• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.512-522
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• 2023

Cancer with unlimited cell growth is a leading cause of death globally. Various cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, can be applied alone or in combination depending on the cancer type and stage. New treatments with fewer side effects than previous cancer treatments are continually under development and in demand. Undifferentiated stem cells with unlimited cell growth are gradually changed via cellular differentiation to arrest cell growth. In this study, we reviewed the possibility of treating cancer by using cellular differentiation into the adipocytes in cancer cells. In previous in vitro studies, oral antidiabetic drugs of the thiazolidinedione (TDZ) class, such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, were induced into the adipocytes in various cancer cell lines via increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR γ) expression and glucose uptake, which is the key regulator of adipogenesis and the energy metabolism pathway. The differentiated adipogenic cancer cells treated with TDZ inhibited cell growth and had a less cellulotoxic effect. This adipogenic differentiation treatment suggests a possible chemotherapy option in cancer cells with high and abnormal glucose metabolism levels. However, the effects of the in vivo adipogenic differentiation treatment need to be thoroughly investigated in different types of stem and normal cells with other side effects.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 2023

In Korea, a major contaminant of farmland soils in the vicinity of abandoned mines is arsenic, for which the general soil reclamation method is contaminated soil stabilization and cover the stabilized soil with clean soil at a thickness of 40 cm. In a previous pot experiment study we confirmed the feasibility of a lower thickness (20 cm) of covering soil for such reclamation in abandoned coal mines, where arsenic contamination levels are generally lower than in metal mines. In this subsequent study a field experiment including rice plant cultivation in field test plots was conducted. For over 4 months, the transfer of arsenic from the contaminated soil to the unpolished rice grains was reduced by 44% when a clean soil covering with a thickness of 20 cm was applied. The maximum decrease (56%) was shown when the stabilization process was performed before the covering. These results reveal a lower thickness of clean soil covering has a high feasibility and it can increase cost-efficiency in the reclamation of an abandoned coal mine.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2023

Aircrews and passengers are exposed to radiation from cosmic rays and secondary scattered rays generated by reactions with air or aircraft. For aircrews, radiation safety management is based on the exposure dose calculated using a space-weather environment simulation. However, the exposure dose varies depending on solar activity, altitude, flight path, etc., so measuring by route is more suggestive than the calculation. In this study, we developed an instrument to measure the cosmic radiation dose using a general-purpose Si sensor and a multichannel analyzer. The dose calculation applied the algorithm of CRaTER (Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation), a space radiation measuring device of NASA. Energy and dose calibration was performed with Cs-137 662 keV gamma rays at a standard calibration facility, and good dose rate dependence was confirmed in the experimental range. Using the instrument, the dose was directly measured on the international line between Dubai and Incheon in May 2023, and it was similar to the result calculated by KREAM (Korean Radiation Exposure Assessment Model for Aviation Route Dose) within 12%. It was confirmed that the dose increased as the altitude and latitude increased, consistent with the calculation results by KREAM. Some limitations require more verification experiments. However, we confirmed it has sufficient utilization potential as a cost-effective measuring instrument for monitoring exposure dose inside or on personal aircraft.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.574-585
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• 2023

Sarcopenia is a leading cause of increased medical and nursing care costs among the elderly. In Korea, preventive measures for sarcopenia are mostly targeted toward the general elderly population without specific diseases. However, it is also necessary to implement measures for elderly individuals living in nursing homes and hospitals, where the prevalence of sarcopenia is high. Currently, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging are considered standard diagnostic tools. However, their complexity and time-consuming nature make them unsuitable for clinical use. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms of sarcopenia are unclear, as they involve various molecular biological pathways, including decreased exercise, protein and nutrient intake, changes in testosterone and growth hormone, and inflammation. Sarcopenia symptoms can lead to several diseases, such as osteoporosis, fractures, dementia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Vitamin B deficiency is a significant factor in sarcopenia induction, with B vitamins being directly involved in energy and protein metabolism and nerve function. Vitamin B deficiency can lead to neuromuscular and neurogenic disorders, which often overlap with sarcopenia. Suboptimal intake of B vitamins, malabsorption, and anorexia are common among the elderly. This study aims to provide information on the role of water-soluble B vitamins in preventing and controlling muscle mass loss and deterioration among the elderly with sarcopenia. In addition, we discuss the potential of myokines from the B vitamin family in modulating sarcopenia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.127-139
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• 2007

This research was peformed to investigate the anthropometric data, blood profiles, and nutrient intakes of elderly persons living in a rural area. The subjects were 67 undernourished people who participated in follow-up nutrition intervention programs for9 weeks. Anthropometric data showed that the mean heights and weights in the management group were 157.6 cm and 59.1 kg, respectively, for the males and 152.6 cm and 51.0 kg, respectively, for the females. The mean BMIs of the management group were 23.8 kg/m$^2$ in the males and 22.4 kg/m$^2$ in the females. The total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and albumin levels of the subjects were 181.7-191.4mg/dL, 48.3-53.0mg/dL, and 3.85-4.00g/dL, respectively. Energy, ash, P, Na, vitamin B$_1$, vitamin B$_2$, vitamin B$_6$, and niacin increased significantly after intervention for the management group. The mINQ, however, did not significantly increase after intervention. Also after intervention, there was no significant difference in mINQ between the management group and the comparison group. MAR (14) in the management group was significantly increased from 0.62${\pm}$0.2 before intervention to 0.68${\pm}$0.2 after intervention (p=0.022), and it was significantly different between the management group and the comparison group (p=0.017). MAR (8) in the management group was not significantly different (p=0.915) before and after intervention. However, MAR (8) between the management group and the comparison group did show a significant difference (p=0.031). MAR (3) in the management group was significantly increased from 0.48${\pm}$0.2 before intervention to 0.55${\pm}$0.2 after intervention (p=0.045), however, MAR (3) was not significantly different between the management group and the comparison group (p=0.093). For the probability of nutrient insufficiency, in the management group the probability of nutrient values below the EAR (except for Fe) decreased after intervention compared to before intervention. On the other hand, the probabilities of values above the RI, or EAR${\sim}$RI, were increased

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the thermal protective function of firefighter clothes and gloves through real scale fire simulations. Methods: Firstly, the fire simulation by real scale flame was performed for firefighter clothes. A manikin equipped with firefighter clothes was directly exposed to flames which energy average is 84 Kw/m². for 22 seconds. Heat flux gauges attached on the body measured surface temperature elevation. Secondly, we also performed the other fire simulation by hot plate exposure to firefighter gloves. Firefighter gloves with heat flux gauges exposed hot plate which temperature is 300℃ in both dry and moist conditions. Primary outcome was surface temperature change of manikin body (first simulation) and hand (second simulation) over times. Results: In the first flame simulation, the surface temperature of face and shoulders elevated more rapidly comparing with the other body surface area when initial period of flame shutter open. After 18sec of shutter open, the surface temperature of upper trunk elevated rapildy. After shutter closure, high surface temperature kept continuously on right side of face and left shoulder. In the second hot plate simulation, fingers and palms showed higher surface temperature than the other areas of hands in the both dry and wet conditions. Conclusion: This study suggests that the real scale flame enables firefighter clothes to lose their heat protective function suddenly after 18 seconds. Additionally, the protective function of firefighter gloves were relatively weaker in the palmar side of fingers than the other parts of hand. There should be additional study for evaluate thermal protection performance of firefighter clothes. And, further effort for reinforce palmar side of fingers of firefighter gloves should be done.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.66-73
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• 2023

The construction industry suffers losses due to failures in demand forecasting due to price fluctuations in construction raw materials, increased user costs due to project cost changes, and lack of forecasting system. Accordingly, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of construction raw material price forecasting. This study aims to predict the price of construction raw materials and verify applicability through the improvement of the Data Refactor technique. In order to improve the accuracy of price prediction of construction raw materials, the existing data refactor classification of low and high frequency and ARIMAX utilization method was improved to frequency-oriented and ARIMA method utilization, so that short-term (3 months in the future) six items such as construction raw materials lumber and cement were improved. ), mid-term (6 months in the future), and long-term (12 months in the future) price forecasts. As a result of the analysis, the predicted value based on the improved Data Refactor technique reduced the error and expanded the variability. Therefore, it is expected that the budget can be managed effectively by predicting the price of construction raw materials more accurately through the Data Refactor technique proposed in this study.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

This study forecasted the manpower demand of eco-friendly smart shipbuilding, whose importance and weight are increasing according to the environmental regulations of the IMO and the spread of the 4th industrial revolution technology. It predicted the shipbuilding industry manpower by applying various models of trend analysis and time series analysis based on data from 2000 to 2020 of Statistics Korea. It was found that the prediction applying geometric mean had the smallest gap among the trend and time series analysis methods in comparing between forecast results and actual data for the past 5 years. Therefore, the demand for manpower in the shipbuilding industry was predicted by using the geometric mean method. In addition, the manpower demand of smart eco-friendly ships wast forecasted by using the 2018 and 2020 manpower survey results of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and reflecting the trend of manpower increase in the shipbuilding industry. The result of forecasting showed that 62,001 person in 2025 and 85,035 people in 2030. This study is expected to contribute to the adjustment of manpower supply and demand and the training professional manpower in the future by increasing the accuracy of forecasting for high value-added eco-friendly smart ships.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.29-42
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• 2023

In this paper, we propose a method to enhance the prediction accuracy of solar irradiance for three major South Korean cities: Seoul, Busan, and Incheon. Our method entails the development of five generative models-vanilla GAN, CTGAN, Copula GAN, WGANGP, and TVAE-to generate independent variables that mimic the patterns of existing training data. To mitigate the bias in model training, we derive values for the dependent variables using random forests and deep neural networks, enriching the training datasets. These datasets are integrated with existing data to form comprehensive solar irradiance prediction models. The experimentation revealed that the augmented datasets led to significantly improved model performance compared to those trained solely on the original data. Specifically, CTGAN showed outstanding results due to its sophisticated mechanism for handling the intricacies of multivariate data relationships, ensuring that the generated data are diverse and closely aligned with the real-world variability of solar irradiance. The proposed method is expected to address the issue of data scarcity by augmenting the training data with high-quality synthetic data, thereby contributing to the operation of solar power systems for sustainable development.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.91-97
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• 2023

Electrochemical (EC) CO₂ reduction is a promising method to convert CO₂ into valuable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals ecofriendly. Here, we report on a facile method to synthesize surface-controlled SnO₂/Cu(OH)₂ nanowires (NWs) and its EC reduction of CO₂ to HCOOH and CO. The SnO₂/Cu(OH)₂ NWs (-16 mA/cm²) showed superior electrochemical performance compared to Cu(OH)2 NWs (-6 mA/cm²) at -1.0 V (vs. RHE). SnO₂/Cu(OH)₂ NWs showed the maximum Faradaic efficiency for conversion to HCOOH (58.01 %) and CO (29.72 %). The optimized catalyst exhibits a high C1 Faradaic efficiency stable electrolysis for 2 h in a KHCO₃ electrolyte. This study facilitates the potential for the EC reduction of CO₂ to chemical fuels.