• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.48.1-48.13
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• 2022

With the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, which are randomly mutated, the dominant strains in regions are changing globally. The development of preclinical animal models is imperative to validate vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 variants. The objective of this study was to develop a non-human primate (NHP) model for SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infection. Cynomolgus macaques infected with Delta variants showed infectious viruses and viral RNA in the upper (nasal and throat) and lower respiratory (lung) tracts during the acute phase of infection. After 3 days of infection, lesions consistent with diffuse alveolar damage were observed in the lungs. For cellular immune responses, all macaques displayed transient lymphopenia and neutrophilia in the early stages of infection. SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant spike protein-specific IgM, IgG, and IgA levels were significantly increased in the plasma of these animals 14 days after infection. This new NHP Delta variant infection model can be used for comparative analysis of the difference in severity between SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and may be useful in the efficacy evaluation of vaccines and universal therapeutic drugs for mutations.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.193-210
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• 2024

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model for the sexual experiences of adolescents using the random forest method and to identify the "variable importance." Methods: The study utilized data from the 2019 to 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 86,595 man and 80,504 woman participants. The number of independent variables stood at 44. SPSS was used to conduct Rao-Scott χ² tests and complex sample t-tests. Modeling was performed using the random forest algorithm in Python. Performance evaluation of each model included assessments of precision, recall, F1-score, receiver operating characteristics curve, and area under the curve calculations derived from the confusion matrix. Results: The prevalence of sexual experiences initially decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but later increased. "Variable importance" for predicting sexual experiences, ranked in the top six, included week and weekday sedentary time and internet usage time, followed by ease of cigarette purchase, age at first alcohol consumption, smoking initiation, breakfast consumption, and difficulty purchasing alcohol. Conclusion: Education and support programs for promoting adolescent sexual health, based on the top-ranking important variables, should be integrated with health behavior intervention programs addressing internet usage, smoking, and alcohol consumption. We recommend active utilization of the random forest analysis method to develop high-performance predictive models for effective disease prevention, treatment, and nursing care.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.27-36
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• 2024

Purpose: As the number of vegetarians continues to rise in tandem with the development of consumer culture, a novel economic trend named 'Vegenomics' has surfaced. In addition, as interest in social and environmental sustainability such as health, environment, and animal welfare grows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the alternative protein food market is expanding, focusing on plant-based alternative meat. Research design, data, and methodology: Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of the consumption value of alternative protein products on self-efficacy and purchase intention. This study collected a total of 187 questionnaires by conducting an online survey from May 1 to July 10, 2023, to verify the research model and hypothesis. The collected data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and discriminant validity analysis using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0 programs for structural equation modeling. Results: The results of analyzing consumers' self-efficacy and purchase intention regarding the functional value, health-oriented value, ethical value, and ecological value of alternative protein products are as follows. First, among the consumption values of alternative protein products, ecological value was found to have a significant positive (+) effect on self-efficacy. Second, consumers' self-efficacy for alternative protein products was found to have a significant positive (+) effect on purchase intention. Conclusion: This study is anticipated to provide valuable insights for the formulation of effective marketing strategies for alternative protein products and the development of products that align with consumer needs.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.53-69
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• 2024

This study was attempted to promote changes in traditional design education at a time when non-face-to-face education is necessary, such as digitalization, rapid social structure change, and post-COVID-19 situations, and to meet the demands of the times when user-centered design is more emphasized. Therefore, the goal of this study is to explore the process of developing mobile apps and operating education for deaf learners through design thinking-based interaction design education for design students. Specifically, the curriculum was designed by selecting a design thinking methodology suitable for major students to experience empathy and solutions to user problems. The subject that students majoring in this study want to sympathize with is deaf learners, and the subject of the curriculum is the development of educational support applications for deaf learners. Accordingly, a mobile app prototype that can support online learning for deaf learners was created based on the interaction design education plan designed based on design thinking. In addition, after collecting and analyzing the feedback of deaf learners to evaluate the prototype effectiveness, the final mobile app prototype was presented as an output. Through this process, interactive design education based on design thinking helped to strengthen the ability to empathize with and solve the needs of deaf learners to major students and improve the design learning experience. Based on these findings, if a methodology suitable for various user groups is selectively accepted for design education, the students in the major will have the ability to design by prioritizing the actual needs of users despite changes in the environment of the future design society.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.224-231
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• 2023

Purpose: The Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines are the primary coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines in Indonesia. Antibody levels in vaccine-injected individuals will decline substantially over time, but data supporting the duration of such responses are limited. Therefore, this study aims to quantitatively evaluate antibody responses resulting from the completion of Sinovac and AstraZeneca administration in Indonesian adults. Materials and Methods: Participants were divided into two groups based on their vaccine type. Both groups were then assessed on the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (anti-SRBD) concentrations. The anti-SRBD level was measured using Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay and analyzed every month until 3 months after the second vaccination. Results: The results presented significant differences (p=0.000) in immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers among the vaccines' measurement duration, where all samples observed a decrease in IgG titers over time. The mean titer levels of anti-SRBD IgG in the group given Sinovac were high in the first month after vaccination and decreased by 55.7% in 3 months. AstraZeneca showed lesser immune response with a slower decline rate. Adverse effects following immunization (AEFI) showed that systemic reactions are the most reported in both vaccines, with a higher percentage in the second dose of AstraZeneca type vaccines. Conclusion: Sinovac induced more significant titers of anti-SRBD IgG 1 month after the second dose but generated fewer AEFIs. In contrast, AstraZeneca generated more AEFIs, in mild to moderate severity, but provided lower levels of anti-SRBD IgG.

• Information Systems Review
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.27-41
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• 2023

Unlike the previous works focusing on the state-of-the-art methodologies to improve the performance of machine learning models, this study improves the 'quality' of training data used in machine learning. We propose a method to enhance the quality of training data through the processing of 'local grammar,' frequently used in corpus analysis. We collected a vast amount of unstructured corporate review text data posted by employees working in the top 100 companies in Korea. After improving the data quality using the local grammar process, we confirmed that the classification model with local grammar outperformed the model without it in terms of classification performance. We defined five factors of work engagement as classification categories, and analyzed how the pattern of reviews changed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this study, we provide evidence that shows the value of the local grammar-based automatic identification and classification of employee experiences, and offer some clues for significant organizational cultural phenomena.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.59-76
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• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about environmental severity and new social, economic, and cultural changes. Conscious fashion, which is oriented to sustainable and valuable consumption, has become a trend to consume products produced using eco-friendly and ethical processes, from the selection of the product materials to the manufacturing process. The purpose of this study is to identify the concepts and characteristics of conscious fashion and zero waste, and to explore design trends of zero wastein the new normal era of conscious fashion through the analysis of various cases. The research method is a literature review on conscious fashion based on relevant professional and academic books and articles, designer collections, and campaigns from 2010 to the present, when conscious fashion as eco-friendliness and sustainable fashion became a trend. The concept and characteristics of conscious fashion were examined them in terms of environmental, ethical, social, and cultural aspects and the concept and characteristics of zero waste through previous studies and case analysis. Through this, the trends of zero-waste design in conscious fashion were categorized into: first, an eco-friendly design orientation that utilizes reuse and reduce methods of clothing and fabric; second, a variable design orientation that practices zero waste designs by using diversity of patterns through deconstruction, disassembly, and various cutting methods. Third, long-term circulation of design through the recycling of resources by second-hand trade, the utilization of stock clothing, resale, and availability of eco-friendly materials through the development of new technologies. As an active practice for the sustainable fashion industry expands, it is expected that continuous research will be conducted as a future core value to realize the possibility of long-term circular zero-waste design through social responsibility and conscious recycling, reuse, and reproduction.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.35-46
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• 2024

Purpose: It is the responsibility of public healthcare to respond quickly to infectious disease outbreaks and disasters such as MERS, COVID-19, the Syrian earthquake, and the Miryang Sejong Hospital fire accident. It is very important to secure safe medical facilities and protect lives through emergency medical support and disaster response systems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety status of regional medical facilities that play a central role in the event of a disaster. Methods: The target was 41 local public hospitals, including 35 regional medical centers and 6 Red Cross hospitals nationwide. We delivered a questionnaire to 41 medical facilities and collected data from 32 regional public hospitals that received responses. Results: In order to respond to safety accidents, a survey was conducted on infections, falls, patient identification, and incorrect connections for medical accidents, and for in-hospital accidents, a survey was conducted on entrapment, collision, water leaks, falling objects, and crime prevention. For natural disasters, we investigated the response environment for typhoons, floods, and snow damage, and for social disasters, we investigated the response environment for fire, power outages, and radiation damage. Implications: We hope that it will be used as basic data for developing standards and creating hospital facilities and environments that are safe for everyone to respond to various disasters and prevent patient safety accidents in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.100-113
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• 2024

Objectives: Following the global COVID-19 pandemic, with the escalation of remote medical care formalization in Korea, there is a pressing need for objective data in the Korean medicine field to respond to remote treatment medical care policies. This study aims to investigate the perceptions and acceptance of remote treatments among Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs). Methods: After expert reviews and pilot testing, the 31-question survey covered participant characteristics, experiences, forms, intentions, and perceptions related to Remote Treatments. The survey was electronically distributed to members of the Association of Korean Medicine, and 662 clinical KMDs provided valid responses. Results: Among respondents, 76.1% engaged in remote treatments, utilizing various platforms. Those with experience in Remote Treatments showed a significantly higher willingness to continue participating during the institutionalization process (p<0.001). 49.7% of respondents stated that traditional Korean medicine is competitive in remote treatments, with the main reasons being the ability for regular management after herbal medication(26.1%) and increased patient satisfaction due to sufficient counseling compared to Western medicine(25.2%). Respondents preferred Remote Treatment conditions with a treatment time of less than 10 minutes(47.6%) and equivalent fees to in-person visits(45.6%). Regarding suitable intervention tools during Remote Treatment, respondents favored non-covered herbal prescriptions(39.0%), covered herbal granules(24.6%), and non-covered herbal granules(23.0%). Conclusion: This study investigated the perceptions and acceptance of KMDs regarding remote treatments. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to establish effective policies for Remote Treatments suitable for the Korean medicine healthcare environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2024

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the logistics industry in Korea has rapidly been expanding, with offline demand concentrating on online platforms owing to the development of digital infrastructure. This has increased the workload of courier drivers considerably, along with labor intensity. A delivery driver died recently from overwork due to the continuous increase in delivery volume, which raises social concerns. Delivery drivers work long hours, (over 12 hours) and are greatly affected by weather conditions, such as snow, rain, heat waves, and cold waves. In addition, they lack a fixed workplace; perform atypical work handling workpieces of various sizes, weights, and shapes; and spend a large amount of time driving as part of their work. This work involves a high level of tension and requires attention and concentration. Despite the frequency of industrial accidents in the courier industry, studies on safety and health to quantitatively analyze and systematize the work of courier workers are very scarce. Therefore, to define the work process necessary for investigating the harmful factors in delivery service and the work analysis, this study conducted interviews and on-site surveys to analyze the unit work of the delivery service by targeting delivery workers. In other words, a framework of unit work for work analysis was presented to enable research and analysis by considering the aforementioned characteristics of the courier industry. The process was broadly divided into work, transport, storage, delay, and inspection. Work was divided into loading, sorting, unloading, and door subcategories, and transportation was divided into vehicle, cart, and walking subcategories as well as 10 small processes. Moreover, 22 unit works were again drawn by conducting field surveys and interviews. The risk of unit work derived from this study was ergonomically evaluated, and the ergonomic analysis revealed that uploading and transportation were the most dangerous. The results of this study could be used as basic data for preventing industrial accidents among courier workers, whose work has increased with the logistics volume and the development of the logistics industry.