• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2023

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the everyday use of face masks massively increased to prevent the spread of infection. Many people complain of ear pain and erosion when wearing a mask for extended periods of time. If prolonged mask usage is uncomfortable for ordinary people, a question arises-how much more inconvenient must mask wearing be for patients with a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) donor site in the retroauricular region? Herein, we evaluated complications related to face mask use in 27 patients with a retroauricular FTSG donor site, with the goal of clarifying whether the retroauricular region is still an appropriate FTSG donor site in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Complications in 27 patients treated by FTSGs harvested from the retroauricular region from 2019 to 2021 were investigated. A questionnaire comparing the normal and the operated sides was administered. Pain, itching, soreness, deformity, and symmetry were further investigated. Results: Pain and itching were the only observed complications. The operated side was slightly more painful than the normal side in four patients (14.8%), and four patients (14.8%) reported itching on the operated side. However, all patients who experienced complications stated that the pain or itching did not interfere with mask wearing. Most symptomatic patients were older than 60 years of age (23.8%, p= 0.185) and wore masks for longer periods of time (28.5%, p= 0.326). Conclusion: Few retroauricular donor site-related complications occurred, and none of these complications caused inconvenience in daily life. Therefore, in the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the retroauricular region as an FTSG donor site remains appropriate.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.611-613
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• 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been challenging in all aspects of the medical field with new clinical presentations constantly arising. Plastic surgeons are not immune to this and need to be aware of their implications. There has been a recent report of late periprosthetic seroma (breast implant) as a clinical manifestation of COVID-19 infection. To our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been further reported. We present a 53-year-old immunocompromised lady who developed late seroma after COVID-19 infection. She eventually required explantation of the implant and is awaiting autologous reconstruction. It is likely that we will increasingly continue to see this phenomenon of implant complications as a result of COVID-19 infection and should be watchful, especially regarding potential immunocompromised patients.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2021

Background: To fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have implemented social distancing and lockdowns. We investigated the changes in the trauma patterns of emergency plastic surgeries in the midst of a pandemic. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients treated for emergency plastic surgeries was performed at our hospital in Seoul. We conducted the analysis between March 1 and June 30, 2020, and compared the data obtained with that of the same period in 2019. We also investigated changes in trauma patterns according to the social distancing level from July 2020 to February 2021. Results: There was a total of 800 emergency plastic surgery patients from March to June 2020, which was less than the 981 in the corresponding period in 2019. The proportion of patients aged 7-17 years and ≥ 80 in 2020 showed a significant decrease. In 2020, patients presenting with facial trauma decreased and hand trauma, markedly laceration, increased significantly. In 2020, more injuries happened at home, whereas significantly fewer injuries happened on the streets. In 2020, slipping and sports injury decreased, whereas penetrating injury increased significantly. In the changes observed according to the social distancing level, there were significant differences in age classification, facial open wound, and the mechanism of injury. Conclusion: Social distancing has caused a change in emergency plastic surgeries. To ensure safe and appropriate treatment, strict epidemiologic workup and protective equipment are required.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.200-209
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• 2023

Background As the coronavirus disease 2019 virus made its way throughout the world, there was a complete overhaul of our day-to-day personal and professional lives. All aspects of health care were affected including academics. During the pandemic, teaching opportunities for resident training were drastically reduced. Consequently, medical universities in many parts across the globe implemented online learning, in which students are taught remotely and via digital platforms. Given these developments, evaluating the existing mode of teaching via digital platforms as well as incorporation of new models is critical to improve and implement. Methods We reviewed different online learning platforms used to continue regular academic teaching of the plastic surgery residency curriculum. This study compares the four popular Web conferencing platforms used for online learning and evaluated their suitability for providing plastic surgery education. Results In this study with a response rate of 59.9%, we found a 64% agreement rate to online classes being more convenient than normal classroom teaching. Conclusion Zoom was the most user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive interface that was ideal for online instruction. With a better understanding of factors related to online teaching and learning, we will be able to deliver quality education in residency programs in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.49-67
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• 2023

In recent years, the film industry in South Korea has experienced a period of prosperity, evidenced by the numerous awards won at major international film festivals. Furthermore, growing global interest in K-content and the expansion of the OTT industry following the COVID-19 pandemic are providing favorable conditions for the development of the domestic film industry. Sound effects play a crucial role in conveying the atmosphere and emotions of a film, making them an essential element of film production. In response, the Jeonju IT & CT Industry Promotion Agency has been promoting the development of Korean-style sound effects since 2013. Furthermore, the agency launched an online service called the "K-Sound Library," a sound effect archive, in 2021. However, the service has not been widely utilized because of issues with the database's construction and the system's problems. Therefore, this study aims to identify the K-Sound Library's problems through interviews with sound effects specialists about the online service of the first sound effect archive in South Korea. Based on the interviews and analyses of foreign cases, the study suggests ways to improve the search services' usability and the sound effects classification system.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.319-353
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• 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scholars at institutions of higher education around the world are transitioning their teaching, service, and research into online settings; for many this may be a new and challenging experience. While many of the best practices associated with research in traditional or face-to-face settings also apply to research in or via online settings, there are some additional challenges and nuances that researchers must adequately address and plan for due to the affordances and limitations of online settings. This paper discusses the key issues of privacy, informed consent, trust and trustworthiness, and retention through the literature and provides practical recommendations based on evidence and experience from two different online research projects. The reflections on and examples from these two research projects contextualize the above issues and act as evidence to inform research as a practice. The authors hope this evidence and practical guidance may help researchers better prepare for research in a socially distanced world.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.397-404
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• 2022

Background Excessive use of corticosteroids therapy along with gross immunocompromised conditions in the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised the risks of contracting opportunistic fungal infections. Here, we describe our experience with the implementation of a surgical protocol to treat and reconstruct rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis. Methods A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained database was conducted on consecutive patients diagnosed with mucormycosis undergoing immediate reconstruction utilizing our "Mucormycosis Management Protocol." All patients included in this study underwent reconstruction after recovering from COVID-19. Wide local excision was performed in all cases removing all suspected and edematous tissue. Reconstruction was done primarily after clear margins were achieved on clinical assessment under a cover of injectable liposomal amphotericin B. Results Fourteen patients were included. The average age was 43.6 years and follow-up was 24.3 days. Thirteen patients had been admitted for inpatient care of COVID-19. Steroid therapy was implemented for 2 weeks in 11 patients and for 3 weeks in 3 patients. Eight patients (57.1%) had a maxillectomy and mucosal lining resection with/without skin excision, and six patients (42.8%) underwent maxillectomy and wide tissue excision (maxillectomy and partial zygomatic resection, orbital exenteration, orbital floor resection, nose debridement, or skull base debridement). Anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps were used to cover defects in all patients. All flaps survived. No major or minor complications occurred. No recurrence of mucormycosis was noted. Conclusion The approach presented in this study indicates that immediate reconstruction is safe and reliable in cases when appropriate tissue resection is accomplished. Further studies are required to verify the external validity of these findings.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.676-682
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• 2022

Background Virtual education is an evolving method for teaching medical learners. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, remote learning has provided a replacement for conferences, lectures, and meetings, but has not been described as a method for conducting a cadaver dissection. We aim to demonstrate how learners perceive a virtual cadaver dissection as an alternative to live dissection. Methods A virtual cadaver dissection was performed to demonstrate several upper extremity nerve procedures. These procedures were livestreamed as part of an educational event with multimedia and interactive audience questions. Participants were queried both during and after the session regarding their perceptions of this teaching modality. Results Attendance of a virtual dissection held for three plastic surgery training institutions began at 100 and finished with 70 participants. Intrasession response rates from the audience varied between 68 and 75%, of which 75% strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the virtual environment. The audience strongly agreed or agreed that the addition of multimedia captions (88%), magnified video loupe views (82%), and split-screen multicast view (64%) was beneficial. Postsession response rate was 27%, and generally reflected a positive perspective about the content of the session. Conclusions Virtual cadaver dissection is an effective modality for teaching surgical procedures and can be enhanced through technologies such as video loupes and multiple camera perspectives. The audience viewed the virtual cadaver dissection as a beneficial adjunct to surgical education. This format may also make in-person cadaver courses more effective by improving visualization and allowing for anatomic references to be displayed synchronously.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.198-215
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• 2020

Official development assistance refers to assistance provided by governments and other public institutions in donor countries, aimed at promoting economic development and social welfare in developing countries. The purpose of this research is to examine the construction process of the "Myanmar Cultural Heritage Management System" that is underway as part of the ODA project to strengthen cultural and artistic capabilities and analyze the achievements and challenges of the Digital Cultural Heritage ODA. The digital cultural heritage management system is intended to achieve the permanent preservation and sustainable utilization of tangible and intangible cultural heritage materials. Cultural heritage can be stored in digital archives, newly approached using computer analysis technology, and information can be used in multiple dimensions. First, the Digital Cultural Heritage ODA was able to permanently preserve cultural heritage content that urgently needed digitalization by overcoming and documenting the "risk" associated with cultural heritage under threat of being extinguished, damaged, degraded, or distorted in Myanmar. Second, information on Myanmar's cultural heritage can be systematically managed and used in many ways through linkages between materials. Third, cultural maps can be implemented that are based on accurate geographical location information as to where cultural heritage is located or inherited. Various items of cultural heritage were collectively and intensively visualized to maximize utility and convenience for academic, policy, and practical purposes. Fourth, we were able to overcome the one-sided limitations of cultural ODA in relations between donor and recipient countries. Fifth, the capacity building program run by officials in charge of the beneficiary country, which could be the most important form of sustainable development in the cultural ODA, was operated together. Sixth, there is an implication that it is an ODA that can be relatively smooth and non-face-to-face in nature, without requiring the movement of manpower between countries during the current global pandemic. However, the following tasks remain to be solved through active discussion and deliberation in the future. First, the content of the data uploaded to the system should be verified. Second, to preserve digital cultural heritage, it must be protected from various threats. For example, it is necessary to train local experts to prepare for errors caused by computer viruses, stored data, or operating systems. Third, due to the nature of the rapidly changing environment of computer technology, measures should also be discussed to address the problems that tend to follow when new versions and programs are developed after the end of the ODA project, or when developers have not continued to manage their programs. Fourth, since the classification system criteria and decisions regarding whether the data will be disclosed or not are set according to Myanmar's political judgment, it is necessary to let the beneficiary country understand the ultimate purpose of the cultural ODA project.