• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.211-222
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• 2022

After more than two years of efforts to end the corona pandemic, a gradual recovery is starting in countries with high vaccination rates. Easing public health policies for a full-fledged post-corona era, such as lifting the mandatory use of outdoor mask and quarantine measures in entry have been considered in Korea. However, the continuous emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and limitations in vaccine efficacy still remain challenging. Fortunately, T cells and memory T cells, which are key components of adaptive immunity appear to contribute substantially in COVID-19 control. SARS-CoV-2 specific CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells are induced by natural infection or vaccination, and rapid induction and activation of T cells is mainly associated with viral clearance and attenuated clinical severity. In addition, T cell responses induced by recognition of a wide range of epitopes were minimally affected and conserved against the highly infectious subsets of omicron variants. Polyfunctional SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell memory including stem cell-like memory T cells were also developed in COVID-19 convalescent patients, suggesting long lasting protective T cell immunity. Thus, a robust T-cell immune response appears to serve as a reliable and long-term component of host protection in the context of reduced efficacy of humoral immunity and persistent mutations and/or immune escape.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2023

This study aimed to elucidate causes of corrosion of heat transport pipes and air vents installed under a manhole of heat transport facilities and suggest effective anticorrosive measures by applying paints or adhesive tapes. It was found that air vent corrosion was attributed to corrosion under insulation caused by the inflow of water and the enrichment of chloride ions. The infiltrated water caused a hydrolysis of polyurethane foam (PUF) insulation by concentrating chloride ions at the interface between a pipe and the PUF. As insulator deteriorated, more chloride ions were eluted as confirmed by ion chromatograph (IC) analysis. As an effective method to prevent air vent corrosion, different types of paints and adhesive tapes with higher corrosion resistance on chloride ions were applied and environmental resistance tests were performed with those samples. Based on environmental test results of samples exposed to 10% HCl solution, it was revealed that a wax tape was the most adequate from a viewpoint of stability at operating condition, environmental resistance, surface treatment, and field applicability.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Background: Firefighting involves exposure of firefighters to risks related to this activity, serious injuries, and occupational diseases are recorded. There are other consequences such as thermal and emotional stress. This systematic review is proposed in order to analyze the risks and consequences faced by these workers and thus provide elements to improve safety management systems in institutions. Method: A descriptive observational study of systematic literature review on the risks and consequences of exposure to firefighters' activity was proposed, and the information was analyzed and described based on the available data and according to the variables determined. Results: The studies showed data on mechanical, physical, chemical, psychosocial risks, workers' perception and resilience, and epidemiological data. Information related to firefighters' activity on falls and slips, exposure to noise, and high concentrations of carbon monoxide is detailed. In addition, the relationship between burnout, cognitive, and physical fatigue as adverse effects on health and performance is mentioned. Conclusions: Among the preventive measures, the use of personal protective equipment is suggested, incorporation in prevention programs of information on exposure to risk factors, as well as the implementation of models that can predict the perception of workers, additionally, the generation of management systems with safety climate models for fire departments.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.85-94
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• 2018

This study aims to investigate how easy pedestrians get around within/through the "Apartment Complexes (AC), " a common style of high-rise multi-family housing in Korea. Over the past six decades, the AC has been the most conventional way to provide standardized housing efficiently to address the problems of the shortage of housing and the substandard housing, due to the explosion of urban population with the rapid industrialization. The AC is a huge chunk of homeogenous multi-family housing, mostly condos with decent infrastructure, including parks, pedestrian passages, schools, ect. Both in the new town development and urban renewal programs have utilized the advantages of the AC. Since the design principals of AC tend to adopt the "protective design" to prevent cars and pedestrians coming outside from passing it, it has been criticised for dissecting the continuity of socioeconomic context in neighborhoods. The neo-traditional planning urbanists, including Jane Jacobs, emphasize that smaller blocks and grid road newtworks are the key in improving social, cultural, and economic vitality of the neighborhoods, because these design concepts allow more pedestrians and different types of people to be mixed in a neighborhood. In this study, we first adopted objective measures for pedestrian accessibility and pedestrian efficiency. These measures were used to calculate the lengths of shortest paths from residential buildings to the edges of AC. We tested the difference in shortest paths between the current pedestrian networks of AC and hypothetical grid networks on the AC, and the relative difference is considered as the pedestrian efficiency, using the network analysis function of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Python programming. We found from the randomly selected 30 ACs that the existing non-grid road networks in ACs are worse than the hypothesized grid networks, in terms of pedestrian efficiency. In average, pedestrians in AC with the conventional road networks have to walk than 25%, 26%, and 27% longer than the networks of $125{\times}45m$, $100{\times}45m$, and $75{\times}45m$, respectively. With the t-test analysis, we found the pedestrian efficiency of AC with the conventional network is lower than grid-networks. Many new urbanists stress, easiness of walking is one of the most import elements for community building and social bonds. With the findings from the objective measures of pedestrian accessibility and efficiency, the AC would have limitations to attract people outside into the AC itself, which would increase dis-connectivity with adjacent areas.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.76-92
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• 2021

The value of personal information is increasing with the digital transformation of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficiency of personal information protection efforts of 2,000 private companies. It uses a stochastic frontier approach (SFA), a parametric estimation method that measures the absolute efficiency of protective activities. In particular, the personal information activity index is used as an output variable for efficiency analysis, with the personal information protection budget and number of personnel utilized as input variables. As a result of the analysis, efficiency is found to range from a minimum of 0.466 to a maximum of 0.949, and overall average efficiency is 0.818 (81.8%). The main causes of inefficiency include non-fulfillment of personal information management measures, lack of system for promoting personal information protection education, and non-fulfillment of obligations related to CCTV. Policy support is needed to implement safety measures and perform personal information encryption, especially customized support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2003

Against major release of radioactive material in nuclear power plant, Emergency Planning Zone(EPZ)s are typically established around nuclear power plants to effectively perform the public protective measures. The domestic methodology to determine the size of the EPZ is similar to that of Japan established in 1980, where calculations were based on the conservative accident source term. The objective of this study is to re-evaluate the validity of established EPZ, the area within the radius of $8{\sim}10km$ around domestic nuclear power plants, using the source terms covering full spectrum of accidents obtained from PSA study of ULJIN 3&4. To evaluate the risks of health effects, the computer code MACCS2(MELCOR Accident Consequence Code System2) was used. The result shows that the existing EPZ can reduce the probability of early fatality adequately for most of the source term categories(STCs) except for STC-14 and STC-19. In case of STC-14 and 19, the evacuation distance of 16km and 13km, respectively, are required. These distances can be reduced by improving emergency preparedness since the sensitivity studies for the public protective actions show that the magnitude of early fatality is largely affected by the time delays in notification and evacuation.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2018

This study proposes measures and methods to reduce healthcare associated infections by comparing and analyzing the bacterial contamination level before and after putting on personal protective equipment (PPE) on the test equipment and the contact infected patients getting chest PA projections. Among the 50 inpatients who were diagnosed with C. difficile, MRSA, and VRE, 28 patients who were instructed to undergo chest PA projection and follow-up were chosen, The 3 parts that come in contact with the detector, chin, chest, and hands, were designated for all, and the bacterial contamination level before and after disinfection and before and after putting PPE was determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Medcalc version 14, and quantitative analysis was performed using paired student t-test, with statistical significance being noted at p<0.05. Results for the comparison of the mean values before and after disinfection of the detector, chin (3.000), chest (2.000), and hands (3.430), showed that the number of bacteria after disinfection was lower than it was before disinfection. Analyzing for each part before and after disinfection, there were statistically significant differences for the chin, chest, and hands (p<0.01). Results for the comparison of the mean values before and after putting on PPE, chin (2.202), chest (2.140), and hands (4.213), showed that the number of bacteria after putting on PPE was lower than it was before putting on PPE. Analyzing for each part before and after putting on PPE, there were statistically significant differences for the chin, chest, and hands (p<0.03). As a result, it was confirmed that the number of bacteria after putting on PPE was lower than it was before putting it on. In the future, expanding the research scope for contact infected patients will establish standards for quarantine guidelines depending on the way it spreads, and contribute to the prevention of healthcare associated infections.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.594-606
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of positive psychological capital as an protective factor and mental health as an risk factor on the relationship between smart phone addiction and self life management of university students. The following are the results of the analysis on the measures of smart-phone addiction, positive psychological capital, mental health and self life management among the 266 college students. First, the analysis of the correlation between relevant factors, smart-phone addiction showed a significant amulet correlation between self life management and positive psychological capital and a significant static correlation between mental health. Second, the positive psychological capital showed a mediate effect as a result of the analysis of university students' smart-phone addiction and self life management. Third, the results of a regression analysis between positive psychological capital and psychosomatic health sub-factors, optimism and resilience in the positive psychological capital and Depression and Impulsion in mental health, had a significant impact on managing self-life management Based on the results of this study, we discussed educational implications for the management of university students ' lives and suggestions for further research.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

This study was undertaken to provide the appropriate vaccination protocol of canine parvovirus (CPV) vaccine for the companion dogs in Korea. A total of 120 healthy pups (20 pups per group) at 6 weeks of age were randomly assigned to one of four commercially available vaccines [C, G, K, and V groups] and one of vaccination schedules [V2 and V4 groups]. The serological responses to the CPV component of the vaccines were determined by measuring HI titers. The maternal antibodies was declined to under the protective level at 6 weeks of age. Therefore, it was considered that vaccination of pups for CPV should be started at 6 weeks of age. And when the combination vaccine was used, the immunogenicity of V vaccine was superior to the other vaccines and optimum vaccination schedule was 3 times vaccination with 3 weeks-interval starting vaccination at 6 weeks of age. Although pups were vaccinated at 6 weeks of age, the geometric mean CDV titers of pups in all groups by 9 weeks of age were under the protective level. So, hygienic measures including avoiding to exposure to the high risk areas were needed to prevent CPV infection in this period.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.404-407
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Bojungbangam-tang Ethanol Extracts (EBJT) on cisplatin and hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity of human endothelial cell line ECV304 cells. After cells were treated with cisplatin and hydrogen peroxide, MTT assay was performed for cell viability test. To explore the mechanism of cytotoxicity, we used the several measures of apoptosis to determine whether this processes was involved in cisplatin and hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage in ECV304 cells. Also, cells were treated with EBJT and then, followed by the addition of cisplatin or hydrogen peroxide. Cisplatin or hydrogen peroxide decreased the viability of ECV304 cells in a dose-dependent manner. ECV304 cells treated cisplatin or hydrogen peroxide were revealed as apoptosis characterized by nuclear staining. EBJT protected ECV304 cells from cisplatin or hydrogen peroxide-induced nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation. Also, EBJT inhibited the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in cisplatin or hydrogen peroxide-treated ECV304 cells. According to above results, EBJT may protect ECV304 cells from the apotosis induced by cisplatin or hydrogen peroxide.