BACKGROUND: Harassment means systemic and repeated unethical acts. Research on workplace harassment have been conducted widely and the NAQ-R has been widely used for the researches. But this tool, however the limitations in revealing differended in sub-factors depending on the culture and in reflecting that unique characteristics of the Koren society. So, The workplace harassment questionnaire for Korean finace and service workers has been developed to assess the level of personal harassment at work. This study aims to develop a tool to assess the level of personal harassment at work and to test its validity and reliability while examining specific characteristics of workplace harassment against finance and service workers in Korea. METHODS: The framework of survey was established based on literature review, focused-group interview for the Korean finance and service workers. To verify its reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated; and to verify its validity, items and factors of the tool were analyzed. The correlation matrix analysis was examined to verify the tool’s convergent validity and discriminant validity. Structural validity was verified by checking statistical significance in relation to the BDI-K. RESULTS: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of this survey was 0.93, which indicates a quite high level of reliability. To verify the appropriateness of this survey tool, its construct validity was examined through factor analysis. As a result of the factor analysis, 3 factors were extracted, explaining 56.5 % of the total variance. The loading values and communalities of the 20 items were 0.85 to 0.48 and 0.71 to 0.46. The convergent validity and discriminant validity were analyzed and rate of item discriminant validity was 100 %. Finally, for the concurrent validity, We examined the relationship between the WHI-KFSW and pschosocial stress by examining the correlation with the BDI-K. The results of chi-square test and multiple logistic analysis indicated that the correlation with the BDI-K was satatisctically significant. CONCLUSION: Workplace harassment in actual workplaces were investigated based on interviews, and the statistical analysis contributed to systematizing the types of actual workplace harassment. By statistical method, we developed the questionare, 20 items of 3 categories.
Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Reproducibility of Results*

Although a large number of genetic variants have been identified to be associated with common diseases through genome-wide association studies, there still exits limitations in explaining the missing heritability. One approach to solving this missing heritability problem is to investigate gene-gene interactions, rather than a single-locus approach. For gene-gene interaction analysis, the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method has been widely applied, since the constructive induction algorithm of MDR efficiently reduces high-order dimensions into one dimension by classifying multi-level genotypes into high- and low-risk groups. The MDR method has been extended to various phenotypes and has been improved to provide a significance test for gene-gene interactions. In this paper, we propose a simple method, called accelerated failure time (AFT) UM-MDR, in which the idea of a unified model-based MDR is extended to the survival phenotype by incorporating AFT-MDR into the classification step. The proposed AFT UM-MDR method is compared with AFT-MDR through simulation studies, and a short discussion is given.
Classification ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Methods* ; Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction* ; Phenotype

Purpose: Epidemiological data on injuries resulting from ice hockey and their management are lacking in Korea. A comprehensive analysis of such data is crucial for the effective prevention and management of ice hockey injuries. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological profile of ice hockey injuries and their management among elite Korean players. Methods: The descriptive epidemiological study involved three semiprofessional male ice hockey teams and used a retrospective self-reported questionnaire for assessment. The data collected included demographic characteristics such as player positions and stick-side preferences, injured body parts, injury types, treatment methods, and the decision-maker for returning to sports. Results: A total of 68 players were included in the study, of whom 58 (85.3%) experienced moderate-to-severe orthopedic injuries. Among the reported injuries, 93 (77.5%) occurred during the games, with player-to-player contact being the most frequent cause of such injuries. The decision to return to sports in 53 cases (44.2%) was made by the medical staff, whereas players and nonmedical staff made that decision in 67 cases (55.8%). The decision-making process of the medical staff for allowing players to return to sports was significantly associated with the player’s position and whether the injury required surgery. Conclusion The study emphasizes the high prevalence of orthopedic injuries among elite ice hockey players in Korea and the importance of injury prevention strategies. It also highlights the need for increased involvement of medical staff in return-to-play decisions to ensure successful recovery of players and their reintegration into the competition.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Xenotransplantation of porcine organs has the potential to overcome the acute shortage of human tissues and organs for human transplantation. Swine represents an ideal source of such organs owing to their anatomical and physiological similarities to human besides their plentiful supply. However, this procedure is also associated with a number of safety issues related to zoonotic infections. Among such zoonotically important pathogens, porcine endogenous viruses (PERVs) represent the most concerned virus as they persist asymptomatically and show germline transmission in pigs. They belong to gamma retroviruses and are of three types viruses: A, B and C. In the present study, PCR based cloning was performed with chromosomal DNA extracted from miniature pigs to analyze the envelope gene of PERVs. Amplified PCR fragments of about 1.5 Kb, covering the partial env gene, were cloned into pCR2.1-TOPO vectors and sequenced. A total of 51 env clones were obtained from two miniature pigs, types M149 and T1111. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes revealed the presence of only PERV type A and B in the proportion of 45% and 55%, respectively. Among these, 9 clones had the correct open reading frame: eight were PERV type A and one PERV type B. Since both these PERV types are polytropic and have the capacity to infect human cells, our data raise a concern that proviral PERVs might have the potential to generate infectious viruses during or after xenotransplantation in humans.
Clone Cells ; Cloning, Molecular* ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; Genes, env ; Humans ; Methods ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retroviridae ; Swine* ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Zoonoses

Xenotransplantation of porcine organs has the potential to overcome the acute shortage of human tissues and organs for human transplantation. Swine represents an ideal source of such organs owing to their anatomical and physiological similarities to human besides their plentiful supply. However, this procedure is also associated with a number of safety issues related to zoonotic infections. Among such zoonotically important pathogens, porcine endogenous viruses (PERVs) represent the most concerned virus as they persist asymptomatically and show germline transmission in pigs. They belong to gamma retroviruses and are of three types viruses: A, B and C. In the present study, PCR based cloning was performed with chromosomal DNA extracted from miniature pigs to analyze the envelope gene of PERVs. Amplified PCR fragments of about 1.5 Kb, covering the partial env gene, were cloned into pCR2.1-TOPO vectors and sequenced. A total of 51 env clones were obtained from two miniature pigs, types M149 and T1111. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes revealed the presence of only PERV type A and B in the proportion of 45% and 55%, respectively. Among these, 9 clones had the correct open reading frame: eight were PERV type A and one PERV type B. Since both these PERV types are polytropic and have the capacity to infect human cells, our data raise a concern that proviral PERVs might have the potential to generate infectious viruses during or after xenotransplantation in humans.
Clone Cells ; Cloning, Molecular* ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; Genes, env ; Humans ; Methods ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retroviridae ; Swine* ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Zoonoses