• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2001

Objective: To evaluate the biodurability of the covering material in retrievable metallic stents covered with polycarbonate polyurethane. Materials and Methods: Using a peristaltic pump at a constant rate of 1ml/min, bile was recirculated from a reservoir through a long tube containing four stents. Each of these was removed from the system every two weeks and a radial tensile strength test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. Each stent, removed at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, was compared with a control stent not exposed to bile juice. Results: Gross examination showed that stents were intact at 2 weeks, but at 4, 6 and 8 weeks cracks were observed. The size of these increased gradually in accordance with the duration of exposure, and at 8 weeks several large holes in the polyurethane membrane were evident. With regard to radial tensile strength, extension and peak load at break were 84.47% and 10.030 N/mm, 54.90% and 6.769 N/mm, 16.55% and 2.452 N/mm, 11.21% and 1.373 N/mm at 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy at 2 weeks revealed intermittent pitting and cracking, and examination at 4, 6 and 8 weeks showed that the size of these defects was gradually increasing. Conclusion: When the polyurethane membrane was exposed to bile, biodegradation was first observed at week two and increased gradually according to the duration of exposure.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.60-72
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• 1994

Background: The number of outpatients visiting large university teaching hospitals has increased drastically with the introduction of a nationwide health care insurance in 1989 and the improvement of the socio-economic status of the population. This resulted in long waiting times for services, particularly prescribed drugs, which have been patients' chief complaints. Hospitals have tried to solve the problem with limited success because their approach lacked comprehensive research. The objective of this study is to investigate associations between waiting times and variables defining a total work system. Methods: Data for the outpatient pharmacy department in a tertiary care university teaching hospital located in Seoul was analyzed to achieve the study objective. Associations of pharmacy system variables -- work load, work force, pharmacist work schedule, machine problems, and inventory control -- with mean and 99th percentile of waiting times were examined by the hierarchical stepwise regression method. Day was a unit of the analyses. Results: The regression models explained 65.8% of variance in the mean waiting time and 61.34% in the 99th percentile of waiting times. The break-down of the printer for drug envelops, Automatic Tablet Counters (ATCs), and main computer system lasted longer than 30 minutes increased the mean for 7.7 minutes, 4.5 minutes, and 7.0 minutes, respectively, and the 99th percentile for 14.8 minutes, 9.0 minutes, and 15.7 minutes, respectively. Concerning the work force, study results showed that there were significant differences in the productivity of pharmacists with work experience more than three years, one to three years, and less than one year, and showed that peak time aid work by pharmacists at job assignments other than the outpatient pharmacy, part-time pharmacists, and the installation of ATCs were effective in reducing waiting times, Finally, study findings indicated that the operational policy of work assignment and rotation schedule, supply and inventory of drugs at work tables, and readiness for undisrupted work during the work hours could have a significant effect on waiting times. Conclusion: The study results indicated that efforts to reduce waiting times for prescribed drugs should be geared toward every components of the pharmacy work system ranging from work schedule of pharmacists and supply of dugs at work tables. These findings should provide hospital managers with right directions in battling the problem.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.4689-4696
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate biomechanical characteristics of trekking shoes using 3D Bootie method as mimics barefoot form of F Co. that provides the best comfort and plantar pressure dispersion. The control group is normal trekking shoes of M Co. and K Co.. 13 healthy males measured the foot pressure, EMG and GRF. Collected data was analyzed using One-way ANOVA in order to investigate the effects of each trekking shoes. The results are as follows: Trekking shoe of F Co. was significantly wider in contact area than others at MF and significantly lower in maximum force, peak pressure than others at RF. In the case of muscle activity, acted in the same way as the effect of barefoot walking. In the case of GRF, effectively absorbed the impact force, so it is possible to efficient walking. As a result of the analysis, trekking shoe using of 3D Bootie method of F Co. can be efficient walking by reducing the load of foot during walking.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.10-24
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• 2007

In the dissertation, a power conversion system for fuel cell is composed of a PWM inverter with LC filter in order to convert fuel cell voltage to a single phase 220[V]. In addition, new insulated DC-DC converters are proposed in order that fuel cell voltage is boosted to 380[V]. In this paper, it requires smaller components than existing converters, which makes easy control. The proposed DC-DC converter controls output power by the adjustment of phase-shift width using switch $S_5\;and\;S_6$ in the secondary switch which provides 93-97[%] efficiency in the wide range of output voltage. Fuel cell simulator is implemented to show similar output characteristics to actual fuel cell. Appropriate dead time td enables soft switching to the range where the peak value of excitation current in a high frequency transformer is in accordance with current in the primary circuit. Moreover, appropriate setting to serial inductance La reduces communication loss arisen at light-load generator and serge voltage arisen at a secondary switch and serial diode. Finally, TMS320C31 board and EPLD using PWM switching technique to act a single phase full-bridge inverter which is planed to make alternating current suitable for household

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

Recently, the number of high-rise buildings being built in Korea by major construction companies for residential and commercial use has been increasing. When constructing a high-rise building, it is necessary to apply massive amounts of concrete to form a mat foundation that can withstand the huge load of the upper structure. However, it is of increasing concern that due to limitations in terms of the amount of placing equipment, available job-sites and systems for mass concrete placement in the construction field, it is not always possible to place a great quantity of concrete simultaneously in a large-scale mat foundation, and for this reason consistency between placement lift cannot be secured. In addition, a mat foundation Is likely to crack due to the stress caused by differences inhydration heat generation time. To derive a solution for these problems, this study provides test results of a hydration heat crack reduction method by applying placement lift change and setting time control with a super retarding agent for mass concrete in a large-scale mat foundation. Mock-up specimens with different mixtures and placement liftswere prepared at the job-site of a newly-constructed high-rise building. The test results show that slump flow of concrete before and after adding the super retarding agent somewhat Increases as the target retarding time gets longer, while the air content shows no great difference. The setting time was observed to be retarded as the target retarding time gets longer. As the target retarding time gets longer, compressive strength appears to be decreased at an early stage, but as time goes by, compressive strength gets higher, and the compressive strength at 28 days becomes equal or higher to that of plain concrete without a super retarding agent. For the effect of placement lift change and super retarding agent on the reduction of hydration heat, the application of 2 and 4 placement lifts and a super retarding agent makes it possible to secure consistency and reduce temperature difference between placement lifts, while also extending the time to reach peak temperature. This implies that the possibility of thermal crack induced by hydration heat is reduced. The best results are shown in the case of applying 4 placement lifts.