• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.102-107
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• 2022

South Korea will soon be a super-aged society, as more than 20.6% of its population will be 65 years and older by 2025. As of 2022, 17.5% of the total population in South Korea is 65 years and older, which exceeds the set threshold for an aged society, where more than 14% of the population is 65 years and older. The proportion of older subway construction workers has increased. Aging workers and their work stress negatively impact their workability. A previous study demonstrated that the stress index measured using the uBioMacpa measurement device (Macpa stress index) had a significant correlation with work stress in South Korea. The device tests vascular health and measures stress levels via Macpa signal analysis. In this study, the pulse waves of subway construction workers were measured using uBioMacpa to identify their stress levels. The stress levels were analyzed by age, years of service, job position, employment type, and work type. Herein, these statistics could not be easily represented by a normal distribution; therefore, the Kruskal-Wallis test, a nonparametric statistical method, was used for the analysis of data. The results showed that age, job position, employment type, and working type affected the Macpa stress index and the stress levels of workers increased with age. In terms of job position, technical engineers were more stressed than other workers because of their poor working environment. In terms of employment type, daily-wage workers were more stressed than other workers. In terms of working type, tunneling, waterproofing, and construction scored the highest Macpa stress indexes without any significant difference, whereas earthworks scored the lowest. Based on the analysis of Macpa stress index, safety and health management plans were proposed to reduce the stress levels of workers. Moreover, a manual for efficient stress management must be developed for subway construction workers.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2023

There have been many studies from the genetic system to physical activity and emotional expression such that there are gender differences. The purpose of this study was to determine how the structural characteristics of cortical thickness differ between males and females. This study used data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP). To analyze age-specific sexual dimorphisms of cortical thickness, selected 8-80 year old subjects were divided into five detailed age range groups according to each criterion. A total of 1,700 individual brain MRI T1 data were registered in stereotaxic space for analysis and classified into white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). For surface-based analysis, the WM/GM surface was reconstructed from a spherical polygon model with 40962 vertices per hemisphere, and each vertex was extended to the GM/CSF boundary. Cortical thickness was then measured between each vertex using the t-link method. In the statistical analysis, intracranial volume was used as a covariate to exclude the effect of the difference in brain size of each individual, and the result of using age as a covariate was added to confirm the age effect within each group. Gender differences in cortical thickness had significant results by group. This may be an index to explain diseases with sexual dimorphism in prevalence or become a basis for explaining the characteristics of each sex that appear in behavior, personality, and aging. Therefore, the results of our study could be a criterion for age classification in future studies and for understanding 'normal' sexual dimorphism.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2014

Objectives : Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR), the roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg, is used to nourish the blood and yin and used for preventing premature greying of the hair. There are some articles on its preventing effects on the melanogenesis. However, there is no report about its effects on the collagen and elastin. The present study was designed to investigate its effects on collagen metabolism and elastase activity. Methods : The effects of PMR on type I procollagen production and collagenase activity in human normal fibroblasts Hs68 after UVB (312 nm) irradiation were measured by ELISA method. Cells were pretreated with the PMR for 24 hours prior to UVB irradiation. After UVB irradiation, cells were retreated with the sample and incubated for additional 24 hours. The amount of collagen type I was measured with a procollagen type I C-peptide assay kit. The activity of collagenase was measured with a MMP-1 human biotrak ELISA system. The elastase activities after treatment of PMR were measured as well. Results : In the present study, the collagen production was not increased. However, the increased collagenase activity after UVB damage was significantly recovered to $50.2{\pm}14.5%$, $8.2{\pm}3.1%$, and $10.0{\pm}3.3%$ (10, 30, and $100{\mu}g/ml$). The elastase activities (10, 100, and $1000{\mu}g/ml$) significantly reduced to $75.2{\pm}5.2%$, $40.3{\pm}1.2%$, and $27.0{\pm}1.9%$, respectively. Conclusion : PMR showed the inhibitory effects on collagenase and elastase activity. These results suggest that PMR may have potential as an anti-aging ingredient in cosmetic herbal treatment.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-5
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the collagen metabolism and tyrosinase activity of Polygonati Rhizoma extracts (PR). It's effects are to tonify spleen qi and augment the spleen yin. It enrichs the yin and moisten the lung. Methods : The effect of PR on type I procollagen production and collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-1, henceforth referred as MMP-1) activity in human normal fibroblasts Hs68 after ultraviolet B (UVB, 312 nm) irradiation was measured by ELISA method. The tyrosinase activity after treatment of PR was measured. Results : There were no cytotoxicity at concentrations of 10, 30, $100{\mu}g/ml$. The reduced type I procollagen production was recovered by PR in UVB damaged Hs68 cells at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$ ($16.2{\pm}0.0$ ng/ml) from control group ($13.9{\pm}0.5$ ng/ml). However there was no statistical significance. PR reduced The increased MMP-1 activity after UVB damage at concentrations of $10{\mu}g/ml$, $30{\mu}g/ml$, and $100{\mu}g/ml$ in a dose dependent manner ($42.2{\pm}20.5%$, $44.8{\pm}8.5%$, and $22.0{\pm}5.8%$). PR $100{\mu}g/ml$ treatment showed the statistical significace (p < 0.05). PR significantly reduced the tyrosinase activity at a concentration of 10 mg/ml ($32.0{\pm}12.8%$, p < 0.05). However, the L-DOPA oxidation was not changed. Conclusion : PR showed the anti-wrinkle effects and whitening effects in vitro. Although more researches are needed to validate the efficacy, these results suggest that PR may have potential as an anti-aging ingredient in cosmetic herb markets.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.357-363
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• 2022

South Korea faces elderly care crisis with both low fertility rate and rapid ageing rate. Long-term care insurance in 2008 has taken care burden from family to nation. However, few options, lack of tailored services, and unstable community care plan caused blankness of care in some areas. Especially, increasing dementia rate has become an emergent social issue. Welfare technology could be a useful alternative to fill out the gap between demand and supply. Using FGI method on two groups(high-risk dementia group and MCI group), intimacy, accessibility and preventive way of dementia with welfare technology are analysed in this paper. Despites of a few differences of dementia progress, interests towards technology are expressed. More suggestions using TV and normal telephone to improve daily independence are presented as well. Amongst MCI group, help-service for technology-use at ADS and linkage ways of in-home services are also suggested.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.275-284
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• 2022

Background Population aging has led to an increased incidence of pressure ulcers, resulting in a social burden and economic costs. We developed a three-dimensional knitted fabric (3-DKF) with a pressure-reducing function that can be applied topically in the early stages of pressure ulcers to prevent progression. Methods We evaluated the effects of the 3-DKF in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus pressure ulcer mouse model, and the fabric was preliminarily applied to patients. Twelve-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were used for the animal experiments. In the pressure ulcer mouse model, an ischemia-reperfusion injury was created using a magnet on the dorsa of the mice. Pressure was measured with BodiTrak before and after applying the 3-DKF to 14 patients at risk of sacral pressure ulcers. Results In the 3-DKF-applied mice group, the ulcers were shallower and smaller than those in the control group. Compared with the mice in the control group, the 3-DKF group had lower platelet-derived growth factor-α and neutrophil elastase expression, as parameters related to inflammation, and increased levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β3, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and α-smooth muscle actin, which are related to growth factors and proliferation. Additionally, typical normal tissue staining patterns were observed in the 3-DKF group. In the preliminary clinical analysis, the average skin pressure was 26.2 mm Hg before applying the 3-DKF, but it decreased to an average of 23.4 mm Hg after 3-DKF application. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the newly developed 3-DKF was effective in preventing pressure ulcers through testing in a pressure ulcer animal model and preliminary clinical application.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.95-103
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• 2023

With the increasing number of aging buildings across Korea, emerging maintenance technologies have surged. One such technology is the non-contact detection of concrete cracks via thermal images. This study aims to develop a technique that can accurately predict the depth of a crack by analyzing the temperature difference between the crack part and the normal part in the thermal image of the concrete. The research obtained temperature data through thermal imaging experiments and constructed a big data set including outdoor variables such as air temperature, illumination, and humidity that can influence temperature differences. Based on the collected data, the team designed an algorithm for learning and predicting the crack depth using machine learning. Initially, standardized crack specimens were used in experiments, and the big data was updated by specimens similar to actual cracks. Finally, a crack depth prediction technology was implemented using five regression analysis algorithms for approximately 24,000 data points. To confirm the practicality of the development technique, crack simulators with various shapes were added to the study.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2023

In this study, the porous structure inside the hair were observed using an optical microscope without damaging the hair, and the porosity inside the hair was quantitatively expressed using the results. Experiments were conducted on the effect of the decrease in density inside the hair on the bending and tensile properties of the hair, and experiments on endogenous and extrinsic factors were conducted to find out the causes of the decrease in density inside the hair. As for the endogenous factor, the porosity of gray hair, one of the representative symptoms of aging, was compared with normal hair. As for extrinsic factors, it was observed that the internal density of hair decreased by surfactant and heat, which are factors that can cause hair damage in daily life. In addition, we confirmed whether it is possible to increase the internal density and luster of the hair by using an amino acids and material that can prevent hair lipid predisposition.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2023

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of cognitive impairment on the association between social network properties and mortality among older Korean adults. Methods: This study used data from the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. It obtained 814 older adults' complete network maps across an entire village in 2011-2012. Participants' deaths until December 31, 2020 were confirmed by cause-of-death statistics. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the risks of poor social network properties (low degree centrality, perceived loneliness, social non-participation, group-level segregation, and lack of support) on mortality according to cognitive impairment. Results: In total, 675 participants (5510.4 person-years) were analyzed, excluding those with missing data and those whose deaths could not be verified. Along with cognitive impairment, all social network properties except loneliness were independently associated with mortality. When stratified by cognitive function, some variables indicating poor social relations had higher risks among older adults with cognitive impairment, with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34 to 3.35) for social nonparticipation, 1.58 (95% CI, 0.94 to 2.65) for group-level segregation, and 3.44 (95% CI, 1.55 to 7.60) for lack of support. On the contrary, these effects were not observed among those with normal cognition, with adjusted HRs of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.31 to 1.71), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.42 to 2.21), and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.23 to 3.96), respectively. Conclusions: The effect of social network properties was more critical among the elderly with cognitive impairment. Older adults with poor cognitive function are particularly encouraged to participate in social activities to reduce the risk of mortality.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2023

To maintain the normal function of an aging building, regular inspection, repair, and reinforcement must be performed. However, the form of information and decision-making generated in the current building maintenance stage still depends on inefficient methods. This causes an increase in cost and waste of time in building maintenance. Therefore, this study proposed a COBie-IM document for building inspection and maintenance information management by benchmarking COBie, and suggested a method of checking information by linking it with BIM. In addition, a method for visualizing the designation of colors according to the damage grade of defects occurring in the building was suggested. Through this, we are able to systematically integrate and manage the information generated during inspection and maintenance in the building maintenance stage. This is expected to increase work efficiency by supporting decision-making that determines the priority of repair and reinforcement for defects.