• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to check the degree of residual microbial contamination after disinfection of reusable suction containers, used in an intensive care unit (ICU) and present basic data for efficient use through cost analysis in comparison to disposable suction containers. Methods: This study was conducted on 32 reusable suction containers used in an ICU on a selected specific day. After disinfection and washing, specimens were collected from the used containers and cultured to check for microbial contamination. Additionally, a comparative narrative study analyzes the cost of using reusable suction containers and disposable suction containers. Data were analyzed with the SPSS WIN 20.0 program using real numbers and percentage ${\chi}^2$-test. Results: As a result of the study, microorganisms were found in all samples where in 30 were gram-positive (62.5%) while 13 were gram-negative (27.1%). Based on level of contamination, microorganisms were less than 10CFU/ml in 18 samples (56.3%); 11-99CFU/ml in six samples (18.8%); and more than 100CFU/ml in eight samples (25%). Cost per day for a reusable suction container was $10,655+{\alpha}$ while cost per day for a disposable suction container was 10,666 won. Conclusion: This study found that reusable suction containers, even after disinfection, accounted for factors of potential infection as well as microbial contamination. So, disposable suction containers are superior in cost-effectiveness and highly efficient for use with infected patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.86-91
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• 2021

Recently, functional clothes that can reduce deposition and/or penetration of fine dust have been developed. However, there are no methods to quantitatively evaluate the performance of these clothes. In this study, we developed a method to contaminate a fabric using fine dust and established an approach to quantitatively assess the degree of particle contamination on the fabric surface. Silicate powder was chosen as the particle to simulate fine dust because silicate particles are fluorescent under UV light; therefore, they can be distinguished from any color of non-fluorescent fabric surface. A camera with a high-resolution lens system was used to scan the surface of the contaminated fabric surface, and the degree of particle contamination of the fabric surface was analyzed in terms of the pixels corresponding to the area of the fabric surface contaminated by silicate particles. Finished or unfinished nylon fabrics as well as cotton fabrics were contaminated with silicate particles, and their surfaces were scanned using the established camera. The proposed assessment method was found to be useful for quantitatively comparing the degree of particle contamination of the fabrics.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.317-321
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• 2022

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks is obligatory to prevent respiratory virus transmissions in the community. However, there are few studies of the desirable number of wearing a face mask, and how to store them for reuse. Therefore, in this study, a survey was conducted among 208 healthy adults, and 27 kf-94 masks worn for 1, 2, and 3 days were collected. To estimate the risk of bacterial contamination, we analyzed the extent of bacterial contamination of the BHI medium and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. With an increase in the number of days of using the mask, the degree of bacterial contamination of the used mask gradually increased. As a result of 16S rRNA PCR performed for strain identification, Staphylococcus, known as a pathogenic bacterium, was identified the most. In conclusion, we found that wearing a cotton KF mask provides an optimal environment for microbes, which are related to the skin and respiratory system, to thrive. Therefore, it is also important to reduce the risk of bacterial infection of the face mask with appropriate sterilization methods.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3 s.49
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• pp.171-187
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• 2006

The status of heavy metal contamination was investigated using chemical analyses of stream waters and sediments obtained from Samsanjeil and Sambong Cu mining area in Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. In addition, the degree and the environmental risk of heavy metal contamination in stream sediments was assessed through pollution index (Pl) and danger index (DI) based on total digestion by aqua regia and fractionation of heavy metal contaminants by sequential extraction, respectively. Not only the degree of heavy metal contamination was significantly higher in Samsanjeil area than in Sambong area, but its environmental risk was also revealed much more serious in Samsanjeil area than in Sambong area. The differences in status and level of contamination and environmental risk between both two mining areas may be attributed to existence of contamination source and geology. Acid mine drainage is continuously discharged and flows into the stream in Samsanjeil mining area, and it makes the heavy metal contamination in the stream more deteriorated than in Sambong mining area in which acid mine drainage is not produced. In addition, the geology of Samsanjeil mining area is mainly comprised of andesitic rocks including a small amount of calcite and having lower pH buffering capacity fer acid mine drainage, and it is likely that the heavy metal contamination cannot be naturally attenuated in streams. On the contrary, the main geology of Sambong mining area consists of pyroclastic sedimentary Goseong formation containing a high content of carbonates, particularly calcite, and it seems that these carbonates of high pH buffering capacity prevent the heavy metal contamination from proceeding downstream in stream within that area.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate microbiological contamination levels in the manufacturing company of ginseng products (white and red ginseng). Firstly, the contamination level for ginseng and each stage ginseng were 1.8~4.9 log CFU/g (total bacteria), 1.2~3.0 log CFU/g (coliform), 0.8~4.1 log CFU/g (fungi). However, only Bacillus cereus among pathogenic bacteria was detected from a few sample. The contamination of total bacteria tended to decrease as ginseng was being processing. Therefore, that of finished products (white and red ginseng) showed the lowest contamination level among each stage ginseng sample. That of fungi decreased steadily, although the contamination of fungi has tended to increase right after ginseng was steamed. Secondly, the contamination level for working tools and facilities were $1.7{\sim}4.7log\;CFU/cm^2$ (total bacteria), $0.4{\sim}4.0log\;CFU/cm^2$ (coliform), $0.9{\sim}4.2log\;CFU/cm^2$ (fungi). Especially, washing and peeling machines were higher contamination level. Finally, the contamination level of worker who washed and steamed ginseng was higher than worker who shaped, sorted and stored ginseng. Also, Staphylococus aureus was detected at 0.2~0.7 log CFU/hand on some wokers' hands. These results showed proper heating condition (temperature and time) and tidy manufacturing facility are the most important to avoid developing any microbiological problem of Ginseng Products.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.400-420
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• 1998

We already know that it is very difficult to obtain an "isolated field" for direct bonding during the surgical exposure of unerupted teeth. The aim of this in-vitro study is to simulate the clinical situation of forced eruption and to evaluate the tensile strengths of preligatured button with several types of contamination which can happen during the surgical exposure of unerupted teeth. Four orthodontic direct bonding systems were used. ($Ortho-One^{TM}$, $Rely-a-Bond^{(R)}$, $Ortho-Two^{TM}$, Phase $II^{(R)}$) Each material was divided into four groups(n=20) : Group 1. (Control, no contamination), Group 2. (Rinse etching agent with saline instead of water), Group 3. (Blood contamination of etched surface for 30 seconds), Group 4. (Blood contamination of primed surface for 30 seconds) 320 bovine anterior permanent teeth were divided into the above mentioned 16 groups. Enamel surface was flattened and ground under water coolant. Pre-ligatured buttons were prepared to the same form. (Cut 0.25 ligature wire 10 cm in length. Twist the ligature wire 30 times clockwise. Mark the wire 15mm and 35mm points from button. Make a loop sticking two points together and twist the loop 6 times counterclockwise.) The bonded specimens were stored at $37^{\circ}C$ saline solution for 3 days. Then the tensile strength of each sample was measured with Instron universal testing machine, crosshead speed of 0.5mm/min. The following results were obtained: 1. As compared to control groups (Group 1) of each material, Rely-a-Bond had a significantly lower mean tensile strengths than other material. (p<0.01) 2. In Group 2. of Ortho-One and Rely-a-Bond, the mean tensile strengths decreased about 7.7% and 11.1%, respectively with statistical significances. (p<0.05) 3. In Group 2. of Ortho-Two and Phase II, the mean tensile strengths did not decrease. 4. In Group 3. of Ortho-One, Rely-a-Bond, Ortho-Two, and Phase II, the mean tensile strengths decreased about 60.8%, 56.1%, 60.2%, and 46.0%, respectively with statistical significances. (p<0.01) 5. In Group 4. of Ortho-One and Rely-a-Bond, the mean tensile strengths did not decrease. 6. In Group 4. of Ortho-Two and Phase II, the mean tensile strengths were decreased about 20.95% and 22.28%, respectively with statistical significances. (p<0.01) There were formations of a hump shaped mass from bonding resin under blood contamination which disturbed direct bonding procedure. According to Reynolds, the proper bond strength for clinical manipulation should be at least 45N or about 4.5Kg.F. According to these results, it can be concluded that Ortho-One could be used during surgical exposure of unerupted teeth. In any case, blood contamination of the etched surface should be avoided, but the blood contamination of primed surface of Ortho-One may not decrease bond strength. Just 'blowing-out' is enough to remove blood from primed surface of Ortho-One. You can verify the clean surface of the primer of Ortho-One after blowing out the blood contamination.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2008

A Korean urban contamination model METRO-K (${\underline{M}}odel$ for ${\underline{E}}stimates$ the ${\underline{T}}ransient$ Behavior of ${\underline{R}}adi{\underline{O}}active$ Materials in the ${\underline{K}}orean$ Urban Environment, which is capable of calculating the exposure doses resulting from radioactive contamination in an urban environment, is taking part in a model testing program EMRAS (${\underline{E}}nvironmental$ ${\underline{M}}odelling$ for ${\underline{RA}}diation$ ${\underline{S}}afety$) oragnized by the IAEA (${\underline{I}}nternational$ ${\underline{A}}tomic$ ${\underline{E}}nergy$ ${\underline{A}}gency$). For radioactive contamination scenarios of Pripyat districts and a hypothetical RDD (${\underline{R}}adiological$ ${\underline{D}}ispersal$ ${\underline{D}}evice$), the predicted results using METRO-K were submitted to the EMRAS's Urban Contamination Working Group. In this paper, the predicted results for the contamination scenarios of a Pripyat district were shown in case of both without remediation measures and with ones. Comparing with the predictied results of the models that have taken part in EMRAS program, a feasibility for decision-making support of METRO-K was investigated. As a predicted result of METRO-K, to take immediately remediation measures following a radioactive contamination, if possible, might be one of the best ways to reduce exposure dose. It was found that the discrepancies of predicted results among the models are resulted from 1) modeling approaches and applied parameter values, 2) exposure pathways which are considered in models, 3) assumptions of assessor such as contamination surfaces which might affect to an exposure receptor and their sizes, 4) parameter values which are related with remediation measures applied through literature survey. It was indentified that a Korean urban contamination model METRO-K is a useful tool for dicision-making support through the participation of EMRAS program.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.659-663
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• 2008

Different statistical distribution functions were examined to find an adequate distribution function to describe the microbial contamination behavior of a Korean side dish product, seasoned soybean sprouts for different seasons and market groups. The triang distribution was the best for any market groups in winter, while the logistic distribution could describe the microbial contamination in log CFU/g for all the market groups in spring and summer. From parametric bootstrapping based on the fitted distributions, it was found that a normal distribution could describe the distribution of mean microbial count in log CFU/g for all the seasons and market groups. Statistical parameters for each season/market group are presented to estimate the confidence interval.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.24-33
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• 2000

The effect of particulate contamination on friction and wear between a negative-pressure picoslider / tri-pad nanoslider and laser-textured disk was studied. Particles of different concentration were injected at the head-disk interface consisting of disks with various textures and slider types at different speed. Durability increased and coefficient of friction decreased as the disk speed increased in a contaminated environment. Frictional characteristics and durability in the data zone were better for those of the laser-textured zone. It was also found that durability of head-disk interface (HDI)decreased as the particle concentration increased. The interface durability with a picoslider was better than that with a nanoslider at any condition in a contaminated environment. Based on the test results, mechanisms were proposed to explain the reasons why durability with a picoslider was superior to that with a nanoslider.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2013

It is well known that uncertainty associated with soil sampling is bigger than that with analysis. In this research, uncertainties for soil sampling when assessing TPH and BTEX concentration in soils were quantified based on actual field data. It is almost impossible to assess exact contamination of the site regardless how carefully devised for sampling. Uncertainties associated with sample reduction for further chemical analysis were quantified approximately 10 times larger than those associated with core sampling on site. Bigger uncertainties occur when contamination level is low, sample quantity is small, and soil particle is coarse. To minimize the uncertainties on field, homogenization of soil sample is necessary and its procedures are proposed in this research as well.