• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2021

Pressure sores are an unresolved human challenge. In this study, a keyboard-type medical bed was developed and a body pressure sensor was installed to provide a method to control the keyboard so that the pressure sores do not reach the critical pressure. For this, a keyboard-type mattress using a 4bar link is developed, and a method of controlling the height adjustment of the keyboard within the critical pressure through a body pressure sensor is used. There is a feeling of discomfort in the body when the keyboard is raised and lowered from pressure sores, which is an important factor: pressure x time, and only time control is performed, but if the proposed method is used, pressure is controlled within the critical pressure, thereby preventing bedsores in a comfortable state. The effectiveness and validity of the developed medical bed system were verified through theories and experiments.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.87-94
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• 2021

While the shielding substances of radiation shields in medical institutions are beginning to be replaced by environmentally friendly materials, radiation protection according to the shielding properties of environmentally friendly substances is becoming an important factor rather than the existing lead shielding properties. Tungsten and barium sulfate are representative shielding materials similar to lead, and are made in sheets or fiber form with eco-friendly materials. Ytterbium is an impermeable material used as a fluorine compound in the dental radiation field. This study aims to evaluate the shielding performance in the x-ray shielding area by comparing the shielding properties of ytterbium by energy band and that of existing eco-friendly materials. When three types of shielding sheets were fabricated and tested under the same process conditions, the shielding performance of the medical radiation area was about 5 % difference from tungsten. Furthermore, shielding performance was superior to barium sulfate. In the cross-sectional structure of the shielding sheet, there was a disadvantage that the arrangement of particles was not uniform. Ytterbium oxide showed sufficient potential as a medical radiation shielding material, and it is thought that it can improve the shielding performance by controlling the particle arrangement structure and particle size.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether co-administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for final oocyte maturation improved mature oocyte cryopreservation outcomes in young women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR) compared with hCG alone. Methods: Between January 2016 and August 2019, controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles in women (aged ≤35 years, anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH] <1.2 ng/mL) who underwent elective oocyte cryopreservation for fertility preservation were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 76 COS cycles were triggered with a GnRH agonist and hCG (the dual group) or hCG alone (the hCG group). The mean age and serum AMH levels were comparable between the two groups. The duration of stimulation, total dose of follicle-stimulating hormone used, and total number of oocytes retrieved were similar. However, the number of mature oocytes retrieved and the oocyte maturation rate were significantly higher in the dual group than in the hCG group (p=0.010 and p<0.001). After controlling for confounders, the dual-trigger method remained a significant factor related to the number of mature oocytes retrieved (p=0.016). Conclusion: We showed improved mature oocyte collection and maturation rate with the dual triggering of oocyte maturation in young women with DOR. A dual trigger appears to be more beneficial than hCG alone in terms of mature oocyte cryopreservation for young women with DOR.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.384-390
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• 2022

A spin coating process for RRAM, which is a TiN/TiO₂/FTO structure based on a PTC sol solution, was developed in this laboratory, a method which enables low-temperature and eco-friendly manufacturing. The RRAM corresponds to an OxRAM that operates through the formation and extinction of conductive filaments. Heat treatment was selected as a method of controlling oxygen vacancy (V_O), a major factor of the conductive filament. It was carried out at 100 ℃ under moisture removal conditions and at 300 ℃ and 500 ℃ for excellent phase stability. XRD analysis confirmed the anatase phase in the thin film increased as the heat treatment increased, and the Ti³⁺ and OH- groups were observed to decrease in the XPS analysis. In the I-V analysis, the device at 100 ℃ showed a low primary SET voltage of 5.1 V and a high ON/OFF ratio of 10⁴. The double-logarithmic plot of the I-V curve confirmed the device at 100 ℃ required a low operating voltage. As a result, the 100 ℃ heat treatment conditions were suitable for the low voltage driving and high ON/OFF ratio of TiN/TiO₂/FTO RRAM devices and these results suggest that the operating voltage and ON/OFF ratio required for OxRAM devices used in various fields under specific heat treatment conditions can be compromised.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.141-148
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• 2023

Purpose : This study examined the relationship between suicidal thoughts, hand grip strength, socioeconomic status, educational level, and disease occurrence. Methods : Korean national health and nutrition examination survey 2017 were used in this study. 5,449 were analysed. For comparison between groups, cross-tabulation analysis and mean comparison were performed. Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the influencing factors between grip strength and suicidal ideation. Results : Our results are consistent with the literature on the importance of socioeconomic status in health. The lower the level of education, the higher the suicidal thoughts. Being single or divorced was also significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Moreover, a lower income level was significantly associated with a higher suicide intention. Furthermore, older ages, lower educational levels, and lower income were significantly associated with a higher odds ratio of suicidal thoughts. Interestingly, suicidal thoughts were significantly lower among non-smokers. In contrast, suicide intention did not differ significantly according to gender, age, monthly drinking habit, aerobic physical activity, and disease occurrence. Suicidal thoughts decreased as grip strength increased and this was statistically significant. Socioeconomic status, disease occurrence, and handgrip strength level affected the security of an individual's livelihood and were significant risk factors for suicidal thoughts. These associations remained significant in multiple logistic regression even after controlling for all covariates. Conclusion : Future prevention intervention efforts to reduce suicide risks should consider handgrip strength. Studies to explore the possible proximal risk factors and mediators between handgrip strength and suicidal thoughts are also warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.45-68
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to longitudinally analyze impact factors on library use. One of library use indicators, the number of circulated books was statistically analyzed with latent growth model and growth mixture model. Library data from 2014 to 2019 were collected from the National Library Statistics System, and 846 public libraries were analyzed. As results, the number of circulated books were decreased, but it was tempered. Next, with controlling the factor affecting the dependent variable, the size of collection and the number of participants in reading programs provided by public libraries were statistically significant. Lastly, 5 classes were identified by applying the growth mixture model, and the number of librarians was significantly associated with trajectory class membership.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.484-495
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• 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can be defined as a progressive chronic pulmonary disease showing scarring in the lung parenchyma, thereby resulting in increase in mortality and decrease in the quality of life. The pathophysiologic mechanism of fibrosis in IPF is still unclear. Repetitive microinjuries to alveolar epithelium with genetical predisposition and an abnormal restorative reaction accompanied by excessive deposition of collagens are involved in the pathogenesis. Although the two FDA-approved drugs, pirfenidone and nintedanib, are under use for retarding the decline in lung function of patients suffered from IPF, they are not able to improve the survival rate or quality of life. Therefore, a novel therapeutic agent acting on the major steps of the pathogenesis of disease and/or, at least, managing the clinical symptoms of IPF should be developed for the effective regulation of this incurable disease. In the present review, we tried to find a potential of managing the clinical symptoms of IPF by natural products derived from medicinal plants used for controlling the pulmonary inflammatory diseases in traditional Asian medicine. A multitude of natural products have been reported to exert an antifibrotic effect in vitro and in vivo through acting on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway, transforming growth factor (TGF)- β-induced intracellular signaling, and the deposition of extracellular matrix. However, clinical antifibrotic efficacy of these natural products on IPF have not been elucidated yet. Thus, those effects should be proven by further examinations including the randomized clinical trials, in order to develop the ideal and optimal candidate for the therapeutics of IPF.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 2023

In this study, the anti-inflammation efficacy of Lactobacillus johnsonii derived from Kimchi was investigated. Raw 264.7 cells, which are rat-derived macrophages, were treated with Lactobacillus johnsonii lysate to confirm the expression level of TNFα and IL1β, which are inflammatory markers, and when treating 250 ㎍/mL extract, the expression level of TNFα and IL1β decreased by 40.55% and 34.66% compared to the control group treated with 1 ㎍/mL LP, respectively. In addition, as a result of confirming the transcriptional activity of NF-κB, a key transcription factor in cytokine expression by LPS, it was confirmed that the transcriptional activity of NF-κB was 40.76% inhibited compared to the control group treated with 1 ㎍/mL LPS. Therefore, the results of this study confirmed that Lactobacillus johnsonii lysate is likely to be an anti-inflammatory or skin-soothing functional material by preventing the expression of cytokine by LPS and controlling NF-κB transcriptional activity.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 2023

Purpose: This study focused on identifying the interaction effects of genetic and lifestyle-environmental factors on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Methods: Study subjects were selected from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) from 2001 to 2014. Data on genetic variations, anthropometric measurements, biochemical data, and seven lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, alcohol drinking, smoking, sleep, depression, and stress) were obtained from 4,836 Koreans aged between 40 and 59 years, including those with T2D at baseline (n = 1,209), newly developed T2D (n= 1,298) and verified controls (n = 3,538). The genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated by using 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to T2D development and the second quartile was used as the reference category. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the associations of GRS and lifestyle factors with T2D risk, controlling for covariates. Results: Multivariate regression analysis revealed that GRS was the strongest risk factor for T2D, and body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking, and spicy food preference also increased the risk. Lifestyle/environmental factors that showed significant interactions with GRS were BMI, current smoking, current drinking, fatty food preference, and spicy food preference. Conclusions: Interactions between genetic factors and lifestyle/environmental factors were associated with an increased risk of T2D. The results will be useful to provide a new perspective on genetic profiling for the earlier detection of T2D risk and clues for personalized interventions, which might be more effective prevention strategies or therapies in individuals with a genetic predisposition to T2D.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.677-690
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• 2019

Recently, the importance and effectiveness of neighborhood forests have been increasing in relation to the quality of life of urban residents. However, there are very few domestic studies that analyzed the correlation between visit characteristics and life satisfaction. Therefore, the study aims to understand how people use the forest for recreation and determine how visit characteristics in neighborhood forests affect individual life satisfaction(ILS). A nationwide survey (N=2,624) was conducted on visit frequency, proximity to forest, means of transportation, forest activities, and life satisfaction. To measure ILS, we used the three factors (personal, relative, collective) of COMOSWB (Concise Measure of Subjective Well-being) developed by Seo et al.(2011). The analysis shows that people usually visit the forest located within the distance of 10-30 minutes from their homes 1-2 times a month on foot for hiking/walking (forest bathing). In particular, the older visitors(over 60s) tend to visit the forest more often than the younger ones (20s). Furthermore, more frequent visitors are more likely to live near the forest. As a result of analyzing the correlation between visit characteristics and ILS by controlling demographic variables, it was found that 'visit frequency' had a positive effect on ILS, and 'proximity to the forest' did not have a statistically significant effect on ILS. In other words, residents who live near the forests are more likely to be satisfied with their lives by visiting frequently. The significance of the study is that it statistically determined that visit frequency is a key factor for ILS. Future studies should take into account the various qualitative factors of forest visit such as vegetation, quantity and types of forest, which will contribute to setting the direction for urban forest development and management.