• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.175-204
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• 2008

Ubiquitous computing is enhancing computer use by making many computers available throughout the physical environment without being noticed to the users. To facilitate successful adoption and diffusion of ubiquitous systems, it is important to find out the factors affecting their uses. Although researches related to ubiquitous computing have been vigorously conducted from the aspect of system and service provider, there have been very few studies that focus on the user's perspective. This study attempts to find out major factors which are dedicated to the development of ubiquitous systems and services and the relationships between these factors and user satisfaction factors. This study derived the specific factors that characterize ubiquitous services, such as ubiquity, contextual offer, user affinity, privacy, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. We also considered service quality factors of ubiquitous services. Then these factors were combined with the Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT) model and the path analysis was applied to find out the factors affecting user satisfaction and the intention to use the systems. The research findings indicate that ubiquity, contextual offer, privacy, reliability, and responsiveness affect the perceived usefulness. The perceived ease of use and confirmation were found to affect the perceived usefulness. The perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and confirmation fumed out to influence the satisfaction. It turned out that the result of this study on the relationship between the perceived usefulness and user satisfaction was identical with the findings in previous related ECT researches. We think this study makes two significant contributions to the development of ubiquitous services. First, this study provides basic implications for better ubiquitous services by considering important characteristics of ubiquitous systems as services. Second, this study also suggests important factors that need to be considered when ubiquitous service providers develop new ubiquitous services to improve user satisfaction and the intention to use the services.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-52
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• 1993

Variation in the utilization of medical services is a very important issue in cost containment and quality assurance of health care. Practice variation directly affects health care expenditure especially in fee-for-service system, which is the payment system of health insurance in Korea. In addition to cost issue it is generally accepted that variations in medical practice and the cost of inpatient care suggest the possibility of inappropriate quality of care. This study is to closely examine the patterne and degrees of variation in cost structure of inpatient care among types of hospital and individual hospitals in some tracer diseases, and also to inquire into the service items which contribute much to the variation of total medical care cost. Foru common diseases, i.e. Cesarean Section, appendectomy, cataract extraction and pediatric pneumonia, were selected as tracer diseases. In most tracer diseases there were statistically significant differences in total medical care cost among hospitals in same type of hospital as well as among types of hospital(p<0.01). When total medical care cost were subdivided into the types of service, cost of medication and diagnostic examination varied the most prominenly. When the cost of medication were subdivided again, cost of parenteral antibiotics showed the most prominent variation. Of total medical care cost, medication was most contributory to the variation of total medical care cost(58.1~82.3%), and cost of antibiotics was most contributory to the variation of medication cost(63.9~92.2%). The results of study implicated that reducing the variation of medication may plays a significant role in containing the cost of inpatient care. In order to sort out the factors affecting practice variations including drug prescription pattes further researches are required.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2015

The regular quality assurance (RQA) of X-ray images is essential for maintaining a high accuracy of diagnosis. This study was to evaluate the modulation transfer function (MTF), the noise power spectrum (NPS), and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of a computed radiography (CR) system for various periods of use from 2006 to 2015. We measured the pre-sampling MTF using the edge method and RQA 5 based on commission standard international electro-technical commission (IEC). The spatial frequencies corresponding to the 50% MTF for the CR systems in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015 were 1.54, 1.14, 1.12, and $1.38mm^{-1}$, respectively and the10% MTF for 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2015 were 2.68, 2.44, 2.44, and $2.46mm^{-1}$, respectively. In the NPS results, the CR systems showed the best noise distribution in 2006, and with the quality of distributions in the order of 2015, 2009, and 2012. At peak DQE and DQE at $1mm^{-1}$, the CR systems showed the best efficiency in 2006, and showed better efficiency in order of 2015, 2009, and 2012. Because the eraser lamp in the CR systems was replaced, the image quality in 2015 was superior to those in 2009 and 2012. This study can be incorporated into used in clinical QA requiring performance and evaluation of the performance of the CR systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.49-56
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• 2011

The Project of Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) officially launched in Aug. 2010. JRTR is the first made-in-Korea nuclear system to be built abroad by year 2015, and Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) is responsible for the design of major systems including the reactor core. While the PDCS (Project Document Control System) being operated by EPC company controls all the documents of the whole Project, KAERI is supposed to have its own system for KAERI documents. Meeting such a need; KAERI has implemented a document control for the JRTR Project into already existing ANSIM (KAERI Advanced Nuclear Safety Information Management) system. The documents of JRTR project to be controlled are defined in the PPM (Project Procedures Manual), QAP (Quality Assurance Procedure) and PEP (Project Execution Program). The ANSIM consists of the document management holder, document container holder and organization management holder. The document management holder, which is the most important part of ANSIM-JRTR, consists of the DDA (Document Distribution for Agreement), IOC (Inter-office Correspondence), PM Memo. (Project Manager Memorandum) and cover sheets of design documents. Other materials such as meeting minutes, sub-department materials and design information materials are stored in an independent COP (Community of Practice). This established computerized document control system, ANSIM, could lessen a burden for project management team and enhance the productivity as well.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.345-354
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• 2014

Purpose : We evaluated the usefulness of $Fraxion^{(R)}$ system and s-thermoplastic mask by analyzing setup error when stereotactic radiousurgery (SRS) was treated for brain metastasis. Materials and Methods : 6 patients who received definite diagnosis as brain metastasis between May 2014 and October 2014 were selected. 3 patients were immobilized s-thermoplastic mask and mouthpiece (group1), while $Fraxion^{(R)}$ system was used for the other 3 patients (group2). Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) scan was acquired to register planning CT scan. The registration offset was compared for each group. We compared and reported the errors using maximum, minimum, mean, and standard deviation of registration offsets. Furthermore, We used the same method as patient specific quality assurance to verify absorbed dose of PTV. Results : The setup error which is registration offset was reduced 83% in x, 40% in y, and 92% in z-direction when $Fraxion^{(R)}$ system was used compared to the case of using s-thermoplastic mask and mouthpiece. In addition, using $Fraxion^{(R)}$ system showed improved results in rotational components, pitch (rotation along x-axis), roll (y), and yaw (z) which were reduced 64, 88, and 87% respectively compared to the case of using s-thermoplastic mask and mouthpiece. In dosimetry results, when s-thermoplastic mask and mouthpiece used, absorbed dose was reduce 83% compared to before and after registration. However, using $Fraxion^{(R)}$ system showed only 1.9%. All percentage were calculated with respect to average value. Conclusion : Using $Fraxion^{(R)}$ system including mouthpiece, Fraxion frame, frontpiece, and thermoplastic mask, showed better repeatability and precision compared to using s-thermoplastic mask and mouthpiece, which is consequently considered as more improved immobilization system.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.231-240
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• 2016

Recently, fake test data of power cables in nuclear power plants was a terrible shock to the citizens. Some cable companies manipulated the test data to make unfair profits. In addition, fake test data cases were found in military supplies. The fake test data cases focused on parts of army's tank, armored car. This paper propose a new method that can detect fake test data using known statistical methods. In addition, the method was implemented in Microsoft Excel to allow easy use. Lastly, a check sheet was proposed to check the validity of the test system of military suppliers. By detecting and checking the fake test data, it is expected that our new method will play an important role in quality assurance of military supplies.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2006

Purpose: Photon beam data of linear accelerators in Korea are collected, analyzed, and a simple method for checking and verifying the dose calculations in a TPS are suggested. Materials and Methods: Photon beam data such as output calibration condition, output factor, wedge factor, percent depth dose, beam profile, and beam quality were collected from 26 institutions in Korea. In order to verify the accuracy of dose calculation, ten sample planning tests were peformed. These Include square, elongated, and blocked fields, wedge fields, off-axis dose calculation, SSD variation. The planned data were compared to that of manual calculations. Results: The average and standard deviation of photon beam quality for 6, 10, and 15 MV were $0.576{\pm}0.005,\;0.632{\pm}0.004,\;and\;0.647{\pm}0.006$, respectively. The output factors of 6 MV photon beam measured at depth of dose maximum for $5{\times}5cm,\;15{\times}15cm,\;20{\times}20cm\;were\;0.944{\pm}0.006,\;1.031{\pm}0.006,\;and\;1.055{\pm}0.007$. For 10 MV photon beam, the values were $0.935{\pm}0.006,\;1.031{\pm}0.007,\;1.054{\pm}0.0005$. The collected data were not enough to calculate average, the output factors for 15MV photon beam with field size of $5{\times}5cm,\;15{\times}15cm,\;20{\times}20cm\;were\;0.941{\pm}0.008,\;1.032{\pm}0.004,\;1.049{\pm}0.014$. There was seven institutions $e{\times}ceeding$ tolerance when monitor unit values calculated from treatment planning system and manually were compared. The measured average MU values for the machines calibrated at SAD setup were 3 MU and 5 MU higher than the machines calibrated at SSD for 6 MV and 10 MV, respectively except the wedge case. When the wedges were inserted, the MU values to deliver 100 cGy to 5 cm depends on manufactures. When the same wedge angle was used, Siemens machine requires more MUs then Varian machine. Conclusion: In this study, photon beam data are collected and analyzed to provide a baseline value for chocking beam data and the accuracy of dose calculation for a treatment planning system.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.195-206
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• 1988

Two major issues of the blood bank management are quality assurance and inventory control. Recently, in Korea blood donation has gained popularity increasingly to allow considerable improvement of the quality assurance with respect to blood collection, transportation, storage, component preparation skills and hematological tests. Nevertheless the inventory control, the other issue of blood bank management, has been neglected so far. For the supply of blood by donation barely meets the demand, the blood bank policy on the inventory control has been 'the more the better.' The shortage itself by no means unnecessitate inventory control. In fact, in spite of shortage, no small amount of blood is outdated. The efficient blood inventory control makes it possible to economize the blood usage in the practice of state-of-the-art medical care. For the efficient blood inventory control in Korean hospitals, this tudy is to develop formulae forecasting the standard blood inventory level and suggest a set of policies improving the blood inventory control. For this study informations of $A^+$ whole bloods and packed cells inventory control were collected from a University Hospital and the Central Blood Bank of the Korean Red Cross. Using this informations, 1,461 daily blood inventory records were formulated.48 varieties of blood inventory control environment were identified on the basis of selected combinations of 4 inventory control variables-crossmatch, transfusion, inhospital donation and age of bloods from external supply. In order to decide the optimal blood inventory level for each environment, simulation models were designed to calculate the measures of performance of each environment. After the decision of 48 optimal blood inventory levels, stepwise multiple regression analysis was started where the independent variables were 4 inventory control variables and the dependent variable was optimal inventory level of each environment. Finally the standard blood inventory level decision rule was developed using the backward elimination procedure to select the best regression equation. And the effective alternatives of the issuing policy and crossmatch release period were suggested according to the measures of performance under the condition of the standard blood inventory level. The results of this study' were as follows ; 1. The formulae to calculate the standard blood inventory level($S^*$)was $S^*=2.8617X(d)^{0.9342}$ where d is the mean daily crossmatch(demand) for a blood type. 2. The measures of performace - outdate rate, average period of storage, mean age of transfused bloods, and mean daily available inventory level - were improved after maintenance of the standard inventory level in comparison with the present system. 3. Issuing policy of First In-First Out(FIFO) decreased the outdate rate, while Last In-First Out(LIFO) decreased the mean age of transfused bloods. The decrease of the crossmatch release period reduced the outdate rate and the mean age of transfused bloods.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2010

Emerging technologies such as four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) is expected to allow clinicians to accurately model interfractional motion and to quantitatively estimate internal target volumes (ITVs) for radiation therapy involving moving targets. A need exists for a 4D radiation therapy quality assurance (QA) device that can incorporate and analyze the patient specific intrafractional motion as it relate to dose delivery and respiratory gating. We built a 4D RT prototype device and analyzed the patient-specific 4D radiation therapy QA for 2D dose distributions successfully. With more improvements, the 4D RT QA prototype device could be an integral part of a 4D RT decision process to confirm the dose delivery.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2005

Carry over contamination has been reduced in some systems by flushing the internal and external surfaces of the sample probe with copious amount of diluent. It between specimens should be kept as small as possible. A built-in, continuous-flow wash reservoir, which allows the simultaneous washing of the interior and exterior of the syringe needles, addresses this issue. In addition, residual contamination can further be prevented through the use of efficient needle rinsing procedures. In discrete systems with disposable reaction vessels and measuring cuvets, any carry over is entirely caused by the pipetting system. In analyzers with reuseable cuvets or flow cells, carry over may arise at every point through which high samples pass sequentially. Therefore, disposable sample probe tips can eliminate both the contamination of one sample by another inside the probe and the carry over of in specimen into the specimen in the cup. The results of the applicative carry over experiment studied on 21 items for total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspratate aminotranferase (AST), alanine aminotranferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatinine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LD), creatnine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), glucose (GLU), amylase (AMY), calcium (CA), inorganic phosphorus (IP), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (CL) tests in chematology were as follows. Evaluation of process performance less than 1% in all tests was very good, but a percentage of ALB, TP, TB, ALP, CRE, UA, TC, GLU, AMY, IP, K, Na, and CL was 0%, implying no carry over. Other tests were ALT(-0.08%), GGT(-0.09%), CK(0.08%), LD(0.06%), BUN(0.12%), TG (-0.06%), and CA(0.89%).