Construction and Characterization of Polyolefin Elastomer Blends with Chemically Modified Hydrocarbon Resin as a Photovoltaic Module Encapsulant

In this study, polyolefin elastomer (POE) was blended with a chemically modified hydrocarbon resin (m-HCR), which was modified through a simple radical grafting reaction using γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (MTS) as an adhesion promotor to the glass surface, to design an adhesion-enhanced polyolefin encapsulant material for photovoltaic modules. Its chemical modification was confirmed by 1H and 29Si NMR and FT-IR. Interestingly, the POE blends with the m-HCR showed that the melting peak temperature (Tm) was not changed. However, Tm shifted to lower values with increasing m-HCR content after crosslinking. Additionally, the mechanical properties did not significantly differ with increasing m-HCR content. Meanwhile, with increasing m-HCR content in the POE blend, the peel strength increased linearly without sacrificing their transmittance. The test photovoltaic modules comprising the crosslinked POE blend encapsulants showed little difference in the electrical performance after manufacturing. After 1000 h of damp-heat exposure, no significant power loss was observed.

Confining Gold Nanoparticles in Preformed Zeolites by Post-Synthetic Modification Enhances Stability and Catalytic Reactivity and Selectivity

Confining Au nanoparticles (NPs) in a restricted space (e.g., zeolite micropores) is a promising way of overcoming their inherent thermal instability and susceptibility to aggregation, which limit catalytic applications. However, such approaches involve complex, multistep encapsulation processes. Here, we describe a successful strategy and its guiding principles for confining small (<2 nm) and monodisperse Au NPs within commercially available beta and MFI zeolites, which can oxidize CO at 40 °C and show size-selective catalysis. This protocol involves post-synthetic modification of the zeolite internal surface with thiol groups, which confines AuCl _x species inside microporous frameworks during the activation process whereby Au precursors are converted into Au nanoparticles. The resulting beta and MFI zeolites contain uniformly dispersed Au NPs throughout the void space, indicating that the intrinsic stability of the framework promotes resistance to sintering. By contrast, in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) studies evidenced that Au precursors in bare zeolites migrate from the matrix to the external surface during activation, thereby forming large and poorly dispersed agglomerates. Furthermore, the resistance of confined Au NPs against sintering is likely relevant to the intrinsic stability of the framework, supported by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), H₂ chemisorption, and CO Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies. The Au NPs supported on commercial MFI maintain their uniform dispersity to a large extent after treatment at 700 °C that sinters Au clusters on mesoporous silicas or beta zeolites. Low-temperature CO oxidation and size-selective reactions highlight that most gold NPs are present inside the zeolite matrix with a diameter smaller than 2 nm. These findings illustrate how confinement favors small, uniquely stable, and monodisperse NPs, even for metals such as Au susceptible to cluster growth under conditions often required for catalytic use. Moreover, this strategy may be readily adapted to other zeolite frameworks that can be functionalized by thiol groups.

Effects of Hydrophobic Modification of Linear- and Branch-Structured Fluorinated and Nonfluorinated Silanes on Mesoporous Silica Particles

This work reports a comparison of hydrophobic surface modification on mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) obtained by large-scale production using a batch reactor with linear and branched fluorinated and nonfluorinated silanes. Fluorinated silanes were used with TDF-TMOS and TFP-TMOS as a linear and branched structure, respectively. Nonfluorinated silanes were used with OD-TEOS and HMDS as a linear and branched structure, respectively. These four silanes were grafted on the surface of the MSPs as the function of the concentrations, and then, the water contact angles (WCAs) were measured. The WCA of the four silane-grafted MSPs was higher in the branch-structured silanes, namely, TFP-TMOS@MSPs and HMDS@MSPs than in linear-structured silanes, namely, TDF-TMOS and OD-TEOS due to the higher hydrophobicity by a lot of -F and -CH₃ groups. Furthermore, the relationship between the WCA and BET parameters was demonstrated using the surface areas, pore volumes, and grafted amounts of the four silane-grafted MSPs. The structural characterization was demonstrated by solid-state ²⁹Si MAS NMR to determine the bonding environment of Si atoms between the grafted silane and the surfaces of MSPs using the T ³/T ² and Q ³/Q ⁴ ratios of the fluorinated and nonfluorinated silane-grafted MSPs. Among the four silanes, nonfluorinated HMDS@MSPs had a high contact angle of 135° as fluorinated TFP-TMOS@MSPs. When 5 wt % of HMDS@MSPs mixed with gravure ink was coated on a biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) film, the contact angle was improved to 131.8 from 83.3° of the natural PLA film.

Fabrication of a PVA-Based Hydrogel Microneedle Patch

The degree of saponification, which is a dissolution characteristic of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), is used to blend PVA to prepare a hydrogel microneedle (MN) patch. The MN patch was manufactured with an adjustable disassembly time using a molding process, and it was confirmed to have morphological stability and excellent needle formation. The permeability of the gelatin sheet, which is analogous to the skin elasticity coefficient of a real human, was confirmed. The penetration ratio had a very high value of 100% and sufficient physical properties to penetrate the skin. In the disassembly experiment, the MN patch was produced with ratios of lower:higher saponification of 6:4 (PVA6), 7:3 (PVA7), 8:2 (PVA8), 9:1 (PVA9), and 10:0 (PVA10). Degradation did not occur for PVA6 and PVA7 but occurred for PVA8, PVA9, and PVA10. A cytotoxicity test to investigate its suitability for use in the human body confirmed the cell viability of 80% or more and nontoxic properties. Therefore, sufficient cell viability was confirmed when compared to the existing products.

Synthesis and biological characterization of low-calorie Schisandra chinensis syrup

Schisandra chinensis (Omija) is a well-known medicinal plant in East Asia. In this study, Omija oligosaccharide syrup was prepared from sucrose with Omija fruit extract using two glucansucrases of Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512F/KM and L. mesenteroides B-1355CF10/KM. The degree of polymerization of Omija oligosaccharide syrup was ranged from 2 - 13 by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Compared to the Omija syrup, the Omija oligosaccharide syrup reduced 61% calories based on the enzymatic gravimetric method. It also reduced up to 96% insoluble glucan formation from sucrose by mutansucrase of Streptococcus mutans at 500 mg/mL. Additionally, it has 1.78-fold higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity value compared to Omija syrup. Using electronic tongue sensor system, Omija oligosaccharide syrup showed decreased sourness, astringency, and saltiness compared to Omija syrup. Thus, Omija oligosaccharides can be used as functional sweetener in nutraceutical industries.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01061-8.

Synthesis and Characterization of Multifunctional Secondary Thiol Hardeners Using 3-Mercaptobutanoic Acid and Their Thiol-Epoxy Curing Behavior

3-Mercaptobutanoic acid (3-MBA) was synthesized by the less odorous Michael addition pathway using an isothiouronium salt intermediate. Using the synthesized 3-MBA, multifunctional secondary thiol (sec-thiol) compounds were obtained and applied to thiol-epoxy curing systems as hardeners. As the functionality of the sec-thiol hardeners increased, the purity of the product obtained after distillation decreased. The equivalent epoxy mixtures with multifunctional sec-thiol hardeners were evaluated based on their impact on the curing behavior in thiol-epoxy click reactions by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal features of sec-thiol-epoxy click reactions in the presence of a base catalyst were assessed according to the functionality of the sec-thiol hardeners. Our results showed that sec-thiol hardeners with less reactivity to the epoxy group provide long-term storage stability for the formulated epoxy resin, promising for industrial applications.

Depth image conversion model based on CycleGAN for growing tomato truss identification

BACKGROUND

On tomato plants, the flowering truss is a group or cluster of smaller stems where flowers and fruit develop, while the growing truss is the most extended part of the stem. Because the state of the growing truss reacts sensitively to the surrounding environment, it is essential to control its growth in the early stages. With the recent development of information and artificial intelligence technology in agriculture, a previous study developed a real-time acquisition and evaluation method for images using robots. Furthermore, we used image processing to locate the growing truss to extract growth information. Among the different vision algorithms, the CycleGAN algorithm was used to generate and transform unpaired images using generated learning images. In this study, we developed a robot-based system for simultaneously acquiring RGB and depth images of the growing truss of the tomato plant.

RESULTS

The segmentation performance for approximately 35 samples was compared via false negative (FN) and false positive (FP) indicators. For the depth camera image, we obtained FN and FP values of 17.55 ± 3.01% and 17.76 ± 3.55%, respectively. For the CycleGAN algorithm, we obtained FN and FP values of 19.24 ± 1.45% and 18.24 ± 1.54%, respectively. When segmentation was performed via image processing through depth image and CycleGAN, the mean intersection over union (mIoU) was 63.56 ± 8.44% and 69.25 ± 4.42%, respectively, indicating that the CycleGAN algorithm can identify the desired growing truss of the tomato plant with high precision.

CONCLUSIONS

The on-site possibility of the image extraction technique using CycleGAN was confirmed when the image scanning robot drove in a straight line through a tomato greenhouse. In the future, the proposed approach is expected to be used in vision technology to scan tomato growth indicators in greenhouses using an unmanned robot platform.

From Low to High Saturation Magnetization in Magnetite Nanoparticles: The Crucial Role of the Molar Ratios Between the Chemicals

In this study, a comprehensive characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by using a simple one-pot thermal decomposition route is presented. In order to obtain monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles with high saturation magnetization, close to the bulk material, the molar ratios between the starting materials (solvents, reducing agents, and surfactants) were varied. Two out of nine conditions investigated in this study resulted in monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles with high saturation magnetization (90 and 93% of bulk magnetite). The X-ray diffraction analyses along with the inspection of the lattice structure through transmission electron micrographs revealed that the main cause of the reduced magnetization in the other seven samples is likely due to the presence of distortion and microstrain in the particles. Although the thermogravimetric analysis, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies confirmed the presence of covalently bonded oleic acid on the surface of all the samples, the particles with higher polydispersity and the lowest surface coating molecules showed the lowest saturation magnetization. Based on the observed results, it could be speculated that the changes in the kinetics of the reactions, induced by varying the molar ratio of the starting chemicals, can lead to the production of the particles with higher polydispersity and/or lattice deformation in their crystal structures. Finally, it was concluded that the experimental conditions for obtaining high-quality iron oxide nanoparticles, particularly the molar ratios and the heating profile, should not be chosen independently; for any specific molar ratio, there may exist a specific heating profile or vice versa. Because this synthetic consideration has rarely been reported in the literature, our results can give insights into the design of iron oxide nanoparticles with high saturation magnetization for different applications.

Anticancer effect of locally applicable aptamer-conjugated gemcitabine-loaded atelocollagen patch in pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenograft models

We investigated the anticancer effect of the aptamer-conjugated gemcitabine-loaded atelocollagen patch in a pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model to propose a future potential adjuvant surgical strategy during curative pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer. A pancreatic cancer PDX model was established. Animals were grouped randomly into a no-treatment control group; treatment group treated with intraperitoneal gemcitabine injection (IP-GEM) or aptamer-conjugated gemcitabine (APT:GEM); and transplant with three kinds of patches: atelocollagen-aptamer-gemcitabine (patch I), atelocollagen-inactive aptamer-gemcitabine (patch II), and atelocollagen-gemcitabine (patch III). Tumor volumes and response were evaluated based on histological analysis by H&E staining and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed. Anticancer therapy-related toxicity was evaluated by hematologic findings. The patch I group showed the most significant reduction of tumor growth rate, compared with the no-treatment group (p < 0.05). However, other treatment groups were not found to show significant reduction in tumor growth rate (0.05 < p < 0.1). There was no microscopic evidence suggesting potential toxicity, such as inflammation, nor necrotic changes in liver, lung, kidney, and spleen tissue. In addition, no leukopenia, anemia, or neutropenia was observed in the patch I group. This implantable aptamer-drug conjugate system is thought to be a new surgical strategy to augment the oncologic significance of margin-negative resection in treating pancreatic cancer in near future.

Genomic Landscape and Clinical Utility in Korean Advanced Pan-Cancer Patients from Prospective Clinical Sequencing: K-MASTER Program

The fundamental principle of precision oncology is centralized on the identification of therapeutically exploitable targets that provides individual patients with cancer an opportunity to make informed decisions on a personalized level. To facilitate and adopt such concepts within clinical practice, we have initiated a nationwide, multi-institutional precision oncology screening program to examine and enroll patients into the most appropriate clinical trial based on their tumor's unique molecular properties. To determine the prevalence of essential major driver mutations and to explore their dynamic associations at both molecular and pathway levels, we present a comprehensive overview on the genomic properties of East Asian patients with cancer. We further delineate the extent of genomic diversity as well as clinical actionability in patients from Western and Eastern cultures at the pan-cancer and single-tumor entity levels. To support fellow oncology communities in future investigations involving large-scale analysis, all data have been made accessible to the public (https://kmportal.or.kr).

SIGNIFICANCE

We present a comprehensive overview of molecular properties of East Asian pan-cancer patients and demonstrate significant diversity in terms of genomic characteristics as well as clinical utility compared with patients with European ancestry. The results of this study will lay the groundwork for designing personalized treatments in the clinical setting. See related commentary by Moyers and Subbiah, p. 886. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 873.

Piperonal synthase from black pepper (Piper nigrum) synthesizes a phenolic aroma compound, piperonal, as a CoA-independent catalysis

Piperonal is a simple aromatic aldehyde compound with a characteristic cherry-like aroma and has been widely used in the flavor and fragrance industries. Despite piperonal being an important aroma in black pepper (Piper nigrum), its biosynthesis remains unknown. In this study, the bioinformatic analysis of the P. nigrum transcriptome identified a novel hydratase-lyase, displaying 72% amino acid identity with vanillin synthase, a member of the cysteine proteinase family. In in vivo substrate-feeding and in vitro enzyme assays, the hydratase-lyase catalyzed a side-chain cleavage of 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid (3,4-MDCA) to produce 3,4-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde (piperonal) and thus was named piperonal synthase (PnPNS). The optimal pH for PnPNS activity was 7.0, and showed a K _m of 317.2 μM and a k _cat of 2.7 s^-1. The enzyme was most highly expressed in the leaves, followed by the fruit. This characterization allows for the implementation of PnPNS in various microbial platforms for the biological production of piperonal.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13765-022-00691-0.

Fabrication of Binder Pitches Allowing for Low-Temperature Formation and High Coking Values and Examination of Mechanical Properties of Artificial Graphite Blocks Made of Binder Pitches

The present study focused on the development of a binder pitch to allow for low-temperature forming processes when fabricating coke-based artificial graphite blocks while increasing the density of the resultant blocks. To this end, high-softening-point (200 °C) pitches were fabricated. The pitch and byproducts obtained from the pitch synthesis were then used as binders to fabricate blocks with high mechanical strength and low porosity. Pitches were fabricated using pyrolyzed fuel oil (PFO), a petroleum residue. A high-softening-point (200 °C) pitch synthesized at 420 °C for 3 h was used as a binder pitch, and conventional pitch (124 °C) was synthesized at 400 °C for 1 h and then used. Pitch byproducts were extracted according to the boiling point of naphthalene (two rings) and anthracene (three rings) with varying numbers of aromatic rings by distillation. The largest amount of pitch byproduct was obtained in the temperature range from 220 to 340 °C, and the content of naphthalene in the byproduct was the highest over the entire temperature range. The fabricated pitches at 420 °C and byproducts were mixed to form modified pitches. It was found that their softening point and coking value (CV) decreased with the increasing content of the pitch byproduct. Low-boiling point components of the byproducts were removed from the modified pitches at the kneading process temperature (200 °C), and the mass-loss rate observed in the carbonization process temperature range (200-900 °C) was comparable to that of the high-softening-point pitch. The kneading rate of the pitch and byproduct was determined and selected based on the mass-loss rate described above, and blocks were then fabricated using a hot press. Subsequently, the fabricated blocks were subjected to heat treatment for carbonization (900 °C) and graphitization (2700 °C). After the heat treatment, the true density and apparent density of the blocks were measured, and the porosity of the blocks was calculated based on these values. The porosity of the graphite block fabricated using the pitch with a softening point of 120 °C was 21.84%, while the porosity of the graphite block fabricated using the modified pitch was 14.9%. For mechanical strength analysis, their compressive strength was measured. The compressive strength of the graphite block made of the conventional pitch (CP) was measured to be 47.59 MPa, while the compressive strength of the graphite block made of pitch mixed with a byproduct distilled at 220-340 °C was 58.79 MPa. This result suggested that a decrease in the porosity resulted in increased mechanical strength. The application of the modified pitches developed in the present study temporarily decreased the softening point of the high-softening-point pitch due to the effect of the added byproducts, allowing for a low-temperature forming process. It was also possible to fabricate artificial graphite blocks with low porosity due to the high CV of the high-softening-point pitch. As a result, blocks with high mechanical strength could be obtained.

Quantitative Interpretation of Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Efficiency: Is It Really a Wave Absorber or a Reflector?

As electromagnetic (EM) pollution continues to increase, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials have been intensively evaluated in terms of two main shielding mechanisms of reflection and absorption. Since the shielding effectiveness (SE) is represented in the logarithmic scale and in a coupled way of transmission (SE_T), absorption (SE_A), and reflection (SE_R), often there is a misinterpretation that the EM wave reflectors are regarded as EM wave-absorbing materials. Surprisingly, we found that many materials reported as an EM wave absorber in the literature provide, in fact, less than 50% of EM wave-absorbing capability, i.e., over 50% of EM wave-reflecting feature. According to the theory and definition of EMI SE, the absorption-dominant EMI shielding materials should have the ratio of absorption to incident energy (A) as A > 0.5, which corresponds to a necessary condition that SE_R < 3.01 dB. The SE_R subsequently gives SE_A in relation to SE_T. Using this criterion, we classified the EMI shielding materials with their shielding mechanism. The proposed methodology provides significant insight into the evaluation and development of EMI shielding materials.

Droplet evaporation on porous fabric materials

Droplet evaporation on porous materials is a complex dynamic that occurs with spontaneous liquid imbibition through pores by capillary action. Here, we explore water dynamics on a porous fabric substrate with in-situ observations of X-ray and optical imaging techniques. We show how spreading and wicking lead to water imbibition through a porous substrate, enhancing the wetted surface area and consequently promoting evaporation. These sequential dynamics offer a framework to understand the alterations in the evaporation due to porosity for the particular case of fabric materials and a clue of how face masks interact with respiratory droplets.

All-in-one flexible supercapacitor with ultrastable performance under extreme load

Fiber-type solid-state supercapacitors are being widely investigated as stable power supply for next-generation wearable and flexible electronics. Integrating both high charge storage capability and superior mechanical properties into one fiber is crucial to realize fiber-type solid-state supercapacitors. In this study, we design a “jeweled necklace”–like hybrid composite fiber comprising double-walled carbon nanotube yarn and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Subsequent heat treatment transforms MOFs into MOF-derived carbon (MDC), thereby maximizing energy storage capability while retaining the superior mechanical properties. The hybrid fibers with tunable properties, including thickness and MDC loading amount, exhibit a high energy density of 7.54 milliwatt-hour per cubic centimeter at a power density of 190.94 milliwatt per cubic centimeter. The mechanical robustness of the hybrid fibers allows them to operate under various mechanical deformation conditions. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the resulting superstrong fiber delivers sufficient power to switch on light-emitting diodes by itself while suspending 10-kilogram weight.

The blood level of thioredoxin 1 as a supporting biomarker in the detection of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

There is a long-time unmet need for a means to detect breast cancer (BC) using blood. Although mammography is accepted as the gold standard for screening, a blood-based diagnostic can complement mammography and assist in the accurate detection of BC in the diagnostic process period of early diagnosis. We have previously reported the possible use of thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) in serum as a novel means to detect BC. In the present study, we validated the clinical utility of Trx1 to identify BC by testing sera from biopsy-confirmed cancer patients and women without cancer.

METHODS

We have generated monoclonal antibodies against Trx1 and developed an ELISA kit that can quantitate Trx1 in sera. The level of Trx1 was determined in each serum from women without cancer (n = 114), as well as in serum from patients with BC (n = 106) and other types of cancers (n = 74), including cervical, lung, stomach, colorectal, and thyroid cancer. The sera from BC patients were collected and classified by the subjects' age and cancer stage. In addition to the Trx1 levels of BC patients, several pathological and molecular aspects of BC were analyzed. Test results were retrospectively compared to those from mammography. Each test was duplicated, and test results were analyzed by ROC analysis, one-way ANOVA tests, and unpaired t-tests.

RESULTS

The mean level of Trx1 from women without cancer was 5.45 ± 4.16 (±SD) ng/ml, that of the other malignant cancer patient group was 2.70 ± 2.01 ng/ml, and that from the BC group was 21.96 ± 6.79 ng/ml. The difference among these values was large enough to distinguish BC sera from non-BC control sera with a sensitivity of 97.17% and specificity of 94.15% (AUC 0.990, p < 0.0001). Most Trx1 levels from BC patients' sera were higher than the cut-off value of 11.4 ng/ml regardless of age, stage, histological grade, type, and specific receptors' expression profile of BC. The level of Trx1 could rescue women from most cases of misread or incomplete mammography diagnoses.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that the blood level of Trx1 could be an effective and accurate means to assist the detection of BC during the early diagnosis period.

Reversible Crosslinking of Polymer/Metal-Ion Complexes for a Microfluidic Switch

The importance of chitosan has been strongly emphasized in literature because this natural polymer could not only remove heavy metal ions in water but also have the potential for recyclability. However, reversible phase transition and its dynamics, which are highlighting areas of a recycle process, have not been studied sufficiently. Here, we present dynamic studies of the dissolution as well as the gelation of a physically crosslinked chitosan hydrogel. Specifically, a one-dimensional gel growth system and an acetate buffer solution were prepared for the precise analysis of the dominant factors affecting a phase transition. The dissolution rate was found to be regulated by three major factors of the pH level, Cu2+, and NO2 -, while the gelation rate was strongly governed by the concentration of OH-. Apart from the gelation rate, the use of Cu2+ led to the rapid realization of gel characteristics. The results here provide strategies for process engineering, ultimately to determine the phase-transition rates. In addition, a microfluidic switch was successfully operated based on a better understanding of the reversible crosslinking of the chitosan hydrogel. Rapid gelation was required to close the channel, and a quick switchover was achieved by a dissolution enhancement strategy. As a result, factors that regulated the rates of gelation or dissolution were found to be useful to operate the fluidic switch.

Association of occupation with the daily physical activity and sedentary behaviour of middle-aged workers in Korea: a cross-sectional study based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVES

The WHO recommends that adults engage in regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (MVPAs) and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA), and minimise sedentary behaviour. This study aimed to determine the association of occupation with MVPA, MSA and sedentary behaviour in middle-aged Korean workers.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A cross-sectional study using data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018).

PARTICIPANTS

Workers aged between 40 and 69 years in Korea (n=6359).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Population-weighted proportions not meeting the MVPA (＜150 min/week) and MSA (＜2 days/week) guidelines, and with high sedentary behaviour (＞7 hours/day) were calculated, and their associations with sociodemographic and work-related variables were assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses. Additionally, the estimated time spent on MVPA, MSA and sedentary behaviour according to the occupation categories (white-collar, pink-collar and blue-collar) was calculated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

RESULTS

The MVPA level did not show a significant difference across the occupation categories. Blue-collar workers showed significantly lower MSA participation than white-collar and pink-collar workers (male, p=0.006; female, p=0.004; by ANCOVA). High sedentary behaviour was significantly associated with white-collar occupations (p<0.001 by ANCOVA). Longer working hours were negatively associated with MVPA (OR=1.01, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.02) and MSA (OR=1.01, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02). Workers with higher stress were less likely to participate in MSA (male: OR=1.43, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.86; female: OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.80). Self-employed workers showed lower MVPA levels than employees (male: OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.47; female: OR=1.36, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.64). Daily workers compared with full-time workers (OR=0.38, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.59) and temporary workers compared with regular workers (OR=0.75, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.95) were associated with less sedentary behaviour in men.

CONCLUSION

A number of work-related factors were associated with PA levels and sedentary behaviour in middle-aged workers. The workplace is one of the critical elements to intervene in health promotion strategies.

A New Class of Carbon Nanostructures for High-Performance Electro-Magnetic and -Chemical Barriers

It is of importance to explore a new carbon nanomaterial possessing vital functions to fulfill the high standards for practical achievement of the electromagnetic (EM) barrier for blocking EM waves and the electrochemical (EC) barrier as a functional separator for EC energy storage. Herein, facile synthesis of a new class of carbon nanostructures, which consist of interconnected N-doped graphitic carbon nanocubes partially embedded by nickel nanoparticles, is described. The hollow interior of graphitic nanocube induces internal reflection of EM waves and confines active materials of EC energy storage. Nitrogen functionalities implanted in graphitic structure enhance electrical conductivity as well as improve chemical interaction with active materials. Furthermore, nickel nanoparticles in graphitic nanocube function as an EM wave-absorbing material and an electrocatalyst for EC energy storage. Through comprehensive assessments, remarkable performances originating from distinctive nanostructures give new insights into structural design for the carbon nanostructure-based high-performance EM and EC barriers.

3D Recognition Based on Sensor Modalities for Robotic Systems: A Survey

3D visual recognition is a prerequisite for most autonomous robotic systems operating in the real world. It empowers robots to perform a variety of tasks, such as tracking, understanding the environment, and human-robot interaction. Autonomous robots equipped with 3D recognition capability can better perform their social roles through supportive task assistance in professional jobs and effective domestic services. For active assistance, social robots must recognize their surroundings, including objects and places to perform the task more efficiently. This article first highlights the value-centric role of social robots in society by presenting recently developed robots and describes their main features. Instigated by the recognition capability of social robots, we present the analysis of data representation methods based on sensor modalities for 3D object and place recognition using deep learning models. In this direction, we delineate the research gaps that need to be addressed, summarize 3D recognition datasets, and present performance comparisons. Finally, a discussion of future research directions concludes the article. This survey is intended to show how recent developments in 3D visual recognition based on sensor modalities using deep-learning-based approaches can lay the groundwork to inspire further research and serves as a guide to those who are interested in vision-based robotics applications.

Potential of Carbon-Based Nanocomposites for Dental Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

While conventional dental implants focus on mechanical properties, recent advances in functional carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) accelerated the facilitation of functionalities including osteoinduction, osteoconduction, and osseointegration. The surface functionalization with CNMs in dental implants has emerged as a novel strategy for reinforcement and as a bioactive cue due to their potential for mechanical reinforcing, osseointegration, and antimicrobial properties. Numerous developments in the fabrication and biological studies of CNMs have provided various opportunities to expand their application to dental regeneration and restoration. In this review, we discuss the advances in novel dental implants with CNMs in terms of tissue engineering, including material combination, coating strategies, and biofunctionalities. We present a brief overview of recent findings and progression in the research to show the promising aspect of CNMs for dental implant application. In conclusion, it is shown that further development of surface functionalization with CNMs may provide innovative results with clinical potential for improved osseointegration after implantation.

Threshold Switching of Ag-Ga2Te3 Selector with High Endurance for Applications to Cross-Point Arrays

Threshold switching in chalcogenides has attracted considerable attention because of their potential application to high-density and three-dimensional stackable cross-point array structures. However, despite their excellent threshold switching characteristics, the selectivity and endurance characteristics of such selectors should be improved for practical application. In this study, the effect of Ag on the threshold switching behavior of a Ga₂Te₃ selector was investigated in terms of selectivity and endurance. The Ag-Ga₂Te₃ selector exhibited a high selectivity of 10⁸ with low off-state current of < 100 fA, steep turn-on slope of 0.19 mV/dec, and high endurance of 10⁹ cycles. The transient response was verified to depend on the pulse input voltage and measurement temperature. Considering its excellent threshold switching characteristics, the Ag-Ga₂Te₃ selector is a promising candidate for applications in cross-point array structures.

A strategy for preparing controllable, superhydrophobic, strongly sticky surfaces using SiO2@PVDF raspberry core-shell particles

In nature, wetting by water droplets on superhydrophobic materials is governed by the Cassie-Baxter or Wenzel models. Moreover, sticky properties, derived from these types of wettings, are required for a wide range of applications involving superhydrophobic materials. As a facile new strategy, a method employing a gaseous fluorine precursor to fabricate core-shell particles, comprising perfectly shaped fluorine shells with adjustable adhesive strength, is described in this paper. Silica was used as the hydrophilic core, while polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was used for the hydrophobic shell coating, forming a raspberry-like shape. In addition, controlling the amount of PVDF coated on the silica surface enabled the water droplets to come into contact with both the PVDF of the shell and the silica of the core, thereby controlling both the superhydrophobicity and the adhesive strength. Thus, the synthesized particles formed a structured coating with controllable stickiness and contact angles of 131-165°. Furthermore, on surfaces with high adhesivity, the water droplets remained stable at tilt angles of 90° and 180° even under a strong centrifugal force, whereas on surfaces with low adhesivity, the water droplets slid off when the substrate was tilted at 4°.

Hydrophobic Mesoporous Silica Particles Modified With Nonfluorinated Alkyl Silanes

This work reports the preparation of hydrophobic mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) modified with nonfluorinated alkyl silanes. Alkyl silanes were grafted onto the surface of the MSPs as a function of the length of nonfluorinated alkyl chains such as propyltriethoxysilane (C₃), octyltriethoxysilane (C₈), dodecyltriethoxysilane (C₁₂), and octadecyltriethoxysilane (C₁₈). Moreover, the grafting of the different alkyl silanes onto the surface of MSPs to make them hydrophobic was demonstrated using different conditions such as by changing the pH (0, 4, 6, 8, and 13), solvent type (protic and aprotic), concentration of silanes (0, 0.12, 0.24, 0.36, 0.48, and 0.60 M), reaction time (1, 2, 3, and 4 days), and reaction temperature (25 and 40 °C). The contact angles of the alkyl silane-modified MSPs were increased as a function of the alkyl chain lengths in the order of C₁₈ > C₁₂ > C₈ > C₃, and the contact angle of C₁₈-modified MSPs was 4 times wider than that of unmodified MSPs. The unmodified MSPs had a contact angle of 25.3°, but C₁₈-modified MSPs had a contact angle of 102.1°. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of the nonfluorinated alkyl silane-modified MSPs was also demonstrated by the adsorption of a hydrophobic lecithin compound, which showed the increase of lecithin adsorption as a function of the alkyl chain lengths. The cross-linking ratios of the modified silanes on the MSPs were confirmed by solid-state ²⁹Si-MAS nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement. Consequently, the hydrophobic modification on MSPs using nonfluorinated alkyl silanes was best preferred in a protic solvent, with a reaction time of ∼24 h at 25 °C and at a high concentration of silanes.

Attenuating Fibrotic Markers of Patient-Derived Dermal Fibroblasts by Thiolated Lignin Composites

We report the use of phenolic functional groups of lignosulfonate to impart antioxidant properties and the cell binding domains of gelatin to enhance cell adhesion for poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based scaffolds. Chemoselective thiol-ene chemistry was utilized to form composites with thiolated lignosulfonate (TLS) and methacrylated fish gelatin (fGelMA). Antioxidant properties of TLS were not altered after thiolation and the levels of antioxidation were comparable to those of L-ascorbic acid. PEG-fGelMA-TLS composites significantly reduced the difference in COL1A1, ACTA2, TGFB1, and HIF1A genes between high-scarring and low-scarring hdFBs, providing the potential utility of TLS to attenuate fibrotic responses.