• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2015

Purpose: We aimed to investigate how serum vitamin D levels are related to survival of terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: From May 2012 through June 2013, a retrospective chart review was performed on 96 hospice patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with severe vitamin D deficiency and Coxcy and Coxional hazard analyses were used to evaluate effects on survival. Results: The mean vitamin D level in patients was $8.60{\pm}7.16ng/ml$. Vitamin D was severely deficient (<10 ng/ml) in 75 patients (78.2%), deficient (10~20 ng/ml) in 13 patients (13.5%), relatively insufficient (21~29 ng/ml) in five patients (8.3%) and sufficient ((t ng/ml) in three patients (3.1%). Hyperbilirubinemia (${\geq}1.2g/dl$) was the only factor associated with severe vitamin D deficiency according to the multiple logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio, OR=18.48, P<0.05). Although hyperbilirubinemia showed a strong association with survival (Hazard ratio, HR=2.25, P<0.01), no association was found between severe vitamin D deficiency and survival (HR=1.15, P>0.05) in Cox's proportional hazard analysis. Conclusion: Although serum vitamin D levels were severely low in terminally ill cancer patients, we found no association between severe vitamin D deficiency and patient survival.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2012

Background: In Korea, private health insurance has neglected to induce externality on national health insurance by moral hazard. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to explore the influence of private health insurance on unnecessary medical utilization among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Method: The study examined a population of 449 patients (admission, 384; out-patient; 85) diagnosed with simple cervical or lumbar sprain without neurological symptoms at 20 small hospitals or clinics in Gwangju and Jeollanam provinces from Jul. 1 to Aug. 31 2008. The data were collected using structured, self-administrated questionnaire which collected information such as whether or not the patient was admitted (as a dependent variable), whether or not they had private health insurance (as a independent variable), and covariates such as socio-demographic characteristics, the factors related to the sprain, and characteristics of the insurance provider. Results: From hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that the admission rate of patient with private health insurance was higher than that those without it (Odds ratio=3.31, 95% Confidence interval; 1.14-9.58), meaning that private health insurance was an independent factor influencing the admission of patients with these conditions. Other determinants of admission were patient age and physician referral. Conclusions: This study is the first empirical study to explore the influence of private health insurance on inducing moral hazard in admission services, specifically among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Regulation of benefits provided by private health insurance may be necessary, as the effect of this moral hazard may mean existence of externality.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.541-552
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• 2019

In this study, landslide flume tests were performed to analyze characteristics of ground characteristics and landslide occurrence due to rainfall infiltration. As test materials, weathered granite soil and gneiss soil, the most frequent landslides in Korea, were used, and landslides were triggered by heavy rain (Intensity = 200 mm/hr). The measurement sensors were installed with 3 sets at toe, slope, top part and shallow (GL-0.2 m), middle (GL-0.4 m), and deep (GL-0.6 m) depth in the slope and measured at 10 second intervals. After landslide flume tests, the slope stability analysis was performed by applying the unsaturated soil theory based on the change of ground characteristics and compared with actual landslide occurrence from flume test. As a result of the analysis, factor of safety reflected the landslide occurrence from flume test and factor of safety decreased as rainfall infiltration, leading to slope failure. Finally we compared to the factor of safety below 1 and actual landslide occurrence time, the average difference was 1,600 seconds for weathered granite soil and 5,400 seconds for weathered gneiss soil.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5365-5369
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• 2014

Background: The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been shown to be an important prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. However, studies focusing on the prognostic impact of LNR in rectal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by curative resection have been limited. The aim of this study was to investigate LNR in rectal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by curative resection. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 consecutive rectal cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant CRT and total mesorectal excision were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the LNR (${\leq}0.2$ [n=86], >0.2 [n=45]) to evaluate the prognostic effect on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: The median number of retrieved and metastatic lymph node (LN) was 14 (range 1-48) and 2 (range 1-10), respectively. The median LNR was 0.154 (range 0.04-1.0). In multivariate analysis, LNR was shown to be an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (hazard ratio[HR]=3.778; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.741-8.198; p=0.001) and disease-free survival (HR=3.637; 95%CI 1.838-7.195; p<0.001). Increased LNR was significantly associated with worse OS and DFS in patients with <12 harvested LNs, and as well as in those ${\geq}12$ harvested LNs (p<0.05). In addition, LNR had a prognostic impact on both OS and DFS in patients with N1 staging (p<0.001). Conclusions: LNR is an independent prognostic factor in ypN-positive rectal cancer patients, both in patients with <12 harvested LNs, and as well as in those ${\geq}12$ harvested LNs. LNR provides better prognostic value than pN staging. Therefore, it should be used as an additional prognostic indicator in ypN-positive rectal cancer patients.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.97-100
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• 2008

Mount Fuji is the focus of intense study because of its potential hazard signaled by seismic, geologic and historical activity. Based on extensive seismic data recorded in the vicinity of Mt. Fuji, coda quality factor ($Q_c^{-1}$) using a single scattering model hypothesis, and intrinsic and scattering quality factor $(Q_i^{-1}$ and $Q_s^{-1})$ using the Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTW) method was measured. To focus the study on the magmatic structure below Mt. Fuji, to the data were separated into two groups: a near-Fuji region of rays traversing an area with radius 5 km around the summit (R < 5 km), and a far-Fuji region of rays beyond a radius of 20 km around the summit (R > 20 km). The results of the study have a small error range due to the large data sample, showing that all $Q^{-1}$ values in near-Fuji area are greater than those of far-Fuji area, and $Q_i^{-1}$ for both the near and far-Fuji area is higher than $Q_s^{-1}$ at high frequencies. The $Q_i^{-1}$ values of the near-Fuji area are lower than those of the other volcanic areas considered, while values of $Q_s^{-1}$ are not. The low $Q_i^{-1}$ for the volcanic region of near-Fuji suggests that the magmatic activity, or percent of partial melt, at Mt. Fuji is not as active as hot spot volcanoes such as Kilauea, Hawaii.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.53-60
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• 2008

The cross-sections of continuous multi-span beams sometimes suddenly increase, or become stepped, at the interior supports of continuous beams to resist high negative moments. The three-dimensional finite-element program ABAQUS (2007) was used to analytically investigate the inelastic lateral-torsional buckling behavior of stepped beams subjected to linear moment gradient and resulted in the development of design equations. The ratios of the flange thickness, flange width, and stepped length of beam are considered for the analytical parameters. Two groups of 27 cases and 36 cases, respectively, were analyzed for doubly and singly stepped beams in the inelastic buckling range. The combined effects of residual stresses and geometrical imperfection on inelastic lateral-torsional buckling of beams are considered. First, the distributions of residual stress of the cross-section is same as shown in Pi and Trahair (1995), and the initial geometric imperfection of the beam is set by central displacement equal to 0.1% of the unbraced length of beam. The new proposed equations definitely improve current design methods for the inelastic lateral-torsional buckling problem and increase efficiency in building and bridge design.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5247-5253
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to apply in the HACCP(Hazard Analysis Critical control) system of liquefied coffee and sikhe. The establishment of Critical limit during sterilization processing was measured by sterilization temperature and sterilization time for 30 days from April 1~30, 2012, and it was conducted at P company in Jincheon (Chungcheongbuk-do), korea. As a result, microbial(coliform, bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens and yeast & mold) of sikhe and liquefied coffee were detected before sterilization. In contrat, all microbial was not detected to Sikhe(238mL Can, 500mL and 300mL PP, 1.8L PP) after sterilization ($15{\pm}1$, $35{\pm}1$ and $45{\pm}1$ mins at $121{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, respectively) and Liquefied coffee was not detected after sterilization($121{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $20{\pm}1$ mins). The sterilizer condition for deciding the most temperature and time were $121{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $20{\pm}1$ mins. In conclusion, the sterilization process would be a great alternative to prevention, decreasing and removing of harmful microorganism, such as general bacteria, coliform and pathogenic bacteria etc. Therefore, the critical limit of sterilization temperature and time for quality control and biosafety was established at $121{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $20{\pm}1$ mins. And it suggests that HACCP plan is necessary for monitoring method, monitoring cycle, solving method, education, training and record management during sterilization processing.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.45-64
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• 2020

Objectives: Limited information is available on the presence and associated ecological risks of pharmaceutical residues in aquatic environments near pharmaceutical manufacturing areas in Korea. In this study, we investigated the current state of pharmaceutical contamination and its associated ecological risks in streams near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex. Methods: Seven pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, clarithromycin, diclofenac, diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and roxithromycin) were measured in water samples collected from the streams near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex. A predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) was derived using either the assessment factor method or species sensitivity distribution method. In addition, a hazard quotient for each pharmaceutical was calculated by dividing its measured environmental concentration by its PNEC. Results: Samples collected downstream from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) had higher concentrations of pharmaceuticals than those collected from the reference site (upstream). Moreover, pharmaceutical concentrations were greater in ambient water than in the final effluent from the WWTP, which suggested that non-point sources were contributing to the contamination of the ambient water environment. Some of the target pharmaceuticals exhibited a hazard quotient >1, indicating that their potential ecological effects on the aquatic environment near the pharmaceutical industrial area should not be ignored. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the pharmaceutical manufacturing area was contaminated with residual drugs, and that there was a possible non-point source near the WWTP effluent discharge area. The results of this study will aid in the development of management plans for pharmaceuticals, particularly in hotspots such as pharmaceutical industrial sites and their vicinities.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2001

Predictive food microbiology(PFM) is an emerging area of food microbiology since the later 1980’s. It does apply mathematical models to predict the responses of microorganism to specified environmental variables. Although, at present, PFM models do not completely developed, models can provide very useful information for microbiological responses in HACCP(Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system and Risk Assessment. This study illustrates the possible use of PFM models(PMP: Pathogen Modeling Program win5.1) with milk in several elements in the HACCP system, such as conduction of hazard analysis and determination of CCP(Critical Control Points) and CL(Critical Limits). The factors likely to affect the growth of the pathogens in milk involved storage fixed factors were pH 6.7, Aw 0.993 and NaCl 1.3%. PMPwin5.1 calculated generation time, lag phase duration, time to level of infective dose for pathogens across a range of storage (Critical Control Points) and CL(Critical Limits). The factors likely to affect the growth of the pathogens in milk involved storage temperature, pH, Aw and NaCl content. The factors likely to affect the growth of the pathogens in milk involved storage temperature, pH, Aw and NaCl content. The variable factor was storage temperature at the range of 4~15$^{\circ}C$ and the fixed factors were pH 6.7, Aw 0.993 and NaC 1.3%. PMPwin5.1 calculated generation time, lag phase duration, time to level of infective dose for pathogens across a range of storage temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.41-47
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• 2009

Post-tensioned concrete pavement(PTCP) was developed to built long-span concrete pavement(120 m span) and to maintain long-term service life(over 40 years) of concrete pavement. In the present study, research for high-durable concrete was conducted to utilize the advantage of PTCP construction method efficiently. First of all, 20% of fly ash(by binder weight) was replaced to control alkali silica reaction. Second, silica fume was applied to improve the water-permeability and early-age strength. Results of tests for mechanical properties, water-permeability resistance, and surface-scaling resistance of ternary blended cement concrete showed that the early-age strength was improved significantly with addition of silica fume. The water-permeability resistance was improved from "Low" to "Very Low"(ASTM C 1202). However, surface-scaling resistance was decreased with an increase of silica fume, therefore, content of silica fume should be kept in less than 5%(by binder weight) to assure field application considering durability. The results of air-void analysis showed that durability factors were improved since spacing factors were estimated as 250$\pm$15 micron in adjusted mixtures.