• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.526-533
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• 2011

Contracting is said to be a high-risk business, and a common cause of business failure is related to cash management. A contractor's financial viability depends heavily on how actual payments from an owner deviate from those defined in the contract. The paper presents a method for contractors to evaluate the punctuality and fullness of owner payments based on historical behaviour. It does this by classifying owners according to their late and incomplete payment practices. A payment profile of an owner, in the form of aging claims submitted by the contractor, is used as a basis for the method's development. Regression trees are constructed based on three predictor variables, namely, the average time to payment following a claim, the total amount ending up being paid within a certain period and the level of variability in claim response times. The Tree package in the publicly available R program is used for building the trees. The analysis is particularly useful for contractors at the pre-tendering stage, when contractors predict the likely payment scenario in an upcoming project. Based on the method, the contractor can decide whether to tender or not tender, or adjust its financial preparations accordingly. The paper is a contribution in risk management applied to claim and dispute resolution practice. It is argued that by contractors having a better understanding of owner payment behaviour, fewer disputes and contractor business failures will occur.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2010

Objective : Despite rapid evolution of shunt devices, the complication rates remain high. The most common causes are turning from obstruction, infection, and overdrainage into mainly underdrainage. We investigated the incidence of complications in a consecutive series of hydrocephalic patients. Methods : From January 2002 to December 2009, 111 patients underwent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting at our hospital. We documented shunt failures and complications according to valve type, primary disease, and number of revisions. Results : Overall shunt survival time was 268 weeks. Mean survival time of gravity-assisted valve (GAV) was 222 weeks versus 286 weeks for other shunts. Survival time of programmable valves (264 weeks) was longer than that of pressure-controlled valves (186 weeks). The most common cause for shunt revision was underdrainage (13 valves). The revision rate due to underdrainage in patients with GAV (7 of 10 patients) was higher than that for other valve types. Of 7 patients requiring revision for GAV underdrainage, 6 patients were bedridden. The overall infection rate was 3.6%, which was lower than reported series. Seven patients demonstrating overdrainage had cranial defects when operations were performed (41%), and overdrainage was improved in 5 patients after cranioplasty. Conclusion : Although none of the differences was statistically significant, some of the observations were especially notable. If a candidate for VP shunting is bedridden, GAV may not be indicated because it could lead to underdrainage. Careful procedure and perioperative management can reduce infection rate. Cranioplasty performed prior to VP shunting may be beneficial.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.113-139
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to provide informations about cause of failures when students solve word problems by analyzing what errors students made in solving word problems and types of error and features of error according to problem solving strategy. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: First, $5^{th}$ grade students preferred the expressions, estimate and verify, finding rules in order when solving word problems. But the majority of students couldn't use simplifying. Second, the types of error encountered according to the problem solving strategy on problem based learning are as follows; In the case of 'expression', the most common error when using expression was the error of question understanding. The second most common was the error of concept principle, followed by the error of solving procedure. In 'estimate and verify' strategy, there was a low proportion of errors and students understood estimate and verify well. When students use 'drawing diagram', they made errors because they misunderstood the problems, made mistakes in calculations and in transforming key-words of data into expressions. In 'making table' strategy, there were a lot of errors in question understanding because students misunderstood the relationship between information. Finally, we suggest that problem solving ability can be developed through an analysis of error types according to the problem strategy and a correct teaching about these error types.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.245-252
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• 2007

FTA (fault tree analysis), an analytical method for system failure management, was employed in the management of faults in running PCR analysis. PCR is executed through several processes, in which the process of PCR machine operation was selected for the analysis by FTA. The reason for choosing the simplest process in the PCR analysis was to adopt it as a first trial to test a feasibility of the FTA approach. First, fault events-top event, intermediate event, basic events-were identified by survey on expert knowledge of PCR. Then those events were correlated deductively to build a fault tree in hierarchical structure. The fault tree was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively, yielding minimal cut sets, structural importance, common cause vulnerability, simulation of probability of occurrence of top event, cut set importance, item importance and sensitivity. The top event was 'errors in the step of PCR machine operation in running PCR analysis'. The major intermediate events were 'failures in instrument' and 'errors in actions in experiment'. The basic events were four events, one event and one event based on human errors, instrument failure and energy source failure, respectively. Those events were combined with Boolean logic gates-AND or OR, constructing a fault tree. In the qualitative evaluation of the tree, the basic events-'errors in preparing the reaction mixture', 'errors in setting temperature and time of PCR machine', 'failure of electrical power during running PCR machine', 'errors in selecting adequate PCR machine'-proved the most critical in the occurrence of the fault of the top event. In the quantitative evaluation, the list of the critical events were not the same as that from the qualitative evaluation. It was because the probability value of PCR machine failure, not on the list above though, increased with used time, and the probability of the events of electricity failure and defective of PCR machine were given zero due to rare likelihood of the events in general. It was concluded that this feasibility study is worth being a means to introduce the novel technique, FTA, to the management of faults in running PCR analysis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.27.1-27.9
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• 2019

Background: Implants are becoming the first choice of rehabilitation for tooth loss. Even though they have a high success rate, failures still occur for many reasons. The objective of this study is to analyze the reasons for recurring failure at the same site and the results of re-implantation. Methods: Thirteen patients (11 males and 2 females, mean age 60 ± 9.9 years) who experienced implant surgery failure at the same site (same tooth extraction area) two or more times in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, between 2004 and 2017 were selected. The medical records on a type, sites, diameter, and length of implants; time and estimated cause of failure; and radiographs were reviewed. Data were collected and analyzed retrospectively, and the current statuses were evaluated. Results: A total of 14 implants experienced failure in the same site more than two times. Twelve implants were placed in the maxilla, while 2 implants were placed in the mandible. The maxillary molar area was the most common site of failure (57.1%), followed by the mandibular molar, anterior maxilla, and premolar areas (14.3% each). The first failure occurred most commonly after prosthetic treatment (35.7%) with an average period of failure of 3.8 months after loading. Ten cases were treated as immediate re-implantation, while the other 4 were delayed reimplantation after an average of 3.9 months. The second failure occurred most commonly after prosthetic treatment (42.9%), with an average of 31 months after loading; during the healing period (42.9%); and during the ongoing prosthetic period (14.3%). In 3 cases (21.4%), the treatment plan was altered to an implant bridge, while the other 11 cases underwent another implant placement procedure (78.6%). Finally, a total of 9 implants (64.3%) survived, with an average functioning period of 60 months. Conclusions: Implants can fail repeatedly at the same site due to overloading, infection, and other unspecified reasons. The age and sex of the patient and the location of implant placement seem to be associated with recurring failure. Type of implant, bone augmentation, and bone materials used are less relevant.

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.90-100
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• 2015

Reliability growth rate (or reliability growth curve slope) have the two cases of trend as a constant or changing one during the reliability growth testing. The changing case is very common situation. The reasons of reliability growth rate changing are that the failures to follow the NHPP (None-Homogeneous Poisson Process), and the solutions implemented during test to break out other problems or not to take out all of the root cause permanently. If the changing were big, the "Goodness of Fit (GOF)" of reliability growth curve to test data would be very low and then reduce the accuracy of assessing result with test data. In this research, we are using Duane model and AMSAA model for assessing test data and projecting the reliability level of complex and repairable system as like construction equipment and vehicle. In case of no changing in reliability growth rate, it is reasonable for reliability engineer to implement the original Duane model (1964) and Crow-AMSAA model (1975) for the assessment and projection activity. However, in case of reliability growth rate changing, it is necessary to find the method to increase the "GOF" of reliability growth curves to test data. To increase GOF of reliability growth curves, it is necessary to find the proper parameter calculation method of interesting reliability growth models that are applicable to the situation of reliability growth rate changing. Since the Duane and AMSAA models have a characteristic to get more strong influence from the initial test (or failure) data than the latest one, the both models have a limitation to contain the latest test data information that is more important and better to assess test data in view of accuracy, especially when the reliability growth rate changing. The main objective of this research is to find the parameter calculation method to reflect the latest test data in the case of reliability growth rate changing. According to my experience in vehicle and construction equipment developments over 18 years, over the 90% in the total development cases are with such changing during the developing test. The objective of this research was to develop the newly assessing method and the process for GOF level increasing in case of reliability growth rate changing that would contribute to achieve more accurate assessing and projecting result. We also developed the new evaluation method for GOF that are applicable to the both models as Duane and AMSAA, so it is possible to compare it between models and check the effectiveness of new parameter calculation methods in any interesting situation. These research results can reduce the decision error for development process and business control with the accurately assessing and projecting result.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.258-272
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• 1998

This investigation evaluated patients who received Steri-Oss implants from the Dental Hospital of Chosun University during the period from March 1989 to August 1997. 346 fixtures of 127 patients were included in this study. The results were as follows ; 1.The follow-up period was defined as the period between the surgical placement of the implants and the last follow-up examination. The mean follow-up period was $2.17{\pm}1.21$ years. 2.The period between fixture installation and second surgery was $0.71{\pm}0.44$ years in the maxilla and $0.46{\pm}0.21$ years in the mandible. 3.The number of fixtures which were installed in the upper jaw(112) was less than that in the lower jaw(234) and in the posterior region(260) was more than in the anterior region(86). 4.The length of fixture which was most frequently used was 12 mm and least was 8mm. Screw implants were installed more than cylindrical implants. 3.8mm implant was the most common implans, followed by 4.5mm and 3.25mm. 5.The number of augmentation cases was more than that of non-augmentation cases and the rate of augmentation cases in the maxilla was more than that in the mandible. 6.Implant restorations for partial edentulos patients(94cases) were more than single- tooth implant restorations(33cases) or implant restorations for complete edentulos patients(10cases). 7.Free-standing prostheses for partially edentulous patients were more commom than any other type of connection between implants and natural teeth. 8.Plaque Index($0.95{\pm}0.74$) and Gingival Index($0.31{\pm}0.52$) were very similar around the natural teeth and reflected an acceptable level of plaque and gingivitis control. Mean value for keratinized mucosa index($1.93{\pm}1.20$) remained fairly constant around level 2(1-2 mm keratinized epithelium). 9.Patients were generally satisfied with implant in terms of comfort, function, speech and esthetics. 10.There was not a statistically significant differences in overall survial rate between implants placed in the maxilla (91.5%) and those placed in the mandible (93.8%). Fourteen implants lost before the prosthetic rehabilitation and eleven implants lost following variable periods in function after the prosthetic phase of the treatment. 11.Cause of implant failures was exfoliation or removal of fixture due to non-osseointegration before the prosthetic rehabilitation or due to fracture of fixture, masticatory pain after the prosthetic rehabilitation. 12.The survival rate of Steri-Oss implants using the Kaplan-Meier statistical analysis was 93.8% at 2 year and 86.6% at 5 year, In all cases, implant losses occured predominantly in the healing period. There was a steep decline in the rate of implant loss after the first year. 13.The survival rate of Steri-Oss implants in the anterior region was 94.8% at 2 year and 94.8% at 5 year and that in the posterior region was 92.8% at 2 year and 75.9% at 5 year. In conclusion, this study revealed a number of parameters and guidelines for achieving an optimal success rate in osseointegration.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.628-640
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• 2004

Statement of problem. Wear as a result of repeated closing/opening cycles may decrease the friction coefficient of screw head, threads, and other mating components and, consequently, resistance to opening gradually decreases. It may cause screw loosening, which is one of the most common failures in implant prosthesis. Purpose. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes on the head and thread surface of the abutment screws after repeated closing and opening through the examination of tested screws in SEM(scanning electron microscope). Materials and methods. Five species of abutments were selected (3i-three, Avana-two) respectively by two pieces. The implant fixtures were perpendicularly mounted in liquid unsaturated polyesther(Epovia, Cray Valley Inc.) with dental surveyor. Each abutment was secured to the implant fixture by each abutment screw with recommended torque value using a digital torque controller. The abutment screws were repeatedly tightened and removed 20 times with a digital controller. FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscope, Netherland, Phillips co., model:XL 30 SFEG) was used to observe changes of each part caused by repeatedly closing/opening expeiment. First, the Photomicrographs of pre-test screws provided by each manufacturer were taken. The changes of each screw were investigated after every fifth closing and opening experiment with FESEM. Scaning electron microscope photomicrographs of each screw were taken four times. Results. As the number of closing and opening was increased, the wear or distortion of hexed or squared slot that contacted with the driver tip was more severely progressed. Wear or distortion of hexed slot was more severe than that of squared slot and it was more remarkable in the titanium screw than in the gold screw. All the tested screws showed that the width in the crest of their screw thread decreased gradually as the test was proceeded. Conclusions. Conclusively, we recommend the clinical use of gold screw, a periodic exchanges of abutment screws and avoiding repeated closing/opening unnecessarily. We also suggest a more careful manipulation of the abutment screw and screw-driver and using of abutment screw with an acute-angled slot design rather than an obtuse-angled one. Finally, it is suggested that the new slot design and the surface treatment for enduring wear or distortion should be devised.