• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1144-1154
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• 2019

There have been several studies regarding lichen-associated bacteria obtained from diverse environments. Our screening process identified 49 bacterial species in two lichens from the Himalayas: 17 species of Actinobacteria, 19 species of Firmicutes, and 13 species of Proteobacteria. We discovered five types of strong antimicrobial agent-producing bacteria. Although some strains exhibited weak antimicrobial activity, NP088, NP131, NP132, NP134, and NP160 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against all multidrug-resistant strains. Polyketide synthase (PKS) fingerprinting revealed results for 69 of 148 strains; these had similar genes, such as fatty acid-related PKS, adenylation domain genes, PfaA, and PksD. Although the association between antimicrobial activity and the PKS fingerprinting results is poorly resolved, NP160 had six types of PKS fingerprinting genes, as well as strong antimicrobial activity. Therefore, we sequenced the draft genome of strain NP160, and predicted its secondary metabolism using antiSMASH version 4.2. NP160 had 46 clusters and was predicted to produce similar secondary metabolites with similarities of 5-100%. Although NP160 had 100% similarity with the alkylresorcinol biosynthetic gene cluster, our results showed low similarity with existing members of this biosynthetic gene cluster, and most have not yet been revealed. In conclusion, we expect that lichen-associated bacteria from the Himalayas can produce new secondary metabolites, and we found several secondary metabolite-related biosynthetic gene clusters to support this hypothesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the mental health factors related to health risk behaviors between multicultural and monocultural adolescents. Methods: The study subjects were selected from the 2018 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey Dataset. A total of 60,040 multicultural and monocultural adolescents were included in the analysis. A $x^2$ test and logistic regression were conducted, using SPSS 18.0, to compare the general characteristics, mental health, and health risk behaviors of the multicultural and monocultural adolescents. This process involved a complex sample design. Results: There was a significant difference in the rates of suicidal behaviors. Multicultural adolescents showed a significantly higher rate of suicidal ideation (8.6% vs. 8.5%, p=.004), suicidal plan (3.2% vs. 2.4%, p=.004), and suicidal attempt (5.0% vs 3.1%, p=.04) than monocultural adolescents. Perceived stress had a significant impact only on monocultural adolescents. Monocultural adolescents with high levels of perceived stress were at a greater risk of drinking (high stress=reference; low stress OR=0.91, p=.025) and smoking (high stress=reference; low stress OR=0.90, p=.029) than those with low stress. Multicultural adolescents who had made suicide attempts were at a higher risk of drinking (multicultural OR=7.879, p<.001; monocultural OR=2.481, p<.001) and smoking (multicultural OR=4.011, p=.015; monocultural OR=2.800, p<.001) than monocultural adolescents. Conclusion: To implement an effective smoking and drinking prevention program, it is necessary to consider how we can reduce the risk factors. Stress management is important for monocultural adolescents and a proactive suicide-screening program and a suicide prevention program should be included in the program for both multicultural and monocultural adolescents.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1095-1104
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• 2018

The adsorption characteristics of bisphenol A (BPA) were investigated using activated carbon based on waste citrus peel (which is abandoned in large quantities in Jeju Island), denoted as WCP-AC, and surface-modified with various $P_2O_5$ concentrations (WCP-SM-AC). Moreover, coconut-based activated carbon (which is marketed in large amounts) was surface-modified in an identical manner for comparison. The adsorption equilibrium of BPA using the activated carbons before and after surface modification was obtained at nearly 48 h. The adsorption process of BPA by activated carbons and surface-modified activated carbons was well-described by the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The experimental data in the adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm model. With increasing $P_2O_5$ concentration (250-2,000 mg/L), the amounts of BPA adsorbed by WCP-SM-AC increased till 1,000 mg/L of $P_2O_5$; however, above 1,000 mg/L of $P_2O_5$, the same amounts adsorbed at 1,000 mg/L of $P_2O_5$ were obtained. With increasing reaction temperature, the reaction rate increased, but the adsorbed amounts decreased, especially for the activated carbon before surface modification. The amounts of BPA adsorbed by WCP-AC and WCP-SM-AC were similar in the pH range of 5-9, but significantly decreased at pH 11, and increased with increasing ionic strength due to screening and salting-out effects.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 2019

Background: Methyl alcohol poisoning in mobile phone-manufacturing factories during 2015-2016 was caused by methyl alcohol use for cleaning in computerized numerical control (CNC) processes. To determine whether there were health complications in other workers involved in similar processes, the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute conducted a survey. Methods: We established a national active surveillance system by collaborating with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and National Health Insurance Service. Employment and national health insurance data were used. Overall, 12,048 employees of major domestic mobile phone companies and CNC process dispatch workers were surveyed from 2016 to 2017. We investigated methyl alcohol poisoning by using the national health insurance data. Questionnaires were used to investigate diseases due to methyl alcohol poisoning. Results: Overall, 24.9% of dispatched workers were employed in at least five companies, and 23.9% of dispatched workers had missing employment insurance history data. The prevalence of blindness including visual impairment, optic neuritis, visual disturbances, and alcohol toxicity in the study participants was higher than that reported in the national health insurance database (0.02%, 0.07%, 0.23%, and 0.03% versus 0.01%, 0.07%, 0.13%, and 0.01%, respectively, in 2015). Moreover, 430 suspicious workers were identified; 415 of these provided an address and phone number, of whom 48 responded (response rate, 11.6%). Among the 48 workers, 10 had diseases at the time of the survey, of whom 3 workers were believed to have diseases related to methyl alcohol exposure. Conclusion: This study revealed that active surveillance data can be used to assess health problems related to methyl alcohol poisoning in CNC processes and dispatch workers.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.244-254
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• 2021

The management of emerging infectious diseases cannot help but completely depend on non-pharmaceutical interventions in the early stages of the outbreak. Consequently, South Korea has developed and implemented the 3T (test-trace-treat) models, non-pharmaceutical infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The IPC measures have gained global attention, rendering them to be essential in the development of a shareable, reusable, and applicable protocol for future pandemics. This study was conducted to identify the requirements necessary for standardizing the IPC measures. Three new work items of the 18 3T models were proposed to ISO/TC 304 (International Organization for Standardization/Technical Committee 304; healthcare organization management). Requirements for each IPC measure, identified by participating members (P-members) countries during the ISO ballots, were analyzed in this study. The three new work items were approved by the P-members countries after a 3-month ballot. There was a consensus that the three IPC measure models should be International Standards (IS). Other comments include (1) the models should include not only COVID-19 but also any respiratory pandemic; and (2) keep donning of level D protection at screening sites as an optional protocol, in consideration for the lack of personal protective equipment. Standardization is a systematic process of developing internationally agreed-upon wisdom and knowledge that consider and respect the diversity and universality of each country. It is expected that such standardized applicable IPC measure models contribute to global efforts to rapidly respond to a public health emergency of international concern during its early stages.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.234-243
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• 2021

In the research or project planning for the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant, one of several preparations will be the establishment of a list of potential radionuclides to be considered at the time of characterization or final status surveys. Reliable data for selection of potential radionuclides during the transition period to prepare for decommissioning will depend heavily on historical data at the site or, where possible, sampling analysis. However, during the transition period, direct sampling can be challenging, depending on the circumstances of the site or national regulation. A methodology of selecting potential radionuclides for nuclear facility sites which largely consists of three major processes: production of initial list of radionuclides, selection of the insignificant radionuclide that will be eliminated, and consideration of site characterization or sampling. For developing a preliminary list of potential radionuclides for Kori Unit 1 decommissioning, the list of initial radionuclides was made referring to the technical documents applied at decommissioned NPPs in the U.S and additional reference materials applied until the operation of NPPs in Korea. For the screening of insignificant radionuclides, we applied criterion of less than 0.1% of the amount of radioactivity inventory and confirmed the dose fraction using the RESRAD code. The final suit of radionuclides was established, which should be supplemented by reflecting site characterization and sampling process in the future. Thus, the methodology and results for the selection of potential radionuclides suggested in this paper can give an insight as a future reference to deriving DCGLs in relation to site remediation of decommissioning nuclear plants.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.109-132
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• 2021

Objective: This study examined the relationships among attention deficits/hyper activities problems(ADHD problems), executive function difficulties, and social capital inside the family, especially with the mediating effect of social capital inside the family, in children from dual-income households. Methods: The participants were 401 children from dual-income households from the eighth wave of the Panel Study on Korean Children. They belonged into lower and higher ADHD problems groups that showed below 25% or more than 75% of ADHD screening items' total score. The data were analyzed by t-test, correlation analysis and mediating effect test by PROCESS macro 3.5.3.. Results: Children's executive function difficulties and social capital inside the family were significantly different between the two lower and higher ADHD problems groups. A mediating effect was found based on the negative relationships between the social capital inside the family including mother's warm childrearing behavior and positive coparenting, and children's executive function difficulties. Children's ADHD problems had a negative influence on each of the two social capital variables and each of the two variables had a negative influence on the executive function difficulties. Conclusion/Implications: These results emphasize the meaningful role of social capital inside the family in the development of first graders with ADHD problems from dual-income households.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.425-440
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• 2023

Background: Muscimol's quick onset and GABAergic properties make it a promising candidate for the treatment of pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies aimed at summarizing the evidence regarding the efficacy of muscimol administration in the amelioration of nerve injury-related neuropathic pain. Methods: Two independent researchers performed the screening process in Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science extracting data were extracted into a checklist designed according to the PRISMA guideline. A standardized mean difference (SMD [95% confidence interval]) was calculated for each. To assess the heterogeneity between studies, ² and chi-square tests were utilized. In the case of heterogeneity, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to identify the potential source. Results: Twenty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data analysis showed that the administration of muscimol during the peak effect causes a significant reduction in mechanical allodynia (SMD = 1.78 [1.45-2.11]; P < 0.0001; I² = 72.70%), mechanical hyperalgesia (SMD = 1.62 [1.28-1.96]; P < 0.0001; I² = 40.66%), and thermal hyperalgesia (SMD = 2.59 [1.79-3.39]; P < 0.0001; I² = 80.33%). This significant amendment of pain was observed at a declining rate from 15 minutes to at least 180 minutes post-treatment in mechanical allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia, and up to 30 minutes in thermal hyperalgesia (P < 0 .0001). Conclusions: Muscimol is effective in the amelioration of mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, and thermal hyperalgesia, exerting its analgesic effects 15 minutes after administration for up to at least 3 hours.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2023

Recently, the development of quantum computers means a great threat to existing public key system based on discrete algebra problems or factorization problems. Accordingly, NIST is currently in the process of contesting and screening PQC(Post Quantum Cryptography) that can be implemented in both the computing environment and the upcoming quantum computing environment. Among them, SIKE is the only Isogeny-based cipher and has the advantage of a shorter public key compared to other PQC with the same safety. However, like conventional cryptographic algorithms, all quantum-resistant ciphers must be safe for existing cryptanlysis. In this paper, we studied power analysis-based cryptographic analysis techniques for SIKE, and notably we analyzed SIKE through wavelet transformation and deep learning-based clustering power analysis. As a result, the analysis success rate was close to 100% even in SIKE with applied masking response techniques that defend the accuracy of existing clustering power analysis techniques to around 50%, and it was confirmed that was the strongest attack on SIKE.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1485-1494
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• 2023

The bow of the nuclear fuel assembly is a well-known phenomenon. One of the vital criteria during the history of nuclear fuel development has been fuel assembly's mechanical stability. Once present, the fuel assembly bow can lead to safety issues like excessive water gap and power redistribution or even incomplete rod insertion (IRI). The extensive bow can result in assembly handling and loading problems. This is why the fuel assembly's bow is one of the most often controlled geometrical factors during periodic fuel inspections for VVER when compared e.g. to on-site fuel rod gap measurements or other instrumental measurements performed on-site. Our proposed screening method uses existing video records for fuel inspection. We establish video frames normalization and aggregation for the purposes of bow measurement. The whole process is done by digital image processing algorithms which analyze rotations of video frames, extract angles whose source is the fuel set torsion, and reconstruct torsion schema. This approach provides results comparable to the commonly utilized method. We tested this new approach in real operation on 19 fuel assemblies with different campaign numbers and designs, where the average deviation from other methods was less than 2 % on average. Due to the fact, that the method has not yet been validated during full scale measurements of the fuel inspection, the preliminary results stand for that we recommend this method as a complementary part of standard bow measurement procedures to increase measurement robustness, lower time consumption and preserve or increase accuracy. After completed validation it is expected that the proposed method allows standalone fuel assembly bow measurements.