• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.308-312
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• 2017

Background Donor site seroma is the most common complication after latissimus dorsi (LD) flap harvest. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in preventing donor site seroma formation after the harvest of an LD flap for breast reconstruction. Methods In this prospective matched-pair study, 40 patients in whom an LD flap was harvested for breast reconstruction were enrolled. NPWT was used in 20 patients, and in a control group composed of another 20 patients, the conventional donor site dressing technique was used. Information was collected regarding postoperative complications, the incidence of seroma, total drainage volume, the number of percutaneous seroma aspirations, and the volume aspirated. Results In the NPWT group, the incidence of seroma formation after drain removal was significantly lower than in the control group (15% vs. 70%; odds ratio=0.07; relative risk, 0.24). Both the mean percutaneous aspirated volume (P =0.004) and the number of percutaneous aspirations (P=0.001) were also significantly lower in the NPWT group. There were no significant differences in the total drainage volume or the duration of wound drainage between the NPWT dressing group and the control group (P>0.05). Conclusions This study showed that NPWT is a promising tool for reducing the incidence of seroma formation after removing the drain at the donor site after LD flap harvesting. It is a simple and safe technique.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2012

Finding an alternative fuel and reducing environmental pollution are the main goals for future internal combustion engines. The purpose of this study is to obtain low-emission and high-efficiency by hydrogen enriched LPG fuel in constant volume chamber. An experimental study was carried out to obtain fundamental data for the combustion and emission characteristics of pre-mixed hydrogen and LPG in a constant volume chamber (CVC) with various fractions of hydrogen-LPG blends. To maintain equal heating value of fuel blend, the amount of LPG was decreased as hydrogen was gradually added. Exhaust emissions were measured using a HORIBA exhaust gas analyzer for various fractions of hydrogen-LPG blends. The results showed that the rapid combustion duration was shortened, and the rate of heat release elevated as the hydrogen fraction in the fuel blend was increased. Moreover, the maximum rate of pressure rise also increased. These phenomena were attributed to the burning velocity which increased exponentially with the increased hydrogen fraction in the $H_2$-LPG fuel blend. Exhaust HC and $CO_2$ concentrations decreased, while NOX emission increased with an increase in the hydrogen fraction in the fuel blend. Our results could facilitate the application of hydrogen and LPG as a fuel in the current fossil hydrocarbon-based economy and the strict emission regulations in internal combustion engines.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.262-269
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and explore the relationship between semen parameters and SDF between 2 and 7 days of abstinence and a short abstinence period (within 4 hours) in oligozoospermic infertile patients. Methods: Two semen samples were collected from infertile oligozoospermic men (n=34) after an abstinence period of 2 to 7 days and within 4 hours, respectively. Sperm parameters were compared between the two abstinence duration groups, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, total motile sperm count (TMSC), morphology, and SDF. Results: The semen volume, concentration, and total sperm count were significantly decreased after 4 hours of abstinence than after 2 to 7 days of abstinence, with median differences of 1.2 mL (p<0.001), 2×10⁶/mL (p=0.011), and 9.6×10⁶/ejaculation (p<0.001), respectively. TMSC was significantly lower after a short abstinence, with a median difference of 4.24×10⁶/ejaculate (p<0.001). However, there were no significance differences in the percentage of motility, the SDF, and the percentage of sperm with normal morphology. Interestingly, volume, concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and SDF, but not TMSC, exhibited significant linear correlations between the two abstinence groups in univariate regression analysis, except for TMSC. Conclusion: In oligozoospermic men, the volume, concentration, and total sperm count were significantly lower after a short abstinence period, but without adverse effects on sperm motility and SDF.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.432-445
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of an eye care protocol (ECP) on patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This study utilized a randomized controlled design. Participants were patients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the ICU (36 in the experimental group and 38 in the control group). The experimental group received an ECP, while the control group received standard eye care, starting the day after admission, for a duration of 10 days. The ECP classifies the degree of eyelid obstruction into three stages based on the degree of exposure to the lower eyelid conjunctiva and cornea. The protocol included cleansing with normal saline gauze, administering eye drops, applying silicone and polyurethane films, and recommending consultation with an ophthalmologist if necessary. The effectiveness of ECP was assessed by analyzing tear volume, hyperemia, chemosis, and eye discharge. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0, employing the Mann-Whitney U-test and generalized estimating equations. Results: On day 5, the experimental group demonstrated a significant increase in tear volume in both eyes compared with the control group. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence of hyperemia, chemosis, and eye discharge on days 5 and 10 of the intervention. Conclusion: The application of the ECP in this study increased tear volume in ICU patients, thereby reducing discomfort caused by dry eyes. It has the potential to prevent complications such as damage to the surface of the eyeball resulting from decreased tear volume.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.197-205
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• 2024

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of decompression and various parameters that may affect volume change in cystic lesions. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included patients who visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Ewha Womans University Medical Center between 2012 and 2022 for decompression of cystic lesions of the jaw. To measure volume changes, pre- and post-decompression cone-beam computed tomography was performed and reconstructed in three dimensions using Mimics 25.0 software (Materialise NV). A comparative analysis was performed based on sex, age, initial cyst volume, location, degree of cortical layer expansion, and pathologic diagnosis using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: In all 20 cases, the duration of decompression was 7.84±3.35 months, and all patients successfully completed the decompression period without any complications. Significant differences were observed in the reduction rate and shrinkage speed based on the degree of cortical layer expansion. However, only the shrinkage speed (not the reduction rate) showed a significant difference with respect to the initial cyst volume. Significant differences were not observed based on sex, age, location, or pathologic diagnosis. Conclusion: Although the present study involved a small number of cases, the effectiveness of decompression was confirmed. In particular, 3D analysis overcame the shortcomings of previous studies of decompression and allowed earlier resection. Further studies with more patients are required to provide a rationale for these results and identify factors that influence decompression.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.95-111
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• 2004

This research sought to determine the status of the installation and operation of composting facilities of domestic public resource-making facilities and come up with corresponding improvement measures. The composting facilities were the most extensively installed of related facilities with over a 0.5 ton treated volume per day. The monthly and yearly carry-in volume of food waste were found to stand at 1,101.7 tons per day and 930.9 tons per day, thus falling short of the average planned volume of 1,270.9 tons. Many composting facilities, which were installed in areas for which factory registration were not approved, did not get approvals. Composting facilities underwent operation stoppage mainly due to faulty fermentation and crushing equipment. Mainly metals contained in food waste caused faults to the crushing equipment, thus requiring a facility designing against faults and corrosion. The initial water content was found to stand at 50-60%, thus complying with the requirement. However, since the composting food waste had an appropriate mixture of sawdust, food waste, and returned compost, it should meet the initial conditions. For fermentation facilities, the duration time for fermentation was 15 days, and post-fermentation tanks required 21 days of duration time, thus establishing the minimum criteria. However, some facilities did not meet the requirements, taking more time in decomposition, thus suggesting a need to determine the duration time according to facilities. In composting food waste, microorganism-based thermal oxidizer-operated fermentation tanks should be used to ensure an economic operation. On the contrary, 14 out of 25 survey targets heated fermentation tanks in any form. These thermal facilities contain the growth of bacteria, lowering chemical reaction in composting; thus composting facilities should be basically designed to use microorganism-based thermal oxidizers in drying water. An average daily volume of food waste and supplementary materials that was injected in producing compost was 22.8 tons. This volume produced 7.3 tons of compost per day, decreasing 68%. Properties of produced compost were analyzed by its color, absence or presence of remaining decomposition heat, and smell, to assess the quality. As a result, the composting process was not properly installed nor operated in about 50% of composting facilities. Compost should be produced to be soil-friendly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.22-26
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• 2010

The ignitability(minimum ignition energy, MIE) of a suspended dust clouds is very important aspect of technical safety indices. This paper reported the experimental results dealing with the influence of discharge circuit on the MIE of a suspended dust clouds. The movement of a suspended dust clouds was also observed with the high speed camera. The Hartmann vertical-tube apparatus(MIKE-3) described in the international standard of IEC and Polypropylene (PP, 50% volume-average, D50: $761{\mu}m$) resin powders were used in this experiment. The following results were obtained: (1) the MIE of a suspended PP powder depended markedly on the discharge circuit; in other words, when a resistor was connected in series with the discharge sparking circuit(RC), the lowest value(31mJ) of MIE was obtained for a suspended PP powder comparison with the other circuits(C circuit; 370mJ or LC circuit; 71mJ). (2) the discharge duration time is more important than other factors with regard to MIE of a suspended PP powder.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.200-206
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• 2012

The changes in physiologic parameters by swim exercise duration were examined in five female well-trained Jeju crossbred riding horses that had riding experience of more than three years without swim training experience. The horses were performed with swim exercise for 10 min (60.0 m/min) once a day for 14 days. Physiologic characteristics and haematic parameters were measured before swimming, immediately after swimming, and after a 10 min rest at first day ($D_0$), 7 days ($D_7$), and 14 days ($D_{14}$) of training. After 14 days of swim training, heart rate (p<0.05), blood glucose (p<0.05), lactate concentration (p<0.001), packed cell volume (p<0.01), and hemoglobin (p<0.01) measured immediately after swim and after 10 min rest showed significant lower values than those of $D_0$. The results illustrate the benefits of swim training for riding horses and the need for the establishment of swimming routines of appropriate duration and intensity to maximize the advantages of swim training.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.465-474
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• 2006

A gas fueling system composed of a gas reservoir, an on-off valve, and a gas transferring tube, which is the simplest construction for the pre-programmed gas puffing, was simulated by numerically solving the time-dependent one-dimensional gas flow equation. The purpose of the simulation is to establish the relationship between the gas flow pattern (the elapsed time to the maximum flow, the maximum flow rate, the gas pulse duration) and the system parameters (the filling pressure and the volume of the gas reservoir, and the length and the diameter of the gas transferring tube).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of stress and job satisfaction and the relationship of stress and job satisfaction of oriental hospital nurses. The subjects were 255 nurses of 9 oriental hospital in Taegu and Pusan cities and data were collected from 20 March to 10 May 1998. The instruments used for this study were a survey of genernal characteristics(7 items). stress(6 items) and job satisfaction(20 items). Analysis of data was done by use of mean, percentage, t-test, ANOVA and pearson correlation with SPSS program. The results of this study are as follows : 1) The average item score for stress was 3.08. Religion, duration of nurse expectancy and work motivation among sociodemographic characteristics were significantly different with the degree of stress. 2) The average item score for job satisfaction was 2.84. Education, religion, marital state, carrier history, duration of nurse expectancy and work motivation among sociodemographic characteristics were significantly different with the degree of job satisfaction. 3) There were significant negative correlation among the variables : working volume and group conflict factors · role implementation fators${\cdot}$personal socialization fators/nursing skill and role implementation fatal's· personal socialization fators/rolesharing with peers and role implementation fators/relationship with co-workers and group conflict factors${\cdot}$role implementation fators${\cdot}$personal socialization fators/relationship with patients and role implementation fators/relationship with supervisors and role implementation fators. And there was a significant positive correlation between role-sharing with peers and decision-making fators.