• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.244-249
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• 2023

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of surface roughness on the friction and wear properties of SUS 321, an austenitic stainless steel variant produced using the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique, which is a prevalent additive manufacturing method. After the LPBF fabrication, the specimens go a heat treatment process aimed at alleviating residual stress. Subsequently, they are polished extensively to achieve a refined and smooth surface. To deliberately introduce controlled variations in surface roughness, an etching process is employed. This multi-step method encompassed primary etching in a 3M hydrochloric acid solution, followed by secondary etching in a 35 wt% ferric chloride solution, with varying durations applied to different specimens. A comprehensive evaluation of the surface characteristics ensued, employing precise techniques such as surface roughness measurements and meticulous assessments of water droplet contact angles. Following the surface treatment procedures, a series of friction tests are performed to explore the tribological behavior of the etched specimens. This in-depth investigation reached its peak by revealing valuable insights. It clarified a strong correlation between intentionally altered surface roughness, achieved through etching processes, and the resulting tribological performance of LPBF-fabricated SUS 321 stainless steel. This significantly advances our grasp of material behavior in tribological applications.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2024

Objectives: This case study aimed to evaluate changes in periodontal pathogens and systemic disease indicators following the adjunctive use of probiotics for periodontal treatment. Methods: Two adults, a 64-year-old male and 71-year-old female, were selected with ethical approval and underwent comprehensive oral and systemic health assessments before and after probiotic intake with periodontal debridement. Results: There was a significant reduction in the periodontal pathogens, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema forsythia, and no adverse systemic indicators were observed. Moreover, a trend toward improved lipid profiles was noted, suggesting a potential positive impact on systemic health. Conclusions: This study shows the potential role of probiotics in enhancing oral health and preventing systemic diseases, thus highlighting the need for further research and clinical trials.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2024

This review paper provides a detailed analysis of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle recycling in Japan. Japan is a global leader in PET bottle recycling due to its advanced regulatory framework and proactive industry initiatives. Japan's success attributes to the widespread adoption of bottle-to-bottle recycling, driven by the beverage industry's commitment to sustainability. By utilizing post-consumer PET bottle recovery and food-grade mechanical recycling technologies, Japan has achieved significant milestones in PET bottle recycling. This paper examines regulatory frameworks, collection systems, reprocessing facilities, and food safety assessments to highlight Japan's innovative approaches to PET bottle recycling and their impact on global sustainability efforts. Drawing parallels with Korea's early stages of PET recycling, it suggests involving major beverage companies and re-evaluating regulations to promote bottle-to-bottle recycling. The focus is on the implications for Korea to promote circular economy principles in plastic recycling.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.149-163
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• 2024

As conversational AI systems such as ChatGPT have become more advanced, researchers are exploring ways to use them in education. However, we need effective ways to evaluate these systems before allowing them to help teach students. This study proposes a detailed framework for testing conversational AI across three important criteria as follow. First, specialized benchmarks that measure skills include giving clear explanations, adapting to context during long dialogues, and maintaining a consistent teaching personality. Second, adaptive standards check whether the systems meet the ethical requirements of privacy, fairness, and transparency. These standards are regularly updated to match societal expectations. Lastly, evaluations were conducted from three perspectives: technical accuracy on test datasets, performance during simulations with groups of virtual students, and feedback from real students and teachers using the system. This framework provides a robust methodology for identifying strengths and weaknesses of conversational AI before its deployment in schools. It emphasizes assessments tailored to the critical qualities of dialogic intelligence, user-centric metrics capturing real-world impact, and ethical alignment through participatory design. Responsible innovation by AI assistants requires evidence that they can enhance accessible, engaging, and personalized education without disrupting teaching effectiveness or student agency.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.518-539
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• 2024

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as a pivotal tool for diagnosing and risk-stratifying patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent advancements in image analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have enabled the comprehensive quantitative analysis of coronary atherosclerosis. Fully quantitative assessments of coronary stenosis and lumen attenuation have improved the accuracy of assessing stenosis severity and predicting hemodynamically significant lesions. In addition to stenosis evaluation, quantitative plaque analysis plays a crucial role in predicting and monitoring CAD progression. Studies have demonstrated that the quantitative assessment of plaque subtypes based on CT attenuation provides a nuanced understanding of plaque characteristics and their association with cardiovascular events. Quantitative analysis of serial CCTA scans offers a unique perspective on the impact of medical therapies on plaque modification. However, challenges such as time-intensive analyses and variability in software platforms still need to be addressed for broader clinical implementation. The paradigm of CCTA has shifted towards comprehensive quantitative plaque analysis facilitated by technological advancements. As these methods continue to evolve, their integration into routine clinical practice has the potential to enhance risk assessment and guide individualized patient management. This article reviews the evolving landscape of quantitative plaque analysis in CCTA and explores its applications and limitations.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.59-68
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• 2024

Purpose: The function of internal audit is to help achieve company goals and targets by minimizing the impact of business risks. The distribution of internal audit activities in carrying out control and supervision covers all aspects or activities at all levels of management. The aim of the research is to determine the distribution of risk-based internal audit effectiveness assessments in companies. Data and Research Design Methodology: Researchers examined research trends regarding things that could influence the distribution of the effectiveness of the internal audit function from 2007 to 2023.This research used a systematic literature review (SLR) research method. This research used 23 papers sourced from the Scopus database. Results: The distribution of the effectiveness of audit services provided by internal auditors is more influenced by the personal characteristics of internal auditors and has little to do with the leadership of the chief internal auditor, technology, and risk management. Conclusion: The distribution of monitoring services provided by internal auditors covers all levels of departments or divisions of the organization. The assessment of internal audit effectiveness is more influenced by the auditor's personal attributes such as independence, competence, and management support.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2024

Background: This research suggested a method for evaluating health and safety performance as a combination of reactive and active monitoring. Methods: A number of Freedom of Information requests (FoI) were sent to the Health and safety Executive (HSE) and 100 UK universities. Data on the number of reportable incidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences were compiled for UK universities and combined with the Impact Ranking for good health and well-being. A semi-structured survey was used to identify best H&S practices. Subsequently, the effect of workers' involvement in H&S management on RIDDOR and near-miss reports, was investigated using statistical analysis. Results: A ranking of UK universities that perform highly in Health and Safety (H&S) was assembled and selected universities were contacted to identify best practices. Best practices were divided into three categories: team management, roles and responsibilities, and H&S performance monitoring. One of the findings demonstrated a reverse dependence between provision of a refresher training in risk assessments and a number of reported RIDDOR incidents. Conclusion: Health and Safety professionals in the universities may find it useful to reflect on these findings and the identified best practices in order to improve the H&S performance in their own organisations.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2024

Background: For instance, forward head posture (FHP), characterized by the forward movement of the head relative to the spine, places significant stress on the neck and upper back muscles, disrupting the biomechanical balance of the body. Objects: The objective of this study was to probe the biomechanical effects of FHP on musculoskeletal health through a relative analysis of 26 adults diagnosed with FHP and 26 healthy controls. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the biomechanical impacts of FHP. Participants adjusted their head positions and underwent muscle strength tests, including electromyography assessments and the Biering-Sørensen test for trunk muscle endurance. Data analysis was conducted using Kinovea (Kinovea) and IBM SPSS software ver. 26.0 (IBM Co.) to compare muscle activities between groups with normal and FHPs. Results: The study shows that individuals with FHP have significantly lower muscle activity, endurance, and spinal extension in the erector spinae compared to those without, highlighting the detrimental effects of FHP on these muscles. Conclusion: This study underscores the impact of FHP on erector spinae function and emphasizes the need for posture correction to enhance musculoskeletal health and guide future research on intervention strategies.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.407-418
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• 2023

This study conducted an analysis of terrain change indicators in major development projects in Korea, examining the correlation between terrain change indicators to derive foundational terrain change metrics based on different land use and slope types. The aim is to contribute to sustainable development by enhancing the efficiency of land utilization and landscaping, while minimizing environmental impacts in future development endeavors. Additionally, to apply the research findings in practical contexts, domestic regulations related to terrain were surveyed, and the compatibility and usability between these regulations and research analysis results were discussed. Based on this, the study seeks to explore strategies for more accurate and useful utilization of terrain change indicators in future research. As a result, in the tourism development, terrain changes predominantly occur in the order of flat land, hillly land, and mountain land, with the analysis indicating higher terrain changes in undulating hilly and mountainous lands compared to flat land. Furthermore, in industrial complex development, very steep (20°-30°) and extreme (30°-40°) slopes; in urban development projects, steep slope (15°-20°); in athletic service facility and tourist development, steep (15°-20°) and very steep (20°-30°) exhibit higher average terrain change indicators compared to other slope categories. The findings of our study can contribute to the formulation of strategies aimed at minimizing terrain disturbance in future domestic development projects and serve as foundational data for environmental impact assessments.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.164-174
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• 2024

Recently, many offshore wind farm project plans and environmental impact assessments have been conducted in Korea. However, despite having different characteristics from onshore wind farm, there is a lack of alternative setting and evaluation methods suitable for this. Accordingly, this study attempted to derive implications for the alternative setting and evaluation method suitable for the domestic situation through overseas guideline and case analysis. Through the result of the analysis, it was possible to examine the process of the alternative setting and evaluation method for offshore wind farm, and through this, detailed considerations and methodology were found. Even overseas, the methodology for alternative setting and evaluation has not yet been clear, and the methodology used for onshore wind farm has been improved and developed. In Korea, it is necessary to prepare a system for setting and evaluating alternatives to such offshore wind farm projects, and research in various fields is required to carry out them reasonably and efficiently. For the successful promotion of domestic offshore wind farm projects, it is thought that continuous efforts to increase environmental and social acceptance are necessary along with the promotion of related research reflecting the implications derived from overseas cases.