• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.356-364
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the exposure pathway of PBDEs in human breast milk collected from new mothers residing in Chuncheon, a comparatively clean area in Korea. The congeners of PBDE in 22 human breast milk samples were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatography with a high resolution mass detector. The residue level of ${\sum}PBDEs$ was higher in primipara subjects than in multipara subjects (p<0.05). The levels in this study were similar to those of people in some Asian and European countries, but were lower than those of people in north America. In the congener profiles, BDE-47 (mean contribution=36.1%) was predominant, followed by BDE-153 (27%), BDE-99 (11.7%), BDE-100 (11.1%), BDE-28 (7.9%) and BDE-183 (3.5%). The sum of BDE-47 and BDE-153 accounted for more than 50% of ${\sum}PBDEs$ in most samples. BDE-47 was highly correlated with ${\sum}PBDEs$ (r=0.94, p<0.001). No strong trend was observed between PBDE levels and a number of key biological factors (women's age, weight, height and body mass index) examined in this study, however, weak correlations were observed in PBDE levels measured against dietary habits, particularly in fish consumption frequency. It seems that Korean people might be exposed to multiple sources including products of PBDEs, and particularly food resources.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.101-108
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• 2001

Polybrominated diphenylether (PBDEs) congeners, 2,4,4'-TrBDE, 2,2',4,4'-TeBDE, 2,2',4,4',5-PeBDE, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HXBDE, and 2,2',4,4',5,6-HxBDE, were measured in sediments from 52 stations in the southeastern coastal areas of Korea. Sediment samples were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer detector (GC/MSD) with positive electron impact (PEI) mode. New analytical methodology for PBDEs by the isotope dilution method was established using a multi-layer silica gel column chromatography. Total PBDEs levels in sediments for Pohang coast ranged from 1,1 to 33.8 ng/g dry weight (mean 5.3 ng/g dry), from 1.6 to 36.4 ng/g dry weight (mean 5.7 ng/g dry) for Ulsan coast, from 0.8 to 20.3 ng/g dry weight (mean 4.9 ng/g dry) for Busan coast, and from 0.8 to 10.3 ng/g dry weight (mean 4.4 ng/g dry) for Jinhae Bay. PBDEs contamination in surface sediments from Korean southeastern coasts was relatively moderate in comparison to that of other marine environment in the world. The predominant PBDE congeners were 2,2',4,4'-TeBDE and 2,2',4,4',5-PeBDE.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2017

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can affect epigenetic mechanisms and obesity development. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)-widely used to make flames-are one of the important POPs. Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as POPs, may affect global DNA methylation in long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1), increasing the risk of obesity later in life. Therefore, pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to elucidate whether BDE-47 and BDE-209 transferred through placenta and breast milk cause epigenetic changes in LINE-1 and increase genetic susceptibility to obesity as obesogen during the developmental periods. Global DNA methylation in LINE-1 and gene expression related to obesity were measured in dams and offspring, using a methylation-sensitive high resolution melting analysis (MS-HRM) and direct bisulfite sequencing and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. The results of MS-HRM showed global DNA hypomethylation patterns in LINE-1 of exposed offspring (2 of total 4) at PND 4, but bisulfite sequencing showed no difference in both the exposed and non-exposed groups. Gene expression in dams related to ${\beta}$-oxidation pathway and those related to adipokines showed different patterns between the two groups. On the contrary, gene expressions of offspring showed a similar pattern. Gene expressions related to ${\beta}$-oxidation pathway and obesity were significantly increased when compared with 'at birth', but not $PPAR-{\alpha}$. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the possibility that co-exposure to BDE-47 and BDE-209-via the placenta and breast milk-may affect epigenetic changes and modulate gene expression levels related to obesity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.440-449
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk and to evaluate the relations with factors affecting these levels. Methods: The congener levels of PBDE in 22 samples of breast milk were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass detector. In accordance with our standard operating procedures, the recoveries of internal standards had to range between 68% and 118%. Since the distribution of PBDE concentrations is close to log-normal, the data were logarithmically transformed before analysis. Test subjects were healthy primipara and multipara mothers with a mean age of 32 (SD = 2.7) in 2006. Results: Seven PBDE congeners (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) were detected and identified in all of the pooled breast milk samples, indicating widespread contamination from PBDEs in the environment in Korea. Residue levels of total PBDEs (sum PBDEs from tri- to hepta-BDE) ranged from 0.84-13.1 ng/g lipid with median and geometric mean levels of 2.6 ng/g lipid and 2.74 ng/g lipid, respectively. PBDE congeners 47, 99 and 153 markedly predominated and accounted for about 75% of the amount of the PBDE congeners analyzed. BDE-47 was the dominant congener in most samples, whereas BDE-153 was predominant in a few (n = 7/22). BDE-47 was highly correlated with total PBDEs (r = 0.987, p < 0.01). In analyses of the differences of the means of log transformed breast milk PBDE levels for groups of potential covariates, only breast milk BDE-47 and BDE-99 levels were significantly associated with fish (p < 0.05) and meat consumption (p < 0.01). However, we did not find significant correlations between PBDE levels and maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, job presence and smoking status. Conclusions: Our findings are mainly limited due to the small sampling size and low doses of PBDEs exposure. Background and human exposure data of PBDEs is lacking, and longitudinal investigations into the environment and biota are encouraged to determine the health impact on future populations in Korea.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.247-262
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• 2011

This study assessed the health risks of childhood exposure to PBDEs via different possible pathways in children's facilities and indoor playgrounds. When PBDE contamination was measured, it was determined through multiple routes, including inhalation of indoor dust, dermal contact with product surfaces and children's hands, and incidental dust ingestion. Samples were collected from various children's facilities (playrooms, daycare centers, kindergartens, and indoor playgrounds) during summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). The hazard index (HI) was estimated for non-carcinogens, and PBDEs, such as TeBDE, PeBDE, HxBDE, and DeBDE, were examined. The sensitivity to the compounds did not exceed 1.0 (HI) for any of the subjects in any facility. However, current data about toxicity does not reflect effects that were fully sensitive in children, so there is uncertainty in the dose-response data. The contribution rates of PBDEs were 71.4 to 96.1% and 3.7 to 28.2% for intake and inhalation exposure, respectively, indicating that intake of floor dust and inhalation are the primary routes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.118-127
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• 2010

Bivalve samples from 30 locations Korean coastal waters were analyzed to characterize the contamination with and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The congeners of PBDE in 30 bivalve samples were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography with a high resolution mass detector. The levels of PBDEs in bivalve samples ranged from 0.092 to 13.5 ng/g wet weight. These values for PBDEs concentrations in bivalves from Korea were higher than or comparable to available values for bivalves from other countries. In the congener profiles, BDE-47 (mean contribution=42.2%) was predominant, followed by BDE-99 (23.1%), BDE-100 (11.9%) and BDE-154 (3.5%). Among the OCs analyzed, $\Sigma$PCBs and $\Sigma$DDTs levels were highest, followed by $\Sigma$HCHs, $\Sigma$CHLs and HCB. The wet weight based $\Sigma$PCBs and $\Sigma$DDTs ranged from 0.28 ng/g to 19.4 ng/g, and from 0.19 ng/g to 4.86 ng/g, respectively. The $\Sigma$PCBs and $\Sigma$DDT slevels in bivalves along the entire Korean coast were lower than those of the USA, and below the Food and Drug Administration (USA. FDA) limits for fish and shell fish. However, the human health criteria and wild life criteria of the USA. Environmental Protection Agency (USA. EPA) were exceeded for DDE and $\Sigma$HCHs at most of the sampling points.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to understand the content characteristic of polybrominated biphenyl ethers in indoor household dust. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used as additive brominated flame retardants (BFR) in electrical and electronic equipment, and insulation in the indoor environment, and may be released indoors via volatilization or as dusts. The indoor household dust samples were collected from January to December in 2011 and measured for the concentrations, congener profiles and possible sources of PBDEs. The concentrations of 22 congeners of PBDEs (the sum of PBDEs 47, 49, 66, 71, 77, 85, 99, 100, 119, 126, 138, 153, 154, 156, 183, 184, 191, 196, 197, 206, 207 and 209) were 35.22~575.88 ng/g for apartment dust samples and 524.44 ng/g for laboratory dust sample. The eight congeners of BDE-47, 153, 183, 196, 197, 206, 207, and 209 are detected in the more than 1 ng/g. The three congeners of BDE-206, 207 and 209 in all dust samples were detected.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.579-585
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• 2013

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances which persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. POPs are thermally stable, highly lipophilic and water-insoluble compounds which can induce various toxic influences including immunotoxicty, carcinogenicity adverse effects on reproduction, development and endocrine fuctions. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs, are organobromine compounds that are used as flame retardant. Because of their toxicity and persistence, the industrial production of some PBDEs is restricted under the Stockholm Convention, a treaty to control and phase out major POPs. In this study, PBDEs was measured in various site of Sihwa industrial complex to investigate concentration distribution of POPs. The levels of PBDEs in house dust samples were 0.722~44.024 ng/g-dry. In PBDEs congener, BDE-209 was relatively higher in the all sites. The concentration of BDE-209 measured over 80.0% of total PBDEs. In various site, high molecular PBDEs homologues are measured higher than low molecular.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2022

Background: Bird dog exercise (BDE) is one of the lumbar stabilization exercises that rehabilitate low back pain by co-contraction of the local and global muscles. Previous studies have reported the effect of various type of BDEs (for example, practicing the exercises on various surfaces and changing the limb movement) for muscle co-contraction. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of knee joint flexion position of the raised lower limb on abdominal and back muscle activity during BDE in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Thirteen males participated in this study (age: 32.54 ± 4.48 years, height: 177.38 ± 7.17 cm). Surface electromyographic (SEMG) data of the internal abdominal oblique (IO), external abdominal oblique (EO), lumbar multifidus (MF), and thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum (ICLT) were collected in two knee joint flexion positions (90° flexion versus 0° flexion) during BDE. The SEMG data were expressed as a percentage of root mean square mean values obtained in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results: Greater muscle activity of the IO (p = 0.001), MF (p = 0.009), and ICLT (p = 0.021) of the raised lower limb side and the EO (p = 0.001) and MF (p = 0.009) of the contralateral side were demonstrated in the knee joint flexion position compared to the knee joint extension position. Greater local/global activity ratios of the abdominal muscle (i.e., IO and EO) of the raised lower limb (p = 0.002) and the back muscle (i.e., MF and ICLT) of the contralateral side (p = 0.028) were also noted in the knee joint flexion position. Conclusion: BDE with a knee joint flexion position might be recommended as an alternative lumbar stabilization exercise to enhance muscle activity in both the raised lower limb and the contralateral sides of the trunk for individuals with CLBP.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 2009

This paper presents a new approach for thermal unit commitment (UC) using a differential evolution (DE) algorithm. DE is an effective, robust, and simple global optimization algorithm which only has a few control parameters and has been successfully applied to a wide range of optimization problems. However, the standard DE cannot be applied to binary optimization problems such as UC problems since it is restricted to continuous-valued spaces. This paper proposes binary differential evolution (BDE), which enables the DE to operate in binary spaces and applies the proposed BDE to UC problems. Furthermore, this paper includes heuristic-based constraint treatment techniques to deal with the minimum up/down time and spinning reserve constraints in UC problems. Since excessive spinning reserves can incur high operation costs, the unit de-commitment strategy is also introduced to improve the solution quality. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed BDE, it is applied to largescale power systems of up to 100-units with a 24-hour demand horizon.