• Title/Summary/Keyword: epidemics

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Determining Relative Weights of Criteria for Evaluating National Quarantine Station by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP방법을 적용한 국립검역소 평가 준거의 가중치 결정)

  • Jeong, Mun-Yong;Lee, Moo-Sik;Kim, Dae-Kyung;Yoo, In-Sook
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.335-340
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    • 2010
  • In accordance with the increasing possibility that the new and reoccurring epidemics continuously appearing abroad flow into Korea, it is very important to evaluate the efficiency of quarantine management projects of National Quarantine Station. This study adopted the pairwise comparison approach using the analytical hierarchy process(AHP) that has been recognized with its scientific adequacy for allocating the weight, the relative importance of evaluation components. AHP technique is evaluated to be distinguished in measuring the impact by making hierarchy of, simplifying and systemizing the complicated multi-criteria decision making problems. The weights by evaluation indexes were 0.2 in the organization evaluation field and 0.8 in the service and program field. The quarantine business showed the highest value, 0.45, in the service and program field. The indexes were classified into the upper category (organization evaluation field, service and program evaluation field) and lower category (input/process/result/quarantine field, inspection field, hygiene management field, pathogenic organ investigation and monitoring field, epidemics prevention promotion/education field). The evaluation indexes that were finally selected were applied to the actual businesses in National Quarantine Station. Next, the minimum evaluation indexes were selected and so the evaluation system on the businesses in National Quarantine Station was more systemized.

Epidemics of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection that Occurred to Children at a Local Institute for Children's Adoption and Welfare (모 입양 기관에 수용 중인 영유아에서의 하기도 감염의 유행)

  • Yang, Mi Hwa;Park, Chan Sook;Yoon, So Young;Kim, Jae Youn;Ahn, Don Hee
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.201-207
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    • 2002
  • Purpose : We analyzed clinical features and causal viruses of acute lower respiratory tract infections(LRTIs) in order to improve the management of these infections. Methods : From end of April to early May 2001, amongst 30 children at a local institute for children's adoption and welfare, 13 were admitted to the hospital with the diagnostic impression of acute LRTIs. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were sent in Seoul National University Hospital for viral culture of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV), adenovirus, parainfluenza virus. Results : One or more viral agents were identified in 4 cases(30.7%) : were RSV(15.4%), adenovirus(7.7%), and a mix of these two viruses(7.7%). Initial symptoms were fever(69%), cough(100%), tachypnea(54%), chest retraction(69%), rale(85%) and wheezing(15%). Leukocytosis was noted in 23%, CRP increased more than 10 mg/L in 46%. Chest X-ray abnormalities were 69%. Conclusion : Although viruses were identified in 30.7%, further studies should be made for prevention and treatment of acute viral LRTIs.

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Leading, Coincident, Lagging INdicators to Analyze the Predictability of the Composite Regional Index Based on TCS Data (지역 경기종합지수 예측 가능성 검토를 위한 TCS 데이터 선행·동행·후행성 분석 연구)

  • Kang, Youjeong;Hong, Jungyeol;Na, Jieun;Kim, Dongho;Cheon, Seunghun
    • The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.209-220
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    • 2022
  • With the worldwide spread of African swine fever, interest in livestock epidemics has increased. Livestock transport vehicles are the main cause of the spread of livestock epidemics, but there are no empirical quarantine procedures and standards related to the mobility of livestock transport vehicles in South Korea. This study extracted the trajectory of livestock-related vehicles using the facility-visit history data from the Korea Animal Health Integrated System and the DTG (Digital Tachograph) data from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority. The results are presented as exposure indices aggregating the link-time occupancy of each vehicle. As a result, 274,519 livestock-related vehicle trajectories were extracted, and the exposure values by link and zone were derived quantitatively. This study highlights the need for prior monitoring of livestock transport vehicles and the establishment of post-disaster prevention policies.

COVID-19 Surveillance using Wastewater-based Epidemiology in Ulsan (울산지역 하수기반역학을 이용한 코로나19 감시 연구)

  • Gyeongnam Kim;Jaesun Choi;Yeon-Su Lee;Dae-Kyo Kim;Junyoung Park;Young-Min Kim;Youngsun Choi
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.260-265
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    • 2024
  • During the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology was used for surveying infectious diseases. In this study, wastewater surveillance was employed to monitor COVID-19 outbreaks. Wastewater influent samples were collected from four sewage treatment plants in Ulsan (Gulhwa, Yongyeon, Nongso, and Bangeojin) between August 2022 and August 2023. The samples were concentrated using the polyethylene glycol-sodium chloride pretreatment method. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was extracted and detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Next generation sequences was used to perform correlation analysis between SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and COVID-19 cases and for COVID-19 variant analysis. A strong correlation was observed between SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and COVID-19 cases (correlation coefficient, r = 0.914). The COVID-19 variant analysis results were similar to the clinical variant genomes of three epidemics during the study period. In conclusion, monitoring COVID-19 via analyzing wastewater facilitates early recognition and prediction of epidemics.

Simulation of Grape Downy Mildew Development Across Geographic Areas Based on Mesoscale Weather Data Using Supercomputer

  • Kim, Kyu-Rang;Seem, Robert C.;Park, Eun-Woo;Zack, John W.;Magarey, Roger D.
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.111-118
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    • 2005
  • Weather data for disease forecasts are usually derived from automated weather stations (AWS) that may be dispersed across a region in an irregular pattern. We have developed an alternative method to simulate local scale, high-resolution weather and plant disease in a grid pattern. The system incorporates a simplified mesoscale boundary layer model, LAWSS, for estimating local conditions such as air temperature and relative humidity. It also integrates special models for estimating of surface wetness duration and disease forecasts, such as the grapevine downy mildew forecast model, DMCast. The system can recreate weather forecasts utilizing the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis database, which contains over 57 years of archived and corrected global upper air conditions. The highest horizontal resolution of 0.150 km was achieved by running 5-step nested child grids inside coarse mother grids. Over the Finger Lakes and Chautauqua Lake regions of New York State, the system simulated three growing seasons for estimating the risk of grape downy mildew with 1 km resolution. Outputs were represented as regional maps or as site-specific graphs. The highest resolutions were achieved over North America, but the system is functional for any global location. The system is expected to be a powerful tool for site selection and reanalysis of historical plant disease epidemics.

The Singapore Field Epidemiology Service: Insights Into Outbreak Management

  • Ooi, Peng-Lim;Seetoh, Theresa;Cutter, Jeffery
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.45 no.5
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    • pp.277-282
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    • 2012
  • Field epidemiology involves the implementation of quick and targeted public health interventions with the aid of epidemiological methods. In this article, we share our practical experiences in outbreak management and in safeguarding the population against novel diseases. Given that cities represent the financial nexuses of the global economy, global health security necessitates the safeguard of cities against epidemic diseases. Singapore's public health landscape has undergone a systemic and irreversible shift with global connectivity, rapid urbanization, ecological change, increased affluence, as well as shifting demographic patterns over the past two decades. Concomitantly, the threat of epidemics, ranging from severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza A (H1N1) to the resurgence of vector-borne diseases as well as the rise of modern lifestyle-related outbreaks, have worsened difficulties in safeguarding public health amidst much elusiveness and unpredictability. One critical factor that has helped the country overcome these innate and man-made public health vulnerabilities is the development of a resilient field epidemiology service, which includes our enhancement of surveillance and response capacities for outbreak management, and investment in public health leadership. We offer herein the Singapore story as a case study in meeting the challenges of disease control in our modern built environment.

An Analysis of the 'Mietskaserne' Blockhousing in the late 19th Century in Berlin -Remodeling of Hackesche Hoefe- (19세기 베를린 '미츠카제리네' 블록하우징에 관한 고찰 - Hackesche Hoefe 리모델링을 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Myoung-Ju
    • Journal of architectural history
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    • v.13 no.1 s.37
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    • pp.71-81
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    • 2004
  • The $18^{th}$ century's Industrial Revolution brought about influx of commerce, industry, and agricultural population into the urban areas, entering the $19^{th}$ century. Quality of rural communities declined, and the exploding population in the cities gave rise to various problems. 'Mietskaserne' Blockhousing was constructed by the 'Hobrechtplan', but led to social problems such as poor living conditions, insufficient sunshine due to overcrowding, slums due to incomplete urban infrastructure, epidemics, and so on. Starting in the early $20^{th}$ century, Berlin has driven forward a remodeling plan under the motto of 'critical reconstruction (kritische Rekonstruktion)'. It is performed in the place, which represents the vicissitudinous history of Berlin with site plans coexisting past with presence, using modern vocabulary of architectural forms. Reconstructing a city is a process which not only raises the economic value of each building consisting a city, but also a redevelopment process that brings out cultural value of an era. When a new era emerges buildings get reconstructed or rebuilt, and thereby form the identity of a city by reflecting its society, culture, politics, economy, and history. Old German architecture were not destroyed or rebuilt recklessly just by the fact that they are functionally or aesthetically outdated. Each building is treated as precious cultural heritage reflecting the history. This is how Berlin is being transformed today.

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Genetic diversity of Fusarium graminearum from rice in Korea

  • Chang, In-Young;Yun, Sung-Hwan;Lee, Yin-Won
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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    • 2003.10a
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    • pp.123.2-124
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    • 2003
  • Fusarium graminearum (telomorph:Gibberella zeae), an important fungal pathogen of cereal crops with ubiquitous geographic distribution, produces mycotoxins on diseased crops that has threaten human and animal health. Recently severe epidemics of scab diseases of barley and rice by this fungus occurred in Korea, causing serious economic losses. To determine genetic diversity of F. graminearum from rice in Korea, a total of 269 isolates were obtained from Southern part of Korea during 2001-2002. A phylogenetic tree of the isolates was constructed by using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Population structure of the rice isolates consists of a single lineage (lineage 6). Frequency of female fertility among these Isolates was relatively low (37%) compared to that among lineage 7 isolates from Korean corn. PCR amplification using chemotype specific primers derived from Tri7 and Tri13 genes at the trichothecene biosynthesis gene cluster revealed that most isolates (260) were NIV chemotype;9 isolates were identified as DON chemotype by Tri13 but as either NIV chemotype or unknown by Tri7. The result of chemical analysis also supported the chemotype determination;all of the NIV chemotype isolates produced NIV, whereas the 9 isolates produce either DON or no toxin.

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Phytophthora Species, New Threats to the Plant Health in Korea

  • Hyun, Ik-Hwa;Choi, Woobong
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.331-342
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    • 2014
  • Given the lack of a resistant genetic pool in host plants, the introduction of exotic invasive pathogens can result in epidemics that affect a specific ecosystem and economy. Plant quarantine, which is designed to protect endemic plant resources, is a highly invaluable safeguard that should keep biosecurity with increasing international trade and global transportation. A total of 34 species of plant pathogens including Phytophthora infestans were documented as introduced from other countries into Korea from 1900 to 2010. The genus Phytophthora, classified in oomycetes, includes more than 120 species that are mostly recognized worldwide as highly invasive plant pathogens. After 2000, over 50 new species of Phytophthora were identified internationally as plant pathogens occurring in crops and forest trees. In Korea, Phytophthora is also one of the most serious plant pathogens. To date, 22 species (about one-fifth of known species) of the genus have been identified and reported as plant pathogens in the country. The likelihood of new exotic Phytophthora species being introduced into Korea continues to increase, thus necessitating intensive plant quarantine inspections. As new potential threats to plant health in Korea, six Phytophthora species, namely, P. alni, P. inundata, P. kernoviae, P. pinifolia, P. quercina, and P. ramorum, are discussed in this review with focus on history, disease, biology, management, and plant quarantine issues.

Detection of Multiple Potato Viruses in the Field Suggests Synergistic Interactions among Potato Viruses in Pakistan

  • Hameed, Amir;Iqbal, Zafar;Asad, Shaheen;Mansoor, Shahid
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.407-415
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    • 2014
  • Viral diseases have been a major limiting factor threating sustainable potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in Pakistan. Surveys were conducted to serologically quantify the incidence of RNA viruses infecting potato; Potato virus X (PVX), Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato virus S (PVS), Potato virus A (PVA), Potato virus M (PVM) and Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) in two major potato cultivars (Desiree and Cardinal). The results suggest the prevalence of multiple viruses in all surveyed areas with PVY, PVS and PVX dominantly widespread with infection levels of up to 50% in some regions. Co-infections were detected with the highest incidence (15.5%) for PVX and PVS. Additionally the data showed a positive correlation between co-infecting viruses with significant increase in absorbance value (virus titre) for at least one of the virus in an infected plant and suggested a synergistic interaction. To test this hypothesis, glasshouse grown potato plants were challenged with multiple viruses and analyzed for systemic infections and symptomology studies. The results obtained conclude that multiple viral infections dramatically increase disease epidemics as compared to single infection and an effective resistance strategy in targeting multiple RNA viruses is required to save potato crop.