• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1194-1203
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• 2020

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic utility of the stalk and the inchworm sign on preoperative MRI for detecting superficial bladder cancers, and to compare the diagnostic performance between the stalk and the inchworm sign. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 240 patients (505 tumors) who had undergone radical cystectomy. The tumors were classified as follows: superficial or invasive tumors indicated by the stalk or inchworm sign on 3.0 Tesla MRI. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the stalk and inchworm signs, by comparing each finding with the postoperative pathologic T stage. We compared diagnostic performance between them statistically. Results The stalk and inchworm signs showed high specificity (93% and 91%, respectively), positive predictive values (89% and 90%, respectively), and acceptable accuracy (70% and 74%, respectively), but low sensitivity (54% and 61%, respectively) and negative predictive values (60% and 63%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the two signs (p > 0.05). Conclusion Superficial bladder cancers could be differentiated from invasive tumors using the stalk or inchworm sign on MRI.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2024

Background: Depressive disorders can be categorized into daily depression and clinical depression. The experience of depressive disorder can increase health care utilization due to decreased treatment compliance and somatization. On the other hand, the clinical depression group may also experience social prejudice associated with the illness, which can limit their access to health care utilization. In terms of the significance of health care utilization as a factor in individual and social issues, this study aims to compare the health care utilization of the clinical depression group with that of the non-depressed group and the daily depression group. Methods: The analysis utilized the inverse probability of treatment weighting based on the generalized propensity score. Results: As a result of the analysis, clinical depression and daily depression were higher among women, low-income groups, individuals with low education levels, and so forth. The clinical depression group was also higher among individuals who were not economically active, did not have private health insurance, or had multiple chronic diseases. The number of outpatient department visits in the depression group was significantly higher than in the non-depressed group. In addition, the number of outpatient department visits for the clinical depression group was significantly higher than that for the daily depression group. Outpatient medical expenses were higher in the depression group than in the non-depressed group, and there was no significant difference between the clinical depression group and the daily depression group. Conclusion: Health care utilization was higher in the depression group than the non-depressed group, it was also higher in the clinical depression group than the daily depression group.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2014

The aim of the study is to test a hypothesis that quasi-breath-hold (QBH) biofeedback improves the residual respiratory motion management in gated 3D thoracic MR imaging, reducing respiratory motion artifacts with insignificant acquisition time alteration. To test the hypothesis five healthy human subjects underwent two gated MR imaging studies based on a T2 weighted SPACE MR pulse sequence using a respiratory navigator of a 3T Siemens MRI: one under free breathing and the other under QBH biofeedback breathing. The QBH biofeedback system utilized the external marker position on the abdomen obtained with an RPM system (Real-time Position Management, Varian) to audio-visually guide a human subject for 2s breath-hold at 90% exhalation position in each respiratory cycle. The improvement in the upper liver breath-hold motion reproducibility within the gating window using the QBH biofeedback system has been assessed for a group of volunteers. We assessed the residual respiratory motion management within the gating window and respiratory motion artifacts in 3D thoracic MRI both with/without QBH biofeedback. In addition, the RMSE (root mean square error) of abdominal displacement has been investigated. The QBH biofeedback reduced the residual upper liver motion within the gating window during MR acquisitions (~6 minutes) compared to that for free breathing, resulting in the reduction of respiratory motion artifacts in lung and liver of gated 3D thoracic MR images. The abdominal motion reduction in the gated window was consistent with the residual motion reduction of the diaphragm with QBH biofeedback. Consequently, average RMSE (root mean square error) of abdominal displacement obtained from the RPM has been also reduced from 2.0 mm of free breathing to 0.7 mm of QBH biofeedback breathing over the entire cycle (67% reduction, p-value=0.02) and from 1.7 mm of free breathing to 0.7 mm of QBH biofeedback breathing in the gated window (58% reduction, p-value=0.14). The average baseline drift obtained using a linear fit was reduced from 5.5 mm/min with free breathing to 0.6 mm/min (89% reduction, p-value=0.017) with QBH biofeedback. The study demonstrated that the QBH biofeedback improved the upper liver breath-hold motion reproducibility during the gated 3D thoracic MR imaging. This system can provide clinically applicable motion management of the internal anatomy for gated medical imaging as well as gated radiotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.33 no.5_2
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• pp.661-676
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• 2017

This study suggests a new method not only to produce the 1 km-resolution seasonal prediction but also to improve the seasonal prediction skill of temperature over South Korea. This method consists of four stages of experiments. The first stage, EXP1, is a low-resolution seasonal prediction of temperature obtained from Pusan National University Coupled General Circulation Model, and EXP2 is to produce 1 km-resolution seasonal prediction of temperature over South Korea by applying statistical downscaling to the results of EXP1. EXP3 is a seasonal prediction which considers the effect of temperature changes according to the altitude on the result of EXP2. Here, we use altitude information from ASTER GDEM, satellite observation. EXP4 is a bias corrected seasonal prediction using genetic algorithm in EXP3. EXP1 and EXP2 show poorer prediction skill than other experiments because the topographical characteristic of South Korea is not considered at all. Especially, the prediction skills of two experiments are lower at the high altitude observation site. On the other hand, EXP3 and EXP4 applying the high resolution elevation data based on remote sensing have higher prediction skill than other experiments by effectively reflecting the topographical characteristics such as temperature decrease as altitude increases. In addition, EXP4 reduced the systematic bias of seasonal prediction using genetic algorithm shows the superior performance for temporal variability such as temporal correlation, normalized standard deviation, hit rate and false alarm rate. It means that the method proposed in this study can produces high-resolution and high-quality seasonal prediction effectively.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-58
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• 2007

We develop a model to estimate the value of growth opportunities, which is based on the seminal papers of M&M(1961, 1963) and Lee(2006). Making use of the estimation model, we estimate a new proxy variable of the growth opportunities, other than the usual proxy variables such as quasi Tobin's Q, MBR, and so on. The new proxy variable of growth opportunities can represent a necessary condition to identify whether the increase in new investments are successful or not. The empirical findings on the growth opportunities during the IMF currency crisis period and the post-IMF period are as follows; First, the overall success rate of new investments is as low as 50%, that means only half of the listed firms were increasing new investments when they had the growth opportunities. Second, during the crisis, one third of the listed firms were experiencing negative growth opportunities. However, during the post-IMF period, the growth opportunities on new investments were turned to be positive due to the turnaround efforts of listed firms. Third, the value of intangible assets, which are resulting from the investment of R&D and human capital, are becoming more important than ever. It seems to be true that larger portions of the value of growth opportunities are coming from the intangible assets, not from the increases in new investments of the physical assets.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2005

Purpose : Heavy metal use when producing the block from the workshop. At this time, production of heavy metal dust and fume gives risk in human. This like heavy metal to improve seriousness through measurement and analysis. And by the quest in solution is purpose of this thesis. Materials and Methods : Organization is Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer, and the object is Deajeon city 4 workshops in university hospital radiation oncology (Bismuth, Lead, Tin and cadmium). Method is the ppb the pumping it does at unit, comparison analysis. And the Calculation heavy metal standard level in air through heavy metal standard level in body and blood, so Heavy metal temporary standard set. Results : Subterranean existence room air quality the administration laws appointed Lead and Cadmium's exposure recommend that it is $3{\mu}g/m^3\;and\;2{\mu}g/m^3$. And Bismuth and Tin decides $7{\mu}g/m^3\;and\;6{\mu}g/m^3$ through standard level in air heavy metal and standard level in body and blood. Heavy metal measurement level of workshops in 4 university hospital Daejeon city compares with work existence and nonexistence. On work nonexistence almost measurement level is below the recommend level. But work existence case express high level. Also consequently in composition ratio of the block is continuous with the detection ratio. Conclusion : Worker's heavy metal contamination imbrued serious for solution founds basic part. In hospital may operation on local air exhauster and periodical efficiency check, protector offer, et al. And worker have a correct understanding part of heavy metal contamination, and have continuous interest, health control. Finally, learned society sphere administer to establishment standard level and periodical measurement. And it founds basic solution plan of periodical special health checkup.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.725-732
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• 2012

There is relatively high vulnerability of soil erosion in slope highland agriculture due to a reclamation of mountain as well as low surface covering during early summer with high rainfall intensity. Especially, in soybean cultivation, soil disturbance by conventional tillage and exposure of topsoil at the early stage of soybean have intensified soil loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate various surface covering methods for reducing soil loss in highland soybean cultivation. The experiment was conducted in 17% sloped lysimeter ($2.5m{\times}13.4m$) with 8 treatments. Amount of runoff water and eroded soil, and soybean growth were investigated. Surface covering through sod culture and plant residue showed 3.4~45.0 runoff water amount with $177{\sim}2,375m^3\;ha^{-1}$ compared with control ($5,274m^3\;ha^{-1}$). And the amount of eroded soil was also reduced by 95% in surface covering treatment with $0.02{\sim}1.94Mg\;ha^{-1}$ than control with $40.72Mg\;ha^{-1}$. Yields of soybean pod showed $0.3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in rye sod culture, $1.3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai, $0.7Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in Aster koraiensis Nakai, $0.2Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in red clover and $2.0Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in non-covering, on the other hand, covering with cut rye showed $3.8Mg\;ha^{-1}$. Conclusively, covering the soil surface with cut rye were beneficial for reduction of soil loss without decreasing soybean yield in highland sloped fields.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.667-673
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• 2011

There is relatively high vulnerability of soil erosion in slope highland agriculture due to a reclamation of mountain as well as low surface covering in early summer season with high rainfall intensity time. The aim of this study was to evaluate various surface covering methods for reducing soil loss in highland radish cultivation in highland. The experiment was conducted in 17% sloped lysimeter ($2.5m{\times}13.4m$) with 8 treatments including covering with cut rye, sod culture of rye, Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai, Arachniodes aristata Tindale, Aster koraiensis Nakai, Festuca myuros L. and mulching with black polyethylene film, and runoff water, eroded soil and radish growth were investigated. Surface covering with sod culture and plant residue, especially cut rye treatment, had lower runoff water than non-covering, whereas black polyethylene film mulching had the reverse. The amount of eroded soil was also lowest in cut rye treatment, $0.3Mg\;ha^{-1}$, and increased in the order of rye sod culture, Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai, Aster koraiensis Nakai, Festuca myuros L., Arachniodes aristata Tindale, black polyethylene film, and non-covering, $68.2Mg\;ha^{-1}$. The results showed that surface covering with sod culture or plant residue could be effective for reducing runoff water and soil erosion in the radish field, significantly in cut rye treatment. On the other hand, in sod culture of rye, Aster koraiensis Nakai and Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai, radish yields were lower than in the non-covering. Unlike this, covering with cut rye, sod culture of Festuca myuros L. had similar radish yield to the non-covering radish yield. In conclusion, covering with cut rye and sod culture of Festuca myuros L. were beneficial for reduction of soil loss without decreasing in radish yield in highland sloped fields.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Due to the negative impacts of microplastics (MPs) on the ecosystem, the investigation of its occurrence and its treatment from sewage and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have received a lot of attention in the recent years. Most MPs are precipitated and removed with the sludge during the treatment process. Proper sludge management is immensely necessary to avoid MP exposure in the environment. However, the domestic research on this aspect is limited. This study reviews appropriate sludge management approaches to decrease environmental MP exposure. This can be achieved through investigating sludge generation and treatment, regulation laws and government policy trends with an emphasis on WWTPs. The ratio of sludge in sewage treatment plants has been observed to be highest in recycling followed by incineration and landfills. Recycling is the highest in fuel followed by construction materials and composting. For WWTPs, the highest ratio is in recycling followed by fuel and landfills, and recycling is confirmed in the following order: incineration > after composting > after solidification > earthworm breeding. Treatment approaches that can increase the exposure of MPs to the ecosystem are considered to be used in landfills and agricultural fields. However, this method is not appropriate given the insufficient capacity of domestic landfills and the sufficient supply of existing chemical and animal manure fertilizers. Instead, it would be rational in terms of environmental preservation to expand the use of fuel and energy in connection with the new and renewable energy policy, and to actively seek the use of sub-materials for construction materials. In order to secure the basic data for the effectiveness of future planning and revision of related laws, it is required to perform an in-depth investigation of the sludge supply and demand status along with the environmental and economic effects.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.15-24
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• 2021

This study is about the introduction and usefulness evaluation of the manufacturing method of the bolus-helmet. Helmet-production for the treatment of scalp tumor patients has been tried and will continue in many creative and various ways. However, Most of the research data did not significantly reduce the psychological burden and physical and physical discomfort that the patient had to bear due to the time and economic cost required for the production of the helmet, the convenience of production, and the complexity of the process. In addition, recently, studies using more advanced technologies and equipment such as 3D-printer technology, which are being studied as a way to increase the treatment effect, are being introduced, but the time, economic cost, and psychological and physical burden are still the sole responsibility of the patient. Isn't it getting worse? The reality is that the thoughts of concern cannot be erased. Therefore, by maintaining the physical properties of the bolus and manufacturing a helmet without incurring additional costs, the physical and physical discomfort aggravated to the patient was reduced and the procedure and time for helmet manufacturing were minimized. In this way, it was possible to reduce the time, economic cost, and physical discomfort required for the production of the helmet, and it was also possible to minimize the psychological burden of the patient, although it is invisible. Additionally, in evaluating the usefulness of helmets, we are able to continuously seek and develop ways to reduce the air-gap interval, and as a result, we will be able to introduce a method to keep it within 2.0mm along with the manufacturing method through this study. I feel very welcome. Finally, I hope that anyone working in the Department of Radiation Oncology will be able to easily manufacture the helmet required for radiation therapy using a bolus through the guide-line on helmet manufacturing provided by this institute. I hope and hope that if you have any questions or inquiries that arise during the production process, please feel free to contact us through the researcher's e-mail or mobile phone at any time.