• Title/Summary/Keyword: Activity Cost

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Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Efficiency of Swietenia macrophylla Seed Extract on Clinical Wound Pathogens

  • Gopalan, Hanan Kumar;Md Hanafiah, Nor Faizzah;Ring, Leong Chean;Tan, Wen-Nee;Wahidin, Suzana;Hway, Teo Siew;Yenn, Tong Woei
    • Natural Product Sciences
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.38-43
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    • 2019
  • Microbial wound infection prolonged the hospitalization and increase the cost for wound management. Silver is commonly used as antimicrobial wound dressing. However, it causes several adverse side effects. Hence, this study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of Swietenia macrophylla seed extract on clinical wound pathogens. Besides, the bioactive constituents of the seed extract were also determined. S. macrophylla seeds were extracted with methanol by maceration method. The seed extract inhibited 5 test bacteria and 1 yeast on disc diffusion assay. The antibacterial activity was broad spectrum, as the extract inhibited both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. On kill curve analysis, the antibacterial activity of the seed extract was concentration-dependent, the increase of extract concentration resulted in more reduction of bacterial growth. The extract also caused 99.9% growth reduction of Bacillus subtilis relative to control. A total of 21 compounds were detected in gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis. The predominant compounds present in the extract were oleic acid (18.56%) and linoleic acid (17.72%). In conclusion, the methanolic extract of S. macrophylla seeds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity on clinical wound pathogens. Further investigations should be conducted to purify other bioactive compounds from the seeds of S. macrophylla.

Increased accuracy of estrus prediction using ruminoreticular biocapsule sensors in Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) cows

  • Daehyun Kim;Woo-Sung Kwon;Jaejung Ha;Joonho Moon;Junkoo Yi
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.65 no.4
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    • pp.759-766
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    • 2023
  • Visual estrus observation can only be confirmed at a rate of 50%-60%, which is lower than that obtained using a biosensor. Thus, the use of biosensors provides more opportunities for artificial insemination because it is easier to confirm estrus than by visual observation. This study determines the accuracy of estrus prediction using a ruminoreticular biosensor by analyzing ruminoreticular temperature during the estrus cycle and measuring changes in body activity. One hundred and twenty-five Hanwoo cows (64 with a ruminal biosensor in the test group and 61 without biosensors in the control group) were studied. Ruminoreticular temperatures and body activities were measured every 10 min. The first service of artificial insemination used gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-based fixed-time artificial insemination protocol in the control and test groups. The test group received artificial insemination based on the estrus prediction made by the biosensor, and the control group received artificial insemination according to visual estrus observation. Before artificial insemination, the ruminoreticular temperature was maintained at an average of 38.95 ± 0.05℃ for 13 h (-21 to -9 h), 0.73℃ higher than the average temperature observed at -48 h (38.22 ± 0.06℃). The body activity, measured using an indwelling 3-axis accelerometer, averaged 1502.57 ± 27.35 for approximately 21 h from -4 to -24 h before artificial insemination, showing 203 indexes higher body activity than -48 hours (1299 ± 9.72). Therefore, using an information and communication techonology (ICT)-based biosensor is highly effective because it can reduce the reproductive cost of a farm by accurately detecting estrus and increasing the rate of estrus confirmation in cattle.

Energy expenditure measurement of various physical activity and correlation analysis of body weight and energy expenditure in elementary school children (일부 초등학생의 대표적 신체활동의 에너지소비량 측정 및 에너지소비량과 체중과의 상관성 분석)

  • Kim, Jae-Hee;Son, Hee-Ryoung;Choi, Jung-Sook;Kim, Eun-Kyung
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.180-191
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: There is a lack of data on the energy cost of children's everyday activities, adult values are often used as surrogates. In addition, the influence of body weight on the energy cost of activity when expressed as metabolic equivalents (METs) has not been vigorously explored. Methods: In this study 20 elementary school students 9~12 years of age completed 18 various physical activities while energy expenditure was measured continuously using a portable telemetry gas exchange system ($K_4b^2$, Cosmed, Rome, Italy). Results: The average age was 10.4 years and the average height and weight was 145.1 cm and 43.6 kg, respectively. Oxygen consumption ($VO_2$), energy expenditure and METs at the time of resting of the subjects were 5.41 mL/kg/min, 1.44 kcal/kg/h, and 1.5 METs, respectively. METs values by 18 physical activities were as follows: Homework and reading books (1.6 METs), playing game with a mobile phone or video while sitting (1.6 METs), watching TV while sitting on a comfortable chair (1.7 METs), playing video game or mobile phone game while standing (1.9 METs), sweeping a room with a broom (2.7 METs) and playing a board game (2.8 METs) belong to light intensity physical activities. By contrary, speedy walking and running were 6.6 and 6.7 METs, respectively, which belong to high intensity physical activities over 6.0 METs. When the effect of body weight on physical activity energy expenditure was determined, $R^2$ values increased with 0.116 (playing a game at sitting), 0.176 (climbing up and down stairs), 0.246 (slow walking), and 0.455 (running), which showed that higher activity intensity increased explanation power of body weight on METs value. Conclusion: This study is important for direct evaluation of energy expenditure by physical activities of children, and it could be used directly for revising and complementing the existing activity classification table to fit for children.

Urokinase Inhibitor Design Based on Pharmacophore Model Derived from Diverse Classes of Inhibitors

  • Shui, Liu;Bharatham, Nagakumar;Bharatham, Kavitha;Lee, Keun-Woo
    • Bioinformatics and Biosystems
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.115-122
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    • 2006
  • A three-dimensional pharmacophore model was developed based on 24 currently available inhibitors, which were rationally selected from 472 compounds with diverse molecular structure and bioactivity, for generating pharmacophore of uPA (Urokinase Plasminogen Activator) inhibitors. The best hypothesis (Hypo1) comprised of five features, namely, one positive ionizable group, one hydrogen-bond acceptor group and three hydrophobic aromatic groups. The correlation coefficient, root mean square deviation and cost difference were 0.973, 0.695, and 94.291 respectively, suggesting that a highly predictive pharmacophore model was successfully obtained. The application of the model showed great success in predicting the activities of 251 known uPA inhibitors (test set) with a correlation coefficient of 0.837, and there was also none of the outcome hypotheses that had similar cost difference and RMS deviation (RMSD) with that of the initial hypothesis generated by Cat-Scramble validation test with 95% confidence level. Accordingly, our model should be reliable in identifying structurally diverse compounds with desired biological activity.

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A Study on the Principle of Rationalization in Fisheries Management (어업경영합리화의 원리에 대한 고찰)

  • 공용식
    • The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.1-18
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    • 1983
  • This study has examined the principle of rationalization as a guiding principle in fisheries management. Generally speaking, the guiding principle of business management is the principle of profitability which is oriented to the profit maximization, but it has been insisted by Dr, Mohri that the principle of profitability should be translated into the maximization of ratio of added value on gross capital, According to Dr. Durcker, added value (contributed value) can be used to analyze productivity only if the allocation of costs which together make up the figures is economically meaningful. Therefore, the rationalization of fisheries management can be measured as a result of economic allocation of costs, The analysis of economic allocation of costs divides into macro-allocation of costs and micro-allocation of costs. In fisheries management, the former makes use of the analysis of break-even point, and the latter analyzes the efficiency of individual cost respectively and the state of division of costs which allocate into above-the-line expenses of lay system and management's burden expenses. In macro-allocation of costs, it is advisable that fixed costs be converted into variable costs. This is characteristically possible in fisheries management, because wages belong to variable costs in fisheries management while they are regarde as fixed cost in the other industires. Because we could find that all costs would belong to above-the-line expenses, in micro-allocation analysis, the very costs which are directly related to fisherman's poduction activity should be classified into above-the-line expenses, and the other costs into management's burden expenses. This is a central problem in the rationalization of fisheries management.

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Fabrication of NiS Thin Films as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells using Atomic Layer Deposition

  • Jeong, Jin-Won;Kim, Eun-Taek;Park, Su-Yong;Seong, Myeong-Mo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2016.02a
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    • pp.276.2-276.2
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    • 2016
  • Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are promising candidates for light-to-energy conversion devices due to their low-cost, easy fabrication and relative high conversion efficiency. An important component of DSCs is counter electrode (CE) collect electrons from external circuit and reduct I3- to I-. The conventional CEs are thermally decomposed Pt on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates, which have shown excellent performance and stability. However, Pt is not suitable in terms of cost effect. In this report, we demonstrated that nickel sulfide thin films by atomic layer deposition (ALD)-using Nickel(1-dimethylamino-2-methyl-2-butanolate)2 and hydrogen sulfide at low temperatures of $90-200^{\circ}C$-could be good CEs in DSCs. Notably, ALD allows the thin films to grow with good reproducibility, precise thickness control and excellent conformality at the angstrom or monolayer level. The nickel sulfide films were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, hall measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The ALD grown nickel sulfide thin films showed high catalytic activity for the reduction of I3- to I- in DSC. The DSCs with the ALD-grown nickel sulfide thin films as CEs showed the solar cell efficiency of 7.12% which is comparable to that of the DSC with conventional Pt coated counter electrode (7.63%).

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A Study on the Alternatives Evaluation of the Fishing Boat in the Small Powered Purse Seine (소형선망어업 시험선 운영의 경제성 평가에 관한 연구)

  • 이승우
    • The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.163-175
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    • 1998
  • The decrease of the fishery's business performance is due to the changes of environment-the increase of cost, the reduction of resources, the liberalization of import, the effectuation of the admiralty law Though the government has prepared the alternative policy to strengthen the competitive power of the fishery, fishermen should draw up a plan to improve the business performance. The problems of the small powered purse seine resulting from the small scale of the fishing boat is following. First, its catching activity in the sea is riskful. Second, the space to eat and to work is not enough. Third, the space to put the fish is not enough, it is hard to maintain the freshness of the fish. Therefore it is necessary to solve these problems for the scale of the fishing boat to have to be enlarged. The enlargement of the fishing boat to be required much expenditure of fund is the important investment decision to fishermen. The alternatives evaluation between the existing boat(defender) and the new boat enlarged with the new equipment(challenger) is necessary process to reduce the uncertainty of investment. The profitability of the challenger is better than that of defender due to the reduction of cost and the increase of revenue. Because the net present value of incremental cash flow is positive, it is rational for fishermen to accept the challenger.

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Application of FMECA with Stochastic Approach to Reliability-Centered Maintenance of Electric Power Plants in Korean Power Systems (RCM 수립을 위해 발전설비의 고장확률을 고려한 확률론적 FMECA 평가 기법)

  • Joo, Jae-Myung;Lee, Seung-Hyuk;Kim, Jin-O;Lee, Hyo-Sang
    • Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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    • 2006.07a
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    • pp.196-197
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    • 2006
  • Preventive maintenance can avail the generation utilities to reduce cost and gain more profit in a competitive supply-side power market. So, it is necessary to perform reliability analysis on the systems in which reliability is essential. In this paper, RCM (Reliability -Centered Maintenance) analytical method is adopted using real historical failure data in Korean power plants. Therefore, the reliability -based Probability model for predicting the failures of components in the power plant is also established, and application to FMECA(Failure Mode Effects and Critical Analysis) consideration of failure probability, Based on the weighting ranking of generating equipments which status to be probability estimation by FMECA. The FMECA is an engineering analysis and a core activity performed by reliability engineers to review the effects of probable failure modes of generating equipments and assemblies of the power system on system performance. The results of this paper show that application of FMECA with stochastic approach to the preventive maintenance can efficiently avail decreasing the cost on maintenance and hence improve the total benefit.

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Analysis of Nursing Intensity Related to Nursing Activities in Operating Room using the Relative Value Scale For Nursing Cost (간호수가 산정을 위한 상대가치를 이용한 수술실 간호행위 간호강도 분석)

  • Ha, Ru Mee;Kwon, Kyoung Ja;Woo, Jin Ha;Kim, Jung A
    • Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.162-176
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform an operating room nursing activities analysis and estimate nursing intensity of each nursing activity based on the Relative Value Scale (RVS). Methods: The methodology for this study of RVS was based on the work of Hsiao et al. The first stage was to identify nursing activities and the second to measure intensity of nursing activities including technical skill, mental effort, and stress. Results: Calculation of the RVS for 99 nursing practices showed a score range from 300.00 to 1337.78. CS operation assistant, OS operation assistant, and obtaining certification had high nursing intensity. Surgical hand washing, putting on surgical gowns, surgical gloves and surgical caps and mask had low nursing intensity. Conclusion: The activities of operating room are not compensated separately but reimbursement is usually included in physician fees. In the future, an estimation of nursing cost should show the nursing contribution rate to total operation revenue.

A Study on Reduction of Business Logistics Cost through Environmentally-Conscious Logistics Activity (친환경적인 물류 활동을 통한 기업 물류비 절감에 관한 탐색적 연구)

  • Choi, Jun-Ho;Oh, Sun-Il;Lee, Eun-Sook;Kang, Kyung-Sik
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.145-152
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    • 2009
  • As the industry develops, the amount of wastes is increasing in the economic system with various needs. As a result, the environmental problems are emerging as serious social issues and all the parties are required to make their best efforts. Among the issues proposed as the environmental issues, the logistics-related issues are exhaustion of the resources, global warming, environmental pollution, and acidification and so on. In order to respond to the environmental issues of the earth, the advanced countries are setting retrenched goals, reduction of the new greenhouse gases and accomplishment of retrenched goals by cooperation between the nations. Economic activities inevitably bring environmental problems and logistics is implementing those activities. The companies should perform the roles to resolve the environmental problems as the main cause of environmental pollution. Therefore, along with spreading recognition of social demand, the companies are required to establish policies regarding the environment and they should approach the issues from the perspective of resource circulation. These environment-friendly activities are emerging as the new source of competitiveness in the logistics field. Therefore, this study analyzes the effects of environment-friendly logistics activities on the reduction of logistics cost to reduce and resolve the environmental issues such as environment preservation, recycling and so on.