• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2001

Background : The appearance of multiple-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains has been seriously compromising successful control of tuberculosis. Rifampin-resistance, caused by mutations in the rpoB gene, can be indicative of multiple-drug-resistance, and its detection is of great importance. The present study aimed to develop an oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance. Methods : In order to detect point mutations in the rpoB gene, an oligonucleotide chip was prepared by immobilizing specific probe DNA to a microscopic slide glass by a chemical reaction. The probe DNA that was selected from the 81 bp core region of the rpoB gene was designed to have mutation sites at the center. A total of 17 mutant probes related to rifampin-resistance including 8 rifabutin-sensitive mutant probes were used in this study. For accurate determination, wild type probes were prepared for each mutation position with an equal length, which enabled a direct comparison of the hybridization intensities between the mutant and wild type. Results : Mycobacterial genomic DNA from clinical samples was tested with the oligonucleotide chip and the results were compared with those of the drug-susceptibility test in addition to sequencing and INNO-LiPA Rif. TB kit test in some cases. Out of 15 samples, the oligonucleotide chip results of 13 samples showed good agreement with the rifabutin-sensitivity results. The two samples with conflicting result also showed a discrepancy between the other tests, suggesting such possibilities as existence of mixed strains and difference in drug-sensitivity. Further verification of these samples in addition to more case studies are required before the final evaluation of the oligonucleotide chip can be made. Conlcusion : An oligonucleotide chip was developed for the detection of rpoB gene mutations related to drugsusceptibility. The results to date show the potential for using the oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance to provide useful information in antituberculosis drug therapy.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.980-987
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• 2012

Nonpoint source pollution causes leaks and overtopping, depending on the state of the sewer network as well as aggravates the pollution load of the aqueous water system as it is introduced into the sewer by wash-off. According, the need for efficient sewer monitoring system which can manage the sewage flowrate, water quality, inflow/infiltration and overflow has increased for sewer maintenance and the prevention of environmental pollution. However, the sewer monitoring is not easy since the sewer network is built in underground with the complex nature of its structure and connections. Sewer decontamination mechanism as well as pipe network monitoring and fault diagnosis of water network system on system analysis proposed in this study. First, the pollution removal pattern and behavior of contaminants in the sewer pipe network is analyzed by using sewer process simulation program, stormwater & wastewater management model for expert (XP-SWMM). Second, the sewer network fault diagnosis was performed using the multivariate statistical monitoring to monitor water quality in the sewer and detect the sewer leakage and burst. Sewer decontamination mechanism analysis with static and dynamic state system results showed that loads of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) during rainfall are greatly increased than non-rainfall, which will aggravate the pollution load of the water system. Accordingly, the sewer outflow in pipe network is analyzed due to the increased flow and inflow of pollutant concentration caused by rainfall. The proposed sewer network monitoring and fault diagnosis technique can be used effectively for the nonpoint source pollution management of the urban watershed as well as continuous monitoring system.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.859-877
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to probe secondary science teachers' perception on scientific models and modeling. A total of 50 experienced science teachers were surveyed with 10 open-ended questions about several aspects of models and modeling: definition, examples, purpose, multiplicity, changeability, design/construction, evaluation and beliefs in the use of models and modeling as a teaching tool. The analysis of the data shows the following results: 1) understanding of models and modeling held by a majority of experienced secondary science teachers was far from that of experts as they concentrated on a model's superficial, representative, and visual functions, 2) when it comes to their view toward the use of a model, a model does not remain in the stage of 'doing science' but in the stage of being a subsidiary teaching tool for the teacher's explaining and the students' understanding of scientific concepts, 3) the subjects they majored in made meaningful differences in their contextual understanding of models and modeling, 4) though most of the teachers acknowledged the importance of teaching about models and modeling, even a lot of them showed a negative position toward the opinion that they are willing to apply modeling to their classes. Implications of the results were discussed in terms of intervention in order to enhance secondary science teachers' understanding and pedagogical content knowledge of models and modeling.