• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.398-422
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• 2017

Objectives: The major aim of this study is to construct the database of retrospective exposure assessment for crystalline silica through reviews of literatures in South Korea. Methods: Airborne concentrations of crystalline silica were collected using an academic information search engine, Research Information Service System(RISS), operated by the Korea Education & Research Information Service(KERIS). The key words used for the literature search were 'silica', 'crystalline silica', 'cristobalite', 'quartz' and 'tridymite'. A total number of 18 published documents with the information of crystalline silica level in air or bulk samples were selected and used to estimate retrospective exposures to crystalline silica. Weighted arithmetic mean(WAM) calculated across studies was summarized by industry type. Industries were classified according to Korea Standard Industrial Classification(KSIC) using information provided in the literature. Results: A total of 2,131 individual air sampling data measured from 1987 to 2012 were compiled. Compiled individual measurement data consisted of 827 respirable crystalline silica (RCS), 31 total crystalline silica(TCS), 24 crystalline silica(CS), 778 respirable dust(RD) and 471 total dust(TD). Most of RCS measurements(68.9%) were collected from 'cast of metals(KSIC 243)'. Comparing industry types, 'mining coal and lignite(KISC 051)' showed the highest WAM concentration of RCS, $0.14mg/m^3$, followed by $0.11mg/m^3$ of 'manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products(KSIC 239)', $0.108mg/m^3$ of 'manufacture of ceramic ware(KSIC 232)', $0.098mg/m^3$ of 'heavy construction(KSIC 412)' and $0.062mg/m^3$ of 'cast of metals(KSIC 243)'. In terms of crystalline silica contents in airborne dust, 'manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products(KSIC 239)' showed the highest value of 7.3%(wt/wt), followed by 6.8% of 'manufacture of ceramic ware(KSIC 232)', 5.8% of 'mining of iron ores(KSIC 061)', 4.9% of 'cast of metals(KSIC 243)' and 4.5% of 'heavy construction(KSIC 412)'. WAM concentrations of RCS had no consistent trends over time from 1994 ($0.26mg/m^3$) to 2012 ($0.12mg/m^3$). Conclusion: The data set related RCS exposure level by industries can be used to determine not only the possibility of retrospective exposure to RCS, but also to evaluate the level of quantitative retrospective exposure to RCS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.464-476
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the exposure levels of tollbooth workers to diesel particulate matter using black carbon (BC) and to find the correlations among variables associated with BC using the motor vehicle management act regulated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Methods: This study was performed over 14 days at a university in Seoul. BC levels were monitored using an aethalometer and were conducted around the breathing zones of the workers. There were three sampling locations: inside the tollbooth (front gate and rear gate) and an office as a control group. T-test, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of BC_30min concentrations in the exposure group was 2.44 ㎍/㎥, approximately 1.4 times higher than the control group (1.75 ㎍/㎥). The GM of BC_30min concentrations was 2.75 ㎍/㎥ during the heavy traffic time (9-10 am) and 2.30 ㎍/㎥ during non-heavy traffic times (p<0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis shows that the number of all types of vehicles and PM_2.5 concentrations in the atmosphere were factors increasing the GM of BC(ln(BC_30min)) concentrations (adjusted R²=0.42, p<0.001). The workers were constantly exposed to low concentrations (GM of BC_30min=2.44 ㎍/㎥), but they were exposed to peak concentrations instantly (BC_10sec=3545.04 ㎍/㎥). When the GM of BC_30min concentrations was momentarily represented as high, it was identified that a vehicle mainly using diesel fuel or an aging vehicle had passed. Conclusions: A ventilation system should be installed in the closed tollbooth or aging vehicles should be controlled so as not to pass tollbooths.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2001

The emergence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase(ESBL) producing bacteria is causing very serious problems in Korea. Although there have been many reports about these bacteria isolated from patients and clinical specimens, there is no report of ESBL-producing organisms isolated from natural evironment in Korea. This is the first study on the ESBL producing bacteria out of the medical system in Korea. Twenty-six ESBL producing bacteria were isolated only from sewerage plant drain water at Kwang-an beach among the sampling collected sites including snakehead fish plants in Myungi, Aquaculture Engineering Lab. in Pukyong National University and two public-bathrooms in Pusan, Korea. ESBL producing bacteria were identified by double-disk synergy test, conjugation, isoelectric focusing values and PCR. The species of ESBL producing bacteria were Enterobacter cloacae(4 strains), E. sakazakii(8 strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae(8 strains) and K. pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae(6 strains). TEM and SHV specific PCR products were detected from all the ESBL strains produced TEM+SHV products on the PCR plates. The pI values of ESBL produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae, Enterobacter cloacae, and E. sakazakii were 5.9, 5.9+5.4; 5.9, $5.9+5.4;{\ge}8.5$, 8.0+5.4, and 8.0+5.4, respectively on the IEF. Seven strains of the isolates were transfered their genes to E. coli RG488 $Rif^r$ by conjugation.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2004

Using geo-statistical method, yield data of different fields were analyzed to examine their field variability according to examining year, analysis method. Semivariogram and Kriged maps of geo-statistical analysis were used to examine their spatial dependence within a filed. The results obtained were as follows. 1) Descriptive statistical results of the yield showed that the yield and the difference of yield ranged from 100 to 946kg/10a and from 272 to 653kg/10a, respectively within a field. The coefficient of variation also ranged from 5.9 to 22.4 %. 2) More than 90% of yield data were placed between 350 to 850kg/10a. e results indicated that the gram mass flow sensor should have the measuring range from 0.34 to 0.82kg/s considering the yields when 4 rows head-feeding combine with 0.8 m/s of working speed was utilized. 3) A high spatial dependence was found within paddy field. The Q values ranged from 0.20 to 0.97, and the range of spatial dependence was from 6.9 to 53.3m. From this result, the rational sampling interval for yield investigation was estimated 6.9m. 4) Yields within a field between observation years showed considerable variability even if the field was evenly cultivated and managed. To apply precision agriculture in a paddy field, the field test should be continued to build a solid data-base including meteorological data, blight damage and insect damage.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2005

For detecting a ground contamination survey, soil sampling method have been used a drilling or coring technique in general. However these methods are very difficult to systematically real-time monitoring of variation of contamination degree in field. ]'n this research frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) system was suggested and carried out to experimental approaches for determination of oil contamination on surface and underground. Experimental method using FDR method was discussed with feasibility of measurement in the laboratory column test. It is determined to degree of oil contamination due to response of dielectric constant re-lated with volumetric water content(θ/sub w/) and volumetric oil content( θ/sub al/ ) of saturated and unsaturated soil media. And physical properties such as effective porosity and oil residual ratio of saturated soil media were also measured through real-time monitoring works using installed FDR measurement sensors, which are defected characteristics of oil movement in the saturated soil media under the soil column tests. In the results of these experiments, a range of effective porosity was estimated to about 0.35 compared with initial porosity 0.40 of manufactured saturated soil media, which is also calculated to about 87.5% to the ratio of initial porosity to effective porosity. Finally oil residual ratio which is compared with volumetric water content and volumetric oil content was calculated about 62.5%.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2007

To investigate the effect of large patch infection on oxidative stress induction, super-oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were compared between pathogen-infected and healthy (control) zoysiagrass. The sampling for leaves and roots were carried out every 2 days for a period of 6 days. The SOD activity was not significantly affected by pathogen-infection until day 2, but significant increase of both leaves (+48%) and roots (+49%) were observed at day 6 compared with control. The CAT activity was remarkedly increased by +25% in leaves and +101% in roots within the first 2 days and then rapidly decreased. The POD activity in pathogen-infected leaves was significantly increased by 74% at day 6. The increase of POD activity in pathogen-infected roots was 2-fold higher than that of the control at day 6. These results indicated that large patch-infection induce oxidative stress, and that SOD-CAT-POD antioxidant system of zoysiagrass was effectively operated.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.193-204
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• 2012

Purpose: This correlation study was performed to examine Korean adults' perceptions and attitudes towards death with dignity and the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and to identify factors that predict their attitude towards death with dignity. Methods: The study was conducted using convenience sampling of 291 adults from three towns of a metropolitan city in Korea. Data were collected using structured questionnaires which surveyed people's perception about and attitudes towards withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and scaled their attitude towards death with dignity. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression. Results: The attitude towards the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and death with dignity showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.49, P<0.001). For attitudes towards death with dignity, significant predictors were attitudes towards the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment, age, religion, a proper withdrawal process and advanced medical directives, which explained 49.3% of total variance. Conclusion: The results of this study may contribute to development of a new medical decision-making system including nurses' appropriate roles in the process of withdrawing life sustaining treatment and advanced medical directives.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.222-230
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• 2016

HEMIRE is a 6,000-meter-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that has been developed for observation and sampling of objects of interest on the deep seabed. We first carried out deep-seabed exploration around the slopes of the Hupo Bank and the Ulleung Basin in the East Sea in June 2015. Over two weeks, a total of 10 dives were made from a support ship, the R/V Onnuri, at eight stations with water depth ranging between 194 and 2,080 m. The dive times ranged from 1 to 6 hours, depending on the operating conditions. We obtained the following results: 1) video images of the deep seafloor; 2) red snow crab density data (a major fishery resource) and inventories of deep-sea fauna, including an unrecorded organism; 3) specific topographies such as canyons slopes; 4) an undisturbed sediment core obtained using a push corer; and 5) observations of the seabed surface covered with discarded anthropogenic waste material.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.345-358
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• 1999

To study the influences of thermal effluents flowing from hot spring on epilithic algal community, seasonal survey was carried out at stream and its watersheds from Seokjeong hot spring in Chollabuk-Do, Korea. Totally 7 points were divided into three regions fur sampling of water and epilithic algae, such as the direct effected, uneffected and the mixed region, respectively. At the discharging points of effluents, a dark-green cyanobacterial mat were remarkably constructed, mainly by two cyanobacteria, Oscillatoria and Phormidium. The mat formation were more obvious at low temperature than any other season, and even result in disappear with downstream and season. Totally, one hundred and fifty-three taxa of epilithic algae were classified with 15 unidentified species. Among the, diatoms occupied 58％ of total species, whereas cyanobacteria was 67% of total biomass, comparatively. In terms of stream direction, relative abundance of cyanobacteria was only limited in the upstream in cold season, and result in this pattern disappeared with season change. Although all physicochemical variables at the discharging points, was very high, compare to other points, they were quickly decreased downstream. Among them, some heavy metals were not detected or below the detection levels at downstream. Nitrate nitrogen increased with downstream, as well as phosphorus and sulfate have a similar trend throughout, while ammonia quickly decreased in the initial period of discharging effluents. This suggest that although the thermal effluent with high temperature and organic compounds could polluted the small study stream, various contributions such as flowing water, intake of uneffected streawater and collaboration of cyanobacterial mat and stream bottom gradually induces a stable water system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2007

This study investigated the spatial distribution of the marine debris in Jinudo in the Nakdong river estuary. Types of marine debris in Jinudo are analyzed through sampling around some portion of its sandbar shoreline. The present study and its main results are summarized as follow: 1) Monitoring system, for evaluating the volume of marine debris, was established in the coastal region of $50\;m\;{\times}\;50\;m\;(=0.002\;km^2)$ over the southern part of Jinudo. All the marine debris of conceivable form are collected and their amount was also estimated. 2) During the $1^{st}$ collection in May 2007, the total weight of the marine debris was 1,110 kg in this site, which means the density of marine debris around the shoreline is $444\;ton/km^2$. After one month later, the collected marine debris was 23.75 kg and so we have the average density of $9.5\;ton/km^2$. From these results, it is suggested that the marine debris of 316.67kg was being accumulated per day over unit area($1\;km^2$). 3) The most frequent marine debris collected during monitoring campaigns was wooden material amounting to 85.86% of the whole collection; the rest were fishing gears such as nets and buoys(5.13%), household waste(2.34%), glass(0.94%) and metals(0.27%).