• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.626-636
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• 2021

Boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a cancer treatment method that exploits the high neutron reactivity of boron. Monitoring the prompt gamma rays (PGs) produced during neutron irradiation is essential for ensuring the accuracy and safety of BNCT. We investigate the imaging of PGs produced by the boron-neutron capture reaction through Monte Carlo simulations of a gamma camera with a SrI₂ scintillator and parallel-hole collimator. GAGG scintillator is also used for a comparison. The simulations allow the shapes of the energy spectra, which exhibit a peak at 478 keV, to be determined along with the PG images from a boron-water phantom. It is found that increasing the size of the water phantom results in a greater number of image counts and lower contrast. Additionally, a higher septal penetration ratio results in poorer image quality, and a SrI₂ scintillator results in higher image contrast. Thus, we can simulate the BNCT process and obtain an energy spectrum with a reasonable shape, as well as suitable PG images. Both GAGG and SrI₂ crystals are suitable for PG imaging during BNCT. However, for higher imaging quality, SrI₂ and a collimator with a lower septal penetration ratio should be utilized.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.29-40
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• 2020

Purpose: This study looked into the reality of the emergency medical technology department by analyzing the major indicators of university information disclosure systems and finding the competitiveness of the department of emergency medical technology by reviewing various evaluation indices. Methods: This study is a survey of 24 colleges with emergency medical technology and emergency medical technology departments across the country. Quantitative index data from 2017 to 2019 were collected and analyzed through the university information disclosure center web site. Results: Departments of emergency medical technology are generally higher than the target colleges in quantitative indicators, but the indices are somewhat insufficient in terms of "rate of faculty in full service" and "research performance of per one faculty in full service." Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we recommend increasing the low indicators to enhance the competitiveness of the departments of emergency medical technology.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2021

This study investigated medical students' perceptions of good jobs. We classified medical students' perceptions of good jobs and analyzed the characteristics of each type. The Q methodology was used to extract medical students' subjective thoughts. After extracting statements based on previous studies, 46 Q samples were selected. The P sample consisted of 40 medical students divided evenly by gender and grade. They performed a Q sort of the 46 Q sample questionnaire and the results were analyzed using the QUANL ver. 1.2 program. Very few consensus statements were found in the replies. We divided answers into four types, each of which was clearly distinguished: (1) quality of life-oriented jobs, (2) reward-oriented jobs, (3) service-oriented jobs, and (4) self-realization-oriented jobs. Medical students in type 1 prioritized quality of life equally at work and at home. Medical students in type 2 preferred high-paying jobs. Medical students in type 3 placed importance on serving others. Finally, medical students in type 4 viewed good jobs as involving learning and development. The types of jobs sought were classified according to individual students' values and subjectivity. Medical schools may use the results of this study as a basis for career guidance.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

Background: Different cases exist in the measurement of thyroid radiobioassays owing to the individual characteristics of the subjects, especially the potential variation in the counting efficiency. An In situ Object Counting System (ISOCS) was developed to perform an efficiency calibration based on the Monte Carlo calculation, as an alternative to conventional calibration methods. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of ISOCS to thyroid radiobioassays by comparison with a conventional thyroid monitoring system. Materials and Methods: The efficiency calibration of a portable high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector was performed using ISOCS software. In contrast, the conventional efficiency calibration, which needed a radioactive material, was applied to a scintillator-based thyroid monitor. Four radioiodine samples that contained $^{125}I$ and $^{131}I$ in both aqueous solution and gel forms were measured to evaluate radioactivity in the thyroid. ANSI/HPS N13.30 performance criteria, which included the relative bias, relative precision, and root-mean-squared error, were applied to evaluate the performance of the measurement system. Results and Discussion: The portable HPGe detector could measure both radioiodines with ISOCS but the thyroid monitor could not measure $^{125}I$ because of the limited energy resolution of the NaI(Tl) scintillator. The $^{131}I$ results from both detectors agreed to within 5% with the certified results. Moreover, the $^{125}I$ results from the portable HPGe detector agreed to within 10% with the certified results. All measurement results complied with the ANSI/HPS N13.30 performance criteria. Conclusion: The results of the intercomparison program indicated the feasibility of applying ISOCS software to direct thyroid radiobioassays. The portable HPGe detector with ISOCS software can provide the convenience of efficiency calibration and higher energy resolution for identifying photopeaks, compared with a conventional thyroid monitor with a NaI(Tl) scintillator. The application of ISOCS software in a radiation emergency can improve the response in terms of internal contamination monitoring.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Objectives : This study aims to increase efficiency of the prescription similarity analysis method that uses drug composition ratio. Methods : The controlled experiment compared result generation time, generated data quantity, and accuracy of results between previous and new analysis method on the 12,598 formulas and 61 prescription groups. Results : The control group took 346 seconds on average and generated 768,478 results, while the test group took 24 seconds and generated 241,739 results. The test group adopted a selective calculation method that only used overlapping data between two formulas instead of analyzing all number of cases. It simplified the data processing process, reducing the quantity of data that is required to be processed, leading to better system speed, as fast as 14.47 times more than previous analysis method with equal results. Conclusions : Efficiency for similarity analysis could be improved by reducing data span and simplifying the calculation processes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to the loyalty of Chinese customers who use Korean medical and tourism services. Methods: Participants were 158 Chinese who visited plastic surgery clinics in Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, One-way ANOVA, $Scheff{{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson Correlation and Hierachical Multiple Regression. Results: Medical service quality, tourism service quality and medical and service satisfaction were positively correlated with customer loyalty. Medical service quality and medical and tourism service satisfaction had significant influence on customer loyalty. The explained variance for customer loyalty was 84.9%. Conclusion: These results suggest the need to improve the tourism service and medical and tourism service satisfaction to retain loyal customers.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2016

Objectives : This study reports the clinical effects of Korean medical treatment on a patient with suspected diabetic muscle infarction (DMI). Methods : A patient diagnosed with spinal stenosis was suspected of DMI. The patient was treated with acupuncture, bee-venom pharmacopuncture and gastrocnemius stretching. Symptoms were evaluated by verbal numeric rating scale (vNRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Manchester foot pain and disability index (MFPDI). Results : After approximately 5 weeks of Korean medical treatment, including 8 bee-venom treatments, vNRS, ODI, and MFPDI all decreased. Conclusion : The results suggest that Korean medical treatment is effective for treating pain caused by DMI.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-24
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• 2007

The medical fee reimbursement denied by HIRA(Health Insurance Review Agency) amounted to about 1.2% of the total medical fee claim to HIRA for reimbursement. Most of the denials stem from the inappropriate prescriptions of medical staff violating the medical fee review standards issued by HIRA. Considering the significant impacts of the standards observance behavior on the hospitals' financial viability, we attempted to analyze the predisposition factors of medical staffs' review standards observance behavior. The TPB(Theory of Planned Behavior) was adopted as the theoretical framework of the analysis. Data were collected by administrating a survey on the concepts included in TPB model to the 187 medical staff of a tertiary care hospital. Of the 187 questionaries distributed, 150 were responded resulting 80.2% of response rate. The mean differences among the groups classified by age group, years of experience, medical specialty and gender were analysis using ANOVA. The relationships among the TPB concepts were analysed by applying the Structural Equations Modeling method. The TPB model consists of three exogenous concepts (attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) and two endogenous concepts (intention and the behavior). The results of ANOVA indicated significant mean differences among the groups classified by the medical staff's age, years of experience, and medical specialty. The older and the more experienced had the higher mean of observance behavior score. The results of Structural Equations analysis showed that the subjective norm and perceived behavioral control had statistically significant influences on intention, but the influence of attitude to intention was not statistically significant. The influences of perceived behavioral control and intention on behavior were significant. Based on these results the theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.49-58
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• 2019

Purpose: Automated analytical systems have begun to emerge as a database system that enables the scanning of medical images to be performed on computers and the construction of big data. Deep-learning artificial intelligence (AI) architectures have been developed and applied to medical images, making high-precision diagnosis possible. Materials and Methods: For diagnosis, the medical images need to be labeled and standardized. After pre-processing the data and entering them into the deep-learning architecture, the final diagnosis results can be obtained quickly and accurately. To solve the problem of overfitting because of an insufficient amount of labeled data, data augmentation is performed through rotation, using left and right flips to artificially increase the amount of data. Because various deep-learning architectures have been developed and publicized over the past few years, the results of the diagnosis can be obtained by entering a medical image. Results: Classification and regression are performed by a supervised machine-learning method and clustering and generation are performed by an unsupervised machine-learning method. When the convolutional neural network (CNN) method is applied to the deep-learning layer, feature extraction can be used to classify diseases very efficiently and thus to diagnose various diseases. Conclusions: AI, using a deep-learning architecture, has expertise in medical image analysis of the nerves, retina, lungs, digital pathology, breast, heart, abdomen, and musculo-skeletal system.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.129-144
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• 2017

Objectives : To review a Tanzanian medical engineering education program and determine improvement measures for the Official Development Assistance (ODA) healthcare projects. Methods : A consultation of the Tanzanian medical engineering education program funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRFK) was reviewed. An on site survey, an environmental analysis, and in-depth interviews were performed. Results : Survey results highlighted a lack of medical device education and the low operating rate of medical equipment. The need to establish educational program was thus confirmed. The expansion of healthcare facilities appeared to be limited within the current medical management system. A master coursework plan for Tanzania medical engineering was developed. Conclusions : The needs of medical engineering education were recognized. A plan and curriculum were developed. The medical engineering education program should be planned and budgeted prior to the ODA healthcare program.