• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2009

Purpose: To update the epidemiologic information of hepatobiliary diseases in pediatric inpatients using cross-sectional survey data throughout the Republic of Korea. Methods: Nationwide cross-sectional survey was obtained from the 85 residency training hospitals in Korea to gather the final diagnosis on discharge. The surveyed periods were from 2004 to 2006. All the reports regarding the diagnosis were based on ICD-10 system. In this study, we focused on hepatobiliary diseases. Results: A total of 826,896 cases with discharge data were collected, of which 4,151 (5.0%) hepatobiliary cases were identified; 2,385 cases (57.4%) of hepatobiliary disease were hepatitis, which was the most common hepatobiliary disease. Other diseases included congenital hepatobiliary diseases (524 cases [12.6%]) and biliary diseases (315 cases [7.6%]). The prevalence of hepatobiliary disease according to age differed. Biliary atresia was the most common hepatobiliary disease in the neonatal period, whereas the prevalence of hepatitis increased in adolescents. The total number of hepatobiliary operations was 416 cases. With the comparison of annual data, there was no definite difference in the total number of hepatobiliary cases. The average duration of hospital stay appeared to decrease gradually. Conclusion: In this study, we have summarized the recent epidemiology of hepatobiliary disorders in Korean children based on discharge data. Hepatobiliary disorders in pediatric inpatient units consisted of diverse disorders with a low prevalence, so multi-center approaches should be considered to enhance the clinical and public health outcomes. To improve this nationwide survey, a new data collecting system should be developed.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.22-31
• /
• 2011

Purpose : To compare free-breathing and respiratory-triggered diffusion-weighted imaging on 1.5-T MR system in the detection of hepatic lesions. Materials and Methods: This single-institution study was approved by our institutional review board. Forty-seven patients (mean 57.9 year; M:F = 25:22) underwent hepatic MR imaging on 1.5-T MR system using both free-breathing and respiratory-triggered diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at a single examination. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed respiratory-triggered and free-breathing sets (B50, B400, B800 diffusion weighted images and ADC map) in random order with a time interval of 2 weeks. Liver SNR and lesion-to-liver CNR of DWI were calculated measuring ROI. Results : Total of 62 lesions (53 benign, 9 malignant) that included 32 cysts, 13 hemangiomas, 7 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 5 eosinophilic infiltration, 2 metastases, 1 eosinophilic abscess, focal nodular hyperplasia, and pseudolipoma of Glisson's capsule were reviewed by two reviewers. Though not reaching statistical significance, the overall lesion sensitivities were increased in respiratory-triggered DWI [reviewer1: reviewer2, 47/62(75.81%):45/62(72.58%)] than free-breathing DWI [44/62(70.97%):41/62(66.13%)]. Especially for smaller than 1 cm hepatic lesions, sensitivity of respiratory-triggered DWI [24/30(80%):21/30(70%)] was superior to free-breathing DWI [17/30(56.7%):15/30(50%)]. The diagnostic accuracy measuring the area under the ROC curve (Az value) of free-breathing and respiratory-triggered DWI was not statistically different. Liver SNR and lesion-to-liver CNR of respiratory-triggered DWI ($87.6{\pm}41.4$, $41.2{\pm}62.5$) were higher than free-breathing DWI ($38.8:{\pm}13.6$, $24.8{\pm}36.8$) (p value < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Respiratory-triggered diffusion-weighted MR imaging seemed to be better than free-breathing diffusion-weighted MR imaging on 1.5-T MR system for the detection of smaller than 1 cm lesions by providing high SNR and CNR.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2004

The on-line games in the past were played by only two persons exchanging data based on one-to-one connections, whereas recent ones (e.g. MMORPG: Massively Multi-player Online Role-playings Game) enable tens of thousands of people to be connected simultaneously. Specifically, Korea has established an excellent network infrastructure that can't be found anywhere in the world. Almost every household has a high-speed Internet access. What made this possible was, in part, high density of population that has accelerated the formation of good Internet infrastructure. However, this rapid increase in the use of on-line games may lead to surging traffics exceeding the limited Internet communication capacity so that the connection to the games is unstable or the server fails. expanding the servers though this measure is very costly could solve this problem. To deal with this problem, the present study proposes the load distribution technology that connects in the form of local clustering the game servers divided by their contents used in each on-line game reduces the loads of specific servers using the load balancer, and enhances performance of sewer for their efficient operation. In this paper, a cluster system is proposed where each Game server in the system has different contents service and loads are distributed efficiently using the game server resource information such as CPU utilization. Game sewers having different contents are mutually connected and managed with a network file system to maintain information consistency required to support resource information updates, deletions, and additions. Simulation studies show that our method performs better than other traditional methods. In terms of response time, our method shows shorter latency than RR (Round Robin) and LC (Least Connection) by about 12%, 10% respectively.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.333-343
• /
• 2004

Impression cytology refers to application of cellulose acetate filter material to the ocular surface to remove the superficial layers of the conjunctival epithelium. The technique is non-invasive, is easy to perform, causes minimal discomfort to the patient, and can be used to follow changes in the conjunctival ocular surface over time. With this method, the morphology of the conjunctival ocular surface can be studied and the degree of squmaous metaplasia assessed. This study was performed to evaluate the conjunctival surface by impression cytology in dry eye patients. A total of 70 students with no contact lens wearing history were recruited. Subjects were required to fill in a McMonnies dry eye symptom questionnaire. The non-invasive tear thinning time(TIT) test of each subject was measured, followed by Schirmer tear test(STI), tear film break-up time(TBUT) tests and Rose-bengal staining were performed as a baseline. Conjunctival epithelial cells from the inferior bulbar conjunctiva were harvested by the impression cytology technique. The specimens collected were labelled and stained with PAS(Periodic Acid Schift)-haematoxylin. The goblet cells and conjunctival epithelial cells were observed under a light microscope of 400x magnification. The specimens were classified according to the Nelson Grading scale which was based on the degree of squamous metaplasia such as changes of goblet cells density, size/form, N:C(nucleus : cytoplasm) ratio. Dry eye patients were observed morphological changes of the epithelial cells, different nuclear alterations, decrease of the goblet cells density. The degree of cytological changes was related to severity of dry eye conditions. When the epithelial cell morphology was graded according to the system described by Nelson, specimens from the control group revealed 91.43% of the eyes to be grade 0 and 8.57% to be grade 1, whereas of the dry eye patients, 20% were grade 0, 42.86% grade 1, 34.29% grade 2 and 2,86% grade 3. Impression cytology represents a non- or minimally invasive biopsy of the ocular surface epithelium with no side effects or contraindications. It has demonstrated to be a useful diagnostic aid for a wide variety of processes involving the ocular surface. This technique is a safe, simple method and may help increase understanding of various ocular surface alterations in dry eye patients.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.72-79
• /
• 2009

Scatter correction for I-131 plays a very important role to improve image quality and quantitation. I-131 has multiple and higher energy gamma-ray emissions. Image quality and quantitative accuracy in I-131 imaging are degraded by object scatter as well as scatter and septal penetration in the collimator. The purpose of this study was to estimate scatter and septal penetration and investigate two scatter correction methods using Monte Carlo simulation. The gamma camera system simulated in this study was a FORTE system (Phillips, Nederland) with high energy, general-purpose, parallel hole collimator. We simulated for two types of high energy collimators. One is composed of lead, and the other is composed of artificially high Z number and high density. We simulated energy spectrum using a point source in air. We estimated both full width at half maximum (FWHM) and full width at tenth maximum (FWTM) using line spread function (LSF) in cylindrical water phantom. We applied two scatter correction methods, triple energy window scatter correction (TEW) and extended triple energy window scatter correction (ETEW). The TEW method is a pixel-by pixel based correction which is easy to implement clinically. The ETEW is a modification of the TEW which corrects for scatter by using abutted scatter rejection window, which can overestimate or the underestimate scatter. The both FWHM and FWTM were estimated as 41.2 mm and 206.5 mm for lead collimator, respectively. The FWHM and FWTM were estimated as 27.3 mm and 45.6 mm for artificially high Z and high density collimator, respectively. ETEW showed that the estimation of scatter components was close to the true scatter components. In conclusion, correction for septal penetration and scatter is important to improve image quality and quantitative accuracy in I-131 imaging. The ETEW method in scatter correction appeared to be useful in I-131 imaging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.163-174
• /
• 2020

Particulate matter levels are rapidly increasing daily, and this can affect human health. Therefore, air pollutant emissions from sea vessels require management. This study evaluates the status of air pollutants, focusing on air pollutant emissions from the vessels of the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), and proposes national management measures to reduce emissions. According to a report recently released (2018) by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), emissions from vessels constituted 6.4 % of the total domestic emissions, including 13.1 % NO_x, 10.9 % SO_x, and 9.6 % particulate matter (PM10/PM2.5). Among the rates of pollutant emission from vessels, the emission rates of domestic and overseas cargo vessels were the highest (50.6 %); the ratio of fishing boats was 42.6 %. With respect to jurisdictional sea area, 44.1 % of the emissions are from the south sea, including the Busan and Ulsan ports, and 24.8 % of the emissions are from the west sea, including the Gwangyang and Yeosu ports. The KCG inspects boarding lines to manage emission conditions and regulate air pollutant emissions, but it takes time and effort to operate various discharge devices and measure fuel oil standards. In addition, owing to busy ship schedules, inspection documents are limited in terms of management. Therefore, to reduce the air pollutant emissions of such vessels, regulations will be strengthened to check for air pollutants, and a monitoring system based on actual field data using KCG patrol ships will be established, for each sea area, to manage the emissions of such vessels. Furthermore, there is a need for technological development and institutional support for the introduction of environmentally friendly vessels.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.289-296
• /
• 2012

Cosmetic products which might augment the breast have attracted an attention and objective methods for the evaluation of such products are in high demand. This study was conducted to establish a method for assessing the breast-firmming effects of cosmetics. This study included a total of 30 healthy Korean females aged 20-50 years. A cosmetic product was applied by massaging it onto the breast twice a day for 8 weeks. Measurement of breast girth with a tape ruler, 2D and 3D digital image analyses, and Moir$\acute{e}$ topographic analysis were performed before and following the treatment. The application of a cosmetic onto the breast significantly increased breast girth at 2, 4 and 8 weeks without a significant change in underbreast girth, implicating the breast might be augmented. The 2D image analysis indicated that the arc length of the breast which represents the surface distance from the nipple to the periphery of the under-breast was significantly increased at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The height of the breast which represents the perpendicular distance from the nipple to the periphery of the under-breast was also increased significantly at 4 and 8 weeks. The 3D image analysis of body surface also demonstrated a significant increase of breast volume at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Moir$\acute{e}$ topographic analysis indicated that breast sagging was significantly reduced at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The results of this study suggest that Moir$\acute{e}$ topography in combination with 2D and 3D digital image analyses may be useful for evaluating the breast-augmenting effects of cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.176-188
• /
• 2018

Modern urban problems are increasingly becoming a market mix that can not be solved by the power of a single department and the necessity of establishing a cooperation system based on data communication between departments is increasing. Therefore, this study analyzed Busan metropolitan city's IT projects from 2014 to 2018 in order to understand the utilization and sharing status of departmental data from the viewpoint that cooperation between departments can start from the sharing of data with high common utilization. In addition, based on the results of the FGI(Focus Group Interview) conducted for the officials of the department responsible for the informatization project, we verified the results of data status analysis. At the same time, we figured out the necessity of data link between departments through SNA(Social Network Analysis) and presented data that should be shared first in the future. As a result, most of the information systems currently use limited data only within the department that produced the data. Most of the linked data was concentrated in the information department. Therefore, this study suggested the following solutions. First, in order to prevent overlapping investments caused by the operation of individual departments and share information, it is necessary to build a small platform to tie the departments, which have high connectivity with each other, into small blocks. Second, a local level process is needed to develop data standards as an extension of national standards in order to expand the information to be used in various fields. Third, as another solution, we proposed a system that can integrate various types of information based on address and location information through application of cloud-based GIS platform. The results of this study are expected to contribute to build a cooperation system between departments through expansion of information sharing with cost reduction.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-40
• /
• 2007

The research in this paper, for the effective implementation of CBD PoW PA(Program of Work on Protected Areas of Convention on Biological Diversity) that was adopted by CBD COP7(Conference of the Parties) in 2004, shows the objectives and activities of 9 each subject in PoW PA regarding domestic status and cases of national park management. Before anything else, according to the result of the review on the status of protected areas in Korea, there are 1,119 protected areas which are classified into 14 types and the total area is about $15,621km^2$. After a thorough review on 9 each subject about the implementation of CBD PoW PA, we found out that some parts such as management planning, prevention and alleviation of threats, and establishment of PAs system, are improved while financial support, improved social benefit, and MEE(Management Effectiveness Evaluation} fields are need to be improved. Especially regarding time-bound, ecological gap analysis on national level and MEE are need to be improved immediately. This paper could help us to understand the current status of PAs management system in Korea and to prepare national reports of CBD and implementation report of PoW PA. Based on research and results of this paper, we need to find the fields that have gaps in order to meet the requirements of the CBD PoW PA and the implementation tools that are suitable for managing Korea's protected areas. To effectively implement the various activities which require a systematic approach on the national level, the establishment of the networks among relevant organizations for protected areas are vital. To effectively reach the ultimate goal of CBD PoW PA, reducing the rate of biodiversity loss, it is essential that lots of plans established by authorities must be carried out in a constant manner to achieve goals of CBD PoW PA.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.214-220
• /
• 2001

The clinical application of the three-dimensional radiographic technique had been limited to standard Broadbent-Bolton cephalometer with biplanar stereoradiography. We developed a new method for compensating the error of head position in ordinary non-biplanar cephalostat. It became to possible to use the three dimensional cephalogram commonly in clinical bases. 1. The method of methemetical compensation of head positioning error in non-biplanar condition was evaluated with dry skull. The error of the method of first and the second trial was $0.46{\pm}1.21$, $0.33{\pm}0.90mm$, which means the error of the head positioning correction in conventional cephalogram was within clinical acceptance. 2. The reproducibility of this system for clinical application was 0.54 mm ($-2.99{\sim}2.26mm$) which defines the absolute mean difference of the first and second trial. Compare to the The landmark identification error $1.2{\pm}1.6mm$, the error of the measurement was within the range of landmark identification error. The result indicates the adequate clinical accuracy of the computation of three-dimensional coordinates by compensation of the error of the head position in ordinary non-biplanar cephalostat.