• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health Information Systems

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Evaluation of the Trends of Stomach Cancer Incidence in Districts of Iran from 2000-2010: Application of a Random Effects Markov Model

  • Zayeri, Farid;mansouri, Anita;Sheidaei, Ali;Rahimzadeh, Shadi;Rezaei, Nazila;Modirian, Mitra;khademioureh, Sara;Baghestani, Ahmad Reza;Farzadfar, Farshad
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.661-665
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    • 2016
  • Background: Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of death among cancers throughout the world. Therefore, stomach cancer outcomes can affect health systems at the national and international levels. Although stomach cancer mortality and incidence rates have decreased in developed countries, these indicators have a raising trend in East Asian developing countries, particularity in Iran. In this study, we aimed to determine the time trend of age-standardized rates of stomach cancer in different districts of Iran from 2000 to 2010. Materials and Methods: Cases of cancer were registered using a pathology-based system during 2000-2007 and with a population-based system since 2008 in Iran. In this study, we collected information about the incidence of stomach cancer during a 10 year period for 31 provinces and 376 districts, with a total of 49,917 cases. We employed two statistical approaches (a random effects and a random effects Markov model) for modeling the incidence of stomach cancer in different districts of Iran during the studied period. Results: The random effects model showed that the incidence rate of stomach cancer among males and females had an increasing trend and it increased by 2.38 and 0.87 persons every year, respectively. However, after adjusting for previous responses, the random effects Markov model showed an increasing rate of 1.53 and 0.75 for males and females, respectively. Conclusions: This study revealed that there are significant differences between different areas of Iran in terms of age-standardized incidence rates of stomach cancer. Our study suggests that a random effects Markov model can adjust for effects of previous responses.

Reduction of Radiographic Quantum Noise Using Adaptive Weighted Median Filter (적응성 가중메디안 필터를 이용한 방사선 투과영상의 양자 잡음 제거)

  • Lee, Hoo-Min;Nam, Moon-Hyon
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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    • v.22 no.5
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    • pp.465-473
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    • 2002
  • Images are easily corrupted by noise during the data transmission, data capture and data processing. A technical method of noise analyzing and adaptive filtering for reducing of quantum noise in radiography is presented. By adjusting the characteristics of the filter according to local statistics around each pixel of the image as moving windowing, it is possible to suppress noise sufficiently while preserve edge and other significant information required in reading. We have proposed adaptive weighted median(AWM) filters based on local statistics. We show two ways of realizing the AWM filters. One is a simple type of AWM filter, whose weights are given by a simple non-linear function of three local characteristics. The other is the AWM filter which is constructed by homogeneous factor(HF). Homogeneous factor(HF) from the quantum noise models that enables the filter to recognize the local structures of the image is introduced, and an algorithm for determining the HF fitted to the detection systems with various inner statistical properties is proposed. We show by the experimented that the performances of proposed method is superior to these of other filters and models in preserving small details and suppressing the noise at homogeneous region. The proposed algorithms were implemented by visual C++ language on a IBM-PC Pentium 550 for testing purposes, the effects and results of the noise filtering were proposed by comparing with images of the other existing filtering methods.

mSFP: Multicasting-based Inter-Domain Mobility Management Scheme in Sensor-based Fast Proxy Mobile IPv6 Networks (센서기반 FPMIPv6 네트워크에서 멀티캐스팅 기반의 도메인간 이동성관리 기법)

  • Jang, Hana;Jeong, Jongpil
    • KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.15-26
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    • 2013
  • IP-based Wireless Sensor Networks (IP-WSNs) are gaining importance for their broad range of applications in health-care, home automation, environmental monitoring, industrial control, vehicle telematics and agricultural monitoring. In all these applications, mobility in the sensor network with special attention to energy efficiency is a major issue to be addressed. Because of the energy inefficiency of networks-based mobility management protocols can be supported in IP-WSN. In this paper we propose a network based mobility supported IP-WSN protocol called Multicasting-based inter-Domain Mobility Management Scheme in Sensor-based Fast Proxy Mobile IPv6 Networks (mSFP). Based on [8,20], We present its network architecture and evaluate its performance by considering the signaling and mobility cost. Our analysis shows that the proposed scheme reduces the signaling cost, total cost, and mobility cost. With respect to the number of IP-WSN nodes, the proposed scheme reduces the signaling cost by 7% and the total cost by 3%. With respect to the number of hops, the proposed scheme reduces the signaling cost by 6.9%, the total cost by 2.5%, and the mobility cost by 1.5%. With respect to the number of IP-WSN nodes, the proposed scheme reduces the mobility cost by 1.6%.

A Study of Uniformity Test in PET/CT (PET/CT 장치의 uniformitly측정에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Su-Keun;Jung, Hee-Il;Park, Soung-Ock
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.13-19
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    • 2006
  • The PET scanner can detect the photon pair arriving from the source in phantom. The number of light photons released by the crystal(scintillator-BGO or LSO). In recent scintillation crystals in block structures were incorporated into full ring systems, and their resulted marked improvement in spatial resolution and increase in a sensitivity to annihilations. The uniformity of the crystal sensitivity is very important to makes correct information of abnormal states in organs. These factors influenced by the dection efficiency of the scintillators. We have study about the uniformity of crystals to the annihilation, And study about the standard deviation to average counts. The relative standard deviation in central detector groups more uniformed than circumferenced detector groups. It is caused detected quanta of gamma ray by the geometrical factors of PET detector. PET cameras are available with different geometric arrangement and several parallel rings oriented in the axial direction. The center groups from 7th to 40th groups are comparatively uniform and sensitive. But at the circumferenced detectors decreased the sensitivity and uniformity.

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In Vitro Antibacterial Effect of the Combination of Galla rhois ethanol extracts and Sodium chlorate against Intramacrophage Brucella abortus

  • Cha, Chun-Nam;Hong, Il-Hwa;Yu, Eun-Ah;Park, Eun-Kee;Yoo, Chang-Yeol;Kim, Suk;Lee, Hu Jang
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.67-72
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    • 2014
  • This study investigated the antibacterial effects of GR ethanol extracts (GRE), sodium chlorate (SC) and a combination of GRE and SC (GS) on Brucella abortus (B. abortus). The antibacterial activities of GRE, SC and GS towards B. abortus were evaluated by incubating B. abortus with GRE, SC and GS. Following treatment with GRE, SC and GS, B. abortus survival and intracellular proliferation in macrophages were monitored. In the cellular cytotoxicity assay, GRE, SC and GS are not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $400{\mu}g/ml$, 15 mM and 0.6GS (1 of GS, GRE $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ + SC 30 mM), respectively. The viability of B. abortus was markedly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in all treatment groups. In addition, B. abortus intracellular proliferation within macrophages was significantly reduced in cells treated with GRE ($400{\mu}g/mL$), SC (15 mM) and 0.5GS (GRE $500{\mu}g/mL$ + SC 15 mM) after 48 hr-incubation (GRE, p < 0.01; SC and 0.5GS, p < 0.001). Especially, in the treatment of GS, the synergistic effect of GRE and SC treatment on B. abortus in macrophage was observed. In conclusion, GS is useful as an antibacterial candidate against B. abortus, and can be applied in the field of meat and milk hygiene.

Barriers to Social Security Accessibility of Elderly North Korean Refugees (고령 북한이탈주민 사회보장제도 활용의 제약요인 및 접근성 제고 방향)

  • Ko, Hyejin;Min, Kichae;Park, Jungsun;Han, Kyounghoon;Kim, Yeseul
    • 한국사회정책
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.161-194
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that interrupt the use of social security of elderly North Korean refugees. As a result of qualitative content analysis using interview data, it is found that the elderly North Korean defectors have a lower access to the social security system. The main reason for hindering the use of social security system is low awareness due to limited information channels, psychological distance to South Korean society and residents. Moreover, this psychological distance is a factor that reduces the geographical accessibility of elderly North Korean defectors by preferring to use services in specific institutions for North Korean, while South Korean elderly people can use the service elsewhere. In addition, there are many cases in which the elderly in North Korean defectors do not receive sufficient social security due to low income. On the other hand, social security systems with high accessibility of older North Korean refugees are characterized by the fact that they are provided by experts who have formed sufficient rapport with North Korean refugees. Therefore, it seems possible to improve the accessibility of elderly defectors' friendly system by professional workers with cultural competence. In addition, a multidimensional approach is needed to fully cope with the complex desires of elderly North Korean defectors and a mechanism should be set up to reflect their opinion in system operation.

Gintonin-mediated release of astrocytic vascular endothelial growth factor protects cortical astrocytes from hypoxia-induced cell damages

  • Choi, Sun-Hye;Kim, Hyeon-Joong;Cho, Hee-Jung;Park, Sang-Deuk;Lee, Na-Eun;Hwang, Sung-Hee;Rhim, Hyewon;Kim, Hyoung-Chun;Cho, Ik-Hyun;Nah, Seung-Yeol
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.43 no.2
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    • pp.305-311
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    • 2019
  • Background: Gintonin is a ginseng-derived exogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor. We previously reported that gintonin stimulates gliotransmitter release in primary cortical astrocytes. Astrocytes play key roles in the functions of neurovascular systems. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to influence the normal growth and maintenance of cranial blood vessels and the nervous system, there is little information about the effect of gintonin on VEGF regulation in primary astrocytes, under normal and hypoxic conditions. Methods: Using primary cortical astrocytes of mice, the effects of gintonin on the release, expression, and distribution of VEGF were examined. We further investigated whether the gintonin-mediated VEGF release protects astrocytes from hypoxia. Results: Gintonin administration stimulated the release and expression of VEGF from astrocytes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The gintonin-mediated increase in the release of VEGF was inhibited by the LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425; phospholipase C inhibitor, U73122; inositol 1,4,5- triphosphate receptor antagonist, 2-APB; and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, BAPTA. Hypoxia further stimulated astrocytic VEGF release. Gintonin treatment stimulated additional VEGF release and restored cell viability that had decreased due to hypoxia, via the VEGF receptor pathway. Altogether, the regulation of VEGF release and expression and astrocytic protection mediated by gintonin under hypoxia are achieved via the LPA receptor-VEGF signaling pathways. Conclusion: The present study shows that the gintonin-mediated regulation of VEGF in cortical astrocytes might be neuroprotective against hypoxic insults and could explain the molecular basis of the beneficial effects of ginseng on the central nervous system.

A vision-based system for long-distance remote monitoring of dynamic displacement: experimental verification on a supertall structure

  • Ni, Yi-Qing;Wang, You-Wu;Liao, Wei-Yang;Chen, Wei-Huan
    • Smart Structures and Systems
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    • v.24 no.6
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    • pp.769-781
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    • 2019
  • Dynamic displacement response of civil structures is an important index for in-construction and in-service structural condition assessment. However, accurately measuring the displacement of large-scale civil structures such as high-rise buildings still remains as a challenging task. In order to cope with this problem, a vision-based system with the use of industrial digital camera and image processing has been developed for long-distance, remote, and real-time monitoring of dynamic displacement of supertall structures. Instead of acquiring image signals, the proposed system traces only the coordinates of the target points, therefore enabling real-time monitoring and display of displacement responses in a relatively high sampling rate. This study addresses the in-situ experimental verification of the developed vision-based system on the Canton Tower of 600 m high. To facilitate the verification, a GPS system is used to calibrate/verify the structural displacement responses measured by the vision-based system. Meanwhile, an accelerometer deployed in the vicinity of the target point also provides frequency-domain information for comparison. Special attention has been given on understanding the influence of the surrounding light on the monitoring results. For this purpose, the experimental tests are conducted in daytime and nighttime through placing the vision-based system outside the tower (in a brilliant environment) and inside the tower (in a dark environment), respectively. The results indicate that the displacement response time histories monitored by the vision-based system not only match well with those acquired by the GPS receiver, but also have higher fidelity and are less noise-corrupted. In addition, the low-order modal frequencies of the building identified with use of the data obtained from the vision-based system are all in good agreement with those obtained from the accelerometer, the GPS receiver and an elaborate finite element model. Especially, the vision-based system placed at the bottom of the enclosed elevator shaft offers better monitoring data compared with the system placed outside the tower. Based on a wavelet filtering technique, the displacement response time histories obtained by the vision-based system are easily decomposed into two parts: a quasi-static ingredient primarily resulting from temperature variation and a dynamic component mainly caused by fluctuating wind load.

Two-dimensional Spatial Distribution Analysis Using Water Quality Measurement Results at River Junctions (하천 합류부에서의 수질계측결과를 활용한 2차원 공간분포 해석)

  • Lee, Chang Hyun;Park, Jae Gon;Kim, Kyung Dong;Ryu, Si Wan;Kim, Dong Su;Kim, Young Do
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.42 no.3
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    • pp.343-350
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    • 2022
  • High-resolution data are needed to understand water body mixing patterns at river junctions. In particular, in river analysis, hydrological and water quality characteristics are used as basic data for aquatic ecological health, so observation through continuous monitoring is necessary. In addition, since measurement is carried out through a one-dimensional and fixed measurement method in existing monitoring systems, a hydrological and water quality characteristics investigation of an entire river, except for in the immediate vicinity of the measurement point, is not undertaken. In order to obtain high-resolution measurement data, a measurer has to consider multiple factors, and the area or time that can be measured is limited. Although the resolution might be lowered, an appropriate interpolation method must be selected in order to acquire a wide range of data. Therefore, in this study, a high-elevation measurement method at a river junction was introduced, and the interpolation method according to the measurement results was compared. The overall hydraulic and water quality information of the river was indicated through the visualization of the prediction and interpolation method in the low-resolution measurement result. By comparing each interpolation method, Inverse Distance Weighting, Natural Neighbor, and Kriging techniques were applied in river mapping to improve the precision of river mapping through visualized data and quantitative evaluation. It is thought that this study will offer a new method for measuring rivers through spatial interpolation.

Current Status and Trends of the Ginseng Industry and Research in North Korea (북한의 인삼 산업 현황과 연구 동향)

  • Seungjae Joo
    • Journal of Ginseng Culture
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    • v.6
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    • pp.80-104
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    • 2024
  • Ginseng, a representative medicinal plant of South Korea, is also highly valued in North Korea. However, due to limited access to information about North Korea, the actual cultivation, research and development trends, and related industry status of ginseng in North Korea are not well known. In this study, we aimed to understand the current status and research trends of the ginseng industry in North Korea based on limited available literature. In the North Korean pharmacopoeia, ginseng is referred to as "Koryo ginseng" and is defined as the roots of 6-year-old ginseng cultivated in the Kaesong region. The pharmacopoeia includes 22 types of ginseng preparations. In addition, 10 ginseng preparations are included in North Korea's Essential Drug List, and various health supplements, cosmetics, and toothpastes containing ginseng have been developed, distributed, and sold. Since 2014, the ginseng industry and research in North Korea have become more active overall. During this period, the ginseng cultivation area in Kaesong has been significantly expanded, and the facilities have been renovated. The Kaesong Koryo Ginseng Processing Plant has been equipped with sterilized, modernized facilities since 2016 and has been in operation. Since 2017, there has been a growing interest in quality control research, leading to the introduction of quality management regulations and certification systems in 2019. In the 1990s, there was significant research on ginseng product development, and since the 2000s, studies on the pharmacological effects and clinical research of ginseng have been reported. Additionally, research on ginseng cultivation and ginseng processing industries to increase yield has been emphasized. Ginseng, as a representative medicinal crop of Korea, holds great importance for both South and North Korea. Given its significance and the potential for synergy through mutual cooperation, ginseng serves as an ideal subject for inter-Korean exchange and collaboration.