Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of the Smoking Media Literacy Scale for Adolescents

Smoking media literacy has proven to be an effective competency for reducing adolescents' smoking. This study aimed to cross-culturally modify the smoking media literacy scale and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the revised Smoking Media Literacy Scale for Adolescents (K-SMLS). The translation of the K-SMLS was conducted according to the World Health Organization's guidelines. After the translation process, an online survey was conducted with convenience samples of 215 total adolescents from five high schools in the capital city of Korea. Construct validity was examined by exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency reliability was examined with Cronbach's alpha. The final version of the K-SMLS consisted of 15 items. The goodness of fit, determined through a confirmatory factor analysis of the three domains, was acceptable [χ2 = 237.85 (p < 0.001), CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.09, SRMR = 0.09]. The reliability of the K-SMLS was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79). The findings provide evidence for a valid and reliable tool that can be used to assess smoking media literacy in Korean adolescents. Further studies with a probability sampling design are suggested as the use of convenience samples limits the generalizability of the results to other populations

Npas4 regulates IQSEC3 expression in hippocampal somatostatin interneurons to mediate anxiety-like behavior

Activity-dependent GABAergic synapse plasticity is important for normal brain functions, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that Npas4 (neuronal PAS-domain protein 4) transcriptionally regulates the expression of IQSEC3, a GABAergic synapse-specific guanine nucleotide-exchange factor for ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF-GEF) that directly interacts with gephyrin. Neuronal activation by an enriched environment induces Npas4-mediated upregulation of IQSEC3 protein specifically in CA1 stratum oriens layer somatostatin (SST)-expressing GABAergic interneurons. SST+ interneuron-specific knockout (KO) of Npas4 compromises synaptic transmission in these GABAergic interneurons, increases neuronal activity in CA1 pyramidal neurons, and reduces anxiety behavior, all of which are normalized by the expression of wild-type IQSEC3, but not a dominant-negative ARF-GEF-inactive mutant, in SST+ interneurons of Npas4-KO mice. Our results suggest that IQSEC3 is a key GABAergic synapse component that is directed by Npas4 and ARF activity, specifically in SST+ interneurons, to orchestrate excitation-to-inhibition balance and control anxiety-like behavior.1

Application of Multi-Layered Temperature-Responsive Polymer Brushes Coating on Titanium Surface to Inhibit Biofilm Associated Infection in Orthopedic Surgery

Infection associated with biomedical implants remains the main cause of failure, leading to reoperation after orthopedic surgery. Orthopedic infections are characterized by microbial biofilm formation on the implant surface, which makes it challenging to diagnose and treat. One potential method to prevent and treat such complications is to deliver a sufficient dose of antibiotics at the onset of infection. This strategy can be realized by coating the implant with thermoregulatory polymers and triggering the release of antibiotics during the acute phase of infection. We developed a multi-layered temperature-responsive polymer brush (MLTRPB) coating that can release antibiotics once the temperature reaches a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The coating system was developed using copolymers composed of diethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate by alternatively fabricating monomers layer by layer on the titanium surface. LCST was set to the temperature of 38–40 °C, a local temperature that can be reached during infection. The antibiotic elution characteristics were investigated, and the antimicrobial efficacy was tested against S. aureus species (Xen29 ATCC 29 213) using one to four layers of MLTRPB. Both in vitro and in vivo assessments demonstrated preventive effects when more than four layers of the coating were applied, ensuring promising antibacterial effects of the MLTRPB coating

The complete chloroplast genome of Torreya nucifera (Taxaceae) and phylogenetic analysis

Torreya nucifera (L.) Siebold & Zucc. (Taxaceae) is a tertiary relict tree species with a distribution that is limited to South Korea and Japan. In the present study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of T. nucifera was sequenced and analyzed. The genome was 136,985 bp in length and contained 118 genes, including 82 protein-coding genes, 33 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Fifteen of the genes contained a single intron, whereas ycf3 contained two introns and there were no inverted repeat sequences in the genome. Phylogenetic analysis supported the monophyly of Torreya species within the Taxaceae and T. nucifera was closely related to its congener T. grandis

Harnessing Recombinant DnaJ Protein as Reversible Metal Chelator for a High-Performance Resistive Switching Device

A high-performance biomaterial-based resistive switching (RS) device is fabricated by harnessing a thermally denatured protein (hexa-His-tagged recombinant molecular chaperone DnaJ (rDnaJ)) as a switching layer in a Cu/rDnaJ/Pt configuration on SiO₂/Si substrate. The conductivity of the heat-denatured rDnaJ protein layer between the metal electrodes can be reversibly controlled to enable the formation/rupture of conductive Cu filaments by tailoring the metal chelating properties of the amino acid residues in the insulating protein matrix in a pH- and/or redox potential-dependent manner, giving rise to high-performance nonvolatile RS behavior. The rDnaJ-based RS device exhibits extremely low set voltage (∼0.12 V) and reset voltage (∼−0.08 V) with excellent uniformity, along with large memory window (<i>R</i>_HRS/<i>R</i>_LRS > 10⁶) and long retention time (>10⁶ s). In addition, the rDnaJ RS device, which is fabricated on a flexible poly­(ethylene terephthalate) substrate, exhibits an uncompromised switching performance. The present study is the first attempt to explore the use of a recombinant protein as a functional switching layer in RS devices. This approach opens up a new method of harnessing recombinant proteins with engineered properties as powerful building blocks to suit the requirements of next-generation biocompatible, flexible, high-performance, and low power consumption electronics

Adult Moyamoya Disease: A Burden of Intracranial Stenosis in East Asians?

<div><p>Background</p><p>Both Moyamoya disease (MMD) and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) are more prevalent in Asians than in Westerners. We hypothesized that a substantial proportion of patients with adult-onset MMD were misclassified as having ICAS, which may in part explain the high prevalence of intracranial atherosclerotic stroke in Asians.</p><p>Method</p><p>We analyzed 352 consecutive patients with ischemic events within the MCA distribution and relevant intracranial arterial stenosis, but no demonstrable carotid or cardiac embolism sources. Conventional angiography was performed in 249 (70.7%) patients, and the remains underwent MRA. The occurrence of the c.14429G>A (p.Arg4810Lys) variant in ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) was analyzed. This gene was recently identified as a susceptibility gene for MMD in East Asians.</p><p>Results</p><p>The p.Arg4810Lys variant was observed in half of patients with intracranial stenosis (176 of 352, 50.0%), in no healthy control subjects (n = 51), and in 3.2% of stroke control subjects (4 of 124 patients with other etiologies). The presence of basal collaterals, bilateral involvement on angiography, and absence of diabetes were independently associated with the presence of the RNF213 variant. Among 131 patients who met all three diagnostic criteria and were diagnosed with MMD, three-fourths (75.6%) had this variant. However, a significant proportion of patients who met two criteria (57.7%), one criterion (28.6%), or no criteria (20.0%) also had this variant. Some of them developed typical angiographic findings of MMD on follow-up angiography.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Careful consideration of MMD is needed when diagnosing ICAS because differential therapeutic strategies are required for these diseases and due to the limitations of the current diagnostic criteria for MMD.</p></div

Angiographic progression of MMD in an adult patient with intracranial stenosis.

<p>A 42-year-old female presented with transient numbness and clumsiness of her left hand. She had mild stenosis on bilateral and proximal middle cerebral arteries. There was no stenosis of the distal internal carotid artery and basal collaterals, called Moyamoya vessels, on conventional angiography (upper lane). Angiographic findings taken one year later show the progression of stenosis and Moyamoya vessels bilaterally (lower lane). Genetic study revealed <i>RNF213</i> mutation associated with MMD (p.Arg4810Lys).</p

Factors predicting the genetic variant of <i>RNF213</i> associated with MMD among 352 patients with intracranial arterial stenosis.

<p>* Model 2, including age, gender, family history of MMD, vascular risk factors, and number of angiographic diagnostic criteria met.</p><p>Factors predicting the genetic variant of <i>RNF213</i> associated with MMD among 352 patients with intracranial arterial stenosis.</p

Number of cases with <i>RNF213</i> variant+ among intracranial patients with healthy and stroke controls.

<p>Number of cases with <i>RNF213</i> variant+ among intracranial patients with healthy and stroke controls.</p