• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.841-849
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• 2013

Workers engaged in construction works have been exposed to high levels of noise during their work in tunnels. Noise is one of the major health hazards for employees working in construction sites. The aim of this study is to evaluate the noise levels generating from tunneling equipments such as jumbo drills, backhoes, payloaders, shotcrete machines and service cars. Explosion and turbo fan noises were also monitored. A high precision sound level meter was introduced for measuring LAeq, LAFmax, LAFmin and LCpeak noises in 5 tunneling work sites that were located in Seoul, Kyunggi-do and Kangwon-do areas with NATM and shield methods. The highest noise was recorded by explosion(151.9 dB LCpeak) followed by jumbo drills of higher than 110 dB(A) LAeq. Backhoe normally generated 90~110 dB(A) LAeq while breaking work of rock showed additional around 5~15 dB(A). Noise exposure levels for payloader and shotcrete machine scored more than 90 dB(A) which might be a source of noise-induced hearing loss. Additional research in revealing noise levels from construction equipments operating in tunneling works may enhance the protection of workers who exposed to noise primarily at the sites.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1995

Purpose : To investigate the effect of alkaloid fraction from Korean ginseng on radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (dsb) formation and repair in murine lymphocytes Materials and Methods : We used the neutral filter elution technique to assay $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}$ ray-induced DNA double strand breaks formation and repair in C57BL/6 mouse spleen lymphocytes for evaluating the dose-response relationship in the presence of alkaloid fraction as a radioprotective agent. The lymphocytes were stimulated with Phytohemagglutinin (PHA, 2 u g/ml) to label $^3[H]-thymidine.$ Isotope-labelled lymphocytes in suspension were exposed to 100 Gy at $0^{\cdot}C$ in the alkaloid fraction-treated group and elution procedure was performed at PH 9.6. The extents of formation of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks and repair were compared respectively via strand scission factor (SSF) and relative strand scission factor (RSSF). Results: Alkaloid fraction reduced the formation of double strand breaks with dose modification factor of 2 15, compared to control group Rejoining of DNA dsb appeared to take place via two components. The first fast component was completed within 20.4 minutes, but the second slow component was not completed until 220.2 minutes after irradiation. About $30\%$ of dsb formed by irradiation was ultimately unrejoined despite the administration of alkaloid fraction. The administration of alkaloid fraction had a great effect on the second slow component of repair; the half-time of fast component repair was not changed, but that of slow component was 621.8 minutes. Conclusion: Neutral filter elution assay Proved to be a very effective method to quantitate the extents of DNA dsb formation and its repair. By using this technique, we were able to evaluate the efficiency of alkaloid fraction from Korean ginseng as a valuable radioprotector. Alkaloid fraction can be used prophylactically to prevent or ameliorate the severe radiation damages in workers and neighbors around the atomic power plants. For more refined study, however, more advanced purification of alkaloid fraction wil be needed in the near future.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.360-365
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• 2008

In the last several years, studies on the association of oxidative stress damage with exposure in the work place have been conducted. Xenobiotics create an imbalance of the homeostasis between oxidant molecules and antioxidant defense. By monitoring oxidative stress biomarkers, information was obtained on damages induced by oxidative stress and the toxicity of xenobiotics. In the present study, a Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) was constructed using the data from the Working Environment Measurement (WEM) of painters in the shipyard industry from the past 3 years to assess the exposure status. Additionally, by measuring the concentration of urinary malondialdehyde (MDA), the effect of lipid peroxidation was examined. The subjects consisted of 68 workers who were exposed to mixed organic solvents in the painting process and 25 non-exposure controls. The exposure indices of the exposure groups were significantly different (sprayer: 0.83, touchup: 0.54, assistant: 0.13, P<0.05). The urinary MDA concentration of the exposure group was 48.60${\pm}$ 39.23 ${\mu}mol$/mol creatinine, which was significantly higher than 18.03${\pm}$16.33 ${\mu}mol$/mol creatinine of the control group (P<0.05). From the multiple regression analysis of urinary MDA, the regression coefficient for exposure grade was statistically significant. In future studies, evaluation of the antioxidant levels of subjects should be performed simultaneously with quantitative exposure measurements.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2024.07a
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• pp.343-350
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• 2024

Mobile electroencephalography (EEG) can continuously and objectively monitor construction workers' psychological stress, thereby contributing to enhanced safety and health. Traditional EEG-based stress assessment techniques utilize headset-type devices that cover the scalp, including the frontal area, which is the most relevant brain part to stress. Yet, the invasiveness of such devices may pose a potential barrier to their field application. In response, ear-EEG technology presents a less intrusive alternative for continuous monitoring, potentially overcoming the limitations of scalp-EEG. The temporal regions monitored by ear-EEG hold anatomical and functional significance in the brain's response to stress, suggesting that ear-EEG could effectively detect stress. Despite its advantage, the effectiveness of ear-EEG in stress detection remains underexplored, largely due to the existing literature's focus on frontal brain regions. To address this gap, the authors aim to evaluate ear-EEG's effectiveness in measuring stress and compare it to high-density scalp-EEG. EEG signals were collected with ear- and scalp-EEGs from 10 subjects in a controlled laboratory while they performed the mental arithmetic tasks under time pressure and socio-evaluative threats to induce stress at different levels (high vs. low). Subsequently, the authors performed t-tests and point-biserial analysis to analyze differences between high and low-stress conditions in the most reliable stress biomarkers in literature: high-beta power in temporal regions for ear-EEG, and alpha asymmetry in frontal regions for scalp-EEG. The results indicate that both EEG techniques could effectively differentiate between stress levels, with statistical significance (p <0.001 for both) and moderate effect size. Furthermore, the results demonstrate ear-EEG's comparable effectiveness to scalp-EEG in detecting stress-induced brain activity given the comparable statistical metrics, such as p-value and effect size. This study provides a groundwork for further explorations into leveraging ear-EEG as a practical tool for the early detection of stress, aiming to enhance stress management strategies within the construction industry.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.2309-2317
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• 2009

Depurination, the release of purine bases from nucleic acids by hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond, gives rise to alterations of the cell genome. Though cells have evolved mechanisms to repair these lesions, unrepaired apurinic sites have been shown to have two biological consequences: lethality and base substitution errors. 2-Bromopropane (2-BP) is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and other organics. In addition, 2-BP has been used as a replacement for chloroflurocarbons and 1,1,1-trichloroethane as a cleaning solvent in electronics industry. However, 2-BP was found to cause reproductive and hematopoietic disorders in local workers exposed to it. Owing to the toxicity of 2-BP, there has been a tendency to use 1-BP as an alternative cleaning solvent to 2-BP. However, 1-BP has also been reported to be neurotoxic in rats. Though $N^7$-guanine adduct of 2-BP has been reported previously, massive depurination of the nucleosides and calf thymus DNA was observed in this study. We incubated the nucleosides (ddG, dG, guanosine, ddA, dA and adenosine) with excess amount 2-BP at the physiological condition (pH 7.4, $37\;{^{\circ}C}$), which were analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS/MS. In addition, the time and dose response relationship of depurination in nucleosides induced by 2-bromopropane at the physiological condition was investigated. Similarly, incubation of calf-thymus DNA with the excess amount 2-BP at the physiological condition was also performed. In addition, the time and dose response relationship of depurination in calf-thymus DNA induced by 2-BP at the physiological condition was investigated. Those results suggest that the toxic effect of 2-BP could be both from the depurination of nucleosides and DNA adduct formation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.225-232
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the glass ceiling induction factors on the improvement of the job Commitment on the glass ceiling perception and to analyze the effect of the organizational Commitment on the influence of the local medical institute and private medical institute employees. Purpose. As a research method, structural equation model analysis was carried out to investigate the influence relationship of each factor. In particular, multiple group analysis was performed to analyze the difference of influence relations between public and private medical personnel. Respectively. Result, First, empirical studies on the effect of the glass ceiling inducing factors on job Commitment showed that job Commitment was influenced by stereotype and organizational culture, and the magnitude of the influence was different. Second, the employees of the room medical center were influenced by perceived promotion, job placement, education and training, reward, and job satisfaction. Third, in the hypothesis that job Commitment will be affected by the perception of glass ceiling, only the workers of the private medical center showed significant results. Based on the results of this study, it will be necessary to plan policies to improve the perception of the glass ceiling phenomenon and improve its status in order to improve the personnel and system that women workers in the medical field can enter more senior management positions.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Background: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent worker health conditions worldwide. Although the effect of noise exposure on hearing is well researched, other workplace exposures may account for significant hearing loss. The aim of this review was to determine whether occupational hand-arm vibration exposure through use of power or pneumatic tools, independent of noise exposure, is associated with permanent hearing loss. Do workers suffer from hand-arm vibratione-induced hearing loss? Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1981 and 2020 were identified through five online databases with five search keywords. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including online database search methodology, study selection, article exclusion, and assessment of potential study design confounders and biases, were followed. Results: Database searches retrieved 697 articles. Fifteen articles that reported 17 studies met the criteria for review. All but two studies revealed statistically significant associations between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. The majority of the study results revealed associations between hand-arm vibration and hearing loss, independent of potential age and noise confounders. Conclusion: Few studies have examined the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. Dose response data were limited as only one study measured vibration intensity and duration. Although the majority of studies identified statistically significant associations, causal relationships could not be determined. Further research using standardized and uniform measurement protocols is needed to confirm whether the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and permanent hearing loss is causal and the mechanism(s).

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 1997.12a
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• pp.101-101
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• 1997

Comet assay, single cell gel electrophoresis has been known as useful, rapid, simple, visual, and sensitive technique for measuring the DNA breakage in mammalian ce1ls. For evaluation of DNA damage using comet assay, early studies reported a change in comet length and intensity with DNA damage using simple visual technique, such as fluorescence microscopy with eyespiece. In recent, some workers are observing and analyzing nucleotide of comets using quantitative fluorescence image analysis system to estimate 'tail moment', which is defined as the product of the tail length and the fraction of total DNA in tail. Our laboratory also adopted the image analysis software for qualification. In addition, many of the practical features of comet assay render it potentially attractive as useful tool for molecular toxicology and carcinogenesis, because the system is already showing considerable promise as rapid predictor in both in vitro and in vivo experimental designs. Recently, the comet assay becomes a attractive technique to study of apoptosis, because apoptotic fragmentation of nuclear DNA into nucleosomal sizes can be evaluated by the comet assay. So, we attempted to apply the comet assay to studying the effect of various stress on the apoptosis-sensitive cell lines. Particularly, focusing on the hyperthermic apoptosis, we could find that heat shock(44˚C for 60 minutes) was sufficient to induced apoptosis in these cell lines. But using the highly sensitive comet assay, we could not detect DNA breaks immediately after heat shock.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-65
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• 1985

Three stages of population growth during last forty years affected differently to the labor force and employment in Korea. The first impact of rapid population growth on the labor force occured after the end of World War II. Sudden growth of population due to repartriation and refugees directly increased the labor force. Deteriorating labor market conditions were caused not only by the explosive labor supply but also by the shortage of employment opportunities due to a lack of productive facilities. This severe excess supply of labor continued until the early 196Os. Population growth in the second stage which caused by high fertility during the post Korean War baby boom period induced an eventual increase in the labor supply with time lag of more than fifteen years. Younger persons born during baby boom period were flooded the labor market. Fortunately, job opportunities were expanded more rapidly than the labor force supply because high rates of economic growth and speedy industrialization were continued until the later half of 1970s. Unemployment, therefore, decreased dramatically during this period. The effect of third stage which is characterized as mitigated population growth due to birth control has appeared in the labor market since late 1970s. The growth rate of labor force has been going down and the proportion of younger workers was also been decreasing. From the early 1980s, furthermore, partial disharmony between supply of and demand for the younger workers is closing up. Less educated younger workers who works at low wage are lacking while more educated youngers who want to work at high wage are being excess, because a lot of younger prefer higher education rather than productive job. It is expected that the structural inharmony will be diversified in the future in Korea. The labor force will be changed to middleaged, highly educated and womenized till year 2000, and, after then, to old-aged. On the demand side, industries and jobs will transferred to be labor-saving and soft. These structural changes of labor supply and demand will not matching in time. Aggregate supply of labor force will be steadily increasing more rapidly than aggregate demand for labor until year 2000, and this trend will continue to the first one or two decades of the 2lth century because the persons born dufing the baby boom pariod are being eligible couples in recent. Therefore, conclusion is that appropriate manpower development policy as well as sustained birth control policy is necessary for harmonizing the structural unbalance and the disequilibrium between aggregate labor supply and demand in the future.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.240-258
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• 2010

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the regional economic effects of the development in Incheon New Port(Stage I) using a regional I/O table and to provide implications for making policies to support the development of the port logistics industry. According to the results of this study, production inducing effect 6,064.5 billion won on Incheon local economy from the development of port facilities at the Incheon New Port (Stage I) occupies 15.0% of 40,398.5 billion won the total production of the Incheon area in 2005, added value inducing effect 2,821.3 billion won occupies 7.7% of 36,508.0 billion won the total added value of the Incheon area in 2005, and induced new employment 72,424 workers occupies 9.0% of 808,248 workers the total number of employees in the Incheon area in 2005. As presented above, the development in the Incheon New Port(Stage I) was expected to have huge spillover effects on Incheon local economy. Accordingly, the development in Incheon New Port must be promoted in a timely manner on national.