• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.170-179
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the occupational radiation exposures of emergency medical technicians(EMTs) in emergency medical centers in Korea. The results will provide a basis for developing prevention programs to minimize adverse health effects relating to radiation exposure among emergency medical technicians working in this area. Methods: Radiation exposure doses were measured for twenty-two EMTs working in six emergency medical centers. Thermo Luminescent Dosimeters(TLD) were placed on three representative body parts, including chest, neck, and a finger. Measurements were conducted over the entire working hours of the participants for foor weeks. Dosimeters were analyzed according to a standard method by a KFDA-designated lab. Detection rate, annual radiation exposure dose, and relative levels to dose limit were derived based on the measured doses from the dosimeters. SPSS/Win 18.0 software(IBM, US) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Detection rates were 45.5%, 36.4%, and 45.5% for the dosimeters sampled from chest, neck, and a finger, respectively. The average annual doses were $2.39{\pm}3.44mSv/year$(range 0.38-10.0 mSv/year) for the chest, $2.72{\pm}3.05mSv/year$(2.00-11.34) for the neck, and $20.98{\pm}17.57mSv/year$(1.25-53.50) for the hand dose. The average annual eye dose was estimated to $3.61{\pm}2.37mSv/year$(1.50-8.34). The exposure dose levels of EMTs were comparable to those of radiologists, who showed relatively higher radiation dose among health care workers, as reported in another study. Conclusions: EMTs working in emergency medical centers are considered to be at risk of radiation exposure. Although the radiation exposure dose of EMTs does not exceed the dose limit, it is not negligible comparing to other professionals in health care sectors.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.483-489
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• 2015

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standards are generally introduced as de facto and de jure standards in modern medical imaging devices to store and to transmit medical image information. DICOM Dose Structured Report (DICOM dose SR) is implemented to report radiation exposure information in image acquiring process. and DIOCM Modality Performed Procedure Step (DICOM MPPS) is also partly used to report this exposure with the information in its DICOM tag. This article is focused on three type of radiation exposure information of DICOM standards, 1) DICOM dose SR, 2) DICOM MPPS and 3) Radiation Exposure Monitoring(REM) profile by Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise(IHE), to study on radiation exposure reporting. Healthcare facility and its staff of medical imaging related to radiation exposure should have a deep understanding of radiation exposure, and it required a standards to enhance the quality control of medical imaging and the safety of patients and staffs. Staff member have to pay attention on radiation exposures and controling processes from the purchasing stage of X-ray devices.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of metal pollution in the sediment from rivers, lakes, and streams in active gold mining districts in Ghana. Two hundred and fifty surface sediment samples from 99 locations were collected and analyzed for concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Metal concentrations were then used to assess the human health risks to resident children and adults in central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) scenarios. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were almost twice the threshold values established by the Hong Kong Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Hg, Cu, and Cr concentrations in sediment were 14, 20, and 26 times higher than the Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines for these elements. Also, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Hg were 3, 11, 12, and 16 times more than the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment guideline values. The results of the human health risk assessment indicate that for ingestion of sediment under the central tendency exposure (CTE) scenario, the cancer risks for child and adult residents from exposure to As were $4.18{\times}10^{-6}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-7}$, respectively. This suggests that up to 4 children out of one million equally exposed children would contract cancer if exposed continuously to As over 70 years (the assumed lifetime). The hazard index for child residents following exposure to Cr(VI) in the RME scenario was 4.2. This is greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) threshold of 1, indicating that adverse health effects to children from exposure to Cr(VI) are possible. This study demonstrates the urgent need to control industrial emissions and the severe heavy metal pollution in gold mining environments.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.393-402
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• 2011

Asbestos is a toxic material that can lead to lung cancer and other diseases. There is no information regarding areas in Korea that contain asbestos in nature; consequently we need to manage such areas with care. The purpose of this study was to construct a local graded map of asbestos exposure risk based on the natural occurrence of asbestos in rocks. We first developed a means of evaluating the asbestos exposure risk and produced thematic maps based on a field survey. In addition, we constructed a knowledge base for asbestos through analysis, representation and processes about asbestos data and prepare for the development of an evaluation model for asbestos exposure risk. The spatial analysis of asbestos exposure risk is based on a weighted-overlay analysis using expert opinion and the literature, and a fuzzy-overlay analysis using the uncertainty in the data. The map of asbestos exposure risk, compiled according to the weighted and fuzzy operations, is expected to be used to ensure safety and to reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.625-631
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• 2000

Practical devices for measuring personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$) have been made for epidemiological studies of the health effects of air pollution Standard methods for NO$_2$ measurement such as the chemiluminescent method and Saltzman method are not suitable for personal exposure because they are heavy, large and complicated to operate. In this study, a passive monitor was tested for the measurements of indoor and outdoor NO$_2$ level. Through a comparative analysis of data sets obtained by on-site chemiluminescence system, we assessed the accuracy and precision of NO$_2$ passive monitors. We also examined the possibility of passive monitor in the study of indoor, outdoor and personal NO$_2$ exposure. The accuracy and precision of NO$_2$ passive monitor were analyzed assuming measurements of on-site chemiluminescence system is reference value and using duplicated measure- ments, respectively. From these analysis the NO$_2$ passive monitor was useful for measuring indoor, outdoor and personal exposure. And NO$_2$ level from on-site chemiluminescence systems could not properly represent the personal NO$_2$ exposure as well as indoor and outdoor level of ones house. Personal exposures were correlated more strongly with indoor NO$_2$ concentrations than with outdoor NO$_2$ concentrations. Since activity pattern of each person is different, it was considered that personal daily behavior and life-style might prevent the air pollutant exposure.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.451-462
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of concern and the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors, and the level of dietary behaviors to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors, to determine the factors affecting the level of knowledge and behaviors, and to assess the causal relationship between them. The data were collected from 579 adults in Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan and Gwangju provinces. Frequencies, t tests, analysis of variance, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, multiple regression analyses, and path analysis were carried out by SPSS for Win V.18.0. The results of this study were as follows: The level of concern about endocrine disruptors was higher than the medium level. The respondents were most concerned about a container of cup ramen among products related to foods. The levels of both knowledge and behaviors in order to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life were not high. The factors affecting the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors were educational level, attendance in education for endocrine disruptors, and concern about endocrine disruptors. On the other hand, sex, age, concern about endocrine disruptors, and the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors affected the level of behaviors to decrease exposure toward endocrine disruptors. The results of the path analysis showed that educational level and education of endocrine disruptors had an indirect influence on the level of behaviors in order to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life. The concern about endocrine disruptors had both a direct and an indirect effect on the level of behaviors to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life. In addition, sex, age and the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors directly affected the level of behaviors to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.13 no.2 s.55
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• pp.318-328
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• 2005

Our interest in human body is more and more increasing. Not only academic and art communities but also other social communities show a keen interest in the human body. Especially, the breast of women's body parts may be comparable to men's penis because it is protruded. The breast which sexually distinguishes women from men becomes an important topic in the fashion design community. Therefore, such designs which emphasize the breast are being introduced in a natural way. This paper aims at examining the reason and symbolism for the exposure of breast and analyzing the fashion design that breast is exposed. This study will help us grasp the meaning which the design has. The exposure's scope of breast in the design includes the partial exposure, total exposure and the concealment of breast. But these all have their effects in each scope. For this paper, some general things were investigated. They are as follows: the phases of breast exposure in the fashion design, the exposure of breast expressed in the works of fine art, and the alteration of breast-exposing phenomenon shown in apparels. Then, each type of breast-exposing design shown in the women's fashion was analyzed from the middle of 1980s' when the phenomenon of breast exposure occurred to the year 2004. These could be divided into 4 types. They include a suggestive type, an exaggerative type, an open type and a reproductive type. As the result of analysis of 4 types, such meanings of design as an emphasis of femininity, an expression of liberty, a symbol of maternity and a commercialization of sex could be analogized.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2015

We analyzed the differential effects of histopathology, apoptosis and expression of radiation response genes after chronic low dose rate (LDR) and acute high dose rate (HDR) radiation exposure in spleen, lung and liver of rats. Female 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. For chronic low-dose whole body irradiation, rats were maintained for 14 days in a $^{60}Co$ gamma ray irradiated room and received a cumulative dose of 2 Gy or 5 Gy. Rats in the acute whole body exposure group were exposed to an equal dose of radiation delivered as a single pulse ($^{137}Cs$-gamma). At 24 hours after exposure, spleen, lung and liver tissues were extracted for histopathologic examination, western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. 1. The spleen showed the most dramatic differential response to acute and chronic exposure, with the induction of substantial tissue damage by HDR but not by LDR radiation. Effects of LDR radiation on the lung were only apparent at the higher dose (5 Gy), but not at lower dose (2 Gy). In the liver, HDR and LDR exposure induced a similar damage response at both doses. RT-PCR analysis identified cyclin G1 as a LDR-responsive gene in the spleen of rats exposed to 2 Gy and 5 Gy gamma radiation and in the lung of animals irradiated with 5 Gy. 2. The effects of LDR radiation differed among lung, liver, and spleen tissues. The spleen showed the greatest differential effect between HDR and LDR. The response to LDR radiation may involve expression of cyclin G1.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.376-383
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• 2012

A number of scientific researches are currently being conducted on the potential health hazards of power frequency electric and magnetic field (EMF). There exists a non-objective and psychological belief that they are harmful, although no scientific and objective proof of such exists. This possible health risk from ELF magnetic field (MF) exposure, especially for children under 17 years of age, is currently one of Korea's most highly contested social issues. Therefore, to assess the magnetic field exposure levels of those children in their general living environments, the personal MF exposure levels of 436 subjects were measured for about 6 years using government funding. Using the measured database, estimation formulas were developed to predict personal MF exposure levels. These formulas can serve as valuable tools in estimating 24-hour personal MF exposure levels without directly measuring the exposure. Three types of estimation formulas were developed by applying evolutionary computation methods such as genetic algorithm (GA) and genetic programming (GP). After tuning the database, the final three formulas with the smallest estimation error were selected, where the target estimation error was approximately 0.03 ${\mu}T$. The seven parameters of each of these three formulas are gender (G), age (A), house type (H), house size (HS), distance between the subject's residence and a power line (RD), power line voltage class (KV), and the usage conditions of electric appliances (RULE).

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.121-132
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• 2005

In the formation of images in a camera, the exposure time is appropriately adjusted to obtain a good image. Hence for a successful alignment of a sequence of images to the same scene, it is required to compensate the different exposure times. If we have no knowledge regarding the exposure time, then we should develop an algorithm that can compensate an image with respect to a reference image without using any camera formation models. In this paper, an exposure compensation is performed by designing predictors based on the conditional expectation between the reference and input images. Further, an adaptive predictor design is conducted to manage the irregular exposure or histogram problem. In order to alleviate the blocking artifact and the overfitting problems in the adaptive scheme, a smoothing technique, which uses the pixels of the adjacent blocks, is proposed. We successfully conducted the exposure compensation using real images obtained from digital cameras and the transmission electron microscopy.