• Title/Summary/Keyword: environment involvement

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Endocrine Disruptors and Breast Cancer Risk - Time to Consider the Environment

  • Abdel-Rahman, Wael M.;Moustafa, Yasser M.;Ahmed, Bassamat O.;Mostafa, Randa M.
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.12
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    • pp.5937-5946
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    • 2012
  • The term endocrine disruptors is used to describe a variety of natural and manmade substances that have the capacity to potentially interfere with and modify the normal physiology of endocrine system either by mimicking, blocking or modulating the actions of natural endogenous hormones. The rising incidence of breast cancer over the last 50 years and the documented higher incidence in urban as compared to rural areas suggest a relationship to the introduction and increased use of xenoestrogens in our environment. The literature has developed over the last decades where initial experiments on endocrine disruptors did not support an involvement in breast cancer, and then evidence mounted implicating various environmental factors including hormones, endocrine disrupting chemicals and non-endocrine disrupting environmental carcinogens in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Available data support the hypothesis that exposure to endocrine disruptors in utero leaves a signature on mammary gland morphogenesis so that the resulting dysgenic gland becomes more predisposed to develop tumors upon exposures to additional insults later on during life. Exceptionally, exposure to phytoestrogens could be beneficial to human health. Most of the available data are from well developed countries while the developing countries are still understudied regarding these issues. Here, we raise a note of caution about potential role of environmental toxins including endocrine disruptors in breast cancer development and call for serious measures to be taken by all involved parties in the developing world.

A Consideration of Social Presence and Augmented Reality in Locative Media (로커티브 미디어의 증강현실과 사회적 현존감에 대한 고찰)

  • Choi, Seung-Young;Chang, Woo-Jin
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.11 no.8
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    • pp.88-101
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    • 2011
  • Locative media is fundamentally different from traditional media in terms of being packed with user's space, place, and position nearby, which does not simply mean user's physical coordinates. This study has been started that I was drawn by the tendency of which current locative media contents are based on 'location-based information,' and closely related with 'Augmented Reality.' I wonder how media user's psychological experience/involvement are revealed when the media environment changes by the progress of technology. I wonder how media users perceive 'social presence' formed by locative media in current locative media environment. Particularly, the fact that user's perception of social presence formed in locative media conflicts with the previous computer-mediated communication(CMC)'s attributes deepened my curiosity. In this study, the idea of 'more-proper-construct' is suggested, the characteristics of social presence in current locative media is considered, and is investigated by qualitative methodology how the 'location-based' attributes and 'AR' contribute to forming the social presence.

Field Gas-Sparging Tests for In Situ Aerobic Cometabolism of Trichloroethylene(TCE)

  • Kim Young;Istok Jonathan D.;Semprini Lewis;Oa Sung-Wook
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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    • 2006.04a
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    • pp.54-56
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    • 2006
  • Single-well-gas-sparging tests were developed and evaluated for assessing the feasibility of in-situ aerobic cometabolism of trichloroethylene (TCE), using propane as a growth substrate. To evaluate transport characteristics of dissolved solutes [sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) or bromide (non-reactive tracers), propane (a growth substrate), ethylene, propylene (nontoxic surrogates to probe for CAH transformation activity), and DO], push-pull transport tests were performed. Mass balance showed about 90% of the injected bromide and about 80% of the injected SF6 were recovered, and the recoveries of other solutes were comparable with bromide and slightly higher than SF6. A series of Gas-Sparging Biostimulation tests were performed by sparging propane/oxygen/argon/SF6 gas mixtures, and temporal ground water samples were obtained from the injection well under natural gradient 'drift' conditions. The decreased time for propane depletion and the longer time to deplete SF6 as a conservative tracer indicate the progress of biostimulation. Gas-Sparging Activity tests were performed. .Propane utilization, DO consumption, and ethylene and propylene cometabolism were well demonstrated. The stimulated propane-utilizers cometabolized ethylene and propylene to produce ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, as cometabolic by-products, respectively. Gas-Sparging Acetylene Blocking tests were performed by sparging gas mixtures including acetylene to demonstrate the involvement of monooxygenase enzymes. Gas substrate degradation was essentially completely Inhibited in the presence of acetylene, and no production of the corresponding oxides was also observed. The Gas-Sparging tests supports the evidences that the successive stimulation of propane-oxidizing microorganisms, cometabolic transformation of ethylene and propylene by the enzyme responsible for methane and propane degradation.

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Context-based Service Reasoning Model Based on User Environment Information (사용자환경정보 기반 Context-based Service 추론모델)

  • Ko, Kwang-Eun;Jang, In-Hun;Sim, Kwee-Bo
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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    • v.17 no.7
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    • pp.907-912
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    • 2007
  • The present level of ubiquitous computing technology have developed to the point where Home-server provides services that user require directly for user in the intelligent space. But it will need intelligent system to provides more active services for user in the near future. In this paper, we define the environment information about situation that user is in as Context, and collect the Context that stereotype as 4W1H form for construct the system that can decision service will be provide from information about a situation that user is in, without user's involvement. Additionally we collect information about user's emotional state, use these informations as nodes of Bayesian network for probabilistic reasoning. From that, we materialize Context Awareness system about it that what kind of situation user is in. And, we propose the Context-based Service reasoning model using Bayesian Network from the result of Context Awareness.

Interactive Broadcasting Service Using Mobile Messenger (모바일 메신저를 이용한 양방향 방송서비스)

  • KIM, Joon-Won;Lee, Jung-Gyu
    • The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.157-163
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    • 2013
  • The development of the latest media technology has changed the traditional broadcasting system. The traditional broadcasting system, which was operated by the mass media and the terrestrial broadcasters, is now transformed to the viewer-centered and bidirectional media through the convergence of internet and mobile. In terms of broadcasting environment, the function of the traditional TVs has been changed to the Smart TVs combined with an open platform which not only deliver visual contents, but also supply various applications and additional information linking the content providers and viewers. This ongoing broadcasting environmental change has made it possible for viewers to participate in the programs such as reality shows or sports events through SNS, texting or phone calls. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment is to present the ways to promote easier and more convenient viewer-participation in the programs by applying mobile messenger to existing broadcasting system in order to enhance the involvement of broadcasters and viewers of the programs and to diversify the roles of content providers and viewers in broadcasting.

Korea Water Resources Policy - from the viewpoint of Korean NGO's (NGO가 바라본 수자원 정책)

  • 김제남
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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    • 2003.10a
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    • pp.23-29
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    • 2003
  • It has been declared in 1992 at Rio about the management of united water control and method of the management of the water resources at the water basin. And it was also mentioned about the protection of fresh water's quality and it's supply under chapter the 18th of the agenda 21. It has been 10years passed after Rio declaration, and water crisis Is getting more serious than before. Fairly, right for using water resources was given to every life as the public resources. But at the last world water forum, water was commercialized, and regulated as the basic requirement not basic right. Therefore, we could use the water according to the logic of supply and demand at the market, and with money. Furthermore, construction of the big dam which was build to solve the problem of the lack of water became one of problems for water control. Korea is keeping consistent policy such as providing water by the building of dam. Control of the water demand is the most basic and effective policy for the preservation of water resources. If we change the policy such as the construction of the dam, we should put the management of the water demand in the center with the reliable philosophy. United management of the river basin has to be made with the security of water, improvement of water quality, and protection of the ecological side each other. Management of water basin also has to be completed to solve the trouble caused by using water conflict people who live up and down stream. To maintain the good quality of water, management of water basin is necessary. Also, bottom line of the united management of water basin is voluntary involvement of every citizens and local community. We suggest to preserve the origin of river and the upper at the ecological side. It is worth it to preserve.

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Experiences in Sport, Physical Activity, and Physical Education Among Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu Asian Adolescent Girls

  • Araki, Kaori;Kodani, Iku;Gupta, Nidhi;Gill, Diane L.
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.46 no.sup1
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    • pp.43-49
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    • 2013
  • Multicultural scholarship in sport and exercise psychology should help us understand and apply cultural competencies for all to be physically active. In the present study, two Asian countries, Japan and Singapore, were chosen. The participation rate for physical activities among adolescent girls tends to be lower than that of boys in both countries. Thus, the purpose of the project was to gain knowledge and understanding about sociocultural factors that may explain adolescent girls' perceptions and behaviors toward sport, physical activity, and physical education (PE). A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with focus groups was used to understand meanings of physical activity among Buddhist Japanese, and Hindu Indians and Christian Chinese from Singapore. Each focus group consisted of four or five girls and female researchers. Based on the analysis, we created four themes which were "cultural identities", "Asian girls and sport/physical activities", "PE experiences", "motivation for future involvement". The Buddhist Japanese, Hindu Indian, and Christian Chinese participants each reported unique physical activity experiences, and all the participants were aware of how Asian culture may affect being physically active. Experiences of PE classes were similar but perceptions of their PE attire were different for Christian Chinese and Hindu Indian adolescent girls. Based on the results, the importance of nurturing cultural competencies and ways to encourage girls to be physically active throughout life were discussed.

Soil Washing Technology for Sr and Cs-contaminated Soil Near Nuclear Power Plants using Calcium and Potassium Based Solutions (칼슘 및 칼륨 용액을 이용한 원자력발전소 주변 스트론튬과 세슘 오염토양 세척기술 연구)

  • Song, Hojae;Nam, Kyoungphile
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.76-86
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    • 2022
  • Calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) were introduced to remove Sr and Cs in soil, respectively. Four factor and three level Box-Bhenken design was employed to determine the optimal washing condition of Ca- and K-based solutions, and the ranges tested were 0.1 to 1 M of Ca or K, L/S ratio of 5 to 20, washing time of 0.5 to 2 h, and pH of 2 to 7. The optimal washing condition determined was 1 M of Ca or K, L/S ratio of 20, washing time of 1 h, and pH of 2, and Ca-based and K-based solutions showed 68 and 81% removal efficiency for Sr and Cs, respectively in soil. For comparison, widely used conventional washing agents such as 0.075 M EDTA, 0.01 M citric acid, 0.01 M oxalic acid, and 0.05 M phosphoric acid were tested, and they showed 25 to 30% of Sr and Cs removal efficiency. Tessier sequential extraction was employed to identify the changes in chemical forms of Sr and Cs during the washing. In contrast to the conventional washing agents, Ca-based and K-based solutions were able to release relatively strongly bound forms of Sr and Cs such as Fe/Mn-oxide and organic matter bound forms, suggesting the involvement of direct substitution mechanism, probably due to the physicochemical similarities between Sr-Ca and Cs-K.

The Perception of Urban Residents on Creation and Management of Community Gardens

  • Jeong, Na Ra;Kim, Kwang Jin;Yun, Hyung Gewon;Han, Seung Won;You, Soojin
    • Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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    • v.22 no.5
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    • pp.411-424
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    • 2019
  • This study analyzed the factors affecting urban residents' expectations and participation in community gardens to present basic data of guidelines for community garden management. Urban citizens valued the necessity of community gardens overall, especially residents with outdoor gardens. The experience of private gardens was important in perceiving the need for community gardens, which are public spaces. The creation of community gardens had high expectations for social aspects such as improving quality of life, health promotion, and community revitalization. In particular, residents living in individual housing have high expectations for revitalization of the community, and community gardens can be a mediator for forming and maintaining local communities. Through this, the citizens' perception on the role and function of the garden as a community space could be examined. Expectations for quality of life, health promotion, and community revitalization are factors affecting the necessity of community garden. Participation was high in the creation and management of the community garden, and the necessity of community gardens, expectation for community revitalization, and expectation for environmental purification are factors that affect participation in the management of community gardens. The amount of donations that the residents are willing to pay for community garden management was KRW 75,222 /year on average. Overall, residents with higher need for community gardens and higher social expectation showed higher participation. Urban citizens have high expectations for community gardens, and they perceive the importance of social aspects more than personal aspects such as community revitalization and quality of life. As a strategy for increasing community involvement, it is necessary to set up the processes, determine participants' composition and roles, and establish a system to promote participation. Considering welfare aspects such as community revitalization and improvement of residents' quality of life, motivation and administrative support for participation in the creation and management of community gardens will serve as important factors.

Constructionarium: Turning Theory Into Practice

  • Stevens, Julia
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
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    • 2022.06a
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    • pp.1220-1220
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    • 2022
  • Constructionarium Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation which delivers a residential, experiential, immersive learning opportunity to university students from across the built environment education sector. Since 2002, the Constructionarium education model has been available to students in engineering, construction management and architecture at a purpose built, 19-acre multi-disciplinary training facility in Bircham Newton, England simulating real site life and reflecting site processes, practices and health and safety requirements. The unique approach of Constructionarium puts experiential learning and sustainability at the heart of everything. In a week, students develop a practical understanding of the construction process, develop transferable skills, build a team and are exposed to the latest in sustainable technologies. Experiential learning is what differentiates a Constructionarium project from regular field trips or site visits. At Constructionarium the focus is on learning by participation rather than learning through theory or watching a demonstration. The projects cannot be replicated in a classroom or on campus. Using the hands-on construction of scaled down versions of iconic structures from around the world, students learn that it requires the involvement of the whole construction team to successfully complete their project. Skills such as communication, planning, budgeting, time management and decision making are woven into a week-long interrelationship with industry professionals, academic mentors and trades workers. Working together to enhance transferable skills brings the educational environment into the reality of completing an actual construction project handled by the students. Constructionarium has used this transformational learning model to educate thousands of students from all over the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Texas A&M University in the United States has sent multiple teams of students from its Department of Construction Science every operational year since 2016.

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