• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.294-301
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• 2022

Background: In the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, small- and midsized enterprises (SMEs) may be an important transmission consideration. The study aimed to identify the pattern of COVID-19 prevention measures during the outbreaks in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do at the early stage of COVID-19. Moreover, we investigated whether SME size and past experiences affected the preventive measures implemented in the region. Methods: A survey detailing the general characteristics and implementation of 12 preventive activities was conducted in 122 SMEs in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The survey was analyzed by size and operation period. Results: The study subjects consisted of 53 (43.4%) workplaces with 1-5 employees, 50 (40.9%) workplaces with 6-30 employees, and 19 (15.6%) workplaces with 31-49 employees. The lowest three items among those surveyed were 'symptomatic workers to stay home for 3-4 days' (17.2%), 'work remotely' (18.9%), and 'video meetings' (20.5%). There were significant differences in the rate of several preventive measures implemented. The larger sized SMEs, the higher the number of implementations (p < 0.01). The operation period had no significant relationship with the implementation of preventive measures. The same pattern was observed in multiple generalized linear regression with covariate adjustment. Conclusion: Preventive measures among SMEs with fewer than 50 employees were identified. Even within SMEs, a gap in preventive measures according to size was confirmed. To prevent the spread of infection and protect workers' right to health, different support for different sized SMEs is necessary.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.25.1-25.16
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• 2020

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) emerged into Canada in January 2014, primarily affecting sow herds. Subsequent epidemiological analyses suggested contaminated feed was the most likely transmission pathway. The primary objective of this study was to describe general biosecurity and management practices implemented in PEDV-positive sow herds and matched control herds at the time the virus emerged. The secondary objective was to determine if any of these general biosecurity and farm management practices were important in explaining PEDV infection status from January 22, 2014 to March 1, 2014. A case herd was defined as a swine herd with clinical signs and a positive test result for PEDV. A questionnaire was used to a gather 30-day history of herd management practices, animal movements on/off site, feed management practices, semen deliveries and biosecurity practices for case (n = 8) and control (n = 12) herds, primarily located in Ontario. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and random forests (RFs). Case herds were larger in size than control herds. Case herds had more animal movements and non-staff movements onto the site. Also, case herds had higher quantities of pigs delivered, feed deliveries and semen deliveries on-site. The biosecurity practices of case herds were considered more rigorous based on herd management, feed deliveries, transportation and truck driver practices than control herds. The RF model found that the most important variables for predicting herd status were related to herd size and feed management variables. Nonetheless, predictive accuracy of the final RF model was 72%.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.500-505
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection during an epidemic period by means of examining the antibody conversion rate and to investigate the association of the antibody conversion with age, initial antibody titer, and atopy. Methods : We chose 191 children whose antibody titer to M. pneumoniae was negative, 1 : 40, or 1 : 80 during the first half of 2003. After the second half of 2003 when the M. pneumoniae epidemic occurred, follow-up collection of sera was performed during the first half of 2004. M. pneumoniae antibody titer was measured by Serodia-Myco II particle agglutination test. Results : Of 191 children, antibody conversion was detected in 83 children(43.5 percent). No significant difference was found between the conversion and non-conversion group with respect to age, sex and atopy. Dividing the subjects into four groups by age, results on the antibody conversion rate revealed no significant differences between the groups. Assessed by initial antibody titer, a diminished trend of conversion rate was observed in children with 1 : 80 titer but the difference was not significant. There was no significant difference in the antibody conversion rate between atopic and non-atopic children. Conclusion : Based on the antibody conversion rate in this study, the prevalence of M. pneumoniae infection during an epidemic period was estimated to be 43.5 percent. This high infection rate suggests that during an epidemic, we should bear in mind M. pneumoniae as an important etiologic agent for respiratory infection in children.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2022

Purpose: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged, and distinct epidemic waves of COVID-19 have occurred for an extended period. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 from the third wave to the middle of the fourth epidemic wave in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of hospitalized patients aged ≤18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The study periods were divided into the third wave (from November 13, 2020 to July 6, 2021) and the fourth wave (from July 7 to October 31, 2021). Results: Ninety-three patients were included in the analysis (33 in the third and 60 in the fourth waves). Compared with the third wave, the median age of patients was significantly older during the fourth wave (6.7 vs. 2.8 years, P=0.014). Household contacts was reported in 60.2% of total patients, similar in both periods (69.7 vs. 55.0%, P=0.190). Eighty-one (87.1%) had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among these, 10 (12.3%) had no respiratory symptoms. Anosmia or ageusia were more commonly observed in the fourth epidemic wave (10.7 vs. 34.0%, P=0.032). Most respiratory illness were upper respiratory tract infections (94.4%, 67/71), 4 had pneumonia. The median cycle threshold values (detection threshold, 40) for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and envelope (E) genes of SARS-CoV-2 were 21.3 and 19.3, respectively. There was no significant difference in viral load during 2 epidemic waves. Conclusions: There were different characteristics during the two epidemic waves of COVID-19.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2016

In recent years, epidemics have raged with a 6-7 years period such as SARS (2002), Swine Flu (2009), MERS (2015). When an epidemic arises, the first advice is the isolation of infected patients and disease areas. Because it appears after a certain incubation period, the peoples worked with Infected (infection cause) staff and the place are largely exposed to the epidemic Risk. If you have an epidemic in the workplace, even if you close it, the business plan should be ready to continue the safety and protection measures for employees and the organization's core business. In this study We present the corresponding measures to protect the safety of the employees and to continue the core business during a pandemic outbreak and the introduction of BCP mainly corresponding practices of financial companies.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.464-472
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• 2012

To assess the space-time clustering of FMD(Foot-and-Mouth Disease) epidemic occurred in Korea between November 2010 to April 2011, geographical information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis technique was used. Farm address and geographic data obtained from a commercial portal site were integrated into GIS software, which we used to map out the color-shading geographic features of the outbreaks through a process called thematic mapping, and to produce a visual representation of the relationship between epidemic course and time throughout the country. FMD cases reported in northern area of Gyounggi province were clustered in space and time within small geographic areas due to the environmental characteristics which livestock population density is high enough to ease transmit FMD virus to the neighboring farm, whereas FMD cases were clustered in space but not in time for southern and eastern area of Gyounggi province. When analyzing the data for 7-day interval, the mean radius of the spatial-time clustering was 25km with minimum 5.4km and maximum 74km. In addition, the radius of clustering was relatively small in the early stage of FMD epidemic, but the size was geographically expanded over the epidemic course. Prior to implementing control measures during the outbreak period, assessment of geographic units potentially affected and identification of risky areas which are subsequently be targeted for specific intervention measures is recommended.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.396-402
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• 2012

The chemical composition, anti-porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) activity and antimicrobial activity of Artemisia dubia essential oil were evaluated in this study. Fifty eight compounds from A. dubia essential oil were identified through analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major constituents of the oil were camphor (17.18 %), germacrene-D (15.70%), trans (${\beta}-$) racaryophyllene (6.79%), ene thujones (6.57%), 1, 8-cineole (5.94%) and camphene (5.08%). The essential oil was evaluated for antiviral activity against PEDV in Vero cells using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method. The oils actively inhibited PEDV replication with a 50% inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of 43.7 ${\mu}^3/mL$. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration ($CC_{50}$) of the oils was over 100 ${\mu}/mL$ and the derived therapeutic index was >2.3. Similar analysis of the ribavirin revealed that they have a relatively weaker efficacy when compared to the oils. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil against 5 microorganisms was evaluated by the disc diffusion method. The essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against 5 tested microorganisms with a clear zone of 8-22 mm. Among the tested microorganisms, Streptococcus pyogenes was the most sensitive and Candida albicans the least. Therefore, in can be concluded that essential oils of A. dubia may have interesting applications for microbial control or the control of PEDV-derived diseases.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2011

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection causes acute enteritis with lethal watery diarrhea resulting in a high mortality rate in piglets. As with the other members of group 1 coronaviruses, PEDV also utilizes the host aminopeptidase N (APN) as the major cellular receptor for entry into target cells. The coronavirus spike (S) protein is known to interact with the cellular surface for viral attachment and the S1 domain of all characterized coronaviruses contains a receptor-binding domain (RBD) that mediates a specific high-affinity interaction with their respective cellular receptors. Although the RBDs of several coronaviruses have been mapped, the location of the PEDV RBD has to date not been defined. As a first step toward the identification of the region of the S protein of the PEDV that is critical for recognition with the cellular receptor, we generated a series of S1-truncated variants and examined their abilities to bind to the porcine APN (pAPN) receptor. Our data indicate that the N-terminus of the S1 domain is required for pAPN association. The results from the present study may assist in our understanding of the molecular interactions between the PEDV S protein and the pAPN receptor.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 1971

A epidemiological study was conducted by author on 925 official reported patients with the first grade legal communicable disease during the period from January 1969 to December 1970 in all area of Kangwon province. As the results of this study, tile following conclusion were obtained. A) Typhoid fever 1. Of all 925 patients surveyed, typhoid fever showed the highest rate as 50.7 percent. 2. Age group from 10 to 14 years old showed the highest rates 3. High epidemic period was from June to September. 4. As for the occupational distribution, unemployed showed the highest rate as 63.2 percent, followed by-21.1 percent in farmer and 9.4 percent in student. 5. Most of all patients(93.7%) were isolated in their own house 6. The morbidity rate was 16.0 per 100, 000 population and case fatality rate was 1.76 percent 7. The mean of the duration from onset to diagnosis and carnation were 11.7$\pm$7.1 days and 25.1$\pm$13, 8 days respectively. 8. Main diagnostic method was almost the clinical examination B) Dysentery 1, Of all 925 patients surveyed, dysentery showed 44.4 percent 2. Age group from 0 to 9 years old showed the highest rate 3. High epidemic period of this disease was from April to August 4. As for the occupational distribution, unemployed showed the highest rate as 73.9 percent, followed by 17.7 person in farmers and 7.0 percent in student 5. the attack rate of agricultural area was higher than of fishing area 6. The mean of the duration from onset to diagnosis and crating duration were 10.4$\pm$4.3 days and 15.7$\pm$8.8 days respectively. 7. The morbidity rate and case fatality rate were 21.8 per 100.000 population and 1.46 percent, respectively. 8. Most of all patients were isolated in own house 9. Most of all patients (97.6%) were diagnosed by the clinical examination C) Diphtheria 1. As for the age distribution, 0-4 years old group showed the highest rate as 44.4 percent followed by 27.7 percent in 5-9 years old group and 22.2 percent in 10-14 years old group 3. Epidemic season was almost in autumn, winter and spring 3. The morbidity rate was 0.96 per 100.000 population and case fatality rate was high as 26.6 percent 4. 66.6 percent of this disease was isolated in their own house and the others were admitted in hospital D) Paratyphoid fever 1. Most of all patients were attacked below 20 years old 2. Epidemic season was almost was almost in late summer 3. The morbidity rate was 0.53 per 100.000 population 4. The mean of the duration from onset to diagnosis and crating duration were 18.3$\pm$1.3 day and 13.7$\pm$0.2 day. respectively.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.4
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• pp.33-38
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• 1965

1. This survey was conducted to make a basis for the cause of severe epidemic and disease control to the losses due to bacterial leaf blight of rice in Chun-Nam rice paddy field areas in the first part of October in 1965. The severe epidemic areas were included Taijun-Myun, Tamyang-Eup, riverside in Youngsanpo and seaside in the suburbs of Mokpo. 2. A drought in the period of rice transplanting and flooding due to a heavy rain in July were resulted reasonable weather conditions that the disease occurred more early and severe epidemic. 3. In Tamyang area, frist outbreak of the disease was on the middle part of July in the paddy flooded after heavy rainfall of the first fart of July. It is recognized to farmers that the disease is known as a now serious one. 4. The more date of transplanting is followed, the more serious damage is happened and especially, in the paddy field flooded, too. 5. Flooded areas showed more serious epidemic. 6. Varietal difference to the disease was surely noticed, and Kumnampoong and Chunbonwuk were susceptible, whereas Norin 6 was resistant. 7. Damage was occurred more in plant paddy area than tile slopping paddy area. 8. Fallow paddy field was more serious than the field using double cropping a year. 9. Moist and semimoist paddy field were more serious damage, while light damage in dry paddy field. 10. Near part of flood gate for drainage of submerge paddy was more serious damage than inside part of the field. 11. Soft type is often seen in the mode of the disease occurrences. 12. The most farmers insisted that dropping water is caused to promote disease dissemination when disease occurred.