• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.365-373
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• 1999

Background: Despite widespread use of tracheostomy in intensive care unit, it is still controversial to define the best timing from endotracheal intubation to tracheostomy under prolonged mechanical ventilation. Early tracheostomy has an advantage of easy airway maintenance and enhanced patient mobility whereas a disadvantage in view of nosocomial infection and tracheal stenosis. However, there is a controversy about the proper timing of tracheostomy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the 35 medical and 15 surgical ICU patients who had admitted to Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from January 1996 to August 1998 with the observation of APACHE III score, occurrence of nosocomial infections, and clinical outcomes during 28 days from tracheostomy in terms of early (n=25) vs. late (n=25) tracheostomy. We defined the reference day of early and late tracheostomy as 7th day from intubation. Results: The number of patients were 25 each in early and late tracheostomy group. The mean age were $48{\pm}18$ years in early tracheostomy group and $63{\pm}17$ years in late tracheostomy group, showing younger in early tracheostomy group. The median duration of intubation prior to tracheostomy was 3 days and 13 days in early and late tracheostomy groups. Organs that caused primary problem were nervous system in 27 cases(54%), pulmonary 14(28%), cardiovascular 4(8%), gastrointestinal 4(8%) and genitourinary 1(2%) in the decreasing order. Prolonged ventilation was the most common reason for the purpose of tracheostomy in both groups. APACHE m scores at each time of intubation and tracheostomy were slightly higher in late tracheostomy group but not significant statistically. Day to day APACHE III scores were not different between two groups with observation upto 7th day after tracheostomy, Occurrence of nosocomial infections, weaning from mechanical ventilation, and mortality showed no significant difference between two groups with observation of 28 days from tracheostomy. The mortality was increased as the APACHE m score upto 7 days after tracheostomy increased, but there were no increment for the mortality in terms of the time of tracheostomy and the days of ventilator use before tracheostomy, Conclusion: The early tracheostomy seems to have no benefit with respect to severity of illness, nosocomial infection, duration of ventilatory support, and mortality. It suggests that the time of tracheostomy is better to be decided on clinical judgement in each case. And in near future, prospective, randomized case-control study is required to confirm these results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.84-95
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• 1996

Environmental pollution has recently been progressed in the metropolitan and industrial areas of Korea and concerns have been evolved against the chronic effects of the pollution on natural ecosystem. This study was carried out to investigate the environmental pollution impacts on ion input into forest ecosystems and soil environmental changes. Study plots were established at Seoul, Ulsan, Yeochon, and Seosan for pollution sites and at Pyungchang for a non-pollution site. Atmospheric deposition was measured with rain, throughfall, and stem flow samples collected in the forest areas. Soil chemical properties were investigated to compare the pollution impacts on the sites. Precipitation acidity in the metropolitan and industrial areas ranged from pH 4.5 to 5.5, showing the levels lower than pH 5.8 of mountain area. Ion concentrations in the precipitation had increased significantly while passing the crown layer in the metropolitan and industrial areas, showing the increase by 4 times at the maximum. Total ion input in the metropolitan and industrial areas was greater than that in mountain area by approximately 2-3 times. Soil acidification caused by acidic ion input seemed to be greatest at Seoul, showing pH 1 decrease compared to that of Pyungchang. Soil canon contents were relatively high in the metropolitan and industrial areas. Although the canon leaching loss was not apparent, soil acidification process seemed to be continued by acidic ion input. Environmental pollution in the metropolitan and industrial areas exerted changes in ion input into the forest ecosystems and soil conditions. The chronic effects of environmental pollution should be monitored and investigated further to explain the processes of ecosystem change and the impacts on plant growth.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2012

Benthic macroinvertebrates were investigated in Hoeongseong Lake region from March to October 2010, Korea. Macroinvertebrate communities, composition of the functional feeding groups, habitiat oriented groups and the biological water quality were assessed above and below Hoeongseong Dam in the lake region. Six sites, two (St.1~2) above the lake, two (St. 3~4) into the lake, and two (St. 5~6) below the dam, were selected for quantitative (Surber sampler $30cm{\times}30cm$, mesh size 0.2 mm) and qualitative (Hand net) samplings of benthic macroinvertebrates. As a result, a total of 83 species belonging to 43 families, 17 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla were recognized. The EPT-group (50 spp. : 60.24%) that is major taxa or EPT-group plus Diptera (61 spp. : 73.49%) occupied most of benthic macroinvertebrates community. Based on quantitative sampling, the number of benthic maroinvertebrates above the lake was 2,399 individuals including 54 species, 28 families, 11 orders, 4 classes, and 4 phyla, whereas 510 individuals including 16 species, 12 families, 7 orders, 4 classes, and 3 phyla in the lake and 626 individuals including 62 species, 33 families, 13 orders, 6 classes, and 4 phyla below the dam were collected respectively. Dominance index was the highest, with 0.82-0.93 ($0.87{\pm}0.05$) in Hoeongseong lake (St. 3-4), diversity index was 3.04-3.16 ($3.10{\pm}0.06$), evenness index was 0.79-0.85 ($0.82{\pm}0.03$), and richness index was 7.27-8.52 ($7.90{\pm}0.63$), which were relatively higher below the dam sites. In the functional feeding groups, collector-gatherers and collector-filterers were the highest in the whole sites, and predators (Micronecta sedula) was appeared highly in the lake. Moreover, swimmers, burrowers, and clingers were considerably occupied in all collecting sites. The result of the DCA, similarity analysis, and MRPP were well reflective of the composition of lake and stream macroinvertebrates. ESB indicate that the lake sites were evaluated heavily polluted under priority improvement waters. Also, Semisulcospira gottschei, Ecdyonurus kibunensis, Epeorus pellucidus, Rhoenanthus coreanus, Stenelmis sp., and Cheumatopsyche brevilineata are considered as an indicator species above and below Hoeongseong Lake, whereas Macrobrachium nipponense and Micronecta sedula are indicated in the lake.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2013

The aim of this work is to verify the self-quality assurances in medical institutions in Korea through the external audits by the group of experts and have a mutual discussion of the systematic problems. In order to validate the external audits 30 of 80 medical institutions across the nation were picked out considering the regional distribution and the final 25 institutions applied voluntarily to take part in this work. The basic rules were setup that any information of the participants be kept secrete and the measurements be performed with the dosimetry system already verified through intercomparision. The outputs for 2 or more photon beams, the accuracy of gantry rotation and collimator rotation and the poistional accuracy of MLC movement were measured. The findings for the output measurement showed the differences of -0.8%~4.5%, -0.79%~3.01%, and -0.7%~0.07% with respect to that of the verified dosimetry system for the 6MV, 10MV, and 15MV, respectively. For the reference absorbed dose 8 (16%) of 50 photon beams in 25 medical institutions differed 2.0% or greater from the reference value. The coincidences of Field size with x-ray beam and radiation isocenters of Gantry roration and collimator rotation gave the results of within ${\pm}2$ mm for every institute except 2 institutions. The positional accuracy of MLC movement agreed to within ${\pm}1$ mm for every institute. For the beam qualities of 6 MV photon beams kQ values showed the distribution within 0.4% between maximum and minimum. For the protocols 21 institutions (84%) used absorbed dose to water based protocol while 4 insitutions (16%) used air kerma based one. 22 institutions employed the SSD technique while 3 institutions did the SAD one. External audit plays an important role in discovering the systematic problems of self-performing Quality Assurances and having in depth discussion for mutual complementation. Training experts of international level as well as national support system are required so that both the group of experts of medical physicists and government laboratory could perform together periodical and constant external audits.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2013

In the intracranial regions, an accurate delineation of the target volume has been difficult with only the CT data due to poor soft tissue contrast of CT images. Therefore, the magnetic resonance images (MRI) for the delineation of the target volumes were widely used. To calculate dose distributions with MRI-based RTP, the electron density (ED) mapping concept from the diagnostic CT images and the pseudo CT concept from the MRI were introduced. In this study, the look up table (LUT) from the fifteen patients' diagnostic brain MRI images was created to verify the feasibility of MRI-based RTP. The dose distributions from the MRI-based calculations were compared to the original CT-based calculation. One MRI set has ED information from LUT (lMRI). Another set was generated with voxel values assigned with a homogeneous density of water (wMRI). A simple plan with a single anterior 6MV one portal was applied to the CT, lMRI, and wMRI. Depending on the patient's target geometry for the 3D conformal plan, 6MV photon beams and from two to five gantry portals were used. The differences of the dose distribution and DVH between the lMRI based and CT-based plan were smaller than the wMRI-based plan. The dose difference of wMRI vs. lMRI was measured as 91 cGy vs. 57 cGy at maximum dose, 74 cGt vs. 42 cGy at mean dose, and 94 cGy vs. 53 at minimum dose. The differences of maximum dose, minimum dose, and mean dose of the wMRI-based plan were lower than the lMRI-based plan, because the air cavity was not calculated in the wMRI-based plan. These results prove the feasibility of the lMRI-based planning for brain tumor radiation therapy.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.593-599
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• 2001

Recently, tempormandibular disorder(TMD) shows an tendency to increase every year. TMD is a collective term embracing a number of clinical problems that involve the masticatory musculature, temporomandibular joint(TMJ) and associated structures, or both. TMD, viewed in distribution of age, often occurred from late teens to late twenties. But recently, the age of occurrence tends to be lower. Accordingly, early diagnosis of tempormandibular disorder is very important. In this study, we measured the maximum mouth opening which is simple and easy to carry out as a way of TMD diagnosis. In this study, the maximum mouth opening was examined for 1,775 children from 4 to 12 years of age. We compared the relationship between the maximum mouth opening with the age, height, and weight. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. The mean maximum mouth openings of 4, 8, and 12 year of age were respectively 40.16mm, 47.32mm, 50.54mm for male, 39.79mm, 44.85mm, 48.09mm for female. 2. The maximum mouth opening increased with age, and the values were greater in male than in female. 3. The maximum mouth opening increased with height, and the values were eater in male than in female except between 105cm and 115cm 4. The maximum mouth opening increased with weight, and the values were eater in male than in female. 5. The correlation between the maximum mouth opening with the age, height, and weight was all significant, and height showed the highest correlation.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.887-898
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• 2007

A physically based semi-distributed model, SWAT was applied to the Chungju Dam upstream watershed in order to investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of watershed sediment yields. For this, general features of the SWAT and sediment simulation algorithm within the model were described briefly, and watershed sediment modeling system was constructed after calibration and validation of parameters related to the runoff and sediment. With this modeling system, temporal and spatial variation of soil loss and sediment yields according to watershed scales, land uses, and reaches was analyzed. Sediment yield rates with drainage areas resulted in $0.5{\sim}0.6ton/ha/yr$ excluding some upstream sub-watersheds and showed around 0.51 ton/ha/yr above the areas of $1,000km^2$. Annual average soil loss according to land use represented the higher values in upland areas, but relatively lower in paddy and forest areas which were similar to the previous results from other researchers. Among the upstream reaches, Pyeongchanggang and Jucheongang showed higher sediment yields which was thought to be caused by larger area and higher fraction of upland than other upstream sub-areas. Monthly sediment yields at the main outlet showed same trend with seasonal rainfall distribution, that is, approximately 62% of annual yield was generated during July to August and the amount was about 208 ton/yr. From the results, we could obtain the uniform value of sediment yield rate and could roughly evaluate the effect of soil loss with land uses, and also could analyze the temporal and spatial characteristics of sediment yields from each reach and monthly variation for the Chungju Dam upstream watershed.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

In this research, we found out that bridging nodes have great effect on the robustness of protein-protein interaction networks. Until now, many researchers have focused on node's degree as node's essentiality. Hub nodes in the scale-free network are very essential in the network robustness. Some researchers have tried to relate node's essentiality with node's betweenness centrality. These approaches with betweenness centrality are reasonable but there is a positive relation between node's degree and betweenness centrality value. So, there are no differences between two approaches. We first define a bridging node as the node with low connectivity and high betweenness value, we then verify that such a bridging node is a primary factor in the network robustness. For a biological network database from Internet, we demonstrate that the removal of bridging nodes defragment an entire network severally and the importance of the bridging nodes in the network robustness.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.16-28
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• 2015

This study is suggested to enlarge the green area and to connect and improve the present green areas by deriving the lines of community greenway using living areas and community spaces close to the life of residence in Nam-gu. The purpose of this paper is to suggest the method of establishing greenway for the formation of community in which the residence can grow the community spirit and love their living space much more. Land-use status, green coverage ratio, and impermeability paving ratio are investigated. The community facilities are classified. The highest is educational facility, which is 7.7%, the green facility is 1.9% and the total area of community facilities which is 21.4%. The total area of Nam-gu is divided into 31 zones in total according to the administrative districts, the mail roads and reserved land of railroad and urban development. The total 20 lines of community greenway lines are chosen and the total length of lines is 18.2km. Finally, the characteristics of community greenway lines are analysed, the characteristics of community greenway lines are overall estimated according to the land-use, the street environment and the community facility. The classification system of community greenway is established on the basis on the function and purpose of greenway, the present status of land-use and the type of community facility. Based on the field investigation, the 6 greenway types are suggested considering the interconnection. The method of establishment of community greenway is suggested according to the principle of function and purpose, the principle of land-use and the principle of use of the facilities. Furthermore, the planting methods suitable to each greenway type are suggested in the building planting case of wall planting, roof planting, veranda planting, etc., and in the complex planting of parks, schools, roads, parking lots and other small areas.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.76-84
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• 2010

Darangyi paddy in Namhae Gachon village provides natural beauty with its distinct location. Darangyi is a traditional Korean landscape, shaping a circular form to serve continuous cultivation. Despite the paddy's landscape, it is difficult to preserve its natural scenery due to many factors such as inadequate visual analysis. Under the belief that there is a necessity to preserve Darangyi paddy, the research in visual features of the paddy began to illustrate the relevance between its viewpoint and landscape objects. First, we researched typical view structures. When considering the visual features, Darangyi paddy landscape objects has a viewpoint from the horizontality to its below, which its center area is about $-5^{\circ}{\sim}-30^{\circ}$. From the analyzed data, the scenary of Darangyi paddy, which most people agree its decency, is formed in a visually decent location. The above type of measure of visual structure in Darangyi paddy is expected to be applied in maintenance of foothold of views in the future. Second, the surrounding elements play important parts to form the whole landscape of Gachon Darangyi paddy. Although Darangyi paddy is the principal part of the scenary, the landscape analysis showed a high relevance with the paddy's identity, forest around the paddy, sky, ocean, settlements, and the roads in terms of visual perception. It was affirmed that those elements around the paddy play important parts in structuring and providing the beauty of the whole landscape. Various viewy objects are seen obvious especially in a long distance, and the splendid scenary proved that those viewy objects are in indispensable location. In order to preserve the paddy, it seems necessary to consider the surrounding envrionment of Darangyi paddy, not just the paddy's sole landscape form. Third, Darangyi paddy has a distinct seasonal characteristics. According to the survey analysis, the full heading time in spring and time when people can take a picture against the sun light proved magnificence of Darangyi paddy. Thus, it would be ideal to maintain Darangyi paddy by securing the sunlight condition with decent landscape view and the views from its surrounding environments or researching the ways to principally maintain the surrounding environments.