• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.8-17
• /
• 2024

Objectives: The effectiveness and efficiency of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in reducing the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) relies on how widely it is adopted and adhered to, particularly among high-risk groups of MSM. The meta-analysis aimed to collect and analyze existing evidence on various factors related to PrEP adherence in MSM, including demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, substance use, and psychosocial factors. Methods: The meta-analysis followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The search included articles published between January 2018 and December 2022, obtained from the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. The studies that were included in the analysis reported the proportion of MSM who demonstrated adherence to PrEP and underwent quality appraisal using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Of the 268 studies initially identified, only 12 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final meta-analysis. The findings indicated that education (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 2.40), number of sexual partners (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.31), engaging in sexual activities with an human immunodeficiency virus-positive partner (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.26), substance use (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.99), and lower levels of depression (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.82) were associated with higher rates of PrEP adherence among MSM. Conclusions: Despite these findings, further research is necessary to investigate PrEP adherence more comprehensively. The findings of this meta-analysis can be utilized to inform interventions aimed at improving PrEP adherence among MSM and provide directions for future research in this area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.515-530
• /
• 2023

Purpose : This research aims to develop a data-driven inspection policy for radio stations utilizing the KS Q ISO 2859-1 sampling method, addressing potential regulatory relaxations and impending management challenges. Methods : Using radio station inspection big data from the past six years, we established a simulation model to evaluate the current policy. A new inspection sampling policy framework was designed based on the KS Q ISO 2859-1 method. The study compares the performance of the current and proposed inspection systems, offering insights for an improved inspection strategy. Results : This study introduced a simulation model for inspection system based on the KS Q ISO 2859-1 sampling method. Through various experimental designs, key performance indicators such as non-detection rate and sample proportion were derived, providing foundational data for the new inspection policy. Conclusion : Using big data from radio station inspections, we evaluated current inspection systems and quantitatively compared a new system across diverse scenarios. Our simulation model effectively verified the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed framework. For practical implementation, essential factors such as lot size, inspection cycle, and AQL standards need precise definition and consideration. Enhancing radio station inspections requires a policy-driven approach that factors in socio-economic impacts and solicits feedback from industry participants. Future study should also explore various perspectives related to legislative, institutional, and operational aspects of inspection organizations.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.261-267
• /
• 2024

With the increase in the exploitation depth of offshore oil and gas, it is possible to control the global buckling of deep-sea pipelines by the snake lay method. Previous studies mainly focused on the analysis of critical buckling force and critical temperature of pipelines under the snake-like laying method, and pipelines often suffer structural failure due to seismic disasters during operation. Therefore, seismic action is a necessary factor in the design and analysis of submarine pipelines. In this paper, the seismic action of steel pipes in the operation stage after global buckling has occurred under the active control method is analyzed. Firstly, we have established a simplified finite element model for the entire process cycle and found that this modeling method is accurate and efficient, solving the problem of difficult convergence of seismic wave and soil coupling in previous solid analysis, and improving the efficiency of calculations. Secondly, through parameter analysis, it was found that under seismic action, the pipe diameter mainly affects the stress amplitude of the pipeline. When the pipe wall thickness increases from 0.05 m to 0.09 m, the critical buckling force increases by 150%, and the maximum axial stress decreases by 56%. In the pipe soil interaction, the greater the soil viscosity, the greater the pipe soil interaction force, the greater the soil constraint on the pipeline, and the safer the pipeline. Finally, the pipeline failure determination formula was obtained through dimensionless analysis and verified, and it was found that the formula was accurate.

• Journal of The Korean Institute of Defense Technology
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.18-28
• /
• 2023

The threat of drones is widely occurring not only in the military field but also for important national facilities such as airports and nuclear power plants. Drones are very diverse in types and control methods, so it is not easy to have a uniform defense method and system, and with the development of drone technology, the war paradigm using drones as weapons is also changing. In particular, advances in drone technology are improving the efficiency and accuracy of reconnaissance and attack missions. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to secure research cases on military operation of drones due to difficulties in obtaining information on military operations. Therefore, in this study, we try to create basic data that can effectively establish a plan for performing reconnaissance and attack missions by deriving each operational aspect through analysis of operation cases of reconnaissance and attack drones.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.152-162
• /
• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze the effect of wearable Electromyography-controlled functional electrical stimulation (EMG-controlled FES) System on Gait Function and cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during walking in older adults. Design: Cross-section study Methods: Total 22 older adult participants suitable to selection criteria of this study participated in this study. The EMG-controlled FES System, which functions as a wearable physical activity assist FES system was used. All participations performed randomly assigned two conditions (Non-FES assist [NFA], FES assist [FA]) of walking. In all conditions, spatio-temporal parameters and kinematics and kinetics parameters during walking was collected via 3D motion capture system and 6 minutes walking test (6MWT) and metabolic cost during walking and stairs climbing was collected via a portable metabolic device (COSMED K5, COSMED Srl, Roma, Italy). Results: In Spatio-temporal parameters aspects, The EMG-controlled FES system significantly improved gait functions measurements of older adults with sarcopenia at walking in comparison to the NFA condition (P<0.05). Hip, knee and ankle joint range of motion increased at walking in FA condition compared to the NFA condition (P<0.05). In the FA condition, moment and ground reaction force was changed like normal gait during walking of older adults in comparison to the NFA condition (P<0.05). The EMG-controlled FES system significantly reduced net cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost, net energy expenditure measurement at stairs climbing (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that EMG-controlled FES is a potentially useful gait-assist system for improving gait function by making joint range of motion and moment properly.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.274-284
• /
• 2024

In this study, copper foil was electroplated under high current density conditions. We used Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), known for its thermal stability and low decomposition rate, as an inhibitor to form a stable and smooth copper layer on the titanium cathode. The electrolyte was composed of 50 g/L CuSO₄ and 100 g/L H₂SO₄, MPSA as an accelerator, JGB as a leveler, and PEG as a suppressor, and HCl was added as chloride ions for improving plating efficiency. The copper foil electroplated in the electrolyte added PEG which induced to inhibit the growth of rough crystals. As a result, the surface roughness value was reduced, and a uniform surface was formed over a large area. Moreover, the addition of PEG led to priority growth to the (111) plane and the formation of polygonal crystals through horizontal and vertical growth of crystals onto the cathode. In addition, the grains became fine when more than 30 ppm of PEG was added. As the microcrystalline structure changed, mechanical and electrical properties were altered. With the addition of PEG, the tensile strength increased due to grain refinement, and the elongation was improved due to the uniform surface. However, as the amount of PEG added increased, the corrosion rate and resistivity increased due to grain refinement. Finally, it was possible to manufacture a copper foil with excellent electrical and mechanical properties and the best surface properties when electroplating was carried out under the condition of additives with Cl-20 ppm, MPSA 10 ppm, JGB 5 ppm, and PEG 10 ppm.

• Journal of Platform Technology
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.27-40
• /
• 2024

Collaborative programs are tools designed to support multiple people working together, enhancing collaboration and communication efficiency, improving productivity, and overcoming the constraints of time and place. In the endemic era, many companies and individuals prefer using collaborative programs. These programs often handle sensitive information, such as work content, documents, and user data, which can cause significant damage if leaked. Exploiting this, various attack scenarios have emerged, including malware attacks disguised as collaborative programs, exploiting vulnerabilities within these programs, and stealing internal tokens. To prevent such attacks, it is essential to analyze and respond to potential threats proactively. This paper focuses on Notion, a widely used collaborative program, to collect and analyze artifacts related to user information and activities in both PC and Android environments. Based on the collected data, we categorize critical information, discuss potential threats, and propose countermeasures.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.64-72
• /
• 2024

As air pollution continues to increase owing to increasing traffic centered in urban areas, the tire industry is researching methods to reduce particulate matter. In this study, functionalized lithium butadiene rubber (F-LiBR) was applied to a natural rubber (NR)/butadiene rubber (BR) blend compound often used in truck bus radial (TBR) tire treads. The effect of the functional group that can react with carbon black (CB) in BR was investigated in terms of the dispersion of CB and the compound performance, including the generation of particulate matter. Compounds that were substituted with F-LiBR exhibited enhanced interaction with CB, resulting in excellent filler dispersion. Although F-LiBR exhibited lower crosslinking density and inferior abrasion resistance due to its high vinyl content, the compound with 30 phr of F-LiBR was advantageous in terms of its rolling resistance due to the excellent filler dispersion, which was also effective in reducing the amount of generated particulate matter (up to 56% reduction for PM_2.5, and 67% reduction for PM₁₀). The results confirmed the benefits of the introduction of functional groups into TBR tire tread compounds, which can aid in improving the fuel efficiency and reducing particulate matter generation.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.2253-2280
• /
• 2024

In the upcoming era of transportation, a groundbreaking technology, known as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, is poised to redefine our driving experience and revolutionize traffic management. Real-time and secure communication plays a pivotal role in V2X networks, with the decision-making process being a key factor in establishing communication and determining malicious nodes. The proposed framework utilizes a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to facilitate real-time processing and expedite decision-making. This innovative approach ensures seamless connectivity among vehicles, the surrounding infrastructure, and various entities. To enhance communication efficiency, the entire roadside unit (RSU) region can be subdivided into various sub-regions, allowing RSUs to monitor and govern each sub-region. This strategic approach significantly reduces transaction approval time, thereby improving real-time communication. The framework incorporates a consensus mechanism to ensure robust security, even in the presence of malicious nodes. Recognizing the dynamic nature of V2X networks, the addition and removal of nodes are aligned. Communication latency is minimized through the deployment of computational resources near the data source and leveraging edge computing. This feature provides invaluable recommendations during critical situations that demand swift decision-making. The proposed architecture is further validated using the "veins" simulation tool. Simulation results demonstrate a remarkable success rate exceeding 95%, coupled with a significantly reduced consensus time compared to prevailing methodologies. This comprehensive approach not only addresses the evolving requirements of secure V2X communication but also substantiates practical success through simulation, laying the foundation for a transformative era in transportation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.8
• /
• pp.1660-1670
• /
• 2024

The aim of this study was to modify phytase YiAPPA via protein surficial residue mutation to obtain phytase mutants with improved thermostability and activity, enhancing its application potential in the food industry. First, homology modeling of YiAPPA was performed. By adopting the strategy of protein surficial residue mutation, the lysine (Lys) and glycine (Gly) residues on the protein surface were selected for site-directed mutagenesis to construct single-site mutants. Thermostability screening was performed to obtain mutants (K189R and K216R) with significantly elevated thermostability. The combined mutant K189R/K216R was constructed via beneficial mutation site stacking and characterized. Compared with those of YiAPPA, the half-life of K189R/K216R at 80℃ was extended from 14.81 min to 23.35 min, half-inactivation temperature (T₅₀³⁰) was increased from 55.12℃ to 62.44℃, and T_m value was increased from 48.36℃ to 53.18℃. Meanwhile, the specific activity of K189R/K216R at 37℃ and pH 4.5 increased from 3960.81 to 4469.13 U/mg. Molecular structure modeling analysis and molecular dynamics simulation showed that new hydrogen bonds were introduced into K189R/K216R, improving the stability of certain structural units of the phytase and its thermostability. The enhanced activity was primarily attributed to reduced enzyme-substrate binding energy and shorter nucleophilic attack distance between the catalytic residue His28 and the phytate substrate. Additionally, the K189R/K216R mutant increased the hydrolysis efficiency of phytate in food ingredients by 1.73-2.36 times. This study established an effective method for the molecular modification of phytase thermostability and activity, providing the food industry with an efficient phytase for hydrolyzing phytate in food ingredients.