• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2021

Contactless service is rapidly emerging as a new growth strategy due to consumers who are reluctant to the face-to-face situation in the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and various technologies are being developed to support the fast-growing contactless service market. In particular, the restaurant industry is one of the most desperate industrial fields requiring technologies for contactless service, and the representative technical case should be a kiosk, which has the advantage of reducing labor costs for the restaurant owners and provides psychological relaxation and satisfaction to the customer. In this paper, we propose a solution to the restaurant's store operation through the unmanned kiosk using a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) technology of image recognition. Especially, for the products that do not have barcodes in bakeries, fresh foods (fruits, vegetables, etc.), and autonomous restaurants on highways, which cause increased labor costs and many hassles, our proposed system should be very useful. The proposed system recognizes products without barcodes on the ground of image-based AI algorithm technology and makes automatic payments. To test the proposed system feasibility, we established an AI vision system using a commercial camera and conducted an image recognition test by training object detection AI models using donut images. The proposed system has a self-learning system with mismatched information in operation. The self-learning AI technology allows us to upgrade the recognition performance continuously. We proposed a fully automated payment system with AI vision technology and showed system feasibility by the performance test. The system realizes contactless service for self-checkout in the restaurant business area and improves the cost-saving in managing human resources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2022

Vocal fold injection (VFI) is widely accepted as a first line treatment in treating unilateral vocal fold paralysis and other vocal fold diseases. Although VFI is advantageous for its minimal invasiveness and efficiency, the invisibility of the needle tip remains an essential handicap in precise localization. Real-time light-guided vocal fold injection (RL-VFI) is a novel technique that was developed under the concept of performing simultaneous injection with precise placement of the needle tip under light guidance. RL-VFI has confirmed its possibility of technical implementation and the feasibility in injecting the needle from various directions through ex vivo animal studies. Further in vivo animal study has approved the safety and feasibility of the procedure when various transcutaneous approaches were applied. Currently, RL-VFI device is authorized for clinical use by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea and is clinically applied to patients with safe and favorable outcome. Several clinical studies are currently under process to approve the safety and the efficiency of RL-VFI. RL-VFI is expected to improve the complication rate and the functional outcome of voice. Furthermore, it will support laryngologists in overcoming the steep learning curve by its intuitive guidance.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.640-646
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• 2023

Objective: Prospective studies on postoperative residual breast tissue (RBT) after robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy (R-NSM) for breast cancer are limited. RBT presents an unknown risk of local recurrence or the development of new cancer after curative or risk-reducing mastectomies. This study investigated the technical feasibility of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate RBT after R-NSM in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this prospective pilot study, 105 patients, who underwent R-NSM for breast cancer at Changhua Christian Hospital between March 2017 and May 2022, were subjected to postoperative breast MRI to evaluate the presence and location of RBT. The postoperative MRI scans of 43 patients (age, 47.8 ± 8.5 years), with existing preoperative MRI scans, were evaluated for the presence and location of RBT. In total, 54 R-NSM procedures were performed. In parallel, we reviewed the literature on RBT after nipple-sparing mastectomy, considering its prevalence. Results: RBT was detected in 7 (13.0%) of the 54 mastectomies (6 of the 48 therapeutic mastectomies and 1 of the 6 prophylactic mastectomies). The most common location for RBT was behind the nipple-areolar complex (5 of 7 [71.4%]). Another RBT was found in the upper inner quadrant (2 of 7 [28.6%]). Among the six patients who underwent RBT after therapeutic mastectomies, one patient developed a local recurrence of the skin flap. The other five patients with RBT after therapeutic mastectomies remained disease-free. Conclusion: R-NSM, a surgical innovation, does not seem to increase the prevalence of RBT, and breast MRI showed feasibility as a noninvasive imaging tool for evaluating the presence and location of RBT.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2012

Recently, it is very important to create economic value as well as develop core algorithms and technologies in the field of R&D. Various R&D projects make an effort to do the technology commercialization of their results and, as part of efforts, many studies on business model(BM) are conducted to create economic benefits in using the developed technology. However, it is difficult to use the general business model methodologies, which are usually utilized for companies, to the government's research due to different processes and characteristics between them. And for the practical application of business models, it needs to systematize conceptual business models in technical perspective through technical architecture analysis. In this study, a business model development process and a technical architecture analysis for national R&D project is developed for the technology commercialization. In addition, the process is applied to Korean Land Spatialization Program (KLSP) organized by Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs to verify the feasibility of its practical application.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) via transradial access (TRA) compared with transfemoral access (TFA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 53 consecutive men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who underwent PAE between September 2018 and September 2021. Thirty-one patients (mean age ± standard deviation: 70.6 ± 8.4 years) were treated with TFA, including 14 patients treated before adopting TRA. Since December 2019, TRA has also been attempted with the procedure's selection criteria of patent carpal circulation and a height ≤ 172 cm, with 22 patients treated via TRA (69.1 ± 9.6 years). Parameters of technical success (defined as successful bilateral embolization), clinical success (defined as LUTS improvement), procedural time, radiation dose, and adverse events were compared between the two groups using the Fisher's exact test, independent sample t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, or Mann-Whitney test. Results: All patients received at least one-side PAE. Technical success of PAE was achieved in most patients (TRA, 21/22; TFA, 30/31; p > 0.999). No technical problem-related conversion from TRA to TFA occurred. The clinical success rate was 85% (11/13) in patients with TRA, and 89% (16/18) in patients with TFA for follow-up > 2 weeks post-PAE (median, 3 months) (p > 0.999). The median procedure time was similar in both groups (TRA, 81 minutes vs. TFA, 94 minutes; p = 0.570). No significant dose differences were found between the TRA and TFA groups in the dose-area product (median Gycm², 95 [range, 44-255] for TRA and 84 [34-255] for TFA; p = 0.678) or cumulative air kerma (median mGy, 609 [236-1584] for TRA and 634 [217-1594] for TFA; p = 0.551). No major adverse events occurred in either of the groups. Conclusion: PAE via TRA is a safe and feasible method comparable to conventional TFA. It can be safely implemented by selecting patients with patent carpal circulation and adequate height.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2014

Purpose: The advantages of totally laparoscopic surgery in early gastric cancer (EGC) are unproven, and some concerns remain regarding the oncologic safety and technical difficulty. This study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility and clinical benefits of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for the treatment of gastric cancer compared with laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 211 patients who underwent either TLDG (n=134; 63.5%) or LADG (n=77; 36.5%) for EGC between April 2005 and October 2013 was performed. Clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes were analyzed and compared between the groups. Results: The operative time in the TLDG group was significantly shorter than that in the LADG group (193 [range, 160~230] vs. 215 minutes [range, 170~255]) (P=0.021). The amount of blood loss during TLDG was estimated at 200 ml (range, 100~350 ml), which was significantly less than that during LADG, which was estimated at 400 ml (range, 400~700 ml) (P<0.001). The hospital stay in the TLDG group was shorter than that in the LADG group (7 vs. 8 days, P<0.001). One patient from each group underwent laparotomic conversion. Two patients in the TLDG group required reoperation: one for hemostasis after intraabdominal bleeding and 1 for repair of wound dehiscence at the umbilical port site. Conclusions: TLDG for distal EGC is a technically feasible and safe procedure when performed by a surgeon with sufficient experience in laparoscopic gastrectomy and might provide the benefits of reduced operating time and intraoperative blood lossand shorter convalescence compared with LADG.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.265-285
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• 2006

The purpose of this research is to identify the major evaluation criteria of IT investment projects and establish the importance weights of criteria through AHP analysis. Seven evaluation criteria which have been drawn from prior studies and industry practices are direct costs, indirect costs, financial benefits, strategic value, risk, technical necessity, and political considerations. Data have been collected from 95 IT projects in 40 public organizations and private firms in Korea. After having applied the data reliability test, 79 projects have been selected. The results of AHP analysis show the importance weights and priorities of seven evaluation criteria as follows: financial benefits 25.2%, strategic value 22.36%, direct costs 14.34%, risk 12.10%, technical necessity 11.55%, political considerations 8.3%, and indirect costs 6.48%. And the weights of seven criteria shows considerable differences among three different IT project types such as transactional, informational, and infrastructural.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.30-36
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• 2002

This research was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using deinked pulp of white ledger(DIP) for the manufacture of high quality premium tissue. The three types of tissues were prepared using the softener treated bleached DIP, softener treated mixed pulp of unbleached DIP and virgin pulp, and untreated mixed pulp of bleached DIP and virgin pulp, respectively, and their tensile index. softness, and brightness were measured and compared. The bulk and surface softness increased only slightly by the addition of softener(0.2% mineral oil) into the bleached DIP. The tensile index was decreased by 15∼30%, and the brightness was the range of 86% to 87% ISO. The softener(0.2∼0.8% mineral oil or dialkyl imidazoline) treatment of mixed pulp of unbleached DIP and virgin pulp Improved the bulk and surface of tissue considerably. However, the brightness was low as 85% ISO or below. Although the softness of the tissue made from bleached DIP blended with virgin pulp was the lowest among three types of tissues evaluated, its tensile index was the highest and brightness was 87∼88% ISO. Based on the results, it may be predicted that the bleached DIP blended with virgin pulp is the best raw material for the manufacture of high quality premium tissue if softener treatment is applied to mixed pulp, because the softness can be improved by the addition of softener. In general, the softness of tissue was improved with the increase in the amount of softener: However, the tensile index inversely proportional to the amount of softener added. Dialkyl imidazoline was more effective than mineral oil with respect to the improvement in softness, even though the loss in tensile index was severe with the treatment of dialkyl imidazoline.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.18-27
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• 1998

Biopulping is defined as the treatment of wood chips with lignin-degrading fungi prior to pulping. Fungal pretreatment prior to mechanical pulping reduces electrical energy requirements during refining or increases mill throughput, improves paper strength, reduces the pitch content, and reduces the environmental impact of pulping. Our recent work involved scaling up the biopulping process towards the industrial level, investigating both the engineering and economic feasibility. We envision the process to be done in either a chip-pile or silo-based system for which several factors need to be considered: the degree of decontamination, a hospitable environment for the fungus, and the overall process economics. Currently, treatment of the chips with low-pressure steam is sufficient for decontamination and a simple, forced ventilation system maintains the proper temperature, humidity, and moisture conditions, thus promoting uniform growth of the fungus. The pilot-scale trial resulted in the successful treatment of 4 tons of wood chips (dry weight basis) with results comparable to those on a laboratory. Larger, 40-ton trials were also successful, with energy savings and paper properties comparable with the laboratory scale. The overall economics of the process also look very favorable and can result in significant annual savings to the mill. Although the current research has focused on biopulping for mechanical pulping, it is also beneficial for sulfite chemical pulping and some applications to recycled fiber have been investigated.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.153-159
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• 2018

In recent years, the development of weapons systems in the field of defense research and development has become increasingly large, complex, and long-term, and so have budgets and the time spans involved. In order to improve this, the Weapon Systems Requirement Verification Committee, which benchmarked the preliminary feasibility of the private sector, was established to verify the appropriateness of requirements, and the necessity and priority of the projects. This research proposes a methodology for analyzing and prioritizing proposed weapons systems for effective and strategic allocation of defense budget funding. First, the evaluation factors that can be used in the defense sector were assessed by analyzing the related fields. We set the weighting of items by using the analytical hierarchy process for technical risk assessment and technical profitability evaluation. After that, we applied the methodology to 32 weapons systems and analyzed the results. In conclusion, through this study, it was possible to analyze profitability dimensions overlooked in the existing methodology.