• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2017

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which plays a major role in the etiology of human dental caries, is able to tolerate exposure to acid shock in addition to its acidogenicity. We investigated the effects of pH stress on membrane fluidity, activities and expression levels of F-ATPase, and proton permeability in S. mutans. Using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, we observed membrane ordering at pH 4.8 and pH 8.8. The ordering effects were larger at pH 4.8 in cytoplasmic membranes isolated from S. mutans (CMSM). Increasing pH resulted in a decrease in the activities and expression levels of F-ATPase. The proton permeability was decreased at both acidic and alkaline pHs, and the lowest permeability was observed at pH 4.8. The lower permeability at pH 8.8 than pH 6.8 is likely to be caused by the decreased proton influx due to the decreased CMSM fluidity. In addition, it seems to be evident that extremely low permeability at pH 4.8 was caused by the decreased proton influx due to the decreased CMSM fluidity as well as the increased proton efflux due to the increased activity and expression level of F-ATPase. It is likely that CMSM fluidity and F-ATPase activity are two major key factors that determine proton permeability in S. mutans. We suggest that CMSM fluidity plays an important role in the determination of proton permeability, which sheds light on the possibility of using nonspecific membrane fluidizers, e.g., ethanol, for anti-caries purposes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.484-491
• /
• 2005

Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) analyzes potential hazard of microorganisms on public health and offers structured approach to assess risks associated with microorganisms in foods. This paper addresses specific risk management questions associated with Staphylococcus aureus in kimbab and improvement and dissemination of QMRA methodology, QMRA model was developed by constructing four nodes from retail to table pathway. Predictive microbial growth model and survey data were combined with probabilistic modeling to simulate levels of S. aureus in kimbab at time of consumption, Due to lack of dose-response models, final level of S. aureus in kimbeb was used as proxy for potential hazard level, based on which possibility of contamination over this level and consumption level of S. aureus through kimbab were estimated as 30.7% and 3.67 log cfu/g, respectively. Regression sensitivity results showed time-temperature during storage at selling was the most significant factor. These results suggested temperature control under $10^{\circ}C$ was critical control point for kimbab production to prevent growth of S. aureus and showed QMRA was useful for evaluation of factors influencing potential risk and could be applied directly to risk management.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.63-67
• /
• 2015

Purpose Among various causes that influence image quality degradation, various methods for decrease in Artifact occurred by respiration of patients are being used. Among them, this study intended to evaluate CTAC Shift correction method and additional scan compare to the Scan(Q static scan) using respiratory gated system. Materials and Methods This study was conducted on 10 patients, and used PET-CT Discovery 710 (GE Healthcare, MI, USA) and Varian's RPM system. 5.18 Mbq per kg of $^{18}F$-FDG was injected on patients, asked them to take a rest for 1 hour in the bed, and conducted test after urination. Images were visualized through Q static scan, CTAC Shift correction method, Additional scan based on the Whole body scan(WBS) with Artifact. Decrease in Artifact was compared in each image, conducted Gross Evalution, and measured changes of SUVmax. Results For image obtained through the CTAC Shift correction method through WBS with Artifact, 12~56%, Q static scan image showed 17~54% of change rate and Additional Scan showed -27~46% of change rate. In Blind Test, the CTAC Shift correction image showed the highest point with 4 points, Q static scan image showed 3.5 points, and Additional scan image showed 3.4 points. The standardized WBS scan through Oneway ANOVA and three types of Scan method showed significant difference(p<0.05), and did not show significant difference between the three Scan methods(p>0.05). However, the three Scan methods showed significant difference in Blind test. Conclusion Additional scan and Q static scan require more time than the CTAC Shift correction method, there is concern about excessive exposure to patients by CT rescan and Q static scan is difficult to apply on patients with inconsistent respiration or irregular respiration cycle due to pain. For CTAC Shift correction method, limited correction is possible and the range is limited as well. It is considered as a useful method of improving diagnostic value when hospitals use the system appropriately and develop various advantageous factors of each method.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.145-151
• /
• 1982

Breslau's report on the two stillbirths induced by illuminating gas poisoning made many investigators explore the hazards. of carbon monoxide(CO) poisoning to pregnancy. The pregnant woman, her fetus, and the newborn infant have been identified to be particularly vulnerable to CO even in low concentration. Several factors, such as placental barrier, membrane resistance of maternal and fetal red blood cells etc., were considered to be related to the delayed elimination of CO from fetus. Slower elimination of CO from fetus than from mother was confirmed in several in vivo studies. But there are few studies which have confirmed the difference of carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) dissociation in adult and fetal bloods. Author investigated the effects of hemoglobin itself on the elimination of CO from mother and fetus. By observing the difference of CO dissociation from adult and fetal hemoglobin at the various partial pressures of oxygen, the author tries to suggest the base of the proper treatment measure for the CO poisoning of pregnant woman and newborn infant. The results were as follows: 1. The total hemoglobin amounts of adults and fetal bloods were $16.1{\pm}0.50gm%\;and\;15.7{\pm}0.32gm%$, respectively. The fetal hemoglobin proportions in adult and fetal bloods were $1.2{\pm}0.15%\;and\;72.7{\pm}3.01%$, respectively. 2. Adult and fetal bloods saturated by CO to 100% HbCO were exposed to ambient air$(21%\;O_2),\;100%\;O_2\;and\;3\;ATAO_2$. After 30 minutes exposure, the HbCO saturations of adult blood were 96.7%, 70.9%, and 52.8%, respectively, and those of fetal blood were 98.5%, 76.1%, and 62.2%, respectively. HbCO dissociation was proportional to the partial pressure of oxygen and the most marked dissociation was shown under 3 ATA $O_2$, HbCO dissociation of fetal blood was slower than that of adult blood in all conditions. According to the above results, it is possible that CO poisoning make more serious damage to the fetus and newborn infant than to the adult due to the delayed dissociation of HbCO. Thus in the treatment of CO poisoning of pregnant woman and newborn infant, hyperbaric oxygen therapy seems to be the most eflective treatment measure, but the duration of hyperbaric oxygenation should be lengthened accordingly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2004

Purpose : this study purposed to investigate school nursing phenomena in Korea by applying ICNP, the international standard nursing classification system developed by ICN, and to compare school nursing phenomena at elementary, middle and high schools. Method : The subjects of this study are 110 nursing teachers from 82 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 12 high schools. In the survey, subjects were asked to score the degree to which phenomena and characteristics of Korean school nursing, identified in previous research, on a 5 point scale. Questionnaires were distributed and recovered by mail and email. The period of data collection was 6 months from July to December 2003. The general characteristics of schools and nursing teachers were represented with frequencies and percentages, the phenomena and characteristics of school nursing with the mean score of the questions, and the phenomena school nursing by school grade with ANOVA and Duncan's posterior analysis. Results : 1) As for the characteristics of schools according to school nursing phenomena related to human behavior, the mean score of questions on inadequate stress management was highest at 3.24 points followed by the score on inadequate weight control (3.23), inadequate eating habits (3.22), the risk of spine disorders (2.68), inadequate emergency management (2.62), inadequate response to sex -related problems (2.19), and smoking and drug use (1.85). 2) As for the characteristics of schools according to school nursing phenomena related to human function, the mean score of questions on oral health management was highest at 3.11 points followed by the score on the risk of digestive system disorder (2.87), improper eyesight management (2.81), the risk of respiratory system disorders (2.75), lack of sexual identity (2.52), and inadequate contagious disease control (2.12). 3) As for the mean score according to school nursing phenomena related to environment, the score of the risk of accidents in classroom was highest as 2.68 points followed by the score of the risk of accidents around the school (2.65), maladjustment to school (2.62), the risk of accidents outside the classroom (2.43), inadequate learning environment (1.83), the risk of exposure to socially and physically harmful environment factors (1.82), and inadequate waste disposal (1.77). 4) This study tested the mean scores of questions corresponding to each school nursing phenomenon in order to see if there is a difference in the school nursing phenomenon among elementary, middle and high schools, and performed Duncan's posterior comparison for school nursing phenomena. A significant difference was found at p<.1. According to the results, school nursing phenomena found to be significantly different among elementary, middle and high schools was smoking and drug use (p<.05), which appeared more problematic in high school than in elementary school. phenomena such as inadequate eating habits, inadequate weight control, inadequate response to sex-related problems and inadequate waste disposal were also found to be statistically different at p<.1; however, according to the result of Duncan's posterior comparison, no difference was found among groups in improper eating habits and improper response to sex-related problems, and a significant difference was found between middle and high schools in inadequate weight control and inadequate waste disposal. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to plan school health projects focused on the characteristic school nursing phenomena that had high scores and to develop and execute school healthe projects in accordance with the characteristics of elementary, middle and high schools. Considering that the scores of school nursing phenomena related to human behavior are high, it is necessary to introduce school health promotion projects in a systematic way.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.9
• /
• pp.646-650
• /
• 2003

Many surgical techniques for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) have been used with their excellent results and advantages. Here, we report our simple posterior annuloplasty techniques using vascular graft strip with their early results. Material and Method: Twenty two patients (13 male) underwent the operations for IMR (excluding the papillary muscle rupture) from December 2001 to January 2003. Preoperative risk factors were low ejection fraction (<35％, n=9), hypertension (n=13), diabetes (n=9), and renal failure (Cr>2.5, n=4). The wide dissection beneath the both vena cavae and interatrial groove after bicaval cannulation enabled the easy exposure of mitral valve even in the small left atrium. After eight or nine interrupted sutures in posterior annulus for anchoring the 6 mm width vascular graft strip, symmetric (n=8) or asymmetric (n=14) annuloplasty were done. Combined surgeries were CABG (n=21), Dor procedures (n=3), tricuspid valve annuloplasty (n=1), Maze operation (n=1), and aorto-right subclavian artery bypass (n=1). Result: Except for one surgical mortality, all the patients were doing well and the mean grade of regurgitation was decreased from 2.95 to 0.88, however the ejection fraction had not changed significantly just before discharge. Post-operative valve function evaluated before discharge revealed no residual regurgitation in 8 (including 1 patient with mild stenosis due to over reduction), minimal in 11, mild in 2, and mild to moderate regurgitation in 1. One patient who had ischemic cardiomyopathy and renal failure died of the arrhythmia during the hemodialysis. Conclusion: These observations suggest that the annuloplasty with vascular graft strip could be a safe and cost effective techniques for ischemic mitral regurgitation. However, the long term evaluation for the mitral valve function should be defined for the final conclusion.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.613-621
• /
• 2007

Due to the increasing significance of durability, much researches on carbonation, one of the major deterioration phenomena are carried out. However, conventional researches based on fully hardened concrete are focused on prediction of carbonation depth and they sometimes cause errors. In contrast with steel members, behaviors in early-aged concrete such as porosity and hydrates (calcium hydroxide) are very important and may be changed under carbonation process. Because transportation of deteriorating factors is mainly dependent on porosity and saturation, it is desirable to consider these changes in behaviors in early-aged concrete under carbonation for reasonable analysis of durability in long term exposure or combined deterioration. As for porosity, unless the decrease in $CO_2$ diffusion due to change in porosity is considered, the results from the prediction is overestimated. The carbonation depth and characteristics of pore water are mainly determined by amount of calcium hydroxide, and bound chloride content in carbonated concrete is also affected. So Analysis based on test for hydration and porosity is recently carried out for evaluation of carbonation characteristics. In this study, changes in porosity and hydrate $(Ca(OH)_2)$ under carbonation process are performed through the tests. Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) for changed porosity, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for amount of $(Ca(OH)_2)$ are carried out respectively and analysis technique for porosity and hydrates under carbonation is developed utilizing modeling for behavior in early-aged concrete such as multi component hydration heat model (MCHHM) and micro pore structure formation model (MPSFM). The results from developed technique is in reasonable agreement with experimental data, respectively and they are evaluated to be used for analysis of chloride behavior in carbonated concrete.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.481-491
• /
• 2014

Blue-ice area is a glacial ice field in ice sheet, ice shelf and glaciers where snow ablation and sublimation is larger than snowfall. As the blue-ice area has large influences on the meteorite concentration mechanism and ice mass balance, it is required to quantify the concentration of blue-ice. We analyzed spectral reflectance characteristics of blue-ice, snow and cloud by using MODIS images obtained over blue-ice areas in McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica, from 2007 to 2012. We then developed Normalized Difference Blue-ice Index (NDBI) algorithm which quantifies the concentration of blue-ice. Snow and cloud have a high reflectance in visible and near-infrared (NIR) bands. Reflectance of blue-ice is high in blue band, while that lowers in the NIR band. NDBI is calculated by dividing the difference of reflectance in the blue and NIR bands by the sum of reflectances in the two bands so that NDBI = (Blue-NIR)/(Blue + NIR). NDBI calculated from the MODIS images showed that the blue-ice areas have values ranging from 0.2 to 0.5, depending on the exposure and concentration of blue-ice. It is obviously different from that of snow and cloud that has values less than 0.2 or rocks with negative values. The change of NDBI values in the blue-ice area has higher correlation with snow depth ($R^2=0.699$) than wind speed ($R^2=0.012$) or air temperature ($R^2=0.278$), all measured at a meteorological station installed in McMurdo Dry Valleys. As the snow depth increased, the NDBI value decreased, which suggests that snow depth can be estimated from NDBI values over blue-ice areas. The NDBI algorithm developed in this study will be useful for various polar research fields such as meteorite exploration, analysis of ice mass balance as well as the snow depth estimation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.106-118
• /
• 1994

This study was conducted to analyze the effects of fluctuations in temperature, light intensity and soil temperature on the growth of red pepper seedlings in the nonheated plastic houses with various number of layers and in the open field. Relationship between the optimal environment and the growth of seedlings was discussed, and the maximum and minimum outdoor temperatures in Kwangju area from 1941 to 1985 were analyzed. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The minimum temperature in tunnel with quadruple coverings of P. E. film from December 20 to February 25 was decreased to 5$^{\circ}C$ mostly, where the exposure to chilling temperature could not be avoided during this period. The maximum temperature was increased to 33$^{\circ}C$ mostly and 42$^{\circ}C$ in peak, where some ventilation was needed. 2. The diurnal differences of inside temperature, increasing with number of layers, were 16 to 38$^{\circ}C$, while those of outside temperature were 5 to 1$0^{\circ}C$. 3. The cold injury in the quadruple coverings during winter occurred all the times below 12$^{\circ}C$ and as many as 200 times over 3$0^{\circ}C$, while effectiveness of thermal insulation in the multilayered nonheating plastic houses were clearly proved. 4. The inside light intensity was markedly reduced with the increment of layers and the minimum light intensity fallen down below the light compensation point for the growth of red pepper plants regardless of the number of layers. 5. Until 10 a. m., the temperature in the daytime during December 20 to mid - February showed below 10 to 12$^{\circ}C$ which was the limiting temperature for the growth of red pepper seedlings. After 4 p. m., the light intensity was sharply reduced despite of the air temperature kept over 12$^{\circ}C$. Therefore, limiting factors for the growth of red pepper seedlings were the temperature before 10 a. m. and the light intensity after 4 p. m. 6. The minimum soil temperature in quadruple coverings showed around 1$0^{\circ}C$ where the physiological damage for red pepper seedlings might be occurred. 7. The minimum outdoor temperatures from 1941 to 1985 was -19.4$^{\circ}C$, observed in the 5th January.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.31 no.4 s.63
• /
• pp.692-707
• /
• 1998

Aim. A neurobehavioral test for workers exposed to organic solvents in the workplace can be affected by many factors : age, education, motivation, ethnicity, etc. To apply more suitable neurobehavioral test for Korean workers, we evaluated the validity of several items of computerized and traditional neurobehavioral tests. Methods. We have applied eleven tests : four items of computerized neurobehavioral test(Swedish Performance Evaluation System) including Addition, Symbol-Digit, Dig-it Span, and Finger tapping speed, and seven items of traditional neurobehavioral test consisting of Addition, Digit-Symbol, Digit Span, Benton visual retention test, Pursuit aiming, Pegboard, and Tapping. These tests were performed on 96 workers exposed to solvents, and 100 reference workers. The concurrent and construct validities were evaluated by group difference, correlation with age, educational level, hippuric acid level, neurotoxic symptom, current exposure level, multitrait-multimethod matrix, fator analysis, and discriminant analysis. Results. Statistically significant differences were observed between the workers exposed to solvents and referents in computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, traditional Digit-Symbol and Pegboard. The computerized Symbol-Digit, traditional Digit-Symbol, Addition, Benton visual retention test, and Pegboard were found to be related to the age. The performance of computerized Symbol-Digit, Addition, and traditional Digit-Symbol were found to be related to the educational level significantly. The computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, and traditional Digit-Symbol were found to be related to hippuric acid, and neurotoxic symptom. The discriminability of Finger tapping speed, and Pegboard was better than the other tests. In discriminant analysis, the model with two variables, the computerized Symbol-Digit and Pegboard, classified almost 70 percent of the workers correctly. Conclusions. These results suggest that the computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, and Pegboard are more satisfactory for our purpose, and the Addition, Tapping, Benton visual retention test, and Pursuit aiming are less valid than other items. These may allow the reasonable selection of core neurobehavioral tests for workers exposed to solvents in Korea.