• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify influencing factors on the performance of healthcare-associated infection control and microbiological hand contamination among caregivers at a tertiary hospital. Methods: The participants of this study were 59 caregivers woring at a tertiary hospital. Data were collected from July 1 to 30, 2018. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression by SPSS 23.0 Win program. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that factors influencing performance of healthcare-associated infection control were awareness (β=.63, p<.001) and the experience of infection-related education (β=-3.40, p=.042). Regression equations describing the performance of healthcare-related infection control were found to be appropriate (F=27.29, p<.001) and accounted for 68% of variance. Factors affecting the degree of microbiological hand contamination were work experience (β=-0.28, p=.026) and healthcare-related infection performance (β=-0.28, p=.029). A regression equation describing the microbiological hand contamination was appropriate (F=6.10, p=.004) and accounted for 42% of variance. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that it is necessary to increase performance of healthcare-associated infection control by caregivers. Also, educations for preventing healthcare-associated infection and guidelines for increasing compliance with healthcare-associated infection control are recommended to improve performance of healthcare-associated infection control.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.220-223
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• 2005

The purposes of this study was to develop the best one among the methods using dry heat, gamma irradiation and alcohol gas, to sterilize Scutellariae Radix selected based on high frequency of circulation between merchants and high susceptibility to microbial contamination, through comparing these methods in terms of the followings; ⅰ) the efficacy of sterilization in comparison with cost, and ⅱ)the alteration of chemical components of these herbal medicines. The results of this study will be taken advantage of establishment of the maximum limit of microorganism contaminated in herbal medicines. From the results of this study we conclude the followings: ⅰ) The sterilizing method using dry heat may be inappropriate, because it seriously changed their color and morphology which is an essential criterion to estimate a measure of quality between merchants and consumers, although it effectively got rid of contaminated microorganism and did not alter major components, baicalin; ⅱ) The sterilizing method using gamma irradiation may be appropriate, because it showed a strong sterilizing effect, and no alteration of chemical components, color and morphology; ⅲ)The sterilizing method using alcohol gas may also be appropriate, because it had a similar effects as in the case of gamma irradiation. Collectively, we suggest that appropriate sterilizing methods to guarantee the microbial quality of this herbal medicine may be those using gamma irradiation and alcohol gas.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.32-39
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• 2013

This research focused on the effects of heavy metals on the biomonitoring activity of genetically engineered bioluminescent bacteria, Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206. KG1206 was exposed to single or binary mixtures of different heavy metals as well as soils contaminated with heavy metals. In case of single exposure with different inducer pollutant, the toxicity order was as followings : As(III) > Cd, As(V) >> Cu, Cr(VI). The toxic effects of the binary mixtures was compared to the expected effect based on a simple theory of probabilities. The interactive effects were mostly additive, while in few cases antgonistic and synergistic mode of action was observed for some concentration combinations. No considerable correlation was found between the total metal contents in soils and the bioluminescence activity of each sample. However, statistically significant differences (p = 0.0102) were observed between two groups, classified based on arsenite contamination. These results demonstrate the usage of recombinant bioluminescent microorganism in biomonitoring and the complex interactive effects of metals.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2003

HS, Ammonia, CH$_4$, VOCs, Microorganism, Bacteria etc produced from swineries or henhouses are known to prevent the growth of livestock. Moreover, they give an unpleasant feeling to the workers. In this study, a methodology to remove odors and toxic gases by oxidation of ozone was thus accomplished. However, most ozone generators which use the atmospheric surrounding air have problems of contamination of electrode for discharge. Therefore in this work, a wire-cylinder type plasma reactor with DC voltage has been used both in a laboratory scale test and in the real swinery to solve the existing problems. About 6 cm of electrode gap could decrease the attachment of dusts, humid aerosols and other polymers, which are contained in the air. This compact designed device could produce ozone to oxidize and remove the air pollutants. But the amount of ozone was not large enough to be harmful to human Health. Also, the concentration of ozone was able to be varied by the input voltage. which makes it available for the proposed system to be installed in various kinds of pig houses. With this device, at maximum 43 mg/㎥ (20 ppm) of ozone could be produced at 40 ㎸ input voltage (consumed energy was 0.1 Wh/㎥). A program was also made in this work to calculate the optimum parameters for design of a plasma reactor in wide range of conditions.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

Contamination of soils, groundwater, air and marine environment with hazardous and toxic chemicals is major side effect by the industrialization. Bioremediation, the application of microorganism or microbial processes to degrade environmental contaminant, is one of the new environmental technologies. Because of low water solubility and volatility of diesel, bioremediation is more efficient than physical and chemical methods. The purpose of this study is biodegradation of diesel in sand by using Rhodococcus fascians, a microorganism isolated from petroleum contaminated soil. This study was performed in the column containing sand obtained from sea sides. Changes in biodegradability of diesel with various flow rates, inoculum sizes, diesel concentrations, and pH were investigated in sand column. The optimal condition for biodegradation of diesel by R. fascians in sand column system was initial pH 8 and air flow rate of 30 mL/min. Higher diesel degradation was achieved at larger inoculum size and the diesel degradation by R. fascians was not inhibited by diesel concentration up to 5%.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.397-403
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• 2017

Objective : Cranioplasty using a cryopreserved skull flap is a wide spread practice. The most well-known complications of cranioplasty are postoperative surgical infections and bone flap resorption. In order to find biological evidence of cryopreserved cranioplasty, we investigated microorganism contamination of cryopreserved skulls and cultured osteoblasts from cryopreserved skulls. Methods : Cryopreserved skull flaps of expired patients stored in a bone bank were used. Cryopreserved skulls were packaged in a plastic bag and wrapped with cotton cloth twice. After being crushed by a hammer, cancellous bone between the inner and outer table was obtained. The cancellous bone chips were thawed in a water bath of $30^{\circ}C$ rapidly. After this, osteoblast culture and general microorganism culture were executed. Osteoblast cultures were done for 3 weeks. Microorganism cultures were done for 72 hours. Results : A total of 47 cryopreserved skull flaps obtained from craniectomy was enrolled. Of the sample, 11 people were women, and the average age of patients was 55.8 years. Twenty four people had traumatic brain injuries, and 23 people had vascular diseases. Among the patients with traumatic brain injuries, two had fracture compound comminuted depressed. The duration of cryopreservation was, on average, 83.2 months (9 to 161 months). No cultured osteoblast was observed. No microorganisms were cultured. Conclusion : In this study, neither microorganisms nor osteoblasts were cultured. The biological validity of cryopreserved skulls cranioplasty was considered low. However, the usage of cryopreserved skulls for cranioplasty is worthy of further investigation in the aspect of cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit of post-cranioplasty infection.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

This study was performed to summarize application of ${\delta}^{13}C$, ${\delta}^{37}Cl$ and ${\delta}D$ of trichloroethylene (TCE) to studies on environmental forensic field regarding identification of TCE sources and evaluation of contribution of TCE to groundwater using data collected from literatures. ${\delta}^{13}C$, ${\delta}^{37}Cl$ and ${\delta}D$ of TCE give some information regarding sources of TCE because they show specific value according to manufacturing method. Also, TCE do not show a significant isotopic fractionation owing to adsorption and dilution. The isotopic fractionation mainly occurs by biodegradation. In addition, isotopic fractionation factor for TCE is different according to a kind of microorganism participated in biodegradation. However, the isotopic data of TCE have to be applied with chemical compositions of TCE and other hydrogeologic factors because isotopic fractionation of TCE is influenced by various factors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.456-464
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination levels in elevators in apartment buildings and to provide information on such microbial contamination. Methods: A total of 144 samples, including from the exterior buttons, interior buttons, elevator handrails, walls, ventilators and airborne bacteria were collected in the morning and afternoon from July to August 2013 for six different elevators. The samples were used to detect sanitary indicator bacteria (total bacteria, coliform, and Escherichia coli), pathogenic bacteria (E. coli O157, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., B. cereus, S. aureus) and fungi. Results: Contamination levels of total bacteria were 0.3-3.8 and 0.0-2.4 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ in the morning and afternoon, respectively. In the case of coliform bacteria, the levels were 0.0-3.7 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ in the morning and 0.0-0.3 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ in the afternoon. However, E. coli was not detected among all samples. Bacillus cereus, pathogenic bacteria, was only detected in 13 (11%) among 144 samples. E. coli O157, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. and S. aureus were not detected among all samples. Comparing the samples collected in the morning and afternoon, we could confirm that the samples in the afternoon were cleaner. Conclusions: This study indicates that the samples in the afternoon were cleaner because these samples were collected following routine cleaning. Also, the levels of contamination in the elevators were low and the sanitary conditions were comparatively well-managed. Therefore it is deemed necessary for elevators be cleaned regularly to provide good conditions for people using elevators.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.35-40
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• 2019

In this study, general bacterial counts and coliform counts, which are hygienic indicator microorganisms, were tested for candy, chocolate, and jelly which are easily available and enjoyed around. After dropping each sample on the desk, indoors, and outdoors, it is immediately collected, or washed and collected to confirm the myth of the 3-second rule. Immediately after removing the wrapping paper, each sample was dropped on the desk, indoors, and outdoors, and after 3 seconds from the moment of contact with the surface, and then collected in a sample bag using sterilized sanitary gloves. After the same operation, each sample was rinsed for 5 seconds using sterilized sanitary gloves and sterilized distilled water, and then collected in a sample bag. The number of bacteria detected in non-washing candies was 41 CFU/g at outdoor and the number of bacteria detected in non-washing chocolate was 76 CFU/g at outdoor. The number of bacteria detected in non-washing jellies was 79 CFU/g at outdoor. Coliform group was not detected in all samples. This showed good results at the level of m = 10,000 or less, which is an allowable value suggested in the Food Code. Also, effect of washing on contaminated food was confirmed. This result is remarkably low compared with the microorganism specimens shown in Food Code, and it is confirmed that contamination occurs but not high value. Therefore, the myth of the 3-second rule is true compared to the figures based on Food Code. However, it showed the characteristics of bacteria that could survive and cross-contaminate on dry food surfaces and emphasized the importance of hygiene through food contact to unsanitary surfaces to minimize the risk of food poisoning.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2008

This study was carried out to examine microbiological contamination of ready-to-eat foods (kimbab, sushi, salad, sandwich, sashimi) and to prove hazard of ready-to-eat foods by microbiological analysis. Collection of 440 samples of ready- to-eat foods were obtained from department stores, discount stores, super-markets in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Honam areas. Sushi showed the highest detection rate of micro organism with value of20.4%, and then detection rates of kimbab, sashimi and salad were 13.0%, 12.5% and 6.9%, respectively. S. aureus was the most detected microorganism with value of 6.6%, and then Coliform and L. monocytogenes were detected 2.7% and 2.3%.