• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2023

The human reproductive system can be affected by occupational exposure to many physical and chemical risk factors. This study was carried out to review the studies conducted on the issue of the pathophysiological effects of occupational physical and chemical risk factors on the reproductive system of females and males. In this systematic review, the databases such as "Google Scholar," "Pub-Med," "Scopus," and "Web of Science" were used. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020), the studies included in our study were published between 2000 and 2021. In order to extract the required data, all sections of the articles were reviewed. Out of 57 articles we reviewed, 34 articles were related to field studies and 23 articles to clinical studies. Among them, 43 studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of chemical agents, six studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of physical factors, and 8 studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of physicochemical factors on the human reproductive system. Physical (noise, heat, and radiofrequency radiation) and chemical (such as carbamate and organophosphate pesticides, benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, NO2, CS2, manganese, lead, nickel, and n-hexane) risk factors had pathophysiological effects on the human reproductive system. The presence of these risk factors in the workplace caused damage to the human reproductive system. The rate of these negative pathophysiological effects can be reduced by performing appropriate managerial, technical, and engineering measures in work environments.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2023

Background: Messaging surrounding skin cancer prevention has previously focused on the general public and emphasized how or when activities should be undertaken to reduce solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. Generic messages may not be applicable to all settings, and should be tailored to protect unique and/or highly susceptible subpopulations, such as outdoor workers. The primary objective of this study was to develop a set of tailored, practical, harm-reducing sun safety messages that will better support outdoor workers and their employers in reducing the risk of solar UVR exposure and UVR-related occupational illnesses. Methods: We adapted a core set of sun safety messages previously developed for the general population to be more applicable and actionable by outdoor workers and their employers. This study used an integrated knowledge translation approach and a modified Delphi method (which uses a survey-based consensus process) to tailor the established set of sun safety messages for use for outdoor worker populations. Results: The tailored messages were created with a consideration for what is feasible for outdoor workers, and provide users with key facts, recommendations, and tips related to preventing skin cancer, eye damage, and heat stress, specifically when working outdoors. Conclusion: The resulting tailored messages are a set of evidence-based, expert- approved, and stakeholder-workshopped messages that can be used in a variety of work settings as part of an exposure control plan for employers with outdoor workers.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1A
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• pp.101-108
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• 2009

The performance of high-early strength pavement concrete for large areas is influenced by the physical and chemical environment during service life. Generally, penetration, diffusion, and absorption of harmful materials that exist outside the concrete cause damage to its structure. Thus, we have to use a mixture for durability to keep the required quality for the planned service life. Moreover, in using high-early-strength cement and accelerators, a high heat of hydration to create the initial strength can cause cracks. Based on evaluations from optimal mix proportions of high-early-strength pavement concrete for large areas, we conducted water permeability, abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, plastic, drying, and autogenous shrinkage tests. Test result showed that a mix of accelerator and PVA fibers showed excellent performance.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.103-112
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• 2023

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of 10 different pre-enrichment methods using Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in support of the FDA method. When the initial Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) inoculation was 7.2 CFU/g, the Ct values were observed in the following order: 21.37 (Enterobacteriaceae enrichment [EE] broth), 21.95 (brain heart infusion [BHI]), 22.72 (tryptic soy broth [TSB]), 23.02 (violet red bile lactose [VRBL]), 22.31 (TSB-0.1% sodium pyruvate [SP]), 23.43 (distilled water [DW]), 24.34 (phosphate buffered saline [PBS]), 24.95 (nutrient broth [NB]), 25.82 (TSB-0.6% yeast extract [YE]), and 28.27 (violet red bile glucose [VRBG]). For an inoculation of 1.82% CFU/g of Cronobacter spp. (E. sakazakii), the Ct values were recorded in this sequence: 20.34 (EE broth), 22.16 (TSB-0.6% YE), 22.37 (BHI), 22.71 (VRBL), 22.88 (TSB), 23.01 (DW), 23.19 (NB), 23.79 (TSB-0.1% SP), 24.66 (VRBG), and 24.70 (PBS). Finally, when the inoculum of Cronobacter spp. (E. sakazakii) was 0.182 CFU/g, the Ct values followed this order: 21.93 (VRBL), 23.07 (TSB-0.6% YE), 23.31 (DW), 23.47 (PBS), 23.70 (BHI), 24.14 (TSB-0.1% SP), 25.14 (TSB), 29.00 (VRBG), 31.55 (EE broth), and were undetected in the case of NB. Consequently, these results indicate that there were no significant differences among the 10 different pre-enrichment broths. Future studies should focus on exploring pre-enrichment broths that can improve the limit of detection at very low Cronobacter spp. (E. sakazakii) concentrations and enhance the selective recovery of Cronobacter spp. (E. sakazakii) under acid, antibiotic, cold, and heat damage conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.134-140
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• 2023

Activated carbon is a carbonaceous material mainly used as a gaseous or liquid adsorbent. As fire-related accidents occur consistently due to the accumulation of heat of adsorption and oxidation of volatile organic compounds, the explosive characteristics and thermal stability of powdered and granular activated carbon made from coal and coconut shells were evaluated. As a result of the particle size analysis, the powdered activated carbon was in the particle size range (0.4~3) ㎛, and thermal properties such as exothermic onset temperature and decomposition behavior were analyzed using a differential scanning calorimetry and a thermogravimetric analysis. As a result of the evaluation of the explosion hazards for dust, both coal-based and coconut-based powdered activated carbon are classified as St1 class with weak explosion, but this is a relative and does not mean that the explosion hazards is absolutely low. Therefore, it is necessary to establish countermeasures for reducing the damage.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 2024

As the proliferation of hydrogen electric vehicles accelerates, there is observed diversification in hydrogen refueling station models. This diversification raises safety concerns for different types of stations. This study conducted a quantitative risk assessment of a multi-vehicle hydrogen station, capable of simultaneously refueling cars, buses, and trucks. Utilizing Gexcon's Effects&Riskcurves Software, scenarios of fire and explosion due to hydrogen leaks were assessed. The study calculated the impact distances from radiative heat and explosion overpressure, and measured risks to nearby buildings and populations. The largest impact distance was from fires and explosions at dispensers and high-pressure storage units. High-pressure storage contributes most significantly to personal and societal risk. The study suggests that conservative safety distances and proper protective measures for these facilities can minimize human and material damage in the event of a hydrogen leak.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.96-101
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• 2024

The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is equipped with a Transmitter/Receiver (TR) module, which serves as the signal transmission and reception unit for acquiring image data. The TR module generates significant heat during signal generation and amplification, potentially degrading performance or causing mission failure. Furthermore, launch and operational environments may result in structural damage to the components. Thus, assessing the thermal and structural safety of the TR module through thermal and vibration tests is essential to guarantee its safety. Safety assessments can be verified through environmental tests prescribed in MIL-STD-883. This paper explores the thermal and structural safety characteristics of the TR module by simulating test environments using finite element analysis prior to conducting environmental tests.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.405-410
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• 2003

Environmental stress is the major limiting factor in plant productivity. In order to evaluate the stress tolerance of potato plants, leaf discs of two potato cultivars, Atlantic and Superior, were subjected to various stress conditions of high temperature, methyl viologen, H2O2, or $H_2O$$_2$. When potato leaf discs were exposed to high temperature at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 84 hr, Atlantic plants, a cultivar with high sensitivity to heat stress, showed about 20％ higher membrane damage than Superior plants. When exposed to 2$\mu$M methyl violgen (MV), a superoxide generating non-selective herbicide, for 36 hr, Atlantic plants also showed about 38％ higher membrane damage than Superior plants, and were more susceptible up to 10$\mu$M MV concentration tested. On treatment with 0.75M NaCl, Atlantic plants also had about 45％ less chlorophyll contents in leaf discs than Superior plants. There was, however, no difference in chlorophyll content of two cultivars at higher NaCl concentrations. The effect of $H_2O$$_2$ on the two cultivars was mixed. At low $H_2O$$_2$ concentration (25 mM) , Superior plants were more susceptible to $H_2O$$_2$stress after 36 hr. However, at high $H_2O$$_2$ concentration (100 mM), Atlantic plants exhibited higher susceptibility after 36 hr. The results indicate that in vitro leaf discs reflecting the whole plants in this study will be useful for selection and characterization of elite transgenic potato plants with enhanced tolerance to environmental stress.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.3
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• pp.259-270
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• 2020

Extreme weather events, such as heat and drought, have occurred frequently over the past two decades. This has led to continuous reports of cases of forest damage due to physiological stress, not pest damage. In 2014, pine trees were collectively damaged in the forest genetic resources reserve of Sogwang-ri, Uljin, South Korea. An investigation was launched to determine the causes of the dieback, so that a forest management plan could be prepared to deal with the current dieback, and to prevent future damage. This study aimedto 1) understand the topographic and structural characteristics of the area which experienced pine tree dieback, 2) identify the main causes of the dieback, and 3) predict future risk areas through the use of machine-learning techniques. A model for identifying risk areas was developed using 14 explanatory variables, including location, elevation, slope, and age class. When three machine-learning techniques-Decision Tree, Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) were applied to the model, RF and SVM showed higher predictability scores, with accuracies over 93%. Our analysis of the variable set showed that the topographical areas most vulnerable to pine dieback were those with high altitudes, high daily solar radiation, and limited water availability. We also found that, when it came to forest stand characteristics, pine trees with high vertical stand densities (5-15 m high) and higher age classes experienced a higher risk of dieback. The RF and SVM models predicted that 9.5% or 115 ha of the Geumgang Pine Forest are at high risk for pine dieback. Our study suggests the need for further investigation into the vulnerable areas of the Geumgang Pine Forest, and also for climate change adaptive forest management steps to protect those areas which remain undamaged.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1139-1145
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• 2006

In this study, antioxidant activities of enzymatic and methanolic extracts from E. cava stem and leave were evaluated by measuring the scavenging activities on 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and the inhibitory effects on DNA damage induced by oxidative stress of cells. Enzymatic extracts were prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of both stem and leave using food grade five different carbohydrases (Viscozyme, Celluclast, AMG, Termamyl, Ultraflo) and five proteases (Protamex, Kojizyme, Neutrase, Flavourzyme, Alcalase). The enzymatic extracts were lower than methanolic extracts in polyphenol contents, but higher in extraction yield by approximately 30%. The enzymatic extracts were superior to methanolic extracts in DPPH and H2O2 scavenging activities and DNA damage protective effect. There were no significant antioxidant activity difference between stem and leave, but the extracts of leave were relatively better than those of stem. In this study it is suggested that E. cava stem as well as its leave would be a good raw materials for antioxidants compound extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis would be a good strategy to prepare antioxidant extracts from seaweeds.