• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.341-352
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• 2017

Along with Cs-137 (half-life: 30.17 years), Sr-90 (half-life: 28.8 years) is one of the most important environmental monitoring radioactive elements. Rapid and easy monitoring method for Sr-90 using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has been studied. Strontium belongs to a bivalent alkaline earth metal such as calcium and has similar electron arrangement and size. Due to these similar chemical properties, it can easily enter into the human body through the food chain via water, soil, and crops when leaked into the environment. In addition, it is immersed into the bone at the case of human influx and causes the toxicity for a long time (biological half-life: about 50 years). It is a very reductive and related with the specific reaction that makes wet analysis difficult. In particular, radioactive strontium should be monitored by nuclear power plants but it is very difficult to be analysed from high-cost problems as well as low accuracy of analysis due to complicated analysis procedures, expensive analysis equipment, and a pretreatment process of using massive chemicals. Therefore, we introduce the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis method that analyzes the elements in the sample using the inherent spectrum by generating plasma on the sample using pulse energy, and it can be analyzed in a few seconds without preprocessing. A variety of analytical plates for samples were developed to improve the analytical sensitivity by optimizing the laser, wavelength, and time resolution. This can be effectively applied to real-time monitoring of radioactive wastewater discharged from a nuclear power plant, and furthermore, it can be applied as an emergency monitoring means such as possible future accidents at a nuclear power plants.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.3-54
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• 2013

Nowadays, major advanced countries in aviation technology are putting their effort to develop commercial and civil Unmanned Aircraft System(UAS) due to its highly promising market demand in the future. The market scale of commercial and civil UAS is expected to increase up to approximately 8.8 billon U.S. dollars by the year 2020. The usage of commercial and civil UAS covers various areas such as remote sensing, relaying communications, pollution monitoring, fire detection, aerial reconnaissance and photography, coastline monitoring, traffic monitoring and control, disaster control, search and rescue, etc. With the introduction of UAS, changes need to be made on current Air Traffic Management Systems which are focused mainly manned aircrafts to support the operation of UAS. Accordingly, the legislation for the UAS operation should be followed. Currently, ICAO's Unmanned Aircraft System Study Group(UASSG) is leading the standardization process of legislation for UAS operation internationally. However, some advanced countries such as United States, United Kingdom, Australia have adopted its own legislation. Among these countries, United States is most forth going with President Obama signing a bill to integrate UAS into U.S. national airspace by 2015. In case of Korea, legislation for the unmanned aircraft system is just in the beginning stage. There are no regulations regarding the operation of unmanned aircraft in Korea's domestic aviation law except some clauses regarding definition and permission of the unmanned aircraft flight. However, the unmanned aircrafts are currently being used in military and under development for commercial use. In addition, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has a ambitious plan to develop commercial and civil UAS as Korea's most competitive area in aircraft production and export. Thus, Korea is in need of the legislation for the UAS operation domestically. In this regards, I personally think that Korea's domestic legislation for UAS operation will be enacted focusing on following 12 areas : (1)use of airspace, (2)licenses of personnel, (3)certification of airworthiness, (4)definition, (5)classification, (6)equipments and documents, (7)communication, (8)rules of air, (9)training, (10)security, (11)insurance, (12)others. Im parallel with enacting domestic legislation, korea should contribute to the development of international standards for UAS operation by actively participating ICAO's UASSG.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2008

Eye localization means localization of the center of the pupils, and is necessary for face recognition and related applications. Most of eye localization methods reported so far still need to be improved about robustness as well as precision for successful applications. In this paper, we propose a robust eye localization method using multi-scale Gabor feature vectors without big computational burden. The eye localization method using Gabor feature vectors is already employed in fuck as EBGM, but the method employed in EBGM is known not to be robust with respect to initial values, illumination, and pose, and may need extensive search range for achieving the required performance, which may cause big computational burden. The proposed method utilizes multi-scale approach. The proposed method first tries to localize eyes in the lower resolution face image by utilizing Gabor Jet similarity between Gabor feature vector at an estimated initial eye coordinates and the Gabor feature vectors in the eye model of the corresponding scale. Then the method localizes eyes in the next scale resolution face image in the same way but with initial eye points estimated from the eye coordinates localized in the lower resolution images. After repeating this process in the same way recursively, the proposed method funally localizes eyes in the original resolution face image. Also, the proposed method provides an effective illumination normalization to make the proposed multi-scale approach more robust to illumination, and additionally applies the illumination normalization technique in the preprocessing stage of the multi-scale approach so that the proposed method enhances the eye detection success rate. Experiment results verify that the proposed eye localization method improves the precision rate without causing big computational overhead compared to other eye localization methods reported in the previous researches and is robust to the variation of post: and illumination.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2005

Samples of water, soil, and sediment were taken from 10 streams near Andong, Korea in May 2004. To assess the degree of environmental pollution of each stream, chemical pollutants such as total notrogen (T-N), total phosphorus (T-P), chemical oxygen demand (COD), heavy metals, organophosphorus pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, and dioxin-like PCB congeners were analyzed by standard process tests or U.S. EPA methods. In addition, biomarkers originated from insect immune systems of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, were used to analysis of the environmental samples. Except Waya-chun stream showing T-N content of 9.12 mg/L, most streams were contaminated with relatively low levels of overall pollutants in terms of T-N, T-P, and COD, compared to their acceptable environmental levels designated by the Ministry of Environment. Contents of Pb and Cd in samples of each stream were much lower than environmentally permissible levels. However, several times higherconcentrations of Pb and Cd were found in locations at Mi-chun, Kilan-chun, and Hyunha-chun streams, in comparison with other streams. Diazinon, parathion, and phenthoate compounds among organophosphorus pesticides were detected as concentrations of 0.19, 0.40, and $1.13\;{\mu}g/g$, respectively, from soil sample collected in the vicinity of Mi-chun stream. On the other hand, 16 organochlorine pesticides and 12 dioxin-like PCB congeners, known as endocrine disrupting chemicals, selected in this study were not found above the limit of detection. Biomarker analyses using insect immune responses indicated that Waya-chun stream was suspected as exposure to environmental pollutants. Limitation and compensation of both environmental analysis techniques are discussed.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.852-858
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• 2016

To safeguard the accommodation spaces on cargo ships from fire, structural fire protection provisions introduced by SOLAS and these measures retard the propagation of flames and smoke. SOLAS also specifies provisions for fire fighting drills. These provisions are a combination of regulations regarding structure and equipment and those dealing with the human element for the fire protection and effective responses in the event of fire. Requirements related to the human element play a supporting role to the requirements for structure and equipment because the present accommodation structure and equipment are insufficient for extinguishing a fire, therefore, fire-extinguishing activity performed by crew members is essential. To reduce human error and ensure effective fire fighting, it is necessary to install a fire-fighting system and improve the fire fighting process. The fundamental concept of fire fighting exercises is to commence fire fighting before the fire grows too big to extinguish. It is essential to relocate the storage place of fire fighting equipment to expedite the fire-fighting exercise. This study was carried out to reduce human risk for this purpose, the fire control station was relocated to a site that could be accessed from the open deck. Further, two sets of a fire fighter's outfit were stored at the same site. This relocation eliminated the risk of the crew reentering to operate the fire fighting system in the fire control station and allowed the crew to pick up the fire fighters' outfits quickly in the event of a fire. In addition, it was proposed that the IIC method be made mandatory. This method is combination of automatic fire detection system and sprinkler system which can reduce the risk of the fire fighting exercises for the crew and to suppress fire in the initial stage. This study was carried out to provide a foundation to the possible amendment of the relevant SOLAS regulations and national legislation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2006

Automated analysis software was developed to measure the magnitude of the intrafractional and interfractional errors during breast radiation treatments. Error analysis results are important for determining suitable planning target volumes (PTV) prior to Implementing breast-conserving 3-D conformal radiation treatment (CRT). The electrical portal imaging device (EPID) used for this study was a Portal Vision LC250 liquid-filled ionization detector (fast frame-averaging mode, 1.4 frames per second, 256X256 pixels). Twelve patients were imaged for a minimum of 7 treatment days. During each treatment day, an average of 8 to 9 images per field were acquired (dose rate of 400 MU/minute). We developed automated image analysis software to quantitatively analyze 2,931 images (encompassing 720 measurements). Standard deviations ($\sigma$) of intrafractional (breathing motion) and intefractional (setup uncertainty) errors were calculated. The PTV margin to include the clinical target volume (CTV) with 95% confidence level was calculated as $2\;(1.96\;{\sigma})$. To compensate for intra-fractional error (mainly due to breathing motion) the required PTV margin ranged from 2 mm to 4 mm. However, PTV margins compensating for intefractional error ranged from 7 mm to 31 mm. The total average error observed for 12 patients was 17 mm. The intefractional setup error ranged from 2 to 15 times larger than intrafractional errors associated with breathing motion. Prior to 3-D conformal radiation treatment or IMRT breast treatment, the magnitude of setup errors must be measured and properly incorporated into the PTV. To reduce large PTVs for breast IMRT or 3-D CRT, an image-guided system would be extremely valuable, if not required. EPID systems should incorporate automated analysis software as described in this report to process and take advantage of the large numbers of EPID images available for error analysis which will help Individual clinics arrive at an appropriate PTV for their practice. Such systems can also provide valuable patient monitoring information with minimal effort.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1610-1616
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• 2016

This study aimed to establish an optimal extraction process and high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) analytical method for determination of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA) as a part of materials standardization for the development of a xanthine oxidase inhibitor as a health functional food. The quantitative determination method of 3,5-DCQA as a marker compound was optimized by HPLC analysis using a Luna RP-18 column, and the correlation coefficient for the calibration curve showed good linearity of more than 0.9999 using a gradient eluent of water (1% acetic acid) and methanol as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and a detection wavelength of 320 nm. The HPLC-UV method was applied successfully to quantification of the marker compound (3,5-DCQA) in Aster glehni extracts after validation of the method with linearity, accuracy, and precision. Ethanolic extracts of A. glehni (AGEs) were evaluated by reflux extraction at 70 and $80^{\circ}C$ with 30, 50, 70, and 80% ethanol for 3, 4, 5, and 6 h, respectively. Among AGEs, 70% AGE at $70^{\circ}C$ showed the highest content of 3,5-DCQA of $52.59{\pm}3.45mg/100g$ A. glehni. Furthermore, AGEs were analyzed for their inhibitory activities on uric acid production by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. The 70% AGE at $70^{\circ}C$ showed the most potent inhibitory activity with $IC_{50}$ values of $77.01{\pm}3.13{\sim}89.96{\pm}3.08{\mu}g/mL$. The results suggest that standardization of 3,5-DCQA in AGEs using HPLC-UV analysis would be an acceptable method for the development of health functional foods.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2015

This study was done in order to investigate the naturally occurring levels of nitrate and nitrite in livestock products. Total samples of 458 consisting of meats (n = 223), processed meat products (n = 51), raw milks (n = 30), processed milk products (n = 142), eggs (n = 5) and processed egg products (n = 7) were analyzed for contents of nitrate and nitrite by ion chromatography (IC). That methods showed good results in terms of linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), recovery, reproducibility and uncertainty. Nitrate and nitrite were detected in 167 and 40 samples, respectively. The nitrate levels (mg/kg) were not detected (ND)~40.23 for modified milks, ND~37.97 for sauce meats, ND~32.40 for process cheeses, ND~31.50 for processed egg products, ND~27.73 for dry milks, ND~24.76 for sausages, ND~22.45 for bacons, ND~21.55 for natural cheeses, ND~20.82 for hams and fermented milks, ND~13.57 for eggs, ND~12.77 for butters, ND~9.31 for milks and ND~3.88 for meats while the nitrite levels (mg/kg) were ND~17.35 for processed egg products and ND~1.92 for meats. In conclusion, the result of this study of nitrate and nitrite in livestock products could be used as one of scientific base datum to determine whether they are naturally occurring or not, including ingredients and their percentage, manufacturing processes, other papers relating to naturally occurring levels of them, and so on.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.259-266
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• 2021

Cannabis (Marijuana) is one of the most widely used drugs in the world, and its distribution has been controlled in South Korea since 1976. Identification of 11-nor-Δ⁹-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) in urine can provide important proof of cannabis use, and it is considered scientific evidence in the forensic field. In this study, we describe a simultaneous quantitative method for identifying THCCOOH and THCCOOH-glucuronide in urine, using simple liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). THCCOOH-D₃ and THCCOOH-glucuronide-D₃ were used as internal standards. Validation results of the matrix effect, as well as recovery, linearity, precision, accuracy, process efficiency, and stability were all satisfactory. No carryover, endogenous or exogenous interferences were observed. The limit of detection (LOD) of THCCOOH and THCCOOH-glucuronide were 0.3 and 0.2 ng/mL, respectively. The developed method was applied to 28 authentic human urine samples that tested positive in immunoassay screening and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) tests. The ranges of concentrations of THCCOOH and THCCOOH-glucuronide in the samples were less than LOQ~266.90 ng/mL and 6.43~2133.03 ng/mL, respectively. The concentrations of THCCOOH-glucuronide were higher than those of THCCOOH in all samples. This method can be effectively and successfully applied for the confirmation of cannabinoid use in human urine samples in the forensic field.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.896-910
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• 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible and potentially fatal virus. So far, most comprehensive analyses encompassing clinical and transcriptional manifestation have concentrated on the lungs. Here, we confirmed evident signs of viral infection in the lungs and spleen of SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice, which replicate the phenotype and infection symptoms in hospitalized humans. Seven days post viral detection in organs, infected mice showed decreased vital signs, leading to death. Bronchopneumonia due to infiltration of leukocytes in the lungs and reduction in the spleen lymphocyte region were observed. Transcriptome profiling implicated the meticulous regulation of distress and recovery from cytokine-mediated immunity by distinct immune cell types in a time-dependent manner. In lungs, the chemokine-driven response to viral invasion was highly elevated at 2 days post infection (dpi). In late infection, diseased lungs, post the innate immune process, showed recovery signs. The spleen established an even more immediate line of defense than the lungs, and the cytokine expression profile dropped at 7 dpi. At 5 dpi, spleen samples diverged into two distinct groups with different transcriptome profile and pathophysiology. Inhibition of consecutive host cell viral entry and massive immunoglobulin production and proteolysis inhibition seemed that one group endeavored to survive, while the other group struggled with developmental regeneration against consistent viral intrusion through the replication cycle. Our results may contribute to improved understanding of the longitudinal response to viral infection and development of potential therapeutics for hospitalized patients affected by SARS-CoV-2.