• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.118-126
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: It is very important to monitor the residual characteristics of pesticides in pre-harvest fresh ginseng to ensure consumer safety. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-eight fresh ginseng samples were collected from 8 ginseng-growing fields 10 days before harvest and pesticide residues in fresh ginseng with and without rhizome (head of ginseng) and rhizome were analyzed for 320 pesticides by using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. As a result of the pesticide residue analysis, the number of pesticides detected from the fresh ginseng with rhizome, that without rhizome and rhizome were 26, 25, and 40, respectively, indicating that high number of pesticides found in rhizome, compared with the other parts. Pyraclostrobin was detected with the highest frequency in all samples, reaching to 21.2% in fresh ginseng with rhizome, 16.8% in that without rhizome, and 14.8% in rhizome. CONCLUSION: The residue levels of pesticides detected did not exceed their maximum residue limits, in spite of residual data in fresh ginseng before harvest. The amounts of the estimated daily intakes of all the detected pesticides were found to be from 0.018 to 1.818% of their acceptable daily intakes, indicating that concentrations of pesticides detected from fresh ginseng with and without rhizome collected before harvest do not pose the immediate health risks.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2021

Objectives: Non-traditional materials are used for mask construction to address personal protective equipment shortages during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Reusable masks made from surgical sterilization wrap represent such an innovative approach with social media frequently referring to them as "N95 alternatives." This material was tested for particle filtration efficiency and breathability to clarify what role they might have in infection prevention and control. Methods: A heavyweight, double layer sterilization wrap was tested when new and after 2, 4, 6, and 10 autoclave sterilizing cycles and compared with an approved N95 respirator and a surgical mask via testing procedures using a sodium chloride aerosol for N95 efficiency testing similar to 42 CFR 84.181. Pressure testing to indicate breathability was also conducted. Results: The particle filtration efficiency for the sterilization wrap ranged between 58% to 66%, with similar performance when new and after sterilizing cycles. The N95 respirator and surgical mask performed at 95% and 68% respectively. Pressure drops for the sterilization wrap, N95 and surgical mask were 10.4 mmH2O, 5.9 mmH2O, and 5.1 mmH2O, respectively, well below the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health limits of 35 mmH2O during initial inhalation and 25 mmH2O during initial exhalation. Conclusions: The sterilization wrap's particle filtration efficiency is much lower than a N95 respirator, but falls within the range of a surgical mask, with acceptable breathability. Performance testing of non-traditional mask materials is crucial to determine potential protection efficacy and for correcting misinterpretation propagated through popular media.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.368-374
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: The residual analysis of polar pesticides has remained a challenge. It is even more difficult to simultaneously analyze multiple polar pesticides. Diquat, paraquat, and chlormequat are typical examples of highly polar pesticides. The existing methods for the analysis of diquat, paraquat and chlormequat are complex and time consuming. Therefore, a simple, quick and effective method was developed in the represent study for simultaneous analysis of diquat, paraquat and chlormequat in animal products, meat and fat using UPLC-MS/MS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sample extraction was carried out using acidified acetonitrile and water and re- extracted with acidified acetonitrile and combine the extracts followed by centrifugation. The extract was then cleaned up with a HLB cartridge after reconstitution with acidic acetonitrile and water. The method was validated in quintuplicate at three different concentrations. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.0015 and 0.005 mg/L, respectively. Matrix suppression effect was observed for all of the analytes. A seven point matrix matched calibration curve was constructed for each of the compound resulted excellent linearity with determination coefficients (R2) ≥ 0.991. Accuracy and precision of the method was calculated from the recovery and repeatability and ranged from 62.4 to 119.7% with relative standard deviation less than 18.8%. CONCLUSION: The recovery and repeatability of the developed method were in the acceptable range according to the Codex Alimentarius guideline. The developed method can be applied for the routine monitoring of diquat, paraquat, and chlormequat in animal products, meat and fat.

• 생약학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.270-277
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• 2020

This study analyzed mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, fumonisin B1, B2, ochratoxin A and zearalenone, using LC-MS/MS and conducted risk assessment on 54 samples of seeds distributed in SeoulYangnyeongsi and the management status of extramural herbal dispensary facility. The matched calibration showed a good linearity as observed in 6 concentration levels(r2>0.999) as a result of method validation applied with Arecae semen. Limits of detection(LOD) and quantification(LOQ) were in the range of 0.02-0.11 ㎍/kg and 0.08-0.34 ㎍/kg, respectively. Recoveries also estimated, ranging from 65.1-99.7% with relative standard deviation(RSD) 0.5-6.3%. As a result of the method on 54 samples, mycotoxins were detected in 16 samples. Among them, two Thujae semen showed a degree of concentration that exceeded the aflatoxin specification. In the risk assessment, the human exposure safety standard values were calculated as ADI(Acceptable Daily Intake) for aflatoxin B1, fumonisin and zearalenone. Ochratoxin A was calculated as PTWI(Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake). The MOE(Margine of Exposure) of aflatoxin B1 was in the range of 40.36-3536.88. And no items exceeded 100% in %TDI(Tolerable Daily Intake) and %TWI(Tolerable Weekly Intake) of fumonisin, zearalenone and ochratoxin A.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

This study discusses the effect of using ²³²Th instead of ²³⁸U on the neutronic characteristics and the main operating parameters of the pressurized water reactor (PWR). MCNPX version 2.7 was used to compare the neutronic characteristics of UO₂ with (Th, ²³⁵U)O₂ and (Th, ²³³U) O₂. Firstly, the infinity multiplication factor (K_inf), thermal neutron flux, and power distribution have been studied for the investigated fuel types. Secondly, the effect of Gd₂O₃ and Er₂O₃ on the K_inf and on the radial thermal neutron flux and thermal power has been investigated to distinguish which of them is more suitable than the other in reactivity management. Thirdly, to illustrate the effectiveness of ²³²Th in decreasing the inventory of both the actinides and non-actinides, the concentration of plutonium (Pu) isotopes and minor actinides (MAs) has been simulated with the fuel burnup. Besides, due to their large thermal neutron absorption cross-section, the concentrations of ¹³⁵Xe, ¹⁴⁹Sm, and ¹⁵¹Sm with the fuel burnup have been investigated. Finally, the main safety parameters such as the reactivity worth of the control rods (ρ_CR), the effective delayed neutron fraction β_eff, and the Doppler reactivity coefficient (DRC) were calculated to determine to which extent these fuel types achieve the acceptable limits.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제80권6호
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• pp.701-709
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• 2021

The paper aims at improving the understanding and mitigating the effects of tunnel fires that may breakout due to the burning fuel and/or explosion within the tunnel. This study particularly focuses on the behavior of the commonly used horse shoe geometry of tunnel systems. The problem has been obtained using an adequate well-established program incorporating the Lagrangian approach. A transient-thermo-coupled static structural analysis is carried out. The effects of radiation and convection to the outer walls of the tunnel is studied. The paper also presents the impact of the hazard on the structural integrity of the tunnel. A methodology is proposed to study the tunnel fire using a model which uses equivalent steel sheet to represent the presence of reinforcements to improve the computational efficiency with adequate validation. A parametric study has been carried out and the effect of suitable lining property for mitigating the fire hazard is arrived at. Detailed analysis is done for the threshold limits of the properties of the lining material to check if it is acceptable in all aspects for the integrity of the tunnel. The study may prove useful for developing insights for ensuring tunnel fire safety. To conduct such studies experimentally are tremendously costly but are required to gain confidence. But, scaled models, as well as loading and testing conditions, cannot be studied by many trials experimentally as the cost will shoot up sharply. In this context, the results obtained from such computational studies with a feasible variation of various combinations of parameters may act as a set of guidelines to freeze the adequate combination of various parameters to conduct one or two costly experiments for confidence building.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.95-100
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to determine characteristics of residues of the soil-treated boscalid and pyraclostrobin within Hylomecon vernalis and to evaluate the risks from intake of the residual pesticides in the crop. METHODS AND RESULTS: The pesticides were treated to soils at two different concentrations, and the plant samples were collected 57 days after seeding. The samples were extracted using the QuEChERS extraction kit (MgSO₄ 4 g, NaCl 1 g). The quantitative methods for boscalid and pyraclostrobin were validated using linearity, recovery, and CV (coefficient of variation). Risk assessment of the pesticides was performed using Korea national nutrition statistics 2019. CONCLUSION(S): The residual levels of boscalid were 0.02-0.05 mg/kg (for the treatment at 6 Kg/10a) and 0.05-0.08 mg/kg (for the treatment at 12 Kg/10a), respectively. The residual concentrations of pyraclostrobin were below the LOQ. The amounts of pesticides were less than Maximum Residue Limits specified by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The maximum hazard indices of boscalid in chwinamul and amaranth for consumers were 0.0075% and 0.1525%, respectively, and it indicates that the risk of the pesticides from the crop is considered to be low.

• 한국ITS학회 논문지
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.90-102
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• 2022

우리나라가 고령화시대에 진입하면서 고령운전자를 위한 교통 안전성 정책에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다. 이를 위해서는 고령자 관련 교통사고의 영향요인을 분석하는 연구가 활성화될 필요가 있지만, 국내의 사고 데이터는 효과적인 사고분석 연구를 수행하기에는 한계가 있다. 이에 본 연구는 미국의 사고 데이터를 살펴보고 기계학습 알고리즘을 활용하여 고령운전자 사고심각도 예측 모형을 개발하고, 주요 사고 영향요인을 도출하여, 향후 국내 사고 데이터의 보완 방향을 제시하고자 한다. 분석 결과에 따르면, 주행속도, 제한속도, 사고 시 근접 주행 여부 등이 고령운전자 사고 심각도에 영향을 주는 요인으로 나타났는데, 한국의 사고 데이터에서 제공하지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 그러므로 이와 같은 정보들이 한국의 사고 데이터에서 제공된다면 고령운전자 교통안전성 제고에 기여할 수 있을 것이다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권8호
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• pp.3046-3053
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• 2023

Radon is a naturally occurring carcinogenic agent, poses a serious health hazard when inhaled or ingested in significant amounts. The water of the Padma river will be used as a tertiary coolant for the soon-to-be-commissioned 'Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant'. Hence, it is important to assess the radiological status of the river prior to the commission of this power plant. Therefore, for the first time, 25 samples of water were collected from various locations of the Padma River and analyzed for radon concentration using the RAD H₂O (DURRIDGE) radon monitoring device. The radon concentrations were found in the range from 0.077 ± 0.036 to 0.494 ± 0.211 Bq/L with a mean of 0.250 ± 0.093 Bq/L. All the concentrations were found to be below the recommended limits of WHO (100 Bq/L) and USEPA (11.1 Bq/L). The mean annual effective dose due to the radon exposure via inhalation and ingestion pathways were 0.638 µSv/y and 0.629 µSv/y, respectively, which were all well below the annual effective dose recommended by WHO (0.1 mSv/y). Since Bangladesh lacks a national safety limit of radon in water, this pioneering study provides baseline data on radon levels for the environment around Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.193-202
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• 2023

Residue monitoring of propiconazole (PCZ) in cabbage, shallot, and spinach was conducted under multi-trial greenhouse conditions. This study aimed to understand the fate of the applied fungicide in these vegetables. Furthermore, the associated health risk of PCZ in leafy vegetables was assessed through dietary risk assessment. Commercially available PCZ (22% suspension concentrate) was administered thrice according to the OECD fungicide application interval guideline. The plant samples were extracted using a slightly modified QuEChERS technique and analyzed using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The average PCZ recovery was between 84.5% and 117.6%, with a <5% coefficient of variance. The dissipation of PCZ residue in cabbage, shallot, and spinach after 14 days was 96%, 90%, and 99%, respectively, with half-lives of <5 days. Meanwhile, dietary risk assessments of PCZ residues in the studied vegetables using the risk quotient (RQ) were significant < 100 (RQ < 100). Thus, the population groups considered in this study were not at substantial risk from consuming leafy vegetables sprayed with PCZ following critical, good agricultural practices.