• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.528-536
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• 2023

In Korea, from January 2023, the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Food was revised to reflect the use-by-date rather than the sell-by-date. Hence, the purpose of this study was to establish a system for calculating the safety factor and determining the recommended use-by-date for each food type, thereby providing a scientific basis for the recommended use-by-date labels. A safety factor calculation technique based on scientific principles was designed through literature review and simulation, and opinions were collected by conducting surveys and discussions including industry and academia, among others. The main considerations in this study were pH, Aw, sterilization, preservatives, packaging for storage improvement, storage temperature, and other external factors. A safety factor of 0.97 was exceptionally applied for frozen products and 1.0 for sterilized products. In addition, a between-sample error value of 0.08 was applied to factors related to product and experimental design. This study suggests that clearly providing a safe use-by-date will help reduce food waste and contribute to carbon neutrality.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.106-113
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• 2023

We examined the heading responses of rice varieties over two years in Dandong, China to select the varieties that are adaptable to the bordering northwestern plains of North Korea. Dandong had slightly lower mean temperature than Sinuiju, North Korea but slightly higher than Supung, but it had almost the same day-length as the two regions in North Korea. In the two experimental years and two transplanting-date treatments, eight varieties (Jinbuol, Baegilmi, Joun, Jinok, Jopyeong, Jinbu, Sanhomi, and Odae) from South Korea and five varieties (Olbyeo2, Sonbong9, Onpo1, Gilju1, and Pyongdo5) from North Korea reached the heading stage not later than the latest heading dates of Dandong domestic varieties and the safe marginal heading dates of Dandong. We examined the basic vegetative phase (BVP), photoperiod-sensitivity (PS), and thermo-sensitivity (TS) of rice heading in a phytotron study to characterize the heading ecotypes of rice varieties adaptable to Dandong. For the rice varieties grown in Dandong experimental field, number of days to the heading stage was highly positively correlated with PS and, except middle and mid-late maturing three varieties, it was significantly positively correlated with BVP. Two-dimensional distribution plotting revealed that both 35 days or less BVP and 25 days or less PS were the characteristic heading ecotypes of the rice varieties adaptable to Dandong.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.300-314
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• 2023

The quality of the products was investigated by analyzing fluorine content, pH, preservatives and tar colors in 31 dentifrice products (6 items for children) and 15 mouthwash products (2 items for children) marketed. It was intended to provide correct information to consumers by checking whether the standards and product indications match. As a result of measuring the fluoride concentration, 26 dentifrice and 15 mouthwash products contained from 48 to 1,472 ppm and from 85 to 225 ppm, respectively. Fluorine detection rates of dentifrice and mouthwash products were 83.9 and 83.3 %, respectively showing similar levels. Of the 41 fluoride-detected dentifrice and mouthwash products, 40 were 90.7~109.8 % of the displayed amount and suitable for the fluorine content standard of 90.0 to 110.0 %, but one dentifrice was found to be inappropriate at 36.3 % of the content indicated on the product. The pH of the dentifrice was 5.1~9.4, and the mouthwash was 4.2~6.2, which met all standards. As a result of simultaneous analysis of the concentration of six preservatives, benzoic acid was detected the most in 15 cases with a 30.6 % detection rate, sorbic acid was detected in 9 cases (detection rate of 18.4 %), and all four types of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, butyl p-hydroxybenzoate were not detected. As a result of analyzing the concentration of 10 types of tar colors, six types including red40, yellow4, yellow5, yellow203, green3, and blue1 were detected in a total of 9 cases (2 dentifrices and 7 mouthwashes) with blue1 being the most frequently detected. Detected fluorine concentration, added preservatives and tar colors were consistent with the product markings and it was well written on product packaging. The detected preservatives and tar colors were at a safe level due to low risk compared to Acceptable Daily Intake.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.291-299
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• 2023

The benzo[a]pyrene in edible oils is extracted using methods such as Liquid-liquid, soxhlet and ultrasound-assisted extraction. However these extraction methods have significant drawbacks, such as long extraction time and large amount of solvent usage. To overcome these drawbacks, this study attempted to improve the current complex benzo[a]pyrene analysis method by applying the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method that can be analyzed in a simple and short time. The QuEChERS method applied in this study includes extraction of benzo[a]pyrene into n-hexane saturated acetonitrile and n-hexane. After extraction and distribution using magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride, benzo[a]pyrene is analyzed by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (LC/FLR). As a result of method validation of the new method, the limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.02 ㎍/kg and 0.05 ㎍/kg, respectively. The calibration curves were constructed using five levels (0.1~10 ㎍/kg) and coefficient (R²) was above 0.99. Mean recovery ratio was ranged from 74.5 to 79.3 % with a relative standard deviation (RSD) between 0.52 to 1.58 %. The accuracy and precision were 72.6~79.4 % and 0.14~7.20 %, respectively. All results satisfied the criteria ranges requested in the Food Safety Evaluation Department guidelines (2016) and AOAC official method of analysis (2023). Therefore, the analysis method presented in this study was a relatively simple pretreatment method compared to the existing analysis method, which reduced the analysis time and solvent use to 92 % and 96 %, respectively.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.869-881
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to come up with improvement measures to improve the effectiveness of child safety measures. Method: The current status of child safety accidents was investigated and implications were deduced by analyzing major child safety measures by government department in the past. In addition, a perception survey was conducted on 1,000 people including children, guardians, and children's facility workers who are subject to child safety policies. Result: Regarding the safety of children's living space(environment), 35.3% of guardians answered that more than 1/3 of them were not safe. Both guardians(95.3%) and children's facility workers(89%) answered that there was the highest risk of 'traffic accidents', and the second risk factor was parents(carelessness of workers at children's facilities) and children's facility workers(careless of guardians at home). Looking at the risks by place, "road and sidewalk" was the most dangerous place and for child safety, guardians(64.3%) and workers (78.3%) both said that the role of "parent" is the most important. For improvements to prevent child safety accidents, the response rate of "strengthening safety management of road traffic facilities" is the most necessary with 75.8% for guardians and 65% for child use facilities. Conclusion: The reinforcement measures to strengthen the effectiveness of child safety measures are as follows. First, in order to ensure the continuity of child safety measures, it should be operated effectively so that those subject to the establishment of the Comprehensive Plan for Child Safety, which took effect in August 2022, can feel it. Second, in order to improve the sensitivity of children's policy targets, promotion measures that take into account the characteristics of each child safety field should be continuously strengthened. Third, it is necessary to expand safety infrastructure for each field to secure child safety. Fourth, it is necessary to strengthen safety education that can ensure safety for children themselves and to come up with detailed measures to make safety education for parents(guardians) mandatory.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.77-93
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• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant social changes through government prevention and control measures, changes in people's risk perceptions, and lifestyle changes. In response, urban inhabitants changed their behaviors significantly, including their preferences for transportation modes and urban spaces in response to government quarantine policies and concerns over the potential risk of infection in urban spaces. These changes may have long-lasting effects on urban spaces beyond the COVID-19 pandemic or they may evolve and develop new forms. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential for urban spaces to adapt to the present and future pandemics by examining changes in urban residents' preferences in travel modes and urban space use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found that overall preferences for travel modes and urban spaces significantly differ between the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. During the pandemic, preferences for travel modes and urban spaces has decreased, except for privately owned vehicles and green spaces, which are perceived to be safe from transmission, show more favorable than others. Post-pandemic preferences for travel modes and urban spaces are less favorable than pre-pandemic with urban spaces being five times less favorable than transportation. Although green spaces and medical facilities that were positively perceived during the pandemic are expected to return to the pre-pandemic preference level, other factors of urban spaces are facing a new-normal. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on urban residents' preferences for travel modes and urban space use. Understanding these changes is crucial for developing strategies to adapt to present and future pandemics and improve urban resilience.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.820-827
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• 2023

Since COVID-19 began at the end of 2019, the wearing time of protective clothing used to prevent pathogenic bacteria and virus infection has increased, and the development of safe protective materials that are human-friendly and have antibacterial and antiviral functions has been required. In this study, we investigated the possibility of developing natural antibacterial protection materials using ethanol extract of the medicinal plant Zanthoxylum Piperitum DC. The antibacterial activity assay of the 80% ethanol extract of Z. piperitum DC leaves against various nosocomial infectious bacteria, using the disk diffusion method, showed that Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, Salmonella typhimurium, and Aeromonas hydrophila are sensitive to the inhibitory action of the extract. The IC₅₀ values of the ethanol extract against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris and A. hydrophila were about 0.59 mg/ml, 0.50 mg/ml, 1.06 mg/ml, and 0.06 mg/ml, respectively. To determine whether the ethanol extract of Z. piperitum DC leaves can be applied to the development of antibacterial protective fabric, the ethanol extract was tested using a protective fabric from the KM Health Care Corp. using the JIS L1902-Absorption method. As a result, the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity values of S. aureus ATCC 25923 and K. pneumoniae ATCC 13883 appeared to be more than 2.0 when treated with the ethanol extract at a concentration of 1% (w/v). Together, these results suggest that Z. piperitum DC leaves can be applied to develop natural antibacterial functional protective fabrics.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.12 no.5_spc
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• pp.149-167
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• 2006

Korean society is rapidly changing to aging society comparing the other industrialized countries, however, the studies of elderly driver's driving behavior and accidents are not enough in Korea for elderly driver's accident prevention. This study focused on the elderly driver's psychological effects on elderly driver's driving behavior and traffic accidents; carefulness and aberrant driving behavior. - Elderly driver's traffic accidents The high percentage of elderly driver's accidents occurs in intersections and when turning left. There was a significant difference of the opponent vehicle's speed when left turn, between elderly driver and young driver; the elderly driver choose the higher speed of opponent vehicle than young driver when left turning. This result means that elderly driver has some problems with deciding the vehicle's speed and gap acceptance(Sunyeol Lee, Soonchul Lee, and Inseok Kim, 2006)(Table 1). - Carefulness and driving confidence In order to understand elderly driver's carefulness, this study compared the elderly driver's driving confidence. Driving confidence was consisted of 4 factors; environment of traffic condition, safe driving, driving ability and attention. Elderly driver's confidence was lower than young driver's. Elderly driver in high driving confidence group, showed longer driving history and they were tend to commit violations more frequently than elerly driver in low driving confidence group. Young driver, whose driving confidence level was high answered more driving history, annual mileage, the frequency of committing traffic violation and the experience of accident within lats 5 years(Soonchul Lee, Juseok Oh, Sunjin Park, Soonyeol Lee and Inseok Kim, 2006)(Table 2). This study examined the total time required until deciding to turn left in the no traffic signal intersection between elderly driver and young driver. The result showed that the time of elderly driver was significant longer than young driver(Sunyeol Lee et al, 2006)(Table 3). - Elderly driver's aberrant behavior Driver behavior Questionnaire(DBQ) was measured to understand the aberrant behavior; violation, error and lapse. The tend of aberrant behavior was observed by aging(Sunjin Park, Soonchul Lee, Jonghoi, Kim and Inseok Kim, 2006). Elderly driver's DBQ score was lower than young driver's(Table 4). Elderly and young driver showing longer driving history were in low DBQ score group. Elderly driver had high error score and young driver had high violation score. Young driver's aberrant driving behaviour was associated with annual mileage and the frequency of committing traffic violation. Elderly driver's aberrant driving behaviour was associated with annual mileage and experience of accident. Especially elderly driver whose violation, error and lapse score was high answered more committing experience of accident within last 5 years.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.275-289
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• 2023

Since the implementation of the Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) Act in 2008, approximately 10 million tons of genetically modified corn, soybean, potato, canola, and other crops have been imported into South Korea. The import approval procedures have been completed for approximately 191 cases that include seven crops. Of these, approximately 90 cases, excluding crossbreeds of approved LMOs, were reviewed via consultation risk evaluation in four areas: human health, crop culture, natural ecology, and marine fishery environment. LMO developers in South Korea, who are major stakeholders in the import of LMO crops produced overseas, have raised concerns regarding procedural inefficiency in consultation reviews and the need of excessive reviews that are unsuitable for food-feed processing purposes. These procedures reflect the perspective of consultation agencies that deviate from the nature of risk assessment and demand specific supplementary data that do not reflect familiarity and substantial equilibrium. Based on frequent instances of unintentional environmental release of LMO crops imported into Korea, the ministries responsible for consultation insist on a review that considers the climate and natural environment of Korea. In addition, the ministries mandate that their reviews reflect the expertise of competent ministries and are based on risk assessment principles and methods in accordance with international guidelines. In this regard, considering that traits introduced into LMO crops involving familiar agricultural crops have been considered safe for more than two decades, we have suggested reasonable alternatives to several risk assessment items for agricultural LMOs. These alternatives can mitigate conflicts of interest among key stakeholders within the scope of the current LMO regulations.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-115
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• 2024

In Korea, exposure to stress has been accompanied by mental pain in the process of achieving many growth along with rapid development, various social problems, and the frequency of emergency hospitalization is increasing.. In the case of mentally ill patients, "unwanted hospitalization" is a problem, and police and 119 paramedics try to suppress the body of mentally ill patients, and many problems are exposed This is because the constituent requirements of the provisions of emergency hospitalization under the Mental Health and Welfare Act do not reflect reality, and each institution has a different position on one mentally ill person, and emergency hospitalization does not proceed smoothly or leads to friction between related organizations, and the safety of the mentally ill or others is not secured. Emergency hospitalization is defined as "a person who finds a person who is presumed to be mentally ill and is at high risk of harming his or her health or safety or others," and if the situation is so urgent that he or she cannot afford time to go through the hospitalization procedure to decide on his or her own hospitalization, he or she can request emergency hospitalization with the consent of a doctor and a police officer. In this case, 119 paramedics are escorted to a psychiatric institution. This provision of emergency hospitalization poses many problems in the process of transferring to psychiatric institutions. If a police officer or 119 paramedics in charge of practice use "physical force" during the emergency hospitalization process, side effects will inevitably occur, and professional negligence can be a problem. Specifically, when exercising physical force, the minimum necessary physical restraint based on laws and regulations and proportional principles is required, and the lack of the duty of care of 119 paramedics or police officers under the laws and regulations will eventually be resolved by applying other laws and regulations. Accordingly, it will be an opportunity for mentally ill patients to be transferred to psychiatric institutions in a safe environment by changing the subject of emergency hospitalization provisions under the Mental Health Welfare Act, defining and prescribing the use of physical protection guards as the enforcement regulations of the Mental Health Act, setting the duty of care for 119 paramedics and police officers, and creating an environment for transportation so that mentally ill patients can be treated safely.