• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2010

In the present paper we develop a mathematical model that facilitates the calculation of reliability of a complex repairable system having three units namely super priority, priority and ordinary. The system is analyzed with the application of Gumbel Hougaard copula when different types of repair possible at a particular state due to deliberate failure. Various reliability measures such as reliability, MTTF and profit function have been evaluated by using supplementary variable and Laplace transform techniques.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.109-115
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• 2006

The Weibull distribution is a good candidate for accurate probabilistic model with its rich shape-forming ability and relatively simple CDF(cumulative distribution function). If there are sufficient information to get convincible mean and variance for a probabilistic event, reliable parameters of the Weibull distribution can be determined uniquely. However, sufficient information is not given as usual. There needs more deliberate model building method for that case. This Paper presents an effective parameter estimation technique for Weibull distribution with limited failure data.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2009

Formic acid or formate is a common industrial compound used in the production of ensilage, disinfectants, decalcifying agents and mainly as a precursor in industrial chemical synthesis. It is also a well-known toxic metabolite produced in methanol poisoning. Thus, formate is a potential source of both accidental and deliberate poisoning. Very few reports have been published thus far, on the toxicology of direct formic acid poisoning. Here, we report a case of a 74-year-old man without a history of depression, who ingested about 30 gm of formic acid. The patient presented with profound high anion gap metabolic acidosis, acute renal failure and esophageal stricture. The patient was successfully treated with hemodialysis and supportive measures. But permanent esophageal stricture was complicated by formic acid burns in the gastrointestinal tract. We discuss the pathophysiology and treatment of this case.

• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2012

This Paper deals with the stochastic behavior and failure analysis of a Viscose Staple Fibre Plant which produces fibre for making clothes. The fibre making plant is a complex system with various subsystems as: Vendor (supplies Charcoal and Sulphur, raw materials for the process), Carbon di sulphide Plant, Acid Plant, Pulp Plant and Processing Plant. The considered system can completely fail due to failure of any of the subsystems. The Carbon di Sulphide Plant can fail in two different ways, due to lack of Sulphur or Charcoal. Processing Plant has the configuration 5-out-of-10: d and 6-out-of-10: f. It is also assumed that the system can fail due to workers strike and catastrophic failure. All failures follow exponential time distribution whereas all repairs follow general time distribution. Preventive Maintenance policy has been applied to reduce the failure in the system. Various reliability characteristics such as transition state probabilities, steady state behavior, reliability, availability, M.T.T.F and the cost analysis have been obtained using supplementary variable technique and Gumbel-Hougaard copula methodology.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.232-237
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• 2011

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of upper and lower respiratory tract illness in infants and young children worldwide. Despite its importance as a respiratory pathogen, there is currently no licensed vaccine for prophylaxis of HRSV infection. There are several hurdles complicating the development of a RSV vaccine: 1) incomplete immunity to natural RSV infection leading to frequent re-infection, 2) immature immune system and maternal antibodies of newborn infants who are the primary subject population, and 3) imbalanced Th2-biased immune responses to certain vaccine candidates leading to exacerbated pulmonary disease. After the failure of an initial trial featuring formalin-inactivated virus as a RSV vaccine, more careful and deliberate efforts have been made towards the development of safe and effective RSV vaccines without vaccine-enhanced disease. A wide array of RSV vaccine strategies is being developed, including live-attenuated viruses, protein subunit-based, and vector-based candidates. Though licensed vaccines remain to be developed, our great efforts will lead us to reach the goal of attaining safe and effective RSV vaccines in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.284-291
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• 2014

Purpose: In order to examine whether daily physical activity (DPA) can be considered the same as a regular exercise (RE) in patients with Heart Failure (HF), we examined the relationship between RE and DPA, and we explored the relationship of RE and DPA with exercise capacity and quality of life (QOL) in patients with HF. Methods: This cross-sectional, correlational study utilized pretest data (N=136) of a long-term intervention study. Data of the parent study were collected from May 1st to September 26th, 2013. Measures included questions about regular exercise, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, a 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, and ANOVA using the SPSS 21.0 program. Results: There were inconsistencies in measures between RE and DPA. About 42.0% of the participants engaging in health enhancing physical activity did not consider themselves to be regular exercisers. Depending on the levels of RE and DPA, significant differences in 6MWT and QOL were observed. Conclusion: RE is more likely to be related to the health status of patients with HF. Deliberate assessment and cautious interpretation of DPA in patients with HF is needed.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2009

In 2008, baby formula containing melamine was found to be responsible for a large outbreak of renal failure in infants in China. A total of 294,000 infants were hospitalized, and at least 6 babies died due to ingestion of the tainted formula. Melamine contains high levels of nitrogen (>60%), which is used as an indicator of protein content. Therefore, high levels of melamine in infant formula were thought to be the result of deliberate contamination m an attempt to increase its apparent protein content. Following inspections by China's national inspection agency, assorted products from at least 22 dairy manufacturers across China were found to have varied levels of melamine (range: 0.096196.61 mg/kg). Melamine co-exposure with cyanuric acid can induce acute melamine-cyanurate crystal nephropathy, which can lead to renal failure at much lower doses than if either compound were ingested alone. However, currently, there are very few data on melamine analogues other than cyanuric acid. At an expert meeting of the WHO and FAO held to review toxicological aspects of melamine and cyanuric acid on December 14, 2008, a new tolerable daily intake (TDI) of melamine was established that could be applied to the entire population, including infants. Therefore, a risk assessment of the various theoretical melamine contamination levels in infant formula and selected representative foods (other than infant formula and sole-source nutrition products) is urgently needed for Korean babies and children up to 7 years of age. Although the undetectable level regulation for infant formula may be low enough to guarantee the safety of babies under the age of 1 year (including premature babies), the melamine standard of 2.5 ppm for foods other than baby formula could be insufficient to protect the 95th percentile population aged 1~2 years because of this demographic's high consumption of milk, yogurt, and soy milk (hazard index = 1.79). Because TDIs are chronic values intended to protect an individual over his/her lifetime, occasional modest ingestion in excess of the TDI is not likely to be a health concern. However, children aged 1~2 years may have renal systems that are comparatively more sensitive to the crystallization of melamine and its analogues. Therefore, governmental jurisdictions may need to practice more prudent management of food items that could raise the melamine exposure for this population.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.89-109
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• 1999

Vascular spasm which has been reported to occur in 25% of clinical cases continues to be a problem in microvascular surgery; When prolonged and not corrected, it can lead to low flow, thrombosis, and replant or free flap failure. Ischemia, intimal damage, acidosis and hypovolemia have been implicated as contributors to the vascular spasm. Although much work has been done on the etiology and prevention of vasospasm, a spasmolytic agent capable of firmly protecting against or reversing vasospasm has not been found. Therefore vascular freezing was introduced as a new safe method that immediately and permanently relieves the vasospasm and can be applied to microsurgical transfers. Cryosurgery can be defined as the deliberate destruction of diseased tissue or relief the vascular spasm in microvascular surgery by freezing in a controlled manner. 96 Sprague Dawley rats each weighing within 250g were used and divided into 2 group, experimental 1 and 2 group. In the experimental 1 group, right epigastric vessels (artery and vein) were freezed with a cryoprobe using $N_2O$ gas for 1 min. In the experimental 2 group, after freezing for 1 min, thawing for 30 secs and repeat freezing for 30 secs. Left side was chosen as control group in both group. We sacrified the experimental animals by 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks & 5 months and observed the sequential change that occur during regeneration of epigastric vessels using a histologic, histomorphometric, immunohistochemical and SEM study after the vascular freezing. The results were as follows1. In epigastric arteries, internal diameters had statistically significant enlargement in 1 day, 3 days of Exp-1 group and 1 day, 3 days, 1 week & 2 weeks of Exp-2 group. Wall thickness had statistically significant thinning in 2 weeks of Exp-2 group. 2. In epigastric veins, internal diameters had enlargement of statistical significance in 1 day of Exp-1 and Exp-2 group. 3. The positive PCNA reactions in smooth muscle appeared in 1 week and increased until 2 weeks, decreased in 4 weeks. There was no statistical significance between Exp-1 and Exp-2 group. 4. The positive ${\alpha}$-SMA reaction in smooth muscles showed weak responses until 1 week and slowly increased in 2 weeks and showed almost control level in 4 weeks. 5. The positive S-100 reactions in the perivascular nerve bundles showed markedly decrease in 1 day, 3 days and increased after 1 week and showed almost control level in 4 weeks. Exp-1 group had stronger response than Exp-2 group. 6. In SEM, we observed defoliation of endothelial cell and flattening of vessel wall. Exp-2 group is more destroyed and healing was slower than Exp-1 group. To sum up, relief of vasospasm (vasodilatation) by freezing with cryoprobe was originated from the damage of smooth muscle layer and perivascular nerve bundle and the enlargement of internal diameter in vessels was similar to expeimental groups, but Exp-2 group had slower healing course and therefore vessel freezing in microsurgery can be clinically used, but repeat freezing time needs to be studied further.