• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.369-380
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• 2017

In order to manage the uncertainty about the evaluation and analysis of the human intrusion scenario of the Gyeongju Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste(LILW) disposal facility, the calculation result by the GENII code was assessed using the RESRAD code, which was developed to evaluate the radiation effects of contaminated soil. The post-drilling scenario was selected as a human intrusion scenario into the near-surface disposal facility to analyze the uncertainty of the modeling by identifying any limitations in the simulation of each code and comparing the evaluation results under the same input data conditions. The results revealed a difference in the migration of some nuclides between the codes, but confirmed that the dose trends at the end of the post-closure control period were similar for all exposure pathways. Based on the results of the dose evaluation predicted by RESRAD, sensitivity analysis on the input factors was performed and major input factors were derived. The uncertainty of the modeling results and the input factors were analyzed and the reliability of the safety evaluation results was confirmed. The results of this study can be applied to the implementation 'Safety Case Program' for the Gyeongju LILW disposal facility.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 2011

This study aimed to determine dose-response (DR) curve of avian influenza (AI) virus to predict the probability of illness or adverse health effects that may result from exposure to a pathogenic microorganism in a quantitative microbial risk assessment. To determine the parametric DR relationship of several strains of AI virus, 7 feeding trial data sets challenging humans (5 sets) and chickens (2 sets) for strains of H3N2 (4 sets), H5N1 (2 sets) and H1N1 (1 set) from the published literatures. Except for one data set (study with intra-tracheal inoculation for data set no. 6), all were obtained from the studies with intranasal inoculation. The data were analyzed using three types of DR model as the basis of heterogeneity in infectivity of AI strains in humans and chickens: exponential, beta-binomial and beta-Poisson. We fitted to the data using maximum likelihood estimation to get the parameter estimates of each model. The alpha and beta values of the beta-Poisson DR model ranged 0.06-0.19 and 1.7-48.8, respectively for H3N2 strain. Corresponding values for H5N1 ranged 0.464-0.563 and 97.3-99.4, respectively. For H1N1 the parameter values were 0.103 and 12.7, respectively. Using the exponential model, r (infectivity parameter) ranged from $1.6{\times}10^{-8}$ to $1.2{\times}10^{-5}$ for H3N2 and from $7.5{\times}10^{-3}$ to $4.0{\times}10^{-2}$ for H5N1, while the value was $1.6{\times}10^{-8}$ for H1N1. The beta-Poisson DR model provided the best fit to five of 7 data sets tested, and the estimated parameter values in betabinomial model were very close to those of beta-Poisson. Our study indicated that beta-binomial or beta-Poisson model could be the choice for DR modeling of AI, even though DR relationship varied depending on the virus strains studied, as indicated in prior studies. Further DR modeling should be conducted to quantify the differences among AI virus strains.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.607-617
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• 2020

Human bio-monitoring (HBM) data is a very important resource for tracking total exposure and concentrations of a parent chemical or its metabolites in human biomarkers. However, until now, it was difficult to execute the integration of different types of HBM data due to incompatibility problems caused by gaps in study design, chemical description and coding system between different sources in Korea. In this study, we presented a standardized code system and HBM knowledge model (KM) based on relational database modeling methodology. For this purpose, we used 11 raw datasets collected from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) between 2006 and 2018. We then constructed the HBM database (DB) using a total of 205,491 concentration-related data points for 18,870 participants and 86 chemicals. In addition, we developed a summary report-type statistical analysis program to verify the inputted HBM datasets. This study will contribute to promoting the sustainable creation and versatile utilization of big-data for HBM results at the MFDS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.557-564
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• 2023

In this study, 3D printing technology was used to compensate for the shortcomings of the use of lead, which has proven to have excellent shielding performance, and to control unnecessary human exposure. 3D printers can implement three-dimensional shapes and can immediately apply individual ideas, which has great advantages in maintaining technology supplementation while reducing the cost and duration of prototyping. Among the various special 3D printers, the FDM method was adopted, and the filament used for output was manufactured using a research extruder by mixing two materials, PLA (Poly-Lactic-Acid) and tungsten. The purpose was to verify the validity through dose evaluation and to provide basic information on the production of chapezones of various materials. The mixed filament was implemented as a morphological shield. Filaments made of a research extruder by mixing PLA and tungsten were divided into 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 % according to the tungsten content ratio. Through the process of 3D Modeling, STL File storage, G-code generation, and output, 10 cm × 10 cm × 0.5 cm was manufactured, respectively, and dose and shielding ability were evaluated under the conditions of tube voltages of 60 kVp, 80 kVp, 100 kVp, 120 kVp, and tube currents of 20 mAs and 40 mAs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.334-343
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• 2023

Background: South Korea's Act on Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals (known as K-REACH) was established to protect public health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. 4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA), which is used as a major intermediate in industrial polymer production and as a vulcanizing agent in South Korea, is classified as a toxic substance under the K-REACH act. Although MDA poses potential ecological risks due to industrial emissions and hazards to aquatic ecosystems, no ecological risk assessment has been conducted. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the ecological risk of MDA by identifying the actual exposure status based on the K-REACH act. Methods: Various toxicity data were collected to establish predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) for water, sediment, and soil. Using the SimpleBox Korea v2.0 model with domestic release statistical data and EU emission factors, predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) were derived for ten sites, each referring to an MDA-using company. Hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated by ratio of the PECs and PNECs to characterize the ecological risk posed by MDA. To validate the results of modeling-based assessment, concentration of MDA was measured using in-site freshwater samples (two to three samples per site). Results: PNECs for water, sediment, and soil were 0.000525 mg/L, 4.36 mg/kg dw, and 0.1 mg/kg dw, respectively. HQ for surface water and sediment at several company sites exceeded 1 due to modeling data showing markedly high PEC in each environmental compartment. However, in the results of validation using in-site surface water samples, MDA was not detected. Conclusions: Through an ecological risk assessment conducted in accordance with the K-REACH act, the risk level of MDA emitted into the environmental compartments in South Korea was found to be low.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2008

Methamphetamine, a commonly used addictive drug, is a powerful addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the CNS. Repeated METH administration leads to a rewarding effect in a state of addiction that includes sensitization, dependence, and other phenomena. It is well known that susceptibility to the development of addiction is influenced by sources of reinforcement, variable neuroadaptive mechanisms, and neurochemical changes that together lead to altered homeostasis of the brain reward system. These behavioral abnormalities reflect neuroadaptive changes in signal transduction function and cellular gene expression produced by repeated drug exposure. To provide a better understanding of addiction and the mechanism of the rewarding effect, it is important to identify related genes. In the present study, we performed gene expression profiling using microarray analysis in a reward effect animal model. We also investigated gene expression in four important regions of the brain, the nucleus accumbens, striatum, hippocampus, and cingulated cortex, and analyzed the data by two clustering methods. Genes related to signaling pathways including G-protein-coupled receptor-related pathways predominated among the identified genes. The genes identified in our study may contribute to the development of a gene modeling network for methamphetamine addiction.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 2017

Objectives: Chemicals derived from various environment media contaminates food across the food supply chain. In Korea, levels of contaminants in food have been sporadically measured by monitoring programs of different government agencies. There is difficulty with data compilation and integrated analysis across media. Therefore, the aim of this study was to propose an overall integrated database and analytical platform design for the 'ECO-FOOD NET (Environmental COntaminant reduction platform for FOOD through an interagency collaboration NETwork)', a tool to support the reduction of environmental contaminants in food. Methods: We developed a new data structure and standardized protocols for the compilation of integrated data. In addition, we conducted subject-oriented logical and physical relational database modeling and created the architecture design of the platform. Results: We established a standardized code system related to exposure media and route, analysis method and food matrix. In addition, we designed the seven software modules of 'About the System', 'Introduction to Interagency Work', 'Media-Chemicals Profiles', 'Method Bank', 'Monitoring Data Base', 'Integrated Media Analysis', and 'Risk-Benefit Analysis'. Conclusions: This study will contribute to decision-making as a tool for executing risk management, such as sustainable reduction policies of contaminants in food.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2009

Understanding the environmental fate of human and animal pharmaceuticals and their risk assessment are of great importance due to their growing environmental concerns. Although there are many potential pathways for them to reach the environment, effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) are recognized as major point sources. In this study, the removal efficiencies of the 43 selected priority pharmaceuticals in a conventional STP were evaluated using two simple models: an equilibrium partitioning model (EPM) and STPWIN$^{TM}$ program developed by US EPA. It was expected that many pharmaceuticals are not likely to be removed by conventional activated sludge processes because of their relatively low sorption potential to suspended sludge and low biodegradability. Only a few pharmaceuticals were predicted to be easily removed by sorption or biodegradation, and hence a conventional STP may not protect the environment from the release of unwanted pharmaceuticals. However, the prediction made in this study strongly relies on sorption coefficient to suspended sludge and biodegradation half-lives, which may vary significantly depending on models. Removal efficiencies predicted using the EPM were typically higher than those predicted by STPWIN for many hydrophilic pharmaceuticals due to the difference in prediction method for sorption coefficients. Comparison with experimental organic carbon-water partition coefficients ($K_{ocs}) revealed that log KOW-based estimation used in STPWIN is likely to underestimate sorption coefficients, thus resulting low removal efficiency by sorption. Predicted values by the EPM were consistent with limited experimental data although this model does not include biodegradation processes, implying that this simple model can be very useful with reliable Koc values. Because there are not many experimental data available for priority pharmaceuticals to evaluate the model performance, it should be important to obtain reliable experimental data including sorption coefficients and biodegradation rate constants for the prediction of the fate of the selected pharmaceuticals.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.310-320
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• 2008

Concentration of tropospheric ozone ($O_3$) was investigated for the South Korea. And then the critical ozone levels, expressed as AOT40 (Accumulated exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb) to vegetation have been used in this region within the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Convention on Long-Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Hourly ozone concentration data from 1996 to 2001 at 26 air monitoring stations was used to estimate the exceedance of the critical levels. It was calculated for daylight hours for each station, and mapped using surface interpolation over the South Korea. The critical levels of ozone have shown the highly exceeded value in the Gyeonggi region, southern coastal region and central inland of the South Korea. It was some different from the typical ozone distribution which represented highly in the western inland and coastal regions. The area exceeding the critical level for crops was founded to be more than 40% of the whole South Korean territory. While that for trees was to be about 17% of the South Korea. The critical ozone critical level was based upon data from experiments on specific species, and thus may not be fully representative for all types of vegetation. Nevertheless, the critical level and its exceedance of the ozone concentration would be one of the useful tools for international agreements on abatement strategies to prevent ecosystem damage.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.802-812
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• 1998

Safety related to electric field exposure for the personnel of high voltage power plant and substation is of importance. To analyze the induced current influencing on human body in this paper, we calculate directly capacitance in three dimension which is complex and time consuming, as not to separate the voltage source and the induced object using a effective modeling technique. The proposed algorithm in this paper has been applied to 765 kV high voltage transmission line to evaluate human hazard for the induced current through the case study. As the results, the short circuit current of human body has been identified in the range of 0.3 mA to 6.8 mA. Closing to transmission line, this range of short current can exceed 5 mA that ANSI recommended let-go current. Therefore, it is necessary to countermeasure such as putting on conductive clothing in live-line maintenance of transmission line.