• Title/Summary/Keyword: Laboratory Safety & Environment

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Development of Molecular Diagnostic System with High Sensitivity for the Detection of Human Sapovirus from Water Environments

  • Lee, Siwon;Bae, Kyung Seon;Lee, Jin-Young;Joo, Youn-Lee;Kim, Ji-Hae;You, Kyung-A
    • Biomedical Science Letters
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.35-43
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    • 2021
  • Human Sapovirus (HuSaV) is one of the major causes of acute gastroenteritis in humans, and it is used as a molecular diagnostic technique based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from humans, food, shellfish, and aquatic environments. In this study, the HuSaV diagnosis technique was used in an aquatic environment where a number of PCR inhibitors are included and pathogens, such as viruses, are estimated to exist at low concentration levels. HuSaV-specific primers are improved to detect 38 strains registered in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The established optimal condition and the composition, including the RT-nested PCR primers and SL® Non-specific reaction inhibitor, were found to have 100 times higher sensitivity based on HuSaV plasmid than the previously reported methods (100 ag based on HuSaV plasmid 1 ng/μL). Through an artificial infection test, the developed method was able to detect at least 1 fg/μL of HuSaV plasmid contaminated with total nucleic acid extracted from groundwater. In addition, RT-nested PCR primer sets for HuSaV detection can react, and a positive control is developed to verify false positives. This study is expected to be used as a HuSaV monitoring method in the future and applied to the safety response to HuSaV from water environments.

A Study on the Difficulties Faced by High School Science Teachers in Operating LMO Laboratories (고등학교 LMO 실험실 운영에서 과학교사가 갖는 어려움에 관한 연구)

  • Seongjae Lee;Jiwon Yeo;Sang-Hak Jeon
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.1-15
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    • 2023
  • As the social and economic value of living modified organisms (LMOs) increase, so do the potential risks they pose to humans and the environment. Therefore, all laboratories using LMOs must establish an LMO laboratory in accordance with the standards required by regulations. Recently, in high school, LMO-related experimental programs have been developed for their educational effects. Also, in this case, it is necessary to comply with the regulation for LMO laboratories. However, high schools are still unfamiliar with the LMO laboratory, and it is difficult for teachers to manage an LMO laboratory because its implementation applies the same standards to general research institutes. In this study, we used causal chain analysis to discover the difficulties each teacher faced while setting up an LMO laboratory by examining three cases. The difficulties experienced by teachers are as follows: the first problem is "reluctance to set up an LMO laboratory," because of "administrative tasks for laboratory registration" and "difficulty in persuading colleagues." The second problem is a difficulty for teachers to operate LMO laboratory in blind spots, due to "inflexible installation and closure," "medical waste disposal," and "LMO education that does not fit the school context." Through this study, although the difficulty of running an LMO laboratory is caused by a lack of necessity and insufficient consideration of the school context, the more fundamental cause was a lack of collaborative planning between the educational field and the operating institutions. The teachers who participate in this research suggest that "using shared LAB" and "preparing opportunities for knowledge sharing" can be considered as strategies for operating the school's LMO laboratory. We feel that this study will provide a useful reference for teachers or schools planning to build an LMO laboratory.

PM2.5 Simulations for the Seoul Metropolitan Area: (III) Application of the Modeled and Observed PM2.5 Ratio on the Contribution Estimation (수도권 초미세먼지 농도모사: (III) 관측농도 대비 모사농도 비율 적용에 따른 기여도 변화 검토)

  • Bae, Changhan;Yoo, Chul;Kim, Byeong-Uk;Kim, Hyun Cheol;Kim, Soontae
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.33 no.5
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    • pp.445-457
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    • 2017
  • In this study, we developed an approach to better account for uncertainties in estimated contributions from fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) modeling. Our approach computes a Concentration Correction Factor (CCF) which is a ratio of observed concentrations to baseline model concentrations. We multiply modeled direct contribution estimates with CCF to obtain revised contributions. Overall, the modeling system showed reasonably good performance, correlation coefficient R of 0.82 and normalized mean bias of 2%, although the model underestimated some PM species concentrations. We also noticed that model biases vary seasonally. We compared contribution estimates of major source sectors before and after applying CCFs. We observed that different source sectors showed variable magnitudes of sensitivities to the CCF application. For example, the total primary $PM_{2.5}$ contribution was increased $2.4{\mu}g/m^3$ or 63% after the CCF application. Out of a $2.4{\mu}g/m^3$ increment, line sources and area source made up $1.3{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.9{\mu}g/m^3$ which is 92% of the total contribution changes. We postulated two major reasons for variations in estimated contributions after the CCF application: (1) monthly variability of unadjusted contributions due to emission source characteristics and (2) physico-chemical differences in environmental conditions that emitted precursors undergo. Since emissions-to-$PM_{2.5}$ concentration conversion rate is an important piece of information to prioritize control strategy, we examined the effects of CCF application on the estimated conversion rates. We found that the application of CCFs can alter the rank of conversion efficiencies of source sectors. Finally, we discussed caveats of our current approach such as no consideration of ion neutralization which warrants further studies.

Characteristics on the Conversion of EBDCs Fungicides to ETU for Mancozeb and Metiram (EBDC계 살균제 mancozeb와 metiram의 ETU 전환 특성)

  • Jang, Mi-Ra;Hwang, Kwang-Eun;Lee, Eun-Soon;Kim, Eun-Hee;Kim, Dong-Hyun;KIm, Jung-Hun;Park, Seog-Gee
    • The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.30-36
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    • 2010
  • This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of conversion and residue for two EBDCs fungicides (mancozeb and metiram) and their metabolite, ethylenethiourea (ETU) under laboratory conditions. The sampling on the pesticides was done at 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 19, 22 and 26 days. The amounts of their residues and ETU were analyzed with an HPLC-DAD. The average recoveries were $86.9{\pm}4.3\;and\;90.2{\pm}8.0%$ for mancozeb, $85.2{\pm}2.4\;and\;98.6{\pm}1.6%$ for metiram, and $64.1{\pm}3.4\;and\;80.0{\pm}4.6%$ for ETU. The half-lives of mancozeb and metiram were 7.5 and 27.8 day, respectively. The conversion rates of mancozeb and metiram to ETU ranged from 4.7 to 67.2% and from 7.5 to 34.6%, respectively. These results may be different under the real environmental conditions. Therefore, following many studies are recommended to make the criteria for applying the use and safety for mancozeb and metiram.

Survey on the contamination of listeria sp In meats which was collected in Kyongbuk province (경북지역에서 수거된 식육의 listeria sp 오염실태 조사)

  • 조종숙;김유정;김성숙;도재철;김석환;이창우;김인성;정종식
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.341-348
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    • 2000
  • Nowadays we continue to face challenges to the safety of our foods. It seems clear that contaminated meats provide the major route of listeria monocytogenes transmission from the environment to humans. L monocytogenes is the most important species associated with disease in humans among the listeria sp. The current incidence of symptomatic listeriosis caused by L monocytogenes is uncertain. Although the number of reports in the literature on listeriosis are increasing, it is likely that they are actually unrecognized or underreported because of a lack of awareness on the part of some laboratory workers who fail to isolate or identify these organisms. To get the information of sanitary development, we survey various meats (beef, pork, etc) in Kyongbuk area. Samples were collected from local meat shop at Kyongbuk area. Total sixty six case were isolated and identified from one hundreds and seven samples. L innocua was the most abundant in listeria sp. Among U isolates, the number of isolated L innocua was 43 (65.2%). The numbers of isolated L murrayi, L welshimeri, L monocytogenes and L seeligeri were 12(18.2%), 7(10.6%), 3(4.5%) and 1(1.5%), respectively, but L grayi, L iuanouii were not Isolated.

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Effect of Water Quality of Cooling Tower on Legionella pneumophila Disinfection Using Ru/Ti Electrode (냉각탑수 수질이 Ru/Ti 전극을 이용한 Legionella pneumophila 소독에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Dong-Seog;Park, Young-Seek
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.17 no.6
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    • pp.581-589
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    • 2008
  • This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of water quality of cooling tower on Legionella pneumophila disinfection using Ru/Ti electrode. The influences of parameters such as pH, turbidity, $CaCO_3$ and TOC were investigated using laboratory scale batch reactor. Oxidants such as free Cl, $ClO_2,\;H_2O_2\;and\;O_3$ were measured. The results showed that all of the water quality parameters of cooling tower had deteriorated disinfection of Legionella pneumophila. When the turbidity, $CaCO_3$ and TOC was increased, oxidants which was generated during electrolysis was decreased. pH, free Cl, $ClO_2\;and\;H_2O_2$ concentration were decreased with the increase of pH, whereas $O_3$ concentration was increased with the increase of pH. The order of effect of water quality on the disinfection performance for Legionella pneumophila was turbidity > $CaCO_3$ > TOC > pH. To obtain the safety standard (1000 CFU/L), the simultaneous increase current and NaCl dosage was needed.

Vehicle-bridge coupling vibration analysis based fatigue reliability prediction of prestressed concrete highway bridges

  • Zhu, Jinsong;Chen, Cheng;Han, Qinghua
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.49 no.2
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    • pp.203-223
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    • 2014
  • The extensive use of prestressed reinforced concrete (PSC) highway bridges in marine environment drastically increases the sensitivity to both fatigue-and corrosion-induced damage of their critical structural components during their service lives. Within this scenario, an integrated method that is capable of evaluating the fatigue reliability, identifying a condition-based maintenance, and predicting the remaining service life of its critical components is therefore needed. To accomplish this goal, a procedure for fatigue reliability prediction of PSC highway bridges is proposed in the present study. Vehicle-bridge coupling vibration analysis is performed for obtaining the equivalent moment ranges of critical section of bridges under typical fatigue truck models. Three-dimensional nonlinear mathematical models of fatigue trucks are simplified as an eleven-degree-of-freedom system. Road surface roughness is simulated as zero-mean stationary Gaussian random processes using the trigonometric series method. The time-dependent stress-concentration factors of reinforcing bars and prestressing tendons are accounted for more accurate stress ranges determination. The limit state functions are constructed according to the Miner's linear damage rule, the time-dependent S-N curves of prestressing tendons and the site-specific stress cycle prediction. The effectiveness of the methodology framework is demonstrated to a T-type simple supported multi-girder bridge for fatigue reliability evaluation.

Infiltration characteristics and hydraulic conductivity of weathered unsaturated soils

  • Song, Young-Suk;Hong, Seongwon
    • Geomechanics and Engineering
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.153-163
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    • 2020
  • Laboratory experiments were conducted with two different soil conditions to investigate rainfall infiltration characteristics. The soil layer materials that were tested were weathered granite soil and weathered gneiss soil. Artificial rainfall of 80 mm/hr was reproduced through the use of a rainfall device, and the volumetric water content and matric suction were measured. In the case of the granite soil, the saturation velocity and the moving direction of the wetting front were fast and upward, respectively, whereas in the case of the weathered gneiss soil, the velocity and direction were slow and downward, respectively. Rainfall penetrated and saturated from the bottom to the top as the hydraulic conductivity of the granite soil was higher than the infiltration capacity of the artificial rainfall. In contrast, as the hydraulic conductivity of the gneiss soil was lower than the infiltration capacity of the rainfall, ponding occurred on the surface: part of the rainfall first infiltrated, with the remaining rainfall subsequently flowing out. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function of weathered soils was determined and analyzed with matric suction and the effective degree of saturation.

An Investigation of Vehicle-to-Vehicle Distance Control Laws Using Hardware-in-the Loop Simulation (Hardware-in-the Loop Simulation 을 통한 차간거리 제어시스템의 제어 성능 연구)

  • Yi, Kyong-Su;Lee, Chan-Kyu
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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    • v.26 no.7
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    • pp.1401-1407
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    • 2002
  • This paper represents an investigation of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control system using Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation(HiLS). Control logic is primarily developed and tested with a specially equipped test vehicle. Establishment of an efficient and low cost development tool is a very important issue, and test vehicle approach is costly and time consuming. HiLS method is useful in the investigation of driver assistance and active safety systems. The HiLS system consists of a stepper motor for throttle control, a hydraulic brake system with an electronic vacuum booster, an electronic controller unit, a data logging computer which are used to save vehicle states and signals of actuator through a CAN and a simulation computer using mathematical vehicle model. Adaptation of a CAN instead of RS-232 Serial Interface for communication is a trend in the automotive industry. Since this environment is the same as a test vehicle, a control logic verified in laboratory can be easily transferred to a test vehicle.

Hydrogen Effect Assessment of Fuel Supply Systems for Hydrogen Blended Natural Gas Vehicle (수소-천연가스 혼합연료 차량 연료 공급시스템 수소영향 평가)

  • Kang, SeungKyu;Kim, SangRyul
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 2017
  • This study evaluated hydrogen effect of metal and non-metallic materials used in the hydrogen blended natural gas vehicle. Hydrogen penetrated concentration of 34Cr-Mo steel(850MPa tensile strength) for winter driving conditions was measured 0.0018ppm and summer driving conditions was 5.3ppm. The critical hydrogen concentration of high strength metal used in this study was measured 1.03ppm by CLT. Therefore, 34CrMo steel cas cause problems in the 30% HCNG(25MPa) environment. In case of the test for non-metallic materials, all materials met the criteria of the gas resistance test, but Fluorocarbon Rubber material had a significant change in the volume. So if it is used, extra care is needed.