• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2005

Objective: Percutaneous kyphoplasty using a balloon-catheter is an widely accepted method which achieves the restoration of vertebral height and the correction of kyphotic deformity with little complication in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The authors assess the results of 59 patients who underwent kyphoplasty, and analyze the factors that could affect the prognosis. Methods: From December 2001 to May 2003, fifty-nine patients underwent kyphoplasty. The patients included 49 women and 10 men aged 52-85 years. Average t-score on bone marrow density was -3.58. About 7cc of polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) was injected into the fractured vertebral body using $Kyphon^{(R)}$ under local anesthesia. The vertical height of all fractured vertebrae was measured both before and after surgery. Outcome data were obtained by comparing pre- and post-operative VAS score and by assessing postoperative satisfaction, drug dependency and activity. Various clinical factors were analyzed to assess the relationship with the outcome. Results: The VAS score improved significantly, and the mean percentage of restored vertebral height was 53%. The mean improvement in kyphosis was $3.6^{\circ}$. Eighty-nine percent of the patients gained excellent or good results. Any of the clinical factors including the interval between fracture and operation, the degree of height loss, the degree of the vertebral height restoration or the correction rate of kyphosis did not affect the clinical results. Conclusion: Kyphoplasty is associated with a statistically significant improvement in pain and function with little complication. The clinical results are not affected by any clinical parameters. Further follow-up study is needed to determine whether the restoration affects the long-term clinical results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.33-42
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• 2000

This study is carried out to investigate plant community structure, actual vegetation map and flora for examining the relationship between naturally introduced vegetation and surrounding vegetation in Hamtae coal-mined spoil lands. According to the analysis of vegetation, surrounding vegetation was divided into five plant community groups : Pinus koraiensis community, Pinus densiflora - Quercus mongolica community, Q. mongolica - Deciduous broadleaved trees community, Betula schmidtii - B. davurica community, Larix leptolepis community. Robinia pseudo-acacia, which had been planted, was dominant species in coal-mined spoil lands. Young trees, which were naturally introduced, such as B. schmidtii, B. davurica etc., partially appeared with the high density($15{\sim}19ea/100m^2$) in coal-mined spoil lands. The flora of this area was listed as 54 taxa; 22 families, 42 genus, 50 species, 3 varieties and 1 forma. Especially Spodiopogon sibiricus, Miscanthus sinensis, Arundinella hirta, Artemisia capillaris, Artemisia iwayomogi and Youngia denticulata appeared with the high frequency. It is estimated that the proper way for harmonious and effective revegetation is to target B. schmidtii - B. davurica communities and to seed B. schmidtii - B. davurica mixing highly frequent herbaceous species.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.103-118
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• 2018

Ecosystems in subalpine regions are recognized as areas vulnerable to climatic changes because rainfall and the possibility of flora migration are very low due to the characteristics of topography in the regions. In this context, habitat niche was formulated for representative species of arbors in subalpine regions in order to understand the effects of climatic changes on alpine arbor ecosystems. The current potential habitats were modeled as future change areas according to the climatic change scenarios. Based on the growth conditions and environmental characteristics of the habitats, the study was conducted to identify direct and indirect causes affecting the habitat reduction of Abies nephrolepis. Diverse model algorithms for explanation of the relationship between the emergence of biological species and habitat environments were reviewed to construct the environmental data suitable for the six models(GLM, GAM, RF, MaxEnt, ANN, and SVM). Weights determined through TSS were applied to the six models for ensemble in an attempt to minimize the uncertainty of the models. Based on the current climate determined by averaging the climates over the past 30years(1981~2010) and the HadGEM-RA model was applied to fabricate bioclimatic variables for scenarios RCP 4.5 and 8.5 on the near and far future. The results of models of the alpine region tree species studied were put together and evaluated and the results indicated that a total of eight national parks such as Mt. Seorak, Odaesan, and Hallasan would be mainly affected by climatic changes. Changes in the Baekdudaegan reserves were analyzed and in the results, A. nephrolepis was predicted to be affected the most in the RCP8.5. The results of analysis as such are expected to be finally utilizable in the survey of biological species in the Korean peninsula, restoration and conservation strategies considering climatic changes as the analysis identified the degrees of impacts of climatic changes on subalpine region trees in Korean peninsula with very high conservation values.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.621-626
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• 2011

Purpose: Implant-based breast reconstruction has multiple advantages such as decreased morbidity, shorter operative time and faster recovery. However, postoperative infection with tissue expander increases medical cost and causes a delay in concurrent antineoplastic treatment. To reduce tissue expander infection, it is important to identify related risk factors and minimize them when possible. Methods: A retrospective review of patient records in a single breast cancer center was performed. Eighty-six tissue expanders were placed in 80 women for postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Variables including patients'age, body mass index (BMI), preoperative breast volume, operation time, drain indwelling time, postoperative seroma/hematoma formation, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy were evaluated. Infection was defined as the status that shows any symptom of local inflammation and identification of pathogens. Representative values were compared through Student's t-test and univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: We examined 86 postmastectomy tissueexpanders which were placed between June 2004 and April 2010. Seven cases of tissue expander infection (8.1%) were identified. The infected tissue expander was removed in three of the cases. The relationship between BMI, and preoperative breast volume and that between infection and non-infection groups were significant ($p$ <0.05). Univariate analysis showed significant association between BMI ($p$=0.023) and preoperative breast volume ($p$=0.037). Multivariate analysis revealed that BMI and preoperative breast volume were independent variables regarding tissue expander infection. Conclusion: Certain characteristics of implant-based breast reconstruction patients increase infection rate of tissue expander. These risk factors should be monitored and evaluated before surgeries for more successful outcome.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.170-179
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• 2019

The prosthodontic treatments in maxillary anterior teeth focus on achieving esthetic appearances. It is possible to improve the esthetic appearance by adjusting the shape, arrangement, and color of the maxillary anterior teeth. For anterior teeth restoration, it is necessary to evaluate the relationship of teeth, lip and gingival architecture with the facial profile of patient. Also, clinician needs to fully understand what the patient wants to. DSD (digital smile design) concept can be applied as a tool to improve communication with the clinician, technician and patient. In addition, DSD can help to meet the needs of the patient. In this case, it was impossible to achieve symmetry due to congenital missing of maxillary central incisor. The definitive treatment goal was to get the harmony of maxillary anterior teeth, lip and the patient's face. This case report describes that the patient and clinician got the satisfying esthetic outcome by using DSD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.69-83
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• 2012

Urbanization has caused increase of traffic jams, food shortage, housing, and environmental pollution in the world in recent decades. Urban agriculture, such as roof garden, can relieve the phenomenon of urban heat island causing from the urbanization. The study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of rooftop garden (farm) in 40 areas in Seoul, Korea, where the 'cabbage', 'lettuce', 'pepper', and 'mini-tomatoes' were the most preferred vegetables and fruit. The problems in the rooftop garden during a cultivation was observed for drainage system, soil management, cost or quality of planting mat and diseases and insects. The image of urban agriculture showed a positive words, such as 'bright', 'clean', 'open' and 'good' according to the survey.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1-17
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• 2012

This study sought to discover new directions for management and operation national urban parks in Korea by analyzing the reality of the national government parks of Japan where these parks are already well established and managed. In the case of a Japanese national government park, its supporting system was established after the park was built. The means of management also shifted their direction from putting more priority to the administrative body to the residents. The management practices are changing process of its character with focus on residents as the main entity of activity from their existing position of participants. In other words, the national government parks of Japan are going beyond the previous practice of providing maintenance activities to providing experience, interpretation functions to these activities. Especially, they were establishing local networks to plan and execute programs in collaboration with the park management and NPOs. However, they fall short of tangible outcomes despite their continuous efforts to expand the community involvement and reduce the cost in maintenance. To facilitate the effective management of the urban parks in Korea in the near future, much thought needs to go into the management practices ensuring conservation of resources in the land of Korea, as well as people's use of recreation, community revitalization, and development and transfer of advanced technology to provide appropriate preparations to create urban parks in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2007

This study was carried out to know how erosion control function of forests varies as forests develop in watersheds. The erosion control function among the forest welfare functions can be estimated by comparing sediment yield in stocked with non-stocked area. Sediment yield of reservoirs in stocked area were collected from farmland improvement associations. The sediment yields in non-stocked area were using USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) in the same reservoirs. Forests' erosion control function estimated by differences of the sediment yield between stocked and non-stocked area was static model because of no consideration on forest aging. Dynamic model was developed to consider a forest stand age. The model comprises the relationship between average forest age in watershed and sediment yield. The amount of sediment yield was different depending mother rocks. It decreased exponentially according to the forest's grow up. In case of igneous rock, the volume of sediment yield $Y_{ig}=1.4431e\;^{0.023x}$(x=average forest age), metamorphic rock $Y_{me}=4.7115e\;^{0.0694x}$, and sedimentary rock $Y_{se}=1.2808e\;^{0.028x}$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

The study was aimed at analyzing the relationship between the characteristics of urban green infrastructure and stormwater runoff in a small urban watershed composed of 22 drainage basins. The green areas of which soils are not sealed and allow water infiltrate, were examined for different types of green spaces. In a comparative study for drainage basins of which green spaces are 15.5% and 34.4%, respectively, runoffs were not different with the size of green space. It was attributed to that the increase of runoff by greater road area offset the advantage of greater green area. Another comparative measurement of runoff for drainage basins with similar green area size showed that runoff decreased with greater permeable area (school ground area) and smaller road area. The runoff measurements could address that runoff rates are affected not only by green area size but also by the type of green area and other land covers related to permeability and flow into drainage. It implicated that the improvement of urban green infrastructure as a functional unit for water infiltration and interception is important for stormwater runoff management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.36-45
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• 2010

To analyze the relationship between climatic factors (monthly mean temperature and total precipitation) and tree-ring growths of Quercus mongolica Fischer (Mongolian oak) with different topographic sites in Mt. Worak, more than 10 trees were selected from each of seven stands. Two cores from each tree were measured for ring width. After crossdating, each ring-width series was double standardized by fitting first a negative exponential or straight regression line and secondly a 60-year cubic spline. Seven stands were categorized in two groups using cluster analysis for tree-ring index patterns. Cluster I (four stands) was located in higher elevation (550-812 m) with aspects of east, west and northwest, and cluster II (three stands) was located in rather lower election (330-628 m) with aspects of north and northwest. The aspects of two clusters were not significantly different. Response-function analysis showed a significant positive response to March precipitation for both clusters. It indicates that moisture supply during early spring season is important to radial growth because the cambial growths of ring-porous species, such as Mongolian oak, start before leaf growth. Cluster II showed a positive response to the precipitation of middle and late growing season, too.