• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2024

Background: The prevalence of small airway dysfunction (SAD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) across different ethnicities is poorly understood. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of SAD in stable COPD patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 196 consecutive stable COPD patients. We measured pre- and post-bronchodilator (BD) lung function and respiratory impedance. The severity of COPD and lung function abnormalities was graded in accordance with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. SAD was defined as either difference in whole-breath resistance at 5 and 19 Hz > upper limit of normal or respiratory system reactance at 5 Hz < lower limit of normal. Results: The cohort consisted of 95.9% men, with an average age of 66.3 years. The mean forced expiratory volume 1 second (FEV₁) % predicted was 56.4%. The median COPD assessment test (CAT) scores were 14. The prevalence of post-BD SAD across the GOLD grades 1 to 4 was 14.3%, 51.1%, 91%, and 100%, respectively. The post-BD SAD and expiratory flow limitation at tidal breath (EFL_T) were present in 62.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.1 to 69.9) and 28.1% (95% CI, 21.9 to 34.2), respectively. COPD patients with SAD had higher CAT scores (15.5 vs. 12.8, p<0.01); poor lung function (FEV₁% predicted 46.6% vs. 72.8%, p<0.01); lower diffusion capacity for CO (4.8 mmol/min/kPa vs. 5.6 mmol/min/kPa, p<0.01); hyperinflation (ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity % predicted: 159.7% vs. 129%, p<0.01), and shorter 6-minute walk distance (367.5 m vs. 390 m, p=0.02). Conclusion: SAD is present across all severities of COPD. The prevalence of SAD increases with disease severity. SAD is associated with poor lung function and higher symptom burden. Severe SAD is indicated by the presence of EFL_T.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.236-244
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• 2022

Purpose: The most recent diagnostic criteria for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) include the use of the alpha-defensin (AD) lateral-flow (LF) test, but hip and knee arthroplasties were usually combined in previous studies. This prospective study was designed to examine the accuracy of the AD-LF test for diagnosis of PJI in chronic painful total hip arthroplasties (THA). Materials and Methods: Patients with chronic painful hip arthroplasties were prospectively enrolled between March 2018 and May 2020. Exclusion criteria included acute PJI or an insufficient amount of synovial fluid. The modified Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria were primarily used for PJI diagnosis. Fifty-seven patients were included in the analysis group. Revision surgery was not performed in 38 patients, for different reasons (clinical group); these patients remain "Schrödinger's hips": in such cases PJI cannot be excluded nor confirmed until you "open the box". Results: The result of the AD-LF test was positive in nine patients and negative in 48 patients. Six patients were diagnosed with PJI. AD-LF sensitivity (MSIS criteria) was 83% (95% confidence interval [CI] 36-100%) and specificity was 92% (95% CI 81-98%). The positive and negative predictive value were 56% and 98%, respectively. Conclusion: The AD test is useful in addition to the existing arsenal of diagnostic tools, and can be helpful in the decision-making process. Not all patients with chronical painful THA will undergo revision surgery. Consequently, in order to determine the reliable diagnostic accuracy of this test, future PJI diagnostic studies should include a second arm of "Schrödinger's hips".

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.647-656
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• 2014

To supplement the ISO-GUM method for the evaluation of measurement uncertainty, a simulation program using the Monte Carlo method (MCM) was developed, and the MCM and GUM methods were compared. The results are as follows: (1) Even under a non-normal probability distribution of the measurand, MCM provides an accurate coverage interval; (2) Even if a probability distribution that emerged from combining a few non-normal distributions looks as normal, there are cases in which the actual distribution is not normal and the non-normality can be determined by the probability distribution of the combined variance; and (3) If type-A standard uncertainties are involved in the evaluation of measurement uncertainty, GUM generally offers an under-valued coverage interval. However, this problem can be solved by the Bayesian evaluation of type-A standard uncertainty. In this case, the effective degree of freedom for the combined variance is not required in the evaluation of expanded uncertainty, and the appropriate coverage factor for 95% level of confidence was determined to be 1.96.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2004

To evaluate the acute effects of fine particles on pulmonary function, a longitudinal study was conducted. This study was carried out for the schoolchildren (3rd and 6th grades) living in Beijing, China. Each child was provided with a mini-Wright peak flow meter and a preformatted health symptom diary for 40 days, and was trained on their proper use. Participants were instructed to perform the peak flow test three times in standing position, three times a day (9 am, 12 pm, and 8 pm), and to record all the readings along with the symptoms (cold, cough, and asthmatic symptoms) experienced on that day. Daily measurement of fine particles (PM$_{10}$ and PM$_{2.5}$) was obtained in the comer of the playground of the participating elementary school for the same period of this longitudinal study. The relationship between daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and fine particle levels was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, height, the presence of respiratory symptoms, and daily average temperature and relative humidity as extraneous variables. The total number of students participating in this longitudinal study was 87. The range of daily measured PEFR was 253-501$\ell$/min. In general, the PEFR measured in the morning was lower than the PEFR measured in the evening (or afternoon) on the same day. The daily mean concentrations of PM$_{10}$ and PM$_{2.5}$ over the study period were 180.2$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and 103.2$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively. The IQR (inter-quartile range) of PM$_{10}$ and PM$_{2.5}$ were 91.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and 58.0$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥. During the study period, the national ambient air quality standard of 150$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ (for PM$_{10}$) was exceeded in 23 days (57.5%). The analysis showed that an increase of 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ of PM$_{10}$ corresponded to 0.59$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ increment of PM$_{2.5}$. Daily mean PEFR was regressed with the 24-hour average PM$_{10}$ (or PM$_{2.5}$) levels, weather information such as air temperature and relative humidity, and individual characteristics including gender, height, and respiratory symptoms. The analysis showed that the increase of fine particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. The IQR increments of PM$_{10}$ or PM$_{2.5}$ (at 1-day time lag) were also shown to be related with 1.54 $\ell$/min (95% Confidence intervals: 0.94-2.14) and 1.56$\ell$/min (95% CI: 0.95-2.16) decline in PEFR.R.ine in PEFR.ine in PEFR.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.27 no.1 s.53
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• pp.107-114
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• 2005

The uncertainty of measurement in quantitative analysis of ammonia by continuous-flow analysis method was evaluated following internationally accepted guidelines. The sources of uncertainty associated with the analysis of ammonia were the weighing of sample, the preparation of extracting solution, the addition of extracting solution into the sample, the reproducibility of analysis and the determination of water content in tobacco, etc. In calculating uncertainties, Type A of uncertainty was evaluated by the statistical analysis of a series of observation, and Type B by the information based on supplier's catalogue and/or certificated of calibration. It was shown that the main source of uncertainty was caused by the volume measurement of 1 mL and 2 mL, the purity of ammonia reference material in the preparation of standard solution, the reproducibility of analysis and the determination of water content of tobacco. The uncertainty in the addition of extraction solution, the sample weighing, the volume measurement of 50 mL and 100 mL, and the calibration curve of standard solution contributed relatively little to the overall uncertainty. The expanded uncertainty of ammonia determination in burley tobacco at $95\%$ level of confidence was $0.00997\%$.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2013

The present study measured the light transmission to quantify the smoke density(smoke mass concentration) through the doorway in a compartment fire and performed the uncertainty analysis to evaluate the reliability of the measurement technique. The optical light extinction method based on Bourguer's law was applied to estimate the smoke density of doorway exhausting smoke flow in upper layer of a compartment for methane gas fires. The measurement uncertainty of the light extinction measurement was evaluated for the light transmittance, path length, and specific mass extinction coefficient and the expanded uncertainty was estimated about 20% with confidence level of 95%. The mean smoke density through the doorway for the methane fire was calculated for quasi-steady fire and the smoke density linearly increased as the GER increased.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.206-223
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• 2017

This study examines the role of visual merchandising (VMD) in creating effective interior displays for fashion "select shops"(shops that carry a wide selection of brands) amid the recent changes in consumption trends, with consumer needs becoming increasingly individualized and diversified. Fashion select shop interior displays can be categorized as self-service, showcase, counter, and environmental display spaces. Regarding the VMD elements that contribute to effective interior displays, we reached the following conclusions. First, in self-service displays, in order to heighten sales efficacy, display elements should be presented in such a way as to enable customers to select products with ease by themselves. Second, the mere presence of showcase displays was found to be insufficient; if, however, select shops use showcase displays to arrange products according to the flow of customer traffic, enabling the creation of a gentrified atmosphere for products, this may contribute to a differentiated image of brands, heightening perceived product value. Third, in counter displays, having a harmonious arrangement of display and presentation elements promotes sales by inspiring customer confidence. Fourth, regarding environmental displays, it is important for stores to have attractive interior designs and decorations in order to reproduce settings in which products are actually used, as this can inspire interest in products and promote customers' purchasing intention.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.2119-2129
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• 2020

Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC), liquid droplet impingement erosion (LDIE), cavitation and flashing can cause continuous wall-thinning in nuclear secondary pipes. In order to prevent pipe rupture events resulting from the wall-thinning, most NPPs (nuclear power plants) implement their management programs, which include periodic thickness inspection using UT (ultrasonic test). Meanwhile, it is well known in field experiences that the thickness measurement errors (or deviations) are often comparable with the amount of thickness reduction. Because of these errors, it is difficult to estimate wall-thinning exactly whether the significant thinning has occurred in the inspected components or not. In the previous study, the authors presented an approximate estimation procedure as the first step for thickness measurement deviations at each inspected component and the statistical & quantitative characteristics of the measurement deviations using plant experience data. In this study, statistical significance was quantified for the current methods used for wall-thinning determination. Also, the authors proposed new estimation procedures for determining local wall-thinning to overcome the weakness of the current methods, in which the proposed procedure is based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) method using subgrouping of measured thinning values at all measurement grids. The new procedures were also quantified for their statistical significance. As the results, it is confirmed that the new methods have better estimation confidence than the methods having used until now.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.77-87
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• 2000

The water entry forces acting on an air-dropped torpedo are of the restrictions on launch speed and launch altitude, because it could cause the structural damage to components of torpedo. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the water entry forces with confidence according to launch conditions. In this study, an approximation method for water entry forces is presented, and the results using this approximation are compared with those of other numerical methods. The magnitude and duration of impact forces estimated by the present approximation agree with those of impact by the analysis of ideal or viscous flow. This method can give useful tools to select the launch in initial design stage.

• Journal of the Korean Statistical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2007

Evolutionary operation (EVOP) proposed by Box (1957) is a method for continuous monitoring and improvement of a full-scale manufacturing process with the objective of moving the operating conditions toward the better ones. EVOP consists of systematically making small changes in the levels of the two or three process variables under consideration. Data are collected on the response variable at each point of two level factorial design with the center point and a cycle is said to have been completed. The cycles are replicated sequentially until the decision is made on whether further cycle of experiments is needed to conclude the significance of any of main effects or interaction effects or the curvature. In this paper, an improved flow chart of EVOP is proposed and how to determine the number of cycles is studied based on the size of type II error. In order to reject the alternative hypothesis of interests with more confidence and conclude that we believe in the null hypothesis of no effects, we propose a counter measure $p^*-value$ corresponding to the p-value. The relationship of $p^*-value$ to the probability of type II error ${\beta}$ under the alternative hypothesis of interests is analogous to that of p-value to the probability of type I error ${\alpha}$. Also the implementation of EVOP with a mixture experiment is discussed.