• Title/Summary/Keyword: human threat

Search Result 277, Processing Time 0.03 seconds

The Overview of Research on Global Change

  • Choi, Gi-Hyuk;Paik, Hong-Yul
    • Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
    • /
    • 1998.09a
    • /
    • pp.26-30
    • /
    • 1998
  • Recently many parts of world suffer from chaotic weather, Many scientists believe that this is due to the human made green house emissions, mainly carbon-dioxide Apart from this various pollutants also affect the Earth's environment. These global changes could become a great threat to human survival on the Earth in the future. Therefore many countries are putting great efforts into the study on the global change. This research should take into account whole field of earth sciences, so it becomes interdisciplinary by nature. This will help us to understand the complicated and subtle nature system of the Earth.

  • PDF

Newly Emerging Human Coronaviruses: Animal Models and Vaccine Research for SARS, MERS, and COVID-19

  • Pureum Lee;Doo-Jin Kim
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
    • /
    • v.20 no.4
    • /
    • pp.28.1-28.25
    • /
    • 2020
  • The recent emergence of the novel coronavirus (CoV) or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a global threat to human health and economy. As of June 26, 2020, over 9.4 million cases of infection, including 482,730 deaths, had been confirmed across 216 countries. To combat a devastating virus pandemic, numerous studies on vaccine development are urgently being accelerated. In this review article, we take a brief look at the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoVs and discuss recent approaches to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine development.

DNA damage to human genetic disorders with neurodevelopmental defects

  • Lee, Youngsoo;Choi, Inseo;Kim, Jusik;Kim, Keeeun
    • Journal of Genetic Medicine
    • /
    • v.13 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-13
    • /
    • 2016
  • Although some mutations are beneficial and are the driving force behind evolution, it is important to maintain DNA integrity and stability because it contains genetic information. However, in the oxygen-rich environment we live in, the DNA molecule is under constant threat from endogenous or exogenous insults. DNA damage could trigger the DNA damage response (DDR), which involves DNA repair, the regulation of cell cycle checkpoints, and the induction of programmed cell death or senescence. Dysregulation of these physiological responses to DNA damage causes developmental defects, neurological defects, premature aging, infertility, immune system defects, and tumors in humans. Some human syndromes are characterized by unique neurological phenotypes including microcephaly, mental retardation, ataxia, neurodegeneration, and neuropathy, suggesting a direct link between genomic instability resulting from defective DDR and neuropathology. In this review, rare human genetic disorders related to abnormal DDR and damage repair with neural defects will be discussed.

Study on the State Leadership's Safety Measures Regarding the North Korean Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction - Focuses on the Threat of North Korean Nuclear Weapons (북한 대량살상무기 위협에 대한 국가지도부 안전대책에 관한 연구 - 북한 핵무기 위협을 중심으로)

  • Choi, Kee-Nam
    • Korean Security Journal
    • /
    • no.37
    • /
    • pp.325-354
    • /
    • 2013
  • The concept of national security and the fundamental system for crisis management have departed from traditional methods and the importance of a national critical infrastructure crisis management has been emphasized. A national critical infrastructure crisis means a situation where human resource, material and functional system that may have a material effect on the critical functions of the government, the vitality and integrity of society, national economy and the safety of the public becomes disabled due to causes such as terrorism or major disasters. Although North Korea had been subject to numerous rounds of negotiations and sanctions as it continually developed nuclear weapons since the 1960s, it has also showed off its nuclear armaments through successful nuclear testings and missile launches. As the development and threat of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction becomes more noticeable and the range of its risk expands, this study focuses on the potential for an absence of leadership for national crisis management where the country's leadership, which should serve the critical role and function of handling national crises, becomes completely destroyed by the unexpected initial attacks by North Korea. As a result, the purpose of this study is to propose safety measures for the country's leadership in preparation for North Korea's threat of nuclear weapons by examining the concept and degree of risk of weapons of mass destruction with a focus on nuclear weapons, analyzing the substance of the threat of North Korean nuclear weapons and evaluating such threat. In conclusion, first, to ensure the normal functioning of a national crisis management system in the event of a national crisis, we must seek safety measures that conform to the scope and succession order of the leadership of the national crisis management for an Enduring Constitutional Government (ECG) and the Continuity Of Operations (COOP). Second, in the event of a national ceremony, the gathering of the country's leadership all together in an open place should be avoided. In unavoidable circumstances, the next in rank that will act on behalf of the current leader should be designated and relevant safety measures should be taken. Third, during time of peace, in preparation for national crises, the scope of protection for the country's leadership should be prescribed and specific security and safety measures should be implemented. Fourth, the succession order for acting president in the case of the death of the president pursuant to Articles 71 and 26(1) of the National Government Organization Act should reconsidered to see whether it is a reasonable provision that takes into consideration a national crisis management that corresponds to the threat of North Korean nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. Pursuant to the Basic Guidelines for National Crisis Management set out under Presidential Directive No. 229, the Korean government is currently operating a case-by-case "crisis management standard manual" and its sub-manuals and has also prepared the Presidential Security Service's security and safety measure regulations regarding the acting president. Therefore, the Korean government should actualize the above points in the case-by-case crisis management standard manual and security and safety measure regulations regarding the acting president to implement and legislate them.

  • PDF

A Study on Global Governance System for Effectively Achieving UN Millennium Development Goals (유엔 새천년개발목표의 효과적 달성을 위한 글로벌 거버넌스에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Hahnkyu
    • International Area Studies Review
    • /
    • v.13 no.1
    • /
    • pp.467-490
    • /
    • 2009
  • This study seeks to improve the problems of analytical rigor and practical utility found in the concept of human security by examining ways to create a global governance system for the effective achievement of United Nations Millennium Development Goals(UN MDGs). This study regards poverty as the most fundamental threat to human security in order to achieve the analytical rigor of human security concept. At the same time, it also examines how to creating a global governance for achieving UN MDGs to improve practical utility of human security concept. The global governance system of MDGs should acquire global political representativeness, efficacy of policymaking process, and democracy within it. For these purposes, the creation of a "Global Summit for Development," the establishment of a more equal partnership between the states, international organizations, and NGOs, and institutionalization of operational and strategic cooperation among development institutions are proposed.

How does Man and Non-human beings meet? (인간과 비인간 존재는 어떻게 만나는가?)

  • Sim, Gui-yeon
    • Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
    • /
    • v.147
    • /
    • pp.239-260
    • /
    • 2018
  • Is an artificial intelligence robot, a non-human beings newly emerging in the age of technology, a threat to human beings, or a mutual cooperation or ensemble with human beings? The desire to control nature through the use of the power of science and technology is manifested in the fear that humans can annihilate themselves. This study attempts to identify the problems of Cartesian epistemology underlying these questions and fears and to answer these questions based on Merleau - Ponty 's ontological ontology using the Ontology and Latour' s ontology and technological philosophy. The cogito derived from the Cartesian philosophy became the basis of the structure of dichotomous epistemology of 'subjectivity and objectivity' based on human - reason. In the human-centered world, all non-human beings were tools or controls for humans. The problem of the modern people is not only to get help from the natural scientific methods to control the nature including man, but also to think that scientific method is the only way to understand the world. In criticizing this, Merleau-Ponty shows that the body mediates between human beings and non-human beings, and provides a possible ontological basis for the ontology. Merleau - Ponty 's phenomenological methodology and ontology are newly developed by Simondon under the influence of phenomenological philosopher and phenomenology. The relationship between human beings and nonhuman beings by Simondon appears as an ensemble of human and technical objects or a mutual co - operation of human and technical objects. In particular, Latour goes a step further in Simondon and defines all the bodies living in the world as actor-network theory, denying the core concept of modernity. Merleau - Ponty 's phenomenological view can be a new possible basis for the philosophical discussion of the technological age. We will see that the problem itself can be solved by shifting modern fear to a phenomenological attitude.

Studies on the pathogenicity of Salmonella typhimurium isolated from slaughtered pigs in Chonnam area (전남지역 도축돈에서 분리된 Salmonella typhimurium의 병원성에 관한 연구)

  • 정대영;박종태;고홍범
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
    • /
    • v.26 no.1
    • /
    • pp.39-50
    • /
    • 2003
  • Non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars remain a potential threat to human health and many animals including beef cattle, broiler chickens, and pigs which possible sources of non-typhoidal salmonellosis in human. In this study, the cecal contents of slaughtered pigs were examined for Salmonella serovar prevalence. The characteristics of the isolates, including antimicrobial resistance patterns and virulence genes, were studied along with the reference strain S typhimurium ATCC 13311. Out of 640 sample, 137 Salmonella(21.4%) were isolated and their serovar were identified S typhimurium 83 strains(60.6%), S agona 10 strains(7.3%), S schwarzengrund 4 strains(2.9%), S derby 4 strains(2.9%), S ayinde 1 strains(0.7%), and untypable 35 strains(25.5%). All 83 S typhimurium strains(100%) were multi-drug resistance to at least 7 antibiotics, and 20 strains(24.1%) of 83 isolates were R-type ACSSuT. Examination of virulent gene by PCR revealed that 73 S typimurium field isolates(88%) have a invA gene and 24 strains(28.9%) have a spvC gene. Consequently, S typhimurium infection in slaughtered pigs was relatively to appear high prevalence in their herds which suggested that it should be necessary for herd health monitoring and surveillance.

The Role of Nitric Oxide in Mycobacterial Infections

  • Yang, Chul-Su;Yuk, Jae-Min;Jo, Eun-Kyeong
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
    • /
    • v.9 no.2
    • /
    • pp.46-52
    • /
    • 2009
  • Although tuberculosis poses a significant health threat to the global population, it is a challenge to develop new and effective therapeutic strategies. Nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) are important in innate immune responses to various intracellular bacterial infections, including mycobacterial infections. It is generally recognized that reactive nitrogen intermediates play an effective role in host defense mechanisms against tuberculosis. In a murine model of tuberculosis, NO plays a crucial role in antimycobacterial activity; however, it is controversial whether NO is critically involved in host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans. Here, we review the roles of NO in host defense against murine and human tuberculosis. We also discuss the specific roles of NO in the central nervous system and lung epithelial cells during mycobacterial infection. A greater understanding of these defense mechanisms in human tuberculosis will aid in the development of new strategies for the treatment of disease.

Structural investigation on the intrinsically disordered N-terminal region of HPV16 E7 protein

  • Lee, Chewook;Kim, Do-Hyoung;Lee, Si-Hyung;Su, Jiulong;Han, Kyou-Hoon
    • BMB Reports
    • /
    • v.49 no.8
    • /
    • pp.431-436
    • /
    • 2016
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major cause of cervical cancer, a deadly threat to millions of females. The early oncogene product (E7) of the high-risk HPV16 is the primary agent associated with HPV-related cervical cancers. In order to understand how E7 contributes to the transforming activity, we investigated the structural features of the flexible N-terminal region (46 residues) of E7 by carrying out N-15 heteronuclear NMR experiments and replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations. Several NMR parameters as well as simulation ensemble structures indicate that this intrinsically disordered region of E7 contains two transient (10-20% populated) helical pre-structured motifs that overlap with important target binding moieties such as an E2F-mimic motif and a pRb-binding LXCXE segment. Presence of such target-binding motifs in HPV16 E7 provides a reasonable explanation for its promiscuous target-binding behavior associated with its transforming activity.

Comparison of Resistance to ${\gamma}$-Irradiation between Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium muris Using In Vivo Infection

  • Yoon, Se-Joung;Yu, Jae-Ran
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
    • /
    • v.49 no.4
    • /
    • pp.423-426
    • /
    • 2011
  • In the genus Cryptosporidium, there are more than 14 species with different sizes and habitats, as well as different hosts. Among these, C. parvum and C. hominis are known to be human pathogens. As C. parvum can survive exposure to harsh environmental conditions, including various disinfectants or high doses of radiation, it is considered to be an important environmental pathogen that may be a threat to human health. However, the resistance of other Cryptosporidium species to various environmental conditions is unknown. In this study, resistance against ${\gamma}$-irradiation was compared between C. parvum and C. muris using in vivo infection in mice. The capability of C. muris to infect mice could be eliminated with 1,000 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation, while C. parvum remained infective in mice after up to 1,000 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation, although the peak number of oocysts per gram of feces decreased to 16% that of non-irradiated oocysts. The difference in radioresistance between these 2 Cryptosporidium species should be investigated by further studies.