• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.121-127
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• 2024

Vancomycin is a frequently used antibiotic in intensive care units, and the patient's renal clearance affects the pharmacokinetic characteristics of vancomycin. Several advantages have been reported for vancomycin continuous intravenous infusion, but studies on continuous dosing regimens based on patients' renal clearance are insufficient. The aim of this study was to develop a vancomycin serum concentration prediction model by factoring in a patient's renal clearance. Children admitted to our institution between July 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022 with records of continuous infusion of vancomycin were included in the study. Sex, age, height, weight, vancomycin dose by weight, interval from the start of vancomycin administration to the time of therapeutic drug monitoring sampling, and vancomycin serum concentrations were analyzed with the linear regression analysis of the mixed effect model. Univariable regression analysis was performed using the vancomycin serum concentration as a dependent variable. It showed that vancomycin dose (p < 0.001) and serum creatinine (p = 0.007) were factors that had the most impact on vancomycin serum concentration. Vancomycin serum concentration was affected by vancomycin dose (p < 0.001) and serum creatinine (p = 0.001) with statistical significance, and a multivariable regression model was obtained as follows: Vancomycin serum concentration (mg/l) = -1.296 + 0.281 × vancomycin dose (mg/kg) + 20.458 × serum creatinine (mg/dl) (adjusted coefficient of determination, R² = 0.66). This prediction model is expected to contribute to establishing an optimal continuous infusion regimen for vancomycin.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.50.1-50.9
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• 2023

Vaccine development is one of the key efforts to control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it has become apparent that the immunity acquired through vaccination is not permanent, known as the waning effect. Therefore, monitoring the proportion of the population with immunity is essential to improve the forecasting of future waves of the pandemic. Despite this, the impact of the waning effect on forecasting accuracies has not been extensively studied. We proposed a method for the estimation of the effective immunity (EI) rate which represents the waning effect by integrating the second and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The EI rate, with different periods to the onset of the waning effect, was incorporated into three statistical models and two machine learning models. Stringency Index, omicron variant BA.5 rate (BA.5 rate), booster shot rate (BSR), and the EI rate were used as covariates and the best covariate combination was selected using prediction error. Among the prediction results, Generalized Additive Model showed the best improvement (decreasing 86% test error) with the EI rate. Furthermore, we confirmed that South Korea's decision to recommend booster shots after 90 days is reasonable since the waning effect onsets 90 days after the last dose of vaccine which improves the prediction of confirmed cases and deaths. Substituting BSR with EI rate in statistical models not only results in better predictions but also makes it possible to forecast a potential wave and help the local community react proactively to a rapid increase in confirmed cases.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.189-197
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• 2024

Galileo is a European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that has offered the Galileo Open Service since 2016. Consequently, the standardization of GNSS augmentation systems, such as Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS), and Aircraft Based Augmentation System (ABAS) for Galileo signals, is ongoing. In 2023, the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA) released prior probabilities of a satellite fault and a constellation fault for Galileo, which are 3×10^-5 and 2×10^-4 per hour, respectively. In particular, the prior probability of a Galileo constellation fault is significantly higher than that for the GPS constellation fault, which is defined as 1×10^-8 per hour. This raised concerns about its potential impact on GBAS integrity monitoring. According to the Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Positioning Service Performance Standard (SPS PS), a constellation fault is classified as a wide fault. A wide fault refers to a fault that affects more than two satellites due to a common cause. Such a fault can be caused by a failure in the Earth Orientation Parameter (EOP). The EOP is used when transforming the inertial axis, on which the orbit determination is based, to Earth Centered Earth Fixed (ECEF) axis, accounting for the irregularities in the rotation of the Earth. Therefore, a faulty EOP can introduce errors when computing a satellite position with respect to the ECEF axis. In GNSS, the ephemeris parameters are estimated based on the positions of satellites and are transmitted to navigation satellites. Subsequently, these ephemeris parameters are broadcasted via the navigation message to users. Therefore, a faulty EOP results in erroneous broadcast ephemeris data. In this paper, we assess the conventional ephemeris fault detection monitor currently employed in GBAS for wide faults, as current GBAS considers only single failure cases. In addition to the existing requirements defined in the standards on the Probability of Missed Detection (PMD), we derive a new PMD requirement tailored for a wide fault. The compliance of the current ephemeris monitor to the derived requirement is evaluated through a simulation. Our findings confirm that the conventional monitor meets the requirement even for wide fault scenarios.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.62-72
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• 2023

Based on the basic ideology of health care, this study realized the seriousness of annual unmet medical need and conducted a study to confirm the relationship between the subjective perception of regional healthcare environment and unmet medical needs. The independent variable was classified into attitude 'satisfaction' and 'unsatisfaction' toward regional healthcare, and the dependent variable was classified as whether unmet medical needs occurred annually. Based on previous studies, the control variables were selected as demographic and socioeconomic characteristics that can affect the occurrence of unmet medical care annually and characteristics related to health behavior. Descriptive statistics were conducted for each variable on the extracted sample, and multivariate survey logistic regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between variables. As a result, more unmet medical needs occurred annually than those who were satisfied with the medical services in the area where they lived. In addition, more unmet medical need occurred annually in "unsatisfied" households compared to households "satisfied" with local medical services. In residential areas, women live in "metropolis" and "rural areas" compared to "urban," women live in men, lower education levels, and poor subjective health levels, and less satisfied with local medical services. As such, the impact of environmental factors in the community on the use of health and medical services is one of the major areas of interest in the field of health science, such as health policy and social dynamics. Therefore, hospitals in each region need to make efforts in terms of hospital management to increase the overall satisfaction of medical services in the region by continuously monitoring the attitude of residents to achieve universal health security, and policymakers should also be interested and propose new policies.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.1273-1300
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• 2024

In the complex virtual environment of cyberspace, comprised of digital and communication networks, ensuring the security of information is being recognized as an ongoing challenge. The importance of 'Cyber Situation Awareness (CSA)' is being emphasized in response to this. CSA is understood as a vital capability to identify, understand, and respond to various cyber threats and is positioned at the heart of cyber security strategies from a defensive perspective. Critical industries such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, and energy can be subjected to not just economic and societal losses from cyber threats but, in severe cases, national losses. Consequently, the importance of CSA is being accentuated and research activities are being vigorously undertaken. A systematic five-step approach to CSA is introduced against this backdrop, and a deep analysis of recent research trends, techniques, challenges, and future directions since 2019 is provided. The approach encompasses current situation and identification awareness, the impact of attacks and vulnerability assessment, the evolution of situations and tracking of actor behaviors, root cause and forensic analysis, and future scenarios and threat predictions. Through this survey, readers will be deepened in their understanding of the fundamental importance and practical applications of CSA, and their insights into research and applications in this field will be enhanced. This survey is expected to serve as a useful guide and reference for researchers and experts particularly interested in CSA research and applications.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제57권2호
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• pp.120-127
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• 2024

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to increased mortality rates. To assess this impact, this ecological study aimed to estimate the excess death counts in southern Iran. Methods: The study obtained weekly death counts by linking the National Death Registry and Medical Care Monitoring Center repositories. The P-score was initially estimated using a simple method that involved calculating the difference between the observed and expected death counts. The interrupted time series analysis was then used to calculate the mean relative risk (RR) of death during the first year of the pandemic. Results: Our study found that there were 5571 excess deaths from all causes (P-score=33.29%) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 48.03% of these deaths directly related to COVID-19. The pandemic was found to increase the risk of death from all causes (RR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.33), as well as in specific age groups such as those aged 35-49 (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.32), 50-64 (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.49), and ≥65 (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.32) years old. Furthermore, there was an increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.22). Conclusions: There was a 26% increase in the death count in southern Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of these excess deaths were not directly related to COVID-19, but rather other causes, with cardiovascular diseases being a major contributor.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.177-188
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• 2024

In this research, a cohort of two children, aged 7-8 years, was selected to participate in a specialized three-week training program aimed at enhancing their working memory. The program consisted of three sessions, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. The primary goal was to investigate the impact and developmental trajectory of working memory in school-aged children. Working memory plays a significant role in young children's learning and daily activities. To address the needs of this demographic, products should offer both educational and enjoyable activities that engage working memory. Digital educational tools, known for their flexibility, are suitable for both older individuals and young children. By updating software or modifying content, these tools can be effectively repurposed for young learners without extensive hardware changes, making them both cost-effective and practical. For example, memory training games initially designed for older adults can be adapted for young children by altering images, music, or storylines. Furthermore, incorporating elements familiar to children, like animals, toys, or fairy tales, can increase their engagement in these activities. Historically, working memory capabilities have been assessed predominantly through traditional intelligence tests. However, recent research questions the adequacy of these behavioral measures in accurately detecting changes in working memory. To bridge this gap, the current study utilized electroencephalography (EEG) as a more sophisticated and precise tool for monitoring potential changes in working memory after the training. The research findings were revealing. Participants showed marked improvement in their performance on n-back tasks, a standard measure for evaluating working memory. This improvement post-training strongly supports the effectiveness of the training program. The results indicate that such targeted and structured training programs can significantly enhance the working memory abilities of children in this age group, providing promising implications for educational strategies and cognitive development interventions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.390-398
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• 2024

Background: In this study, we examined the impact of a patient blood management (PBM) program on red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practices in cardiothoracic surgery. Methods: The PBM program had 3 components: monitoring transfusions through an order communication system checklist, educating the medical team about PBM, and providing feedback to ordering physicians on the appropriateness of transfusion. The retrospective analysis examined changes in the hemoglobin levels triggering transfusion and the proportions of appropriate RBC transfusions before, during, and after PBM implementation. Further analysis was focused on patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with outcomes including 30-day mortality, durations of intensive care unit and hospital stays, and rates of pneumonia, sepsis, and wound complications. Results: The study included 2,802 patients admitted for cardiothoracic surgery. After the implementation of PBM, a significant decrease was observed in the hemoglobin threshold for RBC transfusion. This threshold dropped from 8.7 g/dL before PBM to 8.3 g/dL during the PBM education phase and 8.0 g/dL during the PBM feedback period. Additionally, the proportion of appropriate RBC transfusions increased markedly, from 23.9% before PBM to 34.9% and 58.2% during the education and feedback phases, respectively. Among the 381 patients who underwent cardiac surgery, a significant reduction was noted in the length of hospitalization over time (p<0.001). However, other clinical outcomes displayed no significant differences. Conclusion: PBM implementation effectively reduced the hemoglobin threshold for RBC transfusion and increased the rate of appropriate transfusion in cardiothoracic surgery. Although transfusion practices improved, clinical outcomes were comparable to those observed before PBM implementation.

• 센서학회지
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.274-287
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• 2024

Chemiresistors play a crucial role in numerous research fields, including environmental monitoring, healthcare, and industrial safety, owing to their ability to detect and quantify gases with high sensitivity and specificity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in photoactivated chemiresistors and emphasizes their potential for the development of highly sensitive, selective, and low-power gas sensors. This study explores a range of structural configurations of sensing materials, from zero-dimensional quantum dots to three-dimensional, porous nanostructures and examines the impact of these designs on the photoactivity, gas interactions, and overall sensor performance-including gas responses and recovery rates. Particular focus is placed on metal-oxide semiconductors and the integration of ultraviolet micro-light emitting diodes, which have gained attention as key components for next-generation sensing technologies owing to their superior photoactivity and energy efficiency. By addressing existing technical challenges, such as limited sensitivity, particularly at room temperature (~22℃), this paper outlines future research directions, highlighting the potential of photoactivated chemiresistors in developing high-performance, ultralow-power gas sensors for the Internet of Things and other advanced applications.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.492-504
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• 2014

집비둘기는 도시지역에서 환경오염물질의 생물축적 모니터링을 위한 지표종으로 알려져 있으며, 집비둘기 알은 생물 자체를 죽이지 않고도 생물축적의 경향을 모니터링할 수 있는 시료로서 유용하다. 하지만 알은 유기 오염물질 축적은 잘 되는 반면, 납, 카드뮴 같은 특정 중금속은 저농도로 축적되는 특성이 있기 때문에 중금속에 대한 적절한 모니터링을 위해 대체 시료의 연구가 필요하다. 이에 본 연구에서는 집비둘기의 세척깃털을 이용하여 중금속 축적 특성을 연구하였고, 중금속 모니터링 시료로서의 가능성을 검토하였다. 도시지역인 서울 한강공원과 농촌지역인 함평군 함평공원을 대상으로 2013년 4월~5월에 집비둘기 개체 포획 및 알 채집을 실시하였고, 생체 조직, 세척깃털, 알의 중금속 5종(Pb, Cd, Total Cr, Ni, As)에 대한 축적 농도를 분석하였다. 중금속 5종의 생체 조직 내 축적 특성을 보면, 납(Pb)과 카드뮴(Cd)은 나머지 3종(Total Cr, Ni, As)에 비해 생체 조직 내 축적이 두드러지게 높게 나타났다. 특히, 납은 다른 중금속에 비해 지역 간 비교에서도 두드러진 농도 차이를 보였는데, 뼈, 간, 혈액에서 통계적으로 유의하게 농촌지역인 함평공원보다 도시지역인 한강공원이 높은 농도를 보였다. 이러한 경향은 깃털에서도 나타났다. 알 시료(알 내용물, 껍데기)는 깃털보다는 상대적으로 낮은 농도로 납이 축적되는 경향을 보였다. 깃털 중에서는 꼬리깃과 날개깃이 각각 신장 및 뼈 조직의 납 농도와 통계적으로 유의한 양의 상관관계를 보였다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때, 중금속 배출경로 요소(깃털, 알, 배설물 등) 중 하나인 깃털로 축적되는 납 농도는 다른 요소(예: 알)에 비해 상대적으로 높고, 환경 오염요소(대기, 토양, 먹이 등) 내 납 농도가 서로 차이나는 지역들 내의 집비둘기의 생체 축적농도 차이를 깃털이 어느 정도 반영할 가능성이 있을 것으로 판단된다.