• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.939-944
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• 2015

The calibration methods of neutron-measuring devices such as the neutron survey meter have advantages and disadvantages. To compare the calibration factors obtained by the shadow cone method and semi-empirical method, 10 neutron survey meters of five different types were used in this study. This experiment was performed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI; Daejeon, South Korea), and the calibration neutron fields were constructed using a $^{252}Californium$ ($^{252}Cf$) neutron source, which was positioned in the center of the neutron irradiation room. The neutron spectra of the calibration neutron fields were measured by a europium-activated lithium iodide scintillator in combination with KAERI's Bonner sphere system. When the shadow cone method was used, 10 single moderator-based survey meters exhibited a smaller calibration factor by as much as 3.1-9.3% than that of the semi-empirical method. This finding indicates that neutron survey meters underestimated the scattered neutrons and attenuated neutrons (i.e., the total scatter corrections). This underestimation of the calibration factor was attributed to the fact that single moderator-based survey meters have an under-ambient dose equivalent response in the thermal or thermal-dominant neutron field. As a result, when the shadow cone method is used for a single moderator-based survey meter, an additional correction and the International Organization for Standardization standard 8529-2 for room-scattered neutrons should be considered.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.747-761
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Korea, studies of diet in elementary school children are hindered by the need for a comprehensive dietary assessment tool. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Korean elementary school children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The 24-h recall data for 1,624 subjects aged 6-11 yrs from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to extract the items included in the questionnaire. The FFQ items were developed by selecting major dishes based on the results of nutritional contribution and between-person variability for energy and 14 nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fat, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorous, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C). We selected the major dishes with over 90% of the total contribution to each nutrient and with over 90% of the accumulated R² for each nutrient. Among the 452 dishes, we selected 248 dishes contributing more than 1% of the total consumption. RESULTS: Finally, the FFQ included 107 items combined from 248 dishes based on nutrient profile and recipe. The FFQ items accounted for an average of 88.6% of the energy, 14 nutrient intakes, and 91.4% of the between-person variability. Quantities of dietary intake were assessed by 9 categories of frequency and 3 categories of portion size. Percentages of coverage for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and calcium were 90.2%, 87.8%, 89.9%, 90.8%, and 88.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a dish-based, semi-quantitative FFQ comprising 107 items for Korean elementary school children aged 6 to 11. Further studies are needed to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of this FFQ for elementary school children.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.254-260
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• 2007

Trichloroethylene(TCE) is widely used as a degreasing solvent in workplaces. TCE is primarily toxic to the nervous system, however, systemic disorder like Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been recently reported in small-scale factories, where the government has had limited information of chemical use. A survey was performed to investigate the actual condition of using TCE and to provide practical information to occupational health service agencies and professionals. This survey was carried out on 103 factories out of 430 factories which were conducted periodic work environment measurement for TCE. Degreasing was the most popular reason for using TCE in Korea, which reached to 94%. TCE was also used as a solvent for rubber in the coating or molding process, and adhesives in the bonding process. Metal fabrication was the most common as 23%, followed by assembling automobile parts (17%), and machinery (12%). Workers exposed to TCE during full-shift were 52% while 48% were exposed during short period of the shift or intermittently. Manual or semi-automatic work occupied 87% while automatic work was just 13%. Though automatic work by a closed system was generally lower exposed to TCE, compared to manual work, it can cause a high exposure when the maintenance system is improper. Semi-automatic work especially like open-top degreasing process can cause a high exposure when local exhaust system with condensing and refrigerating coils in the degreaser does not work well. In conclusion, the survey showed nationwide status of TCE exposure in various aspects. It can be used to monitor workplaces and workers exposed to TCE to prevent occupational diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 1981

We have performed 324 specimens' urobilinogen determinations(Healthy normal 219 & out-or in-patients 105) for the purposs of defining accurate & precise methods in semi-quantitative techniques. As shown on Table 1 through 5 & Fig.1 to 3, normal person's titer is concentrated in 1:40, 1:80, 1:20 & 1:10 respectively and majority of patients' titer is 160. The concentration diagram on Fig. 2 is seen for the normal person and patient's titer is nearly normal distribution scattered from 0.475mg/dl of median throughout the whole area (0.225-0.625). From Fig. 5 I have found that semi-quantitative titer is much different from the true value by electrical measurements. I am proposing of taking photoelectric quantitative methods for semiquantitative methods.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.762-767
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• 2009

Some types of semi-Volatile organic compounds (SVOC) that are emitted from plastics used in building materials and household appliances have associated health risks, even at low concentrations. In this study, micro chamber method for measuring SVOC is introduced and SVOC such as di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and butylated hydroxyltoluene emitted a flooring material were measured using a micro chamber method. Airflow characteristics in a micro test chamber deeply depended on air exchange rate. From the evaluation using an index of air change efficiency, such as the air age and the coefficient of air change performance, a fixed air exchange rate of $1.5\;h^{-1}$ in the micro chamber is desirable.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.173-184
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• 2003

Objective : This study was carried out to develop a semi-quantitative food frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ) for estimating average dietary intake to determine the risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases in a conjoint cohort study. Design : We developed an SQFFQ for genomic epidemiological studies based on the data in the'98 Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A subset of data on informative food items was collected using the 24-hr recall method with 2,714 adults aged 40 or older living in middle-sized cities or in rural areas in Korea. The cumulative percent contribution and cumulative multiple regression coefficients of 17 nutrients (energy, fat, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, iron, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, retinol, $\beta$-carotene, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin and vitamin C) of each food were computed. Results : Two hundred and forty-nine foods, which were selected based on their 0.9 cumulative percent contribution, and 254 foods, which were selected based on their 0.9 cumulative multiple regression coefficients, respectively, were grouped into 97 food groups according to their nutrient contents. Several popular Korean foods, which were missing from the list due to the seasonality of the survey, were included. The portion sizes were derived from the same data set. The SQFFQ covered 84.8 percent of the intake of 17 nutrients in the one day diet record data of our 326 cohort study subjects. Conclusions . The final list included 103 food items. The foods list in the SQFFQ described herein accounted for 84.8 percent of the average intake of 17 nutrients. Therefore, the list could be used for the assessment of the baseline dietary intakes of the conjoint cohort studies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8993-9004
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• 2014

Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.389-401
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• 2012

This paper derives a benchmark dose(BMD) and its 95% lower confidence limit(BMDL) using a semi-parametric regression model for small lead based changes in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) scores in the first wave of the Children's Health and Environment Research(CHEER) survey data, which have been regularly collected in South Korea since 2005. Ha et al. (2009) showed that the appearance of ADHD symptoms had a borderline trend of increasing with the blood lead concentration. Butdz-J${\o}$rgensen (EFSA, 2010a) derived the BMDL of lead corresponding to a benchmark region of 1 full intelligent quotient (IQ) score using the raw data in Lanphear et al. (2005, EHP). European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2010b) determined the BMDL of $1.2{\mu}g/dl$ as a reference point for the characterization of lead when assessing the risk of the intellectual deficit measured by IQ scores. Kim et al. (2011) indicated that an even lower BMDL could be obtained based on the ADHD score; however, the BMDLs depended heavily upon the model assumptions. We show in this paper that a semi-parametric approach resolves the model dependence of BMDLs.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2017

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the distributions of faecal bacteria in commercial oriental medicine herb products. Methods and Results: A survey was conducted on the microbial contamination levels and antimicrobial specificity of Bacillus cereus and other microbes using 106 oriental medicine herb products on sale in Seoul. Pouring and isolation methods such as standard plate counts were used to identify the bacteria. The isolated bacterias included coliforms, Bacillus spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Listeria spp.were identified by using gram staining and an API (analytical profile index) kit. Antimicrobial drugs discs were determined by CLSI (clinical and laboratory standards institute). Conclusions: The bacterial isolates present in the herbal medicines included 98 coliforms, 45 Bacillus spp., 29 Enterococcus spp., and 2 Listeria spp. Among these, there were nine Bacillus cereus strains, one Enterococcus faecium strain, and one Enterococcus faecalis strain present. The 9 Bacillus cereus strains were tested for susceptibility to 36 types of antibiotics products by the disc diffusion method. The strains showed resistance to 13 of these antibiotic products and semi-resistance to 5 antibiotic products. On the basis of these results, any oriental medicine herb product can be assumed to be contain resistant or semi-resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, we suggest prescribing guidelines and special management for the use of antibiotics in farms producing oriental medicine herb products.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.302-322
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• 2021

In the system of ciphertext policy attribute-based encryption (CP-ABE), only when the attributes of data user meets the access structure established by the encrypter, the data user can perform decryption operation. So CP-ABE has been widely used in personal health record system (PHR). However, the problem of key abuse consists in the CP-ABE system. The semi-trusted authority or the authorized user to access the system may disclose the key because of personal interests, resulting in illegal users accessing the system. Consequently, aiming at two kinds of existing key abuse problems: (1) semi-trusted authority redistributes keys to unauthorized users, (2) authorized users disclose keys to unauthorized users, we put forward a CP-ABE scheme that has authority accountability, user traceability and supports arbitrary monotonous access structures. Specifically, we employ an auditor to make a fair ruling on the malicious behavior of users. Besides, to solve the problem of user leaving from the system, we use an indirect revocation method based on trust tree to implement user revocation. Compared with other existing schemes, we found that our solution achieved user revocation at an acceptable time cost. In addition, our scheme is proved to be fully secure in the standard model.