• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.87-101
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• 2017

[Purpose] This study aims to classify of healthcare decline and analyze the corresponding health outcomes among cities in Korea. In pursuing the above, this paper gives the particular attention to draw policy implications. [Methodology/Approach] Public healthcare data of 81 cities between 2014 and 2015 was obtained from the National Medical Center of Korea. A matrix analysis, t-test, ANOVA and multivariate regression were applied. [Findings] The study results indicated that declining cities tend to have the most healthcare resources, compared to growing or maintaining cities. However, accessibility to healthcare appeared to be lower in declining cities. Based on the classification of cities on healthcare decline, 42 out of 81 cities were categorized as a maintain/improvement group, while 39 cities were characterized as decline/depression. The group with a decline/depression type has significantly more healthcare facilities than maintain/improvement type. In contrast, maintain/improvement cities indicated lower incidence of morbidity and mortality than decline/depression cities. Lastly, according to the multivariate regression analysis for the healthcare outcomes by the type of healthcare decline, incidence of morbidity and mortality tended to decrease as the number of healthcare workers, the proportion of people who have healthcare accessibility, and the Timely Relevance Index increased regardless of the number of medical facilities including hospital beds and special beds. [Practical Implications] In conclusion, focusing on the improvement of healthcare accessibility as well as staffing, rather than expanding facilities is essential to set the healthcare policies.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.4131-4136
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• 2015

This paper compares and calculates more precisely the averaged reflectance of antireflection coating with different structure of single and 6 layer assuming the incident angle of light changing from $8^{\circ}$ to $60^{\circ}$ not like normal incidence as usual case. The reflectivity of AR coating of 6 layers with 180 nm thickness having index profile suggested as linear and quintic function and single layer with same thickness having even index are calculated and compared, when the wavelength of incident light ranges from 400 nm to 1200 nm. As the results the AR coating with 6 layers having quintic(linear) function index profile shows the lower reflectance about 11.6 %(14.6 %) than other index profiles, which is approximately 8 % lower reflectance compared with single layer case(about 19.6 %). This results could be applied for the better antireflection coating design applying to optical devices and filters.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.475-483
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• 2015

We propose a numerical scheme to simulate the time-domain echo signals at tracking radar for a realistic scenario where an EAD (expendable active decoy) and an airborne target are both in dynamic states. On various scenarios where the target takes different maneuvers, the trajectories of the EAD ejected from the target are accurately calculated by solving 6-DOF (Degree-of-Freedom) equations of the motion for the EAD. At each sampling time of the echo signal, the locations of the EAD and the target are assumed to be fixed. Thus, the echo power from the EAD can be simply calculated by using the Friis transmission formula. The returned power from the target can be computed based on the pre-calculated scattering matrix of the target. In this paper, an IPO (iterative physical optics) method is used to construct the scattering matrix database of the target. The sinc function-interpolation formulation (sampling theorem) is applied to compute the scattering at any incidence angle from the database. A simulator is developed based on the proposed scheme to estimate the echo signals, which can consider the movement of the airborne target and EAD, also the scattering of the target and the RF specifications of the EAD. For applications, we consider the detection probability of the target in the presence of the EAD based on Monte Carlo simulation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.494-502
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• 2018

Breast cancer is currently the most prevalent cancer in women, and its incidence increases every year. Azole antifungal drugs were recently found to have antitumor efficacy in several cancer types. They contain an imidazole (clotrimazole and ketoconazole) or a triazole (fluconazole and itraconazole) ring. Using human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), we evaluated the effects of azole drugs on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion, and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Clotrimazole and ketoconazole inhibited the proliferation of both cell lines while fluconazole and itraconazole did not. In addition, clotrimazole and ketoconazole inhibited the motility of MDA-MB-231 cells and induced $G_1$-phase arrest in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, as determined by cell cycle analysis and immunoblot data. Moreover, Transwell invasion and gelatin zymography assays revealed that clotrimazole and ketoconazole suppressed invasiveness through the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in MDA-MB-231 cells, although no significant changes in invasiveness were observed in MCF-7 cells. There were no significant changes in any of the observed parameters with fluconazole or itraconazole treatment in either breast cancer cell line. Taken together, imidazole antifungal drugs showed strong antitumor activity in breast cancer cells through induction of apoptosis and $G_1$ arrest in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and suppression of invasiveness via matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibition in MDA-MB-231 cells. Imidazole drugs have well-established pharmacokinetic profiles and known toxicity, which can make these generic drugs strong candidates for repositioning as antitumor therapies.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2008

This research managed to establish the space information on incidence factors of landslide targeting Bukhansan National Park and aimed at suggesting a basic data for disaster prevention of a landslide for the period to come in Bukhansan National Park through drawing up the map indicating vulnerability to a landslide and ecological risks by the use of overlay analysis and adding-up estimation matrix analysis methods. This research selected slope angle, slope aspect, slope length, drainage, vegetation index(NDVI) and land use as an assessment factor of a landslide and constructed the spatial database at a level of '$30m\times30m$' resolution. The analysis result was that there existed high vulnerability to a landslide almost all over Uidong and Dobong valleys. As for ecological risks, Dobong valley, Yongueocheon valley, Jeongneung valley and Pyeongchang valley were analyzed to be higher, so it is judged that the impact on a landslide risk should be also considered in time of establishing a management plan for these districts for the time to come.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 1997

A source code is developed on the basis of Berreman's 4$\times$4 matrix formalism for the analysis of polarization transmission characteristics of twisted nematic liquid crystal display. By using the program, the polarization transmission characteristics of liquid crystal cells and polarizers are analyzed. For a normally white twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, we obtained a family of iso-contrast contours which helps to understand the viewing angle characteristics of the liquid crystal display device by using the cell. The program also help us to understand the variation of the degree of polarization as well as the deviation of the state of polarization of the light transmitted through the polarizer commonly used in the LCD according to the change in incidence angle. This result suggests the contrast of the images appearing on the LCD can be limited by the characteristics of the polarizer in addition to the liquid crystal cell.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2024

Background Ingrown toenail is a common condition that results in chronic pain, recurrent infections, and difficulty in performing daily activities. Our aim is to compare two surgical methods for the treatment of ingrown toenails: wedge resection with curetting versus wedge resection curetting followed by electrocauterization of the nail bed. Methods A prospective, comparative study that included 130 patients with ingrown toenails. All patients had stage II or III disease. We divided the participants into two groups according to the type of surgery and all patients were followed up for 6 months. The outcomes measured were the incidence of postoperative bleeding and infection, recovery time, patient satisfaction, and recurrence rate 6 months after surgery. Results Of the 130 patients included, 59 (45.4%) underwent excision and curetting of the nail matrix (group 1) and 71 (54.6%) underwent excision, curetting, and electrocauterization of the nail matrix (group 2). The postoperative infection rates were 20.3 and 4.2% in the first and second groups, respectively (p = 0.004). Patient satisfaction was 76.3% among the first group, while 91.5% of patients in the second group were satisfied with the results of surgery. Six months postoperatively, recurrence rates were 25.4 and 4.2% in the first and second groups, respectively (p = 0.001). Conclusion Wedge excision and curettage, followed by electrocauterization of the ingrown toenail is a safe treatment modality with a high success rate, that is evident by a lower recurrence rate, and greater patient satisfaction, with no effect on postoperative pain score or recovery time.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.562-574
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• 2021

Objective : This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) gel versus DBM gel with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) used in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Methods : This study was designed as a prospective, multi-center, double-blind method, randomized study. All randomized subjects underwent TLIF with DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group (40 patients) as an experimental group or DBM gel group (36 patients) as a control group. Post-operative observations were performed at 12, 24, and 48 weeks. The spinal fusion rate on computed tomography scans and X-rays films, Visual analog scale pain scores, Oswestry disability index and SF-36 quality of life (QOL) scores were used for the efficacy evaluation. The incidence rate of adverse device effects (ADEs) and serious adverse device effects (SADEs) were used for safety evaluation. Results : The spinal fusion rate at 12 weeks for the DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group was higher with 73.68% compared to 58.82% for the DBM gel group. The 24 and 48 weeks were 72.22% and 82.86% for the DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group and 78.79% and 78.13%, respectively, for the DBM gel group. However, there were no significant differences between two groups in the spinal fusion rate at 12, 24, and 48 weeks post-treatment (p=0.1817, p=0.5272, p=0.6247). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence rate of ADEs (p=0.3836). For ADEs in the experimental group, 'Pyrexia' (5.00%) was the most common ADE, followed by 'Hypesthesia', 'Paresthesia', 'Transient peripheral paralysis', 'Spondylitis' and 'Insomnia' (2.50%, respectively). ADEs reported in control group included 'Pyrexia', 'Chest discomfort', 'Pain', 'Osteoarthritis', 'Nephropathy toxic', 'Neurogenic bladder', 'Liver function analyses' and 'Urticaria' (2.86%, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence rate of SADEs (p=0.6594). For SADE in the experimental group, ''Pyrexia' and 'Spondylitis' were 2.50%. SADE reported in the control group included 'Chest discomfort', 'Osteoarthritis' and 'Neurogenic bladder'. All SADEs described above were resolved after medical treatment. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that the spinal fusion rates of DBM gel group and DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group were not significantly different. But, this study provides knowledge regarding the earlier postoperative effect of rhBMP-2 containing DBM gel and also supports the idea that the longer term follow-up results are essential to confirm the safety and effectiveness.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4815-4822
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• 2012

Invasion and metastasis are the major causes of cancer-related death. Pharmacological or therapeutic interventions such as chemoprevention of the progression stages of neoplastic development could result in substantial reduction in the incidence of cancer mortality. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a promising chemopreventive agent, has attracted extensive interest for cancer therapy utilizing its antioxidant, anti-proliferative and inhibitory effects on angiogenesis and tumor cell invasion. In this study, we assessed the influence of EGCG on the proliferative potential of HeLa cells by cell viability assay and authenticated the results by nuclear morphological examination, DNA laddering assay and cell cycle analysis. Further we analyzed the anti-invasive properties of EGCG by wound migration assay and gene expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in HeLa cells. Our results indicated that EGCG induced growth inhibition of HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was observed that cell death mediated by EGCG was through apoptosis. Interestingly, EGCG effectively inhibited invasion and migration of HeLa cells and modulated the expression of related genes (MMP-9 and TIMP-1). These results indicate that EGCG may effectively suppress promotion and progression stages of cervical cancer development.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.173-194
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• 2015

Site response analysis is an important topic in earthquake engineering. A time-domain numerical method called as one-dimensional (1D) finite element artificial boundary method is proposed to simulate the homogeneous plane elastic wave propagation in a layered half space subjected to the obliquely incident plane body wave. In this method, an exact artificial boundary condition combining the absorbing boundary condition with the inputting boundary condition is developed to model the wave absorption and input effects of the truncated half space under layer system. The spatially two-dimensional (2D) problem consisting of the layer system with the artificial boundary condition is transformed equivalently into a 1D one along the vertical direction according to Snell's law. The resulting 1D problem is solved by the finite element method with a new explicit time integration algorithm. The 1D finite element artificial boundary method is verified by analyzing two engineering sites in time domain and by comparing with the frequency-domain transfer matrix method with fast Fourier transform.