A combination of a series of epoxy coatings filled with octadecylamine (ODA)-modified graphene oxide (mGO) or commercial exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP) was developed to boost the anticorrosion performances of mild steel substrates in acidic and NaCl aqueous solutions. The xGnP and mGO were applied successfully as fillers for the preparation of layer by layer (LBL) xGnP or mGO/epoxy coatings, respectively, which were coated on the clean steel surfaces to form LBLassembled layers. The LBL-assembled xGnP or mGO/epoxy coating-coated steel substrates exhibit excellent anticorrosion performances. The corrosion potentials (Ecorr) of xGnP-1/xGnP-2/3 and mGO-1/mGO-2/3 display at − 193 and − 150 mV, respectively, while Ecorr of the bare steel shows at − 871 mV of immersion in the 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The most positive Ecorr values are obtained for xGnP-1/2/3 (− 117 mV) and mGO-1/2/3 (− 66 mV), showing the best anticorrosion performances compared to the bare steel (− 404 mV) in 17 wt% HCl solution.

The effects of different plasma agent species ( CF4, N2) over the conductivity of CFX cathode material were identified. Both plasma treatments have surface etching effect, while the CF4 plasma treatment has C–F bond modification effect and the N2 plasma treatment has defluorination effect. The changes of surface chemical species and porosity along the plasma agent were elucidated. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of plasma-treated CFX confirmed the effects of plasma treatments. The charge-transfer resistance of plasma-treated CFX was maximum 60.3% reduced than the pristine CFX. The effects of surface chemical modification coupled with etching along the plasma gas agents were compared and identified with their reaction mechanisms.

In the field of mental health care, long-term healing programs have gained widespread recognition for their effectiveness in promoting well-being. However, the efficacy of shorter-term interventions, such as 1-night 2-day programs, remains relatively understudied. The primary objective of this initiative is twofold: firstly, to enhance the overall well-being and resilience of participants, and secondly, to investigate the program's potential to ameliorate specific mental health indicators. These indicators include physical stress levels, autonomic nervous system health, brain activity, brain stress, and concentration. A 1-night 2-day mental health healing program was implemented for 560 civil servants from Jeollanam-do (mean age 47.87 yrs). The focus was on measuring changes through baseline assessments before participation and post-program assessments upon completion. Measurements included physical stress index, autonomic nervous system health, brain activity level, brain stress, and brain concentration. There was a significant decrease in physical stress, as well as a significant decrease in autonomic nervous system health (p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference in brain activity level, there was a tendency for brain activity level to stabilize in the high-frequency range. Additionally, a significant decrease in stress levels and an improvement in concentration were observed. Incorporating 1-night 2-day relaxation programs into our daily lives offers a holistic approach to caring for both our physical and mental health, providing essential moments of rejuvenation and self-care that contribute to overall well-being and fulfillment.

This study assessed the effectiveness of brand image communication on consumer perceptions of cruelty-free fashion brands. Brand messaging data were gathered from postings on the official Instagram accounts of three cruelty-free fashion brands and consumer perception data were gathered from Tweets containing keywords related to each brand. Web crawling and natural language processing were performed using Python and sentiment analysis was conducted using the BERT model. By analyzing Instagram content from Stella McCartney, Patagonia, and Freitag from their inception until 2021, this study found these brands all emphasize environmental aspects but with differing focuses: Stella McCartney on ecological conservation, Patagonia on an active outdoor image, and Freitag on upcycled products. Keyword analysis further indicated consumers perceive these brands in line with their brand messaging: Stella McCartney as high-end and eco-friendly, Patagonia as active and environmentally conscious, and Freitag as centered on recycling. Results based on the assessment of the alignment between brand-driven images and consumer-perceived images and the sentiment evaluation of the brand confirmed the outcomes of brand communication performance. The study revealed a correlation between brand image and positive consumer evaluations, indicating that higher alignment of ethical values leads to more positive consumer assessments. Given that consumers tend to prioritize search keywords over brand concepts, it’s important for brands to focus on using visual imagery and promotions to effectively convey brand communication information. These findings highlight the importance of brand communication by emphasizing the connection between ethical brand images and consumer perceptions.

Fashion stress is a pertinent aspect of modern consumer culture that has been underexplored in academic research. This study developed a conceptual framework of fashion stress and a multidimensional scale to measure consumers’ fashion stress. The qualitative study included literature reviews on consumption stress, shopping stress, and consumer behavior, as well as focus group interviews to gain insight into various dimensions of fashion stress. NVivo 12.0 was used to analyze the qualitative data and identify core categories following the grounded theory methodology. The quantitative study involved a preliminary and a primary surveys to verify the validity and reliability of the fashion stress scale. A total of 220 questionnaires were used for data analysis. The results show that fashion stress consists of eight factors: care, shopping, fit, brand, financial, closet, style, and disposal. Choice difficulty plays a significant role in all factors of fashion stress. Moreover, shopping stress had a negative impact on impulse buying, while other factors such as fit, brand, closet, and disposal stress had a positive impact on impulse buying. Thus, fashion stress is a potential antecedent of impulsive consumer behavior. The results also confirm the validity and reliability of the scale. The fashion stress scale developed in this study offers researchers a valuable tool for assessing and understanding consumer experiences.

This study investigated the effect of manufacturing variables (including heating temperature) on the physicochemical properties of nanoemulsion delivery system (NDS) prepared with WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate and to study how the physicochemical properties of NDS affected the bioaccessibility of lycopene. The functional properties of the WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate were determined using the OPA method, interfacial tension, and EAI. The physicochemical and morphological properties of NDS were measured using Zetasizer and TEM, respectively. The bioaccessibility of lycopene in the WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate based NDS was measured using a spectrophotometer. As the pH and heating temperature increased, the Maillard conjugation efficiency increased significantly (p<0.0001). The emulsifying properties of the WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate were greater than those of WPI. A WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate based NDS with a size of ~180 nm was observed in TEM images while the droplet size of the WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate based NDS was smaller than that of the WPI based NDS. During in vitro digestion, no significant changes in the droplet size and PDI of NDS were observed in the mouth and stomach phases, whereas in the intestinal phase, the droplet size and PDI increased significantly (p<0.0001). Moreover, the bioaccessibility of lycopene in the WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate based NDS significantly increased (p<0.0001), compared with that of the WPI based NDS. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the bioaccessibility of lycopene with a decrease in the interfacial tension and droplet size of NDS. In conclusion, WPI/Inulin Maillard conjugate based NDS can be used to enhance the bioaccessibility of lycopene.

This study conducts an detailed examination of James S. Gale’s translation methodology applied to 104 titles from Yi Kyoo-bo (1168~1241)’s Dongguk Yi Sangguk Jip (Collection of Works by Yi Kyoo-bo, the Minister of the Eastern Country, 東國李相國集). Despite the non-realization of Gale’s publication aspirations, this marks early and pivotal efforts to acquaint English-speaking readers with Yi Kyoo-bo’s prose and poetry, thus promoting the global recognition of Korean literary heritage. A comparative analysis of the original Chinese titles against their English renditions allows this paper to categorize the translations into five distinct methodologies: omission, condensation, literal translation, creative translation, and expansion. The findings reveal Gale’s inclination towards crafting succinct titles, frequently at the expense of excluding details that might elucidate the original texts’ contexts. This approach remains consistent across his translations of works by another eminent Korean author, Choi Chi-won. Contrarily, Kevin O’Rourke, a contemporary translator of Yi Kyoo-bo’s compositions, adopts a notably divergent strategy, favoring titles that adhere more closely to literal translation. Gale’s translation philosophy not only sought to transmit the essential messages encapsulated within the original texts but also endeavored to situate them within the ambit of Western literary conventions. This aspect underscores Gale’s instrumental role in the transcultural dissemination of Korean literature.

The family Nitidulidae, the largest group in Cucujoidea, comprises approximately 350 genera and nearly 4,500 recorded species across ten subfamilies. In Korea, 86 species of Nitidulidae have been recorded. They are well-known for their diverse feeding habits. Anthophagy is a common habit, with certain species from the Epuraeinae, Carpophilinae, and Meligethinae recognized as pollinators. Despite their ecological significance, these groups rarely studied in Korea, due to their small size and morphological similarities. Our study reviews Korean species in three subfamilies, identifying 14 unrecorded species and 2 newly described species, and describes their ecological habits.