• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between patients' characteristics and the beginning period of improvement, as well as contribute to the efficient management of Bell's palsy patients. Methods : The subjects were 94 patients with Bell's palsy. This study was carried out through the use of an administrative database that included patients' characteristics and clinical information. The analysis of the beginning period of improvement by gender, hypertension, diabetes, drinking history, smoking history and facial palsy history was conducted by independent sample t-test. The analysis of the beginning period of improvement by age, House-Brackmann grade, Yanagihara scale and period receiving Korean medical treatment was conducted by Pearson's correlation analysis. Further analysis of the beginning period of improvement by associated symptoms and seasons was conducted by one-way analysis of variance. Results : 1. Significant correlations were not found between the beginning period of improvement and gender, age, season, smoking history, drinking history, facial palsy history, House-Brackmann grade, Yanagihara scale, hypertension, diabetes or associated symptoms. 2. There was significant correlation between the period of receiving Korean medical treatment and the beginning period of improvement. Conclusion : In this study, the earlier that patients received korean medicine treatment after onset, the earlier that the beginning period of improvement could be seen. Therefore, for the efficient management of facial paralysis patients, it is expected to help secure a baseline.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.144-149
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• 2017

This study empirically analyzes the effect of IT SME ventures' external information network diversity on their production period reduction and productivity improvement generated from technology development. This research constructs a mediating model based on the open innovation perspective and tests it with the 138 samples of South Korean IT SME ventures based on the ordinary least squares regression. This research is expected to make a good contribution by shedding a new light on the following three points about the critical role of IT SME ventures' external information network diversity in increasing their production period reduction and productivity improvement generated from technology development which has scarcely been illuminated in the extant studies in the field of the management of technology for SMEs. First, IT SME ventures' external information network diversity positively influences their production period reduction. Second, the external information network diversity positively influences IT SMEs' ventures' productivity improvement. Third, IT SME ventures' production period reduction partially mediates the influence of IT SME ventures' external network diversity on their productivity improvement. These three fresh points are expected to provide useful theoretical and practical implications. Related to the theoretical implication, this research provides a fresh implication that IT SME ventures' external information network diversity positively influences not only their production period reduction but also productivity improvement generated from technology development. Concerning the practical implication, this study suggests that the CEOs in IT SME ventures make strategic efforts to use more diverse external information sources in order to increase their production period reduction and productivity improvement generated from technology development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.68-69
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• 2016

North Korean market created by reunification of the Korean Peninsula is expected to serve as a new growth engine to the already-developed construction industry of South Korea. Improvement on deteriorated construction facility of North Korea is a project in urgent need at the initial stage of reunification. Prior to market entry of the Korean peninsula under these circumstances, economic feasibility analysis on construction technology application must be preceded by considering reunification period. Therefore, this study conducts an economic feasibility analysis on construction facility improvement project of North Korea considering application period of technology developed by South Korea. Results of this study are expected to be utilized in future reunification process as the basis for establishing relevant guidelines for construction facility improvement project of North Korea.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.137-143
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• 2014

Objectives Low back pain causes disability and incurs large socioeconomic burden. Many cases of acute low back pain progress into chronic conditions. As the treatment period extends, burden of socioeconomic expenses also rises. Thus this study is to investigate whether history period influences improvement rate of pain and disability in the patients who receive conservative Korean medicine treatment. Methods 447 inpatients who received conservative Korean Medicine treatment for the management of low back pain have been grouped into acute, sub-acute and chronic according to the length of history period. NRS, ODI and improvement rate of each group were investigated. Treatment every patient has received as follow; acupuncture, herbal medicine, Chuna manipulation, bee venom, and physical treatment. Results Acute patients showed improvement with NRS of $3.98{\pm}2.50$ and ODI of $28.04{\pm}21.54$. The NRS of sub-acute patients showed improvement with NRS of $2.81{\pm}2.07$, ODI also showed improvement with $11.64{\pm}13.94$. Statistically significant difference was observed in NRS, ODI and improvement for acute patients. Improvement in pain and disability was observed to be larger. Conclusions It demonstrated that receiving valid conservative Korean medicine treatment is beneficial for low back pain patients in improvement of their pain and disability.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2010

To improve accuracy of the immunohistochemical testing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) study as well as a routine histology diagnosis in breast cancer, quality improvement for optimal tissue handling is mandatory. We evaluate fraction defective of 7107 blocks from 349 breast cancer patients, who underwent surgical treatment at Samsung Medical Center Seoul, Korea from January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010. We decided pre-improvement period from January, 2009 to June, 2009. In the first quality improvement period (July, 2009 to September, 2009) we made improvements in protocol of gross examination. In the second quality improvement period (October, 2009 to December, 2009) we attempted more effective formalin fixation such as frequent exchange of formalin and use of separate fixation container for each case. In the third quality improvement period (January, 2010 to March, 2010) improvement of tissue processor was performed. We achieved a marked reduction of fraction defective (9-16%) through efforts to improve quality of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks when compared to pre-improvement period.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.355-361
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation on lung function and fatigue in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Thirty one persons with COPD participated in this study. Four groups were allocated as follows: experimental group 1 (under 10 years of the post-disease period), control group 1 (under 10 years of the post-disease period), experimental group 2 (over 10 years of the post-disease period), and control group 2 (over 10 years of the post-disease period). Results: Forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) % pred and lactic acid showed improvement in experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 after training. Control group 1 and control group 2 did not show improvement of FEV1% pred and lactic acid after training. However, FEV1% pred and lactic acid in experimental group 1 were not significantly different, compared with the experimental group. Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that implementation of a pulmonary rehabilitation program resulted in improvement of lung function and fatigue in persons with COPD not related to the post-disease period.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.22-33
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• 2008

In this paper, first of all, the driving performance of QCCs(Quality Control Circles) that are stagnant during 10 years are reviewed. And the usage realities and utilization degree of quality improvement tools in the domestic activities of QCCs are empirically analyzed into size of company and type of business. Thus, this empirical study compares the results of past period in 1997${\sim}$1999 with the results of 6 sigma non-adapting period in 2000${\sim}$2003 through examining the collections of presentation for Korea Quality Control Circle Meetings. Also, according to the introduction of 6 sigma in QCCs activities the difference of utilization degree for quality improvement tools are analyzed to compare the results of 6 sigma non-adapting period in 2000${\sim}$2003 with the results of 6 sigma adapting period in 2004${\sim}$2006. Finally, the utilization degree of 6 sigma tools which follow the driving steps of 6 sigma, DMAIC, are analyzed.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.951-962
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• 2010

An experimental study was performed to investigate the improvement of response performance of a turbocharged diesel engine under the operating conditions of low speed and fast acceleration. In this study, the experiment for improving the low speed and acceleration performance is performed by means of injecting air into the intake manifold of compressor exit during the period of low speed and application of a fast acceleration from low speed. The effects of air injection into the intake manifold on the response performance were investigated at various applicant parameters such as air injection pressure, accelerating rate, accelerating time, engine speed and load. The experimental results show that air injection into the intake manifold at compressor exit is closely related to the improvement of turbocharger lag under low speed and accelerating conditions of a turbocharged diesel engine. During the rapid acceleration period, the air injection into the intake manifold of turbocharged diesel engine indicates the improvement of the combustion characteristics and gas pressure in the cylinder. At low speed range of the engine, the effect of air injection shows the improvement of the pressure distribution of turbocharger and combustion pressure during the period of gas exchange pressure.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.230-240
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• 1997

Background : Hypercholesterolemia is a major independent risk factor of coronary heart disease. Practice guidelines for management of hypercholesterolemia had been made in several developed countries. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of practice guideline reminders and flow-sheets to improve the quality of management of hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Practice guideline reminders and flow-sheets based on National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel II guidelines, were placed on the office desks of outpatient department of family medicine at the Asan Medical Center. Before this intervention, we educated the doctors to use these reminders and flow-sheets. The charts of all patients who had cholesterol levels greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl during 4 months before and after introduction of reminders and flow-sheets, were reviewed retrospectively. We compared the performances of physicians about management of hypercholesterolemia between pre-intervention period and post-intervention period. Results: The detection rate of hypercholesterolemia in post-intervention period was increased to 83.2% compared by 71.5% in pre-intervention period. Risk factor analysis for coronary heart disease increased significantly from 16.9% to 68.7%. Adequacy of management was 19.2% in pre-intervention period and 78.0% in post-intervention period. It showed statistically significant improvement in management of hypercholesterolemia. Conclusion : This study suggested that practice guideline reminders and flow-sheets were the effective methods in improving the quality in management of hypercholesterolemia.

• KCID journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.142-160
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• 2011

This study was performed to apply the preventive management technique that is known for more economic and preventive for disaster than corrective technique to Repair & Improvement(R&I) Project policy of irrigational facilities. The appropriate periods of R&I Project had been driven to 40yrs, 24yrs, 27yrs, and 29yrs for reservoir, Pumping and drainage pumping station, Diversion weir and Irrigation & drainage canal respectively. The cost of R&I Project for 10 years had been estimated as 616.9 billion won per year including the 85 billion won for the project of 'Disaster prevention and Function continuity'. After the period of 'Improvement all at once', about 30yrs, 421.8 billion won was requested for 'Function continuity'.