• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.270-274
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• 2013

The bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, has played an important role as one of the alternative pollinators since the outbreak of honeybee collapse disorder. Recently, pathogens and parasites such as viruses, bacteria and mites, which affect the life span and fecundity of their host, have been discovered in B. terristris. In order to detect the microsporidian pathogen, Nosema spp. in the field populations of B. terristris, we collected adults and isolated their genomic DNA for diagnostic PCR. The PCR primers specific for Nosema spp. were newly designed and applied to gene amplification for cloning. Only small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene of N. ceranae was successfully amplified among examined genes and sequenced, which indicates that N. ceranae mainly infects the examined field population of B. terristris. To detect of SSU rRNA gene, two regions of SSU rRNA gene were selected by primary PCR analysis and further analyzed in quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that SSU rRNA of N. ceranae was detected at concentration as low as $0.85ng/{\mu}l$ genomic DNA. This result suggests that the detection via qRT-PCR can be applied for the rapid and sensitive diagnosis of N. ceranae infection in the field population as well as risk assessment of B. terristris.

• 한국무역상무학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.45-72
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• 2006

The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary environmental and social guidelines for ethical project finance. These principles commit banks and other signatories to not finance projects that fail to meet these guidelines. The principles were conceived in 2002 on an initiative of the International Finance Corporation and launched in 2003. Since then, dozens of major banks have adopted the Principles, and with these banks among them accounting for more than three quarters of all project loan market volume the Principles have become the de facto standard for all banks and investors on how to deal with potential social and environmental effects of projects to be financed. While regarding the Principles an important initiative, NGOs have criticised the Principles for not producing real changes in financing activities and for allowing projects to go through that should have been screened out by the Principles, such as the Sakhalin-II oil and gas project in Russia. In early 2006, a process of revision of the principles was begun. The Equator Principles state that endorsing banks will only provide loans directly to projects under the following circumstances: - The risk of the project is categorized in accordance with internal guidelines based upon the environmental and social screening criteria of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). - For all medium or high risk projects (Category A and B projects), sponsors complete an Environmental Assessment, the preparation of which must meet certain requirements and satisfactorily address key environmental and social issues. - The Environmental Assessment report addresses baseline environmental and social conditions, requirements under host country laws and regulations, applicable international treaties and agreements, sustainable development and use of renewable natural resources, protection of human health, cultural properties, and biodiversity, including endangered species and sensitive ecosystems, use of dangerous substances, major hazards, occupational health and safety, fire prevention and life safety, socio-economic impacts, land acquisition and land use, involuntary resettlement, impacts on indigenous peoples and communities, cumulative impacts of existing projects, the proposed project, and anticipated future projects, participation of affected parties in the design, review and implementation of the project, consideration of feasible environmentally and socially preferable alternatives, efficient production, delivery and use of energy, pollution prevention and waste minimization, pollution controls (liquid effluents and air emissions) and solid and chemical waste management. - Based on the Environmental Assessment, Equator banks then make agreements with their clients on how they mitigate, monitor and manage those risks through an 'Environmental Management Plan'. Compliance with the plan is required in the covenant. If the borrower doesn't comply with the agreed terms, the bank will take corrective action, which if unsuccessful, could ultimately result in the bank canceling the loan and demanding immediate repayment. - For risky projects, the borrower consults with stakeholders (NGO's and project affected groups) and provides them with information on the risks of the project. - If necessary, an expert is consulted. The Principles only apply to projects over 50 million US dollars, which, according to the Equator Principles website, represent 97% of the total market. In early 2006, the financial institutions behind the Principles launched stakeholder consultations and negotiations aimed at revising the principles. The draft revised principles were met with criticism from NGO stakeholders, who in a joint position paper argued that the draft fails by ignoring the most serious critiques of the principles: a lack of consistent and rigorous implementation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.64-79
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between precipitation deficit, SPI(standardized precipitation index)-12 month, agricultural reservoir water storage deficit and agricultural drought-related big data, and to evaluate the usefulness of agricultural risk management through big data. For the long term drought (from January 2014 to September 2015), each data was collected and analysed with monthly and Provincial base. The minimum SPI-12 and maximum reservoir water storage deficit compared to normal year were occurred at the same time of July 2014, and August and September 2015. The maximum frequency of big data was occurred at June and July of 2014, and March and June to September of 2015. The maximum big data was occurred 1 month advanced in 2014 and 2 months advanced in 2015 than the maximum reservoir water storage deficit. The occurrence of big data was sensitive to spring drought from March, late Jangma of June, dry Jangma of July and the rainfall deficit of September 2015. The big data was closely related with the meteorological drought and agricultural drought. Because the big data is the in situ feeling drought, it is proved as a useful indicator for agricultural risk management.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.86-95
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• 2006

Brillouin backscatter is a type of reflection that occurs when light is shone into an optical fibre. Brillouin reflections are very sensitive to changes in the fibre arising from external effects, such as temperature, strain and pressure. We report here several case studies on the measurement of strain using Brillouin reflections. A mechanical bending test of an I beam, deployed with both fiber optic sensors and conventional strain gauge rosettes, was performed with the aim of evaluating: (1) the capability and technical limit of the DTSS technology for strain profile sensing; (2) the reliability of strain measurement using fiber optic sensor. The average values of strains obtained from both DTSS and strain gauges (corresponding to the deflection of I beam) showed a linear relationship and an excellent one-to-one match. A practical application of DTSS technology as an early warning system for land sliding or subsidence was examined through a field test at a hillside. Extremely strong, lightweight, rugged, survivable tight-buffered cables, designed for optimal strain transfer to the fibre, were used and clamped on the subsurface at a depth of about 50cm. It was proved that DTSS measurements could detect the exact position and the progress of strain changes induced by land sliding and subsidence. We also carried out the first ever distributed dynamic strain measurement (10Hz) on the Korean Train eXpress(KTX) railway track in Daejeon, Korea. The aim was to analyse the integrity of a section of track that had recently been repaired. The Sensornet DTSS was used to monitor this 85m section of track while a KTX train passed over. In the repaired section the strain increases to levels of 90 microstrain, whereas in the section of regular track the strain is in the region of 30-50 microstrain. The results were excellent since they demonstrate that the DTSS is able to measure small, dynamic changes in strain in rails during normal operating conditions. The current 10km range of the DTSS creates a potential to monitor the integrity of large lengths of track, and especially higher risk sections such as bridges, repaired track and areas at risk of subsidence.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.228-237
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to test a hypothesized model, the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM), on the relationship of family emotional climate, security of parent-child relationship, depression symptoms and eating problems in adolescent girls, to further understanding of eating problems in this population. Methods: With a convenience sample of 647 girls, aged 15 to 18, a self-report survey was conducted which included the Korean form of the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) to assess eating problems. Results: The estimated results of the structural equation modeling indicated a good fit of data to the hypothesized model proposing that family emotional climate and security of parent-child relationship were associated with the risk of eating problems by way of depression symptoms. That is, negative family emotional climate and insecure parent-child relationship increased the risk of eating problems indirectly by way of depression symptoms. Conclusion: The findings are consistent with the BBFM, which suggests a psychobiologic influence of specific family processes on children's stress-sensitive physical disease activity by way of depression symptoms. Therefore, the applicability of the BBFM for understanding adolescent girls' eating problems is supported. The psychobiologic pathways from depression to eating pathology should be addressed in future studies.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.247-253
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• 2013

The purpose is a comparative evaluation in the DR System according to the dosimetry and image quality of the quantitative and objective via Direct digital radiography, Indirect digital radiography, Image intensifier (Charge Coupled Device type) digital radiography. The experimental method used rando phantom and measured the entrance surface dose. And through using the measured entrance surface dose and then using the PCXMC program were evaluated risk due to irradiation and the effective dose. SNR and NPS and CNR were measured and analyzed by using 21cm acryl phantom. Significance of measured value was evaluated by statistics method. Entrance surface dose, major organ dose, effective dose all of them were measured the lowest rated in direct DR when it is on the basis of direct DR dose, high-dose ratio were measured in I.I DR approximately 1.3 times, indirect DR approximately 2.4 times. Risk in accordance with radiation also was measured same as dose ratio. On the conclusion that SNR measurement result based on direct DR SNR measurements, low-SNR ratio were measured in I.I DR approximately 7.25 times, indirect DR approximately 1.48 times. On the conclusion that CNR measurement result based on direct DR CNR measurements, high-dose ratio were measured in I.I type DR approximately 1.16 tims and low-dose ratio were measured in indirect DR approximately 0.87 times. Therefore Direct DR system using a-selenium sensing element to detect x-ray photon is thought effectively at the examination such as infant to sensitive irradiation and the genital gland. Because quality image is built by low dose. Also when it is necessary that image test requiring many diagnosis information, indirect DR system is thought effectively.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2009

In 2008, baby formula containing melamine was found to be responsible for a large outbreak of renal failure in infants in China. A total of 294,000 infants were hospitalized, and at least 6 babies died due to ingestion of the tainted formula. Melamine contains high levels of nitrogen (>60%), which is used as an indicator of protein content. Therefore, high levels of melamine in infant formula were thought to be the result of deliberate contamination m an attempt to increase its apparent protein content. Following inspections by China's national inspection agency, assorted products from at least 22 dairy manufacturers across China were found to have varied levels of melamine (range: 0.096196.61 mg/kg). Melamine co-exposure with cyanuric acid can induce acute melamine-cyanurate crystal nephropathy, which can lead to renal failure at much lower doses than if either compound were ingested alone. However, currently, there are very few data on melamine analogues other than cyanuric acid. At an expert meeting of the WHO and FAO held to review toxicological aspects of melamine and cyanuric acid on December 14, 2008, a new tolerable daily intake (TDI) of melamine was established that could be applied to the entire population, including infants. Therefore, a risk assessment of the various theoretical melamine contamination levels in infant formula and selected representative foods (other than infant formula and sole-source nutrition products) is urgently needed for Korean babies and children up to 7 years of age. Although the undetectable level regulation for infant formula may be low enough to guarantee the safety of babies under the age of 1 year (including premature babies), the melamine standard of 2.5 ppm for foods other than baby formula could be insufficient to protect the 95th percentile population aged 1~2 years because of this demographic's high consumption of milk, yogurt, and soy milk (hazard index = 1.79). Because TDIs are chronic values intended to protect an individual over his/her lifetime, occasional modest ingestion in excess of the TDI is not likely to be a health concern. However, children aged 1~2 years may have renal systems that are comparatively more sensitive to the crystallization of melamine and its analogues. Therefore, governmental jurisdictions may need to practice more prudent management of food items that could raise the melamine exposure for this population.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2009

Background: First-line drugs, if sensitive, are the most potent drugs in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This study examined the frequency and risk factors associated with acquired drug resistance to first-line drugs during a standardized treatment using first-line drugs in patients with MDR-TB. Methods: This study included patients who were diagnosed with MDR-TB at the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital between January 2004 and May 2008, treated with standardized first-line drugs, and for whom the preand post-treatment results of the drug susceptibility test were available. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of 41 MDR-TB patients, 14 (34.1%) acquired additional resistance to ethambutol (EMB) or pyrazinamide (PZA). Of 11 patients initially resistant to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RFP), 3 (27.3%) acquired additional resistance to both EMB and PZA, and 3 (27.3%) to PZA. Of 18 patients initially resistant to INH, RFP and EMB, 6 (33.3%) acquired additional resistance to PZA. Of 6 patients initially resistant to INH, RFP and PZA, 2 (33.3%) acquired additional resistance to EMB. Ten of the 41 MDR-TB patients (24.4%) changed from resistant to susceptible. No statistically significant risk factors associated with acquired resistance could be found. Conclusion: First-line drugs should be used cautiously in the treatment of MDR-TB in Korea considering the potential acquisition of drug resistance.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.12
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• pp.50-55
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• 1993

After a short historical resume, screening is discussed on the basis of the current philosophy of Life insurance compaines in leading countries. This is followed by considerations with regard to the future in areas of major bearing on Life insurance screening which have emerged as important within the last decade. HIV-antibody testing is dealt with from the screening point of view followed by aspects regarding the applicability of tumour marker use in Life insurance medicine. Last but not least genetic testing will be addressed, taking into account prospects for the future, as well as the resulting responsibility in medical and underwriting terms. The major considerations and suggested guidelines can be summarized as follows: 1) Screening in Life insurance is a prerequisite for underwriting and is a well-functioning selection instrument. 2) Screening technologies are medically well defined and have to follow general clinical rules, also in the future. 3) Screening parameters should follow the patterns of diseases according to age and risk groups. 4) Screening parameters for prognostic use are legitimate as long as they are considered in conjuction with clinical medical observations and rules. 5) Screening technologies of a sensitive nature require very special rules for handling in the sense of "consequential ethies". 6) Screening parameters like HIV-antibody testing require ongoing scientific feedback in their new testing dimensions. 7) Screening in the form of genetic testing is as yet not used in Life insurance; its potential future role in Life insurfance medicine must, however, be discussed responsibly and in time. 8) Screening enables the insurance industry to rule out possible antiselection and provide for equal knowledge on the part of the insurance applicant and the insurer about impairements which shorten life expectancy. 9) Screening, informed consent, counselling and confidentiality must go hand in hand both now and to an even greater extent in the future.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2006

Sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) was produced from hybridoma (1H11-5) obtained by fusion of myeloma cell (V653) and spleen cell isolated from mouse immunized sulfamthazine (SMZ)-HG-KLH. Direct competitive ELISA was developed for rapid detection of SMZ in milk samples using MAb against SMZ with optimized conditions between MAb and SMZ-HG-HRP conjugate, and applicable conditions for analysis of milk samples were established. Detection range of immunoassay was 0.1 to 100 ppb. Recoveries from spiked raw milk and processed milk samples averaged 82.1-120.7 and 82.1-97.1%, respectively.