• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.116-122
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological hazard of spoons and their cases carried by nursery school children and to evaluate the reduction effects of washing methods and ultraviolet (UV) treatments against Escherichia coli on the spoon and spoon case. A total of 78 spoons and their cases were sampled to test about total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp. Total aerobic bacteria were detected over 2.7 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ in 20 out of 36 spoons (55.6%), 9 out of 20 zipper-type spoon cases (45.0%) and 13 out of 22 plastic-type spoon cases (59.1%). Coliform bacteria were also detected in 19 out of 36 spoons (52.8%), 14 out of 20 zipper-type spoon cases (70.0%) and 14 out of 22 plastic-type spoon cases (63.6%). The pathogens tested in this study were not found in all samples except for the zipper-type spoon cases which were contaminated with Staph. aureus (2 samples) and B. cereus (3 samples). The results indicated that the sanitary conditions of spoons and their cases should be improved promptly. To evaluate the reduction effects of washing methods and UV treatments against E. coli, the spoons and their cases were treated at different cleaning times with and without soap, and different UV exposure times, respectively. E. coli with initial cell number of 4 log CFU on the spoons and their cases was not detected when they were cleaned at running water for 30 sec after dish sponging with soap for 30 sec. In UV treatments, E. coli with the same level of washing method was not detected after UV exposure for 15 minute in the spoons and their cases. From the results, the washing and UV treatment should be used to control the microbial contamination of spoons and their cases for more than 1 and 15 minutes, respectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2003

Background : In intubated patients, cultures of endotracheal aspirates (EA) are apt to contamination throughout the endotracheal tube. Therefore, the identification of etiologic agents via conventional EA cultures is not always reliable. In order to differentiate a pulmonary infection from a non-infectious disease, and to identify the true etiologic agent of acute pulmonary infection, blinded protected specimen brushing (PSB) was used, and its efficacy evaluated. Methods : In 51 intubated patients, with suspected pneumonia, blind PSB were performed, and the results compared with blood and EA cultures. A protected specimen brush was introduced through the endotracheal tube, and settled at the affected large bronchus. A specimen brush was introduced to the expected region using the blind method. The tip of the brush was introduced with an aseptic technique after vigorously mixed for 1 minute in $1cm^3$ of Ringer's lactate solution. The specimens were submitted for quantitative culture within 15 minutes, with a culture being regarded as positive if the colony forming units were above $10^3/ml$. Results : Of the 51 patients, 15 (29.4%) had community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), 27 (52.9%) hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and 9 (17.6%) non-infectious diseases. The sensitivity and specificity of the quantitative PSB culture for the diagnosis of pneumonia were 52.4 and 88.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of EA were 78.6 and 77.8%, respectively. The blind PSB was superior to the EA for the identification of true etiologic agents. Of 53 episodes of 27 HAP patients, MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) (41.5%) was the most common causative agent followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.1%), Klebsiella sp. (7.5%) and Acinetobacter sp. (7.5%). Conclusions : As a simple, non-invasive diagnostic modality, the blind PSB is a useful method for the differentiation of a pulmonary infection from non-infectious diseases and to identify the etiologic agents in intubated patients. A blind PSB can be performed without bronchoscopy, so is safer, more convenient and cost-effectiveness for patients where bronchoscopy can not be performed.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.361-367
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• 2017

Production cost as well as environmental contamination can be reduced by reuse of drained nutrient solution in hydroponic. This research was conducted to obtain the information in changes in inorganic elements concentration of supplied and drained nutrient solution as well as of plant leaves. To achieve the objective, the samples of supplied and drained solution and cherry tomato leaf tissues were periodically collected and analyzed during the hydroponic cultivation. The electrical conductivity (EC) of supplied and drained nutrient solution in early growth stage of cherry tomato were measured as around $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, but those values move up with the passage of time reaching to $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ at flowering stage of 9th fruiting node. The pHs of drained solution in early growth stage were 6.4 to 6.7, however those showed a tendency to get lowered to 5.9 to 6.1 as time passed during the crop cultivation. The concentration differences of $NO_3-N$, P, K, Ca, and Mg between supplied and drained solution were not distinctive until flowering stages of 4th fruiting nodes, while those in drained solution moved up after the stage. The tissue N contents of leaves decrease gradually and those of K and Ca increased as crops grew. However, Tissue P and Mg contents were maintained similarly from transplant to end-crop. The above results would be used in correction of drained nutrient solution when element compositions are varied compared to supplied solution in hydroponic cultivation of tomatoes.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.9-25
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• 2020

In 2010 and 2015, total 77 surface sediment samples were collected to assess the anthropogenic effects of trace metals in surface sediments of Garolim Bay, and the physical characteristics (particle size and specific surface area) and geochemical components (major (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Ba) and trace metals (Mn, Cs, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb), organic carbon and calcium carbonate) were analyzed. Mean grain size of Garolim Bay surface sediments ranged from 0.51-5.58 Ø (mean 3.98 Ø) and increased from the inlet of bay to the inner bay, and from the waterway to the land. Most of the metal concentrations except for some elements showed the similar distribution to those of mean grain size and specific surface area. As the particle size decreased and the specific surface area increased, the metal concentration increased. In order to estimate the factors controlling the concentration of trace metals, factor analysis was performed, and three factors were extracted (92.7% of the total variation). Factor 1 accounted for 71.3% of the total variation, which was a grain size factor. Factor 2 accounted for 14.2% of the total variation, Factor 3 accounted for 7.2% of the total variance. Enrichment factor was calculated using the particle size corrected background concentration. Metals with a enrichment factor of 1.5 or higher and the number of samples were 4 for Cr (St. 1, 16, 27, 39) and 1 for Pb (St. 39), but there were little differences in the concentrations of 1M HCl leached metals for these metals. The percentage of 1M HCl leached fraction to total metal concentration decreased in the order of Pb~Co>Cu>Zn~Mn>Ni>Cr. Comparing this value with contaminated and clean sediments in other coastal areas, the percentages for each metal were similar regardless of the trace metal levels in all regions. This fact might be resulted from the reaction between the 1M HCl solution and the different sediment constituents, indicating that there is a limit to apply this percentage of leached metal to the estimation of the contamination extent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1561-1569
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of steam flaking of corn grains on in situ dry matter degradability in the rumen and contents of mycotoxins (aflatoxin, ochratoxin) during storage. Yellow dent corns imported from USA and India were flaked, and stored for 8 weeks under the standard temperature and pressure (STP; $25^{\circ}C$/ 1 atm.). Experimental treatments were composed of four corn grains (untreated-USA corn, USCW; steam flaked-USA corn, USCF; untreated-India corn, IDCW; steam flaked-India corn, IDCF) with 4 replications according to 9 storage periods (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 week). Two ruminally cannulated Holstein bulls were used for in situ trial. Pathogen contamination trial was performed by comparing the mycotoxin contents in corns during storage periods. Dry matter disappearance rate in the rumen was about 3.0 to 44.1% higher (P<0.05) for USCW than IDCW, but was not difference between USCF and IDCF. With steam flaking of corn, dry matter degradability in the rumen was significantly (P<0.05) increased in corn from India, but was not affected in corn from USA. Aflatoxin content was very low level in corns from USA and steam flaked corns, but was higher than the tolerance limit of domestic aflatoxin content regulation when IDCW was stored over 6 week under STP. Ochratoxin content was low level in all treatments. From above results, it is reasonable that the corn imported from India might be flaked for enhance the ruminal DM degradability and safe from aflatoxin pathogen.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.399-408
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• 2019

Arbutin, which is used as a whitening ingredient, can produce hydroquinone, known as causing skin disease and carcinogen. Preservatives are essential to prevent microbial contamination during long-term storage and use of cosmetics, but safety issues such as toxicity and skin irritation are being raised. This study was conducted to determine hydroquinone and 21 preservatives levels in 40 arbutin-containing whitening functional cosmetics sold on-line and off-line. Result showed that 9 products contained hydroquinone. The concentrations in 7 products were ranged from 0.3 to 0.9 ppm, which were within the maximum allowed amount established by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. However, 2 products were 8.4 and 50.5 ppm and exceeded the allowed amount. Preservatives were detected 20 products. Detected items and ranges were phenoxy ethanol 0.1 ~ 0.7% (N = 15), Methyl paraben 0.19 ~ 0.21% (N = 2), Chlorphenesin 0.13% (N = 1), chlorhexidine 0.006% (N = 1), Propyl paraben 0.06% (N = 1), which were within maximum allowed amount established by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Also, in cases of functional cosmetics the phrase "functional cosmetics" should be expressed on the primary or secondary package of cosmetics by cosmetics act. However, 1 product did not state the phrase as functional cosmetics. This study suggest that preservatives were safely managed. However, hydroquinone in hydroquinone-detected products could be produced by the decomposition of arbutin. Thus, further studies on the decomposition of arbutin are required to improve the quality control of the cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.274-278
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• 2017

In this study, predictive mathematical models were developed to estimate the kinetics of Staphylococcus aureus growth in processed meat product galbitang. Processed meat product galbitang was inoculated with 0.1 mL of S. aureus culture and stored at 4, 10, 20, $37^{\circ}C$. The ${\mu}_{max}$ (maximum specific growth rate) and LPD (lag phase duration) values were calculated. The primary model was used to develop a response surface secondary model. The growth parameters were analyzed using the square root model as a function of storage temperature. The developed model was confirmed by calculating RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) values as statistic parameters. The LPD decreased, but ${\mu}_{max}$ increased with an increase in the storage temperature. At 4, 10, 20 and $37^{\circ}C$, $R^2$ was 0.99, 0.98, 0.99 and 0.99, respectively; RMSE was 0.39. The developed predictive growth model can be used to predict the risk of S. aureus contamination in processed meat product galbitang; hence, it has potential as an input model for the risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.172-180
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• 1993

Chemical properties of the soils were surveyed in the field of vinyl houses concentrated in the area of Bunpyong-dong and Shinchon-dong of Cheongju, Chilgeum-dong of Chungju and Gageum-myeon of Jungweon-gun. Chungcheongbuk-do province. 1. Content of chemical component of the soil in the vinyl house was higher than in open field. In more than half of the vinyl house soils surveyed, electric conductivity was more than 4.0 mmhos/cm and available phosphate was more than 1,000ppm. 2. Contents of availble phosphate and exchangeable potassium were increased with years of cultivation and their content of accumulation in soil were in the order of Bunpyong-dong>Shinchon-dong>Gageum-myeon>Chilgeum-dong. While their mobility was comparatively low. 3. $NO_3$-N content was remarkably higher in vinyl house soil and the older in cultivation made $NO_3$-N content higher same as the case of available phosphate content. However easy leaching of $NO_3$-N through soil profile is expected due to the fact that $NO_3$-N content was rapidly decreased by removal of polyethylene film cover from the frame of house after harvest of crops. 4. It is a tendency that various chemical contents of vinyl house soils wer higher in 1992 than in 1988~1990, especially much higher from the area of Bunpyong-dong and Shinchon-dong of Cheongju. 5. Salt accumulation in vinyl house soil has been increased with continuing cultivation. Therefore amount of fertilizer application should be controlled in order to avoid salt toxicity, quality deterioration for crop and salt contamination of ground water.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2000

Bacteriological quality evaluations were carried out for rice rolled in laver(Kimbab), Hamburger, Walnut cake and chinese noodle (Jajangmyun), which were on sale in April and May 1995, in May and July 1997 and in January 1999, at 20 different resting places on Kyung-Bu, Ho-Nam, Joong-Bu and Young-Dong Highway in Korea. Food poisoning bacteria were not detected. However numerous coliform bacteria were dectected saying that the sanitary condition of foods on sale at resting places of the highways was not hygienic. There exited 8.8$\times$10$^{4}$~6.6$\times$10$^{5}$ cells/g of coliform bacteria in all the Kimbab sold in 1995. As for Hamburger, 1.8$\times$10$^{2}$~4.7$\times$10$^{4}$ cells/g of coliform bacteria proliferated in all the samples. In 1997,E. coli was found in 16 cases and 21 cases respectively out of 22 Kimbab samples, Hamburger dealing at 7 resting places out of 14 were contaminated with 1.7$\times$10$^{2}$~1.9$\times$10$^{7}$ cells/g of coliform bacteria and Hamburgers dealing at 2 resting places were infected by 5. coli. In contrast to the Kimbab and Hamburger, all the 6 Walnut cake samples were free from the microbial pollution exhibitory that their hygienic condition was satisfactory. 3 samples out of 6 Jajangmyun were contaminated by 7.1$\times$10$^{2}$~2.0$\times$10$^{3}$ cells/g of coliform bacteria, but E. coli was not detected. Compared Kimbab sold in 1995 and 1997 with 1999, Kimbab sold in it can be said that hygienic control fur Kimbab should be performed more strictly during hot season than during cold season. Walnut cake was the safest against microbial contamination, followed by Jajangmyun, Hamburger and Kimbab in decreasing order, indicating that foods with mixed ingredients such as Kimbab and Hamburger were more susceptible to microbial infection, so that a more systematic safety control is needed for such foods during cooking, processing and distribution.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate contamination levels of aflatoxins, the secondary metabolites produced by fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, in herbal medicine. Herbs is susceptible to these fungi infections through its growth harvest, transport and storage. This study determine the aflatoxin $B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$ and $G_2$ levels by HPLC-florescence detector coupled with photochemical enhancement in 558 samples herbal medicine distributed in Korea and China. Also, We checked a transfer ratio of aflatoxins from raw herbal medicines to herbal medicine extract. Hot water extraction of herbal medicines was prepared by air pressure and high pressure condition. The analytical method for aflatoxins was validated in this method. In results recoveries of the analytical method were ranged from 67.4% to 96.2% and, limits of detection and quantitation for aflatoxins were $0.015{\sim}0.138\;{\mu}g/kg$ and $0.046{\sim}0.418\;{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. According to the results of monitoring on aflatoxins in herbal medicine, aflatoxins 1.7 ug/kg $B_1$ and 0.9 ug/kg $G_1$ were detected in only one sample of Strychni Ignatii Semen, and 0.8 ug/kg $G_1$ in Strychni Semen. About 13.6~51.3% of aflatoxins were transferred to hot water extract. Although the detected levels are under the permitted levels for aflatoxins in herbal medicine, these amounts should be considered in regard to overall daily exposure to mycotoxins.