• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2012

With the rapid growth of fresh-cut produce market, the South Korean fresh-cut industry is facing the challenge of ensuring food safety. As the estimation of the microbial numbers in fresh-cut produce processing lines (tools, and equipment) using the conventional microbiological techniques takes days, so there is a need for faster and easier monitoring methods. This study was conducted to investigate the use of ATP bioluminescence assay to measure the degree of microbial contamination from three actual fresh-cut processing lines. The samples collected from frech-cut vegetables, and fresh-cut fruits processing plants were tested for the estimation of the bacterial number, using the ATP bioluminescence and microbiological methods. The result of former was transferred to log RLU/100 $cm^2$, and that of the latter was transferred to log CFU/100 $cm^2$. A positive linear correlation between the ATP bioluminescence assay value and aerobic-plate count was found for fresh-cut processing lines, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8772 (n=50). The results of this study indicate that ATP bioluminescence assay can be used to monitor microbial contamination in fresh-cut produce processing plants, and can help improve the hygiene therein.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.523-532
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• 2017

A field survey studying intestinal parasites in humans and microbial pathogen contamination at environment was performed in a Laotian rural village to identify potential risks for disease outbreaks. A parasitological investigation was conducted in Ban Lak Sip village, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR involving fecal samples from 305 inhabitants as well as water samples taken from 3 sites of the local stream. Water analysis indicated the presence of several enteric pathogens, i.e., Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., E. coli H7, E. coli O157: H7, verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), Shigella spp., and enteric adenovirus. The level of microbial pathogens contamination was associated with human activity, with greater levels of contamination found at the downstream site compared to the site at the village and upstream, respectively. Regarding intestinal parasites, the prevalence of helminth and protozoan infections were 68.9% and 27.2%, respectively. Eight helminth taxa were identified in fecal samples, i.e., 2 tapeworm species (Taenia sp. and Hymenolepis diminuta), 1 trematode (Opisthorchis sp.), and 5 nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, trichostrongylids, and hookworms). Six species of intestinal protists were identified, i.e., Blastocystis hominis, Cyclospora spp., Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar, Entamoeba coli, and Giardia lamblia. Questionnaires and interviews were also conducted to determine risk factors of infection. These analyses together with a prevailing infection level suggested that most of villagers were exposed to parasites in a similar degree due to limited socio-economic differences and sharing of similar practices. Limited access to effective public health facilities is also a significant contributing factor.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.spc
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• pp.51-63
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• 2022

In this study, the TPH(Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon) contamination and microbial ecological characteristics in petroleum-contaminated site were investigated through the correlation among the vertical TPH contamination distribution of the site, the geochemical characteristics, and the indigenous microbial ecology. The high TPH concentration showed in the vicinity of 3~4 m or less which is thought to be affected by vertical movement due to the impervious clay layer. In addition, the TPH concentration was found to have a positive correlation with Fe²⁺, TOC concentration, and the number of petroleum-degrading bacteria, and a negative correlation with the microbial community diversity. The microbial community according to the vertical distribution of TPH showed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level were dominant in this study area as a whole, and they competed with each other. In particular, it was confirmed that the difference in the microbial community was different due to the difference in the degree of vertical TPH contamination. In addition, the genera Acidovorax, Leptolinea, Rugoshibacter, and Smithella appeared dominant in the samples in which TPH was detected, which is considered to be the microorganisms involved in the degradation of TPH in this study area. It is expected that this study can be used as an important data to understand the contamination characteristics and biogeochemical and microbial characteristics of these TPH-contaminated sites.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2022

Disposable wet wipes provided by general restaurants in the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province were evaluated for compliance with the labeling requirements and the degree of bacterial contamination set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Of the 32 types of disposable wipes, five types of disposable wipes did not indicate the name and location of the business office of the manufacturer. Only 12 types of wet wipes were marked with the date of manufacture and expiration date. Bacterial contamination was seen in 9 types of wet wipes through bacterial culture but these were absent in the remaining 23 types (71.9%). The results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test for the 9 identified strains showed no methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) or multidrug-resistant bacteria. Through this study, it is recommended that the date of manufacture and expiration date must be indicated on the surface of disposable wet wipes designated as hygiene products, and clean uncontaminated wet wipes must comply with storage standards. In addition, the results are expected to contribute to the enhancement and improvement of hygiene management supervision, personal hygiene management, and an improvement in national health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.27-34
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• 1991

This study was carried out to investigate the use habit of drinking water. The survey data were collected from 1,282 of students and 175 of officers from September 1990 to June 1991 in Pusan city and the South of Kyung sang-do. The use rate of tap water among respondents was 33.5%, and the reasons that the others avoid using tap water were having the risk of heavy metals contamination and unsanitary. The 80% of respondents have drunk spring water or bottled water within two or three years. The keeping method of them were 53% in the refrigerator, and 33% in the indoor. The use rate of water vessels what were equipped in mineral springs was 85%. It's advisable that the picking of mineral water be cautious within two or three days after rain. The holding rate of water purifier in respondents was about 20%, and it was purchased within one or two years and the reliance degree of that in users was below 50%.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.2025-2033
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• 2006

This paper presents, the design of a latch mechanism for wafer containers in a standard mechanical interface environment. For an integrated circuits fabrication factory, the standard mechanical interfaced wafer container is an effective tool to prevent wafers from particle contamination during wafer storage, transporting or transferring. The latch mechanism inside the container door is used to latch and further seal the wafer container for safety and air quality. Kinematic characteristics of the mechanism are established by analyzing the required functions of the mechanisms. Based on these characteristics, a methodology for enumerating feasible latch mechanisms is developed. New mechanisms with one degree-of-freedom and up to five links are generated. An optimum design is also identified with respect to the criteria pertinent to the application. The computer-aided simulation is also built to verify the design.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1982

The incidence of hospital infection has been seriously increased in the general hospital in recent years. This study was performed on hospital air and materials in a General Hospital in Seoul from June to December in 1980. The results were as follows: 1. Air sampling was done in multiple strategic areas by exposing standard petridishes for 5 minutes. There was a significant difference of airborne microbe between places. ($F._{99}$ = 3.2, p < 0.01). 2. The mean colony count was 8.6$\pm$6.2 colonies / plate / 5 minutes. 3. Gram stains of colony in air sampling were Gram (+) cocci 66.5%. Gram (+) rod 18.4%, Gram (-) cocci 1.3%, Gram (-) rod 8.7% Fungus 4.5%. 4. For the evaluation of sterilization of steam sterilizer and ethylene oxide gas sterilizer, biological monitoring were done by commercial spore strip. Positive culture was obtained in 2 out of 41 tests on 3 steam sterilizers, and in 3 out of 13 tests on ethylene oxide gas sterilizer. 5. Product sampling and culture were done for 2 kinds of disinfectants and 30 sets of various operation package or dressing materials. Positive culture was obtained in one disinfectants.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1013-1021
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• 2004

This paper presents the results of spectrum analysis of leakage current waveforms on contaminated polymer insulators under fog conditions. This is a basic study on development of a monitoring for aging degree and surface pollution state using distortion rate(%) of 3rd and 5th harmonics according fundamental frequency[60Hz] under environment conditions. Arcing on the surface was always associated with distortion in the leakage current ; hence the low frequency components of the leakage current can be used as a means to evaluate the surface degradation. The results indicate that the distortion rate by spectrum analysis is available for the monitoring of contamination condition of EPDM Polymer insulators.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.142-145
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• 2014

In this paper we record the complex hologram of a real object with optical scanning holography (OSH). We reconstruct the complex hologram using a numerical process, and then we evaluate the degree of contamination by speckle noise between the reconstruction of the complex hologram and the image captured by a CCD camera. We use the contrast of the speckle pattern for quantitative evaluation.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2000.07c
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• pp.2138-2140
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• 2000

송전선, 변전소, 발전소 등의 전력설비에 있어서 애자장치의 오손은 지락사고나 코로나 유발에 의한 환경장애 등의 원인이 되고 있어 염분에 의한 애자장치의 오손 대책이 설비 관리에 있어서 중요한 부분을 차지하고 있으며, 이를 위해서는 염분 오손도의 측정이 선행되어야 한다. 본 논문에서는 염분 오손도를 상시 자동으로 측정할 수 있는 방법으로서 제안되고 있는 전자식 애자 이용법, 열전 반도체를 이용한 전도도 측정법, Nd:YAG 레이저법, 레이저 광센서와 프리즘을 이용한 염분 오손도 측정법, 정전용량 검출센서를 이용한 염분 오손도 측정법, 백금 전극을 이용한 누설전류 측정법과 같은 염분 오손도 측정법을 소개하고자 한다.