• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.238-242
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• 2016

The effect of the alkali, alkali earth metal elements on selective catalytic reduction(SCR) catalyst deactivation behavior were investigated in terms of microstructure, surface area, pore volume and De-NOx test. Poisoned SCR catalyst were manufactured by injection of $K_2CO_3$, $Na_2CO_3$, $Ca(CH_3COO)_2{\cdot}H_2O$, $C_4H_6MgO_4{\cdot}4H_2O$, $H_3PO_4$ solutions in the new SCR catalyst at $350^{\circ}C$ for 6 hours. New and poisoned catalysts surface were similar. But specific surface area, pore volume decrease from Na, Mg, K, Ca, P compared to new SCR catalyst. Especially, Na poisoned catalyst surface area and pore size extremely decreased by $10.20m^2/g$, $0.061cm^2/g$. De-NOx test results of new and poisoned catalysts at $150{\sim}450^{\circ}C$ indicated that alkali metal (K, Na) poisoned SCR catalysts have the lowest De-NOx efficiency, alkali earth metal poisoned SCR catalysts (Ca, Mg) De-NOx efficiency are higher than alkali metal poisoned SCR catalysts. P poisoned SCR catalyst De-NOx efficiency is similar new SCR catalyst. It were considered that physical deactivation of SCR catalyst was affected by SCR catalyst surface area and pore volume change.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.78-96
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to analyze the emergency health care utilization using status according to income class. The target was the 2011 data out Korea Health Panel's raw data. 2011 data composed of total 17,035 people from total 5,741 households. This study set total 1,101 adults over full-20-years old having used an emergency health care utilization as its analysis target. In order to find out the number of emergency health care utilization use according to income class and the influential factors on emergency health care utilization cost, this study conducted the multiple regression analysis. And in order to more accurately analyze the emergency health care utilization use status depending on the income class and the features of emergency health care utilization use status, this study developed Models. As the result, this study found following findings. First, as the income class was lower, the gender was male, the age was lower, and the user has spouse, the user was not a business owner or a paid worker, the user is a house owner, the emergency medical facility type was a clinic, the means of transportation was others rather than 119 ambulance, the reason visiting emergency medical facility was belonged to others rather than accidents or poisoning, then the number of emergency was increased. Second, as the user was in higher income class, received the health insurance benefits, the using medical facility was general hospital, used 119 ambulance more often, stay days in emergency was shorter, then health care utilization cost was increased. In this study investigating the data out of Korea Health Panel, it was found that while the number of emergency health care utilization use was increased in the lower income class, but the emergency health care utilization cost was increased for higher income class. It is considered that this finding was caused from the facts that lower income class was more often exposed to dangers for physical health, so the number of emergency health care utilization use was increased, but their health care utilization cost was decreased because of their economic burdens against various examinations and their difficulties to pay such costs, comparing to that of higher income class. Therefore, in order to solve unequal problem of emergency health care utilization use between lower and higher income classs, it is required to set suitable solutions like the disease prevention effort by facilitating national health check-up programs, the enhancement of public health services in quantity and quality, the emergency health care utilization securing policy at using medical facilities, the promotional, educational activities about emergency health care utilization delivery system, the enhanced accessibility of emergency health care utilizations and emergency medical facilities.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2007

Purpose: Pyrethroid is an insecticide that produces moderate intoxication in mammals, with neither exposure to skin nor inhalation resulting in severe systemic manifestations. In 2005 we made a nationwide survey of agrichemical human intoxication. The object of this study is to analyze pyrethroid intoxications based on the 2005 survey. Methods: We prospectively collected data from 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006 by a standard investigation protocol. We analyzed demographic data, exposure data (cause, amount, ingredients), clinical features, and courses. Results: A total of 125 cases of pyrethroid intoxication were surveyed. The mean patient age was $56.78{\pm}16.158$ years old, and the mean amount ingested was $121.85{\pm}110.732ml$. Patients were classified into four severity groups according to symptoms and mental status: the asymptomatic group (27 patients, 21.6%), the mild symptom group (48, 38.4%), the moderate symptom group (21, 16.8%), and the severe symptom group (7, 5.6%). There were statistically significant differences in mental status, severity, and mean ICU days between two groups. Admission days by severity grade for the asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe symptom groups were $5.49{\pm}16.051,\;3.65{\pm}4.143,\;4.59{\pm}3.335,\;and\;8.14{\pm}7.199days$, respectively (p=0.047). Conclusion: Nationwide surveillance was extremely telling in uncovering a high frequency of agrichemical intoxication in Korea. In pyrethroid intoxication, severity grading can be a useful prognostic tool.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 2009

This study aims at deriving any useful information necessary to strengthen the competitiveness for growth through empirical analyses on general hospital located in a province in order to countermeasure the opening and competition of medical markets. The characteristics of user were identified on the basis of disease groups under KCD in the research method. In addition, the analysis on the expenses of diagnosis and treatment was divided into the treatment progress and degree of hospital resource utilization And the regression was carried out to identify the impacts of characteristics of inpatient users on the degree of hospital resource utilization. As a result of major research, the inpatient users of the general hospital located in the provincial area in consideration of inpatient users were formed around the inpatient disease groups representative for Korea(diseases of the respiratory system, injury and poisoning & certain other consequences of external causes). And it was understood that most of residents within a distance of 40 minute by the public transportation were using. And mostly were under the age of 9 or over 60, and the provision of medical features such as the degree of consultation and operational functions were inadequate. When we classify inpatient treatment cost for each resource application as the medical cost being the center of patient care function, the equipment and human resource application sector are constituted over half. Accordingly, the following suggestions are made as plans to strengthen the competitiveness for the growth of general hospitals located in the provincial areas on the basis of analytical results. First, it is necessary to have the characterization matching to the age and disease groups with a high frequency. Second, it is necessary to increase the degree of hospital resource utilization according to the characterization. Third, it is necessary to concentrate on public relations. The above suggestion, as a method for securing image improvement and competitive power as a general hospital, and through expansion of social function that a regional general hospital needs to secure not only as an individual institution but also as a general hospital, it can be seen that a general improvement of image as a regional general hospital is possible.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the in vitro anti-biofilm activities of plant extracts of chives (Allium tuberosum), garlic (Allium sativum), and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) against environment harmful bacteria (gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and, gram-negative Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7). In the paper disc assay, garlic extracts exhibited the highest anti-biofilm activity. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of all plant extracts was generally higher for gram-negative bacteria than it was for gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria were more resistant to plant extracts. The tetrazolium dye (XTT) assay revealed that, each plant extract exhibited a different anti-biofilm activity at the MIC value depending on the pathogen involved. Among the plant extracts tested, garlic extracts (fresh juice and powder) effectively reduced the metabolic activity of the cells of food-poisoning bacteria in biofilms. These anti-biofilm activities were consistent with the results obtained through light microscopic observation. Though the garlic extract reduced biofilm formation for all pathogens tested, to elucidate whether this reduction was due to antimicrobial effects or anti-biofilm effects, we counted the colony forming units of pathogens in the presence of the garlic extract and a control antimicrobial drug. The garlic extract inhibited the E. coli O157:H7 biofilm effectively compared to the control antimicrobial drug ciprofloxacin; however, it did not inhibit S. aureus biofilm significantly compared to ciprofloxacin. In conclusion, garlic extracts could be used as natural food preservatives to prevent the growth of foodborne pathogens and elongater the shelf life of processed foods.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.896-903
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• 2021

For the safety assessment of microbiological and chemical hazards in raw short-neck clam Ruditapes philippinarum distributed in the Yeongnam and Honam areas during the spring season, the contamination levels of total viable bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and nine pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni) as microbiological hazards, and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, total mercury), benzopyrene, shellfish poison (paralytic, diarrhetic, amnesic), and radioactivity (¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs+¹³⁷Cs) were also analyzed in 15 samples based on the methods of the Korean Food Code. The average contamination levels of total viable bacteria were 3.11 (1.40-4.49) log CFU/g, and coliforms were detected in 5 out of 15 samples (1.18-1.85 log CFU/g). E. coli and S. aureus were not detected in all samples. Furthermore, the presence of 8 pathogens were not detected in all samples. The average contamination levels of lead, cadmium, and total mercury were 0.155 (0.079-0.264), 0.160 (0.040-0.287), and 0.017 (0.008-0.026) mg/kg, respectively. Benzo(a)pyrene, shellfish poison, and radioactivity were not detected in all samples. The results of this study suggest that the safety against all microbiological and chemical hazard factors in raw short-neck clams distributed in markets has been assured.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

Purpose: In patients with acute drug overdose, identification of drugs ingested is crucial to make a precise diagnosis. In most cases, the diagnoses are made on the medical history and physical examination findings. This study was undertaken to determine the concordance of diagnosis made on the basis of patient history by comparing it with urine toxicology analysis. Methods: This was a retrospective study of drug intoxicated patients over 18 years old who presented to the emergency center from 2017 to 2019. Specimens from urine were tested using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TMS). The test results were compared with information obtained from patients. Diagnostic concordances for drug detection in intoxicated patients were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between clinical characteristics and diagnostic discrepancy. Results: Totally, 370 patients were included in the analysis. Overall, 66 types of drugs were detected by UPLC-TMS. The drugs detected most frequently were zolpidem (104, 27.8%), citalopram (70, 18.7%), and paracetamol (66, 17.6%). The mean diagnostic concordance of patients was 52.7%. There were statistically significant diagnostic discrepancies in patients with underlying depression and patients intoxicated with multiple types of drugs. Conclusion: In ED patients with acute drug overdose, the diagnoses made on history alone were often inaccurate. It is essential to perform urine toxicology tests such as UPLC-TMS as a confirmatory instrument to improve accuracy in evaluating patients with drug intoxication.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2023

In this study, we analyzed the microbial contamination level of ultraviolet sterilizer (UVS) chambers and suggested plans to improve hygiene management. In this study, UVS chambers targeted 98 UVS in some childcare centers in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Total aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria were tested according to the Korean Food Code. Of the 98 UVS chambers, total aerobic bacteria were detected in 67 (68.4%) and coliform bacteria in 5 (5.1%). Six kinds of food-poisoning bacteria, including Salmonella spp., were not detected, but Bacillus cereus was detected in 1 (2.8%) out of 98 UVS chambers. According to the UV lamp replacement period, the detection rate of total aerobic bacteria was 3 (50%) out of 6 UVS within 3 months, 3 (60%) out of 5 UVS in 3 to 6 months, and 61 (70.1%) out of 87 UVS over 6 months. The detection rate of coliform bacteria according to the UV lamp replacement period was not detected within 6 months, however, they were detected in 5 (5.7%) out of 87 chambers after more than 6 months. The level of microbial contamination in the UVS chambers was higher as the lamp replacement period was longer. Considering these results, it was determined that the UVS chambers should be kept dry and clean, and the UV lamp should be replaced periodically. In addition, it is necessary to provide the staff catering for childcare centers with continuous education regarding the cleaning of UVS chambers and the replacement of UV lamps.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 1995

The reliable measurement of metal in biological media in human body is one of critical indicators for the proper evaluation of its toxic effect on human health. Recently in Korea the necessity of quality assurance of measurement in occupational health and occupational hygiene fields brought out regulatory quality control program. Lead is often used as a standard metal for the program in both fields of occupational health and hygiene. During last 20 years lead poisoning was prevalent in Korea and still is one of main heavy metal poisoning and the capability of the measurement of blood lead is one of prerequisites for institute of specialized occupational health in Korea. Furthermore blood lead is most important indicator to evaluate lead burden of human exposure to lead and the reliable and accurate analysis is most needed whenever possible. To evaluate the extent of the interlaboratory differences of blood lead measurement in several well-known institute specialized in occupational health in Korea, authors prepared 68 blood samples from two storage battery industries and all samples were divided into samples with 2 ml. One set of 68 samples were analyzed by authors's laboratory(Soonchunhyang University Institute of Industrial Medicine: SIIM) and 40 samples of other set were analyzed by C University Institute of Industrial Medicine(CIIM) and the rest 28 samples of other set were analyzed by Japanese institute(K Occupational Health Center:KOHC). Authors also prepared test bovine samples which were obtained from Japanese Federation of Occupational Health Organization (JFOHO) for quality control. Authors selected 2 other well-known occupational health laboratories and one laboratory specialized for instrumental analysis. A total of 6 laboratories joined the interlaboratory comparison of blood lead measurement and the results obtained were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in average blood lead between SIIM and CIIM in different group of blood lead concentration, and the relative standard deviation of two laboratories was less than 3.0%. On the other hand, there was also no significant difference of average blood lead between SIIM and KOHC with relative standard deviation of 6.84% as maximum. 2. Taking less than 15% difference of mean or less than 6 ug/dl difference in below 40 ug/dl in whole blood as a criteria of agreement of measurement between two laboratories, agreement rates were 87.5%(35/40) and 78.6%(22/28) between SIIM and CIIM, SIIM and KOHC respectively. 3. The correlation of blood lead between SIIM and CIIM was 0.975 (p=0.0001) and the regression equation was SIIM = 2.19 + 0.9243 ClIM, whereas the correlation between SUM and KOHC was O.965(p=0.0001) with the equation of SIIM = 1.91 + 0.9794 KOHC. 4. Taking the reference value as a dependent variable and each of 6 laboratories's measurement value as a independent variable, the determination coefficient($R^2$) of simple regression equations of blood lead measurement for bovine test samples were very high($R^2>0.99$), and the regression coefficient(${\beta}$) was between 0.972 and 1.15 which indicated fairly good agreement of measurement results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1366-1374
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• 2016

Most elderly have difficulties in managing food safety and nutrition by themselves. Various nutrition educations for the elderly have been developed, but food safety and nutrition education program and educational tools for the elderly are very limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate a food safety and nutrition education program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) for the elderly. Education program was implemented for 220 seniors (137 educated group and 83 control group) aged over 65 years at senior welfare community centers. The intervention study was carried out on a weekly basis during each of 5 weeks, and each session lasted about 35 or 40 minutes. The effectiveness of the program was assessed with a questionnaire before and after education. Education program consisted of a 5 week program, and topics were 'Dietary changes for the elderly's healthy life', 'Prevention of food poisoning in everyday life', 'Safe food handling for my health', 'Healthy dietary life to prevent chronic disease', and 'Safety! nutrition! healthy dietary life'. Education program materials such as slides, handouts, videos, leaflet, and booklets were developed. As a result, there were score improvements in knowledge, dietary behaviors, and health belief after intervention in the intervention group, which were higher than those of the control group. In particular, there was a meaningful interrelation between dietary behavior and health belief (r=0.520, P<0.001). This finding suggests that changing beliefs is very important to make desirable dietary behavioral changes. For this reason, we can conclude HBM theory is an effective model to educate nutrition and food safety for the elderly. Furthermore, food safety and nutrition education programs are implemented and delivered continuously at various settings such as a health center or community welfare center, and those will contribute significantly to enhance perception and change their desirable dietary behaviors for the elderly.