• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2006

Purpose : Shigellosis is still an important cause of acute food-borne diarrheal diseases throughout the world. We investigated the transmission routes and clinical course through the outbreak of shigellosis in Mapo-Gu, Seoul. Methods : From October 7th to November 19th in 2005, Mapo-Gu public health center had referred 32 patients with confirmed or suspected shigellosis to the National Medical Center. We had investigated source of infection, epidemiology, laboratory findings, and clinical course of the cases occurred during this outbreak. Results : Among 32 patients, 24 patients had been confirmed with shigellosis, 8 patients had been diagnosed with suspected shigellosis. They ranged in age from 5 months to 12 years old and their mean age was 6.5 years. The clinical manifestations were as follows; diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and asymptomatic condition. Symptoms had sustained for 3.7 days on the average. S. sonnei were cultured by rectal swab and founded to be resistant to ampicillin and TMP/SMX except to 3rd generation cephalosporin. After treatment with antibiotics such as cefixime and ceftriaxone or imipenem and conservative treatment with electrolyte and fluid replacement for 5~7 days, Stool cultures of the rectal swab grew no Shigella in these cases except 3 cases. Conclusion : An outbreak of shigellosis had occurred in a preschool and elementary school children. From the same results of antimicrobial susceptibility and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns in this study, we suggest that the outbreak of shigellosis in this report had been originated from a single strain. According to all negative results about suspected food and water cultures, we couldn't find out source of infection. Through materials offerred by Mapo-Gu Public Health Center, we presumed the trasmission routes probably were person-to-person.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 1997

Purpose : To investigate ultrastructural changes of the mouse lung induced by whole lung gamma irradiation and to evaluate the effect of prophylactic administration of steroid against acute lung injury. Materials and Methods :. One hundred and twenty ICR mice were used and whole lung was irradiated with telecobalt machine. Whole lung doses were 8 and 12Gy, and 10mg of methyl prednisolone was administrated intraperitoneally for two and four weeks. At the end of the observation period, mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The lungs were removed and fixed inflated. Histopathological examination of acute radiation injuries were Performed by light microscopic and transmission electron microscopic examination. Results : Control group with BGy is characterized by damage to the type I Pneumocyte and the endothelial cell of the capillary. edema of alveolar wall and interstitium. and fibroblast proliferation. Control group with 120y is characterized by more severe degree of type 1 pneumocyte damage and more prominant inflammatory cell infiltration. Destructed cell debris within the alveolar space were also noted After steroid administration, 8Gy experimental group showed decreased degree of inflammatory reactions but fibroblast proliferation and basal lamina damages were unchanged. Experimental group with 12Gy showed lesser degree of inflammatory reactions similar to changes of 8Gy experimental group. Conclusion : These studies suggest that the degree of interstitial edema and inflammatory changes were related to radiation dose but Proliferation of the fibroblast and structural changes of basal lamina were not related to radialion dose. Experimental administration of steroid for 2 to 4 weeks after whole lung irradiation suggest that steroid can suppress alveolar and endothelial damages induced by whole lung irradiation but Proliferation of the fibroblast and structural changes of basal lamina were not related to administration of steroid.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.67-72
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• 2004

Quality of fresh-cut tomato slices was compared during cold storage under various modified atmosphere packaging conditions. Chilling injury of slices in containers sealed with Film A was higher than with Film B; these films had oxygen transmission rates of 87.4 and 60.0 ml $h^{-1}\;m^{-2}\;atm^{-1}$ at $5^{\circ}C\;and\;99\%$ RH, respectively. While slices in containers with an initial atmospheric composition of air, $4\%\;CO_2+1\;or\;20\%\;O_2,\;8\%\;CO_2+1\;or\;20\%\;O_2,\;or\;12\%\;CO_2+20\%\;O_2$ showed fungal growth, slices in containers with $12\%\;CO_2+1\%\;O_2$ did not. Low ethylene in containers enhanced chilling injury. Modified atmosphere packaging provided good quality tomato slices with a shelf-life of 2 weeks or more at $5^{\circ}C$. Experiments were conducted to compare changes in quality of slices of red tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Sunbeam') fruit from plants grown using black polyethylene or hairy vetch mulches under various foliar disease management systems including: no fungicide applications (NF), a disease forecasting model (Tom-Cast), and weekly fungicide applications (WF), during storage at $5^{\circ}C$ under a modified atmosphere. Slices were analyzed for firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pH, electrolyte leakage, fungi, yeasts, and chilling injury. With both NF and Tom-Cast fungicide treatments, slices from tomato fruit grown with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) mulch were firmer than those from tomato fruit grown with black polyethylene mulch after 12 days storage. Ethylene production of slices from fruit grown using hairy vetch mulch under Tom-Cast was about 1.5- and 5-fold higher than that of slices from WF and NF fungicide treatments after 12 days, respectively. The percentage of water-soaked areas (chilling injury) for slices from tomato fruit grown using black polyethylene mulch under NF was over 7-fold that of slices from tomato fruit grown using hairy vetch under Tom-Cast. When stored at $20^{\circ}C$, slices from light-red tomato fruit grown with black polyethylene or hairy vetch mulches both showed a rapid increase in electrolyte leakage beginning 6 hours after slicing. However, slices from tomato fruit grown using the hairy vetch mulch tended to have lower electrolyte leakage than those grown with black polyethylene mulch. These results suggest that tomato fruit from plants grown using hairy vetch mulch may be more suitable for fresh-cut slices than those grown using black polyethylene mulch. Also, use of the disease forecasting model Tom-Cast, which can result in lower fungicide application than is currently used commercially, resulted in high quality fruit for fresh-cut processing. Experiments were conducted to determine if ethylene influences chilling injury, as measured by percentage of slices exhibiting water-soaked areas in fresh-cut tomato slices of 'Mountain Pride' and 'Sunbeam' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Ethylene concentration in containers without ventilation significantly increased during storage at $5^{\circ}C$, whereas little or no accumulation of ethylene occurred in containers with one or six perforations. Chilling injury was greatest for slices in containers with six perforations, compared to slices in containers with one perforation, and was over 13-fold greater than that of slices in control containers with no perforations. An experiment was also performed to investigate the effectiveness of including an ethylene absorbent pad in containers on subsequent ethylene accumulation and chilling injury. While ethylene in the no-pad controls increased continually during storage of both 'Mountain Pride' and 'Sunbeam' tomatoes at $5^{\circ}C$ under modified atmosphere conditions, no increase in accumulation of ethylene was observed in containers containing ethylene absorbent pads throughout storage. The ethylene absorbent pad treatment resulted in a significantly higher percentage of chilling injury compared with the no-pad control. In studies aimed at inhibiting ethylene production using AVG during storage of slices, the concentration of ethylene in control containers (no AVG) remained at elevated levels throughout storage, compared to containers with slices treated with AVG. Chilling injury in slices treated with AVG was 5-fold greater than that of controls. Further, we tested the effect of ethylene pretreatment of slices on subsequent slice shelf-life and quality. In slices treated with ethylene (0, 0.1, 1, or $10\;{mu}L\;L^{-1}$) immediately after slicing, ethylene production in non-treated controls was greater than that of all other ethylene pre-treatments. However, pretreatment of slices 3 days after slicing resulted in a different pattern of ethylene production during storage. Ihe rate of ethylene production by slices treated with 1 L $L^{-1}$ ethylene 3 days after slicing was greater during storage than any of the other ethylene treatments. With slices pre-treated with ethylene, both immediately and 3 days after slicing, the rate of ethylene production tended to show an negative correlation with chilling injury. Chemical name used: 1-aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2006

Background : Delayed treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is an important problem because it results in greater mortality and the nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis. This study was conducted to analyze the factors that contribute to the delayed treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in a university hospital and we wanted to provide basic data for instituting an effective management program for tuberculosis. Methods : we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 155 patients with smear-positive or culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis and who were treated between May 1999 and October 1999. A case-control study was performed to analyze the factors. We then tried to follow up the patients in delayed treatment group via telephone for the purpose of assessing the therapeutic interventions. Results : Among 150 patients, 55 (37%) were included in the delayed treatment group. The factors associated with delayed treatment on the univariate analysis included age (61 vs 40 years old; p <0.001), a smear-negative sputum test for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) (85% vs 55%; p <0.001) and no visits to a private clinic before the patient presented to the university hospital (56% vs 36%; p = 0.014). Multivariate analysis revealed that old age (p = 0.001), a smear-negative sputum for AFB (p = 0.001), and lower lobe infiltrate on chest X-ray (p = 0.041) were the independent predictors of delayed treatment. Of the 22 patients who did not receive any treatment, 20 of them 91%) consented to our suggestion of revisiting the hospital. Conclusion : Delayed treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is not uncommon in a university hospital. Old age, smear-negative for AFB, and lower lobe infiltrate on chest X-ray are the risk factors for delayed treatment. A more systematic management system is required for achieving better control of tuberculosis.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.148-157
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate greenhouse maintenance by farms by looking into greenhouses across the nation for greenhouse specification, disaster-resistance greenhouse construction, types and degree of damage due to natural disasters, pre-inspection in case of typhoon or heavy snow forecast, and fire-fighting facilities to prevent a fire. The findings were summarized as follows: as for greenhouse specification, the highest proportion of them were 90 m or longer both in single- and multi-span greenhouses in terms of length; 8 m or wider and 7.0~7.9 m in single- and multi-span greenhouses, respectively, in terms of width; 1.5~1.9 m and 2.0~2.9 m in single-and multi-span greenhouses, respectively, in terms of height; and 3.0~3.9 m and 6 m in single- and multi-span greenhouses, respectively, in terms of diameter. As for disaster-resistance greenhouses, farmers were reluctant to install such greenhouses. The low distribution of disaster-resistance greenhouses was attributed to the greenhouses built dependent on the old practice, the greenhouses already completed, and relatively high construction costs. As for damage by natural disasters, greenhouses were subject to more damage by typhoons than heavy snow. They mainly inspected the ceiling and side windows, entrances, and fixation bands for covering materials in case of typhoon forecast and the heating devices in case of heavy snow forecast. As for repair methods for greenhouse pipe corrosion, they preferred partial replacement to painting and did not use stiffeners for structures to prevent a natural disaster in most cases. As for the maintenance of greenhouse covering materials, most farmers inspected their sealing property but did not clean the coverings for light transmission. The destruction of structural materials can be prevented by eliminating greenhouse covering materials during a typhoon, but they were not able to do so because of the covering material replacement costs and the crops they were growing. The study also examined whether greenhouse farms had fire-fighting facilities to prevent a fire and found that they lacked the perception of greenhouse fire prevention to a great degree.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2013

Six kinds of sprout vegetables were applied three and six types of non-perforated breathable propylene films (NPB film) for individual and mixed modified atmosphere (MA) package condition at $10^{\circ}C$ on this study. As a tah tasai, kohlrabi, rape, chinese cabbage, red radish, broccoli sprouts were packaged by 20,000, 60,000, and 100,000 $cc{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}day{\cdot}atm$ non-perforated breathable films for seven days storage. Mixed sprout vegetables were used 20,000 cc, 40,000 cc, 60,000 cc, 80,000 cc, and 100,000 $cc{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}day{\cdot}atm$ non-perforated breathable films for seven days storage. Loss rate of fresh weight, changes of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and ethylene gas concentration were measured during the storage. Visual quality and off-flavor were rated by panel tests after seven days storage. Each sprout vegetable storage with film tests had been shown under the 0.5% fresh weight loss in every packaged films, and the 20,000cc NPB film package had been suitable atmosphere condition in the carbon dioxide and oxygen gas concentration. Appearance and off-odor of sprouts packaged with 20,000cc NPB film were shown better than other films because of the proper gas movement through the film to outside during the storage. Fresh weight loss of the mixed sprout vegetables had no difference among the NPB films for seven days storage. The 20,000 cc film had been resulted in that exchange rate of carbon dioxide and oxygen was highest cause of low film permeability than sprouts respiration. But the film is not good for storage because it has been made poor value of off-order even showed high visual quality from panel test after storage. 40,000 cc and 60,000 cc non-perforated breathable films were more suitable for mixed sprout vegetable storage at $10^{\circ}C$. These result suggested that 20,000 cc NPB film was good for single packaged sprout vegetable and 40,000 cc and 60,000 cc non-perforated breathable films were good for mixed packaged sprout vegetable.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.659-667
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• 2000

Quality attributes of fresh-cut green onion(Allium fistulosum L.) as affected by rinsing and packaging were investigated in terms of flesh weight, color, viable cell counts, sensory properties during storage at $10^{\circ}C$. Fresh green onions were trimmed, cut, and rinsed with cold water(approximately $5^{\circ}C$) as well as chlorine solution(100 mg/L) and then packaged in low density polyethylene film pouches of $63\;{\mu}m$ thickness. Rinsing treatments with cold water or chlorine solution did not significantly influence changes in microbial populations but sensory characteristics, resulting in cut green onions of better visual quality as compared to the control without rinsing. Fresh-cut green onions were also rinsed with cold water and packaged in sealed bags of low density polyethylene films with different thickness(22, 36, $63\;{\mu}m$), and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ for 18 days. Thickness of polyethylene film was a significant factor for microorganisms populations and sensory attributes. Mesophilic aerobic bacterial count after 13 days for the control, packed in punched film bags, was $3.07{\times}10^6}$ CFU/g, while those for samples in hermetically sealed bags ranged only $1.74{\sim}2.02{\times}10^5}$ CFU/g. Gas composition within the sealed packages changed from normal air to about $1.3{\sim}5.4%\;O_2$ and $4.0{\sim}8.0%\;CO_2$ after 13 days of storage. Particularly, the visual sensory quality of cut green onion samples was retained better in polyethylene film bags of $63\;{\mu}m$ thickness(gas transmission rate: 600 $O_2\;mL/day{\cdot}m^2{\cdot}atm;\;2,500\;CO_2\;mL/day{\cdot}m^2{\cdot}atm$) than in the others.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2020

Effect of 6kg large unit with the carton box (20% open ratio) and MA box (10,000cc·m^-2·day^-1·atm^-1 oxygen transmission rates modified atmosphere package), and the 100g small unit with MA film on asparagus sensory quality were evaluated. The CO₂ concentration depended largely on the packing unit and maintained at around 3% in small MA packages, whereas in the MA box increased to 12%. Ethylene concentration rapidly increased until after 3 days of storage in MA packages and then decreased to maintain 5μL·L^-1. Unrelated to the unit size, the lower weight loss was obtained in MA packages. A significant difference in visual quality was shown since the 15th day, the best and worst were the MA box and small MA package on the finish day. Off-odor was the highest in small MA packages and the lowest in the carton box (< 3.0). Although there was no significant difference in firmness among all treatments, the packages showed the highest firmness in tips and stems, respectively. The sugar content and hue angle decreased during storage, but there was no statistical difference in all treatments. EL was lowest and highest in small MA package and carton box, respectively. On the 10th day, the total aerobic bacteria was lowest in small MA packages, but no significant difference on the 20th day. E. coli was not found in all treatments on the 10th day, while it was the lowest in the MA box on the 20th day. The mold and yeast were not observed during the whole storage. Based on the above results, the carton box packaged with 10,000cc OTR film was more effective in maintaining the quality of green asparagus with the suitable CO₂ concentration for asparagus cold storage.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.249-254
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• 2022

With the rapid advance of the semiconductor and Information and communication technologies, remote environment monitoring technology, which can detect and analyze surrounding environmental conditions with various types of sensors and wireless communication technologies, is also drawing attention. However, since the conventional remote environmental monitoring systems require external power supplies, it causes time and space limitations on comfortable usage. In this study, we proposed the concept of the self-powered remote environmental monitoring system by supplying the power with the levitation-electromagnetic generator (L-EMG), which is rationally designed to effectively harvest biomechanical energy in consideration of the mechanical characteristics of biomechanical energy. In this regard, the proposed L-EMG is designed to effectively respond to the external vibration with the movable center magnet considering the mechanical characteristics of the biomechanical energy, such as relatively low-frequency and high amplitude of vibration. Hence the L-EMG based on the fragile force equilibrium can generate high-quality electrical energy to supply power. Additionally, the environmental detective sensor and wireless transmission module are composed of the micro control unit (MCU) to minimize the required power for electronic device operation by applying the sleep mode, resulting in the extension of operation time. Finally, in order to maximize user convenience, a mobile phone application was built to enable easy monitoring of the surrounding environment. Thus, the proposed concept not only verifies the possibility of establishing the self-powered remote environmental monitoring system using biomechanical energy but further suggests a design guideline.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.409-415
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• 2022

Plant growth and development are also affected by root-zone environment. Therefore, it is important to consider the variables of the root-zone environment when establishing an irrigation strategy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the volumetric moisture content (VWC), Bulk EC (ECb), and Pore EC (ECp) used by plant roots using FDR sensors in two types of rockwool media with different water transmission characteristics, using the method above this was used to establish a method for collecting and correcting available root-zone environmental data. For the experiment, two types of rockwool medium (RW1, RW2) with different physical characteristics were used. The moisture content (MC) and ECb were measured using an FDR sensor, ECp was measured after extracting the residual nutrient solution from the medium using a disposable syringe in the center of the medium at a volumetric moisture content (VWC) of 10-100%. Then, ECb and ECp are measured by supplying nutrient solution having different concentration (distilled water, 0.5-5.0) to two types of media (RW1, RW2) in each volume water content range (0 to 100%). The relationship between ECb and ECp in RW1 and RW2 media is best suited for cubic polynomial. The relationship between ECb and ECp according to volume moisture content (VWC) range showed a large error rate in the low volume moisture content (VWC) range of 10-60%. The correlation between the sensor measured value (ECb) and the ECp used by plant roots according to the volumetric water content (VWC) range was the most suitable for the Paraboloid equation in both media (RW1, RW2). The coefficient of determination the calibration equation for RW1 and RW2 media were 0.936, 0.947, respectively.