• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.655-665
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• 2022

This study evaluated the validity of a newly developed mobility protocol examining the comfort functions and requirements of personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 healthcare workers. Eight males (age: 24.7 ± 3.0 y, height: 173.4 ± 2.3 cm, and body weight 69.9 ± 3.7 kg) participated in the following three PPE conditions: (1) Plastic gown ensemble, (2) Level D ensemble, and (3) Powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) ensemble. The mobility protocol consisted of 10 different tasks in addition to donning and doffing. The 10 tasks were repeated twice at an air temperature of 25oC with 74% RH. The results showed significant differences among the three PPE conditions in mean skin temperature, local skin temperatures (the forehead, thigh, calf, and foot), clothing microclimate (the chest and back), thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and humidity sensation, while there were no significant differences in heart rate or total sweat rate. At rest, the subjects felt less warm and more comfortable in the PAPR than in the Level D condition (P<0.05). However, subjective perceptions in the PAPR and Level D conditions became similar as the tasks progressed and mean skin and leg temperature became greater for the PAPR than the Level D condition (P<0.05). An interview was conducted just after completing the mobility test protocol, and suggestions for improving each PPE item were obtained. To sum up, the mobility test protocol was valid for evaluating the comfort functions of PPE for healthcare workers and obtaining requirements for improving the mobility of each PPE item.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.189-202
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• 2023

In this study, the acoustic performance was analyzed by architectural shapes of the hall. There are four architectural shapes of halls. They are rectangular, horseshoe, surround, and fan-shape. Eight acoustic parameters were used to determine the acoustic performance. These are RT₆₀, EDT, C₈₀, BQI, LF, G_mid, G₁₂₅ and ITDG. First, measurement data of famous concert halls around the world were analyzed. The correlation coefficient R was obtained by regression analysis of the relationship between the subjective ranking of the halls and the acoustic parameters. It was found that BQI, G, and ITDG have higher correlation coefficients R. Also the average of acoustic parameters for each architectural shape were obtained. The total acoustic performance for each shape was calculated by using the correlation coefficient R as a weight for each acoustic parameters. As a result, rectangular halls and horseshoe halls showed good acoustical performances. Second, 3D models of each architectural shape were created and acoustic simulation had been performed. The simulation was performed by creating 3D models of each four shapes of concert halls with the same volume and sound absorption coefficient. Listening test was carried out using the sound source which is created from impulse responses of 3D model. As a result, rectangular hall and horseshoe hall showed the best performance however surround hall and fan-shaped hall showed relatively poor performance.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

After the collapse of the Seongsu Bridge in the 1990s in Korea, attention was focused on the maintenance of facilities. The government has established various policies since the enactment of the Act in 1995 until recently. In general, safety inspections are performed to evaluate the safety grade of facilities, and facilities are maintained and managed by performing repairs and reinforcements for defects. However, since the budget is limited, it is impossible to carry out repair and reinforcement projects for all defects. It is necessary to prioritize repair and reinforcement measures. Then, the priority index (PI) is presented considering the importance of members, the seriousness of defects, and economic feasibility. In this index, the degree of influence can be adjusted within the range of 50 to 100% according to the expert's subjective judgment, and the same weight is set for some specific members. Also, the effect through repair and reinforcement is not taken into account decisively, and most of them have a limit in which priority is determined by economic feasibility. Therefore, in this study, through several case studies, problems with the priority index were reviewed and an equation was presented to improve them.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.95-106
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• 2022

This study evaluated the effects of latex mattresses on sleep quality and comfort. The participants were 11 healthy adults (five males, six females, mean age 37.7 years, mean height 167.8 cm, and mean weight 67.0 kg) without severe insomnia or other disease that could affect sleep, examined by a clinician. In their personal living space, participants slept on a spring mattress for 7 days, with their sleep registered using a wearable device (Fitbit), a sleep log, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and a satisfaction survey. The mattresses were then replaced with latex mattresses, which were used for 14 days. As a result, sleep time increased by 62.9 min on weekdays and 53.2 min on weekends after using the latex mattress, and a significant decrease, of 3.8, as seen on the ISI. As measured by the PSQI, the poor sleepers decreased from 10 to 7, but this was not statistically significant, and in the satisfaction survey, the comfort of the low back, neck, and shoulders was significantly increased. This suggests that changes to latex mattresses may positively affect objective and subjective sleep quality.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.57-76
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• 2017

Recently, consumer needs are diversifying as information technologies are evolving rapidly. A lot of IT devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs are launching following the trend of information technology. While IT devices focused on the technical advance and improvement a few years ago, the situation is changed now. There is no difference in functional aspects, so companies are trying to differentiate IT devices in terms of appearance design. Consumers also consider design as being a more important factor in the decision-making of smart phones. Smart phones have become a fashion items, revealing consumers' own characteristics and personality. As the design and appearance of the smartphone become important things, it is necessary to examine consumer values from the design and appearance of IT devices. Furthermore, it is crucial to clarify the mechanisms of consumers' design evaluation and develop the design evaluation model based on the mechanism. Since the influence of design gets continuously strong, various and many studies related to design were carried out. These studies can classify three main streams. The first stream focuses on the role of design from the perspective of marketing and communication. The second one is the studies to find out an effective and appealing design from the perspective of industrial design. The last one is to examine the consumer values created by a product design, which means consumers' perception or feeling when they look and feel it. These numerous studies somewhat have dealt with consumer values, but they do not include product attributes, or do not cover the whole process and mechanism from product attributes to consumer values. In this study, we try to develop the holistic design evaluation model based on consumer values based on three-step approach from product attributes, perceived attributes, to consumer values. Product attributes means the real and physical characteristics each smart phone has. They consist of bezel, length, width, thickness, weight and curvature. Perceived attributes are derived from consumers' perception on product attributes. We consider perceived size of device, perceived size of display, perceived thickness, perceived weight, perceived bezel (top - bottom / left - right side), perceived curvature of edge, perceived curvature of back side, gap of each part, perceived gloss and perceived screen ratio. They are factorized into six clusters named as 'Size,' 'Slimness,' 'No-Frame,' 'Roundness,' 'Screen Ratio,' and 'Looseness.' We conducted qualitative research to find out consumer values, which are categorized into two: look and feel values. We identified the values named as 'Silhouette,' 'Neatness,' 'Attractiveness,' 'Polishing,' 'Innovativeness,' 'Professionalism,' 'Intellectualness,' 'Individuality,' and 'Distinctiveness' in terms of look values. Also, we identifies 'Stability,' 'Comfortableness,' 'Grip,' 'Solidity,' 'Non-fragility,' and 'Smoothness' in terms of feel values. They are factorized into five key values: 'Sleek Value,' 'Professional Value,' 'Unique Value,' 'Comfortable Value,' and 'Solid Value.' Finally, we developed the holistic design evaluation model by analyzing each relationship from product attributes, perceived attributes, to consumer values. This study has several theoretical and practical contributions. First, we found consumer values in terms of design evaluation and implicit chain relationship from the objective and physical characteristics to the subjective and mental evaluation. That is, the model explains the mechanism of design evaluation in consumer minds. Second, we suggest a general design evaluation process from product attributes, perceived attributes to consumer values. It is an adaptable methodology not only smart phone but also other IT products. Practically, this model can support the decision-making when companies initiative new product development. It can help product designers focus on their capacities with limited resources. Moreover, if its model combined with machine learning collecting consumers' purchasing data, most preferred values, sales data, etc., it will be able to evolve intelligent design decision support system.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.83-93
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• 2005

This study was conducted to provide information about the behavioral intentions to diet in adolescent females. To explain the behavior intention to diet, a conceptual framework based on the ' Social Support, Control and the Stress Process Model ' and the ' Theory of Reasoned Actio ' was used. The survey was carried out by self-questionnaires with 463 female high school and college students in Daegu. Analysis of data was done by using mean, correlation and multiple regression analysis with the SAS computer program. Subjects were divided into 3 groups-underweight, normal weight, and overweight-according to their current body size. The most powerful influencing factor related to perceived stress -that is dissatisfaction with body image- was the current figure, regardless of current body size. The fatter the current body size, the higher the score for the behavioral intention to diet. In attitude toward the behavior of dieting, the fatter the current figure, the higher the attitude score, and the belief of behavioral outcome was the main decision variable. For the score of the subjective norm, the overweight group was significantly higher than other groups. The influencing factors for the behavioral intention to diet were perceived stress and attitude toward dieting behavior, especially beliefs of behavioral outcome.

• Archives of design research
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• v.19 no.2 s.64
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• pp.323-332
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• 2006

Information devices such as a cellular phone, smart phone, and PDA become smaller to such an extent that people put them into their pockets without any difficulties. This drastic miniaturization causes to deteriorate the readability of text-based contents. The morphological characteristics of size and proportion are supposed to have close relationships with the pocketability and text readability of mobile information devices. This research was aimed to investigate the optimal morphological characteristics to satisfy the two usability factors together. For this purpose, we conducted an controlled experiment, which was designed to evaluate the pocketability according to $size(4000mm^2/8000mm^2)$, proportion(1:1/2:1/3:1), and weight(100g/200g) of information devices as well as participants' pose and carrying method. In the case of male participants putting the models of information device into their pockets, 2:1 morphological proportion was preferred. On the other hand, the female participants carrying the models in their hands preferred 2:1 proportion$(size:4000mm^2{\times}2mm)$ and 3:1 proportion$(size:8000mm^2{\times}20mm)$. For the device in the size of $4000mm^2$, it was found that the weight of device has an significant effect on pocketability. In consequence, 2:1 proportion is optimal to achieve better pocketability. The second experiment was about how text readability is affected by size $(2000mm^2/4000mm^2/8000mm^2)$ and proportion(1:1/2:1/3:1) of information devices as well as interlinear space of displayed text(135%/200%). From this experiment result, it was found that reading speed was increased as line length increased. Regarding the subjective assessment on reading task, 2:1 proportion was strongly preferred. Based on these results, we suggest 2:l proportion as an optimal proportion that satisfy pocketability of mobile information devices and text readability displayed on the screen together. To apply these research outputs to a practical design work efficiently, it is important to take into account the fact that the space for input devices is also required in addition to a display screen.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 1999

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the dental and general health in relation to the state of dentition and chewing ability by surveying oral condition and anthropometric measure in order to provide primary statistics for the development of a program which may lead to an improvement in the long-lived elderly health status in a rural community. Materials and Methods: The subjects of this study were 97 rural long-lived elderly(27 males and 70 females) who were over 85 years-old (average age of subjects are $88.14{\pm}3.20$ year old) in Sungju-Gun, Kyungpook Province. Data were collected by using questionnaires and direct measurement of anthropometrics, and oral examination from all 97 subjects on July, 1999. Results: The following results were obtained: 1. 53.6% of all subjects believe that they are healthy. The average values of height, weight, BMI, body fat, lean body fat and total water were $148.8{\pm}11.2cm$, $46.9{\pm}10.5kg$, $21.2{\pm}3.5kg/m^2$, $26.7{\pm}6.9%$, $73.0{\pm}7.1%$, and $53.4{\pm}5.2%$, respectively. 2. The average number of teeth remaining in the subjects were $3.50{\pm}5.71$; the number of maxillary teeth remaining were $1.08{\pm}2.88$; and the number of mandibular teeth remaining were $2.41{\pm}3.76$. The maximum number of teeth remaining among subjects were 22 teeth, and the fully edentulous(no natural teeth) people were 76.3%. The oral conditions of the subjects were 52.6% using denture, 23.7% using natural teeth, and 23.7% masticating edentulous ridge without denture. 3. In terms of oral condition in self-assessment of health, digestive ability, and chewing ability ; On self-assessment of health, 47.1% of those wearing denture group responded as feeling good, 56.5% of those in the group of edentulous without denture, and 65.2% in group of natural teeth only. On self-assessment of digestive ability, 82.4% of those in group of denture responded as feeling good, 65.2% of those in group of no teeth and no denture, and 73.9% of those in group of natural teeth only. On self-assessment of chewing ability, 90.2% of those in the group wearing a denture, 60. 9% of those in the group of no teeth and no denture, and 65.2% of those in the group of natural teeth only. 4. In terms of oral condition in anthropometric measurements; The height, weight, body fat, lean body mass, and total water according to oral conditions were $150.0{\pm}10.7cm$, $49.0{\pm}10.9kg$, $26.9{\pm}6.6%$, $72.7{\pm}7.0%$, $53.2{\pm}5.1%$, respectively, in group wearing a denture, $142.7{\pm}6.0cm$, $43.2{\pm}5.5kg$, $29.5{\pm}7.2%$, $70.8{\pm}6.9%$, $51.8{\pm}5.0%$, respectively, in the group of no teeth and no denture, and $152.3{\pm}14.1cm$, $45.9{\pm}12.6kg$, $23.4{\pm}6.0%$, $75.9{\pm}6.9%$, $55.6{\pm}5.1%$, respectively, in the group of natural teeth only. Conclusion: The subjective measurements of good health were higher denture user, and natural teeth.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.60-75
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to look for useful implications in its next application or similar planning by assessing visitors' recognition of International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea 2013. To do this, blogs acknowledged as powerful communication media in modern information society were used. After searching for blogs related to International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea in the portal site ranked first in the domestic market share, this study classified 300 cases. This study was able to grasp the consciousness as bloggers gave descriptions of information and impressions and experiences of spaces without making any adjustments. The survey results are as follows: First, Dutch gardens were the most preferred, followed by Korean gardens, Chinese gardens and French gardens; in general, visitors were not satisfied with the national gardens. Inquiry is needed into the method of determining diverse cultural identity rather than a sample garden type through blogs delivering regret regarding the world gardens. Second, the survey results showed that the level of awareness of designers' gardens was low. This study judges that more emphasis should be placed on their roles as places speaking for the original purpose of the garden exposition which introduces gardening art and design through experimental design. Third, it was understood that many bloggers were deeply impressed by ephemeral landscapes like the change in landscape consequent on the elapse of time, distinctive atmosphere, and detailed-landscapes. These aspects are important landscape elements, and those elements should be addressed with weight in a subsequent study. Fourth, the most impressive places are 'Suncheon Lake Garden' and 'Bridge of Dreams', which are establishing themselves as icons of International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea 2013. However, relatively, public attitude towards the world gardens and designers' gardens are weak. Fifth, bloggers were providing a variety of information like transportation, events schedules, ticket purchasing & prices, discount information, etc. Ticket price was commented on the most, and most of the bloggers thought ticket prices were 'expensive'. This study understands such a phenomenon as a result of the general population's non-establishment of the perception that it's proper to view gardens at visitors' own expense. Generally, bloggers expressed satisfaction with International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea 2013, but with criticism as well. Their criticism included disappointing matters, to be improved upon and wishes without any distortion, providing meaningful implications deserving reference for similar cases. In this context, a blogger could be called a citizen-reviewer while a blog could be referred to as 'a field of informal discourse' for the public. As a research method of this study, blogs are difficult to interpret as they are subjective and personal, and have limited data analysis through their quantifications; however, blogs as methods of recognition survey are channels for varied, concrete and detailed awareness which are hard to grasp through a questionnaire survey or interviews. This study judges that such an aspect of a blog could be a useful means of grasping and reflecting upon visitors' attitude in future studies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.361-373
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• 1999

Objectives: Receive Operating Characteristic(ROC) curve with the area under the ROC curve(AUC) is one of the most popular indicator to evaluate the criterion validity of the measurement tool. This study was conducted to develop a standardized questionnaire to discriminate workers at high-risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders using ROC analysis. Methods: The diagnostic results determined by rehabilitation medicine specialists in 370 persons(89 shipyard CAD workers, 113 telephone directory assistant operators, 79 women with occupation, and 89 housewives) were compared with participant's own replies to 'the questionnair on the worker's subjective physical symptoms'(Kwon, 1996). The AUC's from four models with different methods in item selection and weighting were compared with each other. These 4 models were applied to 225 persons, working in an assembly line of motor vehicle, for the purpose of AUC reliability test. Results: In a weighted model with 11 items, the AUC was 0.8155 in the primary study population, and 0.8026 in the secondary study population(p=0.3780). It was superior in the aspects of discriminability, reliability and convenience. A new questionnaire of musculoskeletal disorder could be constructed by this model. Conclusion: A more valid questionnaire with a small number of items and the quantitative weight scores useful for the relative comparisons are the main results of this study. While the absolute reference value applicable to the wide range of populations was not estimated, the basic intent of this study, developing a surveillance fool through quantitative validation of the measures, would serve for the systematic disease prevention activities.