• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.221-230
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• 1999

A new technique for the preparation of porous polyurethane vascular prostheses was investigated. Synthetic vascular grafts with porous wall have been widely proposed, claiming that strength, suture retention, kink resistance, and other handling properties are improved over those with nonporous solid wall. Related to these facts, the control of pores and compliance match have been very important and interesting issues. Two kinds of polymer sheets were compared. One was the porous PU-sheet made at room temerature by the solvent/non-solvent exchange. And the other was the porous PU-sheet fabricated by thermal phase transition and solvent/non-solvent exchange in the thermal controlled bath. According to the result of the above experiments, polyurethane solution was injected into a mold designed for U-type graft. After freezing at low temperature, solvent was dissolved out with alcohol at < $0^{\circ}C$ and water at room temperature to form porous vessels. The average pore size and pore occupation were easily changed by changing polyurethane concentration and freezing rate. This technique can give a proper pore size for tissue ingrowth, and suitable compliances for matching with arteries and veins. In addition, the fabrication of more complicated shaped vessels such as the U-type vascular grafts is easily controlled by using a mold. This method might give a desired compliact graft for artificial implantaion with the commercially available medical polymers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2019

Background: The utility of computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation remains uncertain. However, due to the low cost associated with CT scan along with the impact of Koreas' health insurance system, there has been a rise in the number of CT scans in the patients with initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbations. Therefore, the utility of CT in the differential diagnosis was investigated to determine whether performing CT scans affect the clinical outcomes of the patients with an initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. Methods: This study involved 202 COPD patients hospitalized with an initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. We evaluated the change in diagnosis or treatment after performing a CT scan, and compared the clinical outcomes of patient groups with vs. without performing CT (non-CT group vs. CT group). Results: After performing CT, the diagnosis was changed for two (3.0%) while additional diagnoses were made for 27 of the 64 patients (42.1%). However, the treatment changed for only one (1.5%), and six patients (9.3%) received supplementary medication. There were no difference in the median length of hospital stay (8 [6-13] days vs. 8 [6-12] days, p=0.786) and intensive care unit care (14 [10.1%] vs. 11 [16.7%], p=0.236) between the CT and non-CT groups, respectively. These findings remained consistent even after the propensity score matching. Conclusion: Utility of CT in patients with acute COPD exacerbation might not be helpful; therefore, we do not recommend chest CT scan as a routine initial diagnostic tool.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Alvin Toffler mentioned that it is important for future society to keep pace with synchronization and that time deviations can hinder social development. As we experience the new normal era of untact, we have experienced an increase in non-face-to-face contact and accelerated digital transformation. Amid these rapid changes, we can maintain the need for synchronization or change in space. Therefore, we would like to study what kind of settlements people create and choose. We looked at the metaverse as an object that could indirectly find out about this, and used the content called "Animal Crossing" to collect data related to the spatial form of the metaverse. Sampling utilized a judgment sampling method during non-probability sampling to alleviate differences due to the progress of the game. The collected data was classified according to floor plan and location type and briefly organized through descriptive statistics. After matching each facility by use, data was constructed by setting coordinates for each cluster and listing them. This data was interpreted graphically on the coordinate plane for each cluster, and Euclidean analysis was performed to analyze the relationships between clusters and residential choice using a Euclidean matrix. As a result of the analysis, it could be interpreted that efficiency was pursued by arranging similar functions in close proximity. Nevertheless, when choosing a residence, it was interpreted that the intention was to create a community through arrangement adjacent to residents rather than efficiency or convenience. Due to the differences between the metaverse and the real world, it is expected that there will be limitations in equating it with reality. However, through the space expressed in the virtual world by people who are far away from the constraints of reality, we can indirectly know the wishes that we have not been able to express due to our lack of awareness.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.467-476
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to examine the clinical implications of selective station 4L lymph node dissection (S4L-LND) on survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate its potential advantages. Methods: We enrolled patients with primary left-sided NSCLC who underwent upfront video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with R0 resection including lobectomy and segmentectomy, with or without S4L-LND, at our institution between January 2007 and December 2021. Following 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), we compared overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) between patients with and without S4L-LND. Results: The study included 2,601 patients, of whom 1,126 underwent S4L-LND and 1,475 did not. PSM yielded 1,036 patient pairs. Among those who underwent S4L-LND, 87 (7.7%) exhibited S4L-LN involvement. Neither OS (p=0.12) nor RFS (p=0.24) differed significantly between matched patients with and without S4L-LND. In patients with S4L-LN involvement, metastases were more common in the left upper lobe (LUL) than in the left lower lobe (LLL) (3.6% vs. 2.0%, p=0.061). Metastasis became significantly more frequent with more advanced clinical N (cN) stage (cN0, 2.3%; cN1, 5.8%; cN2, 32.6%; p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that cN stage and tumor location were independently associated with S4L-LN involvement (p<0.001 for both). Conclusion: OS and RFS did not differ significantly between matched patients with and without S4L-LND. Among participants with S4L-LN involvement, metastases occurred more frequently in the LUL than the LLL, and their incidence increased significantly with more advanced cN stage. Thus, patients with LUL or advanced cN lung cancers may benefit from S4L-LND.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.48-60
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• 2011

Nowadays, the 3D community is actively researching on 3D imaging and free-viewpoint video (FVV). The free-viewpoint rendering in multi-view video, virtually move through the scenes in order to create different viewpoints, has become a popular topic in 3D research that can lead to various applications. However, there are restrictions of cost-effectiveness and occupying large bandwidth in video transmission. An alternative to solve this problem is to generate virtual views using a single texture image and a corresponding depth image. A critical issue on generating virtual views is that the regions occluded by the foreground (FG) objects in the original views may become visible in the synthesized views. Filling this disocclusions (holes) in a visually plausible manner determines the quality of synthesis results. In this paper, a new approach for handling disocclusions using depth based inpainting algorithm in synthesized views is presented. Patch based non-parametric texture synthesis which shows excellent performance has two critical elements: determining where to fill first and determining what patch to be copied. In this work, a noise-robust filling priority using the structure tensor of Hessian matrix is proposed. Moreover, a patch matching algorithm excluding foreground region using depth map and considering epipolar line is proposed. Superiority of the proposed method over the existing methods is proved by comparing the experimental results.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.381-393
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• 1989

Hydrogeological modelling was performed to evaluate groundwater flow system in Igsan Area. The study area extends over $790km^2$. The geology consists of Jurassic Daebo granite and gneissose granite and Precambrian metamorphic rocks. The capability of pumping yield is the highest in gneissose granite region among them due to comparatively thick weathered zone with thickness ranging from 10m to 25m. The Colorado State University Finite Difference Model was used for the model simulation. The model was divided into 28 rows and 31 columns with variable grid spacing. The model was calibrated under steady-state and unsteady-state conditions. In the steady-state simulation, the model results were compared with measured water table contours in September 1985 with determining hydraulic conductivities and net recharge rates during rainy season. Unsteady state simulation was done to know the aquifer response due to groundwater abstraction. The non- steady state calibration was conducted to determine the distribution and magnitudes of specific yields and discharge/recharge rates during dry season as matching water level altitudes in May 1986. The calibrated model was used to simulate water level vaiation caused by groundwater withdrawal and natural recharge from 1 October, 1985 until 30 September, 1995. The calibrated model can be used to groundwater development schemes on regional groundwater levels, but it cannot be used to simulate local groundwater level change at a specific site.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.29-40
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• 2010

Purpose: We investigated the motivation of selecting major, the satisfaction of major and the view on occupation of emergency medical technology (EMT) students. The results of study will be used to increase the satisfaction of major of university students. Also, it can be used to support decision of major for high school students. Method: We conducted 1,586 surveys from 665 students at six four-year colleges and 921 students at seven three-year colleges. Our research period was from Aug. 27th to Oct. 31st in 2010. The surveys were analyzed by SPSS 18.0 using description statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe and Pearson correlation coefficient. Result: In our study, the motivation of selecting major is 35.8% of students selected 'good employment prospects', satisfaction of major's $M{\pm}SD$ is $3.15{\pm}.486$, adaptation of major's $M{\pm}SD$ is $3.11{\pm}.472$. The satisfaction of major show difference (t = 4.548 p = .000) by sex, also the adaptation of major show difference (t = 2.279, p = .023) by sex. The satisfaction of major show first grade students higher (F = 3.605, p = .013) than fourth grade students at four-year colleges. If satisfaction of major is high, accumulation evaluation score is high (F = 3.276, p = .011), too. Clinical practice experienced students was higher (t = -2.878, p = .004) than non experienced it satisfaction. In view of occupation, ideal job's factors and actual job's factors a lot of students selected 'aptitude'. Also, there is a statistically significant correlation (r = .618, p = .000) between the satisfaction of major and the adaptation of major. High satisfaction indicates high adaptation of major. Conclusion: In our study satisfaction of major and adaptation of major was very high score. EMT students concern about employment prospects at most. It is inferred that they select job which match with one's aptitude. We can suppose that students select major as a tool for employment by seeing result that a lot of students consider employment prospects at most when they select major. A method to improve the satisfaction and adaptation of major should be developed by realizing problems which occur the dissatisfaction of major. Also, there as on why students conflict between ideal and actual job should be revealed. There as on seems students want stable occupation in unstable job market situation. Therefore, the expansion of job matching aptitude and being stable should be processed. Finally, university should actively support the method that help to finding jobs for student by identifying job preparation of students.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to report possibility of acupuncture or moxibustion for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) by reviewing literature about its effectiveness. Methods : In this review, PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct and CINAHL of EBSCOhost were used to search medical journals, using keywords "Parkinson's disease and acupuncture" and "Parkinson's disease and moxibustion". The search range included randomized controlled trials (RCT) about Parkinson's disease combined with another disease and other treatments with acupuncture or moxibustion. Non-randomized controlled trial (nRCT), case study, animal experiment, human experiment, review, survey, essay, letter, and protocol for review were excluded. Results : From 311 studies, 111 were selected during the title and the screening. Finally, 16 RCTs (15 for acupuncture research and one for moxibustion) were included in this review, after scanning and matching the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The number of patients varied between 5 and 88. A total of 12 studies using electroacupuncture (EA) were classified into acupuncture studies. The body acupuncture studies numbered 4, scalp acupuncture 4, body and scarp acupuncture mixed studies 4, and bee venom, ear and abdomen acupuncture were each one study. In evaluation methods, total effective rate method was used in 9 studies, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) was used in 8, and the Webster score in 2. In addition, the Berg balance scale (BBS), 30 m walking time, steps to walk 30 m, PD motor function score, and Motor Performance Series by Schoppe (MLS) method were used for evaluation. In 15 of the 16 studies, the verum acupuncture group showed significant improvement compared with the control. In 9 studies using total effective rate method, the effective rate was reported as 80.0-97.3% in verum acupuncture groups and 52.6-86.4% in controls. Conclusions : Acupuncture may be a plausible alternative method to care for the long term symptoms and treat movement impairment of Parkinson's disease. However, to confirm this result, high quality studies including randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trials are warranted.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2015

Purpose of this study was a development of an image processing algorithm to recognize paprika and acquire it's 3D coordinates from stereo images to precisely control an end-effector of a paprika auto harvester. First, H and S threshold was set using HSI histogram analyze for extracting ROI(region of interest) from raw paprika cultivation images. Next, fundamental matrix of a stereo camera system was calculated to process matching between extracted ROI of corresponding images. Epipolar lines were acquired using F matrix, and $11{\times}11$ mask was used to compare pixels on the line. Distance between extracted corresponding points were calibrated using 3D coordinates of a calibration board. Non linear regression analyze was used to prove relation between each pixel disparity of corresponding points and depth(Z). Finally, the program could calculate horizontal(X), vertical(Y) directional coordinates using stereo camera's geometry. Horizontal directional coordinate's average error was 5.3mm, vertical was 18.8mm, depth was 5.4mm. Most of the error was occurred at 400~450mm of depth and distorted regions of image.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.7 no.1 s.13
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• pp.53-63
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• 1999

For the close range digital photogrammetry, multi-step procedures should be embodied in an integrated system. However, it is hard to construct an Integrated system through conventional procedural processing. Using Object Oriented Programming(OOP), photogrammetric processings can be classified with corresponding subjects and it is easy to construct an integrated system lot digital photogrammetry as well as to add the newly developed classes. In this study, the equation of 3-dimensional mathematic model is developed to make an immediate calibration of the CCD camera, the focus distance of which varies according to the distance of the object. Classes for the input and output of images are also generated to carry out the close range digital photogrammetric procedures by OOP. Image matching, coordinate transformation, dirct linear transformation and bundle adjustment are performed by producing classes corresponding to each part of data processing. The bundle adjustment, which adds the principle coordinate and focal length term to the non-photogrammetric CCD camera, is found to increase usability of the CCD camera and the accuracy of object positioning. In conclusion, classes and their hierarchies in the digital photogrammetry are designed to manage multi-step procedures using OOP and close range digital photogrammetric process is implemented using CCD camera in an integrated System.