Organoleptic parameters such as color, odor, and flavor influence consumer perception of drinking water quality. This study aims to evaluate the taste of the selected bottled and tap water samples using an electronic tongue (E-tongue) instead of a sensory test. Bottled and tap water's mineral components are related to the overall preference for water taste. Contrary to the sensory test, the potentiometric E-tongue method presented in this study distinguishes taste by measuring the mineral components in water, and the data obtained can be statistically analyzed. Eleven bottled water products from various brands and one tap water from I city in Korea were evaluated. The E-tongue data were statistically analyzed using multivariate statistical tools such as hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results show that the E-tongue method can clearly distinguish taste discrimination in drinking water differing in water quality based on the ion-related water quality parameters. The water quality parameters that affect taste discrimination were found to be total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sulfate (SO4 2-), chloride (Cl-), potassium (K+) and pH. The distance calculation of HCA was used to quantify the differences between 12 different types of drinking water. The proposed E-tongue method is a practical tool to quantitatively evaluate the differences between samples in water quality items related to the ionic components. It can be helpful in quality control of drinking water.

This study aimed to investigate the dietary changes among adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Korea. An online survey was conducted to examine dietary changes before (in 2019) and during (in 2021) the pandemic. The data from 337 adults living alone who responded to the survey were used for analysis. The proportion of the respondents reporting frequent food consumption at convenience stores (≥3 times/week) increased during the pandemic (p=0.024), and the proportion of those frequently eating ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food (≥3 times/week) was more than doubled (p<0.001). Additionally, the proportion of those frequently consuming delivered food (≥3 times/week) increased by 2.5 times (p<0.001). In conclusion, the dietary habits of adults living alone changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have a negative impact on their health. Therefore, the development of customized nutrition management programs to improve the dietary habits of adults living alone during emergencies like a pandemic is deemed necessary. This study can serve as a foundation for understanding the dietary changes of adults living alone in prolonged crisis.

This study analyzed the monitoring results of fishways at 16 weirs constructed on four large Rivers to provide data helpful for the operation and management of fishways. The average utilization rate of the fishways at the weirs was confirmed to be 64.9%. When comparing the dominant species in the mainstream and fishway monitoring results, differences were observed in 9 weirs (56.3%). This indicated that the species prevalent in the mainstream were not necessarily the ones most frequently using the fishways. The average number of individuals using the fishways per day was 336. When classifying the fish species using the fishway by life type, 92.3% were primary freshwater fish, and migratory species accounted for only 5.6%. Analysis based on the season of fishway usage revealed that an average or higher number of fish species used the fishways from May to October, with the highest number of individual users occurring from June to August. Between May and July, 80% of the fish species using the fishways were in their spawning period, while during other season, less than 40% were species that move during the spawning period. The fishways that showed a significant alignment between the spawning period and the fishway passage period were Rhinogobius brunneus, Leiocassis nitidus, Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae, Pseudogobio esocinus, Acheilognathus rhombeus, and Pungtungia herzi, in that order. When comparing the fishway monitoring results of the Gangjeong-Goryeong Weir and the Dalseong Weir with the upper part water level of the weir, both the number of fish species and individuals using the fishway showed positive correlations with the upper part water level of the weir. This suggests that a higher water level of the weir increases the inflow discharge within the fishway, leading to increased use by fish (number of individuals in Gangjeong-Goryeong Weir, P<0.001; number of species in Dalseong Weir, P<0.05). This study summarized and analyzed the results of fishway monitoring at 16 weirs built on four large Rivers, considering fishway efficiency, operation and management, monitoring period, and regulation of water level in the upper part of the weir. It is thought that this will help understand the status of fish use in fishways on large River and aid the construction, operation, and management of fishways in the future.

우리나라 여러 해양환경 지역으로부터 확보한 370주의 해양세균, 균류, 미세조류로부터 기초생 리활성(항산화, 항염, 항균, 항암, 항바이러스)을 조사하여 채집지, 분리원, 종(種) 수준에서의 활성결과를 비교하였다. 해양세균의 경우, 일반적으로 유용성이 많이 알려진 Streptomyces 속 과 Bacillus 속에 속하는 균주들이 두드러진 강한 효능이 관찰되었고, 주로 해양퇴적물로부터 유용한 자원을 분리할 수 있었다. 해양균류와 미세조류의 경우에도 종 특이적으로 활성이 강 하게 나타나는 결과를 확인할 수 있었고, 효능 특이적으로 활성을 보이는 결과도 얻을 수 있었 다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 추후 특정질병에 선택적으로 효능을 보이는 화학물질 연구 또는 자원 기반 연구 수행 시 유용성을 전제로 한 자원 확보 전략 수립과 산업 활성화를 위한 전 략소재로 우선적 접근이 용이할 수 있는 연구결과라 생각된다. 또한, 이들 결과를 해양바이오 뱅크를 통한 분양소재로 활용함으로써 학계, 산업계에서 활용하여 해양바이오산업 활성화에 좀 더 빠른 접근을 도울 수 있다고 생각한다.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of simulation-based Korea advanced life support training on new nurses' knowledge, clinical performance ability, performer confidence, and learning satisfaction. Methods: This is a non-equivalent controlled pre-post quasi-experimental study. A simulation-based CPR training program was applied to 37 new nurses. Results: The experimental group scored lower on emergency management knowledge (83.65±7.61) than the control group (84.55±9.22), which was not significant (t=-4.46, p=.657). However, the clinical performance ability score was significantly higher in the experimental group (109.59±9.98) than in the control group (100.24±11.87) (t=3.581, p <.001). Performer confidence was significantly higher in the experimental group (23.43±3.29) than in the control group (19.90±3.85) (t=3.69, p〈.001). In addition, the learning satisfaction score of the experimental group (96.16±5.64) was significantly higher than the control group (88.42±11.13) (t=3.72, p< .001). Conclusion: This study confirmed that simulation training is an efficient way to improve new nurses' clinical performance ability, and performer confidence. Therefore, applying simulation training in scenarios can improve new nurses' work competence and contribute to improving the quality of patient care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the nature of the health promotion behavior of the high-risk group of cardiovascular disease among large-scale industrial manufacturing workers. Method: The subjects of this study were 11 workers at high-risk of cardiovascular disease with a Framingham Risk Score (FRS) score of 10% or more among workers at large-scale workplace in Gyeongsangbukdo area, and the data collection period is from July 1 to September 11, 2022. The interview data were inductively analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method used by Elo and Kyngas (2008). Result: Participants' awareness of their own health status and knowledge of cardiovascular disease were low, and there were more obstacles than benefits to health behavior. The process and method of realizing and practicing health care were also different. As a result of qualitative content analysis, 42 semantic units, 12 subcategories, and 3 upper categories were derived. The health promotion behavior of workers at high-risk for cardiovascular disease was categorized into ‘Awareness of health conditions’, ‘Obstacles to health care behavior’, ‘Health care practice process’. Conclusion: Since most of the workers spend a lot of time at work, it is necessary to understand the health care of high-risk workers with cardiovascular disease, so a qualitative study using participatory observation methods to observe workers’ work sites is recommended.

In this study, we detected the presence of residual pesticides in 341 agricultural products collected from local food outlets in western Gyeonggi Province. Residual pesticides were detected in 105 (30.8%) samples. Six samples exceeded the legal limits for residual pesticides, resulting in a non-compliance rate of 1.8%, which was slightly higher than the average non-compliance rate of 1.4% in the last three years. Among the tested agricultural products, only fruits and vegetables were found to have pesticide residues, with 24 of 34 fruits (a detection rate of 70.6%) and 81 of 277 vegetables (a detection rate of 29.2%) testing positive. In total, 59 types of pesticides, including acetamiprid, which was detected 208 times, were detected and had a detection range of 0.01–2.38 mg/kg. Among the 105 agricultural products containing pesticide residues, a single pesticide was detected in 62 samples (59%) and two or more pesticides were detected in 43 samples (41%). In particular, 14 pesticides were detected in the same sample of peaches; dinotefuran was detected 21 times. Upon examining the toxicity of the detected pesticides, Class III pesticides (moderate toxicity) were detected 44 times (21.2%) and Class IV pesticides (low toxicity) were detected 164 times (78.8%). Class I, II, and III pesticides with fish toxicity were detected 68 (32.7%), 14 (6.7%), and 126 times (60.6%), respectively. Upon examining the exposure to high-frequency pesticide components detected five or more times, the hazard index was found to be ≤2.8%. Accordingly, the hazard of residual pesticides based on dietary intake was deemed insignificant.

Okadaic acid (OA) group toxins, including OA and its analogs, such as dinophysis toxins (DTXs), have been reported to cause diarrheal shellfish poisoning (DSP). These toxins are primarily produced by dinoflagellates and are accumulated in bivalves. Recently, the presence of Dinophysis sp., a causative alga of DSP, has been reported along the coasts of Korea, posing a potential risk of contamination to domestic seafood and exerting an impact on both the production and consumption of marine products. Accordingly, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have established standards for the permissible levels of OA group toxins in marine products for safety management. Additionally, in line with international initiatives, the domestic inclusion and regulation of DTX2 among the substances falling under the purview of management outlined by the 2022 diarrheal shellfish toxin standard have been implemented. In this study, we reviewed the physicochemical properties of OA group toxins, their various exposure routes (such as acute toxicity, genotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity), and the relative toxicity factors associated with these toxins. We also performed a comparative assessment of the methods employed for toxin analysis across different countries. Furthermore, we aimed to conduct a broad review of human exposure cases and assess the international guideline for risk management of OA group toxins.

The IUU Fishing Index is composed of 40 indicators. These indicators were grouped by state responsibilities (flag, coastal, port, and general including market) defined in the FAO IPOA-IUU (2001) and then by type into vulnerability, prevalence, and response. A total of 152 coastal nations was surveyed. Korea's total combined IUU Fishing Index was 2.49 in 2019 and 2.91 in 2021, indicating a drop in the ranking to the third worst out of 152 countries followed by China and Russia in 2021. The indicators that increased the IUU fishing risk in 2021 compared to 2019 included seven indicators of prevalence and two indicators of response while those reducing the risk included one prevalence and one response indicator. The IUU Fishing Index revealed that many fisheries observers and monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) practitioners active in the waters of RFMOs jurisdiction where Korean distant water vessels operate have mentioned concerns about the compliance with RFMO conservation measures or fishing practices. It suggested that strengthening management intervention in the fishing sector is needed. The primary tool for management is the MCS system. Given the logistical difficulty of oversight from land, air and at-sea, there is a need to enhance MCS strategies through logbook data, at-sea observer and electronic monitoring program. It also suggested that MSC fisheries certification and fisheries improvement projects, which are widely used for improving fishing sector performance, could contribute to the eradication of IUU fishing and the promotion of sustainable distant water fisheries.

Purpose: To determine whether artificial -intelligence quarantine robots can positively contribute to environmental management in medical institutions. We conducted in-depth interviews to understand the experiences of hospitalized patients receiving environmental management from such robots. Methods: Data were collected during March 20~May 20, 2023. individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 hospitalized patients, who could provide specific details of their experience of receiving environmental management from a quarantine robot. Results: Qualitative content analysis identified four themes, including “First encounter with an amazing and new quarantine robot,” “Efficiently performs non-face-to-face quarantine work in hospitals,” “Problems with quarantine robots,” and “Recommendations for improving the functionality of quarantine robots in medical institutions so quarantine robots and humans can coexist.” Conclusion: Currently, quarantine robots have limited functionality, and additional research is needed to identify various other functions in consideration of future infectious disease situations and the level of quarantine appropriate in a hospital.