• Title/Summary/Keyword: Process Assessment

Search Result 4,130, Processing Time 0.031 seconds

Relationships between Nailfold Plexus Visibility, and Clinical Variables and Neuropsychological Functions in Schizophrenic Patients (정신분열병 환자에서 손톱 주름 총 시도(叢 視度) (Nailfold Plexus Visibility)와 임상양상, 신경심리 기능과의 관계)

  • Kang, Dae-Yeob;Jang, Hye-Ryeon
    • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
    • /
    • v.9 no.1
    • /
    • pp.50-61
    • /
    • 2002
  • Objectives:High nailfold plexus visibility can reflect central nervous system defects as an etiologic factor of schizophrenia indirectly. Previous studies suggest that this visibility is particularly related to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and frontal lobe deficiency. In this study, we examined the relationships between nailfold plexus visibility, and various clinical variables and neuropsychological functions in schizo-phrenic patients. Methods:Forty patients(21males, 19 females) satisfying the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and thirty eight normal controls(20 males, 18 females) were measured for Plexus Visualization Score(PVS) by using the capillary microscopic examination. For the assessment of psychopathology, process-reactivity, premorbid adjustment, and neuropsychological functions, we used Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), Ullmann-Giovannoni Process-Reactive Questionnaire(PRQ), Phillips Premorbid Adjustment Scale(PAS), Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(KWIS), Continuous Performance Test(CPT), Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST), and Word Fluency Test. We also collected data about clinical variables. Results:PVS was correlated with PANSS positive symptom score and composite score negatively. There were no correlations between PVS and PRQ score, PAS score and neuropsychological variables respectively. Conclusions:This study showed that nailfold plexus visibility was a characteristic feature in some schizophrenic patients, and that higher plexus visibility was associated with the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. There was no association between plexus visibility and neuropsychological functions.

  • PDF

The Effects of Near Miss and Accident Prevention Activities and the Culture of Patient Safety Management for the Patient Safety (Near Miss 사고 예방 활동과 환자안전관리 문화형성이 환자안전에 미치는 영향)

  • Chang, Ho-Suk;Lee, Gui-Won
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
    • /
    • v.14 no.2
    • /
    • pp.138-144
    • /
    • 2010
  • Purpose: Despite the rapidly changing healthcare environment, healthcare organizations have recognized the importance of patient safety management. But patient safety management has the problem of the lack of participation of members due to the process of focusing on the follow-up service and punishment. The department of nuclear medicine in Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital started this research to reduce the near miss and prevent patient safety accidents by both initiating the participatory near-miss-proof activities as an advance management and constructing a system without disadvantages of reporting. In addition, this research aims to establish a differentiated patient safety management system in the department of nuclear medicine. Materials and Methods: 1. Colleting cases of team members' past and present near miss and accidents(First data collection). 2. Quantifying the cases of near miss and accidents after identifying the degree of importance and urgency through surveys(Second data collection). 3. Quantifying cases and indentifying important points of contact through data analysis. 4. Making and standardizing a manual for important points of contact, and initiating participatory activities to prevent errors. 5. Activating web-based community for establishing the report system of near miss. 6. Estimating the result of before and after activities through surveys and focus group interviews. Results: 1) Quantified safety accidents and near miss in the department of nuclear medicine. About 50 near misses a month and one safety accident a year. 2) Establishing improvement measurements based on quantified data. About 11 participatory activities, the improvement of process, a manual for standardization. 3) Creating a system of safety culture and high participation rate of team members. Constructing a report system, making a check list and a slogan for safety culture, and establishing assessment index. 4) Activating communities for sharing the information of cases of near misses and accidents. 5) As the result of activities, the rate of near miss occurrence declined by 50% and the safety accident did not happen. Conclusion: The best service in the department of nuclear medicine is to provide patients with safety-guaranteed high-quality examination and cure. This research started from the question, 'what is the most faithful-to-the-basics way to provide the best service for patients?' and team members' common answer for this question was building a system with participation of all members. Building a system through the participatory improvement activities for preventing near miss and creating safety culture resulted in the 50% decline of near miss occurrence and no accident. This is a meaningful result from the perspective of advance management for patient safety. Moreover, this research paved the way for creating a culture to report and admit near miss or accidents by establishing a report system with no disadvantage of reporting. The system which sticks to the basics is the best service for patients and will form a patient safety culture system, which will lead to the customer satisfaction. Therefore, all members of the department of nuclear medicine will develop a differentiated patient safety culture with stabilizing the established system.

  • PDF

The Effect of Some Amendments to Reduce Ammonia during Pig Manure Composting (몇 가지 처리제의 첨가에 의한 돈분의 퇴비화 과정 중 암모니아 발생 저감 효과)

  • Joo, Jin-Ho;Kim, Dae-Hoon;Yoo, Jae-Hong;Ok, Yong-Sik
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
    • /
    • v.40 no.4
    • /
    • pp.269-273
    • /
    • 2007
  • Occurrence of malodor could cause adverse impacts on human health and increase public interest. Therefore, scientific methods to decrease odor is required. Endeavor to decrease odor from compost however has not fully been successful. The purpose of this research is assessment of some amendments to reduce $NH_3$ from immature composts. Calcium hydroxide was applied to composts due to it's characteristics to increase pH. Activated carbon and zerovalent iron (ZVI) were selected because of their adsorption properties. The research results were as follows: Calcium hydroxide, activated carbon, zerovalent iron increased the composting temperature above $60^{\circ}C$. The addition of calcium hydroxide, activated carbon, and ZVI to compastry process increased pH 8.6 - 8.8 from $1^{st}$ day to $14^{th}$ day. During the 14 days of composting, addition of calcium hydroxide, activated carbon and ZVI changed EC from $2.15-0.66dS\;m^{-1}$, $1.48-1.11dS\;m^{-1}$, respectively and $1.77-0.68dS\;m^{-1}$. The difference in EC of the compost was due to irregularities of samples. Organic matter in the compost decreased through out theexcept control. The $NH_4-N/NO_3-N$ ratio of all experimental compost increased through the process. The addition of activated carbon, calcium hydroxide and ZVI decreased $NH_3$ from 0.1ppm, 0.7ppm and 1.7ppm more than the control (pig manure and sawdust), 9.3ppm, in 30 days of composting. In conclusion, odor from prematured compost decreased by addition of chemicals like calcium hydroxide, activated carbon, zerovalent iron. Moreover, use of these $NH_3$ reducers alone or together combined at different periods of composting etc. could decrease $NH_3$.

A rock physics simulator and its application for $CO_2$ sequestration process ($CO_2$ 격리 처리를 위한 암석물리학 모의실헝장치와 그 응용)

  • Li, Ruiping;Dodds, Kevin;Siggins, A.F.;Urosevic, Milovan
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
    • /
    • v.9 no.1
    • /
    • pp.67-72
    • /
    • 2006
  • Injection of $CO_2$ into underground saline formations, due to their large storage capacity, is probably the most promising approach for the reduction of $CO_2$ emissions into the atmosphere. $CO_2$ storage must be carefully planned and monitored to ensure that the $CO_2$ is safely retained in the formation for periods of at least thousands of years. Seismic methods, particularly for offshore reservoirs, are the primary tool for monitoring the injection process and distribution of $CO_2$ in the reservoir over time provided that reservoir properties are favourable. Seismic methods are equally essential for the characterisation of a potential trap, determining the reservoir properties, and estimating its capacity. Hence, an assessment of the change in seismic response to $CO_2$ storage needs to be carried out at a very early stage. This must be revisited at later stages, to assess potential changes in seismic response arising from changes in fluid properties or mineral composition that may arise from chemical interactions between the host rock and the $CO_2$. Thus, carefully structured modelling of the seismic response changes caused by injection of $CO_2$ into a reservoir over time helps in the design of a long-term monitoring program. For that purpose we have developed a Graphical User Interface (GUI) driven rock physics simulator, designed to model both short and long-term 4D seismic responses to injected $CO_2$. The application incorporates $CO_2$ phase changes, local pressure and temperature changes. chemical reactions and mineral precipitation. By incorporating anisotropic Gassmann equations into the simulator, the seismic response of faults and fractures reactivated by $CO_2$ can also be predicted. We show field examples (potential $CO_2$ sequestration sites offshore and onshore) where we have tested our rock physics simulator. 4D seismic responses are modelled to help design the monitoring program.

Considerations for Helping Korean Students Write Better Technical Papers in English (한국 대학생들의 영어 기술 논문 작성 능력 향상을 위한 고찰)

  • Kim, Yee-Jin;Pak, Bo-Young;Lee, Chang-Ha;Kim, Moon-Kyum
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
    • /
    • v.10 no.3
    • /
    • pp.64-78
    • /
    • 2007
  • For Korean researchers, English is essential. In fact, this is the case for any researcher who is a non-native English speaker, as recognition and success is predicated on being published, while publications that reach the broadest audiences are in English. Unfortunately, university science and engineering programs in Korea often do not provide formal coursework to help students attain greater competence in English composition. Aggravating this situation is the general lack of literature covering this specific pedagogical issue. While there is plenty of information to help native speakers with technical writing and much covering general English composition for EFL learners, there is very little information available to help EFL learners become better technical writers. Thus, the purpose of this report is twofold. First, as most Korean educators in science and engineering are not well acquainted with pedagogical issues of EFL writing, this report provides a general introduction to some relevant issues. It reviews the importance of contrastive rhetoric as well as some considerations for choosing the appropriate teaching approach, class arrangement, and use of computer assisted learning tools. Secondly, a course proposal is discussed. Based on a review of student writing samples as well as student responses to a self-assessment questionnaire, the proposed course is intended to balance the needs of Korean EFL learners to develop grammar, process, and genre skills involved in technical writing. Although, the scope of this report is very modest, by sharing the considerations made towards the development of an EFL technical writing course it seeks to provide a small example to a field that is perhaps lacking examples.

The Content Analysis of the Clothing Life Unit in the Technology.Home Economics Textbooks of Middle School Based on the Elaboration Theory (정교화 교수이론에 근거한 중학교 기술.가정 교과서 의생활 영역 분석)

  • Heo, YoungSun;Choi, MinJi;Son, Juyoung;Kim, SaetByeol;Baek, MinKyung;Shim, Huensup
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
    • /
    • v.26 no.3
    • /
    • pp.35-52
    • /
    • 2014
  • This study analyzed the 12 different technology home economics textbooks I, II for middle school students and the content systems of the textbooks by 7 instructional strategies in Reigeluth's elaboration theory. The units analyzed were 'Clothing and self-expression' and 'Eco-friendly clothing life and recycling by reform'. The purpose of this study was to provide basic information for the development of textbooks and teaching materials by analyzing current textbooks. Researchers analyzed the textbooks individually using pre-developed analysis frame using Reigeluth's elaboration theory. The results of the study were as follows. The conceptual elaboration process was used in the unit of 'Clothing and self-expression' of all the textbooks used in this study, and procedural elaboration process was mostly used in the unit of 'Eco-friendly clothing life and recycling by reform'. The strategies of advance learning ability were presented mostly in the forms of 'Learning Objective', 'Thought Opening', 'Key terms' in either unit and sub unit. The strategies of summarizer were presented as 'Unit Summary', 'Cleanup' and 'Assessment'. The strategies of synthesizer were used in all the textbooks as the 'Exploration' to increase the students interest through the promotion of the learning content in a variety of activities and projects. The cognitive activator strategies were shown in all of the textbooks using mostly 'Figure,' and others such as 'Table,' 'Diagram', and 'Explanation of Terms'. The strategies of learner control were used to guide the supplement and deepen the learning by various forms. However the analogy strategies were hardly used in units of textbooks analyzed in this study. As a result, the technology home economics textbooks I, II for middle school students applied the Reigeluth's elaboration theory, except the analogy strategies. It is recommended to utilize th analogy strategies and various activities to enhance the students' understanding and participation.

  • PDF

Quantitative Assessment of the Radiation Exposure during Pathologic Process in the Sentinel Iymph Node Biopsy using Radioactive Colloid (방사성 콜로이드를 이용한 감시림프절 생검 병리처리과정에서 방사선 피폭의 정량적 평가)

  • Song, Yoo-Sung;Lee, Jeong-Won;Lee, Ho-Young;Kim, Seok-Ki;Kang, Keon-Wook;Kook, Myeong-Cherl;Park, Weon-Seo;Lee, Geon-Kook;Hong, Eun-Kyung;Lee, Eun-Sook
    • Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
    • /
    • v.41 no.4
    • /
    • pp.309-316
    • /
    • 2007
  • Purpose: Sentinel lymph node biopsy became the standard procedure in early breast cancer surgery. Faculty members might be exposed to a trace amount of radiation. The aim of this study is to quantify the radiation exposure and verify the safety of the procedure and the facilities, especially during pathologic process. Materials and Methods: Sentinel lymph node biopsies with Tc-99m human serum albumin were performed as routine clinical work. Exposed radiation doses were measured in pathologic technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, and nuclear medicine physician using a thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) during one month. We also measured the residual radioactivities or absorbed dose rates, the exposure distance and time during procedure, the radiation dose of the waste and the ambient equivalent dose of the pathology laboratory. Results: Actual exposed doses were 0.21 and 0.85 (uSv/study) for the whole body and hand of pathology technologist after 47 sentinel node pathologic preparations were performed. Whole body exposed doses of nuclear medicine physician and technologist were 0.2 and 2.3 (uSv/study). According to this data and the exposure threshold of the general population (1 mSv), at least 1100 studies were allowed in pathology technologist. The calculated exposed dose rates (${\mu}$ Sv/study) from residual radioactivities data were 2.47/ 22.4 ${\mu}$ Sv (whole body/hand) for the surgeon; 0.22/ 0 ${\mu}$ Sv for operation nurse. The ambient equivalent dose of the pathology laboratory was 0.02-0.03 mR/hr. The radiation dose of the waste was less than 100 Bq/g and nearly was not detected. Conclusion: Pathologic procedure relating sentinel lymph node biopsy using radioactive colloid is safe in terms of the radiation safety.(Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2007;41(4);309-316)

Technical Standards and Safety Review of the Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility (중.저준위 방사성폐기물 처분시설에 대한 기술기준 및 안전심사)

  • Cheong, Jae-Hak;Lee, Kwan-Hee;Lee, Yun-Keun;Jeong, Chan-Woo;Rho, Byung-Hwan
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
    • /
    • v.6 no.4
    • /
    • pp.357-368
    • /
    • 2008
  • On July 31, 2008, the Government issued the construction and operation permit for the first low and intermediate level radioactive waste disposal facility in the Republic of Korea. In this paper, the fundamental regulatory framework, regulatory requirements and technical standards of the disposal facility are introduced, and the phased review process adopted for evaluation of the safety of the facility is briefly described. The Atomic Energy Act sets forth a stepwise regulatory framework for the whole life-cycle of the disposal facility such as siting, design, construction, operation, closure and institutional control. More detailed regulatory requirements and technical standards are stipulated in the subsequent regulations of the Atomic Energy Act and a series of Notices issued by the Ministry of Eduction, Science and Technology. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, as entrusted by the Ministry under the Atomic Energy Act, conducted safety review on the disposal facility, and evaluated the compliance with relevant criteria in all technical elements(i.e. siting and structural safety, radiological environmental impact, operational safety, systems and components, quality assurance, and total systematic performance assessment, etc.). The overall safety review process can be phased into inception phase, initial review phase, main review phase and completion phase. The review results were reported to and deliberated by the five Sub-committees of the Special Committee on Nuclear Safety, and then reported to the Ministry. The Ministry issued the construction and operation permit of the disposal facility through the deliberation of the review results by the Nuclear Safety Commission. Hereafter, the safety of the repository will be reassured by a series of subsequent regulatory inspections and reviews under the Atomic Energy Act. In addition, the licensee's continuous implementation of the "Safety Promotion Plan" may also enhance the long-term safety of the repository and contribute to build-up the confidence of the safety case.

  • PDF

Complex Terrain and Ecological Heterogeneity (TERRECO): Evaluating Ecosystem Services in Production Versus water Quantity/quality in Mountainous Landscapes (산지복잡지형과 생태적 비균질성: 산지경관의 생산성과 수자원/수질에 관한 생태계 서비스 평가)

  • Kang, Sin-Kyu;Tenhunen, John
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
    • /
    • v.12 no.4
    • /
    • pp.307-316
    • /
    • 2010
  • Complex terrain refers to irregular surface properties of the earth that influence gradients in climate, lateral transfer of materials, landscape distribution in soils properties, habitat selection of organisms, and via human preferences, the patterning in development of land use. Complex terrain of mountainous areas represents ca. 20% of the Earth's terrestrial surface; and such regions provide fresh water to at least half of humankind. Most major river systems originate in such terrain, and their resources are often associated with socio-economic competition and political disputes. The goals of the TERRECO-IRTG focus on building a bridge between ecosystem understanding in complex terrain and spatial assessments of ecosystem performance with respect to derived ecosystem services. More specifically, a coordinated assessment framework will be developed from landscape to regional scale applications to quantify trade-offs and will be applied to determine how shifts in climate and land use in complex terrain influence naturally derived ecosystem services. Within the scope of TERRECO, the abiotic and biotic studies of water yield and quality, production and biodiversity, soil processing of materials and trace gas emissions in complex terrain are merged. There is a need to quantitatively understand 1) the ecosystem services derived in regions of complex terrain, 2) the process regulation occurred to maintain those services, and 3) the sensitivities defining thresholds critical in stability of these systems. The TERRECO-IRTG is dedicated to joint study of ecosystems in complex terrain from landscape to regional scales. Our objectives are to reveal the spatial patterns in driving variables of essential ecosystem processes involved in ecosystem services of complex terrain region and hence, to evaluate the resulting ecosystem services, and further to provide new tools for understanding and managing such areas.

A Study on the Total Mercury (Hg) Monitoring and Methylmercury (MeHg) Analysis method and Exposure Assessment of Methylmercury (MeHg) in Marine Products (수산물 중 총수은 모니터링 및 메틸수은 분석법 고찰)

  • Kwak, Shin-Hye;Kim, Ki-Cheol;Kim, Kyung-A;Kang, Suk-Ho;Kwon, Hye-Jung;Cho, Yun-Sik;Kang, Kyung-Ja;Lee, Pil-Suk;Cho, Wook-Hyun;Moh, Ara;Park, Yong-Bae;Yoon, Mi-Hye
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
    • /
    • v.33 no.3
    • /
    • pp.168-175
    • /
    • 2018
  • The use of microwave-assisted extraction and an acid-base clean-up process to determine the amount of methylmercury (MeHg) in marine products was suggested in order to improve the complicated sample preparation process. The optimal conditions for microwave-assisted extraction was developed by using a 10% NaCl solution as an extraction solution, setting the extraction temperature at $50^{\circ}C$, and holding for 15 minutes to extract the MeHg in marine products. A NaOH solution was selected as a clean-up substitute instead of L-cysteine solution. Overall, 670 samples of marine products were analyzed for total mercury (Hg). Detection levels were in the range of $0.0006{\sim}0.3801{\mu}g/kg$. MeHg was analyzed and compared using the current food code and the proposed method for 49 samples which contained above 0.1 mg/kg of Hg. Detection ranges of methylmercury followed by the Korea Food Code and the proposed method were $75.25(ND{\sim}516.93){\mu}g/kg$ and $142.07(100.14{\sim}244.55){\mu}g/kg$, respectively. The total analytical time of proposed method was reduced by more than 25% compared with the current food code method.