• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Alcohol ingestion enhances impulsivity and aggression, and has been proven to have a close relationship with suicide. This study investigates whether alcohol co-ingestion affects the Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) grade in patients with intentional poisoning. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of intentional poisoning patients who visited the emergency department (ED) from January 1 to December 31, 2020. Patients were divided into non-drunken and drunken groups. We collected the data based on the medical records of the patients and serum ethanol level results recorded during initial blood tests at the ED. To grade the PSS, the highest score was assessed through clinical signs and test results during the hospital stay. A comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups. Results: A total of 277 patients were included in the study. 163 (58.8%) were in the non-drunken group, and 114 (41.2%) were in the drunken group. The PSS grade showed a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.002). While grade 1 (mild) was observed more in the non-drunken group, grade 2 (moderate) and grade 3 (severe) were seen more in the drunken group. In an ordinal logistic regression analysis, alcohol co-ingestion (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.557, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.554-4.208, p<0.001) was considered to be a risk factor for a higher PSS grade. There was no significant correlation between the serum ethanol level and the PSS grade. (p=0.568) Conclusion: Intentional poisoning patients with alcohol co-ingestion had a higher PSS. Hence close observation and aggressive treatment in the ED is warranted in such cases.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.325-336
• /
• 2021

The occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is a formidable challenge for infants, parents, and healthcare professionals. Although data from the Middle East are scarce, experts consider FGIDs a prevalent condition in everyday clinical practice. The new Rome IV criteria revisited the definitions from a clinical perspective to provide a practical and consistent diagnostic protocol for FGIDs. However, the treatment practices for functional disorders vary considerably among Middle Eastern countries, often resulting in mismanagement with unnecessary investigations and treatments. In addition, the role of various treatment modalities, including probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, in FGIDs requires further discussion and evaluation. During a consensus meeting, a locally relevant approach for treating common FGIDs such as infant regurgitation, infant colic, and functional constipation was discussed and approved by regional experts. The participants suggested a simplified treatment plan and protocol for general pediatricians and other primary care physicians managing FGIDs. This easy-to-follow standardized protocol will help streamline the initial management of this complex disorder in the Middle East region and even globally.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.18-23
• /
• 2021

There has been demand for many magnetic sensor applications, and to develop low-cost devices, it is critical to accurately understand the behavior of the magnetic field and the characteristics of magnetic sensors and target devices during initial development phase. The magnetic field has been known to have very complicated nonlinear data to calculate, so it has required expensive computing machines or research to accurately calculate the magnetic sensor values. However, this paper introduces a characteristic of a magnetic sensor called the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) and proposes simple and sufficient approaches to develop a wearable joystick device using a magnetic sensor. Particularly, this paper introduces the design factors for how to properly develop a low-cost wearable joystick device using magnetic sensors after carefully considering the mechanism of a real joystick and the characteristics of magnetic sensors. As a result, user test results are provided to show how users can operate this new wearable joystick device.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.73-78
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by impaired neuromuscular transmission. This study aims to provide the clue for early diagnosis and improved therapeutic strategies in CMS. Materials and Methods: Through the targeted panel sequencing including twenty CMS causative genes, eleven patients were genetically confirmed and enrolled in this study. A retrospective medical record review was carried out for the clinical and laboratory data analysis. Results: The age of patients ranged from 5 to 23 years, with the median age of 16 years. The peak age at onset of symptoms was the neonatal period. Seven out of the eleven patients were symptomatic at birth. The most commonly reported initial finding was generalized hypotonia with poor sucking and crying. Mean time to accurate diagnosis was 9.3±5.0 years. Total fifteen different variants in seven genes associated with CMS (DOK7, AGRN, RAPSN, CHRNE, COLQ, SLC5A7, and GFPT1) were identified. Conclusion: We describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of CMS patients and treatment outcome in a single tertiary center. High clinical suspicion and timely molecular diagnosis is particularly important for the tailored therapy to maximize clinical improvement in CMS.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.1231-1240
• /
• 2020

Water pipes are laid on the ground, making it impossible to visually detect leaks due to aging of pipes, and technology to detect leaks in pipes is mainly used to detect leaks in pipes by detecting leaks. In this paper, two accelerometers were attached to both ends of the constant water piping to calculate the time difference between the acquired data to detect leakage points. The leak test of piping was performed by installing valves at 4.3m, 8.6m, and 12.9m points on piping 17.2m, and changing the development rate of valves to 30% and 70%. Leakage can be detected for pressure drop in piping, which is 30% and 70% open valve. It is very important to detect leakage in the early stage, and it is judged that detection of the initial leak point from the algorithm applied in this paper will be possible.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.99-109
• /
• 2021

With the recent development of ICT, information exchange through data communication network is increasing. Cryptography is widely used as the base technology to protect it. The initial cryptography technology was developed for military use and authorized only by the nation in the past. However, nowadays, much of the authority was unwillingly transferred to the private due to the pervasive use of ICT. As a result, there have been conflicts between the private demand to use cryptography and the nation's authority. In this paper, we survey the conflicts between nations and the private in the process of formulating the cryptography policy. Morever, we investigate the reality of the cryptography policy in Korea. Our investigations are expected to help the government apply cryptographic control policy in a balanced manner and plan development of cryptography industries. Lastly, we propose a need to establish a cryptanalysis organization and to legislate a legal sanction against fraudulent use of cryptography.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.21-29
• /
• 2021

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the application of double layered bubble sheet on the curing of slab and wall concrete placed at the job site in cold weather and to offer a feasibility of Concrete IoT Management System(CIMS), which is wireless sensor network developed by the authors, to manage early age quality of the concrete in terms of temperature, maturity and strength development. Test results indicated that the application of bubble sheet enhances the insulation performance, which results in an increase of the temperature by around 1~20. 6℃. It is found that CIMS can gather the temperature, maturity and strength development data from the sensors embedded from 30 m far from CIMS successfully. Predicted compressive strengths by CIMS had good agreement with measured ones within 2 MPa error level until 7 days. It is thought that the combination of the bubble sheet application for cold weather protection and CIMS for quality management tool in cold weather concreting contributes to shorten the time for the form removal by one day.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.77-90
• /
• 2021

In the present study, novel chitosan coated magnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were successfully biosynthesized from mushroom, Agaricus campestris, extract. The obtained bio-nanocomposite material was used to investigate ultra-fast and highly efficient for removal of Ni2+ ions in a fixed-bed column. Chitosan was treated as polyelectrolyte complex with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and a Fungal Bio-Nanocomposite Material (FBNM) was derived. The FBNM was characterized by using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared spectra (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) techniques and under varied experimental conditions. The influence of some important operating conditions including pH, flow rate and initial Ni2+ concentration on the uptake of Ni2+ solution was also optimized using a synthetic water sample. A Central Composite Design (CCD) combined with Response Surface Modeling (RSM) was carried out to maximize Ni2+ removal using FBNM for adsorption process. A regression model was derived using CCD to predict the responses and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and lack of fit test was used to check model adequacy. It was observed that the quadratic model, which was controlled and proposed, was originated from experimental design data. The FBNM maximum adsorption capacity was determined as 59.8 mg g-1. Finally, developed method was applied to soft drinks to determine Ni2+ levels. Reusability of FBNM was tested, and the adsorption and desorption capacities were not affected after eight cycles. The paper suggests that the FBNM is a promising recyclable nanoadsorbent for the removal of Ni2+ from various soft drinks.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.785-791
• /
• 2021

In this paper, we propose a methodology for estimating the optimal traversable destination from the location-based information of the object recognized by the mobile robot to perform the object delivery service. The location estimation process is to apply the generalized Voronoi graph to the grid map to create an initial topology map composed of nodes and links, recognize objects and extract location data using RGB-D sensors, and collect the shape and distance information of obstacles. Then, by applying the hybrid approach that combines the center of gravity and thinning method, the optimal moving position for the service robot to perform the task of grabbing is estimated. And then, the optimal node information for the robot's work destination is updated by comparing the geometric distance between the estimated position and the existing node according to the node update rule.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.151-163
• /
• 2021

Purpose - The break-even point refers to the point where total profit and total cost coincide, and from this point on, the entrepreneur's decision-making takes a different route. Strategic decisions can be made for more efficient operation and eventually for more likelihood for growth and sustainability if a startup figures out when it recoups the investment and switches to a net profit. Design/methodology/approach - 748 creativity and skill-based sole proprietors in manufacturing industry were examined to demonstrate the effect of the entrepreneur's entrepreneurial experience and education level, the business launch preparation time, or the self-financing on the achievement of break-even point. Findings - While the business launch preparation time lowered the likelihood of reaching a break-even point, self-financing increased the likelihood. As a result of further analysis by subdividing into subgroups according to skill level, only the business launch preparation time was statistically significant in the highly skilled industries. In the low skilled industries, in addition to the business launch preparation time, the CEO's education level and the self-financing were statistically significant. Research implications or Originality - The longer the business launch preparation time, the higher the start-up cost, which increases the burden of initial cost recovery, and the agile response to market changes is thereby delayed, resulting in the business idea losing its appeal. Self-financing not only provides stability and strong motivation for the business operation but also promotes careful spending which contributes to the achievement of break-even point. In particular, it is found that practical experience is more useful than theoretical knowledge in low skilled industries. Due to the limitation of secondary data based on the recollection, the time required to reach a break-even point, percentage of financing sources, etc. may include cognitive errors. In addition, variables are not included that explain the characteristics of creativity and skill-based sole proprietorship, so it is necessary to exercise caution with the actual application.