• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1328-1339
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• 2024

Cadmium (Cd) is a prevalent environmental contaminant that poses a potential hazard to the health of both humans and animals. In this study, biosynthesized selenium-enriched Lactobacillus plantarum and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were developed and evaluated for their protective effects against Cd-induced hepatic injury in mice through oral administration for 4 weeks. Cadmium exposure resulted in severe impairment of liver function, as evidenced by increased levels of serum markers of liver injury and, oxidative stress and significant damage to liver tissue, and a notable decrease in the diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Oral administration of Se-enriched L. plantarum (LS) reduced cadmium accumulation in the liver by 49.5% and, restored other cadmium-induced damage markers to normal levels. A comparison of the effects with those of L. plantarum (L) and SeNPs isolated from LS revealed that LS could more effectively alleviate hepatic oxidative stress and reduce the intrahepatic inflammatory responses of the liver, further protecting against cadmium-induced liver injury. These findings suggest that the development of LS may be effective at protecting the liver and intestinal tract from cadmium-induced damage.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2239-2246
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• 2024

The present study aimed to assess the radioactive hazards associated with the application of granitoid rocks in building materials. An HPGe spectrometer was used to detect the levels of the radioactive elements uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40 in the granitoid rocks. The results showed that the levels of these elements were lower (38.32 < 33 Bq kg^-1), comparable (47.19-45 Bq kg^-1) and higher (992.26 ≫> 412 Bq kg^-1) than the worldwide limits for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K concentration, respectively. The exposure to gamma radiation of granitoid rocks was studied by various radiological hazard variables like the absorbed dose rate (D_air), the outdoor and indoor annual effective dose (AED_out and AED_in), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). A variety of statistical methods, including Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used, to study the relationship between the radioactive elements and the radiological hazards. According to statistical analysis, the main radioactive risk of granitoid rocks is contributed to by the elements uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40. Granitoid rocks can be applied in building materials, but under control to prevent risk to the public.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2022

Purpose Proteinuria is a clinical sign of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including stroke. We aimed to assess the relationship between proteinuria and the occurrence of cerebral infarction. Materials and Methods In total, 208854 Koreans who participated in the 2009 medical examination were followed up until 2013 using the database of the National Health Insurance Service. The results of urine dipstick tests were utilized to assess proteinuria as absent, 1+, 2+, or ≥3+. The International Classification of Diseases code 163 was used to document cerebral infarction. Results Between 2009 and 2013, 2383 cases (1.14%) of cerebral infarction occurred during 912772.9 person-years of follow-up. Hazard ratios for incident cerebral infarction increased with inceasing amounts of urine protein from 1.53 (1.23-1.90) in group 2 (1+), 1.67 (1.22-2.28) in group 3 (2+), and 2.66 (1.79-3.96) in group 4 (≥3+), compared to the reference group with little to no detectable urine protein (p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion An increase in urine protein levels was significantly related to the risk of developing cerebral infarction. Our results suggest that proteinuria might be a potential risk factor for cerebral infarction and that urine dipstick test analysis may be clinically useful for predicting stroke.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02a
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• pp.475-478
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• 2007

The major distresses in asphalt concrete pavement are rutting and fatigue cracking. Once the distresses are observed on pavement surface, an appropriate rehabilitation method should be found. Usually, asphalt patching or overlay methods are used to improve the pavement performance. The research presents the fundamental study on effective longitudinal rehabilitation methods for asphalt concrete pavements. The rehabilitation method will be applied to rutting that is occurred asphalt Pavement surface course and longitudinal cracking or fatigue cracking with light to moderate distress levels.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02a
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• pp.425-428
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• 2007

In order to measure corrosion level of reinforcement rebar which is inside reinforced concrete structure, infrared thermographic technique was employed. Experimental test parameters were ambient temperatures, various levels of corrosion states. After analysis of temperature distributions of concrete surface, the amount of heat flux from the concrete surface is directly proportional to the corrosion level which is inside of concrete.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02a
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• pp.414-417
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• 2007

A methodology for XML documentation of the structural calculation document is presented to support manipulation of the design information on the internet. The text file format is chosen as a neutral format because it can be easily translated from office documents generated from engineering practice. The first word of each line is compared with the reserved numbering groups, and relative levels among the lines are defined to generate the hierarchically structured XML document of the text file. The demonstration subjected to sample general documents and structural calculation documents shows that the prototype application module based on the developed methodology can be adopted to build the database of design information which supports the safety management of infrastructures.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1987

Ethyl acetate extracts of 6 commercial amaranths produced in 1985 and 1986 were analyzed with a gas chromatograph. The ${\alpha}$-naphthylamine ranging from 142 ppb to 4216 ppb was detected, but the ${\beta}$ naphthylamine was not detected. The mutagenicity of the ethyl acetate extract was tested using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 in the presence of the S-9 fraction. Significant mutagenic activity was seen in samples containing high levels of ${\alpha}$-naphthylamine. It is suggested that the potential hazard of amaranth to the general public should be reconsidered from the point that the impurities contained in amaranth preparations are the main sources of mutagenicity or carcinogenicity.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 1993

The benefits of pesticides in improving the food quantity and quality requirements for an increasing world population are significant, and they can be described in agronomic, economic and social terms. The risks are assessed from the hazards which are likely to occur in practice ; the hazards are defined by the toxicity of the pesticide to non-target organisms at various exposure levels. There are ways of reducing the risks (mainly by reducing exposure in practice) and improving the benefits of pesticides ; these are known as risk management and benefit management respectively. The overall risk-benefit assessment is facilitated if each component can be expressed in financial terms, but it must be made nationally or locally on a sound technical basis against the prevailing agronomic, socio-economic and political circumstances. Paraquat is used to illustrate the risk-benefit assessment process in general terms, and the conclusion is that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. It is important to keep the risks of pesticides in perspective with those associated with other naturally occurring chemicals in our diet and with other everyday aspects of life. In an overall context, the pesticide risk is small.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 1998

Korea is not considered to be one of the safe zones for earthquakes any more. According to the records of the historical records and recent earthquake events in Korea, the possibillty of disastrous seismic hazards cannot be ignored, Korea Earthquake Engineering Research Center (KEERC) and Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea(EESK) have been established by that consensus. In this paper, historical earthquake records and seismicity in Korea are reviewed. And the research activities and the research system for the earthquake hazards mitigation of KEERC are introduced and the efforts of ESSK to renovate seismic design code system and to optimize the protection levels against earthquake disasters is explained.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2009

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in the United States concluded in its 2004 report that excessive indoor dampness is a public health hazard and that its prevention should be a public health goal. Water damage in buildings, such as leaks from roofs, walls, or windows, may increase indoor moisture levels. Excessive dampness may promote microbial proliferation in indoor environments, increase occupants' exposure to microbial agents, and eventually produce adverse health effects in building occupants. Epidemiological studies to demonstrate the causal association between exposure to indoor microbial agents and health effects require reliable exposure assessment tools. In this review, I discuss various sampling and analytical methods to assess human exposure to biological agents in indoor environments, their strengths and weaknesses, and recent trends in research and practice in the USA.