• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate human health risk assessment of indoor air pollutants at small-sized public-use facilities (e.g., daycare centers, hospital and elderly care facilities) that the susceptible population is mainly used. Methods: To assess indoor air quality (IAQ), the concentrations of indoor air contaminants such as HCHO, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, PM-10, CO, $NO_2$ and $O_3$ in air samples were measured according to the Indoor Air Quality Standard Method. By conducting the questionnaire survey, the major factors influencing IAQ were identified. Human health risk assessment was carried out in the consideration of type of use (user and worker) at 75 daycare centers, 34 hospitals and 40 elderly care facilities. Results: As a result of measurement of indoor air contaminants, the average concentration of HCHO and TVOCs in hospitals was higher than daycare centers and elderly care facilities, about 8.8 and 23.5% of hospitals were exceeded by IAQ standard. In human health risk assessment, for the user of daycare centers and elderly care facilities, the mean carcinogenic risk of HCHO inhalation was higher than acceptable value. Except for HCHO, other values were determined under acceptable risk. Similarly, for the worker of hospitals, the mean carcinogenic risk of HCHO inhalation was higher than acceptable value and other values were evaluated under acceptable risk. In contrast, the risk levels of other contaminants measured in elderly care facilities were acceptable. In the determination of factors influencing IAQ, the construction year, building type, ventilation time, and the use of air cleaner were identified. Conclusions: This study provides the information for establishing the plans of public health management of IAQ at small-sized public-use facilities that have not yet been placed under the regulation. The findings suggest the consideration of human health risk assessment results for the IAQ standards.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2002

Disodium disulphite, the HPV chemical, was assigned to Korea in order to implement OECD SIDS program in 1999. It was produced about 3,200 ton/year in 1998. This report evaluates the toxic potency of disodium disulphite based on the environmental and mammalian effects as well as human exposure. Oral $LD_{50}$ in rats is 1,540 mg/kg b.w. and effects was observed to the stomach, liver and the GI track that was filled with blood. For repeated dose toxicity, the predominant effect was the induction of stomach lesion due to local irritation. The no observed adverse effect lever for local (stomach irritation) was about 217 mg/kg bw/day. There is no evidence that disodium disulphite is genotoxic in vivo. No reproductive or developmental toxicty of disodium disulphite was observed for the period up to 2 yr and over three generation. In humans, urticaria and asthma with itching, edema, rhinitis, and nasal congestion were reported. Disodium disulphite is unlikely to induce respiratory sensitization but may enhance symptom of asthma in sensitive individuals. This chemical would be mainly transported to water compartment when released to environmental compartments since it is highly water soluble (470 g/l at 20). Low K oc (2.447) indicates disodium disulphite is so mobile in soil that it may not stay in the terrestrial compartment. The chemical has been tested in a limited number of aquatic species. hem acute toxicity test to fish, 96 hr-$LC_{50}$ was > 100 mg/1. For algae, 72 hr-$XC_{50}$ was 48.1 mg/1. For daphnid, the acute toxicity value of 48 hr-$EC_{50}$ was 88.76 mg/1, and chronic value of 21day-NOEC was > 10 mg/1. Therefore, PNEC of 0.1 mg/l for the aquatic organism was obtained from the chronic value of daphnid using the assessment factor of 100. Based on these data the disodium disulphite was recommended as low priority for further post-SIDS work in OECD.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition has multiple impacts on surgical success, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and costs, particularly for cancer patients. There are various nutrition risk screening tools available for clinical use. Herein, we aim to determine the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for esophageal cancer (EC) patients in China. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 138 EC patients were enrolled in this study and evaluated by experienced nurses using three different nutritional screening tools, the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 tool (NRS2002), the Patient-generated Subjective Globe Assessment (PG-SGA), and the Nutrition Risk Index (NRI).We compared sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and Youden index generated by each of the three screening tools. Finally, cut-off points for all three tools were re-defined to optimize and validate the best nutritional risk screening tool for assessing EC patients. RESULTS: Our data suggested that all three screening tools were 100% sensitive for EC patients, while the specificities were 44.4%, 2.96%, and 59.26% for NRS 2002, PG-SGA, and NRI, respectively. NRI had a higher positive likelihood ratio as well as a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve compared to those of NRS 2002 and PG-SGA; although, all three tools had null negative likelihood ratios. After adjusting the cut-off points, the specificity and accuracy for all tools were significantly improved, however, the NRI remained the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for EC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The NRI is the most suitable (highest sensitivity and accuracy) nutritional risk screening tool for EC patients. The performance of the NRI can be significantly improved if the cut-off point is modified according to the results obtained using MedCalc software.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2012

A sensitive eight-channel high-Tc Superconducting Interference Device (SQUID) detection system for magnetic contaminant in a lithium ion battery anode was developed. Finding ultra-small metallic foreign matter is an important issue for a manufacturer because metallic contaminants carry the risk of an internal short. When contamination occurs, the manufacturer of the product suffers a great loss from recalling the tainted product. Metallic particles with outer dimensions smaller than 100 microns cannot be detected using a conventional X-ray imaging system. Therefore, a highly sensitive detection system for small foreign matter is required. We have already developed a detection system based on a single-channel SQUID gradiometer and horizontal magnetization. For practical use, the detection width of the system should be increased to at least 65 mm by employing multiple sensors. In this paper, we present an 8-ch high-Tc SQUID roll-to-roll system for inspecting a lithium-ion battery anode with a width of 65 mm. A special microscopic type of a cryostat was developed upon which eight SQUID gradiometers were mounted. As a result, small iron particles of 35 microns on a real lithium-ion battery anode with a width of 70 mm were successfully detected. This system is practical for the detection of contaminants in a lithium ion battery anode sheet.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-72
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• 1991

An integrated model is developed in this paper for the performance assessment of high level radioactive waste repository. This integrated model consists of two simple mathematical models. One is a multiple-barrier failure model of the repository system based on constant failure rates which provides source terms to biosphere. The other is a biosphere model which has multiple pathways for radionuclides to reach to human. For the parametric uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for the risk assessment of high level radioactive waste repository, Latin hypercube sampling and rank correlation techniques are applied to this model. The former is cost-effective for large computer programs because it gives smaller error in estimating output distribution even with smaller number of runs compared to crude Monte Carlo technique. The latter is good for generating dependence structure among samples of input parameters. It is also used to find out the most sensitive, or important, parameter groups among given input parameters. The methodology of the mathematical modelling with statistical analysis will provide useful insights to the decision-making of radioactive waste repository selection and future researches related to uncertain and sensitive input parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fashion and Beauty
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• v.5 no.1 s.12
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• pp.24-33
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• 2007

This study was undertaken to find out how much influence eating habits and food preferences have on basic skin types, namely dry skin, normal skin, oily skin, and combination skin, as well as troubled skin, such as acne skin, sensitive skin, pigment disorder skin and unbalanced oil and moisture skin. The aim of this study was to help establish good eating habits and to reform food preferences in order to maintain healthy skin. For this study, a suey on the eating habits and food preferences of 206 college women in the metropolitan area was conducted. Statistics Program SPSS (ver130.0) was used to analyze the results of the material obtained from the survey. The survey revealed that participants with basic skin types ate a variety of foods, enjoy soft drinks, juice and supplementary food, while those with troubled skin types had daily breakfast and substitute snacks for meals. The survey also showed that alcohol is the dangerous factor for the cause of both sensitive skin and pigment disorder skin. And it showed that various nutrition intake is the main factor for unbalanced oil and moisture skin.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 1996

This study was conducted to assess nutritional status of the elderly from low-income urban area and to investigate environmental and health risk factors that may influence to nutrient intakes. One hindered eighty three(males 53, females 130) healthy homestaying subjects aged over 65 years in Seoul were assessed with anthropometric measurements and dietary intake in August, 1994. HT and BW for females were decreased with aging. The proportion of hypertension was 36% with indite of $SBP{\;}(SBP{\;}{\gg}{\;}160mmHg)$ and 52% with indice of DBP $(DBP{\;}\gg{\;}97mmHg)$. Distribution of BMI, OR and PIBW indicated that BMI was more sensitive for identifying underweight whereas PIBW was more sensitive for identifying overweight. for group aged over 75, males had significantly lower intake of energy, protein, fat, calcium, iron, vitamin A and $\beta$ carotene compared to the group aged 67~74, while females had lower intake of calcium and vitamin A. Elderly group with smoking, less familly size and living alone had lower nutrient intakes. Blood pressure in the elderly subjects did not influence to nutrient intakes, except elderly with normal blood pressure were taking increased amount of thiamin and niacin.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 1999

Biochemical markers of bone turnover has received increasing attention over the past few years, because of the need for sensitive and specific tool in the clinical investigation of osteoporosis. Bone markers should be unique to bone, reflect changes of bone loss, and should be correlated with radiocalcium kinetics, histomorphometry, or changes in bone mass. The markers also should be useful in monitoring treatment efficacy. Although no bone marker has been established to meet all these criteria, currently osteocalcin and pyridinium crosslinks are the most efficient markers to assess the level of bone turnover in the menopausal and senile osteoporosis. Recently, N-terminal telopeptide (NTX), C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) and bone specific alkaline phosphatase are considered as new valid markers of bone turnover. Recent data suggest that CTX and free deoxypyridinoline could predict the subsequent risk of hiP fracture of elderly women. Treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen, calcitonin and bisphosphonates demonstrated rapid decrease of the levels of bone markers that correlated with the long-term increase of bone mass. Factors such as circadian rhythms, diet, age, sex, bone mass and renal function affect the results of biochemical markers and should be appropriately adjusted whenever possible. Each biochemical markers of bone turnover may have its own specific advantages and limitations. Recent advances in research will provide more sensitive and specific assays.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.209-215
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• 2019

In order to provide a safe free-weight-training environment to people without workout trainers, we suggest a smart bench press machine with an automatic weight control system sensitive to user tiredness. Physical weight plates on the machine are replaced with a hydraulic cylinder as a press load and the cylinder knob is coupled with a step motor to change its tensile force automatically in-between lifting exercises. Three subjects participated to verify the usability of the smart bench press machine. They were asked to lift a 6-RM press load 10 times with 3 different lifting conditions: 1) no assistance, 2) a human assistance, and 3) the automatic weight control. All subjects were not able to complete the 10 sets without assistance due to tiredness, but they finished the full sets under the two assistive conditions. Average lifting speeds under the automatic weight control condition showed the most consistent level. Normalized quasi-tension data based on surface electromyogram signals of both Pectoralis Majors revealed that the subjects maintained the target muscle activation level above 50% but not more than 80% throughout the 10 sets. Therefore, the smart bench press machine is expected to both keep pace with the lifting exercise and reduce risk of injuries due to excessive muscle tensions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.140-140
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• 2022

Recently an accurate quantification of streamflow under various climatological and anthropogenic factors and separation of their relative contribution remains challenging, because variation in streamflow may result in hydrological disasters. In this study, we evaluated the factors responsible for variation in streamflow in Korean watersheds, quantified separately their contribution using different Budyko-based functions, and identified hydrological breakpoint points. After detecting that the hydrological break point in 1995 and time series were divided into natural period (1966-1995), and disturbed period (1996-2014). During the natural period variation in climate tended to increase change in streamflow. However, in the disturbed period both climate variation and anthropogenic activities tended to increase streamflow variation in the watershed. Subsequently, the findings acquired from different Budyko-based functions were observed sensitive to selection of function. The variation in streamflow was observed in the response of change in climatic parameters ranging 46 to 75% (average 60%). The effects of anthropogenic activities were observed less compared to climate variation accounts 25 to 54% (average 40%). Furthermore, the relative contribution was observed to be sensitive corresponding to Budyko-based functions utilized. Moreover, relative impacts of both factors have capability to enhance uncertainty in the management of water resources. Thus, this knowledge would be essential for the implementation of water management spatial and temporal scale to reduce the risk of hydrological disasters in the watershed.