• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.84-90
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• 2023

Oxygen, which is always present in the atmosphere among the three elements of combustion, can cause fires and explosions with only a very small amount of combustibles under high-pressure oxygen conditions. The burning rate is also significant, and can rise to temperatures that can have a direct impact, such as melting process equipment and piping in an instant. Therefore, accidents that occur under high pressure oxygen often cause more damage than other accidents. Recently, while operating a valve installed in an oxygen supply pipe, rapid combustion and rupture occurred inside, resulting in human casualties due to an explosion. In the case of an old carbon steel pipe, particles generated during operation become combustible and can cause accidents. . In particular, since oxygen facilities are facilities licensed under the High Pressure Gas Safety Management Actand there are no restrictions under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, accumulating these standards is of utmost importance. Therefore, in this study, based on accident cases and overseas standards, methods for improving safety when handling hyperbaric oxygen are reviewed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.95-101
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• 2023

Recent persistent coastal developments have expanded recreational areas and enhanced accessibility. However, this growth has also led to a rise in safety incidents. These accident factors can be divided into human-made and natural types. The latter is comprised of dynamic factors like waves, tides, sea fogs, and winds. While institutions like the Korea Meteorological Administration and the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency already offer data on these dynamic factors, the resolution is often insufficient for a precise assessment of localized risks. In this study, to overcome these limitations, we utilized the dynamic information from existing open systems to construct a high-resolution numerical simulation. Through this, we developed an automated module to predict dynamic factors in localized coastal activity areas. Particularly during the module's construction, we compared and reviewed the numerical prediction results for waves with observed wave heights.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.29-48
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• 2023

This study aims to investigate empirically the structural relationships among the components of data governance and their impacts on data integration and data-based administration. Through literature review, various definitions, typologies, and case studies of data governance were examined, with the definition of data governance from a public policy perspective developed and applied. The study then analyzed the data from a survey conducted by the Korea Institute of Public Administration on the use of public data policies and confirmed that organizational factors play a mediating role between institutional and technical factors, and that institutional and technical factors have statistically significant positive relationships with data fusion and data-driven administration. Based on these results, interest and investment in the improvement and development of the legal system in data governance from the institutional, technical, and organizational perspective, clarification of means and purposes of data technology, interest in data organizations and human resources, and practical operation can be achieved. Policy implications such as the development of an effective mechanism were presented.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.17
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• 2021

The global crisis caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to the most significant economic loss and human deaths after World War II. The pathogen causing this disease is a novel virus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2). As of December 2020, there have been 80.2 million confirmed patients, and the mortality rate is known as 2.16% globally. A strategy to protect a host from SARS-CoV-2 is by suppressing intracellular viral replication or preventing viral entry. We focused on the spike glycoprotein that is responsible for the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the host cell. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration/EU Medicines Agency authorized a vaccine and antibody to treat COVID-19 patients by emergency use approval in the absence of long-term clinical trials. Both commercial and academic efforts to develop preventive and therapeutic agents continue all over the world. In this review, we present a perspective on current reports about the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 as a therapeutic target.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.403-415
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• 2023

This study aimed to isolate and identify L-(+)-lactic acid-producing bacteria from tree barks collected in Thailand and evaluate the potential strain as probiotics. Twelve strains were isolated and characterized phenotypically and genotypically. The strains exhibited a rod-shaped morphology, high-temperature tolerance, and the ability to ferment different sugars into lactic acid. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, all strains were identified as belonging to Weizmannia coagulans. Among the isolated strains, BKMTCR2-2 demonstrated exceptional lactic acid production, with 96.41% optical purity, 2.33 g/l of lactic acid production, 1.44 g/g of lactic acid yield (per gram of glucose consumption), and 0.0049 g/l/h of lactic acid productivity. This strain also displayed a wide range of pH tolerance, suggesting suitability for the human gastrointestinal tract and potential probiotic applications. The whole-genome sequence of BKMTCR2-2 was assembled using a hybridization approach that combined long and short reads. The genomic analysis confirmed its identification as W. coagulans and safety assessments revealed its non-pathogenic attribute compared to type strains and commercial probiotic strains. Furthermore, this strain exhibited resilience to acidic and bile conditions, along with the presence of potential probiotic-related genes and metabolic capabilities. These findings suggest that BKMTCR2-2 holds promise as a safe and effective probiotic strain with significant lactic acid production capabilities.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.507-516
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• 2024

Through the use and development of underground spaces, subways have become a representative means of transportation in the city center. Due to the extension of subway lines and the increase in the number of subway users, there is a risk that safety for evacuating human lives in case of fire will not be secured. Therefore, this study tried to identify citizens' perceptions of evacuation facilities through questionnaires and find alternatives. An online survey of 115 subway passengers was conducted to learn about citizens' awareness of subway evacuation facilities. As a result of the survey, awareness of evacuation facilities was high in the order of guidance lights, life-saving devices, emergency lights and portable lights, special evacuation stairs, and evacuation stairs. In addition, the majority of the respondents said they were not well aware of evacuation facilities, and people's indifference was the most common cause. As a solution to the lack of awareness, responses to active advertising and promotion, education and experience activities were the highest.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.517-524
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• 2024

Generative AI, exemplified by models like ChatGPT, has revolutionized human-machine interactions in the 21st century. As these advancements permeate various sectors, their intersection with the arts is both promising and challenging. Despite the arts' historical resistance to AI replacement, recent developments have sparked active research in AI's role in artistry. This study delves into the potential of AI in visual arts education, highlighting the necessity of swift adaptation amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This research, conducted at a 4-year global higher education institution located in Gyeongbuk, involved 70 participants who took part in a creative convergence module course project. The study aimed to examine the influence of AI collaboration in visual arts, analyzing distinctions across majors, grades, and genders. The results indicate that creative activities with AI positively influence students' creativity and digital media literacy. Based on these findings, there is a need to further develop effective educational strategies and directions that incorporate AI.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2023

Background: Recognizing that access to safe and healthy working conditions is a human right, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for specific occupational safety and health (OSH) programs for health workers (HWs). The WHO health systems' building blocks, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlight the importance of information as part of effective systems. This study examined how OSH stakeholders access, use, and value an occupational health information system (OHIS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of OSH stakeholders was conducted as part of a larger quasi experimental study in four teaching hospitals. The study hospitals and participants were purposefully selected and data collected using a modified questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis was conducted and themes identified for qualitative analysis. Ethics approval was provided by the University of Pretoria and University of British Columbia. Results: There were 71 participants comprised of hospital managers, health and safety representatives, trade unions representatives and OSH professionals. At least 42% reported poor accessibility and poor timeliness of OHIS for decision-making. Only 50% had access to computers and 27% reported poor computer skills. When existing, OHIS was poorly organized and needed upgrades, with 85% reporting the need for significant reforms. Only 45% reported use of OHIS for decision-making in their OSH role. Conclusion: Given the gap in access and utilization of information needed to protect worker's rights to a safe and healthy workplace, more attention is warranted to OHIS development and use as well as education and training in South Africa and beyond.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.398-405
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• 2023

Background: Starting from March 2020 until December 2021, different phases of Covid-19 pandemic have been identified in Italy, with several containing/lifting measures progressively enforced by the National government. In the present study, we investigate the change in occupational risk during the subsequent pandemic phases and we propose an estimate of the incidence of the cases by economic sector, based on the analysis of insurance claims for compensation for Covid-19. Methods: Covid-19 epidemiological data available for the general population and injury claims of workers covered by the Italian public insurance system in 2020-2021 were analyzed. Monthly Incidence Rate of Covid-19 compensation claims per 100,000 workers (MIRw) was calculated by the economic sector and compared with the same indicator for general population in different pandemic periods. Results: The distribution of Covid-19 MIRw by sector significantly changed during the pandemic related to both the strength of different waves and the mitigation/lifting strategies enforced. The level of occupational fraction was very high at the beginning phase of the pandemic, decreasing to 5% at the end of 2021. Healthcare and related services were continuously hit but the incidence was significantly decreasing in 2021 in all sectors, except for postal and courier activities in transportation and storage enterprises. Conclusion: The analysis of compensation claim data allowed to identify time trends for infection risk in different working sectors. The claim rates were highest for human health and social work activities but the distribution of risk among sectors was clearly influenced by the different stages of the pandemic.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 2024

Ocean surface currents have an essential role in the Earth's climate system and significantly impact the marine ecosystem, weather patterns, and human activities. However, predicting ocean surface currents remains challenging due to the complexity and variability of the oceanic processes involved. This review article provides an overview of the current research status, challenges, and opportunities in the prediction of ocean surface currents. We discuss the various observational and modelling approaches used to study ocean surface currents, including satellite remote sensing, in situ measurements, and numerical models. We also highlight the major challenges facing the prediction of ocean surface currents, such as data assimilation, model-observation integration, and the representation of sub-grid scale processes. In this article, we suggest that future research should focus on developing advanced modeling techniques, such as machine learning, and the integration of multiple observational platforms to improve the accuracy and skill of ocean surface current predictions. We also emphasize the need to address the limitations of observing instruments, such as delays in receiving data, versioning errors, missing data, and undocumented data processing techniques. Improving data availability and quality will be essential for enhancing the accuracy of predictions. The future research should focus on developing methods for effective bias correction, a series of data preprocessing procedures, and utilizing combined models and xAI models to incorporate data from various sources. Advancements in predicting ocean surface currents will benefit various applications such as maritime operations, climate studies, and ecosystem management.