• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.6
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• pp.238-243
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• 2013

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the "diagnosis changed" rate in patients notified as tuberculosis (TB) on the Korean TB surveillance system (KTBS). Methods: A total of 1,273 patients notified as TB cases on the KTBS in one private tertiary hospital in 2011 were enrolled in the present study. Patients were classified into three groups: "diagnosis maintained", "diagnosis changed" (initially notified as TB, but ultimately diagnosed as non-TB), and "administrative error" (notified as TB due to administrative errors). Results: Excluding 17 patients in the "administrative error" group, the "diagnosis maintained" and "diagnosis changed" groups included 1,097 (87.3%) and 159 patients (12.7%), respectively. Common causes of "diagnosis changed" were nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease (51.7%, 61/118), and pneumonia (17.8%) in cases notified as pulmonary TB, and meningitis (19.5%, 8/41) and Crohn's disease (12.2%) in cases notified as extrapulmonary TB. Being older than 35 years of age (odds ratio [OR], 2.18) and a positive acid-fast bacilli stain (OR, 1.58) were positive predictors and a TB-related radiological finding (OR, 0.42) was a negative predictor for a "diagnosis changed" result via multivariate logistic regression analysis in pulmonary TB cases. Conclusion: Because of a high "diagnosis changed" rate in TB notifications to the KTBS, the TB incidence rate measured by the KTBS may be overestimated. Considering the worldwide trend toward increased NTM disease, the "diagnosis changed" rate may increase over time. Thus, when reporting the annual TB notification rate in Korea, the exclusion of "diagnosis changed" cases is desirable.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2007

This research was conducted to analyze the features of the critical tensile stresses at the top and bottom of the concrete slab in the jointed concrete pavement (JCP) when subjected to both the environmental and vehicle loads. First, the stress distribution in JCP was analyzed when the system was subjected to only the environmental loads or the vehicle loads by using the finite element model of JCP. Then, the stresses were analyzed when the system was subjected to the environmental and vehicle loads at the same time. From this study, it was found that the critical tensile stresses at the slab bottom under the vehicle loads were almost constant regardless of the loading positions once the loads were applied at the positions having some distance from the transverse joint. The critical tensile stresses at the slab bottom could be obtained using the model consisting of normal springs for underlying layers by adding the critical stresses due to the environmental loads and the vehicle loads for the curled-down slab, and by subtracting the critical stress due to the environmental loads from that due to the vehicle loads for the curled-up slab. The critical tensile stresses at the top of the slab could be obtained using the model consisting of tensionless springs for underlying layers by adding the critical stress due to the environmental loads and the stress at the middle of the slab under the vehicle loads applied at the joint for the curled-up slab. An alternative to obtain the critical stresses at the top of the slab for the curled-up slab was to use the critical stresses under only the environmental loads obtained from the model having normal springs for underlying layers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2022

Background: The Korea Interstitial Lung Disease Study Group has made a new nationwide idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) registry because the routine clinical practice has changed due to new guidelines and newly developed antifibrotic agents in the recent decade. The aim of this study was to describe recent clinical characteristics of Korean IPF patients. Methods: Both newly diagnosed and following IPF patients diagnosed after the previous registry in 2008 were enrolled. Survival analysis was only conducted for patients diagnosed with IPF after 2016 because antifibrotic agents started to be covered by medical insurance of Korea in October 2015. Results: A total of 2,139 patients were analyzed. Their mean age at diagnosis was 67.4±9.3 years. Of these patients, 76.1% were males, 71.0% were ever-smokers, 14.4% were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis, and 56.9% were at gender-age-physiology stage I. Occupational toxic material exposure was reported in 534 patients. The mean forced vital capacity was 74.6% and the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was 63.6%. Treatment with pirfenidone was increased over time: 62.4% of IPF patients were treated with pirfenidone initially. And 79.2% of patients were treated with antifiboritics for more than three months during the course of the disease since 2016. Old age, acute exacerbation, treatment without antifibrotics, and exposure to wood and stone dust were associated with higher mortality. Conclusion: In the recent Korean IPF registry, the percentage of IPF patients treated with antifibrotics was increased compared to that in the previous IPF registry. Old age, acute exacerbation, treatment without antifibrotics, and exposure to wood and stone dust were associated with higher mortality.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to document outcomes following withdrawal of a single inhaler (step-down) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients on triple therapy (long-acting muscarinic antagonist and a combination of long-acting ${\beta}2$-agonists and inhaled corticosteroid), which a common treatment strategy in clinical practice. Methods: Through a retrospective observational study, COPD patients receiving triple therapy over 2 years (triple group; n=109) were compared with those who had undergone triple therapy for at least 1 year and subsequently, over 9 months, initiated inhaler withdrawal (step-down group, n=39). The index time was defined as the time of withdrawal in the step-down group and as 1 year after the start of triple therapy in the triple group. Results: Lung function at the index time was superior and the previous exacerbation frequency was lower in the step-down group than in the triple group. Step-down resulted in aggravating disease symptoms, a reduced overall quality of life, decreasing exercise performance, and accelerated forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) decline ($54.7{\pm}15.7mL/yr$ vs. $10.7{\pm}7.1mL/yr$, p=0.007), but there was no observed increase in the frequency of exacerbations. Conclusion: Withdrawal of a single inhaler during triple therapy in COPD patients should be conducted with caution as it may impair the exercise capacity and quality of life while accelerating $FEV_1$ decline.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.117-125
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• 1998

The paper attempts to estimate the incubation time of a cavity in the interface between a power law creep particle and an elastic matrix subjected to a uniaxial stress. Since the power law creep particle is time dependent, the stresses in the interface relax. The volume free energy associated with Helmholtz free energy includes strain energies caused by applied stress and dislocations piled up in interface(DPI). The energy due to DPI is found by modifying the result of Dundurs and Mura[4]. The volume free energies caused by both applied stress and DPI are a function of the cavity size(r) and elapsed time(t) and arise from stress relaxation in the interface. Critical radius $r^*$ and incubation time $t^*$ to maximise Helmholtz free energy is found in present analysis. Also, kinetics of cavity formation are investigated using the results obtained by Riede [7]. The incubation time is defined in the analysis as the time required to satisfy both the thermodynamic and kinetic conditions. Through the analysis it is found that 1) strain energy caused by the applied stress does not contribute significantly to the thermodynamic and kinetic conditions of a cavity formation, 2) in order to satisfy both thermodynamic and kinetic conditions, critical radius $r^*$ decreases or holds constant with increase of the time until the kinetic condition(eq. 2.3) is satisfied. there for the cavity may not grow right after it is formed, as postulated by Harris [15], and Ishida and Mclean [16], 3) the effects of strain rate exponent (m), material constant $\sigma$0, volume fraction of the particle to matrix(f)and particle size on the incubation time are estimated using material constants of the copper as matrix.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.233-244
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• 2012

Purpose: The kinetic evaluation was performed for swine manure (SM) degradation and biogas generation. Methods: The SM was anaerobically digested using batch digesters at feed to inoculum ratio (F/I) of 1.0 under mesophilic conditions ($36.5^{\circ}C$). The specific gas yield was expressed in terms of gram total chemical oxygen demand (mL/g TCOD added) and gram volatile solids added (mL/g VS added) and their effectiveness was discussed. The biogas and methane production were predicted using first order kinetic model and the modified Gompertz model. The critical hydraulic retention time for biomass washout was determined using Chen and Hashimoto model. Results: The biogas and methane yield from SM was 346 and 274 mL/ TCOD added, respectively after 100 days of digestion. The average methane content in the biogas produced from SM was 79% and $H_2S$ concentration was in the range of 3000-4108 ppm. It took around 32-47 days for 80-90% of biogas recovery and the TCOD removal from SM was calculated to be 85%. When the specific biogas and methane yield from SM (with very high TVFA concentration) was expressed in terms of oven dried volatile solids (VS) basis, the gas yield was found to be over estimated. The difference in the measured and predicted gas yield was in the range of 1.2-1.5% when using first order kinetic model and 0.1% when using modified Gompertz model. The effective time for biogas production ($T_{Ef}$) from SM was calculated to be in the range of 30-45 days and the critical hydraulic retention time ($HRT_{Critical}$) for biomass wash out was found to be 9.5 days. Conclusions: The modified Gompertz model could be better in predicting biogas and methane production from SM. The HRT greater than 10 days is recommended for continuous digesters using SM as feedstock.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.527-538
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to reclassify the advanced nursing practices of critical care nurse practitioners(CCNPs) in intensive care unit and measure the time and frequency of CCNP's activities. Method: Practices of ICU nurses are divided into RN's and CCNP's practices by a panel of ICU nursing experts. Each practice of CCNP is defined and CCNP's working time and service frequencies are monitored in general hospitals. Result: Practices of CCNP were classified into 4 domains and 32 practices. Fourteen practices by CCNPs were completed in 10 minutes and the other 12 practices consumed 10-30 minutes. A priority of practice in respiratory therapy was given to artificial airway management, management of tracheostomy patient, lower respiratory care, and the priority of CRRT was management of anticoagulation. Conclusions: Advanced nursing practices of CCNPs were recognized from those of RNs. A further research of CCNPs practices should be extended to other advanced practices and it is required to evaluate economic value of advanced nursing practice in the national health insurance system.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.444-453
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify critical indicators for the development of efficient patient classification system in a emergency room. Method: This study involved following five steps. Step 1. Selection of the lists direct nursing services in the ER. Step 2. Measurement of the time of direct nursing services from Aug. 31st to Nov. 30th, 2005. Step 3. Classification of the patients according to the nursing care time. Step 4. The determination the critical indicators for different patient classes. Result: Determinate indicators were as follow: 3 items in the first group (vital sign checking, IV route starting, blood sampling), 3 items in the second group (vital sign checking, fluid infusion, blood sampling), 9 items in the third group (I/O checking, $O_{2}$ inhalation, suction, fluid infusion, IV bolus, Central catheter preparation & management, blood sampling, intubation preparation & management, postmortem management), 7 items in the fourth group (EKG monitoring, BP monitoring, $O_{2}$ inhalation, fluid infusion, using the specific drugs, CPR, postmortem management). Conclusion: This study can help future studies which measure nursing services standard time or assigns value to emergency nursing services.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.188-198
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• 2013

In constructing a collision avoidance system, it is important to determine the time for starting collision avoidance maneuver. Many researchers have attempted to formulate various indices by applying a range of techniques. Among these indices, collision risk obtained by combining Distance to the Closest Point of Approach (DCPA) and Time to the Closest Point of Approach (TCPA) information with fuzzy theory is mostly used. However, the collision risk has a limit, in that membership functions of DCPA and TCPA are empirically determined. In addition, the collision risk is not able to consider several critical collision conditions where the target ship fails to take appropriate actions. It is therefore necessary to design a new concept based on logical approaches. In this paper, a collision ratio is proposed, which is the expected ratio of unavoidable paths to total paths under suitably characterized operation conditions. Total paths are determined by considering categories such as action space and methodology of avoidance. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (1972) and collision avoidance rules (2001) are considered to solve the slower ship's dilemma. Different methods which are based on a constant speed model and simulated speed model are used to calculate the relative positions between own ship and target ship. In the simulated speed model, fuzzy control is applied to determination of command rudder angle. At various encounter situations, the time histories of the collision ratio based on the simulated speed model are compared with those based on the constant speed model.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2022

Analysis of defect signals inside glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) was conducted through deconvolution of terahertz (THz) wave. The GFRP specimen with internal defects was manufactured and the THz signal was measured through the reflection mode of the Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system. For deconvolution of the measured THz signal, the peak position of the THz signal was amplified through Normalized Cross Correlation (NCC) of the incident and detected THz signals. The position and intensity of the amplified peak were extracted as impulse, and the extracted signal of the impulse position was removed from the THz original signal. By repeating the process, the critical impulses, which represent boundary of the specimen, were derived. The deconvolution process was verified by confirming that the original THz signal without noise can be restored through the convolution of the critical impulses and the incident signal. From the derived critical impulses, the thickness of the internal defect in the GFRP was calculated through the detection time of impulses within 15 ㎛ accuracy.