• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.158-164
• /
• 2011

Breast cancer is the most frequently appearing cancer in women, these days. To reduce mortality of breast cancer, periodic check-up is strongly recommended. X-ray mammography is one of powerful diagnostic imaging systems to detect 50~100 um micro-calcification which is the early sign of breast cancer. Although x-ray mammography has very high spatial resolution, it is not easy yet to distinguish cancerous tissue from normal tissues in mammograms and new tissue characterizing methods are required. Recently ultrasound elastography technique has been developed, which uses the phenomenon that cancerous tissue is harder than normal tissues. However its spatial resolution is not enough to detect breast cancer. In order to develop a new elastography system with high resolution we are developing x-ray elasticity imaging technique. It uses the small differences of tissue positions with and without external breast compression and requires an algorithm to detect tissue displacement. In this paper, computer simulation is done for preliminary study of x-ray elasticity imaging. First, 3D x-ray breast phantom for modeling woman's breast is created and its elastic model for FEM (finite element method) is generated. After then, FEM experiment is performed under the compression of the breast phantom. Using the obtained displacement data, 3D x-ray phantom is deformed and the final mammogram under the compression is generated. The simulation result shows the feasibility of x-ray elasticity imaging. We think that this preliminary study is helpful for developing and verifying a new algorithm of x-ray elasticity imaging.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.356-368
• /
• 2003

Material properties such as coolant specific heat, film heat transfer coefficient, cladding thermal conductivity, surface diffusion coefficient of the multi-bubble are improved in MACSIS-Mod1. The axial power and flux profile module was also incorporated with irradiation history. The performance and feasibility of the updated driver fuel pin have been analyzed for nominal parameters based on the conceptual design for the KALIMER breakeven core by MACSIS-MOD1 code. The fuel slug centerline temperature takes the maximum at 700mm from the bottom of the slug in spite of the nearly symmetric axial power distribution. The cladding mid-wall and coolant temperatures take the maximum at the top of the pin. Temperature of the fuel slug surface over the entire irradiation life is much lower than the fuel-clad eutectic reaction temperature. The fission gas release of the driver fuel pin at the end of life is predicted to be $68.61\%$ and plenum pressure is too low to cause cladding yielding. The probability that the fuel pin would fail is estimated to be much less than that allowed in the design criteria. The maximum radial deformation of the fuel pin is $1.93\%$, satisfying the preliminary design criterion ($3\%$) for fuel pin deformation. Therefore the conceptual design parameters of the driver fuel pin for the KALIMER breakeven core are expected to satisfy the preliminary criteria on temperature, fluence limit, deformation limit etc.

• 한국건축시공학회지
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.495-506
• /
• 2021

본 연구는 기획단계에서 이루어지는 개산견적 예측 모델의 정확도를 향상시키기 위하여 최적의 영향요인 조합을 제시하였다. 이에 기획단계에서 활용이 가능한 정량적인 영향요인을 선정하여 상관분석 통해 공사비에 가장 많은 영향을 주는 연면적을 중심으로 8가지의 영향요인 조합을 설정하였다. 8가지 영향요인 조합을 다중회귀분석을 통하여 VIF계수 및 회귀식을 도출하였다. VIF계수를 통해 연면적, 건축면적과 층 영향요인을 함께 사용할 경우 연면적과 건축면적 두 영향요인 간의 종속적인 관계를 확인하였다. 이에 독립성이 예측 모델 정확도의 관계를 분석하기 위하여 실 사례 프로젝트 10건을 회귀식에 대입하여 정확도를 분석하였다. 분석결과, 독립성이 확보가 안 된 영향요인 조합은 다른 영향요인에 비해 정확도 떨어지는 것을 확인할 수 있다. 따라서 최대한 많은 영향요인을 활용하는 것보다 최적의 영향요인 조합을 선정하는 것이 예측 모델의 정확도를 향상시킬 수 있다고 판단되며, 본 연구에서는 연면적과 건축면적을 활용하였을 경우 정확도가 가장 높은 것을 확인하였다.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.53.1-53.12
• /
• 2020

Background: The TightRope System is a device developed to provide extracapsular stabilization of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in canine stifles. I was then also employed for the extra-articular treatment of shoulder instability and for the intra-articular treatment of hip luxation in dogs and cats. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of the Mini-TightRope (mTR) System for the intraarticular treatment of CCL rupture in small breed dogs. Methods: A cadaveric canine model was used to record the steps of the surgical procedure. Five client owned dogs weighing from 8 to 10 kg and from 2 to 12 years of age were enrolled in the prospective study in which the mTR device was implanted in the stifle joint to replace the ruptured CCL. The dogs were graded using the Bologna Healing Stifle Injury Index (BHSII) and radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) scores. Results: The outcomes obtained at the time of the surgery (T0) and for the following 12 months (T12) showed an improvement in the functional parameters (BHSII from a median of 74.3 [range, 58.1-82.4] at T0 to 95.6 [range, 94.1-99.3] at T12]). The OA did not change in 3 dogs and increased by only 1 point in 2 dogs. Conclusions: In this preliminary study, the mTR was a successful and repeatable intraarticular surgical procedure for all dogs. Additional studies related to the clinical application of the technique in medium-large dogs should be encouraged.

• 가정간호학회지
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.252-263
• /
• 2023

Purpose: To assess the feasibility, safety, and preliminary estimates of effectiveness of Tai Chi on the functional outcomes of older adults in the community. Methods: This was a mixed-method study that employed a single-group repeated measure design and in-depth interviews. Nine older adults were recruited from the community were recruited to participate in a Tai Chi program, conducted twice weekly for 6 months. Research outcomes included physical function, cognitive function, and quality of life, measured at intervals of 3 and 6 months. Findings: Tai Chi exercises were gradually conducted based on the health status of the older adults. All participants actively participated in the program with an average attendance of 90%. Consequently, the participants showed significant improvements in mobility and their memory recall ability at both 3 and 6 months. Additionally, the results of the Stroop test exhibited improvement 3 months after the commencement of the study program. Quality of life of the participants improved according to the mild cognitive impairment questionnaire, but it did not show significant improvement in health-related quality of life. Conclusion: The Tai Chi exercise program was a safe and, feasible program to improve the physical function, cognitive function, quality of life among the older adults in the community.

• 한국건설관리학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국건설관리학회 2002년도 학술대회지
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2002

국내 건설사업은 잘못된 관행, 졸속한 사업추진, 사전조사의 미흡 등으로 인하여 불필요한 사업을 추진하거나 잦은 설계변경을 함으로써 예산 낭비를 초래해 왔다. 1999년 건교부에서 '원가절감을 위한 공공건설효율화종합대책'을 발표한 이후 많은 정책적인 노력이 있었음에도 결구하고 사업비에 크게 영향을 미치는 시공 전 단계의 사업비관리 부문은 여전히 취약하다는 지적이다. 발주자 측면에서 적정공사비를 반영한 사업비가 산정되지 않고 건설사업이 단계별로 추진되는 과정에서 이를 고수하기 위한 관리도 수행되지 못하고 있다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 선진 사업비관리 체계에 대해 조사하여 시사점을 도출하고, 국내의 실제 프로젝트 및 관련 제도에 있어 시공 전 단계 사업비관리의 문제점 및 현황을 사업비관리(Cost Management)의 관점에서 분석하여, 국내 사업비관리의 개선방안에 대해 제안하고자 한다.

• 한국농공학회지
• /
• 제45권5호
• /
• pp.160-170
• /
• 2003

A pilot study was performed to examine the feasibility of intermittent slow sand filtration for agricultural reuse of reclaimed water. The effluent of biofilter for 16-unit apartment was used as influent to the slow sand filtration system at 0.6 $m^3$/day loading rate using 15 seconds spray in every 10 minutes on the about 1 $m^2$ surface area and 0.5 m depth. The influent concentrations of total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC) and E. coli were in the range of 10.000 MPN/100 mL. and they were reduced to less than 1,000 MPN/100 mL after filtration with average of 320, 270, and 154 MPN/100 mL, respectively, showing over 95 % removal. Turbidity and SS were improved effectively and their average concentration was reduced to 0.8 NTU and 1.7 mg/L, respectively, and removal rate was about 50 %. Average BOD and COD concentrations were also reduced substantially to 2.6 and 25.8 mg/L with about 55 and 21 % removal rate, respectively. Nutrients removal was relatively low and removal rate for T-N and T-P was low however, remaining nutrients might be beneficial and less concerned in case of agricultural reuse. The concentration of biofilter effluent used in this experiment was in the range of secondary treatment effluent but slightly stronger than the one from existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Therefore, intermittent slow sand filtration might be also applicable to the effluent from WWTPs as long as its agricultural reuse is available. Considering stable performance and effective removal of bacterial indicators as well as other water quality parameters, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness, the intermittent slow sand filtration was thought to be an effective and feasible alternative for agricultural reuse of reclaimed water. This paper is a preliminary result from pilot study and further investigations are recommended on the optimum design parameters before full scale application.

• 한국농공학회지
• /
• 제45권6호
• /
• pp.194-206
• /
• 2003

A pilot study was performed to examine the feasibility of the pond system for further polishing of treatment wetland effluent to agricultural reuse of reclaimed water. The constructed wetland and pond system was installed in Konkuk University and the effluent from septic tank of school building was used as an influent to the wetland system. The effluent of the wetland was used as an influent to pond systems. The influent concentrations of total coliform(TC), fecal coliform (FC), and E. coli were about $10^5$MPN/100 ml, and they were reduced to less than 10,000 MPN/100 ml on average after wetland treatments, showing over 95 % removal. And they were further reduced to less than 1,000 MPN/100 ml in average, showing over 85∼93 % removal after pond treatment. Turbidity and SS were improved effectively on average and their pond effluent concentration was about 4.5 NTU and 9.8 mg/L in average, respectively Average $BOD^5$ concentrations were also reduced substantially to 9.3 mg/L with about 83 % removal rate after wetland and pond treatment systems. Nutrients removal was relatively low and removal rate for T-N and T-P was less than 43 and 44%, respectively after wetland and pond treatment. Considering stable performance and effective removal of bacterial indicators as well as other water quality parameters, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness, pond system was thought to be an effective and feasible alternative for agricultural reuse of reclaimed water. This paper describes a preliminary result Iron pilot study and further investigations are recommended on the optimum design parameters before full scale application.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제48권6호
• /
• pp.387-392
• /
• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). Methods: Twenty-four patients who were scheduled to undergo single-port VATS for SSP were studied. The medical records of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up duration was $26.1{\pm}19.8$ months. In order to evaluate the feasibility of single-port VATS for SSP, the postoperative results of single-port VATS (n=15) in patients with emphysema were compared with those of emphysematous patients who underwent three-port VATS (n=15) during the study period. Results: Single-port VATS was feasible in 19 of 24 patients (79.2%), while an additional port was needed in five patients. In the single-port VATS patients, the median operation time, duration of chest tube drainage, and hospital stay were 84.0 minutes, one day, and two days, respectively. Postoperative complications included prolonged chest tube drainage for more than five days (n=1), wound infection (n=1), and vocal fold palsy (n=1). No recurrence of pneumothorax was observed during the follow-up period. The median operation time, duration of chest tube drainage, and hospital stay of the emphysematous patients who underwent single-port VATS were shorter than those who underwent three-port VATS group (p<0.05 for all parameters). Conclusion: Single-port VATS proved to be a feasible procedure in the treatment of patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.167-176
• /
• 2009

Cobalt-rich manganese crusts on seamounts have received an increasing amount of attention as future resources for Co, Ni, Cu, and Mn. A dearth of detailed information regarding the relevant distribution characteristics, mining technologies, and ore processing technologies, however, has precluded potential evaluations of the technical and economic advantages of these crusts. In the past 4 years, Korea has undertaken a survey of the cobalt-rich manganese crusts in and around the Magellan Seamount and Mid-Pacific Mountains. This paper introduces the preliminary feasibility study of the distribution features and R&D results centered around the development of the cobalt-rich manganese crusts. The evaluation model was developed by modifying the model for the manganese nodules. In addition to considering the geological and geophysical differences between the manganese nodules and the cobalt-rich manganese crusts, an ore dressing subsystem was installed in the model. The mining subsystem is composed of a self-propelled collector--a pipeline with submersible hydraulic pumps for crust lifting. The smelting and chlorine leach method was selected for metallurgical processing. The production scales were established at 2,500t/y of cobalt metal. The production of three metals--cobalt, nickel, and copper--was considered in terms of metallurgical processing. The economic feasibility analyses demonstrated that the payback period was 11.4 years, the NPV was 36M$, and the IRR was 9.6% with the economic factors in the case of a cobalt price of US$ 25/lb. It was also demonstrated in this study that the payback period was 8.6 years, the NPV was 154M$, and the IRR was 14.0% in the case of a cobalt price of US$ 30/lb. This indicates that the approach under consideration appears to offer greater potential given the predicted metal prices.