• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.440-449
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk and to evaluate the relations with factors affecting these levels. Methods: The congener levels of PBDE in 22 samples of breast milk were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass detector. In accordance with our standard operating procedures, the recoveries of internal standards had to range between 68% and 118%. Since the distribution of PBDE concentrations is close to log-normal, the data were logarithmically transformed before analysis. Test subjects were healthy primipara and multipara mothers with a mean age of 32 (SD = 2.7) in 2006. Results: Seven PBDE congeners (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) were detected and identified in all of the pooled breast milk samples, indicating widespread contamination from PBDEs in the environment in Korea. Residue levels of total PBDEs (sum PBDEs from tri- to hepta-BDE) ranged from 0.84-13.1 ng/g lipid with median and geometric mean levels of 2.6 ng/g lipid and 2.74 ng/g lipid, respectively. PBDE congeners 47, 99 and 153 markedly predominated and accounted for about 75% of the amount of the PBDE congeners analyzed. BDE-47 was the dominant congener in most samples, whereas BDE-153 was predominant in a few (n = 7/22). BDE-47 was highly correlated with total PBDEs (r = 0.987, p < 0.01). In analyses of the differences of the means of log transformed breast milk PBDE levels for groups of potential covariates, only breast milk BDE-47 and BDE-99 levels were significantly associated with fish (p < 0.05) and meat consumption (p < 0.01). However, we did not find significant correlations between PBDE levels and maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, job presence and smoking status. Conclusions: Our findings are mainly limited due to the small sampling size and low doses of PBDEs exposure. Background and human exposure data of PBDEs is lacking, and longitudinal investigations into the environment and biota are encouraged to determine the health impact on future populations in Korea.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2015

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and acrylamide are unintended hazardous substances generated by heating or processing of foods and are known as carcinogenic and mutagenic agents by the animal experiments. A simple method was established for a rapid and accurate determination of 12 types of HCAs (IQ, MeIQ, Glu-P-1, Glu-P-2, MeIQx, Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2, PhIP, $A{\alpha}C$, $MeA{\alpha}C$, Harman and Norharman) and acrylamide in three food matrices (non-fat liquid, non-fat solid and fat solid) by isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In every sample, a mixture of internal standards including $IQ-d_3$, $MeIQx-d_3$, $PhIP-d_3$, $Trp-P-2-^{13}C_2-^{15}N$ and $MeA{\alpha}C-d_3$ was spiked for quantification of HCAs and $^{13}C_3$-acrylamide was also spiked for the analysis of acrylamide. HCAs and acrylamide in sample were extracted with acetonitrile and water, respectively, and then two solid-phase extraction cartridges, ChemElut: HLB for HCAs and Accucat: HLB for acrylamide, were used for efficiently removing interferences such as pigment, lipid, polar, nonpolar and ionic compounds. Established method was validated in terms of recovery, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, and linearity. This method showed good precision (RSD < 20%), accuracy (71.8~119.1%) and recovery (66.0~118.9%). The detection limits were < 3.1 ng/g for all analytes. The correlation coefficients for all the HCAs and acrylamide were > 0.995, showing excellent linearity. These methods for the detection of HCAs and acrylamide by LC-MS/MS were applied to real samples and were successfully used for quantitative monitoring in the total diet study and this can be applied to risk assessment in various food matrices.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2006

In the measurement of gamma rays emitted from the nuclide in the radioactive waste drum, to analyze the nuclide concentration accurately, it is necessary to use the proper calibration standards and to correct for the attenuation of the gamma rays. Two drums having a different density were used to analyze the nuclide concentration inside the drum in this study. After carrying out the system calibration, we measured the gamma rays emitted from the standard source inside the model drum with changing the distance between the drum and the detector. The measured values were corrected with the three kinds of gamma attenuation correction methode, as a results, the error was less than 10 % in the low density drum and less than 25 % in the high density drum. The measured activity in the short distance was more accruable than in the long distance. The transmission correction for the mass attenuation showed good results(very Low error) compared to the mean density and the differential peak correction method.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 2013

The authentication of the physico-chemical properties of ginsenosides reference materials as well as qualitative and quantitative batch analytical data based on validated analytical procedures is a prerequisite for certifying good manufacturing practice (GMP). Ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, representing protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol ginsenosides, respectively, are accepted as marker substances in quality control standards worldwide. However, the current analytical methods for these two compounds recommended by Korean, Chinese, European, and Japanese pharmacopoeia do not apply to red ginseng preparations, particularly the extract, because of the relatively low content of the two agents in red ginseng compared to white ginseng. In manufacturing fresh ginseng into red ginseng products, ginseng roots are exposed to a high temperature for many hours, and the naturally occurring ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 are converted to artifact ginsenosides such as Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, and Rh2 during the heating process. The analysis of ginsenosides in commercially available ginseng products in Korea led us to propose the inclusion of the (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3, including ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, as additional reference materials for ginseng preparations. (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3 were isolated by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography, silica gel flash chromatography, recrystallization, and preparative HPLC. HPLC fractions corresponding to those two ginsenosides were recrystallized in appropriate solvents for the analysis of physico-chemical properties. Documentation of those isolated ginsenosides was achieved according to the method proposed by Gaedcke and Steinhoff. The ginsenosides were subjected to analyses of their general characteristics, identification, purity, content quantification, and mass balance tests. The isolated ginsenosides showed 100% purity when determined by the three HPLC systems. Also, the water content was found to be 0.534% for (20S)-Rg3 and 0.920% for (20R)-Rg3, meaning that the net mass balances for (20S)-Rg3 and (20R)-Rg3 were 99.466% and 99.080%, respectively. From these results, we could assess and propose a full spectrum of physico-chemical properties of (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3 as standard reference materials for GMP-based quality control.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.45
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• pp.463-495
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• 2009

Korea has started to pay attention to civic journalism in recent years while it initially emerged in the United State since late 1980s. Furthermore, albeit some discernable limitations, the Internet has played an important role in fertilizing civic journalism as indicated by the emergence of online news media and the increasing number of civic journalists engaged in the online activities. Whereas there are some patterns of civic journalism practice and the civic influence commonly observed in both countries, there are significant factors that distinguish th1e case of Korea from that of the U.S. The purpose of this study is to compare the two countries in terms of the patterns of civic journalism practice and civic influence. This goal has been achieved by analyzing ‘CNN iReport’ in the U.S. and ‘Ohmynews’ in Korea, both of which are prime civic journalism websites. Those websites have been compared in light of four standards of civic journalism: first, the degree of post-objectivism; second, the search for effective resolutions of social problems; third, civic engagement in the news making process to enhance bottom-up agenda setting; and finally, citizens’ interaction with the news. The results reveal that the American civic journalism website is more likely to shed light on deviating from the principle of objectivity and seeking alternatives and resolutions of social problems. Moreover, it effectively utilizes civic engagement in the news Abstracts 551 making process as indicated by the higher numbers of civic journalists and civic news resources. Also, readers’ interaction with the news was found to be more active in the iReport website than in the Ohmynews.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.103-142
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• 2020

One of the next frontiers in structural wind engineering is the design of tall buildings using performance-based approaches. Currently, tall buildings are being designed using provisions in the building codes and standards to meet an acceptable level of public safety and serviceability. However, recent studies in wind and earthquake engineering have highlighted the conceptual and practical limitations of the code-oriented design methods. Performance-based wind design (PBWD) is the logical extension of the current wind design approaches to overcome these limitations. Towards the development of PBWD, in this paper, we systematically review the advances made in this field, highlight the research gaps, and provide a basis for future research. Initially, the anatomy of the Wind Loading Chain is presented, in which emphasis was given to the early works of Alan G. Davenport. Next, the current state of practice to design tall buildings for wind load is presented, and its limitations are highlighted. Following this, we critically review the state of development of PBWD. Our review on PBWD covers the existing design frameworks and studies conducted on the nonlinear response of structures under wind loads. Thereafter, to provide a basis for future research, the nonlinear response of simple yielding systems under long-duration turbulent wind loads is studied in two phases. The first phase investigates the issue of damage accumulation in conventional structural systems characterized by elastic-plastic, bilinear, pinching, degrading, and deteriorating hysteretic models. The second phase introduces methods to develop new performance objectives for PBWD based on joint peak and residual deformation demands. In this context, the utility of multi-variate demand modeling using copulas and kernel density estimation techniques is presented. This paper also presents joined fragility curves based on the results of incremental dynamic analysis. Subsequently, the efficiency of tuned mass dampers and self-centering systems in controlling the accumulation of damage in wind-excited structural systems are investigated. The role and the need for explicit modeling of uncertainties in PBWD are also discussed with a case study example. Lastly, two unified PBWD frameworks are proposed by adapting and revisiting the Wind Loading Chain. This paper concludes with a summary and a proposal for future research.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-97
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• 1995

The protection of the marine environment is one of the main international legal problems in recent years. In parallel with the industrial development, a great quantity of chemical materials were used and in consequence, mass transportation of oil and other dangerous materials was required on the one hand, and discharge of industrial wasters drew also the attention on the other hand. Furthermore, oil tankers accidents, mass use of nuclear materials, sea-bed exploration and exploitation stimulated further deep human concern on the marine environment. The expansion of international concern to new and more dangerous sources of marine pollution regarded more strict and legal control on the Oil Tanker(DWT 95, 000tons, Cb=0.805) model. Calculation results are compared to the international, especially regional level. In particular, this study is concerned with the preservation of the Northeast Asian Seas surrounded by Japan, the Russian Far East, South Korea, North Korea, China and Taiwan. These adjacent countries must intensify cooperation regarding the prevention, reduction and control of the contamination of the sea. And this cooperation between the States concerned should, as much as possible, be aimed at maximizing the effectiveness of measures to prevent or abate transboundary environmental pollution. To achieve this purpose, States concerned should be imposed upon duties such as duty to assess the environmental impact, duty to inform, duty to consult and duty to assist on the basis of general principle of international law, international customary law and other various resolutions of international bodies. Depending on the nature and extent of actual or potential transboundary pollution with the use of a natural resource or the environment in general the establishment of some form of institutionalized cooperation between the States concerned may become useful or indispensable. The functions of this Organization are, inter alia, to keep the implementation of the Convention and the protocals under continuous observation, to make recommendations on regional or sub-regional rules and standards to be elaborated and on measures to be taken by the Contracting Parties, to be notified of any grave and imminent danger from pollution or threat of pollution by the Contracting Parties and to promote in close cooperation with appropriate governmental bodies additional measures to protect the marine environment of the Northeast Asian Seas, and so on. Above mentioned countries, first of all, are located within the Northeast Asian Seas geographically and, therefore, take responsibilities of preserving the clean sea against marine interferences regardless of any difference of the social, political and economic systems. They must be followed under the UNCLOS and other marine conventions. Under the present circumstances, Northeast Asian Seas will become dead seas in case that there is no instant and prompt action against pollution. Hence we have an absolute obligation to promote the development of the mandatory international environmental law, which in turn can faciliate more effective implementation of the regional cooperation by the neighbouring states within this area.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.59
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• pp.31-49
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• 2012

This study investigates normative role model of the journalists under the changing environment. Firstly, this article explores what pressure the new media environment gives to the journalists in their routine of news production and distribution. These are stated from the angle of epistemological, professional and interactive pressure. Next, as a reference for the standard journalism in the age of mass media, the idea of Rhee Young-hee, a late journalist who won respects from many Korean journalists, is studied. His firm belief in the pursuit of hard facts, rigorous investigative writing and expertism are spelt out. Then, this study explores how, in real term, this pressure changes the journalistic value, norm and practices in the newsroom. Ten of Koran journalists are interviewed in order to get their idea about the emerging journalistic standards under the digital environment. From this in-depth interviews, it is conclued that the pursuit of hard fact, investigative writing, expertism of Rhee Young-hee are, nonetheless the change of the media technology, still effective and provide good reference points for the enhancement of the standard of journalism in Korea. However, it is also suggested that the methods to fulfil desirable journalism in the digital age should be different from that of the mass communication age. The interviewees make propose that the journalist, as a network node, news curator or coordinator, should actively interact with the audiences facilitating their enhanced potential as a news 'prosumer'(producer and consumer).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.504-510
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• 2000

The impurity profiles from the raw materials of glycyrrhizin were performed by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/electrospray ionization (ESI)- mass spectrometry (MS). For the HPLC experiment, a $C_{18}$($3.9{\times}300mm$, $10{\mu}m$) column was used and the mobile phase was acetic acid/$H_2O$ (1:10):acetonitrile=3:2 with a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. The effluent was splitted into the ratio of 50:1 and went into the ESI-MS. Three to six impurities were found and informed of the identification of the structure of the impurities by ESI-MS. And the structures of impurities were suggested to a hydroxy-glycyrrhizin which is added with hydroxy group (-OH) in the glycyrrhetic acid moiety and a reduced-glycyrrhizin which the position of 12 of the glycyrrhetic acid moiety is reduced. The purities of the standard materials were about 90%.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2019

This study examined the relationship between the serum GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) and uric acid level in obese male adults. A total of 14,283 adult males aged 20 years or more, who visited the health examination center of Gyeonggi Regional General Hospital from January 2017 to August 2018 and underwent a physical examination, were enrolled in this study. The obesity criteria were defined by the Asia-Pacific regional standards. Abdominal obesity was defined as a male waist circumference of more than 90 cm. An increase in the serum uric acid and serum CGT levels of the male subjects was defined as 7.0 mg/dL or more and 56 IU/L or more, respectively. The results showed that the serum GGT and uric acid levels were higher in the overweight and obese groups than in the normal weight group. In the obese group, the serum GGT and uric acid were significantly higher in the patients with abdominal obesity. On the other hand, there was no difference compared to the low body weight group. The overweight and obesity groups showed a higher risk of elevated serum GGT and hyperuricemia than the normal weight group, but a low body weight did not affect the serum GGT elevation and hyperuricemia. Overall, the serum GGT and uric acid levels are useful for evaluating overweight and obesity in adult males.