• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.32-48
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• 2003

Korea is to open its medical markets to foreign hospitals starting in the year 2006 regardless of our will(DDA, Doha Development Agenda). To accurately understand the characteristics of Korean medical users, their detailed and various needs, their attitudes toward the opening of Korean medical markets, and factors affecting these users in choosing foreign medical service providers would be first step needs to be taken by the Korean medical facilities that need to survive and develope through the fiercely competitive era coming with the opening of Korean medical markets to foreign medical service providers and would be very important in hospital management. The subjects of this study were 500 patients randomly selected from the outpatients who visited one of university hospitals in Seoul on the 14th-16th days of April 2003, and conducted a self-completion questionnaire. The answers of 463 respondents among the selected patients(93% of a responding rate)were analyzed through the Excel and statistics programs. The attitudes on the opening of the medical markets were shown in agreement 56.5%(247 persons), disagreement 6.9%(30 persons), and no idea 36.6%(160 persons). In consideration of only the answers as agreement and disagreement exclusive of the answer as no idea, 89.2% of the respondents agreed to the opening of the medical markets while 10.8% objected to the opening. The approval rate was higher with the higher education and income levels. Moreover, The approval rate for the opening of the medical markets was relatively high regardless of the satisfaction in the medical service, and the most important reason of the agreement was the guarantee of the patients(national)option. The main reason of the disagreement was high medical fee(50.5%), and the other reasons showing low rates were outflow of the domestic fund to the foreign countries(13.6%), damage of medical influences on the public(11.4%), lack of competition of the domestic medical industry(9.1%)and so on. As for the factors of selecting the foreign hospitals in the opening of the medical markets, the patients considered the authority(competency)of doctors firstly, and the other principal factors were worldwide fame and reliance, specific explanation of doctors, modernized medical instruments, convenient consultation procedure, etc. The patients agreed to the opening of the medical markets at a high rate regardless of the satisfaction in the medical service, and the most principal reason of the agreement was the guarantee of the patients(national)option for the medical care. Connected with the factors to select the hospitals, the approval reasons for the opening of the medical markets were the authority(competency)of the doctors as the first one, and then fame and tradition, reliance, overall diagnosis and modernized medical instruments, doctors specific explanation, and so on. However, these factors are actually associated with the Quality of the medical care, and consequently the approval reasons for the opening of the medical markets are connected with the security of the medical care. Accordingly, the guarantee of the patients(national)option answered as the main reason of the agreement can be also understood as the awareness of the right to have a variety of options for the security of the medical quality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.595-601
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• 2003

Background: It has been known that the most effective treatment method of hyperhidrosis is video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve block. Postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis are major factors that decrease the postoperative satisfaction. Although sympathetic rami have been selectively blocked to decrease the complications, technical difficulties and excessive bleeding have prevented the universal application. Material and Method: Three pre-fixative cadavers were dissected before clinical application. Bilateral sympathetic chains were exposed in supine position after the whole anterior chest wall was removed. Second and third sympathetic rami were blocked using clips. After the sympathetic chains including ganglia were removed, we evaluated the extents of rami block. Twenty-five patients were subjected to the clinical application. Surgeries were performed in semi-fowlers position under general anesthesia and bilateral ventilation. 2 mm thoracoscopy and 5 mm trocar were intro-duced through third and fourth intercostal space, respectively. Second and third sympathetic rami were blocked using thoracoscopic clips. The postoperative complications, satisfaction, and compensatory hyperhidrosis rate were evaluated retrospectively. Result: Sympathetic rami were completely blocked in cadaver dissection study Hyper-hidrosis symptom was improved in all patients without operative complication. Operative time was shorter than that of traditional ramicotomy. All patients, except four, were satisfied with postoperative palmar hyperhidrosis. Com-pensatory hyperhidrosis was more severely happened in fifteen patients (60%). The remaining six patients had no complaint. Two patients had a minimal degree of gustatory hyperhidrosis. Conclusion: This operative method had shorter operative time and less complication rate, compared with traditional ramicotomy Operative success rate was similar to the traditional syrnpathicotorny; lower extent and occurrence rate of compensatory hyperhidrosis. The thoracic sympathetic rami clipping was suggested as an alternative method for treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.661-667
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• 2014

Background Tissue expansion is an effective and valuable technique for the reconstruction of large skin lesions and scars. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability and safety of a newly designed skin expanding bioreactor system for maximizing the graft area and minimizing the donor site area. Methods A computer-controlled biaxial skin bioreactor system was used to expand skin in two directions while the culture media was changed daily. The aim was to achieve an expansion speed that enabled the skin to reach twice its original area in two weeks or less. Skin expansion and subsequent grafting were performed for 10 patients, and each patient was followed for 6 months postoperatively for clinical evaluation. Scar evaluation was performed through visual assessment and by using photos. Results The average skin expansion rate was $10.54%{\pm}6.25%$; take rate, $88.89%{\pm}11.39%$; and contraction rate, $4.2%{\pm}2.28%$ after 6 months. Evaluation of the donor and recipient sites by medical specialists resulted in an average score of 3.5 (out of a potential maximum of 5) at 3 months, and 3.9 at 6 months. The average score for patient satisfaction of the donor site was 6.2 (out of a potential maximum of 10), and an average score of 5.2 was noted for the recipient site. Histological examination performed before and after the skin expansion revealed an increase in porosity of the dermal layer. Conclusions This study confirmed the safety and applicability of the in vitro skin bioreactor, and further studies are needed to develop methods for increasing the skin expansion rate.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.169-181
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of outdoor weather conditions on subjective responses during physical activity. Background: The largest difference between indoor and outdoor conditions is the existence of the sun. The heat load from the sun has an influence on the heat gain of the human body and the intense degree of solar radiation affected thermal comfort. Method: Thirty eight people were exposed to a range of climatic conditions in the UK. Weather in England does not have extremely hot and cold temperature, and the current study was conducted under warm (summer and autumn) and cool (spring and summer) climates. Measurements of the climate included air temperature, radiant temperature (including solar load), humidity and wind around the subjects. Subjective responses were taken and physiological measurements included internal body temperature, heart rate and sweat loss. Results: This study was conducted under four kinds of environmental conditions and the environmental measurement was performed in September, December, March, and June. The values for sensation, comfort, preference, and pleasantness about four conditions were from 'neutral' to 'warm', from 'not uncomfortable' to 'slightly comfortable', from 'slightly cooler' to 'slightly warmer', and from 'neither pleasant nor unpleasant' and 'slightly unpleasant', respectively. All subjective responses showed differences depending on air temperature and wind speed, and had correlations with air temperature and wind speed (p<0.05). However, subjective responses showed no differences depending on the radiant temperature. The combined effects of environmental parameters were showed on some subjective responses. The combined effects of air temperature and radiant temperature on thermal sensation and pleasantness were significant. The combined effects of metabolic rate with air temperature, wind speed and solar radiation respectively have influences on some subjective responses. In the case of the relationships among subjective responses, thermal sensation had significant correlations with all subjective responses. The largest relationship was shown between preference and thermal sensation but acceptance showed the lowest relationship with the other subjective responses. Conclusion: The ranges of air temperature, radiant temperature, wind speed and solar radiation were $6.7^{\circ}C$ to $24.7^{\circ}C$, $17.9^{\circ}C$ to $56.6^{\circ}C$, $0.84ms^{-1}$ to $2.4ms^{-1}$, and $123Wm^{-2}$ to $876Wm^{-2}$ respectively. Each of air temperature and wind speed had significant relationships with subjective responses. The combined effects of environmental parameters on subjective responses were shown. Each radiant temperature and solar radiation did not show any relationships with subjective responses but the combinations of each radiant temperature and solar radiation with other environmental parameters had influences on subjective responses. The combinations of metabolic rate with air temperature, wind speed and solar radiation respectively have influences on subjective responses although metabolic rate alone hardly made influences on them. There were also significant relationships among subjective responses, and pleasantness generally showed relatively high relationships with comfort, preference, acceptance and satisfaction. Application: Subjective responses might be utilized to predict thermal stress of human and the application products reflecting human subjective responses might apply to the different fields such as fashion technology, wearable devices, and environmental design considering human's response etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.143-152
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• 2008

A comparative analysis of rooftop greening in Korea and Japan was carried out to understand current status of rooftop greening creation and technology and to give directions to frame a policy or plan on rooftop greening in Korea. Besides literature studies, questionnaire survey to Korean and Japanese experts on rooftop greening were done. As results, the annual creation areas, the types and the scales of rooftop greening in Seoul and Tokyo until 2007 were analysed and the satisfaction on the creation areas and technologies, the preference types, the present levels of and the most important parts among policies (support systems), technologies (creation methods), materials, maintenances and user programs for the development or expansion of rooftop greening in Korea and Japan were compared. The creation areas of rooftop greening in Seoul until 2007 was around 15% in Tokyo but the increasing rate of those in Seoul was faster than in Tokyo. Korean needs for the improvement on the rooftop greening systems and technologies were higher than Japanese, but both desired the expansion of rooftop greening areas in both countries. Korean preferred semi-intensive rooftop greening system but Japanese preferred intensive system. Korean and Japanese rooftop greening experts preferred policies (support systems) and technologies (creation methods) for the most important part for the development or expansion of rooftop greening in both countries.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

This study identifies intention to move, reasons for moving and housing preferences of US residents 55 and older living in non-subsidized and market-rate multifamily housing in the United States. Data were collected using an on-line survey; mixed methods were used for data analysis (N=431). Results show that more than half of the respondents intend to move. Senior residents who were younger than average age of the respondents, not married, renters, had no elevator, and reported lower residential satisfaction with their housing unit, multifamily housing community and local area were more likely to intend to move. Seven reasons for considering moving were found: finance, health, lifecycle stage, housing unit, multifamily housing community, other. When asked about their future housing, more than 80% desired independent living rather than assisted living facilities or nursing homes, 40% wanted to live in multifamily housing, and 51% hoped to own their housing rather than renting. The findings offer meaningful information to the multifamily housing industry in the United States and in countries where the population is aging and where multifamily housing is the predominant housing type.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2001

A phenomenological study was conducted to investigate the experiences of mothers pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Sample of nine mothers participated. Ten theme clusters emerged when the formulated meanings were organized into categories. During the infertility period, the participants were subject to self- depreciation, envy, anxiety, and depression. It changed their priorities in life from a job-oriented life to one where having a baby was the most important thing. After trying numerous alternative therapies, IVF became their last hope in having a baby. Since the success rate for IVF is low (only 20-30%), the participants for the treatment were overwhelmed with uncertainty, and it led to further anxiety, depression and despair. Success of pregnancy gave them extreme satisfaction, but they became very cautious in their day-to-day life because of their fear of abortion and early delivery. Some were even worried about the side effect of IVF during the pregnancy. Finally, the delivery of the baby gave them relief from the obligation of having a baby. Women did not have any difficulties in rearing a "test tube baby" except in the case of twins. Most women had no ethical difficulty in having a baby by IVF. However they did not wish this information to be revealed to other people. They again turned to IVF to have a son(s) when the resultory child(s) was a daughter(s). This is because of the strong preference for sons in Korean society.

• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.367-372
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• 2013

Cloud computing technology has been developing at an increasing expansion rate. Today most of firms are using this technology, making improving the quality of service one of the most important issues. To achieve this, the system must operate efficiently with less idle time and without deteriorating the customer satisfaction. This paper focuses on enhancing the efficiency of a conventional Genetic Algorithm (GA) for task scheduling in cloud computing using Fuzzy Logic (FL). This study collected a group of task schedules and assessed the quality of each task schedule with the user expectation. The work iterates the best scheduling order genetic operations to make the optimal task schedule. General GA takes considerable time to find the correct scheduling order when all the fitness function parameters are the same. GA is an intuitive approach for solving problems because it covers all possible aspects of the problem. When this approach is combined with fuzzy logic (FL), it behaves like a human brain as a problem solver from an existing database (Memory). The present scheme compares GA with and without FL. Using FL, the proposed system at a 100, 400 and 1000 sample size*5 gave 70%, 57% and 47% better improvement in the task time compared to GA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4593-4595
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• 2012

Introduction: Mobile learning enables users to interact with educational resources while in variable locations. Medical students in residency positions need to assimilate considerable knowledge besides their practical training and we therefore aimed to evaluate the impact of using short message service via cell phone as a learning tool in residents of Obstetrics and Gynecology in our hospital. Methods: We sent short messages including data about breast cancer to the cell phones of 25 residents of gynecology and obstetrics and asked them to study a well-designed booklet containing another set of information about the disease in the same period. The rate of learning derived from the two methods was compared by pre- and post-tests and self-satisfaction assessed by a relevant questionnaire at the end of the program. Results: The mobile learning method had a significantly better effect on learning and created more interest in the subject. Conclusion: Learning via receiving SMS can be an effective and appealing method of knowledge acquisition in higher levels of education.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.367-378
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• 2016

Thrust Vectoring is a dynamic feature that offers many benefits in terms of maneuverability and control effectiveness. Thrust vectoring capabilities make the satisfaction of take-off and landing requirements easier. Moreover, it can be a valuable control effector at low dynamic pressures, where traditional aerodynamic controls are less effective. A numerical investigation of Fluidic Thrust Vectoring (FTV) is completed to evaluate the use of fluidic injection to manipulate flow separation and cause thrust vectoring of the primary jet thrust. The methodology presented is general and can be used to study different techniques of fluidic thrust vectoring like shock-vector control, sonic-plane skewing and counterflow methods. For validation purposes the method will focus on the dual-throat nozzle concept. Internal nozzle performances and thrust vector angles were computed for several range of nozzle pressure ratios and fluidic injection flow rate. The numerical results obtained are compared with the analogues experimental data reported in the scientific literature. The model is integrated using a finite volume discretization of the compressible URANS equations coupled with a Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. Second order accuracy in space and time is achieved using an ENO scheme.