• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Miscellaneous cereal have been largely consumed in Korea as due to their physiological functions beneficial to human health. The cereals are currently a social concern because they have been found to contain heavy metals. Thus, monitoring heavy metals in the cereals is an important requirement for food safety analysis. In this study, we determined arsenic concentration in the cereals randomly harvested from different markets. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inorganic arsenic was determined by ICP-MS coupled with HPLC system. The HPLC-ICP-MS analysis was optimized based on the limit of detection and recover test to reach $0.13-1.24{\mu}g/kg$ and 94.3-102.1%, respectively. The concentrations of inorganic arsenic equivalent to daily exposure were levels of $19.91{\mu}g/day$ in mixed grain, $1.07{\mu}g/day$ in glutinous rice, $0.77{\mu}g/day$ in black brown rice, $0.13{\mu}g/day$ in barley and $0.11{\mu}g/day$ in soybeans. CONCLUSION: The levels of arsenic in miscellaneous cereals were found lower than the recommended The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) levels, suggesting that the cereals marketed in Korea are not potential concern in risk assessment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1267-1272
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and infection status of Salmonella species (spp.) in 25 conventional pig farms by traditional fecal culture and serological methods to develop a Salmonella control program for Korean pig farms. The individual seroprevalence of Salmonella spp. in pigs reared in the 25 pig farms was 83.1% in sows and 6.4-32% in different aged pig groups, with the total seroprevalence 28.4% (141/848). The seroprevalence of the tested pigs increased in accordance with the decrease in maternal antibody and the rearing period on these farms. Of note, all the 25 pig farms contained at least two or more anti-Salmonella antibody-positive sows. In the fecal cultures Salmonella spp. were isolated only in three (12.0%, 3/25) of 16 serologically Salmonella-suspected farms (64.0%, 16/25), showing the limitation of the fecal culture method and the need for serum assays to understand the exact status of Salmonella infection in swine herds, which likely contain subclinically infected pigs or carriers. The results highlight the need to establish a supply system of Salmonella-free gilts for the promotion of a national Salmonella control program on swine farms in Korea. Further studies will be needed to develop an effective monitoring system for the implementation of a national Salmonella control program.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2016

Occurrence of oriental corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, and yield in a paddy-upland rotation field for 8 maize (Eolrukchal 1, Heugjeom 2, Miheukchal, Ilmichal, Heukjinjuchal, Chalok 4, Mibaek 2, Daehakchal) and 7 sorghum (Hwanggeumchal, Anzunbaengisusu, Moktaksusu, Sodamchal, DS-202, Nampungchal, Donganme) varieties has been surveyed. In a monitoring study using a pheromone trap carried out from 15 May to 10 September, the density of O. furnacalis adults increased rapidly from about 2 weeks after maize planting and reached the highest density at mid June. After that, their density was fluctuated a little at earlier September. The number of the damaged maize and invasive pores on the stem of 2 maizes and sorghum varieties was examined. The mean number of the damaged maize per 20 plants was 19 and 18 plants, and the number of invasive pores was 1.8 and 1.4 per maize stem in Daehakchal and Mibaek 2, respectively. In a survey carried out at harvest period using 8 maize varieties, the damaged ratio was 94%, 92%, 71%, 64%, 54%, 52%, and 45% in Daehakchal, Mibaek 2, Ilmichal, Eolrukchal 1, Chalok 4, Miheukchal, and Heugjeom 2, respectively. The number of invasive pore per Ilmichal stem was 1.4 and that of the others was less than 1.0 per stem. In addition, the damaged ratio of maize ears was 50% in Ilmichal, 40% in Heukjinjuchal, 37% in Daehakchal, etc. The damage pattern of 2 sorghum varieties, Nampungchal and Donganme, by O. furnacalis larvae was steeply increased from planting to 2 months and the trend was continued up to earlier August. At this time, the mean number of damaged sorghum was 13 and 9.2 plants for Nampungchal and Donganme, and the number of invasive stem pores was 1.06 and 0.46, respectively. In another survey carried out at harvest period for 7 sorghum varieties, their damaged ratio was 95% in DS-202, 76% in Moktaksusu, 75% in Sodamchal, 67% in Nampungchal, 57% in Anzunbaengisusu, 46% in Donganme, and 34% in Hwanggeumchal. The damage of sorghum varieties was much higher and severer than that of maizes by O. furnacalis larvae. The number of invasive pores on a sorghum stem was 1.7 in DS-202, 1.4 in Moktaksusu, 1.3 in Sodamchal, 1.1 in Nampungchal, 1.0 in Anzunbaengisusu, 0.5 in Donganme, and 0.4 in Hwanggeumchal. Meanwhile, there was no distinct connection between damaging results and yields of maizes and sorghums by O. furnacalis larvae in a paddy-upland rotation field. These results from this study can be applicable for the establishment of a management strategy to control Oriental corn borer in paddy-upland rotation fields for maize and sorghum.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 1999

Objectives: To investigate the effect of mandibular repasitioning device on airway sige and airway collapsibility in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS). Methods: Cine CT with polysomnographic monitoring was performed during sleep in nine(OSAS) patients before and after manibular repositioning device(MRD) application. Axial CT images were obtained in five upper airway levels(retropalatal-high, retroalatal-low, retroglossal, epiglottis, and hypopharynx levels). In each airway level, one axial CT image was obtained during sleep apnea period and 10 serial axial CT images were scanned every 1 second during normal sleep breathing. After wearing MRD, all CT images were obtained by the same method. The cross-sectional areas of airway were measured by automatic tracing method. The changes of minimum airway size and maximum airway size after MRD were evaluated. The airway collapsibility was calculaed before and after MRD. Results: During sleep apnea, the airway of retropalatal-low level was the most frequently narrowest site. During normal sleep breahing the minimum airway size was increased significantly after MRD at retropalatal-low level(p=0.011). The mean airway collapsibility was the highest at retropalatal-low level. MRD decreased the airway collapsibility significantly at retropalatal-low level(p=0.021) and epiglottis level(p=0.038). Conclusions: The enlargement of the minimum airway size and decreased airway collapsibility may be the therapeutic mechanism of MRD in obstructive sleep apnea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1159-1170
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• 2000

It is necessary to improve the ambient air quality through the proper treatment and control of pollutants by designating air pollutants to regulatory ones. Especially, human took a concern for particulate matters which raised visibility reduction, public health effects and injury of property for urban areas. In order to reduce the effect of particulate matters, we need to establish proper control strategies based on the concentration characteristics of particulate matters. In this study. to evaluate the characteristics of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$. thirty-eight samples of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ were collected at Nam-Gu sampling site where continuous air monitoring system has been operated, from May, 1999 to November, 1999, and their concentrations for the mass and anion components($Cl^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$) were analyzed. The important conclusions obtained in this study were as followings. Total average mass concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ were 35.016 and $50.293{\mu}g/m^3$ respectively. and $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratio was calculated 0.692. Total average concentrations of anion components in $PM_{2.5}$ were $1.581(Cl^-)$, $3.690(NO_3{^-})$ and $12.825(SO_4{^{2-}}){\mu}g/m^3$ and those in $PM_{10}$ were $2.471(Cl^-)$, $5.819(NO_3{^-})$ and $14.414(SO_4{^{2-}}){\mu}g/m^3$ respectively. From the correlations analysis. the correlation coefficient between mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ was calculated as 0.945. The correlation coefficients between $PM_{2.5}$ and anion components were analyzed as $Cl^-$(0.025), $NO_3{^-}$(0.788) and $SO_4{^{2-}}$(0.500) respectively, and the correlation coefficients between $PM_{10}$ and anion components were analyzed as $Cl^-$(-0.019), $NO_3{^-}$(0.806) and $SO_4{^{2-}}$)(0.535) respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.227-232
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• 2018

Purpose: Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common type of seizure in children between 6 months to 5 years of age. A family history of febrile seizures can increase the risk a child will have a FS. Yet, prevalence of FS regarding external environment has not been clearly proved. This study attempts to determine the association between prevalence of FS and weather. Methods: This study included medical records from the Korea National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Data were collected from 29,240 children, born after 2004, diagnosed with FS who were admitted to one of the hospitals in Seoul, Korea, between January 2009 and December 2013. During the corresponding time period, data from the Korea Meteorological Administration on daily monitoring of four meteorological factors (sea-level pressure, amount of precipitation, humidity and temperature) were collected. The relationships of FS prevalence and each meteorological factor will be designed using Poisson generalized additive model (GAM). Also, the contributory effect of viral infections on FS prevalence and weather will be discussed. Results: The amount of precipitation was divided into two groups for comparison: one with less than 5 mm and the other with equal to or more than 5 mm. As a result of Poisson GAM, higher prevalence of FS showed a correlation with smaller amount of precipitation. Smoothing function was used to classify the relationships between three variables (sea-level pressure, humidity, and temperature) and prevalence of FS. FS prevalence was correlated with lower sea-level pressure and lower humidity. FS prevalence was high in two temperature ranges (-7 to $-1^{\circ}C$ and $18-21^{\circ}C$). Conclusion: Low sea-level pressure, small amount of precipitation, and low relative air humidity may increase FS prevalence risk.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.321-335
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• 2021

Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5 with a diameter less than 10 and 2.5 ㎛, respectively) can be absorbed by the human body and adversely affect human health. Although most of the PM monitoring are based on ground-based observations, they are limited to point-based measurement sites, which leads to uncertainty in PM estimation for regions without observation sites. It is possible to overcome their spatial limitation by using satellite data. In this study, we developed machine learning-based retrieval algorithm for ground-level PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations using aerosol parameters from Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) satellite and various meteorological parameters from a numerical weather prediction model during January to December of 2019. Gradient Boosted Regression Trees (GBRT) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) were used to estimate PM concentrations. The model performances were examined for two types of feature sets-all input parameters (Feature set 1) and a subset of input parameters without meteorological and land-cover parameters (Feature set 2). Both models showed higher accuracy (about 10 % higher in R2) by using the Feature set 1 than the Feature set 2. The GBRT model using Feature set 1 was chosen as the final model for further analysis(PM10: R2 = 0.82, nRMSE = 34.9 %, PM2.5: R2 = 0.75, nRMSE = 35.6 %). The spatial distribution of the seasonal and annual-averaged PM concentrations was similar with in-situ observations, except for the northeastern part of China with bright surface reflectance. Their spatial distribution and seasonal changes were well matched with in-situ measurements.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.190-211
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• 2010

The purpose of this paper is to provide the preliminary data for maintenance of old trees of natural monuments and establishing protection projects. Accordingly, growth conditions, location circumstances, environment and protection management were analyzed for old trees at 34 sites in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Tree forms, crown, trunk and trees' health, leaves volume were analyzed in survey sites. As the results, the growth of Picrasma quassioides in Songsadong, Andong-si and Catalpa ovata in Hongwon-ri, Cheongsong-gun were not in good condition, along with other old trees of 6 cities (Quercus variabilis in Susan-ri, Uljin-gun, Juniperus chinensis in Hujeong-ri, Uljin-gun, Pyrus ussuriensis in Ssangjeon-ri, Uljin-gun, Salix glandulosa var. pilosa in Deokchon-ri, Cheongdo-gun, Pinus densiflora for. multicaulis in Hwasan-ri, Mungyeong-si, Pinus densiflora in Daeha-ri, Mungyeong-si). Accoding to these results, protection project and consistent monitoring are necessary. The analysis results of growth conditions per location circumstances showed that the old trees in the small spaces with large traffic of people were in bad condition. Therefore, it is necessary to secure sufficient space and soil improvement for such trees. The analysis results of growth conditions per species showed that Zelkova serrata, Quercus spp., Pinus densiflora are in good condition while Salix koreensis and others, i.e. a singular tree, are in poor condition. Thus, relatively smaller individuals and separately situated trees need careful management in their protection. The analysis results of trunk's growth ratio showed that Pinus densiflora, Ginkgo biloba, Zelkova serrata are in good condition whereas Juniperus chinensis, Quercus variabilis, Salix koreensis are not. It is a recent trend that tree surgeries are gradually decreasing; there are a number of damaged trees with no maintenance/management, and several sites requiring mend trunks management and cabling, bracing in protection and management projects. Hence, in the future, local government and management organizations should plan for systematic management and establish a protection plan for the natural monument trees. Also, 12 sites were found to be in need to purchase lands in order to secure the growth spaces, and since most of these areas are available for purchase, it is needed to promote a budget and purchase those areas through persuasion of the owner. These areas seems crucial in order to maximize the effect of conservation efforts and budgets for the preservation and restoration of the old trees.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.487-499
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• 2021

Purpose:The purpose of the paper is to review the problems of performance enhancement of safety certification standards and to suggest directions for improvement in order to rationalize safety certification standards for future industrial development and environmental changes. Method: The problems and limitations of the safety certification system are summarized through literature review and interview with manager, and the status of safety certification standards is classified into design standards, performance standards, and detailed standards, and the status analysis is performed. In addition, by synthesizing the results of the investigation and analysis, improvements are suggested to improve the performance of the safety certification standards. Result: Through the survey, the problems and limitations of safety certification could be grouped into six categories: government-led certification system operation, standardized certification standards, long time required to improve certification, poor certification standards preparation system, and lack of reflection of industry opinions. And, as a result of analyzing the certification standards by dividing them into performance and design standards, in the case of machinery, equipment, and protection devices, the design standards were high at 69.7% and 64.9%, whereas in the case of protective equipment, the performance standards were high at 61.1%. In order to improve the performance of safety certification standards centered on design standards, it is necessary to determine the possibility of performance enhancement of the certification standards and determine the feasibility of the inspection test method. In order to improve performance, it was reviewed that it was necessary to establish a systemic foundation and infrastructure, such as strengthening the Product Liability Act, systematizing market monitoring, etc., distributing certification test tasks, and participating in the preparation of certification standards by the private sector. Conclusion: Through this study, the problems and limitations of Korea's safety certification system were summarized and the necessity for performance improvement was reviewed. Performance improvement of safety certification standards is a matter that requires preparatory work, such as legislative revision and infrastructure construction, and requires mid-to-long-term promotion. In addition, rather than improving the overall safety certification standards, the performance requirements for each item subject to certification should be reviewed and promoted, and details should be specified through additional research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2022

Data from an investigation of vulnerable conifer species in the subalpine zone in Korea obtained by the Korea Forest Service in 2017-2018 and monitoring research conducted by the National Institute of Forest Science since 2014 were used to analyze the status of distribution and growing condition of three major conifer species (Abies nephrolepis, Abies koreana, and Picea jezoensis) in the subalpine zone in the Baekdudaegan protected area. The distribution area of the studied species in the Baekdudaegan protected area was ca. 74% (8,035 ha) of the total distribution area in Korea, indicating that Baekdudaegan is a core area for conservation and restoration of subalpine conifer species. From decline index [A. nephrolepis in Mt. Taebaeksan and Mt. Deogyusan increased by 77.3% and 29.6%, respectively; A. koreana in Mt. Jirisan (Chunwangbong Peak) increased by 45.2% in four years; and P. jezoensis in Mt. Jirisan (Chunwangbong Peak) increased by 47.8% in two years] and seedling frequency (lower frequency of newly recruited seedlings than dead seedlings) results, the studied species are expected to face difficulties in sustainability. In contrast, at Mt. Seseoksan and Chunwangbong Peak in Mt. Jirisan, the health of trees and seedling frequency showed a partial tendency to recover and increase. In addition, we identified the relationship between the decline index and seedling frequency. These results will support the implementation of conservation strategies for vulnerable conifer species in the subalpine zone.