• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.4019-4023
• /
• 2014

This study examined the effectiveness of ultrasound on enhancing the dewaterability and volume reduction of bio solids from a waste treatment plant. The test specimen was obtained from a storage tank immediately before the dewatering process at a local treatment plant. The test conditions included the energy levels of ultrasonic waves and treatment time. The tests were undertaken using three types of different treatment processors (7 liter, 1 ton, 7 ton container). The capillary suction time (CST) and the viscosity of sludge, which is one of the influencing factors for dewaterbility, were obtained under various test conditions. The results showed that ultrasound increases the CST of the raw specimens, whereas a significant reduction (20 % of the maximum value) of CST occurred in the sample with ultrasound and flocculent. The decrease in viscosity reached 40 % of the maximum value. A centrifugal test was performed to examine the characteristics of the sludge settlement. The settling rate and time required to reach the final values were both enhanced by the ultrasonic energy. An ultrasonic treatment is potentially useful tool for reducing the amount of released sludge. To examine the possible use of field application, the real scale sonic processor was designed and operated. The results were similar (50 % of the maximum value) to those of laboratory experiments.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the UV-resistance of radiation-resistant bacteria isolated from the water of Han River, South Korea. The water sample was irradiated with 3 kGy gamma radiation prior to isolation. Radiation-resistant bacterial strains were isolated by standard serial dilution method on R2A and 1/10 diluted R2A agar. The resulting purely isolated 60 cultures of bacteria were analysed for UV resistance and used in further studies. Based on the comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences, the bacterial isolates were divided into 3 phyla (4 genera): the phylum Deinococcus-Thermus (the genus Deinococcus) was 61.7%, Bacteroidetes (Hymenobacter and Spirosoma) was 23.4%, and Firmicutes (Exiguobacterium) was 15%. The results suggested that twenty-nine isolates are candidates new species belonging to Deinococcus, Hymenobacter, and Spirosoma, or other new genera. Nine bacterial strains were selected among the novel candidates and the UV-resistance analysis was conducted. All the candidate bacterial strains showed high UV resistance, similar to that of D. radiodurans R1.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 2013

Staphylococcus aureus is the most important pathogen in nosocomial infections, including bloodstream infections. Prompt identification of S. aureus from blood cultures and detection of methicillin resistance are essential in cases of suspected sepsis. We have studied a new method for the sequence-specific visual detection of minute amounts of nucleic acids using intercalating reaction by addition of SYBR Green to amplicons of LAMP, and it's a unique gene amplification method in which DNA can be isothermally amplified using only one enzyme. Staphylococcus-LAMP, which targets the spa gene, encoding S.aureus-specific protein A, and the mecA gene, encoding penicillin-binding protein-2' for methicillin resistance, detected MRSA and MRSE. In this study, by using LAMP assay, I detected for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis concentration in the clinical sample. The detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis was tested by using serial 10-fold dilutions standard solution. I have accurate detected the limit of detection, sensitity, specificity and reproducibility of the assay. The Bio-chip based LAMP assay allowed easy, rapid, accurate and sensitive detection of infection with Staphylococcus and especially applicable in a resource-limited situation.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.359-369
• /
• 2005

It has been suggested that morphologic characteristics of the periodontium are partly related to the shape and form of the teeth. Furthermore, the severity of symptoms of periodontal disease have been proposed to differ among these various morphologic entities or "biotypes". The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the form of the crowns in the maxillary anterior tooth segment and (1) a group of morphological characteristics and (2) the thickness of the gingiva. The thickness of gingiva was measured by ultrasonic device(SDM). 100 subjects devoid of symptoms of destructive periodontal disease were examined regarding, e.g., probing depth, gingival recession, width of keratinized gingiva, thickness of the keratinized gingiva. From maxillary study cast, the width(at the apical third-CW) and the length(CL) of the crowns of the 6 anterior teeth were determined. A CW/CL-ratio was calculated for each tooth and averaged for each tooth region. The individual mean CW/CL-ratio values for the central incisors were ranked. The 10 subjects ranked highest and the 10 ranked lowest were selected as having either a long-narrow(group N) or a short-wide(group W) form of the crown of the tooth. The data for each of the examined parameters were averaged for each tooth region in each subject and mean values for subjects in groups W and N were compared using the Student t-test. Stepwise multiple regression analysis, including data from the whole sample, was performed for each tooth region with the thickness of the free gingiva as the dependent variable. The results from the analyses demonstrated that individuals with a long-narrow form of the central incisors displayed, compared to individuals with a short-wide crown, form (l) a narrow zone of keratinized gingiva, (2) a pronounced "scalloped" contour of the gingival margin. There was no significant difference between groups N and W with respect to the thickness of the keratinized gingiva. The CW/CL-ratio data revealed that a certain form of the crowns in the central incisors was accompanied by a similar form in the lateral incisors and canine tooth region. The regression analyses demonstrated that the thickness of the keratinized gingiva in central, lateral incisors and canines was significantly related to the width of the keratinized gingiva.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.82-89
• /
• 2012

Commercial powdered soups, such as potato soup(PS), corn soup(CS), and chicken-herb soup(CHS), were gamma-irradiated at 0, 1, 5 and 10 kGy and subjected to physicochemical evaluation and identification trials by analyzing photostimulated luminescence(PSL), electron spin resonance(ESR), and thermoluminescence(TL). The changes in moisture content and pH of soup samples were negligible upon irradiation. The Hunter's color determinations showed that lightness (L value) decreased and yellowness (b value) increased as the irradiation dose increased in PS sample. The viscosity of irradiated samples was reduced in the order of PS, CS and CHS. The analyses of PSL, ESR and TL were applicable to the identification of irradiated powdered-soups at more than 1 kGy by detecting PSL photon counts/60 sec(over 5000), radiation-induced multicomponents-ESR signal, and typical TL glow curve at $150-250^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.314-321
• /
• 2018

In order to quantify nonpoint source pollution, it was proposed to sample at regular intervals of 1 hour for the first 24 hours of storm runoff process by National Institute of Environmental Research for the mixed landuse watershed. However, high frequency sampling requires intensive laboratory analysis and labor costs. In order to investigate the effect of longer sampling interval on the load estimation compared to the 1 hour sampling method, analysis was conducted using monitoring data from rural subwatershed, urban subwatershed, and outlet of the Pungyeongjeongcheon watershed. Statistical analysis revealed that mean of load estimation was not significantly different up to 4 hour sampling frequency. However, 3 hour sampling interval was found to be appropriate for the BOD and TP when it is judged that 10% or less of the difference in loading amount between the 1 hour and other sampling interval is reasonable. The results of this study can be used to conduct an effective monitoring system.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2024

Background: This study examines the relationship between functional disability and work ability in workers affected by low back pain (LBP) through an analysis of correlations between the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Work Ability Index (WAI). The role of personal and work factors on functional disability/work ability levels has also been studied. LBP is the most common musculoskeletal problem and a major disabling health problem worldwide. Its etiology is multifactorial. Multidisciplinary approaches may help reduce the burden of pain and disability and improve job continuity and reintegration at work. Methods: A cohort of 264 patients affected by LBP from an Italian outpatient clinic were included in a clinical diagnostic/therapeutic trial aiming at rehabilitation and return to work through an integrated investigation protocol. Data were collected during the first medical examination using anamnestic and clinical tools. The final sample is composed of 252 patients, 57.1% man, 44.0 % blue collars, 46.4% with the high school degree, 45.6% married. Results: WAI and ODI reported a negative and fair correlation (r = -0.454; p = .000). Workers with acute LBP symptoms have a higher probability of severe disability than those with chronic LBP symptoms. White collars without depressive symptoms reported higher work ability - even in chronic disability conditions-than those with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The study found that ODI and WAI have a convergent validity and this suggests that the two tools measure capture distinctive aspects of disability related to personal, environmental, and occupational characteristics. The most important and modifiable prognostic factors found for ODI and WAI were depressive symptoms, workday absence, and intensity of back pain. The study also found a mild association between age and ODI. The study's findings highlight the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach to manage and prevent disability due to LBP.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 2014

In this study, we investigated the production process and the chemical composition of saccharogenic mixed grain beverages (SMGBs). Various SMGBs were prepared through saccharification with Aspergillus (A.) oryzae CF1003 (A), A. acidus KACC46420 (B), Rhizopus (R.) delemar KACC46149 (C), R. oryzae KACC45714 (D), R. oryzae KACC46148 (E), A~E mixed strains (F), A. oryzae CF1001 (G), A. acidus CF1005 (H) and A+H mixed strains (I)-starter at $53^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. The saccharogenic power of the strains was higher in samples F and G. The soluble solid ($^{\circ}Brix$) of SMGBs were the highest in Sample C. The moisture, crude protein, crude lipid, and crude ash content of various SMGBs showed a range of 77.9~80.7%, 3.7~7.5%, 0.37~0.97% and 1.81~7.47%, respectively. The viscosity of various SMGBs were in the range of 60~528. Further, free amino acid contents of SMGBs were in the range of 347~1,352 ${\mu}g/$ 100 g, respectively. From these results, we could secure the possibility and basic information for the development of SMGBs products. For future studies, we need to improve the taste and functionality of the products.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2014

This study was to evaluate clinical feasibility of biodegradable polymeric membrane for interventional procedure in preliminary study. Bio-degradable polymetric membrane was produced into a solution by mixing hyaluronic acid powder with NaOH solution in a heating mantle. Three different concentrations of contrast media (10, 20, and 30 vol%) were added to the produced soluble powder, and vertical agitation was performed for 12 hours at a speed of 100 to 200 rpm at a room temperature. It was freeze dried for 24 hours at a temperature $80^{\circ}C$. Pressure on the freeze dried sample was exerted by a hydraulic press in order to form the freeze dried sample into a membrane. The membrane produced with varying contrast medium concentration was visually examined by a scanning electron microscope and radiographically inspected. Under the visual examination, the higher the concentration of contrast medium, the rougher the surface. Radiographic transparency was similar under all conditions of fluoroscopic radiography, simple radiography, and serial radiography. In conclusion, this preliminary study verified that bio-degradable membrane produced with hyaluronic acid was a material with clinical usability.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.326-333
• /
• 2011

The need for rapid on-site monitoring of hydroponic macronutrients has led to the use of ion-selective electrodes, because of their advantages over spectrophotometric methods, including simple methodology, direct measurement of analyte, sensitivity over a wide concentration range, and low cost. Stability and repeatability of response can be a concern when using multiple ion-selective electrodes to measure concentrations in a series of samples because accuracy might be limited by drifts in electrode potential. A computer-based measurement system could improve accuracy and precision because of both consistent control of sample preparation and easy calibration of sensors. Our goal was to investigate the applicability of a cobalt-based electrode used in conjunction with a laboratory-made automated test stand for quantitative determination of ${PO_4}^-$ in hydroponic solution. Six hydroponic solutions were prepared by diluting highly concentrated paprika hydroponicsolution to provide a concentration range of 1 to 300 ppm $PO_4$-P. A calibration curve relating electrode response to phosphate in paprika hydroponic solution titrated to pH 4 with 0.025M KHP was developed based on the Nikolskii-Eisenman equation with a coefficient of determination ($R^2$) of 0.94. The laboratory-made test stand consisting of three cobalt-based electrodes measured phosphate concentrations similar to those obtained with standard laboratory methods (a regression slope of 0.98 with $R^2$ = 0.80). However, the y intercept was relatively high, 30 ppm, probably due to the relatively large amount of variation present among multiple measurements of the same sample. Further studies on the high variation in EMFs obtained with cobalt electrodes during replicate measurements were required for P estimations comparable to those obtained with standard laboratory instruments.