• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7533-7537
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer type, and the leading cause of death from cancer among women in Israel. The Bedouin-Arab (BA) population in southern Israel is characterized by a high rate of consanguinity, common hereditary disorders, and transition from a semi-nomadic, traditional society to a more sedentary and urbanized society. In this hospital-based study, the demographic and the clinicopathological characteristics of BC in BA were compared with Jewish patients. Materials and Methods: 85 BA patients treated at the Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheba, during the years 2004-2012, were studied and compared with 180 consecutive Jewish patients treated during the year 2007. Clinicopathological features compared included age, menopausal state, number of births, a history of BC in first-degree relatives, tumor size (T), extent of lymph-node involvement (N), distant metastases (M), stage, grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR), and Her2 status. Types of treatment, relapse rate and site, as well as outcome were also studied. Cox's regression models were applied for studying disease-free, and overall survival. Results: Compared with Jewish patients, BA patients were younger (average age $49{\pm}12$ yrs vs $59{\pm}13$, p<0.001), had a lower rate of BC in first-degree relatives (p<0.001), and a larger number of births ($6{\pm}4.2$ vs $2.5{\pm}1.9$, p<0.001). BA patients had larger tumors (p=0.02), more extensive lymph-node involvement (p=0.002), and more advanced stage (p=0.003). Grade, ER, PR, and Her2 status were similar in the two ethnic groups. Relapse type was most commonly systemic in BA patients (p=0.05), and loco-regional in Jewish patients (p=0.02). Median survival was 63, and 35 months for Jewish and BA patients, respectively (log-rank test, p=0.02). In Cox multivariate analysis, stage and PR status (HR-0.14, p<0.0001; HR-3.11, p=0.046), but not ethnicity, influenced overall survival. Conclusions: BC presents a decade earlier, and with more advanced disease in BA compared with Jewish patients. Biologic parameters including grade, ER, PR, and Her2 status were similar in both groups. Although prognosis was worse in BA than in Jewish patients, it was affected only by stage and PR status, but not by ethnicity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2016

Purpose: Patients suffering from acute poisoning by different substances often visit the emergency department (ED) and receive various prognoses according to the toxic material and patients' condition. Hyperlactatemia, which is an increased blood lactate level that generally indicates tissue hypoperfusion, is commonly utilized as a prognostic marker in critically ill patients such as those with sepsis. This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between blood lactate and clinical prognosis in acute poisoned patients. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from January 2013 to June 2014 at a single and regional-tertiary ED. We enrolled study patients who were examined for blood test with lactate among acute intoxicated patients. The toxic materials, patient demographics, laboratory data, and mortalities were also reviewed. Additionally, we analyzed variables including blood lactate to verify the correlation with patient mortality. Results: A total of 531 patients were enrolled, including 24 (4.5%) non-survivors. Patient age, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), serum creatinine (Cr), aspartate transaminase (AST), and serum lactate differed significantly between survivors and non-survivors in the binary logistic regression analysis. Among these variables, GCS, AST, and lactate differed significantly. The median serum lactate levels were 2.0 mmol/L among survivors and 6.9 mmol/L among non-survivors. The AUC with the ROC curve and odds ratio of the initial serum lactate were 0.881 and 3.06 (0.89-8.64), respectively. Conclusion: Serum lactate was correlated with fatalities of acute poisoning patients in the ED; therefore, it may be used as a clinical predictor to anticipate their prognoses.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

This paper attempts to locate and define a quartzite deposit in Geochang, Kyongsangnam Province in order to establish its commercial viability. The quartzite deposit (Poongwon Mine) occurs as lens or boudinage at the contact between mica schist of the Deogyusan formation and granite gneiss. During Precambrian, regional metamorphism and granitization may have caused the formation ot quartzite layers through recrystallization and rearrangement of silica components derived from older sedimentary rocks, probably chert and/or sandstone. The deposit is composed of fine-grained milky, or light yellowish quartz showing weak laminations with fairly dense and rough appearance in outcrop. It reaches about $60\;m(height)\times140\;m(length)\times35m(width)$ with attitude of $N57^{\circ}E-N8^{\circ}4E\;and\;51^{\circ}-60^{\circ}NW$. The average grade of the quartzite samples is $SiO_2=94.4\;wt\%,\;A1_2O_3=3.3\;wt\%,\; Fe_2O_3=0.8\;wt\%,\;K_2O=0.7\;wt\%$, which can be used for foundry, constructional materials, or concrete making. The proved reserve was estimated as 200,811 tonnage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2015

Ecological reservoir is a multifunctional space where provides the functions of retention, animal habitat and improvement of ecosystem health and landscape. The ecological reservoir of Anteo Eco Park located in Gwangmyeong-si has established to functions for water purification, maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystem. Because the Anteo Eco Park is located in the site where nonpoint pollutant materials flow in, Anteo Eco Park has potential factors which aquatic ecosystem health deteriorates and damages the habitat of golden frog(Rana plancyi chosenica) which is restoration target species. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to suggest the plan to manage the variables which impede the right functions of aquatic ecosystem by understanding the causal loop diagram for the change of water quality environment and the interaction of predator-prey through system thinking. The results are as follows. First, the study showed that the individual number of golden frog which is an indicator species of Anteo Eco Park is threatened by snakeheaded fish, which is an upper predator. Therefore, balanced food chain should be hold to protect golden frog by capturing the snakeheaded fish which is individual number's density is high, and the monitoring management of the individual number for predator(snakeheaded fish)-prey(golden frog) should be performed. Second, the study represented that water pollution and carnification is caused by the sediment as the dead body of the large emergent vegetation in the winter cumulates as sediment. Ecological reservoir in Anteo Eco Park has been managed by eliminating the dead body of the large emergent vegetation, but the guideline for the proper density maintenance of vegetation community is additionally needed. Lastly, the study showed that aquatic ecosystem of Anteo Eco Park where is contaminated from the inflow of nonpoint pollutants affects the individual number's decline of golden frog and snakeheaded fish. Accordingly, the creation of a buffer area and a substitution wetland is needed in the periphery of the Anteo Eco Park to control the inflow of nonpoint pollutants including organic matters, nutrients and heavy metals. This study will be helpful that Anteo Eco Park improves the regional landscape and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystem space for the park visitors including local residents.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.390-403
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• 1988

The objectives of the study were to provide the basic informations needed in the development of balanced medical services throughout the nation. As the national health care system was expanding rapidly along with the economic growth, quantitative re-evaluation of the system is of great need. For that reason, characteristics of the admitted patients were analyzed for the case-mix and patients' flow within and through regions. Materials were 421,530 cases of inpatients, who were reported through Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC) for insurance claim, during the period of March 1, 1985 through February 28, 1987. Korean Diagnosis Related Groups(K-DRGs) classification system was adopted for the study of case-mix and 189 cities and counties were classified into 5 district groups by factor analysis results of K-DRGS. The major findings of this study were as follows ; 1) Factor analysis of case-mix, employing K-DRG system, revealed 5 distinct funtional district groups. Group A(18 districts) was prominent for tertiary medical care. In group B(36 districts), rather simple procedures were prevalent. Group C(26 districts) was distinctive for the medical care of well organized internal medicine practices with qualified clinical laboratories. Group D(17 districts) was characterized by relatively high balanced medical care. Group E (92 districts) was with very low level of medical care. 2) Analysis of the case-flow through the districts showed 3 types of flow patterns : inflow, outflow, and balanced types. Inflow type of case-flow was found in Group A, C and D while Group B and E showed outflow type. Inflow was most prominent in Group A and Group E was of typical outflow type. Group B was consistently the outflow type except for Major Diagnostic Category XX regardless of the disease treaters, but Group C and D were inflow or outflow types according to the disease tracers.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2012

Purpose: Combined chemoradiotherapy is standard management for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), but standard treatment for elderly patients with LA-NSCLC has not been confirmed yet. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for elderly patients with LA-NSCLC. Materials and Methods: Among patients older than 65 years with LA-NSCLC, 36 patients, who underwent CCRT were retrospectively analyzed. Chemotherapy was administered 3-5 times with 4 weeks interval during radiotherapy. Thoracic radiotherapy was delivered to the primary mass and regional lymph nodes. Total dose of 54-59.4 Gy (median, 59.4 Gy) in daily 1.8 Gy fractions and 5 fractions per week. Results: Regarding the response to treatment, complete response, partial response, and no response were shown in 16.7%, 66.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates were 58.2% and 31.2%, respectively, and the median survival was 15 months. The 1- and 2-year progression-free survivals (PFS) were 41.2% and 19.5%, respectively, and the median PFS was 10 months. Regarding to the toxicity developed after CCRT, pneumonitis and esophagitis with grade 3 or higher were observed in 13.9% (5 patients) and 11.1% (4 patients), respectively. Treatment-related death was not observed. Conclusion: The treatment-related toxicity as esophagitis and pneumonitis were noticeably lower when was compared with the previously reported results, and the survival rate was higher than radiotherapy alone. The results indicate that CCRT is an effective in terms of survival and treatment related toxicity for elderly patients over 65 years old with LA-NSCLC.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.256-261
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• 2014

Purpose: We performed invasive thermometry to verify the elevation of local temperature in the liver during hyperthermia. Materials and Methods: Three 40-kg pigs were used for the experiments. Under general anesthesia with ultrasonography guidance, two glass fiber-optic sensors were placed in the liver, and one was placed in the peritoneal cavity in front of the liver. Another sensor was placed on the skin surface to assess superficial cooling. Six sessions of hyperthermia were delivered using the Celsius TCS electro-hyperthermia system. The energy delivered was increased from 240 kJ to 507 kJ during the 60-minute sessions. The inter-session cooling periods were at least 30 minutes. The temperature was recorded every 5 minutes by the four sensors during hyperthermia, and the increased temperatures recorded during the consecutive sessions were analyzed. Results: As the animals were anesthetized, the baseline temperature at the start of each session decreased by $1.3^{\circ}C$ to $2.8^{\circ}C$ (median, $2.1^{\circ}C$). The mean increases in temperature measured by the intrahepatic sensors were $2.42^{\circ}C$ (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-3.13) and $2.67^{\circ}C$ (95% CI, 2.05-3.28) during the fifth and sixth sessions, respectively. The corresponding values for the intraperitoneal sensor were $2.10^{\circ}C$ (95% CI, 0.71-3.49) and $2.87^{\circ}C$ (1.13-4.43), respectively. Conversely, the skin temperature was not increased but rather decreased according to application of the cooling system. Conclusion: We observed mean $2.67^{\circ}C$ and $2.87^{\circ}C$ increases in temperature at the liver and peritoneal cavity, respectively, during hyperthermia. In vivo real-time thermometry is useful for directly measuring internal temperature during hyperthermia.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.122-126
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• 2012

The properties of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films were investigated as a function of $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ gas ratio using an AZO (2 wt% $Al_2O_3$) ceramic target in a radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering system. The deposition process was done at $200^{\circ}C$ and in $2{\times}10^{-2}$ Torr working pressure and with various ratios of $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ gas. During the AZO film deposition process, partial $H_2$ gas affected the AZO film characteristics. The electron resistivity (${\sim}9.21{\times}10^{-4}\;{\Omega}cm$) was lowest and mobility (${\sim}17.8\;cm^2/Vs$) was highest in AZO films when the $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ gas ratio was 2.5 %. When the $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ gas ratio was increased above 2.5 %, the electron resistivity increased and mobility decreased with increasing $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ gas ratio in AZO films. The carrier concentration increased with increasing $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ gas ratio from 0 % to 7.5 %. This phenomenon was explained by reaction of hydrogen and oxygen and additional formation of oxygen vacancy. The average optical transmission in the visible light wavelength region over 90 % and an orientation of the deposition was [002] orientation for AZO films grown with all $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ gas ratios.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2007

Purpose: Ths study aims to examine characteristics of patients using emergency room after execution of five-day workweek system by government and provide basic materials for operation of efficient emergency room. Methods: Data were collected tbrough medical records of patients visiting emergency room from July of 2004 to October of 2006 and they were analyzed with SPSSlPC 10.0. Conclusion : 1. The number of patients visiting emergency room was average 16.7 persons a day in 2004, 17.5 in 2005 and 18.6 in 2006 and it was found that it was increasing every year since the execution of five-day workweek system 2. Gender distribution of subjects using emergency room was higher in male than in female every year. 3. Means of transport to emergency room were mostly private car and others(public transport or on foot), but use of ambulance was increasing. 4. Residential areas of subjects were mostly 'Myeon area' in 2004~2005, but it was changed to residents at 'Eup area' in 2006. 5. Distribution of patients by medical departments was highest in internal medicine and surgery in 2004~2006 and rate of visiting pediatrics was increasing every year. 6. Time to stay at emergency room was most at 'below 30 min'. in 2004~2006, but cases of stay for 'more than 2 hours' were increasing every year. 7. On presence or absence of trauma in patients visiting emergency room, rate of visit to emergency room with 'no trauma' was higher and this result was increasing every year. 8. As a result of classifying severity of patients visiting emergency room, use rate of emergency room by 'non-emergency' patients was over 90% in 2004~2006 and such a phenomenon was deepened in 2006 compared to that in 2004. 9. Measures after emergency care of patients were most in case of 'discharge' in 2004~2006, but cases of admission to hospital after emergency care were increased every year. 10. According to use of emergency room by a day of the week, use on Sunday was most frequent in 2004~2006, but use on Friday the day before holiday was increasing. 11. According to distribution by age, use by those between '40~49' was most in 2004~2005, but use by those 'below 10' was most in 2006. 12. According to time to visit emergency room, using emergency room at "15:31~23:30 was most in 2004~2006, cases of visiting emergency room at day working hour were decreased every year and those at evening and night working hours were increased. Conclusion: In sum, it was found that characteristics of patients visiting emergency room and their actual status were changed after the execution of five-day workweek system and efforts to rearrange emergency medical system are required.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.3
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• pp.488-494
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• 2015

This study aims to develop and apply a standard management self-diagnostic table for forestry households to better manage their astringent persimmon production. The diagnostic table consisted of 3 categories (general status of a forestry household, management performance indicators, level of management) and 18 subcategories. The current management status across 241 households was surveyed among 10 chief astringent persimmon producing municipalities. Scores from the 18 subcategories were aggregated for a total score to evaluate and compare different levels of management. The respondents scored an overall average of 57.4, 62% of which were placed between 40 and 60. Upon close examination Chungcheongnam-do scored a very low score in the 'management system-tree height' subcategory with respect to the average score potentially because of the large population of aged trees in the region. The national average in the 'production skills-time of fruit load adjustment' subcategory was only 1.96 because unlike sweet persimmons astringent persimmons adjust their own load by inducing physiological fruit drop. The national average in the 'management/sales skills-material purchase' subcategory was 2.01; over 60% of the respondents indicated a preference for independent selection and purchase for most materials. The households preferring a group purchase tended to utilize the regional co-op.