• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1165-1177
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• 2020

Objective: To assess the feasibility of applying a deep learning-based denoising technique to coronary CT angiography (CCTA) along with iterative reconstruction for additional noise reduction. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 82 consecutive patients (male:female = 60:22; mean age, 67.0 ± 10.8 years) who had undergone both CCTA and invasive coronary artery angiography from March 2017 to June 2018. All included patients underwent CCTA with iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE level 3, Siemens Healthineers). We developed a deep learning based denoising technique (ClariCT.AI, ClariPI), which was based on a modified U-net type convolutional neural net model designed to predict the possible occurrence of low-dose noise in the originals. Denoised images were obtained by subtracting the predicted noise from the originals. Image noise, CT attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were objectively calculated. The edge rise distance (ERD) was measured as an indicator of image sharpness. Two blinded readers subjectively graded the image quality using a 5-point scale. Diagnostic performance of the CCTA was evaluated based on the presence or absence of significant stenosis (≥ 50% lumen reduction). Results: Objective image qualities (original vs. denoised: image noise, 67.22 ± 25.74 vs. 52.64 ± 27.40; SNR [left main], 21.91 ± 6.38 vs. 30.35 ± 10.46; CNR [left main], 23.24 ± 6.52 vs. 31.93 ± 10.72; all p < 0.001) and subjective image quality (2.45 ± 0.62 vs. 3.65 ± 0.60, p < 0.001) improved significantly in the denoised images. The average ERDs of the denoised images were significantly smaller than those of originals (0.98 ± 0.08 vs. 0.09 ± 0.08, p < 0.001). With regard to diagnostic accuracy, no significant differences were observed among paired comparisons. Conclusion: Application of the deep learning technique along with iterative reconstruction can enhance the noise reduction performance with a significant improvement in objective and subjective image qualities of CCTA images.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1567-1579
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• 2023

Sucralose is used as a sucrose alternative in the food sector and is a globally approved pyrogenic, high-intensity artificial sweetener. However, due to the lack of studies on the effects of sweeteners on the brain, this study confirmed whether short-term consumption of sucralose has cognitive and memory protective effects in scopolamine-induced memory-injured animal models. After oral administration of sucralose 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was administered to the control group and the drug group 30 minutes later, and saline was administered intraperitoneally to the normal group, followed by behavioral experiments As a result of the experiment, Y-Maze, passive avoidance, and Morris WaterMaze recovered more than 10% of cognitive function compared to the control group. In addition, as a result of measuring proinflammatory cytokines, sucralose was found to inhibit IL-6 and TNF-α by more than 30%, and we observed that the expression level of ERK-CREB with intracellular signaling mechanisms increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, it suggests that sucralose is associated with functional foods for the prevention of functional food patients.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2024

Axial-flow fans are used to transport fluids in relatively low-pressure flow regimes, and a variety of design variables are employed. The tip geometry of an axial fan plays a dominant role in its flow and noise performance, and two of the most prominent flow phenomena are the tip vortex and the tip leakage vortex that occur at the tip of the blade. Various studies have been conducted to control these three-dimensional flow structures, and winglet geometries have been developed in the aircraft field to suppress wingtip vortices and increase efficiency. In this study, a numerical and experimental study was conducted to analyze the effect of winglet geometry applied to an axial fan blade for an air conditioner outdoor unit. The unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation and the FfocwsWilliams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation were numerically solved based on computational fluid dynamics techniques to analyze the three-dimensional flow structure and flow noise numerically, and the validity of the numerical method was verified by comparison with experimental results. The differences in the formation of tip vortex and tip leakage vortex depending on the winglet geometry were compared through a three-dimensional flow field, and the resulting aerodynamic performance was quantitatively compared. In addition, the effect of winglet geometry on flow noise was evaluated by numerically simulating noise based on the predicted flow field. A prototype of the target fan model was built, and flow and noise experiments were conducted to evaluate the actual performance quantitatively.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2024

Purpose: This paper conducts IoT and CCTV-based safety monitoring to analyze accidents and potential risks occurring at construction sites, and detect and analyze risks such as falls and collisions or abnormalities and to establish a system for early warning using devices like a walkie-talkie and chatbot service. Method: A safety management service model is presented through smart construction technology case studies at the construction site and review a relevant literature analysis. Result: According to 'Construction Accident Statistics,' in 2021, there were 26,888 casualties in the construction industry, accounting for 26.3% of all reported accidents. Fatalities in construction-related accidents amounted to 417 individuals, representing 50.5% of all industrial accident-related deaths. This study suggests implementing AI chatbot services for construction site safety management utilizing IoT-based health monitoring technologies in smart construction practices. Construction sites where stakeholders such as workers participate were demonstrated by implementing an artificial intelligence chatbot system by selecting major risk areas within the workplace, such as scaffolding processes, openings, and access to hazardous machinery. Conclusion: The possibility of commercialization was confirmed by receiving more than 90 points in the satisfaction survey of participating workers regarding the empirical results of the artificial intelligence chatbot service at construction sites.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.77-101
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• 2023

Due to COVID-19, paid virtual live-stream concerts have emerged as an alternative format and a new revenue model for in-person live concerts. Despite the increasing scholarly and practical interest in how participants experience paid virtual live-stream concerts, few studies examined participants' consumption and participation experiences. Thus, this study aims to provide insights into consumers' virtual live-stream concert experience by employing social representations theory (SRT). We explore the features of paid virtual live-stream concerts based on the C-P-N-D (Content-Platform-Network-Device) framework and the consumers' cognitive and affective perception. To this end, an SRT-based core-periphery analysis was conducted based on 239 responses to the open-ended survey questions. The results show that network-and device-level features of virtual live concerts and participants' overall perception are presented as core elements of paid virtual live-stream concerts, whereas content- and platform-level features are peripheral elements. This finding provides an in-depth understanding of the emergence of paid virtual live-stream concerts as an alternative concert format, thereby providing an invaluable understanding of a virtual live concert experience and theoretical and practical insights.

• Journal of Advanced Technology Convergence
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2024

The study confirmed the relationship between attractiveness and suitability in the relationship between the formativeness of creating the artistic form of a virtual influencer who acts as an advertising model, advertising attention, and advertising attitude. To confirm this, the subjects of the study were the MZ generation and X generation, which have a high rate of SNS use. The analysis method used SPSS statistics 27.0 and SPSS process macro version. The research results are as follows. First, it was confirmed that attractiveness and suitability fully mediate the relationship between formativeness and advertising attention. In the path of formativeness and advertising attention, the total effect was found to be higher than the direct effect, and it was confirmed that there was a double parallel mediation effect through attractiveness and suitability in the relationship between the formativeness of virtual influencers and advertising attention. Second, it was confirmed that formativeness affects the mediating variable, attractiveness, but attractiveness does not affect attitude toward advertising. Since formativeness affects suitability and suitability in turn influences attitude toward advertising, it was confirmed that there is a full mediating effect between these variables. According to these results, the parallel mediating effect of attractiveness and formativeness was not confirmed in the relationship between formativeness and attitude towards advertising. The above study is significant in that it presents academic implications and practical implications by examining the dual and parallel mediating effects of attractiveness and suitability in the relationship between formativeness, advertising attention, and advertising attitude variables, which are considered in the production of virtual influencers.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.705-720
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• 2024

Analyzing the collapse behavior of thin-walled steel structures holds significant importance in ensuring their safety and longevity. Geometric imperfections present on the surface of metal materials can diminish both the durability and mechanical integrity of steel shells. These imperfections, encompassing local geometric irregularities and deformations such as holes, cavities, notches, and cracks localized in specific regions of the shell surface, play a pivotal role in the assessment. They can induce stress concentration within the structure, thereby influencing its susceptibility to buckling. The intricate relationship between the buckling behavior of these structures and such imperfections is multifaceted, contingent upon a variety of factors. The buckling analysis of thin-walled steel shell structures, similar to other steel structures, commonly involves the determination of crucial material properties, including elastic modulus, shear modulus, tensile strength, and fracture toughness. An established method involves the emulation of distributed geometric imperfections, utilizing real test specimen data as a basis. This approach allows for the accurate representation and assessment of the diversity and distribution of imperfections encountered in real-world scenarios. Utilizing defect data obtained from actual test samples enhances the model's realism and applicability. The sizes and configurations of these defects are employed as inputs in the modeling process, aiding in the prediction of structural behavior. It's worth noting that there is a dearth of experimental studies addressing the influence of geometric defects on the buckling behavior of cylindrical steel shells. In this particular study, samples featuring geometric imperfections were subjected to experimental buckling tests. These same samples were also modeled using Finite Element Analysis (FEM), with results corroborating the experimental findings. Furthermore, the initial geometrical imperfections were measured using digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. In this way, the response of the test specimens can be estimated accurately by applying the initial imperfections to FE models. After validation of the test results with FEA, a numerical parametric study was conducted to develop more generalized design recommendations for the stainless-steel shell structures with the initial geometric imperfection. While the load-carrying capacity of samples with perfect surfaces was up to 140 kN, the load-carrying capacity of samples with 4 mm defects was around 130 kN. Likewise, while the load carrying capacity of samples with 10 mm defects was around 125 kN, the load carrying capacity of samples with 14 mm defects was measured around 120 kN.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.579-591
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• 2024

Recently, church organizations are experiencing various problems, including a sharp decline in the number of members. This study focused on the problem of lack of communication, that is, organizational silence, which is commonly pointed out in previous studies as a problem of church organizations, and empirically analyzed the relationship between organizational silence, organizational cynicism, and organizational commitment within church organizations. For this purpose, a questionnaire was distributed to 210 members of churches and related organizations from May to June 2023, of which 202 copies were used as analysis data. SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 were used to perform frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, structural equation model analysis, and bootstrapping to verify mediation effects. As a result of the study, organizational silence had a negative effect on organizational cynicism, and organizational cynicism had a negative effect on organizational commitment. Although organizational silence did not have a direct negative effect on organizational commitment, it was found to have a negative effect mediated by organizational cynicism. This study expanded the scope of the study by applying variables from organizational theory to church organizations, and presented practical implications through the research results to church organizations.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.141-157
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• 2024

This study investigated the factors influencing the fear of failure in starting a business among the MZ generation(Millennials and Generation Z). The research focused on financial, psychological, and behavioral factors affecting this fear of failure and employed empirical analysis using structural equation model on data collected from 200 members of the MZ generation. Key findings included: Financial factor(lack of accessible finance) significantly increased the fear of startup failure. Psychological factors(aversion to risk and aversion to stress) also significantly contributed to the fear of failure. The influence of behavioral factor(aversion to hard work) on fear of failure was not statistically significant. Among these, aversion to stress had the strongest impact, followed by aversion to risk and lack of accessible finance. Fear of startup failure was found to have a significant negative effect on the intention to start a business among the MZ generation. Furthermore, fear of startup failure mediated the relationship between psychological factors(aversion to risk and aversion to stress) and behavioral factor(aversion to hard work) and entrepreneurial intention. However, the mediating effect between financial factor(lack of accessible finance) and entrepreneurial intention was not tested. These findings contributed academically by offering a more detailed analysis of factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions compared to previous studies. Practically, the results suggested ways to mitigate the fear of failure to enhance the entrepreneurial intentions of the MZ generation.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.97-111
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• 2024

Greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution persist globally, leading to an increase in extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts. Previous studies have investigated various factors for energy consumption, such as household, residential, economic, and social characteristics. However, the body of research examining energy-saving behavior and perceptions remains limited and underexplored. In particular, significant differences in energy conservation perceptions can be observed among individual household members, even within the same household. To this end, this study explores how household energy consumption is associated with various factors, including household characteristics, housing characteristics, energy-saving behaviors, and seasonal factors. We utilize survey data from the Household Energy Panel, spanning a 24-month period from January 2018 to December 2019, comprising a sample of 5,897 households across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. The findings of this study are expected to offer an empirical evidence for household energy-saving policies.