• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.741-750
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• 2022

Objective : In March 2020, World Health Organization declared a global pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The disease caused by this virus is called COVID-19. Due to its high contagiousness, many changes have occurred in overall areas of our daily life including hospital use by patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on volume of spine surgery in South Korea using the National Health Insurance database and compare it with the volume of a homologous period before the pandemic. Methods : Data of related to spine surgery from January 2019 to April 2021 were obtained from the National Health Insurance and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Primary outcomes were total number of patients, rate of patients per 100000 population, and total number of procedures. The number of patients by hospital size was also analyzed. Results : COVID-19 outbreaks occurred in South Korea in March, August, and December of 2020. Compared to the previous year, the total number of patients who underwent spinal surgery showed a decrease for 2-3 months after the first and second outbreaks. However, it showed an increasing trend after the third outbreak. The same pattern was observed in terms of the ratio of the number of patients per 100000 population. Between 2019 and 2021, the mean number of spine surgeries per month tended to increase. Mean annual medical expenses increased over the years (p=0.001). When the number of spine surgeries was analyzed by hospital size, proportion of tertiary general hospital in 2021 increased compared to those in 2019 and 2020 (vs. 2019, p=0.012; vs. 2020, p=0.016). The proportion of general hospital was significantly decreased in 2020 compared to that in 2019 (p=0.037). Conclusion : After the COVID-19 outbreak, patients tended to postpone spinal surgery temporarily. The number of spinal surgeries decreased for 2-3 months after the first and second outbreaks. However, as the ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic at the hospital and society-wide level gradually increased, the number of spine surgeries did not decrease after the third outbreak in December 2020. In addition, the annual number of spine surgeries continued to increase. However, it should be noted that patients tend to be increasingly concentrated in tertiary hospitals for spinal surgery.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2022

With external air pollution forcing many people indoors, new methods of facilitating healthier indoor life are necessary. This study, therefore, investigates the effects of indoor oxygen concentration and respiration methods on biosignals and cognitive ability. The study included twenty healthy subjects who inhaled air through a mask from a gas delivery system. All subjects were asked to perform three types of breathing (nasal, oral, and oral breathing with high oxygenation) and respond to cognitive stimuli (rest close eye, rest open eye, 1-back and 2-back working memory tasks). The changes in cognitive load according to respiration were analyzed by measuring response time, accuracy, and biosignals to stimuli. The result showed that, in all three respirations, heart rate significantly increased with the increase in cognitive load. Also, in oral respiration, the airway respiration rate significantly increased according to the increase in cognitive load. The change appeared to compensate for insufficient oxygen supply in oral respiration during cognitive activity. Conversely, there was no significant change in airway respiration rate during oral respiration with a high concentration oxygen supply as in nasal respiration. This result suggests that a high concentration oxygen supply might play a role in compensating for insufficient oxygen concentration or inefficient oxygen inhalation, such as oral respiration. Based on the results of this study, a follow-up study is necessary to determine the impact of changes in the autonomic nervous system, such as stress and emotions, to find out more precise and comprehensive effects of oxygen concentration and breathing type.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.25-38
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• 2022

This study aims to analyze everyday caring activities of young working single-person households. To collect the data, we interviewed 10 working single-person households. The topics are composed of 3 parts: 1) the everyday life of single-person households; 2) caring activities and household labor; 3) the experience of caring activities. The results are as follows : In comparison with families living together, single-person households carry out everyday caring activities alone, so they found a new meaning in caring activities and household labor. In particular, they were fully aware of the importance of everyday caring activities even though they sometimes felt the caring activities were uncomfortable. On the other hand, they improved their technique and ability for caring activities, and they felt satisfied with the caring activities. We found the meaning of everyday caring activities to be an essential condition for the independence of single-person households.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2022

This study aimed to compare the Korean Activity Status Index (KASI) with the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) among patients with acute myocardial infarction. A total of 2,268 patients (85.4% male; mean age, 59.3±10.2 years; range, 23-90 years) diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction were enrolled in the Regional Center Myocardial Infarction Registry between July 2016 and June 2019. The KASI is a tool used to measure functional capacity by asking patients about their ability to perform specific activities and then scoring their responses. In contrast, CPET is the gold standard for assessing the objective functional capacity in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) was used to analyze the correlation. Patients who completed two consecutive KASI and CPET evaluations during their first (KASI_1, VO_2peak_1) and second visits (KASI_2, VO_2peak_2) for cardiac rehabilitation were included in the study. The mean KASI_1 and KASI_2 scores were 43.3±14.3 and 49.8±13.9, respectively, and the mean VO_2peak_1 and VO_2peak_2 scores were 25.9±8.0 and 28.5±8.3, respectively. Both the KASI scores were significantly correlated with the measured VO_2peak during each visit, with correlation coefficients of 0.385 (P<0.001) and 0.346 (P<0.001), respectively. Moreover, the KASI score and VO_2peak had a linear relationship (VO_2peak_1=0.22×KASI_1+16.5, P<0.001; VO_2peak_2=0.21×KASI_2+18.2,VO_2peak_2=0.21×KASI_2+18.2, P<0.001). This study revealed that the KASI is a valid measure for the follow-up evaluation of the functional capacity of patients. These findings suggest that VO_2peak can be predicted using the KASI score in patients who do not undergo CPET.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.291-300
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a tactile-oriented sensory-motor developmental program on the visual attention and stereotypical behavior of an adolescent with intellectual disability. The subject was an adolescent with intellectual disability attending a special school located in B-gun, A-province of South Korea, with whom an A-B-A' design individual target study was conducted between August 27 and December 12, 2018. The intervention consisted of twelve 40-minute sessions, which were provided twice a week. For every session, two types of evaluation were conducted: a test that required staring at objects for visual attention, as well as an observation record for identifying the frequency and duration of stereotypical behavior. The results of this study showed that the tactile-oriented sensory-motor developmental program had positive effects on the duration of the participant's ability to stare at objects and the frequency and duration of stereotypical behavior. As this study confirmed and usefulness of this tactile-oriented sensory-motor developmental program as an intervention for improving the visual attention, and stereotypical behavior of adolescent with intellectual disabilities, the program may be employed to help members of this groups who have problems with sensory processing.

• The Journal of Korean-Japanese National Studies
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• no.34
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• pp.77-123
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• 2018

The liberated korea has the estimated population 16 million in 1945, and added 2.5 million just after an year. The korean repatriates returned by way of 2 main routes. The returnees, Wol-Nam-Min(former residents in north korea), and repatriates from Manchuria came into south korea over the 38th division line. The other repatriates from japanese islands and pacific areas came into Busan port and the vicinity. The repatriates who returned from the China and the Japanese islands made up about 80% of the total added population. However, the influx of overseas repatriates who explosively increased between 1945 and 1946, declined abruptly in April of 1946, and at last illegal re-emigration group to Manchuria and Japan Appeared, who had repatriated from those areas. This study deals with the "re-migration phenomenon of 1946" in korea, mainly focuses on 1) the motivation for those who decided to remigrate, their prospects of resettlement in Manchuria and post war japan after re-migration, 2) the structural problems of the Korean society in 1946-1947, and 3) the social recognition for the people who letf for Manchuria and Japan. This study proved the cause and background of re-migration phenomenon. The Manchuria case, the local authorities wanted farmers and peasants who could cultivate the abandoned land which had been originally pioneered and reclaimed by korean poor peasants, who repatriated to korean peninsula. On the other hand, the korean repatriates had a hard time in tenanting farmland, and so much difficulty in getting farming tools including fertilizer. That's why they left korea for Manchuria again. The Japanese case, the korean repatriates had a tough life owing to the restriction of properties left in japan, while the inflation and food shortage in korea got worse and worst. Accordingly, many koreans tried illegal entrance into post war japan. This study is a part of clarifying the universality and specificity of post war repatriation and migration issues developed in the south Korea. Through this study, we can find how difficult it is for newly liberated areas to accommodate repatriates and make them ordinary nationals in harmonic way with successful social integration. and we can observe the social aspect and administrative ability of newly liberated south korea in detail, Because the present korea has faced with so many problems connected with immigration workers and re-setting with korean communities abroad, we should introspect these historical experience of our own.

• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
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• no.40
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• pp.5-35
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• 2020

Affect is intensity and quality that are generated as the physical body senses the outside world. Of experienced affect, notions that are granted meaning and interpretation are emotions. Affect theory distinguishes emotion and affect and by focusing on affect, it provides methods with which to analyze physical body responses and changes and it presents new possibilities to performing arts research that uses the physical body as a medium. Nong-ak is art that concentrates mainly on the occurrence of affect rather than 'representation'. Nong-ak is a performance type in which sound, color, texture, and physical movement overlap and exist in a synesthetic way. Here, physical things such as instruments, props, costumes, and stage devices are gathered together with non-physical things such as rhythm, mood, and atmosphere around human bodies. The physical body is stimulated by these things, displays tendencies that suit performances, and becomes 'the body without an image' as it immerses itself into the performance, acting while displaying 'quasi-corporeality'. The body, which moves automatically as if without consciousness, appears more easily within groups. To transition individuals of everyday life to 'the body without an image', Nong-ak executes the group physical exercise of 'Jinpuri'. Such physical exercise builds up affect by increasing nonverbal communion and communication and brings out the creativity of individuals within mutual trust and a sense of belonging. Affect and emotion stirred up by Nong-ak act as confirmation and affirmation of the existence, vitality, and ability of one's self and groups. Such affirmation recalls Nong-ak as a meaningful and important value from group dimensions and perceives it as a performance form that should be preserved and passed on.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.43-51
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• 2023

This study analyzed the patent status of the outdoor exercise equipment used primarily by the elderly. The purpose is to utilize the basic data obtained to promote the health of the elderly. The information on the patent was collected from KIPRIS, an information search service provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The search term used was 'outdoor exercise equipment', directly related patents were selected, and a final 157 were analyzed. As a result of the analysis, first, patent registration began in 2007, and 2-3 patents were registered on average every year. Second, patents from the perspective of sports convergence that provide an exercise prescription system using wireless communication, such as the ability to generate electricity by operating a power generation module, providing information on the user's exercise amount, or preventing the loss and theft of weights and safety accidents due to their characteristics, were searched for. Lastly, patents related to exercise equipment that can provide user convenience and increase the frequency of use of exercise equipment were searched. The results of this study confirmed that outdoor exercise equipment is being developed more for the elderly and their convenience, and that companies and public institutions are showing increased interest in outdoor exercise equipment for the elderly. In addition to patent trends analysis, follow-up research in connection with exercise programs using outdoor exercise equipment is needed to develop practical and convenient outdoor exercise equipment in the future.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.15
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• 2022

Background: Brucella infection induces brucellosis, a zoonotic disease. The intracellular circulation process and virulence of Brucella mainly depend on its type IV secretion system (T4SS) expressing secretory effectors. Secreted protein BspJ is a nucleomodulin of Brucella that invades the host cell nucleus. BspJ mediates host energy synthesis and apoptosis through interaction with proteins. However, the mechanism of BspJ as it affects the intracellular survival of Brucella remains to be clarified. Objectives: To verify the functions of nucleomodulin BspJ in Brucella's intracellular infection cycles. Methods: Constructed Brucella abortus BspJ gene deletion strain (B. abortus ∆BspJ) and complement strain (B. abortus pBspJ) and studied their roles in the proliferation of Brucella both in vivo and in vitro. Results: BspJ gene deletion reduced the survival and intracellular proliferation of Brucella at the replicating Brucella-containing vacuoles (rBCV) stage. Compared with the parent strain, the colonization ability of the bacteria in mice was significantly reduced, causing less inflammatory infiltration and pathological damage. We also found that the knockout of BspJ altered the secretion of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1β, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ) in host cells and in mice to affect the intracellular survival of Brucella. Conclusions: BspJ is extremely important for the circulatory proliferation of Brucella in the host, and it may be involved in a previously unknown mechanism of Brucella's intracellular survival.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.359-370
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze the meaning of picture book reading experience for 2-year-old children using sensory reading media and to suggest a plan to support language ability through meaningful reading. For this study, 35-month-old boys were selected, and data collection was conducted based on participant observation and field record notes at home and analyzed qualitatively. In this study, for about two months from March 20th to April 30th, 2021, all the time of exploring picture books and playing were recorded and the data were collected. The recording time was about 20 hours, and the collected data and field records were transcribed on 108 pages of A4 paper. The results of the study showed that 2-year-old infants were immersed in exploring new media through the experience of reading picture books using sensory reading media, comparing with similar media, and reading picture books using media. In addition, it was found that the emergence of leading reading that selects and reads books by Hans himself, exploration using reading media, and play linked to picture books in everyday life.This can be seen as a result of suggesting that the picture book reading experience of 2-year-olds using sensory reading media is meaningful to the reading experience of infants.