• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2024

Purpose: A 2-dose varicella vaccination strategy has been introduced in many countries worldwide, aiming to increase vaccine effectiveness (VE) against varicella infection. In this network meta-analysis, we aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation and an overall estimated effect of varicella vaccination strategies, via a Bayesian model. Methods: For each eligible study, we collected trial characteristics, such as: 1-dose vs. 2-dose, demographic characteristics, and outcomes of interest. For studies involving different doses, we aggregated the data for the same number of doses delivered into one arm. The preventive effect of 1-dose vs. 2-dose of varicella vaccine were evaluated in terms of the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding equal-tailed 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: A total of 903 studies were retrieved during our literature search, and 25 interventional or observational studies were selected for the Bayesian network meta-analysis. A total of 49,265 observed individuals were included in this network meta-analysis. Compared to the 0-dose control group, the OR of all varicella infections were 0.087 (95% CI, 0.046-0.164) and 0.310 (95% CI, 0.198-0.484) for 2-doses and one-dose, respectively, which corresponded to VE of 69.0% (95% CI, 51.6-81.2) and VE of 91.3% (95% CI, 83.6-95.4) for 1- and 2-doses, respectively. Conclusions: A 2-dose vaccine strategy was able to significantly reduce varicella burden. The effectiveness of 2-dose vaccination on reducing the risk of infection was demonstrated by sound statistical evidence, which highlights the public health need for a 2-dose vaccine recommendation.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.131-152
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• 2023

One of the key domains within a smart tourism city, smart mobility, encompasses advanced transportation means and services rooted in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This includes shared bicycles, scooters, car-sharing services, smart transportation infrastructure, and more, aiming to surpass limitations of conventional transport and improve the movement of people and goods. It also serves tourists as an affordable and convenient mode of transport between attractions while also enhancing the overall travel experience. This study has defined 'smart tourism mobility' as a form of mobility grounded in ICT, exhibiting exceptional connectivity, serving public interest, and serving as a mode of transport for both residents and tourists in a smart tourism city. The research aimed to outline the scope of smart tourism mobility-related industries through expert Delphi surveys and estimate their economic effects within a smart tourism city. Specifically, this study updated 2015 input-output table and made 2020 regional input-output table of Seoul adopting RAS method and location quotient method. The results showed that the about 2.8 billion KRW investment of Seoul in smart tourism mobility may create more than 4.1 billion KRW in production inducement effect which is expected to create more than 1.6 billion KRW of income-inducing effect, 3.6 billion KRW of value-added-inducing effect, and 54 employment across all industries in Seoul in 2022.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 2024

Cosmetic preservatives are an important class of ingredients in terms of ensuring sustainable use and providing customer satisfaction. Recently, a great deal of interest has been drawn to the production and use of toxic-free, naturally derived preservatives. In this work, a new naturally derived preservative (laurimino bispropanediol, LB) was developed to replace the most widely used diol preservatives, such as 1,2-hexanediol or 1,2-octanediol. The basic properties of the obtained preservative were measured, and the solution behavior of the preservative in an aqueous medium was examined. The feasibility of micelle formation in the preservative solution was investigated using the fluorescence (FL) based pyrene method. Micelle formation was feasible owing to the relatively long hydrophobic chains and increased hydroxyl groups in the preservative molecules. The emulsification capability of the preservative was assessed using the Rosano and Kimura method, showing that the preservative possessed emulsifying capability in an organic solvent (benzene) and soy bean oil. In addition, the dispersion stability of cosmetic formulations, including the new LB preservatives such as essence and lotion, was demonstrated by comparing the light transmittance of the formulations. This article provides important information for future research regarding the synthesis and practical applications of new toxic-free naturally derived preservatives.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the area adjustment criteria and methods of the feasibility study of national park plans by applying them to Hallyeohaesang National Park. As a result of the ecological-based assessment used to identify the adjustment target areas, the ecological-based assessment Grades I and II that can be considered for inclusion were analyzed as 10.0% and 40.4%, respectively. Grade V, which can be considered for release, was 9.9%. As a result of the inclusion and release suitability assessment, the area subject to inclusion was 35.150 km² (3.669 km² on land and 31.481 km² at sea), and the area subject to release was 0.071 km² on land. When local governments and residents request the release of a park area for public interest or convenience, the release can be considered as long as the total area does not change, which is called a mutual exchange. The release area determined by mutual exchange was 10.386 km². It was 146 times the area determined by the suitability assessment for release. Matching the areas released by the mutual exchange with the ecological-based assessment, 70.6% (7.321 km²) was in Grades I and II, which can never be released. As a result, it was determined that the area adjustment of the feasibility study of Hallyeohaesang National Park was based on a very limited application of the results of the ecological-based assessment or the release suitability assessment. Also, mutual exchange was the key to area adjustment of the feasibility studies of national parks.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.165-187
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• 2023

The continuous increase in life expectancy and high interest in health has brought about significant changes in the use of health information by the public according to the development of information technology represented by the Internet and smartphones. As the medical market expands to the mobile health environment, many health-related apps have been created and distributed, but the acceptance rate is slow as it has become challenging to provide services due to various regulations. In this study, perceived value, perceived risk factors (psychological risk, risk of time-loss, legal risk), and perceived benefits (usefulness, interaction, autonomy) were derived and verified as factors that affect the acceptance resistance of personal health record apps based on the privacy calculation model. In addition, by analyzing the moderating effect of trust in the manufacturer, how the perceived risk and perceived benefit affect the perceived value was verified. A survey was conducted on Korean college students who recognized the personal health record apps but did not use them, and 127 samples were analyzed using structural equations. As a result of hypothesis verification, perceived value has a negative effect on acceptance resistance, perceived risk (risk of time-loss) has a negative effect on perceived value, and perceived benefits (usefulness, interaction, autonomy) were found to have a positive effect on perceived value. Trust in manufacturers has weakened the impact of perceived risks (legal risk) on perceived values. This study is expected to play an important role in maintaining a competitive advantage in the personal health record app market environment by identifying and proposing detailed criteria for reducing the acceptance resistance of personal health record apps.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.251-257
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• 2024

Background Plastic surgery has developed to benefit in a variety of challenging areas formerly handled by other disciplines. Medical students do not have a clear picture of plastic surgery as a career due to lacking scope, clinical practice, and understanding of plastic surgery as a clinical area of expertise, including general practitioners, nursing staff, medical trainees, and the general public, and misconceptions about the extent of reconstructive and plastic surgery. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on Kuwait University Medical students (2nd-7th Years) over a period of 1 month. A questionnaire and a consent form were provided to eligible students. The inclusion criteria were Kuwait University Medical students from 2nd to 7th Years with signed consent form. The response was collected via email sent in coordination with the Vice Dean of Student Affairs in the Faculty of Medicine. Using statistical package for the social sciences, responses were statistically analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test was used to calculate p-values, where p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 244 eligible medical students, 121 males and 123 females, were included in the study, with a mean age of 21 (±2) years. Similarly, 126 (51.6%) were preclinical students (2nd-4th-year students), while 118 (48.4%) were clinical students (5th-7th-year students). About 79.8% of medical students believed that plastic surgery plays an essential role in trauma management, whereas 9.2% did not consider plastic surgery significant for trauma management. This study found that only 15.5% of medical students were interested in enrolling in plastic surgery residency after graduation, while 47.1% of students did not consider plastic surgery residency after graduation. However, 37.4% were uncertain. The two most driving factors in deciding on plastic surgery residency were expected income (61.8%) and lifestyle (14.3%). Conclusion Improving medical students' education quality can enhance their perception and awareness of plastic surgery. Students should be taught the broader scope of plastic surgery. The inclusion of formal training during undergraduation is the essence of time and should be added to or improved during plastic surgery rotations with more emphasis on reconstructive and hand/peripheral nerve surgery. Student-led interest groups can be a useful tool for educating students about their specialty.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2024

Recently, venture capital investment has been shrinking globally due to high interest rates and economic slowdown. Korea is no exception. Due to the downturn in the M&A and public markets, increasing economic uncertainty, and the aftermath of corporate bankruptcies, venture capitalists are facing many difficulties in raising funds. In the changed economic environment, the investment decision factors of venture capitalists have also changed. However, studies on VCs' investment decisions have focused on the general economic environment. This study examines how VCs' investment decision-making factors change during economic recessions and booms. To this end, we interviewed active investors who have experienced both economic recessions and booms to compare how VCs' investment decision factors change: 1) personal characteristics of founders, 2) experience of founders, 3) product/service, 4) market, 5) financial situation, 6) contract terms and 7) venture capital co-investment. The results showed that founder's personal characteristics, experience, and product/service were more important during the economic recession. Market is slightly more important during economic booms. The importance of financial situation and investment conditions increased sharply during the recession compared to the boom. Finally, venture capital co-investment did not differ significantly between recessions and booms. By understanding the investment decision-making factors of venture capitalists in the recent difficult venture investment environment, this study aims to help startups raise funds and survive in a difficult market.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.3-31
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• 2024

This study aimed to examine public concerns in South Korea considering the country's unique context, triggered by the advent of generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT. To achieve this, comments from 102 YouTube video news related to ethical issues were collected using a Python scraper, and morphological analysis and preprocessing were carried out using Textom on 15,735 comments. These comments were then analyzed using a Correlated Topic Model (CTM). The analysis identified six primary topics within the comments: "Legal and Ethical Considerations"; "Intellectual Property and Technology"; "Technological Advancement and the Future of Humanity"; "Potential of AI in Information Processing"; "Emotional Intelligence and Ethical Regulations in AI"; and "Human Imitation."Structuring these topics based on a correlation coefficient value of over 10% revealed 3 main categories: "Legal and Ethical Considerations"; "Issues Related to Data Generation by ChatGPT (Intellectual Property and Technology, Potential of AI in Information Processing, and Human Imitation)"; and "Fear for the Future of Humanity (Technological Advancement and the Future of Humanity, Emotional Intelligence, and Ethical Regulations in AI)."The study confirmed the coexistence of various concerns along with the growing interest in generative AI like ChatGPT, including worries specific to the historical and social context of South Korea. These findings suggest the need for national-level efforts to ensure data fairness.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2024

Recently, the technology of autonomous driving, one of the core of the fourth industrial revolution, is developing, but sensor-based autonomous driving is showing limitations, such as accidents in unexpected situations, To compensate for this, HD-map is being used as a core infrastructure for autonomous driving, and interest in the public and private sectors is increasing, and various studies and technology developments are being conducted to secure the latest and accuracy of HD-map. Currently, NGII will be newly built in urban areas and major roads across the country, including the metropolitan area, where self-driving cars are expected to run, and is working to minimize data error rates through quality verification. Therefore, this study analyzes the spatial relationship of reference objects in the attribute structuring process for rapid and accurate renewal and production of HD-map under construction by NGII, By applying the attribute input automation methodology of the reference object in which spatial relations are established using the library of open source-based PyQGIS, target sites were selected for each road type, such as high-speed national highways, general national highways, and C-ITS demonstration sections. Using the attribute automation tool developed in this study, it took about 2 to 5 minutes for each target location to automatically input the attributes of the spatial relationship reference object, As a result of automation of attribute input for reference objects, attribute input accuracy of 86.4% for high-speed national highways, 79.7% for general national highways, 82.4% for C-ITS, and 82.8% on average were secured.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.83-99
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• 2024

This study seeks to shed light on the importance of "advancing administrative computer systems" for research administration efficiency, building upon prior literature, and aims at extending the scholarly discussion on the efficiency of research administration itself. To this end, two research questions were addressed. First, this research explores how research administrators perceive the advocated "advancement of administrative computer systems" in achieving research administration efficiency. Second, it investigates how external bureaucratic control affects burnout among administrative personnel engaged in research administration, and how burnout impacts the research-administration relationship, trust, and ultimately performance. The analysis of interviews and surveys yielded several results. For one, through the analysis of interviews conducted in the field of government-funded research institutions, it was found that "advancing computer systems" is met with practical concerns and skepticism, while also recognized as having the potential to contribute to the efficiency of research administration. Furthermore, it became evident that complex issues are intertwined. From a contrasting standpoint opposing computer advancement, the view that institutional regulations and cultural efficiency should take precedence over technology appears valid and raises a crucial point for consideration. On the other hand, regression analysis related to burnout shows empirical evidence that increased control by central government bureaucrats over administrative staff in government-funded research institutions leads to higher levels of burnout. Such elevated burnout is shown to have detrimental effects on trust between researchers and administrative personnel, as well as on overall performance. Through these discussions, we aim to stimulate academic and government interest in research administration efficiency.