• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2022

CopA3 (LLCIALRKK), an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the Korean dung beetle, has been shown to suppress apoptosis in various cell types. CopA3 inhibits not only bacterial toxin-induced colonocyte apoptosis but also 6-hydroxy dopamine-induced neural cell apoptosis. Our recent study revealed that CopA3 directly binds to caspases (key regulators of apoptosis) and inhibits the proteolytic cleavage required for their activation. But molecular mechanisms underlying CopA3-mediated inhibition of apoptosis in multiple cell types remain unknown. Here we assessed possible effects of CopA3 on expression of survivin, which is known to inhibit apoptosis. In HT29 human colonocytes, CopA3 exposure markedly upregulated survivin expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. RT-PCR revealed that CopA3-mediated upregulation of survivin was attributable to increased gene transcription, and further showed that CopA3 also increased expression of Sp1, one of many transcription factors known to be involved in transcription of the survivin gene. Notably, blocking Sp1 by treatment with the Sp1 inhibitor, tolfenamic acid, significantly reduced CopA3-mediated upregulation of survivin. These results collectively suggest that CopA3 induces Sp1 expression, which in turn is involved in upregulation of survivin in human colonocytes. These novel findings establish another pathway for explaining the anti-apoptotic effects of CopA3 against various cellular apoptosis systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1191-1200
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• 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic can be deemed one of the greatest hardships faced by mankind in the 21st century. All industries have been severely affected and workers are still experiencing deep difficulties due to the changed working and living environment. Seafarers have been recognized by the international community as key workers since the pandemic began. They are also working internationally to establish a Level Playing Field through the protection of their rights through the Seafarers' Employment Agreement and the implementation of international labour standards. However, despite the obligations under international conventions to be implemented by State parties and the recommendations by international organizations, the rights of seafarers under the Maritime Labour Convention were violated were violated and their occupational safety and health of seafarers were further threatened throughout the pandemic. This article analyzes the impact of the international shipping industry and the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention based on each country's measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the amendments of the Maritime Labour Convention adopted through the fourth Special Tripartite Committee were analyzed based on the conference documents and reports to comprehend the implied meaning. The adopted eight amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention are expected to positively affect the seafarers' rights, safety and health in the future, but the international community's efforts should continue because the issues of maximum working hours, maximum service period on board, and the repatriation of seafarers still remain unsettled.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.25-37
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• 2023

According to the 「Rural Spatial Reconstruction and Regeneration Support Act」, enacted on March 29, 2024, all local governments are required to establish a 'Rural Spatial Reconstruction and Regeneration Plan' (hereinafter referred to as the 'Rural Spatial Plan'). In order for the 'Rural Spatial Plan' to be appropriately established, this study analyzed the supply and demand of spatial data from the perspective of user stakeholders and derived implications for improving rural spatial planning data utilization. In conclusion, three key recommendations come from this result. Firstly, it is necessary to establish an integrated DB for rural spatial planning data. This can solve the problem of low awareness of scattered data-providing websites, reduce the processing time of non-GIS data, and reduce the time required to acquire data by securing the availability of data search and download. In particular, research should be conducted on the establishment of a spatial analysis simulation system to support stakeholders' decision-making, considering that many stakeholders have difficulty in spatial analysis because spatial analysis techniques were not actively used in rural projects before the implementation of the rural agreement system in 2020. Secondly, research on how to improve data acquisition should be conducted in each data sector. The data sector group with the lowest ease of receiving are 'Local Community Domain', 'Changes in Domestic and International Conditions', and 'Provision and Utilization of Daily Life Services'. Lastly, in-depth research is needed on how to raise each rural spatial planning data supply stakeholder to the position of player. Stakeholders of 'University Institutions' and 'Public Enterprises and Research Institutes' should give those who participate in the formulation of rural spatial plans access to the raw data collected for public work. Stakeholders of 'Private company' need to come up with realistic measures to build a data pool centered on consultative bodies between existing private companies and then prepare a step-by-step strategy to fully open it by participating various stakeholders. In order to induce 'Village Residents and Associations' stakeholders to play a leading role as owners and producers of data, personnel should be trained to collect and record data related to the village. In addition, support measures should be prepared to continue these activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.512-522
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• 2023

Cancer with unlimited cell growth is a leading cause of death globally. Various cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, can be applied alone or in combination depending on the cancer type and stage. New treatments with fewer side effects than previous cancer treatments are continually under development and in demand. Undifferentiated stem cells with unlimited cell growth are gradually changed via cellular differentiation to arrest cell growth. In this study, we reviewed the possibility of treating cancer by using cellular differentiation into the adipocytes in cancer cells. In previous in vitro studies, oral antidiabetic drugs of the thiazolidinedione (TDZ) class, such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, were induced into the adipocytes in various cancer cell lines via increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR γ) expression and glucose uptake, which is the key regulator of adipogenesis and the energy metabolism pathway. The differentiated adipogenic cancer cells treated with TDZ inhibited cell growth and had a less cellulotoxic effect. This adipogenic differentiation treatment suggests a possible chemotherapy option in cancer cells with high and abnormal glucose metabolism levels. However, the effects of the in vivo adipogenic differentiation treatment need to be thoroughly investigated in different types of stem and normal cells with other side effects.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2023

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis of epidemiological results for the association between occupational exposure as a firefighter and cancer as part of the broader evidence synthesis work of the IARC Monographs program. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify cohort studies of firefighters followed for cancer incidence and mortality. Studies were evaluated for the influence of key biases on results. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used to estimate the association between ever-employment and duration of employment as a firefighter and risk of 12 selected cancers. The impact of bias was explored in sensitivity analyses. Results: Among the 16 included cancer incidence studies, the estimated meta-rate ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity statistic (I²) for ever-employment as a career firefighter compared mostly to general populations were 1.58 (1.14-2.20, 8%) for mesothelioma, 1.16 (1.08-1.26, 0%) for bladder cancer, 1.21 (1.12-1.32, 81%) for prostate cancer, 1.37 (1.03-1.82, 56%) for testicular cancer, 1.19 (1.07-1.32, 37%) for colon cancer, 1.36 (1.15-1.62, 83%) for melanoma, 1.12 (1.01-1.25, 0%) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 1.28 (1.02-1.61, 40%) for thyroid cancer, and 1.09 (0.92-1.29, 55%) for kidney cancer. Ever-employment as a firefighter was not positively associated with lung, nervous system, or stomach cancer. Results for mesothelioma and bladder cancer exhibited low heterogeneity and were largely robust across sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: There is epidemiological evidence to support a causal relationship between occupational exposure as a firefighter and certain cancers. Challenges persist in the body of evidence related to the quality of exposure assessment, confounding, and medical surveillance bias.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.22
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• pp.345-385
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• 2014

The object of this thesis is to consider the meaning of sincerity(誠), reverence(敬) and faith(信) through Cha gyungseok's historical record. Cha gyungseok(車京石, 1880-1936) is a key disciple of Kang Jeungsan Sangjenim(姜甑山, 1871~1909) to whom Cha kyungseok has begun to follow since 1907, completing his wandering around Yeonghak-gye(英學契), Iljin-hoe(一進會) and Cheondo-gyo(天道敎) after the loss of his father[Cha Jikoo(車致九), 1851-1894] in Tonghak peasants revolution. To examine the meaning of sincerity, reverence and faith as cardinal points in Daesoonjinrihoe(大巡眞理會) creed, this research has taken note of Cha kyungseok's sincerity, reverence and faith who is said to be thought of himself as a head of Reconstruction Work for the Tonghak spitit's resolution of grievances, despite the Sangjenim's intention of using him for different usage due to his sincerity, reverence and faith. Especially, emphasis was given to the illumination of Cha gyungseok's change of sincerity, reverence and faith through closely reviewing his life prior to the encounter with Sangjenim, the process of following Sangjenim and his whereabouts after the ascension of Sangjenim. In addition, through Jeonkyeong(典經), this research also examines Cha kyeong seok's sincerity, reverence and faith along with his ambition contained in that sincerity, reverence and faith. Up to his ascension, Sangjenim has never saved his advice on Cha gyungseok's ambition. Leaving Sangjenim's advice behind, Cha gyungseok moves on to become a head of the Reconstruction Work for the Tonghak spitit's resolution of grievances without deserting the dream of being the Son of Heaven. Although, he showed his prowess as a religious sect leader called Bocheon-gyo boasting its 6 million believers and as a provisional emperor of the country named Sikuk, he ends his life as a head for the Resolution of grievances of kings, princes, generals and premiers due to the change of faith on Sangjenim and interruption of Japanese Imperial Government, without accomplishing his dream. The feature of past disciples suggests the direction of cultivation for our cultivators. Through Cha gyungseok's sincerity, reverence and faith, we could look back upon the meaning of sincerity, reverence and faith and conclude that a real sincerity, reverence and faith is the heart-mind trying to participate in Reconstruction Work of Heaven and Earth with a pure mind, contrary to the one coming out of greed.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2024

Electrical energy is a key source of energy for modern civilization, and changes in electricity generation and consumption are closely related to industry and life in general. In this study, we identified the correlation between electricity generation and nighttime light values in South Korea and used it to predict monthly electricity generation trends in North Korea. The results of the study showed a low Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.34 between nighttime light and electricity generation in Seoul, but a high Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.79 between weighting for Seoul case nighttime light values and electricity generation using monthly average temperature. Using nighttime light values weighting for Seoul case by the average monthly temperature in Pyongyang to predict the monthly power generation trend in North Korea, we found that the month-on-month power generation increase in December 2022 was about 60% higher than the month-on-month power generation increase in December 2020 and 2021. The results of this study are expected to help predict monthly electricity generation trends in regions where monthly electricity generation data does not exist, making it difficult to identify timely industry trends.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.3913-3923
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• 2023

Todays, medium energy resolution detectors are preferably used in radioisotope identification devices(RID) in nuclear and radioactive material categorization. However, there is still a need to develop or enhance « automated identifiers » for the useful RID algorithms. To decide whether any material is SNM or NORM, a key parameter is the better energy resolution of the detector. Although masking, shielding and gain shift/stabilization and other affecting parameters on site are also important for successful operations, the suitability of the RID algorithm is also a critical point to enhance the identification reliability while extracting the features from the spectral analysis. In this study, a RID algorithm based on Bayesian statistical method has been modified for medium energy resolution detectors and applied to the uranium gamma-ray spectra taken by a LaBr3:Ce detector. The present Bayesian RID algorithm covers up to 2000 keV energy range. It uses the peak centroids, the peak areas from the measured gamma-ray spectra. The extraction features are derived from the peak-based Bayesian classifiers to estimate a posterior probability for each isotope in the ANSI library. The program operations were tested under a MATLAB platform. The present peak based Bayesian RID algorithm was validated by using single isotopes(²⁴¹Am, ⁵⁷Co, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁶⁰Co), and then applied to five standard nuclear materials(0.32-4.51% at.²³⁵U), as well as natural U- and Th-ores. The ID performance of the RID algorithm was quantified in terms of F-score for each isotope. The posterior probability is calculated to be 54.5-74.4% for ²³⁸U and 4.7-10.5% for ²³⁵U in EC-NRM171 uranium materials. For the case of the more complex gamma-ray spectra from CRMs, the total scoring (ST) method was preferred for its ID performance evaluation. It was shown that the present peak based Bayesian RID algorithm can be applied to identify ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U isotopes in LEU or natural U-Th samples if a medium energy resolution detector is was in the measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.30-43
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• 2023

Green infrastructure(GI) is considered a key strategy in establishing sustainable communities. However, research on GI from the perspective of urban system dynamics and resilience lacks depth, as does its integration with physical design. This research addresses two primary causes. First, there is a gap in methods between existing GI planning, which considers static variables, and urban modeling research, which addresses dynamic variables. Second, there is a gap in information between landscape design and urban modeling research. To address these issues, this study proposes an integrated modeling approach in consideration of design decision-making. By combining the LEAM model and MCDA model, this study evaluates the relationship between GI services and socioeconomic growth, while spatially forecasting the geographies of GI demand in 2050. The resulting information reveals a potential degradation in ecosystem services over the region due to Chicago's sub-urbanization. This indicates that there would be a spatial shift in GI demand, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, dynamic GI strategies. This study further discusses the applications of evidence-based design in a studio environment. This study aims to contribute to the GeoDesign literature in terms of the creation of a more resilient urban environment by facilitating efficient evidence-based decision-making.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.47-65
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• 2023

In this paper, we investigate how the online voting system can be a trust-based system from a technical perspective. Under four principles of voting, we finely evaluate the existing belief that offline voting is safer and more reliable than online voting based on procedural processes, technical principles. Many studies have suggested the ideas for implementing online voting system, but they have not attempted to strictly examine the technologies of online voting system from the perspective of voting requirements, and usually verification has been insufficient in terms of practical acceptance. Therefore, this study aims to analyze how the technologies are utilized to meet the demanding requirements of voting based on the technologies proven in the field. In addition to general data encryption, online voting requires more technologies for preventing data manipulation and verifying voting results. Moreover, high degree of confidentiality is required because voting data should not be exposed not only to outsiders but also to managers or the system itself. To this end, the security techniques such as Blind Signature, Bit Delegation and Key Division are used. In the case of blockchain-based voting, Mixnet and Zero-Knowledge Proof are required to ensure anonymity. In this study, the current status of the online voting system is analyzed based on the field system that actually serves. This study will enhance our understanding on online voting security technologies and contribute to build a more trust-based voting mechanism.