• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2009

The standard dosimetry systems based on an absorbed dose to water recommend to use a planeparallel chamber for the calibration of such a low-megavoltage electron beam as a nominal energy of 6 MeV. For this energy ranges of an electron beam a cylindrical chamber should not be used for the routinely regular beam calibration, but the feasibility of the temporary use of a cylindrical chamber was studied to give temporary solutions for special situations users meet. The PTW30013 chambers and the electron beam quality of $R_{50}=2.25\;g/cm^2$ were selected for this study. 10 PTW30013 chambers, a cylindrical type of chamber, were calibrated in KFDA, the secondary standards dosimetry laboratories, and given the absorbed dose-to-water calibration factors, respectively. A "temporary" $k_{Q,Q_0}$ for each chamber were calculated using the absorbed dose determined by a cross-calibrated planeparallel chamber, with the result of an average 0.9352 for 10 chambers. This value for PTW30013 chamber was used to determine an absorbed dose to water at the reference depth. The absorbed doses determined by PTW30013 chambers were in an agreement within 2% with that by ROOS chamber. In a certain situation where a cylindrical chamber be used instead of a planeparellel chamber, the value of 0.9352 might be useful to determine an absorbed dose to water in the same beam quality of electron beam as this study.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.233-248
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• 2012

The national emission from energy sector accounted for 84.7% of all domestic emissions in 2007. Of the energy-use emissions, the emission from mobile source as one of key categories accounted for 19.4% and further the road transport emission occupied the most dominant portion in the category. The road transport emissions can be estimated on the basis of either the fuel consumed (Tier 1) or the distance travelled by the vehicle types and road types (higher Tiers). The latter approach must be suitable for simultaneously estimating $CO_2$, $CH_4$, and $N_2O$ emissions in local administrative districts. The objective of this study was to estimate 31 municipal GHG emissions from road transportation in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. In 2008, the municipalities were consisted of 2,014 towns expressed as Dong and Ri, the smallest administrative district unit. Since mobile sources are moving across other city and province borders, the emission estimated by fuel sold is in fact impossible to ensure consistency between neighbouring cities and provinces. On the other hand, the emission estimated by distance travelled is also impossible to acquire key activity data such as traffic volume, vehicle type and model, and road type in small towns. To solve the problem, we applied a hierarchical cluster analysis to separate town-by-town road patterns (clusters) based on a priori activity information including traffic volume, population, area, and branch road length obtained from small 151 towns. After identifying 10 road patterns, a rule building expert system was developed by visual basic application (VBA) to assort various unknown road patterns into one of 10 known patterns. The expert system was self-verified with original reference information and then objects in each homogeneous pattern were used to regress traffic volume based on the variables of population, area, and branch road length. The program was then applied to assign all the unknown towns into a known pattern and to automatically estimate traffic volumes by regression equations for each town. Further VKT (vehicle kilometer travelled) for each vehicle type in each town was calculated to be mapped by GIS (geological information system) and road transport emission on the corresponding road section was estimated by multiplying emission factors for each vehicle type. Finally all emissions from local branch roads in Gyeonggi Province could be estimated by summing up emissions from 1,902 towns where road information was registered. As a result of the study, the GHG average emission rate by the branch road transport was 6,101 kilotons of $CO_2$ equivalent per year (kt-$CO_2$ Eq/yr) and the total emissions from both main and branch roads was 24,152 kt-$CO_2$ Eq/yr in Gyeonggi Province. The ratio of branch roads emission to the total was 0.28 in 2008.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.449-455
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• 2017

Process input data including material and energy, process output data including product, co-product and its environmental emissions of the reference and target processes were collected and analyzed to evaluate the process performance. Environmentally problematic input/environmental emissions of the manufacturing processes were identified using these data. Significant process inputs contributing to each of the environmental emissions were identified using multiple regression analysis between the process inputs and environmental emissions. Optimum combination of the end-of-pipe technologies for treating the environmental emissions considering economic aspects was made using the linear programming technique. The cement manufacturing processes in Korea and the EU producing same type of cement were chosen for the case study. Environmentally problematic input/environmental emissions of the domestic cement manufacturing processes include coal, dust, and $SO_x$. Multiple regression analysis among the process inputs and environmental emissions revealed that $CO_2$ emission was influenced most by coal, followed by the input raw materials and gypsum. $SO_x$ emission was influenced by coal, and dust emission by gypsum followed by raw material. Optimization of the end-of-pipe technologies treating dust showed that a combination of 100% of the electro precipitator and 2.4% of the fiber filter gives the lowest cost. The $SO_x$ case showed that a combination of 100% of the dry addition process and 25.88% of the wet scrubber gives the lowest cost. Salient feature of this research is that it proposed a method for identifying environmentally problematic input/environmental emissions of the manufacturing processes, in particular, cement manufacturing process. Another feature is that it showed a method for selecting the optimum combination of the end-of-pipe treatment technologies.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2008

To response climate change and Kyoto protocol and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is regarded as one of the most promising option. Marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is to capture $CO_2$ from major point sources(eg. power plant), to transport to the storage sites and to store $CO_2$ into the marine geological structure such as deep sea saline aquifer. To design a reliable $CO_2$ marine geological storage system, it is necessary to perform numerical process simulation using thermodynamic equation of state. The purpose of this paper is to compare and analyse the relevant equations of state including ideal, BWRS, PR, PRBM and SRK equation of state. To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the equation of the state, we compared numerical calculation results with reference experimental data. Ideal and SRK equation of state did not predict the density behavior above $29.85^{\circ}C$, 60 bar. Especially, they showed maximum 100% error in supercritical state. BWRS equation of state did not predict the density behavior between $60{\sim}80\;bar$ and near critical temperature. On the other hand, PR and PRBM equation of state showed good predictive capability in supercritical state. Since the thermodynamic conditions of $CO_2$ reservoir sites correspond to supercritical state(above $31.1^{\circ}C$ and 73.9 bar), we conclude that it is recommended to use PR and PRBM equation of state in designing of $CO_2$ marine geological storage process.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.183-187
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• 2004

Radioactivity in foodstuffs was surveyed for reference in amending regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs. Most domestic and imported (?) foodstuffs were sampled, some domestic items collected around nuclear power plants to compare site-specific contamination. The collected samples were dried and ashed. Radioactivity in foodstuffs was measured using HPGe gamma spectrometer, Cs-137 activity ranged from 0.025-0.053, 0.045-0.500, 0.062-0.105, 0.025-1.151, 0.021-0.145 and 0.046-0.155 Bq/kg-fresh in cereals, pulses, mot vegetables (potato), ginsengs, meat, and marine products, respectively, with imported dried ginseng showing the highest radioactivity, Results reveal radioactivity in foodstuffs collected in 2002 is far below the maximum permitted levels of 370 Bq/kg. No significant differences were observed in radioactivity among sampling sites and between domestic and imported foodstuffs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.503-517
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the yearly trend of milk consumption and the nutritional status of subjects aged 6-18 years using the 2007-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Methods: Milk and dairy products were classified into plain milk, flavored milk, and dairy products (ice cream, milkshakes, cheese, and yogurt, etc.). This study compared the milk and dairy products intakes, some nutrients intakes and percent of dietary reference intakes for Koreans in the milk intake and non-milk intake groups. Results: Plain milk intake decreased with year (male, p = 0.0199; female, p < 0.0001; elementary school, p = 0.0013; high school, p = 0.0061), whereas flavored milk and dairy products intake in these subjects increased with year. In all subjects, 49.9% of subjects did not drink milk at all. The intakes of energy, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, and riboflavin in the milk intake group were significantly higher than those in the non-milk intake group, even after adjusting for covariates (p < 0.05). The odds ratio of the prevalence of nutritional deficiency in the non-milk intake group was 3.2 times higher than that of the milk intake group (p < 0.001), even after adjusting for covariates. The odds ratio for the prevalence of excess intake of the energy/fat was not significant with milk intake. Conclusion: The prevalence of milk intake decreased every year in the subjects. Calcium deficiency and nutritional deficiency were very high in the non-milk intake group. Efforts should be made to improve the calcium status in children and adolescents by strengthening nutrition education about the importance of milk intake.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2009

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among korean woman. Therefore, the early detection activities of breast cancer such as breast self-examinations, clinical breast examinations, mammography are important. A yearly mammography examination has been recommended for women aged 40 and older for the early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic periods. However, the glandular tissue of breast is the most radiation-sensitive tissue, and the determination of average glandular dose (AGD) forms an important part of the quality control of the mammographic systems. Because of the difficulty of estimating AGD directly, it is often estimated from the measurements of the incident air kerma and by applying the appropriate conversion factors. The primary objective of this study was to standardize the method of measuring AGD. The secondary objective was to evaluate the relationships between AGD per various composition and thickness of the breast using Monte Carlo simulations. As a result, we standardized the method of measuring AGD according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines (CoP: an international code of practice). Overall, AGD for mammographic practice in Korea was less than 3.0 mGy recommended by the Korea Food and Drug Adminstration (KFDA) protocol, and Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image (KIAMI). The measured and simulated AGD for a given condition were calculated as 1.7 and 1.6 mGy, respectively. For the AGDs obtained, there was no significant difference between them. The simulated AGD was dependent on the fraction of glandular tissue of the breast. The AGD increases with increasing of the breast glandularity due to increasing absorption of low energy photons. The AGD also increases as a function of breast thickness. In conclusion, the results of this study could be used as a baseline to establish a reference level of radiation dose in mammography.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.277-286
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of nutrition-related knowledge, dietary habits, and nutrient intakes of alcoholic patients and how nutrition education affects these nutritional behaviors. Methods: Subjects included 37 adult male alcoholic patients who were hospitalized. The nutrition education program consisted of five lessons over a five-week period. An each 80-minute nutrition education program per week was implemented for the alcoholic patients over a five-week period. Both before and after the implementation of nutrition education, their nutrition-related knowledge and dietary habits were assessed and nutrient intakes were investigated. Results: The subjects showed drinking habits of considerably high frequency, a large quantity of alcohol consumption, and preference for soju (a liquor) over beer. They had proper weight, height, and BMI, and came from relatively poor socioeconomic backgrounds with a low-level of self-rated health status and a comparatively high rate of suffering from disease. Mean score of their nutrition-related knowledge and dietary habits was quite low. They consumed less energy, dietary fiber, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, folic acid, Ca, and K, but more Na compared to each Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). After implementing the nutrition education, mean score of nutrition-related knowledge and dietary habits showed significant improvement. In addition, the meeting rate of each DRI of several nutrients was increased significantly, including energy, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, and $B_6$, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, Ca, P, K, Fe, and Zn, while that of Na decreased. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that alcoholic patients had various nutritional problems, such as lack of nutrition-related knowledge, bad dietary habits, and insufficient nutrient intakes, however, these problems can be positively modified by implementation of a relatively short-term nutrition education program.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.519-529
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of food insecurity in Korean elderly and to analyze the health status as well as food and nutrient intakes according to food insecurity status. Methods: A total of 939 elderly subjects (over 65 years old) were used in our analysis from the fifth 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1). The variables consisted of general characteristics, physical and mental health, nutrient intake, rate of deficient intake of energy and nutrients compared with Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) and food quality and diversity according to the status of food insecurity. Food insecurity status was measured using a self-reported food security questionnaire on the dietary situation in the previous year, and participants were classified according to three groups: food secure group, mildly food insecure group, and moderately/severely food insecure group. Results: The proportion of the food insecure group was approximately 67% and the food insecure group had lower income and educational status than the food secure group. Food insecurity was associated with worse physical and mental health status after adjusting potentially confounding variables. The results showed that food insecurity in Korean elderly significantly affected mental health (including stress cognition, depression experience, and suicide thoughts) which exceeded stages of physical health. In addition, food insecurity showed significant association with low nutrient intake and high rate of deficient intakes of energy and nutrients compared with KDRIs, and a reduction of dietary quality and diversity was indicated in the food insecure group. Conclusion: This study concludes that the prevalence of food insecurity may affect the physical and mental health as well as dietary intake of the elderly Korean population. Therefore, food insecurity should be considered as an important public health issue in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.160-167
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• 2006

Harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus japonicus is widely distributed in coastal waters of Korea and plays important role in marine trophic structure as a first consumer. In this study, a series of experiment were conducted to test the potential of the species as a standard test species for marine bioassay. Tolerance on salinity and pH, sensitivity on the reference materials(copper sulfate and cadmium chloride) and response on the ocean dumping materials(waste sludge) we re tested to identify if the species satisfy the basic criteria as standard species for marine bioassay. The nauplius of the species($100{\sim}200{\mu}m$) showed wide tolerance on salinity with >90.0% survival rates exposed to $5.0{\sim}35.0psu$ for 48 h. Wide adaptability on pH's were also observed from 6.3 to 8.2 with >90.0% survival rates during the test. $LC_{50}$ values for copper sulfate and cadmium chloride were $3.6{\pm}0.7ppm,\;1.7{\pm}0.8ppm$, respectively. The variations in mortality between replicates were less than 10.0%. Comparison of $LC_{50}$ values indicated that T. japonicus nauplius was lower sensitive to copper sulfate than the most marine crustaceans included copepods, however, the sensitivity of test animal to cadmium chloride higher than the adults of copepod T. japonicus, Paracalanus parvus, and marine rotifer Brachinonus plicatilis. There were significant concentration-response relationship in the mortality of T. japonicus nauplius using the elutriates of three ocean dumping materials(industrial waste sludge). 48 h $LC_{50}$ values we re $31.1{\pm}1.1%$ for the elutriate of sludge from leather processing company and $54.4{\pm}15.1%$ for that of dye production company. Based on the above experimental results, bioassay using benthic harpacticoid T. japonicus nauplius must be a good estimation tool for marine ecotoxicological assessment of waste or chemicals. Wide tolerance on the salinity and pH, and significant linear relationship between concentration and response(mortality) supported the high potential of the species as a standard test species.