• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.667-673
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• 2009

Purpose : Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is critical in the immune response to mycobacterial infections. The purpose of this study was to analyze TLR2 surface expressions and TLR2-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis. Methods : Peripheral monocytes were separated from 16 patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis and 10 healthy controls using a magnet cell isolation kit. Monocytes ($1{\times}10^6$ cells/well) were incubated with a constant amount of $Pam_3CSK_4$ ($100{\mu}g/mL$) for 24 hours. TLR2 surface expression on monocytes was analyzed by FACS analysis and TLR-2 mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. TLR2-mediated $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production were measured by ELISA. Results : In patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis, low TLR2 expression on monocytes ($3.39{\pm}$1.2% versus $4.64{\pm}2.6%$) together with significantly lower TLR2 mRNA expression than in the healthy controls was seen after $Pam_3CSK_4$ stimulation. TLR2-mediated $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production in patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $775.5{\pm}60.8pg/mL$; IL-6, $4,645.8{\pm}583.9pg/mL$) were also lesser than that in healthy controls ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $1,098.5{\pm}94.3pg/mL$; IL-6, $6,696.3{\pm}544.3pg/mL$). Conclusion : These findings suggest that low TLR2 expression on monocytes might be associated with increased susceptibility to BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.30 no.12 s.159
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• pp.1697-1707
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• 2006

Relentless advances in information technology are constantly transforming market dynamics of the retail industry. RFID is an emerging innovative technology that can reduce labor costs, improve inventory control and increase sales by effective business processes. Apparel retailers need to recognize the benefits of RFID and identify critical success factors. By focusing on apparel retailers, this study attempts (1) to identify the reality of RFID associated with benefits; and (2) to prospect the implementation of RFID in apparel retailing. We conducted a focus group interview with selected six panels who were experts of retail industry in the United States to obtain data regarding RFID attributes. Content analysis was used to generate related excerpts and classify 31 attributes of RFID benefits from the meaningful 173 responses. For experience of RFID, retailers were familiar with RFID technology and expressed the belief that RFID basically would support an existing retail system for speed to markets. However, retailers addressed the level of experience with RFID technology that they were still in the early adoption stage among few innovative companies. The content analysis identified five dimensions of RFID benefits for apparel retailing: Visibility and Velocity, Revenue Enhancement, Customer Service, Security, and Employee Productivity. This result lends support to the belief that RFID has a significant potential to streamline supply chain management, store operation and customer service for apparel retailing. This study provides intellectual and managerial implications far practitioners and researchers by postulating the effective use of RFID in the apparel retail industry.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.559-568
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of probiotics on the performance, nutrients digestibility, noxious gas emission and microflora population on the cecum of broilers. A total of 120 broilers, consisted of 4 treatments X 3 replicates X 10 broilers per replicates, were fed the experimental diets containing 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5％ probiotics for 5 weeks. Broilers fed the diets containing 0.1 and 0.3％ probiotic had higher (p<0.05) body weight gain and feed conversion than those of the others from the 3rd to 4th week. Broilers fed 0.3％ probiotic had higher (p<0.05) body weight gain and feed conversion than those of the other levels from the 5th to 6th week. Broilers fed the diets containing 0.1% and 0.3％ probiotic had higher (p<0.05) body weight gain and feed conversion than those of the others from the 2nd to 6th week. Dry matter digestibility was significantly (p<0.05) improved with 0.3% probiotic. Emission of ammonia and sulfate hydrogen gas was significantly (p<0.05) decreased at 6th week. However, there was no (p<0.05) difference at the levels of 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5% at the 4th weeks. There was an increase in the lactobacillus sp, but there was a decrease in the microflora population of coliforms in the cecum of broiler with 0.1% and 0.3% probiotics. These results indicated that the compound probiotics of 0.1${\sim}$0.3% were effective in the body weight gain, feed conversion, nutrients digestibility, noxious gas emission and microflora population on the cecum in broilers.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate microbial contamination levels of Korea traditional rice cakes such as Sirutteok, Garaetteok and Gyeongdan in the manufacturing process and environment. The microbial contamination levels such as total aerobic bacteria, fungi, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens of rice cake products were analyzed. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, fungi and B. cereus in raw materials were in the range of 2.4~4.5, ND~1.9, 1.2~2.1 and 1.0~2.1 log CFU/g, respectively. The microbial contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, fungi and B. cereus in manufacturing process of rice cakes were increased in the soaking and grinding steps and were decreased in steaming step. E. coli, S. aureus and C. perfringens were not detected in any manufacturing process and environment. The microbial contamination levels of raw materials and final products of rice cake were suitable for microbial safety standard in Korea. However, the manufacturing environment such as equipments and employee's sanitation were in trouble for microbial safety. The results of this study suggest that safety educatio n for personal hygiene and safetymanagement in processing environment are continuously required to assure safety in working environment and employee's individual hygiene.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.152-160
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to analyze hazards for the growing stage of 6 tomato farms (A, B, C; soli farms, D, E, F; Nutriculture farms) located in Gyeongsangnam-do to establish the good agricultural practices (GAP). A total of 144 samples for analyzing hazards collected from cultivation environments (irrigation water, soil, nutrient solution, and air) and personal hygiene (hands, gloves, and cloths) were assessed for biological (sanitary indications and major food borne pathogens) and chemical hazards (heavy metals). Total bacteria, coliform, and fungi were detected at levels of 0.2-7.2, 0.0-6.1, and 0.0-5.4 log CFU/g, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$, respectively. Escherichia coli were only detected in the soil sample from B farm. In case of pathogens, Bacillus cereus was detected at levels of 0.0-4.4 log CFU/(g, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$), whereas Staphylococuus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157, and Salmonella spp. were not detected in all samples. Heavy metals as a chemical hazard were detected in soil and irrigation water, but levels of them were lower than the permit limit. In conclusion, chemical hazard levels complied with GAP criteria, but biological hazards at the growing stage of tomato farms were confirmed. Therefore a proper management to prevent microbial contamination is needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2017

Foodborne disease outbreaks associated with produces have been increasing in occurrence worldwide. This study investigated microbial contamination levels on thirteen kinds of agricultural products from farms stage to evaluate potential hazards associated with foodborne illness. A total of 1,820 samples were collected in major cultivating area from 2013 through 2015, and analyzed to enumerate aerobic bacterial counts, coliforms/E. coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the prevalence study for four kinds of microorganisms (Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) was performed on each sample. Aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 0.01 to 7.18 log CFU/g, with the highest bacterial cell counts recorded for watermelon. Coliforms were detected in 651 samples (35.8%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of more than 5 log CFU/g. B. cereus was detected in 169 samples (9.3%) ranging from < 0.01 to 2.48 log CFU/g among total samples analyzed. S. aureus was detected in 14 samples (0.7%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of 1.69 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected in 101 samples (5.5%) among 1,820 samples. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels of several agricultural products determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbiological risk assessment (MRA).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.902-907
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• 2000

Protamine-strong basic protein was prepared from salmon(chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta) sperm by several pretreatment method. And there were determined yield, amino acid composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of protamine on each pretreatment condition. The yield of protamine was different according to pretreatment, and ultrasonicating, homogenizing and microwaving pretreatment were about 16.0%, 15.5% and 10%, respectively. The main amino acid of P60(microwaving pretreatment for 10 min at $80^{\circ}C$) and UU6(ultrasonicating pretreatment for 60 min at $20^{\circ}C$) were arginine, proline and tryptophan, and arginine content of P60 and UU6 were 61%, 53%, respectively. On the other hand, main amino acid of M(homogenizing pretreatment by mixer) were methionine, proline and arginine, the content were 34%, 28% and 11%, respectively. Also MC(homogenizing pretreatment with $H_{2}SO_{4}$ soln. by mixer) was very different with P60, UU6 and M, the content of MC were proline 44.8% and arginine 39.7%. Prepared protamines showed antimicrobial activity to several gram(+) and gram(-) strain. In particular, the UU6 and P60 protamine has strong antimicrobial activity to Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, and the activity was increased with concentration increasing. Regardless of pretreatment method, all protamine showed antioxidant activity and the $EDA_{50}$ of P60, UU6, M and MC were $101\;{\mu}g/mL$, $410\;{\mu}g/mL$, $523\;{\mu}g/mL$ and $490\;{\mu}g/mL$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.108-114
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• 2014

To analyze the hazards associated with cucumber and hot pepper cultivation areas, a total of 72 samples were obtained and tested to detect the presence of biological (sanitary indicative, pathogenic bacteria and fungi) and chemical hazards (heavy metals and pesticide residues). The levels of sanitary indicative bacteria (aerobic plate counts and coliforms) and fungi were ND-7.2 and ND-4.8 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$) in cucumber cultivation areas, and ND-6.8 and 0.4-5.3 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$) in hot pepper cultivation areas. More specifically, the soil of hot pepper cultivation areas was contaminated with coliforms at a maximum level of 5.6 log CFU/g. Staphylococcus aureus was detected only in glove samples at a level of 1.4 log CFU/$100cm^2$ and Bacillus cereus was detected in the majority of samples at a level of ND-4.8 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$). Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella spp. were not detected. Heavy metal (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Hg) chemical hazards were detected at levels lower than the regulation limit. Residual insecticides were not detected in cucumbers; however, hexaconazole was detected at a level of 0.016 mg/kg (maximum residue limit: 0.3 mg/kg) in hot peppers.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.611-617
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• 2011

This study investigated the germination and reduction of microbial population in domestic (radish, Chinese cabbage, and vitamin) and imported (radish and red cabbage) sprout seeds by heat treatment (40, 50, 60, and 70$^{\circ}C$ for 15 min or 30 min). The germination ratio (define the ratio) was 45-97% at 24 h after treatment <60$^{\circ}C$ and was decreased at 70$^{\circ}C$. In domestic radish seed, total aerobic bacteria were decrease by approximately 1.71 log CFU/g after heat treatment at 70$^{\circ}C$ for 30 min and viable coliforms were decreased to under the detection limit at temperatures over 60$^{\circ}C$. Decrease of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms in domestic Chinese cabbage seed was 1.23-1.34 and 2.77 log CFU/g, respectively, after heat treatment over 60$^{\circ}C$. In domestic vitamin seed, total aerobic bacteria were decreased by about 0.3 log CFU/g at 70$^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. In imported radish seed, total aerobic bacteria were decreased 2.12-2.30 log CFU/g after heat treatment over 60$^{\circ}C$. Total aerobic bacteria in imported red cabbage seed were reduced by 0.66-0.84 log CFU/g after heat treatment over 40$^{\circ}C$ and coliforms were undetectable. In case of Bacillus cereus, there was no significant difference by heat treatment in any sample. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp. were not detected at the detection limit in any tested seeds at any temperature.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.77-83
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• 2016

The objectives of this study was to investigate the difference between organic-farming and conventional-farming soils relatives to soil chemical properties and microbial flora. Fifteen soil sampling sites were chosen from the certified organic upland farm, considered with its location, crop and application of organic compost types. Soil chemical properties were analyzed by standard methods established by National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration. For the soil chemical properties, the values of pH were ranged from 4.5 to 7.3. The values of electrical conductivity (EC) in the sampling sites were below 2 dS/m of convention cultivation soil. For analyzing the microbial flora, the bacillus(16S rDNA) and cladothricosis(18S rDNA) were analyzed by using PCR-DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) in the soil of 15 sampling sites. Cluster analysis of biodiversity index was performed by using pattern of DGGE. DGGE patterns and clustering analysis of bacterial DNA from soil extracts revealed that the bacterial community was differentiated between less than 5 years and more than 5 years depending on the cultivation history. But there was no consistent tendency between cultivation history and regional trend in the case of molds. Therefore, it would be very effective to analyze bacterial clusters of organically cultivated soils in long - term cultivated soil for more than 5 years.