• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.51-60
• /
• 2018

Objectives: Currently, there is only limited knowledge regarding the hazard of low-level exposure to CMR materials in workplaces. To overcome this limitation, a reference concentration for workers($RfC_w$) from among the risk assessment tools proposed by the US EPA is widely used to set a provisional workplace exposure level(PWEL) for CMR materials for which there are no established Korea Occupational Exposure Limits(KOELs) or subjective chemicals for work environment measurements as regulated by Korea Ministry of Employment and Labor(KMOEL). A simple European calculator of derived no effect level(SECO-DNEL) as proposed by REACH can also be used in place of $RfC_w$ to set the PWEL for chemicals. This study was performed to test the acceptability of using SECO-DNEL as an alternative to $RfC_w$ when setting a PWEL for low-level exposures. Methods: The $RfC_w$ and DNEL for the five CMR materials of dinitrogen oxide, catechol, 2-phenoxy ethanol, carbitol, and carbon black were calculated using the dose-response assessments of the US EPA for $RfC_w$ and REACH guidance for SECO-DNEL, respectively. They were compared using paired t-tests to determine the statistical differences between them. Results: For the five chemicals, the $RfC_w$ were 2.53 ppm, 0.10 ppm, 1.73 ppm, 1.66 ppm, and $0.05mg/m^3$, respectively, while the SECO-DNEL were 2.01 ppm, 0.11 ppm, 1.83 ppm, 1.77 ppm, $0.14mg/m^3$, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between $RfC_w$ and SECO-DNEL. Conclusions: This study suggests that the SECO-DNEL could be applied in place of $RfC_w$ to set a PWEL for low-level exposure to chemicals, especially CMR materials. To further ensure the reliability of SECO-DNEL as an alternative tool, more chemicals should be applied for calculation and comparison with $RfC_w$.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1409-1414
• /
• 2013

Lymph node (LN) is the sites where mature lymphocytes become stimulated to respond to invading pathogens in the body. Lymphocytes screen the surfaces of pathogen-carrying antigen-presenting cells for cognate antigens, while moving along stromal structural back bone. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) is stromal cell forming the 3 dimensional structure networks of the T cell rich zones in LN, and provide a guidance path for immigrating T lymphocytes. In these cooperative environments, the cell to cell bidirectional interactions between FRC and T cells in LN are therefore essential to the normal functioning of these tissues. Not only do FRCs physically construct LN architecture but they are essential for regulating T cell biology within these domains. FRC interact closely with T lymphocytes, is providing scaffolds, secreting soluble factors including cytokine in which FRCs influence T cell immune response. More recently, FRC have been found to induce peripheral T cell tolerance and regulate the extent to which newly activated T cells proliferate within LN. Thus, FRC-T cell crosstalk has important consequences for regulating immune cell function within LN. In addition, FRC have profound effects on innate immune response by secreting anti-microbial peptides and complement, etc in the inflammatory milieu. In summary, we propose a model in which FRC engage in a bidirectional touch to increase the T cell biological efficiency between FRC and T cells. This collaborative feedback loop may help to maintain tissue function during inflammation response.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2023

In line with the entry into the digital-based intelligent information society, the science curriculum emphasizes the cultivation of scientific competencies, and computer-based test (CBT) is drawing attention for assessment of competencies. CBT has advantages to develop items that have high fidelity, and to establish a feedback system by accumulating results into the database. However, it is necessary to solve the problems of improving validity of assessment results, lowering measurement efficiency, and increasing management factors. To examine students' responses to the introduction of the new assessment tools in the process of transitioning from paper-based test (PBT) to CBT, in this study, we analyzed the results of the PBT and the CBT conducted in 2021 National Assessment of Educational Achievement (NAEA). In particular, we sought to find the effects on student achievement when only the mode of assessment was changed without change of items, and the effect on student achievement when the items were composed including technology enhanced features that take advantage of CBT. This study is derived through the analysis of the results of 7,137 third-grade middle school students taking one among the three kinds of assessments, which were the PBT or two kinds of CBT. After the assessment, the percentage of correct answers and the item discriminations were collected for each group, and expert opinions on characteristics of response were collected through the expert council involving 8 science teachers with experience in NAEA. According to the results, there was no significant difference between students' achievement results in the PBT and the CBT-M, which means simple mode conversion type of CBT, so it could be explained that the mode effect did not appear. However, it was confirmed that the percentage of correct answers for the construct response items was somewhat high in the CBT, and this result was analyzed to be related to the convenience of the response. On the other hand, there were the items with a difference of more than 10%p from the correct answer rate of similar items, among the items to which technology enhanced functions were applied following the introduction of CBT. According to the analysis of response rate of options, these results could be explained that the students' level of understanding could be more closely grasped through the innovative items developed through the technology enhanced function. Based on the results, we discussed some guidance to be considered when introducing CBT and developing items through CBT, and presented implications.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.10-15
• /
• 2005

IAEA's guidance levels have been provided for western people to the end. Guidance levels lower than the IAEA'S will be necessary in view of Korean people's proportions. Therefore, we need to develope the standard doses for Korean people. And we conducted a nationwide survey of patient dose from x-ray examinations in Korea. In this study, the 278 institutions were selected from Members Book of Korean Hospital Association. The valid response rate was approximately 57.9%. Doses were calculated from the questionnaires by NDD method. We obtained the results were as follows; 1) General radiographic equipments were distributed for 42.0%, fluoroscopic equipments 29.4%, dental equipments 13.2%, CT units 8.1 % and mamographic units 7.2%. 2) According to classification by rectification, three-phase equipments were 29.9%, inverter-type generators 29.5%, single-phase equipments 25.5%, constant voltage units 9.0% and unknown units 6.0%. 3) According to classification by receptor system, film-screen types were 46.8%, CR types 26.8%, DR types 17.7% and unknown types 8.9%. 4) The number of examinations were chest 49.2%, spine 16.8% and abdomen 12.7%. 5) Patient doses were head AP 3.44 mGy, abdomen AP 4.25 mGy and chest PA 0.39 mGy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.4499-4505
• /
• 2014

Glioblastoma, the most aggressive and malignant form of glioma, appears to be resistant to various chemotherapeutic agents. Hence, approaches have been intensively investigated to targeti specific molecular pathways involved in glioblastoma development and progression. Aloe emodin is believed to modulate the expression of several genes in cancer cells. We aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of Aloe emodin on gene expression profiles in the human U87 glioblastoma cell line utilizing microarray technology. The gene expression analysis revealed that a total of 8,226 gene alterations out of 28,869 genes were detected after treatment with $58.6{\mu}g/ml$ for 24 hours. Out of this total, 34 genes demonstrated statistically significant change (p<0.05) ranging from 1.07 to 1.87 fold. The results revealed that 22 genes were up-regulated and 12 genes were down-regulated in response to Aloe emodin treatment. These genes were then grouped into several clusters based on their biological functions, revealing induction of expression of genes involved in apoptosis (programmed cell death) and tissue remodelling in U87 cells (p<0.01). Several genes with significant changes of the expression level e.g. SHARPIN, BCAP31, FIS1, RAC1 and TGM2 from the apoptotic cluster were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These results could serve as guidance for further studies in order to discover molecular targets for the cancer therapy based on Aloe emodin treatment.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.641-647
• /
• 2019

Yearly world vehicle production has continued to increase, and the global seaborne trade volumes also are recovering. Based on these positive trends, as demand for cargo ships increases in the freight transportation market, Pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) with large gaps between decks continue to be ordered. The structural analysis of the cargo hold was performed in order to confirm its structural safety in accordance with the guidance for the direct strength assessment of the Korean Register (KR) of Shipping. And, according to the type of cargo, the maximum deflection and structurally weak area that occurred in deck 5 was confirmed. Also, it was found that the weight of the cargo had a significant effect on the deck, the primary members of the deck's structure, and pillars. The results of the structural analysis conducted in this study were added to the existing cargo load planning software. This was done so that the prediction of the maximum stress and the deflection of the deck based on the information about the cargo could be confirmed quickly. In addition, the data will be used as the basic data for rapid information management response to changes in cargo items.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.65-68
• /
• 2004

CyberKnife is a stereotactic radiosurgery system which could be used to treat many tumors and lesions. It provides the surgeon unparalleled flexibility in targeting using a compact light linear accelerator mounted on a robotic arm. Advanced image guidance technology tracks patient and target position during treatment, ensuring accuracy without the use of an invasive head frame. CyberKnife with Dynamic Tracking Software is cleared to provide radiosurgery for lesions anywhere in the body when radiation treatment is indicated. It has often been used to radiosurgically treat otherwise untreatable tumors and malformations. Moreover, this instrument treats tumors at body sites, most of which are unreachable by other stereotactic systems. Compared with conventional radiotherapy, it is fundamentally different that using non-invasive, frameless, no excessive radiation exposure to normal tissue. In oral malignant neoplasm, surgical excision and radiation therapy should be tried first, additionally chemotherapy could be considered. However, after failure of conventional therapies, patients had poor systemic condition and surgical limitation. So, CyberKnife could be a suitable therapy. A 49 years man was referred in recurred mandibular cancer treated by radiotherapy. The tumor was considered inoperable, because of extensive invasion and was not expected to good response to conventional therapies. We experienced a case of CyberKnife after 4 cycle chemotherapies, so we report it with review of literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.954-958
• /
• 2000

In the removal of small subcortical lesion in the eloquent area like sensory-motor cortex, the prevention of neurologic deficit is important. We present our technique of identification of M-1, S-1 cortex in a case of subcortical granuloma located in sensorymotor cortex. To accurately localize mass, stereotactic craniotomy was planned. At the beginning of procedure, functional MRI of motor cortex was done with stereotactic headframe in place. Next, the stereotactic craniotomy about 4 cm was done under propofol anesthesia for cortical mapping. After reflection of dura, central sulcus was identified with phase-reversal response of intraoperative SEP(somatosensory evoked potential) of contralateral median nerve. Then the patient was awakened, and direct cortical stimulation was done. We observed the muscle contractions of elbow, hand and fingers and the paresthesia over forearm, hand, fingers on the M-1 and S-1 cortex. Through cortical mapping and stereotactic guidance, we concluded that the mass lie immediately posterior to central sulcus, then the mass was carefully removed through small transsulcal approach, opening about 1 cm of rolandic sulcus.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.257-271
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data that is necessary for planning an adequate environment for various child-care activities and programs by recognizing the environmental characteristics of a group room, where children's activities take place. A survey was conducted of 257 childcare centers and 544 teachers all over the country, including only those of which that have opened after year 2000 with more than 20 children capacities. The survey period was from January 18th to 28th of 2010. The data was analyzed using SPSS WIN 15 software, calculating the data's frequency, percentage, $x^2$, multiple response analysis, F-test, and factor analysis. The results of this study led us to the following conclusions. 1) We would like to propose a group room space design varying by the room size, so that interesting and diverse activities can take place after taking account of the child's development and childcare centers program. 2) Group room space and facilities should be made of proper finishing materials, various materials with differing textures, and lighting for the kinds of childcare activities that gives various sensational experiences and comfortable feelings to the children. 3) Teachers with higher age and education tend to believe that child's competence and a homelike atmosphere are important factors in a group room environment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.62-70
• /
• 2020

Zygosaccharomyces rouxii is an important yeast that is required in the food fermentation process due to its high salt tolerance. In this study, the responses and resistance strategies of Z. rouxii against salt stress were investigated by performing physiological analysis at membrane level. The results showed that under salt stress, cell integrity was destroyed, and the cell wall was ruptured, which was accompanied by intracellular substance spillover. With an increase of salt concentrations, intracellular Na⁺ content increased slightly, whereas intracellular K⁺ content decreased significantly, which caused the increase of the intracellular Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. In addition, in response to salt stress, the activity of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase increased from 0.54 to 2.14 μmol/mg protein, and the ergosterol content increased to 2.42-fold to maintain membrane stability. Analysis of cell membrane fluidity and fatty acid composition showed that cell membrane fluidity decreased and unsaturated fatty acid proportions increased, leading to a 101.21% rise in the unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio. The results presented in this study offer guidance in understanding the salt tolerance mechanism of Z. rouxii, and in developing new strategies to increase the industrial utilization of this species under salt stress.