• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2021

Purpose: Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely available drug responsible for a large part of drug-induced hepatotoxicity in developed countries. Although acetaminophen overdose cases in Korea are being continuously reported, there are no reports related to the level of this drug in the patient's blood or of laboratory analysis at emergency departments (ED). This study sought to analyze the acetaminophen overdose cases at a toxicological laboratory and to survey APAP analysis services offered at select EDs. Methods: We analyzed the demographic and analytic data at a toxicological laboratory run by the National Emergency Medical Center (NMC) in 2019-2020. We surveyed the APAP laboratory service in the 38 regional emergency medical centers (EMCs) and 68 local EMCs near the toxicological laboratory. Results: We studied 175 acute poisoning cases (112 women) with positive blood APAP results (mean age 47.0±24.1 years). Suicide attempts comprised 40.0% of the cases and 30.3% APAP overdose events. In the univariate analysis, we observed that patients were significantly younger, with fewer underlying medical diseases. There were a higher number of APAP overdose events, more favorable initial mental status, more toxic quantity intake in the above treatment line group (p<0.05), In multivariate analysis, the toxic amount intake was significantly more frequent in the above treatment line group (p<0.01). Hospital APAP analysis services were available in six EMCs (3/38 regional and 3/68 local). The hospital blood APAP level reporting intervals were shorter than outside-hospital laboratory services (p<0.01, regional 7.0±3.0 vs. 40.6±27.5, local 5.3±3.1 vs. 57.9±45.1 hours). The NMC toxicological laboratory reporting interval was shorter than the other outside-hospital laboratories (p<0.01, regional 5.7±0.6 vs. 50.2±22.7 local 7.5±3.0 vs. 70.5±41.5 hours). Conclusion: Over the treatment line group, toxic amount intake was significantly more frequent. Only six of 106 EMCs have their own APAP analysis service in their hospitals.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.113-141
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• 2021

The impacts of ice clouds on the energy budget of the Earth and their representation in climate models have been identified as important and unsolved problems. Ice clouds consist almost exclusively of non-spherical ice crystals with various shapes and sizes. To determine the influences of ice clouds on solar and infrared radiation as required for remote sensing retrievals and numerical models, knowledge of scattering and microphysical properties of ice crystals is required. A conventional method for representing the radiative properties of ice clouds in satellite retrieval algorithms and numerical models is to combine measured microphysical properties of ice crystals from field campaigns and pre-calculated single-scattering libraries of different shapes and sizes of ice crystals, which depend heavily on microphysical and scattering properties of ice crystals. However, large discrepancies between theoretical calculations and observations of the radiative properties of ice clouds have been reported. Electron microscopy images of ice crystals grown in laboratories and captured by balloons show varying degrees of complex morphologies in sub-micron (e.g., surface roughness) and super-micron (e.g., inhomogeneous internal and external structures) scales that may cause these discrepancies. In this study, the current idealized models representing morphologies of ice crystals and the corresponding numerical methods (e.g., geometric optics, discrete dipole approximation, T-matrix, etc.) to calculate the single-scattering properties of ice crystals are reviewed. Current problems and difficulties in the calculations of the single-scattering properties of atmospheric ice crystals are addressed in terms of cloud microphysics. Future directions to develop physically consistent ice-crystal models are also discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.97-106
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to determine how to apply ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 software test procedures and ISO/IEC 25023 software test evaluation items to software-accredited testing laboratories based on the ISO/IEC 17025 international standard requirements. As a method, the overall requirements for their application to a test laboratory were analyzed by mapping ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 and ISO/IEC 25023 based on ISO/IEC 17025. According to the mapping analysis, a total of 29 documents were created, including quality manuals, procedures, and test guidelines for the operation of the test laboratory. As a result of the study, a test laboratory management system was developed using Confluence 6.15 software by applying the analyzed results of the overall requirements. The test procedures, documents, and records were stored in, and operated from, this system. Verification of suitability for operation of the test laboratory was conducted by KOLAS evaluators through a document review and an on-site audit at the LG Electronics SW Accredited Test Laboratory in Seoul. In conclusion, it was confirmed through the KOLAS evaluation that the test laboratory management system and the operation of the test laboratory are appropriate and, compared with previous cases, the test laboratory operates effectively, and the overall schedule of accreditation could be shortened.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.597-602
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• 2021

Even in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, the prevention of industrial accidents is still an important issue in industrial sites. In solving the problem of industrial safety, a product can be difficult to market if there is a lack of standard or method for a reliable performance evaluation. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a test method for a wearable airbag product for protecting the body from falls that was newly developed to respond to fall accidents in industrial sites. As a research method, reliable evaluation standards were developed and applied through four stages of the evaluation and development process (Step 1: Product review, Step 2: Data research, Step 3: Expert meeting, Step 4: Drawing evaluation standard). In addition, the impact force was evaluated according to the developed evaluation standard. The fall impact force obtained through the evaluation showed a reduction effect of approximately 96% compared to the existing impact force. Therefore, the fall impact force was reduced significantly when the airbag was applied. This will enable new convergence products to be launched on the market and produce an environment where industrial workers can work safely.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2021

The aim of the research is providing a fundamental data on quality and constructability of direct tile setting method depending on various cement to sand ratio for tiling dry cement mortar. A large number of tile setting failures reported is related with the cement mortar and its construction for tiling. Because of different materials of tiles, the properties of tiling dry cement mortar, an adhesive for tiling, can influence on quality and constructability of tiling differently. Practically, the easiest way of controlling the properties of the tiling dry cement mortar is to control the proportion of cement and sand. Hence, in this research, sand to cement ratio (S/C) was controlled. Since there is no standarized method on evaluating performance of dry cement mortar for tiling, a several sensory evaluation methods were suggested and executed. According to the experiments conducted in this research, the adhesive performance of cement mortar for tiles can be different depending on the sides such as tile and substrate. Additionally, depending on S/C, finishability, initial adhesive performance, and tile shifting resistance can be changed for ceramic tile. Therefore, under the conditions of this research, about 5 of S/C can be recommended for appropriate performace of tiling dry cement mortar.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.180-188
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• 2020

To replace Japanese coal ash used in the domestic cement production and to recycle large quantities of domestic pond ash, it is essential to develop the technologies for quality control of cement by using the domestic pond ash. Thus, in this study, the feasibility of using the pond ash as a raw material for cement was investigated through chemical composition and microstructure analysis. As a result, most of the domestic pond ash contained slightly more Fe2O3, chloride, and unburned carbon contents than Japanese coal ash. In particular, the contents of chloride were considerably low in the pond ash that was transferred to fresh water or collected from surface of landfill area. However, since circulating fluidized bed boiler coal ash had relatively high SO3 contents causing durability problems of cement, it was not suitable for use as a raw material for cement. Thus, to replace Japanese coal ash with the domestic pond ash, it is necessary to introduce the adjustment of mixture proportion of cement raw materials and the process of removing chloride in the pond ash.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.185-200
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• 2021

The Marine Environment QA/QC management system has been operated since 2010 to secure the reliability of data and improve the analysis capabilities of measurement and analysis institutions. From 2010 to 2020, the cumulative number of measurement and analysis institutions participated in the QA/QC management system was 266. And the number of certificates issued by the ministry of oceans and fisheries is 182. A total of 32 reference materials for proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparisons have been developed. They were first developed focusing on items (Nutrients, COD) commonly analyzed in marine environmental measuring network, marine pollution impact surveys, sea area utilization impact assessment, deepsea water surveys, and information network on fishing ground environments. In addition, it is time to expand the filed of the QA/QC management system, such as seawater temperature, salinity, PCBs and PAHs in sediments, which are mainly analyzed in most monitoring programs. On-site assessment has been conducted for 162 laboratories according to ISO/IEC 17025 to evaluate their conformity of the quality management system and deficiency. In terms of management and technology requirements, about 4.2% of organizations showed insufficient division of duties among employees 8.7% of them revealed the lack of employee training. By test item, about 6.3% of organizations showed the lack of standard substance management and the state of the cleaning glassware was pointed out in about 5.4% of them. The QA/QC management system should be continuously supplemented by identifying the causes of nonconformities and area for improvement.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

Background: In Japan, new regulations that revise the dose limit for the lens of the eye (hereafter the lens), operational quantities, and measurement positions for the lens dose were enforced in April 2021. Based on the international safety standards, national guidelines, the results of the Radiation Safety Research Promotion Fund of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, and other studies, the Working Group of Radiation Protection Standardization Committee, the Japan Health Physics Society (JHPS) developed a guideline for radiation dose monitoring for the lens. Materials and Methods: The Working Group of the JHPS discussed the criteria of non-uniform exposure and the management criteria set not to exceed the dose limit for the lens. Results and Discussion: In July 2020, the JHPS guideline was published. The guideline consists of three parts: main text, explanations, and 26 examples. In the questions, the corresponding answers were prepared, and specific examples were provided to enable similar cases to be addressed. Conclusion: With the development of the guideline on radiation dose monitoring of the lens, radiation managers and workers will be able to smoothly comply with revised regulations and optimize radiation protection.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2022

Close communication between clinicians and dental technicians is an important factor in providing successful prostheses. The exchange of opinions with laboratories has mainly been in the form of written prescriptions and a photos, but it has been reported that information transmission may be limited. Currently, as digital technology-based prosthesis fabrication is common, 3D image objects can be stored on the web and can be easily viewed through a mobile web browser. In this article, we introduce cases where the design of the prosthesis was improved by designing the prosthesis using CAD software and reviewing the prosthesis designed with the clinical side through a web viewer. Through this protocol, it was possible to improve the occlusal surface and crown contour, the opposing teeth condition, the size of the gingival embrasure, and the shape of pontic. The process of sharing, discussing, and modifying the prosthesis design with the clinician and technician through a web viewer contributes to reflecting the diversity of oral conditions and individualized needs, thereby helping to make functional and esthetic prostheses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.207-216
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• 2022

Canine babesiosis has been scarcely investigated in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Although it is known that Babesia gibsoni is its primary causative agent, its clinical presentation has not been completely clarified in the ROK. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical appearance of this parasitic infection based on the anamnesis of the patient and compare of hematological and biochemical test results. Four hundred whole blood samples from patients with a presumptive diagnosis of tick-borne disease were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the Babesia spp. 18S rRNA gene and by a rapid diagnostic test kit (VetAll Laboratories^®) to detect B. gibsoni seroreactive animals. Thirty-six (9.0%) dogs were PCR-positive but only 24 (6.0%) were seropositive. The investigation revealed that all the courses of the disease are present in the ROK, with the acute course being predominant. The acute course tends to consist of inappetence, lethargy, pyrexia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and occasionally hematuria. It also occurs with common hematological abnormalities, such as thrombocytopenia and anemia, and to a lesser extent biochemical abnormalities, such as hyperbilirubinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated liver enzymes. This research shows that B. gibsoni is an endemic hemoparasite capable of producing a variety of clinical manifestations in dogs. For its accurate diagnosis, a descriptive history of the clinical signs, hematology, and biochemical profile of the patient, along with a well-performing PCR assay, are essential. These findings will help in planning pragmatic preventive strategies against this potent threat in the ROK.