• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.295-310
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• 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has led to a global health crisis with substantial mortality and morbidity. To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, various vaccines have been developed, but unexpected serious adverse events including vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia, carditis, and thromboembolic events have been reported and became a huddle for COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine-related myocarditis (VRM) is a rare but significant adverse event associated primarily with mRNA vaccines. This review explores the incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, management strategies, and outcomes associated with VRM. The incidence of VRM is notably higher in male adolescents and young adults, especially after the second dose of mRNA vaccines. The pathogenesis appears to involve an immune-mediated process, but the precise mechanism remains mostly unknown so far. Most studies have suggested that VRM is mild and self-limiting, and responds well to conventional treatment. However, a recent nationwide study in Korea warns that severe cases, including fulminant myocarditis or death, are not uncommon in patients with COVID-19 VRM. The long-term cardiovascular consequences of VRM have not been well understood and warrant further investigation. This review also briefly addresses the critical balance between the substantial benefits of COVID-19 vaccination and the rare risks of VRM in the coming endemic era. It emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, research to understand the underlying mechanisms, and strategies to mitigate risk. Filling these knowledge gaps would be vital to refining vaccination recommendations and improving patient care in the evolving COVID-19 pandemic landscape.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 2024

Objective: As the prevalence of neuroendovascular interventions increases, it is critical to mitigate unnecessary radiation for patients, providers, and health care staff. Our group previously demonstrated reduced radiation dose and exposure during diagnostic angiography by reducing the default pulse and frame rates. We applied the same technique for basic neuroendovascular interventions. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively acquired data after implementing a quality improvement protocol in which pulse rate and frame rate were reduced from 15 p/s to 7.5 p/s and 7.5 f/s to 4.0 f/s respectively. We studied consecutive, unilateral middle meningeal artery embolizations treated with particles. Total radiation dose, radiation per angiographic run, total radiation exposure, and exposure per run were calculated. Multivariable log-linear regression was performed to account for patient body mass index (BMI), number of angiographic runs, and number of vessels catheterized. Results: A total of 20 consecutive, unilateral middle meningeal artery embolizations were retrospectively analyzed. The radiation reduction protocol was associated with a 39.2% decrease in the total radiation dose and a 37.1% decrease in radiation dose per run. The protocol was associated with a 41.6% decrease in the total radiation exposure and a 39.5% decrease in exposure per run. Conclusions: Radiation reduction protocols can be readily applied to neuroendovascular interventions without increasing overall fluoroscopy time and reduce radiation dose and exposure by 39.2% and 41.6% respectively. We strongly encourage all interventionalists to be cognizant of pulse rate and frame rate when performing routine interventions.

• The Journal of Bigdata
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.115-126
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• 2024

The scale and cost of disasters are increasing globally, emphasizing the importance of logistics activities in disaster response. A disaster response logistics system must place logistics hub centers in regions relatively safe from disasters and ensure the stable supply of relief goods and emergency medicines to the affected areas. Therefore, this study focuses on locating drone delivery centers that minimize disaster vulnerability when designing a disaster response delivery network. To facilitate the transport of relief supplies via drones, the maximum delivery range of drones is considered and we employed a natural disaster vulnerability index to develop optimization models for selecting drone delivery center locations that minimize disaster vulnerability. The analysis indicates that while the optimization models to minimize disaster vulnerability increase the number of hub investments, these approaches mitigate disaster vulnerability and allows the safe and effective operation of a disaster response logistics system utilizing drone deliveries.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.44-57
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• 2024

Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and industrial sodium chloride (NaCl) are commonly used as deicing agents in Korea, which are expected to release dissolved chloride ions into the road surfaces following their application. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the usage of deicing agents and variations in groundwater quality between 2016 and 2022 by analyzing public data provided by various domestic institutions. Additionally, the study sought to identify factors contributing to deteriorating road conditions by comparing the amount of CaCl₂ appied and the incidence of potholes. Pothole occurrences during the study period were primarily reported during heavy rainfall periods without application of deicing agents. In 2022, chloride ion concentrations in groundwater in the southeastern Korean Peninsula were significantly higher than in previous years, coinciding with severe cold waves and heavy snowfall that resulted in increased deicing agent use. However, further data collection and verification are needed to distinguish between the effects of seawater intrusion and deicing agents. Despite limitations in the completeness and consistency of public data, the research highlighted the urgent need for improved data quality and further field verification to fully understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of deicing agents.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.355-363
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• 2024

Time synchronization is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation of modern economic and social infrastructures. Techniques such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based methods and Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) play key roles in precise time comparison and synchronization. TWSTFT, in particular, is recognized for its ability to achieve sub-nanosecond accuracy in time transfer, making it indispensable in fields such as satellite navigation. This paper proposes a comprehensive performance evaluation method for TWSTFT modems, emphasizing pre-validation in controlled environments to mitigate operational challenges. Using the proposed evaluation method, the study presents the standard deviation of RTT according to C/N₀ and compares it with the datasheet of a commercial TWSTFT modem. Through this approach, the aim of this study is to enhance the reliability and accuracy of TWSTFT-based time synchronization across diverse applications.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.49-58
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• 2023

Factory energy management system is rapidly growing and evolving due to factors such as the 3rd Basic Energy Plan and global energy cost increases, as well as environmental issues. However, implementing an essential data collection system for energy management in factory settings, which have limited space and unique characteristics, presents spatial, environmental, and energy-related challenges. This paper endeavors to mitigate these challenges by devising a data collection system implemented through an edge-based lightweight platform. A comparison and evaluation of database operation on edge devices are conducted. To conduct the evaluation, a benchmarking tool called CDI Benchmark is developed, utilizing the characteristics of existing factories involved in practical applications. The evaluation results revealed that RDBMS systems like MySQL encountered errors in the database due to high data insertion loads, making them inoperable. On the other hand, InfluxDB, thanks to its highly efficient compression algorithm, demonstrated compression rates about 6 times higher than MyRocks according to the evaluation. However, it was observed that MyRocks outperformed InfluxDB by a significant margin, recording a maximum processing time approximately 80 times faster compared to InfluxDB.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.208-212
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• 2024

Background: Traffic accidents involving professional drivers have serious societal repercussions. Unique occupational stressors and health risks exacerbate the likelihood of traffic accidents among professional drivers. This study explores the association between presenteeism-impaired work performance due to working while unwell-and traffic accident risk among professional taxi drivers in Japan. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2022 to February 2023, involving taxi drivers from a single company in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Presenteeism was assessed using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale (WFun). Primary outcome involved the number of self-reported minor traffic accidents. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of minor traffic accident occurrences was estimated using a Poisson regression analysis, adjusted for confounders including sex, age, and driving experience. Results: Of 838 targeted drivers, 435 were included in the analysis. Higher baseline work functioning impairment was associated with a significant trend of increasing IRR of minor traffic accidents (p for trend = 0.045). A dose-response relationship was seen between the degree of presenteeism and incidence rate of minor traffic accidents. Conclusion: Higher levels of presenteeism were associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents among taxi drivers. The findings underscore the need for socio-economic support and prioritized health management to mitigate traffic accident risk among professional drivers. This study highlights the importance of managing non-critical health issues alongside serious health conditions for safer driving practices among professional drivers in Japan.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.14-35
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• 2024

This qualitative study explores cyberbullying among college students through Habermas's Theory of Communicative Action to examine the dissonance between online interactions and principles of rational discourse. Cyberbullying is a pervasive issue in digital communication that undermines logical, evidence-based conversation, fostering environments where misinformation, manipulation, and harm thrive. By analyzing case studies from three universities, the research identifies the characteristics, dynamics, and emotional impacts of cyberbullying on victims, highlighting the role of social media platforms in facilitating these negative interactions. The findings reveal significant challenges to authentic and equal online conversations, driven by power imbalances and a lack of genuine communication, leading to psychological distress, erosion of self-esteem, and changes in behavior among victims. The study underscores the potential of social media design and policy interventions to mitigate cyberbullying, emphasizing the need for educational programs, technological solutions, and community support to promote a safer, more respectful digital environment. Key themes include the dynamics of cyberbullying, the suppression of rational discourse, the psychological and emotional consequences of inauthentic communication, and strategies for resilience and recovery. The research contributes to understanding cyberbullying's complexities and suggests a multifaceted approach to addressing it, aligning with Habermas's ideal of communicative rationality to foster healthier online communities. Future research should further explore the intersection of technology design, user behavior, and regulatory policies to combat cyberbullying effectively.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.52-57
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• 2024

To measure the vortex structures within the turbulent boundary layer, a hot-wire sensor was mounted on a stepper motor controller and moved to the designated measurement points. Near the surface within the flow field, the velocity is relatively slow, making the measurements highly sensitive to electromagnetic interference (EMI) during signal processing. This EMI primarily originates from the power supplies of computers and other electronic equipment. In our experimental setup, EMI was introduced into BNC cables connected to the hot-wire sensor from the powered stepper motor. When power was supplied to the motor controller to move the hot-wire sensor, EMI appeared on the oscilloscope screen. Consequently, unexpected noise was present in the data measured by the hot-wire sensor. To mitigate this and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during measurements, the connecting cables were shielded, and an old computer without EMI shielding was replaced.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2024

Objectives: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior, including suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts, are important predictors of suicide in adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the associations between NSSI, SI, NSSI+SI, mental health problems, and family factors in Korean adolescents in Jeju Island, with an emphasis on key findings. Methods: A total of 561 adolescents completed self-report questionnaires regarding demographics, NSSI, SI, suicidal behavior, perceived family functioning, and mental health problems, which were assessed using Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, Screen for Children Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED), and Youth Self-Report (YSR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, post-hoc analyses, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: In this study, 22.3% of adolescents reported either NSSI or SI, with 5.5% reporting NSSI and 20.7% reporting SI. Combined (NSSI+SI) group showed a significantly higher SCARED score, anxiety/depression, thought problems, attention problem, and rule breaking on YSR than did the SI only group. Higher level of depression and anxiety were significantly associated with NSSI and SI. Female sex and perceived family dissatisfaction were significantly associated factors for SI, but not for NSSI in multivariate logistic regression. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the clinical characteristics and associated factors among adolescents with NSSI, SI, and NSSI+SI in Jeju Island. Identifying these results can inform the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of these behaviors and contribute to a better understanding of the role of family in this context.