• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.312-319
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• 2021

Background: Lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) is a frequently presented condition/disease in Korean medical institutions. In this study, the economics of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial comparing TEA with sham TEA (STEA). Methods: This economic evaluation was analyzed from a limited social perspective, and the per-protocol set was from a basic analysis perspective. The cost-effectiveness analysis was based on the change in visual analog scale score, and the cost-utility analysis was based on the quality-adjusted life years. The final results were expressed as the average cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and furthermore sensitivity analysis was performed to confirm the robustness of the results observed. Results: The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the decrease in 100 mm visual analog scale score was 8.5 mm greater in the TEA group compared with the STEA group (p > 0.05). The cost-utility analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the quality-adjusted life years of TEA was 0.0026 years higher than STEA (p > 0.05). These results were robust in the sensitivity analysis, but were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In treating LHIVD, TEA appeared to have cost-effectiveness and cost-utility compared with STEA. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of cost, effectiveness, and utility indicators. Therefore, results must be interpreted prudently; this study was the 1^st to conduct an economic evaluation of TEA for LHIVD.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2024

The primary goal was to assess how the addition of cement dust, a byproduct known to be harmful, could be used to stabilize clay. Various percentages of cement dust were added to soil samples, which were then subjected to triaxial testing at different rates of strain using an unconsolidated undrained triaxial machine. Six different rates of strain were applied to analyze the response of the clay under different conditions, resulting in 216 triaxial sample tests. As the percentage of cement dust in the clay samples increased, there was a noticeable increase in the strength properties of the clay, indicating a positive effect of cement dust on the clay's strength characteristics. Higher rates of strain during testing led to increased strength properties of the clay. Varying cement dust content influenced the impact of increasing the rate of strain on the clay's strength properties. Higher cement dust content reduced the sensitivity of the clay to changes in strain rate, indicating that the clay became less responsive to changes in strain rate as cement dust content increased. Potential for Clay Stabilization Cement dust proved the potential to enhance the strength properties of clay, indicating its potential utility in clay stabilization applications. Both higher percentages of cement dust and higher rates of strain were found to increase the clay's strength. It's essential to consider both the percentage of cement dust and the rate of strain when assessing the strength properties of clay in practical applications.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze consumer preference for fish farm HACCP certification using conjoint analysis. This study used raw flatfish product to evaluate the fish farm HACCP. In this study, 500 consumers were surveyed using panel survey and stratified sampling. In the recognition analysis, the farm HACCP certification system was found to be highly recognized by consumers. It can be seen that the brand assets accumulated by existing food and agricultural HACCP certification were transfered to the fish farm HACCP and absorbed. Consumers perceived fish farm HACCP certification as similar one with existing food and agricultural HACCP. Conjoint analysis evaluated three levels factors. The attributes and levels evaluated were : price(25,800 won, 28,400 won, 31,000 won), certification(fish farm HACCP, seafood traceability, and non certified), and origin(domestic, JEJU, and WANDO). The important levels were in order of price(40.8%), certification(30.2%) and origin(29.0%). We found that consumers give higher utility to fish farm HACCP certification compared with non certified and seafood traceability certification. Market simulation results showed that the fish farm HACCP product has 12%p higher market share than non certified products. Seafood traceability certification showed 4.6%p higher market share than non certified products.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.899-908
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• 2007

Clusters of parental and peer variables associated with adolescent risk behaviors are explored using the mixture model. Questionnaires were completed by 917 high school freshmen in the Daegu Kyungpook area and included measures of risk behaviors, parental attachment, autonomy, parental monitoring, and peers' risk behaviors and desirable behaviors. As a result of the mixture model, five clusters were produced. Two of the subgroups were consistent with the literature of showing linear relationships among adolescent risk behaviors and above variables; a group of higher parental attachment and autonomy as well as parental monitoring, lower friends' risk behaviors, and lower adolescent risk behaviors, and a group of lower parental attachment and autonomy as well as parental monitoring, higher friends' risk behaviors, and higher adolescent risk behaviors. Two other subgroups were similar in parental attachment and autonomy, but differed in parental monitoring, friends' risk behaviors, and adolescent risk behaviors. The last subgroup was characterized by scoring the lowest parental attachment and autonomy, parental monitoring, friends' risk behaviors, and lower adolescent risk behaviors compared to other subgroups. The utility of the mixture model in research on adolescent risk behaviors is discussed in the conclusion.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2023

Purpose : In this study, to prove the antibacterial effect of Disocorea batatas, which is widely used for food, and to confirm the growth inhibitory effect, the antibacterial activity against L. gasseri, S. mutans, and P. gingivalis was verified. Based on this, it is intended to verify the utility as a preventive and therapeutic composition for dental caries and periodontal disease. Methods : RAW 264.7 cells were used to verify the cell survival rate and NO (Nitric Oxide) inhibitory effect on Disocorea batatas ethanol extract (DBEE). In order to verify the antibacterial effect against L. gasseri, S. mutans, and P. gingivalis, concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 ㎎/㎖ of DBEE were used and measured by the disk diffusion method. In order to confirm the growth inhibitory effect, the absorbance was measured at 600 ㎚ at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours using the liquid medium dilution method, and the growth inhibitory effect was measured compared to the control group. Results : The cell viability for DBEE was 91 % at 50 ㎎/㎖, and there was no cytotoxicity. The NO production inhibitory effect was shown from 10 ㎍/ml, and the higher the concentration, the greater the inhibitory effect. As for the antimicrobial effect using the disk diffusion method, the higher the concentration, the higher the antibacterial effect. At 125 ㎎/㎖ and 250 ㎎/㎖, S. mutans and L. gasseri showed high antimicrobial activity, and at 500 ㎎/㎖, the antibacterial effect was higher in L. gasseri. The growth inhibitory effect in DBEE was concentration-dependent as the higher the concentration, the higher the growth inhibitory effect, and all of them began to show growth inhibitory effects from 6 hours. Conclusion : Considering that it is widely used as an edible and medicinal material, Disocorea batatas has shown the potential to be used as a substance to prevent and alleviate dental caries and periodontal diseases, and it is believed that further research can be applied to oral health care products.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2014

Cycle length of domestic nuclear power plants is determined by the demand-supply plan of utility company. The target cycle length is achieved by adjusting the number of feed fuel assembly and fuel enrichment. Traditionally, utility company first select the number of feed fuel assembly and then find out the fuel enrichment to achieve the special cycle length. But it is difficult to find out if this method is most economical than any other combinations of the enrichment and batch size satisfying the same cycle length. In this paper, core depletion calculation is performed to find out the optimum combination of the enrichment and batch size for given target cycle length in terms of fuel cycle cost using commercial core design code; CASMO/MASTER code. To minimize the uncertainty resulting from transition core analysis, levelized fuel cycle cost analysis was applied to the equilibrium cycle core in order to determine the optimum combination. The sensitivity study of discount rate was also carried out to analyze the levelized fuel cycle cost applicable to countries with different discount rates. From the levelized fuel cycle cost analysis results, the combination with smaller batch size and higher fuel enrichment becomes more economical as the discount rate becomes lower. On the other hand, the combination with higher batch size and lower fuel enrichment becomes more economical as the discount rate becomes higher.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.149-163
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• 2005

Family has emerged as a key concept for health, and it has been identified as one of the most important conditions. The relationship between health habit and its management is different depending on family. The odd pair family, mostly rural lower income class, worry to have poor health because of no spouse and small family size. One thousand eight hundred and seventy(1870) subjects were collected in 9 provinces through the sampling of Probability Proportional to Size (PPS). Questionnaire method was conducted on health checking, bath states, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and the prevalence of farmer's health related problems. The main results were as follows: 1) The characteristics of odd pair families are that the head of household is female(77% ), the size of family is small(1.76 persons), the education level is low(7.5 years for male, 3.1 years for female) and the age group is old (male: 89.78 year old, female: 73.69 year old). 2) For the odd pair family, the frequency of health checking is quite low with one or two times per year(l0.2%) and the rate of no-health checking is much higher(35.8%) .3) Bathing utility is not available 29.6% of the odd pair family and only cold water is supplied at home for the 11.5 % of them. However, for the paired family, 9.8 % of them has no bathing utility and the rate of the family supplied with only cold water is just 7.9%. 4) The bathing frequency score of odd pair family is l.74points for male and 1.25 points for female. 5) The rate of smoking habits for odd pair family is 68.5 % and specially it is 7.6% for female, which is higher comparing with that of pair family. 6) The smoking frequency score of odd pair family is 1.57 points. 7) Alcohol drinking frequency score of odd pair family is 1.79 points for male, and 3.24points for female. 8) Farmers' syndrome(FS) revealed 38.7% of odd pair family and it is lower than that of pair family(57.3%). Special pain of FS was huckle bone and muscle(28.4%) and articular pain(24.l %). The pain rate of huckle bone and muscle(43.l %) and articular pain(33.5%) were higher in a year in odd pair family were lower than those of pair family: farming machine caused accidents(6.5%) and pesticide poisoning(5.7%). l0) The odd pair family use more frequently medical clinic or public health center for the treatment of FS(74.7%) and pesticide poisoning(62.5%) than the pair family for FS(69.0%) and for pesticide poisoning(.53.6%). The score of FS treatment is 5.70 points for odd pair family and it is not significantly different from 5.62 points of the paired family. The result of pesticide poisoning treatment score is as same as that of FS.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.49-55
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• 1993

This study describes the accuracies of position fixes observed by the DGPS systems for the purpose of obtaining the utility basic data in the fishery and oceanography observation field. The circling sail experiments around a reterence point using the DGPS were made in water level point of National Fisheries University of Pusan and on the sea in Yongho day located on the southeast of that university. The main results are as follows ; 1) The number of the usable satellites in position fixing were all eighteen, SV 2, 3, 11-21, 23-26 and SV 28 etc. Each satellites could be observed for average seven hours a day, and position fixing was found to be always possible except about thirty minutes a day. 2) In the standard fixed position, the radius of 95% probability circle and the shifted distance between the position fixes by the DGPS and true position were respectively 5.7m, 0.9m. In the above case those of ordinary GPS was respectively 48.8, 54.2m. Therefore, the accuracy of the position fixes by DGPS was shown much higher the ordinary GPS. 3) At land, the shifted distance between the center of traces in the circling sail experiment of 15m ra-dius by DGPS and the reference position amounted to 5.5m and observed radius of circling traces was 17.5m. other than 15m. At sea, that distance the center of traces in circling experiment of 20m radius by the DGPS and the reference position amounted to 3.6m and observed radius of circling traces was 19.7m, other than 20m. Therefore, the utility of the circling experiment to obtain the accurate position fixes by the DGPS was found to be very high.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2443-2446
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• 2013

Published data have shown that the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) in plasma and pleural effusion might be usefulness for lung cancer diagnosis. Here, we performed a prospective study to investigate the utility of VEGF and sVEGFR-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for differential diagnosis of primary lung cancer. A total of 56 patients with solitary pulmonary massed by chest radiograph or CT screening were enrolled in this study. BALF and plasma samples were obtained from all patients and analyzed for VEGF and sVEGFR-1 using a commercially available sandwich ELISA kit. The results showed that the levels of VEGF in BALF were significantly higher in patients with a malignant pulmonary mass compared with patients with a benign mass (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference of sVEGFR-1 in BALF was found between malignant and non-malignant groups (P = 0.43). With a cut-off value of 214 pg/ml, VEGF showed a sensitivity and specificity of 81.8% and 84.2%, respectively, in predicting the malignant nature of a solitary pulmonary mass. Our study suggests that VEGF is significantly increased in BALF among patients with lung cancer than in benign diseases. Measurement of VEGF in BALF might be helpful for differential diagnosis of primary lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.124-136
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• 2010

The purposes of this study were to investigate importance level and performance frequency of the dietitians' duties and task elements, to examine the actual condition of education and need for education, to analyze the interrelation between their tasks and education, and to provide the direction of education for the contracted Business & Industry (B & I) foodservice dietitians. The task elements of receiving, ordering, HACCP management and directing serving process were done almost every day. In terms of the importance of tasks, food sanitation management, personnel sanitation management, receiving and ordering were high. Meanwhile, the computerization of their works was being carried out on the whole, showing a higher frequency in all the details of procurement management and accounting management, as well as task elements such as menu planning, leftover and food waste management, HACCP management and human resource management. In the past three years, HACCP management, cost management, planning work schedule and allotting a task, general business and sale bond management were increased most and rapidly. For the actual condition of education, dietitians got more education for the duty of sanitation, safe and facility/utility management than any other duty, while they did less education of procurement management and office management than others. Meanwhile, the education for sanitation, safe and facility/utility management and accounting management were very much required. For the relationships of frequency of duty and the necessity of education, seven task elements including food sanitation management were correlated positively. Eighteen tasks besides menu planning had a significant positive correlation between the importance of duties and the necessity of education.