• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.349-355
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to estimate effect of academic examination stress on taste perception and nutrient intakes in university students. Physical status, blood pressure, stress score using stress test of 2 types, recognition threshold and preference for taste, nutrient intakes using diet record method were measured before and after examination in 20 subjects. Mean age, height, weight, and BMI of the subjects were 23.39$\pm$1.20 years, 164.56$\pm$7.99 cm, 60.66$\pm$13.23 kg, 22.28$\pm$4.56 kg/$m^2$, respectively. Stress scores before examination of the subjects were significantly higher than those after examination. There were no significant differences in blood pressure, pulse rate, recognition threshold and just right concentration for sweetness and saltness, and food and nutrient intakes between pre- and post-examination. There were significantly positive correlation between stress score and diastolic blood pressure. And threshold concentration for saltness was positively correlated with threshold concentration for sweetness and animal protein intake. These results show no effect of examination stress on taste perception and nutrient intakes in university students. This may be due to low level of stress. Therefore, it is needed to study about effect of more higher level of stress on taste perception and nutrient intakes.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.311-342
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• 2015

We evaluate two main rationales of massive policy intervention of Lee Administration in the Korean transportation fuel market: high market share of domestic refineries, perceived by the Administration as the result of high market concentration, and asymmetry in price adjustment, perceived as the result of collusion. Domestic refineries, huge in capacity and located at seaports, maintain international competitiveness in price. Considering market openness offering preferential treatment to importers, they set domestic prices competitively on the basis of MOPS prices. Yet, the price competitiveness of domestic refineries is so high that they are able to sustain high market share. We confirm that the Korean before-tax consumer prices of gasoline and diesel are lower than Japan's and the weighted averages of 27 EU countries by as much as 159KRW and 21KRW per liter in the case of gasoline and 170KRW and 63KRW in the case of diesel. Price asymmetry is caused by diverse economic and managerial reasons and, as FTC (2005) states, price asymmetry does not immediately imply exercise of market power or collusion. We analyzed price asymmetry in Korea, Japan and 14 EU countries, and found asymmetry in Korea and 11 EU countries in the case of gasoline and in Korea and 8 EU countries in the case of diesel.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.375-383
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• 2023

Objectives: Coal-fired power plants feature diverse working conditions, including multi-layered employment structures and irregular work cycles due to outsourcing and non-standardized tasks. The current uniform occupational environment measurement systems have limitations in accurately assessing and evaluating these varied conditions. This study aims to propose alternative measurement and assessment strategies to supplement existing methods. Methods: Major domestic coal-fired power plants were selected as the study targets. To prepare for the study and establish strategies, work processes were identified and existing occupational environment measurement results were compared and analyzed. The study proceeded by employing three strategies: specific exposure groups (SEGs) measurement, continuous monitoring, and supplementary measurements, which were then compared and discussed. Results: Previous exposure index evaluations (5,268 cases) indicated that crystalline silica, a type of respirable particulate matter, had detection limits below the threshold (non-detectable) in 82.6% (4,349 cases) of instances. Exposures below 10% of the exposure limit were observed at a very low concentration of 96.1%. Similar exposure group measurements yielded results where detection limits were below the threshold in 38.2% of cases, and exposures below 10% of the limit were observed in 70.6%. Continuous monitoring indicated detection limits below the threshold in 12.6% of cases, and exposures below 10% of the limit were observed in 75.6%. Instances requiring active workplace management accounted for more than 30% of cases, with SEGs at 11.8% (four cases), showing a higher proportion compared to 3.0% (four cases) in continuous monitoring. For coal dust, exposures below 10% of the limit were highest in legal measurements at 90.2% (113 cases), followed by 74.0% (91 cases) in continuous monitoring, and 47.0% (16 cases) in SEGs. Instances exceeding 30% were most prevalent in SEGs at 14.7% (five cases), followed by legal measurements at 5.0% (eight cases), and continuous monitoring at 2.4% (three cases). When examining exposure levels through arithmetic means, crystalline silica was found to be 104.7% higher in SEGs at 0.0088 mg/m³ compared to 0.0043 mg/m³ in continuous monitoring. Coal dust measurements were highest in SEGs at 0.1247 mg/m³, followed by 0.1224 mg/m³ in legal measurements, and 0.0935 mg/m³ in continuous monitoring. Conclusions: Strategies involving SEGs measurement and continuous monitoring can enhance measurement reliability in environments with irregular work processes and frequent fluctuations in working conditions, as observed in coal-fired power plants. These strategies reduce the likelihood of omitting or underestimating processes and enhance measurement accuracy. In particular, a significant reduction in detection limits below the threshold for crystalline silica was observed. Supplementary measurements can identify worker exposure characteristics, uncover potential risks in blind spots of management, and provide a complementary method for legal measurements.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.3-11
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• 2001

To select a suitable indigenous plant for the phytoremediation of TNT contaminated soil, eight representative species of native grasses were tested to identify TNT toxicity thresholds. The threshold was determined based on various factors including cumulative seed germination, root and shoot length, fresh biomass, and the amount of water uptake under various TNT concentrations. Phytotoxic effect of TNT on plants was increased with the increase in TNT concentration but the degree was varied between grass species. Concentrations up to 60-80mgTNT/liter did not affect germination of Abutilion avicennae, Echinochioa crusgalli var. frumentacea, and Aeschynomene indica. Phytotoxicity threshold inhibition (50%) of Abutilion avicennae, schinochioa crusgalli var. frumentacea, Aeschynomene indica were 5-40mgTNT/liter for root length, 50-73mg TNT/Liter for shoot length and 68-99mgTNT/Liter for fresh biomass during 14 days of seedling exposure. Root and shoot growth as well as fresh biomass decreased as TNT concentration increased. In addition, the amount of water uptake decreased with increasing TNT concentration in Abutilion avicennae and Aeschynomene indica. Comparison of toxicity thresholds for the tested grass species showed that sensitivity of plants to TNT was in the order of root length > shoot length > fresh biomass > germination rate. From these results, we concluded that Abutilion avicennae and Aeschynomene indica had tolerance to TNT among the species tested.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.131-144
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• 2006

For the purpose of preparing the fundamental data on working environment of small scale manufacturing industries and preventing the occupational diseases of workers in these industries, authors surveyed the status of working environment to several chemical substances and physical agents by types of industry and types of process in the small scale manufacturing industries with less than five workers in Gimhae including 235 workplaces, 14 types of industry and 25 types of process from January 2002 to December 2004. This measurement method was work environment measurement method (established in Ministry of Labor, Korea), analytical methods (2nd Ed.) of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and manual of analytical methods (4th Ed.) of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and collected data was analyzed by using SPSS 10.0 for windows, the results were as follows: 1. Noise generated in 14 types of industry and 22 types of process. an actual level of mean exposure (90.7 dB(A)) exceeded threshold limit values (TLVs) in manufacture of other transport equipment. An actual level of mean exposure (90.2dB) exceeded TLVs in the process of wire-drawing and 90.4dB in the process of wire-stranding. 2. Dusts of type I, II, III were generated in 9 types of industry and 8 types of process. Its mean concentration did not exceed TLVs. 3. Heavy metals (Pb, Mn, Cr, Ni) were generated in 7 types of industry and 7 types of process. Its mean concentration did not exceed TLVs. 4. 16 kinds of organic solvents were generated in 11 types of industry and 6 types of process. Its mean concentration did not exceed TLVs. As the above results, chemical substances and physical agents were generated in the several different types of industry and process of the manufacturing industry with less than five workers, and only mean level of noise was exceeded TLVs. In case of exceeding threshold limit values, improvement of work environment is actively needed, and work environment management should be performed continuously for prevention of an occupational diseases and work related diseases.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the level of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) in whole and skim milk samples, and its suitability for early pregnancy diagnosis in goats. Methods: A two-step sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for estimation of milk PAG was developed and validated, which employed caprine-PAG specific polyclonal antisera. Whole and skim milk samples (n = 210 each) from fifteen multiparous goats were collected on alternate days from d 10 to d 30, and thereafter weekly till d 51 post-mating. PAG levels in milk samples were estimated by ELISA and the pregnancies were confirmed at d40 post-mating by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Results: The level of PAG in whole and skim milk samples of both pregnant and nonpregnant goats remained below the threshold values until d 24 after mating. Thereafter, PAG concentration in whole and skim milk increased steadily in pregnant goats, whereas it continued below the threshold in non-pregnant does. The PAG profiles in whole and skim milk of pregnant goats were almost similar and exhibited strong positive relationship (r = 0.891; p<0.001). Day 26 post-mating was identified as the first time-point for significantly (p<0.05) higher milk PAG concentration in pregnant goats than to non-pregnant goats. When compared to TRUS examination for pregnancy diagnosis, the accuracy and specificity of PAG ELISA using whole and skim milk samples were 94.5% and 95.4%; and 95.3% and 100%, respectively. The high values of area-under-curve (0.904 [whole milk] and 0.922 [skim milk]), demonstrate outstanding discrimination ability of the milk assays. Among the sampling dates chosen, d 37 post-mating was identified as the best suitable time point for collection of milk samples to detect pregnancy in goats. Conclusion: The PAG concentration in whole and skim milk of goats collected between days 26 and 51 post-breeding can be used for the accurate prediction of pregnancy and may be useful for assisting management decisions in goat flocks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.462-470
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate quartz concentrations in airborne respirable dust and particle size-related quartz concentrations. Methods: Respirable dust samples were collected using a 10 mm Dorr-Oliver nylon cyclone equipped with a 37 mm, $5{\mu}m$ pore size PVC filter. Dust samples were collected with a Marple's personal cascade impactor from stone grinding operations in five stone-related business located in the Gyeongsangbuk-do area. Results: The geometric mean of quartz concentration in the respirable dust was $0.170mg/m^3$, and the rate of exceeding the Korean Occupational Exposure Limit(KOEL) was 93.3%. The quartz concentration by particle size shows that it was the highest($0.115mg/m^3$) in stage 5($3.50-6.00{\mu}m$), which corresponds with the size of respirable particle. The smaller the particle sizes were, the higher quartz the content became. The mass fractions of inhalable, thoracic, and respirable dust were 72.1%, 36.0%, and 14.4%. Conclusions: The rate of the quartz concentration in respirable dust from stone grinding operations exceeding the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values was 100%, which means proper work environmental management is required through regular working environmental measurements. Given that the stone grinding operations had a higher small size dust concentrations, there is a need to reduce respirable dust, such as through wet operation and local exhaust ventilation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.615-624
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• 2013

In this study, the emission patterns of reduced sulfur compounds (RSC) were investigated using four different types of food samples (boiled egg, milk, canned meat and strawberry) between fresh and decaying stages. To this end, the concentrations of RSCs were measured at storage days of 0, 1, 3, 6, and 9 under room temperature. Four sulfur compounds ($H_2S$, $CH_3SH$, DMS and DMDS) were selected as target compounds along with two reference compounds ($CS_2$ and $SO_2$). Their concentrations were quantified using GC-PFPD equipped with thermal desorption (TD) system. The boiled egg showed the highest concentration of $H_2S$ (3,655 ppb) at D-1, while $CH_3SH$ reached its maximum value of 64.4~78.5 ppb after 3 days. In milk samples, concentration of $CH_3SH$, DMS, and DMDS went up to 487, 16.3, and 578 ppb, respectively with the progress of decay (D-9). In case of canned meat, concentration of $H_2S$ and $CH_3SH$ peaked in the beginning (D-0) such as 345 and 66.6 ppb. In case of strawberry, $CH_3SH$ and DMDS showed the maximum concentrations 135 and 50.5 ppb at D-1, respectively. The olfactometry dilution-to-threshold (D/T) ratio by air dilution sensory (ADS) test showed similar patterns when sum of odor intensity (SOI) was derived via conversion of odorant concentration data. The results of this study confirm that the time of strong RSC emissions is distinguished for each food type between fresh (e.g., strawberries) and decaying conditions (e.g., milk).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.687-689
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• 2018

The current EEG device can determine the concentration, but can not determine the concentration of the state. Therefore, we distinguish attitude based on Mindwave Attention data and additionally Pitch data to distinguish whether or not we are looking at a video object, and suggest a method to obtain better performance. Attention data were measured in the state where the images were viewed and concentrated. In the case of the Pitch data, Sit was measured when sitting on a desk and Lie when lying down. Attention value was 38 or more. When the value of the Pitch is smaller than -48, it is judged that it is in a prone state. When the concentration and sitting state were satisfied with this threshold value, it was judged that they focused on watching the actual video.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4 s.96
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• pp.319-326
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• 2001

The biological and physicochemical factors and geosmin concentration were monitored in the Daechung Reservoir for 25 weeks from April to October in 1999. Geosmin was detected 5 times within a range of $1.16{\sim}5.28\;ng\;L^{-1}$, mostly in the late summer. The highest geosmin concentration was recorded on August 31, which also overlapped with the peaks of phycocyanin concentration, cyanobacterial density, and Anabaena spiroides density. A correlation analysis indicated that geosmin production was closely related with a high water temperature, pH, total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), and A. spiroides density. A water temperature of $27^{\circ}^C$, pH of 8.5, and TDP of $0.06\;mg\;L^{-1}$ were identified as the prerequisite environmental condition sand threshold values for geosmin production. Accordingly, under such conditions, an A. spiroides density above $10,000\;cells\;mL^{-1}$ indicates imminent geosmin occurrence.