• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2024

Background: Appropriateness issues have emerged regarding the non-application of hazardous substance safety standards for items classified as 'other textile products'. Objectives: Testing for formaldehyde (HCHO) and risk assessment were conducted on 'other textiles products' to provide reference data for promoting product safety policies. Methods: Testing was conducted on five items (102 products) classified as 'other textile products' according to relevant standards (textile products safety standards), and the risk of each product was assessed using the evaluation methodologies of the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) and European Chemical Agency (ECHA). Results: Out of the 102 products tested, HCHO was detected above the quantification limit in five. Based on these results, the screening risk assessment indicated that three products exceeded the criteria. Upon reassessing the emission and transfer rates of products exceeding the criteria, it was confirmed that there were no instances of exceeding the criteria. Conclusions: Risk assessment results can be used as supporting data for non-application of hazardous substance standards. However, it is deemed necessary to transition towards a management approach based on risks in order to addressing emerging trends such as convergence/new products.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.76-80
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• 2020

Background: To improve the measurement accuracy of liquid-scintillation counting for activity standardization, it is necessary to significantly reduce the background caused by thermal noise or after-pulses. We have therefore improved a movable 3 photomultiplier (3PM)-γ coincidence-counting method using the logical sum of three double coincidences for β events. Materials and Methods: We designed a new data-acquisition system in which β events are obtained by counting the logical sum of three double coincidences. The change in β-detection efficiency can be derived by moving three photomultiplier tubes sequentially from the liquid-scintillation vial. The validity of the method was investigated by activity measurement of ¹³⁴Cs calibrated at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) with 4π(PC)β-γ(NaI(Tl)) coincidence counting using a proportional counter (PC) for the β detector. Results and Discussion: Measurements were taken over 14 counting intervals for each liquidscintillation sample by displacing three photomultiplier tubes up to 45 mm from the sample. The dead time in each β- and γ-counting channel was adjusted to be a non-extending type of 20 ㎲. The background ranged about 1.2-3.3 s^-1, such that the contributions of thermal noise or after-pulses were negligible. As the β-detection unit was moved away from the sample, the β-detection efficiencies varied between 0.54 and 0.81. The result obtained by the method at the reference date was 396.3 ± 1.7 kBq/g. This is consistent with the KRISS-certified value of 396.0 ± 2.0 kBq/g within the uncertainty range. Conclusion: The movable 3PM-γ method developed in the present work not only succeeded in reducing background counts to negligible levels but enabled β-detection efficiency to be varied by a geometrical method to apply the efficiency extrapolation method. Compared with our earlier work shown in the study of Hwang et al. [2], the measurement accuracy has much improved. Consequently, the method developed in this study is an improved method suitable for activity standardization of β-γ emitters.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2015

We present a speaker verification method by extracting i-vectors based on dominant state information of Hidden Markov Model (HMM) - Universal Background Model (UBM). Ergodic HMM is used for estimating UBM so that various characteristic of individual speaker can be effectively classified. Unlike Gaussian Mixture Model(GMM)-UBM based speaker verification system, the proposed system obtains i-vectors corresponding to each HMM state. Among them, the i-vector for feature is selected by extracting it from the specific state containing dominant state information. Relevant experiments are conducted for validating the proposed system performance using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 2008 Speaker Recognition Evaluation (SRE) database. As a result, 12 % improvement is attained in terms of equal error rate.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.90-101
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• 2008

The chemical compositions of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ and associated high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated during winter and summer at a roadside and an urban background site in Saitama, Japan. The average concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency standards during both periods. Carbonaceous components were abundant in both the observed and calculated (by means of a mass closure model) chemical composition of $PM_{2.5}$. Traffic-related pollutants (elemental carbon and high-molecular-weight PAHs) were strongly associated with $PM_{2.5}$ rather than with larger particles. The mass concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$, as well as those of EC and PAHs associated with the particles, at the two sites were strongly correlated. Comparison of our data with source profile ratios indicates that diesel-powered vehicles were probably the main source of the measured PAHs. The PAHs concentrations were affected by meteorological conditions during our study. Our results highlight the need for the establishment of standards for $PM_{2.5}$ in Japan.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2004

An imaging plate(IP) detector, a two-dimensional digital radiation detector that can acquire image of radioactivity distribution in a sample, has been applied in many fields; for industrial radiography, medical diagnosis, X-ray diffraction test, etc. In this study, the possibility of IP detector to be used lot measuring radioactivity of sample is explored using its high sensitivity, higher spatial resolution, wider dynamic range and screen uniformity for several kinds radiations. First, the IP detector is applied to measure the surface uniformity for area source. Surface uniformity is measured rapidly and nondestructively by measuring the radioactivity distribution of common standard area source$(^{241}Am)$. Next, the IP is employed to study the possibility of measuring an extremely low-level activity of environmental sample. For this study the screen uniformity, shield effect of background radiation, linear dynamic range and fading effect of the IP detector is investigated. The potato, banana, radish and carrot samples are chosen to measure ultra low-level activity of $^{40}K$ isotope. The efficiency calibration of IP detector is carried out using the standard source.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2007

In order to have a superconductive connection between the wire-wound pickup coil and input coil, typically Nb terminal blocks with screw holes are used. Since this connection structure occupies large volume, large stray pickup area can be generated which can pickup external noise fields. Thus, SQUID and connection block are shielded inside a superconducting tube, and this SQUID module is located at some distance from the distal coil of the gradiometer to minimize the distortion or imbalance of uniform background field due to the superconducting module. To operate this conventional SQUID module, we need a higher liquid He level, resulting in shorter refill interval. To make the fabrication of gradiometers simpler and refill interval longer, we developed a novel method of connecting the pickup coil into the input coil. Gradiometer coil wound of 0.125-mm diameter NbTi wires were glued close to the input coil pads of SQUID. The superconductive connection was made using an ultrasonic bonding of annealed 0.025-mm diameter Nb wires, bonded directly on the surface of NbTi wires where insulation layer was stripped out. The reliability of the superconductive bonding was good enough to sustain several thermal cycling. The stray pickup area due to this connection structure is about $0.1\;mm^2$, much smaller than the typical stray pickup area using the conventional screw block method. By using this compact connection structure, the position of the SQUID sensor is only about 20-30 mm from the distal coil of the gradiometer. Based on this compact module, we fabricated a magnetocardiography system having 61 first-order axial gradiometers, and measured MCG signals. The gradiometers have a coil diameter of 20 mm, and the baseline is 70 mm. The 61 axial gradiometer bobbins were distributed in a hexagonal lattice structure with a sensor interval of 26 mm, measuring $dB_z/dz$ component of magnetocardiography signals.

• The Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2012

Background: Since Jan. 2012, for performance evaluation of viral reagents, analysis of domestic samples has been recommended in order to obtain approval from the KFDA when they are first introduced to Korea. This regulation requires the standard domestic materials driven from locally infected samples. We tried manufacturing the plasma working standards of HBV, HCV, and HIV NAT using a mixed titer of viral loads. Methods: Forty three HBV DNA positive plasmas, 25 HCV RNA positive plasmas, and 26 HIV RNA positive plasmas were evaluated according to viral load and genotype. Several plasma units, which had high-titer viral loads and the common viral genotypes in Korea, were selected as the source materials for each viral standard. To adjust the appropriate concentration based on the detectable range of variable viral reagents, the source plasma was diluted to several concentrations, divided into small vials, and analyzed for quantification. Results: The 13 plasma working standards, which had variable viral loads for the mixed titer performance panel of HIV, HCV, and HBV NAT, were produced. Conclusion: These national standard materials were first produced in order to supply the mixed titer performance panel for the viral NAT reagent of the level IV transfusion related high-risk group in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.3_4 s.141
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• pp.547-560
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to segment Chinese career women by experience in purchasing Korean clothing and to analyze and compare clothing purchasing behavior between the 2 groups and to provide useful information to Korean manufacturers for establishment of marketing strategies for China. The subjects were 602 career women of middle and high class In their 20's and 30's. A total of 602 questionnaires were analyzed by using frequency, mean, Cronbach's $\alpha$, factor analysis, t-test and $X^2$-analysis. The results were as follows: 1. The demographic variables such as an age, residential city, marriage, and total monthly income were proven to be significantly different between the 2 groups except an academic background. 2. The clothing purchase behavior variables such as purchasing motive, using informants, clothing selection standards, store selection standards, purchasing place, satisfaction after purchasing clothes, shopping time, average monthly expenditure on clothing, purchasing frequency of casual wear, purchasing price, and paying method were proven to be significantly different between the 2 groups. However, the clothing purchase behavior variables such as purchasing frequency of formal wear and purchasing price of fur coat and sweater were proven not to be significantly different between the 2 groups.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.375-379
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this paper is to introduce the Directive 2002/44/EC on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from vibration. Background: Human beings interact with machinery, and contact with vibration is commonplace. Unfortunately, continuous exposure to mechanical vibration can lead to physical injury. And standards are needed for identifying those at risk and for taking steps to mitigate the problem and reduce risk of injury. Method: The contents of the Directive were summarized and discussed, especially against its ISO counterparts. Results: The Directive deals with minimum safety and health prescriptions relative to workers' exposure to risks due to mechanical vibration. This directive specifies exposure limit values and action values. It also specifies employers' obligations with regard to determining and assessing risks, sets out the measures to be taken to reduce or avoid workers' exposure. Finally, it details how to make exposed workers aware of this issue. Conclusion: In spite of some limitations, it has recently been transcribed into all national laws of member States of European union. Application: The results of the paper might help to establish or update the domestic standards on vibration.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-95
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• 2011

The success or failure of the public library system depends upon the effective management of the human resources. It means that public library's staff is the most important resource in the operation and delivery of services. In order to provide the best service to the community, therefore, it is necessary to maintain excellent staff to make effective use of the information resources of the library and to meet the demands of the community. The goal of this study is to compare and analyse the staff standards and guidelines of public libraries in international organizations(IFLA/UNESCO, ISO), major developed countries(USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Japan), and Korea. In addition, the implications derived from this study will be used to provide a valuable theoretical background and rationale for the future research.