• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2022

Background: Workers are exposed to several risks in academic laboratories due to the presence of potentially hazardous substances. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of accident occurrence and associated risk factors among laboratory workers at the scientific laboratories of the public university in Lebanon and the impact of safety measures training and availability. Methods: In this observational study, a survey was conducted for one year in scientific laboratories at faculties of the public university. Results: Among the participants (N = 220), 45.0% have had accidents; the main cause was exposure to chemicals (73.7%) and more specifically by inhalation (45.4%). Females (85.9%) were more exposed to accidents than males. Laboratory workers with a master's degree, a full-time schedule, and more than ten years of experience were significantly more exposed to accidents (p < 0.05). A significant association was found between accident occurrence and training on management of hazardous products (p = 0.044), risks related to workplace (p = 0.030), eyewash and emergency shower (p < 0.001), first aid (p = 0.012), and facial protection availability (p = 0.019). In spite of the lack of safety culture and efficient training on laboratory safety, participants have shown a very good perception regarding safety measures to be applied in case of work accidents. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the prevalence of accident occurrence is elevated among lab workers at the public university. The impact of regular training on laboratory safety preventive measures is of great importance to ensure the efficiency of occupational health and safety in scientific laboratories.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.90-98
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• 2022

Background: Integrated management of general, mental, and oral health is necessary to improve an individual's quality of life. This study aimed to identify the effects of mental and oral health behaviors on metabolic syndrome. Methods: A total of 4,227 Korean adults aged 20 years or older were selected as study subjects using raw data from the first year (2019) of the 8th period of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A complex sample chi-square test and a complex sample logistic regression analysis were performed using the PASW Statistics ver. 18.0 program. Results: The effect on metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in male than in 1.833 times in male, 2.914 times in 30~49 years old, and 3.855 times in 50~64 years old, and 3.929 times in people over 65 years old compared to 20~29 years old, and compared to those with a college degree or higher, those with a middle school degree or lower are 2.116 times, those with lower income levels are 1.507 times higher, those with middle-lower are 1.359 times higher, those with middle-high are 1.401 times. Compared to non-smokers, smokers were 1.570 times higher than non-smokers and compared to those without speech problem and chewing difficulty, they were 1.717 times and 1.397 times higher, respectively and 1.973 times higher in those with 0~1 brushing times per day. Mental health did not affect prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: It is necessary to improve maintain a healthy lifestyle to lower the risk of metabolic syndrome. It is necessary to establish effective dental hygiene customized education and an efficient health management system at the national level that can induce improvement of oral health behavior for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.71-78
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• 2022

In this study, the applicability of underground displacement sensors was considered through rock blasting tests to develop a relatively inexpensive and efficient slope failure prediction system that can quickly detect the risk of slope failure in advance and issue predictions and warnings with accurate judgment. In the blasting experiment, the sensor located close to the blasting source showed a large displacement due to crushing inside the rock and the sensor located away from the blasting source showed a relatively small strain. This study confirmed that the wired and wireless type underground displacement sensor system can be applied to measure the behavior of the rock slope, and it can be used as a basic data for establishing an early warning system to predict slope failure.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2022

This paper aimed to analyze the type of urban shrinkage over the past 20 years for four case cities designated as abandoned mining area promotion zones and present the direction of future urban spatial policies through the analysis of shrinking status. According to the analysis of urban shrinkage in the past 20 years, all of the case cities were analyzed as fixed-type shrinking cities, showing a population decrease of more than 30% over the past 40 years compared to the peak population. Despite the decrease in population, the designated area of urbanization and non-urban areas is increasing every year, and the development permit and construction permit in non-urban areas are also increasing, requiring efficient management and operation of urban space. It is necessary to study military-level cities in the high-risk phase of extinction in the future, and to develop various indicators for segmentation of urban shrinkage types and analysis of status by type.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.42-48
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• 2021

Recently, the defense industry has been improving high technology by developing convergence technology through the 4th industrial revolution. On the other hand, it is very difficult to guarantee the performance of high-tech weapon systems because the test for weapon systems has many risks and cannot perform in an actual operating environment. Therefore, M&S resources are needed to make sound weapon systems, but many people demand reliable M&S resources. Owing to the continuous demand and execution of the VV&A work, related rules have developed significantly, but tools and techniques for performing the work have not been developed. Hence, there are inefficient parts in the performance of work due to the absence of a systematic system. Accordingly, many risks may cause various safety accidents, such as security. This paper suggests a direction for the development of VV&A work procedures by improving efficiency and reducing risk.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.27-39
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• 2022

The global demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been continuously increasing since the 1990s along with the growth of the portable electronic device market. Of late, the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market has further accelerated the demand for LIBs. The demand for the LIBs is expected to surpass the supply of lithium from natural resources in the near future, posing a risk to the global lithium supply chain. Moreover, the continuous accumulation of end-of-life LIBs is expected to cause serious environmental problems. To solve these problems, recycling the spent LIBs must be viewed as a critical technological challenge that must be urgently addressed. In this study, recycling LIBs using pyrometallurgical processes and post-processes for efficient lithium recovery are briefly reviewed along with the major accomplishments in the field and current challenges.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.69-76
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• 2022

This paper proposes a method of refining and processing time-series data using Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) v2.0 data. In addition, the significance of the processing method was validated through a machine learning-based pressure ulcer early warning system using a dataset processed based on the proposed method. The implemented system alerts medical staff in advance 12 and 24 hours before a lesion occurs. In conjunction with the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, it informs the medical staff of the risk of a patient's pressure ulcer development in real-time to support a clinical decision, and further, it enables the efficient allocation of medical resources. Among several machine learning models, the GRU model showed the best performance with AUROC of 0.831 for 12 hours and 0.822 for 24 hours.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.749-760
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• 2022

Omics-driven synthetic biology is a multidisciplinary research field that creates new artificial life by employing genetic components, biological devices, and engineering technique based on genetic knowledge and technological expertise. It is also utilized to make valuable biomaterials with limited production via current organisms faster, more efficient, and in huge quantities. As the bioeconomic age begins, and the global synthetic biology market becomes more competitive, investment in research and development (R&D) and associated sectors has grown considerably. By overcoming the constraints of present biotechnologies through the merging of big data and artificial intelligence technologies, huge ripple effects are envisaged in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and energy industries. In agriculture, synthetic biology is being used to solve current agricultural problems and develop sustainable agricultural systems by increasing crop productivity, implementing low-carbon agriculture, and developing plant-based, high-value-added bio-materials such as vaccines for diagnosing and preventing livestock diseases. As international regulatory debates on synthetic biology are now underway, discussions should also take place in our country for the growth of bioindustries and the dissemination of research findings. Furthermore, the system must be improved to facilitate practical application and to enhance the risk evaluation technology and management system.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.264-275
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• 2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, bradykinesia, and rigidity. PD is caused by loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra (SN) and therefore, replenishment of DA neurons via stem cell-based therapy is a potential treatment option. Astrocytes are the most abundant non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system and are promising candidates for reprogramming into neuronal cells because they share a common origin with neurons. The ability of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to proliferate and differentiate may overcome the limitations of the reduced viability and function of transplanted cells after cell replacement therapy. Achaete-scute complex homolog-like 1 (Ascl1) is a well-known neuronal-specific factor that induces various cell types such as human and mouse astrocytes and fibroblasts to differentiate into neurons. Nurr1 is involved in the differentiation and maintenance of DA neurons, and decreased Nurr1 expression is known to be a major risk factor for PD. Previous studies have shown that direct conversion of astrocytes into DA neurons and NPCs can be induced by overexpression of Ascl1 and Nurr1 and additional transcription factors genes such as superoxide dismutase 1 and SRY-box 2. Here, we demonstrate that astrocytes isolated from the ventral midbrain, the origin of SN DA neurons, can be effectively converted into DA neurons and NPCs with enhanced viability. In addition, when these NPCs are inducted to differentiate, they exhibit key characteristics of DA neurons. Thus, direct conversion of midbrain astrocytes is a possible cell therapy strategy to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2023

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease influenced by interactions between teeth, biofilm, dietary factors, and various biological, behavioral, sociocultural, and genetic factors. Recent research has shown that dental caries results from dysbiosis, an imbalance in the oral microbial community, shifting the concept from an infectious disease to a non-communicable disease (NCD). Dental caries shares similarities with other chronic NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, as they all relate to dietary intake, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors. Considering the high prevalence of dental caries and its impact on people's health and quality of life, it is important to understand dental caries as an NCD and develop effective oral health management strategies. Ecological prevention methods and efficient public health policies should be provided to reduce risk factors associated with dental caries.