• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.204-216
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• 2000

Background : There has been a concern that the quality of care provided to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in the United States may not be as good as recommended. This paper illustrates a composite measure to assess, the quality of care received by ESRD patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis by incorporating outcomes for 4 major treatment areas. The 4 treatment areas are: dialysis treatments, anemia control, nutritional management, and blood pressure control. Methods : The major data source for the study was the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study Wave 1 (DMMS-1) d Sixteen categories of a composite quality indicator were constructed by combining 4 dichotomous variables (16=2*2*2*2). representing the optimal vs. less than optimal level of outcome for each of the 4 treatment outcome measure respectively. Optimal outcome level for each treatment area was defined based on the recommendation from the National Kidney Foundation: (a) delivered dialysis doses (Kt/V) ${\geq}$ 1.2; (b) hematocrit level ${\geq}$ 30%; (c) serum albumin concentration ${\geq}$ 3.8g/dl ; and (d) blood pressure of <140 / <90mmHg. The 16 quality indicator were ranked according to their relative quality weights, which were estimated from its association with the relative risk of survival, adjusting for patient's baseline severity and dialysis facility characteristics. Results : Out of the entire sample of 2,179 patients, only 229 (10%) meet th recommended outcome levels for all 4 treatment areas. Overall, the study patients were distributed evenly over the 16 quality indicators, indicating a great variation in the quality of ESRD care. It appears that the rank of the 16 quality-indicators is driven by serum albumin concentration, suggesting that serum albumin concentration may be the most powerful predictor of ESRD patient survival among the 4 outcome measures. Conclusion : The developed quality indicator has the advantage of describin a range of care for dialysis patients and thus providing a more complete picture of care as compared to previous studies that have focused on only single or few components of the ESRD care.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2007

Phytoremediation has been used effectively for the biodegradation of oil-based contaminants, including diesel, by the stimulation of soil microbes near plant roots (rhizosphere). However, the technique has rarely been assessed for itsinfluence on soil microbial properties such as population, community structure, and diversity. In this study, the removal efficiency and characteristics of rhizobacteria for phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils were assessed using barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli). The concentration of spiked diesel for treatments was around $6000\;mg\;kg^{-1}$. Diesel removal efficiencies reached 100% in rhizosphere soils, 76% in planted bulk soils, and 62% in unplanted bulk soils after 3weeks stabilization and 2 months growth(control, no microbial activity: 32%). The highest populations of culturable soil bacteria ($5.89{\times}10^8$ per g soil) and culturable hydrocarbon-degraders($5.65{\times}10^6$ per g soil) were found in diesel-contaminated rhizosphere soil, also yielding the highest microbial dehydrogenase. This suggests that the populations of soil bacteria, including hydrocarbon-degraders, were significantly increased by a synergistic rhizosphere + diesel effect. The diesel treatment alone resulted in negative population growth. In addition, we investigated the bacterial community structures of each soil sample based on DGGE (Denaturing Gel Gradient Electrophoresis) band patterns. Bacterial community structure was most influenced by the presence of diesel contamination (76.92% dissimilarity to the control) and by a diesel + rhizosphere treatment (65.62% dissimilarity), and least influenced by the rhizosphere treatment alone (48.15% dissimilarity). Based on the number of distinct DGGE bands, the bacterial diversity decreased with diesel treatment, but kept constant in the rhizosphere treatment. The rhizosphere thus positively influenced bacterial population density in diesel-contaminated soil, resulting in high removal efficiency of diesel.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2005

The surface states of gate dielectrics affect device performance severely in Pentacene OTFTs. We have fabricated organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) using pentacene as an active layer with chemically modified $SiO_2$ gate dielectrics. The effects of the surface treatment of $SiO_2$ on the electric characteristics of OTFTS were investigated. The surface of $SiO_2$ gate dielectric was treated by normal wet cleaning process, $O_2-plasma$ treatment, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) treatment. After the surface treatments, the contact angles and surface free energies were measured in order to analyze the surface state changes. In the electrical measurements, typical I-V characteristics of TFTs were observed. The field effect mobility, $\mu$, was calculated to be $0.29\;cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$ for OTS treated sample while those for the HMDS, $O_2$ plasma treated, and wet-cleaned samples were 0.16, 0.1, and $0.04\;cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.49-60
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to research current trends of acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc using the PubMed database. Methods We set up the search strategy and investigated clinical trials on acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc through PubMed search. This study analyzed previous researched papers published from January 1st, 2000 to April 30th, 2014, and classified them by publication year, journal names, types of literature, treatment methods and evaluation scales. To assess the quality of the reviewed literature, randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were assessed by Cochrane's risk of bias (ROB) tool and non-RCT studies were assessed by risk of bias for non-randomized studies (RoBANS). Results We found 35 studies on the acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. Papers on this topic have been published, on average, three to four times annually in 9 journals since the mid-2000's. The journal with the largest number of publications was Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, and most of articles were classified as RCT. Acupuncture treatment was performed individually or together with other treatments. The most frequently used pain evaluation index was visual analogue scale (VAS). The index of effective rate was used frequently but there was a lack of objectivity. In regards to the quality of the studies, outcome assessment in RCT showed that random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and the blinding of participants and personnel increase potential of risk of bias. For non-RCT assessment, outcome showed that confounding variable, measurement of intervention were at high risk of bias. Conclusions In order to obtain objective clinical evidence of acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc, further clinical studies should be designed to minimize the risk of bias, using STRICTA with larger sample sizes.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.270-277
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• 2013

PURPOSE. This study was aimed to determine the effect of two chemically distinct denture cleansers and water on the surface hardness of acrylic and silicone based soft denture liners at various time intervals. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two commonly used commercial resilient liner material were selected based on their chemical composition (silicone- and acrylic-based soft liners) for this investigation. 120 cylindrical specimens were made of $15mm{\times}10mm$ dimensions (according to ASTM: D-2240-64T) in a custom made metal mold. All specimens were stored in artificial saliva throughout the study. Forty specimens were cleansed daily in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution; forty were cleansed in sodium perborate and remaining forty specimens were daily rinsed in water. Testing was done at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months for surface hardness using a Shore A Durometer. A mean of 3 reading for each sample was subjected to one-way ANOVA, Post Hoc test and pair-t test for statistical analysis. P values of less than 0.05 were taken as statistically significant. RESULTS. Surface hardness of all the samples was significantly higher after a period of 6 months irrespective of the cleansing treatment. Minor changes were observed between control, sodium hypochlorite and sodium perborate groups with time. Greater change was observed in surface hardness of acrylic-based soft denture liners as compared to silicone-based soft liners for all groups, as time progressed. CONCLUSION. Silicone-based soft denture liners performed significantly better in all cleansing treatments than acrylic-based soft denture liners.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.20-29
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)-VA3.0 in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA). The sample consisted of 301 patients who had received treatments at the physical therapy units of 5 medical institutions in Andong City in june 2006. Questionnaires on the WOMAC were recruited by 12 physical therapists. The internal structure and reliability of the scales were evaluated by means of item-internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient: ${\alpha}$), item-discriminant validity, and Pearson's relation coefficient. To explore construct validity, we conducted a principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation analysis. The criterion for factor extraction was an eigenvalue >1.0. The average age of the patients was 62.1 years. All WOMAC subscales (pain, stiffness, and physical function) were internally consistent with Cronbach's coefficients of .81, .91, and .80, respectively. The internal consistency reliability of item-each scale were also internally consistent with Cronbach's coefficient of .89 (Pearson's correlation coefficient: .71~.84), .93 (.89~.91), and .96 (.67~.91), respectively. However, high correlation was found among 3 items (.66~.83, .66~.67, and .67~.83), so the item-discriminant validity was low (${\alpha}$ coefficient: .81, .91, .80, respectively). The construct validity by factor analysis was low because it was not consistent With WOMAC-VA3.0. In conclusion, the results reported here confirm the reliability of the WOMAC in patients with OA of the hip and knee. The collection of information on the hip and knee osteoarthritis using this instrument was acceptable to patients. A further prospective multi-center study will be necessary to prove the construct validity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Bee Venom acupuncture therapy for acute ankle sprain. Methods : From September 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2005, the 60 patients who had visited Conmaul oriental medical hospital with acute ankle sprain were sample into 2 groups for this study; one group for the bee-venom acupuncture therapy combined with needle acupuncture therapy and the other group for needle acupuncture therapy only at least 3 times respectively. Both group had been treated with same additional infrared lamp, physical therapy and ankle supporter during the whole treatment period. Among 60 patients, 20 participants satisfied the whole inclusion criteria. To estimate the efficacy of treatments, Numerical Rating System(NRS) and Ankle-Hindfoot Scale(AHS) were applied before 1st and 4th treatment. Each score results were analysed and compared by Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed rank test with the level of 5% significance. Result : The NRS score in bee-venom acupuncture therapy group was increased significantly and the AHS score in bee-venom therapy group was decreased significantly compared to each of single acupuncture therapy group(P<0.01). The score change comparisons between the two groups had no significance before and after the treatment. Conclusion : Both bee-venom acupuncture therapy and single acupuncture therapy were effective to treat the acute ankle sprain. but there were no significant data to prove that bee-venom acupuncture therapy is more effective than single acupuncture therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality characteristics and the hypoglycemic effect of cookies containing Helianthus tuberosus powder (HTP). To examine the effect of adding HTP, cookies with various HTP contents (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%) were made and compared for their quality characteristics. The pH of cookie doughs decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the content of HTP increased. However, the density did not show significant difference among samples. The spread ratio and loss rate in cookies showed significant increase (p<0.05) as the content of HTP increased. However the leavening rate and the hardness of the cookies decreased significantly (p<0.05) when HTP content increased. Color measurement also showed significant difference among samples, although the cookie sample with 10% HTP powder showed the highest scores from consumer tests and liking score, the cookie samples with 30% HTP were selected to measure the hypoglycemic effect of Helianthus tuberosus compared to control cookies and bread. Ten healthy subjects in their twenties participated in measuring blood glucose levels after intake of bread, control cookie, or 30% HTP cookie. Blood glucose level was measured after fasting 12 hours, before eating, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after taking the samples. As a result, the blood glucose levels at 30min after meals showed significant (p<0.05) difference among treatments: the lowest when taken the cookies added 30% HTP. However there was no difference in the blood glucose levels at 60min, 90min, and 120min after the sampling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.94-103
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• 2020

This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) on the deteriorated surface of AISI SUS316L additively manufactured (AM) using the powder bed fusion (PBF) technique. Specifically, the effects of UNSM conditions on surface topology, hardness, and anti-corrosion were examined. Before UNSM treatment, the stainless steel 316L powder was processed via the PBF machine to prepare a substrate. We observed surface changes due to UNSM treatments in PBF SUS316L substrates and examined the correlation between topology changes, roughness, hardness, and anti-corrosion. After UNSM treatment, the coarse as-built surface was refined, and a regular micro-profile was implemented. Compared to the non-treated PBF sample, the waviness and roughness of the surfaces after UNSM treatment decreased by up to 56.0% and 94.5%, respectively, and decreased further as the interval decreased. The hardness improved by up to 63.0% at a maximum depth of 500 ㎛ from top surface by the UNSM treatment. The results of the corrosion test showed that the corrosion resistance of the UNSM specimens was moderately improved compared to that of the untreated surface. This study confirmed that UNSM is an effective post-processing technique for additively manufactured parts.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.12-18
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• 2014

Objectives: This was a retrospective case series about the clinical effect of integrated approach with behavior therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Medical records of twelve patients with OSA who were treated with behavior modification including nasal breathing with oral appliances and sleep in lateral position, oral administration of herbal medicines and acupuncture treatment between January and September of 2013 were reviewed. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), day time sleepiness, apneas and hypopneas counts during sleep, risk indicator (RI), oxygen desaturation index, average saturation during sleep, lowest desaturation, lowest saturation, snoring events ratio and number of desaturations (%) were assessed before and after treatments with the ApneaLink device, which is a portable diagnostic apparatus for monitoring airflows of the patient's breath at home. Results: After an average 62.67 (SD 37.16) days of treatment, AHI (from 17.67, 12.79 to 8.75, 8.25, p=0.007), RI (from 22.00, 13.26 to 12.09, 8.03, p=0.004), oxygen desaturation index (from 17.33, 12.17 to 8.17, 7.86, p=0.005), and number of desaturations (from 7.00 times, 9.79 to 0.92 times, 1.39, p=0.044) showed significant improvement. Daytime sleepiness improved from 6.5 (3.2) to 3.8 (1.8) but there was no significant difference after treatment (p=0.17). No adverse events related to treatment were observed during participation in the treatment. Conclusion: From this case series, we found that behavior modification with herbal medication and acupuncture may be effective for improving sleep apnea without serious adverse events. Future randomized controlled trials with larger sample size will be necessary for concrete evidence on the benefit of this integrated treatment for OSA.