• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.548-554
• /
• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) via transradial access (TRA) compared with transfemoral access (TFA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 53 consecutive men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who underwent PAE between September 2018 and September 2021. Thirty-one patients (mean age ± standard deviation: 70.6 ± 8.4 years) were treated with TFA, including 14 patients treated before adopting TRA. Since December 2019, TRA has also been attempted with the procedure's selection criteria of patent carpal circulation and a height ≤ 172 cm, with 22 patients treated via TRA (69.1 ± 9.6 years). Parameters of technical success (defined as successful bilateral embolization), clinical success (defined as LUTS improvement), procedural time, radiation dose, and adverse events were compared between the two groups using the Fisher's exact test, independent sample t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, or Mann-Whitney test. Results: All patients received at least one-side PAE. Technical success of PAE was achieved in most patients (TRA, 21/22; TFA, 30/31; p > 0.999). No technical problem-related conversion from TRA to TFA occurred. The clinical success rate was 85% (11/13) in patients with TRA, and 89% (16/18) in patients with TFA for follow-up > 2 weeks post-PAE (median, 3 months) (p > 0.999). The median procedure time was similar in both groups (TRA, 81 minutes vs. TFA, 94 minutes; p = 0.570). No significant dose differences were found between the TRA and TFA groups in the dose-area product (median Gycm², 95 [range, 44-255] for TRA and 84 [34-255] for TFA; p = 0.678) or cumulative air kerma (median mGy, 609 [236-1584] for TRA and 634 [217-1594] for TFA; p = 0.551). No major adverse events occurred in either of the groups. Conclusion: PAE via TRA is a safe and feasible method comparable to conventional TFA. It can be safely implemented by selecting patients with patent carpal circulation and adequate height.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.193-207
• /
• 2024

Purpose - With the increase of non-face-to-face activities due to the spread of COVID-19, O2O industry has grown rapidly which reduces contact points between suppliers and consumers. O2O platform is now recognized as an indispensable channel of distribution, but the voice is getting louder that it is necessary to check how it contributes to the performance of suppliers or how its fee system or contract terms affects the expansion of O2O industry as the leading companies tend to monopolize the market. Design/methodology/approach - In this study, the scope was limited to the restaurant industry in which transactions are the most active among the O2O industry and a regression analysis was done on 775 businesses that had used guarantor service from the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation. Findings - Analysis on the impact of O2O platform system, information, and service quality on the business performance of the sole proprietors revealed that the system quality represented by ease of use and the information quality determined by level of timely, accurate and reliable information provided to the consumers have a statistically significant effect on the improvement of business performance. In addition, the effect of business performance on the loyalty measured by the likelihood of users continuing to use the service as well as recommending it to others was moderated by the satisfaction with contract terms, not by the fee system. Research implications or Originality - Although the number of O2O platform providers has increased manyfold, the membership rate is no more than 20%, which means that the small business owners are still struggling with digital transformation. In order for the O2O industry, which is now commonplace, to form a healthy ecosystem that satisfies both suppliers and consumers, the standard contract guidelines that are acceptable to both parties must be established and the O2O providers must offer services that help suppliers to improve performance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.113 no.1
• /
• pp.131-142
• /
• 2024

The purpose of this study was to estimate the optimal stand density criteria for each growth stage of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. to achieve the timber production goal for cypress forests and develop an optimal silvicultural system for forest thinning. A relative yield index (Ry) value of 0.75, presented as a stand density management criterion index, was estimated by analyzing the relationship characteristics between the composition ratio and stand density of slender trees from 216 sample plots of the recruited cypress forests. The analysis of the feasibility of achieving each production target in the existing silvicultural system for C. obtusa revealed that the growth rate according to the parameters of forest land productivity, such as site index and thinning intensity according to the increase in age, was not properly reflected. In the thinning system for each timber production target analyzed in this study, 353 high-quality large hardwoods from 498.1 m³/ha, 703 high-quality medium hardwoods from 376.2 m³/ha, and 1,758 small-diameter hardwoods from 249.5 m³/ha could be harvested. Although the silvicultural system prepared on the basis of the results of this study cannot be uniformly applied according to various management goals, this study is meaningful in that it presents empirical reference standards based on the stand density management diagram that reflects the growth characteristics of cypress forests in South Korea.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.156-168
• /
• 2024

Purpose: The trend of highway traffic accidents shows a repeating pattern of increase and decrease, with the fatality rate being highest on highways among all road types. Therefore, there is a need to establish improvement measures that reflect the situation within the country. Method: We conducted accident severity analysis using Random Forest on data from accidents occurring on 10 specific routes with high accident rates among national highways from 2019 to 2021. Factors influencing accident severity were identified. Result: The analysis, conducted using the SHAP package to determine the top 10 variable importance, revealed that among highway traffic accidents, the variables with a significant impact on accident severity are the age of the perpetrator being between 20 and less than 39 years, the time period being daytime (06:00-18:00), occurrence on weekends (Sat-Sun), seasons being summer and winter, violation of traffic regulations (failure to comply with safe driving), road type being a tunnel, geometric structure having a high number of lanes and a high speed limit. We identified a total of 10 independent variables that showed a positive correlation with highway traffic accident severity. Conclusion: As accidents on highways occur due to the complex interaction of various factors, predicting accidents poses significant challenges. However, utilizing the results obtained from this study, there is a need for in-depth analysis of the factors influencing the severity of highway traffic accidents. Efforts should be made to establish efficient and rational response measures based on the findings of this research.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2024

Objective: Recently, oral antioxidants in combined forms have been used to treat men with idiopathic infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, arginine, L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10 on sperm quality parameters, DNA integrity, reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 420 men with infertility and idiopathic OAT who took an oral supplement of antioxidant SP-Power tablets twice daily for 6 months. Semen quality, reproductive hormones, and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after supplementation, using the World Health Organization 2021 guidelines. Results: No significant difference was observed in volume or the percentage of typical morphology during treatment. A significant improvement in sperm concentration was observed after supplementation (8.67±1.41, 12.17±1.91, and 19.01±0.86 at baseline, 3, and 6 months respectively, p<0.01). The total motility, progressive motility, and total motile sperm count also increased significantly (p<0.01), whereas the DFI decreased after 6 months. There was an increase in normal FSH levels and testosterone levels after 6 months of supplementation of antioxidant SP-Power but these differences were not statistically significant (p=not significant and p=0.06, respectively). Conclusion: Supplementation with SP-Power tablets improved sperm quality parameters, sperm DFI, some reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic OAT, which could be attributed to the supplement's synergistic antioxidant action. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of supplementation on oxidative stress markers.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.115-125
• /
• 2024

This study defined the appraisal items of technology appraisal for investment as innovation characteristics and derived the determining factors for predicting high-growth companies. Through this, we presented a direction for improving the technology appraisal model for investment. High-growth companies were classified into high-growth companies in sales, high-growth companies in operating profit, and high-growth companies in both sales and operating profit. At this time, the concept of a gazelle company was applied and defined as a company with an average growth rate of 20% or more over three years after the appraisal year. As for the analysis results, in terms of technicality (appraisal items), it was significant in predicting high-growth companies in sales and high-growth companies in sales and operating profit. Therefore, it will be possible to increase the discrimination power of predictions by strengthening the technicality (appraisal items). On the other hand, the business feasibility (appraisal items) was significant in predicting high-growth companies in sales and high-growth companies in sales and operating profit, but in a negative direction. This is due to the composition and criteria of the business feasibility (appraisal items), and it was concluded that changes to the composition and criteria for the relevant items are necessary for future model improvement.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2024

The purpose of this study is to determine how satisfied adult learners are with school life when transitioning back to social life after obtaining a college degree, and to seek ways to improve education through analysis of future educational needs. Suggestions for the results are as follows. First, programs to improve adult learners' basic learning abilities must be continuously supported. As a result of the survey on satisfaction with the basic learning ability improvement program, 92% of respondents responded above average, so continued support for basic learning programs is required to help adult learners make up for their academic gap. Second, in the case of club activities and major certificate acquisition programs, the response rate was above average at 92%, indicating that students were overall satisfied with their school life. Third, there is a continued need for expanded application of classes that combine field practice in the subject area. Fourth, the development of liberal arts education subjects that reflect social needs is continuously required. Fifth, substantial operation of field experience programs is necessary. Junior colleges are higher education institutions that train experts. In order to cultivate practical talents who are closely related to the field after graduation, future field experience programs are required to be operated to help with major jobs.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.726-743
• /
• 2024

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination therapy of Saengmaek-san decoction and Western medicine on heart failure. Methods: A search was conducted on June 22, 2024 using keywords such as "heart failure", "saengmaeksan", and "shengmaisan". A meta-analysis was conducted according to the outcome measurements such as the total effective rate (TER), serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), echocardiography results (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), stroke volume (SV)), and six-minute walk test (6MWT). Data analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.4.1 software, and Cochrane's risk of bias (ROB) was used to assess the quality of the papers. Results: A total of eight randomized control trials were selected. The treatment group combining Saengmaek-san and Western medicine showed significant improvement effects in terms of TER, BNP, LVEF, LVESD, LVEDD, SV, and 6MWT compared to the control group using Western medicine alone [TER] RR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.13-1.34, p<0.00001; [BNP] MD=-206.14, 95% CI : -257.49--154.79, p<0.00001; [LVEF] MD=6.40, 95% CI : 5.54-7.27, p<0.00001; [LVEDD] MD=-6.55, 95% CI : -7.24--5.85, p<0.00001; [LVESD] MD=-3.07, 95% CI: -3.92--2.22, p<0.00001; [SV] MD=7.12, 95% CI : 5.73-8.50, p<0.00001; [6MWT] MD=43.69, 95% CI : 31.55-55.84, p<0.00001. Conclusion: This study suggests that the combination therapy of Saengmaek-san decoction and Western medicine is effective in treating heart failure. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the unknown or high risk of bias in the included trials.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 1993

This study was made to evaluate the chemical properties of 481 farmers' orchard fields in An-Seong area. And the reasonable ferilizer rates were recommended utilizing the result of soil analysis. The results are summarized as follows : 1. As the soil fertility status of collected soil samples were evaluated on the basis of temporary optimal range for each soil chemical properties, 12.7 to 49.6% of the total 481 farmers' fields were range for soil improvement. 2. The contents of chemical component have a tendancy to decrease with depth gradually from surface to subsoil. 3. According to the relationship between the contents of soil component in subsoil and those in surface soil, the fertility condition of subsoil could be estimated on the basis of analysis data of surface soil. 4. The multiple regression equation for pear yield prediction to the organic matter and exchangable calcium contents in the soil were obtained. 5. Referring the average value, distribution ratio compared to the optimum level for each soil chemical properties and standard fertilizer rate, the soil fertility status could be categorized as "High" "Medium" and "Low". For each category, the recommended amounts for NPK and organic matter application were established. 6. The recommended rates through soul fertility diagnosis were less than farmer's dosage in the range 7.1~7.7 kg/10a for N, 0.8~11.5 kg/10a for $P_2O_5$, 7.1~19.9 kg/10a for $K_2O$ and 90~116 kg/10a for lime.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.9
• /
• pp.1079-1087
• /
• 2013

Speed germination success and robust vegetative growth of citrus rootstock through improved sowing methods and fertilizer inputs offer the usage of root system for the citrus. The current study evaluated the influence of seed coat removal and different fertilizer concentrations on plant germination and plant growth of spontaneous rootstock siblings. Decoated and coated seeds of diploid and tetraploid plants were sown in tubes. Commercial fertilizer concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and $10g{\cdot}l^{-1}$ were added. The experimental layout followed a randomized block $2{\times}6$ factorial design (seed coat removal ${\times}$ fertilizer concentration) for each rootstock. Fertilizer concentrations were 0, 10, 20 and $30g{\cdot}l^{-1}$ of the fertilizer for the resistance of the strength on the salt level. The germination rate of seeds without testa sown in vitro was improved (67-80%) compared to that of nontreated seeds. The eventual tree height of the seeds without testa in the diploid group was increased due to higher fertilization compared to that in the nontreated group. The removal of seed testa promoted the seed germination of both diploid and tetraploid trifoliate orange and resulted in greater height. Their vegetative development was also increased due to the increased fertilization of the rootstock. The Fv/Fm value for the diploid plants was 0.4 and 0.8 for the tetraploid ones under salt stress after 11 days of treatment. The removal of seed testa may improve the seed germination of trifoliate orange. Tetraploid trifoliate orange appears to possess resistance to salt stress compared to the diploid variety.