• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2023

Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa and gastric ulcers are a break in the mucosa of the stomach lining. Past research on gastritis and gastric ulcers has been mainly conducted from the perspective that environmental factors are the primary cause of these gastric diseases. However, recently the importance of genetic factors has been emphasized due to current developments in genetic research. The SLC25A26 gene is believed to be associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress promotes an inflammatory response, which increases the production of free radicals and causes cellular damage, and these lead to the development of gastric diseases. In this study, the correlation between SLC25A26 and gastric diseases was analyzed. Polymorphisms in SLC25A26 were analyzed in 1,369 domestic gastric disease patients and 7,471 healthy controls. As a result, 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (in the genotype) and 13 SNPs (in the imputation) showed statistical significance (P<0.05), and high relative risk of gastric diseases. Among them, the rs13874 allele of SLC25A26 showed a highly significant association with gastric diseases. In the genotype-based mRNA expression analysis, the minor allele (C) group showed increased mRNA expression and this could increase oxidative stress. In conclusion, SLC25A26 polymorphisms are associated with gastric diseases. These results may provide a basis for new guidelines for gastric disease management in the Korean population.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2017

In Imjin River basin, three floods occurred between 1996 and 1999, causing many casualties and economic losses of 900 billion won. In Korea, flood damage is expected to increase in the future due to climate change. This study used the climate scenarios to estimate future flood damage costs and suggested a real options-based economic assessment method. Using proposed method, the flood control infrastructures in Imjin River basin were selected as a case study site to analyze the economic feasibility of the investment. Using RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) climate scenarios, the future flood damage costs were estimated through simulated rainfall data. This study analyzed the flood reduction benefits through investment in the flood control infrastructures. The volatility of flood damage reduction benefits were estimated assuming that the RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 climate scenarios would be realized in the future. In 2071, the project option value would be determined by applying an extension option to invest in an upgrading that would allow the project to adapt to the flood of the 200-year return period. The results of the option values show that the two investment scenarios are economically feasible and the project under RCP8.5 climate scenario has more flood damage reduction benefits than RCP4.5. This study will help government decision makers to consider the uncertainty of climate change in the economic assessment of flood control infrastructures using real options analysis. We also proposed a method to quantify climate risk factors into economic values by using rainfall data provided by climate scenarios.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.403-431
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• 2011

The environmental issues including domestic measures to protect public life or health are generally easy to bring the tension between the WTO and its member countries. The standard of review, whether de novo review, total deference, or somewhere in between, is largely important in the WTO's adjudicating mechanism because it is closely related to the appropriate balance of power between sovereign nations and the WTO: The multilateral trading regime, through the proper standard of review, could harmoniously operated without interest conflicts among the member countries and at the same time between the WTO and the member countries. Irrespective the important function of the standard of review in the WTO judicial system, applicable standard of review has not been established in the current SPS Agreement. Furthermore, the nature of the SPS Agreement related in scientific factors, such as scientific experiment, data and assessment prevents the WTO's panel from applying consistent standard of review. Considering the judicial demand for the moderate treatment of the case under the SPS Agreement, this paper explores appropriate standard of review applicable the SPS-related environmental measures, particularly, by analysing the recent SPS-related dispute, US-Hormones Suspension.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.131-138
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• 2016

Recently, the cultivated area is reduced, the ratio of upland-field in the total cultivated area is increasing relative appeared in 36.2% in 1990 from 43.7% in 2013. If upland-field can be applied well designed-infrastructure, good income crop production is possible, however, maintenance of infrastructure and a significant portion of the upland-field is maintained under insufficient infrastructure. While imports of agricultural products expanded since the 2000s in progress, looking at the self-sufficiency of upland-field crops, it is reduced to from 90% to 42% for the pepper, it is from 90% to 74% for the garlic, cereals is reduced from 42% by 26%. As a result of these conditions, the competitiveness of farmers has weakened, the risk to meet the challenges of this area of production and supply reduction increased. This study was the first to conduct a basic evaluation index, data analysis and evaluation of indicators to diagnose the agricultural production capacity of the upland field. 12 kinds classified index of producing conditions from the natural environment and eight factors for the cultivation and production capabilities have developed for the assessment of productivity of upland-field (especially Kimchi cabbage). Through this regional imbalance was found, based on the production capabilities conditions are good in Haenam, Gangneung, Pyeongchang. 3 Regions have been low and the lowest Youngwol to 0.8992. Climate(Cultivation conditions) indicators of Mungyeong region is the highest, relatively low areas were in Taebaek. In particular, it is determined to be preferred that the area required for the enhancing the production environment based on providing the convenience for the producing and maintenance of the first production area. It is necessary Increasing part of mechanization, agro-industrial competitiveness through aggressive management plans for facilities as required in the process of post-harvest storage, processing, distribution line can be improved.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.30.1-30.11
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• 2019

Marine natural products isolated from the sponge Fascaplysinopsis cf reticulata, in French Polynesia, were investigated as an alternative to antibiotics to control pathogens in aquaculture. The overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture is largely considered to be an environmental pollution, because it supports the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes within the aquatic environment. One environmentally friendly alternative to antibiotics is the use of quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs). Quorum sensing (QS) is a regulatory mechanism in bacteria which control virulence factors through the secretion of autoinducers (AIs), such as acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) in gram-negative bacteria. Vibrio harveyi QS is controlled through three parallel pathways: HAI-1, AI-2, and CAI-1. Bioassay-guided purification of F. cf reticulata extract was conducted on two bacterial species, i.e., Tenacibaculum maritimum and V. harveyi for antibiotic and QS inhibition bioactivities. Toxicity bioassay of fractions was also evaluated on the freshwater fish Poecilia reticulata and the marine fish Acanthurus triostegus. Cyclohexanic and dichloromethane fractions of F. cf reticulata exhibited QS inhibition on V. harveyi and antibiotic bioactivities on V. harveyi and T. maritimum, respectively. Palauolide (1) and fascaplysin (2) were purified as major molecules from the cyclohexanic and dichloromethane fractions, respectively. Palauolide inhibited QS of V. harveyi through HAI-1 QS pathway at 50 ㎍ ml^-1 (26 μM), while fascaplysin affected the bacterial growth of V. harveyi (50 ㎍ ml^-1) and T. maritimum (0.25 ㎍). The toxicity of fascaplysin-enriched fraction (FEF) was evaluated and exhibited a toxic effect against fish at 50 ㎍ ml^-1. This study demonstrated for the first time the QSI potential of palauolide (1). Future research may assess the toxicity of both the cyclohexanic fraction of the sponge and palauolide (1) on fish, to confirm their potential as alternative to antibiotics in fish farming.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.455-460
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine geographic clustering of breast cancer incidence in Kanagawa Prefecture, using cancer registry data. The study also aimed at examining the association between socio-economic factors and any identified cluster. Materials and Methods: Incidence data were collected for women who were first diagnosed with breast cancer during the period from January to December 2006 in Kanagawa. The data consisted of 2,326 incidence cases extracted from the total of 34,323 Kanagawa Cancer Registration data issued in 2011. To adjust for differences in age distribution, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of breast cancer were calculated for each of 56 municipalities (e.g., city, special ward, town, and village) in Kanagawa by an indirect method using Kanagawa female population data. Spatial scan statistics were used to detect any area of elevated risk as a cluster for breast cancer deaths and/or incidences. The Student t-test was performed to examine differences in socio-economic variables, viz, persons per household, total fertility rate, age at first marriage for women, and marriage rate, between cluster and other regions. Results: There was a statistically significant cluster of breast cancer incidence (p=0.001) composed of 11 municipalities in southeastern area of Kanagawa Prefecture, whose SIR was 35 percent higher than that of the remainder of Kanagawa Prefecture. In this cluster, average value of age at first-marriage for women was significantly higher than in the rest of Kanagawa (p=0.017). No statistically significant clusters of breast cancer deaths were detected (p=0.53). Conclusions: There was a statistically significant cluster of high breast cancer incidence in southeastern area of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was suggested that the cluster region was related to the tendency to marry later. This study methodology will be helpful in the analysis of geographical disparities in cancer deaths and incidence.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.181-196
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• 2019

Floods can be caused by a variety of factors, and the main cause of floods is the exceeding of urban drainage system or river capacity. In addition, rainfall frequently occurs that causes large watershed runoff. Since the existing methodology of preparing for flood risk map is based on hydraulic and hydrological modeling, it is difficult to analyse for a large area because it takes a long time due to the extensive data collection and complex analysis process. In order to overcome this problem, this study proposes a methodology of mapping for flood vulnerable area that considered the surface runoff mechanism. This makes it possible to reduce the time and effort required to estimate flood vulnerabilities and enable detailed analysis of large areas. The target area is Seoul, and it was confirmed that flood damage is likely to occur near selected vulnerable areas by verifying using 2×2 confusion matrix and ROC curve. By selecting and prioritizing flood vulnerable areas through the surface runoff mechanism proposed in this study, the establishment of systematic disaster prevention measures and efficient budget allocation will be possible.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.25-32
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• 2020

The underground utilities installed under the ground is an important civil engineering structure, such as water supply and sewerage pipes, underground power lines, various communication lines, and city gas pipes. Such underground utilities can be exposed to risk due to external factors such as concentrated rainfall and vehicle load, and it is important to select and construct an appropriate backfill material. Currently, a method mainly used is to fill the soil around the underground utilities and compact it. But it is difficult to compact the lower part of the buried pipe and the compaction efficiency decreases, reducing the stability of the underground utilities and causing various damages. In addition, there are disadvantages such as a decrease in ground strength due to disturbance of the ground, a complicated construction process, and construction costs increase because the construction period becomes longer, and civil complaints due to traffic restrictions. One way to solve this problem is to use a liquid filler. The liquid filler has advantages such as self-leveling ability, self-compaction, fluidity, artificial strength control, and low strength that can be re-excavated for maintenance. In this study, uniaxial compression strength test and fluidity test were performed to characterize the mixed soil using marine clay, stabilizer, and in-situ soil as backfill material. A freezing-thawing test was performed to understand the strength characteristics of the liquid filler by freezing, and in order to examine the effect of the filling materials on the corrosion of the underground pipe, an electrical resistivity test and a pH test were performed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.999-1006
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• 2016

This paper studies an infection of norovirus and astrovirus in outbreaks in Korea. In March 2016, gastroenteritis outbreaks occurred in Busan. 522 students of three departments at university D had meeting at a restaurant near the university. Some of them had symptom such as diarrhea, vomiting. Epidemiological, laboratory and environmental investigations were performed to identify the agents of the outbreaks. Fecal specimens were collected from 35 students and 7 food handlers to identify causative viral agents. Norovirus genogroup GI and GII were detected from diarrhea patients. Astrovirus was also detected from some of them. In particular, these outbreaks were the first occurrence associated with astrovirus in Busan. Total of 42 samples were collected, and 24 samples resulted in positive to norovirus (16 cases) and astrovirus (8 cases). To identify the molecular genetic information of norovirus, we carried out sequences analysis of the detected strains. Norovirus genotypes were classified into GI.3, GI.4, GII.4, GII.13, GII.17 and GII.21. Astrovirus genotypes were seven astrovirus type 5 and one astrovirus type 2. We performed environmental investigation about water at the kitchen, but norovirus and astrovirus were not detected. The statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between illness and risk factors. The results of this study may contribute to accumulate more the epidemiological data and develop the public health and hygiene.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.565-575
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of weight of load and time on the physical workload of repetitive upper-limb tasks with handling light weight loads using EMG and perceived discomfort, and to investigate the relationship between EMG and perceived discomfort for those repetitive tasks of moving light weight loads. Background: Repetitive upper-limb motion is known as one of the main risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders, and a lot of repetitive tasks are carried out while handling light weight loads in the industry. In evaluating the workload of repetitive tasks handling light weight loads, EMG and perceived discomfort can be used, though their relationship in those work conditions are not much investigated. Method: A laboratory experiment with 18 healthy males were conducted to record EMG signals from 5 muscle sites of the right arm and shoulder and rate perceived discomforts for the body parts and the whole body while carrying out repetitive materials-handling tasks for 52min. The subjects were divided into 3 groups which handled the loads of 1kg, 2kg and 3kg, respectively. ANOVAs were conducted to analyze the effects of the weight and time on RMS of EMG amplitude (normalized RMS: NRMS), median frequency of power spectrum of EMG (normalized MDF: NMDF) and perceived discomfort. The correlations between NRMS and NMDF and perceived discomfort were also analyzed. Results: Statistically significant muscular fatigue effects were not found from NRMS and NMDF in most muscles, while there were significant increases of discomfort as the task time elapsed. It was shown that there were an increasing trend of the muscular activity as the weight of load increased and a decreasing trend of median frequency of EMG of upper and lower arms as time elapsed. It was found that there were significant negative correlations between NMDFs from the lower arm and discomfort ratings, though the relationships were weak. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the working conditions adopted in this study were not enough to induce muscular fatigue, while there was significant increase in perceived discomfort. A further study is necessary to integrate the objective and subjective measures for more reliable and sensitive evaluation of workload of repetitive tasks of handling light weight loads. Application: This study can be used as a basic study for the evaluation of workload of repetitive tasks handling light weight loads.