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Prevalence size and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection among Korean Medicine workers (한의의료기관 종사자의 잠복결핵감염 유병규모 및 위험인자)

  • Hojung Lee;Chunhoo Cheon;Kwan-Il Kim;Joowon Hwang;Bo-Hyoung Jang
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.55-65
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    • 2024
  • Background : Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health issue worldwide, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs) at high risk of exposure. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state where individuals are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but do not show clinical symptoms. Early detection and treatment of LTBI are crucial to prevent progression to active TB. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Korean Medicine (KM) workers in Seoul, South Korea. Methods : This study analyzed 368 adults aged 19 and over working in Korean medicine institutions in Seoul by September 2023. Participants underwent a tuberculin skin test (TST) and completed a survey collecting demographic information, occupation, work duration, smoking status, BCG vaccination, TB history, and comorbidities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results : The average age of participants was 43.1 years, with an LTBI prevalence rate of 3.5%. Significant risk factors included age and history of TB, Older age and a history of TB were associated with higher LTBI positivity. Conclusion : The study identified the prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Korean medicine workers in Seoul. The findings highlight the need for targeted LTBI screening and preventive measures, especially for older workers and those with a history of TB. While the prevalence was lower than in other healthcare settings, the results emphasize the importance of regular LTBI testing and prevention education for KM workers. Future large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings and further understand the relationship between various risk factors and LTBI in KM settings.

A Study on Health Behavior of the Populations in Urban and Rural Area (도시·농촌지역 주민의 건강행태에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Jeong-Mi;Kwon, Keun-Sang;Lee, Ju-Hyoung;Jeon, Gap-Sung
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.213-225
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    • 2005
  • Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the socio-demographic, style of living, and health related behaviors of community residents between urban and rural areas in Jeonbuk province. Methods: The data was obtained from 2,086 residents who lived in Jeonbuk province from July to September 2001 which included 1,238 residents in urban area and 848 residents in rural area. Results: The results were as follows; There were significant differences socio-demographic characteristics including occupation and educational level of the populations between urban and rural areas. In the urban populations, housewives, professional classes, and people who received collage graduate education were significantly higher, people who were engaged in the primary industries and lower educational classes(below middle school), in contrast, were significantly lower than in the rural populations. In the practice of health behavior, consumption of health foods and amount of exercise in urban populations were significantly higher than in the rural, whereas the state of health, prevalence of chronic disease, Body Mass Index(BMI), consumption of ethanol and cigarette, and hours of sleep were not significantly different between the urban and rural populations. In the eating habits, rate of surfeit, vaccination of hepatitis B, and screening of cancer in the urban populations were significantly higher than in the rural, rate of regular meal, taste of salted food, consumption of vegetables, in contrast. were significantly lower than in the rural. But, consumption of coffee, intake of meat, and periodic medical checkup were not significantly different between urban and rural communities. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with subjective thought on health state were sex, age, occupation, educational level, exercise, and consumption of coffee. Logistic regression analysis to find related factor with prevalence of chronic disease was conducted. As a results, age, educational level, BMI, intake of meat, screening of cancer, and consumption of health foods were related to prevalence of chronic disease. Conclusions: The study showed that special attention to device the health plan are necessary and it suggested that consideration of regional differences are required to provide the community health projects.

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Oral health status and treatment need of institutionalized elderly patients (노인요양시설에 있는 노인환자의 구강실태 및 치료수요도)

  • Yang, Soon-Bong;Moon, Hong-Suk;Han, Dong-Hoo;Lee, Ho-Yong;Chung, Moon-Kyu
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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    • v.46 no.5
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    • pp.455-469
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    • 2008
  • Statement of problems: In the area of dental care, the institutionalized elderly have placed the most vulnerable state, and we cannot find their subjective need of dental treatment because of the physical and mental disabilities, But we have no basic investigation of their oral health conditions. Purpose: The aims of the current study were to investigate the oral health status of institutionalized elderly patients who are in the least benefited side of dental service, and to analyze their dental treatment needs. Material and methods: The survey of the oral status was carried out on 758 institutionalized elderly, and 212 elderly who was more than 65 years old from D dental office, and it was based on the Guidelines of Oral Health Research of year 2000 in Republic of Korea. Results and conclusion: The DMFT index of the institutionalized elderly appeared higher than that of the same ages in control group, and it increased with age. The number of residual teeth of the institutionalized elderly appeared lower than that of the same ages in control group, and it decreased with age (P < .05). The number of fixed partial denture in institutionalized elderly was lower than that of the same ages in control group (P < .05). The percentage wearing removable partial denture was not significant between the elderly in institutions and the control group, and was not different according to age between the two groups. The percentage of institutionalized elderly wearing complete denture appeared lower than that of the same ages in control group, and it increased with age. The percentage of institutionalized elderly needing complete denture was higher than that of control group, and the percentage of elderly needing complete denture on the maxilla was higher than that of the mandible. 16.35% of the institutionalized elderly was living without denture in spite of their fully edentulous state. The need for complete denture increased rapidly with age. The number of valued teeth and dental prostheses in shortened dental arch concept and number of occluding pairs of teeth of institutionalized elderly were lower than that of the control group (P < .05). In institutionalized elderly, the number of residual teeth, the number of fixed partial dentures, and the percentage wearing removable partial dentures were higher in the mandible, and the percentage wearing complete dentures was higher in the maxilla (P < .05). The rate of institutionalized elderly needing prosthodontic treatment appeared to be 67.82%, where the number of occluding pairs of teeth was less than 10. When it is difficult to evaluate the subjective need of dental treatment as with the institutionalized elderly, estimation using the number of occluding pairs of teeth can be a useful indicator that can project treatment needs. For the oral health care of institutionalized elderly, it is essential to increase the awareness of nurses and caregivers who take care of them, about the importance of the oral health. Since the average life span and number of residual teeth are increasing gradually, the welfare policy should be changed to implementing regular dental examinations, preservative treatment forms and oral health control of dentulous patients where the traveling-treatment system and visit system are supplemented. And principles should be set that the present denture project of edentulous patients should be done by specialists who'll also be responsible for postmanagement. Through this research of institutionalized elderly, the oral health status which is worsened by aging could be confirmed. And the interest and positive participation of dental society on the elderly should come first in order to solve the rising treatment needs of the elderly patients.

A Study on the Knowledge. Attitude and Behavior of Commercial Girl's High School Students Toward Sex (서울시내 실업계 여고생들의 성지식 태도 및 행위에 관한 조사연구)

  • Bae, Nam-Sook
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.57-71
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    • 1983
  • Sex education is necessary for the youth that they should have an adequate sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors in their adolescent period. Four major objectives of this study are as follows; 1. To know the level of sexual knowledge of commercial girl's high school students in Seoul. 2. To know their actual state for the attitudes and behaviors toward sex. 3. To compare the sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of day time school students with those of night time school students. 4. To compare the factors associated with their sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors with the individual level. Data were collected on 986 students in Seoul from April 1 to April 10, 1983. As the result of this survey, the following conclusions were obtained. 1. The level of sexual knowledge. (1) The level of knowledge of day time high school students about the physiology of female and pregnancy is shown higher than those of night time students. 64.2% of the respondents are aware of the organ producing ovum. 56.4% the ovulation period. 95.6% the cause of pregnancy. 74.5% the pregnantable period and 12.7% the place of fetilization. (2) Out of 986 respondents. 71.8% knew about contraceptive method correctly, and day time school students knew litter better than night time school students, by showing 73.9% and 69.7% respectively. They knew about contraceptive method with 'oral pills'. 'menstrual cycles', 'condoms'. and 'loops' in the same order. 3) Kinds of veneral disease was correctly known by 37.9%. Day time students knew much better than night time school students. by showing 67.8% and 7.9%. respectively. Transmission method of veneral disease was correctly known by 28.3%. Day time students knew much better than night time students, by showing 51.2% and 5.3%, respectively. (4) The major information source of sexual knowledge was 'book and magazine' (39.9%) and 'friends' (27.4%). 2. Actual state of attitudes and behaviors toward sex. (1) Out of 986 respondents, 84.0% answered that premarital purity should be kept. (2) Out of 986 respondents, 60.8% had an acquaintance of the opposite sex. 45.2% of students with opposite sex reported introduction of their friends as the main channel of making an acquaintance of the opposite sex. (3) Of those who responded to this study 13.8% reported having masturbation, 21.5% kissing, 6.2% petting and 3.7% sex intercourse. (4) 64.8% had sexual problems, which was mensturance (27.2%), aquaintance of the opposite sex (25.4%). The main method to solve the problems were consultation with 'friends' and 'books and magazine' percentage being 39.1% and 30.8%, respectively, whereas very small students discussed with 'teachers' and 'parents' percentages being 0.3% and 5.9%, respectively. (5) Out of 986 respondents, 62.2% had experience in educating about sex, the percentage of day time school was higher than that of night time school. (6) 88.2% of students wanted sex education in school, which were 'general information about sex' (35.4%), 'sexual morality and solution of sexual desire' (18.5%), 'aquaintance of the opposite sex' (13.3%) and 'marriage and role of man and woman' (12.4%) in the same order. They wanted to be instructed about sexes in the lecture of physical education, home economics, biology, military training (59.9%), regular curriculum (17.5%), special lecture (16.9%) and by the counselor or school nurse (5.7%). 3. Analyse concerning the factors about the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. (1) The better school record was, the higher the level of sexual knowledge. (2) Those who have the religion considered the permarital purity more important than those who have not, the percentage showing 86.7% and 80.7%, respectively. (3) The result of dyad analysis of making acquaintance of the opposite sex in the friendship network showed that a high index of the acquaintance of the opposite sex tends to be a high adoption of making one at the individual level in the group, while the low index tends to be a low adoption of making one in the group.

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A Comparative Study on the Knowledge of Oral Health between Dental Hygiene Students and Non-dental Hygiene Students (치위생과 학생 및 비치위생과 학생의 구강건강 인식에 관한 비교 연구)

  • Lee, Kyung-Hee;Gwon, Hyun-Jung;Youn, Hye-Jeong
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.121-127
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    • 2007
  • The purpose of this study was to analyze college students basic knowledge of oral health of a college student and compare with the knowledge of oral health between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students. A survey was conducted on the residents in Gyeonggi-do and Gwangju from June 2006 to May 2007. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. Concerning the knowledge of oral health, dental hygiene students got the source of information most frequently from school work about oral health(80.0%) and non-dental hygiene students got from health programs of TV or radio(42.7%). Concerning the reason of keeping of oral hygiene, dental hygiene students were to preventive of dental caries(80.9%) and nondental hygiene students were to preventive of periodontal disease(52.4%). There were significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). 2. The knowledge degree of dental caries, to the both groups, methods of preventing caries appeared regular brush and main cause of dental caries was not to brush. There were significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). 3. Dental hygiene students answered about the knowledge of fluoride know fluoride(93.6%) and non-dental hygiene students answered (55.3%). Dental hygiene students thought that fluoride could preventive dental caries(85.5%) but non-dental hygiene students thought that fluoride couldn't preventive dental caries(51.0%). There was significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). 4. In the knowledge of oral health state, both of groups, replied that their own tooth state is average but they concerned about their tooth health. There was significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). About main cause of dental caries, students ranked that the first reason was the poor toothbrush and the second reason was the over intaking of sugared foods. 5. About knowledge of oral diagnosis, to both groups, students ranked that first could endure the pain and the second was in much pain. For both groups, students ranked that difficult of dental treatment was cost, fear and time. There was significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.01). For both groups, when they visit dentist's office, they felt misgivings and fear.

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The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Body Composition, Cardiopulmonary Function, Serum Lipid and Antioxidants of Obese College Female Students (에어로빅운동이 비만여대생의 신체조성, 심폐기능, 혈청지질 및 항산화물질에 미치는 영향)

  • Jung Eun-Sook;Park Hyeong-Sook
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.125-141
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    • 1998
  • The purpose of this research is to analyze the effects of aerobic exercise on body composition, cardiopulmonary function, serum lipid level and antioxidants of obese and normal college female students. The subject group was made up of 13 normal students (below 30% body fat ratio) and 12 obese students (above 30% body fat ratio). After a pretest, the subjects were given an 8-week aerobic program. Then the subjects were given a posttest and analyzed of body composition, serum lipid level, antioxidants and cardiopulmonary function after the 6th and the 8th week of the program. The program schedule was made up of 4 days per week, 60 minutes per day. Test includes B.W., subscapular and triceps subcutaneous fat thickness, change of respiratory gas, and two blood sampling before treadmill exercise and post all out state, which analyzed serum lipid and antioxidants. The subjects performed treadmill exercise starting with 4km/hr of walking and then gradually increase the speed of 1km/hr per minute until all out state. The obtained data were analyzed using SAS program. The statistical methods employed here were one-way ANOVA with repeated measure, Duncan Multiple range test, paired-t test and t-test. The test results and conclusion of this research were as follows. 1. The effects of aerobic exercise on body composition were as follows ; Percent body fat was significantly reduced 6 weeks after the program and lean body mass was significantly increased 8 weeks after the program in both groups(obese group: F=3.44 P=.044, normal group: F=3.30 P=.048). subscapular skinfold of the obese group showed a remarkable decrease after the 6th week(F=4.33 P=.021) triceps skinfold of the normal group showed a remarkable decrease after the 6th and the 8th week(F=4.55 P=.017) compared with readings before the aerobic program, the aerobic program made a bigger difference concerning body fat, lean body mass, subscapular skinfold in the obese group than in the normal group(t=2.41 P=.024, t=2.40 p=.025, t=2.43 p=.028). 2. The effects of aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function were as follows ; Maximal $O_2$ uptake/kg was significantly increased 6 weeks after the program in the obese group(F=3.20 P=.054), but not much difference was observed in the normal group. Maximal pulse rate was significantly reduced in both groups after 6 weeks of the program(obese group: F=2.77 P=.087, normal group: F=7.17 P=.001). 3. The effects of aerobic exercise on serum lipid level were as follows ; In a resting period, total cholesterol, Triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol were slightly higher in the obese group than in the normal group, but HDL-cholesterol was higher in the normal group. But, with the aerobic program, total-cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol were reduced gradually and HDL-choleterol got increased in both groups, but not much change was noticed in the normal group. However, in the obese group, serum HDL-cholesterol level got increased significantly(F=5.12 P=.012). 4. The effects of aerobic exercise in serum antioxidants were as follows ; In a resting period, the obese group's serum Free Radical and GSSG content were higher than the normal group's and the normal group's serum GSH content was higher than the obese group's. After 6 weeks of the aerobic program, Free Radical was reduced significantly in both groups(obese group: F=13.87 P=.000, normal group: F=18.60 P=.000) In the obese group, 8 weeks after the program, GSH was increased significantly(F=13.78, P=.000). In the normal group, 6 weeks after the program, GSH was reduced but increased again after 8 weeks(F=6.07 P=.005). Plasma GSSG was significantly increased after 8 weeks of exercise in both groups(obese group: F=19.75 P=.000, normal group: F=22.42 P=.000,) Compared with readings before the aerobic program, the aerobic program made a bigger difference serum GSH in the normal group than in the obese group(t=3.37 p=.003). As this result shows, it is known that the regular aerobic exercise improves cardiopulmonary function, body composition, serum lipid effectively and through the serum Free Radical reduction and antioxidant system activation, oxidant stress was suppressed. This effect was higher in the obese group than in the normal one. At least 6weeks exercise period need for improvement of body composition, cardiopulmonary function and activation of antioxidant system. This result suggest that improvement of serum lipid profile was needed longer than 8weeks exercise period.

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Effects of Zinc Plus Arachidonic Acid on Insulin Resistance in High Fructose-Fed Rats (Zinc와 Arachidonic Acid가 고 Fructose 식이로 유도된 인슐린 저항성에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Chul-Soo;Kim, Young-Wook;Lee, Hyo-Sun;Yoon, Tae-Ho;Cho, Byung-Mann;Lee, Soo-Il;Kim, Sung-Soo;Hwang, In-Kyung
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.415-422
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    • 2009
  • We previously demonstrated that zinc plus arachidonic acid (ZA) treatment lowered blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, genetically diabetic obese (ob/ob) mice, and genetically diabetic, non-obese Goto-Kakizaki rats. However, plasma insulin levels did not increase with ZA treatment, suggesting that ZA lowers blood glucose levels not by stimulating pancreatic insulin secretion. However, it is unclear whether these agents lower blood glucose levels by decreasing hepatic glucose output (HGO) or by increasing glucose utilization in peripheral tissues, or both. In order to determine ZA target organ of insulin action, we divided 18 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing ${\sim}130g$ into 3 groups (6 rats per group) and treated them for four weeks with: (1) Control diet (regular rat chow), (2) High fructose (60.0%) diet only, and (3) the same fructose diet plus zinc (10 mg/L) and arachidonic acid (50 mg/L) containing drinking water. After 4 weeks, insulin action was assessed using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. Food intake and body weights were comparable in all three groups of rats throughout the study period. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, glucose uptake, and HGO in the basal state were all the same in these three rat groups. During the clamp study, fructose-treated and fructose+ZA treated rat groups did not exhibit any detectable change on insulin-mediated glucose uptake compared to controls. High fructose feeding impaired insulin mediated suppression of HGO, compared to controls during clamp (4.39 vs. 2.35 mg/kg/min; p<0.05). However, ZA treatment in high fructose-fed rats showed a remarkable increase in hepatic insulin sensitivity compared to high fructose-fed rats, reflected by a complete recovery in suppression of HGO during the clamp (4.39 vs. 2.18 mg/kg/min; p<0.05). This data suggests that ZA increases insulin sensitivity in liver but not glucose utilization of peripheral tissues in high fructose-fed rats.

An Assessment of the Utility of Respiratory Synchronized Systems in the PET/CT Examination (PET-CT 검사 시 호흡 동조 시스템들의 유용성 평가)

  • Seong, Yong-Jun;Yoon, Seok-Hwan;Hyun, Jun-Ho;Lee, Hong-jae;Kim, Jin-Eui
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.34-38
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    • 2017
  • Purpose During PET/CT examinations, the movements of internal organs caused by respiration are captured in images during multiple breathing cycles, resulting in the increases in tumor size and effects on SUV. Respiratory synchronized systems were used to evaluate tumor sizes and SUV changes. Materials and Methods Biograph mCT 64 was used for the equipment, and RPM and Anzai systems were used for the respiratory synchronized systems. We used point source and micro-phantom for an experimentation. We were performed on 12 patients who had solid tumors discovered at the base of the lung or at the top of the liver from August through September 2016. The PET images of the exhalation-to-breathing state and the CT images of the post-exhalation suspension state were gained to evaluate changes in radioactivity concentration (KBq/mL), SUVmax, cylinder diameter (mm), and tumor diameter (cm) under the conventional Static, RPM, and Anzai methods. Results The result of measuring the radioactivity concentration of the point source was RPM 94% and Anzai 91% against Static, respectively. In the two cylinders of different radioactivity in the micro-phantom, the SUVmax increased to RPM 61% and 78%, and Anzai 58% and 77% against Static, whereas the cylinder diameters decreased by RPM -26% and -28%, and Anzai -28% and -26%, each respectively. Among the patients, the SUVmax increased from a minimum of RPM 8.2% to a maximum of 94.4% against Static, and from a minimum of Anzai 7.6% to a maximum of 68.3%, respectively. As for the tumor diameters, a minimum of RPM -7.6% to a maximum of -28.9% were achieved, while the Anzai fell by a minimum of -9.6% to a maximum of -27.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference discovered in the phantom study between the RPM and Anzai, yet there was a meaningful difference in the patients' tumors (P<0.05). Conclusion The respiratory synchronized systems of RPM and Anzai yielded no significant difference in the phantom study in which the respiration was executed at regular intervals. However, it was discovered that the patients had a meaningful difference for the irregular respiratory cycle and inter-system differences. Still, the respiratory synchronized systems would be useful for the accurate diagnosis and SUV measurement as the tumor decreased in size against the existing Static and the SUV increased.

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Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy of Active Galactic Nuclei

  • Doikov, Dmytry N.;Yushchenko, Alexander V.;Jeong, Yeuncheol
    • Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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    • v.36 no.1
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    • pp.21-33
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    • 2019
  • This paper focuses on the interpretation of radiation fluxes from active galactic nuclei. The advantage of positron annihilation spectroscopy over other methods of spectral diagnostics of active galactic nuclei (therefore AGN) is demonstrated. A relationship between regular and random components in both bolometric and spectral composition of fluxes of quanta and particles generated in AGN is found. We consider their diffuse component separately and also detect radiative feedback after the passage of high-velocity cosmic rays and hard quanta through gas-and-dust aggregates surrounding massive black holes in AGN. The motion of relativistic positrons and electrons in such complex systems produces secondary radiation throughout the whole investigated region of active galactic nuclei in form of cylinder with radius R= 400-1000 pc and height H=200-400 pc, thus causing their visible luminescence across all spectral bands. We obtain radiation and electron energy distribution functions depending on the spatial distribution of the investigated bulk of matter in AGN. Radiation luminescence of the non-central part of AGN is a response to the effects of particles and quanta falling from its center created by atoms, molecules and dust of its diffuse component. The cross-sections for the single-photon annihilation of positrons of different energies with atoms in these active galactic nuclei are determined. For the first time we use the data on the change in chemical composition due to spallation reactions induced by high-energy particles. We establish or define more accurately how the energies of the incident positron, emitted ${\gamma}-quantum$ and recoiling nucleus correlate with the atomic number and weight of the target nucleus. For light elements, we provide detailed tables of all indicated parameters. A new criterion is proposed, based on the use of the ratio of the fluxes of ${\gamma}-quanta$ formed in one- and two-photon annihilation of positrons in a diffuse medium. It is concluded that, as is the case in young supernova remnants, the two-photon annihilation tends to occur in solid-state grains as a result of active loss of kinetic energy of positrons due to ionisation down to thermal energy of free electrons. The single-photon annihilation of positrons manifests itself in the gas component of active galactic nuclei. Such annihilation occurs as interaction between positrons and K-shell electrons; hence, it is suitable for identification of the chemical state of substances comprising the gas component of the investigated media. Specific physical media producing high fluxes of positrons are discussed; it allowed a significant reduction in the number of reaction channels generating positrons. We estimate the brightness distribution in the ${\gamma}-ray$ spectra of the gas-and-dust media through which positron fluxes travel with the energy range similar to that recorded by the Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) research module. Based on the results of our calculations, we analyse the reasons for such a high power of positrons to penetrate through gas-and-dust aggregates. The energy loss of positrons by ionisation is compared to the production of secondary positrons by high-energy cosmic rays in order to determine the depth of their penetration into gas-and-dust aggregations clustered in active galactic nuclei. The relationship between the energy of ${\gamma}-quanta$ emitted upon the single-photon annihilation and the energy of incident electrons is established. The obtained cross sections for positron interactions with bound electrons of the diffuse component of the non-central, peripheral AGN regions allowed us to obtain new spectroscopic characteristics of the atoms involved in single-photon annihilation.

The Current Status of the Discussions on International Norms Related to Space Activities in the UN COPUOS Legal Subcommittee (우주활동 국제규범에 관한 유엔 우주평화적이용위원회 법률소위원회의 최근 논의 현황)

  • Jung, Yung-Jin
    • The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.127-160
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    • 2014
  • The UN COPUOS was established in 1959 as a permanent committee of the UN General Assembly with the aims to promote international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, to formulate space-related programmes within the UN, to encourage research and dissemination of information on space, and to study legal problems arising from the outer space activities. Its members have been enlarged from 24 members in 1959 to 76 in 2014. The Legal Subcommittee, which has been established under COPUOS in 1962 to deal with legal problems associated with space activities, through its first three decades of work has set up a framework of international space law: the five treaties and agreements - namely the Outer Space Treaty, Rescue Agreement, Liability Convention, Registration Convention, Moon Agreement - and the five declarations and legal principles. However, some sceptical views on this legal framework has been expressed, concerning the applicability of existing international space law to practical issues and new kinds of emerging space activities. UNISPACE III, which took place in 1999, served as a momentum to revitalize the discussions of the legal issues faced by the international community in outer space activities. The agenda of the Legal Subcommittee is currently structured into three categories: regular items, single issue/items, and items considered under a multi-year workplan. The regular items, which deal with basic legal issues, include definition and delimitation of outer space, status and application of the five UN treaties on outer space, and national legislation relevant to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. The single issues/items, which are decided upon the preceding year, are discussed only for one year in the plenary unless renewed. They include items related to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space and to the space debris mitigation. The agenda items considered under a multi-year work plan are discussed in working group. Items under this category deal with non-legally binding UN instruments on outer space and international mechanism for cooperation. In recent years, the Subcommittee has made some progress on agenda items related to nuclear power sources, space debris, and international cooperation by means of establishing non-legally binding instruments, or soft law. The Republic of Korea became the member state of COPUOS in 2001, after rotating seats every two years with Cuba and Peru since 1994. Korea's joining of COPUOS seems to be late, in considering that some countries with hardly any space activity, such Chad, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Lebanon, Cameroon, joined COPUOS as early as 1960s and 1970s and contributed to the drafting of the aforementioned treaties, declarations, and legal principles. Given the difficulties to conclude a treaty and un urgency to regulate newly emerging space activities, Legal Subcommittee now focuses its effort on developing soft law such as resolutions and guideline to be adopted by UN General Assembly. In order to have its own practices reflected in the international practices, one of the constituent elements of international customary law, Korea should analyse its technical capability, policy, and law related to outer space activities and participate actively in the formation process of the soft law.