• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.418-425
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• 2021

Purpose: We designed a new regimen by combining intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel (PTX) with systemic S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. This dose-escalation study aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose (RD) of IP PTX administered weekly to patients. Materials and Methods: Eight cycles of IP PTX plus SOX regimen were administered to the patients. S-1 was administered orally twice daily at a dose of 80 mg/m²/day for 14 consecutive days, followed by 7 days of rest. Intravenous oxaliplatin was administered at a fixed dose of 100 mg/m² on day 1, while IP PTX was administered on days 1 and 8. The initial dose of IP PTX was 40 mg/m², and the dose escalation was set in units of 20 mg/m² up to 80 mg/m². Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined as grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities, grade 4 leukopenia, grade 3 febrile neutropenia, and grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Results: Nine patients were included in the study. No DLTs were observed in any of the enrolled patients. Therefore, the MTD was not reached, and the RD of IP PTX was determined to be 80 mg/m². Four patients (44%) showed a decreased peritoneal cancer index score on second-look laparoscopic examination. Conclusions: The present study determined the dose for further clinical trials of IP PTX to be 80 mg/m², when combined with a systemic SOX regimen.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.194-202
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• 2011

Most of Orders of Magnitude estimate are based on historical data. This data is converted to the current price using by the cost index method mainly. This method, however, is rarely utilized or only for one-time use due to the lack of data and the complex escalation calculation method. This paper present a typical process on the conceptual investment cost estimation using by Cost Indexes based on the actual case for the Train Control facility of High-speed rail project. The result is expected to serve as both an easy way for Order of Magnitude estimate and a standard guideline for computerized modeling.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.82-86
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• 2015

Construction delay is a common problem worldwide, which is considered as one of the main reasons for project failure. Bangladesh construction industry is no exception. This study investigated the main causes of delay in large building construction projects in Bangladesh. A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the causes of delay from owners, consultants, and contractors of large building construction projects. About 70 respondents participated in the survey. Using the importance index analysis, the study identified 10 most important causes of delay from a list of 30 different causes. Ten most important causes were: (1) lack of experienced construction manager, (2) lowest bidder selection, (3) funding shortage by owner, (4) lack of proper management, (5) improper planning and scheduling, (6) lack of skilled workers, (7) site constraints, (8) contractors' cash flow problems during construction, (9) escalation of resources price, and (10) contractors' excessive workload. Furthermore, Kruskal-Wallis test indicates that there is no significant variation exists among the three group of respondents, ie owners, consultants and contractors.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.217-227
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• 2015

This study conducted case studies in order to suggest the improvement of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) deflator method which is adopted on calculating fluctuation rate on BTL (Build-Transfer-Lease) sewer rehabilitation projects in Jeju. As a result, because GDP deflator method calculates fluctuation rate by each quarterly, the fluctuation rate of GDP deflator method is higher than it of index adjustment rate method. And GDP deflator method cannot reflect real price because of applying fixed index in whole construction cost for calculating fluctuation rate. Especially, the notification day - the base point influences fluctuation rate and fluctuation amount strongly in GDP deflator method.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.667-676
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• 2014

This study has conducted case studies in order to suggest alternatives to the historical data-based estimate system. Price fluctuation calculation methods based on historial cost indexes, standard estimate and construction cost indexes were applied to 9 road construction sites in Jeju for an analysis. As a result, in 5 construction sites (about 56% of 9 sites), the index control rate calculated based upon historical data-based estimate system was higher than that calculated based upon standard estimate and construction cost indexes. Thus the establishment of the requirements for the adjustment of contract price due to price fluctuation delays, which leads to a significant difference in price fluctuation amount. And, in an analysis of construction cost indexes, the indexes for road construction were used for calculating index control rate which ranges from 2.0 to 9.4 percent, indicating the time of construction amount and price fluctuation application has a significant influence on index control rate.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2012

Purpose: This treatment planning study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of beam angle configuration of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on the dose of the normal liver in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: The computed tomography datasets of 25 patients treated with IMRT for HCC were selected. Two IMRT plans using five beams were made in each patient; beams with equidistance of $72^{\circ}$ (Plan I), and beams with a $30^{\circ}$ angle of separation entering the body near the tumor (Plan II). Both plans were generated using the same constraints in each patient. Conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), gamma index, mean dose of the normal liver (Dmean_NL), Dmean_NL difference between the two plans, and percentage normal liver volumes receiving at least 10, 20, and 30 Gy (V10, V20, and V30) were evaluated and compared. Results: Dmean_NL, V10, and V20 were significantly better for Plan II. The Dmean_NL was significantly lower for peripheral (p = 0.001) and central tumors (p = 0.034). Dmean_NL differences between the two plans increased in proportion to gross tumor volume to normal liver volume ratios (p = 0.002). CI, HI, and gamma indices were not significantly different for the two plans. Conclusion: The IMRT plan based on beams with narrow separations reduced the irradiated dose of the normal liver, which would allow radiation dose escalation for HCC.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2012

There are index adjustment method and item adjustment method in estimation methods for price fluctuation rate of public constructions. A relevant regulation has put item adjustment method as a principle, but in most construction, contract sum adjustment has been made by index adjustment method. Hence, this study, by figuring out width and causes of the gap between index adjustment method and item adjustment method through direct comparative analysis, solved inequality caused by difference between them and suggested a rational way against irrationality of each method. For building operations of public housing construction, a detailed fluctuation rate by index adjustment method and item adjustment method of construction cost elements of the same construction, that is, direct material cost, direct labor cost and historical construction cost was estimated to analyze difference between two adjustments and establish its cause. Across the analysis, it was found that fluctuation rate by item adjustment method was estimated lower than that by index adjustment method and difference between methods for estimating fluctuation rate of quotation unit price and application of index unrelated to construction type and construction nature are main causes of the difference. This study has a significance in that, for smooth contract sum adjustment between contracting parties, it practically proved the real difference between adjustment methods by conducting comparative analysis of the difference in direct correspondence way.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.375-379
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• 2016

Increasing fat tissue of obese people, increases the rate of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndromes and dyslipidemia. An increase in the focal tissue of pancreas is a known risk factor of these diseases. Although there exists sufficient research on the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, studies have been done on fatty pancreas. In this study, based on ultrasound imaging and using a texture characteristic of GLCM, fatty pancreas was divided into three categories: mild, moderate and severe. We compared and analyzed the three groups was by Pancreatic ultrasonography and body characteristics, serological tests, pressure and the degree of arteriosclerosis, against normal control group. The following parameters of control and test groups were measured: WC (waist circumference),BMI (body mass index), TC (total cholesterol), TG (triglyceride), HDL-C (High-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and LDL-C (Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), SBP (systolic blood pressure), BST (Blood Sugar Test) and aortic PWV (pulse wave velocity). We observed the values correspondingly increasing fat deposition. However, ABI (Ankle Brachial pressure index) stenosis and HDL-C levels decreased with increasing fat deposit (p <0.05); a drop in these parameters are known to be harmful to the human body. The difference in texture characteristics between normal control group and pancreatic fatty group (mild, moderate, and severe) was statistically confirmed. Ultrasound imaging of pancreatic steatosis categorized the disease as mild, moderate and severe based on the characteristic texture. In conclusion, we observed on increase in metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and arteriosclerosis, proportional to the degree of pancreatic fat deposition. The escalation of these diseases was confirmed and was directly related with predictors of cardiovascular diseases.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.46-70
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• 2001

Medical Aid expenditure Increased rapidly at a higher rate than that of Medical Insurance during the period 1992-1999. To establish an effective cost containment strategy, knowledge of the cause and the nature of the increase of Medical Aid expenditure is required. The purpose of this study was to analyze increasing rates of Medical Aid expenditure by the components of medical expenses. Data were collected using the Medical Aid Statistical Yearbook during the period of 1992-1999. The major findings were as follows: 1. The annual mean increasing rate of Medical Aid expenditure between 1992 and 1999 was 22.8%, which exceeding that of Medical Insurance expenditure (17.5%) between 1992 and 1999. Since 1998, Medical Aid expenditure increased even more rapidly than in previous years, with the increase in number of Medical Aid beneficiaries. 2. Of Medical Aid expenditure, that of inpatient and outpatient annually increased 24.2% and 22.8% respectively and that of type 1 and type 2 increased annually 28.8% (outpatient) ∼29.9% (inpatient), 14.3% (outpatient) ∼ 15.5% (inpatient). Therefore, Medical Aid expenditure of inpatient and type 1 led the increase of Medical Aid expenditure. 3. Between 1992 and 1997, the frequencies of utilization per beneficiary and the charges per case positively contributed to the increase of Medical Aid expenditure while the number of beneficiaries contributed negatively, but since 1998, the number of beneficiaries increased and positively contributed to the increase of Medical Aid expenditure. 4. According to the analysis of the charges per case, the increase of the price index led to the increase of the charges per case but the days of medication and service intensity also contributed to the increase of the charges per case variably by year. Considering the above findings, factors associated with the Medical Aid system affected the increase of Medical Aid expenditure in addition to the general factors of the increase in medical expenditure. In conclusion, it appears that a more intensive cost containment strategy is required to control rapidly increasing Medical Aid expenditure. For this, more precise analysis and development of policy considering the effect of the number of beneficiaries and the increase of price index is needed.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.284-309
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• 2007

Technology transfer (TT) consortium is an affiliation of two or more public research institutions (PRIs) that participate in a common technology transfer activity or pool their resources together, with the objective of facilitating technology transfer. Based on empirical analysis of five regional TT consortia (2002-2006) operating in Korea, this paper suggests their effectiveness by employing a TT performance index (TTPI) and identifies possible characteristics involved, such as motivations, facilitators, barriers, and challenges. TTPI devised in the paper is a new composite TT performance index to measure how much the TT performance of a PH changed in a designated year compared to a base year. All the performance indicators of TTPI are well-structured based on the unique TT process that is prevalent in Korea. Further, TTPI can bring different size and focus of PRIs to the same scale for comparison by double-normalizing. The paper tests the effectiveness of TT consortium for the escalation of TT performances in member PRIs by highlighting the differences of TTPI's between 2005 and 2001. As a result, the paper found that the escalation of TTPI for member PRIs was greater than that for non-member PRIs. As for the characteristics of TT consortia, their respective factors obtained by TT expert survey were computed with proportion tests of differences (Z tests) to compare two perspectives between intramural and extramural groups. One of key findings is that there is general homogeneity in stakeholder perspectives regarding motivations, facilitators, barriers, and challenges. Some notable responses are as follow; the most probable motivation to join TT consortium is to share or exchange TT competences for enhanced performance. Second, the most probable facilitator is professional capability of consortium-hired personnel. Third, the foremost probable barriers to effective TT consortium are frequent change of consortium director and passive participation of member PRIs. Lastly, both publicizing TT consortia and developing performance metrics are the most important for the improvement of TT consortia. The understanding of the characteristics of TT consortia increases the likelihood of accelerated success, because TT consortia path from formation to termination encompasses many concepts, processes, principles, and factors. Finally, an analysis of the survey data combined with expert interview and observation data led the authors to derive five conditions as being critical to viable TT consortia in Korea at early stage of technology transfer systems. These conditions include policy infrastructure, proactive participation, excellent professionals, personal motivation, and teaming mechanisms. It is expected that the Korean evidence is a starting point to develop and refine the theory of TT consortia and for additional studies in other countries.