• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2019

Objective : This study is a retrospective cost-benefit analysis of cervical anterior interbody fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement, which are the main surgical methods to treat degenerative cervical disc disease. Methods : We analyzed 156 patients who underwent anterior cervical disc fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009, diagnosed with degenerative cervical disc disorder. In this study, the costs and benefits were analyzed by using quality adjusted life year (QALY) as the outcome index for patients undergoing surgery, and a Markov model was used for the analysis. Only direct medical costs were included in the analysis; indirect medical costs were excluded. Data were analyzed with TreeAge Pro $2015^{TM}$ (TreeAge Software, Inc, Williamstown, MA, USA). Results : Patients who underwent cervical anterior fusion had a total cost of KRW 2501807/USD 2357 over 5 years and obtained a utility of 3.72 QALY. Patients who underwent cervical artificial disc replacement received 4.18 QALY for a total of KRW 3685949/USD 3473 over 5 years. The cumulative cost-effectiveness ratio of cervical spine replacement surgery was KRW 2549511/QALY (USD 2402/QALY), which was lower than the general Korean payment standard. Conclusion : Both cervical anterior fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement are cost-effective treatments for patients with degenerative cervical disc disease. Cervical artificial disc replacement may be an effective alternative to obtain more benefits.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.305-312
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• 2017

This paper presents a laboratory investigation into the effects of fillers using industrial by-product such as coal ash, IGCC slag on properties of hot-mixed asphalt concrete variation with filler content. For comparison, existing mixture with lime and dust have also been considered. Marshall and flow test has been considered for the purpose of mix design as well as evaluation of mixture. Other performance tests such as indirect tensile strength test, tensile strength ratio(moisture susceptibility), dynamic stability have also been carried out variation with filler content. It is observed that the mixes with industrial by-product exhibit conform with quality standard. Therefore, it has been recommended to utilize industrial by-product based on fly ash wherever available, not only reducing the produce cost but also partly solve the industrial by-product utilization and disposal problem.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.782-793
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• 2022

The rise in chronic disease not only has a negative effect on people's lives, but it also increases the cost of medical care owing to the increased usage of medical care as health and medical technology improves, life expectancy rises, and rapid population ageing. In such context, this study examined the difference in the disease cost of hypertension according to demographic information and the effect of the initial diagnosis age and treatment period on the cost. This study used the Korean Health Panel Survey from 2010 to 2017, and selected subjects based on health insurance beneficiaries between the ages of 30 and under 80. With the selected data, the direct and indirect costs of disease loss were calculated according to the cost of illness approach, and we constructed a disease-loss ratio cohort considering the age of diagnosis and time of treatment for hypertension. From the results of the study, the annual cost of disease loss for hypertensive patients differed by gender by 110,107 won, and it was found that the cost increased by 1.8 times as the treatment time increased. In addition, when comparing disease loss ratios between the same age groups, it was found that the disease loss ratios between those in their 60s and 70s were affected by treatment time. This study confirmed that hypertension significantly affects the cost of the disease, and not only requires early diagnosis and management, but also preventive efforts to lower the incidence of hypertensive disease must be strengthened.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to measure the cost-benefit of a road construction project in Vietnam through international development cooperation, which includes private grants and Official Development Assistance(ODA). In developing countries, it is difficult and costly to use data on markets, the CVM(Contingent Valuation Method) to measure the WTP(Willingness-to-Pay) as the benefits of road construction are used. A total of 232 villagers in 16 villages of Lao Cai Province in Northern Vietnam have been surveyed. It is found that the Benefit-Cost Ratio(B/C) in all 3 models are found to be well over 1.0, ranging from 2.8 to 3.64 with the discount rate of 0.06. These BC ratios imply the road construction project in Lao Cai can be justified. Also, it is found that the shortened travel time is the most relevant factor for WTP among direct benefits and the enhanced academic achievement of the children is the most relevant factor among indirect benefits, due to easier and faster access to schools, which in turn increase the school attendance rate. The result of this study can be used to justify other similar projects in Vietnam, even though the benefits may have to be reassessed in other countries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2059-2065
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• 2013

This goal of this research was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for breast cancer in the Republic of Korea from a government expenditure perspective. In 2002-2003 (baseline), a total of 8,724,860 women aged 40 years or over were invited to attend breast cancer screening by the NCSP. Those who attended were identified using the NCSP database, and women were divided into two groups, women who attended screening at baseline (screened group) and those who did not (non-screened group). Breast cancer diagnosis in both groups at baseline, and during 5-year follow-up was identified using the Korean Central Cancer Registry. The effectiveness of the NCSP for breast cancer was estimated by comparing 5-year survival and life years saved (LYS) between the screened and the unscreened groups, measured using mortality data from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation and the National Health Statistical Office. Direct screening costs, indirect screening costs, and productivity costs were considered in different combinations in the model. When all three of these costs were considered together, the incremental cost to save one life year of a breast cancer patient was 42,305,000 Korean Won (KW) (1 USD=1,088 KW) for the screened group compared to the non-screened group. In sensitivity analyses, reducing the false-positive rate of the screening program by half was the most cost-effective (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER=30,110,852 KW/LYS) strategy. When the upper age limit for screening was set at 70 years, it became more cost-effective (ICER=39,641,823 KW/LYS) than when no upper age limit was set. The NCSP for breast cancer in Korea seems to be accepted as cost-effective as ICER estimates were around the Gross Domestic Product. However, cost-effectiveness could be further improved by increasing the sensitivity of breast cancer screening and by setting appropriate age limits.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2010

BOG(Boil Off Gas) is formed about 0.05 vol%/day from LNG(Liquefied Natural Gas) tanks of LNG receiving terminal. To recycle the BOG using direct contacting, Previously the quantities of LNG and BOG is mixed at the ratio of 11:1 by mass. However simple this process uses, there is the difficulty of processing operation resulted from decrease of using LNG in summer. To complement these shortcomings, Advantages of the process are investigated by comparison of cost and analysis of the indirect contact method using LNG cold energy. It was studied that principles and types of development using LNG cold energy which is abandoned in the carburettor and found how to contact each to find the appropriate cold energy development process. Therefore, in this research, the indirect contact method will be investigated the feasibility of a comparative analysis by using HYSYS.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 2010

It seems that a primary concern of the project-based company, which provides a large scale product or service over long term period, is to run a successful project through systematic project process control and control costs. One of the typical project control methods is Earned Value Management System(EVMS) which analyses the precess through performance measurement. Even though the EVMS is a highly efficient tool in the managerial aspect, it cannot easily determine the Planned Value(PV), Actual Cost(AC), or Earned Value(EV) due to the indistinct criteria and extensive data. The accurate calculation of AC in particular, is the basic of project management, but most companies record direct personnel expenses or direct expenses only. Since they calculate indirect expenses based on the estimated ratio, it limits the systematic project management that reflects changes in profit and loss of a company. This study introduces a EVMS for project management and its actual case based on EVMS and ERP system which some additional modules are installed for performance measurement. It is expected that this new method enables a company to save time and effort, and also to improve transparency by specifying expense items in detail and to switch quarterly settlement to monthly by reducing the time of calculation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Objectives: In establishing policies for agricultural safety, evaluating injury burdens as well as investigating the rates and characteristics of work injury is important. This study investigated the types and characteristics of agricultural injury subjective burdens. Methods: By analyzing the injured farmers identified in the 2013 Korean Farmers' Occupational Injury Survey, the burdens caused by injuries were categorized using one direct cost item (medical costs) and five indirect cost items (including productivity decreases and wage increases). Statistical differences among the burden items were analyzed using logistic regression analysis according to the characteristics of the farmers and their farm injuries. Results: Among the subjective burdens indicated by the 457 injured farmers, disruption to work was most common. The major influences on each subjective burden item are as follows: for the item of disruption to work, age, time of injury occurrence, treatment period, and farming machine use were influential; for an increased family member's burden of farm works, the number of family members and treatment period were influential. Regarding cost burden of treatment, the results varied according to whether or not the patient was hospitalized and annual income. Conclusion: Subjective burdens induced by indirect costs rather than those induced by direct costs were found to be higher in ratio. In regard to each burden item, the results varied according to the characteristics of the farmers and their farm injuries. To support injured farmer, setting goals to reduce indirect cost burdens and preparing concrete methods is necessary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8993-9004
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• 2014

Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 1975

It is the purpose of this paper to design the most preferable method of erythropoietin bioassay in Korea. Bioassay utilizing polycythemic mice are currently in general use for the indirect determination of erythropoietin. Assay animals are usually prepared either by transfusion or by exposure to reduced oxygen tension in specially constructed chamber. We prepared the polycythemic, mice by the specially constructed hypobaric chamber. We observed weights and hematocrits of the mice in the hypobaric chamber, then hematocrits and 72 hours $^{59}Fe$ red cell upatke ratio of the polycythemic mice induced by hypoxia after removal from the hypobaric chamber. We designed the method of erythropoietin bioassay according to the results obtained by above experiments. Then we measured the 72 hours $^{59}Fe$ red cell uptake ratio of the polycythemic mice with normal saline, normal plasma and anemic plasma according to the method we designed. The results are followed: 1. The hematocrits of the mice in hypobaric chamber increased to 74% in 14 days It is preferable to maintain the pressure of the chamber to 400mmHg for first 4 days then 300mmHg for last 10 days to reduce the death rate and time consuming in hypobaric chamber. 2. After removal from the hypobaric chamber, the 72 hours $^{59}Fe$ red cell uptake ratio decreased rapidly and maintained the lowest level from the fourth day to tenth day. 3. We design the method of erythropoietin bioassay according to the results of above experiment and to the half life of erythropoietin. 4. The Korean product S9Fe is mixture of $^{59}Fe\;and\;^{55}Fe$. And the $^{59}Fe$ red cell uptake ratio in normal mice was far less with Korean product $^{59}Fe$ than with pure $^{59}Fe$ of foreign product. So it is desirable to use pure $^{59}Fe$ in this method of erythropoietin bioassay. 5. Considering the cost, the technique, the time consuming and the sensitivity it is the most preferable method of erythropoietin bioassay in Korea using hypobaric chamber to induce the polycythemia.