• Health Policy and Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.84-101
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• 1993

The current method of rate adjustment is based on the evaluation of the financial performance of hospitals. The method has the disadvantages such as too complicated, expensive process as well as low reliability due to small sample size. This study, therefore, develops a new model for the rate adjustment with the use of the composite index. In addition to that, it examines the validity of the model by comparing the result of the new method with that of the conventional method. The idea of the new model comes from the Medicare Economic Index(MEI) on which physician fees for the Medicare patients are adjusted periodically in the United States. Medical costs are classified into three groups : labor costs, materials and other expenses. Labor costs are subdivided into physicians and other personnels. Materials are subdivided into drugs and others. Other expenses are subdivided into 5 items. Macro economic indices are selected for each cost item in order to reflect the cost inflation during the specific period. Then the composite index which integrate all items according to the ration of each item in the total costs is calculated. The result from the application of empirical data to the new model is very similar to that of the current method. Furthermore, this method is very simple and also to easy to get social concensus. This model can be replaced the current method based on the analysis of the financial performance for the adjustment of medical fees.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.45-48
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• 2006

The conduction-cooled HTS SMES is operated in cryogenic and high vacuum condition. Thus. Insulation design at cryogenic temperature and high vacuum is a key and an important element that should be established to accomplish compact design is a big advantage of HTS SMES. However, the behaviors of insulators for cryogenic conditions in vacuum are virtually unknown. Therefore, active research and development of insulation concerning application of the conduction cooled HTS SMES was needed. In this study, the insulation characteristics at experimented high vacuum and cryogenic similar to running condition of SMES system. Also, investigated about insulation characteristics of suitable some materials to insulator for conduction-cooled HTS SMES. As these results. the basis data was obtained for insulation materials selection and insulation design for development of 600kJ class conduction-cooled HTS SMES.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.155-163
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• 2022

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can give rise to a vast array of differentiated derivatives, which have gained great attention in the field of in vitro toxicity evaluation. We have previously demonstrated that hPSC-derived alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) are phenotypically and functionally similar to primary AECs and could be more biologically relevant alternatives for assessing the potential toxic materials including in fine dust and cigarette smoking. Therefore, in this study, we employed hPSC-AECs to evaluate their responses to exposure of various concentrations of diesel particulate matter (dPM), cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and nicotine for 48 hrs in terms of cell death, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We found that all of these toxic materials significantly upregulated the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, the exposure of dPM (100 ㎍/mL) strongly induced upregulation of genes related with cell death, inflammation, and oxidative stress compared with other concentrations of CSE and nicotine. These results suggest that hPSC-AECs could be a robust in vitro platform to evaluate pulmotoxicity of various air pollutants and harmful chemicals.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.180-190
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• 2023

This study deals with residual stress prediction and hardness evaluation within cross ball grooved inner race fabricated by cold upsetting process consisted of upsetting and ejection steps. A raw workpiece material of AISI 5120H (SCr420H) is first spheroidized and annealed, then phosphophyllite coated to form solid lubricant layer on its outer surface. To investigate influences of the heat treatment, uni-axial compression tests and Vickers micro-hardness measurements are conducted. Three-dimensional elasto-plastic FE simulations on the upsetting step and the ejection one are performed to visualize the residual stress and the ductile (plastic deformation) damage. External feature of the fabricated inner race is fully captured by using an optical 3D scanner, and the micro-hardness is measured on internal cross-sections. Consequently, the dimensional compatibility between the simulated inner race and the fabricated one is ensured with a difference of under 0.243mm that satisfied permissible error range of ±0.50mm on the grooved surface, and the predicted residual stress is verified to have similar distribution tendency with the measured Vickers micro-hardness.

• Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.33-56
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• 2023

Although English-language academic materials on Kang Jeungsan (강증산/姜甑山 1871-1909) are steadily increasing, the same cannot be said of Jo Jeongsan (조정산/道主 趙鼎山 1895-1958) who remains under-researched as figure of profound significance to the Korean new religion Daesoon Jinrihoe (대순진리회/大巡眞理會). Furthermore, in materials produced by Daesoon Jinrihoe that are later translated into English, the connections that exist between Kang Jeungsan and Jo Jeongsan are often reduced to a few representative examples, when, in fact, many additional examples could be provided for a more comprehensive understanding. Comprehending the basis for the first succession in the three-figure orthodox religious lineage of Daesoon Jinrihoe is crucial to task of properly differentiating Daesoon Jinrihoe from seemingly similar Korean new religions that enshrine Kang Jeungsan as their Supreme God. The research presented in this article, "A Study on the Relationship between Kang Jeungsan and Jo Jeongsan Described in Chapter Two of Progress of the Order," will provide readers with a thorough overview of the basis for Jo Jeongsan's successorship in the orthodox religious lineage of Daesoon Jinrihoe, through an in-depth exploration of Chapter Two of Progress of the Order from Daesoon Jinrihoe's main scripture, The Canonical Scripture. Furthermore, this article will include special explanatory notes to ensure that it can be easily read even by non-specialists.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.269-283
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• 2024

Cultured meat is one of the research areas currently in the spotlight in the agricultural and livestock industry, and refers to cells obtained from livestock that are proliferated and differentiated and processed into edible meat. These cell-cultured meats are mainly studied at the lab-scale by culturing them in flasks, and for commercial use, they are produced using scaffolds that mimic cell supports. Scaffolds are broadly divided into fiber scaffolds, hydrogels, and micro-carrier beads, and these are classified according to processing methods and materials. In particular, a scaffold is essential for mass production, which allows it to have appearance, texture, and flavor characteristics similar to meat. Because cultured meat is cultured in a state where oxygen is blocked, it may be lighter in color or produce less flavor substances than edible meat, but these can be compensated for by adding natural substances to the scaffolds or improving fat adhesion. In addition, it has the advantage of being able to express the texture characteristics of the scaffolds that make up the meat in various ways depending on the materials and manufacturing methods of the scaffolds. As a result, to increase consumers' preference for cultured meat and its similarity to edible meat, it is believed that manufacturing scaffolds taking into account the characteristics of edible meat will serve as an important factor. Therefore, continued research and interest in scaffolds is believed to be necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.19-22
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• 2024

The field of synthetic biology has emerged in response to the ongoing progress in the life sciences. Advances have been made in medicine, farming, eating, making materials, and more. Synthetic biology is the exploration of using living organisms to create new organisms. By manipulating specific genes to express targeted proteins, proteins can be created that are both productive and cost-effective. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) are employed for protein separation during the production process involving microorganisms. This study centers on Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) to showcase its utility in the food industry and food management. SPE is predominantly utilized as a pretreatment method to eliminate impurities from samples. In comparison to LLE, this method presents benefits such as decreased time and labor requirements, streamlined solvent extraction, automation capabilities, and compatibility with various other analytical instruments. Anion exchange chromatography (AEC) utilizes a similar methodology. Pharmaceutical companies utilize these technologies to improve the purity of biopharmaceuticals, thereby guaranteeing their quality. Used in the food and beverage industry to test chemical properties of raw materials and finished products. This exemplifies the potential of these technologies to enhance industrial development and broaden the scope of applications in synthetic biology.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.166-170
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• 2019

Objective: To establish a cost-effective and easily available phantom for training residents in ultrasound-guided fine needle thyroid nodule targeting punctures. Materials and Methods: Tofu, drinking straws filled with coupling gel, a urine tube, and 21-gauge needles were used to generate a phantom thyroid with nodules for training. Twelve radiology residents were involved in the study. The puncture success rates were recorded and compared before and after phantom training using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: On ultrasonography, tofu mimicked the texture of the thyroid. Drinking straws filled with coupling gel mimicked vessels. The urine tube filled with air mimicked the trachea, and 21-gauge needles mimicked small nodules in the transverse section. The entire phantom was similar to the structure of the thyroid and surrounding tissues. The puncture success rates of radiology residents were significantly increased from 34.4 ± 14.2% to 66.7 ± 19.5% after training (p = 0.003). The phantom was constructed in approximately 10 minutes and materials cost less than CNY 10 (approximately $ 1.5) at a local store. Conclusion: The tofu model was cost-effective, easily attainable, and effective for training residents in ultrasound-guided fine needle thyroid nodule targeting punctures in vitro.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.325-338
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• 2024

Interim dry cask storage systems comprising AISI 304 or 316 stainless steel canisters have become critical for the storage of spent nuclear fuel from light water reactors in the Republic of Korea. However, the combination of microstructural sensitization, residual tensile stress, and corrosive environments can induce chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) for stainless steel canisters. Suppressing one or more of these three variables can effectively mitigate CISCC initiation or propagation. Surface-modification technologies, such as surface peening and burnishing, focus on relieving residual tensile stress by introducing compressive stress to near-surface regions of materials. Overlay coating methods such as cold spray can serve as a barrier between the environment and the canister, while also inducing compressive stress similar to surface peening. This approach can both mitigate CISCC initiation and facilitate CISCC repair. Surface-painting methods can also be used to isolate materials from external corrosive environments. However, environmental variables, such as relative humidity, composition of surface deposits, and pH can affect the CISCC behavior. Therefore, in addition to research on surface modification and coating technologies, site-specific environmental investigations of various nuclear power plants are required.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.218-222
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• 2000

W-Ti film properties for X-ray absorber applications have been investigated with Ti composition have been investigated with Ti composition variation. W-Ti films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering system. As the working pressure increases, film density decreases and film stress changes from compressive to tensile. The transition pressure (where the film stress in zero) and the stress gradient decrease by adding Ti into W-Ti(6.5 at.%) film shows the smallest stress gradient and transition pressure. It also shows high density ($17.7g/\textrm{cm}^3$) similar to that of pure-W ($17.8g/\textrm{cm}^3$) at the transition pressure. All the films show columnar structure, and its size decreases with increasing Ti composition. Surface roughness and thermal stability are improved by Ti-addition, resulting in a better property for X-ray absorber applications.