• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.270-277
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This is a retrospective study that investigated cancer patients' complaints of moderate or severe pain to analyze pain characteristics, pain relief interventions and their effects. Methods: The participants of this study were 363 patients who were hospitalized in the cancer ward for three to 30 days and scored 4 points or higher on the pain severity assessment. Results: The most frequent region of pain was the abdomen. The most frequent factor that exacerbated pain was movement. The most frequent pain alleviating factor was administration of analgesics. The most frequent pain type was breakthrough pain, and the most frequent non-pharmaceutical intervention for pain control was heat therapy. Among all, analgesics were routinely prescribed for 52.2% of the participants. Morphine sulfate was the most frequently used analgesic while Gabapentin was the most frequently used non-narcotic analgesic. At the time of discharge, 82.5% of the participants marked their pain intensity as 3 points or lower. Conclusion: For cancer patients complaining of moderate or severe pain, it is important to actively control pain from the beginning of admission. Thus, it is necessary to educate not only cancer patients using narcotic analgesic for pain control and their families but nurses about the effects and side-effects of drugs. Moreover, patients and their families need to learn how to assess and record pain at home to collect data that can be referred for future treatment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.34 no.4 s.96
• /
• pp.310-318
• /
• 2001

In the large regulated Nakdong River, the Predation effect of juvenile fish on the zooplankton community was evaluated by gut and stomach analyses of fish in 1999. Juvenile fish of five species showed high density from May to early June when river discharge was low and water body became stagnant. During this period, large rotifers, Asplanchna spp. and Brachionus spp. declined and the decrease of cladoceran (Moina micrura and Bosminopsis deitersi) density was also obeserved. At this time, small rotifers including Polyarthra spp. reached maximum density. Gut analysis of fish demonstrated that small-sized juvenile fish (< 15 mm in total length)preferred large rotifers as well as cladocerans, while large sized fish (> 15 mm)selected only cladocerans. On the other hand, juvenile Micropterus salmoides of which size was larger than other juvenile fish consumed not only zooplankton but also other small juvenile fish. Based on these results, the decline of large rotifers and cladocerans during early summer in the river seems to be result of predation by juvenile fish. However, the period when juvenile fish maintained their high density was as short as one month and the decreased density of cladocera rapidly recovered as soon as juvenile fish became scarce. Such a short period of juvenile fish devel-opment in the river can be attributed to the consumption of juvenile fish by the young-of-the-year cohorts as well as adults of M. salmoides. The high trophic state of the river might permit the rapid recovery of the cladoceran community. The predation impact of juvenile fish in the Nakdong River seems to be affected by the existence of piscivore as well as high trophic status.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.35 no.1 s.97
• /
• pp.21-27
• /
• 2002

The frequent occurrence of excessive phytoplankton populations in the downstream Nakdong River has been an important water quality problem in recent years. The limnological survey of the Nakdong River was conducted from January 1997 to December 1999 on once or twice per month. A typical phenomenon of eutrophication appears with the persistent algal bloom due to high nutrients in the mid-lower part of the river. This study showed that the point at which Chl. a concentration reaches maximum was affected by the water temperature and the flow rate. For example, Chl. a concentration reached maximum after around 380, 240 and 120 hours which were estimated from the time of flow at low (${\le}10^{\circ}C$), mean ($10{\sim}20^{\circ}C$) and high (${\ge}20^{\circ}C$) water temperature conditions, respectively. It was estimated that increase coefficients of phytoplankton (Chl. a) on the water temperature are 0.201, 0.254 and $0.289\;day^{-1}$, on the contrary, decrease coefficients are -0.012, -0.128 and $-0.193\;day^{-1}$ in low, mean and high water temperature. Therefore, to prevent formation of Chl. a maximum concentration in the specific water resource, it is necessary to increase the discharge of dam as well as to decrease.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.5-12
• /
• 1992

We have fabricated a-Si:H multilayer for contact-type linear image sensor by means of RF glow discharge decomposition method. The ITO/i-a-Si:H/Al structure has relatively high dark current due to indium diffusion and carrier injection from both electrodes, resulting in low photocurrent to dark current. To suppress the dark current and to enhance interface electric field between ITO and i-a-Si:H film we have fabricated ITO/insulator/i-a-S:H/p-a-S:H/Al multilayer film with blocking structure. The photocurrent of ITO/$SiO_{2}(300{\AA})$/i-a-Si:H/p-a-Si:H($1500{\AA}$)/Al multilayer sensor with 5V bias voltage became saturated at about 20nA under $20{\mu}W/cm^{2}$ light intensity, while the dark current was less than 0.1nA. To increase the light generation efficiency we have adopted ITO/$SiO_{x}N_{y}(300{\AA})$/i-a-Si:H/p-a-Si:H($1500{\AA}$)/Al structure, showing photocurrent of 30nA and dark current of 0.08nA with 5V bias voltage. Also the spectral photosensitivity of the multilayer was enhanced for short wavelength visible region of 560nm, compared with that of the a-Si:H monolayer of 630nm. And its photoresponse time was about 0.3msec with the film homogeneity of 5% deviation.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.76-85
• /
• 2012

Geochemical and ecological properties of remediated soil and gas exhausted from a low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) process were analyzed to assess the environmental impact of LTTD treatment. Soil characteristics were examined with regard to the chemical (EC, CEC, and organic matter) and the ecological (dehydrogenase activity, germination rate of Brassica juncea, and growth of Eisenia andrei) properties. The exhaust gases were analyzed based on the Air Quality Act in Korea as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mixed odor. Level of organic Organic matter of the soil treated by LTTD process was slightly decreased compared to that of the original soil because the heating temperature ($200^{\circ}C$) and retention time (less than 15 minutes) were neither high nor long enough for the oxidation of organic matter. The LTTD process results in reducing TPH of the contaminated soil from $5,133{\pm}508$ mg/kg to $272{\pm}107$ mg/kg while preserving soil properties. Analysis results of the exhaust gases from the LTTD process satisfied discharge standard of Air Quality Law in Korea. Concentration of VOCs including acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde and valeraldehyde in circulation gas volatilized from contaminated soil were effectively reduced in the regenerative thermal oxidizer and all satisfied the legal standards. Showing ecologically improved properties of contaminated soil after LTTD process and environmentally tolerable impact of the exhaust gas, LTTD treatment of TPH-contaminated soil is an environmentally acceptable technology.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.807-811
• /
• 2002

Due to its less invasive nature and superior visual field, video-assisted thoracescopic excision of mediastinal mass is thought to be comparable to open thoracotomy. Material and Method : From January 1995 to August 2001, the medical records of 38 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass was retrospectively analyzed. The outcome of these patients were compared with 5 patients who converted to thoracotomy Result: Male to female ratio was 13(34.2%) : 25(65.8%), and mean age was 39.2$\pm$35.4 years. Regarding the pathology, there were 8 neurilemmomas(21.1%), 6 thymic cysts (15.8%), 5 teratomas(13.2%), 5 ganglioneuromas(13.2%), 4 bronchogenic cysts(10.5%), 3 pericardial cysts(7.9%), 3 thymomas(7.9%), and 2 lymphangiomas(5.3%). The mean operation time was 110.6$\pm$7.0 minutes, mean postoperative tube stay was 4.2$\pm$0.4 days, mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.2$\pm$0.4 days, and mean number of injection of analgesics was 1.9$\pm$0.4 times. Although the mean values for the above indices were less than those of the thoracotomy conversion cases, they were statistically insignificant. Postoperative complications of videoassisted thoracoscopic excision included chylothorax, prolonged air leakage, and unilateral phrenic nerve palsy, all of which recovered before patient discharge. There was, however, permanent unilateral ptosis in one patient. Conclusion : As video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal mass is safe, less painful, conducive to earlier recovery and cosmetically more appealing, a more active application of this technique is recommeded.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.379-382
• /
• 1999

Background: There are several advantages to the ministernotomy approach. The skin incision is much smaller than the traditional median sternotomy incision. This approach allows the patients to return to normal life more quickly and provide them with good self-image. Material and Method: From April to July 1998, we performed a ministernotomy via lower half sternum in 25 patients. There were 10 males(40%) and 15 females(60%) with a mean age of 30${\pm}$16 years(range 3 to 55 years). The body surface area ranged from 0.58 to 1.9 m2(mean 1.5 to 0.4 m2). A vertical skin incision of 11cm in mean length was made in the midline over the sternum extending inferiorly from the third intercostal space. The sternum was divided vertically in the midline from the xyphoid process to the level of second intercostal space using a standard saw and then transversely to the left(n=17) or to both sides(n=4) of the second intercostal space using an oscillating saw. The sternum was divided vertically only in children (n=4). Result: The ministernotomy was used in 25 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve replacement(n=10), repair of ventricular septal defect(n=4) and atrial septal defect(n=11). There was no significant complication related to ministernotomy. The mean ICU stay time 20 hours. Patient and family acceptance was very high. Conclusion: We concluded that minimally invasive cardiac surgery via ministernotomy can be done safely. These methods may benefit the patients with lesser discomfort, smaller incision, and earlier ICU discharge than the traditional incision.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.85-88
• /
• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy among women worldwide, and women of reproductive age in Thailand. However, information on the behavior regarding cervical cancer in rural community Thailand is sparse. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical cancer (CC) among rural community women in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, using predesigned structured questionnaires. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8 villages of Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, during January to April 2015. Bloom's taxonomy was used as a framework for the study. 265 women aged between 30-60 years old were selected by simple random sampling. All participants completed predesigned questionnaires with 4 parts: demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical cancer. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis in this study. Results: The majority of participants were in the age group of 41-50 years old (42.6%) with senior secondary school level of education (32.1%), marriage status (85.0%), agricultural employment (59.6%), and family income between 6,000-10,000 baht per month (54.3%). Some 63.4% and 68.7% participants had high knowledge and moderate level of attitudes regarding CC, while 41.1%, 48.7%, and 10.2% had neem regularly, irregularly or never screened for CC, respectively. The main reasons for not screening were were shyness (44.4%) and no time (55.6%). Vaginal discharge and itching were the common signs and symptoms of participants who were screened at a health promotion hospital of sub-district. Conclusions: CC is still a health problem in the rural community. Therefore, health education is required, particularly for those who have never undergone screening.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.231-243
• /
• 2016

This study presents the applicability of two-dimensional (2D) flood inundation model by applying to real irrigation reservoir failure with limited available data. The study area is Sandae Reservoir placed in Gyeongju and downstream area of it and the reservoir was failured by piping in 2013. The breach hydrograph was estimated from one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic model and the discharge was employed for upstream boundary of 2D flood inundation model. Topography of study area was generated by integrating digital contour map and satellite data, and Cartesian grids with 3m resolution to consider geometry of building, road and public stadium were used for 2D flood inundation analysis. The model validation was carried out by comparing predictions with field survey data including reservoir breach outflow, flood extent, flood height and arrival time, and identifying rational ranges with allowed error. In addition, the applicability of 2D model is examined using different simulation conditions involving grid size, building and roughness coefficient. This study is expected to contributed to analysis of irrigation reservoirs were at risk of a failure and setting up Emergency Action Plan (EAP) against irrigation reservoir failure.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.1039-1049
• /
• 2015

The inflow estimation at large multipurpose dam reservoir is carried out by considering the water balance among the discharge, the storage change during unit time interval obtained from the observed water level near dam structure and area-volume curve. This method can be ideal for level pool reservoir but include potential errors when the inflow is influenced by the water level slope due to backwater effects from upstream flood inflows and strong wind induced by typhoon. In addition, the other uncertainties arisen from the storage reduction due to sedimentation after the dam construction and water level noise due to mechanical vibration transmitted from the electric power generator. These uncertainties impedes the accurate hydraulic inflow measurement requiring exquisite hydrometric data arrangement for reservoir waterbody. In this study, the distributed hydrologic model using UBC-3P boundary setting was applied and its feasibility was evaluated. Finally, the modeling performance has been verified since the calculated determination coefficient has been in between 0.96 to 0.99 after comparing with observed peak inflow and total inflow at Namgang dam reservoir.