• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.156-159
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• 2018

Purpose: Sepsis is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis is a major problem because of the lack of specific clinical signs. Therefore, a reliable diagnostic marker is needed to guide the use of antimicrobial agents. The objective of our study was to assess the value of proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM) in establishing the diagnosis and evaluating the prognosis of neonatal sepsis. Methods: This study enrolled 60 newborn infants with sepsis proven with positive blood cultures and 30 healthy neonates. Complete blood count, C-reactive protein levels, and pro-ADM levels were obtained from all neonates. Results: The pro-ADM levels were significantly higher ($14.39{\pm}0.75nmol/L$) in the sepsis group than in the control group ($3.12{\pm}0.23nmol/L$). The optimal cutoff value for pro-ADM was 4.3 nmol/L, with a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 86.7%. The pro-ADM levels were also higher in nonsurvivors (P=0.001). Conclusion: Pro-ADM can be used as a reliable biomarker for neonatal sepsis. High pro-ADM levels were associated with mortality and could be an early indicator of disease outcome.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.189-203
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• 2015

Membrane biofouling impedes wide application of membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater treatment. Recently, quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms are accounted for one of major mechanisms in biofouling of MBRs. In this study, vanillin was applied to investigate reduction of biofouling in MBRs. MBR sludge was analyzed to contain QS signal molecules by cross-feeding biosensor assay and HPLC. In addition, the inhibitory activity of vanillin against bacterial quorum sensing was verified using an indicator strain CV026. The vanillin doses greater than 125 mg/L to 100 mL of MBR sludge showed 25% reduction of biofilm formed on the membrane surfaces. Two MBRs, i.e., a typical MBR as a control and an MBR with vanillin, were operated. The TMP increases of the control MBR were more rapid compared to those of the MBR with the vanillin dose of 250 mg/L. The treatment efficiencies of the two MBRs on organic removal and MLSS were maintained relatively constant. Extracellular polymeric substance concentrations measured at the end of the MBR operation were 173 mg/g biocake for the control MBR and 119 mg/g biocake for the MBR with vanillin. Vanillin shows great potential as an anti-biofouling agent for MBRs without any interference on microbial activity for wastewater treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.262-267
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• 2007

During a screening program, an actinomycete strain isolated from the Egyptian soil was investigated for its potential to show antimicrobial activity. The identification of this isolate was performed according to spore morphology and cell wall chemo-type, which suggested that this strain is a streptomycete. Further cultural, physiological characteristics and the analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene (1480 bp) of this isolate indicated that this strain is identical to Streptomyces violaceusniger (accession number EF063682) and then designated S. violaceusniger strain HAL64. In its culture supernatant, this organism could produce one major compound strongly inhibits the growth of Gram-positive but the inhibition of Gram-negative indicator bacteria was lower. The antibiotic was separated by silica gel column chromatography and then purified on a sephadex LH-20 column and finally the purity was checked by HPLC. The chemical structure of the purified compound was determined using spectroscopic analyses (molecular formula of $C_{33}H_{32}N_{2}O_{10}$ and molecular weight of 617.21) and found to be identical to the kosinostatin, a quinocycline antibiotic which is known to be produced by Micromonspora sp. TP-A0468 (Igarashi et al., 2002) and to quinocycline B isolated from Streptomyces aureofaciens (Celmer et al., 1958). Although the antibiotic is known, the newly isolated strain was able to produce the antibiotic as a major product providing an important biotechnological downstream advantage.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.7
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• pp.1149-1154
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• 2017

In this paper, we propose a sensorless multi-function controller applicable for deep well water pumps using current detection method. The proposed system overcomes various drawbacks of existing sensored system and additional features like Over current protection function due to overload, Under current protection function for idling at low water level and Relay function for starting single phase motors and acts as a level indicator to detect water lever in real time by the current detection method. A prototype of the multi-function controller system is designed and all of its functions are tested in the laboratory. The application of the proposed controller ensures reduction in the power consumption and maintenance cost in the facilities like water and septic tanks, drainage and waste water system, oil and chemical tanks where deep well pumps are used.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.629-637
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-salinity wastewater on the microbial activity of Aerobic Granule Sludge (AGS). Laboratory-scale experiments were performed using a sequencing batch reactor, and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), nitrogen removal efficiency, sludge precipitability, and microbial activity were evaluated under various salinity injection. The COD removal efficiency was found to decrease gradually to 3.0% salinity injection, and it tended to recover slightly from 4.0%. The specific nitrification rate was 0.043 - 0.139 mg $NH_4{^+}-N/mg$ $MLVSS{\cdot}day$. The specific denitrification rate was 0.069 - 0.108 mg $NO_3{^-}-N/mg$ $MLVSS{\cdot}day$. The sludge volume index ($SVI_{30}$) ultimately decreased to 46 mL/g. The specific oxygen uptake rate decreased from an initial value 120.3 to a final value 70.7 mg $O_2/g$ $MLVSS{\cdot}hr$. Therefore, salinity injection affects the activity of AGS, causing degradation of the COD and nitrogen removal efficiency. It can be used as an indicator to objectively determine the effect of salinity on microbial activity.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.670-680
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• 2022

Owing to the lack of a cold-chain distribution system, most seafood is generally distributed under room temperature conditions. However the degradation of freshness during the distribution process can lead to disputes between sellers and consumers. The most widely used method for low-temperature distribution for seafood includes packaging it with styrofoam boxes and cold packs. In this study, vacuum-packed frozen fillets of four fish species of [white meat (Paralichthys olivaceus and Sebastes schlegelii) and red meat (Scomber japonicus and Scomberomorus niphonius)] were placed in styrofoam boxes with cold packs. Thereafter, changes in chemical (including pH, volatile basic nitrogen, and trimethylamine), physical (odor intensity, hardness, and chewiness), and microbial (viable cell count) characteristics of the fillets were measured during storage at 25℃. To identify the suitable method of determining freshness during the room-temperature distribution, several factors were considered, which included significant difference verification, correlation coefficients, and economic efficiency (experimental cost and time). Volatile basic nitrogen, pH, odor intensity, and viable cell count are the most rapid and accurate freshness indicators for determining freshness of frozen fish fillets during.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.19-25
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• 2022

Purpose: As interest in odor increases, odor complaints are also rapidly increasing. Traditional markets are not included in malodor control areas and are not easy to manage, so measure the odor substances generated in traditional markets and analyze the cause of high concentration points. Research design, data and methodology: The average value was presented by continuously measuring the combined odor, TVOC, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia for 5 minutes at 100m intervals in Joong-ang traditional market, Jayu traditional market, Doraemi traditional market, and Sundae Alley in Wonju, Gangwon-do. In each market, up to the third highest concentration point for each measurement item was marked and analyzed. Results: The Joong-ang traditional market, Doraemi traditional market, and Sundae Alley had high readings at the intersection. The Jayu traditional market had high measurements around restaurants and clothing stores. In addition, the concentration of complex malodors was also high at the points where the hydrogen sulfide concentration was measured. Conclusions: Odor generated in traditional markets is an important indicator for merchants and consumers. Therefore, in future studies, analysis that can supplement the limitations of measurement data and seasonal effects is needed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.291-306
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• 2023

Shallow groundwater in rural areas is primarily polluted by agricultural activities. Nitrate-nitrogen is an indicator of artificial pollution. In this study, the hydrochemical characteristics and nitrate-nitrogen pollution of shallow groundwater were examined in two agricultural villages (Hyogyo-ri and Sinan-ri) in Chungcheongnam-do Province, Korea. Physicochemical quality analysis of shallow groundwater and stream water in the field, and chemical analysis in the laboratory were conducted from July 2020 to October 2021. In Hygyo-ri and Sinan-ri villages, shallow groundwater mainly belonged to the Ca-Cl, Ca-H CO₃, Na-HCO₃, and Na-Cl types, whereas stream water predominantly belonged to the Ca-HCO₃ type. The nitrate-nitrogen concentration in shallow groundwater varied depending on the season, displaying an increased concentration of nitrate-nitrogen in the dry season compared to the rainy season. Stream water may be influenced by runoff into villages from the surrounding area, although both shallow groundwater and stream water are affected by artificial pollution. In addition, the nitrate-nitrogen concentration in stream water was lower than that in shallow groundwater.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

The health state of the oil transformer is evaluated by the age of use and the state of internal defects. Mineral Oil, used as an insulator for oil transformers, creates specific gases and compounds through chemical reactions caused by heat, moisture, and partial discharge inside the transformer. It is possible to determine the aging and defect of the transformer through these gases and compounds. So, it is an important indicator to evaluate the health of a transformer. In this study, factors for assessing the health of transformers were hierarchically categorized, and key factors for each hierarchy were selected for design weighting. These weights were determined through surveys conducted with experts in the fields of transformer design, operation, and quality. For the health of a transformer, defect-related factors are approximately three times more important than factors related to aging. Additionally, defect-related factors showed a higher weighting for gases generated at high temperatures. Furthermore, Furan was determined to have a high weight, directly associated with insulating paper aging. Based on these findings, a health index was proposed, and a comparative analysis was conducted by categorizing 40 operational transformers into normal and comparison groups to evaluate and validate it.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2024

While scientific information on the spatial variation of soda lake Microalgae is important to limnological studies, little information was reported from the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lake, Lake Chitu. This study aimed to understand the spatial distribution of the dominant Microalgae taxa in Lake Chitu, Ethiopia. The collection of samples and in situ measurements of some physico-chemical parameters were recorded at three sites for one cycle in November 2021. Fourteen species or genera of Microalgae were identified. Among those, Bacillariophyta were the most important with regard to species abundance and the rarest in species richness. Cyanophyta were the second-most important group in terms of species richness and rarity. Comparatively, all microalgae taxa were rare at both the anthropogenic areas (AA) and the flooding area (FA), which could be mainly due to intensive human and animal intervention and associated with extreme turbidity. Among Cyanophyta, Chroococcus minutus, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Spirulina platensis/fusiformis were predominant at both AA and FA, revealing their adaptation to less clear water and pollution. But S. platensis/fusiformis attained the highest abundance at the FA, indicating their preference for water in a highly nutrient-enriched area. We concluded that the spatial variation of microalgae diversity in relation to water quality parameters has implications for the importance of microalgae as a baseline indicator of water quality assessment tools in lakes.