• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.1349-1368
• /
• 2016

Concentrations of fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) and several of its particle constituents measured outside homes in Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, were characterized using multiple regression analysis with proximity to point and mobile sources and meteorological factors as the independent variables. $PM_{2.5}$ mass and the concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), benzo-[a]-pyrene (BaP), perylene (Per), benzo-[g,h,i]-perylene (BghiP), and coronene (Cor) were examined. Negative associations of wind speed with concentrations demonstrated the effect of dilution by high wind speed. Atmospheric stability increase was associated with concentration increase. Petrochemical source proximity was included in the EC model in Houston. Area source proximity was not selected for any of the $PM_{2.5}$ constituents' regression models. When the median values of the meteorological factors were used and the proximity to sources varied, the air concentrations calculated using the models for the eleven $PM_{2.5}$ constituents outside the homes closest to influential highways were 1.5-15.8 fold higher than those outside homes furthest from the highway emission sources. When the median distance to the sources was used in the models, the concentrations of the $PM_{2.5}$ constituents varied 2 to 82 fold, as the meteorological conditions varied over the observed range. We found different relationships between the two urban areas, illustrating the unique nature of urban sources and suggesting that localized sources need to be evaluated carefully to understand their potential contributions to $PM_{2.5}$ mass and its particle constituents concentrations near residences, which influence baseline indoor air concentrations and personal exposures. The results of this study could assist in the appropriate design of monitoring networks for community-level sampling and help improve the accuracy of exposure models linking emission sources with estimated pollutant concentrations at the residential level.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.365-373
• /
• 2006

This study suggested correction of excessive mouth opening or maximum occlusal contact to analyse occlusal contact time, occlusal contact number and force through evaluation of occlusal pattern in policemen with temporomandibular disorders. The community of policemen influence on temporomandibular disorder's development and progress due to other condition of mouth opening and maximal occlusal contact. Repeated training or changes of usual life style may cause imbalance of stomatognathic system including the masticatory muscle, then develop or aggravate pain of temporomandibular joints and associated structures. This study uses T-scan II system(Tekscan Co., USA) for evaluation on occlusal pattern may influence temporomandibular disorders, and then the subjects take a sensor at 20 mm opening for maximal occlusal contact force. The policemen with temporomandibualr disorders get more long time on maximum contact timing, more short on end contact timing, and more force on end contact force than general society's. So they get closure of mouth with more short time and more force, then transfer remaining load to temporomandibular joint. There are no statistically significances between affected side and occlusal pattern of occlusal contact time and force. There are Left -right dental arch imbalances seems on Rt. dental arch if affected side is right and Lt. dental arch if affected side is left. In above results, It's worth due consideration that policemen with temporomandibular disorders get more smooth mandibualr movement and less force on maximal occlusal contact position.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.188-198
• /
• 2008

Since 2003, the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) of Korea has been conducting "The monitoring study on exposure level and biomarkers of environmental pollutants" in the Ulsan industrial complex with the goals to establish a surveillance system for residents, to evaluate the health effects associated with chronic exposure to environmental pollutants and to develop the environmental health indicators in Ulsan industrial complex. This program consists of three phases an initial or foundation phase in which the program is developed, made operational and extended to the community, followed by an evaluation and accountability assessment of the surveillance system and finally an improvement in the quality of life and the maintenance of good health for Ulsan residents. In the period 2003 to 2008, the study program developed the surveillance system which will be used for the full-length survey. All participants in this study were contacted at a presentation meeting for residents, introduced to the objectives and protocols of the survey, and asked to participate. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. The study is now underway and includes questionnaires, health examinations and the analysis/collection/banking of bio-sample such as blood and urine. To date 828 subjects have participated and already 588 subjects have been followed up. We are committed to complete health examinations and to arrange storage of biosample for all participants. During the current year, we will analyze metals (Pb in blood and Cd, inorganic As and Hg in urine) in 1,972 samples and VOCs (11 species) and PARs (18 species) in 300 samples (blood sample). Moreover, the summary of the first step and the further preparation of the second step are currently underway. In this article, we introduce the study and its protocols and the distribution and size of the study participants. In conclusion, this survey will be continuously conducted on the established cohort and will enable the identification of relationship between environmental pollutant exposures and the health status of residents in Ulsan industrial complex.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.11 no.9
• /
• pp.229-238
• /
• 2013

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major public health problem in Korea. The survival rate to discharge remains at approximately 3.5% and only 1% have good neurological function. To increase the survival rate, prehospital care should restore spontaneous circulation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors associated with return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Data used for this study were collected from KCDC Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Surveillance 2009. As for the results of decision tree analysis, it is clear that prehospital CPR, cardiac arrest witness, activity, past history(cancer/heart disease/stroke), place, bystander CPR, response time, age, etc are significant contributing factors in ROSC. Among 16 cardiac arrest types from decision tree classification, the ROSC rate of type 1 is the highest(29.6%). Also notable is the fact that bystander CPR was strongly correlated with ROSC of patents with cardiac arrest occurring in non-public places. Community resources should be concentrated on increasing bystander CPR and early prehospital emergency care.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.235-264
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between career barrier and career maturity of the adolescents who were concretely worried about their career and occupation. 672 middle school students were participated to analyze the Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression Analyses with data collected by the questionnaire. This study revealed the following results. First, the correlational analysis showed that career barrier associated negatively with career maturity. Second, the multiple regression analysis revealed that sub-elements of career barrier which the adolescents conceived, such as the shortage of self-understanding, the shortage of self-reliance, gender-role conflict and gender discrimination, and the shortage of career and occupational information were significantly effecting their career maturity. Third, as a result of multiple regression analysis to estimate the explanability of career barrier on career maturity, career barrier among various independent factors which were correlated statistically with career maturity showed most effects on it. Also, school academic achievement was confirmed as a significant factor effecting the career maturity. Above these results imply that the perception on the career barrier of the adolescent should be reduced for increasing the career maturity. For this, career education and counselling should be positively intervened and reinforced through the school curriculum and activities.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.3-20
• /
• 2014

Due to habitat damage associated with climate change and human activities, biodiversity has decreased all over the world. In order to prevent further reduction in biodiversity, the international community has endeavored to establish a cooperative system, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Until now, most biodiversity strategic planning has been led by the national government. However, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan is conservative and its strategic plan is vague. Therefore, we propose a method for managing local biological resources called the Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. In order to provide the strategic plans and detailed plans for the Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the report has examined several cases including Convention on Biological Diversity, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, and the biodiversity strategies and action plans of the Republic of Korea and several other countries. As a result, the report demonstrates the survey and protection of bio-species, the designation and monitoring of conservation region, the management of the integrated eco-network, the establishment of biodiversity organizations and capacity building, the methods to promote networking and traditional knowledge, and the strategy for development in bioindustry. Consequently, the implementation of biodiversity management strategies by local governments will play a significant role in preserving and increasing biodiversity by realizing the goals of Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.261-270
• /
• 2008

Adjusted water fluoridation has been disputed because of its various effects on human health. Previous studies have been concerned with the difference in bone mineral density (BMD) between water fluoridated (WF) and none water fluoridated (NWF) districts. The aim of this study is to examine whether water fluoridation affects BMD. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). 386 adults(174 males and 212 females) in Ansan (WF) district and 399 adults (176 males and 223 females) in Sihwa (NWF) district, participated in this study. The Ansan and Sihwa districts are similar in residential environment and living class. The relationship between serum fluoride concentration and BMD was also examined by analysis of the serum fluoride concentrations from 402 inhabitants of the Ansan district. In females, the BMD of subjects living in Ansan ($0.457{\pm}0.008$) was a little higher than that of Sihwa subjects ($0.446{\pm}0.008$), although it is not significant, after adjusting for BMI, physical activity level, educational achievement, smoking volume, menopause status, and number of births. However, the BMD of Ansan subjects ($0.532{\pm}0.020$) in their forties was statistically higher than that of Sihwa (0.498{\pm}0.019). No relationship was found in males. In residential periods, there was significant difference (Ansan $0.467{\pm}0.013$, Sihwa $0.434{\pm}0.012$, p=0.0125) in the BMD between females of two districts, particularly in the group of over 6 year long-term inhabitants. On the contrary, there was no remarkable difference in males from the two districts. Serum fluoride concentrations in females were associated with BMD, especially in the age group of forties (p=0.0457). No relationship was observed in the male group. Analysis of adult BMD over the age of 20 in a water fluoridated and a none water fluoridated district, confirms more or less a higher BMD in the water fluoridated (WF) district, especially for females. It is assumed that the difference between two districts came somewhat from the effect of water fluoridation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.94-107
• /
• 2008

This study examines the diversity of garden culture in the Joseon Dynasty focusing on genre painting. Genre painting gives us insight into the various ways of enjoying the garden. The intimate activities portrayed in the painting show us about the vivid scenes of Korean garden at that time. Among the various meanings of gardens, sensual pleasure is focused on here. The garden has always been a place of pleasure for seeing, smelling, touching, meeting people and erotic flirting. Here, the oriental aesthetic idea of Pungryu is adopted to reformulate pleasure based on the traditional way of thought. Most Korean gardens in the Joseon Dynasty were understood as the place for Pungryu. Sensuality in the Korean garden associated with a high level of spiritual pleasure. In order to look closely into garden activities, genre paintings were selected and analyzed. Several characteristics were elicited. First, the garden was understood as the medium of communication through reconciling man with nature. Mediating man with nature often calls for uplifting the sense of community within groups of people. Second, the garden was featured as the place of cultural creation. Many scholars utilized the garden as a place for poetic imagination. Therefore, the garden was the locus of intellectual discourse. Third, personal retreat was one of important functions in the Korean garden. the humble attitude toward landscape such as solitude and mediation might be understood as one way of enjoying the nature. Fourth, taste, power and social relations were embedded in garden culture. Therefore, the garden was regarded as a space of distinction. Garden making was understood as one of the high class leisure activity. It was quite natural that the garden was used as a place of showing up their taste and culture. Finally, we need to reinvigorate the rich meanings of garden in contemporary practices. In-depth analysis of garden culture through the lens of genre painting gives us quite useful information in Korean garden culture.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.40-47
• /
• 2010

Objectives：Body image is closely related to self-esteem and weight-control related behaviors. In particular, relationship between two factors would be stronger in female adolescents. False recognition on body image and weight can be a risk factor of eating disorder, depression, and suicidal ideation. This study aimed to examine the effects of body image and eating disorders on developing depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in female adolescents. Methods：Two hundred thirty nine students of a Girls' Commercial High School in Seoul were recruited. Eating Attitude Test for Korean Adolescents, Self-Esteem Scales, Impulsiveness Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory and Beck's Suicidal Ideation Scale were used to measure eating attitude and severity of psychiatric symptoms. Results：Among 239 subjects, the estimated risk group of eating disorders was 10%(n=24). They experienced more depressive symptoms than the control group. The bigger discrepancy in current and ideal body mass index was significantly related with higher depressive mood, suicidal idea, abnormal eating habits and lower self-esteem. Discrepancy between current and idea BMI was the most meaningful predictive factor about depression and suicidal thoughts by linear regression analysis. Conclusion：In spite of normal weight range of enrolled subjects, they experienced significant depressive mood, suicide thoughts and lower self-esteem associated with the discrepancy of their own subjective body image and current body mass index. Hence educational approach regarding normal body image and healthy weight control is needed for their mental health and preventing eating disorder.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.431-436
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted in the summer of 2005 in Shindong-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do to assess the quality of drinking water and to evaluate their potential pollutants. Ninety four water samples were collected from three classes of water supplies such as simple piped water, supplied own water and others (Supplied local water). Most residents used simple piped water (72.63%). 31.25% residents thought the water quality was bad and landfill was the main source of pollution that affected water quality. To correspond this perception, water quality was measured according to Drinking Water Quality Standard. The general bacteria, coliforms, and $NO_3-N$ exceeded the standard but the water qualities in these four areas were suitable for Drinking Water Quality Standard. The simple piped water showed low mean concentration of excess rate compared to supplied own piped water except general bacteria. Hardness, pH, and $NO_3-N$ showed significantly higher effects on drinking water quality. To evaluate the effect of effluent from landfill, water quality was measured according to distance and altitude. However, there was no effect of landfill effluent. To find out the effect of rainfall, we compared water quality of the year 2003 with that of 2005. The result showed significant differences in hardness and $NO_3-N$ concentration. This study confirmed that $NO_3-N$, coliforms, and general bacteria are main pollutant of water supply in rural community. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly maintain simple piped water supply, supplement sewer facilities, and educate residents about public health risk associated with drinking water in rural area.