• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2009

Purpose: Extracorporeal elimination of drugs is a critical part of managing poisonings, although the indications and optimal method remain a matter of debate. The aim of this study is to report our clinical experiences with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), as performed by emergency room physicians, as method of extracorporeal drug elimination in patients with poisoning. Methods: This study was a retrospective study of the consecutive patients who underwent CRRT, as performed by an emergency room physician, for acute poisoning. The patient characteristics, the kinds of drugs and the method of extracorporeal elimination were analyzed by reviewing the patients' charts. Results: During eleven months, 26 patients with acute poisoning underwent extracorporeal elimination (2 patients; intermittent hemodialysis, 24 patients; CRRT). The mean time from the decision to performing extracorporeal elimination was $206.0{\pm}36.8$ minutes for intermittent hemodialysis, $62.9{\pm}8.5$ minutes for continuous venoveno-hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) and $56.6{\pm}6.8$ minutes for charcoal hemoperfusion. For the patients with CRRT, CVVHDF was conducted in 10 patients (3 patients; valproic acid, 2 patients; Lithium, 1 patient; salicylates, 1 patient; methanol) and charcoal hemoperfusion by using CRRT was done in 14 patients (13 patients; paraquat, 1 patient; dapsone). For the 12 patients who required hemodialysis due to severe poisoning, 7 patients underwent CRRT because of their unstable vital signs. Conclusion: CRRT was an effective method of extracorporeal drug elimination in patients with acute poisoning, and especially for the cases with unstable vital sign and for those patients who required an early start of extracorporeal elimination according to the characteristics of the drug. (ED note: the writing of the abstract was not clear. Check it carefully.)

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2017

Objective : To compare the clinical outcomes and biomechanical effects of total disc replacement (TDR) and posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) and to propose relative inclusion criteria. Methods : Thirty-five patients who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2008 were included. All patients had single-level disease and only radiculopathy. The overall sagittal balance and angle and height of a functional segmental unit (FSU; upper and lower vertebral body of the operative lesion) were assessed by preoperative and follow-up radiographs. C2-7 range of motion (ROM), FSU, and the adjacent segment were also checked. Results : The clinical outcome of TDR (group A) was tended to be superior to that of PCF (group B) without statistical significance. In the group A, preoperative and postoperative upper adjacent segment level motion values were $8.6{\pm}2.3$ and $8.4{\pm}2.0$, and lower level motion values were $8.4{\pm}2.2$ and $8.3{\pm}1.9$. Preoperative and postoperative FSU heights were $37.0{\pm}2.1$ and $37.1{\pm}1.8$. In the group B, upper level adjacent segment motion values were $8.1{\pm}2.6$ and $8.2{\pm}2.8$, and lower level motion values were $6.5{\pm}3.3$ and $6.3{\pm}3.1$. FSU heights were $37.1{\pm}2.0$ and $36.2{\pm}1.8$. The postoperative FSU motion and height changes were significant (p<0.05). The patient's satisfaction rates for surgery were 88.2% in group A and 88.8% in group B. Conclusion : TDR and PCF have favorable outcomes in patients with unilateral soft disc herniation. However, patients have different biomechanical backgrounds, so the patient's biomechanical characteristics and economic status should be understood and treated using the optimal procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.394-402
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• 2023

Background: The optimal choice of valve substitute for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in pediatric patients remains a matter of debate. This study investigated the outcomes following AVR using mechanical prostheses in children. Methods: Forty-four patients younger than 15 years who underwent mechanical AVR from March 1990 through March 2023 were included. The outcomes of interest were death or transplantation, hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events, and reoperation after mechanical AVR. Adverse events included any death, transplant, aortic valve reoperation, and major thromboembolic or hemorrhagic event. Results: The median age and weight at AVR were 139 months and 32 kg, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 56 months. The most commonly used valve size was 21 mm (14 [31.8%]). There were 2 in-hospital deaths, 1 in-hospital transplant, and 1 late death. The overall survival rates at 1 and 10 years post-AVR were 92.9% and 90.0%, respectively. Aortic valve reoperation was required in 4 patients at a median of 70 months post-AVR. No major hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events occurred. The 5- and 10-year adverse event-free survival rates were 81.8% and 72.2%, respectively. In univariable analysis, younger age, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, and smaller valve size were associated with adverse events. The cut-off values for age and prosthetic valve size to minimize the risk of adverse events were 71 months and 20 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Mechanical AVR could be performed safely in children. Younger age, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and smaller valve size were associated with adverse events. Thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications might rarely occur.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2024

To investigate the seismic performance of steel pipe-aeolian sand recycled concrete columns, this study designed and produced five specimens. Low-cycle repeated load tests were conducted while maintaining a constant axial compression ratio. The experiment aimed to examine the impact of different aeolian sand replacement rates on the seismic performance of these columns. The test results revealed that the mechanical failure modes of the steel pipe-recycled concrete column and the steel pipe-aeolian sand recycled concrete column were similar. Plastic hinges formed and developed at the column foot, and severe local buckling occurred at the bottom of the steel pipe. Interestingly, the bulging height of the damaged steel pipe was reduced for the specimen mixed with an appropriate amount of wind-deposited sand under the same lateral displacement. The hysteresis curves of all five specimens tested were relatively full, with no significant pinching phenomenon observed. Moreover, compared to steel tube-recycled concrete columns, the steel tube-aeolian sand recycled concrete columns exhibited improved seismic energy dissipation capacity and ductility. However, it was noted that as the aeolian sand replacement rate increased, the bearing capacity of the specimen increased first and then decreased. The seismic performance of the specimen was relatively optimal when the aeolian sand replacement rate was 30%. Upon analysis and comparison, the damage analysis model based on stiffness and energy consumption showed good agreement with the test results and proved suitable for evaluating the damage degree of steel pipe-wind-sand recycled concrete structures.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.3 s.81
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• pp.319-326
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• 2004

This paper investigates the effect of the concrete containing mineral admixtures(pozzolanic materials such as fly-ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, silica fume and meta kaolin) on the resistance properties to chloride ion invasion. The purposed testing procedure was applied to the concrete replaced mineral admixtures for 3${\~}$4 replacement ratios under water-binder ratios ranged from 0.40 to 0.55. For the electro-migration test, Tang and Nilsson's method was used to estimate the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion. As a results, the water-binder ratios, kinds of mineral admixtures and replacement ratios, water curing periods had a great effect on the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion, and the optimal replacement ratios had a limitation for each mineral admixtures. Also, the use of mineral admixtures by mass(replacement of OPC) enhance the resistance ability against chloride penetration compared with the plain concrete. The compressive strength was shown related to the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion, the compressive strength increases with the diffusion coefficient of chloride ion decreasing. Below the 50 MPa, the variation of diffusion coefficient of concrete replaced mineral admixtures was bigger than that of plain concrete.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2006

Fluid replacement and conductivity logging have been applied to three boreholes in coastal aquifer in order to identify permeable fractures and to estimate the origin of saline groundwater. Fluid replacement technique measures and monitors the change of borehole fluid conductivity with depth under ambient or pumping condition after replacing the original borehole fluid with different one (by pumping out original one and injecting simultaneously new one at the hole bottom). After the replacement of borehole fluid, the change of fluid conductivity can be the direct indicator of the intake flow of formation water through aquifer such as permeable fractures or porous formations. The conductivity profiles measured with times therefore indicate the locations of permeable zone or fractures within the open hole or the fully slotted casing hole. As a result of fluid conductivity logging for three boreholes at coastal area in Yeonggwang, Jeonam Province, it is interpreted that the seawater intrusion in this area is not by remnant saline groundwater after land reclamation but mainly by intrusion of saline water through fractured rock. This approach might be useful for assessing the characteristics of seawater intrusion, the design of optimal pumping, the mitigation of seawater intrusion using freshwater injection, and estimating the hydraulic characteristics in coastal aquifer.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.6 s.167
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• pp.545-552
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to develop an optimal, long-term planning model for improvement of water distribution networks. The water distribution system is divided into sub-zones and the decision of improvement plan is made for each sub-zone. Costs for replacement, rehabilitation and repair, benefits including reduced pumping and leakage costs, and hydraulic reliability are considered to make optimal decision for improvement planning of water network. Harmony search algorithm is applied to optimize the system and hydraulic analysis model EPANET is interfaced with the optimal decision model to check the hydraulic reliability, The developed model is applied to actual water distribution system in Daegu-city, South Korea. The new model which use durability, conveyance and cost as a decision variable is different from existing methods which use only burying period and pipe type and can be used as optimal decision making system for water distribution network.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2005

In this study, the problem formulation and solution technique using genetic algorithms for design optimization of laminate composite cylindrical beam section are presented. The hollow cylindrical beams we usually used in the wheel chair. If the weight of wheel chair is reduced, it will lead to huge improvement in passenger's mobility and comfort. In this context, the replacement of steel by high performance and light weight composite material along with optimal design will be a good contribution in the process of weight reduction of a wheel chair. An artificial genetics approach for the design optimization of hollow cylindrical composite beam is presented. On applying the genetic algorithm, the optimal dimensions of hollow cylindrical composite beams which have equivalent rigidities to those of corresponding hollow cylindrical steel beams are obtained. Also structural analysis is conducted on the entire wheel chair structure incorporating Tsai-Wu failure criteria. The maximum Tsai-Wu failure criteria index is $0.192\times10^{-3}$ which is moth less than value of 1.00 indicating no failure is observed under excessive loading condition. It is found that the substitution of steel by composite material could reduce the weight of wheel chair up to 45%.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) is an important treatment modality of Graves' disease (GD), but there is still not a consensus on the optimal dosage regimen. We studied the treatment success rate of different RAI doses, and examined which clinical markers were useful for determining the optimal RAI dosage for successful therapy in Korean patients. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 123 patients with GD treated with RAI between 2004 and 2014 at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital. The responder group was defined as patients who developed hypothyroidism requiring levothyroxine replacement following RAI, regardless of the RAI dosage. Results: A total of 54 patients (43.9%) became hypothyroid after the first dose, and 31 needed two to four additional doses to achieve hypothyroidism. In the responder group as a whole (85 patients), the mean total dose of RAI was $15.5{\pm}7.0mCi$ and the mean thyroid volume (TV) was $35.4{\pm}23.4mL$. When divided into low dose (<15 mCi, n=46) and high dose (${\geq}15mCi$, n=39) responder groups, TV was significantly lower in the low-dose responder group ($25.7{\pm}11.4$ vs. $48.4{\pm}31.3$, p<0.001). The optimal cut-off TV for the low-dose responder group was <32.37 mL (sensitivity 80.9%, specificity 76.7%). Conclusion: TV had significant effects on the outcome of RAI in GD patients. The optimal fixed RAI dose for Korean GD patients with a large goiter (${\geq}33mL$) should be at least 15 mCi to achieve the best outcome.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2009

The peculiarity pointed out for high strength concrete is the occurrence of spalling during a fire. Recently, there are many efforts such as development of all types of spalling reducing materials and other innovative materials in various fields. Need is now to examine the adequate mixing proportions of these materials. This study intended to derive experimentally and statistically mix proportions that can represent the basic quality requirements as well as the optimal effects on the fire-resistance for 4 types of functional materials that are metakaolin, waste tire chip, polypropylene fiber and steel fiber. Here, the tests were planned through an optimal test method using an orthogonal array table with 4 parameters and 3 levels. The statistical analysis adopted the response surface analysis method. Results verified mutual complementary contribution between the materials when using a combination of the functional materials selected as parameters for the strengthening of the fire-resistance of 80 MPa-class high strength concrete. Besides, the optimal conditions of the fire-resistance strengthening materials derived through response surface analysis were a volumetric replacement of silica fume by 80% of metakaolin, a volumetric replacement of fine aggregates by 3% of tire waste chip, and an addition of 0.2% of the whole volume by polypropylene fiber without mixing of steel fiber. In such cases, the basic characteristics as well as the fire-resistant characteristics of high strength concrete were also satisfied.