• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2021

This study investigated the fire risk assessment of woods and plastics for construction materials, focusing on the fire performance index-III (FPI-III), fire growth index-III (FGI-III), and fire risk index-IV (FRI-IV) by a newly designed method. Japanese cedar, red pine, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were used as test pieces. Fire characteristics of the materials were investigated using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1) equipment. The fire performance index-III measured after the combustion reaction was found to be 1.0 to 15.0 with respect to PMMA. Fire risk by fire performance index-III increased in the order of PVC, red pine, Japanese cedar, and PMMA. The fire growth index-III was found to be 0.5 to 3.3 based on PMMA. Fire risk by fire growth index-III increased in the order of PVC, PMMA, red pine, and Japanese cedar. COpeak concentrations of all specimens were measured between 106 and 570 ppm. In conclusion, it is understood that Japanese cedar with a low bulk density and PMMA containing a large amount of volatile organic substances have a low fire performance index-III and high fire growth index-III, and thus have high fire risk due to fire. This was consistent with the fire risk index-IV.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.81-93
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is condition of cognitive decline shown in transition from normal aging to dementia. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture (HPP) is a treatment that combines effects of medication and acupuncture by injecting Hominis placenta into acupoints. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HPP for MCI. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-center clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to either the HPP group or the placebo group. HPP or saline as placebo was administered to participants for eight weeks. Changes in symptoms were observed. The primary outcome was difference in mean change of Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score between the HPP group and the placebo group. Cognitive function, overall status of mood and sleep, and quality of life (QoL) were also assessed. Safety assessment and economic analysis were then conducted. Results: Thirty participants were enrolled. One participant in the placebo group dropped out. The score of MoCA-K increased after treatment. Its mean change was smaller in the HPP group than in the control group. HPP ameliorated Global Deterioration Scale and Korean Dementia Rating Scale subtests for attention, organization, and memory compared to the placebo. However, none of them was significantly different between the two groups. Mood, sleep, and QoL all improved more in the HPP group than in the placebo group, although differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. There was no adverse event probably related to the drug. HPP treatment needed KRW 345,000 more than the placebo group in improving Geriatric Quality of Life scale-Dementia score by one point for one year. Conclusions: Although HPP treatment did not significantly improve cognition, it changed behavioral and psychological symptoms in MCI.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.135-148
• /
• 2021

Ground subsidence risk ratings obtained from the site investigation during pre-excavation stages could be changed depending on the parameters revealed during construction activities. A method of correcting the pre-excavation ground subsidence risk ratings based on the site conditions observed in the field is suggested in this study. The elevation of groundwater table during the excavation may be different from the predicted value depending on the application of waterproofing methods and construction conditions. The drastic drawdown of groundwater table during the excavation could cause ground subsidence due to soil volume decrease related to consolidation or compression of the ground, whereas the rising of groundwater table caused by the intense rainfall may result in a high potential for ground subsidence due to heaving or boiling of the excavation bottom. Excessive displacements of retaining walls or ground settlements may cause ground subsidence, which also results in a high risk of ground subsidence caused by the destruction of buried pipelines. Reevaluation of ground subsidence risk ratings is suggested considering the fluctuation of groundwater table, condition of groundwater leakage, measured ground displacements, and soil types. Finally, the ground subsidence risk rating system is improved for better evaluation by using 12 factors in 5 categories.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.65 no.2
• /
• pp.287-296
• /
• 2022

Objective : Although radiotherapy (RT) is recommended for multiple myeloma (MM) involving spine, the treatment of choice between reconstructive surgery with RT and RT alone for pathologic vertebral fractures (PVFs) associated with structural instability or neurologic compromises remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacies of reconstructive surgery with adjuvant RT for treatment of MM with PVFs by comparing with matched cohorts treated with RT alone. Methods : Twenty-eight patients underwent reconstructive surgery followed by RT between 2008 and 2015 in a single institution, for management of PVFs associated with structural instability of the spine and/or neurologic compromises (group I). Twenty-eight patients were treated with RT alone (group II) after propensity score matching in a 1-to-1 format based on instability of the spine, as well as age and performance. Clinical outcomes including the overall survival rates, duration of independent ambulation, neurological status, and numeric rating scale (NRS) for back pain were compared. Results : Clinical and radiological features before treatment were similar in both groups. The median survival period was similar between the two groups. However, the mean duration of independent ambulation was significantly longer in group I (88.8 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 66.0-111.5) than in group II (39.4 months; 95% CI, 25.2-53.6) (log rank test; p=0.022). Deterioration of Frankel grade (21.4% vs. 60.7%, p=0.024) and NRS for back pain (2.7±2.2 vs. 5.0±2.7, p=0.000) at the last follow-up were higher in the group II. Treatment-related complications were similar in both groups. Conclusion : In patients with unstable PVFs due to MM, reconstructive surgery may yield superior clinical outcomes compared with RT alone in maintaining independent ambulation and neurological status, as well as pain control despite similar median survival and complications.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2021

연구 배경 최근 한국 및 중국에서 근골격계 질환에 대한 도침술의 활용이 늘고 있다. 하지만 현재까지의 임상연구는 대부분 증례보고 형태에 그치거나, 충분한 근거가 확보되지는 않은 실정이다. 우리는 요천추신경병증환자의 치료에 있어 도침치료와 통상한의치료와의 비교를 통해 도침치료의 유효성, 안전성, 경제성 평가를 시행하기 위해 본 연구를 기획하게 되었다. 연구 방법 본 연구는 예비임상 연구로, 다기관에서 진행되며, 무작위대조군, 활성 대조군을 통한 2개군 병행집단 연구로 평가자 맹검을 시행하게 된다. 이 연구에서는 총 50명의 요천추신경병증 환자를 대상으로 2개군으로 균등하게 분배하여 도침술 또는 통상한의치료를 시행하게 된다(각군당 25명). 도침술 그룹의 경우 협척혈에 도침치료를 시행 받게 되며, 통상 한의치료군은 연구자 판단하에 도침술을 제외한 적절한 한의치료를 시행 받게 된다. 두 개의 그룹은 주당 2회씩 총 3주간 치료를 받게 된다. 일차 유효성 평가는 요통으로 인한 기능장애를 평가하기 위한 Oswestry disability index를 통해 시행한다. 이차 유효성 평가지표로는 numeric rating scale, European Quality of Life 5-Dimension 5-Level, short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire scores를 시행하게 된다. 고찰 본 예비임상연구의 결과는 추후 있을 요천추신경병증에 대한 도침치료 및 한의통상치료 비교효과 연구의 유효성, 경제성평가 본 임상연구를 위한 기초 정보 및 가능성을 확인하고 적절한 대상자수 산정에 도움이 될 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.89-101
• /
• 2022

The study was conducted in Erhe Park, a neighborhood park in Dali City, China, to derive the influence of environmental factors in the park on the elderly's satisfaction and to analyze the satisfaction in order to provide improvement recommendations. First, the evaluation indicators were selected, by referencing previous research into the elderly's evaluation of external spatial environments and the influence of various factors was determined from the questionnaire and factor analysis. Second, a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation was conducted to understand the satisfaction of the elderly, and then an Importance-Performance Analysis(IPA) analysis was conducted to develop improvement recommendations. Results of the factor analysis showed that park's environmental factors were grouped into four categories: facility suitability and comfort, safety and convenience of use, natural environment comfort, and parkway convenience. Based on this, the overall satisfaction rating for the environmental factors in Erhe Park was between satisfactory and average. The natural environment comfort was rated satisfactory, the facility suitability and comfort, and convenience and safety were rated average, and parkway convenience was rated near to satisfaction. The IPA analysis revealed that the suitability of rest facilities, suitability of convenience facilities, facility management status, safety of entrances and exits, and nighttime lighting facilities were items of high importance but low satisfaction that needed to be improved. The results of this study can be utilized as a guide for future building or readjustment of senior-friendly parks, and they are critical for increasing senior-friendly park satisfaction.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.189-200
• /
• 2022

In today's digital world, smartphones and web-based applications have gained remarkable importance throughout the globe. These smart applications are playing a very significant role in maintaining a powerful business. As well as, they are helping a lot to expand these businesses via social networks. Social media networks such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are playing a prominent role to promote the companies. In the hospitality sector, most of the companies are running their hotel booking systems by utilizing mobile applications and a web-based infrastructure, but usability issues still exist. This study has been conducted specifically to tackle the usability issues of hotel booking systems and the best utilization of social networks to promote the business. TripAdvisor was selected as an authentic source for selecting those systems and two international hotels are selected for this study. The first step is to identify different hotel booking systems. In the second step, the user's satisfaction level was measured for the selected systems by performing the System Usability Scale (SUS, Quick & Dirty) approach. Additionally, by which source (social media or personal relations) they found these hotels. It is found that the SUS rating for both systems is below the acceptable level of usability. The Mean SUS for hotel 1 is found at 55.25 and 51.2 for hotel 2. The third step was to identify the user interface (UI) issues, and heuristic evaluation is performed for this. The experts identified the UI issues on the basis of their experience. The major issues were related to the visibility of system status, error prevention, flexibility and efficiency of use. Depending upon the identified issues, an interactive UI (prototype) for the selected web-based applications was proposed. This prototype is mainly based on the user's perspective. This prototype can be used for improving the UI of the selected systems which is based on the user's perspective. During the process of verifying the satisfaction level, it is revealed that the targeted audience is not able to use these systems efficiently and effectively. The reason behind this is the negligence of usability guidelines throughout the process of design and development of these hotel booking systems. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the usability of these systems should be evaluated and redesigned, based on expert opinions. It has also been observed that the reviews/ feedback of customers has spread a negative impact through social networks.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.118-129
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this report is to study a strategic model of promotion activities through various analysis and sales forecasting by selecting wearable products for domestic online companies and collecting sales data. For data analysis, various algorithms are used for analysis and the results are selected as the optimal model. The gradation boosting model, which is selected as the best result, will allow nine independent variables to be entered, including promotion type, price, amount, gender, model, company, grade, sales date, and region, when predicting dependent variables through supervised learning. In this study, the review values set as dependent variables for each type of sales promotion were studied in more detail through the ensemble analysis technique, and the main purpose is to analyze and predict them. The purpose of this study is to study the grades. As a result of the analysis, the evaluation result is 95% of AUC, and F1 is about 93%. In the end, it was confirmed that among the types of sales promotion activities, value-added benefits affected the number of reviews and review grades, and that major variables affected the review and review grades.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to examine Korean listeners' mode of perceiving sound duration as prolongation, whether dichotomous or continuous. Thirty-five Korean participants (17 men and 18 women) listened to the Korean segment /s/, which was lengthened by 0-980ms in 20-ms increments. Then, the participants were asked to rate each version of the sound based on a rating of one to 100 (the closer to 100, the more disfluent). To examine whether listeners perceived durational variations for the fricative segment dichotomously or continuously, a curve was estimated using the best-fitting regression model for the observed data with the highest adjusted R-squared value. The mode of perceiving durational variations for the segment was continuous (or gradient) rather than discontinuous (or dichotomous). No gender difference was found in the mode of perceiving prolongation. However, there was a significant gender difference in that men rated the most disfluent sounds higher than women. The findings of this study were further discussed in relation to the existing literature, and clinical implications for the assessment of stuttering were presented.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.166-174
• /
• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine for a patient with dizziness following anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction. Methods: The patient was treated with traditional Korean methods including acupuncture, herbal therapy, moxibustion, and vestibular rehabilitation exercise during an admission period of seven days. The patient's dizziness was assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (K-DHI), Korean Activities-specific Balance Confidence (K-ABC), Korean Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living (K-VADL), the modified Rankin scale (mRS), and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). Results: After seven days of combined treatment with traditional methods and vestibular rehabilitation, the patient's dizziness was reduced from NRS 6-7 to NRS 2. In addition, K-DHI decreased from 84 to 22; K-ABC improved from 52% to 78.125%; K-VADL reduced from 175 to 37; the mRS score changed from 4 to 1; and the K-MBI score increased from 86 to 98. No adverse events were observed during treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests that combined therapy of Korean medicine and vestibular rehabilitation can be effective treatment for anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction patients.