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Patient Distribution and Hospital Admission Costs in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Collective Study of 7 Hospitals in Korea during 2006 (2006년도 전국 7개 병원 신생아중환자실 입원 현황 및 입원비용 분석)

  • Bae, Chong-Woo;Kim, Ki-Soo;Kim, Byeong-Il;Shin, Son-Moon;Lee, Sang-Lak;Lim, Baek-Keun;Choi, Young-Youn
    • Neonatal Medicine
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.25-35
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    • 2009
  • Purpose: The characteristics of hospitalized patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), including hospitalization costs (HC) and National Health Insurance (NHI) status were studied. Methods: We gathered the following data from 7 hospitals in Korea during 2006: the distribution of patients according to birth weight (BW), and the duration of the hospital stay according to BW and He. Results: The patients who were admitted to the NICU consisted of high-risk neonates, including low birth weight or premature neonates, which comprised 50% of all neonates admitted to the NICU. The duration of hospitalization was 75-90 days for neonates with BW <1,000 g, 45-60 days for neonates with BW between 1,000 and 1,499 g, and approximately 15 days for neonates with BW between 2,000 and 2,499 g. The portion of the HC covered by the NHI was 77.1%, 22.9% of the total HC was not covered by the NHI (19.5% was included in the list, but not covered by the NHI and 3.4% was not listed, but covered by the NHI). The average total HC per person was 4,360,000 won, and the HC covered and not covered by the NHI were 3,677,000 won and 1,007,000 won, respectively. The mean HC were as follows; 35,000,000 won for a BW <500 g, 18,000,000 won for a BW between 500 and 999 g, 16,000,000 won for a BW between 1,000 and 1,499 g, and 4,200,000 won for a BW between 1,500 and 1,999 g. Conclusion: Not only premature, but also ill neonates were under the care of the NICU. The HC increased as the BW decreased and the hospitalization period increased. The proportion of the patient's financial burden is >25% of the total He. For this matter, additional NHI is needed.

Effect of Attenuation Correction, Scatter Correction and Resolution Recovery on Diagnostic Performance of Quantitative Myocardial SPECT for Coronary Artery Disease (감쇠보정, 산란보정 및 해상도복원이 정량적 심근 SPECT의 관상동맥질환 진단성능에 미치는 효과)

  • Hwang, Kyung-Hoon;Lee, Dong-Soo;Paeng, Jin-Chul;Lee, Myoung-Mook;Chung, June-Key;Lee, Myung-Chul
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.36 no.5
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    • pp.288-297
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    • 2002
  • Purpose: Soft tissue attenuation and scattering are major methodological limitations of myocardial perfusion SPECT. To overcome these limitations, algorithms for attenuation, scatter correction and resolution recovery (ASCRR) is being developed, while quantitative myocardial SPECT has also become available. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of an ASCRR-corrected quantitative myocardial SPECT method for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: Seventy-five patients (M:F=51:24, $61.0{\pm}8.9$ years old) suspected of CAD who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) within $7{\pm}12$ days of SPECT(Group-I) and 20 subjects (M:F=10:10, age $40.6{\pm}9.4$) with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease (Group-II) were enrolled. Tl-201 rest/ dipyridamole-stress Tc-99m-MIBI gated myocardial SPECT was performed. ASCRR correction was peformed using a Gd-153 line source and automatic software (Vantage-Pro; ADAC Labs, USA). Using a 20-segment model, segmental perfusion was automatically quantified on both the ASCRR-corrected and uncorrected images using an automatic quantifying software (AutoQUANT; ADAC Labs.). Using these quantified values, CAD was diagnosed in each of the 3 coronary arterial territories. The diagnostic performance of ASCRR-corrected SPECT was compared with that of non-corrected SPECT. Results: Among the 75 patients of Group-I, 9 patients had normal CAG while the remaining 66 patients had 155 arterial lesions; 61 left anterior descending (LAD), 48 left circumflex (LCX) and 46 right coronary (RCA) arterial lesions. For the LAD and LCX lesions, there was no significant difference in diagnostic performance. In Group-II patients, the overall normalcy rate improved but this improvement was not statistically significant (p=0.07). However, for RCA lesions, specificity improved significantly but sensitivity worsened significantly with ASCRR correction (both p<0.05). Overall accuracy was the same. Conclusion: The ASCRR correction did not improve diagnostic performance significantly although the diagnostic specificity for RCA lesions improved on quantitative myocardial SPECT. The clinical application of the ASC-RR correction requires more discretion regarding cost and efficacy.

Effect of mixed Cropping with Legume and using fermented Cattle Manure on Productivity of Whole Crop Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Organic Hanwoo feeding Capacity in Gyeongbuk Region of Korea (경북지역에서 콩과 사료작물의 혼파 재배와 발효 우분의 시용이 청보리의 생산성과 유기 한우 사육능력에 미치는 영향)

  • Jo, Ik-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.525-537
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    • 2016
  • This study was aimed to grow organic forage as a prime requirement for organic Hanwoo cattle production over a period of 3 years (2012~2015) in Gyeongbuk region, Korea through mixed cropping of winter fodder barley with legume and application of fermented cattle manure. The effect of barley-legume mixed cropping and application of different levels of fermented cattle manure was studied on forage productivity of whole-crop barley (WCB) and evaluation of feeding capacity of Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) per unit area. The collected data was analyzed using SAS 9.3 software. Barley-legume mixed cropping increased (P<0.05) yields of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) as compared to those of sole WCB as monoculture. Similarly, acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents and relative feed value (RFV) were also higher (P<0.05) in barley-legume mixed sowing forage compared with those of sole WCB as monoculture. In case of manure application, yields of DM, CP and TDN were also found (P<0.05) highest in 100~150 kg N/ha. However, varying cattle manure levels did not influence (P>0.05) CP and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents. In response to increasing nitrogen application level, ADF content increased (P<0.05) but TDN content and RFV decreased (P<0.05). The Barley-legume mixed sowing and increasing application levels of fermented cattle manure also significantly enhanced (P<0.05) feeding capacity of organic Hanwoo (head/ha) having 450 kg body weight with 400 g of daily gain. Findings of present study indicated that barley-legume biculture not only cut nitrogen application level of fermented cattle manure by over 50 kg per ha but also increased their feed value and productivity of forage as compared to WCB monoculture. This would be contribution to the diversity of forage resources as well as production of organic animal product by creating low cost and high quality organic forage.

A Survey of Perceptions of Elementary School Teachers on the Small-Scale Chemistry (미량화학(Small-Scale Chemistry)에 대한 초등학교 교사들의 인식)

  • Kim, Sung-Kyu;Kong, Young-Tae
    • Journal of Science Education
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.291-305
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    • 2010
  • The aim of this study was to survey the perceptions of the elementary school teachers on the smallscale chemistry(SSC) following its training session. The teachers participating in the survey were 266 teachers in the Gyeongnam province. They were given a questionnaire that focused on the nine areas of the SSC: Needs for the teacher training and its application, its benefits, issues of safety and danger as well as treatment of environmental pollution, its economic efficiency and the development of investigative skills. The designed questionnaire was checked by an authority, and the responses to each question were tallied and analyzed. The results are as follows. The biggest problems of the traditional experimental methods as rated by the teachers were, in the order of importance, the preparation time, the legal liability of teachers for the safety and accidents, financial issues, disposal of the experimental wastes and the lack of relevant data. Since most of the teachers had not experienced the SSC lab programs in the field, they responded positively to the questions of need for its introduction and training. The implementation of the experimental SSC lab programs should proceed in the following order: introduction into the textbook, teacher training program, after-school education and the invitation of instructors. The most useful materials for the SSC program were CDs, videos, books and various printed materials, in that order. The responses regarding benefits of the SSC program included its simplicity, convenience, time savings, diversity, qualitative and quantitative aspects, integration into the regular class and use of toys. In particular, the teachers mentioned the increased safety due to the small amount of experimental reagents needed and the durability of plastic instruments. The familarity from the use of everyday tools as well as easy access to and the low-cost of the instruments were other important benefits. The teachers in general rated the educational content of the program highly, but many also found it to be average. Some pointed out the lack of sufficient discussion due to the individual or pair groupings as a potential shortcoming. The potential for development of problem solving ability and improvement of skills was rated positively. The number of teacher who rated the development of creativity positively was just over the half. As for the area of improving investigative skills, many found its assessment difficult and confusing because of the lack of its systemic definition and categorization. Based on the findings of this study, I would like to recommend the application and a wider dissemination of the small-scale chemistry lab program into the elementary school science curriculum.

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Effects of Dietary Carbohydrase Enzyme Complex and Microbial Phytase Supplementation on Productivity and Nutrient Digestibility in Growing Pigs (탄수화물 분해 복합효소제와 미생물 파이테이즈의 첨가가 육성돈의 생산성 및 영양소 소화율에 미치는 영향)

  • Shim, Y.H.;Chae, B.J.;Lee, J.H.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.45 no.4
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    • pp.569-576
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    • 2003
  • An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial phytase (Natuphos$^{\circledR}$) supplementation, individually and in combination with carbohydrase enzyme complex (composed of enzymes targeted to SBM dietary components such as $\alpha$-galactosides and galactomannans; ENDO-POWER$^{\circledR}$) to corn-soy basis diet with low nutrient levels on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 48 crossbred weaned pigs (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc), 29.1$\pm$0.14 kg of initial body weight, were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, based on weight and age, according to a Randomized Complete Block Design. There were three pens per treatment and 4 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were 1) CON (control diet with 3,380 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy, 18.96% of crude protein, 1.10% of lysine, 0.75% of calcium and 0.35% of available phosphorus), 2) LP+NTPS (CON diet with 0.15% unit lower available P levels+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg; Natuphos$^{\circledR}$)), 3) LEL+ENP (CON diet with 3.0% unit lower ME and lysine levels + 0.1% carbohydrase enzyme complex (ENDO-POWER$^{\circledR}$), and 4) LPEL+ENZ (CON diet with 0.15% unit lower available P levels and 3.0% unit lower ME and lysine levels+0.1% ENDO-POWER$^{\circledR}$ and 0.1% Natuphos$^{\circledR}$ (500 FTU/kg). There was no significant difference (p〉0.05) in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among dietary treatments during the whole experimental period (0 to 4 weeks). Apparent digestibility of gross energy was greater in LP+NTPS and LPEL+ENZ groups than in the LEL+ENP (p<0.05). Apparent digestibility of phosphorus was greater in LP+NTPS than in LEL+ENP (p<0.05). Dry matter excretion was lowest in LPEL+ENZ and phosphorus excretion was lowest in LP+NTPS (p<0.05). Overall, pigs fed on LPEL+ENZ group tended to have better nutrient digestibility (dry matter, gross energy, crude protein and phosphorus) than pigs fed on control group. All dietary enzyme treatment groups showed lower feed cost/body weight gain of pigs than control group. In conclusion, the results from the present study suggest that the simultaneous inclusion of phytase and carbohydrase enzyme complex to diets is advantageous with respect to reducing nutrient excretion of growing pigs and may contribute to increased economic return when added to corn-soy based growing pig diets.

Attitudes of Safety for the Food Developed by Gene-Recombination in Korea -Focus on the Specialist Group Related to Food- (유전자재조합 식품의 안전성에 대한 기본인식 조사 - 식품관련 전문가 그룹을 중심으로 -)

  • 김영찬;박경진;이홍석;김동연
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.397-407
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    • 1999
  • A survey was conducted to investigate the attitudes of the food specialist to the food developed by gene recombination. The mail survey was distributed to 1,400 food specialists and received 464, a response rate of 33.1%. Respondents were asked about knowledge, concerns of potential hazards, purchasing and labeling of the gene recombination foods. Most respondents (98.7%) have some knowledge on the gene recombination foods. 91.3% of respondents recognized necessity of gene recombination technology. However, they also point out its potential hazards (80.9%). The groups with less knowledge showed their increased worry on the hazard in comparison with ones of having more knowledge(p<0.01). The result indicated that there was negative relationship between knowledge and worry on the gene recombination foods. The groups with more knowledge showed their increased purchasing on gene recombination foods in comparison with ones of having less knowledge(p<0.01). The result indicated that there was positive relation-ship between their purchase intent for gene recombination foods and knowledge. 68.4% of respondents showed their interest on purchasing the gene recombination foods. In this group, most of them (44.9%) has on condition that low cost (27.0%). In addition, they also have not use the foods for their children (17.9%) if they buy it. Most respondents (85.3%) want labeling on the gene recombination foods.

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A Microcomputer-Based Data Acquisition System (Microcomputer를 이용(利用)한 Data Acquisition System에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Kim, Ki Dae;Kim, Soung Rai
    • Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.18-29
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    • 1983
  • A low cost and versatile data acquisition system for the field and laboratory use was developed by using a single board microcomputer. Data acquisition system based on a Z80 microprocessor was built, tested and modified to obtain the present functional system. The microcomputer developed consists of 6 kB ROM, 5 kB RAM, 6-seven segment LED display, 16-Hex. key and 8 command key board. And it interfaces with an 8 channel, 12 bits A/D converter, a microprinter, EPROM programmer for 2716, and RS232C interface to transfer data between the system and HP3000 mini-computer manufactured by Hewlett Packard Co., A software package was also developed, tested, and modified for the system. This package included drivers for the AID converter, LED display, key board, microprinter, EPROM programmer, and RS232c interface. All of these programs were written in 280 assembler language and converted to machine codes using a cross assembler by HP3000 computer to the system during modifying stage by data transferring unit of this system, then the machine language wrote to the EPROM by this EPROM programmer. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Measuring program developed was able to control the measuring intervals, No. of channels used, and No. of data, where the maximum measuring speed was 58.8 microsec. 2. Calibration of the system was performed with triangle wave generated by a function generator. The results of calibration agreed well to the test results. 3. The measured data was able to be written into EPROM, then the EPROM data was compared with original data. It took only 75 sec. for the developed program to write the data of 2 kB the EPROM. 4. For the slow speed measurements, microprinter instead of EPROM programmer proved to be useful. It took about 15 min. for microprinter to write the data of 2 kB. 5. Modified data transferring unit was very effective in communicating between the system and HP3000 computer. The required time for data transferring was only 1~2 min. 6. By using DC/DC converting devices such as 78-series, 79-series. and TL497 IC, this system was modified to convert the only one input power sources to the various powers. The available power sources of the system was DC 7~25 V and 1.8 A.

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Studies on Rapid Microbiological Testing Method of Fresh Pork by Applied Resazurin Reduction Test(RRT) Method (Resazurin 환원법을 응용한 돈육의 신속 미생물 검사법에 관한 연구)

  • Lim, S.D.;Kim, K.S.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.453-458
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    • 2002
  • In order to search for reliable rapid methods of estimating bacterial counts in pork, this study was tried to measure resazurin reduction time which is simple in experimental method, low in analytical cost, able to estimate bacterial count within short time. The results were summarized as follows; Correlation coefficient between initial bacterial log count(25$^{\circ}C$/72hr, Y) and resazurin reduction time(X) from blue color to pink color during incubation at 25$^{\circ}C$ and 30$^{\circ}C$ was higher than other conditions as -0.95 and -0.94, respectively. Considering correlation coefficient and reduction time, incubation temperature was compatible at 30$^{\circ}C$, and regression equation(RE) was Y = -0.4386X + 7.7870. At a bacterial load of $10^2$cfu/$cm^2$, $10^3$cfu/$cm^2$ and $10^4$cfu/$cm^2$ in pork, reduction time was 13.2hr, 10.9hr and 8.6hr, respectively. Correlation coefficient between initial bacterial log count(30$^{\circ}C$/72hr, Y) and resazurin reduction time(X) from blue color to pink color during incubation at 30$^{\circ}C$ was highest among other conditions as -0.93, and RE was Y = -0.4171X + 7.5540. At a bacterial load of $10^2$cfu/$cm^2$, $10^3cfu/$cm^2$ and $10^4cfu/$cm^2$ in pork, reduction time was 13.3hr, 10.9hr and 8.5hr, respectively. Correlation coefficient between initial bacterial log count(35$^{\circ}C$/72hr, Y) and resazurin reduction time(X) from blue color to pink color during incubation at 30$^{\circ}C$ was highest among other conditions as -0.93, and RE was Y = -0.3514X + 6.7513. At a bacterial load of $10^2$cfu/$cm^2$, $10^3$cfu/$cm^2$ and $10^4$cfu/$cm^2$ in pork, reduction time was 13.5hr, 10.7hr and 7.8hr, respectively.

A study on the reduction on magnetic susceptible artifacts through the usage of silicon (실리콘을 이용한 자화율 인공물의 감소에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Kwan-Woo;Lee, Ho-Beom
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.13 no.12
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    • pp.5937-5942
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    • 2012
  • This study used silicon that is similar to the density of the tissue of the human body to compensate for the uneven areas that are in contact with air in order to reduce susceptible artifacts. The subjects of the study were 16 normal people and the areas of the human body in which there are a lot of uneven areas with complicated structure and a lot of susceptible artifacts were formed since the surface area that comes into contact with the air is large were the areas that were chosen to be examined. A 3.0T superconducting magnetic resonance device was used as the test equipment and SPIR images that are sensitive to magnetic differences were obtained as sagittal planes on a line that extended the metatarsal and the phalanges, including the middle of the longitudinal arc and the 5 distal phalanxes. The method of analysis was to reduce the susceptibility between the tissue and the air to discover the reduction of susceptible artifacts by comparing the SNR and CNR before and after applying silicon. A statistical analysis was utilized for the sample matching T examination. The results of the study revealed that the susceptible artifacts were reduced in the images of the uneven areas that were compensated and applied with silicon. The SNR increased in significant amount in correlation from $3.91{\pm}1.33$ before application to $21.69{\pm}4.52$ after application and the CNR decreased in significant amount in correlation from $28.97{\pm}8.20$ before application to $4.88{\pm}2.14$. In conclusion, this study did not affect the voxel but it was an innovative method of improvement that compensated for the fundamental issue of the difference in susceptibility between the air and the body. The application is simple and the study has great significance in that it proposed a method to reduce susceptible artifacts in a low cost and highly efficient manner.

Performance Evaluation of Hydrocyclone Filter for Treatment of Micro Particles in Storm Runoff (Hydrocyclone Filter 장치를 이용한 강우유출수내 미세입자 제거특성 분석)

  • Lee, Jun-Ho;Bang, Ki-Woong;Hong, Sung-Chul
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.31 no.11
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    • pp.1007-1018
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    • 2009
  • Hydrocyclone is widely used in industry, because of its simplicity in design, high capacity, low maintenance and operational cost. The separation action of a hydrocyclone treating particulate slurry is a consequence of the swirling flow that produces a centrifugal force on the fluid and suspended particles. In spite of hydrocyclone have many advantage, the application for treatment of urban stormwater case study were rare. We conducted a laboratory scale study on treatable potential of micro particles using hydrocyclone filter (HCF) that was a combined modified hydrocyclone with perlite filter cartridge. Since it was not easy to use actual storm water in the scaled-down hydraulic model investigations, it was necessary to reproduce ranges of particles sizes with synthetic materials. The synthesized storm runoff was made with water and addition of particles; ion exchange resin, road sediment, commercial area manhole sediment, and silica gel particles. Experimental studies have been carried out about the particle separation performance of HCF-open system and HCF-closed system. The principal structural differences of these HCFs are underflow zone structure and vortex finder. HCF was made of acryl resin with 120 mm of diameter hydrocyclone and 250 mm of diameter filter chamber and overall height of 800 mm. To determine the removal efficiency for various influent concentrations of suspended solids (SS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), tests were performed with different operational conditions. The operated maximum of surface loading rate was about 700 $m^3/m^2$/day for HCF-open system, and 1,200 $m^3/m^2$/day for HCF-closed system. It was found that particle removal efficiency for the HCF-closed system is better than the HCF-open system under same surface loading rate. Results showed that SS removal efficiency with the HCF-closed system improved by about 8~20% compared with HCF-open system. The average removal efficiency difference for HCF-closed system between measurement and CFD particle tracking simulation was about 4%.