• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2020

Objectives : Firefighters are always under stress due to their job environment, and they are likely to become psychologically vulnerable due to continuous exposure to traumatic events, which is a stressful situation that requires emergency standby at all times. The aims of this study were to examine mental health factors for each division of firefighters and to see the relationship between sleep and somatization symptoms among them. Methods : General characteristics and related inspections were conducted through self-reporting questionnaires for 1,264 firefighters working at Chungbuk fire stations. Several mental health factors were investigated by the Insomnia Severity Index, Severity of somatic symptoms, Impact of Event Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Resilience Scale, Alcohol Dependent Screening Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Depression Scale and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results : Among the mental health variables, the relationship between insomnia and somatization varies significantly depending on types of work. It was reported that the first aid team was significantly higher than the fire suppression and rescue team. Post-traumatic stress, depression and drinking also differ significantly depending on types of work. The first aid team reported more posttraumatic stress than the fire suppression team and more depressed mood than the rescue team. The administration part had more alcohol consumption than the fire suppression or first aid team. Resilience was significantly higher in the rescue team than the first aid team. No significant differences between the types of work about stress and suicide risks. Insomnia, stress, and post-traumatic stress were significant predictors of somatization among firefighters. Above all, insomnia was significant mental health variable affecting somatization. Conclusions : Various mental health factors were different according to the types of work in firefighters. The First aid team was more vulnerable to mental health variables such as insomnia and somatization than other divisions. Insomnia is the most important cause of somatization in firefighters, so it is recommended that they be treated for insomnia and to prepare institutional policies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.361-370
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• 2017

In the Brain MRI, RF Pulse is irradiated on the human body in order to acquire an image. At this time, a considerable part of the irradiated RF Pulse energy is absorbed as it is in our body. This will raise the temperature of the human body, but depending on the extent of exposure, it will affect the human body. The change of the SAR and the temperature of the head according to the change of the magnetic field strength is examined. And to investigate the difference in results depending on the use of dental implant. In the human head model, 64 MHz RF Pulse frequency generated from 1.5 T, 128 MHz RF Pulse frequency generated from 3.0 T, and 298 MHz RF Pulse frequency generated from 7.0 T send a frequency and experiment was performed using dental implant using the XFDTD program, we measured the SAR and body temperature changes around the head. The SAR value showed up to about 5800 times the difference at the RF Pulse frequency of 256 MHz, when with dental implant than without dental implant and as the frequency increased, the use of the dental implant increased difference in the SAR value. The change of the temperature of the head showed a temperature rise nearly 2 to 4 times when with dental implant than without dental implant. As the RF Pulse frequency increase, the SAR value increase, but the change of the temperature of the head decrease. Because of as the frequency increase, wavelength is smaller and the more the amount absorbed by the surface of the human. Physiological and biochemical studies of the human body ar necessary through studies of the presence of dental implant and the cause of reaction caused by change in the RF Pulse frequency.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of image-guided radiotherapy using ultrasonography which is non-invasive, without radiation exposure for prostate cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the setup variation of 1,105 images for 26 prostate cancer patients and the mean, standard deviation and 3D-error in AP, RL and SI directions. Setup variations were classified 0-1 mm, 1-3 mm, 3-5 mm, 5 mm and more. Results: The mean and standard deviation of setup variation in AP, RL and SI directions was $1.87{\pm}1.36mm$, $1.73{\pm}1.22mm$ and $2.01{\pm}1.40mm$. The 3D-error in AP, RL and SI directions was $3.63{\pm}1.63mm$. The frequency of setup variation in AP direction was 29 % in the range from 0 mm to 1 mm, 50.2 % in the range from 1 mm to 3 mm, 19.6 % in the range from 3 mm to 5 mm and 1.3 % in the range of 5 mm or more. In RL direction, the frequency was 31.3 % in the range from 0 mm to 1 mm, 52.5 % in the range from 1 mm to 3 mm, 15.8 % in the range from 3 mm to 5 mm and 0.5 % in the range of 5 mm or more. SI direction, the frequency of errors in the range from 0 mm to 1 mm was 26.3 %, 50.2 % in the range from 1 mm to 3 mm, 22.4 % in the range from 3 mm to 5 mm, and 1.1 % in the range of 5 mm or more. Conclusion: The setup error was highest in the SI direction of $2.01{\pm}1.40mm$. The frequency in each direction was the highest in more than 50 % in the range from 1 mm to 3 mm. $Clarity^{TM}$ Auto scan is possible to monitoring the motion of the prostate during the treatment and to repositioning the patient. In conclusion real-time image-guided radiotherapy using ultrasonography will be increase the reproducibility of radiation therapy.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Recently, there has been rapid development in the field of flexible electronic devices, such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic solar cells and flexible sensors. Encapsulation process is added to protect the flexible electronic devices from exposure to oxygen and moisture in the air. Using numerical simulation, we investigated the effects of the encapsulation layer on mechanical stability of the silicon chip, especially the fracture performance of center crack in multi-layer package for various loading condition. The multi-layer package is categorized in two type - a wide chip model in which the chip has a large width and encapsulation layer covers only the chip, and a narrow chip model in which the chip covers both the substrate and the chip with smaller width than the substrate. In the wide chip model where the external load acts directly on the chip, the encapsulation layer with high stiffness enhanced the crack resistance of the film chip as the thickness of the encapsulation layer increased regardless of loading conditions. In contrast, the encapsulation layer with high stiffness reduced the crack resistance of the film chip in the narrow chip model for the case of external tensile strain loading. This is because the external load is transferred to the chip through the encapsulation layer and the small load acts on the chip for the weak encapsulation layer in the narrow chip model. When the bending moment acts on the narrow model, thin encapsulation layer and thick encapsulation layer show the opposite results since the neutral axis is moving toward the chip with a crack and load acting on chip decreases consequently as the thickness of encapsulation layer increases. The present study is expected to provide practical design guidance to enhance the durability and fracture performance of the silicon chip in the multilayer package with encapsulation layer.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2017

Acute and chronic toxicities of methyl ethyl ketone and methanol were investigated on Paronychiurus kimi (Collembola), for evaluating the potential effects of accidental exposures of these chemical substances on the terrestrial environments. This study was undertaken to establish a toxicity database for these chemical substances, which was required for the preparation of the response compensation and liability act for agricultural production and environmental damage. The 7-d acute toxicity and 28-d chronic toxicity were conducted using the OECD artificial soil spiked with varying, serially diluted concentrations of methyl ethyl ketone and methanol. Mortality was recorded after 7-d and 28-d of exposures, and the number of juveniles were determined after 28-d of exposure in the chronic toxicity test. In both assessments, methanol was more toxic than methyl ethyl ketone in terms of mortality ($LC_{50}$) and reproduction ($EC_{50}$). The 7-d $LC_{50}$ of methyl ethyl ketone and methanol were 762 and $2378mg\;kg^{-1}$ soil dry wt., respectively, and the 28-d $LC_{50}s$ were 6063 and $1857mg\;kg^{-1}$ soil dry wt., respectively. The 28-d $EC_{50}$ of methyl ethyl ketone and methanol were 265 and $602mg\;kg^{-1}$ soil dry wt., respectively. Comparison of results obtained in this study with literature data revealed that P. kimi was more sensitive to methanol than other soil invertebrates. However, given the high volatility of the chemicals tested in this study, further studies are necessary to improve the current test guideline, or to develop new test guidelines for an accurate assessment of chemicals that require toxicity databases for chemical accidents.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2015

The Maillard reaction is a non-enzymatic reaction between amino and carbonyl groups. During milk processing, lactose reacts with milk protein through this reaction. Infant formulas (IFs) are milk-based products processed with heat-treatments, including spray-drying and sterilization. Because IFs contain higher Maillard reaction products (MRPs) than breast milk, formula-fed infants are subject to higher MRP exposure than breast milk-fed ones. In this study, we investigated the optimization of conditions for minimal MRP formation with the addition of $\small{L}$-carnitine ($\small{L}$-car), pyridoxine hydrochloride (PH), and $\small{DL}$-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate (${\alpha}$-T) in an IF model system. MRP formation was monitored by response surface methodology using fluorescence intensity (FI) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. The optimal condition for minimizing the formation of MRPs was with $2.3{\mu}M$ $\small{L}$-car, $15.8{\mu}M$ PH, and $20.6{\mu}M$ ${\alpha}$-T. Under this condition, the predicted values were 77.4% FI and 248.7 ppb HMF.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2015

Chickens are exposed to the external and internal stressors such as low and high temperature, high stocking density, feed restriction and disease. There have been a few studies on gene expressions through the investigation of chickens under direct exposure to the stress of high stocking density. The objective of the present study was to determine the expressions of genes associated with stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress, lipid and glucose metabolism in two strains of chickens, Korean Native Chicken (KNC) and White Leghorn (WL), raised in high stocking density. A total of 164 chickens aged 40 weeks were randomly allotted to a $540cm^2/bird$ stocking density (control), whereas the chickens in a high density group were assigned in a $311cm^2/bird$ stocking density with feeding ad libitum for 10 weeks. Total RNA was extracted from the live for qRT-PCR. The expression levels of hsp70 and $hsp90{\alpha}$ were higher in WL subjected to stress with high stocking density compared with those genes in control (P<0.05), while the expressions of genes were not affected in KNC. ER stress marker gene XBP1 was also highly expressed in WL with stress (P<0.05), but the stress of high stocking density did not influence to ER stress marker genes in KNC. Lipid metabolism associated genes including FABP4, FATP1 and ACSL1 were highly expressed in WL compared with KNC when subjected to high stocking density stress (P<0.05). The expression of glucose transport gene GLUT2 and GLUT8 were increased in chickens exposured to the stress of high stocking density (P<0.05). The data indicate that WL is more sensitive to the stress of high stocking density compared with KNC and the stress may influence the modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism in the liver of chickens.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.127-141
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• 2017

Advances in Internet technologies and the proliferation of mobile devices enabled consumers to approach a wide range of goods and services, while causing an adverse effect that they have hard time reaching their congenial items even if they devote much time to searching for them. Accordingly, businesses are using the recommender systems to provide tools for consumers to find the desired items more easily. Association Rule Mining (ARM) technology is advantageous to recommender systems in that ARM provides intuitive form of a rule with interestingness measures (support, confidence, and lift) describing the relationship between items. Given an item, its relevant items can be distinguished with the help of the measures that show the strength of relationship between items. Based on the strength, the most pertinent items can be chosen among other items and exposed to a given item's web page. However, the diversity of the measures may confuse which items are more recommendable. Given two rules, for example, one rule's support and confidence may not be concurrently superior to the other rule's. Such discrepancy of the measures in distinguishing one rule's superiority from other rules may cause difficulty in selecting proper items for recommendation. In addition, in an online environment where a web page or mobile screen can provide a limited number of recommendations that attract consumer interest, the prudent selection of items to be included in the list of recommendations is very important. The exposure of items of little interest may lead consumers to ignore the recommendations. Then, such consumers will possibly not pay attention to other forms of marketing activities. Therefore, the measures should be aligned with the probability of consumer's acceptance of recommendations. For this reason, this study proposes a model-based approach to combine those measures into one unified measure that can consistently determine the ranking of recommended items. A regression model was designed to describe how well the measures (independent variables; i.e., support, confidence, and lift) explain consumer's acceptance of recommendations (dependent variables, hit rate of recommended items). The model is intuitive to understand and easy to use in that the equation consists of the commonly used measures for ARM and can be used in the estimation of hit rates. The experiment using transaction data from one of the Korea's largest online shopping malls was conducted to show that the proposed model can improve the hit rates of recommendations. From the top of the list to 13th place, recommended items in the higher rakings from the proposed model show the higher hit rates than those from the competitive model's. The result shows that the proposed model's performance is superior to the competitive model's in online recommendation environment. In a web page, consumers are provided around ten recommendations with which the proposed model outperforms. Moreover, a mobile device cannot expose many items simultaneously due to its limited screen size. Therefore, the result shows that the newly devised recommendation technique is suitable for the mobile recommender systems. While this study has been conducted to cover the cross-selling in online shopping malls that handle merchandise, the proposed method can be expected to be applied in various situations under which association rules apply. For example, this model can be applied to medical diagnostic systems that predict candidate diseases from a patient's symptoms. To increase the efficiency of the model, additional variables will need to be considered for the elaboration of the model in future studies. For example, price can be a good candidate for an explanatory variable because it has a major impact on consumer purchase decisions. If the prices of recommended items are much higher than the items in which a consumer is interested, the consumer may hesitate to accept the recommendations.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the association of serum Vitamin D with insulin resistance and ${\beta}-cell$ function in Korean health checkup examinees. Methods: This study subjects were 374 healthy adults (199 males, 175 females) over the age of 20, who visited a general hospital medical center located in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do. To find the association of Vitamin D with HOMA-IR and $HOMA-{\beta}$, the used statistical analysis were ANOVA and ANCOVA. Results: Of the study subjects, the level of serum Vitamin D defined by deficient group, insufficient group and sufficient group was 38.5%, 48.1% and 13.4%, respectively. According to the level of serum Vitamin D, the mean values of HOMA-IR were $1.92{\pm}1.08$ in sufficient group, $1.99{\pm}1.04$ in the insufficient group and $2.91{\pm}1.05$ in deficient group and there were statistically significant different(p<0.001). The mean values of $HOMA-{\beta}$ were $84.69{\pm}1.07$ in sufficient group, $78.41{\pm}1.04$ in the insufficient group and $80.48{\pm}1.04$ in deficient group, and there were not significant. As a result of ANCOVA, adjusted mean of HOMA-IR were statistically significant different (p<0.001), but those of $HOMA-{\beta}$ were not statistically significant according to the level of serum Vitamin D. Conclusion: The insufficient level of serum Vitamin D was relatively high in healthy adults who live in rural area, and it was found that HOMA-IR significantly increased when Vitamin D was deficient. To prevent insulin resistance or diabetes, it is necessary to provide sufficient information related to sufficient production of Vitamin D such as Vitamin D supplement, sun exposure, food intake and etc.