• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2011

Owing to the risk of fetal loss associated with prenatal diagnostic procedures (amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling), noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) is ultimate goal of prenatal diagnosis. The discovery of circulating cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma in 1997 has opened up new probabilities for NIPD by Dr. Lo et al. The last decade has seen great development in NIPD. Fetal sex and fetal RhD status determination by cffDNA analysis is already in clinical use in certain countries. For routine use, this test is limited by the amount of cell-free maternal DNA in blood sample, the lack of universal fetal markers, and appropriate reference materials. To improve the accuracy of detection of fetal specific sequences in maternal plasma, internal positive controls to confirm to presence of fetal DNA should be analyzed. We have developed strategies for noninvasive determination of fetal gender, and fetal RhD genotyping using cffDNA in maternal plasma, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) including RASSF1A epigenetic fetal DNA marker (gender-independent) as internal positive controls, which is to be first successful study of this kind in Korea. In our study, accurate detection of fetal gender through gestational age, and fetal RhD genotyping in RhD-negative pregnant women was achieved. In this assay, we show that the assay is sensitive, easy, fast, and reliable. These developments improve the reliability of the applications of circulating fetal DNA when used in clinical practice to manage sex-linked disorders (e.g., hemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), RhD incompatibility, and the other noninvasive pregnant diagnostic tests on the coming soon. The study was the first successful case in Korea using cffDNA in maternal plasma, which has created a new avenue for clinical applications of NIPD.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.251-263
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• 2019

Sentinel-2 Multi Spectral Instrument(MSI) launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) offered high spatial resolution optical products, enhanced temporal revisit of five days, and 13 spectral bands in the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared wavelengths similar to Landsat mission. Landsat satellite imagery has been applied to various previous studies, but Sentinel-2 optical satellite imagery has not been widely used. Currently, for global coverage, Sentinel-2 products are systematically processed and distributed to Level-1C (L1C) products which contain the Top-of-Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance. Furthermore, ESA plans a systematic global production of Level-2A(L2A) product including the atmospheric corrected Bottom-of-Atmosphere (BOA) reflectance considered the aerosol optical thickness and the water vapor content. Therefore, the Sentinel-2 L2A products are expected to enhance the reliability of image quality for overall coverage in the Sentinel-2 mission with enhanced spatial,spectral, and temporal resolution. The purpose of this work is a quantitative comparison Sentinel-2 L2A products and fully simulated image to evaluate the applicability of the Sentinel-2 dataset in cultivated land growing various kinds of crops in Korea. Reference image of Sentinel-2 L2A data was simulated by airborne hyperspectral data acquired from AISA Fenix sensor. The simulation imagery was compared with the reflectance of L1C TOA and that of L2A BOA data. The result of quantitative comparison shows that, for the atmospherically corrected L2A reflectance, the decrease in RMSE and the increase in correlation coefficient were found at the visible band and vegetation indices to be significant.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2022

Heavy metals can be intentionally or unintentionally introduced into plastic food utensils, containers, and packaging (PFUCP) as additives or contaminants, which can be ingested with food by humans. Here, seven-heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, antimony, copper, and manganese) with toxicity concerns were selected, and risk assessment was done by establishing their migration from 137 PFUCP products made of 16 materials distributed in Korea. Migration of heavy metals was examined by applying 4% acetic acid as a food simulant (70℃, 30 minutes) to the PFUCP products. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed for the analysis of migrated heavy metals, and the reliability of quantitative results was confirmed by checking linearity, LOD, LOQ, recovery, precision, and expanded uncertainty. As a result of monitoring, heavy metals were detected at a level of non-detection to 8.76 ± 11.87 ㎍/L and most of the heavy metals investigated were only detected at trace amounts of less than 1 ㎍/L on average. However, antimony migrated from PET products was significantly higher than other groups. Risk assessment revealed that all the heavy metals investigated were safe with a margin of exposure above 311. Collectively, we demonstrated that heavy metals migrated from PFUCP products distributed in Korea appear to be within the safe range.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2007

A thermal neutron beam facility utilizing a typical tangential beam port for Neutron Capture Therapy was installed at the HANARO, 30 MW multi-purpose research reactor. Mixed beams with different physical characteristics and relative biological effectiveness would be emitted from the BNCT irradiation facility, so a quantitative analysis of each component of the mixed beams should be performed to determine the accurate delivered dose. Thus, various techniques were applied including the use of activation foils, TLDs and ionization chambers. All the dose measurements were perform ed with the water phantom filled with distilled water. The results of the measurement were compared with MCNP4B calculation. The thermal neutron fluxes were $1.02E9n/cm^2{\cdot}s\;and\;6.07E8n/cm^2{\cdot}s$ at 10 and 20 mm depth respectively, and the fast neutron dose rate was insignificant as 0.11 Gy/hr at 10 mm depth in water The gamma-ray dose rate was 5.10 Gy/hr at 20 mm depth in water Good agreement within 5%, has been obtained between the measured dose and the calculated dose using MCNP for neutron and gamma component and discrepancy with 14% for fast neutron flux Considering the difficulty of neutron detection, the current study support the reliability of these results and confirmed the suitability of the thermal neutron beam as a dosimetric data for BNCT clinical trials.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.175-204
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• 2018

Recently, the aviation leisure business has been legislated, and related industries have become active base with increasing the light sports aircraft within the legislation system. However, in the light sports aircraft safety problem, it is often mentioned that the flight is in violation of the regulations, the lack of safety consciousness of the operator and lack of ability, and the personal operators have a risk of accident of light aircraft such as insufficient safety management and poor maintenance. At present, the maintenance of light sports aircraft is carried out by the A & P mechanic in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, but it is difficult to say that it is equipped with qualification and expertise. It is not a legal issue to undertake light sports aircraft maintenance work on the regulation system. However, the problem of reliability and appropriateness is constantly being raised because airplanes, light sports aircraft, and ultra-light vehicle are classified and serviced in a legal method. Although legal and institutional frameworks for light sports aircraft are separated, much of it is stipulated in the aviation law provisions. Light sports aircraft maintenance work also follows the current aircraft maintenance system. In the United States, Europe, and Australia where General Aviation developed, legal and institutional devices related to maintenance of light aircraft were introduced, and specialized maintenance tasks are covered in the light aircraft mechanics system. As a result of analysis of domestic and foreign laws and regulations, it is necessary to introduce the qualification system for maintenance of light aircraft. In advanced aviation countries such as the United States, Europe, and Australia, a light sports aircraft repairman system is installed to perform safety management. This is to cope with changes in the operating environment of the new light sports aircraft. This study does not suggest the need for a light aircraft repairman system. From the viewpoint of the legal system, the examination of the relevant laws and regulations revealed that the supplementary part of the system is necessary. It is also require that the necessity of introduction is raised in comparison with overseas cases. Based on these results, it is necessary to introduce the system into the light aircraft repairman system, and suggestions for how to improve it are suggested.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.95-115
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• 2019

In the context of today's business environment, not only is the nation or company's credit rating considered very important in our recent society, but it is also becoming important in international transactions. Likewise, at this point of time when the importance and reliability of credit evaluation are becoming important at home and abroad, this study analyzes financial ratios related to corporate profitability, safety, activity, financial growth, and profit growth to study the impact of financial indicators on enterprise value and corporate taxes on credit evaluation. To proceed with this, the financial ratio of 465 companies of KOSPI securities listed in 2017 was calculated and the impact of enterprise value and corporate taxes on credit evaluation was analyzed. Especially, this further study tried to derive a reliable and consistent conclusion by analyzing the financial data of KOSPI securities listed companies for eight years from 2011, which is the first year of K-IFRS introduction, to 2018. Research has shown that the significance levels among variables that show the profitability, safety, activity, financial growth, and profit growth of each financial ratio were significant at the 99% level, except for the profit growth. Validation of the research hypothesis found that while the profitability of KOSPI-listed companies significantly affects corporate value and income tax, indicators such as safety ratio and growth ratio do not significantly affect corporate value and income tax. Activity ratio resulted in significant effects on the value of enterprise value but not significant impacts on income taxes. In addition, it was found that the enterprise value has a significant effect on the company's credit and corporate income taxes, and that corporate income taxes also have a significant effect on the corporate credit evaluation, and this also shows that there is a mediating function of corporate tax. And as a result of further study, when looking at the financial ratio for eight years from 2011 to 2018, it was found that two variables, KARA and LTAX, are significant at a 1% significant level to KISC, whereas LEVE variables is not significant to KISC. The limitation of this study is that credit rating score and financial score cannot be said to be reliable indicators that investors in the capital market can normally obtain, compared to ranking criteria for corporate bonds or corporate bills directly related to capital procurement costs of enterprise. Above all, it is necessary to develop credit rating score and financial score reflecting financial indicators such as business cash flow or net assets market value and non-financial indicators such as industry growth potential or production efficiency.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.123-131
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• 2009

Purpose: We tested a sample of nuclear medicine workers at Korean healthcare institutions for internal contamination with radioactive isotopes, measuring concentrations and evaluating doses of individual exposure. Materials and Methods: The detection and measurement was performed on urine samples collected from 25 nuclear medicine workers at three large hospitals located in Seoul. Urine samples were collected once a week, 100~200 mL samples were gathered up to 6~10 times weekly. A high-purity germanium detector was used to measure gamma radiations in urine samples for the presence of radioactive isotopes. Based on the detection results, we estimated the amounts of intake and committed effective doses using IMBA software. In cases where committed effective doses could not be adequately evaluated with IMBA software, we estimated individual committed effective doses for radionuclides with a very short half life such as $^{99m}Tc$ and $^{123}I$, using the methods recommended by International Atomic Energy Agency. Results: Radionuclides detected through the analysis of urine samples included $^{99m}Tc$, $^{123}I$, $^{131}I$ and $^{201}Tl$, as well as $^{18}F$, a nuclide used in Positron Emission Tomography examinations. The committed effective doses, calculated based on the radionuclide concentrations in urine samples, ranged from 0 to 5 mSv, but were, in the majority of cases, less than 1 mSv. The committed effective dose exceeded 1 mSv in three of the samples, and all three were workers directly handling radioactive sources. No nurses were found to have a committed effective dose in excess of 1 mSv. Conclusions: To improve the accuracy of results, it may be necessary to conduct a long-term study, performed over a time span wide enough to allow the clear determination of the influence of seasonal factors. A larger sample should also help increase the reliability of results. However, as most Korean nuclear medicine workers are currently not necessary to monitored routinely for internal contamination with radionuclides. Notwithstanding, a continuous effort is recommended to reduce any unnecessary exposure to radioactive substances, even if in inconsequential amounts, by regularly surveying workplace environments and frequently monitoring atmospheric concentrations of radionuclides.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2011

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are required to meet the reinforced discharge standards which are differentiated as 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 mg-TP/L for the district I, II and III, respectively. Although most of WWTPs are operating advanced biological phosphorus removal system, the supplementary phosphorus treatment facility using chemical addition should be required almost at all WWTPs. Therefore, water quality data from several exemplary full-scale plants operating phosphorus treatment process were analyzed to evaluate the reliability of removal performance. Additionally, a series of jar tests were conducted to find optimal coagulants dose for phosphorus removal by chemical precipitation and to describe characteristics of the reaction and sludge production. Chemical costs and the increasing sludge volume in physicochemical phosphorus removal process were estimated based on the results of jar tests. The minimum coagulant (aluminium sulfate and poly aluminium chloride) doses to keep TP concentration below 0.5 and 0.2 mg/L were around 25 and 30 mg/L (as $Al_2O_3$), respectively, in the mixed liquor of activated sludge. In the tertiary treatment facility, relatively lower coagulant doses of 1/12~1/3 the minimum doses for activated sludge were required to achieve the same TP concentrations of 0.2~0.5 mg/L. Increase in suspended solids concentration due to chemical precipitates in mixed liquor was estimated at 10~11%, compared to the concentration without chemical addition. When coagulant was added into mixed liquor, chemical (aluminium sulfate) cost was estimated to be 4~10 times higher than in secondary effluent coagulation/separation process. Sludge production to be wasted was also 4~10 times higher than secondary effluent coagulation/separation process.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.178-188
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• 2017

Purpose: We compared the effects of newly developed diode laser (Bison 808 nm Diode laser) on the treatment of peri-implantitis with conventional products (Picasso 810 nm Diode laser) by comparing the surface temperature of titanium disc and bacterial sterilization according to laser power. Materials and Methods: The titanium disc was irradiated for 60 seconds and 1 - 2.5 W using diode laser 808 nm and 810 nm. The surface temperature of the titanium disc was measured using a temperature measurement module and a temperature measurement program. In addition, in order to investigate the sterilizing effect according to the laser power, 808 nm laser was irradiated after application of bacteria to sandblasted large-grit acid-etched (SLA) and resorbable blast media (RBM) coated titanium discs. The irradiated disks were examined with scanning electron microscopy. Results: Both 808 nm and 810 nm lasers increased disk surface temperature as the power increased. When the 810 nm was irradiated under all conditions, the initial temperature rise rate, the descending rate, and the temperature change before and after was higher than that of 808 nm. Disk surface changes were not observed on both lasers at all conditions. Bacteria were irradiated with 808 nm, and the bactericidal effect was increased as the power increased. Conclusion: When applying these diode lasers to the treatment of peri-implantitis, 808 nm which have a bactericidal effect with less temperature fluctuation in the same power conditions would be considered safer. However, in order to apply a laser treatment in the dental clinical field, various safety and reliability should be secured.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1741-1749
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate parents' perception and satisfaction of school food materials and supplier performance in Mokpo. To achieve these research objectives, a questionnaire was distributed to parents at 66 schools, and a total of 589 were used in the final analysis. The results of this study were as follows. First, satisfaction of school foodservice, showed the following scores: overall was 3.75, quality of food materials was 3.84, reliability of food suppliers was 3.80, education was 3.53, and information was 3.50. Second, 38.5% of parents participated in receiving school materials. Exactly 80.6% of parents showed intentions to participate. The most difficult thing for receiving materials was comparing quality of food materials (46.3%). Third, the most important factor cited for school food supplier was quality (62.3%) and sanitation and safety (24.1%). Forth, most parents were positive about the possibility of replacing foods used at school with environment friendly products. Local foods were cited for use in school foodservice (92.2%). The reasons were good quality (39.9%) and contribution to the local community (28.5%). In conclusion, parent's perception of school foodservice should increase to improve food material quality of school foodservice. Institutions for certifying are needed to offer high quality food materials at school foodservice and improved communication and education tool between the school and parents.