• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2004

The different social reflections about the benefits and the potential risks of genetically modified (GM) crops have evolved with .different reactions in different countries. Many countries including Korea are working toward setting down new guidelines. Korea requires companies to label all food that contains more than 3% GM ingredients. One of the rapid and convenient detection methods of GM ingredients is amplification of the introduced DNAs by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Many PCR kits for this purpose are commercially available. The objective of this study was to evaluate performance of commercialized GM crop detection kits. The results showed that 6 out of 15 kits tested did not meet the requirements even purposed by the manufacturers themselves in terms of stability, reproducibility, and detection limits, suggesting a potential quality control problem in their design stage or production line. The evaluation also suggests that, although the duplex and triplex detection kits allowed unambiguous detection in a single PCR reaction, the monoplex detection kits were the most sensitive to the detection of GM ingredients. The detection limits also differ between soybean and corn. Results from this study will be useful in the development of sound qualitative tracking systems of GM ingredients for monitoring throughout the cultivation of GM crops, their trans-boundary movement, and food production using GM grains as well as for complying with government guidelines associated with GM crops.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.819-828
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• 2011

To inspect norovirus contamination of groundwater in south eastern areas of Korea, a systematic survey of groundwater in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do was performed for two years from 2009 to 2010. For this purpose, we first optimized the nested reverse transcription-PCR condition by designing two sets of primers for the detection of norovirus genogroups, GI and GII. Of 145 samples, 21 (25.9%) and 15 (23.4%) were norovirus positive in the dry season (April to June) and wet season (July to August), respectively. The detection frequencies of norovirus in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do were 15%, 7%, and 32%, respectively, reflecting a geographical difference in their distribution. The GI and GII isolates were 5 and 31, respectively, indicating the prevalence of GII in the tested areas. According to phylogenetic analysis of their nucleotide sequences, all of the GI isolates were identified to genotype GI.5 whilst the GII isolates were divided into two genotypes, GII.3 and GII.4. Neither physical-chemical parameters such as pH, temperature, oxidation-reduction potential, and dissolved oxygen, nor microbial indicators of water quality such as total bacteria, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli were statistically correlated with contamination of norovirus in the groundwater. Interestingly, however, the presence of norovirus was closely correlated with low turbidity (<0.50 NTU). The present study suggests that periodical monitoring of norovirus in groundwater is necessary to prevent epidemic waterborne diseases and to secure better sanitary conditions for public health.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the attributes of self-help groups, their antecedents and consequences relating to self-help groups. Methods: We used the Walker and Avant (2010) method using the key word "self-help groups" the Korea Education and Research Information Service (www.riss4u.net), Pubmed, CINAHL and ProQuest for articles on this topic published between January 2000 and March 2013 were searched. Ultimately, 64 domestic and 21 foreign papers were selected for in-depth analysis. Results: The attributes of self-help groups are as follows: 1) members share common experiences and are supportive of each other; 2) members set goals for individual change; 3) groups are self-monitoring; 4) groups learn problem-solving processes through voluntary and active participation; and 5) groups are small and meet regularly. The antecedents of self-help groups are as follows: 1) an intervention by an expert; 2) a diagnosis of their illness; 3) motivation to change individuals' state; and 4) educational desire. The consequences of self-help groups are the relief of symptoms, the improvement of physiological parameters and quality of life, the decrease in depression, stress, and anxiety, the improvement of illness-related knowledge and self-help activity, and a change in beliefs. Conclusion: Self-help groups can be used as an intervention strategy to help people with chronic illness manage their own problems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2015

To evaluate the relationship between dynamics of cyanobacteria and odorous compounds, a monthly monitoring of water quality and phytoplankton were conducted at the three serial lakes (Lake Ui-am, Lake Cheong-pyeong and Lake Pal-dang) in the North Han River for 11 times from May 2014 to March 2015. In the three serial lakes, phytoplankton communities showed that seasonal changes in Bacillariophyceae-Cyanophyceae-Bacillariophyceae. Anabaena and Pseudanabaena were dominant species in August and September 2014. At the same time the odors (Geosmin, 2-MIB) were also detected with high concentration. Relationship between environmental factors and cyanobacterial abundance showed a significant correlation with Anabaena circinalis and geosmin (r=0.983, p<0.01). In the case of Pseudanabaena limnetica showed a significant correlation of total nitrogen (r=0.685, p<0.01) and NO3-N (r=0.723, p<0.01). In addition, similarly Pseudanabaena limnetica and 2-MIB (r=0.717, p<0.01) was high. The odorous compounds appeared in the North Han River water were considered to be a direct relationship with cyanobacteria.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.6_1
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• pp.907-917
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• 2019

Recently, the demand for high-resolution satellite images increases in many fields such as land monitoring and terrain analysis. Therefore, the need for geometric correction is increasing. As an automatic precision geometric correction method, there is a method of automatically extracting the GCP by matching between the GCP Chip and the satellite image. For automatic precision geometric correction, the success rate of matching GCP Chip and satellite image is important. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the matching performance of the manufactured GCP Chip. In order to evaluate the matching performance of GCP Chips, a total of 3,812 GCP Chips in South Korea were used as experimental data. The GCP Chip matching results of KOMPSAT-3A and Google Map showed similar matching results. Therefore, we determined that Google Map satellite imagery could replace high-resolution satellite imagery. Also, presented a method using center point and error radius of Google Map to reduce the time required to verify matching performance. As a result, it is best to set the optimum error radius to 8.5m. Evaluated the matching performance of GCP Chips in South Korea using Google Maps. And verified matching result using presented method. As a result, the GCP Chip s in South Korea had a matching success rate of about 94%. Also, the main matching failure factors were analyzed by matching failure GCP Chips. As a result, Except for GCP Chips that need to be remanufactured, the remaining GCP Chips can be used for the automatic geometric correction of satellite images.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2003

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of nitrate removal by conducting the column test in order to see the performance of surfactant modified zeolite (SMZ) as a permeable reactive barrier material. The prediction of nitrate removal was tested using the one-dimensional advective-dispersive model fitted to the experimental breakthrough curve. A methodology for scaling up to in-situ permeable reactive barrier was also proposed. The breakthrough of nitrate in the column packed with SMZ was well predicted using linear equilibrium adsorption model. The breakthrough time and half-life obtained by breakthrough experiment with variation of flowrates were decreased with the increase of flowrates. When 10㎥/day of groundwater containing the 50 mg/l of nitrate is to be treated to satisfy the potable water quality criteria (10 mg/l) by SMZ reactive barrier, 300 tons of SMZ and about 6 years of breakthrough time will be required, suggesting that 165 million wons are needed as barrier material expenses in each 6 years besides the initial design and construction expenses and the minimal monitoring and maintenance expenses.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.221-255
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• 2016

The Russian government enacted the 'Federal Law on the Free Port of Vladivostok' to improve the medical industry in the Far East in 2015. As a result, Korean medical institutions are increasingly interested in advancing into Free Port of Vladivostok. Increased demand for high-quality Korean medical services from Russian patients and the active government policy direction of the Russian government serve as strengths and opportunities for advancing into Free Port of Vladivostok. On the other hand, the legal imperfections caused by the delay in the establishment of sub-regulations for Federal Law on the Free Port of Vladivostok and the low reliability of the Russian government are both weaknesses and threats. Therefore, Korean medical institutions will need to carefully consider the timing of advancing into Free Port of Vladivostok by closely monitoring the process of establishing the sub-regulations of Federal Law on the Free Port of Vladivostok. And it is the most realistic model for Korean medical institutions to establish 'Professional clinic model linked with health screenings(1st stage model)'. The Korean government needs to conclude a 'MOU for Cooperation on Health and Medical Care between Korea and Russia' with the Russian government and should also carry out the 'Korean Minnesota Project'.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.38 no.3 s.152
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• pp.235-244
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• 2005

This study was carried out in Osan river to quantitatively investigate behavior of attacked microbial community (AMC) for enhancing self-purification process of river. We gained the results such as follows throughout long-term monitoring at in-situ river. The biomass of AMC had higher in the riffle than the almost stagnant pool and they were more developed in the riffle with high current velocity (HCV). Although the fast flowing current affects negatively to growth of the AMC during the early phase when the community gets attached to the benthic substrate, it was observed that it affected positively to their growth during the intermediate and later phase after the community is adapted to the substrate. When turbulence due to external pressure (storm or discharge of dam and reservoir) occurs, the degree of separation depends upon the flowing strength and the type of the external pressure. Since the community is not all separated, recovery is rather fast. Therefore, this study found that the degree of reduction of the pollutant by self-purification of the stream is depended upon the riverbed shape and the AMC contributes to self-purification positively or negatively in river. Therefore, the riverbed shape must be constructed in accordance with the characteristics of water quality in stream. Furthermore, the technique of installing the water channel structure appropriate for each section must be developed to maximize self-purification ability.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2003

To assess microbiological indoor air quality in kindergartens, concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms were seasonally determined at three kindergartens in Ulsan from April, 2002 to January, 2003. Sampling was performed with an impaction-type air sampler and three different media. The numbers of bacteria grown on Staphylococcus medium were between 84 and 4,150 MPN/m3 with an average of 827 MPN/m3, and those on standard method agar ranged from 50 to 2,636 MPN/m3 with an average of 580 MPN/m3. The bacterial concentrations were highest in summer, followed by fall, spring, and winter, and were significantly correlated with indoor temperature. Among the colonies, 45.6~61.0% were observed as Gram-positive cocci and 8.5~20.6% were Gramnegative rods. Micrococcus species were the dominant organisms. The numbers of fungi ranged from 0 to 1,888 MPN/m3(661 MPN/m3 average) based on colony counts with dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar. On average, the fungal concentrations were highest in summer and lowest in winter. Penicillium species and Aspergillus species were identified from the colonies. The obtained data can be utilized as a step to set a guideline for bioaerosols in indoor environment of schools.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.31-43
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• 2014

Confined and mechanically ventilated broiler house has been recently come into wide use to increase productivity and control rearing conditions. However, high dust concentration inside facility can threaten respiratory welfare of farmers and broilers. In Korea, there is no regulation in terms of air quality control inside agricultural facilities and sufficient data is not available. To cope with these, periodic monitoring of inhalable and respirable dust concentration were conducted according to season, broiler's activity and specific events such as shipment work for broilers in mechanically ventilated broiler house. Chamber experiment was also designed to analyze mechanism of dust generation from ground beds according to water contents and surrounding wind environment. Results showed that significant increase of inhalable (p=0.002) and respirable (p=0.03) dust were observed when activity of broilers was high according to entrance of the workers. Even shipment work for matured broilers, high level of dust were observed; inhalable dust was exceeded the threshold limit over maximum 303 % and respirable dust was over maximum 1,550 %, implying that acute respiratory symptoms could be manifested for the workers. From the chamber experiment, critical water contents for interrupting of dust generation were measured; about 45 % for inhalable dust and about 50 % for respirable dust. These results can be a trigger for designing plan of dust control however it still needs consideration of various environmental conditions, hygiene problems, etc.