• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2014

Background: To manage intractable cancer pain, an alternative to systemic analgesics is neuraxial analgesia. In long-term treatment, intrathecal administration could provide a more satisfactory pain relief with lower doses of analgesics and fewer side-effects than that of epidural administration. However, implantable drug delivery systems using intrathecal pumps in Korea are very expensive. Considering cost-effectiveness, we performed epidural analgesia as an alternative to intrathecal analgesia. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the efficacy, side effects, and complications of epidural morphine and local anesthetic administration through epidural catheters connected to a subcutaneous injection port in 29 Korean terminal cancer patients. Patient demographic data, the duration of epidural administration, preoperative numerical pain rating scales (NRS), side effects and complications related to the epidural catheterization and the drugs, and the numerical pain rating scales on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 30th postoperative days were determined from the medical records. Results: The average score for the numerical pain rating scales for the 29 patients decreased from $7{\pm}1.0$ at baseline to $3.6{\pm}1.4$ on postoperative day 1 (P < 0.001). A similar decrease in pain intensity was maintained for 30 days (P < 0.001). Nausea and vomiting were the most frequently reported side effects of the epidural analgesia and two patients (6.9%) experienced paresthesia. Conclusions: Epidural morphine and local anesthetic infusion with a subcutaneous pump seems to have an acceptable risk-benefit ratio and allows a high degree of autonomy to patients with cancer pain.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.779-784
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• 2006

Several studies about hospital malnutrition have been reported that about more than 40% of hospitalized patients are having nutritional risk factors and hospital malnutrition presents a high prevalence. People in a more severe nutritional status ended up with a longer length of hospital stay and higher hospital cost. Nutrition screening tools identify individuals who are malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished and who may benefit from nutritional support. For the early detection and treatment of malnourished hospital patients , few valid screening instruments fur Koreans exist. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a simple, reliable and valid malnutrition screening tool that could be used at hospital admission to identify adult patients at risk of malnutrition using medical electrical record data. Two hundred and one patients of the university affiliated medical center were assessed on nutritional status and classified as well nourished, moderately or severely malnourished by a Patient-Generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) being chosen as the 'gold standard' for defining malnutrition. The combination of nutrition screening questions with the highest sensitivity and specificity at prediction PG-SGA was termed the nutrition screening index (NSI). Odd ratio, and binary logistic regression were used to predict the best nutritional status predictors. Based on regression coefficient score, albumin less than 3.5 g/dl, body mass index (BMI) less than $18.5kg/m^2$, total lymphocyte count less than 900 and age over 65 were determined as the best set of NSI. By using best nutritional predictors receiver operating characteristic curve with the area under the curve, sensitivity and 1-specificity were analyzed to determine the best optimal cut-off point to decide normal or abnormal in nutritional status. Therefore simple and beneficial NSI was developed for identifying patients with severe malnutrition. Using NSI, nutritional information of the severe malnutrition patient should be shared with physicians and they should be cared for by clinical dietitians to improve their nutritional status.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.183-199
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• 2015

This study aimed to systematize the apparel vendor work processes and provide useful information to future employees of clothing export units by analyzing the processes of vendors' manufacturing tasks. A survey of 20 apparel vendors servicing mainly U.S. buyers was conducted on employees of overseas business departments working for more than five years. buyers. Based on the results, vendors mainly manufactured cut-and-sew knit products. Regarding the production method, OEM was used more frequently than ODM. Fourteen (70%) companies used the ODM method. This suggests that vendors are expanding their production method from OEM to ODM. In order to summarize the work of each business based on the clothing production process research results, buyers were in charge of planning products and the vendors were in charge of sampling. Production of materials and the approval of material tests were out sourced. Overseas factories of vendors were in charge of bulk (mass) production and garment finishing, as well as packaging and shipping the completed products. Even though the vendors' head offices do not directly produce clothes, they play a pivotal role in ensuring planning and management progress in clothing production. As buyers prefer direct contracts for cost reduction, the vendor additionally performs the role of an agent. Also, with the increase in ODM production ratio, the work area of the vendor is expanding. If Korean clothing exporters improve their global competitiveness by investing in the R&D of materials and design to enhance the ODM method, the development of Korea's clothing and export industry will benefit significantly.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.297-314
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• 2012

This study investigates the stigma effect of unwelcomed facilities on apartment prices through multiple regressions based on hedonic price method. The areas studied are Sang-gye Jugong 7, 9, 10 apartment complexes. The facilities analyzed are the Chang-dong Electric Subway Depot and the Do-bong Driver's License Agency. The factors studied include the environmental variable (the elapsed time since the announcement of the re-location of these facilities), the view commanding, the distance from Chang-dong Depot, the distance from Do-bong Driver's License Test Course, the distance from neighboring facilities (subway stations, schools, parks and so on), the floor and each dwelling's exclusive space. The data used are 2,822 sales which have been collected since January 1, 2006. The facts found are as follows; first, the view commanding and the distance from the unwelcomed facilities are statistically significant. second, the environmental variable, 'days' turns out to have a positive (+) and a negative (-) significant relationship with the dependent variable, 'price', in period II and period IV respectively. This implies that the stigma effect is real. third, there are significant differences in the influence on the apartment prices among the independent variables according to time. fourth, the stigma effect is estimated as 33,686,920 Korean won in the case of the apartments which have the view commanding and 30,311,844 won in the other case before the global economic crisis. This effect seems to decrease to 22,085,078 won after the crisis. These facts suggest that stigma effects could be considered as one of the benefits in the cost-benefit analysis of Chang-dong Depot re-location project to produce somewhat higher NPV or B/C ratio.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.537-543
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• 2020

The window cleaning works are manpower-dependent and are performed in an unstable posture at high altitude, so that there is a risk of falling. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the safety of workers. In this study, a conceptual design was proposed for the cleaning of exterior windows of a building, and the economic feasibility of the proposed conceptual model was analyzed. The proposed model is designed to avoid protrusions such as window frames, and to be able to respond even if the shapes of the upper and lower parts are different. As a result of analyzing the economic feasibility of the designed conceptual model, the benefit cost ratio was 4.48, which was significantly higher than 1. Therefore, the economic feasibility of the proposed window cleaning device is expected to be sufficient. The results analyzed in this paper will be used in the development and marketing of the window cleaning device.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.292-297
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• 2013

In this paper, unusual waveform detection algorithm based on Refractory Period in arrhythmia ECG signal is proposed. Most of arrhythmia ECG signals consist of unusual waveforms with average 10% rate. Thus tremendous benefit can be obtained in terms of time and cost by providing unusual waveform samples reduced more than 90% to medical staffs who have to monitor and analyze for a long time. The proposed algorithm detects the R-peak using the features of R wave and variable refractory period. For the detected R-peak, unusual waveforms are found using means and standard deviation of electric potential and kurtosis of the R-peaks which are not included in unusual waveform. The proposed algorithm was applied to all records of the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and showed more than average 90% of compression ratio.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.421-430
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• 2014

The greenhouse gas emission generated by idling vehicles is a critical issue in the greenhouse gas reduction from the transportation sector. Recently, the mandatory application of the Idle Stop and Go (ISG) for buses, trucks and taxis is in the process of legislation. Focusing on the regulation is about to apply to passenger cars, this study analyzed the quantitative economic effects of the ISG installation by passenger car types in Seoul metropolitan area to support proper policy making. The benefit cost ratio of ISG installation on commercial passenger car of Seoul is the most effective, calculated as 8.55. Accordingly, the amount of 660 liters (per year per vehicle) of fuel and 1,606 kg (per year per vehicle) of $CO_2$ could be reduced. The results of this study might be used as an index for judgment of policy such as determining appropriate subsidy for ISG installation on passenger cars.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.451-461
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• 2017

Korean agriculture has recently focused on the 6th dimension of industrialization, which includes the functions of healing and care. The green care and healing business is one of the most representative models, satisfying modern consumers' needs for care or healing in rural agricultural environments. Many studies have shown physical and social benefits from green care and healing, but studies regarding economic performance are rarely found. The present study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of different green care and healing farm complexes proposed in recent domestic research, with various possible combinations of business scenarios. The results show that most of the scenarios are economically feasible as B/C (benefit-cost ratio) and IRR (internal rate of return) are 1.19 and 8.53%, respectively, under scenario 1. This study also performed a break-even analysis for providing more flexible decision-making information. Overall, scenario 1 from green care and healing site and scenario 4 from green care and healing cluster are found to be superior to the other scenarios in terms of B/C and IRR. The scenarios in this study reflect the domestic farms or complexes which have similar functions of care or healing. Therefore, the results of this study provide information on practical policies and business implications in making decisions on the specific size and operational patterns when adopting green care and healing complexes by central or local governments and private sectors in the future.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.495-502
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• 2021

This study aims to provide basic data for elderly health insurance policy and medical radiation safety management by analyzing the general radiography usage and exposure dose of the elderly in Korea. The effective dose for each general radiography was calculated using the ALARA-GR program for 260 general radiography codes selected from 'National Health Insurance Care Benefit Cost'. The usage of general radiography was analyzed in the 2016 elderly patient data of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, and the effective dose for each general radiography was applied. The general radiography usage and exposure dose per person aged 65 years and over was 6.47 cases and 0.56 mSv. Females showed higher value than males as 7.15 cases and 0.66 mSv(p<.001). By age, those between 75 and 79 showed the highest number as 6.97 cases and 0.62 mSv(p<.001). Those who were supported by Medical Aid showed higher value than those who were insured by National Health Insurance as 8.82 cases and 0.76 mSv(p<.001). In addition, the ratio by radiography was in the order of Chest 20.85%, Knee Joint 15.58%, and L-spine 14.67%, and the exposure dose was L-spine 29.40%, Chest 15.82%, Abdomen 7.97%, and Entire Spine 7.20%. General radiography, which is widely used due to the high frequency of diseases in the elderly population should be taken into consideration when establishing health insurance policies. In addition, it is necessary to check whether the general radiography with high exposure dose is performed as a routine examination without considering medical necessity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.417-421
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• 2005

This study was to analyze the changes of levels of alkaline phosphatase before and after enucleation of jaw cysts combined with bone grafting, and to evaluate biochemically the effectiveness of the early detection of bone healing and infection as a prognostic marker. Eighteen patients (13 males, 5 females) with cystic lesions of the jaws were divided into two groups. The bone graft group underwent enucleation and bone graft. The control group underwent only enucleation. Both groups were measured levels of ALP before surgery, and plus-minus 4 weeks postoperatively. The more discriminating results were obtained in the bone graft group. The results were as follows : 1. Levels of ALP after enucleation of jaw cysts were decreased in all patients with and without bone graft. 2. The bone graft group showed more marked decrease in variation of levels of ALP than the control group.(p=0.008) This should be considered as a result of increased osteoblastic activity and new bone formation. 3. Such variation could be used as a prognostic marker for bone healing after cyst operation. In the cost/benefit ratio, measurement of ALP activity could be useful as a convenient procedure in routine clinical practice.