• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2021

Recently, climate change has gradually accelerated the occurrence of landslides. Among the various effects caused by landslides,debris flow is recognized as particularly threatening because of its high speed and propagating distance. In this study, the impacts of various factors were analyzed using quantification theory(I) for the prediction of debris flow hazard soil volume in Seoraksan National Park, Korea. According to the range using the stepwise regression analysis, the order of impact factors was as follows: vertical slope (0.9676), cross slope (0.6876), altitude (0.2356), slope gradient (0.1590), and aspect (0.1364). The extent of the normalized score using the five-factor categories was 0 to 2.1864, with the median score being 1.0932. The prediction criteria for debris flow occurrence based on the normalized score were divided into four grades: class I, >1.6399; class II, 1.0932-1.6398; class III, 0.5466-1.0931; and class IV, <0.5465. Predictions of debris flow occurrence appeared to be relatively accurate (86.3%) for classes I and II. Therefore, the prediction criteria for debris flow will be useful for judging the dangerousness of slopes.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.552-560
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• 2020

Listeria monocytogenes is a highly pathogenic gram-positive bacterium that is easily isolated from cheese, meat, processed meat products, and smoked salmon. A zero-tolerance (n=5, c=0, m=0/25 g) criteria has been applied for L. monocytogenes in cheese meaning that L. monocytogenes must not be detected in any 25 g of samples. However, there was a lack of scientific information behind this criteria. Therefore, in this study, we conducted a risk assessment based on literature reviews to provide scientific information supporting the baseline and to raise public awareness of L. monocytogenes foodborne illness. Quantitative risk assessment of L. monocytogenes for cheese was conducted using the following steps: exposure assessment, hazard characterization, and risk characterization. As a result, the initial contamination level of L. monocytogenes was -4.0 Log CFU/g in cheese. The consumption frequency of cheese was 11.8%, and the appropriate probability distribution for amount of cheese consumed was a Lognormal distribution with an average of 32.5 g. In conclusion, the mean of probabilities of foodborne illness caused by the consumption of cheese was 5.09×10-7 in the healthy population and 4.32×10-6 in the susceptible population. Consumption frequency has the biggest effect on the probability of foodborne illness, but storage and transportation times have also been found to affect the probability of foodborne illness; thus, management of the distribution environment should be considered important. Through this risk assessment, scientific data to support the criteria for L. monocytogenes in cheese could be obtained. In addition, we recommend that further risk assessment studies of L. monocytogenes in various foods be conducted in the future.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.604-615
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate cancer-specific survival (CSS) and associated risk factors in elderly gastric cancer (EGC) patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: EGC patients (≥ 70 yrs) who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2013 and December 2017 at our hospital were included. Clinicopathologic characteristics and survival data were collected. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to extract the best cutoff point for body mass index (BMI). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk factors for CSS. RESULTS: In total, 290 EGC patients were included, with a median age of 74.7 yrs. The median follow-up time was 31 (1-77) mon. The postoperative 1-yr, 3-yr and 5-yr CSS rates were 93.7%, 75.9% and 65.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed risk factors for CSS, including age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.15), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (HR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.08-2.79), nutritional risk screening (NRS 2002) score ≥ 5 (HR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.49-3.75), and preoperative prognostic nutrition index score < 45 (HR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.27-3.33). The ROC curve showed that the best BMI cutoff value was 20.6 kg/m². Multivariate analysis indicated that a BMI ≤ 20.6 kg/m² (HR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.36-3.87), ICU admission (HR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.17-3.30) and TNM stage (stage II: HR = 5.56; 95% CI, 1.59-19.43; stage III: HR = 16.20; 95% CI, 4.99-52.59) were significantly associated with CSS. CONCLUSIONS: Low BMI (≤ 20.6 kg/m²), ICU admission and advanced pathological TNM stages (II and III) are independent risk factors for CSS in EGC patients after curative gastrectomy. Nutrition support, better perioperative management and early diagnosis would be helpful for better survival.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.70-85
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• 2023

Purpose: Several studies have been conducted on the relationship between green tea intake and metabolic syndrome. However, compared to the studies carried out internationally, there is inadequate research on the relationship between domestic green tea consumption and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, in this study, the general characteristics of Koreans according to their green tea intake and its association with metabolic syndrome were examined. Methods: A total of 44,611 subjects were included in the study, and analysis was carried out using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) for Korean adults aged 40 or older. Green tea consumption was estimated using 106 verified food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Metabolic syndrome was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) parameters. After adjusting for confounding variables by performing a Cox regression analysis, the association between green tea consumption and metabolic syndrome was confirmed through the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The average incidence of metabolic syndrome was 18.7% (20.8% in men and 17.8% in women). Compared to those who drank almost no green tea, in subject groups consuming more than one cup of green tea a day, the metabolic syndrome incidence was significantly reduced by 15% (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96; p trend = 0.0200) among men and by 19% (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73-0.90; p trend < 0.0001) among women. In addition, the biomarkers related to metabolic syndrome also tended to decrease overall in these groups. Conclusion: This study concluded that as the intake of green tea increased, the incidence of metabolic syndrome and related indicators decreased. Therefore, green tea intake is believed to have a positive effect on the prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.111-120
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to provide basic information for selecting the right timing and the right place of erosion control of stream on Gyeongsangnam-do. In order to achieve this objective, a total of 526 erosion control dams and 230 mountains stream conservation facilities on the constructed places and construction planned places for the erosion control were investigated on site, forest physiognomy, and hydrologic conditions. The erosion control dams and mountain stream conservation facilities were mostly constructed in the area, which has the sedimentary rock, 200-400m of altitude, a slope of 21~30°, and II of landslide hazard map. Among the forest environmental factors, it was only similar to the construction frequency in the areas that have small diameter class, III age class. Also, we investigated the hydrological environmental factors that determine the size and numbers of erosion control dam. The places constructed to the highest frequency were below 50ha in the area, 2.1~4.0km/㎢ of drainage density, longitudinal water system, 61~90mm of maximum precipitation per hour, and 201~300mm of day maximum precipitation. As the results, the sites and floodgate conditions between the constructed places and stream conservation facilities for the erosion control showed to be very similar. Therefore, these results indicate that the erosion control of the stream of the areas, which have the disruption of mountain peaks and the high erosion risk areas, should be used on both the erosion control dam and stream conservation facilities.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.15-20
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• 2015

This study compared, through a fire simulation, temperature changes of the smoke layer and the air layer, and height fluctuations of the smoke layer, according to the sprinkler head installation and non-installation, and the sprinkler head types in elderly-care facilities. When a standard response sprinkler worked, the radiant heat exceeded the conditions for the occurrence of flashover. However the ESFR sprinkler prevented flashover. When the early response head worked, inhabitants were not damaged by radiant heat because the maximum value of the heat flux remained $2,293W/m^2$, which is less then the burn hazard criterion of $4,000W/m^2$. The highest temperature of the room when fire occurred exceeded the safety standard in all of the smoke layer and the air layer, but the highest temperature was kept below the safety standard after it fell down rapidly. Because the height of the smoke layer was maintained above 1.1 m when the early response sprinkler worked, the falling of the smoking layer was much more delayed than in the case where the standard response sprinkler was used.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.389-390
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• 2022

Recently, Recently, the increase in international trade volume and the explosive increase in cargo volume due to the non-face-to-face society are leading to an increase in risk exposure and safety accidents in the port industry. In addition, as the Serious Disaster Punishment Act came into effect on January 27, 2021, various guidelines and laws to protect safety and life in port terminals are being enacted. However, despite these efforts, medium-to-large safety accidents in the port terminal industry continue to occur. According to the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, from 2016 to 2019, the number of casualties in the port handling industry increased by 4.2%. For effective follow-up management of port accidents or the preparation of related safety laws/systems, a risk analysis in consideration of the cause and damage of the accident must be conducted first, so that realistic accident reduction and prevention measures can be established. Therefore, in this study, major risk factors and preventive measures were derived by conducting risk assessment based on 1,039 cases of port terminal accidents collected by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency for 5 years from 2016 to 2022. After that, the priorities for preventive measures were determined through IPA analysis, Borich needs analysis, and The Locus For Focus analysis.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.974-982
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• 2023

Objective: Recent studies have highlighted the active and potential role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis and aneurysm progression, respectively. This study explored the link between PVAT attenuation and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression using computed tomography angiography (CTA). Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed patients with AAA who underwent CTA at baseline and follow-up between March 2015 and July 2022. The following parameters were obtained: maximum diameter and total volume of the AAA, presence or absence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT), maximum diameter and volume of the ILT, and PVAT attenuation of the aortic aneurysm at baseline CTA. PVAT attenuation was divided into high (> -73.4 Hounsfield units [HU]) and low (≤ -73.4 HU). Patients who had or did not have AAA progression during the follow-up, defined as an increase in the aneurysm volume > 10 mL from baseline, were identified. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the association between PVAT attenuation and AAA progression. Results: Our study included 167 participants (148 males; median age: 70.0 years; interquartile range: 63.0-76.0 years), of which 145 (86.8%) were diagnosed with AAA accompanied by ILT. Over a median period of 11.3 months (range: 6.0-85.0 months), AAA progression was observed in 67 patients (40.1%). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that high baseline PVAT attenuation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-4.32; P = 0.017) was independently associated with AAA progression. This association was demonstrated within the patients of AAA with ILT subcohort, where a high baseline PVAT attenuation (aHR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.08-4.60; P = 0.030) was consistently independently associated with AAA progression. Conclusion: Elevated PVAT attenuation is independently associated with AAA progression, including patients of AAA with ILT, suggesting the potential of PVAT attenuation as a predictive imaging marker for AAA expansion.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2024

Background: Children who use playground facilities are exposed to potential risks due to the high concentration of heavy metals contained in the finishing materials of facilities in children's playgrounds. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in the finishing materials of outdoor children's playgrounds where harmful heavy metals exist in Gwangju and to conduct human risk assessment for children and adults by age to find the risks and limitations. Methods: The bottom and top layers of double-painted paint were peeled off and collected together from the finishing materials of children's play facilities such as slides, swings, and seesaws in 147 children's parks in Gwangju. Heavy metals were analyzed using ICP-OES, etc., and human risk assessment was performed using the concentrations of heavy metals. Results: Based on 1.0E-04, which requires legal regulation, CTE was found to pose a carcinogenic risk for preschool children and no carcinogenic risk for the rest of the age groups. However, RME showed that both men and women of all ages had a carcinogenic risk. For reference, when the carcinogenic risk was based on 1.0E-06, CTE was found to pose a carcinogenic risk from infants to elementary school students, and RME was found to have a carcinogenic risk in all age groups. It was judged that there is a non-carcinogenic risk if the non-carcinogenic risk exceeds 1 based on the hazard index (HI) 1. In CTE, there was no non-carcinogenic risk, and RME for preschooler males (1.49E+00) and females (1.56E+00) were found to have non-carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: This study was meaningful in that it examines the differences in the current management of heavy metals concentration standards and potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to the human body and discusses the relationship between heavy metals and human health effects.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.565-576
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: The K-ELUVIA study aimed to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Eluvia^TM, a polymer-coated, paclitaxel-eluting stent, for femoropopliteal artery disease using data from a prospective Korean multicenter registry. Methods: A total of 105 patients with femoropopliteal artery disease who received endovascular treatment (EVT) with Eluvia^TM stents at 7 Korean sites were enrolled in a prospective cohort and followed for 2 years. The primary endpoint was the 2-year clinical patency. The secondary endpoint was 2-year freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). Results: Mean patient age was 68.2±10.4 years, and most patients (82.7%) were male. Mean lesion length was 168.3±117.6 mm. Chronic total occlusion was found in 57.7% of patients. Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC II) type C or D lesions were present in 46.1% of patients. Procedural success was achieved in 99.0% of patients. The clinical patency rate was 84.4% at 1 year after EVT and 76.3% at 2 years post-EVT. The freedom from TLR rate was 89.1% at 1 year after EVT and 79.1% at 2 years post-EVT. Chronic total occlusion (hazard ratio [HR], 3.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-11.67; p=0.039) and smaller mean stent diameter (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.16-0.98; p=0.044) were identified as independent predictors of loss of clinical patency at 2 years. Conclusions: The K-ELUVIA study demonstrated favorable 2-year clinical effectiveness and safety outcomes of Eluvia stent for femoropopliteal artery lesions in real-world practice.