• Title/Summary/Keyword: Equipment control

Search Result 4,115, Processing Time 0.036 seconds

Application of the CRISPR/Cas System for Point-of-care Diagnosis of Cattle Disease (현장에서 가축질병을 진단하기 위한 CRISPR/Cas 시스템의 활용)

  • Lee, Wonhee;Lee, Yoonseok
    • Journal of Life Science
    • /
    • v.30 no.3
    • /
    • pp.313-319
    • /
    • 2020
  • Recently, cattle epidemic diseases are caused by a pathogen such as a virus or bacterium. Such diseases can spread through various pathways, such as feed intake, respiration, and contact between livestock. Diagnosis based on the ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) methods has limitations because these traditional diagnostic methods are time consuming assays that require multiple steps and dedicated equipment. In this review, we propose the use of the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) Cas system based on DNA and RNA levels for early point-of-care diagnosis in cattle. In the CRISPR/Cas system, Cas effectors are classified into two classes and six subtypes. The Cas effectors included in class 2 are typically Cas9 in type II, Cas12 in type V (Cas12a and Cas12b) and Cas13 in type VI (Cas13a and Cas13b). The CRISPR/Cas system uses reporter molecules that are attached to the ssDNA strands. When the Cas enzyme cuts the ssDNA, these reporters either fluoresce or change color, indicating the presence of a specific disease marker. There are several steps in the development of a CRISPR/Cas system. The first is to select the Cas enzyme depending on DNA or RNA from pathogens (viruses or bacteria). Based on that, the next step is to integrate the optimal amplification, transducing method, and signal reporter. The CRISPR/Cas system is a powerful diagnostic tool using a gene-editing method, which is faster, better, and cheaper than traditional methods. This system could be used for early diagnosis of epidemic cattle diseases and help to control their spread.

The Macroeconomic Impacts of Korean Elections and Their Future Consequences (선거(選擧)의 거시경제적(巨視經濟的) 충격(衝擊)과 파급효과(波及效果))

  • Shim, Sang-dal;Lee, Hang-yong
    • KDI Journal of Economic Policy
    • /
    • v.14 no.1
    • /
    • pp.147-165
    • /
    • 1992
  • This paper analyzes the macroeconomic effects of elections on the Korean economy and their future ramifications. It measures the shocks to the Korean economy caused by elections by taking the average of sample forecast errors from four major elections held in the 1980s. The seven variables' Bayesian Vector Autoregression Model which includes the Monetary Base, Industrial Production, Consumption, Consumer Price, Exports, and Investment is based on the quarterly time series data starting from 1970 and is updated every quarter before forecasts are made for the next quarter. Because of this updating of coefficients, which reflects in part the rapid structural changes of the Korean economy, this study can capture the shock effect of elections, which is not possible when using election dummies with a fixed coefficient model. In past elections, especially the elections held in the 1980s, $M_2$ did not show any particular movement, but the currency and base money increased during the quarter of the election was held and the increment was partly recalled in the next quarter. The liquidity of interest rates as measured by corporate bond yields fell during the quarter the election and then rose in the following quarter, which is somewhat contrary to the general concern that interest rates will increase during election periods. Manufacturing employment fell in the quarter of the election because workers turned into campaigners. This decline in employment combined with voting holiday produce a sizeable decline in industrial production during the quarter in which elections are held, but production catches up in the next quarter and sometimes more than offsets the disruption caused during the election quarter. The major shocks to price occur in the previous quarter, reflecting the expectational effect and the relaxation of government price control before the election when we simulate the impulse responses of the VAR model, imposing the same shocks that was measured in the past elections for each election to be held in 1992 and assuming that the elections in 1992 will affect the economy in the same manner as in the 1980s elections, 1992 is expected to see a sizeable increase in monetary base due to election and prices increase pressure will be amplified substantially. On the other hand, the consumption increase due to election is expected to be relatively small and the production will not decrease. Despite increased liquidity, a large portion of liquidity in circulation being used as election funds will distort the flow of funds and aggravate the fund shortage causing investments in plant and equipment and construction activities to stagnate. These effects will be greatly amplified if elections for the head of local government are going to be held this year. If mayoral and gubernatorial elections are held after National Assembly elections, their effect on prices and investment will be approximately double what they normally will have been have only congressional and presidential elections been held. Even when mayoral and gubernatorial elections are held at the same time as congressional elections, the elections of local government heads are shown to add substantial effects to the economy for the year. The above results are based on the assumption that this year's elections will shock the economy in the same manner as in past elections. However, elections in consecutive quarters do not give the economy a chance to pause and recuperate from past elections. This year's elections may have greater effects on prices and production than shown in the model's simulations because campaigners' return to industry may be delayed. Therefore, we may not see a rapid recall of money after elections. In view of the surge in the monetary base and price escalation in the periods before and after elections, economic management in 1992 should place its first priority on controlling the monetary aggregate, in particular, stabilizing the growth of the monetary base.

  • PDF

A Study on the Mobile Medical Service Program -Based on the Community Diagnosis of a Remote Farm Area- (순회진료사업(巡回診療事業)의 문제점(問題点)과 개선방향(改善方向) (일부(一部) 무의지역에 대(對)한 지역사진단(地域社診斷)을 중심(中心)으로))

  • Park, Hung-Bae;Choi, Dong-Wook
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
    • /
    • v.11 no.1
    • /
    • pp.86-97
    • /
    • 1978
  • The mobile medical service has been operated for many years by a number of medical schools and hospitals as a most convenient means of medical service delivery to the people residing in such area where the geographical and socioeconomic conditions are not good enough to enjoy modern medical care. Despite of official appraisal showing off simply with numbers of outpatients treated and medical persons participated, however, as well recognized, the capability (in respect of budget, equipment and time) of those mobile medical teams is so limitted that it often discourages the recipients as well as medical participants themselves. In the midst of rising need to secure medical service of good quality to all parts of the country, and of developing concept of primary health care system, authors evaluated the effectiveness of and problems associated with mobile medical servies program through the community diagnosis of a village (Opo-myun, Kwangju-gun) to obtain the information which may be halpful for future improvement. 1. Owing to the nationwide Sae-Maul movement powerfully practiced during last several years, living environment of farm villages generally and remarkably improved including houses, water supply and wastes disposal etc. Neverthless, due to limitations in budget time and lack of knowledge (probably the most important), these improvements tend to keep up appearances only and are far from the goal which may being practical benefit in promoting the health of the community. 2. As a result of intensive population policy led by the government since 1962, there has been considerable advances in understanding and the rate of practicing family planning through out the villages and yet, one should see many things, especially education, to be done. Fifty eight per cent of mothers have not received prenatal check and the care for most (72%) delivery was offered by laymen at home. 3. Approximately seven per cent of the population was reported to have chronic illness but since only a few (practically none) of the people has had physical check up by doctors, the actual prevalence of chronic diseases may reach many times of the reported. The same fact was observed also in prevalence of tuberculosis; the patients registered at local health center totaled 31 comprising only 0.51% while the numbers in two neighboring villages (designated as demonstration area of tuberculosis control and mass examination was done recently) were 3.5 and 4.0% respectively. Prevalence rate of all dieseses and injuries expereinced during one month (July, 1977) was 15.8%. Only one tenth of those patients received treatment by physicians and one fifth was not treated at all. The situation was worse as for the chronic patients; 84% of all cases either have never been treated or discontinued therapy, and the main reasons were known to be financial difficulty and ignorance or indifference. 4. Among the patients treated by our mobile clinic, one third was chronic cases and 45% of all patients, by the opinion of doctors attended, were those who may be treated by specially trained nurses or other paramedics (objects of primary care). Besides, 20% of the cases required professional managements of level beyond the mobile team's capability and in this sense one may conclude that the effectiveness (performance) of present mobile medical team is quite limitted. According to above findings, the authors would like to suggest following for mobile medical service and overall medicare program for the people living in remote country side. 1. Establishment of primary health care system secured with effective communication and evacuation (between villages and local medical center) measures. 2. Nationwide enforcement of medical insurance system. 3. Simple outpatient care which now constitutes the main part of the most mobile medical services should largely be yielded up to primary health care unit of the village and the mobile team itself should be assigned on new and more urgent missions such as mass screening health examination of the villagers, health education with modern and effective audiovisual aids, professional training and consultant services for the primary health care organization.

  • PDF

Evaluating the Dosimetric Characteristics of Radiation Therapies according to Head Elevation Angle for Head and Neck Tumors (두 경부 종양 치료 시 거상각도에 따른 치료기법 별 선량특성 평가)

  • Cheon, Geum-Seong;Kang, Seong-Hee;Kim, Dong-Su;Kim, Tae-Ho;Suh, Tae-Suk
    • Progress in Medical Physics
    • /
    • v.27 no.1
    • /
    • pp.14-24
    • /
    • 2016
  • Since the head and neck region is densely located with organs at risk (OAR), OAR-sparing is an important issue in the treatment of head and neck cancers. This study-in which different treatment plans were performed varying the head tilt angle on brain tumor patients-investigates the optimal head elevation angle for sparing normal organs (e.g. the hippocampus) and further compares the dosimetric characteristics of different types of radiation equipment. we performed 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and tomotherapy on 10 patients with brain tumors in the frontal lobe while varying the head tilt angle of patients to analyze the dosimetric characteristics of different therapy methods. In each treatment plan, 95% of the tumor volume was irradiated with a dose of 40 Gy in 10 fractions. The step and shoot technique with nine beams was used for IMRT, and the same prescription dose was delivered to the tumor volume for the 3D-CRT and tomotherapy plans. The homogeneity index, conformity index, and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) were calculated. At a head elevation angle of $30^{\circ}$, conformity of the isodose curve to the target increased on average by 53%, 8%, and 5.4%. In 3D-CRT, the maximum dose received by the brain stem decreased at $15^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, and $40^{\circ}$, compared to that observed at $0^{\circ}$. The NTCP value of the hippocampus observed in each modality was the highest at a head and neck angle of $0^{\circ}$ and the lowest at $30^{\circ}$. This study demonstrates that the elevation of the patients' head tilt angle in radiation therapy improves the target region's homogeneity of dose distribution by increasing the tumor control rate and conformity of the isodose curve to the target. Moreover, the study shows that the elevation of the head tilt angle lowers the NTCP by separating the tumor volume from the normal tissues, which helps spare OARs and reduce the delivered dose to the hippocampus.

Systems for Production of Calves from Hanwoo(Korean Cattle) IVM/IVF/IVC Blastocyst III. Vitrification and One-Step Dilution of Hanwoo Blastocyst (체외생산된 한우 배반포기배로부터 송아지 생스을 위한 체계 III. 한우 배반포기배의 초자화 동결과 1단계 융해)

  • Kim, E.Y.;Kim, D.I.;Park, N.H.;Weon, Y.S.;Nam, H.K.;Lee, K.S.;Park, S.Y.;Yoon, S.H.;Park, S.P.;Chung, K.S.;Lim, J.H.
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
    • /
    • v.23 no.4
    • /
    • pp.293-301
    • /
    • 1999
  • This study was to examine whether Hanwoo IVM/IVF/IVC blastocyst can be successfully survived in vitro/in vivo after vitrification and one-step dilution. For vitrification, blastocysts were serially exposed in glycerol (G) and ethylene glycol(EG) mixtures[10% (v Iv) G for 5 min., 10% G plus 20% EG (v/v) for 5 min., and 25% G plus 25% EG (v/v) for 30 sec.] which is diluted in 10% FBS added D-PBS. And then they were loaded in the straw, placed in cold nitrogen vapor for 3 min. and plunged into L$N_2$(-196$^{\circ}C$). One-step dilution within the straw was done in $25^{\circ}C$ and 36$^{\circ}C$ water for about 5 min. and 3 min., respectively. Recovered embryos after one-step dilution were cultured in cumulus cell mono-layered drop for 48 h or were transferred into recipient cows. When the embryo survival in vitro was assessed to re-expanded and hatched rates at 24 hand 48 h after one-step dilution, the results of vitrified group (85.4, 43.8%) was high, although these results were significantly lower than normal development (100.0, 63.3%) of control group, respectively (P<0.001, P<0.05). When in vitro survival of vitrified groups according to developmental stage was compared, the results of fast developed embryos (expanded blastocyst and early hatching blastocyst stage) were significantly higher than those of delayed developed one (early blastocyst stage) after one-step dilution (early hatching: 88.0, 48.0%: expanded: 81.1, 45.3%; early: 66.7, 14.3%) (P<0.05). Also, in case of in vitro survival of vitrified groups according to embryo age (day 7, 8 and 9), when embryo age was younger, in vitro survival was significantly higher (day 7: 67.3, 34.5%; day 8: 76.9, 40.7%; day 9: 60.9, 23.9%)(P<0.05). Finally, when in vivo development potential of vitrified and one-step diluted Hanwoo blastocysts was examined, 4 of 8 recipient (50%) cows became confirmed pregnant. These results demonstrated that our vitrification and one-step dilution technique can be applied easily and effectively on field trial without the equipment and embryological skills required for conservative dilution and transfer.

  • PDF

Monitoring on Microbiological Contamination of Packed Ice Creams from Manufacturing Factories in Korea (국내 제조공장에서 생산된 아이스크림류의 미생물학적 오염실태 조사)

  • Heo, Eun-Jeong;Ko, Eun-Kyung;Kim, Young-Jo;Seo, Kun-Ho;Park, Hyun-Jung;Wee, Sung-Hwan;Moon, Jin San
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
    • /
    • v.29 no.3
    • /
    • pp.202-206
    • /
    • 2014
  • In this study, the bacteriological survey was examined on ice creams at manufacturing factories in Korea during the summer season of 2011. The nineteen selected among 166 samples by preliminary test were collected from 11 different manufacturing factories in four major manufacturers in May 2011. Samples from ice milk, ice creams, sherbets, and non milk fat ice creams were tested for the total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, and five food borne pathogens, respectively. The results showed that the coliforms including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected on all the ice creams. The total aerobic bacteria of the packed samples examined ranged between $2.5{\times}10^3$ and $5.5{\times}10^5cfu/g$. One ice cream, two sherbets, and four ice milk samples exceeded the acceptable limits of total aerobic bacteria according to the Korean standards for ice cream ($1.0{\times}10^5cfu/g$) and others ($5.0{\times}10^4cfu/g$). The levels of these microorganisms from ice creams were higher in three original equipment manufacturers than seven self-manufacturers. Three of ten ice creams (30.0%), three of six ice milks (50.0%), and one of two sherbets (50%) exceeded the acceptable limits of total aerobic bacteria, respectively. The personnel hygiene procedures with chocolate and vanilla chip addition from the manufacturing process were the main sources of the microbial contamination of stick-bar type ice creams when being produced in a factory. Improvement of the hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) system should be introduced into the ice cream factory to improve the microbial quality of the ice cream products in Korea.

A Study on the Improvement of Laws Related to the Safety Management of Children's Play Facilities (어린이놀이시설 안전관리법규의 개선방향)

  • Lee, Sang-Suk
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
    • /
    • v.37 no.2
    • /
    • pp.47-61
    • /
    • 2009
  • The purpose of this study was to understand the laws related to the safety management of children's play facilities(LRSMCPF) including the "Safety Supervision Law of Children's Play Facilities(SSLCPF)" and the "Quality Management and Industrial Products Safety Management Law(QMIPSAL)", in order to analyze the problems by 4 phases-development of products, landscape design, landscape construction and maintenance considering landscape project procedure-and to propose a revision of the laws. The results are as follows: 1. The various LRSMCPF, SSLCPF and QMIPSAL, as basic laws for the safety management of children's play facilities, were insufficient regarding the features of children's play facilities and play spaces, which are both comparatively varied and complex. 2. In development of products, the one-year duration of safety certification based on QMIPSAL was too short and the procedure for safety certification were redundant in both products and plants inspection, and export and import product inspection. 3. The field inspection of construction sites based on SSLCPF was repeated with quality control and a consultation of rules based on "Construction Technology Management Law". 4. There are not enough safety inspection organizations regarding children's play facilities to meet the demand of safety certification, safety inspection, and safety education in the near future. 5. For children's play safety, the establishment of a general safety management system for children's play connected with the phases is needed to ensure safe play equipment, to construct safe playgrounds, and to manage play facilities. The criteria, regulations, and procedure regarding safety certification and safety inspection of play facilities must be revised efficiently and standardized to a global level as well. To improve the system and contents of safety certification and inspection, authorization of safety inspection organizations based on landscape architecture is needed. Further study will be required to concretely analyze in detail the laws, enforcement decrees and rules, and ordinances that consider the practical experience of professional landscape architects, inspectors, and lawyers.

Extra Dose Measurement of Differential Slice Thickness of MVCT Image with Helical Tomotherapy (토모테라피 치료 시 MVCT Image의 Slice Thickness 차이에 따른 선량 비교)

  • Lee, Byungkoo;Kang, Suman
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
    • /
    • v.7 no.2
    • /
    • pp.145-149
    • /
    • 2013
  • Helical Tomotherapy is an innovative means of delivering intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using a device that merges features of a linear accelerator and helical computed tomography (CT) scanner. Hereat, during helical tomotherapy process, megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image are usually used for guiding the precise set-up of patient before/after treatment delivery. But which would certainly increase the total dose for patients, this study was to investigate the imaging dose of MVCT using the cylindrical "Cheese" phantom on a tomotherapy machine. A set of cylindrical "Cheese" phantom was adopted for scanning with respectively pitch value (1, 2, 3 mm) with same number slice (10 slice), same length (approximately 9 cm) and phantom set-ups on the couch of tomotherapy system. The average MVCT imaging dose were measured using A1SL ion chamber inserted in the phantom with preset geometry. The MVCT scanning average dose for the cylindrical "Cheese" phantom was 2.24 cGy, 1.02 cGy, 0.81 cGy during respectively pitch value (pitch 1, 2, 3 mm) with same number slice (10 slice), and same length's average dose was 2.47 cGy, 1.28 cGy, 0.88 cGy respectively (pitch 1, 2, 3 mm). Two major parameters, the assigned pitch numbers and scanning length, where the most important impacts to the dose variation. The MVCT dose was inversely proportional to the CT pitch value. The results may provide a reliable guidance for proper planning design of the scanning region, which is valuable to help minimize the extra dose to patient. Questionnaires were distributed to Radiology departments at hospitals with 300 sickbeds throughout the Pohang region of North Gyeongsang Province concerning awareness and performance levels of infection control. The investigation included measurements of the pollution levels of imaging equipment and assistive apparatuses in order to prepare a plan for the activation of prevention and management of hospital infections. The survey was designed to question respondents in regards to personal data, infection management prevention education, and infection management guidelines.

A Study on Construction and Application of Nuclear Grade ESF ACS Simulator (원자력등급 ESF 공기정화계통 시뮬레이터 제작 및 활용에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Sook-Kyung;Kim, Kwang-Sin;Sohn, Soon-Hwan;Song, Kyu-Min;Lee, Kei-Woo;Park, Jeong-Seo;Hong, Soon-Joon;Kang, Sun-Haeng
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
    • /
    • v.8 no.4
    • /
    • pp.319-327
    • /
    • 2010
  • A nuclear plant ESF ACS simulator was designed, built, and verified to perform experiment related to ESF ACS of nuclear power plants. The dimension of 3D CAD model was based on drawings of the main control room(MCR) of Yonggwang units 5 and 6. The CFD analysis was performed based on the measurement of the actual flow rate of ESF ACS. The air flowing in ACS was assumed to have $30^{\circ}C$ and uniform flow. The flow rate across the HEPA filter was estimated to be 1.83 m/s based on the MCR ACS flow rate of 12,986 CFM and HEPA filter area of 9 filters having effective area of $610{\times}610mm^2$ each. When MCR ACS was modeled, air flow blocking filter frames were considered for better simulation of the real ACS. In CFD analysis, the air flow rate in the lower part of the active carbon adsorber was simulated separately at higher than 7 m/s to reflect the measured value of 8 m/s. Through the CFD analyses of the ACSes of fuel building emergency ventilation system, emergency core cooling system equipment room ventilation cleanup system, it was confirmed that all three EFS ACSes can be simulated by controlling the flow rate of the simulator. After the CFD analysis, the simulator was built in nuclear grade and its reliability was verified through air flow distribution tests before it was used in main tests. The verification result showed that distribution of the internal flow was uniform except near the filter frames when medium filter was installed. The simulator was used in the tests to confirm the revised contents in Reg. Guide 1.52 (Rev. 3).

Plasma D-dimer Determination in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism (폐색전증의 진단에 있어 혈청 D-dimer 측정의 진단적 가치)

  • Lim, Chae-Man;Kim, Hong-Kyu;Choi, Kang-Hyun;Lee, Sand-Do;Koh, Youn-Suck;Kim, Woo-Sung;Jang, Jae-Suck;Kim, Dong-Soon;Kim, Won-Dong
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.43 no.1
    • /
    • pp.69-74
    • /
    • 1996
  • Background: The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) based on clinical findings is often elusive and therefore requires confirmative diagnostic method. Pulmonary angiography, though the gold standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, is an invasive method and requires trained personnel and special equipment. Lung V/Q scan, on the other hand, is a noninvasive method but the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity arc not satisfactory in case that the results are either intermediate or low probability scan. Plasma D-dimer is generated when a thrombus is fibrinolysed by plasmin and is known to be increased in various thrombotic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of the determination of plasma D-dimer level in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Methods: Pulmonary angiography was performed in 17 patients who were clinically suspected to have pulmonary embolism. 9 patients(PE, $56{\pm}13.4$ yrs, M:F=8:1) were diagnosed to have pulmonary embolism by pulmonary angiography. The control group were the 8 patients with negative pulmonary angiography and 13 orthopedic patients with no evidence of pulmonary embolism on scintigraphic and impedance plethysmographic studies(n=21) (non-PE, $54.5{\pm}11.1$ yrs, M:F=11:10). Plasma D-dimer was measured by latex agglutination method in study subjects and the results were analyzed according to the presence or absence of pulmonary embolism. Results: 1) The increased level of plasma D-dimer was more frequently observed in the patients with pulmonary embolism than in the controls(>0.5 mg/L, 8 in PE, 10 in non-PE; <0.5 mg/L, 1 in PE, 11 in non-PE, p=0.049). 2) The diagnostic value of plasma D-dimer level higher than 0.5 mg/L were as follows: sensitivity 88.9%(8/9), specificity 52.4%(11/21), positive predictive value 44.4%(8/18), and negative predictive value 91.7%(11/12). Conclusion: Plasma D-dimer determination showed high sensitivity and negative predictive value in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and is therefore thought to be useful in excluding the possibility of pulmonary embolism.

  • PDF