• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.648-654
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Dual priming oligonucleotide-based multiplex polymerase chain reaction (DPO-based PCR) can detect the presence of clarithromycin resistance without culture. The aim of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of DPO-based PCR for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Methods: From 2015 to 2016, medical records of patients who received H. pylori eradication therapy were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: tailored group patients who were treated based on DPO-based PCR and empirical group patients. Eradication rate and medical cost, including diagnostic tests, eradication regimens, and $^{13}C$-urea breath tests, were compared between the two groups. Cost for one successful eradication was calculated in each group. The expected cost of eradication for empirical treatment was investigated by varying the treatment duration and eradication rate. Results: A total of 527 patients were analyzed (tailored group 208, empirical group 319). The eradication success rate of the first-line therapy was higher in the tailored group compared to that in the empirical group (91.8% vs 72.1%, p<0.01). The total medical cost for each group was $114.8{\pm}14.1U.S.$ dollars (USD) and $85.8{\pm}24.4USD$, respectively (p<0.01). The total medical costs for each ultimately successful eradication in the tailored group and in the empirical group were 120.0 USD and 92.4 USD, respectively. The economic modeling expected cost of a successful eradication after a 7- or 14-day empirical treatment was 93.8 to 111.4 USD and 126.3 to 149.9 USD, respectively. Conclusions: Based on economic modeling, the cost for a successful eradication using DPO-based PCR would be similar or superior to the expected cost of a successful eradication with a 14-day empirical treatment when the first-line eradication rate is ${\leq}80%$.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.633-646
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• 2014

Purpose: The conventional predicted MFTBF by military standard has a wide discrepancy to that of real-world operation, which leads to overstock and increase operation cost. This paper introduces a analyzing frame using operational reliability and cost data to overcome the discrepancy, and provides reliability improvement process employing the analyzing frame. Methods: This paper suggests Reliability-Cost Matrix (R-C Matrix) and Operational Reliability & Cost Index (ORCI) as a tool for reliability evaluation. Results: KOREIP(KAI's Operational Reliability Evaluation and Improvement Process) is developed employing Reliability-Cost Matrix and Operational Reliability & Cost Index. Conclusion: KOREIP provides a process and its activities based on Reliability-Cost Matrix frame. The process and activities leads reliability improvement of aerospace electronic equipments by means of categorizing and follow-up action based on the concept of frame.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.115-122
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• 2010

The importance of the life cycle cost (LCC) analysis for bridges has been recognized over the last decade. However, it is difficult to predict LCC precisely since the costs occurring throughout the service life of the bridge depend on various parameters such as design, construction, maintenance, and environmental conditions. This paper presents a methodology for the optimal life cycle cost design of a bridge. Total LCC for the service life is calculated as the sum of initial cost, damage cost, maintenance cost, repair and rehabilitation cost, user cost, and disposal cost. The optimization method is applied to design of a bridge structure with minimal cost, in which the objective function is set to LCC and constraints are formulated on the basis of Korean Bridge Design Code. Initial cost is calculated based on standard costs of the Korea Construction Price Index and damage cost on damage probabilities to consider the uncertainty of load and resistance. Repair and rehabilitation cost is determined using load carrying capacity curves and user cost includes traffic operation costs and time delay costs. The optimal life cycle cost design of a bridge is performed and the effects of parameters are investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2013

The LNG liquefaction plant which have a higher value-added business in the LNG value chain takes about 35% of total cost. Liquefaction process is core technology of liquefaction plant. Almost all of cost which was consumed from the liquefaction plant, using for operation energy of liquefaction process. The cost can be reduced by increasing efficiency of liquefaction cycle. C3MR(propane pre-cooled, mixed refrigerant cycle) which liquefies NG using propane and MR cycle has the high efficiency, so C3MR is mostly used liquefaction process in LNG industry. In this study, process simulation and analysis were performed for C3MR process. C3MR process variables were found through this simulation and analysis, and then the process optimization was performed. It is considered that the results of process analysis, process variables and process optimization study can be utilized to develope new liquefaction process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1115-1119
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• 2013

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication following chemotherapy and is associated with significant mortality and financial expenditure. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for longer length of stay (LOS) and mortality and cost of treatment among hospitalized adults with cancer who developed febrile neutropenia in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Information on illness of inpatients and casualties came from hospitals nationwide and from hospital withdrawals from the 3 health insurance schemes in fiscal 2010. The data covered 96% of the population and were analyzed by age groups, hospital level, and insurance year schemes in patients with febrile neutropenia. Results: A total of 5,809 patients were identified in the study. The mortality rate was 14%. The median LOS was 8.67 days and 69% of patients stayed for longer than 5 days. On bivariate analysis, age, cancer type, and infectious complications (bacteremia/sepsis, hypotension, fungal infections, and pneumonia) were significantly associated with longer LOS and death. On multivariate analysis, acute leukemia and infectious complications were linked with longer LOS and death significantly. The median cost of hospitalized FN was THB 33,686 (USD 1,122) with the highest cost observed in acute leukemia patients. Conclusions: FN in adult patients results in significant mortality in hospitalized Thai patients. Factors associated with increased mortality include older age (>70), acute leukemia, comorbidity, and infectious complications.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.497-500
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• 2004

In this paper, we present a novel idea to integrate a low cost inertial measurement unit (IMU) and Global Positioning System (GPS) for land vehicle localization. By taking advantage of positioning data calculated from an image based on photogrammetry and stereo-vision techniques, errors caused by a GPS outage for land vehicle localization were significantly reduced in the proposed bimodal approach. More specifically, positioning data from the photogrammetric approach are fed back into the Kalman filter to reduce and compensate for IMU errors and improve the performance. Experimental results are presented to show the robustness of the proposed method, which can be used to reduce positioning errors caused by a low cost IMU when a GPS signal is not available in urban areas.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.47-68
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• 2016

A well designed hybrid power system (HPS) can deliver electrical energy in a cost effective way. In this paper, model for HPS consisting of photo voltaic (PV) module and wind mill as renewable energy sources (RES) and solar lead acid battery as storage device connected to unidirectional grid is developed for peak demand reduction. Life time energy cost of the system is evaluated. One year hourly site condition and load pattern are taken into account for analysing the HPS. The optimal HPS is determined for least life time energy cost subject to the constraints like state of charge of the battery bank, dump load, renewable energy (RE) generation etc. Optimal solutions are also found out individually for PV module and wind mill. These three systems are compared to find out the most feasible combination. The results show that the HPS can deliver energy in an acceptable cost with reduced peak consumption from the grid. The proposed optimization algorithm is suitable for determining optimal HPS for desired location and load with least energy cost.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1993.07a
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• pp.36-38
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• 1993

This study considers the economic aspect of the distribution automation system, which is the decision-making criteria of the electric utilities for the investment. The feeder automation candidate region is divided into two types of the urban and the rural. The total investment cost of the feeder automation for each type is estimated. The annual cost, is also estimated, by finding the fixed charge rate. To compare the annual cost and the economic effect cost, for the investment decision-making, the costs are quantitatively estimated on the following effects : the manpower replacement, the outage cost saving, the main transformer utilization improvement, the feeder utilization improvement, and the line loss reduction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.589-596
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• 2013

Background The treatment of pressure ulcers is complicated, given the various wound dressing products available. The cost of different treatments varies and the cost-effectiveness of each product has not been thoroughly evaluated. We compare two wound dressing protocols-alginate silver dressing (AlSD) and silver zinc sulfadiazine cream (AgZnSD) with regard to wound healing and cost-effectiveness Methods Patients with grade III or IV sacral or trochanteric pressure ulcers were eligible for this prospective, randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomized to receive one of the two dressings for an eight-week period. The criteria of efficacy were based on the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scoring tool. The cost of treatment was also assessed. Results Twenty patients (12 women and 8 men) were randomly assigned to receive either AlSD (n=10) or AgZnSD cream (n=10). The demographic data and wound characteristics were comparable in the two groups. The two groups showed no significant difference in the reduction of PUSH score, wound size, or volume of exudate. The tissue type score was significantly lower in the AlSD group ($3.15{\pm}0.68-1.85{\pm}0.68$ vs. $2.73{\pm}0.79-2.2{\pm}0.41$; P=0.015). The cost of treatment was significantly lower in the AlSD group (377.17 vs. 467.74 USD, respectively; P<0.0001). Conclusions Alginate silver dressing could be effectively used in the treatment of grade III and IV pressure ulcers. It can improve wound tissue characteristics and is cost-effective.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.7 no.10
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• pp.2395-2410
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• 2013

Many telecommunication operators around the world have multiple networks. The networks run by each operator are always of different generations, such as 2G and 3G or even 4G systems. Each system has unique characters and specified requirements for optimal operation. It brings about resource allocation problem among these networks for the operator, because the budget of each operator is limited. However, the evaluation of resource allocation among various networks under each operator is missing for long, not to mention resource allocation optimization. The operators are dying for an algorithm to end their blind resource allocation, and the Resource Allocation Optimization Algorithm for Multi-network Operator (RAOAMO) proposed in this paper is what the operators want. RAOAMO evaluates and optimizes resource allocation in the view of overall cost for each operator. It outputs a resource distribution target and corresponding optimization suggestion. Evaluation results show that RAOAMO helps operator save overall cost in various cases.