• Title/Summary/Keyword: safety benefits

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An Introduction of Management and Policy of Biological Resources (생물자원의 관리와 정책)

  • Cho, Soon-Ro;Seol, Sung-Soo;Park, Jung-Min
    • Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.219-240
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    • 2008
  • This paper aims to suggest a policy for biological resource based on a comprehensive understanding on biological resources. Biological resources are different from traditionally recognized viable organisms (Biodiversity) in ecosystems. Biological resources are culturable and replicable resources of living organisms such as tissues, cells and genes. Moreover, biological resources include human-derived biological materials. Biological resources is not simply a matter of science and technology. Biological resources should be dealt with as national resources. There are many international issues regarding biological resources, such as intellectual property rights (IPRs), safety on handling and distribution, material transfer agreements (MTAs) for mutual benefits and biological standards. Ethical debates are also being raised because biological resources are related with human-derived biological materials. Every nation has tendency to adopt its government policies to strengthen its sovereignty on biological resources and international cooperation. In addition, international linkages are essential for providing enhanced worldwide accessibility to biological resources. Japan has shown several international initiatives in the field of biological resources. Korea has just begun to design appropriate policies for the use and R&D of biological resources. Therefore, this paper suggests the following needs: 1) policy at the national level beyond the interests of researchers, 2) inter-ministerial coordination across government ministries, 3) expansion of scope and size of each BRC (Biological Resource Centers), and 4) building networks and systems such as national information center, representative centers by field, and each BRC.

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In-situ Production Analysis of Composite Precast Concrete Members of Green Frame

  • Lim, Chae-Yeon;Joo, Jin-Kyu;Lee, Goon-Jae;Kim, Sun-Kuk
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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    • v.11 no.5
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    • pp.501-514
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    • 2011
  • Recently, there have been many cases in which the difficulty of repair and replacement of principal elements in the bearing wall structure for apartment buildings, which is a major part of apartment buildings in Korea, has led to the reconstruction of buildings rather than their remodeling. To address this problem, the Korea government now allows a floor area ratio of up to 20 %, and has relaxed the building height limits to encourage the use of a rahmen structure instead of a bearing wall structure. However, since reinforced concrete rahmen structures have many problems, including higher floor height and greater construction cost, a great deal of research into rahmen composite precast concrete structures have been conducted. Green Frame, one of the developed prototypes, is expected to provide economic benefits through in-situ production for precast concrete column and beam. For in-situ production of composite precast concrete members, a detailed plan for production, curing, and installation is needed. However, it needs to be confirmed that the space is sufficient to produce the precast concrete members on-site before planning those activities. Therefore, this study proposes in-situ production analysis of composite precast concrete members of Green Frame with the evaluation of structural safety and available area on the parking structure. The result of this study shows that the in-situ production of precast concrete members is possible through a case study.

Agricultural Methods for Toxicity Alleviation in Metal Contaminated Soils: A Review

  • Arunakumara, Kkiu;Walpola, Buddhi Charana;Yoon, Min-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.46 no.2
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    • pp.73-80
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    • 2013
  • Due to the fact that possible risk associated with soil-crop-food chain transfer, metal contamination in croplands has become a major topic of wide concern. Accumulation of toxic metals in edible parts of crops grown in contaminated soils has been reported from number of crops including rice, soybean, wheat, maize, and vegetables. Therefore, in order to ensure food safety, measures are needed to be taken in mitigating metal pollution and subsequent uptake by crop plants. Present paper critically reviewed some of the cost effective remediation techniques used in minimizing metal uptake by crops grown in contaminated soils. Liming with different materials such as limestone ($CaCO_3$), burnt lime (CaO), slaked lime [$Ca(OH)_2$], dolomite [$CaMg(CO_3)_2$], and slag ($CaSiO_3$) has been widely used because they could elevate soil pH rendering metals less-bioavailable for plant uptake. Zn fertilization, use of organic amendments, crop rotation and water management are among the other techniques successfully employed in reducing metal uptake by crop plants. However, irrespectively the mitigating measure used, heterogeneous accumulation of metals in different crop species is often reported. The inconsistency might be attributed to the genetic makeup of the crops for selective uptake, their morphological characteristics, position of edible parts on the plants in respect of their distance from roots, crop management practices, the season and to the soil characteristics. However, a sound conclusion in this regard can only be made when more scientific evidence is available on case-specific researches, in particular from long-term field trials which included risks and benefits analysis also for various remediation practices.

Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells towards Neuronal Lineage: Clinical Trials in Nervous System Disorders

  • Hernandez, Rosa;Jimenez-Luna, Cristina;Perales-Adan, Jesus;Perazzoli, Gloria;Melguizo, Consolacion;Prados, Jose
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.34-44
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    • 2020
  • Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed as an alternative therapy to be applied into several pathologies of the nervous system. These cells can be obtained from adipose tissue, umbilical cord blood and bone marrow, among other tissues, and have remarkable therapeutic properties. MSCs can be isolated with high yield, which adds to their ability to differentiate into non-mesodermal cell types including neuronal lineage both in vivo and in vitro. They are able to restore damaged neural tissue, thus being suitable for the treatment of neural injuries, and possess immunosuppressive activity, which may be useful for the treatment of neurological disorders of inflammatory etiology. Although the long-term safety of MSC-based therapies remains unclear, a large amount of both pre-clinical and clinical trials have shown functional improvements in animal models of nervous system diseases following transplantation of MSCs. In fact, there are several ongoing clinical trials evaluating the possible benefits this cell-based therapy could provide to patients with neurological damage, as well as their clinical limitations. In this review we focus on the potential of MSCs as a therapeutic tool to treat neurological disorders, summarizing the state of the art of this topic and the most recent clinical studies.

Designing a Highly Sensitive Eddy Current Sensor for Evaluating Damage on Thermal Barrier Coating (열차폐코팅의 비파괴적 손상 평가를 위한 고감도 와전류 센서 설계)

  • Kim, Jong Min;Lee, Seul-Gi;Kim, Hak Joon;Song, Sung Jin;Seok, Chang Seong;Lee, Yeong-Ze
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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    • v.36 no.3
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    • pp.202-210
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    • 2016
  • A thermal barrier coating (TBC) has been widely applied to machine components working under high temperature as a thermal insulator owing to its critical financial and safety benefits to the industry. However, the nondestructive evaluation of TBC damage is not easy since sensing of the microscopic change that occurs on the TBC is required during an evaluation. We designed an eddy current probe for evaluating damage on a TBC based on the finite element method (FEM) and validated its performance through an experiment. An FEM analysis predicted the sensitivity of the probe, showing that impedance change increases as the TBC thermally degrades. In addition, the effect of the magnetic shield concentrating magnetic flux density was also observed. Finally, experimental validation showed good agreement with the simulation result.

Traditional Foods: Historical Perspectives and Future Prospects (문화와 과학의 융합적 관점에서 본 전통음식의 역사 및 미래)

  • Kim, Hee Sup
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2015
  • Traditional cuisine reflects cooking traditions shaped by political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental conditions characterized by authenticity and uniqueness. Traditional food is not only a part of our cultural heritage but also a knowledge resource. Application of food science and technology in Korean traditional foods was reviewed from six points of view, including food preservation, fermentation, changes in food materials, utilization of food functionality, and packaging and development of cooking appliances. Books from disparate times were chosen in order to cover a wide range of materials from the past to the present. Food preservation and fermentation techniques were applied to various food materials. Combination of science and skills contributes to the accessibility of diverse food materials and better quality foods. Koreans use assorted and resilient plants, which have an abundance of functional substances such as food materials. Among cooking appliances, microwave oven and refrigerator are the most innovative products with huge influences on food eating patterns as well as lifestyle. Packaging effectively reduces post-harvest preservation losses, and better packaging has technical improvements for storage and distribution. Kimchi was chosen as an example in order to study technology from the past to the present. Availability of Kimchi cabbage, enrichment of functional ingredients, identification of useful microbial species, standardization of recipe for commercialization, prevention of texture softening, introduction of salted Kimchi cabbage and Kimchi refrigerators, and packaging were reviewed. The future of traditional foods in the market will be competitive. First, traditional foods market should be maintained to protect the diversity of food materials. Secondly, tailored foods for individuals should be considered using foods with functional properties. Information on health benefits would provide insights into health and traditional food products. Third, speedy transfer of new technology to the traditional food industry is needed to ensure food quality production and new opportunities in the market. Fourth, safety of traditional foods should be ensured without sacrificing the essential characteristics of culturally important foods. Improvement of logistics, distribution, and facility should be carried out. As demand for convenience foods increases, traditional foods should be developed into products.

An Evaluation System For Freeway Traffic Data Processing Techniques (고속도로 교통자료 처리기법 통합평가 시스템 개발)

  • Oh, Dong-Wook;Oh, Cheol;NamKoong, Sung;Jeon, Se-Kil
    • The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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    • v.7 no.4
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    • pp.13-24
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    • 2008
  • Real-time traffic data are readily obtainable by traffic surveillance systems of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Such data greatly support further applications in the field of traffic operations, planning, and safety. However, traffic data should be appropriately processed to fully exploit the benefits of data collection capability. Rather than developing individual data processing techniques, which is major concern of existing studies, this study proposes a novel methodology for evaluating data processing techniques in an integrated manner. Also, a tool for implementing the proposed methodology is developed. Users can extract useful and more reliable traffic data based upon their ultimate purpose of data usage by the evaluation tool developed in this study. Actual freeway traffic data are, as an example, fed into the evaluation tool, and results are discussed.

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Towards UAV-based bridge inspection systems: a review and an application perspective

  • Chan, Brodie;Guan, Hong;Jo, Jun;Blumenstein, Michael
    • Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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    • v.2 no.3
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    • pp.283-300
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    • 2015
  • Visual condition inspections remain paramount to assessing the current deterioration status of a bridge and assigning remediation or maintenance tasks so as to ensure the ongoing serviceability of the structure. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing backlog of maintenance activities. Existing research reveals that this is attributable to the labour-intensive, subjective and disruptive nature of the current bridge inspection method. Current processes ultimately require lane closures, traffic guidance schemes and inspection equipment. This not only increases the whole-of-life costs of the bridge, but also increases the risk to the travelling public as issues affecting the structural integrity may go unaddressed. As a tool for bridge condition inspections, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or, drones, offer considerable potential, allowing a bridge to be visually assessed without the need for inspectors to walk across the deck or utilise under-bridge inspection units. With current inspection processes placing additional strain on the existing bridge maintenance resources, the technology has the potential to significantly reduce the overall inspection costs and disruption caused to the travelling public. In addition to this, the use of automated aerial image capture enables engineers to better understand a situation through the 3D spatial context offered by UAV systems. However, the use of UAV for bridge inspection involves a number of critical issues to be resolved, including stability and accuracy of control, and safety to people. SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) is a technique that could be used by a UAV to build a map of the bridge underneath, while simultaneously determining its location on the constructed map. While there are considerable economic and risk-related benefits created through introducing entirely new ways of inspecting bridges and visualising information, there also remain hindrances to the wider deployment of UAVs. This study is to provide a context for use of UAVs for conducting visual bridge inspections, in addition to addressing the obstacles that are required to be overcome in order for the technology to be integrated into current practice.

[ $\b{S}afety\;\b{A}nd\;\b{E}fficacy$ ] of $\b{K}orean$ red ginseng Intervention (SAEKI) Trial: Rationale, Design, and Expected Findings

  • Sievenpiper John L;Buono Marco Di;Stavro P. Mark;Jenkins Alexandra L;Nam Ki Yeul;Choi Melody;Naeem Asima;Leiter Lawrence A;Sung Mi-Kyung;Vuksan Vladimir
    • Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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    • 2002.10a
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    • pp.424-455
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    • 2002
  • Diabetes mellitus is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. The insufficiency of medication to cope with this burden has coincided with a dramatic rise in the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative therapies, especially herbal treatments. This surge in demand presents a challenge to prove the safety and efficacy of these treatments in diabetes. Korean red ginseng (steam treated Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a strong candidate to succeed. It has been shown to possess a multitude of hypoglycemic effects and improve metabolic disturbances related to diabetes in in vitro and animal models. Data in humans is also emerging to support these benefits. Whether these results can be replicated in a rigorous clinical testing program is unclear. We therefore investigated the antidiabetic effects of Korean red ginseng in a series of 2 acute and 1 longterm randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trials. This paper provides the rationale for this program of study, expanding on the problem of diabetes, its management, and the possible role for Korean red ginseng. It then describes the design and expected findings.

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An Analysis of Car Seat Use from 2015 to 2019 among Children Ages under 6: Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination (최근 5년간 6세 미만 아동 카시트 사용 분석: 국민건강영양조사 자료(2015~2019년)를 바탕으로)

  • Han, Soo-Yeon;Jo, Soojung
    • Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.177-184
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    • 2021
  • Purpose: Traffic accidents are the major cause of death in children. Car seat usage in children is important to reduce the risk of death or injury caused by traffic accidents. This study aims to analyze the trends of car seat use among children ages under 6. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional study utilizing the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015 to 2019. In total, 1,999 responses were included for the analysis. Factors associated with car seat use were age, sex, body weight, height, family type, household income, and monthly household income. Regression analysis was used to compare the car seat use before and after the revision of the Road Traffic Act (2015~2018 vs. 2019). Results: We found that car seat use was increasing by year, age, region, and household income. Car seat use was higher after fines increased in 2019. Age and body weight had negative association with car seat use, while height and household income had positive association with car seat use. Conclusion: Car seat use increased from 2015 to 2019 and is associated with different ages among children and household income. Further education and promotion that describes the safety benefits to children from car seat use are needed.