• 한국주거학회논문집
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.11-19
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• 2003

This study intends to predict prospective defects and establish the plan of Preventive Maintenance through research and analysis of defect occurrences and their repair costs in the public equipment of ‘H’ apartment house from 1998 to 2001. According to results of the analysis, more than 90% of defects and their repair costs for 4 years of the building have occurred in heating, hot water and water supply equipments. In case of specific classification in each equipment, more than 60% of defects were found at hot water pipes and heating pipes, and their repair costs covered more than 60% of the total defect costs. After two repairs by ‘Preventive Maintenance’ had been performed in the year 1998, total defects and defects of each equipment each yew have increased in number from 1999 to 2001. But total repair costs and repair costs of each equipment have not increased as time has gone by, because repair costs have relationship with the price of materials and labor, the part of defect and the scale of repair.

• 대한청각학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: To determine the efficacy of filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit for the treatment of otomycosis. Subjects and Methods: This prospective study included 40 patients who were referred to our clinic with complaints of ear itching, pain, and fullness, and were diagnosed with unilateral otomycosis. After cleaning the mycotic hyphae from the external auditory meatus, the ear canal was filled with 1% clotrimazole, using an intravenous catheter and syringe. The patients received follow-up examinations on post-treatment days 7, 15, and 45. Results: The follow-up otomicroscopic examinations revealed that 95% of the ear canals were entirely clean and that all symptoms had resolved. The post-treatment scores of pain, aural fullness and itching were significantly lower than the pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). Conclusions: Filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit is an easy, efficient, and cost-effective treatment for otomycosis. Additionally, high patient compliance makes this treatment superior to long-term topical therapy.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: To determine the efficacy of filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit for the treatment of otomycosis. Subjects and Methods: This prospective study included 40 patients who were referred to our clinic with complaints of ear itching, pain, and fullness, and were diagnosed with unilateral otomycosis. After cleaning the mycotic hyphae from the external auditory meatus, the ear canal was filled with 1% clotrimazole, using an intravenous catheter and syringe. The patients received follow-up examinations on post-treatment days 7, 15, and 45. Results: The follow-up otomicroscopic examinations revealed that 95% of the ear canals were entirely clean and that all symptoms had resolved. The post-treatment scores of pain, aural fullness and itching were significantly lower than the pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). Conclusions: Filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit is an easy, efficient, and cost-effective treatment for otomycosis. Additionally, high patient compliance makes this treatment superior to long-term topical therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.351-355
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• 2023

Background: Wet cupping (WC) is an efficient and cost-effective technique for removing metabolic waste from the bloodstream via the skin. The study aimed to examine the effect of WC on cholesterol levels including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a Sudanese population. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 30 participants undergoing regular WC therapy were enrolled. Blood samples collected twice: pre-WC therapy (case group) and 10-14 days afterward (controls). Results: Of the participants, 56.67% were male and 43.33% were female, aged 24-69. Pre-WC TC and LDL-C levels were significantly higher than the post-WC control group (p = 0.001). Conversely, HDL-C levels decreased significantly in the pre-WC cases compared to controls (p = 0.001). No significant sex-based difference in mean cholesterol levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: After WC, males and females experienced significant reductions in TC and LDL-C, and significant increase in HDL-C.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.111-131
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• 2024

Lignin-derived porous carbon has been identified as a versatile electrode material for supercapacitors (SCs) in energy storage systems (ESSs) owing to their intrinsic advantages including good electrical conductivity, low cost, high thermal and chemical stability, and high porosity, which stem from high surface, appropriate pore distribution, tailored morphologies, heterostructures, and diverse derivates. In this review, to provide a fundamental understanding of the properties of lignin, we first summarize the origin, historical development, and basic physicochemical properties. Next, we describe essential strategies for the preparation of lignin-derived porous carbon electrode materials and then highlight the latest advances in the utilization of lignin-derived porous carbon materials as advanced electrode materials. Finally, we provide some of our own insights into the major challenges and prospective research directions of lignin-derived porous carbon materials for supercapacitors. We believe that this review will provide general guidance for the design of next-generation electrode materials for supercapacitors.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.533-541
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• 2019

Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been increasingly utilized, especially in screening for high-risk cases, because of its high sensitivity and superior ability to detect cancers as compared with mammography and ultrasound. Several limitations such as higher cost, longer examination time, longer interpretation time, and low availability have hindered the wider application of MRI, especially for screening of average-risk women. To overcome some of these limitations and increase access to MRI screening, an abbreviated breast MRI protocol has been introduced. Abbreviated breast MRI is becoming popular and challenges the status quo. This review aims to present an overview of abbreviated MRI, discuss the current findings, and introduce ongoing prospective trials.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권12호
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• pp.7359-7366
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• 2013

Objective: To assess the effects of perioperative comprehensive supportive care interventions on outcome of Chinese esophageal cancer patients in a prospective study. Methods: 60 patients with primary esophageal carcinoma were randomized into an intervention group (IG, n=31) and a control group (CG, n=29). The Chinese version of symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) was adopted to assess their psychological status. The interventions, including health education, psychological support, stress management, coping strategies and behavior training, were carried out in 3 phases (preoperative, postoperative I and postoperative II), and psychological effects were thereafter evaluated accordingly before surgery, and 1 week, 4 weeks and 24 weeks post-surgery. Medical costs were estimated at discharge. Survival of patients was estimated each year post-surgery. General health status and satisfaction-with-hospital were surveyed by a follow-up questionnaire 4 years post-surgery. Results: All the subjects demonstrated higher scores in the preoperative phase than the normal range of Chinese population concerning 7 psychological domains including somatization, obsessive-compulsive, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety and paranoid ideation. Although no significant difference was observed between the two groups at admission, the scores of IG, which tended to decrease at a faster rate, were generally lower than those of CG at weeks 1, 4 and 24 post-surgery. The length of hospital stay and medical costs of IG were significantly less than those of CG and satisfaction-with-hospital was better. However, there was no significant difference in 4-year survival or health status between two groups. Conclusions: Appropriate perioperative comprehensive supportive care interventions help to improve the psychological state of Chinese patients with esophageal carcinoma, to reduce health care costs and to promote satisfaction of patients and their families with hospital.

• 한국주거학회논문집
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.43-52
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore housing value clusters of young renters in South Korea and their relationships to household and housing characteristics reflected in the 2012 Korea Housing Survey (KHS). The 2012 KHS microdata was used as secondary data. Among the households included in the microdata, 1,196,144 young renter households (between 20 and 34 years of age) in private rental units were analyzed. The main findings are as follows. Ten rating scale items measured housing values. Eight of them were grouped into three value factors: Investment, Affordability and Cost Increase. Using these three value factors and perception of homeownership, households were classified into four clusters: Prospective Home Investor, Settled Renter, Homeowner Wannabe, and Support Needed. The current tenure types, income and expectation for next tenure types of four housing value clusters of young renters reflected Korea's tenure ladder which has home ownership at top followed by Jeon-se rental, monthly rental with deposit and monthly rental without deposit. The households in Prospective Home Investor and Homeowner Wannabe clusters would consider home purchase in the near future. Finally, households in Support Needed Cluster would be the main target to consider in development and implementation of housing welfare policies and programs to resolve housing problems of young renters, including beginning-stage professionals.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.115-125
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the reasons influencing the preferences for a certain type of orthodontic appliance over another among prospective patients (PP) and orthodontists. Methods: A total of 49 PP and 51 orthodontists were asked about their preferences for the following appliances: clear aligners (CA), lingual metallic brackets (LMB), polycrystalline and monocrystalline ceramic brackets, and buccal metallic brackets (BMB). The participants rated the importance of 17 potential reasons that would explain their choices. The reasons that contributed most to these preferences were identified. Non-parametric tests (Fisher's exact, χ2 and Mann-Whitney tests) and multivariate analyses (regression and discriminant analysis) were used to assess the data (α = 0.05). Results: CA and BMB were the most chosen appliances by PP and orthodontists, respectively. LMB was the most rejected option among both groups of participants (p < 0.001). Rates of the importance of pain/discomfort, smile esthetics, finishing details, and feeding/speech impairment showed the highest differences between PP and orthodontists (p < 0.0005). Discriminant analyses showed that individuals who considered treatment time and smile esthetics as more important were more likely to prefer CA, while those who prioritized finishing details and cost were more likely to choose BMB (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Reasons related to comfort and quality of life during use were considered as more important by PP, while those related to the results and clinical performance of the appliances were considered as more relevant by orthodontists.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.209-214
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• 2021

Background: The treatment for acromioclavicular joint injuries (ACJI) ranges from a conservative approach to extensive surgical reconstruction, and the decision on how to manage these injuries depends on the grade of acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation, resources, and skill availability. After a thorough review of the literature, the researchers adopted a simple cost-effective technique of AC joint reconstruction for acute ACJI requiring surgery. Methods: This was a prospective single-center study conducted between April 2017 and April 2018. For patients with acute ACJI more than Rockwood grade 3, the researchers performed open coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using synthetic sutures along with an Endobutton and a figure of 8 button plate. This was followed by AC ligament repair augmenting it with temporary percutaneous AC K-wires. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Constant Murley shoulder score. Results: Seventeen patients underwent surgery. The immediate postoperative radiograph showed an anatomical reduction of the AC joint dislocation in all patients. During follow-up, one patient developed subluxation but was asymptomatic. The mean follow-up period was 30 months (range, 24-35 months). The mean Constant score at 24 months was 95. No AC joint degeneration was noted in follow-up X-rays. The follow-up X-rays showed significant infra-clavicular calcification in 11 of the 17 patients, which was an evidence of a healed coracoclavicular ligament post-surgery. Conclusions: This study presents a simple cost-effective technique with a short learning curve for anatomic reconstruction of acute ACJI. The preliminary results have been very encouraging.