• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

Ergonomic methods have been effectively applied to design and evaluation of functional clothing. The goals of the present study are to: (1) develop an ergonomic evaluation system for the systematic analysis of functional clothing and (2) examine the usefulness of the proposed evaluation system by applying to flame-proof clothing. Based on the survey of literature and the brainstorming of experts in clothing design and ergonomics, factors considered for clothing evaluation were selected, classified, and complemented, resulting in an ergonomic clothing evaluation system consisting of four factor categories (clothing construction, user, work and environment, and user response). Using the proposed system, a field survey and a laboratory experiment were conducted for flame-proof clothing to identify its design problems. The field survey to workers found a comprehensive set of problems on the flame-proof clothing design in terms of pattern, textile, and color. The laboratory experiment identified additional design problems using a questionnaire that was developed based on an analysis on the relationship between clothing design components and ergonomic evaluation measures. The present study showed the ergonomic evaluation system and the relationship analysis of clothing design components and ergonomic evaluation measures are of use to identify design problems of functional clothing in a comprehensive and analytic manner.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.390-395
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• 2021

Background: Health-care providers typically undergo shift work and are subjected to increased stress. Night shift work may induce disturbed sleep cycles and circadian rhythm. The objective of this study was to explore if night shift workers (NSWs) show an increased risk of abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 574 employees without thyroid disease and abnormal TSH at baseline who underwent annual check-ups between 2007 and 2016 in a medical center. NSWs were defined as those with working time schedules other than daytime hours. We calculated the incidence rate and estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism compared with non-NSWs using a Cox regression model. Results: A total of 56 incident abnormal TSH cases and 39 subclinical hypothyroidism cases in NSWs were identified during 3000 person-years of follow-up. In models adjusted for age, sex, obesity, and working departments, we found no increased relative risk for incident abnormal TSH (HR: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.33-1.60) or subclinical hypothyroidism (HR: 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.19-1.45) when comparing NSWs to non-NSWs; nor were incidence rates significantly different among exclusively medical employees after excluding administrative staff. Conclusion: In this hospital-based nine-year follow-up retrospective cohort study, NSWs were not associated with increased relative risk of incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism, in contrast to previous cross-sectional studies.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1431-1438
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• 2022

In this study, natural radioactivity concentrations and dosimetric values of fly ash samples were evaluated for the landfill area of the coal-fired power plant (CFPP) complex at Binh Thuan, Vietnam. The average activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were 93, 77, 92 and 938 Bq kg^-1, respectively. The average results for radon dose, indoor external, internal, and total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) were 5.27, 1.22, 0.16, and 6.65 mSv y^-1, respectively. The average emanation fraction for fly ash were 0.028. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) were recorded as 20.30×10^-3, 4.26×10^-3, 0.62×10^-3, and 25.61×10^-3 for radon, indoor, outdoor exposures, and total ELCR, respectively. The results indicated that the cover of shielding materials above the landfill area significantly decreased the gamma radiation from the ash and slag in the ascending order: Zeolite < PVC < Soil < Concrete. Total dose of all radionuclides in the landfill site reached its peak at 19.8 years. The obtained data are useful for evaluation of radiation safety when fly ash is used for building material as well as the radiation risk and the overload of the landfill area from operation of these plants for population and workers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.762-774
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• 2022

The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in a considerable influence on the world economy. Being a big sector of the economy, the food supply chain struggled. The meat supply chain was most notably affected as every part of the supply chain from farm to shelf was closely inter-related. With the closure of businesses and restaurants the demand for at home food from grocery stores increased. Meat production facilities were impacted when the virus spread to the workers causing facilities to close or line speeds to slow. The combination of these two issues, in turn, led to there being less meat on the shelves. With less meat animals being harvested, there was less demand for livestock leading to farmers having an excess in slaughter ready animals. The decreased demand for livestock led to economic issues as money was lost in multiple sections of the supply chain. Aside from the economy and supply chain issues, other issues include concerns over the safety of meat products due to decreased safety protocols to increase line speed. Additionally, concerns of animal welfare with the excess of animals being culled were raised due to decreased capacity in processing facilities. While this review paper mainly focuses on characterizing the impact of COVID 19 on the meat supply chain in the USA, the compiled information should be able to provide practical insights to the meat/food industry across the globe to develop potential mitigating strategies against the COVID 19 and/or any similar pandemic incidences in the future.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2000

Nowadays we continue to face challenges to the safety of our foods. It seems clear that contaminated meats provide the major route of listeria monocytogenes transmission from the environment to humans. L monocytogenes is the most important species associated with disease in humans among the listeria sp. The current incidence of symptomatic listeriosis caused by L monocytogenes is uncertain. Although the number of reports in the literature on listeriosis are increasing, it is likely that they are actually unrecognized or underreported because of a lack of awareness on the part of some laboratory workers who fail to isolate or identify these organisms. To get the information of sanitary development, we survey various meats (beef, pork, etc) in Kyongbuk area. Samples were collected from local meat shop at Kyongbuk area. Total sixty six case were isolated and identified from one hundreds and seven samples. L innocua was the most abundant in listeria sp. Among U isolates, the number of isolated L innocua was 43 (65.2%). The numbers of isolated L murrayi, L welshimeri, L monocytogenes and L seeligeri were 12(18.2%), 7(10.6%), 3(4.5%) and 1(1.5%), respectively, but L grayi, L iuanouii were not Isolated.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.477-488
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the clinical characteristics and risk factors on the occurrence of variant angina, and to examine the predicting factors on the vascular endothelial dysfunction of the patients with variant angina. Methods: A total of 134 patients diagnosed with variant angina were recruited from 2006 to 2008. The degrees of endothelial dysfunction were measured and recorded by the researcher using the values of flow-mediated vasodilation of their brachial arteries and Nitroglycerine-mediated dilation. Subjects' demographic data and risk factors were gathered after obtaining informed consent, and their electronic medical records were reviewed to collect laboratory data. Results: The mean age was $54.2{\pm}9.6$ years and 52% was male patients. More than 50% of the male patients were cigarette smokers and had hypercholesterolemia. 84% of the male patients and 70% of the female patients had more than one risk factor of cardiovascular disease. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that smoking and hypercholesterolemia predicted the decrease of flow-mediated vasodilation (Adjusted $R^2$ = .204, p < .001). Conclusion: Tailored educational interventions for smoking cessation and cholesterol management are needed to prevent recurrence of angina attack for patients with variant angina and to prevent cardiovascular disease for middle-aged workers.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.369-390
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• 2019

Herein, we present numerical simulation based model to study the use of a 'Tuned Mass Damper (TMD)' - particularly spring mass systems - to control the displacements at the deck level under seismic and ice loads for an offshore jacket structure. Jacket is a fixed structure and seismic loads can cause it to vibrate in the horizontal directions. These motions can disintegrate the structure and lead to potential failures causing extensive damage including environmental hazards and risking the lives of workers on the jacket. Hence, it is important to control the motion of jacket because of earthquake and ice loads. We analyze an offshore jacket platform with a tuned mass damper under the earthquake and ice loads and explore different locations to place the TMD. Through, selected parametric variations a suitable location for the placement of TMD for the jacket structure is arrived and this implies the design applicability of the present research. The ANSYS^*TM mechanical APDL software has been used for the numerical modeling and analysis of the jacket structure. The dynamic response is obtained under dynamic seismic and ice loadings, and the model is attached with a TMD. Parameters of the TMD are studied based on the 'Principle of Absorption (PoA)' to reduce the displacement of the deck level in the jacket structure. Finally, in our results, the proper mass ratio and damping ratios are obtained for various earthquake and ice loads.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.759-761
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• 2006

The compound B(C6F5)3 and its variations have been widely employed as alkyl carbanion abstracting reagents to produce metallocene cations for olefin polymerization.1-3 Weakly coordinating anions containing boron can greatly improve the activity of metallocene catalysts used in industrial olefin polymerization4 and thus group IV and V metallocene complexes of the organohydroborate anions have been intensively investigated.5 Recently, many organohydroborate metallocene complexes have been reported by Shore and co-workers.6-8 A common structural feature of those complexes is the three-center two electron M-H-B bond, like that observed in transition metal tetrahydroborate complexes but the reactivity and fluxional behavior of organohydroborate complexes are unlike those of the tetrahydroborate analogues.6 Although many of those metallocenes have been synthesized, few complexes could be used in the olefin polymerization and then this laboratory has been involved in the chemistry of the cyclic organohydroborate anions, and their group IV metallocene derivatives for the catalyst.9 Described here is recent work that led to the preparation of a novel cyclic organohydroborate hafnocene complex (h5-C5H5)2Hf ？(μ-H)2BC8H14 ,Cl. The hafnocene complex contains the three-center two electron bond Hf-H-B10 in which the hydride abstraction for olefin polymerization may occur.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.96-100
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• 2012

Low back pain (LBP) is a major issue in modern industrialized society which is mainly caused by manual material handling (MMH) tasks. The objective of this study was to provide scientific data for establishing work standard for Korean workers throughout the laboratory experiment including some specific lifting tasks. Thirty male college students were recruited as participants. The maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), recommended weight limit (RWL), and psychophysical safety weight using Borg's CR-10 scale were studied. Results showed that the RWL was 8.4% MVC higher than the proposed psychophysical safety weight. Based on this result, it is suggested that the NIOSH lifting equation (NLE) should not be directly applied to Korean without reasonable modifications. The ratio of psychophysical safety weight to MVC was ranged from 20.1 to 26.4%. It is expected that use of the methodology in this study may provide better expectation of the work ability of Korean for reducing lower back pains caused by MMH.