• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.1481-1498
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• 2014

Automated activity monitoring has become important in many applications. In particular, automated monitoring is an important issue in large-scale management of group-housed livestock because it can save a significant part of farm workers' time or minimize the damage caused by livestock problems. In this paper, we propose an automated solution for measuring the daily-life activities of pigs by using video data in order to manage the group-housed pigs. Especially, we focus on the circadian rhythm of group-housed pigs under windowless and 24-hour light-on conditions. Also, we derive a cost-effective solution within the acceptable range of quality for the activity monitoring application. From the experimental results with the video monitoring data obtained from two pig farms, we believe our method based on circadian rhythm can be applied for detecting management problems of group-housed pigs in a cost-effective way.

• Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.129-132
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• 2017

The current study identified risk factors associated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection on pig farms in the Republic of Korea using a multinomial logistic regression model to evaluate the PCV2 infection status of pigs at different growth stages. Compulsory disinfection of visitors (odds ratio [OR]: 0.019, 95% confidence interval [CI]: <0.001-0.378, p=0.0095), compulsory registration of visitors (OR: 0.002, 95% CI: <0.001-0.184, p=0.0070), regular blood testing (OR: 0.012, 95% CI: <0.001-0.157, p=0.0007), and running on-farm biosecurity learning programs for workers (OR: 0.156, 95% CI: 0.040-0.604, p=0.0072 and OR: 0.201, 95% CI: 0.055-0.737, p=0.0155, respectively) were identified as factors which could reduce the risk of PCV2 infection. However, visitation by a regular veterinarian (OR: 32.733, 95% CI: 3.768-284.327, p=0.0016) was associated with PCV2 infection.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1105-1147
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• 2013

To investigate farmers' satisfaction level and factors influencing on various agricultural and rural policies, an interview survey has been carried out in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk agricultural area, and collected 750 survey questionnaires from farmers. Satisfaction level was low in average ranging from 2.71 to 3.09 in five point Likert-scale on 22 agricultural-rural related policies. Ordered logit model results showed that satisfaction level decreased when farmers are older, had higher income, and had higher number of attendance in agricultural education programme. In addition, satisfaction level decreased when farms had main source of income from rice farming, dry-field farming, livestock farming, or facility horticulture. Lower satisfaction level was also related to location of farm. On the contrary, satisfaction level increased when the farmer had greater owned land. Among 22 agricultural and rural policies, practices that farmers prefer include Direct Payment for Rice Farming Income Compensation, Environment-Friendly Farming Service, Farmland Banking Services in order. Since direct payment policies that farmers prefer may not contribute in development of agriculture, policies can induce both farm income and agricultural development may increase farmer satisfaction level and finally resolve the income gap between the urban workers and farmers.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2018

The US government has enacted the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011, which is being phased in and planned. The final Rules of Produce Safety focus on biological hazards related to agricultural production, harvesting, packaging and storage, which are being phased in since 2017 depending on farm scale. As a result of comparison with the Korean-GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) standards, it is difficult to compare the two standards to be compared with each other by 1:1. However, many of the Korean-GAP standards are similar to FSMA Produce Safety rules. However, the Korean-GAP standards can be judged differently according to the evaluator as a comprehensive standard, so the details of the standards need to be reinforced. In terms of the provisions, the Korean-GAP standards are the most appropriate for the safety of workers (FSMA Subpart D), followed by livestock and wild animals (FSMA Subpart I), buildings, equipment and tools (FSMA Subpart L) and harvesting activities (FSMA Sub-part K). However, there are some weaknesses in the field of agricultural water management (FSMA Subpart E) and farm manager's qualifications and training (FSMA Subpart C), and the response to the biological soil amendments of animal origin and human waste (FSMA Subpart F) is weak. The FSMA regulation is not a certification standard, but it is expected that the marbling effect, which is the standard laid down by the United States leading the world food safety standards, is expected to be considerable. Therefore, we hope that the review of the Korean-GAP standards will help improve the quality of agricultural products and expand our exports, since the standard for responding to microbiological safety emphasized in the FSMA regulations is the Korean-GAP standard.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2016

This study was aimed to assess microbiological contamination level of Liriope platyphylla farms (A, B, and C) located in Cheongyang, Chungnam province. Specimens sampled from those farms and L. platyphylla tuberous roots were assessed for sanitary indication bacteria such as total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Escherichia coli and pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, quantitatively and qualitatively. As a result, those farms are not contaminated by E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., at all. And S. aureus was only found qualitatively from workers' gloves at a farm. As a whole, those farms (soil, harvest container, harvester, cleanser, washing water and tray) were maintained in a low level of microbiological contamination. However a cleanser was contaminated by coliforms ($4.35log\;CFU/100cm^2$), and it is required to improve farm hygiene. Microbiological contamination level of L. platyphylla tuberous root was decreased in the postharvest process including washing and drying.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2013

This study analyzed the consciousness and attitudes of local residents to the development plan of Sobaeksan Jarackgil by applying the social exchange theory to provide basic data for the establishment of the Mountainous Ecology Trail Development Plan, collecting opinions of local residents. For this, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey and personal interview targeting 150 residents of seven villages. Summarizing the results, first, because of analyzing the consciousness of the residents, most of the local residents turned out to be aware of the Sobaeksan Jarackgil development plan and agreed on it. Second, as a result of analyzing the consciousness of residents, for attitudes according to gender, females expected more than males of exchanging with visitors and excavation of cultural assets. Furthermore for attitudes according to age, groups aged under 60 turned out to be concerned about the increase of environmental pollutions, rise in crimes, destruction of cultures, and the induction of conflicts among residents. For attitudes according to occupations, farm workers were worried about the destruction of ecology, and for local characteristics and damages to the landscape, all of the local residents turned out to be concerned. It was shown that groups that agreed on the development plan expected positively on most of the items of economic, environmental, and sociocultural aspects, while those that disagreed on the plan were anxious for negative effects such as landscape damages and the increase of environmental pollutions from the environmental point of view, and the induction of conflicts among residents from the point of sociocultural perspective.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2006

The principal aim of this field study was to determine the concentrations and emissions of gaseous contaminants such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the different types of pig buildings in Korea and allow objective comparison between Korea and the other countries in terms of pig housing types. This field study was performed from May to June and from September to October in 2002. Pig buildings investigated in this research were selected in terms of three criteria; manure removal system, ventilation mode and growth stage of pig. Measurements of concentration and emission of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the pig buildings were done in 5 housing types and the visited farms were 15 sites per each housing type. Concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were measured at three locations of the central alley in the pig building and emission rates of them were estimated by multiplying the average concentration($mg/m^3$) measured near the air outlet by the mean ventilation rate($m^3/h$) and expressed either per pig of liveweight 75kg(mg/h/pig) or per area($mg/h/m^2$). Concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the pig buildings were averaged to 7.5 ppm and 286.5 ppb and ranged from 0.8 to 21.4 ppm and from 45.8 to 1,235 ppb, respectively. The highest concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were found in the mechanically ventilated buildings with slats; 12.1 ppm and 612.8 ppb, while the lowest concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were found in the pig buildings with deep-litter bed system(2.2 ppm) and the naturally ventilated pig buildings with manure removal system by scraper(115.2 ppb), respectively(p<0.05). All the pig buildings were investigated not to exceed the threshold limit values(TLVs) of ammonia(25 ppm) and hydrogen sulfide(10 ppm). The mean emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide per pig(75kg in terms of liveweight) and area($m^2$) from pig buildings were 250.2 mg/h/pig and 37.8 mg/h/pig and $336.3mg/h/m^2$ and $50.9mg/h/m^2$, respectively. The pig buildings with deep-litter bed system showed the lowest emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide(p<0.05). However, the emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from the other pig buildings were not significantly different(p>0.05). Concentrations and emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were relatively higher in the pig buildings managed with deep-pit manure system with slats and mechanical ventilation mode than the different pig housing types. In order to prevent pig farm workers from adverse health effect caused by exposure to ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in pig buildings, they should wear the respirators during shift and be educated sustainably for the guideline related to occupational safety.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2022

Background: Occupational hazards in crop farms vary diversely based on different field operations as soil management, harvesting processes, pesticide, or fertilizer application. We aimed at evaluating the immunological status of crop farmers, as limited systematic investigations on immune alteration involved with crop farming have been reported yet. Methods: Immunological parameters including plasma immunoglobulin level, major peripheral immune cells distribution, and level of cytokine production from activated T cell were conducted. Nineteen grape orchard, 48 onion open-field, and 21 rose greenhouse farmers were participated. Results: Significantly low proportion of natural killer (NK) cell, a core cell for innate immunity, was revealed in the grape farmers (19.8±3.3%) in comparison to the onion farmers (26.4±3.1%) and the rose farmers (26.9±2.5%), whereas cytotoxic T lymphocyte proportion was lower in the grape and the onion farmers than the rose farmers. The proportion of NKT cell, an immune cell implicated with allergic response, was significantly higher in the grape (2.3±0.3%) and the onion (1.6±0.8%) farmers compared with the rose farmers (1.0±0.4%). A significantly decreased interferon-gamma:interleukin-13 ratio was observed from ex vivo stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of grape farmers compared with the other two groups. The grape farmers revealed the lowest levels of plasma IgG1 and IgG4, and their plasma IgE level was not significantly different from that of the onion or the rose farmers. Conclusion: Our finding suggests the high vulnerability of workplace-mediated allergic immunity in grape orchard farmers followed by open-field onion farmers and then the rose greenhouse farmers.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.393-399
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• 2015

Objective : This study was conducted with an aim to use it as basic data for developing assistive devices, such as insoles that can suppress the progress of degenerative diseases and strategies, to improve early degenerative diseases by assessing walking characteristics of farm workers who were classified as KL-grade in the perspective of motor mechanics. Method : 38 male and female adults who complained of knee joint pain for more than six months were selected, and they were classified according to KL-grade. KL-grade was assessed by an orthopaedic specialist and an occupational environment health specialist. Filming equipment (FX-1, CASIO, Japan) and a ground reaction force system (AMTI OR6, AMTI, USA) were used to identify ground reaction force characteristics, and WOMAC was used for a pain rating scale. Results : There was a difference between the right and left side (axis-X) according to KL-grade, and when the grade was higher, the internal ground reaction force was also higher. Changes in COP were not affected by KL-grade of the knee joint, but it tended to increase as the grade increased. There were differences in the time required for limb support while walking according to the grades, and when the grade was higher, walking was more inefficient with long braking force and short propulsion forces. Also, pain rating scale, the right and left side, and COP changes while in support phase were related. Conclusion : There was a partial, statically significant difference in KL-grade and ground reaction force occurring during the support phase, and there were differences in ground reaction forces according to the grades of degenerative arthritis in the knee joint, indicating that this study is worthy as basic data for future studies.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.8896-8900
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• 2015

Recently, various career paths draw young workers from twenty to forty to the metro city in Korea. The korea's agriculture sector has decrease in population and productivity which result a threat for it to become an aging society. Also, our country has a difficulty in a tough competition with other countries through agricultural market-opening such as WTO and FTA. In this paper, we introduce a technology using open-source project including Raspberry that easily accessible and applicable to an agricultural industry. In other words, as we build a device monitoring the production environment, everyone can use agricultural sector through an IoT technology, solve the problem with a labor shortage through production process automation, check the condition of the agricultural environment in real time, enhance the quality of the agricultural product by corresponding a certain condition, and improve the competitiveness through a competitive price comparing to the worldwide farm product. Also, we find a way to use data to the other business through data collection and analysis in a process of using the IoT.