• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.181-192
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• 2023

Purpose: The development of assistive devices has allowed for the performance of capsule endoscopy in children. Anticipating the capsule's transit time could affect the efficacy of the investigation and potentially minimize the fasting period. This study determined the predictors of small bowel transit time for small-bowel capsule endoscopy in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: We retrospectively examined children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease who underwent capsule endoscopy by the age 18 at a Japanese tertiary care children's hospital. Small bowel transit time predictors were analyzed using multiple regression with explanatory variables. Results: Overall, 92 patients, aged 1-17 years, with inflammatory bowel disease (63 Crohn's disease and 29 ulcerative colitis cases) were examined for factors affecting small bowel transit time. In the simple regression analysis, diagnosis, age, height, weight, serum albumin, general anesthesia, and small intestine lesions were significantly associated with small bowel transit time. In the multiple regression analyses, serum albumin (partial regression coefficient: -58.9, p=0.008), general anesthesia (partial regression coefficient: 127, p<0.001), and small intestine lesions (partial regression coefficient: 30.1, p=0.037) showed significant associations with small bowel transit time. Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia, the use of general anesthesia for endoscopic delivery of the capsule, and small intestine lesions appeared to be predictors of prolonged small bowel transit time in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Expecting the finishing time may improve examination with a fasting period reduction, which benefits both patients and caregivers.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.212-228
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• 2023

Systems thinking, a linking domain of health systems science (HSS), is an approach that investigates specific problems from a holistic perspective. It supports improving patients' health, fulfilling their health needs, and anticipating issues that threaten patient safety within the healthcare system. It also helps solve problems through critical thinking and ref lection. This study aimed to develop an curriculum on systems thinking, explore the effectiveness of the course, and investigate the applicability of HSS education at individual universities. In this study, the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) model was utilized to design, develop, implement, and evaluate an elective course on systems thinking. In the design process, learning outcomes and goals were developed, and educational content, teaching-learning methods, and student evaluation methods were linked. In the development process, class materials and evaluation materials were prepared. In the implementation process, the course was implemented, and the evaluation process analyzed the results of learning performance and curriculum assessments. The evaluation found the following results. First, the students in the study realized the importance of systems thinking and experienced the need for systems thinking through non-medical and medical situations. Second, the students were very satisfied with the learning activities in the course (mean=4.84), and the results of the self-competence evaluation, conducted before and after the course, also showed a significant improvement. This study confirmed the effectiveness of the elective course, and its results can serve as a reference for developing an HSS curriculum.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.831-839
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• 2023

This study aims to develop a framework for an accident prediction model leveraging a deep neural network algorithm, specifically tailored for small-scale construction sites. Notably, the incidence of accidents in the construction sector is markedly higher compared to other industries, with a significant contribution from small-scale sites. The challenging nature of construction in urban settings, coupled with the increasing frequency of adverse weather conditions, is likely to escalate accident risks at these sites. Anticipating and mitigating accidents at small-scale construction sites is therefore crucial to decrease the overall industry accident rate. Consequently, this research introduces a Deep Neural Network-based model for forecasting accidents at small-scale construction sites. The framework and findings of this study are poised to serve as a guideline for the safety management of small-scale construction projects, ultimately aiding in the realization of safer, more sustainable construction practices at these sites.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.115-124
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• 2023

This study explores the intersection of literary studies and artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the common theme of human emotions to foster complementary advancements in both fields. By adopting a comparative perspective, the paper investigates emotion as a shared focal point, analyzing various emotion-related concepts from both literary and AI perspectives. Despite the scarcity of research on the fusion of AI and literary studies, this study pioneers an interdisciplinary approach within the humanities, anticipating future developments in AI. It proposes that literary sensibility can contribute to AI by formalizing subjective literary emotions, thereby enhancing AI's understanding of complex human emotions. This paper's methodology involves the terminology-centered extraction of emotions, aiming to blend subjective imagination with objective technology. This fusion is expected to not only deepen AI's comprehension of human complexities but also broaden literary research by rapidly analyzing diverse human data. The study emphasizes the need for a collaborative dialogue between literature and engineering, recognizing each field's limitations while pursuing a convergent enhancement that transcends these boundaries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.804-811
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• 2024

Foamy viruses (FVs) are generally recognized as non-pathogenic, often causing asymptomatic or mild symptoms in infections. Leveraging these unique characteristics, FV vectors hold significant promise for applications in gene therapy. This study introduces a novel platform technology using a pseudo-virus with single-round infectivity. In contrast to previous vector approaches, we developed a technique employing only two vectors, pcHFV lacking Env and pCMV-Env, to introduce the desired genes into target cells. Our investigation demonstrated the efficacy of the prototype foamy virus (PFV) dual-vector system in producing viruses and delivering transgenes into host cells. To optimize viral production, we incorporated the codon-optimized Env (optEnv) gene in pCMV-Env and the Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus Posttranscriptional Regulatory Element (WPRE) at the 3' end of the transgene in the transfer vector. Consequently, the use of optEnv led to a significant enhancement in transgene expression in host cells. Additionally, the WPRE exhibited an enhancing effect. Furthermore, the introduced EGFP transgene was present in host cells for a month. In an effort to expand transgene capacity, we further streamlined the viral vector, anticipating the delivery of approximately 4.3 kbp of genes through our PFV dual-vector system. This study underscores the potential of PFVs as an alternative to lentiviruses or other retroviruses in the realm of gene therapy.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.541-552
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• 2024

This study introduces a new analytical model known as the Cellular Automaton Method(CAM) designed to predict the degree of deterioration in concrete, taking into account its complex pore structure. The CAM model assesses the impacts of moisture migration, driven by capillary action and pressure differentials at the gas-liquid interface, which are influenced by the distribution of pores. It also evaluates how porosity and diffusion coefficients affect the penetration of chloride ions. The model's application revealed distinct moisture movement patterns in concrete structures, distinguishing between those with porosity levels below and above 40 percent. Additionally, it facilitated a comparison and analysis of chloride ion diffusion phenomena, based on diffusion coefficients in areas penetrated by moisture, against results obtained from the Finite Element Method(FEM). The comparison showed a maximum deviation of only 0.989 percent between the predicted outcomes of the FEM and CAM, demonstrating substantial agreement and validating CAM's efficacy in simulating the diffusion processes of chloride ions within concrete under actual salt damage conditions. Thus, CAM proves to be a reliable tool for modeling and anticipating deterioration in concrete structures exposed to saline environments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.171-178
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• 2011

To investigate the decrease of BMD by age and the risk factor of osteoporosis in Korean men. We describe the study of a five-years retrospective observational study with male patients. Eighty Korean men who visited hospital for health screening were assessed for this study from 2002 to 2006. We evaluated the BMD of the femoral neck and L-spine, and the preferences and habits in the life. The data were collected for 5 years, and we analysed the five-years change of BMD and the relations between BMD and other factors. Subjects were divided into 3 group by 1st assessment of femoral neck BMD, and were compared with each other. The age of subjects was $43.15{\pm}4.82$ and BMD of femoral neck was $-0.61{\pm}0.97$ and BMD of L-spine was $-0.67{\pm}1.10$ in the first year assessment. The femoral neck BMD of 4th and 5th assessment was decreased significantly compared to that of 1st assessment. The L-spine BMD of 2nd assessment was decreased significantly compared to the 1st assessment. There was no significant correlation between the changes of BMD and preferences or habits-drinking, smoking, eating habit, exercise. The femoral neck BMD of 5th assessment was decreased significantly compared to that of 1st assessment in the high femoral neck BMD group. And there was no significant change of femoral BMD and L-spine BMD in other groups. Low BMD group in the 1st assessment showed lowest BMD in the 5th assessment and high BMD group in the 1st assessment showed highest BMD in the 5th assessment. We can guess that the young men who has low BMD could have high risk of osteoporosis when he became older. And the femoral BMD should be considered important in anticipating the changes of BMD in middle aged men.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

In order to resolve the decline in population due to low birthrates, the South Korean government is expanding its free child care policies with an increased budget. In anticipating the effects and problems of our system, it will be worthy of attention to refer to the child care systems of other countries. In this paper, we reviewed the past and present policies and the current situation of the child care system in North Korea. North Korea started its free child care system earlier than that of South Korea, for the purpose of utilizing the women's labor force and rearing children to be revolutionary men of Juche type (Kimilsungism), in order to construct a communistic society. 'Child Care Education Law', which is the legal foundation of the child care system, regulates institutions for nursery schools and kindergarten and informs people that the country is responsible for support of child care. Despite their interest and progress in both quantity and quality in the child care system until the 1980s, the free child care system was partially disrupted, and discrepancies between ideology and actual situation were revealed due to economic difficulties from the 1990s. Because people's survival and physical health have been threatened, it is barely possible to find any study investigating the effect of institutional child care from early childhood and the instillation of unique ideology by group education from the preschool period on mental health.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.109-131
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• 2011

This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand the impacts of the poor neighborhood on children from their own perspectives. To this end, the meaning and the structure of children's lived experiences were explored. The participants were recruited from elementary school high grade students living in poor neighborhood. Focused group interviews were conducted in each of the 24 World Visions social work agencies. The collected data were analysed qualitatively. According to the results, the following main themes could be extracted from the children's lived experiences: "Conflict between connection and differentiation", "Resigning to the fate of being neglected in danger" "Learning to live in the dark cave", "Anticipating a bowl of trust from the neighborhood". The children living in poor neighborhood were threatened by the physical and emotional danger highly probable in weak social infrastructure. Also, they have internalized negative self-identity by chaotic environment and, even the negative role models from alcoholic and sometimes violent adults. However, they were experiencing positive caring from and solidarity with surrounding neighborhood, and were participating in volunteered activities for asserting their citizen rights. These may be the keys to empowerment and, ultimately, to change for themselves and the community. The implications of the study results for the policy making and the actual practice were discussed focusing on the children's rights and well-being.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.501-508
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• 2012

Albedo is known as a factor that directly impacts on the surface energy balance one of the elements of earth radiation balance. The change of albedo includes the change of soil moisture, vegetation, solar zenith angle, snow, and so on. In addition, it operates as a crucial path to understanding feedback mechanisms between radiation balance and its influence on climate and vegetation dynamics and therefore, observing the variation of albedo is a one of the essential procedures for anticipating climate change. In this study, we used MODIS 16-Day composited Albedo data from 2001 to 2011 years with the purpose of observing the change of albedo over Northeast Asia. According to the tendency of albedo for 11 years, albedo in the area of an active vegetation has increased in near-infrared (NIR) domain and decreased in visible (VIS) domain. On the basis of local changes in vegetation in 2002, the both area of the Gobi Desert and the Manchuria was enormously changed and chosen the research area and furthermore, the vegetation of both regions had deteriorated due to the change of the minimum value since 2010.