure activity, monthly income, and age.

Effect of high-speed sintering on the marginal and internal fit of CAD/CAM-fabricated monolithic zirconia crowns.

This study compared the marginal and internal fit of zirconia crowns fabricated using conventional and high-speed induction sintering. A typodont mandibular right first molar was prepared and 60 zirconia crowns were fabricated: 30 crowns using conventional sintering and 30 crowns using high-speed sintering. We presented a new evaluation methodology to measure the marginal and internal fit of restorations through digital scanning, aligning the two datasets, and measuring the distance between two arbitrary point sets of the datasets. For the marginal fit, we calculated the maximum values of the shortest distances between the marginal line of the prepared tooth and that of the crown. The calculated values ranged from 359 to 444 µm, with smaller values for the high-speed sintered crowns (P < 0.05). For the internal fit, we employed mesh sampling and computed the geodesic distances between the prepared tooth surface and the crown intaglio surface. The measured values ranged from 177 to 229 µm with smaller values for the high-speed sintered crowns, but no significant difference was found (P > 0.05). Based on our results, the high-speed sintering method can be considered a promising option for single-visit zirconia treatment in dental practice.

The Mediating Effects of Social Networks and Wisdom on the Relationship between Lifestyle Habits and Healthy Aging in Older Adults with Chronic Diseases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating effects of social networks and wisdom on the relationship between lifestyle habits and healthy aging in older adults with chronic diseases. METHODS: Participants were 120 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older with at least one chronic disease. Data were collected from elderly people by visiting nursing care worker training centers, senior centers, social gatherings, and home welfare centers in D, G, and S cities, with a questionnaire of lifestyle habits, social networks, wisdom and healthy aging, and general characteristics. RESULTS: There were differences in the degree of healthy aging according to age (F = 3.76, p = 0.026), spousal relationship (t = 3.11, p = 0.002), education (F = 9.08, p < 0.001), number of diseases (F = 8.65, p < 0.001), and economic level (t = -2.45, p = 0.016). The most common diseases among the subjects were hypertension, hyperlipidemia, joint diseases and diabetes mellitus. Social networks (ß = 0.46, p < 0.001) and wisdom (ß = 0.55, p < 0.001) had partial mediating effects (z = 4.15, p < 0.001; z = 5.11, p < 0.001) on the relationship between subjects' lifestyle habits and healthy aging. CONCLUSIONS: To increase the degree of healthy aging of subjects, it is necessary to establish a mediating intervention program that manages to have good lifestyle habits in daily life, increase social networks, and become wise.

Effects of Uncertainty, Appraisal of Uncertainty, and Self-Efficacy on the Quality of Life of Elderly Patients with Lung Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: Based on Mishel's Theory of Uncertainty.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to enhance the quality of life in elderly patients with lung cancer by understanding relations of uncertainty, appraisal of uncertainty, self-efficacy, and quality of life targeting elderly patients with lung cancer receiving anticancer therapy, and also analyzing the factors affecting the quality of life based on Mishel's theory. Materials and Methods: The subjects were a total of 112 lung cancer patients aged 65 or older receiving anticancer therapy. The data was collected by using self-report questionnaires targeting patients in hemato-oncology at Chungbuk National University Hospital. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a t-test, an analysis of variance, Pearson's correlational coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: In stage 1, anticancer therapy (chemotherapy) (ß = -0.34, p < 0.001), economic condition (low) (ß = -0.30, p < 0.001), the number of anticancer therapies (three times or more) (ß = -0.29, p < 0.001), and education (graduation from high school or higher) (ß = 0.18, p = 0.033) were influencing factors (F = 0.52, p < 0.001). In stage 2, self-efficacy (ß = 0.41, p < 0.001), appraisal of uncertainty: danger (ß = -0.29, p < 0.001), appraisal of uncertainty: opportunity (ß = 0.18, p = 0.018), the number of anticancer therapies (three times or more) (ß = -0.17, p = 0.006), and anticancer therapy (chemotherapy) (ß = -0.14, p = 0.031) were influencing factors, which showed 74.2% explanatory power (F = 26.17, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In order to improve the quality of life of subjects, it would be necessary to develop interventions for raising their self-efficacy by considering their degree of education, economic condition, the types and numbers of anticancer therapies, and understanding of the appraisal of uncertainty about the disease is assessed as an opportunity factor or a danger factor.

Effects of General Characteristics, Emotional Labor, Empathy Ability, and Wisdom on the Psychological Well-Being of Female Caregivers Visiting the Homes of Vulnerable Care Recipients and the Elderly.

The purpose of this study is to analyze how general characteristics, emotional labor, empathy ability, and wisdom affect the psychological well-being of female caregivers. The research design is a descriptive correlational study. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire, and analyzed using the SPSS Windows 27.0 program for hierarchical regression analysis. The results showed that there were differences in psychological well-being according to the work experience, education, and monthly income of 129 participants. In the analysis of the factors affecting the participants' psychological well-being, model 1 showed 18.9% explanatory power with educational experience (ß = -0.23, p = 0.012) and monthly income (ß = 0.25, p = 0.007). In model 2, educational experience (ß = -0.23, p = 0.004), monthly income (ß = 0.20, p = 0.017), and emotional labor (ß = -0.41, p < 0.001) were the affecting factors, and the explanatory power increased by 16.1%, showing 35.0% overall. In model 3, educational experience (ß =-0.28, p < 0.001), emotional labor (ß = -0.35, p < 0.001), empathy ability (ß = 0.23, p = 0.001), and wisdom (ß = 0.52, p < 0.001) were the affecting factors, and the explanatory power increased by 36.9%, showing 71.9% overall. To enhance the psychological well-being of the participants, the head of the caregiving center should consider the education and income of caregivers. The center should also operate programs and prepare policies to reduce emotional labor and enhance empathy ability and wisdom.

Toxicity and Biodistribution of Fragmented Polypropylene Microplastics in ICR Mice.

Currently, polypropylene (PP) is used in various products, thus leading to high daily exposure in humans. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicological effects, biodistribution, and accumulation of PP microplastics in the human body. In this study, administration of two particle sizes of PP microplastics (approximately 5 and 10-50 µm) did not lead to any significant changes in several toxicological evaluation parameters, including body weight and pathological examination, compared with the control group in ICR mice. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose and no-observed-adverse-effect level of PP microplastics in ICR mice were established as ≥2000 mg/kg. Furthermore, we manufactured cyanine 5.5 carboxylic acid (Cy5.5-COOH)-labeled fragmented PP microplastics to monitor real-time in vivo biodistribution. After oral administration of the Cy5.5-COOH-labeled microplastics to the mice, most of the PP microplastics were detected in the gastrointestinal tract and observed to be out of the body after 24 h in IVIS Spectrum CT. Therefore, this study provides a new insight into the short-term toxicity, distribution, and accumulation of PP microplastics in mammals.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Conjugated with Gadolinium (III) Complex as an Anti-Inflammatory MRI Agent.

Studies have been actively conducted to ensure that gadolinium-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are accompanied by various biological functions. A new example is the anti-inflammatory theragnostic MRI agent to target inflammatory mediators for imaging diagnosis and to treat inflammatory diseases simultaneously. We designed, synthesized, and characterized a Gd complex of 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethylaza) cyclododecane-10-azaacetylamide (DO3A) conjugated with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that exerts the innate therapeutic effect of NSAIDs and is also applicable in MRI diagnostics. Gd-DO3A-fen (0.1 mmol/kg) was intravenously injected into the turpentine oil-induced mouse model, with Gd-DO3A-BT as a control group. In the in vivo MRI experiment, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was higher and persisted longer than that with Gd-DO3A-BT; specifically, the CNR difference was almost five times at 2 h after injection. Gd-DO3A-fen had a binding affinity (Ka) of 6.68 × 106 M-1 for the COX-2 enzyme, which was 2.1-fold higher than that of fenbufen, the original NSAID. In vivo evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity was performed in two animal models. In the turpentine oil-induced model, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory parameters such as COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 were reduced, and in the carrageenan-induced edema model, swelling was suppressed by 72% and there was a 2.88-fold inhibition compared with the saline group. Correlation analysis between in vitro, in silico, and in vivo studies revealed that Gd-DO3A-fen acts as an anti-inflammatory theragnostic agent by directly binding to COX-2.

Plasma Surface Modification of 3Y-TZP at Low and Atmospheric Pressures with Different Treatment Times.

The efficiency of plasma surface modifications depends on the operating conditions. This study investigated the effect of chamber pressure and plasma exposure time on the surface properties of 3Y-TZP with N2/Ar gas. Plate-shaped zirconia specimens were randomly divided into two categories: vacuum plasma and atmospheric plasma. Each group was subdivided into five subgroups according to the treatment time: 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. Following the plasma treatments, we characterized the surface properties, including wettability, chemical composition, crystal structure, surface morphology, and zeta potential. These were analyzed through various techniques, such as contact angle measurement, XPS, XRD, SEM, FIB, CLSM, and electrokinetic measurements. The atmospheric plasma treatments increased zirconia's electron donation (γ-) capacity, while the vacuum plasma treatments decreased γ- parameter with increasing times. The highest concentration of the basic hydroxyl OH(b) groups was identified after a 5 min exposure to atmospheric plasmas. With longer exposure times, the vacuum plasmas induce electrical damage. Both plasma systems increased the zeta potential of 3Y-TZP, showing positive values in a vacuum. In the atmosphere, the zeta potential rapidly increased after 1 min. Atmospheric plasma treatments would be beneficial for the adsorption of oxygen and nitrogen from ambient air and the generation of various active species on the zirconia surface.

Technical Advances in Pectus Bar Stabilization in Chest Wall Deformity Surgery: 10-Year Trends and an Appraisal with 1,500 Patients.

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the advances we have achieved in pectus excavatum surgery over the last 10 years, with a particular focus on the refinement of pectus bar stabilization techniques and devices. Methods: In total, 1,526 patients who underwent minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum surgery from 2013 to 2022 were enrolled and analyzed. We have pursued a new paradigm of crane-powered remodeling of the entire chest wall. The method of bar stabilization has changed from claw fixators to hinge plates and, finally, to bridge plate connections. We also evaluated the effectiveness of the hinge plate (group H) and the bridge plate (group B). Results: The bar displacement rates were 0.1% (n=2) for the claw fixator, 0% for the hinge plate (n=0), and 0% for the bridge plate (n=0). We stopped using the claw fixator in 2022 and the hinge plate in 2019. Since 2022, when we shifted to a multiple-bar technique for all patients, the bridge plate has replaced both the claw fixator and the hinge plate. No bar displacement occurred in either group. Group H had more pleural effusion, wound problems (p<0.05), and longer stays (5.5 vs. 6.2 days, p=0.034) than group B. Conclusion: We have made significant progress in pectus repair surgery over the last decade, particularly in stabilizing the pectus bar and reducing perioperative complications. Our current strategy is the multiple-bar approach with bridge stabilization. Since the bridge-only technique resulted in no bar displacement, we could eliminate the invasive claw fixator or hinge plate.

Flavonoid-Conjugated Gadolinium Complexes as Anti-Inflammatory Theranostic Agents.

In this study, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated gadolinium compounds conjugated with flavonoids as potential theranostic agents for the treatment of inflammation. These novel theranostic agents combine a molecular imaging agent and one of three flavonoids (galangin, chrysin, and 7-hydroxyflavone) as anti-inflammatory drugs as a single integrated platform. Using these agents, MR imaging showed contrast enhancement (>10 in CNR) at inflamed sites in an animal inflammation model, and subsequent MR imaging used to monitor the therapeutic efficacy of these integrated agents revealed changes in inflamed regions. The anti-inflammatory effects of these agents were demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the antioxidant efficacy of the agents was evaluated by measuring their reactive oxygen species scavenging properties. For example, Gd-galangin at 30 µM showed a three-fold higher ROS scavenging of DPPH. Taken together, our findings provide convincing evidence to indicate that flavonoid-conjugated gadolinium compounds can be used as potentially efficient theranostic agents for the treatment of inflammation.

Thermodynamic Study of Am(III)-Isosaccharinate Complexation at Various Temperatures Implicating a Stepwise Reduction in Binding Denticity.

Isosaccharinic acid, a major final product of cellulose degradation under highly alkaline cement porewater conditions, is known to increase the mobility of actinides via strong complex formation. In this study, the formation of Am(III) complexes with α-d-isosaccharinate (ISA) was studied in terms of thermodynamics and coordination structures by combining spectrophotometry, time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The formation constants of the Am(III)-ISA complexes were determined by absorption spectroscopy at temperatures in the range of 15-70 °C. The measured reaction enthalpy and entropy changes indicate that the formation of a 1:1 Am(III)-ISA complex is driven by an increase in entropy. By contrast, the 1:2 complex formation is exothermic with a much less increase in entropy. DFT calculations predict that C2- and C4-hydroxyl groups, along with the carboxyl group, participate in the tridentate chelate binding of the primary ISA. The thermodynamic, TRLFS, and DFT results collectively suggest the tridentate binding of the primary ISA to Am(III) via a carboxylate and C2- and C4-hydroxyl groups in the protonated state and reduced dentate binding of the secondary ISA, such as bidentate binding, forming a four-membered ring structure via the carboxylate group.

The Mediating Effect of Self-Efficacy and Coping Strategy in Relation to Job Stress and Psychological Well-Being of Home-Visiting Care Workers for Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating effect of self-efficacy and coping strategy in the relationship between job stress and the psychological well-being of care workers. The subjects were 112 home-visiting care workers, and data were collected at four home-visiting nursing centers in a metropolitan city and a small and medium-sized city from July to August 2022. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation co-efficient, multiple linear regression, and Sobel test. The mean score of psychological well-being was 3.33 ± 0.46 out of a possible 5. The subject's psychological well-being was correlated with self-efficacy (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), problem-solving-focused coping (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), social-support-seeking coping (r = 0.34, p < 0.001), job stress (r = -0.31, p = 0.001), avoidance-focused coping (r = -0.37, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy (Z = -4.92, p < 0.001), problem-solving-focused coping (Z = -2.56, p = 0.010), and avoidance-focused coping (Z = -3.07, p = 0.002) had a mediating effect in the relationship between job stress and psychological well-being of the subjects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these results, the psychological well-being nursing intervention program for home-visiting care workers need to include job stress, problem-solving-focused coping, and avoidance-focused coping.

A digital workflow for pair matching of maxillary anterior teeth using a 3D segmentation technique for esthetic implant restorations.

We investigated a state-of-the-art algorithm for 3D reconstruction with a pair-matching technique, which enabled the fabrication of individualized implant restorations in the esthetic zone. This method compared 3D mirror images of crowns and emergence profiles between symmetric tooth pairs in the anterior maxilla using digital slicewise DICOM segmentation and the superimposition of STL data. With the outline extraction of each segment provided by 100 patients, the Hausdorff distance (HD) between two point sets was calculated to identify the similarity of the sets. By using HD thresholds as a pair matching criterion, the true positive rates of crowns were 100, 98, and 98%, while the false negative rates were 0, 2, and 2% for central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines, respectively, indicating high pair matching accuracy (> 99%) and sensitivity (> 98%). The true positive rates of emergence profiles were 99, 100, and 98%, while the false negative rates were 1, 0, and 2% for central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines, respectively, indicating high pair matching accuracy (> 99%) and sensitivity (> 98%). Therefore, digitally flipped contours of crown and emergence profiles can be successfully transferred for implant reconstruction in the maxillary anterior region to optimize esthetics and function.

Thermodynamic Studies on the Hydrolysis of Trivalent Plutonium and Solubility of Pu(OH)3(am).

The temperature-dependent reaction properties of actinide elements are of particular interest in the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste (HLRW) disposal systems. In this study, the hydrolysis of Pu(III) and the solubility of Pu(OH)3(am) were investigated at various temperatures (10-40 °C) in 0.1 M NaClO4. A strong reducing condition for maintaining the oxidation state of Pu(III) while slowly increasing the pH of the solution was realized by electrolysis. The formation constants of the first hydrolysis species, log *ß1', and the solubility products of Pu(OH)3(am), log *Ks,0', at 10, 17, and 40 °C were experimentally determined using spectrophotometry, laser-induced breakdown detection, and radiometry. The enthalpy and entropy changes for these reactions were estimated using the van't Hoff equation. The first hydrolysis of Pu(III) is endothermic (ΔrHm° = 34.10 ± 4.48 kJ mol-1), and the dissolution of Pu(OH)3(am) is exothermic (ΔrHm° = -294.29 ± 23.05 kJ mol-1) with negative entropy changes. These thermodynamic data will contribute to improving the reliability of the safety assessment of HLRW disposal facilities and understanding the geochemical behavior of Pu under reducing or anoxic aqueous conditions at elevated temperatures.

In the COVID-19 Era, Effects of Job Stress, Coping Strategies, Meaning in Life and Resilience on Psychological Well-Being of Women Workers in the Service Sector.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors affecting the psychological well-being by using variables of job stress, coping strategies, meaning of life, and resilience to improve the quality of working life during COVID-19. The subjects were 135 adult women working for banks. Data were collected by having the subjects fill out a paper-and-pencil questionnaire, and analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. The subjects' psychological well-being showed positive correlations with the social support-seeking coping mechanism (r = 0.33, p < 0.001), problem-solving-focused coping mechanism (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), meaning in life (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), and resilience (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). Psychological well-being showed negative correlations with job stress (r = −0.44, p < 0.001) and avoidance-focused coping mechanism (r = −0.28, p = 0.001). The factors affecting the psychological well-being were problem-solving-focused coping mechanism (ß = 0.35, p < 0.001), job role stress (ß = −0.24, p < 0.001), meaning inlife (ß = 0.29, p < 0.001), avoidance-focused coping mechanism (ß = −0.23, p < 0.001), and resilience (ß = 0.15, p = 0.023). It is necessary to formalize psychological intervention to induce the improvement of the quality of work life by increasing the psychological well-being of working women during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is suggested that intervention is made in consideration of variables identified as influencing factors to increase the psychological well-being of women workers.

Effects of Health Status, Depression, Gerotranscendence, Self-Efficacy, and Social Support on Healthy Aging in the Older Adults with Chronic Diseases.

Purpose of this study is to analyze factors affecting the healthy aging of the elderly with chronic diseases living in the community according to the worldwide aging phenomenon in line with the WHO's healthy aging strategy. The subjects were 116 elderly aged 65 years or up with one or more chronic diseases and residing in four cities. The collected data were analyzed by using the descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlational coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. The healthy aging of subjects showed positive correlations with the health status (r = 0.68, p < 0.001), gerotranscendence (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), self-efficacy (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), and social support (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), while the healthy aging and depression (r = −0.58, p < 0.001) showed a negative correlation. The factors affecting the healthy aging were health status (ß = 0.24, p = 0.004), self-efficacy (ß = 0.28, p < 0.001), education (ß = −0.11, p = 0.057), exercise (ß = 0.17, p = 0.003), gerotranscendence (ß = 0.22, p = 0.004), and depression (ß = −0.19, p = 0.009), and the explanatory power of those variables was 68.2%. Thus, it would be necessary to provide an intervention for the elderly that could habituate health-related education and exercise, maintain good health status, lower depression, aid control of themselves through the gerotranscendence, and increase self-efficacy.

Selective removal of radioactive iodine from water using reusable Fe@Pt adsorbents.

Environmental damage from serious nuclear accidents should be urgently restored, which needs the removal of radioactive species. Radioactive iodine isotopes are particularly problematic for human health because they are released in large amounts and retain radioactivity for a substantial time. Herein, we prepare platinum-coated iron nanoparticles (Fe@Pt) as a highly selective and reusable adsorbent for iodine species, i.e., iodide (I-), iodine (I2), and methyl iodide (CH3I). Fe@Pt selectively separates iodine species from seawater and groundwater with a removal efficiency ≥ 99.8%. The maximum adsorption capacity for the iodine atom of all three iodine species was determined to be 25 mg/g. The magnetic properties of Fe@Pt allow for the facile recovery and reuse of Fe@Pt, which remains stable with high efficiency (97.5%) over 100 uses without structural and functional degradation in liquid media. Practical application to the removal of radioactive 129I and feasibility for scale-up using a 20 L system demonstrate that Fe@Pt can function as a reusable adsorbent for the selective removal of iodine species. This systematic procedure is a standard protocol for designing highly active adsorbents for the clean separation and removal of various chemical species dissolved in wastewater.

Structural and spectroscopic studies of spontaneously formed crystalline Eu(iii)-aliphatic dicarboxylates at room temperature.

Complexation of actinides and lanthanides with carboxylic organic ligands is a critical issue affecting radionuclide migration from deep geological disposal systems of spent nuclear fuel. A series of Eu(iii)-aliphatic dicarboxylate compounds, as chemical analogs of radioactive Am(iii) species, Eu2(Ox)3(H2O)6, Eu2(Mal)3(H2O)6, and Eu2(Suc)3(H2O)2, were synthesized and characterized using X-ray crystallography and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy to examine the ligand-dependent binding modes and the corresponding changes in spectroscopic properties. Powder X-ray crystallography results confirmed that all of the compounds presented a crystalline polymer structure with a trigonal prism square-face tricapped polyhedron geometry centered on Eu(iii) in a nine-coordinate environment involving nine oxygen atoms. This study captures the transition of the coordination modes of aliphatic dicarboxylate ligands from side-on to end-on binding as the carbon chain length increases. This transition is illustrated in malonate bindings involving a combination of side-on and end-on modes. Strongly enhanced luminescence, especially for the hypersensitive peak, indicates a low site symmetry in the formation of solid compounds. The number of remaining bound water molecules was estimated from the resultant increased luminescence lifetimes, which were in good agreement with crystal structures. The excitation-emission matrix spectra of these crystalline polymers suggest that Ox ligands promote the sensitized luminescence of Eu(iii), especially in the UV region. In the case of Mal and Suc ligands, charge transfer occurs in the opposite direction from Eu(iii) to the ligands under UV excitation, resulting in weaker luminescence.

What Is the Burnout of Mothers with Infants and Toddlers during the COVID-19 Pandemic? In Relation to Parenting Stress, Depression, and Parenting Efficacy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing burnout of mothers with infants or toddlers in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The subjects of this study were 105 mothers who sent their children to daycare centers or kindergartens located in S and G cities. They were women who have experienced caring for children entirely at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Man−Whitney U test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and a stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS Window 25.0 program. Results: The subjects' burnout and parenting stress (r = 0.62, p < 0.001), depression (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), and parenting efficacy (r = −0.62, p < 0.001) showed a large correlation. The factors affecting the subjects' burnout were parenting stress (ß = 0.28, p < 0.001), parenting efficacy (ß = −0.40, p < 0.001), depression (ß = 0.27, p < 0.001), and spouse's support (nearly none) (ß = 0.18, p = 0.004). These variables explained 64.0% of the subjects' burnout. Conclusions: Through the research results, it was confirmed that parenting stress, parenting efficacy, depression, and spouse's support influence the mother's burnout. Therefore, in future studies, it is necessary to expand mental health programs to lower parenting stress and depression into interventional studies on specific educational strategies such as programs to promote efficacy and improve spouse's support.

Effect of Structural Fine-Tuning on Chelate Stability and Liver Uptake of Anionic MRI Contrast Agents.

The purpose of this study is to assess the physicochemical properties and MRI diagnostic efficacy of two newly synthesized 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)-type Gd chelates, Gd-SucL and Gd-GluL, with an asymmetric α-substituted pendant arm as potential hepatocyte-specific magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents (MRI CAs). Our findings show that fine conformational changes in the chelating arm affect the in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior of the MRI CA, and that a six-membered chelating substituent of Gd-SucL is more advantageous in this system to avoid unwanted interactions with endogenous species. Gd-SucL exhibited a general DOTA-like chelate stability trend, indicating that all chelating arms retain coordination bonding. Finally, the in vivo diagnostic efficacy of highly stable Gd-SucL as a potential hepatocyte-specific MRI CA was evaluated using T1-weighted MR imaging on an orthotopic hepatocarcinoma model.