• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.33-49
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• 2017

Background: Health care utilizations and costs of the patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease in Korea increased dramatically. We analyzed whether hospital market competition is associated with charges and length of stay for patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease. Methods: We used Medical claims data of 2002 and 2010 from the nationwide representative sample of National Health Insurance Service of Korea. The study subjects were inpatients with degenerative lumbar spine disease (N=24,768) in 2002 and 2010. We employed a multilevel linear mixed model that included patient- and hospital-level variables in hierarchical data. Results: Higher hospital competition was associated with lower charges (${\beta}=57.5$, p<.0001 in 2002; ${\beta}=353.7$, p<.0001 in 2010) and shorter length of stay (${\beta}=0.3$, p<.0001 in 2002; ${\beta}=0.9$, p<.0001 in 2010) in both 2002 and 2010. Compared to 2002, the magnitude of such association became greater in 2010. However, subgroup analyses show that the influence of competition on charges and length of stay differed by hospital size. Conclusions: This study showed that hospital market structure (e.g., hospital competition) affects hospital efficiency (i.e., hospital charges and length of stay). It is necessary to continue to monitor how changing market structure influences hospital outcomes, including more detailed outcomes such as patient satisfaction.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2005

Inversion of multi-mode surface-wave phase velocity for shallow engineering site investigation has received much attention in recent years. A sensitivity analysis and inversion of both synthetic and field data demonstrates the greater effectiveness of this method over employing the fundamental mode alone. Perturbation of thickness and shear-wave velocity parameters in multi-modal Rayleigh wave phase velocities revealed that the sensitivities of higher modes: (a) concentrate in different frequency bands, and (b) are greater than the fundamental mode for deeper parameters. These observations suggest that multi-mode phase velocity inversion can provide better parameter discrimination and imaging of deep structure, especially with a velocity reversal, than can inversion of fundamental mode data alone. An inversion of the theoretical phase velocities in a model with a low velocity layer at 20 m depth can only image the soft layer when the first higher mode is incorporated. This is especially important when the lowest measurable frequency is only 6 Hz. Field tests were conducted at sites surveyed by borehole and PS logging. At the first site, an array microtremor survey, often used for deep geological surveying in Japan, was used to survey the soil down to 35 m depth. At the second site, linear multichannel spreads with a sledgehammer source were recorded, for an investigation down to 12 m depth. The f-k power spectrum method was applied for dispersion analysis, and velocities up to the second higher mode were observed in each test. The multi-mode inversion results agree well with PS logs, but models estimated from the fundamental mode alone show f large underestimation of the depth to shallow soft layers below artificial fill.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.129-135
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• 2022

Purpose: A full-energy-peak (FEP) efficiency correction is required through a Monte Carlo simulation for accurate radioactivity measurement, considering the geometrical characteristics of the detector and the sample. However, a relative deviation (RD) occurs between the measurement and calculation efficiencies when modeling using the data provided by the manufacturers due to the randomly generated dead layer. This study aims to optimize the structure of the detector by determining the dead layer thickness based on Monte Carlo simulation. Methods: The high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector used in this study was a coaxial p-type GC2518 model, and a certified reference material (CRM) was used to measure the FEP efficiency. Using the MC N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) code, the FEP efficiency was calculated by increasing the thickness of the outer and inner dead layer in proportion to the thickness of the electrode. Results: As the thickness of the outer and inner dead layer increased by 0.1 mm and 0.1 ㎛, the efficiency difference decreased by 2.43% on average up to 1.0 mm and 1.0 ㎛ and increased by 1.86% thereafter. Therefore, the structure of the detector was optimized by determining 1.0 mm and 1.0 ㎛ as thickness of the dead layer. Conclusions: The effect of the dead layer on the FEP efficiency was evaluated, and an excellent agreement between the measured and calculated efficiencies was confirmed with RDs of less than 4%. It suggests that the optimized HPGe detector can be used to measure the accurate radioactivity using in dismantling and disposing medical linear accelerators.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1281-1281
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• 2001

Near-infrared (NIR) spectra have bean measured for high-density (HDPE), linear low-density (LLDPE), and low-density (LDPE) polyethylene in pellet or thin films. The obtained spectra have been analyzed by conventional spectroscopic analysis methods and chemometrics. By using the second derivative, principal component analysis (PCA), and two-dimensional (2D) correlation analysis, we could separate many overlapped bands in the NIR. It was found that the intensities of some bands are sensitive to density and crystallinity of PE. This may be the first time that such bands in the NIR region have ever been discussed. Correlations of such marker bands among the NIR spectra have also been investigated. This sort of investigation is very important not only for further understanding of vibration spectra of various of PE but also for quality control of PE by vibrational spectroscopy. Figure 1 (a) and (b) shows a NIR reflectance spectrum of one of the LLDPE samples and that of PE, respectively. Figure 2 shows a PC weight loadings plot of factor 1 for a score plot of PCA for the 16 kinds of LLDPE and PE based upon their 51 NIR spectra in the 1100-1900 nm region. The PC loadings plot separates the bands due to the $CH_3$ groups and those arising form the $CH_2$ groups, allowing one to make band assignments. The 2D correlation analysis is also powerful in band enhancement, and the band assignments based upon PCA are in good agreement with those by the 2D correlation analysis.(Figure omitted). We have made a calibration model, which predicts the density of LLDPE by use of partial least square (PLS) regression. From the loadings plot of regression coefficients for the model , we suggest that the band at 1542, 1728, and 1764 nm very sensitive to the changes in density and crystalinity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.22 no.4 s.75
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• pp.97-106
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• 2004

It is a Known fact that driving through long tunnel increases possibility of traffic accident because of psychological feeling of insecurity and dispersion of drivers' concentration since driving in narrow and limited space for a longtime. It, therefore, results in raising transportation and environment problems, such as traffic accident difficult to be properly dealt with and ventilation. This study aims at proposing a method of augmenting driving amenity by improving the internal lighting facilities in the tunnel. The study is conducted by investigating internal landscapes of tunnels by lighting colors, which are currently being operated. The Color Planning System (CPS), developed by SHARP Co. Ltd, is exploited for selecting adjective that express the sensitivity image on lighting colors. The CPS is an example that applies to sensitivity of human body for products design development. The CPS takes the following process to define the color : 1) expressing "Pvoduct's Image" as "A Word (adjective)" and 2) referring "A Word" to "Image Scale", and 3) determining the color through this "Image Panel". The study is processed by making a questionnaire using the semantic differential (SD) scale, grasping the consciousness structure of experimental persons through the Factor Analysis, and building a model in which dependent variable is "Degree of Preference" about internal landscape in tunnel using LISREL(LInear Structural RELations).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2003

Background: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. Materials and Methods: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. Results: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. Conclusion: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1558-1565
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize the number of loci affecting growth traits and the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effects on growth traits, and to understand the genetic architecture for growth traits in Hanwoo (Korean cattle) using genome-wide association study (GWAS), genomic partitioning, and hierarchical Bayesian mixture models. Methods: GWAS: A single-marker regression-based mixed model was used to test the association between SNPs and causal variants. A genotype relationship matrix was fitted as a random effect in this linear mixed model to correct the genetic structure of a sire family. Genomic restricted maximum likelihood and BayesR: A priori information included setting the fixed additive genetic variance to a pre-specified value; the first mixture component was set to zero, the second to 0.0001×σ²_g, the third 0.001×σ²_g, and the fourth to 0.01×σ²_g. BayesR fixed a priori information was not more than 1% of the genetic variance for each of the SNPs affecting the mixed distribution. Results: The GWAS revealed common genomic regions of 2 Mb on bovine chromosome 14 (BTA14) and 3 had a moderate effect that may contain causal variants for body weight at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. This genomic region explained approximately 10% of the variance against total additive genetic variance and body weight heritability at 12, 18, and 24 months. BayesR identified the exact genomic region containing causal SNPs on BTA14, 3, and 22. However, the genetic variance explained by each chromosome or SNP was estimated to be very small compared to the total additive genetic variance. Causal SNPs for growth trait on BTA14 explained only 0.04% to 0.5% of the genetic variance Conclusion: Segregating mutations have a moderate effect on BTA14, 3, and 19; many other loci with small effects on growth traits at different ages were also identified.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.6
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• pp.625-632
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the conceptional structure of residents' perception among tourism development impacts (economic benefits, social and environmental impact), community attachment and attitudes towards the effects of Baekdudaegan tourism development. This paper was adopted LISREL (linear structural relationships) approach, covariance structural equation model, to provided some insights on tourism development. Data of 356 were collected from Youngu and Mungyeong cities surrounding Baekdudaegan in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The results indicate that perceived economic benefits are rather greater impacts on attitudes than perceived social and environmental ones directly and indirectly. Also, perceived social impacts influence community attachment, however, perceived economic benefits and environmental impacts do not influence community attachment directly. Finally results reveal that the attitudes for supporting tourism development were found positively influenced by the identity of community attachment. Differently social exchange theory, the results suggested that residents' attitudes towards Baekdudaegan tourism development perceived positive strongly even a non related tourism resident.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.73-82
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• 2017

As of December 2016, the number of registered automobiles in Korea exceeds 21million. As a result, greenhouse gas emission by transportation sector are increasing every year. It was concluded that the development of the driving strategy considering the driving behavior and the road conditions, which are known to affect the fuel efficiency and the greenhouse gas emissions, could be the most effective fuel economy improvement. Therefore, this study aims to develop a fuel efficient driving strategy in a complex linear section with uphill and curved sections. The road topography was designed according to 'Rules about the Road Structure & Facilities Standards'. Various scenarios were selected. After generating the speed profile, it was applied to the Comprehensive Modal Emission Model and fuel consumption was calculated. The scenarios with the lowest fuel consumption were selected. After that, the fuel consumption of the manual driver's driving record and the selected optimal driving strategy were compared and analyzed for verification. As a result of the analysis, the developed optimal driving strategy reduces fuel consumption by 21.2% on average compared to driving by manual drivers.

• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.39-49
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• 2017

Purpose - This study is to propose a creative idea for constant business growth and development by examining characteristics of business outcomes by phase, which are "growth" and "erosion and stagnation," respectively. Research design, data, methodology - It is necessary to identify an occurrence of crisis and its diffusion with a dynamic model in order to identify a success and failure of businesses in an organic way, not on a binary structure. The static perspective is to understand a crisis as a simply one-time event or as a linear causation. Thus, it has a limited understanding of the overall situation and has limits to investigating a foundational cause and developing long-term countermeasures. On the contrary, the dynamic perspective is to understand the crisis as circulation process of the overall system. Thus, it divides elements of the crisis as external and internal ones to understand it as the causal relationship of each element. Results - During the growth period of Burger King, the company promoted its brand very successfully with aggressive and creative marketing activities. However, due to the founder's disposal of management rights and the following changes in the management, the company had no choice but to lose focus on its business philosophy and brand management, and eventually it had to face the big crisis (resonance) which was delisting from the stock market because of the external threat; well-being trend. However, Burger King resumed lifting on the stock exchange by making great efforts to clearly identify the current issues and seek solutions. Under the spirit of "perseverance" and its slogan "Have it your way" the company is now going head to head with McDonald's in the North American region and emerging countries. Conclusions - Then, what is the most crucial factor in the success and failure of businesses? Answers may vary, however, as learned from the case study of Burger King, corporations should inspect the present and focus on developing a long-term strategy for the future and actively fulfill the actions. McDonald's may not be able to innovate by itself in the future as it may become routinized to the growth. There will be chances of winning if we change conditions of individuals or organizations to an organic system in terms of being creative. There is a hopeful message here that an individual or small business may have more advantages in the era of the idea and innovation.