• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in the electrical, mechanical, medical, and food industries. Previous studies have suggested that BPA is an endocrine disruptor. Regulation of BPA has led to increased use of bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS). However, few studies have investigated the associations of BPF and BPS with thyroid dysfunction in children. Our study investigated the associations of prenatal BPA and early childhood BPA, BPF, and BPS exposure with thyroid function in 6-year-old children. Methods: Prenatal BPA concentrations were measured during the second trimester of pregnancy in an established prospective birth cohort. We measured urinary BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations and thyroid hormone levels (thyroid-stimulating hormone, total T3, and free T4) in 6-year-old children (n=574). We examined the associations between urinary bisphenol concentrations and percentage change of thyroid hormone concentrations using multivariate linear regression. We also compared thyroid hormone levels by dividing the cohort according to BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations. Results: The associations between prenatal BPA and total T3 levels were statistically significant in all models, except for girls when using a crude model. The associations between urinary BPA and BPS concentrations and levels of all thyroid hormones were not statistically significant. However, we observed that lower free T4 levels (-1.94%; 95% confidence interval, -3.82 to -0.03) were associated with higher urinary BPF concentrations in girls only. Conclusions: Our findings identified significant associations between prenatal BPA exposure and total T3 levels in all children and between BPF exposure and free T4 levels in girls only.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.237-242
• /
• 2021

Simultaneous removal technologies of multi-pollutants such as particulate matters (PMs), NOx, SOx, VOCs and ammonia have received consistent attention due to the enhancement of pollutant abatement efficiency in addition to the stringent environmental regulation and emission standard. Pretreatment of insoluble NO by an ozone oxidation can be considered to be more effective route for saving space occupation as well as operation cost in comparison with that of traditional selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process. Moreover the primary advantage of ozone oxidation process is that the simultaneous removal with acidic gas including SOx is also available. Herein, we highlight recent studies of multi-pollutant abatement via ozone oxidation process and the promising research topics for better application in industrial sectors.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.247-252
• /
• 2021

As the number of single-person households increases, the consumption of bottled water is increasing. In addition, as the public's interest in radioactivity increases, interest in the field of living radioactivity is also increasing. Since drinking water is an essential element in our daily life, it must be safe from radioactivity. In this study, gamma radiation of drinking spring water was measured and internal exposure dose evaluation was performed to determine its harmfulness. K-40 and uranium-based radioactivity analysis was performed through a high-purity germanium detector, and as a result, drinking water was detected somewhat higher than that of mixing water. Since there is no regulation on the natural radioactivity concentration in Korea, it was compared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Regulations and World Health Organization standard. As a result, there were some items that exceeded standards. Internal exposure was evaluated according to the effective dose formula of ICRP 119. As the result was derived that a maximum of 1.17 mSv per year could be received. This result means that the dose limit for the general public may be exceeded, and it was judged that it is necessary to set an appropriate standard value and present a recommendation value through continuous monitoring in the future.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.141-151
• /
• 2021

Insects affect crop harvest yield and quality, making plant response mechanisms to insect herbivores a heavily studied topic. However, analysis of plant responses to honeybees is rare. In this study, comprehensive metabolic profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to honeybees was performed to investigate which metabolites were changed by the insect. A total of 85 metabolites-including chlorophylls, carotenoids, glucosinolates, policosanols, tocopherols, phytosterols, β-amyrin, amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and starch-were identified using high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The metabolite profiling analysis of Arabidopsis exposed to honeybees showed higher levels of stress-related metabolites. The levels of glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin), policosanols (eicosanol, docosanol, tricosanol, tetracosanol), tocopherols (β-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol), putrescine, lysine, and sugars (arabinose, fructose, glucose, mannitol, mannose, raffinose) in Arabidopsis exposed to honeybees were higher than those in unexposed Arabidopsis. Glucosinolates act as defensive compounds against herbivores; policosanols are components of plant waxes; tocopherols act as an antioxidant; and putrescine, lysine, and sugars contribute to stress regulation. Our results suggest that Arabidopsis perceives honeybees as a stress and changes its metabolites to overcome the stress. This is the first step to determining how Arabidopsis reacts to exposure to honeybees.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.329-333
• /
• 2021

V2G (Vehicle to Grid) technology for an EV (Electric Vehicle) has been assumed as so promising in a near future for its useful energy resource concept but still yet to be developed around the world for specific service purposes through various R&BD projects. Basically, V2G returns power stored in vehicle at a cheaper or unused time to the grid at more expensive or highly peaked time, and is accordingly supposed to provide such roles like peak shaving or load levelling according to customer load curve, frequency regulation or ancillary reserves, and balancing power fluctuation to grid from the weather-sensitive renewable sources like wind or solar generations. However, it has recently been debated over its prominent usage as diffusing EVs and the required charging/discharging infrastructure, partially for its addition of EV ownership costs with more frequent charging/discharging events and user inconvenience with a relative long-time participation in the previously engaged V2G program. This study suggests that a Korean DR (Demand Response) service integrated V2G system especially based upon a dynamic charge/pause/discharge scheme newly proposed to ISO/IEC 15118 rev. 2 can deal with these concerns with more profitable business model, while fully making up for the additional component (ex. battery) and service costs. It also indicates that the optimum economic, environmental, and grid impacts can be simulated for this V2G-DR service particularly designed for EV aggregators (V2G service providers) by proposing a specific V2G engagement program for the mediated DR service providers and the distributed EV owners.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.2230-2243
• /
• 2022

The tin tailing processing industry in Malaysia has operated with minimal regard and awareness for material management and working environment safety, impacting the environment and workers in aspects of radiation and heavy metal exposure. RIA was conducted where environmental samples were analyzed, revealing concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K between the range of 0.1-10.0, 0.0-25.7, and 0.1-5.8 Bq/g respectively, resulting in the AED exceeding UNCEAR recommended value and regulation limit enforced by AELB (1 mSv/y). Ra_eq calculated indicates that samples collected pose a significant threat to human health from gamma-ray exposure. Assessment of heavy metal content via pollution indices of soil and sediment showed significant contamination and enrichment from processing activities conducted. As and Fe were two of the highest metals exposed both via soil ingestion with an average of 4.6 × 10^-3 mg/kg-day and 1.4 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day, and dermal contact with an average of 5.6 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day and 6.0 × 10^-4. mg/kg-day respectively. Exposure via accidental ingestion of soil and sediment could potentially cause adverse non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effect towards workers in the industry. Correlation analysis indicates the presence of a relationship between the concentration of NORM and trace elements.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.55 no.7
• /
• pp.354-359
• /
• 2022

MitoNEET, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein containing the Asn-Glu-Glu-Thr (NEET) sequence, controls the formation of intermitochondrial junctions and confers autophagy resistance. Moreover, mitoNEET as a mitochondrial substrate undergoes ubiquitination by activated Parkin during the initiation of mitophagy. Therefore, mitoNEET is linked to the regulation of autophagy and mitophagy. Mitophagy is the selective removal of the damaged or unnecessary mitochondria, which is crucial to sustaining mitochondrial quality control. In numerous human diseases, the accumulation of damaged mitochondria by impaired mitophagy has been observed. However, the therapeutic strategy targeting of mitoNEET as a mitophagy-enhancing mediator requires further research. Herein, we confirmed that mitophagy is indeed activated by mitoNEET inhibition. CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone), which leads to mitochondrial depolarization, induces mitochondrial dysfunction and superoxide production. This, in turn, contributes to the induction of mitophagy; mitoNEET protein levels were initially increased before an increase in LC3-II protein following CCCP treatment. Pharmacological inhibition of mitoNEET using mitoNEET Ligand-1 (NL-1) promoted accumulation of Pink1 and Parkin, which are mitophagy-associated proteins, and activation of mitochondria-lysosome crosstalk, in comparison to CCCP alone. Inhibition of mitoNEET using NL-1, or mitoNEET shRNA transfected into RAW264.7 cells, abrogated CCCP-induced ROS and mitochondrial cell death; additionally, it activated the expression of PGC-1α and SOD2, regulators of oxidative metabolism. In particular, the increase in PGC-1α, which is a major regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, promotes mitochondrial quality control. These results indicated that mitoNEET is a potential therapeutic target in numerous human diseases to enhance mitophagy and protect cells by maintaining a network of healthy mitochondria.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2022

Objectives: South Korea's occupational safety and health legislation appears on the surface to have stronger regulations than any other country, but it is criticized for having many problems when viewed from the perspective of the effectiveness and universality of these regulations. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the validity of the regulatory content and the methods for contract work in South Korea. Methods: The main issues in contract work are compared and analyzed in terms of the occupational safety and health laws systems in South Korea and other developed countries. Based on this, problems related to contract regulation are derived from the perspective of legal policy studies. In addition, effective improvement measures for the derived problems will be proposed. Results: Other developed countries impose obligations suitable for the status and role of persons who entrust work in consideration of the fact that they do not directly manage risks and in terms of the effectiveness of industrial accident prevention. These countries generally impose obligations such as management of facilities and machinery, cooperation and coordination with subcontractors, cooperation and coordination obligations between subcontractors, and guidance obligations on a person who entrusts a work. Conclusions: It is difficult to achieve effectiveness in preventing accidents with based on unreasonable regulations that do not conform to safety principles or legal theory. Regulations on contract work need to be converted to rational cogent regulations based on science and rationality, not ideology and emotion. To this end, the legal system for contract work must have international universality.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2022

A forecast foresight of the conditions for the development of educational affairs in the Information Society of Ukraine is presented, taking into account changes in the technique, technologies, and the socio-social sphere. Unresolved problems in Ukraine regarding the modernization and improvement of the education system by means of informatization are highlighted. The need for further improvement of Ukrainian education by means of informatization is noted. Formulated the main goal of future education. The necessary conditions for the successful development of future education are highlighted. The role and place of the key figure of the teacher in the education of the future is determined. The article highlights the theoretical and philosophical foundations of professional subjectivity of the future specialist. Recently, the world's pedagogical thought has increasingly focused on how to build an educational process so that it brings a sense of happiness to all its participants. It is believed that this is a new management philosophy in general, although its origins are in ancient Greek sources, which claim that only a happy life has meaning and value. It is found out that the professional subjectivity of a specialist is an important professionally significant quality of the individual, which provides a purposeful and optimal implementation of their mental, personal resources for solving professional and life problems, which is manifested in the desire for self-definition, self-determination, self-regulation and self-improvement in professional activities taking into account the information society. The structure of this phenomenon is shown.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.249-261
• /
• 2020

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have stemness characteristics, including germ cell-specific imprints that allow them to form gametes. Spermatogenesis involves changes in gene expression such as a transition from expression of somatic to germ cell-specific genes, global repression of gene expression, meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, highly condensed packing of the nucleus with protamines, and morphogenesis. These step-by-step processes finally generate spermatozoa that are fertilization competent. Dynamic epigenetic modifications also confer totipotency to germ cells after fertilization. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in embryos do not enter meiosis, remain in the proliferative stage, and are referred to as gonocytes, before entering quiescence. Gonocytes develop into SSCs at about 6 days after birth in rodents. Although chromatin structural modification by Polycomb is essential for gene silencing in mammals, and epigenetic changes are critical in spermatogenesis, a comprehensive understanding of transcriptional regulation is lacking. Recently, we evaluated the expression profiles of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and CP2c in the gonads of E14.5 and 12-week-old mice. YY1 localizes at the nucleus and/or cytoplasm at specific stages of spermatogenesis, possibly by interaction with CP2c and YY1-interacting transcription factor. In the present article, we discuss the possible roles of YY1 and CP2c in spermatogenesis and stemness based on our results and a review of the relevant literature.