• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.13-21
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• 2024

Purpose: This study explores the potential use of food e-labels for restaurants to solve the current inadequacies in food labeling within the restaurant sector. Additionally, the study examines the feasibility and scalability of implementing e-labels for food labeling purposes, investigates consumers' perceptions of e-labels for restaurant offerings, and assesses the value of implementing e-labels. Research design, data and methodology: The value of food e-labels was estimated using the contingent valuation method. Samples were selected from the survey, considering the distribution of population, using stratified sampling method. In the survey, respondents were provided with information explaining the food e-label and were asked whether they would accept the proposed amount for food e-labeling. Results: Estimation results revealed that the individual demographic factors of the respondents significantly influenced their willingness to pay (WTP), along with their food purchasing behavior and the degree of food labeling checking. Based on the estimated results, WTP was calculated to be 2,624 KRW. Conclusions: The study findings can serve as a reference for related businesses and policies, suggesting the need for further research and detailed discussions. To activate food e-labeling, promotion and education are essential complements to mere regulatory implementation.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.64-84
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• 2023

Purpose:Plaster splints are routinely performed in the Emergency Department (ED) and avoidable complications such as skin ulcerations and fracture instability arise mainly due to improper techniques. Despite its frequent use, there is often no formal training on the fundamental principles of plaster splint application for a medical officer rotating through ED. We aim to use Quality Improvement (QI) methodology to reduce number of incorrect plaster splint application to improve overall patient care via a bundled educational solution. Methods: We initiated a QI program implementing concepts derived from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement models, including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, to decrease the rate of incorrect plaster splint application. A bundled education solution consisting of three sequential interventions (practical teaching session, online video lecture and quick reference cards) were formulated to specifically target critical factors that had been identified as the cause of incorrect plaster splints in ED. Results: With the QI intervention, our overall rate of incorrect plaster splints was reduced from 84.1% to 68.6% over a 6-month period. Conclusion: Following the QI project implementation of the bundled educational solution, there has been a sustained reduction in incorrect plaster splints application. The continuation of the training program also ensures the sustainability of our efforts in ED.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2024

The weakening effect of water on rocks is one of the main factors inducing deformation and failure in rock engineering. To clarify this weakening effect, immersion tests and post-immersion triaxial compression tests were conducted on sandstone and mudstone. The results showed that the strength of water-immersed sandstone decreases with increasing immersion time, exhibiting an exponential relationship. Similarly, the strength of water-immersed mudstone decreases with increasing environmental humidity, also following an exponential relationship. Subsequently, a statistical damage model for water-weakened rocks was proposed, changes in elastic modulus to describe the weakening effect of water. The model effectively simulated the stress-strain relationships of water-affected sandstone and mudstone under compression. The R² values between the theoretical and experimental peak values ranged from 0.962 to 0.996, and the MAPE values fell between 3.589% and 9.166%, demonstrating the model's effectiveness and reliability. The damage process of water-saturated rocks corresponds to five stages: compaction stage - no damage, elastic stage - minor damage, crack development stage - rapid damage increase, post-peak residual stage - continuous damage increase, and sliding stage - damage completion. This study provides a foundational reference for researching the fracture characteristics of overlying strata during coal mining under complex hydrogeological conditions.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2024

As a global effort for eco-friendly, the ship building is making great efforts to develop ships using low-carbon, eco-friendly alternative fuels. Nuclear energy, one of several eco-friendly alternative energy sources, is evaluated as an effective alternative for future ships by minimizing carbon emissions and securing economic feasibility with low power generation cost. However, although appropriate regulatory requirements are necessary for commercialization of nuclear powered ships, there are currently no regulatory requirements for nuclear powered ships in Korea. In this study, accordingly, domestic and international regulatory requirements related to nuclear powered ships were reviewed, matters to be considered in terms of safety when developing domestic marine nuclear reactor regulatory requirements were derived, and a licensing regulatory system for nuclear powered ships was derived.This study is expected to be used as basic reference data when developing regulatory requirements for nuclear powered ships.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2057-2062
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• 2024

Among photon counting detector (PCD)-based technologies, the K-edge subtraction (KES) method has a very high material decomposition efficiency. Yet, since the increase in noise in the X-ray image to which the KES method is applied is inevitable, research on image quality improvement is essential. Here, we modeled a block-matching and 3D filtering (BM3D) algorithm and applied it to PCD-based X-ray images with the improved KES (IKES) method. For PCD modeling, Monte Carlo simulation was used, and a phantom composed of iodine substances with different concentrations was designed. The IKES method was modeled by adding a log term to KES, and the X-ray image used for subtraction was obtained by applying the 3.0 keV range based on the K-edge region of iodine. As a result, the IKES image using the BM3D algorithm showed the lowest normalized noise power spectrum value. In addition, we confirmed that the contrast-to-noise ratio and no-reference-based evaluation results when the BM3D algorithm was applied to the IKES image were improved by 29.36 % and 20.56 %, respectively, compared to the noisy image. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the IKES imaging technique using a PCD-based detector and the BM3D algorithm fusion technique were very efficient for X-ray imaging.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.551-558
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• 2024

Papaya leaf curl China virus (PaLCuCNV) is a damaging plant pathogen causing substantial losses to crop. The complete genomes of three PaLCuCNV isolates from Ageratum conyzoides were obtained and combined with the 68 reference isolates in GenBank for comprehensive genetic diversity analyses using specialized computational tools. Sequence alignment revealed nucleotide sequence similarity ranging from 85.3% to 99.9% among 71 PaLCuCNV isolates. Employing phylogenetic analysis, 71 PaLCuCNV sequences were clustered into five groups, with no significant correlation observed between genetic differentiation and either host species or geographical origin. Additionally, 13 recombination events across all PaLCuCNV isolates were identified. Genetic diversity analysis indicated the ongoing expansion and evolution of PaLCuCNV populations, supported by a neutral model. Moreover, significant genetic differentiation was observed among distinct viral populations, primarily attributed to genetic drift. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the detection, genetic variation, and evolutionary dynamics of PaLCuCNV.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.156-164
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of senior-friendly foods sold in Korea, focusing on protein and sodium. This study examined the nutritional content of 170 products with nutritional labels that were sold in online stores in Korea and categorized the products into 93 staple foods (cooked rice, porridge, and mousse) and 77 side-dish and snack foods (braized·steam·roast products, broth, sauces, and snacks). Then, the adequacy of the nutritional content of these foods, focusing on protein and sodium, was evaluated according to product type. The 93 staple products and 77 side-dish products had average serving sizes of 163.27 g and 127.92 g, prices of $3.25 and $2.72, and energy contents of 295.25 kcal and 141.95 kcal, respectively. For staple foods, the energy content was significantly greater in cooked rice, but the protein content and index of nutrition quality (INQ) were significantly greater in mousse. There were no significant differences in sodium content or contribution to adequate intake (AI) by product type, but the sodium INQ was significantly greater in the mousse and porridge. For side-dish foods and snack products, the protein content, contribution to the recommended intake, and INQ were all significantly greater for the braized·steam·roast products. Sauces and braized·steam·roast products were significantly higher in sodium content and contribution to the AI, while broth was significantly higher in sodium INQ. These findings can be used to guide proper product selection and nutritional management that considers the health characteristics of health-vulnerable and elderly people.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2024.07a
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• pp.49-55
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• 2024

In previous research on the production of free-form concrete panel, most studies have focused on single-curved FCP. Additionally, research has primarily targeted square-shaped FCP rather than polygonal ones. However, when it comes to manufacturing double-curved polygonal FCPs, there is a concern about significant errors in the lower shape. double-curved FCP have multiple directions of curvature progression and frequent changes in surface curvature. Therefore, manufacturing double-curved polygonal FCPs can be challenging in terms of substructure implementation. This study thus investigates the substructure of double-curved polygonal FCPs. Specifically, it involves designing double-curved polygonal FCPs, implementing the corresponding shape in the LSM, and comparing it with the design shape. Experimental results showed significant shape errors in areas with abrupt curvature changes, and inevitable errors occurred in areas where there were previously no errors, despite three rounds of shape corrections. This study attributes these results to the elasticity of the LSM and limitations in deriving rod displacement values. Based on the experimental findings, the study outlines directions for future research. The results of this study are expected to serve as reference material for researchers and professionals in the field of FCP production. Additionally, they are anticipated to be actively utilized as foundational research data for subsequent studies.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2022

Purpose Proteinuria is a clinical sign of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including stroke. We aimed to assess the relationship between proteinuria and the occurrence of cerebral infarction. Materials and Methods In total, 208854 Koreans who participated in the 2009 medical examination were followed up until 2013 using the database of the National Health Insurance Service. The results of urine dipstick tests were utilized to assess proteinuria as absent, 1+, 2+, or ≥3+. The International Classification of Diseases code 163 was used to document cerebral infarction. Results Between 2009 and 2013, 2383 cases (1.14%) of cerebral infarction occurred during 912772.9 person-years of follow-up. Hazard ratios for incident cerebral infarction increased with inceasing amounts of urine protein from 1.53 (1.23-1.90) in group 2 (1+), 1.67 (1.22-2.28) in group 3 (2+), and 2.66 (1.79-3.96) in group 4 (≥3+), compared to the reference group with little to no detectable urine protein (p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion An increase in urine protein levels was significantly related to the risk of developing cerebral infarction. Our results suggest that proteinuria might be a potential risk factor for cerebral infarction and that urine dipstick test analysis may be clinically useful for predicting stroke.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.4263-4279
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• 2024

The small modular PWR (SMPWR) usually adopts integral design. Under severe accident, the system responses are different from those large PWRs. It is necessary to study the severe accident behavior of the SMPWR. A MELCOR model is developed for SMPWR and its steady-state results are in good agreement with the design values. Severe accidents induced by secondary pipeline break accidents are simulated, and no pressure relief measures are taken to keep the primary loop under high pressure. The mitigation effects of passive containment air cooling system (PAS) and passive cavity injection system (PCIS) are evaluated under different cases. The results show that under high pressure conditions, PCIS can effectively cool the lower head. The earlier the PCIS operates, the more significant the mitigation effect can be. In addition, PAS can effectively reduce the peak pressure and temperature in the containment. This study can provide a reference for the formulation of severe accident management guidelines on SMPWRs.