• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2023

Background: Resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) may aid in understanding the link between painmodulating brain regions and the descending pain modulatory system (DPMS) in fibromyalgia (FM). This study investigated whether the differences in rs-FC of the primary somatosensory cortex in responders and non-responders to the conditioned pain modulation test (CPM-test) are related to pain, sleep quality, central sensitization, and the impact of FM on quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 33 females with FM. rs-FC was assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Change in the numerical pain scale during the CPM-test assessed the DPMS function. Subjects were classified either as non-responders (i.e., DPMS dysfunction, n = 13) or responders (n = 20) to CPM-test. A generalized linear model (GLM) and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to check the accuracy of the rs-FC to differentiate each group. Results: Non-responders showed a decreased rs-FC between the left somatosensory cortex (S1) and the periaqueductal gray (PAG) (P < 0.001). The GLM analysis revealed that the S1-PAG rs-FC in the left-brain hemisphere was positively correlated with a central sensitization symptom and negatively correlated with sleep quality and pain scores. ROC curve analysis showed that left S1-PAG rs-FC offers a sensitivity and specificity of 85% or higher (area under the curve, 0.78, 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.94) to discriminate who does/does not respond to the CPM-test. Conclusions: These results support using the rs-FC patterns in the left S1-PAG as a marker for predicting CPM-test response, which may aid in treatment individualization in FM patients.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.27-48
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• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of firm resilience, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study aimed to investigate the concept of SME resilience, the role of entrepreneurial orientation in enhancing firm resilience, and the impact of top management networking capability on this relationship. The study defined firm resilience as consisting of adaptation capacity and recovery capacity and conducted a survey of 187 domestic SMEs for empirical verification. The findings indicate that entrepreneurial orientation is a critical factor in enhancing firm resilience. Furthermore, the networking capability of top management may also contribute to firm resilience, but it weakens the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm resilience as a moderating variable. In crisis situations, SMEs tend to rely more strongly on existing networks, rather than engaging in new network to acquire new resources, information, and knowledge, which can hinder their ability to adapt and recover. This study contributes to the further development and understanding of SME resilience, which is essential for enterprises to overcome crises and return to pre-shock levels.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.285-303
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• 2023

Interest in building underground spaces is increasing for the creation of downtown infrastructure and efficient space utilization. A representative method of utilizing underground space is a tunnel, and in addition to road tunnels, the construction of utility tunnels such as power conduits and utility conduits is gradually increasing. The current basic tunnel construction method can be divided into NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method) and TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine). The NATM is a reliable method, but it is accompanied by vibration and noise due to blasting. In the case of the TBM excavation method, there are disadvantages in terms of construction period and construction cost, but it is possible to improve economic feasibility by introducing appropriate complementary methods. In this study, a blasting method was develop using the NATM after TBM pre-excavation using the protective shield method. This is a method that compensates for the disadvantages of each tunnel construction method, and is expected to reduce construction costs, blasting vibration, and noise. In order to review the performance of the developed method, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of explosion-proof tube to which a protective shield scale model was applied, and the impact of blasting vibration of the protective shield method was analyzed.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3C
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• pp.159-165
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• 2010

The problems such as natural resource exhaustion, pollutant emission and waste generation are increasing worldwide with the industrial development. The quantity of the industrial by-product in Korea is 6 million tons a year, and even its basic treatment processes including landfill, incineration and storage have reached their limits. In this study, fly ash and silica fume were applied to shotcrete to develop a method for the reuse of resources and to increase the use of fly ash, which is an industrial waste. An environmental hazard evaluation is a must to actively address the worldwide environmental problems, though. Therefore, an environmental impact assessment was conducted using the chemical content analysis test and heavy metal exudation test, for ten mixtures that were obtained through the pre-mixing and compressive strength tests. The results of the compressive strength test showed that all mixtures satisfied national and international standards. Cr, Cd and Hg were not detected, and Pb was detected only in some cases with fly ash. Cu and As were detected in all mixtures, but all of them satisfied national and international standards.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.391-400
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• 2019

In this study, we tried to find out the difference in confidence in performing Healthy Life on CPR before and after CPR education to middle school volunteers. Through the above statistical analysis process, the following findings were obtained: First, the general characteristics of the respondents who participated in this survey were higher than that of boys, followed by third, first and second graders. Second, junior high school volunteers were shown to have similar confidence (Chonbach's α=.80) and confidence (Chonbach's α=.76) before CPR education, and confidence in the degree of social contribution (Chonbach's α=7.77). Third, the Pearson Rates Correlation was performed to see the correlation between grade, gender, pre-education confidence, post-training confidence, confidence in the application of airway methods, confidence in the patient's breathing, confidence in chest compression, confidence in the use of defibrillators, and post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation education. As a result, it was confirmed that there was a significant correlation between all the spokesmen. In particular, post-training self-confidence was the highest correlation with coping confidence in case of cardiac arrest, followed by chest compressive confidence. Comparing and reviewing these findings and prior studies as shown above, we were able to establish that CPR education has an impact on the confidence performed by gender.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1397-1411
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• 2009

This study was aimed to examine the effects of intermittent walking on health related fitness and metabolic syndrome risk factors in elderly women. Forty five elderly women were randomly assigned to three groups: three 10-min walks per day, one 30-min walk per day or no exercise, respectively. Both walking groups exercised three days a week at moderate intensity for 12 weeks. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to test the hypothesis with a significant level of α = .05. The results indicated that body composition(body weight, body mass index, percent body fat), muscle endurance, flexibility and cardiorespiratory fitness significantly increased after 12 weeks for both walking groups. However, it was found that muscle strength significantly increased only in a continuous walking group. Metabolic syndrome risk factors comprised of waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and fasting glucose were significantly improved in both walking groups. In addition, there was a difference in these metabolic syndrome risk factors between pre and post exercise. The results of this study support the hypothesis that intermittent walking has a significant impact on health related physical fitness and metabolic syndrome rick factors in elderly women as continuous walking does.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.330-338
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• 2023

To investigate the impact of forestry projects on the carbon stocks of forests, we estimated the carbon stock change of above-ground and soil before and after forestry projects using forest type maps, forestry project information, and soil information. First, we selected six map sheet with large areas and declining age class based on forest type map information. Then, we collected data such as forest type maps, growth coefficients, soil organic matter content, and soil bulk density of the estimated areas to calculate forest carbon storage. As a result, forest carbon stocks decreased by about 34.1~70.0% after forestry projects at all sites. In addition, compared to reference studies, domestic forest soils store less carbon than the above-ground, so it is judged that domestic forest soils have great potential to store more carbon and strategies to increase carbon storage are needed. It was estimated that the amount of carbon stored before forestry projects is about 1.5 times more than after forestry projects. The study estimated that it takes about 27 years for forests to recover to their pre-thinning carbon stocks following forestry projects. Since it takes a long time for forests to recover to their original carbon stocks once their carbon stocks are reduced by physical damage, it is necessary to plan to preserve them as much as possible, especially for highly conservative forests, so that they can maintain their carbon storage function.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.591-604
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• 2023

This study investigated the impact of elementary science classes using metaverse on the academic achievement, positive experience in science, and digital literacy of elementary school students. In addition, we examined their perceptions. The respondents were derived from two classes in the sixth grade at an elementary school in Gyeonggi-do, who were selected designated as the experimental (n=29 students) and comparative (n=29) groups, respectively. Across five lessons under the "Plant Structure and Function" unit, the experimental group conducted science classes using the metaverse, whereas the comparative group conducted general textbook-based classes. To investigate instructional effects, the study performed ANCOVA using the pre-test score as a covariate, a survey on the perception of students about science classes using metaverse, and conducted interviews with a number of subjects. The result demonstrated that science classes using metaverse exerted no significant effect on scientific academic achievement and digital literacy. However, the study observed a statistically significant effect on science learning emotion which is a sub-element of positive experiences in science. The students were positively aware of science classes using metaverse in terms of interesting and diverse activities, and free expression of inquiry results and perceived the instability of smart devices and network connections as regrettable. Finally, the study posed the implications of the use of metaverse in science classes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.716-725
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• 2023

Objective : Anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) is a common surgical procedure used to treat cervical spinal degenerative diseases. One of the complications associated with ACSS is prevertebral soft tissue swelling (PSTS), which can result in airway obstruction, dysphagia, and other adverse outcomes. This study aims to investigate the correlation between various cervical sagittal parameters and PSTS following single-level ACSS, as well as to identify independent risk factors for PSTS. Methods : A retrospective study conducted at a single institution. The study population included all patients who underwent single-level ACSS between January 2014 and December 2022. Patients with a history of cervical spine surgery or trauma were excluded from the study. The presence and severity of PSTS was assessed by reviewing pre- and postoperative imaging studies. The potential risk factors for PSTS that were examined include patient age, sex, body mass index, tobacco use, comorbidities, serum albumin levels, operative time, implant type, implanted level, and various cervical spine sagittal parameters. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors for PSTS. Results : A total of 62 consecutive patients who underwent single-level ACSS over a 8-year period at a single institution were enrolled in this study. Only preoperative segmental angle showed positive correlation with PSTS among various cervical spine sagittal parameters (r=0.36, p=0.005). Artificial disc replacement showed a negative correlation with PSTS (β=-0.38, p=0.002), whereas the use of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) had a positive impact on PSTS (β=0.33, p=0.009). We found that male sex, lower preoperative serum albumin, and implantation of upper cervical level (above C5) were independent predictors for PSTS after single-level ACSS (β=1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 2.15; p=0.012; β=-1.63; 95% CI, -2.91 to -0.34; p=0.014; β=1.44; 95% CI, 0.38 to 2.49; p=0.008, respectively). Conclusion : Our study identified male sex, lower preoperative serum albumin levels, and upper cervical level involvement as independent risk factors for PSTS after single-level ACSS. These findings can help clinicians monitor high-risk patients and take preventive measures to reduce complications. Further research with larger sample sizes and prospective designs is needed to validate these findings.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.62-72
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• 2023

The aging of plant structures due to industrialization in the 1970s has increased the demand for blast demolition. While blasting can reduce exposure to environmental pollution by shortening the demolition period, improper blasting design and construction plans pose significant safety risks. Thus, it is vital to consider optimal blasting demolition conditions and other factors through collapse behavior simulation. This study utilizes a 3-D combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) code-based 3-D DFPA to simulate the collapse of a chimney structure in a thermal power plant in Seocheon, South Korea. The collapse behavior from the numerical simulation is compared to the actual structure collapse, and the numerical simulation result presents good agreement with the actual building demolition. Additionally, various numerical simulations have been conducted on the chimney models to analyze the impact of the duct size in the pre-weakening area. The no-duct, duct, and double-area duct models were compared in terms of crack pattern and history of Z-axis displacement. The findings show that the elapse-time for demolition decreases as the area of the duct increases, causing collapse to occur quickly by increasing the load-bearing area.