• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.225-243
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• 1995

Benzidine Industry in Korea has started after Japan has banned its production in early 1970's, and it has been in operation in Korea for over 20 years. However, it is not known yet whether any bladder cancer has developed from benzidine exposure. This study was done to screen benzidine-exposed workers for bladder cancer, and to examine the feasibility of employing screening test at the workplace. All the workplaces that manufacture or use benzidine for more than 20 years in Korea have been covered in this study, and they include 2 benzidine manufacturing factories, 5 benzidine using factories, as well as 2 benzidine free factories as an outside control. In total, 516 workers were screened with urine stick test and urine cytology test for the evidence of hematuria and abnormal urothelial cells. Each worker was also asked about risk factors and symptoms of bladder cancer including past medical history, smoking, medication and occupational history Benzidine in the air was measured by personal and area sampling. Out of 516 screened workers, 84(16.3%) workers showed positive hematuria in urine stick test, and 7(1.4%) workers showed degenerative cells in urine cytology tests. Those workers with abnormal urine test results who have been exposed to benzidine fo more than 10 years were further screened, and, in total, 23 workers were examined with intra-venous pyelography and cystoscopy. None of those screened had any evidence of bladder cancer When workers with only past hematuria history were included in the positive hematuria group, 96(18.5%) had positive hematuria. On the multiple logistic regression analysis, positive hematuria was significantly associated with benzidine exposure, history of other occupations with elevated bladder cancer risk, pyuria and glycosuria. The association got stronger as direct benzidine exposure was accounted through individual task analysis, and as exposure duration was accounted with tenure analysis. For those with benzidine exposure with more than 10 years of tenure, the odds of having positive hematuria was elevated 2.14(95%C.I is 1.08 to 4.25) times more than for those without exposure. Even though bladder cancer was not detected for several limitations including short observation period, majority of studied workers with short latency, healthy worker effect, and low sensitivity of single screening test in a cross-sectional study, the study results suggest that hematuria screening is a feasible and very useful test for bladder cancer screening among benzidine exposed workers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.348-348
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• 2011

Carbon nanotube (CNT) field effect transistors and sensors use CNT as a current channel, of which the resistance varies with the gate voltage or upon molecule adsorption. Since the performance of CNT devices depends very much on the CNT/metal contact resistance, the CNT/electrode contact must be stable and the contact resistance must be small. Depending on the geometry of CNT/electrode contact, it can be categorized into the end-contact, embedded-contact (top-contact), and side-contact (bottom-contact). Because of difficulties in the sample preparation, the end-contact CNT device is seldom practiced. The embedded-contact in which CNT is embedded inside the electrode is desirable due to its rigidness and the low contact resistance. Fabrication of this structure is complicated, however, because each CNT has to be located under a high-resolution microscope and then the electrode is patterned by electron beam lithography. The side-contact is done by depositing CNT electrophoretically or by precipitating on the patterned electrode. Although this contact is fragile and the contact resistance is relatively high, the side-contact by far has been widely practiced because of its simple fabrication process. Here we introduce a simple method to embed CNT inside the electrode while taking advantage of the bottom-contact process. The idea is to utilize a eutectic material as an electrode, which melts at low temperature so that CNT is not damaged while annealing to melt the electrode to embed CNT. The lowering of CNT/Au contact resistance upon annealing at mild temperature has been reported, but the electrode in these studies did not melt and CNT laid on the surface of electrode even after annealing. In our experiment, we used a eutectic Au/Al film that melts at 250$^{\circ}C$. After depositing CNT on the electrode made of an Au/Al thin film, we annealed the sample at 250$^{\circ}C$ in air to induce eutectic melting. As a result, Au-Al alloy grains formed, under which the CNT was embedded to produce a rigid and low resistance contact. The embedded CNT contact was as strong as to tolerate the ultrasonic agitation for 90 s and the current-voltage measurement indicated that the contact resistance was lowered by a factor of 4. By performing standard fabrication process on this CNT-deposited substrate to add another pair of electrodes bridged by CNT in perpendicular direction, we could fabricate a CNT cross junction. Finally, we could conclude that the eutectic alloy electrode is valid for CNT sensors by examine the detection of Au ion which is spontaneously reduced to CNT surface. The device sustatined strong washing process and maintained its detection ability.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.5-31
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• 2000

The summit meeting of the South North Korean leaders was a turning point in the relationships between the two countries. It was followed by the Red-Cross Meeting, Minister-Level Meeting, economic agreements, which have increased the relationship more colorful in both quantities and qualities. However, the half-century period for separation was too long to overcome all the problems by only one event. The two countries have quite different social systems; one politically strong person is governing the North, while many interest groups are involved in political decision making processes in the South. In short, it would take a long time to settle down all the problems residing between the two countries. A system dynamics model is developed to describe the long term dynamics of the relations between the South and North Koreas. As a first attempt, the model focuses only on the diplomatic meeting issues between the South and North. The model aggregates diplomatic issues into 5 categories; economic issues, security issues, infrastructure, cultural issues, and past problems. It assumes that there would not be any dramatic changes between the two countries. It is a conceptual model composed of around 200 variables, and should not be used as a forecast tool. However, it captures most of the logics discussed in the papers and conferences concerning the South and North Korea relations. Many sensitivity studies and Monte Carlo simulations have shown that the simulation results matches with mental models of experts; that is the model can be used as a learning tool or as a secondary opinion until the data required by the model is collected. In order to analyze the current situation, five scenarios are simulated and analyzed; the functional approach, the conditional approach, the balanced approach, the circumstantial approach, and the strategic approach. The functional approach represents that the South makes efforts in the area where the possibility of agreement is high for the next 10 years. The conditional approach is a scenario where the South impose all difficult issues as conditions for resolving other diplomatic issues. The balanced approach is resolving the five issues with the same priorities, while the circumstantial approach is resolving issues which seem to be resolved easily. Finally, another optimum approach has been seek using the system dynamics model developed. The optimum strategy (it is named as the strategic approach) was strikingly different from other four approaches. The optimum strategy is so complicated that no one could find it with mental model(or by just insights). Considering that the system dynamic model used to find the optimum is a simplifind (maybe over simplified) version of the reality, it is concluded that a well designed system dynamics model would be of great help to resolving the complicated diplomatic problems in any kind.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (indirect ELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody (MAb) that is specific to mackerel thermal stable-soluble protein (TSSP), that can be used for the rapid detection of mackerel in processed marine foods. Among the four MAbs (3A5-1, 2, 9, and 12) developed in previous studies, the 3A5-2 MAb that showed high specificity and sensitivity were selected and used to develop the indirect ELISA method. The detection range of the indirect ELISA was 0.02%-0.001% and the detection limit of 0.001% was shown. No cross-reaction to other marine products and food ingredients was observed by the indirect ELISA. Processed marine foods containing mackerel with ${\geq}0.3$ O.D. value at 405 nm were estimated as positive samples by the indirect ELISA. Therefore, the indirect ELISA can be used as a rapid and sensitive method to identify mackerel authenticity and adulteration in processed marine foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.947-952
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• 2011

A number of epidemiological studies have identified human papillomavirus (HPV) types 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 27, 57, and 65 in cutaneous common warts. However, identification of the HPV subtype by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is time consuming with its multi-step laboratory process. In this study, we aim to develop a specific one-step multiplex polymerase chain reaction method which capably identifies six different HPV genotypes related to common warts. By HPV DNA sequence analysis, 6 pairs of specific primers were designed from the intergenic regions of genes L1 to E6, and from genes E2 to L2. DNA sequence analysis with the L1 gene sequence of the sample was performed to measure the specificity of multiplex PCR. HPV-1, -2, -3, -4, -27, and -57 were identified without cross amplification in 109 out of 129 samples. The sensitivity and specificity of our set of primers in detecting HPV were 85% and 99.5%, respectively. For the 20 samples where HPV type was not identifiable by our batch of primer sets, multiplex PCR with an additional set of HPV primers was done, where 7 were found positive for HPV-7 or -65. Our results demonstrate that the newly designed multiplex PCR can rapidly detect the specific HPV subtype involved in common warts with high accuracy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.746-753
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• 2017

In order to rapidly identify four drums species, Larimichthys polyactis, L. crocea, Atrobucca nibe, and Pseudotolithus elongates, a highly efficient and quick method has been developed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with species-specific primers. Around 1.4 kbp of the mitochondrial COI gene sequences from the four drums species were aligned, and species-specific forward primers were designed, based on the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The optimal conditions for PCR amplification were selected through cross-reactivity, using a gradient PCR method. The PCR results demonstrated species-specific amplification for each species at annealing temperatures between 50 and $62^{\circ}C$. Multiplex species-specific PCR (MSS-PCR) amplification reactions with four pairs of primers were performed for sixteen specimens of each species. MSS-PCR lead to a species-specific amplification of a 1,540 bp fragment in L. polyactis, 1,013 bp in A. nibe, 474 bp in L. crocea, and 182 bp in P. elongates, respectively. The four different sizes of each PCR product can be quickly and easily detected by single gel electrophoresis. The sensitivity of the MSS-PCR of the DNA was up to $0.1ng/{\mu}l$ as a starting concentration for the four different species tested. These results suggest that MSS-PCR, with species-specific primers based on SNP, can be a powerful tool in the rapid identification of the four drums species, L. polyactis, L. crocea, A. nibe, and P. elongates.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.751-760
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• 1997

Resin-modified glass ionomers were introduced in 1988 to overcome the problems of moisture sensitivity and low early mechanical strengths of the conventional glass ionomers, and to maintain their dinical advantages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bi-axial fracture strength of four resinmodified glass-ionomers(Fuji II LC, Vitremer, Dyract, VariGlass), one resin composite material(Z-100), and one conventional glass-ionomer(Fuji II). Three specimens of each material and shade combination were made according to the manufacturers' instructions. Materials were condensed into metal mold with a diameter of 10mm and a thickness of 2.0mm and pressed between two glass plates. Resin-modified glass ionomers were polymerized using a Visilux II light curing unit by irradiating for 60 seconds from both sides, and conventional glass ionomer was cured chemically. After specimens were removed from the molds, surfaces were polished sequentially on wet sandpapers up to No. 600 silicone carbide paper. The specimens were thermocycled for 2,000 cycles between $5^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$ distilled water. After thermocycling, bi-axial fracture strengths were measured using a compressive-tensile tester(Zwick 1456 Z020, Germany) with the cross head speed of 0.5mm/minute. The results were as follows: 1. Two factors of the kind and color of materials had a main effect on bi-axial fracture strength (p<0.01), and bi-axial fracture strength was influenced significantly by the kinds of materials (p<0.01). But there was no significant interaction between two variables of the kind and color of materials (p>0.05). 2. Comparing the mechanical properties of the materials, the elastic modulus of Z100 was higher than any other material, and there was no difference in the displacement at fracture among materials. The bi-axial fracture strength of Z100 was significantly higher than any other material, and that of resin-modified glass ionomers was significantly higher than that of conventional glass ionomer (p<0.05). 3. In the same material group, the color of material had little influence on the mechanical properties.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.799-807
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• 2014

Meat source fraud and adulteration scandals have led to consumer demands for accurate meat identification methods. Nucleotide amplification assays have been proposed as an alternative method to protein-based assays for meat identification. In this study, we designed Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays targeting species-specific mitochondrial DNA to identify and discriminate eight meat species; cattle, pig, horse, goat, sheep, chicken, duck, and turkey. The LAMP primer sets were designed and the target genes were discriminated according to their unique annealing temperature generated by annealing curve analysis. Their unique annealing temperatures were found to be $85.56{\pm}0.07^{\circ}C$ for cattle, $84.96{\pm}0.08^{\circ}C$ for pig, and $85.99{\pm}0.05^{\circ}C$ for horse in the BSE-LAMP set (Bos taurus, Sus scrofa domesticus and Equus caballus); $84.91{\pm}0.11^{\circ}C$ for goat and $83.90{\pm}0.11^{\circ}C$ for sheep in the CO-LAMP set (Capra hircus and Ovis aries); and $86.31{\pm}0.23^{\circ}C$ for chicken, $88.66{\pm}0.12^{\circ}C$ for duck, and $84.49{\pm}0.08^{\circ}C$ for turkey in the GAM-LAMP set (Gallus gallus, Anas platyrhynchos and Meleagris gallopavo). No cross-reactivity was observed in each set. The limits of detection (LODs) of the LAMP assays in raw and cooked meat were determined from $10pg/{\mu}L$ to $100fg/{\mu}L$ levels, and LODs in raw and cooked meat admixtures were determined from 0.01% to 0.0001% levels. The assays were performed within 30 min and showed greater sensitivity than that of the PCR assays. These novel LAMP assays provide a simple, rapid, accurate, and sensitive technology for discrimination of eight meat species.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the resistance of Botrytis cinerea to azoxystrobin, which belongs to strobilurin fungicides. The sensitivity of B. cinerea isolates, which were collected from infected pepper, strawberry, cucumber and tomato by a single spore isolation, to the fungicide was tested through a agar dilution method on PDA amended with fungicides and $100{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). All isolates of B. cinerea tested in this study were classified as a sensitive and a resistant group by $1.0{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of $EC_{50}$ value to azoxystrobin. While the sensitive isolates accounted for 46.5% of B. cinerea population, the resistant ones did for 53.5%. According to the regions isolating B. cinerea, the highest isolation frequency was showed as 81.1% in Chungnam among the all. Among 4 host plants as pepper, strawberry, cucumber and tomato, the highest isolation frequency was obtained in strawberry, while the lowest was done in pepper. The isolate resistant to azoxystrobin showed the cross resistance to other fungicides included into strobilurins as kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin. In spite of an excellent efficacy of strobilurins, it should be taken care to use them in the field, because of the high risk in the fields.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 1997

The objective of this study was to investigate how resistant poplar hybrid makes compensation to ozone stress. Growth, net assimilation rate and initial Rubisco activity were investigated. This study elucidates the physiological mechanisms associated with ozone sensitivity and resistance in 3 selected $F_2$ hybrids, a family originating from a cross between Populus trichocarpa${\times}$P. deltoides. Open-top chambers were used. Ozone concentrations varied from 90 to 115 ppb for 126 days, 6 to 9 hours in a day. This study tested the hypothesis that resistant poplar hybrid maintains the biomass production to ozone exposure via increased net assimilation rate and Rubisco activity. Growth, biomass, net assimilation rate and initial Rubisco activity were generally reduced by ozone treatment. In the tree parts, root under ozone stress was the most sensitive part. Reduced allocation of photosynthates to root growth might be due to increased respiratory demands for maintenance and repair of aboveground tissue damaged by ozone stress. Maintenance or increases remaining leaves in photosynthetic rates and Rubisco activity in resistant clone in response to ozone treatment were the results of biological compensation to ozone stress.