• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.10-18
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• 2009

Purpose: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is an important medical emergency in Korea, but the factors leading to its serious manifestation are not well studied. Methods: We conducted a 5-year retrospective study of 98 carbon monoxide poisoned patients who visited the emergency departments of the Medical Center between December 2004 and March 2009. We categorized the patients into those exhibiting only local symptoms (group 1) and those showing systemic symptoms and complications (group 2). We compared the general characteristics as well as the clinical and laboratory findings between both groups. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.18. The most common systemic symptom was a mental change (43.9%), while the most common complication was rhabdomyolysis (31.6%). Poisoned area closed private room in group 2 were 23 (41.8%) cases and burning region in group 2 were 16(29.1%) cases (p=0.956). Individuals who were accidentally poisoned comprised of 43 (78.2%) cases while those that attempted suicidal poisoning comprised 12 (21.8%) cases (p=0.016). The most common symptom at arrival was mental change 33 (60.0%) cases in group 2. The mean time exposed to carbon monoxide was 43$\pm$3.97 hours in group 1 and 55$\pm$10.11 in group 2 (p=0.012). The patient's age, context of poisoning, symptom at arrival, and time exposed to the poison were found to be significant risk factors for complications by logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Carbon monoxide poisoning is an emergency medical condition and the risk factors involved in the development of serious complications must be evaluated.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.138-148
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• 2011

Exponential rise in the use of mobile communication devices has generated health concerns due to radiofrequency (RF) exposure due to its close proximity to the head. Calcium binding proteins like calretinin regulate the levels of calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) which plays an important role in biological systems. Ginseng is known for maintaining equilibrium in the human body and may play a beneficial radioprotectant role against electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. In the present study, we evaluated the radioprotective effects of red ginseng (RG) extract in a mouse model. Calretinin (CR) expression was measured using a free-floating immunohistochemical method in the hippocampus of mice after 835 MHz EMF exposure for 5 h/d for 5 d at specific absorption rate=1.6 W/kg for the different experimental groups. The control animals were treated with NaCl while the experimental animals received 10 mg/kg ginseng, or 30 mg/kg; EMF exposed mice were also treated with NaCl, 10 mg/kg ginseng (E10), or 30 mg/kg (E30). Decreases in CR immunoreactivity (IR) along with loss of CA1 and CA3 interneurons and infragranular cells were observed in the ENaCl group while such losses were not observed in the E10 and E30 groups. CR IR significantly increased in the RG-treated group compared to control and EMF-exposed groups treated with NaCl. The study demonstrates that RG extract can serve as a radioprotective agent that maintains $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis and prevents neuronal loss in the brain hippocampal region caused by RF exposure.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.227-233
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• 2014

Background: The aims of this study were to determine hippuric acid levels in urine samples, airborne toluene levels, acute and chronic neurological symptoms, and to describe any correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene. Methods: The hippuric acid concentration in the urine of 87 paint workers exposed to toluene at work (exposed group), and 87 nonexposed people (control group) was studied. Study participants were selected from similar factories in the same region. Urine samples were collected at the end of a shift and analyzed for hippuric acid by high performance liquid chromatography. Air samples for the estimation of toluene exposure were collected with diffusive personal samplers and the toluene quantified using gas-liquid chromatography. The two groups were also interviewed and observed about their work practices and health. Results: The median of the 87 airborne toluene levels was 55 ppm (range, 12-198 ppm). The median urinary hippuric acid level was 800 mg/g creatinine (range, 90-2547 mg/g creatinine). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between airborne toluene exposure and urine hippuric acid levels (r = 0.548, p < 0.01). Workers with acute symptoms had significantly higher hippuric acid levels than those who did not (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there was a significant correlation between toluene exposure, hippuric acid levels, and health (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There appears to be a significant correlation between workers exposure to toluene at work, their urine hippuric acid levels, and resulting symptoms of poor health. Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required at these workplaces. There was good correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene levels.

• 국제초고층학회논문집
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.375-387
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• 2018

This paper presents a review on progressive collapse mechanism of steel framed buildings exposed to fire. The influence of load ratios, strength of structural members (beam, column, slab, connection), fire scenarios, bracing systems, fire protections on the collapse mode and collapse time of structures is comprehensively reviewed. It is found that the key influencing factors include load ratio, fire scenario, bracing layout and fire protection. The application of strong beams, high load ratios, multi-compartment fires will lead to global downward collapse which is undesirable. The catenary action in beams and tensile membrane action in slabs contribute to the enhancement of structural collapse resistance, leading to a ductile collapse mechanism. It is recommended to increase the reinforcement ratio in the sagging and hogging region of slabs to not only enhance the tensile membrane action in the slab, but to prevent the failure of beam-to-column connections. It is also found that a frame may collapse in the cooling phase of compartment fires or under travelling fires. This is because that the steel members may experience maximum temperatures and maximum displacements under these two fire scenarios. An edge bay fire is more prone to induce the collapse of structures than a central bay fire. The progressive collapse of buildings can be effectively prevented by using bracing systems and fire protections. A combination of horizontal and vertical bracing systems as well as increasing the strength and stiffness of bracing members is recommended to enhance the collapse resistance. A protected frame dose not collapse immediately after the local failure but experiences a relatively long withstanding period of at least 60 mins. It is suggested to use three-dimensional models for accurate predictions of whether, when and how a structure collapses under various fire scenarios.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권7호
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• pp.1235-1242
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify through infrared thermal imaging technology the facial surface temperature (FST) of laying hens in response to the variations in their thermal environment, and to identify the regional differences in FST to determine the most stable and reliable facial regions for monitoring of thermoregulatory status in chickens. Methods: Thirty Hy-Line Brown hens (25-week-old) were sequentially exposed to three different thermal conditions; optimal (OT, 22℃±2℃), low (LT, 10℃±4℃), and high temperature (HT, 30℃±2℃). The mean values of FST in five facial regions including around the eyes, earlobes, wattles, beak and nose, and comb were recorded through infrared thermography. The maximum FST (MFST) was also identified among the five face-selective regions, and its relationship with temperature-humidity index (THI) was established to identify the range of MFST in response to the variations in their thermal environment. Results: Hens exposed to OT condition at 15:00 displayed a higher temperature at wattles and around the eyes compared to other regions (p<0.001). However, under LT condition at 05:00 to 08:00, around the eyes surface temperature showed the highest value (p<0.01). In HT, wattles temperature tended to show the highest temperature over almost time intervals. Main distribution regions of MFST were wattles (63.3%) and around the eyes (16.7%) in OT, around the eyes (50%) in LT, and wattles (62.2%) and comb (18.3%) in HT. The regression equation between MFST and THI was estimated as MFST = 35.37+0.2383×THI (R² = 0.44; p<0.001). Conclusion: The FST and the frequency of MFST in each facial region of laying hens responded sensitively to the variations in the thermal environment. The findings of this experiment provide useful information about the effect of the thermal conditions on the specific facial regions, thus offering an opportunity to stress and welfare assessment in poultry research and industry.

• Advances in environmental research
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.31-38
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• 2022

The current observational epidemiological study analyzed blood lead levels (BLLs) in occupationally exposed workers from Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia and correlated them with the alterations in the differential cell populations of the WBC panel (lymphocytes [Lym %], mixed [Mid %] cells, and neutrophils [Neu %]). In addition, we examined the effect of confounding factors and their relation to BLLs. BLLs were estimated using the LeadCare II analyzer and hematological parameters using the ADVIA 120 analyser. An inferential analysis was conducted to detect association between the observations and the subjects' clinical characateristics. A total of 132 male subjects were included in the final analyses. Based on CDC guidelines, the subjects were categorized as Group I (BLL <10 ㎍/dL; n=118) or Group II (BLL >10 ㎍/dL; n=14) with average BLLs of 4.4 ㎍/dL and 18.1 ㎍/dL, respectively (p <0.0001). The percentages of Mid cells (p <0.0001) and neutrophils (p=0.048), were significantly altered in subjects with High BLL. A regression analysis indicated that subjects > 50 years of age had significantly higher BLLs (53.2 ㎍/dL) than younger age sub-groups (p <0.0001). Age, education, and profession were significant predictors for lead toxicity. Pb exposure is a major public health issue in Saudi Arabia and calls for further investigations on the cellular and molecular effects on hematological system.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.553-559
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• 2022

In this work, the ablation behavior of monolith ZrB₂-30 vol%SiC (Z30S) composites were studied under various oxy-acetylene flame angles. Typical oxidized microstructures (SiO₂/SiC-depleted/ZrB₂-SiC) were observed when the flame to Z30S was arranged vertically. However, formation of the outmost glassy SiO₂ layer was hindered when the Z30S was tilted. The SiC-depleted region was fully exposed to air with reduced thickness when highly tilted. Traces of the ablated and island type SiO₂ were observed at intermediate flame angles, which clearly verified the effect of flame angle on the ablation of the SiO₂ layer. Furthermore, the observed maximum surface temperature of the Z30S gradually increased up to 2,200 ℃ proving that surface amorphous silica was continuously removed while monoclinic ZrO₂ phase began to be exposed. A proposed ablation mechanism with respect to flame angles is discussed. This observation is expected to contribute to the design of complex-shaped UHTC applications for hypersonic vehicles and re-entry projectiles.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.22-28
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• 2024

Background: Particulate matter (PM) has been extensively observed due to its negative association with human health. Previous research revealed the possible negative effect of air pollutant exposure on oral health. However, the predictive model between air pollutant exposure and the prevalence of periodontitis has not been observed yet. Therefore, this study aims to propose a predictive model for the number of patients with periodontitis exposed to PM and atmospheric factors in South Korea using deep learning. Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study utilizing secondary data from the Korean Statistical Information Service and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database for air pollution and the number of patients with periodontitis, respectively. Data from 2015 to 2022 were collected and consolidated every month, organized by region. Following data matching and management, the deep neural networks (DNN) model was applied, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value was calculated to ensure the accuracy of the model. Results: As we evaluated the DNN model with MAPE, the multivariate model of air pollution including exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and other atmospheric factors predict approximately 85% of the number of patients with periodontitis. The MAPE value ranged from 12.85 to 17.10 (mean±standard deviation=14.12±1.30), indicating a commendable level of accuracy. Conclusion: In this study, the predictive model for the number of patients with periodontitis is developed based on air pollution, including exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and other atmospheric factors. Additionally, various relevant factors are incorporated into the developed predictive model to elucidate specific causal relationships. It is anticipated that future research will lead to the development of a more accurate model for predicting the number of patients with periodontitis.

• 한국지역지리학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.15-30
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• 1998

자연지리학은 '인간과 자연환경간의 관계'를 다루는 학문으로서, 조직화된 단일체(unity)로서 연구되어야 한다. 본 연구에서는 유역분지를 자연지리의 기술 틀로 인식하고, 유역분지 내 자연환경의 차이에 따른 주민생활의 차이를 기술하여, 생활단위(지역단위)로서의 유역의 의미를 검토하였다. 문경시는 지세에 따라 산간분지와 중산지 및 대분지 주변 구릉지 등 3지역으로 나뉜다. 이들 지역내외 세분은 특히 산간분지의 경우 하계망 분포와 밀접히 연관되어 있어, $3{\sim}4$차수 하천들이 합류하는 지점을 중심으로 발달하였다. 따라서 동일한 유역에 속하지 않는 일부 행정구역은 생활의 편리를 도모하기 위하여 과감히 조정할 필요가 있다. 산간분지는 북동-남서 방향의 문경단층을 따라 북쪽에 노출된 석회암 지대에 신북천-소야천-가은천-농암천의 곡지를 이룬다. 소하천들은 북북동-남남서 및 서북서-동남동 방향을 띠는 지질구조선의 영향을 많이 받았다. 따라서 이 지역에 뚫린 계림령로 새재길 이화령로 등은 지질구조선을 따라 통한다. 산간분지로 유입하는 지류들의 하곡에는 범람원이 넓게 발달한다. 신북천과 조령천, 양산천의 경우에는 논과 과수원으로 많이 이용되나, 농암천 주변에서는 주로 논이나 채소밭으로 이용된다. 분지의 가장자리에는 구릉지가 널리 분포한다. 마성과 가온의 석회암 구릉지는 저평한 현 범람원과 불연속이어서 대부분 산림지나 밭으로 이용되고, 고요리의 화강암 구릉지는 현 범람원과 연속되어 취락지와 밭으로 이용된다. 중산지는 북쪽의 고생대 평안계누층군과 남쪽의 조선계 석회암, 그리고 소백산편마암복합체 가운데 호상편마암 및 편암으로 구성된 구릉성 산지이다. 평안계누층군 지대는 비교적 험준하며 지질구조선을 따라 발달한 생육사행이 나타난다. 조선계 석회암 지대는 하나의 지형면을 이루며, 여러 가지 용식지형이 잘 발달해 있다. 산지에서는 밭농사가 이루어지나, 특히 호계에서는 하곡이 깊숙하고 산지와 불연속이어서 논농사가 우세하다. 그리고 선캠브리아기의 영남지괴에 속하는 편암류 지대는 험준한 산지를 이룬다. 대분지 주변 구릉지는 봉화-영주-예천-함창-상주로 이어지는 침식분지의 가장자리에 위치하는 구릉지대이다. 이 지역은 고도 $50{\sim}100m$의 구릉지들로 구성된 저위평탄면에 속한다. 구릉지는 과수원과 밭으로 이용되고, 구릉지들 사이의 완만한 개석곡지는 논으로 이용되고 있다.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.204-212
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• 2016

환경스트레스 중의 하나인 저온에 대한 생육기의 포도나무의 반응을 분석하고자 -$2^{\circ}C$에서 4일 동안 저온처리 한두 품종('Campbell Early'와 'Muscat Baily A')의 포도나무잎을 이용하여 전사체를 분석하였고 특이발현유전자(differentially expressed genes, DEGs)를 검색하였다. 영하의 저온에 반응한 'Campbell Early'의 DEG를 기능별로 분석한 결과 생물대사에서 17,424개, 세포구성에서 28,954개, 분자기능에서는 6,972개의 유전자와 관련이 있었다. 발현이 유도되는 유전자로는 dehydrin xero 1, K-box region and MADS-box transcription factor family protein과 MYB domain protein 36이 있으며, 억제되는 유전자로는 light-harvesting chlorophyll B-binding protein 3, FASCICLIN-like arabinoogalactan 9와 pectin methylesterase 61 등이 있었다. 'Muscat Baily A'의 DEG는 생물대사에서 1,157개, 세포구성에서 1,350개, 분자기능에서는 431개의 유전자와 관련이 있었다. 발현이 유도되는 유전자로는 NB-ARC domain-containing disease resistance protein, fatty acid hydrozylase syperfamily와 isopentenyltransferase 3이 있으며, 억제되는 유전자로는 binding, IAP-like protein 1과 pentatricopeptide repeat superfamily protein 등이 있었다. Real-time PCR을 이용하여 영하의 저온에서 특이적으로 발현하는 유전자들을 검정하였으며, InterPro Scan을 통해 단백질 도메인을 분석한 결과 두 품종 모두에서 ubiquitin-protein ligase가 가장 많았다. 영하의 저온에 노출된 신초의 전사체 정보를 바탕으로 포도나무에서 저온 내성을 발현하는 기작을 연하는 데에 분자수준의 정보를 제공하고, 내한성 포도를 육종하는데 이용될 수 있을 것이다.