• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.280-288
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• 2018

In this study, an approach for the analysis of the five cephalopod species (octopus, long-arm octopus, squid, wet-foot octopus, beka squid) consumed in the Republic of Korea is developed. The samples were collected from the Southeast Asian countries Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China. The SYBR-green-based real-time qPCR method, based on the mitochondrial DNA genome of the five cephalopods was developed and validated. The intergroup variations in the mitochondrial DNA are evident in the bioinformatic analysis of the mitochondrial genomic DNA sequences of the five groups. Some of the highly-conserved and slightly-variated regions are identified in the mitochondrial cytochrome-c-oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, 16s ribosomal RNA (16s rRNA) gene, and 12s ribosomal RNA (12s rRNA) gene of these groups. To specify each five cephalopod groups, specific primer sets were designed from the COI, 16s rRNA and 12s rRNA regions. The specific primer sets amplified the DNA using the SYBR-green-based real-time PCR system and 11 commercially secured animal tissues: Octopus vulgaris, Octopus minor, Todarodes pacificus, Dosidicus gigas, Sepia esculenta, Amphioctopus fangsiao, Amphioctopus aegina, Amphioctopus marginatus, Loliolus beka, Loligo edulis, and Loligo chinensis. The results confirmed by a conveient way to calculate relative amplification levels between different samples in that it directly uses the threshold cycles (Ct)-value range generated by the qPCR system from these samples. This genomic DNA-based molecular technique provides a quick, accurate, and reliable method for the taxonomic classification of the animal tissues using the real-time qPCR.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.645-653
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to understand the factors that affected activities and differences in seasonal activities of the invasive red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) at Ansan reed wetland in Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, the Republic of Korea. We installed nine nets in the study region to capture turtles and checked the nets twice a day for 154 days from April 28 to September 28 2013. In total, 60 individuals, including 12 juveniles, 26 adult males, and 22 adult females, were captured in 96 of 308 net checks. The multiple regression analysis of 12 environmental factors was conducted to analyze activity factors of red-eared slider turtle by assuming the number of turtles captured for a week to be the indicator of the activeness of the turtles. The result showed that the daylength was the only environmental factor that significantly affected the turtles' activity (p<0.001), and none of the other factors showed a significant correlation. The highest activity was recorded at the end of May, which was the beginning of the reproductive period. The daylength during the breeding season was significantly different from that during other seasons (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.001). The information about the relationship between environmental factors and species in habitat can be useful for the management of invasive alien species in the future.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the milling characteristics of white rice depending on the guide angles of the cutting roller's induced guide, as well as to verify optimum milling conditions for the cutting-type milling machine. Methods: Brown rice, which was produced in Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea, in 2014, was used as the experimental material. The milling characteristics of white rice were measured under six different guide angle levels of the cutting roller, which were none, $0^{\circ}$, $5^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$, and $20^{\circ}$. The quantity of brown rice for each experiment was 500 kg, and the milling characteristics were measured according to the whiteness, rice temperature, cracked rice ratio, broken rice ratio, and energy consumption. Results: The whiteness of white rice maintained a uniform level, indicating at range of $38{\pm}0.5$, regardless of the cutting roller guide angles under all conditions. The rice temperature rise during milling was found to be rather low, at $13.9^{\circ}C$ and $13.6^{\circ}C$ at $10^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ guide angles, respectively. The cracked rice ratio after milling was 18.67%-19.47%, and the broken rice ratio was 0.68% at a $10^{\circ}$ guide angle, which is the lowest in comparison to other guide angles. Energy consumption was lower when the guide was used compared to that with-out the use of the guide. The energy consumption tended to increase as the cutting roller guide angle increased. Conclusions: From the above results, we conclude that the cutting roller guide angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $10^{\circ}$ are suitable for producing high quality rice during milling with a cutting-type milling machine.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.34-48
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• 2024

With the global rise in interest in competency-based education, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea outlined six core competencies in the 2015 revised curriculum, essential for future society's 'creative and convergent talent'. This study introduces an HTE-STEAM constellation education program designed to develop the core competencies outlined in the 2015 revised curriculum and address the limitations of hands-on astronomy education. The program's effectiveness was assessed through a pilot test. The program was implemented at G Library, an out-of-school education site in Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, targeting students from 3rd to 6th grade. The study's results include: First, the HTE-STEAM program significantly impacted all aspects of the STEAM attitude test except for 'self-concept', particularly influencing 'science and engineering career choice', 'consideration', and 'communication'. Thus, it has led to positive outcomes in the cultivation of future society's core competencies, including 'creative thinking skills', 'communication skills', and 'community skills'. Secondly, the HTE-STEAM constellation education program, despite covering the challenging concept of spacetime, was deemed easy by many students. Observations of students applying the spatial concepts they learned by using teaching aids suggest that the program was effective in enhancing students' understanding of the spatial structure of the sky and the universe. Additionally, this program aligns with the 2022 curriculum's updated standards for understanding the sky's spatial structure. Consequently, the HTE-STEAM constellation education program positively cultivates future society's core competencies and serves as a valuable complement to night observation practices in schools.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2019

We determined the contents of 11 biogenic amines in 20 types of cabbage kimchi, 10 types of fish sauce, and 40 types of salted fish purchased from small- and medium-sized grocery stores in Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea, from June to October 2017. The content of each of the biogenic amines in the various types of cabbage kimchi was slightly lower than that in detection amounts of each of the 10 types of biogenic amines and the values reported by Joe et al. The histamine content of all five types of anchovy sauce was lower than the limit set by the European Union (400 mg/kg), but that of three of the five types of sand lance sauce was higher. Analyzing the ratios of the contents of five highly toxic biogenic amines to those of the 11 biogenic amines yielded no quantitative correlation. The estimated daily intake of the five highly toxic biogenic amines in cabbage-kimchi and fermented fish was ${\leq}6mg$.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 2019

Objectives: In this study, we tried to analyze the factors affecting Length Of Stay for serious patients in Republic of Korea. Methods: The study included 139,172 serious patients in the 2012-2016 discharge details. Using the SPSS 23.0 program, we conducted a rank regression analysis with social and social demographic characteristics as control variables, medical institution characteristics and medical use characteristics as independent variables, and Average Length Of Stay as a dependent variable. Results: Average Length Of Stay for participants was found to be 9.92days. And the location and bed size of medical institutions were not statistically significant, the hospitalization path was more urgent(B=0.43) than the outpatient (p<0.001), and there was no secondary diagnosis(B=0.35). However, Average Length Of Stay was higher (p<0.001) than there was no main surgery(B=0.80). After discharge, Average Length Of Stay for funding(B=0.43) and death(B=0.72) was long (p<0.001). Average Length Of Stay for participants was found to be 9.92days. And the location and the bed size of the medical institution were not statistically significant, and the hospitalization pass had longer Length Of Stay for emergency patients(B=0.43) than for outpatients(p<0.001). There was a longer Length Of Stay(B=0.35) than none was diagnosed. There were longer Length Of Stay(p<0.001) than there was no major surgery(B=0.80). After discharge, the outpatients had longer Average Length Of Stay(B=0.43) and deaths(B=0.72) than those who returned home(p<0.001). Conclusion: As a result of analyzing the factors affecting Average Length Of Stay of the participants, it was confirmed that regardless of the location and bed size of medical institutions, hospitalization route, department diagnosis, main surgery, and whereabouts after discharge. Therefore, appropriate interventions and necessary support must be provided so that efficient Length Of Stay can be managed according to the medical use characteristics of serious patient.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.187-199
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the formation mechanism of landspout by using the Cloud Resolving Storm Simulator (CReSS). The landspout occurred over Ilsan, Goyang City, the Republic of Korea on June 10, 2014 with the damage of a private property. In synoptic environment, a cold dry air on the upper layers of the atmosphere, and there was an advection with warm and humid air in the lower atmosphere. Temperature differences between upper and lower layers resulted in thermal instability. The storm began to arise at 1920 KST and reached the mature stage in ten minutes. The cloud top height was estimated at 9 km and the hook echo was appeared at the rear of a storm in simulation result. Model results showed that the downburst was generated in the developed storm over the Ilsan area. This downburst caused the horizontal flow when it diverged near the surface. The horizontal flow was switched to updraft at the rear of storm, and the rear-flank downdrafts (RFDs) current occurred from simulation result. The RFDs took down the vertical flow to the surface. After then, the vertical vorticity could be generated on the surface in simulation result. Subsequently, the vertical vorticity was stretched to form a landspout. The cyclonic vorticity of echo hook from simulation was greater than $3{\times}10^{-2}s^{-1}$(height of 360 m) and landspout diameter was estimated at 1 km.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.326-338
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• 2020

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that causes disorientation, mood swings, problems with language, and difficulty remembering recent events. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AchEIs) and memantine have been used to slow the course of the disease, but they can neither modify its progression nor prevent disease onset. Previous studies have suggested that Kami-guibi-tang (KGT) could be beneficial for supporting cognitive function in AD patients, but few clinical trials have been published. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of KGT in improving cognitive function in AD patients. Methods: The study will be a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-center trial conducted using subjects diagnosed with mild AD by neurologists. Study subjects will be randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group will receive KGT granules for 24 weeks, while the control group will receive placebo granules. AchEI administration will be maintained in both groups during the entirety of the study. Subjects will be assessed using the following exams: the Seoul Neuropsychologic Screening Battery (SNSB) for cognitive function; brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for brain metabolite, neurotransmitter, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements; the Korean version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (KQol-AD) for quality of life; the Caregiver-Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CGA-NPI) for neurobehavioral symptoms; blood tests for amyloid and tau proteins and general blood parameters; and electrocardiography (ECG) before and after taking the medication. Discussion: Our findings will provide insight into the feasibility of large-scale trials to consolidate evidence for the efficacy of KGT for dementia treatment. Registration ID in CRIS: KCT0002904 (Clinical Research Information Service of the Republic of Korea).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1197-1205
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• 2023

In this study, the spectrum due to radioactivity contained sand samples from famous beaches in the Yeongnam region was measured. The sand samples were from eight famous beaches in Yeongnam region and were placed into a high-purity germanium detector (HPGe) using with an electric field, which is a semiconductor detector and subjected to a precision analysis of the gamma-rays emitted from the radionuclides in the sand by using a multichannel analyzer (MCA). To measure the concentration of the radionuclides, we obtained a spectrum by analyzing the gamma-rays emitted from the radionuclides for a measurement time of 8,000 seconds. As a result of analyzing the spectrum table, Tl-208 had the highest radioactivity at all eight beaches: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. In conclusion, radionuclides detected in sand samples from beaches in the Yeongnam region are natural radionuclides, but they can affect the inside of the human body. Therefore, there is a need for continuous investigation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.230-237
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• 2020

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known as a bacterium that can cause skin infections, respiratory system infections, and sinusitis; however, it can exist as a normal flora rather than a pathogen. Recently, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections have emerged in the community as a new variant of community-associated (CA)-MRSA. In the present study, S. aureus and MRSA were isolated and cultured by collecting samples from facilities and environments where students and educational personnel have multiple contacts on university campuses; specifically, the nostrils and hands of college students were tested from July to September of 2019. The molecular properties of the isolated MRSA were analyzed, and the one MRSA strain was isolated from the university campuses. One MRSA that was isolated and cultured on campus was the mec complex group A and staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type II, which is a characteristic of healthcare-associated (HA)-MRSA, and SCCmec type V, which is a characteristic of CA-MRSA. This result was similar to other studies wherein the SCCmec type II was detected in SCCmec typing analysis in CA-MRSA. To confirm whether there is a new variant of CA-MRSA in the Republic of Korea, additional follow-up studies on the analysis of virulence factors of MRSA are needed by additionally separating CA-MRSA from the body parts of university students and educational personnel.