• Journal of Venture Innovation
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2024

This study aims to elucidate the characteristics of big tech platform companies' sports content business in an environment of rapid digital transformation. Specifically, this study examines the market structure of big tech platform companies with a focus on Amazon, revealing the role of sports content within this structure through an analysis of Amazon's sports marketing business and provides an outlook on the sports content business of big tech platform companies. Based on two-sided market platform business models, big tech platform companies incorporate sports content as a strategy to enhance the value of their platforms. Therefore, sports content is used as a tool to enhance the value of their platforms and to consolidate their monopoly position by maximizing profits by increasing the synergy of platform ecosystems such as infrastructure. Amazon acquires popular live sports broadcasting rights on a continental or national basis and supplies them to its platforms, which not only increases the number of new customers and purchasing effects, but also provides IT solution services to sports organizations and teams while planning and supplying various promotional contents, thus creates synergy across Amazon's platforms including its advertising business. Amazon also expands its business opportunities and increases its overall value by supplying live sports contents to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime, providing technical services to various stakeholders through Amazon Web Services, and offering Amazon Marketing Cloud services for analyzing and predicting advertisers' advertising and marketing performance. This gives rise to a new paradigm in the sports marketing business in the digital era, stemming from the difference in market structure between big tech companies based on two-sided market platforms and legacy global companies based on one-sided markets. The core of this new model is a business through the development of various contents based on live sports streaming rights, and sports content marketing will become a major field of sports marketing along with traditional broadcasting rights and sponsorship. Big tech platform global companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Google have the potential to become new global sports marketing companies, and the current sports marketing and advertising companies, as well as teams and leagues, are facing both crises and opportunities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.84 no.4
• /
• pp.900-910
• /
• 2023

Purpose To assess normal CT scans with quantitative CT (QCT) analysis based on smoking habits and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials and Methods From January 2013 to December 2014, 90 male patients with normal chest CT and quantification analysis results were enrolled in our study [non-COPD never-smokers (n = 38) and smokers (n = 45), COPD smokers (n = 7)]. In addition, an age-matched cohort study was performed for seven smokers with COPD. The square root of the wall area of a hypothetical bronchus of internal perimeter 10 mm (Pi10), skewness, kurtosis, mean lung attenuation (MLA), and percentage of low attenuation area (%LAA) were evaluated. Results Among patients without COPD, the Pi10 of smokers (4.176 ± 0.282) was about 0.1 mm thicker than that of never-smokers (4.070 ± 0.191, p = 0.047), and skewness and kurtosis of smokers (2.628 ± 0.484 and 6.448 ± 3.427) were lower than never-smokers (2.884 ± 0.624, p = 0.038 and 8.594 ± 4.944, p = 0.02). The Pi10 of COPD smokers (4.429 ± 0.435, n = 7) was about 0.4 mm thicker than never-smokers without COPD (3.996 ± 0.115, n = 14, p = 0.005). There were no significant differences in MLA and %LAA between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion Even on normal CT scans, QCT showed that the airway walls of smokers are thicker than never-smokers regardless of COPD and it preceded lung parenchymal changes.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.59-70
• /
• 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze each country's infectious disease response capacities and, based on this, find areas for improvement in Korea's infectious disease management response. Methods: First, the capacity to respond to the COVID-19 infectious disease was analyzed by country using the SPAR scores of 96 countries around the world released by WHO in 2022. Second, we analyzed each country's specific COVID-19 quarantine performance using Our World in Data and the Global Health Security Index (GHSI). Results: First, the quarantine intensity index on January 24, 2021 was the highest in the Southeast Asia branch at 67.6, which had strong quarantine measures, and the lowest at 44.5 in the Africa branch. As of December 31, 2022, the quarantine intensity index in Europe was significantly lowered to 11.6. Second, the factor that influenced the SPAR indicator on the total number of patients per million population was national laboratory (C4), p=.027, and the factor that influenced the total number of deaths per million population was infection prevention and control (C9), p=.005., Risk Communication and Community Participation (C10) p=.040. The influential factor on GDP per capita was infection prevention and control (C9) p=.009, and the influential factor on GHSI was infection prevention and control (C9) p=.002. Conclusion: The research findings indicate that it was difficult to find a correlation between the SPAR, which is each country's self-assessment of their infectious disease capacities, and the number of COVID-19 cases or the intensity of pandemic responses. However, mortality rates, as well as factors such as the Global Health Security Index (GHSI) and national income, appear to be somewhat influenced. For future improvements in infectious disease management and response in our country, it is necessary to develop pandemic strategies that can reduce socio-economic costs based on more scientific and reliable data like JEE or GHSI, especially in preparation for potential unknown emerging infectious diseases. Based on this, proactive decision-making led by a control tower of experts and effective health communication are also required to respond to public health crises at a national level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.84 no.6
• /
• pp.1309-1323
• /
• 2023

Purpose To assess the quality of four images obtained using single-breath-hold (SBH), single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) and multiple-breath-hold (MBH) SSFSE with and without deep-learning based reconstruction (DLR) in patients with Crohn's disease. Materials and Methods This study included 61 patients who underwent MR enterography (MRE) for Crohn's disease. The following images were compared: SBH-SSFSE with (SBH-DLR) and without (SBH-conventional reconstruction [CR]) DLR and MBH-SSFSE with (MBH-DLR) and without (MBH-CR) DLR. Two radiologists independently reviewed the overall image quality, artifacts, sharpness, and motion-related signal loss using a 5-point scale. Three inflammatory parameters were evaluated in the ileum, the terminal ileum, and the colon. Moreover, the presence of a spatial misalignment was evaluated. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated at two locations for each sequence. Results DLR significantly improved the image quality, artifacts, and sharpness of the SBH images. No significant differences in scores between MBH-CR and SBH-DLR were detected. SBH-DLR had the highest SNR (p < 0.001). The inter-reader agreement for inflammatory parameters was good to excellent (κ = 0.76-0.95) and the inter-sequence agreement was nearly perfect (κ = 0.92-0.94). Misalignment artifacts were observed more frequently in the MBH images than in the SBH images (p < 0.001). Conclusion SBH-DLR demonstrated equivalent quality and performance compared to MBH-CR. Furthermore, it can be acquired in less than half the time, without multiple BHs and reduce slice misalignments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.85 no.3
• /
• pp.618-630
• /
• 2024

Purpose To compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ethanol ablation (EA) followed by RFA in treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods We included 243 nodules from 243 patients who underwent RFA for mixed cystic and solid benign nodules. The nodules were divided into two groups (RFA alone and EA + RFA). We evaluated volume reduction rate (VRR), therapeutic success rate, improvement in symptomatic and cosmetic issues, complications, and adverse effects. Results The RFA group included 204 patients, and the EA + RFA group included 39 patients. The long-term success rates in the RFA only and EA + RFA groups were 90.2% and 97.4%, respectively. The mean VRR at the last follow-up in the RFA and EA + RFA groups were 81.6% and 87.2%, respectively. Therapeutic results were similar in both groups at the last followup. Cosmetic and symptomatic problems markedly improved in both groups. No major complications were observed. Conclusion Both RFA alone and EA + RA are safe and effective methods for treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules, although EA + RFA is slightly more effective.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.1
• /
• pp.127-137
• /
• 2022

Purpose To assess the prevalence of incidentally detected lumbar spondylolysis in children. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 809 patients under the age of 11 years (mean age, 7.0 ± 2.7 years; boys:girls = 479:330) who underwent abdominal and pelvic CT between March 2014 and December 2018. We recorded the presence, level, and laterality (unilateral or bilateral) of spondylolysis. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of spondylolysis: the spondylolysis (SP) and non-SP groups. Results In total, 21 cases of spondylolysis were detected in 20 patients (20/809, 2.5%). The mean age of the SP group was higher than that of the non-SP group (7.8 ± 1.8 vs. 6.9 ± 2.7 years, p > 0.05). The prevalence of spondylolysis in boys was higher than that in girls (15/479 [3.1%] vs. 5/330 [1.5%], p > 0.05). The prevalence of spondylolysis in school-age children (6-10 year olds) was higher than that in preschool-age children (0-5 year olds) (17/538 [3.2%] vs. 3/271 [1.1%], p > 0.05). L5 was the most common level of spondylolysis (76.2%); one 8-year-old boy had two-level spondylolysis. One case of isthmic spondylolisthesis was detected in a 10-year-old boy (1/809, 0.1%). There were 11 unilateral spondylolysis cases (11/21, 52.4%). Conclusion In our study, the prevalence of spondylolysis in children under the age of 11 was 2.5%. The prevalence was higher in boys than in girls and in school-age than in preschool-age children, despite the lack of any statistically significant differences.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.168-181
• /
• 2024

Constructed wetlands (CWs) deliver a range of ecosystem services, including the removal of contaminants, sequestration and storage of carbon, and enhancement of biodiversity. These services are facilitated through hydrological and ecological processes such as infiltration, adsorption, water retention, and evapotranspiration by plants and microorganisms. This study investigated the correlations between microbial populations, soil physicochemical properties, and treatment efficiency in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSSF CW) treating runoff from roads and parking lots. The methods employed included storm event monitoring, water quality analysis, soil sampling, soil quality parameter analysis, and microbial analysis. The facility achieved its highest pollutant removal efficiencies during the warm season (>15℃), with rates ranging from 33% to 74% for TSS, COD, TN, TP, and specific heavy metals including Fe, Zn, and Cd. Meanwhile, the highest removal efficiency was 35% for TOC during the cold season (≤15℃). These high removal rates can be attributed to sedimentation, adsorption, precipitation, plant uptake, and microbial transformations within the CW. Soil analysis revealed that the soil from HSSF CW had a soil organic carbon content 3.3 times higher than that of soil collected from a nearby landscape. Stoichiometric ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the inflow and outflow were recorded as C:N:P of 120:1.5:1 and 135.2:0.4:1, respectively, indicating an extremely low proportion of N and P compared to C, which may challenge microbial remediation efficiency. Additionally, microbial analyses indicated that the warm season was more conducive to microorganism growth, with higher abundance, richness, diversity, homogeneity, and evenness of the microbial community, as manifested in the biodiversity indices, compared to the cold season. Pollutants in stormwater runoff entering the HSSF CW fostered microbial growth, particularly for dominant phyla such as Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, which have shown moderate to strong correlations with specific soil properties and changes in influent-effluent concentrations of water quality parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.84 no.3
• /
• pp.638-652
• /
• 2023

Purpose To investigate the MRI markers for the prediction of amyloid β (Aβ)-positivity in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to evaluate the differences in MRI markers between Aβ-positive (Aβ [+]) and -negative groups using the machine learning (ML) method. Materials and Methods This study included 139 patients with MCI and AD who underwent amyloid PET-CT and brain MRI. Patients were divided into Aβ (+) (n = 84) and Aβ-negative (n = 55) groups. Visual analysis was performed with the Fazekas scale of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds (CMB) scores. The WMH volume and regional brain volume were quantitatively measured. The multivariable logistic regression and ML using support vector machine, and logistic regression were used to identify the best MRI predictors of Aβ-positivity. Results The Fazekas scale of WMH (p = 0.02) and CMB scores (p = 0.04) were higher in Aβ (+). The volumes of hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and precuneus were smaller in Aβ (+) (p < 0.05). The third ventricle volume was larger in Aβ (+) (p = 0.002). The logistic regression of ML showed a good accuracy (81.1%) with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and regional brain volumes. Conclusion The application of ML using the MMSE, third ventricle, and hippocampal volume is helpful in predicting Aβ-positivity with a good accuracy.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
• /
• v.6
• /
• pp.135-151
• /
• 2024

In order to compare the ginseng consumption culture of Korean and Chinese college students, their purchase status of ginseng products, attitudes toward ginseng, and satisfaction with ginseng products were examined, and the purchase and recommendation intention of ginseng products was investigated. It targeted 267 Korean college students and 318 Chinese college students who had experience eating ginseng products. As a result of the survey, in the case of Korean college student consumers, interest in ginseng products increased compared to before COVID-19, and the intention to purchase and recommend ginseng products increased. In addition, the higher the satisfaction with ginseng, the higher the frequency of ginseng purchase experience, the higher the social benefit attitude toward ginseng, and the higher the age, the higher the intention to purchase and recommend ginseng products. Chinese college student consumers had higher parental purchases than Korea, higher positive intentions to purchase and recommend social and psychological benefits, and their 20s are already more interested and friendly than Korea. What Korean college students and Chinese college student consumers have in common is that interest in health, safety, and environment has increased since before COVID-19, and interest in ginseng-related products has changed in individual experiences, indicating that individual experiences are important and Chinese college student consumers are influenced by parents. In particular, COVID-19 is an opportunity to recognize the importance of health, which is important to those in their 20s, and is actually related to purchase intention. Focusing on these results, it seems that expansion to preferred products for college student consumers and differentiation of marketing strategies according to family influence and consumption culture should be made, and these new changes due to COVID-19 seem to be a timely opportunity. At a time when interest in health and safety has increased, strategic preparations are needed for the future consumersociety to respond to changesin product diversity and convergence, changes in marketing media to meet consumer consumption values, and changesin consumer family types, such assingle households.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.153-169
• /
• 2024

Purpose: The main goal of this study was to identify the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on grocery purchases (i.e., fresh and processed foods by grain, vegetable, fruit, seafood, and meat categories) in Korea. To understand the specific impact of COVID-19, the study period was divided into 3 segments: PRE-COVID-19, INTER-COVID-19, and POST-COVID-19. Methods: We used the microdata of household income and expenditure from Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), representing households across the country. The data comprised monthly grocery expenditure data from January 2019 to September 2022. First, we compared the PRE-COVID-19 period to INTER-COVID-19 and then INTER-COVID-19 to POST-COVID-19 and used multiple regression analysis. The covariates used were the gender and age of the head of the household, the household's monthly income, the number of family members, the price index, and the month (dummy variable). Results: The expenditures on all grocery categories except fresh fruit increased from PRE-COVID-19 to INTER-COVID-19. From INTER-COVID-19 to POST-COVID-19, almost all grocery category spending declined, with processed meat being the only exception. Most purchases of protein sources, increased during INTER-COVID-19 compared to PRE-COVID-19, while ham/sausage/bacon for meat protein, fish cakes and canned seafood for seafood protein, and soy milk for plant-based protein did not decrease during POST-COVID-19 compared to INTER-COVID-19. Conclusion: These results show an overall increase in in-home grocery expenditure during COVID-19 due to an increase in eating at home, followed by a decrease in this expenditure in the POST-COVID-19 period. Among the trends, the protein and highly processed convenience food categories did not see a decline in spending during the POST-COVID-19 period, which is a reflection of the preferences of consumers in the post-COVID-19 period.