• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.639-663
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• 2015

Time history dynamic structural analysis is a time consuming procedure when used for large-scale structures or iterative analysis in structural optimization. This article proposes a new methodology for approximate prediction of extremum point of the response history via wavelets. The method changes original record into a reduced record, decreasing the computational time of the analysis. This reduced record can be utilized in iterative structural dynamic analysis of optimization and hence significantly reduces the overall computational effort. Design examples are included to demonstrate the capability and efficiency of the Reduced Record Method (RRM) when utilized in optimal design of frame structures using meta-heuristic algorithms.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.5 s.92
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• pp.412-417
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• 2006

A self-administrated non-malignant respiratory symptoms questionnaire was sent to 1,099 citizens who take subway running in Seoul city. Symptom prevalence rate was high: 70.6% of subjects reported 'chest tightness', 43.4%, 'dysphnea'; 76.2%, 'dry cough'; 49.5%, 'runny nose'; 94.4%, 'drowsiness' when they take subway. The groups responding significant higher respiratory and drowsiness symptoms were 'young passengers' (vs elderly passengers), 'the female' (vs male), 'using subway everyday' (vs often), 'using subway for rush-hour time' (vs other than rush-hour), 'using transfer subway' (no transfer), 'using underground track' (vs ground track). Logistic. regression model was employed to find personal and subway characteristics affecting non-malignant respiratory symptoms. This study concluded that respiratory diseases history such as asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis significantly affect 'dry cough' and 'runny nose'. Thus, passengers with respiratory diseases history shows 2.8 times greater 'dry cough' than and 3.4 times greater 'runny nose' than those passengers without respiratory diseases history felt. This results indicated that several measures have to take to protect sensitive groups such as passengers with respiratory diseases, children and elderly people. Also passenger who use to transfer shows 1.7 times higher runny nose symptoms than that passenger who do not transfer felt.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the bone mineral density (BMD) and the anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic factors, family history of osteoporosis and other environmental factors affecting BMD in children. One hundred sixty children (80 males, 80 females) in second grade of elementary school in Seoul were recruited; the mean age was 7.7 $\pm$ 0.47 years. Bone mineral density was measured in the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), femoral trochanter (FT), and Ward's triangle (WT) by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Socioeconomic factors, family history of osteoporosis, and other environmental factors were assessed by questionnaire. Bone mineral densities of LS, FN, FT, and WT were 0.677, 0.637, 0.618, and 0.658 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$. BMD of boys was higher than that of girls (LS: 0.685 vs. 0.669, FN: 0.660 vs. 0.614, FT: 0.632 vs. 0.604, WT: 0.678 vs. 0.639 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$). Anthrometric measurements (height, weight relative body weight, circumference of waist and hip) were positively correlated with BMD. With increasing family income, BMD of LS was significantly lowered, and negative correlation was observed between mother's age at birth of subject and the BMD of FN. And the BMD of children with a family history of osteoporosis was significantly lower. However BMDs were not different by educational level of parents, family pattern, delivery term, birth weight, and type of feeding. Further studies are needed to clarify the factors affecting BMD of children and earlier age, included infants and even prenatal life. If any association is revealed and persist until the attainment of peak bone mass, osteoporosis prevention programs are needed to be start very early in the life cycle.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2024

Background: The pathogenesis of orofacial cleft (OFC) is multifactorial, involving both genetic and non-genetic factors, the latter of which play a key role in the development of these anomalies. This paper addresses the incidence of OFC in Indonesia, with a focus on identifying and examining the distribution of contributory factors, including parental medical history, pregnancy history, and environmental influences. Methods: The study was conducted through the collection of primary data. An interdisciplinary research team from Indonesia administered a standardized questionnaire to parents who had children with OFC and who had provided informed consent. The case group comprised 133 children born with cleft lip and/or palate, and the control was 133 noncleft children born full-term. The risk factors associated with OFC anomalies were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25. A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: The study comprised 138 children, of whom 82 were boys (59.4%) and 56 were girls (40.6%). Among them, 45 patients (32.6%) presented with both cleft lip and cleft palate, 25 individuals (18.1%) had a cleft palate only, and 28 patients (20.3%) had a cleft lip only. OFC was found to be significantly associated with a maternal family history of congenital birth defects (p<0.05), complications during the first trimester (p<0.05), consumption of local fish (p<0.05), caffeine intake (p<0.05), prolonged medication use (p<0.05), immunization history (p<0.05), passive smoking (p<0.05), and X-ray exposure during pregnancy (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate close relationships between the incidence of OFC and maternal medical history, prenatal factors, and environmental influences.

• Journal of Koreanology Reviews
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2022

International negotiation and cooperation for sustainable development currently emphasize three themes on which environmental policies are developed. South Korea emphasizes two of the three themes; climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. South Korea has taken a leadership role in the international arena regarding these topics, actively participating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the negotiations for the 2030 Agenda (Jung, 2018). South Korea has taken a number of steps to address climate change, both domestically and internationally. Domestically, it has implemented several policies and methods to lessen GHG emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. It has implemented an Emissions Trading Scheme, the largest in the world, a renewable energy portfolio standard, and aimed at accomplishing carbon neutrality by 2050. South Korea is also actively involved in executing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has established a national committee to ensure their successful implementation. The group is made up of representatives from the private sector, government ministries, and civil society organizations. It is focused on monitoring the progress of the SDGs and providing policy and financial support for their implementation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2021

Diabetes is mainly evaluated by fasting blood sugar. The genetic and environmental factors influence the development of type 2 diabetes. In this study, the relationship between diabetes and family history of diabetes in Koreans was analyzed in consideration of body mass index and age. The study subjects were 4,274 subjects who received a medical examination at a university hospital. The main statistical analysis method was multiple logistic regression analysis. In addition, subjects were analyzed by dividing them by gender and the median of age and body mass index. Diabetes prevalence was 8.9% of all subjects, and subjects with a family history of diabetes were 14.5%. The risk of diabetes was 2.80 times higher in subjects with a family history of diabetes than subjects without a family history of diabetes. In addition, in younger subjects, the risk of diabetes was 3.36 times higher in subjects with a family history of diabetes compared with subjects without a family history of diabetes. In this study, the family history of diabetes was significantly associated with diabetes. The relationship between family history of diabetes and diabetes was slightly higher in the younger group than in the older group. In order to obtain an accurate assessment of the association between diabetes and family history of diabetes, further prospective cohort study in the future is necessary.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.284-289
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• 2022

Hypertension is associated with cardiovascular disease. The environmental and genetic factors can cause the development of hypertension. In this study, the relationship between hypertension and family history of hypertension in Koreans was analyzed in consideration of serum fasting blood glucose levels and age. The study subjects were 2,484 subjects who had a medical examination at a university hospital. The main statistical analysis method was multiple logistic regression analysis. Hypertension prevalence was 16.4% of all subjects, and subjects with a family history of hypertension were 23.5%. The risk of hypertension was 2.36 times higher in subjects with a family history of hypertension than subjects without a family history of hypertension. In addition, in the subjects with fasting blood glucose levels more than 120 mg/dL, the risk of hypertension was 4.44 times higher in subjects with a family history of hypertension compared with subjects without a family history of hypertension. The relationship between family history and hypertension was slightly higher in the older group than in the younger group. To assess the association between hypertension and family history, further cohort study is necessary in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.353-368
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• 2013

All Koreans had suffered heavily from municipal and industrial air pollution problems since 1960's to 1980's. However the levels of $SO_2$, CO, and Pb have been dramatically decreased since 1990's due to various air pollutants' reduction policies under the provisions of the 1978 Environmental Preservation Act and the 1990 Air Quality Preservation Act such as increasing the supply of low-sulfur fuel, the use of cleaner fuel, no use of solid fuel, and so on. Even though the national ambient air quality standard has been strengthened to protect public health and welfare, the levels of $NO_2$, $O_3$, and $PM_{10}$ frequently exceed the corresponding standards; for example, only 4 stations (1.7%) out of 239 nationwide monitoring stations satisfied the 24-hr based PM10 standard in 2011. Moreover, upto the present time, since there are serious underlying policies of economism and growth-first which can not be solely solved by the environmental laws, it is difficult to root out undesirable social evils such as public indifference, passive academic activities, complacent government bureaucracy, insufficient social responsibility of enterprise, and radical activities of environmental groups. The paper initially reviewed air pollution history of Korea with surveying various environmental factors affecting in/out-door air pollution in the past Korea. Further this study extensively investigated legal and political changes on air pollution control and management for the last 50 years, and then intensively discussed the present environment-related laws and policies unreasonably enforced in Korea. It is necessary to practically revise many outdated legal policies based on health-oriented thinking and on our current economic levels as well.

• Atmosphere
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.40-46
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• 2003

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2004

After an overview on the temporary situation of the lichenology in South Korea, localities of 95 mac-rolichen taxa are reported for South Korea. In this revised lichen flora of South Korea, 16 species are apparently new to the territory. Voucher specimens have been deposited in the Korean Lichen Research Institute (KoLRI) at Sunchon National University in Korea, and duplicates have also been donated to the National History Museum and Institute, in Chiba, (CBM) Japan.