• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.1789-1794
• /
• 2015

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver problem in diabetes, is a risk factor for liver cancer. Diabetes, high body mass index (BMI) and old age can all contribute to NAFLD progression. Transient elastography (TE) is used for non-invasive fibrosis assessment. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of NAFLD and significant hepatic fibrosis in diabetic patients and to assess associated factors. Materials and Methods: One hundred and forty-one diabetic and 60 normal subjects were screened. Fatty liver was diagnosed when increased hepatic echogenicity and vascular blunting were detected by ultrasonography. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) representing hepatic fibrosis was assessed by TE. LSM ${\geq}7$ kPa was used to define significant hepatic fibrosis. Results: Four cases were excluded due to positive hepatitis B viral markers and failed TE. Diabetic patients had higher BMI, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference and fasting glucose levels than normal subjects. Fatty liver was diagnosed in 82 (60.7%) diabetic patients but in none of the normal group. BMI (OR: 1.31; 95%CI: 1.02-1.69; p=0.038) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)(OR: 1.14; 95%CI: 1.05-1.23; p=0.002) were associated with NAFLD. Diabetic patients with NAFLD had higher LSM than those without [5.99 (2.4) vs 4.76 (2.7) kPa, p=0.005)]. Significant hepatic fibrosis was more common in diabetic patients than in normal subjects [22 (16.1%) vs 1 (1.7%), p=0.002]. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)(OR: 1.24; 95%CI: 1.07-1.42; p=0.003) was associated with significant hepatic fibrosis. Conclusions: Sixty and sixteen percent of diabetic patients were found to have NAFLD and significant hepatic fibrosis. High BMI and ALT levels are the predictors of NAFLD, and elevated AST level is associated with significant hepatic fibrosis.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.411-424
• /
• 2013

Assessment and damage reduction strategy of acidic rock drainage were conducted in a section of ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ highway construction site. The geology of the studied section consists of Icheonri sandstone and intermediate to acidic volcanic rocks. Sulfides occur as a disseminated type in sandstone and volcanics which were altered by the hydrothermal solution of granite intrusion. Volcanics and sandstone with a high content of sulfide were classified as a potentially acid rock drainage(ARD) forming rock. The drainage originated from those rocks may acidify and contaminate the surrounding area during the highway construction. Therefore, the drainage should be treated before it is discharged. A slope landslide hazard due to the ARD was also expected and the coating technology was recommended for the reduction of ARD generation as a preemptive measure before reinforcement work for enhancing slope stability such as shotcrete and anchor. According to the ARD risk analysis, those rocks should not be used as cement aggregate, but only to be used as a bank fill material of a filling-up system that allows minimal contact with rainfall and groundwater.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.131-138
• /
• 2016

Recently, the cultivated area is reduced, the ratio of upland-field in the total cultivated area is increasing relative appeared in 36.2% in 1990 from 43.7% in 2013. If upland-field can be applied well designed-infrastructure, good income crop production is possible, however, maintenance of infrastructure and a significant portion of the upland-field is maintained under insufficient infrastructure. While imports of agricultural products expanded since the 2000s in progress, looking at the self-sufficiency of upland-field crops, it is reduced to from 90% to 42% for the pepper, it is from 90% to 74% for the garlic, cereals is reduced from 42% by 26%. As a result of these conditions, the competitiveness of farmers has weakened, the risk to meet the challenges of this area of production and supply reduction increased. This study was the first to conduct a basic evaluation index, data analysis and evaluation of indicators to diagnose the agricultural production capacity of the upland field. 12 kinds classified index of producing conditions from the natural environment and eight factors for the cultivation and production capabilities have developed for the assessment of productivity of upland-field (especially Kimchi cabbage). Through this regional imbalance was found, based on the production capabilities conditions are good in Haenam, Gangneung, Pyeongchang. 3 Regions have been low and the lowest Youngwol to 0.8992. Climate(Cultivation conditions) indicators of Mungyeong region is the highest, relatively low areas were in Taebaek. In particular, it is determined to be preferred that the area required for the enhancing the production environment based on providing the convenience for the producing and maintenance of the first production area. It is necessary Increasing part of mechanization, agro-industrial competitiveness through aggressive management plans for facilities as required in the process of post-harvest storage, processing, distribution line can be improved.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.73-87
• /
• 2003

This study was performed on 17 female dental hygienists to find an appropriate method to reduce the hygienists' body discomfort while scaling, and provide a foundation to educate them how 10 posture during the process. To assess the arm abduction, elbow flexion, neck flexion, trunk flexion and trunk lateral bending through Video 2D(two dimensional motion) analysis and assessing the risk through the Action level of RULA(rapid upper limb assessment) checklist, an ergonomic analysis method. Correlation analyses on the posture angles and on body discomfort were performed. ANOVA analysis on scaling treatment position and the scaling treatment region of patients was also performed. The results are as following. 1. 20 analysis while scaling, arm abduction was $40{\sim}79.9^{\circ}$, elbow flexion $20{\sim}110^{\circ}$, neck flexion $50{\sim}100^{\circ}$, trunk flexion $60{\sim}80^{\circ}$, and trunk lateral bending $5{\sim}19.9^{\circ}$. 2. The Action level of RULA was 2. 3 resulted from scores 4 and 5 of group A which includes upper arm, lower ann, wrist, and scores 2 and 4 of group B which includes neck, trunk, legs. It means that the scaling treatment posture causes a high incidence rate of musculoskeletal that an additional investigation and improvement should be followed without hesitation. 3. There were significant differences among the maxilla right, maxilla anterior, maxilla left, mandible left, mandible anterior, and mandible right of a patient of the right and left upper arm, lower arm, neck, trunk, group A, group B, final RULA score while scaling treatment. 4. There were significant differences among the time position of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 of the right and left upper arm, lower arm, neck, trunk, group A, group B, final RULA score while scaling treatment, 5. As for the body discomfort, neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, right back, right wrist etc. were listed on top. As a conclusion, performing the time position of 12 which shows low right and left final RULA scores is better than the time position of 8 and 10 which show high final RULA scores to reduce the body discomfort while scaling treatment.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.62-72
• /
• 2017

Spatio-temporal projection of evapotranspiration over croplands would be useful for assessment of climate change impact and development of adaptation strategies in agriculture. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) and dryness index (DI) during rice growing seasons were calculated using climate change scenario data provided by the National Institute of Meteorological Research (NIMR). A data processing tool for gridded climate data files, readGrADSWrapper, was used to calculate PET and DI during the current (1986-2005) and future (2006-2100) periods. Scripts were written to implement the formulas of PET and DI in R, which is an open source statistical data analysis tool. Evapotranspiration in rice fields ($PET_{Rice}$) was also determined using R scripts. The Spatio-temporal patterns of PET differed by regions in Korean Peninsula under current and future climate conditions. Overall, PET and $PET_{Rice}$ tended to increase throughout the $21^{st}$ century. Those results suggested that region-specific water resource managements would be needed to minimize the risk of water loss in the regions where considerable increases in PET would occur under the future climate conditions. For example, a number of provinces classified as a humid region were projected to become a sub-humid region in the future. The Spatio-temporal assessment of water resources based on PET and DI would help the development of climate change adaptation strategies for rice production in the 21st century. In addition, the studies on climate change impact would be facilitated using specialized data tools, e.g., readGrADSWrapper, for geospatial analysis of climate data.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.7
• /
• pp.544-551
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to analyze VIRULO model, a probabilistic quantitative model, which had been developed by US Environmental Protection Agency. The model could assess the viral attenuation capacity of soil as hydrogeologic barrier using Monte Carlo simulation. The governing equations used in the model were composed of unsaturated flow equations and viral transport equations. Among the model parameters, those related to water flow for 11 soil types were from UNDODA data, and those related to 5 virus species were from the literatures. The model compared the attenuation factor with threshold of attenuation to determine the probability of failure and presented the exceedances and Monte Carlo runs as output. The analysis indicated that among 11 USDA soil types, the viral attenuation capacity of loamy sand and sand were far lower than those of clay and silt soils. Also, there were differences in the attenuation in soil among 5 viruses with poliovirus showing the highest attenuation. The viral attenuation capacity of soil decreased sharply with increasing soil water content and increased nonlinearly with increasing soil barrier length. This study indicates that VIRULO model could be considered as a useful screening tool for viral risk assessment in subsurface environment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.851-856
• /
• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is a major health problem among women around the world. Recent developments in screening and treatment have greatly improved the prognosis of patients with breast cancer in developed countries. However, in developing countries breast cancer mortality remains high.Breast cancer awareness is a first and important step in reducing breast cancer mortality. The development of a validated instrument to measure breast cancer awareness is crucial for the understanding and implementation of suitable health education programs to facilitate early deletion and minimize mortality. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop an instrument for the assessment of breast cancer awareness in Thai women. Materials and Methods: This methodological study was conducted in two stages: (1) literature searches and semi-structured interviews were conducted to generate items of the breast cancer awareness scale (B-CAS) which were subsequently examined for content and face validity, and (2) an exploration of the factor structure of the resulting instrument and an examination of its reliability. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire in Thai women aged 20-64 in August, 2015. Results: A total of 219 women (response rate 97.4 %) participated in this validation study. The B-CAS contains five domains with 53 items on breast cancer awareness: 1) knowledge of risk factors, 2) knowledge of signs and symptoms, 3) attitude to breast cancer prevention, 4) barriers of breast screening, and 5) health behavior related to breast cancer awareness. Items with a content validity index < 0.80 were excluded, and factor structure for the remaining items reflected the hypothesized five factor model. The scales based on all retained items was shown to have strongly internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's ${\alpha}=0.86$). Conclusions: The B-CAS provides good psychometric properties to assess breast cancer awareness in women. It can be used to examine breast cancer awareness in Thai women and it could lead to the development and evaluation of suitable educational interventions for raising breast cancer awareness. Future research should focus on further validating the B-CAS including an assessment of construct and criterion-based validity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.296-302
• /
• 2011

Insect-resistant transgenic rice was developed by inserting the mCry1Ac1 a modified gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). For biosafety assessment, we studied the effects on survival of cantor Daphnia magna, a commonly used as a model organism in ecotoxicological studies. D. magna fed on Bt rice and its near non-genetically modified (GM) counterparts (Nakdong) grown in the same environment (100% ground rice suspension). The Bt rice was comfirmed to have the insertion of T-DNA and protein expression by the polymerase chain reaction and ELISA analysis. Feeding study showed similar cumulative immobility and abnormal response of D. magna between Bt rice and non-GM counterparts. 48 h-$EC_{50}$ values of Bt rice and non-GM rice showed 4,429 and 2,889 mg/L respectively. The rice no observed effect concentration (NOEC) values for D. magna was suggested 1,000 mg/L. We conclude that the tested Bt-rice and Nakdong similar cumulative immobility for D. magna the widely used model organism. We found out that there is strong possibility that the growth of Bt rice didn't affect to non-target insects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.38 no.9
• /
• pp.528-533
• /
• 2016

One of ways for effectively maintaining asbestos buildings is to select asbestos buildings to be removed firstly by manufacturing and analyzing asbestos map of various topics. Thus, in this study we manufactured asbestos map of various topics for the effective management of asbestos buildings owned by Seoul using QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System). To select asbestos buildings likely to cause asbestos scattering problem and exposure into the air, we comprehensively took into consideration various topics such as asbestos buildings density, asbestos-area ratio, asbestos buildings distribution considering the population, first removal object, risk assessment, elapsed year. As described in this study, using the GIS may be utilized as a method for selecting asbestos buildings to be removed firstly as well as distribution of asbestos buildings. In the future, it is necessary to make assessment criteria considering diversification of property value in GIS such as the characteristics of the living environment around the asbestos buildings. This is expected to be utilized to manage the vulnerable region to asbestos exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.293-301
• /
• 2005

We conducted several different leaching experiments for assessing the potential environmental risk when utilizing recycled concrete for stabilizing bridge pier. The methods include continuous batch leaching test (DIN 38414-S4), availability test (NEN 7341), pH-stat test (CEN/TC 292/WG6) and tank diffusion test (NEN 7345). The concentration ranges vary depending on the testing method. Nearly all the trace elements were low, some elements recording under detection limit. The maximum concentrations for trace elements leached throughout the whole tests are (as mg/L); Cd (0.029), Cu (0.437), Pb (0.14), Ni, Zn (0.95), Hg (0.005). Although the testing methods we used in this study are much more rigorous than other commonly adapted method including TCLP and domestic testing method for solid waste, the trace elemental concentrations are under the criteria for hazardous material set by the TCLP and domestic method. The result seems to suggest that applying the recycled concrete on stream water will be accepatable practice as for as trace elements are concerned. However, the influence of inorganics such as Ca, Mg, Ni and $SO_4^{2-}$ on aquatic ecology should be further examined.