• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.310-316
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• 2019

Distribution of Salmonella enterica serovars and their associated virulence determinants is wide-spread among food animals, which are continuously implicated in periodic salmonellosis outbreaks globally. The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the diversity of five Salmonella serovar virulence genes (invA, pefA, cdtB, spvC and iroN) isolated from food animals and humans. Using standard microbiological techniques, Salmonella spp. were isolated from the feces of humans and three major food animals. Virulence determinants of the isolates were assayed using PCR. Clonal relatedness of the dominant serovar was determined via pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the restriction enzyme, Xbal. Seventy one Salmonella spp. were isolated and serotyped into 44 serovars. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS; 68) accounted for majority (95.8%) of the Salmonella serovars. Isolates from chicken (34) accounted for 47.9% of all isolates, out of which S. Budapest (14) was predominant (34.8%). However, the dominant S. Budapest serovars showed no genetic relatedness. The invA gene located on SPI-1 was detected in all isolates. Furthermore, 94% of the isolates from sheep harbored the spvC genes. The iroN gene was present in 50%, 100%, 88%, and 91% of isolates from human, chicken, sheep, and cattle, respectively. The pefA gene was detected in 18 isolates from chicken and a single isolate from sheep. Notably, having diverse Salmonella serovars containing plasmid encoded virulence genes circulating the food chain is of public health significance; hence, surveillance is required.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.179-189
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• 2008

The performance of Lean NOx Trap (LNT) based on the catalysts of Pt/K/Ba/$\gamma-Al_2O_3$ with proprietary washcoat formulation is studied using a bench flow reactor system. To investigate the effect of temperature and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) on the nitrogen oxides (NOx) trapping capacity as well as NOx breakthrough time and final ratio of $NO_2$ to NO of LNT, series of adsorption isotherms are carried out with simulated exhaust gases of the lean burn engines. Since typical operation of LNT requires periodic regeneration with a short rich excursion, where the stored or trapped NOx is released and subsequently reduced to $N_2$, the effect of the duration of lean and rich phase and type of reductants on the NOx conversion is investigated. NOx storage capacity and breakthrough time obtained from adsorption isotherms shows a volcano-type dependence on the temperature with a maximum NOx storage capacity occurring $350^{\circ}C$ and with a maximum breakthrough time occurring $400^{\circ}C$ at all GHSVs investigated in this study. Also, maximum ratio of $NO_2$ to NO is obtained at $400^{\circ}C$ with a GHSV of $75,000\;hr^{-1}$ Lean/rich cycle of 100 s lean and 5 s rich used with a concentration of 1.33% of $H_2$ and 4% of CO in the rich phase is found to be optimum at operating temperature of $350^{\circ}C$ and a GHSV of $50,000\;hr^{-1}$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.805-810
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• 2007

Molecular recognition for a specific cation depending on the change of the oxidation state of the metal catalyst component contained in the hydrogel network has been studied in a self-oscillating hydrogel. The selfoscillating hydrogels are synthesized by the copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), lead methacrylic acid (Pb(MAA)2), and Ru(bpy)3 2+ monomer as a metal catalyst component. The recognition for a specific cation (in this study, Ca2+ has been used) is characterized by the adsorbed amount of Ca2+ into the gel. The recognition of the gels for Ca2+ is higher at the temperature below the LCST, and also higher at the oxidized state than at reduced state of the metal catalyst component which corresponds to a more swollen state. Moreover, a propagating wave induced by a periodic change of the oxidation state with the diffusion phenomena in the oscillating hydrogel shows a possibility for temporal and site-specific molecular recognition due to the local swelling of the gel.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.86-96
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze causality among sleep apnea, depression and cognitive function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 105 patients with sleep apnea and snoring who underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG). We analyzed various biological data, sleep variables (sleep duration and percentage) and respiratory variables [arousal index (AI), periodic leg movement index (PLM index), snoring Index (SI), mean SpO2, minimum SpO2, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and respiratory disturbance index (RDI)]. We also analyzed various data by sleep, cognition, and mood related scales: Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), snoring index by scale (SIS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean (Moca-K), Mini-mental State Examination-Korean (MMSE-K), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We analyzed causation among sleep, and respiratory, mood, and cognition related scales in obstructive sleep apnea patients. We analyzed the mediating effects of depression on sleep apnea patient cognition. Results: As Duration N1 increased and Total sleep time (TST) decreased, MOCA-K showed negative causality (p < 0.01). As BDI and supine RDI increased, causality was negatively related to MOCA-K (p < 0.01). As PSQI (p < 0.001) and SIS (p < 0.01) increased and as MMSE-K (p < 0.01) decreased, causality was positively related to BDI. BDI was found to mediate the effect of age on MOCA-K in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Conclusion: Duration N1, total sleep time, BDI, and supine RDI were associated with cognitive function in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Depression measured by BDI partially mediated cognitive decline in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.546-552
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• 1998

Background: Up to 90% of a theophylline dose is biotransformed, by interaction with one or more the variants of the cytochrome P-450 drug metabolism system. Macrolides affect the elimination of theophylline by influencing on the microsomal enzyme systems. We evaluate the effect of erythromycin and new macrolides on the serum theophylline level and clearance. Method : Subjects consisted of moderate asthmatic patients with normal renal and hepatic functions. All subjects were non-smokers and treated with oral theophylline 400 mg per day. We randomly assigned 53 patients into four groups. Each group was treated with one macrolides, the first group erythromycin(n:19, 500 mg bid), second roxithromycin (n:14. 150 mg bid), third clarithromycin (n:10, 250 mg bid) and fourth azithromycin(n:10, 250 mg bid). We measured the serum theophylline level and clearance at three intervals, at pretreatment, after the first and fourth week after receiving the following macrolides, erythromycin, roxithromycin and clarithromycin. When azithromycin was administered, the serum theophylline level was measured at pretreatment and after one week of treatment They were measured by a computerized program of Bayesian method. Results : When compared with control, erythromycin and roxithromycin-treated groups had a significantly elevated serum theophylline level and decreased clearance. However, there were no significant changes of the serum theophylline level and clearance in clarithromycin and azithromycin-treated groups. Conclusion : These results suggest that theophylline dose may need to be readjusted and have periodic drug monitoring when erythromycin or roxithromycin is administered concurrently.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2015

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major preventable occupational health problem with 250 million people worldwide known to have disabling impairment of moderate to greater severity. The aims of the study are to estimate the prevalence of NIHL in the police force; and study its association with age, sex, duration of service (years), smoking and alcohol habits, use of hearing protective devices, as well as preexisting chronic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 543 police personnel who had undergone periodic medical examination over a 12-month period. The diagnostic criteria for NIHL were (1) history of occupational noise exposure, (2) bilateral hearing loss, (3) hearing loss of ${\geq}25dBA$ at 4,000 Hz in two consecutive audiograms, and (4) no significant medical history affecting hearing. Severity of NIHL was based on the World Health Organization grading. Results: Males (74.8%) made up the majority of the police force. The mean age for police personnel was $35.55{\pm}9.57years$, and the mean duration of service was $14.75{\pm}9.39years$. Compliance with the usage of hearing protective devices was seen in 64.4%. The prevalence of NIHL in this study population was 34.2%, with a higher prevalence in males (37.7%) than in females (23.9%). The study also showed strong associations between NIHL and male sex (odds ratio, 1.9; P < 0.05), and hypertension (odds ratio, 3.3; P < 0.001). Overall, 93% were found to have mild NIHL, 3.5% had moderate NIHL, and 3.5% had severe NIHL. No police personnel were found to have profound hearing loss. Conclusion: The prevalence of NIHL in this study is high compared to other similar studies among police personnel. This study shows that increasing age, male, presence of hypertension, diabetes, and longer duration of service are significant associated factors for NIHL. Preventative strategies include health surveillance, implementation of a hearing conservation program, and legislation.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2011

In this study, we report on the novel lithographic patterning method to fabricate organic thin film field effect transistors (OTFTs) based on photo and e-beam lithography with well-known silicon technology. The method is applied to fabricate pentacene-based organic field effect transistors. Owing to their solubility, sub-micron sized patterning of P3HT and PEDOT has been well established via micromolding in capillaries and inkjet printing techniques. Since the thermally deposited pentacene cannot be dissolved in solvents, other approach was done to fabricate pentacene FETs with a very short channel length (~30 nm), or in-plane orientation of pentacene molecules by using nanometer-scale periodic groove patterns as an alignment layer for high-performance pentacene devices. Here, we introduce $Al_2O_3$ film grown via atomic layer deposition method onto pentacene as a passivation layer. $Al_2O_3$ passivation layer on OTFTs has some advantages in preventing the penetration of water and oxygen and obtaining the long-term stability of electrical properties. AZ5214 and ma N-2402 were used as a photo and e-beam resist, respectively. A few micrometer sized lithography patterns were transferred by wet and dry etching processes. Finally, we fabricated micron sized pentacene FETs and measured their electrical characteristics.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2006

The ceramic microfiltration system with periodic $N_2$-back-flushing was operated for treating paper wastewater discharged from a company making toilet papers by recycling milk or juice cartons. Two kinds of alumina membranes with 7 channels used here for recycling paper wastewater. The optimal filtration time interval for HC04 membrane with $0.4{\mu}m$ pore size was lower value of 4 min than 16 min for HC10 with $1.0{\mu}m$ pore size at fixed back-flushing time 40 sec, trans-membrane pressure $1.0kg_f/cm^2$ and back-flushing pressure $5.0kg_f/cm^2$. From the results of TMP effect at fixed filtration time interval and back-flushing time, the lower TMP was better on membrane fouling because high TMP could make easily membrane cake and fouling inside membrane structure. However, we could acquire the highest volume of total permeate at the highest TMP for the reason that TMP was driving force in our filtration system to treat paper wastewater. Then the permeate water of low turbidity was acquired in our microfiltration system using multi channels ceramic membranes, and the treated water could be reused in paper process.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
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• v.42 no.7 s.337
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• pp.49-56
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• 2005

In this paper, we describe a solution to improve the effects of the transmitter leakage signals on the frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar with a single antenna configuration. We analyze characteristics of the IF noise caused by insufficient isolation between transmitter and receiver. The magnitude of the intermediate frequency (IF) noise from a front-end can be reduced by matching the LO signal delay time with that of the largest leakage source. Because the IF noise has periodic singularities at nT$_{m}$/2, t=0,1,2$\cdots$, we find that spectrum of the IF noise due to the leakage signals is very similar to that of the VCO moduation signal except low frequency elements in the vicinity of DC. Based on the studies, we fabricated a W-band homodyne FMCW radar sensor and verified the proposed solution. The results are applicable to design of the homodyne FMCW radar with a single antenna configuration.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.79-82
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• 2013

We present the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) analysis on the quasi-periodic modulation of SMC X-1. SMC X-1, consisting of a neutron star and a massive companion, exhibits superorbital modulation with a period varying between ~40 d and ~65 d. We applied the HHT on the light curve observed by the All-Sky Monitor onboard Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) to obtain the instantaneous frequency of the superorbital modulation of SMC X-1. The resultant Hilbert spectrum is consistent with the dynamic power spectrum while it shows more detailed information in both the time and frequency domains. According to the instantaneous frequency, we found a correlation between the superorbital period and the modulation amplitude. Combining the spectral observation made by the Proportional Counter Array onboard RXTE and the superorbital phase derived in the HHT, we performed a superorbital phase-resolved spectral analysis of SMC X-1. An analysis of the spectral parameters versus the orbital phase for different superorbital states revealed that the diversity of $n_H$ has an orbital dependence. Furthermore, we obtained the variation in the eclipse profiles by folding the All Sky Monitor light curve with orbital period for different superorbital states. A dip feature, similar to the pre-eclipse dip of Her X-1, can be observed only in the superorbital ascending and descending states, while the width is anti-correlated with the X-ray flux.