• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 2009

This study aims at deriving any useful information necessary to strengthen the competitiveness for growth through empirical analyses on general hospital located in a province in order to countermeasure the opening and competition of medical markets. The characteristics of user were identified on the basis of disease groups under KCD in the research method. In addition, the analysis on the expenses of diagnosis and treatment was divided into the treatment progress and degree of hospital resource utilization And the regression was carried out to identify the impacts of characteristics of inpatient users on the degree of hospital resource utilization. As a result of major research, the inpatient users of the general hospital located in the provincial area in consideration of inpatient users were formed around the inpatient disease groups representative for Korea(diseases of the respiratory system, injury and poisoning & certain other consequences of external causes). And it was understood that most of residents within a distance of 40 minute by the public transportation were using. And mostly were under the age of 9 or over 60, and the provision of medical features such as the degree of consultation and operational functions were inadequate. When we classify inpatient treatment cost for each resource application as the medical cost being the center of patient care function, the equipment and human resource application sector are constituted over half. Accordingly, the following suggestions are made as plans to strengthen the competitiveness for the growth of general hospitals located in the provincial areas on the basis of analytical results. First, it is necessary to have the characterization matching to the age and disease groups with a high frequency. Second, it is necessary to increase the degree of hospital resource utilization according to the characterization. Third, it is necessary to concentrate on public relations. The above suggestion, as a method for securing image improvement and competitive power as a general hospital, and through expansion of social function that a regional general hospital needs to secure not only as an individual institution but also as a general hospital, it can be seen that a general improvement of image as a regional general hospital is possible.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2985-2990
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• 2012

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main malignant tumor of the liver, is very common and highly lethal. The aim of this study was to determine its clinicopathologic characteristics and risk factors in Turkey. Materials and methods: In this study, patients who were diagnosed as suffering from HCC in the period between August 2004 and December 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: A total of 98 patients were included, with a median age 61 (range: 16 to 82). Seventy nine (80.6%) were male 59 (60.2%) were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 15 (15.3%) with HCV, another 15 (15.3%) being alcohol abusers. Seventy two (73.5%) were at advanced stage and 54 (55.1%) had elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Surgery, chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy and application of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib were the major treatment options. Conclusions: According to our findings HCC is mostly diagnosed in advanced stage and age, being five times more common in males than females. Main risk factors of HCC are HBV infection, HCV infection and alcohol abuse. Elevation in AFP may facilitate early diagnosis of HCC in high risk groups.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.486-494
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• 2021

The growth of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and its progress over the years for use in post-operative bone growth has been revolutionary in its effect on bone tissue proliferation and vascular flow. However, further progress in PEMF therapy has been difficult due to lack of more evidence-based understanding of its mechanism of action. Our objective was to review the current understanding of bone growth physiology, the mechanism of PEMF therapy action along with its application in spinal surgery and associated outcomes. The authors of this review examined multiple controlled, comparative, and cohort studies to compare fusion rates of patients undergoing PEMF stimulation. Examining spinal fusion rates, a rounded comparison of post-fusion outcomes with and without bone stimulator was performed. Results showed that postoperative spinal surgery PEMF stimulation had higher rates of fusion than control groups. Though PEMF therapy was proven more effective, multiple factors contributed to difficulty in patient compliance for use. Extended timeframe of treatment and cost of treatment were the main obstacles to full compliance. This review showed that PEMF therapy presented an increased rate of recovery in patients, supporting the use of these devices as an effective post-surgical aid. Given the recent advances in the development of PEMF devices, affordability and access will be much easier suited to the patient population, allowing for more readily available treatment options.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2018

Water management impacts both methane ($CH_4$) and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emissions from rice paddy fields. Although irrigation is one of the most important methods for reducing $CH_4$ emission in rice production systems it can also $N_2O$ emissions and reduce crop yields. A feasibility study on the system of rice intensification (SRI) methods with respect to irrigation requirements, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was conducted for either 2 or 3 years depending on the treatment in Korea. The SRI methods (i.e. SRI and midsummer drainage (MD) with conventional practice (CT)) reduced the irrigation requirement by 49.0 and 22.0 %, respectively. Global warming contribution of GHG to different depending on the type of GHG. Therefore, the emission of $CH_4$ and $N_2O$ shall be converted to Global Warming Potential (GWP). The GHG emission from the conventional practice with midsummer drainage (MD) and the SRI plots, in GWP were reduced by 49.1 and 77.1 %, respectively. Application of SRI water management method could help to improve Korea's water resources and could thus contribute to mitigation of the negative effects of global warming.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2007

Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (CRPS) type I and type II are neuropathic pain conditions that are being increasingly recognized in children and adolescents. The special distinctive features of pediatric CRPS are the milder course, the better response to treatment and the higher recurrence rate than that of adults and the lower extremity is commonly affected. We report here on a case of pediatric CRPS that was derived from ankle trauma and long term splint application at the left ankle. The final diagnoses were CRPS type I in the right upper limb, CRPS type II in the left lower limb and unclassified neuropathy in the head, neck and precordium. The results of various treatments such as medication, physical therapy and nerve blocks, including lumbar sympathetic ganglion blocks, were not effective, so implantation of a spinal cord stimulator was performed. In order to control the pain in his left lower limb, one electrode tip was located at the 7th thoracic vertebral level and two electrode tips were located at the 7th and 2nd cervical vertebral levels for pain control in right upper limb, head, neck and right precordium. After the permanent insertion of the stimulator, the patient's pain was significantly resolved and his disabilities were restored without recurrence. The patient's pain worsened irregularly, which might have been caused by psychological stress. But the patient has been treated with medicine at our pain clinic and he is being followed up by a psychiatrist. (Korean J Pain 2007; 20: 60-65)

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.sup1
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• pp.116-120
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• 2008

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death of men in western countries and the death related to this disease in Korea is also getting increased. Although anatomic imaging tools such as transrectal US or MRI have been playing a great role in detection of primary prostate lesion, the evaluation of regional lymph node or distant organ metastasis using these modalities is not successful. $^{18}F-FDG-PET$ scan is emerging diagnostic tool for various malignancies. Considering the usual characteristics of prostate cancer such as slow growing and osteoblastic metastasis, the application of FDG PET scan to this disease might be limited. However, in advanced prostate cancer refractory to chemotherapy, FDG PET scan show strong FDG uptake and SUV changes in serial PET scan can be a good indicator of treatment response. Although FDG PET can be useful only in limited cases of prostate cancer, its indication can be widened in future owing to rapid technical improvement and accumulated experiences in this field.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.111-130
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• 1997

The lack of water resources is becoming worse due to water pollution with accelerated industrialzation and regional unbalanced distribution of water resources. In recent, the production water quality is decreasing because of the increased organic matters and soluble solids in the water sources for power plants. The purpose of this paper discribes the ststus and prospect of membrane application in electric power industry. So this study lies in developing a process which can produce high purity water by appluing RO(Reserve Osmosis) ahead of the IX(Ion Exchange) tower and evaluating the product water quality and the cost effectiveness. The capital and operating cost for the treatment of brackish water, sea water by RO were presented as a reference for the review on securing water source for the new plant site.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.58-76
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• 2022

Purpose - This study examined the Rules of Origin (RoO) as a factor affecting free trade agreements' (FTA) utilization and analyzed the causal relationship and the effects of these factors on the export performance of automobile parts companies. Design/methodology - We analyzed and verified the impact of FTA utilization and the export performance of automobile parts companies by dividing the characteristics of the RoO into complexity and uncertainty. Following which, various statistical analyses were conducted on the interrelationships among these variables. Findings - This research analyzed the effect of the RoO factors of complexity and uncertainty on the use of FTA and the export performance of automobile parts companies. We found that these characteristics of RoO were generally related to and affected the FTA use and export performance of these companies. Based on this, this study's investigation into the characteristics of the RoO would then help companies in better utilizing the FTA, as well as providing suggestions on how to effectively respond to the application of the FTA in the future. Originality/value - Companies that want to utilize FTAs in international trade must follow the RoO. In the Regional Trade Agreement (RTA), the country-of-origin is a key factor, with the RoO being an important requirement for the application of preferential tariffs. These regulations are a requirement for receiving FTA preferential treatment; however, they also cause difficulties to companies in using the FTA.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.268-278
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• 2010

This study derived the effectiveness analysis results of construction of wastewater treatment plant under climate change scenarios. Canadian Global Coupled Model (CGCM3) was used and A1B and A2 of Special Report on Emission Scenario (SRES) were selected. Regional climate change data for this application were downscaled by using Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) and the flow and BOD concentration durations were obtained by using Hydrological Simulation Program - Fortran (HSPF). The criteria for low flow and water quality were chosen as $Q_{99}$, $Q_{95}$, $Q_{90}$ and $C_{30}$, $C_{10}$, $C_1$. The numbers of days to satisfy the instreamflow requirements and target BOD concentration were also added to the criteria for comparison. As a results, small wastewater treatment plant improved the water cycle due to the increase of low flow and the decrease of BOD concentration. But climate change affected the reduction of effectiveness significantly. Especially in case of construction of small waste water treatment plant in the upstream region, it is necessary to take climate change impact into consideration since it is usually related to the low flow and the water quality of the stream.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.493-502
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• 2015

In accordance with the Watershed Sewer System Maintenance Plan enforced on February 2, 2013, the different compliance concentration of effluent limit be applied to effluent discharged from public sewage treatment works(PSTWs) in each watershed on the basis of water quality thereof. With the introduction of watershed sewer system, it is necessary to set the compliance concentration of effluent limit for PSTWs situated in the watershed, by region and PSTW size, to achieve water quality criteria for regional watersheds or target water quality under TMDL program. Watershed Environmental Agencies establish the Watershed Sewer System Maintenance Plan and set the compliance concentrations of effluent limit for PSTWs under the plan. The agencies plan to apply tougher effluent BOD concentration limits in Class I to IV areas. Effluent BOD concentration limits will be toughened from 5~10 mg/L to 3 mg/L in class II~III areas, from 10mg/L to 5mg/L in class IV areas. Uniform application of effluent BOD concentration limits to PSTWs in the watershed sewer system need to be complemented considering type of sewage treatment technology employed and watershed characteristics. Therefore, this study presents method to determine the compliance concentration of effluent limit from PSTWs in the watershed.