• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.85 no.1
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2022

Background: Only a few studies directly compared the therapeutic efficacy and safety of two pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) in asthma. We analyzed the asthma treatment outcomes, safety, and patient preferences using formoterol/beclomethasone (FORM/BDP), a pMDI with extra-fine particles, compared with formoterol/budesonide (FORM/BUD), another pMDI with non-extra-fine particles. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, double-dummy parallel group study, 40 adult asthmatics were randomized to FORM/BDP group (n=18; active FORM/BDP and placebo FORM/BUD) or FORM/BUD group (n=22; active FORM/BUD and placebo FORM/BDP). During the two visits (baseline and end of 8-week treatment), subjects were asked to answer questionnaires including asthma control test (ACT), asthma control questionnaires (ACQ), and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA). Lung function, compliance with inhaler, and inhaler-handling skills were also assessed. Results: Ten subjects in the FORM/BDP group and 14 in the FORM/BUD group completed follow-up visits. ACT, ACQ, QLQAKA (a primary outcome), and adverse events did not differ between two groups. We found that the increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity and forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of the pulmonary volume in the FORM/BDP group was higher than in the FORM/BUD group. Regarding preference, subjects responded that the flume velocity of FORM/BDP was higher, but more adequate than that of FORM/BUD. They also answered that FORM/BDP reached the trachea and bronchus and irritated them significantly more than FORM/BUD. Conclusion: The use of pMDI with extra-fine particles may relieve small airway obstruction more than the one with non-extra-fine particles despite no significant differences in overall treatment outcomes. Some asthmatics have a misconception about the adequacy of high flume velocity of pMDIs.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.540-545
• /
• 2021

A transverse fracture is the most common type of displaced patella fracture requiring surgery. These fractures are commonly fixed with parallel Kirschner wires or screws that cross the fracture line, often with an additional tension band. Nevertheless, conventional fixation methods of patella fractures have prevalent complications caused by the protrusion of wires or pins. These complications necessitate additional surgery for hardware removal, increase medical cost, and can limit the function of the knee joint. This paper reports cases treated with a minimally invasive load-sharing percutaneous suture of the patella tendon. The procedure provides reliable fixation for transverse patella fractures, minimizes soft tissue injuries, preserves blood flow, and reduces postoperative pain. In addition, the procedure also reduces the irritation and pain caused by the internal fixture, thereby reducing the risk of restricted knee joint movement.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.85 no.3
• /
• pp.337-351
• /
• 2023

In this paper, the shear behavior of soft filling in rectangular-hollow concrete specimens was simulated using the 2D particle flow code (PFC2D). The laboratory-measured properties were used to calibrate some PFC2D micro-properties for modeling the behavior of geo-materials. The dimensions of prepared and modeled samples were 100 mm×100 mm. Some disc type narrow bands were removed from the central part of the model and different lengths of bridge areas (i.e., the distance between internal tips of two joints) with lengths of 30 mm, 50 mm, and 70 mm were produced. Then, the middle of the rectangular hollow was filled with cement material. Three filling sizes with dimensions of 5 mm×5 mm, 10 mm×5 mm, and 15 mm×5 mm were provided for different modeled samples. The parallel bond model was used to calibrate and re-produce these modeled specimens. Therefore, totally, 9 different types of samples were designed for the shear tests in PFC2D. The shear load was gradually applied to the model under a constant loading condition of 3 MPa (σc/3). The loading was continued till shear failure occur in the modeled concrete specimens. It has been shown that both tensile and shear cracks may occur in the fillings. The shear cracks mainly initiated from the crack (joint) tips and coalesced with another one. The shear displacements and shear strengths were both increased as the filling dimensions increased (for the case of a bridge area with a particular fixed length).

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.191-198
• /
• 2022

With the world's fast expanding energy usage comes a slew of new issues. Because one-third of energy is lost in overcoming friction, tremendous effort is being directed into minimizing friction. Surface texturing is the latest surface treatment technology that uses grooves and dimples on the friction surface of the machine to significantly reduce friction and improve wear resistance. Despite the fact that many studies on this issue have been conducted, most of them focused on parallel surfaces, with relatively few cases of converging films, as in most sliding bearings. This study investigated the lubrication performance of surface-textured inclined slider bearings. We analyzed the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations using a commercial computational fluid dynamics code, FLUENT. The results show the pressure and velocity distributions and the lubrication performance according to the number and orientation of rectangular dimples. Partial texturing somewhat improves the lubrication performance of inclined slider bearings. The number of dimples with the maximum load-carrying capacity (LCC) and minimum friction is determined. When the major axis of the dimple is arranged in the sliding direction, the LCC and friction reduction are maximized. However, full texturing significantly reduces the LCC of the slider bearing and increases the flow rate. The results have the potential to improve the lubrication performance of various sliding bearings, but further research is required.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
• /
• 2022.06a
• /
• pp.353-360
• /
• 2022

Due to the dense and complicated working environment, the construction industry is susceptible to many accidents. Worker's fall is a severe problem at the construction site, including falling into holes or openings because of the inadequate coverings as per the safety rules. During the construction or demolition of a building, openings and holes are formed in the floors and roofs. Many workers neglect to cover openings for ease of work while being aware of the risks of holes, openings, and gaps at heights. However, there are safety rules for worker safety; the holes and openings must be covered to prevent falls. The safety inspector typically examines it by visiting the construction site, which is time-consuming and requires safety manager efforts. Therefore, this study presented a worker-driven approach (the worker is involved in the reporting process) to facilitate safety managers by developing integrated computer vision and inertia sensors-based mobile applications to identify openings. The TensorFlow framework is used to design Convolutional Neural Network (CNN); the designed CNN is trained on a custom dataset for binary class openings and covered and deployed on an android smartphone. When an application captures an image, the device also extracts the accelerometer values to determine the inclination in parallel with the classification task of the device to predict the final output as floor (openings/ covered), wall (openings/covered), and roof (openings / covered). The proposed worker-driven approach will be extended with other case scenarios at the construction site.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.82-90
• /
• 2024

Objectives: Nitric oxide is the most important mediator of penile erection after the onset of sexual excitement. It activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), increasing penile blood flow. Most pharmaceutical medications prevent enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) from breaking down cGMP, thus keeping its level high. However, due to the adverse effects of pharmacological therapies, herbal drugs that improve sexual function have gained attention recently. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine amino acid on the sexual performance of individuals with erectile dysfunction (ED) using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Methods: Over three months, 98 men with erectile dysfunction were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg of herbal supplements or placebo pills. Each herbal tablet contained 100 mg of protodioscin, 35 mg of ginsenosides, and 250 mg of L-arginine. Results: The results showed that the changes in the average scores of ILEF-5 within each group before and after the intervention indicated that all parameters related to the improvement of sexual function in patients with erectile dysfunction improved in the herbal treatment group (p < 0.001). The herbal group significantly improved IIEF-5 scores in nondiabetics (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the changes of IIEF-5 scores between the two intervention and control groups in diabetic patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine have properties that increase energy and strengthen sexual function, making them suitable for patients with sexual disorders.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.131-148
• /
• 2024

Among the various decorative techniques in fashion design, this study is to study the decorative effect of the aesthetic finishing technique on fabric. Despite the recent expansion of the use of decorative techniques by aesthetic finishing of fabrics, most of the studies have focused on one or partial techniques, and there has been no part on the use of broad techniques or the application of overall design. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to collect the expression techniques of aesthetic finishing and its fashion cases that have been sporadically performed by examining the decorative techniques of fabric aesthetic finishing as a whole, and to provide practical data, help design thinking, and further contribute to the development of higher value-added products. To this end, this study was conducted in parallel with theoretical consideration and empirical research. First, through the analysis of decorative images and fashion cases examined based on theoretical considerations, six creative costumes were planned and produced by reorganizing them according to the flow of modern fashion using a design concept. As a result, it was confirmed that each aesthetic finishing technique is an effective decorative technique that is applied and harmonized to a part or all of the costume to create a new and unique surface effect and formative beauty, and to increase strong visual effects and luxury. Therefore, through this study, it is expected that it will help satisfy the aesthetic sense of consumers seeking high-end and individualization in the future. Therefore, in future research, it is necessary to expand and deal with the aesthetic finishing of fabrics in more depth, and it is expected that multifaceted research and development will continue.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.514-522
• /
• 2004

Background : Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are useful in chemoprevention of colorectal cancers. Continuous NSAID administation causes 40% to 50% reduction in relative risk for colorectal cancer. Sulindac possesses an antiproliferative effect and induces apoptosis and tumor regression on colon cancer and other types of cancers. We intended to analyze the effects of sulindac in three non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods : The human lung cancer cell lines, A549, NCI-H157 and NCI-H460 were used for this study. Viability was tested by MTT assay, and cell death rate was measured by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release. Apoptosis was estimated by flow cytometric analysis and nuclear staining. Results: Sulindac was able to decrease the viability of non-small cell lung cancer cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. In a parallel effect of sulindac on cell death rate, LDH release was increased in sulindac-treated lung cancer cells. Sulindac significantly increased apoptosis characterized by an increase of $sub-G_0/G_1$ fraction and morphological change of nuclei. The rate of apoptotic cells after sulindac treatment in lung cancer cells increased in a time- and dose- dependent manner in flow cytometric analysis. Apoptotic cells were defined as nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation of cells. Conclusion : Sulindac decreases viability and induces the apoptosis of lung cancer cells. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the potential mechanism of sulindac-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 2016

Damage to structures, such as bridge piers, are increasing rapidly due to the debris moving along rivers at the time of flooding. Therefore, the debris fin, debris deflector and debris sweeper, which are debris reduction systems, were produced in this study and an accumulation experiment was carried out on the experimental channel according to the existence of the reduction system. The debris fin is the reduction system that creates parallel flow on debris accumulated on the bridge to pass through the bridge, which was produced using wood. In addition, the debris deflector was produced using steel pipes and it has the type of detouring the direction of debris. The debris sweeper passes the debris using the magnetic force rotation of a screw-shaped cylindrical structure by water flow and it was produced using acrylic material. The experiment was carried out by analyzing the level of accumulation according to the hardness and dropping method of the debris and comparing the accumulation rate of reduction systems, and the experiment was carried out 5 times. According to the experimental results, there was a difference in the accumulation rate according to the type of reduction system and the shape of debris, and it often depended significantly on the initial shape of debris accumulation. The direct debris reduction effect on the bridge was higher in the order of the debris deflector, debris sweeper and debris fin, but in case of the debris deflector, damage, such as stream turbulence, changes in water level and river bed, and the loss of deflector can occur due to debris accumulated directly on the debris deflector. Therefore, it is necessary to design the debris deflector considering these issues.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.270-278
• /
• 2003

Transparency on the Total System Performance Assessment (TSPA) is the key issue to enhance the public acceptance for a permanent high level radioactive repository. Traditionally, the study on features, events and processes (FEPs) and associated scenarios has been regarded as the starting point to open the communicative discussion on TSPA such as what to evaluate, how to evaluate and how to translate outcomes into more friendly language that many stakeholders can easily understand and react with. However, in most cases, it has been limited to one way communication, because it is difficult for stakeholders outside the performance assessment field to assess the details on the story of the safety assessment, scenario and technical background of it. Fortunately, the advent of the internet era opens up the possibility of two way communication from the beginning of the performance assessment so that every stakeholder can exchange their keen opinions on the safety issues. To achieve it, KAERI develops the systematic approach from the FEPs to Assessment methods flow chart. All information is integrated into the web based program named FEAS (FEp to Assessment through Scenario development) under development in KAERI. In parallel, two independent systems are also under development the web based QA(Quality Assurance) system and the PA(Performance Assessment) input database. It is ideal to integrate the input data base with the QA system so that every data in the system can checked whenever necessary. Throughout the next phase R&D starting from the year 2003, these three systems will be consolidated into one unified system.