• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.51.1-51.20
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• 2022

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is an intracellular protozoan parasite, which is now present in most industrialized countries. About 40% of T. cruzi infected individuals will develop severe, incurable cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or neurological disorders. The molecular mechanisms by which T. cruzi induces cardiopathogenesis remain to be determined. Previous studies showed that increased IL-6 expression in T. cruzi patients was associated with disease severity. IL-6 signaling was suggested to induce pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses, however, the role of this pathway during early infection remains to be elucidated. We reported that T. cruzi can dysregulate the expression of host PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) during early infection. Here, we aim to evaluate the dysregulation of IL-6 signaling and the piRNAs computationally predicted to target IL-6 molecules during early T. cruzi infection of primary human cardiac fibroblasts (PHCF). Using in silico analysis, we predict that piR_004506, piR_001356, and piR_017716 target IL6 and SOCS3 genes, respectively. We validated the piRNAs and target gene expression in T. cruzi challenged PHCF. Secreted IL-6, soluble gp-130, and sIL-6R in condition media were measured using a cytokine array and western blot analysis was used to measure pathway activation. We created a network of piRNAs, target genes, and genes within one degree of biological interaction. Our analysis revealed an inverse relationship between piRNA expression and the target transcripts during early infection, denoting the IL-6 pathway targeting piRNAs can be developed as potential therapeutics to mitigate T. cruzi cardiomyopathies.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.261-269
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• 2023

Background: Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is a common condition encountered in ambulatory practice and is one of the most common reasons for antibiotic prescriptions. This study aimed to evaluate the potentially inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for ARS in South Korea and identify influencing factors. Methods: We analyzed Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Samples data. We selected outpatients aged 20 to 64 with ARS, prescribed antibiotics between February and November 2020. Potentially inappropriate antibiotic prescribing was categorized as: 1) inappropriate antibiotic selection and 2) inappropriate antibiotic dosage or duration. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to estimate the impact of various factors on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Results: Of 1,210 patients, 80.83% received potentially inappropriate ARS antibiotic prescriptions. Inappropriate antibiotic selection accounted for 43.55%, and inappropriate antibiotic dosage and duration contributed to 37.28%. Otolaryngologists had higher odds ratio (OR) of potentially inappropriate antibiotic prescribing compared to internal medicine practitioners, while dentists had lower OR. Patients aged 20 to 29 years had a higher OR than other age groups, and those who visited primary care clinics had a higher OR than those who visited hospitals. Conclusion: Potentially inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for ARS is prevalent in South Korea. This study identified physician specialty, patient age group, and the level of healthcare facility as factors influencing potentially inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. Addressing this issue through targeted interventions, such as improved guidelines adherence and patient education, is imperative to mitigate the risks associated with antibiotic misuse and antibiotic resistance.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.15-20
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• 2023

In the fine blanking process, which is a press operation known for producing parts with narrow clearances and high precision through the application of high pressure, die roll often occurs during the shearing process when the punch penetrates the material. This die roll phenomenon can significantly reduce the functional surface of the parts, leading to decreased product performance, strength, and fatigue life. In this research, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the factors influencing die roll in the curvature area of the fine blanking process and identified its root causes. Subsequently, we designed and experimentally verified a die roll reduction process specifically tailored for the door latch manufacturing process. Our findings indicate that die roll tends to increase as the curvature radius decreases, primarily due to the heightened bending moment resulting from reduced shape width-length. Additionally, die roll is triggered by the absorption of initial punch energy by scrap material during the early shearing phase, resulting in lower speed compared to the product area. To mitigate the occurrence of die roll, we strategically selected the Shaving process and carefully determined the shaving direction and clearance area length. Our experiments demonstrated a promising trend of up to 75% reduction in die roll when applying the Shaving process in the opposite direction of pre-cutting, with the minimum die roll observed at a clearance area length of 0.2 mm. Furthermore, we successfully implemented this approach in the production of door latch products, confirming a significant reduction in die roll. This research contributes valuable insights and practical solutions for addressing die roll issues in fine blanking processes.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2024

The increase in the elderly population and growing interest in skin beauty, alongside specialized scientific examination of natural substances, have led to a rise in the utilization of natural materials. This paper investigates the types of natural substances, the functionality of extracts, and extraction technologies based on the literature that utilizes natural ingredients to mitigate skin aging. To directly assess the impact of functional materials derived from natural products on skin aging mitigation, the functionality of the extracts was determined based on their ability to synthesize Procollagen and reduce MMP-1. Each natural product is categorized into plants, herbal medicines, and microalgae in the literature utilizing the above evaluation methods. This paper describes the extraction technologies for securing functional materials from each ingredient and the main outcomes, providing trends in research on extraction technologies for functional materials aimed at alleviating skin aging

• Information Systems Review
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.201-217
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• 2020

Information security is an essential element not only to ensure the operation of the company and trust with customers but also to mitigate uncertain damage by preventing information data breach. Therefore, It is important to select appropriate information security countermeasures and determine the appropriate level of investment. This study presents a decision support model for the appropriate investment amount for each countermeasure as well as an optimal portfolio of information countermeasures within a limited budget. We analyze statistics on the types of information security breach by industry and derive an optimal portfolio of information security countermeasures by using genetic algorithms. The results of this study suggest guidelines for investing in information security countermeasures in various industries and help to support objective information security investment decisions.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2024

Network separation is an important policy that Cyber Incident prevent cyber and protect data. Recently, the IT environment is changing in software development, such as remote work, using the cloud, and using open sources. Due to these changes, fintech companies' development productivity and efficiency are lowering due to network separation regulations, and the demand for easing network separation continued. The government revised the regulations electronic financial supervision(hereafter EFS) in response to needs for mitigation of network separation in the IT environment and fintech companies. Some amendments to the EFS, which took effect on 01/01/2023, mitigate network separation only for research and development purposes in cloud environments. If software developed in a cloud development environment is applied to an operating system through a distribution system the existing perimeter-based security model will not satisfaction the network separation conditions. In this Study, we would like to propose a way to maintain the DevOps system in a network separation environment by Using the zero trust security system.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2024

This paper presents a study aimed at developing repair materials for emergency slope stabilization after disasters such as floods. The research assessed how different mix ratios of fly ash and reinforcement with basalt fibers affect the basic quality properties of mortars. Optimal amounts of fly ash were selected based on these properties, and appropriate amounts of chemical admixtures and thickeners were determined to enhance the quality attributed to the basalt fiber mixture. Notably, high-volume fly ash reduced the need for high-performance water reducers and improved workability, known benefits that also helped mitigate fiber ball issues in conjunction with the effects of thickeners. The experimental results indicated that the developed repair materials could potentially be used for emergency repairs, with a focus on initial age strength. This research aims to provide foundational data for repair materials used in future emergency slope stabilizations.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2024

Crud is a corrosion deposit that forms in equipments and piping of nuclear reactor's primary systems. When crud circulates through the reactor's primary system coolant and adheres to the surface of the nuclear fuel cladding tube, it can lead to the Axial Offset Anomaly (AOA) phenomenon. This occurrence is known to potentially reduce the output of a nuclear power plant or to necessitate an early shutdown. Consequently, worldwide nuclear power plants have employed ultrasonic cleaning methods since 2000 to mitigate crud deposition, ensuring stable operation and economic efficiency. This paper details the system configuration of ultrasonic nuclear fuel cleaning equipment, outlining the function of each component. The objective is to contribute to the local domestic production of ultrasonic nuclear fuel cleaning equipment. Additionally, the paper introduces a method for accurately measuring the weight of removed crud, a crucial factor in assessing cleaning effectiveness and providing input data for the BOA code used in core safety evaluations. Accurate measurement of highly radioactive filters containing crud is essential, and weighing them underwater is a common practice. However, the buoyancy effect during underwater weighing may lead to an overestimation of the collected crud's weight. To address this issue, the paper proposes a formula correcting for buoyancy errors, enhancing measurement accuracy. This improved weight measurement method, accounting for buoyancy effects in water, is expected to facilitate the quantitative assessment of filter weights generated during chemical decontamination and system operations in nuclear power plants.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.89-98
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• 2024

In this paper, we propose a system for recommending lecture videos at the chapter level, addressing the balance between accuracy and processing speed in chapter-level video recommendations. Specifically, it has been observed that enhancing recommendation accuracy reduces processing speed, while increasing processing speed decreases accuracy. To mitigate this trade-off, a hybrid approach is proposed, utilizing techniques such as TF-IDF, k-means++ clustering, and Graph Neural Networks (GNN). The approach involves pre-constructing clusters based on chapter similarity to reduce computational load during recommendations, thereby improving processing speed, and applying GNN to the graph of clusters as nodes to enhance recommendation accuracy. Experimental results indicate that the use of GNN resulted in an approximate 19.7% increase in recommendation accuracy, as measured by the Mean Reciprocal Rank (MRR) metric, and an approximate 27.7% increase in precision defined by similarities. These findings are expected to contribute to the development of a learning system that recommends more suitable video chapters in response to learners' queries.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.115-123
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to contribute to how the advantages of artificial intelligence (AI) services and the associated limitations can be simultaneously overcome, using the keywords AI and risk management. To achieve this, two cases were introduced: (1) presenting a risk monitoring process utilizing AI and (2) introducing an operational toolkit to minimize the emerging limitations in the development and operation of AI services. Through case analysis, the following implications are proposed. First, as AI services deeply influence our lives, the process are needed to minimize the emerging limitations. Second, for effective risk management monitoring using AI, priority should be given to obtaining suitable and reliable data. Third, to overcome the limitations arising in the development and operation of AI services, the application of a risk management process at each stage of the workflow, requiring continuous monitoring, is essential. This study is a research effort on approaches to minimize limitations provided by advancing artificial intelligence (AI). It can contribute to research on risk management in the future growth and development of the related market, examining ways to mitigate limitations posed by evolving AI technologies.