• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2024

Objective: Diagnostic cerebral angiograms (DCAs) are widely used in neurosurgery due to their high sensitivity and specificity to diagnose and characterize pathology using ionizing radiation. Eliminating unnecessary radiation is critical to reduce risk to patients, providers, and health care staff. We investigated if reducing pulse and frame rates during routine DCAs would decrease radiation burden without compromising image quality. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively acquired data after implementing a quality improvement protocol in which pulse rate and frame rate were reduced from 15 p/s to 7.5 p/s and 7.5 f/s to 4.0 f/s respectively. Radiation doses and exposures were calculated. Two endovascular neurosurgeons reviewed randomly selected angiograms of both doses and blindly assessed their quality. Results: A total of 40 consecutive angiograms were retrospectively analyzed, 20 prior to the protocol change and 20 after. After the intervention, radiation dose, radiation per run, total exposure, and exposure per run were all significantly decreased even after adjustment for BMI (all p<0.05). On multivariable analysis, we identified a 46% decrease in total radiation dose and 39% decrease in exposure without compromising image quality or procedure time. Conclusions: We demonstrated that for routine DCAs, pulse rate of 7.5 with a frame rate of 4.0 is sufficient to obtain diagnostic information without compromising image quality or elongating procedure time. In the interest of patient, provider, and health care staff safety, we strongly encourage all interventionalists to be cognizant of radiation usage to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure and consequential health risks.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.658-665
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• 2009

This study examined the effects of the sodium salts of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) on the dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of two sets of poly(styrene-co-sodium methacrylate) (MNa) and poly(styrene-co-sodium styrenesulfonate) (SNa) ionomers. When the DCA content was relatively low, the ionic moduli of the MNa and SNa ionomers increased but the matrix and cluster glass transition temperature ($T_g$) did not change significantly. The increasing ionic modulus was almost independent of the type of the ionic groups of the ionomer, and the chain length of DCAs. When a large amount of the sodium succinate (DCA4) was added to the MNa and SNa ionomers, the ionic moduli of the two ionomers increased strongly but the matrix and cluster $T_g's$ increased slightly and significantly, respectively. In the case of sodium hexadecanedioate (DCA 16), DCA 16 increased the ionic moduli of the two ionomers. The addition of DCA16 changed the matrix and cluster $T_g's$ of the MNa ionomer slightly, but decreased the cluster $T_g$ of the SNa ionomer significantly with no change in the matrix $T_g$. In addition, the DCA-containing ionomers showed an X-ray diffraction peak indicating the presence of ordered domains of DC As in the ionomers. Hence, DCA4 acts mainly as a reinforcing filler in MNa and SNa systems. In the case of DCA 16, it initially behaved like a filler but also functioned as a preferential plasticizer for the clusters at high content.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Broadcast Engineers Conference
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.116-118
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• 2011

최근 유료 방송 서비스를 위한 제한수신 시스템의 적용에 있어 지적되었던 여러 문제들을 해결할 수 있는 DCAS(Downloadable Conditional Access System) 기술이 소개되었다. 또한, OpenCable과 DCAS를 기반으로 국내 디지털 케이블 방송 시스템을 위한 교환가능형 제한수신 시스템(eXchangeable CAS: XCAS) 표준이 재정되었다. 본 논문에서는 DCAS와 국내 XCAS 표준 규격을 기반으로 개발된 다운로드형 제한수신 시스템을 소개하고, 개발된 시스템의 성능 검증 결과를 제시하여 상용 유료방송 시스템에 적용하는 방안에 대해 논하고자 한다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.621-628
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• 2021

Prior studies on frequency-related image quality analysis of intravascular ultrasound catheters are lacking both in Korea and abroad. Therefore, this study was conducted to prepare a standard for measuring the image quality using the program and to suggest a measuring method to researchers related to the quality analysis of intravascular ultrasound images. For the target, the vessel lumen size is 3.0 - 4.0 mm. Before using intravascular ultrasound, thoroughly clean the ultrasound catheter so that no air or foreign substances enter it. Normal vascular images and lesion vascular images of sufficiently dilated images were used. As a standard image acquisition method, the image of the end-systolic section, which has the best evaluation of vascular lesions when using intravascular ultrasound, was acquired retrospectively through the DCAS PACS program to set the standard. When setting the measurement method criteria, we proposed a standard setting method that corresponds to the concentric and eccentric circles of normal and lesion vessels. By applying this criterion, we proposed a method for measuring the lumen and lateral cavities of normal and lesion vessels of interest and background area. In conclusion, if the image quality of intravascular ultrasonography is measured through the method devised by these researchers, consistent quality measurement is possible regardless of the type of intravascular ultrasound catheter. Therefore, it is thought that it can be applied as a guideline for the actual image quality measurement method in the study related to intravascular ultrasound image quality.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2014

In this study, we investigate the effects of corona-discharge pre-treatment on the properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which are used as flexible transparent electrodes. The CNTs are deposited on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) substrates using a spray coating method. Prior to the deposition of CNTs, the PET substrates are corona-treated by varying the feeding directions of the PET substrate and the numbers of treatments. The variations in the surface morphologies and roughnesses of the PET substrates due to corona-treatment are characterized via atomic force microscopy (AFM). Dynamic contact angles (DCAs) of the corona-treated PET substrates are measured and analyzed as functions of the treatment conditions. Also, the sheet resistances and visible-range transmittances of the CNTs deposited on PET substrates are measured before and after bending test. The experimental results obtained in this study provide strong evidences that the adhesive forces between CNTs and PET substrates can be substantially enhanced by corona-discharge pretreatment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2015

Objectives: Drug utilization review program in Korea has provided 'drug combinations to avoid (DCA)' alerts to physicians and pharmacists to prevent potential adverse drug events or inappropriate drug use. Seven hundred and six DCA pairs have been announced officially by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) by March, 2015. Some DCA pairs could be grouped based on the drug interaction mechanism and its consequences. This study aimed to investigate the drug-drug interaction (DDI) pairs, which may be potential DCAs, generated by the drug class-drug class interaction method. Methods: Eleven additive/synergistic and one antagonistic drug class-drug class interaction groups were identified. By combining drugs of two interacting drug class groups, numerous DDI pairs were made. The status and severity of DDI pairs were examined using Lexicomp and Micromedex. Also, the DCA listing rate was calculated. Results: Among 258 DDI pairs generated by the drug class-drug class interaction method, only 142 pairs were identified as official DCA pairs by the MFDS. One hundred and four pairs were identified as potential DCA pairs to be listed. QT prolonging agents-QT prolonging agents, triptans-ergot alkaloids, tricyclic antidepressants-monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and dopamine agonists-dopamine antagonists were identified as drug class-drug class interaction groups which have less than 50 % DCA listing rate. Conclusion: To improve the clinicians' adaptability to DCA alerts, the list of DCA pairs needs to be continuously updated.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartC
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• v.17C no.4
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• pp.347-360
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• 2010

A condition access system (CAS) refers to a hardware-based system that allows only authenticated users to have access to contents. The CAS has many disadvantages found in that in the replacement of multiple service operator (MSO) a set-top box should be also changed and the smart-card often causes malfunction. To deal with the problems, exchangeable CAS (XCAS) was developed in 2009. However, in the XCAS, no method to authenticate a proper set-top box has been put forward. In this paper, we propose a novel program for set-top authentication in the XCAS. Additionally, we offer a format of certificate of authentication, and procedures of issuing the certificate for broadcasting services suitable for the XCAS. The technical method of authentication a set-top box that will be discussed is of high efficiency since in the MSO it requires only two subjects to communicate during the authentication in the MSO.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartC
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• v.17C no.5
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• pp.407-414
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• 2010

A condition access system (CAS) refers to a hardware-based system that allows only authenticated users to have access to contents. The CAS has many disadvantages found in that in the replacement of multiple service operator (MSO) a set-top box should be also changed and the smart-card often causes malfunction. To deal with the problems, exchangeable CAS (XCAS) was developed in 2009. However the standards or evaluation schemes for XCAS are absent. Existing evaluation schemes are not appropriate for evaluating XCAS due to the evaluation standard, the evaluation cost and efficiencies. Therefore, a specific scheme that can evaluate the security and suitability of exchangeable conditional access systems has been requested. In this paper, we propose an appropriate evaluation scheme for XCAS. The evaluation scheme includes an evaluation purpose and four components to evaluate the evaluation target, the evaluation process, the evaluation subject, and the evaluation cost involved.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.267-282
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• 2021

Characteristics of carbonaceous components and organic compounds in PM_2.5 over the atmosphere of the Yellow Sea were investigated. PM_2.5 samples were collected onboard the meteorological research vessel, GISANG 1, over the Yellow Sea during the YES-AQ campaign in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The average concentrations of carbonaceous components in this region were 2.59 ± 1.59 ㎍ m^-3 for the OC, 0.24 ± 0.10 ㎍ m^-3 for the EC, 2.14 ± 1.30 ㎍ m^-3 for the WSOC and 1.17 ± 0.94 ㎍ m^-3 for the HULIS-C, respectively. The total concentration of 56 organic compounds (ΣOCs) accounts for 10% of OC. The main group among organic compounds were dicarboxylic acids which account for 57% of ΣOCs, followed by n-alkanoic acids accounting for 34% of ΣOCs. In n-alkanoic acid distribution, hexanoic (C_6:0) and octanoic (C_8:0) acids which are low molecular weight n-alkanoic acids and known as emitted from marine biogenic activities were dominant in this region. Furthermore, non-HULIS-C fraction increased when the air mass originated from the marine region rather than the continental region. When the Asian dust episode was observed, the WISOC concentrations along with the levoglucosan were increased, while the haze episodes caused the increase of WSOC, HULIC-S and DCAs. In this study, we found that the components of carbonaceous and organic aerosols in PM_2.5 over the Yellow Sea were changed with the specific air pollution episodes. It indicates that the physicochemical properties of PM_2.5 can be changed by the air pollution episodes in this region.