• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2004

Objectives : There has been gradually increasing concern about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic radiation originating from cell phones which are widely used in modern life. Cell phone radiation may affect human health by increasing free radicals of human blood cells. This study has been designed to identify DNA damage of blood cells by electromagnetic radiation caused by cell phone use. Methods : This study investigated the health effect of acute exposure to commercially available cell phones on certain parameters such as an indicator of DNA damage for 14 healthy adult volunteers. Each volunteer during the experiment talked over the cell phone with the keypad facing the right side of the face for 4 hours. The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay), which is very sensitive in detecting the presence of DNA strand-breaks and alkali-labile damage in individual cells, was used to assess peripheral blood cells (T-cells, B-cells, granulocytes) from volunteers before and after exposure to cell phone radiation. The parameters of Comet assay measured were Olive Tail Moment and Tail DNA %. Results : The Olive Tail Moment of B-cells and granulocytes and Tail DNA % of B-cells and granulocytes were increased by a statistically significant extent after 4-hour use of a cell phone compared with controls. Conclusion : It is concluded that cell phone radiation caused the DNA damage during the 4 hours of experimental condition. Nonetheless, this study suggested that cell phone use may increase DNA damage by electromagnetic radiation and other contributing factors.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.232-235
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• 2018

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the heat stress and semen quality among male workers in a steel industry in Iran and investigate the relationship between heat stress indices and semen parameters. Methods: The study was conducted on workers exposed (n = 30) and unexposed (n = 14) to heat in a steel industry. After obtaining a brief biography of the selected employees, scrotal temperature, oral temperature, and environmental parameters were measured, and their semen samples were analyzed according to the procedure recommended by the World Health Organization. The heat stress indices, including wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and predicted heat strain (PHS), in their workplace were calculated according to environmental parameters (ISO 7243:1989 and 7933:2004, respectively). Results: Time-weighted averages of WBGT and PHS ($35.76^{\circ}C$ and 491.56 $w/m^2{\frac{w}{m^2}}$, respectively) for the exposed group were higher than threshold limit values. The mean difference of environmental, physiological, and semen parameters (exception: pH of semen), and also WBGT and PHS indices were statistically significant (p < 0.05) between the two groups. Mean semen parameters were in the normozoospermic range. WBGT and PHS indices showed significantly "negative" correlation with physiological parameters (scrotal and oral temperature) and most semen parameters (semen volume, sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm count; p < 0.05); moreover, the correlation of WBGT with these parameters was stronger than PHS. Conclusion: Semen parameters of the studied workers exposed to heat were in the borderline level of normozoospermic range, and their semen parameters were significantly lower than controls. For better assessment of occupational environment concerning physiological and semen parameters in steel industries, WBGT can be a more useful index.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2020

Many areas of vegetation in the British uplands have reduced species diversity as a result of sheep overgrazing. It has been suggested that abandonment or re-wilding strategies might be used to reverse this. A likely first step would be the removal or reduction of grazing livestock from upland areas, with a presumption that this would lead to a recovery in species richness. However, we do not know if this would work, or the timescales involved. One of the important areas where more knowledge is needed is information on the size and composition of soil seedbanks as regeneration from zseed is a likely pathway of recovery. Here, we compared seedbanks in both grazed and ungrazed plots in five experiments at Moor House NNR in the northern Pennines; these sheep grazing exclusion experiments were started 52 and 63/64 years ago. Soil samples (n=10) were collected from both grazed and ungrazed plots in each experiment, and seed emergence counted in glasshouse trials. We detected only seeds of common species and very few dicotyledonous species. This suggests that the soil seedbank is unlikely to be a reliable source of the less common species for ecological restoration in these upland communities, suggesting an extinction debt. Therefore, seed addition and the creation of suitable safe-sites for germination may be needed in conjunction with grazing controls to allow the establishment of plants that will increase the species richness of the vegetation. However, this interventionist restoration approach remains to be tested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.11-23
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• 2011

Mountain streams, which are major components of an entire river network, play an important role as the source of water, sediment, coarse and fine organic matter, and nutrients for lowland rivers. Therefore, dynamics and downstream linkages of each compartment of the mountain stream can be essential for watershed management in catchment scale. The dynamics and downstream linkages are understood as a development of step-pool sequences along a river course. Recently, stream restoration after flooding event often employ the development of step-pool sequences in the world. In this paper, we 1) examined the geomorphic characteristics and the role of step-pool sequences in steep mountain streams by reviewing the results of past studies, and 2) introduced the case studies of stream restoration using step-pool sequences, and finally 3) addressed design methods considering geometry and stability of artificial step-pool sequences for stream restoration. Step-pool sequences play an important role not only as roughness with energy dissipation but also as heterogeneity of stream feature for aquatic habitat. Step-pool sequences, even if they are constructed artificially along a stream, may be effective for small stream restoration considering eco-friendly torrent controls. So far the artificial step-pool sequences were employed for mountainous streams, but those would be applied to urban stream.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2006

Effect of organic-C on immobilization and nitrification patterns in acidic soil was examined during 20 weeks incubation period to verify if organic amendments such as composted material can increase soil retention of N by stimulating microbial immobilization of $NH_4^+$. Four treatments were laid out: control without fertilizer N and glucose (treatment code: S), ammonium sulfate (SN), ammonium sulfate with single glucose at the commencement (0 week) of incubation (SNG), and ammonium sulfate with double glucose at 0 and 4 weeks of incubation (SNGG). Glucose application (SNG) significantly increased microbial immobilization of $NH_4^+$ within 1 week of incubation over SN. Immobilization was followed by remineralization thereafter; however, second-application of glucose (SNGG) restored $NH_4^+$ immobilization. At the same time, nitrification was significantly inhibited by glucose application as indicated by consistently low $NO_3^-$ concentration in SNG and SNGG soils, suggesting that microbial assimilation of $NH_4^+$ is predominant compared to nitrification when available C-source is abundant. These results suggest application of chemical fertilizer-N with organic amendment would have beneficial effect on soil-N retention and environmental conservation by reducing production of $NO_3^-$ which is likely to be lost through leaching or denitrification.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2013

Single or co-inoculation of phosphate solubilizing bacterial and fungal strains (Burkholderia anthina and Aspergillus awamori respectively) was performed separately to assess their synergistic and antagonistic interactions and the potential to be used as bio-inoculants. Co-inoculation was found to release the highest content of soluble phosphorus (1253 ${\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$) into the medium, followed by single inoculation of fungal strain (1214 ${\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$) and bacterial strain (997 ${\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$). However, there was no significant difference between single inoculation of fungal strain and co-inoculation of fungal and bacterial strain in terms of the phosphorous release. The highest pH reduction, organic acid production and glucose consumption were observed in the sole A. awamori inoculated culture medium. According to the plant growth promotion bioassays, co-inoculation of the microbial strains resulted in 21% and 43% higher shoot and root growth of the mung bean seedlings respectively as compared to the respective controls. Therefore, co-inoculation of B. anthina and A. awamori showed better performance in stimulating plant growth than that in inoculation of each strain alone. However, assessment period of the present study being short, we recommend in engaging further experimentation under field conditions in order to test the suitability of the strains to be used as bio-inoculants.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.263-275
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• 2020

The proper administration of melatonin has well been documented to induce testicular regression in seasonal breeding animals. The subcutaneous injections of melatonin in the afternoon, not in the morning, consistently occurred testicular involution in the male Syrian (golden) hamsters whose reproductive activity is regulated by the photoperiod. But the effects of daily melatonin via gavage have not been estimated. Golden hamsters housed in long photoperiod (LP) were divided into 5 groups: the control animals housed in LP or in short photoperiod (SP) and animals treated daily with low (15 ㎍), middle (150 ㎍), and high dosages (1,500 ㎍) of pure melatonin by using gavage in the evening for 8 weeks. As results, LP control animals had large testes and SP controls displayed small and entirely regressed testes. The animals treated with various dosages of melatonin showed collectively degenerating effects on the weights of testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles in the middle and high dosage groups, with the individual differences as well. The high dosages induced testicular regression in more proportion than the middle dosages did. The low dosage had large testes like the LP control animals. The small and inactive testes shown in some animals of both middle and high groups presented the complete regression as those of the animals maintained in SP. These results strongly suggest that the administrations of melatonin lead to testicular involution in the male golden hamsters when it is administered through gavage.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.655-669
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• 2022

Passive vibration control devices like tuned liquid column dampers (TLCD) not only significantly reduce buildings' vibrations but also can serve as a water storage facility. The recently introduced modified form of TLCD known as tuned liquid column ball damper (TLCBD) suppressed external vibration efficiently compared to traditional TLCD. For excellent performance, the mass ratio of TLCBD should be in the range of 5% to 7%, which does not include the mass of the ball. This additional mass of the ball increases the overall structure mass. Therefore, in this paper, an effort is made to reduce the mass of TLCBD. For this purpose, a new modified version of TLCBD known as tuned liquid column hollow ball damper (TLCHBD) is proposed. The existing mathematical modeling of TLCBD is used for this new damper by updating the numerical values of the mass and mass moment of the ball. Analytically the optimal design parameters are obtained. Numerically the TLCHBD is investigated with a single degree of freedom structure under harmonic and seismic loadings. It is found that TLCHBD performance is similar to TLCBD in both loadings' cases. To validate the numerical results, an experimental study is conducted. The mass of the ball of TLCHBD is reduced by 50% compared to the ball of TLCBD. Both the arrangements are studied with a multi-degree of freedom structure under harmonic and seismic loadings using a shake table. The results of the experimental study confirm the numerical findings. It is found that the performance behavior of both the dampers is almost similar under harmonic and seismic loadings. In short, the TLCHBD is lighter in weight than TLCBD but has a similar vibration suppression ability.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 2023

Purpose: This study focused on identifying the interaction effects of genetic and lifestyle-environmental factors on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Methods: Study subjects were selected from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) from 2001 to 2014. Data on genetic variations, anthropometric measurements, biochemical data, and seven lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, alcohol drinking, smoking, sleep, depression, and stress) were obtained from 4,836 Koreans aged between 40 and 59 years, including those with T2D at baseline (n = 1,209), newly developed T2D (n= 1,298) and verified controls (n = 3,538). The genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated by using 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to T2D development and the second quartile was used as the reference category. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the associations of GRS and lifestyle factors with T2D risk, controlling for covariates. Results: Multivariate regression analysis revealed that GRS was the strongest risk factor for T2D, and body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking, and spicy food preference also increased the risk. Lifestyle/environmental factors that showed significant interactions with GRS were BMI, current smoking, current drinking, fatty food preference, and spicy food preference. Conclusions: Interactions between genetic factors and lifestyle/environmental factors were associated with an increased risk of T2D. The results will be useful to provide a new perspective on genetic profiling for the earlier detection of T2D risk and clues for personalized interventions, which might be more effective prevention strategies or therapies in individuals with a genetic predisposition to T2D.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2005

To overcome the problems associated with chemical pesticides, biological pest controls agent extracted from Ginkgo biloba was studied. Insecticidal activities components in Ginkgo biloba extracts were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This results of HPLC analysis, GG-W80 were included bilobalide $611\;{\mu}g/kg$, ginkgolide A $37\;{\mu}g/kg$ and ginkgolide B $243\;{\mu}g/kg$, while YG-W80 were included bilobalide $214\;{\mu}g/kg$ and ginkgolide B $46\;{\mu}g/kg$. The biological activity of Ginkgo biloba extracts were conducted to repellent and pesticidial effect of Tetranichus urticae, Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae treated with Ginkgo biloba leaves extracts. Mortalities of adult T. urticae to green Ginkgo biloba extracts (GG-W80) and yellow Ginkgo biloba extracts (YG-W80) were shown 98.3% and 20.0%, respectively. From these results, terpenes components in Ginkgo biloba extracts could be use for biological controls for T. urticae.