• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.476-481
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• 2019

Background: Mystery shopping is a method in which a company monitors quality of service and employee conduct and compliance with regulations using an evaluator posing as a customer. It is a typical tool of customer-centered bureaucratic control insofar as it provides overall and standardized evaluation of intangible elements of customer service as well as physical elements of service environments. The purpose of this study is to examine how mystery shopping is related to the health status of service workers in South Korea. Methods: Data from semistructured interviews with 15 workers were collected from January to April 2019 to obtain information on service worker experiences with mystery shopping. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Results: Mystery shopping limits worker autonomy and stiffens the workplace environment by standardizing and monitoring labor processes for service workers. In addition, mystery shopping heightens work stress through increased labor intensity. Five mechanisms by which mystery shopping affects service worker health are identified and comprise (1) multifaceted and multilayered surveillance, (2) evaluator subjectivity and irrational requirements, (3) standardized rules combined with high pressure to achieve sales, (4) self-esteem degradation because of evaluator results, and (5) musculoskeletal disorders because of strict adherence to labor processes based on evaluator results. Conclusion: Mystery shopping as an evaluation method should be reconsidered not only in terms of health problems but also in terms of organizational efficiency and issues of human rights.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2018

Gas detection is necessary for various reasons, including the prevention of gas leakages and the creation of necessary environmental conditions. Among the gas detection methods, leakage of gas can be confirmed using materials that undergo color changes that are easily distinguished by the naked eye. Metal nanoparticles (NPs) experience variations in their absorption wavelengths under the localized surface plasmon effect (LSPR) with mechanical stresses, which change the distance between NPs. In this study, we attempted to detect the presence of gas utilizing the LSPR-related color change of a chain of Au NPs. The assembly of Au NPs, arranged in a chain shape, experienced a color change from dark blue to purple with a change in the distance between the NPs by applying a physical force, i.e., compression, stretching, and gas pressure. As the force of compression and the degree of stretching increased, the absorption wavelength shifted from doublet peaks at 650 and 550 nm to a singlet peak at 550 nm. Further, applying gas pressure caused an identical color change. With this result, we propose a method that could be applied to all gases that require detection based on gas pressure.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.45-50
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• 2020

Occupational therapists (OTs) interface patients much longer than other healthcare workers and, thus, are likely to experience a high level of stress because of work, physical fatigue, lack of professional knowledge and skills, and problematic relationships with patients, etc. This study examined the quality of the lives of OTs and the workplace which is an influential factor. This study recruited 200 OTs and used a professional quality of life scale. We found that, only 27.0% experience high levels of compassion satisfaction (CS) and 80.5% and 74.5% experience high or average levels of burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) of compassion fatigue (CF), respectively. We discovered that CS was higher in temporary employees; and CF was higher in females, subjects in their 30s; and those working at general hospitals. Also, BO was higher in those with one to five years of clinical experience and regular employees. Last, STS was higher in the group without stable income. This study verified that clinical experience is a critical factor that reduces BO, and excessive workload outside of treatment lowers the professional quality of life. This suggests that work environment and regulations related to OTs must be improved to increase CS and reduce CF.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.76-84
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• 2016

Objectives: We evaluated the anti-fatigue effects of Rh2-enriched Korean ginseng (Ginseng Rh2+) using a forced exercise-induced chronic fatigue mouse model. Methods: ICR male mice were subjected to running wheel for 1 h, 5 days/week during 4 weeks, and running velocity was gradually increased. Each running session was followed by oral administration of distilled water, Ginseng Rh2+ (150 or 300 mg/kg), or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, 100 mg/kg) 1 h later. The exercise tolerance and forced swimming test were performed to evaluate the fatigue condition. Results: Chronic forced exercise reduced the physical activity, as evidenced by the behavioral tests, which were notably ameliorated by Ginseng Rh2+ treatment. Ginseng Rh2+ treatment also attenuated the alterations of energy metabolism and oxidative stress in skeletal muscle tissues and/or sera, including malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate concentration and its related factors (lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, and glucose levels). Conclusion: These findings strongly suggest that Ginseng Rh2+ exerts a potent anti-fatigue effect through modulation of energy metabolism and oxidative response.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 2019

Background: Mine workers in South Africa face challenges relating to poor health and safety, including fatigue risks, and poor socioeconomic and living conditions. Fatigue results in impaired mental and physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess contributors to fatigue of mine workers in South Africa. Methods: Data collection took place at four gold mines and one platinum mine in South Africa. A total of 21 focus groups were held with individuals in management, union representatives, and mine workers, and 564 questionnaires were completed by mine workers to gather information about fatigue and potential contributors to fatigue at these mines. Results: Qualitatively (through focus groups), fatigue was attributed to extended working hours, harsh working conditions, high workloads, production pressure, and resource constraints, along with aspects relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, living conditions, lifestyle, health, and wellness. Greater fatigue was significantly associated with younger age, indebtedness, a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, less sleep, increased alcohol use, poor self-reported health, more sick leave, higher stress, and lower job satisfaction. Conclusion: The aim of the study was achieved; numerous work-, sociodemographic-, lifestyle-, and wellness-related factors were linked to fatigue in the participating mine workers. Contributors to fatigue should be addressed to improve health, safety, and sustainability in the industry.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.205-219
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• 2019

This paper analyzes nonlinear free vibration of the circular nano-tubes made of functionally graded materials in the framework of nonlocal strain gradient theory in conjunction with a refined higher order shear deformation beam model. The effective material properties of the tube related to the change of temperature are assumed to vary along the radius of tube based on the power law. The refined beam model is introduced which not only contains transverse shear deformation but also satisfies the stress boundary conditions where shear stress cancels each other out on the inner and outer surfaces. Moreover, it can degenerate the Euler beam model, the Timoshenko beam model and the Reddy beam model. By incorporating this model with Hamilton's principle, the nonlinear vibration equations are established. The equations, including a material length scale parameter as well as a nonlocal parameter, can describe the size-dependent in linear and nonlinear vibration of FGM nanotubes. Analytical solution is obtained by using a two-steps perturbation method. Several comparisons are performed to validate the present analysis. Eventually, the effects of various physical parameters on nonlinear and linear natural frequencies of FGM nanotubes are analyzed, such as inner radius, temperature, nonlocal parameter, strain gradient parameter, scale parameter ratio, slenderness ratio, volume indexes, different beam models.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.300-306
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• 2022

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is essential for a wide range of cellular responses in plants, including defense responses, responses to abiotic stress, hormone signaling, and developmental processes. Recent investigations have shown that the stress, ethylene, and MAPK signaling pathways negatively affect the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules by directly modulating the symbiotic signaling components. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the defense responses mediated by MAPK signaling in the organogenesis of nitrogen-fixing nodules remain unclear. In the present study, I demonstrate that the Medicago truncatula mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 (MtMKK5)-Medicago truncatula mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/6 (MtMPK3/6) signaling module, expressed specifically in the symbiotic nodules, promotes defense signaling, but not ethylene signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting nodule development in M. truncatula. U0126 treatment resulted in increased cell division in the nodule meristem zone due to the inhibition of MAPK signaling. The phosphorylated TEY motif in the activation domain of MtMPK3/6 was the target domain associated with specific interactions with MtMKK5. I have confirmed the physical interactions between M. truncatula nodule inception (MtNIN) and MtMPK3/6. In the presence of high expression levels of the defense-related genes FRK1 and WRKY29, MtMKK5a overexpression significantly enhanced the defense responses of Arabidopsis against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000). Overall, my data show that the negative regulation of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodule organogenesis by defense signaling pathways is mediated by the MtMKK5-MtMPK3/6 module.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.41-60
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• 2000

This study was designed and undertaken to identify the related factors of family caregivers' depression & quality of life with stroke elderly patient. The data was collected from August 16th to September 5th. 1999. The subjects in this study were 70 caregivers and 70 patients with stroke who were hospitalized in 2 oriental medicine hospitals and 3 hospitals located in Junla-buk do. The data was analized using percentage. means. t-test. ANOVA and pearson's correlation coefficients, step-wise multiple regression done with the SAS program. The results of this study are as follows; 1. The score for family caregivers' depression was 45.2 when total score was 80. The family caregivers who got more than 50 scores belongs to highly depression group amount to $29\%$. 2. The score for family caregivers' quality of life was 37.04 when total score was 56. 3. In the significant relationship between family caregivers' depression and general characteristics of the family caregivers ; age. sex, income. In the significant relationship between family caregivers' quality of life and general characteristics of family caregivers: age, education, income. In the significant relationship between family caregivers' depression and quality of life and general characteristics of stroke elderly patient ; sex. 4. The depression degree showed significant differences in the variables of family caregiver's physical health(r=-0.307, p=0.011), stress(r=0.463. p=0.011). social support (r=-0.241. p=0.046) and elderly stroke patient's ADL(r=-0.313, p=0.009). The quality of life degree showed significant differences in the variables of family caregivers' depression(r=-0.564, p=0.001), stress(r=-0.322, p=0.008), social support (r=0.353. p=0.003). 5. The most important variable affecting family caregiver's depression was caregivers' physical symptom which accounted for $32.0\%$ of the total variance in which multiple regression analysis. Total variance affecting the family caregivers' depression was $49\%$. The most important variable affecting family caregivers' quality of life was caregivers' depression which accounted for $48\%$ of the total variance in which multiple regression analysis. Total variance affecting the family caregivers' quality of life was $61\%$.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.56
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• pp.31-54
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to provide psychological welfare promotion method of police officers who experience trauma and PTSD due to police activity in local community while handling various accidents and protecting civil life and safety at the forefront of the national disaster accident site. For this objective, following countermeasure was presented through trauma/PTSD-related literature and in-depth interview with police officers who experienced trauma and PTSD. First, psychological examination is required to be performed positively and realistically for the police officers. As police officers have high emotional labor stress not only by physical burden but also by civil service, a regular psychological examination shall be established systematically together with physical rest. Second, proper action for the regular psychological examination result of the police officers is required. Third, a psychological support system for the police officers is required to be established and for this objective, expansion of police-operated mindful accompanying center and its devoted operation are required to be performed. Fourth, an opportunity of getting rid of stress of police officers shall be provided and for this objective, required budget for activating club activity is required to be allocated and activity condition should be created.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2006

Objectives : Since prostitution is multitraumatic phenomena, it is known that most women in prostitution have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental illness. In Korea, new anti-prostitution law launched in the year of 2004 imposes protecting prostituted victims at government-supported shelter. The objective of this study was to compare the mental symptoms, especially PTSD features of women who escaped from prostitution with those of control subjects. Methods : We assessed 113 ex-prostituted women who live in shelter for 8 months on the average and 65 normal control subjects. Demographic data, questionnaire for sleep, physical illness, smoking, alcohol and drug use, Stress Response Inventory, Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were used. Results : Ex-prostituted women had significantly higher scores of DTS, IES-R, stress related responses, sleep problems, smoking problems, and alcohol problems than control group. Age and duration of sex trade of the subjects were significantly correlated with the severity or frequency of PTSD symptoms. The degree of smoking, alcohol drinking and sleep problems were also significantly correlated with the PTSD symptoms. Conclusion : These results suggested mental symptoms did not disappear even after women escaped from prostitution.