• Atmosphere
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.123-138
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• 2024

Using 18 multi-model-based a Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) climate change scenarios, future changes in temperature and warmth index on the Korean Peninsula in the 21st century (2011~2100) were analyzed. In the analysis of the current climate (1981~2010), the ensemble averaged model results were found to reproduce the observed average values and spatial patterns of temperature and warmth index similarly well. In the future climate projections, temperature and warmth index are expected to rise in the 21st century compared to the current climate. They go further into the future and the higher carbon scenario (SSP5-8.5), the larger the increase. In the 21st century, in the low-carbon scenario (SSP1-2.6), temperature and warmth index are expected to rise by about 2.5℃ and 24.6%, respectively, compared to the present, while in the high-carbon scenario, they are expected to rise by about 6.2℃ and 63.9%, respectively. It was analyzed that reducing carbon emissions could contribute to reducing the increase in temperature and warmth index. The increase in the warmth index due to climate change can be positively analyzed to indicate that the effective heat required for plant growth on the Korean Peninsula will be stably secured. However, it is necessary to comprehensively consider negative aspects such as changes in growth conditions during the plant growth period, increase in extreme weather such as abnormally high temperatures, and decrease in plant diversity. This study can be used as basic scientific information for adapting to climate change and preparing response measures.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.41.1-41.13
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• 2021

Correlation between vaccine reactogenicity and immunogenicity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unclear. Thus, we investigated to determine whether the reactogenicity after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination is associated with antibody (Ab) titers and T cell responses. This study was prospective cohort study done with 131 healthcare workers at tertiary center in Seoul, South Korea. The degrees of the local reactions after the 1st and 2nd doses of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (ChAdOx1) vaccination were significantly associated with the S1-specific IgG Ab titers (p=0.003 and 0.01, respectively) and neutralizing Ab (p=0.04 and 0.10, respectively) in age- and sex-adjusted multivariate analysis, whereas those after the BNT162b2 vaccination did not show significant associations. T cell responses did not show significant associations with the degree of reactogenicity after the ChAdOx1 vaccination or the BNT162b2 vaccination. Thus, high degree of local reactogenicity after the ChAdOx1 vaccine may be used as an indicator of strong humoral immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.359-369
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• 2024

Korea prepares for potential floods by designating June 21st to September 20th as the flood season. However, many dams in Korea have suffered from extreme floods caused by different climate patterns, as in the case of the longest consecutive rain of 54 days in the 2020's flood season. In this context, various studies have tried to develop novel methodologies to reduce flood damage, but no study has ever dealt with the validity of the current statutory flood season thus far. This study first checked the validity of the current flood season through the observation data in the 21st century and proved that the current flood season does not consider the effects of increasing precipitation trends and the changing regional rainfall characteristics. In order to deal with these limitations, this study suggested seven new alternative flood seasons in the research area. The rigid reservoir operation method (ROM) was used for reservoir simulation, and the long short-term memory (LSTM) model was used to derive predicted inflow. Finally, all alternatives were evaluated based on whether if they exceeded the design discharge of the dam and the design flood of the river. As a result, the floods in the shifted period were reduced by 0.068% and 0.33% in terms of frequency and duration, and the magnitude also decreased by 24.6%, respectively. During this period, the second evaluation method also demonstrated that flood decreased from four to two occurrences. As the result of this study, the authors expect a formal reassessment of the flood season to take place, which will ultimately lead to the preemptive flood response to changing precipitation patterns.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.50.1-50.11
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• 2023

Background: The rise in telecommuting or non-face-to-face work owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has fueled conversations regarding the "right to disconnect." Although evidence suggests that receiving work-related communications through telecommunication devices outside of work hours may lead to various symptoms and illnesses, limited research has been undertaken on these symptoms. This study therefore aims to investigate the correlation between receiving work communications through telecommunication devices after work hours and the occurrence of work-related headaches and eyestrain in full-time, non-shift white-collar workers. Methods: This study used data from the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey. The frequency of using telecommunication devices for work purposes outside of working hours was divided into five categories: "Every day," "Several times a week," "Several times a month," "Rarely," and "Never." Work-related headaches and eyestrain were categorized based on a "yes" or "no" response to the survey questions. Descriptive statistics, χ² tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0. Results: After adjusting for sex, age, income level, education, occupation, workplace size, work hours, and sleep disorders, the odds ratio (OR) of work-related headaches and eyestrain based on frequency of telecommunication device usage were as follows: "rarely" (OR: 1.292; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.111-1.503), "several times a month" (OR: 1.551; 95% CI: 1.249-1.926), "several times a week" (OR: 1.474; 95% CI: 1.217-1.784), and "every day" (OR: 1.548; 95% CI: 1.321-1.813). Conclusions: Employees who use telecommunication devices for work after regular hours are more susceptible to experiencing work-related headaches and eyestrain compared to those who do not. However, there is a dearth of research examining the physical and mental health impacts of using telecommunication devices for after-hours work. Furthermore, the existing preventative measures in Korea are insufficient. Consequently, it is imperative to develop effective measures and conduct additional research to address this issue.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.425-437
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• 2023

Obesity, which continues to increase worldwide, was shown to irreversibly impair the differentiation potential and angiogenic properties of adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs). Because these cells are intended for regenerative medicine, especially for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, and the effects of obesity on the immunomodulatory properties of ADSCs are not yet clear, here we investigated how ADSCs isolated from former obese subjects (Ex-Ob) would influence macrophage differentiation and polarization, since these cells are the main instructors of inflammatory responses. Analysis of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of overweight (OW) and Ex-Ob subjects showed the maintenance of approximately twice as many macrophages in Ex-Ob SAT, contained within the CD68⁺/FXIII-A^- inflammatory pool. Despite it, in vitro, coculture experiments revealed that Ex-Ob ADSCs instructed monocyte differentiation into a M2-like profile, and under inflammatory conditions induced by LPS treatment, inhibited HLA-DR upregulation by resting M0 macrophages, originated a similar percentage of TNF-α⁺ cells, and inhibited IL-10 secretion, similar to OW-ADSCs and BMSCs, which were used for comparison, as these are the main alternative cell types available for therapeutic purposes. Our results showed that Ex-Ob ADSCs mirrored OW-ADSCs in macrophage education, favoring the M2 immunophenotype and a mixed (M1/M2) secretory response. These results have translational potential, since they provide evidence that ADSCs from both Ex-Ob and OW subjects can be used in regenerative medicine in eligible therapies. Further in vivo studies will be fundamental to validate these observations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.6
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• pp.611-633
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• 2024

This study intends to investigate the response of multi-cell (MC) beams to flexural loads in which the primary reinforcement is composed of both metallic and non-metallic materials. "Multi-cell" describes beam sections with multiple longitudinal voids separated by thin webs. Seven reinforced concrete MC beams measuring 300×200×1800 mm were tested under flexural loadings until failure. Two series of beams are formed, depending on the type of main reinforcement that is being used. A control RC beam with no openings and six MC beams are found in these two series. Series one and two are reinforced with metallic and non-metallic main reinforcement, respectively, in order to maintain a constant reinforcement ratio. The first crack, ultimate load, deflection, ductility index, energy absorption, strain characteristics, crack pattern, and failure mode were among the structural parameters of the beams under investigation that were documented. The primary variables that vary are the kind of reinforcing materials that are utilized, as well as the kind and quantity of mesh layers. The outcomes of this study that looked at the experimental and numerical performance of ferrocement reinforced concrete MC beams are presented in this article. Nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was performed with ANSYS-16.0 software to demonstrate the behavior of composite MC beams with holes. A parametric study is also carried out to investigate the factors, such as opening size, that can most strongly affect the mechanical behavior of the suggested model. The experimental and numerical results obtained demonstrate that the FE simulations generated an acceptable degree of experimental value estimation. It's also important to demonstrate that, when compared to the control beam, the MC beam reinforced with geogrid mesh (MCGB) decreases its strength capacity by a maximum of 73.33%. In contrast, the minimum strength reduction value of 16.71% is observed in the MC beams reinforced with carbon reinforcing bars (MCCR). The findings of the experiments on MC beams with openings demonstrate that the presence of openings has a significant impact on the behavior of the beams, as there is a decrease in both the ultimate load and maximum deflection.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.261-273
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth performance, rumen fermentation parameters and bacterial community of post-weaning dairy calves in response to five diets varying in corn silage (CS) inclusion. Methods: A total of forty Holstein weaned bull calves (80±3 days of age;128.2±5.03 kg at study initiation) were randomized into five groups (8 calves/group) with each receiving one of five dietary treatments offered as total mixed ration in a 123-d feeding study. Dietary treatments were control diet (CON; 0% CS dry matter [DM]); Treatment 1 (T1; 27.2% CS DM); Treatment 2 (T2; 46.5% CS DM); Treatment 3 (T3; 54.8% CS DM); and Treatment 4 (T4; 67.2% CS DM) with all diets balanced for similar protein and energy concentration. Results: Results showed that calves offered CS had greater average daily gain, body length and chest depth growth, meanwhile altered rumen fermentation indicated by decreased rumen acetate concentrations. Principal coordinate analysis showed the rumen bacterial community structure was affected by varying CS inclusion diets. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the predominant bacterial phyla in the calf rumens across all treatments. At the genus level, the abundance of Bacteroidales_RF16_group was increased, whereas Unclassified_Lachnospiraceae was decreased for calves fed CS. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation test between the rumen bacteria and rumen fermentation parameters indicated that Bacteroidales_RF16_group and Unclassified Lachnospiraceae were positively correlated with propionate and acetate, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the current study suggested that diet CS inclusion was beneficial for post-weaning dairy calf growth, with 27.2% to 46.5% CS of diet DM recommended to achieve improved growth performance. Bacteroidales_RF16_group and Unclassified Lachnospiraceae play an important role in the rumen fermentation pattern for post-weaning calves fed CS.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.569-582
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• 2023

In recent years, the service life of major SOC facilities in south korea has exceeded 30 years, and rapid aging is expected within the next 10 years. This has led to a growing recognition of the need for proactive maintenance of these facilities. Consequently, there have been numerous research efforts to introduce smart inspection technologies into maintenance. However, the current system relies primarily on manpower for safety inspections and diagnostics, and on-site surveys rely on visual inspections. Manpower inspections can be time-consuming, and subjective errors may occur during result analysis. In the case of tunnels, there are disadvantages, such as the loss of social overhead capital due to partial closures during inspections. Therefore, institutionalizing smart safety inspections is essential, considering specific measures like using advanced equipment and updating qualifications for experts. Furthermore, it is necessary to verify and validate safety inspection results using advanced equipment before instituting changes. This could be achieved through national-level official research programs and the operation of verification and validation institutions. If smart inspection technology is introduced into maintenance, routine inspections of SOC facilities, such as tunnels, will become feasible. As a result, maintenance technology capable of early detection and proactive response to safety incidents caused by changes in facility conditions is anticipated.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.116-134
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• 2024

This study aimed to identify the issues in Korean ginseng exports through analyzing the ginseng market. Therefore, the study examined the current ginseng production status in South Korea and China, the major ginseng-producing countries in Northeast Asia, including cultivated areas, harvested areas, and production volumes. For South Korea, specific data on ginseng, such as average prices, operating costs, and production costs, were compiled to demonstrate the production competitiveness of Korean ginseng from a production perspective. Furthermore, as major ginseng-exporting countries, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong's export trends, including export quantities, export values, and export prices, as well as crucial export items and tariff rates, were summarized to showcase the export competitiveness of Korean ginseng. Additionally, this study aimed to understand the consumption patterns of ginseng in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan by presenting various cases and events in these countries. Based on information related to production, export, and consumption, this study identified obstacles in the ginseng export process, including market downturns, weakened price competitiveness of Korean ginseng, increased market share of competing products like Chinese and Western ginseng, a lack of promotion and marketing, and insufficient development and export of various ginseng products. In response, strategies for overcoming these obstacles were proposed, including diversifying exports, establishing effective production systems, enhancing quality and branding, strengthening promotion and marketing efforts, and developing various ginseng products.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.199-205
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aims to improve the recognition rate of Auto People Counting (APC) in accurately identifying and providing information on remaining evacuees in disaster-vulnerable facilities such as nursing homes to firefighting and other response agencies in the event of a disaster. Methods: In this study, a baseline model was established using CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) models to improve the algorithm for recognizing images of incoming and outgoing individuals through cameras installed in actual disaster-vulnerable facilities operating APC systems. Various algorithms were analyzed, and the top seven candidates were selected. The research was conducted by utilizing transfer learning models to select the optimal algorithm with the best performance. Results: Experiment results confirmed the precision and recall of Densenet201 and Resnet152v2 models, which exhibited the best performance in terms of time and accuracy. It was observed that both models demonstrated 100% accuracy for all labels, with Densenet201 model showing superior performance. Conclusion: The optimal algorithm applicable to APC among various artificial intelligence algorithms was selected. Further research on algorithm analysis and learning is required to accurately identify the incoming and outgoing individuals in disaster-vulnerable facilities in various disaster situations such as emergencies in the future.