• Land and Housing Review
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2024

A conventional Design for Safety (DfS), introduced to eliminate potential hazards in the design phase proactively, has encountered persistent challenges, such as perfunctory risk assessments and hazard identifications based on 2D drawings and inefficient workflow processes. This study proposes a BIM-based approach to Design for Safety (DfS) to address the limitations of conventional methods, aiming to enhance efficiency and achieve practical safety management benefits. The proposed workflow process for BIM-based DfS has been refined and validated for on-site applicability through various case studies, including risk assessments during the design phase and field applications for safety management activities during the construction phase. Specifically, the critical process of risk assessment within the DfS methodology has also been transitioned to a BIM-based approach. This BIM-based risk assessment process has been evaluated through case studies, encompassing safety reviews for structural design, construction equipment operation, and construction methodology with sequence in design projects. Additionally, the proposed BIM-based DfS has demonstrated exceptional on-site applicability and efficiency, as validated by the application of a BIM deliverable embedded in DfS information for CDE-based daily activity briefing, VR-based safety training, AR-based mitigation measures inspections, and other safety management activities in the construction phase.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of chronic hyperglycaemia affecting normal kidney functioning. The ayurvedic medicine curcumin (CUR) is pharmaceutically accepted for its vast biological effects. Objectives: The Curcuma-derived diferuloylmethane compound CUR, loaded on Poly (lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles was utilized to combat DN-induced renal apoptosis by selectively targeting and modulating Bcl2. Methods: Upon in silico molecular docking and screening study CUR was selected as the core phytocompound for nanoparticle formulation. PLGA-nano-encapsulated-curcumin (NCUR) were synthesized following standard solvent displacement method. The NCUR were characterized for shape, size and other physico-chemical properties by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy studies. For in vivo validation of nephro-protective effects, Mus musculus were pre-treated with CUR at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. and NCUR at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.w. (dose 1), 12.5 mg/kg b.w (dose 2) followed by alloxan administration (100 mg/kg b.w) and serum glucose levels, histopathology and immunofluorescence study were conducted. Results: The in silico study revealed a strong affinity of CUR towards Bcl2 (dock score -10.94 Kcal/mol). The synthesized NCUR were of even shape, devoid of cracks and holes with mean size of ~80 nm having -7.53 mV zeta potential. Dose 1 efficiently improved serum glucose levels, tissue-specific expression of Bcl2 and reduced glomerular space and glomerular sclerosis in comparison to hyperglycaemic group. Conclusion: This study essentially validates the potential of NCUR to inhibit DN by reducing blood glucose level and mitigating glomerular apoptosis by selectively promoting Bcl2 protein expression in kidney tissue.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.627-635
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• 2019

In Korea, snow damage has been happened in the region with no snowfalls in history. Also, casual damage was caused by heavy snow. Therefore, policy about the Natural Disaster Reduction Comprehensive Plan has been changed to include the mitigation measures of snow damage. However, since heavy snow damage was not frequent, studies on snowfall have not been conducted in different points. The characteristics of snow data commonly are not same to the rainfall data. For example, some parts of the southern coastal areas are snowless during the year, so there is often no values or zero values among the annual maximum daily snow accumulation. The characteristics of this type of data is similar to the censored data. Indeed, Busan observation sites have more than 36% of no data or zero data. Despite of the different characteristics, the frequency analysis for snow data has been implemented according to the procedures for rainfall data. The frequency analysis could be implemented in both way to include the zero data or exclude the zero data. The fitness of both results would not be high enough to represent the real data shape. Therefore, in this study, a methodology for selecting a probability density function was suggested considering the characteristics of snow data in Korea. A method to select probability density function using conditional joint probability distribution was proposed. As a result, fitness from the proposed method was higher than the conventional methods. This shows that the conventional methods (includes 0 or excludes 0) overestimated snow depth. The results of this study can affect the design standards of buildings and also contribute to the establishment of measures to reduce snow damage.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimates of total direct $CH_4$ emissions from croplands on a country scale are important for global budgets of anthropogenic sources of $CH_4$ emissions and for the development of effective mitigation strategies. Methane production resulted by the anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds where $CO_2$ acts as inorganic electron acceptor. This process could be affected by the addition of rice straw, water management and rice variety itself. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rice (Oryza sativa L. Japonica type, var Samkwangbyeo) was cultivated in four plots: (1) Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O$:90-45-57 kg/ha); (2) NPK plus 3 Mg/ha rice straw (RS3); (3) NPK plus 5 Mg/ha rice straw (RS5); (4) NPK plus 7 Mg/ha rice straw (RS7) for 3 years (2010-2012) and the rice straw incorporated in fall (Nov.) in Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong-si. Gas samples were collected using the closed static chamber which were installed in each treated plot of $152.9m^2$. According to application of 3, 5, 7 Mg/ha of rice straw, methane emission increased by 46, 101, 190%, respectively, compared to that of the NPK plot. CONCLUSION(S): We obtained a quantitative relationship between $CH_4$ emission and the amount of rice straw applied from rice fields which could be described by polynomial regression of order 2. The emission scaling factor estimated by the relationship were in the range of IPCC GPG (2000).

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.25-61
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• 2009

These days, environmental policies have changed from being command and control systems toward economic incentive systems, with various incentives having been established by OECD countries. In Korea, many environmental charges have been established in order to diminish activities which damage natural resources. Among them, the Ecosystem Conservation Cooperation Charge and the Replacement Charge for Forest Resources Creation are considered to be representative environmental charges. These charges, along with a few others, were designed to encourage efforts to protect natural resources. The charges include a number of different features, utilize varying methods, and altered ranges of jurisdiction. However, the charges may pose serious inequity problems in terms of their estimated values and their conditions of reduction and exemption. For instance, although the Ecosystem Conservation Cooperation Charge is a primary charge applied to natural resource damage, the charge does not fully secure its original objectives due to its low levy and limited range of provisions. Moreover, the Replacement Charge for Forest Resources Creation has been criticized because of similar reduction and exemption provisions. Therefore, this study analyzes the inequity problems associated with the charges and proposes solutions. First of all, the Ecosystem Conservation Cooperation Charge should be redesigned in such a way that it reflects the substantial value of natural resource damage through either abrogate or increased maximum limits of the charge. With regard to the Replacement Charge for Forest Resources Creation, the cases and ranges of reduction and exemption provisions should be narrowed. Finally, the charges collected should be expended in conformity with their original objectives, and their expenditure should be restricted to either restoration activities or activities directly related to compensation and mitigation of damaged natural resources.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2015

Purpose: As the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) began to cover home oxygen therapy (HOT) services from 2006, it is expected that the new services have contributed to overall positive outcome of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined whether the usage of HOT has helped slow down the progression of COPD. Methods: We examined hospital claim data (N=10,798) of COPD inpatients who were treated in 2007~2012. We performed ${\chi}^2$ tests to analyze the differences in the changes to respiratory impairment grades. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that are associated with the use of HOT. Finally, a generalized linear mixed model was used to examine association between the HOT treatment and changes to respiratory impairment grades. Results: A total of 2,490 patients had grade 1 respiratory impairment, and patients with grades 2 or 3 totaled 8,308. The OR for use of HOT was lower in grade 3 patients than others (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30~0.37). The maintenance/mitigation in all grades, those who used HOT had a higher OR than non-users (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.23~1.61). Conclusion: HOT was effective in maintaining or mitigating the respiratory impairment in COPD patients.