• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.87-106
• /
• 2018

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the association between process quality of inpatient care and risk-adjusted, thirty-day potentially preventable hospital readmission (PPR) rates. Data Sources/Study Setting: This was an observational cross-sectional study of nonfederal acute-care hospitals located in two states California and Florida, discharging Medicare patients with a principal discharge diagnosis of heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia January through December 31, 2007. Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare database, and the American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Hospitals. Study Design: The dependent variable of this study is condition-specific, risk-adjusted, thirty-day potentially preventable hospital readmission (PPR). 3M's PPR software was utilized to determine whether a readmission was potentially preventable. The independent variable of this study is hospital performance for process quality of inpatient care, measured by hospital adherence to recommended processes of care. We used multivariate hierarchical logistic models, clustered by hospitals, to examine the relationship between condition-specific, risk-adjusted, thirty-day PPR rates and process quality of inpatient care, after taking clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of patients and structural and operational characteristics of hospitals into account. Findings: Better performance on the process quality metrics was associated with better patient outcome (i.e., low thirty-day PPR rates) in pneumonia, but not generally in two cardiovascular conditions (i.e., heart failure and acute myocardial infarction). Practical Implication: Adherence to the process quality metrics currently in use by CMS is associated with risk-adjusted, thirty-day PPR rates for patients with pneumonia, but not with cardiovascular conditions. More evidence-based process quality metrics closely linked to 30-day PPR rates, particularly for cardiovascular conditions, need to be developed to serve as a guideline to reduce potentially preventable readmissions.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
• /
• 제6권6호
• /
• pp.133-141
• /
• 2005

In the resent years, the importance of VE (value engineering) and LCC (life cycle cost) analysis for apartment building construction projects has been fully recognized. Accordingly theoretical models, guidelines, and supporting software systems were developed for the value engineering and life cycle cost analysis for construction management including large building systems. However, the level of consensus on VE and LCC analysis results is still low due to the lack of reliable data on maintenance. This paper presents time dependent LCC model based value analysis method for rational investment decision making and design alternative selection for construction of apartment building. The proposed method incorporates a time dependent LCC model and a performance evaluation technique by fuzzy logic theory to properly handle the uncertainties associated with statistics data and to analyze the value of alternatives more rationally. The presented time dependent VE and LCC analysis procedure were applied to a real world project, and this case study is discussed in the paper. The model and the procedure presented in this study can greatly contribute to design value engineering alternative selection, the estimation of the life cycle cost, and the allocation of budget for apartment building construction projects.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate accuracy and reliability of program to measure facial soft tissue thickness using 3D computed tomographic images by comparing with direct measurement. Materials and Methods : One cadaver was scanned with a Helical CT with 3 mm slice thickness and 3 mm/sec table speed. The acquired data was reconstructed with 1.5 mm reconstruction interval and the images were transferred to a personal computer. The facial soft tissue thickness were measured using a program developed newly in 3D image. For direct measurement, the cadaver was cut with a bone cutter and then a ruler was placed above the cut side. The procedure was followed by taking pictures of the facial soft tissues with a high-resolution digital camera. Then the measurements were done in the photographic images and repeated for ten times. A repeated measure analysis of variance was adopted to compare and analyze the measurements resulting from the two different methods. Comparison according to the areas was analyzed by Mann-Whitney test. Results : There were no statistically significant differences between the direct measurements and those using the 3D images (p>0.05). There were statistical differences in the measurements on 17 points but all the points except 2 points showed a mean difference of 0.5 mm or less. Conclusion : The developed software program to measure the facial soft tissue thickness using 3D images was so accurate that it allows to measure facial soft tissues thickness more easily in forensic science and anthropology.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
• /
• 제5권5호
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 2016

Information system audit is the requirement to configure the information system successfully. However, there is a problem with reduction of efficiency in the audit work when the system capacity is growing up. In the subsidiary field of information system audit, there is the same problem. In this paper, we will focus on the database audit, and implement an SQL audit tool in order to improve the performance of a database. During the designing phase of the SQL audit tool which aim to improve the performance of a database, we have analyzed the requirements of SQL audit work. Based on the aforementioned them, the process of the SQL audit tool has been designed with SQL audit features in accordance with information audit process. During the implementation phase, we have implemented 3 main function modules according to the output of the design phase. The main modules we implemented are the audit job definition module, audit job executing module and result reporting module. With the implemented tool, it applied to an Electric Power Corporation project in China and compared with other tools that are able to use SQL audit. In this paper, the implemented SQL audit tool is able to perform the general SQL audit work and to reduce the cost of the audit work for database performance and to raise the accuracy of result and to apply the extended inspection rule which need to use SQL parsing.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.13-29
• /
• 2001

The study examined the current status and the use of electronic publishing files to produce a bibliographic database. In particular . it examined the problems faced in the production of KoreaMed, an abstract database of Korean medical journals. The methodology of KoreaMed to utilize the computer files which was produced in the process of publication of a print journal is found to be very effective. It assures the accuracy of data, accelerates the input speeds, and reduces the input costs. However, such a project can not be accomplished to a satisfactory level without the cooperation of the publishers involved. It turns out that many small publishers and academic societies hardly have saved the electronic publishing files of previous issues. Besides, it is hard to maintain the right channel to receive the files continuously. The input and processing of special characters are very delicate problems. In addition, the diversity of layout and formats of journals, of the electronic publishing software used, and of the storage media, makes the utilization of the electronic publishing files a very complex process. In order to operate the KoreaMed system more efficiently by requiring the publishers to submit XML files which meets the standard of the KoreaMed, it is necessary to educate and train personnels of journal publishers for the management of electronic publishing files.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• 제10권10호
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 2012

Purpose - The Garak agricultural wholesale market ('Garak Market') plays a central role in the distribution of agricultural products in Korea and is important in connecting consumers with producers. However, problems regarding inefficiencies and the high-cost structure of the wholesale market's distribution/logistical system are being raised in relation to severe competition among retailers. Furthermore, the service needs of retailers and market users are not being fulfilled due to the inconsistency of the wholesale market's functions and facilities, thus reducing the competitiveness of the market. In this regard, innovative changes are being requested of the agricultural wholesale market according to changes in the agricultural product distribution environment. In particular, the lack of unloading facilities and the outdated unloading system of the wholesale market must be improved to enhance system efficiency. Research design, data, and methodology - This study observed the problems of the unloading system of the agricultural wholesale market in order to present relevant measures for improvement. The need for unloading auctions was also researched in this study. The survey of 70 forwarders belonging to the producing district distributor association of the Garak market was conducted by post. Additionally, 20 auction dealers and 59 shippers and transporters were individually interviewed. The survey on the need for unloading auctions used five-point Likert Scales. The statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS WIN 12.0 software. Results - First, the wholesale market must employ members of the unloading labor union to allow these employees to directly manage the unloading process. Second, it is crucial to revise regulations to ensure that the principal agent pays the unloading cost according to the standard unloading cost system. Third, the vehicle auction carried out for certain vegetable products must be converted to the unloaded auction system. According to the related interviews with the wholesale market's distribution agents, whereas shippers and transporters recognized the need for unloaded auctions, auction dealers tend to have a negative view of this system. Furthermore, the stated reasons in favor of unloaded cabbage, radish, and other vegetable auctions were prevention of constraint, creation of transparent trade conditions, and reduction of corrected seller tickets. Many of the respondents answered that the transport cost reduction rate in unloaded auctions must be below 20%. Fourth, the unloading system must be mechanized and a detailed, reasonable plan must be provided to settle the existing conflict with the unloading labor union. Conclusions - The proposals in this study are expected to play an important role in improving the cargo handling system of the wholesale agricultural product market in the future. Improving the system is expected to help shore up the competitiveness of the industry. If all the related bodies closely cooperate with each other and work harder, taking advantage of the synergies created by the facility modernization project, the Garak market will play a pivotal role in the distribution of agricultural products.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• 제8권10호
• /
• pp.295-304
• /
• 2017

The purpose of the study was to develop welfare technology classification frame according to welfare needs, function, and ICT technology and to explore current trends in Korean welfare technology application for older adults and people with disabilities. A systematic literature review and descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. Korean welfare technology services were categorized by a new welfare technology classification frame with five components for welfare needs and function and eight ICT technologies. Self-reliance and self-help emerged as the most frequent welfare needs and function. The use of ICT devices was frequently applied to welfare technology services. Our findings suggest that it is important to use a new welfare technology classification frame and to apply it to welfare technology in Korea. Further research is necessary to seek for future directions in Korean welfare technology.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
• /
• 제8권9호
• /
• pp.355-362
• /
• 2019

In the past, when research and development(R&D) resources were absolutely scarce, the so-called 'choice and concentration' strategy of national R&D projects has been persuasive. Under the current situation where various actors such as GRIs(Government-funded Research Institutes) and universities supported by more abundant R&D resources conduct national R&D projects, this strategy cannot be applied without distinction. In order to see how the strategy has worked, this paper analyzes the concentration of research funds allocated to actors performing national R&D projects. Concentration is measured based on the amount of research funds supported by government from 2002 to 2016 using the Theil index to break down the concentration of individual actors in the overall national R&D project. The results from the Theil index were compared with concentrations using the Gini coefficient, a widely known indicator. As a result, the Theil index could be used to analyze the concentration and sub-components' contribution such as universities and GRIs that make up the entire national R&D system. The results also showed GRIs had the highest concentration, followed by universities, but their concentration has been somewhat reduced compared to 10 years ago. On the other hand, small-sized companies have maintained a certain level, although they are not highly concentrated. In other words, universities and GRIs tend to reduce the gap in the allocation of research funds among institutions, while small-sized companies tend to distribute them evenly.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.275-286
• /
• 2019

In order to prevent local extinction of organisms and to preserve biodiversity, it is important to ensure connectivity between habitats. Even if the habitat is exposed to various disturbance factors, it is possible to avoid or respond to disturbances if they are linked to other habitats. Habitat connectivity can be assessed from a variety of perspectives, but the importance of functional connectivity based on species movement has been emphasized in recent years due to the development of computational capabilities and related software. Among them, Circuitscape, which is a connectivity evaluation tool, has an advantage it can provide detailed reference data for the city planning because it maps ecological flows on individual grid based on circuit theory. Therefore, in this study, the functional connectivity of Suwon was evaluated by applying Circuitscape and then, the ecological corridor to be conserved and supplemented was suggested based on it. The results of this study are expected to effectively complement the methodology related ecological corridor/axis, which was previously provided only in the form of a diagram, and to be effective in management of development project and urban planning.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2019

In this paper, it was found that most of the machinery facilities problems generated by clients could be prevented in advance by systematically managing the mechanical equipment production process of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that produce machinery facilities. Major point of this process is to establish an operating system that corresponds to reality of facility manufacturers as it represents 63% of machinery facilities problems that occur in customers and is a task that needs to be solved most intensively. Technical issues account for 23% of machinery facilities problems occurring at the client's companies and should be approached from a long-term perspective as they are directly related to the technical capabilities of the manufacturers. Organizational problems account for 14% of machinery facilities problems occurring in customer companies, and can change depending on the relationship of members and the nature of the human being, such as morality and motivation. In addition, we propose the establishment of an Internet-based production process management platform for smooth and efficient transfer of information between customers and machinery facilities manufacturers.