• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2020

Background/Aims Emerging evidence shows that the mechanism of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with neurotrophic factors and tight junction proteins (TJPs). It is known that there are sex differences in the pathophysiology of IBS. The aim of the present study is to determine expression levels of neurotrophic factors, TJPs, and cytokines according to IBS subtype and sex. Methods From 59 IBS (33 IBS-constipation, 21 IBS-diarrhea, and 5 IBS-mixed) and 36 control patients, colonic mucosa mRNA expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and various TJPs were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was performed to determine levels of zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1). Serum levels of cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results TRPV1, GDNF, and NGF mRNA levels were significantly increased in those with IBS-constipation compared to those in controls (all P < 0.05). However, they showed no significant difference between those with IBS-diarrhea and controls. Expression level of TRPV1 correlated with that of GDNF (r = 0.741, P < 0.001) and NGF (r = 0.935, P < 0.001). ZO-1 RNA expression levels were lower (P = 0.021) in female IBS-diarrhea than those in controls, although they showed no significant differences between male IBS-diarrhea and controls. Serum IL-1β levels in female IBS were significantly higher than those of male IBS, especially in IBS-constipation (P < 0.001). Conclusion Our results suggest that neurotrophic factors and IL-1β are closely related to IBS-constipation and that decrease of ZO-1 is an important factor in female with IBS-diarrhea.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.41-50
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• 2020

The consequences of wearing high heels can be different according to the heel height, gait speed, shoe design, heel base area, and shoe size. This study aimed to focus on the knee extension and flexion range of motion (ROM) during gait, which were challenged by wearing five different shoe heel types and two different self-selected gait speeds (comfortable and fast) as experimental conditions. Measurement standards of knee extension and flexion ROM were individually calibrated at the time of heel strike, mid-stance, toe-off, and stance phase based on the 2-minute video recordings of each gait condition. Seven healthy young women (20.7 ± 0.8 years) participated and they were asked to walk on a treadmill wearing the five given shoes at a self-selected comfortable speed (average of 2.4 ± 0.3 km/h) and a fast speed (average of 5.1 ± 0.2 km/h) in a random order. All of the shoes were in size 23.5 cm. Three of the given shoes were 9.0 cm in height, the other two were flat shoes and sneakers. A motion capture software (Kinovea 0.8.27) was used to measure the kinematic data; changes in the knee angles during each gait. During fast speed gait, the knee extension angles at heel strike and mid-stance were significantly decreased in all of the 3 high heels (p<0.05). The results revealed that fast gait speed causes knee flexion angle to significantly increase at toe-off in all five types of shoes. However, there was a significant difference in both the knee flexion and extension angles when the gait in stiletto heels and flat shoes were compared in fast gait condition (p<0.05). This showed that walking fast in high heels leads to abnormal knee ROM and thus can cause damages to the knee joints. The findings in this preliminary study can be a basis for future studies on the kinematic changes in the lower extremity during gait and for the analysis of causes and preventive methods for musculoskeletal injuries related to wearing high heels.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.167-179
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• 2021

In order to characterize the mixing process of confluence for understanding the impacts of a river on the other river, it has been crucial to analyze the spatial mixing patterns for main streams depending on various inflow conditions of tributaries. However, most conventional studies have mostly relied upon hydraulic or water quality numerical models for understanding mixing pattern analysis of confluences, due to the difficulties to acquire a wide spatial range of in-situ data for characterizing mixing process. In this study, backscatters (or SNR) measured from ADCPs were particularly used to track sediment mixing assuming that it could be a surrogate to estimate the suspended sediment concentration. Raw backscatter data were corrected by considering the beam spreading and absorption by water. Also, an optical Laser diffraction instrument (LISST) was used to verify the method of acoustic backscatter and to collect the particle size distribution of main stream and tributary. In addition, image-based spatial distributions of sediment mixture in the confluence were monitored in various flow conditions by using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which were compared with the spatial distribution of acoustic backscatter. As results, we found that when acoustic backscatter by ADCPs were well processed, they could be proper indicators to identify the spatial patterns of the three-dimensional mixing process between two rivers. For this study, flow and sediment mixing characteristics were investigated in the confluence between Nakdong and Nam river.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2021

SiO2/Ag core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized by combining modified Stöber process and reverse micelle method using acetoxime as a reducing agent in water/dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DDBA)/cyclohexane reverse micells. The SiO2/Ag core-shells were studied for structure, morphology and size using UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, SEM and TEM. The size of a SiO2/Ag core-shell could be controlled by changing the [water]/[DDBA] molar ratio (WR) values. The size and the polydispersity of SiO2/Ag core-shells increased with increase of the WR value. The resultant Ag nanoparticles exhibit a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 430 nm over the amorphous SiO2 nanoparticles. The SPR peak shifted to the red side with increase in nanoparticle size. Conductive pastes with 70 wt% SiO2/Ag core-shell were prepared, and the pastes were coated on the PET films using a screen-printing method. The printed paste film of the SiO2/Ag core-shell showed higher surface resistance than the commercial Ag paste in the range of 460~750 µΩ/sq.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.922-930
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• 2020

Marine accidents involving fishing boats, caused by a loss of stability, have been increasing over the last decade. One of the main reasons for these accidents is a sudden wind attacks. In this regard, the wind loads acting on the ship hull need to be estimated accurately for safety assessments of the motion and maneuverability of the ship. Therefore, this study aims to develop a computational model for the inlet boundary condition and to numerically estimate the wind load acting on a fishing boat. In particular, wind loads acting on a fishing boat at the wind speed profile boundary condition were compared with the numerical results obtained under uniform wind speed. The wind loads were estimated at intervals of 15° over the range of 0° to 180°, and i.e., a total of 13 cases. Furthermore, a numerical mesh model was developed based on the results of the mesh dependency test. The numerical analysis was performed using the RANS-based commercial solver STAR-CCM+ (ver. 13.06) with the k-ω turbulent model in the steady state. The wind loads for surge, sway, and heave motions were reduced by 39.5 %, 41.6 %, and 46.1 % and roll, pitch, and yaw motions were 48.2 %, 50.6 %, and 36.5 %, respectively, as compared with the values under uniform wind speed. It was confirmed that the developed inlet boundary condition describing the wind speed gradient with respect to height features higher accuracy than the boundary condition of uniform wind speed. The insights obtained in this study can be useful for the development of a numerical computation method for ships.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.149-169
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• 2022

Indonesia coal is widely consumed as a major energy source in Asian countries, such as China, India, and Korea. In the paper, the characteristics of the coal-bearing basin and coal deposits in Indonesia are comprehensively reviewed using the exploration data accumulated through the coal exploration projects supported by Korean government subsidy. Cenozoic coal bearing sedimentary basins in Indonesia extensively contain coal deposits and are most productive in East Asia. Properties of coal deposits are variable depending on stratigraphy, depositional histories and tectonics. Eocene coal deposits tend to have thinner coal thickness and fewer numbers of coal seams, but have been major exploration targets due to higher calorific value and good coal quality. Late Oligocene-Early Miocene coal deposits occur in small scales, but are suitable enough for small to medium-sized coal mines. Miocene-Pliocene coal deposits, which are widely distributed across East Kalimantan and Sumatra, are being actively mined by taking advantage of thick coal thickness and abundant reserves in spite of their lower calorific values. The experience of various exploration informs that we need to have an overall understanding on geological conditions for successful coal exploration. The details on coal-bearing basin and coal deposits in Indonesia provided through the paper will be useful data for up-coming exploration activities by Korean companies.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.433-441
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify the moderated effects of emotional intelligence on the relationship between academic stress and smartphone addiction among high school students. Subjects were 207 associate high school students. The data were collected using self -report questionnaire from December 1 to December 23, 2019. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 23. Mean point of academic stress(5 point scale) was 2.75, emotional intelligence(5 point scale) was 3.63 and smartphone addiction(4 point scale) was 2.18. Academic stress were negative correlation with emotional intelligence(r=-.15, p =.030) and positive correlation with smartphone addiction(r=.25, p<.001). Emotional intelligence were negative correlation with smartphone addiction(r=-.25, p<.001). Emotional intelligence has been shown to modulate the relationship between academic stress and smartphone addiction(F=10.45. p<.001) Therefore, to decrease the academic stress and smartphone addiction of high school students, It is necessary to develop the program for increase emotional intelligence of high school students.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2022

Currently, the Collective Control Algorithm is the most popular elevator algorithm. The Collective Control Algorithm allows the user to use the elevator when the direction of movement of the elevator and the direction of the user's destination are the same. However, the algorithm has a problem in that only one elevator responds to a user's call when the user's waiting time and using multiple elevators. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a new hybrid HRN algorithm based on the highest response ratio next (HRN) algorithm. In general, HRN Algorithm requires a user's boarding time and getting off time, but due to the nature of the elevator, it is difficult to predict the user's call in advance. Therefore, to overcome these limitations, this paper proposes Hybrid HRN Algorithm that considers the distance between the user's call location and the arrival location. This paper shows that Hybrid HRN Algorithm, proposed through experiments, has an average waiting time of 23.34 seconds, a standard deviation of 11.86, a total moving distance of 535.2m, a total operating time of 84sec, and a driving balance between the two elevators is 92m, which is superior to the previously suggested Collective Control, Zoning, and 3-Passage Algorithm.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.318-324
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• 2022

PPARγ and C/EBPα are master adipogenic transcription factors (TFs) required for adipose tissue development. They control the induction of many adipocyte genes and the early phase of adipogenesis in the embryonic development of adipose tissue. Adipose tissue continues to expand after birth, which, as a late phase of adipogenesis, requires the lipogenesis of adipocytes. In particular, the liver and adipose tissues are major sites for de novo lipogenesis (DNL), where carbohydrates are primarily converted to fatty acids. Furthermore, fatty acids are esterified with glycerol-3-phosphate to produce triglyceride, a major source of lipid droplets in adipocytes. Hepatic DNL has been actively studied, but the DNL of adipocytes in vivo remains not fully understood. Thus, an understanding of lipogenesis and adipose expansion may provide therapeutic opportunities for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic diseases. In adipocytes, DNL gene expression is transcriptionally regulated by lipogenesis coactivators, as well as by lipogenic TFs such as ChREBP and SREBP1a. Recent in vivo studies have revealed new insights into the lipogenesis gene expression and adipose expansion. Future detailed molecular mechanism studies will determine how nutrients and metabolism regulate DNL and adipose expansion. This review will summarize recent updates of DNL in adipocytes and adipose expansion in terms of transcriptional regulation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2022

This research was conducted to develop a seed propagation protocol for the use of Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold ex Siebold & Zucc, which native to East Asia. Light and temperature conditions, GA₃ treatment, and low-temperature stratification were performed to evaluate the germination characteristics. The germination percentage at 4, 15/6, 20/10 and 25/15℃ was 0, 42. 5, 44. 4 and 91.7%, respectively. Thus, the optimal germination temperature of the B. kazinoki seeds was 25/15℃. Although germination was delayed by relatively low temperature conditions, GA3 treatment allowed for increased germination rates even under the low temperature conditions. Cold stratification reduced time to germination. Relatively low germination percentages at 20/10℃ and 15/6℃ indicated that the seeds had been under the state of conditional dormancy. Through this study, B. kazinoki seeds have conditional dormancy because they can be germinated through GA₃ treatment even under relatively low temperature conditions and it is judged that it will support the commercial propagation practice in the future.