• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.331-339
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• 2019

This study is analytical prototype and usability studies centering on game development for game major in university curriculum by the collaboration of professor and students. The study set up the assumption of successful game development throughout the school curriculum initialized by fifteen weeks of time period. In the previous study, we defined the responsibility of positional personnel, and possibilities of current game majored school from both USA and Korea. The study aimed to analyze the productional guideline for the game development courses by conducting a usability survey from the groups of potential participants.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2016

This study has focused on the transfer of infants and Toddlers-protecting responsibilities from families to infants and Toddlers education agencies due to an increase of a double-income family and nuclear family. It is because there is insufficient safe play space from the moment when infants and Toddlers return from infants and Toddlers education agencies to home due to a high crowding of housing and increase of vehicle, and there can be difficulties to take responsibilities of infants and Toddlers safety with a mere recognition and effort of parent. Thus, to suggest a safety education through mutual contact between the communities and agencies supporting parent role in a level of social welfare, its potential has been identified through a frequency analysis on 60 participants of experimental group who have trained a safety education and 60 participants of control group who have not trained a safety education. As a result of frequency analysis, the increase in safety condition in Korea, safety and development of infants and Toddlers, safety of play materials, and safety knowledge on general part of facility safety has detected and the practice of safety and safety consciousness has also identified to be more effective. The results of this study has shown a potential to verify its efficacy if it is verified through an elaborative model of safety education based on parents of young infants and Toddlers family.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of microcurrent stimulation as a non-invasive therapeutic approach for managing pain and improving the quality of life in women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. Design: A case study. Methods: This study was conducted, involving a cohort of 6 women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea, aged between 20 to 30 years. Participants were received microcurrent stimulation using low-intensity microcurrents for 30 minutes every day for 4 weeks. The intensity of microcurrent stimulation was 25 μA and the frequency was 8 Hz. The intervention was administered between the menstruations, with pain intensity and quality of life being assessed at baseline, and then at the end of menstrual cycle. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and menstrual symptom questionnaire (MSQ), while the quality of life was assessed through the stress response inventory (SRI), state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D), and menstrual distress questionnaire (MEDI-Q). Results: After the intervention, participants demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity, as evidenced by improved VAS scores (p<0.05). However, the changes in MSQ scores did not reach statistical significance. Regarding quality of life measures, no statistically significant differences were found in the SRI, STAI, CES-D, and MEDI-Q scores after the intervention (p>0.05). Conclusions: This study suggest that microcurrent stimulation holds promise as a potential treatment option for alleviating pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of acupuncture treatment for the management of subacute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain in patients with traumatic multiple rib fractures. Methods: A total of 30 participants who have undergone thoracotomy after traumatic multiple rib fractures will be recruited. Participants will be invited and equally randomised into acupuncture plus usual care and usual care alone groups. A computer-generated random number sequence will be used and concealed using opaque, sealed, sequentially numbered envelopes. Twelve sessions of manual and electrical acupuncture performed by Korean medicine doctors will be provided over a span of 3 months to participants allocated to the acupuncture group. Participants in the usual care group will continue pain medication, exercise and physical therapy as required. Study feasibility will be measured based on the proportion of patients who complete the measurement of pain at 12 or 24 weeks after baseline. The clinical outcomes will include; the average pain intensity over the recent week at rest, movement and cough, quality of life, patient's global assessment of recovery, respiratory function measured by the pulmonary function test and use of pain medication at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after enrolment. Adverse events will be recorded for all participants. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The local ethics committee has approved the study. This pilot trial will inform further studies investigating the potential role of acupuncture for subacute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain in patients with traumatic multiple rib fractures.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.126-137
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: Early detection of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is important for clinical research and effective prevention and management. This study examined if quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) could be used for early detection of AD in SCD. Methods: Participants with SCD from 6 dementia clinics in Korea were enrolled. ¹⁸F-florbetaben brain amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) was conducted for all the participants. qEEG was performed to measure power spectrum and source cortical activity. Results: The present study included 95 participants aged over 65 years, including 26 amyloid PET (+) and 69 amyloid PET (-). In participants with amyloid PET (+), relative power at delta band was higher in frontal (p=0.025), parietal (p=0.005), and occipital (p=0.022) areas even after adjusting for age, sex, and education. Source activities of alpha 1 band were significantly decreased in the bilateral fusiform and inferior temporal areas, whereas those of delta band were increased in the bilateral cuneus, pericalcarine, lingual, lateral occipital, precuneus, posterior cingulate, and isthmus areas. There were increased connections between bilateral precuneus areas but decreased connections between left rostral middle frontal area and bilateral frontal poles at delta band in participants with amyloid PET (+) showed. At alpha 1 band, there were decreased connections between bilateral entorhinal areas after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: SCD participants with amyloid PET (+) showed increased delta and decreased alpha 1 activity. qEEG is a potential means for predicting amyloid pathology in SCD. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.87-100
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• 2012

Smart wear integrates computing technology into fabric or a garment for additional functionality. This research explored the attitudes and opinions of the use of smart wear from the viewpoint of caregivers. Thirty two individuals including care providers of children and adult family members with health problems participated in focus group interviews. Participants reported being interested in smart wear because of the potential to detect the location (GPS) of a dependent (e.g., child, elderly) and to monitor vital signs. Participants indicated perceived advantages of smart wear such as identifying geographical location and effectiveness. Perceived concerns mentioned were privacy/security issues and accuracy of data. Participants taking care of dependents without a specific disease were hesitant to adopt and pay for smart wear. However, caregivers of elderly individuals expressed positive adoption intentions and willingness to reasonably pay for smart wear. They indicated expectations that potential insurance would provide coverage for cost savings. Caregivers expressed the need of specific requirements for future adoption such as customizability, and comfort/safety. Specific to smart wear clothing, most respondents preferred it be an undershirt or a jacket with a sensor located in the shoulder area. The findings from this study can be used in product development, promotion and marketing of smart wear.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2018

Observations and video documentation of interactions between animals living in dens, cavities, and other enclosed spaces are difficult, but they play an important role in field biology, ecology, and conservation. For example, bird parents visiting nests and feeding their nestlings may provide crucial information for testing of ecological hypotheses and may easily attract attention of participants of citizen-science ecological and conservation projects. Because of the nest concealment of cavity-nesting birds, their behaviors in the nest can only be studied by using video surveillance. Professional wildlife surveillance systems are extremely expensive. Here, we describe an inexpensive video setup that can be constructed with relatively little effort and is more affordable than any previously described system. We anticipate that the relatively low cost of about 250 USD for a battery-operated system is an important feature for citizen-science type of projects and for applications in heavily populated areas where the potential for theft and vandalism may be high. Based on our experiences, we provide methodological advice on practical aspects of using this system in the field for ecological research on birds. We highlight the low cost, easiness of construction, and potential availability to a large number of observers taking part in wildlife monitoring projects, and we offer technical help to participants of such research projects.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between internet addiction, smartphone addiction, and psychosocial factors. This study was designed to examine the vulnerability factors for internet and smartphone addiction. Methods: The participants were 1041 children and adolescents in a small and medium-sized cities. All of the participants were evaluated in terms of their demographic characteristics and present use of the internet and smartphone, as well as using internet and smartphone addiction and other psychological scales. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the psychosocial factors between the high risk, potential risk, and general user groups of internet and smartphone addiction. Results: The participants were classified into three groups, the high risk (N=33), potential risk (N=203), and general user (N=805) groups with regard to their internet and smartphone addiction level. There were statistical significantly differences between the groups in terms of the economic status of the family, academic performance, parents, use of internet and smartphone, loneliness, family cohesion, family adaptability, perceived social support, and peer relationship. Conclusion: These results suggest that the internet and smartphone addiction of children and adolescents is related to various psychosocial vulnerability factors.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2024

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a major problem for human health worldwide. The mechanisms of vitamin D in the male reproductive system are unknown. After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were developed, doubts were raised about their possible effects on male fertility. Based on vitamin D's function in the immune system, its potential role as an adjuvant for COVID-19 vaccines is intriguing. The aims of this study were to assess the effects of vitamin D first on sperm parameters and sex hormones, and then as an immune adjuvant on sperm parameters and sex hormones after study participants had received their second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Phase 1 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) included 72 men with idiopathic infertility, and phase 2 had 64 participants who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Both groups were instructed to take 50,000 IU of vitamin D twice monthly for 3 months. Sperm parameters and sex hormones were assessed pre-and post-supplementation. Results: Regular vitamin D intake for 3 months significantly increased the participants' vitamin D levels (p=0.0001). Both phases showed a positive correlation between vitamin D intake and sperm parameters. Vaccination had no negative effects on sperm parameters and sex hormones. Vitamin D was associated with follicle-stimulating hormone (p=0.02) and testosterone (p=0.0001) in phase 2 after treatment. Conclusion: Our results support vitamin D supplementation as an immune adjunct to COVID-19 vaccination for improving sperm parameters and hormone levels. COVID-19 vaccination is not harmful for male fertility potential, and vitamin D is an effective factor for male fertility.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.203-222
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• 2006

The chronic problems of Information System Outsourcing Development Project include frequent changes in the participants and their roles, and the evasion of project participation, which exert unfavorable influence to the outcome of the project. Such problems are due, in large part, to the low level of project participants' satisfaction in the project. However, little is known about the factors that influence project participants' satisfaction in the project development. This research identifies six potential factors such as project commitment, workload, control, communication within the organization, inter-organization communication, and system development methodology based on PMI(Project Management Institute) and empirically examines their efficacy in explaining the level of participants' satisfaction in the IS development projects based on data from 390 participants in 66 projects. The results indicate that the six factors are strong determinants of participants' satisfaction in system development projects. In other words, the level of satisfaction among project participants overall are largely influenced by project commitment and control, communication, project methodology. Especially, the results reveal that the level of satisfaction among participants from the vendor decreased largely by unrealistic project commitment, frequent changes in project planning and unreasonable control rather than by a significant amount of workload. In conclusion, there need to be a rational approach and solution based on the six factors presented in this research in order to increase participation satisfaction level of the project participants and ultimately enhance project outcome.