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Evaluation of a Compact Dry Method for Enumerating Bacteria in Contaminated Foods (식품 오염 미생물 분석을 위한 컴팩트 드라이법 평가)

  • Soo-Jin Jung;Sangha Han;June Gu Kang;Min Su Song;Hyewon Song;Harim Lee;Jisu Yu;Kyung Ok Lee;Sang-Do Ha
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.39 no.4
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    • pp.304-311
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    • 2024
  • The present study aimed to compare the accuracy of the compact dry and culture plate methods for natural flora (yeasts/molds, coliforms, and total bacterial count) and artificial inoculum (Escherichia coli) in dosirak (meat-based), meal kits (seafood-based), and Doenjang (traditional food). Compact dry TC, EC, CF, and YMR were compared with culture plate methods using a suitable medium for each bacterium. The total bacterial count, coliforms, yeasts/molds, and E. coli were assessed with 3M Petrifilm (aerobic bacterial, coliform, yeast/mold, and E. coli count plates) using culture plate methods. Analysis of the recovery rates of target microorganisms in the three food samples showed that the compact dry method for total bacteria, coliforms, and E. coli exhibited recovery capabilities equivalent to those of the culture plate and Petrifilm methods, with no significant differences (P>0.05). Overall, compact dry TC, CF, and EC showed a good correlation between the methods used in this study, indicating rapid and convenient microbial enumeration by saving time and requiring less space.

The Impact of Edu-Tech and Tangible and Intangible Services of Private Institutes on parents' Intention for Re-Enrollment: The Moderating Effect of Rapport-Building Behavior (학원의 에듀테크특성과 유·무형적서비스가 학부모의 재수강의도에 미치는 영향: 라포형성행동의 조절효과)

  • Jeon, Ji-Yeon;Ha, Tae-Kwan
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.127-139
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    • 2024
  • This study investigates the impact of edutech characteristics and both tangible and intangible educational services on the intention to re-enroll, which is directly related to the management performance of private institutes. The study aims to propose strategies to improve re-enrollment intentions and management performance based on the findings. Private education has grown continuously, complementing the limitations of public education and increasing parental dependence. This study tested the hypothesis that edutech characteristics, intangible services, and tangible services, increasingly utilized with the development of information and communication technology, would influence re-enrollment intentions. It also examined whether rapport-building behavior with parents would have a moderating effect on this relationship. The hypothesis testing results showed that among the edutech characteristics, content, intangible services such as reliability and empathy, and tangible services such as tangibility and payment accessibility positively impacted re-enrollment intentions. The hypothesis that rapport-building behavior would moderate the relationship between educational services and re-enrollment intentions was supported for empathy in intangible services and tangibility in tangible services. Based on these findings, the study proposed three strategies to improve management performance of private institutes. First, in terms of improving and managing edutech characteristics, it suggested introducing and updating edutech content and ensuring operational stability. Second, for improving and managing intangible services, it recommended managing instructor recruitment and training to enhance quality and competence, maintaining professionalism through continuous education by credible institutions, and providing level-based education for students based on the qualitative improvement of educational programs. Third, to improve and manage tangible services, it suggested setting appropriate tuition fees, offering various payment methods (online, mobile, card, bank transfer) unrestricted by time and place, and equipping interiors and facilities that enable focused learning. Additionally, considering the moderating effect of rapport-building behavior, it emphasized that improvements and management requiring costs are necessary, but making parents feel a high level of tangibility through rapport-building is also important. Furthermore, given the increasing importance of edutech based on information and communication technology, the study highlighted the need for various support measures such as government technological support and venture certification system support for institutes with an entrepreneurial spirit aiming to introduce innovative technologies such as AI technology based on large language models and AR/VR-applied metaverse environments. This study is expected to help improve the management performance of private institutes by specifically suggesting items and methods for improvement and management in the educational field.

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Effectiveness and Market Friendly Activation of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) in the Early-Stage Startup Ecosystem: A Focus Group Interview (FGI) Approach (초기창업생태계를 위한 양도제한조건부주식(RSU)의 시장친화적인 활성화 방안: 전문가 포커스그룹인터뷰(이하 FGI)중심으로)

  • Hwangbo, Yun;Yang, Youngseok
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.1-12
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    • 2024
  • This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) in attracting and retaining top talent for startups and venture companies in the context of their implementation in July 2024. The study investigates whether RSUs align with their original intent and identifies additional measures to enhance their effectiveness. Additionally, the paper explores strategies to actively adopt and revitalize RSUs in the business field from the perspectives of experts representing key market participants within the early-stage startup ecosystem in Korea. The study employs a three-pronged approach. First, a pre-study examines how RSUs overcome the limitations of existing stock compensation schemes, the benefits they offer, and the key conditions for ensuring market-friendly effectiveness. Second, experts involved in the RSU bill's early stages identify five issues that need to be addressed to ensure the bill's market-friendly effectiveness: RSU vesting conditions, RSU vesting targets, RSU vesting scope, RSU vesting timing, and RSU vesting-related tax benefits. Third, the study conducts an FGI with experts representing key market players in the early-stage startup ecosystem to examine the effectiveness and activation measures of the proposed RSU scheme, RSU adoption within the early-stage startup ecosystem minimizing conflict of interests with existing shareholders such as venture capital investor. Finally, experts emphasize the importance of clearly defining and communicating RSU benefits to businesses for effective RSU activation. This study's significance lies in its derivation of various insights from FGI research on the effective adoption and activation of RSUs within the early-stage startup ecosystem. Moreover, it is expected to provide a methodology for gauging opinion-gathering procedures for new bills introduced to foster startup and venture company growth.

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Ecological Characteristics of Fraxinus chiisanensis Nakai, an Endemic Plant of Korea (한국 특산식물 물들메나무의 생태적 특성)

  • Jeong-Seok Park;Shin-Young Kwon;Ju-hee Lee;Ji-Eun Byun;So-dam Kim;Seok-Min Yun;Ji-Young Jung
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.375-387
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    • 2024
  • This study investigated the ecological characteristics of Fraxinus chiisanensis Nakai, one of the endemic and rare plant species in Korea, based on its distribution status, characteristics of the growth environment, and species composition. A vegetation survey that analyzed the correlation between species distribution patterns and environmental variables, along with the traits of the emergent plant species, was performed according to the explanation of environmental growth conditions and phytosociological method for the location where F. chiisanensis is found. A total of 19 dominant locations and 9 non-dominant locations of F. chiisanensis were observed in 28 study sites in 12 regions, and a total of 155 taxa were observed. According to the vegetation climate of Korea, the growth environment of the study site where F. chiisanensis is located is characterized as cold and is primarily situated within the northern temperate deciduous broadleaf forest zone. The average elevation was 859m above sea level, with an average rock exposure of 60.4%, soil exposure of 24.7%, and an average slope of 18.7°. The taxa belonging to the top P-NCD(Percentage of Net Contribution Degree) among the emergent species were mostly designated as the taxa emerging in valley vegetation. The correlation analysis of environmental variables revealed that altitude had the strongest correlation, with rock exposure showing the second highest correlation. The ongoing dynamics of the F. chiisanensis forest are anticipated to persist due to the high P-NCD values exhibited by the F. chiisanensis within the shrub and herbaceous layers among the taxa associated with tree species. Most F. chiisanensis habitats are currently situated within protected regions such as national parks, provincial parks, and county parks, where there are relatively minimal human-induced disturbances. However, there is potential for damage in areas not designated as protected, such as forest tending operation sites or new hiking trails. Concerns about declining habitat quality have prompted suggestions for management strategies such as establishing Forest Genetic Resource Reserves in these locations. In addition, follow-up and further research should be conducted to identify possible sites for distribution and establish candidate conservation areas based on various environmental conditions of F. chiisanensis.

A Study on the Stainability and DNA Conservation of Tissue Slides according to Fixation Time and Temperature (고정시간과 온도에 따른 조직 슬라이드의 염색성 및 DNA 보존성 연구)

  • Da-som JEONG
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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    • v.56 no.3
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    • pp.217-227
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    • 2024
  • In this paper, the factors affecting tissues during fixation on slides were determined by changing the tissue type, fixation time, and temperature. Also, stainability and DNA conservation were evaluated. The tissues selected were parenchymal and intestinal tissue. The stainability was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and a special stain suitable for the tissue. DNA conservation was evaluated using the DNA integrity number (DIN) for stability evaluation after purity measurement. The results showed that, at all temperatures, as time increased, there was no histomorphological difference and the stainability tended to intensify. The intestinal tissue tended to have less mucosal change and proper muscle layer degeneration. There was little difference in the purity. However, the longer the fixation time, the lower the DIN value for DNA. Significant differences were identified at 25℃ and 50℃. This means that fixation at 4℃ is the more safe for DNA. This experiment confirmed that, between the time and temperature conditions associated with fixation, time had a greater effect on both staining and DNA conservation. The results of this study are expected to provide basic data for future research on the setting appropriate conditions for fixation for histopathological examinations or diagnoses.

Analysis of Greenhouse Thermal Environment by Model Simulation (시뮬레이션 모형에 의한 온실의 열환경 분석)

  • 서원명;윤용철
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.215-235
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    • 1996
  • The thermal analysis by mathematical model simulation makes it possible to reasonably predict heating and/or cooling requirements of certain greenhouses located under various geographical and climatic environment. It is another advantages of model simulation technique to be able to make it possible to select appropriate heating system, to set up energy utilization strategy, to schedule seasonal crop pattern, as well as to determine new greenhouse ranges. In this study, the control pattern for greenhouse microclimate is categorized as cooling and heating. Dynamic model was adopted to simulate heating requirements and/or energy conservation effectiveness such as energy saving by night-time thermal curtain, estimation of Heating Degree-Hours(HDH), long time prediction of greenhouse thermal behavior, etc. On the other hand, the cooling effects of ventilation, shading, and pad ||||&|||| fan system were partly analyzed by static model. By the experimental work with small size model greenhouse of 1.2m$\times$2.4m, it was found that cooling the greenhouse by spraying cold water directly on greenhouse cover surface or by recirculating cold water through heat exchangers would be effective in greenhouse summer cooling. The mathematical model developed for greenhouse model simulation is highly applicable because it can reflects various climatic factors like temperature, humidity, beam and diffuse solar radiation, wind velocity, etc. This model was closely verified by various weather data obtained through long period greenhouse experiment. Most of the materials relating with greenhouse heating or cooling components were obtained from model greenhouse simulated mathematically by using typical year(1987) data of Jinju Gyeongnam. But some of the materials relating with greenhouse cooling was obtained by performing model experiments which include analyzing cooling effect of water sprayed directly on greenhouse roof surface. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The heating requirements of model greenhouse were highly related with the minimum temperature set for given greenhouse. The setting temperature at night-time is much more influential on heating energy requirement than that at day-time. Therefore It is highly recommended that night- time setting temperature should be carefully determined and controlled. 2. The HDH data obtained by conventional method were estimated on the basis of considerably long term average weather temperature together with the standard base temperature(usually 18.3$^{\circ}C$). This kind of data can merely be used as a relative comparison criteria about heating load, but is not applicable in the calculation of greenhouse heating requirements because of the limited consideration of climatic factors and inappropriate base temperature. By comparing the HDM data with the results of simulation, it is found that the heating system design by HDH data will probably overshoot the actual heating requirement. 3. The energy saving effect of night-time thermal curtain as well as estimated heating requirement is found to be sensitively related with weather condition: Thermal curtain adopted for simulation showed high effectiveness in energy saving which amounts to more than 50% of annual heating requirement. 4. The ventilation performances doting warm seasons are mainly influenced by air exchange rate even though there are some variations depending on greenhouse structural difference, weather and cropping conditions. For air exchanges above 1 volume per minute, the reduction rate of temperature rise on both types of considered greenhouse becomes modest with the additional increase of ventilation capacity. Therefore the desirable ventilation capacity is assumed to be 1 air change per minute, which is the recommended ventilation rate in common greenhouse. 5. In glass covered greenhouse with full production, under clear weather of 50% RH, and continuous 1 air change per minute, the temperature drop in 50% shaded greenhouse and pad & fan systemed greenhouse is 2.6$^{\circ}C$ and.6.1$^{\circ}C$ respectively. The temperature in control greenhouse under continuous air change at this time was 36.6$^{\circ}C$ which was 5.3$^{\circ}C$ above ambient temperature. As a result the greenhouse temperature can be maintained 3$^{\circ}C$ below ambient temperature. But when RH is 80%, it was impossible to drop greenhouse temperature below ambient temperature because possible temperature reduction by pad ||||&|||| fan system at this time is not more than 2.4$^{\circ}C$. 6. During 3 months of hot summer season if the greenhouse is assumed to be cooled only when greenhouse temperature rise above 27$^{\circ}C$, the relationship between RH of ambient air and greenhouse temperature drop($\Delta$T) was formulated as follows : $\Delta$T= -0.077RH+7.7 7. Time dependent cooling effects performed by operation of each or combination of ventilation, 50% shading, pad & fan of 80% efficiency, were continuously predicted for one typical summer day long. When the greenhouse was cooled only by 1 air change per minute, greenhouse air temperature was 5$^{\circ}C$ above outdoor temperature. Either method alone can not drop greenhouse air temperature below outdoor temperature even under the fully cropped situations. But when both systems were operated together, greenhouse air temperature can be controlled to about 2.0-2.3$^{\circ}C$ below ambient temperature. 8. When the cool water of 6.5-8.5$^{\circ}C$ was sprayed on greenhouse roof surface with the water flow rate of 1.3 liter/min per unit greenhouse floor area, greenhouse air temperature could be dropped down to 16.5-18.$0^{\circ}C$, whlch is about 1$0^{\circ}C$ below the ambient temperature of 26.5-28.$0^{\circ}C$ at that time. The most important thing in cooling greenhouse air effectively with water spray may be obtaining plenty of cool water source like ground water itself or cold water produced by heat-pump. Future work is focused on not only analyzing the feasibility of heat pump operation but also finding the relationships between greenhouse air temperature(T$_{g}$ ), spraying water temperature(T$_{w}$ ), water flow rate(Q), and ambient temperature(T$_{o}$).

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A Study on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Sawdustboards combined with Polypropylene Chip and Oriented Thread (폴리프로필렌사(絲)칩과 배향사(配向絲)를 결체(結締)한 톱밥보드의 물리적(物理的) 및 기계적(機械的) 성질(性質)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Suh, Jin-Suk;Lee, Phil-Woo
    • Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.1-41
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    • 1988
  • For the purpose of utilizing the sawdust having poor combining properties as board raw material and resulting in dimensional instability of board, polypropylene chip (abbreviated below as PP chip) or oriented PP thread was combined with sawdust particle from white meranti(Shorea sp.). The PP chip was prepared from PP thread in length of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm for conventional blending application. Thereafter, the PP chip cut as above was combined with the sawdust particle by 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15% on the weight basis of board. Oriented PP threads were aligned with spacing of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5cm along transverse direction of board. The physical and mechanical properties on one, two and three layer boards manufactured with the above combining conditions were investigated. The conclusions obtained at this study were summarized as follows: 1. In thickness swelling, all one layer boards combined with PP chips showed lower values than control sawdustboard, and gradually clear decreasing tendendy with the increase of PP chip composition. Two layer board showed higher swelling value than one layer board, but the majority of boards lower values than control sawdustboard. All three layer boards showed lower swelling values than control sawdustboard. 2. In the PP chip and oriented thread combining board, the swelling values of boards combining 0.5cm spacing oriented thread with 1.0 or 1.5cm long PP chip in 12 and 15% by board weight were much lower than the lowest of one or three layer. 3. In specific gravity of 0.51, modulus of rupture of one layer board combined with 3% PP chip showed higher value than control sawdustboard. However, moduli of rupture of the boards with every PP chip composition did not exceed 80kgf/cm2, the low limit value of type 100 board, Korean Industrial Standard KS F 3104 Particleboards. Moduli of rupture of 6%, 1.5cm-long and 3% PP chip combined boards in specific gravity of 0.63 as well as PP chip combined board in specific gravity of 0.72 exceeded 80kgf/$cm^2$ on KS F 3104. Two layer boards combined with every PI' chip composition showed lower values than control sawdustboard and one layer board. Three layer boards combined with.1.5cm long PP chip in 3, 6 and 9% combination level showed higher values than control sawdustboard, and exceeded 80kgf/$cm^2$ on KS F 3104. 4. In modulus of rupture of PP thread oriented sawdustboard, 0.5cm spacing oriented board showed the highest value, and 1.0 and 1.5cm spacing oriented boards lower values than the 0.5cm. However, all PP thread oriented sawdustboards showed higher values than control saw-dustboard. 5. Moduli of rupture in the majority of PP chip and oriented thread combining boards were higher than 80kgf/$cm^2$ on KS F 3104. Moduli of rupture in the boards combining longer PP chip with narrower 0.5cm spacing oriented thread showed high values. In accordance with the spacing increase of oriented thread, moduli of rupture in the PP chip and oriented thread combining boards showed increasing tendency compared with oriented sawdustboard. 6. Moduli of elasticity in one, two and three layer boards were lower than those of control sawdustboard, however, moduli of elasticity of oriented sawdustboards with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5cm spacing increased 20, 18 and 10% compared with control sawdustboard, respectively. 7. Moduli of elasticity in the majority of PP chip and oriented thread combining boards in 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5cm oriented spacing showed much higher values than control sawdustboard. On the whole, moduli of elasticity in the oriented boards combined with 9% or less combination level and 0.5cm or more length of PP chip showed higher values than oriented sawdustboard. The increasing effect on modulus of elasticity was shown by the PP chip composition in oriented board with narrow spacing. 8. Internal bond strengths of all one layer PP chip combined boards showed lower values than control sawdust board, however, the PP chip combined boards in specific gravity of 0.63 and 0.72 exceeded 1.5kgf/$cm^2$, the low limit value of type 100 board and 3kgf/$cm^2$, type 200 board on KS F 3104, respectively. And also most of all two, three layer-and oriented boards exceeded 3kgf/$cm^2$ on KS F. 9. In general, screw holding strength of one layer board combined with PP chip showed lower value than control sawdustboard, however, that of two or three layer board combined with PP chip did no decreased tendency, and even screw holding strength with the increase of PP chip composition. In the PP chip and oriented PP thread combining boards, most of the boards showed higher values than control sawdustboard in 9% or less PP chip composition.

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Contribution of Emotional Labor to Burnout and Work Engagement of School Foodservice Employees in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province (대구·경북 일부지역 학교급식 조리종사자의 감정노동이 직무 소진 및 직무 열의에 미치는 영향)

  • Heo, Chang-Goo;Lee, Kyung-A
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.610-618
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    • 2015
  • The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in emotional labor strategies, burnout, and work engagement according to general characteristics of school foodservice employees as well as verify differential effects of two emotional labor strategies on burnout and work engagement. Our survey was administered to 400 school foodservice employees in Gyeongbuk from March 3 to April 25, 2014. A total of 358 completed questionnaires were returned, and 350 questionnaires were used for final analysis. For verification of mean differences, the mean scores for surface acting, deep acting, burnout, and work engagement were shown to be 2.38/5.00, 3.46, 2.67, and 3.41, respectively. The mean surface acting was significantly different according to cooking certification (P<0.001), turnover number (P<0.001), salary (P<0.001), and school level (P<0.01). The mean deep acting was significantly different according to educational background (P<0.001), cooking certification (P<0.001), employment status (P<0.001), salary (P<0.001), school level (P<0.01), and meal service time (P<0.05). The mean burnout was significantly different according to educational background (P<0.01), cooking certification (P<0.05), employment status (P<0.001), school level (P<0.001), and meal service time (P<0.001). The mean work engagement was significantly different according to cooking certification (P<0.001), employment satus (P<0.001), salary (P<0.001), school level (P<0.01), and meal service time (P<0.05). Verification of causal models found that surface acting and deep acting increased burnout and deep acting, respectively (research model). Additionally, surface acting did not influence work engagement, and deep acting did not influence burnout (alternative models). In other words, we identified that emotional labor strategies have differential influences on burnout and work engagement. Finally, implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

Estimation of Rice Cultivation Impacts on Water Environment with Environmental Characteristics and Agricultural Practices by Nitrogen Balances (질소수지에 의한 환경특성과 영농방법별 벼농사의 수질영향 평가)

  • Roh, Kee-An;Kim, Min-Kyeong;Ko, Byong-Gu;Kim, Gun-Yeob;Shim, Kyo-Moon;Lee, Deog-Bae
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.439-446
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    • 2009
  • Nitrogen balance in the regional scale which was calculated the difference between nitrogen input and output was estimated to assess the impact of rice cultivation on water environment. Nitrogen balances in Gyeonggi province, where nitrogen concentration in irrigation water was high and in Chungnam province, where nitrogen absorbtion by rice was high, were -5.4 and -8.3 kg $-8.3kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. Nitrogen balances of paddy field in Gangwon province, where nitrogen output was small and irrigation water was clean, and in Gyeongnam province, where organic matter content of soil was high and rice yield was low, were 4.9 and $14.0kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. Average nitrogen balance and total nitrogen absorption of paddy field in Korea were estimated to $-0.3kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ and $-3,315Mg\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. When the nitrogen concentration in irrigation water was increased by $1mg \;L^{-1}$, nitrogen balance of rice paddy changed by $-2.91kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$. Also, when nitrogen fertilizer applied was decreased from 110 to $90kg\;ha^{-1}$ and the same harvest was maintained, the nitrogen absorption by rice paddy from irrigation water was estimated to increase by 10,600 Mg per year in Korea. However, in cases, the harvest was reduced to either 90% or 85%, nitrogen balances were changed from -11.7 to -2.3 and $2.4kg\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. These results suggest that the reduction of nitrogen fertilizer use may not always lead to a negative nitrogen balance and sustainable agriculture can achieve by not cutting down the use of fertilizer only but by reduction of fertilizer application concurrently by maintenance of harvest and by utilization of environmental characteristics such as nutrient contents in irrigation water and soils.

Mitral Valvuloplasty using New Mitral Strip (Mitracon^{(R)}$) (새로운 Strip (Mitracon^{(R)}$)을 이용한 승모판막 성형술)

  • Kang, Seong-Sik;Kim, Sang-Pil;Song, Meong-Gum
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.320-328
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    • 2008
  • Background: Numerous surgical devices for mitral repair have been used in the past with good results. In this study we describe a simple annuloplasty technique with using a new device ($Mitracon^{(R)}$). The aim of this study was to assess its efficacy and surgical results with using $Mitracon^{(R)}$. Material and Method: From May 2003 to October 2005, 46 patients (21 women and 25 men (mean age of $51.4{\pm}17.8$ years) with mitral regurgitation from various causes were treated with either the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ (the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group) or the Capentier Edward rigid ring (the CE group). The median follow-up duration was 18.9 months. Result: The mean grade of mitral regurgitation before and immediately after surgery in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group and the CE group decreased from $3.2{\pm}0.8$ to $0.6{\pm}0.7$ and $3.4{\pm}0.7$ to $0.3{\pm}0.5$, respectively. There were no significant changes in the ejection fraction either between the two groups or before and immediately after surgery. No deaths were seen in either group. Early postoperative echocardiography of all 46 patients showed only trivial mitral regurgitation or none at all. Echocardiography at a median of 18.9 months also showed no progression in mitral regurgitation. The mean grade of mitral regurgitation in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group at this time point decreased from $3.2{\pm}0.8$ to $0.8{\pm}0.7$ (p<0.05). The CE group also showed a similar degree of decrease from $3.4{\pm}0.7$ to $0.3{\pm}0.6$ (p<0.05). The mitral valve area in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group at 1 year follow-up was $3.3{\pm}0.9cm^2$. The mitral valve area in the CE group was $2.7{\pm}0.6cm^2$. The mean mitral pressure gradient in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group at 1 year follow-up was $3.1{\pm}1.3$ mmHg. The mean pressure gradient in the CE group was $4.5{\pm}2.1$ mmHg, although any statistical significant difference for this between the groups was not reached. Conclusion: The present study showed the described technique to be safe and effective in the intermediate term. Because long term results are unavailable, a more extensive prospective randomized multicenter trial may be warranted to determine whether this procedure should be generally applied for repair of mitral valve disease.