During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean workers have reported various types of sickness presenteeism (SP: continuing to attend work during illness). Understanding SP through mental health perspectives ...will help to make practical strategy for better working conditions. We examined the association between SP and depression among Korean workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation with the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.
Data from the 2020 Korean Community Health Survey were used as a representative nationwide sample dataset. We surveyed the experience of depression in the last two weeks from individuals who worked more than a week recently. We investigated the associations between SP and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were scored using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the significance of the associations.
Analysis of the data obtained from 84,514 participants revealed that 1700 (2.2 %) participants reported experiencing depressive symptoms in 2020. Employees with SP showed higher association with depressive symptoms than employers or self-employed individuals (OR = 2.18, 95 % CI: 1.85, 2.56 among employees vs. OR = 1.76, 95 % CI: 1.29, 2.40 among employers or self-employed individuals).
SP has become more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. A protective strategy against SP among vulnerable workers is necessary for a healthier and safer society.
•Sick presenteeism(SP) was significantly associated with depressive symptoms.•Employees showed the higher association than employers or self-employed workers.•SP has become more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An imbalanced gut microbiome has been linked to a higher risk of many bone-related diseases. The objective of this study was to discover biomarkers of osteoporosis (OP). So, we collected 76 stool ...samples (60 human controls and 16 OP patients), extracted DNA, and performed 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene-based amplicon sequencing. Among the taxa with an average taxonomic composition greater than 1%, only the
genus showed a significant difference between the two groups. The Linear Discriminant Effect Size analysis and qPCR experiments indicated the
genus as a potential biomarker of OP. Moreover, a total of 11 metabolic pathways varied between the two groups. Our study concludes that the genus
is potentially crucial for diagnosing and treating osteoporosis. The findings of this study might help researchers better understand OP from a microbiome perspective. This research might develop more effective diagnostic and treatment methods for OP in the future.
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•IMBL-1412 isolate showed high JHAN and insecticidal activity against P. xylostella.•IMBL-1823 isolate showed high JHAN and insecticidal activity against P. xylostella.•Both IMBL-1412 ...and IMBL-1823 were identified as Streptomyces lactacystinicus.•Ethyl acetate fraction of them showed high JHAN and insecticidal activities.
Due to their specificity to target insects and low toxicity to non-target organisms, insect growth regulators (IGRs) have been promising alternatives to neurotoxic insecticides. Actinobacteria produce a wide range of secondary metabolites with insecticidal and insect growth regulatory activities. In this study, the culture media of 25 actinobacteria isolates showing high juvenile hormone antagonist (JHAN) activity were assessed for their insecticidal activity to identify novel IGR compounds toxic to Plutella xylostella. Among them, four isolates exhibited high insecticidal activity against 3rd instar larvae of P. xylostella. Two isolates of IMBL-1412 and IMBL-1823 showing relatively high insecticidal activities (greater than90% mortality) were identified as Streptomyces lactacystinicus based on colony color on various International Streptomyces Project (ISP) media and nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. The ethyl acetate fractions of both isolates showed high JHAN and insecticidal activities against P. xylostella larvae at a concentration of 100 ppm when the culture media of these two isolates were extracted sequentially using hexane, ethyl acetate, and butyl alcohol. These results suggested that secondary metabolites of these actinobacterial isolates could be efficiently applied to develop novel IGR insecticides for the control of P. xylostella.
We aimed to investigate the association between working from home (WFH), depression/anxiety, and work-family conflict (WFC) among Korean workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We surveyed a total of ...1074 workers online. Depression and anxiety were measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Mediating effects of WFC on the relationship between WFH and depression/anxiety were examined.
The WFH group had higher depression and anxiety scores than the daily commuting group. As WFC increased, the CES-D and BAI scores also increased. A possible mediating effect of WFC on the relationship between WFH and high CES-D and BAI scores was found.
We observed a significant difference in depression/anxiety between WFH and daily commute workers, which was mediated by WFC, especially for young, child-growing, and precarious workers.
Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have drawn significant attention for their potential in optoelectronic applications due to their direct band gap and exceptional quantum yield. ...However, TMD‐based light‐emitting devices have shown low external quantum efficiencies as imbalanced free carrier injection often leads to the formation of non‐radiative charged excitons, limiting practical applications. Here, electrically confined electroluminescence (EL) of neutral excitons in tungsten diselenide (WSe2) light‐emitting transistors (LETs) based on the van der Waals heterostructure is demonstrated. The WSe2 channel is locally doped to simultaneously inject electrons and holes to the 1D region by a local graphene gate. At balanced concentrations of injected electrons and holes, the WSe2 LETs exhibit strong EL with a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ≈8.2 % at room temperature. These experimental and theoretical results consistently show that the enhanced EQE could be attributed to dominant exciton emission confined at the 1D region while expelling charged excitons from the active area by precise control of external electric fields. This work shows a promising approach to enhancing the EQE of 2D light‐emitting transistors and modulating the recombination of exciton complexes for excitonic devices.
This work demonstrates electrically confined electroluminescence of neutral excitons in WSe2 light‐emitting transistors (LETs). By balancing injected electrons and holes, and electrically confining neutral excitons, WSe2 LETs exhibit strong electroluminescence with a high external quantum efficiency of ≈8.2 % at room temperature. This work shows a promising approach to enhancing efficiency and modulating the recombination of exciton complexes for 2D excitonic devices.
Mosquitoes are major pests that attack humans and spread pathogens. To control mosquito larvae, insect growth regulators such as methoprene and pyriproxyfen have been widely used. Juvenile hormone ...antagonists (JHAN) have the potential to act as an eco‐friendly insecticide with a novel mode of action. Actinomycetes are known as a producer of an enormous number of secondary metabolites. In this study, secondary metabolites of 232 Actinomycetes strains were screened for their juvenile hormone antagonist activity and their mosquito larvicidal activity. Among them, IMBL‐1939, 1952, 2005 and 2064 strains showed mosquito larvicidal activity with JHAN activity. These actinomycetes derived JHAN could be alternative sustainable vector control agents.
Myricetin is a biologically active natural polyphenol with beneficial effects on metabolic health. This study aimed to examine the effects of myricetin on the expression levels of genes involved in ...lipolysis and mitochondrial respiration in adipocytes and the anti-obesity potential of myricetin. The results indicated that myricetin reduced triglyceride (TG) content and increased mitochondrial content and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in adipocytes in vitro. To determine anti-obesity effect of myricetin, C57BL6/J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for eight weeks and then treated with myricetin (10 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. The in vivo treatment of myricetin reduced body weight by 11%. Furthermore, it improved the glucose tolerance, and increased fatty acid consumption of HFD-fed mice. Myricetin treatment increased Sirt3 expression and reduced the acetylation of mitochondrial proteins in adipose tissue. Finally, the knockdown of Sirt3 in adipocytes reduced the myricetin-induced increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate by about 27% compared to controls. Our results indicated that myricetin exerted anti-obesity effects through the upregulation of Sirt3 expression and mitochondrial metabolism in adipose tissue.
We investigated the role of connexin 43 (Cx43) in maintaining the integrity of mitochondria in brown adipose tissue (BAT). The functional effects of Cx43 were evaluated using inducible, ...adipocyte-specific Cx43 knockout in mice (Gja1
KO) and by overexpression and knockdown of Cx43 in cultured adipocytes. Mitochondrial morphology was evaluated by electron microscopy and mitochondrial function and autophagy were assessed by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and qPCR. The metabolic effects of adipocyte-specific knockout of Cx43 were assessed during cold stress and following high fat diet feeding. Cx43 expression was higher in BAT compared to white adipose tissue. Treatment with the β3-adrenergic receptor agonist CL316,243 increased Cx43 expression and mitochondrial localization. Gja1
KO mice reduced mitochondrial density and increased the presence of damaged mitochondria in BAT. Moreover, metabolic activation with CL316,243 further reduced mitochondrial integrity and upregulated autophagy in the BAT of Gja1
KO mice. Inhibition of Cx43 in cultured adipocytes increased the generation of reactive oxygen species and induction of autophagy during β-adrenergic stimulation. Gja1
KO mice were cold intolerant, expended less energy in response to β3-adrenergic receptor activation, and were more insulin resistant after a high-fat diet challenge. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Cx43 is required for maintaining the mitochondrial integrity and metabolic activity of BAT.
Electrically Confined Electroluminescence
In article number 2310498, Gwan‐Hyoung Lee and co‐workers demonstrate electrically confined electroluminescence of neutral excitons in WSe2 light‐emitting ...transistors (LETs). By achieving balanced concentrations of injected electrons and holes, and confining neutral exciton within the 1D region, the WSe2 LETs exhibit strong electroluminescence with a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ≈8.2% at room temperature, which will be a promising approach to enhancing the EQE and modulating exciton complexes for 2D excitonic devices.
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