• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2023

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing interest in anti-obesity strategies. According to the National Statistical Office, the obesity rate in Korea was 38.3% in 2020 and 37.1% in 2021. Obesity is a risk factor for several severe diseases, including stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Pinus rigida × Pinus taeda is a hybrid of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus taeda Linn, and its cones are considered a by-product. Although previous studies have investigated their pharmacological effects on antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative DNA damage, few researchers have explored their potential as functional natural materials. Therefore, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of the cone of ethyl acetate fraction of P. rigida × P. taeda (ERT), specifically its ability to inhibit lipid accumulation. Our analysis showed that ERT contains phytochemicals (catechin and caffeic acid) which are known to improve immune function and inhibit cell damage. ERT inhibited lipid droplet accumulation at the cellular levels through Oil Red O staining. Furthermore, ERT suppressed the expression of adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ and CEBP/α) as well as downstream lipogenic target genes (FAS and SREBP-1) thereby inhibiting adipogenesis. ERT also down-regulated key adipogenic markers, including aP2α, while inducing the phosphorylation of AMPK. It has been reported that PPARγ and CEBP/α are expressed in the early stages of adipose differentiation, while SREBP-1 is expressed in the late stage. Therefore, our findings suggest that ERT activates AMPK signaling pathways, which inhibits adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1) and lipogenic genes (FAS and aP2α), thereby blocking lipid accumulation and preventing obesity and related disorders. ERT showed potential as a new resource for developing a functional material for anti-obesity agents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.26 no.6_3
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• pp.1279-1288
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• 2023

Recently, domestic leisure boats have been actively researching eco-friendly product development to enter the global market. Since the hulls of existing leisure boats are mainly made of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) or aluminum, design techniques for securing structural safety by applying related materials have been mainly studied. In this study, an initial structural design safety assessment of a trimaran pontoon leisure boat with a modular hull structure and eco-friendly high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material was conducted, and sensitivity evaluation and optimization analysis for lightweight design were performed. The initial structural design safety assessment was carried out by creating a finite element analysis model and applying the loading conditions specified in the ship classification regulation to check whether the specified allowable stresses are satisfied. For the sensitivity evaluation, the influence of stress and weight of each hull structural member was evaluated using the orthogonal array design of experiments method, and an approximate model based on the response surface method was generated using the results of the design of experiments. The optimization analysis set the thickness of the hull structural members as the design variable and considered the optimal design formulation to minimize the weight while satisfying the allowable stress. The algorithm of the optimization analysis applied the Gradient-population Based Optimizer (GBO) to improve the accuracy of the optimal solution convergence while reducing the numerical cost. Through this study, the optimal design of a newly developed eco-friendly trimaran pontoon leisure boat with a weight reduction of 10% was presented.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.133-142
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• 2023

The use of digital information technology has become important in order to effectively respond to changes in production conditions in Korean agriculture, which are continuously worsening due to a decrease in the rural population, deepening aging, and climate change. Accordingly, this study analyzed the factors affecting farmers' adoption of information devices use and the effect of information devices use on agricultural product sales using the propensity score matching method. As a result of the analysis, it was found that low-age farmers, high-education farmers, and leading farmers are highly likely to adopt use of information devices. For farms with similar characteristics such as age, management size, and farming type, it has been confirmed that farms that have adopted information devices use in agricultural management have higher sales of agricultural products. Therefore, increasing farmers' access to information and the ability to use information devices provides implications that farm income can be improved. The government's informatization support project in the agricultural and rural sectors is important so that farmers can have the ability to distribute informatization devices and utilize agricultural information, and active investment should also be made in information infrastructure.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.249-260
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• 2024

New supplements with preventive effects against skin photodamage are receiving increasing attention. This study evaluated the anti-photoaging effects of salmon nasal cartilage proteoglycan (SPG), acting as a functional material for skin health. We administered SPG to in vitro and in vivo models exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and assessed its moisturizing and anti-wrinkle effects on dorsal mouse skin and keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts cell lines. These results showed that SPG restored the levels of filaggrin, involucrin, and AQP3 in the epidermis of UVB-irradiated dorsal skin and keratinocytes, thereby enhancing the keratinization process and water flow. Additionally, SPG treatment increased the levels of hyaluronan and skin ceramide, the major components of intercellular lipids in the epidermis. Furthermore, SPG treatment significantly increased the levels of collagen and procollagen type 1 by down-regulating matrix metalloproteinase 1, which play a crucial role in skin fibroblasts, in both in vitro and in vivo models. In addition, SPG strongly inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) signaling, the including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. These findings suggest that dietary SPG may be an attractive functional food for preventing UVB-induced photoaging. And this SPG product may provide its best benefit when treating several signs of skin photoaging.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.552-561
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• 2023

The endocrinology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its predisposing factors have been studied extensively while its skeletal effects have received negligible research despite this being a global disease. The cellular and molecular association between proximal humeral fractures and T2D has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to study bone cell quantities and immunolabel osteogenic and antiosteogenic cytokines. The study used 12-week-old rats (23 males) consisting of 8 Sprague Dawley (SD) and 15 Zucker Diabetic Sprague Dawley (ZDSD). Weekly mass measurements were taken while fasting blood glucose levels were recorded every 2 weeks with oral glucose tolerance tests conducted once every 4 weeks. Upon termination at the age of 28 weeks, humeri were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, prior to decalcification in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The bone samples were then processed in ascending grades of alcohol using an automatic processor before embedding in paraffin wax. Sections were cut at 5 ㎛ thickness in a series for Haematoxylin and Eosin stain, and immunohistochemistry was performed with the anti-tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), anti-alkaline phosphatase (ALP), anti-bone morphogenetic protein 3 (BMP3), anti-transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), anti-aged glycation end product (AGE) antibodies in the sequence. ZDSD rats had more adipocytes, BMP3 and AGEs expression with higher numbers of TRAP positive osteocytes and fewer ALP cells although no differences were found in TGFβ1 immunopositivity. We also found that T2D increases the number of AGEs immuno-positive cells, as well as its extracellular expression, thus providing a conducive environment for the interaction of the osteogenic cytokine and its antagonist to suppress osteoblastogenesis. ZDSD groups had higher adipocyte numbers therefore increased marrow adiposity in T2D.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2024

Cars are one of the main causes of air pollution in large cities, and 34.6% of domestic air pollution emissions come from mobile sources, of which cars account for 69.6%. In particular, the importance of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), which are major pollutants in diesel vehicles, is increasing due to their high contribution to emissions. Therefore, in this study, the problem of natural regeneration caused by low exhaust gas temperature during low speed and low load operation was solved by applying a complex regeneration DPF that is not affected by temperature conditions to large diesel vehicles with higher driving time and engine displacement than small and medium-sized vehicles. And the feasibility of application to large diesel vehicles was reviewed by measuring the emission reduction efficiency. As a result of the reduction efficiency test on the actual vehicle durability product, PM showed a reduction efficiency of 84% to 86%, and the reduction efficiency of gaseous substances showed a high reduction efficiency of over 90%. The actual vehicle applicability test was completed with three driving patterns: village bus vehicle, police car, and road-going construction equipment vehicle, and no device problems occurred until the end of the test. Both load and no-load smoke measurement results showed a smoke reduction efficiency of over 96%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.207-212
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• 2024

Recently, with the strengthening of environmental regulations, there has been an increasing interest in eco-friendly energy sources, leading to a trend of the increasing scale of Cargo Containment Systems (CCS) for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers. Among these systems, membrane tanks have gained popularity in LNG transport vessels due to their superior spatial utilization and competitiveness. However, due to high initial investment costs and the difficulty in repair in case of damage, a safety layer, the secondary barrier, must be installed without fail. In this study, in order to apply a new secondary barrier to the existing membrane-type LNG CCS, tests were conducted on the fiberglass layer previously used in the Triplex-Flexible Secondary Barrier (FSB), substituting it with basalt fiber. Tensile and vertical tensile tests were performed to assess the newly applied material. Environmental tests were conducted at room temperature (25℃) and extremely low temperatures (-170℃), considering the temperatures to which substances may be exposed during LNG vessel operations. The basalt-FSB produced in this study demonstrated superior results compared to the specifications of the existing product, confirming its potential applicability for implementation.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.213-221
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose is to find the optimal way to quickly block the leak in the event of a leak accident in a tank lorry transporting hydrochloric acid aqueous solution, a hazardous chemical, and to carry out effective disaster prevention work to minimize damage caused by the leak. Method: We organized the overall characteristics of hydrochloric acid and accidents that occurred during transportation by accident type and cause, and created a small tank that can be tested assuming a leak situation in a hydrochloric acid tanker, creating an environment similar to the leak situation, and leaking in various ways. I would like to experiment and organize blocking methods. Result: Through experiments, an effective leak blocking method was confirmed. We would like to summarize measures to quickly block a leak in the event of a leak and present the optimal disaster prevention plan that can be applied at the accident site. Conclusion: It has been confirmed that using a combination of adhesive tape and magnets is more effective in blocking leaks. Rapid response is possible by repeatedly training business emergency response teams and product transporters to appropriately select and respond to leak-blocking equipment. Additional research on various leak prevention methods is needed in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.215-225
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• 1996

Aseptic meningits, an acute inflammation of the meninges, is a common illness during childhood. Virus is the most important cause of aseptic meningitis. Especially enterovirus causes approximately above 85% of all cases of aseptic meningitis. In 1993, there was a big epidemic of aseptic meningitis by ECHO 9 and ECHO 30 viruses. And ECHO 3 virus was isolated as a causative agent of aseptic meningitis in 1994. This study was aimed to detect the causative agent of aseptic meningitis in 1995 and to analyze the 5'-noncoding region which was used to detect virus. Virus was isolated from 87 stools and cerebrospinal fluid specimens of the patients by cultured RD and HEp-2 cell. Neutralizing antibody tests using enterovirus serum pool were performed on the specimens with cytopathic effect. 3 of ECHO 7 viruses and 5 of Coxsackie B3 viruses were isolated from stool specimens and 1 of ECHO 7 and Coxsackie B3 mixed type was confirmed from cerebrospinal fluid specimens. RNA was isolated from the culture supernatants of infected cells and general primers were selected in highly conserved part of the 5'-noncoding region of the enteroviral genome for RT-PCR. PCR product from this virus showed a 152bp band on gel electrophoresis. Sequence of obtained DNA was compared with prototype sequences by accessing to the Genebank database. 5'-noncoding region of isolated Coxsackie B3 virus, which has point mutations in nucleotide sequence positions 493, 497, 502, 523, was closely related to that of polio virus type 1, Mahoney strain. In case of isolated ECHO 7 virus, nucleotide has been changed from cytosine to thymine at position 581 and from thymine to cytosine at position 583. We concluded the causative agents of the outbreak of aseptic meningitis during June to July in 1995 were both ECHO 7 and Coxsackie B3 virus, and the primer used in this study could allow a rapid diagnosis of enteroviruses by PCR.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

The goal of this research is the create novel magnets with no rare-earth contents, with larger energy product by comparison with currently used ferrites. For this purpose we developed nano-sized hard-type/soft-type composite ferrite in which high remanent magnetization (Mr) and high coercivity (Hc). Nano-sized Ba-ferrite, Ni-Zn ferrite and $BaFe_{12}O_{19}/Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4$ composite ferrites were prepared by sol-gel combustion method by use of glicine-nitrate and citric acid. Nanocomposite ferrites were calcined at temperature range $700-900^{\circ}C$ for 1h. According to the X-ray diffraction patterns and FT-IR spectra, single phase of NiZn-ferrite and Ba-ferrite were detected and hard/soft nanocomposite ferrite was indicated to the coexistence of the magnetoplumbite-structural $BaFe_{12}O_{19}$ and spinel-structural $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4$ that agreed with the standard JCPDS 10-0325 data. The particle size of nanocomposite turn out to be less than 120 nm. The nanocomposite ferrite shows a single-phase magnetization behavior, implying that the hard magnetic phase and soft magnetic phase were well exchange-coupled. The specific saturation magnetization ($M_s$) of the nanocomposite ferrite is located between hard ($BaFe_{12}O_{19}$) and soft ferrite($Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4$). The remanence (Mr) of nanocomposite ferrite is much higher than that of the individual $BaFe_{12}O_{19}$ and $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4$ ferrite, and $(BH)_{max}$ is increased slightly.