• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.145-162
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• 2021

Purpose: The 2018 General survey of emergency assistance was conducted to examine the working conditions and welfare, including educational direction, interests, and awareness of work, of the fire department emergency medical technicians (EMT). This would be used as basic data for future policy directions. Methods: Among the fire-fighting officers in 16 cities nationwide, emergency rescue workers engaged in first-aid activities were targeted. With prior consent, a survey was conducted through electronic documents. Of the total 1,227 people, responses from 1,151 were finally analyzed, excluding 76 who did not respond appropriately. Results: The working conditions and welfare of 119 firefighters were moderate, but in the fields of education and interest, the learning according to the regulations was high. In particular, satisfaction with the scope of work was found to be below average. However, it was positive that it will play a role as a social safety net in the future and will converge with cutting-edge science. Conclusion: Although this study was a total investigation of the EMT survey, conducting an EMT survey on all fire fighters in Korea is difficult. Further research is needed, particularly on first-class emergency medical personnel who play a major role in 119 paramedics.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.248-259
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adequate nutritional intake is essential for good health and well-being. We aimed to compare the nutrient intake from homemade meals, meals sourced externally ("eating out"), and meals from workplace foodservices, as well as the potential association between foodservices used and nutritional quality among adult Korean workers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide cross-sectional survey on the health and nutritional status of the Korean population. Data from 6,845 workers aged 20-64 years were included. A survey on dietary behavior and nutrition was conducted using the 24-h dietary recall method. Nutritional quality was examined using the index of nutritional quality (INQ) score. Higher INQ scores reflected poorer nutritional quality, with insufficient intake of a higher number of nutrients. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify the association between the foodservices used and INQ scores after adjusting for other covariates. RESULTS: We found that foodservice users exhibited a higher 1-day intake of total energy and macronutrients (all P < 0.05) and lower INQ scores (P < 0.01) than non-users. The INQ scores for total daily meals decreased with the frequency of foodservice use (P < 0.01). A significant association was observed between the non-use of foodservices and INQ scores (β = 0.29, P < 0.01) after adjusting for other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The use of workplace foodservices contributed to higher dietary nutritional quality among workers. This study highlights the importance of expanding the scope of workplace foodservices to promote higher nutritional quality and healthy dietary habits among workers.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-306
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the active ranges of motion, gait abilities, and biomechanical characteristics of gait in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery, and to verify the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of robot-assisted gait training. Methods: This study was conducted on 14 subjects who underwent lower extremity surgery. The subjects participated in robot-assisted gait training for 2 weeks. The active ranges of motion of the lower extremities were evaluated, and gait abilities were assessed using 10-m and 2-min walk tests. An STT Systems Inertial Measurement Unit was used to collect data on biomechanical characteristics during gait. Spatiotemporal parameters were used to measure cadence, step length, and velocity, and kinematic parameters were used to measure hip and knee joint movement during gait. Results: Significant improvements in the active ranges of motion of the hip and knee joints (flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction) and in the 10-m and 2-min walk test results were observed after robot-assisted gait training (p < 0.05). In addition, biomechanical characteristics of gait, spatiotemporal factors (cadence, step length, and velocity), and kinematic factors (gait hip flexion-extension, internal rotation-external rotation angle, and knee joint flexion-extension) were also significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study are of clinical importance as they demonstrate that robot-assisted gait training can be used as an effective intervention method for patients who have undergone lower extremity surgery. Furthermore, the findings of this study are clinically meaningful as they expand the scope of robot-assisted gait training, which is currently mainly applied to patients with central nervous system conditions.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.98-107
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to suggest a model for evaluation of a risk based value index for modular design alternatives in plant construction projects. Accordingly, 1) Setting the basic project cost and the scope to apply the module, 2) Evaluating the importance, easiness, and effectiveness index for Engineering, Procurement, Fabrication, transportation, and construction work, 3) Estimating the total project cost by analyzing the risk reserve Step, 4) Comparing the effectiveness index and total project cost for each modular design alternative, it was composed of the steps of deriving RVI. To verify such a model, Plan-A, which applied a module to one process, and Plan-B, which applied a module to three processes, were composed to evaluate RVI.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.39-56
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to observe the expressive characteristics of Neo-Deconstruction design, examine the expressive characteristics of Neo-Deconstruction design in the collections of Jacquemus, and analyze their internal meanings. For research, observations were made based on the concepts and expressive characteristics of Deconstruction through prior research and literary review, and analysis was conducted focusing on the expressive characteristics of Neo-Deconstruction. The scope of analysis included a total of 605 photographs collected from a total of 17 season collections of Jacquemus from the 2013 S/S to the 2021 S/S season. The results are as follows. First, the Neo-Deconstruction of Jacquemus expresses the youth culture using bright images such as diverse colors and patterns with 'positive playfulness' and pass on positive messages with deconstructive and playful forms, such as exaggeration and reduction and recombination and reconstitution. Second, with tendencies of 'symbolic receptivity', Jacquemus gained inspiration from his own life, memories, and hometown, and attempted to express the street women of places such as southern France, Paris, and Monaco in a number of collections. Also, he proposed designs that can be worn easily by anyone, regardless of gender, and as plus size models began to become more common respect was given to the tastes and preferences of diverse individuals without distinctions based on body type or sexuality. Third, 'geometric simplicity' was generally expressed by pursuing simple and practical fashion with the addition of details, such as geometric forms including stripes or asymmetrical expressions centering around everyday material that is used in clothing. Fourth, with "open communication," Jacquemus constructed his identity by addressing the various needs of consumers based on social network services and continuously sharing his creative ideas with the public. He is gaining popularity in a unique way by responding quickly to the changing atmosphere of society.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-99
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• 2020

This study was conducted to analyze the current state and symbolic meanings of floral emblem designation in local governments of South Korea. The scope of local governments subject to analysis was limited to special city, metropolitan city, province, self-governing province, city, self-governing city, county and district based on their administrative divisions. The floral emblems of local governments and their symbolic meanings as of 2019 were examined. A total of 44 plant species were designated as floral emblems. Many plant species with high designation frequency were included in Rhododendron spp., Rosa spp., Camellia spp., Magnolia spp., and Prunus spp.. Plant species with higher designation frequency tended to have more symbolic meanings. A total of 155 terms were used for the symbolic meanings assigned to all the designated floral emblems. The major symbolic meanings were relevant to material affluence or economic growth, community spirit, and personality generally required from local residents. Most of the plant species linked to the top 10 most frequently assigned terms in symbolic meaning were those of the top 10 most frequently designated floral emblems. In the case of floral emblems with high designation frequency, it was shown that they were linked with various symbolic meanings in order to grant identity with regional distinctiveness and differentiation, regardless of the symbolic meaning that the designated flowers generally have. However, the floral emblems with low designation frequency seem to have relatively strong physical or emotional relevance with local governments and thus are expected to have high utilization in regional branding and tourism marketing.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2023

Basic medical education is important for developing the competencies of medical doctors, and it includes basic biomedical sciences, preventive medicine, medical ethics, and clinical science. This study aimed to reveal the current status of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination (KMLE) regarding its evaluation of competencies in basic biomedical sciences. The basic medicine-related questions were screened and selected from the test forms of the KMLE (2016-2018) by personnel conducting basic biomedical science education, and the selected questions were analyzed by three independent groups of undergraduate students at Chonnam National University Medical School in terms of the learning outcomes of basic medical education. The study scope includes the proportion of basic medicine-related questions, which consist of basic medicine questions and basic medicine-related clinical medicine questions, its annual change, discipline distribution, and associated learning outcomes. The average proportions of basic biomedical sciences, preventive medicine and medical law, and clinical sciences were 2.3%, 5.8%, and 91.9% of all questions, respectively. The proportion of basic medicine-related questions, except those on preventive medicine and medical law, was 22.0% of the total, and questions on pharmacology and microbiology accounted for 83.0% of the basic medicine-related questions. The proportion of sub-enabling learning outcomes linked with basic medicine-related questions comprised 14.0% of the total outcomes for basic biomedical sciences and 30.4% for preventive medicine and medical law. It is concluded that the KMLE questions may not sufficiently cover the essential competencies of basic medical education for medical doctors, and the KMLE may need to be improved with regard to competencies in basic biomedical sciences.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2023

Given that most government contracts are based on a fiscal year, long-term continuing construction contracts require appropriate provisions as significant amounts of budget is supposed to be invested for several years. This study drew problems and improvements of the long-term continuing construction contracts by analyzing the contents of FGI and list of construction order. We found that a number of problems, such as the mismatch between laws and enforcement decrees, difference in calculating overheads due to the extension of construction period, many construction orders that are hard to see as budget efficiency and over investment in the final annual contract, were tangled up in the process. To solve the problems mentioned, we suggested several improvements as follows: (1) effect of total construction period and total amount should be guaranteed by a law, (2) it is suggested that the scope of long-term continuing construction contract is determined by a law, and (3) it should be clear about the calculation of overheads concerned with the extension of construction period as well as the estimation of construction period to prevent over investment in the final contract.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.116-122
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• 2024

Background: Due to the importance of evidence-based research in plastic surgery, the authors of this study aimed to assess the accuracy of ChatGPT in generating novel systematic review ideas within the field of craniofacial surgery. Methods: ChatGPT was prompted to generate 20 novel systematic review ideas for 10 different subcategories within the field of craniofacial surgery. For each topic, the chatbot was told to give 10 "general" and 10 "specific" ideas that were related to the concept. In order to determine the accuracy of ChatGPT, a literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane. Results: In total, 200 total systematic review research ideas were generated by ChatGPT. We found that the algorithm had an overall 57.5% accuracy at identifying novel systematic review ideas. ChatGPT was found to be 39% accurate for general topics and 76% accurate for specific topics. Conclusion: Craniofacial surgeons should use ChatGPT as a tool. We found that ChatGPT provided more precise answers with specific research questions than with general questions and helped narrow down the search scope, leading to a more relevant and accurate response. Beyond research purposes, ChatGPT can augment patient consultations, improve healthcare equity, and assist in clinical decision-making. With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), it is important for plastic surgeons to consider using AI in their clinical practice to improve patient-centered outcomes.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.109-153
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• 1992

This paper estimates a translog cost function for the Korea's banking industry and derives various implications on the prospect for the Korean banking structure in the future based on the estimated efficiency indicators for the banking sector. The Korean banking industry is permitted to operate trust business to the full extent and the security business to a limited extent, while it is formally subjected to the strict, specialized banking system. Security underwriting and investment businesses are allowed in a very limited extent only for stocks and bonds of maturity longer than three year and only up to 100 percent of the bank paid-in capital. Until the end of 1991, the ceiling was only up to 25 percent of the total balance of the demand deposits. However, they are prohibited from the security brokerage business. While the in-house integration of security businesses with the traditional business of deposit and commercial lending is restrictively regulated as such, Korean banks can enter the security business by establishing subsidiaries in the industry. This paper, therefore, estimates the efficiency indicators as well as the cost functions, identifying the in-house integrated trust business and security investment business as important banking activities, for various cases where both the production and the intermediation function approaches in modelling the financial intermediaries are separately applied, and the banking businesses of deposit, lending and security investment as one group and the trust businesses as another group are separately and integrally analyzed. The estimation results of the efficiency indicators for various cases are summarized in Table 1 and Table 2. First, security businesses exhibit economies of scale but also economies of scope with traditional banking activities, which implies that in-house integration of the banking and security businesses may not be a nonoptimal banking structure. Therefore, this result further implies that the transformation of Korea's banking system from the current, specialized system to the universal banking system will not impede the improvement of the banking industry's efficiency. Second, the lending businesses turn out to be subjected to diseconomies of scale, while exhibiting unclear evidence for economies of scope. In sum, it implies potential efficiency gain of the continued in-house integration of the lending activity. Third, the continued integration of the trust businesses seems to contribute to improving the efficiency of the banking businesses, since the trust businesses exhibit economies of scope. Fourth, deposit services and fee-based activities, such as foreign exchange and credit card businesses, exhibit economies of scale but constant returns to scope, which implies, the possibility of separating those businesses from other banking and trust activities. The recent trend of the credit card business being operated separately from other banking activities by an independent identity in Korea as well as in the global banking market seems to be consistent with this finding. Then, how can the possibility of separating deposit services from the remaining activities be interpreted? If one insists a strict definition of commercial banking that is confined to deposit and commercial lending activities, separating the deposit service will suggest a resolution or a disappearance of banking, itself. Recently, however, there has been a suggestion that separating banks' deposit and lending activities by allowing a depository institution which specialize in deposit taking and investing deposit fund only in the safest securities such as government securities to administer the deposit activity will alleviate the risk of a bank run. This method, in turn, will help improve the safety of the payment system (Robert E. Litan, What should Banks Do? Washington, D.C., The Brookings Institution, 1987). In this context, the possibility of separating the deposit activity will imply that a new type of depository institution will arise naturally without contradicting the efficiency of the banking businesses, as the size of the banking market grows in the future. Moreover, it is also interesting to see additional evidences confirming this statement that deposit taking and security business are cost complementarity but deposit taking and lending businesses are cost substitute (see Table 2 for cost complementarity relationship in Korea's banking industry). Finally, it has been observed that the Korea's banking industry is lacking in the characteristics of natural monopoly. Therefore, it may not be optimal to encourage the merger and acquisition in the banking industry only for the purpose of improving the efficiency.