• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2022

Procalcitonin (PCT) can provide an experimental rationale and a diagnostic lead to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. This study sought to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with high PCT levels, to improve clinical diagnosis, and to determine whether PCT levels were associated with the subsequent development of sepsis in the general population. This was a retrospective observational study conducted on outpatients (N=127) over a year. The general data and laboratory parameters studied were PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and complete blood count (CBC). The positive rates of CRP and white blood cells (WBCs) in the elevated PCT group were higher than those of the normal group (P<0.05); the specificity and sensitivity of the PCT levels were obviously higher than those of the CRP and WBC levels at diagnosis (P<0.05). The mean PCT levels in the low group were significantly higher than those in the high or moderate group (P<0.001). There was a significant positive correlation with CRP, total WBCs, and neutrophils (P<.001). The main finding of this study was the significant association between an elevated PCT level and CRP and WBC levels, signifying a high diagnostic value. This has important implications for the diagnosis of bacterial infections and therapeutic implications for the use of antibiotic treatment in specific patients.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.27-45
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• 2017

A new phenomenon in recent trade is the rising interest in the trade of product production and manufacturing methods themselves, unlike in the past, when the interest was focused on the trade of tangible goods. That is, technology is considered as the object of trade instead of a simple element of production as "technology itself is commercialized". The broad meaning of technology encompasses all the property of knowledge with economic value. Its narrow meaning refers to technology used to produce and manufacture goods. Technologies have features such as no forms, heterogeneity, accumulation of value and extinction of right. The trade of technology commands different styles and content from that of tangible goods due to their unique characteristics; and accordingly, has various risk factors. In other words, technology can be traded in various ways according to commercial objectives including licensing, technical partnership, and joint investment in addition to general trading. The specific forms of technology transfer strategies depend on the purposes and situations between corporations. In case of technical trade with any form, the parties should be cautious about the following practical aspects: First, the contract should clearly define the scope and transfer method of technology. It is a very important matter how the provider of technology will provide the user of technology with abstract technology with no substantiality. Second, a monopoly on technology recognized as intellectual property rights is granted to their inventors for some periods of time, but anyone can have access to that technology after the term of existence. Thus, it is important to check the terms of existence of a patent as well as the terms of contract. Third, the user of technology should fulfill his confidentiality obligation to prevent the technology of the provider from being leaked to a third party unjustly. Fourth, the provider of technology should make a contribution to the successful implementation of the technology by the user as well as provide the licensed technology. Finally, a model contract is recommended to minimizing the legal hiatus of complex technology transfer trade when concluding a contract.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2023

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is known to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. LRRK2 is predominantly expressed in the lung as well as the brain. However, it is unclear whether LRRK2 expression correlates with the pathogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). This study analyzes the prognostic significance of LRRK2 in LUSC using the Kaplan-Meier plotter tool. High expression of LRRK2 is known to be associated with a bad prognosis in patients with LUSC. Patients with high LRRK2 expression, tumor mutational burden, high neoantigen load, and even gender correlation reportedly have the worse survival rates. In the gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) database, the severity of pathogenesis in LUSC with high LRRK2 expression positively corresponds to a high expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines but not inflammatory cytokines. Similarly, the increased expression of interleukin (IL)10-related genes was shown to be significantly linked in LRRK2-high LUSC patients having a poor prognosis. Moreover, the tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) database suggests that macrophages are one of the cellular sources of IL10 in LRRK2-high LUSC patients. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the postulated LRRK2-IL10 axis is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for LUSC.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-68
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• 2022

This study was conducted to design a financial system for the sustainable life of mankind. Human society faces a constant crisis and leads a life while overcoming it. The polarization is intensifying in the process of overcoming the economic crisis or crisis caused by the virus. In a society adopting the capitalist economic system, it is a common phenomenon that polarization intensifies with the passage of time, but since the intensification of polarization can destroy human society as a community, active countermeasures are required. The purpose of this study was to prevent the deepening of polarization by redesigning important financial-related systems from the perspective of human life and maintenance of human society. Through the history of mankind, monetary and financial systems related to sustainable society have been analyzed, and a financial system model that is ideal for the modern and future society and is sustainable in the long term has been derived. The conditions for a long-term sustainable financial system should be a model that can solve the problems of the current system, such as deepening polarization, and a model that is faithful to the characteristics of the modern economic society and the essence of sustainable life. And it can be sustainable only if it is based on the common principles of human society. It should be a model that guarantees core values such as growth and equality that human society demands. After analyzing the problems of the current economic system and analyzing the conditions required for the new system, the basic axioms that the new financial system should be based on were presented, and a desirable model was derived based on this. The structure of the derived model and the specific operation model were presented. In the future, follow-up studies are needed to concrete this model.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.119-134
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• 2023

An Analysis of the Choice of Wedding Time Based on the Gimundungap Theory. The purpose of this study is to research the utility and validity of wedding time selection based on the principles of Ungokgimun, a recent development of Gimundungap theory. Unlike the conventional way of choosing from common auspicious hours and days deemed available for important ceremonial occasions, Ungokgimun determines the propitious heavenly wedding time catered for a particular couple based on the birth table consisting of the four pillars of the bride- and groom-to-be. Using the Hong Guk-soo numbers which are drawn from the basic principles of oriental philosophy, it utilizes a deductive approach to wedding time choice, which is considered decisive and logical. Wedding time selection for a bride and a bridegroom is determined by auspicious combinations of matching and supporting HongGuk-soo numbers. Some relevant determining factors for the time choice are three number combination of samhap, two number combination of half-hap, latitudinal combination of yuk-hap, support and control relationships between related elements, two number punishment of hyung-sal, and three number punishment of samhyung-sal, etc. The specific auspicious palace of the spouse-to-be's luck is selected on the basis of supporting or brotherly combination of numbers which are manifested on the baseline earthly plate of the bride- and groom-to-be. This is followed by the selection of the ten-year luck, and year and month luck, and finally by the selection of auspicious day and hours. The validity of this study was verified through theoretical consideration of the Ungokgimun and practical analysis of a variety of marriage cases. It was found that the way of wedding time selection using Ungok Gimundungap was relatively more effective than other conventional methods.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to propose a framework for the introduction and evaluation of artificial intelligence (AI) services not only in general applications but also in public policies. To achieve this, the study explores AI service management and governance toolkits, providing insights into how to introduce AI services in public policies. Firstly, it offers guidelines on the direction of AI service development and what aspects to avoid. Secondly, in the development phase, it recommends using the AI governance toolkit to review content through checklists at each stage of design, development, and deployment. Thirdly, when operating AI services, it emphasizes the importance of adhering to principles related to 1) planning and design, 2) the lifecycle, 3) model construction and validation, 4) deployment and monitoring, and 5) accountability. The governance perspective of AI services is crucial for mitigating risks associated with service provision, and research in risk management aspects should be conducted. While embracing the advantages of AI, proactive measures should be taken to address limitations and risks. Efforts should be made to efficiently formulate policies using AI technology to create high value and provide meaningful societal impacts.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.159-177
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• 2018

With an extensive proliferation of information and communication technology, the volume and amount of digital information collected and utilized on the Internet have been increasing rapidly. Also on the rapid rise are side effects such as unintended breach of accumulated personal information and consequent invasion of personal privacy. Informational self-determination is rarely practiced, despite various states' legal efforts to redress data subjects' damage. Personal health information, in particular, is a subcategory of personal information where informational self-determination is hardly practiced enough. The observation is contrasted with the socio-economic inconvenience that may follow due to its sensitive nature containing individuals' physical and health conditions. This research, therefore, reviews factors of self-determination on personal health information while referring to the protection motivation theory (PMT), the long-time framework to understand personal information protection. Empirical analysis of 200 data surveyed reveals threat-appraisal (perceived vulnerability and perceived severity of threats) and coping-appraisal (perceived response effectiveness), in addition to individual levels of concern regarding provided personal health information, influence self-determination to protect personal health information. The research proposes theoretical findings and practical suggestions along with reference for future research topics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1978

A bark comprises about 10 to 20 percents of a typical log by volume, and is generally considered as an unwanted residue rather than a potential1y valuable resourses, As the world has been confronted with decreasing forest resources, natural resources pressure dictate that a bark should be a raw material instead of a waste. The utilization of the largely wasted bark of genus Pinus, Quercus, and Populus grown in Korea can be enhanced by learning their chemical properties. However, the chemical study of tree bark grown in korea have never been undertaken. In the present paper, the studies on the chemical properties of bark comprise carbohydrates, lignin, and extractives, composition of reducing sugars and five essential elements. The results may be summarized as follows: 1. Bark are much richer in quantity of lignin and extractives than the corresponding wood, and are chiefly consisted of lignin, extractives and carbohydrates orderly. It is the same with ash contents. Alcohol-benzene extractives of populus bark are the highest among three genus. 2. Although glucose constitutes the major sugar in both pine and hardwoods bark, in pinus, arabinose and xylose are the next but in hard woods, the next is xylose. 3. Essential elements, Ca and Kjeldahl-N are higher in the bark than in the wood. Ca content is the highest among others, and N,K followed it. Essential elements are higher in Quercus than in Populus and pinus.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.335-373
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• 2014

According to one Medicare report, in the US, total federal spending on health care expends almost 18 percent of the nation's GDP, about double what most industrialized nations spend on health care. And in 2011, Medicare spending reached close to $554 billion, which amounted to 21 percent of the total spent on U.S. health care in that year. Of that $554 billion, Medicare spent 28 percent, or about $170 billion, on patients' last six months of life. So what are the reasons of this high cost in EOL care and its possible solutions? Much spendings of Medicare on End-of-Life care for the terminally ill/chronically ill in the US has led health economics experts to assess the characteristics of the care. Decades of study shows that EOL care is usually supply-sensitive and poor in cost-effectiveness. The volume of care is sensitively depending on the supply of resources, rather than the severity of illness or preferences of patients. This means at the End-of-Life care, the medical resources are being overused. On the other hand, opposed to the common assumption, "The more care the better utility", the study shows that the outcome is very poor. Actually the patient preference and concerns are quite the opposite from what intense EOL care would bring about. This study analyzes the reasons for the supply-sensitiveness of EOL care. It can be resulted from the common misconception about the intense care and the outcome, physicians' mission for patients, lack of End-of-Life Care Decision which helps the patients choose their own preferred treatment intensity. It also could be resulted from physicians' fear of legal liabilities, and the management strategy since the hospitals are also seeking for financial benefits. This study suggests the possible solutions for over-treatment at the End-of-Life resulting from supply-sensitiveness. Solutions can be sought in two aspects, legal implementation and management strategy. In order to implement advance directive properly, active ethics education for physicians to change their attitude toward EOL care and more conversations about end-of-life care between physicians and patients is crucial, and incentive system for the physicians who actively have the conversations with patients will also help. Also, the general education towards the public is also important in the long run, and easy and official advance directive registry system-such as online registry-has to be built and utilized more widely. Alternative strategies in management are also needed. For example, the new strategic cost management and management education, such as cutting unnecessary costs and resetting values as medical providers have to be considered. In order to effectively resolve the problem in EOL care for the terminally ill/chronically ill and provide better experience to the patients, first of all, the misconception and the wrong conventional wisdom among doctors, patients, and the government have to be overcome. And then there should be improvements in systems and cultures of the EOL care.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.39
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• pp.59-93
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• 2006

Wolseong in Gyeongju is a historic fortress site of Silla constructed under the reign of Pasanisageum that played politically and militarily important roles. The moat surrounding Wolseong had a function of protecting the fortress in wartimes but became a part of gardening in the unified Silla era. Lots of relics have been excavated from Wolseong moat since 1985. Among them a great number and kinds of convex roofing tiles are regarded as invaluable sources to show different aspects of Silla, from its earlier time through to the unified and on. Roofing tiles were widely used for national buildings such as royal palaces, temples and fortresses and even for other popular architecture and have been dug out a lot more than any other relics. Research on them, however, has been done poorly. Vigorous study is in progress with increasing number of roofing tiles coming from many recent excavations, though it has been limited to the studies on general genealogy of patterns and manufacture processes. Thus this essay seeks to find which are dongbeomwas, roofing tiles of a same mold, out of convex tiles with the pattern of a unilobed lotus flower dug out of Wolseong moat. It also attempts to identify dongbeomwas by examining detail characteristics of roofing tiles which have been confusingly termed as yusawa, similar roofing tiles, or donghyeongwa, roofing tiles of the same shape. The significance of identifying dongbeomwas could be emphasized by various facts resulting from researches on dongbeomwas; the ways to identify them correctly, their time sequence and their excavated sites. In conclusion, dongbeomwas were identified out of many kinds of convex tiles. If they were excavated from the same site, they share some common features. The sites where they were dug out also tell what changes were made with passage of time and what relations they had with neighboring Anapji. Since roofing tile molds haven't been found yet, the only way to identify dongbeomwas is to examine details of roofing tiles. Dongbeomwas excavated in Wolseong moat help to discuss the time of each district of it. Meanwhile it should be noted that the term 'dongbeomwa' be used only after exact examining.