• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.405-416
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• 2017

This study evaluated a model unconfined aquifer comprising a sand or gravel layer, a filter layer, a pumping well, and an observation well. The model was employed in step drawdown tests and then used to assess the permeability of each test tank. The optimal yield and well efficiency were then calculated. Evaluation of yield by step in sand layer filters of equal thickness gave optimized watering rates of 22.03 L/min in the double filter and 19.71 L/min in the single filter. The double filter's yield was 115.0% that of the single filter. A comparison of double and single filters, each 10 cm thick, showed the double filter to have a maximum yield of 182.7%. Yields for the gravel layer were 73.56 L/min for a double filter and 65.47 L/min for a single filter of the same thickness; the former value is 112.3% of that of the latter. Comparison of double and single filters with 10-cm-thick gravel layers revealed that the double filter had a maximum yield of 160.9%. Results for sand wells showed the double filter to have a maximum efficiency of 70.4% and the single filter to have a minimum efficiency of 37.1%. Gravel-layer well efficiencies were >66.5% for both double and single filters (each 30 cm thick), but only 22.5% for a 10-cm-thick single filter. This study confirms that permeability improved as the filter material became thicker; it also shows that a double filter has a higher yield and well efficiency than a single filter. These results can be applied to the practical design of wells.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.475-488
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• 2018

This study evaluates geothermal system efficiency in terms of input power and heat exchange volume on the heat-source and load sides, by applying a combined open-closed type loop system comprising a geothermal system and a groundwater well to a cultivation site. In addition, this study analyzes the effects of heating and cooling for a complex geothermal system, by evaluating the temperatures of an external site and a cultivation site during operation. During cooling operations the heat exchange volume on the heat source side, average 90.0kW/h for an open type system with an input of 235L/minute groundwater, and 40.1kW/h for a closed type system with an input of 85L/minute circulating water, for a total average heat exchange volume of 130.1kW/h. The actual heat exchange volume delivered on the load side averages 110.4kW/h. The average EER by analysis of the geothermal system's cooling efficiency is 5.63. During heating operation analysis, the heat exchange volume on the heat source side, average 60.4kW/h in an open type system with an input of 266L/minute groundwater, and 22.4kW/h in closed type system with an input of 86L/minute circulating water, for a total average heat exchange volume of 82.9kW/h. The actual heat exchange volume delivered on the load side averages 112.0kW/h in our analysis. The average COP determined by analysis of the geothermal system's heating efficiency is 3.92. Aa a result of the tradeoff between the outside temperature and the inside temperature of the production facility and comparing the facility design with a combined well and open-closed loops geothermal(CWG) system, we determine that the 30RT-volume CWG system temperature are lower by $3.4^{\circ}C$, $6.8^{\circ}C$, $10.1^{\circ}C$ and $13.4^{\circ}C$ for ouside temperature is of $20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. Based on these results, a summer cooling effect of about $10^{\circ}C$ is expected relative to a facility without a CWG system as the outside temperature is generally ${\geq}30^{\circ}C$. Our results suggest that a complex geothermal system provides improvement under a variety of conditions even when heating conditions in winter are considered. Thus It is expected that the heating-cooling tradeoffs of complex geothermal system are improved by using water screen.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2016

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), is a protein mainly secreted by a liver. The PCSK9 plays an important role in low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism acting as a repressor of LDL receptor through transportation of the LDLR to the lysosome for degradation. Thus, the PCSK9 inhibitor suppresses PCSK9-regulated degradation of the LDL receptor as a LDL-lowering medicine. However, little is known about the role of PCSK9 in the reproductive system. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated Pcsk9 expression in male reproductive tracts including penises, prostates and testes using rats in response to their diets between a normal diet and a high-fat diet with cholesterol. Based on our previous study, the high-fat diet elevates concentration of total cholesterol and LDL in serum whereas it reduces the concentration of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL). In addition, it dramatically affects to morphological changes of the male reproductive organs. Consistent with these results, the expression of Pcsk9 was substantially decreased in the penile tissues (P < 0.001) from rats fed a high fat diet as compared to a normal diet. Moreover, it slightly reduced in the prostate and testes (P < 0.05) of rats in response to a high fat diet. Localization of Pcsk9 was predominantly detected in urethral epithelium of penises, cylinder-shaped cells of prostate glands, and spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatid of testes of rats. Collectively, results of current study provide invaluable insights into the Pcsk9 gene with respect to its tissue- and cell-specific expression by a high fat diet with cholesterol.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.120-125
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of MSG on cognitive function and anxiety by the T-maze and elevated-plus-maze test and repeated oral dose toxicity in SD rat of MSG. The rats were treated with MSG of control group, low group (3 g/kg) and high group (5 g/kg) intragastrically for 4 weeks, respectively. We examined the body weight, the clinical signs, T-maze, Elevated-plus-maze, hematological analysis and serum biochemical analysis, we also observed the histopathological changes of liver, kidney in rats. No significant differences in body weights, biochemical analysis and histopathological observations between control and MSG treatment group were found. In the elevated plus maze (EPM), MSG-treatment group has more open arm visited than controls. MSG-treatment group has been more activated in T-maze test. These data indicate the continuous high MSG intake could be increased the anxiety and could be decreased cognitive ability. In conclusion, MSG is physiologically safety, but high MSG intake could be increased the anxiety and could be decreased cognitive ability in juvenile rat.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2015

This study was performed for both evaluating the safety of other processed products and providing basic information for making the general standard for contaminants in the category of other processed products. We analyzed the contents of three heavy metals, thirty six anti-impotence drugs and their analogues, three anti-obesity drugs and their analogues, twenty eight steroid drugs and their analogues, collecting in Incheon Metropolitan City. Any illegal compound was not detected in those products. However the contents of lead, cadmium and mercury of those products were at the range of 0.001-13.390 mg/kg, 0.03-1.231 mg/kg and 0.001-0.650 mg/kg respectively. Because there are no standards of heavy metals against other processed products, we compared the analytical results with relevant standards of both S. Korea and foreign countries. As a result, two products exceeded the relevant standards of lead, and other two products exceeded the relevant standards of mercury. The relative hazards compared to PTWI of FAO/WHO (Codex), Seafoods-pajeonmix, Perilla seed powder exceeded PTWI standards 0.214. The compulsory standards of each food product are determined by the category of the products. Because there is no standard of heavy metals in the category of other processed products in S. Korea, any food products registered as other processed product by manufacturer are free with those standards. Abusing similar problems on the categorization of food products could cause consumers' health problem. To prevent these problems, detail regulations on the categorization of food products have to be introduced.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate microbial contamination levels of Korea traditional rice cakes such as Sirutteok, Garaetteok and Gyeongdan in the manufacturing process and environment. The microbial contamination levels such as total aerobic bacteria, fungi, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens of rice cake products were analyzed. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, fungi and B. cereus in raw materials were in the range of 2.4~4.5, ND~1.9, 1.2~2.1 and 1.0~2.1 log CFU/g, respectively. The microbial contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, fungi and B. cereus in manufacturing process of rice cakes were increased in the soaking and grinding steps and were decreased in steaming step. E. coli, S. aureus and C. perfringens were not detected in any manufacturing process and environment. The microbial contamination levels of raw materials and final products of rice cake were suitable for microbial safety standard in Korea. However, the manufacturing environment such as equipments and employee's sanitation were in trouble for microbial safety. The results of this study suggest that safety educatio n for personal hygiene and safetymanagement in processing environment are continuously required to assure safety in working environment and employee's individual hygiene.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate of changes for organic acids in takju during storage conditions. Two types of takju, unsterilized and sterilized, were used. Acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid and succinic acid were detected in sample. Residues of malic acid was not detected after 7 days storage in room temperature($25^{\circ}C$). In contrast to lactic acid was increased by times after storage. Acetic acid concentrations was gradually increased in room temperature but was not changed in cold temperature($4^{\circ}C$). After storage for 10 days, the organic acid residues lactic acid > citric acid > succinic acid > malic acid > acetic acid in unsterilized takju. Compared to unsterilized sample, organic acid residues in sterilized sample was not significantly changed. Consequently, organic acids residues mainly affected by sterilization.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2008

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of 68 Listeria monocytogenes isolates, including 11 reference strains and 57 isolates from imported US beef, domestic meats(beef, pork, chicken meat), raw milk, and milk plants. L. monocytogenes was to evaluate the production of virulence proteins, such as hemolysin(LLO) and lecithinase(LCP), the adsorption of Congo red(CRA), and to detect virulence genes using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR). In the study of virulence protein production, 68(100%), 62(91.2%), and 54(79.4%) of the 68 L. monocytogenes strains were positive for LLO production, the LCP test, and the CRA test, respectively, while strains of other species, such as L. innocua, L. gray, L. murrayi, and L. welshimeri, were not. There were no significant differences between L. monocytogenes serotypes and the ability to produce LLO or LCP. L. monocytogenesstrains had very high hemolytic titers(2 to 16 fold), while the other Listeria species, other than L. ivanovii and L. seeligeri, did not. The hemolysin activities of L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, and L. seeligeri usually exceeded 1.0 HU/mg, while those of other Listeria spp. were less than 0.04 HU/mg. In the PCR assay, all of the L. monocytogenes strains contained the hlyA, plcA, plcB, inlA, and inlB virulence genes and produced a product of the expected size. In the PCR of the actA gene, the expected 385-bp product was seen in 39(57.4%) L. monocytogenesstrains, while an unexpected 268-bp product was seen in 29(42.6%) strains. Most L. monocytogenes strains isolated from Hanwoo beef produced the 385-bp actA gene product, while strains of imported US beef usually produced the 268-bp actA gene product. By contrast, no virulence gene products were amplified in the other Listeria spp.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the microbial loads in mulberry fruits depending on cultivation environment and fruit ripeness. The population levels of total aerobic bacteria in mulberry fruits collected from open field orchards were higher than those from three plots protected within plastic green houses. In regards to fruit ripeness, the levels of total aerobic bacteria in ripe black fruits were higher than those in unripe green and red mulberry. From the farms into where livestock animals were allowed to enter, Escherichia coli was detected in soil at a level of 4.26~4.94 log CFU/g and in mulberry fruits at 5.03~6.07 log CFU/g, while no coliform and E. coli were detected from where the intrusion of livestock was prevented. We also examined the density change of inoculated E. coli in mulberry fruits as they were becoming mature. While E. coli did not increase in green fruits, two and four log CFU/g increases at $20^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively, were observed with red and fully mature black mulberries during 48 hours incubation. To ensure the food safety of mulberry, it is suggested that the introduction of E. coli into a farm through livestock should be prevented and more hygienic caution should be taken especially when the fruits are ripe.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2017

Foodborne disease outbreaks associated with produces have been increasing in occurrence worldwide. This study investigated microbial contamination levels on thirteen kinds of agricultural products from farms stage to evaluate potential hazards associated with foodborne illness. A total of 1,820 samples were collected in major cultivating area from 2013 through 2015, and analyzed to enumerate aerobic bacterial counts, coliforms/E. coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the prevalence study for four kinds of microorganisms (Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) was performed on each sample. Aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 0.01 to 7.18 log CFU/g, with the highest bacterial cell counts recorded for watermelon. Coliforms were detected in 651 samples (35.8%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of more than 5 log CFU/g. B. cereus was detected in 169 samples (9.3%) ranging from < 0.01 to 2.48 log CFU/g among total samples analyzed. S. aureus was detected in 14 samples (0.7%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of 1.69 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected in 101 samples (5.5%) among 1,820 samples. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels of several agricultural products determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbiological risk assessment (MRA).