• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.56-63
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• 2024

In high radiation fields, gamma cameras suffer from pulse pile-up, resulting in poor energy resolution, count losses, and image distortion. To overcome this problem, various methods have been introduced to reduce the size of the aperture or pixel, reject the pile-up events, and correct the pile-up events, but these technologies have limitations in terms of mechanical design and real-time processing. The purpose of this study is to develop a real-time gamma camera to evaluate the radioactive contamination in high radiation fields. The gamma camera is composed of a pinhole collimator, NaI(Tl) scintillator, position sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT), signal processing board, and data acquisition (DAQ). The pulse pile-up is corrected in real-time with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) using the start time correction (STC) method. The STC method corrects the amplitude of the pile-up event by correcting the time at the start point of the pile-up event. The performance of the gamma camera was evaluated using a high dose rate ¹³⁷Cs source. For pulse pile-up ratios (PPRs) of 0.45 and 0.30, the energy resolution improved by 61.5 and 20.3%, respectively. In addition, the image artifacts in the ¹³⁷Cs radioisotope image due to pile-up were reduced.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.219-224
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• 2023

A high-efficiency underwater radiation monitoring system, HydroGamma, has been developed for detecting ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³¹I in the event of waterborne radiation contamination. The system consists of a 3-inch NaI (Tl) detector, solar panels for power supply, data acquisition and transmission modules, and batteries. HydroGamma also includes a ⁴⁰K calibration source for remote performance evaluation and energy calibration. In this study, some simulations and experiments were carried out to evaluate the minimum detectable activities (MDA) of HydroGamma. We installed the HydroGamma at Tapjeongho Lake in Nonsan-si and acquired background data since MDA is calculated based on the experimental background data. The results show that the minimum detectable activities for ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³¹I were 1.78Bq L^-1 and 1.81Bq L^-1, respectively even though the gamma rays emitted from ⁴⁰K(1,460 keV) affect the minimum detectable activities for them.

• 한국습지학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

본 연구는 충주댐 상류유역의 수질개선대책을 수립하기 위해 실시된 상위 및 관련계획, 수리 수문환경, 환경기초시설 현황 및 계획, 수질현황, 주요 오염원 발생 및 배출현황 등의 자료조사를 통하여 수질오염원을 파악하고 국내에 알려져 있는 수질모델 중 신뢰도가 인정되어 하천수질모의에 널리 적용되고 있는 QUAL2E 모형을 적용하였다. 연구 결과를 토대로 하여 충주댐 상류 유역의 수질개선을 위한 규제와 정책 방안들을 고려한 수질예측이 필요할 것으로 판단되며, 특히 충주댐 상류 유역의 오염원별 수질을 관리하는 방안과 더불어 오염원별 배출부하량이 높은 지역의 대형 환경기초시설에 의한 고도처리시설 도입 및 비점오염 저감시설에 의한 부분을 고려한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.481-490
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• 2005

Surface sediments and seawater were sampled at Masan and Haengam Bays of Korea, to evaluate contamination by sewage-derived organic matter using fecal sterols, Six stream-water samples into Masan and Haengam Bays were also sampled. Total concentrations of eight sterols (coprostanol, epichloestanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol and $\beta-sitosterol$) were in the range of $1,274\~4,768{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the stream-water, $292\~2,244{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the seawater and $4.5\~27.2{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the sediments. Although sterol compositions in sediments, seawater and stream-water were different, cholesterol was the predominant sterol in all samples. The proportion and concentration of coprostanol, a sewage tracer, in stream-water was much higher than those in sediment and seawater. The sterol levels including coprostanol in the sediments and seawater were higher at inner basin than at the outer bay. Some molecular indices and multivariate statistical analysis were used to assess the origin of these sterols and sewage contamination in the study area. The sterol composition patterns in stream-water were mainly associated with contamination by sewage-derived organic matters and those of seawater were associated with the activities of marine-originated organisms. Sterol levels in the sediments were both from the sewage input through stream-water and the marine- originated organisms. This survey suggests that the main source/route of sewage-derived organic matters in Masan Bay is the input of stream-water into the bay.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.383-392
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• 2015

치과치료를 위해 다양한 용도로 DCU에서 배출되는 물이 사용된다. 이 DCU 물의 질에 관한 계속되는 논란으로 인한 환자들의 불안감을 줄이고 양질의 치과 치료를 제공하기 위해서는 DCU 물이 음용수만큼 깨끗하게 유지되어야 한다. 따라서 본 논문은 DCU 물의 세균 오염 수준과 오염된 DCU 물의 임상적 위험성에 대하여 설명하고, 세균 오염을 방지하기 위한 여러 가지 관리 방법들을 검토하였다. 여러 국가에서 DCU 물을 대상으로 오염도를 확인하는 연구가 많이 진행되어 DCU 물이 높은 수준으로 오염되어있다는 것이 입증되었다. 오염된 DCU 물로 인해 감염된 일부 사례도 보고되었고 이는 DCU 물이 감염의 잠재적인 원인일 수 있음을 보여주었다. DCU 물로 인한 잠재적 감염의 위험성을 줄이기 위해서는 효율적인 소독방법을 사용하고 자체적인 모니터링 또한 시행되어야 한다. 하지만 제안되고 있는 여러 가지 수관관리 소독방법으로 인해 치과종사자들의 혼란이 야기되고 있으며, 효율적인 소독방법을 보편화하기 위해서는 관련 연구가 더 진행되어야 할 것으로 생각된다. 치과치료를 받는 환자들을 안심시킬 수 있는 좋은 치과서비스를 제공하기 위해서는 정책적인 개선과 국내 치과 상황에 맞는 수관 관리 지침이 빠른 시일 내에 시행되어야 할 것으로 생각된다.

• 분석과학
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.14-18
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• 2012

신속한 유류오염 조사를 위해 자연 방사성 동위원소인 Rn-222를 추적자로 활용하였다. 디젤유로 오염된 화강암 토양시료중의 Rn-222를 액체섬광계수기를 사용하여 분석한 결과 라돈 농도는 유류의 함량에 비례하여 감소하였으며 13%까지 오염시킨 경우 Rn-222의 함량은 30% 까지 감소하였다. TCE로 오염된 지하수의 오염범위를 알기위해 Rn-222를 물과 유류간의 분배계수차이를 활용한 추적자로 사용하였다. 원주의TCE 오염 지하수에 대한 오염범위를 예측하기 위해 Rn-222 분석을 수행하였다.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2005

Powered infant formula and baby food contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii were reported to cause infection among infants and to be associated with sporadic cases and outbreaks of sepsis, menigitis, cerebritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Salmonella contamination of infant formula has also been responsible for multiple outbreaks. Other species of Enterobacteriaceae in powdered infant formula may be causative agents, about which there has been no report. Other pathogenic bacteria have been isolated from powdered infant formula but they were not associated with outbreaks among infant. While Enterobacter sakazakii caused disease in all age groups, premature infants under 28 days old and with birth weight are most sensitive to its infection. Even if low contamination level of the bacteria in powdered infant formula and baby food may not cause infection, the possibility to multiplicate during preparation and storage of reconstituted formula may increase. The etiological factors and pathogenecity of S. sakazakii have not been elucidated. There were wide variability in phenotype and genotype between its strains. S. sakazakii has been isolated from factory facility and surroundings more frequently than Salmonella and thus factory environment should be the source for post-processing contamination of the formula with S. sakazakii. Considering current technology to manufacture power infant formula and baby food it is impossible to sterilize powdered formula but the frequency of outbreak hazard by S. sakazakii can be reduced by pasteurizing the formula base before drying and shortening storage time of the reconstituted formula.

• 한국미생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국미생물학회 2000년도 International Meeting 2000
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• pp.94-101
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• 2000

We investigated the viral contamination of water environment including tap water in Korea. River water used for source water was analyzed about monthly between 1997 and 1999 over a period 26 months. A total of 22 tap water samples were collected in 10 sites in 2 urban areas between 1997 and 1998 over a 11 months. All samples were examined for infectious enteroviruses and adenoviruses by a cell culture technique followed by PCR amplification. To identify the recovered viruses from tap water, sequence analysis of PCR products was performed. Infectious viral particles were detected in river water all year round, ranging from 0.93 to 17.3 Most Probable Number of Infectious Unit (MPNIU) /100L. Tap water samples also contained infectious viral particles. The frequency of enteroviruses and adenoviruses in tap water were $50.0\%$ (11/22) and $36.7\%$ (8/22), respectively. Both enteroviruses and adenoviruses were detected in five tap water samples $(22.7\%)$. The level of viral contamination in tap water was quite high, ranging from 0.2 to 2.9 MPNIU/100L, far above the recommended virus level in drinking water set by the U.S. EPA. Poliovirus type 1 derived from vaccine was frequently detected and the remainder comprised coxsackievirus B type or echovirus type 6, which were causative agents of aseptic meningitis in Korea in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Several types of adenovirus were detected in tap water samples and some water samples were found to contain adenoviruses which were closely related to enteric adenovirus type 40 and 41. This stusy shows that surface water and tap water in Korea may be exposed to the risk of viral contamination, especially from recently recognized viruses and this constitutes a potential public health hazard.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.772-784
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• 2011

We measured grain size, organic matter, and metallic elements (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As) in intertidal sediments collected from six islands in the western part of Jellanam Province in order to evaluate heavy metal contamination in the tidal flat sediments of coastal islands. The evaluation of metal contamination was carried out using geochemical assessment techniques such as sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$). Surface sediments were classified into four sedimentary facies: sand, gravelly muddy sand, slightly gravelly mud, and silt. The concentrations of heavy metals in intertidal sediments from Jaeun, Amtae, Biguem, and Docho islands showed good positive correlations with mean grain size and ignition loss, indicating that the concentrations of metallic elements in these sediments were dependent on grain size and the organic matter content. The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments from almost all of the stations were lower than two criterion values proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. Based on the EF and $I_{geo}$ results, surface sediments were a little polluted for Cr and were moderately polluted for As. Our results suggest that more intensive studies are necessary in the future in order to determine the major source of As in intertidal sediment and to evaluate the As pollution level in macrobenthos.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify an associations between health care workers' uniforms and health care-associated infection. Methods: Electronic databases, including Ovid-Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, KMbase, and KoreaMed, were searched. The search terms included doctor, nurse, health care worker/staff/assistant, clothing, (white) gown, uniform, (neck)tie, and attire. Only papers published in English and Korean were included. Results: 16 studies were selected from 1,900 references screened. All of the studies were non-comparative studies except for one. Four were conducted with doctors, six with nurses, one with health care workers including physiotherapists and one for medical staff plus visitors in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors more frequently changed their uniforms than neckties; therefore, the degree of contamination was more serious in neckties. The cuff zone was more likely to be heavily contaminated than other areas of long-sleeve gowns. Coats become contaminated quickly once worn, and colony counts reached a similar level within the first few hours after wearing them. Wearing a plastic apron or protective clothing did not prevent the bacterial contamination of nurses' uniforms, and the best way to decrease the contamination was changing to newly laundered uniforms before starting every duty. Conclusion: Healthcare workers' uniforms are a potential source of health care-associated infection although there was no robust evidence. The government must establish standards for laundering of uniforms or a requirement for institutions to provide a laundering service for healthcare workers' uniforms.