• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.321-333
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• 2022

In this study, the concentration and distribution characteristics of BTEX (benzene toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) emitted from Daesan Petrochemical Industrial Complex were examined to determine their potential hazards to local residents. Residents living nearby the complex areas may be exposed to the chemicals through various media (air, water, and soil), especially by air. This study evaluated human health risks by inhalation using both deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment approaches. As a result of the deterministic risk assessment, the non-cancer risk was much lower than the regulation limit of hazard index (HI 1.0) for all the points. However, in case of cancer risk evaluation, it was found that the risk of excess cancer for benzene at point A located in the industrial complex was 2.28×10^-6, which slightly exceeded the standard regulatory limit of 1.0×10^-6. In addition, the probabilistic risk assessment revealed that the percentile exceeding the standard of 1.0×10^-6was found to be 45.3%. The sensitivity analysis showed that exposure time (ET) had the greatest impact on the results. Based on the risk assessment study, it implied that ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene had little adverse effects on potential human exposure, but benzene often exceeded the cancer risk standard (1.0×10^-6). Further studies on extensive VOCs monitoring are needed to evaluate the potential risks of industrial complex areas.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.41
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• pp.41-74
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• 2008

Based on the theory of news media's agenda-setting function, this study analyzed Korean public's most important problems (MIP) and the degree of public consensus on the importance of those MIP's. The analysis was done in terms of both time and social strata. According to the findings, economy, social welfare, and political issues were in the for tier of the MIP list. The analysis of issue diversity (H-statistic) also demonstrated a relatively high degree of agenda consensus among Korean public despite some fluctuation in the consensus level, which appears to be higher than that among the American public. A decrease in the degree of agenda consensus with the passage of time appealed to be a general phenomenon across diverse social strata. However, the degrees of consensus-building were different in light of education, socioeconomic status, and the size of residential area. Those who are more educated, have more economic power, and live in a larger city had more chances to experience agenda consensus. These results seem to be basically attributable to the presumed positive relationship between these demographic variables and media exposure. The different degrees of public consensus according to the different levels of those demographic variables suggest that a closer investigation into the various influences on the importance of public issues among the respondents should be done in future studies.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.373-388
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• 2003

The investigation on the rock discontinuity geometry has been usually undergone by direct measurement on the rock exposures. But this sort of field work has disadvantages, which we, for example, restriction of surveying areas and consuming excessive times and labors. To cover these kinds of disadvantages, image processing could be regarded as an altemative way, with additional advantages such as automatic and objective tools when used under adequate computerized algorithm. This study was focused on the recognition of the rock discontinuities captured in the image of rock exposure by digital camera and the production of the discontinuity map automatically. The whole process was written using macro commands builtin image analyzer, ImagePro Plus. ver 4.1(Media Cybernetic). The procedure of image processing developed in this research could be divided with three steps, which are enhancement, recognition and extraction of discontinuity traces from the digital image. Enhancement contains combining and applying several filters to remove and relieve various types of noises from the image of rock surface. For the next step, recognition of discontinuity traces was executed. It used local topographic features characterized by the differences of gray scales between discontinuity and rock. Such segments of discontinuity traces extracted from the image were reformulated using an algorithm of computer decision-making criteria and linked to form complete discontinuity traces. To verify the image processing algorithms and their sequences developed in this research, discontinuity traces digitally photographed on the rock slope were analyzed. The result showed about 75～80% of discontinuities could be detected. It is thought to be necessary that the algorithms and computer codes developed in this research need to be advanced further especially in combining digital filters to produce images to be more acceptable for extraction of discontinuity traces and setting seed pixels automatically when linking trace segments to make a complete discontinuity trace.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2016

In this study, we isolated a new agar-degrading marine bacterium and characterized its agarase. An agardegrading marine bacterium SH-1 was isolated from seawater, collected from the seashore of Namhae in Gyeongnam province, Korea, and cultured in marine agar 2216 media. It was identified as Maribacter. sp. SH-1 by phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence. The extracellular agarase was extracted from culture media of Maribacter sp. SH-1 and characterized. Its relative activities were 56, 62, 94, 100, and 8% at 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60℃, respectively, whereas 15, 100, 60, and 21% relative activities were observed at pH 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively. Its extracellular agarase exhibited maximum activity (231 units/l) at pH 6.0 and 50℃, in 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer. Therefore, this agarase would be applicable as it showed the maximum activity at the temperature at which the agar is in a sol state. Furthermore, the agarase activities remained over 90% at 20, 30, and 40℃ after 0.5 h exposure at these temperatures. Thin layer chromatography analysis suggested that Maribacter sp. SH-1 produces extracellular β-agarase, as it hydrolyzes agarose to produce neoagarooligosaccharides, such as neoagarohexaose (34.8%), neoagarotetraose (52.2%), and neoagarobiose (13.0%). Maribacter sp. SH-1 and its β-agarase would be useful for the production of neoagarooligosaccharides, which shows functional properties, like skin moisturizing, skin whitening, inhibition of bacterial growth, and delay in starch degradation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Objectives: This study intends to evaluate the ecological risk of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and their compounds according to the 2010 action plan on inventory and management for national priority chemicals and provide calculations of risks to the environment. By doing so, we aim to inform risk management measures for the target chemicals. Methods: We conducted species sensitivity distribution (SSD) analysis using the collected ecotoxicity data and obtained predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) for the in-water environment using a hazardous concentration of 5% (HC5) protective of most species (95%) in the environment. Based on the calculated PNECs for aquatic organisms, PNEC values for soil and sediment were calculated using the partition coefficient. We also calculated predicted exposure concentration (PEC) from nation-wide environmental monitoring data and then the hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated using PNEC for environmental media. Results: Ecological toxicity data was categorized into five groups and five species for Pb and four groups and four species for As. Based on the HC5 values from SSD analysis, the PNEC value for aquatic organisms was calculated as 0.40 ㎍/L for Pb and 0.13 ㎍/L for As. PNEC values for soil and sediment calculated using a partition coefficient were 77.36 and 350.50 mg/kg for Pb and 24.20 and 112.75 mg/kg for As. The analysis of national environmental monitoring data showed that PEC values in water were 0.284 ㎍/L for Pb and 0.024 ㎍/L for As, while those in soil and sediment were respectively 45.9 and 44 mg/kg for Pb, and 11.40 and 19.80 mg/kg for As. Conclusions: HQs of Pb and As were 0.70 and 0.18 in water, while those in soil and sediment were 0.59 and 0.13 for Pb and 0.47 and 0.18 for As. With HQs <1 of lead and arsenic in the environment, their ecological risk levels are found to be low.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2007

Contrast medium is a very useful tool for X-ray examinations. But contrast medium has some unavoidable adverse reactions. For those patients who have never received contrast medium before, it is impossible to predict whether they will suffer from certain kinds of adverse reactions. Thus, radiologists should use strategies to minimize adverse events and be prepared to promptly recognize and manage any reactions to the contrast media. If a radiologist commits medical malpractice, he will face civil responsibility. Medical malpractice means a tort or breach of contract that occurs in a medical setting. Medical malpractices happen, despite the efforts of hospital staff. Many courts have applied the traditional doctrine of respondeat superior in actions against organizations for injuries caused by their employees. It is a legal doctrine, which states that an employer is responsible for employee actions performed within the course of the employment. A hospital is an organization for health purposes. An organization may be convicted of an offense committed by an employee of the organization acting in its behalf and within the scope of his office or employment. Organizational liability involves a wide variety of legal issues, including tort liability, wrongful employment practices, personal injury, breach of fiduciary duty, and so on. Many executive directors of organizations are aware of their personal and organizational risks of exposure to legal liabilities. The employer must have the right to control the physical conduct of the employee and must consent to receive the employee's services, while expecting some benefits from the services offered. Therefore, legal liability can be imposed for improper selection, assignment, training, and supervision of employees. In conclusion, the hospital itself has organizational liability for adverse reactions to the contrast medium.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 1984

Environmental effects of light. temperature, and pH of culture media on mycelial growth and fruit-body formation of Flammulina velutipes in synthetic media were investigated. Illumination inhibited mycelial growth, but illumination during the latter part of vegetative growth induced primordia formation. The optimum light intensity and exposure time were $100{\sim}1000$ lux and $4{\sim}8$ hours per day, respectively. High intensity of light was injurous, and in darkness primordia developed into very poor fruit-bodies. The optimum temperature was $25^{\circ}C for mycelial growth and $15^{\circ}C$ for fruit-body formation. The optimum pH range for mycelial growth was found to be from 5.0 to 7.0 and for fruit-body formation from 5.0 to 6.0. In low temperature treatments, a temperature of $15^{\circ}C$ was more effective than $5^{\circ}C\;or\;10^{\circ}C$, it took about 12 hours for primordium formation, but at $5^{\circ}C\;or\;10^{\circ}C$ about 48 hours. The most excellent fruit-body formation were produced from the mycelium growth for 7 to 10 days.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of visualizing soft tissue lesions and vascular structures using contrast-enhanced cone-beam computed tomography (CE-CBCT) after the intravenous administration of a contrast medium in an animal model. Materials and Methods: CBCT was performed on six rabbits after a contrast medium was administered using an injection dose of 2 mL/kg body weight and an injection rate of 1 mL/s via the ear vein or femoral vein under general anesthesia. Artificial soft tissue lesions were created through the transplantation of autologous fatty tissue into the salivary gland. Volume rendering reconstruction, maximum intensity projection, and multiplanar reconstruction images were reconstructed and evaluated in order to visualize soft tissue contrast and vascular structures. Results: The contrast enhancement of soft tissue was possible using all contrast medium injection parameters. An adequate contrast medium injection parameter for facilitating effective CE-CBCT was a 5-mL injection before exposure combined with a continuous 5-mL injection during scanning. Artificial soft tissue lesions were successfully created in the animals. The CE-CBCT images demonstrated adequate opacification of the soft tissues and vascular structures. Conclusion: Despite limited soft tissue resolution, the opacification of vascular structures was observed and artificial soft tissue lesions were visualized with sufficient contrast to the surrounding structures. The vascular structures and soft tissue lesions appeared well delineated in the CE-CBCT images, which was probably due to the superior spatial resolution of CE-CBCT compared to other techniques, such as multislice computed tomography.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.732-739
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine if the addition of spermatozoa into the culture medium could influence the nuclear maturation of denuded porcine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from follicles of 3 to 5 mm in diameter, The cumulus and corona cells were removed from oocytes. Porcine denuded oocytes were cultured in tissue culture medium containing spermatozoa. After 48 h culture, oocytes were examined for the evidence of GV breakdown, metaphase I, anaphase-telophase I, and metaphase II (M II). The proportion of oocytes reaching M II stage was significantly (P<0.01) increased in the oocytes cultured in media containing spermatozoa compared to those in media without spermatozoa $(31.9\pm1.8%\; vs\; 14.9\pm1.0%)$.No differences in the rates of M II were observed among the different period of spermatozoa exposure nor among the spermatozoa from different species. The proportion of oocytes reaching M II stage was significantly different between high and low concentrations of spermatozoa. The present study suggests that mammalian spermatozoa contain a substance(s) that improves nuclear maturation in vitro of GV oocytes. Enhancing effect of spermatozoa for oocytes maturation in vitro is a highly dose-dependent.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.549-560
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• 2015

The priorities of siting restriction was derived from quantification of environmental hazard according to industrial classification based on 'Chemical Ranking and Scoring System(CRS)' which is handling the discharge characteristics of 31 industrial classifications regulated from locating at 'Industrial Complex in Rural Area(ICRA)'. CRS that is utilizing the data of 'Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers(PRTR)' is applied to determine human health risk and ecological risk which are calculated by discharged amount and materials $LC_{50}$ according to water, soil and air media based on industrial classification. From this process, exposure assessment and toxicity assessment for integrating the adverse environmental impact and the mitigation effect of environmental risk according to the development of environmental technologies into establishing the rational landuse management method for the 31 industrial classifications regulated from locating at ICRA was analyzed. From the assessment result of the siting restriction removal at ICRA for 31 industrial classifications, based on 2012 year reference 6 industries that includes Manufacture of Guilt Coloration Surface Processing Steel Materials, Manufacture of Biological Product, Manufacture of Smelting Refining and Alloys of Copper, Dyeing and Finishing of Fibers and Yarns, Manufacture of Other Basic Iron and Steel n.e.c., Rolling Drawing and Extruding of Non-ferrous Metals n.e.c. are calculated as having relatively lower environmental hazards, thus it is judged that the siting restriction mitigation at ICRA is possible for the 6 industrial classifications that are not discharging the specific hazardous water contaminants during manufacturing process.