NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)―1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone) is a major form of nitrosamine abundant in cigarette smoke and is a powerful carcinogen. Mercury is a major component of the amalgam that is widely used as dental filling material. Concurrent exposure to these two agents may result in their interaction and alter their carcinogenic potential. The present study used an immortalized human epithelial cell system that allows continuous exposure to potential carcinogens, in an attempt to elaborate the carcinogenic potential of mercury and NNK in humans. Cytotoxicity of mercury chloride and NNK was measured by an MTT assay. Parameters of neoplastic cellular transformation such as cell saturation density, soft-agar colony formation, and cell aggregation were analyzed to examine the carcinogenic potential of mercury chloride and NNK. The study showed that exposure to mercury chloride with NNK resulted in increased soft agar colony formation and cell aggregation. ROS generation by mercury chloride was further enhanced by treatment with NNK. The apoptosis that was observed following mercury chloride exposure was further increased upon co-treatment with NNK. The interaction between these two agents was also observed in cytokine mRNA induction. In the present study, mercury alone did not seem to pose a significant threat as a carcinogen, but it may have potential to enhance the carcinogenic potential of a known carcinogen from cigarette smoke. The present study provides valuable data regarding the evaluation of potential carcinogenic risk of mercury chloride and NNK on concurrent exposure.

본 논문은 철근콘크리트 구조물의 지진해석에 관한 국제 벤치마크 프로젝트인 SMART-2013을 통해 3차원 비대칭 철근콘크리트 건물의 고유진동수와 재료 비선형성을 고려한 지진응답을 계산한 결과를 제시한다. 이를 위해 콘크리트와 철근의 비선형 재료모델을 구성하고 대표부피요소에 대한 국부테스트를 수행하여 비선형 모델의 성능을 평가하였다. 이러한 SMART-2013 철근콘크리트 건물의 비선형 유한요소모델에 대해 모드해석과 저강도 지진하중에 대한 선형 시간이력해석을 수행한 결과, 구조물의 고유진동수, 변위 및 가속도 시간이력이 SMART-2013 프로젝트에서 제시한 실험값들과 유사하였다. 또한 Northridge 지진에 대한 변위 및 가속도 응답의 시간이력과 최대층간상대변위의 응답스펙트럼을 계산하여 고강도 지진 하중에 대한 이 철근콘크리트 건물의 거동을 평가하였다.