• Title/Summary/Keyword: cost/benefit

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Investigating the Morphology and Kinetics of Three-Dimensional Neuronal Networks on Electro-Spun Microstructured Scaffolds

  • Kim, Dongyoon;Kim, Seong-Min;Kang, Donghee;Baek, Goeun;Yoon, Myung-Han
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2013.08a
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    • pp.277.2-277.2
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    • 2013
  • Petri dishes and glass slides have been widely used as general substrates for in vitro mammalian cell cultures due to their culture viability, optical transparency, experimental convenience, and relatively low cost. Despite the aforementioned benefit, however, the flat two-dimensional substrates exhibit limited capability in terms of realistically mimicking cellular polarization, intercellular interaction, and differentiation in the non-physiological culture environment. Here, we report a protocol of culturing embryonic rat hippocampal neurons on the electro-spun polymeric network and the results from examination of neuronal cell behavior and network formation on this culture platform. A combinatorial method of laser-scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy and live-cell imaging technique was employed to track axonal outgrowth and synaptic connectivity of the neuronal cells deposited on this model culture environment. The present microfiber-based scaffold supports the prolonged viability of three-dimensionally-formed neuronal networks and their microscopic geometric parameters (i.e., microfiber diameter) strongly influence the axonal outgrowth and synaptic connection pattern. These results implies that electro-spun fiber scaffolds with fine control over surface chemistry and nano/microscopic geometry may be used as an economic and general platform for three-dimensional mammalian culture systems, particularly, neuronal lineage and other network forming cell lines.

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A Study on the Mitigation of Welding Distortion of a Precision Component for Automobile Transmission (자동차 변속기용 정밀 부품의 용접변형 감소화에 관한 연구)

  • Chung, Hoi-Yoon;Kim, Jae-Woong;Yun, Seok-Chul
    • Journal of Welding and Joining
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.31-37
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    • 2012
  • In recent years, a demand for precision-welding is increasing in wide industrial fields for getting a high quality welded structures. Although laser welding is commonly used for precision-welding, gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding is also attempted as a precision-welding due to the cost benefit. However, welding heat causes an uneven temperature distribution leading to welding deformation. Since it causes geometric errors and degrades product quality, welding distortion recently rises as an important issue in the field of automobile parts. To control welding deformation, it is needed to design in shapes that can maximize stiffness against deformation during welding; control the welding sequence; minimize heat input; and weld allowing reverse deformation; etc. Thus it is necessary to find the one, among such approaches, that can minimize the deformation range by mathematical analysis and understand how effective it would be when it is actually used in industrial fields. This study performs analyses by numerical calculations and experiments for the De-Tent Lever, one of transmission part that requires precision the most among automobile parts, as the subject of experiment. Decrease in welding deformation is required for this part, since there is currently a trouble in guaranteeing precision due to angular deformation by welding between boss and plate. Finally the ways to minimize welding deformation has been suggested in this study through analyses on it.

Fire research in Sweden for 1997-99

  • Arvidsson, Tommy
    • Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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    • 1997.11a
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    • pp.44-48
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    • 1997
  • The Swedish Fire Research Board was established in 1979 to initiate and fund relevant fire research efforts. The Board is responsible for a long term research programme revised every third year, and the Board is one of two major Swedish sponsors of all fire research. Beside the Board we also have the Swedish National Rescue Services, funded by the government. BRANDFORSK gives very high priority for the industry and the insurance company and the need they express for fire research. Research that the Rescue Services Board are funding is mainly focusing the need for the fire department. The Swedish Fire Research Board, BRANDFORSK, is the joint agency of the Swedish government, the insurance industry and the business sector, for the initiation, funding and supervision of different kinds of fire research. Work is directed by a Programme Board and is performed in the form of projects at universities, research institutes, state authorities and private firms. The Secretariat of BRANDFORSK shares the premises of the Swedish Fire Protection Association, SFPA, and the SFPA is the principal and the party which enters into agreement with the State. The programme for the period 1997-1999 has been drawn up on the basis of both damage development and the trends in society which can be noted, and the evident fire problems of the interested parties and their need for fire research. The inputs in the programme have been broken down seven problem areas. In every problem area different project areas are set out, and these primarily specify the aim of the work. Our seven problem-areas are; Costs and benefits of fire protection measure. The role and behaviour of people and organizations Fire In buildings Fire in underground facilities Rescue operations fire in industries Fire and the environment. In comparison with previous fire research programmes, cost/benefit studies have been accorded higher priority, and this is also reflected in other problem areas. Grater Emphasis

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Long Term Clinical and Radiological Follow-up Study in Spondylolisthesis, Grade I : Decompression with or without Instrument (GradeⅠ요추부 척추 전방 전위증의 치료 : 감압성 후궁절제술과 고정기구 삽입술의 비교)

  • Chung, Seung Young;Kim, Gook Ki;Lim, Young Jin;Kim, Tae Sung;Leem, Won;Rhee, Bong Arm
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.30 no.sup2
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    • pp.235-241
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    • 2001
  • Objective : Controversy exists which surgical treatment better in lumbar grade I spondylolisthesis, decompressive laminectomy with or without lumbar instrumentation. Methods : Out of Sixty-four patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent surgery, 18 patients operated with decompressive laminectomy alone and 44 patients with decompession and lumbar instrument, during recent 5-years between January, 1994 and December, 1998. The author studied a long term follow-up in the above two groups to analyzing the overall clinical outcomes in each group and to determining the incidence of pos-toperative radiologic instability. Results : 1) Overall postoperative symptoms improvement were not so different in both groups. 2) Postoperative progressive subluxation is more common after decompressive laminectomy without instrumentation than with instrumentation group. 3) Overall clinical outcomes were slightly better in decompressive laminectomy without instrumentation than with instrumentation group but there was no significant difference. 4) Postoperative radiologic changes did not seem to influence the patient-reported clinical outcomes. 5) Postoperative complications is more common in decompressive laminectomy with instrumentation group than without instrumentation group. Conclusion : In the surgical management of grade I spondylolisthesis, the efficiency and superiority of surgical treatments requires the cost effectiveness and risk/benefit analysis of decompressive laminectomy with or without instrumentation. Therefore, Further detailed studies of long term follow up in a large number of patients in each group are needed for choice of best treatment.

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Osteoblast and Bacterial Culture from Cryopreserved Skull Flap after Craniectomy : Laboratory Study

  • Cho, Tack Geun;Kang, Suk Hyung;Cho, Yong Jun;Choi, Hyuk Jai;Jeon, Jin Pyeong;Yang, Jin Seo
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.60 no.4
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    • pp.397-403
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    • 2017
  • Objective : Cranioplasty using a cryopreserved skull flap is a wide spread practice. The most well-known complications of cranioplasty are postoperative surgical infections and bone flap resorption. In order to find biological evidence of cryopreserved cranioplasty, we investigated microorganism contamination of cryopreserved skulls and cultured osteoblasts from cryopreserved skulls. Methods : Cryopreserved skull flaps of expired patients stored in a bone bank were used. Cryopreserved skulls were packaged in a plastic bag and wrapped with cotton cloth twice. After being crushed by a hammer, cancellous bone between the inner and outer table was obtained. The cancellous bone chips were thawed in a water bath of $30^{\circ}C$ rapidly. After this, osteoblast culture and general microorganism culture were executed. Osteoblast cultures were done for 3 weeks. Microorganism cultures were done for 72 hours. Results : A total of 47 cryopreserved skull flaps obtained from craniectomy was enrolled. Of the sample, 11 people were women, and the average age of patients was 55.8 years. Twenty four people had traumatic brain injuries, and 23 people had vascular diseases. Among the patients with traumatic brain injuries, two had fracture compound comminuted depressed. The duration of cryopreservation was, on average, 83.2 months (9 to 161 months). No cultured osteoblast was observed. No microorganisms were cultured. Conclusion : In this study, neither microorganisms nor osteoblasts were cultured. The biological validity of cryopreserved skulls cranioplasty was considered low. However, the usage of cryopreserved skulls for cranioplasty is worthy of further investigation in the aspect of cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit of post-cranioplasty infection.

A Preliminary Study to Determine Comprehensive Research and Development Plans for Promoting Mental Health Services

  • Kim, Chul Eung;Ko, Young-Mi;Lee, Sang-Uk;Choi, SungKu;Han, Kiwan;Park, Se Jin;Jo, MinKyung;Park, Yu Kyong;Lee, Hye Young;Park, Subin
    • Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
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    • v.9 no.6
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    • pp.314-324
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    • 2018
  • Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze research and development projects in mental health services in Korea, using priority evaluation of mental health promotion policies to determine direction of the service. Methods: An online survey was conducted that targeted experts in the mental health service regarding promotion of mental health in Korea in 2016. The survey was based on 32 policy projects that resulted from 12 strategies according to 4 policy objectives. Results: Analysis of 32 mental health projects were assessed regarding the possibility of technology development success, magnitude of the ripple effect, and necessity of a national response. It was observed that 3 policy projects relevant to suicide, had a high relative priority. This was followed by policies for improvement of health insurance and the medical benefit cost system, and policies for reinforcement of crisis psychological support such as those for disaster victims. Conclusion: The prioritization of mental health services should place an emphasis on promotion of a healthy mental lifestyle, rehabilitation support for patients with serious mental illness, and reinforcement of social safety networks for suicide prevention.

Household Out-of-Pocket Payments and Trend in Korea (가계직접부담 비용의 현황과 추이)

  • Park, Yoonsik;Park, Eun-Cheol
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.374-378
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    • 2019
  • After the announcement of Moon Jae-in Government's plan (Moon's Care) for Benefit Expansion in National Health Insurance in August 2017, it is necessary to monitor the effects of the policy, especially household out-of-pocket payments (OOP). This paper aims to observe the current status and trend of OOP in Korea. Current health expenditure (CHE) was 144.4 trillion won in 2018, which accounts for 8.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) increased 9.7% from the previous year. Although GDP's share of CHE has been close to the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the public fund's share was 59.8% of the total in 2018, which was lower than the OECD average of 73.5%. OOP's share was 32.9% in 2018, which decreased from 37.4% in 2008. The share of OOP of non-covered services was 20.0% in 2018, which decreased from 22.9% in 2008. The share of cost-sharing with third-party payers was 12.9% in 2018, which decreased from 14.5% in 2008. The OOP of non-covered services was significantly decreased in hospital and inpatient curative care, but the OOP of non-covered services was significantly increased in the medical clinic. The effect of Moon's Care was not showed in OOP through the results of 2017 and 2018, but further monitoring is needed because the Moon's Care is progressing and the observational period is short.

A successful province of agriculturalwater-saving: Gansu

  • Bin, Jiang
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2016.05a
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    • pp.194-194
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    • 2016
  • Gansu, located in the northwestern region, is a typical agricultural province of arid, semiarid in China. The shortage of water resources is the biggest obstacle of Gansu Province's development, and the dry farming water-saving is the eternal theme of Gansu agricultural sustainable development. In recent years, intensify reform in Gansu, has walked out a successful way in the agricultural water-saving. Using the integrated river basin governance as opportunity, the total water-using quantity was regarded as rigidity to retrain, distributed to counties (districts), irrigated areas, towns, associations, groups step by step. Agricultural water price was substantially increased, with the surface water price from about $0.1RMB/m^3$ to more than $0.2 RMB/m^3$, and the ground water from zero to more than $0.1RMB/m^3$. Simultaneously, the difference water prices and over-quota water progression price markup were carried out. The transaction of water rights was encouraged to impel the peasant to establish the consciousness of saving-water. The regulatory documents were formulated to standardize the scope, condition, mode, program etc. of agriculture water-rights transaction, to guarantees the transaction of water rights is carries out in order. The pattern of farming was optimized and adjusted, reducing the high water-consumption crop, increasing economic crops with high benefit and low water-consumption, developing industrialized agricultures such as green house. The relative engineering and measuring facility were comprehensively improved, with the anti-seepage of canal system and the enforcement of dynamo-electric well, developing high-efficient water-saving irrigation and overall metering facilities. The water fine-grained management has realized, and obvious water-saving effect has obtained: water-using rate in the irrigation area by river water has brought up to 0.57 from 0.52, and by well water up to 0.84 from 0.76. Although the water price has increased, the proportion that the water rate expenditure accounted for the cost lasts decline, and the farmers' income has gone up. The peasants express, the used water is few, and it is few to till land, but the income is many, and life is better.

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A Study on Establishment of Small and Medium Business Information Security Plan under Resource Restrictions (자원 제약하의 중소기업 정보보안계획 수립방안 연구)

  • Kwon, Jang-Kee;Kim, kyung-Ihl
    • Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.119-124
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    • 2017
  • Information is a valuable asset regardless of the size of the enterprise and information security is an essential element for the survival and prosperity of the enterprise. However, in the case of large corporations, Security is ensured through rapid introduction of information security management system. but In the case of SMEs, security systems are not built or construction is delayed due to complex factors such as budget constraints, insufficient security guidelines, lack of security awareness. In this paper, we analyze the actual situation of information security management of SMEs through questionnaires, and We would like to suggest a comprehensive security plan for SMEs in free or inexpensive ways. We believe that by applying the method presented in this paper, SMEs will be able to implement the lowest cost basic information security and will benefit SMEs who plan to establish an information security plan.

Reducing Soil Loss of Sloped Land using Lime-Organic Compost mixtures under Rainfall Simulation (인공강우 모사를 통한 석회/유기퇴비 혼합물의 경사지 토양유실 억제효과)

  • Koh, Il-Ha;Roh, Hoon;Hwang, Wonjae;Seo, Hyunggi;Ji, Won Hyun
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.43-50
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    • 2018
  • In a previous study, the feasibility of four materials (bentonite, steelmaking slag, lime and organic compost) to induce soil aggregate formation was assessed and the mixtures of organic compost and lime were chosen as most effective amendments in terms of cost benefit. This work is a subsequent study to evaluate the effectiveness of those amendments in reducing soil loss in $15^{\circ}$ sloped agricultural area by using rainfall simulation test. Three different soils were treated with two conditions of organic compost/lime mixtures (2% + 2%, 3% + 1%, w/w). In the amended soils, soil fertility was increased due to the increase of CEC, T-N, and T-P. During the rainfall simulation, suspended solid in run-off water from amended soil were reduced by 43% ~ 78%. When the content of organic compost was higher than that of lime, reduction of soil loss was also increased by 67% ~ 78%. Sediment discharge was also decreased by 72% ~ 96% in the amended soil. Similar to the suspended solid analysis, higher organic compost content led to more reduction of soil discharging, which implies organic compost is more effective than lime in reducing soil loss. The overall result suggests that the mixtures of organic compost and lime could be used as amendment materials to reduce soil loss in sloped farmland.