• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.507-518
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• 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a key technology that has been seeing increasing use in studying the structural and functional innerworkings of the brain. Analyzing the variability of brain connectome through tractography analysis has been used to increase our understanding of disease pathology in humans. However, there lacks standardization of analysis methods for small animals such as mice, and lacks scientific consensus in regard to accurate preprocessing strategies and atlas-based neuroinformatics for images. In addition, it is difficult to acquire high resolution images for mice due to how significantly smaller a mouse brain is compared to that of humans. In this study, we present an Allen Mouse Brain Atlas-based image data analysis pipeline for structural connectivity analysis involving structural region segmentation using mouse brain structural images and diffusion tensor images. Each analysis method enabled the analysis of mouse brain image data using reliable software that has already been verified with human and mouse image data. In addition, the pipeline presented in this study is optimized for users to efficiently process data by organizing functions necessary for mouse tractography among complex analysis processes and various functions.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.150-163
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• 2022

Recently, the gated community has been increasing due to various reasons such as demand for differentiated areas and security, but various problems have been raised, including regional conflicts, traffic restrictions and disconnection of surrounding areas. Therefore, this study empirically considered what kind of spatial effect the gated community has on the surrounding area by analyzing the vitality using floating population big data and analyzing pedestrian accessibility using network analysis and social network analysis. As a result, it was found that the overall vitality in the study area was greatly affected by the land use and the building use. However, focusing on apartment complexes, even in the same land use, when the form of the complex is open to the outside, there is a lot of floating population, so the vitality is high. In terms of accessibility, assuming that the gated community is open, it was found that as the physical connectivity improved, there were more roads for pedestrians to choose from, and the accessibility improved as traffic and exchanges occurred in the disconnected space. The value of improving property rights and residential environment is also precious, but it is necessary to review how to reflect the improvement of local permeability in enhancing the publicness of cities and the value and direction of communities that can coexist with the region.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.315-326
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• 2021

The clear-water phase (CWP) is a notable limnological phenomenon in freshwater systems caused by predatory interactions between large filter-feeding zooplankton and phytoplankton. However, the mechanisms and factors that influence the extent of CWP, particularly in complex water systems with both fluvial and lacustrine characteristics, remain poorly understood. The present study evaluated CWP occurrence patterns at different sites in a large reservoir located in a temperate monsoon region (Lake Paldang, Korea); the relationships among factors associated with CWP occurrence, such as transparency, zooplankton diversity, and chlorophyll a concentration were investigated. Transparency exhibited significant correlations with precipitation and retention time, as well as the relative abundance of zooplankton (p<0.01), suggesting that a change in the retention time due to precipitation can alter CWP. Data collected before and after CWP occurrence were analyzed using paired t-test to determine variations in CWP occurrence based on the water system characteristics. The results demonstrated that various factors were associated with CWP occurrence in the fluvial-type and lacustrine-type sites. The correlation between zooplankton biomass and transparency was stronger in the lacustrine-type sites than in the fluvial-type sites. The lacustrine-type sites, where cladoceran emergence is common and is associated with long retention times, favored CWP occurrence. The results suggest that lacustrine-type sites, which are conducive to zooplankton development and have relatively long retention times, enhance CWP occurrence. Furthermore, CWP occurrence was notable in spring, and the present study revealed that site-specific CWP could occur throughout the year, regardless of the season.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-18
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• 2022

Currently, the Korea Meteorological Administration evaluates the meteorological drought by region using SPI6(standardized precipitation index 6), which is a 6-month cumulative precipitation standard. However, SPI is an index calculated only in consideration of precipitation at 69 weather stations, and the drought phenomenon that appears for complex reasons cannot be accurately determined. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to calculate and compare SPI considering only precipitation and SDCI (Scaled Drought Condition Index) considering precipitation, vegetation index, and temperature in Gyeonggi. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of the station data-based drought index and the satellite image-based drought index were identified by using results calculated through the comparison of SPI and SDCI. MODIS(MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite image data, ASOS(Automated Synoptic Observing System) data, and kriging were used to calculate SDCI. For the duration of precipitation, SDCI1, SDCI3, and SDCI6 were calculated by applying 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month respectively to the 8 points in 2014. As a result of calculating the SDCI, unlike the SPI, drought patterns began to appear about 2-month ago, and drought by city and county in Gyeonggi was well revealed. Through this, it was found that the combination of satellite image data and station data increased efficiency in the pattern of drought index change, and increased the possibility of drought prediction in wet areas along with existing dry areas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2022

Chronic infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) greatly increases the risk for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The outcome of HBV infection is shaped by the complex interplay of the mode of transmission, host genetic factors, viral genotype, adaptive mutations, and environmental factors. The pregenomic RNA transcription of HBV for their replication is regulated by the core promoter activation. Core promoter mutations have been the reason for acute liver failure and are associated with HCC development. We obtained HBV genes from a patient in Myanmar who was infected with HBV and identified gene variations in the core promoter region. For measuring the relative transactivation activity of the core promoter, we prepared the core-promoter reporter construct. Among the gene variations of the core promoter, the mutations of C1731T and G1806A were associated with increase in the transactivation of the HBV core promoter. Through computer analysis for searching for a tentative transcription factor binding site, we showed that the mutations of C1713T and G1806A newly created C/EBPβ and XBP1-responsive elements of the core promoter, respectively. The ectopic expression of C/EBPβ largely increased the HBV core promoter containing the C1713T mutation and that of XBP1 activated the M95 promoter containing the G1806A mutation. Our efforts to treat and prevent HBV infections are hampered by the emergence of drug-resistant mutations and vaccine-escape mutations. Our results provide the biological properties and clinical significance of specific HBV core promoter mutations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.190-200
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• 2023

Background: Gunsan has been constantly affected by pollutants generated by the Saemangeum development and the construction industry since the completion of the Saemangeum seawall on April 27, 2010. However, there are limitations to its study, such as taking into consideration weather conditions, geographical factors, and foreign inflows. Objectives: In this study, we compared the Existing-CAPSS emissions of Gunsan with Recalculated-CAPSS emissions data to analyze the differences in emissions characteristics by year (2016~2019). Methods: Using Existing data on CAPSS emissions (2016~2019) and Recalculated-CAPSS emissions (2016~2019) for Gunsan, which were Recalculated following the improvement of emissions calculations for 2020, we organized CO, NO_X, SO_X, PM₁₀, VOC_S, and NH₃ emissions by substance and investigated the differences and characteristics of the Recalculated emissions by year. Results: For Re-CO and Re-PM₁₀, the emission characteristics of CO were examined as energy industry combustion and PM₁₀ emission characteristics were examined as ship cargo from non-road transportation sources, as ship leisure sources were excluded from non-road transportation source emissions. Conclusions: Comparing the emissions of Existing-CAPSS and Recalculated-CAPSS in Gunsan, the emissions of Recalculated-CAPSS by substance decreased by 39.76% for CO, 9.98% for PM₁₀, 5.53% for VOC_S, and 9.24% for NH₃, while Re-NO_X increased by 2.86% and Re-SO_X increased by 1.97%. On the other hand, when comparing the emissions characteristics of Existing-CAPSS and Recalculated-CAPSS in Gunsan, Jeonju, and Iksan, the emission characteristics of Re-NO_X, Re-SO_X, Re-VOC_S and Re-NH₃ were similar to those of Ex-NO_X, Ex-SO_X, Ex-VOC_S, and Ex-NH₃. As such, Gunsan, Iksan, and Jeonju, showed differences in the comparison of different emission characteristics due to the geographical characteristics of the region (population, area, topography, weather factors) and the characteristics of the industrial complex (metal, petrochemical).

• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.16
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• pp.157-169
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• 2014

Lake Biwa Canal was a dream project that reminds us the passion and innovation of Kyoto Citizens more than water supply. It is a modernization project combining engineering knowledge and scientific technology, which started transportation by ship through big-scale civil construction as well as supplying electricity as the first waterpower plant in Japan, and it overcame the physiographic limit through adopting unique method of waterway transportation. Lake Biwa Canal, which has tangible and intangible culture heritage value as the traditional space of Kyoto, the Old Capital of 1200 years, conceives a cultural meaning that is connected through various mutual relation as well as scientific technologic factor. Lake Biwa Canal is not only the function for supplying water to gardens and temples of Kyoto region, but it is also a cultural fruit that is formed by complex causal relationship of various contents such as geographical and environmental background, the phases of the times, local development policy, political circumstances and religions. This study is aimed at interpreting the value of Lake Biwa Canal multilaterally by the convergence of cultural and technological aspects through the view of the world which the age tried to pursue, focusing on the construction of Lake Biwa Canal which was accomplished in the process of promoting the modernization of Kyoto.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2023

The performance of computer systems and the development of various computer simulation programs have made it possible to analyze chemical systems composed of more complex elements, and accordingly, research using molecular dynamics simulation is being actively conducted. Research on calculating the gas permeation characteristics of polymer membranes by molecular dynamics, which was previously conducted mainly through experiments, is receiving attention for gas barrier membranes used in food packaging and pharmaceuticals. Recently, there has been a report that a gas barrier effect appears when a coating film is made using silk fibroin, and in this study, a study was conducted using molecular dynamics simulation to confirm whether an oxygen barrier effect appears when a composite film is made using silk fibroin. We built a single model, calculated the gas permeation characteristics, and compared it with the experimental value to confirm that the model reflects the actual experimental results. Actual composite membrane models were then built and the gas movement path within the polymer was analyzed. As a result, oxygen molecules were found that they could not pass through and was blocked in the fibroin region. Therefore, the composite membrane with silk fibroin has excellent oxygen barrier property and is expected to be useful in food packaging, etc.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.483-490
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• 2022

Floating LiDAR is a system that provides a new paradigm for wind condition observation, which is essential when creating an offshore wind farm. As it can save time and money, minimize environmental impact, and even reduce backlash from local communities, it is emerging as the industry standard. However, the design and verification of a stable platform is very important, as disturbance factors caused by fluctuations of the buoy affect the reliability of observation data. In Korea, due to the nation's late entry into the technology, a number of foreign equipment manufacturers are dominating the domestic market. The west coast of Korea is a shallow sea environment with a very large tidal difference, so strong currents repeatedly appear depending on the region, and waves of strong energy that differ by season are formed. This paper conducted a study examining buoys suitable for LiDAR operation in the waters of Korea, which have such complex environmental characteristics. In this paper, we will introduce examples of optimized design and verification of ship-type buoys, which were applied first, and derive important concepts that will serve as the basis for the development of various platforms in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2024

Recently, development of non-traditional energy such as oil sands has been actively conducted in the cold region such as Canada. Frozen soil has different thermal and mechanical characteristics from general soil due to its high organic contents. This study evaluated the impact of organic matter content on the thermal and mechanical behavior of frozen soil samples collected from Alberta, Canada, and Gangwon Province, South Korea. As the organic content increases, the maximum dry unit weight decreases and the optimum moisture content increases in compaction tests. In uniaxial compression tests under frozen conditions, the strength of the frozen specimens increased as the temperature decreased. The strength of Canada soil sample increased with higher organic matter content at low temperatures. However, the strength of frozen soil was not significantly affected by organic matter content due to the complex behavior and unfrozen water content. Thermal conductivity tests showed higher thermal conductivity in frozen conditions compared to unfrozen conditions, due to the higher thermal conductivity of ice compared to water. These findings provide essential data for geotechnical design and construction in large-scale projects such as oil sands development in cold regions. Further research is needed to explore the impact of organic matter content on different types of frozen soils.