• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2020

Background: To gain a better understanding of nonfatal injuries in Alaska, underutilized data sources such as workers' compensation claims must be analyzed. The purpose of the current study was to utilize workers' compensation claims data to estimate the risk of nonfatal, work-related injuries among occupations in Alaska, characterize injury patterns, and prioritize future research. Methods: A dataset with information on all submitted claims during 2014-2015 was provided for analysis. Claims were manually reviewed and coded. For inclusion in this study, claims had to represent incidents that resulted in a nonfatal acute traumatic injury, occurred in Alaska during 2014-2015, and were approved for compensation. Results: Construction workers had the highest number of injuries (2,220), but a rate lower than the overall rate (34 per 1,000 construction workers, compared to 40 per 1,000 workers overall). Fire fighters had the highest rate of injuries on the job, with 162 injuries per 1,000 workers, followed by law enforcement officers with 121 injuries per 1,000 workers. The most common types of injuries across all occupations were sprains/strains/tears, contusions, and lacerations. Conclusion: The successful use of Alaska workers' compensation data demonstrates that the information provided in the claims dataset is meaningful for epidemiologic research. The predominance of sprains, strains, and tears among all occupations in Alaska indicates that ergonomic interventions to prevent overexertion are needed. These findings will be used to promote and guide future injury prevention research and interventions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2020

Background: Pain during the developmental period may adversely affect developing neuronal pathways and result in adverse neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and behavioral effects in later life. Immunizations, e.g., hepatitis B vaccine (HBV), administered at birth are painful experiences to which neonates are universally subjected. Purpose: Here we aimed to study and compare the effectiveness of various nonpharmacological pain management methods in newborns to enable the development of safe and effective analgesic methods for newborns. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in the Himalayan region. Three hundred term healthy neonates were divided into 6 groups of 50 each. Groups 1-5 were intervention groups, patients of which received a nonpharmacological intervention (breastfeeding, nonnutritive sucking, rocking, 25% sucrose, or distilled water) before the intramuscular HBV, while patients in group 6 received no intervention. The pain response in each group after the HBV injection was assessed and compared using cry duration and Douleur Aigue Nveau-ne (DAN) score, a behavioral acute pain rating scale for newborns. Results: Cry duration was decreased in all intervention groups, significantly so in the sucrose (19.90 seconds), breastfeeding (31.57 seconds), and nonnutritive sucking (36.93 seconds) groups compared with controls (52.86 seconds). DAN scores decreased significantly (P<0.05) at one or more points i.e. 30, 60, or 120 seconds in the breastfeeding and 25% sucrose intervention groups compared with controls. Conclusion: Oral sucrose and nonnutritive sucking are simple yet underutilized nonpharmacological interventions that effectively reduce pain in newborns.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.559-566
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• 2016

Software defined network (SDN) can effectively improve the performance of traffic engineering and will be widely used in backbone networks. Therefore, new energy-saving schemes must take SDN into consideration; this action is extremely important owing to the rapidly increasing energy consumption in telecom and Internet service provider (ISP) networks. Meanwhile, the introduction of SDN in current networks must be incremental in most cases, for technical and economic reasons. During this period, operators must manage hybrid networks in which SDN and traditional protocols coexist. In this study, we investigate the energy-efficient traffic engineering problem in hybrid SDN/Internet protocol (IP) networks. First, we formulate the mathematical optimization model considering the SDN/IP hybrid routing mode. The problem is NP-hard; therefore, we propose a fast heuristic algorithm named hybrid energy-aware traffic engineering (HEATE) as a solution. In our proposed HEATE algorithm, the IP routers perform shortest-path routing by using distributed open shortest path first (OSPF) link weight optimization. The SDNs perform multipath routing with traffic-flow splitting managed by the global SDN controller. The HEATE algorithm determines the optimal setting for the OSPF link weight and the splitting ratio of SDNs. Thus, the traffic flow is aggregated onto partial links, and the underutilized links can be turned off to save energy. Based on computer simulation results, we demonstrate that our algorithm achieves a significant improvement in energy efficiency in hybrid SDN/IP networks.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.999-1010
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• 2016

Ganoderma lucidum BCCM 31549 has a long established role for its therapeutic activities. In this context, much interest has focused on the possible functions of the (1,3)-β-D-glucan (G) produced by these cultures in a stirred-tank bioreactor and extracted from their underutilized mycelium. In the existing study, we report on the systematic production of G, and its sulfated derivative (GS). The aim of this study was to investigate G and its GS from G. lucidum in terms of their antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity spectrum against human prostate cells (PN2TA) and human caucasian histiocytic lymphoma cells (U937). ¹H NMR for both G and GS compounds showed β-glycosidic linkages and structural similarities when compared with two standards (laminarin and fucoidan). The existence of characteristic absorptions at 1,170 and 867 cm^-1 in the FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) for GS demonstrated the successful sulfation of G. Only GS exhibited antimicrobial activity against a varied range of test bacteria of relevance to foodstuffs and human health. Moreover, both G and GS did not show any cytotoxic effects on PN2TA cells, thus helping demonstrate the safety of these polymers. Moreover, GS showed 40% antiproliferation against cancerous U937 cells at the low concentration (60 μg/ ml) applied in this study compared with G (10%). Together, this demonstrates that sulfation clearly improved the solubility and therapeutic activities of G. The water-soluble GS demonstrates the potential multifunctional effects of these materials in foodstuffs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.188-198
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• 2021

Digital data was collected using modern three-dimensional digital technology. Current content-specific technologies were investigated through domestic and foreign cases so that three-dimensional digital technology could be applied to the utilization of various contents. First, the use of three-dimensional digital technology of architectural cultural assets has been changing from the restoration of cultural assets. Second, some of the contents produced were found to be underutilized. Third, the type of content has been changing in experience and exhibition, but the online approach was small. Fourth, digital restoration using domestic IT technology has been used as a technology to restore overseas cultural heritage. The fifth analysis of the relationship between the content types and 3D digital technologies shows the use of currently limited technologies. This study analyzed the status of digital architecture and the application of three-dimensional digital technologies to lay the foundation for the active development and utilization of content. Subsequent studies on various layers and digital technologies will be needed to revitalize digital architectural cultural assets in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.213-226
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• 2022

The importance of gamification is garnering increased attention in the corporate world. Gamification refers to using game mechanics and thinking patterns in non-game domains to promote user engagement. By reviewing the definition of gamification and related literary research, we aim to understand how to put theory into practice and determine the organization of gamification's main features. Next, in order to understand the current implementation methods of mobile payment gamification marketing. We analyze popular mobile payment apps as case studies. To examine the effectiveness of game mechanics on mobile payment marketing to determine whether there is a positive impact on brand loyalty and stickiness. The results are used to identify shortcomings in gamified mobile payment systems. Finally, we propose a gamification framework model for mobile payments and offer recommendations for underutilized game mechanics based on previous cases. Future research can reference our model for deeper studies on the effectiveness and impact of gamified mobile payments.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1892-1912
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• 2022

With the massive demand and growth of cloud computing, virtualization plays an important role in providing services to end-users efficiently. However, with the increase in services over Cloud Computing, it is becoming more challenging to manage and run multiple Virtual Machines (VMs) in Cloud Computing because of excessive power consumption. It is thus important to overcome these challenges by adopting an efficient technique to manage and monitor the status of VMs in a cloud environment. Reduction of power/energy consumption can be done by managing VMs more effectively in the datacenters of the cloud environment by switching between the active and inactive states of a VM. As a result, energy consumption reduces carbon emissions, leading to green cloud computing. The proposed Efficient Dynamic VM Scheduling approach minimizes Service Level Agreement (SLA) violations and manages VM migration by lowering the energy consumption effectively along with the balanced load. In the proposed work, VM Scheduling for Efficient Dynamically Migrated VM (VMS-EDMVM) approach first detects the over-utilized host using the Modified Weighted Linear Regression (MWLR) algorithm and along with the dynamic utilization model for an underutilized host. Maximum Power Reduction and Reduced Time (MPRRT) approach has been developed for the VM selection followed by a two-phase Best-Fit CPU, BW (BFCB) VM Scheduling mechanism which is simulated in CloudSim based on the adaptive utilization threshold base. The proposed work achieved a Power consumption of 108.45 kWh, and the total SLA violation was 0.1%. The VM migration count was reduced to 2,202 times, revealing better performance as compared to other methods mentioned in this paper.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2022

Purpose: The use of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) has steadily increased over the past decade. Recent literature suggests that a larger population may benefit from SSRF, and that the geriatric population-as the highest-risk population-may receive the greatest improvement from these interventions. We sought to determine the overall utilization of SSRF in the United States. Methods: The National Trauma Database was analyzed between 2016 and 2017. The inclusion criteria were all patients ≥65 years old with rib fractures. We further stratified these patients according to age (65-79 vs. ≥80 years old), the presence of coding for flail chest, three or more rib fractures, and intervention (surgical vs. nonoperative management). The main outcomes were surgical interventions, mortality, pneumonia, length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, ventilator use, and tracheostomy. Results: Overall, 93,638 patients were identified. SSRF was performed in 992 patients. Patients who underwent SSRF had improved mortality in the 65 to 79 age group, regardless of the number of ribs fractured. We identified 92,637 patients in the age group of 65 to 79 years old who did not undergo SSRF. This represents an additional 20,000 patients annually who may benefit from SSRF. Conclusions: By conservative standards and the well-established Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma clinical practice guidelines, SSRF is underutilized. Our data suggest that SSRF may be very beneficial for the geriatric population, specifically those aged 65 to 79 years with any rib fractures. We hypothesize that roughly 20,000 additional cases will meet the inclusion criteria for SSRF each year. It is therefore imperative that we train acute care surgeons in this skill set.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.288-302
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• 2022

Objective: Community pharmacists are frontline health care providers, but have been considered as underutilized professionals on a daily basis. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community pharmacy services and to evaluate new services that could be applicable. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies published up to January 10, 2020. Search terms consisted of keywords relevant to this review, including "COVID-19", "community pharmacy", and "community pharmacist". This review targeted studies of pharmacist services provided by community pharmacies in OECD member countries during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included in this review. Changes in community pharmacist services due to the COVID-19 pandemic were broadly classified into four categories. First, as the face-to-face services became challenging, various non-face-to-face services were being tried. Second, community pharmacists directly participated in the services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Third, community pharmacists made efforts to support continuity of care for patients who experienced difficulties due to the reduced professional care as health and medical resources are concentrated in response to COVID-19. Fourth, community pharmacist services were emerging, targeting patients suffering from greater health inequality during the pandemic. Patients expressed high demand and satisfaction for the service of the community pharmacist, and pharmacists reported self-efficacy and professional pride. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, various community pharmacist services have been tried and received positive evaluations from patients in several OECD countries.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2023

Purpose: To decrease cross-infection, it's essential to analyze the spatial composition of the 'PPE doffing area'. Instead of solely relying on manpower standards, we should focus on responding to infectious diseases within the context of space planning. By doing so, we can lower the risk for healthcare workers' infection and ensure a level of safety in various environmental changes or new manpower input situations. Methods: This analysis is conducted specifically for facilities with negative pressure isolation wards. Additionally, interview surveys to obtain feedback from healthcare workers and incorporate their expertise into the design of the 'PPE doffing area' have been carried. Results: In a PPE doffing area, the standard spaces include a PPE doffing room, a shower room, and a clothing room. Depending on the facility environment or the level of infectious diseases, a Decontamination room or Anteroom can be optionally added. Healthcare workers who remove their PPE in the PPE doffing room should avoid re-entering the Negative pressure room. The shower room is often underutilized. When planning for a future PPE doffing area, an aisle space or passageway must be included even if a shower room is planned. Implications: This study examined the space used by healthcare workers rather than patients, with a focus on infection prevention through architectural planning rather than individual efforts. However, the investigation was limited to facilities that have been converted from general wards to negative pressure isolation wards, so it cannot be generalized to all infectious disease facilities.