• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2018

In order to monitor greenhouse gases including $CO_2$, various types of surface-, aircraft-, and satellite-based measurement projects have been conducted. These data help understand the variations of greenhouse gases and are used in atmospheric inverse modeling systems to simulate surface fluxes for greenhouse gases. CarbonTracker is a system for estimating surface $CO_2$ flux, using an atmospheric inverse modeling method, based on only surface observation data. Because of the insufficient surface observation data available for accurate estimation of the surface $CO_2$ flux, additional observations would be required. In this study, a system that assimilates aircraft $CO_2$ measurement data in CarbonTracker (CT2013B) is developed, and the estimated results from this data assimilation system are evaluated. The aircraft $CO_2$ measurement data used are obtained from the Comprehensive Observation Network for Trace gases by the Airliner (CONTRAIL) project. The developed system includes the preprocessor of the raw observation data, the observation operator, and the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation process. After preprocessing the raw data, the modeled value corresponding spatially and temporally to each observation is calculated using the observation operator. These modeled values and observations are then averaged in space and time, and used in the EnKF data assimilation process. The modeled values are much closer to the observations and show smaller biases and root-mean-square errors, after the assimilation of the aircraft $CO_2$ measurement data. This system could also be used to assimilate other aircraft $CO_2$ measurement data in CarbonTracker.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate asphalt fumes and PAHs exposure among asphalt road paving workers. Methods: Task-based personal air samplings(n=41) were carried out in 3 asphalt road paving construction sites using PTFE (polytetrafluorethylene) filters for asphalt fume and XAD-2 with glass fiber filters for PAHs. The concentration of fumes and PAHs were showed by four different job(paver finisher operator, paving laborer(raker), macadam roller operator and tire roller operator). Results: The geometric mean(GM) concentration of asphalt fumes as benzene soluble aerosol was highest at paving laborers($42.32{\mu}g/m^3$), followed by in order, paver finisher operators($41.57{\mu}g/m^3$), macadam roller operators($31.9{\mu}g/m^3$), and tire roller operators($30.31{\mu}g/m^3$). The GM of total PAHs concentration was highest at paver finisher operators($37.5{\mu}g/m^3$), followed by in order, paving laborers($20.13{\mu}g/m^3$), tire roller operators($8.66{\mu}g/m^3$), and macadam roller operators($6.23{\mu}g/m^3$). The results of the evaluation of 16 compounds of PAHs showed that the concentrations of naphthalene, achenaphthylene, achenaphthene, pyrene, fluorene and benz (a) anthracene was higher than those of other PAHs compounds and as the carcinogenic substances, benzo(a)pyrene, and debenz(a,h) anthracene were detected. The benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentration(BaPeq) was $2.81{\mu}g/m^3$ at paver finisher operators, $2.07{\mu}g/m^3$ at paving laborers, $0.41{\mu}g/m^3$ at tire roller operators and $0.22{\mu}g/m^3$ at macadam roller operators. Asphalt road paving workers have higher benzo(a)pyrene equivalent(BaPeq) values even though at lower total PAHs concentration than workers in steel pipe coating and tar industry. Conclusions: Asphalt road paving workers were found to have risk of carcinogen exposure due to higher Benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentration(BaPeq) than other PAHs exposure occupations. This study confirmed the carcinogenic hazards among asphalt paving workers.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.88-92
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• 2017

Purpose: The objective of this study was to confirm the results of the modified Lapidus procedure on moderate to severe hallux valgus patients with first tarso-metatarsal joint hypermobility. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 42 cases of 35 patients who underwent the modified Lapidus procedure between March 2006 and December 2014. A comparative analysis was performed on the preoperative and postoperative subjective satisfaction of patients and radiologic index. Moreover, the correlation between the follow-up time and patient's operative satisfaction, as well as between the proficiency of the operator and patient's operative satisfaction was analyzed. Complications were also evaluated. Results: Out of the total of 35 patients, 3 were male and 32 were female. The mean age was 61.3 years (range, 34~79 years), and the mean follow-up time was 22.1 months (range, 6~90 months). The overall satisfaction level was 67.6% and the mean hallux valgus angle improved from preoperative $40.5^{\circ}$ to postoperative $12.2^{\circ}$ (p<0.001). The mean 1, 2 intermetatarsal angle improved from preoperative mean of $16.9^{\circ}$ to postoperative mean of $7.6^{\circ}$ (p<0.001), and the sesamoid position improved significantly, from preoperative 2.7 to postoperative 0.9 (p<0.001). Furthermore, there was no correlation between the follow-up time and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux scale; also no correlation between the year the operation took place and the AOFAS hallux scale. In terms of complications, we observed screw irritation in 6 cases, hallux varus in 2 cases, and recurrence of hallux valgus and nonunion in one case. Conclusion: Contrary to our concerns, the level of complications was not high; however, the satisfaction level of patients was also not very high. Therefore, careful selecting of patients and sufficient consultation time is needed before surgery. In addition, since the causes of postoperative dissatisfaction still remain unclear, further studies are necessary.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2001

The quantification analysis of renal scintigraphy is strongly affected by the location, shape and size of region of interest(ROI). When ROIs are drawn manually, these ROIs are not reproducible due to the operators' subjective point of view, and may lead to inconsistent results even if the same data were analyzed. In this study, the effect of the ROI variation on the analysis of renal scintigraphy when the ROIs are drawn manually was investigated, and in order to obtain more consistent results, methods for automated ROI definition were developed and the results from the application of the developed methods were analyzed. Relative renal function, glomerular filtration rate and mean transit time were selected as clinical parameters for the analysis of the effect of ROI and the analysis tools were designed with the programming language of IDL5.2. To obtain renal scintigraphy, $^{99m}$Tc-DTPA was injected to the 11 adults of normal condition and to study the inter-operator variability, 9 researchers executed the analyses. The calculation of threshold using the gradient value of pixels and border tracing technique were used to define renal ROI and then the background ROI and aorta ROI were defined automatically considering anatomical information and pixel value. The automatic methods to define renal ROI were classified to 4 groups according to the exclusion of operator's subjectiveness. These automatic methods reduced the inter-operator variability remarkably in comparison with manual method and proved the effective tool to obtain reasonable and consistent results in analyzing the renal scintigraphy quantitatively.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.96-101
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• 2015

Purpose: Thermal sensory test as an essential part of quantitative sensory testing (QST) has been recognized as a useful tool in the evaluation of the trigeminal nerve function. Normative data in the orofacial region have been reported but the data on differences in the test site, sex and ethnicity are still insufficient. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the normal range of orofacial thermal QST data in the healthy Korean women, and assess sex difference of thermal perception in the orofacial regions. Methods: Thermal QST was conducted on 20 healthy women participants (mean age, 26.4 years; range, 21 to 34 years). The thermal thresholds (cold detection threshold, CDT; warm detection threshold, WDT; cold pain threshold, CPT; and heat pain threshold, HPT) were measured bilaterally at the 5 trigeminal sites (the forehead, cheek, mentum, lower lip and tongue tip). The normative thermal thresholds of women in the orofacial region were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and compared with the previously reported data from age- and site-matched 30 healthy men (mean age, 26.1 years; range, 23 to 32 years) using two-way ANOVA. One experienced operator performed the tests of both sexes and all tests were done in the same condition except the time variability. Results: Women showed significant site differences for the CDT (p<0.001), WDT (p<0.001), and HPT (p=0.047) in the orofacial region. The CDT (p<0.001) and the CPT (p=0.007) presented significant sex difference unlike the WDT and the HPT. Conclusions: The thermal sensory evaluation in the orofacial region should be considered in the context of site and sex and the normative data in this study could be useful for assessment of the sensory abnormalities in the clinical setting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.139-146
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• 2003

This study was aimed at analyzing a characteristics of the sewing machines and analyzing the effective sewing time in the garment manufacture process, therefore to obtain the basic data concerned with the sewing. operation standardization. The two methods were experimented. First, two garment factories established in Seoul and Geonggi province were randomly selected for the analyzing the sewing speed of the sewing operator for the optimized sewing speed using the equipment of Digital Tachometer HT4100. Second, five garment factories established in Seoul and Geonggi province were randomly selected to analyze the required time data to reach the fixed sewing speed using the lock stitch sewing machine which was used in the sewing factories. The results are divided into 3 categories as follows; 1) Survey results for the optimized sewing speed : The sewing operations of 10~20 cm range were most frequently selected in seam constructions in Korean sewing factories, and the sewing speed of 2,500 R.P.M was most used; 2) Required time to reach the fixed sewing speed using the lock stitch sewing machine : The mean of required time to the fixed sewing speed of 2.500 R.P.M was 3.5 second, and the mean of the real-sewing length during the 3.5 second was 43.8 cm ; 3) Analysis of the optimized sewing speed calculated using these results : The optimized sewing speed for the sewing manufacturers of the upward of 43.8 cm was 2,500 R.P.M. and for the sewing manufacturers of the below of 42.2 cm, the optimized sewing speed was 2.450 R.P.M.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2017

Background: Common and effective treatments for calcific tendinitis involve needling procedures. However, it has been widespread practice to refer patients with calcific tendinitis, which is a predominantly orthopedic condition, to radiology department. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes after ultrasound-guided needling for calcific tendinitis between the orthopedics and radiology department. Methods: Seventy-seven shoulders (Group 1) and 38 shoulders (Group 2) treated in the radiology and orthopedic department, respectively. A fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and a musculoskeletal radiologist each performed the procedure of ultrasound-guided needle decompression with subacromial steroid injection. Clinical outcomes was evaluated using the visual analogue scale for pain (pVAS) and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score before treatment and at each follow-up. The pre- and postneedling size and shape of the calcific deposits were compared between the two groups. Results: We analyzed a total of 56 shoulders for Group 1 and 32 shoulders for Group 2. The mean age and sex ratio of the patients no significantly different. We found that the mean decrease in the diameter of calcification between pre- and post-needling was 9.0 mm for Group 1 and 13.1 mm for Group 2; the difference was significantly larger in Group 2 than in Group 1. Both groups showed improved pVAS and ASES scores after needling but the extent of these improvements did not differ with the type of operator. Conclusions: Needling decompression performed by orthopedic surgeons could a viable option for the treatment of calcific tendinitis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.444-450
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• 2007

In general, labiolingual or buccolingual widths of residual alveolar bone are insufficient in edentulous area, because of alveolar resorption. Horizontal augmentation is bone graft procedure with a view to reinforcing horizontally insufficient bone quantity for installation of implants. The standard method is taking appropriate amount of block bone from intraoral or extraoral autogenous bone, and solid fixation with screws or mini-plate on labial or buccal side of residual alveolar bone. The purpose of this study is to discuss clinical usefulness of horizontal augmentation with autogenous block bone by observation and analysis of course of 41 implants installed to 12 patients by horizontal augmentation in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from July, 2002 to December, 2005. The mean age of patients is 52.7, from 19 to 70, and the number of men and women is each 2 and 10. Block bone was taken from symphysis, body, ramus of mandible or iliac bone. And 6 types of implants were installed simultaneously or not, the diameters of implants are from 3.3 to 5.5mm, the lengths are from 8 to 15mm. The operator added artificial bone grafting material and optionally covered with membrane. The mean periods of observation after operation and final prosthetics were 28.6 and 17.0 months. As a result, 40 among 41 implants survived, the survival rate was 97.6%. Average 0.9mm crestal resorption was observed at final point of time by periapical view of each patients. Major complication related to the procedure was numbness in 7 patients.

• The Transactions of the Korea Information Processing Society
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.449-459
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• 1996

The main goal of this paper is to introduce a novel definition for fuzzy mathematical morphology and a neural network implementation. The generalized- mean operator plays the key role for the definition. Such definition is well suited for neural network implementation. The first stage of the shared-weight neural network has adequate architecture to perform morphological operation. The shared- weight network performs classification based on the features extracted with the fuzzy morphological operation defined in this paper. Therefore, the parameters for the fuzzy definition can be optimized using neural network learning paradigm. Learning rules for the structuring elements, degree of membership, and weighting factors are precisely described. In application to handwritten digit recognition problem, the fuzzy morphological shared-weight neural network produced the results which are comparable to the state-of art for this problem.

• Journal of Sleep Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a predicting model for the optimal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patient with obesity by using a machine learning. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 162 OSA patients who had obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25] and undertaken successful CPAP titration study. We divided the data to a training set (90%) and a test set (10%), randomly. We made a random forest model and a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression model to predict the optimal pressure by using the training set, and then applied our models and previous reported equations to the test set. To compare the fitness of each models, we used a correlation coefficient (CC) and a mean absolute error (MAE). Results: The random forest model showed the best performance {CC 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.93], MAE 1.20}. The lasso regression model also showed the improved result [CC 0.78 (95% CI 0.42-0.93), MAE 1.26] compared to the Hoffstein equation [CC 0.68 (95% CI 0.23-0.89), MAE 1.34] and the Choi's equation [CC 0.72 (95% CI 0.30-0.90), MAE 1.40]. Conclusions: Our random forest model and lasso model ($26.213+0.084{\times}BMI+0.004{\times}$apnea-hypopnea index+$0.004{\times}oxygen$ desaturation index-$0.215{\times}mean$ oxygen saturation) showed the improved performance compared to the previous reported equations. The further study for other subgroup or phenotype of OSA is required.