• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2012

This study evaluated the performance of Korean epoxy asphalt mixtures using several laboratory tests. Four types of epoxy asphalt mixtures were manufactured based on 13mm dense graded asphalt mixtures: three Korean and one Japanese epoxy asphalt mixtures where 20% or 40% of asphalt binder was replaced by epoxy resins. Curing time was determined as 3 and 6 hours for the mixtures containing 40% and 20% of epoxy resins, respectively. From the laboratory tests including wheel tracking, indirect tension fatigue, bending beam, and moisture susceptibility tests, it was concluded that the epoxy asphalt mixtures had superior performance than conventional asphalt mixtures except moisture susceptibility. Also, the performance of the Korean epoxy asphalt mixtures was comparable to the Japanese mixtures. Thermal coefficient, bond strength, and indirect tension tests were conducted to examine the applicability of the Korean epoxy asphalt mixtures to concrete repair. Its adhesion was strong enough to be bonded to surrounding concrete materials and its tensile strength was comparable to the concrete, but thermal expansion coefficient was 5 times greater than the surrounding concrete.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.187-191
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to compare the bioavailability of two brands of atenolol (50 mg) tablets, which are a generic product of $Ditent^{\circledR}$ (Daewon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Korea) and an innovator product $Tenormin^{\circledR}$ (Hyundai Pharm. Ind. Co., Ltd., Korea), in 20 healthy Korean male volunteers. The volunteers received a single 50 mg dose of each atenolol formulation according to a randomized, two-way cross-over design. The washout period between treatments was 1 week. Plasma samples were obtained over a 24-hour interval, and atenolol concentrations were determined by HPLC with a fluorescence detector. From the plasma atenolol concentration vs. time curves, the following parameters were compared: area under the plasma concentration-time curve ($AUC_{0-24}$), peak plasma concentration ($C_{max}$), time to reach peak plasma concentration ($T_{max}$), and terminal first order elimination half-life ($t_{1/2}$). No statistically significant difference was obtained between the $T_{max}$ values, and the logarithmic transformed $AUC_{0-24}$ and $C_{max}$ values of the two products. The 90% confidence interval for the ratio of the logarithmically transformed AUC and $C_{max}$ values of $Ditent^{\circledR}$ over those of $Tenormin^{\circledR}$ were calculated to be between 0.85 and 1.04, and 0.89 and 1.07, respectively; both were within the bioequivalence limit of 0.80-1.25. The mean of $T_{max}$ in $Tenormin^{\circledR}$ group was 3.1 hour, and that in Ditent$^{\circledR}$ group was 3.2 hour. The values of $t_{1/2}$ between the two products were found comparable, and the mean values were 5.2 hour in the both products. Based on these results, it was concluded that $Ditent^{\circledR}$ was comparable to $Tenormin^{\circledR}$ in both the rate and extent of absorption, indicating that $Ditent^{\circledR}$ was bioequivalent to the reference product, $Tenormin^{\circledR}$.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.48-65
• /
• 2003

Detailed analyses of total health expenditure and its sub­categories are essential for the evidence­based health policy(EBHP). These analyses, again, should be based on timely and reliable data that are comparable across countries. The System of Health Accounts (SHA), published by the OECD in 2000, provides an integrated system of comprehensive and internationally comparable accounts. The author has implemented the SHA manual into Korean situation, and examined overall expenditure estimate and its basic functional breakdown following the manual. This study explains how pharmaceutical expenditure is estimated. The results are, then, analyzed particularly from the international perspective. Both administrative data in Statistical Yearbooks (National Health Insurance, Medical Aid, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance) and survey data on Health and Nutrition are used for the estimation. Per capita pharmaceutical expenditure in Korea (183 US$ PPPs) was far less than the OECD average (308 US$ PPPs) in 2001, but pharmaceutical expenditure share in total health expenditure (20.3％) was higher than the average (16.7％). This can be explained by the fact that there is a statistically significant correlation between pharmaceutical expenditure share and per capita GDP of each country. Korean people follow the tendency of relatively low­income countries to spend less than OECD average for health care, but follow again their tendency to spend more on drugs than on other health care services. In consideration of results and analysis as above, per capita pharmaceutical expenditure in Korea is expected to grow in the future, but the growth rate of the pharmaceutical expenditure is expected to be less than that of overall health expenditure.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.63 no.1
• /
• pp.20-24
• /
• 2020

Background: Predicting the prognosis of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is very important in determining further management and resource allocation. The prognostication of critically ill children can be challenging; hence, accurate methods for predicting outcomes are needed. Purpose: To evaluate the role of microalbuminuria at admission as a prognostic marker in comparison to standard Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) mortality scores in children admitted to the PICU. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2015 to October 2016. Eighty-four patients aged 1 month to 18 years admitted to the PICU of teaching hospitals for more than 24 hours were enrolled by convenience sampling method. Microalbuminuria was estimated by spot urinary albumin-creatinine ratio. PRISM and PELOD scores were calculated using an online calculator. Outcome measures were PICU length of stay, inotrope usage, multiorgan dysfunction, and survival. ACR was compared with mortality scores for predicting survival. Results: Microalbuminuria was present in 79.8% with a median value of 85 mg/g (interquartile range, 41.5-254 mg/g). A positive correlation was found between albumin-creatinine ratio and PICU length of stay (P=0.013, r=0.271). Albumin-creatinine ratio was significantly associated with organ dysfunction (P=0.004) and need for inotropes (P=0.006). Eight deaths were observed in the PICU. The area under the curve for mortality for albumin-creatinine ratio (0.822) was comparable to that for PRISM (0.928) and PELOD (0.877). Albumin-creatinine ratio >109 mg/g predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 63.2%. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is a good predictor of PICU outcomes comparable with mortality scores.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
• /
• v.15 no.4 s.57
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2006

To promote environmentally responsible architectural practice, many nations have established their own green building rating system. Among other criteria, recently the indoor environmental quality section has been paid great attention due to Sick Building Syndrome, as this believed to caused by polluted indoor environment. In this context, indoor environmental quality is one of very important sections of each green building rating system and closely related to the very happiness of building users. The goal of this research is to compare and analyze the indoor environmental sections of three green building rating systems, GBCC, LEED v2.1, and BREEAM Office 2005, and find a direction for the improvement of GBCC. First, the three rating systems are analyzed in general to compare the importance of indoor environmental factors in each system. Second, the indoor environmental factors are reclassified within related sub-categories for the comparable analysis. Finally, based upon the comparable analysis, directions for the improvement of GBCC are as follows: 1. GBCC's h4r Environment Section needs to clarify its VOCs criteria based upon types of finish materials. 2. Sound Environment Section's noise control criteria needs to be revised based upon types of building usages and application method. 3. An indoor lighting related section needs to be included in GBCC, as even though light is the one of the most important factors in indoor environment, it has not been included in GBCC yet. 4. The sub-section of Confortable Indoor Environment Section related to the resting space and the universal accessibility are not in accord with the goal of green building rating system. These items need to be dealt within general building codes. 5. The rating evaluation structure and process need to be streamlined.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 2016

With the aim of investigating the differences in the quality traits of breast meat between spent hen and broiler chicken, the physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of breast meat from the two chicken types were assessed. A higher protein content and a lower moisture content were found in breast of spent hen compared to that of commercial broilers (P<0.05). No significant differences in crude fat and ash contents were detected between commercial broilers and the older spent hens (P>0.05). Spent hens showed a significantly lower pH value than did commercial broilers. Spent hen meat had a higher $L^*$ value than broiler chicken meat did (P<0.05). However, $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of breast meat were similar between spent hens and commercial broilers. Water holding capacity values measured in the breast meat were comparable between the two types of chicken used in this study (P>0.05). However, spent hen meat showed a higher cooking loss value than did broiler meat (P<0.05). Total polyunsaturated fatty acid content was significantly higher in spent hen meat compared to broiler meat, in particular eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Nevertheless, sensory characteristics of breast meat were comparable between spent hen and broiler chicken. This information can help consumers to understand better the nutritive value and important quality traits of breast meat from commercial broilers and spent hens.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.343-349
• /
• 2014

Currently, in order to resist the scratching of the fuel rod surface while fabricating the fuel assembly of the light-water nuclear reactor, we use a solution of nitrocellulose, an explosive material, as a dry lubricant along with its solvent. However, the demand for developing safe and harmless aqueous alternative materials for environment-conservation and field-worker safety has increased. In this study, we demonstrate the preparation of a novel aqueous resin composite using a formulation of aqueous polymeric resin, alcoholic solvent, and water. Subsequently, we characterize this composite on the basis of hardness, adhesive property, and water solubility using plates similar to the fuel rod material. The insertion test of a fuel rod coated with the YS-3 composite shows load values of $18.8-20.5kg/cm^2$, which is comparable with $18.8-20.5kg/cm^2$ of the nitrocellulose coating agent. In addition, the depth and width of longitudinal scratches caused by the YS-3 composite test are 50% higher than those of the standard. We can develop a harmless and safe aqueous dry lubricant to replace the existing NC products through field testing of 264 pieces of fuel rods, after producing 350 kg of the YS-3 prototype. The scratch test for the rod surface showed that weight of chip of YS-3 prototype was smaller than that of NC before and after solvent treatment, indicating the properties of YS-3 prototype was comparable to the counterpart.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.309-313
• /
• 2021

Organic semiconductors have received tremendous attention for their research because of their tunable electrical and optical properties that can be achieved by changing their molecular structure. However, organic materials are inherently unstable in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Therefore, it is necessary to develop moisture and air stable semiconducting materials that can replace conventional organic semiconductors. In this study, we developed a NiO_x thin film through a solution process. The electrical characteristics of the NiO_x thin film, depending on the thermal annealing temperature and UV-ozone treatment, were determined by applying them to the hole injection layer of an organic light-emitting diode. A high annealing temperature of 500 ℃ and UV-ozone treatment enhanced the conductivity of the NiO_x thin films. The optimized NiO_x exhibited beneficial hole injection properties comparable those of 1,4,5,8,9,11-hexaazatriphenylene hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN), a conventional organic hole injection layer. As a result, both devices exhibited similar power efficiencies and the comparable electroluminescent spectra. We believe that NiO_x could be a potential solution which can provide robustness to conventional organic semiconductors.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 2018

Nucleotide-binding domain 1 (Nod1) is a cytosolic receptor that is responsible for the recognition of a bacterial peptidoglycan motif containing meso-diaminophimelic acid. In this study, we sought to identify the role of Nod1 in host defense in vivo against pulmonary infection by multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Wildtype (WT) and Nod1-deficient mice were intranasally infected with $3{\times}10^7CFU$ of A. baumannii and sacrificed at 1 and 3 days post-infection (dpi). Bacterial CFUs, cytokines production, histopathology, and mouse ${\beta}$-defensins (mBD) in the lungs of infected mice were evaluated. The production of cytokines in response to A. baumannii was also measured in WT and Nod1-deficient macrophages. The bacterial clearance in the lungs was not affected by Nod1 deficiency. Levels of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in the lung homogenates were comparable at days 1 and 3 between WT and Nod1-deficient mice, except the $TNF-{\alpha}$ level at day 3, which was higher in Nod1-deficient mice. There was no significant difference in lung pathology and expression of mBDs (mBD1, 2, 3, and 4) between WT and Nod1-deficient mice infected with A. baumannii. The production of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and NO by macrophages in response to A. baumannii was also comparable in WT and Nod1-deficient mice. Our results indicated that Nod1 does not play an important role in host immune responses against A. baumannii infection.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.1119-1128
• /
• 2018

Background/Aims: In multicenter clinical trials, laboratory tests are performed in the laboratory of each center, mostly using different measuring methodologies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate coefficients of variation (CVs) of laboratory results produced by various measuring methods and to determine whether mathematical data adjustment could achieve harmonization between the methods. Methods: We chose 10 clinical laboratories, including Green Cross Laboratories (GC Labs), the central laboratory, for the measurement of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum triglycerides, creatinine, and glucose. The serum panels made with patient samples referred to GC Labs were sent to the other laboratories. Twenty serum samples for each analyte were prepared, sent frozen, and analyzed by each participating laboratory. Results: All methods used by participating laboratories for the six analytes had traceability by reference materials and methods. When the results from the nine laboratories were compared with those from GC Labs, the mean CVs for total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and glucose analyzed using the same method were 1.7%, 3.7%, 4.3%, and 1.7%, respectively; and those for triglycerides and creatinine analyzed using two different methods were 4.5% and 4.48%, respectively. After adjusting data using Deming regression, the mean CV were 0.7%, 1.4%, 1.8%, 1.4%, 1.6%, and 0.8% for total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglyceride, creatinine, and glucose, respectively. Conclusions: We found that more comparable results can be produced by laboratory data harmonization using commutable samples. Therefore, harmonization efforts should be undertaken in multicenter trials for accurate data analysis (CRIS number; KCT0001235).