• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of chronic exposure by welders to manganese (Mn) through an analysis of the degree of brain activity in different activities such as cognition and motor activities using the neuroimaging technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The neurotoxic effect that Mn has on the brain was examined as well as changes in the neuro-network in motor areas, and the usefulness of fMRI was evaluated as a tool to determine changes in brain function from occupational exposure to Mn. Methods: A survey was carried out from July 2010 to October 2010 targeting by means of a questionnaire 160 workers from the shipbuilding and other manufacturing industries. Among them, 14 welders with more than ten years of job-related exposure to Mn were recruited on a voluntary basis as an exposure group, and 13 workers from other manufacturing industries with corresponding gender and age were recruited as a control group. A questionnaire survey, a blood test, and an fMRI test were carried out with the study group as target. Results: Of 27 fMRI targets, blood Mn concentration of the exposure group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.001), and Pallidal Index (PI) of the welder group was also significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.001). As a result of the survey, the score of the exposure group in self-awareness of abnormal nerve symptoms and abnormal musculoskeletal symptoms was higher than those of the control group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05, respectively). In the correlation between PI and the results of blood tests, the correlation coefficient with blood Mn concentration was 0.893, revealing a significant amount of correlation (p<0.001). As for brain activity area within the control group, the right and the left areas of the superior frontal cortex showed significant activity, and the right area of superior parietal cortex, the left area of occipital cortex and cerebellum showed significant activity. Unlike the control group, the exposure group showed significant activity selectively on the right area of premotor cortex, at the center of supplementary motor area, and on the left side of superior temporal cortex. In the comparison of brain activity areas between the two groups, the exposure group showed a significantly higher activation state than did the control group in such areas as the right and the left superior parietal cortex, superior temporal cortex, and cerebellum including superior frontal cortex and the right area of premotor cortex. However, in nowhere did the control group show a more activated area than did the exposure group. Conclusions: Chronic exposure to Mn increased brain activity during implementation of hand motor tasks. In an identical task, activation increased in the premotor cortex, superior temporal cortex, and supplementary motor area. It was also discovered that brain activity increase in the frontal area and occipital area was more pronounced in the exposure group than in the control group. This result suggests that chronic exposure to Mn in the work environment affects brain activation neuro-networks.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2009

The concept of the effective moment of inertia has been generally used for the deflection estimation of reinforced concrete flexural members. The KCI design code adopted Branson's equation for simple calculation of deflection, in which a representative value of the effective moment of inertia is used for the whole length of a member. However, the code equation for the effective moment of inertia was formulated based on the results of beam tests subjected to uniformly distributed loads, which may not effectively account for those of members under different loading conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the influences of moment shapes resulting from different loading patterns by experiments. Six beams were fabricated and tested in this study, where primary variables were concrete compressive strengths and loading distances from supports, and test results were compared to the code equation and other existing approaches. A method utilizing variational analysis for the deflection estimation has been also proposed, which accounts for the influences of moment shapes to the effective moment of inertia. The test results indicated that the effective moment of inertia was somewhat influenced by the moment shape, and that this influence of moment shape to the effective moment of inertia was not captured by the code equation. Compared to the code equation, the proposed method had smaller variation in the ratios of the test results to the estimated values of beam deflections. Therefore, the proposed method is considered to be a good approach to take into account the influence of moment shape for the estimation of beam deflection, however, the differences between test results and estimated deflections show that more researches are still required to improve its accuracy by modifying the shape function of deflection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.330-337
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• 2003

Background : Low spirometric forced vital capacity(FVC) in conjunction with a normal or high ratio of the forced expiratory volume at 1 second to the forced vital capacity($FEV_1$/FVC%) has traditionally been classified as a restrictive abnormality. However, the gold-standard diagnosis of a restrictive pulmonary impairment requires a measurement of the total lung capacity (TLC). This study was performed to determine the predictive value of spirometric measurements of the FVC for diagnosing a restrictive pulmonary abnormality. Methods : Test results from 1,371 adult patients who undertook both spirometry and lung volume measurements on the same visit from January 1999 to December 2000 were enrolled in this study. The test values for the FVC, the TLC that was below 80% of predicted value, and a $FEV_1$/FVC% that was below 70%, were classified as being abnormal. Results : Of the 1,371 patients, 353 patients had a reduced a FVC. Of these patients, 186 patients had a reduced TLC. Therefore, the positive predictive value was 52.7%. Of the 196 patients with a normal $FEV_1$/FVC% and a reduced FVC, 148(75.5%) patients had a lower TLC. Thirty eight (24.2%) patients out of 157 patients with a low $FEV_1$/FVC% and a low FVC showed a restrictive defect. Conclusion : Spirometry is useful to rule out a restrictive pulmonary abnormality, but a restrictive pattern on the spirometry dose not mean there is a true restrictive disease. For the patients with a low FVC, TLC measurements are essential for diagnosing a restrictive pulmonary impairment.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.133-145
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• 1984

To study the effect of foaming agent on the characteristic of mortar, the tests of water-cement ratio and bulk density of mortar were done under the different mixing ratio with G. U and J foaming agents. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 4 and 0.5% of foaming agent, the highest water-cement ratio was 90% by G, 88.3% by U and 70% by J foaming agent, respectively, being lower than 91.6% of that of cement mortar. 2. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 3 and 3.0% of foaming agent, the water-cement ratio was decreased up to 22.0% by G and 24.1% by U foaming agent, respectively, but it gradually was increased in richer and poorer mixing ratio. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 4 and 3.0% of foaming agent, the water-cement ratio was decreased up to 53.1% by J foaming agent, but it gradually was increased in richer mixing ratio. 3. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 1 and 0.5% of foaming agent, the highest bulk density was $1.981g/cm^3$ by G, $1.863g/cm^3$ by U and $1.149g/cm^3$ by J foaming agent, respectively, being lower than $2.048g/cm^3$ of that of cement mortar. 4. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 2 and 3.0% of foaming agent, the bulk density was decreased up to 20.7% by G, 23.7% by U and 56.5% by J foaming agent, respectively, but it gradually was increased in richer and poorer mixing ratio. 5. The water-cement ratio and bulk density were decreased in more addition of foaming agent, respectively, multiple regression equations of water-cement ratio and bulk density were computed depending on a function of mixing ratios and addition of foaming agents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 1994

Background : Diffuse panbronchiolitis(DPB) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease of unknown etiology which has characteristic clinical, radiological and pathological features, and is distinguished from bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, bronchiectasis, or alveolitis. Clinically, patients with DPB have chronic cough, purulent sputum, exertional dyspnea, and finally respiratory failure. Until a few years ago, the prognosis of DPB had been thought to be very grave, because there had been no effective treatment for the disease. But recent1y, low-dose long-term erythromycin was found to be very effective on DPB. Even though DPB is prevalent in Japan, and is known to be rare outside of Japan, we have a1ready reported the clinical features of 16 DPB cases in Korea. We tried low-dose long-term erythromycin on DPB patients and analyzed the clinical effect of erythromycin. Methods : We analyzed the changes of subjective symptoms, physical signs, pulmonary function tests and chest X-rays on 14 DPB patients with more than 6 months erythromycin treatment during the period from September 1989 to August 1992 in Seoul National University Hospital. Results : 1) Subjective symptoms improved in all patients within 2-3 months, and 54.5% of the patients showed no symptom after one year of treatment. 2) Crackles and wheezing decreased in 92.9% of the patients after 3 months and completely disapppeared in 63.5% of the patients after one year of treatment. 3) FVC and FEV1 increased remarkably during the first 3 months, and slowly increased thereafter, reaching normal level after one year of treatment. 4) Small nodular lesions on chest X-ray decreased in all patients, and chest PA was normal in 36.4% of the patients after one year of treatment. 5) There was side effect in one patient, stopping medication because of dyspepsia. One patient stopped medication because of no symptom after 16 months of treatment, but her symptom recurring after one month, improving again after retreatment. Conclusion: Low-dose long-term erythromycin showed ramarkable effectiveness on DPB. Further studies are needed on the mechanism of the drug and the duration of the treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.519-531
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• 1993

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM) is a very rare disease occurring in women of reproductive age and leading to progressive respiratory failure despite therapy. But the natural history of this disease is uncertain and although anti-estrogenic agents have been used for more than twenty years, it's efficacy is still in debate. This study was performed to enhance understanding of this fatal disease in Korea by examining clinical, radiological, and pathologic findings of all the previously reported cases of LAM on Korea along with four new cases of LAM whom we report in this paper. Method: Out of twlve cases of LAM previously unpublished and published in domestic papers, two cases whose diagnoses were considered doubtful after review of clinical, radiological, and pathologic findings at "Asian Congress on Lymphangioleiomyomatosis" at Kyoto, Japan in feburary of 1993 were excluded from this study. Six cases which were reported previously and four new cases of LAM whom we report in this paper were analysed for the clinical, radiological, and pathologic characteristics. Results: All ten patients were women with mean age of $33{\pm}7$. The most common symptom was exertional dyspnea and most patients had history of pneumothoraces. Pulmonary function tests showed decreased diffusing capacity. on high resolution computed tomography(HRCT), all the cases had characteristic cysts. Most of the patients did not respond to hormonal therapy. Conclusion: In women of reproductive age, presenting with dyspnea who has a history of pneumothorax, LAM should always be considered as one of the diagnostic possibilities. If suspected, HRCT should be done to look for characteristic cysts and if needed, open lung biopsy should be done to confirm the diagnosis.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.269-281
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• 2008

Fatigue or overload can result in mechanical problems of implant components. The mechanical strength in the implant system is dependent on several factors, such as screw and fixture diameters, material, and design of the fixture-abutment connection and abutment. In these factors, the last rules the strength and stability of the fixture-abutment assembly. There have been some previous reports on the mechanical strength of the fixture-abutment assembly with the compressive bending test or short-term cyclic loading test. However, it is restrictive to predict the long-term stability of the implant system with them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the design of the fixture-abutment connection and abutment on the mechanical strength and failure mode by conducting the endurance limit test as well as the compressive bending strength test. Tests were performed according to a specified test(ISO/FDIS 14801) in 4 fixture-abutment assemblies of the Osstem implant system: an external butt joint with Cemented abutment (group BJT), an external butt joint with Safe abutment (group BJS), an internal conical joint with Solid abutment (group CJO), and an internal conical joint with ComOcta abutment (group CJT). The following conclusions were drawn within the limitation of this study. Compressive bending strengths were decreased in order of group BJS(1392.0N), group CJO(1261.8N), group BJT(1153.2N), and group CJT(1110.2N). There were no significant differences in compressive bending strengths between group BJT and group CJT(P>.05). Endurance limits were decreased in order of group CJO(600N), group CJT(453N), group BJS(360N), and group BJT(300N). 3. Compressive bending strengths were influenced by the connection and abutment design of the implant system, however endurance limits were affected more considerably by the connection design.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1995

Objective : Patients with sleep apnea should be diagnosed with polysomnography(PSG). However, it is not easy to recommend PSG for all patients suspected with sleep apnea in practice. Therefore, we tried to develop the screening test for referral of PSG. Method : 140 patients with snoring and sleep apnea syndrome were studied by the PSG. Sleep apnea questionnaire. Zung's scale for depression. Stanford Sleepiness Scale(SSS), insomnia scale and neuropsychological test were administered. Also, blood pressure, height, weight and neck circumference were measured and some histories were taken. Correlations between respiratory disturbance index(RDI) and various parameters mentioned above and discriminant coefficients of the parameters to RDI were computed. And, we investigated sensitivities of screening tests for selection of the patients with RDI above 20. Results : Using six parameters(neck circumference, systolic blood pressure before sleep, degree of alcohol drinking, frequency of breath-holding during sleep, degree of dry mouth during sleep, sleep apnea score), the patients with RDI above 20 could be discriminated in 92.8% sensitivity. In case of more than two among six parameters(neck circumference of above 40cm, systolic blood pressure of above 125mmHg, frequent alcohol drinking, frequent breath-holding during sleep, frequent dry mouth during sleep, sleep apnea score of above 35), same patients could be discriminated in 87.6% sensitivity. And, in case of more than one among four parameters(neck circumference of above 40cm. systolic blood pressure of above 125mmHg, frequent alcohol drinking, body weight of above 80kg), discrimination sensitivity was 83.5%. Conclusions : Patients with RDI above 20 could be discriminated by above parameters with high sensitivity. Therefore, the screening test using above parameters can be applied in selection of the patients with sleep apnea for PSG in practice.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 1978

Press drying was used on italian poplar (Populus euamericana) to find the profitable means of drying. This study was designed to investigate the process of platen drying considering core temperature, drying time, current moisture content, drying rate, shrinkage and recovery, and green volume specific gravity, equilibrium moisture content and dimensional stability of press dried material and air dried material, The drying tests were conducted using 1.5 centimeter thick material at platen temperature of $175^{\circ}C$. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Core temperature was divided into three stages of drying characterized by period initial heating, plateau temperature and rising core temperature. Plateau temperature was 114 to $119^{\circ}C$. 2. The following predicting equations of drying time(y) in different core temperatures were developed for initial thickness($x_1$), initial moisture content ($x_2$) and final moisture content ($x_3$) 3. The predicting equaltion of current moisture content(u) was log u=4.658-0.060t as funtion of drying time(t) and that of drying rate(r) was log r=-2.797-0.049t. Current moisture content and drying rate of air drying were shown in figure 2. 4. The predicting equation of shrinkage in thickness direction(y) was log y=1.933+0.038t as function of drying time(t), and that of expansion in width direction was $y=-0.692+0.043t-0.001t^2$. 5. Thickness shrinkage was increased more than proportional at to pressure increase. Width shrinkage and thickness recovery was greatest at 35psi. 6. Green volume specific gravity of press dried material was 25% greater than that of air dried material. But equilibrium moisture content of press dried material was less 24% than that of air dried material. Antishrinkage efficiency of press dried material were obtained 27.7%.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.1-12
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• 1979

To evaluate the present status of physical fittness of Korean long distance runners, body fat, pulmonary functions, maximal oxygen intake and oxygen debt were measured in 5 elite marathoners (A group), 6 college student runners (B group) and 3 middle school student runners (C group). After laboratory tests, full course marathon running was performed in 2 elite marathoners during which their heart rates were monitored continuously. The results are summerized as follows: 1) Total body fat in all three groups are in the range of 13-15% of their body weight. 2) In all three groups, average values of various pulmonary functions were within the normal limits, but those of tidal volume were higher and respiratory rate were lower in comparison to normal values. These phenomena may represent respiratory adaptations against training. The average resting oxygen consumptions in A,B and C were $322{\pm}23$, $278{\pm}14$ and $287{\pm}16$m1/min, respectively. 3) In all three groups, resting blood pressures were in the normal range, but the resting heart rate was slightly lower in groups A $(56{\pm}3\;beats/min)$ and B $(64{\pm}2\;beats/min)$ and higher in group C $(82{\pm}9\;beats/min)$ in comparison to normal values. These changes in cardiovascular functions in marathoners may also represent adaptive phenomena. 4) During treadmill running the minute ventilation and oxygen consumption of the runners increased lineally with work load in all three groups. When the oxygen consumption was related to heart rate, it appeared to be a exponential function of the heart rate in all three groups. 5) The average maximal heart rates during maximal work were $196{\pm}3$, $191{\pm}3$ and $196{\pm}5\;beats/min$ for groups A,B and C, respectively. Maximal oxygen intakes were $84.2{\pm}3.3\;ml/min/kg$ in group A, $65.2{\pm}1.1\;ml/min/kg$ in group B and $58.7{\pm}0.4\;ml/min/kg$ in group C. 6) In all three groups, oxygen debts and the rates of recovery of heart rate after treadmill running were lower than those of long ditsance runners reported previously. 7) The 40 km running time in 2 elite marathoners was recorded to be $2^{\circ}42'25'$, and their mean speed was 243 m/min (ranged 218 to 274 m/min). The heart rate appeared to increase lineally with running speed, and the total energy expenditure during 40 km running was approximately 1360.2 Calories. From these it can be speculated that if their heart rates were maintained at 166 beats/min during the full course of marathon running, their records would be arround $2^{\circ}15'$. Based on these results, we may suspect that a successful long distance running is, in part, dependent on the economical utilization of one's aerobic capacity.