• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2015

Acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna has a variety of factors such as incubation condition of test species, food quality and proficiency of laboratory workers. Therefore, proper proficiency testing samples were required for evaluating the competence of laboratory workers. This study aims to propose some appropriate proficiency testing samples for laboratory workers of acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna. Proposed four kinds of standard samples (Sample A, B, C, and D) for proficiency testing were selected from reference materials which were recommended from Canada and USA WET(Whole Effluent Toxicity) authorities. Proposed standard samples were tested by trial application of proficiency testing, homogeneity and stability checks using repeatability test. Sample A, C and D were estimated ad the suitable candidates for proficiency test standard samples except for Sample B. In addition, Sample A was proved to be the most suitable sample.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1149-1154
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• 2010

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using isotope dilution method has been established as a primary method for the measurement of cortisol in human serum. Verification of this method was accomplished by the participation in Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance-Metrology in Chemistry (CCQM) pilot study. Two levels of cortisol certified reference materials were prepared and certified by the established method. They were used as sample materials for the proficiency testing. The expanded uncertainty in the measurement of cortisol in human serum was approximately 1.2% at 95% confidence level. The results of the proficiency testing showed a good precision among the participants, but some bias to the certified values. This means that commercial field laboratories should keep traceability chain to SI unit through available reference measurement procedures and/or available reference materials.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.15-25
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• 2013

In this study, two kinds of soil-based proficiency testing materials (PTMs), NICE-012L and NICE-012R were prepared and certified for Benzen, Toluene, Etylbenzene and Xylene with evaluation of uncertainties. In order to analyse BTEX (Benzen Toluene Etylbenzene Xylene) for the candidate materials, GC/MS was used after pretreatment according to methods of soil analysis by Ministry of Environment. For the homogeneity test among bottles in terms of candidate materials, ISO 13528 and IUPAC Protocol were used and according to the result, both candidate materials showed sufficient homogeneity. Also, the stability test over the candidate materials was accessed according to the ISO Guide 35 by classifying short-term and long-term stability and the result showed that both candidate materials showed decent stability. The reference values of the two candidate materials depending on BTEX components were derived from the average of the 11 samples that were used for verification of the samples' homogeneity. Uncertainty of measurement was combined by uchar that was caused by a characteristic value, $u_{bb}$ that was caused by between-bottle homogeneity, and $u_{stab}$ that was caused by stability, and then combined uncertainty ($u_{PTM}$) was multiplied to the coverage factor (k) derived from the effective degree of freedom from each factor that leads to expanded uncertainty (U) in about 95% of confidence level. The proficiency testing materials developed through this study were supplied to National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and utilized as an external proficiency testing materials for evaluating analysis capacity of soil agencies with specialty in terms of soil analysis approved by Minister of Environment.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.284-294
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• 2010

In this study, river water-based reference materials (RMs), NIER-I08RW and NIER-I09, for trace metal analysis were prepared and certified for Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu with evaluation of uncertainties. The RMs were confirmed to be homogeneous enough to be used as proficiency testing materials since within-bottle homogenieties of the RMs were lower than 0.3 times of targeted standard deviation of proficiency testing. The RMs were distributed to environmental testing laboratories for the proficiency testing and the variation of Z scores of the proficiency testing results were compared for different assigned values. The relative bias, $B_{relative}$, deviations between reference values and consensus values, were lower than ${\pm}$1 except for cadmium of NIERI08RW. The results showed both values were in a good agreement and only 2.9% of Z scores changed by using a different assigned values such as consensus and reference values.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2013

To establishment of PT Program for Indoor air quality field that manufacture of confidential development PTMs (proficiency testing materials) and examined of proficiency testing evaluation included sampling process whether or not that is valid. Confirmation of homogeneity and stability of PTMs prepared. PTMs were confirmed to be homogeneous enough to be used as proficiency testing materials since withinbottle homogeneities of the RMs were lower than 0.3 times of targeted standard deviation of proficiency testing. The result of this study showed that the Robust RSD of proficiency testing for VOCs (volatile organic compounds) appeared 23~43% in concentration of 50~320 ${\mu}g/m^3$ for Method A(Distribution by adsorption in Tenax-tube of VOCs), but less 13~42% in concentration of 200~1200 ${\mu}g/m^3$, 16~31% in concentration of 100~450 ${\mu}g/m^3$ for Method B (distribution by VOCs of gas phase in 10L Tedalr bag), C (directly sampling of cylinder with high pressure) respectively. The result of this study showed that method C with sampling is most adequate to the proficiency testing for VOCs in indoor air.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2019

This study was to objectify differences in the results of odor testing according to the characteristics of panel members that participate in air dilution olfactory method (ADOM) testing. When differences in the results of olfactory testing were reviewed in relation to characteristics of the panelists, the result of entire panels for the site boundary Proficiency Testing Materials (PTMs) showed no difference according to panelist sex, age, smoking status, and past participation in ADOM tests. As for the outlet PTMs, distinct differences appeared in relation to the smoking status and age of panelists. The frequency distribution for all the panelists (Dev($D/T_{total}$)) showed a form similar to a normal distribution, so it is thought to be more appropriate for the review of effect of panelist characteristics on the result of air dilution olfactory tests. In addition, the ADOM testing method implemented as the standard method for odor compounds in Korea (Dev($D/T_3$)) will have to be implemented along with a concurrent assessment, for the purpose of identifying the effect of panelist characteristics on administrative dispositions against malodors.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.350-356
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• 2012

Performance of proficiency testing and the validation of analytical method was included a scheme of quality assurance in analytical chemistry laboratory to monitor a laboratory's performance abilities and produce consistently reliable data. This study was assessed the applicability of proficiency testing scheme proposed for analytical laboratories of pesticide product in domestic. The validation of analytical methods, stability and homogeneity for formulated pesticide products (emulsifiable concentrate) of emamectin benzoate and lufenuron was confirmed for the proficiency testing. The z-score of 33 participation laboratories for emamectin benzoate were that the numbers of outlier were 2 laboratories (6.0%), z-score outside the range from -3 to 3 designated "unaccptable" were 2 laboratories and z-score in the ranges -2 to -3 and 2 to 3 designated "questionable" were 3 laboratories (9.0%). Three laboratories (9.0%) showed the z-score designated "questionable" for lufenuron. The additional proficiency testing for various product types will be needed to establish the scheme of quality control.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.183-192
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• 2007

The various environmental regulation directives such as RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products) and WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipments) are practically used as the technical barrier in international trade (TBT) of vehicles and electrical and electronic products recently. Regarding such an environmental regulation, Korea Research Institute of Standards Science (KRISS) organized a proficiency testing scheme to establish the reliability of measurement results produced by the relevant research institutes and test laboratories in Korea. Participants were 31 laboratories related to production of the electrical and electronic equipments and mobile vehicles. Two polypropylene samples of pellet type were employed as the proficiency testing materials (PTMs). Cadmium and lead were the analytes chosen among six components regulated in European Union (EU) RoHS directive. The PTMs were sent to the participants by post on September $1^{st}$ 2006, and deadline for results submission were October $10^{th}$ 2006. The results of each laboratory were evaluated in comparison with KRISS reference values using Robustic Z-score and Youden plot methods. The results of the various sample digestion methods were also compared. Most of participants reported good agreement within 10 % range of reference values. However, results from several laboratories showed significant biases from reference values. These laboratories should establish the quality assurance system for improvement of the measurement reliability.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.446-452
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• 2015

In order to evaluate and improve the ability of Korean testing laboratories to measure Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a proficiency test was organised by Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) based on ISO/IEC 17043. The proficiency test material used was 10 g of a granular ABS fortified with a mixture of congeners of PBDE (BDE-154, 183, 206, 209). Homogeneity and stability were investigated to assess the adequacy of the test material. The certified value established by KRISS based on the national reference was used for assigned value of each PBDE. The test materials were distributed to the 16 participating laboratories. The participating laboratories were requested to analyse the samples employing the methods used in their routine analysis. Each laboratory was given it’s own code to secure the anonymity. Participants results were evaluated with z-scores according to ISO/IEC 17043. The standard deviation for proficiency assessment was set by standard deviation of the participants results except for outlier. The results, the laboratory's performance and improvement of accuracy were discussed.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.9 no.spc
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• pp.79-98
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• 2003

This article reports that a testee's content schemata have detrimental effects on the validity of standardized reading comprehension tests. in case that the reading passages constitute his prior background knowledge framed by regular academic pursuits focused on a major field of study. The empirical research findings on such a reliability issue have shown that the Korean subjects' familiarity with the content domain of the reading materials may substantially enhance their test performance, operated as unfair advantages over the other participants at the same level of English proficiency who do not possess technical knowledge closely related to the contents of the test passages. Based on these results, it may be argued that the reading text should be composed of maximally neutral contents to every testee to avoid the possible overlapping between a test-taker's content schemata and the content domain of the materials. Therefore, this article claims that the tenets of schema theory with its long-standing foundation on culturally predetermined content and formal schemata need to be expanded to cover professional knowledge structures, like those acquired by higher education, as the hard-wired framework of an individual's original culture-specific background knowledge.