• Title/Summary/Keyword: conceptual estimate

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Depression and the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

  • Sun, Hui-Lian;Dong, Xiao-Xin;Cong, Ying-Jie;Gan, Yong;Deng, Jian;Cao, Shi-Yi;Lu, Zu-Xun
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.16 no.8
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    • pp.3233-3239
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    • 2015
  • Background: Whether depression causes increased risk of the development of breast cancer has long been debated. We conducted an updated meta-analysis of cohort studies to assess the association between depression and risk of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Relevant literature was searched from Medline, Embase, Web of Science (up to April 2014) as well as manual searches of reference lists of selected publications. Cohort studies on the association between depression and breast cancer were included. Data abstraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by two authors. Random-effect model was used to compute the pooled risk estimate. Visual inspection of a funnel plot, Begg rank correlation test and Egger linear regression test were used to evaluate the publication bias. Results: We identified eleven cohort studies (182,241 participants, 2,353 cases) with a follow-up duration ranging from 5 to 38 years. The pooled adjusted RR was 1.13(95% CI: 0.94 to 1.36; $I^2=67.2%$, p=0.001). The association between the risk of breast cancer and depression was consistent across subgroups. Visual inspection of funnel plot and Begg's and Egger's tests indicated no evidence of publication bias. Regarding limitations, a one-time assessment of depression with no measure of duration weakens the test of hypothesis. In addition, 8 different scales were used for the measurement of depression, potentially adding to the multiple conceptual problems concerned with the definition of depression. Conclusions: Available epidemiological evidence is insufficient to support a positive association between depression and breast cancer.

Studies for Reliability-corrected Cost Estimation Methodology of Launch Vehicle Development (신뢰성 보정된 발사체 개발비용 추정방안 연구)

  • Kim, Hong-Rae;Yoo, Dong-Seo;Chang, Young-Keun
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.364-374
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of this study is to perform the reliability-corrected development cost estimation of the launch vehicle at the conceptual design phase. In order to estimate the launch vehicle development cost, the estimation method based on the independent variable such as the rocket performance and dry mass has been mainly implemented up to now. This approach has made the approximate cost estimation possible, however, the cost variation according to the reliability requirement could not be reflected. In this paper, the cost estimation methodology that introduces the reliability factor in addition to the performance and mass in the TRANSCOST model is presented in order to improve the limitation of current cost estimation method. The development cost of KSLV(Korea Space Launch Vehicle)-II is estimated on the basis of this newly implemented concept with reliability as an added parameter.

Applicability of Scroll Expander-compressor for Stirling Engine (스털링 엔진에 대한 스크롤 팽창기 : 압축기의 적용성)

  • Kim, Seong-Jun;Kim, Hyun-Jin;Kim, Young-Min
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.94-102
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    • 2009
  • Conceptual design of scroll expander and scroll compressor for 10kW-class Stirling engine utilizing solar energy as heat source has been carried out to estimate the applicability of scroll mechanism for Stirling cycle. CO2 was chosen as working fluid, since it has lower expansion index and higher density among probably usable gases. Gas temperature at the expander inlet was set at $700^{\circ}C$, and that at the compressor inlet was at $40^{\circ}C$. System efficiency reached maximum at the pressure ratio of about 2.5, and the peak efficiency increased with increasing high side pressure. Due to safety concern, the pressure condition of 6 MPa/2.5 MPa was chosen as design condition. Orbiting scroll members for the expander and compressor were designed to have double-sided structure in order to reduce the overall scroll size and to cancel out the axial gas forces acting on the orbiting scroll base plate. By parametric study on the scroll profile, smaller possible size for the scroll members was obtained. With the shaft speed of 3600rpm, the shaft output of the designed scroll expander was calculated to be 45.4kW, while input power for the scroll compressor was 34.5kW, yielding 10.9kW for the output power of the Stirling engine. System efficiency was estimated to be about 7.3%, and overall efficiencies of the scroll expander and compressor were around 84.1% and 88.3%, respectively.

A Study on Use of Calculators in the Elementary Math Textbook of U.S. (미국 초등수학교과서의 계산기 활용 실태와 방안에 대한 분석)

  • Ryu, Sung-Rim
    • Communications of Mathematical Education
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.1-27
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    • 2010
  • This study intends to provide implications about sluggish use of calculators in our case by analyzing the math textbook of U.S. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill along with the tendency of paying more attention to math class using technologies. From the results of analysis, this textbook deals with various methods over around 3.3% of all pages, using calculators across all grades from 1st to 6th grade. In particular, it offers guidance into three types such as 'Choose a Computation Method', 'You can also use a calculator.', and 'TECHNOLOGY LINK', while particularly it is impressive in the perspective of using calculators as one of calculation strategies. And case studies of usage in textbooks describe 8 different perspectives as an example-represent; solve problems or equations; develope or demonstrate conceptual understanding; analyze; compute or estimate; describe, explain or justify; choose appropriate calculation method; determine a calculated answer's reasonableness. Reflecting on the fact that we still use calculators in a passive way, there are considerable implications to us.

A Standard Section-Based Approximate Cost Estimating Model on Tunnel (II) - Cost Variance Index Table and Test - (표준단면을 이용한 터널 공사비 예측모델 개발 (II) - 공사비 변동 모델 및 검증 -)

  • Cho, Jeongyeon;Kim, Sang-Kwi;Kim, Kyoungmin;Kim, Kyong Ju
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.28 no.5D
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    • pp.677-684
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    • 2008
  • The paper provides an approximate cost estimating model that can be used for tunnel. Based on the previous study analyzed critical factors that have impact on tunnel construction cost, this paper establishes a cost variance index table that reflects the cost impacts due to the change of the critical cost factors. An estimating procedure is described utilizing the index table. For the verification of the suggested model, the comparison of the estimated construction cost with real project cost is performed. The estimated results range from 95%~111% of the real project costs. As an approximate tunnel cost estimating model, the model can be utilized to quickly estimate tunnel construction costs based on the conceptual information at the planning stage and to efficiently make a decision on design alternatives.

Climate-instigated disparities in supply and demand constituents of agricultural reservoirs for paddy-growing regions

  • Ahmad, Mirza Junaid;Cho, Gun-ho;Choi, Kyung-sook
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2022.05a
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    • pp.516-516
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    • 2022
  • Agricultural reservoirs are critical water resources structures to ensure continuous water supplies for rice cultivation in Korea. Climate change has increased the risk of reservoir failure by exacerbating discrepancies in upstream runoff generation, downstream irrigation water demands, and evaporation losses. In this study, the variations in water balance components of 400 major reservoirs during 1973-2017 were examined to identify the reservoirs with reliable storage capacities and resilience. A conceptual lumped hydrological model was used to transform the incident rainfall into the inflows entering the reservoirs and the paddy water balance model was used to estimate the irrigation water demand. Historical climate data analysis showed a sharp warming gradient during the last 45 years that was particularly evident in the central and southern regions of the country, which were also the main agricultural areas with high reservoir density. We noted a country-wide progressive increase in average annual cumulative rainfall, but the forcing mechanism of the rainfall increment and its spatial-temporal trends were not fully understood. Climate warming resulted in a significant increase in irrigation water demand, while heavy rains increased runoff generation in the reservoir watersheds. Most reservoirs had reliable storage capacities to meet the demands of a 10-year return frequency drought but the resilience of reservoirs gradually declined over time. This suggests that the recovery time of reservoirs from the failure state had increased which also signifies that the duration of the dry season has been prolonged while the wet season has become shorter and/or more intense. The watershed-irrigated area ratio (W-Iratio) was critical and the results showed that a slight disruption in reservoir water balance under the influence of future climate change would seriously compromise the performance of reservoirs with W-Iratio< 5.

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Human Risk Assessment of a Contaminated Site Using Korean Risk-Based Corrective Action (K-RBCA) Software (한국형 소프트웨어를 이용한 유류.중금속 복합오염지역의 인체위해성평가 및 RBCA Tool Kit과의 비교분석)

  • Nam, Taek-Woo;Ryu, Hye-Rim;Kim, Young-Jin;Ko, Seok-Oh;Baek, Ki-Tae;Nam, Kyoung-Phile
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.32-41
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    • 2011
  • By using a newly developed Korean risk-based corrective action (K-RBCA) software (K-RBCA) and the RBCA Tool Kit, risk assessment was performed on a site that was contaminated with aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Eight chemicals including benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, naphthalene, benz(a) anthracene, benzo(b) fluoranthene, benzo(a) pyrene, and arsenic that exceeded the US EPA Soil Screening Level were chosen as the target pollutants. A conceptual site model was constructed based on the site-specific effective exposure pathways. According to the RBCA Tool Kit the carcinogenic risk of arsenic was larger than $10^{-6}$, which is the generally acceptable carcinogenic risk level. The K-RBCA estimated the same level of carcinogenic risk for arsenic. With the RBCA Tool Kit, the carcinogenic risk of benzo(a) pyrene was estimated to be about $1.3{\times}10^{-6}$. However, with the K-RBCA benzo(a) pyrene did not exhibit any risk. The inconsistency between the softwares was attributed to the different fundamental settings (i.e., medium division) between the two softwares. While the K-RBCA divides medium into surface soil, subsurface soil, and groundwater, the RBCA Tool Kit divides medium into only soil and groundwater. These differences lead to the different exposure pathways used by the two softwares. The K-RBCA considers the exposure pathways in surface soil and subsurface soil separately to estimate risk, however, the RBCA Tool Kit considers the surface soil and subsurface soil as one and uses the integrated exposure pathways to estimate risk. Thus the resulting risk is higher when the RBCA Tool Kit is used than when the K-RBCA is used. The results from this study show that there is no significant difference in the risks estimated by the two softwares, thus, it is reasonable to use the K-RBCA we developed in risk assessment of soil and groundwater. In addition, the present study demonstrates that the assessor should be familiar with the characteristics of a contaminated site and the assumptions used by a risk assessment software when carrying out risk assessment.

Relationship between fracture distribution and the acidity of mine drainage at the Il-Gwang Mine (일광광산의 절리분포 특성과 광산배수 산성도의 관계)

  • Choi, Jae-Young;Um, Jeong-Gi;Kwon, Hyun-Ho;Shim, Yon-Sik
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.425-436
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    • 2010
  • We established a stochastic 3-D fracture network system for fractured rock masses located in Il-Gwang Mine, Busan, to explore the relationship between the acidity of mine drainage and fracture geometry. A field scanline survey and borehole image processing were performed to estimate the best probability distributions of fracture geometry parameters. The stochastic 3-D fracture network system constructed for the rock masses was validated and deemed to be successful. The 3-D fracture network model was suitable for developing conceptual ideas on fluid flow in fractures at a field experimental site. An injection well and three observation wells were drilled at the field experimental site to monitor the acidity of mine drainage induced by the injection of fresh water. The field experiment, which was run for 29 days, yielded a significant relationship (with a high coefficient of determination) between the fracture geometry parameters and the acidity of mine drainage. The results show that pH increased with increasing relative frequency of fracture strike, and decreased with increasing fracture density. The concentration of $SO^{2-}_4$ decreased with increasing relative frequency of fracture strike, and increased with increasing fracture density.

Evaluation of carbon flux in vegetative bay based on ecosystem production and CO2 exchange driven by coastal autotrophs

  • Kim, Ju-Hyoung;Kang, Eun Ju;Kim, Keunyong;Jeong, Hae Jin;Lee, Kitack;Edwards, Matthew S.;Park, Myung Gil;Lee, Byeong-Gweon;Kim, Kwang Young
    • ALGAE
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.121-137
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    • 2015
  • Studies on carbon flux in the oceans have been highlighted in recent years due to increasing awareness about climate change, but the coastal ecosystem remains one of the unexplored fields in this regard. In this study, the dynamics of carbon flux in a vegetative coastal ecosystem were examined by an evaluation of net and gross ecosystem production (NEP and GEP) and $CO_2$ exchange rates (net ecosystem exchange, NEE). To estimate NEP and GEP, community production and respiration were measured along different habitat types (eelgrass and macroalgal beds, shallow and deep sedimentary, and deep rocky shore) at Gwangyang Bay, Korea from 20 June to 20 July 2007. Vegetative areas showed significantly higher ecosystem production than the other habitat types. Specifically, eelgrass beds had the highest daily GEP ($6.97{\pm}0.02g\;C\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$), with a large amount of biomass and high productivity of eelgrass, whereas the outer macroalgal vegetation had the lowest GEP ($0.97{\pm}0.04g\;C\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$). In addition, macroalgal vegetation showed the highest daily NEP ($3.31{\pm}0.45g\;C\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$) due to its highest P : R ratio (2.33). Furthermore, the eelgrass beds acted as a $CO_2$ sink through the air-seawater interface according to NEE data, with a carbon sink rate of $0.63mg\;C\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Overall, ecosystem production was found to be extremely high in the vegetated systems (eelgrass and macroalgal beds), which occupy a relatively small area compared to the unvegetated systems according to our conceptual diagram of a carbon-flux box model. These results indicate that the vegetative ecosystems showed significantly high capturing efficiency of inorganic carbon through coastal primary production.

Prototype-based Cost Estimating Model for Building Interior Construction in Design Development Stage (프로토타입기반 기본설계단계 건축마감공사비 산정 모델)

  • Kim, Hae-Gon;Park, Sung-Chul;Hong, Tae-Hoon;Hyun, Chang-Taek;Koo, Kyo-Jin
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.110-118
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    • 2007
  • For deciding the owner's budget of the building construction in the predesign stage, the probabilistic methodologies for estimating the cost are often studied, however these parameter-based conceptual estimating methodology has limitation of applying it to the practical business because it hardly can link the design decision-making and the cost estimating and control. Besides if the result of detail estimating after detail design is over the budget, locally and arbitrarily control the level of interior design and fix the design. This research proposed the prototype-based cost estimating model for building interior construction which leads to estimate the interior cost easily linking with design decision-making and supports to evaluate the design alternatives in the schematic design and the design development stage for office buildings. The model divides the building on the design process by Element Breakdown Structure and presents the design alternative by selecting the elements of each room from the database accumulated the historical office buildings' prototypes and estimates the cost. The 2 case studies presented to validate the effectiveness of as the linking tool integrating the design and construction data and applicability to the practical design on the presented prototype-based model.