• Title/Summary/Keyword: Isolation unit

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Raw Animal Meats as Potential Sources of Clostridium difficile in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia

  • Taha, Ahmed E.
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.41 no.5
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    • pp.883-893
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    • 2021
  • Clostridium difficile present in feces of food animals may contaminate their meats and act as a potential source of C. difficile infection (CDI) to humans. C. difficile resistance to antibiotics, its production of toxins and spores play major roles in the pathogenesis of CDI. This is the first study to evaluate C. difficile prevalence in retail raw animal meats, its antibiotics susceptibilities and toxigenic activities in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Totally, 240 meat samples were tested. C. difficile was identified by standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Vitek-2 compact system confirmed C. difficile isolates were 15/240 (6.3%). Toxins A/B were not detected by Xpect C. difficile toxin A/B tests. Although all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, variable degrees of reduced susceptibilities to moxifloxacin, clindamycin or tetracycline antibiotics were detected by Epsilon tests. C. difficile strains with reduced susceptibility to antibiotics should be investigated. Variability between the worldwide reported C. difficile contamination levels could be due to absence of a gold standard procedure for its isolation. Establishment of a unified testing algorithm for C. difficile detection in food products is definitely essential to evaluate the inter-regional variation in its prevalence on national and international levels. Proper use of antimicrobials during animal husbandry is crucial to control the selective drug pressure on C. difficile strains associated with food animals. Investigating the protective or pathogenic potential of non-toxigenic C. difficile strains and the possibility of gene transfer from certain toxigenic/ antibiotics-resistant to non-toxigenic/antibiotics-sensitive strains, respectively, should be worthy of attention.

Light and Electron Microscopy Studies Elucidating Mechanisms of Tomato Leaf Infection by Pseudocercospora fuligena

  • Zelalem Mersha;Girma Birru;Bernhard Hau
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.181-190
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    • 2023
  • The fungal pathogen Pseudocercospora fuligena, known to affect tomatoes in the tropics and subtropics, has been reported from temperate climates including the United States and Turkey in recent years. In this study, an isolate from fresh tomatoes and the disease it causes were characterized and infection mechanisms investigated. Macroscopically, both sides of tomato leaves show indistinct effuse patches but prolific production of fuliginous lesions is conspicuous on the abaxial side first but also on the adaxial side later on as infection progressed. Microscopically, fascicles of conidiophores (11-128 ㎛ × 3.5-9 ㎛) arising from stromata and conidia with up to 12 septations were observed. Molecular characterization of the isolate revealed high homology (99.8%) to other P. fuligena isolated from tomatoes in Turkey. Out of the 10 media tested, P. fuligena grew significantly well and sporulated better on unsealed tomato oatmeal agar and carrot leaf decoction agar, both supplemented with CaCO3. Direct transfer of conidia from profusely sporulating lesions was the easiest and quickest method of isolation for in-vitro studies. Light and scanning electron microscopy on cleared and intact tomato leaves further confirmed stomatal penetration and egress as well as prevalence of primary and secondary infection hyphae. In situ, blocked stomatal aperture areas of 154, 401, and 2,043 ㎛2 were recorded at 7, 12, and 17 days after inoculation, respectively. With the recent expanded horizon of the pathosystem and its consequential impact, such studies will be useful for a proper diagnosis, identification and management of the disease on tomato worldwide.

Nuclear waste attributes of near-term deployable small modular reactors

  • Taek K. Kim;L. Boing;B. Dixon
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.56 no.3
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    • pp.1100-1107
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    • 2024
  • The nuclear waste attributes of near-term deployable SMRs were assessed using established nuclear waste metrics, which are the DU mass, SNF mass, volume, activity, decay heat, radiotoxicity, and decommissioning LLW volumes. Metrics normalized per unit electricity generation were compared to a reference large PWR. Three SMRs, VOYGR, Natrium, and Xe-100, were selected because they represent a range of reactor and fuel technologies and are active designs deployable by the decade's end. The SMR nuclear waste attributes show both some similarities to the PWR and some significant differences caused by reactor-specific design features. The DU mass is equivalent to or slightly higher than the PWR. Back-end waste attributes for SNF disposition vary, but the differences have a limited impact on long-term repository isolation. SMR designs can vary significantly in SNF volume (and thus heat generation density). However, these differences are amenable to design optimization for handling, storage, transportation, and disposal technologies. Nuclear waste attributes from decommissioning vary depending on design and decommissioning technology choices. Given the analysis results in this study and assuming appropriate waste management system and operational optimization, there appear to be no major challenges to managing SMR nuclear wastes compared to the reference PWR.

Variations in Phenotypic Characteristics, Pathogenicity and Fungicides Resistance of Botrytis cinerea, Gray Mold Rot Fungus, Isolated from Various Host Plants (잿빛곰팡이 병원균 Botrytis cinerea 균주의 분리기주별 표현형적 특성, 병원성 및 약제저항성 변이)

  • Choi, In-Sil;Chung, Young-Ryun;Cho, Kwang-Yun
    • The Korean Journal of Mycology
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    • v.23 no.3 s.74
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    • pp.246-256
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    • 1995
  • Phenotypic characteristics, pathogenicity and fungicides resistance of fifty one isolates of Botrytis cinerea obtained from various host plants were observed and determined. The relationships between these characteristics were also investigated on the basis of isolation host plants. The isolates of B. cinerea varied in the capacity of sclerotia formation and sporulation. The pathogenicity of 44 isolates from tomato, cucumber, and strawberry was significantly stronger with 3.2 cm in average diameter of necrotic lesions on cucumber leaves than that of seven isolates from other host plants such as orange, gerbera, ginseng, kiwi, grape, pear and from butter with 1.8 cm in average diameter of necrotic lesions. Benomyl resistance of 12 isolates from tomato plants was much higher with the $EC_{50}$, 562 ppm than that of 19 isolates from various host plants. Diethofencarb resistance, however, of 11 isolates from strawberry plants was highest with the $EC_{50}$, 210 ppm among isolates from other host plants. Polygalacturonase activity varied among isolates in the range of 0 to 103 unit and that of isolates from tomato, cucumber and strawberry was slightly lower than that of isolates from other host plants. No significant relationship between pathogenicity and fungicides resistance, polygalacturonase activity was found among 51 isolates of B. cinerea. Isozyme patterns of polygalacturonase produced from two strongly and weakly pathogenic isolates (FC122, KC6) were slightly different depending upon carbon sources during cultivation.

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Concept Development of Service Marketing Promotion in Nursing (간호서비스 마케팅에 관한 연구;'촉진(Promotion)' 개념 개발)

  • Kang, Yoon-Sook
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.63-76
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    • 1999
  • The main objective of this study was to develop a concept of service marketing promotion in nursing that is derived from the concepts of service marketing theory. This research was a descriptive study, at the factor isolation level. The principle of concept derivation suggested by Walker and Avant (1988) and the Hybrid model suggested by Schwarz-Barcott and Kim (1993) were employed as the research method. The data were collected from December, 1997 to April. 1998 at a large general hospital located in Seoul. The procedures of this study were as follows: First. at the theoretical phase: the meaning, attributes, and definition of service marketing promotion were identified through an extensive review of the literature. Second, at the empirical phase: fieldwork was done to identify the promotional activities and events in nursing. Top nurse managers from 4 units (Director of Nursing, Head nurses of inpatient nursing unit, outpatient nursing unit. and home care nursing unit) were interviewed and the content of the interview was analyzed to identify the meaning and attributes of promotion in nursing. Other methods such as brochures and other audio-visual materials which were relevant to nursing promotion were used to supplement the interviews. Finally, the results of the theoretical and empirical analyses were intergrated to develop a concept of service marketing in nursing practice. A final definition of service marketing promotion in nursing was identified as follows. 1. Promotion as a marketing function in nursing service is concerned with communication to target markets on all information related to nursing service in order to satisfy the objectives of both a nursing service organization and the target markets. 2. The goals of nursing service promotion include: 1) increasing visibility of nursing services and delivering the information on nursing services, 2) affirming the value of nursing services, so it can contribute to formulation of reimbursement policy for nursing services. 3) advancing the general image of the nursing profession and nursing services. 4) achieving and attaining a desirable positioning for nurses among health care professionals. and 5) creating and stimulating the demand for nursing services. 3. In order to obtain these goals it is necessary to provide information on nursing services, to persuade target markets. to remind them about nursing services. and to establish a collaborative relationship with related departments. 4. The tools used to carry out the above functions of promotion in nursing are the providing nursing services, public relations and publicity. QA of nursing, advertising, and sales promotion. 5. The target markets of nursing service include the nursing customer markets. the internal markets, the influence markets. the recruitment markets. the supplier markets. and the nursing referral markets. In conclusion, the concept of promotion in other service marketing areas can be applied to the promotion of nursing service marketing. The promotion of nursing service is more than just effective communication in nursing service. it is the effective use of the concepts of service marketing promotion. Promotion of nursing service will contribute to create and expand nursing services.

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Comparison of Efficiency of Self-renewal and Differentiation Potential in Tendon-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Isolated by Magnetic-activated Cell Sorting Method or Colony Picking Method (자기 활성 세포 분리법과 군체 분리법으로 분리된 건 줄기세포의 자가 재생 능력 및 분화능 효율 비교)

  • Lee, Moses;Choi, Yoorim;Yoon, Dong Suk;Lee, Jin Woo;Yoon, Gil Sung;Choi, Woo Jin;Han, Seung Hwan
    • Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.100-107
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolation by the magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) method in tendon tissue-derived cells compared to the colony picking method for isolation of MSCs by picking colony-forming cells. Materials and Methods: Human tendon-derived cells were isolated by enzyme digestion using normal tendon tissues from three donors. We used the magnetic kit and well-known MSC markers (CD90 or CD105) to isolate MSCs in tendon-derived cells using MACS. Cloning cylinders were used to isolate colony-forming cells having MSC characteristics in tendon-derived cells. Colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) assay was used to evaluate the self-renewal capacity of cells isolated using the colony picking method or MACS. For comparison of differentiation potentials into osteogenic or adipogenic lineage between two groups, alizarin red S and oil red O staining were performed at 14 days after induction of differentiation in vitro. Results: Flow cytometry results showed that early passage tendon-derived cells expressed CD44 in 99.13%, CD90 in 56.51%, and CD105 in 86.19%. In the CFU-F assay, CD90+ or CD105+ cells isolated with MACS showed larger colony formation in size than cells isolated using the colony picking method. We also observed that CD90+ or CD105+ cells were constantly differentiated into both osteogenic and adipogenic lineages in cells from all donors, whereas cells isolated using the colony picking method were heterogeneous in differentiation potentials to the osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. Conclusion: CD90+ or CD105+ cells isolated using MACS showed superior MSC characteristics in the self-renewal and multi-differentiation capacities compared with cells isolated using the colony picking method.

Hygienic quality of eggs in the department food stores in the Incheon Metropolitan area (인천지역 백화점 유통 계란의 위생적 품질상태)

  • 이성모;김경호;이정구;박은정;이승환;홍종해
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.129-136
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    • 2002
  • This study was conducted to Provide basic information Promoting egg qualify improvement and hygienic control by grasping of present market egg distribution system and hygienic quality. The eggs of 57 brands collected from the department food stores in Incheon Metropolitan City were examined. Eggs were kept in room temperature in all the market and 70.2% of the brands were marked the expiration date indicating that eggs would be available over 28 days after being laid. Fifty-four % of the market eggs was classified as a special or functional egg. Expiration date and date of laying were common labelling items in all brands. These items were labelled in trade mark sheet or eggs tray. Only 66.6% of the brands had the mark about net quantity of contents. The inspection about the exterior and contents of eggs has results as follows: eggshell contamination of feces and feather-9.5%, abnormal and broken eggshell -3.9%, blood and meat spots in contents -14.7% and watery whites -1.8%. Average of Haugh Unit(HU) was 56.1 and below HU 31 were 18 of 285 eggs(6.3%), in addition, more than one egg detected in 12 brands(21.1%) among 57 brands have inferior quality. Salmonella enteritidis from eggshell and antibodies directed from S. enteritidis in the yolks of eggs available in the market were not detected. Ranges of Total bacterial count (CFU/ml) on eggshell of eggs were < 10~8.2$\times$10$_3$, and isolation ratio of Escherichia coli were 4.7%. Tetracyclines were detected in 1.8% of the eggs(1 of57 brands) by CHARMII. As mentioned above, quality control and improving distribution system were required to facilitate egg consumption and improve public health by complementing labelling items and quality standards.

Isolation and Characterization of 𝛽-Glucosidase-Producing Yeast, Rhodotorula sp. GYP-1 (𝛽-Glucosidase 생성 효모 Rhodotorula sp. GYP-1의 분리 및 특성)

  • Hyun-Soo Roh;Min-Young Kwon;Sol-Bi Kim;Jae-Eun Cho;Song-Ih Han
    • Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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    • v.40 no.5
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    • pp.1126-1135
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    • 2023
  • Nine microbial strains were isolated from the byproduct of ginseng processing and field of ginseng cultivation. Two strains among them were confirmed. Phylogenetic analysis of these 𝛽-Glucosidase strains confirmed that strain GYP-1 belongs to the Rhodotorula and strain GYP-3-3 belong to genus Brachybacterium. Rhodotorula sp. GYP-1 was finally selected due to its high biomass production. The 𝛽-Glucosidase activity of Rhodotorula sp. GPY-1 was assessed at 30 ℃, and Higher than 70% of the enzyme activity was maintained at the temperature range of 20-40℃. Although the optimum pH for the highest enzyme activity was pH 5.0, the enzyme was stable throughout the pH range of 5.0-8.0. In addition, Rhodotorula sp. demonstrated antifungal activity against the ginseng root rot disease caused by Botrytis.

A Study on Clustering and Color Difference Evaluation of Color Image using HSV Color Space (HSV색공간을 이용한 칼라화상의 클러스터링 및 색차평가에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Young-Il
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics T
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    • v.35T no.2
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    • pp.20-27
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    • 1998
  • This paper describes color clustering method based on color difference in the uniform Munsell color space obtained from hue, saturation, and value. The proposed method operates in the uniform HSV color space which is approximated using ${L^*}{a^*}{b^*}$ coordinate system based on the RGB inputs. A clustering and color difference evaluation are proposed by thresholding NBS unit which is likely to Balinkin color difference equation. Region segmentation and isolation process are carried out ISO DATA algorithm which is a self iterative clustering technique. Through the clustering of 2 input images according to the threshold value, satisfactory results are obtained. So, in conclusion, it is possible to extract result of better region segmentation using human color perception of the objects.

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Understanding and Valuation on the Community as a Kind of Alternative Family ; With Emphasis on the Kibbutz and the Amercian Commune (대안가족으로서의 공동체에 대한 이해와 평가 ; Kibbutz와 미국의 Commune을 중심으로)

  • Cheong, Hae-Eun
    • Journal of Families and Better Life
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    • v.10 no.1 s.19
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    • pp.229-238
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    • 1992
  • According as the modern form of the family becomes nuclearized, inevitable is the isolation of the family. The relationship of the neighborhood and the kinsmen are being dissolved, making the isolated and unsteady nuclear family. We need a community in the modern society, for we are facing a lot of social problems as the nuclear family. The problems are as follows ; the rearing of the children, the alienation of a woman and the woman's roles in the society. In addition to those problems, there are also such some other problems as the alienation of the old man and the social roles of them. That is to say, the community appeared as a kind of attempt to overcome the above-mentioned problems, Kibbutz may be itself called and enlarged family to function as one family even though it is not just a blood relationship. The American commune is a large family community as a group to overcome the alienation and solitude of the nuclear family. On the other hand, the urban community is the small-scaled and cooperative family to solve the problem that the modern nuclear family is a unit living solitarily and unsteadily. But in fact, even in such a community, there are much tension and conflict against its establishing purpose. In my opinion, if those communities have to surmount the tension and conflict which are derived from the process in a bid to overcome the troubles like the alienation and solitude of the nuclear family. The bond of family must be consolidated among all the members of the community. And then community may be co-existed with the traditional family as the alternative family in the future, which can supply the deficiency of the unsteady unclear family.

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