• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.194-205
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• 2023

Objectives : This study investigated the current utilization status of thermotherapy devices in Korean medicine (KM) institutions and identified areas for improvement and further development, as perceived by KM doctors (KMDs). Methods : An online survey was conducted, targeting KMDs primarily engaged in clinical patient care. The questionnaire included items about respondents' clinical practices, the extent of thermotherapy device usage, their opinions on these devices, and perceived improvement needs. The collected data underwent quantitative analysis. Results : From the 1,025 respondents, data from 862 respondents who provided complete responses were analyzed. On average, respondents utilized thermotherapy treatments for 80% of their patients. Infrared (IR) phototherapy unit, electrical moxibustion apparatus, and heater-based thermotherapy devices were predominantly owned by respondents, with IR being the most frequently used. The average satisfaction score for current thermotherapy devices was 79. A significant concern raised was the necessity for improved health insurance coverage and efficacy evaluation. Conclusions : This research has confirmed that the extensive use of thermotherapy devices by KMDs in treating primarily musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal ailments - common conditions among patients in KM institutions. The main areas identified for improvement encompass safety, cost-effectiveness, and device efficacy. Future enhancements in thermotherapy devices should address these crucial aspects.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2023

Heavy metals, widely present in the environment, have become significant pollutants due to their excessive use in industries and technology. Their non-degradable nature poses a persistent environmental problem, leading to potential acute or chronic poisoning from prolonged exposure. Recent research has focused on separating heavy metals, particularly from industrial and mining sources. Industries such as metal plating, mining operations, tanning, wood and chipboard production, industrial paint and textile manufacturing, as well as oil refining, are major contributors of heavy metals in water sources. Therefore, removing heavy metals from water is crucial, especially for safe water supply in swimming and water sports. Iron oxide nanoparticles have proven to be highly effective adsorbents for water contaminants, and efforts have been made to enhance their efficiency and absorption capabilities through surface modifications. Nanoparticles synthesized using plant extracts can effectively bind with heavy metal ions by modifying the nanoparticle surface with plant components, thereby increasing the efficiency of heavy metal removal. This study focuses on removing lead from industrial wastewater using environmentally friendly, cost-effective iron nanoparticles synthesized with Genovese basil extract. The synthesis of nanoparticles is confirmed through analysis using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction, validating their spherical shape and nanometer-scale dimensions. The method used in this study has a low detection limit of 0.031 ppm for measuring lead concentration, making it suitable for ensuring water safety in swimming and water sports.

• Journal of Digital Policy
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.33-39
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• 2023

With a continuous occurrence of right-turn traffic accidents at intersections, there is an increasing demand for measures to address these incidents. In response, a technology has been developed to detect the presence of pedestrians through object detection in CCTV footage at right-turn areas and display warning messages on the screen to alert drivers. The YOLO (You Only Look Once) model, a type of object detection model, was employed to assess the performance of object detection. An algorithm was also devised to address misidentification issues and generate warning messages when pedestrians are detected. The accuracy of recognizing pedestrians or objects and outputting warning messages was measured at approximately 82%, suggesting a potential contribution to preventing right-turn accidents

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Exosomes are nano-sized membrane-bound extracellular vesicles containing various biological molecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, which can be used to modulate physiological processes. The exosomal molecules secreted by cells can be extensively used as tools for diagnosis and therapy. Exosomes carry specific molecules released by the cells they originate from, which can be transferred to surrounding cells or tissues by the exosome. For these reasons, exosomes can be exploited as biomarkers for diagnosis, carriers for drug delivery, as well as therapeutics. In stem cell technology, exosomes have been an attractive option because they can be used as safer therapeutic agents for stem cell-based cell-free therapy. Recently, studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in alleviating symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 as they have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential. Performing multiple studies on exosomes would provide innovative next-generation options for clinical diagnostics and therapy. This review summarizes the use of exosomes focusing on their diverse roles. In addition, the potential of exosomes is illustrated with a focus on how exosomes can be exploited as powerful tools in the days to come.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2014

In Korea, in general, separation distance between existing parallel tunnels was set at two to five times as distant as the diameter of the tunnels according to ground conditions. Recently, however, actual applicability of closely spaced parallel tunnels whose distance between tunnel centers was shorter than the diameter has increased due to environmental damages resulting from massive cutting, restriction in purchase of required land, and maintenance of linear continuity. In particular, when the pillar width of tunnel decreases, the safety of pillars affects behaviors of the tunnel and therefore the need for diverse relevant studies has emerged. However, research so far has been largely confined to analysis of behavior characteristics of pillars, or parameters affecting design, and actually applicable and quantitative data have not been presented. Accordingly, in order to present a stability evaluation method which may maximally reflect construction conditions of spots, this study reflected topographical and stratigraphic characteristics of the portal part with the highest closeness between the tunnels, simulated multi-layer conditions with rock mass and complete weathering, and assessed the degree of effect the stability of pillars had on the entire tunnels through numerical analysis according to changes in pillar width by ground strength. This study also presented composite analysis result on ground surface settlement rates, interference volume rates, and average strength to stress and a formula, which may be applicable to actual work, to evaluate safety rates of closely spaced parallel tunnel pillars and minimum pillar width by ground strength based on failure criteria by Hoek-Brown (1980).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.976-984
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• 2011

Total phenolic content was the highest in 60% ethanol extracts at 21.91 mg/g, and inhibitory activity against tyrosinase of 60% ethanol extracts was higher than ethanol extracts of other concentration. The inhibitory compounds against tyrosinase from Persimmon leaves were purified using Sephadex LH-20, MCI-gel CHP-20 column chromatography with gradient elution. Two purified compounds were isolated as a result. The chemical structures of each compound were determined and identified using $^1H$-NMR and $^{13}C$-NMR, FAB-Mass. The compounds were confirmed as (+)-gallocatechin and prodelphinidin B-3. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities of purified (+)-gallocatechin and prodelphinidin B-3 were 29.5 and 40.2%, respectively. The inhibitory activities of (+)-gallocatechin and prodelphinidin B-3 against melanin biosynthesis in melanoma cell were 32.5 and 46.7%. The safety of essence with tyrosinase inhibitory compounds from persimmon leaves was also assessed by various safety profiles. First, changes in pH (4.90~4.95) and viscosity (23,000~26,000 cP) was not detected for 60 days. Essence also showed stability against temperature and light for 60 days. All these findings suggest that extracts from persimmon leaves have a great potential as a cosmetical ingredient with a potent whitening effect.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.414-422
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• 2011

The optimum condition for phenolics contents extraction from purple sweet potato was 12 hrs. in 50% ethanol. The electron donating scavenging activities (DPPH), ABTS radical cation decolorization (ABTS) and antioxidant protection factor (PF) of Jami, Yeonjami and Shinjami were higher than general sweet potato, and thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBARs) was below 30%. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli on skin were each 5,000 and 2,500 ppm in all purple sweet potatoes, and MIC of Jami was the lowest as 2,500 ppm against Staphlococcus epidermidis. The whitening (tyrosinase inhibitory) activity of purple sweet potatoes was the highest as 62.5% and 48.7% in Jami water and ethanol extracts. The anti-inflammation (hyaluronidase inhibitory) activity of purple sweet potatoes was the highest as 25.3% and 94.4% in Jami water and ethanol extracts. The safety of cosmetic with Jam; extracts was assessed by various safety profiles. pH and viscosity change of essence for 90 days was not detected. Cosmetic was stable to temperature and light for 90 days. The result to measure changes of skin color and pore size of the skin was that an aged skin was more effective than young skin.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

The health benefits associated with consumption of fresh produce have been clearly demonstrated and encouraged by international nutrition and health authorities. However, since fresh produce is usually minimally processed, increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has also led to a simultaneous escalation of foodborne illness cases. According to the report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 10 people suffer from foodborne diseases and 420,000 die every year globally. In comparison to other processed foods, fresh produce can be easily contaminated by various routes at different points in the supply chain from farm to fork. This review is focused on the identification and characterization of possible sources of foodborne illnesses from chemical, biological, and physical hazards and the applicable methodologies to detect potential contaminants. Agro-chemicals (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides), natural toxins (mycotoxins and plant toxins), and heavy metals (mercury and cadmium) are the main sources of chemical hazards, which can be detected by several methods including chromatography and nano-techniques based on nanostructured materials such as noble metal nanoparticles (NMPs), quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles or nanotube. However, the diversity of chemical structures complicates the establishment of one standard method to differentiate the variety of chemical compounds. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables contain high nutrient contents and moisture, which promote the growth of unwanted microorganisms including bacterial pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli O157: H7, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) and non-bacterial pathogens (norovirus and parasites). In order to detect specific pathogens in fresh produce, methods based on molecular biology such as PCR and immunology are commonly used. Finally, physical hazards including contamination by glass, metal, and gravel in food can cause serious injuries to customers. In order to decrease physical hazards, vision systems such as X-ray inspection have been adopted to detect physical contaminants in food, while exceptional handling skills by food production employees are required to prevent additional contamination.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2011

Specific surface area is becoming a very important factor when newly developed advanced nano-materials are evaluated. But there have been many differences in results when measuring specific surface areas, depending on the measuring equipments and analysis method. To verify the reliability of the specific surface area measurement device supplied within the country, Round Robin Test (RRT) has been done at 21 affiliated research institutes. As a result, it was found that several institute had problems in measuring of gas adsorption amount in measuring equipment, and this proved the need for certified reference material (CRM). Furthermore, it was also found that the results from BET analysis is easily swayed by the analyst's subjectivism, and the calculated results may differ up to 16% in case of CRM I depending on the selection range of BET analysis. So this showed that a standard guideline for BET constant C value and fitting correlation coefficient R is needed, to properly select range in BET analysis. The experience in RRT, distribution of CRM, and standardized procedure would result in improved reliability in industrial processes, and thus, would contribute to the quality management, the productivity improvement, the safety evaluation, and the new material development.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.705-713
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• 2016

For the soft ground construction, the factors not considered in the design stage occurs in the construction stage so that they cause the increase of the construction cost due to the structural stability and the design change. The subject of the study is the construction section of the industrial complex access road made in the Ochang region of Chungcheongbuk-do. The study is concerned with selecting the soft ground handling method such as the replacement method using rock debris and the surcharge reflecting the service load as the soft ground handling measure and analyzing the effect of reducing the construction cost with the stability of structures and the reduction of the construction period. The soft ground in the study section consists of sandy and cohesive soil and is 2.4m to 5.5m deep. It is distributed unevenly between the 1.5m to 5.9m stratums under the ground surface. Settlement is not serious, but the future uneven settlement and difference are expected so that the future settlement behavior is estimated by analyzing the site measurement results after the soft ground treatment. Moreover, in consideration of the regional characteristics and economic efficiency, soil with good quality is replaced with rock debris as the replacement material so that 29% of the construction cost is reduced due to the increase of stability and the reduction of duration. If the estimation of the dispersion of the pore water pressure within the dam body and the change of the underground water level and the relation of the actually measured soft ground with consolidation is studied further on the basis of the study, it is expected that the behavior of the soft ground will be correctly estimated in various site conditions.