• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.811-820
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• 2022

Objective: To develop a model incorporating radiomic features and clinical factors to accurately predict acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from 522 AIS patients (382 male [73.2%]; mean age ± standard deviation, 58.9 ± 11.5 years) were randomly divided into the training (n = 311) and validation cohorts (n = 211). According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months after hospital discharge, prognosis was dichotomized into good (mRS ≤ 2) and poor (mRS > 2); 1310 radiomics features were extracted from diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. The minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression method were implemented to select the features and establish a radiomics model. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the clinical factors and construct a clinical model. Ultimately, a multivariable logistic regression analysis incorporating independent clinical factors and radiomics score was implemented to establish the final combined prediction model using a backward step-down selection procedure, and a clinical-radiomics nomogram was developed. The models were evaluated using calibration, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and decision curve analyses. Results: Age, sex, stroke history, diabetes, baseline mRS, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and radiomics score were independent predictors of AIS outcomes. The area under the ROC curve of the clinical-radiomics model was 0.868 (95% confidence interval, 0.825-0.910) in the training cohort and 0.890 (0.844-0.936) in the validation cohort, which was significantly larger than that of the clinical or radiomics models. The clinical radiomics nomogram was well calibrated (p > 0.05). The decision curve analysis indicated its clinical usefulness. Conclusion: The clinical-radiomics model outperformed individual clinical or radiomics models and achieved satisfactory performance in predicting AIS outcomes.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.383-390
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• 2024

We conducted this study to identify factors that influence college students' willingness to perform CPR. The subjects of the study were 229 college students from J City and D City. A URL was distributed to those who agreed to the study and a non-face-to-face survey was conducted using a questionnaire form. The research results were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. 155 out of 229 people (67.7%) responded that they would perform CPR if they found a patient suffering from cardiac arrest. Factors that differences between the CPR performing group and the non-performing group include gender, grade, experience of practice, number of CPR training, period of last CPR training, Have a CPR certification, and knowledge of CPR, Confidence of CPR. There was a statistically significant difference(p<0.05). Factors affecting the willingness to perform CPR include those who have actual experience of CPR, those who have CPR certification, and the higher their confidence in CPR, the higher the willingness to perform CPR. Accordingly, in order to increase confidence in CPR, we emphasize the importance of realistic performance experience and propose the development and application of various educational methods to increase the implementation rate through sufficient simulation learning.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.163-178
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrative medical service model applied to breast cancer patients and their caregivers, exploring its feasibility and challenges within the context of South Korean healthcare system. Methods : A case study approach was chosen to assess the integrative medical service model's efficacy, involving one breast cancer patient and her primary caregiver from W University Hospital. The patient had completed reconstructive surgery and chemotherapy and was undergoing radiotherapy. The model included standard treatments alongside psychological counseling, aromatherapy, axillary rehabilitation exercise, make-up program, art therapy, laughter therapy, horticultural therapy, and yoga programs, and meditation programs delivered over eight weeks. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through surveys, psychological tests, and feedback assessments. Results : The integrative medical service model demonstrated notable improvements in the quality of life for both breast cancer patients and their caregivers. Participants reported enhanced emotional well-being, reduced stress levels, and improved coping mechanisms throughout the treatment journey. Qualitative feedback highlighted the positive impact of holistic interventions in alleviating psychological distress and fostering resilience. Quantitative data corroborated these findings, showing statistically significant improvements in various psychosocial parameters assessed. Conclusions : Our findings underscore the benefits of integrative medical service model with standard medical treatments in the care of breast cancer patients and their caregivers. The holistic approach not only addresses physical symptoms but also enhances overall well-being and quality of life. However, the implementation of such models faces challenges within the South Korean healthcare system, including fragmented service networks and financial constraints. Addressing these structural barriers is crucial for the widespread adoption and sustainability of integrative care models in oncology practice. Future research should focus on larger-scale studies to further validate these findings and inform policy decisions aimed at optimizing cancer care delivery.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.319-342
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• 2024

Background: The current study is the first quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of Fateh Pur Thakyala, an unexplored area of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The exploration and quantification of ethnobotanical knowledge among people of the study area mainly focused during field survey. The study likely focuses on documenting and preserving the indigenous knowledge and practices related to medicinal plants in the region. A total 70 informants (45 males and 25 females) selected randomly to collect data were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. The data like demographic characteristics of informants, methods of preparation, life form, modes of application, parts used, and ethnomedicinal uses was documented. The quantitative indices including relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), consensus value for plant part (CPP), rank order priority (ROP), percentage respondent knowledge (PRK), were applied to analyze the collected data. Furthermore, primary data were also compared with fifteen papers published from adjoining areas by Jaccard index (JI). Results: The current study reported 135 medicinally important plants species belonging to 115 genera and 54 families. The dominating family was Asteraceae (14 sp.), followed by Fabaceae (11 sp.), Rosaceae (11 sp.), Lamiaceae (8 sp.), Moraceae (5 sp.), Solanaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae (4 sp.) and Poaceae, Sapindaceae, Rhamnaceae, Mrytaceae, Malvaceae (3 sp.) for each. The study revealed that there were small differences in usage of medicinal plants of different families. The herbaceous life form was dominating the study area with (79 sp.) used as herbal medicines followed by shrubs (23 sp.) and trees (33 sp.). The comparative study of for novelty of species and their uses by JI revealed 13 novel plants species which were not reported earlier from this region. Conclusions: Local inhabitants still prioritize herbal medicines as an effective way to treat a wide variety of ailments. Elders and health practitioners of the study area are well aware of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, but young people are not much interested in herbal practices. Thus, valuable knowledge about the use of plants is on the verge of decline. The overexploitation and seasonal fires are major threats for medicinal flora in the area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2013

In study suggested clinical availability to shoulder forced traction method in term of quality of image, the patient's convenience and stability, according to whether to use of shoulder forced traction bend using computed tomography(CT) that X-ray calibration and various mathematic calibration algorithm application can be applied by AEC. To achieve this, 79 patients is complaining of cervical pain oriented that shoulder forced traction bend use the before and after acquires lateral projection scout image and transverse image. transverse image of a fixed size in concern field of pixel and figure the average HU value compare that quantitative analysis. Artifact and pixel and resolution to qualitative clinical estimation image analysis. the patient feel inconvenience degree that self-diagnosis survey that estimate. As a result, lateral projection scout image if you used shoulder forced traction bend for the depicted has been an increase in the number of a cervical vertebrae. transverse image concern field shoulder forced traction bend use the before and after for pixel and the average HU-value changes was judged to be almost irrelevant. Artifact and resolution and contrast, in qualitative analysis of the results relating the observer to the unusual result. So, the patients of 82.27% complained discomfort that use of shoulder forced traction bend in self-diagnosis survey. No merit of medical image by using of bend from result was analyzed quality of image to quantitative and qualitative method judged. Nowadays, CT is supplied possible revision of quality of radiation by reduction of slice and automatic exposure controller, etc and application of preconditioning filter process due to various mathematic revision algorithm. So, image noise by beam hardening artifact should not be a problem. shoulder forced traction bend of use no longer judged clinically availability because have not influence of image quality and give discomfort, have extra dangerousness.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

Purpose Auto exposure control (AEC) in SPECT/CT automatically controls the exposure dose (mA) according to patient's shape and size. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AEC in SPECT/CT on exposure dose reduction and image quality. Materials and Methods The model of SPECT/CT used in this study was Discovery 670 (GE, USA), Smart mA for AEC; and $^{99m}Tc$ as a radioisotope. To compare SPECT and CT images by CT exposure dose variation, we used a standard technique set at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10, 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mA, and AEC at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10-250 mA. To evaluate resolution and contrast of SPECT images, triple line phantom and flangeless Esser PET phantom were used. For CT images, noise and uniformity were checked by anthropomrphic chest phantom. For dose evaluation to find DLP value, anthropomorphic chest phantom was used and the CT protocol of torso was applied by standard technique (120 kVp, 100 mA) and AEC (120 kVp, 10-250 mA). Results When standard and AEC were applied, the resolutions at SPECT images with attenuation correction (AC) were the same as FWHM by center 3.65 mm, left 3.48 mm, right 3.61 mm. Contrasts of standard and AEC showed no significant difference: standard 53.5, 29.8, 22.5, 15.8, 6.0, AEC 53.5, 29.6, 22.4, 15.7, 6.1 In CT images, noise values at standard and AEC were 15.4 and 18.5 respectively. The application of AEC increases noise but the value of coefficient variation were 33.8, 24.9 respectively, obtaining uniform noise image. The values of DLP at standard and AEC were 426.78 and 352.09 each, which shows that the application of AEC decreases exposure dose more than standard by approximately 18%. Conclusion The results of our study show that there was no difference of AC in SPECT images based on the CT exposure dose variation at SPECT/CT images. It was found that the increased CT exposure dose leads to the improvement of CT image quality but also increases the exposure dose. Thus, the use of AEC in SPECT/CT contributes to obtaining equal AC SPECT images, and uniform noise in CT images while reducing exposure dose.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.110-122
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• 2009

Purpose: Nowadays, A medical institution assesment could get more interest about a quality of medical services from many hospitals that developed the active activities for improving medical services. Also, there is an other additional issue which is the patients risk management. Uijeongbu ST. Mary's hospital Nuclear Medicine department has been changed many work process after PET-CT introduction and renovation of its place since 2008. Therefore, modified structure and the way of existing work process have contained risk factors. The purpose of this study would be the appropriate risk management process while imaging examination process, the removal risk factors and improved activities through the analysis risk factors. Materials and Methods: Nuclear Medicine department new process should analysis through many-sided, Firstly, make and trained risk management manual after then apply an actual work. Result analysis showed the number of risk accident occurrence that comparing the last year and after the improved activities. Secondly, producing risk management public relations film has been showed an applicable patient after then the customer service measurement checked for a hundred patient by questionnaire. Lastly, Risk factors were eliminated through the facilities participation improving activities which could change for the better risk factors. Results: The number of safety accident occurrence(medication error, fall and collision) were checked as zero after the improving activities both PET-CT and gamma camera examination. The results of questionnaire showed as follows; 74% marked as understanding of the test process and 81% checked "satisfaction" after the public relations film showing. The question "Did you consider about the risk factors?", both PET-CT and gamma camera checked as 94% and 89% respectively. Customer risk management could be accomplished effectively through the improving activities at the nuclear medicine department. Conclusions: The study would be an opportunity that spread risk factors were systematically showed and analyzied. Also, It showed the possibility of the minimized safety accident and its feedback, if application of the response manuel that could be a standard of radiology technician's work method to react safety accident. It was the more effective that visual material could be easy to approach as a methodology of risk factors. As far as I have concerned that It could help the safety and convenience through continuous and detailed activities that offer to patients.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.345-356
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• 2016

In this study, auto-calibration method for water quality model was compared and analyzed using QUAL2Kw, which can estimate the optimum parameters through the integration of genetic algorithm and QUAL2K. The QUAL2Kw was applied to the Sum River which is greatly affected by the pollution loads of Wonju city. Two auto-calibration methods were examined: single parameter application for the whole river reach and separate parameter application for each reach of multiple reaches. The analysis about CV(RMSE) and fitness of the GA show that the separate parameter auto-calibration method is better than the single parameter method in the degree of precision. Thus the separate parameter auto-calibration method is applied to the water quality modelling of this study. The calibrated QUAL2Kw was used for the three scenarios for the water quality management of the Sum River, and the water quality impact on the river was analyzed. In scenario 1, which improve the effluent water quality of Wonju WWTP, BOD and TP concentrations of the Sum River 4-1 station which is representative one of Mid-Watershed, are decreased 17.7% and 29.1%, respectively. And immediately after joining the Wonjucheon, BOD and TP concentrations are decreased 50.4% and 40.5%, respectively. In scenario 2, Wonju water supply intake is closed and multi-regional water supply, which come from other watershed except the Sum River, is provided. The Sum River water quality in scenario 2 is slightly improved as the flow of the river is increased. Immediately after joining the Wonjucheon, BOD and TP concentrations are decreased 0.18mg/L and 0.0063mg/L, respectively. In scenario 3, the water quality management alternatives of scenario 1 and 2 are planned simultaneously, the Sum River water quality is slightly more improved than scenario 1. Water quality prediction of the three scenarios indicates that effluent water quality improvement of Wonju WWTP is the most efficient alternative in water quality management of the Sum River. Particularly the Sum River water quality immediately after joining the Wonjucheon is greatly improved. When Wonju water supply intake is closed and multi-regional water supply is provided, the Sum River water quality is slightly improved.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility to optimize the gated treatment delivery time and maintenance of stable respiratory by the introduction of breath with the assistance of auditory-visual-tactile sense. Materials and Methods: The experimenter's respiration were measured by ANZAI 4D system. We obtained natural breathing signal, monitor-induced breathing signal, monitor & ventilator-induced breathing signal, and breath-hold signal using real time monitor during 10 minutes beam-on-time. In order to check the stability of respiratory signals distributed in each group were compared with means, standard deviation, variation value, beam_time of the respiratory signal. Results: The stability of each respiratory was measured in consideration of deviation change studied in each respiratory time lapse. As a result of an analysis of respiratory signal, all experimenters has showed that breathing signal used both Real time monitor and Ventilator was the most stable and shortest time. Conclusion: In this study, it was evaluated that respiratory gated radiation therapy with auditory-visual-tactual sense and without auditory-visual-tactual sense feedback. The study showed that respiratory gated radiation therapy delivery time could significantly be improved by the application of video feedback when this is combined with audio-tactual sense assistance. This delivery technique did prove its feasibility to limit the tumor motion during treatment delivery for all patients to a defined value while maintaining the accuracy and proved the applicability of the technique in a conventional clinical schedule.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.835-860
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• 2013

Recently, the consumption of nanomaterials has been significantly increased in both industrial and commercial sectors, as a result of steady advancement in the nano-technologies. This ubiquitous use of nanomaterials has brought up the concern that their exposure to environments may cause detrimental effects on human health as well as natural ecosystems, and it is required to characterize their behavior in various environmental media and to evaluate their ecotoxicity. For the sake of accomplishing those assessments, the development of methods to effectively separate them from diverse media and to quantify their properties should be requisitely accompanied. Among a number of separation techniques developed so far, this study focuses on Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) because of its strengths, such as relatively less disturbance of samples and simple pretreatment, and we review overseas and domestic literatures on the separation of nanomaterials using the FFF technique. In particular, researches with Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (FlFFF) are highlighted due to its most frequent application among FFF techniques. The basic principle of the FlFFF is briefly introduced and the studies conducted so far are classified and scrutinized based on the sort of target nanomaterials for the purpose of furnishing practical data and information for the researchers struggling in this field. The literature review suggests that the operational conditions, such as pretreatment, selection of membrane and carrier solution, and rate (velocity) of each flow, should be optimized in order to effectively separate them from various matrices using the FFF technique. Moreover, it seems to be a prerequisite to couple or hyphenate with several detectors and analyzers for quantification of their properties after their separation using the FFF. However, its application has been restricted regarding the types of target nanomaterials and environmental media. Furthermore, domestic literature data on both separation and characterization of nanomaterials are extremely limited. Taking into account the overwhelmingly increasing consumption of nanomaterials, the efforts for the area seem to be greatly urgent.