• Title/Summary/Keyword: industrial safety

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Research status of the development of genetically modified papaya (Carica papaya L.) and its biosafety assessment (GM 파파야 개발 및 생물안전성 평가 연구 동향)

  • Kim, Ho Bang;Lee, Yi;Kim, Chang-Gi
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.171-182
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    • 2018
  • Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the crops widely planted in tropical and subtropical areas. The papaya fruit has low calories and are plentiful in vitamins A and C and in minerals. A major problem in papaya production is a plant disease caused by the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). The first PRSV-resistant GM papaya expressing a PRSV coat protein gene was developed by USA scientists in 1992. The first commercial GM papaya cultivars derived from the event was approved by the US government in 1997. Development of transgenic papayas has been focused on vaccine production and limited agricultural traits, including insect and pathogen resistance, long shelf life, and aluminum and herbicide tolerance. Approximately 17 countries, including the USA and China, produced transgenic papayas and/or commercialized them, which provoked studies on biosafety assessment and development of GM-detection technologies. For the biosafety assessment of potential effects on human health, effects of long-term feeding to model animals have been studied in terms of toxicity and allergenicity. Studies on environmental safety assessment include influence on soil-microbial biodiversity and transfer to soil bacteria of GM selection markers. Many countries, such as Korea, the European Union, and Japan, that have strict regulations for GM crops have serious concerns about unintended introduction of GM cultivars and food commodities using unauthorized GM crops. Transgene- and/or GM event-specific molecular markers and technologies for genomics-based detection of unauthorized GM papaya have been developed and have resulted in the robust detection of GM papayas.

Development of a Finger Tactile Stimulator Based on E-Prime Software (E-Prime에 기반한 손가락 촉각 자극기의 개발)

  • Kim, Hyung-Sik;Min, Yoon-Ki;Kim, Bo-Seong;Min, Byung-Chan;Yang, Jae-Woong;Lee, Su-Jeong;Choi, Mi-Hyun;Yi, Jeong-Han;Tack, Gye-Rae;Lee, Bong-Soo;Jun, Jae-Hoon;Chung, Soon-Cheol
    • Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.703-710
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    • 2010
  • In this study, a tactile stimulator was developed to resolve some problems from the previous version of the system such as system configuration, inappropriate stimulation control and additional problems. The developed tactile stimulator consists of control unit, drive unit and vibrator unit. The control unit was controlled by E-Prime software to generate appropriate vibration pulses. The drive unit supplies enough energy to the vibrator to generate effective stimulation pulses. The vibrator unit consists of small coin type vibrator and velcro, and was made to be attached at the hand easily. The developed tactile stimulator was designed by small-size, light-weight, low-power, simple-fabrication, max 35 channels and little delay time from instruction signal of E-Prime software to vibrator. The duration and magnitude of stimulation was controlled by 10 grades and the problems concerning stimulation control were compensated by wideband frequency ranges. Additionally, the electrical safety was ensured by low voltage operation. Vibrator was made to be attached on finger as well as on any part of the subject. Since this tactile stimulator is developed based on E-Prime software which is widely used in cognitive science, it is believed that this stimulator be suitable for the wide application of cognitive science study.

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Investigation into Air Pollution in Car Shipping Workshop in Pyeongtaek Port (자동차 선적작업장의 공기오염 실태조사)

  • Kim, Ji-Ho;Won, Jong-Uk;Kim, Chi-Nyon;Roh, Jaehoon
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.44-53
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    • 2006
  • This study purposed to investigate air pollution in car shipping yards and, for this purpose, we selected an outdoor open-air yard and an indoor ramp into the ship and measured the concentrations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM10, PM2.5 and heavy metals in the air. The results of this study are as follows. No significant difference was observed in temperature and humidity between the outdoor and indoor workshop, and the average air flow was 0.52 m/s in the indoor workshop, which is higher than 0.19 m/s in the outdoor workshop(p<0.01). The average concentrations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM10 and PM2.5 according to workplace were 0.03 ppm(${\pm}0.01$), 0.03 ppm(${\pm}0.01$), 0.46 ppm(${\pm}0.22$), $39.44{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}2.45$) and $5.45{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}1.15$) respectively in the outdoor workshop, and 0.15 ppm(${\pm}0.05$), 0.22 ppm(${\pm}0.06$), 8.85 ppm(${\pm}3.35$), $236.39{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}58.21$) and $152.43{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}35.42$) respectively in the indoor workshop. Thus, the concentrations of gaseous substances in the indoor workshop were 4.9-19.2 times higher than those in the outdoor workshop, and the concentrations of fine dusts were 5.9-27.9 times higher(p<0.01). In addition, according to the result of investigating pollutant concentrations according to displacement and the number of car loaded when shipping gasoline cars into the ship, no significant relation between the number of cars loaded and pollutants was observed in shipping passenger cars, but the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide got somewhat higher with the increase of the number of cars loaded(p<0.05). In addition, the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM10 and PM2.5 in the air were significantly higher when shipping recreational vehicles, the displacement of which is larger than passenger cars, than when shipping passenger cars(p<0.01). On the other hand, the average heavy metal concentrations of the air in indoor workshop were: lead $-0.05{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}0.10$); chromium $-0.90{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}0.18$); zinc $-0.38{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}0.24$); copper $-0.18{\mu}g/m^3$(${\pm}0.22$); and manganese and cadmium not detected. In addition, the complaining rates of 'asthma,' a major symptom of chronic respiratory diseases, were 18.5% and 22.5% respectively in indoor workers and outdoor workers. Thus the rate was somewhat higher in indoor workers but the difference was not statistically significant. The complaining rates of 'chronic cough' and 'chronic phlegm' were very low and little different between indoor and outdoor workers. The results of this study show that the reason for the higher air pollution in indoor than in outdoor workshop is incomplete combustion of fuel due to sudden start and over-speed when cars are driven inside the ship. In order to prevent high air pollution, efficient management measures should be taken including the observance of the optimal speed, the improvement of old ships and the installation of efficient ventilation system.

A Study on the Necessity of Verification and Certification System of Inspection and Diagnostic Equipment for Infrastructure using Advanced Technologies (첨단 시설물 점검 및 진단장비 검·인증제도 도입 필요성에 대한 연구)

  • Hong, Sung-Ho;Kim, Jung-Gon;Cho, Jae-Young;Kim, Twae-Hwan
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.163-177
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    • 2020
  • Purpose: While it is very important to maintain facilities recently, the introduction and its application of high technology in the facility maintenance industry has increased. It is necessary for high technology to secure reliability through the verification and certification system of diagnostic equipment to have an effective impact in the field, but there is difference between the industry's perspective and realistic level of technology apart from social demand for the system of the system. This paper dealt with the introduction of a verification and certification system for rational facility diagnostic equipment with the opinion survey on managers about the current situation. Method: Survey is carried out targeting managers in the maintenance and construction regarding the necessity and urgency of introducing a verification and certification system to promote the introduction and its application of high technology of diagnostic equipment and facility inspection. Also, the introduction to a verification and certification system was reviewed for advanced facility diagnostic equipment through foreign research about similar systems and comparative analysis of similar systems related to the certification of 21 domestic equipment. Result: It showed that, regarding the application of high technology, it is necessary for most managers to introduce high technology such as drones, robots, etc., in the maintenance industry, and when high technology is introduced, it will have a considerable effect in the field. On the other hand, the current technology level in Korea is relatively low, so it turned out to take a certain amount of time for the application of technology. Also, it was found that the management of reliable facility diagnostic equipment will be possible through the introduction of the verification and certification system for facility diagnosis equipment. Meanwhile, the survey is conducted on similar systems about foreign and domestic diagnosis and measuring equipment, etc., but there is no system to verify and certify equipment applied with high technology directly to facility diagnosis maintenance. However, because Japan has a system of verifying the performance of diagnostic equipment and South Korea has 21 similar inspection and diagnostic equipment certification systems among 186 certification systems, it is considered to be possible to design systems which utilize them. Conclusion: According to the managers' opinion, it seems that the introduction of the system supporting the application of 4th industrial technology for the equipment and the use of the equipment with high reliability has sufficient validity. However, because our high technology level is undervalued compared to the urgency, the system for checking high technology facilities and certifying diagnostic equipment should be to be implemented in form of escalation considering technical use and verification level. Apart from the introduction of the verification and certification system, it is necessary for special investment, support and efforts to promote advanced facility diagnostic equipment.

Firefighters' Exposures to Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Volatile Organic Compounds by Tasks in Some Fire Scenes in Korea (일부 화재현장에서 소방공무원의 직무별 다핵방향족탄화수소 및 휘발성유기화합물 노출평가)

  • Jin, Suhyun;Byun, Hyaejeong;Kang, Taesun
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.477-487
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    • 2019
  • Objectives: Firefighters are known to be exposed to a variety of toxic substances, but little information is available on the exposure profile of firefighting activities. The aims of this study were to conduct exposure monitoring of toxic chemicals at fire scenes, to compare the concentrations of respective chemicals among firefighting tasks, and to assess the main factors influencing the concentrations of chemicals. Methods: Researchers performed sampling at firefighting scenes during four weeks in 2013. At the scene, we collected samples based on firefighters' own activities and examined the situation and scale of the accident. Collected samples were classified into three categories, including fire extinguishing and overhaul, and were analyzed in the laboratory according to respective analysis methods. Results: A total of fourteen fire activity events were surveyed: five fire extinguishing, six overhaul, and three fire investigations. Although no substance exceeded the ACGIH TLV, PAHs were detected in every sample. Naphthalene ranged from 0.24 to 279.13 mg/㎥ (median 49.6 mg/㎥) and benzo(a)pyrene was detected in one overhaul case at 10.85 ㎍/㎥. Benzene (0.01-12.2 ppm) was detected in every task and exceeded the ACGIH TLV. No significant difference in concentrations between tasks was shown. Conclusions: These results indicate that all firefighting tasks generated various hazardous combustion products, including possible carcinogens.

Current Status and Perspective and Future Task in Korea of Crop Genetic Transformation (작물형질전환의 현황과 한국내의 발전전망 및 과제)

  • Harn, Chee-Hark
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.171-184
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    • 2006
  • According to ISAAA report, the global area of genetically modified (GM) crops increased more than 50 fold during the ten-year period from 1996 to 2005 with a sustained double-digit growth rate of 10%. This biotechnology adoption is one of the highest rates of technology adoption in agriculture history and this phenomenon indicates that the industrial value of the GM crops is highly perspective. In addition, the year 2010, 60% of cereal seeds in the global market would be GM or biotechnology related seeds so that the GM crop regards as the second green revolution that could provide a huge impact to food and agriculture. Nevertheless, there has not been any GM variety ever successfully commercialized in Korea and even none of the GM crops has ever been approved for safety testing by risk assessment. This seems that Korean agriculture industry might be indeed lost in the war of future seed market. However, lots of evidence show that Korean scientists have established advanced technologies and protocols to develop GM crops for last 20 years. Actually there have been many cases of successful transformation of crops that were previously known very difficult in transforming. Therefore, Korean agbiotechnology arena firmly holds an infrastructure for developing GM crops with a superior technology. Then what were the problems? Why has even a single GM crop not been commercialized in Korea? The tardiness shown by business in adopting the GM crop is caused by many factors: academical weakness, poor research funding, short knowledge of risk assessment, public concern, no successful experience, lack of professional leaders on GM variety development, lack of systems toward industrialization and inappropriate target transgenes from the beginning. In order to catch up in the race for the new green industry, each one of us in private sectors alongside academia and national research institutes needs to focus altogether on what can be done best in terms of choosing crops, investing fund and establishing a road map for commercialization of GM crops.

Assessment of dust exposure and personal protective equipment among dental technicians (치과기공사의 분진노출 수준 및 개인보호구 착용 실태 - 대구지역을 중심으로 -)

  • Park, Soo-Chul;Jeon, Man-Joong;SaKong, Joon
    • Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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    • v.33 no.1
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    • pp.93-102
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    • 2011
  • Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate working environment for dental technician by measuring dust level, ventilation conditions and the use of personal protective equipment and to provide basic information required to improve working environment and develop health education programs for dental technician. Methods: A total of 240 dental technician who are registered with the Daegu Association of Dental technician and working at 34 dental laboratories participated in the study. And the dust level was measured at 21 different spots in 16 dental laboratories out of 34. Results: Of 34 dental laboratories, 31 (91.2%) were equipped with a ventilator, but the remaining 3 (8.8%) did not have a ventilator. By the number of ventilator, 1 to 3 ventilators were found in 22 dental laboratories (71.0%), 4 to 6 ventilators were in 7 laboratories (22.5%) and more than 7 ventilators in 2 laboratories(6.5%). According to the frequence of changing filters in dust collector, 20 dental laboratories (58.9%) changed filters every four weeks, 10 laboratories (29.4%) changed them every six weeks and 4 laboratories (11.7%) changed them every eight weeks. Of total respondents, 114 (61.3%) said they wore a mask all the time while working, 56 (29.6%) said they frequently wore a mask, 19 (10.1%) said they did not wear a mask. As for the type of masks, 159 (84.1%) used a disposable mask, 25 (13.2%) used a cotton mask and 5 (2.7%) used an anti-dust mask. For dust sat on their outfits while working, 102 (54.0%) shook their uniforms inside workplace to keep dust off the uniforms, 64 (33.9%) did not anything until they wash their uniforms and 23 (12.1%) shook their uniforms outside workplace to keep dust off the uniforms. Of total respondents, 182 (96.3%) had a particle in their eyes while carrying out grinding work. Based on the measurement of floating dust at workplace, 3 dental laboratories showed dust concentration exceeding the minimum level of 10 mg/$m^3$ allowed under the permit for environment. Of those, 1 laboratory had the dust concentration that was more than 1.5 times higher than the minimum level. Dust concentration was higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. Dust comprised of nickel (more than 70%), chrome (9%) and others. The mean chrome concentration was more than twice higher than the minimum permissible level of 0.5 mg/$m^3$. There were two laboratories that showed chrome concentration exceeding the level of 0.4 mg/$m^3$. Like dust concentration, chrome level was higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. There were six laboratories that had nickel concentration exceeding the minimum permissible level of 1 mg/$m^3$. Of those, one laboratory had nickel concentration that was more than three times higher than the minimum permissible level. Nickel concentration was also higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. Conclusion: It is not likely that heavy metal concentrations found in the study constitute respiratory dust. It is however necessary for health of dental technician to apply the Industrial Safety and Healthy Law to dental laboratories and make recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment, installation of a proper number of ventilators, more frequent change of filters in dust collector and improved ventilation for polishing work. At the same time, dental technician need education on how to use personal protective equipment and how to efficiently remove dust from their uniforms.

The Physical and Thermal Properties Analysis of the VOC Free Composites Comprised of Epoxy Resin, and Dicyandiamide (VOC Free Epoxy Resin/Dicyandiamide 경화물의 배합비 변화에 따른 물리적 특성 및 열적특성 분석)

  • Kim, Daeyeon;Kim, Soonchoen;Park, Young IL;Kim, Young Chul;Lim, Choong-Sun
    • Clean Technology
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.76-82
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    • 2015
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOC) free adhesives have been interested by many scientists and engineers due to environmental regulations and the safety of industrial workers. In this work, a series of composites composed with bisphenol A epoxy resin used as solvent, dicyandiamide, and promoter were prepared to investigate the most appropriate molar ratio for steel-steel adhesion. The cured test specimen of each composite were measured with universal testing machine (UTM) to figure out mechanical properties such as tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation. Furthermore, the lap shear strength of the specimen was tested with UTM while impact resistance was measured with Izod impact tester. The composite whose molar ratio of epoxy resin to curing agent is 1 : 0.9 (sample 3), showed better tensile strength, coefficient of elastic modulus, elongation, and impact strength than other composites did. The highest tanδ from dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was observed from sample 2 (epoxy resin: dicy = 1 : 0.7) while sample 3 showed slightly lower tanδ than that of 2. The morphology of the fracture surface of the cured composites from SEM showed that the number of subtle lines on the surface caused by impact increase as the contents of amine curing agent accrete. Furthermore, the viscosity change of sample 5 (epoxy resin: dicy = 1 : 1.3) was observed to confirm its storage stability.

Failure Properties of Common Tendon Origins at the Human Elbow after Static and Repetitive Loading (정적 및 반복하중 시의 주관절 Tendon의 파괴 물성치 측정)

  • Han, Jeong-Su;Lee, Gwan-Hui;Yu, Jae-Yeong
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.393-401
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    • 1998
  • Based on clinical observations, it is suspected that the bone-tendon origin is the site where piratical failure, leading to pathophysiological changes in the humeral epicondyle after repetitive loading, is initiated Mechanical properties and failure patterns of the common extensor and flexor tendons of the humeral epicondyle under static and repetitive loading have not been well documented. Our goal was to determine mechanical properties of failure strength and strain changes, to correlate strain changes and the number of cyclic repetitions, and to identify the failure pattern of bone-tendon specimens of common extensor and flexor tendons of the humeral epicondyle. Mechnaical properties of human cadaver bone-tendon specimens of the common extensor and flexor tendons of the humeral epicondyle were tested under two different loading rates. No statistically significant difference in ultimate tensile strength was found between male and female specimens or between slow (10 mm/sec) and fast elongation (100 mm/sec) rates. However, a statistically significant difference in ultimate tensile strength between the common extensor (1190.0 N/$cm^2{\pm}$388.8) and flexor 1922.0 N/$cm^2{\pm}$764.4)tendons was found (p<0.05). When loads of 25%, 33%, and 41% of the ultimate tensile strength of their contralateral sides were applied, the number of cycles required to reach 24% strain change for the common extersor and flexor tendons were approximately 8,893, 1,907, and 410, respectively. The relationship between cycles and loads was correlated ($R^2$=0.46) Histological observation showed that complete or partial failure after tensile or cyclic loadings occurred at the transitional zone, which is the uncalcified fibrocartilage zone between tendon and bone of the humeral epicondyle. Sequential histological sections revealed that failure initiated at the upper, medial aspect of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon origin. Biomechanical and hstological data obtained in this study indicated that the uncalcified fibrocartilage zone at the bone-tendon origin of the common extensor and flexor tendons is the weak anatomical structure of the humeral epicondyle.

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Comparative Study of Litsea japonica Leaf and Fruit Extract on the Anti-inflammatory Effects (까마귀쪽나무 열매와 잎의 항염증 효과 비교 연구)

  • Namkoong, Seung;Jang, Seon-A;Sohn, Eun-Hwa;Bak, Jong Phil;Sohn, Eunsoo;Koo, Hyun Jung;Yoon, Weon-Jong;Kwon, Jung-Eun;Jeong, Yong Joon;Meng, Xue;Han, Hyo-Sang;Kang, Se Chan
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.145-152
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    • 2015
  • The present study aimed to investigate comparative anti-inflammatory effects of Litsea japonica fruit and leaf extract considering the balance of safety and efficacy. Dose response studies were performed to determine the inhibitory effects of 70% EtOH extract of leaf (L70%) on the pro-inflammatory enzymes expression, COX-2/PGE2 and NO/iNOS, and pro-inflammatory cytokines production, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. We also examined comparative effects of 30 and 70% EtOH extract of fruits (F30% and F70%) at low concentration ($10{\mu}g/ml$ ) in the same conditions. L70% at 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ showed inhibitory effects on almost all the inflammatory mediators we examined except for COX-2 regulation, but there were no effects at $10{\mu}g/ml$. Since $100{\mu}g/ml$ of L70% have 18.2% cytotoxicity, we compared the effects of fruit extract, F30% and F70% at $10{\mu}g/ml$ on the regulation of NO/iNOS, PGE2, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ and obtained that fruit extacts are more efficacious and safe than leaf. This study suggests that the 30% EtOH fraction of L. japonica fruit could be a good candidate for development as a functional food supplement in the prevention of inflammatory disorders.