• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권11호
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• pp.1061-1080
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• 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology is a rapidly developing field with several prospective clinical studies demonstrating its benefits in clinical practice. In 2022, the Korean Society of Radiology held a forum to discuss the challenges and drawbacks in AI development and implementation. Various barriers hinder the successful application and widespread adoption of AI in radiology, such as limited annotated data, data privacy and security, data heterogeneity, imbalanced data, model interpretability, overfitting, and integration with clinical workflows. In this review, some of the various possible solutions to these challenges are presented and discussed; these include training with longitudinal and multimodal datasets, dense training with multitask learning and multimodal learning, self-supervised contrastive learning, various image modifications and syntheses using generative models, explainable AI, causal learning, federated learning with large data models, and digital twins.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.356-369
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• 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore healthcare providers' experiences in managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on healthcare services. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 34 healthcare professionals across 15 districts in Bangladesh. Among the participants, 24 were health managers or administrators stationed at the district or upazila (sub-district) level, and 10 were clinicians providing care to patients with COVID-19. The telephone interviews were conducted in Bangla, audio-recorded, transcribed, and then translated into English. Data were analyzed thematically. Results: Most interviewees identified a range of issues within the health system. These included unpreparedness, challenges in segregating COVID-19 patients, maintaining isolation and home quarantine, a scarcity of intensive care unit beds, and ensuring continuity of service for non-COVID-19 patients. The limited availability of personal protective equipment, a shortage of human resources, and logistical challenges, such as obtaining COVID-19 tests, were frequently cited as barriers to managing the pandemic. Additionally, changes in the behavior of health service seekers, particularly increased aggression, were reported. The primary motivating factor for healthcare providers was the willingness to continue providing health services, rather than financial incentives. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique set of challenges for health systems, while also providing valuable lessons in managing a public health crisis. To effectively address future health crises, it is crucial to resolve a myriad of issues within the health system, including the inequitable distribution of human resources and logistical challenges.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.3729-3734
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• 2015

Background: Although cervical cancer is preventable and early screening might decrease the associated mortality, challenges faced by the women and health care providers can postpone early detection. This qualitative study aimed to establish patient and provider perceptions about personal and socio-cultural barriers for cervical cancer screening in Mashhad, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the present study, which was conducted in 2012, eighteen participants, who were selected purposefully, participated in individual in-depth, semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using conventional content analysis and Atlas-Ti software. Results: One theme and two categories were derived from data including: cognitive/behavioral factors (lack of a community-based approach to cervical cancer, lack of awareness, wrong attitude and lack of health seeking behaviors) and socio/cultural issues (socio-cultural invasion, mismatch between tradition, modernity and religious, extra marital relationships and cultural taboos). Conclusions: Providing community based approach education programs and employing social policy are needed for preventing of cervical cancer in Iran.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.188-192
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• 2012

Palliative medicine has shown demonstrated benefit for patients with serious illness, their families, and hospital systems. As such, the demand for palliative care services is growing at a fast pace, and health care facilities frequently struggle to develop and implement effective and sustainable methods of providing this care. As with any new system, challenges and barriers naturally exist to instituting palliative care. Undertaking careful assessment, planning, and resource allocation can provide the greatest likelihood of success when developing these novel yet much needed models of care. This summary paper offers a qualitative overview of the potential benefits and the rationale to implement robust palliative care systems. We briefly review the history of palliative medicine in the broadest sense and address several seminal works from the US palliative care literature. Core practices to establish and advance palliative medicine are suggested. Commentary is provided on some of the particular barriers to palliative system development that may need to be addressed in the context of Korean medical culture. Collectively, we hope this overview can contribute to a framework within which such research and development can occur, leading to increasingly effective and sustainable palliative medicine in Korea.

• 공학교육연구
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.13-31
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• 2024

In recent times, STEM graduates are confronting a decline in employment rates influenced by economic, social, cultural, and policy-related factors. Career decisions are closely linked to education, college experiences, and university settings. To comprehend the reasons behind the decline in STEM employment, it is essential to explore the relationships among these factors. This study aims to comprehensively examine differences in career motivation and career exploration behavior among 2,393 STEM undergraduates in Korea. Additionally, factors affecting career motivation and career exploration behavior were investigated. The findings indicate significant differences in perceived career motivation and career exploration behavior based on individual backgrounds and university characteristics. And analyzing the data, 37.8% of career motivation is explained by contextual supports, career barriers, individual backgrounds (grade, GPA), university characteristics (major fields, location), field to enter after graduation, and timing of job preparation. For career exploration behavior, 30.1% is explained by contextual supports, career barriers, individual backgrounds (gender, grade, GPA), university characteristics (major field, location), field to enter after graduation, and timing of job preparation. Practical implications underscore the need for tailored educational and policy support, considering individual backgrounds and university characteristics, to effectively address challenges faced by STEM graduates in the evolving employment landscape.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.572-584
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• 2002

Rapid development in molecular biology and recent advancement in recombinant technology increase identification and commercialization of potential protein drugs. Traditional forms of administrations for the peptide and protein drugs often rely on their parenteral injection, since the bioavailability of these therapeutic agents is poor when administered nonparenterally. Tremendous efforts by numerous investigators in the world have been put to improve protein formulations and as a result, a few successful formulations have been developed including sustained-release human growth hormone. For a promising protein delivery technology, efficacy and safety are the first requirement to meet. However, these systems still require periodic injection and increase the incidence of patient compliance. The development of an oral dosage form that improves the absorption of peptide and especially protein drugs is the most desirable formulation but one of the greatest challenges in the pharmaceutical field. The major barriers to developing oral formulations for peptides and proteins are metabolic enzymes and impermeable mucosal tissues in the intestine. Furthermore, chemical and conformational instability of protein drugs is not a small issue in protein pharmaceuticals. Conventional pharmaceutical approaches to address these barriers, which have been successful with traditional organic drug molecules, have not been effective for peptide and protein formulations. It is likely that effective oral formulations for peptides and proteins will remain highly compound specific. A number of innovative oral drug delivery approaches have been recently developed, including the drug entrapment within small vesicles or their passage through the intestinal paracellular pathway. This review provides a summary of the novel approaches currently in progress in the protein oral delivery followed by factors affecting protein oral absorption.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권11호
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• pp.87-96
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• 2021

Data-driven markets depend on access to data as a resource for products and services. Since the quality of information that can be drawn from data increases with the available amount and quality of the data, businesses involved in the data economy have a great interest in accessing data from other market players and sharing data with other stakeholders. Despite the growing need for access to data and evidence of the economic and social benefits, data access and sharing remains below its potential. Individuals, businesses, and governments often face barriers to data access, which may be compounded by the reluctance to share, including within and across sectors. To address these challenges, this paper focuses on finding possible solutions for a better data-sharing economy. This paper 1) Discusses opportunities and challenges of open data and the data-sharing economy, limitations of private sector data, and issues with open government data. 2) Introduces open government data initiatives and open governance networks initiatives. 3) Suggests possible solutions, including the governance and management, the legal and policy frameworks, and the technical standards for open data with proposing an open data governance model for the data-sharing economy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.173-180
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• 2018

Objectives: Immunization is considered one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions protecting communities from preventable infectious diseases. The Korean government set up a dedicated workforce for national immunization in 2003, and since then has made strides in improving vaccination coverage across the nation. However, some groups remain relatively vulnerable and require intervention, and it is necessary to address unmet needs to prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases. This study was conducted to characterize persistent challenges to vaccination. Methods: The study adopted a qualitative method in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Three focus group interviews were conducted with 15 professionals in charge of vaccination-related duties. The interviews were conducted according to a semi-structured guideline, and thematic analysis was carried out. Data saturation was confirmed when the researchers agreed that no more new codes could be found. Results: A total of 4 main topics and 11 subtopics were introduced regarding barriers to vaccination. The main topics were vaccine hesitancy, personal circumstances, lack of information, and misclassification. Among them, vaccine hesitancy was confirmed to be the most significant factor impeding vaccination. It was also found that the factors hindering vaccination had changed over time and disproportionately affected certain groups. Conclusions: The study identified ongoing unmet needs and barriers to vaccination despite the accomplishments of the National Immunization Program. The results have implications for establishing tailored interventions that target context- and group-specific barriers to improve timely and complete vaccination coverage.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.13-31
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• 2013

The children of sex workers in Bangladesh are denied even the most basic human rights. This article is based on recent research focused on the children of sex workers in the context of their everyday lives. The study focused on access to education and how education could be a vehicle for them to break the vicious cycle of exploitation. This was a mixed method interpretative study which employed qualitative and quantitative approaches, but in this paper only qualitative data which was generated through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions is used. Data was collected from sex workers, their children, teachers and NGO workers who participated in the study. Information has been collected for analysing the expectation of the children of sex workers and hope for the future, and the opportunities available to them during their schooling. Thematic analysis technique was used to understand the challenges and barriers faced by the children of sex workers in fulfilling their educational aspirations. The lives of the children of sex workers are marginalised by the mainstream society. Though it is very difficult to break the vicious cycle of exploitation, this research finds that education may be a stepping stone for them to create a better future. However, it is argued that the children of sex workers need income generating vocational and technical education to enable them to earn and support their family. Policy recommendations have been made in order to achieve Education For All targets and Millennium Development Goals, and to provide a second chance for these vulnerable young people to have a better life.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제34권12호
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• pp.847-854
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• 2012

최근 국내 거주지역의 다변화와 고속도로와의 근접성을 고려한 선호되는 위치의 변화로 인해 방음벽에 대한 수요 및 설치에 대한 필요성이 그 어느 때보다 증대되고 있다. 하지만, 방음벽의 설치에도 불구하고, 도로로부터 발생되는 소음에 대한 민원은 지속되고 있는 실정이다. 또한, 이미 설치된 방음벽에서도 황변, 먼지침착, 충격파괴 등의 유지, 보수에 대한 어려움이 제기되고 있다. 이로 인해 위에서 제시된 문제점을 해결하기 위한 방법으로 새로운 소재를 이용 또는 새로운 개념의 방음벽에 대한 연구필요성이 제시되고 있다. 본 연구는 새로운 소재의 개발, 부가기능의 첨가, 또는 설계의 다변화를 통해 기존의 방음벽이 안고 있는 기술적, 경제적 문제점을 해결하기 위한 새로운 방음벽 개발의 첫 단계로 기존의 국내외 방음벽과 관련된 기 수행된 연구동향을 분석하고 이에 따라 향후 개발방향에 대해서 모색하였다.