• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.457-466
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• 2023

Background: During hot environment work tasks with whole-body enclosed anti-bioaerosol suit, the combined effect of heavy sweating and exhaled hot humid air may cause the N95 medical respirator to saturate with water/sweat (i.e., water-blocking). Methods: 32 young male subjects with different body mass indexes (BMI) in whole-body protection (N95 medical respirator + one-piece protective suit + head covering + protective face screen + gloves + shoe covers) were asked to simulate waste collecting from each isolated room in a seven-story building at 27-28℃, and the weight, inhalation resistance (R_f), and aerosol penetration of the respirator before worn and after water-blocking were analyzed. Results: All subjects reported water-blocking asphyxia of the N95 respirators within 36-67 min of the task. When water-blocking occurred, the R_f and 10-200 nm total aerosol penetration (P_t) of the respirators reached up to 1270-1810 Pa and 17.3-23.3%, respectively, which were 10 and 8 times of that before wearing. The most penetration particle size of the respirators increased from 49-65 nm before worn to 115-154 nm under water-blocking condition, and the corresponding maximum size-dependent aerosol penetration increased from 2.5-3.5% to 20-27%. With the increase of BMI, the water-blocking occurrence time firstly increased then reduced, while the R_f, P_t, and absorbed water all increased significantly. Conclusions: This study reveals respirator water-blocking and its serious negative impacts on respiratory protection. When performing moderate-to-high-load tasks with whole-body protection in a hot environment, it is recommended that respirator be replaced with a new one at least every hour to avoid water-blocking asphyxia.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.81-95
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• 2024

This study empirically analyzed the effectiveness of government financial support policies for venture enterprises in the Daejeon region, using raw data obtained from the Small and Medium Venture Business Administration's survey results from 2016 to 2021. Daejeon, considering its economic significance, has a significant proportion of venture enterprises in its economy compared to the national average, with a focus on technological development. Conducting regression analysis yielded several key findings. Firstly, loan and guarantee support is effective for improving sales and market share, while R&D support is effective for technological development. Second, R&D and loan support have the most significant impact on sales in the fourth stage (maturity), while guarantee support is most influential in the third stage. Third, in industry analysis, the coefficients representing the effects of financial support were larger across all performance indicators compared to firm level data analysis. Based on these empirical analysis results, the study proposes several policy implications as follows. First, the government should actively provide funding support to venture companies rather than leaving investments to the capital market. Second, the methods and targets of funding support should vary according to the purpose of the support. Third, it is necessary to establish a platform that connects venture companies with private investors to commercialize developed technologies. Fourth, the funding support of venture capital for technology-intensive venture companies should be expanded.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.497-507
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the treatment response to Korean medicine of a paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) patient with dysarthria and weakness of distal extremity. Case presentation: A 53-year-old female diagnosed with PCD complained of dysarthria and weakness of distal extremity. During 32-day hospitalization, she was treated with Korean medicine, namely, herbal medicine (modified Gamiguibi-tang), acupuncture (15 minutes twice a day at CV23, HT7, LI4, LR3, ST36, SP6, GB20, TE17, PC6, GV20, Ex-HN1, GV24 etc.), moxibustion, and cupping, combined with Western medicine (prednisolone, azathioprine) and physical therapy. Post-treatment, the patient global assessment (PGA) score of dysarthria fell from 100 to 60; grasp power rose from 15 kg to 19 kg and 13 kg to 17 kg in the right and left hands, respectively; and the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L), EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), and Beck depression inventory (BDI-II) scores changed from 10 to 8, 0 to 80, and 34 to 7 respectively. Follow-up visits continued for about a month after discharge, improvement in symptoms maintained, and there were no significant side effects. Conclusions: Given the lack of standard treatment for PCD, Korean medicine can be tried clinically for the treatment of PCD patients with dysarthria and weakness of distal extremity. However, further studies with control groups are needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.920-929
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• 2024

As a pivotal defensive line against multitudinous malignant tumors, natural killer (NK) cells exist in the tumor microenvironment (TME). RAD18 E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase (RAD18) has been reported to foster the malignant progression of multiple cancers, but its effect on NK function has not been mined. Here, the study was designed to mine the mechanism by which RAD18 regulates the killing effect of NK cells on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Expression of E2F Transcription Factor 7 (E2F7) and RAD18 in CRC tissues, their correlation, binding sites, and RAD18 enrichment pathway were analyzed by bioinformatics. Expression of E2F7 and RAD18 in cells was assayed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Dual-luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay verified the regulatory relationship between E2F7 and RAD18. CCK-8 assay was utilized to assay cell viability, colony formation assay to detect cell proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test to assay NK cell cytotoxicity, ELISA to assay levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and immunofluorescence to detect expression of toxic molecules perforin and granzyme B. High expression of RAD18 and E2F7 was found in CRC tissues and cells. Silencing RAD18 could hamper the proliferation of CRC cells, foster viability and cytotoxicity of NK cells, and increase the secretion of GM-CSF, TNF-α, IFN-γ as well as the expression of perforin and granzyme B. Additionally, ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assay ascertained the binding relationship between RAD18 promoter region and E2F7. E2F7 could activate the transcription of RAD18, and silencing RAD18 reversed the inhibitory effect of E2F7 overexpression on NK cell killing. This work clarified the inhibitory effect of the E2F7/RAD18 axis on NK cell killing in CRC, and proffered a new direction for immunotherapy of CRC in targeted immune microenvironment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.769-779
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• 2024

Purpose To determine the pros and cons of an artificial intelligence (AI) model developed to diagnose acute rib fractures in chest CT images of patients with chest trauma. Materials and Methods A total of 1209 chest CT images (acute rib fracture [n = 1159], normal [n = 50]) were selected among patients with chest trauma. Among 1159 acute rib fracture CT images, 9 were randomly selected for AI model training. 150 acute rib fracture CT images and 50 normal ones were tested, and the remaining 1000 acute rib fracture CT images was internally verified. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy and errors of AI model for the presence and location of acute rib fractures. Results Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy for diagnosing acute rib fractures in chest CT images were 93.3%, 94%, 97.9%, 82.5%, and 95.6% respectively. However, the accuracy of the location of acute rib fractures was low at 76% (760/1000). The cause of error in the diagnosis of acute rib fracture seemed to be a result of considering the scapula or clavicle that were in the same position (66%) or some ribs that were not recognized (34%). Conclusion The AI model for diagnosing acute rib fractures showed high accuracy in detecting the presence of acute rib fractures, but diagnosis of the exact location of rib fractures was limited.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2006

Injection of $CO_2$ into underground saline formations, due to their large storage capacity, is probably the most promising approach for the reduction of $CO_2$ emissions into the atmosphere. $CO_2$ storage must be carefully planned and monitored to ensure that the $CO_2$ is safely retained in the formation for periods of at least thousands of years. Seismic methods, particularly for offshore reservoirs, are the primary tool for monitoring the injection process and distribution of $CO_2$ in the reservoir over time provided that reservoir properties are favourable. Seismic methods are equally essential for the characterisation of a potential trap, determining the reservoir properties, and estimating its capacity. Hence, an assessment of the change in seismic response to $CO_2$ storage needs to be carried out at a very early stage. This must be revisited at later stages, to assess potential changes in seismic response arising from changes in fluid properties or mineral composition that may arise from chemical interactions between the host rock and the $CO_2$. Thus, carefully structured modelling of the seismic response changes caused by injection of $CO_2$ into a reservoir over time helps in the design of a long-term monitoring program. For that purpose we have developed a Graphical User Interface (GUI) driven rock physics simulator, designed to model both short and long-term 4D seismic responses to injected $CO_2$. The application incorporates $CO_2$ phase changes, local pressure and temperature changes. chemical reactions and mineral precipitation. By incorporating anisotropic Gassmann equations into the simulator, the seismic response of faults and fractures reactivated by $CO_2$ can also be predicted. We show field examples (potential $CO_2$ sequestration sites offshore and onshore) where we have tested our rock physics simulator. 4D seismic responses are modelled to help design the monitoring program.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.177-190
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• 1999

This study has been conducted on the basis of the literature review of Nursing Education Research in China from 1990 through August 1998. Its purpose was to support the basic data of nursing education which is risen as major revolutionary of nursing in China and those for exchange of information between Korea-China nursing education. It is retrospective and descriptive research analyzing one hundred eighty articles published in The Journal of China Nursing. The results of the study were as follows. 1. Only 33.3% of the professors of Technical Nursing School who have played of major role of nursing education in China have carried out the study related to nursing education. Baccalaureate program professors have marked 22.2% of all studies, and diploma program professors have done 12.2% of all. Therefore, the professors of above the diploma program have done total 44.4%. It explains that the professors of baccalaureate and diploma programs have done more studies related to nursing education than those of Technical Nursing School. 2. In terms of the study design, most of the studies(38.8%) were case studies introducing the curriculum contents that were done at education institutions. And then, 28.5% were reviewing the articles, and 15.6% were descriptive studies. 3. In terms of the content of the study, 38.3% were relevant to education of Technical Nursing School, 15.0% were about baccalaureate education, and 10.4% is about diploma. 4. To analyze the specific contents of the studies ; a. In baccalaureate program, human resources (professor or teaching), course extension, lab, classes, teaching method, education philosophy, goal of education, evaluation method, and human resource development were included. b. In diploma program, teaching contents evaluation method, teaching method, and educational system were included c. In the technical school, there were qualification of professors , teaching method, evaluation method, opening the courses, teaching contents, goal of education and so on. d. Beyond these, there were practice guidance and appraisement, teaching method, and opening new courses which were not specially indicated as educational curriculum and score management as continuing education. What is above tell us that the study regarding development of university system has been progressed actively and widely. It has been for the effort of revolution which based on the China government force to reform of nursing education process during last 10 years. On the base of the result, we suggest the following questions and the alternatives. 1) Since most articles are case studies related to teaching methods and the others doesn't propose the research method. the study which is applied more exact research method is needed. 2) No study is regarding social change and health policy. Because University program, founded in 1983 is on the beginning point, the research about curriculum have to be taken as a top priority as well as to reflect social needs which are based on social changes and national health policy 3) Only one review article study tells nursing Human resource. To appear in large numbers in nursing manpower, avoid the present hospital nurses training system. Then, the study for manpower development which is able to accomplish in many fields has to be advanced. 4) Most studies did not have literature review processes, so it was impossible for researcher to know the past study tendency and there is no relation among studies as to same subject, the education about research method is needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1532-1537
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different arthroplasty designs on knee kinematic and lower limb muscular activation for up-stair and down-stair movement. 3-D video analysis of whole body and joint kinematics and EMG analysis of quadriceps and hamstrings were conducted. One-way ANOVAs were used for statistical analyses (p=0.05). The single-radius group exhibited more arthroplasty limb quadriceps EMG and hamstring coactivation EMG than the multi-radius group. Single-radius demonstrated more abduction angular displacement and reached peak abduction earlier than the multi-radius arthroplasty limb. The single- radius the percent body fat showed similar values in the Elderly, Single and Multi-radius group among the periods, however Control group was Lowered among the periods. Single-radius group limb also increased the quadriceps muscle activation level to produce more knee extension moment to compensate for the short quadriceps moment arm. Resting metabolic rate was significantly increased in control group in the period of LI. Energy expenditure was extremely increased in all groups except control group among the periods. We can say this is the exercise effects.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.101-109
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• 2014

In order to save costs and enhance quality in construction without damaging the environment, the VE/LCC analysis method is increasingly used. This study was carried out to conduct a value analysis for the ecological restoration of a slope considering life cycle cost and performance. The construction conditions were classified into three types(A, B, C) according to the condition of each base. Three construction methods for slope ecological restoration were selected by each condition. Eventually, a value analysis was conducted for total nine conditions by analyzing the life cycle cost and performance. The gradient of slope and base of Condition 1 were below 1:1.2 and general soil, while condition 2 and 3 were below 1:1.0(reaping rock) and below 1:0.7(soft rock, blasted rock), respectively. A value analysis was conducted based on the value estimated via life cycle cost and performance analysis. The result showed that the B construction method had the highest value in Condition 1 as it showed 108.4, while A and C showed 90.3 and 45.8, respectively. When it comes to Condition 2, Construction Method A indicated the highest value as it showed 89.1(B: 47.5, C: 47.0). In Condition 3, Construction Method A(89.1) was the highest, while B and C showed 55.4 and 40.2, respectively. Based on the result of this study, in order to make a reasonable decision that can enhance quality and reduce costs in slope ecological restoration, the slope ecological restoration method must be reviewed in consideration of life cycle cost and performance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.190-198
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• 2003

Purpose: To evaluate radiation sensitivity of dendritic cells in comparison with lymphocytes. Materials and methods: T lymphocytes captured from peripheral blood were irradiated by 0 Gy, 10 Gy, 30 Gy. Apoptosis was measured by flowcytometry for staining of Annexin V 4 hours after irradiation. Immature and mature dendritic cells processed from blood hematopoietic stem cell were irradiated by 0 Gy, 10 Gy, 30 Gy, 100 Gy respectively and apoptosis was measured by flowcytometry with time difference as 4h, 24h and 48h after irradiation. Morphometric analysis by percent nucleus was measured in three cell groups, also. Results: Lymphocytes showed radiation sensitivity by increasing apoptotic fraction according to radiation dose. However, both mature and immature dendritic cells showed consistent fraction of apoptosis in spite of increasing radiation dose. Percent nucleus ratio is significantly higher in lymphocytes than that of mature or immature dendritic cells. Stimulation of T-cell by dendritic cells was not changed after irradiation. Conclusion: Dendritic cells showed radioresistance which was associated with small size of nucleus in comparison with lymphocytes and this result would be used as a basal data of radio-labelling for the cellular trafficking studios in nuclear medicine fields.