• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2022

Background: Residential areas have some factors on the external exposure of residents, who usually spend a long time in these areas. Although various survey has been carried out by the government or the research institutions after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the mechanism of radiocesium inventory in the terrestrial zone has not been cleared. To better evaluate the radiation environment, this study investigated the temporal changes in air dose rate and ¹³⁷Cs inventories (Bq/m²) in residential areas and agricultural fields. Materials and Methods: Air dose rate and ¹³⁷Cs inventories were investigated in residential areas located in an evacuation zone at 5-8 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. From December 2014 to September 2018, the air dose rate distribution was investigated through a walking survey (backpack survey), which was conducted by operators carrying a γ-ray detector on their backs. Additionally, from December 2014 to January 2021, the ¹³⁷Cs inventories on paved and permeable grounds were also measured using a portable γ-ray detector. Results and Discussion: In the areas where decontamination was not performed, the air dose rate decreased faster in residential areas than in agricultural fields. Moreover, the ¹³⁷Cs inventory on paved surfaces decreased with time owing to the horizontal wash-off, while the ¹³⁷Cs inventory on permeable surfaces decreased dramatically owing to the decontamination activities. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the horizontal wash-off of ¹³⁷Cs on paved surfaces facilitated the air dose rate decrease in residential areas to a greater extent compared with agricultural fields, in which the air dose rate decreased because of the vertical migration of ¹³⁷Cs. Results of this study can explain the faster environmental restoration in a residential environment reported by previous studies.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.273-284
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• 2022

PURPOSE. Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM) of implant abutments has been shown to result in surface contamination from site-specific milling and fabrication processes. If not removed, these contaminants can have a potentially adverse effect and may trigger inflammatory responses of the peri-implant tissues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bacterial disinfection and cleaning efficacy of ultrasonic reprocessing in approved disinfectants to reduce the microbial load of CAD-CAM abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Four different types of custom implant abutments (total N = 32) with eight specimens in each test group (type I to IV) were CAD-CAM manufactured. In two separate contamination experiments, specimens were contaminated with heparinized sheep blood alone and with heparinized sheep blood and the test bacterium Enterococcus faecium. Abutments in the test group were processed according to a three-stage ultrasonic protocol and assessed qualitatively and quantitatively by determination of residual protein. Ultrasonicated specimens contaminated with sheep blood and E. faecium were additionally eluted and the dilutions were incubated on agar plates for seven days. The determined bacterial counts were expressed as colony-forming units (CFU). RESULTS. Ultrasonic reprocessing resulted in a substantial decrease in residual bacterial protein to less than 80 ㎍ and a reduction in microbiota of more than 7 log levels of CFU for all abutment types, exceeding the effect required for disinfection. CONCLUSION. A three-stage ultrasonic cleaning and disinfection protocol results in effective bacterial decontamination. The procedure is reproducible and complies with the standardized reprocessing and disinfection specifications for one- or two-piece CAD-CAM implant abutments.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2023

Background: Fukushima Medical University (FMU) is located 57 km northwest of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Our laboratory has been conducting environmental radiation measurements continuously before and after the nuclear accident. We aimed to report the observed behavior of radiation originating from the released radioactive materials due to the accident, predict future trends, and disseminate the results to the local residents. Materials and Methods: Measurements of the counting rate by a diameter of 76 mm and a length of 76 mm thallium-doped sodium iodide (NaI[Tl]) scintillation detector (S-1211-T; Teledyne Brown Engineering Environmental Services) in the central part of the laboratory, and the dose rate outward at the window by NaI(Tl) scintillation detector and digital processor (EMF211; EMF Japan Co. Ltd.) were conducted. Results and Discussion: Measurements by Teledyne S-1211-T showed that in the early stages, radiation from radioactive isotopes with short half-lives was dominant, while radiation from radioactive isotopes with longer half-lives became dominant as the measurement period became longer. Through nonlinear least squares regression, both short and long half-lives were successfully determined. It was also possible to predict how the radiation dose would decrease. The environmental radiation trends around FMU were measured by the EMF211. Both measurements were affected by rainfall and snow accumulation. Decontamination work on the FMU campus impacted measurements by the EMF211 especially. Conclusion: The results of two types of measurements, one at the center and the other at the window side of the laboratory, were presented. By applying a simplified model, radiation from radioactive isotopes with short and long half-lives was identified. Based on these results, future trends were predicted, and the information was used for public communication with the local residents.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2023

The global problem of handling radioactive materials is facing limitations. Eco-friendly bioremediation methods using microorganisms are being studied. This study was conducted to screen cesium-resistant microbial strains. M1 strain was selected from the soil sample by enriched culture in R2A medium containing 100 mM CsCl. In liquid medium containing above 40 mM of CsCl, the growth of M1 was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. Otherwise, M1 can survive up to 80mM CsCl in solid medium although the growth rate was slow and colony size was small. M1 strain was genetically identified as a strain of the genus Acinetobacter through 16S rRNA sequencing, and radiation resistance (D10 value) of M1 was found to be 0.307 kGy. These results showed that M1 strain is highly resistant to cesium and can grow in radiation environment. It was considered that M1 strain is useful in the field of biological decontamination of cesium.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.204-210
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for the guidelines for cleaning the feeding bags by comparing the level of contamination according to cleaning and disinfection methods when feeding tube of Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit patients. Methods: This study was a true-experimental study, with 48 cases in total. The feeding bag of 48 patients were randomly assigned to detergent cleaning method or disinfectant decontamination method. The period of the experiment was January to July 2008, and enteral nutrition was given within 30 minutes for 2 hours, 4 times a day at 7AM, noon, 5PM, and 9PM for seven days. Feeding bags were cleaned after each feeding according to the assigned cleaning and disinfection method followed by microbial cultures on 4th and 8th day before the 7AM feeding. Results: After three and seven days of feeding and cleaning, the level of contamination was significantly lower when bags were cleaned with disinfectant than cleaning with detergent and tepid water. Conclusion: In cases where feeding bags are reused, for example, intensive care unit and home care settings, study findings indicate that cleaning bags with disinfectant is an effective way to prevent contamination of bags.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.126-128
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• 2006

This study confirms that Taq DNA polymerase could be contaminated with the $blaTEM-1_a$ gene. It also proposes two different methods that could be used to overcome DNA contamination: (i) DNase I treatment prior to PCR amplification; and (ii) the use of a highly purified Taq DNA polymerase which was devoid of detectable contamination.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.585-590
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• 2001

Physicochemical phenomena in soils are dependent upon pH when using electrokinetic extraction for the contaminants removal especially for heavy metals. pH variation in soils is affected on H$\^$+/ and OH￣ ions produced by electrolysis reaction and buffer capacity of soil. High amount of heavy metals are retained in the soils if the soil buffer capacity remains high enough to resist a change in pH. Therefore, accurate pH estimation of soil is important in the application of electrokinetic mechanism for decontamination and understanding of subsurface physicochemical characteristics is also required as well as considering buffer capacity for the enhanced methods application. For these, buffer capacity and pH distribution were measured for the four soils, and also compared with modeling results. The results of buffer modeling were good agreement with experimental data. It is showed that four soils were effected by buffer capacity

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.906-909
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• 2015

Peri-implantitis is the inflammatory process, such as edema, bleeding, pus, of the mucosa surrounding dental implants. As the symptoms become severe, the surrounding bone is absorbed causing the implant surface to be exposed. Clinicians treat periimplantitis in various ways since a gold standard for the treatment of peri-implantitis has not been established. Various treatment methods include mechanical, chemical surface treatment and surgical excision, and recently decontamination of the implant surface using various types of lasers has been proposed. Thus, this study reviews the types of lasers and its effects that can be used for the treatment of peri-implantitis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.723-738
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• 2011

Contamination of agricultural crops by mycotoxins results in significant economic losses for grain producers and, when consumed, it can cause reduced growth and health in a wide range of animal species. Hundreds of mycotoxin producing molds exist, however each has a different frequency and pattern of occurrence, as well as differences in the severity of the diseases (mycotoxicoses) they cause. Among the mycotoxins considered to be major contaminates are aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, ochratoxin, and zearalenone. Although a multitude of species can be harmed by consumption of these mycotoxins, swine appear to be the most commonly affected commodity species. The swine industry can thus experience great losses due to the presence of mycotoxin contamination in feeds. Subsequently, recognition and prevention of mycotoxicoses is extremely important and dependent on adequate grain sampling and analysis methods pre-harvest, as well as effective strategies post-harvest to reduce consumption by animals. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the major mycotoxin contaminants in grains, to describe methods of analysis and prevention to reduce mycotoxicoses in swine and other animals, and finally to discuss how mycotoxins directly affect swine production.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.502-522
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• 2022

Clay minerals are natural materials that show widespread applications in various branches of science, including environmental sciences, in particular the remediation of water contaminated with various water pollutants. Modified clays and minerals have attracted the attention of researchers in the recent past since the modified materials are seemingly more useful and efficient for removing emerging water contaminants. Therefore, modified engineered materials having multi-functionalities have received greater interest from researchers. The advanced clay-based materials are highly effective in the remediation of water contaminated with organic and inorganic contaminants, and these materials show enhanced selectivity towards the specific pollutants. The review inherently discusses various methods employed in the modification of clays and addresses the challenges in synthesizing the advanced engineered materials precursor to natural clay minerals. The changes in physical and chemical properties, as investigated by various characterization techniques before and after the modifications, are broadly explained. Further, the implications of these materials for the decontamination of waterbodies as contaminated with potential water pollutants are extensively discussed. Additionally, the insights involved in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants are discussed in the review. Furthermore, the future perspectives and specific challenges in the scaling up of the treatment methods in technology development are included in this communication.