• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.315-325
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• 2013

The possibility of acute hepatotoxicity caused by dimethylformamide (DMF) requires regular monitoring of the workers who are using DMF to prevent the occupational disease. The authors performed ambient and biological monitoring of workers involved in synthetic leather manufacturing processes using DMF to assess the correlation between the markers of ambient and biological monitoring of DMF. The authors monitored 142 workers occupationally exposed to DMF from 19 workshops in the synthetic leather and ink manufacturing industries located in northern region of Gyeonggi-do. The subjects answered questionnaire on work procedure and use of personal protective equipment to be classified by exposure type. DMF in air samples collected using personal air samplers, diffusive and active sampler, was analysed using gas chromatograph-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) with DB-FFAP column (length 30 m, i.d. 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 ${\mu}m$). Urinary N-methylformamide (NMF) was analysed using gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (GC-MSD) at selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with DB-624 column (length 60 m, i.d. 0.25 mm, film thickness 1.40 ${\mu}m$). Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of the ambient DMF was $6.85{\pm}3.43$ ppm, and GM and GSD of urinary NMF was $42.3{\pm}2.7$ mg/L. The ratio of subjects with DMF level over 10 ppm was 44%, and those with urinary NMF over 15 mg/L was 87%. NMF in urine adjusted by DMF in air was $4.61{\pm}2.57$ mg/L/ppm and $9.50{\pm}2.41$ mg/L/ppm, respectively, with or without respirator. There was seasonal differences of NMF in urine adjusted by DMF in air, $7.63{\pm}2.74$ mg/L/ppm in summer and $4.53{\pm}2.29$ mg/L/ppm in winter. The urinary NMF concentration which corresponds to 10 ppm of ambient DMF was 52.7 mg/L (r=0.650, n=128). Considering the difference of the route of exposure which resulted from the compliance of wearing personal protective equipment, the estimated contribution of respiratory and dermal exposure route for DMF was 48.5% vs. 51.5%.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1992

This experiment was performed to study the morphological responses of the parafollicular cells of rat following X-ray irradiation. Male rats were divided into normal and experimental groups. The head and neck region of the rat, under sodium thiopental anesthesia, was exposed to 3,000 rads or 6,000 rads of radiation in a single dose, respectively. The source was a Mitsubishi Linear Accelerator ML-4MV. The target to skin distance was 80 cm, and the dose rate was 200 rads/min. The rate of experimental groups were sacrificed on the 6th hour, 2nd and 6th day after X-ray irradiation. Pieces of the tissue taken from the thyroid gland were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde (0.1M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH 7.3), and in 1% osmium tetroxide (0.1M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH 7.3), and embedded in araldite mixture. The ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with JEM 100 CX-II electron microscope. The results were as follow; 1. Two types of the parafollicular cells, according to their electron densities, were found, i. e., light cells and dark cells. 2. Three types of the parafollicular cells, according to their sizes of secretory granules were found, i.e., small granule cells ($85nm{\pm}20.1;64{\sim}102nm$), medium granule cells ($120nm{\pm}26.5;77{\sim}179nm$), and large granule cells ($165nm{\pm}25.7;128{\sim}189nm$). 3. The differential ultrastructural changes of the cells according to their cell types, i.e., dark and light cell, or small, medium and large granule cells, were hardly observed in the time and dose range covered by this study. 4. The morphological changes of the parafollicular cells were not pronounced after exposure to 3,000 rads of X-ray. 5. Swollen cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and partial cytolysis were observed after exposure to 6,000 rads of X-ray. 6. Above results suggest that the parafollicular cells showed the alterations of mitochondrial and granular endoplasmic reticular swelling, and partial cytolysis, but only in doses of 6,000 rads.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2017

The phenomena that we experience in everyday life such as snow, rain, wind, and temperature are referred to as weather, and the average state of atmospheric phenomena that occur over a long period of time in a specific region is referred to as climate. In addition, significant variation of climate compared to the average state is referred to as climate change. Concrete structures can have various problems when exposed to elements. Among the problems, the freeze-thaw problem due to extreme climatic factors such as heavy rain and snowfall has become a particularly significant issue recently. The concrete that has been subjected to repeated freeze-thaw rather than too high or low temperature shows serious degradation of durability, and the performance of structures with degraded performance is difficult to recover. Therefore, in this study, concrete durability performance with respect to freeze-thaw from curing conditions change due to wind speed and sunshine exposure time. Concrete freeze-thaw experiment are performed. using wind speed and sunlight exposure time. Also, performance based evaluation through the satisfaction curve based on the freeze-thaw test results are performed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2005

Gas avalanche microdetectors, such as micro-strip gas chamber (MSGC), micro-gap chamber (MGC), micro-dot chamber (MDOT), etc., are operated under high voltage to induce large electron avalanche signal around micro-size anodes. Therefore, the anodes are highly exposed to electrical damage, for example, sparking because of the interaction between high electric field strength and charge multiplication around the anodes. Gas electron multiplier (GEM) is a charge preamplifying device in which charge multiplication can be confined, so that it makes that the charge multiplication region can be separate from the readout micro-anodes in 9as avalanche microdetectors possible. Primary electron collection efficiency is an important measure for the GEM performance. We have defined that the primary electron collection efficiency is the fractional number of electron trajectories reaching to the collection plane from the drift plane through the GEM holes. The electron trajectories were estimated based on 3-dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM). In this paper, we present the primary electron collection efficiency with respect to various GEM operation parameters. This simulation work will be very useful for the better design of the GEM.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2017

Ablative material in a rocket nozzle is exposed to high temperature combustion gas, thus undergoes complicated thermal/chemical change in terms of chemical destruction of surface and thermal decomposition of inner material. Therefore, method for conjugate analysis of thermal response inside carbon/phenolic material including rocket nozzle flow, surface chemical reaction and thermal decomposition is developed in this research. CFD is used to simulate flow field inside nozzle and conduction in the ablative material. A change in material density and a heat absorption caused by the thermal decomposition is considered in solid energy equation. And algebraic equation under boundary layer assumption is used to deduce reaction rate on the surface and resulting destruction of the surface. In order to test the developed method, small rocket nozzle is solved numerically. Although the ablation of nozzle throat is deduced to be higher than the experiment, shape change and temperature distribution inside material is well predicted. Error in temperature with experimental results in rapid heating region is found to be within 100 K.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1153-1162
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• 2016

Termitomyces albuminosus (Berk.) Heim is a well-known wild edible mushroom in the southern region of China. Novel cerebrosides, termed termitomycesphins, isolated from EtOH extract of T. albuminosus have shown significant neuritogenic activity. Neurotrophic factors have been targeted as potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. However, before expanding their applications to include food or therapeutic agents in Korea, a safety evaluation of T. albuminosus is needed. Herein, in a repeated-dose 90-day oral toxicity study, rats were exposed to a basal diet of powder ground from dried T. albuminosus at dose levels of 5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, and 0%. The following endpoints were evaluated: clinical observation, body weight, gross and microscopic pathology, clinical chemistry, and hematology. Significant dose-dependent increases in the weight of the left kidney were observed, possibly due to the test substance. Based on toxicity-decision criteria for minor compound-related changes (no observed adverse effect level [NOAEL] and no observed effect level [NOEL]), NOAEL was observed in male rats at a dose of 5% of dried T. albuminosus powder, and NOEl was observed in female rats at the same dose. The results point to the safety and potential use of T. albuminosus as a nontoxic neurotrophic factor.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.578-592
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• 2001

Based on a survey sample of farm households in three provinces of Korea, this article reports the perspectives of fuel-time farmers regarding trade liberalization, its effects on their lives, and the future of small-scale farming. While the agricultural sector is being transformed under neoliberal policies, farmers, with life or no preparation for a global market order, are forced to modernize their farming operations. The findings from the survey indicate that farmers accede to terms of global integration in principle while disapproving state rural policies in practice. The survey data also confirm that intra-regional differences in farmers'perceived satisfaction with living conditions, government farm policies, and socio-economic/labor issues. Disparities in the degree of discontent with government policies and socio-economic well-being are explicit between the relatively diversified region of Kyonggi Province and the farming-dependent regions of Chunbuk and Kyongbuk Provinces. The overall findings uphold that most farmers who have not been fully exposed to free market mechanisms are confronted by increased uncertainties and economic hardships. The findings propound that agricultural/rural policies need to reflect long-term, macroeconomic changes, and regionally/locally-based agricultural structure.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.274-284
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to describe the spectrometric analysis of gaseous cloud formation over reactor mixed uranium-and-plutonium (UP) fuel $(U_{0.8}Pu_{0.2})O_2$ samples heated to a temperature $>2,000^{\circ}C$, and thus forecast and evaluate radiation hazards threatening humans who cope with the consequences of any accident at a fission reactor loaded by UP mixed oxide $(U_{0.8}Pu_{0.2})O_2$, such as a mixture of 80% U and 20% Pu in weight. Materials and methods: The UP nuclear fuel samples were heated up to a temperature of over $2,000^{\circ}C$ in a suitable assembly (apparatus) at out-of-pile experiments' implementation, the experimental in-depth study of metabolism of active materials in living organisms by means of artificial irradiation of pigs by plutonium. Spectrometric measurements were carried out on the different exposed organs and tissues of pigs for the further estimation of human internal exposure by nuclear materials released from the core of a fission reactor fueled with UP mixed oxide. Results: The main results of the research described are the following: (1) following the research on the influence of mixed fuel fission products (radioactive isotopes being formed during reactor operation as a result of nuclear decay of elements included into the fuel composition) on living organisms, the authors determined the quantities of plutonium dioxide ($PuO_2$) that penetrated into blood and lay in the pulmonary region, liver, skeleton and other tissues; and (2) experiments confirmed that the output speed of plutonium out of the basic precipitation locations is very small. On the strength of the experimental evidence, the authors suggest that the biological output of plutonium can be disregarded in the process of evaluation of the internal irradiation doses.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.11-26
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• 1993

This experiment was performed to study the morphological responses of the pigment epithelial cell and the Bruch's membrane of the retina of rat following X-ray irradiation. Male rats were divided into normal and experimental groups. The heads of the rats, under sodium thiopental anesthesia, were exposed to 3,000 rads or 6,000 rads of radiation in a single dose, respectively. The source was a Mitsubishi Linear Accelerator ML-4MV. The target to skin distance was 80cm, and the. dose rate was 200 rads/min. The experimental groups were sacrificed on the 6th hour, 2nd and 6th day after X-ray irradiation. Under anesthesia, 1% glutaraldehyde-1% paraformaldehyde solution(0.1M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH 7.3) was perfused through the left ventricle and ascending aorta. Pieces of the tissue taken from the posterior region of the retina were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde(0.1M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH 7.3) and 1% osmium tetroxide(0.1M Millonig's phosphate buffer, pH7.3), and embedded in araldite mixture. The ultrathin sections contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with JEM 100 CX-II electron microscope. The results were as follow; 1. The morphological changes of the pigment epithelial cells were not pronounced after exposure to 3,000 rads of X-ray. But on the 6th hour after exposure to 6,000 rads of X-ray, bulging nuclear membrane protruding into the cytoplasm and nuclear chromatin clumped into numerous masses along the nuclear membrane were observed. At the 2nd and 6th day post-irradiation, partial cytolysis or necrosis were seen. 2. The thickness of the Bruch's membrane of the experimental groups were increased in the time and dose range covered by this study, and splitting or diffusing basal laminae of the choriocapillary layer were observed frequently in the experimental group. Above results suggest that large amount(6,000 rads) of head irradiation induce direct hazardous effects on the pigment epitherial cells and Bruch's membrane of the retina of the rat, but pigment epithelial cells are more radioresistant than Bruch's membrane.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.179-190
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• 1992

The Yeongchun area is located at the central part of the Danyang Coalfield, where Precambrian granitoids, Cambro-Ordovician Choseon Supergroup, Carboniferous-early Triassic Pyeongan Supergroup, middle Triassic-Jurassic Bansong Group and extrusive tuffs are exposed. The rocks in the area underwent four phases of deformation, which are (a) $D_1$ : Movement of the Okdong Fault, (b) $D_2$ : Formation of NW-SE trending folds and stretching lineations, (c) $D_3$: Movement of the Gagdong Thrust Fault and associated structures of NNE-SSW trending folds, and (d) $D_4$ : E-W trending strike-slip faults and folds. During the $D_3$-event, flexural slip deformation intensively affected rocks in the area. Strain measurements show relatively low strain intensity in the area. The types of strain ellipsoid are prolate in the hangingwall area and those near to the footwall area range from plane strain to weak oblate. The oblate type is developed in the region far from the footwall area.