• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2023

This paper proposes a thermography-based coating thickness estimation method for steel structures using model-agnostic meta-learning. In the proposed method, a halogen lamp generates heat energy on the coating surface of a steel structure, and the resulting heat responses are measured using an infrared (IR) camera. The measured heat responses are then analyzed using model-agnostic meta-learning to estimate the coating thickness, which is visualized throughout the inspection surface of the steel structure. Current coating thickness estimation methods rely on point measurement and their inspection area is limited to a single point, whereas the proposed method can inspect a larger area with higher accuracy. In contrast to previous ANN-based methods, which require a large amount of data for training and validation, the proposed method can estimate the coating thickness using only 10- pixel points for each material. In addition, the proposed model has broader applicability than previous methods, allowing it to be applied to various materials after meta-training. The performance of the proposed method was validated using laboratory-scale and field tests with different coating materials; the results demonstrated that the error of the proposed method was less than 5% when estimating coating thicknesses ranging from 40 to 500 ㎛.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.22
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• 2023

This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to answer the following focused research question: "Does the type of endodontic sealer affect the postoperative pain in patients who received endodontic treatment?" Different databases and grey literature were surveyed. Only one randomized controlled trial were included. The risk of bias in the studies was evaluated by using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to compare the risk and intensity of postoperative pain. The quality of the body of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Out of 11,601 studies, 15 remained for qualitative analyses and 12 for meta-analysis. Seven studies were classified at high risk of bias, and 8 studies raised some concerns. No significant differences between the endodontic materials were observed in the direct comparisons, both in risk and in intensity of postoperative pain (pairwise comparisons with 2 studies: I² = 0%; p > 0.05 and 8 studies: I² = 23%; p > 0.05, respectively). The certainty of the evidence was graded as low or moderate. There was no difference in the risk and intensity of postoperative pain after filling with different endodontic sealers. Further systematic reviews should be conducted.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.660-670
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• 2022

This study was analyzed by applying AMSTAR-2, a methodological quality evaluation tool, to evaluate the quality of domestic meta-analysis papers on rehabilitation interventions for stroke patients. The purpose of this study is to provide guidelines for qualitative improvement of evidence-based practice and meta-analysis research by analyzing the qualitative level of the analyzed research. The literature search was conducted using the Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Medical database, and Korean studies Information Service System. Two authors searched, extracted, and reviewed literature using the keywords 'stroke' and 'meta-analysis'. As a result of the AMSTAR-2 quality evaluation of the final 18 studies, 3 studies (16.67%) were 'Moderate', 8 studies (44.44%) were 'Low', and 7 studies (38.89%) were 'Critically Low'. In future research, scientific and objective data selection and extraction process should be performed. It is expected that interest and efforts to improve the quality of meta-analysis research will continue by referring to the contents analyzed in this study as a way to improve the quality of literature.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.313-341
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• 2008

The research attempted to propose directions for improving evaluation of science gifted educational institutions affiliated with universities through its meta-evaluation. A survey questionnaire was developed and responded by 25 representatives of 25 science gifted educational institutions and 9 evaluation committee members in February 2008. According to research results, it was found that reference-criteria and categories for evaluation were abstract and did not reflect varied characteristics of individual institutions. Evaluation of outcomes mainly emphasized student number admitted by science high schools and science gifted school. Evaluation was performed for the sake of judging ranks. In addition, research capacity of institutions was not even considered as an evaluation element. For its improvement, the followings were suggested: First, evaluation should be functioned as consulting. Second, evaluation criteria are presented as concrete as it can be. Third, on-site evaluation should be introduced Fourth, evaluation process and results should be publicized Fifth, satisfaction by student and parents should be also included. Furthermore, exemplary cases of science gifted educational institutions should be identified and rewarded, and their management strategies should be disseminated with other institutions.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2023

Objective: Chemotherapy is usually given to inhibit cancer progression. It is the most common side effect of chemotherapyinduced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) after chemotherapy, and its symptoms include pain such as paresthesia, dysesthesia, allodynia, hyperalgesia, and electrical stimulation. Therefore, in this review, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were combined to analyze the effect qualitatively and quantitatively in order to find out the effect of manual therapy on patients with CIPN through a meta-analysis. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis Methods: This review conducted a literature search through international databases (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science) in December 2022 to synthesize the effect of manual therapy on the symptomatic improvement of CIPN. Qualitative evaluation (risk of bias) and quantitative evaluation using ReVMan provided by the Cochrane Group were expressed as a random effect model and standardized mean difference (SMD). Results: In four RCTs 165 patients with CIPN were evaluated for symptoms of neuropathy. The experimental group consisting of manual therapy and its subcategories showed significant improvement compared to the control group. The results analyzed through the random effects model were SMD=-1.11; 95% confidence interval, -1.97 to -0.24. Conclusions: We came to the conclusion that manual therapy could significantly contribute to improving the symptoms of CIPN, and since it may vary depending on the technique of manual therapy, further studies on manual therapy suitable for neuropathy are needed.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2023

Objective: A previous study reported that cardiovascular training (CT) decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine with bidirectional effects. However, because of conflicting results of increasing and decreasing IL-6 levels in stroke patients, it is essential to clarify the effects of CT on IL-6 levels in this population. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the effects of CT on IL-6 levels in stroke patients through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), synthesizing and analyzing the effects qualitatively and quantitatively. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods: In this review, conducted in April 2023, electronic databases (Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Google Scholar) were searched to ascertain the effects of CT on IL-6 levels in stroke patients. For qualitative evaluation, ReVMan, provided by the Cochrane Group, was used, and for quantitative evaluation, a random-effects model and SMD (Standardized Mean Difference) were used. Results: Three RCTs measured IL-6 in 117 patients with stroke. The experimental group to which CT was applied showed no significant change compared to the control group.The result of analysis using the random effect model is SMD=-0.23; 95% confidence interval, -0.66 to 0.20. Conclusions: CT does not affect IL-6 levels in stroke patients. These results suggest that CT can be applied regardless of its positive or negative effect on IL-6 levels in stroke patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.515-527
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• 2003

Objectives： A meta-analysis of the literatures was conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy by dietitians. Methods : The 30 studies were identified from a computerized search of published research on MEDLINE, Science-Direct and the PQD database until May, 2002 and a review of reference lists. The main search terms were“dietitian”,“dietary intervention”,“nutrition intervention”, “cost”,“cost-effectiveness”and“cost-benefit analysis”. The subgroup analysis was performed by publication year, study design, intervention provider, type of patient (in/out-patient) and type of cost (total cost/direct cost). Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed the quality and extracted the data. Results : The 30 studies were identified using the electric database search and bibliographies. The 17 trials were eligible for inclusion criteria, then the systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the quality assessment tool for observational studies. The quality score was 0.515 $\pm$ 0.121 (range : 0.279-0.711, median : 0.466). The meta-analysis of 17 studies based on the random effect model showed that medical nutrition therapy was highly effective in treating the diseases (effect size 0.3092 : 95% confidence interval 0.2282-0.3303). The vote-counting method, one of meta-analysis methods, was applied to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy conducted by dietitians. Two criteria (method 1, method 2) for voting were used. The calculated p-values for method 1 (more conservative method) and method 2 (less conservative method) were 0.1250 and 0.0106, respectively. Medical nutrition therapy by dietitians was significantly cost-effective in the method 2. Conclusion. This meta-analysis showed that the effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy was statistically significant in treating disease (effect size 0.3092), and that the cost-effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy was statistically significant in the method 2 (less conservative method) of vote counting. (Korean J Nutrition 36(5): 515~527, 2003)

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.49-64
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• 2009

Rainfall-runoff models are used for efficient management, distribution, planning, and design of water resources in accordance with the process of hydrologic cycle. The models simplify the transition of rainfall to runoff as rainfall through different processes including evaporation, transpiration, interception, and infiltration. As the models simplify complex physical processes, gaps between the models and actual rainfall events exist. For more accurate simulation, appropriate models that suit analysis goals are selected and reliable long-term hydrological data are collected. However, uncertainty is inherent in models. It is therefore necessary to evaluate reliability of simulation results from models. A number of studies have evaluated uncertainty ingrained in rainfall-runoff models. In this paper, Meta-Gaussian method proposed by Montanari and Brath(2004) was used to assess uncertainty of simulation outputs from rainfall-runoff models. The model, which estimates upper and lower bounds of the confidence interval from probabilistic distribution of a model's error, can quantify global uncertainty of hydrological models. In this paper, Meta-Gaussian method was applied to analyze uncertainty of simulated runoff outputs from $Vflo^{TM}$, a physically-based distribution model and HEC-HMS model, a conceptual lumped model.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aims to confirm the clinical usefulness of computerized cognitive therapy program for patients with brain diseases in Korea and to present basic data that can confirm the effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy program to experts related to rehabilitation in the future. Methods : A systematic review and meta-analysis research method was used to confirm the clinical effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy applied to patients with brain diseases in Korea. Based on the national institute of health and medical colleges association (NECA) systematic literature manual and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for conducting research through systematic review and meta-analysis methods. Systematic review was PICOST-SD was used to research and select papers. For meta-analysis, the data was input and analyzed separately by literature result using the revman manager 5.3 program and the results were presented visually through tables and forest, funnel plot figure. Results : As a result of comprehensive analysis of the contents of the finally selected literature, it as found that studies on stroke and dementia were mainly conducted. In addition, through the evaluation of the quality of the literature, most of the existing computerized cognitive therapy studies were identified as high-quality studies, but the results were insufficient for randomization and blinding. And through meta-analysis, the clinical effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy on cognitive function, activities of daily living, and visual perception function of patients with brain disease was found. Conclusion : The research literature that applied computerized cognitive therapy to brain disease subjects was comprehensively analyzed and identified. It is thought that this could be used as basic data on the characteristics of cognitive therapy that should be applied to patients with brain diseases in the future and the usefulness of computerized cognitive therapy program in actual clinical practice.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2021

meta-iodobenzylguanidine is one of the norepinephrine analogs and reuptakes together with norepinephrine with norepinephrine transporter. The radioiodinated ligand, ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine, is the most widely used for single photon emission computed tomography imaging to diagnose functional abnormalities and tumors of the sympathetic nervous system. In this study, we performed cellular uptake studies of ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine in positive- and negative-norepinephrine transporter cells in vitro to verify the uptake activity for norepinephrine transporter. After ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine was injected via a tail vein into normal mice, Single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography images were acquired at 1 h, 4 h, and 24 h post-injection, and quantified the distribution in each organ including the adrenal medulla as a norepinephrine transporter expressing organ. In vitro cell study showed that ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine specifically uptaked via norepinephrine transporter, and significant uptake of ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine in the adrenal medulla in vivo single photon emission computed tomography images. These results demonstrated that single photon emission computed tomography imaging with ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine were able to quantify the biodistribution in vivo in the adrenal medulla in normal mice.