• Applied Microscopy
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• v.51
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• pp.6.1-6.9
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• 2021

Histopathology is a well-established standard diagnosis employed for the majority of malignancies, including breast cancer. Nevertheless, despite training and standardization, it is considered operator-dependent and errors are still a concern. Fractal dimension analysis is a computational image processing technique that allows assessing the degree of complexity in patterns. We aimed here at providing a robust and easily attainable method for introducing computer-assisted techniques to histopathology laboratories. Slides from two databases were used: A) Breast Cancer Histopathological; and B) Grand Challenge on Breast Cancer Histology. Set A contained 2480 images from 24 patients with benign alterations, and 5429 images from 58 patients with breast cancer. Set B comprised 100 images of each type: normal tissue, benign alterations, in situ carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma. All images were analyzed with the FracLac algorithm in the ImageJ computational environment to yield the box count fractal dimension (Db) results. Images on set A on 40x magnification were statistically different (p = 0.0003), whereas images on 400x did not present differences in their means. On set B, the mean Db values presented promising statistical differences when comparing. Normal and/or benign images to in situ and/or invasive carcinoma (all p < 0.0001). Interestingly, there was no difference when comparing normal tissue to benign alterations. These data corroborate with previous work in which fractal analysis allowed differentiating malignancies. Computer-aided diagnosis algorithms may beneficiate from using Db data; specific Db cut-off values may yield ~ 99% specificity in diagnosing breast cancer. Furthermore, the fact that it allows assessing tissue complexity, this tool may be used to understand the progression of the histological alterations in cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.185-196
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• 2023

Purpose This study aimed to investigate radiomics analysis of ultrasonographic images to develop a potential biomarker for predicting lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. Materials and Methods This study included 431 PTC patients from August 2013 to May 2014 and classified them into the training and validation sets. A total of 730 radiomics features, including texture matrices of gray-level co-occurrence matrix and gray-level run-length matrix and single-level discrete two-dimensional wavelet transform and other functions, were obtained. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used for selecting the most predictive features in the training data set. Results Lymph node metastasis was associated with the radiomics score (p < 0.001). It was also associated with other clinical variables such as young age (p = 0.007) and large tumor size (p = 0.007). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.687 (95% confidence interval: 0.616-0.759) for the training set and 0.650 (95% confidence interval: 0.575-0.726) for the validation set. Conclusion This study showed the potential of ultrasonography-based radiomics to predict cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with PTC; thus, ultrasonography-based radiomics can act as a biomarker for PTC.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.257-274
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• 2001

To properly prepare teeth, dentists require a direct view of the working area and are often placed in a difficult position, moreover, a high proportion of dentists suffer from headache and back pain. Dentists who make use of the dental mirror and position their patients carefully to gain a proper view report less headache, pain and discomfort in the shoulders. It is recommended that dentists learn the "Home Position(H.P.)" which among the various "Random Position(R.P.)" methods, enables dentists to approach their patients in a stable posture. The purpose of this study was to compare tooth preparation in the H.P. and the R.P., and evaluate the clinical efficacy of the H.P.. Tooth preparation for a full cast crown was performed on the maxillary left 1st molar using the H.P. and the R.P., and the shapes of the prepared tooth surfaces at the two different operating positions were compared. The amount of occlusal reduction, marginal width, height, and axial taper were measured and analyzed. A T-test was performed separately to compare the results of the H.P. and the R.P. with respect to the accuracy of the corresponding tooth reduction. The results were as follows. ; 1. The amount of occlusal reduction was excessive on the mesiobuccal cusp(P<0.05), and deficient on the lingual cusp in the H.P.(P<0.01). In the R.P., this was excessive on the buccal cusp and deficient on the fossa and distolingual cusp(P<0.01). 2. The amounts of marginal width were excessive in all areas except on the lingual and mesial surfaces in the H.P. and lingual surface in the R.P.(P<0.01). 3. The marginal heights were achieved more accurately in the R.P. than the H.P.(P<0.01). 4. Axial surface taper was excessive in all areas in the H.P.(P<0.01). But the axial taper of measured areas was even, and tooth is more like to retain its original axis after reduction. In the R.P., axial surface taper was excessive on the mesial and buccal area, and deficient on the distolingual area(P<0.01), and therefore, the axis of the prepared teeth was tipped in the distolingual direction. 5. The times needed for preparation were 12 minutes and 49 seconds in the H.P., and 11 minutes and 35 seconds in the R.P., and the R.P. was statistically faster(P<0.01). The tooth preparation in the H.P. achieved its goal, in that it enabled the operator to make even tooth reduction. In conclusion, the H.P. system offers an improved method that can be used in clinic after specific training.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.324-334
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• 2017

The simulators for a plant unit master control (UMC) developed by domestic or overseas researchers have been developed for operator-training purposes. UMC simulators normally constructed at the end of the plant construction, despite the UMC logics, should be simulated to pre-check many signal interfaces within the power generation systems. Because of the differences in construction schedule, it is difficult for logic designers or commissioning engineers to simulate the UMC logic during the design or commissioning stage. In this background, this paper proposes a simulation method that can be used easily by plant logic designers or operators in the MATLAB Simulink programming environment. The core of the UMC is realized with a unique simulation algorithm based on mathematical analysis and functional blocks combination. In addition, an integer-based configuration was proposed to realize the plant target value control for the equipment in the logic. With these simulation methods, functions, e.g., load distribution, high-low limitations, frequency compensation, etc. were simulated. The results showed that the plant UMC logic can be simulated in Simulink without a plant simulator. The various functions proposed in this paper can provide useful information about Simulink-based simulation design for plant logic designers or commissioning engineers during the power plant construction period.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.569-576
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• 2008

By the development of international trade in last decades, Korean International Trade has been grown rapidly and Korean Port and Port facilities have been improved stimultaneously: finally volume of the marine traffic increased rapidly. Presently, 15 VTS centers have serving in Korean waters and since the introduction of the first VIS Center in Korea there is no quantitative analysis to find workload of VIS operator. After that Port-MIS and De-brief data have been gathered for 7 days and inbound-outbound vessels time-g/t table prepared and traffic volume examined for each V1S center. Hence $L^2$ conversion traffic volume and dangerous vessel ratio obtained Later on conversion controlled number obtained by denoting ratio 1.0 to directly controlled vessels by VTSO and denoting ratio 0.3 to indirectly controlled vessels by VTSO. Traffic volume, large vessel ratio, dangerous vessel ratio, dimension of VTS controlled area, marine accident occurrence frequency and communication volume of comm. log can be counted as a factor which influence to workload of VTSO. All those factors have been examined and analyzed. Finally, ship's size and dangerous vessel ratio have been chosen to derive the Number of composite conversion control for workload formula.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.83-114
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• 2015

This study proposed to derive important aspects of developing a policy information mentoring service by analyzing the consumers' needs. To do this, we conducted a survey targeting civil servants in policy-related ministries, researchers at policy research institutes, and policy information service representatives, who will all participate in the policy information mentoring service. The results are as follows. First, the need for a policy information mentoring service the desire to participate was very high. Second, the policy information mentoring service requirements that must be considered during development were, by order of importance, the expertise of the policy information service, quantitative and qualitative improvement, and policy information sources. Requirements for a successful policy information mentoring service were to sign an agreement with organizations to participate in the service, and to then enable partner organizations to recommend their staff to act as mentors and mentees. Conditions required on the operator side of the service were securing a pool of mentors and mentees, training for both groups, financial support cooperation guarantee from the affiliated organizations for professional mentoring activities, and links to policy areas in related institution.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2016

For the prevention of marine casualties, international bodies have mainly focused on strengthening ship's stability and design, maritime education and training, and improving maritime traffic environment. Statistics analysis on marine casualties showed that most of casualties occurred in coastal waters, especially by human elements. In order to review the conformity of existing prevention measures with the result of the statistics analysis, the IMO's SHELL model was applied to the established measures. As a result, ergonomic approaches were needed for the prevention of human errors in coastal waters, so that the priority should be given to the interface between ship's operator and navigational environment. For this study, Rasmussen's SRK pyramid, which showed decision making mechanism of human, and the US Coast Guard's investigation manual on marine casualties concerning the collapse of safe maritime transportation system were reviewed, and the merits and demerits within the risk assessment tools such as IWRAP, PAWSA, ES model, PARK model, and NURI model were also studied. Although the effectiveness of the existing risk assessment models was proved in ports and approaching channels, it is concluded that the need of new models for converting Korean seafarers' qualitative risk to quantitative risk was proposed so as to print hazard maps which make seafarers instinctively recognize comparative hazard levels of coastal waters.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.693-699
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• 2016

The simulators for pump operation developed by domestic or overseas research have been developed for dynamic analysis or operator training purposes. However, previous developed simulators focused on the operators so they are unsuitable for logic designers or commissioning engineers who need to change the operation conditions or logics arbitrarily. In addition, the simulator for two or more condensate pumps' operation, which can be used easily by plant designers or operators, has not been developed. Accordingly, this paper suggests a simulation method that can be used easily for plant designers or operators using MATLAB Simulink. This suggestion helps users who can use MATLAB to implement ANSI/ISA S5.2, which is applied mainly for DCS (Distributed Control System). In addition, to implement the logics specified in the CODE, Sub-Systems were created for the block and evaluated to determine if they can be used in the simulator. In the working level stage using the suggested method, all error possibilities that might occur during the three pumps' rotation operation could be verified with the suggested simulator during the design stage or before operation.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2011

Purpose: In most cases of nasal bone fracture, closed reduction with internal or external splint fixation approach is selected. However, because of indiscriminate insertion of the internal splint without considering of anatomical difference or deformity, insufficient fixation happens frequently that need additional fixation. Therefore, we suggest a new method for providing adequate support in reduced nasal bone by carving $Merocel^{(R)}$ that is fixed for the anatomical structure. Method: Closed reduction and internal fixation with carved $Merocel^{(R)}$ was performed in 15 nasal bone fracture patients from March, 2010 to July, 2010. Each patient was evaluated by physical examination, facial photographic check, simple X-ray, and computerized tomography. On the first day post-operation, location of packing and amount of reduction were checked by follow up X-ray and computerized tomography. In addition, patients' symptoms were evaluated. During the 3-month post-op follow up at out-patient clinic, operator, 2 doctors in training and one assistant performed the objective evaluations by physical examination on nasal dorsal hump, nasal deviation, nasal depression, nasal breath difficulty, and nasal airway obstruction. A survey of subjective patients' satisfaction in 4-stages was also performed. Results: The results of follow-up computerized tomography of the 15 patients revealed that 11 patients had good reduced state. Three patients with combined maxillary frontal process fracture had over reductions. A survey performed on the first day post-operation showed that 14 of 15 patients answered that their current symptoms were more than tolerable. At the 3-month follow-up physical exam, one case had a dorsal hump. However, there were no nasal deviations, nasal depressions, nasal breath difficulties, or nasal airway obstructions. Twelve of the 15 patients answered more than moderate on the 3-month survey. Conclusion: Intranasal packing after carving the $Merocel^{(R)}$ considering anatomical structure is a new effective method to promote proper-reduction, maintain stability, and minimize patients' symptoms by addition of a simple procedure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.946-954
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• 2022

More than half of barges have been surveyed and designated as an "unmanned barge". The main advantage of the unmanned barge is that it can carry more cargo equivalent to 25 percent of freeboard compared to that of a manned barge. In contrast, it needs an onboard crew barge because the bargeman is in charge of several tasks during sailing such as mooring or unmooring barges to or from a wharf, dropping and heaving up an anchor and turning on and of navigational lights and shapes. The instant recognition is that a tug assume the responsibility of operating a barge; however, different situations exist in which the shipper, as the operator of the barge, hires a tug. Although a tug might be a carrier of a barge under a specific contract, the master of the tug should fulfill his duty to complete its voyage. Most masters are not provided with the particulars of a barge and the information regarding the bargemen onboard, which is believed not to respect the master's authority and lead to an unintended violation of relevant laws. This paper presents three recommendations for resolving these issues: the policy approach for changing unmanned barges to manned barges, issuing a minimum safe manning certificate, and providing the master of tug information on the barge and the crew onboard. Thus, the proposed approach can be expected to improve the crew's working conditions, diminish the violation of the maximum number of persons onboard the barge, and ensure the authority of the master of tug through such recommendations.