• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2001

Background : RpoB gene mutations have been found in about 96-98% of rifampicin (RMP)-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent reports confirm that the in laboratory settings a rpoB gene mutation can be used as a surrogate marker for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. However, its usefulness in clinical applications has not been evaluated. This study was performed to confirm whether mutation analysis of the rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis is useful in clinical settings. Methods : The medical records of 33 patients in whom rpoB gene analysis was conducted using an INNOLiPA Rif. TB assay (LiPA) from June, 1998, to July, 2000, at the Asan Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed in 33 patients. The clinical characteristics in addition to the drug susceptibility and LiPA results were analyzed. The drug susceptibility test was considered as a gold standard method for M. tuberculosis susceptibility and these results were compared with those of the rpoB gene study and sequencing analysis. Sequencing analysis of the rpoB gene was done in cases where there was a discrepancy between the results of the drug susceptibility an d rpoB gene study. Results : The mean age and sex ratio was $42{\pm}18$, and 24:9 (M:F), respectively. There were 19 RMP susceptible (58%) and 14 RMP-resistant cases (42%) according to the rpoB gene study. The mean time from the request to reporting the results of the rpoB gene study was $5.2{\pm}2.6$ days. The mean gap from reporting the rpoB gene study to reporting the susceptibility was $56{\pm}35$ days. Twenty-eight cases (85%) showed identical results compared with the drug susceptibility results, whereas five cases (15%) showed contradictory results. When compared with the sequencing analysis, of the five cases that showed contradictory results, two had LiP A analysis errors and the remaining three were identical to the sequencing results. The rpoB gene study was of assistance in choosing the appropriate drugs in 28 cases (85%). Conclusions : An rpoB gene study using an LiP A assay was useful in rapidly diagnosing RMP-resistant tuberculosis, which enabled a proper choice of the appropriate drugs in clinical practices. However, an LiPA assay always should be performed in conjunction with microscopy, culture, and susceptibility tests.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2012

Penicillins belong to the ${\beta}$-lactam class of antibiotics, and are frequently used in human and veterinary medicine. Despite the positive effects of these drugs, improper use of penicillins poses a potential health risk to consumers. This study has been undertaken to determinate multi-residues of penicillins, including amoxicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, bezylpenicillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, and nafcillin, using liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The developed method was validated for specificity, precision, recovery, and linearity in livestock and marine products. The analytes were extracted with 80% acetonitrile and clean-up by a single reversed-phase solid-phase extraction step. Six penicillins presented recoveries higher than 76% with the exception of Amoxicillin. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were not more than 10%. The method was applied to 225 real samples. Benzylpenicillin was detected in 12 livestock products and 7 marine products. Amoxicillin, ampicillin, cloxacilllin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin and oxacillin were not detected. The detected levels were 0.001~0.009 mg/kg in livestock products excluding eggs and milk. In marine products, the detected levels were under 0.03 mg/kg. They were under the MRL levels. As monitoring results, it is identified to be safe but it is considered that safety management of antibiotics should continue by monitoring.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.513-518
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• 2009

Purpose: Integration of the functional information of myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) and the morphoanatomical information of coronary CT angiography (CTA) may provide useful additional diagnostic information of the spatial relationship between perfusion defects and coronary stenosis. We studied to know the added value of three dimensional cardiac SPECT/CTA fusion imaging (fusion image) by comparing between fusion image and MPS. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight patients (M:F=26:22, Age: $63.3{\pm}10.4$ years) with a reversible perfusion defect on MPS (adenosine stress/rest SPECT with Tc-99m sestamibi or tetrofosmin) and CTA were included. Fusion images were molded and compared with the findings from the MPS. Invasive coronary angiography served as a reference standard for fusion image and MPS. Results: Total 144 coronary arteries in 48 patients were analyzed; Fusion image yielded the sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value for the detection of hemodynamically significant stenosis per coronary artery 82.5%, 79.3%, 76.7% and 84.6%, respectively. Respective values for the MPS were 68.8%, 70.7%, 62.1% and 76.4%. And fusion image also could detect more multi-vessel disease. Conclusion: Fused three dimensional volume-rendered SPECT/CTA imaging provides intuitive convincing information about hemodynamic relevant lesion and could improved diagnostic accuracy.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to measure scattered ray which is occurred except for Z-axis range of the detector in MDCT's iso-center and present the basic data about the standard for reduction of scattered ray. The development of MDCT brings out the enlargement of beam thickness to the patient's Z-axis, which distributes to the increase in exposure dose according to the rise of scattered ray. Also MDCT brings out the increase of scattered ray about 4times more than SDCT. To evaluate scattered ray according to the change of beam thickness on MDCT, we measured scattered ray of MDCT's Z-axis beam thickness by using one 16-slice CTs and two 64-slice CTs. We used the ionization chamber 60ml 2026C as the equipment of measurement. In our results, we found out that the change of scattered ray according to the beam thickness in the same kVp has increase of scattered ray. Secondly we found out the increase of scattered ray according to the increase of kVp. Lastly we found out the decrease of scattered ray according to the increase of the distance from the ionization chamber.

• Fiber Technology and Industry
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.490-508
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• 1998

One of the latest fields of research in the area of output devices is tactual display devices [13,31]. These tactual or haptic devices allow the user to receive haptic feedback output from a variety of sources. This allows the user to actually feel virtual objects and manipulate them by touch. This is an emerging technology and will be instrumental in enhancing the realism of wearable augmented environments for certain applications. Tactual displays have previously been used for scientific visualization in virtual environments by chemists and engineers to improve perception and understanding of force fields and of world models populated with the impenetrable. In addition to tactual displays, the use of wearable audio displays that allow sound to be spatialized are being developed. With wearable computers, designers will soon be able to pair spatialized sound to virtual representations of objects when appropriate to make the wearable computer experience even more realistic to the user. Furthermore, as the number and complexity of wearable computing applications continues to grow, there will be increasing needs for systems that are faster, lighter, and have higher resolution displays. Better networking technology will also need to be developed to allow all users of wearable computers to have high bandwidth connections for real time information gathering and collaboration. In addition to the technology advances that make users need to wear computers in everyday life, there is also the desire to have users want to wear their computers. In order to do this, wearable computing needs to be unobtrusive and socially acceptable. By making wearables smaller and lighter, or actually embedding them in clothing, users can conceal them easily and wear them comfortably. The military is currently working on the development of the Personal Information Carrier (PIC) or digital dog tag. The PIC is a small electronic storage device containing medical information about the wearer. While old military dog tags contained only 5 lines of information, the digital tags may contain volumes of multi-media information including medical history, X-rays, and cardiograms. Using hand held devices in the field, medics would be able to call this information up in real time for better treatment. A fully functional transmittable device is still years off, but this technology once developed in the military, could be adapted tp civilian users and provide ant information, medical or otherwise, in a portable, not obstructive, and fashionable way. Another future device that could increase safety and well being of its users is the nose on-a-chip developed by the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. This tiny digital silicon chip about the size of a dime, is capable of 'smelling' natural gas leaks in stoves, heaters, and other appliances. It can also detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. This device can also be configured to notify the fire department when a leak is detected. This nose chip should be commercially available within 2 years, and is inexpensive, requires low power, and is very sensitive. Along with gas detection capabilities, this device may someday also be configured to detect smoke and other harmful gases. By embedding this chip into workers uniforms, name tags, etc., this could be a lifesaving computational accessory. In addition to the future safety technology soon to be available as accessories are devices that are for entertainment and security. The LCI computer group is developing a Smartpen, that electronically verifies a user's signature. With the increase in credit card use and the rise in forgeries, is the need for commercial industries to constantly verify signatures. This Smartpen writes like a normal pen but uses sensors to detect the motion of the pen as the user signs their name to authenticate the signature. This computational accessory should be available in 1999, and would bring increased peace of mind to consumers and vendors alike. In the entertainment domain, Panasonic is creating the first portable hand-held DVD player. This device weight less than 3 pounds and has a screen about 6' across. The color LCD has the same 16:9 aspect ratio of a cinema screen and supports a high resolution of 280,000 pixels and stereo sound. The player can play standard DVD movies and has a hour battery life for mobile use. To summarize, in this paper we presented concepts related to the design and use of wearable computers with extensions to smart spaces. For some time, researchers in telerobotics have used computer graphics to enhance remote scenes. Recent advances in augmented reality displays make it possible to enhance the user's local environment with 'information'. As shown in this paper, there are many application areas for this technology such as medicine, manufacturing, training, and recreation. Wearable computers allow a much closer association of information with the user. By embedding sensors in the wearable to allow it to see what the user sees, hear what the user hears, sense the user's physical state, and analyze what the user is typing, an intelligent agent may be able to analyze what the user is doing and try to predict the resources he will need next or in the near future. Using this information, the agent may download files, reserve communications bandwidth, post reminders, or automatically send updates to colleagues to help facilitate the user's daily interactions. This intelligent wearable computer would be able to act as a personal assistant, who is always around, knows the user's personal preferences and tastes, and tries to streamline interactions with the rest of the world.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.75-93
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• 2006

1. Objectives and Methods Sasang Constitutional Medicine is the original Korean Medicine. The purpose of this study was to objectify the diagnosis of Sasang Constitution. 212 Women's sentences were analyzed into 228 factors like Pitch, APQ, Shimmer, Octave and Energy, etc. Women's sentences were classified into 3 categories: total group, under 54 years old group and over 55 years old group. 2. Results 1) In Total group Soyangin's Center feq.(3) was significantly high compared with Taeyangin and Taeumin groups. Taeumin's Pitch2 was significantly high compared with Soeumin and Taeyangin groups. Taeyangin's Pitch S.D. was significantly high compared with Soyangin group. Taeyangin's Octave6 was significantly high compared with Soeumin group. There were no significant differences among constitutional groups in APQ and Shimmer segment. On the point of Energy, Taeyangin's G Tot E(1), G# Tot E(1), G dev.(1), G# dev.(1), G Tot E(2), G# Tot E(2), G dev.(4) and G# dev.(4) were significantly high compared with other groups. Soyangin's A#S.D.(2) was significantly high compared with Taeyangin group. Taeyangin's A#S.D.(3) was significantly high compared with Taeumin group. Taeyangin's F S.D.(5), F# S.D.(5) and Max Average were significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeumin's Peak3 and Peak4 were significantly high compared with Taeyangin group. Taeumin's PeakValue1 was significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeyangin's PeakValue2 was significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeyangin's PeakValue3 and PeakValue5 were significantly high compared with Other groups. 2) In Under 54 years old group, there were no significant differences among constitutional groups in APQ, Shimmer and Octave segment. Taeumin's Center freq.(2) was significantly high compared with Taeyangin and Soyangin groups. Taeumin's Pitch(2) and Pitch(3) were significantly high compared with Taeyangin and Soeumin groups. Taeyangin's and Taeumin's Pitch S.D. were significantly high compared with Soyangin group. Taeyangin's and Soyangin's Octave2 were significantly high compared with Taeumin group. On the point of Energy, Taeyangin's and Soyangin's A# S.D.(2) were significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeyangin's and Soyangin's G# dev.(1), G# dev.(2) were significantly high compared with Taeumin group. Taeyangin's and Taeumin's F# S.D.(3) were significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeyangin's and Soyangin's Max Average were significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeumin's Peak3 was significantly high compared with Taeyangin and Soeumin groups. Taeyangin's and Taeumin's PeakValue2 were significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeyangin's and Soeumin's PeakValue3 were significantly high compared with Taeumin group. Taeyangin's and Soyangin's PeakValue5 were significantly high compared with Soeumin group. Taeyangin's and Soyangin's PeakValue9 were significantly high compared with Taeumin group 3) In Over 55 years old group, there were no significant differences among constitutional groups in Pitch, APQ, and Peak segment. Soeumin's F Shimmer(1) and F Shimmer(2) were significantly high compared with Taeyangin and Taeumin groups. Soeumin's G# Shimmer(1) and G# Shimmer(2) were significantly high compared with Soyangin group. Taeyangin's Octave5 and Octave6 were significantly high compared with Soeumin group. On the point of Energy, Soyangin's C S.D., F# S.D.(1), F# S.D.(2) and G dev.(2) were significantly high compared with other groups. Soyangin's F# S.D.(3) was significantly high compared with Taeumin and Soeumin groups. Taeyangin's and Taeumin's G# S.D.(2) and G# S.D.(3) were significantly high compared with Soyangin group 3. Conclusions From above result, there is the possibility of efficient standard guide for constitution diagnosis by analysis of voice

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.605-619
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• 2014

This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2013. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) The research works on the thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of fluid machinery, pipes and relative parts including orifices, dampers and ducts, fuel cells and power plants, cooling and air-conditioning, heat and mass transfer, two phase flow, and the flow around buildings and structures. Research issues dealing with home appliances, flows around buildings, nuclear power plant, and manufacturing processes are newly added in thermal and fluid engineering research area. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for general analytical model for desiccant wheels, the effects of water absorption on the thermal conductivity of insulation materials, thermal properties of Octadecane/xGnP shape-stabilized phase change materials and $CO_2$ and $CO_2$-Hydrate mixture, effect of ground source heat pump system, the heat flux meter location for the performance test of a refrigerator vacuum insulation panel, a parallel flow evaporator for a heat pump dryer, the condensation risk assessment of vacuum multi-layer glass and triple glass, optimization of a forced convection type PCM refrigeration module, surface temperature sensor using fluorescent nanoporous thin film. In the area of pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, researches on ammonia inside horizontal smooth small tube, R1234yf on various enhanced surfaces, HFC32/HFC152a on a plain surface, spray cooling up to critical heat flux on a low-fin enhanced surface were actively carried out. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on a fin tube type adsorber, the mass-transfer kinetics of a fin-tube-type adsorption bed, fin-and-tube heat exchangers having sine wave fins and oval tubes, louvered fin heat exchanger were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, studies are categorized into three groups namely refrigeration cycle, refrigerant and modeling and control. In the category of refrigeration cycle, studies were focused on the enhancement or optimization of experimental or commercial systems including a R410a VRF(Various Refrigerant Flow) heat pump, a R134a 2-stage screw heat pump and a R134a double-heat source automotive air-conditioner system. In the category of refrigerant, studies were carried out for the application of alternative refrigerants or refrigeration technologies including $CO_2$ water heaters, a R1234yf automotive air-conditioner, a R436b water cooler and a thermoelectric refrigerator. In the category of modeling and control, theoretical and experimental studies were carried out to predict the performance of various thermal and control systems including the long-term energy analysis of a geo-thermal heat pump system coupled to cast-in-place energy piles, the dynamic simulation of a water heater-coupled hybrid heat pump and the numerical simulation of an integral optimum regulating controller for a system heat pump. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, twenty one studies were conducted to achieve effective design of the mechanical systems, and also to maximize the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included heating and cooling, HVAC system, ventilation, and renewable energies in the buildings. Proposed designs, performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data which can improve the energy efficiency of the buildings. (5) The field of architectural environment is mostly focused on indoor environment and building energy. The main researches of indoor environment are related to infiltration, ventilation, leak flow and airtightness performance in residential building. The subjects of building energy are worked on energy saving, operation method and optimum operation of building energy systems. The remained studies are related to the special facility such as cleanroom, internet data center and biosafety laboratory. water supply and drain system, defining standard input variables of BIM (Building Information Modeling) for facility management system, estimating capability and providing operation guidelines of subway station as shelter for refuge and evaluation of pollutant emissions from furniture-like products.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.493-502
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• 2011

We study the deep structure of Korean Peninsula by estimating Moho depth and crustal thickness from using land and oceanic topography and free-air gravity anomaly data. Based on Airy-Heiskanen isostatic hypothesis, the correlated components between the terrain gravity effects and free-air gravity anomalies by wavenumber correlation analysis(WCA) are extracted to estimate the gravity effects that will be resulted from isostatic compensation for the area. With the resulting compensated gravity estimates, Moho depth that is a subsurface between the crust and mantle is estimated by the inversion in an iterative method with the constraints of 20 seismic depth estimates by the receiver function analysis, to minimize the uncertainty of non-uniqueness. Consequently, the average of the resulting crustal thickness estimate of Korean Peninsula is 32.15 km and the standard deviation is 3.12 km. Moho depth of South Korea estimated from this study is compared with the ones from the previous studies, showing they are approximately consistent. And the aspects of Moho undulation from the respective study are in common deep along Taebaek Mountains and Sobaek Mountains and low depth in Gyeongsang Basin relatively. Also, it is discussed that the terrain decorrelated free-air gravity anomalies inferring from the intracrustal characteristics of the crust are compared to the heat flow distributions of South Korea. The low-frequency components of terrain decorrelated Free-air gravity anomalies are highly correlated with the heat flow data, especially in the area of Gyeongsang basin where high heat flow causes to decrease the density of the rocks in the lower crust resulting in lowering the Moho depth by compensation. This result confirms that the high heat sources in this area coming from the upper mantle by Kim et al. (2008).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.414-419
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• 2007

Background: Replacing the ascending aorta is a standard surgical option for treating acute type A aortic dissection. But replacing the aortic arch has recently been reported as an acceptable procedure for this disease. We compared the effects of aortic arch replacement for treating acute type A aortic dissection with the effects of ascending aortic replacement. Material and Method: From 2002 to 2006, 25 patients undewent surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection, 12 patients undewent ascending aortic replacement and 13 patients underwent aortic arch replacement. Among the aortic arch group, an additional distal stent-graft was inserted during the operation in 5 patients. 19 patients (11 arch replaced patients and 8 ascending aortic replaced patients) were followed up at the out patient clinic for an average of $756{\pm}373$ days. All the patients undewent CT scanning and we analyzed their distal aortic segments. Result: 4 patients who underwent ascending aortic replacement died, so the overall mortality rate was 16%. Among the 11 long term followed-up arch replacement patients, 2 patients (18.1 %) developed distal aortic dilatation and one of them underwent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement later on. However, among the 8 the ascending aortic replaced patients, 5 patients (62.5%) developed distal aortic dilatation. Conclusion: Aortic arch replacement is one of the safe options for treating acute type A aortic dissection. Aortic arch replacement for treating acute type A aortic dissection could contribute to a reduced distal aortic dilatation rate and fewer secondary aortic procedures.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.260-269
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• 2009

Hwabuk Dam has been under construction to reduce flood damage in Nakdong River watershed and to supply stable water for middle area of Gyeongbuk Province. Therefore, fish investigation in up and downstream of the dam was conducted from 2004 to 2008 in order to determine any negative effect on fish community due to dam construction and to use as fundamental data for conserving species diversity and maintaining stream health. According to data analysis on water quality, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, suspended solids, and total E-coli had seasonal variation, but they did not significantly differ in sites. However, biological and chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a, nitrogen, and phosphorus representing organic matter and nutrient concentration were higher in upper site and decreased to lower site so that they differed by site. Concentration of arsenic among the heavy metals was less than 0.05 mg $L^{-1}$, which is regulated for protection of human health in water quality standard, except for 0.092 mg $L^{-1}$ in June 2005. During the study period, the total number of fish caught from the 6 sites was 10,263 representing 7 families 19 species. Among them, dominant and subdominant species were Korean chub (Zacco koreanus, 62.5%) and Chinese minnow (Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, 10.6%) which inhabit mostly in mid and upper streams, Korea. Among the 19 species, Korean endemic species were 9 species (47.4%) including Korean slender gudgeon (Squalidus gracilis majimae), Korean dark sleeper (Odontobutis platycephala), and Korean shiner (Coreoleuciscus splendidus). There was several individuals of the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Naktong nose loach (Koreocobitis nahtongensis), caught in 2005${\sim}$2007, and no introduced species of fish was found in entire sampling period. According to result of community analysis, dominance index decreased toward lower site, but diversity and richness indices increased toward lower site. The equation of length-weight relationship on the dominant species was TW=0.000003$(TL)^{3.2603}$. The parameter b in the equation was greater than 3.0 indicating good nutritional condition in the populations. Compared to populations of Korean chub in other streams, the population in Hwabuk Dam watershed had higher mean of condition factor by size indicating better growth rate. With fish fauna and multi-metric health assessment model in each sampling attempt, index of biotic integrity (IBI) was evaluated and it resulted mostly in good (26${\sim}$35) and excellent (36${\sim}$40) condition in all sites, and the mean of IBI was the highest in site 5. The results indicate that it is very important to study not only environmental impact assessment with fish composition but also stream health assessment in order to conserve healthy aquatic ecosystem.