• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.579-588
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• 2014

In this study, three signal control strategies such as Bike box, Hook-turn, and 6-phase were assessed for various traffic conditions at signalized intersections incorporating bicycle left-turn traffic. Results showed that the size of a waiting zone mainly affected the performance of signal control in both Bike box and Hook-turn. Both Bike box and Hook-turn yielded an identical vehicle delay, but Bike box produced less bicycle delay than Hook-turn by 2.5~29.9 sec/veh for undersaturated traffic conditions. For saturated traffic condition, Bike box produced less vehicle delay than Hook-turn and 6-phase strategies, but bicycle delay was found to increase at the 700 vph of bicycle traffic compared to 6-phase. Bicycle delay was greatly increased under Hook-turn and Bike box strategies when bicycle traffic was greater than 300 vph and 500 vph, respectively. It was also shown that bicycle delay could be significantly reduced by providing appropriate size of queueing space. In addition, Bike box was likely to yield less vehicle and bicycle delay than Hook-turn for traffic volume patterns investigated in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed in order to evaluate whether 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) could be detected among residents living near Camp Caroll in Waegwan and whether serum concentrations of dioxins, including 2,3,7,8-TCDD, and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are associated with length of residence. Methods: Study subjects totaled 113 (for dioxins) and 190 (for OCPs) adults who were selected from participants in a medical investigation. Serum concentrations of dioxins and OCPs were measured using HRGC/HRMS. Information on length of residence was obtained through questionnaires. Results: 2,3,7,8-TCDD was not detected in serum among all subjects. When length of residence was classified as a categorical variable, after adjusting for confounding variables, only residents living in Waegwan for 40 years or longer tended to have high total TEQ values and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF with marginal significances. There was no dose-response relation between length of residence and serum concentrations of these chemicals. In multiple regression models with continuous values of the length of residence, total TEQ value and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF were positively associated with length of residence. However, they explained about 3-5% of total variations of serum concentrations of these compounds, while age, consumption of fatty fish, body mass index, alcohol drinking, and cigarette smoking were main variables affecting serum concentrations of dioxins or OCPs. Conclusions: In the current study, high concentrations of certain compounds were mainly observed among persons who lived in Waegwan for at least for 40 years without a dose-response relation. Therefore, it seems difficult to conclude that length of residence meaningfully contributed to the current serum concentrations of dioxins or OCPs among residents in Waegwan. However, considering the half-life of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and indirect exposure routes, the limitations of the current study design should be considered in the interpretation of the study findings.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.445-452
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• 2006

Aralia elata, a common medicinal and culinary herb, has beer consumed for centuries without any reported adverse effects. However, due to its limited safety information, we decided to investigate the repeated-dose toxicity of ethanolic extract of Aralia elata. The test was administered once daily by the gavage to male and female rats at doses of 0, 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Throughout the study, no treatment-related deaths or clinical signs were observed. Also, no apparent changes were detected in ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, serum biochemistry, hematology and gross necropsy. The test result showed a significant decrease in body and heart weight of males treated with 250 mg/kg of extract of Aralia elata compared to normal control, a significant increase in relative brain weight and adrenal weight in females treated with 250 mg/kg of extract compared to normal control. However, all these changes were not considered toxicologically important due to irrelevant dose-response relationship to gross and microscopic findings. Histopathologically, abnormal changes were not observed in any target organs. On the basis of these results, the NOAEL of extract of Aralia elata was estimated to be more than 1,000 mg/kg/day under the tested conditions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2015

Tapeworms of the genus Spirometra are pseudophyllidean cestodes endemic in Korea. At present, it is unclear which Spirometra species are responsible for causing human infections, and little information is available on the epidemiological profiles of Spirometra species infecting humans in Korea. Between 1979 and 2009, a total of 50 spargana from human patients and 2 adult specimens obtained from experimentally infected carnivorous animals were analyzed according to genetic and taxonomic criteria and classified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei or Spirometra decipiens depending on the morphology. Morphologically, S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens are different in that the spirally coiled uterus in S. erinaceieuropaei has 5-7 complete coils, while in S. decipiens it has only 4.5 coils. In addition, there is a 9.3% (146/1,566) sequence different between S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens in the cox1 gene. Partial cox1 sequences (390 bp) from 35 Korean isolates showed 99.4% (388/390) similarity with the reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei from Korea (G1724; GenBank KJ599680) and an additional 15 Korean isolates revealed 99.2% (387/390) similarity with the reference sequences of S. decipiens from Korea (G1657; GenBank KJ599679). Based on morphologic and molecular databases, the estimated population ratio of S. erinaceieuropaei to S. decipiens was 35: 15. Our results indicate that both S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens found in Korea infect humans, with S. erinaceieuropaei being 2 times more prevalent than S. decipiens. This study is the first to report human sparganosis caused by S. decipiens in humans in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2018

Assessment of NPP(Nuclear Power Plant) decommissioning cost is very important for safe decommissioning of nuclear power plants. In the United States, which has the most NPP decommissioning experience, the cost evaluation study has been conducted since the 1970s in order to decommissioning nuclear facilities. The US NRC has conducted studies on decommissioning technology, safety and cost for a variety of reactor type and nuclear installations. In the total decommissioning costs, the end of operation licenses accounted for the largest portion, followed by spent fuel management and site restoration. In case of immediate decommissioning, spent fuel management cost increased compared to delayed decommissioning, and delayed deocmmissioning increased the cost of terminating the operation license. However, in general, delayed decommissioning does not show any significant benefit as compared with immediate decommissioning. It is necessary to consider the evaluation according to the site conditions when evaluating the cost of decommissioning domestic nuclear power plants. Also, in Korea, IAEA recommendations were applied to reorganize the radioactive waste classification system. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method to appropriately use the decommissioning data of the preceding US Nuclear Power Plant in the new classification system when estimating the amount of radioactive waste generated during decommissioning. In particular, the establishment of the evaluation methodology for the waste to be disposed of will be an important factor in securing the accuracy of the decommissioning cost. In addition, it is necessary to construct information data that can be applied to facility characteristics and work characteristics in order to evaluate the cost of demolition of domestic nuclear power plants.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2013

In this study, we compared nutrient content emphasized on labelling of processed milks with that of whole milks and evaluated how well they conform to labelling standard. A total of 98 samples (33 whole milks, 28 calcium fortified milks, 30 low-fat milks and 7 lactose hydrolyzed milks) were collected in hypermarkets in Seoul from August 28 to August 30 in 2012. Calcium, fat and lactose contents were tested in the samples. Calcium contents ranged 102.2~113.0 mg/100 mL in whole milks and 120.1~337.8 mg/100 mL in calcium fortified milks. The level of calcium contents in fortified milks ranged very broad. Accordingly, the standard of calcium contents on fortified milks will be required. Fat contents ranged 3.1~3.9 g/100 mL in whole milks and 0.1~1.9 g/100 mL in low-fat milks. The average of fats content in low-fat milks was nearly one third than whole milks. Lactose contents was ranged 4.6~5.1 g/100 mL in whole milks and not detected in lactose hydrolyzed milks. All of processed milks were suitable to processing standard and labelling standard. But nutrition claims often used on processed milk such as "High" or "Low" were not adequate to indicate the exact nutrient content, which is a cause of the confusion for milk product labelling to consumers. We need a lot of research about nutrient labelling that can deliver appropriate and understandable information to customers.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1155-1161
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• 2003

A three-year (2000-2002) survey on consumer's awareness and perception of genetically-modified (GM) foods was conducted on random samples of Korean consumers. More than 65% of the respondents were exposed to some information related to GM foods. The greatest benefit of the development of GM foods was thought to be their remedy of potential food shortages in the future. More than 90% of Korean consumers wanted GM foods to be labeled. About 18% of the respondents would buy GM foods voluntarily, whereas over 46% would not until they knew more about the product. Only 39% of Korean consumers were found to have realized that food items origination from plants contained genes. More consumers responded that they would not buy herbicide-resistant GM soybean and buy vitamin-enriched GM soybean instead. Many Korean consumers appeared to make decisions of acceptance or rejection of GM foods not on the basis of biotechnology, but on the basis of the word(s) used to describe the products, such as herbicide and vitamin. Only 4% of Korean consumers responded that GM foods were the greatest threat to the safety of Korean foods.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.331-341
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• 2016

To evaluate the physicochemical and radiological properties of raw materials and by-products in domestic distribution, about 220 samples with 16 species were prepared. We measured the energy spectrum and the chemical content, such as U, Th, and K, using a $LaBr_3$ scintillation detector and ED-XRF. In addition, HPGe detector was used to analyze the radioac-tivity of $^{234}Th$, $^{234}mPa$, and $^{214}Bi$ in uranium decay series and $^{228}Ac$, $^{212}Pb$, and $^{208}Tl$ in thorium decay series, and $^{40}K$. The correlation between characteristic variables, such as the count rate in several ROIs, chemical content, and radioactivity, was assessed to infer the radioactivity of natural radionuclides through a rapid screening method. Based on the results, a characteristic database for raw material and by-product in domestic distribution was established and it will provide useful information in the analysis procedure and improve the accuracy and reproducibility in the analysis of natural radionuclides.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.187-196
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• 2016

Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) considering evapotranspiration and precipitation is generally used to quantify the drought severity. Also, Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) has been frequently used in the arid regions which is suffering severe droughts, but drought analysis in association with RDI has been the focus of few studies in South Korea. Therefore, this study compared two meterological drought indices based on precipitation and evapotranspiration using Thornthwaite, Hargreaves, and Blaney-Criddle evaportranspiration calculation methods. Meteorological data of sixteen weather stations which are operated by Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) were used to quantify drought and to compare characteristics of drought for the Han River Basin from 1992 to 2015. As a result, in case of Han River Basin, severe drought sharply increased in recent years. While the correlation coefficients are relatively high between the SPEIs and RDIs, the drought severity and year of severe drought are partially different. Therefore, it is necessary that RDI will be also measured to quantify severity and occurrence year of drought.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

This study has been conducted to characterize the relations between the accident rate and the overlap section elements where the horizontal alignment and vertical alignment are overlapped. The researches were performed on Horizontal curve sections of 4-lane highways with 100km/h of design speed and speed limit. Korea Highway Corporation's Geographic Figurative Information System was adopted for geometric organization and Highway Traffic Accident Statistics was used. The results reveal that sections made of a single slope without vertical curve has greater accident rate than those with vertical curve, and that sections with 1 vertical curve are higher in the accident rate than those with over 2 vertical curve. For the sections with 1 vertical curve, SAG sections are higher than CREST sections and for the previous straight section of horizontal curve are higher than curved ones. In particular, when the road surface is wet, the accident rate is closely related with SAG vertical curves or leftward horizontal curved sections. This study will have meanings that it proposes the importance of design of road alignment by taking consideration of 3D synthetic alignment conditions for improvement of the road safety.