• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.260-267
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• 2023

We aimed to investigate the proportions of MTB- and NTM-positive tests and the distribution patterns of species isolated by contracted testing agencies in South Korea. Respiratory specimens submitted to contracted testing agencies in South Korea for AFB culture from January 2014 to December 2021 were included (533,713 specimens in total). Trends based on MTB and NTM detection, patient sex and age, culture medium type, and testing year were analyzed. MTB and NTM positive detection increased in the patients. The average ages of MTB- and NTM-positive patients increased in those aged ≥61 years. For solid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 5.9% in 2014 to 3.3% in 2018 and increased to 4.7% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 2.1% in 2014 to 3.4% in 2018 and 3.7% in 2021. For liquid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 8.3% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and increased to 6.0% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 3.5% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and decreased to 5.3% in 2021. An isolation ratio reversal between MTB and NTM was observed in 2018. In this study, we provide information on mycobacterial isolation rates and species distributions using AFB culture test results from Korea's referral laboratories. Increased MTB- and NTM-isolation rates were observed in individuals aged ≥60 years, indicating the need for regular testing and focused management for them. Expanding liquid culture applications, which show higher positivity rates than solid culture methods, is necessary.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.49-73
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• 2023

This study examines the usage status of legal services provided by lawyers targeting domestic consumers and investigates empirically how much online platforms that facilitate lawyer search and consultation can increase consumers' utility, and how much the lawyer legal service market will expand through this. To this end, this study applies a discrete choice demand model to the data collected through a conjoint survey to estimate the value of the lawyer search and consultation platform perceived by consumers, and estimates the effectiveness of the platform in expanding the market for lawyer legal services through a simulation method. As a result of the analysis, the relative value that consumers place on finding and consulting a lawyer using the online platform instead of being introduced to a lawyer by an acquaintance or searching for a lawyer offline is estimated to be about 70,414 won. It was found that the existence of lawyer search and consultation platforms could increase the market size of legal services by as little as 18.9% to as much as 70.2%. In particular, the platforms are expected to increase the accessibility of legal services to vulnerable groups.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.266-276
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• 2023

Purpose: Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) may be genetically determined based on the secretor and Lewis status of the mother. This study aims to determine the HMO profile and the secretor and Lewis gene status of Indonesian lactating mothers. Methods: Baseline data of 120 mother-infant pairs between 0-4 months post-partum obtained from a prospective longitudinal study was used. The concentrations of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL), lacto-N-fucopentaose I (LNFP I), lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), 3'-sialyllactose (3'SL), and 6'-sialyllactose (6'SL) were measured. Genetic analysis was performed for mothers using targeted next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Wild-type AA with the rs1047781 (A385T) polymorphism was categorized as secretor positive, while heterozygous mutant AT was classified as a weak secretor. The presence of rs28362459 (T59G) heterozygous mutant AC and rs3745635 (G508A) heterozygous mutant CT genes indicated a Lewis negative status, and the absence of these genes indicated a positive status. Subsequently, breast milk was classified into various groups, namely Group 1: Secretor+Lewis+ (Se+Le+), Group 2: Secretor-Lewis+ (Se-Le+), Group 3: Secretor+Lewis-(Se+Le-), and Group 4: Secretor-Lewis- (Se-Le-). Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis rank tests, and a p-value of 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: A total of 58.3% and 41.7% of the samples had positive and weak secretor statuses, respectively. The proportion of those in Group 1 was 85%, while 15% were Group 3. The results showed that only 2'FL significantly differed according to the secretor status (p-value=0.018). Conclusion: All Indonesian lactating mothers in this study were secretor positive, and most of them had a Lewis-positive status.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

This study was conducted for the purpose of improving the usability of the product through the usability evaluation of the voice tag reader to improve the life convenience of the visually impaired. Perceived usability evaluation was conducted for 19 evaluation items based on the evaluation model considering the usability principle and the characteristics of the visually impaired. A total of 50 participants were included for the analysis. As a result of the perceived usability evaluation of the visually impaired, the safety of the voice tag reader, voice and sound quality, and accuracy of voice information were relatively satisfactory. It was found that the reader received a low evaluation in terms of efficiency in use, including the size and weight of the reader, and the convenience of carrying and storing. For the usability improvement, the procedure for using a product needs to be more simplified, and it would be helpful to input and supply tags for commonly used objects in advance.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.395-400
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• 2023

Korea has been in a truce state for about 70 years, not an end-of-war country. Even in a situation with this specificity, Korea's veterans' system is insufficient compared to other countries. In addition, Korea's veteran policy lacks an "honor of veterans" system compared to veterans' advanced countries (the United States, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany), and a representative example of it is the "support system for veterans and discharged soldiers." After analyzing the major veterans' policy systems in the veterans' developed countries (US, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany), this study suggests that we should expand the major anniversaries related to veterans and suggest a policy alternative as it is necessary to introduce public awareness education on the promotion of veterans. In the end, it is necessary to properly recognize the pain and agony of division to the generations before and after, laying the foundation for the advanced country-type veteran affair system.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.373-381
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• 2023

The purpose of the study was to describe male nursing image and to identify factors influencing the image. We performed an integrative review for a total of 12 studies published between 2009 and 2019. We derived four themes of male nurses' self-image: 1) just a nurse, 2) job opportunity, 3) identity ambiguity, and 4) role limitation. The factors influencing male nurses' self-image were derived from three themes, specifically 1) nursing competency, 2) social gender stereotypes, and 3) absence of male nurse role models. We suggested the need to develop various strategies to enhance male nurses' self-image. Further studies should investigate the public image of male nurses to improve their social role and the perception of them.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 2023

Third places are those that offer a space outside of work and home for people to escape the stress associated with the primary spaces of their lives. Through social interactivity these help in acquiring some emotional support provided by a close and intimate attachment. Such social support can turn into social resources for individuals and can lead to forming communities that may become incubators for social capital through regular visits to shared socializing places. This paper focuses on social interaction that takes place through the third place and the communities that are being created as a contributing factor to knowledge management. The study being reported in this paper investigated the role of coffee shops as third places in building communities and social capital in Kuwait. A mixed-method approach was used to conduct the study. These methods included qualitative methods such as extended conversations in the form of semi-structured interviews and quantitative methods of using questionnaires distributed to coffee shop staff and visitors. Results indicated that importance attached to providing facilities by coffee shops reflected that the owners perceived these as third places. The facilities attracted customers to coffee houses where interactions took place that helped to build communities. The pattern of visits by customers showed that mostly they come in groups and have meetings and gatherings that facilitated and encouraged interactions. The communities that are being built in the coffee shops are indicative of these being perceived as third places by owners, customers, and staff. This study shows the potential of coffee shops as a major sector of the food industry promising a valuable contribution in transformation and transition to a knowl- edge-based economy in Kuwait.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.232-240
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• 2023

The ecological expression of art in modern society takes the harmonious developmental relationship between man and nature as an element and combines it with the various manifestations of painting as an expression of ecological artistic development. The necessary relationship for the harmonious development of nature is accurately articulated, and the ecological changes in people are expressed in integrated materials that inspire human reflection. In the pursuit of material pleasures, mankind is neglectful and indifferent to the environment. The development of composite painting in art and ecology is a process that more reveres the harmony between man and nature as well as satisfying the creative value of the work. After systematic evaluation and research, people have engaged in various structural forms of composite art painting development in the long history of art development, focusing on the integration of environmental and ecological culture. In the process of nature education going through development, the comprehensive practical development of nature education is enhanced and efforts are made to feel new ecological art ideas and new ways of valuing environmental protection. In this paper, an observational study of eco-art will be carried out, starting from the theory of hierarchical division and analyzing the contradictory relationship between man and nature. Recognize nature, understand it and feel it through eco-art painting. The analysis of the contradictory relationship between man and nature is combined with the identification of various types of information that give value to the environmental protection public, and the combination of ecological painting and nature art to achieve an upgrade of the environmental protection idea of the value of painting. In the development of artistic ecological comprehensive painting, it is necessary to put forward technical requirements and standards that meet the development of modern industry according to the characteristics and methods of ecological painting. The author of this paper discusses the necessity and social value of artistic ecological painting creation from the artist's point of view, expounds the practical achievements of ecological painting from the perspective of the history and present situation of the development of ecological aesthetics at home and abroad, and gives the concept and creative method of contemporary art comprehensive material painting in combination with his own actual situation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was designed to examine the effect of risk assessment on employee safety behavior in manufacturing workplaces. In addition, this study attempted to explore factors related to the occupational safety and health system in the workplace affect the risk assessment of manufacturing sites. Methods: This research is a cross-sectional study using the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency's 2018 Occupational Safety and Health data. The sample for study is 1,967 manufacturing workplaces. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, chi-square test, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis using SPSS (ver.25.0). Results: As a result of the multiple hierarchical regression analysis, it was found that risk assessment had an effect on employee safety behavior (t=4.435, p=<.001). Furthermore, the size of the workplace affected employee safety behavior (t=2.494, p=<.001). In addition, the presence of safety and health management organizations affected employee safety behavior (t=4.301, p=<.001). The factors of the safety and health organization (𝑥²=35.245, p=<.001), the occupational safety and health committee (𝑥²=149.440, p=<.001), and the supervisor (𝑥²=16.472, p=<.001) were identified as factors that increased the possibility of risk assessment in the manufacturing workplaces. Conclusions: In this study, it was found that risk assessment is a factor that increases the level of workers' safety behavior in manufacturing workplaces. Therefore, it is necessary to provide institutional support for activating risk assessment at manufacturing workplaces.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2023

Although Korea is the world's No. 1 semiconductor producing country, most studies are conducted with risk assessment for simple material risks due to the closedness of the site for industrial protection. In terms of industrial safety, a monitoring system such as a gas detector to determine the leakage of hazardous substances has been established, but research on effectively discharging harmful gastritis substances in case of leakage has only recently begun. Semiconductor manufacturing facilities (gas boxes) where a large amount of flammable materials are handled are currently being safety managed by using a gas detector and blocking the air inlet. It is difficult to dilute in a short time in case of leakage of flammable substances. Therefore, in this study, based on various criteria, the size of the duct according to the size of the gas box is determined and the appropriate size of the air inlet is studied to minimize the exhaust performance requirement without exposing hazardous chemicals to the outside in the event of a flammable leak. We want to do an optimal exhaust design.