• Title/Summary/Keyword: treatment cost.

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Interface Control to get Higher Efficiency in a-Si:H Solar Cell

  • Han, Seung-Hee;Kim, En-Kyeom;Park, Won-Woong;Moon, Sun-Woo;Kim, Kyung-Hun;Kim, Sung-Min
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2012.08a
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    • pp.193-193
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    • 2012
  • In thin film silicon solar cells, p-i-n structure is adopted instead of p/n junction structure as in wafer-based Si solar cells. PECVD is the most widely used thin film deposition process for a-Si:H or ${\mu}c$-Si:H solar cells. Single-chamber PECVD system for a-Si:H solar cell manufacturing has the advantage of lower initial investment and maintenance cost for the equipment. However, in single-chamber PECVD system, doped and intrinsic layers are deposited in one plasma chamber, which inevitably impedes sharp dopant profiles at the interfaces due to the contamination from previous deposition process. The cross-contamination between layers is a serious drawback of single-chamber PECVD system. In this study, a new plasma process to solve the cross-contamination problem in a single-chamber PECVD system was suggested. In order to remove the deposited B inside of the plasma chamber during p-layer deposition, a high RF power was applied right after p-layer deposition with SiH4 gas off, which is then followed by i-layer, n-layer, and Ag top-electrode deposition without vacuum break. In addition to the p-i interface control, various interface control techniques such as FTO-glass pre-annealing in O2 environment to further reduce sheet resistance of FTO-glass, thin layer of TiO2 deposition to prevent H2 plasma reduction of FTO layer, and hydrogen plasma treatment prior to n-layer deposition, etc. were developed. The best initial solar cell efficiency using single-chamber PECVD system of 10.5% for test cell area of 0.2 $cm^2$ could be achieved by adopting various interface control methods.

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Effects of Phytase Supplementation on the Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Maize and Wheat Based Diets with Different Levels of Non-phytate Phosphorus

  • Singh, P.K.;Khatta, V.K.;Thakur, R.S.;Dey, S.;Sangwan, M.L.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.16 no.11
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    • pp.1642-1649
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    • 2003
  • An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytase supplementation on the growth performance, nutrients utilization and bone mineralization in broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks (n=480) were equally devided into eight treatment groups and fed maize or wheat based isocaloric, isonitrogenous and isocalcium diets having two non phytate phosphorus (NPP) concentrations (0.50% and 0.30%) and two phytase levels (0 and 500 phytase units/kg diet) in a 42 days growth trial. Maize based dietary treatments were MC (NPP 0.50%, MN (NPP 0.30%), MNP (MN+500 units of phytase) and MCP (MC+500 units of phytase), whereas wheat based experimental diets were WC (NPP 0.50%), WN (NPP 0.30%), WNP (WN+500 units of phytase) and WCP (WC+500 units of phytase). The NPP levels were maintained by dicalcium phosphate. Reduction in dietary NPP depressed live weight gain and feed intake and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR). Phytase supplementation to low NPP (0.30%) diets significantly (p<0.05) improved the growth performances of broilers. The supplementation to low NPP diets allowed complete, safe and economic replacement of dietary inorganic P (dicalcium phosphate) to reduce feed cost per kg live weight gain of broilers. Reduction in dietary NPP did not affect retention of nutrients except phosphorus (P) but had a significant (p<0.05) depression in tibia ash and minerals (Ca, P) concentration in serum and tibia ash. Phytase supplementation at low NPP level was effective (p<0.05) in improving the retention of dry matter, Ca and P and Ca and P concentration in serum and tibia ash. However, the supplementation was not effective at high level of NPP (0.50%). There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in carcass quality among dietary treatments. The response of phytase was greater in low NPP and maize based diets as compared with high NPP and wheat based diets, respectively. The results show that phytase supplementation to low NPP (0.30%) diets improved the growth performance, relative retention of nutrients (N, Ca and P) and minerals (Ca, P) status of blood and bone in broiler chickens, with a better efficacy in maize based diets.

Effects of Nutrient Specifications and Xylanase Plus Phytase Supplementation of Wheat-based Diets on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chicks

  • Selle, P.H.;Huang, K.H.;Muir, W.I.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.16 no.10
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    • pp.1501-1509
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    • 2003
  • The simultaneous addition of xylanase (5,600 EXU/kg) and phytase (500 FTU/kg) feed enzymes to wheat-based broiler diets was investigated. Starter, grower and finisher diets, with three tiers of nutrient specifications, were fed to 1,440 broiler chicks kept on deep litter from 1-42 days post-hatch, without and with xylanase plus phytase, to determine the effects of diet type and enzyme supplementation on growth performance. The nutrient specifications of type A diets were standard; energy density and protein/amino acid levels were reduced on a least-cost basis to formulate type B diets and further reduced to type C diets. Phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) levels were adjusted in supplemented diets. From 1-42 days post-hatch, diet type significantly influenced growth performance. Birds on type C diets had lower growth rates (2,429 vs. 2,631 g/bird; p<0.001), higher feed intakes (4,753 vs. 4,534 g/bird; p<0.005) and less efficient feed conversion (1.96 vs. 1.72; p<0.001) than birds offered type A diets. Enzyme supplementation increased growth rates by 3.2% (2,580 vs. 2,501 g/bird; p<0.005) and improved feed efficiency by 2.7% (1.80 vs. 1.85; p<0.05) over the entire feeding period. There were no interactions between diet type and enzyme supplementation. At 21 days, 5 out of 30 birds per pen were transferred to cages to ascertain treatment effect on apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and nitrogen (N) retention. Xylanase plus phytase enhanced AME (13.48 to 13.91 MJ/kg DM; p<0.001) and N retention (56.3 to 59.7%; p<0.005). Carcass and breast weights of the caged birds were determined following commercial processing. Diet type significantly influenced breast weight, carcass weight and yield. Birds offered Type A diets, in comparison to Type C diets, supported heavier breast (467 vs. 424 g; p<0.001) and carcass weights (1,868 vs. 1,699 g; p<0.001) with superior carcass yields (71.8 vs. 70.6%; p<0.005). Enzyme addition increased carcass weight by 3.9% (1,752 vs. 1,821 g; p<0.005) and breast weight by 5.8% (431 vs. 456 g; p<0.01) without influencing yields. Feed ingredient costs per kg live weight gain and per kg carcass weight indicated that enzyme addition was economically feasible, where supplementation of Type A diets generated the most effective results. Importantly, soluble and total non-starch polysaccharide and phytate contents of the wheat used were typical by local standards. This study confirms the potential of supplementing wheat-based broiler diets with xylanase plus phytase but further investigations are required to define the most appropriate inclusion rates and dietary nutrient specifications in this context.

A Study on the Patterns of Alternative Therapy Experienced by the Aged (노인이 경험한 대체요법의 양상에 관한 연구 1)

  • 이강이;김순이
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.336-345
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    • 1999
  • This study looks at the various alternative therapy methods used in day to day life by elderly, over 60 years of age. The elderly have come to know and practice these methods for the following reasons it is good for the health ; it is the method used in the of fen days when there wesn't modern medicine ; it has been passed down from generations ; it can be done at home without having the need to go to the hospital ; acupuncture or poulticing can be used ; it can be done at home, which was an important factor in rural areas where hospitals are few and far between ; and 〔herbal〕 medicine could be prepared at home at no cost ; it derives from experience ; it is impossible to ignore tradition passed down through the generations. Diet control and plants (herbs) are methods most often used. as they are easy to find and can be readily used in critical situations. Other methods include oriental medicine practices of moxibustion with moxa cone, negative therapy, hand and finger acupunture, finger press method. ordinary acupunture, manual healing methods of massage. diaphoretic therapy and meditation to reach a state of calm, and qigong dirigation. The reasons for its use are as follows ; it has been used before ; it is effective ; there is some improvement after the treatment ; it is not harmful to the body ; medicine cannot be obtained and it is the only thing available ; it is not good for an old person to go to the hospital everyday. the symptoms are not serious enough to go to a hospital : and acupuncture is for these things. The means that the elderly have come to practice these methods are : it has been used since the past ; it has been told by the elders ; they have been told by friends ; it was part of their knowledge ; and they have come to know by watching their mother. Further, to regain vitality lost through old age, the elderly have relied on hot soup. a hearty meal. brewed honey water, pumpkin, or ginseng. Humans, by instinct. would rub or massage the areas that caused pain. These actions, combined with a breathing technique have been recognized in Tong-Eui-Bo-Gam(the essential of eastern medicine), the complete work of early modern medicine, are a useful means to revive chi(기). This knowledge is thought to have greatly affected our heathy lifestyle. Furthermore, though the demand for medical services would increase with age, the elderly have not always been able to tend to their needs at the hospital for reasons economic or other. Hence, these alternative therapy methods seem to have been practiced as a temporary means of relief. The excellence of our traditional therapeutic custom has not received full recognition due to the argument relating to its scientific merits. As a result, it has become vital to prove their effectiveness through scientific and other experimental means. The potency of moxibustion with moxa cone and hand and finger acupunture have been proven scientifically. but diet and herbal methods appear to be practiced as a result of customs passed down from generations. In addition, it is submitted that the effectiveness of the traditional methods of disease control and our heathy lifestyle that are easily found in the nursing field must be verified.

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Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Determination of Cr(Ⅲ) and Cr(Ⅳ) in Chromium Plating Solution via Flow-Through Analysis (흐름계를 이용한 크롬도금 용액의 Cr(Ⅲ)와 Cr(Ⅵ)의 분광학적 동시 분석 방법)

  • Kim, Sun Kwan;Nam, Hakhyun;So, Jae Chun;Lee, Won;Cha, Geun Sig;Han, Sang Hyun
    • Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.87-93
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    • 1995
  • The amount of Cr(Ⅲ) and Cr(Ⅵ) in a chromium plating solution could be determined simultaneously within five minutes using UV/VIS spectrophotometer coupled with a flow-through analysis(FTA) setup. The λmax's at 580 nm and 440 nm which correspond to Cr(Ⅲ) and Cr(Ⅵ), respectively, well obey the Beer-Lambert law in the range over 0.05 g/L for Cr(Ⅲ) and 0.005 g/L for Cr(Ⅵ). when the pH of the sample is less than 4.0, the absorption extinction coefficients of those peaks are not much dependent on the proton concentration. The amount of Cr(Ⅲ) and Cr(Ⅵ), and the total chromium in post treatment chromium plating solution, which normally has few g/L of Cr concentration, could be easily measured using UV/VIS spectrophotometry after the sample had been diluted with sulfuric acid of pH=1.0 in the flow-through analysis setup; this method is far more convenient and faster than the common redox titration (which requires at least 40 min/sample) method, while the accuracy of the method is highly comparable to conventional titrimetric method. Since the implementation of an PTA-UV/VIS setup in any plating industry is cost effective and easy to operate, the analytic method described in this paper may be applied directly for in situ analysis of plating solutions.

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Statistical Estimates from Black Non-Hispanic Female Breast Cancer Data

  • Khan, Hafiz Mohammad Rafiqullah;Ibrahimou, Boubakari;Saxena, Anshul;Gabbidon, Kemesha;Abdool-Ghany, Faheema;Ramamoorthy, Venkataraghavan;Ullah, Duff;Stewart, Tiffanie Shauna-Jeanne
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.19
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    • pp.8371-8376
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    • 2014
  • Background: The use of statistical methods has become an imperative tool in breast cancer survival data analysis. The purpose of this study was to develop the best statistical probability model using the Bayesian method to predict future survival times for the black non-Hispanic female breast cancer patients diagnosed during 1973-2009 in the U.S. Materials and Methods: We used a stratified random sample of black non-Hispanic female breast cancer patient data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional regression methods. Four advanced types of statistical models, Exponentiated Exponential (EE), Beta Generalized Exponential (BGE), Exponentiated Weibull (EW), and Beta Inverse Weibull (BIW) were utilized for data analysis. The statistical model building criteria, Akaike Information Criteria (AIC), Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC), and Deviance Information Criteria (DIC) were used to measure the goodness of fit tests. Furthermore, we used the Bayesian approach to obtain the predictive survival inferences from the best-fit data based on the exponentiated Weibull model. Results: We identified the highest number of black non-Hispanic female breast cancer patients in Michigan and the lowest in Hawaii. The mean (SD), of age at diagnosis (years) was 58.3 (14.43). The mean (SD), of survival time (months) for black non-Hispanic females was 66.8 (30.20). Non-Hispanic blacks had a significantly increased risk of death compared to Black Hispanics (Hazard ratio: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.51-2.54). Compared to other statistical probability models, we found that the exponentiated Weibull model better fits for the survival times. By making use of the Bayesian method predictive inferences for future survival times were obtained. Conclusions: These findings will be of great significance in determining appropriate treatment plans and health-care cost allocation. Furthermore, the same approach should contribute to build future predictive models for any health related diseases.

Guideline of Improvement and Evaluation of Prescribing Errors in Colorectal Chemotherapy (대장암 항암 화학요법의 처방 오류 평가 및 개선안 제시)

  • Lim, Hyun-Soo;Lim, Sung Cil
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.158-166
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    • 2013
  • Background: Colorectal cancer shows a significant increase in South Korea due to westernization of diet, lack of dietary fiber, drinking and smoking, irregular defecation. There are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy in treatment of colorectal cancer. There may be a medication errors in the process of chemotherapy because of its high toxicity, narrow therapeutic index and the health status of cancer patients. Consequently medication errors can cause increasing the risk of death, prolonging hospital stay and increasing the cost. Among medication errors on medication use process, prescribing errors are of particular concern due to higher risk of serious consequences. It is important for pharmacist to prevent the prescribing errors before reaching patient. Therefore we analyzed the prescriptions of colorectal cancer, classified prescribing errors, suggested guideline to reduce prescribing errors and verified the importance of pharmacist's role in prevention of medication errors activity. Methods: We collected the numbers of prescriptions of colorectal cancer(n=2,373) through anti cancer management program and EMR and analyzed the errors of prescriptions by categories from Oct 1st 2011 to Sep 30th 2012 at Chungbuk National University Hospital. We reviewed the prescriptions as follows - patients' characteristics, the result of test, previous prescriptions, characteristics of antineoplastic agents and patients' allergy, drug sensitivity, adverse events. Prescriptions are classified into inpatient and outpatient and analyzed the errors of prescriptions by categories (dosage form, dose, input, diluents, regimen, product). Results: Total prescription number of inpatient and outpatient of colorectal cancer was 1,193 and 1,180 and that of errors was 107(9%) and 22(1.9%), respectively. In case of errors of categories, the number of errors of dosage form is 69 and 8, errors of dose is 15 and 5, errors of input is 9 and 9 in inpatient and outpatient prescriptions, respectively. Errors of diluents is 8, errors of regimen is 3, errors of product is 3 in only inpatient prescriptions. In case of errors of categories by inpatient department, the number of errors of dosage form is 34 and 35, errors of dose is 7 and 8, errors of input is 6 and 3, errors of diluents is 4 and 4, errors of regimen is 2 and 1, errors of product is 2 and 1 in SG and HO, respectively. In case of outpatient department, the number of errors of dosage form is 8 in HO, errors of dose is 5 in HO, errors of input is 5 and 4 in SG and HO, respectively. Conclusions: The rate of errors of inpatient is higher than that of outpatient. Junior doctors are engaged in prescriptions of inpatient and pharmacist need to pay attention to review all prescriptions. If prescribing errors are discovered, pharmacist should contact the prescriber and correct the errors without delay. The guideline to reduce prescribing errors might be upgrading software of anti cancer management program, education for physicians as well as pharmacists and calling prescriber's attention to preventing recurrence of errors.

Availability of MADLDI-TOF MS for Identification of Gram Positive Bacilli Isolated from Blood Culture

  • Choi, Jin-Un;Kim, Sang-Ha;Hwang, Su-Jeong;Yu, Young-Bin;Kim, Sunghyun;Kim, Young-Kwon
    • Biomedical Science Letters
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.108-115
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    • 2018
  • In the present study, results of the identification of Gram-positive bacilli (GPB) were analyzed by using the MALDI-TOF MS technique to score each 2-year blood culture at a university hospital. In addition, 16S rRNA sequence analyses and MALDI-TOF MS results are compared to targeting strains that had been isolated two or more times within the same patient, to evaluate the usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS in GPB identification. According to the cut-off (${\geq}1.7$) criteria, there were 410 (57.5%) reliable strains and 303 (42.5%) non-identified strains among the GPB identification results of 713 strains, using a microflex MALDI Biotyper (Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Bremen, Germany). The isolation appeared most often in the following order: Corynebacterium striatum, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Paenibacillus urinalis, and Listeria monocytogenes. Nearly three-fourths, 66 out of 89 (74.2%) of the strains for Corynebacterium striatum; 44 out of 60 (73.3%) strains for Bacillus cereus; and all (25 out of 25, 100%) Listeria monocytogenes strains were identified by their high scores of 2.0 or higher. Most (293 strains out of 303) non-identified strains were strains isolated only once and not significant as infectious bacilli. A total of 43 out of 50 (86.0%) strains matched and were able to be identified based on the 16 rRNA sequencing comparison results of strains that were isolated twice or more within the same patient and significant as infection bacilli. Non-matching among 5 out of 7 strains was not identified, even with MALDI-TOF MS. In conclusion, GPB can be identified in blood cultures using MALDI-TOF MS. This can be done accurately with ease, rapidly, and at a low cost. It is also thought to be helpful in GPB diagnosis and treatment.

A Survey on Korean Medicine Doctors' Recognition and Clinical Fields of Treating Primary Dysmenorrhea for Developing Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline for Dysmenorrhea (월경통 한의표준임상진료지침 개발을 위한 한의사의 인식과 원발성 월경통 치료에 관한 실태조사)

  • Woo, Hye-Lin;Ji, Hae-Ri;Park, Kyoung-Sun;Hwang, Deok-Sang;Lee, Chang-Hoon;Jang, Jun-Bock;Lee, Jin-Moo
    • The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.93-106
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: This study is aimed to figure out Korean medicine doctors' recognition of Korean Medicine clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and clinical fields of treating primary dysmenorrhea before developing CPG for dysmenorrhea. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 515 Korean medicine doctors belonging to the Association of Korean Medicine by e-mail and analyzed the answers. Results: 81.2% of the respondents knew the concepts and contents of CPG, and 98.7% agreed about the necessity of CPG. 94.2% were willing to use CPG for dysmenorrhea in learning and treating. Average number of patients visiting the respondents' clinics for dysmenorrhea was 3.9, the main age group was 20s (63.1%), and the treatments the patients given before were mostly Western treatments such as pain killers and hormonal drugs. The respondents answered that they diagnosed patients with dysmenorrhea mainly with pattern diagnosis (41.6%), and treated them with herbal medicine (39.2%), acupuncture (31.6%) and moxibustion (22.6%) for 2-3 months. They answered that the acupoint they use most was San yin jiao, and the prescription was Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan, They answered that the field considered to need further study was decoction of herbal medicine most (27.4%), and the field considered to need insurance coverage was also decoction of herbal medicine most (40.2%). Conclusions: We figured out Korean Medicine doctors' recognition of CPG, clinical diagnosis, treatment, cost for treating dysmenorrhea, and fields of clinical research and policy they required.

Process Simulation and Economic Feasibility of Upgraded Biooil Production Plant from Sawdust (톱밥으로부터 생산되는 개질 바이오오일 생산공장의 공정모사 및 경제성 분석)

  • Oh, Chang-Ho;Lim, Young-Il
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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    • v.56 no.4
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    • pp.496-523
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    • 2018
  • The objective of this study is to evaluate the economic feasibility of two fast pyrolysis and biooil upgrading (FPBU) plants including feed drying, fast pyrolysis by fluidized-bed, biooil recovery, hydro-processing for biooil upgrading, electricity generation, and wastewater treatment. The two FPBU plants are Case 1 of an FPBU plant with steam methane reforming (SMR) for $H_2$ generation (FPBU-HG, 20% yield), and Case 2 of an FPBU with external $H_2$ supply (FPBUEH, 25% yield). The process flow diagrams (PFDs) for the two plants were constructed, and the mass and energy balances were calculated, using a commercial process simulator (ASPEN Plus). A four-level economic potential approach (4-level EP) was used for techno-economic analysis (TEA) under the assumption of sawdust 100 t//d containing 40% water, 30% equity, capital expenditure equal to the equity, $H_2$ price of $1050/ton, and hydrocarbon yield from dried sawdust equal to 20 and 25 % for Case 1 and 2, respectively. TCI (total capital investment), TPC (total production cost), ASR (annual sales revenue), and MFSP (minimum fuel selling price) of Case 1 were $22.2 million, $3.98 million/yr, $4.64 million/yr, and $1.56/l, respectively. Those of Case 2 were $16.1 million, $5.20 million/yr, $5.55 million/yr, and $1.18/l, respectively. Both ROI (return on investment) and PBP (payback period) of Case 1(FPBU-HG) and Case 2(FPBU-EH) were the almost same. If the plant capacity increases into 1,500 t/d for Case 1 and Case 2, ROI would be improved into 15%/yr.