• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.793-796
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• 2014

Background: This study aimed to examine possible effects of implementing a national query program on site-specific cancer mortality rates. Materials and Methods: A total of 2,874 query letters were sent out by the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan between January 2009 and December 2011 to medical certifiers who reported "neoplasm with uncertain nature" on the death certificate asking for more detailed information for coding. Results: Of the 2,571 responses, in 1,398 cases (54%) medical certifiers were still unable to determine the nature of the neoplasm. There were four neoplasm sites for which more than 50% of the responses changed the category to malignant, the gastrointestinal system (73%), urinary system (60%), stomach (55%) and rectum (53%). The liver was the cancer site that showed the largest absolute increase in the number of deaths after the query; however, the brain showed the largest relative increase, at 12%. Conclusions: Different neoplasm sites showed different magnitudes of change in nature after the query. Brain cancer mortality rates exhibited the largest increase.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.584-588
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• 2013

Background The ability to achieve a long-term, stricture-free urethral repair is one of the ongoing challenges of reconstructive urologic surgery. A successful initial repair is critical, as repeat procedures are difficult, owing to distortion, scarring, and short urethral stumps. Methods We describe a technique in which the gracilis muscle flap is laid on or wrapped around the urethral repair site to provide a well-vascularised soft tissue reinforcement for urethral repair. This technique promotes vascular induction, whereby a new blood supply is introduced to the repair site to improve the outcome of urethral repair or anastomotic urethroplasty. The surface contact between the muscle flap and the repair site is enhanced by the use of fibrin glue to improve adherence and promote inosculation and healing. We employed this technique in 4 patients with different urethral defects. Results After a follow-up period of 32 to 108 months, all of the urethral repairs were successful without complications. Conclusions Our results suggest that the use of a gracilis muscle flap to vascularise urethral repairs can improve the outcome of challenging urethral repairs.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.188-192
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• 1998

Background and Objectives： The most common cause of the failure of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy is closure of the osteotomy site due to granulation or adhesion. We used mitomycin-C, an antineoplastic antibiotic agent, soaking over the osteotomy site to suppress fibrous proliferation and scar formation during the endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Materials and Methods : A total of 20 Patients diagnosed with nasolacrimal duct obstruction were assigned randomly to either a mitomycin-C group or a control group. Endoscopic dacryocystochinostnmy has been used in both groups. In the mitomycin-C group, a piece of merocel soaked with 0.2 mg/ml mitomycin-C was applied to the osteotomy site and then after 30 minutes was removed. Results : All patients in the mitomycin-C group remained symptom free after removal of their silicone tube (100% success), and there were two patients in the control group who had recurrent epiphora (67% success). In the mitomycin-C group, the average surface area of the osteotomy at the end of the sixth postoperative month was 4.1 $\textrm{mm}^2$, whereas that of the control group was 2.5 $\textrm{mm}^2$. Neither serious systemic nor local toxicity were noted in the mitomycin-C group. Conclusion : Intraoperative mitomycin-C may possibly improve success rates over the endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy procedure.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2015

Background: Health and safety (H&S) on a construction site can either make or break a contractor, if not properly managed. The usage of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for H&S on construction execution has the potential to augment practitioner understanding of their sites, and by so doing reduce the probability of accidents. This research explores BIM usage within the construction industry in relation to H&S communication. Methods: In addition to an extensive literature review, a questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information on the embedment of H&S planning with the BIM environment for site practitioners. Results: The analysis of responses indicated that BIM will enhance the current approach of H&S planning for construction site personnel. Conclusion: From the survey, toolbox talk will have to be integrated with the BIM environment, because it is the predominantly used procedure for enhancing H&S issues within construction sites. The advantage is that personnel can visually understand H&S issues as work progresses during the toolbox talk onsite.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2003

The heterogeneous bioluminescence immunoassay for digoxin was developed using photoprotein, native aequorin as a label and the site-directed immobilization technique based on avidin/biotin interaction. Aequorin is a bioluminescence protein, originally isolated from the jellyfish Aequoria Victoria and an attractive label in analytical applications because of sensitive detection due to virtually no background bioluminescent signal. Digoxin is a cardioactive drug, and its therapeutic level in serum is at low concentration with very narrow therapeutic index. The aequorin-digoxigenin conjugates were synthesized by the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester method and characterized in terms of bioluminescent residual activity. The resulting dose-response curve shows that the detection limit is $1.0\;{\times}\;10^{-10}\;M$ and a dynamic range is three orders of magnitude, which was obtained by $1.0\;{times}\;10^{-10}\;M$ conjugate and 0.9 μg/mL anti-digoxin antibody. Three structurally similar molecules to digoxin were examined for their cross-reactivity. None of these three compounds showed any crossreactivity with digoxin antibody employed in this study. Standard amounts of digoxin corresponding to the therapeutic range were spiked into the each serum solution. Study of the serum matrix effect indicated that correlation coefficient shows good agreement between luminescence light intensity between in buffer and in serum.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.301-309
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• 2016

Background: A contamination screening process for the local population in radiation emergencies is discussed. Materials and Methods: We present an overview of the relevant Korean governmental regulations that underpin the development of an effective response system. Moreover, case studies of foreign countries responding to mass casualties are presented, and indicate that responses should be able to handle a large demand for contamination screening of the local public as well as screening of the immediate victims of the incident. Results and Discussion: We propose operating procedures for an off-site contamination screening post operated by the local government for members of the public who have not been directly harmed in the accident. In order to devise screening categories, sorting strategies assessing contamination and exposure are discussed, as well as a psychological response system. Conclusion: This study will lead to the effective operation of contamination screening clinics if an accident occurs. Furthermore, the role of contamination screening clinics in the overall context of the radiation emergency treatment system should be clearly established.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate the characteristics of atmospheric concentrations of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Korea. Target compounds included 1,3-butadiene, aromatics such as BTEX, and a number of carbonyl compounds. In this paper, as the second part of the study, the seasonal and locational concentrations of atmospheric VOCs were evaluated. Sampling was conducted seasonally at seven sampling sites. each of them representing a large urban area (commercial and residential), a small urban area (commercial and residential), an industrial area (a site within the complex and a residential), and a background place in Korea. In general, higher concentrations were found in the petro-chemical industrial site than other sites, while VOCs measured in commercial (heavy -traffic) sites were higher than residential sites. Seasonality of VOCs concentrations were not so much clear as other combustion related pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, indicating that the VOCs are emitted from a variety of sources, not only vehicle exhaust and point sources but fugitive emissions. Except the industrial site, the concentrations of VOCs measured in this study do not reveal any serious pollution status, since the levels did not exceed any existing ambient standards in the U.K. and/or Japan. However, the increasing number of petrol -powered vehicles and the rapid industrialization in Korea may result in the increased levels of VOCs concentrations in many large urban areas in the near future, if there is no appropriate programme implemented for the control of these compounds.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.49-62
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• 2023

This study was prepared for the purpose of restorative consideration such as the construction background, scale, and location of buildings by comparing the historical materials of two countries, Korea and Japan, focusing on Choryanggaeksa. Choryanggaeksa was a building with a special purpose installed in Dongnaebu in the late Joseon Dynasty, and was also a space exclusively for Japanese envoys. When Choryangwaegwan, the only place of diplomacy and trade with Japan in the late Joseon Dynasty, moved in 1678, Choryanggaeksa was also built and continued until its function ceased due to the modern opening of the port. As diplomacy and trade with Japan take place in the category of Choryangwaegwan, the existence of an interpreter takes an important place. Therefore, Seongsindang, a space for interpreters, was built near Choryanggaeksa. When the modern port opened in 1876, Choryanggaeksa and Seongsindang lost their original function, but the building remained. However, after the 1890s, a Superintendent office was built on the site of Choryanggaeksa, and a school was established on the site of Seongsindang. It was destroyed when the site of Choryanggaeksa and Seongsindang was converted during the opening of the port, and its remains cannot be found today due to urbanization.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.102-109
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• 2024

Background Skin defects in the hands are common injuries, and autologous skin grafting is the ideal treatment. However, complications can occur at the donor and recipient sites. This study compares the "Swing-door" technique with conventional skin grafting. Methods From August 2019 to February 2023, 19 patients with skin defects of hand underwent the "Swing-door" split-thickness skin graft (STSG) technique. The thin epithelial layer was elevated with proximal part attached. Skin graft was harvested beneath. Donor site was then closed with epithelial flap like a "Swing-door". The outcomes were evaluated in terms of healing time, scar formation, and pain at the donor and recipient sites. The data were compared with the conventional STSG. Results The "Swing-door" group had lower graft take percentages, but complications did not significantly differ between the two groups. The "Swing-door" technique resulted in better cosmetic outcomes, as evidenced by lower Vancouver Scar Scale scores, faster donor site epithelialization, and reduced pain and discomfort during the early postoperative period, as measured by Visual Analog Scale. Conclusion The "Swing-door" STSG is a useful alternative for treating hand skin defects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.599-604
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• 2008

The dispersive phase velocity of a wave propagating through a system is an important parameter and carries valuable information in non-destructive tests related to multilayered systems such as a soil site. The dispersive phase velocity of a wave can be determined using the phase spectrum, which is easily evaluated through the cross power spectrum. However, the phase spectrum as determined using the cross power spectrum is sensitive to background noise which always exists in the field. This causes difficulties in the determination of the dispersive phase velocities. In this paper, a new method to evaluate the phase spectrum using the harmonic wavelet transform is proposed. The proposed method can successfully remove background noise effects. To evaluate the validity of the proposed method, numerical simulations of multi-layered systems were performed. Phase spectrums by the proposed method were found to be in good agreement with the actual phase spectrums under conditions characterized by heavy background noise. This shows the potential of the proposed method.