• Title/Summary/Keyword: Developed Countries

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An Empirical Study on Korean Stock Market using Firm Characteristic Model (한국주식시장에서 기업특성모형 적용에 관한 실증연구)

  • Kim, Soo-Kyung;Park, Jong-Hae;Byun, Young-Tae;Kim, Tae-Hyuk
    • Management & Information Systems Review
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.1-25
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    • 2010
  • This study attempted to empirically test the determinants of stock returns in Korean stock market applying multi-factor model proposed by Haugen and Baker(1996). Regression models were developed using 16 variables related to liquidity, risk, historical price, price level, and profitability as independent variables and 690 stock monthly returns as dependent variable. For the statistical analysis, the data were collected from the Kis Value database and the tests of forecasting power in this study minimized various possible bias discussed in the literature as possible. The statistical results indicated that: 1) Liquidity, one-month excess return, three-month excess return, PER, ROE, and volatility of total return affect stock returns simultaneously. 2) Liquidity, one-month excess return, three-month excess return, six-month excess return, PSR, PBR, ROE, and EPS have an antecedent influence on stock returns. Meanwhile, realized returns of decile portfolios increase in proportion to predicted returns. This results supported previous study by Haugen and Baker(1996) and indicated that firm-characteristic model can better predict stock returns than CAPM. 3) The firm-characteristic model has better predictive power than Fama-French three-factor model, which indicates that a portfolio constructed based on this model can achieve excess return. This study found that expected return factor models are accurate, which is consistent with other countries' results. There exists a surprising degree of commonality in the factors that are most important in determining the expected returns among different stocks.

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Evaluation of Characteristics in the Reference Gamma Radiation Fields for testing of Personnel Dosimetry Performance (개인선량 평가의 성능검증을 위한 기준급 감마선장의 특성 평가)

  • Oh, Jang-Jin;Cho, Dae-Hyung;Han, Seung-Jae;Na, Seong-Ho;Lee, Dew-Hey;Lee, Byung-Soo;Jun, Jae-Shik;Chai, Ha-Seok;Yi, Chul-Young
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.229-236
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    • 1998
  • In order to establish a testing system for personnel dosimetry performance, the radiation fields from photons, beta particles and neutrons are required, in recent, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety(KINS) established the reference radation fields except neutrons and tested a variety of their properties. As a result of the test, the reference beams were shown to meet satisfactorily not only the standards of the International Organization for Standardization(ISO), but also the standard levels of the developed countries which are intercomparable with the international traceability. This paper describes the reference beam of gamma radiation. The self-designed and established reference radiation fields were investigated and analyzed by ISO and other international standards. The secondary photon contribution and the beam uniformity of the gamma radiation field were measured and evaluated to fulfill those requirements suggested by the ISO-4037. The measured air kerma rate for the $^{137}$Cs and $^{60}$Co gamma fields was 0.1891 $\sim$ 23.4967 $\mu$Gy/s sand 0.5844 $\sim$ 15.9954 $\mu$Gy/s respectively. The uncertainty with 95 % confidence level of the measured air kerma rate was determined to be less than 2.5 % which is comparable to the international reference gamma radiation fields. It was found that the evaluated air kerma calibration factors of Exradin ionization chamber were in good agreement within 0.9 % and 0.03 % with those given by PTB and NIST, respectively. The gamma radiation fields installed at KINS can maintain traceability systems in Korea, Germany and United State.

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Clinical Features and Management of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (다제 내성 폐결핵 환자의 임상상 및 치료에 대한 고찰)

  • Lee, Jae-Cheol;Lee, Seung-Jun;Kim, Gye-Soo;Yoo, Chul-Gyu;Cheong, Hee-Soon;Kim, Young-Whan;Han, Sung-Koo;Shim, Young-Soo
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.14-21
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    • 1996
  • Objectives: Although outbreak of MDR Tb has been a recent problem in western countries, it has been a longstanding problem in Korea. The poor outcome of MDR Tb is mainly due to poor compliance, high rate of side reaction of secondary drugs, and limitation in number of available drugs. Thus, to improve the outcome of MDR Tb, it is crucial to make individualized adequate prescription based on the knowledge of the patterns of resistance to each drugs in the community as well as the natural history. The purpose of present study is to evaluate the clinical features of Korean MDR Tb patients including patterns of drug resistance and success rate of treatment which was prescribed according to the sensitivity tests. Methods: Retroscpective analysis of 71 Korean patients with MDR Tb was made. All strains isolated from patients showed resistence to at least two first line drugs. Patients profile, previous treatment history, patterns of drug resistance, outcome of treatment was analysed. Initial treatment regimen was selected according to the previous treatment history and was modified according to the sensitivity reports. The regimen was composed to include at least 4 sensitive drugs when possible. Results: The patients showed resistance to 4.1 drugs on average. 90% of them were resistant to INH and RFP. Among 71 patients, 35 patients(49%) had cavitary lesions in CXR. Treatment outcome was analysed in 55 patients. 35 patients(67%) were improved after treatment and 18 patients(33%) showed treatment failure. 5 patients showed primary resistance. Treatment outcome could be evaluated in 4 of them and all showed improvement after treatment. 14 patients(20%) had to change their regimens due to drug side effects. The most frequent side effect was elevation of liver enzymes(6 patients). Others included dizziness, hyperuricemia, tinnitus, skin rash, GI troubles. More than 50% of side effects developed within 3 months. In repeated drug sensitivity test, the concordance rate of resistance to INH was 100% and RFP 98%. EMB, PZA showed 80% concordance rate. But in the other drugs, the concordances were less than 50%. Operation was done in 5 patient - 1 patients as a adjunctive means of chemotherapy -. In that case, negative conversion of sputum AFB was done. Conclusion: 2/3 patients of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis were improved by appropriate prescription and regular medication suggesting that more aggressive management and monitoring is indicated in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

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A Study on Effectiveness of the Hospital-based Home Nursing Care of the Early Discharged Surgical Patients and its Cost Analysis (조기퇴원 수술환자의 병원중심 가정간호 효과 및 비용분석에 관한 연구)

  • 박경숙;정연강
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.545-556
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    • 1994
  • Medical insurance and health care delivery system enabled Korean people to get the necessary medical service, but it caused increased needs for medical service, and resulted in the occurence of some problems such as a lack of manpower and medical facilities. In order to solve these problems, many countries, which already had medical insurance system had developed home care system and it has been regarded effective both in reducing costs and in increasing the rates of turnover of bed. Recently, Korea has included home nursing care in its health care delivery system, and some models of the hospital based home nursing care had been tried and its effects had been evaluated. So, author tried to run a home nursing care for the Cesarean section mothers and evaluate Its effects both in the mother's health and costs. This study was designed as a Quasi-experimental study. Subjects were thirty mothers who got Cesarean section operation in hospital in Seoul. Experimental group consisted of 15 volunteers, and control group were selected by means of matching technique. Data were gathered from February 1st to March 26th by two assistants who were trained by author. Experimental group were discharged on the 4th day after their operation, and got nursing care and assessment about their home three times on the 5th, 6th, and 7th day. Control group stayed in the hospital until 7th day as usual and were checked on the same day as above mentioned To evaluate the state of physiological recovery, vital signs, H.O.F, presence of edema in the legs, bathing, appetite, sleep, presence of pain or discomfort in the breasts, amount of lochia, color of lochia, defecation urination. To compare incidence of complication in experimental group with that in control group, specific assessment was done such variables as smell of lochia, presence of inflammation of operation wound, dizziness, and presence of immobilization in the extremities. The activities of daily living were checked Satisfaction of nursing were checked To calculate costs, author asked subjects to specify expenditure including hospital charge, traffic enpenses, and food expenses. The results were as fellows. 1. On effectiveness of home nursing careThere were n significant differences between experimental and control group in incidence of abnormal symptoms and any complication. The number of taking a bath [POD #5 P=0.001, #6 P=0.0003, #7 P=0.001] and the degree of appetite [POD #5 P=0.03, #6 P=0.02, #7 P=0.013] were significantly higher in experimental group than in control group. Contrary to author's expectation, the degree of the activities of daily living in experimental group was not higher than that of control group. All of the experimental group said they were satisfied with the home nursing care. 2. Cost analysis 1) Hospital charge of experimental group was lower than that of control group. [P=0.009] By taking home nursing care, average period of hospitalization was shortened to 3.1 days, and family members could save 22.8 hours. Total amount of money saved by early discharge was 3,443,093 Won. It is estimated that total amount of money saved by early discharge in a year will be 40,398,956 Won. 2) Home nursing care charge of 15 mothers was 1,781,633 Won. It is estimated that total amount of money Saved by it in a year Will be 20,904,493 Won. It was lower altogether than hospital charge of the three days which is 5th, 6th, 7th day of operation. The average cost of single home visit was calculated 10,940 Won. It took 87 minutes per round and it costed 1,017.3 Won. The average hour of home care was 39.0 minutes. 3) It is expected that early discharge can bring forth the increase of hospital income. On the condition that the rate of running bed is 100%, the expected increase of hospital income will be 202,374, 026 Won in a year. Suggestions for further study and nursing practice are as follows : 1. For the welfare of patients and the increased rates of running bed, home nursing care system should be included in the hospital nursing care system. 2. Studies to test effect of home nursing care on the patients with other diseases are needed. 3. Establishment of law on the practice of home nursing care is strongly recommended.

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Analysis to Determine the Employment Status of Married Women's on the Social Factors Associated (기혼여성의 고용지위 결정요인에 관련한 사회변인 분석)

  • Hwang, Hee-Sook;Kim, Youn-Jae;Park, Jung-Woo
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.181-190
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    • 2012
  • After industrialization, the labor force participation rates of women, especially married women is drastically increasing. So, this study was designed to analyze the determinants of married women's employment status considered. For this, the determinants of married women's employment status were divided into individual-related, children-related, household-related and job-related variables to establish the research models. Based on this, the following results were drawn from a multinominal logistic regression analysis of the determinants of married women's employment status. First, an analysis of individual-related variable showed that married women had the employment status of labor wages with residence in the center of the city and high academic background. Second, an analysis of children-related variable showed that they had the employment status of labor wages with many their children and no their children under the age of six. Third, an analysis of household-related variable showed that they had the self-employment status of labor wages with nuclear family and few income earners of family members. Finally, an analysis of job-related variable showed that they had the employment status of labor wages when they got a job before they got married, their husband didn't get a job, and their husband worked in a professional field. As for findings stated above, as there was a difference in the determinants of married women's employment status, the ways for improvement in the married women's employment status would be suggested as follows. First, married women with young children have the low employment status, basically, requiring problem-solving ways for this because the housekeeping and child-rearing burden caused by marriage and childbirth are factors that continue to obstruct a job. For this, the flexible working hours system, which housekeeping and child-rearing can harmonize with economic activities like developed countries, needs to be activated. But the activation of such flexible working system will produce actual results under institutional protection, such as a related-protection law. Second, the Leave of Child Care System is debated as one of the most representatively systems that housekeeping can harmonize with economic activities. Now, although the System is legislated, the use is very poor.

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A Study on Establishment of Safety Training Center Based on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Technology for Military Safety and Suicide Accident Prevention (가상현실(VR/AR) 기술 기반으로 군 안전 및 자살사고 예방을 위한 안전체험훈련장 구축 방안에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Sung-oh;Min, Yong-sik;Kim, Sung-Il;Ghoi, Jong-geun
    • Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.139-148
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    • 2020
  • Due to change in circumstances in the 2000s such as severe birthrate decline and shortened military service period, the armed forces of the Republic of Korea is currently turning to technologies and equipments from manpower, developing it to become high-tech, high-speed, and complex, resulting in an environment in which a single mistake could cause a mass mortality crisis.It is also evident that, considering aspects such as safety training curriculums and achievements of advanced countries and private education, hands-on training is a must in preventing suicides and accidents in the military, and establishing safety training centers is crucial for systematic and effective hands-on training.Soldiers who are joining the army as of now have experienced the Internet ever since they were born and easily use both virtual and augmented reality, and the current level of science and technology has developed to the point where most of the public safety experience centers are able to be replaced by virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR). Therefore, considering the aspects such as installation space, construction costs, maintenance costs, user characteristics, and education effects, other than for those trainings where real models and objects are more effective such as first aid training, it is with a strong recommendation that establishing military safety training facilities with VR/AR (Virtual and augmented reality) is a must in the coming future. We have derived the need for hands-on training by considering the development of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), analysis of operation status of the public safety experience centers, characteristics of military units, installation and maintenance costs, and proposed plan to establish safety training centers where effective training performance can be achieved at a lower cost than the public safety experience center. In addition, we suggested the scale of the required safety training center and the composition of the experience rooms considering the number of trainees and the environment of each military units. Given this analysis it will contribute to the prevention of military safety and suicide by building a safety training center in the future.

Analysis of Ecotype, Growth and Development, Yield and Feed Value of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) Genetic Resources (케나프 수집 유전자원의 생태형·생육특성 및 수량과 사료가치 분석)

  • Kang, Chan-Ho;Yoo, Young-Jin;Choi, Kyu-Hwan;Kim, Hyo-Jin;Shin, Yong-Kyu;Lee, Gong-Jun;Ko, Do-Young;Song, Young-Ju;Kim, Chung-Kon
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.27 no.5
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    • pp.556-566
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    • 2014
  • In this study, we collected 29 Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) genetic resources from 10 countries to confirm the possibility of the introduction into Korea. The Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) has the broad industrial use like feed and the 5 times more strong $CO_2$ absorption capacity compared to general plant. So recently it is considered as a good industrial source. We analyzed ecotype, growth and development, yield and feed value of collected resources. They were divided into 3 groups depending on flowering time, early maturing type blooming in early July, mid-late maturing type blooming from end of August to early September and late maturing type blooming in end of October. Early maturing type could get fruitful seed but dropped yield (average 7,895 kg/10a) and late maturing type could get high yield (average 12,572 kg/10a) but deletion. The other side mid-late maturing type could get yield over a certain level (average 11,207 kg/10a) and fruitful seed was ensured. The yields analyzed by resources indicated that K12 (Hongma 300) collected in China, K25 from India, K22 from Russia and K21 (Khonkaen 60) variety from China were more than 13,500 kg per 10a. Feed value of early maturing type had inclined to more better than other types, but like dry digestible matter (DDM) and dry matter intake (DMI) of some late maturing types like K12, K21, K22 which had a high yielding ability were more better than that of early maturing types'. So relative feed value (RFV) which considered comprehensive item for feed value were indicated K21 was 102.5, K12 was 116.2 and K22 was 120.2. 'Jangdae' the variety developed in Korea which could complement of other types' had a good quality for yield 10,975 kg/10a and 12.5% crude protein content and 101.9 of the relative feed value. So we need to be taken power to collection of mid-late maturing types resources.

The Changes of Mortality Differentials by Socioeconomic Determinats(1970~86) : Based on Death Registration Data (사회$\cdot$경제적 요인별 차별 사망력의 변화: 1970 ~ 1986)

  • 윤덕중;김태헌
    • Korea journal of population studies
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.1-21
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    • 1989
  • For the analysis of mortality differentials by socioeconomic factors based on death registration data, we have considered four variables : place of residence, educational attainment, marital status and occupation. The age range adopted were 5 to 64 years of age for place of residence, and 25 to 64 years of age for the other factors. The mortality differentials by socioeconomic variables were clear and in the expected direction: mortality levels among urban residents, better educated groups, and non- agricultural workers were lower than among the other sub- groups. The average mortality level in rural areas is much higher than in urban areas : the rural mortality levels were at least double the urban levels at ages below 40 years, but became smaller after age 40, and no clear differentials by urban I rural residence increased until 1974~76 for the both sexes, but since the then differentials have declined slowley for both sexes. This changing pattern of mortality differentials by place of residence can be explained by historical socioeconomic development : the development generally started in urban areas, and rural areas followed : in the course of socioeconomic development the differences between the death rates in the two areas became smaller and finally the mortality levels in the two areas became nearly the same, as is found in the developed countries nowadays. The inverse relationships between mortality and educational level became stronger between the periods 1970~72 and 1984~86, but showed the same atterns of mortality differentials in both period : larger differences among the younger age groups, and for males, than among the older age groups, and for females. The increasing mortality differentials in the fourteen-year period between 1970~72 and 1984~86 were caused by inadequate living standards of the non- educated, whose proportion in the total population, however, dropped sharply during that period. Also, the much lower proportions of low - educated groups or of persons with no formal education among males than females helped to establish the clearly pronounced differentials. The mortality differentials by marital status in Korea showed the usual pattern : the mortality rates of the married in each age and sex group were clearly lower than those of others during the fourteen-year period between 1970~72 and 1984~86. In Korean society which remotes universal marriage, the never married recorded especially high death rates, presumably mainly because of ill - health, but also possibly because of the stigma attached to celibacy. However, the mortality differentials by marital status changed with the changes in the proportionate distribution by marital status during the period : the differences between the death rates of the married and never married groups became smaller, the proportion of the never married group increased : in contrast, the differences between mortalities of the married and widowed / divorced / separated groups widened, with the decrease in the proportion of the later group ; this tendency was perticularly marked for females. Occupational groups also showed clear mortality differences : among four occupational groups mortality of males was highest among agricultural workers and lowest among 'professional, admi-nistrative and clerical workers, However, when the death rates were standardized by educational level, the death rates by occupation in age group 45~64 years were nearly the same (excet for the mixed group consisting of unemployed, students, military servicemen and unknown). Therefore, the clear mortality dfferentials by occupation in Korea resulted mainly from the differences in educational level between different occupation groups. Since socioeconomic characteristics are related to each other, the net effect of each variable was examined. Each of the three variables - ducational level, marital status and urban / rural residence affected significantly Korean adult mortality when the effects of the other variables were controlled. Among the three variables educational level was the most important factor for the determination of the adult mortality level. When male's occupation was added to the above three variables, the effects of occupation on adult mortality were notably smaller after control for the effects of the other three variables while the net effects of these three variables were nearly the same irrespectively whether occupation was included or not. Thus, the differences in educational level (mainly), place of residence and marital status bring out the clear differences in observed mortality levels by occupation.

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Evaluation of lines of NERICA 1 introgressed with Gn1a and WFP for yield and yield components as affected by nitrogen fertilization in Kenya

  • Makihara, Daigo;Samejima, Hiroaki;Kikuta, Mayumi;Kimani, John M.;Ashikari, Motoyuki;Angeles-Shim, Rosalyn;Sunohara, Hidehiko;Jena, Kshirod K.;Yamauchi, Akira;Doi, Kazuyuki
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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    • 2017.06a
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    • pp.323-323
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    • 2017
  • In many sub-Saharan African countries, boosting rice production is a pressing food security issue. To contribute to the increase in rice production, we have developed lines of NERICA 1 introgressed with the gene for spikelet number, Gn1a, and the gene for primary rachis-branch number, WFP by cross breeding. The performance of rice lines introgressed with the genes for yield related traits can be affected by cultivation environment and management. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the lines of NERICA 1 introgressed with Gn1a or/and WFP for yield and yield components under different nitrogen fertilization conditions in Kenya. A field trial was conducted at a paddy field in Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization-Mwea, Kirinyaga County ($0^{\circ}39^{\prime}S$, $0^{\circ}20^{\prime}E$) from August 2016 to January 2017. Eight lines of NERICA 1 introgressed with Gn1a and/or WFP, and their parents, NERICA 1 and ST12, were grown under 0 (NF) and $75(SF)kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$. At maturity, five hills per plot were harvested to determine the yield and yield components. The number of primary and secondary rachis-branches per panicle was measured on the longest panicle in each hill. Under SF, the introgression of WFP to NERICA 1 increased the number of primary and secondary rachis-branches by 27 and 25%, respectively. On the other hand, Gn1a did not increase the number of primary rachis-branches, whereas the number of secondary rachis-branches was increased by 38% on average. The number of primary and secondary rachis-branches of the lines introgressed with both genes increased by 25 and 56%, respectively. Although grain number per panicle increased 33% by Gn1a, 34% by WFP, and 43% by Gn1a+WFP, the yield increase by Gn1a, WFP, and Gn1a+WFP was only 14, 7, and 14%, respectively. The suppression of the yield increase was mainly attributed to the decline in the filled grain ratio. Under NF, WFP increased the number of primary and secondary rachis-branches by 20 and 19%, respectively. The introgression of both genes increased the former and the later by 19 and 35%, respectively. However, Gn1a did not change them under NF. Thus, even under NF, grain yield increased 11% by WFP and 24% by Gn1a+WFP due to the increased grain number although filled grain ratio declined. Our findings suggest that the introgression of Gn1a and WFP could contribute to the rice productivity improvement in sub-Saharan Africa even under low fertility conditions. Improving filled grain ratio of the lines introgressed with these genes by further breeding and fertilization management will be the focus of subsequent work.

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The current status and control measures of BSE in the worldwide (국내, 외 광우병의 발생 현황과 대응 방안)

  • Yoo, Han-Sang
    • 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2009.07a
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    • pp.273-282
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    • 2009
  • The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) disease group are fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting a wide range of hosts. The group includes kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, scrapie in sheep and goats and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. The exact nature of the infectious agent involved in the transmission of these diseases remains controversial. However, a central event in their pathogenesis is the accumulation in infected tissues of an abnormal form of a host-encoded protein, the prion protein (PrP). Whereas the normal cellular protein is fully sensitive to protease ($PrP^{sen}$), the disease-associated prion protein ($PrP^d$) is only partly degraded ($PrP^{res}$), its amino-terminal end being removed. BSE was first reported in the mid-80s in the UK. Ten years later, a new form of human prion disease, variant CJD (vCJD) developed in the wake of the BSE epidemic, and there is now strong scientific evidence that vCJD was initiated by the exposure of humans to BSE-infected tissues, thus indicating a zoonotic disease. However, the ban on the feeding of animal-derived proteins to ruminants, and the apparent lack of vertical transmission of BSE, have led to a decline in the incidence of the disease within cattle herd and therefore, an assumed decreased risk for human contacting vCJD. The origin of the original case(s) of BSE still remains an enigma even though three hypotheses have been raised. Hypotheses are i) sheep- or goat-derived scrapie-infected tissues included in meat and bone meal fed to cattle, ii) a previously undetected sporadic or genetic bovine TSE contaminating cattle feed or iii) originating from a human TSE through animal feed contaminated with human remains. A host cellular membrane protein ($PrP^C$), which is abundant in central nervous system tissue, appear to be conformationally altered in the diseased host into a prion protein ($PrP^{Sc}$). This $PrP^{Sc}$ is detergent insoluble and partially protease-resistant ($PrP^{res}$). The term $PrP^{res}$ is normally used to describe the protein detected after protease treatment, in techniques such as Western immunoblotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay using fresh/frozen tissue. Immunohistochemistry may performed with formalin-fixed tissues. Also, clinical signs of the BSE are one of the major diagnostic indicators. Recently, atypical forms (known as H- and L-type) of BSE have appeared in several European countries, Japan, Canada and the United States. An unusual case was also reported in a miniature zebu. The atypical BSE fall into two groups based on the relative molecular mass (Mm) of the unglycosylated $PrP^{res}$ band relative to that of classical BSE, one of the higher Mm (H-type) and the other lower (L-type). Both types have been detected worldwide as rare cases in older animals, at a low prevalence consistent with the possibility of sporadic forms of prion diseases in cattle. This raises the unwelcome possibility that vCJD could increase in the human population. Now, active surveillance program against BSE is going on in Korea. In regional veterinary service lab, ELISA is applied to screen the BSE in slaughter and confirmatory tests by Western immunoblotting and immunohistochemisty are carried out if there are positive or suspect in the screening test. Also, the ruminant feed ban is rigorously enforced. Removal of specified risk materials such as brain and spinal cord from cattle is mandatory process at slaughter to prevent the infected material from entering the human food chain.

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