• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.1.1-1.13
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• 2016

Objectives To investigate the accuracy and scientific validity of the current very low risk factor for hereditary diseases in humans following exposures to ionizing radiation adopted by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The value is based on experiments on mice due to reportedly absent effects in the Japanese atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors. Methods To review the published evidence for heritable effects after ionising radiation exposures particularly, but not restricted to, populations exposed to contamination from the Chernobyl accident and from atmospheric nuclear test fallout. To make a compilation of findings about early deaths, congenital malformations, Down's syndrome, cancer and other genetic effects observed in humans after the exposure of the parents. To also examine more closely the evidence from the Japanese A-bomb epidemiology and discuss its scientific validity. Results Nearly all types of hereditary defects were found at doses as low as one to 10 mSv. We discuss the clash between the current risk model and these observations on the basis of biological mechanism and assumptions about linear relationships between dose and effect in neonatal and foetal epidemiology. The evidence supports a dose response relationship which is non-linear and is either biphasic or supralinear (hogs-back) and largely either saturates or falls above 10 mSv. Conclusions We conclude that the current risk model for heritable effects of radiation is unsafe. The dose response relationship is non-linear with the greatest effects at the lowest doses. Using Chernobyl data we derive an excess relative risk for all malformations of 1.0 per 10 mSv cumulative dose. The safety of the Japanese A-bomb epidemiology is argued to be both scientifically and philosophically questionable owing to errors in the choice of control groups, omission of internal exposure effects and assumptions about linear dose response.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.243-250
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• 2002

According to Ocean Korea 21, a basic plan established by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF) of Korea in May 2000, Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) proposed a program for the development of a deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to explore deep sea for scientific purpose. KRISO has launched a project in May 2001 under the support of MOMAF. The deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicle will be applied to scientific researches in deep-sea as well as in shallow water. For operation of underwater vehicles in shallow water near the Korean Peninsula, a special design is required because of strong tidal current. In addition, MOMAF requires the vehicle to be designed for the purpose of long range survey, a long-term observation, and precise works in a specific area. Thus, KRISO has planned to design the system with the functional combination of both ROV and AUV. This paper presents the design of the deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicle.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.277-293
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• 2009

Disagreement among the various publications providing lists of Korean endemic plants makes confusion inevitable. We summarized the six previous reports providing comprehensive lists of endemic plants in Korea: 407 taxa in Lee (1982), 570 taxa in Paik (1994), 759 taxa in Kim (2004), 328 taxa in Korea National Arboretum (2005), 515 taxa in the Ministry of Environment (2005) and 289 taxa in Flora of Korea Editorial Committee (2007). The total number of endemic plants described in the previous reports was 970 taxa, including 89 families, 302 genera, 496 species, 3 subspecies, 218 varieties, and 253 formae. Endemic plants listed four times or more were collected to compare the data in terms of scientific names and synonyms (339 taxa in 59 families and 155 genera). If the varieties and formae were excluded, the resulting number of endemic plants was 252 taxa for the 339 purported taxa analyzed. Seven of the 155 genera analyzed were Korean endemic genera. Among the 339 taxa, the same scientific names were used in the original publications for 256 taxa (76%), while different scientific names were used for 83 taxa (24%). The four largest families were Compositae (42 taxa, 12.4%), Ranunculaceae (19 taxa, 5.6%), Rosaceae (19 taxa, 5.6%), and Scrophulariaceae (19 taxa, 5.6%). Saussurea (Compositae) had the highest number of taxa within one genus (17 taxa; 5% of total endemic taxa).

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.459-475
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• 1998

In many clinical trials, we are interested in comparing the failure time distribution of different treatment groups. Because of ethical and economic reasons, clinical trials need to be monitored for early dramatic benefits or potential harmful effects. Prior knowledge, evolving knowledge, statistical considerations, medical judgment and ethical principles are all involved in the decision to terminate a trial early, and thus the monitoring is usually carried out by an independent scientific committee. This paper reviews the recently proposed group sequential testing procedures for clinical trials with survival data. Design considerations of such clinical trials are also discussed. This paper compares the characteristics of each of these methods and provides the biostatisticians with the guidelines for choosing the appropriate group sequential methods in a given situation.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-65
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• 2007

The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) is an international organization established to encourage scientific evaluation, dissemination of evidence-based information, and appropriate clinical integration of complementary therapies (http://www.Integrativeonc.org.). Practice Guidelines were developed by the authors listed below and by the Executive Committee of the Society for Integrative Oncology, which approved this document. Guidelines are a work in progress; they will be updated as needed and are available on the SIO Web site as well: www.IntegrativeOnc.org.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 2015

To understand the fluctuation of global carbon levels caused by the biogeochemical cycle within the ocean interior, it is essential to achieve comparability of global oceanic nutrient data to a fairly high degree. The Scientific Committee on Ocean Research (SCOR) commissioned a working group (WG147) to establish a system for achieving comparability of oceanic nutrient data within 1% among laboratories around the world. The introduction of international activities for improving nutrient comparability will facilitate the use of nutrient reference material of seawater by researchers within Korea, which will help in meeting international standards of nutrient comparability and promote international cooperation.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.150-155
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• 2016

Learning objectives for human and society-centered basic medical education to improve physicians' ability to practice in a Korean context were developed by the Korean Association of Medical Colleges in 2015-2016. The task-force committee identified eight domains for medical practitioners: human illness, reflection and self-improvement, patient safety, communication and collaboration, medical ethics, legal issues, social accountability, and professionalism. A total of 172 enabling learning outcomes and 42 terminal learning outcomes were identified by the workshop. The workshop members were representatives from 41 medical schools, the Korean Medical Association, and a scientific group (medical ethics, legal issues, and medical communication). The curriculum for "medical humanity and social medicine" was first published in 2007. The human and society-centered learning objectives that were developed will be revised annually.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.476-483
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• 2001

The clotting assay was replaced by the chromogenic substrate assay which is recommended by the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) and the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis based on the reliability convenience and simplicity of the chromogenic assay, A correlation study was carried out with a one-stage factor Ⅷ : C clotting assay and the performance of the chromogenic assay was evaluated using two test kits that fulfilled the requirements of EP for factor Ⅷ concentrates test. Although chromogenic assay has partly differences in measurement principle and standardization, this assay has a high correlation with clotting assay in various types of factor Ⅷ concentrates and factor Ⅷ standard. We conclude that the chromogenic assay for factor Ⅷ : C concentrates correlates well with the clotting assay and shows good analytical performance.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.82-91
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• 2011

The present study reviewed the effects of excess iodine intake on thyroid function and the incidence of thyroid disease and discussed the scientific basis for establishing a tolerable upper intake level (UL) of iodine for Koreans. ULs are defined as "the highest level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects to almost all individuals in the general population." Koreans consume excess iodine from seaweed, and iodine intake is strongly influenced by seaweed consumption. However, no dose-response data derived from subjects consuming excess iodine frequently but not continuously during a lifetime are available. Therefore, the Korean DRI committee set the iodine UL to reduce the risk of adverse health effects by excess iodine intake for Koreans with distinctive seaweed-eating habits.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.347-366
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• 2012

The aim of this new statement is to provide comprehensive and timely evidence-based recommendations on stroke management for clinical practitioners. Many countries are already well engaged in developing and releasing their own clinical practice guidelines, whereas Korean Medicine (KM) is still beginning. It will take time and effort to develop evidence-based guidelines and recommendations of KM or other traditional medicine because they are weak in the area of scientific evidence. The clinical practice guideline of Korean medicine for stroke was formulated through extensive review of published literature and consensus meeting of Korean medicine specialists. This project was supported by a grant of the Oriental Medicine R&D Project, the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Referring to guidelines developed in other countries, the experts in the subject tried to organize and develop guidelines and recommendations adequate for domestic medical circumstances. In December, 2008, a multi-disciplinary team called the Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Development Group (EBCPGsDG) for Stroke was organized. The writing committee was comprised of experts in internal medicine, acupuncture, rehabilitation, and Sasang constitution. Outside specialists and associated panels were invited for consultation. The scope of the guideline encompasses acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine (including Korean medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Kampo medicine) as interventions for stroke patients. It includes statements about ischemic stroke (I63), stroke not specified as hemorrhage or infarction (I64), and sequelae of cerebrovascular disease (I69) according to the International Classification of Disease (ICD). The committee subdivided the description of herbal medications into acute stroke management, subacute stroke management, post-stroke management, and secondary prevention of stroke. Guidelines on the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion were described in order for acute stroke management, subacute stroke management, chronic stroke management, and post-stroke rehabilitation. Clinicians who are working in the field of stroke care can adopt this guideline for their practice.