• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2007

Purpose: Ultrasound is of proven accuracy in abdominal and thoracic trauma and may be useful for diagnosing extremity injury in situations where radiography is not available, such as disasters and military and space applications. However, the diagnosis of fractures is suggested by history and physical examination and is typically confirmed with radiography. As a alternative to radiography, we prospectively evaluated the utility of extremity ultrasound performed by trained residents of emergency medicine (EM) one patient with wrist and ankle extremity injuries. Methods: Initially, residents of EM performed physical examinations for fractures. The emergency ultrasound (EM US) was performed by trained residents, who used a portable ultrasound device with a 10- to 5-MHz linear transducer, on suspected patients before radiography examination. The results of emergency ultrasound and radiography and the final diagnosis were recorded, and correlation among them were determined by using Kappa s test Results: Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in our study. The average age was $36.6\;{\pm}\;19.3$ years. There were radius Fx. (n=21), radius-ulna Fx. (n=1), ulna Fx. (n=1), and contusion (n=2) injuries among the wrist injury and lat.-med. malleolar Fx. (n=13), lat. malleolar Fx. (n=6), and med. malleolar Fx. (n=3) injuries among the ankle injury. Comparing EM US with radiography, we found the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of EM US for Fx. diagnosis to be 100%, 66.7%, 97.3%, 100% and those of radiography to be 97.2%, 100%, 100%, and 75%, respectively. Kappa s test for a correlation between the Fx. diagnosis of EM US and the final diagnosis of Fx was performed, and Kappa's value was 0.787 (P = 0.004).Conclusion: EM US for Fx. can be performed quickly and accurately by EM residents with excellent accuracy in remote locations such as disaster areas and in military and aerospace applications. EM US was as useful as radiography in our study and had a high correlation to the final diagnosis of Fx. Therefore, ultrasound should performed on patients with extremity injury to determine whether extremity evaluation should be added to the FAST (focused abdominal sonography trauma) examination.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8993-9004
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• 2014

Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1295-1301
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• 2015

Background: Cancer imposes a significant economic burden on individuals, families and society. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic burden of cancer using the healthcare claims and cancer registry data in Korea in 2009. Materials and Methods: The economic burden of cancer was estimated using the prevalence data where patients were identified in the Korean Central Cancer Registry. We estimated the medical, non-medical, morbidity and mortality cost due to lost productivity. Medical costs were calculated using the healthcare claims data obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance (KNHI) Corporation. Non-medical costs included the cost of transportation to visit health providers, costs associated with caregiving for cancer patients, and costs for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Data acquired from the Korean National Statistics Office and Ministry of Labor were used to calculate the life expectancy at the time of death, age- and gender-specific wages on average, adjusted for unemployment and labor force participation rate. Sensitivity analysis was performed to derive the current value of foregone future earnings due to premature death, discounted at 3% and 5%. Results: In 2009, estimated total economic cost of cancer amounted to $17.3 billion at a 3% discount rate. Medical care accounted for 28.3% of total costs, followed by non-medical (17.2%), morbidity (24.2%) and mortality (30.3%) costs. Conclusions: Given that the direct medical cost sharply increased over the last decade, we must strive to construct a sustainable health care system that provides better care while lowering the cost. In addition, a comprehensive cancer survivorship policy aimed at lower caregiving cost and higher rate of return to work has become more important than previously considered.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1999

Background: Total thyroidectomy and postoperative radiodiodine ablation therapy in differentiated thyroid carcinomas enhance the reliability of serum thyroglobulin(Tg) levels and radioiodine scan in detecting recurrence or distant metastasis. There have been, however, some limitations in using these methods under certain conditions. Recently, several reports have indicated that thyroid peroxidase(TPO) could be used as an alternative tumor marker. We aimed to estimate the significance of serum TPO levels in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid carcinomas and who had been followed-up for at least 3 years were classified into two groups: 27 patients without any evidence of recurrence in group 1; and 20 patients with recurrence or distant metastasis in group 2. All patients were examined by radioiodine scans. Serum Tg, TSH, antithyroglobulin antibody, and TPO were measured and the relationships were statistically analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of $^{131}I$ scan, serum Tg, and serum TPO were evaluated. Results: Serum Tg levels were $3.81{\pm}5.16ng/mL$ in group 1 and $147.02{\pm}193.75ng/mL$ in group 2. Only 2 patients in group 1 showed Tg levels exceeding 10ng/mL. In contrast, 4 patients in group 2 were under 10ng/mL. Serum antithyroglobulin antibody and TSH levels showed no statistical difference between the two groups. In group 1, 16 patients showed negative serum TPO results, and 4 patients in group 2 showed negative results. There was no correlation among serum Tg levels, antithyroglobulin antibody titers, and serum TPO levels in each group. In group 2, 4 patients with negative serum Tg levels showed positive TPO results and positive whole body scans. Two cases with false negative $^{131}I$ scans showed positive serum TPO and Tg results. In 4 cases showing false negative serum TPO levels, serum Tg levels and $^{131}I$ scans were positive. Conclusion: Serum Tg levels, radioiodine scans, and serum TPO levels can be clinically used as complementary methods in the diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic thyroid carcinomas. Serum TPO levels may be helpful when other methods fail to detect recurrences or distant metastasis in highly suspected patients.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2016

Soybean yellow mottle mosaic virus (SYMMV) is a new emerging plant virus detected in soybean (Glycine max) in Korea. Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for rapid detection of SYMMV has been developed. In this study, we have designed primers (SYMM-F3/B3/FIP/BIP) specific to sequences from the coat protein gene of SYMMV genome. Sensitivity analysis showed that RT-LAMP was 10 to 100 times more sensitive than reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The optimal reaction condition of RT-LAMP was determined at $65^{\circ}C$ for 50 minutes. The result indicates that RT-LAMP assay does not require special equipment and long time for SYMMV detection. Therefore, it can be an alternative detection method of RT-PCR in laboratory.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.799-807
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• 2014

Meat source fraud and adulteration scandals have led to consumer demands for accurate meat identification methods. Nucleotide amplification assays have been proposed as an alternative method to protein-based assays for meat identification. In this study, we designed Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays targeting species-specific mitochondrial DNA to identify and discriminate eight meat species; cattle, pig, horse, goat, sheep, chicken, duck, and turkey. The LAMP primer sets were designed and the target genes were discriminated according to their unique annealing temperature generated by annealing curve analysis. Their unique annealing temperatures were found to be $85.56{\pm}0.07^{\circ}C$ for cattle, $84.96{\pm}0.08^{\circ}C$ for pig, and $85.99{\pm}0.05^{\circ}C$ for horse in the BSE-LAMP set (Bos taurus, Sus scrofa domesticus and Equus caballus); $84.91{\pm}0.11^{\circ}C$ for goat and $83.90{\pm}0.11^{\circ}C$ for sheep in the CO-LAMP set (Capra hircus and Ovis aries); and $86.31{\pm}0.23^{\circ}C$ for chicken, $88.66{\pm}0.12^{\circ}C$ for duck, and $84.49{\pm}0.08^{\circ}C$ for turkey in the GAM-LAMP set (Gallus gallus, Anas platyrhynchos and Meleagris gallopavo). No cross-reactivity was observed in each set. The limits of detection (LODs) of the LAMP assays in raw and cooked meat were determined from $10pg/{\mu}L$ to $100fg/{\mu}L$ levels, and LODs in raw and cooked meat admixtures were determined from 0.01% to 0.0001% levels. The assays were performed within 30 min and showed greater sensitivity than that of the PCR assays. These novel LAMP assays provide a simple, rapid, accurate, and sensitive technology for discrimination of eight meat species.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-88
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• 2009

The main purpose of the current research is to introduce the alternative algorithm of the non-recursive batch filter based on the unscented transformation in which the linearization process is unnecessary. The presented algorithm is applied to the orbit determination of a low earth orbiting satellite and compared its results with those of the well-known Bayesian batch least squares estimation and the iterative UKF smoother (IUKS). The system dynamic equations consist of the Earth's geo-potential, the atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure and the lunar/solar gravitational perturbations. The range, azimuth and elevation angles of the satellite measured from ground stations are used for orbit determination. The characteristics of the non recursive unscented batch filter are analyzed for various aspects, including accuracy of the determined orbit, sensitivity to the initial uncertainty, measurement noise and stability performance in a realistic dynamic system and measurement model. As a result, under large non-linear conditions, the presented non-recursive batch filter yields more accurate results than the other batch filters about 5% for initial uncertainty test and 12% for measurement noise test. Moreover, the presented filter exhibits better convergence reliability than the Bayesian least squares. Hence, it is concluded that the non-recursive batch filter based on the unscented transformation is effectively applicable for highly nonlinear batch estimation problems.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 1998

The aim of this study was to investigate what is the most accurate and quick temperature measurement among rectal, auxiliary and tympanic routes. The body temperatures of 86 preform infants in incubators, a controlled environment, were measured at three different sites. The measurements were taken to examine the accuracy of the temperatures, proper nursing time for measuring the temperatures and the validity of fever detection. The results were as follows : 1. The mean temperature was significantly lower in the auxiliary site($36.71^{\circ}C$) and higher in the tympanic site($37.27^{\circ}C$) than in the rectal site($37.03^{\circ}C$). 2. The mean nursing time for measuring body temperature was significantly longer in the auxiliary site(171.65 seconds) and shorter in the tympanic site(17.70 seconds) than in the rectal site(83.33 seconds). 3. The nursing time for measuring body temperature included the time needed for preparation, measuring, as well as the post-measuring time. It was found that the time required to prepare for measuring the temperature of the rectal site was significantly longer than for other sites. In addition, the time needed to measure the temperature of the auxiliary site was significantly longer than in the other sites. Finally, the nursing time needed for measuring the auxiliary temperature(171.65 seconds) was the longest among the three sites whereas the nursing time for the tympanic site was the shortest(17.70 seconds). 4. Rectal temperature was significantly correlated to the tympanic(r=0.67) and auxiliary temperatures(r=0.69). Tympanic temperature was also significantly correlated to the auxiliary temperature(r=0.74). 5. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of tympanic temperatures for detecting fever were 1.00, 0.80, 0.24, and 1.00, respectively. Those for the auxiliary temperatures were 0.00, 0.99, 0.00, and 0.94, respectively. Thus the level of fever detection was lower in the auxiliary temperatures than in tympanic temperatures. The above findings indicate that the tympanic method of temperature measurement offers a useful alternative to conventional methods.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.423-431
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• 2011

Recentincreasing awareness of the environmental damage caused by the $CO_2$ emission of fossil fuelsstimulated the interest in alternative and renewable sources of energy. Fuel cell is a representative example of hydrogen energy utilization. In this study, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell system is simulated by using $Aspen^{TM}$. Stack model is consisted of equilibrium reaction equations using $ACM^{TM}$(Aspen Custom Modeler). Balance of process of fuel cell system is developed in Aspen $Plus^{TM}$ and simulated at steady-state. Analysis of performance of the system is carried out by using sensitivity analysis tool with main operating parameters such as current density, S/C ratio, and fuel utilization and recycle ratio.In Aspen $Dynamics^{TM}$, dynamics of MCFC system is simulated with PID control loops. From the simulation, we proposed operation range which generated maximum power and efficiency in MCFC power plant.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2014

Because of the water scarcity caused by the increase of salinity in the underground water, seawater desalination stands out as one of the most promising solution. As there are so much energy costs in operating desalination plants, new hybrid process which is more effective should be researched. A geothermal VMD (vacuum membrane distillation) hybrid process is a competitive alternative for seawater desalination. Because geothermal energy has significant characteristics of high capacity factor to operate the power plant at full capacity for 24 hour per day, it can be a priority heat source of VMD superior to any other renewable energies such as solar and wind power. In this study, we design a geothermal VMD hybrid process, analyze it economically and finally compare the result with a case of conventional VMD process. Geothermal VMD hybrid process generates $23,822,409 of NPV (net present value) more than the conventional VMD process in case of 5% discount rate. The break-even point between these processes is 5.36 year. Sensitivity analysis indicates that steam cost is the most decisive influence variable to the economic outcome.