• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.622-629
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• 2021

Background Venous malformations (VMs) are the most common type of vascular malformations. Intramuscular venous malformations (IMVMs) are lesions involving the muscles, excluding intramuscular hemangiomas. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between patients with IMVMs who were treated with sclerotherapy and those who were treated with surgical excision. Methods Of 492 patients with VMs treated between July 2011 and August 2020 at a single medical center for vascular anomalies, 63 patients diagnosed with IMVM were retrospectively reviewed. Pain, movement limitations, swelling, and quality of life (QOL) were evaluated subjectively, while radiological outcomes were assessed by qualified radiologists at the center. Complication rates were also evaluated, and radiological and clinical examinations were used to determine which treatment group (sclerotherapy or surgical excision) exhibited greater improvement. Results Although there were no significant differences in pain (P=0.471), swelling (P=0.322), or the occurrence of complications (P=0.206) between the two treatment groups, the surgical treatment group exhibited significantly better outcomes with regard to movement limitations (P=0.010), QOL (P=0.013), and radiological outcomes (P=0.017). Moreover, both duplex ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed greater improvements in clinical outcomes in the surgical excision group than in the sclerotherapy group. Conclusions Although several studies have examined IMVM treatment methods, no clear guidelines for treatment selection have been developed. Based on the results of this study, surgical excision is strongly encouraged for the treatment of IMVMs.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.41-59
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• 2016

Given the increasing importance of entrepreneurship in a nation's economic growth, this study empirically examined the effect of entrepreneurial behavior and environment on economic growth based on country level data. While previous studies have centered on entrepreneurship as a dominant variable that impacts economic growth, this study has extends the discussion by empirically testing the effects of two entrepreneurial variables, which are entrepreneurial behavior and entrepreneurial environment, on economic growth. Furthermore, the study attempted to examine the moderating effects of trade and innovation on the relation between the independent variables and economic growth. According to the panel analysis using data from GEM and World Bank, both entrepreneurial behavior and environment affected national economic growth, completely or partly. Results showed that opportunity-driven entrepreneurial behavior has a significant effect on economic growth, suggesting that qualitative aspect of entrepreneurial activities are critical to economic growth. The results also indicated that both trade and innovation have significant moderating effects on the relationship between governmental support program and economic growth.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.31-42
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• 2023

The charge and magnetic characteristics of LM (Low-metallic) and NAO (Non-asbestos-organic) brake wear particles were analyzed. The ratio of charged particles from total particles is about 86% of the LM pad and about 92% of the NAO pad. Number of charge per particle from the NAO pad is also higher than that of the LM pad. The ratio of magnetic particles from total particles increases with the particle size. The ratio of magnetic particles from the LM pad is about 15% for the particles with the size of 1 ㎛, and about 74% for ones with 5 ㎛. The ratio from the NAO pad is about 5% for the particles with the size from 0.5 ㎛ to 2 ㎛, and about 80% for the particles with 5 ㎛. Through the analysis of the components of the two pads with SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), it was found that the LM pad was occupied with more iron fraction than the NAO pad and that PM_2.5-10 was occupied with more iron fraction than PM_2.5. The particles smaller than 10 ㎛ (i.e. PM₁₀) from the LM pad contained about 83% of charged particles, about 43% of magnetic particles, and about 93% of charged or magnetic particles. PM₁₀ from the NAO pad contained about 88% of charged particles, about 15% of magnetic particles, and about 89% of charged or magnetic particles.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.239-250
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmia syndrome that presents as sudden cardiac death (SCD) without structural heart disease. One of the mechanisms of SCD has been suggested to be related to the uneven dispersion of transient outward potassium current (I_to) channels between the epicardium and endocardium, thus inducing ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Artemisinin is widely used as an antimalarial drug. Its antiarrhythmic effect, which includes suppression of I_to channels, has been previously reported. We investigated the effect of artemisinin on the suppression of electrocardiographic manifestations in a canine experimental model of BrS. Methods: Transmural pseudo-electrocardiograms and epicardial/endocardial transmembrane action potentials (APs) were recorded from coronary-perfused canine right ventricular wedge preparations (n=8). To mimic the BrS phenotypes, acetylcholine (3 μM), calcium channel blocker verapamil (1 μM), and I_to agonist NS5806 (6-10 μM) were used. Artemisinin (100-150 μM) was then perfused to ameliorate the ventricular tachyarrhythmia in the BrS models. Results: The provocation agents induced prominent J waves in all the models on the pseudo-electrocardiograms. The epicardial AP dome was attenuated. Ventricular tachyarrhythmia was induced in six out of 8 preparations. Artemisinin suppressed ventricular tachyarrhythmia in all 6 of these preparations and recovered the AP dome of the right ventricular epicardium in all preparations (n=8). J wave areas and epicardial notch indexes were also significantly decreased after artemisinin perfusion. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that artemisinin has an antiarrhythmic effect on wedge preparation models of BrS. It might work by inhibition of potassium channels including I_to channels, subsequently suppressing ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.395-402
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• 2024

With the advancement of science and technology, new threats have emerged, ranging from anti-tank guided missiles and rockets to FPV drones. The threat of FPV drones against tanks has been very evident in the recent Ukraine-Russia war, but the ways to counter them are also evolving. While previous threats have been overcome through increased armor, The current threat demands fundamental changes in tactical doctrine and weapon systems. We need to improve our APS to deal with low-altitude, low-speed drones, and apply automated hard-kill methods by attaching drone detection sensors to key equipment and integrating them with firepower systems. Tactically, we should avoid deploying our core forces within the range of the enemy's small drones, and strengthen nighttime maneuvers and combat. Allies should also utilize drones early to ensure that our forces have the ability to obtain the necessary information through constant aerial reconnaissance.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2018

Thermo-responsive polymers that exhibit phase transition in response to temperature change can be used as materials for smart windows because they can control solar light transmission depending on the outside temperature. The development of thermo-responsive polymers for smart windows that can be used over a wide temperature range is desirable. To obtain high performance smart windows materials, three-dimensional thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) gels were prepared by free radical polymerization from monomer N-isopropylacrylamide, N, N'-methylenebis acrylamide (MBAm) as a crosslinking agent, ammonium persulfate (APS) as a strong oxidizing agent/tetramethylene diamine as a catalyst, and a mixture of two solvents (water/glycerol). This study examined the effect of glycerol content on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), freezing temperature and the solar light transmittance of crosslinked PNIPAm gel films. The LCST and freezing temperature of PNIPAm gel films were found to be significantly decreased from 34.3 and $6.3^{\circ}C$ to 28.2 and $-6.5^{\circ}C$ with increasing glycerol content from 0 wt% to 10 wt%, respectively. It was found that the transparent PNIPAm gel films at $25^{\circ}C$ (temperature < LCST) were converted to translucent gels at higher temperature ($45^{\circ}C$) (temperature > LCST). These results suggested that the crosslinked PNIPAm gel materials prepared in this study could have high potential for application in smart glass materials.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.166-174
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• 1995

This experiment was conducted to investigate a cause of summer depression of cool season turfgrass, using nine cultivars in warm season and twenty-eight cool season turfgrasses. Even though an average of apparent photosynthesis(APS) per fresh weight was 13.09 mg $CO_2$/g/h in warm season turfgrass and 7.75 mg $CO_2$/g/h in cool season turfgrass, the Creeping bentgrass in cool season type was higher than Kikuyugrass and Bahiagrass in warm season type. The optimum temperature for the heighest APS was $30^{\circ}C$ in warm season type and $25^{\circ}C$ in cool season type. In $CO_2$ compensation point(CCP) as an index of dark respiration, it was higher in cool season turfgrass(75.6ppm) than warm season turfgrass(29.5ppm). In warm season type, even though the temperature increased from $25^{\circ}C$ to $40^{\circ}C$ the CCP was not increased. But the higher temperature rises the more increased CCP in cool season type. Dark respiration(DR) was higher in cool season type than warm season type under various temperature conditions, but the increasing ratio of DR with the temperature increment was not so much differed between two types.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

This study is to derive a design alternative to the FECC (Forest Experience Center for Children) that meets the preschooler's preferences. For this purpose, preschooler participation is included in each phase of the FECC, the site perception phase, the deriving design elements phase, and the deriving design alternative phase. In this study, the process of the deriving design alternative phase was carried out with kindergarteners and preschoolers (6, 7 years olds; all 41 students) at Songsan-mulbit FECC in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. In order to derive the design alternatives, three detailed design processes (preschooler participation 2 times, researcher analysis 1 time), tool construction, and a preschooler participation workshop were conducted. The results of this study are as follows. First, as a result of the preschooler's design process, 41 designs were drawn, and an average of 7.66 spaces were drawn by each preschooler. The 6-year-old males designed the least (average 6.80 spaces) and the 7-year-old females designed the most (9.0 spaces). The physical and adventure play spaces were most common (38.9% to 48.7%) regardless of gender or age. To analyze the feasibility of the preschooler's design using a base map, the appearance of the physical environmental characteristics (7 items) in the site were analyzed in each of the 41 designs. As a result, the environmental characteristics were apparent a total 72 times overall. Similar environmental characteristics appearing more than once were apparent in 87.8% (26 designs) of designs. Second, three design alternatives were derived: APS- types (intensive planning of active play facility spaces) was presented in 15 designs, NS-types (planning focused on nature spaces) was presented in 14 designs, and SPS-types (planning focused on static play facility spaces) were presented 12 designs. Third, NS-type, which were finally selected through a preference assessment (5-point scale) and a comparative assessment of the three alternatives, has mainly natural spaces (forest space, forest path, shelter, natural exploration space, and ecological pond) and active play facility spaces, water play space and soil (sand) play spaces was appropriately designed. Therefore, the NS-type was analyzed as the design alternative that can fully accomplish all types of cognitive development through developed through play (functional play, constructive play, dramatic(symbolic) play).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.715-724
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• 2024

We aimed to build an MR-CT interconversion model based on structure-constraints Cycle-constraints Generative Adversarial Neural Networks (scCycleGANs). We used MDCT (Somatom Definition Flash CT, SIEMENS, Germany) and 3.0T MRI (Ingenia 3.0T CX MRI, PHILIPS, Netherlands) as our hardware equipment and Python (3.12.6) and PyTorch (2.4.0) as software. The study model was scCycleGAN. We acquired 2,871 and 2,436 brain CT and MR (T2WI) images of 87 patients, respectively, and for a total of 5,307 medical images, CT and MR images taken at the same level were classified through primary evaluation, and 364, 27, and 8 pairs of images were labeled as training, validation, and test data, respectively. Then, we applied hybrid objective function to the GAN model based on the basic APS frameworks to build the model, and the evaluation of the generated model was divided into quantitative and qualitative evaluation. The qualitative evaluation was conducted on 10 radiologists with more than 20 years of experience, and the quantitative evaluation was set as PSNR, IOU, SSIM, and MAE. The results of the qualitative evaluation showed that the percentage of 'positive responses', defined as a response of 'Neutral' or better, was 63% and 96% for the Synthesis CT (sCT) and Synthesis MR (sMR) groups, respectively, while the quantitative evaluation metrics PSNR, SSIM, and MAE achieved the initial target values for both groups. Our study can be used as basic guided research in the field of medical image conversion and synthesis. And further research and complementary studies are expected to solve problems such as model lightweighting to reduce the dose burden on patients and medical costs if applied to clinical environments.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.22-33
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• 2003

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the present status of patients' satisfaction and the reasons for any satisfaction or dissatisfaction in cancer pain management Methods : A cross-sectional survey was used to obtain the feedback about pain management. The results of the survey were collected from 59 in- or out-patient who had cancer treatment at two of the teaching hospitals in Seoul from July, 2002 to November, 2002. The data was obtained by a structured questionnaire based on the American Cancer Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire(APS-POQ) and other previous research. The clinical information for all patients were compiled by reviewing their medical records. Resuts : 1) The subjects' mean score of the worst pain was 6.77, the average pain score was 3.80, and the pain score after management was 2.93 for the past 24 hours. The mean score of total pain interference was $25.03{\pm}12.82$. Many of the subjects had false beliefs about pain such as 'the experience of pain is a sign that the illness has gotten worse', 'pain medicine should be 'saved' in case the pain gets worse' and 'people get addicted to pain medicine easily'. 2) 66.1% of the subjects were properly medicated with analgesics. 33.9% of the subjects reported use of various methods in controlling pain other than the prescribed medication. Only 33.9% of the subjects had a chance to be educated about pain management by doctors or nurses. 3) The mean score of patients' satisfaction with pain management was $4.19{\pm}1.14$. 72.9% of the subjects answered 'satisfied' with pain management. The reasons for dissatisfaction were 'the pain was not relieved even after the pain management', 'I was not quickly and promptly treated when I complained of pain', 'doctors and nurses didn't pay much attention to my complaints of pain.', and 'there was no appropriate information given on the methods of administration, effect duration and side effects of pain medicine.' The reasons for satisfaction were: 'the pain was relieved after the pain management.', 'doctors and nurses quickly and promptly controlled my pain.', 'doctors and nurses paid enough attention to my complaints of pain.' and 'trust in my physician'. 4) In pain severity or pain interference, no significant difference was found between the satisfied group and dissatisfied group. On the belief 'good patients avoid talking about pain', a significant difference was found between the satisfied group and dissatisfied group. Conclusions : The patients' satisfaction with cancer pain management has increased over the years but still about 30% of patients reported to be 'not satisfied' for various reasons. The results of this study suggest that patients' education should be done to improve satisfaction in the pain management program.